This world is not perfect.

Yet it is intricately intertwined, with detailed reasons for everything from start to finish.

Like a cruel pile of cause and effect that collapses at the slightest touch.

So the monster that one dares not touch rolls on indifferently, slicing and crushing countless lives.

Without any remorse, truly shamelessly.

Sion thought that what was happening in this village right now was exactly like that.

“Teacher!”

“Please stop them over there!”

It was when Sion had just come down the hill with his young disciple.

The atmosphere was unsettled from the village entrance, and as soon as people saw him, they spoke anxiously.

The place they pointed to was the village square.

There, Bayen’s soldiers in dark blue uniforms were shouting something at the villagers.

Seemingly frightened by that sight, the child grabbed Sion’s clothes.

That child seemed to sense that his worries had become reality and come to visit. So he was anxiously scanning the world that had come to crush him with endless unease.

Sion, who was looking down at his waist to check his disciple’s complexion, swallowed a sigh and detached the child, entrusting him to a villager.

Then he went straight to Bayen’s soldiers.

“What’s the matter?”

At Sion’s question, the soldiers raised their heads with fierce faces.

But after seeing Sion, they rather hesitated in confusion.

Though now familiar to the villagers, in fact, Sion Laurel was a figure who did not fit at all with this pastoral village.

He had a superior dignity that didn’t need to be flaunted, and it wasn’t hidden by wearing a cheap shirt or clumsy glasses.

So Bayen’s soldiers couldn’t help but notice Sion’s aristocratic atmosphere at once.

“I asked what’s going on.”

As the soldiers’ silence lengthened, Sion asked again.

Even when relaxed, his authoritative voice made them even more tense.

These low-ranking soldiers belonging to Bayen were all commoners, so they couldn’t help but find this young nobleman difficult.

So as the soldiers who had been arrogant until just now closed their mouths in embarrassment, conversely, the suppressed villagers shouted.

“They’re telling us to evacuate the village right away! With nothing after winter, it’s like telling us to starve to death outside!”

“That’s right! How are we supposed to leave without any measures in place!”

As people poured out their resentment, the soldiers’ eyes became fierce again.

But unable to shout, they looked at Sion and suddenly stood at attention, raising their shoulders sharply.

The monotonous sound of hooves and a new voice intervened next.

“What’s all this commotion?”

It was quite an elegant voice. The displeasure filled with gentleness was particularly aristocratic.

The man entering this crowded square on horseback was holding a whip rolled up in his hand and wearing a dark blue uniform like those soldiers.

But the epaulettes, medals, and embroidery on his shoulders, chest, and sleeves clearly distinguished him from those low-ranking soldiers.

He was obviously a nobleman, and the villagers reflexively bowed their heads.

Meanwhile, one soldier called the man on horseback the investigation team leader and reported the situation.

“There are those who are disobeying the relocation order.”

The investigation team leader muttered in an unpleasant voice after hearing the report. Then he looked down at the villagers and clicked his tongue.

“No matter how ignorant, is an explanation needed in this situation? You’re the ones who almost died from the curse.”

At the contemptuous rebuke, the villagers shrank their shoulders.

The investigation team leader, seemingly displeased even with that, struck his palm with the whip handle, then pointed to one of the residents.

“You, speak. What’s the problem?”

At the request that was unclear whether it was permission or an order, the one pointed to hesitantly opened his mouth.

“Your order to relocate due to the serious curse is just. However, most of us have nowhere to go right away. So we need at least minimal support for settling…”

“If you really have nowhere to go, can’t you entrust yourselves to a landlord?”

“Are you telling us to become serfs?”

“It’s better than dying from the curse.”

The villagers couldn’t believe their ears.

It was already heartbreaking to leave the land they had cultivated for decades, but now to tell innocent people to become slaves.

People who had mouths but no right to speak reddened their eyes in bewilderment, and the one allowed to speak swallowed his resentment and pleaded.

“If that’s the case, please let us stay in the village instead. Even if the new moon comes, we will bear it.”

“How dare you say you’ll bear it? If the curse devours you and spreads to other cities, will you take responsibility for all that damage?”

But the investigation team leader retorted stubbornly, as if he had already drawn his conclusion.

So the speaker was at a loss for words, and Sion, unable to stand by, opened his mouth instead.

“If you’re an investigation team, be faithful to your investigation duty first.”

That murmur poured new cold water on the square.

“You’ll continue to be criticized as incompetent if you’re in such a hurry to cover up when you should be uncovering problems.”

“…Who are you?”

At the word incompetent, the investigation team leader asked with narrowed eyes.

In fact, he had been paying attention to Sion from earlier. However, unlike the low-ranking soldiers, he wasn’t fretting over Sion’s identity.

To the investigation team leader, this Brick viscounty was like his own front yard, so he believed there was no way this man he didn’t know could be an influential figure.

That belief of the investigation team leader made him even more arrogant.

So when Sion ignored him without any answer, the investigation team leader’s mouth finally twisted harshly.

“It seems punishment is more necessary than investigation.”

The investigation team leader swung his whip without any other warning.

But the whip that flew aiming for Sion’s neck was caught too easily in his hand.

The investigation team leader pulled his arm in surprise, but the whip caught by Sion didn’t budge at all.

Feeling this as humiliation, the investigation team leader’s face turned bright red. On the other hand, Sion’s expression was as coldly indifferent as ever.

But the one more displeased right now was not the investigation team leader, but Sion.

Though that guy might not know at all, thanks to him, a lot of unpleasant things came to mind.

Sion thought that if he pulled what he was holding and slammed it into the mud, this stale feeling might improve a little.

But thinking of the people behind him, he tried hard to endure. It seemed that if that guy took out his anger on innocent people later, it would only make him feel worse.

So Sion obediently let go of the whip he was holding. Of course, without any consideration.

Because of that, the investigation team leader, who had been struggling alone, stumbled greatly and almost fell backwards before hurriedly regaining his balance.

His face contorted with shame after floundering in front of his subordinates.

“You bastard…!”

That hot-tempered man finally gritted his teeth and drew his sword.

“I see an example is needed. I’ll cut off your limbs and scatter them on every street.”

Does Duke Bayen really know that such a person is going around with his flag?

Already in a foul mood, Sion disliked that old duke even more.

When Sion didn’t back down even at the sword tip, the investigation team leader became even more enraged.

Just as he was about to raise his sword and grab the reins, unable to hold back any longer.

“Um, is something wrong?”

A faint voice from somewhere broke the tension just before the sword fight.

The people there experienced different feelings upon seeing the owner of that voice.

The villagers felt like they had met a savior, while the soldiers felt like they had committed a crime. A look of dismay filled the face of the arrogant investigation team leader.

And Sion Laurel’s already turbulent mood became even more complicated.

“Has something unfortunate happened?”

When there was no answer, the pretty young lady with flowing black hair asked again in a worried voice.

The young lady, Ibi, who appeared with her butler, looked around with large eyes, then covered her mouth with both hands as if too shocked at seeing the investigation team leader’s sword.

As Ibi acted as if she might faint right away like weak-hearted noble ladies do, the investigation team leader hurriedly put away his sword.

Then he forced a smile, but Ibi ignored him and called out to Sion.

“Oh my, Teacher. You were here. I’ve been looking for you!”

As Ibi pretended to know Sion, the investigation team leader’s already forced smile became even more stiff.

But Ibi stood next to Sion as if completely unaware of his feelings. Then she looked up at the investigation team leader as if asking what on earth was going on.

At that innocent gaze, the investigation team leader who had been holding out on horseback had no choice but to step on the stirrup and dismount. Then he formally greeted Ibi.

“I am Orki Brick, captain of the Brick viscounty investigation team under the direct command of the Bayen army. It is an honor to meet you, Ibi Ariate of the noble Tower.”

“May the blessing of the radiant morning be with Viscount Brick’s territory. Thank you for welcoming me. However, the atmosphere doesn’t seem good to be happy about our meeting. Is something wrong? Please let me know if there’s anything I can help with.”

Ibi inquired about the situation even while receiving the greeting, and thanks to that, the investigation team leader’s position became even more uncomfortable.

He was a member of the long-established family ruling the Brick viscounty, but he had no choice but to act respectfully to the commoner Ibi Ariate. That was because the authority of the Tienda and Manyana Tower to which that woman belonged was so supreme.

“I was on duty. Thank you, but there’s no need for Lady Ariate to worry.”

“That’s a relief then.”

As Ibi exaggeratedly stroked her chest, the investigation team leader forced a smile. Then he ordered the soldiers to withdraw.

But as if his pride wouldn’t allow him to just let it go, the investigation team leader growled at Sion before mounting his horse.

“I’ll see you again soon, Glasses.”

It was the most ridiculous title Sion had ever heard in his life.

.

.

.

Though friction was avoided thanks to Ibi’s intervention, Sion wasn’t very grateful to Ibi.

“No need for thanks. I promised to protect you after all.”

It was because Ibi quickly said this with an annoyingly sweet smile.

Bayen’s investigation team left, and the villagers dispersed with dejected faces.

So Sion was also heading back home when Ibi naturally started following behind him.

“…Why are you following me?”

“I’m escorting you home. It’s dangerous for Glasses to be alone.”

Ibi laughed gleefully as she said “Glasses,” and at that clearly teasing attitude, Sion deliberately widened his stride and walked briskly.

Then Ibi rather followed even closer and said.

“I never imagined it. That there would be someone who calls the Count ‘Glasses.'”

“Glasses is rather elegant. Compared to ill-mannered brat.”

“If you like it, should I call you that too?”

Saying that, Ibi suddenly overtook Sion. Then she blocked his way and looked up at him cutely from under his chin and asked.

“But why do you wear glasses? Is your eyesight bad? Or to look like a teacher?”

Sion, who had stopped walking because of this, wondered what kind of trick this was.

Ibi tilted her head as if an innocent young girl, then smiled innocently and said.

“It suits you well.”

Ibi’s voice was very sweet, so Sion was about to sarcastically remark that she even flatters people she dislikes, but held back.

Then Ibi Ariate went a step further and even brought in her butler.

“Isn’t that right, Butler?”

At Ibi’s question, her butler who had been following quietly beside her also stuck out his head and looked at Sion like Ibi.

This made Sion quite flustered.

Even if it was the same action, there was a very different feeling between small and delicate Ibi doing it and her sturdy butler doing it.

So Sion became quite uncomfortable, but endured for now. Since he had stayed still when Ibi looked at him, it felt awkward to immediately avoid when her butler leaned in.

So he endured moderately, and when their gazes seemed excessive, he pushed them away.

“Please move aside now.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

Whatever kind of trick it was, Ibi immediately stepped back. Then she waved to Sion at that street corner without following any further.

“I’ll see you off here since we’ve arrived. Today’s dinner is stew. Have a nice evening then. I’ll visit again tomorrow.”

Ibi said that and turned around neatly.

Then, leaving the suspicious Sion behind, she lowered her voice and asked Dies.

“Did you see?”

“I saw.”

“Is it correct?”

“Yes.”

Dies answered firmly to Ibi’s question.

Then he said with certainty in his golden eyes that had also recognized Ibi’s curse before.

“The Count is indeed cursed with noce.”