Going Together

"Watt?"

At that moment, Tales's entire brain went blank.

Looking at Fuse kneeling respectfully before him, several pointless phrases from another world flashed through his mind.

Something about a kingly aura.

Something about bowing in submission at first sight.

Something about the arrogant Dragon... ahem.

Something about May 20 arriving, only for the one person confessing to you to be a man... ahem, ahem.

Tales shook his head furiously, casting off those pointless thoughts.

Don't forget, Yordel is still right beside you.

"Damn it."

The Prince of Starfall wore a subtle, complicated expression as he looked at Fuse before him and rubbed his nest-like hair.

"I really wish I'd been this popular when I was in Dragoncloud City."

Fuse smiled again. He slowly raised his head and stood.

"I told you, Your Highness. The Shadow Shield cannot survive on its own. It needs the support of power, the demand for power, and the gaps left by power."

Fuse glanced left and right, as if he were genuinely worried about something. "Russell and those sword peddlers were there earlier, so I had to be polite and toss out some formalities. But facing you alone, I can speak from the heart."

Tales raised his eyebrows, wanting to see what else the man could say.

Fuse pursed his lips, his expression sinking. Several seconds later, he finally forced out the words:

"I don't like Chaman Lumba, Your Highness."

"I disliked him from the very first moment I saw him."

The torch in Fuse's hand crackled softly, and the darkness in that corner trembled faintly with it.

Hearing that name, Tales instinctively tightened his grip on his longsword.

He remembered how, six years ago, when he and Little Rascal were still in Lumba's carriage, Chaman and Fuse had met beneath it.

Tales sighed and