Where did you find out?

“If that’s really wrong, your father will surely be executed.”

Yes, accepting the fate of her family would be an incredibly difficult thing for this girl.

“Do you really know that and still try to accept it?”

I want to understand her feelings, but ironically, I was the one who provided the opportunity for this.

Just as I was worried that my words might hurt this child.

“I don’t know.”

But if left like this, this child will choose to isolate herself from the world while being hurt alone.

“He was a good father to me.”

“Yes, he must have been a caring person to his family at least.”

If she ends it like that, she might not become someone like her father.

But changing her sense of betrayal towards the world into self-loathing to prevent that would be an even more pitiful thing.

“And, everyone who stood in that position was someone precious to someone. Someone’s son, husband, friend, and neighbor…”

The reason I can’t leave such a child alone is…

No, there’s no need to look for a reason at this point.

I opened the door of the infirmary for children like this, and although I can’t become their guardian, I promised to do everything I could as a teacher if they asked for help.

“Because it was a scene where people in such positions were hostile to each other for no reason. Someone will see your father, who encouraged such a flow, as the root cause of the tragedy.”

A hand carrying such feelings touched her head, but Beans didn’t reject that hand.

Whether she accepted me, or she didn’t even have the energy to push it away.

“But even someone who is so hated probably didn’t choose the beginning himself.”

Whatever it is, I’ll just tell her.

Doing my best to tell the story I can while watching the setting sun.

“Your father was born in an even harsher era than me.”

At least what I can understand.

About the life that the human named Gilbert Zegret has walked.

“He was born right after the war broke out, and due to his family’s position, he was forced to stand on the battlefield. As he had no other choices in life, he must have stuck to that path alone, so it’s unreasonable to tell him to adapt to peace now.”

Even if all of that can’t be forgiven, isn’t it too much to say that even the beginning, where he couldn’t even make a choice, was wrong?

The most that people who lived through that era can do is break the chain of hatred.

To bring that time forward a bit more, he became more cruel, and to prevent that time from coming again, he maintained that policy even now.

“Because he’s such a person, he must be hoping that you don’t reach the same end as him.”

If only his position and location were different, he too was just like other people who stood on the battlefield.

Still, he must be hoping that at least the traces he left in this world will grow up properly.

“Then, should I give up everything after all?”

Should I abandon all the teachings until now to prevent such a vicious cycle?

To the girl demanding a definite answer to that, I answered.

“Well, giving up everything at this point seems a bit…”

That it’s an impossible thing.

No matter how much they say it’s an era of peace, and dress it up as such.

The world we live in is ultimately filled with the sacrifices of someone.

Everything that exists is inherited from people who lived through that era, so if we forget all of that, wouldn’t we surely collapse after losing our foundation?

“You’re saying not to give up, but didn’t you think my father was wrong too, Teacher?”

“Yes, it’s a wrong method in anyone’s eyes. But if it can’t be helped, I’d like him to compromise a little… I’ve thought that repeatedly.”

“Compromise?”

“Couldn’t he have said a few kind words to his subordinates? If he had understood their hardships and considered their circumstances, wouldn’t the result have been different from now…”

If he had the leeway to display such things even when pressed by circumstances, I might not have hated him this much.

Of course, they say it’s difficult to assume ‘what ifs’ for the past that has gone by, but in the near future.

If there’s a possibility that such things will be repeated, we can’t say that assuming such ‘what ifs’ is completely meaningless.

“…If he could be kind to those around him like Dale, perhaps more people would have followed him.”

A body that flinches and shrinks.

That’s surely because she took my words so sensitively.

“W-Why is that child coming up now?”

Oh my, looking at how flustered she is, it seems certain.

Yet seeing the girl not raising her head, I started to feel a bit mischievous.

“Because you’re envious of that child.”

“Envious? Don’t say such nonsense. Why would I…”

“You felt envious seeing children getting along without hesitation despite living in completely different environments, so you felt ashamed of yourself for not being able to join them, right?”

Beans flinched in surprise.

As expected, being emotional, she didn’t seem very accustomed to hiding her true feelings.

“Yes, from those sights of being able to laugh and chat thoughtlessly without rules or plans, you surely realized what kind of peace you were emphasized.”

But isn’t this better?

How can someone who doesn’t know peace discuss peace… No matter how seriously she speaks, it’s ultimately the words of a 14-year-old child.

After all, it’s something experienced only through learning without experience, so the weight in those words will have a larger share of imagination towards an unexperienced future than memories derived from life so far.

“…I don’t know such things.”

So she must have felt a disconnect with the scene in front of her.

The reality of the peace she had desperately protected all this time was this insignificant, simple…

And therefore comfortable and warm.

“If you don’t know, learn it now.”

Of course, the feeling of envy awakened from that might feel embarrassing to a tender adolescent heart, but that’s a period I, as an adult, have gone through too.

I hope she becomes a more proper adult than me, whose time of realization came late.

“That emotion you feel towards those children will be a great strength for you as you live on.”

The feelings imbued in the current advice were certainly not false.

“What… does that mean?”

“Because someone who envies others can be that much kinder to others.”

Her head gradually rising at that moment.

The sun had set by now, but I could immediately tell that this girl’s face was turned towards me in the darkness.

Yes, she must be looking straight into my eyes.

“Beans.”

I put my hand on the girl’s head and continued speaking, matching her eye level.

“People sometimes make mistakes because they can’t control their emotions. They deceive others, covet what others have, and also envy… If they can’t rationally suppress such negative emotions, they end up committing irreversible acts without even realizing it.”

Among the seven sins commonly spoken of in religion, the seven deadly sins, envy (jealousy) that Beans feels is also present.

If she can’t clearly face that feeling, this child will always proceed on a confusing journey precariously going back and forth between reason and emotion.

If she also had hatred towards the world, we would even have to be wary of the possibility of deviation.

If this child felt nothing at all while looking at those children.

“But you, who can reflect on yourself while envying someone, can become a person who can understand others’ circumstances better than anyone else the moment you’re honest with those feelings.”

Beans Zegret.

She saw many things because she pursued higher places than anyone else.

A child who came to know pain because she fell from there.

If such a child stands up again, she will surely be able to see more broadly than anyone while empathizing with the pain of those in front of her.

“So cherish those feelings you’re experiencing now. Unlike your father who had to walk such a path inevitably…”

And unlike adults like me.

Who ended up only admiring in the end.

“Aim to be a leader who knows how to love people more than anyone else.”

Hoping that this small girl will be reborn as such a being.

“……”

“…It’s gotten late, shall we go back?”

Of course, even if I give advice, it won’t sink in right away.

But that’s okay.

Someday this child will leave my side too, but that won’t be right away.

So hoping that she’ll recall and ruminate on this moment throughout her time with me.

“Teacher.”

As I was about to move forward, anticipating the future like that, a precarious voice calling me was heard from behind.

“Hand…”

A small hand grasping my sleeve before I could turn to look at her.

“Can you… hold my hand?”

“…Your hand, you say?”

“Yes, right now… I can’t see well…”

A voice becoming smaller as if shrinking.

Although it was dark, I could feel the trembling of her body through the hand grasping my sleeve.

…Yes, because she’s a mature child.

She’ll surely ruminate on and think a lot about even this trivial advice.

“Follow me carefully.”

Hoping that the conclusion drawn at the end will come as light for this child’s future.

I held the hand of the child following me and opened the way forward.

---

The night air gradually cooling.

In the night where even the lights of the bustling area were dimming, I quietly released the strength from the hand I had been holding as I escorted Beans to the entrance of the newly arranged lodging.

“Well, now that I’ve seen you here, I’ll take my leave.”

“Take your leave? Aren’t you staying at the same place?”

“Ah well, that’s true but… I have something to do tonight first.”

“Even so…”

Is there something she’s unsatisfied with?

Or is she afraid to return to the arms of the children she once left?

“Don’t worry. I’m sure everything will be fine.”

They’re all good kids, so it should be okay.

Showing such trust, I quietly waved to Beans and turned my back.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

It’s not like this is the only opportunity to have a conversation.

Although I have to leave today due to unavoidable matters, if there’s something to say, it can be postponed until tomorrow.

“Yes, then tomorrow…”

After quietly greeting like that and turning my back on the lodging.

I put a cigarette in my mouth while looking at the street lit by streetlights in the late night.

“You guys don’t want to be caught by others either, right?”

And I said.

“Follow me quietly. I want to handle this as quietly as possible too.”

-Flick.

A flame bursting out on the night road.

The gaze tempered by that heat, those who targeted that child are surely watching.

-Thud thud!

As if to prove that prediction true, as soon as I entered a deserted alley, men in black clothes began to block the entrance and exit.

Not making a sound until revealing themselves, and even now blending into the darkness…

Well, it seems they have enough skill to cause trouble in this city.

“Heh heh, what on earth are our academy’s high-ranking people doing? To let thugs who target young girls who don’t even know men yet come to a place like this, can one properly walk alone at night without fear?”

A snickering laugh escaping along with the sarcasm.

As if annoyed by that reaction, some of the men’s bodies twitched, but even that subsided as soon as I removed the cigarette from my mouth.

“…I suppose there’s no point in examining such issues. Looking at how you’re acting, it seems you came prepared too.”

Yes, they must be feeling it.

The mana led by will must be fiercely stabbing their skin even at this moment.

They must surely be aware that I’m considering killing all the guys here right now.

“Aren’t you ashamed to crowd around like this just to catch one child?”

After all, she’s just a young child, isn’t she?

No matter how mature, she’s just a 14-year-old child.

Unlike principled adults, she’s a fragile girl who easily becomes distorted with even a small change in environment, and becomes steeped in self-loathing with even a small disconnect.

How can I, as a teacher, look favorably upon crowding around like this to target such a child?

“I’ll say half of that is correct.”

“…Half?”

“That girl will be of great help to the revolutionary group. I won’t deny the fact that we’re targeting that child.”

“…Huh, so that’s what it is.”

The revolutionary group and the Zegret family…

I can roughly guess. Why these guys are targeting that child.

“I guess I must have looked quite ridiculous to you. For terrorists to even openly reveal their identity.”

If they’re rebels, aren’t they the guys that child’s father was so eager to catch?

Given the constant friction, from their standpoint, it would be easy to frame her for colluding with them and make her serve time in prison.

Of course, that alone won’t be enough, so they’ll need a means to make her deny crimes she didn’t even commit.

But the unfortunate thing is, I’m in a state where I’ve vowed to protect even the child of that damn guy.

“Look ridiculous? Not at all.”

As I recalled that point and gathered mana in my hand, the man at the front quietly spoke to me.

“How could we underestimate you, who inherited the blood of the Empire’s Sword?”

-Snap.

The moment the mana gathered in my hand disappeared in an instant.

No, to be precise, the will to gather mana itself disappeared.

It would be more correct to express it as my thoughts stopping.

“…Where did you find out?”

What was just uttered from their mouths.

It was something I could never overlook.