I want to protect you in this hand.

Leaving Mal with breakfast and lunch, we rushed to Nilm. Four days in a hurry, I swayed between Bran's feeling that there was no way he would do that and Nico's feeling that there was no way he could call for help so easily. And my chest ached thinking of Sophie's feelings when she laughed "even if it's blunt".

On the fourth day after the letter, when I hurried to the guild, it was just about time the adventurers returned from the dungeon. Watching the crowd of adventurers Sophie returns to.

"Sophie!"

Happily Sophie looked back.

"Ash, what happened to Saim? Don't throw me out."

Sophie smiling mischievously seemed the same at first sight, but I can tell from looking into her eyes earlier. I hugged her without saying anything.

"Nico called you."

"Yeah."

"No matter what you did, no matter what you said. I'm not going to do anything anymore. But this is how I can't stop picking you up every day."

"Yeah."

At that time, a lively party arrived. This laugh, it's Blanc. Turning around, I had a familiar thin tea eye that I hadn't seen in a month and a half.

But what about that? A sloppy smile on your tired face. There's a girl clinging to her right hand, and it doesn't even look like it's getting rough. It's rough, that's all I could say.

"Bran......"

Bran looked at this one haphazardly and laughed sarcastically when he admitted me and Sophie.

"You called for an eyewitness."

"Blanc."

When I heard my voice, something looked painful.

"Blanc, who is this kid?

said the adventurer who was clinging to his arm. Soft, long thin tea hair, thin tea eyes, a little bit above Blanc in his years, from the outside, magician, very pretty man. The man narrowed his eyes to remorse for a moment when he stared at me.

"Sister, no, she's a neighbor."

"Yes, it's nice to meet you."

When I heard Bran's words, he looked at me and Sophie and laughed like he had won.

"Bran, today..."

"Return appropriately. Please don't pick me up."

"Blanc!"

"Shit, the honors are coming too, it's none of your business, even if it's Arsh's business."

Saying so to Cyril, he left busily.

"We're going to the tavern."

Sophie sighed. Nico rushed in there. Nico seems to be partying on an ad hoc basis, too.

"What about Bran?"

"It's already a tavern."

"Didn't you make it?"

I breathed heavily.

"I'm sorry, how's Saim?"

"It's working. What happened to you?

"What is it here, so go to the inn first"

Sure enough, we were eye-catching.

"Yeah, let's go"

We took the same inn as the Sophies and gathered in Cyril's room.

"What happened?"

Cyril asks.

"What should I tell you from"

Nico also looked exhausted.

Three months, as soon as he came to Nilm, he said he wasn't. The open atmosphere in the western realm seemed to fit Bran and he had a great time. Sophie was doing better. But when we found out that Nico and Blanc were about to rise to Class A B, different youth parties swarmed. You think one of the many places I was casually partying with was an earlier party? It's a big party for two women magicians and six men.

"Seven boys now."

Nico said sarcastically. And it was the fourth month, and as soon as I got to grade A, the solicitation from that party got worse, he said. It was slight to Nico, but then it only took an offense on Blanc and quickly pulled him apart. And appropriately dived into the dungeon and went through the liquor store like every day.

"I'm not even saving up anymore. I've spent all my money."

"Previously on Savings..."

"That's not yet. There's some party money for discipline."

Cyril said as he thought.

"You mean Bran wants to get away from the lamb and into a new party?

"At least that's what they're asking me to do."

"Sounds cold, Nico, but isn't that a choice?"

"I know. Even Cliff walked away from Zash. It's just..."

Nico sighed.

"No matter how late it is, he's bound to come back here. I tried to talk, but then I ran away. More importantly, those eyes..."

Nico looked up to heaven.

"You don't look like you're having fun."

We all shut up. I bluffed.

"Even if you have something to eat and you live somewhere, you're not happy until your heart is filled."

"Mind, huh? What was missing from Bran. We've been doing great before. Do what you want, live hard."

"And I fell in love too"

"Arsh."

Nico called my name as it lit up. And I opened my eyes all the way.

"Me or me leaving Bran alone!

Sophie looked painful.

"Sorry, you sounded like it was Nico's fault, not"

I thought and thought.

"Everyone in the lamb moves with a goal, separate from the guide."

"Right."

"What about Bran?

"Huh..."

"What did Bran say?

"Blanc was always with me and looking forward to going to the Empire... that's what Blanc told me... about following Sophie this time... me, didn't you know anything about Blanc?

"It's a shadow."

Suddenly Sophie said.

"Sophie?"

"I know. It's a lot alike, but compared to Maria, who's more glamorous than me, I always thought I was like a shadow."

"Oh no... Sophie's not like Maria"

"Arsh, I know, I know. Everyone, especially the lambs, does not compare us at all. But that's why I want to choose a different path from Maria and a different way of life. I want to win a place where only I can shine."

"Well, Bran..."

Nico snaps.

You think he's my shadow?

"Bran is brighter than any of us, and I don't think deeply about things. It doesn't always feel as clear as I do."

Cyril snapped too.

"You mean you're shaking because of Nico and Maria"

"Maybe you want to find the best place."

When I say, Nico...

"Is that who they are! Of those scumbags!

"Scum."

"They're all surrounded by magicians. Bran is the A-level, but the others don't have as much strength as they look! Such a woman, if only she could have a man as good as our mother, she would have..."

"Nico?"

He said, "Should I have gone to see him?"

"Who?

"Bran did. The mother who dumped Bran. You can't forgive me for being dumped..."

"What about Nico?

"No, I don't care about my parents anymore. I have my light. Then the light of bran..."

"Nico."

"No, now... you're losing sight of the light"

"Anyway, what do we do? I don't even think I'm gonna listen to you."

Cyril said.

"I'm sorry, I asked you to come, but what can I do?"

And from that night on Bran stopped coming home. And three days later, it happened.