《Another World Nation Archimaira: The Weakest King and his Unparalleled Army》


 0 - prolog

    --I don''t want to die.


    With that one thought in mind, the girl ran.


    Just running in the wide wilderness to escape from the approaching death.


    Her breathing is labored, and her side is slowly becoming painful.


    The girl frowns at this fact and feels uncomfortable.


    Unlike most noble daughters, I train reasonably well.


    A former adventurer hired by my family trained me and gave me some self-defense skills.


    I am sure that my physical strength is more than that of a normal person.


    But the reality is that the girl''s body is approaching its limits.


    "Why ......!


    He swore uncontrollably.


    The unnecessary consumption of oxygen has further disturbed his breathing.


    Even his legs were beginning to complain of rest from the exhaustion.


    But there was no .


    This is a scam, the girl rages, but this is a very common result.


    No matter how much training is done every day, it is still a menu for a girl who is not even an adult. In addition, training is just training.


    The girl''s mind, suddenly forced to engage in an unexpected "real battle," was hardly at peace, and her disordered spirit was relentlessly chipping away at her limited physical strength.


    Still, she could not stop.


    She must keep running.


    She must run from the oncoming "enemy.


    Once they catch up with her, she is doomed.


    But...


    "Oh, too bad. It''s a dead end this way, sweetheart."


    A man easily came around and appeared from behind a rock, blocking the girl''s way.


    The girl stopped, scuffing the ground with the soles of her boots.


    Quickly, she turned around and tried to escape from the man in front of her, but he was coming after her from the left and right, not to mention from the rear.


    --There was no way to escape.


    Within a few seconds, the girl was surrounded by the men. The girl was unarmed. The men were mercenaries with appropriate equipment.


    "I guess the chase is over. No, no, I think you''re doing a great job, young lady.��The other day the Viscountess fell down within two minutes of starting to run. You''ve been running away from us for five minutes.


    I guess this Viscountess is no longer with us.


    Somewhere in the back of my mind, I wish she had died an easy death, but I know that this is a wish that will never come true.


    Men with vile smiles on their faces.


    Looking at their faces, it is not difficult to imagine that she must have been devoured by them before she was killed.


    "Now that we''re done with the preparation, let''s get to work. ......, but first..."


    The man who had been speaking - probably the chieftain of the mercenary group - jumped on him.


    "...... d*mn it!"


    The girl tries to avoid it as quickly as she can.


    But her legs, shaking with fatigue, get caught in a tangle and she falls to the ground.


    The chieftain man covers the girl''s body and holds her down on the ground.


    "Well, let''s have some fun. The last time your daughter came around here crying and begging for her life, what about you, little girl?


    The girl is the only daughter of the Gardiner family.


    As such, she cannot die here.


    I have a mission.


    It is an oath that must be kept by my family.


    That''s why I can''t die.


    I cannot die here.


    So the girl trembled with fear and spilled out her words.


    "Please help me. ......"


    "Oh?��Excuse me?��I can''t hear you very well.


    The chieftain asked back in a tone similar to that of an animal that is taunting its prey.


    Regardless, the girl shouted.


    "Help ......!��Somebody, help (??????)!


    The girl called for help.


    She screamed for someone (?????????) who was not here.


    Instead of begging for her life from the men in front of her, she chose to ask for help from the outside.


    The girl may be young, but she is a proud member of her blood.


    There was a judgment that the chieftain would not help her if she begged for her life, but most of all, the girl''s < did not like that choice.


    However, it is also a fact that we cannot escape from the current situation by our own strength. That is why the girl, as much as she could do at this moment, asked "someone" to help her.


    But...


    "Pfft ...... gahahahaha!��Hey, hey, did you hear that?��He said, "Somebody help me!"


    The chieftain, who had the girl in his arms, laughed hysterically.


    The mercenaries gathered around the girl are also laughing at her in a truly funny manner.


    But even so, the girl continues to call out for help.


    "You''re making me laugh to no end, little girl. Who in the world is going to come to our rescue in the middle of this vast wilderness?


    The chieftain is right.


    We are in the middle of the wilderness.


    There is no one around us, and no matter how much we shout, our voices will never reach anyone.


    Even if it should reach someone''s ears, there is no way that a drunken maniac would rescue a strange girl against a group of more than 20 mercenaries.


    However, the girl understands this and still continues to scream.


    Even though she knew it was futile, it was the only resistance she could make now. The Gardiners do not have the word "resignation" in their vocabulary. That is why the girl does everything she can until the very end.


    "Well, it''s more fun than having a girl who doesn''t respond to anything anymore..."


    The chieftain leaned down and forcefully ripped off the fabric of the girl''s chest as she continued to scream.


    Her small breasts were exposed to the air, forcing a sensation similar to a chill.


    A sound escaped from the girl''s mouth in a reaction similar to a physiological phenomenon: "Hiccup!


    "Oh, you''ve got a nice expression on your face, don''t you?


    The aggressive attitude you had before may have been bad enough, but this is much better, young lady. If I had to give it a title, I''d call it ."


    The chieftain smirks and gives a sneering smile, as if he is enjoying himself.


    No, he is actually amused.


    His face is contorted with the emotion of amusement.


    It is like an animal licking its tongue in front of its prey.


    The chieftain''s hand is on the girl''s traza.


    Once pulled down, the girl''s body will simply tumble down toward the "end.


    As a last stand, the girl screamed with all her might.


    Somebody, somebody help me!��Please, help me, please, help me, ----!!!!"


    The screams were released with all my might, my voice withered.


    It gradually faded into the wilderness, and just before it disappeared completely, it reached the ears of a drunken maniac.


    "---- what?"


    Who released that dazed voice?


    It could be a girl. Or it could have been the men surrounding them.


    But I am sure it was not the chieftain who was leaning over the girl.


    Because the man had already turned into a corpse with his head popping like a watermelon.


    What in the world had happened?


    Neither the girl nor the men could recognize what was happening, and all they could do was freeze.


    Then...


    <>


    A desperate tone of voice echoed in the girl''s head.


    She looks around in a panic, but the only people around her are mercenaries who have no idea what happened. The owner of the voice was nowhere to be found.


    From the mercenaries'' appearance, the girl guesses that she is the only one who can hear this "voice".


    <>


    A voice like a slap.


    A voice so loud that it makes you frown.


    But still, the girl hears the words. And she is repulsed by the angry question.


    I don''t want to die. I don''t want to die. That''s why I asked for help. I don''t want to die here.


    The owner of the voice, who may or may not have heard the girl''s thoughts, gives her a series of cries.


    >


    I reacted as quickly as I could.


    He pushed away the body of the chieftain, which had lost its strength, and stood up.


    Her chest was still exposed to the air, but she had no time to hide it with her hands, and she ran as the owner of the voice shouted.


    On her way, she sees mercenaries blocking her path.


    Still, the girl trusts the owner of the "voice" and runs straight ahead.


    Suddenly, the mercenary''s forehead bloomed in red. A cavity about one centimeter in diameter opened up in the mercenary''s head, and the bloody contents spilled out of it.


    Slipping through the side of the mercenary, who falls forward, the girl escapes the encirclement and runs toward the setting sun.


    "What--what the hell was that?


    Sniper!


    Their heads!


    "You idiot, he''s already dead!��It''s more like a woman, she can get away!


    The girl runs as fast as she can.


    But her strength is still at a low ebb.


    Her slender, overworked body pleads with her host to let her rest.


    But she keeps on running.


    Because someone''s "voice" cries out to her to run if she does not want to die.


    However, in reality, the difference in physical ability between the girl and the men following her is obvious.


    The men are following the girl and closing in on her back.


    In another ten seconds, they will catch up with her.


    And if they catch up with her, this time she will be finished.


    The men had already given up on "tasting.


    Their faces were now those of professional mercenaries, dedicated to their work.


    They will kill the girl as soon as they catch up with her and leave this place as fast as they can.


    And that''s the end of the story.


    Someone has interfered, that''s for sure. But, as expected, they would not be so crazy as to start a new business with a group of mercenaries after they have lost the target of their rescue.


    It was a common sense in this wilderness and a common understanding between the girl and the mercenaries.


    Rescuing the girl is our top priority. ---- Fine!��That''s an order!��Go, go, go! >>


    A voice delivers a cry of urgency.


    It is not directed at the girl, but at someone else.


    The meaning of the words is unknown. I do not understand why I hear such "voices. In the first place, the girl had no energy left to try to understand.


    It is hard to breathe.


    My legs hurt.


    My lungs feel as if they will burst at any moment.


    And yet, she just won''t stop running.


    The Gardiner blood will not give up until the very end.


    This pride drove the girl''s body.


    But it will end now.


    A mercenary was catching up with the girl.


    The girl hears the breathing of someone else.


    That''s how close they are.


    The mercenary puts all his strength into his legs.


    A dagger in his right hand.


    His posture is that of a leaper.


    The eyes are filled with the will to kill.


    The mercenary leaps forward, ready to thrust the dagger into the back of the defenseless girl... and then his life is over.


    "...... you''re just in time."


    A figure fell from the sky with the force of a comet.


    It was a tall woman with silver hair and eyes like a wolf.


    With the force of her fall, she kicked at the mercenary pursuing her, crushing his head like a pomegranate.


    Suddenly an intruder appears.


    The other mercenaries are frightened by the unbelievable power of the intruder.


    The girl who was being chased looks back at the woman who stood in her way, blocking her pursuers.


    Her tone of voice is similar. But she is not the owner of the "voice. Because the "voice" she heard had the tone of a man. Not a woman.


    "Girl! By the command of my Lord, I protect you."


    A curt tone.


    The tall woman said nothing more and took a stance to face the mercenaries.


    Where is this woman coming from?


    "No, it''s more like this guy, he just hit that bastard James with a single blow ......!"


    "Body enhancement magic?��But I don''t see a catalyst. Is it a grimoire?


    But he''s alone. We still have a chance!


    The mercenaries regained control and surrounded the woman.


    The mercenaries had the advantage of numbers.


    After all, even though they had lost two men, they still had a large number of men left.


    As long as the girl is not an asset, the ratio of the two forces'' numerical strength is 23 to 1.


    It is impossible to win this battle.


    The violence of numbers is so great in all ages.


    No matter how superior the tactics or how solid the position is, it is a matter of principle that no matter how strong the numbers are, they will be swallowed up and lost in the muddy waters of overwhelming violence.


    However, there are exceptions to everything, and this world in particular is full of such exceptions.


    And the fact that the woman who suddenly appeared was also one of those exceptions was a blessing for the girl - and a curse for the mercenaries.


    "BUGH!"


    One of the mercenaries let out such a voice.


    He was the vice-chief of the mercenary group, who was standing at the far end of the group.


    He examined his own body, wondering why he had let out such a voice. ...... and died as soon as he found a huge cavity in his abdomen.


    "What ...... just happened?


    Another mercenary, who was standing closest to the vice chieftain, shouts in astonishment.


    No, he was about to shout.


    However, the woman''s kick had already penetrated the man''s torso, and the next moment, the man''s body was launched 30 meters above the ground. It may have been a blessing in disguise that the man was able to die before crashing to the ground.


    Witnessing this scene, the mercenaries standing in line take a step back in agitation.


    "This woman ......!


    You made the wrong choice.


    The woman in front of you is not someone to fight.


    Rather, she was a monster who should have fled at once.


    By the time the mercenaries realized this, it was too late.


    The woman''s fists and legs are her deadly weapons, and she is unrelenting in her attacks on the mercenaries.


    And they were equally wielded against those who tried to flee the scene.


    Some of them tried to resist, but they were no match for the women, who could not even catch them in motion.


    --For convenience, 20 seconds.


    In less than one second per person, the woman single-handedly destroyed the mercenaries.


    Then the woman observes her surroundings for a while without letting her guard down, and after confirming that she has definitely destroyed all the enemies, she walks up to the girl.


    The girl looks at the tall woman in a daze while she regulates her bouncing breath.


    She could only stand there, unable to take in the reality before her.


    But still, the courtesy that she had been taught as a noblewoman was a half-conditioned reflex, and demanded the girl to stand up and thank her.


    So she did.


    "Thank you for joining us at ....... You have saved my life."


    Curtesy with her left hand on her chest.


    She was dressed in her traveling clothes, so there was no hem to be picked, but the girl''s gesture was nothing to be ashamed of as a noblewoman.


    If you want to thank me, do it to my master, not to me. I would not have abandoned my guard duty to help you if it were not for the Lord''s order."


    The tall woman replies curtly.


    The girl''s answer was .


    Perhaps the owner of the voice she had heard earlier was her master.


    "Please wait a moment. In a few moments, ...... will be here. There he is."


    The woman points to a towering cliff.


    I wondered if she had come down from there, and as I looked in the direction she pointed, two figures leaped into the air from there.


    "What the ......?


    Throwing oneself.


    The word popped into my mind reflexively.


    However, the figures did not plummet, but rather slowly lowered their altitude as if they were feathers. Then it landed softly on the ground without making a single speck of dust.


    The two figures descending from the sky were a woman and a man.


    The man''s face was obscured by a hood over his head, but the woman''s face was very well formed.


    Good looks is the word that comes to the girl''s mind. Her body, including her well-developed body, would attract the eyes of the opposite s*x if she went out in a social setting.


    The girl tries to resist the temptation to be attracted to her.


    Since there is only one man in the room, he must be the owner of the "voice".


    I must start by thanking him.


    "I am glad you are safe. I am so glad you made it in time.


    His voice is surprisingly calm.


    It sounds the same as the "voice" that had just reached my head. I have no doubt that he is the owner of the voice.


    However, perhaps because of the difference in the emotions contained in his voice, his voice was so soft that it was almost as if he were a different person when I heard it in my own flesh.


    He smiles as he pulls up his hood and speaks the next words.


    "I''m sorry I yelled at you earlier, even if it was on the spur of the moment. I apologize."


    No, it''s nothing at all.


    I cannot thank you enough for your help.


    I cannot reward you for your work at this moment, but I will be sure to send you something that will be a just reward when I return to my country.


    ......I was supposed to reply with something like that.


    But the girl''s mouth stiffened at the sight of the man''s face hidden by the hood, and she was unable to utter a word.


    The girl was so surprised that she forgot to cover her bare breasts and stood there in a daze.


    The man''s face was quite ordinary.


    He was much younger than she had imagined, no older than 20.


    His eyes were a little sharp, but otherwise he was ordinary, with a face that could be described as that of a common man anywhere.


    However, if we ask him if he can blend in with the crowd of ordinary people, he is definitely not.


    The man - the young man - had a feature that stood out too much.


    It is the color of his eyes and hair.


    "...... black hair, black eyes?"


    Jet black.


    The black of her eyes is deep and absorbing, and the black of her hair reminds one of the color of a raven''s wet feathers.


    It is a special color for this world.


    It was never a color that just anyone could have.


    "Oh, ...... by the way, that, that, that ...... you''re dressed like that, is a bit of a sight for sore eyes."


    The young man walked up to the girl and tried to hand her the cloak he was wearing.


    However, the girl was not interested in that.


    She was just gazing at the color of the young man''s hair and eyes.


    Then, perhaps he became impatient with the girl who did not accept the cloak.


    While making an effort to take his eyes off the girl''s bosom, the young man took one more step toward her.


    The young man''s face came close to the distance between her eyes and her nose.


    Even at such a close distance, the color of the young man''s hair and eyes did not seem to be colored. At least from the girl''s eyes, the black hair and eyes seemed to be natural.


    Therefore, the girl asked the young man a question as her heart desired.


    "-Can you tell me your name?


    Suddenly, a word was uttered by a who-knows-what.


    The young man responds in a short answer, while putting a cloak over the girl whose breasts are still exposed.


    I am Helian.


    That was the encounter between the girl and the young man, Helian, King of All Evil.


    + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +


    The story goes back two weeks to October 14, 997, the year of the Holy Calendar.

 1 - The first episode, "Game."

    The progress of science is remarkable.


    What used to be something to be admired in the past has now become something to be taken for granted.


    The game industry is no exception.


    In fact, it could even be said that the game industry is a field where it is relatively easy to realize such < and .


    There is even one game company that has used the latest technology to create <> that could only be expressed in two dimensions, but that''s just for fun.


    The point is that there has always been a certain group of people who have longed for fantasy, science fiction, and other imaginary worlds.


    Thankfully, those people in the past have created them in reality, albeit in the form of games.


    He (she), who has just graduated from high school and is living a carefree college life, is also benefiting from it.


    The fourth generation of Virtual Reality System (VRS) games, commonly referred to as "full-sensory projection type".


    It is based on a revolutionary brainwave-reading electronic device operation technology called BC Brain Control NI Nano Interface. --In short, it is a type of game that uses a mechanism to read the player''s thoughts and output them into virtual reality.


    In addition to outputting information, the "full-sensory projection" system also includes a mechanism for receiving stimulus information from the virtual reality, thus realizing a new function of feeding back the player''s "five senses" beyond the visual and auditory senses.


    In other words, the "full-sensory projection system" can provide the player with a second world - a complete virtual reality.


    As a result, VR ��virtual reality�� games based on the full-sensory projection method became very popular, and many titles were created, which caused a worldwide craze.


    One of them was a game titled [Tactics Chronicle].


    As you can guess from the title to some extent, it is a strategic simulation type of boxyard game.


    You start a country, raise a country, defend a country, attack a country, and eventually become a superpower.


    The genre of "strategic SLG (simulation game)" itself is a good old genre that has existed for a long time if it is played offline in single-player mode.


    However, this work (title) has the fantasy element of <>, and is characterized by a game style that is somewhat similar to an RPG.


    This was the first game in this genre to use the "full-sensory projection" method, and the fact that it was released by a game company with a reputation for being extremely thorough in its production made it well received by the public.


    Tactics Chronicle], which was postponed three times and made users impatient, grabbed the hearts of many players.


    It is no exaggeration to say that it is a masterpiece of the level that there are only a few of them a year.


    --Of course I''ll buy it.


    He (he) mutters to himself in an empty room.


    I don''t mean to make excuses to anyone, but it''s normal to line up the night before the release date to buy it.


    He had been anticipating this game for quite some time, since the titles released by this game company are famous for not disappointing their core users. That is why he was so angry and sad when he saw the news that the release date had been postponed for the third time.


    Finally, he got the game and he was hooked (????). He was hooked. He was so immersed in the world of [Tactics Chronicle] that he didn''t have time to play other games.


    I can still vividly remember the day I first played the game.


    On the first day of its release, he was still in junior high school at the time, and as soon as he got his hands on the game, he headed home with the speed and agility of a member of the track and field team. As soon as he jumped into his room, he laid himself down in the dive pod, and Tsukasa Misaki, or "Helian" as he was known by his character name, landed on the land of Tactics Chronicle as a king.


    Magnificent prairies spread as far as the eye can see.


    A wooden hut built in the middle of it all.


    This is the land where the King of Helian ruled ......[Alkimaira].


    The first thing he felt was the wind.


    The feel of a soft green breeze caressing his cheek.


    The sound of the wind caressing the tall grass reaches his ears with an echo similar to that of a ripple.


    Then the scent of flowers and the earth.


    And then the overwhelming presence of the meadow spreading out before his eyes.


    It was a reality that even impressed him, as he had only played console games of the third generation or earlier.


    "-Well, let''s start building up the country. Our adventure starts here!


    I will never forget the day when I ran out into the empty meadow like a child who could not contain his excitement, shouting such lines.


    Thus, Helian, leading three demons, took a memorable first step into the [Tactics Chronicle].


    --Several years have passed since then in real time.


    Alkymyra], led by King Helian, has developed and sometimes nearly perished, survived the turbulent times that unfolded with other players, and through twists and turns, has grown into a superpower, a world champion.


    And today, as usual, Helian logged on to the game and was greeted by a host of demons who had gathered in the capital to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the country.


    + + +


    "Oh, it''s a spectacular sight indeed."


    Helian, the king of Alkimaira, let out a gasp of admiration.


    From the balcony of the castle, I looked down on the town.


    There, the famous demons that had been scattered all over the world were gathering one after another in the great plaza of the capital city, leading their own armies.


    Beastmen, demons, ogres, giants, elves, dwarves, dragons.


    As I watched the various other races gradually gathering, I was deeply moved as if I could see the results of my efforts. It is also enjoyable just to watch the legions that have been placed at each base marching in an orderly fashion to the battlefields.


    In this game, the effect of [event] was to raise the morale of the corps, the level of loyalty, and the happiness of the people according to the degree of achievement of the event.


    In addition, since the commemorative ceremony, the National Celebration, falls under the category of [Special Event], its effect is quite high. There is no way not to do this.


    In addition, it would also reduce the rebelliousness of the recently annexed ogre faction, thus killing two birds with one stone.


    The ogre faction has a lot of guts to pick a fight with us at this time of year when the heads of the military forces are all gathered here.


    I mean, even for an ogre of low intelligence, it was a reckless thing to do.


    What was the boss ogre thinking, who was leading only a force that could be easily subdued even if there was no corps leader at all?


    ......Well, I can only say that the AI loaded on the boss auger was particularly stupid.


    "Oh, the Eighth Legion is here too. Dragons stand out after all."


    The figure of a dragon swoops down from the sky above.


    The dragons, which threaten to burn the city to the ground, descend into the plaza of [Alkimaira] in herds.


    It may look like hell to some people, but the leader of the herd is the red dragon, the leader of the 8th Legion, and in other words, this herd of dragons is also a part of the army of [Alkymyla].


    "I''d better get ready for the event to start.


    With the swarm of dragons descending upon us, we turn on our heels.


    I think back on the many hardships I went through in adding the prideful dragons to my army, and I am mildly moved by how far my country has come.


    I then went to my office, switched my equipment to ceremonial use, and after killing a few minutes or so, I checked the to see that the various corps had finished lining up. Various stage sets to enhance the effect of the speech have been set up. The time is now ripe.


    Then, it is about time for "her" to arrive.


    Helian, who is familiar with the behavior patterns of the NPCs (Non-Player Characters) he has assigned to the king''s entourage, hums a countdown to the door of his office.


    "5......,4......,3......,2......,1......"


    With a zero count, a subdued knocking sound.


    <


    "Excuse me, King Helian."


    A quiet voice announces that a woman of around 20 years old has entered the room.


    Her semi-long silver hair was cut into a wolf cut, and her slit eyes peeking out from her bangs had an amber light in them. She was tall for a woman, standing about 170cm tall. Her posture and straight back remind us of a <.


    On her upper body, she was wearing only a body gown with a cloth wrapped around her from the left shoulder through her chest, leaving her right shoulder and navel exposed.


    On the lower half of her body, she wears only a loin cloth (loin cloth) wrapped around her waist like an ethnic-style skirt on top of a subliga protecting the outer thighs, which gives the impression of a lot of exposed skin overall.


    However, this is the result of emphasizing mobility in accordance with her style that favors melee combat, and all of these items are clearly first-rate pieces of armor.


    Also, on the top of her head, as if to indicate that she was a wolf-like beastman, her triangular dog ears stuck out from between her hair. In addition, a large, fluffy tail sprouted from her waist and waved loosely from side to side.


    She is Leewe of Managarum, the moon wolf who is a close aide of the king and the leader of the First Army.


    "Preparations for the [ceremony] of the [national celebration] are ready. Please move to the platform."


    She bows her head politely to Helian, the king (player), as she utters a line automatically formed by combining several important keywords.


    "[I understand]. Thank you."


    Helian felt a slight sense of emptiness that he had perfectly timed his greeting, but that was probably because he was taking the game so seriously.


    It''s only a game, but it''s a game. is Helian''s motto.


    "Now, let''s move to the podium. Follow me."


    "[Yes, sir.


    Levee, the head of the first corps, follows behind H��lien as he leaves his office, following his verbalized .


    I was impressed at first by the well-designed AI, Herian recalls fondly the day he started playing.


    Perhaps he is getting a bit sentimental on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the country.


    (Now, what should I say in my speech?)


    As I walk, I try to think of lines for my speech.


    No matter what I say, the result of the action of the is always the same, but it is precisely because I am concerned about it that I am able to immerse myself more deeply in the world and enjoy the experience.


    Time is a finite consumption, and it should be used effectively and intensively. In other words, we should enjoy it to the fullest.


    ��Okay. Let''s do it Major style this year. (Okay, this year I''m going to go with the Major''s style...)


    It was in the corridor on the way to the podium that Helian made up his mind to do so, and then it happened.


    "...... yeah?"


    Noise flickered at the edges of my vision.


    I peeked into the system window, wondering if the connection rate with the dive equipment had dropped, but it remained at normal values.


    While tilting my head, I began to hear noises.


    "Oh, come on, why at this time again? It''s a ceremonial event and you''re supposed to be ...... making sure you''re on top of it. Not only our country, but many other countries are holding their own national celebration events.


    Helian stops with a sigh and says, "Well, it''ll be fixed in a while.


    He stood still and waited for the noise to subside.


    "--?��What the hell?


    Suddenly, my sense of balance is off.


    The red carpet in the hallway shakes in my vision.


    I felt as if I had been thrown into an old-generation drum-type washing machine.


    My sense of balance, up and down, left and right, has been shaken so badly that I can hardly stand up properly. He sat down on the corridor.


    "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, what is this?


    I try to scream, but the inexplicable phenomenon does not stop.


    This time, right after I felt a momentary floating sensation, a shock hit my entire body as if I had been pushed up from below. It was as if the car in which I was riding had flown slightly and fallen.


    As if on cue, my sense of balance finally began to return to normal. The noise subsides again, and after a good ten seconds or so, my vision and hearing stabilize.


    "It finally stopped. ....... What the hell was that? Was it a bug?��You don''t think this is a natural disaster event, do you?"


    I get up, complaining.


    It''s not nice to have an event that spoils a beautiful day.


    "Mr. Helian!��Are you all right?


    Lieve comes running up to her and carefully inspects Helian''s body from top to bottom.


    He seems to be trying to examine her to see if she is injured.


    "Hmm?��Yeah, I''m fine. Don''t worry about it."


    The fact that the NPCs immediately reacted to the situation suggests that this phenomenon is not a bug of any kind. This means that it is most likely a natural disaster event.


    From the impact we saw earlier, it could be a major earthquake, or perhaps a falling meteorite.


    Either way, it is a nasty natural disaster. It will damage a wide range of facilities, take a long time to recover, and lower the happiness of the citizens.


    I look outside the castle, wondering if it is today of all days.


    Then I notice that the view from the corridor window has changed drastically.


    "Where is ......?"


    The castle town is alive and well. That''s good. A quick look around reveals no collapsed buildings and no fires. No craters, of course.


    So what is the problem?


    Beyond the walls that cover the castle town, a place that should be nothing but a wide grassy plain was stained with a dense, deep forest. It looked like some kind of jungle or sea of trees.


    "......What is this? Is this some kind of terrain interference type of super magic?


    No, but the Third and Fourth Legions are in the capital right now.��It''s absolutely impossible for a single chanting to break through their cooperative chanting boundary.


    And since there''s even a 6th Legion, there''s no way they can''t detect in advance something that stands out like an idiot like group chanting or ritual chanting ......."


    This is not the work of a hostile force.


    And yet, suddenly the capital is covered in forest.


    "A natural cataclysmic event?��Or is it a test of God event?"


    Either way, it''s still a bonus.


    "This is ......!


    Rieve, standing a little behind me, muttered something that sounded like a shudder. From the looks of it, it seems that the bad status [Fear] has been applied.


    That''s unusual.


    She has "Dauntless" in her "Characteristics", so she should be resistant to it, but even so, it''s a highly influential event that causes her to fall into "Fear".


    This is troubling.


    "Calm down, Liewe. I''m going back to the office. Follow me."


    He instructs Levee to follow him in and heads for his office.


    The office is furnished with a pearl, an item for communication. As soon as he arrives at the room, he touches the large jewel on the side table and immediately activates it.


    This will allow you to communicate with the other locations where the bead is placed.


    First of all, he tries to connect (access) to the nearest base to see how far this event has affected,


    "......?��Unaccessible?��No, the "list" of connection options doesn''t appear in the first place?"


    I wonder why.


    This has never happened to me before.


    Inaccessible is still good. It has happened before that a base has already been invaded or jammed by a hostile force, making it inaccessible.


    But what does it mean that there is no option to connect to the site?


    Helian wonders, and opens .


    "...... huh?


    It''s not there. It''s not here. No, the map itself was there, but it did not show even a single location under his control.


    On the contrary, the entire area outside of the capital was grayed out, indicating unexplored areas.


    The world map, which was supposed to have been completed after searching every nook and cranny of the world, was stained gray, with only the capital city drawn in the middle of the map.


    Is this a real bug?


    There is no place in Archimyra, which has become a superpower, that has not been explored ......,


    "I''ve heard that before. As I recall, a world is only one continent, and there may or may not actually be multiple worlds on a single planet. ......"


    This game [Tactics Chronicle] had a system in which a certain number of players participated in several worlds, instead of all players in one open world.


    And there are as many ways to enjoy this game as there are players.


    Although the basic concept of "to grow one''s subordinates to become a superpower" has to be followed, there are many different styles of play. Therefore, each world has its own characteristics as time goes by.


    In one world, there was a player who, since the establishment of his country, had been a fool, leaving the military side alone and devoting all of his national power to domestic affairs.


    The name is [Zank Kingdom]......, which seems to be a parody of a non-warlike nation from an old robot anime.


    And there seemed to be many players in the world who enjoyed it, and [ZankKingdom] continued on its path as a domestic policy power, specializing in domestic policy such as technological research, while being protected by several neighboring countries.


    And then they left for space.


    <


    .


    <>.


    >


    The dedicated bulletin board became a festival, and there was a flurry of shouting and chatting.


    The super-civilized nation [Zank Kingdom] observed a planet from a magic satellite floating in the stratosphere, and discovered another continent.


    The continent was about the same size as their own continent, and although it was jammed and could not be seen clearly, they confirmed several nation-like entities.


    In other words, the inference that there might actually be several continents "worlds" in one world "server", which had been thought of only as < until then, surfaced.


    Unfortunately, [Alkimayla], led by Helian, has not discovered another continent.


    They have not been able to break through the distant seas due to the great storms that have been constantly occurring since the creation of the world, and they have not even been able to confirm that the world is still round.


    However, it would not be surprising if there is another continent beyond the storm.


    And the fact that the that Helian is looking at right now is tinted in gray, indicating areas that have not been explored, is likely to indicate the fact that [Alkimaira], which he is ruling, is an unknown continent that he has not been able to explore at all.


    After all, this is ......,


    "Forced Transfers?��Are you saying that the entire capital was transferred to some continent in the Trial of God event?��Wow, seriously?"


    I hate the game''s management team for putting this on the heels of a major event like the National Celebration of the Founding of the Nation.


    "......No, wait!"


    However, if we change our mindset, we cannot say that this is a bad event in general.


    It has been a long time since our country [Alkimaira] became a superpower. There are no unexplored territories left, and for the past few decades in game time, we have been engaged only in wars with the Allies and domestic affairs, and have not had any adventures of an adventurous nature.


    However, if new unexplored areas have emerged here, we have no choice.


    It is quite an exciting situation to explore again in search of new countries and resources.


    Perhaps it was because I was thinking back to the first day of gameplay and reminiscing about those days when I was opening up the unknown with my own hands, that I was able to change my mindset surprisingly easily.


    And look at it this way.


    Although the country''s forces had been dispersed to various bases, the corps commanders and their main forces had been called back to the capital for the national celebration.


    Starting over on a new continent is, so to speak, a "strong new game.


    There is a concern that there may be other major powers of existing players in this continent.


    On the other hand, however, the forces I have are the elite of Alkimaira, the superpower that has become a complete power in [World #3]. There are many ways to do it.


    Then, ......


    --The king and his elites are sent to a new continent at the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the nation.


    --But the elite army led by the king performed remarkably well on the new continent.


    --With unknown resources in hand, they make a triumphant return to the old continent, where their beloved people await them.


    Oh...


    If you try to envision the future, this is quite an exciting event.


    "ku...... ku,ku"


    I can''t stop the excitement.


    I''m ready to give it a shot.


    A stifled smile breaks out from the corner of Hellian''s mouth.


    "Heh, Mr. Helian?��Can I help you?"


    Rieve gives me an anxious look.


    It was a fresh expression and gesture I had never seen before.


    I had never seen such an expression and gesture before. ...... I see, Levee becomes so calm when she is in a state of [fear].


    It''s not a bad thing that there is a gap between her normal appearance and this. And the gestures are quite realistic. The AI team of the operator is doing a very good job.


    "Rieve. It seems that our country''s [capital] was [forced] to [shift] by [event]. Then, first of all, it is necessary to grasp the current situation of the country.


    I will now send the minimum instructions to each corps. You should also contact [each corps leader], gather [information], and try to [grasp] [the current situation]."


    "......!��Yes, sir. As you wish."


    He bowed deeply and watched Levee leave, displaying a touch-panel projection display in the air.


    He calls up the Tactical Window, which is used to send out orders, and sends out instructions to each corps in rapid succession.


    The First Corps, as in the past, assists Wang Helian.


    The 2nd Corps is responsible for confirming the safety of the residents and maintaining security.


    The Third Corps will treat the wounded and check and maintain the capital''s wards along the outer walls.


    The Fourth Corps is in charge of looking outside the city by means of magic and conducting surveys.


    The 5th corps will support the 2nd corps and provide first aid with the 7th corps in case of damaged facilities.


    The 6th Corps will cooperate with the 4th Corps and concentrate on gathering information inside and outside the city.


    The VII Corps will inspect and repair the facilities.


    The VIII Corps will conduct reconnaissance from the skies over the capital area and keep a watchful eye on the surrounding area.


    However, all corps are strictly forbidden to take any action that might provoke foreign countries.


    The first priority is to understand the current situation in Japan.


    With this as the basic policy, the rest is to respond flexibly according to the instructions of the corps commanders.


    After issuing a series of orders, he rests his weight on the back of his chair and looks up at the ceiling.


    "This is getting interesting ......!"


    In the empty office, Helian smiles a challenging smile.

 2 - Second, "Sense of Disagreement"

    Well, I''ve finished giving instructions to the legions, so I''ve done what I had to do for the time being.


    I would like to grasp the current situation of the castle town and other places as soon as possible and move on to the next action, but the various windows only reflect the information before the transfer. The reason is that each corps is still gathering information and their reports have not reached Helian yet.


    In this game, only the information that is known is visible in the various windows, including the status window. <>This is not the case.


    Therefore, no matter how much you want to know the current situation, you have to wait until your subordinates finish collecting some information.


    But it is also painful to do nothing.


    Open a chat window.


    The translucent window that floats in front of you is lined with the names of other players - that is, kings of other countries - with whom you have had contact in the past.


    I tried to display the player list, thinking that I would chat with someone and do some kind of diplomacy to gather information and kill time, but..,


    "Huh?"


    All the player names in the list were grayed out.


    White indicates online status, gray indicates offline status, and black indicates doomed (game over) status. In other words, all players are offline.


    It is indeed strange that there is not a single online player at this time, when many countries are celebrating their national celebrations.


    Huh?��As I was tilting my head, a subdued knocking sound reached my ears.


    "Mr. Helian, it''s Leve. I have come to inform you of the current results of our investigation.


    Come in. You are cleared to enter.


    The door to the office is opened without a sound.


    Levee slid in, her back straight and straight as usual, but the dog ears on the top of her head were bent down.


    The dog ears on the top of his head were broken without much effort.


    "Well then, let me give you a quick report. First of all, the area outside the capital was completely covered with forest. Moreover, according to the information coming from the 6th Corps, some kind of jamming effect seems to be spreading throughout the entire forest.


    "Jamming by terrain (field) effects. ...... Well then, I''ll send some of the 4th Corps'' personnel to investigate again. Safety first, from a distance using magic."


    "The commander of the Fourth Army himself has already tried it, but he is having difficulty in analyzing the "jamming" effect, and it is difficult to obtain immediate results. It seems that we will have to use our legs."


    "What, after you''ve already tried it. Then, considering the suitability of the forest terrain, we can organize an elf-centered survey team ..................... ...,huh?"


    Yes, sir. I will send further instructions to the Commander of the 4th Corps."


    --Wait!


    "Also, as for the results of aerial reconnaissance ...... by the Dragon Tribe belonging to the 8th Legion, or rather, the results of distant observation from the sky, there seems to be an endless stretch of deep forest all around the area. Only in the northeastern area, there seems to be relatively little greenery, and some wilderness-like areas can be seen, but it was difficult to confirm any further from low altitude observations limited to within the boundaries of the capital city."


    --Wait a minute.


    "Also, a small thing, the dragons of the Eighth Legion are not very good. I had to beat them to silence them. It seems that they did not understand the royal order not to provoke them out of the country. I will leave it to the Commander of the 8th Army to re-educate him later. I have warned him not to shoot the target, just in case.


    --So wait!


    "Regarding domestic security, the people were quite agitated by the sudden situation, but thanks to the efforts of the 2nd and 5th corps commanders, the situation is now under control. However, a recently annexed ogre faction has been ......"


    "--Wait, Lieve."


    Your voice would have been shaking.


    I don''t think that was the behavior of a king.


    But I could not keep silent any longer.


    "......?��Can I help you?"


    Rieve has a dubious look on his face.


    Again, it was an emotion pattern I had never seen before.


    It was strange that I had never seen such an emotion pattern before, even though I should be most familiar with her among all of her subordinates.


    Her bad status of "fear" must have already been resolved, and she must be back to her usual "calmness" now. However, I am tired of seeing all the patterns of emotions in her calm state.


    However, there was such a great sense of discomfort that even that could be dismissed as a trivial matter.


    In the conversation with Levee, Helian did not utter any other than giving permission to enter the room. Nevertheless, Rieve responded to Helian''s soliloquy by saying that they had a meeting.


    --It is impossible.


    No matter how good AI is these days, it has not yet reached the realm where it can act completely like a human being.


    In this game [Tactics Chronicle], it is only made to look as if humans and AI are interacting freely by having the human side observe a few rules.


    Although it is possible for AI at the cutting-edge research level conducted by the government and companies to achieve full interpersonal communication, AI used for entertainment (games) has not yet reached such a level. It is.


    Therefore, it was an extraordinary event that Helian, the player, was able to communicate so freely with Lieve, the AI.


    "No, calm down ...... calm down.


    I mutter to myself.


    Suppose, yes, suppose that the AI of this game has been improved.


    In that case, I''d like to throw a complaint mail to the management saying, . Suppose that a revolutionary evolution has been achieved.


    --If this is the case, it would be strange if a large-scale version upgrade has not been made.


    That would require an upgrade process that would take dozens of hours or more. However, for the past six months, only small and medium-scale upgrades that take only a few dozen minutes have been carried out.


    There has been no large-scale upgrade.


    "............si,System Window: Open. Select: Logout. Immediately execute!


    Logout command is verbally manipulated--no response.


    In a panic, the translucent system window is moved in front of the user by touch, and the logout command is manually executed by tap--no response.


    "Why, why, ...... what the hell is this?


    In the system window that is still displayed, the command to call the GM ��Game Master�� is executed manually (tap)--no response.


    My legs are shaking.


    I can''t stop sweating.


    "Herian?��Can I help you?��Are you feeling sick somewhere? ......"


    Levee, her tail drooping weakly, looks into my face as if she is worried about me. In her slitted eyes, the reflection of herself, Helian, looks somewhat diminutive.


    Rieve, who wonders if he is not feeling well, raises Helian''s bangs and touches his hand to his forehead after saying, "Excuse me.


    Helian felt a cold, moist, feminine palm on his forehead.


    --Fearfully, she touches her right hand on Lieve''s cheek.


    "What?��Uh, sir?"


    A panicked gesture.


    A change in facial expression.


    This is also a first-time expression of emotion.


    Fingertips on the cheek.


    Feel the softness.


    I feel warmth.


    --That''s all there is to it.


    [Tactics Chronicle] is a full-sensory projection VR (Virtual Reality) game, which can transmit sensory information such as texture and temperature to the player. <, it has been realized for some time.


    However, it was only a superficial thing, and it was supposed to be a tasteless thing that could only provide a certain sensation.


    Although it is claimed to be able to sense the five senses, due to the performance limitations of home video game consoles, cost issues, and ethical issues of not confusing reality with games, the information about the human body should only have been able to provide a false sense of reality.


    And yet, what is that breathing of hers against my outstretched right arm?


    What is the beating of her heart that I can feel from the nape of her neck where my right hand touches?


    What is the natural hue of her cheeks as they gradually flush?


    What is that sweet scent peculiar to women?


    --It''s impossible.


    This is impossible.


    I suppose it is technically possible if one wanted to express it.


    However, if you ask me whether such detailed information can be loaded into entertainment (games), I would say no.


    It is absolutely impossible to pack such a huge amount of information into a single character unit of a game.


    Do you think there are hundreds of millions of characters in this world alone?


    If you want all of them to hold such a huge amount of information, not to mention the problem of storage capacity, the computation speed of a few thousand teraflops would not be able to keep up with the processing.


    A server that can handle such a large amount of information should be at the level of a supercomputer or over-technology.


    Then, there is a keyword that suddenly came to my mind.


    It was written on a pop-up I saw at a bookstore recently.


    It is a genre that exploded in popularity about 30 years ago with the Internet novels, and has been on the rise again recently.


    It is a theme often used in novels and manga targeting young readers.


    The characters are suddenly the victims of an unfortunate accident or a mistake by God, and are cut off from their daily lives and transported to another world they have never seen before, or a world similar to a video game...


    Otherworldly transfer.


    This is the first time I have ever heard the sound of blood being pumped through my veins.


    It''s as cold as if I''ve been stabbed by an icicle in my spine.


    My breathing becomes ragged on its own.


    I feel sick.


    I can''t stand.


    My vision is distorted.


    I can''t stop the nausea.


    "He, Herian-sama ......!


    Lieve holds Helian''s wobbling body in her arms.


    Her expression is one of worry mixed with impatience. It is hard to imagine her usual sharp eyes. Her cheeks, which were reddish before, are pale, and her eyes show only concern for her partner.


    This is definitely an emotion that I have never seen before.


    No, this is not something that can be expressed by the system of "emotion" anymore.


    The expression of concern on Levee''s face was so deep that Helian could only think that he was being confronted with a reality that was hard to accept.


    This is ridiculous.


    He has been watching too many cartoons and comics.


    There is no such thing as another world.


    First of all, he wasn''t hit by a truck protecting a child, nor did he meet God.


    No, I didn''t. Calm down. What are you thinking. It''s a fiction. How is that possible in real life? Otherworldly transfers are just a fantasy. It''s supposed to be.


    Nothing is ...... wrong.


    He shakes his head and stands up.


    I can''t see Lieve''s face.


    Her expression is too realistic for me to look directly at her.


    "Please sit down. I''ll get the head of the Third Army right away. Until then, please--"


    "Nothing!��Don''t call me!"


    The words of restraint he uttered quickly turned into an unintentional yell.


    Rieve''s body trembled.


    "Oh, no, ...... really, it''s nothing. I''m just a little dizzy, so please leave me alone.


    Words of comfort.


    No, actually, they''re just words to make up for something.


    But there is no way he can meet someone in his current state of mind.


    Perhaps only the AI of the NPC (Non-Player Character) designated as a member of the king''s entourage has been improved.


    If that is the case, then it may be possible to make one NPC per ...... player behave like a human being even with the current commercial technology.


    There is still a possibility.


    So we can''t meet other NPCs.


    Some reason, which is just barely working somewhere in my head, whispers to me that <<>, but I don''t have enough energy to take it seriously. I don''t have it.


    Anyway, I need to calm down. Please calm me down. I can''t meet anyone in this state.


    I''ve sent word to the corps. I''m waiting for their reports. You are also to re-compile the report from the corps commander at ....... As soon as we have some information, we will ask for another report.


    "...... but I think it would be better if you took a break."


    "I''ll be fine."


    Rieve''s expression is growing impatient.


    It is a well-made expression, as if she is sincerely concerned about Hellian. And the tone of voice. The dialogue.


    ...... stop it. Don''t make me see any more gestures that aren''t in the game.


    "At least let me see you ......."


    "You''re a jerk!��I said I''m fine!��You should leave and get your information together!"


    At the sound of the angry voice, Levee shrugged.


    Helian could only think of her as a scolded puppy, with her rational mind doing all the extra work.


    "............ I beg your pardon."


    With a look of concern for Helian to the end of his speech, but with a solemn bow at the end, Lieve left the room.


    All that was left in the office was the empty king, who had shouted at and driven out the men who had cared for him.


    ".................. system window: open. Select: Log out. Immediate."


    No response.


    ".................. System Window: Reopen. Select: GM call. Immediate.


    No response.


    I closed the system window and made it reappear, then manually executed the logout and GM call commands again, but still there was no response.

 3 - CHAPTER III "This Is a Dream"

    Thirty minutes have passed since then.


    Or maybe only three minutes have passed.


    Leaning back in his cushioned chair, looking up to the heavens, Helian thinks about such a trivial thing.


    ...... is getting to be too much of a distraction from reality.


    Forcing his head, which may or may not be working properly, to work, he lists the possibilities that could explain this situation.


    While playing [Tactics Chronicle], a revolutionary version-up has been implemented in the background and the AI has evolved to the point of superlative. Similarly for the five senses, the amount of information that can be perceived has increased enormously due to the version-up."


    Negative (Negative).


    Impossible.


    As for AI, it may be technically feasible if it is limited to NPC characters in the king''s entourage, but it would take dozens of hours to process them in the background. I don''t know.


    First of all, there was no such notice.


    Furthermore, it is a complete violation of the terms and conditions regarding the five senses.


    In order to prevent people from perceiving the virtual reality as the real reality, the regulations for VRS games are strictly enforced, starting with .


    Taste is a typical example.


    In the alpha test before the commercialization of , there was a problem that the brain falsely believed that the player had already eaten a real meal in the game, resulting in a drastic decrease in the amount of food intake in the real world.


    In response to this problem, the is set so that although the user can perceive some semblance of taste, the food is neither tasteless nor delicious, and is literally tasteless.


    In addition, the tactile senses are set so that they are not too close to reality (realism), but only up to a certain level of sensation.


    This is in response to the danger that players will be so satisfied with virtual reality that it will have a significant negative impact on their social life in the real world.


    In the early days of virtual reality simulation (VRS) games, when the regulations were not yet properly established, this was a social problem for a while.


    Therefore, it is absolutely impossible for an operator company to upgrade the version of the game so that it can acquire such realistic sensory information. This is because it would be an outrageous act that would not only stop the service of [Tactics Chronicle], but could also be a major incident that could threaten the very existence of the company.


    Possibility 2. This is actually the real world, and I was taken to a place similar to the game while I was sleeping. The leeve is a real person, and the dog ears and fluffy tail are accessories. In other words, a well-done cosplay."


    Negative.


    Impossible.


    What''s the point of setting up a castle that looks just like the game to surprise a single person?


    Besides, Riebe''s ears and tail were completely natural. There was nothing unnatural about their movements, they were there as a matter of course.


    First of all, he was able to open windows and send simple instructions to each of the legions. Needless to say, such a magical trick would not be possible in the real world.


    "Possibility 3. This is in [Tactics Chronicle], but my consciousness is transferred to another dedicated server. And another version of [Tactics Chronicle] is running on that server. On that dedicated server, which has specifications as high as a supercomputer, I''m having this stupid experience as a tester of some sort."


    You can''t deny .......


    There is still a possibility.


    Although it is in serious violation of the company''s code of ethics and the strict regulations specific to virtual reality simulation (VRS) games, it may be technically possible if one is willing to close one''s eyes to it.


    If only one person, Levee, is equipped with a high-performance AI that can act like a human, and if Levee is the only person who possesses enormous information (data) such as body temperature, skin texture, and pulse, it is not impossible to achieve this in terms of data capacity and computing power. It would seem so.


    However, there is something that needs to be confirmed in order to prove it.


    We have to establish the fact that only one person is an exception.


    "----"


    From a drawer in his desk, Helian pulled out a sterling silver paper knife.


    After a few moments, he held his left hand in front of his face and stared at his palm, which felt as real as if it were the real thing itself.


    He then pressed the blade of the knife against the palm of his left hand - he hesitated for a moment, and then quickly pulled it to the side.


    "Ouch! ......"


    Pain.


    Real pain, as if undiluted. This is another violation of protocol.


    However, this level of violation of regulations has already been predicted.


    The problem comes later.


    "...... I''m bleeding."


    Red flowing from a line-like cut.


    I clenched my left fist tightly, and the blood came pouring out in a flash.


    Dripping red. If I put my nose close to it, I could smell the blood. An overwhelming amount of information that is almost the same as the reality.


    In other words, if this is in [Tactics Chronicle], then it means that Levee is not the only character data that has been given an enormous amount of information.


    Even if such a huge amount of information is given from the server, there is no way that a home video game console can handle it.


    Therefore, possibility 3 is also negative.


    "Possibility No. 4: ........................ dreamy."


    I don''t want to deny that possibility, which I managed to narrow down.


    The cut on my left hand is aching, but I once pinched my cheek as hard as I could in a dream and did not wake up. I would like to think that it is the same kind of thing this time.


    Because this is the only possibility left.


    If I remove this possibility, I will have no choice but to face this impossible reality.


    Just as I was drooping my head, there was a knock at the door.


    The knocking sound sounded somewhat reserved.


    Or maybe it is just my imagination, and the guilt I feel for yelling at him earlier is making me think so.


    "[Enter]."


    "......Excuse me, sir."


    is used to convey permission to enter.


    Opening the door quietly, he entered, and as expected, it was Levee.


    Her expression was clear, but the triangular dog ears on the top of her head were flat on the ground, and her bushy silver tail was drooping weakly.


    The reason for this is not hard to imagine.


    "......Well, I''ve been compiling the information again, and I''d like to ...... report back to you."


    "Oh--no, I have something to say first."


    With a jerk, Liewe shook his shoulder.


    She looked like a puppy before it was chastised by its master for misbehaving.


    "......Lieve, I''m sorry. I was upset earlier."


    "What?"


    "It was a bit of a shock for me to be involved in such a situation as the transfer of an entire capital city. Please forgive me."


    He offers his apologies.


    As he was about to bow his head, a startled Lieve rushed to stop him.


    "No, no!��It''s just that I have said something rather impertinent, and it''s not something for which you should be apologizing, Mr. Helian!��I''m the one who should be sorry--"


    "No, I''m the one who should apologize. No, I''m the one who should apologize. I know it''s uncomfortable for you, but please accept my apology. This is what I ...... need to do for me."


    He interrupts Riebe''s line and apologizes, as if he is pushing him.


    It''s not that I''ve ...... accepted the ridiculous reality of another world.


    We still cannot deny the possibility that this is "a dream Helian is having.


    On the other hand, just because it is a dream does not mean that we can do whatever we want.


    At the very least, what I yelled at Lieve just now was completely out of anger. It is not something that can be settled without any human consideration. So I apologize. It is quite natural.


    And I don''t even want to think about ...... in case, just in case, this is "something" that is not a dream, there is nothing better than to act like a king. From the standpoint of mental health, it would not be a bad idea to act like a king.


    Levee still seemed to want to say something, but then she sniffed as if she had suddenly noticed something and turned her gaze slightly downward to the right.


    If you follow her gaze, you will see Helian''s left hand with a knife cut on it.


    She could not see it because it was hidden by the desk, but the smell of blood must have made her notice it.


    She is indeed a Blutbad, a mana-galum.


    I can guess that the reason why she didn''t notice me until now is because she was upset because she was displeased with me, and I feel a pang of guilt for taking it out on her.


    "Oh, is this it?"


    He lightly raises his left hand to show the wound.


    Then Lieve''s clear face changed and she looked as if she was about to cry.


    Helian, who was not used to seeing tears from a woman, hurriedly interrupted her.


    "No, no, it''s nothing!��It was just a little cut by mistake. Don''t worry about it."


    "...... Well, again, I am sorry to impose on you, but ...... please, treat ...... me."


    "It''s okay. This stuff goes away with a little spit. I don''t care. I just want to understand what''s going on."


    Unable to look Levee in the face <>, he forced himself to change the subject.


    "I dare to repeat, the first priority is to understand the current situation. What are the corps commanders doing now?"


    "At present, each of them commands their own corps in accordance with the orders given by Herian to each corps. ......"


    "I see. Then ...... is it possible to gather the heads of the corps in the audience chamber?��I only need about 15 minutes of your time.


    Possible!


    The reply flew forward.


    Levee''s face loomed in front of me. I could count the number of eyelashes.


    I have no idea what''s making her do this, but I wonder if she''s too desperate.


    "Oh, I see."


    With a slight hesitation, he designates the legionnaires to be assembled and informs them that they will be in the audience chamber in fifteen minutes.


    "Yes, sir!��Therefore, I will call for the nearest third corps commander first!


    I watched as Levee bowed deeply and strode quickly out of the office.


    I was about to nod my head and wonder what makes her so desperate, when I remembered her words as she was leaving.


    ......Oh, I see. You mean she was trying to get me to meet the Third Army Commander somehow.


    The Third Army Commander is a specialist in healing magic.


    He can''t bring them here to his office since the king refuses to receive them, but if the king holds an audience with him, he''ll use the opportunity to cure them somehow.


    "You''re a loyal dog, just like you''re supposed to be. No, he''s a wolf.


    I look at my left palm, thinking that this is a very reproducible dream.


    The blood was still flowing out from the cut wound, though it was less vigorous than before. It was painful to see, even though it was my own fault.


    "I guess I should have asked for medical treatment first. ...... It''s getting absurdly painful.


    I wrapped an appropriate cloth around my palm while uttering such pathetic words.


    As a mere student, I had no medical knowledge, but it would serve as a first aid kit for the time being.


    I sat down on a chair in the audience chamber, hoping that the dream would wake up by the time I had an audience with him.


    But time flies, and the time for the audience has arrived.

 4 - CHAPTER IV "Audience"

    --Suddenly...


    This game [Tactics Chronicle] contains a lot of fantasy elements, and as a result, it is different from ordinary historical war games in several ways.


    One of them is that you can literally play a warriors'' game ...... depending on how you raise your subordinates (characters).


    If you are a commander of a large army, you can even see him kicking the crap out of his army by riding single-handedly.


    For example, a certain player who was into role-playing once challenged an army of 10,000 men with 10 men whom he had intensively trained to fight against him and literally became a "one-hit wizard".


    There is a manga that tells a story of ten heroes who succeeded in overthrowing a country, according to the player himself, who is a fan of the manga,


    <


    The statement was made by the owner of the company.


    However, although his country destroyed the enemy''s main army, it did not have enough soldiers to occupy the enemy''s city, and the city was easily recaptured by the enemy''s agents.


    And while they were trying to recapture the city, the empty capital was overrun by violence of numbers and eventually became a vassal state of some other country. The reality is cruel.


    However, even a certain country that ran on a story has achieved a one-hit wager at least once.


    If so, there is no reason why the military superpower [Archimyra], which has become the world champion, cannot do the same thing, and the Commander of the Legion has a power far exceeding that of the Ten Braves of his (or her) country.


    His combat power is so great that a man who is good at wide-area extermination can even take on an army of more than 1,000 men by himself.


    On the other hand, however, the king (player) in [Tactics Chronicle] has no combat power at all.


    Their physical abilities (status), such as vitality, are as low as or lower than those of humans in the real world, and it is impossible to train them.


    The attack power is systematically set to zero, so that no matter how much you attack, you will not be able to inflict any damage on your enemies.


    In short, in this game, the king "player" is set as the weakest existence while his subordinates are the strongest. ...... And what I am trying to say is that the game is a game in which everything will be subjected to a rebellion. (The life of a man is a life of luck, and that means it will run out soon.


    --In other words, super scary.


    "Good to see you all here, corps commanders."


    He did not show any sign of fear as he addressed the assembled corps leaders with a hawkish attitude.


    Telling himself that it is not kingly to speak with trepidation, Helian exudes an air of dignity that is not there.


    Incidentally, the wound on his palm was healed by the Commander of the Third Legion before the audience began. There is not a scratch on it now.


    As for the matter of her feeling sick in front of Levee, she insists that she just got dizzy all of a sudden and that she is fine now. As the commander of the 3rd corps did not find anything wrong in his brief examination, Levee did not pursue the matter further.


    And, as expected, ...... other characters seemed to have "personalities" as well. The behavior of the leader of the Third Army, who treated me, was clearly not that of a cheap AI, but that of a being with a unique "personality"... ....


    "I wish I could tell you more, but we don''t have the time right now. Let''s get right to the point."


    After a brief preamble, Helian turns his attention to the corps leaders who are standing in line.


    The army of [Alkimaira] consists of a total of eight legions, each of which has its own head legionnaire.


    The supreme commander of the army is the king, Helian, but the discretion and detailed instructions are left to each corps commander in the absence of individual orders from the king.


    The number eight is not a particular number. Some countries have more than ten legions, while others have only five or six.


    In [Alkymyra], we have simply created legions that are appropriate from time to time for managing the nation and, by extension, for waging war, and as a result, we have settled on a total of eight legions.


    And now, kneeling before Helian''s eyes are four of the eight corps commanders.


    Commander of the First Corps.


    The head of a small elite force, known as the [Guard of Honor], whose main duty is to assist the king in various fields.


    Liewe of the Moon Wolf Managarme, who is the king''s aide and commander-in-chief of the general corps.


    Commander of the Second Legion.


    He is the head of the Order of the Beast, which possesses land forces centering on beastmen and knights.


    A lion-headed knight in full plate armor of pure white, Balan of the Sword Lion Sverrebe.


    Commander of the Third Army.


    He is the head of the so-called "Order of the Sacred Spirits", a group of specialists in recovery and support.


    Eltina of the Ancient Elves, whose golden hair reaches down to her waist.


    Commander of the Sixth Legion.


    He is the head of the demon-centered army, known as the [Demon Legion], which is in charge of espionage and sabotage.


    Camilla of the [Nightmare Queen], whose deep eyes and bewitching appearance attract the eye.


    These are the heads of the legion gathered in the audience hall.


    The commanders of the first to third legions are reincarnated evolved versions of the demons that Helian had with him from the beginning of the game, and we decided to gather them here because of their relatively calm personalities.


    Camilla, the 6th corps leader, is a member because she is a corps leader specialized in the field of information.


    As for the other corps commanders, they have strong personalities, perhaps as a result of having been recruited with an emphasis on performance, and I have told them to continue to concentrate on their duties and have not given them an audience with me.


    I do not dare to meet all eight of them out of the blue.


    "The reason I asked you to gather here is nothing else. As you already know, our country is now facing an unprecedented situation. I would like to talk about how to deal with it."


    """"--ha! """"


    Four voices respond simultaneously.


    They were perfectly aligned as if they had been practicing, and I felt slightly comfortable in this situation.


    ......You haven''t practiced, have you?


    "First, let''s talk about the phenomenon that hit our country."


    I speak, remembering the speech techniques I learned in a college presentation class.


    While I was taking the lecture, I thought it would be of little use, but I am very glad I took it seriously.


    The four pairs of eyes looking at you put pressure on you, but you must never stammer or look down. Look forward and speak with dignity. This is the most basic of all speech techniques.


    "Our country, which used to be surrounded by grasslands, is now covered by deep forests. Such a phenomenon has never existed since the founding of our country. Therefore, our first priority is to understand the current situation. ...... Liewe, please [explain] the [current] [situation]."


    "Ha, let me explain it to you step by step."


    To be sure, I gave him an instruction using , but his reply did not include .


    It seems that it is meaningless to insist on .


    Helian shakes his head inwardly and switches his thoughts.


    From this point on, it would be better to act as if we were dealing with PCs (players) instead of NPCs.


    "This is partially the same information that I have already given to Mr. Helian.


    "...... have you briefed the other corps leaders?"


    Yes. I have shared most of the information that I have just reported with you.


    "Then we''re wasting our time. We don''t need to talk about security and the results of the reconnaissance. Just explain the other parts.


    Yes, sir. Then let me begin.


    He nodded his head in agreement with the glances he received.


    (...... Is this how a dignified king should look like?)


    I''m worried, but it''s too late.


    I have no choice but to go along with this style.


    "First of all, I have already reported that the outside of the city is completely covered with forest, but I found that the well-maintained road that was supposed to extend from the great gate on the outer wall is completely gone.


    According to the survey, the same is true for all of the main gates on the east, west, south, north and west sides.


    They are not buried in the forest and are not difficult to see, but are neatly cut off as if the outer wall were the boundary line.


    "Therefore, it is highly likely that the entire capital city was cut off and sent somewhere ......, in other words, it is a metastasis phenomenon."


    This almost confirms that it is a metastasis.


    Transference itself is one of the bad events that occur occasionally.


    During a certain war, a part of a group that was marching through the snow to cross a mountain for a surprise attack was once shifted several hundred kilometers away.


    I remember that it was quite painful to lose a whole unit of the elite.


    "Now, as for the situation in the city, there is almost no damage to the buildings. The only damage was a small fire caused by a startled resident who mishandled some oil. A few people were injured in the commotion, but they have all been treated by the medical team of the 3rd Corps.


    This means that the situation in the country is calm for the time being.


    It is not difficult to imagine that many problems will erupt as time goes by, but there are no problems that need to be urgently addressed at this moment. So....


    "Is the most pressing problem outside the country?"


    "Yes. Since we were requested not to provoke the foreign countries, we have been investigating from a long distance, but the forest itself seems to have a jamming effect, and the results have not been good. Both magic and skills are being blocked.


    According to the results of the unskilled long-distance survey from the air, there is some kind of artifact in the northeast direction, but the rest of the area is covered by forest.


    "...... I see."


    He folds his arms and groans.


    We don''t want to take any rash actions when we don''t know what we are up against. We need information to decide how to approach the outside world in the future.


    "Let''s assume that the fact that our country is here now is not known to the outside world."


    It has already been more than an hour since the transfer, and there has been no contact from other forces.


    Probably, the existence of [Alkimaira] has not been noticed by other forces at this moment.


    Not being known is a big advantage. I do not want to give up this advantage carelessly. Especially in this situation where we don''t know what kind of forces are out there, how much of a threat they are, or even what they are."


    [In the Tactics Chronicles, countries that underestimated information usually perished. Whatever you do, you must have reliable information.


    It is dangerous to act based on the wishful thinking that "there is no threat around us and we can do as we please and no one will know of our existence ....... Therefore, our immediate goal is to investigate the current situation and obtain information on the surrounding area as soon as possible, while keeping our presence hidden. First of all, do you have any objection to this?"


    I look at the corps commanders with a prayer that they will understand that I am not a coward. Fortunately, no one raised an objection.


    Resisting the urge to let out a sigh of relief, I asked them questions while wearing the mask of a king.


    "Well, let''s keep that in mind from now on," he replied. I thought you had entrusted the 4th legion with the long-range investigation by magic, how did it turn out?��The forest is said to have an illusory effect, but even the 4th Legion, an elite group of magicians, can''t break through?"


    "Yes. I have received a report from the commander of the Fourth Corps that the basic structure of the illusion effect formula is woven into a completely different system from the one we know, and that it will take time to clarify it.


    I have no idea what the formula is.


    But I understand that there is nothing we can do about it right now.


    The commander of the 4th corps, who leads a corps that specializes in magic, has the characteristic of being a confident person, and there is almost nothing she has been able to do in the field of magic. Even when she was entrusted with a time-consuming problem, she would usually clearly state how long it would take to solve it, such as "I will have an answer for you by tomorrow.


    Since she is such a [confident] person and she does not know when she will be able to solve the problem, it would not be possible for her to conduct an immediate investigation through a magical approach.


    Incidentally, the demons under her control have up to eight [personal characteristics], which have a profound influence on their personalities and behavior patterns.


    There are good traits and bad traits, and the most common ones are "seriousness" and "selfishness".


    "However, if you can break through by force, it doesn''t matter," he says.


    When I asked him about it, he replied, <>But I have never heard of such a thing.


    It is a forceful technique, a complete push-and-pull strategy.


    It is like saying, "I couldn''t find a key that fits the keyhole, so I will break the lock itself.


    However, the preference for force is not limited to the commander of the 4th corps.


    Most of the demons in the corps leader class - perhaps because they have more than enough power - have a strong tendency to try to solve problems by force when they encounter them.


    Even Liewe tended to prefer physical language when dealing with minor problems. In fact, when he came to the office to make a report, he made a statement to the effect that <.


    If there is such a thing as a "personality trait" called "brains", then more than half of the military commanders must possess this trait.


    It makes my head hurt to wonder why I have made such a character all my corps commanders. I want to complain to my past self, <.


    Holding back a sigh, I answer Rieve.


    "Force is not an option. If there are forces around us that pose a threat to us, we will reveal our existence to them. It is possible that they already know us, but there is no need to confirm this possibility by making a flashy marker. It would be worth considering if we knew what was going on around us, but at this point we can''t make any moves."


    "I knew you would say that, so I told you to <. Once again, I would like to formally inform you that Herian has ordered us not to use force.


    "...... Umm,hmm."


    For some reason, Levee started wagging her tail.


    Although her expression remained clear, her bushy tail was wagging from side to side while making a faint sound, reminding me of a large dog that is always asking for praise.


    As an aside, Balan, the commander of the second corps, kneeling beside her, frowned in annoyance.


    ......Well, what the heck.


    At any rate, it is helpful to be able to sense feelings easily.


    It is easy to read from their reactions how to deal with them appropriately.


    The fact that you and Levee were in agreement suggests that the weight of force is the right choice for the country.


    "From the air, we can see what looks like an artifact in the northeast direction ......, right?"


    Yes. At altitudes within the capital''s boundary range, details were not available, but there are some structures in the forest."


    He put his hand on his chin and nodded.


    Helian, in a pose that suggests that he is in the middle of a thoughtful reflection, thinks back on his words and actions up to this point.


    (I''m acting like a king so far, right ......?)


    I wonder if my men are not impressed with me.


    I glanced at the four corps commanders who were lined up in the hall, and no one seemed to be offended by the situation.


    But that is also Helian''s wishful thinking. It is not very reliable.


    Helian is sweating cold sweat inwardly as his nerves are sharpened by the tension.


    --There is a reason why Helian is so concerned about his subordinates.


    There is a system of "rebellion" by the subordinates in this game.


    Unlike a certain famous game, in which once captured, the player becomes a loyal friend, there is no proof that the player will not be betrayed even if he or she has once become a member.


    If the happiness level remains extremely low or the loyalty level falls below a certain level, a rebellion may occur without mercy.


    If the rebel and Helian face each other one-on-one, Helian''s death is almost certain at that time.


    As mentioned above, the player who is the king is set up as the weakest being who has no combat power. Apart from a few abilities as a king "player," all that is left is a weak commoner who can be easily killed if confronted directly with a demon.


    And the reason why they, the , are bowing to Helian, the , must be because he is the "king" himself.


    In other words, if Helian is not fit to be a king, it is no wonder that he will be rebelled anytime.


    This means that we have to work hard at role-playing in the king''s style.


    They are still friends who have spent many years together.


    I would like to believe that they would not betray me so easily, but since the transition, I have not even had a proper conversation with any of the other corps leaders except for Liewe.


    There is no guarantee that they are of the same character as in the game, or that they are as loyal to me as in the game. ---- No, wait, this is a game. No, wait, it''s a game. Or maybe you''re just dreaming of a game. So it''s all right. I don''t know what''s okay, but it''s okay. It has to be.


    Helian shakes his head and turns his attention back to his thoughts, "It''s not safe to think anymore.


    "I think I''ve got the general idea. So, if we want to investigate further without the risk of provoking the foreign countries, we will have to do it by foot. Then, Commander of the 6th Corps, do you mind if I leave the foreign investigation to you?"


    Camilla, the Nightmare Queen, looks up.


    Dressed in Victorian gothic clothing, she is a female demon with a bewitching atmosphere.


    Although her external age is close to that of a girl of about 17 years old, the air she wears is completely that of a "woman.


    Her red eyes are deep enough to make you fall if you look into them, and her face is more like a demon''s face than a beauty. Her breasts are extremely large in comparison with her height, and perhaps her clothes were originally designed in such a way that the straps are loosened around her chest, exposing a tight cleavage.


    If she smiles at you and puts her arms around you, no man would be able to refuse her invitation.


    However, now she is frowning slightly and her eyebrows are lowered as if she is troubled.


    "My Lord. If it is at the behest of my lord, then I and my army will do our utmost. That is only natural, but if you ask me if we can search ...... the forest, I must say that there are some problems."


    Problem?


    The VI Corps led by Camilla is a corps created for espionage and intelligence gathering for other countries. In the field of intelligence gathering, it is unrivaled by any other corps.


    The problem that Camilla, the head of the Sixth Legion, is talking about is: .......


    "I''m sorry to say that I''m not strong enough, but none of the demons belonging to the Sixth Legion, including my ...... mistress, have ever investigated an unexplored area. If you ask me if I''m confident, it''s hard for me to shake my head. ......"


    Camilla tells him apologetically.


    Helian, on the other hand, was filled with a desire to hold his head in his hands.


    (I''ve done it! I''ve done it! ......)


    It is true that these women are specialists in intelligence and information gathering, but in a different direction.


    The Sixth Corps was not created until more than fifty years after the founding of the country.


    It was after the unexplored areas themselves had almost disappeared due to exchanges of maps with other countries, and at that time, the prototype of a world map was already in the process of being created. The purpose of creating the Sixth Corps was for the purpose of intelligence warfare during the Cold War.


    In other words, the scope of activities of the Sixth Corps was only intended for the hypothetical enemy countries, and its main purpose was to conduct espionage activities involving human intelligence. The intelligence and information gathering capabilities of the 6th Corps were specialized in this area, and they had never even experienced the exploration of unexplored areas that had never been investigated by anyone.


    It was Helian''s mistake to entrust the Sixth Corps with this task, focusing only on the keywords that they specialize in the fields of intelligence and information gathering.


    "Oh, no, of course I understand that it is a difficult situation to allocate personnel. If there is no one else qualified, my Sixth Legion will manage..."


    No, your concerns are valid. Honesty is good in this situation. I am glad to hear your advice, Camilla.


    Like a king," he muttered in his mind like an incantation.


    "So let me ask you a question. Let me ask you this: Commander of the First Legion, Liewe, Commander of the Second Legion, Balan, Commander of the Third Legion, and Eltina, Commander of the Third Legion. Do you remember the time when you surveyed the unexplored areas?


    How could I forget what happened right after I arrived in the world with Mr. Helian?


    Of course I remember, my Lord.


    I can remember it like it was yesterday.


    Each of the three men who were asked replied in the affirmative.


    Helian asked about the early days,...... when he had arrived in this world with three demons and was exploring on foot in a world he knew neither the right nor the left. The memory of the time when she led only three demons to explore the unknown world is still vivid in my mind.


    I don''t know how the event is interpreted in their minds, but if they remember it, it is better to leave it to those who have experienced it.


    We have thought of using soldiers from each corps for the survey, but very few of them have experience in the unexplored areas. Besides, it would be a bad idea to go out to search in groups and let other forces know of our presence.


    Furthermore, we do not know what kind of threats are lurking out there.


    If there were to be a field boss level magical beast, we may end up making unnecessary sacrifices. Under the circumstances where we are separated from the satellite cities and there is no way to replenish our forces, there is a considerable amount of resistance to prematurely depleting our forces.


    If this is the case, it would be better to deploy only the three corps commanders, who have experience in surveying unexplored areas and are part of the best force.


    The possibility of exposure to other forces would be minimized, and even if they were discovered, a group of three or so could be disguised as travelers or stragglers.


    Worst of all, even if there is a terrible threat lurking in the forest, the leader of the corps can survive as long as he is committed to running away.


    Then, when I thought about entrusting these three with the task, domestic concerns came to my mind.


    Although we are not facing any serious problems at the moment, we have just been hit by an unprecedented cataclysm that could shift the entire capital city. We don''t know what will happen in Japan in the future. If that is the case,


    "All right - then, as for the 2nd Corps Commander, "Baran", please continue to maintain domestic security and be prepared to defend the country in case of emergency. Under the current circumstances, I cannot remove you from the charge of maintaining security."


    Balan, the second corps commander who was ordered to maintain security, bowed his head solemnly.


    He is of the Sverrebe race, one of the high-end classes of beastmen, and appears to be a bipedal lion in full plate armor.


    His helmet is also shaped like a lion''s head for some reason, and his appearance is almost the same whether he wears the helmet or not.


    However, this is not because he is joking around, but because his helmet happens to resemble a lion''s head as a result of his pursuit of performance.


    He is a professional in melee combat, and is the best defensive fighter among the leaders of the Eight Grand Corps. Under the circumstances, we cannot afford to exclude him from the defense of the country.


    He also possesses the character trait of [discipline], and from the perspective of maintaining public order in a country in high spirits, there was no one better suited than him.


    "And the two people in charge of investigating the unexplored areas will be the Commander of the 1st Corps ��Lieve�� and the Commander of the 3rd Corps ��Ertina��. Please take good care of them."


    ""--Ha, yes, sir!"""


    The two female corps commanders return the order of worship.


    The chorus of chants was lively, but at the same time, I felt that they were a little over-enthusiastic.


    In a sense, this may be understandable, since they are responsible for the fate of [Alkimaira] from now on, but excessive [tension] will lower the basic performance. This was something to be feared when exploring unknown territory.


    Helian thinks that although he does not have any combat skills, he can at least relieve the tension between the women.


    And if there is something he can do, he should do it.


    It would be one of the jobs of the king, his superior, to relieve the tension of his men and put them in a state of mind that would allow them to reach their full potential.


    "You don''t have to be so uptight, just think of it as a search in the beginning. Think back to those days. The only difference is that Baran is gone.


    When I told them what I was going to do as a follow-up, Lieve and Ertina, who had been bowing their heads, jumped up in surprise. They both had a look of astonishment on their faces.


    (...... What?��Was it so surprising that he tried to care for his men?)


    Helian is a bit hesitant, but once he has opened his mouth, he is determined to finish what he has to say. He continued, "Don''t worry about it.


    Besides, your abilities have improved beyond compare compared to those days. Don''t get too worked up, just show your usual ability. I have faith in you."


    ......I''ve said it all, but what do you think?


    I was inwardly dripping with cold sweat, but the two corps commanders who were looking straight at me hung their heads again with tightly knit lips, as if they had made some sort of resolution.


    ""I understand the details, sir.""


    His reply was even more forceful than before.


    Moreover, he seemed to be filled with a stronger sense of tension than before.


    ...... Oh no. I must have failed.


    Instead of releasing the tension, it seems to have worsened it.


    But water does not return to the tray. We have no choice but to keep going.


    "As for the 6th Corps, select five men who specialize in stealth.


    They will accompany the survey team under cover and serve as liaison personnel in the event of unforeseen circumstances.


    The selection will be left to you, Kamila. And you yourself will continue to collect and control information in the country.


    "Yes, my lord."


    With a charming smile, Camilla, Commander of the 6th Legion, nodded her head in affirmation.


    This seductive gesture might have succeeded in capturing Helli��n''s gaze in normal times, but he was not in the mood for it.


    "Well then, this concludes the audience. As for the foreign mission, we will launch from the north gate in fifteen minutes. Liewe and Ertina, get ready. The other commanders of the corps will continue their duties.


    Helian leaves the audience hall, emotionally fleeing.


    The two corps commanders who had been appointed to the survey team, among those who remained in the audience chamber, were deeply prepared with the king''s words in their hearts.

 5 - CHAPTER V "The Army Commander After Audience"

    The king leaves the audience chamber.


    But even after the sound of footsteps faded away, the four legionnaires continued to hang their heads, not moving an inch. After another ten seconds or so, they all let out a deep breath and resumed breathing.


    Helian was indeed on the verge of being engulfed by a sense of urgency.


    But in fact, the same was true for the corps leaders who were standing side by side.


    Just a few moments ago, they were in the presence of the one and only absolute ruler of Alkimaira, the land of all demons.


    And aside from Levee, who is a close aide to the king, the other commanders of the corps do not have many opportunities to exchange words directly with the king. For the Commander of the 6th Corps, who was serving in a satellite city, it had been several years since he had even seen the King in person. It was natural for him to be tense.


    As they tried to relax, each of them released their posture of obedience.


    Then Camilla, the leader of the 6th legion, let out a lustrous sigh and opened her mouth to speak.


    "Well, I was a little nervous, but you are still very gallant, aren''t you? If it weren''t for the circumstances, I would have liked to talk with you more.


    Recalling the memory of the audience she had just had, Camilla was entranced by the image of her beloved king.


    "You''re being impertinent, Commander of the Sixth Legion."


    "So I would have said , stonemason."


    She was interrupted by the second corps commander, Balan, who gave her a watered-down complaint.


    He was a beast-like demon with the head of a lion, and was known as a "hard man" with "seriousness" and "stubbornness" in his character traits. <>That''s according to a corps commander who is not here.


    He was a man of mature age who had the dignity of a leader of the Knights, but his inflexibility was a flaw.


    "First of all, they''re too unfair. The three of you who have been stationed in the capital are probably used to having an audience with my lord, but it''s been three years since I''ve had an audience with you. It wouldn''t hurt to indulge in the afterglow for a little while."


    "It is not surprising that you have chosen the three of us to be the resident military commanders of the capital. The other corps commanders are in many ways peculiar. The only decent corps leaders that are easy for the Commander-in-Chief to manage are the three of us from the beginning.


    The "three in the beginning" mentioned by Balan are the three initial demons that Helian had with him at the beginning of the gameplay.


    In the game [Tactics Chronicle], the king [player] who starts playing is given three initial demons without fail. These demons are selected at random, just like a typical gacha, so you do not know what kind of demons you will get.


    In the case of Helian, there was a little werewolf, a lesser warcat, and an elf.


    Only the Elf was a Rare species, but the other two were of a lower class with mediocre abilities.


    However, he became attached to the first three and patiently continued to train them, and by reincarnating and evolving them, he raised them to the top level of demons. They have now become the highest rank of the "high-end" race, the Moon Wolf Managarm, the Sword Lion Sverrebe, and the Ancient Elf, respectively, and serve as the leaders of the military corps.


    Helian has given the three now grown-up demons the grandiose nickname of "The Three Beginnings. He even went to the trouble of registering this nickname in the game''s dictionary function so that the AI would recognize it.


    "Hmph. Don''t call yourself sane. You may not know it because you''re a man, but as a concubine who knows many things, I can''t say that Lieve''s tastes and interests are decent. Eltina, too, has her own suspicious points of view.


    "Oh, no. What do you mean by that, Camilla?


    It is Ertina, the commander of the third corps, who asks the question in a calm tone.


    She is a "kind sister" who is a go-between for the corps commanders who have strong habits.


    She was dressed in a loose-fitting pure white cowl, and her slightly exposed skin was as white and clear as the cowl.


    Her well-shaped face and appearance, which are typical of an elf, are more than enough to make her a beauty, but the "elegance" of her features adds to the charm. Even if she is a member of the Elven race, her beauty would make you let out a sigh of admiration.


    Out of nowhere, she pulls out two cushions and lays them on the floor.


    "I don''t even know what that means..."


    "Sit on the floor."


    "What?"


    "I''m sitting on my knees, Camilla."


    She herself sat upright on the cushion and tapped the cushion on the opposite side of her, as if admonishing an infant. Her expression remained the same, a loving smile.


    "......Why are you sitting on the floor?"


    "No, I''m sitting on my seat."


    "No, so--" "Camilla?"


    With a smiling face, Ertina mentions the name of her colleague.


    "............"


    A moment of silence.


    Camilla felt an indescribable pressure, and sat down calmly in front of him.


    Eltina is the gentlest of the eight leaders.


    At the same time, she is the one who should not be offended the most.


    "Now, let''s talk, Camilla. What is so suspicious about me?


    "No, I don''t have anything to do with anything. ...... You like girls, don''t you?"


    That is misleading. I like gentlemen, you know.��But on the other hand, I also like girls."


    "At that point, you are no longer normal. ....... No, I understand that in my line of work, but in terms of common sense, yes.


    No, that''s not true. It''s normal. It is quite normal for girls to get to know each other. As proof, there was a time when Your Highness muttered something like that.


    "Nuh. You''re the one."


    Camilla was bitten by the information of her beloved Lord.


    If Helian had been here, he would have said, "No, no, no, that was just a story about a game (eroge) that the king of a neighboring country (player) had suggested to me, and I didn''t mean anything ......! But fortunately or unfortunately, he is not here now.


    Therefore, Camilla, who had feelings for the king that were distinctly different from loyalty, made a note in her mental notebook about the king''s tastes and interests in a very serious manner.


    Balan, who was listening at the side, also overruled his own common sense, saying, "If the king says so, then he must be right. In this country, for better or worse, Helian is the law.


    "And you know what, Camilla?


    A girl''s face on the verge of tears is a very precious thing, isn''t it?"


    "...... hmm?"


    Camilla tilts her head as she finishes her note.


    There was something fishy going on.


    "Of course, I don''t want to see you cry.


    There is nothing more tragic than a girl''s crying face. ......"


    Ertina, her eyes downcast, puts her hand on her chest and murmurs a prayer.


    Her expression is that of the Virgin as she spells her words with a sorrowful face.


    "If there is a girl within my reach who sheds tears, I would like to use all the strength I have and do my best to stop her tears. I would do so with all my heart."


    "Uh-huh."


    "But the expression on the face of a girl on the verge of tears - yes, what we call ''half-crying'' - is very lovely. You want to stop her tears, you want to hold her and comfort her, ...... and above all, you want to watch her lovely face for a long, long time."


    The Virgin "Eltina" smiled lovingly and said, "Because,


    "There is no creature in the world prettier than a ''half-crying girl.


    It was an affirmation.


    They were words from the heart, with no hesitation whatsoever.


    Camilla froze in front of the Virgin''s smile (archaic smile).


    "............"


    Are you decent?��He looked at Balan, who looked away from him with all his might.


    "Well, by the way, you''ve been awfully quiet since a while ago, Levee. Is something bothering you?"


    Deliberately ignoring Camilla''s mutterings that he was running away, Balan turned to his colleague next to him.


    "......?��Hey, Levee. Can you hear me?"


    "Hmm?��Oh, ......."


    But the response was very slow. It seems as if the sky is above us.


    Balan''s decision to talk to her was based on a spur-of-the-moment defensive instinct, but he wonders about the unexpectedly slow response.


    Come to think of it, when Camilla had mentioned Levee''s hobbies earlier, she had not reacted either. That is strange, considering Rieve''s temperament. At the very least, she must have had some kind of a rebuttal.


    The corps leaders became suspicious and their gazes focused on Levee.


    "What''s the matter, Levee? Is something wrong?


    "No, ...... it''s about the foreign investigation. I''ve been thinking about what Mr. Helian said.


    "......I knew it, did you think so too?"


    Eltina thinks, her calm expression tightening. I guess that''s what His Majesty meant (??????) by those words.


    "It seems that I am not imagining things if Nushi and the others agree with me..."


    "I guess that''s what it means. It''s just like you to say so, ......."


    "If you have made your decision, we will follow it."


    We must quickly select personnel specializing in stealth," muttered Camilla as she stood up.


    "And by the way, Baran, as well as Liewe and Ertina. Do you really want to stay here forever?��Nushi has to get ready to see them off."


    "Mmm. You''re right. We must hurry.


    "In the meantime, I''ll have my concubine release the commander of the 5th Corps to take over the command of security. Is that all right with you, Commander-in-Chief?


    "Yes, you have my permission."


    Liewe, who holds the position of general commander of the eight major corps, nodded his head and replied.


    She is the head of the 1st corps, but she is also the head of the general corps.


    The I Corps is not so large because it is a small elite corps whose main mission is to assist the king.


    Since her own corps is relatively small and the deputy corps commander is in practical command of the I Corps, she is rarely required to take a hand in the operation of her own corps.


    "Well then, I will move on to the preparations. I can''t just leave her in ceremonial gear and go out on patrol after seeing her off, so please allow me a little more time."


    I know that much. Don''t worry about it.


    While Camilla looked fed up with his small talk, Balan left the audience hall at a brisk pace.


    Camilla, too, turned her body into mist and dissolved into thin air. She turned into a mist and headed down to her own corps at the speed of the wind to deliver a message to the commander of the Fifth Corps.


    "Well, shall we hurry, Lieve?"


    "Yes."


    They receive an imperial order from the king and go to the treasury, where they store important equipment, to prepare for their expedition.


    As they walk down the hallway of the castle, which is empty except for them, Lieve suddenly speaks up.


    "......Ertina. I must confess that I was concerned that Helian might not be in good shape. The unprecedented situation of the entire capital being moved may be confusing him."


    "That''s understandable. We were all stunned. Even the Commander of the 8th Corps was cowering in shock. It''s only natural that Your Highness should be so stunned.


    "No, it wasn''t, Eltina."


    Rieve replied, shaking his head.


    As if confessing her sins, she tells Ertina.


    "You were calm immediately after the transition. As proof of this, even immediately after the transition, he gave appropriate instructions to the corps in rapid succession and gave me, who was in a panic, orders that guided me.


    Without his order, I would have been in a panic and would have been unable to do anything for a while, or I would have done something out of the ordinary. In fact, when Mr. Helian became ill in the office, I made a fuss without any thought and caused his displeasure.


    It''s a bitter memory.


    I cannot remember the last time I was yelled at by the king, except when he ordered me to do something on a tight battlefield.


    That is why what had just happened in the office had come as a bit of a shock to her.


    "But Helian was still a great king, no matter what the circumstances. I had forgotten that. He is the king of all the demons in this land, like no one else.


    Therefore, we should continue to be his pawns as before. We should work as a "force" to pave the way for the king himself. I was finally reminded of this by Mr. Helian''s words just now.


    "...... it is too early to decide. Even His Majesty may be ill at times. In fact, when I examined him just now, he seemed to be under a great deal of stress. I don''t think you were wrong to be concerned about His Majesty, do you?


    "We''ll talk about it later. I wanted to say something to ...... someone after I spoke to you. I''m sorry."


    "Don''t worry about it. Don''t worry about it. I''m doing my part.


    Eltina smiles softly.


    As usual, it is a gentle smile that calms the viewer''s mood.


    We are glad she is here.


    Rieve takes a deep breath and changes his mind.


    "Good. Then I will prepare the outfits for Helian''s expedition. The king himself will lead the advance party to the battlefield. We''ll be ready for you, Ertina."


    "Yes. Since we don''t know what the threat is out there, we must be prepared to serve as your shield in case of emergency. But let''s do our best to make sure that we all return home safely, Rieve.


    The two have thus established a deep common understanding.


    With a somewhat determined expression on their faces, they proceeded with their preparations as the "survey team for the unexplored area led by the king himself.

 6 - CHAPTER VI "Search Preparation"

    Helian was in his office with his head in his hands.


    The reaction of the legionnaires at the audience he had just had did not seem to be good enough.


    He had intended to behave in a kingly manner, but he had already made a gaffe.


    Although he followed up his speech, I have a strong impression that it ended in vain.


    Politicians we see on TV have been ousted from their positions for a single gaffe.


    Even a prime minister of a country can be ousted from his position by a single mistake, depending on the time and circumstances. You never know what could happen to you, the person sitting on the throne, and what could drive you out of the throne.


    And if you are forced to leave the throne and treated as a mere human being, your life is in danger at once.


    A player who is not the king is a mere commoner, a small fry who will be beaten to death even by goblins. That is why Helian had to avoid being driven off the throne at all costs.


    I already misspoke. There is nothing he can do about it now. I repeat, water does not return to the tray.


    Then, what we should think about now is how to follow up or how to make up for the blunder we have made.


    "......I want to maintain the image of a gentle king if possible."


    This should still have been the line of the Good King.


    As for his national strategy, he has been very careful about security, and with one exception, he has never started a war of aggression against another country.


    Basically, they have bought the wars that were sold to them, annexed other countries, and have been on their way to becoming a great power. He has never behaved as a cruel and unmatched high king.


    Then, what should we do to maintain that image?


    For example, how should he behave as a king when he starts launching his men into unexplored territories where he does not know what kind of dangers might be lurking?


    "It is not right to order a small group of men to go to a danger zone and not even go to see them off. ......"


    The survey itself is absolutely necessary. I do not think the order we gave was wrong. However, it would not be right for a king not to see his men off when they are about to go out to the danger zone.


    It may be hypocritical to think such a thing while giving an order, but still, the path that Helian has taken so far does not leave him with the option of <>.


    "Let''s start with what we can ...... think about specific follow-ups after we send them off first."


    This should be an important job for a king.


    And if we are talking in terms of calculation, sending them off may boost their morale.


    If so, it will be profitable. For the small amount of time we spend seeing them off, we can increase the chances of them coming back with better results.


    Then we must act.


    Move your hands and feet, get out in the field. Listen with your ears and see with your eyes."


    I imitate the habit of the professor who was in charge of the seminar.


    According to the professor, it is a necessary behavior for those who stand on top of others. He was a professor who liked to draw upon his great strength and had a long story to tell, but I am glad that I did not let him talk me out of it. In life, you never know what will be useful for you.


    I never expected that I would be in the position of the highest authority at the age of less than 20 years old.


    Anyway, we left the castle gate and headed for the great gate on the outer wall.


    On the way, we were escorted by the SS of the 1st Corps.


    We realized along the way that we could easily be killed if the SS betrayed us, but to begin with, most of the people in this country have enough fighting strength to kill a Hellian.


    So, he decided that there was no point in being nervous. If you have a strong stomach, you can usually handle anything. It is also called a desperate state of mind.


    We arrived at the great gate of the northeast wall without incident.


    The surface of the gate, which is protected by a formation magic, is engraved with geometrical patterns, and light occasionally pulsates along the patterns.


    This is a proof that the large scale warding magic surrounding the capital is still in operation. There is nothing wrong with this.


    The problem is the scene of the plaza in front of the main gate.


    "...... what the hell is this?"


    Soldiers were gathered in the square.


    If only that were the case. It can be interpreted that they are guarding each outer gate to maintain security.


    However, they were dressed in equipment that emphasized external appearance rather than practicality.


    They stood in two lines for a distance of about 300 meters from the plaza to the gate.


    They stood in line, not moving a muscle, facing each other, and one had to walk between them to get out of the gate.


    It was, by all appearances, a guard of honor to see off the departure.


    "...... What the hell are these guys doing? Instead of this, you should be putting more effort into maintaining security on all sides. ...... If that were the case, even the commander of the 2nd Corps, Balan, would have been sent out."


    Helian grumbled so that the SS could not hear him.


    Even if two legionnaires are going out, it''s still too much of an overreaction. In normal times, this would be the right thing to do, but not in this emergency.


    And what about the faces of the honor guard?


    A slight tragedy is visible amidst their great pride. It is as if they are sending a nobleman off to the place of death. What an omen!


    Herian.


    "Your Majesty."


    The two who approached and approached Helian were Liewe of the Moon Wolf Managarum and Ertina of the Ancient Elves, who had been chosen to join the survey team. Both of them are dressed in equipment designed for practical use only.


    The attendants at their side loosely surround Herian, holding up well-tailored, pure white cloths to shield them from the eyes of others.


    "Master Helian, I will take your cloak."


    Rieve says no and carefully removes Helli��n''s cloak.


    One of the attendants came running and knelt down beside her, respectfully accepting the cloak with both hands. He then places the cloak in a black velvet case, which another attendant has brought, with the same care as if he were handling a fragile object.


    "............ what?"


    Helian couldn''t help but let out a yelp.


    Why did they take off my cloak?


    She had no time to question because of the fluidity of his movements, but that cloak was the exclusive equipment of the king ��player��with the national coat of arms embroidered on the back, and by extension, the cloak that proves that he is the king.


    What does the fact that it was taken off and taken away so reverently mean?


    Your Majesty.


    Ertina bowed deeply, then turned around Helian, who froze with a bad feeling, and helped him to put on his new clothes. It was a sturdy-looking cloak that struck the right balance between practicality and elegance.


    Then, in the blink of an eye, light cuirasses made of light materials were attached to various parts of her body, and her shoes were replaced with gleaves made of dragon scales.


    The cloths held up by the attendants were folded at once, and the center of the cloth was once again exposed to the eyes of the surrounding people. There was Helian, dressed in his expedition gear.


    The servants, who had done their job perfectly, quietly retreated, leaving only three figures in their expeditionary gear.


    (...... wait for me)


    Helian sweats like a waterfall inwardly.


    It was not a sign of treason, but why did they make him take off his usual cloak?


    Why was he made to wear the cloak of the expedition?


    And why did Liewe and Ertina stand slightly behind him on either side of him, as if they were in the lead with Helian?


    "We will protect you at all costs, Herian. I will protect you no matter what happens in the future.


    "Although I am a small man, I will do my utmost for Your Majesty and your country. I will do my best for Your Majesty and your country, and I will be prepared to do my duty along the way."


    The former is by Levee and the latter by Ertina.


    Helian froze completely in the face of these two who firmly announced their determination.


    "............"


    What''s this?


    How did this happen?


    Please tell me this is a joke.


    I seriously don''t understand.


    It''s as if the king himself is going to investigate the situation outside the country.


    Helian hurriedly recalled the order he had given earlier, but he did not remember making such a brave and crazy statement as <>.


    (...... No, come to think of it...)


    I think back to exactly what I said.


    I remember that at the audience I had just had, I had asked the "Three Bodies of the Beginning" if they remembered having surveyed the unexplored areas in the early days of this game, and they had replied that they <> that they had done so.


    He then instructed them to remove Balan, who was essential for maintaining security, and to go out to investigate with the remaining members, Liewe and Ertina.


    At that time, he told them to follow up with the following words: ......


    <


    Same as in the early search.


    The only difference is that there is no balun.


    The only difference is that there is no balun.


    Only that there is no Balan.


    Only that there is no Balan.


    In other words--


    --Wouldn''t that mean that Helian, who was conducting the initial search along with the three demons, is also a member of this survey team?


    "............"


    He looks back with the movement of a tin doll that has run out of oil.


    Behind them on either side are Lieve and Ertina, who are looking determined.


    And even further behind them are a group of covert soldiers dressed in black and wearing no distinctive features, who appear to have been selected by Camilla, the Commander of the Sixth Legion.


    They face the front again.


    In the center of my field of vision is a large gate leading to the forest outside, and at either end are honor guards lined up all the way to the gate.


    I look at my own clothes.


    They are not dressed in ornate red and black cloaks, but in sturdy, soberly-colored expedition gear.


    "Now, His Majesty the King himself will lead the expeditionary force out of the country!


    All honor guard, raise the ---- sword!"


    With a shout from the lion-headed guard of honor - Balan was there for some reason - all the guards moved.


    Like the disciplined troops of a dictatorship, they clapped their heels together in unison and raised their ornate gold swords high into the sky.


    There was a solemnity that resembled a medieval painting.


    It was not an atmosphere from which one could ...... escape.


    Helian looks at Levee with a gleam of hope in his eye.


    There, despite his stern face, the king himself is leading the way through this hardship. There was a member of the king''s entourage, with a stern look on his face and a twinkle in his eye that said, "That''s just the way Herian should have done it.


    How happy I would be if I could tell him that I was mistaken.


    "Hm - it''s been a long time since I''ve been in an unexplored area. I remember those days.


    Aha.


    But I hate this mouth that spins a clear line, defeated by the atmosphere of this place. ......!


    "So let''s conquer. Liewe, Ertina."


    Accompanied by two legionnaires and five secret soldiers, the king of Alkimaira heads for the Great Gate.


    Everyone present looked proudly at the king''s back as he departed.


    And as he walks majestically, as if he were going according to plan, Helian exclaims inwardly with all his might.


    ��Why?��Did I do something wrong?��The king himself taking the lead in forcible reconnaissance, that''s just plain crazy!��Somebody stop him!��How did this happen?)


    --Thus did Helian, the brave king of Alkimaira.


    With only seven men, he leads his survey party on the first step into a land of unknown dangers.

 7 - Seventh Episode "Exploration Begins"

    A dense, overgrown, deep forest.


    The sunlight is blocked by large trees, making it dim even during the daytime.


    Occasionally, a ray of light shines through a gap in the leaves and falls down.


    It is no longer a forest, but more like a dense jungle.


    Unlike the Earth''s Amazon, there is hardly any humidity.


    (...... Sea of Trees?)


    Helian, fed up with the unchanging landscape, continues on his way in silence.


    At the beginning of their departure, they tried to send a covert soldier belonging to the 6th Legion - a demon race specializing in stealth called the Invisible Demon - ahead of them as a scout, but the distance between them was too great and the soldiers were too far away from each other. When we left the space between us, we almost lost sight of each other''s position.


    No doubt, it was due to the disorienting effect of this mysterious forest.


    Therefore, we decided to deploy the cloaked soldiers in a very close proximity in a latent state with the cloaking technique activated.


    The existence concealment--a technique that completely conceals not only the five senses (sight, hearing, etc.) but also the presence of others--is of a fairly high level of difficulty, and they may not have the strength to engage in battle while the technique is deployed, but this is not a problem at this time.


    It would be better to operate them as liaison and information-gathering personnel in case of emergencies.


    (By the way, the scenery really hasn''t changed.)


    I have already been walking for nearly 30 minutes since I went through the big gate into the forest.


    However, no matter where we looked, our vision was tinted with a deep green, and we felt as if we were losing our sense of direction.


    The group is now moving toward the northeast, where they have observed something that looks like an artifact. However, if Helian had been alone, he would have gone in the wrong direction by now.


    The fact that the scenery remains the same means that there are no significant landmarks. It is surprisingly difficult to just walk straight ahead in the absence of any landmarks.


    Nevertheless, the group was able to walk straight toward the northeast because of the excellent companions.


    "It looks like it''s completely untouched by human hands.


    "Yes. Yes, but it''s strange. I can hardly hear the forest.


    Eltina, with waist-length blonde hair, answered Levee''s murmur.


    Her beautiful golden locks glistened in the scarce sunlight.


    Eltina, the leader of the Third Legion, is an Ancient Elf. Her terrain suitability for the forest is extremely high.


    She is also an expert in the art of healing, as she is the head of the Third Legion, which is in charge of healing and support in times of war. His wide range of supportive magic skills will be of great help to you in your exploration missions.


    On the other hand, Rieve, the Moon Wolf Managarum, also has a good aptitude for forest terrain. He also boasts the highest overall level among the [Archimyra].


    "There are very few signs of life. Even birds and insects are almost non-existent. ......


    "Yeah, it''s crazy. Even with my nose I can''t detect the presence of any major organisms."


    Rieve and Eltina are right, the group has not seen anyone so far.


    Not a person, not even a beast, has been seen so far.


    What kind of remote area had they been transported to?


    Helian is already eager to go home, but there is no way he can return now. If the king, who had gone to the trouble of gathering honor guards to see him off, were to return after just a short walk in the woods, his dignity and all that would die.


    Besides, it is not meaningless that the king himself is risking his life to accompany the investigation.


    The player has the ability to improve the status of his subordinates within a proximity of about 50 meters by one level.


    Do not be fooled to think that it is only one step. The difference in performance often makes a decisive difference in the strength of a force. In a situation where you do not know what kind of danger is lurking, it is better to deal with the situation by increasing your capability as much as possible.


    However, if there is an enemy that can only be defeated by further raising the status of a corps leader who is already powerful, Helian, who is only a human being in terms of physical ability, may die in the aftermath of the battle alone. I will.


    It was Helian''s honest and sincere feeling that he could not do without thinking positively.


    "...... hmm?"


    "Herian-sama."


    "This is ......."


    The three of them shouted at almost the same time.


    As they continued walking, there was a distinct change in the air at one point.


    Even Hellian could tell.


    It had been quite dark earlier, but now the amount of light shining into the forest had clearly increased.


    The visibility has improved by only a few meters. It was dramatic.


    "Your Majesty, the forest''s illusory effect has weakened considerably.


    Helian ponders for a moment after receiving Ertina''s report.


    "...... is this corner out of range of the illusory effect?��Or is this the boundary line and the forest is normal from here on?"


    The latter would be appreciated.


    I don''t want to walk around with my nerves on edge any more without sufficient visibility.


    The former is fine.


    At least we can catch our breath here.


    Walking for 30 minutes was hard for me as an indoor person. And the march in the unpaved jukai (sea of trees) was nerve-wracking for me. The feeling of fatigue is tremendous.


    In ...... game [Tactics Chronicle], there was no such thing as player fatigue, and the player could have continued walking forever, but I dare not think about that.


    "--, Mr. Helian..."


    Rieve turned her face in the wrong direction, as if she had noticed something.


    Her nose was twitching. As a wolf-like beastman, she had the ability to detect and track invisible enemies through her sense of smell. It seems that she sensed the presence of something through her sense of smell.


    Immediately, Helian calls up the Tactical Window and opens a . The translucent map projected into the air showed the topography of the surrounding area in meters.


    Then, in the right direction of the , at a position far to the east of ......, a single light spot was lit.


    (The color of the light spot was white. ...... is it a neutral state unit?)


    Something that Levee sensed appeared on the as a white light spot, because he "knew" of its existence.


    If she had not detected it, this light spot would not appear on the .


    When Levee, who is within 50 meters from the player, detected it, it was automatically by the player, and only then was it reflected and visualized on the .


    The information that could be visualized was limited, and at first glance, this ability may seem simple and lacking in usefulness, but the positional information alone was sufficient as a power to plan strategies.


    The white spot of light moves at high speed.


    Moreover, it is moving straight toward me.


    I frown. It seems that we are not the only ones who have detected it.


    "...... coming?"


    "Yes."


    Lieve equips a gauntlet on his fist.


    Despite its thin appearance, it is a decisive battle-class weapon named "Red Moon Fangs" that displays tremendous single attack power.


    The armor is for unobtrusive reconnaissance - even if used in battle, it would still be first-rate armor - but he carries a decisive battle-grade weapon.


    Eltina also holds up a golden staff called "Keluneion.


    Although its attack power is lower than that of other weapons of the same rank, it has excellent support capabilities, and in particular, it boasts unrivaled performance in amplifying the effects of healing systems.


    Rieve specializes in single combat, and Ertina is the best in healing.


    I would like to believe that these two can stand up to most opponents, but this is their first contact after being transferred. Tension is rising, whether we like it or not.


    "Grrrrrrrrrrr ......!"


    It broke through the bushes and appeared. In a word, it was a huge wolf.


    More than five meters tall with gray body hair. The large white fangs that protrude from the edges of its mouth are sharp, and its red eyes are shining with a ferocious light. If you were to scale up the wild dogs of the forest that appeared in the classic movies of long ago, they would probably look something like this.


    It was a monster that could have swallowed a human being in one gulp.


    (This is the first contact?!??).


    In games, we have seen many demons of this size. There are even dragons of several tens of meters under their control. There are even giants.


    But this one we are looking at now is different in pressure.


    The wind carries the scent of a beast''s body.


    The regular but raspy sound of breathing.


    Red eyes with clearly aggressive intent.


    The behavior of its paws as it looks for an opportunity to pounce.


    The movement of the tail to measure the timing.


    These gestures, which had never been seen in the game, strike a sense of danger into the marrow of Helian''s brain, accompanied by an overwhelming sense of reality.


    The white spots of light turned red.


    This is because they have all recognized the wild dog as an adversary.


    The red mark indicates the enemy.


    The enemy.


    An enemy that wants to eat us alive.


    The fact makes Helian''s knees tremble.


    "Ri--"


    As if clinging to him, he was about to call out the name of his most trusted subordinate.


    A tremendous pressure flew from Herian''s side toward the wild dog modoki.


    For a moment, the wild boar jumped up on the spot, and then "Kyin, Kyooooooo!" He screamed and turned away. Without looking back, he runs away with his tail between his legs.


    He looked like a complete loser. ......


    "It''s a small fish. I just sent out a killing shot at it, but it seems to have realized that it is an opponent it can''t resist."


    It is Liewe, the top Blutbad, the "Managarm," who mutters as if nothing is wrong.


    It seems that our king''s aide has the fighting skills to call that creature a small fish.


    ...... No, if you think about it calmly, it''s not that Rieve, who is the first subordinate that I''ve raised with care and diligence, is a small fry. --It is only natural that they are stronger than the stray monsters that roam the forest.


    It is natural, but it feels strange that an ordinary human-sized leeve is far stronger than that huge beast. Or perhaps it would be more correct to say that it is difficult to imagine a woman defeating a monster.


    This may be due to the inexplicable sense of reality that I have suddenly begun to feel.


    As Helian wonders if he is still confused, Eltina reacts to something. Her long bamboo ears, which are characteristic of elves, move impatiently.


    ��Tactical Window: Reopen. Select: Map.


    Re-display the with a thought operation.


    As a result of from Eltina, two white spots of light were lit at a considerable distance to the northeast of ...... in the upper right corner of the .


    Both light spots are moving. About 50 meters behind the light spot that was moving ahead, the light spot behind it was following it. This is .......


    "Your Majesty."


    There''s something to the northeast. Two of them."


    "Yes. They seem to be moving together, but not towards us.


    "...... one of them ahead of us seems to be being driven away."


    Ertina''s ears perked up as she muttered.


    "What?��What did you hear, Eltina?"


    "...... faintly, like a scream."


    "--!��We''re on our way, hurry!"


    I''m going to run.


    He ignores the fatigue in his legs.


    He hears a scream, which means it''s a person.


    The light spot ahead of us is a person, the one being chased. I don''t know about the one who is chasing me, but there was not much distance between them. We need to hurry.


    Within five steps of their start, Levee and Ertina are side by side.


    The difference in athletic ability between Helian, a human, and these two demons is obvious, and it is a natural result, but the fact that they have obviously slowed down their pace and are running alongside me makes my pride as a man hurt a little.


    ��No, this is not the time to think about such a trivial thing!��Hurry up!)


    The outline of the light spot fades, and the movement, which was supposed to be displayed smoothly before, becomes choppy. It looks like a car navigation system with poor GPS sensitivity.


    This is due to the fact that Eltina''s auditory sensing has been degraded by the noise she has been making while running. Maybe it is because of the distance to the bottom of the object, or maybe it is the direction of the wind, but Levee''s sense of smell has not yet been detected.


    The visibility is still bright, even though we have moved from the previous location. It seems that was the correct guess.


    However, it was still dark enough for human eyes.


    The footing is poor, and every step you take is likely to result in your feet being caught in the decaying leaves.


    The terrain of the jungle is difficult to walk in.


    The distance to the object is frustratingly short.


    We do not know what we are being chased by, but we are sure that we can communicate with the target because it is a human being. In this uncertain situation, they are a valuable source of information. We can''t let them escape, and we can''t let them die by whatever is chasing them.


    "Ha, ha, ha. ......!��d*mn, that ......!��Lieve!"


    Within fifty meters, I was out of breath. This was to be expected, since I had not been doing much exercise on the mountain path, which was not well-positioned.


    In the midst of my ragged breathing, I managed to call out Liewe''s name and ordered him to go ahead of me...


    "Yes, sir!��Your Excellency, excuse me!"


    --He was about to give the order, but Levee, who had misunderstood what was happening, held Helian''s leg with her right hand and supported his back with her right upper arm.


    Her left hand was on his shoulder to keep him off balance.


    It is like a variant of a princess''s hug.


    Moreover, the male and female figures are reversed.


    "............"


    There were so many things to say, ...... and Helian''s pride as a man was almost mortally wounded, but in exchange for the pain, his speed of movement increased dramatically.


    Several times faster than before, he could feel the wind pressure as he approached the spot where the light spot was.


    In the blurred vision, the movement of the light spot on the became fluent.


    I assume that this is because the light spot has entered the detection range of Liewe''s sense of smell, or because it is close enough for Eltina''s sense of hearing to detect it even when it is moving and making noises.


    It is already close enough.


    If we cross the small hill in front of us, we will be in sight.


    We crossed the hill.


    The view opens up.


    A figure in the distance.


    A beast chasing after it.


    They were no more than a few yards apart.


    There was not a moment to lose.


    Before I could think, the words rushed out of my mouth.


    "Eltina!��Stop the pursuing [monster]!"


    I used on the spur of the moment.


    But the command was conveyed as a sentence.


    The response came in the form of magic.


    A blade of wind, released without chanting, flew forward.


    The magic was exercised with emphasis on speed rather than power.


    The blade of wind splits the ground between them, and their pursuers are startled by it and jump backward.


    The distance between the two, which was about to become zero, opens up.


    Chanting followed.


    Thirteen blades of wind were formed again.


    They are fired in rapid succession, further opening the distance between the two.


    Finally, the one who was being chased came closer to the distance where he could be recognized.


    The outline of the figure can be recognized. It is a person. There is no mistaking it. He is wearing a robe over his head, so I cannot make out his face, but he is a small humanoid of average build. They are not dwarves or giants.


    He or she has also noticed our presence.


    He or she seems startled by the blade of the wind.


    And our pursuer is a beast of some sort.


    A black, dog-shaped beast. Unlike the wild dog, it is the size of a standard dog.


    It looks like a Doberman. However, its eyes were bloodshot, and red vein-like lines were floating here and there on its body. It was clearly a hexenbiest.


    Besides, I have never seen this monster before. I don''t know how much of a threat it is.


    Lieve, put me down!


    A hand is released.


    Helian''s feet touch the ground, obeying gravity.


    At the same speed at which he ran, he comes to a stop, his feet scraping the ground by nearly two meters.


    I''m glad I was forced to change into sturdy greaves, I think to myself as I feel the soles of my shoes scraping the ground. If I had worn my usual shoes, I might have sprained my ankle.


    Leaving his hand, Grieve leaps in front of Hellian and forms a wall.


    She seems to have chosen to be her own escort. She does not leave his side. Then Eltina is the only pawn at his disposal. There are other clandestine soldiers, but they are only recorders and emergency contact personnel. They cannot be exposed. Our options are limited.


    Think fast.


    We don''t have time to think. No time to wait and see. We don''t know how strong the enemy is. I''d like to think that the dog-demon tribe that pursues us is weaker than the wolf-dog tribe we saw earlier, but in [Tactics Chronicle], strength measured by physique is not so reliable.


    For the time being, I give priority to rescue, and let them fire a check spell.


    "Eltina!��Check fire with the blade of the wind!��Don''t let them get too close!"


    "Run, wind, run as a blade - the Wind Edge."


    The wind blade was released three times with perfect chanting.


    This time, 30 blades of wind flew out, probably because they were able to devote their energy to chanting without moving.


    Even though it is a low grade magic that emphasizes rapid fire, it is enough to check the enemy.


    With this, we can see the enemy''s reaction and take countermeasures...


    "............ Huh?"


    --I didn''t even have to take it.


    The dog-shaped monster, which had nowhere to run before the blade of the wind, could not avoid, resist, or withstand it, and was torn apart by the blade of the wind.


    The remains of the dozens of dog-shaped demons that have turned into pieces of meat fall to the ground in a trickle.


    "......You did it?"


    I had been on the alert for a while, considering the possibility of undead, but the dog-shaped monster that had turned into a piece of meat did not seem to move.


    It seems that this is really the end of the matter.


    I was stunned at how easy it was.


    "Or, advanced wind magic ......?��But without a catalyst, no such ......."


    An unfamiliar voice.


    A voice with just a hint of childishness in its tone.


    When I looked at her, I saw a girl who was just as stunned as I was.


    The reason for her stunned state was different from my own, but whatever it was, I was stunned.


    "It was a woman?


    Herian''s voice made her shoulders jump and she turned around in a panic. With a snap, the robe pulled over her head comes off, revealing the face of the girl who was being chased by the beast.


    Her pale skin. A Western-ish face. Long ears that are the most distinctive feature of her face. Ears shaped like bamboo leaves.


    "...... elves, huh?"


    They were of the same lineage as Eltina, who was standing by Helian''s side.

 8 - Episode 8 "The Girl of Half Elf"

    When asked if she was an elf, the girl hurriedly put on the hood of her robe.


    She did so on the spur of the moment, not with any particular thought in her mind, and a somewhat disconcerted expression could be seen through the gap between the hood and her face.


    After a few seconds, the girl took off her hood as if she gave up.


    "Thank you for saving me."


    The girl bows her head.


    Her semi-long blonde hair spilled out of her robe.


    The girl was dressed in a white embroidered green-toned robe with two belts wrapped around it for holding a knife. She was wearing culottes and sturdy leather boots, and the glimpse of her bare skin that could be seen between them was white and clear.


    She had white skin, golden hair, and uniquely shaped ears like bamboo grass.


    I am not sure of their rank, but they are of the white elf lineage.


    There are two types of elves, white and black, and both are characterized by their excellence in magic and archery. If they are raised, they can learn all kinds of magic for attack, support, and recovery, but white elves excel in support and recovery among them.


    When the girl who seemed to be an elf bowed her head deeply, Helian secretly felt relieved.


    ��Thank God, I can understand you!��And it''s not a hostile Enemy!)


    In the game [Tactics Chronicle], common languages such as Japanese and English are automatically translated by the advanced language analysis [Makine Translation] mechanism (engine) installed in the game. It is treated as a "lingua franca" and can be understood by almost all species.


    However, each race also has its own language.


    In the case of Elves, there are two unique languages, Elkis and Ancient Elkis.


    These are original languages that were created for the game, and they cannot be deciphered without the corresponding language skills, so that players cannot understand what they are saying.


    However, since Eltina is an Ancient Elf, one of the highest ranks in the White Elf lineage, it would have been possible to communicate with her even if she could not speak [Common Language], by having her translate the words into [Elkis] and [Ancient Elkis] skills.


    However, Helian felt a sense of security knowing that his first contact with another human being was a girl with whom he could understand the language.


    (......Well, it''s just a dream. It is natural that they can understand each other.)


    I mutter to myself.


    I almost think that I am making an excuse for someone, and I shake my head to get rid of the thought.


    "I''m glad you''re okay. I heard the screams. Are you hurt?"


    When I looked at the girl''s face again, I saw that she had a well-developed face like an elf.


    Her green eyes had a gentle light in them, while her thin, raised eyebrows gave the impression of core strength. Her mouth was tightened, and she seemed to have both gentleness and sharpness.


    However, Helian''s eyes seemed to have not yet lost their childishness. Although there is no such thing as a reliable age estimate for an elf, if her appearance is correct, she must be in middle or high school.


    Helian takes a step toward the girl.


    The girl shakes her shoulders and steps back as she is approached.


    Is she ...... frightened?


    After a moment of wondering why, Helian looked at both sides of the room and understood.


    Rieve and Ertina were looking at the girl with clearly alarmed expressions on their faces.


    Not to say hostile, but if they were looking at her sharply, as if they would not miss her every move, it was natural that the girl would shy away from them, even though they were the ones who helped her.


    "I''m sorry to be rude. They are my friends from the ...... trip."


    I try to imagine a gentle tone when I speak to them.


    I was still more comfortable with this style than the king style, because I had a cousin in junior high school and I was used to it.


    "...... traveler?"


    "Oh. The three of us were wandering in the woods. It''s been a long time since we''ve seen anyone.


    I scratch my head and smile.


    It is not in the spirit of "Smile Zero Yen," but a smile is the first and most basic step in establishing smooth communication.


    I am not sure about my king-style stern expression, but in the real world, I am a kind relative''s older brother. I''m a little more confident with a smile that can put younger children off their guard ......, but...


    "............"


    Conclusion.


    It didn''t work.


    It didn''t work.


    Rather more alert than before, the girl covers herself and puts her hand on her chest.


    (......, right? My smile is only worth this much ......)


    I felt like scribbling on the ground, but I kept smiling with my guts.


    My cheeks may have twitched slightly, but I hope you can overlook that.


    "Elves and werewolves, is it?"


    "Hmm?��Oh, yeah. The one on the right is Ertina, and the one on the left is Leve."


    "I am Eltina. ...... thank you for the introduction. Thank you very much.


    "............"


    For some reason, there was a moment before introductions.


    Moreover, Levee only gave a slight nod and did not even introduce himself.


    Helian''s smile twitched again at their overly cautious attitude.


    Perhaps it was because they were putting Helian''s protection first, but their attitude toward the girl was anything but friendly. Rieve is giving the girl a glare, as if to say, <>.


    This is not a good sign that the girl has come all the way to talk to him.


    "I''m sorry. I was a little rude.


    Ertina bowed her head to the girl and apologized.


    Ertina, who has "grace" in her character trait, has refined manners, and there is a certain elegance in the way she bends at the waist and bows her head.


    The girl''s eyes widen in deep surprise at the sight of this.


    And when Ertina smiles at the girl, the surprise on her face increases even more. She seems to be upset in some way.


    She seems to be ...... admiring the girl''s face.


    Because she has "beauty" in her character trait, Eltina is popular among both men and women. Perhaps Ertina is an eye-catcher even for a girl of her own race.


    ...... good. Let''s throw it to Eltina.


    Herian simply decides to let the squire be the girl''s interlocutor.


    To be honest, my social skills are not that great in real life, let alone on the internet. To tell the truth, I''m not confident in my communication skills.


    Besides, considering that Eltina is of the same race as me, she might be easier to talk to as a girl than I am.


    As one would expect, I cannot give Ertina all the initiative in the conversation, but if the flow of the conversation goes in an undesirable direction, I can simply interject to change the course. I felt that I could handle it if I thought that I could just be supportive.


    Helian was now ready to get back into the swing of things.


    Ertina, smiling softly by his side, steps back quietly from the scene.


    ......What?��Why did you back up now?


    "But she and I, for some reason, are not good at talking to people.


    I''m sorry, but we''re going to have to hold back a bit, aren''t we?"


    ...... Eltina!


    Helian involuntarily turned back to the squire on his left.


    She had thought she was going to be forced to have a conversation with him, but she had been betrayed.


    Perhaps Eltina herself had no intention to do so, but the more she had expected it, the bigger the shock was. I feel like I''ve been taken off the ladder.


    The girl''s eyes were once again fixed on Helian after Eltina''s comment.


    It seems that she has completely locked on to him.


    The twitching in her cheeks increases by about 30%.


    "Are they ...... your slaves?"


    "Huh?"


    The girl asks again.


    I reacted with my bare body to the unexpected words.


    I hurriedly tried to make things right.


    No, no, they are traveling companions. It''s not like that."


    It''s a clean relationship.


    No, I don''t know if the relationship between master and servant is clean, but at least we are not forced to obey each other.


    "......Why did you help me, a half-elf?"


    The girl asks me, not even trying to hide her wariness, as she takes another step back.


    "......?��Are you a half-elf?"


    "--!"


    When I asked her back, she blatantly frowned.


    She reacts as if to say, "Oh shit.


    She looked regretful that she had said something she did not have to say.


    Incidentally, a half-elf is a half-breed born between an elf and another race, which I don''t need to bother to explain.


    In general, it is a child born between a human and an elf.


    However, in [Tactics Chronicle], it is a little different.


    In this game, a function called "mating" is employed, which makes it possible to create half-breeds. However, due to the nature of the game, mating partners are limited to subracial or humanoid demons, not humans.


    Also, mating cannot be done lightly.


    The disadvantage is that the parents will not be able to reincarnate.


    In addition, the success rate of mating is extremely low.


    However, as long as it was successful, there was the great advantage of having a child who inherited the qualities of both parents. Naturally, Helian also makes use of this feature.


    Therefore, mixed and half-breeds are not uncommon in this game. In fact, the Commander of the Seventh Legion is also a subordinate created by this function.


    However...


    "......Yes, that''s right.


    I am not an elf. I''m a half-elf.


    Do you regret having helped me?


    For some reason, the girl smiled with a hint of resignation.


    It was as if <>It was an expression of resignation.


    Helian tilted his head and asked her.


    "...... why?"


    "What?"


    "Why, if you''re a half-elf, does that lead you to regret helping me?"


    "...... eh?��Oh, that?"


    Where was the shadowy smile? The girl looked puzzled with an expression appropriate for her age.


    It is true that her ears are a little shorter than Ertina''s. It makes sense if she is a half-elf with the blood of another race mixed in. That''s all there is to it.


    But apparently, that was not the only story for the girl in front of me.


    What kind of problem could a half-elf have?


    "-Known. Because they are an unclean race.


    There was a third voice.


    I turned around quickly.


    A man was standing behind the mukuro, the mangled remains of a magical beast, before I knew it.


    White skin and long bamboo ears. He was an elf again. This time, however, it was a man. His ears were the same length as those of a normal elf, indicating that he was not a half-elf. His age is probably in his late twenties.


    It seems that Lieve and Ertina have been aware of this for a long time.


    They did not show any signs of surprise.


    Helian, on the other hand, was unaware of their presence until he called out to them.


    The reason was that the window of the map, which was the only clue to their presence, was hidden.


    Although the window is set to be invisible to others, it somewhat obstructs H��lian''s vision, and at times, it can be a hindrance.


    And because he felt it was in the way when talking to the girl, Helian had hidden the window.


    "You are not the only ones, by the way. How could you slaughter my hounds so easily? I see that the elf is not one of our own..."


    "The Hound ....... Oh, so that hexenbiest was your follower.


    No wonder he didn''t run away when Levee approached him.


    Even that huge mountain dog ran away with its tail between its legs in front of Levee, but that dog-type magical beast didn''t show any signs of running away. It was probably because, unlike the wild dog, it was not a stray, but a follower.


    "We''ve caught an unexpected prey. This area is so close to the Abyssal Forest, I had no idea that a drunken maniac like this could be hiding in the area.


    "Abyssal Forest (Abyssal Forest)......?��No, more importantly, what did you just say?��Unsullied beings?��Maybe you mean her?"


    "Yes. What are you, not playing dumb, but really don''t you know?"


    The elven man gave me a contemptuous look, as if to say, <.


    "Half-elves are a race born and fallen between the noble elves loved by our gods and spirits and the impure, barbaric humans whose only merit is their numbers. In other words, we are a tainted race of noble elven blood mixed with human blood.


    No, we are not of the defiled race!��Both humans and elves have good qualities. We are just born between them. We have no right to be called unclean!


    "Nonsense. How dare you speak to me in such a filthy manner? It rots my ears just to hear you talk like that!


    The elven man answered through bared teeth.


    Though he may be a beautiful looking elf, the look of disgust on his face was not much different from a human''s, and equally ugly.


    But Helian did not let it bother him. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that she did not care.


    It was the Elf man''s words "born of a human" that shocked Helian.


    That is not correct. It is not possible for such a line to appear in any way.


    Because in this game, there are no units of the "human" race (?????).


    More precisely, there is no human being except the king (player).


    There are a relatively large number of subraces such as beastmen and humanoid demons, but the people are all demons.


    The human race is a special one in [Tactics Chronicle], and was considered to be a race exclusive to the king ��player��.


    However, the man naturally assumed that the half-elf''s parents were human.


    Moreover, the fact that he even said that numbers are a strong point of the Half-Elves means that there are many humans in the world. Clearly, this is a deviation from the game''s setting.


    ...... No, that is not what we should think about now.


    The purpose of this meeting is to gather information. You can think about it later. Besides, this is not the time to be worrying too long when the battle is going on right in front of us.


    Having convinced herself in this way, Helian intervenes between the girl and the man, who are clashing their gazes, and asks a question.


    Why were you following her?


    "Humph. Just for fun. Some of them fled like rats after we dropped the city on them. We''re using them as training ground for our hounds to hunt."


    "You dropped a city ......?"


    This story is getting creepy.


    "The half-elves have gathered to build this city. It is a bit arrogant of these unholy beings to build and inhabit a city, let alone call themselves a nation. Therefore, we, the pure-blooded elves, will put it to good use. Of course, only after we have purified ourselves of our impurities.


    "...... purification,"


    "known. It means to purge the blood."


    "Exorcise the blood......, you mean get rid of the half-elves who originally lived here?"


    "...... Good grief. Do you humans have to explain all this to get your message across? It''s just so disgusting."


    Again the look of contempt.


    As I have read to some extent from the previous conversation, it seems that humans are also the target of the elf''s contempt.


    "Sorry, we are travelers. We are new to this area. We don''t know much about the situation around here, so please don''t be ignorant.


    "Huh?��Admitting ignorance is auspicious for a human being, isn''t it? The rest of us are like monkeys who get angry every time we open our mouths. ...... Oh, travelers, you say. Then monkeys are monkeys, but they are superior monkeys of a different lineage.


    I wonder if we can''t have a conversation without ...... putting each other down.


    However, the fact that they do not even try to hide their contempt in this situation where they are at a numerical disadvantage may indicate that they are so confident of their own abilities.


    If so, it is not a good idea to provoke them into hostility. This is the place where you, as a king, must test your bargaining power. No matter what is said, we must deal with it calmly and without anger. .......


    "Enough!��We are human beings, not monkeys!��And there are good people among us. There are people who choose to coexist with the forest without harming it. Please don''t make fun of us without knowing us!


    Shut your filthy mouth!��I told you your ears would rot!"


    While Helian was calming himself down, the half-elf girl cried out in a pained tone of voice.


    "Then ...... at least leave us alone!��We just live on the outskirts of the forest!��We''ve been forced to live in such close proximity to the ...... Abyssal Forest (Abyss) and wilderness, and we''re still struggling to ...... survive!��So why are you people--?"


    "--enough. Our goal was to capture him, but we''ve reached our limit. It will shut its mouth forever. Ruin my hounds and die with the rest of you fools."


    Then the elf clutched something in his hand.


    His eyes are filled with a swooning look.


    "Release the Felsipia!"


    With a voice, the elf man threw a pebble-like object. The pebble glints green for a moment.


    Just when he thought this, a gust of wind was blowing.


    Helian quickly leaps in front of the girl and covers her face with his arms.


    In a corner of his mind, he thinks,


    And then, the storm of magical power that loomed before him struck the helpless Helian mercilessly...


    "<>"


    --The defensive magic deployed by Ertina easily dissipated.


    A soft azure wind enveloped Helian and the others, shattering any external phenomena that might try to interfere.


    The elves'' eyes peeled back as they saw the scene, perhaps convinced that they were about to get the kill.


    "What the ......?


    "<>"


    Continued chanting.


    Thick tendrils grow rapidly from under the elf''s feet, seizing his limbs.


    And then, as the man is stuck, Levee shoots out like an arrow.


    --Incidentally.


    At this time, Eltina and Levee understood the importance of the event of "first contact" with other forces.


    Because they understood this, they did not intervene at all in the negotiation and watched, so that they would never make a bad move. He tried to maintain the status quo unless Helian ordered otherwise, and put up with the disrespectful words and actions of the elves that dripped from their mouths to their master.


    The Lord is trying to gather information while enduring unbearable abusive language. There is no reason for us to let our emotions ruin the power we wielded.


    So we endured. Patience upon patience.


    Levee suppressed the urge to attack that was rising in her throat, while Eltina hid her hostility and disgust under her smile.


    But if they had touched our master Helian, that would be a different story.


    There is no way she can forgive an "enemy" who has attacked her master.


    Since he attacked him, it is safe to assume that the negotiations his master had been carrying on in humiliation have broken down.


    --In other words, there is no reason to put up with it anymore.


    Therefore, against the "enemy" whose freedom of action has been taken away by Eltina''s magic, Lieve unleashes her fist for a killing blow...


    "--Wait!"


    The Lord''s voice.


    Levee, who had been jumping at him, brakes as quickly as he can. The lethal fist somehow stopped just before it reached the man''s face. However, the air caught by the fist becomes wind pressure, and the man''s long hair is ruffled into a mess.


    After the wind stopped, there was a dumb look on the man''s face, as if he had no idea what had happened.


    (...... was a bad idea.)


    Helian inwardly patted his chest.


    If he had been even a moment too late, the man would have died.


    I don''t know how strong their defense is, but elves are not a sturdy race.


    Judging from the power of the magic he had just used, it is hard to believe that he would have survived the fists of Lieve, who boasts one of the most powerful attacks in single combat. He could have killed someone from another force.


    What?��What the hell is this?��Now, what the ......"


    "-- hey."


    Helian tells the man, who still does not seem to have grasped the fact that he almost died.


    Unintentionally, his voice is lower and more drugged than he thought it would be.


    I''ll let that one slide. We have no intention of antagonizing you. It was your idea to start this, and we were just covering our asses. Do you understand?"


    Eltina, at the Lord''s will, undid the ivy that bound the elf''s limbs.


    However, the elven man still did not understand the situation and kept a puzzled look on his face.


    "What?"


    "He says he''ll let you go. Get lost."


    Helian cocks his chin in a hawkish manner and points in the direction of the day after tomorrow.


    With Levee and Eltina watching us, we must not take a stand and say, <


    Moreover, the two of them are still emitting a sworn air.


    Even though I know that it is the elf in front of me, not myself, I am still afraid. I want to do something about this tense situation as soon as possible.


    In [Tactics Chronicle], this kind of swallowing atmosphere was not expressed. There is no way to express it. But now it is here with an overwhelming sense of reality.


    The situation in which violence was actually being used, as was the case at the time of the extermination of the demon, was too strong a stimulus for Helian, who had never even hit a person in his entire life.


    In a manner of speaking, Helian was completely cowed in front of the "violence" that seemed too real.


    "You, you ...... mere mortal, who are you talking to!��I am the chief hunter of the glorious Noblewood--"


    "I don''t care who you are. I say again, get lost. Or do you really want to make a move?"


    "......kk."


    The man''s face was flushed with anger, but he seemed to have remained calm enough to judge the fact that he was no match for the man even if he fought, and he left, biting his teeth.


    I let out a breath of relief.


    "You know, ......."


    Then, Helian stiffened at the sound of a childish voice coming from behind him.


    "Thanks to ......, you saved my life. Thank you."


    "Oh, yeah. I''m glad you''re okay."


    I turned around to see the half-elf girl I had saved.


    ...... Oh shit.


    Her presence has completely slipped from my consciousness.


    I acted as if Helian was a higher rank than Levee and the others.


    This ruined the traveler''s setup, which he had named himself on the spur of the moment. ...... No, it''s still manageable. He might be able to disguise it by explaining that they are in charge of escort and he is in charge of negotiation.


    If so, Helian''s position would be a very pathetic one, , but I don''t care about his pride anymore as long as he can get through this. I don''t care about my pride anymore, as long as I can get through this.


    "Well, actually, they''re good guards. I''m not so confident in my skills, so I''m more of a negotiator and a scullery maid,......."


    ...... Eh, smile. Smile and be quick.


    No, but I did something similar earlier and it went wrong.


    But my overheated brain can''t come up with an alternative.


    Well, I''ve got a good idea: .......


    "Pfft ...... ahah, ahahahahaha..."


    Helian''s forehead begins to sweat, and suddenly the half-elf girl starts laughing.


    In contrast to the expression on her face, she was smiling like a child of appropriate age, and she was laughing in a funny way.


    "Hahahaha, I''m sorry. ....... It''s just so funny to think that someone who was so bossy with elves is in trouble with me, a half-elf.


    He says that to me breathlessly.


    I was shocked that such a middle-school-like girl could see through me. ...... No, maybe it was a little bit excusable, but I was shocked that she could see through me.


    I was devastated by the continuous psychological damage.


    The girl opened her mouth with a cheerful look on her face, perhaps feeling refreshed after a lot of laughter.


    I beg your pardon. And you don''t have to be so hard on yourself. You can talk normally like you did to the elf earlier.


    ...... No, it''s more of an act.


    Rather than the king style, the neighborhood brother style is still closer to my default.


    ��I''m not sure what you mean.��Does this mean ...... that I have to speak in front of this girl in the king''s style and in a traveler''s setting?)


    Obviously, I can''t help but feel that the difficulty level has increased. I just wanted to cry.


    The only relief is that the girl now speaks normally.


    I think that she has let her guard down a lot thanks to the many laughs I have given her, so I''ll call it a blessing in disguise. I can''t do this without thinking so.


    My name is Leifa. Thank you so much for saving my life twice.


    "No, don''t worry about it. No, don''t worry about it. I just saw you being attacked and saved you as soon as I could. Besides, the second time we were just cleaning up a fire that was raining down on us, so it''s not something you should thank us for."


    "No. No. Even if that were true, it doesn''t change the fact that you helped us. So please allow me to thank you.


    The girl bows her head.


    Her blonde hair, which had been tied up in a bun, bounced like a tail.


    "Also, I don''t mean to be rude, but I have a favor to ask you."


    "M......?��What is it?"


    Helian braced himself in his head.


    She cannot reply carelessly.


    Her relationship with the elf she had just met seemed to be quite troublesome, even if she had only talked to him for a short time. To put it simply, they seem to be in the midst of a war of aggression due to discrimination between races, but it is probably not that simple.


    And there we have a favor to ask.


    It is easy to imagine that the request for cooperation is probably based on the combat ability of Levee and Ertina. Since the city has been destroyed, they must be in a situation where they would like to help the cat if they can be of help to recapture the city.


    However, we cannot lend a hand lightly.


    The elf was probably a scout, meaning that his main role was not combat. He was not a very good fighter. But the elves in the main camp must have a higher fighting power than the one in the previous example.


    And we don''t even know how many enemies they have.


    How big? Their equipment? Their skill... Their level of technology.


    As long as we don''t know everything and have no idea of the level of their strength, we can''t get involved in this issue.


    I would like to help those in need as much as possible, but Helian, as the king, must put his country first.


    He may be willing to lend a helping hand after ensuring the peace of his country, but under the current circumstances, it is simply not possible.


    Therefore, Helian resolutely refuses the request for cooperation, and waits for the girl''s next words.


    "Can you tell me your name?"


    --I was stunned.


    I felt as if I had been struck dumb.


    Helian stood there for a moment, unable to speak.


    (...... am I a moron?)


    What I am aware of is a fierce feeling of shame.


    I had introduced Rieve and Eltina, but Helian himself had not even said his name. It was beyond stupidity.


    What''s more, smiling is the basis of communication.


    What is a negotiator?


    What is the point of not giving a careless reply?


    How dare they think of being cautious and defensive about getting involved in a problem when they can''t even handle the bare minimum of courtesy to a new acquaintance? The girl in front of me was not thinking about such things at all, and this is the result of her ill-advised guess.


    I was really depressed and cursed myself inwardly for a moment, but meanwhile the half-elf girl was just waiting for me.


    Herian, his venom drained out of him, lets out a wry smile and holds out his right hand to the girl.


    "Sorry for the delay in saying your name. I''m Helian."


    I think I said my name in a natural way.


    It was the first time I felt like I could speak naturally since my transition.


    "I''m Leifa, by the way.


    A hand clasped back.


    The half-elf girl - Leifa''s face was smiling, a smile that suited her well.

 9 - CHAPTER IX "To the Villages"

    After introducing themselves and shaking hands, Helian and his group walked through the forest with the girl in the lead.


    We were told that there was a settlement of the girl in the vicinity, so we decided to go there first.


    It seems that people who escaped from the city have been living there for about three weeks now.


    "So, the elf who just came in..."


    "Yes, the Noblewood elves who attacked the city."


    Along the way, we talk about the elf man we saw earlier, just to gather information.


    Although we ran into trouble right away, it was fortuitous that we met the source of our information so quickly. In the worst case scenario, we could have left our country and walked until sunset without seeing anyone.


    "Well, the name of your country is ......"


    "My name is LATESTWOOD. It is a city-state with only one city and a few settlements. ...... It is more like a hodge-podge, though. It was founded about 30 years ago by a half-elf.


    In this case, a city-state would be a small state that has only one city and its surrounding area as its territory.


    Since only the castle and the castle town were forcibly relocated, Archimyra has become a de facto city-state.


    "Thirty years ...... is a rather recent story, isn''t it?"


    "Half-elves themselves are a recent race. The number of half-elves only increased about a hundred years ago. Before that, the existence of half-elves itself was quite rare.


    A half-elf girl, Leifa, told me that there was no place for half-elves to be born in the first place.


    There are many kinds of elves, but most of them live in the great forests of the western part of the continent. And it is said that many of the inhabitants of Noblewood, the land of the elves who live in the forests close to the territory inhabited by humans, despise humans.


    Because of their geographical location, the elves who have relatively more contact with humans become the people of [Noblewood], but it is impossible for them to have children with humans.


    The elves who lived deep in the forest and did not feel contempt for humans rarely went out of the forest, and only a few of them married humans and had children - half-elves, in other words.


    Until a hundred years ago.


    "A hundred years ago, there was a war between the races."


    An interspecies war between a group of elves centered in [Noblewood] and a confederation of humans.


    The elven army won the first battle with a surprise attack by magic, but after that, they were humiliated with defeat after defeat due to the strength of human numbers.


    In the first place, the battlefield was wrong. The main battlefield was the wilderness stretching from the Great Forest to the east, and the elves, some of whom had spent their entire lives in the forest, had little aptitude for the wilderness terrain.


    In the midst of the defeat, many elves including the queen of [Noblewood] were captured, and the elves were forced to retreat to the forest due to the violence of numbers by the human allied forces.


    However, once in the forest, the elves fully demonstrated their abilities and used natural traps and forest followers to halt the advance of the allied forces. A stalemate ensued, and five years after the outbreak of war, a cease-fire agreement was signed.


    Then, what happened to the elven women who had been captured by the humans for five years?


    The answer is the same as before. The elven women, who were uniformly beautiful in the human sense of beauty, were given as spoils of war to the nobility and high-ranking soldiers, who treated them as if they were s*x slaves. It seems that the invasion war was launched by the Noblewood side, but it is still a disgusting story to hear.


    Most of the elves were returned to their home countries after the ceasefire, but many of them had been humiliated and were carrying children or had given birth to children with humans.


    --At least enough to create a group of half-elves.


    "That is our ancestry. I am only the fourth generation of our ancestors.


    It''s only been a hundred years, Leifa adds.


    Although the origin of the name was quite terrible, Leifa''s expression was not particularly gloomy. At least, Helian''s insight could not detect any shades.


    "But the half-elves were never accepted by the elves.


    "But the half-elves were never accepted by the elves. They hated humans so much that they must have considered us, with our human blood, an object of disgust.


    It''s like a proof of their defeat. In fact, they now hate half-elves more than humans.


    "...... What about the human reaction to the half-elves?"


    "It''s pretty much the same there. But better than elves.


    There is not a single elf in the area that treats half-elves well, but there are some humans that visit the forest from time to time that do treat us well.


    Some of them attack us out of the blue or try to kidnap us, though. But that doesn''t mean there aren''t good people.


    In fact, they helped me too," smiles Leifa.


    Her earlier guardedness has disappeared, and she has opened up her heart to us.


    I wonder if the half-elves are in such a difficult situation, I feel a heavy heart.


    I asked him a lot of questions, but as I listened to him, various points of divergence came to light.


    --First of all, in the game [Tactics Chronicles], there is no such history (????????).


    At least in the world where Helian was, such a history did not occur.


    There was a group of NPCs [non-player characters] of elves, but such a war never happened a hundred years ago in the game era. It is possible that it happened in an area that I did not know at that time, but there was no such information in the [history] of each country that I obtained while annexing other countries.


    The names of the countries are the same.


    Neither [Noblewood] nor [RATESTWOOD] have ever been heard of by the Helians.


    Furthermore, it is strange that there is a human nation that has enough fighting ability to defeat the elves. In the game, the only human being is the king (player), and he is supposed to have no fighting ability whatsoever.


    Anyway, this confirms the fact that this (here) is not the world we used to be in.


    Also, as long as there is a human country, an existence that ignores the preconditions of the game, there is no more possibility that the data was transferred to another existing world. ...... No, it is not that. It was a dream, this was my dream.


    Helian shakes his head and drives the thought away. All you have to do is gather information. Everything else can wait.


    "...... I understand about the elf''s attitude earlier. I understand that the elves of [Noblewood] are eyeing the half-elves of [RATESTWOOD].


    "Yes. We just want to live quietly. Our capital city is close to the border with humans and we can use it as a shield in case of war with humans, and it''s also near the Abyssal Forest. ......


    However, the situation has changed drastically.


    Three weeks ago, [Noblewood] suddenly attacked [Ratestwood].


    Why did they start the war?


    I don''t know. It was a surprise attack without a declaration of war. A statement was finally released after the city was invaded, claiming that , but I am not inclined to believe it."


    The city of [RATESTWOOD], which was attacked in the first place, seems to be a half-breed of big trees and stone, and it is hard to believe that the elves, who are concerned with forests, would want it particularly.


    The elves rarely use materials other than wood for their dwellings, and many of them live in the large trees.


    "The idea of another war with the humans and using our cities close to the border as a frontier base has also occurred to me. ......"


    "You almost lost the war a hundred years ago, didn''t you?��If we start a war with humans now, does the elven side stand a chance?"


    "I can''t say for sure, but it would be difficult.


    I heard that the number of people in [Noblewood] has hardly increased while the number of human beings has increased compared to that of a hundred years ago.


    Since they were overwhelmed and defeated by the violence of their numbers a hundred years ago, it is easy to imagine that they would face an even more difficult battle if they fought now.


    There are several other elven nations besides [Noblewood], but the other elven nations do not have a particular disdain for humans, and they do not bother to participate in the war.


    "So I don''t think they really want the cities. I don''t see any reason why they would want cities in the first place. And if they only want the cities, it doesn''t explain why they would try to capture us after we escaped."


    Come to think of it, the elf earlier also said that .


    It is true that if all we want is a city, we can just drive the half-elves out of it. However much we may hate half-elves, there is no reason to try to capture every single half-elf who has escaped from the city.


    "What about the forces on the Rattestwood side?��You did put up some resistance, didn''t you?"


    Of course I resisted. But our first ambush hit the center of the city hard. I don''t know what kind of magic they used, but we were hit by a fire on a scale I have never seen before. ......"


    Karmic fire?


    "Wait. Elves use fire as their first move?"


    "Yes. That''s not right either. Yes, it was a very powerful attack, but the forest was also damaged. It is obviously strange that the elves, who call themselves ''noble guardians of the forest'', would prefer to use it.


    The more I hear about it, the stranger it sounds.


    "If the center of the city was hit hard, who is the king ...... or the corresponding leader?"


    "Since we are a female royal family, the leader is the queen. The queen of [RATESTWOOD] is missing, along with her royal consort. She is not as good at magic as the elves, but I would like to believe that she is not dead because she was a strong leader who united all the people and founded the kingdom. But since she has not escaped to the settlement, she is probably being held captive by the elves.


    Moreover, [LATESTWOOD] has lost its capital. We have already lost the war.


    If I were in their shoes, the best way would be to unite the forces that have escaped and then join forces with others to counterattack.


    But they are half-elves who are discriminated by both humans and elves.


    That is why they have gathered together to form a nation, and they will be at a loss for an answer if there is anyone outside of them whom they can rely on.


    It''s a heavy burden to bear.


    I feel sorry for them, but I can''t help them.


    Reminding himself not to think about anything else, Helian tries to gather information.


    "By the way, Mr. Leifer. What about Eltina?


    "Leifa is fine."


    He smiles at me.


    The gap between his expression and that of the noh mask on his face when he rescued her made me feel a little nervous.


    I wonder if he is becoming too friendly all at once.


    "Uh... in ......, you can find a picture of Leifa. Eltina, she is not a resident of [Noblewood]. So we don''t discriminate against you. I don''t discriminate against half-elves either, and the same goes for Levee here. You can trust me on that."


    Levee and Eltina, walking next to me, nod their heads in approval.


    Leifa nodded cheerfully.


    "Yes. I trust you."


    It may sound like a nail in the coffin, but he does not seem to have any other intention.


    I was relieved that he seemed to trust me at least for the moment.


    After hearing what had happened, it was natural that they were wary of our group.


    After all, a human man was accompanied by an elf woman.


    With the other companion also being a woman, it would not be surprising if they thought that Helian was taking a slave, as Leifa had said at first.


    Incidentally, as for the reason for my complete ignorance of the situation in this area, I have pushed it through on the assumption that I am a traveler from a distant place.


    Leifa was staring at me from head to toe, but she did not ask me any questions and explained to me what she had just told me.


    I was afraid that she would ask me many questions later, but as long as Leifa did not ask me anything, there was nothing that Helian could do now. She would not expose herself by trying to give various useless explanations. Herian''s first priority was to listen to what they had to say.


    As a side note, Ertina is only giving a few words to the conversation between the two, and Levee is completely silent. To avoid any confusion, the conversation is completely left to H��lien.


    "By the way, ......"


    "Hmm?"


    "You have unusual eye color. I''ve never seen black eyes before."


    "...... is that so?"


    "Yes. And her hair is black. It is rare to see only black hair, but I have never seen a human with black hair. I think it is very rare.


    "......Hoa."


    --Oh, no.


    This is not a good storyline.


    I guess there are not many black-haired and black-eyed people around here. In fact, Leifa has blond hair, green eyes, and a western face. This leads to the question, "Where do they come from?


    That''s not good. We don''t even know the name of the area around here. You could answer with the name of a suitable place as your hometown, but that would lead to a deeper discussion about your trip, such as "which direction did you come from," "why are you here," "the purpose of your trip," and so on. It is difficult to come up with a plan to cover up all of these questions. If we continue like this, the traveler setting will collapse.


    In a hurry, he changed the subject.


    "But, Leifa, you seem to be very mature. The way she speaks, or her mannerisms are refined ...... and somehow I feel her dignity."


    "Really?��I think it''s normal. ...... Oh, perhaps you misunderstand my age?"


    "Hmm?��Oh, well, being an elf species is more ...... uh, than it looks."


    "You don''t have to look so embarrassed. I don''t mind. As you can see, I am older than I look."


    I knew it.


    Being half-elves, they have the longevity traits of the elves.


    If so, there is a strong possibility that there is a big difference between her appearance age and her actual age.


    He may not be more pronounced than an elf, but he may well be older than Helian.


    "My age is fifteen. Are you surprised?"


    "............ surprised."


    I was surprised to see that he is as old as he looks.


    I knew you were just a kid.


    No, I am not even 20 years old, but her age is that of a junior high school junior or senior high school freshman in Japan. I don''t understand why you said that with a bit of a smug look on your face. How old did she think she looked?


    Looking at her again, she is a little short for a race of elves who are tall in height. It is common for female elves to be taller than 165cm, and Eltina is also tall at 169cm. On the other hand, Leifa''s height seems to be around 160cm.


    Perhaps, from the elvish point of view, the height of a person may be used to measure his/her age in terms of appearance. If that''s the case, it''s hard to agree ...... with Leifa''s absurd reaction, yes.


    "Oh, can you give me a minute?"


    "Hmm?��I don''t mind.


    "If we walk for another ten minutes or so, we will reach the village, but if we take you all with us, I think everyone in the village will be surprised. So I wanted to call my friends to give you a head start.


    "Oh, I''m sorry to bother you. I''d really appreciate it."


    I don''t want to cause a scene, so I''m glad to hear your offer.


    As I watched him, wondering if he was going to use a whistle or something, Leifua took out a green stone from his pocket and put it on the ground. Then, using a twig that had fallen down nearby, he draws some kind of pattern on the ground with the stone at the center.


    The geometric patterns that were being drawn were--.


    "...... Your Majesty, it''s a magic circle. Be on the lookout just in case.


    Eltina whispers in a voice that Rayfa cannot hear.


    She is preparing to use her magic.


    In the game [Tactics Chronicle], some ritual magic is activated by drawing a magic circle. The magic that Leifa is going to use must be of this kind.


    Is he going to launch something that will serve as a marker to call his friends? It seems rather ostentatious for that...


    "Sorry to keep you waiting. I''ll call your friends now."


    You''re going to call your friends now?


    The nuance of the language caught me.


    "Could it be that ...... this is a summoning line?"


    "Yes. It''s a magic to summon those who recognize each other as friends, but we need a formation to amplify the magic. Thank you for your patience.


    "...... summon a companion?"


    What the hell is that?


    Such magic does not exist in Tactics Chronicle.


    Summoning magic itself exists, but it can only summon summoned beasts created by magic power. It is not possible to summon existing characters who are still alive.


    The main principle of [Tactics Chronicle] is that the instantaneous movement of a character, that is, the transfer of a character, must be done through a [teleportal]. However, the girl in front of me says that she can summon her friends by magic.


    Come to think of it, the same is true for the magic that the elf-man just mentioned.


    It seems that he used wind magic by throwing a pebble, but that magic was also new to me.


    There is no magic that Hellian, who has been playing the game for a long time, does not know. What does this mean? The more information I gathered, the more discrepancies there were between my knowledge and what I already knew.


    Leifa meditates and folds her hands in prayer for the use of magic, while Helian is puzzled. Levee and Ertina prepare themselves for the unknown use of magic, ready to respond immediately to anything that may happen.


    I beg. I invite you to join me. My friends, my friends! If you too recognize me as your peer, then come to me now with my voice as your guide - I am the callfellow.


    The magic circle glowed emerald and converged into a ray of light.


    The light fades, leaving behind a dazzling glow, and all that remains is the figure of a strange woman.


    "Master Leifa!��Oh, I''m so glad you''re all right.


    A woman, probably a half-elf, emerges from the magic circle, quickly picks up the bow on her back, and with a fluid motion, draws an arrow from the quiver and spins it.


    "Stop it, Wenri!��These are the travelers who helped me. Put down your bows now.


    "But, but those beastmen, they are elves and humans!��It''s dangerous, please stand back!


    "I said, put down your bow. That is an order.


    Rebuked by Leifer, the woman reluctantly lowered her bow, her wary gaze still on the woman. She still had her bow and arrows in her hand, but I guess that was the compromise she was willing to make.


    --But Helian was more concerned about another problem.


    The fact that the woman who had been summoned followed Leifa''s orders meant that Leifa was a superior being to her.


    However, Rayfa was apparently younger than her. While Leifa is fifteen years old, the woman who was summoned looks to be in her mid-twenties.


    In the military, rank is absolute, and the younger may give orders to the older.


    It is possible that Leifa is a higher rank than the woman, but it is a little difficult to imagine that a girl like Leifa is a top military officer.


    Moreover, the woman who appeared called her .


    If so, what is the status of a girl who is younger than the adult woman who was summoned, and yet is in a higher position and seems to be respected?


    "I''m sorry. There are many people in the village who are now on the verge of death. I apologize again for my impudence.


    "No, that''s fine ......, but I want to ask you one question, Leifa."


    Yes. Yes, sir?"


    Smiling, Leifua gives a friendly smile.


    Helian asked, his back sweating uncomfortably.


    "Can you tell me your ...... full name?"


    "With pleasure. My full name is ."


    Leifa-Rim-Latestwood (???????).


    The name of the land of the half-elves is also RATESTWOOD.


    Not many people would take the name of their country as their family name.


    In other words, what is the true identity of the girl who we thought was just a half-elf? .......


    A few more steps and you will reach my country. It may seem like an empty village, but let me at least thank you for saving me. I welcome you as an individual and as royalty (...)".


    The smile that used to look so pure now frightens me.


    It seemed as if every word that Leifa had said in the previous conversation had some kind of hidden meaning.


    Helian''s head was in the wrong place now.

 10 - CHAPTER X "Diplomacy of the First Time"

    --In conclusion.


    Helian and his group were not welcomed by the villagers.


    The houses in the village are made of stone and hollowed-out rooms made of rotting trees.


    The number of houses must have exceeded a hundred, but not more than two hundred. In between the houses, there were several temporary houses built in the shape of tents.


    These tents were not the magnificent ones like those of the nomads in Turkey.


    They were simple, makeshift structures. It looked more like a refugee camp than a village.


    There, people who had escaped from the attack by the Noblewood, a nation of elves, were huddled together in a small settlement.


    It is obvious that a human with an elf, a hostile race, would not be welcomed at such a place. We can only be thankful that they did not throw stones at us. If there had been no warning, it might have really happened.


    The worst of the atmosphere was dispelled by a half-elf girl, Leifa.


    She explained to the villagers that Helian and his group had saved their lives.


    When the villagers heard the whole story, they turned away from the stares they had been giving Helian and the others, saying, .


    All that remained was a suspicious look at the curious traveler, a dark-haired, dark-eyed man with two beautiful women in tow. I already knew that dark-haired and dark-eyed people are rare, but I felt like a panda in a freak show.


    And, of course, ...... Leifa was royalty from the land of the half-elves [RATESTWOOD].


    She is the first child of the queen and the first princess with the first right of succession to the throne. She is said to be the provisional queen of the people since the current queen is still alive and unaccounted for. She also has a younger sister, and they are the only two people in the royal family, apart from their parents, who are still alive.


    Why would such an important person be alone in the middle of the forest?


    "- Rescue the current queen?"


    "Yes. I do not know why, but the elves of Noblewood do not want to kill us who have escaped, but to take us alive. Then there is still a possibility that my parents, our current queen and queen consort, are still alive. However, the Noblewood is well defended. First of all, I tried to sneak in with an elite team to conduct a preliminary reconnaissance. ......"


    Sitting in a tent in the village, together with a heavyweight from [RATESTWOOD], Helian tilts his head when he hears the reason for this.


    Incidentally, Levee and Ertina are standing behind Helian.


    Leifa encouraged them to sit down - perhaps in consideration of Herian''s escort - but they politely thanked her, preferring to stand and refrain.


    "The elite squad?��Why are you in there?��And the others?"


    I have the magic I just showed you to summon your friends. If we were lucky enough to sneak into the place where the present queens are being held, we would summon our companions and force our way out. We would need a certain amount of strength to escape.


    But in the end, the Noblewood soldiers found us before we could get over the outer wall of the city, and we ended up like that. The others were caught ...... as decoys to help me escape."


    "...... I see."


    The more I hear, the more troubling the situation sounds.


    From the way the story goes, she is the only one who can manipulate the summoning magic, but the fact that the royal family - and the interim queen herself - has to go out to the battlefield must mean that they are in a very dire situation.


    Though I may not be in a position to say so, since the king himself is on an overseas expedition.


    "If I may, my guest..."


    While we were sitting down to have a conversation, a sharp voice came to me.


    The interrupter was a strange half-elf woman who had been summoned for the purpose of warning us.


    According to Leifa''s explanation, she was the deputy chief of warriors in charge of the settlement''s defense. She is now the chief of warriors since they lost the chief of warriors who went out as an elite team. She looked at Helian and the others with a slightly stern gaze.


    "Are you guests not a little too polite to Master Leifa?"


    "...... Wenli."


    As if to rebuke her, Leifa mentioned the woman''s name.


    Even so, she - Wenli - did not hold her tongue.


    "Let me tell you something, Miss Leifa. ...... guest, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving Leifa. But if you''ve been silent for a while now, you''ve been asking her questions one after the other. It would be too impolite. Why are your guests travelers so ignorant of the situation in this area? Are they really travelers?


    "Wenli, you are the one being rude!��The Herrians have graciously helped me out of the goodness of their hearts. It would be unbecoming of you to make such a mistake.


    Wenli is reprimanded, but the sternness in her eyes toward Hellian does not disappear.


    The half-elves who are present at the meeting are giving similar glances to Wenli.


    It must be suspicious. It was obvious that they would be suspicious. That''s why Helian had thought of some countermeasures with his wits about him on the way to the village.


    "I see. Wenli, you are right to be concerned. You mean that you suspect us to be the pawns of the elves ......[Noblewood]."


    "......, I did not say that. I just felt it strange that our guests were travelers.


    "I see. But it is true that we are travelers. But I''m not sure if we are ordinary travelers.


    "What do you mean?"


    We come from the Abyssal Forest.


    "--?


    The place was buzzing.


    Abyssal forest" was a word that came up in the conversation between Leifa and the elf man, and from the flow of the conversation, it must have referred to "that forest" that had an illusory effect on them.


    The land of the half-elves [RATESTWOOD] is located near the border of the humans, and the territory of the humans is to the east.


    And according to what I have heard, the land of the elves [Noblewood] is in the northwest, and [Rattestwood] has been driven to the forest near the border between the Abyssal Forest and humans.


    Then the Abyssal Forest must be that mysterious forest to which Alkimaira was forcibly transferred.


    "Are you saying that our guests are minions of the Demon Lord?


    Wenli reacts hypersensitively.


    He looks as if he is about to stand up and ready his bow and arrow, but Helian calmly - and pretending to be - denies it by shaking his head.


    "Is there a demon king in the Abyssal Forest?��That''s also new to me. We were suddenly transported to a strange forest while searching for an old castle. Thanks to that we were scattered with our companions and wandered around the forest for ...... five days. It''s been a long time since I''ve even seen a human being. I''ve just learned the name of the Abyssal Forest. I hope you understand that my ignorance of the situation around here is understandable.


    "You say you have been wandering in the forest for five days with ...... no luggage, but you say you have lived for five days in the forest with such light equipment?��That''s a lot ...... more well-dressed than those of us who have a base of operations in a settlement, don''t you think?"


    It''s a question in the form of a question, but it''s not a question to be mocked.


    But Helian knows the answer to that question.


    In fact, that was the response he was expecting.


    "Yes, I am very careful about my appearance. I set up camp and bathe every day."


    "......Hoa. Your guest seems to be quite fond of unfunny jokes. Bathing is a very elegant thing to do.


    Wenli glares at Hellian.


    It is quite a powerful thing to be stared at with a steely gaze by a woman of a certain age.


    Or rather, it''s plain scary.


    Helian tries hard to keep a clear face while holding his knees that are about to shake with his hands.


    "Now, I would like you to answer these guests. Where do you have the equipment to set up camp, much less take a leisurely bath?


    "Wenli!��Enough ......!"


    "Here, Mister Wenli. --Liewe, Ertina."


    I''ll snap my fingers to signal.


    I would have been a fool if I had missed at this point, but I had told them secretly before entering the tent, so there was no need to worry about that.


    Lieve and Ertina each took a small bag from their pockets. They open the mouths of the bags and take out a tent and a post for setting up camp.


    "What the heck is this!��Where the hell did you get all this bulky stuff?


    "In that bag. I found it by accident when I was excavating the ruins. I don''t know how it works, but it can hold more than its volume. It has come in handy."


    And then, and then, and then, and then, a quantity of things that clearly could not fit into the bag were placed on the ground one after another. In no time at all, the entire camp set was in place, leaving the half-elves stunned.


    This bag is a magic tool (magic item) called a .


    As you can see, it can hold more than its volume.


    In RPGs (role-playing games), there are often times when you want to ask yourself , and this is the solution to that contradiction. It is an item.


    Recently, many VR ��Virtual Reality�� RPG ��Role Playing Game�� with names such as Item Box or Item Storage have been using similar items. The same item appears in the market.


    High-quality, large-capacity "magic sachets" (item pouches) are themselves considered valuable, and even Alkimaira could not keep up with the production of the highest-quality ones, so there were not enough of them, but of course the two leaders of the Eight Grand Corps had them.


    And when it comes to preparations for an expedition, a simple temporary housing kit is always stored as basic equipment.


    "As you can see. I thought you would not believe me if you did not see it with your own eyes. This is how we managed to survive in the forest even though we looked lightly equipped. And the food is in those bags."


    Wenli and the others looked at the campsites laid out in front of them in amazement. Even though they could see it with their own eyes, their understanding had not caught up with them.


    --This is it. This is the place.


    "I''d rather talk about something constructive than such trivial matters. We want information. I know this may sound patronizing, but can I at least be allowed to ask you a few questions in return for saving Leifa''s life?��Besides, we can provide you with a small amount of food."


    A hot saut��ed chicken was newly taken out of the bag.


    The saut��ed chicken was fragrant and appetizing, steam was rising from the saut��ed chicken as if it had just been cooked.


    In a way, it was not wrong.


    This high quality "magic pouch" is endowed with a technique, which preserves the condition of the stored items for a long time.


    This saut�� was stored immediately after it was made.


    The meat is from chickens raised with care by a livestock farmer under the king''s warrant and prepared with the utmost care and skill by the castle''s resident chef. The aroma of the chicken meat wafts through the small tent.


    Someone''s throat hitched a gulp.


    As one might expect, the food was not very rich.


    Then Helian has Lieve and the others take out a bottle of cool water.


    He gave it to everyone present, and Helian took a sip to prove that it was not poisoned.


    At first glance it appears to be just water, but it is a real consumption item that has the effect of restoring stamina. In the game [Tactics Chronicle], this effect was meaningless to the player, but I felt that my legs were less tired.


    Fearfully the half-elves began to sip the cool water, but each time they said, "I can''t believe it! It''s cold," "It''s not just water," "It heals me from the inside out," "What is this water?


    Some of them drank the water in one gulp because it tasted so good, and some of them even looked at the others sipping and sipping with resentment.


    "Excuse me, but can half-elves eat meat?"


    "Uh ......, yes, I can eat. They have almost the same tastes in food as humans do.


    "I see. Well then, this is a good omen. Let us treat you to a little. Let''s have a little dinner.


    After the announcement, Lieve and Ertina each take a saut��ed chicken breast from their respective bags and pass them around. The half-elves either stare or are stunned as the items are removed one after another from the .


    The half-elves do not move while the two men serve the food.


    While they are stunned, the half-elves take the initiative, even if they have to do it by force.


    This was the strategy that Helian had devised with all his wits about him.


    This is also the reason why they folded the magic item called one after another before the impact of the magic item had worn off.


    <, they denied their suspicions by using a prop with a strong impact, the magic sachet (item pouch).


    There are other suspicious points in the traveler''s setting of Helian and his friends, but the half-elves, still in a state of shock, do not think of them immediately.


    This is a con technique I learned in college.


    Or rather, it is one of the things that the professor in my seminar class, who loves to draw upon his vast knowledge, has been blabbering on about.


    It was not taught in a lecture, but Helian remembers the carefully explained technique, partly because the professor was a good talker and partly because it made a deep impression on him to say <.


    --The method was to induce the group to focus their suspicions on a single point, then deny the most suspicious point with physical evidence and evade pursuit by changing the subject before any other suspicious point could be considered.


    I forgot the name of the method, but this is what it looks like in writing.


    It is not a very effective method, but I was told that it is sometimes surprisingly effective if the shock of denial is made to be strong.


    I never dreamed that I would actually use this technique, but I believe that I have completed the extremely difficult mission of <>.


    Furthermore, the rescue of the interim queen was used as a shield to create an atmosphere in which it was difficult to refuse requests for information. If they refused the request, they would be asked if the queen''s life was so valuable. Since there is no such a thing, the half-elves have no choice but to accept the request.


    As it stands, they have done more than they could have done in the past. I would like to believe that this was the best solution. Anyway,


    "You can have dinner with us. I hope you don''t mind if I talk to you for a while."


    The rest is just momentum. If they are allowed to cool down, it will be rehashed again.


    Before that happens, we should sell them a favor in the form of a small meal, even if it''s a little pushy, gather information, and then return to our country for a time with a suitable reason.


    Since we have obtained some information so far, even if it is difficult to obtain further information, it is all right as long as we can part from them peacefully and return to our countries.


    I wondered if it would be a good idea to have a conversation over a meal, but diplomacy over a meal is common in the real world as well. So it will be all right. Probably.


    I don''t wait for their reply and continue talking. Don''t lose control of the conversation.


    "First of all, about what you said earlier about them being minions of the Demon King... ......"


    "Sister, I''m coming in!"


    Just as Helian was about to ask a question, a petite figure rushed in, brushing off the cloth at the entrance. The girl, her wavy hair half up, was already inside the tent when she said .


    She is a petite child with large droopy eyes.


    In appearance, she looks slightly younger than Leifa. If she were in Japan, she would have just entered junior high school.


    Unusually, his hair color was pure white. Her skin was as clear and white as Leifa''s, and even the tunic she was wearing was white.


    She is a , I guess.


    "-Reifa."


    It was Leifa who called out to him as if to rebuke him.


    If you look closely, you can see that her face is similar to that of the girl who entered the tent.


    As I was comparing them, Leifa noticed my gaze and lowered her gaze in a slightly embarrassed manner.


    I am her younger sister, Lilifa. I''m sorry, I''ll tell her later. --I''ll tell her later. -Rilifa, my sisters have something important to tell you. Go outside."


    "Hmmm... ....... Hey, brother. Your brother''s a traveler?��The one who saved your sister from the elves?"


    Lillipha ignored her sister''s words and spoke to her.


    She seems to be a quiet girl on the outside, but the fact that she entered the tent without any hesitation and her personality seems to be rather brazen.


    Leifa''s well-shaped eyebrows shot up at this attitude.


    "I don''t care. "It doesn''t matter, Leifa, sir.


    I almost call out to him to make up for it.


    He had given me permission to call him by his first name, but now that I know who he is, I can''t call him by his first name as I have done in the past.


    "It''s you, isn''t it, Mr. Rilifa? It was two of my companions ......, Liewe and Ertina, who saved your sister. I am too weak to fight."


    "Hmmm ......."


    Lillipha glances at the two men standing behind Helian.


    Eltina bows quietly and Levee responds with a bow.


    Lillipha looks at her and tilts her head curiously.


    Then, "Hmm?" Then, he moved closer to Helian and crouched down.


    ......What is it?


    Unintelligible behavior.


    Lillipha sat down beside me and looked up at me with emerald green eyes. It was a gesture of a pure and innocent child.


    Helian, feeling somewhat awkward, hands Lillipha the cool water he has just received from Levee in order to create a pause.


    Lillipha accepts the bottle of soft water with her small hands and looks down at the bottle in her hand. Then she nodded her head "yes" and leaned closer to Helian.


    Helian frowns at this increasingly unintelligible behavior.


    Then, as if determined, Lillipha turned her gaze on Helian''s face.


    It is just as Helian, thirsty, takes a sip of water,


    "Hey, hey, traveler."


    "Hmm?"


    "Do you like big tits?"


    It blew.


    "Boo-hoo!��Gobble, gobble, gobble......!"


    And it went down my trachea.


    It was a disaster.


    Rieve rubbed Helian''s back in panic.


    "Li-Li-Li-fa!��What are you talking about all of a sudden?


    "Because you are a human being, aren''t you, traveler?��So I thought maybe it would be better to be a big guy."


    I don''t understand!


    Leifa yelled at her sister, and Helian completely agreed.


    She had no idea what the question was about or what it meant.


    "Hey, wait!


    Rayfa reaches out to grab Lilifa, but Lilifa takes advantage of her petite body and quickly hides behind Hellian. She is almost snuggled up to Helian''s back.


    Helian is not a pedophile. Definitely not a pedophile. I swear to God I am not a pedophile, but I am aware of the soft touch on my back, probably because of what Lillipha said just now. I am.

 11 - CHAPTER XI PROPERTY

    And as it turns out, it was not that big, but not small either.


    I won''t say what.


    I can''t say.


    "Hey, traveler. Is Lilliputian big?"


    Why do you ask?


    How do you want me to answer?


    "Uh, ...... what is it?"


    "Tits."


    "Lillifurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!"


    The sisters move around sloppily with Helian at the center.


    Both sisters are royalty and the other half-elves seem to be unable to touch them.


    Levee and Eltina, knowing that they mean no harm, stand on the sidelines.


    "Hey, are you big?"


    "Shut up, Rilifa!"


    While running around, Rilifa keeps glancing at me.


    If I don''t answer, there''s no end in sight. It reminds me of a fixed message from a villager in a long time ago RPG, who only gives the same answer no matter how many times I ask him.


    "............ I don''t know, but I guess I''m not old enough ......."


    I''ll play it safe.


    I think it was actually bigger than that, but there is no need to go stepping on landmines that we don''t know where they are.


    Helian has no taste for tap dancing in minefields.


    "I see... ......"


    Lillipha''s voice loses its tension as if she is dejected. But then, as if she had immediately regained her composure, she looked up and met Helian''s gaze with dull eyes,


    "But you have bigger tits than my sister, don''t you?"


    "~~!��Lilifaaaaaaaaaaa--!"


    The sister''s angry voice echoed through the small tent.


    "Yes, my sister is very rude. ......"


    Leifa walks next to me, looking embarrassed and ashamed.


    Since the atmosphere was no longer conducive to awe-inspiring conversation, we broke up for the time being, and the group walked through the village for a change.


    "No, ...... don''t worry about it."


    How else to put it?


    No, there is no other way to say it, Herian assured himself as he thought back on the devastation he had just witnessed.


    The uproar caused by Lillipha was a good job in a sense, but it still doesn''t make sense to me when I think back on it.


    I think that even though she is a child, she is old enough to understand what is going on. .......


    "How old are you now, Mr. Rilifa?"


    "Age?��This is the year that Rilifa--"


    "Hmmm, how old are you?��Traveler, guess."


    Rilifa, walking on the right side, interjects.


    From the time they left the tent to this point, Rilifa has been walking with a firm grip on Helian''s right hand. At first, she was just holding onto Helian''s hem and following him, but before she knew it, she was holding his hand.


    I didn''t want to see the sisters'' slapstick again, so I left it as it was, but I was slightly afraid of the way Lieve and Leifa were looking at me. The meanings of their gazes may be different, but Helian was scared of both of them.


    "Are you around thirteen years old?"


    "Zanen!��The correct answer was ten years old!"


    ............ surprised.


    Unlike in the case of my sister, this time I was surprised in a normal way.


    I was surprised that unlike the case of my sister, this time I was surprised in a normal way. I won''t mention which part, but she is too well-developed.


    "Rilifa has strong human blood just like her mother. People say that she looks just like her mother.


    "Oh."


    "So, just like my mother, Rilifa is going to have big boobs."


    Helian fell silent, though he didn''t blow it because it was a double entendre.


    I feel that any response would be s*xual harassment. s*xual harassment is a terrible thing. Under any circumstances, the man is guilty.


    "Oh my God!��This girl again!"


    "Oh, sister. Wenli is calling you over there.


    "You think you can fool me with a lie like that ......!"


    "No, it''s true, Mister Leiffer. Wenli is running from the other side."


    Lillipha pointed to Wenli.


    Wenli came running up to her and overheard what was going on.


    Rayfa sighed as she heard Wenli''s report, and then she glanced at her sister with a reproachful look.


    "Excuse me, Herian, excuse me for a moment. ...... Lillipha, my sister has something to do. I''m going to leave now, but I don''t want to cause any trouble for you and the others.


    Yes, sir. Bye, sister!


    Waving her hands in the air, Lillipha sees her off.


    Leifa, who had been sent off with a smiling face, left with a reluctant expression on her face, as if her hair was being pulled back.


    "Now we can talk at leisure, traveler!"


    He had a big smile on his face.


    It was as if to say, "Finally, the noisy one has gone away.


    ...... this girl might be a little black.


    And I don''t know what to say to him.


    With a kid like this, it is not a good idea to gather much information.


    He takes a sip of water to calm down, wondering what to do.


    "Hey, traveler..."


    Hmm?"


    "Will you marry me, Lillipha?"


    I spewed.


    I spit out the water in my windpipe as hard as I could.


    I told the story twice.


    I was lucky we were not indoors this time.


    Rieve rubs Helian''s back with a hand that he has already gotten used to.


    "Gefu ......!��Gegho......"


    "Are you okay?"


    "Gee, I''m fine, but now what?"


    "I was thinking that I want you to marry Lilliput."


    At any rate, it seems that Helian''s ears are not broken.


    But I don''t understand.


    I really don''t know what any of this means.


    Helian has never been with a woman before. So he has no experience in what is called "cock fighting".


    I''d like to think that my face is not so bad, although my eyes are a bit bad looking, but I have a quiet personality that is only good for being kind, and I''ve always been able to make friends with women, but only as a so-called good guy.


    So what''s the point? Why am I being proposed to here by a girl I''ve never met before? And from a young girl who looks like a junior high school student. Once again, I don''t understand. I''ve never been proposed to before, not even when I played make-believe with my cousin.


    In other words, this is the first proposal in my life, and even though I am a man, I am not the one who proposed, but the one who was proposed to, and the other is a little girl, which is a very classic royal road, no, no, no, this is an event that could not happen even if the world were turned upside down, and I am sure that this is the first time that a man has ever proposed to a girl. I''ve been thinking that it was a dream from the very beginning, too, because there''s no way that a transfer to another world could actually happen, but wait a minute, if this is a dream, that''s just it. The fact that I had such a dream is proof that I have a subconscious desire to marry a little girl.


    "--?��Are you all right, Mr. Traveler?"


    "I''m fine. It''s just a dream.


    "...... not okay, is it?��It''s not a dream. It''s real!"


    The girl said a cruel thing in a casual way, but this must be a dream for sure.


    It can''t be.


    There is no way that such a crazy story could have unfolded.


    "All right, Mister Lilliputian. Calm down. In times like this, it''s important to stay calm. You will be badly burned if you make a mistake. I know that. Don''t underestimate those of us who''ve had the experience of being told off for a lame confession in a punishment game. So let''s calm down and go back to counting prime numbers and proving one by one that this is a dream."


    "...... I think you should calm down, traveler!"


    No, you are the one who should calm down. You don''t even know my name, do you?��And you''re asking me to marry you, what kind of a joke is that?"


    "I''m not kidding. What is your name, traveler?"


    Helian.


    "Mr. Helian, marry Lilifa."


    This time I didn''t blow it, but my head started to hurt.


    Why am I talking to a little girl face to face like this?


    "Lillipha looks like your mother, so I''m sure her tits will get bigger, right?��My mother''s is bigger than my dog sister''s, so will Lilifa''s be too, right?��Big tits, you know?"


    "No, it''s not because I have big breasts, you know."


    "Would you prefer a smaller one?"


    Somebody help me.


    Why do I have to talk about my s*xuality with a little girl in a place like this?


    And why am I afraid of the aura that is wafting from behind me?


    I don''t want to look at the faces of the two commanders who are guarding me. Especially Liewe.


    By the way, Eltina seems to have been omitted, as if she is not worth comparing. She is a pure-blood elf with a thin figure.


    "That''s a bit of a problem for me......... sister looks like my father, she has strong elf blood and small boobs..."


    "That''s not what I''m talking about. I''m not talking about that. I don''t have any proclivities. Small is not a disadvantage, but I''d rather have a big ...... No, wait, what am I saying? That''s not what I''m talking about.


    He sighs deeply.


    ...... stop it already. This is ridiculous.


    Shake your head and come back calmly.


    I can''t waste my precious time talking to a child.


    "Dear Lilliputian. Marriage is something that has to be approved by your parents. So we should talk about such things only after we''ve rescued your parents."


    This is a traditional Japanese family trick of postponing problems.


    She is a princess, after all, so she cannot be put in a bad mood. Therefore, he does not give a clear answer, but rather blurts it out.


    Perhaps I was being harsh when I mentioned the rescue of her parents as a condition, but Helian herself cannot afford it either. Even in the present situation, he already has his hands full. There is no time to waste on children.


    If they reply that love is enough even without parents'' consent, we should use our trump card against children, <, to get out of this situation. Yeah, let''s do that.


    "Hmm. I don''t think I''ll be able to meet my mother and father... ......"


    As expected, the girl smiled, but her expression clouded. So Helian tried to say the procrastination line he had prepared,


    "Because I''m sure they''ve already killed my mother and father."


    --The words were heart-grabbing.


    "My sister and the others said , but I think they''re probably already dead. Elves don''t like half-elves, especially not ''half-elves who don''t look like elves''. So I think my mother is the first one to be killed because she has big tits and doesn''t look like an elf.


    Lillipha speaks these words.


    But she was still smiling.


    Smiling.


    With a cheerful expression.


    "If Mother and the others were alive, I''d like to go help them, but unlike my sister, I can''t use magic very well, and I''m not very good with a bow, so I can''t do anything. So I''m going to do my best so that everyone won''t feel so miserable.


    So laugh.


    She smiles.


    She does her best to smile.


    It''s all she can do, but at least she tries.


    That''s the kind of smile she had.


    "----"


    ...... Oh.


    Helian was mistaken.


    All this time he thought she was a child.


    I thought she was an innocent little girl.


    --It was a terrible misunderstanding.


    She is royalty from the land of the half-elves.


    Then she can''t be just like any other little child, no matter how young she is. You are not in a position to laugh at them innocently, without reading the air. There is no way that they have been brought up in a situation where they are allowed to not understand.


    Rilifa understood.


    In a sense, she understood the current situation of half-elves more calmly than anyone else. And she accepted the reality.


    Their country is in danger of extinction. All of their captured comrades could have been killed. There was nothing we could do.


    So she thought.


    What can I do?


    She wondered what she could do as a young girl who could neither use magic nor bow very well, and who could not come up with a plan to break out of this situation.


    The result is this smile.


    The result of all my thinking is the series of slapstick commotion.


    I couldn''t do anything, but at least I smiled and tried to make everyone feel at ease, to cheer them up.


    While doing so, I kept thinking if there was anything else I could do.


    I thought and thought and thought, and still couldn''t come up with any good ideas. .......


    In the meantime, she found a free force that belongs neither to the enemy (Noblewood) nor to her own country (LATESTWOOD).


    So she immediately took action.


    With her own body and the two cards that she was a princess, she tried her best to somehow make the travelers her friends and ...... allies in Rattestwood.


    She did this because she knew that, contrary to the values of the elves, most humans prefer the larger-breasted ones.


    The way she did it may have been poor for her age, but she still tried her best to do it in the best way she could think of at this young age.


    --What a terrible misunderstanding!


    How could she have thought that her smile was nothing more than a meaningless smile of an innocent child? And that he had been so easily dismissing the words he had uttered with determination, which were tantamount to offering his own body, as the nonsense of a child.


    "----,"


    Once, when I was still a young child, my parents took me to see a children''s play. It was a children''s play with an easy-to-understand storyline of good and evil.


    I think it was a story about a princess who sacrificed herself to some demon king or something to save her country or something like that. I remembered it suddenly.


    The only difference from the play that I am witnessing is that it is brutally realistic.


    "Huh?��Mr. Helian?"


    Lillipha peeks into Helian''s face with concern as she suddenly turns her head down. Her large eyes showed a hint of concern for Helian.


    ......Why do you worry about a stranger you just met today? You are probably too busy taking care of yourself.


    Helian thinks about that again. She thinks about it. And that, combined with the fact that she was full of herself, was a little, a lot, too much.


    I am aware of a slight burning at the corners of my eyes. But I could not let myself be seen in such a disgraceful manner. Apart from the idea that I should act as a king in front of Ertina and Levee, I couldn''t show my disgraceful appearance here and now.


    Because Lillipha is smiling.


    She keeps smiling as much as she can, as the least effort she can do, keeping a lid on her emotions.


    Then there is no reason for me, a man older than her and still a man, to show my disgusting behavior. Herian''s petty male stubbornness will not allow him to show his disrespect in front of a little girl (Lillipha).


    "...... Hey, Mr. Hellian."


    Rilifa wondered what was going through her young mind.


    "I wish you would marry Lillipha and protect Latticewood.


    He clearly states his request.


    This is the most "effort" she can make.


    This is the "effort" that Lillipha, a royal without power, can make with the greatest possible effect under the current circumstances.


    "My sister has to be queen, so she can''t do it, but I hope you will put up with Rilifa.


    Her cheeks looked slightly red as she said this.


    It must have been due to the sun''s rays.


    Because this is not such a sweet and sour thing.


    It is definitely not like that.


    "No?"


    Rilifa, who was always smiling and laughing.


    Only then did she say these words with a troubled smile and a lowered eyebrow.


    "I don''t think I can ............ get married. I have a lot of things I need to do."


    Don''t let your sympathies get the better of you.


    Helian is a king, just as Lillipha is a princess.


    Therefore, we cannot easily reach out to her.


    No matter how much Helian wants to help, his position as king does not allow it. Especially when they are not even able to grasp the situation they are in and are not able to gather enough information.


    "...... I see..."


    Lillipha muttered helplessly.


    She probably didn''t really believe that he would marry her in the first place.


    She was probably prepared for a rejection.


    But if you don''t do it because you think it might not work, there is no chance.


    She tried to give it a shot even though it might not work, taking a chance on a small chance.


    The young princess tried her best to do all she could do.


    And as she had expected, she failed.


    Her efforts failed.


    This is just a story.


    That''s all there is to it.


    --But...


    "But ...... I''d like to help you in any way I can."


    Really?


    Lillipha jumped up from her prone position.


    She looked genuinely surprised.


    "Yes, it''s true. "Yes, it''s true...but only to the best of my ability. There''s not much I can do for you in my current situation. ......"


    "That''s it!��As much as you can!��You''re really going to help me!"


    "To the best of my ability," I really mean it. I''ll prove it to you at ....... I''ll cut off your fingers."


    Lillipha tilted her head cockily as she held out the little finger of her right hand.


    It was a gesture that seemed out of place in her slightly overgrown appearance, but seemed appropriate for her age if one knew her real age.


    "Oh, you don''t know about finger cutting. ....... It means to make an important promise to each other by intertwining the little fingers of your right hands. You mustn''t break this promise."


    "If I break it, do you cut off my pinky finger?"


    "............, that''s a little bit too dangerous."


    I felt like having the difference of the circumstances I have lived in drilled into my head when he said such a thing without a care in the world.


    Ah, but did he mean to say that finger-cutting maniacs swallow a thousand needles, too? Either way, it''s a disturbing story. No singing will do.


    Lillipha holds out her pinky at his urging.


    I was struck by the small silver ring she was wearing.


    Helian intertwines his right pinky with Lillipha''s, and then says only <, omitting the word "song".


    "Is this what you promised me?��Are you okay?"


    "Yes, I made you a promise. Well then, let''s go and make good on our promise.


    What?��He pulls away from Lillipha, who tilts her head.


    "I think everyone in the village is hungry. If we serve them here and make them feel full and energized, ...... would that help you?"


    Lillipha answered Helian''s question with a hearty smile.


    It was a radiant and bursting joy, perhaps the first true smile that Helian had ever seen on Rilifa''s face.

 12 - The 12th "」」」」」」"

    The Land of the Half-Elves, Rattestwood.


    People were gathered in the central square of the settlement.


    "Beastmen?��Who is that?��These are not the people of Rattestwood. Don''t tell me the adventurers have returned?"


    "No. It must be one of the travelers.


    "Besides the beastmen, there''s an elf and a human. Three travelers in total.


    "Elves!��Is it safe to let them into the settlement!"


    "It seems that he saved Master Leifa''s life. She herself invited him."


    "If that''s the case, I don''t blame you, but I don''t think you can ...... help yourself. ......"


    "...... Hey. By the way, what the hell is that beastman doing here?"


    At the center of the buzzing crowd, it is Levee who attracts the most attention.


    She has placed a cauldron from the village storehouse on top of a foundation made of wood and stone. Then, she takes out a from her bosom and shakes it upside down on the cauldron.


    A large amount of granular material poured out of the mouth of the pouch like a waterfall. The grains are high performance food with high nutritional value and good taste--white rice.


    "What?


    "What the hell is that?��It just keeps coming out!"


    "There''s no way it''s going to fit in that little bag. ...... right?"


    "Magic items...... no, but that''s still a lot of ......."


    Next, Levee shakes the mouth of the once upward and shakes it several times (shake). When she shakes it again, a large amount of cool water begins to be spit out from the sachet into the cauldron with great force.


    """........................"""


    The people who witnessed this unbelievable scene opened their mouths in shock.


    Paying no attention to the speechless crowd, Levee uses her magic of ignition to set fire to the firewood. After putting some more meat and vegetables into the cauldron, she began to stir the contents with a large spatula.


    He adds seasonings from time to time, and when he has reached a satisfactory level of taste, he puts the away at his chest. Then, with another spatula in his free hand, he carefully stirs the contents of the cauldron.


    The contents of the cauldron are quite large, and the load on the hand holding the spatula must be considerable, but Lieve does not seem to be sweating and keeps stirring with a cool face.


    Within a few minutes, a good aroma started to waft from the cauldron.


    "...... what is it?��You think you''re cooking up a storm?"


    "Mom, it smells so good!"


    "Shh. Stay put."


    People who had been watching from afar began to gather as if attracted by the smell, and in no time at all Levee was surrounded by more than a hundred people.


    However, no one looked at him from afar, and no one took a step toward the unknown traveler.


    Then, a young girl slipped through the gap between the crowd of people who were looking at each other.


    "Dog sister, is your food ready?


    It was Lillipha.


    With a bright smile on her face, she walked up to Lilywe in a nonchalant manner.


    She was so natural that the people forgot to stop her and watched her movements.


    "I''m not a dog, but I''m almost ready. Would you like a taste?"


    "Can I?"


    "Yes. Helian ......, you asked for it. Yes, please.


    Stuck for words in a strange place, Levee transfers the nutritious porridge from the pot to her bowl. The meat and vegetables were scooped into the bowls in generous portions.


    After the poison has been served, Rieve hands the bowl to Lillipha.


    "Wow, it looks delicious!��Thank you for the blessings of the divine tree!"


    As a courtesy before the meal, Lillipha sipped the gruel after uttering a prayer of congratulation, a ritual peculiar to the elves. Immediately, she smiled a different kind of smile from the one she had just shown, an expression of mixed surprise and delight.


    "Delicious!��What''s this?��It''s so good, dog sister!"


    "I''m not a dog. I''m not a dog, but I''m glad you enjoyed it.


    "Come on, you guys, eat up!��This tastes better than rice in the castle!��Come on, come on!"


    The people, who had been watching from afar, hurried one by one to Levee''s side as if urged by the smiling Lillipha.


    Levee hands a bowl to each of them and begins to distribute the food to the people.


    Once the flow started, there was no stopping it.


    A long line of people quickly forms in the central square of the village.


    + + + +


    ...... seems to have accepted us somehow.


    Helian let out a sigh of relief that he had managed to pull off a successful cookout, despite the fact that the group of travelers included the hated elves and humans, who had apparently been a bit wary of him.


    He watched from a distance so as not to provoke the villagers, but thanks to Lillipha''s initiative in eating the porridge, the people seemed to have accepted it.


    Even now, Rilifa is trying to explain to the people with her whole body how delicious it is. It is the behavior of a child. Her smiling face is a source of serenity to all who see it.


    Had it not been for the earlier sequence of events that led to his promise to her, Helian would have thought of Lillipha as nothing more than a na?ve child. It was such a natural performance.


    Herian''s conscience creaked a little at the sight of her.


    "----"


    Mind the line.


    Helian reminded himself of the situation he was in.


    He told Lillipha that he would help her "to the best of his ability".


    This is the fulfillment of that promise.


    Providing food for the people who might not have enough to eat was as much help as Helian could give at this time.


    Levee and Eltina''s is filled with a large amount of foodstuffs.


    Among them, white rice is an excellent [food] and is useful to keep the morale of the soldiers on the march.


    If the food supply runs out, the soldiers will be in a state of "starvation". Starvation is a terrible condition that causes a sharp drop in loyalty, happiness, and morale, in addition to a decrease in basic stats.


    A marching army is, of course, fully armed, and if it falls into [starvation] and a rebellion is started, it will be a worst-case scenario. Some of the soldiers in the army have valuable equipment on loan. They are reliable as a part of their own forces, but if they become a part of the enemy''s forces, it would be extremely troublesome.


    For this reason, Helian has instructed them to always fill a quarter of the maximum capacity with food during the expedition since he got the .


    Usually we end up with a large surplus due to oversupply, but it is better than not having enough. Helian was more of a safety margin player, which was fine with me.


    Rieve, seen in the distance, has released a considerable amount of food from his , but he does not need to worry about running out of food since he plans to return home soon after this.


    Incidentally, I have obtained the permission of the chief director, Leifua, for this cookout.


    When Leifa returned from her consultation, Helian brought Lillifa along with him to discuss the food offer.


    At first, Leifa was very grateful to Helian for the offer of food, even though she was the one who should be thanking him. However, when Helian and Lillipha pushed him hard, he withdrew more readily than expected and said, <


    Although he did not bow his head, perhaps because he was in front of the people, his reply conveyed his deep gratitude.


    It seems that the food situation in [RATESTWOOD] was severe. As a result of accepting people who fled from the capital, the number of people living in this village has greatly exceeded the number of people allowed to live there. If this situation continues for three weeks, it is not surprising that the food situation will worsen.


    Shaking her head as if to shake off the negative feelings that were about to come to the surface, Helian asked the girl by his side.


    "So, are there any anecdotes related to the demon king in the Abyssal Forest?"


    A corner of the settlement, far from the crowds of people.


    There, Helian was talking with Leifa to gather information.


    At first he was going to ask Wenli or one of the other half-elves, but Leifa herself agreed to be his interlocutor. She said that she wanted to help us in any way she could in return for our help.


    Helian thought that the Supreme Leader had a lot of things to do, but he decided not to mention it.


    It did not matter if Leifer had some kind of agenda or not.


    Helian would only cooperate "to the best of his ability," as he had promised to Rilifa. We do not intend to enter into their affairs any further. As the king of a country, Helian is not allowed to enter into their affairs.


    Then we should not think about anything else for now, but continue to gather information.


    No, we must.


    "Yes. According to the Elven lore, this is the area where the Demon Lord once existed. There are many other legends about the Abyssal Forest, such as , etc., and their truth is not certain, but the Abyssal Forest has long been considered a forbidden land.


    Leifua answers the question in a fluent tone, as if she were reading from a textbook.


    Even without such lore and traditions, there are not many elves and half-elves who would go out of their way to go near the Abyssal Forest.


    "When you say ......?"


    "From time to time, demonic beasts come from the Abyssal Forest. They are so strong that even a bunch of normal forest-dwelling monsters can''t beat them. Sometimes a team is formed to defeat them, but the success is rare. Most of the time, they seem to do their best to bend the course."


    "What happens to the demonic beasts that are not defeated?"


    Most of them go on a rampage for a while and then disappear into the Abyssal Forest. For the elves, it is like a natural disaster. We have to hide and wait for them to go away. Of course, it is the same for us. ......"


    This village is close to the Abyssal Forest.


    But it is a foolish question to ask


    The half-elves have been persecuted and this area is the only place they could have built a stronghold.


    "Moreover, the Abyssal Forest has an illusory effect that leads people astray. If you go too deep into the Abyssal Forest, you will not be able to return.


    "I see. ...... So, there are no elves or half-elves who like to go near the Abyssal Forest, but are there other races?��And these are the ones who love it."


    "There are humans. They are what we call adventurers. They come here for the special materials that can be obtained from the Abyssal Forest.


    Adventurers.


    I found some keywords that caught my attention, but for now, I will just put them in a corner of my memory and put priority on gathering information about the Abyssal Forest ��abyss��.


    "There are some high-ranking adventurers who go out of their way to search for magical beasts in the Abyssal Forest (Abyss). Perhaps because the magical beasts of the Abyssal Forest contain abundant magical power, many of them can be used as special materials.


    "Does that mean that a good number of adventurers will come to [RATESTWOOD]?��I would have guessed that in a country so close to both the human realm and the Abyssal Forest, they would have come and gone."


    "Yes. It''s crazy from our point of view, but there are always a certain number of people who dream of getting rich and making a name for themselves. However, we appreciate their visit because they drop off valuable foreign currencies when they stop by. I know it is a selfish opinion, but..."


    "It''s a natural opinion for a politician to have."


    He is conscious of Ertina standing behind him, looking at him, and says something along those lines.


    In fact, from a politician''s point of view, he agreed with the idea that the likes or the crazies were valuable customers who would enrich his country''s economy.


    Even if you spend money only within your own country, there will be a limit to growth at some point. Helian had experienced this once before with the Tactics Chronicles.


    "But ...... there seems to be no sign of this adventurer..."


    "About a month ago, there was an attack by a pack of magical beasts in the eastern border city.


    An emergency call has been issued to the neighboring adventurers, and all of them have gone to the border city. It is said to be a rather large scale attack, and the other side seems to be in a great deal of trouble. It was three weeks ago that [Noblewood] launched a war against our country, so it was right before that. ...... I can only say that the timing was bad."


    "Border Cities ......?"


    It is a human frontier city built on the borderline between the human realm and the realm of the demons. It is also called the shield of humanity.


    "...... I see."


    I had expected this to some extent, but I had never heard of it in the game [Tactics Chronicle] before.


    There is a race of demons in [Tactics Chronicle] as well. In fact, Camilla of the Sixth Legion is a kind of demon tribe.


    On the other hand, however, I have never heard of a . There were countries ruled by NPC demon tribes, but the nuance of would be different.


    There are many more questions I would like to ask you at ......, but my head is about to explode.


    I would like to think that this is not a problem of my brain''s ability. I would like to think that this is not a problem of my head.


    I already have a slight headache. I have no intention to stop gathering information, but I need to calm down now.


    I quench my thirst with a glass of water and take in the scene in the plaza.


    The people gathered in the square seem to be smiling at the food served by Levee.


    "It seems to be well received ......."


    As a member of the king''s entourage, Levee has been trained as a versatile character who can be used in a variety of fields while being a specialized force against single combatants. He has mastered many skills other than combat, including .


    From the looks of the people gathered at the cauldron, it seems that he is fully demonstrating the effects of his . Adults and children alike were all eating deliciously.


    Even the soldiers, whose nerves were on edge. They were all looking relieved at this moment.


    Most of them are half-elves, but some of them are of other races.


    "Is that ...... a warcat?"


    Yes. They are small because they are half dwarf (korobokkur). I am a relatively new citizen of Latticewood.


    I see. If he had the blood of a Korobokkur, his size would make sense.


    There were also rabbit-eared beastmen and, to a lesser extent, even dwarves. He might be a half-breed, since his beard is a little thinner than that of a normal dwarf.


    "......There are a lot of different races here. There are a lot of half-breeds, but I was surprised to see a Dwarf as well. I thought elves and dwarves were basically on bad terms, but in your case is it different?"


    "Yes. It is true that this country was founded by half-elves, but it was a collection of many different races at that time. And so the country that we all worked so hard to create is Rattestwood.


    "So we are not a multi-ethnic nation, but a multi-ethnic nation."


    It''s not that great, though," Leifua chuckled.


    "It''s the result of a weak tribe with no power and no one to rely on huddling together that created the ...... nation. Well, because of that, there is no hatred between races. We sometimes clash with each other because of the customs of each tribe when we live together, but we have been able to resolve it by mutual compromise. We have to help each other to survive."


    Leifa says this as if she is trying to be condescending, but the point is that they created a country by themselves, without relying on anyone else.


    Even Helian could see that there had been tremendous hardships. No, no. It cannot be predicted. They must have gone through unspeakable hardships. It is an insult to their efforts to talk about it as if they knew about it.


    Therefore, Helian only said, "It''s a great country.


    Leifa looked a little surprised, but then smiled softly with a modest chest and said, "We are very proud of our country.


    Then Helian and Leifa continued to talk about nothing else until Leewe had finished distributing the food.


    Helian was on the lookout for Leifa''s request for something from her, or for Levee and Eltina''s help, but they did not touch on such topics at all.


    They talked about their favorite foods, hobbies, how Lillipha had always been a spoiled brat and had never learned good manners, and other such trivial things.


    I felt that he was indeed a leader of a country who could talk about such trivial things and make people smile even under such severe circumstances. I wonder if I would be able to behave in the same way if I were trapped in the same situation. I don''t have a shred of confidence.


    ......I wonder how my country (Alkimaira) is doing.


    As I was thinking about RATESTWOOD and the princess sisters, I suddenly wondered about my own country.


    Before I left for the foreign mission, the turmoil in my country had been somewhat settled.


    Besides, after all, only half a day had passed since then.


    As long as there are six corps commanders waiting in the wings, there is no need to worry about what is going on right now, ...... but it might be a good idea to at least check on the situation, just to be sure.


    Just as the conversation was interrupted, Helian took his eyes off Leifer and looked up at the sky, seemingly lost in thought.


    Without letting Leifer notice, she opens the chat window by a thought operation.


    A translucent virtual window is projected in the air, but it is not visible to Rayfa.


    In the game [Tactics Chronicle], the virtual window is only visible to the player himself. Even if you are another king, you cannot see the virtual windows of others.


    ��Mode: Select. Conversation ��Text Chat��.)


    Then, the chat mode is set to text chat by a thought operation.


    Players can talk to each other in voice chat, but NPCs can only give vocal instructions, but cannot listen to reports in voice chat. Text communication is the basic method of communication.


    Due to the data capacity, there is a limit to the number of characters that can have fluent AI depending on the size of the nation. Since not all characters can speak naturally, it is inevitable that text-based communication is used.


    The user looks directly at the virtual communication window (chat window) that appears in front of him/her and selects the group of the corps leader from the "access list" of possible connection destinations by eye movement. The second corps leader, Baran, is selected from the group and a call is made to him.


    After a few moments, Balan answers the call.


    I was worried about whether we could communicate across the Abyssal Forest, but fortunately, there seems to be no problem.


    If we were to communicate using as in the game, we would have entered <>, but there is no point in being concerned about now. I type the sentence as if I were dealing with a human being.


    >


    Successful text transmission.


    Within seconds, a reply from Balan arrived at Helian''s doorstep.


    Admiring the meticulousness of the Commander of the 2nd Corps, he looked over the text sent by Balan and gulped. Helian''s eyes widen and he stands there, oblivious to the fact that Leifa is right next to him.


    "...... Herian?"


    Leifa''s questioning voice does not reach Helian.


    A translucent virtual communication window (chat window) floats in midair.


    A message of only ten letters, reflecting Balan''s reply, is displayed inorganically. The virtual window that the pallid Helian stares at reads


    --The rebellion that Helian had feared the most had broken out with ease.

 13 - CHAPTER XIII "Rebellion"

    Helian acted immediately.


    After leaving the village, the group was now running to return to the country by the shortest route, relying on Helian''s and Ertina''s guidance, who had a high aptitude for the forest terrain.


    The covert soldiers waiting outside the village were also following the group, but even with their superior agility, they were no match for the speed of a corps leader. Although they were following the same return route, the two groups seemed to be almost divided.


    Helian, who cannot move at high speed, is once again being held by Levee.


    I''ve given up my pride long ago. We cannot afford to dwell on such trivialities. He needed to return to his country as soon as possible.


    <


    As soon as they told Leifa this, Helian and the others ran out of the village.


    It was not quite the smooth parting they had planned, but it had to be done. It was a little too subtle to be the peaceful parting they had planned, but it was what they had to do. It can still be undone. So now it''s this way. We are in a situation where we have to do everything we can to deal with our own problems.


    Balan, the commander of the 2nd Corps, is asked to <


    The throne is the one thing I cannot let them take.


    The loss of the throne does not immediately fulfill the conditions for a successful rebellion, but it does cause various disadvantages.


    First of all, many of the abilities that Helian has as king "player" will become unavailable.


    For example, most of the support windows such as and will become unusable, and it will be difficult to keep in touch with the corps leaders.


    Furthermore, the happiness and morale of the entire population will continuously decrease, and separately, the "ruling power" will drastically decrease. And after a rebellion occurs and a city is seized, if the rebels'' [ruling power] exceeds the [ruling power] of the king [Helian], the rebels will take control of that city.


    Moreover, this rebellion is not in a satellite city, but in the capital. It is the keystone of the country. When this city is conquered by the rebel forces and control of the city is taken away by meeting several conditions, it will be judged as a [successful revolution].


    If that happens, it''s the end.


    The end of the country.


    The country ruled by the human king (player) will be destroyed, and the game data of the player in question will be deleted completely.


    There is no such a gentle concept as a save point in this game. Success of the revolution means complete game over.


    "d*mn it, ......!"


    Helian''s voice trails off.


    I want to scream why. I want to scream that we''re talking about different things.


    It''s a scam that they left the second legionnaire, Balan, behind to maintain security, and now there''s a rebellion!


    You said that you were maintaining security. You also said that the Second and Fifth Legion leaders calmed down the uproar caused by the transfer.


    And you left all the corps commanders except for Liewe and Ertina... How could this happen?


    --Who betrayed us?


    Balan is on our side.


    If Balan is the traitor, he should just ignore the message from Helian and go for the throne. There is no need to tell him that there is a rebellion.


    There is no sign of betrayal on the part of Liewe and Eltina either. If they betrayed us, they could have killed Hellian right here and now. But since they are not doing so and are trying to return to their country at full speed, I can assure you that they are on our side.


    Commander of the First Legion, Lieve-Frechschilds.


    Commander of the 2nd corps, Balan Seifried.


    Commander of the third corps, Ertina Versandi.


    The "Three Beginnings" who have been following the same path as Helian since the dawn of time.


    These three are the only ones we can trust at the moment.


    If ......, what about the other commanders?


    Some corps leaders have the traits of selfishness and egotism in their character. In addition, some of them have the tendency to be "chaotic".


    Character traits have a detailed influence on the character''s personality and behavior patterns, whereas dispositional tendencies have an influence in the form of general directions.


    For example, Eltina, who has the trait Harmony, favors actions that have a positive influence, such as resolving conflicts among her subordinates. On the other hand, Chaos may take unpredictable actions without regard or disregard for the effects on others.


    Furthermore, there is even one army leader who has the tendency of [Evil] in his nature. While they are prone to acquire rare unique skills, they are also prone to choose unorthodox behaviors.


    ...... Be careful with these guys. You never know what they are thinking.


    If it is Riebe, you can manage to get him into one-on-one melee combat.


    It''s not like they''ve been in the king''s inner circle for years. The most intensively trained Rieve''s overall level is the highest among all his subordinates.


    The commander of the Seventh Legion is the only one that even Riewe is in danger of taking on in melee combat, but it is a matter of taking him out first. Even if we can''t do that, it doesn''t matter if he''s the only traitor. Then the problem would be if more than one corps leader betrayed us.


    ...... No, wait. What am I thinking?


    It doesn''t mean that a corps commander has betrayed us yet.


    Balan just said there was a rebellion.


    Maybe all the legionnaires are alive and well and the traitors are only some of the soldiers.


    Please let it be so. Please. Please keep the corps commander on your side.


    ......!


    Praying, I cling desperately to the Rive.


    The ride on the Rivee is, quite simply, the worst. The world spins, metaphorically speaking.


    Just a few moments ago, the ground was above my vision, to my horror. The car is flipping the heavens and the earth over and over again as it speeds through the gaps between the trees. I don''t know how it was behaving, but it was really speed-driven.


    This was not because Rieve was ignoring the condition of the passenger (Helian), but because Helian himself had forced her to return at the fastest speed possible. With such an order, Helian had no choice but to endure the murderous shaking and wind pressure without a word.


    And just as Helian''s sense of time begins to go haywire, the group arrives at the main gate of the home country.


    It''s Liebe-Fr?kiwls, the First Corps commander!��Open the gates!��Now!"


    Rieve announced to the guardians of the door in a loud voice, and the gate began to open with a heavy thud. Twisting their bodies into the small opening that opened up, Levee and Ertina jumped into the capital.


    Their destination is the center of the capital, the royal castle of Alkimaira.


    The view drifts backward at high speed.


    The view is blurred, but there is still no sign of fire.


    No buildings were damaged.


    No group is seen invading the king''s castle.


    But we cannot be too careful.


    The rebels may not care about the city.


    They may be heading for the castle at once.


    They may have already invaded the castle.


    My mind is on edge.


    Instead of taking the long way to enter the castle through the gates, Levee leaps in front of the gates.


    The mighty legs of Managarum, the moon wolf, push the bodies of Levee and Helian up to a height of 30 meters above the ground.


    A beat, and then a floating sensation.


    Then a peculiar feeling of falling, as if their internal organs were being lifted up from the bottom.


    It is a sensation that gives Helian more thrills than a bad roller coaster ride, as he lands soundlessly on the east terrace of the castle.


    She kicks in a window and enters the castle. He sprints down the grand corridors, trampling on the red carpet, and finally arrives at the throne room.


    There was no enemy in sight.


    Levee carefully lowers Helian''s body.


    Helian staggered back to his feet and stepped on the ground again.


    "What is the situation?


    As soon as the door was opened, Helian shouted.


    In the throne room was a group of soldiers in full body armor, mostly half-breeds.


    And there was Balan, the commander of the Second Legion.


    The throne is empty.


    No one is sitting.


    We''re safe.


    We made it.


    "My Lord, ......!"


    Baran and the soldiers, thinking that there had been an intruder, quickly lower their weapons.


    "What is the situation?��I don''t suppose anyone touched the throne!"


    "--Ha!��After your order, we immediately took up the guardianship of the throne and at the same time gathered an elite force. No one is allowed to touch the throne.


    The other commanders of the army!


    The commander of the 5th Legion is leading his own forces and some of the 6th Legion to deal with the rebels. The other legionnaires continue to act in accordance with the king''s orders.


    So, all the corps commanders are alive and well.


    I am heartened by the fact that none of the corps commanders have betrayed us.


    But what does it mean that only the 5th corps commander is dealing with the traitors?


    Why are the other corps leaders not moving?


    No matter how many instructions the king had given them prior to their departure, there is no need for them to follow the orders of the king in such an emergency...or perhaps not?


    Is this not, by any chance, an emergency?


    "How are the rebels?��Who started the rebellion?"


    "They''re ogres. The head of the rebels is ...... no name given. He had unusually red skin, so let''s call him the Red Ogre.


    "...... ogre?"


    You belong to the Fifth Legion?


    No, come to think of it, speaking of ogres, ...... there was a faction that invaded just the other day.


    No way.


    The rebellion was started by a faction of the ogre that annexed it just a few days ago?


    Yes.


    Who else has rebelled?


    No, sir.


    I was so relieved that I felt faint.


    If I hadn''t been so busy, I might have just fallen into a slump.


    (......Oh, there he is...) (Oh, there were those who would have revolted in the chaos...)


    Helian recalls that there was a fool who had recklessly attacked just before the national celebration where all the corps commanders had gathered.


    He was forced to surrender (????????) when he returned the attack without even sending in the corps leaders, and he reluctantly annexed the Ogre faction.


    It would have been possible in the game to ignore the surrender and just kill them all, but up to now, Helian has treated his surrendered enemies politely. The game''s style of play, with one exception, has always been to play defensive defense.


    No matter how tactless they may have been to attack us just before the national celebration, we had no choice but to annex them once they surrendered.


    However, the demons have zero loyalty and happiness immediately after the annexation, and if their rebelliousness is not reduced, they may revolt on the occasion of some bad event.


    The rebelliousness of the ogre faction had not decreased at all because of the failure to hold the national celebration, although it was planned to reduce the rebelliousness by the effect of the event of the national celebration.


    Then came the unprecedented bad event of the transfer of the entire capital city. The groundwork for their rebellion had been laid.


    But Helian was relieved.


    You could say that he was relieved from the bottom of his heart.


    Because there would be no problem if the rebels were only the Ogre faction.


    To be frank, there is no need for the Commander-in-Chief himself to go out there.


    I was told that the Commander of the 5th Legion was personally taking care of the situation, but even so, he was more than adequately overstrength.


    It is no wonder that the other corps commanders are doing their jobs without regard to the rebellion.


    The difference in strength was so obvious that there was no reason for them to lose.


    If the Ogre had the intelligence to gauge the difference in strength between the two sides, they would not have revolted.


    (I guess there was no need to rush back. ...... I''m so tired...)


    We should have at least found out who started the rebellion beforehand.


    Helian was so concerned about getting back to his country that he had given Balan only the bare minimum of orders and had done little to check on the situation. All the virtual windows that would have interfered with his movement on the road were closed, and he could not see the chat rooms.


    But in all likelihood, I should have asked for more details about the situation. It was a story of how I was out of my mind. The ugliness of it all makes me want to hold my head in my hands.


    "Sir?"


    No, it''s nothing. I''m just a little tired.


    My legs are shaking, perhaps because I have been released from the tension, and I remember the fatigue as if it were a new experience.


    Don''t call me poor, I was just holding on to it.


    After all, I had been swung around by the acrobatic behavior while going faster than any two-wheeled motorbike. The burden was two more than Helli��n had imagined.


    It was a struggle just to stay as close as possible to Lieve''s body and to keep from being swept off.


    "Hmm?��Rieve, perhaps it is my imagination, but you seem to be in a good mood."


    "...... What are you talking about, Balan. I understand that the rebels are insignificant fry, but we are still in the midst of a rebellion. It is a delusion that you would be in such a good mood under such circumstances. What do you see in this situation?"


    With a clear face, Rieve utters these words.


    The color in his eyes is cool-headedness itself, but behind the king''s calm and collected aide''s back, a fluffy silver tail is waving in the air.


    <


    ...... is fine.


    Helian did not know why he was in a good mood, but he knew it was not an emergency and he did not blame Levee for not being nervous.


    He was too tired to consider such things as trivial.


    "What is the status of the suppression of the rebels ......? The Sixth Legion is on the move, right?��I''ll go over here and suck up the information."


    He displayed a tactical window and called up a .


    From the aerial projection of the royal castle, he taps the unit mark of the Sixth Legion''s subordinate stationed in the castle''s private room.


    There, you will find a vampire who has the skill to build his own information network using bats.


    He has been entrusted with the role of collecting information from the demons belonging to the Sixth Legion by utilizing his skills. He should have almost real-time information on the status of the suppression of the rebels.


    Since he is not within 50 meters from the player ...... within the proximity range, he cannot automatically .


    However, he is within a certain range ......1 kilometers away, so it is possible to manually.


    "Function Window": Open.


    Ability On: Information Sharing: Direct Connection (Direct Access).


    Target Input: Direct Select."


    The function window was opened, and Helian requested him to share information, and within a few seconds, the and the power map were updated.


    I want to see the real-time transition, so I will stay "connected (accessed)".


    "Have most of the rebels been eliminated ......?


    In a corner of the , a mark was flashing, meaning that a battle was in progress.


    In that area, the red light dots, which meant enemies, were surrounded by green light dots, which meant friends, and their number was gradually decreasing.


    It would not be more than five minutes before the red dots (Enemy) were completely gone.


    "Are you going to the site?"


    Balan asks a question.


    It is not a crazy story that the king himself is going to take them down. I''m talking about after the extermination.


    When the rebels are exterminated, the king praises those who raised their heads on the spot, which has the effect of restoring the security situation.


    Rebellions themselves are extremely rare, and even when they do occur, Helian is not always near the scene, but his style of play is to do what he can, and he goes there as much as possible to hold <> events.


    If he did not do so this time, his men might look at him strangely. We have no choice but to go. There should be nothing to worry about after the suppression of the rebels.


    "......Yes, that''s right. We will go to the site after the suppression is complete. Balan will continue to guard the throne until I declare the suppression successful. Liewe and Ertina will continue to guard me.


    """"Ha!"""


    A little over three minutes later, the red light spot disappeared from the . The rebels have been successfully subdued.


    Helian, his body exhausted, sets out for the scene.


    Unaware of the tragedy that awaited him.

 14 - The Fourteenth "Death"

    Helian leaves the throne room and steps out of the castle, this time through the gates.


    As the soldiers salute him with their heels together, Helian looks around the city.


    As expected, there is hardly a soul on the streets.


    The residents have all retreated indoors because of the rebellion, albeit a very small one.


    The absence of people in the usually bustling market was a new sight, but at the same time, it was terribly eerie. It made me feel somewhat sad.


    Helian guesses that the scene is somewhere around here.


    Turning the corner, Helian and the others came out onto the main street. The avenue, which boasts an area large enough for at least twenty people to walk side by side, fills the entire field of vision.


    --The street was full of red.


    There were no ordinary people on the avenue, which is usually full of shoppers, and a large human-shaped object with horns was lying in pieces.


    Red liquid was splattered around it, as if it had been sprayed with paint.


    It was so inorganic that I could not understand what it was at first.


    When he got close enough to touch it with his hand, Helian finally understood what it was.


    "This is ......."


    An ogre.


    A dead ogre.


    Although his right hand was torn off roughly at the root, and his legs were pointing in the wrong direction, this was not a doll, but a corpse of an ogre.


    Looking down at the street, I see that there are more than one or two dead ogres scattered all over the street.


    There was no sign of the usual sight on the southern boulevard, where many of the local specialties are sold.


    A bloody weapon that must have been used for subduing the ogre was lying carelessly on the shelf of an apothecary, and a bizarre ogre''s lump of flesh, which one might ask what kind of avant-garde art it is, was hanging from the eaves of a store that usually sells fresh food, instead of its merchandise. The abdomen was twisted and a white bone protruded from its back, as if it had been hit by a strong force.


    Charred and decapitated corpses are just the beginning. There are even bodies that look like hamburgers, with chunks of flesh exploding in pieces and several orgasms mangled together.


    They stimulated Hellian''s senses with an overwhelming sense of reality. The wind of blood caressed his skin, and the smell of rusty death tickled his nostrils.


    "............!"


    He almost swallows what is about to go up to his throat.


    Stomach acid irritates my tongue, but I can''t vomit in front of Lieve and Ertina''s eyes. Fighting nausea with all her strength, H��lian scolds herself for almost stepping back.


    ......I was naive.


    That''s all I can say.


    I realized to my disgust how much the restrictions on expression by the code of ethics, which had been so much criticized for being tactless, had protected the player''s psyche.


    If ordinary gamers in Japan were to experience this kind of thing on a daily basis, they would soon go insane.


    When I saw a news report about gamers who have lost the borderline between reality and fiction and are now brandishing knives on the streets, I thought to myself, "Of course. It''s no wonder.


    That''s how shocking the scene in front of him was to Helian, Tsukasa Misaki, who is just an ordinary Japanese.


    "So this is that main street. ......"


    South Boulevard, usually teeming with foreign visitors.


    The remains of dead ogres are strewn all over the place.


    Why?


    Because Hellian wanted it that way.


    Because the king, Herian, wanted to maintain order, to put down the rebellion.


    That''s why the strike force led by the commander of the 5th Corps did what it did.


    They did their part as they were ordered to do.


    The result is this.


    "...... Fifth Corps Commander is over there..."


    As if running away from something, Helian walked to the end of the main street.


    In front of the corpse of a huge ogre is a large man with messy dark brown hair, wearing a fancy shoulder coat. He is Gardi, the leader of the Fifth Legion, whose core consists of ogres and giants.


    "Oh, General! As you can see, we''ve subdued them.


    With that, Galdi turned to Hellian, smiling a smile that was as badass as a mafioso''s face but just as endearing.


    He is dressed in a jacket armor made of magical beast material and a fur-covered cloak around his neck, which makes one wonder what kind of barbarian he is, but he is a legionnaire after all.


    He is a vanguard character who specializes in melee combat in a different direction from Levee.


    He is currently in human form, although he is quite large, standing over two meters, but his true identity is that of an Auldgermeister - in short, a Titan.


    Although his abilities and personality are sometimes too rough, Gardi, with his intimidating presence and unique charisma that emanates from his physique, boasts a high aptitude for maintaining public order and suppressing crime, although he is not as strong as Balan.


    And the result of his high ability to suppress the situation is what you see here.


    As the king (Helian) wished, his men (Galdi) carried out their duties, and thus the suppression was completed.


    "...... Well done, Fifth Legion Commander Gardi!"


    "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. First of all, we couldn''t have prevented the rebellion. This is my fault and Balan''s fault. I''m prepared for some punishment.


    "No, the groundwork and conditions were too good for an uprising by the Ogre faction. This is the inevitable result. You cannot be blamed for this.


    I wave my hand in exultation.


    He is also trying to show that he is capable of forgiving the faults of his subordinates, but in fact, this rebellion would have been inevitable. In fact, this rebellion would have been inevitable.


    If they had been able to hold at least a national celebration, it is highly possible that the rebellion could have been prevented, but who could have predicted such a ridiculous "event" as the transfer of an entire city?


    Where is the leader of the rebellion?


    "Yeah, that''s what''s lying in front of the arms store there."


    Gardi pointed to a red-skinned ogre.


    A mutant ogre.


    Although it retains its original form, it is now lying as a lump of flesh that no longer speaks.


    ......I don''t want to see it if I can help it.


    But in a way, this is what I wanted.


    Then we have a duty to see it through.


    I made up my mind and approached the corpse of Red Ogre, and found a fist-sized windpipe in its abdomen. I look up and see its face. His eyes were cloudy white, like those of a washed-up fish. I try to hold back the nausea that rises up in me, but I cannot help but take in the sight of the man.


    "...... Hey, Gardi. If you''ve been listening quietly for a while now, you''re not using the right words to address Mr. Helian.


    "You''re talking about that again, Levee. I never get tired of you and Balan. First of all, the general has already forgiven you for your language.��It''s a little late for that, don''t you think?"


    "There are limits. Especially in front of the soldiers. At least keep up appearances.


    "Heh heh heh. Ah, General. I''ve got some dead bodies to dispose of and clean up, so I''m going to have to leave now.


    "Hey, wait, Gardi. I''m not finished with you yet!


    "Oh, dear. You two shouldn''t fight.


    Galdi runs away from the trouble and tries to leave.


    The complaining Levee tries to reach for his shoulder to keep him from running away.


    Ertina watches him and wonders when to stop him.


    --So no one could stop him in time.


    "Fang... mute... mute... mute... mute... mute... mute... mute... mute... mute... mute... mute... mute... mute... mute... methen(A)methen(A)methen(A)methen(A)methen(A)methen(A)methen(A)methen(A) methen(A)methen(A)methen(A)methen(A)methen(A)methen(A)--!


    A bellowing sound.


    The corpse of a red-skinned ogre leaps up as if in some kind of joke.


    "Where''s --------?"


    Galdi turns away to leave.


    Levee is in a position to reach for his back.


    Eltina turns to face them.


    And Helian is standing right next to the Red Ogre.


    So the corpse of the Red Ogre was still clutching his mace.


    He unleashes his mace, which the corpse of Red Ogre had been holding in his hand, at Helian, who was closest to the corpse.


    + + + +


    --Oh, this one''s dead.


    I recognized this fact as if I were a stranger in front of the blunt weapon that loomed in front of me.


    The mace, which in reality should be being wielded with tremendous force, is slowly closing in on my senses. This must be that thing, where everything seems to be in slow motion when you are about to die. In principle, the defense instinct super-compresses the sensory speed in order to avoid death by moving the body somehow, right?


    But it is pointless. In the first place, I have no great physical ability. No matter how much it looks like slow motion, my body does not move, and there is no way for me to resist the death in front of me.


    Suddenly, several images flashed through my mind.


    I am reminded of the many events that have occurred in the past day.


    They are too ridiculous, yet too realistic.


    I guess this is what is called "running lights". In the shadow of the mace approaching in slow motion, various images are flowing at a furious pace.


    Unfortunately, the memories of my childhood, when I was loved by my parents, and the memories of playing with my few friends were not included in them.


    I have a heart that regrets this. Is it a luxury to wish to die with beautiful memories at least at the end?


    I ramble on and on, but still the mace has not arrived.


    I am still on the verge of death.


    What torture is this?


    I am honestly terrified.


    If I could move, I''m sure I would be crying out in agony.


    If I had to beg for my life to be saved, I would have given up my pride and crawled on the ground.


    No.


    I don''t want to die.


    If I''m going to die, at least I want to die at home.


    I don''t want to die in this world.


    My mind refuses death.


    But reality brings death without mercy.


    It''s not even a matter of seconds.


    The mace is literally right under your nose.


    First, the wind pressure reaches my face.


    Then the mace touches your forelock.


    I could see reddish-black rust floating on the surface of the mace.


    I wonder if it is hardened blood. Some poor victim has gone before us.


    I wonder how many more will become rust on this mace.


    Oh, no, I''m dying, I''m dying, I''m dying, I''m dying, I don''t want to die, someone help me--


    "----"


    A strange noise.


    Even his thoughts came to an end there.


    His head, a mere human being, popped off like a watermelon, and the contents of his crushed skull were splattered on the ground with dirty ketchup.


    --And so Helian, the weakest of kings...


    Helian, the weakest of kings, was rebelled against and killed by the people of the land he ruled.

 15 - CHAPTER XV -- "This Is Not a Dream"

    I had a dream.


    I was vaguely aware that it was probably a dream.


    However, it is not yet decided that it was a dream.


    Then there is no rule that says you can do whatever you want without thinking about the consequences.


    There is no reason to cut corners.


    So I will take action.


    If you decide to do something, give it your all.


    There should be no regrets.


    The enemy seems to be closing in.


    A large force.


    Elves and beasts and spirits, dwarves and giants and dragons. Ghosts, undead, demons, phantoms, fairies, and every other kind of race gathered together... it was a mixed multinational army that I''ve seen before.


    In contrast, our forces are small.


    In front of the throne stood a row of magnificent golden chairs, but to my surprise, five of the eight seats were empty.


    In addition, the pieces on two of the remaining three chairs were already broken and reduced to wreckage.


    They must have been destroyed by the army.


    No wonder.


    The difference in strength is too great.


    On the last remaining chair, there was a piece made of a magnificent crystal.


    It was a finely crafted and magnificent piece in the shape of a wolf.


    Apparently, that is all the strength he has.


    ...... is a terrible handicap.


    The opponent has more than a thousand dozen pieces of various kinds of pieces, while I have only one. Our pawns are the strongest, dependably, but the difference in numbers is stark.


    In all ages, no hero, no matter how great, has ever been able to defeat an army single-handedly.


    The violence of numbers is so great.


    That is why people yearn for the heroic tale of a single warrior unmatched by any other, and pursue their dream stories.


    If it is impossible to realize in reality, at least write it down in fantasy.


    This attempt is an extremely natural consequence.


    Everyone has experienced this at least once.


    Sometimes we draw on paper, sometimes we fantasize, and sometimes we simulate the experience by playing games in the fantasy world.


    That is why Helian did the same.


    [In pursuit of romance in a box garden named "Tactics Chronicle",


    Helping each other with friends,


    And grow into the person they wish to be,


    He has achieved single-handed warriorship,


    Biting both sweet and sour,


    We will help the weak and crush the strong,


    Peace to the world,


    A loving hand to a friendly neighbor,


    However, obstacles in the way must be destroyed by force,


    The taste of victory was intoxicating.


    These things, which are almost unattainable in reality, have been fulfilled by Helian''s tireless efforts, with some luck.


    --But it seems that these glorious days are finally coming to an end.


    The only pawn in the form of a wolf daringly dives into the crowd of the army.


    The pawn rallied as if it were a thousand warriors.


    But after slaughtering 1,000 warriors, it was crushed in front of an army of 10,000.


    Crushing the wreckage, the "forces of ten thousand demons" marched on, finally reaching the king''s castle.


    Helian now has no more pieces in his hand.


    It is checkmate.


    The king''s pawns have no power to fight.


    Unlike a pawn, he has no room to grow.


    He has lost all of his forces, and all that is left is his weakest piece, the king.


    The situation is now beyond our control unless we overturn the board.


    But I will not throw the game. I will not retire.


    It would be a futile attempt, but I felt that resigning at this point would be an act of spitting and smearing mud on the pawns who had followed me to the end and on the history that Hellian had carved up so far.


    I had already prepared for this.


    I had been weaving the history of 150 years thinking that one day this might happen.


    I thought I had already prepared myself to meet the end.


    But I''m scared.


    The emotions of actually facing the end screamed out.


    This is not what I was promised.


    The box garden I loved never had such a terrible sense of reality.


    I hate it.


    I don''t want to die.


    How did this happen?


    What did I do?


    This is not how it''s supposed to end.


    But as if to mock Hellian''s pleas.


    An army of demons surrounded the throne.


    These terrifying creatures, which no human could ever hope to defeat, glared at Helian.


    With the sound of heavy footsteps, a piece stepped forward from the army of ten thousand demons.


    The pawn had horns.


    He had a face like an ogre.


    He had red skin.


    He clutched a mace soaked in blood.


    He swung his weapon.


    The mace comes at him with lethal speed.


    There is no way to evade it, and there is no way that the weakest pawn can withstand its attack.


    Thus, the king''s pawn, HELIAN, is crushed by the bloodstained mace, its innards splattered...


    "----aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"


    I jumped up.


    Rough breathing.


    His heart screams and pulses wildly.


    "Ugh... ......!"


    My chest aches as if I had an irregular heartbeat.


    I bent my body into a crouch, holding my chest with my right hand, and a clean, pure white sheet came into view.


    Where is it?


    I somehow manage to look up while enduring the pain in my chest.


    What I saw in my vision was not an unknown ceiling, but a familiar wall.


    "......Here..."


    A king-size bed, too big for one person to sleep in.


    Luxuriously decorated chandeliers.


    A classy canopy.


    Huge paintings on the walls are screenshots from the early days of the hotel.


    This is a room in the castle, the king''s private bedroom.


    "...... Helian, sir?"


    I hear a stunned voice and turn to my left.


    There was Levee, looking as if she were about to burst into tears.


    This is also the first time I have seen this pattern of emotional expression, an out-of-place thought crossed my mind.


    "Oh, thank goodness ...... you''re finally awake ......!"


    Levee''s amber eyes are moist.


    The clear drops that formed at the edges of her eyes soon turned into tears and ran down her white cheeks.


    Finally, Helian became aware of the fact that he was lying on the bed in his bedroom.


    "----Yume?"


    There is no sign of the approaching army.


    No hordes of demons surrounding us.


    The only people in the room are the first lieutenants, who are weeping for the king.


    "What?��What the hell is going on ......?"


    He puts his right hand, which had been resting on his chest, on his forehead.


    My palm feels clammy and sweaty.


    Then I think back to how I got here.


    A few memory fragments run in a sequence.


    National celebration,


    Transition,


    Audience,


    Exploration,


    Elf,


    War between the races,


    Settlements,


    Rebellion, and--


    "--!"


    I remember.


    Sudden awakening of consciousness.


    Immediately, he puts his hand to his head.


    Fortunately, the skull was still there in its original form.


    However, this fact does not match his memory.


    Wasn''t I killed by having my head crushed?


    "--The Ogre!��What happened to the rebels!��What the hell happened?


    The last thing I remember is the rusty mace looming in front of me.


    Was it a dream, too?


    "Calm down, Master Helian. Do not wake yourself up yet. You''ve been asleep for more than half a day.


    "...... what?"


    You''re a fool.


    I don''t remember sleeping.


    I don''t remember coming to bed on my own.


    No, that means ...... if I remember correctly.


    "Did I ...... get killed by that red ogre?"


    At these words, which sounded like he was talking to himself, Rieve lowered his gaze and answered, "Yes," though it was difficult for him to say it.


    Upon hearing her answer, Helian''s upper body, which had been raised, slumped down on the bed.


    The bed, lavishly furnished with luxury goods, sank into the floor without a sound, softly accepting the body that had been thrown down so vigorously.


    --I understood.


    The memory of being killed by the Ogre is real.


    The king, Helian, was killed by the ogre.


    But..,


    "-- the auto-resuscitation must have kicked in."


    In the game [Tactics Chronicle], it is not possible to assume that the death of the king [player] = immediate game over.


    Although there is a death penalty and a limit to the number of times the king "player" can be resurrected.


    That is why Helian was resurrected.


    He was killed by a rebel ogre, and then he was resurrected.


    "............Lieve"


    He calls out the name of the man at his side.


    Levee brushes the tears from her cheeks with her supple fingertips and answers with a short "yes.


    Is the throne safe?��What happened to the rebels, that red ogre?��What happened after that?"


    The throne is fine. The throne is still well protected by the elite of the Second Legion led by Balan. And the traitors have been destroyed once and for all. After crushing their skulls, they were obliterated without a single piece of flesh, so there is no doubt about it. And that red ogre seems to have ...... unique abilities."


    Unique skill.


    An ability that does not depend on race or occupation, but is unique to the character.


    It is a rare power which is not only peculiar but also rarely expressed, but it is often a superior power which cannot be replaced by any other.


    Sometimes, a single "unique skill" can even turn the difference in ability upside down.


    Did that red ogre have it?


    With a hand that still trembles slightly, he opens the "Tactical Window" and calls up the "Character Status.


    A translucent virtual window appears before your eyes. A red ogre appears in a small frame on the left. On the right side of the window, various statuses and abilities revealed through battles, investigations, and defeats are shown.


    Helian reads out the words listed in the "abilities" column.


    ""Last Stand"...... is the ability to counterattack only once after death (...), or".


    The effect was simple: "A must-hit attack on the nearest enemy.


    Since the attack is a "must-hit" attack, it has already been determined that the attack will hit the closest enemy at the time the unique ability is activated.


    And right in front of the ogre was Helian, who had unintentionally approached it.


    He had defeated it.


    He had succeeded in defeating it.


    The commander of the 5th legion, Gardi, had certainly killed the traitor.


    That is why Rieve and Ertina let their guard down.


    And that is how it ended.


    "I am sorry!


    Levee unexpectedly fell to her knees and bowed her head.


    Her words of apology were filled with a sense of regret that she could not hide.


    "I have no excuse ...... for this mismanagement, even though I was assigned to escort you," he said. I am prepared to face any and all severe punishment. Please punish me."


    With his head bowed, Rieve was ready to accept whatever punishment was offered to him.


    Even though he had been resurrected, he had caused the death of a king.


    He had betrayed the trust of the king who had entrusted him with his protection.


    It was a terrible crime.


    From her point of view, she deserved to die.


    Therefore, she waited for the king''s words, ready to lose her head at the first sign of .


    "......Lieve, come near me."


    She responded immediately.


    Excuse me," she said, getting up and walking over to the bed.


    You can get on the bed. Come closer."


    She did as He said.


    She felt that it was impolite to climb up on the king''s bed, but the king''s words came first.


    She climbed up on the bed and leaned close to the king.


    The king''s hand reached out to me.


    I did not know what his intentions were, but whatever the punishment, I was fine with it.


    Levee remains silent, staring at the hand that is closing in on her, motionless - and when it disappears out of sight, her thoughts stop at the unexpected action of the king (Helian).


    "---- eh,...... eh,ah,eh?"


    My thoughts have stopped.


    And yet a voice escapes from his mouth.


    The source of his bewilderment is the touch of the dog-ears on the top of his head, which is a bare reaction, as if to say, <>.


    What Hellian did was nothing.


    All he did was to put his hand on Lieve''s head.


    Then he slides his palm to check the touch and brings his right hand to his cheek.


    In the process, the finger on the dog-ear slipped off, and the dog-ear, which was changing its shape due to the pressure of the finger, sprang up. Levee, confused and completely frozen, does not care, but H��lian strokes her white cheek.


    The warmth of her body is felt in her palm. Slightly hot. When you put a little pressure on your fingertips, the soft and moist skin sinks into the shape of your fingers. A moderate repulsive sensation. You slide your palm further down to the neck. Avoiding the silver choker, you place your fingers on her neck. The tips of my fingers feel the beating of my heart, which is beating fast.


    Next, I put my arms around her thin neck and lean my face against the nape of her neck. I inhale, almost touching her, and a faint scent tickles my nostrils. As I stay in the same position for a while, her pulsation in my arm accelerates to an unusual speed.


    She slowly removes her face from the nape of the neck. And when I look up, I see Lieve''s face with big, twinkling eyes. At close range, I can see my own face reflected in her amber eyes. Her cheeks are slightly tinted vermilion, and her breath is becoming raspy.


    "----"


    Without paying any attention to her condition, Helian wiped a tear out of the corner of Lieve''s right eye with his index finger as a final confirmation.


    Her fingertip felt slightly wet. She licks it.


    --There was a faint, salty taste.


    "............!��......!��......!"


    Rieve seems to be at a loss for words.


    I suppose it''s understandable if he suddenly acts in such a strange way.


    It is a natural reaction.


    If there is no such thing as a woman, it is natural for her to be puzzled by the fact that there is such a thing as a woman. I suppose.


    Helian closes his eyes.


    He exhales and gently opens his eyelids.


    Sight, hearing, smell, touch, and - as yet unidentified - taste.


    Recalling the sensations that could only be real in any way...


    Seeing Rieve''s mouth still open with a crunch.


    Seeing the emotions that we have never seen before.


    Seeing how it is too realistic to be expressed by the combination (program) of Zero and One.


    And so.


    Helian looked up at the ceiling to prevent something unbearable from falling out of the corner of his eyes.


    "...... Oh."


    Certainly there is no sign of the approaching army.


    No hordes of demons surrounding the king.


    The commander of the army is alive and well, and the country is safe.


    What I saw earlier was just a dream.


    But...


    "I guess this one ...... isn''t a dream."


    It has not returned to the real world.


    And so I have spoken up about it.


    I finally said it out loud.


    And so I think back on the events of the day, which have been too rich for me.


    I realized many facts and events that diverge from those in Tactics Chronicle.


    --The five senses that were supposed to be tasteless in the game became real.


    When I cut my palm, blood flowed, and pain also became real and attacked me.


    --The key language has lost its meaning.


    Characters began to act on their own initiative and took on an unmistakable sense of self.


    --We have gained impossible information in a forest we have never seen before.


    I was told of a history that did not exist in the game, and I learned that there were many humans who were supposed to be the exclusive race of the King Player.


    --I have not woken up and returned to the real world.


    The events that I experienced today were full of a sense of reality, not dreams and illusions.


    --And most of all, the person in front of me right now...


    She (Rieve), who has been by my side all day today, was a real being, a human being, no matter what I think.


    I have reobserved this fact with all of my senses, including my sense of taste.


    Therefore, Helian had no choice but to admit it.


    He had no choice but to accept this cruel fact.


    --This is not a dream.


    He was transported to a strange land with his entire castle.


    That he could not return to the real world.


    And the half-elves facing the tragedy of their badly written triptych.


    The ogres who revolted and turned up dead.


    The presence of the NPCs "Liewe" who are right here in front of us and have their own personalities.


    All of it is real.


    This is no longer a game.


    It is not a dream.


    This is undeniably real.


    But it is not the real world.


    [Not in the Tactics Chronicles.


    It is a different world, only similar.


    I am in a strange place, in the midst of events that could only happen in a comic book or a novel.


    --I have come to a different world.


    "----------------,"


    ......Wonderfully.


    I was surprised, but strangely I was not distraught.


    I thought I was going to be half-crazed and screaming because I couldn''t accept the fact, but I wasn''t.


    Maybe he had accepted the fact long before.


    The fact that I had been trying to believe that this was a dream in the first place was the proof that I had understood that this was real.


    That is why I did not cry.


    That is why I did not scream.


    But I was getting close to my limit.


    "......Lieve."


    I called out.


    But there was no response.


    I looked to the side and there was Levee, who was frozen with her mouth agape, as if in a complete panic.


    I smiled slightly and called out to her again.


    "Lieve!"


    "Oh, ............, yes!"


    This time there was a reply.


    Poor guy, his face is so red.


    The triangular ears on his head were moving in a flurry, and his fluffy tail was behaving in a way that is hard to describe.


    Looking back, I feel like I have s*xually harassed her in a terrible way, but I will put that issue behind me.


    "Did you have any other serious problems besides the auger uprising?"


    Yes, yes!��Uh, no!��Uh, uh, uh, um, ......!"


    Don''t be in such a hurry. Just answer calmly.


    "No, it''s okay!��I''m calm!��Yes, I''m calm!


    He laughs again.


    If you were really calm, you wouldn''t have ehhhhh.


    Rieve was supposed to be the calm and collected, so to speak, "good-looking sister" character. is too much of a gap.


    There have been a few minor problems, but nothing serious that would immediately shake the country.


    "I see. ...... What about the other corps commanders?"


    We are continuing to carry out the king''s orders. The Commander of the Third Corps, Eltina, and the Commander of the Fifth Corps, Gardi, are giving orders to their corps and are waiting for Helian''s decision.


    "Then, Commander of the Fifth Corps, Mr. Gardi, will continue to maintain security. In the event of another rebellion, tell him to use his own judgment to deal with the situation unless otherwise instructed by me.


    "......, are you sure?"


    The question is whether the Fifth Corps Commander Ghardi, who failed to deal with the rebellion, can continue to be in charge.


    But it is not a question of whether anyone else could have predicted the counterattack of the ...... Red Ogre in the case that just happened.


    In fact, neither Liewe nor Ertina could have detected it.


    The same will be true for other corps leaders.


    The "unique skill" is a very valuable (rare) ability. And even though there are no undead monsters or necromancers, it is unthinkable to be attacked by corpses. Who can predict such an exception among exceptions?


    If not for the "last stand," Gardi would have fulfilled his role well, so there should be no problem to keep him in charge.


    In the first place, there is no surplus force that can be transferred to other areas.


    There is no room for a surplus of personnel.


    It doesn''t matter. The III Corps Commander, Ertina, will be in charge of following up on the damage to buildings and injuries caused by the ...... rebellion and fine-tuning the coordination between the various corps. Communicate to them that they are to respond flexibly and within limits that do not contradict my instructions.


    Eltina is in charge of internal affairs in peacetime.


    Since she also possesses harmony, there should be no problem in entrusting her with a coordinating role.


    Normally, this would be the job of Liewe, who is also the general corps commander, but she wanted to keep it in her own hands.


    "Tell Balan, the commander of the 2nd Corps, that the rebellion is over. As for the guardianship of the throne, you can return to your normal shift now. And ...... I will take some rest. Liewe will take care of me.


    "Yes, sir. After sending word to the corps commanders, please remain inside the room.


    No, I need you outside the door. I need a moment alone. I''ll call you if I need you."


    "...... Yes, sir."


    After a short pause, Levee hung her head and spoke the words of worship.


    Just before she walked out the door, her eyes met mine, shimmering with worry.


    Her eyes look somewhat regretful, and she closes the door without a sound.


    The king''s bedroom is a kind of sanctuary.


    As long as the door is closed, it is completely soundproof, and the only person who can open the door in an official manner is the king''s aide, Lieve, with the exception of Helian.


    So Helian turns over lazily and buries his face in his pillow.


    She does not sleep.


    No time to be depressed.


    But I just needed a little rest.


    I just wanted to rest and not think about anything.


    That was Helian''s small ...... and sincere wish.

 16 - CHAPTER XVI "Current Situation Arrangement"

    Then ten minutes, fifteen minutes.


    Not more than thirty minutes, Helian thought, his face still buried in the pillow.


    He turns over with his right hand on the wrinkle-free sheet.


    Fortunately, the pillow was not wet.


    If it had been, it would have been bad for a man''s pride and all that.


    It is the role of a tragic heroine to be caught in an unreasonable situation and do nothing but mourn and lament, but it is not my role.


    But, wasn''t she carried in a princess''s arms by Levee on the way back to the castle? I cover my face remembering that I was already treated like a heroine.


    The pride of a man may have been crushed to pieces at that point.


    ......Well, what the heck.


    That such a trivial thing started to come into my mind.


    I guess it''s time to change my mind.


    "......Yes."


    With a shout, he raises his upper body in reaction to the swinging down of his hands.


    My mind was strangely calm.


    I had expected it to take a little longer for my mind to change, but strangely, I felt calm.


    I almost tilted my head and wondered why, and soon came up with an answer.


    "Oh, ......."


    I knew I was aware of it. This reality.


    I guess somewhere in my mind, after spending a whole day watching all these impossible events, I had started to prepare myself to accept this impossible world.


    Or perhaps my instincts forced me to change my mind in order to protect my ego.


    Either way, it seems that the human mind is very conveniently made.


    The capacity for self-preservation at the very core of an organism is truly great.


    In particular, I have learned in a university lecture that the human mind is one of the most excellent among living creatures.


    I took a course in clinical psychology just out of curiosity to see if it would be of any use to me, even though it is not my major. .......


    "I never thought I''d remember that in another world, you know. ......"


    With a sarcastic grimace, Helian held his hands out in front of him.


    He moved his palms slightly away from his face and slapped them against his cheeks with all his might.


    A dry sound echoed in the room.


    ......Maybe I was a little too forceful.


    But it woke me up.


    "-Then think about it."


    I''ve already finished escaping reality.


    Then it''s time to face reality.


    It''s time to recognize the reality of this situation, which is impossible in reality.


    Raise your head.


    Look forward.


    Start with what you can do and take concrete action.


    Worrying and fretting at this point will not solve the situation.


    Then, the first thing you should think about is "


    Objective.


    Determine a course of action.


    "Pursuit of the cause of why this happened ......, no."


    It is not.


    That''s just the process of achieving my goal, and my goal itself is--


    "- to return to the real world."


    That''s right.


    I want to go home.


    I want to go back to reality.


    It''s true that I devoted most of my youth to the game [Tactics Chronicle].


    I was even listed as a candidate for cripple on some message boards. I suppose that the champions of each world are all the same, to a greater or lesser extent.


    But at least Helian himself is not a cripple.


    He is not ready to devote his life to a virtual world.


    He loved the box garden called [Tactics Chronicle] only as a pastime, as a game.


    That''s why I want to go back to the real world.


    To do so.


    I have to find a way to return.


    So how do we find them?


    So far there are no clues to investigate.


    So we come back to the question at the beginning of this article, , and it is a cliche that anyone could come up with, that something in the Abyssal Forest (......) where the Alkimaira appeared might have caused the migration. I can only guess.


    "......I should have read more books on the subject if this was going to happen."


    Thanks to the renewed boom, I had many chances to see advertisements for other-worldly stories on the Internet and in bookstores, but I would have been playing games if I had time to read them. I only read a few books on otherworldly transfers on a whim.


    Helian, who was not so much interested in the subject, only skimmed through the book borrowed from a friend, and his knowledge of the subject was only fragmentary.


    Is it the so-called "game brain" or "manga brain" to think that there might have been some hints if he had read more books on otherworldly reincarnation or otherworldly metastasis?


    These words have been dead for a long time now, and they are even fossilized words, but things that could only happen in games and comics are actually happening to me. If this is the case, the idea of using games and cartoons as a hint may be worth considering.


    However, no regrets.


    I have only superficial knowledge about them, so I can''t come up with a good idea .......


    "......Yes. I don''t need to know anything myself. If I don''t know something, ask someone who does.


    It comes to me.


    I''m not the only one (????????).


    It occurs to me that there may be other people who have moved to another world.


    There must have been such stories in the fictions that raged in the bookstores a long time ago, in which the original transferee was involved in the transference.


    I remember that there was a book with such a story, because it was re-released in the wake of the renewed boom and was heavily advertised in recent advertisements (commercials). I wonder if I might be in a position to be involved in such a situation.


    "It''s a possibility, isn''t it ......?"


    Helian does not consider himself to be a special person.


    In middle and high school, he has never been involved in leadership roles, and if he has, it has only been in a supportive role such as vice chairperson.


    She was not involved in any club activities, was a homeroom student, and does not recall receiving any kind of commendation.


    In the end, I am not the kind of person who can share the dazzling spotlight in the center of the stage. This has been proven in the eighteen years or so of my life.


    So I don''t think I am the only one who has transitioned. I don''t think so.


    Since I have metastasized, it is quite possible that other players have metastasized as well.


    Then, one of our short-term goals is to


    "Contact with collaborators ...... or people who have been in a similar situation. Yes, search ...... for people who have moved to another world."


    If you are not the only otherworldly person, there must be some kind of trace.


    There is nothing like that around you, but it is possible that you have been transported to a completely different place. If he or she exists, we should be able to cooperate with each other.


    However, if there is no one in the same situation - and I do not want to think that I am the only one in this world - I will have to find a way to return home by myself from scratch.


    In that case, I would have to investigate the Abyssal Forest and the phenomenon of transference in this world and search for a way to return home.


    But whatever the case may be, we need to know about this world first.


    ......Good.


    We''ll work out the details later, but let''s set a course of action.


    First, our ultimate goal is to .


    One of the short-term goals is to search for transplants to the other world.


    If no other transferees are found, then we will <.


    And as a stepping stone to achieve these goals, .


    I think that''s about it.


    "...... No, one more thing."


    Oh, yeah.


    Oh, one more thing.


    One more thing that we must never forget.


    A principle that we must never forget.


    That is .


    I don''t want to die.


    I don''t want to die in this world.


    If I''m going to die, at least I want to die in the real world.


    I can''t stand the thought of dying alone in a world where I have no family or friends.


    "......"


    He holds himself with both arms, and his body begins to tremble on its own.


    I remember the "death" I have just experienced firsthand.


    It was scary.


    I was scared from the bottom of my heart.


    There is no one who is not afraid.


    I was resurrected, but it was unmistakably the feeling of death.


    The killing spirit that said, "You''re the only one I''m going to take with me.


    The fear of actual violence.


    A sense of hopelessness that no small human being can resist.


    The mace looming before him.


    The stench of death in the air.


    A head that has burst open as if it were crushed tofu, and brain plasma scattered haphazardly around it.


    Above all, the sensation of death, of the life of Helian being devoured.


    It was a horrifying sensation.


    There are no words to describe it.


    Death, experienced in slow motion, was beyond the realm of human language.


    I''m not going to go through that again.


    Although I did not feel any pain because I was able to die in an instant, it was almost like torture.


    I don''t want to die again, even if I can come back.


    I don''t think my spirit can withstand it again and again.


    Besides--


    "The number of resurrections is finite. ....... If you die five more times, that''s the end of it: ......"


    In the game [Tactics Chronicle], it is not possible for the game to be over immediately after the death of the king [player]. Although there is a penalty, the king "player" can be resurrected.


    That is certainly true.


    However, the problem with the death penalty is that if the king dies, all the demons belonging to his army suffer from a status abnormality (bad status) that reduces their stats by two ranks (down). This meant that the king''s strength was almost halved. It takes 24 hours for the reduced status to be restored.


    Since S is the highest status rank with no exceptions, no matter how powerful the demon is, its status will drop to D rank or lower when the king dies twice. At this point, the king''s strength is as good as nothing.


    Furthermore, the "life stock" is limited to a maximum of six.


    Since he has just died, he has only five left.


    If you die five more times, the game is over.


    In the game, you could "continue" by paying a large amount of money after your death, but that is no longer possible now that the system site has been disconnected.


    --And in [Tactics Chronicle], Game Over means the deletion of the save data.


    There is no mercy there, and there are no chargeable items to restore the data.


    The company that operates the game, no matter how many complaints they receive, stubbornly keeps up their belief that . Although there are some remedies to prevent the game from being over easily, once the game is over, there is no way to recover from it.


    No matter how much you cry or how much you yell, the data deleted due to game over will not be restored.


    "So, what will happen to me if I get a game over in this world ......?"


    I don''t even want to think about it.


    What awaits us there is the real "death" for Helian.


    "...... There are other conditions for game over."


    Broadly speaking, there are three conditions.


    (1) If the rebels seize the capital, the revolution is considered successful and the game is over.


    (2) If you lose control of all cities, the game is over.


    (3) If the "life stock" is used up, the player cannot be revived and the game is over.


    These are the three.


    In short, the game is over if the "king''s (player''s) country" is destroyed.


    Among them, the most dangerous is <, which is a revolution by a rebel.


    Once the king has taken control of the country, game over due to other conditions is unlikely to occur, but no matter how glorious the country may be, it will be destroyed in an instant (game over) if the rebels take control of the capital city.


    "There is no way that the ogre''s faction will be betrayed ...... anytime soon," he said.


    Helian was conscious of the need for good government, even if it made him less efficient.


    Thanks to his efforts, the people''s loyalty and happiness are quite high.


    In particular, he has paid more attention than others to the [loyalty] of the commanders of the army.


    The castle is well defended, and it is unlikely that the capital will be completely seized by an ordinary demon rebellion.


    At the same time, however, it was also true that he was worried that he would be easily ousted from his throne if he were to be given up as a "king" in this world.


    Helian is the king of Alkimaira.


    He is the king of the demons who live under the rule of the law of the law of the jungle.


    He is the king who leads the army of all demons as the ruler of the world.


    On the other hand, however, "Helian the Non-King" is nothing more than an ordinary man.


    If the mask of a king is taken off, there remains only a weakest man who is easily beaten to death not only by the leader of the army but also by goblins.


    That is why Helian must be king. He must continue to wear the mask of a king in the face of the most famous monsters. Otherwise, if he does not continue to be king of this land of all demons, he will not even be able to live peacefully anymore.


    "----,"


    --No.


    No more thinking about this issue now.


    If I keep thinking about it, I''ll get stuck.


    I''ll be too afraid to do anything.


    I won''t be able to talk to the commander or the demons.


    That''s not good.


    So think about something constructive.


    Ask yourself what you should do.


    Use your thoughts to walk forward.


    There is no time to be discouraged here.


    "...... other,things,to,think,about."


    Something else must be thought.


    Something constructive and not an escape.


    Yes, for example.


    It''s part of the policy that we have just established.


    Verification of the capabilities of Helian in this world.


    "...... was able to resurrect. Helian was revived in the same way as in the game.


    Well then.


    What about the other abilities ��things�� that were available in the game?


    "What is the difference between [Tactics Chronicle] and this world: ......?��As for the king''s (player''s) abilities that were available in the game, are they all still available?"


    First, the typical virtual windows were usable.


    Tactical windows are used for combat support and information reference.


    for information sharing and other functions.


    Communication (Chat)>.


    to use logs, cameras, etc.


    At least these are available.


    The fact that the virtual window is invisible to others is the same as in [Tactics Chronicle].


    Other virtual windows (windows) that are used regularly are the setting (system) virtual windows (windows) to adjust the brightness and sound, and to log out or to call the GM.... ...this is of little use now.


    "Virtual window: open".


    A virtual window invoked by a verbal operation is projected into the air.


    By tapping on the semi-transparent "display" with a finger, information on the location could be retrieved.


    Direct manipulation, thought manipulation, verbal manipulation.


    The three types of virtual window recall operations seem to function as in the game.


    When we tried to view the of the capital city by thought operation, we found that the happiness level had worsened compared to when we checked the information before going out to search. This may be partly due to the influence of the rebellion. .......


    "In fact, it was probably worse to some extent at the time before we went out to explore ......"


    Indeed, the level of happiness confirmed before the search was almost unchanged before and after the transition.


    However, it is not because the level of happiness did not decrease, but because Helian could not grasp the fact that it had decreased as information ��data��, so it was not reflected in the status screen.


    Now, however, the latest information ��data�� has been collected through domestic information gathering activities led by the Sixth Corps, and the results are finally reflected in the .


    In the game [Tactics Chronicle], only what is "known" can be visualized.


    Just as in the real world, players need to actively gather information from news, newspapers, and personal information.


    In the real world of modern Japan, a politician sometimes makes a terrible mistake (a poke) that could lose his position and causes a sensation on the TV news as a result of making a decision based on old or false information he was given.


    In addition, even if we speak of happiness in a nutshell, there are actually multiple elements that make up happiness - in game terms, various undisclosed numerical information that is subdivided - that exist behind the scenes.


    Therefore, it is necessary for the player himself to guess the cause of the increase or decrease of the happiness level. ...... In this case, I will guess that the happiness level decreased due to the citizens'' uneasiness caused by the metastasis or a series of rebellions.


    It would be possible to find out the cause of the decrease if we conducted a survey of the public or ordered the 6th Corps to gather more detailed information, but there is no need to go that far at this time.


    "Even if we find the cause, it''s not a problem we can do anything about right now. ......"


    Put it off.


    Right now, our priority is to understand the current situation.


    Next,


    "


    This was also the case with [Tactics Chronicle].


    Information sharing (data sharing) is automatically executed for subordinates who are within a proximity range of ...... fifty meters.


    For those within a certain range ...... of one kilometer, information sharing (data sharing) could be performed manually by a Helian. This has been proven by the connection (access) to the vampire tribe belonging to the Sixth Legion during the rebellion.


    Normally, only the information at the time of connection is reflected, but as long as the connection is maintained, the information is continuously updated in real time as well as within the proximity range.


    The maximum number of simultaneous connections was up to eight, but it will be necessary to verify whether this is still the case at .......


    The ability to share information (data sharing) under combat conditions needs to be verified as well.


    Although there is a limitation of a maximum of eight units among the subordinates participating in the same battle as the player, it is possible to share information (data sharing) no matter how far away they are from each other. Moreover, the information is continuously updated in real time, just as in the case of the proximity range.


    In the battle during the exploration, all the subordinates including covert soldiers were in close proximity to each other, so it is necessary to verify separately whether this capability is usable or not.


    There is another capability of information sharing (data sharing) between bases, but it is meaningless in the current situation where there are no bases other than the ...... capital.


    "As for and , ...... it worked at least for the moment."


    Communication with Balan was possible via text chat.


    Instructions to each of the subordinates worked without any problems when they were given immediately after the transition.


    Incidentally, the king''s desired result may not always be obtained by giving instructions to his subordinates, depending on the NPC''s performance, personality, situation, etc, How the NPC executes the instructions and what results will be obtained will vary.


    This is still the case today, but we need to be more careful with our instructions.


    I once ordered a subordinate whose [Intelligence] status was a little unfortunate to do a reconnaissance mission of an enemy base just to see what would happen. The result was a disaster. It would be unfortunate if the same mistake happens in this world.


    "What about ......?"


    In [Tactics Chronicle], not only players but also demons can be revived.


    However, the nature is quite different from that of the King Player, and there are many restrictions.


    First of all, only the nationals of the player''s own country or country of belonging can be revived.


    For example, if you find a rare demon in the wild, you cannot revive it even if you failed to capture it and killed it. This is because they are not citizens of the country.


    Also, only demons whose full name is known to the player can be revived.


    This is because the player does not select the target of revival by choosing from a list of candidates, but by typing the name of the target.


    If even a single letter is wrong, the player cannot be resuscitated.


    Since it is impossible for a human being to memorize the full names of more than tens of thousands of subordinates, naturally, only major subordinates can be revived.


    Furthermore, demons that have been dead for more than 24 hours are not eligible for revival.


    Even if you remember the full names of a million subordinates, 24 hours can easily pass just by typing their names.


    And lastly, there is a limit to the number of revivals.


    Each subordinate can be revived no more than twice.


    The number of revivals cannot be increased by items or equipment, and the third death results in the loss of the demon''s character data, which is a merciless death.


    However, the counted number of deaths will be reset to zero after reincarnation, so if a player is reincarnated after two deaths, he/she can be revived twice again. However, since the disadvantage of reincarnation is that the LV (level) returns to 1, it is not a method that should be abused excessively.


    Moreover, the ritual of reincarnation could only be performed in a special facility in a neutral country, so it is probably not possible in this world.


    "We can''t even verify ...... if it can be used, can we? This is also on hold. What else can we do?"


    --Goo...


    My stomach rumbled.


    "........................ ah."


    Come to think of it.


    I don''t remember eating since my transition.


    "...... I guess you can still get hungry in a situation like this."


    It was all too natural.


    It seems that I should take good care of myself first.


    I let out a wry smile and rang the yobu bell (magic item) on the side table, which is the only one that can transmit sound outside the room.


    Within three seconds, a knock sounded silently and Lieve entered the room.

 17 - CHAPTER XVII "At that time, Lee Woo"

    --Let''s go back in time.


    Levee left the king''s bedchamber and closed the door without a sound.


    She wished she could have stayed by his side to guard him, but the king had ordered it, so she had no choice.


    I think my face was filled with a mixture of frustration and unexplainable emotions as I left the room.


    That is unbecoming of a member of the king''s entourage. As a member of the King''s entourage, I should always be calm and collected. Showing emotions is out of place.


    She reflects deeply and sighs.


    "Commander of the First Army. How is our king? ......"


    "He''s awake. They will call you if they need you. The king''s orders have been given separately. Send word to the corps commanders.


    One of the "living armors" - inorganic demons in full body armor with a will - waiting in front of the door is given the king''s instructions and entrusted with the task of carrying the message.


    Lev�� herself, like the Living Armor, stood in line against the wall of the corridor and took up a waiting position.


    But she feels uneasy.


    She was told that the king would call her if he needed her, but would he really?


    After all, she had just made the worst possible mistake of letting the king die.


    She did not know if he would trust her.


    "...... Speaking of which..."


    No punishment has been meted out for the blunder.


    He had been told that the punishment would be given later, ...... and he blushed as he remembered the incident that had just occurred.


    Thinking back, she felt that she had exposed herself to the king in a very unprofessional manner. It was such an unexpected event that had befallen her as she had taken shelter by the king''s side.


    At first, I thought it was a reprimand.


    However, the palm that was placed on his head did not have the force of a blow, and in fact, the movement of the palm was even gentle.


    It took me a few seconds to realize that I was being patted on the head.


    It was such an unexpected event.


    The touch of his palm brought back memories of the past.


    It was a long time ago, in the dawn of this country, when she was still weak and small.


    Even back then, Rieve used to receive compliments and pats on her head from Helian.


    However, such rewards stopped after the First War, when Rieve was appointed as a member of the King''s entourage.


    Instead, they received rewards from the king in the form of salaries and equipment.


    This certainly enriched their pockets.


    They were able to enjoy luxuries that were unthinkable in the early days.


    Newly acquired equipment was given priority to the corps commanders, and Levee has been exchanging his favorite weapons time and again.


    However, for Levee, being patted on the head by her master was much more gratifying than such things.


    It came to me suddenly and without warning.


    It was the first reward I had received in a hundred and thirty years.


    But had there ever been an event that could have given me such a reward? On the contrary, I had just committed a fatal blunder.


    She tilted her head and wondered why she had been blessed with such a delicious experience, but she could not think of any reason.


    I have no idea. ......


    The king''s touch was very pleasant.


    But I was so intoxicated by the touch that I ended up looking like a flustered mess in front of the king whom I loved so much.


    Just remembering it makes my cheeks burn.


    I must be very careful not to show my ugly face again.


    However.


    It was a good one. .......


    "............ that, First Corps Commander."


    "Mm?��What is it?"


    "Something good happen to you?��You seem to be in a very good mood."


    One of the living armorers in the lineup uttered such words without a trace of context.


    For some reason, his gaze was fixed on Levee''s waist.


    "...... Are you sleepwalking?��The country is in the midst of an unprecedented crisis, and you of all people seem to be in a good mood?


    "Oh, no, no, I''m sorry!��It must have been my imagination!��The movement has just stopped, yes!


    "Movement?��What are you talking about? I don''t understand.


    He stares at me.


    How can a wooden figure who talks nonsense be in charge of guarding the king''s bedroom of honor?


    The living armorers are under Balan''s command, so Levee has no right to dismiss them, but if they were under his command, he would dismiss them immediately and kick them to the curb, he muses in frustration.


    "......But still, this was a long time coming."


    I am reminded of the revived king.


    To tell you the truth, I''m worried.


    After all, I had been asleep for more than half a day.


    The king whose murderous ogre has murdered his own lord and father has been resurrected on his throne but has never awakened.


    This had never happened before.


    Doubts about whether he would really be all right came to my mind.


    The king treats himself as if he were an expendable commodity.


    More than once or twice, I have chafed my teeth wishing that he would take a little more care of himself.


    The same is true of the recent out-of-country expedition.


    The king himself went to the forest where he did not know what dangers might be lurking.


    I''m proud of your back.


    It''s a figure that makes me glad he''s the king.


    But still, I wish he had taken a little more care of himself.


    And so the brave king died at the hands of a foolish traitor.


    All because we are not strong enough.


    We must be diligent.


    I agree with you from the bottom of my heart.


    "Mmm."


    ......But.


    But.


    Hypothetically.


    Yes, this is just hypothetical.


    Diligence upon diligence,


    For the king''s service,


    If I had the opportunity to receive a prize.


    Would you pat me on the head again ......?


    ".................. First Corps Commander?"


    The best equipment has already been given to you.


    Recently, the only reward I have received has been money, but it has been accumulating without much use.


    Let''s think about it.


    Is it possible to get a pat on the head instead of money?


    No, I am not saying this for my own desire.


    With the country in such a situation and the economy hit hard, it is not possible to release a large amount of money from the treasury as in the past.


    Therefore, this proposal is made with the country in mind, .


    "............ Um, First Corps Commander?"


    I certainly made a blunder.


    It will take more than ordinary achievements to recover from the fiasco that resulted in the death of the king.


    It will take decades, if not longer.


    But think of what will happen decades from now when you demand such a thing to the king.


    The king will be puzzled.


    When I was a child, but now I am an adult.


    I think it is natural that he would be suspicious of such a request.


    But what if that wish were granted?


    The place would be the audience chamber.


    Preferably in a private room or in his office, where no one would bother him.


    I don''t have high hopes for the king''s bedchamber.


    That was an exception to the rule.


    But it felt good.


    I''ll never forget the feeling of my hair being ruffled, even decades later.


    "............First corps commander, your tail has been on my leg since a little while ago,......, you know, just like that."


    It had been a long time since I had had my ears touched.


    Since he only touched my right ear, my balance was not good.


    Next time, could you please start from the left ear and stroke it?


    If possible, I would appreciate it if you could pinch it.


    It would be great if he rubbed it between his index and middle fingers.


    And it was refreshing to have a hand on my neck.


    As a human, the king''s body temperature is lower than that of the beastmen, and the cool sensation of being touched made me shiver.


    The choker was engraved with the emblem of the country.


    The fingertips that avoided it and touched the neck, however, felt nice and cool when I felt it calmly.


    "...... First Corps Commander?��Can you hear me?"


    But then there was the problem.


    The king buried his face in my neck.


    I had been guarding the king all day and had not bathed for a whole day.


    It bothered me as if it were a new thing.


    I was sweating slightly, but did I smell?


    I should have asked Eltina to cast a cleansing spell on me.


    Next time I have the chance I will wash myself carefully.


    I should consult Camilla about the scent.


    She is an expert in this field, in a way.


    Personally, she is a bad match for me, but I can''t turn my back on her.


    To tell the truth, I have a good sense of smell and I do not like perfume, but I will endure it.


    If push comes to shove, I will be able to disguise my nasal quality by taking on a fully humanized form.


    So please do it again.


    But wait.


    It''s one thing to have someone do it for you, but how about doing it yourself?


    I''ve always smelled the king''s scent, but I''ve never buried my face in his neck.


    I wonder what I would feel if I touched the tip of my nose to his neck.


    And what if I were allowed to lick it?


    It tasted so sweet to think of it.


    Oh, my God.


    My head is going numb.


    Would I be allowed to do it if I''d done enough to bring the country to its knees?


    I''d love to have the best spear if there''s a reasonable enemy.


    "Commander of the First Army! I''m sorry to interrupt your good mood... but it would be greatly appreciated if you could stop beating your legs with your tail..."


    --Chillin''.


    The sound of a transparent bell reached the ears at the top of my head.


    A moment later, it moves from the wall to directly in front of the door.


    At the same time, he takes out a hand mirror from his magic pouch and checks his appearance.


    His hair was a little disheveled from the high-speed movement he had just made, so he combed it with his hand comb.


    I don''t know about body odor, but I''ll let it go now.


    Other than that, however, I have no problem.


    After confirming his perfection in a convenient eight-tenths of a second, Rieve knocks quietly on the bedroom door.


    For some reason, one of the living armors was flashing Helm''s eyes, as if taken aback, but she did not pay attention to it.

 18 - 18th "The Wimpy and the Strong"

    There is a word "role play".


    It is the act of acting out a setting that you have created yourself.


    In this game, the player is literally the lord of the land, and it is not good for the worldview if he or she speaks in a light and flirtatious tone.


    There were many players who did not care about such things, but many of the top players who became the champions of each world were particular about it, and there were a few who tried to speak and act in a way that suited their characters, to a greater or lesser degree.


    Helian, the world number 3 champion, was no exception to this rule, and he tried to play with an awareness of how to act like a king.


    Although it is not a serious role-playing, I can say that I have tried to act like a king at least as much as a <, for example.


    Thus, although my knowledge is shallow enough to be able to find it on the net, I have learned how to act like a king.


    ......What I want to say is that I am very glad to have studied table manners.


    "Appetizer, Carpaccio of Ixio salmon.


    "...... Mm."


    A white porcelain plate is presented to him with a solemn, elegant gesture.


    It was a professional touch that not even the slightest sound of walking could be heard, let alone the sound of a plate being set down. It is not difficult to imagine the scornful glances that would have been given by the waiters if the server (Helian) did not even know how to handle the cutlery.


    However, although it did not bother me in the game, eating a meal surrounded by the waiters was quite a heavy pressure.


    When I think of what the upper class people in the real world have to go through every day, I am deeply impressed. I wonder if the nobles don''t care about the way the people below them look at them.


    I could not even have the time to taste the food, but somehow I managed to finish the meal without any mistakes. I was a bit puzzled by Levee''s attempts to take care of me, but I was satisfied that my stomach was full for now.


    When the after-dinner tea was brought in, I told the waiter that Rieve was all I needed and sent him on his way. At least I can enjoy my tea without being seen.


    And it is true that only Levee is enough.


    She has learned various skills other than combat skills. I did not appoint her to be a member of the king''s entourage for no reason.


    She can also serve, though she is not as good as a specialist.


    ...... delicious."


    I sipped the tea and muttered to myself.


    The first thing I felt was a faint aroma. When I put it in my mouth, a deep flavor softly enveloped my tongue. A pleasant heat flowed down into my chest as I welcomed the tea into my throat.


    When I drank it in the game [Tactics Chronicle], I had never experienced such a taste expression.


    It is only natural that the regulations are imposed so as not to adversely affect the real world, but even if there were no regulations at all, it would not be possible to express such a taste.


    Even if there were no restrictions at all, it would not be possible to express such a great taste. I smile sadly, thinking that this is indeed a tea that has received a royal warrant.


    After enjoying the tea, I feel a little relieved.


    Thinking back, my nerves have been on edge ever since my transition. I had been so tense during the meal earlier that it had been a long time since I had been able to loosen up.


    Suddenly, I looked at Lieve who was standing beside me.


    She was still in her room, but Helian was able to enjoy his tea in a natural way.


    "......?"


    When she looked at me, Levee blinked her eyes as if she was asking me what I intended to do.


    Seeing this, Helian puts the cup back on the saucer and leans his weight on the back of the soft chair.


    Thinking back to ......, Levee has always been there for me even after the transition.


    It is only natural for her to be in the king''s entourage, but even so, she continues to work with Helian and lend her strength.


    She organized her corps in the chaos after the transition, acted as a liaison between the king and the corps commander, engaged in exploration missions outside the country, and even helped to provide food for the half-elves in the half-elf settlements.


    When the rebellion was discovered, he was the first to send Helian back to the castle, and after that he has worked tirelessly as a guard, a nurse, and a waiter.


    She has done so because Helian wanted her to.


    "--Lieve."


    "Ha."


    "Now I''m going to ask you a question. You may not understand my intention, but ...... answer as you see fit."


    Yes, sir.


    There is one thing you should be sure of.


    "What do you think of ...... the weak?"


    + + +


    "Weak, is it?"


    Levee''s eyes shook slightly, as if she were puzzled.


    "Yes. Those who are less powerful than you...... are, for example, Leifa, whom you saved yesterday. How did you feel about her?"


    "Is it ...... about Leifa-Rim-Latestwood?"


    Rieve looked down and thought for a moment.


    After a few moments, she seemed to have gathered her thoughts, looked up, and opened her mouth with straight eyes.


    "I felt he was a strong man.


    But it was an answer that Helian did not expect.


    He had given an example of the weak in terms of strength, but what he received was the exact opposite.


    "...... strong?��From my point of view, it seems that Leifa''s fighting ability is much inferior to yours."


    "Yes. Yes. As you say, if we fight, I will win. If we fight a thousand times, I will win a thousand times. Leifa Lim-Lattwood understood this. But even so, she did not behave in a servile manner, but faced us as equals.


    It was the time when I rescued Leifa from the magical beast in the forest.


    At that time, Leifa did not turn her eyes away from Levee and Eltina, who were far more powerful than she was, not even for a moment. Although she was by far the weakest in terms of combat ability, she was facing the strong travelers on an equal footing.


    "Furthermore, after reaching the village, Leifa-Lim-Lattestwood seemed to be very tired, but she was still rallying the people of the village without resting.


    The fact that the people of that village have not yet reached despair in the midst of overwhelming odds in an unwanted war is due solely to the behavior of these women. Seeing her stand up straight in spite of her weakness, I sensed that she was a strong person.


    "......The way you are is strong, isn''t it?"


    "Yes."


    At least, it seems that Rieve does not judge a person''s worth only by his fighting ability. But we still don''t know what he thinks about itself, or what kind of values he holds.


    Let me go a step further and ask.


    "But in terms of fighting ability, she is a weak person for you. Don''t you think in terms of the law of the jungle?��No matter how strong your heart is, if you are weak and have no power, don''t you think you are inferior to yourself?"


    At least, that was the setting of stray demons in the game [Tactics Chronicle].


    The world of demons is, in other words, a world of the weak and the strong.


    If you are strong, you live; if you are weak, you die.


    That is the natural order of things, and "the weaker is worse" should have been the common sense of the demons.


    If this was the case, then Helian had a suspicion that the common sense of Levee, who was still a demon even though he had been raised with care, was also "like that".


    But..,


    "No, not particularly.


    Rieve shook his head in a casual tone.


    It is true that the general idea of demons is that strength is precious and weakness is a sin, but I myself don''t see it that way.


    "Why?"


    "Because I am a demon of the Alkimaira."


    The words were answered immediately, as if they were a matter of course.


    Helian gasped.


    "At the dawn of time I was a weak demon. I would have been of little value in the world where the law of the jungle is the law of the jungle. But Herian did not abandon me, and brought me up to this point.


    It would be blasphemy for me to prey on the weak. Therefore, I am convinced that I should not follow the principle of the law of the strong against the weak, but the principle of Alkimaira, which Master Helyan has ordained.


    There is no sound of falsehood in his voice as he answers.


    At least, that is what it sounded like to Helian.


    Her amber eyes are still fixed on Helian''s reflection.


    After looking into Lieve''s eyes for a while, Helian crossed his arms and closed his eyes.


    "I see..."


    The words escape with an exhale.


    I could be sure of what I needed to be sure of.


    The first Liewe, who had been with Helian for the same amount of time, gave him the answer he wanted.


    "Is that so?"


    Then I''ve decided.


    I''ve made up my mind.


    --From now on, I will not doubt only Rieve.


    In the game, there was a system of rebellion.


    And it actually happened once, when an ogre faction followed the common sense of demons and tried to abolish a weak king.


    This rebellion was easily suppressed, but it will happen again if Helian is judged to be not good enough to be a king.


    There is no guarantee that the legionnaire will not revolt.


    If that happens, it is conceivable that the legions commanded by the legionnaires will rise up together.


    Even without that, in [Tactics Chronicle], where "battle is numbers" and "single combatant" go hand in hand, the mere betrayal by a few corps commanders would be enough to end the existence of the nation at once.


    However, on the other hand, it is impossible to act with suspicion.


    If you are suspicious of every corps commander, you will not be able to operate a proper army.


    If you run a country with fear of betrayal and looking at the faces of your subordinates, it will surely fail one day. It would be nothing but a slow suicide.


    So Helian decided.


    He is the only one among all his subordinates who has decided not to suspect Liewe of "betrayal".


    In H��lian''s eyes, Levee is a loyal subject.


    Of all his men, Helian trusts her the most.


    She is one of the oldest who has been with us since we started [Tactics Chronicle].


    Eltina and Balan are also among the oldest corps leaders, but only Lieve, who was given the role of the king''s aide, has always been with Helian from the beginning of [Tactics Chronicle] until today.


    So I believe.


    Only Rieve believes.


    And in any case, if even this Rieve gives up on me, it will be impossible for me to continue reigning as the king of demons in the future.


    "I understand. You asked a stupid question. Forgive me.


    No, no. No, no, I didn''t say it was stupid. ......


    "That''s not necessary. It''s just you and me here.


    As she spoke, something white began to flap behind her.


    Needless to say, it was her tail. The fluffy tail was wagging vigorously from side to side.


    On the other hand, her expression was almost expressionless.


    She probably thinks she is calm and collected.


    I felt something like a smile on my face, and it made me laugh a little.


    I''m not sure why she started wagging her tail, but I can''t help but be glad that she''s in a good mood.


    "Speaking of which, ...... how''s your body doing?��I''m sure you are feeling the effects of my death."


    It has not yet been 24 hours since Hellian''s death.


    For the next few hours, all statuses should remain "down" by two ranks.


    Herian''s physical condition is not so bad. It is true that I have felt a decrease in my abilities due to your death, but I have been by your side and have received your help. ......"


    "...... Oh. I see."


    The player himself has no fighting ability, but he has the ability to strengthen his men.


    What Lieve is talking about is the ability to improve the status of all subordinates within a proximity range of about 50 meters of the king''s army, which was also effective during the search for foreign countries. The penalty is offset somewhat by the one-step enhancement of the ability.


    There is a similar ability that improves the lowest status of all subordinates within a radius of about one kilometer by one level, but the effects do not overlap.


    In addition, there is only one other ability related to combat, the ability to draw out the power of one''s subordinates.


    "Liewe. Can I use the "Red Moon Blessing" here as well?"


    It can be used at ......, yes, but..."


    "I see. Then I''d like to try something. Show me how it works right here, right now.


    Yes, sir.


    A player-specific ability to draw out the power of his subordinates.


    It means that only the subordinates within a radius of 50 meters of the king can use the .


    The "secrets" here is a general term for what are called "special moves," "trump cards," and "super magic. It is possible to use abilities that can perform high-powered attacks or produce special effects.


    However, they cannot be used without the king''s (the player''s) permission, and there is the cost that the king''s (the player''s) life force is reduced by a certain amount when they are used.


    There are some that can turn the tide of an overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation, but such items usually cause a total loss of vitality with a single hit, or reduce the maximum value of vitality itself, so they cannot be used at random.


    Also, a king''s vitality is fixed from the beginning of the game. Since the maximum value cannot be increased, the player is required to have the skill to find the right moment to use it. This is what is called player skill.


    By the way, "Red Moon Blessing" is one of the most useful of the .


    It has a simple effect of strengthening all the stats of "Levee" and consumes less than 10% of the king''s "life force" at a low cost. It is just right for verification.


    "Now, I will use it - "Red Moon Blessing".


    A red phosphorescence rises from Levee''s entire body.


    This is a sign that the "Red Moon Blessing" has been activated.


    Rieve''s body is filled with power, and a sense of temporary elation and almightiness fills her.


    --At the same time, something unusual happens to Helian.


    "......,ka,ha"...


    Something precious is being pulled out of his body.


    Helian held his chest as quickly as he could. She feared that if she did not do so, she would be deprived of her body without limit.


    It was a horrifying sensation, as if her internal organs were being played with with her bare hands.


    Dizzy and distorted vision, as if suffering from heatstroke.


    "--?


    "No, I''m fine. ......"


    The fearful sensation passed in an instant, but the dizziness and weariness remained. When I think about it, it may be natural for me to feel ill since almost 10% of my "life" has literally been taken away.


    However, if this is the case with 10%, what would happen if we were to use 80% of the "secret secrets" of consumption? And moreover, if it is during the war, I feel my blood run cold.


    I am so glad that I checked ...... in advance.


    "But more importantly, how is it working? Does it work?"


    "...... Yes, it is working fine. In its current state, I can beat the Fifth Corps Commander (Gardi) in his giant state in a fistfight."


    "Let''s hope that day never comes. The damage to the surrounding area is too great to even lightly imagine. Anyway, ......, we''ve seen what we wanted to see. You can unlock it now."


    I understand that now.


    It is necessary to use it more carefully than in [Tactics Chronicle].


    There are still more things I would like to investigate, but I have already wasted almost a whole day because of the death. I do not have the time to continue the verification at my leisure.


    There is also the Half-Elven country and the settlement of Rattestwood.


    We will have to follow up with them since they have suddenly left the settlement. If we leave it too long, it may raise unnecessary suspicions.


    If we do not get involved again, there is no need to worry, but they are an important source of information for Alkimaila, who is still ignorant of this world. We need to maintain our friendship.


    If possible, we would like to resume our activities immediately.


    But I tell myself not to be hasty.


    The symptoms of dizziness and fatigue have gradually lessened, but I still don''t think my fragile body will be able to withstand walking around in poor physical condition. The life force should recover over time, but at this rate it will probably take several hours.


    The death penalty may still be in effect for another five hours. If you are going to take action, the best option is to take action after the 5 hours when the penalty is over.


    And then...


    "Liewe. We will have an audience with the corps commanders in five hours. Tell all the corps leaders to gather here, except for the corps leader who is out of the field. After that, you will take your rest.


    "Ha, I understand about the message. However, my physical condition is not a problem, so I do not need to rest. I will continue to protect you.


    "No. You''ve been working since yesterday. I''m the one who''s been handy... but get some rest. In the meantime, you can be escorted only by Living Armor.


    "But ......"


    "That''s an order. If you''re not in perfect physical condition in five hours, I''ll be in trouble."


    I thought it was a bit cowardly of me to say, but it''s true that I left him working.


    I need her to get some rest, because she is going to be in charge of our lives after this, and that''s a problem for Helian.


    After a few moments, Levee bowed her head solemnly and said, "Yes, sir. After refilling the tea for the last time, she bows at the door and leaves.


    "Well, ......"


    Five hours left.


    I am tempted to dive into bed and go to sleep right now, but that is not an option.


    I have a reasonable appetite for sleep, but with the country still in a state of restlessness, there is no time to sleep long.


    I opened the "Tactical Window" to view and found that the level of happiness had decreased from before. It is a level of error, but it is still a decrease. This is probably due to the fact that the people are still in a state of stress due to the transition phenomenon.


    If the situation is left as it is, the level of happiness will continue to decline slowly. And the final destination of the declining level of happiness is revolt. There is still a considerable amount of time left in the safe zone, and there is nothing to be done now, but measures need to be taken before the ...... wounds spread.


    The best course of action is to eliminate the cause of the stress itself.


    However, it does not mean that we can go back to our original world right now, or that we can regain our lost territory right now. If it were possible to go back to where we were, Helian would do it right now.


    But since that is not possible, the next best thing is to do the next best thing.


    In this case, the better way is to calm the country down with a speech event.


    "...... Yeah?��A speech?"


    I suddenly think.


    In the speech event in [Tactics Chronicle], as long as you said some and spoke reasonable words, the speech was judged as a success and the event was effective. In most games, there is a strategy or a template, and the to be used are determined to some extent.


    Therefore, in every speech event, the same combination of keywords was used, and the rest was just spoken by Helian, who added appropriate words on the spot.


    However, this is not the case with speeches in this world.


    , but should speak entirely in Hellian''s own words.


    It means that you have to give a speech in your own words, which is enough to sway the emotions of the people.


    "No, you can''t do that. ......"


    I don''t think I can do it.


    But I am sure that opportunities to make speeches will come around more or less often in the future.


    For example--and I hate to think about it--when war breaks out, I will have to make speeches to raise the spirits of the war effort. Turning away from this issue now will only postpone the problem.


    "......But what should we do about the speeches? ......"


    At the very least, it must appeal to the emotions of the people and win their approval.


    At the same time, he must maintain his dignity as the king of demons.


    It would be best if you can make the people think .


    Needless to say, the difficulty is very high.


    But it must be done.


    I don''t think the script for such a great speech will come to my mind immediately. .......


    Wait a minute.��Don''t I have to come up with something from scratch myself?"


    I know some of the best existing speeches.


    Most of my knowledge is from cartoons and animations, but there were speeches that moved me. Whether they are historical facts or fictions, good ones are good.


    At least, when Helian saw some of the speeches, he was certainly moved by them. It is not a bad idea to use them as references.


    Digging up memories.


    Appeal to the emotions of the listeners.


    Show your dignity as a leader.


    And yet, they are the kind of speeches that make you want to follow them.


    .......


    .............


    ...................


    ........................ Hmmm.


    "--Thank you, people, I love war."


    Is he an idiot?


    Am I an idiot?


    Why did you choose this of all places?


    I don''t deny that it''s a great quote, but what are you doing stirring up war?


    "...... or is it seriously crazy of me if this is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of ......?


    As long as you are a [Tactics Chronicle] player, you are more or less a war lover. I don''t deny that.


    However, Helian''s style of play is such that he loves wars in which he can test his own strength against each other, but he rather dislikes wars in which he can unilaterally annihilate weak nations or indiscriminately involve other nations.


    Even war has rules," is Helian''s belief.


    Therefore, as a policy of Helian, who has no intention of becoming the Supreme King, he cannot use the words of a war-mad Major, no matter how famous his speech may be.


    It is indeed an inspiring and wonderful speech, but the destruction of the nation is imminent.


    "Who else could it be, the Commander-in-Chief of the Principality of ......?"


    I dare say. He''s a small fish.


    He''s like the Major in the sense that he''s a ...... war monger.


    "General 2."


    The king you loved is dead. Why?


    ...... only because I was a fool. Or an accident.


    "The Red and the Three Times Faster."


    I would like to take this opportunity to speak as a survivor of Alkimaira''s legacy.


    ...... has already destroyed the country.


    "............ tired, me."


    The choice is too much.


    I was so stupid that I was in a headache.


    I think it would be better to make an impromptu speech on the spot, like I always did.


    "Should I seriously consider that one? ......"


    Let''s change our thinking a little.


    Instead of thinking that it is meaningless to use , we can think that there is no need to be bound by .


    If you think so, you will have much more freedom.


    In the game era, the parts of speeches other than were of little significance, but as long as you were role-playing, you had to think about the text of your speech to be heard in a certain way.


    However, if you include some and try to make the sentences natural, the degree of freedom is limited. I was even jealous of that.


    But now there are no restrictions.


    We should keep each famous speech only as a reference and compose our own sentences in our own words from them. If you think through your sentences as if you were a character making a speech in front of the people, you should be able to make a reasonable sentence.


    If it''s a fantasy, you''re good at it, you tell yourself.


    I feel a little better if I think of it as an extension of my usual role-playing.


    My physical condition is far from perfect.


    My mental state is not so good.


    But I will try my best to think about it.


    It is the task of Helian, the king of Alkimaira.

 19 - 19th "Audience II"

    For a while after that.


    Helian was thinking about his speech, twisting and turning his head, trying to come up with the right answer.


    Referring to the speeches made by great historical figures and creative people, and remembering the speech techniques he had learned in college, he tried to construct a text in his own words that would strongly appeal to the hearts of the demons, who were in essence the followers of power.


    To say the least, it is not difficult.


    Even just giving a speech is too much for a student like Helian, but the audience is not a human but a demon. It is unlikely that he can move them with his opportunistic speeches, and it is not his wish to incite them to war.


    I have managed to get a draft of the speech, but I am not sure if it will get the desired response or if it will unite the people of Alkimaira. Further improvement will be necessary.


    In the meantime, the scheduled five hours had passed, and time was up.


    I have no choice but to stop thinking about the text of my speech and switch my mind to the audience. From now on, Helian has to inform the corps commanders about the policy of the country. This is not a task that can be done while thinking about other things.


    "-Gathering of the heads of the eight legions!


    Audience room.


    Eight demons bow their heads to Herian, who is sitting in a luxurious chair.


    The Commander of the First Legion.


    The head of the small elite force, known as the Guard of Honor, whose main duty is to assist the king in various fields.


    Liewe of Managarum, the moon wolf, is appointed as the king''s close aide and the commander of the general army.


    Commander of the Second Legion.


    He is the head of the Order of the Beast, which possesses land forces centering on beastmen and knights.


    Baran of the lion-headed knight [Sverrebe], who wears full plate armor of pure white.


    Commander of the Third Army.


    He is the head of the so-called "Order of the Sacred Spirits", a group of specialists in recovery and support.


    Eltina of the Ancient Elves, whose golden hair reaches down to her waist.


    Commander of the Fourth Legion.


    He is the leader of the [Legion of Magi], a.k.a. the [Legion of Magi], which is made up of pure rear guard type demons who excel in the field of magic.


    Celes the [Heretic Elf], with her dark skin and strong-willed, slanted eyes.


    Commander of the Fifth Legion.


    He is the leader of the [Chouheigun-dan], a.k.a. the [Chouheigun-dan], a group of purely vanguard-type demons and giants who boast overwhelming striking power.


    Gardi of [Aulgermil], a muscular and sturdy man so large that he can look up at you.


    Commander of the Sixth Legion.


    He is the head of the demon-centered army, known as the [Demon Legion], which is solely responsible for espionage and sabotage.


    Camilla of the Nightmare Queen, whose deep eyes and bewitching appearance attract the eye.


    Commander of the Seventh Legion.


    She is the head of the so-called [Kikoukou Sensoudan], which has many craftsmen who specialize in the field of manufacturing.


    Robin of the [Mixed], who has a body so small that he could be mistaken for a child, but is also a trump card in a decisive battle.


    Commander of the 8th Legion.


    He is the leader of the largest and most powerful air force composed entirely of dragons, known as the [Tian Long Legion].


    Nogard, the young man who hides his sharp eyes behind his fiery red hair.


    The top of Alkimaira''s army, its octagon, has gathered.


    I have already told you that the leader of the army, who is not available on site, is not required to come, but is it really a good thing that all eight of them are here?


    I had expected that the 2nd Corps Commander "Balan", the 5th Corps Commander "Gardi", and the 4th Corps Commander (Ceres), who is in charge of deploying the capital warding, would remain at the site, but is it safe to say that the situation has settled down to a level where the site can operate without them?


    I would be troubled if they are forcing themselves to leave the site just because they were called by the king. ......It''s too late for that now. Rather than pursue the matter here and now, let''s end the audience quickly.


    Thank you. Raise your face."


    Like a king," he said, repeating the incantation in his head.


    With the king''s permission, the eight commanders of the corps raised their heads and caught Hellian''s gaze.


    Thinking back on it, he had never received such an enthusiastic gaze even during his speech practice at the university. The quantity, but the quality and the heat were incomparable. The tension is almost suffocating me.


    "I asked you to come here because of one thing. We are here to talk about the current situation and our future plans.


    First, let''s look at where we are right now.


    I''d like to talk about some of the things we''ve learned in our search outside the country.


    "First of all, this is not a continent we know. You have heard from Lieve that we have made contact with elves and half-elves of other nations during our explorations outside the country.��We got some history from them and some information about the surrounding situation, all of which I did not know.


    I also checked the various to be sure, but again there was no relevant information. Furthermore, the fact that I could not find any familiar lands on my made it clear that this is a different place from our continent."


    It is very likely that the world, not just the continent, is different, but I dare not mention it. There is no need to make the problem look big and confusing. It is enough to convey the message that we are in a solitary situation and that careful action is required.


    However, the corps commanders looked somewhat puzzled. The relatively restless Commander of the 7th Corps, for example, was constantly looking at the faces of the other corps commanders.


    I wonder if I have said something funny .......


    What''s the matter? What is it you want to ask me?��Now is the time to share information, so if you have any questions, just ask. No hesitation."


    The legionnaires, who are allowed to address the king, kneel down and look at each other.


    After a few moments, Liewe opened his mouth as the representative.


    "With all due respect, sir," he said, "I am afraid to speak on behalf of the king. What are and ?


    It was an unexpected question.


    Although Helian mentioned it as a matter of course, I wondered if they did not have the concept of a or .


    "A is like a ...... well, screen that only I can see. When you make a speech, you use an image projection ball (screen) to display images in the air, don''t you?��Using a projected "screen" like that, I can perform various functions.


    A is one of the information that can be accessed through a , and is a "special map". The map is constantly updated based on the information you have collected. You can then know the geographical information, the location of your enemies and allies, and your current location with accuracy.


    Oh ......!��A murmur echoed through the audience hall.


    Perhaps it was because of the heat in the gazes of the corps commanders as they looked at Hellian.


    I don''t like such eyes on me since ...... is a basic ability of a player.


    I wonder how they interpreted the fact that I knew the position of the enemy during the search.


    Did they think that I had a sense organ as good as Rieve''s sense of smell or Ertina''s sense of hearing? Such an imitation is absolutely impossible for a human Helian.


    "...... and anyway. When I checked the , I could not get any geographical information except for the capital city. The , which until the other day had provided me with detailed geographic information for the entire continent, instantly became a blank sheet of paper. If we were anywhere on the continent we were on, we would not be in this situation. This is the proof of the fact that we have been transferred to somewhere completely different.


    I see. I understand. I knew you had some powers, but I am ...... honored that you are willing to share some of your secrets with us."


    "...... Mm."


    What do you mean?


    Is it not only and , but also the king''s (player''s) ability that is supposed to be explained to no one? At least he should have known about the status enhancement and . .......


    (No, maybe you don''t know about ...... king ''s abilities because none of them have ever been explained to you?)


    It may be that status enhancement and affect demons directly, and they could know their existence through experience, but they do not know about the abilities that do not affect demons.


    In the game era, I never explained to the demons about basic functions such as virtual windows, logout, chat, etc. in [Tactics Chronicle]. Or rather, there was no way to explain them. So it makes sense that was an unknown ability that they had never heard of.


    In the first place, it is too lonely to play alone, taking the trouble to explain the king''s (player''s) ability to NPC (Non-Player Character) in detail. If there were such lonely players, I would tell them to interact with people (players) properly since this is an online game.


    After all, it seems that now, for the first time, the undiscovered abilities of the king have been revealed to the corps commanders. Their surprise is due to this background. Apparently, the Helian figure among the eight legionnaires has a secretive side.


    "Well, that''s all right. First of all, I think you understand that this is not the land we know. Next, let''s talk about the information we got from the land of the half-elves, ......, RATESTWOOD."


    Noblewood is home to many of the most puritanical of the elves.


    The small nation of Rathestwood is made up of a small group of weaker races, mainly half-elves, who are discriminated against.


    These two countries are at war, and the surprise attack of Noblewood without a declaration of war puts Rattestwood at an overwhelming disadvantage.


    Also, although the elves belonging to Noblewood attacked them, they only drove them away, so they are not in a decisive hostile relationship.


    He has made the acquaintance of Leifa, the leader of the LATESTWOOD.


    We have succeeded in establishing a good relationship with RATESTWOOD, but since we were separated from them after the outbreak of the rebellion, there is a possibility that they may have some suspicions about us.


    "We have obtained a lot of information from them. But it is not enough. Above all, we don''t have enough information to know if there are forces around us that could resist us."


    As for Rattestwood, Alkimaira''s existing forces are expected to be able to handle it, but as for Noblewood, we have no idea how much strength it possesses.


    As for the existence of other forces, we know that there are other Elven nations and human cities, but we have not been able to make contact with them, and their size and even their locations are unknown.


    "This is a serious situation. It is clear that we need more information in order to determine our position and long-term policy.


    As he explains the situation, he observes the reactions of the group leaders.


    I tried to be dramatic as I practiced my speech, but so far, the reactions of the heads of the eight major corps have not been bad. I can only say that they are not looking at me quizzically, but I think I am speaking well so far. I would like to think so.


    Now, let''s talk about the short-term policy for the future. What we are going to do, however, is almost the same as the other day. We will continue to fortify our country''s defenses and gather information without letting the surrounding forces know of our presence. Is that clear so far?"


    No words of denial were returned.


    The heads of the eight major corps nodded their heads in silence.


    "Good. Then, let''s talk about the operation of the corps commanders and their respective corps. ......


    "Ha!"


    "What''s the situation regarding security?��I''ve heard reports that things are calm so far, but I''d like to hear your opinion."


    "Ha. Although there was a temporary disruption due to the recent rebellion, things have now been calmed down after the news of the suppression of the rebellion and the subsequent events. In fact, perhaps because the end of the rebels served as a good example, skirmishes have ceased to exist since the suppression of the rebellion. Moreover, since the Lord has opened the castle''s storehouse, there are no food problems and our immediate livelihood is assured, so the people will not cause any problems right now.


    An is a magic tool (magic item) with subspace storage capability, similar to a . In the of the castle, there is enough food for one year of siege. A part of it has been opened to the people.


    . It is more than a little bit more than that.


    The castle''s bag was made with the best of Alkimaira''s technology, and is naturally equipped with a preservation technique. Therefore, for the time being, there is no need to worry about the contents spoiling.


    The stockpile of food that had been prepared in case of emergency came in handy.


    "On the other hand, however, I am a little concerned about the stress on the people and the military. From what I have seen of the men in my corps, it seems that the stress is caused by the fact that they are in a situation where they have a serious problem that they cannot solve by themselves.


    The crises that our country has faced in the past have been those that we should have been able to solve by ourselves. In that respect, this transition problem is different.


    "...... I see."


    The essence of a demon is a follower of power.


    Even though they are citizens of Alkimaira, that does not change.


    However, on top of this essence, there are the rules of Alkimyra, and as a result, a morality has been created that is distinct from the principle of the weak and the strong.


    This was confirmed in the conversation with Levee earlier, but the fact that they are in a situation beyond their control must be more or less stressful for them as demons.


    If there was a clear path to solve the problem, the result would be different, but if the government has not come up with a clear policy to solve the situation, it is understandable.


    I have heard that a similar situation happened in the past when Japan suffered from a major disaster.


    When people are exposed to situations beyond their control for a long period of time with no solution in sight, stress increases at an accelerated rate.


    The problem is not likely to be solved right now, but the longer it takes to solve the problem, the more serious it will become.


    "The rest of the time, we will have ...... housing problems. Aside from the citizens who have always lived in the capital, those who came to the capital for the national celebration have no place to live.


    The 6th Legion, which is in charge of intelligence, reported the same thing.


    The general lodging houses are already fully booked, and the amount of space available in the original military quarters is far in excess of what is allowed.


    "Those who do not have a place to stay have been assigned to night patrols in shifts to take naps, but this has also caused some stress.


    Of course, we Alkimaila demons can stay in the field for months if we want to, but in light of the many other stressful issues, I think we need to do something about it. ......


    "Hmm. What else?"


    There is no such thing. That is all I have to say.


    We can do something about the campsite problem.


    I agree with Baran that we should remove other stressors as much as possible, as long as we cannot immediately solve the problem of the transition itself.


    Building a temporary camp would be a stopgap measure, but who knows: .......


    "Gardi"


    "......hack"


    Galdi, commander of the Fifth Corps, hangs his head and replies.


    His voice lacked vigor and he seemed depressed.


    "Thank you for your hard work in putting down the rebellion the other day.


    First of all, we send words of thanks.


    It may be a small thing, but it seems to be important for smooth communication between superiors and subordinates. A professor who likes to draw upon his vast knowledge said so.


    "...... is outrageous. I rather let the general die unnecessarily. There''s no room for excuses. I''m prepared to be severely punished.


    "I see. Then I will punish you."


    Dare to maintain an indifferent attitude.


    After wetting his lips lightly with his tongue, he announced in a single breath


    "The Commander of the 5th Corps and the 5th Corps, under the command of the Commander of the 7th Corps, are to begin construction of temporary lodging facilities. In the event of security problems, they will be temporarily placed under the command of the II Corps and will follow the instructions of the Commander of the II Corps (Baran). You may have something to say about being under the command of another corps commander, even if only temporarily, but I order you to do so as punishment. Is that clear?"


    "�ʤäʤ�......"


    Gardi''s face jumped up in surprise.


    ...... Oh no. The punishment was too severe.


    I''m not saying that the incident was out of control, but I understand that it is a very difficult problem to deal with.


    However, I dared to order the punishment because I thought it was necessary for a king to have the attitude of "no stone left unturned". On the other hand, I have tried to keep the punishment relatively light so that it would not be unreasonable.


    But what is this reaction of Gerty''s?


    He looks as if he has been slapped with a word he did not expect.


    Perhaps it is too humiliating for the pride of the demons to be asked to join the command of a corps leader other than the king''s aide Levee, despite the fact that he is the corps leader.


    I was tempted to retract my previous statement, but once I had given notice, I had no choice but to push through. He could not spit in the mouth. No matter how much more frightening Gardi''s face is than that of a mafia boss, I can''t let him see that I''m scared.


    He has to act like a king, yes, like a king. .......


    "-What''s the matter, you didn''t answer me?��Are you trying to tell me you''re not happy about it?"


    ...... No, it''s not.


    No, it''s not.


    I was obviously too overbearing.


    I tried to be kingly, but this was a threat.


    Sweat begins to form on my back.


    (......Please shut up and obey me for now and I''ll follow up with something later, I promise!)


    As Helian began to pray, Galdi opened his mouth with a look of astonishment on his face.


    "No, I''m not complaining ......, but are you sure that''s what you want?"


    "--That''s what you mean?"


    Helian squints and listens back.


    So you mean to say that the punishment was not as bad as you had expected, but rather a measure of compassion.


    It seems that I was mistaken in thinking that he was displeased.


    ......Good.


    I almost patted my chest, but then I remembered the fact that the corps commander was watching me.


    However, I wondered how he had received Hellian''s reply, and Galdi began to perspire profusely on his stern face.


    ......What now?


    "No, no, I misspoke!��Sorry General, I take back what I said!��I''m not making light of the problem of the camp!"


    With a flustered look on his face, Galdi hung his head again.


    I have a feeling I''m being misunderstood, but if you''ll go around building camps as ...... punishment, I''m fine with that now.


    "......If you understand, that''s fine. Now then, Lieve, Eltina."


    The two female corps leaders, as they are called, raise their heads.


    Their faces were stern.


    It seems that they have already prepared for their punishment.


    "The Red Ogre''s unique skills were unpredictable. I recognize that it was the exception of the exception. But it is also true that you were assigned to escort a guard and that the target of the escort died. Under the current circumstances, we cannot give you any punishment, such as house arrest, but we will ...... give you a decision on the matter at a later date. Until then, do your duty to the best of your ability.


    ""Ha.""


    The two men return their assurances in a stern tone of voice.


    I had ordered Gardi to be punished as well, since he had a good job lined up, but I could not think of any specific punishment for these two.


    Punishments for corps commanders include deprivation of command, house arrest, demotion, and even death, but none of these punishments could be applied under the current circumstances.


    Since the loss of two corps commanders in the midst of this crisis is unacceptable, we will have no choice but to postpone this issue.


    "Next. Are there any major changes or problems in other corps?


    The heads of the eight major corps are silent.


    We wait for a while, but no one seems to speak.


    Then next.


    We need to move quickly before we get into trouble.


    Now, I will tell you about the roles of the heads of the eight major corps from now on. However, except for the 6th corps commander, everything is basically the same as before. I am heading back to Rattestwood, so Liewe and Ertina will continue to escort me."


    "......Mr. Helian. With all due respect, sir, that''s..."


    "Listen. Right now, the Ratestwood is the single most important source of information for our country. And since I was the sole contact in the guise of a traveler and the sole negotiator, it is imperative that I be present if you ever visit RATESTWOOD again. Am I right?"


    Liewe and Ertina looked down in frustration.


    I know what you mean. A lame king with no fighting skills should stay on his throne.


    But it is impossible for him to sit idly on his throne and wait for reports from the corps leaders. He has not yet had the courage to entrust the role of negotiator, which could determine the fate of the country, to someone other than himself. Besides, I did not lie when I said that my presence is indispensable if I am to go to RATESTWOOD as a traveler. It is an undeniable fact.


    I am also concerned about the ...... raifa and lilifa and the others.


    "And--Camilla."


    "Ha."


    Camilla, the leader of the Nightmare Queen''s Sixth Legion, stared at me with crimson eyes.


    You will come with me to Rattlestwood. We will be companions who have been separated during our journey, but I will explain the details later. And as for your role, ...... you need not focus on escorting me."


    "......, you say?"


    "You are to gather all the information you can on the settlement of Ratestwood. You will gather information mainly through the residents.


    "I see. In other words, she''s the mistress of the house.


    With a lustrous smile on her face, Camilla gives her consent.


    "Please. You are Alkimaira''s ears, if you will. No one can be relied on more than you when it comes to gathering information. I hope that you will be able to fully demonstrate your abilities and fulfill your role as the ears of our nation.


    When I told her, Camilla''s body trembled and a look of utter confusion came over her face.


    Then, hanging her head solemnly, she said, "I will certainly meet your expectations.


    As Helian nodded his head in satisfaction, the other commanders of the corps looked at him with eager eyes.


    What is ......?


    That look as if expecting something.


    All seven of the others looked at me, and I was slightly overwhelmed.


    "Hmph!"


    Camilla looked at the other corps leaders and sniffed her nose as if she was showing off. Then the heat in the gazes of the other corps leaders increased.


    I had thought that I could just say a few words and call it a night, but that was not going to be the case with seven pairs of eyes staring me in the face.


    I often wondered what was expected of me ......, and then I thought to myself, "What if...?


    "......Lieve. As a member of the king''s entourage, you have shared the same time with me, you are the eyes of my country. You have seen the same things as I have, and I believe that you understand my thoughts the best. I hope that you will continue to be the eyes of Alkimaira and see it all with me."


    When I told him, the number of heated gazes decreased to six.


    Apparently, this was the right thing to do.


    Inwardly flustered, I racked my brain for appropriate metaphors for each corps leader.


    Baran. You are the claws of the Alkimaira, mastering all kinds of weapons and slaughtering numerous enemies. You do not know what may happen in the future. In case of emergency, I expect you to use your claws to their fullest.


    Eltina. You are the mane of the Alkimyra, not only for healing and support, but also for playing a central role in domestic affairs and making your prestige known to the other nations. Your mane of beauty will be on full display in your future negotiations with other nations.


    Ceres. You are the tongue of Alkimaira, who has pursued the truth with an insatiable spirit of inquiry, and at the end has mastered the art of magic. You are the best in the eradication of a wide area. I also rely heavily on you in intellectual fields such as research and analysis.


    Searching for metaphors as he speaks.


    From the deeply moved look on the corps commanders'' faces, I understood that neither stuttering nor poor metaphors were allowed.


    They were trying their best to think.


    So far he had used his ears, eyes, claws, mane, and tongue.


    It was a spur of the moment thing, but I''m surprised I came up with the mane.


    I thought about using her arms for protection, but I couldn''t use them for her, since there are other legionnaires who are more suitable for that purpose.


    And it is Ertina, who is in charge of foreign affairs as well as the core of domestic affairs, who does the most work to show the prestige of the country. In this sense, the mane suits her well.


    There are three left. The remaining parts can be found at .......


    "Galdi. You are the arm of the Alkymyra, the one with the most unmatched strength and bulk. I believe that the strength of your legions will be indispensable in the construction of encampments and large-scale settlements, and that no fortress, no matter how strong, will be crushed in the face of your mighty arm.


    Robin. You are the legs of the Alkimaira, supporting the massive frame of our superpower with your numerous tools. The weapons you have created with unrivaled state-of-the-art technology give our army even more strength. And I know better than anyone that without you, our people would not be able to enjoy the riches of life.


    Nogard. You are the wings of the Alkimyra, who unite the mighty dragons and rule the battlefield of the skies. No matter what foe you face, your combat power to annihilate them all is nothing short of immense. Continue to display your power without regret as the greatest firepower of our nation."


    He managed to say it all without hesitation.


    In order of corps number: eyes, claws, mane, tongue, arms, ears, legs, wings.


    If I had to add, I would say that the people are the body and I am the head.


    Although I have compared them to a single beast, I could have associated them with the parts that corresponded to the roles of their respective legions.


    I would like to believe that the lack of the hot stare is due to the fact that each one of us has been properly convinced of the other''s position.


    Anyway, now we have shared the information on the current situation and allocated the future plans and the immediate tasks of each corps. That is enough. This concludes the audience. I want to end this. Please let me finish.


    Then begin to act. Our country is still in the midst of a crisis. I expect each of you to do your part with that in mind. That''s all.


    "--Ha!"


    Eight voices echoed in chorus.


    With the sound of the chant in the background, Helian leaves the audience hall, conscious of his solemn steps.


    ...... As an aside, Camilla, the Commander of the Sixth Legion, gave off a slightly dejected air.

 20 - CHAPTER XX -- "Captain II of the Army after Audience"

    The king leaves the audience chamber.


    However, the corps leaders who remain in the audience chamber continue to stay there for a while as before.


    After that, the corps leaders let out a deep breath, finally released from the tension by confirming that the king''s footsteps have completely disappeared.


    And then..,


    "Hi-yah!��I got a title directly from the king!"


    The first to jump up and down was the smallest of the corps commanders.


    It was Robin, a mixed race of dwarf (korobokkur) and dwarf blood.


    Robin, who has been given the position of Commander of the Seventh Legion, is a child in appearance. He is only about 120 cm tall and wears overalls that look like children''s clothes.


    He has no beard and looks almost like a dwarf (Korobokkur), but he has Dwarf blood in him and is very skilled at making things and machines.


    Robin, the leader of such a small army, does his best to be quiet in front of Helian, but his usual behavior is often in keeping with his appearance. He is mischievous, cheerful, and energetic, as is his race.


    However, he is not the only one who is happy.


    As for the corps leader (member) who was not present at the last audience, he must have been a bit tired after a long time, but he was more than satisfied with the audience.


    "Hm, wings. Not bad."


    "You know what you''re doing. That''s what I''m talking about.


    "I like the tongue or ....... I''m not trying to copy Camilla, but I''m thinking of carving a coat of arms on my tongue.


    "My place is all legs!��You can''t even stand up without us, guys!��The Seventh Legion, the power behind the scenes, is at your service!"


    The four who have received the honor of an audience for the first time in a long while are talking about their impressions of the title given to them by the King of All Evil.


    They were described by Balan as having strong habits, but they had at least a fair sense of collegiality and had a friendly relationship with each other to the extent that they talked like this.


    The "original three" also seemed to be deeply moved, although they did not say so aloud, as they recalled the titles they had each earned.


    However, one of the remaining members was .......


    "How dare you ...... take advantage of me!


    The miasma was emitting a miasma, muttering bitter words in a frightening voice.


    The other commanders of the corps looked away from her, as if they could not believe that Camilla''s voice was coming from such a beautiful woman.


    "Hey, hey Camilla. You''re leaking the miasma, the miasma. Calm down!"


    "Do you think you can stay calm like this?


    Camilla''s fiery expression caused the dark-skinned woman who had called out to her--Celes, the last female corps leader and commander of the fourth corps--to retreat.


    Like Ertina, she belongs to the Elves.


    However, while Ertina was of the white elf lineage with excellent support skills, the leader of the 4th legion was of the black elf lineage, excelling in offensive magic.


    Celes, with her strikingly slanting eyes and her tight bondage-like clothing that squeezes her well-developed body, gives an impression similar to that of a so-called dark elf. In fact, Celes was once a "dark elf" before her repeated reincarnation and evolution.


    She is usually a strong-willed person, but this time she was a bit reserved, as she felt a bit guilty toward Camilla.


    "But none of us have ever begged His Majesty for anything, you know?


    "What a whitewash!��I''ve already appealed to you with my gaze!��If Nushi and the others had not done something unnecessary, only the concubine would have received the title. ......!"


    Camilla glares at Ceres as if she is about to grind her teeth.


    It was quite a powerful sight to see a woman of color staring at us with her beauty distorted.


    "Ah,...... but even if only one of us had received the title,...... would you be able to just stand aside and watch it happen?"


    It''s impossible!


    You see. Isn''t that what happens?


    "Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ......!"


    I understand the logic. But I don''t want to accept it.


    With such mixed emotions swirling around her, Camilla could only grit her teeth.


    "Oh, dear. Don''t fight, Camilla, Ceres.


    Then Eltina intervenes with a soft smile, as usual.


    It is a common understanding among the eight corps leaders that she is the only one who can prevent a full-scale clash between the heads of corps with strong habits.


    For this reason, there is an unspoken rule among the heads of the eight major corps that if Ertina stops them, they should not go any further.


    "Nuu...... well, that''s fine. I''ll be working with you from now on. You and the rest of you will go to work in the capital and watch my exploits from afar.


    Camilla at least said something in return, and then retracted her argument.


    "Well, the general is putting himself on the line again, isn''t he? He''s the kind of guy who''s always on the front lines in the main battlefield, so it''s a little late for that, but I don''t think the general doesn''t quite understand that he''s irreplaceable, does he?"


    "But it''s just like a king, isn''t it? Especially when he says it like it''s a matter of course. Even though it''s a dangerous role. But he''s like a king...


    "Humph. Bad habit of the king."


    Sniffling and muttering is Nogard, commander of the Eighth Legion.


    His race is the Twilight Dragon, and his original form is a Western dragon over 40 meters long.


    However, he is now humanized and has the appearance of a dour-looking young man with long red hair that hides his sharp eyes.


    Nogardo, dressed in a surcoat of light armor, stands with his arms crossed and a frown on his brow.


    "Nogald! Do you have a problem with our lord?


    Balan was the first to respond to Nogardo.


    I have never complained. I only said it was a bad habit.


    "That would be as good as complaining. At least, not to the master to whom I owe allegiance."


    I did not say anything wrong. Or are you trying to say that it''s a good habit?��What if something happens to the king now?"


    Their gazes take on a swarthy air.


    Nogarde retains "arrogance" as a character trait, which is incompatible with Balan''s "discipline. Moreover, Balan also possesses stubbornness, and the two tend to clash easily.


    Furthermore, Nogardo is extremely proud.


    The dragon tribe tends to be arrogant and irreverent, and Nogardo stands at the top of this group.


    He once half-killed a Giant tribe member on his side simply because he had been hit on the shoulder. He never breaks his will when there is a conflict of opinion.


    "Well, well, now is not the time to argue, you two!"


    Eltina interrupted the mood that was about to turn sour.


    Celes, too, gave a covering shot, as if she did not want to get into any more trouble.


    "Elle is right. His Majesty has warned me to do my job well.


    If His Majesty hears that you''re wasting your time arguing over some stupid thing, you''re going to get away with it.


    "M...... are certainly right, as you say."


    "......, you do have a point."


    When the situation finally calmed down, Levee, who had been quietly watching the situation, clapped her hands and drew attention to the situation.


    "Then this is the end of the fooling around. As the Commander-in-Chief, I request you to take your posts immediately. --Ertina, Camilla, it''s time for us to get ready to leave.


    As soon as he said this, Levee left the audience hall with a quick step.


    Eltina and Camilla followed him.


    "Well, I''d better get ready too."


    "Humph. Don''t make a blunder this time."


    "Shut up, Nogardo!��I know what you''re talking about!


    "You two are fighting each other since you said so?��Especially Gardi, you''re the one who''s supposed to be maintaining security."


    "Tsk. ....... Hey Robin, I''ll be there later with my men, so get ready to accept them!"


    "Here you go. I''ll see you later!"


    The men of the corps commanders then leave the audience hall in droves.


    Only one female corps leader is left.


    "Huh?��Come to think of it, am I the only one in the women''s group who has been left behind by His Majesty ......?"


    Suddenly aware of this fact, Celes stopped in her tracks as she was leaving the audience chamber. A bead of sweat trickled down her dark-skinned cheek.


    "...... is the result of the right person in the right place, isn''t it?��I''m sure that Rieve and Elle are members of the traveler''s group because they are set up, and Camilla was only chosen as an additional member because she was needed to gather information. ...... It''s not because I''m being shunned by His Majesty... I don''t think so."


    Yes, it should be.


    Celes affirms again inwardly and nods one more time.


    However, although her rational mind was satisfied with this, a vague feeling remained deep in her heart.


    "Let''s go to ...... and get to work."


    Shaking off her anxiety, she hurriedly headed for her position.

 21 - The 21st episode of "Collecting Hiro II"

    --Suddenly...


    For Helian, the game [Tactics Chronicles] was an ideal box garden where his dreams and romances could come true.


    For example, adventure, for example, the one-hit wonder, for example, the champion of the world.


    In the real world, dreams and men''s romance that could never come true, Helian has continued to make them come true in his fantasy world of "Hakoniwa".


    A good example of a character is the Commander of the 8th Army.


    Dragons are a man''s romance.


    I do not allow any objection.


    There can be no objection.


    A man who does not feel romance with dragons is not a man.


    That''s why I made him my friend.


    He overcame many obstacles and unreasonable trials, and when he finally made the dragon his friend, he struck a gut-punch like a striker scoring a goal in the World Cup.


    Although he did not intend it at first, the commander of the Seventh Army also turned out to be a romantic figure.


    A decisive battle weapon is a man''s romance.


    No one can argue with that.


    There can be no objection.


    No man is a man who does not feel romanticism when he hears the words "final," "decisive battle," and "mobile weapon.


    That''s why we built it.


    We excavated ancient ruins, spent money like hot water, and when it was finally completed, we screamed with all our might, as if we were the hit-making machine that hit the winning run in the WBC.


    And then, the Commander of the 6th Army Corps.


    At the time of the Cold War, Alkimaira needed to be able to fight information warfare, entanglements, and sabotage.


    However, there were no demons with high aptitude in these fields, and they were considering creating new ones or capturing them.


    Then, Helian saw an announcement from the public relations department of the management company.


    It was an announcement that a new demon had been added to the rare gacha.


    Among them was the "Succubus" race.


    Succubus is a demon that appears in men''s dreams and performs so-called adult s*xual acts.


    And Helian was definitely a man.


    --That''s what I meant.


    "But it''s been a long time since I''ve been your companion. When was the last time I accompanied you?


    "M...... well, you know."


    Up close.


    Camilla, the commander of the 6th Legion, speaks to me at a distance where our shoulders are almost touching.


    The group of travelers, including Camilla and Helian, is once again walking through the forest toward the village. However, the presence of Camilla, who was walking right next to them, made Helian''s state of mind hardly normal.


    She has changed from the sensational clothes she was wearing at the time of the audience to a more practical search outfit. Her usual Victorian gothic clothes would not have been acceptable in the setting of a traveler. The rank of the equipment is considerably lower, but for the sake of the mission, I had him change into a disguise that is as inconspicuous as possible.


    However, whether or not this actually made them less conspicuous is a definite negative.


    In any case, even with their rugged and plain equipment, they could not hide the s*x appeal of their bodies. The group is making its way toward the village, but the particular part of her that shakes every time she walks continues to disturb Helian''s spirit.


    "I am rarely called to the capital. I can hardly remember the last time you and I walked together like this. It''s a new feeling."


    Yes, I see.


    Since she is also a corps leader, she has repeatedly reincarnated and evolved to a high rank in her race.


    Originally a Succubus, she has become a Nightmare Queen, the highest rank in the Dream Demon family, and although her combat power is one step below that of other corps leaders, she has become a force to be reckoned with when it comes to information warfare and sabotage.


    And as a part of information warfare, he was engaged in operations such as entangling enemy soldiers to obtain information.


    Camilla wrapped her arm around Hellian''s left arm in a very natural gesture.


    She clings to him not only with one hand, but with both hands.


    At first glance, Camilla seems to be having difficulty walking, but she does not show any such signs and proceeds as if there is no problem at all.


    The problem was on Helian''s side.


    (Don''t feel, think ......!)


    Helian tells himself this, but to little effect.


    What matters is that it hits him in the arm. It''s called a close contact. I can''t tell you what''s hitting me, but I can say that it''s a good fit.


    It was soft and fluffy, exactly how Hellian had imagined it would feel.


    One of the twins, which had not been allowed to be touched in the game, changed its shape when pressed against his arm, sometimes bouncing, and even felt a slight warmth... I''m sorry, please forgive me, it was just a passing fancy.


    What''s the matter, my dear?


    "No, it''s nothing."


    Helian does his best to cover up the turmoil in his heart.


    She mustn''t be exposed. Never.


    If she finds out, she will die. It would ruin his dignity.


    "...... Hey, Camilla. If you''ve been watching without saying a word for a while now, you''re too familiar with the Lady Helian, even if it''s just to disguise yourself."


    You''ve seen it coming.


    Rieve spoke bitterly against Camilla, who was sticking close to the master she was supposed to serve.


    Then Helian gives her a hearty shout out. With all her might.


    "What are you talking about? I am doing the best I can. I am, after all, a frail companion who was left alone in the Abyssal Forest, a place filled with danger. Then it is perfectly natural for me to actively seek physical contact in order to feel the presence of my friends whom I have finally met again, even if only a little.


    "But I don''t want to tell Mr. Helian..."


    "Are you saying that it is more natural for you to cling to Nushi and Ertina, who are set up as your bodyguards?��That''s just silly. You don''t understand the subtleties of the s*xes. These things are not logical. The woman who has been wandering in the woods for so long should cling to you, my lord... the only man in the group. Since my mistress, who is an expert in this field, says so, there can be no mistake.


    "Then, when we get closer to the village..."


    "Amateurish. In this kind of thing, it is important to create an atmosphere in advance. It is not something that can be managed by delineating a line that says, "This is where the performance will begin. It is a small discomfort that lurks in the viewer''s subconscious and sometimes has an unfavorable effect.


    Since the fate of Alkimaira hangs in the balance, I will do all I can to eliminate such possibilities and take all possible measures. Or are you asking me to cut corners?"


    "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.


    Then shut up. You''re ruining the mood."


    It was a sealed deal.


    I couldn''t even finish my line.


    Rieve, unable to refute the argument, backed down, biting her teeth.


    Even she understands the importance of this return visit.


    But seeing the expression on Camilla''s face as she clings to Hellian, she just couldn''t help but to speak up.


    "And by the way, did you remember the ...... setting?��Camilla."


    In order to change the subject, H��lian confirms that the travelers'' group is set up.


    Of course, my dear. I have already memorized them perfectly.


    Good. We''re getting close to the village. All three of you should be ready.


    Helian tells his three companions that he, too, will change his mind.


    --The setting is as follows.


    A group of travelers led by Helian.


    While exploring an old castle, they are suddenly struck by a mysterious phenomenon: they are enveloped in a mysterious light.


    They went through a tunnel ......, but when the blinding light cleared, they found themselves in a completely unknown land covered by a deep forest.


    The forest had a deceptive effect on people, and because of this, I was separated from my companions, and after five days of wandering, I finally met people - the people of Rattestwood.


    Although they managed to survive thanks to the various items they found in the ruins, the group was ignorant of various common knowledge, including the situation in the surrounding areas.


    Later, they received a call from their friends who had been separated by their treasured magic tools (magic items), so they left the village of Rattestwood in a hurry to join their friends.


    I apologize for leaving without exchanging a proper greeting, as I could not stand to hear the news from my companions whom I did not know if they were safe or not.


    Fortunately, I was able to meet up with my friends safely, and I would like to apologize for the other day and talk about our future relationship.


    I am also aware that the food aid we provided last time was well received, and I intend to do the same this time as well.


    --The above is the set-up of the meeting.


    To put it simply,


    >.


    .


    >.


    I hope that this will be conveyed to the RATESTWOOD side.


    Frankly, I cannot imagine what they will do when I visit the settlement again.


    I think it is unlikely, but if they are interpreted as Noblewood''s pawns, they may attack us out of the blue.


    However, we cannot cut off relations with the valuable source of information, LATESTWOOD. If it is necessary to make contact with them again, we have decided that it would be better to do so as soon as possible.


    I am not sure if this decision is the best one, given the various problems we are facing.


    However, a king who makes no decision is no better than an ornament.


    A leader''s job is to make decisions.


    And once he has made a decision, he has to do his best to prove that he made the right choice.


    "Tactical Window: Open" (Tactical Window)


    The virtual window opened by verbal operation is manipulated with a finger to display a .


    I used the spoken operation and direct operation (tap) because it was easier and more reliable than the thought operation, but I was worried about the stares of my subordinates as if it were a new thing. I wonder what my current behavior looks like to them who cannot see the virtual window.


    In [Tactics Chronicle], I did not care about the NPC''s gaze, but in ...... this is not the case in this world.


    If direct manipulation looks like a strange pantomime, it is better to use thought manipulation when you can afford it. I make a note in my mental notebook that when I return to the castle, I will have to check in the mirror at some point.


    (...... I think I can see the settlement soon...)


    The that I called up shows topographical information, location information, etc., as far as I could find out in my previous search. The symbols indicating small villages and hamlets are getting closer. When we are only about three minutes away from the village, a strong wind is blowing through the forest.


    Suddenly, Rieve''s nose twitched.


    The wind was coming in from the opposite direction, whereas it had been downwind from the direction they were traveling.


    In other words, it was carrying the scent of the village.


    When Helian tried to open the detailed information about the village on the map, Rieve frowned uncomfortably and muttered, "I wonder if he sensed something...".


    "...... Mr. Helian."


    "What''s up?"


    "I smelled blood coming from the direction of the settlement."


    "-...hurry!"


    He ran out as soon as he heard.


    He used the to display detailed information about the settlement, and found the creature''s response.


    There were several white spots of light. The problem is that the number of these lights is much smaller than the last time I visited the settlement.


    Lieve, who is following us, reaches out her hand to hold Helian''s body as she did the last time.


    "Master Helian, please excuse my body..."


    "I don''t need it!��Instead, I want you to keep a tight perimeter!��There is a strong possibility that there has been a major battle in the settlement!"


    I want to keep Levee''s hands free.


    Last time there were only a few enemy forces, so we prioritized movement, but this time we don''t know the scale of the enemy.


    The light dots on the are all white, but this should be taken as a sign that the map is not neutral, rather it should be taken as a sign that the map is not able to determine friend or foe. If all of them are enemies, there is a sense of uneasiness when one of Liewe''s arms is blocked.


    A calm part of my mind told me that we should not rush in and should watch from a distance, but I ignored it. If the village was under attack at the moment, one second''s delay could lead to an irreversible situation.


    The image of the sisters who had given up their own lives to save their people came to my mind.


    I felt nauseous at my own rashness and hypocrisy in trying to save them, even though I was still refusing to get involved in their problems.


    But that didn''t mean I could stop now.


    I had already chosen to run.


    "--!��Hey, you there, stop!��Or I will shoot!"


    I stopped when a voice came flying from the front.


    Someone was standing in front of the village gate, holding a bow. The backlight makes it hard to see him. Who is it? Is it Noblewood or Lattestwood? Or is it a third force?


    Are you ......?


    The figure holding the bow let out a stunned voice.


    I recognized his voice.


    "...... Wenli-dono?"


    It is Wenli, a close aide of Leifa, the Queen of Lattestwood.


    Good.


    The fact that she is acting as a gatekeeper does not mean that the settlement has fallen.


    The white light spots in the settlement shown on the must belong to the people of Rattestwood.


    "You are safe. I''m glad..."


    "You people!"


    A step toward him was severed by an angry voice.


    There is a sound of the wind breaking, and something comes flying in.


    It was not until he saw the arrow in front of him that he realized he had been shot.


    "No!��Don''t kill me!"


    I shouted in reflex.


    Rieve, Eltina, and Camilla, who was about to leap out of the way, stiffened themselves.


    --It was so close.


    If I had been even a moment too late to stop them, Wenli might have been killed.


    "d*mn it!��Everyone, meet me!��Enemy attack!


    "Wait, Mister Wenli!��I am Helian, a traveler who was recently taken care of--"


    "What a traveler you are, you white devil!��You Noblewood minions!"


    Second shot.


    Once again Rieve grabs the arrow.


    "......, you misunderstand!��We have nothing to do with Noblewood!"


    "Shut up!��If you really have nothing to do with this, then why are we being subjected to this!��Why do you think Noblewood''s soldiers will come pouring in after you are gone?


    The sunlight was hidden by clouds.


    Wenli''s expression, obscured by the backlight, becomes apparent.


    Her expression was severely distorted.


    I had never seen this expression before.


    Her face was stained with the color of pure hatred that Hellian had never seen in the eighteen years of Tsukasa Misaki''s life.


    "What''s going on?


    A small figure came out, protected by some soldiers.


    There is no mistaking that voice or that figure.


    It was Leifa.


    "Leifa!��It''s me, Helian!


    Raise your voice.


    We need to clear up this misunderstanding somehow.


    And my men are acting suspiciously.


    It seemed as if they were about to attack Wenli at any moment.


    Helian has ordered them to stop, but I sense a disturbing presence from Camilla.


    The third shot could have triggered a worse situation.


    "-------- Mister Helian."


    Leifa utters Helian''s name in a somewhat stunned tone.


    The emotion in her voice was very weak.


    I could not read anything in his voice.


    Is she calm or not?


    Is he hostile or is there room for him to be heard?


    A bead of sweat runs down Hellian''s cheek.


    "...... Wenli. Put down your bow."


    "No, Master Leifa!��They are the pawns of the Noblewoods!"


    "Put down your bow, I said. Obey me.


    Master Leifua, you have been deceived!��Archers, ready..."


    "Wenli!"


    Leifa shouted in the harshest voice Helian had ever heard.


    She held her right hand straight out, and a small magic circle floated in front of her palm.


    And her hand was pointed toward ...... Wenli.


    "......Reifa ......Sa,yet?"


    Wenli looked at Leifer, who was about to cast a spell on him, with eyes as if he had seen something incredible.


    "Wenli! Put down your bow."


    "......Why ...... why, Miss Leifa? These people are ...... the reason why you are ...... being so bad, Master Rilifa!"


    "Right now, I am the queen of this land. Obey my word. If you cannot, kill me and become the new king."


    "Hey, ......!"


    "I am grateful to you for taking care of us sisters since we were very young. I consider you like an older sister. But now you are insane. If you continue to do more harm to this country with me as queen, I will not tolerate it."


    "............"


    "This is the last time. Put down your bows."


    Wenli hesitated for a moment.


    Herian''s eyes are still stained with hatred.


    "............!"


    Still, she did not have the option of antagonizing Leifa.


    She lowered her bow silently, though her expression remained grim.


    Helian also lowered his right hand to restrain Levee and the others.


    Somehow, they managed to avoid a confrontation.


    But Helian did not breathe a sigh of relief.


    There was no relief.


    The sudden attack was one thing, but more than that, there were words that he just couldn''t let go.


    "What''s wrong with Rilifa?"


    Wenli uttered those words on the spur of the moment.


    She did indeed say, "It is because of them that Master Rilifa is dead.


    Then, what was the word that followed?


    "......Helian, it is a pleasure to see you again. First of all, I would like to offer my deepest apologies for any rudeness on my part. I know that my apology will not satisfy you, but please accept my forgiveness.


    No, it''s not.


    What I want to hear is not an apology.


    I don''t care about that,


    "You said Noblewood attacked you.��What the hell happened after that?��What happened to Lady Rilifa?��What happened to you?"


    Helian asked a series of questions as if he was being driven by something.


    Then Leifa, with an emotionless expression on her face, spoke a simple fact.


    "--I was kidnapped by soldiers from Noblewood.

 22 - The 22nd "Treatment Required"

    We are not going to stand around here and talk about it, so let''s continue our conversation inside the village.


    Leifa said these words with a blank expression on her face, and Helian and the others entered the village.


    The situation inside the village was terrible.


    They said they had been attacked, and there were scars all over the village.


    Most of the tents were destroyed, and almost half of the original houses were completely destroyed.


    It is not only the buildings that bear fresh scars.


    Looking around, the injured were lying on the ground with only simple cloths, as if they could not fit in the indoor living space. Even if Helian saw only a few, there were some with broken bones and others with blood-stained cloths wrapped around their heads.


    But even so, they are probably still the better part of the wounded.


    As if to confirm this guess, an anguished moan can be heard coming from the few remaining tents.


    "There was a big attack on Noblewood."


    While walking to the center of the village, Leifa sputtered out a few words.


    For some reason, she seemed to be a confessor repenting of her sins.


    "About last night. The chief hunter of Noblewood led his army into the village. There was no room for negotiation, and the defensive fence was breached by magic fire from afar. ...... We made desperate resistance, but we were powerless to stop them, as you can see."


    Chief hunter?


    "In the human army, a general. The senior officer of the elven warriors. There are other higher positions such as and , but it is the chief hunter who leads the warriors in times of war. There is more than one chief hunter, but they are considered equal in power.


    "...... What is the scale of damage?"


    "We have lost half of our remaining forces. The other half has not suffered a few casualties either."


    A complete defeat.


    The loss of 50 percent of the forces means, in the words of a modern nation, .


    It is a situation in which an organization has almost completely lost its ability to fight.


    From a modern strategic point of view, there may still be room for resistance if the forces are replenished and the army reorganized. ......Latestwood is a nation made up of half-elves and other weak tribes. It is a nation created by those who have no one to turn to and have no choice but to fend for themselves.


    There is no way that they can count on a replacement army.


    "......What happened to the Lords of Rilifa?"


    Some of them, including Rilifa, were kidnapped. About 40 people were kidnapped. We don''t know the number of dead yet, so I can''t give you a detailed count.


    It was the worst situation.


    The more I hear, the more the misery becomes apparent.


    But that doesn''t mean we can''t cover our ears.


    I shake my head to erase the girl''s face that might pop up in my mind if I''m not careful.


    Now I have to deal with the situation calmly.


    "...... Leifa-sama."


    "Yes."


    There is no emotion on Leifa''s face as she replies.


    I felt a chill in her face, which looked like a Noh mask.


    I have so many questions.


    But I can''t ask them without hesitation, surrounded by eyes of suspicion.


    Then, before asking questions, what should I do now?


    "My companion, Eltina, is a bit of a healer. If there is not enough help, I would like to let her heal the wounded, how about it?��Of course, if you are comfortable with the idea of being treated by an elf, Eltina."


    "Well, I appreciate your concern. In this situation, I would like to take advantage of your kindness. I would very much appreciate it."


    "Thank you for accepting. Now, please visit ......."


    "The seriously wounded are gathered in that tent. I would be happy if you could save the lives of just a few of them, as long as you have the magic power to do so.


    After all, it seemed that the wounded lying outdoors were still the better part of the population.


    I could have guessed that, but it still made me feel a little defensive.


    "...... as you have heard, Ertina. I will take care of the wounded. I will go with you."


    I offered myself as an escort because I was worried about letting Ertina act alone in this village.


    In the past, when I had organized a soup kitchen, the villagers had treated Eltina with some degree of friendliness, even though she was an elf and I was a human.


    However, the way the villagers look at her now is not friendly at all.


    Many of them are not hostile, but they are very paranoid.


    Acting alone in such a situation may lead to unfortunate results for both parties.


    In fact, Wenli''s eyes are still fixed on Leifa as he walks behind her.


    The other soldiers are similarly concerned.


    Without Leifa''s order to stop, or on the contrary, going out of Leifa''s sight could bring about misfortune in itself.


    Leifa led us to a tent near the center of the village.


    There, the situation was as expected, or even more horrific than expected.


    ......


    I thought I was prepared for this.


    I thought I had used my imagination to some extent, judging from the anguished moans and groans that leaked out.


    --But I was naive.


    The tent occupied the entire narrow space where the wounded were laid out.


    They must have run out of beds. About ten people were lying on the ground. A nurse with a sad face walks around in the tent, where there is not much room to step on.


    The first thing I saw was a wounded man lying near the entrance.


    He ...... no, she continues to moan in agony. The reason why we could not recognize her gender immediately is that her face was bandaged so that we could not see her real face.


    Or perhaps she dared to be bandaged in such a way to hide her true face. It may be that they are trying not to expose the face of a woman who has been badly wounded.


    Helian can only guess, but seeing that the right ear is cut so deeply that it looks as if it could be shredded at any moment, he thinks that his guess is probably correct.


    But she was still one of the better ones.


    The deeper into the tent, the worse it gets.


    There are those without arms or legs, those still bleeding from the abdomen, those who have lost their light forever, and so on. Some of them even looked like broken dolls.


    If left alone, they will not be for long.


    "Leifa-sama?��...... who are these people?"


    A small woman standing near the entrance calls out to us.


    She is whispering, perhaps out of concern for the injured.


    She is very small. She is not a half-elf, but she might be a ...... dwarf (korobokkur).


    "This is Herian and his traveling party, who have kindly offered to heal you. This Lady Eltina here is skilled in the art of healing.


    "...... with all due respect, your side..."


    I know what you mean. I understand what you mean, but what more can we do?��Are there any who still have magic power to spare?"


    When Leifer questioned her, the woman looked down, biting her lip in frustration.


    Then she took a step back to the side, as if to clear the way for her to go.


    That was the answer.


    "...... Eltina, take care of them."


    "Yes, sir."


    Ertina tries to walk to the back of the tent ...... to the most badly injured.


    "Please wait. The ones who are farther away from the entrance are more severely injured, so I would like you to treat the ones lying at the entrance first.


    "Isn''t it the other way around?��It seems to me that the injured in the back should be treated first. They need to be treated as soon as possible."


    "But, this is a lot of injured people. Then, as a leader, I must make a life choice.


    Leifua speaks her lines as a queen, but at a volume that the injured cannot hear.


    Her face remained as expressionless as ever.


    It seems that she has given up on the idea of treating everyone.


    Only some of them will be able to be cured.


    As long as the number of patients that can be treated is limited, he has to treat the ones that can be saved with certainty.


    And that I have an obligation to choose the lives I can save.


    That''s what she tells me.


    In other words, she indicates the fact that, according to her common sense, it is impossible for a single healer to treat everyone present here.


    In reality, however, Eltina can heal everyone present.


    If we tell Ertina to treat everyone here, she will do so.


    And as a result, she will expose her ability, which is out of the ordinary for Leifa and the others.


    --So what?


    There''s nothing wrong with that.


    This country no longer has the strength to fight the Alkimyra.


    There is little point in concealing our strength against the RATESTWOOD by hiding our strength.


    Then we owe them a favor.


    If we do not reduce their hostility even a little, we will not be able to gather any information.


    So this is not sympathy.


    This is not an act of cheap justice.


    It is an action for the sake of Alkimaira.


    It has to be.


    "...... Ertina, is it possible to save the lives of everyone present?"


    Eltina''s blue eyes reflect Helian''s image.


    Her gaze says, "Are you sure?" The word "a" was included in the message.


    Helian nodded his head in silence.


    "It is possible."


    "Well, then, that''s the way--"


    "Don''t play dumb with me, ......!"


    It is Wenli who mutters in a hateful voice.


    Although his voice was whispered in consideration of the seriously wounded, the emotion in his voice was no different from that of the question and answer at the gate.


    "How are you going to treat this many people? No matter how good a healer you are, you need at least fifty men. And you think you can treat them all by yourself?��Talk in your sleep and don''t give them false hope with your delusions. ......!"


    "Wenli--"


    "I don''t care, Mister Leiffer."


    He held out his hand to Leifer, who turned a hard look at Wenli again.


    I don''t want to waste your time with unnecessary questions and answers.


    "Mister Wenli, we do not intend to talk nonsense. However, whatever we say will not make sense to you now. Therefore, we will prove it by our actions. --Eltina.


    "Awe, sir."


    Muttering a prayer, Ertina stepped forward and folded her hands in prayer.


    "Rain, in your mercy, fill his people with your healing light - the Cure Rain Force."


    Range recovery magic spun by perfect chanting.


    It became a deep green light that covered the inside of the tent.


    The healing light instantly enveloped all the injured people''s bodies, filling the injured areas with green light.


    After the light cleared, all that remained was clean skin without a single scar.


    The injured people who had been moaning and groaning earlier are now looking at the bodies with surprised expressions on their faces as their wounds disappear.


    "What the ......?


    Wenli''s eyes widen to reveal her astonishment as well.


    It was such an unacceptable sight.


    As if a chant I had never heard before was muttered, and in an instant the tent was enveloped in light. So far, so good. We can assume that the gentiles are practicing a magic that we do not know.


    However, the elf woman who chanted had nothing in her hand,...... which means that she had used magic without any catalyst such as a wand or bright ore.


    It is common knowledge throughout the world that a medium is necessary for the use of magic.


    Even the elves, who were skilled in magic, could not escape from this common sense, and those who possessed a valuable catalyst could be said to be of a certain level of power. Leifa, who was just about to use magic, also wears a bracelet with a catalyst crystal in it.


    And yet, the elf-woman had shown that she could perform magic without a catalyst.


    This alone is an impossible phenomenon according to Wenli''s common sense.


    And with her own eyes, she witnessed the healing of the injuries of everyone in the tent at the same time, in an instant.


    "That''s impossible. ......"


    Healing magic generally involves the expenditure of large amounts of magical power to enhance the self-healing abilities of the recipient. As long as the effect is an extension of the self-healing ability, a scar will inevitably remain.


    It is said that if one masters the healing arts, it is possible to heal without relying on the self-healing ability of the patient, and a very few excellent healers can even heal old wounds. However, even they would shake their heads if asked if they could do so with more than one person.


    Therefore, the scene in front of us, which we have just witnessed, is extraordinary by any measure.


    If only one of them could have been accepted. I might have been convinced that he was a master healer.


    But an elf woman who calls herself a traveler, who has healed this many people in an instant, without even a scar, using magic without a catalyst, is a master healer.


    Wenli, who had been denied all four of his common sense at the same time, could do nothing but freeze, unable to accept the reality before him.


    "It doesn''t hurt. ......?��Why?"


    The same was true for those who were laid out on the beds, who could not accept the reality of the situation.


    The body that should have been in severe pain earlier was healed in an instant, and now there was no discomfort when he sat up.


    Although the mourned limbs have not been restored to their original state, there is no reddish-black flesh or white bones that should have been there just a few moments ago on the cut surface where the bandages were removed.


    Instead, all that was there were the scars from the treatment, as if they had been slowly healed over a period of months. It is inevitable to be stunned before being pleased.


    The nurses are no exception.


    No, rather, their degree of astonishment was greater than that of others because they were the users of the healing arts. In any case, the injured people who had been barely able to hold on to their lives even with all their magic power have now recovered to the point where they can get up on their own.


    Some of them even slumped down on the spot, unable to take this impossible reality seriously.


    "You are very good at this. I''m sorry I missed it. Thank you very much for your kindness.


    Therefore, none of the people in the Ratestock area could understand Leifa''s words of thanks to the travelers, who were still calm and unperturbed.


    How could they remain calm in the face of such an impossible phenomenon?


    How could they accept the phenomena before them that defied our common sense?


    "No, no. It''s not a big deal.


    As if humbled, or as if she really thought it was no big deal, Eltina also responded in an indifferent manner.


    "It is not life-threatening, but the defect cannot be treated. Please forgive me.


    "It is enough that you saved my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.


    "Also, you might want to change the bandages that are still stained with blood. There is no risk of infection at this point, but we cannot deny that poor hygiene can cause some problems. All I could do is to treat the injuries and illnesses that you are suffering from now.


    "I see. I understand. --You there, you heard me.��Do so immediately."


    The dwarf woman, who had been standing still in a daze, seemed to come to her senses only when she received Leifua''s instructions, and began to move about.


    With this, those who had remained frozen in place resumed their respective tasks. Some of them were so surprised that they remained motionless in their slumped position, but at the urging of the elder nurses, they finally started to do what they had to do.


    "......Lord Leifer, I would like to continue our conversation outside, if that''s all right."


    "Of course."


    We go out of the tent and walk through the village with Leifa leading the way.


    Leifa stopped at a spot right in the center of the village.


    Suddenly, Camilla met Wenli''s eyes.


    Remembering that Camilla possessed a number of magical eye abilities, Helian sent out a by thought manipulation, forbidding her to do anything that she might do to Wenli.


    After a few moments, Camilla''s well-shaped eyebrows furrowed slightly.


    I don''t know what she was going to do, but it would be bad for us to take any kind of action in this situation. I understand that we need to take a hard-line approach when the situation calls for it, but I don''t think we are at that stage yet.


    I look around.


    If you look at the ......, you will see that the people of the village are gathering in the distance. It seems as if we are surrounded, and we feel pressure.


    Helian made up his mind to speak.


    "Leifa! We know that there was a major attack by the Noblewoods. We know the damage. But we had nothing to do with it. We are not a part of Noblewood. I know it''s a little late for that, but I want to make that clear first."


    I gave treatment.


    Sold him a favor.


    I have proved my innocence by my actions.


    I think that Leifua will accept my story, judging from her behavior.


    Still, my knees trembled slightly.


    "Yes, I understand. I have no doubt whatsoever that you have nothing to do with Noblewood.


    "......Mr. Leifer, isn''t it too early to say that?"


    As expected, Wenli interrupted.


    "Certainly the wounded have been treated. It was done with amazing skill. Many lives were saved. I admit that. But that doesn''t absolve them of their suspicions. It is also true that many lives were lost.


    "What are you trying to say, Wenli?"


    "I''m saying that he may have staged this. First, he passed on the information he brought back to Noblewood, and then he appeared as if he had nothing to do with it and tried to ingratiate himself with us by offering us treatment. ...... We cannot deny that possibility."


    How dare you say that in front of them?


    It would be a lie to say that such a feeling did not come to her mind, but from her standpoint as Leifua''s guardian, it might be natural to suspect such a possibility. But...,


    "You''ve got some pretty funny stories to tell, Wenli."


    Leifa rejected that advice outright.


    She dismissed it as nonsense.


    Her green eyes, looking at Wenli, were filled with a slight negative emotion.


    "Nonsense is ...... what I think of this country, my dear Leifa."


    "Then let me ask you a question. If you are a Noblewood, as you say, and if you are trying to deceive us, to take advantage of us, what is the point of this?


    "What do you mean, you say?" ......


    "What do the Herrians have to gain?��How effective would it be to deceive and manipulate us, even though we were outnumbered?��We don''t have to do that. We just have to push with such force that we can''t resist. Noblewood can do that."


    "......!��Mr. Leifer, it''s ......!"


    "What does it matter if I''m not saying what I want to say now?"


    The people are listening. ......!


    I am aware of such a thing, even if you don''t tell me.


    Wenli tries to admonish him with sweat on his forehead.


    But Leifa does not listen to him.


    "Well, we can''t deny the possibility. You are right. So let''s assume, as you claimed, that the treatment just given by Lady Eltina was some kind of publicity stunt to ingratiate herself to us.


    "...... Mr. Leifa?"


    "But how much sense does it make to ingratiate yourself with us?��The village, the last remaining stronghold, has been hit hard and its forces have been almost completely destroyed. Our supplies, which were already scarce, have been exhausted by the recent raid. What does Mr. Helian want from us?��What can you take from us?"


    "...... that, that, that..."


    Shall I make a further assumption? Suppose, as you fear, that the Herrians are our enemies...?


    Wenli froze in shock when he was asked this question as if he were laughing through his nose.


    Leifa spun her words in an emotionless manner.


    Can you beat them?


    The words were piercing.


    "I was pursued by his chief hunter, Sarawin Welt Noblele Leaf, during our retreat from the rescue mission the other day. But the chief hunter was repulsed without a fight by Herian and his men.


    Leifua saw it with her own eyes.


    She saw how Eltina had instantly deployed a high-level magic that she had never seen before and had easily defended herself against the chief hunter''s attack.


    And Leifa could not even see it.


    She could not even see how Levee had come so close to the chief hunter at an almost blinding speed that she had to swing her fist out of her hand.


    "If you had not stopped him, Levee''s fist would have killed the chief hunter. And I have not seen you before today, but I am sure that your companion is just as powerful."


    Leifa shifted her gaze to Camilla.


    Camilla does not pay attention to her gaze and continues to watch her surroundings.


    Camilla, who already understood that her "stray and weak companion" status no longer made sense, was, like Levee and the others, committed to protecting Helian.


    "If they want to harm us, they can do so at any time," she said. And once they do, there is nothing we can do to stop them. If we have to fight against the Herrians, we have lost. Why go to the trouble of deceiving us?


    "............ but the demands of the Noblewoods, who kidnapped the Lilliputians, are their ......!��If they had not visited this settlement in the first place!"


    "You are missing the point. You have just claimed that the Noblewoods are working for you. It is true that Noblewood''s demands were about them, but does that not mean that they have nothing to do with Noblewood?


    --How can you not understand that?


    Leifa asks Wenli this with her gaze.


    Wenli, on the other hand, looked at Leifer with a blue face.


    "In the first place, I would have been trapped in the Noblewood or even killed if you, Herian and the others hadn''t helped me. Would you be okay with that?"


    "Yes, that will never ...... happen!"


    "You claim to be an agent of Noblewood, yet you admit to yourself that you are not. Yet, you are trying to denounce the Noblewoods. Are you trying to make them the root of all evil, and to offer them as a sacrifice to Noblewood?��Are you trying to get them to listen to you when they are no match for you, even if you mobilize all of the remaining strength in the lastwoods?��It is not that simple a matter. We have already passed the point where we can do anything about it.


    "............"


    "I understand that you dare to play the role of a hater. But shut up already. I can only interrupt you now."


    Wenli stepped back and looked down, as if pressured.


    His mouth spins nothing.


    --Helian, on the other hand, also felt a chill.


    Thank you for listening to me.


    It''s not for nothing that you let us know that you''re not working for Noblewood.


    However, it doesn''t make sense that he would go out of his way to mention it in the center of a crowded community.


    What is the reason for speaking so loudly and daring the people around him to hear it, and for making the villagers hear information that they do not need to be told?


    "I have shown you something unsightly. Please forgive me for my repeated rudeness.


    "......, no, that''s fine. I can understand that you would be suspicious of us because of your position and your loyalty. For our part, we are satisfied if our suspicions are confirmed.


    He hurriedly interrupts Leifa, who is about to bow her head.


    What was she thinking, bowing to the queen in front of the people?


    I have a bad feeling about this.


    "More importantly, what is ...... Noblewood''s demand?��From the way you''re talking, I take it we have something to do with this."


    "Yes. Yes, as you can see. Noblewood kidnapped Lilliput and the others, and he has only one request...


    "You must hand over the group of travelers with the High Elves before the sun sets tomorrow."


    That was the demand of Noblewood who attacked the settlement of Rattestwood.

 23 - CHAPTER XXIII "Decision of the King"

    "Hand over the party of travelers with the High Elves?"


    He parrots it back.


    It had never occurred to them that Noblewood''s demand was for their own safety.


    He even went to the trouble of specifying "a traveler with a High Elf.


    "Yes. <. He even made a pledge to "swear by the name of the tree of God."


    "...... "What does "I swear by the name of the God tree" mean?"


    "This is a phrase of oath handed down among the elves since ancient times. The divine tree is a sacred object for the elves - a divine dependent. To swear by its name is an absolute pledge for the Elves.


    Idolatry, as is common among forest people and frontier tribes.


    No, in this world of sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, there may actually be a tree in which a god resides.


    "If you speak this oath and then violate it, you are an enemy to all the elves, for if you break it, you are no longer an elf. Above all, our pride as elves will not allow us to break our oath. It is such a "serious" word.


    I see.


    So the point is that we can surely save Lilliput and the others by handing over the group of travelers.


    No wonder Wenli is so desperate. ......


    Therefore as a representative of LATESTWOOD I have a request to make of you.


    Say it.


    "Will you please take back the people who were kidnapped this time - the Lilliputians - from the Noblewood?"


    The words were pretty much as I expected them to be.


    But..,


    "Did you say recapture?��Not just shut up and hand me over?"


    "Yes. It''s a recapture. We have no intention of handing you over to Noblewood.


    I glanced around, but there was no sign of any attempt to forcibly detain Helian and the others.


    The people and soldiers who heard Leifer''s explanation earlier must have understood the fact that Helian and his group are no match for them even if they fight.


    "...... I would like to confirm three things."


    We cannot jump to conclusions too quickly.


    "First of all, can we take the <> as a contract agreed upon by both Noblewood and Rattestwood?��Or did Noblewood just make a unilateral pronouncement?��If it is the former, then it would seem that your country is obligated to hand over the ."


    "No, the latter. It was a unilateral declaration. We did not say that we would give up the travelers, nor did we pledge to do so. Therefore, we would not be breaking the oath of the sacred tree if we did not offer up Lord Helian and the others.


    I knew it. In this case, only Noblewood is at risk of incurring the penalty of a breach of oath. Perhaps the reason why they did not take the trouble to make an agreement is that the idea of half-elves, whom they consider as a lower species, not following them never occurred to them in the first place.


    They seem to look down on the half-elves to no end.


    "Secondly. Why does Noblewood want us in the first place?��And when they went to the trouble of specifying "travelers with high elves," I interpreted that to mean that Eltina was being targeted. ......Why high elves?"


    "Unknown. My eyes can only tell you that he is not an ordinary man.


    No, it''s not.


    Eltina is neither an elf nor a high elf.


    She is an Ancient Elf, one of the highest of the Elven species.


    But that would not be understood if I told you that here.


    The problem is that the Noblewoods target the higher species of elves.


    And they are considered a higher priority target than the half-elves of Rattestwood.


    "...... are no ordinary elves, that''s for sure. But the targeting of Eltina is puzzling. Was it the other day ...... Sarawin?��If it was because of the trouble with that thing, they would have named me, a human, and Levee, who tried to kill him."


    It seems more natural to designate Helian, a human being who is an object of scorn for the elves, as the representative of the group of travelers. It was Herian who had been at the forefront of the conversation as a negotiator in yesterday''s dispute.


    "But from the wording of the request, it sounds like Ertina is the target, and me and Levee are just a bonus. Why would Noblewood target Eltina?"


    "I really don''t know either. In the first place, it seems that they consider the half-elves themselves to be the enemy, as they have said in the beginning of this war.


    "As you can see from her ears, Eltina is not half-elf."


    "Yes, sir. Perhaps they assumed that she was a high elf because of the fact that she had more magic power than they (elves) or had mastered higher magic. ...... I have no idea why they would go after Lady Eltina, who is not a half-elf."


    I''m not lying.


    It is not only Helian who is perplexed, but Leifa as well.


    At least it seemed so to Helian.


    "-Then there is a third thing. I want you to answer me with all your heart."


    "Yes."


    "You asked us to take back your prisoners.


    But what do we have to gain by complying with your request?"


    As soon as he asked the question, Wenli gave him a leering look.


    But I could not be intimidated. Helian felt a strong pressure in the pit of his stomach.


    --Helian is the king of Alkimaira.


    He is the king of Alkimaila.


    We must be ruthless.


    We cannot let the will of Herian, the individual who feels sorry for her and wants to help her, get in the way of our country.


    It is an unbecoming action for a king.


    The reason is that his subordinates might think that he is not the right person to act on his own personal will.


    That is why we cannot pick up chestnuts from the fire without getting something in return. Even if we wanted to help them, we can''t.


    --But if there is a quid pro quo, it is a different story.


    If we as a nation have a good reason to help them, then Hellian can move.


    I mean it when I say I want you to answer me with all your heart.


    I could not say what I really meant if Lieve and the others were watching me, but I meant what I said with all my heart.


    I don''t know if there is anything we can offer to the Latestwood, which is on the verge of defeat and has no supplies. In fact, judging from the earlier exchange between Leifa and Wenli, there is a strong possibility that they have nothing to offer in return.


    Furthermore, we do not have a clear picture of Noblewood''s strength.


    From the conversation just now, I could guess that Alkimaira would be superior in terms of individual combat ability, but the total strength of the enemy forces is still unknown. We do not know if we will be able to grasp the enemy''s strength by the evening, nor do we know if we will be able to raise a force that exceeds the enemy''s strength.


    It would not be a wise choice to lend a hand when there is no guarantee of victory.


    But even so, if they can come up with something that we don''t have, something that we can offer, and if they can use that as a reason to act as a national "Alkimaira," then Helian would like to help them.


    This was the kind of question that held out a gleam of hope.


    Because Helian has not forgotten the finger-cutting we exchanged that day.


    The promise he made to the girl who was trying her best to save the people with all her might and with all her heart.


    I remember those slender little fingers.


    She said, "Please...


    As if praying to God, Helian waited for Leifa''s words.


    "----"


    Leifa turned her head slightly.


    After a moment too short to be called hesitation.


    She looked up and looked Helian straight in the eyes.


    Then Leifa spun an answer.


    I will give myself to you as payment.


    What came back was the worst thing I ever heard.


    From the beginning, he had a look of determination on his face.


    "Half-elves were born as a result of the war between the Noblewoods and the human race. And among them are the children of the Queen of the Noblewoods who were captured by humans. That was the first half-elf three generations ago, ...... my great-grandmother."


    --In other words, I am a descendant of the .


    Leifa spoke.


    "In Noblewood, the only direct descendant of his (or her) queen is the present king. Therefore, the Queen''s blood is rare and precious. And since I am a virgin, the added value is even greater. If I were to sell it to a slaver, I am sure it would fetch a considerable amount of money."


    As an example, a half-elf traded in the land of humans last year was worth 520 gold coins," he said.


    Leifa speaks plainly of the facts and spells out the terms of the contract.


    "Even though it is a small country, if I am royalty and have the blood of the Queen of Noblewood, I should be worth at least ten times that amount. Depending on the negotiations, I may be able to get even double that amount.


    Also, anything I can do for you until the sale is completed, please let me know. If you accept my offer, I will give you my full authority from that moment on. I will respond to any request you may have. That is the price I will pay.


    In a matter-of-fact tone of voice, the Queen of RATESTWOOD finished explaining the material of the transaction.


    She converted the value of the commodity, Leifa-Rim-Lattestwood, into money.


    She even offered a blank card.


    ...... makes me want to vomit.


    "...... is ridiculous. If this deal goes through, what happens to RATESTWOOD afterwards?��You are the supreme leader of this country. What do you think of the country after you lose it?"


    "Rilifa will rule."


    The answer was immediate.


    He would let the recaptured Rilifa take the leadership of Lattestwood and ...... the throne of Queen.


    "Rilifa, like me, has the blood of her father and mother in her veins. Then, if the need arises, she will fulfill her role as royalty well. She may act young now, but she does so on purpose because of me, her ...... sister. Then when I am gone, she will be a great queen and lead the country. I believe so."


    Her eyes were straight.


    It seemed as if she really believed it.


    Even Hellian could easily imagine that the recovery of the kidnapped people would not be a lifesaving measure for the country.


    Even so, Leifa Lim-Lattwood said that she believed in her sister.


    He told her so without a lie.


    "So please ...... save the people of Rattestwood."


    Say it.


    Leifua kneeled down on the spot and poked her hands and head to the ground.


    "-This is all I can do.


    In the center of the village.


    In the middle of the crowd.


    Leifa Lim-Rattestwood, Queen of Rattestwood, crawled to Helian, a traveler, and pleaded with him.


    I have no other choice. There is nothing more we can do. I have no other choice but to rely on you.


    They were words of repentance.


    Her voice sounded like she was confessing her sins.


    The words he spun were filled with a contrition that he could not hide, and I understood without any choice that he was telling the truth without any falsehood.


    ......Yes, I knew.


    I knew that I had already known such a thing.


    The truth is that even Helian has known this for some time.


    They should have realized long ago that RATESTWOOD was already "finished (??????????) as a country.


    It is no longer a nation.


    Even Wenli, who is considered to be his close associate, has been driven to the point of acting on his emotions. As Leifua said, Wenli was not in his right mind at that time. They seem to have recovered somewhat now, but their spirits are so worn out that they could have committed such a heinous act with a single trigger.


    In the first place, even though she possesses rare magic, and even though there is a royal family to rescue her, the country is already almost finished when the queen herself is forced to go to the rescue of her fellow prisoners. Desperate is not even the right word.


    It was probably positioned as a last resort.


    Having lost most of its military forces in a surprise attack without a declaration of war, and exhausted by three weeks of raids, it was all that was left for RATESTWOOD to do.


    They took a last ditch gamble and ...... as expected, it failed.


    As a result, Raefa-Rim-Rattestwood, Queen of Rattestwood, was forced to flee through the forest alone, unaccompanied, and nearly captured by the Noblewood elves.


    Normally, the country would have ended at that point.


    Since that was the last resort, everything should have ended there.


    --But then a third force appeared that no one had expected.


    A force that is not affiliated with Noblewood or any other force, possesses a fighting power superior to the chief hunter of Noblewood, and has no prejudice against half-elves, the Helians appeared.


    I wonder what Leifa''s feelings were at that time.


    I wonder how she must have felt when she found someone who might be able to stop the destruction of her country in the midst of failed rescue attempts, inability to save her parents, and her own fate about to run out.


    Helian cannot imagine.


    No, it is not something that a know-it-all would be allowed to imagine.


    But he understood why she had been so friendly to him.


    I also understood why she was suspicious of the identity of Helian and his group, but did not pursue it at all.


    No problem.


    Who the Hellians were had nothing to do with her.


    It just didn''t (????????) matter.


    At the time when Leifa met the Hellians, the only way to save the Ratestwood was to ask for help from some mysterious traveling party.


    That was all there was to it.


    But...


    "What ...... are you doing!��Raise your head, Mister Leifer!��You''re the one who shouldn''t have done that!"


    "I can''t. Not until you give me a good answer.


    The queen (Leifa) remained prostrate and motionless.


    She bows her head and clings to a traveler, exposing her pathetic appearance to the public.


    This was something a king should never do.


    A man who stands at the top of his people should never, under any circumstances, be seen to bow down to others and flatter them.


    A king is not all-powerful.


    Without the will of the people, there is no way to run a country.


    That is why it is necessary.


    Power is a trivial thing.


    Authority is a shamanistic thing.


    It is essential for a man to be a leader.


    The history of the earth proves it, and it is a simple fact that is written in Japanese textbooks in disgusting detail.


    But Leifua has dared to show his face in front of the people.


    He explained the current situation in the middle of the village in a voice as if he was telling it to everyone, and then rubbed his head against the ground against the strangers, so that all the people could see him.


    Needless to say, at this point, Leifa-Rim-Rattestwood''s centripetal force as a queen has probably fallen to the ground.


    It is only natural that she declared her defeat because she could not do anything by herself.


    But she is not a queen who does not understand that.


    And yet she dared to commit such an outrage for one reason only.


    --To save her people.


    To let the Helians save the people of her country.


    To put in their heads that there is really no other way left.


    And the fact is, the Helians got it right.


    He now understands the meaning of this action of Leifa.


    It is a plea that ,


    And it is an explanation of the fact that ,


    And then there is the threat that all the people here will die if they are abandoned,


    All of which proves the undeniable truth.


    Even if it is in the name of others.


    Even if it takes advantage of a third party''s good intentions.


    Even if it uses the people as a source of blackmail.


    But we will save our country and our people.


    To save the people, they will stop at nothing.


    That was the way of Leifa-Rim-Lattwood.


    Bowing down to a mere traveler was her last task as Queen of the Lattestwoods.


    "............My guest......No, my dear Helian. I apologize for my past rudeness. Please forgive me."


    Wenli, who had remained silent, kneeled down on the spot and opened his mouth, which had been tightly closed.


    "I offer myself on behalf of Leifa-sama. Please accept the deal with me..."


    "No, Wenli."


    Leifer, who kept his head on the ground, interrupted him.


    "You must be Lillipha''s guardian. She cannot lead Lattestwood alone. I need you."


    "Therefore, if you will stay in this country instead of me, Miss Leifa, ......!"


    "The standard unit price for a half-elf adult female is around 500 gold coins. Are you asking the Herrians to risk their lives for such a small amount of gold?��Do you think it is possible to convince them of that?"


    "......Leifa-sama ......!"


    "I am glad you feel that way. But this is my job. It is the last thing I can do. Please don''t interfere."


    At these words, Wenli finally lost her patience, her beautiful face contorted into a crumpled mess and tears streamed down her face.


    Wenli also put her hands on the ground and bowed her head.


    In fact, the people who had been watching the event also began to bow their heads one by one.


    They all pleaded with Helian, the man with the hated elf, with their faces down.


    --Sell her, they said.


    Sell her to the slavers.


    Sell her and get enough money to put your life on the line.


    The people are all bowing down to the queen and asking her to spare the kidnapped. They are kneeling to the ground and telling her so, throwing away their pride and everything else.


    How many conflicts must have existed there?


    I wonder what it must have been like for them to offer up the Lord they were supposed to protect to human beings.


    What does it feel like to plead with others to save a people whom one cannot protect by one''s own hands?


    Helian does not know.


    Nor does he want to know.


    The only thing he does know is this.


    If we abandon them now, their fate will end here.


    "----"


    What the hell is this?


    What the hell is this?


    It''s disgusting.


    I feel nauseous.


    My brain refuses to comprehend.


    It was a reckless thing to ask me to accept this situation.


    I don''t want to accept this ridiculous situation in which the fate of all the people in this place is entrusted to me, a person who has not lived for twenty years.


    "--------,"


    Helian is the king of Alkimaira.


    He is in a position to give orders to the people of Alkymyra and he is responsible for all the consequences of his orders.


    He cannot make rash decisions.


    It is foolish to lend a hand to a force that is on the verge of extinction.


    The value of what you offer is out of proportion to the value of what you are offered.


    And to get involved in the troubles of other nations when you are not even sure of your own position is the height of folly.


    You are not qualified to offer a helping hand in the first place.


    Do you think you are so noble that you can save others?


    You cannot even answer your own question.


    You don''t have the courage to answer.


    I''m not a strong man.


    Too weak in body and soul.


    Not a man of honor.


    On the contrary, I''m small.


    No self-confidence.


    A small coward.


    Not fit for a king.


    --But still...


    But still, I will not fall into the outcasts.


    I will not live that way.


    If I abandon them now I''ll regret that choice for the rest of my life.


    Because my finger remembers the promise of that day...


    --That''s why.


    Liewe, Ertina, Camilla.


    "Ha."


    "I, Helian Edda Elsinorek, ask you..."


    The Lord''s words sounded as if he was under pressure.


    All three fell to their knees.


    "Queen Latestwood, Reifa-Rim-Latestwood has sent a request for help to our country. His (her) country is a multiethnic nation where many races coexist, and from the history of its foundation, it has a founding principle of mutual support, a noble spirit of helping the weak, and an unyielding national character that will not give up until the very last moment. These are things that have much in common with the ideology of our country.


    I have personally confirmed that the representatives of his country have promised to compensate us for our relief efforts, and that they have shown sufficient civility.


    Then, even if the value of the forces that we provide is not commensurate with the price that his country is willing to pay, I believe that we need to have good relations with his country when we look to the future from a medium- to long-term strategic point of view. Answer me if you disagree with this consideration.


    To the words of the great King, the three servants shall answer in silence.


    "-- Very well. Then I command you.


    Reeve will return with me and prepare to receive the RATESTWOOD delegation.


    Ertina will be in charge of guiding and escorting the delegation to our country.


    Camilla, you are to gather as much information as possible and analyze the capabilities of the hypothetical enemy (Noblewood).


    There is not a minute or a second to waste. All of you must move quickly.


    """"Ha--!"""


    With the answer coming back in chorus, Helian-Edda Elsinorek took a step toward Leifa-Lim-Lattestwood, who was still hanging her head.


    "Lift up your face. RATESTWOOD IS QUEEN, REIFA LIMU RATESTWOOD.


    The queen looked up calmly, her voice filled with a strong will.


    Her forehead was stained with dirt, and her face showed confusion, as if she could not understand the meaning of what Hellian had said to her men.


    Without a care in the world, Helian told them.


    The deal is done. You must understand that we have lied about our identities. Our country has been in a bit of trouble and we had to be cautious. Forgive me."


    And I will tell you my name.


    "Once again I tell thee my name.


    I am Helian Edda Elsinorek, King of Alkimaira, the Land of All Evil.


    The Queen of Rattlestwood looked on in astonishment, her confusion replaced by bewilderment.


    "I welcome you with open arms. From this moment on, the people of your country (RATESTWOOD) are my countrymen.


    --Welcome to the otherworldly nation of Alkimaira.

 24 - CHAPTER XXIV "The Kings Speech (Previous Part)"

    On that day, the demons living in Alkimaira were in high spirits.


    It was announced that the king would make a speech in person.


    "Hey. Did you hear about that?


    Yes, of course. Our king is going to make a speech, isn''t he?


    "Oh, yes. The square in front of the castle is already packed with people. Are you sure you''re not just going to sit here?


    "I''m farsighted. I''m going to go up on the roof and listen. Are you sure you want to do that?


    "I''m a Titan. I''m a Titan. When the time comes, you''ll be able to break free of your human form and revert back to your original form. No matter how big the guy standing in front of you is... he can''t be any bigger than the Titans. There''s nothing blocking my view in my original form.


    "...... how many meters are you?"


    Thirty.


    "You definitely don''t want to do that. The Second Corps will see you. Don''t do anything that might cause a disturbance. If you interfere with the speech, the commander of the 2nd Corps will cut you down.


    Conversations like this are going on all over the place.


    Since the announcement of the speech, the line of people heading to the main square in front of the castle has never stopped.


    It has been about a day and a half since the unprecedented event of the entire capital being relocated.


    The demons living in Archimyra were more or less shocked.


    The fact that only the capital city had been moved to another location meant that all the other satellite cities and regional cities had been lost. The country has also lost its territories, and distribution with the outside world has come to a complete standstill.


    Naturally, the various industries have been hit hard.


    The primary industry is almost completely destroyed.


    Secondary industries are partially paralyzed.


    The tertiary industry is somehow functioning, but it is doubtful how long it will continue to function from a medium- to long-term perspective.


    The government treasury is open, so life is guaranteed for the time being.


    The government has given its endorsement that there will be no problem for the next one year.


    But what will happen after that?


    Many of the more hard-headed members of the tribe were optimistic, but the more astute and intelligent of the high-ranking demons were aware of the critical situation that the country was in.


    "Well, it''s true, everyone is giving off a tense atmosphere, isn''t it? In fact, I heard that there were more skirmishes than ever before.


    "Did you hear the guards complaining?"


    "Speak nonsense. The guards of the 2nd Corps are only hired for hard-nosed guys, so you won''t hear any complaints about their work. It''s just a rumor.


    "Rumor of the wind. ....... Well, it''s true, there''s a lot that can accumulate in a situation that can''t be managed by violence."


    Yes, that was the problem.


    Demons are basically followers of power.


    The demons of Alkimaira have a disposition to respect even the weakest, but they are still essentially oriented toward seeking solutions through force.


    Therefore, if this were a problem that could be solved by wielding power, the people would not be stressed.


    <. Waiting was a period of preparation for the fight, and it was not stressful at all, but rather gave them a pleasant feeling of elation.


    But this time is too different.


    It is not something that can be solved by exerting our strength.


    If the focus of the problem is , it would be the area of expertise of the Fourth Corps, which specializes in magic, or the Sixth Corps, which is trained in witchcraft, but these specialists have not been able to produce satisfactory results.


    If this is a problem such as a lack of magical power, I would be willing to rush to the Fourth Legion and others and forcibly provide them with all the magical power I can muster, but there is nothing I can do if I can''t even see a clue to solving the problem to begin with.


    Naturally, there is no way to solve the problem by force of arms or physical ability.


    Moreover, as a country, we are obliged to behave cautiously, and we cannot vent our anger and resentment by going on a rampage outside of the country.


    This time was slowly but surely causing stress to the people and the military.


    Then came the announcement that the King was to give a speech.


    The whole nation jumped at the announcement.


    All the demons, except for the garrison that is protecting the city from the outside enemies, are already gathering in the square in front of the castle.


    The plaza in front of the castle does not have the capacity to accommodate all of the more than 100,000 demons, and although screens have been set up throughout the capital to deliver images from remote locations, it seems that everyone had the same desire to see the king in person.


    Those who were not able to get a good view of the king were stationed on the roofs of nearby buildings, or they used or , or some of the winged races floated in the air, waiting for the king to appear.


    Looking around from the balcony of the castle, it seemed that wherever one looked, it was filled with the shapes of demons.


    The scene could be described as a gathering of many demons.


    "But, well, we don''t mean to say so ourselves, but it''s a spectacular sight when you look at it like this..."


    "Indeed. Normally, there is no such a gathering of forces in the capital."


    "Nowadays, the only time we see the heads of the eight major military corps in one place is when we celebrate the founding of the nation. Look, there''s the Commander of the First Corps.


    "...... true. It is rare to see the Commander of the First Army away from the side of our king."


    A high platform standing in the center of the square.


    Surrounding it, the first through the eighth legions are arranged in a circle.


    The citizens seem to fill in the gaps between them.


    The heads of the eight legions also appeared under each legion.


    It was a rare sight to see the Commander of the First Army (Liewe), a close aide of the King, away from the King''s side, and those who were nearby were looking at him with a reserved gaze.


    The bustle of the crowd gradually dies down.


    The announced time ...... for the king of Alkimaira to make his appearance is approaching. He stops speaking without a word, and the great square where over 100,000 people have gathered is enveloped in silence.


    --And the time has come.


    A ray of light reaches out from the balcony of the castle to the plaza.


    As soon as the light connected to the center of the square - the cylindrical lectern - it crystallized and became a path.


    A man emerges from the balcony.


    Wearing a cloak with the country''s emblem engraved on it, the figure walks with ease.


    There is no mistaking him.


    He is the one whom the people have been waiting for, the leader of all demons.


    Alkimaira is the king, Helian Edda Elsinorek.


    Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!


    A voice like a rumbling of the earth fills the plaza.


    The people greeted the king''s appearance with cheers.


    Step by step, the king took his first steps.


    With each step, the crystalline passageway extending from the castle transformed once again into light and danced into the heavens.


    The king''s steps are graceful and solemn as he steps forward with the dissipating phosphorescent light at his back.


    The king steps forward with ease as the people of Archimyra look on.


    As soon as he reached the platform, the crystalline passage disappeared completely.


    The people trembled in silence at the sight of the long-awaited king.


    "Gentlemen, thank you for coming!


    As soon as Helian spoke these words, the hustle and bustle that had just broken out seemed to have died down.


    The people watched with bated breath, not wanting to miss the king''s words.


    One hundred and fifty years...... have passed since Alkimaira was founded. Looking back, it seems but a moment, but it has been an intense time with you all.


    Wang looked up to the heavens.


    It was a gesture as if he was thinking back on something.


    The first steps were taken with three demons. A little werewolf, a lesser warcat, and an elf. And an old wooden house. That was all I had. Three demons were all that the man Helian had, and a cheap wooden house that could easily be broken was his only base in Alkimaira.


    The First Corps leader, Liewe.


    Balan, the second corps leader.


    The Third Commander, Ertina...


    The three bodies of the Beginning listen attentively.


    "We have no weapons, and our tools are not good enough. All we can rely on is the bare physical strength of the three demons. Even hunting a single stray goblin was nerve-wracking. We managed to win the battle by taking the three goblins by surprise and attacking them all at the same time. A knife with a badly damaged blade obtained from a defeated goblin was the first weapon Alkimaira acquired.


    A lion-headed man in full armor holds a dagger at his waist.


    There was a dull blade, once cast and reforged by the swordsmiths of Alkimaira.


    "I spend day after day in battle. And so, little by little, he gained friends and trained them. Meanwhile, they began to build living quarters. We spent our days huddled together in a small room in an old wooden hut, but finally we were able to give the ''first three'' a small home."


    The dilapidated wooden house was later reconstructed and turned into a tavern.


    It was the first entertainment center built in Alkimaira.


    It has been more than a hundred years since it was rebuilt.


    Then came the time of war. Everyone was desperate to survive. The days of war continued."


    But Alkimaira survived.


    Sometimes defeated, sometimes victorious, they survived the harsh times of the war by fighting with the neighboring countries.


    The demons, who were weak at first, became powerful through repeated battles, and established a fighting organization of the First, Second, and Third Legions.


    The leaders of each corps were appointed as the "three bodies of the beginning".


    "Then one day, there was a country that made a raid on our country''s resources. We successfully repelled their invasion and made peace through desperate negotiations, but the damage caused by the war was enormous. Archimyra''s military strength at that time was poor, and even the few military forces it had lost most of their strength in the previous defensive battles. A rapid military expansion was called for."


    The Fourth Legion was created.


    This corps specialized in the field of magic.


    However, its military strength was still inferior to that of other countries.


    The Fifth Legion was created.


    It is a heavily-armed corps composed of giants and demons.


    At last, they had enough strength to compete with the neighboring countries.


    "However, our country, which had been expanding its military, had not laid the foundation for further development. We had no choice but to put our domestic affairs second, and our technological and economic power was outstripped by other countries, and we saw a future in which we would be swallowed up by them.


    Therefore, I decided to invade the neighboring country, which was a major domestic ...... power, in order to save Alkymyra from the path of destruction. Fortunately, the invasion was swiftly accomplished, and as a result, a king left the world, and the remaining high technology and people became part of our country."


    For Helians, it is a bitter memory.


    It was the only war of aggression launched by the Alkymiras.


    From then on, the Alkymaira was committed to a defensive posture, but once it was called upon to fight, it was destroyed and annexed without mercy.


    "There was a time when a wave of calamity swept over the land. The world was about to be destroyed by a being known as the "God of Mischief. Forgetting the grudges of the past, nation and nation joined hands to resist and repel it. However, all countries suffered tremendous damage, and war was no longer an option.


    The era of the Cold War had arrived. On the surface, it was a calm period, but behind the scenes sabotage and espionage activities became more active."


    The Sixth Corps was created.


    This corps specialized in sabotage and information warfare.


    Thanks to their efforts, the corps survived the increasingly fierce underwater battles.


    "The war continued. The major powers fought each other, involving neighboring countries. This period was later called the Second War. After a long period of warfare, the powers were reduced in number. The era of the three great powers had arrived. Japan, as one of the three powers, fought over the other powers.


    The Seventh Army was created.


    They were entrusted with the management of the heritage of the excavated ancient civilizations and further technological innovations based on them. They achieved more than expected, and the national and military power increased dramatically.


    The 8th Legion was created.


    It is a corps composed mainly of dragon species.


    With their tremendous fighting power, they became Alkimaira''s trump card and achieved great results in the battlefields that followed.


    "And then the god of disaster appeared again. And once again, the God of Mischief appeared, this time far more powerful than before. The great powers and small and medium nations mobilize all their forces and successfully resist and repel it. However, each nation suffered considerable damage.


    However, one of the major powers had preserved its strength and suffered only minor damage.


    They were reluctant to put forth their forces in order to gain world supremacy after the God of Mischief had been defeated.


    "A great nation tried to bare its fangs against us, weakened by the God of Mischief, but it was regarded as an "enemy of the world" that stood by and watched the world in peril.


    No matter how powerful a superpower it may be, there is no way it can win against the enemy of the whole world. That country easily perished by turning every country except itself against ...... literally the world itself. The number of countries that can be called superpowers has been reduced to two.


    After meeting with the king of the other great power, it was decided that a decisive battle would be fought for the supremacy of the world. Having decided on a time, a place, and trained all the forces it could muster, Alkymaila threw literally all of its strength into the duel.


    A great battle was fought for the supremacy of the world. The battle was fierce. It was the largest battle ever fought, and the toughest battle ever fought. But with some luck, we won the battle. And we have earned the title of world champions. Alkimaila became the one and only superpower, and the golden age had arrived."


    Then came a period of temporary peace.


    Whenever the god of calamity appeared, they protected the world by acting as shields for small and medium-sized nations.


    Whenever a new nation was born in the neighborhood, they watched over it without interfering with its development.


    When small and medium-sized nations formed alliances and launched wars against each other, we stood up for them.


    They never attacked on their own, but only met the challenge of war as champions.


    Thirty years have passed since then.


    And now... our country is entering an age of the unknown.


    Helian, the king of Alkimaira, once broke off his speech.


    "As you all know, our country was forced to move its entire capital. Moreover, the transfer was limited to the castle and the castle town, and the facilities across the street were not transferred.


    According to the subsequent investigation, the land where we are standing now is a different continent from the original location of Alkimaira. On the contrary, there is a strong possibility that we have been transported to a world different from the one we were in - a different world."


    The people, who had been quiet, let out an unbearable murmur.


    "Cities other than the capital city don''t seem to have been transferred, and we can''t get in touch with them. Naturally, the same is true for the troops who have been staying in the satellite cities. In other words, we are completely alone and helpless.


    The only forces we have are those presently in the capital. You who are gathered here now, including those who live in the capital, are the entire population of Alkymyra, and the total strength of our army. Compared to the number before the transfer, it is less than a hundredth of that number.


    The murmurs grow louder.


    Some of the more discerning and intelligent among us, who had been expecting this to some extent, did not sound upset, but they raised their eyebrows in a serious manner.


    "We don''t even have a way to return to our original location. We are investigating from a magical and spell-casting point of view, but we haven''t even found a clue to a solution. We are forced to adopt a long-term strategy. On the other hand, the capital city has only enough food for one year. After that time, the government will not be able to feed everyone here.


    And that''s not all. According to the information we have obtained through our contact with the half-elven nation of Rattestwood, the land to which we have been relocated is considered a forbidden land, a dangerous area where powerful demons roam.


    Furthermore, the entire forest surrounding our country is under the influence of an illusionary effect, and any investigation magic at a short distance, or even at a long distance, is blocked. Therefore, we cannot even grasp the surrounding terrain. The country has been forced into a situation where it is as if it were blindfolded."


    The king describes the current state of the country in an eloquent and flowing speech without concealment.


    Then, the king, who had caught all the people''s clinging eyes, put on a somber expression and said, "I am not a good person, but I am a good person,


    "It''s ---- hopeless."


    He said so.


    "We were forcibly transferred to the danger zone, and we were forced into a state of isolation and helplessness.


    The cause of the shift is not yet known, nor is there any hope for a solution.


    All industries are malfunctioning, and the stockpiles of food will run out after one year.


    Furthermore, the country has lost most of its land, population, and military power. Our overall national strength is probably less than one-hundredth of what it was before the transition.


    The people could not even raise their voices at the king''s words.


    Although they had known it for some time, they could not help but be shocked by the reality of the words coming directly from the king''s mouth.


    Many of the people, confronted with the reality of the critical situation, could do nothing but stand dumbfounded.


    "There is nothing we can do.


    We can''t even resist.


    This country ...... alkimaira is finished."


    When the words were finally released, the people turned their heads.


    Some even shook their shoulders.


    It was an unbecoming behavior for the people of Alkymyra, the world''s dominant power.


    But no one could blame them.


    Everyone was shocked by the king''s words.


    A somber silence fills the square.


    To the people, the king asked


    "- Does anyone think so?"

 25 - The 25th Speech by Wang Nao (Posted Editor)

    "--And who thinks that way?"


    At the king''s question, the people looked up as if they had been shot.


    Most of them looked more or less taken by surprise.


    "Where is the need to think that way?"


    The question again.


    The people, who had no words to answer, involuntarily looked at each other and at those standing beside them.


    Alkimaira is a nation of many tribes. At the same time, it is also a world leader that has overcome many challenges through the combined efforts of all its people. There is not a single ordeal that our nation has not overcome. War, natural disasters, divine ordeals, and calamities ...... have all been overcome by our own strength."


    History proves it.


    The fact that the Alkimaira is still here today is the best proof of this.


    "Forcibly transferred to the danger zone, we were left alone and helpless.


    --So what?��There is an elite force of eight legions here. We have enough strength left to fight.


    We do not know the cause of the displacement, nor do we have any hope of resolving it.


    --If this is the case, we should continue our investigation and find a solution. Alkimaira''s investigative abilities, which transcend the boundaries of the military, are not for nothing. We will return one day.


    The industry is crippled and the stockpile of food will run out after a year.


    --If that is the case, why don''t we just settle the land and produce food? The surrounding area is full of nature and prey. It may be a bit dangerous, but there is no reason why we can''t open it up with our strength.


    Our overall national strength is probably not even a hundredth of what it was before the transition.


    --What does it matter? It''s only a hundredth of one percent. What is the use of despairing over such a loss of power? Alkimaila was on the verge of destruction during the crisis of the uprisings, and yet here we are today."


    Therefore, there is no reason to give up.


    There is no reason to despair.


    The king said so in his own words.


    "Our country is in the midst of an unprecedented crisis.


    Our country is in the midst of an unprecedented crisis.


    It is an extremely critical situation.


    But is this an insurmountable obstacle?


    Does this mean our downfall?


    Is this where Alkimaira ends?"


    This time we have an answer.


    But the people did not want to interrupt the king''s words with their own voices.


    So they cried out in their hearts.


    No," they shouted.


    "Yes, no.


    Yes, no.


    That''s not going to happen. ......!


    This is not the place to end up!


    The words are strong.


    The people clench their fists as the king speaks for the people.


    Something in their hearts welled up.


    "It is indeed a crisis of unprecedented scale. I admit it. But so what?��We have overcome many hardships of this magnitude. What is the reason why we cannot overcome it only this time?��There is no such logic!��I don''t think so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"


    The king''s cry, like a slap in the face.


    Powerful words.


    They come out with the force of an affirmation.


    "The steep and far-reaching path that lies before us is not insurmountable.


    When you think of the rough, roadless paths we have taken in the early days, what can we expect from obstacles of this magnitude!


    Yes, it is.


    The people remember that it was indeed so.


    Alkimaila had paved the way for those who had gone before her, by herself.


    "Of course, I cannot do it alone. Because I am weak. I am the weakest. Not only do I not know how to fight, but I cannot even hold a sword with my arms as thin as chicken bones. In fact, even a goblin baby would defeat me. But why am I standing here now?��How is it that I, the weakest of the weak, have made it this far as king of Alkimaira?"


    I don''t need to ask," he said between words.


    The king looked at his audience with open arms as if welcoming someone,


    "--because of you."


    He addressed the people.


    "You who are strong have kept me going.


    I am weak, but you have recognized me as your king and followed me.


    Because all of you have been willing to join hands and work together.


    Therefore, in this time of crisis, we have only one thing to do...!"


    The king raised his right hand high in the air for all to see,


    "Fight!"


    He slammed his clenched fist down on the lectern.


    The sound of the blow echoed through the silent square.


    "We will fight hand to hand!��We must confront this crisis!��Only by doing so can we overcome this crisis. You who are strong can do it. Alkimaira can do it!


    Oh, my God, I can''t take it anymore.


    That''s what everyone thought.


    Hot sighs escaped from the corners of their mouths.


    The body is hot as if in a fever.


    The fire deep in my chest swells explosively.


    The urge that rises to my throat knows no bounds.


    The fever that seeks a place to go is raging through my body, threatening to overflow even now.


    "Therefore, people!


    O proud people of Alkimaira!


    If you will shake off resignation and despair and fight this crisis!


    If you wish to follow me, a weak king, and face this crisis!


    --Now, answer me with a roar!


    And the heat in my body exploded at the words of the King of All Evil.


    All the demons present, regardless of race or s*x, inorganic or organic, screamed with their souls, filled with an overflowing sense of righteousness.


    Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!


    The roar that resembled an angry roar.


    All kinds of screams fill the capital.


    The roars turned into gunfire and reached the outer walls, and the wards that covered the capital trembled as if thunder had struck them.


    The king, standing on the platform, watches the scene for a while, and when the time is right, he holds out his right hand.


    With that single gesture, the people of Manyara shut their mouths in silence.


    Silence reigns around them as the heat sears their bodies.


    "I understand your feelings well.


    The king nodded solemnly.


    The gazes of all the demons gathered there shot out at the king, not wanting to miss his every move.


    "......I have discovered a land in the northeastern part of this forest. The name of the land is LATESTWOOD. It is a nation of many races, founded mainly by half-elves. We have conducted a survey and found that many of their principles are similar to those of our country. It is a good country that will be a good neighbor.


    And now, a request for help has been sent to our country from LATESTWOOD. He said that a certain country named "Noblewood" is trying to destroy his country. Noblewood is an elven supremacist nation that persecutes humans and half-elves with their blood mixed in.


    Persecution.


    That is something that will never be tolerated in this country.


    It is an evil that the multiethnic nation of Alkimayra cannot tolerate.


    And yet, the persecuted include the great king and his own kind, the .


    This is unforgivable.


    We cannot allow it.


    The smoldering heat in the hearts of the people stirs, as if it has found a place to be released.


    "The invaders, the soldiers of Noblewood, have kidnapped the people of Llatestwood. And they have brazenly demanded that the Third Legion leader, who was disguised as a traveler, be given up as a condition for the return of the kidnapped people. --But I have no intention of acquiescing to their demands!


    Of course.


    Alkimaira will not yield.


    If the enemy tries to harm us by force, we will resist it by force.


    The king spoke as if he were speaking for the hearts of these demons.


    The will of the king is with us.


    When the people confirmed this fact, they felt a sense of fulfillment in their hearts.


    We will stand firm!��We stand against the tyranny of those who refuse to talk to us, who try to impose their own selfish interests on us, who behave unreasonably!��That is how we have come this far!��And those steps will continue!"


    History of Alkimaira.


    To crush the strong and help the weak,


    Peace in the world,


    A loving hand to a friendly neighbor.


    But obstacles in our way, we destroy them with our strength,


    The taste of victory is intoxicating.


    "Therefore, I have decided to recognize LATESTWOOD as my new brethren and to resist and repel the tyranny of the Noblewoods...!


    The people cheered in approval of the king''s declaration.


    Looking down at the people, the king nodded his head in exultation.


    Of course, we will try to have a dialogue with Noblewood. We are not lawless barbarians. We do not speak, and we do not act like beasts.


    However, if his country refuses to talk to us, if negotiations break down, then we will have to use force. In that case, I cannot help but feel a little uneasy about our ability to do so."


    Unaware of themselves, the people clenched their fists.


    Everyone present felt a stronger sense of .


    In recent battles, several corps have been selected from the eight corps to go into battle.


    Then I am the one.


    Then I am the one. My corps is the best suited for the first battle here.


    No, there can be no other corps than ours.


    The demons, almost scorched by the heat of excitement, were seriously thinking this.


    They knew that this fever could only be dissipated on the battlefield.


    "The strength of Noblewood is still uncertain. We have no idea of the number of the enemy, the composition of the army, the equipment, the state of the defenses, or the scale of the total force. Moreover, when war breaks out, it will be the first large-scale battle in this region. We cannot let our guard down.


    Therefore, I - Helian Eddah Elsinorek, King of Alkimaira, have decided not to entrust the battle to any one of the legions, but to entrust it to the "certain demon" whom I trust the most.


    The plaza was filled with a stir.


    The people nearby exchanged glances and asked each other, <


    When it comes to the demon whom the king trusts the most, the first demon that comes to mind is the Commander of the First Army, the king''s closest aide. However, the First Commander is a demon who excels in single combat, and there are many other demons who are better at military combat than she is.


    In fact, the First Commander had a puzzled expression on her face. It was an extremely rare expression.


    Speaking of demons that are powerful in battle as a single fighter and are skilled in military combat, the Commander of the Seventh Legion or the Commander of the Eighth Legion would fall into that category. However, the two who had attracted the eyes of the people were also unable to hide their confusion.


    If the king ordered me to go alone, I would march out without a second thought. However, they were convinced that the king, who disliked to die in vain, would never allow them to go in alone against an enemy force whose strength was not even known.


    Then who?


    The people, who did not have the answer, waited for the king''s next words.


    "I believe in this demon.


    There is no enemy he cannot destroy.


    I can say without hesitation that he is the strongest.


    It would not be an exaggeration to say that he already has faith in that monster.


    There are demons that could make our king say this much.


    This new revelation aroused an unbearable feeling of jealousy in the people.


    Moreover, from the looks of it, even the military commanders seemed to have no idea what was going on.


    In other words, it is the trump card of the nation, hidden even from the king''s inner circle.


    What kind of a monster is this?


    The people held their breath with bated breath.


    "The demon has eyes that see the world.


    It has claws that can split open any enemy.


    It has a mane that shows its power over all things.


    The demon has a tongue that spins the most powerful magic.


    The demon has arms that can shatter any wall.


    It has ears that hear the sound of the farthest lands.


    The demon has legs strong enough to support its huge frame.


    He has wings to rule the sky.


    The eight legionnaires reacted sharply to the king''s words, which sounded as if they were a proclamation.


    The eight demons, blindingly aware of what was happening, recall a certain event that took place during the audience.


    "In this emergency, the demon I trust the most is a single fusion monster (chimera) with a huge frame composed of more than ...... hundred thousand demons.


    And the king spun his words as if he were reciting an epic poem,


    "The name of this fusion monster is - ''Alkimaira''..."


    The name of the demon finally revealed, the people, with the exception of the heads of the eight major legions, momentarily lost themselves.


    As if to cut through the blank thinking, Helian, the king of all demons, speaks up.


    "I ask you, Alkimaira!


    Where are the eyes that see everything on behalf of the weak king?


    The king posed his question directly in front of the lectern.


    There was the moon wolf, who had been assigned to the king''s entourage.


    She shouted from her heart.


    The eyes of Alkimaira are here!


    The holy number given to us is one!


    The eyes that see everything on behalf of the great King!


    I locked eyes with the king.


    Tears welled up in my eyes.


    But she felt no shame.


    "Then, Alkimaira!


    Where are the claws that split the enemy on behalf of the weak king?


    A series of questions.


    In response, the sound of scabbards rushing across the plaza.


    The lion-headed knight was there.


    The claws of Alkimaira are here!


    The holy number given to us is two!


    On behalf of the king of valor, a claw to split the enemy in two!"


    He also drew a dagger from his waist and held it up to the heavens.


    Compared to the sacred sword in his opposite hand, the dagger looked shabby.


    But the lion knight proudly held up the weapon that the Lord had given him for the first time.


    "Then, Alkimaira!


    Where is your mane to show your might on behalf of the weak king?


    The king''s question followed.


    A woman caught his gaze.


    She is an elf, one of the "First Three" and the only one of the rare ones who supported the dawn of the age.


    The mane of Alkimaira is here!


    The holy number given to us is three!


    A mane of honor on behalf of a wise king!


    She folded her hands in front of her chest and closed her eyes.


    Her beautiful golden hair reached down to her waist and shone in the sunlight.


    The Elfessor prayed with a look of deep affection on her face.


    Then, Alkimaira!


    Where is the tongue that spins the magic on behalf of the weak king?


    A high question.


    A dark-skinned elf steps forward to answer.


    He is holding a grimoire with the emblem of his nation engraved on it.


    "Here is the tongue of Alkimaira!


    The holy number given to us is four!


    The tongue that spins magic on behalf of the supreme king!


    The first corps leader who was created in detail by the supreme king himself.


    She holds the grimoire she was given in her arms, burying it in her ample bosom.


    Deep in her heart, she felt a certain light.


    "Then, Alkimaira!


    Where is the arm that can break down walls on behalf of the weak king?


    The sound of heavy machinery hitting the ground answered the question.


    No, it was the sound of a large man stamping on the ground.


    He raised his arms as thick as logs and howled and raged with all his might.


    The arms of Alkimaira are here!


    The holy number given to us is five!


    On behalf of the majestic king, I am the arm that shatters walls!"


    The demons and giants that lined the ground behind them rumbled.


    Those who had weapons were held by their scapulae, and those who did not need weapons were held by their feet.


    Three blows shook the earth with the chiefs who led them.


    "Then, Alkimaira!


    Where are your ears that ask the end on behalf of the weak king?


    My dear, your question.


    A woman spread her black wings like a raven.


    She smiles a melting smile and recites in a lustrous voice.


    The ears of Alkimaira are here!


    The holy number given to us is six!


    The ears that hear the end on behalf of the beautiful king!


    I put all my feelings into words.


    Perhaps not even a hundred millionth part of my words could be conveyed, but even the frustration was endearing.


    She let out a hot breath as she stroked her lower abdomen, which was engraved with the national emblem.


    "Then, Alkimaira!


    Where are the legs that support his huge frame in place of the weak king?


    A lanky, dwarf-sized figure advanced.


    He is the head of an army of more than 100,000 demons.


    Jumping to catch a glimpse of the king, he shouts, "I am here!


    The legs of Alkimaira are here!


    The holy number given to us is seven!


    Legs that support the giant''s frame in place of the precious king!"


    The craftsmen led by him thrust up their tools in their hands.


    Those without tools held out their arms, their chests outstretched as if to say, .


    Towering before them is the crystallization of the craftsmen''s skills, a white royal castle built with their souls.


    "Then, Alkimaira!


    Where are the wings that rule the sky in place of the weak king?


    With a sound like striking the void, the great wings unfolded.


    A young man held up the dragon wings in human form.


    He was now convinced that he was in the midst of a heroic tale, and his heart was racing with excitement.


    Wings of Alkimaira, here I am!


    The holy number given to us is eight!


    Wings to rule the skies on behalf of the noble king!


    Among the many dragon tribes that stood behind him, several of them were so excited that they broke free of their human form.


    The dragon figures soared to the heavens, and their roars hit the wards of the capital city, creating a roaring sound.


    As if that were not enough, the dragon cries out, and within seconds, the azure sky is filled with the bodies of dragons.


    --And all those present understood.


    "All forces, attack!"


    The total strength of Alkimaira, all eight legions, was mobilized.


    That was the decision of the king.


    Furthermore, the king mentioned that his most trusted "fusion monsters (chimera)" consisted of more than 100,000 monsters.


    This number exceeds the total number of the current Alkimaila army, which means that even the people who do not belong to the army are included in this number.


    In other words, the members of the "fusion monsters" are not limited to military personnel.


    Every single citizen is worthy of the king''s trust.


    It is as if the King of All Evil has declared that they are worthy of his trust.


    --Then, there is not a person in Alkimaila who is not inspired by this...!


    "Then!��Ah, then, Alkimaira!


    I, the king, place my sole and absolute trust in you, the strongest and most peerless fusion magical beast (Chimera)!


    Thy will be done, the weakest of kings, Helian, commands!


    At this point, the people''s spirits were at their highest.


    They listened attentively to every word of the king''s command,


    Destroy them!


    The king''s decree was finally given, and all of us trembled.


    "If there is anyone who stands in the way of our conquest, then by all means!


    Same old, same old!


    The obstacles that stand in our way will only be destroyed by force!


    That''s right.


    As usual.


    Nothing changes.


    The people understood it not with words, but with their hearts.


    Even if the world is different, the Alkimaila must do what it must do.


    To crush the strong and help the weak,


    Peace in the world,


    A loving hand to a friendly neighbor.


    But obstacles in our way, we must destroy them with force,


    The taste of victory is intoxicating.


    Therefore...!


    "Therefore conquer!��Conquer and wield your power, Alkimaira!


    Under the command of the weakest king, save all of our new brothers and sisters with the might of the strongest warriors!


    Emotions exploded at the words.


    Everyone screamed and thrust their tightly clenched fists high into the sky.


    Monsters without fists stamped their feet violently, and those without limbs carried their souls in their cries. Their roars are so strong and fierce that they could shatter the boundaries of the capital, proudly shaking the world.


    The roar is so strong and fierce that it could shatter the boundaries of the capital city and proudly shake the world.


    --The strongest and most powerful fusion magical beast (Alchimaira) has been born in another world.


    + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +


    ......It''s been a hell of a ride.


    I was taken to the balcony of the royal castle.


    The Queen of Lattestwood, Leifa, trembled as she saw the scene from there.


    She had known from the first moment she saw her that she was not ordinary.


    Her prediction was confirmed by the fact that she had beaten back the chief hunter of Noblewood toothlessly.


    That is why he planned to bring him into the Ratestwood.


    He was friendly to them, answered their questions sincerely, and acted in a way to gain their favor. There were many suspicious things about these self-proclaimed travelers, but I did not pursue them.


    I know they are not mere travelers.


    But I don''t care who they are.


    We must have them on our side at all costs.


    I was prepared to sell my soul to the Demon King, even if he was really the Demon King, if he would save the Ratestwood.


    Because when the rescue operation of my father and mother failed ......, and when I was forced into a situation where I had to become the leader because of the surprise attack by Noblewood, it was as if the destruction of Rattestwood had been confirmed.


    In such a desperate situation, a savior suddenly appeared.


    There was no other way but to rely on their help.


    Of course, we do not believe that we can defeat Noblewood with their help alone.


    However, if they could only rescue the kidnapped people, there would be no chance at all.


    That is why I almost despaired when they suddenly left the village.


    Immediately after that, we were attacked by Noblewood, which almost broke our hearts.


    But they came to visit our village again.


    I confess that I had a lot to say.


    I wanted to act on my passion as Wenli had done.


    I wanted to take it out on them.


    I wanted to shout, "Why now?


    But I was the Queen of Latticewood now.


    I may be a small country, but I am a woman who carries a nation on her shoulders.


    That is why I killed my heart and tried to act calmly and fulfill my last task as a queen, which I could not do anything about.


    Fortunately, her efforts bore fruit, and she was able to cooperate with the travelers.


    I was hoping to save at least some of the kidnapped people.


    That''s what I thought.


    And yet - what am I looking at now?


    I thought I was being taken to the most gorgeous castle I had ever seen, and I ended up watching the whole process from the balcony of the castle.


    But I cannot believe what I see in my eyes.


    The scene in front of my eyes is too unrealistic for me to accept.


    As I gazed in disbelief, a streak of light extended from the lectern to the balcony, and a crystalline passageway was constructed once again.


    It seems to be some kind of magical phenomenon, but it is beyond our comprehension. All I could understand was that an extremely delicate and meticulous construction formula had been devised.


    A traveler - no, the King of All Evil - steps out into the crystalline passageway, and with the sun at his back, he walks toward the balcony where Layfa and the others are. In the background, as if it could be a painting, there were all kinds of demons and frenzies.


    <<<<<>>>>>


    The sound of gunfire, as if from an emotional explosion, shook the earth, not figuratively but figuratively.


    The people of Alkimaira fill the view.


    They were all demons of immeasurable power.


    Perhaps there was even a dragon among them.


    Surrounded by such powerful and matchless demons, Helyan is walking with ease.


    She could not understand how she could walk so calmly.


    Many of the followers she had brought with her had already fallen unconscious.


    Even Wenli, the only one still conscious, was slumped over on the ground, leaking warm liquid from between his legs when the demons'' gunfire hit him.


    However, she could not bring herself to laugh at that.


    In fact, her reaction seemed natural.


    It was almost a miracle that I could stay conscious like this, even though I had some tolerance for it.


    A crowd of dragons filled the azure sky.


    If even one of them were to be sent against us, the lastswood would be destroyed in an instant.


    No, on the contrary, even Noblewood would not stand a chance with just one attack from that dragon pack...


    "As you can see. RATESTWOOD IS QUEEN, REIFA-RIM RATESTWOOD!"


    As I was stunned, the King of All Evil came back to the balcony and spoke to me.


    "I swear to you that we will mobilize all our forces to save every last Latestwood citizen who has been kidnapped this time.


    I would tell you many things if I could, but we have no time. We will talk about what happens afterwards when all is said and done, is that all right?"


    It''s a hell of a mess.


    Half heartbroken at the thought, Leifer could only nod mechanically with a pallid face.

 26 - Twenty-sixth episode "Wang Nao"

    --I was honestly desperate.


    Somehow I managed to play the role of Helian, the King of All Evil, but I was only able to use 60% of the script (scenario) I had prepared in advance, and the rest of my speech had to be improvised while watching the reactions of the people.


    I managed to keep my composure, but my legs were still shaking, and I felt like patting myself on the back for being able to stay on my feet until the end. The fact that I was able to walk back to the balcony on my own feet was almost a miracle.


    But judging from the reaction of the people, I think it''s safe to say that I have earned their approval.


    At the very least, the event has fulfilled its minimum objectives, such as . If that is the case, then all is well. What we should think about now is not what has already happened, but what is in front of us.


    "Mr. Helian, we are about to enter the Noblewood''s ...... no, we are about to enter the capital city area of LATESTWOOD.


    Levee, walking beside me, whispers.


    The group was now on its way to the Noblewood stronghold - the capital of RATESTWOOD.


    Opening the , the detailed topographical information of the capital is displayed.


    This information was the result of the 4th and 7th Corps, who had passed through the Abyssal Forest, fully exercising their information-gathering abilities, and had been discovered through search magic from a long distance and reconnaissance by covert soldiers.


    Since there was only a small amount of time available for investigation, we were not able to determine the location of each and every life form in the capital, but just knowing the topographical information made a big difference.


    The survey was conducted in a more expeditious manner than in a covert manner.


    It is possible that Noblewood, or even other forces, may have detected our presence, but we had no choice. We could not face the virtual enemy "Noblewood" in front of us with our eyes blindfolded.


    One of them.


    The south gate, which Helian and his group are about to enter, is illuminated by several yellow spots.


    The light spots are Noblewood soldiers, who have been detected (searched) by the search magic in advance.


    Yellow is a color that signifies a virtual enemy or a neutral unit that is close to the enemy.


    It is not red to indicate an enemy.


    We have not yet completely determined that they are the enemy.


    "Here we go! As I explained before, no attacks unless Noblewood makes a move. No matter what they say, unless I give the order, no attacks from us are strictly forbidden. Is that clear?"


    "Ha."


    "Yes, sir."


    Liewe and Ertina reply.


    They are the only companions from Alkimaira.


    Camilla was also a traveler, but since her presence was unknown in Noblewood, she was now hiding and waiting like the rest of the legion.


    Already, all the legions except for the minimum garrison have left the Abyssal Forest.


    With a single order from Hellian, the fusion beast "Alchimaira" will instantly bare its fangs.


    "Master Leifa... Are you ready?


    "Yes ...... no problem. And please call me Leifa. Honorifics are not necessary. ......


    "...... Okay. Well, I''ll be sure to do that. Rafea."


    Inadvertently, I was called by the same name I had used when we first met.


    However, the meanings behind them are quite different.


    As a result of revealing our positions to each other, our relationship has inevitably changed.


    ......It is probably only my own selfishness that makes me feel lonely.


    "Helian. The elves of Noblewood have noticed us.


    A Noblewood soldier standing in front of the gate was about to ready his bow.


    To show that they have no hostile intentions, the Herrians stop in place and raise their hands.


    As agreed upon in advance, Leifa took a step forward and shouted.


    "Noblewood elves!��I am Leifa-Lim-Latestwood, Queen of Latestwood!��I have brought a party of travelers, as requested!"


    At Leifa''s declaration, the Noblewood soldiers closed the distance between them, wary.


    When they could see each other''s faces, they put their arrows back into the tubes on their backs.


    "......Hey, you didn''t run away, did you?"


    "It would seem so, Chief Petty Officer."


    The elf who had arrived late - the man called "Chief of the Guard" - muttered in admiration.


    The other elves had bows in their hands, but he was the only one without a bow. Instead, he carried two daggers at his waist.


    He looked like a leader, but he was different from the chief hunter. According to what I was told before the meeting, the chief elf is the leader of the front line troops who reports to the chief hunter.


    "This way. Follow me."


    The chief of soldiers cocks his chin and points in the direction of the capital.


    He was arrogant to greet a messenger, but Liewe and Eltina obeyed without a word, as ordered by the king.


    As they entered the gates of the capital, Helian saw a city that bears the scars of the war.


    There were collapsed houses and buildings crushed by collapsed trees everywhere.


    In fact, few houses were left standing.


    Among them, blackened and burnt buildings stood out.


    Leifua told us that they had been severely damaged by the fire.


    The result of the fire must be the devastation before our eyes.


    And, of course, among the burnt down buildings, there were not only the remains of the structures, but also charred lumps of coal the size of a human being lying around...


    "......��"


    I didn''t see it.


    I didn''t see anything.


    I can''t afford to be distracted right now.


    "- You were quicker than I thought you''d be. You have a very special mind."


    I looked up at the sarcastic tone in his voice and saw a known face on the hill overlooking us. It was Sarawin, the chief hunter of the Noblewood who had attacked Leifa at that time.


    "The representative of Noblewood is ...... negotiating with you, is that right?"


    After giving us a tour, the head soldier leaves the scene.


    In the distance, hundreds of elves surrounded Helian''s group, but there was no sign of them approaching.


    Apart from Sarawin, the chief hunter, who appears majestically with his attendants, there are no other elves of high rank in sight.


    "Negotiations?��What are you talking about?"


    "We are here at the request of the Queen of Lattestwood. Let it be known that we were not brought here by force, but of our own volition.


    Sarawin''s brow furrowed in annoyance.


    "So?"


    "I want to negotiate. We want to talk."


    Yes, negotiations first.


    We will have a meeting with representatives of Noblewood.


    Of course, we have no intention of handing over the property as requested.


    But that does not mean that we will use force from the start.


    If Eltina''s high magic power or some other magic is the goal, there is still a possibility that the situation can be resolved through negotiations.


    ......At the same time, as a sensible person born in Japan, I was inclined to leave the use of force as a last resort.


    "I believe that there is room for negotiation with your country."


    I thought to myself, "What the hell am I doing after making a speech like that?


    But the use of force meant a state of war.


    A single order from Hellian could decide the start of war.


    One word from me could start a war and people would die.


    My hands trembled just thinking about it.


    My feet almost stopped.


    I am tempted to go home right now and crawl under the covers and sleep.


    But every time he was about to be swallowed up by cowardice, Helian looked at his right hand.


    He looked at the pinky finger that he had promised to the girl.


    Ahead of him, Lilliput awaits.


    The girl with whom he had cut off his finger, waiting for help to come.


    A life within reach, a life that would surely be lost if Helian abandoned her.


    Then how can he abandon her?


    How could he abandon her when he could save her?


    It must be a strong person who can do that.


    It must be a person who can make a decision to save the big by cutting down the small without hesitation.


    I think that person has the qualities to be a great leader.


    But Helian can never be a leader.


    He dares to abandon them even though he can save them.


    How could he do such a terrible thing?


    "I want to know why you called us here. It seems that your country is in need of High Elves.��Is it because of your high magical power?��Or is it the ancient magic of the Lost Spell?��Depending on the situation, we may be willing to cooperate with you peacefully."


    "You humans are barking like a bunch of fools, not knowing where you stand. ...... have you nothing to say, High Elf?"


    Eltina, with the water pointed at her, stands tall and opens her mouth, despite the unkind stares of the elves.


    "I have given full authority for the negotiations to Mr. Helian, ...... the human here. Nothing in particular from me.


    "And yet you are a High Elf. We know from the other night that you have extraordinary magical powers. If anyone could control magic that even we elves do not know and yet be powerful enough to defeat me, there is no one but the High Elves, our ancestors. Why then do you follow the humans? They are a savage and inferior race.


    "I do not deny that I belong to the elven lineage, but my values and yours seem to be very different.


    "Hun ...... have you forgotten your elven pincer? Well, that''s all right. That''s more to our advantage.


    It was a word I did not want to hear.


    "Convenient?��What do you mean?"


    "This is what I mean, human. Open your filthy eyes and take a good look."


    Sarawin held his right hand up to the sky as he looked down at Helian. Screeching voices fall from the sky in response. It sounds like the wailing of a banshee.


    Quickly, he looked up and saw a black shadow.


    The shadow rapidly loses altitude and lands softly behind Sarawin, revealing itself.


    "...... dragon?"


    Its external form was that of a Western dragon.


    Its entire body was covered with scales of a color between silver and white, and it was nearly 20 meters long. However, its torso was so fleshy that its ribs stood out, giving it an eerie impression. A lizard-like head protruded from its long neck, and it bore a single thin horn.


    It has six wings.


    However, these three pairs of six wings are different from the dragon wings that Helian is familiar with, and look like butterfly wings. The thin, clear, iridescent wings were both fragile and beautiful, as if they would shatter at the touch.


    Helian knows almost all the races in Tactics Chronicle by heart, but even he had never seen this dragon species before.


    "You don''t think it''s a ''fairy dragon'' ......?"


    Leifa muttered in dismay.


    "That''s right. Though "unclean", we are of Elven blood. You knew that, didn''t you?"


    "You mean to say that you have broken the seal?


    Leifua''s voice was filled with disbelief.


    It seemed to be some kind of special dragon, but Helian and the others could not quite grasp it.


    We know that they are different from ordinary dragons. It seems to have a certain amount of power.


    But if it were simply a dragon with power, Leifa would have seen it from Alkimaira''s castle, herd by herd. In contrast, there is only one dragon, albeit an unknown one, in front of her. I don''t understand why she is upset.


    "Leifa. What is that thing?��Is it a dragon with that much power?"


    "...... That is the dragon from the epic tales of the elves."


    Leifa''s voice was trembling.


    "According to legend, it is said that the ancient gods gave this dragon to the Elves. It is said that when the world was in danger, he wielded his power as the guardian dragon of the elves. ....... But after the battle, it was supposed to be sealed in the ruins by the hands of the ancient elves. It should have been sealed ......, but it was not. ......"


    "The Noblewood has broken the seal. It took a lot of work just to break one of them free."


    "Oh no. ......"


    Leifua looks as if she is about to collapse.


    It was as if she had noticed something she did not want to notice.


    "What''s wrong, Leifa? I know you are a powerful dragon, but why are you so upset? Is it that formidable?


    "As far as the epic poem is concerned, it is the dragon that helped defeat the Demon King. ....... But that dragon has to be sealed ...... because that dragon has to be ...... sealed in order for it to be ...... active."


    "--and will need the flesh and blood of the Elves."


    Sarawin interrupted Leifa and spoke a simple fact.


    The edges of Sarawin''s cheeks rise and twist in amusement.


    "It''s called a souvenir from the underworld. I''ll make it easy for you ignorant people to understand.


    --All right... Powerful power comes at a price. Our elf-guardians are no exception. Or rather... they are the symbol of it.


    Though it boasts unparalleled power, it accepts only the flesh and blood of the elves. That is why the elves of ancient times sealed the fairy dragon.


    My heart leapt.


    Cold sweat trickles down my spine.


    "But we, Noblewood, desperately needed that power. In order to dispel the abominable past of a hundred years ago, we have turned the humiliation of our defeat at the hands of the barbaric humans into anger, and have worked single-mindedly to unseal the Fairy Dragon. ......!��And our persistence has paid off, and finally, after a hundred years, the seal has been released!"


    One hundred years in the abominable past.


    The war between humans and the Noblewoods that took place a hundred years ago.


    According to what Leifa has told me, it was in fact a draw, almost a defeat for the elves.


    "But the fairy dragons that were freed from the seal were starving badly. It was in no condition to fight at once. But we, the Noblewoods, who have mastered wisdom, will not be outdone. We will not kill those who will be the food for the fairies for this day, but we will release them to the wild.


    My heart beats fast.


    Helian dug through the records as if gripped by impatience.


    It had been about a month since Latticewood had been attacked by Noblewood.


    Noblewood was trying to capture the fleeing half-elf without killing him.


    Half-elves belong to the elven race, although they are not pure-blooded.


    And the body of the fairy dragon only accepts flesh and blood of the elf race.


    They only eat elves.


    What does that mean?


    "...... No way. The fairy dragon has been eating for the past month."


    "Yes. Half-elves."


    You finally get it now, you fool.


    Sarawin sniffed and spat.


    "We''ve had a hard time getting the fairy dragon to recover this far, you know. We couldn''t just kill the half-elves without a second thought, since they won''t eat them unless they''re alive. Moreover, the quality of half-elves varies from one individual to another. If they are rich in our noble blood, they are good food for us, but if they are too rich in human blood, they are not good food for us.


    Individuals. Quality. Food .


    Nauseating words.


    Noblewood saw the half-elves as nothing more than livestock.


    "It would be better if they were as obvious as the half-elf''s mother there," Noblewood said. But in reality, there were many things that could not be known until the half-elf was fed. This was something that even we had not calculated. When we realized that half of the people we had captured were nothing but trash, we were very angry. But ......!"


    At one point, Sarawin''s face twisted from a look of anger to one of glee.


    His bloodshot eyes caught Ertina''s.


    "Then a High Elf appeared, possessing extraordinary magical power!��According to legend, a single High Elf is enough to keep the fairy dragon active for a month!��Just when we realized that we might not be able to fully recover even if we fed all the half-elves, an extra-elven tribe with abundant magical power, and a being of a higher rank, was brought to us!��What would you call this if you didn''t call it a revelation!"


    Sarawin speaks ecstatically.


    It was as if he were telling his audience about his great achievement.


    "Moreover, the High Elves have forgotten their pride as a tribe of Elves and are now following the footsteps of humans. If it were someone who shared our ideals, we would have hesitated, but if his spirit is tainted by humans, it will not hurt us in the least. We can feed the fairy dragon with peace of mind. And its abundant magical power will become the fairy dragon''s flesh and blood.


    I''d be honored.


    The representative of Noblewood said so without hesitation.


    Oh, yes, yes. As I recall, the half-elf there came the other day to retrieve his mother, didn''t he?��As a reward for bringing the High Elves here, if you want something like this, you can have it."


    On cue, an elven soldier removes a dirty cloth from the branch of a large tree.


    A rough rope is tied around the exposed branch.


    Under the rope, there was a hanging object.


    Perhaps it was because it was a symbol of a non-pure blood elf.


    Her ample breasts had been cut off.


    A noose around her neck.


    The corpse hung from a branch.


    Powerless.


    The wind was blowing.


    Like a swing.


    Dangling.


    Like a swing.


    "........................ Mother."


    Leifua finally collapsed on the spot.


    A cold drop trickles down the too-white girl''s cheek.


    --I can''t do it anymore.


    I can''t keep silent any longer. ......!


    "Where are the half-elves that Rilifa ...... kidnapped last night!��You have sworn by the name of the tree of life!��The "traveler''s party" came here as promised!��So you will make good on your promises!��Return Lillipha and the others to Lattestwood now!"


    He shouts as if he''s going to slam it down.


    I won''t let this nonsense go on any longer.


    Our first priority is to ensure the safety of Leifa and the others. What we do about these people in front of us is beyond that.


    Negotiations can wait.


    We can''t keep them here even for a second.


    "Rilifa...... Oh, that''s the other girl. So she''s the reason you all showed up here so quietly.


    Sarawin nodded in agreement.


    In response, the elves around him grinned and gave a lowly smile.


    They seem to have misunderstood me, but I really don''t care.


    We must get the half-elves back as soon as possible and get out of here as soon as possible.


    That''s all Hellian can think of right now.


    "--but you''re a little late."


    --For a moment, I didn''t understand what was being said.


    My brain refused to think.


    "............Wait a minute, wait a minute. ...... you said it was too late. ...... What is ......?"


    As if.


    As if I hadn''t made it in time.


    As if it was already too late.


    But.


    But that''s not true.


    Because we...


    We kept our promise.


    We''ve come this far...


    Don''t worry. We''ve kept the other half-elves alive as insurance in case we don''t get the High Elves. The fairy dragons need sustenance just before they invade human lands. But until then, they will need to "hold the line". Since we cannot reduce the number, it is obvious that we have to give priority to quality.


    Therefore, I tried to see if the royalty would have the right amount of magical power,...... but even if the amount of potential magical power is not considered, the individual seems to have a strong human blood like his mother. It was not good for the fairy dragon and some of it was spit out.


    Here," said Sarawin, releasing something stick-like at random.


    The stick bounced on the ground several times and rolled down to the slumped Leifua.


    "----,"


    It wasn''t a stick.


    What looked like a stick was a thin girl''s arm.


    The shape of her hand indicated that it was her right hand.


    And the ring on her pinky finger, which Helian couldn''t help but recognize.


    "............Why?��The oath, of the divine tree, is ......?"


    He looks up at Sarawin, who releases it.


    Sarawin opens his mouth with a look of mixed pleasure and contempt.


    "The oath of the tree is absolute for the elves. Indeed it is. But it is a different story if the promise is made to a half-elf. There is no oath to be kept against such a "defilement". It is clear that our pride as noble elves will not be harmed by a breach of oath.


    Fools.


    Sarawin said unabashedly.


    "--------"


    And Helian.


    Helian chewed the words in his head.


    Over and over again.


    She thinks of the girl she made a promise to.


    She looks at the thin arm lying on the ground.


    And finally.


    I understood.


    "......Ah."


    --Bubujiri.


    There was a bad sound somewhere in my head.


    "Enough."


    Something hot spills from my eyes.


    Not tears.


    Definitely not something like that.


    It couldn''t possibly be something so beautiful, something that had fallen out of a black emotion.


    I finally understand.


    Yeah, that''s right.


    I finally understand.


    I know what the creature in front of me is.


    What you are that breaks its oaths and desecrates the dead,


    I know exactly what you mean.


    The name of the war that the elves had put forward was a lie.


    They did not even hold up their fossilized purity of blood.


    They only needed sacrifices for their vengeance device against man.


    They were just trying to use the half-elves, not willing to be sacrificed themselves.


    I was the fool.


    I thought we could negotiate.


    I thought a peaceful resolution was not impossible.


    I believed there had to be a solution other than violence.


    They did not want to start a war.


    He was afraid of becoming a murderer at this point.


    He was filled with feelings of cowardice.


    But...


    "You are not people."


    These people can''t be people.


    If they were people, they wouldn''t be able to do such atrocious things.


    They''re just animals who can speak.


    They just happen to be in human form.


    I didn''t understand that.


    I was so wrong.


    These people...


    The humanoid beast before you is ......!


    "You are vermin. Now I finally understand it: ......!


    What is the pride of the elves, what is the oath of the sacred tree!


    You have broken even that, you are not even elves anymore!


    You are nothing but a hideous monster, a vermin that will do harm to mankind!


    Yes, yes!��You are not elves, you are not even people!


    I no longer recognize you as human ----!!!!"


    With a shout, he slams his fist into the "Tactics Window" displayed on the right side of his field of view.


    The four words "Declaration of War" displayed in the window turned from white to red.


    The king''s will to kill spreads through the entire Alkimyra army in an instant.


    At the same time, a ward covered the entire city.


    It was a wide-area ward constructed by the Fourth Legion.


    It was not meant to protect anyone.


    It was a ward to prevent anyone from escaping.


    This is ......!


    The title of chief hunter was not a title he had earned.


    The other elves did not even notice the warding, but Sarawin was the only one who sensed something was wrong, and he looked up at the sky and uttered a few words of dismay.


    Then a flash of red light fell from the sky.


    As soon as the light hit the ground, it burst into flames, spreading destruction.


    The hill on which the Salawins were standing was also crushed by the explosion, leaving no trace.


    Without seeing the result, the King of All Evil gives an order in a fit of rage.


    "Cereyeyeesu!��Leave the attack to the other corps and let the Fourth Corps focus only on maintaining the closed wards!��Not a single enemy force is allowed outside!��You hear me?��Not one!��These vermin will be eradicated right here, right now--!!!!!!!"


    + + +


    The Noblewood soldiers in town were in a state of extreme confusion.


    As they desperately fled, numerous fireballs rained down from the sky above their heads.


    The number of fireballs alone was frightening enough, but they were not half as powerful.


    The fireballs, each larger than their heads, rained down one after the other, creating a storm of destruction as soon as they crashed.


    What the hell!��What the hell happened?


    No one can answer.


    Everyone was too busy trying to save their own lives.


    Whereas a few minutes ago they were enjoying the peace and tranquility, now all they can see is destruction.


    "No way, it''s the High Elves!


    Everyone knew that the leader of the half-elves had brought a party of travelers with him. Of course, the same applies to how they treat the High Elves.


    They were hesitant to sacrifice their own high race of high elves to the fairy dragon, even if they were half-elves. Moreover, when they actually saw them, they had a beautiful appearance that even the elves of Noblewood could not take their eyes off of. Some even let out a heated sigh at the sight of her beauty.


    However, if you listen to what she says from a distance, you can see that the High Elf did not have the pride of being an elf. It seems to me that they are just following the dirty human beings.


    Some of the young elves were so dazzled by her beauty that they were even willing to plead for her life if they were forced to follow the humans, but when they saw the High Elves following the humans themselves, their feelings were completely dampened. If a person is not proud of being an elf, it does not hurt him in the least to sacrifice him.


    They were ashamed of their own hearts for trying to help the High Elves - at that moment.


    A human man shouted something and a red light fell from the sky.


    "This ...... is not something you can avoid!��Each of you, deploy your barriers!"


    The Noblewood soldiers start chanting instantly and formulate magic spells to protect themselves.


    But before they could complete their magic, many of their comrades disappeared in a blaze of crimson fire. By the time they had finally managed to weave their magic and deploy the barrier, dozens more had already been killed. The Noblewood soldiers who had finished putting up the barrier shouted in unison.


    "Enemy attack!��We are under magical bombardment!"


    "We know that!��I don''t need to tell you that now!"


    Where are you?��Where is the enemy?


    What force is attacking us in the first place?��This much stuff ...... can''t be done by ten or twenty people!"


    It''s not the work of the Unsullied, is it?��No, but they can''t possibly use such advanced magic--gasp!


    Noblewood soldiers exchanging angry shouts.


    One of them lost his voice halfway through.


    A nearby soldier looks at the source of the voice to see what happened. There, he found a large hole that seemed to have been made by a fireball that had landed on him, and a piece of his comrade''s body that had been blown away.


    --The barrier had been breached.


    A chill runs down his spine as he realizes this fact.


    "Nonsense!��How is it possible to penetrate our barriers with a single offensive magic shot?


    It was contrary to their common sense.


    They are a race of elves skilled in magic. Their slender bodies were not suitable for melee combat, but in the field of magic, they were the best of the four major races on the continent.


    Furthermore, they are a member of the Noble Woods, a prosperous family. Among them, the advance team that was gathered for the attack on LATESTWOOD is an elite group, and they are all old and strong men who have experienced wars with humans. In other words, it is no exaggeration to say that the Noblewood soldiers present here are the strongest magic group.


    At least, that is what they believed.


    But as if to ridicule them, the fireballs that poured down on them penetrated the barriers like thin paper, creating a storm of destruction.


    The hellish time came to an end when the number of their comrades in sight was reduced to almost half.


    "......Oh, is it over?"


    One of the Noblewood soldiers muttered to himself as he released a barrier that consumed a lot of magic power.


    From the side, he looked like a small animal fearfully poking its head out of its nest.


    He tried to look around to see what the hell was going on.


    "No. It''s just beginning."


    --The view in my eyes has come full circle.


    No, not just one circle, but many circles. I tried to warn myself that this time it was some kind of illusion magic, but I couldn''t move my body. Soon, the spinning scenery stops. In my fixed vision, I see a lion-headed beastman and a headless elf who are collapsing in front of him.


    It is nothing but luck that the decapitated man is able to die before he realizes that the body belongs to him.


    "Alkimaira is the claw, Baran-Zaifried, Commander of the Second Legion. I have arrived."


    The lion-headed beastman - Balan looks around, dispensing his sword with a blue gleam and shaking off the bloodstains.


    "Even if I say ......, all I see here are vermin that are not people. I guess I didn''t need to say my name.


    Behind Baran''s muttering is the Second Legion.


    It is a corps equivalent to an army, composed mainly of beastmen and knights.


    They had been given the prestigious post of first spearman, and were immersed in the exaltation of the Second Legion, which values discipline.


    No wonder.


    Even they were at the height of excitement due to the king''s speech, and on top of that, it was the first spear in their first battle in this world. It would be an impossible task not to be elated.


    Soldiers of the 2nd Corps lined up in a row.


    They resemble hounds that are waiting for the moment to leap out.


    As if to break the collar, Balan swung down his holy sword.


    "Second Corps, advance!"


    The land forces have begun to overrun the city.


    + + +


    Sarawin, the chief hunter, peeled his eyes away from the scene unfolding before him.


    He feels a considerable pain in his shoulder.


    He made a quick decision to throw away all of his catalysts and deployed a barrier with all his might, but even so, the mysterious bombardment was still too powerful to prevent.


    Although I succeeded in saving my life, I am covered with lacerations and burns everywhere. In addition, his shoulder is said to have been broken by the impact of the fall from the high ground.


    However, even the pain was not important.


    "What is this ...... what is this?


    The magical bombardment seemed to have stopped, and the next attackers were a group of beastmen in armor. The speed with which they marched using their four legs, which is characteristic of beastmen, was as fast as the wind.


    Some of the Noblewood soldiers tried to stop their advance with their own bodies, but they were all cut down with a single sword. A single brave soldier had less than two seconds to save his life. It was not even a battle.


    The soldiers of the glorious Noblewood are being laid waste (???????).


    "Fe...... Fairy Dragons!��O guardian dragon of the elves!��Please protect us!"


    Sarawin, who had the authority to command the fairy dragons, immediately gave the order.


    It was a trump card that was supposed to be saved until the decisive battle with the humans, but we cannot afford to lose our Noblewood warriors here and now.


    These are the mainstay of Noblewood.


    We cannot even start a war if we lose too many of our men here and now.


    We must minimize the damage, even if it means that the fairies will be a little depleted.


    Fairy dragons follow ancient contracts.


    The dragon, charged with the duty of protection, took to the skies as ordered and threw itself into the battlefield.


    In conclusion, Sarawin was right.


    The elves could not stop the attack by the mysterious group and the damage was only getting worse.


    --However, whether or not the introduction of fairy dragons will do anything is another matter.


    "Oh, a dragon species. If so, it seems to be qualified to be a sentence of our heroic tale. I thought they were all small fry, but I''m relieved to see that the prey is at least a little more resilient.


    The fairy dragon heard voices.


    Not a sound, but a voiceless voice transmitted in waves.


    The fairy dragon hears the sound of waves, which only dragons can recognize, for the first time in this life.


    This means that there are other dragons in the sky besides himself, and that he is the only one who can recognize them.


    "I have no name to give to the vermin, but I may give one to the dragon with whom I am in covenant. I am Nogard Nibelung, Commander of the Eighth Legion, winged by Alkimaira.


    --At the same time, it was a death sentence for the fairy dragon.


    A young man appeared in front of the fairy dragon soaring in the sky. He was in the air without wings or magic. With his back to the sun, the young man made a somewhat theatrical gesture and spread out his arms as if welcoming the heavens and the earth.


    With his body, the young man formed a cross. The fairy dragon, awestruck by the sight of him, responded instinctively.


    >


    A desperate screeching sound.


    The fairy dragon unleashes a fire from its palate.


    It is a scorching fire so powerful that it has taken down the capital of Rattestwood in a single night.


    The fire, which has a directional nature, easily engulfs the young man''s figure with its raging fury.


    "Thanks for the direction. That was very clever, wasn''t it?"


    --The explosion was scattered from the inside with the force of an explosion.


    The figure that emerged from the red lotus was no longer that of a young man.


    Exposed to the twilight, he was a giant, more than 40 meters long.


    From its legs, which had looked slender, claws as thick as crowbars sprouted, transforming into a thick and strong skeleton that could support its huge body. Its hind legs, which have been transformed into an inverted joint shape that is impossible for humans, are folded under its torso for flight.


    Extending backward from the torso is a long, strong tail that could cleave a large tree, and extended in the opposite direction is a majestic, thick neck.


    And at the end of the tail is a head shaped like a lizard, but it is by no means a cute little thing like a lizard. The fangs that were visible through its agitated jaws were sharp enough to bite even the top of the ecosystem, and on the top of its head grew two thick horns that a lizard could not possibly have.


    Furthermore, its arms, which were raised proudly, changed their shape into wings with a thick skin, and a single tap in the air caused a frightened sound of the atmosphere.


    The body is a mythical being that pierces the heavens.


    Its body is an epic beast that splits the heavens.


    His body is the strongest race that soars to the heavens.


    The Alkimaira boasts the greatest firepower in the world, the pinnacle of dragons.


    The "twilight dragon," the strongest of the mythological and fantastic species, is here.


    <


    The dusk dragon holds the fairy dragon in its sights, its golden eyes gleaming.


    <


    To this voice, the fairy dragon answered with fire.


    However, the second burning flame could not even envelop the entire body of the giant dusk dragon Nogald, and his crimson scales scattered it all away.


    Then, the fairy dragon spreads its three pairs of six butterfly-thin wings, and deploys a magic circle on each one of them. The magic circle, filled with magic power for five seconds, shone brightly, and the glow was transformed into arrows and shot out.


    The number of arrows was 120.


    The light arrows released from the six magic circles formed a swarm and ran to the twilight dragon without mishap. --But...


    All of them were again shot down.


    They were not defended.


    The dusk dragon did nothing to begin with.


    It was just that it was unprotected from the light arrows shot out by the fairy dragon, and its scales repelled all of them.


    Seeing this impossible reality, a shadow fell on the fairy dragon''s eyes.


    Such a thing has never happened in any battle before.


    What the fairy dragon just fired was the most powerful magic among all the magic it possessed.


    Even if its own strength has been reduced to less than half of what it was in its prime, there is no way that it can withstand it with only its bare defensive capabilities. There is no way they could admit that they could not even make him take a defensive action.


    However, in the reality reflected in his eyes, there is a dusk dragon without a single wound.


    >


    The fairy dragon responded to the question with an action that was laced with a hint of derision.


    It turned its back to the dragon in front of it and struck the sky with its wings to keep its distance.


    Sarawin, who was watching the battle below, sent a thought wave <>, but the fairy dragon ignored it.


    In the first place, this was not an escape.


    It was simply to keep its distance and buy time to build up an effective means of attack against the enemy.


    Certainly, what should be called instinct was screaming at them to run away, but the fairy dragon, bound by the pact, was not allowed to run away. But they can make a tactical retreat. This is not an escape, but merely an evasive maneuver to buy time to devise an effective strategy against the enemy.


    With this logic, the fairy dragon subverted Sarawin''s order, which had the power of a pact, and dismissed it. Then, as instinct dictated, it flew through the air at full speed to keep its distance,


    <


    The twilight dragon, which I had left far behind, easily caught up with me.


    The fairy dragon forgets even its evasive maneuvers due to its unbelievable speed, and its eyes peel off at the sight of the dusk dragon running alongside it with ease.


    Fairy dragon wings move by beating the air according to the laws of physics.


    But the wings of the dusk dragon, on the other hand, fly through the air, which they have pierced.


    Anything that obstructs its conquest of the sky is subjected to the "piercing power" of its wings.


    Even the atmosphere is no exception.


    The "atmosphere" above the capital, where no magic had been deployed and no one had taken control, was ripped open by the wings of the dusk dragon and retreated from its path.


    What remains is a vacuum passage, the fastest space dedicated to the Dusk Dragon with zero air resistance. The wings of the twilight dragon wick away the magical elements in place of the atmosphere, and at the same time, in combination with the gravity control, even the sound is left behind.


    The dusk dragon slowly opens its jaws "agito" so that the stunned fairy dragon can see it clearly.


    There is a real burning flame in it, which scorches even the fire of the fairy dragon.


    <


    The fairy dragon screamed.


    The screeching sound echoed through the capital of Rattlestwood with the sound of a righteous demise.

 27 - The 27th "Wang Nao Guilty"

    "Oh, impossible ......."


    Stunned, an elf let out a muffled cry.


    He is the chief priest of Noblewood.


    He is the person who is in charge of overseeing the rituals in the unique elven religion that worships the divine tree and the wind god, and he is the person who contributed the most to the unsealing of the fairy dragon that the gods had left for the elves.


    "...... What in the world am I ...... seeing?"


    Above his head was the figure of a fairy dragon engulfed by a ray of vermilion light emitted by the twilight dragon. The wings of the beautiful dragon were scattered into thousands of pieces in the aftermath alone, and its body was vaporized, leaving no ashes. I saw the whole thing. I witnessed it.


    "This can''t be ...... this can''t be ......"


    The guardian dragon of the elves, given to us by God, is in mourning.


    In fact, they could not even wound the mysterious dragon that suddenly appeared, and were unilaterally defeated.


    Furthermore, an unknown force is attacking in full force, and the glorious warriors of Noblewood are being overrun like insects. This horrifying fact was not something that the chief priest could have accepted on his own.


    "Contact the home country, ......, contact the home country of Noblewood!"


    The elf''s eyes twinkled in confusion as he was given a shouted order.


    The elf was in possession of a valuable "mind-speech" ability.


    Psychokinesis is a rare magic skill that makes it possible to send a voice through the mind to someone who is out of earshot.


    The distance that can be communicated with depends on the skill of the magician, but he specialized all of his abilities in psychic communication, and was a special soldier who could contact far away from home.


    "That''s ......."


    "What''s the matter?��Come on, come on!"


    "...... can''t connect to the heart to the home country."


    What?" asked the chief priest with a greasy sweat on his forehead.


    "Perhaps they are blocking ......."


    Resist!


    "I''ve been trying for a while now, but I can''t ...... resist. I don''t think I can do it. There''s too much of a gap between my abilities as a surgeon ......."


    "Fellas!"


    The chief priest ran out of the small castle and ran north alone.


    Mysterious enemy forces are invading from the south.


    They must not have reached the north yet.


    Looking behind him again and again to make sure that no pursuers are coming, the chief priest heads for the north gate as if he were being driven.


    "We can''t end up here. ......!��I will not die!"


    Running with all his might, the chief priest eventually reached the north gate and looked behind him.


    There were no pursuers.


    He had escaped death.


    We will be saved now.


    Breathing out a sigh of relief, he tried to get out of the capital through the gate, only to collide with the invisible barrier that had been deployed to cover the capital.


    "G-G-Geez!


    The chief priest grunts like a crushed frog and rolls on the ground, bounced back by the warding.


    "You sound so ugly. ......"


    A voice reached the chief priest''s ears, as if in dismay.


    "Where are you?��Where are you hiding?


    "...... was stunned. I''m amazed that they can get this close and not be able to see through the invisible optical deception without even using Indication Cut."


    At the same time as the sound of snapping fingers, a woman appeared, oozing out of the space. Dark skin and long bamboo ears. She is holding a book with the emblem of her country and the four Chinese characters engraved on it.


    "A dark elf?"


    "No, I''m not. Don''t put me together with such a lowly species now. I was a dark elf decades ago.


    "You''re talking nonsense ......!"


    "You seem to have it so easy, to just say when you don''t understand something.


    "You!��You dare to taunt me, the glorious Chief Priest of Noblewood!"


    "You can be indignant all you want, but are you sure you don''t want to talk to me in a leisurely manner?��I think it''s time to turn around."


    The chief priest froze at these words.


    Before he knew it, he realized that he was covered by a large shadow.


    There was something huge behind him.


    Fearfully, he turned around.


    Hey, Fourth Commander! Are you almost ready?"


    There was a large, muscular man over two meters tall with a huge axe on his back.


    Yes, that''s enough. According to the Sixth Legion''s investigation, even this guy is one of the commanders, so get your ass up to the top!


    "Oh, really? Are you sure you don''t mind if I kill this thing?


    With a ferocious smile on his face, the Commander of the 5th Legion (Gardi) asked the Commander of the 4th Legion (Ceres).


    "It''s okay. I''ve been ordered by His Majesty to focus on maintaining the closed wards. Besides, you''ve already made a blunder the other day, so you should score some points here.


    "...... I don''t like it when people give credit where credit is due."


    "I don''t know how you feel, but let go of your pride for once. You''re not the only one who''s going to be in trouble if you don''t make up the lost points.


    "Huh?��What do you mean by that?


    "Take a look at what the people who use you think about you and the current state of our country."


    ".............................. I don''t understand a piece of it, but is it related to the general in that way?"


    "Yes, yes, it would trouble His Majesty!��There''s no force lying around that we can let them play with in the current state of the country!��I mean, you should at least know the pieces!��Are you still a general of the army?


    "I''m not very good at using my head. Well, if that''s the case, I''ll take credit where credit is due.


    The conversation taking place in front of him made the chief priest dizzy.


    His own life was being treated as nothing more than a symbol of his achievement.


    The conversation was based on the premise that he would be killed on the spot.


    "Wait!��Wait!��I understand that you are not a Dark Elf, but you are still an Elf Tribe, aren''t you!"


    "So what?"


    "I beg of you, kindred spirits, to help me!��Stop this big man!"


    The chief priest no longer had the strength to resist.


    He had already seen the warriors of Noblewood being overrun by the enemy soldiers, and the big man behind him was his general.


    There was no way we could win.


    So the only way to survive here, no matter how miserable, was to cling to the woman in front of him, who was supposed to be a kindred spirit.


    "Friendship of kindred, huh? ......"


    "Yes!��Please, I can''t die here!��Until the day I slaughter the filthy humans, I never will."


    You know what?"


    Before she could even finish listening to the chief priest''s words, Celes'' expression turned to one of disgust and contempt.


    "I want to ask you something."


    "What?��The technique that unsealed the fairy dragon?��Or is it about our ritual magic?��I''ll answer whatever you want me to answer!"


    "Then answer me. What were you doing to the High Elves (Eltina), the very people you ask to help you in your friendship with the Elves?


    The chief priest gasped at the question and a strange sound escaped from his throat.


    "That''s the answer. We are very annoyed by the fact that these vermin (you) look like us, to begin with. If Your Majesty hates you for this, I''ll crush your souls after death!"


    The hand that reaches out for Celes, "Wait," is blocked by an invisible barrier and never reaches Celes.


    The next moment, a great axe swung down from behind him, splitting his body in two.


    + + +


    Sarawin, the chief hunter of Noblewood, looked up at the sky in dismay.


    "That''s ...... stupid ...... such a stupid ......."


    What he saw was a fairy dragon engulfed by a ray of vermilion light.


    After the red light that burned his eyes lost its brilliance, all that remained in the sky was the figure of a dragon.


    The figure is not that of a fairy dragon.


    It is the form of another dragon that may have been fighting with the fairy dragon.


    The fairy dragon, the guardian of the elves, has been defeated unilaterally.


    "Is this a ...... happening in the present?"


    The core of a century-long plan for revenge against humans has been lost.


    It took Sarawin more than a few dozen seconds to acknowledge this fact.


    In the meantime, time passes mercilessly.


    War cries are heard everywhere, screams and shouts fill the capital.


    The former are unknown voices. The latter are the voices of the known.


    It is a fact that our people are being unilaterally overrun.


    More and more shadows appear in the sky as Sarawin gazes up in dismay.


    The shadows were of various kinds of dragons.


    All of them were monsters, each of them as powerful as a fairy dragon.


    The dragons that followed the dragon that destroyed the fairy dragons quickly increased in number and filled the sky above the capital.


    For Salawin, the scene was now nothing but "hell.


    "What the hell are they ......?��What in the world have we made against ......?"


    There is no answer.


    No one can answer.


    The elves around him had been blown to pieces by the earlier bombardment.


    Only Sarawin survived.


    "Chief hunter!


    Someone came running.


    I shudder involuntarily.


    But the figure approaching was not one of the mysterious forces, but a known face.


    It was the head soldier who had been deployed as a member of the advance team.


    "You are in danger!��Please run away!"


    "Escape ......?��Where, where am I supposed to run to ......?


    The capital is surrounded by a strong ward. The shape and timing of the wards suggest that they were probably designed to confine those inside.


    Moreover, I can feel that it is covered with tremendous magical power. It is possible that a fairy dragon could have broken through it, but not on a scale that we can handle.


    "But that doesn''t mean we should stay here, we will be swallowed up by the enemy army soon!��In any case, you need to get out of here..."


    There was a clattering sound, and the soldier''s voice stopped.


    It was the sound of armor.


    Fearfully, they looked to see an enemy soldier in full body armor.


    "...... I''ll buy you some time. Please run away."


    The captain of the army told Sarawin with a determined look on his face.


    "Well, leave it to me!"


    Sarawin immediately ran away.


    He had nowhere to go.


    Still, he understood that if he stayed there, he would die as well.


    Sarawin leaves the place like a hare.


    The remaining soldier, feeling a sense of emptiness at the fact that the only words he had left to say were "I leave it to you," he faced the enemy in front of him.


    ......I will be your opponent. I will be your enemy...the enemy of who knows where."


    He does not understand exactly what is going on.


    What is the enemy?


    Why are we in this situation?


    What will become of Noblewood''s long-cherished desire for revenge against humans after the death of the fairy dragon?


    We don''t know everything.


    But there is one thing he does know.


    That is that he is going to die here and now.


    "Then I will not spoil my last days."


    I am an elf of Noblewood, of a noble family.


    I am the proud captain of the Noblewood soldiers.


    I must behave accordingly and meet a fitting end.


    Then, if death is the only thing that lies ahead, let us not claw our way to an ugly end, but let us fall with grace.


    The captain felt surprisingly calm and naturally so.


    "If I am defeated by the filthy ''filth'' and humans, I may die, but I can''t die...".


    But fortunately, I have no such fears.


    The full-body-armor-clad figure standing before us is too small in stature.


    It is not a half-elf or a human, but a different race. Perhaps a dwarf or something.


    Then, even if I die in defeat, my pride as a noble Noblewood will not be sullied. Reaffirming this fact in his heart, the captain of the army drew the two daggers at his waist and quietly assumed a stance.


    "The last battle of my life...... shall I fight with you?


    My name is Krauf-Welt-Lief.


    I am one of the chief soldiers of Noblewood.


    In response to his name, the small enemy in full body armor is silent.


    "Well, he does not say his name.


    Then you speak not with words but with your blade, do you?


    Oh well, that''s one thing."


    The captain of the army was boasting in a more cheerful tone.


    The catalyst had been used up in the deployment of the barrier, and there was none left.


    It was impossible to use magic.


    Moreover, he had sustained a few wounds.


    The only weapons he has are two daggers with amputation techniques.


    The enemy in front of him in full armor is a member of an unknown force, whose abilities are unknown.


    However, the Chief of Staff''s will to fight shows no sign of waning.


    On the contrary, perhaps he had reached some kind of state of mind in this place of death, and he was confident that he would be able to display the best fighting ability of his life in the battle that was about to begin.


    And he was not mistaken.


    "Quickly!"


    The captain turned into a gale and attacked the full-body armor. Both the speed of his steps and the power of the dagger he brought down were sharp enough to be the stuff of a captain. It was, without question, the fastest step he had ever made in his life.


    Against him, the full-body armor used his long shield to repel the right dagger, and responded with a short sword to the left dagger. The sound of steel rang out, and sparks flew between the two.


    "Blade!��Feed on my demons and cut through the enemy!"


    The captain of the army casts his magic power into his left dagger.


    The formula engraved on the dagger receives the supply of magic power from the Lord and faithfully performs its role.


    The effect of the activated technique is "cutting".


    The dagger, which had been in an antagonistic state of a sword fight, began to bite into the blade of the shortsword as soon as the technique was activated.


    "Normally, even steel can be cut in an instant!��That sword of yours looks like quite a piece of work ......!"


    As if unable to stand it, the full-body armor tried to distance itself by kicking forward at the chief of soldiers.


    The chief soldier, reading this, responded by dropping his heel on the kicking foot that was coming from below.


    The heel hurt as if it cracked in compensation for kicking the metal mass as hard as he could, but he succeeded in preventing the full-body armor from kicking him and threw himself into the air directly above him, making use of the recoil of the kick.


    He then turned his body vertically in the air and fired a second blow with a dagger from upside down.


    The full-body armor, on the other hand, avoids the second blow by letting its weight carry it and sinking down to a low position.


    "We''ll lose this one too, but...!"


    The captain of the army spun his body once more in midair and threw a dagger directly downwards.


    The blade, which had the momentum of the spin, approached the enemy at the speed of a gale.


    The third and final blow, a killing blow, was fired with acrobatic maneuvering.


    The full-body armor catches it as quickly as possible with the shield drawn to its body.


    The dagger, with its amputation technique still activated, is entrusted with the task of piercing, and buries its blade into the shield that is preventing it from carrying out its mission.


    The shield, on the other hand, was not equipped with any technique, but it resisted the attack with its inherent toughness.


    And the Chief of Staff, while still in the air, watched the end of the battle.


    The blade of the dagger sank deep into itself - and stopped halfway up the blade.


    The victory went not to the deadly blade, but to the shield of protection.


    Now the captain is untouched.


    One of the two daggers is bounced far away by the shield, and the other is stuck in the shield.


    The soldier was crushed to the ground by a shield bash, which was aimed at his landing and slammed into him.


    "G,ah......!"


    Several of his internal organs were crushed by the impact.


    A fearful sensation of blood rushing back down my throat.


    But he swallows the rising mass of blood in the name of pride.


    He lost, but it was definitely the best fight of his life.


    It is not the behavior of a noble elf to stain the end of a great battle with blood.


    This pride was the only thing that kept him conscious.


    "...... Well done. That''s all I can say."


    Feeling refreshed, the captain paid tribute to the full body armor that had brought him down.


    It was a worthy opponent for the last battle of his life.


    A worthy adversary indeed.


    He was not an elf, but at the same time he was neither human nor half-elf.


    I did not know what kind of race he was, but if he was a worthy adversary to beat me, a captain of war, he deserved my respect, no matter what race he was.


    When I thought of this, words of praise naturally came out of my mouth.


    It was an honest expression of his heart that he had only spoken a few times in his long life.


    He had finished with the blade. I will no longer bask in the silence. You must be a great warrior, with your splendid dexterity and your wonderful skill. For the last time, may I ask your name?"


    At the words of the dying soldier''s commander, the full-body armor put its hand on the visor of its helmet.


    What kind of race he was, I could not guess. But the captain, never surprised by any race, waited with a clear mind for his adversary to make his move, and was astonished to see his true face hidden under the visor that had been pulled up.


    "...... is ?"


    Ugly face with earth-colored skin and wrinkles.


    Not one of the four great continental races.


    Not even human.


    The face of a goblin, a diminutive monster, emerges from beneath the visor of his full-body armor.


    "Goblin ......?��No, no, that can''t be right.


    I don''t have a name.


    "............ what?"


    "I''ve just been born. Soldier-in-training. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. A new recruit with no name gets a name when he kills five of the enemy. But this is my first battle. But I don''t have a name.


    The soldier chief could not understand a single word of the goblin, ...... who was supposed to have been a good opponent.


    "Ugh, it''s a lie,...... and if it''s true, then its workmanship is,......."


    "These are just supplies. The first sword we newbies get."


    The goblin carelessly tossed aside the re cracked shortsword.


    The sword, which the captain had described as a work of art, lay on the ground like a worthless piece of trash.


    "We just finished training. We can''t really go to the front. But the government said we''d be mobilized. We, the newbies, get our turn too. Hurray."


    The goblin steps closer to the chief of staff, holding a one-handed axe (subweapon) attached to the back of his shield, and raises the deadly weapon.


    "You''re the third one. If you kill the other two, you can get the captain''s name. Goblin will get his name on his first fight. That''s why you''re going to die here.


    Those were the words that topped it all.


    There was a shattering sound of pride in the soldier''s head.


    He exclaimed, staining the ground with the blood he had spewed.


    "Fu...... you''ve got to be kidding me!��This, this foolishness is impossible!��Goblins!��Goblins?��I am a soldier captain, and the last opponent in my life is a goblin!��The enemy who brought me down is not even a general, but just a small fry!��This can''t be happening!��I can''t be this unreasonable!��You''ve got to be kidding me--"


    No matter, the blade fell.


    The decapitation axe does its job, and the head of a certain elf, who was screaming something or other, is sent flying.


    The head rolls on the ground, and the torso crumples down without effort.


    The goblin nods his head in satisfaction as he confirms that he has killed his third prey.


    He then checks the wear and tear on his equipment, and acknowledges that he is still fully capable of fighting, and runs across the battlefield in search of his fourth prey.


    And Krauf-Welt-Lief, the chief of the Noblewood soldiers, was not even recognized as one of the generals, but as one of the many others who laid their corpses out in the field.


    The overthrow continues.


    Until the moment every last vermin (monster) in the capital is exterminated.


    + + + +


    Although the origin of RATESTWOOD is a group of weak people, its size has gradually expanded over the years and now it has formed a city-state.


    Even though it is a small country, there are certain facilities that a nation needs.


    For example, a castle to defend the city and to show the king''s authority, a medical clinic to provide medical treatment, a chapel to offer prayers, and a court to settle disputes based on the law.


    As a country, there will inevitably be sinners, and facilities to incarcerate them are also necessary. And the prison for the criminals in RATESTWOOD ...... is located in the outskirts of the city, north of the castle.


    The Noblewood soldiers were gathering there.


    Or rather, they were being driven and cornered.


    They had no choice but to flee to the north after being carefully exterminated by the mysterious forces advancing from the south.


    However, the invisibility wards covering the entire city prevented them from escaping out of the city.


    Therefore, the Noblewood soldiers, trapped both physically and mentally, tried to escape by taking the half-elves they had locked up in their prisons as hostages.


    Mysterious forces are aiding and abetting RATESTWOOD.


    Then take the captive half-elves hostage.


    Then they can save their own lives.


    They blindly believed in this idea, which was far too shortsighted to be coolly considered.


    It could be said that they could think of no other way to survive.


    Clinging to a glimmer of hope, they made their way to the prison where the half-elves were being held, only to see a corner of the prison ceiling collapse without warning.


    A red dragon appeared, smashing through the ceiling with the force of the crash.


    The Noblewood soldiers, who recognized that this was the dragon that had annihilated the fairy dragon with a single blow, were half in a state of panic when they saw a man standing on top of the dragon''s head.


    A monster who could slaughter a fairy dragon.


    The man who was kicking its head in the air glared at the inside of the prison, and his hair stood on end as he saw the half-elves lying on the ground, ragged and naked.


    "You''re all a bunch of trash! ----!!!!"


    Instantly, Helian gives the order.


    The dusk dragon (Nogardo) immediately carries out the order, which is filled with an overflowing amount of murderous intent.


    Only the dragon tribe is allowed to weave dragon magic.


    One of them was exercised, and a golden-colored light bullet mixed with dragon energy and magic rushed out.


    The light projectile, filled with the power to shatter, swerved to avoid the half-elves, piercing and slaughtering every single Noblewood soldier in the prison.


    "Protect the people of Llatestwood!��Don''t let any more people die!��If you let them die for nothing, you''ll get away with it!


    A medic from the Third Legion rushed into the prison, protected by guards from the Second Legion.


    A soft green light emanates from everywhere in the prison, and the half-elves, who had been reduced to rags, are treated with great care.


    "Is this all the half-elves that have been taken prisoner?


    I hope you didn''t miss anything!


    <


    As soon as he heard the report, Helian stomped on the head of the twilight dragon (Nogardo) with all his might.


    Reacting like a whipped thoroughbred, the dusk dragon begins to ascend directly upward at the king''s command.


    Helian, astride the dusk dragon''s neck, is protected by dragon magic and reaches a height of 1,000 meters above the ground, despite the subsonic load. Herian''s eyes, lit up with fury, reflect the capital city below, and she first gives the Dusk Dragon permission to use the for self-enhancement.


    "......ggg."


    At the same time, Helian''s body was subjected to an unnegligible load.


    It was the same as when Rieve used the , or far more than that.


    It was as if something important was being sucked out of her body unilaterally.


    It''s as if your soul is being eaten away.


    --I don''t care.


    I don''t care if it''s really eating my soul.


    Suck it if you want.


    If you want to eat it, eat it.


    I''ll give you all of them if it''ll get rid of those vermin.


    The dusk dragon faithfully carried out the king''s hateful command.


    With the dragon''s roar, vermilion phosphorescence rises from its body.


    This is a sign that the "harbinger of the end," which doubles the power of the next attack, has been activated.


    The king then gives an order to the twilight dragon.


    The next is a bombardment technique categorized as a wide-area annihilation technique.


    <>


    Declaration of exercise of authority (Function On).


    Selects the Dusk Dragon as the target of activation.


    The secret "Fobidun Phantasm" used is "Select Judgment".


    The attack power is fixed to the maximum value ��Blast Power Maximize��.


    Final Confirmation of Permission to Use ��Final Confirmation��, all omitted.


    >


    Start target acquisition ��Target Capture Start��.


    Enable friend/foe identification (IFF on).


    Information Sharing(Direct)Forced Connection: Dream(Data Sharing)The Witch Queen to the Twilight Dragon��??Forced Connection��.


    Range Selection: (Range Select)Ratestock(Ratestockwood)de Capital Region(Metropolis).


    Target selection: (target select)Norb(target select)RUTHWOOD soldiers and related persons ��Noblewood Enemies��.


    All the above orders will be sent out immediately ��Full Order Immediate��.


    >


    The secret begins to activate.


    The price is an intense feeling of emptiness.


    A headache as if a spear had pierced my skull.


    Then dizziness and darkened vision.


    Distant consciousness is held together by hatred.


    <>


    A magic circle was deployed under the dusk dragon''s eyes.


    A huge magic circle with geometric patterns.


    Thousands of small and medium-sized magic circles are engraved on the lower layer.


    And the number of magic circles perfectly matched the number of enemies displayed in the Tactics Window.


    Each of the small and medium-sized magic circles engraved in the void is finely angled to aim at each and every one of the vermin writhing below.


    <>


    "--f*ck you."


    The voice seemed to echo from the depths of hell.


    With the whispered sentence of death as a signal, the "secret" was fully activated, and the twilight dragon shot out a brilliant red light from its palate.


    The secret of wide-area annihilation that identifies friend and foe - "The Imperial Dragon''s Judgment".


    The light became a single pillar and pierced into the giant magic circle below, and at the same time, it split into countless smaller magic circles. The red light, guided by the small and medium-sized magic circles, rushed toward the vermin below, and poured down in a shower of meteors. The vermiform meteors engulfed the vermin, vaporizing them all, leaving not even a trace.


    --Thus...


    The Noblewood advance team, the best of the best out of the entire national armed forces, was deployed.


    Not a single person survived, and it was annihilated.

 28 - The 28th "Wang Nao Yom"

    A small castle in the capital of RATESTWOOD.


    In the throne room of the castle that they have recaptured from Noblewood, the half-elves who are equivalent to the executives of Rattestwood are trembling.


    Despite the fact that they have returned to the castle they have successfully retaken for the first time in a month, there are no smiles on the faces of the half-elves. The half-elves, who had left their thrones open and were lining up to make an aisle, were all in a state of extremely mixed emotions.


    Of course there is gratitude. We are happy that our captives have been rescued and that the Noblewood soldiers who disturbed the peace have been swept away. They deserve our genuine gratitude for what they have done on behalf of LATESTWOOD.


    However, despite what they knew in theory, the half-elves'' hearts were being filled with awe rather than gratitude. The power they had seen - the might of the nation that called itself Alkimaira - was too great.


    "Chief Wenli, ...... what will happen to us now?"


    One of the younger half-elves asked Wenli in an anxious tone of voice.


    I know how you feel. After all, the army that massacred the Noblewood soldiers as if they were crushing ants was a group of demons.


    "I don''t know. It would be fortuitous if we could get at least a part of the capital, but I guess that''s ...... impossible. ....... They will probably continue to live a meager life in the settlements. ......"


    In any case, Rattestwood has done nothing in this battle.


    He just watched in silence as the demon army recaptured the capital. It is not a daredevil but a suicidal man who can say .


    A heavy atmosphere lies between the half-elves.


    "Whatever his (or her) country decides, we will follow it.


    In a hushed voice, Leifua said.


    "At least the threat of the Noblewoods is gone. If the threat is limited to the magical beasts that live in the forest, then the conditions are the same as they were at the dawn of the founding of LATESTWOOD. We will just have to start all over again."


    "Dear Leifa, ......"


    "His country has kept its promise. He rescued the people of Lattestwood from captivity. He has also eliminated the soldiers of Noblewood who were a threat to Rattestwood. What more could we ask for?


    Without looking at him, Leifua spun his words, keeping his eyes fixed on the sky.


    "All that remains now is to entrust the fate of Rattestwood to the warmth of Mr. Helian. Since the agreement has already been fulfilled, it would be a bad move to disturb the situation by making a bad move. It is a miracle that he has been able to move such a powerful country.


    A calm decision.


    Unlike the rest of his subjects, who are on tenterhooks, he appears calm and collected.


    But Wenli knows. He had been briefed on the loss of Leifa''s father, who had been fed to the fairy dragons; his mother, the previous queen, who had not only been killed but also exposed ......; and his sister, Lillifa, the only remaining member of his immediate family.


    Wenli was the educator of the princess sisters.


    Of all his subjects, he was the one closest to them.


    That is why, when he was told of the death of Lillipha, he felt an inexpressible sense of despair.


    Even I felt that way. Then, how much shock and sorrow did the death of her sister give to her immediate family, Leifa? Just thinking about it makes Wenli''s heart ache as if it were going to burst. But Leifa does not show any sign of sorrow and continues to wear the mask of a queen.


    It was Wenli who taught her how it should be.


    But even so, the right way to be royal seemed to Wenli to be impossibly painful.


    ......Will you somehow forgive me by offering yourself to me?


    With Lillipha gone, Leifa''s presence is essential to the Ratestwoods. It was shameless to try to trade a promise for a price, but still Wenli could not help but do something.


    ......If worse comes to worst, I will negotiate with his king to sell myself to him along with my lady Leifa. Master Leifa will probably object, but I would rather die as a comfort to him than live in shame and embarrassment.


    Just as she was secretly making up her mind, a cheerful voice sounded from the door of the throne room.


    "Alkimaira enters His Majesty the King, Herian Edda Elsinorek!


    At the announcement of the master of ceremonies, all those gathered in the throne room stiffened.


    A young man wearing a black cloak of exquisite design emerges majestically from the sounding door.


    Accompanied by a female Blutbad, Helian, the King of All Evil, walks solemnly to his throne, passing between the kneeling half-elves facing him.


    When he reached the front of the throne, he called out to Leifa, who was kneeling near the throne.


    "Will you not sit down, Leifa-lim-latestwood?��It must be the throne of the castle you finally got back."


    "Yes. I am not qualified to sit on the throne. That is your place. And though I will serve as the representative of RATESTWOOD only in these negotiations, I am no longer REIFA-RIM RATESTWOOD, but only REIFA. Please treat me as such.


    "...... I see."


    Helian sat down on his throne.


    At the same time, several words appeared in the Tactical Window.


    --Enemy forces in the area have been annihilated.


    --The percentage of your forces in the area is over 90%.


    --You succeed in seizing the throne (symbol).


    Having fulfilled the three conditions for forced domination, the word "Domination Complete" is displayed in the virtual window, and it glows gold. The capital of Rattestwood is now completely under Alkimaira''s control.


    "...... all troops are notified. The operation to recapture the people of RATESTWOOD has been completed and the battle is declared over with the destruction of the enemy forces. --We have won."


    The demons respond to the king''s declaration of victory with shouts of joy.


    In the first war in another world, in which the king himself led the entire army in a full-scale invasion, he won a complete and utter victory.


    The battle was a disappointing one, but the demons were overjoyed at this great victory after the uncertain situation in which the war started with the enemy''s strength still unknown.


    "Now then, let''s talk about the postwar settlement.


    We''ll work out the details later," Herian prefaced his speech, and then cut to the chase.


    First of all, I would like to talk about the contract we signed and the treatment of the RATESTWOOD.


    "Yes. As promised, I offer myself to you..."


    No, we''re going to have to go back on the drawing board on that one. There has been a serious breach of contract.


    "What?"


    Leifua looked up as if she had been caught off guard.


    He wondered if he had done something wrong, but he could not think of anything.


    He looked at Wenli, but Wenli shook his head in panic.


    Then, what exactly is a breach of contract?


    Leifua pondered, but could not come up with an answer.


    "Your country demands the rescue of the kidnapped Latestwood people. However, Alkimaira said, ...... I was unable to fulfill the request fully. There were some who could not be rescued. In other words, I failed to fulfill my contract in its entirety."


    A twitch, a slight twitch, and Leifa''s sasa ears twitched.


    "Are you talking about ...... Lilifa?��But that girl, if she''s not, by the time we signed the contract, she''s already ......."


    "It doesn''t matter. The only thing your country has asked us to do is to rescue the people of RATESTWOOD who have been kidnapped.


    Therefore, we cannot accept the price.


    Helian told her simply.


    "...... No, that is not so. Not only have you rescued many of our people, but you have also eliminated the threat of the Noblewood. It is not possible for us to benefit from this without offering something.


    "...... by all means, huh?"


    Yes.


    "I see. But we can''t just sit back and accept the price. We have our own reasons and pride.


    A heavy sigh falls from the throne room.


    Wenli, who was watching the scene, tried to interject, saying it was now or never.


    But he could not.


    Two pairs of eyes, one from the king and the other from the queen, shot through her like nails.


    --Don''t interfere.


    She had no choice but to remain silent as they looked at her with such a simple thought in their eyes.


    Wenli understood with a terrible realization that she was no longer allowed to interfere.


    "My lord, my subject, I am terribly sorry."


    "Rude?��What are you talking about?��I don''t understand what you are talking about."


    "...... thank you for your kindness."


    "Again, I do not understand what you are saying. Therefore, I have no reason to accept your words of gratitude. Shall we continue our conversation at ......?"


    Helian, somewhat forcefully, brings the conversation back on track.


    "<


    No, sir.


    You have two words for me?


    Of course. In the name of the tree of God, I swear it.


    "...... though, for me, those words have lost all value."


    It may have sounded sarcastic, but it was true that for Helian, was worthless.


    Leifa looked at the floor thoughtfully, and after a moment, she looked up again.


    "Then I swear in the name of my sister ...... Lillipha. I will never say it twice. I swear in the name of my sister that whatever you ask of me, I will do it.


    Helian''s twin eyes shook.


    "In your name, sister. ......"


    "Yes."


    "...... then I will believe you."


    With a stern expression, Helian nodded.


    "From now on, I will make only one request of you. For the fulfillment of that demand, I will receive a price. Are you ready?


    "Yes."


    Then I''ll tell you what I want.


    "That you be crowned Queen of the Kingdom of Rattestwood as Leifa-Rim-Rattestwood, and that the capital of Rattestwood and its settlements be governed at your discretion."


    --That''s all.


    At these words, Leifua was blindsided.


    The half-elves in the room also looked up out of courtesy at the unexpected request and stared at Helian.


    Leewe''s initial reaction to this rude behavior was to say something, but Helian blocked her movement by lightly raising his right hand.


    "What''s the matter?��I don''t seem to hear any acceptance."


    "But, but, that''s ......."


    "You said you''d meet any request. I made a demand of you. That''s the end of the story. Or are you trying to ruin your sister''s name?


    I will do no such thing!"


    Leifa''s face turned pale as she denied it as a conditioned reflex.


    But there was nothing he could do now. Words had already been exchanged. Leifa presented a blank card to Helian, and Helian wrote his demands on the card and returned it.


    Then, Leifa has no choice but to accept the card.


    I accept your request. I thank you deeply and sincerely for your kindness..."


    Leifua hung his head deeply and said, "I am very happy to be here.


    "No need to thank me. This is the result of a fair deal."


    "Even so, I still thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. ......!"


    When the half-elves finally understood that the contract between the king and the queen had been fulfilled, and that Rattestwood had been saved, their faces lit up with joy. Some even had tears of joy streaming down their cheeks, as if their tension had been broken.


    --At last they were saved.


    It was as if I could hear such an unmistakable voice.


    "So, let''s continue our conversation about the termination of the contract. We should not talk about the future while the contract is not fully executed.


    "......, you say?"


    Helian raised his right hand and snapped his fingers.


    As if on cue, the door to the throne room opened with a clang. Entering the throne room are many wounded people who are missing limbs, eyes, and other parts of their bodies.


    "I swore to the Queen of Lathswood that I would save every last one of them.


    But Helian sees in front of him a line of people with wounds that have yet to heal.


    They have only been rescued (????????) from the clutches of Noblewood.


    Their physical defects are painful, and they are in no way healthy.


    In other words, they are not "rescued" at all.


    It is now impossible to fully fulfill the covenant. But by offering his people immediate relief here and now, please accept this as our apology."


    "...... that is,"


    "Now, right here, right now, we will restore them to a state of full physical satisfaction. ......I would be lying if I didn''t at least try to save the ones who were saved."


    Leifua gasped in astonishment, not knowing how many times she had already seen this.


    The treatment of missing parts is an ancient lost art, long since lost.


    According to the common knowledge of this world, it is possible for only a few high-ranking surgeons to heal a missing part immediately after it is lost.


    However, once the body parts are lost and the wounds are healed - the missing part has become the for the person, there is nothing more that can be done.


    And yet, the king of demons in front of us casually says that he will restore the body to a state of fullness. But I will not do such a foolish thing as to doubt his words now. If he (or she) says he can do it, it is all true, and his kingdom must possess the ancient arts.


    Eltina.


    Yes, sir.


    Ertina, the leader of the Third Legion, an expert in healing and support, steps out with her favorite weapon, a golden staff called the Keluneion.


    She walks up to the seriously wounded, who seem to have no idea what is about to happen, and points the tip of her staff at one of them, a half-elf boy.


    "Hear my prayer, and let the light of heaven fill this place... Invoke the prayer of the heavens."


    The life force absorbed from the king and Eltina''s magic power are fused together.


    The light concentrated on the severely damaged wounds, and the body was filled with such a radiance that the contours of the missing parts could no longer be discerned.


    As soon as the green light read the boy''s physical information, it transformed into his cells at the surgeon''s command, instantly forming flesh and blood, bones and nerves. After a few seconds, the green light fades away, and all that remains is the boy''s fully restored body.


    "What? ......?��Ugh, it''s got arms!��Why?


    The boy is moving his newly regenerated right arm timidly, amazed that his lost right arm is still there. When he confirmed that it moved exactly as it did before he lost it, tears streamed down from his eyes.


    "I have ...... my right arm,...... and it doesn''t hurt anywhere,....... Aaaaah......!"


    The boy, sobbing, spewed out his thoughts in broken sentences, and finally broke down in tears with a smile on his face.


    A young half-elf woman with one ear missing picked up the boy. She must have been the boy''s mother or sister.


    --But Helian never saw this heartwarming scene.


    She stared at the ground and struggled to bear the load that was eating away at her body.


    The "Invocation of Heavenly Prayer" was the ultimate in healing magic that could instantly heal any injury, but it was one of the less fuel-efficient of the .


    According to the data disclosed by the management company, the amount of [life force] consumed by "Invoke" is about half ......, which means that Helian''s life is now 50% less.


    What does that look like?


    When I was playing the game, I didn''t think much about it, but now that it has become a reality, I understand it to the point of disgust.


    It may be too simple an analogy to say that I am in a state of 50% less, but I am sure that a person who is half-dead on the bed ...... is feeling the same way as I am now.


    No, I am sure that life is not something that can be measured by numbers.


    The "value" of "vitality" is only a thing of the game era, and now that it has become a reality, it should be taken only as a reference material and a guide. If you keep thinking of it as if it were a game, you are sure to regret it irrevocably someday.


    Helian, bearing the load, took out one of the test-tube shaped potion bottles that were inserted in the side back of his waist and slurped it down in one gulp. It is a very rare potion that has the effect of restoring [vitality].


    Just after activating the twilight dragon''s , the potion replenished his lost vital energy, just as it did when he drank it while he was on the verge of fainting. Herian''s body is instantly healed, and she regains the fuel needed to use her .


    "Your Majesty?"


    "...... is fine. Go on."


    Eltina asks suspiciously.


    Rieve - perhaps from his previous experience - immediately sensed something was wrong with Helian, but Helian ordered him to continue.


    It was not until after the fourth patient had been treated that the change became apparent to everyone.


    "Ha, ha, ha, ha--a......!"


    Panting like a dog in respiratory distress.


    Drenched in cold sweat and panting for oxygen, he was beyond disgraceful, and to put it simply, he was a disgraceful man.


    Helian regrets that he should have kept all but the most important people and the healer out of the throne room if this was going to happen. Thanks to this, the executives of Rattestwood and even the heads of the Alkimaira legions have been exposed to the pathetic sight of the suffering and panting.


    Helian has already gone back and forth between half-dead and fully recovered four times while forcibly restoring his life force with potions. Her body is forcibly healed, but there are things that remain in the "core". The pain that consumed her body continued to eat away at her spirit in the form of phantom pain even after her body had been healed.


    In the first place, the change from a near-death state to an immediate and complete recovery is itself an abnormal phenomenon for the human body. The contradiction arises repeatedly: the mind complains of physical abnormalities, while the body itself is perfectly healthy. This discrepancy would be a torture enough to destroy the spirit if repeated ten times by a person with a fragile mind.


    As if he could not stand it any longer, Levee shouted.


    "Please stop!��Any more, the burden on Yourself is too ......!"


    "Shut up."


    Helian interrupted Lieve annoyedly as he clutched his heart and put his hand on his chest. In her ragged breathing, her mind flashed to the image of the girl who had cut off her fingers.


    "I couldn''t save one person."


    That is an undeniable fact.


    This is the result of talking big about saving everyone when you have no power to do so.


    "Don''t embarrass me any further ......!"


    Then you must swallow this level of pain.


    The girl who was sacrificed by the dragon cannot even feel pain anymore.


    Compared to that, this level of pain is nothing.


    It is only the agony of dying.


    You will not really die.


    Even if you die, you will come back to life anyway.


    So there is nothing wrong with it.


    "......The next wounded man. Keep going."


    "But, but ......"


    Ertina''s gaze wandered to the other corps leaders as if looking for help.


    But none of them - not even Liewe - had the words to stop the king, who had a devilish look on his face.


    Helian, who saw the appeal in her eyes, ordered Ertina in a strong tone of voice


    "The king commands it. Continue their treatment.


    The king''s voice, icy.


    Stitched in place with a leering stare, Eltina held out her staff to the next half-elf, as if in final resolve.


    + + +


    "Hear my prayer, and let the light of heaven fill this place - the Invocation of Heaven."


    ......How many times have we heard this benediction?


    Helian thinks through his foggy consciousness as he hears Eltina''s chanting.


    She counted up to the twentieth time, but from that point on she felt faint and stopped counting.


    He has already used up all the potions he has.


    He steadily carries out the treatment, receiving replenishments of potions from his subordinates.


    I wonder how many people are left.


    It is like watching a never-ending nightmare.


    "Gosh... ......"


    Something was flowing back from my gut.


    I hold it in my throat with a determination akin to swallowing a blade. Whether it is gastric juices or blood, there is no room for impertinence in the throne room.


    With shaking hands, he opens the lid of the bottle, puts it in his mouth, and pushes something that is coming up to his throat back into his stomach in a potion.


    "Next ......, injured people,......."


    He spins the words mechanically.


    I felt like I was repeating the same words over and over again.


    My head ached as if it would shatter at any moment.


    The phantom pain that had built up as a result of repeated recovery and near-death cycles was already in the realm of mad pain.


    My brain itched.


    I am tempted to hit my head against a random pillar and think how good it would feel if I could crack open my skull and rifle through its contents.


    But not yet.


    Not yet.


    As long as I have the means to save him, I cannot stop until I save the last one.


    Because I promised that little girl who died that I would help her as much as I could.


    "The treatment is over!��That''s all of them!��All the people of LATESTWOOD who were kidnapped this time have been saved!��Every last one of them has been saved!"


    Someone is shouting in my ear.


    I can''t fully hear what they are saying.


    I only managed to understand the part about the treatment being over.


    "Where are the rest of the ...... injured?"


    "No, sir!��The treatment is over!��It''s over!"


    So hurry up," someone says something.


    I looked up and saw the face of Levee with a sad expression on her face right beside me, on my right hand side.


    I had never seen such an expression before.


    It was an expression I did not want to see, I thought.


    I could not think clearly. My vision is shaken.


    My body can no longer even stand up straight.


    It seems that I am now standing with Levee and one other person supporting me from both sides. It is a very ugly sight to behold.


    Helian shakes off the arms of the women supporting him and stands upright on his own.


    As king, I must declare the postwar process over. There was no way he would be allowed to end the meeting without being able to stand alone in front of the representatives of other countries.


    In the haze of my vision, I look for Leifa.


    Somehow she was standing just to my left. They were so close that their shoulders were almost touching.


    Why was she standing there? When did she move? I can''t think straight. I have no time to think about anything else. To start the meeting, I will lay out the lines that I have prepared in advance.


    "......This ...... treatment, is over. All but one of the abductees have been rescued. And as I said before, as compensation for the breach of contract, for failing to save one of them, your country''s ...... consideration ...... for the custody of Lord Leifa is firm. ......"


    If you''re not careful, you''ll lose consciousness.


    No, I was already disconnected in places.


    I bite my lower lip off, the pain and the taste of iron holding me together.


    "But ...... we have the merit of recapturing your capital, which was not included in the contract. ...... In return for that merit, you, as our fellow countrymen, will continue to have good relations with us in the future. We request ...... efforts to ...... build ............... ........."


    No.


    I''m losing consciousness.


    I''ve gone beyond the point where I can do anything with my spirit or my guts.


    There''s no time.


    I''m going to ramble on.


    "These are the ...... views and demands of our country, Alkimayra, regarding the post-war ...... treatment of this war: ....... Is this acceptable to your country ......?"


    "Of course!��I have no objection whatsoever!��So, come on!


    Leifa accepted our request.


    Strangely enough, her voice was the same as the voice of someone who had just been shouting in my ear.


    I had no time left to think about why.


    Eighty percent of his consciousness was already gone.


    The remaining 20% that just barely managed to stay on the edge of the cliff let out the words that would bring the meeting to an end.


    "So, this ...... meeting is now ............ concluded."


    "Her Majesty Queen Latestwood, Her Imperial Highness, Her Imperial Highness Lady Leifa Lim-Latestwood, and her subjects, you are dismissed!


    Without even waiting for the mouthpiece of the master of ceremonies, Levee shouted.


    Driven by the frantic gazes of the Alkimaira vassals, the officials of RATESTWOOD exited the throne room.


    As soon as the last person had left and the door closed, Helian collapsed like a puppet with broken strings. Levee, holding her collapsed body in her arms, shouts something to the people around her as if shouting at her.


    "Hurry ......!��The bedroom of the home...... country......!��Think ...... kill ............ if you are in the way ......!"


    The sounds are choppy, as if the auditory sense has given up its work.


    Hearing voices in the distance that sounded like angry shouts, Helian let go of his consciousness.

 29 - CHAPTER XXIX "Fleeing"

    --Wake up.


    I saw a ceiling of prestigious style with intricate goldsmith''s work.


    "...... I know that ceiling."


    The king is depicted as being served by eight demons with his army at his back.


    The ceiling painting is a screenshot of a photograph taken at the time of the victory in the battle to determine the world champion.


    This was a room in the castle of Alkimaira, the king''s bedroom.


    "Why are you here ......?


    When I woke up, I was struck with a sense of weariness.


    Then dizziness. My vision shook. I lay down on the bed.


    "...... you passed out."


    Gradually I remember.


    The clearing of the Noblewood soldiers.


    The recapture of the capital of Lattestwood.


    Healing the unhealed wounds.


    The agreements between the countries were settled and the post-war process was roughly finished.


    That is the last image that remains in my memory.


    If you check the clock in the virtual window, it is almost noon the next day. Apparently, I had been unconscious for more than half a day.


    "I feel sick.


    With a desire to wash away the unpleasant sensation, he reached for the pitcher of water on the side table. He poured the contents into the gold-worked cup and slurped it down in one gulp. My thirst is quenched, but my mood remains the same. But then..,


    "...... can you move?"


    A sudden question.


    I am definitely uncomfortable, but not so much that I can''t move.


    Thinking back on my condition before I fainted, it was rather puzzling that I was only feeling this ill.


    My body must have suffered a considerable load from the continuous use of the "secret" potions that I had forced myself to use. It would have been normal for me to stay in bed for a few days.


    I looked over and found two notes on the side table where the pitcher was placed.


    They must have been left by Levee, since she is the only one who can enter this bedroom without the king''s permission.


    I picked up the first note and found a brief message in beautiful handwriting. I read through the contents of the message, and I am satisfied with my physical condition, which has recovered to a certain extent.


    "You used the holy water of the World Tree, ...... no wonder."


    It is a rare item, so rare that even the superpower Alkimaira possesses only three of them.


    It is an item that can eliminate all kinds of abnormalities and fully recover all ability values (status), but it is so rare that it has become a topic of conversation (news) because it is so difficult to obtain.


    Although it is possible to obtain it rarely in the events of the Trial of God, even a few large countries cannot avoid losing their forces, and some of them have lost almost 30% of their forces because of their insistence on obtaining the item.


    In the game, only the player could use the "holy water of the world tree", but Liewe, at his own discretion, took it out of the treasury and used it on Helian. The note said that , but I could not blame her.


    It was a rare item, but Helian''s condition must have been so critical that she had no choice but to use it without permission.


    Then we read the second note, which reads <>.


    This made sense as to why Levee was not with him. Unlike the time of the rebellion, now is the immediate aftermath of the war. Although he declared that he would finish the post-war processing, it was only a rough part of it, and there was still a lot of preparation and chores to be done for the detailed coordination. They are probably doing some of the work for us.


    I feel uneasy to entrust my work to someone else as a conditioned reflex.


    However, I shook off my anxiety when I remembered that even in the game era, Levee, the king''s aide, and Ertina, the domestic affairs officer, had performed some of the tasks on behalf of the player.


    Although only the player could make important decisions, they had taken care of all the miscellaneous matters that did not need to be decided by the player himself. If this is the case, then I can trust them this time as well, and it will not be a big problem. It seemed dangerous to completely trust the events of the game era, but on the other hand, I also felt that the girls would be fine.


    First of all, Helian himself was not in a condition to conduct political affairs.


    "............"


    I got up slowly and threw my nightclothes on the bed. He takes his usual clothes out of the closet and changes into them, and leaves the room with a gray hooded robe that he does not usually wear - a tabard robe that can be worn over his cloak.


    "This is our king ......!��You''re awake."


    The Kingsguard waiting in front of the door salute at once.


    The sight of the living armored men standing in a row, saluting without a stitch of disarray, was overwhelming in itself.


    "Oh, ...... I''m going out now."


    "You''re not ...... well, I beg your pardon. Then escort yourself."


    No, that''s not necessary. I''ve been thinking about it.


    Well, I''m sorry to say so, but ......


    No problem. It''s the king''s order. If Rieve or Balan complain, explain that you were strongly ordered to do so by me."


    As he walked away, he made up a smoke screen with a suitable excuse.


    The living armored man, who had been told that he had been ordered by the king, stopped, unable to follow.


    Then Helian turns the corner of the corridor and, taking advantage of the opportunity when no one is looking, he puts on a gray robe and hides his face.


    The sound of a single shoe echoes inorganically through the empty corridor as they move away from the castle toward the outside. There was no sign of the king, only a solitary "someone" walking alone. Soon, the sound of the shoes goes down the grand staircase, through the entrance, through the garden, and under the gate, and away from the castle.


    --The king has fled the castle.


    + + +


    The town was filled with excitement.


    The city of Alkimaira, where food, clothing, and shelter are provided and the night is safe from other threats. Many of the people there live happy lives.


    However, even the citizens of Alkymyra, as demons, have more or less the same fighting instincts. It is natural for demons to feel that simply enjoying peace is not enough for them, and many of the people are stressed out due to the unprecedented crisis that has forced them to move to an unknown land.


    Then came the recent order for the entire army to go into battle, and the dream of the king himself leading the entire army into battle. It is no wonder that the demons were so excited that they were on the rampage, as if they were trying to release their anger and resentment. The result is a bridgehead in another world, and a victory to be proud of.


    The citizens greeted the army''s triumphant return to their homeland with loud cheers and snowstorms of flowers. The victorious soldiers, too, proudly puffed out their chests and were showered with applause like rain.


    Have they been waiting there all along? When the flower fairy spots her lover''s face among the crowd of soldiers who are going through the Arc de Triomphe one after another, she rushes to him. After a soft embrace, the young man is handed a handmade flower crown, and the soldiers around him are coldly scornful and reproachful.


    The young man, who hears the jeering and cursing mixed in, drops a kiss on his lover''s cheek as if to show it to the others. The women shouted yellow and the men voiced their disapproval.


    Then, the young man, grinning as he hugged his bashful lover, received a blow from a blue demon man who looked as if he might cry tears of blood.


    But in return, the flower fairy woman gave him a snappy slap. The slap by the flower fairy woman seemed to break through the defense of the blue demon tribe, and as a result, the man ended up with bright red leaves stuck on his cheeks.


    His friends who were watching the scene were pointing their fingers and laughing foolishly, and a playful skirmish started between the blue devil man and his friends who had found the point of anger they couldn''t do anything about.


    It is now a full-blown festival.


    Even a day after the battle, the excitement continues, with the soldiers boasting of their war results to each other in the bars, and the citizens in attendance encouraging them to "tell us your tales of valor". The soldiers were so pleased that they even performed a dance to display their war results in a grand manner.


    "Then they attacked with wind magic from a long distance!��Ten or twenty blades try to reap my life, but I''m not the one to turn my back on such a feeble blade of wind!��I jumped headfirst into the space where the wind magic was blowing and intercepted it with my fists!��I wish you guys could have seen the look on their dumb faces when I did that, d*mn it!"


    "...... What''s with the ten or twenty blades, you overdid it, you idiot. By the time you were brought into the front line, there was nothing left to catch that could be organized.


    "Well, it''s true that we only killed a few of them, ...... but it''s true that we beat them head on when they were shooting wind magic at us in groups!"


    "They were all small fry that could only send a few wind blades per fish. It''s more embarrassing to get wounded by them, you idiot.


    "You didn''t kill any of them, did you?��I know that you were carrying a big f*cking axe and by the time you got to the front line, the battle was almost over!��How does it feel to go on a field trip carrying a big axe all the way out there!"


    "Fine, get out the front door, you son of a b*tc*!��I don''t need an axe against you!��Let''s settle this with our fists!


    The brawl suddenly broke out. >>The crowd is cheering for the musicians, and they hold impromptu betting booths to collect bets from the audience.


    Everyone was laughing.


    The brawlers were no exception, and although they were angry at first, they were now exchanging fist blows with each other, laughing at each other. Citizens and soldiers present clinked their beer mugs and began to slurp down their drinks, using the brawl as a snack.


    On this particular day, even the strictly disciplined 2nd Corps patrolmen were only able to say, , and everywhere in the city, >The chants of "I''ll be back!


    --Amidst all this, there was Helian, wandering aimlessly with his head down.


    His expression is dark and heavy.


    Many people look at him suspiciously, as he is so different from the bustle around him, but on the other hand, there is no commotion, despite the fact that the king, Helian, has gone to the castle town.


    This is thanks to the effect of the ash robe he wears on his head. [The robe of ashes, which is an extremely rare player-only piece of equipment in Tactics Chronicle, is covered with a powerful deception spell that fools the viewer''s perception. <, and thanks to this robe, Helian was able to wander around the city without anyone noticing his true identity.


    "I''m ............ tired."


    How far have we walked?


    I have nowhere to go.


    I just wanted to get away from the castle, the symbol of being a king.


    I''ll calm down when the night is over.


    Unfortunately, he still remembered what he had done yesterday, and the memory of it tormented him.


    It was something that had to be done.


    He had no choice but to use force.


    They were vermin, not men.


    I only rescued the suffering half-elf.


    I told myself that, and even though they were vermin that did not consider people to be people, the enemies I defeated were in human form. As a Japanese with a sense of decency, I have some pangs of conscience.


    --But the monsters who were jubilant in front of me had none of that.


    They recounted with realism how they had defeated the Noblewood soldiers, and proudly held up their weapons that had ended the lives of their enemies, and the audience, young and old, male and female, listened with delight. I felt like I was being shown the crucial difference between humans and demons.


    Helian, the king of demons, will continue to be at the helm of the country.


    He must rule well so as not to bring misfortune to his people, take a firm and strong stance in diplomacy with other powers with which he will come into contact, and when war comes, he must inspire his people and stand at the forefront of it. He must continue to be a man worthy of being the king of all demons.


    There is no way he can ...... do that."


    The speech I gave the other day certainly gained the people''s support.


    The response was greater than we had imagined, and it is no exaggeration to say that we received tremendous support.


    However, if one were to ask whether this was due to the charisma of the king (Helian), Helian would shake his head. The people expressed their approval with a sniffle, but Helian interpreted that it was only successful because it appealed to the fighting instinct of the demons who wanted to fight. He was a mere student who liked to play games, so he could not possibly have any charisma.


    So, would he have to continue to fight?


    No, that''s a no-brainer.


    This time I was able to fool myself into thinking that it was vermin control. But there is no way that the other forces that Alkimaira will come into contact with in the future are all such outcasts.


    The fact that we were able to overwhelmingly defeat the enemy forces of the Noblewood has confirmed that our military power is quite high even in this other world, but that does not mean that we intend to follow the path of the High King. I have no intention of following the path of the High King.


    However, if he is to remain a king without fighting, he has to be charismatic enough to win the people''s will even if he insists on unwillingness to fight, or he has to demonstrate his superior leadership and political power. But Helian is just an ordinary Japanese and a student. Political science and imperialism are far beyond his expertise. There is no way he can do it.


    "Are you kidding me? ...... I''m just a student. I can''t do politics. ...... Why is this happening?


    If you don''t act like a king, you will eventually lose faith and rebel.


    And if he rebels, Helian, a fragile people, will have no way to resist.


    Therefore, it is necessary to continue to present the image of the King of All Evil.


    But as king, he has little skill in diplomacy.


    The knowledge he has gained from his university lectures is only a temporary knowledge.


    "Someday, you will be exposed. And when he is out of shape, he will be abandoned. ....... If they give up on you, they will betray you and kill you. ......"


    I was aware that my thoughts were stuck in a bad loop.


    But there was no one to talk to.


    This was not something I could talk about, even with Levee.


    There was no one who understood.


    In Alkymyra, with over 100,000 people, I was the only human being.


    There is no way to return to the real world.


    I don''t even know if there really is such a way.


    But it is difficult to continue living as a human being in this world.


    In this land of monsters and beasts, we can only survive by relying on the power of demons. Even if you were lucky enough to escape the forest and reach a place of rest, the Sixth Legion would easily find out your whereabouts.


    After all, even the option of <> is stated as a precondition for <>.


    "I don''t even know if I can return to my original world.


    It is impossible to remain the ideal king.


    One day you will be betrayed and die.


    But if you run away, you will be found easily.


    If they find out you ran away, they will be disappointed and kill you."


    I''m stuck.


    That''s what I think.


    I don''t know why, but I wanted to scream.


    I can''t take this anymore.


    I''ve had enough.


    Why do I have to go through this?


    I thought I had a perfectly normal life.


    You''ve never bothered anyone, you''ve never been on the stage, you''ve just lived your life as an ordinary person.


    And then one day, while you were enjoying the game as usual... you suddenly find yourself in another world.


    You are the king of demons, living in a world where the law of the jungle is the law of the jungle.


    I don''t understand.


    It''s a joke.


    It''s beyond absurd.


    No family, no friends, no familiar landscapes.


    This sky does not even continue to Japan.


    "How did this happen? ....... Why did I end up in another world......?


    The feeble mutterings disappeared into the hustle and bustle.


    I continued walking aimlessly, forgetting where I had been until I arrived at a corner on the outskirts of town.


    I looked up and saw a signboard with a picture of a mug overflowing with sake.


    It is a mark of a bar that has been used since the days when most of the people in the country could not read.


    The building to which the signboard was attached looked rather old. The plaster on the walls was peeling in places, and the walls, which had been repaired and repaired many times, had a mosaic pattern. The building, which asserted itself that it was only proud of its age, looked exactly right for a seedy tavern.


    "...... Liquor, huh?"


    Helian has never been a drinker.


    When he joined a club at the university, he was offered a drink, but he stubbornly refused. The older members of the circle were displeased with the new student''s refusal to drink even though he was invited to the welcome party, but he still felt that he could not drink because he was a minor.


    I was ridiculed as a hard guy, but rules are rules. I may not have been an honorable person, but I was a good person to the extent that I tried to obey the law (rules).


    However, I may not be obliged to obey the laws of Japan until I am kidnapped by this world. I hear that drinking sake helps you to forget your bad memories. In a desperate mood and with a little more vigor, I pushed open the door of the bar.


    As soon as he enters the bar, Helian is greeted by the strong smell of alcohol, the savory aroma of burning meat, and the sight of demons slamming their mugs against each other.


    Dwarves and elves, who normally do not get along with each other, stand shoulder to shoulder in celebration, and a dwarf (Korobokkur) stands on the shoulder of a giant, offering ale and a smile. Even in this bar, the triumphant demons seem to be in high spirits.


    The customers'' demons were lying around here and there. The one lying with a bruise on his right eye must be the loser of a fight. Helian looks for a vacant seat, avoiding the happily sleeping dwarf with a bottle of wine in his hand.


    It seems that even such a small bar is very popular today, and most of the seats are occupied. Fortunately, two seats at the corner of the counter were vacant, so Helian took one by the wall.


    "Welcome!


    A husky, wrinkled voice came from behind the counter. It was probably the master of this bar. His voice was as old as the building itself.


    Without looking up, Helian looks for a menu to order.


    Are you new here, sir?"


    "...... is that right?"


    We don''t have a menu.


    Huh?��He frowns.


    What do you mean there''s no menu? Even if it is a bar, serving sake is not enough. I don''t know about you, but I''m sure they order some snacks and drinks.


    It''s an old tradition. >Ever since the owner said that, we''ve stuck to this style.


    No, it may indeed help to create an old-fashioned atmosphere in the developing or ...... medieval era, but it is too inconvenient. It is too inconvenient to know what you can eat and drink without asking the waiter. I don''t know if it is to create an atmosphere or not, but I would like to complain about the owner''s management policy.


    "I don''t care what kind of alcohol you have, just serve me whatever you want."


    "If you''re a first-timer, how about some of our recommended ales?


    Okay, that''s it.


    Anything.


    As long as it gets me drunk.


    I don''t really care what it tastes like as long as I can forget about the bad things.


    "Hey, wait."


    A half-size cup is placed in front of me with the easygoing voice of a stand-up ramen store owner. The refreshing sound of carbonation tickled my ears.


    The liquid glowed amber. As I was about to drink it, I felt a slight sense of resistance from the decency of a minor, but I took it in my mouth at once as if I didn''t care. The smell of alcohol almost made me gag. A bitter taste on my tongue. For a moment, I was tempted to spit it out, but I held back. However, I could not swallow it.


    "Um, is there a seat next to ...... available?"


    A woman''s voice asks with slight hesitation.


    Helian nodded bluntly and answered. Then, struggling with the alcohol in her mouth, she casually looked at the owner of the voice.


    Then, "Well, excuse me..."


    A girl of about 15 years old sat down in the seat next to me.


    Halfway pointed bamboo ears. Green eyes with a light that was both sharp and kind. Skinny frame and fresh skin. A half-elf (...... half-elf (??????)) with a face I''ve seen somewhere recently, but not quite as young as I''d like.


    --There she was, the queen of Llatestwood.


    She blew.


    "Bwah!��Gee, gee, eh ......!"


    "Kyaaaah!��Eh, huh?��What''s going on?��Are you okay?


    The girl next to me (Leifa) hurriedly pulls out a hand towel from her pocket while screaming at the strange behavior of the young man who burst out without warning.


    The king and queen have a chance encounter in a bar.

 30 - The Thirtieth "Strong"

    Upon seeing the queen, who was not supposed to be there, Helian splashed his ale with a loud bang.


    Leifer hurriedly takes out what looks like a hand towel, to which Helyan turns his palm to say, <>.


    In fact, it was not only nothing, but a disaster. And this is the third time. It''s becoming a common story. I wonder if I am cursed to spew out my drink in front of these sisters.


    "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m ...... okay, I just got a little choked up."


    "...... ha, ha."


    Leifer looked at me suspiciously because I was swollen more than just a little, but he seemed to have sensed my reluctance to be questioned, and readily withdrew from the conversation.


    On the other hand, Helian, who was wiping the counter with his own handkerchief, was in a state of confusion.


    ��Why ......?)


    Why is there a noble queen in such a seedy bar?


    She''s out of place.


    And what a coincidence that she is sitting next to me.


    If there really is a God, I want to curse him.


    The robes of concealment have a disorienting effect, so there is little chance of my identity being revealed, but it is terribly unsettling to have a known face in close proximity.


    "Um... ......"


    "What is it?"


    Leifa called out to me in a reserved manner.


    Helian stiffened as if he had just been discovered.


    "Do you have the menu list over there?"


    "...... No, they don''t have anything of the sort."


    "What?"


    "No, we don''t have a menu. We don''t have a menu.


    "...... is a novelty."


    It seems that menu lists exist even in the common knowledge of other worlds.


    While acquiring new knowledge, I guess that the owner of this restaurant is either crazy or a nostalgist.


    "Hey there, newcomer. What happened to the others?


    They''re still upstairs discussing. It''s hard to work out the details.


    The owner behind the counter and Leifa engage in a brief and casual conversation.


    From the content of their conversation, it seemed that the Latestwood emissary and his party had come ahead of time to discuss the details of postwar processing, and were staying at this tavern and inn.


    I was tempted to whine and complain to them to choose a better lodging, but I remembered that the population was over capacity due to the national celebration. All the inns must have been full.


    "But it''s rare to see a group of hoods all together, isn''t it? Are they related to the Sixth Legion?"


    "Sixth ......?��Well, maybe not, but I''d appreciate it if you didn''t mention that. ......"


    "Huh. Well, I don''t mind."


    Oh, okay.


    Her appearance has never been seen by the people of Alkimaira.


    Only the commander class and a few demons of the Sixth Legion know of the Queen of Rattestwood''s appearance. So a disguise as simple as a hood is sufficient to conceal her true identity.


    So, what would you like to order?��For a drink, a cold ale. For food, I recommend the cockatrice tempura or the smoked braised wild boar.


    "So, tempura?��Can you give me something called.... I would like to order something without alcohol.


    This is a bar, remember?


    "It''s a tavern and inn, isn''t it?��I remember being sold that way."


    "Mmm ......, how about some freshly squeezed white apple juice?��It''s actually for fruit wine."


    Thank you for your time. I''ll take it then."


    After a while, the owner put the order he had finished making in front of Leifer and ran to another table. It seems that there are not enough waiters for the number of customers, and they are hurriedly going back and forth from table to table.


    "It''s crowded, isn''t it?"


    I wonder if he was being clever.


    While struggling with the unfamiliar dishes, Leifa asked me a question.


    "The inhabitants of a country with a great king seem to be happy.


    The topic chosen was that of the king of this country, whose name is called everywhere. It was an appropriate choice as a common topic of conversation among strangers.


    --But Helian felt irresistible irritation.


    "He is a truly noble man. I am deeply grateful to him..."


    "...... where?"


    "What?"


    "What is it about him that makes him such a great king?"


    The muttering came out lower than I thought it would.


    "...... They''re all just fooled by him. It''s a wonder that all the great demons follow that man. He''s the weakest of them all. He can''t even beat a goblin."


    The stagnant thoughts in my chest were spewed out from my mouth.


    "Yes, that''s right. He''s not such a great man. He''s just a weak, cowardly man who can be found anywhere. And now he''s giving a big speech, telling us to save the people of Latticewood?��What''s the big deal? I can''t do it myself, so please save me instead. You''re just a small person who barks like a tiger."


    Once you say it, you can''t stop.


    The sordid feelings overflow like a weir.


    "The healing of the people of Rattlestwood after the war was probably just a way to ingratiate yourself with the queen of that country, wasn''t it? No, he didn''t make good on his promise in the first place. Of course he did it to cover up his guilt. A benevolent king?��You make me laugh. If you were truly merciful, you would have helped us when we first met."


    You can''t keep it down.


    There''s a limit to how long you can grit your teeth.


    The accumulated pressure had long since overtaken Hellian''s tolerance level for the person of Tsukasa Misaki.


    "It''s the same with the governance. The reason why he gave up his autonomy so condescendingly is because he lacks confidence in his own ability to rule. His own political power is so limited that he can only act on the strength of his military power when he is cornered. He is a man who cannot even run a single town without the help of his subordinates. And to call himself king is outrageous."


    That''s right.


    Negotiations between players are just an extension of chat conversations.


    Helian has never had any real political power from the beginning.


    "He takes advantage of his position and gets others involved in his activities, and then he claims the credit for others'' achievements as if it were his own. And to top it all off, they can''t do anything on their own, yet they have the bravado to do so. He is a hypocrite who makes himself look big, deceives the people with the false image he has created, and wears the mask of a king. ......!


    That''s the honest truth, no questions asked.


    It was the truth that Helian had been holding in his heart and turning away from.


    What is the King of All Evil? What is the head of a superpower? What is the ruler of the world?


    What kind of a man talks with his mouth!


    I''m not that big of a deal.


    I''m just an ordinary student, a student with nothing special to offer, just like anyone else.


    So what?


    I was playing a game as usual when I was transported to another world, even though I wasn''t hit by a truck.


    And when I went out to explore with all the courage I could muster, I suddenly encountered the royal family of a nation in the midst of an interspecies conflict. In the village, I was shown a tragedy like a poorly written three-act play.


    The ensuing uprising led to the cranium being crushed by a supposedly dead rebel as soon as he turned his back on the scene of the gut-splattering. Although he was able to revive himself, in his castle, he was so distracted that he did not have time to rest, even while eating.


    Even so, he fought back his breaking heart and conducted an audience, playing the role of the King of All Evil. However, when I visited the village of Rattestwood again, I found myself clinging to the half-elves just before their destruction, and as a result, I was forced to bear many human lives.


    Furthermore, he thought he had succeeded in bringing the country together in a desperate attempt to rescue a kidnapped girl, but what awaited him in the capital of Rattestwood was not salvation, but despair.


    And it has only been three days.


    Three days.


    There will surely be more upheavals in the days to come.


    And the one who will lead the people is the king of the Haribo, a man of no merit at all.


    It is hard to imagine that this will go well.


    Just thinking about the future makes me tremble with fear.


    So, I''ve long since passed my limits.


    There is no strength left in me to walk again.


    I''ve been cursing at a girl (Leifa) who lost all her relatives.


    --Suddenly, I felt like dying.


    "............"


    Perhaps disgusted by the man''s abomination in front of her, Leifa fell silent.


    An awkward silence lay there. Helian''s words seem to have been lost in the clamor and did not reach the other guests, but Leifa''s ears must have heard everything that was said.


    Leifa let out a few words.


    "Still ...... even if that were the case, I will never forget my respect for him."


    "......Why?��Why do you trust that man so much?"


    When I asked him, not knowing why, Leifa smiled with a lowered eyebrow.


    "He was angry with me for my sister''s sake."


    --I was speechless.


    That''s it?


    Just because of that?


    "We are a persecuted race for ...... certain reasons, and no one was on our side."


    There are no allies.


    The only people you can trust are the few people in your own country.


    Then, even that much kindness...


    So they did not enjoy even the compassion of resenting the death of a young child?


    They are enemies to everyone except their own people.


    For these women who have been forced to live in such a normal environment for so many years, how did the sudden appearance of this eccentric traveler affect them?


    "We were treated almost like slaves before we came to this land, and when we finally found a safe haven, we were looked down upon as low creatures by the elves who lived nearby, our closest relatives.


    In fact, it''s worse.


    They were kept alive only to be fed by dragons that seemed to be relics of the gods.


    They were regarded as nothing more than livestock, not slaves.


    "But he did not look down on us. On the contrary, he saved us from years of persecution by Noblewood. He was outraged by the condition of our wounded brothers and sisters. We are saved by his actions. This is a fact that no one, not even God, can overturn."


    ...... Indeed, the threat of Noblewood is gone.


    But not in time.


    It was not in time.


    I couldn''t save the one person I really wanted to save.


    And yet, the girl who lost her sister just a few days ago, smiles stoutly and says, "I''m sorry, but I couldn''t save the one person I really wanted to save,


    "So I will tell him again and again.


    .


    .


    As if to show that it is from the bottom of your heart.


    Words of gratitude spun as if praying, hands on chests.


    My throat trembled and my eyes were burning.


    I wondered who was saved.


    "I am sure that you have your own deep reasons for saying what you just said, even though you are a citizen of this country. But shouldn''t we give him credit for what he has accomplished?"


    You should acknowledge your accomplishments, says Leifa.


    A sweet whisper.


    It works even better for a weak person like myself.


    I resisted the urge to jump on her words without thinking.


    "......You''ve done everything you''ve done with the help of others.


    It''s not like he himself put in the sweat of his brow. It''s not even a matter of relying on others. ......!"


    Do not enjoy sweet words.


    Do not enjoy the sweet words of Helian''s rebuttal, spewed out in anguish from such trivial rebelliousness,


    "What''s wrong with that?��That''s what a king is supposed to be."


    The Queen of Ratestwood dismissed the matter-of-factly.


    "In times of emergency, make better choices and solve problems properly with the right people. In doing so, she leads her people, protects her country, and nurtures it. This is the job of the king. There is no reason that the king must accomplish everything by his own power.


    If there is a king who thinks like that, he must be called a foolish king. It means that he does not trust his subjects who support him and, by extension, the power of the people.


    The virtuous queen informs the inexperienced king.


    The power of the people is also part of the king''s power.


    It is not where the power resides that the king should worry about, but how to use the power the nation possesses.


    "I may not be able to say this, but I have failed in my duty as a leader.


    A shy, wry smile.


    The broken tone of his bashful smile is probably a reflection of his concern for Helian''s stiffened shoulders.


    "And you spoke ill of her, but you didn''t mean ...... what you said, did you?"


    No, that''s not true.


    The sludge-like words you just spewed out are unmistakably your true feelings.


    I believe from the bottom of my heart that such a man should not be king, that he cannot be king.


    "But you''re crying, aren''t you?"


    "...... what?"


    Nonsense," he said, rubbing his fingers under his eyes.


    Naturally, his fingertips remained dry.


    Not a trace of moisture.


    No tears.


    No tears.


    There are people in the world who cry without shedding a tear. My sister taught me that."


    Her sister.


    The girl who is no longer with us.


    There is no chance to question the truth of her words.


    "I don''t mean to be rude, but when you were criticizing her, you looked like a drowning child.


    A person who really heaps abuse on a person with a heart of gold has a face contorted into a look of contempt or amusement. It is impossible for them to have such a look of bitterness on their face.


    I am sure of it because I have been oppressed for so many years, Leifa said lightly. Helian looked down at the counter, unable to look at her directly.


    "And just to clear up one misunderstanding, he was fulfilling the most important task of a king..."


    "...... most important job?"


    What''s that?


    Helian thinks back to what he has done, but he has no idea what he has done.


    Like a confessor in front of a nun who tells him the way, Helian waits for the next words,


    "--To take responsibility."


    The words were like a revelation.


    "The man was thorough, especially in that one area. He was determined to abide by a contract that was not in writing and could not even be called an oral agreement. .......


    And if he could not fulfill it, he was willing to pay the price with his own body and soul. There was no need for him to do such a thing. ......"


    The contract I made with my sister.


    I will save every last Latestwood citizen who is kidnapped this time.


    A promise I made to my sister.


    I will help in any way I can.


    Neither of us has lived up to our promises.


    However, it is not something that can be settled with <.


    A promise made once has a weight of its own.


    It is natural to take responsibility for the results.


    It is a natural thing for a human being, nothing special.


    I''m sure that''s his way of being a king.


    "I will keep my promises at all costs and take responsibility for the results.


    I have witnessed one ideal of a king who embodies this belief."


    The ideal image of a king?


    Who in the world is he talking about?


    No, she must be talking about the King of Alkimaira right now.


    But Helian himself felt that she was talking about someone far away.


    "I''m sorry to sound like a stranger who just met you for the first time, ...... but I''m sure you''re just misunderstanding me. If you could talk to him directly, you would understand that."


    Then you will never know.


    The things she sees are only illusions.


    I feel as if I''m listening to someone else.


    ......, but...


    But still.


    If she says so.


    - if she says that to me, the one who said those lines that made me want to cry.


    Can I give myself just a little bit of recognition?


    Can I allow myself to expect more from my weak self?


    "Please don''t look so bitter.


    One day you will understand. You will be fine.


    Leifa smiles at me.


    It was an expression I had seen only recently.


    Their faces are very similar. No wonder they are sisters.


    In the face of this expression, my vision blurred slightly...


    "I don''t think you need to hold back your tears, do you?


    I cried like a little kid last night, too.


    Oh, please don''t tell anyone. I''m a part of the leadership, and I''m in a position where it would be very embarrassing if anyone knew about the ugliness.


    It''s a secret," Leifua says, holding her index finger in front of her lips.


    I lied about feeling better. The pain of mourning one''s immediate family is not something that can be put to rest in a single night. And yet, the girl in front of me dares to play a trick to comfort the pathetic man I have just met.


    Therefore, Helian turns his head to the ceiling and holds back what is about to overflow behind his eyelids.


    It was unforgivable to cry in front of her.


    I can''t cry.


    "I can''t cry either, because of my position. ....... I''m a man, after all."


    Men should not cry.


    Even children know this rule.


    It may be different in different parts of the world, but it is the same.


    "Are you going to continue to work hard in that position?��Is it ever hard for you?"


    When I think of my sister, this level of pain is nothing to me. I''m still her big sister.


    ...... Oh, that''s not fair.


    That''s too cowardly.


    How can it not be painful to lose one''s last remaining relative?


    And yet, you''re smiling with the best smile I''ve ever seen in any village.


    ," she muttered sadly, trying to cheer up the people around her with a smile on her face that was a mirror image of the girl who said those words.


    --<


    I can''t just stand here looking down.


    "...... you''re strong, aren''t you?"


    The younger girl in front of me has lost many things, but she keeps looking forward.


    Then there is no reason why I, who am older than her and have not lost anything yet, should be broken.


    At least as long as the girl in front of me is doing her best, I have a responsibility to keep on trying.


    ......Yes, I know.


    It''s just stubbornness.


    It''s just the will of a cheap, crappy guy who spent his youth playing video games.


    But even so, I think this will must be carried through to the end.


    I think so.


    I could think that way.


    "...... me."


    "Yes."


    "......I really thought it might not work anymore."


    That''s not true.


    "...... that there''s nothing a guy like me can do to help."


    No, there is always a way.


    "...... but I heard that there are people who support me and love me even though I''m such a f*cking pathetic person."


    Then you will be fine. That lover has a good eye for people."


    One thought at a time.


    Leifa politely affirms the man I have never met before, who is not very specific in his words.


    Some people might have resented this, saying, <>.


    But for Helian, those words were an irreplaceable blessing.


    It made me think that I can do my best even if I am like this.


    So, in order to keep looking forward, I decided to tell her that I will not go back to my weak self.


    "...... So, it''s me..."


    "Yes."


    "I''ll try a little harder."


    "Yes. Let''s work hard for each other."


    It''s a pledge.


    As long as the girl in front of me doesn''t break, I''ll keep looking forward too.


    I believe that will be my mourning for the girl who is no longer with us.


    �� �� ��


    After finishing the tempura, Leifa bowed and left the table, saying, "I have to go back soon, or people will worry about me. She behaved with integrity to the end.


    It was a coincidence that we met here, but I am very glad that we could talk.


    All the depressive feelings that I had been holding in until just a few minutes ago were drained out of me, and all that remained was a vague, enlightened feeling.


    --Of course, it was just my imagination. I am not enlightened.


    How can we call such a state of mind, which can be reached by such a fluctuation of mind, enlightenment?


    This is a temporary feeling that is forgotten as soon as one goes to sleep and wakes up.


    It is nothing more than an illusion of self-delusion that adolescent students tend to have.


    But I will never forget my decision again.


    After all, I made a promise to her, to no one else.


    A vow is unilateral.


    I am the only one who made the vow, and I am also the only one who is bound by it, which is a serious oversight.


    Still, a promise is a promise.


    And it is natural for a human being to keep a promise.


    Then I''m sure I''ll be fine from tomorrow.


    I believe that I will be all right.


    ......I was suddenly thinking about the castle.


    Rieve and the others must be very worried about me since I had almost snuck out on my own. It was time for me to go home.


    After paying the bill, I was about to leave when I was roughly grabbed by the shoulder.


    "Hey, hey, hey!��Today is the anniversary of the victory. I''ll buy you a drink and you can relax!


    A red-faced orc gets involved.


    His breath reeks of alcohol.


    "What are you doing, you drunkard? What are you doing drunk?


    That''s right. Pull back, you pig!


    "But that idiot''s right!��It''s Victory Day, so drink up!"


    "Hey!��It is an insult to our king not to drink on such a festive day. And the second person who called you a pig, I''m going to kick your ass later, remember that!��And anyway, hey, hey, hey, don''t put on that grimy robe, come over here and have a drink with us, you too!��Gahaha!"


    "Oh, hey, don''t pull the robe off, stop ......!"


    Despite her pleas for restraint, Helian is stripped of her gray robe, a ...... cloaking robe that has a cognitive inhibiting effect.


    The black cloak with the national coat of arms is revealed underneath.


    "........................ heh?"


    The man who had stripped off his robe let out a dumb sound and stiffened.


    His friends, who had been cheering him on, also peel their eyes away, unable to believe what they have just seen.


    The others followed their gaze and opened their mouths in disbelief at the sudden silence.


    A young man was standing at the end of the room.


    He wears a black cloak.


    On its back is the coat of arms of a great nation.


    But there was no number engraved on it to indicate his rank as the leader of a legion.


    There is only one man in the world who can bear the emblem of Alkimaira without numbers.


    Who is it?


    No one is fool enough to ask.


    The head of the nation. The one and only absolute. King of all demons.


    Helian Edda Elsinorek.


    "Oh, ......"


    I''m screwed," Helian said with a sigh.


    The guests are all frozen, having correctly recognized the unbelievable fact.


    The bar, which had been filled with a bubbling, bubbling noise earlier, was now as quiet as a chapel in the early morning.


    And the poor lackey, the orc, whose face had been reddened by the spirit, now looks pale. Now all I have to do is turn it yellow and I''ll have a one-man traffic light, I thought to myself stupidly.


    It seems that I can''t just go home without any problems now.


    Helian thinks to himself that this world is very hard on him and wonders how he can make this situation go away.


    "Oh, owner?"


    A voice falls over the silence in the restaurant, sounding as if it had been uttered unintentionally.


    When I looked at the owner of the voice, I found him standing dumbfounded behind the counter. It was the first time I had seen the owner directly, and he was a goblin.


    I had expected his voice to be hoarse, but for some reason, there was a strange sense of d��j�� vu in his face, as if I had seen him somewhere before.


    "Owner ......?��You mean me?"


    Apparently, he is referring to himself.


    Although Helian himself owned several properties, I often wondered if he had ever owned such an old-fashioned store.


    As I looked at the owner''s face and thought about it, I suddenly had a memory that dredged up.


    "Are you ...... Gobutaro by any chance?"


    The goblin''s face was hard to distinguish, but it certainly had an aspect.


    Gobutaro is the name of the first monster that Helian defeated in the game [Tactics Chronicles]. By chance, he succeeded in determining his tame and brought him in as a friend, and they shared the battlefield together during the turbulent period in the early stages of the game.


    However, he was not able to reincarnate due to his blending, and he could no longer keep up with the front line of battle. He was retired from the military after his second death.


    After his retirement, he was registered as a resident of the capital city as a test case for a resident unit that would play an active role in industry, and was supposed to be entrusted with the management of a certain store. .......


    Why are you here?


    "What?��Oh, no, I don''t know why you ask, but the owner personally put me in charge of this bar ...... and I''m running it like this ......."


    "What about ......?"


    No way," he said, looking around the old-fashioned restaurant.


    "Is this ......<> by any chance?"


    "Yes, yes, the owner is. Didn''t you see the sign?"


    I saw the mark of the bar, but I did not see the name of the restaurant on the sign.


    Apparently, I was more narrow-minded than I thought.


    However, the old signboard hanging on the front of the restaurant must have been inscribed with the name of the restaurant, which I had named without any twist, , along with the design of the restaurant.


    "............ pff,kk,kk,kk."


    Such a sound came from the bottom of my stomach.


    I unconsciously cover my face with my right hand.


    Oh, I don''t know why. Uncontrollable emotions naturally welled up in me. My diaphragm shakes of its own accord, and I can''t stop it.


    "Kukukukukuku......kuha,ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha--!"


    I let go of the urge that came over me, and it overflowed in the form of laughter.


    In the quiet restaurant, Helian''s loud laughter echoes loudly from his stomach. Drooling over the sound of silly laughter, I think back on the memories of the past days.


    It''s a real blast from the past.


    Somewhere along the way, I even forgot where it was, but the hut that stood where it all began had become so dilapidated that Helian had converted it into a tavern as a monument.


    In short, I am now standing at the place where I took my first steps in the world of Tactics Chronicle.


    What a joke that this place, where I was almost ready to give up, and where I decided to make a fresh start, is of all places the "place of the beginning", the origin of "Helian". If this is a divine arrangement, then it is a very interesting one.


    I don''t know why I am laughing so hard.


    But I guess the thoughts of those who are laughing are more or less like that.


    They just can''t stop laughing. There is no reason for it.


    As I endure the wave of laughter that has finally subsided, I am aware of a painful gaze piercing through me. It is a natural reaction to suddenly burst out laughing without any reason. It is no wonder that they think I have gone insane.


    But Helian is no longer afraid of the gazes of the demons.


    Perhaps it was because I had laughed so hard with my mouth wide open, but I felt strangely refreshed. I feel refreshed by my overly simple mental structure and bask in the afterglow.


    Oh, what a coincidence, really.


    How could I have wandered into this place at this time of all days?


    And to meet the friends I left long ago.


    I never thought that we would be able to have a conversation again in this bar that has kept and maintained the old promise (order).


    I am truly glad that I did not give it up just because I reached the limit of revival. I never dreamed that we would meet again in such a way.


    ---- Hey, wait.


    I''m creeped out (?????).


    Every sweat gland in my body opened up and sweat poured out.


    In an instant, I was caught in a state of indescribable agitation.


    Now something stuck.


    I think I have realized something terrible.


    The sentimentality that I had felt earlier, as if I had realized something, has vanished in an instant.


    There is no longer a trace of the afterglow of a big smile.


    But what is going on?


    The mind, the thoughts, the body. None of them work together.


    Only the sense of frustration that runs through my body is still rushing through me.


    Why?


    Why does something similar to an impulse burn my back when I was supposed to be reminiscing about trivial things?


    I don''t know why, but I feel an impending sense of urgency that if I don''t realize it soon, it will be too late, and it is swirling around me in a fury.


    Think back.


    What is it that''s stuck?


    A word that came to you in your recollection.


    The red-hot brain examines each one of the enumerated words at high speed.


    A familiar place. The place where it all began. The owner. The wooden hut. Friends. Monument. Tavern. Goblin. Reunion. Reincarnation. Rebirth limit.


    "-------- resuscitation?"


    .


    The power to revive a dead demon within 24 hours.


    This is a unique ability of the king (player), which can revive a demon up to twice per demon.


    The revival is limited to the people of Alkimaira or the people of the vassal state of Alkimaira.


    My finger moved semi-automatically with an unsettled thought, "No way.


    Basic Home Window: Open. Select: History.


    The history of Alkimaira. A virtual window with a list of the most important events is displayed in front of you. Scrolling up from the latest description at the bottom of the window, the events of the day when Helian visited the village again are described.


    There, Queen Leifa-Lim-Latestwood - that is, the most powerful person in La Teeste Wood - declared the transfer of all the rights to the settlement. The king of Alkimaira, Helian Eddah Elsinorek, immediately accepted it.


    And written below it in red letters is a straightforward fact.


    July 12, 150 years of the history of the Holy Demons, 1:03 p.m. 7 minutes 42 seconds


    Successful Ratestwood Genestration.


    "-------- when."


    When did he die?


    The girl.


    Before Lastwood became part of this country (Alkymyra).


    Or...


    Or after RATESTWOOD became a province of Alkymyra?


    And if it is the latter.


    How much time do we have left to revive?


    "...... wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, oi!!!"


    I''m operating the virtual window with my shaking hands--no, my fingers are not doing their job properly.


    Hurry up.


    Open the function window with a spoken command.


    Exercise Ability On: Friendly Revive.


    The choice of the target is not selective.


    The full name of each person must be entered correctly.


    The management said that this was a measure to prevent the full recovery of lost military power.


    At the time, I thought it was a good idea, but now I am deeply annoyed by this restriction.


    There is no time.


    With frustration and even hatred, Helian stares at the translucent text box floating in front of him and tells the girl''s name.


    Text input by spoken command.


    The name <> is inscribed in the text box.


    After the character''s name is entered, the virtual window switches to show a decision button and a cancel button. The user immediately announces his/her decision. A second confirmation message appears. The user shouts his/her decision again, exasperated that the decision should be made quickly. In response, an inorganic message of 12 characters appears before your eyes.


    --No one available for resuscitation.


    "............----"


    I saw the word "too late" in my vision.


    I felt a strong dizziness, and my knees buckled as if I were about to collapse.


    "Um, ...... you''ve gone quiet all of a sudden, what''s going on?"


    Then a voice called out to me.


    I looked in the direction of the voice and saw Leifer peeking out from the stairway that probably led to the second floor.


    Our eyes met.


    "What?��Why are you here?


    "Leifa!��Tell me Lillipha''s full name right now!!!!"


    Leifa blinked at the sight of the King of All Evil, who was not supposed to be there, but Helian didn''t care and stormed over to her.


    I know it''s a bad move," he said.


    Still, he didn''t want to dismiss the possibility that he had simply gotten the name wrong.


    "Re, is your full name ......?"


    "Yes!��Answer me quickly, I don''t have time for this!


    If "Lillipha" is a nickname!


    Isn''t that girl''s name <>!"


    Please.


    Please tell me it''s not true.


    It is highly unlikely that I am wrong about Lilifa''s full name, judging from the full name of Leifa. I know that in theory. But even if it was a small chance, Helian could not help but put his trust in her.


    "No, no, ...... her name is Rilifa. It is not a nickname.


    And the hope we clung to was cruelly ended.


    The few glimmers of light that remained faded away.


    At the moment her knees buckled, but she continued to speak,


    "But my full name is not .


    The middle name ''Rim'' is used to refer to the queen, so it can''t be used for her name."


    Helian heard a gasp, and he was sure he heard it.


    If he had not been so lucky, even his heart might have stopped for a moment.


    The middle name of royalty who are not queens or kings is "Lum".


    Therefore, her full name is <>. ...... What''s that about?"


    Helian shouted, while Leifa tilted her head curiously.


    "Function Window: Open!


    Ability On: Friendly Revive!


    Revive target name input ��Revive target input��--<>!!!!"


    Decision button in front of you.


    At the same time as he shouted his intention to press the button, he thrust his fist in front of his eyes.


    Immediately after the decision button is pressed with a spoken command, Helian''s fist is slammed against the decision button just as the second confirmation message appears.


    --And a light was born.


    + + +


    Tsukasa Misaki is a university student gamer.


    This is the place where he first arrived in Tactics Chronicle as Helian.


    There is an old bar built as a monument.


    While the whole town was in a state of excitement over the great victory, only one bar was quiet, and suddenly a dazzling light swelled up inside the bar.


    A divine shimmering.


    Soon the pure white light converges on a single point and transforms into the shape of a human being.


    Halfway pointed ears. A face young for its stature. Eyes drooping in a somewhat protective manner. White hair in a half updo. White skin. White tunic. The girl, all in white, has a well-defined appearance, and if her breasts were not moving as she breathed, it would be no wonder that she could be described as an elaborate magic doll.


    After the light has completely disappeared, there is only one girl left.


    "----"


    No one moves.


    Everyone in the room is frozen in silence.


    The reason for their cowering was different for each of them, but they all had one thing in common: they could not believe what they were seeing in front of them.


    At the same time, they were also trapped in a feeling akin to fear that if they said something, the reality in front of them would vanish like a dream or a phantom.


    "............Ah, what is it?"


    The painful silence was broken by a girl looking down at her body curiously.


    "I, why ...... wasn''t I eaten?


    Is that a dream?��I mean, where am I?��You''re not in Latticewood, are you?"


    I look around.


    The girl whose eyes had been wandering with the gestures of a small animal in its sleep eventually fixed her gaze on a point.


    Oh, it''s my sister. Good morning. Where am I?"


    In a dream, the girl recognized her dear sister and casually asked her where she was.


    With the sound of her voice, the time that had stopped ticking in Leifua begins to tick again.


    "LELIFA--......!"


    I ran to him.


    He jumped at her with all his might, as if he was frustrated to be only a few steps away.


    The lightweight girl almost falls to the floor from the force of the jump, but her sister, who hugs her dear sister, does not allow it.


    "Warm ...... alive .......


    ......Rilifa''s alive......Rilifa''s alive......You''re so good!"


    From that point on, there were no words.


    Leifua''s fair face crumpled into a sobbing mess as she held her sister''s body in her arms. She changed the position of her arms several times, as if looking for the position that would allow her to feel her sister''s body warmth the most, and held her tight, never wanting to let her go again.


    The Queen of Latticewood is not there.


    Here is a sister sobbing for the life of her beloved sister.


    "Hey, hey, hey! Sister, you''re hurting me. You''re hurting me!"


    Like a cat that doesn''t want to be bothered, the girl tries to pull her sister away from her with her hands outstretched, but she can''t do it. Confused, she wandered around again looking for some help, and at one point she saw a familiar face.


    "Ah, Mr. Helian.


    A young man with an ordinary face.


    A strange traveler whom I met only once, but I don''t know him well.


    But he is a kind and somewhat dependable human male.


    "Are you crying, ...... Mr. Helian?"


    The young man had an expression on his face that she had never seen before, and the girl asked him in deep wonder.


    "......No. I''m not crying. Men don''t shed tears."


    It sounded a lot like something the girl''s father had said to her one day.


    At that time, the girl recalls, she had not heard it, thinking <.


    But since he said the same thing, it must have been true.


    Maybe it is a man''s world that women do not understand.


    So the girl just muttered "I see" and pretended not to see the beautiful drop of water running down his cheek.


    Meanwhile, the older sister, who is not very attentive, is squeezing the girl''s slender body tightly.


    I think it''s very mean of my sister who never let go of me even though I told her that it hurts, but I couldn''t understand what she was saying. So, in order to escape from her sister''s evil hands who hugs her with no restraint, the girl decides to rely on him.


    But first, there was one doubt that she had to ask him.


    The girl asks the young man as her heart leads her.


    Hey, Mr. Helian. Is this a dream?


    For a moment, the young man''s face contorted into an expression that was difficult to describe.


    But then, as if determined, he smiles wickedly, his cheeks wet, and tells the young girl his answer.


    "No. I can''t help it, I want to cry, but it''s ---- real."


    July 13, 150th year of the history of the Holy Demons.


    The first war in another world is declared over.


    Report of the results of the war.


    The main objective of this operation, the rescue of the people of RATESTWOOD, is completed.


    The capital of RATESTWOOD is successfully recaptured.


    Total victory is achieved by annihilating all enemy forces.


    The number of casualties in the Alkimaira group--zero.


    - End of Chapter 1

 31 - Makuma "A certain bar and a customer"

    Castle town of Alkimaira.


    In a corner on the outskirts of the town, there is an old, rundown tavern.


    It was a seedy tavern that seemed to assert that it was as old as it was new.


    The plaster on the walls is peeling in places, and repeated repairs have unintentionally created a mosaic-like wall surface.


    The interior is also old.


    The furniture is basically all made of wood, but it is not as if the furniture is made of wood. It is just that they are still using the same furniture that has not changed since the opening of the store, when there were no modern products. Although the meaning of the word "antique" is the same, the impression of "antiques" rather than "antiques" is all that comes to mind.


    However, even if it is such a small bar, as long as it has a long history, there will be a certain number of regular customers. And it is because of the regular customers that the bar has somehow managed to keep a healthy business until now.


    ......Well, I haven''t seen you for a while..."


    And the demon man scratching his disheveled hair in front of the store was one of the regular customers.


    Although he was just passing by by chance, the sun had already set and the time was just approaching night. I have been away from this place for the past two weeks, but I might as well go home after drinking for the first time in a while today.


    Fortunately, my pocket is warm, as I received a bonus from the recent war.


    Suddenly I was transported to another world and forced to live a life of uncertainty, but that was only until the other day. No one in the nation who saw that speech is worried about tomorrow. Alkimaira is led by that king.


    Then there is no use in worrying about tomorrow.


    So I guess there''s no problem if I go out drinking.


    Banging his wallet in his pocket, he muttered to himself.


    He was afraid of his wife''s reaction to his empty wallet, but he was sure she wouldn''t be angry at him for being a little light.


    I hear that the pioneering project is about to start. As a state-sponsored public works project, it will create a lot of jobs not only for the people who used to live in the capital, but also for the soldiers of the various military units who gathered for the national celebration.


    I intend to take part in it, which means that my wallet will soon regain its weight. Then I will have to drink today. Tomorrow will take care of itself.


    "Once that''s decided - oh, hey, it''s been a while, manager!��I''ll be out of your way.


    He pushes open the poorly-fitted door and shouts to the back of the store.


    However, the familiar manager was not at the counter. He looked around the store, but could not be seen.


    "......Hey. What''s up, manager?"


    "Hmm?��...... Oh, it''s you. It''s been a long time. The manager went to stock up. We ran out of wine.


    "Wine?��Are there that many customers in this restaurant who would order such an elegant thing?"


    "...... I see. You weren''t here the other day, were you? Well, the clientele here has changed a bit recently. The manager will explain the details, so please wait around.


    I strike up a conversation with a Wartiger regular who is drinking at a table near the door.


    Looking around the restaurant, it seems that not only the clientele but also the number of customers has changed considerably.


    Usually, only half of the customers are there, but today almost all the seats are occupied. On the contrary, some of the customers were even drinking standing up.


    "Whoa! What, there''s an empty counter seat in the back.


    I spotted an empty seat.


    There are only two empty seats in the corner of the counter. The demon strode across the restaurant and was about to sit down at one of the empty seats when he saw two seats at the corner of the counter,


    "Nn...... ah!��Don''t sit there, you idiot!


    "Heh?"


    For some reason, a voice from a tiger tiger came to stop him.


    But it is too late. They are already in the motion to sit down. The demon, looking at the Wartiger who is looking at him in some kind of desperate manner, drops straight down in his seat - just before his buttocks touch the seat, he is hit by a fist flying at him from the side.


    "Bogoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"


    The fist flew in a backhanded trajectory and hit the demon in the nose, causing him to spin backward. He was hit by a sharp blow that he had not expected, and the back of his head hit the ground.


    But he is a soldier.


    He immediately hit the ground with both hands and spun backward once more. He then drives both feet into the floor, catching the attacker in the center of his field of vision without question.


    "What the hell are you doing out of the blue, you son of a b*tc*!


    "You idiot, that''s my line!��I''d rather thank you, you f*cking ogre!"


    "What the hell?��Who in the world would say, "Thank you for hitting me"?��Are you f*cking sleepy or what?


    He sits back and raises his fists. He has not brought his hammer, but that does not matter. It is bad for your reputation as an ogre not to retaliate when you are suddenly struck.


    The demon slumps down deeply and makes a pause in order to jump in. Just before he is about to jump, however, the familiar tiger beastman "Wartiger" stops him again.


    "Hey, stop!��This time it''s really your fault!��I mean, you just saved my life!"


    "...... what?"


    When even my drinking buddies stop me, I can''t help but listen to them.


    I don''t know how it is in other countries, but this is Alkimaira. It was a common sense (rule) that if there was room for discussion, we should first listen to what they had to say. And after listening to them, if you still don''t like what they say, you can hit them again.


    Reluctantly, he undid his fighting posture and looked at the lackey again. He is an ordinary orc with slightly yellowish skin. Judging from his equipment, he might be a high orc.


    The orc yells at me with spit flying.


    Listen, you stupid ogre!��The seat you were going to sit in is now permanently reserved!"


    "...... Huh?��There''s no such thing as a bar in this bar. This place would be deserted if it weren''t for us regulars. What''s with the reserved seats? Maybe you''ve been drinking too much and you''re drunk.


    I haven''t had a drop yet. This mug of tea is just tea!


    The demon looked at the mug suspiciously, but there were no bubbles floating in it. The color of the mug suggests that it is really a tea mug.


    He wonders why he is drinking tea in a bar, but continues his story.


    "Listen to me, you idiot! Only a man of honor is allowed to sit in that reserved seat. The manager here decided that after a certain incident.


    "A man of good character?��Even if there were drunken customers who wanted to have a reserved seat in this restaurant, they would be at most platoon or company size unit commanders at best. Don''t go to the trouble of using exaggerated expressions.


    "There''s no way he''s a captain. It''s much higher."


    "Huh?��Higher up? ...... Oh, come on, you don''t think they''ve got a senior military officer here?"


    The demon sniffs, "You''re a little too drunk for your own good.


    The places where battalion commanders go for a drink are often more fashionable places. They are well paid for their responsible positions. There is no need for them to come to such a seedy bar.


    But Oak shakes his head with a heavy sigh.


    "Even higher."


    "Huh?��...... No, even more so......... deputy commander rank?��You''re not going to tell me you''re a corps commander or some stupid joke, are you?"


    I''m still up there.


    "...... wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. I''d say the top of the list is ...... no no no, this isn''t the kind of place you''d expect to find a general manager.


    "Nice try. It''s a joke, but ...... is just one more step up, that''s all."


    The demon who had been smiling bitterly at the orc''s words changed his expression to a straight face.


    Then he clenches his fists once again and takes a step forward. He knew that there are two kinds of words in the world: "permitted words" and "unforgivable words.


    "Hey, pig! You can''t be serious, that''s a joke. I''ll have you half dead by the end of this, so don''t make any funny jokes. If the guards of the 2nd Corps hear what you just said, you won''t be able to complain even if they cut off your head for disrespect, will you?


    "Guards. That''s great, go get them. I''m sure you''ll believe me when I assure you they''re hard-headed."


    "........................ is a lie, dude."


    I looked around suspiciously, but everyone was looking at me warmly.


    At least, no one seemed to agree with the demon.


    "No ...... no no no no no, that''s crazy. Because, you see,...... no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. It''s really not possible.


    "Don''t be spouting incomprehensible language when you haven''t had a drink."


    "You''re the one who doesn''t understand me!��Do you really know what you are talking about!��There''s only one person in the world above you ...... who is the head of the general corps!"


    "Yes. --So, that''s what I''m saying.


    The orc nods his head in admonishment, his voice tinged with a hint of sympathy.


    Seeing even a familiar tiger tiger, Wartiger, nodding his head in agreement, even the demon understands that this is the truth.


    Then, remembering where he had been trying to put his own ass just a moment ago, he paled.


    "So. So, with that in mind, do you have anything to say to me?��You''re a regular, apparently."


    I don''t even have to think about it.


    The demon lowered his clenched fist and faced the orc with a serious expression,


    "--Thank you for punching me out as soon as you could, brother. Let me buy you a drink tonight."


    I''d be glad to buy you a cup of tea if you don''t mind. I thought I knew all the regulars by now. ...... I''ve been chilled for a long time."


    The orc, the savior and the underling, sits down in his chair as if he is truly tired.


    The dwarf sitting right next to him gives up his seat to the demon, perhaps out of consideration. After tossing the dwarf a cup of ale, the demon takes a seat next to the orc.


    "But, just to be sure, I just wanted to make a final confirmation.��Is that really her reserved seat?


    "I''ll say it as many times as you want, but I''m serious. I''m serious. It happened after a certain incident that happened recently. ...... By the way, don''t ask me about the "one incident." There''s a gag order on it, so we can''t answer that.


    "Oh, oh ......"


    Realizing the fact that he had just put his foot into a coffin, the demon shivers and trembles.


    "And don''t spread the word about as much as possible. I made an exception for you because you''ve been a regular customer for a long time, but I heard that ...... he doesn''t want to spread the word too much."


    "Only those who know about it should know about it. But then, there will be people like me who sit there without knowing about it, won''t there?"


    "That''s why I and the other regulars take turns watching. Just a few days ago we were having a hard time with all the "new" customers. ...... Just when we thought things were finally settling down, you show up."


    "...... Well, yeah. I''m sorry, bro. My wife''s been a bit of a stickler for me the other day, and I haven''t been in this bar in a while."


    The orc casts a sympathetic glance at the demon. Seeing that she was wearing an ornament given by the demon tribe, she must also be one of them.


    Wives of demons are scary. And most of them are physically strong. Moreover, they are very fierce at night.


    Orc recalls with fond memories how he used to greet his colleague, a red ogre, when he came to work, with a scruffy face, and everyone gave him a warm look.


    "Hmm?��Well, there are two empty seats, aren''t there?��There are even customers standing and drinking, and the seat next to it is empty. ......"


    "Those are reserved seats, too. Apparently, only a certain guest is allowed to sit there. Maybe some of the other customers he invited might sit there, but ...... it''s still a reserved seat for now."


    "...... is that what you call a secret meeting in secret?"


    "Well, I don''t know. I guess you''re probably right, but you haven''t been here once since that incident. I don''t really know."


    Oak has been going to this bar every day since that day, but the reserved seats have remained empty. The manager has been waiting for him to show up, polishing the counter and glasses, but so far there has been no sign of him.


    "...... Hey, by the way. The crystal ornament on the counter at the reservation table..."


    "As you can see, it''s a magical tool. It contains a soundproofing technique to prevent voices from leaking out, an illusion technique to distract other people''s perception, and a simple cloaking technique. It was delivered in a parcel with a letter asking you to leave it there. The sender is unknown.


    The grimoire is not activated at the moment and is placed as a mere decoration.


    But once it is activated, even the fact that you are sitting in that seat is unrecognizable. Combined with the effects of soundproofing and concealment, the space will be like a secret room where no one will be able to see you.


    "Soundproofing is one thing, but ...... illusion technique and cloaking technique are included, even if it''s a simple one. And a magic tool that''s triple-engraved with a composite technique..."


    It''s a semi-treasure. And I''m the new resident guest and security guard of the reserved seat."


    Although he did not say it out loud, the orcs in the guarding role were promised a salary at the level of a company commander.


    Although he did not know it, he had committed an outrageous act of disrespect in the "incident" and was prepared to die gracefully when he received a message from the commander that <> had been delivered to him. However, when he opened the sealed envelope, he found a letter of invitation to work with a high salary.


    However, it is not an easy job. At any rate, the thing being guarded is a semi-precious magical tool. Sell them off and you will have enough money to set up a store on the main street of the capital. It is not a thing that should be left randomly on a bar counter in a small bar.


    The job description in the letter of invitation was written in such a way that <<>, but I can''t let my mind wander if I think about who gave me this order. Considering the weight of the responsibility, it is not legal to consume alcohol.


    He has concluded so and is sipping barley tea even though he is in a bar. He may have one last drink when the bar is about to close and the customers have cleared out, but if there is a possibility that the manager will be out of the bar, as is the case now, he resolutely refuses to drink.


    As a side note, since I have been separated from my original unit on special duty, I have been thinking of getting an official employment as a waiter in this restaurant.


    With the exception of this case, most of the customers are already aware of the and will soon be out of pocket. Of course, I will continue to escort them, but I can at least scrub dishes at the counter near their assigned seats. I could not spend my days just drinking tea and not working.


    "Hey there, Mr. Shingooki, sorry to keep you waiting. I''m sorry I asked you to stay. ...... Oh, who''s the guest next door?"


    A goblin carrying a crate of wine approached them from behind as they were talking. He is the manager of this restaurant.


    "Hey, long time no see, manager.


    "I knew it! No, no, it''s been a while.


    "As I always say, it''s time to stop being a monk, manager. ...... By the way, what''s a Shingooki?��Vajra demon?"


    "It''s my nickname, brother. I''m an Orc, not a Gouki or a Gouki or a Gouki. ......


    The orc let out a sigh, looking a little tired.


    He seemed to be in some kind of a twilight state, but the demon, sensing the troublesome atmosphere, ignored him.


    "Ah, manager. Give me a mug of ale for now, and two more in a pitcher. And serve a lot of tea to the brothers next door. My treat.


    "Well, it''s rare for you to be so lavish as to offer to buy a drink. I remember when you came to our house before, you were complaining about your lack of money.


    "I got a bonus from the war the other day. My wife hasn''t found out about the amount yet. I don''t care if I''m having a good time today.


    "I think I heard a similar line before ....... I remember that time, his wife found out and sent him to the hospital. ......


    "And they didn''t pay for my medical bills, my wife. ....... It''s one of my unforgettable memories that I ended up paying for it with manual labor. Well, my wife is cute, so I can''t complain.


    "In many ways you are still the same. I''ll be ready in a minute.


    Afterwards, the demon and the orc and their drinking companion, a tiger-beast, stayed up late into the night drinking together.


    After the last of the guests had gone, the orc, who had been drinking only tea until then, finally picked up the ale, and the three of them went home together, shoulder to shoulder, and very hungry at the end of the night.


    And the demon, who had been caught red-faced and had been using his drink, ended up being beaten up and squeezed by his wife as usual.


    + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +


    A few days later, a customer visited the bar.


    He pushed open the badly fitted door, and a young man-like figure entered the bar with a rather grating sound.


    Strangely enough, the manager could not remember who this young man was.


    It seemed as if he had seen him somewhere before, or as if he had never met him before. And the impression was strangely weak. As if there was a haze over my thoughts, I could not recognize who he was.


    It was unnatural. It should have been an extremely unnatural phenomenon. However, the manager, who did not possess outstanding resistance to magic, could not recognize it as unnatural.


    Therefore, the manager said "Welcome" to the customer as usual.


    The customer walked to the counter without any hesitation. And what''s more, he is about to sit down at one of the two available seats against the wall. Before Oak, the new waiter, could reach out to stop him, the manager spoke to .


    "--Newcomer. I''m sorry, but could you please refrain from sitting there for a moment?��That is a reserved seat for a certain person.


    The then looked a little puzzled and told the manager the following.


    .


    And furthermore, <>.


    The moment the manager heard these words, he felt as if a slight haze had lifted from his thoughts. He correctly recognized was in front of him.


    At the same time, a strong feeling ran through the manager''s mind.


    The feeling was as if his whole body had been struck by lightning, and it was filled with various colors.


    The emotions that had been stored up for a hundred years were not something that could be described in a single word, but if forced to put them into words, the word "joy" would be more appropriate.


    A normal person would have been so overcome by these feelings that he would not have been able to return to work right away. However, the manager was a professional. He was a professional among professionals in the hospitality industry.


    Therefore, the manager, Gobutaro, immediately straightened his posture and straightened his back.


    Then, after fastening his uniform tie, he lightly raised his right arm in a semicircle and brought it in front of his chest. Then he bent his back at a 90-degree angle and bowed reverently.


    It was a perfect bow with a sense of propriety that would have been out of place in a seedy bar.


    Gobutaro then looks at the floor and says a few words of welcome to the new customer - the only one who has been waiting for him for many years.


    "We have been waiting for you with all our hearts, my dear guest. We will serve you with the utmost sincerity.


    --Welcome to the bar where it all began.

 32 - Episode 1 "The 6th Day of Living in a Different World

    --Alkimaira.


    That is the name of the military superpower that has claimed the name of the champion in World #3 in the game [Tactics Chronicle].


    However, one day, without warning, the country was transferred to "another world".


    Alkimaira, which was transferred to the other world with its capital, was forced to intervene in an interspecies war on its second day in the other world, and participated in the first war in the other world.


    The army of the Warriors, led by the King of All Evil, utterly defeated the elite advance force of the , one of the Elven nations, and achieved complete victory. The triumphant army returned triumphantly, and a two-day victory commemoration was held at the capital of the country.


    No one there could be seen with an anxious look on their faces.


    Everyone was enjoying their glorious days, thinking of a hopeful tomorrow, despite the unprecedented crisis of being transferred to another world.


    This is due, in no small part, to the absolute existence of the , who leads his people.


    --In the midst of all this, in a room in the royal castle that towers over the capital of Alkimaira, there was one man who seemed to stand apart from them all, his air heavy with a sense of oppression.


    "Gu......,......


    The man who was panting in agony still looked like a young man.


    The young man, who is struggling alone in a room called his office, is about to fall down on his desk and is shaking his head desperately to wake himself up.


    If he is distracted, he may lose consciousness. His breathing is erratic, and his internal organs are constantly complaining of a malfunction. The dizziness and headache are getting worse, and the taste of death is crawling on the tip of my tongue. He is in trouble, no matter what he thinks.


    But still, he grits his teeth.


    He was determined not to end up like this.


    If he were to lose consciousness at this point, he would not know what he had worked so hard for.


    "......Yes, that''s right. I won''t end up in such a half-assed place. ......


    I dare to say my thoughts out loud and inspire myself.


    And then, "Yes, that''s right," I think more deeply. If it were dismissed as a trivial stubbornness, that would be the end of it, but that stubbornness and rebelliousness was halfway turning into a belief. Then I would not give up that belief here. I decided to do my best.


    ......


    Yeah, but... Still.


    If I''m not careful, those weak words leak out.


    I did decide to do my best. I decided to do my best on that day, at that time, in that place. I promised the girl that I would do my best even though this world is so hard on me.


    But it seems that weakness is not something that can be easily discarded. People do not change so easily. I will never forget the vow I made that day, but I can say that it is inevitable for a human being to be attacked by when he or she is not in the right frame of mind.


    And that whispers to me.


    How did this happen?


    Why am I suffering so much?


    "...... someone, please tell me. ......"


    A ray of light interrupted his muttering.


    He looked out the window and saw the sunrise. It was the third sunrise he had seen from this room since his arrival in the other world.


    The people of the city, bathed in sunlight, begin to do their own activities.


    A construction worker of a certain cooperative heads for the construction site with an elated look on his face.


    A certain innkeeper starts to cook bacon and eggs, greeting his early risers.


    The owner of a certain tavern dumps his drunken customers in front of the bar and returns to his store.


    And then...


    "How did this happen ......!"


    On the morning of his 6th day and 0 night in another world, the king of a certain castle (Helian) arrived.


    He was dying of exhaustion.


    + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +


    ......No, there''s nothing there by any means.


    Helian, surrounded by layers and layers of virtual windows, thinks this over in his mind.


    Looking back on the past few days, I can''t help but feel that I had it coming.


    It was noon on the third day after being transferred to another world.


    That day, Helian had revived Lillipha with a friendly revive at the bar in the place of the beginning, and after he had managed to settle the situation, he had issued a gag order.


    This was because, if the people of Alkimaira were to find out that he had the ability to revive them, it could cause serious problems.


    Then, he exchanged only urgent and necessary promises with Leifa, who had somehow calmed down enough to exchange words with him, and returned to the castle.


    --So far, so good.


    But Helian, who had returned to the castle, was in a state of excitement, perhaps because of his joy at being able to revive Leifa, and said, "I can''t rest! I''ve decided to go for it!" Just get to work!" Driven by an enthusiasm that knew no bounds, I set to work immediately. I got to work.


    And the volume of work was rather unfashionable.


    Although it sounds good to call it the work of a king, the actual contents of the work itself were not that difficult. In short, it is just an extension of the game.


    The king accurately grasps the resources that each corps has and allocates the appropriate amount of work (tasks) to the most urgent internal affairs, taking into consideration the aptitude of each corps.


    In other words, it is simply a matter of sucking out information from a displaying various kinds of information, and with the support of the system, making full use of tools such as flowcharts and Gantt charts to make reservations for the most appropriate actions for each personnel.


    A certain king (player) used a simple tool saying "I don''t want to make project management documents in a game ......", but Helian''s method, which allows detailed , is superior in terms of maximum effectiveness.


    Among the top players, there were only a few who could make such detailed , and Helian belonged to the minority. He had a hard time in the first six months, but through years of playing, he has mastered the use of various tools.


    And with overflowing enthusiasm, she started to work on all of them based on the guideline <>, and the result is what you see here.


    "But that doesn''t mean it was a good job to put off until later. ......"


    After all, sooner or later, we might have found ourselves in this situation.


    And I think it was a bad thing that the work was manageable.


    For example, the evaluation of war merits was handled by receiving from each member of the VI Corps led by Camilla and obtaining of each soldier.


    In the real world, it would be impossible to achieve a <<< correct and equal evaluation of war merits>>, but Helian has the king''s (player''s) exclusive ability of . By making full use of the filtering technology that had been cultivated in the game era, it was possible to make a somewhat equal evaluation of the war merits on the accumulated .


    If possible, we should do it. At least for the first game, we should make the utmost effort to give a correct and equal evaluation. With this logic, three days ago, Helian started to work on the evaluation of war merits with great enthusiasm.


    --As a result, he had to spend a whole night just for the evaluation of war merits.


    "...... Well, it was necessary work, that''s for sure. It helped me find the Gobutaro bloodline and so on."


    One of the individuals who distinguished himself was an unnamed goblin soldier.


    Although the number of his kills was only four, he had defeated a commander class enemy, a captain of war, among them.


    And, to his surprise, he was a direct descendant of Gobutaro. There are a fair number of goblins of Gobutaro''s lineage, but he was one of the bloodiest of them all.


    He was also a new goblin without a name - children of fertile races are sometimes not given names - so Helian decided to reward him by giving him one himself.


    By the way, he named him <.


    "...... is not a cut-and-dry job."


    I don''t mean to say this to anyone - or perhaps I''m talking to myself a little, but I''m not cutting corners.


    It is just that when I thought about what kind of name would be good for <> bloodline, I could only come up with <>.


    I will admit that it is a bit naive.


    "Mr. Helian, I brought you a report from the Third Army Commander (Ertina)."


    "-Oh, thank you."


    I received the report on internal affairs that I had asked for.


    I thank Levee for bringing it to me and begin to look over it.


    There is no need to read the report in detail.


    Once you have read the report, it will be saved in the and you can refer to it at any time through the . You can also analyze the information through the . The fact that the information was submitted in the form of a report means that the work of compiling the information was outsourced to an external party (Eltina).


    As I was flipping through the report and saving it in my , I suddenly became aware of Liewe''s eyes on me. I felt that he had something to say to me.


    "......What''s wrong?��Is there something urgent to report?"


    "No, it''s not that. ....... I am afraid you should go to sleep now.��In the meantime, Eltina and I will take care of your business."


    "...... No, we can''t rest yet. There will be several tasks left that cannot be started without my permission.


    In short, there are projects that have not yet reached a higher level of decision-making, and therefore, subsequent work has been stalled. For example, one of the projects is the that we are currently working on.


    We can''t just go ahead with the pioneering without a plan, but we can''t leave the motivated workers behind either. Even as we speak, those who could be working are left in the status of "waiting". We want them to start working as soon as possible.


    However, since pioneering is a major national project, a detailed plan is needed to start it.


    Appropriate personnel must be assigned to the appropriate duties, the workload must be properly distributed, and a must be made to maximize efficiency. And quickly.


    "But ......"


    "Don''t worry about it. Besides, I''ve already taken care of most of the urgent work. We just need a little more patience."


    Some examples of the work that we have done so far include <, , including , and many more.


    The number of personnel to be moved is so large that the charts created for are like a complicated puzzle, but that''s nothing new. It is not for nothing that I have been managing superpowers in [Tactics Chronicle] for many years. Once you get the hang of it, it is possible to set up a that is close to the optimal solution based on the rule of thumb of many years.


    Now that the game has become a reality, we need to be a little more creative to reconcile the game and reality, and there is an unfashionable level of pressure with the fate of more than 100,000 people in our hands, but I would like to think that it is working so far. ......


    And so, somehow, we have made it this far. I don''t want to mess it up by slacking off just before the end. That would make me lose my sense of what I have worked so hard for.


    "So, how about a cup of tea at least at ......?��It may only be a comforting thought, but it may ease your mind in some way."


    "...... Right. Then, please, a hot cup of tea."


    "Yes, sir. I''ll bring it right away."


    Silently, Levee leaves.


    Helian watches her back and sighs, "I''m sorry for making you feel uncomfortable.


    I had never thought about it that much in [Tactics Chronicle], but from now on, as a king, I will have to think about how I treat my subordinates.


    In addition, he will have to be careful about how he allocates work.


    Even without the influence on the plan in progress, the orders are still very stressful. In the game I was not afraid to give orders, but now that it has become a reality, I am not so sure.


    For example, Ghardi, who simply looks scary and makes me nervous.


    ...... No, I am not joking, but I am really afraid of him.


    I tried my best to be cautious and punish him when I had an audience with him, but it also means that you need to be prepared when you deal with him.


    He is a huge man over 2 meters tall and intimidating, and he looks like a combination of a mafia chief (father) and a bandit head (master). When he smiles, he has a unique charm, but to an ordinary Helian, he is usually a frightening opponent.


    Don''t be so naive.


    Not many people in the real world can maintain their composure when asked to talk one-on-one with a mafia boss.


    If there were, it would be something else disguised as an ordinary person.


    "I''m also very careful when I give orders to Nogarde. ....... He''s even a bit difficult."


    In addition, he is proud and needs to be careful when giving orders. He is dependable on the battlefield, but I honestly feel that he is difficult to deal with in everyday life.


    Not to say that he is like a nuclear weapon, but as a nation, Nogarde is almost like a decisive weapon. In times of peace, they have little use other than to intimidate other countries. Even in the game era, it was a rather troublesome experience.


    "Now that I think about it ......, I wonder how he didn''t lose his temper during the war the other day."


    Nogardo had recognized him as a king and had not complained about being on his back, but he did not like being touched on the head. Perhaps it is the same now that he has become a reality.


    It was a horrible thing to do, no matter how much blood was flowing in his head.


    "......Wait a minute, I... My thoughts are going in a strange direction. You are on the verge of escaping.


    I mutter to myself and turn my attention back to my work.


    Analyzing himself, Herian racks his brains to win a good night''s sleep.


    "The rest of the work is ...... information operations to the home country of Noblewood and instructions to create topographic maps on paper as part of the pioneering policy ...... Oh, and opinions from Ceres and Camilla about logging in the Abyssal Forest (Abyss). I''ll have to ask. I don''t know if I should touch it. And we need to take countermeasures against the monsters in the Abyssal Forest. ...... Speaking of countermeasures against monsters, we need to take countermeasures against the latestone forest too. It''s a location that could be attacked by ordinary monsters, and it''s urgent to repair the outer wall of the capital......, but if we want to support them while keeping the Alkimaira''s existence well hidden,...... we''ll have to back them up with the 6th legion,....... Do we mobilize the 5th and 7th engineering corps all at once while having them��But if we devote too many resources to the V Corps, we will have to revise some of the pioneering plans we are making now. ......"


    ...... funny .


    I''m supposed to be working hard to reduce my workload, but the more I think about it, the more work I have to do.


    "...... Anyway, let''s finish the work in front of us now. Then I will sleep. At least three hours of sleep. Until then, just hang in there, okay?


    With what little energy I have left, I operate the various virtual windows, trying to keep my spirits up.


    With the smell of death from overwork on the tip of his nose, Helian sets about the task at hand.


    + + +


    "Hey ......, finally done ......!"


    Upon receiving the news that the restoration of the domestic facilities had been completed, he plunged down on the desk in his office.


    A heavy thumping sound is heard as he hits his forehead, but even with the pain he cannot resist the desire to sleep. The relief that his work was over helped, but he was sure that if he relaxed, he would fall asleep in less than five seconds.


    "......I can''t do it anymore. I can''t go any further, it''s physically impossible. I''m going to sleep. I''m going to sleep. I''m going to sleep. I mean, if I don''t sleep, I''ll probably die for real. ......"


    He gets up unsteadily and walks down the private passageway to his bedroom. Even the king''s aide (Levee) is not allowed to use this direct passage, which is reserved for the king''s (player''s) use. You arrive at the bedroom with ghostly steps, holding on to your consciousness that threatens to jump out of your body if you are not careful.


    Come to think of it, this is the first time I''ve slept properly since I came to the other world.


    On the first day, I passed the night unconscious after being killed by an ogre, and on the second day, I was brought to the bedroom in a state of unconsciousness caused by the repercussions of a secret blowout.


    If passing the night in a state of unconsciousness is described as "sleeping," then at this point I''ve been in a state of 2 nights and 6 days, but even so, I''ve normally been in a state of 3 nights. I fall into bed, dismayed at the harshness of life in another world. I don''t even have the energy to change my clothes.


    Slipping under the covers, Helian closes his eyelids peacefully to enjoy the sleep he has finally managed to get on the sixth night of his otherworldly life.


    --At the same time, a loud explosion roared from the direction of the south.


    "--!��What''s going on?


    A thump, a vibration.


    The solid castle did not shake, but the window frames made a slight noise. The air shook as if fireworks had popped off. The sound of the explosion was distinctly different from the sounds of daily life. He jumps up the futon and immediately opens the virtual window.


    Tactical Window: Open!��Select: map!


    The blast came from the south. Refer to the map of the south section of the castle.


    "...... Gardi and Nogard?"


    For some reason, the two legionnaires responded.


    On the edge of the main street--just around the area where the Red Ogre was defeated--there are unit marks indicating the 5th (Gardi) and 8th (Nogarde) corps commanders.


    On the positive side, it means that both corps commanders are dealing with some kind of problem, but they are too quick to respond to it.


    "............Why are they on site?"


    I sat up from the bed with a bad feeling.


    At the same time, there was a quiet knocking sound. I allowed him to enter, and the door was opened with a voice saying, "Excuse me. At the other end of the door, there was Levee with her back straightened as usual.


    Herian accompanied Levee to the scene of the crime, saying briefly, "Follow me.


    + + +


    "What are we going to do about this mess?��This is definitely something that Levee and Balan would complain about!"


    "I don''t care. You destroyed it. You can explain to them honestly that you created this mess.


    "Don''t be silly, I was just fighting back!��You''re the one who came out of the woodwork and kicked my ass!"


    Helian arrived at the scene.


    In front of a collapsed building, two army commanders were screaming and yelling.


    "............ what are you doing?"


    I walk up to him, putting my hand on his head as a dull pain resonates.


    Helian asked just to be sure, even though he had a bad feeling that was turning into a certainty.


    "Is it the king?


    Nogard, who had noticed Helian, turned to face him, seemingly paying no attention to Gardi, who was wrinkling his brow and shouting. Galdi, too, noticed Helian''s presence.


    At this point, Levee, who was standing beside him, began to emit a silent rage, but Helian held out one hand lightly to stop her. It is a bad idea to make a decision before you have heard what is being said. You should listen carefully before you make a decision. Even if you don''t need to hear it from the devastation in front of you. ......


    "Explain. Explain to me why you are here. And why are all the buildings you ordered repaired destroyed? I thought I heard a report that all the facilities had been repaired.


    "No, but listen, General. I''m sure that my unit, together with the wingmen of the Seventh Corps Commander (Robin) have finished the restoration of all the facilities. And when I was congratulating my men on their work, Nogarde came to visit us."


    "You''re so self-consciously delusional, you muscle-bound man! I was just passing by.


    "Then why don''t you just walk right past it!��You don''t have to go out of your way to say, "Are you done cleaning up your mess, you fool?��And when I ignored him, he suddenly kicked me in the face and said, "What kind of a stupidity is it to ignore my words!��I''m just buying a fight that was sold to me!"


    "And if he destroys the facilities he has just restored, he''s in good hands. It''s that kind of single-mindedness that causes you to blunder.


    "Because you avoid it, Nogardo!��We were only going to blow you up if you couldn''t avoid us!"


    Once again, the two corps commanders were exchanging invective that was difficult to hear.


    In front of them, Helian felt a surprisingly cold sensation in his head. He tried to keep his composure and digested the report he had just received.


    "............"


    ......In other words.


    Yes, I mean, I mean.


    Just as I crawled into bed, finally able to sleep for the first time in three days, an explosion was heard, the result of a skirmish that started with a quarrel.


    The explosion was the sound of destruction when Mr. Gardy, who was supposed to be in charge of repairing the facility, completely destroyed the facility that he had just repaired.


    It all started when Mr. Nogarde made an unnecessary provocation that did not need to be made.


    And the result of the two famous corps commanders'' trivial quarrel is the pile of rubble spread out before our eyes.


    Is that correct?


    "........................"


    Ha.


    Ha-ha-ha.


    Ha-ha-ha-ha.


    Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.


    "Leve."


    "Ha."


    Red moon blessing activated.


    "What about ......?"


    Rieve asked back with an involuntary but unmistakable response.


    "Oh, no, I''m afraid that''s ...... more than a little problematic in your current condition, Helian.


    Levee tries to rebuke Helian in a soft tone of voice.


    Helian only moved his eyeballs to meet her gaze. Her cold gaze makes the hairs on her tail stand on end.


    "-Just do it."


    Herian''s eyes were completely fixed as he quietly gave the order.


    "............"


    --Never disobey.


    Rieve, judging this by her wild instincts, solemnly invoked the "Red Moon Blessing".


    A red phosphorescence rises from Rieve''s body, and at the same time, Helian''s body is overloaded.


    Helian nodded his head in satisfaction as he felt what little strength he had left being drained from his body.


    If he fell back on the bed, he would literally sleep like a dead man.


    "...... King, why did you let Levee invoke the secret?"


    "...... General?"


    Gardi and Nogarde indeed stop cursing each other and turn their attention to Helian.


    Helian told them in a calm tone.


    "Galdi, Nogardo. You are forbidden to change your forms for three hours from this time, except in case of emergency.


    ""--!!!?""


    The two legionnaires'' eyes peeled back as Helian turned on his heel and turned to leave. As if to replace him, Levee steps forward, her body glowing with phosphorescence, her fists clenched tightly.


    Wait, O king!��Isn''t this an emergency!��Don''t tell me that you want me to go toe-to-toe with Levee in his demon form, in his red-moon state!��The moon is out tonight!"


    "Yes, General!��I''m not even in my demon form, I''m in my fully humanized form!��At least let me take my demon form!"


    Forgetting their earlier disagreement, the two of them do their best to persuade him. They knew that if they did not, their lives would be in danger.


    In particular, Ghardi, who was unable to display his true ability due to his fully humanized form, was desperate. If he continued to fight with Levee in his red moon state, he might seriously die.


    As if his plea had been heard, Helian suddenly stopped walking. The two of them hope for a ray of hope that there are extenuating circumstances.


    Against them - or more precisely, against Levee, who confronts them, Helian says one important word that he had forgotten to mention.


    "Don''t finish them off."


    The blood drained from their faces.


    And this time, Helian walked away, leaving only the two colorless legionnaires and the king''s entourage in a state of seething anger.


    "That''s the way it is. How dare you disturb Herian''s peaceful sleep!


    --Now I will risk my life and live to see the morning!


    "It''s a line full of contradictions, isn''t it?


    "I mean, you said no tome!��Hey, calm down, at least take it easy on--"


    As Helian walked away, a series of tremendous blows reached his back, as if a heavy machine had hit the ground.


    The sound continued to echo intermittently after Helian reached his bed, and Helian, exhausted with all his remaining strength, fell into a deep sleep with the sound as a lullaby.


    --The next morning, reports arrived that two battered legionnaires had been found in a pile of rubble, but Helian did not pay any attention to them.

 33 - Second Session: "Non-formal Talks"

    The next few days.


    Helian spent his days holed up in his office, going about his business as king.


    For the time being, he is out of the life of staying up all night, but he cannot let his guard down yet. The situation has finally begun to settle down. It will take a few more days to get things back on a stable track.


    "Mr. Helian. As for the facilities that were completely destroyed during the recent disturbances, it seems that they have been fully restored. It''s not so much restored as almost completely rebuilt.


    "Mm. ...... By the way, what happened to those idiots?"


    "After restoring the facility, they have returned to their posts. It was a rare sight to see Nogardo at work, and he was a bit of a spectacle."


    By "idiots" I mean the two corps commanders who caused a commotion the other day.


    I was told that both Gardi and Nogard had been treated and were to be assigned to repairing the destroyed facilities.


    Although Helian did not order it, they voluntarily went to work, perhaps because they had learned their lesson from the previous incident, or perhaps because of pressure from an irate corps commander (Liewe).


    As for Nogardo, the episode clearly shows how he does not usually work, but it is inevitable because he is a dragon of dragon emperor status. He is dependable on the battlefield, but he is all the same proud and difficult to deal with.


    I have known that for a long time, so I don''t intend to say anything about it now, but that being said, I can''t stand it if he causes unnecessary problems. It''s okay if you don''t work, but at least don''t get in the way.


    "If you''ve finished repairing the facility, ...... that means you''ve taken care of all the urgent problems, right?"


    "Yes. Now we can finally start our pioneering project.


    I let out a sigh.


    I didn''t know whether it was a sigh of relief or concern for the future of this large-scale project, but ...... at any rate, this was a break from the urgent work.


    "Virtual Window: Open"


    As usual, I start checking the situation surrounded by several virtual windows related to and . We have taken care of all the pressing issues that needed to be taken care of, but there is plenty of work that needs to be done. We should not cut corners.


    Fortunately, there seem to be no particular problems with the ongoing domestic affairs (tasks). All of them seem to be progressing well.


    "...... hmmm."


    I look at the virtual window that lists the work (tasks) I have been doing for the past few days.


    I am reminded of the meeting I had a few days ago with the LATESTWOOD delegation to work out the details of the postwar settlement.


    At this meeting, we decided to negotiate something that we had not originally planned to do.


    The reason for this was that the Alkimaila had already <>, and had already <> and <>.


    However, since they succeeded in reviving Rilifa afterwards, Alkimaira had fully fulfilled their original agreement. According to the story, the situation is such that we should ask for the fulfillment of the contract again from the RATESTWOOD side, including the custody of <.


    However, Helian has no problem with the custody of Leifa. Therefore, they decided to carry out the plan that they had thought of when they made the contract in the settlement.


    --There are two main things that we have requested again from RATESTWOOD.


    The first one is the confidential cooperation of the ability to resuscitate.


    Since it was easy to foresee that the revelation of his ability to resuscitate would cause a number of problems, I requested that Rattestwood keep Helian''s ability to resuscitate a secret.


    There would be no problem with this.


    The people of RATESTWOOD were given an outward explanation that , and only the core of RATESTWOOD, such as Leifa and Wenli, knew the truth of the matter.


    The question is about the second request.


    Levee. Regarding the that was agreed upon at the meeting we had in our country the other day, has there been any particular problem?"


    "Yes. No problem has occurred. The information operation against Noblewood is going well and the construction of the "large box" is progressing according to schedule. I have been informed."


    "...... I see."


    Request for cooperation regarding the concealment of the Alkimaira.


    That was the second demand, and the one we had originally intended to ask for as a bargaining card.


    In the first place, there would be no benefit to the nation of Alkymyra if Leifa was handed over to them as per the agreement reached in the settlement. On the contrary, there were even many disadvantages in the case that Leifa herself sold him to the slavers as she had offered to do.


    Therefore, at that time, Helian was going to set up a new negotiating table with Ratestwood, whose queen was the rescued Rilifa, using the obtained as a bargaining chip.


    If the negotiation is successful, he will be able to return Leifa to RATESTWOOD amicably.


    And if she could be given a position of <> in RATESTWOOD, it would be possible for her to support the inexperienced Rilifa as the new queen.


    This would strengthen the political base of the friendly nation (RATESTWOOD), which would eventually benefit Alkymyra. From a short-term strategic point of view, <> is a bad move that will bring no benefits, but from a medium- to long-term strategic point of view, it is a completely different story.


    (In a way, Alkimaira is like a savior for RATESTWOOD.)


    In reality, they are not saviors, but from an objective point of view, they are. We can be sure that they will behave in a friendly manner toward Alkimaira in the future.


    Also, for Alkimaira, who is alone and helpless in this world, Ratestwood will be an important partner. The fact that we have established an unquestionable friendship with a country will bring tangible and intangible benefits to Alkymyra in the future.


    This was the pretext that Helian was desperately trying to come up with in order to move the country of Alkymyra in the war.


    Fortunately, his men readily accepted the policy of rescuing Rattestwood, but if there was any opposition, he would use this pretext to persuade them by force.


    And so they demanded <>, using the full fulfillment of the agreement to rescue all the people of RATESTWOOD>> as a bargaining chip instead of the <> card.


    "However, I am aware that it was a bit arrogant of me to ask a country, even one that belongs to ...... the Alkimaira, to be a cover for the Alkimaira."


    If we exclude Rattestwood, only the Noblewood advance party knows of the existence of the Alkimaira. And that detachment has vanished without a single member, and is now unknown to any force other than RATESTWOOD.


    This means that Alkymaira can continue to have the advantage of keeping its existence a secret, as long as they keep their mouths shut.


    As I said at the time of the audience, I consider this a great advantage. We cannot expose the Alkimaira to the world yet. The Alkimaira needs time.


    However, this is only based on the importance of Alkimaira''s situation.


    This will be a burden on RATESTWOOD.


    "I don''t think this is an arrogant request. In fact, the company has announced that it is fully committed to this matter. We have received reports from the Sixth Legion that not only the Queen but also each and every one of the people are cooperating in this matter.


    "...... muu."


    Rieve says in a matter-of-fact tone of voice, but Helian does not quite understand.


    As for the matter of the repulse of the invasion of Noblewood, I intend to make an outward appearance by dispatching the Commander of the Seventh Army (Robin). However, the immediate support for the reconstruction, but the post-reconstruction activities will force LATESTWOOD to help itself.


    Depending on one''s point of view, it could be taken as an attempt to use RATESTWOOD as a shield for Alkimaira. It seems to me that this is not a very interesting story for RATESTWOOD.


    That is why, at the recent meeting in the castle, he said, <>It was a surprise to Helian that the queen (Leifa) gave her answer with such enthusiasm.


    "To be honest, I had thought that the negotiations might be difficult. That''s why it was a little unexpected that the Ratestwood side accepted so easily. ...... What do you think?


    "It is a natural result of the authority of Herian. I think his (her) country understands the greatness of Mr. Helian.


    "............ I see."


    No. Rieve''s opinion is not helpful. It is too complimentary.


    ...... let''s forget about it for now. I don''t think I have an answer even if I think about it now.


    "Well, okay. --By the way, speaking of RATESTWOOD, I seem to recall that there is an envoy from his country scheduled to visit us today to promote friendship between our two countries."


    "Yes. The messenger has already arrived. Everything is ready and ready for the meeting.


    "What?��Have they already made preparations?"


    There is still some time left before the scheduled meeting time, but do they mean to keep the messenger waiting? How is that for welcoming the emissary of a country?


    Yes. They already came to our country last night, so they have been waiting in the castle since early morning. But we are making every effort to accommodate them.


    "That''s not the point. We will hold our meeting immediately.


    He gets up from his chair and leaves the office accompanied by Levee.


    Incidentally, the place for this meeting is not the <>, but the >.


    The reason for this is that this meeting is unofficial. The official meeting with a delegation of the size of Leifer''s representative has already been held the other day. The details of the postwar settlement were also settled on the spot.


    Therefore, the current meeting is nothing more than a means to deepen the friendship between the two countries as good partners in the future. This is not the occasion to hold a big meeting in a large audience hall.


    Despite some resistance from Levee and Balan, we are making arrangements to hold a one-on-one meeting with no other participants.


    While being flanked by living armors on both sides of the corridor, he talks to Levee as he pushes his way through the corridor leading to the simple audience room.


    "So, about the representative of the other party..."


    Yes. I have been informed that the emissary from RATESTWOOD is Rilifa-Lum-RATESTWOOD as planned."


    "I see."


    Although he wore a pouty face so as not to let his emotions show through, Helian was looking forward to this day. After all, it had been a long time since he and Lillipha had met again after the incident of the revival of the underlings.


    It would be very precious for Helian to be able to talk with someone who was not wearing the mask of a king. And since Lillipha is a child in age, it would not be so strange to talk with her in a casual manner.


    For Helian, who was looking for the that is unique to children in his busy life, the fact that the messenger from LATESTWOOD was Lillipha was a godsend.


    To make time for this meeting, I had to go through a lot of trouble that I don''t want to remember ...... but that''s about it.


    Shaking off the bad memories, H��lian walked lightly to the simple audience chamber.


    + + +


    "Greetings once again. I am the Second Princess Lillipha-Lum-Latestwood, sent as an envoy from the Kingdom of Latestwood.


    --Who is this?


    These were the words that filled Helian''s mind when he was told of the opening greeting in the simple audience chamber.


    No, she was Lillipha for sure. It is an undeniable fact that the girl in front of him is Lillipha-Lum-Lattestwood, as he himself had said so himself.


    However, she appeared with a dignified expression that I have never seen before, dressed in official attire, and after the aforementioned introduction, she began to solemnly give her season''s greeting. It was a perfect princess-like appearance that would not embarrass her in any way, but at the same time, it was an appearance that was significantly different from the image of Rilifa that Helian had in his mind.


    Helian could not react quickly enough to this image of Rilifa, and his eyes became black and white.


    "First of all, I would like to apologize for the delay in thanking you for the incident the other day. I deeply apologize."


    Lillipha then bowed her head at the most respectful angle, mentioning that Helian had revived her in .


    "...... No, no, don''t worry about it. The reason we haven''t been able to take this much time is due to our own reasons."


    "Thank you very much. I also ask for your forgiveness for the many rude words and deeds that I have done to His Majesty the King of a great nation, even though I did not know it."


    "The same goes for that matter. It is not necessary for you to bow down to us, since it was our circumstances that led us to disguise our identity as travelers in the first place."


    I managed to regain my composure and responded, but I felt an indescribable itch.


    This is not the kind of conversation I wanted to have.


    I tried to talk to him to see if I could somehow change the course of the conversation.


    "Anyway, how are you feeling physically?��If my abilities were working properly, you should have been revived in perfect physical condition. ...... Is there anything wrong with your condition?��If you feel any discomfort, I will have Ertina examine you again."


    No, I have no physical problems. Your Majesty''s kindness has allowed me to live a long life and I am enjoying the peace and tranquility brought by your country. I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving our country in one case or another."


    ...... No.


    Instead of changing course, I feel like I''ve deepened the depth of the conversation while keeping the same direction.


    (Or maybe I was naive to begin with...)


    The woman in front of me is a princess of a country.


    And her behavior in the village was only an act to dispel the people''s fears. Come to think of it, I have never seen Rilifa without acting.


    (......)


    I tell myself in my heart.


    This is an informal meeting, but it is still a meeting. Then it is Rilifa who is right here. Since this is an exchange between countries, Rilifa is right as far as possible in this awe-inspiring attitude.


    Instead, it is he who is wrong. No matter how much I was looking for a break from my busy life, and even though this was the only way I could think of to make contact with Rilifa after revealing my true identity, it was undeniably me who chose to have this meeting with her.


    In such a situation, it is wrong to ask for a conversation as an individual.


    At the very least, it is not the way a king should behave.


    --But...,


    "A courtesy is a courtesy. But this is not an official meeting. This is an informal meeting, and you and I are the only ones in this room. There''s no need to act like a princess, is there?"


    I guess I am a weak man after all.


    I found myself saying such words.


    (Well, they will probably reject me anyway. ......)


    Still, it''s free to try. There is nothing wrong with trying.


    The weak part of me whispered such sweet words to me.


    I am disgusted with myself for not even trying to resist them.


    "What?��...... Oh, no, I''m afraid I have done no such thing to Your Majesty. ......"


    As expected, Lillipha looked puzzled.


    "It doesn''t matter. You may treat me with the same ease as you did the other day in the village.


    When Lillipha looked at him as if she wanted to know his intentions, Helian made a soft expression and replied in this way.


    But the result was obvious.


    I am the king of the Confederacy and she is the princess of the Kingdom. It was probably a mistake to think of our relationship as it had always been.


    Therefore, Helian was ready to accept Lillipha''s polite refusal with grace.


    ".................. Um, are you sure you want to do this?"


    But Lillipha looked up in surprise and spoke those words.


    "I''m not sure... ....... Yes, that''s fine.


    Helian looked at Rilifa with a little hope that she might have a pulse.


    Then Rilifa looked thoughtful for a moment and nodded her head as if she had made up her mind. And then..,


    "--Okay!��Then I will, Miss Helian!"


    With that, he tossed the princess''s mask aside.


    It seemed as if the aura of the princess that she had been wearing just a moment ago had vanished.


    ......Eh, is it possible to switch so easily?��I wonder if it''s OK that I was accepted unexpectedly (or not) so easily.


    But is it really OK?��Are you going to continue to be like this?"


    As if to make a final confirmation, Rilifa looks up at me and makes eye contact with me.


    "Ah, yes. "Oh, yeah. I really don''t mind. I don''t care if it''s in a formal setting, but this is an informal one. As far as I''m concerned, I don''t have any problem with it.


    "...... Hmmm. So, from here on out, I guess I''m in a ?"


    "Hmm, yes. That''s the way I understand it."


    Lillipha summed it up clearly.


    Originally, I had wanted to talk to an individual named Lillipha, not to the Princess of Latticewood. That is just what I wanted to talk about.


    "Excuse me. Your tea is ready."


    After a knock on the door, Lieve announced this and brought in a cup of tea.


    Two small, elegant cups are placed on the table. As Lieve poured the tea in a familiar way, a faint aroma permeated the room.


    "Thank you, sir. It is a great honor for me to be served by you, Mr. Levee.


    Lillipha, wearing the princess''s mask once again, spoke polite words of thanks.


    I must say that the way she switched not only her ...... tone but also the air she wears in an instant is as expected.


    I am sorry, sir. I will be waiting outside the room, if you need anything else, please do not hesitate.


    With these words, Levee quietly leaves the room. As soon as the door closed, Lillipha threw off the princess''s mask again.


    "Wow, it smells so good! I didn''t know that Helian drinks this stuff every day. I love it."


    Lilliputian is like a cat, tipping her tongue feverishly.


    It''s somewhat strange that she is so serious in front of her subordinate (Levee), but shows her true self in front of the king (me). Well, I have no complaints at all since it''s what I wanted, but I''m impressed by the way she can adapt herself to such a situation.


    "If you like, ...... I can wrap some up for you on the way home."


    "No!��Thank you, Lady Helian!"


    Lillipha raised her hands in the air to express her joy.


    She let out an involuntary giggle and nodded her head in satisfaction.


    After all, it is more like Rilifa to look like that.


    "Oh, and ......, you can call me normal at this time. You don''t have to go out of your way to call me ''sir''.


    "What?��Really?��Isn''t this a bad idea?"


    "No problem. You can call me whatever you want."


    When I told her this, she looked as if she was thinking "hmmm" for a moment.


    Then, perhaps coming to some kind of conclusion in her mind, Rilifa smiled broadly,


    "Well, let''s call him ''big brother''."


    Why?


    "--Okay, let''s wait a bit, Rilifa. What could possibly make you make that choice?"


    "?"


    "No, I don''t like it when you tilt your head in such a curious way. ......"


    He unintentionally snaps at Lillipha, who tilts her head back with a "koten".


    It''s hard to tell if I''m being cute or not, but at least I think my reaction is quite natural. Why should I suddenly make a sister in a different world?


    And why big brother?


    I don''t mind if you call me brother, but since Leifa is my sister, shouldn''t you call me brother?


    "Because Helian told me to call you whatever I want."


    "I did say that, but ......"


    What a reaction. What''s with the look of wonder on his face? Maybe I''m the one who''s crazy?


    I meant to say that you can call me the way you used to call me ......, or was that not the way the conversation was going?


    I was just asking if there was any other way to call it.��Like before, < or or something like that."


    "But Herian is not a traveler, he is His Majesty the King of Alkimaira, isn''t he?"


    Well, yes.


    "So, like, the king?"


    ...... what about it.


    It sounds too dumb. It''s kind of disarming.


    "The other one is ...... King Helian. Your Majesty. The Demon King."


    "I refuse to accept the last one. I''ve already explained to Leiffer that I''m not the same person as the legendary Demon Lord or whatever his name is. I''m not going to stop being human. And I''d appreciate it if you''d stop the others if you can."


    "Well, I guess I''ll call you ''big brother'' after all."


    "So that''s where we''ll end up: ......"


    I don''t care anymore about ...... .


    "Uh, ...... but not in an official setting, okay?��If you do, I''m sorry, but you''re going to have to call me something."


    "Of course. I''ll be a proper princess in that case, no problem.


    "...... princesses can do or not do things."


    I have gained another useless piece of knowledge.


    I wonder if the royal family has such a mode switch as a standard feature. If so, I would love to have such a switch. I really want it.


    I can do it. I mean, don''t you play the king too much?"


    "I''ve been told that ......."


    "You can''t get good results if you''re always working.��It''s important to take a break, right?"


    "Mmm......"


    You have a point.


    Although I called it useless knowledge earlier, I think that the skill to switch between official and private life is an important thing if you think about it carefully.


    I was first taken aback by the fact that Rilifa used this skill so brilliantly, but it is a high skill if you think about it calmly. It also seems to be an indispensable skill for the future king.


    And although I am now able to do my job with a tension boost, I do not think I will be able to keep my nerves taut forever. A taut bow will break someday. He needs to take a breather at some point, but the dilemma is that he has to play the king in front of his men.


    Considering this, the time I spent talking with Lillipha seemed to me to be very precious.


    (Come to think of it, the professor said something similar. (Come to think of it, a professor of mine said something similar: "You can''t do great work if you live a life without play" or something like that. ......)


    And "Therefore, it is not surprising that my laboratory is littered with journals that have nothing to do with my field of research. You know what I mean, don''t you, gentlemen?��Oh, and be careful when you touch those models. They cost over 100,000 yen. We had a hard time to get it off the budget." He was looked at with a white eye by the students of the seminar. ...... Nevertheless, the professor was strangely well-liked by the people. And his uselessly presented strength of knowledge often made me groan. We should not dismiss it as a delusion of a bad professor.


    "Indeed, I think it is important to take a break.


    Right?��So let''s try "big brother" instead of "king."


    "...... is what an older brother is supposed to do."


    He''s not the brother I know.


    But that''s about as far as I got. It''s also in the name of strengthening relations between our two countries.


    It''s just an idea, but that''s what distractions are for, isn''t it? Besides, it''s not really a job, but it''s just as well, since I''ll be finishing up that I''ve been meaning to do in the near future.


    "Well, let''s go for a little picnic."


    Helian stood up from his seat, thinking that the event was somewhat like a family reunion.

 34 - CHAPTER III "Verification Experiment"

    So, I came here for a picnic with Lillipha.


    Well, although we call it a picnic, it is really just a walk to a nearby courtyard.


    As escorts, I have brought with me the SS of the First Legion and a couple of living armorers, but I left Lieve at the castle. The situation regarding the domestic issues had just been settled, and there was a sense of resistance about both myself and Lieve leaving the castle.


    For now, they are working with Ertina and standing by in case of an emergency.


    "Well. Well then, let the experiment begin.


    I give a brief explanation to Lillipha, who seems to be in a daze.


    What we are going to do now is to verify the functions of the game in the form of a play - an experiment to verify the various abilities possessed by the King Player. We have already verified the basic abilities of the player, but there are still some other functions that need to be verified.


    "Experiments?"


    "Oh. I want you to come along with me for a little verification experiment. You can think of it as a simple play thing as far as the refurb is concerned. Take it easy."


    "Isn''t that your job?"


    It''s not the same as work. Besides, I''d be happy to have your help if you''ll go out with me.


    "Hmmm ......"


    He gave me a suspicious look, but I didn''t lie to him.


    I am not lying. If Rilifa, who doesn''t need to be bothered, is willing to accompany me in my experiments, I would be very happy to have her.


    Besides, I have been holed up in my office for a long time now. It would be a nice change of pace to get out of the office once in a while. And it would be a good thing to get one task done.


    The guards are guarding the courtyard from a distance, keeping their voices out of earshot. They can see us, but we don''t have to worry about their eyes on us as we act as if we are there to make friends between the two countries with the child (Rilifa).


    "Let''s get started. Let''s start with the experiment of .


    [ Information Sharing (Data Sharing) ]


    "What''s information sharing?"


    "It''s the ability to suck up information held by my subordinates in my vicinity and visualize it in various . ...... doesn''t make sense, does it?"


    "I don''t know."


    "Right."


    It''s hard to explain.


    If you want people to understand, you have to start from the explanation of , but even then, it is doubtful if the concept of "screen" is understood by the residents of this world, the reflections.


    "Hmmm......... Simply put, it''s a function (capability) that allows us to know about information (things) that the referrer knows, without having to be explained in words.


    "Hmmm. What do I have to do to get a reli-fer?"


    "Nothing in particular. Maybe you''ll feel like you''re being asked to do something sensory, but just be open to it."


    "?��Um, I''m not sure."


    I''m sorry, but I don''t understand that part either. Maybe if you''re willing to give me the information, I''ll see what I can do. ......


    Since Rilifa is not a subordinate, but a citizen of a country, it is not possible to automatically. They need to manually, but the Helians do not know what it feels like to be connected (accessed).


    "I don''t know, but I get it. I''ll try!"


    "Hmm. Well then, let''s give it a try.


    Function Window: Open.


    Ability On: Information Sharing: Direct Access.


    Target Input: Direct Select."


    If you perform with the of Leifa displayed in another , some unknown items are revealed. After successfully connecting with Lilifa, her has been updated.


    The basic statuses such as STR and VIT have already been determined by Levee and Eltina. The skills list has been updated.


    As for the summoning magic that Leifa used before - "I call fellow", as much information as Leifa knows about it is revealed.


    "Oh, really? Was that a unique skill of Leifa''s?"


    Apparently, it was not a common magic.


    At least according to Lillipha''s understanding, "I call fellow" is a magic that can be used only by Layfa.


    The other updated item is a change in the "Remarks" column, where special notes are written.


    "...... Three sizes?"


    Why does this stuff appear in the remarks column?


    "What do you think, brother?��Did you get the message?


    "You got the message. Some of the information I didn''t understand was in ......."


    "Did they get your sister''s body shape and everything?"


    ...... you did this,ref.


    should show up in the Remarks column for what the target of recognizes as or , but for some reason, Rilifa thought that her sister''s three sizes were that she should tell the target.


    Incidentally, it is possible to manually correct the information - since incorrect information may be shared - and to delete it if you wish. I can also delete the size,


    "............Yeah, well, information (data) is information (data). It''s not like it''s a problem to have it. There''s no need to delete anything."


    And that''s how it came to be.


    I have no other intention.


    [Compression key (macro)


    "Okay, next. Now try ."


    "Makuro?"


    A is a set of freely composed commands.


    In short, you can think of them as shortcut keys that you can create as you like. If you perform a specific action (motion), you can instantly execute a command according to the registered contents in advance.


    As an example of usage, if you put in , you can give a routine command to your subordinates on the spur of the moment.


    In addition, can execute not only a single order. It is also possible to form a that combines multiple commands.


    For example,


    In the early stages of the game, when tactical-level combat is required, the composed of such template tactical commands was often used.


    --But even if I explain such a thing to Lillipha, he will not understand it.


    Just as in the case of , they do not understand the concept of commands and shortcuts in the first place. Therefore, I only told Riffa that it was "just like a little message game.


    "Compression key settings ��Macro Configuration�� : Exit (off). Configuration virtual window (system window): closed."


    After registering the compression key ��macro��, close the virtual window that is obstructing your view.


    The content of the compression key (macro) is simple and contains only the to . Since the selection method of the target unit is "direct select", all you have to do is to execute the compression key (macro) while the refiner.


    Incidentally, Helian mainly used finger-snapping, or finger-punching, for the execution motion of compressed keys (macros). The reason for adopting this motion is that it is quick and easy to perform on the spur of the moment, and above all, it looks cool.


    Because, by simply snapping their fingers, the subordinates would move in response.


    It must be cool.


    <


    There were several other motions for drawing letters in the air, but the reason is the same.


    "Okay, here we go..."


    "??"


    In front of Lillipha, who is looking at me with an uncertain expression, I snap my right middle finger.


    Rilifa shakes herself in surprise and then raises her right hand.


    --The experiment was a success.


    "What was that?��Big brother, did you tell Rilifa to ?"


    "No, I didn''t say it out loud. Instead, I sent with . I wasn''t sure if it would work or not against the inhabitants of this world, but it seems to work."


    "...... something weird."


    Rilifa wiggles her legs, looking somewhat itchy.


    "Should I tell her with my voice?��I can reach a certain distance, but I can also use my other abilities to get my voice to you."


    "Hmm. Maybe you''ll get used to it, but I think you''ll be surprised at first. If you can hear me from a distance, it would be easier for you to get used to it. Then it''s just like mind-speech."


    "When you say ''mind-speak,'' I''m pretty sure ...... it''s a magic spell that allows a person to hear the voice of someone who is far away."


    It is the magic used by the vermin of Noblewood.


    It seems to be a rather rare magic and the Fourth Legion has begun to study it.


    Incidentally, a Helian can do the same thing if only to reach someone at a distance. All you have to do is to set the chat mode to [super wide area] and shout, just as you did when you made a speech.


    There is a chat mode that allows PCs (players) to talk directly to each other, but not to NPCs. It cannot be used. Unfortunately, it is not possible to use communication (chat) to send a voice to a refueller--no.


    "Wait, isn''t ...... worth a try?"


    Suddenly, he wondered how his ability (system) recognized Lillipha.


    Unlike Levee and the others, she was originally a resident of this world. [We have no idea what this world is like in Tactics Chronicles, but it is not right to assume from the start that she is like an NPC.


    In the case of , the idea of being able to use the same abilities on Lilliputians as on NPCs didn''t occur to me until the very last minute, but this time I was about to fall into the opposite trap. We should not put the refiners in such a category from the beginning.


    In the first place, I am in a very different state of mind than I was when I was playing the game.


    In the game I never felt fatigue, but in this world I am always out of breath.


    Similarly, in games, you do not necessarily need to eat, and in the early days when you could not afford to eat, you would give your own food to your subordinates, but if you do the same now, you will usually starve to death.


    Since the game is so different from the game, it would be a bad idea to treat the refurls as completely the same existence as their subordinates (former NPCs) from the beginning. What is the point of limiting the possibilities by yourself? It''s free to try, and now is the time to test it out.


    "--Okay, ref. Just try to get out of my voice for a little bit."


    [ communication(chat) ]


    So, now let''s verify the communication (chat) function.


    I have already explained to Lillipha what we are going to test, and she waves her hand in front of her eyes to indicate that she is ready.


    "Chat window: open.


    Mode select: spoken conversation (voice chat).


    Target input: direct select."


    A virtual communication window (chat window) is opened and the connection process begins, just as when dealing with a king (player) from another country.


    The connection was successfully established. No error message is returned. The connection is successfully completed without any error messages being returned.


    >


    Rilifa, from the corner of my eye, jumped and signaled to me.


    It seems that her voice was heard. This is a happy miscalculation. We should try everything.


    The differences from the game that we have found so far have been only a bonus, such as feeling pain, hunger, fatigue, and almost dying from the reaction of the secret of the game. I think I''m getting there.


    I respond to Lillipha, who is still jumping up and down and appealing to me, by waving my hand with a wry smile. We were able to reach her for the time being. Then we must try the opposite direction.


    Then Rilifa stopped jumping and looked down for a moment as if thinking about something. Then she jumps up and opens her mouth with a childish smile on her face.


    >


    Helian immediately closed the virtual window.


    She looks up at the sky with a Bodhisattva-like expression on her face, while Rilifa continues to speak from the corner of her eye.


    --Why is the sky so blue?


    Looking up at the majestic azure sky, Helian indulges in escapism.


    [ TRANSLATION ]


    "I''m home. Hey, did you hear what Rilifa said?"


    "...... Well, yeah. At least we can confirm that we can hear Rilifa''s voice. I just couldn''t make out what she was saying."


    "Huh?��Is that so?"


    "I''m afraid so."


    "Well, I''ll tell you again. I''ll tell you again... my sister''s favorite..."


    "You don''t have to say it. Anyway, I think we can call it quits on this experiment. Let''s move on to the next experiment.


    Rilifa''s cheeks puffed out.


    I am very curious as to why she is unhappy, but it is dangerous to continue this topic any longer. The next time I see Leifer, it will be awkward one way or the other.


    "Next time we''ll have to transition."


    "What ......?��What do you mean, that transition where you can move to another place in an instant?��Mr. Helian, I thought you were ......, big brother, can you use transfer magic?"


    Why did you say it again? Why didn''t you just say "Mr. Helian"?


    ...... Well, it doesn''t matter now.


    "That''s the right transition. You have to have more than one base to use it, and you can only move from one base to another.


    "............ Let''s see. Transference is supposed to be a very rare magic among the lost magic,...... but I think only the legendary great sage can use it,......."


    "It''s not really magic, but, you know. I can transfer anyway."


    I''ll cut this short as I see fit.


    I am at a loss for details since I don''t even know the magic word "ma".


    The king''s (the player''s) use of transference is, to put it bluntly, a means of moving from one base to another.


    In most RPG games, the means to move from one base to another is available after the midpoint of the game when the player''s area of activity has expanded, and it is positioned in the same way.


    As an overview of the function, it is possible to set up a "teleportal" only at the base you have conquered, and you can move to another teleportal instantly via the teleportal.


    This ability cannot be used without a base under your control, and if the base is conquered by another power, the teleportal will disappear. It is only an ability to move between the bases of one''s own forces.


    In addition, only one teleportal can be installed in the same location, but it can be re-installed any number of times in different locations. And it is not only the player who can move. Using the teleportal, your subordinates can also move from one location to another.


    "...... Oh, shoot. I didn''t reconfigure the teleportal in RATESTWOOD, so it''s still at the default setting.


    "Initialization?"


    "In this case, it means you can only fly near the throne (symbol). You have to go to the site to reconfigure it, and it''s ......."


    "Hmmm ....... Hey, so can Rilifa go first?"


    "No problem. I mean, I can''t go in this situation. I can''t jump into the Ratest Wood and near the throne without notifying the queen (Leiffer) in advance.


    , he set up a teleportal for the capital of Alkimaira---- right in front of him. If there is no symbol in the vicinity, a faintly glowing ball of light appears in its place. The created ball of light floats at about waist height.


    It is possible to set restrictions on the destination, the direction of transfer, and the use of each character, but most of these settings are currently disabled for the purpose of experimentation.


    I briefly explain the method of levitation to Lillipha, who lets out an impressed "wow" sound. If you touch the light ball, a list of possible destinations should be displayed.


    Rilifa reaches for the ball of light and the list appears at her eye level. There seems to be no problem. Rilifa''s eyes sparkle in surprise at the sudden display of the list.


    --But then a question came to her mind.


    So far, all the experiments had been successful. In fact, there were even some unexpected results, but thinking about it again, it seemed to me that there was a risk in the case of transference.


    It would be fine if the transfer was not triggered, but there is a possibility that it could be triggered halfway and the patient could be transferred to a completely different place.


    I am not trying to prioritize lives, but Lillipha is royalty. We should first ask the others to cooperate with us in this experiment.


    "Wait, Rilifa. I don''t think we should do this experiment. There''s a danger..."


    "Hmm, I''m sure it''ll be fine. I''m off then!


    "What?��...... Oh, wait--!"


    Before we could stop her, Rilifa activated the teleportal. As soon as Helian reaches out his right hand, the ball of light emits a strong light for a moment, and Rilifa''s figure disappears instantly.


    <>


    He tries to communicate with Rilifa using the chat function that he just tried a few minutes ago.


    The transfer itself should be instantaneous. If all goes well, she''s already in Latticewood. I have to be there.


    >


    <


    The reply was easy-going.


    Helian''s chest heaves with relief at the cheerful voice, oblivious to the worries of others. A deep sigh naturally escaped her.


    <


    The conversation can be heard leaking through the communication (chat) that has been left connected. Apparently, they are talking with Wenli, who is a close associate of Leifa. Within a minute, the teleportal installed in the courtyard begins to glow.


    Rilifa, who has returned from the Ratestwood, appears near the teleportation gate. When she spots Helian, she smiles and opens her hand holding something.


    What Lillipha was holding was a small piece of cloth. It is in the shape of an inverted triangle. Its color is black. The cloth, which seemed to be slightly transparent, was...


    "Ta-da!��I brought it from the wardrobe in my sister''s room, her treasured bread..."


    "Stop him, you poor thing!"


    As expected, Helian was annoyed.


    + + +


    "...... Hey, Lillipha. Why are you using your own sister as an excuse?"


    Helian asked with a tired look on his face.


    She had wept so much over her sister''s life, but she had treated her too roughly, hadn''t she? Especially in the last act, Leifa should have cried in a different way.


    Reluctantly putting away her underwear, or something else in the shape of a triangular piece of cloth, she complains in a bored tone.


    Because my sister doesn''t give me much attention these days..."


    "That can''t be helped. Rayfa is busy too.


    After all, Leifa is the queen of Latticewood.


    She must be just as busy with her work as I am.


    Besides, it''s a pity to bring Wenli''s underwear.


    "Wait. Why are we supposed to bring our underwear? And why doesn''t that consideration apply to Leifa?"


    I don''t understand Lillipha''s thought process. Leifa is so pathetic.


    "?��Because she''s my sister. I don''t mind."


    "........................ I see."


    It is an idle act to meddle in the affairs of sisters.


    Herrien decided to fool himself with that logic.


    "Well, what the heck,...... you should care about Leifa a little bit, too. She must be really busy too.


    "Well, you sure seem to be having a hard time these days. Yesterday was the first time in a long time that an adventurer had returned.


    "I have heard reports of this. I hear that he is staying in the village now. The Sixth Legion is supposedly working to keep them away from the capital.


    "Yes, just one party of adventurers from the border city. I heard that the herd of demonic beasts has been defeated, but there is something wrong with the labyrinth (dungeon) near the city, and most of the adventurers who originally came to the Abyssal Forest are now going there.


    However, the labyrinth (dungeon), unlike the defense of the border city, has no compulsion for adventurers, so they said they came to the Abyssal Forest to dive.


    "Labyrinth (dungeon),Hey ......"


    The labyrinth [dungeon] is an element that was also in [Tactics Chronicle].


    However, according to the information I obtained from Rattestwood, the labyrinths or "dungeons" in this world seem to be a little different from those in [Tactics Chronicle].


    This too will have to be investigated at some point in the future.


    Besides, we must also investigate the world outside of the forest, in the sphere of human life.


    The information that RATESTWOOD had was mostly about the world inside the forest.


    Some of the leading figures had seen and heard about the world outside the forest through the few diplomatic opportunities they had, but almost all of them had died in the last war. The first and second generation half-elves who had lived in the sphere of human life had also been turned into offerings to the fairy dragons by the vermin because of their strong elven blood.


    The only thing that those who remain know about the world outside the forest are the names and sizes of the neighboring countries, and some general knowledge. It is not surprising that they were so occupied with their own lives.


    "......, is it that late already?"


    If you check the time in the , it is almost 12:00 in the afternoon. After a brief dinner, the informal meeting with Lillipha comes to an end.


    I also wanted to try , but I was not in a hurry to do so. We will continue this another time.


    But the time passed remarkably quickly.


    I left the courtyard with Lillipha''s hand, wondering when I would see her again, with a faint feeling of loneliness.


    Lillipha followed silently for a while, but just before we entered the castle, she suddenly opened her mouth.


    "Hey, Mr. Helian."


    "What?"


    "Have you had a chance to relax?"


    The question was a whisper.


    I looked next to him and was met with a gaze that stared up at me.


    In those innocent eyes, I saw my own face with an expression of exasperation.


    "---- is..."


    I''m in trouble.


    <<>, but it seems that I was the one who was being considerate to her all the time.


    When I checked my condition again, I found that my shoulders were somewhat lighter.


    Perhaps because it had been a long time since I had a conversation with her without any feelings, the heaviness that had been stuck in a corner of my head had been lightened considerably. If I looked in the mirror now, I would probably see myself there with a refreshed expression on my face.


    I put my right hand on Lillipha''s head with a wry smile, thinking that I am losing my face as an older woman. The soft white hair felt good to the touch. I stroke her small head with a careful hand so as not to ruin her hairstyle.


    It was a nice break. Thank you, Rilifa.


    He expresses his gratitude without any adornment.


    What came back from the girl was not a word, but a hearty smile.


    --Let''s work hard from noon onwards.


    With a cheerful expression on her face, Helian returns to the castle with Lillipha. Herian takes Lillipha with him back to the castle. Her steps are surprisingly light.

 35 - CHAPTER IV "Report on the Results of the Conference"

    After the informal meeting between the King of Alkimaira (Helian) and the Latestwood envoy (Lillipha).


    Rilifa, who had visited Alkimaira as an emissary, decided to return to RATESTWOOD immediately after the meeting via a teleportation gate.


    The use of the teleportal was permitted through the courtesy of Hellian.


    With the assortment of tea leaves in her hand, Lillipha moved to a place near the throne of RATESTWOOD with a happy face, and went to her office.


    "Wenli told me you were back, but I didn''t know you were really back. ......"


    Waiting at the open door was my sister.


    Leifa, who had been using makeup to cover up the dark circles under her eyes, greeted Lillifa with an expression of surprise.


    Just a few minutes ago, Wenli had told me that Rilifa, who was supposed to be visiting Alkimaira, had suddenly burst out of the throne room. After running off somewhere, she returned to the throne room again without much time and disappeared.


    When he first received the report, he said, "You must be tired. However, after receiving a detailed report from Wenli, who insisted that she was normal, I decided to accept the fact, even though I was half-convinced.


    And now, seeing her sister appear in front of him with an unfamiliar bag in her hand, Leifa had no choice but to admit it.


    "Is it the secret ...... magic of instantaneous transfer, which is said to have been used by the legendary great sage?"


    "There it is!��Mr. Helian is awesome, sister!��There are many others--"


    "In this room, you will address her as ''JoOusama. This room is the queen''s office and you and I are not sisters but queen and princess. You must respect the line."


    "-Excuse me, my queen."


    Lillipha, whose expression had disappeared, switched the air she wore and bowed.


    Good," Leifer murmurs, leaning his weight on the back of the chair. Leifer puts aside the document he had just been reading - the report on the from the party of adventurers - and asks Lillipha about it.


    So, how did today''s meeting go? I have to give priority to my work at the moment, so I will ask you about the details later. For now, just the main points and conclusions will do. Please report back to me."


    "Yes. After thanking Her Majesty the Queen for the recent incident, I have revealed her personal information in order to deepen the exchange between our two countries. By personal information, I mean her body shape, the color of her favorite underwear, and so on.


    What have you done?


    Upon hearing the impossible report, Leifua stood up involuntarily.


    Her cheeks were covered in a clear vermilion color.


    "I am at the meeting. Through this meeting, I have also become the sister of His Majesty Helian.


    "I don''t understand!��Once again, from the bottom of my heart, I don''t understand what you mean!��Master Helian''s sister!��What in the world would cause such a thing to happen!"


    "This is an initiative to strengthen the friendly relations between our country and our ally, Alkimayla. We will discuss the details later.


    Say it now!


    "But you said earlier that your priority was the office."


    How can I go on with my work if I have to listen to this kind of talk?


    While Leifer''s eyes are raised, Lillipha bows her head and says, "I beg your pardon.


    "I will now begin reporting on the details of the meeting we had today.


    "...... You don''t have to talk like that. Just report back to me quickly."


    But I told you earlier to hold the line.


    "Just talk to me!��What have you done in his country?��Tell us everything!


    "I''ve only done what''s best for the Ratestwoods."


    With a snap, Lillipha tossed off the princess''s mask and began reporting once again.


    All of the reports were too shocking for Leifa.


    In an informal setting, she was allowed to use the same tone of voice as she had in the village, and she accepted it. In the same way, she was allowed to use any name she wanted in informal settings, and she began to call Helian <>.


    Later on, I cooperated with Helian''s verification experiments as a form of exchange, and became acquainted with his various abilities. Through these experiments, I have learned about Leifa''s body shape, the color of her underwear, and so on.


    Some of the reports were useful, but most of them were outrageous.


    Leifa, who listens to the reports, blushes and pallidly shows a hundred faces, but tries her best to restrain herself from interrupting until she has heard everything.


    Then, as soon as she heard Lillipha say, "I guess that''s about it for now," she slammed her hands on the desk and shouted with all her might, "I''m not going to say anything until I hear the whole story.


    "Rilifaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!


    "Shut up. ....... You don''t have to shout so loud, sister."


    Rilifa, with a scowl on her face, swears at me, covering her ears to protect her eardrums.


    What are you doing to me?��If you just shut up and listen, you''ll hear all kinds of outrageous things!


    "Because Mr. Helian said it was a good idea."


    "Of course it''s a social call!��You wouldn''t even know that, would you!"


    "Hmmm ....... Actually, I thought it was a social call too, but it didn''t seem like that. I thought it might be a good idea to call him <> and he kind of forgave me for some reason. ......


    Rilifa tilts her head, as if to say, "Well, I guess it''s a little late for that now.


    To tell the truth, Rilifa did not expect that calling him < would be accepted. It was an attempt based on the assumption that it would be rejected and that she would only be risking her own life, but she was puzzled by the unexpectedly easy acceptance.


    This is the result of Helian''s desire for healing in his busy life and Lillipha''s desire with <> in mind, and Helian''s early resistance due to his exhausted state of mind and body.


    The fact that a pseudo-sibling relationship was established somehow was unexpected by both parties.


    However, Helian was usually kind to her, and Lillipha is honestly glad to have him as her brother. She felt that he would spoil her more than her older sister.


    "How could I possibly know!��How disrespectful ...... to the Lady Helian!��And what about the fact that you told them about my body shape and the color of my underwear?��It wasn''t necessary, by any stretch of the imagination!"


    "Necessary. To promote your sister as Helian''s marriage partner."


    "......No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!"


    The words were so unexpected that Leifa was unable to finish her sentence.


    "It''s all right, it''s all right, my sister has a pulse. When I told her the color of my underwear, she even blushed a little.


    "Of course, it''s natural to suddenly be asked the color of the opposite s*x''s underwear!��I hope you didn''t mean to say that you turned red because you were angry with me for being so rude to you!��How could I possibly have a pulse in the first place?��Are your eyes blind!"


    "I''m not a sceptic. Don''t be rude, sister.


    Your words and actions toward Lady Helian are much more disrespectful!


    After slamming her hands down on the desk as hard as she could, Leifua sat back down as if her strength had been drained out of her.


    The things her sister had done were far beyond her imagination. The sheer devastation was too much to take in. She had to hurry to write a letter of apology first, and then visit Alkimaira to apologize again, she thought.


    The fact is that he had to send his sister, whose title is only respectable, as an emissary since he had lost most of the important people who had been running the country. However, if they had known the outcome beforehand, they would never have sent Rilifa as an emissary.


    "Besides, wouldn''t you be happy to marry Mr. Helian, sister?"


    When Rilifa asked her a sudden question, Leifa replied with a wrinkle between her eyebrows.


    "...... what nonsense are you talking about, you. You are the king of Alkimaira, our ally, while we are only the royalty of a small country. There is no way that a marriage can be consummated.


    But wouldn''t you be happy if you could?


    "--No more. Keep your mouth shut for a while, Rilifa."


    Ignoring her sister''s unintelligible questions, Leifa decided to get lost in her thoughts. She had to get permission from Alkimaira to prevent her sister''s head from being chopped off for disrespect.


    To her distressed sister, Leifa spoke to her in an easygoing tone.


    "Don''t worry so much, my sister. I didn''t do it without thinking about it.


    "-I told you to keep your mouth shut, Lilliputian. I''m in the middle of a desperate attempt to save your life.


    "......Oh, your face is scary, sister?"


    I tried to play with her, but the wrinkles between her eyebrows only grew.


    "Don''t stare at me like that. ....... First of all, I''ve been ruder to you, Helian. But since he didn''t chop off my head, I don''t mind this at all.


    "Huh?��...... Wait a minute. What the hell are you ...... saying?


    "I''ve been doing a lot of things to see how far I could go and still get in trouble, but for some reason I''ve been allowed to do most of them. I don''t know, but I think Mr. Helian likes me.


    I did get yelled at when I took my sister''s underwear," Lillipha adds inwardly. However, it seems that she was not angry at her sister for her undisciplined behavior, but rather out of concern for her.


    Even though it was unofficial, Rilifa understands the common sense that it is too much for her to behave in such a way as she is nominally an emissary of a country. However, since she was allowed to call him < for some reason, she decided to try to see how far she could go into his heart.


    The result was that the blood drained from her sister''s face, but it was surely a good thing that they were able to deepen their friendship, and she was able to make a strategic move in their future interactions, so Rilifa says.


    I am personally satisfied with the fact that I was able to do something useful for Helian, to whom I owe so much.


    By the way, I am not going to confess to the fact that I took her secret underwear.


    I feel sorry for my sister.


    However, it was a necessary act for sales promotion, and I am planning to do something similar in the future. Don''t tell anyone.


    "What a ...... horrible thing ...... to do."


    Unable to even scream, Leifa was about to collapse from anemia.


    "Oh, I was only very rude when I was alone with Mr. Helian, okay?��I''ve been a proper "princess" when Rieve and others are with me, don''t worry. I''ve made sure that if there is any disrespect, it will be my own fault.


    "That''s not the point. What the hell do you think you''re doing ...... with the life that Mr. Helian saved for you?


    "Hmm. I don''t want to die if I can help it, but if Mr. Helian is going to kill me, I''m okay with it."


    This time, Leifang was completely crestfallen.


    Hearing of her sister''s secret resolve and intentions, she could no longer even speak, and just stood there, stunned. To her sister, Leifa said in an admonishing tone


    "Hey, sister. Let''s change our way of thinking.


    Let''s say that the appeal was successful and you and Mr. Helian got married, right?


    Then you will be happy to marry Mr. Helian.


    The people (everyone) will be happy because the marriage is between two royals and the Ratestwood will be safe.


    If Mr. Helian becomes a real brother, Lilliput will be happy.


    If she will be a good wife, then Helian will be happy.


    See, everyone will be happy, right?"


    With a question, Rilifa smiles a big smile.


    "-Will we all be happy together, sister?"


    A sweet whisper, akin to the temptation of a little devil.


    Leifua, who heard her sister''s words, fell back into her chair again, as if dizzy.


    "Oh, you, you little girl, how could you ...... become such a child ...... when you used to be so honest and pretty?"


    "Hmmm, I wonder if this is the result of Wenli''s education?��I was told long ago to use my card, the princess card, effectively..."


    "Wenli, come here now!��I have a serious consultation regarding the educational policy of Lilifa, which is critical to the survival of the nation!"

 36 - Episode 5 "Lee Woos Worries"

    That day, Rieve was lost in thought.


    As she walks to her office, she is thinking about her beloved king.


    During the previous meeting, Rieve was ordered to stay inside the castle.


    I would have preferred to escort him, but I had no choice if I was ordered to do so. He was waiting at the castle for the king''s return, doing domestic affairs with Ertina.


    The guards in the courtyard were the SS and the Living Armor.


    Among the living armors assigned to guard the castle, there are elite soldiers called "Special Service Soldiers". The soldiers escorting the king in the courtyard were a handful of these elite soldiers.


    One of them looked vaguely familiar, so Rieve caught him coming back from his escort mission and decided to interrogate him ...... and ask him some questions.


    "...... First Corps Commander. I have a simple question, how did you manage to catch me with pinpoint accuracy?��I am a common magic armorer (living armor), and I should not be different from the others in appearance.


    "If you can say that, then you must be the living armored man who was escorting us in front of the bedroom that day. Then you need not hesitate. I didn''t expect you to be a special forces soldier, but I''m going to have you spit it out.


    "I don''t understand what''s going on here.��...... Um, First Corps Commander. The hand on my shoulder seems to have a certain strength to it.


    "Inform them of the details of Lady Helian''s interaction with the Latestwood emissary today. "Subtlety. Do you understand?


    "Well, I don''t understand ......, but I understand that if I don''t report it, they won''t let me go."


    Then, the living armorer, who seemed to have come to his senses, gave a series of reports that shocked Levee to no end.


    During the middle of the report, he said, "First corps commander, the hand on my shoulder was gripped by a grip force far beyond my endurance, and the armor started to dent into the shape of my finger. I think I heard a cry of distress, but Rieve was so shocked that she didn''t even have time to take it in as a language.


    According to the explanation of Living Armor, the two had been interacting with each other through some kind of game. It is said that the king (Helian) was patting the head of the messenger (Lillipha) at the end.


    This explanation helped me to understand why the king looked so good when he came back for the dinner. It could be that his interaction with Lillipha-Lum-Latestwood had provided him with a distraction.


    However, this fact was difficult for Liewe, who had always been at Helian''s side as a close confidant of the king, to accept.


    Of course, the king''s state of mind was better than nothing.


    It would be a welcome distraction.


    It is a welcome development.


    We should be genuinely grateful to Lillipha-Lum-Latestwood for providing a distraction for her beloved king.


    --But Lieve could not help feeling a tinge of jealousy towards the young girl.


    She had seen the king working day after day, night after night, with his tired body.


    Every day he feared that he would collapse in the near future.


    I tried several times to admonish him at the risk of incurring his displeasure, but he would not listen to my remonstrations.


    I was unable to stop the king from locking himself in his office and working diligently on his political affairs.


    Rieve could only watch on with an itchy feeling in the face of such a king.


    But Lillipha-Lum-Lattestwood had done it easily. Not only had she succeeded in getting the king out of his office after a mere ten minutes of conversation, but in just a few hours he had even begun to show a cheerful countenance.


    It was a look I had seen many times before coming to this world.


    It was the first time I had seen this expression since I came to this world.


    This simple fact made Rieve even more anxious.


    "......I wonder if Mr. Helian doesn''t trust me after all..."


    As I walked down the corridor leading to my office, a weak murmur fell out of my mouth.


    Rieve recalls the events of the recent rebellion.


    Rieve, Eltina, and Gardi were to blame for their failed escort mission that day.


    Gardi, however, was punished by being assigned to repair the facility, and he was also forgiven for having raised his rank above that of the enemy in the last war.


    Ertina, too, has her sins offset by her medical treatment in the aftermath of the last war and by her hard work in general domestic affairs.


    --But I have nothing.


    In the last war, I devoted myself to escort and general command support, and did not achieve any notable results.


    Today, as before the war, I am still working as an assistant to the king, and I am not assigned to any special work like Ertina and the others.


    I am the only one who is still living the same life without any punishment and without any achievement.


    This situation was taking a toll on Rieve''s psyche.


    And this burden was getting heavier and heavier day by day, little by little, but surely. This is not something that can be solved by punching.


    "I will not have the opportunity to give credit for this for a while. ....... At the very least, I should be able to receive some punishment: ......"


    However, I don''t have a good idea (plan) on what exactly we should do.


    It would be best to consult Eltina in such a situation, but she is busy with her own hard work. As the head of the general corps, I hesitated to bother Ertina with a private consultation.


    On the other hand, since she cannot come up with any good ideas herself, she has no choice but to maintain the status quo for the time being. I guess this is what he means when he says he is "heavy-hearted".


    "............"


    I looked out the window and saw my face reflected in the well-polished glass.


    I stop, look at it for a moment, and exhale deeply.


    "...... not good. I can''t let Mr. Helian see my face like this.


    He shakes his head to expel unwanted thoughts.


    It was not a problem that could be resolved by such an action, but at least on the surface, he had to appear calm.


    Pushing down the smoldering emotions in her heart and working on her usual calm and collected expression, Lieve arrived at the front of her office.


    After saluting the guards with a "thank you," she stops in front of the door.


    She checks her appearance with a hand mirror she took out of her magic pouch. His facial expression was clear as usual.


    After making sure that he has completely killed his emotions, Lieve knocks on the door.


    She hears the voice of the master saying "Come in" and pushes the door open.


    + + +


    "Somehow it''s starting to get back on track. ......"


    A few minutes before Rieve''s visit to the office.


    Helian, who was waiting for her, was looking at several floating in the void and sorting out the situation.


    First of all, the domestic issues have been settled.


    We have taken care of everything that can be started at the moment, and have made in several months for matters that will take time to be resolved.


    If no problems occur after a few days of observation, it is safe to say that we are on the right track.


    There is no concern of rebellion for the time being.


    As a precaution, the Sixth Army conducted a random survey of the public and found that the approval rate of the king is 99%, a figure that makes no sense at all. Moreover, it seems that the remaining 1% of the votes were not votes against the King, but invalid votes.


    I was about to order a re-survey of the results, but the Commander of the 6th Legion (Camilla) insisted on the legitimacy of the survey results in the name of , so I decided to accept the results as fact.


    Helian is aware of the importance that the legionnaires attach to the title. Since they went to the trouble of bringing up the title to guarantee the results of the investigation, Camilla''s claim should be believed.


    "Then it''s time to start looking outside."


    I don''t need to reiterate now that Helian''s supreme goal is to .


    I have accepted that this is reality and not a dream, but I do not want to die in this world. I am not prepared to bury my bones in this world. This feeling has not changed in the slightest, and my goal is always to .


    One of his short-term goals is to search for transplants to the other world, but there is no such information available from LATESTWOOD.


    A plan is underway to gather information from Noblewood, which has a long history, but we do not intend to wait too long for the results.


    We will have to consider conducting research in the human sphere of life.


    "For the time being, Alkymaira cannot be moved. The current alkimaira needs time. With that in mind, what specific actions should we take?


    Just as Helian was about to start thinking about this, the door to his office made a sound that announced a visitor. A polite knocking sound.


    After a single exhale, Helian interrupts his thoughts and closes all the virtual windows.


    She responds, "Come in," while shifting her attention, and the door opens without a sound, as usual.


    "Excuse me."


    With the words "Enter," Rieve steps into the office.


    Rieve has a dignified expression on her face as usual, but from Helian''s point of view, she looks a little strange today.


    "......"


    The difference from the usual Levee is obvious.


    Her ears and tail are listless.


    "Levee, what''s wrong?"


    "...... No, nothing unusual."


    "Hmm, is that so?��I thought there might be some new problem or trouble."


    The tail, hanging weakly, swung slightly.


    This is a sign of anxiety, I believe. I remember learning this from a friend who had a dog. Rieve is a wolf, not a dog, but the sign would be the same for a wolf. Maybe.


    "We have not experienced any problems that you might be concerned about, Mr. Helian."


    "...... I see."


    If Rieve says so, then so be it.


    I am not going to doubt her words now.


    But if that is the case, the question remains as to why she is not in good spirits.


    Considering what I was about to ask her to do, maybe it would be better to call it a day.


    "Are you by any chance not feeling well?��I know I keep throwing work at you, but you''ve been working hard for a while now. If that''s the case, I wouldn''t mind if you took a leave of absence today.


    "Thank you for your concern. But I am in perfect physical condition.


    Rieve insists that he is in perfect health.


    She has [stout] in her character traits, so it is conceivable that she may be hiding her health problems. ...... No, it would not be very pleasant to delve into this topic any further.


    If she continues to feel strange tomorrow, we will just have to make adjustments to reduce her workload.


    "But more importantly, I would like to ask you about the matter you called me about.


    "Yes. I have a small favor to ask you. It''s not a difficult thing, just a continuation of what I''ve been doing with Rilifa.


    A twitch, and the wolf''s ears responded.


    Her ears perked up, creating two triangles on the top of her head.


    Is she nervous? I have just explained to her that this is not a difficult request.


    "Of what you''ve been working on with Princess Lillipha?"


    Yes. No, it won''t take much time.


    In short, it is a continuation of the capability test.


    It is an experiment to verify whether or not the king (player), Helian, has the ability to attack.


    In the game [Tactics Chronicle], the king''s (player''s) offensive power was set to zero, and no matter how much he kicked or punched, he could not damage demons.


    However, this world does not conform to [Tactics Chronicle] in every way. Basically, it has the abilities of the game, but there are some differences from the game in details. Then, the offensive power also needs to be verified.


    We were able to test most of the basic abilities of the king (player) against the refuels, but we were not able to test whether or not the king (player) has an offensive ability.


    If we wanted to verify this, we would have to see if the player could damage others, but we could not test it on a princess of another country, especially not on Lillipha, who is a child.


    Diplomatically, ethically, and by far the most out of line with his own common sense (rules).


    And since it is an act, there is no way she can grab a suitable subordinate and say, "Let me attack.


    A king who suddenly says to his people, "Let me hit you," is just a tyrant.


    No, an actual tyrant would have his hands out before saying such a dumb line as "Let me hit you," but anyway, we do not want to behave in a vicious manner. We need to choose our opponents.


    So.


    "Levee."


    "Ha."


    "Let me slap you around a little bit, will you?"


    ......Hey.


    I think I chose the wrong words.


    "Oh, no, I didn''t mean it like that. No, I mean, let me try it on your body. Only you can do this kind of thing."


    "...... only me, sir?"


    "Oh."


    I can''t ask anyone else to do this. That''s why it''s Levee.


    The only person he could ask to conduct a verification experiment on the offensive power was Lieve, the only one who has been most loyal to him and the only one he has decided to trust.


    "To be more specific..."


    No, no, I understand. You don''t have to explain. Please don''t hesitate."


    I was given permission before I could give a detailed explanation.


    Oh well. I had a feeling that it would be a little strange to ask for something like this, so I''ll just go along with it. Let''s get on with it and get this over with.


    However, I have no intention of hitting Rieve, who is a woman.


    In short, we just need to see if we can do some damage.


    I take her arm in my hand, thinking that this will be a good way to decoupage her.


    "............"


    It feels so good to the touch.


    Smooth.


    I wonder if that''s what fine skin feels like.


    And her skin is very white.


    And the sweet scent of a woman''s scent tickles my nostrils.


    ...... am I going to bump this skin now?


    It''s a sinful thing to do, isn''t it? I should have been prepared for it, but I feel a little guilty about it.


    I mean, I touched a woman''s skin in a natural gesture, but what about it? If you think about it, this might be s*xual harassment. This is the first time that I have ever taken an adult woman''s arm in my hand. What should I do? I''m too embarrassed to look at Levee''s face. But I can''t stop her now. To take her arm and look at her and say "hi" would be s*xual harassment. Get a grip. I tell myself. If you think to yourself, "Why am I being asked to do this?" you''ll lose.


    "Yes, let''s do this."


    I hope you''ll forgive me if my voice sounds a little scratchy.


    I popped my finger and hit the white skin.


    A small, dry sound is heard.


    "...... how''s it going?"


    He asks cautiously, trying not to let his agitation show in his voice.


    "What do you mean?"


    He asked me back.


    "I mean, what ...... do you feel no pain?"


    "No, no. Not particularly."


    "......mm."


    That means no damage was done.


    I look at the skin around where I popped my finger, and it''s not even red. The skin is pure white and clear. If you take your eyes off the skin, you may not even be able to tell where you hit.


    Then, I hit it with my palm this time.


    The force was a little stronger than that of clapping. This was the limit for Helian in many ways.


    This time, however, when he slapped her, her body trembled.


    Although I could not see her face as usual, I asked her again with a sense of expectation that this might have some effect (damage).


    How about this?


    "...... Yes, it doesn''t hurt. Um, really, please don''t be shy, yeah. More force, yes.


    "...... mmm."


    This did not seem to do any damage.


    However, if we were to apply more force, it would be at the level of a slap.


    Although I was not conscious of it before the experiment, even though Lieve was the only person I could ask, I was not comfortable with the idea of hitting a woman with a force at the level of a slapping hand. Even if the point to be hit is the arm.


    And this is also a new story, but Leve''s occupation (job) is ��Fist Saint��, and her durability (VIT)--and thus her physical defense-- is high even as a bare status. The power is extremely high.


    Considering this, it may have been a mistake to think of inflicting damage with bare hands, with such slender arms as mine.


    The point is that even if [Helian] had the ability to attack, there is a possibility that the physical defense of Levee would have resulted in zero damage.


    But once we have started, I would like to finish this experiment here and now. Asking for cooperation again would be a hard thing to do in many ways.


    On the other hand, since it is unlikely that we can do any damage with our bare hands, a drastic action is needed here. I feel a prickle of guilt in my chest, but for the time being, I will ignore it.


    "Let''s try to use the tool: ......"


    As he muttered something, Lieve''s arm jumped.


    "A tool?"


    "Mm. I thought I''d give it a real try."


    ".................., yes, sir. Tools?��Yes, I can handle it. No problem at all, please don''t hesitate to contact me.


    "Okay. That helps."


    No, we''ve been waiting for you!


    "...... yeah?"


    I was a little caught up in what Levee had to say.


    It was nice of him to cooperate with us, but why did he say that he had been waiting for us?


    "I''ll borrow a whip and a collar from the 6th corps commander (Camilla) right away, please wait a moment!


    "A whip and collar?��Wait, where did the collar come from, if not the whip?"


    The whip is an exaggeration to begin with.


    It doesn''t have to be that aggressive.


    If you want, you could even use a stick from around here and there.


    "It''s all right, Mr. Helian!��I''ve heard a lot about that kind of thing from the Commander of the Sixth Legion, so I''ll be fine!��So everyone has their own hobbies and interests!��I have a good understanding, yes!"


    "?��That kind of thing?"


    I don''t understand.


    I looked at Levee''s face and saw that her cheeks were flushed for some reason.


    Her breath was slightly raspy, and her ears and tail were behaving in an indescribable and mysterious way.


    ......There is something wrong with him. I wonder if there is some kind of misunderstanding.


    Helian is just now taking stock of the situation, wondering if he has said something that could be misinterpreted.


    "Hmmm... ......"


    The location is the Oval Office.


    In this situation, there are only two people in the room: Levee and myself.


    What they were doing was to verify their own offensive capabilities.


    I was the one who was hitting Levee''s arm as a favor.


    Rieve, red-faced and flustered.


    I suggested that we use tools.


    No problem, she replies.


    Talking about it.


    Hobbies.


    To each his own.


    And from Camilla, a whip and a collar.


    --I understand.


    Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait a minute!��Rieve, you are making a very serious mistake!��Don''t try to walk out of the room, stop right now!


    "It''s all right, Master Helian, if this is a distraction for you, I''ll gladly accept the punishment!��I was rather waiting for this!��I''ve been waiting for you!"


    "Calm down!��You are talking out of your ass!��Do you even know what you''re saying right now?


    "Yes, I understand, I am an understanding subordinate!��In other words, you mean dog discipline!"


    "That''s not your understanding!��What is a dog anyway!��You''re a wolf!"


    "Actually, I may have been a dog!"


    "Don''t throw away your wolf pride on this shit!��Just calm down and listen to me!��For God''s sake!


    Helian does everything in his power to stop Lieve as she tries to run out of the office.


    --It took her 30 minutes to clear up the misunderstanding.

 37 - CHAPTER VI -- A BURNACE AT A PARTICLE

    --It was terrible.


    Helian lets out a deep sigh as he thinks about the events of yesterday afternoon.


    She has managed to clear up the misunderstanding with Levee, but she does not want to remember the incident anymore. I want to erase it from my memory as soon as possible. Otherwise it would be too awkward to look at Lieve''s face.


    Maybe the same goes for Rieve in terms of awkwardness. Her expression was as usual clear, but her cheeks still had a subtle vermilion color. Furthermore, her tail was moving suspiciously. And his ears, too.


    ......It was a disgusting case.


    I have no other choice but to dismiss it as such.


    "You look very tired, owner.


    The goblin behind the counter called out to me in a concerned tone.


    He is Gobutaro, the manager of this tavern, and also the first stray demon that joined our group.


    Helian has come to to (??????)meet (??????)a girl again, and is sitting at the counter.


    "I''m tired, I guess......... words are hard to come by."


    Gobutaro replied with a weak smile, but a question mark appeared on his head.


    Incidentally, I asked him to use the same kind of language as he would use with a normal customer.


    I don''t like it when people give me exaggerated hospitality every time.


    It was my first visit to this restaurant since the incident that day, and when Gobutaro in his uniform bowed to me at the most respectful angle, I was puzzled as to which hotelier he was.


    Because it is a place that I have a special place in my heart, I feel the need to behave in an easygoing manner.


    "Are you in some kind of trouble?"


    "No, it''s not so much trouble. No, it''s not so much trouble as it is something that''s already happened. I''ve decided to forget about it. It''s probably for the best for both of us.


    "Huh. ....... Well then, why don''t you go and have a drink?��If there''s something you want to forget, drinking and forgetting is one way to do it."


    This is a very bar owner''s (master''s) kind of invitation, but unfortunately, I cannot nod my head.


    I''m afraid I can''t nod my head. As you know, I have to talk to an important customer later. I can''t let the alcohol dull my brain."


    As he spoke, Helian looked at the crystal ornament on the counter. It is a magical tool that contains cloaking, soundproofing, and illusionary techniques. As if to indicate that it is activated, a soft light is emitted from the crystal.


    Since it requires magic power to activate, Gobutaro was asked to use it. At the moment, only Gobutaro and Helian are covered up, and the other guests are unaware that Helian and the others are even here. When the guests arrive, they are to be added to the target of the technique to create a pseudo-clandestine situation.


    What we are about to do is a secret meeting, so to speak.


    It is not something that can be overheard by others, but it is also something that cannot be done in a castle.


    By the way, has the visitor arrived yet?


    Well, it''s about time, isn''t it? About 30 minutes ago, I received a message from ......, which is a strange way of putting it, that they will be arriving soon.


    "I see."


    By "guests," I mean the delegation from Lattestwood.


    As before, this is supposed to be an informal visit, but this time, in consideration of the situation at the destination, we have decided to make it a complete escort.


    Incidentally, Gobutaro is a liaison officer on a special mission to connect top-secret visitors to the castle, and his role as a bar master is part of that mission.


    The group from LATESTWOOD is to visit the tavern to receive a message from the castle as a prelude to a secret meeting.


    They are supposed to leave a message for the girl who has come to visit them secretly, but in fact, they have not given her much of a message. This is just a setup.


    I think it is a little bit of a trick, but it can''t be helped.


    I could not think of any other way to communicate with her while keeping my identity hidden.


    "I''m sorry to put you in a troublesome role, but I couldn''t find anyone else suitable for the job. I''m sorry to put you through all this trouble, but I''m counting on you.


    No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. If I can be of any help to the owner, I will be happy to serve him.


    Thank you. Oh, and I''m supposed to act like a normal person when I talk to them. It''s an act I''m not used to doing, but it''s necessary for the future. As long as that guest is here, you will treat me as such.


    "Yes, sir... well, speak of the devil. It seems you are here."


    At Gobutaro''s words, Helian turned to the entrance of the store.


    The badly built door creaked and creaked.


    A half-elf stepped into the dimly lit store. Apparently, she had her followers waiting outside. The half-elf girl stands near the entrance and looks around the store as if looking for someone.


    Gobutaro manipulates his magic tool and removes himself from the cloaking spell as previously arranged. Immediately afterward, the girl''s gaze fell on Gobutaro. The girl walked straight to Gobutaro.


    ��I have missed this.)


    Only about a week has passed since then.


    However, Helian nodded his head in deep emotion at the sight of the girl.


    There was no way he could have recognized her, even with her hood drawn over her head.


    She was the one whom Helian had been waiting for - Leifa.


    It''s been a long time, Mr. Manager. I''ve been asked to come here to discuss a matter.


    "Long time no see, my dear. The message from the castle, I''m sure you''ll understand.


    Well, then, I''ll get right to it.


    Well, well, don''t be in such a hurry. You must be tired from the unfamiliar road. Would you like to have a bite to eat anyway?��We can talk about it later.


    "A meal, is that it? ......"


    Leifua, looking a little confused, hesitates to say anything.


    "Yes. By any chance, have you already done so?"


    Yes. In fact, I made a quick stop on the way to ...... Oh, no, I''d still like to have a meal. Well, you don''t have a menu on ......, do you?"


    Leifa smiles as she tries to find the menu list.


    Helian also found it inconvenient, but since Gobutaro had told him that it was a , he could not make him prepare a new menu list. Is this also a form of self-imposed restraint?


    "Shall I serve the same cockatrice tempura as before?��I''ll make sure it''s the right size for a light meal.


    "Thank you for your concern. But I was wondering if you could give us some other specialties."


    "Onya?��I remember you used to enjoy the tempura, but ...... it didn''t suit your palate, did it?"


    No, that''s not true. No, it was not. It was very good. It is a very tempting proposal, but we would be happy if you could serve a different dish this time. I would like to experience a little bit of the culture of this country.


    Helian, who was listening at the side, was unintentionally impressed.


    He was impressed by the fact that he was not choosing a single meal based on his own preferences, but rather in his position as a leader. It was quite possible that he would be served a dish that he did not like, but he did not hesitate to order only "a specialty dish.


    ��I must learn from him.)


    It''s still a learning experience.


    And this. This is it.


    This is the kind of leadership attitude I want to learn from Leifua.


    What she told me that day in this bar was very helpful.


    She not only saved me when I was on the verge of losing my mind, but also taught me what a king should be. It is no exaggeration to say that she taught me the ideal that I should aim for.


    That is why Helian had a desire to learn "such things" from her in the future. As a member of the royal family, there is only one person whom he can refer to, and that is Leifa.


    However, the relationship between Helian and Leifa has already been established.


    On the one hand, she is the king of the suzerain state, and on the other hand, she is the queen of a vassal state.


    As long as the absolute hierarchical relationship is clarified, the reality is that Helian can only talk with Leifa while wearing the mask of a king. And there is no way for her to have a conversation about the king''s knowledge. But..,


    (Except as "someone who is not Helian.")


    Moreover, as the man who was saved by her that day - as the young man who just happened to meet her in this tavern - it is possible to establish a new relationship with Leifa. You will be able to treat Leifa as a human being.


    You can''t ask her about the mindset of a leader, but you need to establish a friendship with her so that you can have such a conversation with her someday.


    This is the first step and the beginning of such a conversation.


    I am very grateful to her for coming all the way from the other side of the world and visiting Alkymyra on her own, despite her busy schedule. Thanks to him, I was able to lead Leifa to the bar in the place where it all began. I couldn''t let this opportunity pass me by.


    ��Yes. (Yes...you never know when such a great opportunity will come around again...) I''ll definitely make your acquaintance. ......!)


    Helian makes up his mind in secret.


    Objectively speaking, this is a pick-up act, but he is very serious about it.


    "If it''s another specialty, well... ....... Excuse me, can you eat pork meat?"


    Yes, no problem. But I''m a little worried about the raw meat.


    Don''t worry. We''ll cook it over a proper fire. Then please wait there for a moment while I put my best effort into cooking.


    Gobutaro casually suggests a seat next to Hellian.


    As he was leaving for the back of the kitchen, he changed the settings of his magic tool and added himself and Leifa to the effect.


    This enabled Leifa to recognize the person sitting next to her, a man (Helian) who was hidden from the public. As she is about to sit down, Leifa suddenly notices that there is a guest sitting next to her, and asks him if he knows where he is.


    "Excuse me, may I sit next to you?


    "--Oh. No problem."


    I took pains to answer in as casual a tone as possible.


    Helian, covered by an ash robe, takes a deep breath, conscious of the soft tone of his voice.


    Then, after watching Gobutaro disappear into the back of the kitchen, he made up his mind to speak to Leifer.


    "Hey, it''s been a long time. I didn''t expect to see you again.


    I thought I was being a bit blas��, but I said the words I had prepared in advance.


    But..,


    "--?��Um, is it me?"


    Leifa looked around curiously, then answered with an expression as if she were wondering if it was possible.


    "............ what?"


    Excuse me, but have we met somewhere before?��I''m afraid I''ve never met you before."


    --I was shocked.


    Had he forgotten me?


    The man who was saved by her that day, in this place, at that time.


    "Wait a minute. Don''t you recognize me?��That''s the man you talked to that day."


    After he said it, he frowned, as if he were making a poor pick-up attempt.


    But then I remembered that I had not even told him my name. No, it would be impossible to continue our relationship as we did that day if I revealed myself as "Helian", but I felt frustrated in explaining that I was the man from that day.


    Should I have given him a pseudonym or something?


    "You say you are the man of that day ......?"


    Leifa frowns in confusion.


    She wondered if she was smart enough to notice this, and then Helian recalled the effect of the he was wearing.


    This robe is a special equipment prepared by the management for <.


    It has the effect of diminishing the impression of the wearer, distracting the viewer''s attention, and misleading him into believing that he is just an ordinary person (a mob).


    And Leifua is probably not able to resist the deception of this robe. He only perceives himself as .


    But he cannot reveal his true identity as he did with Gobutaro.


    If the wearer (HELIAN) herself acts in such a way that she reveals her true identity, the deception effect on the subject will be significantly reduced, but she does not want to be recognized as "HELIAN" by the target.


    She must be < to think that she is the "man of the time".


    If it is not possible to completely detect the true identity, and it is not possible to completely conceal the true identity, it will be necessary to have Loeb''s deception techniques break through the half-way mark.


    (......) We have no choice.


    Helian began to slowly lower the setting (level) of Loeb''s deception formula.


    If he lowers the setting too much, his subordinates with high resistance to magic might be able to detect his true identity, but at the moment he has his magic tools activated separately from his robe, so he does not have to worry about ordinary customers finding out about his true identity. While paying attention only to Leifa''s reaction, he carefully lowers the setting of the robe.


    Finally, when I had lowered the setting to the lower limit, Leifa''s expression changed as if she had noticed something.


    "...... Oh. You may have told me about ...... the story we talked about earlier in this bar."


    "Yes, yes, that''s him. That''s right!"


    I know my desperation came through a little, but it can''t be helped.


    The first priority now is to make them recognize me as "the guy from back then.


    It has been a long time. I''m sorry I didn''t recognize you sooner. I''m supposed to be good at remembering people''s faces, but for some reason I can''t seem to recall them. ......


    When Leifer tilted his head curiously, I simply told him, "It happens all the time, so don''t worry about it. Helian is relieved when he manages to get her to remember. The plan had almost been foiled.


    "It''s a coincidence, isn''t it? I never thought we would meet in the same place again.


    "......Yeah, totally."


    Leifua has a soft expression on her face and speaks these words.


    Not being able to reply, "Actually, I came here to meet you," Helian could not help but agree with her.


    "By the way, you haven''t told me your name yet. I am--"


    "--Wait a minute. Why don''t we use pseudonyms here?"


    "What?"


    Leifua''s eyes twinkled as if she had been caught off guard.


    "No, I don''t have anything to be guilty about, but there''s a little situation. It would be helpful if we could use our full names, or rather, pseudonyms, for each other here. ......?"


    Without a name, it is inconvenient, but there is the dilemma of not being able to use one''s real name.


    That is why we propose to call them by their full names.


    A pseudonym?


    Leifa makes a gesture of thinking for a moment.


    Then she changed her expression as if she had thought of something and replied to the man sitting next to her.


    He replied to the man sitting next to him, "Well, I don''t mind. It''s just the right thing to do.


    It was a somewhat dubious proposition, but fortunately Leifa was on board.


    Perhaps the fact that she was visiting Alkimaira on her own might have helped her to accept the proposal as a convenient one.


    "So, my name is ......, right, I''ll call myself Reyna. My name is Reina.


    With these words, Reyna changed her name from Leifa to Reyna.


    She has changed only one letter, but it is a proper name.


    It is a beautiful name with a nice sound.


    I think I read a book in the university that says that it is better to use a pseudonym that is a play on one''s real name, without being too elaborate. If your name is too different from your real name, it will be difficult to react when you are called and you will behave unnaturally.


    Not knowing this, the name that came to my mind immediately was <, which I thought of as a good example of Leifa.


    Incidentally, the book was placed in the professor''s laboratory, but I decided not to think in detail why such a suspicious book was placed there.


    There are some things in this world that are good to know and some things that are not good to know.


    In this case, it must be the latter.


    "Well, I''m ........................ sorry, wait a minute."


    ...... what to do.


    I suggested it as soon as I could, but I hadn''t decided on a pseudonym to use.


    Perhaps I should follow her example and use a name after , but it seems an uncharacteristic (?????) action for an ordinary citizen to take a name similar to that of the king.


    While I was pondering what to do, Leifa, who was watching me, smiled at me.


    "You proposed it yourself, but you didn''t think about it?"


    The question sounded slightly teasing.


    The expression on her face is different from the one she wears when she wears her mask as a queen, and is more appropriate for her age.


    Helian is aware of the heat in his cheeks.


    She feels a slight sense of shame, as if she were an adolescent child.


    ......Uh, shut up. I''m thinking about it, just give me a minute."


    He is lost in thought for a while, swearing to hide his embarrassment.


    As he concentrated on his thoughts, he remembered a name suitable for a temporary name.


    "Grimnir......, yes, my name is Grimnir."


    It may sound a bit long-winded, but it is a suitable name if you want to hide your true identity. In [Tactics Chronicle], you cannot have multiple accounts, but if I had been allowed to create a second character, I would have named it <>, that''s how I would have named it.


    "Mr. Grimnir, is it?"


    "Oh. It''s a little long and it''s a little hard to call you, so just call me <>."


    "...... Well. Then why don''t you just call me Mr. Grimm from the beginning?"


    "No, I''d like you to call me Grimnir as a name. It''s a bit of an obsession of mine. ...... Well, just think of it as me being a bit of a stickler. It doesn''t really mean anything."


    It really doesn''t mean much.


    It''s just that I''ve always had a thing about naming things.


    "By the way, you''re from Latticewood, aren''t you? Now that you''re here, are you here on business or something?"


    In fact, I already knew the reason for his visit, but Helian asked him curtly to get a start on the conversation.


    Then..,


    "No, it''s not like that. My sister has done a terrible disservice to the people of this country, and I would like to apologize for that.


    As she muttered, a shadow fell over Leifua''s face, and instead, a heavy aura began to drift from her entire body. As if pressured, Helian backed away slightly.


    "I see."


    "Yes, yes. She''s always been a little sister who does crazy things, but lately she''s been especially ...... bad.


    Leifua''s body began to tremble.


    It was as if she was holding something inside her that was unbearable. I felt a sense of danger similar to that of a volcano on the verge of erupting.


    It seems that he has accumulated more things than he thought.


    "...... sounds like it''s going to be a tough time."


    "Yes, it''s hard. It is always difficult for me, but in this case, it is really difficult. How dare you be so rude to her of all people!


    "......Well, well, why don''t we have a cup of tea and calm down?"


    Helian uses to place an order with the new waiter, Oak.


    Soon after, drinks for two are placed on the counter.


    Leifua lets out a sigh of relief as she sips the hot tea.


    "I''m sorry, sir. I''m a little distraught.


    "Don''t worry about it. I understand a little how it feels to be in a difficult position.


    "So, Mr. Grimm, do you have a job where you are in charge of people?"


    "............ Well, in a manner of speaking."


    "I didn''t know that. I''ve told you before that I''m a bit of a leader myself. I guess we have a lot in common.


    "...... I guess so."


    With some awkwardness, Helian nods his head.


    When the conversation had calmed down, Helian spoke to Leifer as if he had made up his mind.


    "Well, thank you for listening to me before. Thanks to your encouragement, I''m still doing my best.


    Ever since that day, I have wanted to thank Leifa.


    But my official position did not allow me to say so.


    When Helian was finally able to thank her, he felt a sense of relief.


    You are welcome. I hope my words were helpful.


    "It was more than helpful. I''m grateful from the bottom of my heart. I really do."


    "I don''t think I did much ......."


    That gesture of humility.


    No, she tilts her head as if to say that she really did nothing wrong.


    Helian looked her straight in the eyes and spoke without any embellishment.


    "That''s not true. You saved me. You made me the man I am today. I was really happy that day. So, thank you."


    I know it''s a bit green.


    Even adolescents would be a little more sloppy with their words.


    But this is a sincere expression of emotion.


    Helian (Misaki Tsukasa) was saved by a girl named Leifa.


    I am grateful to her from the bottom of my heart.


    Then it is not something to be hidden, much less something to be ashamed of.


    I don''t want to be a person who can''t say thank you honestly.


    "Well, when you say it like that, I feel a little embarrassed. ....... I''m glad I could be of help in any case.


    Leifua smiles somewhat shyly and plays with her hair in a deceptive manner.


    It was the gesture of a girl of her age.


    "Besides, what you said was very informative. I even felt like I was being told off."


    "I am so embarrassed. I have spoken with great authority, but I myself am only half a man.


    I don''t think so.


    No, I''m really a novice. I was suddenly put in my current position without a sufficient handover. To tell you the truth, I''m still trying to figure everything out, and I''m doing my best every day to meet everyone''s expectations.


    Leifa lowers her eyebrows with a bitter smile.


    To be honest, this was a surprising reaction.


    When I looked at Leifua''s face with surprise, I found that her eyes were somewhat dark. She seemed to be covering it up with makeup, but it did not hide the dark circles of her eyes.


    It seems that she is very tired.


    A question occurs to me.


    From Helian''s point of view, Leifa seems to be an honorable person as a queen, but I wonder if she ever feels burdened by the name of queen.


    As if she did not read Helian''s mind, but as if to answer his question, Leifa murmured.


    "But everyone''s expectations have been heavy lately. .......


    -- to the question.


    Helian impulsively slammed the glass he was holding onto the counter.


    GAGGON!��There was a dull thud, causing Leifa to cower slightly.


    Helian, however, does not even look at her, but keeps his eyes on the counter and grits his teeth.


    The days that have passed since his first day in the other world until today run through Helian''s mind like a running light.


    Helian squeezed out his voice while trying his best to hold back what was about to overflow.


    "I know ......!"


    His hands were shaking as he clinked his glass.


    "Super, I know ......!


    The voice came out as if muttering.


    Although the volume of his voice was not so loud, it was a line that was squeezed out from the depths of his heart, a word of his soul filled with all his feelings.


    ..................I see."


    The response was filled with such heavy emotion that Leifa made a gesture as if she were recoiling.


    However, Helian, who was busy holding back the urge that was rising in him, did not notice Leifa''s reaction and continued to shake on the spot for a while.


    As soon as she regained her composure, she asked Leifa with a hint of wonder in her voice.


    "Do you ever have those moments when you are working in your room and you suddenly come to yourself?��If you''re prepared for it, but you wonder how it happened, you''re losing, or ...... you know what I mean?"


    "Oh, oh, I understand. I understand very much. It''s something you shouldn''t think about, but when you start thinking about it, your thoughts go in the opposite direction and your hands stop moving, don''t they?


    "Yes, I have. Yes, I have a lot of ......!"


    Leifa looked at Helian as if she had found a comrade, and Helian agreed with her wholeheartedly.


    What a wonderful conversation!


    I''m so glad to see her here again.


    Shaking with emotion, Helian began to talk with Leifa about the hardships of the past few days, which had been too intense.

 38 - CHAPTER VII SHOW CHANGE

    For some time afterwards, Leifa and Helian talked about their difficulties.


    The talk did not necessarily solve anything.


    The problems that were the cause of their troubles were still there as a matter of fact.


    Still, it was more than worth it to be able to tell someone about the feelings that we had been holding in our hearts.


    All the accumulated lees were discharged, and after the talk was over, a clear expression naturally emerged on my face.


    And it seems that it was not only on the Helian side either.


    "I''m sorry, I just got excited. This is the first time I''ve talked about something like this since I''ve been in my current position. ...... Thank you, I''m sorry, I shouldn''t have done that.


    After a short talk, Leifua came back to herself and her cheeks were slightly red.


    She had been leaning forward for the conversation, but now she was sitting back in her chair with good posture.


    To say the least, she did not look like royalty.


    Rather, just as when I first met her, she gave me the impression of a girl of her age.


    But this should be her natural appearance. Even Leifua is forced to wear the mask of a queen.


    It is not only me who is in pain.


    Just being able to reconfirm that fact, which is too obvious, was worth coming here.


    "Don''t worry about it. I''m sorry for all the things I''ve said to you.


    No, of course not. As for me, I have few people with whom I can have this kind of conversation. It was nice talking to you, Mr. Grimm.


    "No. No. I feel like I''ve been holding things in for a long time and I''ve been able to let them out. Thank you for your time.


    "That''s my line. ...... Oh, no, there''s no end to it. Well, I guess we''re both here for the same reason.


    A small smile.


    Helian chuckled in response.


    "By the way, I heard that some of the people of Alkimaira are visiting your country ....... Are they giving you any trouble?��Our people tend to be a bit rough around the edges, so I was a bit concerned.


    I am not at all annoyed with you. We are very grateful for your help in the recovery effort.


    "......Now that you put it this way, the people of Alkimaira are all demons. I hear that "demons" are an object of fear for the people of this world. ......


    "It is difficult to say whether I feel no fear at all, but these are people to whom we owe a great debt of gratitude for saving our country. The people staying in the capital are also friendly to us, and we consider them to be a different species from the ''demons'' we know."


    Hearing Leifa''s words, Helian let out a sigh of relief.


    After all, "demons" in this world are the very "threats" that turn their fangs against people in accordance with the demon tribe. I heard that there had just been a large-scale attack by demons and beasts in a neighboring human city called Boundary City. It is not surprising that they are feared.


    The reason why the people of Rattestwood accepted the demons of Alkimaira, even in light of this, must be due to the founding principles of his country and its national character.


    As a result, it may have been fortunate for Alkymyra that the first country with which they came into contact was RATESTWOOD.


    "Besides, RATESTWOOD is a multiethnic country from the beginning. We are proud of our open-mindedness, since that is how our country was founded.


    "It''s a national trait, isn''t it?"


    Yes. We are not excluded because of our race, because we have to care for each other and help each other to survive. We have a monarchy and a queen of the Elves, but in reality it is only the result of placing the best people in the center of the nation. This is quite different from a normal elven nation.


    "When I say normal elf state, I mean ......"


    "Noblewood, for example, places great importance on the ''blood'' of the ancestors. Only those who are directly descended from the ancestors, who have strong ancestral blood, are allowed to run the country. Elders also have a certain amount of say, but only those of a certain high pedigree can become elders in the first place.


    I wonder if this is also called "puritanism.


    In the history of the earth, there have been many nations that have deliberately practiced inbreeding for the sake of bloodlines. As a result of repeated inbreeding, various problems occurred, such as the development of weak constitutions and the tendency of families to die prematurely.


    However, unlike humans, elves have extremely long life spans.


    In addition, the mating cycle of elves in this world is said to be extremely long.


    It is precisely because of this that they have been able to keep the "blood" of their ancestors alive from generation to generation, while minimizing the harmful effects of inbreeding.


    "Noblewood is an extreme example, but most of the Elven nations are that place some importance on the blood of their ancestors. It''s a tribal thing.


    "I see. Then, what about the human countries?


    "I don''t know much about the land of the human race, but I have heard that the nearest human city from the forest--Rotfort, to which the border city belongs--is a kingdom.


    We probably already have information about this area through .


    However, the information obtained through is a dictionary consisting of hundreds of millions of pages, so to speak, and is like a search engine that holds vast amounts of information.


    You can look up information if you want to, but if your research method is inappropriate, you will not be able to get the exact information you want, and you will have to judge the validity of the information by yourself.


    This is a problem that can be solved with time, but I had the opportunity to have a direct conversation with Leifa. In this case, it is worthwhile to hear directly from her mouth.


    In addition, in the days when I spend all day long staring at the , the information obtained from the conversation is more memorable.


    "The political forms of the human race are the most varied among the four major races on the continent, with republics and religious states. There are relatively many kingdoms, but they are not all kingdoms.


    "Heh. Well, there are many kinds of monarchies.


    "Yes, that''s right. ...... By the way, what about this country?��Oh, if you don''t mind me asking.


    No, I''m fine. Well, this country is--"


    Alkimaira''s form of government is ---- Huh?


    "?��Um, can I help you?��I''m kind of sweating a lot. ......"


    Leifa calls out to him in a concerned tone.


    Helian, however, could not respond and began to perspire coldly.


    He had once again considered the political form of his country and had come to a terrible conclusion.


    First of all, Alkimaira is a with Helian as its king.


    All political authority is concentrated in the leader (player) named Helian, and he is allowed to exercise his power freely. Since there is no parliament and no replacement of the king, the player will continue to hold all the power permanently as long as he lives.


    In addition, national policy making is directly related to the will of the leaders, and even laws are set at the will of the leaders.


    --The form of government, in other words, is...


    "............, a dictatorship?"


    I''ve noticed something I shouldn''t have.


    With this expression on his face, H��lian drops a bead of sweat on the counter.


    + + + +


    After that, Helian (Grim) suddenly started to look pale and Leifa (Raina) was worried about him, but he covered it up by saying, "I''m just a little tired. When Gobutaro came back from the back of the kitchen, Helian decided to leave her.


    At any rate, we can say that our initial goal has been achieved.


    < he had succeeded in establishing a relationship with and was able to get to know her well. We had made a verbal agreement to meet again at a bar in the place of our beginnings the next time we visit this country, and I am certain that we have achieved a great deal as a step toward building a relationship in the future.


    However, as Helian walked alone in the castle town, he was troubled by a new problem.


    "This is bad, this is bad, this is too bad."


    It''s too late to say this, but he was becoming aware of the fact that the country of Alkimaira is under a , and he was feeling a sense of urgency.


    This is a very natural story for a boxyard game.


    There is no fun in a box garden in which the will of NPCs other than the player is prioritized. A boxyard game in which the player cannot do as he/she pleases is, in the first place, bankrupt as a game.


    However, if this is put into the "real world," what is created is a dictatorship in which a single monarch has absolute power. It would be.


    "...... not fancy."


    This is not to deny dictatorships per se.


    Dictatorship is just a form of politics. It is just one of the political forms that has the feature (merit) that it is not necessary to go through complicated steps (process) in running a country, and that the response time for contemplation, decision, and execution is extremely short.


    Although it is often associated with a bad image, this is because it is often combined with the politics of fear and oppression, and the image of dictatorship = bad politics is not valid.


    There are leaders in history who brought their countries together quickly and brought happiness and peace to many of their people by daring to implement dictatorships.


    "But that is a prerequisite for a good dictator. ......


    When a dictator makes a mistake at the helm, the consequences for the nation are nothing short of disastrous.


    In a dictatorship where the will of the monarch is directly connected to the will of the nation, even if it is clearly a wrong choice, the monarch will continue on the wrong path. Even if the path leads to ruin, it will lead to the end.


    And the same theory can be said about Alkimaira.


    No one is going to stop me. If I make a mistake, we all make a mistake. ......


    There is a saying, "Many boatmen climb a mountain," and even if there is only one boatman, there is nothing that can be done if that boatman is a fool who says things like, "Climb the mountain.


    Moreover, Alkimaira had the potential to carry out even such recklessness.


    For the time being, I expect that we will be able to manage our domestic affairs.


    It has the support of its capabilities (system), and it has an excellent domestic administration officer. Although we need to make efforts to bridge the gap between the virtual (game) and the real (reality), we can work on it as an extension of what we have done in [Tactics Chronicle].


    We have already allocated tasks to each corps.


    We have already registered about two months'' worth of for pioneering projects and the start of the normalization of the economy. As long as there are no major problems, we do not need any help from Hellian, and the domestic affairs officers (Ertina) are taking care of the minor practical matters.


    The problem is foreign affairs. There is no room for error when it comes to diplomacy. ......"


    I have a big problem as a king, as I had been worrying about that day when I fled from the castle and arrived at the tavern in the beginning.


    And none of those problems have been solved since that day.


    Political science is not my specialty. I have never even touched the study of imperialism.


    My academic performance has been above average at best, and I have not been involved in any clubs or club activities. He is a university student gamer who has devoted much of his youth to finally becoming a champion of [Tactics Chronicle]. An ordinary young man with no special talents of his own.


    That is Tsukasa Misaki.


    Here is the reality that he is the leader of a nation.


    As an absolute monarch, he must rule with excellence, take a decisive and strong stance in diplomacy with other nations, and lead the people in wars and in the search for the unknown.


    He must continue to be a man worthy of being the king of all demons.


    "...... Impossible. It cannot be done.


    I don''t think I can do it, no matter how many times I try to rethink it.


    It is completely beyond the capacity of what Tsukasa Misaki is capable of.


    It is absolutely impossible for him to compete with the powers in the diplomatic arena.


    That is a fact without any falsehood, and it is a purely real problem that stands before us.


    "If you are ----, think about it."


    What should you do after facing this reality?


    What should I do so that Helian-Edda-Elsinok, aka Tsukasa Misaki, can continue to wear the mask of the "King of All Evil"?


    "Never stop thinking. There is no time to despair of reality. If you have time for that, spend it on thinking to break through this reality.


    That''s right.


    We can''t let this get us down.


    We cannot afford to be so naive.


    Because that day, Helian made a promise.


    Because that day, that time, that place, he made a vow to a virtuous girl.


    Because he had decided that as long as a certain girl did not break his heart, he too would keep looking forward with stubbornness.


    And that girl is still looking forward without turning her head.


    I have just seen her carrying a burden that would be too heavy for her slender body, and yet she is standing firm and holding out her chest.


    Then there is no reason for me to kneel down here.


    While that girl is working so hard, there is no way I can allow myself to grieve like a woman.


    Therefore, what the "Helians" should do now is not to despair of reality, but to take concrete measures to overcome this real problem.


    What are we going to do? What should we do? What should Helian do in order to acquire diplomatic power, which is the most pressing issue?"


    First of all, we can''t continue as we are now.


    [Tactics Chronicle] had a diplomacy element, but it was a simple one based on chat conversations between players.


    We have played cards such as military power and resources to negotiate, but real diplomacy cannot be that simple.


    In actual diplomacy, it will be necessary to have a negotiating skill that can handle both sweet and sour sides of the equation.


    On the other hand, it does not mean that your experience in negotiation will be completely wasted.


    Even though it is a virtual world (game), it was a nation run by several living people with their own agendas. In other words, the world of [Tactics Chronicle] was a strategy board where living intentions, thoughts, and speculations were intertwined. It seems that some of the knowledge and experiences gained from this world can be applied to the real world.


    The main point, then, is how to draw a clear line between the virtual and the real, how to apply the knowledge and experience, and how to sublimate the negotiation skills to a practical level.


    "...... So, what do you think about that?��Is it possible for the Helians of today to apply the knowledge and experience they have accumulated so far in a proper and reliable manner and compete on equal terms with the powers of the world?"


    No. Extremely difficult.


    At present, we cannot come up with an as to how we should operate, and even if we could come up with our own , we do not have enough evidence to be proud that it is the right answer.


    We cannot expect textbook answers when it comes to steering the country, but we must at least be able to say with confidence that we ourselves are "right.


    We cannot hope for a bright future for a country whose king does not stand firm.


    Then, how can we gain the confidence to be sure?


    First, you need experience.


    We need a different kind of experience from the virtual (game) experience, a real (real) experience that can be ...... called "hands-on experience".


    If you accumulate experience as a representative of an organization and accumulate successes in the process, you may eventually gain a firm confidence in yourself.


    "So, ...... how exactly do we gain experience?"


    In [Tactics Chronicle], we gained practical experience through repeated failures and successes, but now that it has become a reality, we cannot do the same.


    Even a single failure could be enough to bring about a crisis of national survival.


    To put it another way, Alkimaira could become an "enemy of the world" as a result of a mistake in diplomacy. Since they have established their base in the Abyssal Forest, there is a possibility that they may be regarded as the land of the Demon King. We need to be more cautious than cautious in diplomacy.


    "...... is a problem."


    Helian needs experience.


    To gain experience, one must actually be in the negotiating room.


    On the other hand, the dilemma is that there is absolutely no room for error in negotiations.


    ...... can''t help it.


    "Hey, you there!��That''s not safe!"


    "...... what?"


    Suddenly, I was grabbed by the collar and pulled backward.


    The airway tightened, and a "gulp" sound escaped from Hellian''s throat.


    Immediately after that, something crossed in front of Hellian''s eyes at a high speed.


    "Oops, my bad!"


    What crossed the road was a horse-drawn carriage with a full load of goods.


    A few centimeters away from my nose, a massive mass passed by, making a rattling bass sound.


    If I had taken one more step, I would have been blown away without a doubt.


    I was chilled to the core. ......


    "I''m sorry!��You''re going over the speed limit, you son of a b*tc*!��I don''t care how fast you''re going, you''ve got to follow the rules. d*mn it!"


    The benefactor who had apparently saved me as soon as I got here was very vexed.


    The man staring in the direction the wagon had gone was a demon.


    He is about to embark on a pioneering project, perhaps with a huge machete on his shoulder.


    "...... Sorry. Thank God. I almost got run over."


    "Oh, it''s okay. It''s the carriage''s fault for speeding down this alley. What kind of a horse-drawn carriage is that? I''ll turn you in to the guards next time I see you.


    The demon with the rough nose said that.


    Something else suddenly came to my mind.


    "............ Trading Company?"


    "Hmm?��Yeah, there was a coat of arms of some trading company painted on the back of the carriage. I didn''t know what kind of business ...... because it happened so quickly, but I''m going to be late for work so I''m going to go. I''m going to be late for work. My wife is going to scold me.


    The demon leaves in a hurry, saying "Oh no, oh no, oh no.


    Helian, who had seen him off, leaned against the nearest wall and thought back to what he had just said.


    He puts his right hand on his forehead to support his head and sinks into a sea of thoughts.


    "...... diplomacy skills...... experience...... gathering information about the outside world...... and securing a base of operations. ......The figure at the front of the pack: ......"


    I spent several minutes mumbling to myself.


    After collecting his thoughts, Helian suddenly looked up at the sky.


    Then, with a frighteningly straight face, he muttered a few words to himself.


    "Yes. I''ll be a merchant.


    The king decided to change jobs.

 39 - CHAPTER VIII "Audience III"

    "The heads of the legions are assembled."


    The audience chamber.


    The heads of the legions kneeled and bowed to Helian, who was seated in a luxurious chair.


    The First Commander of the Legion (Liebe), whose main duty is to assist the king.


    The second corps commander (Balan), who is entrusted with important security duties.


    And the 6th corps commander (Camilla), who is in charge of espionage and sabotage.


    Only these three corps commanders were summoned this time.


    I would have liked to call Ertina, who is in charge of internal affairs, but I hesitated to call her because she is in the midst of hard work. Well, it would not be so much of a problem with Liewe.


    "Thank you. Raise your face."


    The gazes of the three legionnaires, with the king''s permission, meet Helian''s.


    Only a few days ago, he might have been atrophied, but now he was somehow at peace.


    He is not as brilliant as Rilifa, but he has flipped the switch as a king. When he reminded himself that he was the king now, the words came out more easily than before.


    "I thank you all for coming together at such short notice, given your busy schedules. However, I do not intend to make you waste your precious time. Let''s get right down to business."


    The three corps commanders reply with a brisk "hah".


    As usual, they chanted as if they were practicing.


    First, let''s recap the current situation. Baran, how is the security situation?


    "Ha. There is no problem at all. Your speech has relieved the people of their fears, and the great victory in the last war has relieved the stresses that the army has been under. The newcomers who have been a source of disquiet have been eliminated, and there is nothing to worry about for the time being.


    Helian remained silent and responded with a nod of the head.


    Although I had known this to some extent, it was reassuring to hear it from Balan''s own mouth.


    Then, let''s move on. Camilla, what about the problem of Noblewood?


    "The operation is progressing without a hitch, as you have planned," he said. Their home countries have no knowledge of the destruction of the advance team. Preparations were completed just a few days ago to disclose it at the appropriate time."


    He''s working fast as always.


    If we want to explain why the Alkimaira is hidden and the Noblewoods are all dead, we have to be prepared for that. Camilla was entrusted with the task of making that happen.


    Her Sixth Legion, although called a legion, is small in absolute number - [Tactics Chronicle] has a cap on the number of spy units it can have - but it is a specialty and does a great job. It was a good performance.


    "By the way, have you heard anything about the commander of the Seventh Corps who has been sent to RATESTWOOD?"


    Although he was sent for a reason and to support the reconstruction of RATESTWOOD, he was a difficult corps commander to deal with in a different way from Nogarde. As you can read from his personal characteristics, he is a man of many eccentricities.


    However, that was also the reason (?????) why he was sent to LATESTWOOD.


    "He''s still the same, but ...... well, I think it''s within acceptable limits."


    It''s a very subtle way of putting it, but there''s nothing we can do about it.


    If it hasn''t caused any major problems, good for you.


    Next.


    "Hmm. And finally, Liewe. Let''s hear what you have to report on other domestic issues."


    "Ha. First of all, we have refrained from interfering in the Abyssal Forest (Abyssal Forest) issue, basically waiting for analysis. Although the logging work necessary for the development is being carried out under the supervision of the 4th Legion, the fact remains that the Abyssal Forest is an unidentifiable object even with the magical science of our country (Alkymyla). I think that it will not be too late to conduct exploratory activities toward the depths of the Abyssal Forest after the results of the analysis are obtained.


    "I agree with you there. It is true that we won a great victory in the last war and gained a base of operations in the forest in secret, but our country is still suffering a great blow from the metastasis phenomenon.


    The god who does not touch is cursed.


    We need to continue to investigate the mysterious transition phenomenon, but it is not too late to make some progress in analyzing the Abyssal Forest.


    Alkymaira is now in a solitary position, and the forces it has lost cannot be easily replenished. Since we do not know what will happen in the future, we should not take any rash actions in the current situation, which should be called a reconstruction period.


    I am sorry. As for the military personnel belonging to the eight major corps, we have left them with the necessary defensive forces to focus on reconstruction and pioneering projects. It is not a project that will yield immediate results, but the project is beginning to take off as you have planned, Mr. Helian.


    First of all, we must be able to feed the people.


    With only a year''s worth of food in reserve and no guarantee that we will be able to return to our original world within a year, it is imperative that we improve our food self-sufficiency ratio.


    And for Alkymyra, which has lost all of its bases except the capital, the army is a precious mass of labor power. The manpower of the army, except for a certain amount of defensive forces, will have to be allocated in this direction.


    The military is working hard on the pioneering projects, which may be helped by the low barriers between military and civilians, which is a characteristic of the Demon Nation.


    "As for the security issues and Noblewood countermeasures, I have nothing to add since they have been reported by the Commander of the 2nd Legion (Balan) and the Commander of the 6th Legion (Camilla). Aside from the minor concerns, the major issues are as mentioned above.


    "I see... ......"


    He muttered thoughtfully, as if he were pondering.


    After a long enough pause, Helian opened his mouth amidst the tension in the audience chamber.


    "--To sum up, I would say that the domestic issues have been settled to a certain extent.


    No objections were voiced by the three corps commanders.


    "For the time being, the corps will not be able to move freely. Since our country has been deeply wounded by the recent transition, Alkymira itself will have to concentrate on consolidating its position. And since we have the advantage of concealing its existence, I think it would be folly to move the Alkimyra in a hasty manner.


    No voices of disagreement were raised.


    "On the other hand, once the domestic situation has calmed down to some extent, we should start moving toward our country''s long-term strategic goal of . But I''m talking about this with the current situation in mind, where we cannot move the army."


    I have no objection.


    "--I will put that in perspective. As a foothold to start a full-scale investigation of this world, we will establish a new base outside.


    I will personally lead a very small expedition to the "border city" to begin such activities.


    At these words, there was a definite movement in one of the three.


    The ears on the top of his head perked up.


    It was a reaction that could not be missed.


    "Do you have something to say, Liewe?"


    The wolf-eared legionnaire prefaced his question with the words, "With all due respect," and then locked eyes with Helian.


    "If you are setting up a new base outside, does that mean that your goal is to set up a ......[teleportal]?"


    "As for immediate goals, yes. For future large-scale information gathering, Camilla''s Sixth Corps will be the mainstay, but there is more than a considerable distance to the human sphere of life. It is obvious that we will need an external base of operations for this purpose."


    In addition, the Sixth Corps is a corps whose main purpose is to conduct counterintelligence activities.


    Their intelligence capabilities are specialized in this area, and they are not suitable for exploring unexplored areas or gathering information without human intervention.


    In the previous audiences, I made careless remarks about the operation of the 6th Corps, and I will not make the same mistake. The Sixth Corps will begin operations after it establishes a base of operations. Until then, we will ask you to focus your efforts on countermeasures against the Noblewood.


    Incidentally, the gathering of information from the people who reside in the forest - the elves - will be discussed only after the Noblewood issue is settled. Because of its location, Noblewood is a barrier to other Elven nations.


    "However, there is an unacceptable risk for you to visit the Noblewood yourself. Leave the rest of your activities outside the country to us, and let Mr. Helian stay at the castle."


    No, that''s not true, Levee. No, that''s not the way it''s going to work, Lieve. I have to do it myself. In order to set up a teleportal, we need to gain a certain amount of control over the area, but we can''t just go in with military force like we did in the capital of RATESTWOOD. In order to gain [control] peacefully, I must go there myself."


    There are two major ways to set up a teleportal.


    One is to force a region to be under your control by defeating the enemy forces or capturing the symbols of the region.


    For the capital of RATESTWOOD, a "teleportal" was set up by this method.


    The other method is to raise the "controlling power" in the area to a certain level. And the dominance can be obtained without any military actions.


    The typical method is that the king (player unit) stays in the area. Although it takes time, it is a sure way to increase the [Dominance]. Also, by increasing the influence of the player''s power in the region through economic and cultural activities, the player''s [Dominance] can be increased.


    Players "familiar" with old simulation games used to call the former method and the latter method .


    This time, Helian is attempting the latter, the <.


    "We must also show the people the attitude of the Alkimaira. I am the king of Alkimaira. There have been kings who have sat on their thrones and simply given orders, but I have always stood at the head of the pack and shown my back to my people.


    Then, I told the people who were facing difficulties that they had nothing to worry about, that nothing had changed. We must show them that there is nothing to fear as long as they behave as usual. This is what I have in mind for this expedition.


    As if to say, "This is the point of the game," Helian rattled off the lines he had prepared.


    The corps leaders gasped in unison as they heard his words. After a few seconds, Helian hears Liewe mutter, "So much for .......


    "-Your wish is my command, I understand. I apologize from the bottom of my heart for my rude suggestion and for not understanding the king''s wishes."


    "Fine. I understand that your suggestion was made out of concern for my safety. I am glad to hear that.


    As if to show his generosity, Helian nodded his head in affirmation to Levee.


    Herian''s serious expression remained unchanged and he let out a cry of joy in his heart.


    ��Yes, yes!)


    A secret gut-punch.


    Now he can practice negotiating under a false identity as a merchant.


    The aforementioned is a true reason, but Helian''s personal goal was to improve his negotiation skills.


    Negotiation is an integral part of a merchant''s activities.


    At times, business negotiations may involve the lives of tens of thousands of people.


    A merchant who has lived in such a world should have a high level of negotiation ability.


    A business meeting is an ideal training ground for acquiring basic negotiation skills.


    The ultimate goal of Hellian is .


    [It is not to raise Alkymyra to a great power like in Tactics Chronicle, and moreover, there is no intention to conquer this world.


    Unless it is to follow the path of the High King, it is out of the question to take military action in order to gain an external stronghold.


    On top of that, I felt like praising myself for this idea, which was an effective way to find a way to return home, to practice negotiation skills, and even to show the people that I was the king of all demons.


    The corps commanders, who were unaware of Hellian''s inner thoughts, looked at him with a fascinated gaze.


    Although he was not lying, Helian felt a little guilty under their eyes, but he held on tight and did not look away.


    "You always stand in the forefront for the sake of the people. I am just in awe of you."


    "...... Mm."


    He nodded his head in a hawkish manner.


    However, I was a little bothered by what Rieve said.


    ("Always"......?)


    I have a bad feeling about this.


    Although we have succeeded in convincing Rieve and the others, I wonder if we have established a position where we will have to remain in the forefront for a long time to come.


    (......) No, there have been signs of this for a long time. We would have had to continue to be in the forefront anyway.)


    Yes, it should be.


    But it seems to me that he has made the composition definitive with his own hands.


    "............"


    ......Well, okay.


    This is how it should have been at some point.


    Then my attitude will change if I can work on it as my own decision, not as a result of being influenced by others.


    "Then, I will announce the members of the expedition who will serve as my followers.


    The heat in the gazes of the corps leaders increased with each word.


    Helian, under the eager gazes of the commanders, who were looking at him with eager eyes, stated the names of his followers in an unaffected manner.

 40 - CHAPTER IX "Departure"

    The audience was over.


    In the room reserved exclusively for the Commander of the Third Army, Ertina looked over a stack of documents and closed her eyes, letting out a light sigh.


    "......Hmmm..."


    Although he is getting a minimum amount of sleep, he feels a heaviness in his eye lids.


    I have cast a healing spell on myself to alleviate the physical fatigue, but I am unable to take care of the mental fatigue.


    Even though I am accustomed to this kind of work, the workload and the weight of responsibility are commensurate for a large-scale project. And moreover, it is a pioneering project in a situation where there is a shortage of personnel due to the metastasis phenomenon. Even with Eltina''s internal administrative skills, she was just barely managing to fulfill the orders from the Lord.


    Moreover, there are still several piles of documents.


    He spent his days desperately resisting against the stacks of documents that were literally piling up.


    Just as Ertina was about to reach for the next pile, the door suddenly made a sound.


    A distinctive knocking sound.


    Ertina identifies her visitor by the impatient but somewhat reserved sound, and calls out to the door.


    Come in. The door is open, Ceres.


    After Ertina responded, there was a slight hesitation and silence, and then the door opened.


    The one who peeked through the doorway was Ceres, the commander of the Fourth Legion with the [Magic Legion].


    "......You know, Elle. I''ve always wondered how you knew it was me who came.


    "Celes has a distinctive knock on the door. Come on in."


    Is that so?��Twisting her head, Ceres stepped into the room with a somewhat reserved look on her face. He looked at the piles of papers on the desk and his eyes shook as if he was frightened.


    "Ah, you know, that ....... Elle is busy, isn''t she?


    "No, no. I was just about to take a break."


    Eltina smiles, her tone soft as usual.


    Celes, however, somehow guessed the current situation from her complexion and her words, and she looked apologetic.


    "I''m sorry. I''ll make this quick.


    "No problem. So, what can I do for you?


    When asked what he wanted, Celes looked away somewhat hesitantly.


    Then, after taking a deep breath, she opened her mouth with a bold expression.


    "...... You know... I''d like to ask you a personal question,......, but I think your majesty hates us elves.


    "The elves to His Majesty?"


    Tilting her head, Eltina asked Celes.


    "Yes. The other day at the time of the war you were more angry than I''ve ever seen you. If I''m not careful, I might even make Nogarde open the box.


    "Yes, I see. I''ve never seen His Majesty in such a rage before.


    "...... and the Noblewood guys were vermin, but they were still elves like us in appearance,...... and I got worried... I wondered if His Majesty didn''t like me."


    Ah," Eltina guessed.


    Perhaps it came out of her mouth without her noticing it, but before she knew it, the target was not the Elves, but Ceres personally.


    So that''s the main point, Eltina nodded inwardly.


    "Even before the war the other day, they didn''t take me alone. ......"


    I wonder if I made myself even more anxious by saying it.


    A slight glint appears in Celes'' eyes.


    Ertina sees this expression and smiles softly, as if she is comforting her beloved child,


    "--Thank you for all your hospitality, Ceres."


    "What?"


    "No, I was talking about this."


    Although she let her true feelings slip, Ertina thinks that she will be able to fight for another two weeks.


    Eltina, who had been supplied with a precious source of energy and spiritual satisfaction, spoke to Ceres with a Virgin''s expression.


    "Back to the subject, I think Celes is overthinking this. If Your Majesty dislikes the Elves because of that incident, it should be more obvious to me, who is of White Elven descent, than to Celes, who is of Black Elven descent.


    "But even Camilla could have been taken by His Majesty: ......"


    "...... That way of talking is going to make Camilla mad at you, don''t you think?��First of all, under the circumstances, he could not have taken Ceres to the village. Your Majesty acted according to the situation, not out of contempt for Celes.


    "That may be true, but ...... I think I know what I''m talking about. ......"


    Muttering a few words, Ceres turns her head down again.


    In short, she seems to have been attacked by anxiety on an emotional level, although she understands it rationally. Eltina, who correctly guessed Ceres'' condition, wonders how she can comfort her.


    Then a knock on the door announces a new visitor.


    Is it Lieve? Come in, it''s open.


    A moment of silence.


    Then the door quietly opens and a colleague appears.


    Unlike Ceres, the visitor who opened the door with dignity was, as expected, Levee.


    ......Ertina. I always wondered how you could tell it was me just by the sound of knocking?"


    "Because Lieve''s knocking is very distinctive."


    "Don''t compare me with Ceres, my knocking is normal. I''ve mastered all the etiquette skills you need.


    "...... Hey, Levee. Don''t you dare to casually put me down.


    Celes, with her usual bullish expression on her face, quickly retorts.


    Ceres reveals her true feelings and shows her vulnerable face only in front of Ertina, her kindred spirit and the person she trusts the most. Celes, who has "stoutheartedness" in her character trait, has been trying to avoid showing her weak points in the presence of others.


    Eltina asks the new visitor, thinking inwardly that she is cute in that way too.


    So, Lieve. What can I do for you?"


    "Oh. I came to ask about Celes'' whereabouts, but you saved me the trouble."


    Heh?��Atashi?"


    When Celes asks her with a vacant look on her face, Levee, with her usual clear face, gives her a message.


    "Herian-sama has decided to go on an expedition as a merchant to the world outside the forest, to the sphere of human life. I, Gardi, and Ceres have been appointed to accompany him. We will meet in the ninth conference room in two hours for a meeting among the corps commanders to discuss the escort method and other matters. Understood?��I certainly did. I''ll talk to Gardi and then go to the conference room. That''s all."


    As soon as he had delivered his message, Levee quietly closed the door and strode away.


    Ceres looked at the closed door for a moment, but when she understood the meaning of Rieve''s words, she turned to Ertina with a smile like a flower opening.


    "Yes!��Your Majesty called me, called me, Elle!��I''m not hated by His Majesty!"


    Celes, who had been embraced by Ertina with such force that she squealed with delight.


    Eltina smiled at Celes as if she was watching over her daughter and said, "I''m so happy for you.


    After a short period of joy, Celes regained her composure and left the room with a cheerful heart after receiving from Ertina her advice on how to be a squire.


    After seeing Celes back to health, Eltina recalls the feeling she had just had, "Now I can fight for another three weeks," and goes on with her work.


    + + +


    A few days later.


    Helian and his party were standing in front of the great door of the outer wall of the capital after preparing to leave.


    Helian, dressed in his expedition cloak, gazes up at the great door that separates the capital from the outside world.


    We are ready, Herian. We are ready to go.


    I turned around at the sound of Reeve''s voice and saw the squires beside the unadorned carriage.


    The king''s aide, the all-powerful Levee, Gardi, the most skilled in the fully humanized form, and Celes, an expert in sorcery. The three of them are quietly waiting in front of us, all wearing the same type of equipment for disguising themselves, looking ready to go.


    These are the three followers I am taking with me this time.


    I have settled on this number because I want to leave half of the corps leaders at home at all times in case of emergency. This is the style we have adopted and will probably continue to adopt in the future.


    (......We were standing in front of the grand door like this that day, weren''t we?)


    I remember the first day I was transferred to another world.


    Helian, who had been carried away by the situation, went with Levee, Eltina and others to investigate the unexplored areas.


    It seems like a long time ago, but at the same time it seems like yesterday.


    It must have been such an intense and intense time.


    Looking up at the grand door, I am lost in deep emotion.


    Unlike that day, however, there are no guards of honor to see off the departing soldiers.


    This is because I had refused to let the guard of honor see me off, as I had told him that this was nothing special and that I was just going to do my job as a matter of course.


    There is also one decisive difference from the first day of my transfer to another world.


    Unlike that time, I did not step out of the city by accidental remarks, but stepped into the outside world of my own volition.


    "Hm - I have been on many expeditions in the past, but I never thought that the day would come when I would explore another world. I remember the day when I arrived in that world with the "Three Bodies of the Beginning.


    In order to motivate myself and turn on the switch to act as a higher-ranking person, I dared to say similar words to the last time.


    The three corps commanders standing behind him responded with words of their own.


    "I will protect you with all my strength. --This time, I promise.


    Leave the magic to me. I will burn them to the ground no matter what enemies appear.


    "Well, don''t worry about the rough stuff, you can take it easy on us, General. I''ll do my best to make up for the fact that I can''t be of any help in the small and complicated matters.


    These are all very encouraging words.


    It seems to me that Rieve is a little over-enthusiastic, but that''s something I can follow. It''s easier said than done, but I am the king. I am their superior. Then I have to follow them to that extent.


    With determination, Helian told his followers who were standing in line.


    Let''s go. Rieve, Ceres, Gardi..."


    Ha--!"""Ha--!"""


    And so the king of Alkimaira took his first steps out of the country.


    Not as he had done that day, not as he had been driven away by circumstances.


    --This time, he did it of his own volition.

 41 - Tenth "The Wilderness"

    --Once through the forest, we found ourselves in the wilderness.


    After stopping at the capital of LATESTWOOD, Helian was confronted with the wasteland that separates the great sea of trees from the border city, and was often overwhelmed by the landscape that unfolded before his eyes.


    To the east, beyond the forested area, was a desolate land as far as the eye could see.


    There are many small hills that have been uplifted by tectonic movements, and the valleys are endlessly stretching out in the shape of a leaning canyon. Looking at the sheer cliffs, we could see geological strata that must have been formed over hundreds of years.


    It is like the Grand Canyon.


    I have been on many expeditions to similar places in [Tactics Chronicle], but the scene spread out before my eyes was more vast and filled with a sense of desolation.


    Above all, the sense of reality was different.


    The feel of the wind on my cheeks, the dust that occasionally hit my skin, the relentless heat raining down, the hardness of the ground on my soles. It is literally real, something that cannot be reproduced even with today''s VR (Virtual Reality) technology, and once again we are reminded of the fact that "this" is an unmistakable reality.


    "In the game, there was no such bad status as motion sickness. ......"


    Helian complains with a sour look on his face.


    Most of the trip is spent in a horse-drawn carriage, but the journey is anything but comfortable. The carriage made by Alkimaira might be a different story, but the wagon, which was bought from Ratestwood to avoid being seen in a bad light, has no suspension and picks up the vibrations of the ground directly.


    I thought I had a certain tolerance for car sickness, but I realized that it was only a certain level. In addition, my buttocks are very sore. It has already been two days since we left Alkimaira, and it will take me a while to get used to this shaking.


    "Hmmm, Grand Master?��...... no good, rejected because it doesn''t look like the setting for a fledgling merchant. ......Mr. Helian?��But this would be called Levee and ...... hmmm ......."


    Trying to distract myself, I looked ahead to the carriage and saw Celes walking ahead of me. It seems that he is pondering over the name of the novice merchant Helian, the King of All Evil.


    I have already explained to all of them that they are to be treated as merchants in order to operate in the sphere of human life. Since we cannot be called or outside of the country, I have asked them to choose a different name to match the setting, but Celes still seems to be having trouble with it.


    "Are you still wondering about it? Why don''t you just make a quick decision?"


    "You''re so annoying and single-minded. Have you made up your mind yet?


    "Of course. It was decided long ago.


    "...... By the way, what do you call it?"


    "General."


    Celes gave me a dazed profile.


    "You didn''t just drop the ''so'' from the usual way of calling them. It''s too lazy."


    "Yes. Even the young merchants in Alkimaira call their superiors "general" or "general of something". What''s so funny?


    "......You haven''t thought much about it, but you''ve always been good at what you do. That''s what really pisses me off."


    With a wrinkled brow, Ceres returned to her thoughts.


    Every once in a while, a troubled "hmmm" escapes her lips.


    "If you''re so worried about it, why don''t you just call me general, too?


    Celes responded with a contemptuous glance at Gardi, who had made a random suggestion.


    "Hey, single cell. Imagine me calling you in a friendly manner."


    "........................ nothing. I mean, who is this guy, he''s disgusting. I can''t believe I just got a picture of him.


    You''ll be like. Then shut up. I''m trying my best to think of something to call you that suits me."


    As usual, the conversation is not so clear as to whether they get along well or not, but the truth is that they are quite compatible. They were created close to each other at the same time, but they have fought through many fierce battles since the first war in the early stages of the game, and they know each other very well.


    From their conversations, it seems that they are still the same as they were when they became a real pair. Helian smiles a little, and smiles.


    As a side note, the presence of Gardi was the deciding factor in adding Celes to this year''s group.


    While we had already decided on Levee, whose concept is to be operated as a set with the king (Helian), and Galdi, who is the most skilled in the fully humanized form, we had some trouble deciding whether to take Camilla or Celes as the other member of the team. In the end, I chose Celes because of her special mission in RATESTWOOD and because of her compatibility with my companion (Gardi).


    "Mr. Helian. May I be excused for a moment?"


    "Hmm, what''s the matter?"


    Levee, who was holding the reins of the carriage, looked at Ceres and the others with a steely gaze.


    "The clever idiot and the simpleton are getting a little too relaxed, so I''m going to have to give them a little chastisement."


    "...... allow him at least to chit chat. You can''t keep yourself busy if you''re always on your toes."


    Levee is as serious as ever, but I think she is a little overconcerned.


    Maybe he is conscious of his previous failed escort mission, but that was almost an accident. There is no use in worrying about it.


    But even if I comforted her, she would be more concerned about it because she is a serious person. I decided not to say anything else and to change the subject.


    "By the way, have you gotten used to your body (????) by now?"


    "Yes, no problem at all. I was a bit confused at first, but I am getting used to the feeling.


    Levee looks back from the dais and answers. Her face is as clear as usual and her emotions are unreadable.


    No, normally it would be possible to read her inner feelings with her tail and ears, but now that means is no longer available. Because now Lieve does not have a bushy silver tail and her usual wolf ears are gone.


    "I never thought I''d see the day when I''d have to use my fully humanized form ...... in this way."


    I agree.


    --full humanized form.


    That is the name of the form that Levee is taking now.


    In the game [Tactics Chronicle], all the demons you join are given the ability to change form. They are given two or three forms depending on their race. The number of forms they possess differs depending on whether they were originally a hexenbiest or a subhuman.


    The first form.


    <, the original form of demons.


    For demons such as slimes, cockatrices, griffons, and dragons that deviate from the so-called humanoid form, the is their original form.


    While they can display their true fighting ability, they tend to be less fuel-efficient than other forms, and have the disadvantage that they can only be equipped with one-of-a-kind (custom-made) weapons.


    Next is the second form.


    <


    For example, in the case of Nogard of the Twilight Dragon, he can grow dragon wings and assume the form of a demon.


    The remnants of scales on their arms and legs are characteristic of their original form, and although they are humanoid, they are different from human beings. This is the .


    This form has the advantages of better fuel efficiency and the ability to wear various types of equipment designed to meet human standards, compared to the . Most of the demons in Alkimaira usually take the because the facilities in the city are standardized to the size of human beings, making it easier for them to live there.


    For humanoid species such as Levee and Celes, there is no in their original form, and this is their original form.


    Incidentally, Balan is a demon-beast type race that possesses the , but he almost never assumes the due to the fact that his occupation is that of a "sword saint". He fights with weapons and has reached a very high level of skill in his demon form and weaponry, so now he is rather strong in his demon form.


    And finally, the third and final form.


    It is called the <, which is the form of a human being itself.


    However, with the exception of Gardi, almost no one uses this form on a regular basis. Not only is there almost no advantage, but there is a fatal disadvantage that all the statuses are reduced by two ranks.


    In fact, this is the first time that Leewe has taken this form since his reincarnation and evolution into a [moon wolf]. < is essentially a form that is used only for the purpose of using human-standard tools and facilities by subordinates whose physique (size) is too large even for the demon form.


    "First of all, they have to blend in with human society. Celes can''t be seen from a distance if she hides her ears, but your big tail can''t. I''m going to put you in a tight spot, but please be patient for the time being."


    "No, I understand your policy, Mr. Helian. It is a natural course of action. Besides, the demons that live around here are not much of a threat. We are more than capable of fighting them in this form, so please don''t worry.


    As Rieve says, the demons around here are weak.


    No, I mean, all the demons I have met in this world are weak.


    The strongest enemy I have ever met was the Fairy Dragon of Noblewood, but its threat "rank" as appraised by Rieve and the others was B rank. To tell the truth, it was not much of a threat to Alkimaira. It is no wonder that Nogard, whose threat level has reached the SS rank--the mythological level--knocked it out of the competition. They would have been able to defeat them with their normal forces alone, even without sending in a corps commander.


    As we have realized during the last war, it seems that Alkymyra''s forces are far superior to those of this world.


    (It''s nice to know that we don''t pose much of a threat, but ...... we could have a fatal negative impact on the situation of each country, don''t you think?)


    In the history of the earth, there have been empires that were too powerful and were intervened by the powers one after another, and eventually had to fight the world as an enemy. Considering the end of those empires, we should avoid becoming at all costs. We should proceed with the policy of concealing the existence of the nation of Alkimaira as much as possible.


    Helian-sama.


    Hmm, what?


    How are you feeling, Mr. Helian?


    "...... Well, you''ll just have to put up with it for a while."


    I am not feeling nauseous, but I am in a mild state of carsickness that lasts for a long time. I can''t say I''m in good shape, but the people of this world endure this shaking. We have no choice but to endure it for the sake of experiencing people''s lives.


    "If you don''t mind, would you like to use my knee?"


    "...... hmm?��Knees?"


    "Yes. In the meantime, I''ll leave the reins with Gardi."


    Levee turns around, a straight face on her face.


    I guess he means to use his knees, in other words, to fall on his knees.


    As if to prove it, Lieve puts her hand on her thigh.


    ...... Her healthy skin tone is dazzling.


    ......No, not even close. I''ll have to get used to this shaking someday. I''m not going to take you up on your offer."


    Yes, sir. Please accept my humble offer.


    Rieve bows his head to show his appreciation. His expression remained serious throughout.


    As usual, I can guess some of her inner feelings from her ears and tail. .......


    (......, I can''t read)


    In her fully humanized form, Rieve had become a perfect expressionless (cool beauty) character. Thanks to this, I don''t know whether my current response was correct or incorrect. I am irresistibly worried that I might have offended him with my response.


    If I have offended them by refusing them, this is the time to follow up, but since I can''t be sure of that, I feel like it''s a bit of an excuse to ramble on here. ...... No, I''ll admit it. I just don''t have confidence in my communication skills.


    (I need to work on my communication skills as well as my negotiation skills ......)


    At the very least, I need to be able to understand the feelings of my subordinates.


    I feel like a middle-manager," said a college student (Helian), his shoulders slumped.


    + + +


    "Ummm ...... good way to call me ...... that fits my personality (character) ......."


    "Oh, that''s annoying. At least don''t say it out loud."


    With a voice that sounds like he''s had enough, Galdi complains to Celes.


    It is always the case that he can''t stop thinking, but it was very annoying to hear him muttering on and on beside him.


    It''s a rule that when you''re thinking, it''s better to say it out loud. That''s what Torus wrote in his book published thirty years ago. Have you never read it?"


    "Books are useless in the field. The knowledge that can be used in the field is learned through experience, you big-headed person.


    "You made fun of my book!��That''s a declaration of war against me, right?


    "I''m not crazy enough to fight with my own people in the middle of an unexplored area. I heard that bandits are easy to come by these days. Just shut up and watch the perimeter--wait!


    Gardi, walking in front of the carriage, suddenly stopped and held out his hand.


    The horse pulling the carriage stops in front of the large hand outstretched as if to block his way.


    "--enemy?"


    Celes, who had been bracing herself for a moment, asked a short question.


    Her hood reveals her bamboos ears, and she is busily trying to listen to the sounds around her.


    "No, I''m not the enemy. No, I''m not an enemy...but ...... I can smell something fishy... It''s just a feeling."


    "I don''t know. Which way?


    Around one or two o''clock. I''ll throw it to you, just look a little higher up.


    "Okay."


    Galdi held his right hand low, palm upward, and Ceres, who had deployed a barrier, placed her foot on top of it. The next moment, Galdi raised his right hand so high that the force of the projectile sent Celes flying straight up.


    Normally, the wind pressure would have been terrible, but she wrapped herself in a spherical barrier and reached several tens of meters above the ground in an instant, without disturbing her clothes or hair in the slightest. Then, while deploying gravity-reducing and far-sighted magic in parallel, she gazes in the direction of 1:30 a.m.


    "......What''s that? A giant beast?"


    A few kilometers away, in a hollow, was a gigantic magical beast that must have been over 20 meters tall. It lay motionless in the wilderness. It seemed to have already died. And there were many humanoid-like figures lying around the area.


    Ceres stays in the air, and widens her field of vision to observe the surroundings. Then, in the southerly direction from the depression, on the other side of the valley from their position, they found a small figure on the flat land at the bottom of the cliff.


    "I''m not as good at detection as Camilla, but ...... eagle eye (Hawkeye)"


    He deploys a new detection technique to confirm the identity of the figure.


    Celes recognizes the figure as an out-of-this-wilderness presence and frowns, sensing trouble.


    >


    The Lord''s question came from a carriage on the ground.


    Celes, holding herself in the air, thinks for a moment how she should report the situation, and then answers.


    >


    There was a momentary pause in the Lord''s reply.


    Celes hesitates slightly in response, but describes to the Lord the scene as she sees it.


    .

 42 - The Eleventh "The Thief"

    "-human?"


    Upon receiving the report from Ceres, Helian couldn''t help but ask back.


    Helian frowned at the information that there was only one child in the wilderness.


    It would normally have taken them three days to reach this point, but Helian and his team had made it in just one day by taking shortcuts through cliffs and valleys, relying on magic. However, the distance from their current location to the border city is still half a day''s ride by carriage. It is blatantly unnatural for a child to be alone in the middle of such a wilderness.


    Can you describe the child?


    >


    Celes often describes the external features of the house.


    And one of them was something that I never missed.


    He asks Ceres, hiding his astonished emotion.


    "Are you sure?"


    <>


    "Protect. I know it''s a mess, but we can''t just abandon him."


    <


    What''s going on?


    "Come on, Lieve, take me to higher ground!��Gardi, stand by the wagon until further notice!"


    After receiving the order, Lieve said, "Excuse me," and took Helian''s body in her arms, as she had done before.


    After a moment''s pause, a heavy pressure as if he had been ejected hit Helian''s body. Levee, who has strong legs even in her fully humanized form, leaps lightly with Helian''s body in her arms, and lands on a nearby high ground.


    Supporting her head, which was dizzy from the sudden acceleration (G), Helian looked out over the wilderness from the high ground with an open field of view. However, at a glance, he did not see any of the people that Celes had mentioned. He wrinkles his brow and opens a new window.


    "Tactical Window: Open. Select: Map."


    The you have invoked shows the life forms (units) that Celes has detected.


    As she reported, there were several yellow light spots encircling the light blue light spot. The light blue means friendly neutral units, and the yellow means virtual enemy or enemy-neutral units.


    The movement of the dots was like a hunt. The light blue spot - the girl to be rescued is cornered and completely surrounded.


    <<


    Celes'' report reminded me of the story of the mercenary bandits mentioned by an adventurer who had visited Rattestwood.


    It is no exaggeration to say that once you leave the city, you are in a lawless zone, and bandits are targeted for defeat in the same way as monsters and beasts. The bandit gang has become more active in the confusion caused by the disaster that struck the border city - a massive attack by a pack of magical beasts, and the Adventurers'' Guild has issued a notice recommending that the bandits be defeated.


    I would like to lament my own misfortune to have suddenly stumbled upon such a group, but for now the immediate problem must be dealt with first.


    Celes, can you target the enemy with your sniping technique?


    With that, Celes deployed an invisible magic circle as a scaffold. She cuts off part of her gravity manipulation technique and lands on the magic circle, attaching her legs to it.


    She then brushes back her long hair to reveal her elven ears, and makes a bowing motion with no hands. In tandem, a white glow illuminates her hands, and the light forms the shape of a drawn bow.


    The light forms the shape of a drawn bow. This is the "yew bow", a race-specific skill unique to the elves.


    <>


    Celes asked without hesitation.


    From her point of view, it was just a confirmation question.


    But Helian''s body tensed up at the word.


    (...... kill?)


    The reason why Ceres went to the trouble of asking for confirmation was because before she left, she had been told by Helli��n to refrain from killing as much as possible.


    During the last search, Levee and his team had no hesitation in killing their opponents.


    In the case of Wenri of Rattestwood, if Helian had stopped them even for a moment, they would have killed her without a doubt. It is doubtful that they would have had the good relationship with Rattestwood that they have today. In light of these circumstances, he imposed restrictions on his followers to refrain from killing her.


    But Helian impulsively wanted to regret his decision.


    "...... Is it possible to hold back so as not to kill?"


    <<>


    The number of enemies is over twenty. If your subordinates are focused on long-range precision sniping, it may be possible to neutralize all of them instantly with a little help, but Celes is a subordinate trained for wide-area annihilation. However, Celes is a subordinate trained for wide-area extermination. This situation, where the rescue target is in the middle of an enemy group, is not suitable for her.


    It would be too reckless to add a condition of non-lethal to the list of conditions, even though she is being asked to do something she is not good at. As Celes says, if the protection of the girl is the first priority, we should make sure to bury the enemy. But..,


    (...... do I have to say it?)


    To ensure the girl''s safety, the enemy must be killed.


    But without Hellian''s permission, Ceres cannot kill her enemies.


    If Hellian does not say "kill", the girl dies.


    Here was the simple and clear picture.


    ��I order a murderer?)


    As soon as I became aware of this, my knees almost shook.


    I thought to myself, "What the hell is going on?


    I had gotten my hands dirty during the rebellion and at Noblewood.


    I may not have had a direct hand in it, but it is an undeniable fact that the pile of corpses was built as a result of my desire.


    My hands are already stained red.


    And to be cowardly at this late stage is an act of inertia.


    But I was still afraid.


    I was truly afraid of the act of ordering to kill a "human being".


    Racism was a good thing, but I had the feeling that I might be stepping over the line by ordering them to do so.


    "......!"


    You have to make a choice.


    But I can''t make up my mind.


    In the meantime, the situation continues to evolve without regard.


    The girl who had been surrounded has been captured.


    There is not a moment to lose.


    Ceres has finished drawing her light bow.


    She is ready to fire at a moment''s notice from Hellian.


    There is life out there that could be saved if only Herian would say, "Kill the enemy.


    And yet, no matter how long it takes, this mouth never spins the words, "Kill them and save the girl. Herian''s inertia and unconsciousness had put a stop to his command to Ceres.


    "...... Mr. Helian. The man who pushed the girl down ripped her clothes. This is going to be somewhat unpleasant."


    The calm voice of Levee, whose vision had been enhanced, reached the ears of Helian, who was gnashing his teeth.


    He changes color and half-reflexively calls up the in the .


    Ceres''s bamboo ears heard the girl''s scream.


    It was output to the through the .


    >


    A heartbreaking cry.


    A cry for help that must have come from the bottom of your heart.


    Your voice will not be heard.


    But still I know.


    I know the desperate plea for help.


    The girl whose face I did not know overlapped with the half-elf sisters.


    --So Helian cried out.


    "The target is declared a bandit and is authorized to open fire!��Save the girl, Celes!


    At the same time as the order was given, a ray of light flashed across the void.


    The light turned into an arrow and pierced through the shimmering flames and into the skull of the man who was covering the girl.


    Immediately afterwards, the changed.


    The yellow spot of light overlapping the girl disappears.


    This means that the enemy unit covering the girl has stopped its life activity due to the attack of Ceres.


    Helian commanded.


    Ceres shoots.


    A man died.


    "--,Chat window open!��Mode Select: Voice Chat!��Target input: direct select!


    A thought blanks for a moment.


    Ignoring the emotions that rise in the pit of your stomach, you launch a .


    You directly tap a light blue dot to specify the target of your connection. The connection process is successfully completed, as in the case of the experiment with Riffa. Five seconds have already passed since the sniping. However, the light-blue light spot on the has not shown any movement. Helian shouts as he strikes it.


    "What the hell are you doing?��Get the hell up!"


    Zoom in on the map information.


    Check the battle situation on the with the changed to the setting for small-scale battles.


    But the light blue light spot does not move. The girl''s location does not change. She has not moved even a single step.


    The realization of this fact suddenly arouses a feeling of "Screw you!


    He shouted angrily, as if he was screaming, and he filled the bitterness rising up from the bottom of his stomach with anger.


    "I said get up!��Or do you want to die!"


    I killed him. He decided to help them by killing them.


    Then I''ll help you. I won''t let you die here. If you die here, I''ll never know what I got my hands dirty for. I will not allow you to die here. ......!


    "If you don''t want to die, get up!��Get up and run towards the sun!


    There''s movement.


    A girl starts moving in the direction of Helian and the others. Another light spot in the direction of movement. Its color has already changed from yellow to red. The red color clearly indicates an enemy. Using , he orders Celes to eliminate them.


    As if already prepared, an arrow is immediately released from the bow, which had been drawn. The second arrow whizzed across the wilderness. It hits the enemy who was blocking the girl''s path. And the number of red dots of light on the map decreased. I''m not upset. There is no time to be upset. The group of enemies begins to move in pursuit of the girl who ran away. With a clap of the tongue, the next command is given.


    "d*mn it! ...... Liewe, get ahead of them!��Rescuing the girl is our top priority--"


    "No, Herian. I think it is possible to save her even with only Celes'' sniper fire. I would like to continue to protect you..."


    Rieve, who is usually a good listener, made such an offer of opinion.


    I felt a sense of anger akin to taking it out on her.


    Helian said in a harsh tone of voice, "I don''t know.


    "- I don''t care!��That''s an order!��Go, go, go!"


    The way he yells at you.


    Rieve, realizing that he could not dissuade his master, nodded his head "Yes, sir," kicked the ground, and rushed out. With a final kick, he leaped forward like a bullet, sending himself flying into the void.


    After seeing her back off, Helian switched the virtual communication window connected to the girl to inactive status for a while. He then opens a new map with a spoken command. Two different maps with different scales are displayed at the same time, and he tries to grasp the war situation.


    "Ceres!��Maintain sniper position until Riveh arrives!��I will designate the target of the attack!"


    The enemy who is closest to the girl is designated as the main target, and the two enemies who are following right behind her are designated as sub-targets. Enough time has already passed since the second shot. Stand by for the third shot. Ceres maintains her readiness to fire on signal.


    However, just before Hellian gives the order to fire, Lieve drops like a comet toward the enemy in the lead. The enemy arrives somewhat earlier than expected. At the same time, a single red light spot disappears. Upon receiving this result, Helian immediately discards the that he was about to send out.


    --Twenty seconds have passed since RIEVE''s arrival at the scene.


    All the red dots of light disappear from the map floating in the center of Hellian''s field of vision.


    All that remains in the battle area is a blue light indicating the friendly force "Rieve" and a light blue light indicating the girl to be rescued.


    That is all.


    Every other life that should have been there just a moment ago has been reaped.


    Celes, who had put out her "yew bow," said in a tone as if she was taking a breather.


    Then, slowly lowering the altitude, Ceres landed beside Hellian.


    "...... ah..."


    With a vague reply, Helian calls up the enemy''s .


    The identity of the enemy is unknown, but he has obtained basic combat-related information by defeating the enemy in battle. He checked the "Unique Skills" item in the "Possessed Abilities" column, and found that none of the enemies had the "Unique Skills".


    In a sense, it is natural. It is because unique skills are quite rare.


    Even the military commanders of major powers had subordinates who did not have unique skills, and as for abilities that trigger death, such as self-revival, the probability is as low as one in several hundred thousand. There is no way they have such a thing. The case of the Red Ogre is an exception to the rule.


    The bandit is dead. They''re dead for sure. They will never come back to life.


    Your Majesty?��What''s wrong?"


    "...... is nothing. Don''t worry about it."


    Celes wondered what the Lord''s prone figure was thinking and asked him.


    Helian tried his best to remain calm, trying not to let his agitation show in his tone.


    However, she cannot shake the feeling of discomfort that lies deep in her chest.


    "----"


    Helian is the king of all demons.


    In Alkymyra, a nation of so many races that it is called the "land of all demons," discrimination between races is forbidden.


    If it is an enemy or a vermin, it should be defeated equally no matter what kind of race it is, and in that sense, the current act is right for a king.


    But I guess I am not a king after all.


    Because I feel so bad. It''s a feeling of discomfort beyond comparison to carsickness. I still have these bad feelings crawling around in my head. If I''m not careful, I could scream out at any moment.


    How pathetic I look.


    I can''t let my men see me like this.


    It''s so unbecoming.


    I laugh at such a man calling himself a king.


    He is far from the ideal king.


    --But I have decided to persevere.


    "...... Ceres, turn around until I say yes. That''s an order.


    "Huh?��Uh, no, I understand."


    I don''t know what he intends, but it is an order from the Lord.


    Ceres obeys and turns her back on the Herrians.


    Then Helian clenched his right fist tightly.


    Even though his fingernails dig into his palm and red oozes out, he clenches his fist even tighter.


    Helian looked at the hard fist he had made for a moment and then, without any effort, he punched his own cheek.


    A dull thud.


    Sparks burst in his vision, and he stepped on the tatara. A dull pain in the cheekbone. Taste of iron on the tip of his tongue. It seems that he has cut himself violently in the mouth. He gurgles and swallows blood.


    ......Yeah, I know you don''t have to tell me.


    This is a stupid act of self-punishment. I revolt at my own weakness in trying to switch consciousness with such a cheap act. But this is what I needed to do now.


    I wanted to cry because I was so pathetic, but I had already shed my tears that day.


    So I can''t cry here and now.


    He grits his teeth and looks ahead with his chest out.


    That''s enough. And from here on out, you too should be in full humanized form. Except in an emergency, changing to the demon form is basically forbidden. Is that clear?"


    After covering up the evidence of the blows with a potion, he tells the follower behind him.


    Celes, reversed again, had a curious look on her face, but nodded as if she had regained her composure when Helian gave her a firm command.


    Celes, now in full humanized form, looked a little younger than when she was in her demon form. Her elven ears were now the same shape as human ears, and her height had shrunk a little. Her skin color has not changed, and her body shape is almost the same, but she definitely looks like a human being.


    Helian gives a short order to Ceres after she has completed her transformation.


    "-We are now on our way to Lieve and the others. Will you do this for me, Celes?"


    "Yes, sir."


    A sphere of light surrounds the bodies of Helian and Ceres.


    It''s a gravity-reducing binding spell deployed without chanting.


    After crossing the valley, they descend to the ground in a gliding trajectory.


    On the plain below, Lieve and the girl are waiting for them.

 43 - CHAPTER XII "Black Hair"

    With a light thump, Helian and Ceres land on the plain.


    They walk up to the girl they have rescued and see that she is a human girl, just as Celes had said.


    Her ears are short, she has no tail, no horns or scales. For all intents and purposes, she is a "human.


    I had expected her to be a little younger than that, since Celes had said she was a child, but she appeared to be more than fifteen years old.


    Her clothes are stained and the fabric around her breast is torn, but she does not seem to be badly injured. I breathe a sigh of relief at this fact.


    "......I''m glad you''re safe. I''m so glad I made it in time."


    I was able to save a girl who was being attacked.


    Thinking of this fact, I naturally let out a soft voice.


    I smiled along with my voice. It may have been a poor expression, but I think I managed to make a smile at least.


    The girl was very well dressed.


    She was dressed for ease of movement, but the fabric was of a different quality compared to what the people of Latticewood were wearing. Even Herian, who has no great sense of beauty, could tell. Clearly, the quality of the clothing is different.


    "I''m sorry I yelled at you earlier, even if it was on the spur of the moment. I apologize."


    Helian pulled up his hood and spoke the next words.


    Although he was in a situation where he could not afford to be, it was true that he had yelled at her in a harsh tone of voice. Even though I owed her a favor, I should apologize for my rudeness in order not to cause any trouble.


    With this in mind, I tried to bow my head, but the girl in question had an astonished look on her face.


    I wonder if it was that surprising that I ...... apologized to her.


    The girl mumbled something to me.


    Her arms, which were supposed to be pulled up to her chest, were somehow hanging down, and her unobstructed, fresh skin was glimpsed through a tear in the fabric.


    It is very awkward. ......


    Turning her eyes away from the undulating skin tone, Helian removes her cloak and walks over to the girl. He does not have the guts to continue the conversation in peace.


    "Oh ...... by the way, that, that, that ...... you''re dressed like that, is somewhat offensive to the eye."


    As he was afraid to say so directly, he offered his cloak to her while slurring his words.


    The girl, however, remained stunned and stared at him. I took another step forward and put the cloak on her slender shoulders, wondering if I had done something rude.


    "-Can you tell me your name?"


    Suddenly, a girl asked me a question.


    Surprised that the first thing she asks is her name, Helian says his own name.


    Herian.


    The front clasp of the cloak is tied to cover the girl''s chest.


    Having finally caught his breath, Helian takes another look at the girl''s appearance.


    She was, quite frankly, a pretty girl.


    Her eyes, nose, and nose are well defined, and her face is somewhat gentle. Her large eyes peeking out from her neatly cropped bangs are impressive. She was the kind of girl who would grow up to be a ladylike beauty within a few years.


    However, her greatest feature is not her face, clothes, or eyes.


    The most eye-catching feature was her hair, which hid her large eyes. Or more precisely, its color.


    It was a color considered rare in this world.


    As Celes had reported, it was a color that could not be overlooked.


    It was as shiny as if it had been inked.


    "Excuse me, what''s your name?"


    "...... Zion, sir."


    The girl, who still looks stunned, utters her name half-conditionally.


    Theon.


    I don''t recognize it.


    But I was curious about her reaction when she saw me.


    So, Helian asks her - the black-haired girl (?????)Zion, with a ray of hope in his heart.


    "Are you a player?"


    + + +


    Helian recalls the conversation he had with Leifa when he first met her.


    Leifa had told him that black hair was very rare among the human race.


    At least, she had heard that none of the adventurers who visited Rattestwood had black hair.


    Then a dark-haired person appeared.


    The first person I met in this world had black hair just like me.


    The person who rescued him - Zion was a black-haired girl (?????).


    I don''t think it was a coincidence. I didn''t want to think it was a coincidence. In the game [Tactics Chronicle], there were more male players, but that does not mean there were no female players.


    And the player name [Helian] is well known in [Tactics Chronicle]. After all, he is the champion of one world. There must have been quite a few players who knew her appearance. If the girl in front of you is one of them, her reaction is understandable. Maybe that is why she asked me her name first.


    So maybe.


    She might be a transferee from the same world as me.


    Helian asks the black-haired girl with such a gleam of hope in his eyes.


    --But....


    "Prayer ......?"


    The dark-haired girl parroted the words back.


    It was as if he had never heard the word before.


    (............ oh)


    Then I realized.


    I realized.


    Her reaction was genuine.


    She''s not acting.


    Even Hellian could understand that.


    So,


    "What is ...... Prayer?"


    Even when the question comes out of her mouth, which is not what you expect.


    Helian was not shocked.


    Her disappointment was already over.


    "No, ...... don''t worry about it. I must have been mistaken."


    He smiles again.


    She is innocent, so there is no reason for her to show her disappointment, even if the answer to her question was not the one she wanted.


    Besides, nothing has ended in vain.


    At least we were able to rescue the girl in front of us.


    You have indeed saved a human life by your order.


    Then that''s good.


    That''s all that matters.


    "I''m sorry for asking such a confusing question out of the blue. Anyway, it''s all right now. We''ll take full responsibility for getting you home. Don''t worry. --Leve, Ceres. Take care of her clothes.


    "Yes, sir. --Ceres, I''m sorry, but I need your jacket.


    "Okay, but ...... my size doesn''t fit you at all, you know?��This girl."


    I don''t care if it''s just for the time being. I''ll just do the first aid here."


    Rieve and Celes approach, exchanging words, but the girl still looks stunned. Perhaps it was the shock of being attacked by bandits and nearly roughed up. Whatever it was, she needed time to calm down and talk.


    Deciding this, Helian silently turned his back to the women.


    He turns his back on the women and faces them, the result of the bandits, whom he had dared to keep out of sight until now.


    "............"


    No regrets.


    This is what Hellian wanted.


    Ceres shot as Herian had wished, and Levee rescued the girl as Herian had wished.


    It is only as a result that the bandits have left their corpses in the wilderness.


    "...... but still ...... if you die, you are a Buddha."


    --That''s why.


    So, for once.


    I hope you will allow me to join hands with the dead in this way.


    �� �� ��


    The dark-haired girl watched her.


    She gazed at the dark-haired, dark-eyed young man facing the bandit''s corpse with a serious expression on her face.


    Then she remembered a story that her mother had told her repeatedly.


    It is a very important story that relates to the mission of the Gardiner family.


    When I saw the young man, I thought at first that I had seen him wrong or something.


    Next, I thought it was some kind of dream vision.


    But no matter how many times I blinked my eyes, the young man in front of me did not disappear.


    Despite her incredulity, the girl realizes that this is not a dream vision.


    And then, with a stunned expression on her face, the girl - the daughter of the Earl of Gardiner - let out a murmur from her small lips.


    "--Master Aracht."


    The whisper was small.


    It was taken away by the winds of the wilderness.

 44 - CHAPTER XIII -- BOUNDARY CITY SEALS

    A few hours after the encounter with the bandits.


    The group met up with Gardi, who had pulled the wagon, and with the addition of the girl as a new occupant of the wagon, they were now on their way to the border city.


    "Well, this is about right. It may be a little big, but it''s the smallest dress I have. I''m sorry, but I''m going to have to ask you to bear with this until we get to the city."


    Inside the carriage, Celes'' voice can be heard leaking from the back space separated by a cloth partition. It seems that the girl has finished getting dressed. While watching Levee preparing to serve, H��lien listens to the voice coming from behind the curtains.


    "No, not at all. It is rather a very pleasant material to the touch,...... silver butterfly silk thread, isn''t it?��I am sorry to have put such a good product to use. I will be sure to pay you your fair share when I return to town."


    "What?��...... Oh, no, no, that''s fine, not at all. It''s not a big expense, so don''t worry about it.


    From the conversation coming from the back of the room, it seems that the girl has regained her composure. I had been concerned about her state of mind during the exchange immediately after rescuing her, but she seems to have recovered to the extent that we can have a normal conversation with her.


    "Thank you for waiting."


    The curtains are drawn with a rustling sound.


    A dark-haired girl named Zion is there, wearing a fluttery outfit.


    She is not dressed for traveling by any means, but it suits her very well. She looked very graceful, a far cry from the girls of the town.


    "Miss Helian, Miss Theon. Tea is ready."


    Theon takes a seat across from Hellian. At the same time, Levee, who had finished brewing the tea, handed him a white porcelain cup.


    It is only Lieve, who has mastered the art of serving tea in a shaky carriage, that is able to brew the tea without mishap. Celes is not clumsy either, but as a military commander, she has not mastered the skills related to serving. In fact, the position of a corps leader is essentially that of a servant. The reason why Levee and Eltina have such skills is because they are often in the presence of the king, Helian.


    Theon received the cup graciously with both hands and sipped it as recommended. Her eyes twinkled in surprise as her narrow throat made a swallowing motion.


    "--This is delicious."


    The words spilled out in an unintentional tone of voice.


    The exhale of disbelief clearly shows that it is an honest impression without any falsehoods.


    It seems that they liked it.


    Theon sipped a kind of herbal tea with a calming effect.


    The flower fairies of Alkimaira had created the seeds, and the Doriad had blessed and nurtured several kinds of herbs. The highest quality of the finest ingredients are carefully selected and blended by the best elves of the Third Legion, and the product is a royal gift that has passed a strict screening process by the First Legion''s servants.


    Its taste and efficacy are both proven.


    I beg your pardon. It was so rich in taste that I just ......"


    "Don''t worry about it. I''m glad you enjoyed the drink."


    Perhaps noticing our gaze, Zion hurriedly hid his mouth. He seems to be seriously embarrassed by the slight flush on his cheeks.


    I had imagined a different kind of person from the vitality with which he had escaped from the bandits, but this was a surprisingly innocent gesture. Her manners even in a carriage like this, and her appearance, it is highly likely that she is a noblewoman. At least, she is not just a town girl.


    As Helian continues to observe her, Zion drinks her herbal tea in an elegant manner and lets out a satisfied sigh. H��lian, who could tell from the atmosphere that he had calmed her down enough, began the conversation.


    "Then let me introduce myself again. My name is Helian, as I have already told you. I am a traveler, a merchant of sorts, and I am currently on my way to the border city.


    "I am Liewe, squire to Master Helian."


    "Likewise, I''m Ceres. Nice to meet you."


    When Helian looked at Levee, Levee answered spontaneously, as the Lord intended.


    Celes followed, saying her name to the girl.


    And the big man leading the way outside is Gardi. He may look scary, but don''t worry, he''s not a bad guy despite his face.


    When I introduced the last one in a broken tone, Zion smiled with a lowered eyebrow. After placing the cup on the saucer, she straightens her posture and tightens her expression. She clears her throat with a single cough and opens her small mouth.


    "Thank you for introducing me. I am also sorry that it has taken me so long to thank you. My name is Theon Gardiner. Thank you very much for your help in my time of need.


    With these words, Zion bowed his head deeply. His dark, supple hair hung down smoothly.


    Beautiful words and graceful gestures. Herian was aware of a twitch in his cheeks as he heard her words, which clearly indicated that she was a noblewoman.


    "...... Zion Gardiner?"


    He parrots the girl''s name.


    No, I like the name Zion. That''s all right. I had already heard that name, so there is nothing wrong with it. It is the family name, , that is the problem.


    The information on the border city obtained from RATESTWOOD is limited, but I knew the name of the family of the count who governs the area.


    Lord of the Border City Seals.


    <.


    I believe the family name is .


    ...... You can''t be serious.


    "If I''m not mistaken, I think that the name of the family of the Count of the Frontier who rules over ...... the Border City of Seals is Gardiner. If I''m not mistaken ......."


    "Yes. Glen Gardiner, Lord of the Seals, is my father."


    The girl''s easily spun words made Helian dizzy.


    ...... are you kidding me?


    No wonder her manners are so beautiful and her language so polite. She was not only a noblewoman but the daughter of a great nobleman. What''s the curse? I''m having a terrible d��j�� vu. Why are all the people I''ve helped so many important people?


    I know it''s understandable that you might have doubts...


    "No, no, I don''t mean to be suspicious, but why would the daughter of the Gardiner family ...... be in a place like this?"


    He would not normally be allowed to be in a place like this.


    After all, we are in the middle of a wilderness infested with monsters and beasts.


    A noble daughter attacked by bandits alone, with no guards, much less the daughter of a lord, is an anomaly by any stretch of the imagination.


    "I was on a pilgrimage on my father''s orders. The situation has been unstable recently, with the outbreak of a major attack from the demon realm and the labyrinth showing signs of unrest. As a woman of the Gardiner family, I have been asked to take on this task.


    "...... pilgrim service?"


    Some kind of religious ceremony?


    In terms of role, I feel it is similar to that of a shrine maiden or priestess.


    "Yes. But on the way back from the Western Temple, we were suddenly attacked by a giant beast species. ......"


    Herian''s words brought to mind the that Ceres had discovered.


    "Before I reached the place you just mentioned, I saw in the distance the carcass of a giant beast and ...... many people lying on the ground," he said.


    When I asked him to change his wording, Zion dropped his gaze with a somber expression on his face.


    "............ they are my bodyguards. Many of them stayed where they were, saying they would make time to let me go. I managed to escape with a few of my guards, but for some unknown reason, we ran into the mercenaries not long afterwards and ...... the rest you know."


    "--Excuse me, sir."


    He bows his head in apology.


    Zion said he escaped with a few guards.


    But when Helian and his men found her, she was alone.


    So it is easy to imagine what happened to the few who fled the scene with her ...... and what the bandits called mercenaries did to them.


    But the important thing is that she managed to escape. They made time for Theon to escape. That''s why they got there in time. They had done their job.


    There are many parts of her explanation that are unclear due to the lack of information at hand, but Zion is probably telling it like it is. If I were to doubt her words, I would say that she is certainly pretending to be a noblewoman in order to gain their patronage here, ...... but that would be too far-fetched.


    Either way, we have already decided what to do with Zion.


    Whatever her identity is, once we have helped her, we have a responsibility to get her home safely. At least that was what Helian thought.


    "I understand your situation. Anyway, please leave the journey to the border city to me. Aside from myself, all three of my followers are skilled enough to handle the beasts of the wilderness. I will see them safely back to your residence.


    I am sorry. I have nothing in my possession at this moment, so I would like to take you at your word.


    "Thank you, sir. We expect the journey to be bumpy, but please bear with us."


    In the rattling carriage, Helian bowed his head reverently to Zion.


    Now that he knew who she really was, it would be better for the self-proclaimed merchant to be as humble as this.


    "...... Um, please make yourself comfortable. Honorifics are fine, too.


    However, Zion twisted himself uncomfortably. He then demanded that Helli��n change his humble attitude in a polite tone.


    "But I would not dare to address the daughter of the Gardiner family in such a ...... manner."


    Please. My father would scold me if he knew I had forced the man who saved my life to bow to me. You saved my life. I don''t want to bow down to the person who saved my life.


    It is difficult to refuse stubbornly when you talk like that.


    Perhaps he referred to his father with this in mind, but he is an aristocrat, after all, who can naturally bring up the subject in such a manner.


    I tried to refuse him again, but he did not change his answer. H��lian sensed that she was being sincere and decided to change her tone of voice to one that was somewhat more casual.


    Of course, he could not take her words at face value and completely drop the honorific language, but he would have to change his tone of voice to one of fearlessness.


    "Well then, Your Highness--Young Master. I''ll go back to the perimeter to keep an eye on things.


    Celes said this as soon as the conversation had settled down. She almost said "Your Majesty," but it seems that Ceres has decided to address the merchant Helian as <.


    Herian responds with a nod of the head, and Ceres heads for the front of the carriage.


    He then warned Galdi, "She was a big girl after all, so you should watch your attitude," to which Galdi replied, "Hey, hey. He was responding in a nonchalant manner, "I know what you mean.


    The two of them were still talking to each other as usual, and I felt that my heart, which had been feeling a little shaky after the encounter earlier, was slightly soothed.


    As I was smiling unintentionally, I suddenly felt a glance from Zion who was sitting across from me.


    Helian turns his face back to the front, but their gazes do not meet. Theon''s eyes were not on her face, but on her head.


    She tried to brush her hands to see if there was something strange on her face, but there was nothing. However, Zion''s eyes, which had been glancing at me a moment ago, were now fixed on Hellian''s head with an intensity that could be described as a stare.


    "......You, what''s on my head?"


    When I asked him about it, Zion''s face fell in a panic.


    Her cheeks were somewhat red.


    I''m sorry. The color of your hair was unusual for me. ......


    "Oh. Your hair."


    Helian replies, plucking his own bangs. On the tip of her finger is a tuft of black hair, the same color as Zion''s hair.


    I had thought that it might not be that rare, given the fact that the first person I met (Zion) had black hair, but from what she says ......, it seems that it is still a rare hair color.


    "Are there many people with black hair around here?"


    "Yes. I have never seen a person with pure black hair, except for people of my own blood.


    Hmmm," Helian inwardly groaned.


    By blood, I assume you mean the Gardiner family that rules the border city.


    That would be more troublesome than what I had initially anticipated <.


    It could lead to strange misunderstandings and unnecessary troubles.


    "Then ...... I''d better not expose my hair too much in the border city."


    "--Yes, sir. It would be better to hide it if possible.


    Zion looked thoughtful for a moment and then nodded his head in agreement.


    Helian responded, "I see." For the time being, he put a hood over his eyes to cover his hair. She tied the hood tightly so that it would not come off in the slightest, which would be enough for the time being.


    For a while after that, we had a casual conversation to gather information. We chose topics that would not cause any unnecessary problems (trouble), but within the scope of the topics, we confirmed that there were no fatal deviations from the information we had obtained from LATESTWOOD.


    Just as the topic was about to turn to the origins of the SEALs, a firm voice came from Gardi, who was leading the group.


    General. I can see them now!


    Helian glances in the direction the carriage is going. He could see what appeared to be a castle wall in the distance. Theon also leans out from Helian''s side and looks in the direction of the carriage.


    Theon looked at her with a somewhat dazed look, and Helian asked her a question.


    Mr. Zion. What if that thing is ......?"


    "Yes. That''s our city - Boundary City Shields.


    + + +


    Over the next 20 minutes or so, our carriage arrived at the outer wall of the seals.


    The outer wall up close is much taller than I had imagined. It must be 40 meters high. It was so high that it would have hurt my neck if I kept looking up at it.


    (Citadel ......)


    I have seen pictures of it in a history class. I think it was in Luxembourg.


    However, the outer wall that rises in front of me is much higher than what I saw in the picture, and it surrounds the whole city. Even if demonic beasts attacked, it would not be easily breached.


    Moreover, it is incredibly large.


    If you got close enough to look up at the wall, you could not see either end of the outer wall, or the end of the wall at all, covering such a vast area. The apparently solid outer wall stretched on and on until it was beyond our sight.


    How many years did it really take to build such a vast and solid wall? At least ten or twenty years is not enough. If this were the earth, it would have been registered as a world heritage site.


    It''s quite a magnificent wall, isn''t it?


    Yes. That''s what everyone says when they first visit the Boundary City.


    Zion replied with a ladylike smile.


    There was a proud tone in his voice, perhaps because it was his own city.


    (It is similar to the outer wall of Agartha.)


    Helian recalls the outer walls of , the capital of Alkimaira.


    The Alkimyra''s virtual enemies are not humans but demons. Some of them, such as giants and dragons, are literally on a different scale from human beings, and the strength required of the outer wall also conforms to this.


    And this boundary city is also said to be a front-line city where the opponents are not humans but demons and magical beasts. If this is the case, it is only natural that it is built much higher than the outer wall for humans that we see in Japanese textbooks. It is natural that it is similar to Agartha.


    But on the other hand, there are some differences. While Agartha has a capital city ward that is always deployed along the outer wall to hide and protect the capital city, there is no capital city ward in Agartha. Although there is some kind of pattern engraved on the wall, there is no pulsating light on the wall or the gate, which is a proof of this.


    It is a fine wall, but it is literally just a solid wall.


    "Hmmm ......"


    Gardi crosses his arms and looks at the outer wall.


    Next to him, Ceres was also thinking with her finger on her chin as if she was calculating something.


    "It looks pretty thick, but ...... well, three to four shots, I''d say."


    "It seems to me that a shortened chant would be sufficient. It doesn''t have to be siege magic."


    ...... I''m hearing some disturbing thoughts, but I''m sure it''s just my imagination.


    Even though they are belligerent demons, Ceres is one of the intelligent ones, and Gardi is a good and air-headed guy. I believe that they are aware of what''s going on. Please let me believe you. Please let me believe you. He is at least a hundred times better than the Commander of the Seventh (Robin) or the Commander of the Eighth (Nogarde).


    For some reason my stomach aches, but I intentionally ignore it and continue walking toward the gate.


    The gate was built on the outer wall, and was of such a magnificent structure that ten large horse-drawn wagons could pass through it side by side. The chains are now rolled up, but there is a thick metal grate attached to the gate, which would be used in an emergency. As a proof that it is not for decoration but for actual use, dry soil was found on the stakes at the bottom edge of the grating.


    At the right end of the gate, a group of what appeared to be merchants formed a line. It seems that they are taking time to examine the visitors at the gate. Following Zion''s instructions, Helian and his carriage passes by the group and arrives at the gate.


    "-- Hmm?��What is it with you people? If you want to enter the city, get to the back of the line. Right now we''re waiting for the other merchants to come and examine us."


    As expected, we were stopped by the gate guard standing in front of the gate. He was dressed in plate armor and had a long spear in his hand. It was a natural response since he had ignored the line and approached us.


    Or do you have a letter of introduction?��If so, please follow the prescribed procedures ......"


    "Thank you for your work. I don''t have a letter of introduction, but please let me through here. We''ll give you the highest priority."


    "...... what a selfish thing to do. If you don''t have a referral, just get in line--,......?


    The soldier, who had been emitting an unpleasant tone of voice, gulped and his complexion changed drastically as he looked at the owner of the voice calling to him from inside the carriage.


    "Oh, you are ......!


    "Please be quiet. I don''t want to cause a scene here and now."


    Zion''s voice was released as if to control the soldiers who were about to shout.


    The soldier, who had been opening and closing his mouth, finally chewed what he had been told, straightened his back and changed his attitude.


    "--Ha, I beg your pardon. However, we need to inform your father immediately. I would like your permission to send a messenger.


    "Permission granted. But there is no need for you to pick him up. Tell my father that I''m going back to the house. I will report the details directly to him. Please don''t let him know anything else.


    "Ha!"


    The soldier, perhaps sensing Zion''s intention to avoid being conspicuous, gave what appeared to be an abbreviated salute and turned on his heel to the reception desk at the gate. Soon after, several soldiers standing by the reception area turned their startled gazes on them, but they were quickly dismissed as if they had been told to do so by Zion, and they were escorted to the reception desk.


    The carriage of Helian and his group proceeded through the gate into the interior of the city without much inspection.


    Helian is impressed that she is indeed the daughter of a lord, but as soon as she steps through the outer wall into the interior of the city, she lets out an exhale as she is struck by further emotions.


    "Oh ......"


    The historic townscape, reminiscent of a good old medieval city, greeted Helian as he let out an exclamation of admiration.


    The streets are neatly paved with cobblestones, and stone buildings line both sides of the main street that extends from the gate in an orderly fashion.


    However, even though the outer walls cover the city in a circle, there is no sense of enclosure, and the space is used in a spacious manner.


    While the buildings are lined up in cramped spaces, the city is also rich in colors, with large waterways running through the city and green plazas.


    Above all, the city is a place where


    "Come on, come by, take a look, buy something!��Freshly picked kukul liquor!��It''s delicious!"


    "Reinforcement work on the fort, we are looking for people!��If you are interested, please contact the Adventurers'' Guild bulletin board!


    "Hey, long time no see. I''m organizing a caravan to the border region.


    "When do we leave?��What, tomorrow?��That''s impossible. The day after tomorrow is the day the armor I ordered is delivered. I''ll think about it if we leave in three days.


    "Well, this is Hernil''s steamed and baked goods on sale. How about it for today''s dinner? If you want a hearty meal, come to Aranu Restaurant!


    --It''s so lively. Even a cursory glance around reveals people calling out, negotiating, and shouting with authority.


    There were citizens, soldiers, merchants, craftsmen, children, old people. And all of them were busy moving about. The place was filled with great bustle. It could have been introduced as the capital of a country.


    "...... This is amazing."


    Praise was in my mouth.


    I had heard that it was a big city, but it was even bigger than I had imagined. There are hundreds of buildings just in the area I am looking at now. In terms of area alone, it seemed to exceed even the current Agartha.


    "Yes. It is my pride and joy.


    Zion responds from behind Helian, who leans forward. He has a smile on his face like a child showing off his prized possessions.


    "I''ve heard about it, but ...... it''s a magnificent city, isn''t it? It''s even better than I imagined."


    "I''m glad to hear you say so."


    "I had heard about the recent attacks on a large scale, and with all due respect, I thought the atmosphere would be more tense, but I was surprised to see the smiling faces of the people on the street as well as the ...... cityscape."


    While there is some lip service, these are basically honest opinions.


    As the words suggest, there is nothing grim about the expressions on the faces of the people who pass by on the spacious boulevards. It is hard to believe that just a few days ago there was an attack by magical beasts.


    "Yes. Fortunately, the attack was stopped by the fortress on the front line and the SEALs escaped unharmed. In the direction of the demon territory - there is a little bit of a tense atmosphere in the protruding area located in the south of the city, but this is the commercial area located in the west. This is the area with the highest concentration of commercial facilities in the city, and as you can see, it is bustling with activity every day.


    "...... I see."


    Border City Seals. Also known as .


    It is a city county consisting of five districts and three fortresses, and is one of the important centers of humanity built to cover the overland route connecting the <> and the <>.


    The supreme mission entrusted to this city county is to prevent invasion by demons, to keep the demons in the demon territory, and to keep protecting the human territory.


    This was the information about the border city of Shields that I had heard from Rattlestwood, and I had imagined a fortified city specializing in battle, or a solemn scene tightly regulated like a frontline base during wartime.


    However, Helian growled that he would have to change his mind after being shown such a scene.


    The border city of Shields, which he had actually inspected, was not a frontier base, but a metropolis in its own right.


    (I only had the image of a frontline base for territorial defense, but you never know until you actually see it. ......)


    Seeing is believing. The information you hear from others and the information you experience firsthand are different in freshness. In this sense, it may have been a good decision for me to go out of the country myself.


    With this realization in mind, Helian continues to observe the streets of Shields with great interest as the carriage moves slowly forward.


    The frontier count who governs this town must be a very good politician, because it is filled with so much vitality in spite of its proximity to the danger zone.


    "--��----��-- --"


    "?��...... something now."


    As I was contemplating the figure of my lord, I suddenly heard what sounded like a distant shout.


    The voice was strangely clear to my ears in the midst of this clamor, but at the same time, I could not hear what the voice was shouting because of the great distance.


    The only thing I could understand was that the sound source was getting closer and closer.


    "--ohoh--n----!"


    The shouts came closer and closer, and people on the main street turned in the direction of the source of the voices.


    The people on the main street were looking in the direction of the source of the voices, but for some reason their gazes were slightly turned upward.


    I followed their gazes and saw a figure floating in the setting sun.


    "......What?��A shadow?"


    I mutter in dismay.


    The source of the sound was close at hand before I knew it.


    And the shadow against the setting sun grew larger and larger,


    "Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnn!"


    "--......!"


    It came down (?????).


    Literally from the sky, in a straight line.


    They are falling with a mysterious cry toward the carriage in which Helian rides.


    "Stop it, Galdi!"


    He immediately orders his followers to take the lead.


    Galdi responds immediately and meets the mysterious assailant head on.


    The club (mace) in Galdi''s hand is struck at the assailant as if he were bouncing a falling ball back with a bat.


    "--nuh!


    However, the assailant caught the blow from the mace with his crossed arms.


    The impact was so great that both of his feet shaved about ten meters off the ground, but he was not blown away, leaving his body on the spot. The assailant let out a roar and his eyes were glistening behind his arms.


    --I was surprised.


    Helian is blinded by the shocking sight before him.


    Now this assailant had survived Gardy''s blow head-on.


    Of course, Guldi is taking it as easy as he can. <


    Even so, however, the club that Ghardi used was not powerful enough to be endured by an ordinary human being. It was a blow that should have resulted in at least a crushed fracture.


    Even after taking such a blow head-on, the mysterious assailant was not even stunned, and the damage was enough to allow him to continue the battle.


    "...... Who are you?"


    In the dark shadows created by the setting sun, the assailant - a man of mature age - releases the voice of "Suika" (who?).


    But that is more our line.


    This is clearly not a normal person, not to mention the fact that he attacked us.


    He is different from the bandit we just encountered.


    Even though he is in a fully humanized form and is being treated with a little bit of force, I did not think that there is a human being who could survive under Gardi''s attack.


    "No, I don''t care who he is. Let''s give him the girl next to her."


    "--No."


    "What?"


    When I refused without thinking, the assailant raised one eyebrow doubtfully.


    He looked as if he didn''t expect me to refuse.


    "Are you refusing my request?"


    "Yes. I don''t care who you are.


    Helian moved his body so that Zion was hidden behind him.


    She then responds in a strong tone of voice while staring the assailant squarely in the face.


    I took her into my custody. I promised her that I would get her home safely. Therefore, I will not let her go, no matter who it is.


    Snap your left ring finger.


    This action triggers the pre-arranged .


    Furthermore, it is permitted to drive the hostile unit to the brink of death.


    .


    When he first left the country, he had set up only for himself (Helian), but after he rescued Zion, he added her to the condition.


    Because he promised to send Zion home. He swore that he would bring her home safely after he had gone to such lengths to save her.


    I will not allow anyone to stand in the way of that promise, no matter who they are.


    "Oh?"


    The assailant snorted in admiration as Helian moved his squire with a single fingertip.


    A pressured look pierced his glazed eyes.


    It was a swooning gaze that would have made him shrink back under normal circumstances.


    But Helian met the gaze without fear.


    She stared back at the assailant, prepared to snap even the ring finger of her right hand if necessary.


    And so an equilibrium was born.


    A deadly atmosphere flutters between the three followers and the assailant.


    The people around them cowered before the scene, unable to move an inch.


    The situation is at a standstill.


    Then, an embarrassingly weak and out of place mutter was uttered.


    "......O,father......"


    The murmur is so faint that it seems to be fading away.


    But Helian, who had heard the voice up close, looked at the source of the voice - the girl sitting next to him (Zion) - with a rusty neck movement.


    "........................ what now?"


    I hope I misheard you.


    I hope I heard it wrong.


    Helian''s question is uttered with such a tragic thought in his mind, to which Zion replies with a shrug.


    "Um, ...... it''s my father. ...... I''m sorry."


    "............ who?"


    "That''s the guy over there with his fist in the air. ....... I don''t know what to say, I''m really, really sorry.


    Helian was absolutely mortified as the words were delivered to him as if he had a headache.


    She pointed at a small finger, and when she followed the tip of her finger, she saw her attacker, who had been unarmed for some time, standing there with a fearless look on his face and his beard trimmed.


    He was hidden in the shadow of the building, but if you look closely, you can see that his hair color is black like Zion''s.


    In other words, his previous line was not a threat to "give me your daughter," but literally referring to his own daughter. ......


    "Hmmm...... no, excuse me. I can''t stop the urge from welling up inside of me. When I was told that my beloved daughter had been brought home by a stranger, I couldn''t stand still. The moment I saw her, I went to take her in my arms.


    The man said, "Gahahahahaha!" without a trace of apology. He laughs loudly.


    The person next to me said, "I told you not to say anything because it''s ....... I told you to wait for me. ......", he muttered in the most shame-filled voice.


    Helian is aghast as he listens to the words of the man who is to lead the city: "I told you to wait for me, but I don''t know what else to say.


    "It seems that you have protected my daughter. I would like to thank you, but it is a bit difficult in the center of such traffic. I would like to thank you again after I have brought her back to my house. Then I have no choice. I''m sorry, but I''d like to ask you to accompany me to the museum, how about it?"


    The frontier count, with a grin and an evil-looking smile on his face, asks me a question, a far cry from his exuberant laugh earlier.


    A mere peddler has no choice.


    Helian felt a pain in his stomach early on, but had no choice but to reply in the affirmative.

 45 - The 14th "Table"

    "I''m sorry about the other day. I was a little out of sorts myself. When I heard that my beloved daughter, whom I had feared for her safety, had returned home safely, I went to hold her in my arms as I always do."


    "...... No. Please don''t mind me."


    The house of the Count of the Frontier is located in the center of the border city of Shields.


    After receiving an apology from Count Glenn Gardiner in the guest room, Helian had no choice but to give a curt response.


    Incidentally, his beloved daughter Zion is temporarily out of the room for a change of clothes.


    He was allowed to go to the guest room to relax while she was getting ready, but within a few minutes of sitting down on the sofa, the Count of the Frontier appeared.


    Within a few minutes of sitting down on the sofa, the frontier count appeared and began to speak without Zion, as he did at the beginning of this report.


    "But you have a very capable retinue. Your earlier blow was truly brilliant.


    I''m talking about the surprise ...... or encounter ...... or the unfortunate incident (trouble) that occurred due to mutual incomprehension earlier.


    I was prepared to be accused of disrespect even though I had already explained myself on the way to the museum, but to my surprise, he spoke words of praise. Helian bowed his head and said, "I''m sorry.


    However, the man in the background (Gardi) remained steadfast, watching the Count''s every move with a wary eye. The other two were no different in their degree of caution. In fact, Ceres did not even try to hide the hostility in her eyes.


    ...... at least give me a bash.


    I want to put my hand on my aching stomach, but I can''t do that in front of the master of the house. Helian put a straight face on his face and endured.


    "Don''t be so hard. I don''t care whether you''re a nobleman or a commoner. I''d be more than happy if you took it easy with me!


    The frontier count leaned forward and gave Helian a vicious blow on the shoulder.


    It was a gesture as if he were treating a well-meaning friend, but the soft shoulder that had been hit with such force caused the host to complain of pain.


    However, Helian was struck by a chill so strong that he did not care about the pain.


    The chills were caused by three pressures on his backside.


    Although not directed at him, the pressure he felt through his back radiated an unsettling atmosphere.


    (Please don''t runaway, please don''t runaway, please don''t runaway, please don''t runaway ......!)


    I prayed, reminded, begged and pleaded desperately in my heart.


    Their prayers may not have been answered, but fortunately the three followers remained steadfast.


    I am truly glad that I told them in advance not to touch them.


    "And no need for modesty, Herian. Your squire is a good man indeed. It''s been a long time since I''ve had a surprise attack prevented."


    "......, I''m honored."


    I said surprise attack, my lord.


    No, I had a feeling from the moment I met him, but what I saw in person was far from the image I had of this lord. I could hear the sound of my image of a nobleman collapsing.


    "Is it surprising that the lord of this city is a man like me?"


    Suddenly, the frontier count asked such a question with his arms crossed.


    Having been told exactly what he was thinking, Helian hesitated for a moment and then shook his head.


    "Of course not. I don''t think so.


    "There is no need to be concerned. After all, 50% of the people you meet for the first time will have the same reaction as you!


    It''s a standard story now," the frontier count laughed.


    In many ways, this comment made me wonder if the lord of the house would be all right with such a tone of voice.


    "I''m sorry if you were hoping for an aristocratic response, but you''ll have to let me off the hook. After all, this is a city that exists near the border of the demon territory. It is not a place that can be protected by a small group of smart people. And we can''t rely on those idiots in the kingdom.


    So boasted the frontier count, leaning his weight on the back of his chair.


    Well, kingdom or no kingdom, this explanation makes some sense of his aristocratic appearance.


    Helian nodded inwardly as he recalled what he had heard from the people of Rattestwood.


    --Glen Gardiner, the frontiersman.


    Also known as the Count of the Holy Sword.


    <


    He is said to be more powerful than even the most famous adventurers, and when the invasion of the demons reached the Seals through the fortress, he became the last of his family''s lords. (It is even said that the "Hinduism of the world" is the most important factor in the development of the world.


    If this were in the modern world, it would be nothing more than a joke with a great deal of hyperbole, but this world is a fantasy world similar to that of the Tactics Chronicles.


    It is not something to be laughed at.


    In fact, the frontier count, though a flesh-and-blood human being, managed to block Ghardi''s blow right in front of his eyes.


    "However, I apologize again for what I said earlier.


    The Count of the Frontier changed his mood and began with a mysterious look on his face.


    I have been rude to the benefactor of my daughter. It''s only an excuse, but I was very upset when I lost contact with my daughter whom I had sent on a pilgrimage. I had selected the best of the SEALs'' remaining strength to form a convoy, so I didn''t think it was possible. ......"


    I think that "anxious" is an honest and sincere expression of my feelings.


    My beloved daughter, whom I had suddenly lost contact with, has returned safely.


    As a parent, it seems to me that it is a very natural reaction to be unable to stand still.


    I did not understand the strange behavior of falling from the sky for a hug, but I guess it means that they were so worried about her and that it was an unexpected situation.


    "About the convoy," he said. When we found your daughter, she was already at ......."


    Yes, my daughter told me what happened. On her way back from the pilgrimage to the last temple, she encountered a huge beast and was attacked by a band of mercenaries who looked like wild thieves.


    Helian responded with a nod of the head.


    "I never thought that a giant beast species ......, Behemoth for that matter, would show up in that area. This is a monster that would normally require an army of several hundred people to defeat. I''m surprised you let my daughter escape after encountering such a thing.


    The Count of the Frontier says with a bitter expression on his face.


    It seems that the huge magical beast that Ceres had seen was a more dangerous monster than she had imagined.


    "......By the way, you say you were selected from the remaining strength of the SEALs?��It sounded as if the SEALs were lacking in strength today."


    "Hm?��It''s just like they say. As you know, we have already repelled the attack from the demon realm, but we still keep our main forces at the fortress in the border region. Although it is not unprecedented in the past, there is no guarantee that there will not be a series of large-scale attacks in the future. Therefore, the forces remaining in the SEALS are mostly the reserve forces of the Border Knights and adventurers of low to mid level. There are some high-ranking adventurers among them, though, who have been escorting the seriously wounded from the fortress.


    I see what you mean. The situation does not seem to be unpredictable, but it seems that the main forces - including the adventurers who were urgently summoned - are still concentrated in the fortress as a precautionary measure.


    Incidentally, the boundary region is the area between the human realm, where human species live, and the demon realm, where demons and powerful demonic beasts inhabit.


    It is a frontier region surrounded by steep mountain ranges from east to west, with a topography that seems to bridge the two regions. It is located to the south of the border city of Shields. It is said that there are three forts in the current boundary area.


    "Well. It''s about time for my daughter to come back, but before she does I have to say what I need to say.


    The frontier count''s face tightened and he began to speak. Helian, sitting opposite him, naturally straightened his back under the stern gaze of the Count.


    I thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving my daughter from those thugs. It is thanks to you that she is safely reunited with her daughter.


    No, sir. We just happened to be there. ......"


    "And you saved my beloved daughter, didn''t you?��A complete stranger who just happened to see you in the lawless wilderness. Then I have nothing to thank you for.


    I show my respect and gratitude to the noblemen who, without knowing she was the daughter of a lord, went to the extent of taking on bandits and rescuing her.


    As soon as he finished, the frontier count bowed his head slightly.


    It was literally the highest form of courtesy a lord of such a prestigious position could show to a mere itinerant merchant.


    "This is for bringing my daughter here. Please accept it."


    The Count of the Frontier received the package from the family orderly standing in the corner of the room and placed it on the table.


    A heavy metallic clang sounded.


    At the prompting of a glance, Herian opened the package and found it filled with brand new gold coins. They are the kingdom''s gold coins, which are mainly circulated in this region. Seeing the amount of brilliance, H��lian shakes his head silently.


    "...... No, I didn''t help you for the reward. You and your daughter have already expressed your gratitude. Those words were enough for us..."


    No, that''s not how it works. How can I send away the benefactor who saved my precious daughter''s life after merely thanking him for his kindness?


    The frontier count pushed a package from the table in front of him.


    "Normally, I would have thrown a grand banquet to welcome you. But the current situation does not allow it, and I can only repay you in this way. This is the least I can do. It may not be in accordance with your sentiments, but please accept it.


    "...... I understand. In that case, I would be grateful for it.


    "Thank you."


    Just as the frontier count nodded his head, a discreet knock sounded. The family courtier pulled open the door, and there was Zion.


    "Sorry to keep you waiting.


    Sion stepped into the room and showed his civility by bending down at the waist.


    Perhaps it was because he had just cleaned himself up. She was dust-free and cleanly dressed, and a pleasant fragrance wafted from her.


    However, upon closer inspection, I noticed a slight reddening of her eyes. The swelling around her eyes seems to be disguised by makeup, but there is no way to hide the color of her eyes. Herian remembers her status and circumstances, and he is convinced that she is a good person.


    A daughter of a noble family was attacked by a magical beast in the middle of the wilderness, separated from her guards, and finally being chased by bandits all by herself. Who can blame her for returning alive to her home, the symbol of peace and tranquility, and suddenly loosening her tension?


    The tears I shed were either for the realization that I had made it home alive, or for those who had died for me. I had a feeling that it was the latter, but I was afraid to imagine it.


    Zion, however, showed no sign of the tears that had been swollen up until a few minutes ago, and sat down solemnly next to the frontier count with a dignified expression on her face.


    My first impression of her as a stout-hearted girl may not have been wrong.


    "I am very sorry for my father''s behavior during our earlier visit. On behalf of my family, I apologize deeply.


    "Hey, Theon. Don''t you think you can do that in front of my father?


    "Please be silent, Father. The integrity of the Gardiner family is in question.


    "...... heard that, Lord Helian? You have a terrible daughter. I was so worried about her.


    I don''t like it when you point water at me.


    How am I to comment on a conversation between a father and his son that''s so highly inappropriate for an aristocrat?


    I feel out of place just being here.


    "Father. Mr. Helian is confused.


    "Hmm. I see. My apologies. ...... By the way, Mr. Helian, do you have any idea where you''ll be staying today?


    No. I''m new in town, not really.


    Then why don''t you stay at my house?��We can''t offer much hospitality, but we have plenty of rooms available."


    "That''s an excellent suggestion for your father. Mr. Helian. And you, Leve, Ceres, and Gardi, are welcome to stay with us. We would like to hear all about it."


    The proposal almost made my cheeks twitch.


    In the future, we would probably deepen our relationship with the upper class of the human nation in order to expand the scope of our information gathering. However, the purpose of this expedition is to establish a base for full-fledged information gathering activities. It is a bit of a stretch to say that we are going to deepen our ties with the rulers from the first day we arrive at the expedition site. The arrangements are absurd.


    And for Helian, who was suddenly forced to assume the disproportionate position of "king" - even if it was a disguise - he was comfortable as a traveling merchant. This expedition was a valuable opportunity to practice negotiations from a comfortable position.


    This time, I want to make sure that I can proceed in a way that is appropriate for my size.


    Even Helian, who had such thoughts in his mind, could not welcome being suddenly moved up to a higher position (stage).


    He rushed to interject.


    "Thank you very much. However, we do not know enough about etiquette and manners. It is not right for us to be hosted in such a magnificent house. I''d be happy to make you an offer. ......"


    "...... Hmm. Then I will introduce you to an inn in my name. There are more than a fair number of inns in this town because of the heavy traffic, but they are all crowded at this time of the year. Time is also time. It must be hard to look around for a place to stay when you are tired after a long journey.


    "That''s--yes, that would be great. I''m a countryman who doesn''t know the left from the right, so I''d appreciate your kindness.


    Then you''ll have to wait a little longer. There''s an inn in the Labyrinthine District that has a good reputation among the peddlers. I''ll write you a letter of introduction immediately.


    Theon, who was sitting next to him, let out a frustrated sound as he told the frontier count to bring a brush and paper.


    "So, sir. Father."


    "Zion. They have their reasons. You can''t force them to stay."


    Zion looked unconvinced, but after a few seconds of exchanging glances with the frontier count, he kept his mouth shut as if in resignation.


    The Count of the Frontier spread a piece of fine parchment offered by the family priest on his desk and began to stroke his pen. When he had finished writing, he rolled up the parchment and sealed it with wax on a thread. Two letters were then presented to him.


    The one on the right is a letter of introduction to the inn, and the one on the left is a permit for Shields to come and go. The permit is different from those issued to the general public, and is intended to provide some convenience. It''s like a thank-you for this trip, use it."


    No. You have already thanked me more than enough. Please do not send any more to ......."


    "Don''t say that. Let me dress up in front of my daughter."


    It would be unwise to refuse such a proposal.


    After a slight hesitation, Helian accepts both scrolls of the letter.


    After a slight hesitation, H��lien accepted both scrolls. I would like to have a chance to talk with you again at a later date when things are more settled. We will have a big party at that time, so please look forward to it."


    "...... thank you. If you get a chance, I''d be happy to help.


    Herrien, who had muddled the issue with a safe answer, thanked him again and stood up to bow, signaling that he was leaving the room.


    The three followers bowed their heads in unison, although they were a little uneasy about it. With a sense of relief in her heart, Helian left the guest room with her three followers.


    The family courtesan guided them through the large house where they might have lost their way, and they picked up the carriage that had been left in the care of the servant of the house. They then left the frontier count''s mansion, which boasts the size and grandeur of a small castle rather than a mansion.


    Helian almost lets out a sigh of relief when he finally gets to be alone with his family. But it is still too early to tell. He should not let go of his tension until he arrives at the inn where he will sleep tonight.


    He opens the . I have already marked the location of the inn as told by the Count of the Frontier. The inn is located in the north direction from the central district where the Count of the Frontier''s mansion is located - near the labyrinth district. We get into the carriage and let Gardi, who has given us the coordinates, lead the way.


    ......We are almost to the inn.


    Helian mutters inwardly to himself as his body complains of fatigue.

 46 - The 15th "Cebu"

    Here is the key to your room. Please ask the receptionist if you need to leave the room.


    Soon after, Helian and his group arrived at the inn.


    The inn has an air of confidence in its history. In the hall (lobby) leading to the back of the reception desk, travelers and adventurers who look like guests can be seen. It was a scene that you would never see in a Japanese hotel.


    The well-dressed manager handed me the key to my room. There were three. One room for a helian and two rooms for three attendants. The fact that the hotel was almost full was not an exaggeration, and judging from the hustle and bustle of the staff, it seems that he was forced to open one room for us.


    When the manager was afraid that the first-class rooms were unfortunately full, Helian replied that he did not mind. It is said that the rooms are treated like suites used exclusively for aristocrats and wealthy merchants, but I''m not interested in that right now. I''d rather have a regular guest room, as it would give me a better insight into the life of this city.


    "How would you like to bathe?"


    "...... this inn has bathing facilities?"


    Yes, that''s our pride and joy. Many of our guests are satisfied with it. We have a reservation system whereby each guest has to decide when they would like to use the baths due to conflicts with other guests, but we were lucky enough to have one slot open.


    Apparently, this is the secret to its popularity that the frontier count mentioned.


    The manager of the hotel, with an amiable expression on his face, suggested, "How about it? Was it just a coincidence that a slot was available, or was it because I had submitted a letter of introduction that he had opened one slot for me? Probably the latter.


    I look at the list of fees on the reception desk. The words written there - perhaps as a result of the concept interpreted by the advanced language analysis "Makine Translation" engine - are what the [Tactics Chronicle] calls In Helian''s eyes, it was a "common language". The stated price is not cheap, but it is not that expensive either.


    "Yes, it is. Since it''s a good opportunity, I thought I''d take advantage of it.


    When I placed the large silver coin on the counter, he returned it, saying, "No need to pay for it. Not wanting to repeat the same exchange I had with the hotel charge, I replied, "Well, I''ll take you up on your offer for the first time," and tucked it into my pocket.


    He then handed me a bill with a time frame written on it. This tag is supposed to be inserted in the designated place when using the bathhouse to indicate that the bathhouse is in use. It is a simple but well-prepared system to prevent any trouble.


    After climbing up the wooden stairs, I found the room number I wanted at the end of the passage. We unlock the door with the key we received, and all four of us enter the first room together for the time being.


    "...... hmm."


    The room is a bit cramped, but it is more decent than I had imagined.


    The two beds by the window were both neatly made, and the white sheets gave a sense of cleanliness. The room was furnished with a minimum of furnishings. For a room for a traveling merchant, it was probably one of the finest.


    Helian walks into the room and sits down on the bed.


    The sense of accomplishment at having finally arrived and the fatigue in her legs and feet made her want to lie down, but she held back, remembering that she was in front of her men. It was not yet time to relax.


    I tried to give Celes an order to put up soundproof wards by thought manipulation, but failed. Perhaps due to fatigue, the brainwave precision for thought manipulation seems to have been disturbed. He has no choice but to send another by direct manipulation.


    Immediately a ward is deployed, and this room temporarily becomes a completely soundproofed secret room. I may be overconcerned, but it is important to take precautions. In the room where there is no longer any fear of conversation leaking out, Helian speaks up without hesitation.


    "Okay. We have arrived safely in the city, despite the unplanned events. First of all, let me say thank you for your hard work on the way here.


    In my head, I turn on the switch as the "King of All Evil.


    Then, he crossed his legs in front of his follower and said words of thanks to him, being conscious of the kingly behavior (mode) that he had trained through years of role-playing.


    I am not able to switch on and off as quickly as Rilifa, but I should be able to do so someday. The only way is to accumulate practical experience in such a place.


    "Ha. Thank you very much for your kind words.


    From Helian''s words and actions, the three followers correctly recognized that he was Helian the king in the present moment. They kneeled down and bowed their heads in unison, with Liewe at the head of the group.


    "Good, lift up your heads. Let''s have a briefing right away. The agenda is to reconfirm the contents of our immediate activities and to share the information we have obtained so far.


    He starts off by recalling the contents of the lectures and presentation theory he learned at the university. The first step is to present the agenda and to reconcile the participants'' perceptions. In addition, it is made clear that this is a forum for information sharing, not a forum for discussion.


    "First, let''s talk about our activities in this city. As I told you in the audience chamber, we, the expedition, left our country for this city to gain a foothold for a full-scale investigation of this world.


    The three followers listen to Helian''s words in silence.


    They kept quiet about their personal goal of practicing negotiation in the position of a fake merchant (......), a position where failure is allowed. There is no need to tell them, and it would be a loss of dignity to do so.


    So, what is the purpose of our operation in this city? Let''s hear your perception, Rieve."


    "Ha. We have three main goals for the moment. .


    I nodded my head in agreement.


    The chairperson does not speak unilaterally, but encourages the participants to speak up to emphasize and recognize the awareness of the participants, and strengthens their awareness by having them give their answers. This is a basic technique, but there is no better way than the basics. There is no better way than the basics.


    "Next, Ceres. What kind of activities do we do for the establishment of a teleportal, which requires a certain percentage of control?


    "Basically, young man, you will gain [dominion] by the power you exert over this land."


    It refers to the time passage bonus for the king''s (player unit''s) stay in the area in question.


    We have already confirmed that this system works in Agartha, the capital of Alkimaira, without any problem in this world.


    The time elapsed bonus is determined every 24 hours, and the acquisition of control by this bonus is output to the . If you refer to the , you will see the text of successful acquisition.


    "Also, in parallel, we will experiment to see if we can gain [dominance] by gaining influence over the economy, culture, and local people.


    "Specifically?"


    "Yes. First, we will conduct business negotiations dressed as a traveling merchant, and verify to what extent we can gain control over the economy by influencing it, and whether it is possible to gain control in the first place. Also, in the future, I will change my position from a traveling merchant to a city merchant and obtain the secret facilities of the [teleportal] in the form of a store."


    He nodded his head in an exultant manner.


    An ordinary house is fine if you just want to hide the teleportal, but once you start using it, there will be a considerable number of people coming in and out of the house. Considering this, it would be more convenient to disguise it in the form of a store.


    In addition, there is a plan that if the merchants are sure of their status as street merchants, they may be able to purchase various information from their own information network (network). However, it is not too late to do so after the establishment of a base of operations, so I will leave that out of this discussion for now.


    However, it is not so important to say that Celes is also serious in changing the way she is called by the name of the network. Her [Characteristics] includes several troublesome things, such as [twisted], but I don''t see any tendency for them so far. However, whether this is a good thing or a bad thing is hard to tell.


    "Finally, Gardi. <


    "Hey. First of all, we want to see if there is anyone who is capable of posing a threat to us (Alkimaira). Noblewood was all talk and no action, but the strength of the human race that defeated them needs to be assessed separately.


    The commander-in-chief (Liewe) gives the usual too much attention to his tone of voice, but he doesn''t care. Well, it''s a little late for that. The 5th corps commander (Gardi), who is a true up-and-comer, is a character like this. He changes his attitude and tone when he needs to tighten up, which is fine with Helyan.


    "And this city is one of the most prominent military bases in the human realm, and we''re going to test the strength of the who was recently summoned to the city on an emergency basis and is said to be the best ranger force of ...... the human race.


    "Mm. That''s about right."


    The point is to verify whether or not Alkimaira has an absolute military advantage over this world. We have some idea of what to expect, but at the very least, we need to be cautious enough to cross over stone bridges.


    "If possible, I would also like to check the strength of the elite troops of the Border Knights, who are the regular force, and the top-ranked adventurers, but ...... it seems that both of them are currently packed in the front-line fortresses. This was a miscalculation, but it can''t be helped. For the time being, let''s just measure the strength of the adventurers staying in this town. If we can determine a rough average and an upper limit, that''s all we need.


    There are other potential threats such as and , but we will wait until we have the groundwork to conduct a full-scale investigation of them. First of all, is there any threat to human activities in the region? It is essential to ascertain this.


    "Next, we will share the information we have obtained along the way. Let''s start with your impressions of your first contact with humans. From this point on, each of you is allowed to speak. Speak freely."


    What are your impressions?


    Anything. This is the first time you''ve met humans, apart from me and the other kings. What did you think of the humans you actually saw? I want to hear what you thought of them.


    When asked, the three followers glanced at each other.


    After a few moments, Levee spoke up.


    "My impression of the actual battle was that the fighting force was much lower than I had expected. Of course, we tried to be on our toes and quickly exterminate them, but the fact that we were wiped out without activating any of the special abilities that we were supposed to have ...... was unexpected.


    Here are my impressions from the battle with the bandit faction.


    It was a very demon-like impression to start with the fighting power.


    However, there was one word that was curious to me.


    Helian frowns and asks, "What do you think?


    What are your special abilities?��The referenced


    "No, no. I have not actually confirmed this, but the three of us were discussing the capabilities of the human race before we left ....... Based on the conclusions we came to, we have determined that as a race we possess several abilities.


    "...... Ho?"


    I knew he had been holed up in the conference room for a long time, but I didn''t know the details.


    I wonder if he was referring to the adventurers who had visited LATESTWOOD.


    Of course, I have no intention of trying to find out what you are capable of, Mr. Helian," he said. I strongly assure you of that. However, in order to ensure your safety in the unknown, we felt it necessary to consider the most powerful of the human race in advance. I hope you understand.


    "Hmm?��No, of course not. I understand."


    Rieve is impatiently insisting. He speaks more quickly than usual.


    I twisted my head inwardly at the inexplicable reaction, but then I remembered that the image of Herian held by his men was that of a secretive person. The memory of explaining to them about the and the during the second audience, and their surprise, came back to him.


    ...... No, wait. In retrospect, wasn''t what I just said and did a nail to the infidel who tried to find out the secret? ......


    "Liewe. Again, I fully understand. --Do you understand?


    "...... Ha, yes, sir!"


    Levee kept her eyes fixed on the floor and her voice tight.


    Ceres and Gardi followed suit, offering their worship.


    ...... yeah. Apparently, they made a mistake in their response. It is completely mistaken for a nail-biter.


    However, I felt bad about correcting him again and again.


    I''ll just let it go and move on with the story.


    "Gohon. Well, that''s that. For your information, what is the conclusion of this discussion?


    He urges the three kneeling participants to at least share their perceptions with him so that they can make the best of the situation.


    Then Lieve, who represented the three, began to talk about the image of "human beings" that the corps leaders had in their minds, and Helian looked up involuntarily.


    --He said, "Human beings are immortal.


    --He has clairvoyant eyes that can see all things in the universe.


    --He is capable of revelation, of transmitting his will to all beings.


    --He is born with the power to create something out of nothing.


    (...... What kind of a monster race is this?)


    It was far beyond my imagination.


    Perhaps it is a reference to the king - the player character in [Tactics Chronicle].


    The immortality was based on the fact that the king''s (player''s) appearance did not change for a long time.


    The clairvoyance is based on the fact that the player was able to see various information through a virtual window.


    And the transmission of will to all beings must be inferred from the he gave to the demons under his control, and from the fact that he created demons through and .


    "I see. ....... No wonder he hasn''t said a word since entering the border city."


    I now understand why he wore a tense atmosphere even in the house of a frontier count.


    In short, they were so wary of humans that they could not even afford to have a conversation with them.


    From the point of view of Lieve and the others, the town is inhabited by a mysterious race of monsters. In their eyes, this town must have seemed like an alien world.


    "Well, there are many things I would like to say, ...... but for the time being, humans are not such a crazy race. Basically, we are just like the half-elves. Except when we focus on the individual, we don''t have that kind of different ability as a race."


    "Oh, I see. No, we were wondering why Noblewood has not been destroyed after waging war with such a race. ......"


    Of course you wonder.


    We are proud of our numbers, after all. If each and every one of them had such a unique ability, it is not surprising that other races would have been exterminated.


    Especially, and are in the realm of the gods. I say, "How can there be such a demonic race?


    "So you are saying that all of these abilities are not dependent on the human race, but on the individual Helian?


    "............ Well, it will be. That''s the way I understand it."


    He affirms it while looking away from the adoring gaze.


    Then, a small but sure exclamation reaches my ears.


    However, I was not bothered by such a reaction, since all of the specifications are commonplace for players of arcade games.


    In fact, it is true that many of the abilities that you possess are useful in real life. However, all of them are borrowed, not acquired through my own hard work. I feel uncomfortable when I am shown this kind of respect.


    I gave a single cough to cover it up and proceeded with my story.


    "I understand the cause of your hypervigilance toward humans. It is better than underestimating them, but over-cautiousness can lead to trouble. Observe the people of this city and try to bridge the gap between your predictions and reality. --Next, I would like to talk about my opinion of this city.


    + + +


    Over the next hour or so, we talked about sharing information and perceptions.


    There was a report from Ceres that a strange warding technique had been installed in the central district, but that the effect of the technique could not be detected because it had not been deployed.


    However, since it is centered on the residence of a frontier count, I assume that it is probably some kind of protective warding for the defense of the base. Although there was no capital city warding, it is likely that they have made adequate preparations as a key location.


    As there seemed to be nothing else worth mentioning, I said to him that it was time to end the meeting.


    "Well, that''s all for today''s meeting," he said. It has been a turbulent day, but I hope each of you will be well rested. That is all."


    He concluded with words of praise for the day''s work and sent the three men on their way.


    A few moments later, behind the closed doors, the sound of doors opening and closing reached their ears as they entered their respective rooms.


    After that, Helian opened a and connected to Eltina in the Alkimaira home country. It is the daily routine. He receives the usual answer that no serious problems have occurred, and after a few exchanges, the communication is terminated.


    Helian is finally released from his responsibilities for the day, and falls back onto his bed.


    "Haaaaah......"


    His whole body relaxed and he sighed deeply.


    Finally alone in the space, she looks up at the ceiling in a disheveled state, not daring to look anyone in the eye.


    "I''m tired." ......


    A weak sound came out of my mouth.


    I hadn''t had much time alone for the past few days.


    He had to spend all the time with his three followers on the road, and even if he was playing the role of a traveler who was a merchant, he had to behave in a certain way, so he could not let his guard down completely.


    In addition, today was a turbulent day.


    Unlike our original plan, which was to start working steadily, our first contact with humans turned out to be an encounter with a bandit.


    The black-haired girl I rescued was not only a non-player but also the daughter of a lord, and as soon as I arrived in town, I was ambushed by the lord himself, which led me to meet the town''s ruler at the lord''s mansion.


    The first day in the border city was supposed to start quietly and discreetly. It was unexpected that it would turn out to be such a turbulent day.


    "I don''t know if I can make it like this," he said.


    Whether it is travel fatigue or mental exhaustion, my body is as heavy as lead.


    I''ve only just arrived in town, and yet I feel like this.


    I wonder if I can really make it at this rate.


    "What a weak spirit. It''s not a question of whether I can make it. You have to do it. I have to do something with my own strength.


    With a word of rebuke, he recoils on his arms and raises himself up.


    That''s it. No one can take my place.


    There is no one to help me when I complain.


    There is no one like Leifa here to listen to my complaints, no one like Lilifa here to distract me.


    Therefore, you have to take care of your own body and soul by yourself.


    You have to be stubborn, even if it hurts.


    You have to act confidently in front of your subordinates.


    You have to make all your own decisions, even if you are alone in an unfamiliar foreign land.


    I tell myself to be strong and get up from the bed.


    "...... hmm?"


    Something stick-shaped fell to the floor with a bounce.


    Tilting my head, I picked it up to find that it was a wooden tag for the use of the bathroom, which was given to me at the reception.


    "Ah. I remembered that they have a bathhouse.


    On the tag, which clearly indicated the hours of use, there were two numbers connected by a line. According to the explanation of the receptionist, this refers to the time of six o''clock - in other words, the time between six and seven o''clock.


    Incidentally, a day in the Tactical Chronicle is the same as that of the Earth, 24 hours a day. Although the time designations are unique, they are automatically translated as a lingua franca, so the meaning is understood without any problem.


    The calendar is also divided into 12 months and a year, but the number of days required per month is slightly different. In [Tactical Chronicle], the number of days per month is fixed at 30 days, whereas here the last day of the month changes slightly from month to month. In terms of the number of days required for a year, they are almost the same.


    Just then, the sound of the bell telling the time is brought in from outside the window. I checked the time in the and found that it was about to be six o''clock.


    "Let''s go to ......."


    Frankly, I appreciate the fact that there is a bathroom.


    In this world, bathrooms are not widely used in ordinary households, and it is said that only aristocrats and wealthy people have bathing facilities in their homes. Ordinary people usually wipe their bodies with hot water stored in a tub, and it is said that only a few inns also have bathing facilities.


    Based on this prior information, I had given up on taking a bath today, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that this inn had bathing facilities. I would be happy if it would be a little refreshment for me.


    Once that is decided, let''s make the best of it. I take out a change of clothes and a hand towel from the luggage that Gardi had brought in, and open the door of my room to go.


    --Exactly two seconds later, the door across the hall is opened.


    "Are you going out?"


    The door opened and there was Levee.


    It was as if she had been waiting at the door all along.


    The complete surprise left me speechless for a moment.


    "......No, no, I''m not going outside. I heard that this inn has a bath. I just thought I''d work up a sweat.


    Yes, sir. Please wait a moment.


    As soon as he said this, Levee immediately retreated to his room and reappeared less than 40 seconds later. In her left hand, she is holding a bath towel and other bathing equipment.


    "............"


    Apparently, they intend to go to the bathhouse together.


    Even though I was acting as an escort, I must admit that it was tiring for me to stay close to them even when we were walking to the bathhouse. However, weighing the energy required to persuade Levee here against the purpose of a change of scenery, I think it is better to choose silence.


    I give a vague nod and head for the bathroom with Levee.


    Once downstairs, we could hear the sound of lively voices coming from the dining room space behind the reception desk. Apparently, there were guests who had been drinking and were making a lot of noise. I was interested in the food in this town, but my goal now was to take a bath. I asked the man at the reception desk where the bathhouse was, and headed for the bathhouse with the bustling voices behind me.


    When I arrived at the bathhouse, which was the pride of the inn, there was a slot in front of the door into which I inserted a tag. Nothing was inserted into the slot, probably because we had already entered the time slot we had reserved. This must mean that no one was using the room at the moment. This is a mechanism to avoid guests from bumping into each other.


    "......"


    However, there was no curtain separating the men''s and women''s baths.


    No, it may be inappropriate to call it a "noren" (curtain) since it is apparently a Western culture. ...... But at any rate, there is only one entrance.


    I looked inside suspiciously. There was a changing room and a door leading to a bath in the back. But as expected, there seemed to be only one bath room.


    It seems to be unis*x.


    Well, it can''t be helped. I had assumed that there were separate baths for men and women as a matter of course, but there are only a few inns with baths in this area. I would consider it a favor just to have even one bathroom.


    In the spirit of ladies first, I thought about giving up to Lieve first, but then I remembered my position and decided not to.


    I am her superior. If that is the case, it would not be appropriate for a superior to give up the position to her subordinate. Besides, considering Rieve''s temperament, it is not difficult to imagine that she would not feel at ease taking a bath without her superior. If this is the case, I should let myself use the bathroom first, get up quickly, and pass the order to the next person as soon as possible.


    "Rieve, as you can see. I''m sorry..."


    "Ha. I''ll be happy to accompany you."


    "--Hmm?"


    Rieve uttered some unintelligible words.


    Accompanied?


    "............ What do you mean, ''accompany''?"


    "Yes. I would like to help you bathe, if I may be so bold."


    ............ No.


    No, no, no, no, no, no, no.


    No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. As you can see, I''m a man. And you are a woman. Do you understand?"


    Yes, sir.


    "So long as... There are serious and fatal ethical issues involved in such an act as assisting with a bath. Do you understand this as well?


    I asked in order, but for some reason the second question was, "What about ......?" The question was returned to me.


    ...... No, why are you questioning? It''s obvious. I''m a man, Levee is a woman, and we only have one bathroom. So why do they want to go in together as a matter of course? I mean, what''s a chaperone? What the hell is he trying to do?


    Anyway. I''m going to take a bath alone. I don''t need a companion."


    "......But"


    There''s no "but. This is impossible. It''s clearly impossible. There''s no way we''re getting in there together.


    "I want to soak in the bathtub at my leisure, and be lost in thought. The eyes of others will disturb my thoughts."


    Then, I have closed my eyes all the time. I hope you will treat my existence as if I do not exist.


    I tried to imagine the scene.


    I dismiss it in one second.


    What kind of shame play is this?


    "That''s not the point. I don''t know why."


    "But for your protection, it is preferable to be in the same space as much as possible. ......"


    "If we were outdoors, we wouldn''t need an escort here. Who would attack us in the first place? It would be an overkill to protect a peddler by keeping him under heavy guard even inside the inn. It is too conspicuous.


    "At ......, we ask that you at least allow us to wait for you in the changing room in front of the bathroom."


    A door is just beyond the door, and a beautiful woman named Lieve is waiting for me to take a bath.


    ...... is no good. I don''t think I can relax. It will be a nerve-wracking bathing experience for sure. At least it will not be a refreshing change of pace.


    "Not allowed. The guards will be sufficient from here. As long as I keep this, the only way in or out, under control, I''m in no danger."


    "...... Ha. Yes, sir.


    With his back to Levee, who bows her head with words of worship, he closes the door to the dressing room.


    Sighing secretly, Helian puts his hand on his shirt.


    + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +


    --A few hours earlier.


    Just as the Boundary City Seals welcomed the gentiles, there was something stirring in that place called the labyrinth (dungeon).


    Its body was rusty.


    A body that could barely even move creaked.


    It was doing its best to exhale like an animal.


    Years of accumulated debt had become a curse.


    But time will tell.


    In a few short days, it will regain its proper behavior and choose to stand up.


    The time is near.


    In the deep darkness, Sole quietly waits for the time that will come.

 47 - 16th "ざ?」」"

    The next day after daybreak.


    After breakfast at the inn, Helian and his group appeared outside the inn.


    Although the sun had only just risen, there was a fair amount of pedestrian traffic on the street in front of the inn. The fact that many of them seem to be dressed in armed uniforms may be related to the fact that this area, located in the northern part of the city, is a labyrinthine area.


    "Well, I ate a lot. It''s a good thing I only paid one large silver coin for all that food.


    It is Gardi who is rubbing his belly in satisfaction.


    Apparently, the breakfast served in the inn''s dining room was enough to fill his stomach.


    He had to pay for his meals separately from the accommodation fee, but Gardi was right that the breakfast was too much for a breakfast.


    By the way, Gardi had five second helpings.


    A large silver coin for five servings of this dish is certainly inexpensive.


    It is about the same price as a small dinner in Japan.


    The price setting may have something to do with the fact that many of the guests are adventurers who are genuine manual laborers.


    "Well, I''m sure they''ll be satisfied if they eat that much. ......"


    Ceres responds in disgust.


    On the other hand, he is more positive, saying that he was satisfied with the amount of food. Rieve doesn''t say anything, but she doesn''t seem to be particularly dissatisfied, judging from the way she gobbled up the two servings of food.


    However, Helian, walking with the three of them behind him, has a disappointed look on his face.


    (How could they ...... eat that food normally?)


    I grumbled inwardly as I secretly rubbed my stomach so that the three of them would not notice.


    To tell the truth, Helian was interested in the local cuisine to a certain extent. She is even a challenger to the extent that she orders something she has never tried before when she goes to a restaurant for the first time.


    Perhaps it was her longing for the cuisines of fantasy worlds, but she also had secret expectations for the food in this city.


    And my expectations were betrayed through the breakfast at the inn.


    I am not saying that the food was bad.


    In fact, I even thought it was good at first.


    However, all of the dishes served to us were strongly seasoned and excessively rich in flavor.


    I could enjoy the taste only until the third bite, and the rest of the time I had to work hard to stuff the food into my stomach.


    I had been shocked by the strong flavors of the food when I visited Europe and the U.S. on a previous family vacation, but this was easily beyond that level.


    I managed to finish the meal, but it would be hard if I had to do this every day. We would have to eat the food we brought with us from our home countries in between meals. It is important to get accustomed to the local food, but it is no good if you fall ill before you get used to it.


    (The bath was a steam bath, not a soaking bathtub type. ......The culture gap is hard to get used to.)


    In the changing room, Helian, with a towel wrapped around his waist, was greeted not by hot water in the bathtub but by a closed room filled with steam. Although the dust from the trip had cleared, as a Japanese, I could not shake off the feeling of disappointment. I was not expecting a large public bath like those in Japanese hotels, but I wanted to soak in the hot water at least.


    I swallowed a sigh and walked onward, thinking that I should get used to the local customs as soon as possible.


    I mean, you eat too much in the morning, don''t you? I''m getting heartburn just looking at you.


    "No, you''re lucky to be able to eat. Remember the first war period a hundred and twenty years ago, when the supply lines were cut off and we had to fight for almost a month without food. Of course it has to be good, but you can eat as much as you want. It''s not like it''s particularly bad, so I can''t complain about it.


    "I think the comparison is too harsh. Well, I''m sure it was pretty hard for you at the time. Most of the kids in my class died because of it.


    "In our mixed unit, only five of us survived, including me. Well, that brings back memories."


    It was a heavy conversation.


    The history of Alkimaira is rather tragic, as it was almost destroyed once.


    Incidentally, Gardi was not originally created with the intention of making him the leader of the Legion, but was only one of the demons mass-produced in the early stages of the war, but he was appointed as the leader because he was a hero who survived the turbulent period with his abilities.


    Perhaps because of this, he has a strong sense of camaraderie, is trusted by his subordinates, and is a true hands-on person.


    "Don''t start a headache conversation early in the morning. Pick a topic."


    "It''s okay. I''ve got a follow-up soundproofing system in place, so no one can hear us."


    Even if they did, they wouldn''t understand what I''m talking about."


    Rieve did not change his expression, but closed his eye lids as if he had a headache.


    Regardless of the content of the conversation, it was a good thing that it took place in this way. It is much better than the tense atmosphere of yesterday, when I was silent from beginning to end.


    After walking along the street for a while, we arrived at the plaza with a big fountain.


    From the square, there is a well-maintained boulevard leading to the various districts.


    The group was going to do their own activities from this point on.


    "Well. As I told you this morning, this is where we will part ways. As I have said many times before, I do not want any more unnecessary trouble. If you get into trouble with the locals, refrain from fighting back and retreat. I repeat again, do not kill them.


    The scariest case is that <>. Gardi is accustomed to taking the fully humanized form, but Rieve and Celes have almost no chance to take this form. That is why they are very careful to refrain from counterattacks as much as possible.


    "Rieve will be in charge of the labyrinthine area that holds the labyrinth (dungeon), and Gardi will be in charge of investigating the protruding area where the adventurers'' guild is located. Ceres will be my escort and business meeting escort. I expect each of you to fulfill your roles.


    Each of the three squires gave his approval.


    Liewe was the first to leave and head toward the north.


    The task entrusted to Levee and Gardi is to obtain geographical information about the city - in other words, to explore the city to fill in the , and to gain general knowledge about the city and to familiarize themselves with the human city.


    The former is the main purpose and the latter is an afterthought. Whatever you do, geographical information is important.


    Next, we will leave Gardi at the three-way junction about ten minutes after the fountain square.


    Gardi is in charge of the southern part of the city, the projection area, where there is a concentration of facilities for those who go to the danger zone, such as adventurers'' guilds, blacksmith shops, and stables for stabling horses. Since the direction is different from that of Helian and Ceres, who are heading for the commercial district, they will be on their own from this point onward.


    As they parted, Helian said to Gardi as if to remind him.


    "Now, Galdi. You will be separated from us from this point onward, but remember that this is a human city. Keep in mind that the common sense of demons who actively use physical language will not be accepted. Understood?"


    "Oh, you can count on me, general!��Do your job well.


    Nimali," Gardi said boldly with a smile on his face, "even a crying child can die.


    I''m ...... anxious.


    I feel like a parent sending a child on an errand for the first time, or a beast tamer freeing a beast from its cage.


    However, it is inefficient and no progress is made if I am always in charge.


    After all, there is only one of you.


    If you are too cowardly (or chicken-hearted) to move your subordinates only as far as your eyes can see, a full-scale research activity is a dream come true.


    Besides, Gardi is known for his ability to get things done to the best of his ability. I have told him over and over again. I will trust him here. A broadmindedness is essential for a ruler.


    If he cannot even entrust Gardi, who is relatively easy to move except for the "first three," it is absolutely impossible for him to allow other corps leaders to work alone outside the country.


    "Then, I leave it to you. I look forward to hearing your good news.


    After sending him off with an encouraging blast, Galdi left with a hearty smile on his face.


    The smile on his face was still heartbreaking, but his fear of Guldi had been lifted since the store destruction incident he and Nogarde had committed together.


    At that time, I was in the peak of sleep deprivation and tiredness, and I was going through a lot of things, but it seems that I overcame some kind of barrier by experiencing ...... the scolding event once. I wonder if this is also a case of "the benefit of the injury". I have no intention of forgiving him for that one incident, though.


    "Well. We''re on our way, Ceres. You take care of us on the way."


    He breaks off his idle thoughts and speaks to the squire beside him.


    Actually, the original plan was to have Levee as the escort, but after a meeting last night and a night of thinking, we had decided to change some of the roles.


    Celes is here as a result.


    In the time of [Tactics Chronicle], but in this world that has become a reality, there was an element of uneasiness in ordering Celes, whom we do not know as far as we are concerned, to act alone.


    Needless to say, I had opportunities to get involved with Levee and Gardi after the transition. However, we have not even had a conversation with Celes. Until she left the country because of this incident, they had only exchanged words in the audience room.


    I wanted to take this opportunity to understand her personality a little better and to build a relationship of trust with her to the extent that I could entrust her to act alone.


    "Leave it to me, young master. No matter what enemies come, I can''t burn them down, can I? Don''t worry, young master. I''ll keep it medium rare.


    ............The exchange of casting may have been a wise decision.


    With some doubt about the supposedly intelligent Celes'' character traits, H��lien walked toward the commercial district.

 48 - Seventeenth "Facial Discussion"

    --Commercial District.


    A doorbell rings to announce the arrival of a customer at one of the stores lining the shopping street.


    It is not a store that handles a large number of customers, but a small store that caters to each customer individually. The owner himself welcomes the new customer in place of the waiter who has unfortunately retreated to the back of the store.


    The owner himself greets the new customer by saying, "Welcome!


    The customer says, "Hi," and looks around the restaurant with a curious look. Their gazes darted around like little rats, not pausing for a moment. Even though there were not many interesting items on display, the customers looked here and there as if they were looking at something unfamiliar.


    The customers seem to be a pair. The young man enters first, followed by a brown-skinned young woman. The owner had seen many people and subspecies, but the woman''s appearance caught his attention. Her beauty was that striking.


    The first thing that caught his eyes was her large and protruding breasts. The twin dunes, which were tightly pressed into the clothes that showed the lines of her body, must have attracted the attention of people of both genders. Her slender waist and large buttocks give off a fresh scent, and her face, with its hard eyes, is also an unquestionable beauty.


    The man, on the other hand, is ordinary. He has no significant features, and is disproportionately mediocre compared to the woman. He looked younger than his companion, although he was not clearly visible through the deep hood. He did not seem to have the capacity to carry around such a beautiful woman. Nevertheless, she was following him, perhaps because of his position as a young man.


    Her fine but plain clothes did not suggest that she was an aristocrat. On the other hand, she is wealthy. As you can guess, the woman is a chaperone and the young man is some kind of a merchant''s son, in other words, an unmistakable candidate for a client.


    The shopkeeper spoke to her with a big smile on his face.


    "Can I help you?


    "N...... no, I''m just looking around. Never mind."


    "I see. Well then, if there''s anything you need, please don''t hesitate to ask.


    The shopkeeper, seeing in the young man''s words and actions a sense of disgust, quietly backed away.


    This is not the time to be pushy. This is not the time to be pushy. So we should wait for the right opportunity and not immediately take a bite of the meat that is placed in front of us.


    After a while, a young man who had looked around the restaurant approached me.


    The owner of the restaurant. I would like to ask you, does this store also buy?"


    "Yes. We accept both buying and selling. Please come to this counter."


    The young man sat down in the chair at the counter I showed him. The woman stood behind him. The owner hid his good nature under a smile.


    The young man places a large cloth bag on the counter. Untied, it was filled with stones of different sizes. The stones, all of which shimmer with a particular color, are all magic stones, ores that contain magic power.


    "Wow, well, well, well... ......"


    He mutters in a tone of admiration, but the emotion in his voice is genuine. The quality of the stones varied, but there was one green magic stone among the many spread out among the stones that contained a very high quality of magic power. It needs to be evaluated in detail, but the purity of the stone is extraordinary.


    Moreover, the stone was small in size. Generally, the size of a magic stone is proportional to the amount of magic power it contains, but there are rare magic stones that contain compressed magic power. This green magic stone is exactly the same, but to the untrained eye, it is hard to tell the difference. It is mixed in among dozens of magic stones placed randomly.


    "It is a magic stone, isn''t it? You want to buy them all at once?


    "Yes. I''d like to ask for a valuation.


    Yes, sir. Please wait there for a moment.


    The owner guides them to a table for business negotiations and returns to the counter with a package in his hand.


    He has a clerk bring from the back of the store the largest standard scale in the store. He throws the magic stones into the scale, which is filled with water beforehand to prevent the stones from being chipped. Since the amount of stones was quite large, the weighing was done in two batches.


    "Thank you for your patience. No, the distribution of magic stones has been slow recently, so thank you very much. Since you brought in a large quantity, I have colored it ...... and will buy it for nine gold coins and thirteen large silver coins."


    It''s true, I colored it. It is about three large silver coins more than the value simply calculated from the amount and size of the magic stone. The one high purity magic stone that is mixed in is worth no less than ten kingdom gold coins if it is put out to the right place, but if neither of us was aware of the other, it can''t be helped. This is just a simple assessment based on the quantity and size of the magic stones. There is no problem in terms of the rules of the guild of commerce.


    What is your assessment of the wrapped cloth?


    "Huh?��Cloth, is it ......?"


    "Yes. I would like to sell this cloth with it.


    The young man points to the cloth that was used to wrap the magic stone.


    If you follow his fingertips and look at it, you will see that the cloth is made of very fine fibers.


    "Excuse me for a moment. --Ceres.


    When the young man said no, the woman standing there took the cloth in her hand.


    The young man nodded his head, and at the same time, the woman holding the cloth produced a fire from her hand, which soared to the ceiling.


    The phenomenon lasted for a moment.


    The flames faded away like a phantom before the astonished shopkeeper''s eyes.


    From its sudden appearance and disappearance, it was clear that the flames were caused by witchcraft.


    The woman''s right hand, the point of ignition.


    The shopkeeper sees in his vision a piece of cloth on which the woman''s right hand was ignited, and the cloth on which it was placed is reduced to ashes.


    However,


    "...... not burned?"


    No, on the contrary, there was not a single scorch mark on the cloth. The cloth is terribly flame-resistant. Moreover, upon closer inspection, the cloth was of a very fine fiber quality and had a velvet-like color and sheen. Although I had been focused on the green magic stone, this is no ordinary piece of cloth.


    As you can see, it is a cloth with extremely high resistance to heat from flames. It was given to me by the people of the forest, so I don''t know its value, but it seems to be a rare item.


    Well, it is indeed a curious item.


    There are many materials that are just not flammable, but I have never seen a cloth that has been exposed to so many flames without a single scorch mark on it.


    It can be used for underwear under armor, for shields with flame protection, or even as a gift ......, taking advantage of its rarity.


    But that is not the problem.


    The problem is that no chanting was heard from the woman who created the fire.


    In other words, this woman is a high-ranking magician who has mastered the rare technique of exercising magic without chanting, or what is called "no chanting.


    If that''s the case.


    If she is such a high ranking magician...


    He must not have been aware of the existence of that one magic stone that was mixed in.


    "----"


    Gently look at the woman.


    Our eyes met.


    At that moment, you feel a chill run down your spine like an icicle.


    The woman''s blue eyes were shimmering with icy fire.


    "By the way, the sword on the wall. By the way, that sword hanging on the wall... it''s a magnificent piece of work. It''s small, but it''s inlaid with four high purity magic stones. How extravagant!


    The man said this without thinking as he looked at a small sword - a decorative sword he had acquired as a foil when he remodeled his store.


    Why is he bringing up such a subject at this time?


    Even a child can understand the logic.


    "I''d like to wear a sword like that on my waist someday. ...... Now, is this cloth good enough to buy?��As you can see, it is a very rare fireproof cloth, and as you can see, it is very pleasant to the touch. I would like to sell it together with the magic stone if it fetches a reasonable price.


    "......Yes, please wait a moment. It is a very rare item and we would appreciate time for a detailed evaluation. ......"


    "Would you be willing to do a quick assessment, as you did with the magic stone?"


    No, no. We do not want to make any mistakes in the valuation. I am very sorry, but I would like to take a moment of your time. ......"


    He bowed his head to hide the sweat beading on his forehead and accepted the red cloth reverently. He immediately takes it back to the back of the store.


    The shopkeeper, away from the eyes of the customers, considers how much he should add to the price. The value of the cloth is high enough for the fact that it is a high quality cloth that never burns, but he has to add the difference in the valuation of the magic stone to the price. The question is not how much the cloth is worth, but how much more can be added to settle the situation.


    I remember the woman''s gaze.


    The shopkeeper starts to recalculate the value desperately, aware that his forehead and back are covered with a profuse greasy sweat.


    + + + + + +


    When I left the store, I was greeted by the dazzling sunlight.


    My eyes were stinging, perhaps because I had been indoors for so long. I shook my head to shake off the dizziness and began to walk.


    "Well, that''s what I get for my first day. ......"


    After three business meetings so far, Helian muttered to himself.


    The first two meetings were used as a practice session to conduct preliminary research on market rates and to confirm basic transaction methods, and the third meeting was set as the main meeting, which went fairly well, I thought. As for the magic stone, I was able to sell it for 10% more than the market price (the rate) that I had checked beforehand.


    It was nothing to mention that I did. I used negotiation cards, just like I did with other kings (players) in [Tactics Chronicle]. This time, Helian has prepared a high-quality magic stone hidden in a large number of magic stones, a rare cloth with a very high flame resistance, and a skilled magician who can use magic without chanting.


    In addition, as a young and naive man, he dared to have his own reputation lowered and intentionally made a low appraisal. In this way, he added the case in which he falsified the valuation of the magic stone to his bargaining chip as a favor, and the store owner was forced to take away the initiative from him.


    The outcome of the negotiation was obvious. Thus, the negotiations ended peacefully, with the shopkeeper getting a large amount of magic stones and rare and valuable cloth, and Helian getting a little more money than the market price.


    Incidentally, the magic stones were collected by exterminating the demons that roamed around the latestone woods, and the unburnable red cloth was woven by the Alkimaira female spider, Arachne, using her own threads. As an alkimaira, the consumption of resources is zero.


    And the act of selling a large amount of magic stones is itself one of the aims of this project.


    (The labyrinth, an important source of magic stones, is unstable. ) The distribution of magic stones is slowing down now that more adventurers are staying at the fortresses in the border area. Then, even this amount should be able to affect the price of magic stones on the market.)


    However, the large amount is only within the range of an individual. Even if the market price fluctuated, it would be a fraction of a small copper coin.


    However, it is not zero (?????????).


    And that is the point.


    "Tactical Window": Open. Select: base information (base status)."


    Check the information of the base in the area with the floating in front of your eyes.


    If you select the tab on the "Control" page from the window, you will see the default information of the total acquisition rate of "Control" for each force.


    Since the Sixth Legion does not engage in espionage activities, it is currently impossible to quantify the ��Controlling Power�� gained by the Hellian. Currently, we can only confirm the situation roughly with a color-coded pie chart, which is extremely inaccurate. However,


    "You''re right."


    If you look carefully, you will see that the color that indicates Alkimaira''s [dominance] is indicated by a thin line in the pie chart.


    Probably not even a hundredth of a percent, but at the same time, this means that the Alkimaira''s [dominance] is not zero.


    (Twenty-four hours have not yet passed since I arrived in this town. (Twenty-four hours have not yet passed since I arrived in this town. And yet, the fact that I have gained [dominion] in this way means that ......)


    This is a proof that the company was able to gain control of the local economy by exerting influence over it through the market price of the magic stone.


    This confirms a new means of gaining control.


    "...... But, you have a strange structure of territories (regions)."


    Helian mutters as he stares at the .


    The referred to now is for the border city of Shields, but for some reason there are two regions in the city. One is the Labyrinth Region. The other is the entire city except for the Labyrinth District.


    As for the latter, the first power has more than 90% of the control. This is probably due to the frontier counts.


    On the other hand, in the labyrinthine area, the first group occupies more than 50%, the second group 40%, and the remaining 10% are numerous unknowns. The first group is probably the frontier counts, but the second group is unknown. I wonder if the adventurers'' guilds or some other guilds are counted as one of the forces.


    Except for special cases, cities were counted as a single territory (region) in most cases, so it is very rare to find a territory structure in which a city is divided like this. It seems that forts located in the boundary area are also treated as a separate territory (region).


    "Young master. Don''t you have to sanction the shopkeeper?"


    Celes, who was following him, uttered a disturbing line.


    Her blue eyes glaring at the store are lit up with a clear hostility.


    "Is it the valuation of the magic stone?��Don''t worry about that. He was just a merchant trying to get the most profit out of me, and that in itself is not evil. It is true that he was a little dishonest, but he did not violate the law (rules).


    Besides, the price of dishonesty has already been paid. The weight of the wallet in his pocket is the result.


    Still, Celes is not happy about the owner''s attempt to cheat her master. She is in a bad mood to the extent that she is about to burn the place down if we give her permission. This was easier to understand than in the case of Levee, who was in fully humanized form.


    But we cannot let his anger burst out here. Helian decides to divert the conversation to another topic.


    "More importantly. We''ve been to three stores now.


    Celes, who is also in charge of research, has the skill of .


    Although it depends on the rank and direction of the skill, as well as the "rating" of the object to be appraised, Celes should be able to determine whether or not the object is a magical tool at least at a glance.


    "I didn''t find much in the store before. The only enchanted item was a sword hanging on the wall.


    I am referring to the small sword that was displayed ostentatiously behind the counter.


    The fact that it was displayed so ostentatiously seemed to indicate that it was not for sale, but for display as a foil. When we secretly checked with Celes inside the store, she told us that the magic stone inlaid in the sword was of a slightly higher standard than the ordinary items on the market.


    "What is the magic grant (enchantment)?"


    "It is an amplification effect of cutting power. It is not a constant activation type, but an optional activation type, and the number of times it can be used is limited. However, the weapon itself is too fragile to be used as a material, and it is likely to destroy itself before the number of times it can be used as a material reaches the limit.


    "...... number of times limit, but self-destruction?"


    I must say that it is not a perfect magic weapon. I mean, it is out of the question when it is made of materials that cannot withstand "enchantment". If Alkimaira were to put this on the shelves, it would be laughed at by its peers. And then you are set to start a fistfight in the middle of the street.


    However, the fact that such a thing is displayed for all to see means that .......


    "It seems that this world''s magic technology is a few generations behind Alkimaira''s level."


    [In the Tactics Chronicle, this kind of weapon was useful at best until around the 30th year of the Chronicle of the Holy Demons. At that time, when weapons made of bronze or iron were the mainstream, the fact that a weapon had been given magic was valuable, but weapons with a limited number of uses, or weapons that would destroy themselves prematurely due to their durability, were avoided. This is not surprising considering the cost of making such weapons and the scarcity of magic-imparting weapons at that time.


    There were some countries that dared to use weapons with magic that were not suitable for the materials they were made of, and adopted the tactic of treating them as consumables from the beginning, but this was an extravagant tactic that could not be imitated in the financial situation of Alkimaila at that time. This tactic was also discontinued as the manufacturing technology of the weapon itself progressed.


    "It''s just..."


    "Hmm?��What is it?"


    "It was engraved with a formula I''ve never seen before. No, I understand the effect itself, but the way it''s put together is too different from ours. The result is the same, but the process is different, or the starting point is in the opposite direction, even though they are aiming at the same destination. ......"


    Ceres''s hand spins the wheel frustratingly.


    "I looked over the report that came from your lab, and you said something similar about the magic that Rattestwood is using."


    "Yes. I mean, the magic they use is strange, isn''t it? The amount of magic power they put into activation is too small, and the composition of their techniques should not be worth mentioning, but for some reason they are successful in their manifestation, and it doesn''t make sense. The construction of the formula is fundamentally different, and I even feel as if I''m studying a different subject.


    Another discipline. I don''t know much about composition and formulas, but it seems that there is a considerable difference from the magic that Ceres knows. It seems that the mechanism of magic is so fundamentally different from what Ceres knows.


    "Is it a sense that the technology tree is ...... ah, no, the form of magic you are using, or should I say the tree itself, is branching off in the middle?"


    I asked him if the system term "technology tree" would not be understood.


    This is a common occurrence when the initial civilization pattern is different from the civilization type. For example, the king (the player) of the country located next to the player''s country had chosen an oriental civilization, so his affinity with Alkimaira was low, especially in the field related to magic. Because of this, there were no bonuses for cooperative play such as joint research, and the effect of technology trade was not good.


    Incidentally, if a civilization has some affinity to the Civilization Pattern, it may sometimes evolve like a missing link. One example is that Alkimaira became the catalyst for a period of rapid economic growth by capturing a country that had been developing remarkably.


    "Well, it''s not so much a ...... as it is a different trunk to begin with. ......"


    "--What?"


    "If the branches and leaves were different, we could go back to the tree map and investigate from there, but everything is so fundamentally different that ...... that''s why we haven''t made much progress in investigating the Abyssal Forest. ......"


    "Hmmm ......"


    This is not the first time this kind of story has been told.


    This world, similar to [Tactical Chronicles], is not exactly the same, however, and some differences from the game have been found between the time of the transfer and today.


    For example, there is a substitute called "magic stone", but in [Tactical Chronicle] it is a crystalline substance excavated from mining resources or created through alchemy, while in [Tactical Chronicle] it is an ore collected from labyrinths, magical beasts, etc.


    The difference in the construction formula of magic as described by Celes is one of the many differences.


    If I ask for a detailed explanation, it would be full of technical terms and I would not go into it too deeply, but it seems that there are other things, not limited to magic, in which the result (output) is similar but the process is different.


    Every time I investigate something, I feel that I have more things to think about, and I hate it, but I have no choice but to solve them one by one steadily.


    "......" Let me change the subject. It is not only human race in this city, is it?


    "Oh, yes. I was surprised, too. It seems that most of the citizens are human, but I''ve seen beastmen and dwarves in the streets.


    "Yeah. Interestingly, most of them are armed.


    There are only a limited number of armed professionals in the city.


    There are the Boundary Knights, the official fighting force of the Boundary City, the vigilantes who protect the city, the mercenaries who wage war for a living, and those who take on any kind of work, including combat - the adventurers.


    I was surprised to see an adventurer with an elf.


    "Yes. Yes, but when I looked at him, he looked at me in obvious disapproval. My beastmen companion also stared at me as if to say that we were not for show.


    "I''ve heard that in other cities closer to the kingdom, they are treated as ''merchandise'' in some places.


    In fact, Latestwood residents said such cities are more common. This is evident from the fact that Leifa was willing to give herself up in the case in question.


    In light of this, this border city would be classified as rather heterogeneous compared to the general cities of the human race. Regardless of race, regardless of rank, if a person is useful as a human resource, he or she is valued and utilized. Such a disposition seems to exist in this city.


    Perhaps it is because this is a city that opposes the existence of demons, the common enemy of mankind. I have heard that the human race is a creature that can unite if there is a common enemy. If this is the case, it would make sense that this city has a low level of discrimination. ......I am a little disgusted with myself for having such a twisted idea in my head.


    Anyway, this boundary city has a certain affinity with RATESTWOOD and ALKIMAIRA in the sense that . Perhaps it was fortunate for me that the first human city I visited was the border city of Shields.


    "--Well. I should go back to my lodgings."


    It was already around fifteen o''clock in the morning when I started my activities. This is only our second day in town, so there is no need to rush. Since we have achieved a good result for the day, we can call it a day for now.


    We head for the inn, browsing the stalls along the way.


    After all, there are many interesting things in this town. Although I was wary, I walked through the commercial district with a fresh feeling as if I had come on a trip abroad.


    On her way home, Helian stopped in front of a stall. She noticed that Ceres was staring at something. She followed her gaze and saw some hay hanging from the eaves of the stall. Some kind of medicinal herb or spirit plant.


    "You want some ......?"


    "What? Oh, no, I mean, it''s an unusual material. I''ve never seen this herb before, so I was a little intrigued by it, not that I want to try mixing it up or experimenting with it. ......


    Celes replies quickly, waving her hands about. In other words, she wants us to use them as research materials. The vegetation in this world is not unlike that of [The Tactics Chronicle]. It is likely that his intellectual curiosity as a researcher has been aroused.


    Herrien, accurately guessing Celes''s inner feelings, asked the old man about the price, and received ten bunches of the hay, or herbs, in exchange for a few silver coins.


    He could have negotiated the price, but it was not right for a boss to bargain with his subordinate for a product he was buying for him. He hands the herbs to Celes, who is about to say something impatiently.


    "Your work is done for the day when you return to the inn. You may examine to your heart''s content in your assigned room. Your actions will be of benefit to the Alkimaira."


    "...... Yes, are you sure?"


    "Of course not. You''ll only get me in trouble if you turn me in now. And what you do with your spare time is your own business. Even if you''re on duty, you can''t be on your toes all the time.


    This is not enemy territory, but it is not our territory either. This is an expedition to an unknown world. In such a place, we are forced to adopt a fully humanized form, which we are not accustomed to, and we must be in an environment that causes more than a little stress in this current situation where we are acting in a covert manner.


    Experiments and research are a kind of hobby for Ceres. If this kind of thing is a distraction, I do not deny it. There is nothing better than to have them get in good physical and mental condition so that they can fully demonstrate their performance.


    Thank you very much.


    Ceres bows her head. Then, she carefully clutched the herb she had been given, and a look of delight came over her face.


    Helian feels a smile on his face as Celes walks next to him with a relieved look on her face. It was an honest expression of emotion, which was hard to believe that she had "twisted" in her character traits. I guess you have to be in direct contact with someone to understand their feelings.


    ��It would be helpful if Rieve were as easy to understand as this.)


    Helian thought of this new aspect of Celes as a surprise.

 49 - CHAPTER XVIII "Lee Woos Thoughts"

    While Helian was on his way home, Levee, who had been ordered to investigate the city, was walking along the main street of the Labyrinth District.


    Her task is to explore the city.


    While visiting various parts of the city to create a of Helian, her immediate objective is to observe the city with her own eyes and train herself to adapt to the local environment.


    Most of the labyrinthine areas have already been explored.


    Although we were not able to visit areas where only qualified personnel are allowed to enter, or areas around important facilities near the labyrinth, we have a general grasp of the geography of the area.


    We also observed the people on the road, but we did not see anyone who could be a threat to Alkimaira.


    I heard that the top level adventurers and the elite of the knights had all gone to the front line fortress, and some of those who had been injured there had retreated to the border city. I had the good fortune to see some high-ranking adventurers who had retreated with their comrades.


    As a result, although I could not accurately assess their strength since they were not engaged in combat, I estimated their threat level (rank) to be at most in the mid-C rank. Even an ordinary soldier of Alkimaira could win the battle, but he is not a threat at all.


    This is good information.


    We now have new information that confirms the military superiority of the Alkimyra.


    This is nothing but good news for Levee-Freckhilds, who cares for her country in her position as Commander-in-Chief.


    But then, Rieve asks herself, what is this heavy feeling that is swirling in her heart?


    "............ is so ugly."


    A glass window of a store.


    Seeing his reflection in the slightly fogged up window, he spits out a short word.


    You look miserable.


    He looks like a defeated soldier who has lost all his strength.


    At the very least, he is definitely not worthy of being a close associate of the great king.


    But even with this realization, Rieve has not been able to regain his normal form.


    I remember the events of this morning.


    The master gave an order to all his followers.


    <


    --I was shocked.


    It was as if he had been hit on the head with a blunt instrument.


    She had been the one who was supposed to be the king''s bodyguard.


    The pre-planned assignment of roles had told her so, and Rieve had accepted this assignment as a matter of course.


    He was the eyes of the Alkimaira, the close associate of the king.


    As the one who would be by the king''s side and witness the same sights as the king, Rieve was always ready to work with Helian even in this city.


    But that role was given to Ceres.


    Although it had originally been her role, she was told that she would be reassigned.


    He is no longer with the king. The eyes of Alkimaira are now seeing a different sight from that of the king.


    ............!"


    The mere thought of this fact sent a wave of trembling impulses through Rieve.


    Her chest rumbles, and she is overwhelmed by an unknown emotion, and it is all she can do to hold back the urge to scream out. The only question that his disturbed mind asks itself is....


    ��Since when?)


    When did I become so inadequate?


    For more than a decade since I arrived in the world with the king, I have been nothing but a burden to him and Balan, and I have always been under the care of Eltina. The number of times we have dragged the king''s feet cannot be counted to more than ten or twenty. It was a decade or so of frustration.


    However, after repeatedly reincarnating and evolving into the Moon Wolf, I must have been of some use to the king. I have been a martyr to my role as a calm and collected aide to the king, so as not to ruin his face. As a pawn of the king, I should have killed all my emotions and fulfilled my role.


    But why has he become so disturbed? When did I lose my grip on the reins of my mind?


    Since you came to this world?


    Was it since the time of my blunder in the rebel uprising?


    Or - since I saw the encounter between Lilifa-Lum-Latestwood and the king?


    "Hey, there, sister. What are you doing in such a remote place?


    As I was walking down the street, a frivolous-looking man approached me.


    Looking around, I noticed a dingy building. It seems that I had somehow gotten into a back alley. This is an area that I had already explored once before. Compared to the main street, it is a little less safe.


    "You wanted to see me?"


    "No, no, no, I don''t need you. When a pretty girl like you comes into a place like this, I''m worried about you, so I at least call out to you.


    I get one out of every ten times," the man said lightly.


    He was a man of few features. He wore a small sword at his waist, which is not unusual in this city where adventurers and mercenaries come and go.


    "...... You are human, aren''t you?"


    "Huh?��Well, as you can see, I''m human.


    "Then let me ask you a question. How do you humans see me?


    "To ......?��Modeling?"


    "Yes. You called me a pretty girl, but how beautiful do you think I am in your eyes?��Are they better than the elves?��Or is it lower?��If so, how far apart are they?��What am I missing?"


    A rapid-fire stream of questions.


    The man raised his eyebrows at the sudden question, but Liewe was serious.


    From a human''s point of view, the Elves are all beautiful.


    The demons living in Alkymyra have a wide range of aesthetic senses, but at least to the humans of this world, the beauty of the Elves is sometimes considered a "commodity".


    The sisters that King Helian, their master, cares about are half-elves, and the one that Helian has by his side now is the [Heretic Elf] Ceres. Although Ceres is now fully humanized, they are both still elves.


    If this is the case, then how would her form be perceived by the human who is supposed to be her master''s own kind?


    Compared to the elves, who are considered beautiful by humans, will they still consider them beautiful?


    No, I wonder if my form is good enough for them to be ashamed of having me around them.


    Until now, she had not paid much attention to her appearance, but for some reason, she could not help but be concerned about it.


    "No, even if you ask me how much... ......"


    The man''s gaze catches Levee''s limbs.


    Her large, exposed white thighs and firm waist. Her breasts are larger than average and her silver hair looks tougher and more delicate than silken threads. Her face is also beautifully arranged as if it were made, and the composed expression on her face suits her strangely.


    The man nodded his head after looking at all these body parts. The person who doesn''t see this as a beauty must have rotten eyes. The man concludes so without hesitation and opens his mouth without thinking.


    "Of course she is as beautiful as the elves. At least to the extent that the question itself is sarcastic. I''d like to have a match with you if you''d like, no seriously.


    "A fight?��Why is there a battle there?"


    "No, that''s not what I meant. ...... What is she, a natural?"


    The man replies with a tilt of his head.


    I don''t understand some of his lines, but at least I am not ugly in his eyes.


    With a slight sense of relief, Rieve pats his large chest.


    "Did some guy leave you alone, by any chance?��If that''s the case, don''t worry about it, you are very pretty by all means. It''s just that the guy didn''t have a good eye for people. ----,huh?


    --Oh, I screwed up.


    Rieve sees the look on the man''s face and instantly realizes his inadequacy.


    It seems that she has let her feelings out again.


    Deeply self-conscious, she lets the slight emotion that leaked out escape into her body.


    The man who had just been speaking so casually was now completely silent.


    He had tried to jump back as quickly as possible, but had failed, and was now on his buttocks, making a noise on the cobblestone pavement. He reached for the hilt of his sword as quickly as he could, but he looked as if he had just met a vicious monster and was shaking and trembling.


    He seems to have lost his backbone, judging from the way he tries and fails to stand up. Still, motivated by a survival instinct, he is backing away to get as much distance as possible while still sitting down.


    To such a man, Rieve walked up to him with a blank expression - no, with an emotionless expression on his face, with slow movements.


    "--Thank you for answering my question. Also, my master once told me that there is a saying that goes, . It is said that unintentional words sometimes become words that bring disaster.


    I look into the man''s eyes.


    His eyes were wide open, as if they were about to spill out, and I could see my own face in them.


    ......Oh, it''s all right.


    The expression in his eyes is already gone.


    There is no emotion in my face.


    I am already calm.


    Without expression, without emotion, Rieve tells you.


    "By the way, I would like to ask you to withdraw your assessment of my Lord''s ''discernment'' of what you just said and did ....... For both our sakes (??????)."


    When I emphasized the last word, the man nodded his head, wobbling in a buttock position.


    Good, Rieve thinks.


    Because the Lord had repeatedly ordered him not to kill him.


    If he had shaken his head, he would have been in deep trouble.


    Rieve is truly relieved that the man agrees with her.


    With that, Rieve turns on her heel. At the same time, there is a thud behind her.


    But Rieve does not pay attention to it. It does not matter to her anymore if the man has fainted from the pressure. Rieve leaves the place with quiet steps.


    Returning to their temporary lodging, they find that the light is leaking from their room. It seems that the Lord has already returned. Although he has lost his sense of smell as a moon wolf due to his fully humanized form, there is a faint scent of his master lingering in the air.


    Taking in the scent for the first time in half a day, Lieve heads upstairs to her room.


    She arrives noiselessly at the door, takes out a hand mirror, carefully checks her appearance, and then knocks on the door.


    "Who is it?"


    My husband''s voice, which I had not heard in half a day, permeated my ears.


    It seemed as if I had not heard his voice for a long time.


    It''s Lieve. I''ve just arrived home."


    "Come in."


    With the Lord''s permission, I push open the door.


    There was a guest in the room. It was the commander of the 5th corps (Gardi). He was handing over a bundle of papers that looked like a report. The king looked over the report in a few seconds and looked into the void.


    "This is what I have to report. What do you think, General?


    "Mm. That''s good enough for the first day. You didn''t cause any disturbances."


    "Oh, come on, of course, General. You didn''t really think I was going to go on a bender, did you?


    "............ No way. What are you talking about, Gardi? I trusted you, too.


    The king nodded a few times and said a few words of thanks to Gardi.


    Rieve, who overheard this in the corner of the room, felt a prickle of pain in her chest.


    "I believe in you."


    Those words are too far away for me now.


    Then the report was over, and Gardi was about to leave when Levee stepped forward in front of the king.


    He would have kneeled, but he had no choice since he had been told to refrain from doing so outside of the country. Instead, he bends at the waist and bows.


    "Sorry to keep you waiting, Rieve. Thank you. I''m sorry you''re tired, but can I hear your report first?"


    "Ha. Thank you for your kind words. I will now begin my report on today''s investigation.


    Then Levee summarizes the main points of the information she has obtained during her day''s solo activities and reports them.


    The labyrinthine area has been explored to the extent that ordinary people can enter.


    The reputation of the Count of the Frontier obtained from the conversations of the people on the streets.


    The damage caused by the herd of monsters that attacked the fortress and the current situation.


    The average threat level of the adventurers who were trying to enter the labyrinth.


    Evaluation of the combat ability of the high-ranking adventurers we happened to encounter.


    I will summarize the details in a written report, but this is the main information to be conveyed orally.


    When he finished his report, the king uttered the usual chant that only he was allowed to utter.


    "Tactical Window: Open. Select: map. Target field: direct select. Format: Wide View.


    The king looks into the void.


    He must be looking at a that no one else can see.


    The king says it as if it were nothing, but his ability to instantly grasp the geography of the surroundings, the location of friend and foe, and to get a bird''s eye view of the battlefield are truly .


    Demons are confident in their individual abilities. The last thing they can rely on is their own strength. It is the instinct of demons, a trait that all demons possess to a greater or lesser degree. This characteristic, if not taken properly, can reduce an army made up of demons to a mere crowd.


    But it is this power of the king that brings them together.


    He grasps the battlefield instantly, reads the distribution of allies and enemies, and accurately grasps the war situation. No matter how powerful the opposing hordes of demons are, they are mere targets in front of the king. At the hands of the king, who controls his men with a divine perspective, Alkimaira''s opponents have been buried at every turn.


    With these steady victories, the king has led his armies, his people, and his kingdom.


    No one is fool enough to underestimate the king because he himself lacks the strength to fight.


    He knows that the country cannot stand without King Helian. They know that they are what they are today because of the guidance of this king. And there is no one who can still be antagonistic to him even after his big speech on this one issue.


    "...... Hmmm... it''s quite a beautiful city. ......It was built with perfect urban planning from the beginning. ...... But this cityscape, somewhere ......."


    The king mutters something. The king''s gaze seems to be thinking of some distant place as he gazes into the void.


    Eventually, the king nodded his head and returned his gaze to the sky, as if he had been convinced by his own thoughts.


    "I have a general idea of the results of the investigation. I will confirm the details in my report, but it will be submitted by tomorrow noon. After you''ve had enough rest, you can start working on the report.


    "Yes. Yes, sir.


    The king is kind, but we must not take advantage of his kindness.


    I make a mental note to get to work as soon as I return to my assigned room.


    "By the way. Is there anything you are unclear about, any questions, or anything you would like to ask me?


    Something tingled in my chest at the Lord''s question.


    Something close to an impulse arises in the depths of my heart.


    Numerous questions came up from the back of my throat.


    Why did you remove me from the escort mission?


    Did I do something wrong?


    What am I missing?


    Why did you smile at Lilliput-Lum-Latticewood?


    Why did you stop smiling at me?


    What can I do to make you smile again?


    "...... No. Nothing in particular.


    Hmmm... Then I''d like to know about any other major reports or ...... non-work related matters. Is there anything else you would like to say to me, anything you would like to tell me?"


    Give me an order.


    Give me an order to be of service to you.


    Punish me.


    Punish me so that you will forgive me.


    Keep me close to you.


    I want to see your smile again.


    Not at all, Lord Helian.


    --I couldn''t have said it.


    + + +


    "Mmm."


    Helian growls as he stares at the door through which Levee has left.


    Her work today had exceeded her own expectations. After all, this is a big city. Today, she had expected to be able to obtain geographical information on about half of the labyrinthine districts, but she had almost covered all but the most important areas.


    She has also assessed the strength of the adventurers on the road, and has brought back information on the reputation, or in other words, the approval rating, which affects the [ruling power] of the frontier counts.


    Gardi did a fine job, but Levee was superior in both quantity and quality of information. I think it was a good decision to entrust the survey mission to Levee, as he brought back more results than we had asked him to, and yet he did not do anything unnecessary and did his job without fail.


    However, when he came back with his report, I felt that his mood was somewhat somber. I asked him if he was worried about something else, since his work was more than satisfactory, but he replied that there was no problem. Perhaps I am simply mistaken, but it is a strange feeling.


    If I had my usual ears and tail, I would be somewhat confident, but in this town, I let them pass in their fully humanized form. Without ears and tail, Levee is a perfect cool beauty. Her facial expression is fixed in a clear face, and her emotions are almost unreadable. She is a perfect figure for the king''s calm and collected entourage, but as an inexperienced master, she is a bit difficult to deal with.


    "As long as we can''t be sure, it would be foolish to persist in pursuing the matter. ......"


    It would be a real shame if we poke around in the bushes too much and make Levee feel uncomfortable.


    For the time being, we will have to watch Rieve more carefully than usual and keep an eye on the situation.


    "But still. This city is better maintained than I thought it would be.


    He mutters to himself as he looks at the which he has displayed again.


    The , which reflects the geographical information that Rieve and Gardi have collected, shows an overall view of the city that looks like a vertical cross. The eastern urban area has not yet been surveyed, but it is likely that the outer wall of the city extends in a mirror image with the western commercial area.


    The streetscape was well organized. Buildings are neatly lined up along the streets running vertically and horizontally. From this bird''s eye view, one can clearly see that the land is not wasted, nor is it densely packed, but rather ideally laid out.


    This is not the case usually. A town that has developed spontaneously becomes a complex and interconnected form, like a house that has been repeatedly enlarged and remodeled. This process may lead to convoluted and complicated streets, overcrowded houses, or vice versa, areas with too much space between them.


    But this city has none of that. It seems to me that it was built on a perfectly prepared urban plan. There is no doubt that this boundary city was created from the very beginning with a complete plan in mind.


    It is just like the old capital of Kyoto.


    This reminds me of a map of Kyoto I saw in my Japanese history textbook.


    I had been to Kyoto on a family vacation. I remember going there to see the roads that still remain from those days. I remember when I was in elementary school. That''s right, my father and mother took me there...


    --Suddenly, I felt a tightening sensation in my chest.


    I shake my head in panic. Your thoughts scatter. He puts a lid on the memories of Japan he was trying to remember. There is no time for unnecessary sentimentality now.


    "...... I think I''ll take a bath and refresh myself."


    A bath is a bath, steamy or not. Sweat off your sweat and feel refreshed, and you''ll feel different. Sooner rather than later, Helian fishes through his bag of clothes as if to shake something off.


    "Yeah. ......?"


    Just then, he thought he heard something outside the window.


    Looking outside, I saw dozens of people running down the main street from the north side of the city, from the direction where the labyrinth is located. Moreover, everyone was running with a desperate look on their face. It was as if they were being chased by something and were running away.


    One of them, a man dressed like a scout, met my eyes.


    He looks up at me with a desperate look on his face and shouts


    "-Everyone run to the central district!��The labyrinth overflowed (??????)!!!!"


    Quickly, he turns his gaze.


    He shouted, and in the direction he pointed, a disturbing fire was rising from the center of the labyrinth district.

 50 - The 19th "Maze Rages"

    "Oh shit!��It''s a bad story, you son of a b*tc*!"


    The skinhead man swore and swung a dagger in his right hand.


    The dagger plunged into the belly of the enemy, a jackal-like beast called Ugal, but the blade did not reach its heart. The man who was pushed down hit the jaw of Ugaru, who still tried to bite him, and when he was frightened, he pulled out a dagger and slit his throat. Blood spurts out, staining the man''s face.


    The man, frowning at the stench of blood, kicks Ugaru away with his thick legs. Ugal, with a large amount of fresh blood spraying from his neck, scratched his head for a while, but then he ran out of strength, stuck out his tongue, and stopped moving.


    "Hey, leader, are you alive?


    "Hate it!��d*mn it, it''s been a long time since I''ve been on vacation, why do I have to go through all this?


    That was a bad one," the skinhead replies, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.


    He is not a scout and is fighting with a dagger because he was on leave and unarmed. The only weapon he has now is the dagger he wears for self-defense. If he had used his usual long sword, he would have been killed with a single blow, but who would have thought that he would be attacked by a magical beast inside the border city, let alone in the wilderness?


    "Just when I thought the boundary area had finally calmed down, there''s a labyrinthine stampede, what a joke!


    --Labyrinth Runaway ��Dungeon Stampede��.


    It is a phenomenon in which monsters and beasts in a labyrinth overflow into the outside world at the same time.


    According to the records of the kingdom, the last time this happened was more than five years ago, and it is said that many people were killed until the labyrinth was stabilized.


    Fortunately, there was no record of such an outbreak in the labyrinths of the bordering cities, but in case of an emergency, the labyrinth district that hosts the labyrinths was separated from the surrounding urban districts and a strong wall was built.


    This is like an embankment, so to speak. The wall is supposed to dam the waves of monsters that overflow, and the knights are supposed to be dispatched while buying time with "minimal sacrifices. Training for this purpose was held regularly several times a year. However,


    "Are the Knights moving?"


    "We are currently deploying to the outer perimeter of the labyrinthine area and forming a rescue team on a temporary basis!��The fastest they can get there is 15 minutes!"


    "...... So that means we''ll have to hang on for a while longer."


    My partner complained in a dismal tone.


    As a matter of fact, they could escape if they wanted to, if they were alone.


    As adventurers, not knights, they are not obligated to fight here and now. Since they are not on a quest to defend themselves, they are free to leave the rest to the knights.


    Also, the fact that the knights are already deployed around the perimeter of the labyrinth area means that the demonic beasts will not go outside the labyrinth area. The damage will be limited to the inside of the labyrinth district. At the very least, the boundary city itself will not be shaken by this one incident.


    But even so, the reason why they are fighting against the monsters here is because they wish to reduce the "minimum sacrifice" as much as possible.


    Neither the partner nor the man was born in this city, but after nearly five years of activities as a base of operations, one can feel a sense of attachment. Although most of the residents of the labyrinthine district had already evacuated, probably as a result of their training, there were more than a dozen people around who had failed to escape, and fortunately or unfortunately, they had the strength to fight.


    The man continues to wield his dagger against the backs of the helpless people, regretting with all his heart that he should have stayed in the inn to sleep if it had come to this.


    "...... is finally in trouble."


    "What''s up, leader? I''m hoping for some good news soon."


    I''m afraid I have bad news. A party near the labyrinth sent a psychic alert. Second wave approaching. Soon there will be a horde of Ugalufs in this plaza.


    "...... seriously. That sucks."


    It is a higher species than Ugaru. They are large, and their viciousness is incomparable when they are in a pack.


    I used the communication magic I had spent seven years mastering to check on the situation with the other parties, but all the information I heard only told of the worsening war situation.


    Fortunately, there were no casualties at the moment, but it was only a matter of time. The knights on duty in the labyrinthine area and adventurers who were present at the scene were dealing with the monsters, but there were not enough of them. They are fighting individually without a chain of command due to the sudden situation.


    A temporary chain of command will be established when the rescue team of the Knights arrives, but the question is whether they will be able to hold their own until then. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the figure of Ugaruf approaching the square across the street.


    "--I would like to ask you a few questions. Are you willing to take command of this group?"


    Just as I was about to make up my mind that it was time to make a decision, I heard a voice saying, "Who are you?


    I turned to the owner of the voice, expecting to see reinforcements, but instead I found a medium-sized man of medium height and good build standing there, wearing a hood over his eyes.


    I quickly ran my eyes over his entire body, but the young man who wandered into view was not a fighter by any means. His hands were clean, not the kind of palms that would hold a sword. His body was not that of a well-trained warrior, nor was there any sign of a sorcerer. To the man''s eyes at least, he was just an ordinary man.


    "Who are you?��Are you a member of the Order, or perhaps a hand of the Count of Sacred Swords?"


    "...... No, I am a traveling merchant. I''m a traveling merchant. I''ve been a nuisance in this town for some time now.


    And if you ask him with a ray of hope, he says he is just a peddler.


    He is out of place, no matter how you look at it.


    On the contrary, he is a weak man who should be the first to flee from this place.


    The man''s head instantly boils over at the appearance of this new stumbling block, and he shouts in frustration.


    "What do you want, merchant?��Can''t you see what''s going on, you f*cking idiot!��Get the hell out of here!!!!!!!"


    "......Yes, as much as I''d like to get out of here. However, for whatever reason, I''m here to help."


    "...... Oh?��Help?"


    The man was taken aback by the unintelligible words uttered by the young man.


    The young man, who was looking at the man, steps out of the group as if he were taking a walk, and walks toward the center of the plaza where the magical beast is closing in on him.


    The action was so natural and sudden that there was no time to stop him. By the time the man comes to himself, the young man is already too late.


    "You idiot!��What the hell do you think you''re doing?


    The man reaches out his hand as quickly as he can.


    But he is too late.


    As if slipping through his outstretched hand, the young man reveals himself to Ugarufu, the giant black dog that has just burst into the plaza.


    The weak man walks up to him recklessly and alone. There is no way that Ugaluf, a magical beast, will let him escape.


    A hexenbiest is a beast belonging to the demon family that turns its fangs against people, and harming people is an instinct for hexenbiests. Ugarufu jumped at the young man who came out of nowhere, as if he were jubilant.


    The two are already within a stone''s throw of each other.


    The sharp, vicious claws run for the young man''s throat.


    The tragedy that would ensue a moment later.


    The man sees a future in which the young man''s body will be cruelly torn apart.


    The young man looks at the claws of death that are falling on him and snaps his fingers ---- carelessly.


    "----"


    The sound of a bullet echoes around you.


    The next moment, three events occurred almost simultaneously.


    First, a woman appeared like the wind and struck a magical beast as tall as she was with her fist.


    Second, lightning struck the horde of frightened monsters and stopped all of their movements.


    Three, a ridiculously huge axe was swung by the big man and turned the horde of monsters into a mass of flesh!


    "What about ........................?"


    What happened?


    No, I am sure I saw it with my own eyes, the man replies.


    But his brain could not take in the scene.


    The events that took place in front of his eyes lacked such a sense of reality.


    There were three figures around the young man, and he wondered how long he had been there.


    A silver-haired woman with a straight back.


    A girl with brown skin and a hard look in the sunlight.


    And a large man with a body as strong as a rock.


    None of these faces is familiar.


    However, all three of them wear the air of an uncommonly strong man.


    They were not ordinary men, that much was certain.


    "----


    One short word.


    The silver woman and the big man moved as if they had been shot by a bullet, just as the young man lifted his chin.


    The two split to the left and right, running off to the east and west of the labyrinthine area, respectively.


    The remaining brown beauty steps forward to protect the young man and waits for his instructions.


    Tactical Window: Open. Select: Map. Mode: Alliance Battle.


    The young man''s mouth spins a smooth sentence. It can''t be a meaningless string of words here. Perhaps he was chanting in order to use some kind of magic formula.


    However, the chant spun from the young man''s mouth was something that even a man who has been active as an adventurer for more than ten years had never heard before.


    Summoning magic, contract magic, spirit magic, law magic. When I checked them against my own knowledge, I could not find any similarities, let alone any of them. I wonder if it is called "original chanting (origin spell)" or not.


    "......".... So this is the limit of the accuracy.


    One click of the tongue.


    The young man staring into the void with a very serious expression on his face said to the man


    "I''ll check again. Can I assume that you are the commander of this battle area, or someone in a similar position?


    "...... Oh, yeah. I''m Biegel, the leader of the clan . I happened to be in the labyrinth district, so I took temporary command.


    Then we''ll get to the point. Hurry up to coordinates B-3, X7Y8....... I don''t get it. I need you to send a force to Mireille''s store on East Shopping Street. Three leopard-shaped monsters are heading straight for Chuo Ward. They will break through at this rate.


    How do you know that?


    Before he could ask that question, the man made a quick decision and connected his mind to an adventurer in the vicinity of the area. Fortunately, it was a party of combat adventurers whom he knew. They begin to move to establish a line of defense.


    "Contact the group at the coordinates D-2...... or the group on the east street of Fifth Avenue. A two-horned herd will appear in about two minutes from now. Tell them to lead the herd to the park to the west, instead of taking them head-on. There''s no need to take them down. There is a big man carrying an axe there. Tell him he can handle the enemy.


    "And the F-12-- no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Anyway, there''s a lone adventurer at the west end of line 3. Send him south now. There is a group of four adventurers about 300 meters ahead on the street around the bend, but they are in need of help. If we can recruit one more, the battle should stabilize.


    "Next. Adventurer running near Yazulka workshop ...... No, a knight?��I don''t know which one it is, but tell them to check inside the workshop. There must be some people in the building, but the coordinates have not moved at all since a few minutes ago. They are probably artisans who have failed to escape. Collect them and move them to the rear. The hole will be filled by our handiwork.


    The instructions were given quickly and smoothly.


    There was no hint of impatience, and he maneuvered the forces of each region with the calmness of a pawn in a game of pawn-taking.


    The heart-to-heart messages that had been coming from the war''s worsening situation were met with strong words of thanks for the support and the next instructions, as well as the fact that the defensive line had been established.


    The new monsters that appeared in the plaza are slaughtered in no time by the brown-skinned woman standing by the young man''s side. No new injuries are inflicted. The surplus forces that are to be sent to the various locations have been found.


    --Maybe they will all be saved.


    The man is aware that this thought naturally comes to him as he looks at the immobile young man''s back.


    + + +


    "--How did this happen?


    Staring at the maps floating in his field of vision, Helian was filled with the desire to exclaim.


    He did not want to intervene in this case.


    This expedition is just a preliminary step to a full-scale investigation. This expedition was just a prelude to a full-scale investigation, a kind of preparation to establish a base of operations, and for Herian personally, it was a negotiation exercise.


    For the time being, therefore, he did not intend to establish any connections with the authorities or to attract public attention.


    --But Helian had seen it.


    He saw a man running towards the central district with a warning, followed by a crowd of people screaming and running away.


    I remember a mother holding her child in her arms as quickly as she could after the child stumbled and fell, and enduring being kicked in the back by the people who followed.


    And the image of a small child who was about to cry from the pain of her fallen and scraped knees, but who ignored the pain in her back and smiled at her mother''s face, her lips twisted as she endured the pain.


    And the mother and the child, holding each other''s hands tightly, running away together after the crowd had broken off, though they were slower than before.


    Such a scene was shown to me in full view.


    And, unfortunately, this intervention also has its advantages as an alkimaira.


    This place is a planned base of operations for the start of a full-scale research campaign in the human domain. And the border city of Shields is one of the important bases in the human realm, so it is not an abnormal thought to want to avoid disturbing the local situation by a trivial disaster.


    It is also more than possible to reinforce the theory of intervention, such as aiming to gain [dominance] by contributing and showing their activities to the local residents. Even if his subordinates question the reason for his intervention, he will have enough material to persuade them.


    Then, there is only one important issue left.


    That is the complete collapse of Helian''s personal plan to keep a low profile and proceed at a reasonable pace.


    ��Oh, shit!)


    He stifled his invective inwardly and stared at the with bloodshot eyes.


    [The actions that he has repeated so many times in Tactics Chronicle are ingrained in his body. Even if his mind is in turmoil from frustration, his eyes are able to read information in the shortest and fastest time. Herian seizes control of the battlefield through the many virtual windows that float before his eyes.


    The war situation was somehow stabilizing. Perhaps it was the "stage direction" of his appearance that worked, as the warriors around him lent an ear to the words of a young man who had just arrived on the scene.


    Yes, Yazulka''s craftsmen have been rescued safely!��I''ve asked the knights who responded to the call to stand down and join the line of defense!��Now, what''s next, who do I tell and what do I tell them?


    Among them, it was fortuitous that the man we expected to be the commander (a skinhead) had mastered mind language.


    He seemed to have a good reputation as an adventurer, and almost all of the people I sent him to intervene followed his instructions.


    Judging from his popularity, he might be a well-known adventurer.


    "Slowly retreat the adventurers in the second line. The pressure of the monsters is increasing. Tell them to join up with the group near the Baroque Trading Company and lower the line of defense while destroying them individually.


    In [Tactics Chronicle], if you put the coordinates on the , your subordinates would be able to understand it, but in this real world, it is not so easy if you want to command even units other than your own. While struggling with the difference between the virtual (game) and the real (real) world, we managed to communicate the coordinates by assigning the names of buildings and streets near the coordinates.


    Thanks to Rieve, who was entrusted with the search of the labyrinthine area, I was able to find out the names of the streets and the names of the main facilities and stores. If we had not been informed of the geographical information of the labyrinthine area in advance, we would not have been able to give such smooth instructions.


    <


    <


    If the search is perfect, it would be possible to launch a ranged attack that would swallow up the damage in the surrounding area.


    However, with only three friendly units and the current search accuracy, there is no guarantee that there will be no undetected people who have not escaped. It is out of the question to launch a ranged attack into such a situation. That''s exactly why they abandoned their own plan to intervene in the situation.


    "...... Oh!


    A voice came from close by.


    The next moment, an ice spear is released from Celes'' outstretched palm, piercing the house behind it, along with the demonic beast in front of it. The giant, flame-breathing jackal-like beast, named "Ugaluf" or something like that, is obliterated, and at the same time, several large holes are punched through the building behind it. The fact that the enemy is obliterated rather than skewered is clearly an overkill.


    "I''m sorry, young master. I''m not quite sure how to go easy on you. ......"


    "Is it still tough to handle the fully humanized form?"


    "...... Yes. I think I can handle it if I do it calmly, but it is difficult to make fine adjustments if I use magic reflexively.


    Celes is a corps commander who excels in offensive magic. The role he is expected to play on the battlefield is to destroy a wide area with extreme power. He is not good at making fine adjustments so as not to cause damage to the surrounding area, even if it is in the direction of increasing the power.


    Furthermore, Helian''s immediate escort is Celes alone, and failure to deliver the coup de grace could put the Lord''s life in danger. This pressure may also be a factor. He has already slaughtered more than fifty monsters, and about 20% of them showed signs of excessive force. Under these adverse conditions, it is unreasonable to expect them to take perfect control of their unaccustomed fully humanized forms.


    "...... There are no residents who failed to escape in the building within the range visible from here?"


    "Yes. We can search only the buildings around the square. There is no one left.


    "Then we''ll take it as easy as we can. Human life is our priority. If you can afford it, try to use pinpoint magic such as ice pillar stakes.


    "Yes, sir. ......, sir, and ......."


    I know. I know. It''s somewhere around coordinates E-7, right?��...... won''t last five minutes at this rate."


    The map Helian was looking at clearly showed a group of people being overwhelmed by a red light spot (Enemy). They have already sent an extra force from this plaza, but given their speed of movement, there is a possibility that they will break through the defensive line before they arrive.


    In this case, we have no choice but to send RIVET directly toward them, knowing that it would be a bad idea. There is a strong possibility that the front line will collapse by moving the position of Liewe, but if the rear collapses, this defensive battle will end in failure. There is no time to hesitate in making a decision.


    Helian gritted his teeth as he marked the map and was about to send an "order" to Levee, when a large number of light dots appeared on the second map, which was fixed on a miniature map of the entire labyrinth area. I saw it.


    The color of the light spot is light blue. The color indicates a friendly neutral unit. The light spots, showing controlled movements, join the defensive battles in various areas and participate in the clearing of the monsters.


    Then one of them breaks away from the group. It''s a great speed. It is coming toward the main battlefield, that is, this plaza, more than five times faster than the other light spots (units).


    This is--


    "Young Master, up there!"


    I follow Ceres'' voice and look up in the sky behind her.


    There was a figure leaping high into the sky.


    He raised his sword with both hands, lit it up with golden light, and swung it down with his waving spirit.


    The blade, which should have reached the enemy, struck the beast below with a flying slash. With a single swing, the five Ugalufs that had been aiming at the plaza are cut in half, and the number of red dots of light (the "Enemies") on the map that Helian had displayed is reduced.


    The shooter who had fired the slash then drops down toward the center of the plaza, falling in front of Helian. It was a known person who landed on the ground with a heavy thud, breaking the cobblestone pavement. Silver armor, a golden knight''s sword, and an intimidating back that seemed to embody dignity.


    "It''s you, Herian. It''s been a long time.


    Count Glenn Gardiner was there.


    Unlike the other times, he was fully armed and looked around the area. He seemed to have grasped the general situation and nodded his head in agreement.


    "I see. I had thought that there was very little damage, but now my doubts are cleared up. So you guys have been helping us."


    "I just happened to be there. We participated in the rescue operation in our own small way.


    "Is that so?��Judging by the reaction of the people around me, I think it''s a bit too modest to call it a small help."


    No, sir. I think we need to take care of the problem at hand first.


    "Well, that makes sense. First of all--"


    He turns around and flashes his sword. He cuts off both of the monsters that appear in his line of fire.


    "Let''s get rid of them, shall we? Then everything else will follow.


    As soon as he announced this, the frontier count shouted at the people around him in a loud, clear voice.


    "Sorry for the wait, my dear subjects!��You fought well. And you survived, gentlemen!��But it''s all right now. From this point forward, in the name of Glenn Gardiner, I assure you of your relief!


    The people gathered in the plaza cheered at the sound of the frontier count''s voice.


    Those who had been injured or sick and had failed to escape were convinced that they had been saved, and they hugged their loved ones and rejoiced in their safety. Adventurers who were wounded but did not break their knees also fell to the ground with deep sighs. And even Biegel, still in the midst of the battlefield, sits down complaining that "it is finally over".


    It was a reaction that confirmed the people''s great trust in Glenn Gardiner.


    The Count of the Frontier, or rather the Count of the Sacred Sword, appeared on the scene.


    This mere fact, however, was enough to guarantee relief to his beloved people.


    With the knights who caught up with him late, the Earl of the Sword marched forward to meet the people''s hopes. He is a hero, the way he throws himself into the battlefield ahead of all the others.


    The elite of the Knights left in the Seals. He is ahead of all of them, slaughtering more enemies than anyone else, and he is marching forward in a straight line toward the center of the labyrinth district - the dungeon. The monsters and beasts that block his path are all cut down by the flash of his knightly sword.


    The following knights also make sure to kill the demonic beasts that have escaped from the clearing, and gradually narrow the circle of encirclement as they march forward.


    --Three hours later...


    The labyrinthine area is swept clean of the monsters and beasts by the knights.


    + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +


    That night.


    After the sun had set at the edge of the wilderness, the central government declared the situation under control in each district.


    The news that the labyrinthine outburst had been successfully suppressed spread quickly throughout the SEALs, and the situation was settled.


    The next day, after the sun had risen, an announcement was issued through the public relations office, reporting that the number of victims of the labyrinthine outburst was extremely small, and that the amount of material damage was surprisingly small compared to past cases.


    The citizens, who had been in a state of agitation for a while, calmed down after the statement issued in the name of the "Count of the Frontier," and the chaos caused by the labyrinthine outburst seemed to be quickly coming to an end.


    It was two days later that Helian and his party received a summons from the Count of the Frontier.

 51 - CHAPTER XX "Request of the Count of the Border"

    "Thank you for coming, Mr. Helian. I''m sorry I had to call on you."


    Three days after the Dungeon Stampede.


    Helian visited the Count''s mansion again, and was told by the Count, who was waiting for him in the guest room. The Count''s beloved daughter, Zion, is sitting quietly next to him.


    "I have heard from Mr. Biegel, the clan leader of <> ....... I hear that he has done as well as any high-ranking adventurer. He mentioned your names as the biggest contributors. He also said that he would like to thank you in person the next time he sees you.


    "I just happened to be there and got involved. If anyone is the biggest contributor, it would be Mr. Biegel. He listened to the opinions of a young man like me, and I was helped by his openness.


    "Humble. I hear you had excellent detection skills."


    That''s her power. I was only a message board.


    He replies, turning his gaze to Celes. Unlike the last time, Celes was free from unnecessary caution, and she bows in response. Compared to the last time, when she had been so guarded, this is a marked improvement.


    The frontier count nodded "hmmm" in response.


    Then, after a short pause, he suddenly said, "Hmmm..." as if inserting a blade,


    "-I had intended to abandon the inhabitants of the Labyrinthine District.


    He made such a confession.


    "When I received the news of the outbreak of the Dungeon Stampede, I ordered the Knights to lay siege to the Labyrinthine District. I strictly ordered them not to enter the labyrinthine area until the siege was completely over. It was only after the siege was over that we began organizing a rescue team, and I honestly thought that more than half of those who failed to escape from the labyrinthine area would be killed."


    Fortunately, this was not the case.


    The residents who had failed to escape were protected by those who were there with the ability to fight, and a defensive line was established at every turn, and with the help of Helian''s group, they succeeded in buying time.


    As a result, the number of deaths was less than 30, a trivial figure in this area, and the damage was kept to a very small scale compared to other cases of labyrinthine outbursts, according to the publicity report. This is almost an accomplishment in light of the tragic cases in history.


    However, this is only a result of the situation.


    From the very beginning, the frontier counts have been operating based on the decision to cut down the small and make the most of the large. He immediately decided to abandon the residents of the labyrinthine district based on the first report of the labyrinthine outburst.


    That is what he is talking about.


    "Aren''t you angry with me for such a decision?"


    There is no change in the count''s expression.


    His cheerful smile had now faded.


    Helian gives a simple answer to the frontier count who asks him a simple question.


    "No. I can understand the choice of a person who governs a city.


    Yes. That''s understandable enough.


    In fact, the response of the frontier count was probably the best solution.


    The nature of "Dungeon Stampede" is not a natural disaster such as a fire or an earthquake, but more like a biological disaster (biohazard).


    And when a biohazard occurs, the most important thing is to prevent the spread of damage.


    The rescue of people left behind inside is a story beyond that.


    In this sense, the response of the frontier counts is right to a great extent.


    Unlike some other person who could not stand it, he was the ruler of this city and made a calm and proper decision.


    In the first place, it is not a matter for me, a stranger, to interfere.


    "I see. No, it was a trivial question. Forget it."


    As soon as the frontier count told him this, his expression changed.


    Up to this point, we were just chatting.


    Helian puts pressure on his gut, knowing that this is where he is supposed to start.


    "Well, the reason I''ve called you here is nothing else. Now, the reason I called you here is for one thing: I want to ask for your help in the case we have just had. Specifically, I would like you to accept a request from me.


    Request (Quest). A contract between a client and an adventurer through an adventurer''s guild or other organization.


    Adventurers in this world undertake almost any kind of work. In a broad sense, adventurers can be called "jack-of-all-trades," although most of their work requires military force. And while being a jack-of-all-trades, he is also a specialist.


    Typical examples are abyss seekers, who specialize in exploring the abyssal forests, and searchers, who are experts at diving into labyrinths. There are also hunters, who gather various materials in the wilderness, and soldiers, who take care of all combat-related tasks.


    However, the Herrians in this land are traveling merchants.


    They are not adventurers.


    I am sorry, but we are only traveling merchants. We do not intend to trade in military force at this time. ......"


    "We are aware of that. But at the moment, we have no one else to turn to but you. Just listen to what I have to say."


    The Count of the Frontier picked up a goldsmith''s cup from the table and wet his tongue.


    "The situation regarding the labyrinthine outburst has been settled. The city has been restored to normalcy for the time being after I have declared the situation under my name. However, the situation has not yet been brought to an end.


    The labyrinthine runaway is the end result of the destabilization of the magical elements. All the demonic beasts that overflowed outside the labyrinth have been defeated, but the labyrinth itself is still in an unstable state. Therefore, the frontier count says that it is urgent to deal with this problem.


    "There are two possible ways..."


    Sitting deeply on the sofa, he held up the index finger of his right hand.


    "First. The first is to seal the labyrinth itself from the outside. This one is easy. The pilgrimage to the temple has already been completed, so we can seal it right away.


    The labyrinth had been showing signs of unrest, so the rituals had been accelerated from the usual schedule, and it had paid off," said the frontier count with a wry smile.


    "However, once the seal is placed, it cannot be unsealed for at least six months, and naturally, during that time, we will not be able to collect the magic stone. We have a reasonable stockpile, but it''s not a very pleasant situation. I can easily imagine a future where the idiots of the peaceful kingdom will intervene for the sake of their interests.


    The index finger remains in place, and the frontier count raises an additional middle finger.


    "And the second. To go into the unstable labyrinth and perform a ritual to stabilize the magical elements at the altar on the 30th level - the "tuning" ritual. If the first means is to postpone the problem, this is a radical cure. The problem is that Zion himself, who performs the attunement, has to dive into the labyrinth himself.


    In other words, we have to throw our beloved daughter into the labyrinth while the magical elements are disordered and the labyrinth is overflowing with magical beasts.


    Helian remains silent, but for the time being, he remains willing to listen to the end.


    "I am inclined to take the latter course of action," he says.


    The frontier count announced in a matter-of-fact tone.


    "Even though we succeeded in repelling the attackers, it was only a short time after the attack from the demon realm, and a labyrinthine outburst occurred, which has never happened in the past several hundred years. The people were more than a little upset. --But it can be treated as a minor incident now.


    Deaths have indeed occurred.


    It was an unfortunate event.


    However, the damage was very small, and this was not an incident to make a big fuss about.


    We will treat it as such.


    "We can do that if we declare the situation over within three days. We need to get this thing over with. The Border City Seals must not waver."


    They were the words of a rock as a lord, as a family of heroes, as a ruler of the Boundary City of Shields.


    I know what you mean.


    The labyrinth in this world is a precious resource of magic stone.


    It is similar to how we treat mines on earth.


    Although the mining accident "Dungeon Stampede" occurred, fortunately - I would say unexpectedly - both human casualties and property damage were minor.


    The announcement of the settlement in the name of the Frontier Count has kept the confusion among the residents to a minimum.


    As long as the cleanup of the accident is completed quickly, the town will be restored to its normal state of calm.


    The only problem is that they are putting their beloved daughter (Zion) in danger to deal with the aftermath.


    "......I must reiterate once again that we are nothing more than merchants. We are in the wrong field. We are not confident enough to take care of your daughter, nor can we be responsible for her."


    "No problem. At least you don''t have to be responsible for my daughter''s safety.


    The words were so simply spoken that it took my breath away.


    The Count of the Frontier had just told him that he did not need to worry about whether Zion was alive or dead.


    "I''m not going to ask you to escort me in the first place. I will have the knighthood to protect my daughter.


    So, what do you need from me?


    "In a nutshell, it''s a clearing house. In other words, this is not a request for an escort, but a request to take down a target. However, the target is not a specific individual, but all the demons encountered in the labyrinth. Until my daughter reaches the altar, I would like you to eliminate any enemies that may stand in her way.


    In other words, division of labor.


    The knights are to escort only, and Helian is to defeat only.


    The Herrians will have no command over the knights, and the knights will have no command over the Herrians.


    "You do not need to protect Master Theon?"


    Yes. I will not hold you responsible for my daughter''s death, even if it means she has to die a horrible death. I will also put that in the contract."


    So the knights and Zion himself are responsible for this.


    When Helli��n looked at Sion, who was sitting next to the Count of the Frontier, she nodded her head in affirmation with a calm expression on her face.


    "I am still a Gardiner woman. Why would she be so selfish as to stay in the house now that the SEALs are in trouble?


    "I mean it, Herian."


    Of course, it seems that the matter has been discussed in private.


    It is hard to imagine from the doting way he treated Theon on the first day when he sent him home, but I guess he means that Glen Gardiner here is not his father but a lord. And Zion also seems to take it for granted.


    I wonder if it is possible to separate the two. ......


    With these thoughts, the image of Leifa and Lillifa flashed through my mind.


    "Well, I''ve said a lot of things, but the truth is I''m not that worried. I am sure that a skilled labyrinth seeker (searcher) who is familiar with the labyrinth here can traverse the 30 or so levels without any problems. In fact, Zion has experience of having dived to the 30th level with the Knights protecting him before.


    "...... what if we decline the offer?"


    "In that case, we will have to give up and seal the labyrinth. The knights we currently have in the SEALS are excellent, but there are few outstanding ones with outstanding power. Even so, I do not think there will be any problem in the near future, but we just had the case of Behemoth. I don''t want them to challenge "tuning" without an insurance policy just in case."


    So they are prepared to stop the supply of magic stones.


    And there seems to be no option but to wait until the main forces on standby in the border area can be recalled.


    As the frontier count himself said, this matter needs to be "settled as soon as possible".


    At least, that is the judgment of the ruler of this city.


    "............"


    Helian remains silent and picks up a teacup to buy time for a response.


    The contents of the cup were losing heat as she sipped it.


    It seemed that some time had passed.


    Feeling the warmth of the swallow in her throat, H��lian considers what to say in return.


    Perhaps," she says, "the supply of magic stone will be delayed, but it will be all right.


    Although this world lags behind in the development of industrial technology, it has made some progress in the development of magical tools. No, the necessity of industrial technology is low because of the existence of magic tools. Although they are a few generations behind the Alkimyra''s tools, they are certainly used to support daily life, such as water supply, light source (electricity), heat source (gas), and so on.


    And in general, those kinds of magic tools consume magic stones as fuel.


    If that is the case, it is hard to believe that this frontier count who sits in front of us does not take any measures on a daily basis. They must have emergency measures in place, such as stockpiling for emergencies, and even distribution from the kingdom, with which they do not seem to have a good relationship.


    However, as is the case with Alkymyra, which is striving to improve its food self-sufficiency due to the adverse effects of its sudden transfer, a decrease in resource self-sufficiency will lead to instability in the situation.


    For Alkimayrra, the SEALS are a planned base of operations in the human domain. They do not want the situation there to be unstable. In fact, they explained this reason to their followers up front and changed their original plan to intervene in this case.


    This completely ruined Helian''s personal plan to keep a low profile and act steadily. He is now in a position where he can no longer say that he is just a traveling merchant practicing negotiations. It is unacceptable that his interests as an alkimaira should be further undermined.


    And considering the fact that he has attracted the attention of the people, there is no other choice but to modify his plan so that he can sell his favor to the frontier count and gain prestige among the local people in order to gain [control].


    He lets out a heavy sigh at the conclusion he has drawn in his mind.


    Helian puts the empty cup down on the saucer and asks a question to the Count of the Frontier.


    "May I make a request regarding the reward for the accomplishment of the ...... request?"


    The frontier count nodded his head in satisfaction.


    + + +


    The matter was settled, and after exchanging detailed terms, H��lien left the house.


    As for the compensation he had requested, he felt strongly that "at least this much is non-negotiable," but surprisingly the frontier count readily agreed to his request. I thought I had made a rather brazen request, but it seems that he has deep pockets. Or perhaps he is taking the situation that seriously.


    I felt mentally exhausted after another meeting with the highest authority, but there was no time to whine about being tired. After having Ceres deploy the soundproofing technique, H��lian flips a switch in his head and tells his followers.


    "--As you''ve heard. I''m fed up with this series of unscheduled events, but I can''t complain. In order to stabilize the situation in the border city of Shields, which is the planned base of operations in the human realm and a key point in the human realm, we will participate in the labyrinth search."


    "Ha."


    "The frontier count said he wants to get this over with quickly, and I completely agree with him. As was the case when we dealt with the labyrinthine outburst, you can expose your abilities as long as they are up to the middle rank of C. Let''s get this little matter over with.


    The three followers expressed their agreement in a single voice.


    "By the way, the results of our assessment of your fighting ability from the battle the other day. How accurate do you think they are?��Ceres."


    "As for the frontier counts, I don''t think I have exposed all of them, but I think I have been able to detect 80% of their basic combat ability (status). As for knights and adventurers, I am 90% sure.


    Browse the in the that has been opened in your field of vision.


    The threat level (rank) of the knights and adventurers displayed there is usually D, with the occasional lower C-ranked knight or adventurer. The threat level (rank) of Glen-Gardiner, who is called the "Earl of the Holy Sword", was also ranked as low as B (minus).


    Even if there are some basic combat abilities (status) that we have not been able to detect, and some moves that have not yet been shown, even taking them into account, the highest rank of B (plus) is probably the highest limit for mankind.


    The frontier counts who have a personal combat power close to that of fairy dragons are extraordinary, but they are still B-ranked. Although his fighting power is far beyond that of humans, even the Count of the Sacred Sword, who is regarded as the greatest hero of mankind, is not a threat to the Alkimaira.


    "In other words - even the humans who won the war against the elves in the past do not have the strength to threaten the Alkimaira.


    This confirms the fact that Alkymyra has an absolute military advantage. Whatever the circumstances, one of our goals has been almost accomplished.


    "............"


    Just before passing through the central district, Helian turned around with only the movement of his head.


    At the end of the wide boulevard, which is wide enough for ten carriages to stand side by side, is a frontier count''s mansion that rises like a castle.


    Helian closes his eyes and sees the two leaders.


    --Glenn Gardiner is the great leader of the people.


    He is a ruler with firm resolve backed by solid faith, the head of an old family that has ruled the centuries-old border city until now, and a hero who is the protector of mankind.


    --Leifa-Rim-Lattestwood is the heart and soul of the people.


    She is the symbol of Latestwood, who has an indomitable spirit that will never break no matter what situation she finds herself in, and who, at only fifteen years of age, does not curse her own misfortune, but strives to fulfill her duties as queen.


    --So, how about yourself?


    Tsukasa Misaki (Helian) has neither the conviction nor the fighting strength of Glenn Gardiner, nor the fortitude and royal pride of Leifa Lim-Lattestwood.


    What kind of leader should Helian-Edda-Elsinok aim for as a king who follows a demon who is not even human?


    "Master Helian?"


    "...... No, nothing."


    Helian looked forward to escape the quizzical gaze of Levee.


    With her unanswered questions, she fixes her face in front of her, trying not to look down, and walks toward her temporary lodging.


    --And then...


    And then, facing away from her, Levee opens her mouth as if to appeal for something, but gives it up with a slightly lowered brow. H��lian did not notice it until the end.


    + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +


    --The next morning.


    The next morning, when the Herrians visited the labyrinth, the most important facility in the labyrinth district, they saw the knights preparing themselves in an orderly fashion. Even though they arrived 30 minutes before the scheduled time, they were ready to go at a moment''s notice.


    In front of the entrance to the labyrinth, there were two men dressed differently from the knights.


    One of them, a man with a familiar bald head, greets Helian and the others with a raised arm and a "Hey.


    "Thanks for the help the other day, young master.


    "...... Mr. Biegel?"


    Don''t call me Mister, it makes my ass itch. Just Biegel will do. Good day to you, young master and the three of you."


    "So, if you are the guide in the labyrinth..."


    It''s us. We''re the ones who made it to the deepest level. Leave it to us to figure out the traps and all that other nastiness.


    His partner, standing next to him, raised his hand as if to say, "Hi.


    He has a spear in his hand, which he did not have before.


    Biegel was also wearing a long sword, and was dressed in scale armor.


    His armor, with its many scars and scars, shows that he has fought many battles.


    "I would have enjoyed my vacation if I could, but I can''t refuse a request from the Count of the Sacred Sword. Besides, I always repay my debts as soon as possible. I will do my job properly.


    With a thump on his chest, he and his partner grinned at each other.


    The fact that Biegel, an adventurer who is not supposed to belong to a city and a person who is a part of the community, is able to say such a line to him shows that the frontier count is well-liked.


    Thank you for your kind attention, Mr. Helian.


    A path formed when the knights split to the left and right. Theon, who had just stepped out of the center of the path, called out to us. He wears a see-through veil on his head and a ceremonial costume of white and azure.


    "My pleasure. Though I am a small person, I will work as hard as I can. Mr. Sion."


    He was aware of the eyes of the knights, and he renewed his tone of voice and bowed his eyes.


    It seems that all the personnel for the labyrinth attack are now in place.


    In front of the wide-opened entrance to the labyrinth, the attack team regrouped.


    Helian and his party were in the front, the two labyrinth explorers standing side by side, and Zion in the center of the knights who had formed a circle behind them.


    "Well then, ladies and gentlemen. From now on, we are going to perform the "tuning" ceremony. I sincerely hope that each of you will do your part for the Seals.


    Those present returned their affirmation in their own way.


    Under the command of Zion, the daughter of the Count of the Frontier, they all entered the labyrinth.

 52 - 21st "Maze Exploration"

    When I was in the first grade of junior high school, I played a dark fantasy game.


    This was before Tsukasa Misaki had encountered [Tactics Chronicle].


    It was a dungeon-crawling game titled [Deep Walker].


    Unfortunately, however, it was not so popular among the general public.


    This is partly because the field of dark fantasy is not popular with the general public, but also because the blood splatter and corpses were too realistic for the general public to be able to appreciate. At the very least, it is certain that it was not intended for families.


    The difficulty level of the game also added to the appeal of the game to the core audience.


    In the dungeon where the protagonist challenges, there are many deadly traps such as a pitfall, a huge stone rolling, a suspended ceiling with many stakes planted, poisoned arrows flying around the narrow room, and a pendulum scythe that makes a wind-swishing sound.


    The exquisite and disgusting arrangement of these traps makes you feel as if you can hear the voice of the creators saying, "Die now, die soon, die right there.


    Moreover, the monsters are strong, and I was killed four times by a small fry character in the first five minutes of the game.


    Even though I started the game on an easy difficulty (easy mode).


    After being killed many times, I thought I had finally defeated the first mook character by sharpening my nerves, but as soon as I entered the next room, I was run over and killed by a trap of dropping a huge rock.


    While digging up such memories of the past, Helian thinks.


    The protagonist, who is the alter ego of the player, must have found the dungeon to be quite unreasonable.


    --And then...


    And his men, who are trying to break through such traps by force, must seem even more unreasonable than that.


    "Be careful. There are tiles in this hall that will set off traps if you step on them, and the suspended ceiling will fall down if you don''t walk in a certain way. The floor you can step on changes every time a trap is triggered, so you have to check it carefully every time you step on it. I''m sorry, but I need a little time. ......"


    "Hmm. So we can build a support to keep the ceiling from falling down, right?"


    Ten levels.


    By earth magic invoked without chanting, stone pillars like large trees sprouted from the ground. Dozens of pillars were thrusted into the ceiling, and the group moved forward with ease in a room where they would never fall down.


    Biegel was stunned.


    "......The door to this room can only be opened by pouring magic power into the treasure balls in each room. The treasures are scattered in twelve different places, but if they are scattered around, they risk being destroyed one by one. We all need to visit the twelve places together, even if it takes a long time. ......"


    "Why don''t you just break down the whole door instead of taking so long? No one''s going to get hurt, right?"


    Fifteen levels.


    A club (mace) was struck against an iron door as high as a two-story house. With a single blow, the door is blown away, and the servant, a large man named Ghaldi, steps into the next room with ease.


    Biegel''s mouth is gaping open.


    "Oh no...... I can hear the roar of the thunder leopards. The next room is a monster pool! They''re not the kind of monsters that would normally be in a place like this, but it seems that the labyrinth run amok has caused them to flow back to the shallower levels. We''ll just have to lead them to the narrow passage in front of us and reduce their numbers one by one. ......"


    "Then I''ll burn it. The whole room. When it''s all burned up, we''ll ventilate it and go on."


    Twenty levels.


    The monster house, with its writhing monsters, has burned to the ground from the entrance. The room, which was not small by any means, was filled with fire in the blink of an eye, and in about 30 seconds, the demons of the monsters ceased to exist.


    Biegel finally fell silent.


    "--Well, this dungeon is full of traps and tricks. It''s just too much trouble."


    And so to the twenty-fifth level.


    In a small room with no traps and no magical beasts, we all decide to have a good rest. Gardi, who didn''t seem to be tired at all, blurted out something about the situation.


    Biegel looks at Gardi and the others with eyes like dead fish. It''s understandable, Helian thinks. They were marching in a forceful manner that bore no resemblance to a straight attack. Even though it was the result of prioritizing safety, the scene that unfolded in front of their eyes was probably too different in many ways from the labyrinth attack that Biegel knew.


    Even the traps and devices are different, but the battles are even worse. Although they are fully humanized and have lost the sense of smell and hearing peculiar to their race, the five senses of the legionnaires, who are warriors of many battles, are keenly attuned. The demonic beasts that blocked their way were caught even before they appeared, and the start of the battle (encounter) and the end of the battle (turn end) were almost simultaneous. It was a work in progress.


    "Well, it''ll just have to wait a little longer. There are only five levels left until we reach our goal of 30 levels. I''d like to be back on the ground by evening if at all possible.


    I guess so. I''d rather eat at the inn anyway. The food we brought in may not taste good, but it''s not big enough.


    "...... let''s see. Normally it would take more than a full day to get to the 30th level and back."


    Zion, the target of the escort, made a discreet remark.


    She had dived into this labyrinth a few years ago to carry on a ritual.


    At that time, she and her escort group, consisting of the elite of the Boundary Knights who were currently in the fortress, had set out for the 30th level, but it had taken them two whole days, partly because the young Zion was not strong enough.


    This time, however, not even half a day had passed since our search, and we were already at the twenty-fifth level.


    The record for the shortest search of 30 levels by a party of first-rate labyrinth explorers (searchers) is supposed to be a little over seven hours, and we are closing in on that record.


    "I''m proud of ...... my squire..."


    Helian replies with a cup of tea that Lieve has brewed for him.


    This time it''s milk tea. The tea leaves and milk from the royal brewery provide a pleasant taste, even in the gruesome labyrinth. In the absence of Lilliput, this is the only time I can relax. I savor the tea, thinking that this is the real royal milk tea, like a fool.


    "I knew it was pretty good after the Dungeon Stampede the other day, but I didn''t think it was this messed up. ....... I never thought of doing it in the first place, even before I could do it that way.


    "I''ve heard that abyssal seekers and other renowned adventurers can do much better than this."


    "Well, some of them might be able to do it, but that''s a strange comparison. I''ve never seen a surgeon like your sister.


    Biegel looks at Celes, who is sipping lemon tea feverishly.


    "This is the first time I''ve seen unarmed magic in the flesh.��I hear that no chanting puts a strain on the catalyst."


    "...... Nothing wrong with that. I got it from the foresters, and it seems to be a good match. I have plenty of magic left. Don''t worry about it.


    Celes shows the bracelet she wears as a disguise.


    Like the sorcerers of this world, it is merely a decoration to make it look like she has activated her magic using a catalyst, but it is embedded with a highly pure red magic stone.


    "The bracelet. Could it be that it is made of material from the Abyssal Forest?"


    "You''re right. It seems that the forest people processed the materials brought back by the Abyss Seekers. I think it''s called ......, or maybe it''s called "latestock" or something like that. It was made by a craftsman from there.


    "LATESTWOOD ......?��Of course, a Seeker would stop by, but were there craftsmen in that country who could make such a fine piece of art?"


    "I don''t know. But I heard that some drifters have settled here recently. He''s some kind of a strange Dwarf or Korobokkur... and he made this equipment. I don''t know the details because I haven''t met him and I got it by accident."


    "Ho ...... No, but I''m convinced. If he''s using materials from the Abyssal Forest, it''s no wonder he can do such great magic. Hey, is your mace and axe the same?"


    "An?��............ Oh, yeah, yeah. Yes, yes. My chief bought it from him. It''s pretty sturdy, so it''s pretty handy.


    Celes stared at him, and Ghardi gave his answer as if he had just remembered it.


    Biegel nodded his head as if he understood the explanation given by the two.


    He interpreted that a large part of the reason for their extraordinary skill in magic and their outstanding attack power was due to their superior equipment.


    The materials from the Abyssal Forest are rare. And the best weapons and armor on this continent are often made of materials from the Abyssal Forest ��abyss��. If they are using such materials, it is understandable that they have shown their abilities so clearly. That is the logic.


    --Of course, the reality is different.


    The equipment they are using is a drop in the bucket of general equipment that has been adopted by Alkimaira''s military. It is the kind of equipment used for training purposes. The outbursts of violence that they have just displayed are only the result of their own abilities.


    However, it is convenient if Biegel is convinced by that logic. At the same time, it is what we wanted. The setup I had made in advance worked.


    Helian''s followers are a group that boasts of their abilities equivalent to those of high-ranking adventurers, and that''s all they are. They are not monsters that pose a threat to this world. As long as they are recognized as such by those around them, there is no problem.


    "Shall we get going?


    Theon releases a voice.


    We have only been resting for about fifteen minutes, but if Zion, the main person of the group and the target of our escort, says so, there is no denying it. It is true that he has been working out to a certain extent, and his legs and feet are firm as he stands up.


    Helian stands up as well, thinking that he may be the weakest. He feels a little tired, but fortunately his body is sound. Helian motions to his followers and continues on to the next level.


    + + + +


    The rest of the journey was also uneventful and uneventful.


    The number of traps has decreased, but the number of monsters has rather increased. Even though the monsters came back from the deeper levels, the tendency that the deeper you go, the stronger the monsters become is still the same.


    However, it is not enough to bother the Gardeis. With each swing of the great axe, the Ugal turned to a lump of meat, and the pack of Gikuru turned to ashes as the brown arms wove their magic. Close encounters and annihilation occurred almost simultaneously. It is truly a great advance.


    "Even though it''s only 30 levels, I''ve never had such an easy time exploring a labyrinth. Hey, lady, do we get our full reward?��We haven''t done much since the traps ran low.


    "Please don''t worry. My father lies ...... a lot of boring lies, but he would never tell a lie about a contract. You will be paid for your services.


    "I''d like to say thank you very much, but wouldn''t that be a little awkward, Leader?��It''s almost like we''re parasites, now."


    "...... if you''re thinking it, don''t say it."


    It''s not a safe zone, but there''s even room for such conversation.


    It seems that Biegel and his friends are more serious than they appear. They may consider themselves lucky to be able to earn a lot of money for fun, but they seem to be reluctant to take the reward at face value.


    ...... No, it''s because it''s a lot of money.


    They accepted this job knowing the risk of the amount of money. There must have been a certain level of preparedness - a preparedness to mourn for their lives in case of emergency.


    However, when I opened the door, I found that the route and the speed of the march were easier than ever before. It is a job that does not require any commitment for the amount of money it costs. Perhaps their pride as adventurers would not allow them to easily win such a large sum of money in such a situation.


    (It must be, it must be, it might be... ....... It''s all in your imagination, isn''t it?)


    Shake your head and drive away the useless thoughts.


    I have led an ordinary life with no particular hardships. I can''t get an accurate answer by imagining what it must be like for a man who has earned his living through a job full of danger.


    He looks at his hands, protected by his followers. They are unblemished, untroubled palms. They are not like the hands of knights and beigels, with their sword calluses and deep wrinkles. Feeling a little embarrassed, H��lian hides his palms by clasping them together.


    "Here. I''m ready to go!


    Gardi swings his great axe in a carefree tone.


    The rock golem, skewered by a pile of earth that Celes had manifested, was cut in half by an extra-thick blade that came flying in from the side. The upper half of his body is blown backward at a furious pace, and the remaining lower half of his body crumbles when it hits the wall and shatters.


    The number of levels has already reached 30.


    The last enemy is this rock golem, which stands in front of a door that leads to a ceremonial altar, separate from the gates leading to the next level.


    ......It has been a long time since I saw this door.


    Zion stands in front of the tightly closed door, with the rock golem reduced to a wreck.


    From his pocket he pulls out a dagger with a crystal blade. The handle is also finely decorated, indicating that the use of the dagger is limited to ceremonies rather than combat.


    Zion ran the blade across his right palm, and a small stream of fresh blood dripped down the crystal blade. He then inserted the dagger, which was soaked in a light vermilion, into the keyhole of the door.


    The door that accepted the blade sent out a rippling light, and the rightful visitor was welcomed by the door, which was divided into two halves. Sion, flanked by the knights, steps forward, followed by Helian and Biegel.


    "Oh ...... this is awesome!"


    Biegel, who had gone through the door, looked around the interior and let out an exclamation of admiration.


    The hall was filled with pure light.


    It was not dazzling at all, but faint like a firefly.


    In the center of the hall, there is an altar five steps higher than the stairs.


    Helian wonders if it is more of a stage than an altar.


    Once everyone had entered the room, the door began to close without anyone touching it.


    The idea of being locked in briefly crossed my mind, but it must have been a planned event, since Zion and the knights were unperturbed.


    After the door closes with a final sound, the knights stand guard in front of the closed door. It is a position to prevent any intruder from outside, just in case.


    "......We will now begin the "tuning"."


    Theon, who had dampened his hair with fresh water, announced, "This may be a preparation for the ''tuning'' ceremony.


    Carrying a long-handled cane, which seemed to be a ritual tool, Zion stepped up to the stage with a leisurely gait, taking only five steps at a time.


    Everyone watching the scene is silent.


    While everyone is enveloped in silence, Zion begins his "tuning" at the end of the many gazes.


    It begins with a tone similar to a bell.


    With a wave of his long-handled staff, a cool, clear sound filled the hall.


    However, as if interrupting the sound, a ringing sound came from the edge of the stage.


    Theon, trying to suppress his trembling, spun around and stepped on the stage.


    The dance was a repetition.


    A hand waving a cane made a series of chimes, occasionally interrupted by a sardonic clang.


    The dancing feet moved as if to follow the trembling, and eventually the number of rings decreased.


    On the stage, everyone chose to immerse themselves in the serenity of the torchlight reflected in Zion''s wet black hair.


    Less than ten minutes later, the ringing had almost disappeared.


    Theon, who at first had moved from one end of the stage to the other, now danced in the center of the stage and did not move. After about three minutes of this, when only the sound of the bell echoed, Zion, now convinced, closed the dance in the center of the stage.


    A gasp of admiration rose up from everyone.


    Probably it was Biegel and the others, or one of the knights, but it was a convincing act that caused them to let out a voice of admiration.


    "--"Tuning" succeeded. The magical elements in the labyrinth have been completely stabilized.


    The knights showed their relief at Zion''s satisfied words.


    The most important task was now complete.


    There is still the way back, but it will not be more difficult than the way to the destination.


    For now, the biggest obstacle has been overcome.


    On the stage, Zion looked like a man of his age when he had done all he could do.


    Sweat beads on his forehead, he calmly tries to go down the stairs.


    However, he must have exhausted his stamina more than usual after dancing for more than fifteen minutes, because he caught his toe on a slight step when he tried to get down from the stage. He fell forward and lost his position.


    "...... Oh!"


    As Zion''s expression changed to a "Oh no!" look, Helian, who was nearby, reached out his hand.


    Although there were steps, it was only five steps. Even if he fell, it would not be serious. However, perhaps because he had just finished an important "tuning" session and had been distracted, Zion became more impatient than he should have been because of the unexpected event.


    His right hand scratches the sky as if asking for help in a conditioned reflex movement until he stumbles and falls down.


    The toe of his right hand brushed against Hellian''s cheek as he supported and received Zion''s body.


    The fingernail of the carefully polished fingertip slightly, slightly scratches the skin of Hellian.


    The blood oozing from the wound sticks to Zion''s palm, whose right hand had been stained vermilion by the blade.


    --If there is such a thing as a divine trick, this was it.


    If there is such a thing as a divine trick, this is exactly what it was.


    "----What?"


    I wonder which one of them was the one who muttered in a daze.


    Helian, supporting Zion, who was about to fall down.


    At the feet of both of them, a red magic circle suddenly sparkles.


    A shimmering space is created around the two men enveloped in the light.


    "What?��No way!"


    General!


    Celes and Gardi rush to the scene as quickly as they can, but they are out of reach.


    Helian made a quick decision and pushed Zion aside.


    Then Levee, who was closest to H��lian, desperately reaches out her arm, and her fingertips touch the hem of H��lian''s dress.


    The next moment. The blinding light reaches a critical point, enveloping the bodies of Helian and Lieve, and disappears like a phantom.


    + + +


    --First came the dizziness.


    Next came the shock.


    It felt as if he had fallen to the ground from a great height, but at the same time he felt a softness like a cushion.


    He wondered what it was, and when he put his hand on it, he felt an even softer sensation in his palm.


    With a confused head, he looked down and saw a woman''s body.


    "Helian!��Are you all right?


    A voice came from below, asking if they were safe.


    Helian froze for a moment and thought.


    Then, as soon as her brain rebooted and she understood the situation, she hurriedly jumped away from the top of the levee.


    "I''m sorry, I''m sorry... oh no, I''m fine. I''m fine.


    He just barely held back the urge to bow his head and first of all told them that he was uninjured.


    Riebe, who had immediately gotten up, looked at Helli��n''s whole body without caution, and then, perhaps acknowledging that he was not injured, he gave a nod with a slight exhale.


    "Was that a ...... transfer trap?"


    "It appears so. I can''t find our location. We are completely separated from Ceres and Gardi."


    Helian raises his eyebrows, "I didn''t mean to be so careless, but I didn''t expect a transfer trap here. [In Tactics Chronicle, there are two general types of transfer traps: conditional traps and mine traps. The former targets those who meet the conditions within a certain area, while the latter is triggered by those who come in contact with a specified point.


    Considering the fact that Ceres''s exploration technique was not triggered, it is likely that the former conditional type was activated in this case. Known conditions that can be considered are contact with other units, time spent in the unit, or damage to the unit, given the situation at .......


    However, I would like to ask you not to judge the last one, the damage. I don''t want to think that damage is caused just by being hit by a girl smaller than myself. How vulnerable is that?


    "Tactical Window: Open. Select: map."


    A was displayed in front of his eyes, but no topographical information of the surrounding area was displayed.


    From the surrounding area, it seems that we must be inside the labyrinth, but we seem to have been transported to an unexplored area.


    If we removed the hood that was getting in the way and observed the surroundings, we could see that the labyrinth was a fairly vast space. The only thing that came into view were stone pillars standing in disarray like large trees, but there was no end in sight. I frowned, thinking that it would be troublesome before we could join the others.


    He then opens the and tries to contact Gardi and Ceres for the time being,


    "...... connection not available?��Jamming ...... No, terrain (field) effect?"


    I couldn''t connect. Rather than failing to determine the connection, the connection was impossible to make in the first place. It seems that no matter how many times we try to make a connection, it will not work.


    As I looked around to see where I had been sent, I noticed that Lieve was staring at something. I followed his gaze and saw an old pedestal. In the wide space where only huge pillars were standing in disorder, only one part of the pedestal looked different from the others.


    On top of the pedestal was a cloudy crystal ball, as if it were an offering. Around the pedestal, the remains of swords, spears, and dismembered armor were scattered haphazardly.


    And there was a human figure leaning its back against the wall of the pedestal.


    It was bound with many chains, and was wearing a dark blue knight''s armor. It was what is called "full plate armor" that covered the entire body including the head. However, the armor, which would have shined in the past, is now dull and dusty, as if it had been left unattended for a long time.


    "The ...... corpse of a knight?"


    Just as he muttered something.


    The knight''s armor, which had been sitting there for many years, emitted a red light from a narrow slit in the side.


    The head, which had been drooping, is lifted, making a creaking sound as the metal scrapes against each other.


    "......, is it a demon of the "Living Armor" type?"


    In response, the knight''s armor shredded the chains that bound him.


    The chains, which had rusted and decayed over the years, fell apart in seconds, and the blue knight-armor was released from its restraints.


    In his right hand is a longsword. In his left hand is a kite shield. In his left hand is a kite shield. In his right hand is a full-plate armor, which covers even his head.


    The blue knight in full plate armor, equipped with no special features, stands up with ease, swings his long sword, and takes an immovable stance. Dust piled up on his body is scattered from his body like a powder snow.


    I see, Herian thinks.


    It seems that this is the master of this vast space (field).


    Since we don''t know where we are and cannot communicate with it, it would be better to take care of it first, no matter what we do.


    Having come to this conclusion, Helian was about to give the order to attack Liewe, who was standing by his side, when he noticed that ---- her ears and tail were fully erect.


    "............Lieve?"


    I ask, but there is no answer.


    Levee keeps her eyes on the blue knight''s armor without caution.


    She was on alert like a wild wolf in front of a hunter.


    ...... That''s good.


    It''s better than being taken for a fool.


    It is better than taking a licking. Since the enemy was waiting for us when we were thrown into the trap, it is a good attitude to be on high alert.


    However, Levee had released her fully humanized form.


    He had reverted to his moon wolf form, with the silver hairs on his tail and ears standing up.


    The moon-wolf had returned to its humanoid form without any permission.


    "...... please run away, Miss Helian."


    Helian stiffens at the tense tone of the voice.


    Levee now speaks not <>, but <>.


    The two words are not alike.


    What it means is...


    "......Lieve. That thing is ...... what is the threat level (rank) of that blue knight,......?"


    While Helian was stunned by the question.


    Rieve told him shortly and simply what he had seen.


    It is a "mythological threat" - SS rank.


    Helian''s eyes peel back in shock.


    Mythical threat (SS rank).


    It meant that he was of the same rank as the [Dusk Dragon], the wing of Alkimaira, and Nogard Nibelung, the commander of the 8th Legion.


    Helian''s gaze, his thoughts tinged with blankness.


    The blue knight was keeping an immovable posture and spilling the red light of hostility from his slit.

 53 - Twenty-second "Roaring"

    In the endless vastness of space.


    Helian stood dumbfounded in the face of the threat (SS rank) of the blue knight, which was not supposed to exist.


    The blue knight remained motionless. He does not seem to show any new movement. However, this immobility is due to the fact that we are not moving. The red eyes peering through the slit show clear hostility. If we make a move forward or backward, he will attack us immediately.


    Levee, too, is keeping herself immobile and watching the blue knight with eyes that are on her guard. If the blue knight makes even a slight movement, she immediately starts her action. Conversely, she is also prepared to remain immobile until the blue knight makes a move. She just remains still and waits for instructions from her master.


    Therefore, all the decisions in this situation are left to one individual, Helian. As long as Helian decides and does not move, both of them will continue to remain steadfast.


    Then, Helian thinks to himself, for the umpteenth time, the question of the current situation.


    ��How can this happen?)


    I had planned this carefully in my own way.


    I had somehow managed to keep my eyes on the work that kept pouring in one after another, and I had decided to face up to my shortcomings without looking away and to keep trying to be the "king of all demons" until the day when I could go home.


    I am not confident enough to be proud that this is the best way.


    Even so, I thought it through to the best of my ability, agonized over what I could do, and, almost crushed under the weight of the responsibility I was about to take on, I worked out a plan in the limited time I had and gathered up my courage and left the country.


    --And yet, the reality is so cruel.


    The plan that he had worked so hard to create went haywire even before he reached his destination, and he ended up getting involved with powerful people with whom he had no business being in contact.


    Even so, I tried to somehow correct the course of events, but on the second day of my arrival, I intervened in a riot that caused the labyrinth to run amok, and I was completely noticed.


    Furthermore, because he was trapped by his own choice, he could not refuse the request of the frontier count and had to participate in the labyrinth search, forcing him into a state of isolation, thus witnessing a mythical threat that should not exist in an unknown place.


    "----"


    The situation is so cruel.


    I can only assume that we are now completely cursed.


    Things are not going as planned, and one after another, difficulties are coming one after another, forcing us to make choices.


    And yet, all the efforts we have made to do what we believe is best have borne no fruit.


    Furthermore, the situation forces us to make choices without regard to our circumstances.


    It is as if we are playing with our destiny.


    Everything that strikes you is a series of absurdities.


    Nothing is as it seems.


    It''s beyond unreasonable!


    "------What''s up with that (????????)?"


    With a strange sound, my consciousness (switch) switches.


    The image etched in my brain resembles a gun claw.


    The force with which the button station is struck is like the force with which a hammer is dropped.


    The transformation of consciousness is instantaneous.


    Tsukasa Misaki puts on a mask and stands there as the Helian, the King of All Evil.


    "......Yes, that''s right. This world is unreasonable, that''s not true..."


    I knew that long ago.


    Because it''s only real.


    Real life always forces us to make unreasonable choices suddenly.


    No matter how carefully you plan your life, the gears are always out of alignment, and there are only a few times when things go according to plan.


    This is why Tsukasa Misaki was attracted to virtual reality.


    He indulged himself in the gentle world that promised to reward him with an equivalent amount of experience (return) for his efforts. I spent a large part of my adolescence absorbed in this perfect box garden composed of numerical values. I continued to immerse myself in this dreamlike second world.


    But this is now reality.


    It is no longer a convenient illusion composed of zeros and ones, but an undeniable and cruel reality.


    "Function Window: Open


    Tsukasa Misaki must have already been aware of this unacceptable fact.


    He had arrived at the "place of beginnings" that day after all the suffering and panting he had endured.


    Pushed by a certain noble sister...


    And so you acknowledged it.


    This world is real, no matter how you look at it.


    "Activation: Moon Wolf


    Then how can you lose heart at a place like this?


    This is the result of a choice you made.


    Then you need to take responsibility for the consequences.


    Choice and responsibility are supposed to be such things.


    It is not something special, but a common sense that we all take for granted.


    Additional settings (configuration): Execute (on). Subconfirmation: Cut."


    So don''t look down.


    Do not look away.


    How can you run away from the consequences of your choices?


    Everything was decided by you!


    "Secret Activation Declaration "Fobidun Phantasm": "Crimson Moon Blessing"!


    With the declaration, something precious is taken from the body.


    The life force that has been drained from the body is devoured by the system and converted into food for activating the secret. The body of the first subordinate is taken into itself.


    At the same time, pain strikes you. But he does not show an expression of anguish. With his mask on, he is completely unmasked, and such a state of disregard is out of the question.


    I am about to go into battle - no, it is not the form of the King of All Evil to moan in anguish even before he fights in front of his men who are about to be thrown into battle by my hand.


    "...... Helian-sama?"


    Levee let out a bewildered voice as she wondered how she had received the act of invoking the secret.


    "There is no escape, Rieve. I don''t care what it is, but if it is an obstacle to us, we will defeat it.


    "But, however, we are completely separated from Gardi and Ceres. In this situation, a head-on battle with a mythological threat is not an option. ......"


    Yes, indeed, we are divided.


    The chariot (rook) and the priest (bishop) are already lost.


    The pieces have fallen off.


    The situation is hopeless.


    But..,


    "I still have you. The other Rieve-Frekiwurz is here.


    --Then where is the reason to run away?


    A gasping sound arose nearby.


    Regardless, Helian takes a step forward.


    --Yes, yes. Yes, I still have Lieve.


    I still have my first lieutenant, the only one I decided to trust on that day of my death.


    Then how can I show my frightened and bewildered appearance at the mere appearance of a mythical foe?


    In the name of Helian Edda Elsinorek, King of All Evil.


    Alkimaira commands her eyes, Lieve-Frekiurs.


    He holds his right arm out straight.


    At the tip of his right hand, with five fingers raised, is a mysterious blue knight.


    A mythical threat of unknown identity.


    The enemy is powerful.


    He has only one man under his command.


    But I am left with my first and most trusted subordinate, the Queen!


    Then don''t be afraid.


    Show your authority with a toothy grin.


    Scream without hesitation.


    There is only one word to shout!


    "---- destroy!


    + + +


    --And the first men heard the king''s decree.


    How to express the shock of that moment, he wondered.


    She thinks about it with overflowing emotions.


    ...... I''ve been anxious all my life.


    She has spent many sleepless nights alone with her sins.


    I spent many nights agonizing over how to regain her trust.


    He feared that one day he would be abandoned.


    But the king told me that there was no need to run away.


    He was alone in the face of an unidentified mythical threat.


    Still, he told me that there was no need to flee because I had you.


    --I thought he told me that he believed in me.


    Maybe I was mistaken.


    Maybe it was just an ego trip.


    But that''s what I thought for sure.


    "Guru ......"


    A sound spills out from Gekkou''s throat.


    The roar that began with a "R," soon became a series of sounds.


    "Rrrrrrrrrrr ......!"


    Both hands shuddered with rage, and then formed fists harder than blades.


    The breath that poured from the crevices of his clenched fangs was like burning heat.


    The outpouring of hidden emotions fills the body with two words: elation.


    An unbearable urge ran through my body via my bloodstream.


    The heat and the sound.


    There is no reason to stop now.


    Gekkou surrendered to the surging impulse.


    The boiling passion turned into a scarlet roar and gushed out.


    --Howling Moon.


    The scream was sublimated as a skill and activated.


    A high roar that announces the start of war.


    The cry that shakes the air gives power to the body of the moon wolf, and brings the effect of basic combat ability enhancement (status buff).


    Gekkou, his whole body filled with the will to fight, turned into a spear and plunged into the blue knight in order to immediately carry out the royal command entrusted to him.


    --The duel in the mythical realm opened the curtain.

 54 - CHAPTER XXIII "Duel in the Mythology Area"

    The divine battle opened with the sound of sword fights and fist blows.


    The former belonged to the blue knight and the latter to the moon wolf.


    The blue knight''s weapon was a broad knight''s sword. However, he was handling it with one hand, and it was so heavy that it could not be handled even with two hands. The azure-silver sword blade with its ornate decoration, however, casts numerous slashing shadows in the air against its weight.


    On the other hand, Gekkou''s weapon is a red-colored gauntlet. The fist blows that Levee, the saint of fists, delivers are even greater than those of an alkimaira-made hammer. A left jab delivered with only wrist and upper arm movement is powerful enough to destroy the frontal armor of a modern main battle tank (MBT).


    They collided.


    The sword flash was deflected by a fist strike, and the fist strike was parried by the blade of the sword.


    In the blink of an eye, they hit 28 times.


    Each blow shook the atmosphere, and the two were sent flying in opposite directions at the twenty-ninth station.


    A beat later, the aftermath of the shock blew up.


    The aftermath turned into a storm of violence, destroying many of the stone pillars that had been erected around the two men.


    The result of the sliced stone pillars is the result of the shining of the blue knight''s sword, and the remnants of the former stone pillars shattered into tiny pieces are the result of the piercing of the red basket hand.


    The first contact between the two has been completed.


    However, even after such an attack and defense, both parties remained unharmed.


    Not a single cut was found on Riebe''s body. There is not a single blow mark on the blue knight''s armor.


    If there was any change from before the contact, the dust on the armor of the blue knight scattered like phosphorous.


    --A monster.


    If there were spectators who witnessed the scene, they must have thought so.


    Even though they were only exchanging looks, the two were already moving out of the ordinary.


    No, even if there had been spectators, they would not have been able to see them in the first place. At best, we could only guess that some destructive phenomenon had occurred from the sound of the delayed impact and the damage caused by the stone pillars that were scattered around the area.


    --The reason for this is the mythical threat. That''s why it''s a divine battle.


    It is lukewarm to say that they are monsters. From the very beginning, both of them have been non-humans. It is wrong to compare them with such fragile creatures as human beings.


    They are not in the realm of ordinary human perception, but both are transcendent beings of mythic majesty. It is absurd for a person without power to try to estimate them. The scene unfolding before your eyes is a duel in the realm of myths between mythological threats.


    But there was one who was watching the battle.


    No.


    There was a weak man there, who was in the battle.


    "Tactical Window": Multiple Opening. Customized mode: single combat (duel)."


    Helian opens multiple by verbal operation.


    Using pre-customized settings, she calls up a , , and optimized for single combat against single combatants.


    A swarm of numerous encircle the 140 degrees in front of Helian''s field of vision.


    In particular, the have been filtered to extract the most appropriate necessary information based on the rule of thumb obtained through years of play in order to grasp the combat situation and analyze and investigate it. Since the information required varies widely depending on the situation, the most number of of the is six.


    The transparency of the many virtual windows that were displayed in front of his eyes was also carefully controlled, and he had found an exquisite setting that allowed him to read the virtual windows while watching the battle. Helian is able to grasp the battle situation that ordinary people cannot read by making full use of numerous .


    "----!"


    The sound of another collision. The second attack has begun.


    The sword flashes that split the sky and the fists that darted through the air were sharper and stronger than before. The sword and fists converge with great power that would blow down the walls of the castle if unchecked, and the numerous attacks that are unleashed at an output optimized for slaughtering the enemy in front of them sometimes even twist the laws of physics.


    Perhaps giving priority to letting his attackers pass through first rather than evading or defending himself, the blue knight stepped deeper than before and entered into the bosom of Levee.


    In response to his move, Liewe immediately fired an intercepting fist. It hit. It was not a direct hit, but it gouged the right shoulder armor of the armor. At the cost of the damage, the blue knight swung up from a close range.


    The sword blade came to cut off his head. Liewe ducked the sword by turning her back, but a shield bash came to her unprotected abdomen. A direct hit. The Seventh Legion''s battle armor reduced some of the impact, but the force of the blow was so great that her legs, which should have been firmly rooted, floated.


    However, Liewe ignored the damage and struck a kick to the left elbow of the blue knight with his floating right leg. Her toe, which aimed at the thinly armored joint, slightly shifted the point of impact, but inflicted enough damage to the blue knight that he almost took off his shield.


    The sound of the collision was very strong.


    Levee and the blue knight open the gap between them again as if they were going to fly apart.


    There is no significant difference in the amount of damage caused by the attack and defense just now, and it seems that both of them are very competitive in the battle so far.


    It is not because they are both mythological threats (SS rank) that they are evenly matched.


    To begin with, the mythological threat (SS rank) is a threat level (rank) given to all those who exceed a certain level of combat power. In other words, those who have "immeasurable strength" are all ranked as mythological threats (SS rank), a rank with no upper limit.


    Therefore, it is not possible to compare the strength of the two ranks based on a simple threat level (rank) alone, as is the case with ranks G through S, which have an upper and lower limit.


    To take it to the extreme, even if a demon who has just barely reached the mythological threat (SS rank) challenges the commander of the 8th Legion (Nogarde), it will be defeated with a probability of more than 90%.


    Therefore, even if the king (player) can recognize the mythological threat (SS rank), it is not a factor for the king (player) to judge whether or not he can win the battle.


    After all, it is literally an enemy with "immeasurable strength.


    You will not know the victory or defeat until you challenge the battle, and the existence that interrupts the calculation formula as a great variable value as a strategy - that is the mythical class threat.


    "A lie aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! (a)a(a)--!"


    They must have given up on the exchange of fire in rapid succession. The blue knight, who took a large backstep to keep his distance, fixed his shield on his folded arms and rushed forward with all his might with a roar. His posture as if he was pushing his shield over his shoulder indicates his choice of pure force.


    Liewe, on the other hand, responded and intercepted them head-on. The two, accelerated beyond the speed of a bullet, collide with each other within a short distance, resulting in an antagonistic confrontation. Their bodies are not blown away from each other, but are balanced on the spot.


    Rieve gritted his teeth at this fact.


    Her physical strength (STR) has reached SS after activating "Red Moon Blessing".


    As a moon wolf and a fist saint, Rieve''s physical strength is the second highest after Galdi''s among the eight major corps leaders, and she was expected to have a certain advantage when it came to force.


    However, Blue Knight did not give up even a single step in a push-and-pull contest with Rieve. This meant that they were almost evenly matched in terms of physical strength.


    "Ugh ......!"


    Rieve has already given himself a strengthening technique.


    The buff from Howling Moon is still in effect.


    As a result, her physical strength has reached a considerable height, but this is the limit of enhancement by ordinary skills.


    This is because she has reached the upper limit of her basic combat ability (status), which is set for each race.


    Even for the [moon wolf], which is one of the highest ranked races, the enhancement of her physical strength cannot be achieved any more, no matter how many skills are applied to her.


    --But there is a power here that overturns that assumption.


    "The secret declaration of Fobidun Phantasms: Vermilion Stigmata."


    This battle is one-on-one - the battle scale is defined as a solo battle.


    The secret of Levee''s greatest trump card cannot be used because it is included in the activation conditions of a large-scale war (full-scale war), but she had also acquired several other excellent secrets representing the "Red Moon Blessing".


    The conditions for acquiring these secrets are very strict. There is no guarantee that the acquired secrets will be of any use, and some of them even have no practical use at all, as if they were wandering weapons, consuming not only the king''s (player''s) life (life) but also three whole "life stocks" just by activating them once. . and In addition, the condition that it cannot be activated unless the player is near the king is a big disadvantage.


    However, as the most intensively trained of all the subordinates, and as a character who always stays with Helian as a close aide of the king, her operation method is basically the same as that of the king (Helian). Therefore, she was given a concept of training her to be specialized in single combat, but also specialized in secret knowledge.


    Now, her power will be fully demonstrated.


    "----!"


    The "Stigmata of Vermilion Moon" was activated, and the surface of Riebe''s body, enveloped in a crimson aura from the "Blessing of Red Moon," was covered with an exceptionally strong light.


    As if by natural chance, the secret of the "Blessing of the Red Moon" breaks through the barrier of the upper limit that cannot be exceeded by skill.


    The vivid vermilion light imprinted an imprint around both of Levee''s arms, and both of her fists were loaded with new power.


    The effect of this secret is to strengthen his physical strength (STR) and to amplify his attack power by consuming a number of times.


    By consuming the engraving that has just been engraved, the instantaneous attack power is explosively increased.


    And it is not a skill, but a support effect (buff) brought by the secret.


    The magnification is well-known.


    The maximum number of strokes of the mark is eight, but only four strokes were judged to be successful.


    Rieve decides that it is enough.


    She does not intend to enter into a long-term battle that will continue to drain the Lord''s life.


    Her aim was a very short-term battle from the beginning.


    "Huh!


    He pushes back the shield at once with his physical strength that has surpassed the limit.


    Then, Liewe, who had gained the advantage of leaning forward, shot the shield and the blue knight''s body away with her strong force from the close contact with the shield.


    As a result of Ao knight''s stopping while scraping the ground with his heel, a distance of 100 meters is created between the two.


    Rieve dared to charge with a roar.


    The distance between them becomes zero in the time it takes a moment.


    First of all, she consumed a stroke of her right arm, and then she fired a fist strike at the knight''s sword which the blue knight wielded to intercept her.


    Collision.


    Next, the sound of explosion.


    Following the sound of the explosion, what reached Lieve''s wolf ears was the sound of the crack of a blow.


    The wide, thick blade of the sword was split in half and the tip of the sword flew through the air.


    The tip of the sword tip flew through the air. In return, fresh blood splashed from Lieve''s right fist, but she paid no attention to it.


    She immediately followed up with a blow.


    She spent a section of her left arm and fired a blow at the blue knight''s kite shield.


    Although the shield was not shattered, probably because the durability value of the shield was higher than that of the knight''s sword, the shield was largely bounced off the blue knight''s left arm by the excessive force of the blow.


    The shield was completely empty.


    A perfect opportunity.


    There is no way he could have missed it.


    The mark left on each arm is a stroke.


    Activating one of the two engravings on the left arm, Lieve jumped into the blue knight''s pocket.


    The intercepting blade was released as quickly as possible. The half-broken knight''s sword gouges into Liewe''s stomach.


    --No problem. This level of damage is not fatal.


    Riebe steps further with an immediate response and strikes a direct blow with his left fist, which has gained explosive power.


    "Ya(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)".


    A blue knight screams out.


    The cry of steel, which cannot be considered a human language, filled the battlefield with the sound of grief.


    But the moon wolf did not slacken its pursuit.


    The engraving on his right arm is activated.


    The real blow.


    Gekkou holds his right fist at his waist and shoots forward with his whole body as a launching pad.


    "Oooooooooooooo----!"


    At the same time as the bullet landed, there was an explosion sound that could not have been produced by a fist.


    The atmosphere caught in the fist screamed, as if from the release of too much offensive power.


    The blue knight''s screams were drowned out by the sound of the explosion and the screams of the atmosphere.


    "I(G)lie(A)a(a)......a(A)a(a)a(r)......a(A)a(a)a(a)r )......--"


    And when the atmosphere that had fled and scattered returned...


    The abdominal armor of the blue knight, which could only grunt no longer, had a wind hole so large that the view on the other side could be seen.


    Soon, the blue knight stopped moaning and completely stopped moving. The remains of the knight lying on the cobblestone pavement did not move again, and the winner and the loser were decided here.


    "----"


    For your information, thirty-two seconds.


    If the opening is abrupt, the closing is also abrupt.


    The battle between those who have been in the mythical realm of each other ended in a short decisive battle, just as Gekkoh had planned.


    --It''s supposed to be.


    "----!


    It''s not a coincidence that I realized it, but it''s inevitable.


    I had a flashback to the traumatic failure during the rebellion.


    The regrets of the past sent out a loud warning.


    The cry of instinct, that nothing is over yet, pushes Gekko''s body forward.


    --A flash.


    A knight''s sword cleaves the space where Lieve''s head had been a moment ago, from the side.


    The hair, lagging behind the movement of the head, becomes silver threads, flying through the air in pieces.


    The blue knight, who was supposed to be a corpse, is there.


    "What, ......?


    Blinding astonishment.


    So was her master.


    The corpse lying in front of Gekiwa''s eyes vanishes, and the blue knight reappears in the direction to her right.


    (a)a(a)--!"


    ".........ck!"


    He somehow managed to handle the wildly released continuous flashes and move out of the way.


    Then Lieve saw that the blue knight had repaired the wound in his abdomen.


    Even though the wound was completely fatal, even the destroyed weapon was restored, and there is the blue knight wielding his knightly sword furiously.


    Rieve was unreasonable and astonished at the sight of the blue knight, and she immediately discarded her feelings.


    She is accustomed to erasing her emotions.


    It is a memory that has tormented her night after night since the abominable blunder.


    The outpouring of emotions was less upsetting, and my consciousness and body immediately returned to top gear.


    If it came back to life, then all I had to do was kill it again.


    Rieve concluded, and unleashed a continuous barrage of blows.


    The blue knight responded to the barrage with a flurry of flashes.


    The speed of exchanges increased, and it soon shifted to a high-speed maneuver battle, running across the battlefield in all directions.


    Leaving behind the sound of explosions made on this side, blue swords and red fists wielded fiercely on the other side.


    The red aura from the "Red Moon Blessing" still enveloped Gekko''s whole body, but the "Vermilion Moon Stigmata" were all used up. This is a situation in which she has no decisive power.


    However, Gekko, who does not want to eat her master''s life any more, has given up the idea of pushing through with simple offensive power, and has chosen to attack with a different kind of attack.


    "Raging Commandment!"


    The skill that was activated was a binding skill that belongs to the immediate-activation type of interference system.


    It extended in response to her will and bound the blue knight''s body in layers. The divine leather, which would bind a B rank or lower demon without question, was, however, torn to pieces by the blue knight''s physical strength. As a result, he was able to obstruct the movement of the enemy in front of him for only one second.


    "Dromi, the commandment of the divine iron!"


    One second is enough.


    Without a pause, he activates his binding skill with a cast time.


    The divine iron, which has twice the binding power of Raising, binds the blue knight''s body.


    In that short time, which probably lasts no more than three seconds, Levee creates a new armament by fusing the chi and magic in her body and the power of the "Red Moon Blessing" that she wears.


    It was originally a skill that could only be used when the effect of the terrain (field) of [under the moon] was obtained.


    This place is somewhere in the labyrinth - probably a pseudo-expanded subspace - and the time is not even dusk. The moonlight does not reach the battlefield, and the activation of the skill would normally fail 100% of the time.


    However, she is now surrounded by the "Red Moon Blessing.


    As long as she has this blessing, the moonlight will always be with the moon wolf.


    Moon Sword, stay!


    At the moon wolf''s request, a large sword woven with moonlight appeared behind her shoulders.


    Three swords appeared on each side and stayed in the air for a total of six swords, which looked like the wings of the moon wolf, partly because of their length and fluidity.


    Rieve-Frekiwurz''s occupation is [fist saint].


    She is also a versatile character who has experienced many jobs before she became a "fist saint".


    He is also skilled in the use of swords, and his three-paired, six-winged greatswords are woven with moonlight.


    Then there is no reason why she, a moon wolf, should not be able to handle it.


    "Moon Sword, dance!"


    Six moon swords dance in response to Levee''s cry.


    The moon swords lay down their blades at the optimum angle to the knightly blows wielded by the blue knight.


    But the blue knight is no slouch. The great swords woven by the moonlight shattered like a glasswork and were destroyed in a total of eight blows.


    --I don''t care.


    Even that is a decoy. The purpose of the six moon swords is also to buy time. And the moon swords have accomplished their task perfectly. Levee, who had time to knead her ki at close range of the blue knight, held out both of her palms with her five-fingered hands with a piercing kiai.


    From her arms outstretched in front of her, she released a torrent of moonlight.


    "----!


    It was a bombardment of absolute destruction, combining the ki and magic power that had been kneaded over time, and infusing all the power of the "Red Moon Blessing".


    The armor of the blue knight is massive and has good defense, but it is not as agile as the blue knight. Even a slight decrease in speed, which would be a mere margin of error against a lower-ranked opponent, can sometimes be fatal in a divine battle between mythological threats.


    And to top it off, the two bondage skills that consumed a large amount of magic power and the support attack with the great sword of moonlight created an opening for the melee bombardment. There is no way to avoid them.


    At the cost of the cancellation of the "Red Moon Blessing," they unleashed a large caliber fire with all their might.


    The torrent of moonlight unleashed from almost zero distance engulfed the body of the blue knight and completely obliterated his torso.


    After the reddish residue of the moonlight disappeared, what was left was the wreckage of the blue knight who had lost the upper half of his body.


    "----"


    Thus, the blue knight died.


    The non-living creature may have been of the Living Armor type, but if the core of its head and heart were not only destroyed, but annihilated, it could only "die.


    The second death.


    Rieve is sure that she has taken the life of the blue knight.


    But why, she asks herself.


    Even though she has killed twice, her instinct as a moon wolf continues to warn her that the battle is not over.


    And that instinct was right to the end.


    "---- immortal, are you?"


    The body of the blue knight, which is now only the lower half of his body, disappears.


    Instead, the blue knight reappears, clad in armor without a scratch on his body.


    Although he has already died twice, there is not the slightest sign of his will to fight.


    The blue knight''s eyes twinkled with hostility through the slit, and he quietly readied his wide knight''s sword.


    "You call yourself a knight with many lives ......?"


    Rieve has never known such a monster.


    To begin with, she has only seen an enemy that possesses the ability to revive itself once in her 150 years of life.


    It is true that the ringleader of the recent rebellion had the unique skill to fight back only once after his death. However, it was not even close to revival, and even such an ability is quite rare. Furthermore, the ability to not only revive completely but also to survive a second death is too much to be denied.


    However, on this battlefield, Rieve has no choice but to retreat.


    This is a battle that he has received a royal command from his Lord.


    And when the life of the king is at stake, there is no other outcome in this battle that Rieve can allow himself but victory.


    "Then I will continue to kill until I die!"


    He bends his knees and shoots out his legs in an instant.


    With a single breath, Gekkoh pushed his body to the fastest speed and dared to charge for what might have been the first time in his life.

 55 - CHAPTER XXIV "Duel in the Mythology Area"

    A flash of light twinkles.


    The source of the light is a knight''s sword held by a blue knight.


    With a swinging motion, azure light gushed out from the tip of the sword, a blow that reached to the end of the horizon.


    The targeted moon wolf reacted with a desperate movement.


    He twisted himself forcibly from the charging action and tried to get out of the line of fire of the vertical stroke which was swung far away from him.


    He dodged.


    A thin azure light passes just a hair''s breadth ahead of him.


    What he paid for his forced evasive maneuver was the momentum of the assault and the time he had to allow for the pursuit.


    The blue knight, who was positioned at a distance from the target, thrust his sword into the stone pavement and drew two magic circles in the void with his free hands.


    "You can even trick magic with a knight''s body!


    The words he uttered were answered by an extremely large fireball.


    The fireball trailed like a meteor, and approached the moon wolf faster than a cannonball.


    Again evasive maneuver. Impossible, I''m out of position, I won''t make it in time.


    Then cancel it out. Impossible, it''s too big! The amount of magic power contained in the approaching fireball of crimson lotus is so great that even Gekkou cannot destroy it without a full-bodied blow that requires a pause.


    Rieve instantly threw away the option of getting through unscathed and deployed a simple anti-magic barrier with all her might.


    The bomb exploded as soon as it hit the target. A roar filled the space. Moreover, the sound of the explosion is not limited to a single shot.


    The blue knight, perhaps responding to the direct hit (clean hit), chose to fire continuously without interruption.


    The explosion sounded like a bundle of music, and the blooming crimson lotus filled the view.


    --The eighth shot was the first to escape.


    Gekkou, escaping from the relentless bombardment with his crossed arms as shields, sprinted toward the blue knight with the same momentum that he had gained after the breakthrough!


    "----!"


    He cut through the flying blue flashes and came very close to the target.


    Close combat. Both fighters are at the point where they can display their maximum strength.


    Moon Wolf and Blue Knight exchanged fists and swords again.


    Their fists roared.


    Blades tearing the sky.


    A barrage of blows that would kill a demon of less than A rank with a single blow.


    The sound of the aftermath is even more intense than the great fireball that just hit, and the shockwave created is more destructive than a thunderstorm.


    Both sides wound each other, heal each other''s wounds, and build more effective tactics as they fight.


    And Helian, who was watching the battle from a distance, let out a roar of pain at the sight before him.


    "Screw you ......!"


    The battle unfolding before our eyes is truly a divine battle.


    Forces of a different dimension from that of humans repeatedly collide with each other, manifesting subgod-like abilities. The power of the sword flashes and fist blows is so great that it seems as if this space itself could be shattered.


    It is now a humanoid destructive phenomenon.


    It is a disaster with a will that no human being can even resist.


    A tyrannical event that just happens to take human form.


    That was Helian''s honest impression after seeing it directly with his own eyes, without the filter of [Tactics Chronicle].


    However, that was not the cause of the abuse he had just uttered.


    It was about the many abilities of the blue knights, which seemed to be nothing but anomalies even though he knew that they were mythological threats.


    Based on Hellian''s knowledge, the blue knight is definitely a close combatant.


    This is evident from their equipment configuration of heavy armor, shields, and splendid knight''s swords. It is not some kind of disguise to induce misidentification by the adversary. Each blow of the knight''s sword is heavy and sharp, and inflicts damage beyond the Gekkou''s strong defenses.


    However, if he is a close combatant, the power of the large fireball he just fired is not right.


    Like the moonlight bombardment by Lieve, there are indeed long-range attacks with great power even in the vanguard.


    However, what Blue Knight used was a pure "magic" attack. The fact that Liewe used an anti-magic barrier instead of an anti-physical barrier is a proof of this.


    Moon wolves'' resistance to magic is not low. Among them, Leewe''s magic resistance exceeds 255, which is usually the highest level, and has raised its total level to 300 through repeated reincarnations.


    It is extraordinary that a blue knight, who is supposed to be a close combatant, can easily break through such magic resistance and inflict damage without using secret secrets.


    Above all, the blue knight has already died seven times.


    He was driven to death at the hands of Levee, who changed his tactics and used methods he had learned from his many years of actual combat experience, but each time he was revived instantly.


    --It is impossible.


    At least in [Tactics Chronicle], such ability is not confirmed. The reason is that there is a general rule that only the king (player) can resuscitate his subordinates. Unless they are reincarnated, they can only be reincarnated twice.


    In such a situation, the special ability to revive oneself more than seven times. This is extraordinary by any standards. It is possible that it is a unique skill that Hellian does not know about, but a unique skill that allows a person to revive himself more than seven times is beyond insane.


    When a superpower in a certain world made inroads into the universe, the balance of the game was also discussed, but this is no less a peculiar phenomenon than that.


    "Gggg......!"


    Suddenly, an intense pain shot through my skull.


    This was no ordinary headache. It was the same kind of pain that he had felt when he had abused the secret of the Ratestwood capital. Perhaps his life force is being depleted.


    He has already used the secret of the spell many times.


    No matter how practical and cost-effective Riebe''s secrets are, Helian''s vitality will run out sooner or later if he uses them over and over again.


    However, it is not an easy enemy to fight without secrets.


    "Declaration of secret activation "Fobidun Phantasm": "Bloody Makeup"".


    The newly invoked secret belongs to the body strengthening system, which can be used only under the condition that the accumulated damage in the battle exceeds 50% of the maximum HP.


    It boasts a strengthening ratio equivalent to that of the "Red Moon Blessing" and also has the effect of imparting two fixed strokes of the same mark as that of the "Vermilion Moon Stigmata.


    "--k,a......!"


    The headache increased in return.


    The invisible nails pressed against my skull became sharper and sharper, as if they were digging deeper and deeper into my skull (image). He clenched his fist so hard that the nail dug in, and bit down on his voice in anguish.


    Do not let them know of your pain. Such an act of cruelty would disturb Levee''s state of mind. Riebe, who is on the edge of battle, could not let his pain be known.


    However, Gekko''s senses, which had regained their sharpness after his return to the demon form, sensed the Lord''s disorder with great acuity. In the midst of a high-speed battle that spared not even a blink of an eye, something akin to a sense of loyalty that had reached the point of instinct rang out in her brain, .


    ,


    "Leave it, Lieve!��Only look at the enemy!


    The voice of the king stopped him.


    A moment''s hesitation.


    But still he was unable to break free of his hesitation,


    "Is your king a man who would fall to his knees at this level?


    With a single word, he cut them off.


    The moon wolf no longer looks back.


    To look back at this point would be to spit on the king.


    Therefore, Gekko looks only at the enemy and sprints to complete his order as quickly as possible, even if it takes only a minute or a second.


    "......,......!"


    With her back in sight, the pain-stricken Helian picked up a water potion to restore her life force. He had already used one of these potions in this battle. This is the second and last bottle he has.


    The life potion is a very rare item, and I drank almost all of it in the battle in the capital of Ratestwood. The few remaining stocks were provided to the research team of the 4th Legion as reagents to study whether or not it would be possible to make a potion that would have the same effect on vegetation in this world, and these two bottles were the only ones that could be brought out from the home country.


    I wanted to save as much as possible for later, but that could not be said in the current situation where I was in so much pain that I could not think straight. I removed the lid with one hand and slurped down the contents, and although there was a lingering headache, the pain was lessened. Helian, who has somehow regained his ability to think, once again looks at the battlefield through the virtual window.


    Levee has already caused seven deaths to the blue knight, and the damage she has sustained in the process is not insignificant. She heals her wounds with her self-healing skills, but she also uses various other skills. With this situation, her magical power will be depleted before her physical strength. The odds of winning the game are dropping by the minute. We must hurry to settle the matter.


    (Think ......!)


    The entanglements hidden in its invulnerability.


    The art of defeating the knight.


    The winning strategy to lead the squire to victory.


    That''s what we must think about.


    The role of the king (player), who has no fighting ability, is essentially to think in order to lead his forces to victory.


    Winning before fighting is the essence of the role, but there were cases in which unexpected battles occurred.


    A king (player) who, when forced into such a situation, leaves the battle to his subordinates and quietly watches the battle is no better than a third-rate player.


    Whenever a blue knight is crushed in the skull or shot through the heart, he transcends death and immediately revives completely. However, no one is truly immortal. In all ages, immortality usually has a gimmick or a condition. Like mistletoe for Baldur or leaves of the Bodhisattva tree for Siegfried, even mythological immortal heroes have factors that lead to their death. If so, there must be some mechanism in the immortality of the blue knight, and if we cannot find out the mechanism, there is no chance for us to win.


    If he is truly immortal, we have no choice but to give up, but we have already given up the option of giving up. He stares at the numerous "windows in disguise," and his fevered brain is piling up thoughts.


    "--......!


    At that moment, Levee''s body was hit with a powerful blow.


    The blow was so strong that he could not even catch himself and fell on his back. It took a fatal moment for him to regain his posture. Rieve, who had accurately grasped the situation, had a vision of his own death.


    However, when he jumped up his face, he saw not a deadly sword blade coming to cut off his head, but a blue knight who created more than fifty thunderbolts on the spot. It was as if he had not expected this. Rieve, who was preparing for a melee attack, was caught completely off-guard by the continuous stream of Shiden bullets. Realizing instantly that he would not be able to deploy the barrier in time, he foolishly uses his left arm as a shield.


    Immediately after, there was a thunderous roar as if thousands of bamboo sticks had been cracked open.


    Leewe narrowly escapes from the lethal zone where he was exposed to a flash of lightning and thunder so strong that it crushed his eyes. However, at a cost, her left arm was blackened as if carbonized, and her whole body was emitting smoke from the electric shock.


    Significant critical damage. It is not difficult to imagine that her whole body would have been burnt to a crisp if she had delayed her response even for a moment, but this is the result even after sacrificing one arm to prevent it. Rieve''s willow brow twists into an anguished expression and she uses the little remaining magic power she has to heal her left arm.


    In order to make time for recovery, it is a situation in which he would like to bring them into a check-and-balance situation while keeping an open distance between them if possible. However, he had a feeling that he would be pushed out of the battle if he fell behind. Rieve healed his left arm at a minimum and immediately closed the gap to challenge for the dozens of times to a close combat.


    Helian, who witnessed the whole scene through the battle record extracted from the , had a strong doubt in his mind.


    (---- What was that?)


    The magic attack must have been unexpected for Levee. The fact that he was caught off guard by the deployment of the barrier, which would have been just in time according to his past combat experience, and the fact that he could not afford to take even that minimum defensive action, shows the fact that he was caught off guard.


    As a result, Riebe suffered severe damage from the unexpected attack. The recovery by self-healing skills has not caught up with her, and at this rate, it is inevitable that she will be overwhelmed and defeated in the near future. The attack was enough to determine the nightmarish future.


    --That is why it does not make sense.


    Because this was a fatal opportunity for Levee, and a perfect opportunity for the blue knight. The fight would have been over if he had closed the gap and went to cut off Lieve''s head immediately, even if he had not made the unexpected magic attack.


    That is why the battle has not yet been continued.


    (Why did you bother to choose a magic attack?��Why didn''t he come back to finish the job?)


    There is no such line as "not enough time. This has been proven by the relentless attacks up to now.


    Then you want to torture them to death. No, that''s impossible. Blue Knight''s actions up to this point have been consistent in that he is going to kill Lieve as soon as possible.


    Or, did he choose a safer means of attack? It is a foolish question, more improbable. The greatest advantage of blue knight is his invulnerability to revive no matter how many times he is killed. Tactics that consider his own safety is nonsense.


    Then, why did he choose a magic attack instead of a sword blow when he could have finished him off? Why did he choose a tactic that would prolong the battle?


    "...... No, no. No, it''s not."


    Helian demands a course correction in his thinking.


    The fact that they attacked from a long distance instead of close combat at the best opportunity for the blue knight.


    From a different point of view, it is..,


    "You didn''t want to get close to Levee?��Or did they not want to move?"


    This was the first irrational behavior shown by Blue Knight, who had been trying to kill Levee rationally. The fact that he dared to choose a long-distance attack, in other words, an attack method that could be performed without moving, when he could have delivered a fatal blow.


    Sensing that there was a clear factor, Helian, as a king (player) who has always thrown himself into the front line, intuitively forced himself to analyze the puzzling behavior patterns of the hostile units.


    Combining thought operation and manual operation, he extracted (filtered) only the movement information of the blue knight from the by specifying the conditions in the shortest and fastest way possible. Then, the extracted movement information is reflected on one of the placed on the right side of the field of view. The trajectory of the blue knight''s light spot is


    "Most of them stay within a certain range ......"


    However, there are exceptions. In the when he was kicked away by Rieve, the location of the blue knight had moved to a faraway point. However, he immediately returned to his position, and he attacked back at Levee without any mercy with a ferociousness that did not seem to show any damage.


    In other words, the distance does not mean that anything will happen to the blue knight. Even if the blue knight is moved away from this area, his invulnerability is not impaired. This has already been proven by the fact that he died once outside a certain range. Then,


    "Even if there is no rule that says you can''t leave, is there a reason you don''t want to leave?"


    It was a question that came out of my mouth.


    The association born from this question made me wish to analyze Liewe''s behavior as well as that of Blue Knight.


    Herian''s fingertips move as if they were independent living creatures, and the information on Lieve''s movement is reflected on another newly unlocked in the center of her field of vision.


    Rieve continues to fight with great care so that the aftermath of the battle does not affect the vulnerable Helian. This fact can be read from the behavior reflected in the in front of the viewer''s field of vision. And the on the right side of the window, which reflects the movement information of the blue knight, also shows similar movements to those of Levee.


    The behavior that could not be recognized when looking at them individually emerges as a clear commonality when they are compared side by side. And at the center point of the circle that is represented by the movement information of the blue knight, there exists a certain object. This fact led Helian''s thoughts and eventually led him to an idea.


    "----"


    I''m about to do something stupid.


    I was aware of that.


    I''m not sure yet.


    There is a possibility that what I''ve just come up with is just as misguided as I thought.


    If so, it''s just a wasted life.


    If not, it might just end up being a drag on Levee.


    But Helian bet on the possibility that this was not the case, made a decision, and ran.


    "What the ......?


    Rieve''s eyes widen in shock.


    If there had been a third person in this place, he would have been astonished as well.


    It is so outrageous that it is not surprising.


    He must be out of his mind.


    Even Helian himself is aware that he is insane.


    Yes, he is.


    This is insane.


    The fragile human race is breaking the mold of the human race by invading the war zone where the two bodies of the human race are on the rampage.


    "--......!"


    I hold my breath and run.


    His full-speed run, however, was even slower than a slow tortoise compared to the blue knight and the moon wolf.


    But that is an obvious fact and no reason to stop running.


    Therefore, Helian runs the shortest distance to the destination with all his might, using his arms and legs.


    This would have ended up as a mere outburst.


    It is a suicidal act, almost like throwing oneself into a raging stormy sea.


    Herian''s body is that of a frail human being.


    A stray bullet would easily kill him instantly.


    To the mythic threat, he is a vulnerable intruder who does not even need to be stopped.


    But there was one who reacted to the presence of the intruder with hypersensitivity.


    --The blue knight.


    "Fangs! A)metheno(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a(A)a!!!!"


    The blue knight moved his head and stared at the intruder (Helian).


    The hostile glare peeking through the slit stung with a tremendous density.


    --I''m scared.


    My heart beats wildly.


    What Helian felt from the corner of his eye was pure fear.


    No matter how he puts on the mask of the King of All Evil, no matter how hard he tries, he cannot kill the primal fear that arises from biological instincts.


    It is a hostility so intense that even a non-warrior like myself can sense it.


    Although I experienced it at the time of Wenli, it is incomparable to that which the blue knight radiates.


    The simple fact that the blue knight is trying to kill me stimulates my survival instincts, and my brain is filled with screaming warnings to run away right now.


    --d*mn, I''m scared.


    A weak cry escapes my chest.


    Your teeth are clenched together and your heart is pounding like it''s about to explode.


    If I don''t stay strong, I''ll lose consciousness.


    Your trembling legs feel as if they will stop at any moment.


    But there was someone here to intercept the killing spirit.


    You are too rude, knight!


    Twisting herself in between the two, she used herself as a shield to hold off the blue knight''s charge.


    She then used the engravings on her arms to strengthen her whole body, and intercepted all of the blue knight''s slashes aimed at Helian.


    In return, her entire body was covered with countless lacerations, but Rieve was not intimidated. Rather, she was caught up in such a strong emotion that such pain was no longer important. What fills her heart now is pure anger at the vindictive enemy who tried to cut off her Lord''s head.


    Driven by this primitive emotion, the bloody moon wolf continues to stand in front of the blue knight.


    However, the reality is as heartless as ever.


    The heavily damaged Gekkou has no power left to keep Aoukishi at bay.


    The blue knight swung his knight''s sword with a powerful blow, which finally blew the moon wolf away from the spot.


    The distance between the two widened to the point of despair.


    The blue knight turns his body and tries to chase after the underling (Helian).


    But just before the blue knight took a step forward, HELIAN shouted.


    "FOBIDUN PHANTASM: The binding chain of the evil wolf that eats the heavens and the earth!


    Moved by the declaration, Lieve''s left hand was directed toward the distant blue knight.


    A strange sound as if hundreds of chains were bundled together rang out on the battlefield. The binding chain wrapped around her left arm was a manifestation of the secret depths of the jamming skill.


    The binding chain released from her left hand binds the blue knight''s body in layers as if it has a will, and sews her up rigidly on the spot.


    The chain seized the blue knight''s body in a number of ways, as if it had a will of its own.


    But the repercussions were terrible.


    Many of Levee''s secret techniques are highly skilled because she has used them more than anyone else, and many of them boast high cost performance, but there are some exceptions.


    The "Punil, the binding chain of the evil wolf that eats the heavens and the earth" that he had just invoked corresponded to such a case.


    This secret spell, which completely ignores the target''s resistance to abnormalities and has a short-lived but tremendous action-inhibiting effect, is one of the factors that make Lieve-Frekiwurz the leader of the army.


    And its life force consumption is over 40%.


    The amount of life force consumed is close to that of the "Invocation" that brought hellish suffering to Hellian in the capital of RATESTWOOD.


    ............!


    The sensation of having one''s skull skewered.


    At the same time, something is being devoured from the inside.


    Nearly half of what should have been stored in my body has been eaten away.


    I am more horrified by the sense of loss than by the pain that assails me.


    --It''s all right.


    I am familiar with the amount of life force consumed by the secret technique that Riebe-Frekiwurz uses.


    This will not kill [Helian].


    I was sure of that.


    Then all that remained was for Tsukasa Misaki (himself) to endure.


    He cheated himself that it was just a simple task, and put life into his dying legs.


    There are only ten meters left to the destination.


    On the way there, I picked up one of the pieces of debris that were scattered around my feet.


    It is a half-broken straight sword.


    Although only half of the sword blade remains, the mass of iron is heavy.


    I could not swing it more than a few times with my slender arms.


    But I could swing it once and smash it.


    And that''s enough.


    At the same time as he finally reaches his destination, he swings the weapon in his hand.


    He swung with all his might at the center of the place where the blue knight had not moved further away from--that is, the pedestal on which the blue knight had rested his back, and swung down at the that rested there.


    The iron block that was struck as a blunt instrument created a distorted crack on the crystal ball.


    --The reaction was dramatic.


    "Hunger...aha...mute...metempsychosis...aha...boredom...aha...hunger...aha...boredom...hunger...aha...boredom...hunger...aha...boredom...hunger...aha...boredom...boredom...boredom. (a)a(a)a(a)a(a) )----......!!!?"


    The space shatters with a sound like hundreds of shattered glasses.


    The space where countless stone pillars had been standing in disorder returned to reality, and the endless battlefield, which had spread endlessly, turned into a finite hall.


    At the same time, something unusual happens to the blue knight.


    The blue knight, freed from the bondage of "the chains of the evil wolf that eats the heavens and the earth," looked up to the heavens and let out an anguished exclamation that echoed around him. It was as if he was screaming in agony, as if he had been cut off from something he could not lose. The agony of his suffering indicated that the crystal ball that had just been destroyed was something fatal to the blue knight.


    This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.


    It is no longer an immortal monster, but only a threat that can be defeated.


    "Guh,ah......?


    And Helian, too, was at his limit.


    Perhaps it was the result of forcing her body to work with half its life force depleted, but her thoughts were foggy and her limbs refused to listen to her.


    The blue knight attacks him at his back.


    The blue knight has not given up anything even at this point of time.


    He changed his expression of anguish into killing intent and raised his sword as if he was going to judge a sinner.


    There is no way for Helian, a human being, to avoid this.


    Death, which he cannot escape, is upon him.


    But Helian was certain of one thing.


    He had absolute faith that he would be there.


    That is why Helian utters the forbidden words.


    "FOBIDUN PHANTASM: Vermilion Stigma!


    Words that push you off a cliff.


    The sensation of life being devoured from a dying body.


    The taste of death in his breath as it rushes out of his throat.


    The body collapses as it leans against the altar.


    But there was something that screamed out that it would not allow him to fall to his knees.


    With his last remaining strength, what might be called his willpower, he endured the situation and turned around.


    And sure enough, there she was.


    --So I screamed.


    "Riiiiiiiiiveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ----!


    A name that speaks loudly.


    A shout of victory.


    The moon wolf responded with a roar.


    Howling Moon.


    The basic combat ability (status) has reached the limit value by applying the reinforcement skill over and over again.


    The "Vermilion Stigma" mark was successfully applied seven times out of eight.


    Two strokes are immediately spent to strengthen the whole body.


    The enhancement by the secret of the "Vermilion Stigma" gives power beyond the limit.


    The remaining number of strokes of the mark is five.


    One stroke spent on his right foot, which kicks the ground, produces the phenomenon of forward projection.


    In a moment of flight, he concentrates all the remaining marks into his right fist.


    All four strokes are activated simultaneously.


    His fist, filled with the power of destruction, shatters the knight''s sword as it is lowered, and he sprints toward the enemy.


    "------------------------ !!!!!!!!!!!!!"


    Whose voice is that?


    The hall that is the dueling hall of the sanctuary and the place of execution for knights is filled with screams.


    And Gekkou''s right fist, entrusted with the intent to destroy, surpassed all the blue knights and shot through the core of the knight without making any mistakes.

 56 - The Twenty-fifth Moon Wolf

    --Then came the silence.


    The dueling arena, which had been exposed to the intense noise of the two mythical threats, was now enveloped in silence, with not even the faintest sound.


    In the silent space, the first to move is the figure of Levee.


    With a breath to release his lingering spirit, he pulls out his right arm, which he had thrust out.


    A reddish-black liquid, similar to blood, overflows from the blue knight''s torso.


    Then, the blue knight, who had been supporting Rieve''s arm through the heart, collapsed on the spot powerlessly with the action of pulling out the arm.


    There is not the slightest sign of movement.


    The blue knight, who was lying on the ground, definitely came to "the end" this time, as the corpse did not disappear and did not revive.


    "----"


    With a single exhale, Levee checks her surroundings.


    The battlefield, which had been an endless space, had mutated into a finite hall as soon as the crystal ball shattered.


    Looking up, there is a ceiling, and if you make a sound, a definite echo reaches your ears at the top of your head.


    From these observations, she knows that she has returned to one of the rooms of the labyrinth, although she does not know the hierarchy or the location. There is no sign of enemies around her.


    After confirming her safety for the time being, Rieve then inspects her own body.


    Her limbs and torso are deeply damaged, although they have begun to heal themselves, and her whole body is still drenched in blood.


    The battle gown he was issued for reconnaissance missions is a shadow of the rags it was made of, and the fabric around his chest is so heavily damaged that his left breast is about to fall out.


    The left breast is so badly damaged that it looks as if it is about to fall out.


    However, she still had an important job to do.


    She had more important duties to do than to give herself medical treatment.


    In order to fulfill it, she turned her back on the blue knight who had turned into a corpse and rushed to her master who was breathing hard in front of the pedestal.


    She then knelt at his feet with one knee and her right fist on the ground in a kneeling posture.


    With his eyes fixed on the ground, the first subordinate tells the king


    "The order to destroy the individual named has indeed been completed. What are your next orders?


    It was the most perfect behavior for a vassal.


    As a loyal servant of the king, Lieve-Freckhilds will remain loyal to the very end.


    --If this is so, then her master, the young man, also has a code of honor and appropriate behavior to follow.


    With this logic, he bit back the trembling in his limbs and pulled himself off the pedestal on which he was leaning.


    He stands upright on his feet and wipes the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeves. He swallowed his ragged breathing deep in his throat, and his vision, which was growing dark, was held together by the sensation of his fingernails digging into his palms.


    Then, with his legs shoulder-width apart and his eyes wide open, he sees the king.


    The king fixes his gaze on his kneeling subordinate and thrusts out his right hand, drawn to his left shoulder, with a clang.


    At the end of his right arm, held out horizontally, and under his outstretched palm, the first of his men is there.


    The King of All Evil spins his words in a solemn tone to his loyal subjects who have fulfilled their royal mission.


    "--Thank you. And well done. I have seen with my own eyes their valor and their accomplishments.


    The three bodies of the beginning, the king''s entourage, and the eyes of Alkimaira. And of course, my most trusted servant - Lieve-Freckhilds.


    After he had finished, the young man felt a darkness fall over his field of vision.


    Realizing that he had little time left, he manually unlocked the "chat window" and contacted Gardi and Celes.


    Perhaps because he was able to escape from the subspace, he succeeded in connecting this time.


    He asks both of them in an impatient tone of voice for a status report.


    He recognizes that the distance between them is less than one kilometer, and although he has succeeded in providing them with the coordinates through data sharing, the distance between them is still wide on the vertical axis.


    According to the location information of the two persons, the depth is equivalent to 50 levels.


    He decides that it will take some time to meet up with the others, and gives them a brief instruction.


    "......Guardi and the others have been contacted. Ceres will take Zion and the others back to the surface as planned and have Gardi come for us. In the meantime, you are to maintain the status quo.


    "Yes, sir."


    Kneeling down, Gekkohu gives his consent in a dignified voice.


    How dependable his reply is, spun as usual.


    "And ...... I''m going to ...... sleep for a while. In the meantime, I''ll leave it to your judgment as to what to do in the meantime. Can you ...... do that for me, Liewe?"


    "As you wish."


    He felt a sense of relief as he heard these words, and he was aware that the tension that had been building up had been broken. His vision darkened as he was caught, and the strength drained from his legs, which had been suppressing his trembling. It seems that this is the limit of his stubbornness, he thinks with his last thought.


    It''s not very tight..." he thinks.


    He slumps his body forward with a pitiful feeling, as if he is a stranger to the situation.


    �� �� ��


    As soon as he saw the Lord''s body falling toward him, Riebe caught it.


    The Lord''s body had lost its power to hold him.


    The lightness of his body made her blood run cold.


    I hurriedly checked his breathing and pulse, and fortunately, both of them responded.


    Both of them responded to my checks. At least, there seems to be no immediate problem.


    She breathes a sigh of relief at this certainty.


    She then secures her body with her arms behind her back so as not to burden the Lord.


    Then, she comes back to herself.


    It has been a long time since I have been so close to the king.


    His heart beats warmly in my palm, and the sound of his gentle breathing is pleasant to my ears.


    It is definitely an irreverent move of the heart that makes me want to do this more.


    ......But. But, but, but.


    The king said he would send Gardi for me.


    But judging from the distance between the two of them, more than 20 levels, it will take some time for Gardi to arrive. At least, it would not be more than a few minutes.


    Then the king needs to rest until then.


    However, we cannot lay the king''s body on the dirty ground.


    It would be an irreverent act beyond dispute, and would not be acceptable from the standpoint of safety and hygiene.


    So, therefore, I think that what we are about to do is an unavoidable act.


    "............"


    I look around to make sure, but there is no other life form in sight.


    Sensitive ears and nose also inform us that there are no threats in the vicinity.


    There are no tactful third parties, no one to disturb you.


    After carefully checking that no one else is watching, Lieve gently sits down and inverts the king''s body on top of her own.


    The upper half of the body is lightly raised. Using her own body as a makeshift bed, she wraps the king''s body behind her and hugs him softly.


    She holds him close to her, and his heart beats regularly in her left breast.


    Her bare skin, exposed by the tear in the fabric of her breast, feels the beating of her Lord''s heart in minute detail.


    If you secure the back of your head by pressing the tip of your nose against the nape of the neck, you can softly smell the Lord''s scent. The gentle breathing in my ears was very pleasant.


    "------"


    It''s a perk.


    I felt that I was being insolent, which is unbecoming of a vassal.


    Riebe quietly and carefully sealed it away in the back of her mind.

 57 - CHAPTER XXVI -- THE WISH OF LEEWE

    --Then he slept for two whole days.


    He finally woke up on the third day and was able to speak properly on the fourth day. It was on the seventh day that he somehow managed to move his body in bed.


    Compared to the reckless act at the Ratestwood capital, it should have been a much lighter burden, but it seems to have been a reckless act to continuously invoke the secret of the secret from a state where one''s life force was reduced to half.


    Perhaps this is the result of the debt incurred from the many factors such as working through the night day after day, mental overwork due to the heavy burden suddenly placed on his shoulders, fatigue from the unfamiliar travel route, and his days in the SEALS where he was kept on his toes.


    Despite the uproar that followed, Helian and the others somehow managed to join up with Galdi and returned to the ground. And Zion and the others who had completed the ceremony were also able to complete their entire journey without missing a single person. Although there were some troubles, they were able to accomplish the request of the frontier count without any problems.


    With the labyrinth (dungeon) stabilized and the situation declared over, the residents who had taken refuge in the labyrinthine area, which had been temporarily sealed off, returned. The Labyrinth Runaway "Dungeon Stampede" was treated as a minor incident, and the border city of SEALS is returning to normalcy.


    And Helian is now looking at the in the that he has opened on his bed.


    "............"


    With a wrinkled brow, Helian reads the over and over again.


    When he was sure that he had read the log correctly, he opened the and muttered a spoken command.


    "Teleportal: set up (locate)."


    In response to the murmur, a ball of faint light was generated.


    The ball of light of the created teleportal is floating next to Helian, who is lying down.


    When he touches it, a list of possible destinations, such as Agartha, the capital of Alkimaira, and the home country of Rattestwood, are normally displayed.


    "......Successful installation of a teleportation gate, huh?"


    A corner of Helian''s vision, muttering with a stunned expression on his face.


    In the which was showing the events during the labyrinth search, the following information was recorded immediately after the defeat of the blue knight.


    --Succeeded in destroying the symbols in the territory.


    --Succeeded in completely destroying the first force in the territory.


    --The dominance of the territory exceeds the standard value specified in the small territory rule.


    --Release of territorial authority: The installation of a teleportal in the territory in question is lifted.


    There was almost no change in the distribution of [Dominance] in the entire SEAL region, except for the labyrinthine areas. However, the fact that Alkimaila holds more than 50% of the control in the Labyrinthine District was noted.


    This is not the result of the citizens'' appreciation of their activities in the labyrinth runaway "Dungeon Speed" or in the search for the labyrinth.


    It was necessary to treat it as a minor event, and the achievements of the Hellians were not widely publicized, and to begin with, there was no way that they could suddenly gain more than 50% of the [ruling power] with that level of achievement.


    And this percentage of more than 50% is almost exactly the same as the percentage of the first group, which was confirmed after the business meeting the other day.


    In other words, as shows, Alkimaira took it.


    They have destroyed the first force, and have taken all of the power that the first force possessed.


    And by the first force, I do not mean the Frontier Count Glen Gardiner, as I had guessed beforehand, but the blue knight whom I suddenly encountered in the labyrinth.


    Given the circumstances, it was probably the second force, which controlled 40% of the [controlling power], that was the frontier count.


    Thus, Alkymaira - even though it was limited to the labyrinthine area - gained a large amount of control through a method that was not originally planned.


    This means that from now on, it will be possible to move personnel from the Alkimaila homeland in an instant, and vice versa, to bring corps leaders back to the homeland.


    The import and export of goods has also become easier, and this is a major step forward in establishing a base of operations in the human domain.


    "......What in the world was that blue knight?"


    The image of a supernatural knight in blue armor comes to mind.


    Once again, I think it was an alien existence.


    Even though he was a close combatant, he possessed abilities unknown to Helian, such as being able to perform powerful magic without chanting, and reviving people by means other than friendly revive.


    There are several similar examples, such as Leifa, who manipulates a unique summoning magic that has never been seen before, and the existence of a frontier count who possesses high combat power even though he is a who is said to have no combat ability.


    So it is a little late to talk about this, but it was quite a surprise to learn that he also possessed the fighting ability of a corps commander.


    As for his true identity, I have no idea.


    Even after thinking about it calmly, it seemed to be a unique individual in this world, similar to the Tactics Chronicle.


    The boundary city that protects the human realm, and its guardian, the Holy Sword Count, is of a lower rank (minus) B.


    And even the Fairy Dragon, which was said to have been deployed in a battle against the , a common enemy of the human species, was ranked B in strength.


    But still, the peace of the human realm is maintained. For the past several hundred years, mankind has maintained its prosperity by its own power.


    It is against this historical background that the Blue Knight, a mythical class (SS) threat (rank) exists.


    It is unthinkable under normal circumstances. It is clearly different. It is completely out of place in the context of the historical background and situation as far as we know. It even felt like a "foreigner" to this world.


    --It is. Like us in this world.


    "Mr. Helian. The tea is ready."


    As Helian was sinking into his thoughts, Levee''s cool voice reached his ears.


    Before he knew it, she was standing by the bed. Helian turns off the teleportal and tries to raise himself up.


    "Oh, please stay where you are. Let me help you.


    Levee put the tea set on the side table in her hand and immediately put her right hand on Helli��n''s back.


    The act of helping the subject to sit up without putting any burden on the subject seems to be a simple one, but it should require some expertise.


    There should be no such skill as assistance, but this may have been interpreted as an extension of the skills of etiquette and serving. I am not quite sure how it works. It may be that this is a result of Lieve''s loyalty, though.


    "...... smells good."


    "Yes. I brewed a pot of Houlumi tea today. It is very effective in relieving fatigue and has a refreshing flavor. I hope you will be satisfied.


    While explaining the situation, Levee pours the tea in a steady motion. Behind her, a silver tail wagged. She is now in her demon form.


    This is the result of Rieve''s direct request that Helian be allowed to stay while she is unable to move, in order to be fully alert to the surroundings.


    It would be a little awkward if other guests or employees saw her, but Rieve would not make such a move. Personally, I gave her permission to do so as it would make it easier for me to read her emotions.


    "Thank you for your patience.


    A tea set is placed on the side table next to the bed.


    Helian took the finely gilded cup and sipped it.


    The flavor that wraps around the tongue and the moderate heat that falls down the throat is irresistible.


    As I tilt the cup, I look at the tail wagging behind Levee''s back.


    "Your tea tastes good as always," he says.


    "Thank you."


    Rieve bailed with a blank expression, but the speed of his tail''s back and forth increased by 20%.


    As a result, the movement goes from being a swinging motion to being a shaking motion.


    Despite the will of the host with a clear face, the movement of the tail faithful to the instinct is a sight that cannot help but evoke an emotion akin to a smile.


    Perhaps the effect of the tea has eased his nerves, but even in front of Lieve, the king''s mask has loosened and he unexpectedly smiles.


    "----"


    As I was trying to tighten my expression, Levee let out a muffled voice.


    For some reason, her cheeks seemed to be slightly flushed.


    I asked her if there was something wrong, but she answered blankly, "Nothing.


    Her attitude seemed somewhat curt, but I guess she was not offended, since her tail did not change its movement.


    Helian continued to savor his tea and asked casually


    By the way, what happened to Gardi and Ceres?


    He is on his way to receive a reward for his search of the labyrinth. It is located on the main street leading to the central district, and it seems to be a very nice place.


    "Oh. A prestigious location in front of the main street. I look forward to seeing it in person.


    A quest to explore a labyrinth requested by a frontier count.


    In accepting the request, I requested a facility to hide the teleportal--a storefront that would ostensibly be treated as a store.


    It is said that it was originally a house and needs to be remodeled into a store, but it is said to be as big as a small mansion. At least, it is definitely too luxurious a building for a new merchant to set up his store.


    Anyway, with this, we have already achieved our immediate goal of installing a teleportal and obtaining a facility to hide it. This is a great accomplishment, and a great advancement of the plan, since we had expected it to take a month at the earliest, or at least half a year in the normal course of things.


    However, the result is not so good, and the process is not satisfactory.


    The plan, which we had worked out in our heads, stumbled from the beginning, and it was difficult to revise it.


    The result is only the result of the unplanned events, the choices we had to make many times, and the way we managed to balance the accounts by being flexible (improvising) each time, which was probably helped by luck.


    At the very least, it is unlikely that I can boast of having accomplished this by my own strength.


    But still...


    "There is no reason why you have to achieve everything by yourself. The important thing is to take responsibility for the results. ......


    Muttering in a whisper, I recall the words that Leifa had given me.


    In retrospect, I may have been a little too uptight.


    Ever since I came to this town, I don''t think I''ve had the luxury of time.


    Or maybe it was before I left my country.


    I''ve been telling myself that I''m carrying my country on my shoulders, that I have to take care of things on my own, that I have to do my best even if I have to do it alone.


    I was obsessed with the idea that I must continue to be a great king so that I would not be betrayed by my men.


    ......This is no laughing matter at all.


    He laughs at himself for not taking advantage of the advice given to him by Leifa and for taking on everything on his own. Even if the labyrinth runaway and the labyrinth search had not happened, it is not hard to imagine that I would have eventually gone bankrupt because I could not bear the weight that I was carrying.


    It''s a ridiculous story, even if I say so myself.


    I think so from the bottom of my heart when I see Levee standing next to me.


    Because there was a person who was so straight and loyal to me right next to me.


    It would be nothing but an insult to the person of Rieve to think that I am alone, that I can''t rely on anyone, in front of her.


    It would be nothing but contempt for a great king when he has not even found the ideal king to aspire to.


    "...... Herian-sama?"


    "Never mind. I''m just talking to myself."


    I reply to Lieve, who tilts her head lightly.


    I looked at her and saw that her head was very close to mine, as if she was trying to hear my voice.


    If I reach out my hand, I can reach her.


    This reminds me of a scene in my bedroom one day.


    And then, as if to reproduce the action of that time, her right hand moved.


    The palm that had been placed on Levee''s head without thinking stroked her silver hair as if it were a hand that praised a pet dog.


    "---- what?"


    With a voice like that, Levee stiffened.


    Her head, limbs, and even her tail had stopped moving.


    She must have stopped thinking as well.


    He must have stopped thinking.


    At the same time, Helian also came to himself.


    He looks directly at his right hand, which is placed on top of Levee''s head, and is petrified.


    There was a silence that is hard to describe.


    "........................"


    --Oh, no. Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, I''ve totally f*cked up.


    Perhaps because my head was in such a good position, or perhaps because the situation reminded me of an earlier scene in the bedroom, I patted Lieve''s head without warning.


    In modern Japan, this would be like a schoolboy touching a nurse.


    It''s out of the ordinary.


    In the bedroom right after the uprising, I had a terrible s*xual harassment, and now this situation is just a step ahead of that. We must do something to fix the situation. Otherwise, Rieve will be very angry with me. However, no excuse suitable for the occasion can come up on the spur of the moment.


    Even so, my mouth moved of its own accord as I felt the urgent need to say something.


    "Well, come to think of it, I should give you a reward for this. Your work this time was truly outstanding. I would like to reward you for your work.


    He could have just let go of the hand, but he said it while keeping his hand on top of Levee''s head.


    And once he started speaking, he lost track of when to let go.


    As a result, we have the ridiculous scene of the king talking about his prize while placing his hand on his subordinate''s head, but he can''t stop now.


    I feel like a sinner awaiting trial, and wait for Liewe''s answer, almost in tears because of my own clumsiness.


    "...... No, no. No, no, I did not protect you during the rebellion, and I do not deserve any reward. ......


    Levee lowered her gaze with her head still fixed and spoke these words in a somber tone of voice.


    Helian tilted his head.


    "What?��What are you talking about? I''m sure you''ve already settled that."


    "............ eh?"


    "It was your wise decision that saved my life in the Noblewood affair. I also appreciate the fact that you have continued to work in all areas of the King''s inner circle since the transition to this world. The mistakes you made during the rebellion have long since been erased."


    When he told her, Rieve''s amber eyes widened.


    I wondered if she still cared about the ...... incident. If so, I am sorry. It was a normal thing in my mind, but maybe I didn''t convey it properly to Rieve.


    I reflect on this and say a few words to Rieve.


    "And this time, your achievement was especially significant. We have achieved a great victory in defeating a mythological threat. It would be more than a little narrow-minded for a king not to reward him for this. Whatever. Whatever you want.


    Rieve rarely makes requests.


    Considering that, this is in a way a perfect opportunity.


    I wanted to reward her in some way for all she had done for me.


    Well... What does Rieve want?


    A weapon, an armor, or some other magical tool?


    We can simply offer her a reward, or we can grant her a long leave of absence if she so desires.


    If she wants a reward that would be a blow to our domestic affairs, I will give it some thought, but I will do my best to accommodate her for all the work she has done so far.


    "Well, is that ............ anything, sir?"


    Fearlessly, Rieve says.


    Well, there''s no mistaking what he says.


    Whatever the request, we are willing to do our best to fulfill it.


    I responded with a nod of the head.


    "Really, you are willing to ...... do anything!


    Rieve looks up from her prone position.


    For some reason, her cheeks were flushed.


    In addition, she was staring at me.


    Her eyes, like the eyes of a cornered hungry wolf, caught mine and wouldn''t let go.


    "......Ummm... I''m only as good as I can be.


    I resent my chicken-shit attitude of taking precautions here.


    But I think I can''t help it if he comes at me with an impish look on his face.


    No, his expression is as expressionless as ever, but his amber eyes speak eloquently of his intention.


    There was even a glint of determination in his glazed eyes.


    "So,...... that,...... Ceres said that she had made some purchases at a stall,......."


    "...... ah, ah."


    I bought ten bundles of mysterious herbs.


    What does it matter?


    I gulp and swallow at the mysterious preamble.


    He gulps, and while Helian braces himself for what kind of crazy idea is about to come his way,


    "So, the next time you go to the stalls, ......--would you take me with you?


    and .


    The First Corps leader, who had defeated a mythological threat single-handedly, expressed such a wish.


    "...... is ?"


    The only thing that came out of Hellian''s mouth was a word of doubt.


    It was so unexpected that he was astonished.


    He wondered if he had heard it wrong, and even suspected that his ears were malfunctioning.


    Because the wish is too modest.


    After fighting so hard until they were beaten to a pulp, after having accomplished the feat of defeating a mythological class threat single-handedly, and after having been pressed so hard by him....


    And then he finally said what he wanted, just to be an escort for shopping?


    ...... what''s that?


    "---- No, no. I stand corrected. Next time is fine. Next time, continue with Ceres. I''ll be careful."


    How she received our silence, Levee moved her hand and said something apologetic. She seemed to have grown impatient with the fact that we did not respond at all, and her eyes shook with agitation as she continued.


    "How about ......, then, how about the next one? She is not as good as Celes, but she has some skills in tool appraisal. Also, she can offer a different point of view from the one who always accompanies her. And, let''s see, ......, she is as good as Celes when it comes to escorting. We are confident that we can offer you a perfectly safe shopping experience.


    They came up with some kind of concession proposal.


    And with the added bonus of sales talk.


    When she does not respond to this, Rieve gradually lowers her eyebrows.


    After that, Rieve continues to make various advances, but her tone becomes weaker and weaker, and her suggestions begin to sound somewhat like pleas.


    But she still can''t seem to drop her request to go shopping with her, and she tries to get her request through somehow, even if it means postponing it.


    --It''s just too funny.


    --Even though he has done so much for me, his request is too small.


    --He''s like a child before being scolded.


    --And yet it''s like a loyal dog waiting to be praised.


    --And the head on which my hand is resting shows no sign of moving.


    So, oh, my God...


    "Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!��Bwahaha, ha, ahahahahahahahaha--!"


    I was at my limit.


    I mean, I can''t do it anymore.


    I can''t take this.


    It''s an impossible task to ask you to endure it in the first place.


    I mean, at all, this guy... this guy...!


    "Ha-ha-ha, shopping!��You''ve come to shop!��Yeah, that''s good!��No problem, no problem!��I''ll go out with you as much as you want, if that''s what you want!��As soon as my body is healed, let''s go to town!��Kuhahahahahahahahahaha!"


    Laughing to the point of tears, he strokes Levee''s head.


    There is no longer any remorse in his touch.


    He ruffles her silver hair, and in no time at all, her normally beautiful hairstyle is shaggy.


    But when it came to Levee, she was looking at me with an expression I had never seen before, but her tail was wagging assertively and wildly.


    "Come closer, come closer!��I''ll do this, I''ll do this, I''ll do this!��Ahahahahahahahahahahaha--!"


    "Heh, Helian-sama ......!


    They patted, smothered, and stirred him up, regardless of the fact that he seemed to have finally come back to consciousness. She even holds her small head on her chest and strokes it down.


    She writhes and thrashes around in her chest, but in fact, she is so amused by the hundred faces of Levee who is being left to her own devices without any resistance at all that it''s almost unbearable.


    And where is her usual iron skin? There was the first subordinate, his cheeks flushed vermilion and flustered, not even looking at his tail or ears any longer.


    --Oh, yes. Oh, by the way, he''s a cute guy...


    Before he was appointed to such a prestigious position as a member of the king''s entourage.


    Remembering the image of Levee when she was just a little girl, H��lian decided to keep her occupied until she ran out of energy.


    With a childlike smile on his face, he thinks of the future he should aim for in a corner of his mind.


    Tsukasa Misaki (Helian) does not have the charisma and fighting ability of Glenn Gardiner.


    It is impossible for him to be a leader like him.


    He does not have the conviction and pride of Leifa Lim-Lattwood.


    It is impossible to be a leader like her.


    Therefore, he is not sure what he should aim for.


    And I am not even human, I am the king of demons.


    I did not know what kind of leader I should be.


    But now, at least I know what kind of king I should aim for.


    --Lieve.


    I should continue to be a king who can stand tall in front of her.


    I do not know exactly what kind of king I should be.


    I have many decisions to make, few people to talk to, and I am often at a loss to decide.


    I wonder if this is the right thing to do. I wonder if this is the right thing to do as a king. And am I right as a human being? Such anguish continues day after day.


    But when the time comes to make a big decision that will decide our destiny.


    You must ask yourself if you can be proud of your decision to Levee.


    Ask yourself if you can stand tall in the face of the Eyes of Alkimaira.


    I don''t think it will be the answer to all events, but if you can''t shake your head at least at that point, then it''s not the path you should take.


    The road ahead is very difficult.


    We have not found the means to return home yet, in fact, we have almost lost our lives in the investigation of this world and even in the preliminary work.


    And yet, there are so many lives entrusted to us.


    The pressure we bear is so heavy that it crushes us, and this world is harsh.


    But let us not give up and keep on trying.


    The world is so harsh, but there is no need to despair that you are alone.


    Because you (Helian) have such a dependable and trustworthy servant (Frekiwls) by your side...


    - End of Chapter 2

 58 - The First Episode "At the House of the Counts of the Border"

    "It''s been a long time, Herian. Welcome."


    Boundary City Shields.


    A fortress city built to cover the boundary area between the human and demon inhabited areas. The shield of mankind, entrusted with such an important role.


    Glenn Gardiner, the leader of the city, welcomed his guest, Helian, with words of welcome.


    "No, sir. I am sorry for the delay in reporting the results of your request.


    Helian apologized for the request from the Count of the Frontier. It had already been more than two weeks since he had finished his work, and this was the first time he had seen the Count since then.


    When a request (quest) is issued through the Adventurers'' Guild, there is an obligation to report its completion when it is accomplished. For a request to kill a target, the client is required to present the evidence, for an escort request, the client is required to present the completion report, and for a collection request, the client is required to present the requested item to the Adventurers'' Guild office to complete the completion procedures.


    When Helian heard this, he interpreted it as "in essence, the same system as a temporary job.


    You take on the job you want, and when you are done, you go to the office to receive your reward in exchange for a certificate of achievement. This is the simplified version. The similarities are that the work is diverse and that a contract is exchanged for each job.


    Those who are working in the business world might have come up with other analogies, but the most familiar one to Tsukasa Misaki (Helian), a student, was a temporary job.


    "Don''t worry about it. In the first place, I have already received a report by letter.


    Certainly, we have reported on them in letters.


    He sent Celes and Gardi on an errand and reported separately through his escort, Miss Zion.


    The request was not mediated by the Adventurers'' Guild, but was a request made solely by the client and the contractor, or as they call it, a "stray request.


    The rules for requests (quests) issued by the Adventurers'' Guild are well established, and in most cases, stray requests also conform to these rules. However, in this case, since it was not clearly stipulated as such, there is no contractual obligation to report it.


    However, since the Count of the Frontier himself made the request directly to her, without any intermediary, Helian thought that she was obliged to visit him directly and report the completion of the work as a courtesy to the nobleman.


    Perhaps reading something in Helian''s expression, the Count of the Frontier continued his words in an admonishing tone.


    "I have also received a report from the knight who was accompanying us. As far as I am concerned, the knights'' story and the letter are more than enough for me to receive a report of the results. And I am very satisfied with your work. Thank you very much for your efforts in this matter.


    "Thank you. I am glad to hear you say so.


    Sitting on the sofa across from the Count of the Frontier, Helian bowed his head and expressed his gratitude. As king, I am not allowed to bow, but Helian here is only a merchant. Lieve, standing behind him, bowed as well.


    "And you too, Lord Levee, I hear that you have shown great skill. The knights were amazed. They had never searched the labyrinth with such ease before.


    "Thank you, sir. The Count of the Frontier."


    Levee returned solemnly.


    She was the only companion Herian had brought with him this time. Both Gardi and Celes were working separately, renovating the building they had received as a reward.


    Just as we had finished our greetings, there was a knock at the door of the reception room.


    With the permission of the frontier count, a lady attendant entered the room, holding a cup of tea and tea cakes. After brewing the tea with an experienced hand, she quietly leaves the room.


    I heard that you like tea, Herian. I have ordered some tea leaves that are in fashion these days. I hope it will suit your taste.


    "It''s ...... sorry to bother you. I appreciate your concern."


    Actually, he is not particularly attached to black tea, but he is not a fan of coffee, so he has turned to tea as an escape.


    Helian takes the cup as recommended. The tea smelled good, as if it was for a guest of the lord. The tea was neither too hot nor too slimy, and the steam was rising softly from the tea, which had been calculated to be at the perfect temperature by the time the guests sipped it.


    Helian sipped from his cup with a little anticipation, thinking that this was the first time he had ever had tea brewed by someone other than Liev��.


    "By the way, Mister Levee is your mistress?"


    "What the ......?


    I almost spewed.


    I swallowed with guts, though my eyes were teary because some of it was in my windpipe, and looked directly at the frontier count, who asked me a question that was too much at the perfect moment.


    "Oh. You are not, are you?


    He asked in an unexpected tone, but if you look closely, you can see that the corners of his mouth are turned up. He had been acting like a lord just a few minutes ago, but now his expression is that of an evil old man.


    The teasing look on his face convinced H��lian that the timing of the question was intentional.


    She was absolutely convinced that she had done it on purpose by asking him in front of him (Liewe).


    "There seems to be a misunderstanding, she is my squire. She is not my mistress.


    "Hmm. Then you mean that Ceres is your mistress?"


    No, sir.


    He returns the denial to the frontier count who continues to bash him.


    I remembered that he had a similar expression on his face when I first met him, and I recalled with a sense of escaping from reality the incident when I was << surprise attack>ed by the frontier count.


    By the way, if you ask me why I feel like escaping from reality, it is because I am afraid of the presence behind me.


    No, I, Tsukasa Misaki (Helian), a former ordinary person, do not know anything about such things, but I did not want to see Levee''s face standing behind me in various ways. Whatever the expression on his face, it was unlikely that he would find the best way to respond to it.


    "My God! This is amazing. Both of them are as good as elves, and both of them are as beautiful as elves. I would have thought you''d have gotten your hands on them by now."


    "......Thank you for the compliment on the squire. But, you see, I don''t have that kind of relationship with them.


    "You have not laid a hand in front of such a beautiful woman? ...... You don''t mean to tell me that your true love is Mr. Gardi?"


    "How can you be so sure?


    As expected, I denied it as hard as I could. Hearing the horrifying question, H��lian lifted his head and raised his voice.


    Immediately afterwards, she realized that she had raised her voice in front of the lord of a large city and covered her mouth with her hand. Helian immediately tries to apologize for his rudeness, but for some reason, the frontier lord has a pensive smile on his face.


    "Oh, yes, no, I beg your pardon!��I apologize for the tactless question.


    And I would appreciate it if you would behave as you normally would from here on out. As I have told you before, I am not good at dealing with aristocrats.


    It''s easier for me to talk like you just did," said the frontier count, who gladly accepted Helli��n''s full denial.


    (...... Oh. I remember him as such a person.)


    Recognizing once again the character of the frontiersman, H��lien let out a sigh secretly.


    Then, through the sensation of relaxation in his body, he realized that he had been straining his shoulders more than he should have.


    It seems that he had been more conscious of the than he had thought.


    And perhaps, he had taken the trouble to bring up such a sensitive topic, knowing my state of mind.


    I think he is indeed a lord for his skill in guiding the atmosphere of the meeting in the desired direction, despite his claim that he is not good at dealing with aristocrats. However, that being said, Helian was not inclined to learn from this technique.


    "Well, let''s put aside the topic of the beautiful squire for the moment. I really appreciate your help on this one. Despite the unforeseen circumstances, the fact that we were able to complete the ceremony and stabilize the labyrinthine area without a hitch is largely due to your work. I would like to thank you again, including the fact that you helped Zion by yourselves.


    "No. I pushed your precious daughter away, even though it was on the spur of the moment. It was an emergency and I hope you will forgive me.


    "Zion is a Gardiner woman. Don''t worry about that. ...... should be more concerned about the fact that a contingency has arisen between the ceremonies, itself."


    The frontier count sighs and leans his weight on the couch. The hexenbiest-skin couch in the reception room received his body without a sound, although it must have weighed quite a bit considering his size.


    "......After all, was that a rare event?"


    "Rare is not the word to use. It''s rather unprecedented. It is rather unprecedented that a technique other than is invoked during a ritual.


    Both men talk about the transfer trap that jumped them from the ceremonial hall to the other space. When Gardi was sent to pick them up afterwards, it turned out to be a hidden room on the 55th floor where Helian and Levee had been ejected from the other space. Several hidden rooms had been discovered in the middle level, but this hidden room had never been found.


    "We sent out several teams of investigators after that, but it seems that the magic circle that jumped you had already lost its effect. There was not even a trace of magic power, and they did not find anything unusual in the hidden room where you were jumped.


    Ceres reported the same thing.


    It is said that immediately after Helian and the others were jumped, they immediately tried to analyze and reactivate the magic circle, but they could not obtain any significant information from the magic circle that had already completed its task.


    Herian moistened his lips with a cup of tea, looked into the eyes of the frontiersman and asked a new question.


    "...... I encountered a rather formidable demon in the hall to which I was sent. It had the appearance of a knight in blue armor.


    "The look of a knight: ......?"


    Hmmm," said the frontiersman, crossing his arms thoughtfully.


    "Was it wearing the armor of my order?"


    "No. I''ve never seen anything like it."


    "I see. I was wondering if you were the result of a knight who had fallen by the wayside. ......"


    It was rumored among adventurers that if a person who died in a thick pool of magical elements harbored strong obsessions or grudges, he or she might sometimes turn into a demon while retaining some semblance of his or her former life.


    The truth of this rumor is not known. Some intellectuals, led by the court magicians, dismissed the rumors as mere rumors, but there were others who believed that the knowledge of adventurers who had been fighting demons for many years could not be underestimated. The Count of the Frontier was one of them.


    "To begin with, I can''t think of any knight who could be called formidable even by the squire who made such a great showing in the Dungeon Stampede. I can think of a few living people, but I haven''t heard of any knights of that caliber ending up in that labyrinth in recent years.


    "I see. ......"


    After receiving an answer that was somewhat predictable, Helian backed down.


    "We will continue our investigation, ...... but for the time being we can no longer send our daughter to the labyrinth. It''s a blessing in disguise that we were able to do it this time. I think she will be able to keep it for a year at least. My daughter also said that she would like to meet him in person to express her gratitude.


    "...... Speaking of which, I don''t seem to be able to see this Master Zion."


    "My daughter is preparing for another ceremony. She''s been busy with it for the past few days. She was sorry not to see you. When I saw her this morning, she was puffing up her cheeks in a very obvious way."


    He is cute in his own way," says the frontier count, smiling with a father''s expression.


    "You are the first black-haired, black-eyed girl she has ever seen outside the family. It may be annoying to you, but you can''t help but be intrigued.


    "Ha,ha ......"


    Helian, on the other hand, felt a strange awkwardness when he heard his father talk about his daughter''s condition. In other words, it was like when the father of a girlfriend suddenly reveals his daughter''s private life to him. No, I have never been in a relationship with a man or a woman.


    In order to get away from this delicate atmosphere, Helian changed the subject by talking about something else.


    "Well, come to think of it, this is the first time I''ve met a black-haired, black-eyed person. Is this a rare color in this area?


    "...... yeah?��That''s true, of course, ......."


    However, the frontier count tilted his head with his arms crossed in response to the question.


    Then he nodded his head as if he had reached some kind of conclusion in his mind.


    "I see. You are not from the kingdom, are you?


    Yes. I''m from the countryside, unfortunately, so I''m not familiar with the common sense of this place. ...... I''m ashamed to admit it."


    "There is no need to be modest, Herian. It does not suit you. You should be more regal.


    The frontier count snapped. Although they did not know each other very well, he spoke to me as if he knew me, but I could feel that he sincerely felt the same way. It seems that he is surprisingly highly regarded.


    "I don''t approve of making judgments about people based on their origins alone. In fact, some of the adventurers I have come to know are of unknown origin. Some of them may have scars on their shins. Others are outright averse to revealing their origins.


    But I am willing to see them with my own eyes, to speak with them directly, and to trust them if I find them trustworthy. Whether you are from the north, the west, or the east, the Boundary City Seals will not reject you."


    But please don''t go to the south," said the frontier count with a smile.


    Well, sure," agreed Helian with a wry smile.


    It would be better to have fewer visitors from the demon territory.


    "Well, to return to the topic, you may consider black-haired and black-eyed as very rare. It''s the most common and distinctive characteristic of all the heroes of the past.


    "Are you a ...... yu,brave......?"


    Without warning, the word "cheap" popped out.


    In front of Helian, whose eyes are black and white, the frontier count nods his head without changing his expression.


    (...... No, wait. (No, wait... I remember there is a demon king in this world...)


    If this were on Earth, we would laugh it off as ridiculous, but this is a fantasy world similar to the Tactics Chronicles. And according to what I heard in Rattlestwood, the Demon King used to exist. If so, it is not surprising that there are heroes to fight against him.


    The reason why I felt that the word "hero" was cheap even though I readily accepted the existence of the Demon King may be due to the influence of "Tactics Chronicle".


    I know this is a story from another world, but there was a famous player who played the role of a <>. He was a happy-go-lucky villain, and regularly fought in major wars with the allied nations who were determined to overthrow the <>. So, the word "Demon King" is rather familiar to us.


    On the other hand, however, there was no king (player) who claimed to be a . Well, in a sense, it is natural. After all, every one of the people led by a player is a . And if the player is not capable of fighting, it is a bit difficult to role-play as a brave man. It is lame to call oneself a brave man while leaving the fighting to one''s subordinates and pretending to be a spectator.


    I guess it''s because of this difference in familiarity that I consider <> to be a cheap word.


    "Mm. A being who defeats a demon king, a human being beyond human beings, the fruit of a wish blessed by God. It is said that the heroes who leave their mark on history have jet-black eyes and hair, without a single exception."


    The frontier count continues his explanation in a tone as if he were reading from a textbook.


    Helian, on the other hand, stared at the eyes and hair of the count sitting in front of him, aware that he was starting to sweat as the conversation progressed.


    There was the same jet-black color as that of her daughter Zion.


    It has been hundreds of years since the advent of the bravest of the brave has ceased. Some people now mistake it for a trait of a lineage of heroes like ours. But black hair and eyes are the original characteristics of heroes.


    "At ......, the Count of the Frontier is . No, the Gardiner family is ......."


    "The descendants of brave men, the descendants of brave men. At least that''s the legend.


    I was astonished at what was told to me in an unaffected manner.


    And now I understand why he was staring at me with incredulous eyes when I saved Zion.


    At that time, I interpreted it as a kind of state of shock due to being rescued from a critical situation, but she must have been astonished by the color of her eyes and hair.


    "I myself have seen black-haired and black-eyed people outside of my family, but as I said before, Zion has never met a black-haired and black-eyed person outside of his family. You are the first one for my daughter. And to be the one who saved her from being attacked in the wilderness, don''t you think that''s fateful?"


    It was like an act from a heroic tale sung by a minstrel," laughed the frontiersman. However, Helian, who was sitting opposite him, was in a far more awkward position than before. He hurriedly interrupted him.


    "Excuse me. I''d like to point out for the record that I am in no way a brave ...... person."


    "Yes, I know. With all due respect, you are not a fighter by any stretch of the imagination.


    The frontier count stated simply. It seems that the eyes of the warrior who is called the "Count of the Holy Sword" can see that Helian''s fighting ability is below that of an ordinary person. Perhaps, the fact that he had survived the recent request may have supported his guess.


    Helian breathes a sigh of relief, knowing that he is not considered brave in the least. ...... It''s a shameful thing to do, but I guess it''s a blessing in disguise, right?


    "However. For Theon, the fact remains that you have saved him twice from danger. One of these days I will come to visit you in your store. When he does, please be patient with him, as long as you do not disturb him. As a parent, I would be happy if you could get along with my daughter.


    "......, huh. We''re still getting ready to open, so we can''t offer much hospitality, but ...... if that''s okay, yes."


    The reply was not very clear, but the frontier count nodded his head in satisfaction with a fatherly look on his face.


    For the next fifteen minutes or so, we exchanged information with small talk, and then the meeting came to an end.


    + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +


    After leaving the house of the count of the frontier, Helian was on his way home in the box carriage that had been prepared for him. The window of the private room, which was separated from the royal bed, was small, making it a kind of secret room.


    Helian asks Lieve, who is sitting next to him, if the car is used as a place for secret talks in the real world, while thinking about such a trivial thing.


    "Liev��. Are there any kind of surveillance?


    "No. I checked when I got in and I don''t see anything unusual about this carriage. No sign of a tail.


    "I see. ......"


    As soon as he replied, his vision wavered.


    It was as if I had been struck by an intense dizziness.


    At the same time, my body loses strength, and the wheel falls over with the vibration of stepping on a pebble.


    "--?


    Immediately, Levee supported his body.


    Helian grunts in dizziness as he rests his head on Levee''s shoulder.


    "...... it''s okay, it''s okay."


    Despite his words, it was only a strong statement.


    He was still leaning against Levee, unable even to return to his original position.


    The dizziness had gradually subsided, but I was still feeling very lazy from the tips of my toes to the tips of my head. I felt as if I had no energy.


    But this was something he had expected.


    This was the meeting that took place with the certainty that this would happen if he pushed himself too hard in his current condition.


    "...... I never thought that the repercussions of the secret would last this long."


    In a bitter tone of voice, Hellian recalls the last few weeks.


    But no matter which days he recalls, they are all the same.


    For the two weeks since his return from the labyrinth, his activities have been limited to his bed and its surroundings.


    After a week, he was able to move around on the bed, but it took two more days before he was able to move around outside the room. From the tenth day, she has been able to move freely to some extent, but she continues to be active for only a few hours per day.


    In the game "Tactics Chronicle", if you invoked the while your vitality was lowered, there was a certain probability that you would suffer a bad status such as "dying" or "poor physical condition". However, these bad statuses were only soft, such as a narrowing of the field of vision, difficulty in hearing sounds, or difficulty in moving the body. Nevertheless, the last few weeks have seen Helian weaken to the point where he has difficulty even in his daily life.


    (And his natural recovery rate has also dropped drastically. ...... game healed in less than a day, but more than two weeks later, he''s still like this.)


    The price of depletion.


    Helian has not been able to pay it off even now, more than two weeks later.


    On the other hand, however, he is now able to work as a healthy person within a certain number of hours per day. After a certain period of time, his body would suddenly stop working as if the battery had run out of power. This is the only part of the story that seems to be subtly digital, and it is even more unconvincing.


    "......Are you sure you didn''t go out too soon?"


    Rieve asks in a voice filled with melancholy, "What is it that you want to do?


    She is now fully humanized, so she has no ears and tail, but I could read her emotions without seeing them. Her voice is not so clear, and even her usual clear face is slightly broken.


    Helian replies with a bitter feeling that now that he thinks about it, the only time she shows any expression other than her clear face is when she is in a weak state.


    "No. No. This meeting was absolutely necessary. Even the count of the frontier has been waiting for us for more than enough time. Under such circumstances, when an invitation is extended to you, it is inevitable that you will accept it.


    I rather wonder how a lord of a large city could wait more than two weeks for a commoner.


    The letter also stated that the meeting could be rescheduled if he was not feeling well, but Helian insisted on this meeting. He had recovered to the point where he could move several hours per day, and he expected to be able to hold the meeting for a sufficient amount of time.


    However, the conversation went on longer than expected, which is why we are now in this mess.


    "Besides, this meeting was also beneficial for Alkimaira. The more we pushed ourselves, the more we gained.


    Despite his follow-up, Rieve''s expression did not clear.


    Helian pulled himself up with a determined effort.


    Levee rushes to put her hand on his shoulder, but he lightly raises his right hand to restrain her.


    "Don''t look at me like that. Don''t look at me like that. Despite all this, we got through the meeting without incident.


    When he told her this, Rieve rolled her eyes slightly and began to touch her face. Apparently, she thought she was maintaining her usual clear face. He is touching his cheeks and the corners of his eyes, trying to find out what kind of expression he is making right now.


    He seems to be trying to keep a calm and collected character, but I think that this character may have been shattered to pieces by the incident at the inn that day. But he does not have the courage to tell her that, as she tries her best to regain her expression.


    Eventually, she could get her expression back to a satisfactory one, or maybe she gave up on it. Rieve''s face slightly turned away from the camera, then she clears her throat and opens her mouth.


    Let''s hurry back to the inn. I''ll take care of the other matters, and you can rest in your bed.


    "...... No. I have one important thing left to do today. I''ll rest at the inn afterwards.


    As a matter of fact, there are still about 30 minutes left for today''s activity.


    This is a reasonable figure, based on the fact that the time of activity is gradually increasing day by day and on the actual time of activity yesterday. I have been hit by a strong dizziness as a reaction to being released from the tension, but I am sure I will be able to move again after a short rest in the carriage.


    It is obvious that after 30 minutes I will be seriously unable to move even a single step, but on the contrary, I can still be active for another 30 minutes.


    But, as expected, Rieve''s face turned cloudy.


    Her eyebrows are a few zero-tenths of a millimeter lower than before.


    For some reason, I felt funny that I had come to be able to notice such a minute change.


    In the real world, I could not even notice the changes in a woman''s facial expression, but I have grown up a lot.


    "Is that a job that even I can do for you?��I know I''m not very good at this, but if it''s within my capabilities, I''d be happy to do it for you."


    "No, it''s not a job. No, it''s not a job of any kind, though I''m sure in some ways it''s more important than that."


    "......, you say?"


    Rieve thought for a while, but could not come up with an answer, so he asked me what it was about.


    Helian replied with a hint of mischievousness in his serious face.


    I''m shopping with you, Lieve.


    As soon as he told her, Liewe''s amber eyes rolled back in their sockets.


    Helian chuckles inwardly as he continues to speak, thinking that this is exactly what a pigeon looks like when it gets hit by a peashooter.


    "I told you that I would come to you as soon as I was well enough, didn''t I?��It was unexpected that the call from the frontier count was to be bumped, but a promise is a promise. I can still move for another 30 minutes or so. Let''s continue on our way to the street.


    Helian opens a small window in the direction of the governor''s platform and asks the governor to go to the street. The young man replied, "Yes, sir," and adjusted the direction of the carriage with the reins.


    Liewe watched in silence, but in truth, he was in the middle of a turmoil. As a vassal, he was screaming at the top of his lungs, "Convince the Lord to go to the inn right now," while Rieve-Freckhilds as an individual was saying, "Don''t miss this opportunity. Don''t let this opportunity pass you by. You never know when you''ll get another chance.


    Stuck between these two opposites, Levee could not stop herself from changing her destination and simply remained frozen. The time passes steadily, and the carriage is approaching the street of stalls.


    Helian, who somehow guessed her inner feelings from the way her amber eyes were shaking, thought, "I wonder if her ears and tail would be funny in her original form," and composed a line of dialogue to convince her.


    "Ah, ......, that''s an order, Levee. I am going to inspect the local market and the streets of the stalls. I''m leaving you in charge of my escort. I would also like to get some hands-on experience, so if you see anything that catches your eye, let me know immediately. Is that clear?"


    "--Ha. Yes, sir.


    If that''s an order, so be it.


    In a manner that made it obvious that she was thinking about such a thing, Levee expressed her worship with a sense of relief.


    Helian chuckles at her and begins to arrange the items in his mind, wondering what he should buy.


    --And then, thirty minutes have passed since they arrived at the street.


    Helian and Levee stay until the very end of the time limit to complete their and then head back to their temporary lodging.

 59 - CHAPTER II "Hypothesis"

    The next morning after one night. Helian was lying on his bed in a room of his temporary lodging, looking out a virtual window.


    He crossed his arms and thought about the information he had obtained during his meeting with the frontier count.


    "Liewe. What did you think of the blue knight''s answer?


    He asks Levee, who was sitting in a chair in the room and filing paperwork.


    She is the only one here now who has temporarily reverted to her demon form. Both Gardi and Celes are on separate missions and are not at the inn.


    Helian, before the Blue Knight battle, might have unconsciously thought that , and might have finished the examination and consideration of this matter inside by herself.


    However, Helian now knows that it is a bad idea to try to follow through with such stubbornness.


    Therefore, he thought that he should at least have a minimum of consultation and exchange of opinions with Lieve, and he put his question to her.


    When asked, Levee turns her eyes away from the documents in her hand and turns her amber eyes to Helian. After a short pause for thought, she replied in a brisk tone of voice.


    "I am sure you are not lying. I don''t think that the frontier count had any information about the existence of the blue knight.


    "And the reason for this?"


    There is no point in hiding it. Assuming that they knew the existence of the blue knight, I cannot think of any merit in withholding this information from us. Also, I heard from Celes and others that Zion Gardiner and his escort knights were dismayed at the appearance of the metastasis phenomenon. The claim that this was an unprecedented event is probably true.


    "I''m sure it''s ......."


    Rieve''s answer was almost as good as Helli��n''s guess.


    After all, the blue knight was a mythical threat that far surpassed the capabilities of the Count of the Frontier, who was considered to be the best of mankind, and even Liewe, the pride of Alkimaira''s eight legionnaires, had a hard time with it.


    If they had known that such a monster existed in the city''s labyrinth, whether it would be effective or not is another matter, they would have immediately sealed it up.


    "There is a story that a knight who dies with a strong obsession or grudge left behind becomes undead, ...... but I don''t think this line is likely either."


    "Yes."


    Regardless of whether Blue Knight had any kind of obsession or grudge, if such a monster was born for such a reason, this world would have been destroyed a long time ago. In reality, however, the Boundary City of Seals, the shield of mankind, has remained unchanged for hundreds of years. According to the words of the frontier count, the strength of a person during his/her lifetime has an influence, but from this point of view, I do not think that the blue knight falls into that category.


    In addition, considering the condition of the blue knight at the time of the encounter, it is difficult to believe that the blue knight was walking freely in the labyrinth. He was bound by chains, and there was dust on his body as if he had been in the labyrinth for a long time. Judging from the circumstantial evidence, they must have been their first guests in hundreds of years. At least, it had been sleeping in the depths of the labyrinth, long before the birth of the frontier count.


    "At the same time, it is hard to believe that it is just a stray demon. At any rate, you, the leader of the first legion, have been hurt so much. If you hadn''t used the secret of the magic, you would have been killed for sure. It''s crazy to think so.


    It was a blessing in disguise, Helian thinks now, that both he and Levee were transferred at the same time. If only one of them had jumped, he would have died for sure.


    This is true even if only Levee is transferred, not to mention if only Helian is transferred. The reason is that the secret cannot be activated without the king (the player). Considering the fact that the player was just barely able to win the battle even though he strengthened himself by using the secrets, it is very likely that he would have been killed by the blue knight alone.


    "Should we call it an irregular ......?


    That thing is truly unique.


    It is clearly out of place (...) in the context of the demons it has encountered, the strength of the human race, and other historical backgrounds.


    It should be evaluated as a potential threat in a completely different category from the conventional forces of this world.


    "Anyway.... If not even the SEAL leader, the Count of the Frontier, knows about it, it seems unlikely that we''ll ever find out its true identity from the information we can get through personal connections."


    "Unfortunately."


    "Oh, well. This was already known before the meeting. I''ll consider it a step forward just to have that fact revealed. ...... but more importantly, it has brought up some other headache-inducing concerns."


    Helian let out a heavy sigh on his bed.


    "Of all the things, black hair and black eyes are the hallmarks of a brave man. ......"


    Frankly, I''m in a giving you a break.


    I asked the question with a light heart, but what I got back from the frontier count was an astonishing new fact that could be called a bad story.


    "What do you think of this new information that you had not even imagined?


    "Yes. I think the word "brave" is an appropriate way to describe Mr. Helian.


    "............"


    I feel a twinkle in Levee''s eyes as she looks at me, but it is not in the direction of the answer I wanted to hear. And for Helian, this new information is inconvenient. It is no wonder that the title of "brave" is so far from him, because now he can no longer take the hood off carelessly.


    Because he is a brave man. The symbol of a family of heroes. It''s not just a matter of being conspicuous. I had heard that black hair and black eyes were rare, so I had kept it hidden to avoid attracting unnecessary trouble, but now I have to hide it even more firmly than before.


    It is Helian''s honest impression that the number of troubles has increased.


    (......, I''m more of a demon king myself...)


    Now I am a king leading a people of demons.


    If you ask me whether I am a brave man or a demon king, I am definitely in the demon king category.


    In fact, some of the people of LATESTWOOD were seriously afraid of me as a Demon King in the beginning, although the misunderstanding has been cleared up now.


    Considering this, I would say that our decision to hide the Alkimaira was a good one. I feel like patting myself on the back for making such a good decision.


    After all, a brave man is said to be the one who defeats the Demon King, and the frontier counts who rule the border city of Shields are the descendants of the brave man. Helian has no intention of pretending to be the Demon King, but if the existence of the Demon Kingdom (Alkimaira) is discovered, they will immediately turn against each other. As we would like to build a good relationship with the frontier counts, we would like to avoid such a situation.


    "One thing is certain. One thing is certain. Now we cannot expose Alkimaira any more than before.


    "Yes. But if the Commander of the VII Corps (Robin) and the Commander of the VI Corps (Camilla) carry out the Latestwood case as planned, it should not interfere with the original plan.


    "Yes. That''s why I''ll have to be a little more cautious for the time being.


    Although I am in the midst of a period of great weakness due to the repercussions of my secretive activities, I can still be active as a healthy person for a little over five hours per day. I cannot just coast in bed because I am tired. Now that I have recovered so much, I must resume my work in earnest as their superior who has been working so hard for them.


    By the way, I don''t even want to recall the first few days when I didn''t recover at all. I have never resented the fact that my sponsor (Levee) was a woman as much as I resented those first few days. And I try not to think about the two days before I regained consciousness. If I imagine it carelessly, I might want to die in a fit.


    "......Mr. Helian."


    "Hm?��What is it?"


    While I was thinking about it, Levee approached me in a fearful tone.


    Then, after a slight hesitation, Lieve opened her knit lips as if she had made up her mind.


    "With all due respect, how about taking command in your home country from now on? We will take care of things on the ground.


    Rieve''s ears and tail stiffened nervously at his suggestion.


    Helian, who had received the advice, crossed his arms and thought.


    "...... can I take that as a recommendation that you should take command in the safety of your castle?"


    A bead of sweat dripped down Rieve''s cheek at the weight of the Lord''s question. A large bead of sweat eventually trickled down his chin and made a stain on the floor. A fierce feeling of regret surged through her heart, but once she had spoken it, it was too late.


    What she advised them to do was her sincere and honest wish. Rieve was determined and returned the affirmation to the Lord.


    And then, right in front of her eyes.... Helian, still recovering from the cost of the secret, speaks his answer with his arms crossed.


    "I see. I see..." She looks like this, so it is not surprising that such words come out of her mouth. ....... But I dare tell you. Rejected."


    Helian continues speaking, conscious of the solemnity of his words.


    "I am certainly not in perfect physical condition. I am still exhausted from the ridiculous encounter with a mythological threat (SS rank). I accept that as a fact. However, that is no reason to change what I said in the audience chamber.


    Before leaving for human territory, Helian told Levee and the others about his future plans. He said that he had to show the people that they had nothing to worry about.


    And the reason why he is revered as the king, who does not have the power of a frontier count, nor the conviction of a leifer, nor the diplomatic skills and leadership abilities of a leader, is because of his in overcoming various hardships and tribulations.


    Although there have been many failures and defeats along the way, in the end, the background (history) of victory and successes has placed the weak man, Tsukasa Misaki (Helian), on the throne of king.


    That is how Helian perceived it.


    In view of this, this incident could even be considered lucky from a different perspective. Although the encounter itself was an unfortunate event, he was able to accomplish the feat of defeating a mythological threat so soon after his departure. We were able to show the people a new saga of the king. This will be quite effective in maintaining the loyalty of the people to King Helian.


    Although I feel that I am involved in some kind of divine mischief if I think about it calmly, I cannot be their superior if I do not have the tact to make the best out of a bad situation. After the incident the other day, Helian reminded himself of this and made an effort to look at things positively.


    "If I run back to my home country over something like this, I will be laughed at by the people who are working so hard. At least if I were a citizen, I would be disillusioned by the king''s cowardice.


    "Yes, such a thing is ......!"


    "Oh, good. You don''t have to argue about this. I only meant that I would have thought so. Besides..."


    Helian looks into Liewe''s eyes, takes a breath, and opens his mouth.


    I have a trusted advisor. I have a loyal retainer who, despite being forced into unexpected combat with inadequate equipment, still managed to honorably protect the king. Then why would I run back to the castle?"


    As he spoke, Lieve''s wolf ears sprang up on the top of his head, his face clear.


    After a few seconds, the meaning of the words permeated his brain, and his silver tail began to move back and forth vigorously, sending some of the stack of papers to the floor with the force of the wind.


    The reaction was more than I expected, even though I tried to ...... dress it up.


    I felt that I had somehow come to understand how to deal with Levee.


    "Well, that''s what I mean. Again, a single defeat of a mythological threat is an undeniable accomplishment. It''s rather fortuitous that it cost us so little. Therefore, there''s no need for you to feel guilty at all.


    "......ah."


    A mumble escaped Levee''s lips, as if she had uttered it unintentionally.


    Helian thinks that she was concerned after all, and a vermilion color of shame appears on Levee''s cheeks.


    (Even at the time of the game, he rarely sent me a request for activation. ......)


    There are two ways of activating the secrets: by giving permission upon the request of a subordinate, or by the king (the player) actively activating the secrets.


    Whenever she did request it, it was only for low-cost secrets such as "Crimson Moon", and she never requested to invoke her most important trump card. Even if she was facing a strong enemy, she tended to try to fight without her trump card unless she was in a very critical situation.


    Incidentally, some corps commanders may casually request the activation of the secrets even if the situation is not critical. A typical example is Nogard, the commander of the 8th corps. When he requested to invoke the secret of the secret with a life force consumption in excess of 70% against an enemy force that could be destroyed even with a normal force without the corps commander, I was indeed quite embarrassed.


    "For the time being, I plan to return to Japan once in the case of the Rattestwood incident, but until then, I will continue my activities in the SEALs as planned. We can now set up a teleportal and we have a place where we can hide it. We want to continue to build the groundwork for gaining control until we are in a safe area. Therefore, we will first promote the establishment of a base of operations in this city to secure our position in the human realm. Is that clear?"


    "--Ha. Awe."


    Rieve returned the color to his cheeks, and then solemnly offered his consent.


    Then, after looking curiously at the papers that had somehow fallen to the floor, she began to collect them quickly and efficiently.


    While watching the scene, Helian used a thought operation to open the virtual window.


    The newly displayed information is the geographical location of the border city of Shields.


    A map of SEALS, which has been made more detailed by Gardi''s search for several weeks, appears in front of his eyes. As I stare at it, I recall the feeling of d��j�� vu that I had on my second day in the city.


    (It''s just like this town, isn''t it? ......)


    In the center of the field of view, an overall view of SEALS in the shape of a vertical cross is projected like an aerial photograph.


    The southern part of the city, which corresponds to the longitudinal part, was located toward the boundary area and had numerous defense facilities and many layers of solid walls, giving it an air of a fortified city, while the central area had an orderly structure with a lot of convenience. If you zoom in on the map with the main street running through the center of the city in the center of the , you will see a vaguely familiar cityscape.


    As you look at the , your mind is reminded of a great country named that existed in and chose for its primordial civilization (civilization).


    The king of Azumakoku (the player) was an American who favored Japan and knew more about Japanese culture than the average Japanese. And the capital city which he had built based on Kyoto in the 16th century seemed to resemble a part of the cityscape of the SEALS.


    ��In Tactics Chronicle, there are many cases in which the first city built becomes the capital. However, the first city grows and expands as its technology level and population grows, and it is almost always a jumbled structure compared to a city newly built based on urban planning. In the worst case, a distorted map of the city is created, which could be as large as Kowloon Castle.


    However, the king of Azumakoku (the player) says, "This is my map of Tensho! The government then undertook the rezoning of the capital city as a major national project with the mysterious declaration, "We are going to make the capital city a city of the future.


    As a result of this massive rezoning, including the demolition of many buildings in the center of the capital city, the city was made orderly and beautiful, even though it caused some damage to the economy of the capital city, and at the same time, the city became a place where people could live in peace. The name of the capital was changed to true Kyoto.


    (In light of this, there are some similarities in terms of military strength.)


    Alkimaira and Azmakokok - or rather, the force structures possessed by the major powers in Tactics Chronicle - have different characteristics from those of real-world militaries.


    First of all, there are several demons with outstanding combat abilities, led by a military commander.


    Then, there are demons of one or two ranks lower than them, dozens to hundreds of times as many as the aforementioned demons, and then there are a large number of demons of three or more ranks lower than them as the regular forces.


    Due to the experience acquisition system, if you train them in a proper manner, you will naturally end up with this kind of configuration in many cases.


    On the other hand, the Seals, on the other hand, are led by the absolute strength of the frontier counts, and there are first-class adventurers and a very limited number of knights one rank below them. Then, ordinary adventurers, mercenaries, and ordinary knights support the bottom ranks with their numbers.


    Needless to say, there is an absolute gap between the strength possessed by the Alkimaira and the SEALs. This is a pure fact. However, if the Alkimaira is scaled down to the extreme, it seems to have an aspect similar to the force structure of the SEALs.


    What emerges is a hypothesis.


    (...... Were the kings (players) of Azmakoku also transferred to this world?)


    However, there is one major problem with that hypothesis. It is an irrefutable fact that SEALs have been in existence for more than several hundred years.


    If he was transferred to this world, and if this SEAL is an outgrowth of Kyoto, then he was transferred more than several hundred years ago. That would be the case.


    But to begin with, the otherworldly transfer itself is an anomalous phenomenon that we don''t understand. It may not be surprising if there is a difference in the time of the transference.


    And, on a more hypothetical note, what if the heroes that the frontier count was talking about are the kings (players)?��The king (player) of Azumakoku, who favored Japan, also used a black-haired, black-eyed appearance (avatar). Then the Gardiners, who are said to be the descendants of a brave man, might be his--.


    "...... No. That''s a leap too far.


    He mumbles a few words, shakes his head, and breaks off his thoughts. Everything is conjecture and supposition based on circumstantial evidence with little basis in fact. At this point in time, when we are only in the preparatory stage of full-scale information gathering activities, we should not push forward with such considerations that narrow the scope of our thinking.


    First of all, the king (player) on the other hand has almost no fighting ability, while the frontier count had unbelievable power as a human being.


    As expected in a game, he has no offensive power, and since his arrival in this world, he is able to break and damage things as one of the changes that we should call realization, but he is still a weakest being. If the Gardiners are his descendants, it is quite strange that a frontier count has such fighting power.


    (...... Hmm?��Realization?)


    Suddenly, an association game started in my head.


    Some of the streets resemble Kyoto, SEALS.


    The family of the lord is black-haired and black-eyed.


    A frontier count with a fighting ability that is far beyond the normal forces of this world.


    The change in reality that occurred as a result of the phenomenon of metastasis.


    The king (player) has a special ability called "Compounding".


    The specification of [Compounding] that it is possible to make a child who inherits the status and characteristics of both parents.


    And the one who is picking up the documents in front of him now is a female NPC who has a unique fighting ability.


    "........................, No."


    No. No, no, no, no, no. No. It''s not there. Not anyway.


    Because that''s what it is. ��Tactics Chronicle is a wholesome game. Although the average age of the purchasing public was a little high because of the genre that requires a little bit of thinking, it is by no means a game for adults. As evidence, Tsukasa Misaki (myself) was a junior high school student when I started playing the game. It is a game that even young people can purchase without fear of being seen.


    It is true that the number of VR (Virtual Reality)-type games (???????) has been increasing in recent years, and the birth rate of the Japanese, which was already low, has declined even further, making the situation rather laughable, but at least [Tactics Chronicle is not that kind of thing.


    Even in the case of [Compounding], there is no direct description of the phenomenon, but rather a mysterious phenomenon in which a child is conceived after spending the night in a special facility in a corner of a castle. It must have been brought by a stork or something. Or a cabbage patch.


    And above all, [compounding] is limited to demons. The king (player) is, of course, excluded. It is absolutely impossible to have a child. In fact, it''s impossible.


    (............) Various specifications have been changed compared to the game (......).


    Changes in specifications and capabilities that should be described as "realization.


    For example, the player is now able to feel fatigue and pain, and is on the verge of dying of exhaustion due to the depletion of life force caused by the secret of the secret of the game.


    Of the several player-specific functions, I have not verified any of the [blending] functions and had no intention to do so, but it is possible that the specifications may have changed for this function as well.


    And if the range of the player''s abilities was expanded like voice chat, it would not be surprising if the king (player) had the ability to reproduce, i.e., to have children, which is quite natural for an ordinary life form, and thus, the king (player) could have the ability to have children. --......


    "?��Mr. Helian, you look a little pale ......."


    Levee, who had been bending down to pick up some papers, looks up at me and asks me a question.


    Helian, whose back was beginning to sweat, had to use all of his brain cells to escape from this pursuit.


    "No, it''s nothing. No, it''s nothing... I''ve been a bit indisposed, I guess because I''ve been cooped up in my room all day..." he said. You don''t need to worry about that."


    Please stop that uptight look at ....... And please wait until I get close to your face so that I can examine your condition. In fact, I would rather you not look at me at all. I would rather you give me time to calm down in various ways.


    Perhaps Helian''s desperate response bore fruit, as Lieve tilted her head curiously, but after a few seconds, she readily withdrew.


    Helian decides to discard hypothesis after hypothesis that had almost formed in his mind, and changes the subject to get rid of the agony.


    "So, how is the remodeling of the store you received as a reward going?"


    Gardi and Ceres are leading the engineers to work on the project. I have been informed that it is almost in shape.


    Then I''ll go visit. I wanted to take a look at the property I had worked so hard to acquire. It would be a nice change of pace."


    Well, once you''ve decided that, you''d better hurry. Let''s go, let''s go, let''s go now," Helian urges Levee.


    Lev��e''s amber eyes show a puzzled look, but she takes his deceitful statement seriously, saying that she has been in her room for a long time and does not feel well, so she starts to put away her papers, saying "I will get ready right away".


    A few minutes later. A few minutes later, Helian, hooded and with Levee in tow, left the inn with a few employees seeing them off.

 60 - CHAPTER III "Renewal Works

    "Oh ......!"


    I was amazed as soon as I saw it.


    A dozen-minute walk from the temporary lodging. It is located in front of the main street of the labyrinthine district, a prime location in the district.


    Helian, who came on foot with Levee, was greeted by a large four-story building standing tall on a vast site.


    The surrounding buildings were mostly two or three stories high, indicating that the building in front of them was more than adequate.


    "I''d heard about it, but I''m surprised they were willing to pay so much for it."


    My original plan was to rent a small store to conduct my merchant activities with the funds I obtained from Latticewood, but I did not expect to suddenly acquire a property of this magnitude.


    With this, there is no need to worry about being discovered even if we set up a teleportal. As a space isolated from the outside world, it can be made into a base of operations in the human realm.


    Moreover, it is not a rental property, but a personal property that has been transferred to you.


    It may be a reward for the "Dungeon Stampede", but I think it is a very generous reward for a single request (quest).


    It could be that he was willing to pay such a small amount for the safety of his beloved daughter, or it could be an indication that he was taking the incident very seriously.


    Thinking in a corner of her mind that it was probably both of them, Helian stepped into the building through the front door facing the main street.


    "What?��Who are you, a customer?��I''m sorry, but we''re still renovating..."


    A small man with a number of carpentry tools hanging from his waist looks back at the visitor as if he is bothering him. He was about to tell the visitor to "get out of my way," but then he saw the visitor''s face and choked on his words.


    "Wa-we-guh!


    The little man was about to say, "King," when he was hit in the back of the head by a square timber.


    Galdi, who was carrying a bundle of square timbers on his shoulder, comes out from the side of the man who was fainting in agony.


    "Hey, chief!��Is it safe to walk out now?"


    "I''m not fully recovered, but I can walk around a little. ......By the way, can we leave him alone?��It looks like you took a critical hit."


    "I just let him close his mouth. He still doesn''t seem to be used to my body, but I didn''t hit him that hard, so it''s no problem. --Right, buddy?


    The last word is for the bearded little man cowering in the back of the head.


    He nods his head and manages to get to his feet in response to this bass-heavy questioning, which is perfectly suited to his vicious, mafia-like features.


    He is a small man with a fine beard and thick muscular arms, one of the engineers brought in from the Alkimaira home country. He is a member of the 5th Legion, in other words, a servant of Ghardi.


    Although he is now fully humanized, his original race is that of a "high ranking mining elf (high dwarf)". He was originally an engineer belonging to the Seventh Legion, but he transferred to the Seventh Legion because he found it more suitable for him to be building castles in battlefields under fire rather than swinging a hammer in the safety of his workshop.


    "Don''t show your pathetic figure in front of the general. Put on your best face.


    "No, you say that, boss. I''m so weak. If you hit me in the head with your stupid power, it''s no wonder I''m in agony. ......


    "I''m in the same boat when it comes to my body. We''re both poor. First of all, you''re here because you won the selection process with your fully humanized body. That''s no excuse.


    The selection tournament that Ghardi is referring to is a certain mock tournament that was being held in the home country while Helian was in bed.


    The participants must not be currently engaged in special missions and must have a high level of skills as engineers. Two special rules were established: the use of world-standard weapons obtained from RATESTWOOD and the fact that all participants must fight in fully humanized form.


    The winners and top finishers were given the right to apply to join the expeditionary force led by King Helian to the human realm.


    Naturally, the battle was fierce. After several rounds of group battles in the form of Sudden Death, a one-on-one battle to the death was fought among the top hundred winners, and a few of those who won the right were actually invited to this event to join the expedition as additional members.


    As a side note, the higher ranked demons were more puzzled by the difference in ability (demerit) of being forced to fight in a fully humanized form with their race-specific skills blocked and being two ranks down, and there were numerous downgrades and big gold stars in the selection battle.


    "I don''t care what you look like, but you look terrific in a carpenter''s outfit, don''t you?"


    Wearing a headband and rolled-up arms, with tools in his hands and a square timber slung over his shoulder, the big man (Gardi) looked like a genuine carpenter. If only one could ignore his vicious physiognomy, he could call himself a master carpenter right now.


    "Well, I''ve set up a simple base many times, you know. I''ve done it many times before. I''m better at breaking things down.


    "I''m familiar with your side. There is no defensive position you can''t destroy.


    But then again, Galdi is a handy guy, Helian thinks.


    He is second only to Balan in terms of his ability to maintain public order and to suppress rioters, and he has shown aptitude in many other areas besides his main role in the siege, such as building temporary housing and doing simple repair work on houses with his subordinates.


    They are versatile, as they have lived through the period of upheaval when they had to do whatever they wanted to do, a time when there was no satisfactory preparation for proper professional jobs. Especially when it comes to simple heavy work, there is even a mysterious sense of security, as if to say, "Leave it to him, he can handle it.


    "I had thought that he was taking command of the project by entrusting it to the engineers he had called up.


    "Ah. Maybe with Balan or Ertina, but I''m more comfortable with physical exercise. It''s easier for me to do things by myself. Isn''t it the same for you?


    Why is my name mentioned there?


    "Huh?��That''s because, General, you''re always on the front lines. Why don''t you just leave the fighting to us and watch from a height?


    ......Oh, that''s what you mean.


    Helian understood Gardi''s point. However, the nature of Helian''s argument is very different from that of Ghardi''s.


    In the game era, Helian was the type who aimed to maximize his power (merit) by using and . He was not the average (better) type of player who commanded from his throne, being wary of death penalty (disadvantage), but the type of player who swallowed the risk to get the highest score (best).


    And at the moment, he is only out in the field as one of the objectives to maintain [loyalty] by keeping his body on the front line. In this sense, there is a clear difference from Gardi, who is a genuine field man.


    ......, or did you think I was the same kind of a brainiac (Gardi)?


    I was shocked, and then I noticed that Lieve standing next to me had a sharper look in her eyes than usual. Her fierce gaze pierced through Gardi. It seems that Gardi''s familiarity and tone of voice towards the Lord, even though she knows it''s the way it''s supposed to be, makes her feel uncomfortable.


    In order to change the mood, Helian inquires about the whereabouts of the other corps leader who is not present at the meeting.


    "By the way, where is Ceres? He is nowhere to be seen.


    "Yes. He''s been holed up in a room on the second floor for a while now, doing some kind of experiment with local ingredients..."


    There was a deafening explosion.


    Turning my attention to the source of the sound, I see a room with black smoke billowing out of an open window.


    "...... that room?"


    "Hey."


    Soon Ceres appeared through the window.


    She was using simple wind magic to ventilate the room and said, "What''s this? She was swearing and wiping her sooty cheeks, saying things like, "Are you kidding me? In his left hand, he was holding a half-destroyed beaker.


    "Ah, young master!"


    Celes eventually noticed our presence and called out to us.


    However, my brain wondered if it was rude to continue speaking from the second floor, that is, from a higher position than the Lord, and Celes opened and closed her mouth repeatedly for a while, and finally ran out of the room and came down to the front door on the first floor.


    "Thanks for your help. ...... the black smoke hasn''t fully dissipated yet, but it''s not going to start a fire, is it?"


    "Yes. Yes. I''ve cleaned up the mess at least a little.


    Please. We consider the research on the use of local materials as one of our important issues, but we can''t let the proposed base site be burned to ashes. Besides, we will have to deal with the residents of the surrounding area. Please refrain from doing anything that might cause their displeasure.


    "Yes, sir."


    Celes answered with a shrug.


    In peacetime, she is in charge of the research field, but she has a tendency to lose sight of her surroundings due to her love of research. Knowing this, Helian thought it was important to give her the first nail in the coffin, so he used a few strong words, but he felt guilty when he saw her drooping down.


    ......It may be naive, but it''s okay to at least follow up. You''re doing a great job. I''m sure you''re doing a great job.


    Helian makes such excuses in his mind and opens his mouth.


    "But I don''t mind your enthusiasm for research. But I don''t dislike your enthusiasm for research. I look forward to the day when the good news arrives.


    "......!��Yes, young master. I have just the right experiment here, so I''ll get the results right away, yes!


    Ceres responded with a clenched fist. Helian nodded in satisfaction.


    In a corner, a large man carrying a square timber was blurting out something like, "I hope you don''t mean me as the experimental subject ......," but everyone except Ceres pretended not to hear it.


    "Well, how is the work progressing?��From the looks of it, they''re concentrating their staff on renovating the storefront area."


    "Hey. The residential part is almost finished, but the store part is only 60% finished at best.


    "We''re working on a formula for intercepting intruders, but that''s taking a little time. It will take a little more time to fortify..."


    "No, wait a minute."


    I heard a disturbing word.


    What''s fortification?


    "...... Gardi, Ceres. I have indeed said that this facility will be a base of operations in the human realm, but I do not intend to turn it into a battle fortress. Do you understand that?"


    "?��Yes, of course.


    Celes answered with a vacant look on her face, and Ghardi, standing behind her, nodded his head in agreement.


    It seems that they understand the significance of the base, but then why the word "fortification" is used?


    "Oh, we don''t intend to fortify it in such a flashy way. There is a time constraint, so this time we will only set up traps to intercept intruders.


    "Intruder prevention. ...... what exactly are they?"


    Yes. First, we stop the intruder''s movement with a lightning net that is activated along the perimeter of the building as soon as the intrusion is detected, and then we capture the intruder with a gravity-based closed ward while the intruder is still in motion. Once the intruder''s movements are stopped, we detonate the chain explosion mines that are placed inside the closed wards, and as a precaution in case the chain explosion mines are breached, we have an automatic interception mechanism that uses a volley of "Flame Javelins" to intercept the intruder. --"


    "No, no, no, wait, wait, wait a minute!"


    What the hell do you people think you''re fighting? How much interception capability do you want to give to a mere store run by a newbie merchant?


    It''s true that the Maze District is not as safe as the Chuo District, the heart of the city, but an interception system that can obliterate any unintentional intruder without leaving a single piece of flesh behind is a form of over-defense. The doors of stores that welcome customers are being transformed into gates of hell.


    "...... Huh. That''s not true, Ceres. That''s why they call you a smart ass. Even Herian is appalled."


    Levee, her hand on her forehead, said with a sigh.


    Oh," Helian cheered inwardly.


    The eyes of Alkimaira and a close aide of the king.


    I''m sure you can speak for my feelings when I hear about the excessive defense mechanisms...


    "If you incorporate a flame javelin or something like that, there''s a good chance it will catch fire. There are many wooden buildings around here. Switch to something like a Tempest Arrow."


    --They didn''t give it to me.


    I mean, you wait a minute, Levee.


    Is fire the only thing you need to worry about now that you''ve explained it to me?


    There''s a lot more to it than that. There''s an even bigger problem.


    "I''m not gonna make the mistake of misplacing the scope... Who do you think I am? I mean, you''re the one who''s the main one calling me a <>, Leve."


    "I''m asking you to pay attention to the slightest possibility. I wouldn''t go to the trouble of choosing a fire-based technique when there are other options. Am I wrong?"


    "Unlike Elle, I am better with fire than with wind. You know that. The most important thing is to make sure that the unauthorized person who tries to sneak into your precious store is eliminated, so the Flame Javelin is more appropriate in this case than the Tempest Arrow, which I''m more familiar with.


    "Everyone knows that is the most important thing. However, if you are to install a flame javelin under the precondition that it will not cause any damage to the surroundings, it would be an advanced technique that only you, among the personnel here, can perform. If you''re working on it at the same time as your research, isn''t that having a negative impact on the progress of the renovation work?"


    "Don''t make it sound like I''m dragging my feet. It''s not as if I''m dragging my feet. I''m not behind schedule, and I''m completing the tasks I''ve been assigned within the specified time. If you doubt me, I can submit the roadmap.


    Rieve and Ceres argue and argue and argue.


    Helian, who overheard this too good to be true conversation, felt a dizziness different from that of the secret recoil.


    Levee agreed with what Ceres said as a matter of course, saying that everyone could understand, but Helian himself could not follow or understand the radical thinking.


    With her hand on her forehead, which was in dull pain, Helian stopped the two women from continuing the exchange.


    "Both of you, let''s stop playing around," she said. And Ceres, Galdi. As for the defense mechanism, for the time being, we only need a capturing device, not an interceptor. That will save a lot of man-hours."


    No need for annihilation. As long as we can defend ourselves. The refurbishment workers all looked at each other when their master said that, but the interceptor system, a destruction mechanism, was put off by a single word from the crane.


    Having prevented the pathetic loss of life, Helian continues to hear about the progress from Gardi and the others, and learns that the living quarters are almost complete.


    The only part that is not yet completed is the private room for the master (Helian), and most of it is still awaiting the delivery of the interior decoration (interior), such as a canopied bed and paintings that are currently being painstakingly produced, which are dignified and befitting a king. When Helian heard this information, he immediately decided to move out of his temporary lodging and move in here.


    As the head of the state, it is the king''s duty to take care of the furnishings, but this is not his castle. The living environment where he can spend his time without worrying about the eyes of other guests or employees of the inn is much more important than the furniture which is not suitable for his size.


    "So, I''m going back to get my personal belongings. You guys go back to work."


    The three legionnaires, especially Lieve and Celes, were concerned about the lack of a suitable environment to receive the king, but they accepted the opinion that it could not be helped if it was the word of the Lord.


    However, Celes, who had been communicating with Levee secretly through their eyes, managed to secure a canopy bed in the time it took for Helian to leave the inn and return, and set it up with the help of the engineers.


    "............"


    When Helian opened the door to his new room, he saw the huge bed, which was very assertive, and fell into silence.


    "......This kind of thing is called dis communication, isn''t it?"


    I''ll talk to Leifer next time about how to deal with my subordinates.


    Helian writes this in his mental notepad and begins to unpack his personal belongings with a deep sigh.


    + + +


    "......What didn''t you like about it, general?"


    "I don''t know. Don''t look at me, you simpleton. ...... What''s that look? Is it really my fault?��Are you kidding me?��Don''t tell me that Rieve was right, I should have used other attributes. ......"


    "Hey. It didn''t seem that way to me. Does the boss have any idea what''s going on?


    "No, no. I don''t get it. Rieve would have looked like he didn''t get it either. I don''t understand what the king''s aide doesn''t understand.


    "Is that right? ...... sir, the commander of the 4th legion. I don''t think it''s your fault, so can you please stop mumbling with your head down? It''s just plain scary.


    All the remaining refurbishers tilted their heads and groaned, but in the end, no answer was forthcoming.

 61 - CHAPTER IV "Training"

    About a month ago.


    A group of people visited , the capital of Alkimaira, which was busy with pioneering projects.


    They were tall dwarves with rabbit ears, half dwarf and half beast. Men of the avian type with small feathers on their backs, and men of the pure-blooded dwarf race. The group is made up of a variety of half-elves, most of whom are characterized by their half-length ears, and are members of a warrior group dispatched by the allied nation of Rattestwood.


    They were welcomed by the guardians of the great door, and as soon as they set foot inside the city, they all stiffened.


    "This is ......"


    Passing through the outer wall, they were met with a view of the capital city, where everything in Alkimaira is concentrated.


    A boulevard so wide that dozens of people could stand side by side and still have room to spare. The orderly rows of buildings on either side of the boulevard. The ground is lined with beautiful cobblestones without any distortion, so precisely laid that you cannot see the seams unless you strain your eyes.


    The fountains in the plazas were filled with clear water that could be mistaken for holy water, and the streets were beautifully landscaped with lush, colorful flowers.


    It was a scene like a paradise in a bard''s poem.


    "----"


    Forgetting that they are in the Land of Monsters, the group exhales in admiration.


    Caught in the feeling as if they had wandered into another world, they could do nothing but stand in a daze in the plaza beyond the gate.


    "...... Let''s go. There''s no point in being dumbfounded here."


    Eventually, the man at the head of the group said


    He was a young half-elf by the name of , the newly appointed chief of the Lattestwood warriors.


    In the war against the Noblewoods, Rathestwood has lost the main men who had been running the country. The previous Warrior Chief was one of them. As a result, Wenli, who had been the caretaker of the princess sisters, was moved up the ranks to the first rank and was temporarily appointed Warrior Chief. However, he has now been removed from this position, and Ferk, the most skilled of the surviving warriors, has been officially appointed as the chief warrior.


    He is still a young warrior, as old as he looks, who survived because of his thin Elvish blood. He still carries in the back of his mind the fear of whether or not he is capable of being the chief of warriors. But once he had assumed the position, he was determined to serve with distinction, and he roused his dismayed comrades to action.


    The group, with Felk in the lead, continues on its way, looking around. They eventually reached the fountain in the plaza, when a knight approached them, his armored footsteps clanking.


    The knight in full plate armor stops in front of the group and shouts "Who are you?


    Excuse me. Are you the group of warriors dispatched by our ally, LATESTWOOD?"


    "--Yes. My name is Chief Warrant Officer Felk, and I am your representative on this occasion.


    "Confirmed. I confirm the contents of the prior notification. Welcome to Alkimaira. Welcome to Alkymyra.


    In a hushed tone, the knight issued a welcome. For some reason, despite his helmet, his voice is not muffled, but sounds more like a whisper, and reaches Felk''s bamboo ears. It was a strange tone of voice, as if the armor were hollow, it would sound like this.


    After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the group is led by a knight through the streets of Alkimaira.


    "Sometimes. I wonder if there have been any problems on the way here. We accept complaints about any inadequacies of the guides.


    "No. Our guides protected us on our way from the home country. There was no problem.


    Yes, sir. I hear that the Abyssal Forest is an object of fear for you, even if it is in the outer rim. The chief of our army has expressed concern about the inevitable passage through it. I am glad to hear that my fears are unfounded.


    The knight is right, the Abyssal Forest and the magical beasts that inhabit it are a source of fear for the residents of the Sea of Trees. In particular, demonic beasts sometimes escape from the Abyssal Forest and start rampaging, and are regarded as a type of natural disaster such as tornadoes and torrential rains. In other words, they are not something that can be managed by human beings. The Abyssal Forest, which has various anecdotes and is considered to be forbidden, is a magical place that one would normally be afraid to even approach.


    However, for the current Fellows, it is a different story.


    Although the route between Rattestwood and Alkimaira requires passage through the Abyssal Forest, the demons of Alkimaira do not lose their sense of direction as long as it is in the shallow layer such as the outer edge. The paths that Ferruk and his companions cannot reach by themselves are not much of an obstacle for the guides sent by Alkimaira.


    And as for the monsters living in the Abyssal Forest, it is useless to be afraid of them now. Because now we are walking in the midst of "monsters" who have the power to easily slaughter the monsters of the Abyssal Forest. Compared to them, the demonic beasts of the Abyssal Forest would be rather easy to deal with.


    Even if we only look around lightly, we can see powerful demons that we can''t even resist by ourselves. Goblins and orcs are just a few of the typical types of demons, but there are ogres, trolls, bat-like winged humanoids, floating giant eyeballs with tentacles,....... I hate to think about it, but the ones we just passed could be spirits of the dead, right?


    It is a terrifying sight that I would have run away from at once a few days ago.


    "What the ......?


    Suddenly, a voice from amongst the group swallowed a scream.


    However, the screams were not caused by the sight of a terrifying monster. It was because there was an elf among the residents who looked at the group with curiosity.


    The elf''s eyes caught a woman who had been working as a healer in the village of Rattestwood, and she froze reflexively because of the trauma of her nightmare in Noblewood.


    "What''s wrong? Is there a problem?"


    "...... No, no. It''s nothing."


    Stifling a shiver, the woman replied to the knight.


    No wonder, Felk thinks. He had been captured early, but those who had escaped had all been living in hell until just a few days ago.


    But we must overcome. We have been chosen to be a part of the newly reorganized warrior group, and we are required to be strong enough to overcome the memories of the past.


    This is also the reason for our visit to this country.


    The group of warriors led by Feruc came to this city in search of the strength to fight. They came all the way from Rattestwood to receive < by our ally Alkimaira.


    (...... yes...) We have come to the door of this magical land to become stronger.)


    Felk mutters to himself, and once again becomes keenly aware of the purpose of his visit.


    It is said to be a part of exchange activities designed to deepen mutual understanding between the two countries, but in reality it is to raise the strength of the RATESTWOOD Warriors. The reality is that the Latestwood Warriors have been unable to defend themselves against the monsters of the forest, having suffered severe damage in the previous battle. There is an overwhelming shortage of warriors who have a certain level of ability.


    However, since the problem of lack of manpower is not something that can be solved quickly, we must at least make up for it by increasing the strength of each and every one of us. And that too as soon as possible.


    It is against this backdrop that this effort - the , which was labeled as a part of the exchange activities, was realized.


    "We have arrived. This is the house where you will be staying from today.


    Felk, who had been pondering the knight''s words, looks up with a start.


    There was a large pavilion in front of him.


    The walls were covered with spears of various sizes and the ceiling was decorated with shield-like ornaments.


    The front door has a handle that resembles a sword hilt, giving the house a somewhat staid atmosphere.


    After guiding us, the knight said, "My duties as an officer are now finished. I wish you all a safe journey." The knight left quickly, leaving behind subtle words that stirred my anxiety.


    The group that was left behind looked at each other and stood for a while in front of the pavilion, seemingly unaware of their whereabouts. But there is no point in standing around like this. Ferk gulped down some saliva and pushed open the door as a representative of the group.


    "Well, here you are..."


    A lion in human form was waiting for us inside.


    It was not wearing a helmet, but was clad in heavily armored armor.


    Combined with his large stature, he must have been quite heavy, but he walked lightly to the bottom of the group.


    "It is my first time to meet you. My name is Balan-Zeifried. I have been entrusted with the responsibility for your training as part of this cross-cultural exchange program.


    Thank you very much for your kind attention. My name is--"


    Felk introduces himself as before and exchanges a few words with the lion who calls himself Balan.


    He had seen many demons of immeasurable strength along the way to this point, but there was something distinct about this lion. The beastmen among my companions seemed to be especially aroused by their instincts, and they were even fuming just by confronting the lion.


    However, Feruc, supported by his pride as a representative of the Ratestwood community, responded with pride and dignity.


    "As I have informed you in advance, during the training period you will be treated as trainees and not as guests. By nature, we have to be somewhat strict with you, is that acceptable?"


    Yes, of course. We all came here with the determination of warriors. We hope you will treat us as such.


    The others looked Baran firmly in the eye and agreed with him. Balan nodded his head in satisfaction.


    "Yes, I understand. I will also do my utmost to live up to your commitment. Then time is of the essence. Let''s put our luggage down and move on to today''s training.


    Balan responded with a serious face and rang the bell of his magic tool.


    A light sound echoed through the hall, and soon the caretaker of the hall appeared. The man who claimed to be the caretaker was a humanoid demon with the features of a chicken.


    He led the group into several large rooms, and after setting down their luggage, they quickly put on their equipment and reassembled in the lobby. Baran then led the group to the huge training area adjacent to the pavilion.


    The training area was littered with unfamiliar facilities and tools. There were also workers packing up the disassembled building materials, as if they had been used for other purposes until just a few days ago. Most of them had already prepared to move out, and the last two workers were carrying the rest of the building materials. They saw Balan and the other members of the warrior group and hurried to leave the building.


    As they pass each other, the workers'' voices reach their ears as they leave, bailing.


    "...... Hey, are those guys the ones you were talking about?"


    "Ah, the people of Latticewood. They said they were here for some kind of training.


    "You mean you''re here at ...... that thing?��Of all people, you''re taking the Second Corps'' training menu?"


    "Apparently. And the commander of the 2nd Corps himself.


    "...... sorry to hear that. I hope no one dies."


    --It was a chilling conversation.


    The Dwarven companion standing next to him apparently did not hear it, but the Elf (Feluk) with his good hearing was able to hear everything.


    The faces of the half-elves faded. I am sure I must have the same look on my face. The sight of the demons retreating quietly with their backs rounded almost made my resolve, which I should have strengthened as a warrior leader, fade away.


    Unaware of Felk''s state of mind, Balan stops at a corner of the training ground and turns around to face the group.


    "Well. Let the training begin. As we agreed earlier, from this point on you will be treated as trainees. You will address me as instructor for the duration of your training. The reply will be <.


    "......Right, sir!"


    Felk was the first to respond, followed by the rest of the group, who said similar words. Baran and the instructor nodded and climbed up on the command platform.


    What kind of hardship will we be subjected to?


    Ferck trembled with fear of the unknown, but he secretly resigned himself to the fact that he would not run away from whatever ordeal awaited him...


    "--then let''s go for a run. First, let''s run ten laps around this training ground.


    I blinked at the instructor''s words.


    It was not only Felk who was surprised, but also the other members of the group of warriors looked at each other in bewilderment. The instructions they had been given had been so unexpected. Although the training area was quite large, it was only ten laps.


    It is true that they had a history of being ridiculed as a collection of weaklings, but their days of living as forest people were no joke. They even had to run for nearly an hour through the jungle with poor footing, so this level of running is not a hard exercise for them.


    "...... Are you sure you want to do only ten laps?"


    "Mm. My superiors have asked me to take good care of you all. I will take extra care for your safety, and I will work hard to make sure that you make steady progress. Needless to say, I pledge never to force you to do anything you cannot do."


    The instructor continued with a solemn expression on his face.


    "I, for one, would be extremely displeased to see a trainee destroyed by training that does not match his or her own stature. Therefore, I have prepared a training plan that includes goals for attainment at the level of <> in many places, so that the trainees will surely build up their strength by overcoming them one by one. We have made precise calculations even down to the amount of food and sleep you will need, so you can train without any worries."


    It was an astonishing statement.


    I wondered how intense the training would be, but what came out of the instructor''s mouth was a litany of considerate words such as <<<>.


    The members of the warrior corps were all stunned by these words, which could not have come out of the mouth of a monster who is considered to be a lowly barbarian.


    (...... (I guess I have not yet given up my prejudice either.)


    I tried not to be misled by the preconceived notion that the other party was a demon, but it seems that it was only an intention (...). It would be wrong for me, the appointed chief of warriors, to misjudge things based on my preconceived notions.


    Feruc tensed his cheeks to shake off the word "prejudice" that he had not been able to get rid of. After a dry thud, he takes the lead and runs, just as his instructor had said. The others also "let''s go! His voice roused me to action, and I hurried after him.


    And so the running began.


    Due to their different races, some of them are not very good at running, but they are still members of the warrior corps that have been training day after day.


    They have a certain level of leg strength due to the fact that they are who often find themselves in a situation where they have no choice but to die if they can''t run.


    In no time at all, the third lap was completed, and the group of warriors continued to circle around in a single mass.


    As we were completing our fourth lap, the instructor''s voice came over.


    The instructor''s voice was a little far from the command post where he stood, but it sounded as if he was speaking to me from right next door. Perhaps he was expanding his voice with a tool similar to a shell in his hand.


    The instructor handled the tool with a familiar hand, even though it must have been an expensive one. Perhaps the streets we had seen along the way to this point may have also used magical tools in various places. Felk, who was running in the lead, even had time to think about such things.


    As he pondered this, a red light suddenly appeared from a high place in his field of vision. He followed the source of the light with his eyes and saw a man who looked like a magician holding what looked like a book in his hand on one of the high platforms set up in various places in the training ground.


    As I looked up vaguely to see what he had launched, a red light - no, a large ball surrounded by a flame - fell down in a parabolic path.


    "............What?"


    And exactly three seconds later. The glowing fireball passed through Felk''s field of vision and landed near the tail end of the group that was still circling.


    At the same time, a loud explosion sounded, and a shockwave and heat wave hit his back.


    He peeled his eyes and looked back to see his friends cowering from the sudden explosion and a small crater that seemed to be the point of impact.


    Sweat broke out in his eyes.


    "Sir!


    <


    "What was that explosion?


    When he was told that it was "staged," Felk did not understand the meaning of the word for a few seconds.


    But he could not stop.


    Flame bombs were raining down again from a height overlooking the training grounds.


    The others, who had almost come to a standstill at this point, also rushed to their feet.


    Then, the next flaming bullet exploded at a distance of only a few meters from the tail section.


    "Whee!


    "Don''t stop!��Run, or you''ll die!


    A dwarf running at the end of the line - a woman who worked as a healer in the village - was screaming.


    She is a woman who is part of the warrior group, but is mainly in charge of logistical support. She is the slowest of the group. She was being pulled along by her companions who were running slightly ahead of her, and she had managed to keep up with them.


    In the training area, which has been transformed into a battlefield, FELCK screams out in distress.


    "Instructor!��We will die if we are subjected to that thing!��I don''t think it''s powerful enough to withstand it!"


    <


    The instructor''s unaffected words left Felk in a state of shock.


    From the aftermath of the impact, it was unlikely that they would be able to prevent it even if they put up a barrier with all their might. In fact, with their own chanting speed, they would not be able to put up a barrier in time.


    While being exposed to such a terrible attack, they continue to run without disturbing their breathing. ......?


    <<


    Don''t worry, I''m good at what I do.


    The instructor continued, but there was nothing to reassure us.


    They are < the slowest ones, which means that if you slow down even a little, you will be caught in the explosion.


    And since defense is meaningless, if you are caught in the blast, you will have no choice but to die.


    The moment he became aware of this simple fact, his heart rate jumped.


    His breathing becomes erratic, and his legs gradually become heavier.


    But there is no way he can slow down.


    Ferck grits his teeth and moves his legs as hard as he can, but he is aware of his cheeks twitching as he feels the sound of the bullet''s impact getting closer and closer.


    "Hiya!��Yes, something just happened!��A piece of something snatched my head and ......!"


    "Stop yelling and shut up, your breathing is labored!��If your legs slow down, you''ll die!��Shut up and run!"


    The screams of my companions are mournful.


    But there is nothing we can do. We must keep running or we will die.


    Soon we enter the fifth lap, but the bombing does not stop.


    We had already fired more than ten shots, but there was no sign that we had run out of magic.


    Moreover, I hope it is just my imagination, but each shot seems to be getting more powerful.


    Entering the sixth round, Felk knew that it was not his imagination when he saw that the radius of the explosion scar was slightly increasing.


    He no longer has time to scream.


    He just moves his feet frantically.


    He runs through the training area, where the footing gets worse with each lap, avoiding small craters caused by the bombs, and pulls the hand of a fellow trainee who tripped over a hole, forcing him to stand up and run on.


    After running ten laps, the members of the Warriors fell to the ground in a heap.


    The runners behind them stumble over the bodies of their fallen comrades and roll into the finish line.


    With the last of his strength left in his body, Felk dragged the bodies of his fallen comrades to open the way to the middle of the goal.


    A woman running in last place jumps into the goal, pushed back by the blast.


    "Whew, whew, whew... ......--"


    Then, only grazed breaths and coughs filled the air around us.


    Even a cursory glance around the room reveals a mass of corpses.


    Ferk, who had used up the last of his strength, also collapsed on the spot and joined the dead.


    The instructor announced in a matter-of-fact tone. The instructor''s tone of voice was not disturbed at all, even after witnessing such devastation.


    Felk, on the other hand, prayed that he had misheard the instructor and asked the instructor a question with his pride as the chief of the battleship.


    "Sir, ...... instructor, sir, ......".


    <<


    "I thought you said just now ...... that you were going to move on to physical fitness for ...... training."


    When I somehow managed to voice my doubts under my breath, the instructor affirmed it with a serious expression on his face.


    The answer was not quite to the point, but it seemed that the training had not even begun.


    It seems that he has been pointed out that he is fundamentally lacking in physical strength and endurance, but I cannot and will not argue with him as long as he is exposed in this pathetic manner.


    But that is not the point.


    We know that you lack endurance and physical strength for training. We understand that we are going to do something called .


    But then, what was all that running we just did to the death ......?


    Felk tries to keep his tone as polite as possible and asks the instructor fearfully.


    <>.


    --I could die today.


    Upon hearing the instructor''s answer, Felk realized that this was a place of death for them.

 62 - Fifth "The Lions Thousand Hounds"

    This concludes today''s basic training. Thank you for your hard work.


    Upon hearing the instructor''s words, the warriors fell to the ground without energy.


    They no longer had the strength to reply. They were truly exhausted. Even Felk managed to stand with his hands on his knees, which were shaking.


    The training that had been imposed on them up to this point, including the first ten laps of running, was by no means unattainable, but all of it had a built in to it. Although I was able to train with a sense of urgency that was greater than that of a real battle, my body and mind were not at their normal level of exhaustion.


    "I would like to say that we are going to conduct the actual battle exercise ...... as a total finish of today, but it seems that we are a little too fatigued. --Hazel, please bring me something."


    "Yes, sir."


    Behind the instructor, a group of dozens of women lined up before he knew they were there. All of them were dressed in matching maidens'' uniforms. One of them stepped forward, made eye contact with Felk, and bowed.


    I am the deputy manager of the pavilion and a lady-in-waiting, and I am Hazel from the Third Legion. I (we) will take care of you all during your stay, so please do not hesitate to contact me.


    A woman with goat-like horns on her head - a lady attendant called Hazel - said with a soft smile on her gentle face. Ferk, on the other hand, also managed to introduce herself, though she was out of breath.


    The ladies-in-waiting received Hazel''s instructions and handed cups of wine to the Latestwood warriors who were lying on the ground. Feruc, perhaps because of his status as the leader of the warriors, was given the cup directly by Hazel, who seemed to be the head maid of honor.


    "Is this ......?"


    It is our signature mead. It does not make much and does not keep well, so each person can only have one cup, but I can assure you of its taste. Please enjoy it.


    Ferck looks at the wine cup. But they are still in the process of ...... training, or rather, getting fit to be able to train. There are still some practical exercises left to be done. In such a situation, they felt that it would be bad to drink alcohol.


    Don''t worry, the alcohol content has been weakened. This mead contains various effects such as relieving fatigue, so we always serve it to the trainees who visit our facility. Please drink it with gusto."


    They repeated their offer. Deciding that it would be impolite to refuse, Felk looks at the instructor to make sure, and after seeing his nod, he sips from his cup of sake.


    --At that moment, he was filled with a tremendous feeling of happiness.


    What is this?


    As soon as he poured it down his throat, or rather, as soon as his tongue touched the wine, every cell in his body burst into joy.


    The taste was so mellow that I seriously doubted if I had just sipped a drop of God''s sake. If this is sake, then what in the world have I been drinking? Without a shadow of a doubt, this is the finest sake I have ever tasted.


    "I am glad you are satisfied."


    Hazel, who had read everything in Felk''s complexion, smiled.


    It was only natural that he should be proud to introduce such an excellent product.


    Feeling a pleasant sense of defeat, Felk carefully tastes the remaining mulled wine in the cup and slurps it down his throat.


    As he downs the last of the mead, he realizes that before he knows it, he is standing upright with firm steps. To my surprise, the feeling of fatigue has vanished. I feel the urge to run right now, whereas a few moments ago, I could not take a single step.


    Ferck marvels that this is the result of the full effect of the fatigue recovery and other effects. The effects are a little worrisome, but after experiencing the heavenly feeling of happiness, they seem trivial.


    "Hmmm. It seems you have regained enough vitality. Let''s wrap up the day.


    After making sure that everyone had drunk their fill of mulled wine, the instructor began to speak.


    "When I received your preliminary information, I noticed that there is something that is greatly lacking in your band of warriors. It is the .


    The instructor, with his arms crossed, breaks off and continues.


    "You have defended your country from the threat of demonic beasts for many years, though you are no match for them, and your skill and determination are admirable. However, these are defensive battles that place the primary emphasis on defending bases, and it is considered good enough if the opponent is eliminated. In short, the absolute number of enemy defeats has been so small that I have concluded that you are lacking .


    There is no error in what the instructor said.


    It is true that the warriors have been protecting cities and settlements from the threat of monsters and beasts, but they have not always been able to kill their enemies.


    Sometimes we have driven them back by wounding them, and at other times we have continued our defensive warfare with the policy of leading them away from the targets of our defense by using ourselves as shields in directions other than the cities and settlements.


    Of course, there is nothing better than to win the battle by putting the finishing touches on the enemy, but it is a fact that there were many monsters and beasts that could not easily achieve such a goal.


    "That''s not right. That is extremely bad. Not knowing how to win means that one is not familiar with the logic of how to win.


    Therefore, during your stay in my country, you will win as many victories as possible. Although it is in the form of a mock battle, you will improve your skills through the experience of winning, and at the same time, you will learn the art of winning.


    The warriors, who had recovered their energy and strength, listened to the instructor''s words with serious eyes.


    From what I have heard so far, what the instructor said seemed to make sense.


    Their spirits had been lifted - to a somewhat bizarre degree - by the mead, and they all had a look of motivation on their faces.


    "I have already found a partner for the mock battle. To finish off the day''s training, you will have to battle him every day. --Come on out."


    In response to the instructor''s call, a soldier wearing iron shoes, leather armor, and an iron helmet appeared. He is small in stature, about the height of a dwarf. The figure came rushing toward us with a clattering sound, looking like a misshapen tin doll.


    When the soldier arrived, he took off his helmet, put it under his arm, and bowed to the instructor.


    Although his jerky sequence of movements was clearly rehearsed, he showed the same courtesy to his superior officer as he had practiced.


    While the instructor nodded his head, the members of the warrior group were somewhat surprised to see the soldier''s true face.


    The soldier who took off his helmet was a goblin.


    There are three types of goblins that they know as common knowledge, but he resembles one of the goblin species that dwells in the wilderness. They are considered the smallest of all goblins.


    "This is Jiro Gob, your opponent in the mock battle. He was a soldier of the last war. I do not mean to belittle you, but I think he is a reasonable opponent. Now, say hello, Gobjiro.


    "I''m Gob Jiro. I''m the king, and I''m named Goblin. I''ll do my best. I''ll do my best.


    With a clank of his armor, Gobjiro bowed his head.


    The group returned the bow in their own way, and the instructor asked them to get ready to begin.


    When Felk was instructed to divide the group into groups of combatants, excluding healers and other logistics support personnel, he quickly selected a few leaders and told them to choose their group members so that their strength would be averaged out. As the leader of the first group, Felk also secured a group of about 30 members.


    After the grouping, the first group was called by the instructor and went up on the stage set up in the center of the training area. On the other side of the stage, a soldier who had already made preparations - Gobujiro - was waiting for them, waving his weapon for the mock battle.


    The first team was about to start discussing who would be the "spearhead" for the match, when the instructor, holding a loudspeaker in his hand, shouted out.


    <


    "What is the force ...... you say?"


    <<


    Apparently, instead of a one-on-one battle to win, they are going to have a one-on-many mock battle.


    I don''t find these instructions humiliating. It was easy for us to imagine that our opponents, even goblins, would be far superior to us from what we had seen so far. Taking this into consideration, Felk and the others had been thinking who to hit and in what order to invite their opponents to wear them down, but their guesses were off.


    However, everyone wondered if it would be possible to win the game with such a large number of players.


    The first few to a dozen or so would probably be beaten back, but even so, they would be able to overwhelm them if they relied on sheer force of numbers.


    I heard that it was a mock battle to win, but would winning in this way be a useful experience ...... or something to be gained?


    The group had such doubts, but the instructor did not care and let them prepare for the match.


    The starting positions of the two armies were set, each side readied their weapons, and some of them, who were trained in magic, began to prepare for chanting.


    When the gradually rising tension exceeded a certain level, the instructor gave an order.


    >


    With a roar, the battle was set off.


    Felk was a little concerned about the nuance of the instructor''s words, but once the battle had begun, he could not afford to dwell on unnecessary matters.


    Putting his doubts to the back of his mind, he rushed toward Gobjiro.


    He pulls a throwing knife from the holder at his waist. He took three swings, clasping it between the fingers of his clenched right hand. He stops once to make sure he hits the target, and then throws it with his right hand raised above his head in a downward motion. With a flowing motion, he pulls out the short staff at his waist and begins to chant the attack magic , which ejects a blade of wind.


    ��Now, which way to avoid ......?)


    Behind me, my companions are drawing their bows and concentrating their magic power into their staffs.


    They are poised to kill the enemy who moves to the left or right to avoid the knife.


    If the enemy tries to avoid the knife by moving up and down, which is unlikely, they will surely follow up with Felruk''s <>, and if possible, they will try to break the enemy''s attack with a single thrust.


    This coordinated attack, in which the main attack is launched at the moment the target avoids the check shot, is one of the tactics that the RATESTWOOD WARRIORS have developed to defeat the magical beasts, and at the same time it is the most frequently used and reliable method of attack.


    However, as it turned out, Gobjiro did not dodge either up, down, left, or right.


    Nor did he defend himself against throwing knives with his armor, nor was he seriously hit by them.


    He just dared to make a full swing with his weapon (longsword) against the flying throwing knife and hit the thrower (Felk) head-on.


    (What? ......!??)


    The knife that was released comes back at a tremendous speed.


    Miraculously, the blade was facing us.


    Feruc, who had stopped chanting on the spur of the moment, avoided the bullet liner by sinking down.


    The knife passed over his head the next moment as he bent down, and disappeared behind him, severing the ends of his hair.


    The screams of his comrades came from behind him, but he had no time to worry about them.


    Felk quickly looked up to watch Gobjiro''s movements, but noticed that his enemy was not there.


    He looks quickly from side to side to see where he has gone, but he cannot find him.


    "Gaaaah!


    The screams again behind me.


    A cry of anguish that is clearly different from the one startled by the falling arrow (knife).


    In a swift movement, he turns around to see his friends flying high in the sky.


    "Where is ..................?"


    My friends were flying in the air.


    The strange sight stunned him for a moment, but he came to his senses when he saw a swarm of friends pouring toward him.


    He was able to catch the first one, but not the second or later.


    He manages to get the others up on their feet, and then hurries away from the drop.


    The dull sound of flesh hitting flesh from the fall from a great height reached his ears.


    He is tempted to reach out for help, but he does not care.


    He has lost sight of his enemy.


    Just as he is about to ask himself where the hell he is going, he hears the screams of another comrade.


    Felk quickly glances at the source of the voice, catches sight of the enemy, and peels his eyes away.


    --Gobjiro was on the rampage.


    Using the shield in his left hand and the belly of the longsword in his right, he charges into the center of the most densely-populated area and launches the warriors high into the air.


    The blade of the longsword has been crushed for the purpose of mock battle, but it is still a block of steel. The blunt weapons, wielded with a physical strength that is unlike any goblin they have ever known, send the LATESTWOOD warriors soaring into the sky like balls.


    "Dodge!��It''s no use defending yourself, just keep your distance!"


    "d*mn it, I can''t get a line of fire!��For God''s sake, everyone get away from me!��I can''t do anything with this!"


    "If you stick together, you''re just a target!��Spread out, quickly!


    Voices mixed with shouts of anger fly about. In an instant, all hell broke loose. There was no way that a well-coordinated, coordinated move could ever be achieved. Our men were being beaten down helplessly.


    --They did not know. They did not know that the lone goblin fighting them now was the head of the Noblewood Guard.


    --They realized. The lone goblin they are fighting now is a monster that they could not defeat even if they all fought together.


    And now the enemy''s evil has reached Feruc as well.


    Gobjiro temporarily slips out of the center of the group and dives into his pocket in a single bound. His body stiffens for a moment as he is easily caught in the middle of the group, even though his thoughts have already been disturbed. With a fluid motion, an uppercut strikes Felk squarely on the jaw.


    "Go-......,ah!"


    In an instant, everything went black.


    As soon as I regained consciousness, the crystal clear azure sky burst into my field of vision.


    This was followed by a strange floating sensation.


    The next moment he realized that he was floating in the air like the others, and his body was slammed unprotected to the edge of the stage.


    "......,......!"


    I couldn''t even scream from the intense pain that shot through my body.


    Only a muffled voice escaped my throat.


    At the same time as he coughed, he coughed up something sticky besides air.


    The red, sticky, wet substance made Felk realize that his internal organs had been severely damaged.


    "......!��I''m gonna--,--!"


    Apparently, he fell very close to where the healers were waiting. In the blurred vision, a fellow dwarf healer was frantically shouting something. Looking at her tragic expression and the ground stained with his own blood, Felk realizes that he has been mortally wounded.


    Consciousness fades. His vision fades to white. He has already stopped breathing. Soon he cannot even hear the voices of his compatriots, and as he silently closes his eyes, he realizes that he has been mortally wounded.


    "Heal."


    A soft light fell on his dying body.


    Immediately hearing and vision returned, and consciousness became clear as if bathed in cold water.


    An unfamiliar figure of a sorcerer stands beside him, his shaded hands clad in afterglow.


    As he rouses himself with a start, Felk looks down at his healed body and is astonished.


    He had been healed many times before, but never before had such a drastic change occurred in an instant.


    "This, this is ......."


    "It is a specialist healing magic borrowed from the Third Legion by force. You should be completely recovered, but do you feel any discomfort in your body?��Any pain or difficulty moving around?"


    When asked, Felk fearfully patted his belly, which should have been crushed, but felt only a muscular sensation and no pain. He felt no discomfort when he moved his arms and legs. As the instructor had said, he had fully recovered.


    As the instructor said, I was fully recovered. "...... No, no. I can''t believe it, but it seems to be completely healed. ......"


    "I see. --Well, good luck.


    The instructor pointed his finger at me with a snap.


    At the tip of his straight index finger, there is Gobujiro, who continues to rampage in the center of the group.


    Driven by the emotion of "no way," Felk stared at the instructor.


    "I told you, didn''t I?��This is a mock battle to be won. You will continue to be overrun until you don''t know how to win, but since we have full backup, we can challenge you again and again. Do not hesitate. You may try again and again until you are victorious."


    The instructor''s words came out in a matter-of-fact manner, making Felk pallid.


    He had just learned the difference in strength between them and the enemy. He could barely follow them with his eyes, but he could not avoid the attacks he had been hit by, even if he could see them. It was obvious that if he tried again, he would get a backhanded blow. If I was prepared to fight with him, I might be able to inflict some damage, but as a result, I would surely wander on the edge of death again.


    However, there were a number of figures that looked like surgeons waiting around the stage.


    I could see them quickly recovering the half-dead who were being mass-produced one after another, just as I had done earlier.


    Even if I were to die again, or again and again, I am sure that I would be healed instantly by their hands. And each time, I will challenge the monster and be cured again, repeating the cycle. ...... until the moment of victory over the monster, perhaps.


    Felk looks up at his instructor with a ray of hope.


    However, there is no change in the instructor''s expression.


    If anything, there is a slight hint of doubt as to why he has not returned to work after having already recovered.


    "U......Uooaaaaaaaaaaaah!


    Realizing that there was no salvation, he charged forward, screaming in despair, pushed by his sense of responsibility as a war chief, his will as a man, or his instincts as a living creature facing death, whatever the case may be.


    + + +


    "Oh, ...... you''re doing it, Balan."


    Ertina, the commander of the Third Corps, appeared on the training ground.


    She was in charge of the overall internal administration based on the plan prepared by Helian, and she took a few moments out of her break to come and check on the training.


    However, her gait was somewhat suspicious, and her voice was quiet.


    "Ertina? ...... what''s wrong with your expression? You look like a sick person.


    "Yes, I''m a little tired. ....... I heal myself regularly, but it''s getting to the point where I can no longer cover it up. ......"


    "Mm. Even your healing magic can''t heal you?"


    Healing magic is not a panacea. Injuries and illnesses have their limits, but when it comes to replenishing vitality, there is a limit. ......I wish Celes were here at such times."


    Balan did not dare to reply to that line.


    Even though they had been friends for 150 years, there were certain aspects of each other that were not to be known in depth. After the incident, Balan had concluded that he should not touch such a part (???????) of Ertina.


    Although Ertina mentioned the name of the Commander of the 4th Legion, there is no restriction that it has to be her. It is just that Ceres is the most likely to show such an expression (??????) among those who are close to her.


    "Miss Eltina, if you don''t mind, this way..."


    "...... Oh, Hazel. It''s been a long time. It''s good to see you.


    Eltina takes the cup from Hazel and drinks the mead with a sip.


    The mead has the effect of restoring vitality to a certain level. Since the amount of recovery is calculated on an absolute basis, the effect tends to be relatively weak against high-level demons, but the limited use of this drink, which can be taken only in this hall and the training hall, makes it more than adequate. It is capable of recovering almost all demons below the level of 100.


    After drinking up the mead, Ertina let out a sigh of relief. Her body felt slightly more comfortable. She took out a hand mirror and checked her complexion, which was somewhat better than before she had come here.


    The expression in the mirror is a smile. Although I had kept my golden hair, which is used as a title, shiny and colorful, dark circles had begun to appear under my eyes after many all-nighters. Seeing that they have disappeared, Eltina returns the cup of sake with a smile on her face.


    Thank you, Hazel. It was very tasty. It''s a pity that I can only drink it here.


    "I am honored, Lady Eltina. We can''t make a large quantity because of the way it''s made, but if you are tired, please ask for us. I''ll make sure we have enough for you.


    Hazel smiled at her, and Eltina responded with a sincere smile." Hazel''s smile deepened as she told him, "I hope you will not be too hard on yourself.


    "Well, Balan. How are the warriors doing?


    "It''s only the first day, so I really don''t want to give an evaluation. However, there is a great deal of room for growth. As long as the gears mesh, it will be possible to raise the level of competence to a certain level at once.


    "I see. So now you''re doing mock battles?


    "Yes. Thanks to the healers we have borrowed, we are gaining combat experience efficiently. It is a great advantage to be able to challenge them again and again. I am grateful to them and to the Lord. ...... But at this rate, the days are numbered. Tomorrow, we will have to add more people to our simulation and pick up the pace."


    Next to Balan, who is mumbling to himself, Ertina watches the training scene for a while.


    The members of the Rattestwood Warriors, as Balan had said, had challenged the enemy (goblins) to a battle many times, and each time they had been returned and seriously wounded. However, they were prepared to fight back, inflicted damage on the enemy soldiers, and were healed by the healers under Eltina''s command, and returned to the front line.


    --If Helian had been here, he would have thought of the slang term .


    Ertina, who sees in the faces of the challenging warriors the look of a trapped rat or a dead soldier, asks her colleague in horror: "What is it that you are doing here?


    "............ Um, Balan?��Isn''t this a kind of torture?"


    Although she was not familiar with the training of warriors, Ertina could not help asking such questions after witnessing the horrific scene.


    However, Balan, the Knight Commander and instructor, shook his head with a serious expression on his face.


    No, definitely not, Ertina. They are volunteers and warriors. They came here to take up arms to protect their country and to seek the strength to fight. Then there is no reason why they cannot overcome this level of training. In fact, no one has ever dropped out, have they?"


    If we ask them to cancel the training, there is no telling what they will do to us.


    Such fears were pushing the RATESTWOOD Warriors back, but fortunately or unfortunately, the instructor (Balan) did not notice it.


    "In addition, the actual battlefield is harsh. I am trying to train myself to maintain my composure when I go into battle, and I intend to increase the intensity of my training in stages. If you go through experiences that are even harsher than those on the battlefield, you will be able to overcome most of the challenges you face."


    "...... Is that what it is?"


    "That''s the way it is."


    Balan asserts with conviction.


    Eltina, on the other hand, was skeptical, but eventually agreed, saying, "If the expert (Balan) says so, then it must be so.


    "By the way, are these the Latestwood healers?"


    "Mm. I am not a specialist in breaking magic, but I am not a specialist in applying it, so I have decided to ask for help from the sorcerers I have borrowed from.


    Eltina looked at the surgeons who were watching the battle by the stage.


    Then, with her finger on her forefinger, she thought about it and told Balan about an idea that had just occurred to her.


    "I see. At ......, please leave those who were injured in the last mock battle as they are. As an educational exercise, let''s have the people of Latticewood heal them.


    "Mm?��But the extent of your injuries is considerable. Can their arms heal them?"


    "It will be difficult at first, but eventually they will be able to do it. Fortunately, there seems to be no shortage of wounded, and there will be ample opportunity for repetition."


    "...... are you going to use the bodies of your fellow students as specimens for your teaching practice?"


    Balan pondered for a moment.


    I do believe that repetitive practice is a necessary act for improvement. Skills become more precise and effective with use.


    However, Baran wonders what it would be like to use the body of a fellow trainee as a specimen. In many cases, the injuries in a mock battle are close to so-called fatal wounds. And since they are fatal wounds, if the healer makes a mistake in handling them, the subject will die as it is.


    (Although we are prepared for any eventuality. ......)


    Balan has an agreement with the king that in the event of an during training, the king will take care of it, as he was the first spear in the last war. But the warriors of Rattestwood are unaware of the king''s power. To them, can never be reversed.


    In other words, Ertina''s proposal would be to <<<<>.


    Balan imagined this picture and asked Ertina in a serious tone of voice


    ............Ertina. Isn''t that a kind of torture?"


    Even though he was not an expert on the education of healers, Baran could not help asking such a question.


    However, Ertina turned to Balan with a sincere expression on her face.


    "No. No, Balan, that is not true. In the last war, they must have known the frustration of mourning the lives of their friends, the pain, and above all, the despair of their own lack of strength. That is why they came to this place with such a prayer that they should never have such a feeling again.


    Then we must answer their prayers and wishes. We will only be here for a short period of time (one month), but I believe that we will be able to answer their wishes by having them return home with as much knowledge of the arts imprinted in their minds and bodies as possible.


    Ertina asserts with the eyes of a saint who knows both life and death.


    There is no hesitation there.


    Seeing the fierce determination in her eyes, Balan backed away slightly as if he were overwhelmed.


    "And the battlefield is a harsh place. There will be times when a close friend or a beloved family member is so traumatized that you hesitate to look directly at them. In order to be able to treat such situations calmly and undisturbed, you need to be accustomed to such tragic situations during the training phase. Repetition is the key to everything.


    "...... Is that how it works?"


    "That''s the way it is."


    Ertina asserts with conviction.


    Baran, on the other hand, was skeptical, but eventually agreed, saying, "If the expert (Eltina) says so, then it must be so.


    The dwarf of the warrior group who was listening to the conversation shook his head with tears in his eyes, but the two earnestly discussing the matter did not notice it.


    "Speaking of which. Speaking of LATESTWOOD, how is the Seventh Legion Commander (Robin) doing?"


    "As far as I can tell, as most people expected, no major problems have arisen. ...... still looks the same, but barely tolerable."


    "Well, ....... I haven''t heard anything yet, but I''m a little worried about the folks at Latticewood."


    "I hate to put it this way, but it is a necessary sacrifice. I don''t like to say it this way, but it is a necessary sacrifice, and the local people will have to endure it until this matter is over.


    The two "the first three" let out a sigh as if they were imagining the same scene. Anyone familiar with the character of the Commander of the Seventh Army would have reacted the same way, even if not these two. Balan, with a sullen expression creasing his brow, and Eltina, with a smile that was as close to a wry smile as she could get, thought of the local people of Rattestwood.


    It was four hours later that the last group of warriors defeated Gobjiro.

 63 - 第六话 「とある女官长の受难」

    --Evil is the demon.


    This is that needs no reiteration. It is a common understanding of mankind that even children know. I, like many others, was taught this way growing up.


    < that are natural enemies of mankind living in the realm of demons, and that resemble beasts living in various parts of the world, are also called demons.


    Some scholars may argue that we should use different names for each of them, but it does not matter to me. They are all equally threatening. They are enemies of mankind, mindless monsters, vicious barbarians, and horribly abominable monsters. They are demons.


    ......At least, that was definitely the case until just a few days ago.


    How did this happen? I still don''t understand. No, I am not in a position to say that I can''t catch up with my understanding, but to tell the truth, I am still confused because the difference between the common sense I had before and the reality before my eyes is too big.


    Alkimaira, the land of many demons.


    A land of demons that calls itself an otherworldly country.


    With only one exception, everyone who lives there is considered a demon, a fearsome land of demons.


    Some of the inhabitants are said to be human beings, such as elves and beastmen, but according to the common knowledge of this country, they are also called demons. This story reminds us of what common sense really is. If you ask this to the scholars who grew up in the safety of the city, I am sure they will show you a very amused reaction.


    "All right, let''s clean up the debris there and move to E8. We''ll have everything around the castle by the end of the day.


    "Aisa. ...... By the way, where am I supposed to dump all this debris?"


    "Don''t throw it away, you idiot. Don''t throw it away, you idiot. Take it to the collection center. Our craftsmen are waiting with bated breath.


    No, I''d rather show you the view out the window. It may not be a pleasant reaction, but it is usually the scholars of the human species who argue with each other in a way that is neither poisonous nor medicinal. I don''t care if they go crazy. I would rather they go to hell.


    But even if you are not a scholar, you will doubt your sanity when you see this scene.


    For outside the window, a giant larger than a house and a Kobold riding on his shoulder are talking to each other.


    It is generally accepted that demons have little connection with other races. Even when they do live in groups, they are at best tribes or herds, and it is extremely rare for them to form sophisticated organizations of multiple species. It is for this reason that humans, who are inferior in terms of the strength of life, have been able to achieve prosperity with the weapon known as , as we all know.


    Nevertheless, outside the window, Kobolds, smaller than the human species, were giving instructions to the giants, who are considered to be stupid and violent demons, as if it were natural. It is hard to believe, but the Kobold on his shoulder seems to have a higher rank, and he is smashing the giant''s head with a popcary.


    "Oh, and be mindful of your surroundings around here. Don''t make the mistake of letting your big frame crash into the castle! We''re here to help with the reconstruction and it would be a shame to destroy the building.


    "Hey, hey. Yes, sir.


    The giant, urged on by Kobold, grabs the debris and wreckage around the castle and leaves. They are demons from Alkimaira, our ally dispatched to assist in the reconstruction of our country.


    The most striking of all is the work of the Titans. With two fingertips, they pick up and carry away the huge wreckage, which would normally take more than a dozen people to remove with equipment. The cleanup work around the castle should have just started this morning, but it was being completed in less than a few hours. I can only laugh when I think of the dozens of days it would have taken if it had been just our own people of Lattestwood.


    Moreover, they are extremely fuel-efficient despite their huge size.


    No, they should be able to eat a reasonable amount of food with their huge body, but when they eat, they become human beings.


    It is absurd to think about it again, but it seems that every single one of the people living in his country has been given the ability to transform from the king. By using this ability, they are able to take on the likeness of a human being, or even a completely human form. This means that even if they are giants with a body over 20 meters in height, they are able to eat within the human diet.


    The client asks us to take care of the meals of the dispatched workers as compensation for dispatching them, but considering the labor force provided, it is a small price to pay. In fact, it seems too light.


    ...... Perhaps this is a favor from his king.


    I won''t speculate now that there is something behind it. At first, I misunderstood that he was the king of demons and thought that he was a demon king himself, and that he would be forced into servitude in the name of his fellow countrymen, but that misunderstanding has already been cleared up.


    After all, that king not only refused to take custody of Leifa-sama, but also handed over his autonomy and saved all those who had suffered unhealed wounds right in front of his eyes. Even at the cost of his own life.


    Judging from the reaction of the Alkimaila leaders who were present at the meeting, it was probably a very dangerous act. It seemed as if their lives were even in danger. I still remember the sight of him clenching his teeth, stifling his cries of anguish, his legs twitching, and still standing until the end.


    I am aware that I am a half-elf with a hard head, but I am not so blind or shameless as to believe him to be a demon king after seeing him like that. I do not seek servitude. I want to be a good neighbor. His king really wants to be on friendly terms with us (RATESTWOOD).


    I don''t understand it because of .......


    I tried to organize the information by writing a memoir like this, but still no luck. It is as if I cannot understand the king''s thoughts.


    I''m trying my best to throw away my common sense and eliminate my preconceived notions, but I can''t understand a single piece of it, perhaps because I''m too hard-headed. However, seeing that the other ladies are also puzzled, I don''t think this is a problem of my own.


    ......Oh, no. I still don''t get it. I don''t understand it at all. For what reason would his king send a man to be in charge?


    "--yaaaahhhh!"


    A scream like ripping silk.


    A high-pitched wail filled the small castle and penetrated the wooden door to the room.


    Wenli, a close aide of Queen Leifa of Rattestwood, the owner of the room with the words <> engraved on the door, suddenly stops moving her brush.


    However, he does not rush out of the room.


    Nor does she stiffen at the sudden scream.


    She just put her writing brush on the tabletop and held her head in her hands as if she was trying to endure a headache.


    Then, after taking a deep, deep breath and letting it all out from the prone position, the chiefess Wenli mutters helplessly.


    "...... has begun?


    His voice was laced with a hint of fatigue that he could not hide.


    + + +


    The Seventh Legion is one of the eight legions that Alkimaira boasts to the world.


    Some of its members have been dispatched from Alkymyra''s home country to assist in the reconstruction of the capital and the settlement of Rattestwood.


    The Seventh Legion is the main producer in Alkimaira in peacetime. Craftsmen in blacksmithing, woodworking, metal carving, sewing, leatherworking, and all other fields related to production are gathered here to study their skills daily and to play a role in the foundation of the secondary industry.


    It is not that other corps do not have their own craftsmen, but it can be said that the Seventh Corps has gathered leading craftsmen representing each field. Especially in the field of magical engineering, the Seventh Corps has a high level of technology that stands apart from the rest of the corps, and is even outstanding in comparison with the powerful countries of the World III.


    The head of such a technical group is the youngest demon among the eight legionnaires.


    He is a natural-born craftsman and pioneer, born of a mixture of dwarf and dwarf race.


    He loved freedom.


    He hated constraint more than anything else.


    He was as innocent and jovial as he appeared, always remembering to have fun, living each day to the fullest, as if the concept of a had taken shape. That is Robin, Commander of the Seventh Legion.


    --Yes.


    He was a boy who loved freedom more than anyone else, unbound by anything, like the wind in the meadow.


    "Hyahhhhhh!"


    And a little too free.


    "Blue, 60 points!��Light blue, 65 points for the design!��White, good job on the basics. 70 points!��Oh, black against a mature face!��The gap between the two is very effective, and it''s a high score. 85 points!��YEAHHHHHHHH!!!!"


    Robin sprinted down the corridor and quickly got to her feet as soon as she spotted the courtesan. She then hooks her arms around the inside of her dress skirt and raises them in a hail of bullets. The natural result was that the skirt was fully exposed. He quickly glances at her and inspects the contents with hunter-like eyes.


    Color, shape, and decoration are the basics. But Robin, an expert in the field, does not stop there. He strictly evaluates more than ten items, such as the harmony and gap when compared to the face and personality of the wearer. Then, as soon as the scores are instantly calculated, they announce them in a loud voice peculiar to children, and run off to their next prey.


    The woman, who had no idea what had just happened, came to her senses and let out a high-pitched shriek as soon as her skirt, which had been blown up to a large size, regained its original shape. Such scenes are occurring in a chain of events all over Ogi.


    "............ Huh."


    Wenli let out an involuntary sigh as he came out into the hallway with heavy steps.


    On the first day, he had run out into the hallway when he heard the screams, but now it had become a part of his daily routine.


    A young woman with a short cut was crouching near the room. If Wenli remembers correctly, this is the second time that she has been attacked.


    It is silly to think about such a thing seriously, but it seems that his crime was not indiscriminate. He seems to select his victims on a daily basis to prevent the women from becoming accustomed to his actions. However, for some reason, I, as the head of the women''s section, seemed to be the exception to the rule, and I continued to be victimized day in and day out. Wenli sighs for the second time, thinking that she can no longer react as naively as these women do.


    The officer, who was crouching down holding the hem of her skirt, let out a weak voice when she saw Wenli coming out of her office.


    "We, Chief Wenli... ......"


    "I''m not the Warrior Chief anymore. I''m a female chief. ...... and you are again?"


    "...... Yes, again. The chief wench."


    Wenli put her hand on her forehead and looked up at the ceiling. It had been six days now. He no longer had the energy to be angry.


    All the women working in the castle, including Wenli, the chief priestess, are dressed in the same uniform.


    A navy blue one-piece skirt and a ruffled white apron. The dress with a ribbon on the chest and a white brim on the head is what is called a lady''s uniform.


    This was a gift from the Seventh Legion to the ladies as a token of friendship.


    At first, Wenli and the others were puzzled as to why they were given these uniforms, but when they found out that the clothes were enchanted, they all gasped. The enchanted items are valuable for that reason alone, but this set of samurai''s clothes had a total of four different kinds of enchantments. Moreover, one of them was a combined defense technique that was highly effective against both physical and magical attacks. It is not something that should be given to a samurai''s uniform.


    It is hard to imagine how much it would fetch if it were sold on the market, but at least it would be a sum that they would not be able to pay even if they spent their whole lives. Normally, we would be too frightened to even try on the sleeves, but this was a gift courtesy of the Alkimaila. No one had the courage to refuse to wear it.


    Thus, the ladies of Rattestwood were all required to wear their chambermaids'' uniforms, or in other words, one-piece skirts, as their work clothes, and from the day after the gift was given to them until today, they have been victims of skirt-flipping by the dwarfs.


    Although it was surely an excellent item, not only in terms of comfort and functionality, but also in terms of protection, Wenli suspected that he might have been the one who had dared to make it into a lady''s uniform.


    "Excuse me, Chief Priestess. Is that what you want us to do?"


    "...... No . I suspected it at first too, but it turned out to be a bad guess. He has no such intentions.


    This is solid information. Wenli himself confirmed it.


    As elves, they are beautiful in the human sense of beauty. In fact, during the war a hundred years ago, the captive elves were subjected to bestiality. The half-elves of Rathestwood are the descendants of those who were born as a result.


    It is because of this background that Wenli was suspicious of them first. We do not know what his sense of beauty is, but we can assume that he is implicitly demanding it by continuing his s*xual pranks.


    That is why Wenli visited his room late that night, before someone else was sacrificed, only to be casually turned away by a blank-faced Robin.


    "Well, I''m sorry, but I don''t like that kind of thing. I mean, are you really a slut to come to a guy''s room dressed like that after just knowing him for a short time?"


    Wenli was prepared for this in her own way, so that line stung in more ways than one. Moreover, the latter part of the dialogue was in a completely honest tone. I will never forget the humiliation of that day when I replied in an angry voice, "I beg your pardon, sir," and went home in a cold corridor at night wearing light clothes.


    Anyway, he does not seem to want that kind of thing. I repeatedly asked him to refrain from disturbing public morals, but he was amused, and the damage was actually getting worse. I can''t help it.


    "Why was such a child ...... sent?


    "I don''t know either. But he appears to be the Commander of the Eight Grand Corps. He must be a man of terrible power that we cannot even imagine.


    "That man?��To be honest, he just looks like a naughty kid to me. ......"


    "...... Oh, yeah. You didn''t see what I saw, did you?"


    It happened right after we signed the contract at the village. Wenli recalls the scene he witnessed from the balcony of the chalk castle where he was taken in a hurry.


    It was truly a gathering of many demons. Just remembering the sight of so many demons, each with terrifying power, gathered in one place, united in one will, and immersed in a frenzy, sends shivers down my spine. I want to throw away the memory of how I fell down and became incontinent right now, but the scene was so vivid that I cannot forget it even if I wanted to. At that time, I felt like I was witnessing the end of the world.


    That is why Wenli felt dizzy when he saw the title of the general manager to be dispatched to the Ratestwood.


    Commander of the Eight Grand Armies. A title held by only eight people in a demon army that numbered a hundred thousand. The head of the Seventh Legion, who holds the same rank as the dragon that slaughtered the Noblewood elite in an instant. He was named as the general in charge of the dispatched group.


    It is hard to believe that he could surpass that dragon, but he must have tremendous power in spite of his appearance. Thinking of this, I could not feel any strong urge to petition for the silly pranks of the past few days. The feelings of fear and awe I had that day are still strong today.


    "Anyway, make sure to be respectful to that man. After all, he was sent by order of his king. There must be some reason why he should be the one..."


    There it is!


    Suddenly, a voice arose behind Wenli.


    Wenli turns around as quickly as he can, and there is Robin, who was secretly approaching and trying to reach his skirt, and a man who has secured his slender arm.


    Wenli looks at him and sees the man with glasses holding Robin''s arm tightly and says with a snarl with a blue streak on his forehead.


    "I finally caught you, Seventh Commander of the Seventh Army, ......!"


    "Mmmm ...... how dare you talk to even a corps commander. What kind of training does your boss have?


    You''re the boss!��Because you are like that, the leaders of the Seventh Legion (ours) feel small!��At least work during the day!"


    The man with the one-glass glasses - a second-in-command named Merzel, who had been appointed deputy head of the delegation - yelled with all his might, his shoulders hunched.


    Robin, on the other hand, turns his head to the side in a manner that is almost as if he is trying to be funny.


    I just don''t feel like doing it. I''ve been trying to make equipment for Lee''s sister and Garu, but no inspiration has come to me..."


    "No one told you to make corps leader level equipment. I don''t want to talk about your character now, but at least don''t interfere with my men who are working hard ...... for a minute, Mr. Commander. I seem to recall that you''re the headwoman of the other party.


    "Yes, yes. Wenli."


    "...... What exactly were you planning to do with the female chief who is in charge of everything in the castle, Lord Commander?"


    "Skirt flipping."


    "Seriously, what do you think you''re doing?


    The deputy threw away the honorific and questioned his boss (Robin), who answered immediately and without hesitation.


    "Because I haven''t turned up Wenli''s skirt yet today. I''m kind of uncomfortable if I don''t do my daily routine, right?


    "I thought today was your first offense!��What the hell are you doing against a goodwill national executive!"


    The deputy yells at him in a way that threatens to break a blood vessel in his head. Robin, on the other hand, pursed her lips like a sulky child and covered her ears, saying, "I can''t hear you, I can''t hear you!


    The aggravated deputy, with a cold expression on his face, mutters his trump card: "I can''t hear you, I can''t hear you.


    "...... I''m going to snitch on the Commander of the Third Army (Ertina)!


    "Yay!��I''m motivated!��I''m motivated, I''m motivated, I''m motivated!��Now what are you doing, lieutenant?��Now go get this corps commander a job, chimi!"


    In an instant, his boss (Robin) turned his palm and the second-in-command, with a growing blue streak, tossed the metal pole he was holding with a flick. Robin reflexively tried to catch it, but was crushed by the metal pole, which weighed more than its volume, and fell down. As a result, his abdomen was compressed between the ground and the metal pillar, and a moan rose from his thin throat.


    "Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"


    "Here are the construction materials (adamantite) for the large box. Please carry it quickly to the designated position, Commander.


    "This is boss abuse!��Guys!��Help!��My second-in-command is plotting to overthrow--"


    "If you say anything more unfashionable, I will seriously snitch on you. ...... Oh, you are Wenli, aren''t you? I''m sorry that our corps leader has caused you trouble.


    The one-glassed deputy takes off his hat and bows his head.


    The deputy apologized with a lowered eyebrow and a wry smile, but Wenli, who had witnessed the whole exchange, was completely crestfallen.


    Robin, the leader of the eight legions, who was supposed to be a fearsome force, was now being kicked in the foot by his subordinates over the materials. The crushed Robin struggles with a desperate look on his face, but it seems that he is seriously unable to move. He has asked for help from other subordinates, but none of them seem to be coming to him. It''s no wonder he is so unpopular.


    Wenli, who had just witnessed such a terrible scene, kicked Robin in the leg and continued speaking without hesitation.


    "If she tries to rip your skirt up again, feel free to beat her up. I''ve received permission from the second corps commander (Balan) - one of the chaperones of this thing.


    "What?��What''s that, that''s new to me!��I mean, does that lion head know about this?


    Of course I know. The information (story) came to us via the sixth corps commander (Kamila). It seems that the second corps commander is stopping it now, but if it goes too far, it will be passed on to the third corps commander, I''m sure.


    "Cammy, you betrayed me!��Where''s that covenant we made that day about the League of Deviousness?


    "What''s with the League of Tricks? You can only play so many tricks on us. ...... Oh, Mr. Wenli. I''ll take care of this for today. Thank you very much for your patience.


    The deputy, still holding one of his boss''s legs, bowed his head and left.


    The woman and Wenli stand there with a stunned look on their faces as the chief (Robin) is dragged away with a grunt.


    "............"


    What was I thinking when I was trying to pay my respects to that thing?


    Wenli''s shoulders slumped as she heard the sound of her inner feelings of fear and awe crumbling away.

 64 - Seventh "Guest"

    "Hmm. This is the report from Balan.


    A corner of the labyrinthine district at the top of the cross section in the northern part of the border city of Shields. In a room of a house still under renovation, Helian reached for the next document.


    His new room is a little too spacious for Tsukasa Misaki, who had been living in a six-tatami room, but unlike an inn, he has his own privacy.


    Although it is not as secure as the bedroom in a castle, it is still the private room of the master (Helian). No outlaw would enter without knocking. Therefore, for the first time in a long time, Helian was able to spend time without worrying about acting.


    "......Well, I guess that''s what most of us expected."


    In his hand is a recent report from Baran, one of the documents brought by those who came from their home countries as reinforcements. It contains a summary of the activities of the Seventh Corps, which was dispatched to RATESTWOOD. In the "special notes" section, the movements of the Commander of the Seventh Corps and other things were written.


    Robin, the Commander of the Seventh Legion, is a [mix] born between a curious dwarf and a dwarf, the people of engineering. He was born with a high aptitude as a craftsman unit, and both of his parents were excellent craftsmen, making him a demon with a promising future.


    In fact, Robin has created many inventions and equipment. As an example, some of the decisive battle-grade armaments used by the Commander of the Legion, such as the armor worn by Balan, are the work of his creations.


    In addition, more than 60% of the equipment used by the deputy corps commanders, or so-called "corps leaders," are Robin''s creations. Of course, other craftsmen of the Seventh Corps are also working diligently, but the performance of the equipment created by Robin is rarely surpassed. This fact alone gives us a glimpse of the depth of Robin''s technical capabilities.


    He is not suited for mass production, but when it comes to irreplaceable one-of-a-kind items, he is a genius unrivaled by any other. This is Robin as a unit of craftsmanship.


    However, as if to say that it is the price to pay for that, his character is variously bad. He is a prankster, hedonistic, and egotistical, and his character traits are so impressive that they are enough to make your eyes glaze over, and in fact, he seems to be getting into trouble early on at his new assignment at LATESTWOOD. The details are unknown, but it seems that there are already victims of the prank.


    ......We are very sorry, but this is still a choice we have made after much consideration as to who to send. After considering the current situation and the future prospects, he was the only choice.


    "Hmm?"


    As I was apologizing to the local residents in my mind, there was a knock at the door of my room.


    The knocking in a calm tone gave me an idea of who the visitor might be. I gave my permission to enter, and as expected, Levee showed her face.


    "Excuse me, sir. ...... how are you feeling?


    "No problem."


    He answers quickly.


    This is the third time today that Lieve has asked me about my health. Lately it seems like she asks me every time we see each other.


    I think that I am worrying too much, but I am sure that I am still in a semi-sick state, only able to be active for a few hours a day. In addition, the other day, on my way back from the Count''s mansion on the frontier, I had shown my pathetic appearance in front of Levee, and so I have not been able to speak out too strongly.


    I would like to go out and see the town or sell my face a little, but every time I try to go out, I am met with silent appeals. Although I was not directly stopped in words, my amber eyes spoke eloquently. And ears and tails, too. It is good and bad that they can easily perceive our feelings. Thanks to this, I was kept in a state of mental semi-house arrest.


    It''s not surprising that I have only visited a part of the Labyrinthine District, a corner of the Commercial District, and the residence of the Count of the Frontier, even though I have been in the ...... border city for a good number of days now.


    So, what can I do for you?


    Yes. Mr. Helian has a visitor.


    "A guest?"


    Who could it be?


    The only thing that came to my mind was Zion, whom the frontier count had mentioned might visit in the near future, ...... but now that I think about it, it could have been some kind of a social call.


    No one else comes to mind.


    "This is Mr. Biegel and his companion."


    "Biegel, ...... the adventurer from the Dungeon Stampede?"


    Rieve mentioned the name of a mature adventurer he had met during the Dungeon Stampede. After that, he had accompanied me as a guide when I explored the labyrinth.


    "Yes. He asked me to express his gratitude for the other day''s visit to his camp.


    I would never turn away a guest who has come all this way. Send him to the reception room. ...... Oh, no, I''ll take it from there."


    An unexpected guest, but just right, if you ask me. Let''s hear what you have to say about the nearly completed ground floor store.


    I put away the papers in my hand and head downstairs with Lieve.


    "Hey, isn''t that Biegel and Jeff!��Long time no see. How are you?


    "Hey, Gardi''s husband!��As you can see, I''m doing just fine."


    "Thank you for all the help you and the leader gave me back then. I''m glad to see you''re doing well.


    On the first floor, Gardi, Biegel, and his friends greeted each other.


    I had never heard of him before, but it seems that he is an adventurer named Jeff, the man who had accompanied Biegel during the labyrinth search and is a member of Biegel''s clan. Gardi mentioned their names as a matter of course, and they continued to make small talk.


    He is a guy with good communication skills. ...... I envy him.


    "Oh, young master..."


    Biegel, his skinhead shining, raises his hand and says, "Hey. In his opposite hand, he holds a cylindrical object wrapped in paper.


    "Long time no see, young master. I heard you''ve been in bed since then.


    Yes, I''m sorry for worrying you. As you can see, I am feeling much better.


    I felt a look from Levee standing next to me, but I ignored it for now. I am actually not feeling too bad, partly because I haven''t done much activity yet today.


    "But well, the merchant was serious, wasn''t he? Well, no, I didn''t have any doubts, but it didn''t seem to me that the young masters were merchants."


    "Haha ...... well I am aware that I am a young man. I''m just a little bit grateful to have been given such a magnificent building in a prime location.


    "No, that''s not what I meant, but ...... it''s okay. Oh, this is a little early for a pre-opening celebration. It''s not much, but please give it to me.


    Biegel hands me a cylindrical item. When he opened the wrapper, he found a bottle filled with liquid. The crimson liquid and what appeared to be a label on the bottle indicated that it was alcohol.


    I felt a gleam in the eyes of Gardi, who was looking at it from the side.


    Then his partner, Jeff, opens the bag on his back and begins to lay out the contents on a brand new table. The bottles were identical, just as they should be. Then, a total of nearly twenty bottles are lined up on the table. From the design on the labels, they appeared to be of a high quality in their own way.


    "Well, well, well. Thank you for taking the trouble, Mr. Biegel.


    "No problem. I''m thanking you for saving my life before. And don''t call me Mister Biegel. Like I said before, it sits on my ass."


    "Leader Leader. You shouldn''t be wearing your ass in front of a woman. It shows where you come from.


    "Shut up. Don''t be so self-conscious in front of a beautiful woman."


    Biegel and the others engage in rambling conversation, to which Helian replies with a wry smile.


    He seems to be on the same wavelength as Gardy.


    Gardy is giving me a heated stare, but I guess it''s not right to drink in the daytime. No, it''s fine with me, but I''m sure that Levee will get angry. If we ask permission after nightfall, he won''t complain.


    "By the way, Mr. Biegel. If you don''t mind, may I ask you to take a look at the products you plan to use for your business?��I''d like to hear from some adventurers."


    "If it''s okay with us, it''s fine, but ...... we can only give you the usual opinions, right?"


    "I''m not an expert in business and neither is the leader. The best we can do is to sell loot to the guilds.


    Biegel and the others told him no, but Helian replied that he was fine with it and led them to the back of the store, to a room where the goods were temporarily stored.


    + + +


    "...... what the hell is this?"


    The first thing that Biegel muttered in an exasperated tone at the opening of the meeting was, "I''m sorry, I''m sorry.


    There were bundles of brightly colored cloth, containers filled with potion, and some kind of bonework-like artifacts on the walls, but it was some accessories that caught Biegel and Jeff''s attention.


    The fineness of the workmanship on the accessories, such as necklaces and earrings, was so fine that even the uninitiated eye could consider them to be magnificent, but they were surprised by the raw materials they saw.


    I thought I had a good night''s sleep. Apparently, I''m still sleepwalking. To my eyes, the ingredients of this necklace look like something I usually see ......."


    "......Yeah, maybe I''m not sleepwalking, Reader. I see the same thing. It''s a magic stone. It''s a very high purity stone.


    Biegel is looking at a necklace that seems to have been carved out of a high purity magic stone. Except for the chain, all of the ornaments were made from the magic stone, and they emitted a mysterious shine peculiar to magic stone.


    "What do you think? I wonder if it would be a good sale item for the connoisseurs."


    "...... Well, it will be. I mean, they only sell to the well-to-do who can''t afford it. You''re good, but there''s no demand.


    A pure magic stone is valuable by itself. It often contains compressed magic power and can be used as an excellent catalyst as it is. It can also be used as a medium for granting magic by processing it and incorporating it into weapons. It can also be used as fuel for long-lasting magical tools, and is in demand not only by adventurers but also by the nobility.


    However, this accessory, which seems to have been carved out of high purity magic stone, cannot be used for either of these purposes. The size of each piece is very small because it is carved with the highest priority on design, and the strength of the piece has been significantly reduced because it is processed into too complicated a shape.


    Although there are processing techniques such as cutting that give direction to the flow of magic power, such techniques are not used for this stone, and it is only processed as an ornament by carving and shaving. The complex shape of the stone, combined with the fact that it has been processed, makes it too fragile to withstand the release of magic power. If it were to be used as a catalyst for magic, it would be shattered into pieces after a single use.


    In other words, it has no value as a magic stone.


    On the other hand, the workmanship and decorations themselves are excellent, and the unique luster of the magic stone makes it an excellent ornamental piece. However, accessories made from high purity magic stones for ornamental purposes are only popular among a certain group of customers, the wealthy and well-heeled enthusiasts, who buy rare and popular items with no regard for their practical use.


    Biegel''s answer is a simple illustration of this.


    I mean, what kind of craftsman could have done this? It makes me cry to think of how many uses there would have been for it before the processing.


    "Is that still your assessment?"


    "Yes, it is. If I had been a bad guy, I might have gotten a better price before the process."


    Biegel is right that this necklace has little utility as a magic stone and is not in demand by the usual clientele. They will be as disgusted as he is, and swear at the craftsmen.


    However, its value as an ornament will increase. This is because they are too valuable to be made. In the first place, magic stone itself is a material unsuitable for complicated processing, and considering the value of magic stone itself, it is unlikely that such a processing would be done. Therefore, this is a rare and extravagant ornament that was made after a daring and wasteful act.


    And these accessories were made to be processed for this purpose.


    (As I thought, there will be a demand for them as a product for the connoisseurs. (As one would expect, there is a demand for these products for the well-heeled, and if they become the talk of the upper class, they will eventually spread outside of the city).


    Helian does not intend to do business extensively in a thin-margin format.


    At least for the time being, we will only sell a few magical items, medicines, and what might be called luxury goods as a store in the Labyrinthine District.


    I have already half given up on my personal goal of practicing negotiation through business transactions, which is the reason why I came up with the idea of becoming a merchant. But be that as it may, there were several advantages for a merchant named Helian to sell his name other than gaining [dominance].


    One of them is that it is a to other players. The merchants'' association also has the role of raising a "I''m here" signal to other players who may have moved to this world.


    This is why I use the name "Helian" instead of an alias. The possibility of being transported to a different time axis has newly emerged, and I am hoping that other players will make some kind of contact with me in response to the name [Helian]. This is one of the actions that we have taken in relation to the short-term goal we have previously set for ourselves .


    However, we cannot distribute items made in Alkimaira just to sell our name. It would be a fool''s errand to give away our country''s technological advantage without a plan. That''s why they are trying to push out items that are neither poison nor medicine - one-of-a-kind luxury items favored by the wealthy. Depending on the situation, the management of the Chamber of Commerce may be in flux, but for the time being, this is the policy we plan to adopt in running the Chamber of Commerce.


    "Ah, young master. May I ask where you got this?��What he''s doing is a fool''s errand, but his skills look top-notch. Just recently,...... specifically, during my last labyrinthine search, I think I saw a first-rate great axe and bracelets."


    Biegel''s question snapped Helian out of his previous thoughts as he glanced at him searchingly.


    It was a good question for him personally, but he dared to show a gesture of contemplation for a while. Then, after a pause, he answered.


    "I bought it in the land of the half-elves in the Great Sea of Trees. It seems that an eccentric traveler has recently settled there, and perhaps he is the one who processed it.


    "...... Oh, if you say it''s a latestone, that means it''s a magic stone from the Abyssal Forest, and it''s been processed. Not only is he eccentric, but he''s also a daredevil.


    "I don''t know the details of the story either, but I hope we can keep in touch in the future. The people at Latticewood have all been very kind to me."


    I try to recommend Ratestwood to Biegel, who frowns at me. But Biegel''s furrowed brow deepens even more.


    I wonder if he too has discriminatory feelings toward half-elves. ......


    "......Biegel, do you also have feelings about half-elves?"


    "No, it''s not like that. As you know, there are many different races of adventurers in the Seals and we''ve been living here for years. I''m not going to get into race issues now."


    Biegel''s answer was unexpected, but in a good way.


    I was relieved to hear this from one of my few acquaintances in the city.


    "But I''m interested in the craftsman who made your husband''s great axe and Miss Bingel''s bracelet. ...... There are Noblewood elves in the Great Sea of Trees, aren''t there? They''ll attack you without question if they see you''re human. Although the frequency of encounters has decreased since the establishment of LATESTWOOD, I don''t want to go too close to the Great Sea of Trees.


    ...... Noblewood.


    Is this where the name comes from?


    "--Master Helian."


    Just as I was beginning to think that he would haunt me forever, Levee whispered the name in my ear.


    Sensing the sound of warning in his firm tone, he drew the letter in the void, out of Biegel''s sight, with his right hand forming a sword symbol. Following the motion, the pre-registered is activated, and several are projected in front of his eyes.


    "............!"


    The store was surrounded. The store was surrounded by white dots of light (unkown) that were scattered around the store at 360 degrees. There were no less than twenty of them. Moreover, many of them were hidden in the shadows and concealed from view. They are clearly not ordinary passersby or residents.


    (Enemy attack...... No wait, who is it? Who would attack Helian, a newbie merchant? We haven''t even started our business yet. There''s no reason to get attacked (......)


    I can''t think of any reason. But it is true that we are surrounded. You put your unanswerable thoughts on hold and give to get ready to intercept.


    Biegel and the others, perhaps sensing the tension in the air, turn doubtful. For the time being, he tries to get them to move away... and there is movement in the white spot of light (Unknown). A lone figure approaches from the street in front of the entrance to the ground floor store. He is alone, as if he is very confident.


    However, as soon as the Unknown reaches the door of the store, it rings the doorbell without kicking the door down. He looks at Gardi and Levee, and then instructs Gardi to respond. Levee is in charge of her own security.


    Tensions were running high as Gardi opened the door of the store ...... in one gulp and let out a groan when he saw his visitor. He scratches his cheeks and then steps back to expose the visitor to the eyes of Helian and the others.


    And there he was,


    It''s been a long time, Mr. Helian. I''m sorry it''s taken me so long to come to thank you. I apologize for not informing you in advance, but may I have a few minutes of your time?"


    A white blouse and an elegant tiered skirt in navy blue.


    In both hands is a square box that appears to be a souvenir.


    Above all, she has distinctive black hair and eyes.


    Zion Gardiner, the daughter of the Count of the Frontier, is standing there with a cheerful smile on her face.


    It seems that the words of the Count of the Frontier were not a social comment .......


    Helian released the order to prepare to intercept the white spot of light surrounding the restaurant - the Unknown - or the guards that the Count had placed on his daughter, and invited Theon into the restaurant.

 65 - CHAPTER VIII "Dinner Party"

    After Zion came to the store, we decided to have a dinner party as a matter of course.


    It all started with Gardi.


    After Zion invited them into the restaurant and thanked them for their visit, Helian and the others were conversing with each other, exploring the distance between them. Then, Gardi, who had noticed the bottles of liquor lined up in a row, joined the conversation.


    The topic of conversation was naturally led to a dinner party, and we decided to open some of the bottles we had brought with us.


    He is a really smart guy. ......


    However, thanks to this, I could have a natural conversation with Zion, and I am grateful to him. I can''t praise him because his motives are impure, but I would like to learn from his communicative ability.


    I told him that it was not a dish that could be served to the daughter of a lord, but Zion strongly expressed his willingness to participate in the event. Biegel and the others were also very eager, so we hurriedly asked Liewe to prepare the food, and thus the dinner party was held.


    "Yum!��What the hell is this?


    "It''s so good even though I only sprinkled salt on it. It''s chewy but you can still bite through it, and the juices are amazing. What kind of meat is this?


    "I feel like the texture is similar to chicken, but this is the first time I''ve tasted it ......."


    Still not familiar with the local cuisine and trends of the SEALs, I ordered a meat dish that made the most of the flavors of the ingredients to avoid fatal disappointment, and it was more popular than expected.


    I had expected it to be popular with Biegel and his partner, who are manual laborers, but surprisingly, Zion seemed to like it as well. He was tasting it carefully with a serious expression on his face.


    "Hey, hey, hey, what''s this, young master? Are you planning to open a restaurant too? Aren''t you trying to do too many things at once?


    No, we don''t intend to make it a restaurant. For the time being, I''m thinking of starting a business focusing on the products you just saw.


    "Really? What a waste. I''d go there every day if I could eat this. --Wait a minute, Leader! That''s my meat! What are you trying to steal?


    "Oh?��What the hell are you talking about? Is your name on this meat? First of all, this meat is closer to me than it is to you. In other words, it''s mine.


    "Then this one''s mine. You''re our clan leader!


    "Oh, f*ck you!��That''s the one I was holding!��Give it back!


    "Highland Turkey ......?��No, but I''m sure it didn''t taste this deep. ....... Maybe it''s the preparation."


    While Biegel and Jeff had an ugly fight on the platter, Zion was trying to figure out what kind of meat it was. Their exchange seems to have a slight hint of murder in it, but Zion doesn''t seem to be bothered by it. She is indeed the daughter of the count of the frontier.


    Gardi, who is the instigator of this dinner, is alternating between meat and wine. He seems pleased with his first drink in a long time. Levee, the only cook in the room, is working hard to cook the meat, while Celes is quietly eating a salad in a corner of the room.


    The look in Ceres''s eyes as she watches Levee working hard is disturbing, but there is nothing she can do about it. Celes has a high level of skills in the field of research, but she has not mastered any skills related to serving or cooking.


    On the way to the SEALS, she said to herself, "I can cook just as well as anyone else! When he tried to cook a simple meat dish, it was not only charred but also extinguished. I would not dare to entrust him with cooking after seeing that. Why did he try to cook it directly with the magic of ignition?


    Incidentally, I tried to talk to the engineers who came to the SEALs the other day as additional members, as well as to the liaison officers, but they all turned pale and declined.


    Probably, the fact that they were in the same room with the king (me) must have been a problem. In the SEALs, I instructed them to treat each other as if they were as well as the three attendants, but it seems that the hurdle is still high.


    I have been trying to get them to ......, but I guess they don''t have to shake their heads so hard. I understand that he doesn''t hate me, but it really hit me. It''s like the feeling you get when you happen to eat alone in the school cafeteria. ...... No, it''s not that. No one gains by remembering it.


    "By the way, I''ve always wondered if you and Mr. Zion and Mr. Biegel are old acquaintances or something?��You seem to be very close."


    I decided to take this opportunity to ask him a question that I have been wondering for a long time.


    Since the labyrinth search, I have felt that Zion and Biegel and others seemed to be very close to each other. The reality is different from the picture (image) I had imagined from the relationship between a nobleman and an adventurer.


    The title of "count of the frontier" refers to a nobleman who is in charge of an important base near a borderline. <


    Theon, the daughter of the noble family, is a daughter of the noble family, and would be called a princess depending on the time and environment. However, Biegel and the others were conversing with each other naturally, without any particular posturing. To Helian, this was strange.


    "No, no. I have heard of your fame for some time, but this is the first time we are talking to each other like this. The last time we worked together was the first time we explored the labyrinth, wasn''t it?"


    Does ...... mean that Biegel and his partner are not polite?


    I don''t care if they are novice adventurers, but I would think that a high-ranking adventurer who receives a request from a nobleman should have some sense of decorum.


    "Ah, in my defense, we do change our attitude when we deal with nobles in other cities. But the Count of Seiken''s family is special.


    "Yes. Our family is special in many ways.


    Zion nodded his head in agreement with Biegel''s words as they fought over the meat.


    "The Gardiner family''s mission is to protect the border city of Shields. And this mission takes precedence over all others. By its very nature, the head of the family never leaves the city and has no opportunity to participate in the social life of the aristocracy in general. In the first place, there is a strong tendency in our family to train as much as possible if one has time for such things,...... and this tendency is as evident in my father as it has been in the past heads of the family."


    "We belong to the state, but that''s just a nominal loan. In reality, the SEALs are almost an independent nation. The last time I was in a bar and had a drink with Hakaru, he told me that he never relied on the stupid aristocrats of the empire or the kingdom from the very beginning.


    The fact that the lords are frequenting the common people''s bars, not to mention the content of what they say, is a story of many kinds. Moreover, from the way he talks, it sounds as if it is not an uncommon occurrence but a regular occurrence.


    Zion''s cheeks were slightly reddening as if he had never heard of the bar episode before, but he cleared his throat and continued his explanation.


    "It is more beneficial on the battlefield to exchange frank and unadorned words than to engage in a series of formal and polite conversations. And the SEALs are a constant battlefield. --The Gardiners have always been close to their people, as my father and all the other heads of the family have stated.


    "...... I see."


    At any rate, I understand the distance between Zion and Biegel and others.


    However, this raises a new question as to why Zion is the only one who is behaving in an aristocratic and courteous manner.


    When I asked him a frank question, he opened his mouth with a distant look.


    I grew up watching my father''s back from an early age. And as I grew up, I naturally began to think this way. --I wanted to be at least a little bit like an aristocrat.


    ...... was an extremely difficult response.


    Even Biegel and the others stopped fighting over the meat and looked away with an awkward expression on their faces.


    The only sound in the room was the sound of Rieve cooking the meat.


    "I respect my father as a daughter and as a woman of the Gardiner family, but there have been a series of events that have forced me to question whether I can emulate his appearance. I felt a sense of crisis even as a child, so I had a tutor brought in from another territory to help me.


    It turned out to be a great decision," Zion said in praise of his childhood.


    I''m too afraid to ask what ...... happened.


    I''m afraid to ask what happened. You seem to be moving at a very fast pace, do you like it?"


    "Oh. It''s low in alcohol, but it''s got a lot of flavor. Local sake is always good, no matter where it comes from.


    When I asked him to change the subject, he raised his glass of wine and smiled. I looked over and saw that five of the liquor bottles on the table had already been opened.


    He said that the sake was low in alcohol content, but from the smell, it seemed to be a reasonably strong sake.


    "You''re a good drinker after all, aren''t you? Would you like a drink, young lady or young master?


    Biegel offered, but Helian politely declined, saying, "I''m not a drinker.


    Whether or not he was actually an aphrodisiac is not clear, but when he had tasted ale before--though he did not end up swallowing it--he had only felt a bitter taste on his tongue and had no idea how good it tasted. It is not something I would like to drink, at least not the way I like to drink it.


    There may be a drinking society among adventurers, as we call it today, but I am not an adventurer. Let''s be generous here. Leave the drinking to Gardi.


    Theon, who was also not fond of alcohol, or perhaps he was just trying to accommodate himself, thanked Biegel for his offer in an elegant manner. It is hard to imagine how hard he studied to master this gesture.


    Gradually, Biegel, Jeff, and the others began to drink more and more, and the party began to take on the appearance of a drinking party. The three men steadily open bottles of sake in front of Helian, who is amazed that there is room in their stomachs after stuffing so much meat into them.


    "But it''s a waste for you guys to be merchants, isn''t it? Since you''re in the SEALS, you should be adventurers. Don''t you think so, young lady?


    "Well, ......, since the choice of profession in the SEALS is a personal choice. < was as an exception in case of an emergency.


    "Then that''s it. I''m an adventurer. That way we can sell our name, and the Count and the Lady can send out requests through the guild. It''s a win-win situation.


    Biegel''s speech is questionable. In addition, he was becoming a drunk. It might be understandable if he keeps drinking at the same pace as Gardy, who is a [heavy drinker], but he already has a red face.


    Compared to his partner (Jeff), who is down on the table, Biegel is doing a good job.


    "Haha ...... well I''ll consider it. ...... Speaking of adventurers, I once saw an elf archer near the labyrinthine area."


    "Oh?��Elfw......?��If he''s carrying a bow on his back in the city, isn''t he around Rauf or Letisha?"


    Biegel spoke in a lisping tone, but he mentioned the names of two people. Apparently they were known to him.


    "I saw a woman, but..."


    "Then it''s Letitia. What''s wrong with her?


    "No. I''m just curious, but it''s rare to see elves outside the forest. I''ve heard that elves and humans don''t get along very well because of the war a hundred years ago. I guess things are different when you are an adventurer, aren''t they?


    Ah," Biegel muttered in a bored tone.


    "You''re talking about the war in Noblewood. Many of the elves who come out of the forest are very curious, but they come from the Whitewood. They are from the Whitewood. They will be very angry if you mix them with the Noblewood or the Oldwood.


    The Oldwood mentioned by Biegel is a country of elves that is located next to Noblewood. I have heard that they are not as radical as Noblewood, but they are committed to the supremacy of the elves.


    It is ironic that the more easterly a country exists in the Sea of Trees - that is, closer to the sphere of life of the human nations - the stronger the feeling of disdain for humans is. Or perhaps they have come to despise humans because of their close contact with humans.


    And Whitewood is the name of a country located in the middle of the great sea of trees, far to the west from Noblewood. It is said to be somewhat closed-minded, and many of the long-lived species spend their entire lives in the forest, but on rare occasions some , fed up with such a life, wanders out of the forest.


    The elf that Celes and I saw the other day when we went out to investigate the market, and the other elf that Biegel mentioned just now, are probably two of these oddballs.


    "Adventurers, to begin with, have an unspoken agreement not to pry into people''s affairs, regardless of their origins," Biegel said. It''s true that most of us are human, but that doesn''t mean there aren''t other races out there. There are beastmen in my clan. They''re usually very strong.


    "I was right. I have a strong image of an elf I have met before...was it Letisha from ......?��When I saw her, I was so surprised that I couldn''t help but stare at her. I was so surprised when I saw him that I couldn''t help but stare back at him.


    "......Well, the young masters aren''t from around here, are they? ...... Oh, no, I''m not trying to pry. But you shouldn''t mix other human nations with border cities. I don''t mean to say this in front of you, miss,...... but behind the scenes in the imperial and royal capitals, elves are a commodity. Border cities are quite special.


    "Yes. I can''t say ...... that they will reject anyone who comes to them, but at least it''s impossible for the SEALS to reject them solely because of their race or origin."


    Biegel and Zion say in unison. Zion smiles a somewhat satisfied smile, as if he is proud of his city with its wide doors.


    Perhaps it was fortunate for me that the first city I visited outside the forest was Shields. With this thought in mind, Helian sticks his fork into the almost cold meat.


    + + +


    The party ended when the food and drinks had completely disappeared from the table and the sun was beginning to set. The timing was just right, as Zion''s guards waiting outside were getting fidgety.


    Zion said goodbye with a graceful curtsey with one leg pulled behind him, and Biegel wandered off while lending a shoulder to his partner who was completely drunk.


    They had been sitting around the table together a few minutes ago, but their departure was a complete contrast. This is another place where I was struck by their words about the SEALs being .


    "I''m sorry to make this difficult for you, but I''ll take care of it."


    He leaves the dining room, leaving Rieve to clean up the mess.


    As he was leaving, he saw Ceres approaching Lieve to help her clean up, but she turned him down with a blank expression, perhaps thinking it would be too much work.


    Just before leaving the room, Helian felt a look at his back, but he did not have the right words to say, so he just left. It is rather rare for Levee to have mastered skills such as "cooking" and "serving manners" even though she is a high ranking officer, so Celes hopes that she will not worry about it and will stay strong.


    "Well, and ......"


    After retiring to his room, Helian looked over some of the reports that had arrived. Once he had an idea of what was going on at Latticewood, he closed the lid and began to think.


    In the dark room with the lights off, he spent fifteen minutes thinking. After collecting his thoughts, Helian opened his mouth.


    "Chat window: open. Mode select: voice chat. Target input: list select."


    What is invoked is a "chat window" for voice chat. Originally, this function could only be used between kings (players), but experiments with Rilifa have proven that it can also be used with NPCs.


    I selected the corps leader''s group from the "access list" and called Camilla, the leader of the 6th corps. After a few seconds, Camilla answers the call.


    >


    "I''m fine. I have already recovered to an active state. That is why I contacted you.


    Herrien answered succinctly and quickly cut to the chase.


    "So, what''s the situation on your side? How are they ...... doing in Noblewood?"


    Camilla, Commander of the 6th Legion, was assigned a special mission.


    It is an information war against Noblewood, an elven supremacist nation that will inevitably clash in the future.


    The VI Corps, with its rare intelligence units, the maximum number of which is limited, also has this mission in focus.


    <<


    "So the situation remains the same. Then how much longer do you think we can hold out?"


    <<>


    "...... hmm."


    Helian crosses his arms and ponders.


    Her health, which had been a concern, has recovered to the point where she can be active for a few hours a day.


    The store has been successfully converted to a base, including disguises and renovations, and preparations are steadily underway for the start of full-scale research activities in the human domain.


    Although there is still some time left, we should take action while there is still some time to spare, considering the circumstances of the many unplanned events.


    Then, the timing is right for us to end the fear of retrospect,


    "It''s time to go..."


    <>


    "Move the situation along, Camilla. We''ll move to the next phase of planning for the Noblewood case, and depending on the outcome, we''ll take action."


    The virtual window closes, leaving a voice saying, "Yes, sir.


    Camilla''s voice was filled with a hint of joy.

 66 - CHAPTER IX "All Out"

    Oldwood, a land of elves in the Sea of Trees.


    It is the name of a country with a particularly long history among the Elven nations, and is inhabited by a large number of Elves who have lived for more than a hundred years.


    The elves are one of the four major races on the continent with the longest life span and the greatest magical skill, but unlike humans, who are more numerous, the total population of elves is small. The population of the Oldwood is particularly small compared to other Elven nations, due in part to the importance placed on maintaining the old bloodlines. Although the Oldwoods have a long and unbroken history, if we only look at their population, they can be called a small or medium-sized nation.


    Humans call it an old-fashioned country with an elf supremacy policy, but the elves who live in Oldwood brush off the slander as "nonsense.


    It is not that they are said to be elven supremacists.


    It is that humans themselves are (???????) stupid.


    We cannot help but sigh in sorrow at the greed of mankind that has been expanding its population unchecked, forcing its living space to expand, and even reaching out to the great sea of trees.


    Their attitude (stance) toward human beings is basically <.


    Certainly, people who can only judge the beauty or ugliness of things by their external appearance are objects of contempt, and I wish they would perish, but it is a waste of time to get involved with them in the first place. Even though we have a long life span, it is a waste of time to spend it on stupid people.


    The same goes for half-elves.


    For those of us in the Oldwood who are willing to carry on the old bloodlines and study the old wisdom, the half-elves are the ones we do not need to have anything to do with. Naturally, since they have human blood in their veins, they have no intention of acknowledging them as fellow human beings, and it is almost as if a new species of wild animal has settled in the forest. To Oldwood, half-elves are just like that.


    However, if the half-elves were to venture into the depths of the Great Sea of Trees, then that would be a different story.


    "Hmmm ...... that''s an interesting story."


    The Great Spirit Tree towers over the heart of the Oldwood.


    In the center of the room named <>, a room in the ancient temple built to hold the trunk of the tree within its body, a man said as he was told an unexpected story.


    He is a man who holds an important position in Oldwood, and is called a Grand Elder. This country, like other Elven nations, has a king, but he is more of a symbol, perhaps because of the over-emphasis on keeping the old blood alive, and the council of elders has a lot of say in the actual running of the country. And as the one and only Grand Elder who coordinates the five Elders, it is no exaggeration to say that he is the representative of Oldwood in this place.


    He is the only representative of Oldwood in this place.


    It is unusual for an elf who is in the prime of his physical life, whose youth lasts for a long time, to show some outward signs of aging, even if only slightly.


    It is a sign that the man who sits so majestically before him is an elf who has lived a good deal longer.


    "But at the same time, it is a story that is hard to believe. Shall you understand my inner doubts, my precious forest friends with whom I share my roots?


    Oldwood respects old blood.


    And a fellow countryman who has lived a long time deserves respect for that alone.


    But that was not the only reason he respected the man in front of him, for he was a man in the same position as himself, a Grand Elder.


    Halwell-Winus Noblele Leaf, a mature man visiting from Noblewood, opened his mouth with a nod of affirmation.


    Your suspicions are justified, old woodsmen with whom you share your roots. I could hardly believe my ears when I heard it. But it is true. The "defiler" has foolishly taken up arms and bared his fangs against us Noblewood.


    Halwell speaks these words without raising his voice and without hesitation.


    The content of what he says should be resentful from their point of view, but strangely enough, on the surface, he is calm. The elders of Oldwood are even more skeptical.


    "We all know that a faction of half-elves who settled in a corner of ...... the forest gathered stragglers from other races and founded a nation. However, we have not ventured into the depths of the Sea of Trees, and we have watched the situation in that place close to the Abyssal Forest, not daring to pay attention to it. And so it must have been the same for you, precious woodsmen. You say that this quietness has caused them to grow?


    "I am afraid you are right, old woodsman. We underestimated the stupidity of the Unsullied. It was a great mistake to show them tolerance.


    Hmm," growls the great elder of Oldwood. He looks at the elders in attendance, who also look more than a little puzzled. The Elder asks the question that has been on his mind since the beginning.


    "If it is ......, why don''t we just clean it up as soon as possible?"


    We know that the Noblewoods harbor hatred and loathing toward mankind. It is not surprising, considering the war that took place a hundred years ago, even though it was started by the Noblewood themselves.


    And I know that they despise the half-elves as "filth" as well.


    The half-elf faction, or Rattestwood, was founded by the descendants of those who were born to Noblewood elves and humans who were taken captive.


    Fortunately, there is not a trace of Oldwood blood in them, but from their Noblewood point of view, it is natural for them to call half-elves "Unsullied".


    And half-elves are basically weak.


    They have not studied magic for a long period of time like elves, and they are not able to fight with their numbers like humans do. Even if Oldwood were to go head to head with a faction of half-elves, they would win a crushing defeat without much damage. The same is true for the Noblewood, which has a large number of skilled practitioners and hunters.


    After all, if the half-elves were against the Noblewood, all they would have to do is to wipe them out now. But Noblewood has brought it to them. It doesn''t add up.


    "You make a good point. But there''s a reason why we can''t. Much to our chagrin, the Unsullied have enlisted the help of a mysterious alien.


    "Gentiles?��What''s that supposed to mean? I don''t think so, precious woodsman, but you wouldn''t call them rare, would you?


    "I do not intend to discuss here the lore of the Abyssal Forest, whose authenticity is uncertain. The important thing is that this Gentile possesses extraordinary power. --For our hero and chief hunter, Sarawin Welt Nobleleleaf, has returned to the forest at their hands.


    "...... What a surprise!"


    As one would expect, the Grand Elder peeled his eyes away. The elders in the room reacted in a similar manner. Sarawin, the chief hunter of the Noblewood, was a well-known hero in the Sea of Trees. It is said that he was at the forefront of the war a hundred years ago and hunted hundreds of people.


    A man of that stature was returned to the forest at the hands of an unknown person. .......


    "Perhaps by foul means. But still, old woodsman, it is a certain fact that his hero has returned to the woods. And with the "filth" not knowing what they will do, this is no concern of yours either, is it?


    "MU......"


    If this is the case, it would be hard to ignore the fact that the half-elves, who are not content to live in a corner of the forest, with the help of the gentiles and others, will invade the inner part of the Great Sea of Trees. If the Noblewood were to be defeated by a faction of half-elves, its neighbor, the Oldwood, could be the next target.


    Common sense tells us that this is an unthinkable scenario. To fall behind a mere faction of half-elves is a kind of delusion that is laughable even as a joke. However, the fact that the elves of Noblewood had uttered these words weighed heavily on the Great Elder''s shoulders.


    It is well known to all the inhabitants of the Great Sea of Trees that Noblewood hates half-elves and has an extremely strong self-esteem among the elves.


    The great elder of Noblewood, who had personally traveled to other lands, spoke of the disgrace of having lost his chief hunter to a faction of half-elves.


    It would have been the height of humiliation for him to say such a thing. At least, it is not something that can be uttered in falsehood. Nevertheless, he dared to expose this information to the elves of other countries.


    --In other words, this is no idle talk. The impossible events he mentioned are undeniably true. The Grand Elder, who was well aware of his high self-esteem, was convinced of this.


    "...... I see. Now we know why you, without warning, have come to our country in person. Certainly, there are things happening that cannot be overlooked.


    The Grand Elder nodded his head and looked around at the members of the council of elders gathered there.


    No one was foolish enough not to understand the meaning in his gaze.


    The representatives of the Old Wood answered in silence.


    "We understand the situation. We have shown mercy to the Abyssal Forest as one that will soon be destroyed, but now that the half-elf faction has grown, it seems that we too will have to take up the arrows of attrition.


    Well?"


    "If full cooperation is required, I cannot give you an immediate answer here without the king. However, we should be prepared for any emergency. I will inform the king to that effect.


    The Grand Elder gave the best answer he could on the spot.


    Of course, I don''t intend to take the brunt of it, but it never hurts to be prepared.


    That was my response to his question.


    "--Oh, I feel so relieved, my old forest friends. After all, you are not like the others, you are the ones who understand our reason.


    Halwell replied with a cheerful expression. There was even a hint of relief in his voice.


    The Grand Elder, who had expected a solemn response from a man of his stature, was somewhat surprised by Halwell''s response, which even brought a smile to his face.


    If you had said no, we would have regretted it. And there must have been hesitation, suffering, and pity. For you are of the same old blood as we are."


    Smiling, Halwell spoke fluidly.


    There was a certain emotion in his voice, and it reached our ears with a serious tone.


    With a sincerity similar to that of a devout believer praying to a sacred tree, he continued.


    But now all doubts are gone. I am cleared, you of the old forest! Of course, we knew that you would come to that conclusion, but it was worth it to check just to be sure.


    --Thanks to you, we can offer our prayers without any hesitation.


    "......?��Wait, precious woodsman! What is that?


    The great elder''s words were cut off there.


    A shrill cry interrupted him.


    The elders in the room looked at each other at the sound, which was clearly different from that of humans.


    "Was that ...... a hexenbiest?"


    "Nonsense. They have stepped into a position where their howls can be heard this far away?


    "What''s the hunter doing. What is the hunter doing? We are in the middle of a guest visit and ...... negligence is not the best word to describe your failure.


    There is no need to make a fuss about the invasion of monsters and beasts.


    Although the monsters around the town are regularly thinned out and protected by good hunters, stragglers do stray into the city on rare occasions.


    The reason why the elders are frowning now is because they are proud of the fact that a scandal occurred while they had a guest of honor, and not because they feel threatened.


    However, the Grand Elder was seized by a strange chill that sent shivers down his spine.


    The reason for this was the expressions on the faces of the Noblewood elves seated before him.


    They had just been interrupted in a sacred meeting between nations, yet not a single eyebrow moved.


    And just as the Grand Elder was about to ask a question, it happened.


    "----!


    A huge hole suddenly opened in the wall of the temple.


    Something thick and wild came through the hole and caught one of the hunters who was between the trees, pulling him back with the same force as if he had smashed through the wall.


    Immediately afterwards, a deafening scream echoes outdoors, and the area is filled with a roar of rage.


    The Elders, momentarily unnerved by the unannounced change, come to their senses and quickly take action.


    The eldest of the elves is a position held by a person of solid blood who has studied hard, accumulated experience as a hunter, and has been recognized as an outstanding person. It is undeniable that there are some political reasons behind this position, but unlike human nations, which are infested with intrigue and manipulation, the eldership is strongly based on merit, if we exclude the fact that blood is a prerequisite for the position. .


    In other words, the elven elders are both wise and powerful. They have the most abundant magical power among the elves, and even though they have retired from the front lines, they are still capable of doing so. At the very least, they can kick any magical beast that wanders into the area with just a handful of hands.


    However, even they could not resist it.


    Without being able to chant, one by one, they were sacrificed, and the temple was stained with fresh blood. The room where they should have quietly exchanged their arguments was now exposed to violence, and there was no longer a shadow to be seen.


    And yet, even in the face of such a catastrophe, the elves of Noblewood showed no sign of panic. Halwell, seated at the head of the group, speaks to the last remaining Grand Elder with a cheerful expression on his face.


    "From the bottom of my heart - and I thank you from the bottom of my heart, my dear brethren - I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your decision to cooperate with us in the exorcism of the Unsullied has been accepted.


    Hereupon the Elder of Oldwood understood. He had arrived at the truth behind Halwell''s words, which were so humiliating, but which he had spoken so plainly without becoming agitated.


    He had not maintained his composure from the beginning, but rather the opposite. He had been so passionate that his expression had simply disappeared in a roundabout way. Halwell was on the edge of insanity even before the meeting.


    As soon as he realized this fact, the Elder turned around fearfully, sensing a presence approaching behind him.


    A large hole in the wall of the temple.


    There, he saw a pair of red, blood-colored, eyes...


    "Do not be afraid. Your old and righteous veins will be transformed into a sure power that will purge you of the foulness of the foulness.


    Those were the last words the Grand Elder heard.


    Dozens of fangs dug into his lean frame, spattering fresh blood.


    Before the Elder could realize what had happened to him, he ended his life, as did the other Elders.


    Soon, screams and shouts begin to emanate from all parts of the city.


    But contrary to the bewildered people of Oldwood who flee, the elves of Noblewood do not make a move.


    In the heart of the Oldwood, which is quickly enveloped in mayhem, their representative, Halwell, lets out a muddled, throaty voice.


    "...... must not be. It must not be that we Noblewood have suffered defeat at the hands of the Unsullied. ......


    The eyes, which had lost their smile, were lit up with the color of madness.


    + + +


    Helian received the report in his private room in the pavilion, which had been converted into a store.


    In front of him floats a "chat window" set to voice chat. The name of the person he was talking to was inscribed in the name field, and the name of Camilla, Commander of the 6th Corps, was inscribed in the name field.


    The report she gave was within the expected range.


    However, it is also true that I was surprised that she would resort to such short-sighted measures.


    Helian asks Camilla through the chat window.


    "Just to make sure, you are not doing any kind of mental interference or brainwashing, are you?��They definitely started acting of their own free will, didn''t they?"


    Interference with the soul and spirit is a specialty of Camilla, the "Nightmare Empress.


    It is often used in espionage activities, and in the [Reporting Phase] of a spy unit in [Tactics Chronicle], < in the [Report Phase] of a spy unit in the Tactics Chronicle.


    However, such techniques are now banned for several reasons.


    Not that he thought Camilla would violate the order lightly, but still Helian asked the question as a kind of final confirmation.


    <


    "...... I see."


    Helian answered with a sigh.


    He took a few seconds to chew over Camilla''s report again, and to acknowledge that it was a fact that could not be misinterpreted.


    Having reached a conclusion in his mind, H��lian made a solemn voice and told Camilla


    "--Okay. I will return to my home country."

 67 - CHAPTER X "Return and Report"

    "Well, I''m going back to my home country temporarily. In the meantime, you two are in charge of the base construction work. Please take good care of things while I am gone.


    Deciding to temporarily return to his home country, Helian left Celes and Gardi in charge of the field, and returned to the capital with Levee.


    It took a considerable amount of time when they headed for the Seals, but with the use of a teleportation gate (telepoint), travel was instantaneous.


    There was a suggestion to hold a festival to celebrate the triumphal return of the king who had achieved such great successes on his expedition, but unfortunately it was put off until later.


    As the old historical records say, when a king returns with a new saga of heroism, it is the king''s job to tell it. ��In Tactics Chronicle, this was also expressed in the form of holding appropriate events according to the situation, which improved morale, popularity, and in some cases, happiness. Players were unanimous in calling the developer a perverted company because of the extraordinary care that went into the creation of the game.


    However, this return is for a job that should take precedence over that. The festivities can be held only after the completion of that work. As soon as Helian is transferred to Agartha, he immediately goes with Lieve to a room in the castle.


    It''s been a long time, gentlemen.


    The place where Helian, Levee, and a few others gathered was the first conference room, located at the far end of the section where many conference rooms are concentrated. Recently, the group had often exchanged words with the corps commanders in the audience chamber, but this time, taking into consideration the attendees and the situation, they had decided to use the conference room.


    In the center of the room, there is a round table with several chairs. Sitting down in the chair located at the far end of the room from the entrance, H��lien first expressed his gratitude to the legionnaires who stood erect to greet the king.


    "Thank you for your hard work, you can make yourself comfortable. I am glad to see that you have performed your duties well in my absence.


    There were four attendees this time, not including Helian and Levee.


    Balan, the second corps commander, responds with a serious face, and Ertina, the third corps commander, smiles calmly. Then there is Camilla, the sixth corps commander, dressed in a glamorous costume, and Merzel, who attended on behalf of the seventh corps commander.


    While the other three seemed to be somewhat accustomed to the ceremony and responded to the invitation, Merzel was the only one who looked tense and stiff. Seeing the three seated after receiving the king''s permission, she hurried to follow them.


    It was no wonder. He was not supposed to be present at such an event. Not many of his subordinates have direct access to the King of All Evil, and if he is a representative of the Seventh Legion, then Robin, the legionnaire, should be in attendance.


    His presence here is nothing but a result of his being chosen as a proxy for Robin, who is unable to leave the field in case of emergency. He is usually upset by the eccentricities of his immediate superiors, and he has the temperament of a hard worker.


    "I hear that Merzel is also doing a good job in the field. I''m sure you must have experienced a lot of confusion at the start of full-fledged exchanges with the people of this world, but did you have any difficulties?


    "Ha!��...... Oh, no, no!"


    Merzel responds quickly and hurriedly denies her own response, as if to affirm that she had had a hard time. At that moment, she stood up with too much force, and the impact scattered the documents on the table on the floor. Merzel''s face turns pale and he hurriedly starts to pick up the materials.


    He had already received detailed reports on the capital city from Baran and Ertina, who had been entrusted with the capital city of Agartha, through regular communications. Therefore, I was going to ask him first to report about the Latestwood case. ......


    (...... Yeah. That''s a lot to take in.)


    We can''t let him start reporting in this state. He will make some kind of mistake and the place will be in chaos, and moreover, I feel too sorry for him who has been made to bear the burden of the trouble. This is the time for a superior to do something to relieve the tension among his subordinates.


    With this in mind, Helian was about to address himself to Merzel, who was frantically gathering materials with a desperate look on his face, when he remembered his mistake of being self-centered in the SEALS and turned his attention to Eltina.


    Ertina, who has the disposition of "Harmony", smiles softly as if she senses her master''s intention as soon as they exchange a glance, and throws her voice at Merzel.


    "There''s no need to be in such a hurry, Merzel. This is not a formal audience.


    She then kneels down on the floor herself and starts to pick up the materials that had fallen down with Merzel.


    "I understand that you are nervous in front of His Majesty, but this is not an audience room but just a conference room. Of course, a minimum of decorum is required, but what is expected of us in this place is correct reporting rather than perfect etiquette.


    Eltina carefully arranged the sheaf of papers she had picked up and handed them to Merzel with a smile on her face. As she did so, she wrapped her white, supple hands around Merzel''s and added a few words in a tone of voice that would calm the hearts of those who listened.


    He then wrapped his hands around Merzel''s hand, and added in a voice that calmed the hearts of those who heard it: "Your Majesty is not so narrow-minded as to blame you for your failures in an unfamiliar place. Please take your time and report back to me calmly.


    Soft words of concern. The warmth that I can surely feel in the hand that received it. And in Ertina''s loving smile, the cornered Merzel caught a glimpse of the goddess.


    Had she ever received such a kindness from her immediate superior (Robin)? No, she had not. I don''t need to go back to my memory to say that I have not. Instead, I''m usually left to clean up after my boss''s eccentricities and pranks. Recently, I was even ridiculed as a complaint receptionist for the Commander of the Seventh Army. Thinking about it, how divine it is to have a saintly lady smiling in front of me!


    "Dear Eltina, ......!"


    While trying hard to hold back the heat in her eyes, Merzel uttered the name of the goddess with all her heart. She smiled at the end and returned to her seat with leisurely steps.


    After seeing such a scene, Levee made a move as if it was time to interject, but Helian responded by lightly raising his right hand on the table.


    Rieve, who understood his master''s intention correctly, remained silent, and Merzel, who had regained his composure, stood up quickly and thanked the king.


    "I beg your pardon, my king. I apologize for any ugliness I may have caused you.


    "Uh-huh. Now then, Merzel, I would like to hear your report on the latest developments at Rattestwood."


    Yes, sir. I, Merzel, as deputy head of the dispatch team and acting commander of the Seventh Army Corps, would like to begin my report.


    He looked very calm and collected, a complete change from his earlier dismay.


    Slightly intimidated by his transformation, Helian urged him to make a report.


    "First of all, regarding your concerns about conflicts and friction between the local residents and the delegation, there have been no problems of any kind. There have been some minor problems due to cultural differences between the two countries, but they have all been resolved by the parties concerned, and I think it is fair to say that relations between the two sides are generally good.


    In response to his brisk report, Helian nodded his head in an eagle''s eye. It seemed that he had completely regained his composure. He thanked Ertina for her help and asked Merzel to be firm.


    "Hmmm. But isn''t it possible that the problem hasn''t come to the surface because the other side has made concessions unilaterally?��There are cultural differences even between different countries, but in our case, even our worlds are different. There may be cases where common sense as demons does not apply."


    In addition, there is an overwhelming difference in national power between the two countries. This is most evident in the military power possessed by the two countries. And although it sounds good to say that they are allies, in the last war, the position of and was established, and they were not equal, at least not in the sense of equality.


    Considering this, it is possible that they are enduring the inconvenience to the residents of LATESTWOOD, but they are not happy with the situation. It is a very troublesome situation when a problem seems to be good because it has not surfaced. Problems that are hidden under the surface can cause problems later on, and for Herrians who want to have friendly relations with others, they are like landmines.


    "Underground problems are difficult to visualize, but you, who have been there, may be able to see some of them. I don''t care if it''s on a personal level. I want to hear what you have to say."


    At this unexpected question from Helian, Merzel ponders for a moment.


    "I wonder if it''s worth putting it in the king''s ear. ......


    The various problems that Merzel mentioned to us were, indeed, not so big one by one. However, when Helian heard them, he was glad that he had listened to them.


    Helian is the one and only absolute in Alkimaira. Naturally, as king, Herian''s time was precious and not to be wasted. It is because of this awareness that the men under his command scrutinize the contents of the reports, and in doing so, some of them may not be visible to Herian.


    This is one of them. The problems that Merzel described were, as I mentioned, minor ones. For example, <.


    But even if each one is small, they add up to something too big to ignore. And it is important to take action before such problems become that big. This is even more so when we have just started exchanges between our two countries.


    If possible, we would like to solve some of these problems through this plan.


    "I see. ....... By the way, how is Robin usually doing?��I hear you''re still the same as usual."


    When I asked this question, Merzel''s mouth, which had been moving without hesitation until a few moments ago, stopped.


    He seemed to be having a hard time saying what he wanted to say, and chose his words carefully as he answered.


    "The corps commander is ...... trying to have an active exchange with the local people. Led by the chief lady, he is constantly carrying out activities that can be taken as a sign of fraternity, and his positive attitude stands out from the crowd among the dispatched teams.


    "--Merzel. Keep your reports to the point and clear. Don''t waste time on Mr. Hellian."


    In the case of an emergency bulletin, speed is often prioritized at the expense of accuracy to some extent, but in this case, we knew in advance that the meeting was going to take place.


    Naturally, the information that would be requested should have been known in advance, and moreover, since he was attending the meeting as a deputy of the corps commander, the information about the commander should have been reported accurately and to the point.


    In spite of this, the content of the report was very vague.


    When Merzel was questioned, he was sweating cold sweat and trying his best to think straight. However, no matter how she tried to make things up, she would bring shame to her own corps if she reported the situation accurately. And to top it off, there were three female corps leaders in this corps. Aside from the 6th corps commander (Camilla) who knows everything, it is not at the level of discomfort.


    With a desire to help, Merzel turns to the second legionnaire, who is of the same s*x and has detailed information. But Balan, who is supposed to be a man of integrity and character, looked away with the same sour expression on his face.


    Merzel felt abandoned, but he did not consider it heartless. If he were in the position of the commander of the second corps, he would have done the same thing.


    Now that Merzel is left on his own, all eyes are on him, and an unexplainable tension envelops him.


    "......No, no. No, it''s okay. Let''s hear what he has to say next.


    Merzel was about to reveal everything, but just before he did so, Helian, who could not see what was happening, dropped the question.


    If he had done something important, he would have reported it without any shame or embarrassment, but he did not, and he kept glancing at the female leaders. In other words, this is what happened, and I guess it is just a prank. Although it may be a little time-consuming, it would be enough to check the records (logs) obtained through "data sharing" and confirm them later.


    By the way, Merzel let out a sigh of relief.


    After that, H��lian exchanged several more messages with her, and she complemented her understanding and information by listening to the opinions and views of those who were in the field. He acknowledged that he was able to share some information with the other participants and finally asked about the facility that had been built on the outskirts of the capital city of RATESTWOOD.


    What about the large box?��I was told that the connection has been made and the only thing left to do is to adjust the equipment."


    There are no problems. We have made all kinds of adjustments, including the magic stone for activation, and are just waiting to fire up the reactor core. However, due to material and time constraints, we have decided to complete the project with only the minimum functions as you have ordered. I hope you will understand.


    Of course. Under the circumstances, it is inevitable.


    Originally, large boxes had been built at a base near Agartha. The large box was the ultimate in luxury, with materials and personnel invested like hot water, and it was loaded with useless functions that were not even needed to this extent.


    However, it does not exist at this moment. This is because only the urban area of the capital city, Agartha, was transferred by the inter-world transfer phenomenon. The large boxes were included in the items that were left behind in the original world.


    "......Well, I should say that it was fortuitous that the whole large box was not left behind. I shudder to think what would have happened if they hadn''t pulled it out for the National Celebration."


    "I agree wholeheartedly. I also confirmed that the minimum system startup was successful when I made the connection.


    Then, it is only left to verify the operation after the start-up. If possible, I would have preferred to complete the experiment in a more moderate way, but my ...... pocketbook won''t allow it, and that''s a pain."


    Eltina lowered her eyebrows apologetically.


    "I am sorry, Your Majesty. As the official in charge of internal affairs, I apologize."


    "Mmm. ...... No, I''m not blaming you. Rather, I''m just thankful that you''ve been able to manage domestic affairs amidst the many problems caused by the phenomenon of inter-world transfers.


    Helian speaks up for Eltina, who is looking down to her elven ears.


    In fact, she is doing a good job. The fact that Helian was able to go on an expedition to the border city of Shields was due to Ertina''s efforts to organize the country. She cannot be blamed.


    Besides, this matter is not in Ertina''s hands in the first place.


    What is especially needed this time is a magical stone with a quality value of over 200 - a super high quality magical stone that has been compressed over and over again, but there is a limit to the amount of materials that can be brought in from the original world. This is because, due to the phenomenon of inter-world transfer, we have lost all of our stored resources in various places other than the capital city.


    In response to this, the alchemists belonging to the 4th Legion are leading the compression experiments of the magic stones obtained in this world, but the results are not satisfactory at the moment. This is because the magic stones frequently collapse in the process of compression.


    It seems to be a saturation phenomenon resulting from the magic stone itself being unable to withstand the magic power it is trying to contain. It is not a matter of just pouring in magic power by force, but in their words, < is necessary. And they say that it takes a lot of trial and error to find such a value in a fragile magic stone.


    There is also the situation that there are not enough facilities at the expedition site, but even Celes, the best magician and researcher in Alkimaira, has been failing in the refining process using local materials. In light of this, it would be the behavior of a tyrant to press the alchemists of the Fourth Legion to produce results right now.


    I am not so egotistical as to call myself a wise king, but that does not mean that I intend to fall into a foolish king. Then, what we should do now is not to beg for something or complain about the current situation, but to make the best move with the cards we have at the moment.


    "Anyway, it is out of the question that we should leave the experiment without ever conducting a start-up experiment. It would be a problem if it < when the time comes when it is needed. The very nature of this thing could even lead to the destruction of the nation.


    In fact, the SEALs have just had an IJN incident in which they encountered a mythical threat. We don''t know what the future holds. We have to test it to see if it works well in this world, in case we need it.


    "It is something that will have to be tested at some point, and it will take a lot of resources to do so. It is true. Then we will take advantage of this one incident and put all of our resources together. Tell Robin to make the preparations as planned."


    "...... as planned means, after all?"


    When Merzel asked her, Helian responded with a nod of the head and shifted his attention to Camilla, who had remained silent until then.


    Camilla. We will share information and awareness about Noblewood. Explain the current situation to all present, including what I know."


    "Yes, my lord."


    Camilla got up from her seat, looked around at everyone, and began to explain the situation in a flowing manner.


    "First, let''s talk about the current situation in Noblewood. As you know, the advance troops that invaded our ally, LATESTWOOD, were wiped out in the last battle, but their home country did not know about it until just the other day. My 6th Corps had invested all of its resources in the information operation. And the other day, since I believe that the time is ripe, including the status of the large box construction, I received a new order from you to partially reveal the information that had been kept from the elders and top executives of Noblewood''s home country.


    With these words, Camilla held out her right hand in a graceful gesture. She brought her palm up in front of her ample bosom, and a vision appeared. It was a meeting between the elders of Oldwood and the Great Elder of Noblewood.


    This magic is a combination of illusion and information. While relatively many people are apt at the basic systems such as attack and defense, the more advanced systems have fewer people who are skilled in them. The information system is one of them, but Camilla, who stands at the top of the Sixth Legion, can control this technique without any difficulty.


    "Mmm,ooo ......"


    "...... this."


    And when they saw the projected image, they all let out a roar. The reason for this was that they had seen it interrupting the scene where the meeting had been held.


    ��For those of you who have lived in the world of Tactics Chronicle, the meeting, which is a direct dialogue between the king and the player, is sacred. As long as the other party observes civility, it is a situation that demands a certain level of response, and in the unlikely event that civility is compromised first, it is tantamount to an act that besmirches the name of one''s own country. Inevitably, even those who are not familiar with the rules of etiquette naturally stand up straight at the meeting.


    However, the images shown by Camilla were a scene that defied their common sense.


    As you can see, the meeting was nothing more than a meeting. And following the RATESTWOOD incident, a preemptive attack without a declaration of war. It''s more like a massacre. And to resort to such measures, they must have really gone crazy (????)."


    ��In the Tactics Chronicles, there were rules of war. There were certain manners and unspoken understandings. There were some rules that could be dared to be broken by the system, but players who violated them were regarded as enemies by neighboring countries, and they all went on the road to ruin.


    Among them, the declaration of war was considered especially sacred by the players of Tactics Chronicle. Although there was a disadvantage that all players of the same world, including those who had no contact with the country, would be aware of the fact that war had broken out the moment the declaration was made, the declaration of war was, to say the least, the flower of the strategic SLG. It had the merit of improving [morale] in a small way, and as a netiquette to maintain the order of the whole world, declarations of war were always made.


    They recognize this as >, and after a roar, they all fell silent.


    "We can''t stop now. They are not satisfied with the old tree alone, but have begun to eat their own bodies as well. I am now drawing my bow despite my emaciation, but it will be ten days or so before the arrow is released.


    After a quick update, Camilla said, "That is all," and exchanged glances with Helian before sitting down.


    After a short pause, Camilla acknowledged that her words had been fully absorbed by those present, and Helian looked around at them with an air of solemnity.


    "...... We are not barbarians who do not know the law. We are not barbarians who do not know the law. Therefore, we do not use words and act like beasts.


    He dared to say again what he had said in his speech one day.


    ......Yes, I am not an animal. So I will be reasonable as a human being. First of all, I will make an effort to exchange words. Even if the end is obvious and we know that our efforts will be fruitless.


    "----"


    And just before he spoke the next words, Helian looked directly into the amber eyes that were staring at him for the last time. Her wolf''s ears were turned toward him, and her eyes reflected her own face with a blank expression pasted on it. As he exchanged glances with her, he thought about what he was about to tell her.


    As a king, he was definitely right. I still don''t know if I am right as a human being. But I could not look away from Alkimaira''s eyes.


    Then that is the answer.


    "--Camilla. Arrange for a messenger to be sent to Noblewood in consultation with Queen Rutestwood. This will be the last mercy for his country."


    "...... then, my lord."


    "This is an ultimatum. If they do not listen, we will proceed as planned. In that case, the personnel of the 6th Corps, as well as the 7th Corps that has been dispatched to the area, will be called upon to work. Do your best to ensure that everything is handled without fail.


    I agree," Camilla said, indicating her approval.


    As soon as the meeting adjourned, with the king''s permission, she flew with great enthusiasm to Lattestwood. After a delay, Merzel also returns to the site to make final adjustments after requisitioning the necessary materials.


    The situation surrounding RATESTWOOD was about to undergo a major change.

 68 - The Eleventh 」」」」」」

    Wenli, the chief wench of Rattestwood, was making her way through the corridors of the small castle.


    She had been summoned by Queen Leifa.


    She exchanges greetings with the other ladies as she passes by, and paces her way quickly to her destination.


    He eventually arrived at a room, the queen''s office, where Wenli stopped, took a deep breath, and knocked on the wooden door.


    "Lady Leifa, this is Wenli, the head mistress of the queen''s office. I have come to see you.


    A message came back from inside the door, authorizing entry. It was the voice of Leifer, the master of the house. Wenli says, "Excuse me, sir," and pushes the door open.


    "Thank you, Wenli."


    Leifer greeted her from his office chair on the other side of the stack of papers.


    Her face showed no sign of fatigue, although her workload must have been quite heavy during those turbulent days. She had sometimes shown her true colors in front of her former educator, but now she seemed to be disciplining herself as a queen. In other words, she had been summoned for more important matters than she was used to.


    Wenli responded with a bow of thanks and waited for his master''s voice to follow.


    "I have called you here for no other reason than this. I have just received word that Kamila has returned from her home country. I assume you are here to talk about the incident.


    "By "one of the cases," do you mean ...... about Noblewood?"


    Until recently, Noblewood had been under the control of Alkimaira''s forces, who had been manipulating the information that . However, the Alkimaira''s forces must have disclosed some of the information that had been withheld by the instructions of their home country and moved to monitor Noblewood''s movements accordingly. This must have been the result.


    "Yes. I have also called for Master Robin and Rilifa. They should be here shortly."


    "Yes, Mr. Leifer. We will discuss the details when the two of you and Camilla arrive.


    "- My concubine is here, you know?��Chief of Warriors."


    Wenli''s shoulders jerked up at the sudden sound of a voice behind him.


    He put his hand on his beating heart and turned to see a woman with purple hair.


    "Ka, Kamila-dono ......"


    "Mm. Not since we captured the Noblewood liaison, Warrior Chief. Or should I call you Warrior Chief now?"


    Camilla, a woman with a bewitching appearance, smiled wickedly as she said this.


    To the opposite s*x, she would have looked alluring, but to Wenli now, she looked like a cat facing a small mouse.


    While trying her best to calm her racing heartbeat, Wenli uttered her response.


    Yes, yes. It''s been a while, Camilla. ...... Yes, how long have you been there?"


    Just now. I knocked, but I''m afraid you didn''t hear me. Did I startle you?


    That''s absurd, Wenli thought. Despite the construction and other noises around them, it was hard to believe that they could not have heard the knocking on the door. And they were elves with excellent hearing, even if they were only half elves. This arouses her strong suspicion that she could not have missed it.


    "No. I heard you, Camilla. Thank you for taking the trouble to visit us, even though you have just returned from the home country."


    But Wenli was puzzled, and Leifa answered without hesitation. Even though she did not actually knock, her expression did not show the slightest sign of agitation.


    Camilla muttered "huh" in her mind and looked at Leiffer with her eyes.


    "I see. But the fact that the chief lady didn''t hear it may have been a blunder on my part. It is certain that I entered the room before receiving her consent.


    "In times of peace, but in times of urgency, such things may happen. There are many situations in which prompt action is more important than complete civility. I believe this is one of them.


    "Hmm. ...... Let us show our appreciation for your understanding, Your Majesty."


    Thank you.


    Ostensibly, the relationship between Queen Leifa and the Commander of the Legion of Alkimaira is almost equal.


    And since Helian, of all people, recognized Leifa, Camilla recognized her as an object of respect in her own way.


    As for the exchange that just took place, it is satisfactory for the leader of the allied nations to say what needs to be said while respecting his position.


    (......) I see that you have talent in spite of your inexperience. That is why you have my approval. (It is indeed my honor that you were able to recognize this in less than two days ...... and a few hours of conversation.)


    While praising her master''s keen eye, Camilla decided to raise Leifa''s rating by one level.


    "Sister, here she is. ...... Oh, Camilla!"


    "Oh, it''s your sister. How are you?


    With a knock on the door, Princess Lilifa, sister of Leifa, appeared.


    When Camilla spoke to her in a friendly manner, Rilifa answered with a big smile.


    "Yes!��Thanks to the people of Alkimaira, we can eat delicious food, so everyone is fine."


    "Well, well, that''s good to hear. If you have any trouble, you may tell me. If it is your sister''s request, I will do my best to fulfill it within the discretion allowed to me.


    Camilla responded smilingly and took out a small bag from her pocket.


    Inside was an assortment of tea cakes that she had brought from Alkimaira.


    The bag is filled with a set of baked sweets with plenty of fruits, according to the preferences of Rilifa, which she had found out through her research.


    "Souvenirs from home. I also brought some of your favorite tea leaves. I heard that you had brought it as a souvenir at a previous meeting."


    "Wow, really?��Thank you, Lady Camilla!"


    Camilla responded with a narrow-eyed smile and patted her head.


    For some reason, these two are good friends. Of all the residents of Latticewood, it is Rilifa who is closest to Camilla.


    Moreover, it seems that the distance between them is getting closer every time they meet, and Rilifa, who at first answered "yes", now says "yes" in a broken voice. And Camilla seemed to not only forgive but also accept it in a positive way.


    Considering Lillipha''s position as the princess of RATESTWOOD and Camilla as the commander of the Alkimaira''s top military command, the fact that the two are getting along well with each other is a welcome development for RATESTWOOD. However, Wenli, watching from the sidelines, could not help but feel a sense of crisis.


    Because Wenli knew. The woman who was stroking the baby (Lillipha) in front of him was a person who could kill a person with a smile on her face.


    It was only a few days after they had made their alliance that they were reminded of this. It was when we captured a liaison sent from Noblewood to contact the advance party who had stopped talking to us.


    "I caught them sooner than I expected. I will have something good to report to you.


    A liaison (elf) is struggling under invisible bondage, uttering invectives. Camilla, facing her, asks Wenli, "Do you recognize her? Wenli shook his head and answered.


    In the first place, Lattestwood had been in a state of no contact with other nations - it was not recognized as a country and was almost completely ignored by the other nations. There were few familiar faces. Especially the elves of Noblewood, who hated half-elves and did not even want to make contact with them.


    "Well, I''m afraid I''ve wasted your time. Then let''s get some information out of her in my own way.


    As soon as she said this, Camilla suddenly thrust her left hand into the elf''s chest and began to grope it carelessly.


    Strangely enough, there was no gushing of blood, only ripples on the contact surface like the surface of the water after a pebble was thrown into it, but the elf looked stunned for a moment, then shivered with a deadly chill as soon as she saw the scene.


    I don''t even want to remember what happened after that.


    The liaison''s handsome, elf-like face contorted in anguish and he began to let out an exclamation that seemed out of this world. I can still see his eyes bloodshot, frothing at the corners of his mouth, and shaking his head in a frenzy.


    She pulled her arm out from her left breast and wiped her hand with a cloth from her pocket as if she had touched something dirty. Then she turned the cloth into ashes with a black flame, which seemed to be a magic spell, and said to Wenli, whose face had turned pale.


    "It''s faster to ask the soul than to ask the body. Unlike the body, the soul can break down prematurely, but until it does, it can give us truthful information. I am good at this kind of soul magic (sorcery).


    A sinister smile resembling a crescent moon. The liaison''s demons had somehow stopped. Camilla touched the shelled body of the liaison and began to chant some kind of magic formula. The liaison was twitching and twitching for a while, but when the formula was completed, he stood up as if nothing had happened.


    One of his men wipes his face, which had been stained with various fluids such as blood, tears, greasy sweat, and drool, and performs the healing technique. Around the puppet elf, who had regained her original fair face, more than ten demons - apparently a race of demons specializing in stealth, named "Invisible Demon" - appeared before she knew it. --The two groups were standing there without making a sound.


    "The rest is as we discussed beforehand. Needless to say, this is a royal decree, a direct order from you, my lord. I will not tolerate any lapses. If by any chance they should find out about it, you will be deprived of death (??????) by your concubines.


    "Yes, Camilla."


    After reciting the words of worship, the demon disappeared like a phantom.


    He then followed the liaison back to his home country with stately steps and left for the depths of the forest.


    Afterwards, Camilla, who claimed to have obtained some interesting information, asked, "Would you like to have dinner with me afterwards, Chief Warrior? Wenli was desperately reluctant to accept the invitation. He could not think of eating after what he had just seen, and most of all, he could not bear to be alone with the demon in front of him any longer.


    She returned to Ogi''s room to escape, but she did not sleep a wink that night.


    Wenli''s fear of Camilla is still deep-rooted because she was exposed to such an act. Wenli had warned herself not to be prejudiced against the demons of Alkimaira, but it was too much to ask her not to feel fear when she saw them. The way she was getting friendly with Lillipha, knowing her true nature, Wenli couldn''t help but feel a little nervous.


    "Hi!��When I heard I was wanted, here I am!��Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, my queen!


    Then Robin, the last participant, appeared at the door with a bang.


    Camilla''s brow furrows as Robin enters the room without even knocking, let alone acting friendly, and she removes her hand from her palm.


    "Robin...... you''re a legionnaire, you should at least knock. What''s with the good morning? It''s already past noon.


    "Oh, really?��Well, I''ve been working on the equipment my sister Lee ordered. Thanks to you, I was up all night.


    "From Levee?��...... He has been given the equipment directly by you."


    "No, he wants a disguised armor for the expedition. He wants a disguised suit of armor that is not much for everyday use, but when the time comes, he can take off the disguise and display its performance. This was a new order for me, so I was very excited to get to work on it.


    He wipes the sweat from his forehead, which he has not even scratched, as if to say, "Well, you did a good job.


    In fact, Rieve, who had just barely won a victory after damaging his armor in the previous incident, had a sense of crisis about his future activities outside the country and had ordered Robin, a leading craftsman, to do the job for him.


    Robin is a troubled man in many ways, but his technical skills are assured, and many of the top ranks of each corps are equipped with his handiwork.


    Most corps leaders who have reached the level of mythological threat (SS rank) are armed with weapons that are not made by human hands, that is, artifacts obtained from ruins and the like, but with the exception of this Robin''s handiwork is considered to be the best armament. This fact alone gives us a glimpse of his outstanding skills.


    However, he is a moody person and is not afraid to say that he only makes what he wants to make, but fortunately, this time, it seems that the order touched his heartstrings.


    He was so enthusiastic in his work that he forgot about the time, and as a result, he appeared one step later than the other participants.


    "What a nushi... ...... Oh, enough. I can''t waste my time like this."


    With a sigh, Camilla switched her attention and turned to Leiffer.


    Leifa had already left her seat and was facing Camilla around the desk.


    Wenli, who had moved casually, was standing behind her.


    Lilifa, who had been chatting with Camilla earlier, has also changed her mind as a princess and is standing quietly beside her sister, Leifa.


    Now that we have all the actors, let''s get down to business. A message from you.


    "I will listen to it."


    Leifa quickly kneeled down on the spot. Wenli and Lillipha did the same. They understood that what Camilla was about to say was meant as the king''s representative, and so they acted accordingly.


    Camilla nods her head in agreement and says the following words to the three who have shown sufficient civility.


    "I propose that we exercise the utmost caution against our neighbor Noblewood, which is showing signs of unrest, and that we send a messenger with a final recommendation. --That is all."


    Camilla spoke to Leifa, who looked up at her.


    "You are very kind, my dear. You wish me to send a messenger, even though you know the outcome. Of course, the messenger will be accompanied secretly by soldiers selected from my legions, and I promise to bring them back without a scratch if they commit any outrage. On the title of "Ears of Alkimaira"


    I am aware of your intentions, Mr. Helian. We have no objection. I will immediately select a messenger from among my retainers and have him prepared.


    "Yes. But if negotiations between the messenger and Noblewood fail, there is only one outcome left. Are you prepared for that, Her Majesty Queen Leifa Lim-Latestwood?"


    Camilla shot a strong look at Leiffer, thinking of the consequences that would be surely coming in the near future.


    The young queen met her gaze with a resolute attitude.


    "Of course. I have spent my days preparing for what is to come, even though I am not yet ready. I have already made my preparations.


    "Good answer. You will be pleased with my response.


    Nodding her head in satisfaction, Camilla moved on to the details.


    However, Wenli, who was watching quietly behind Leifa, had a touch of uneasiness in his heart.


    There was only one reason for it. It was the dwarf boy who was standing next to Camilla, looking bored.


    According to the plan he had been told in advance, he was to be in charge of an important task in this case. His dispatch to the Ratestwood was also in anticipation of a battle with the Noblewood.


    However, he has been sent there and has been playing silly pranks every day, without a shred of dignity. From the earlier conversation and the fact that he was the head of a group of craftsmen, it was clear that he had excellent technical skills, but it was hard to believe that they would be of any use in a rough fight.


    In fact, Robin was easily captured by his subordinate, Merzel, and was unable to even lift the building materials he was carrying so lightly. He even wondered if he could win the battle himself.


    Robin has been entrusted with an important role in this case. Wenli, who had been at the mercy of his pranks for so long, could not help but feel a sense of melancholy.


    "What is it, Chief Lady?"


    While I was lost in thought, a question suddenly came to me. Wenli looked up with a start and looked at the owner of the voice.


    He looked up and looked at the owner of the voice, "You have a very cloudy expression on your face. ...... I don''t think so, but are you dissatisfied with the plan you have made for us?"


    A voice with the sharpness of an icicle interrupted the questioning.


    With a feeling of inexpressible fear running down his spine, Wenli replied to Camilla.


    No, no. No, no, nothing like that. ......


    Somehow, he managed to spin the words, but the look that pierced through Wenli''s eyes showed no sign of conviction.


    On the contrary, Camilla''s red eyes were lit up with a swooning gleam.


    "Ah. You know, Nushi has spoken to me about you before. I remember well how she not only drew her bow at your request for dialogue, but how she also tried to get in your way at every turn. --Go ahead, say it. Right here, right now. In front of me."


    Wenli was asked in a mocking tone, and he stiffened without uttering a sound out of fear. Her arms and legs were shaking in the manner of a frightened and cowering prey, but Camilla did not relax the power in her eyes.


    Because Camilla remembered. She remembered the insolent man who had shot an arrow at her without telling her when the king who had taken her with him had revisited the village. And she remembered the woman who, despite the admonition of her master the queen, still tried to shoot a third arrow at the king who had asked for dialogue with her.


    In forming the alliance, he is told by the king to let bygones be bygones. It was also strictly forbidden to punish any lawless person against their new neighbors, no matter who they were. With such an order, Camilla could not touch the Wenli, the people of Lattestwood.


    But if the subject proves to be a threat to Alkimaira, that is a different story. It is no longer a friendly neighbor, but a traitor.


    If I could get a word of rebellion out of the woman in front of me, at that moment, without hesitation, with my own hands, I would take her to the Alkimaira...


    "Yes, that''s enough."


    With a single word, Robin placed her body between the two. Immediately, the air in the room, which had been on tenterhooks, relaxes.


    "Don''t go any further, Cammy. Wenri is in trouble. The king has forgiven you for what you did in the past, so it''s not for us to rehash it, is it?


    See?��Robin tilted her head and asked Camilla, and she frowned slightly.


    Robin then asked, "Wenli won''t attack the king anymore, will you? He asks, "What do you mean? Wenli shook her head, shaking it vigorously.


    There was no point in pursuing him now that he had shown that he meant no harm. On the contrary, it would only jeopardize his own position. Realizing that she had missed an opportunity of a lifetime, Camilla hid her unpleasant feelings under a smile, said, "I beg your pardon," and withdrew with an apology.


    Wenli, relieved of the pressure, collapses in a heap, breathing heavily.


    "I am sorry that you were offended by the attitude of my subject."


    "Oh, it''s okay, it''s okay, don''t worry about it, my queen. I mean, it was just like she was taking it out on me.��I mean, come on, Kami is such a grown-up."


    "...... I''m done when you say so."


    The fact that Robin, of all people, had told her this made Camilla reflect deeply.


    She let out a long sigh, waving her hands in the air in response to Robin''s angry expression, "What do you mean?


    "Oh, and don''t worry about me, Wenri!��After all, I am the Commander of the Seventh Legion and I''m super awesome. You should feel like you''re on a big boat!


    Robin starts shadowboxing.


    Wenli''s anxiety doubled as she saw a punch that even she could easily catch, but if she spoke out against it here, she would be killed this time.


    With no one to support the young queen, Leifa, and with no one else qualified to play the hated role, Wenli could not die just yet.


    Wenli, aware of this, swallows down her rising anxiety, regulates her ragged breathing, and somehow manages to stand up.


    + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +


    A few days later. The messenger from LATESTWOOD who was dispatched to Noblewood was immediately turned on his heel by the reception he received in the name of interception.


    Escorted by the 6th Legion, the emissary escaped without being noticed by the other party and did not suffer a single wound, but had no choice but to report to the queen, who was waiting for his return home, that there was "no room for discussion".


    This was the moment when the inevitable war between the two countries was decided.


    + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +


    --And one night... At the stroke of midnight, when even the bugs have gone quiet.


    He visited the capital of LATESTWOOD unnoticed, and appeared in front of a rectangular building erected in a corner of the capital.


    Several figures waiting for him hang their heads deeply upon seeing him, and welcome him into the rectangular box.


    The box is now silent, and only the sound of footsteps echoes inside.


    A lone wolf follows the young man ahead.


    She silently follows the young man into the heart of the box, and then turns to look at her master''s back as he stops.


    "...... I know what you mean."


    Not even without looking at its ears and tail, he muttered to himself.


    I''m not particularly sensitive to the subtleties of the heart.


    If anything, he is dull and unaware.


    But even he could easily guess that she would not be pleased with what he was about to do because of her condition, her past history, and above all, her personality.


    "But this was decided beforehand. This is an act that is based on an agreement I have made with the representatives of our allies. I cannot allow it to be overturned. It is absolutely unacceptable."


    The young man''s lips are tightened as he looks at the huge that sits in the center of the box, as huge as a twilight dragon.


    He then spun powerful words to the armor, or more precisely, to the man encased in the armor.


    "--Declaration of secret invocation "Fobidun Phantasm": "Awaken the legacy of Dyne (Dyne''s Slave)."

 69 - The Twelfth Question

    Raindrops fell in the deep forest.


    A single raindrop bursts as soon as it hits the ground, followed by a series of small raindrops.


    A group of green-robed men move through the outskirts of the forest, surrounded by a white, smoky drizzle.


    The visibility in the cloudy forest is poor, but the man at the front of the group thinks that this is a good thing. The rain, which hides their footsteps and their appearance, is welcome but not unwelcome.


    Of course, it is possible to win without planning such a surprise attack. I sincerely believe that there is no way we can fall behind. However, the thought that it is better to be careful than to be cautious made them choose to act in a covert manner.


    After all, what is about to take place is a battle for the prestige of the nation - or rather, the pride of the race. They are here as representatives of all the peoples living in the Sea of Trees. At least that''s what the man believed.


    I''m sure it was the same that day, he thinks.


    As he walks, he thinks of the proud hero of Noblewood.


    The image of Sarawyn Welt-Noblele Leaf, the chief hunter who led an advance party of the most elite hunters and went to build a bridgehead in preparation for war against the humans.


    His (or her) hero, who was unanimously given the mission by the council of elders, would have also carried out a swift raid on the city, even if the opponent was an "unclean", and would have done his job without letting his guard down at all.


    Why did it come to this?


    Why were they forced to do such a thing?


    My understanding of the situation is still far from satisfactory. But I knew exactly what I had to do. The man suppresses his seething emotions and continues his march, keeping a calm exterior.


    "Stop right there, Noblewood elves!


    Suddenly there was a voice hurled at the green-clad group.


    The group stops, and the man at the head of the group pulls off his hood and looks at the owner of the voice.


    Both of his exposed eyes are glowing with a dangerous light.


    "You are the ''filth'' of LATESTWOOD. ...... How did you know we were here?"


    A call from a well-meaning collaborator. A group of suspicious individuals are approaching the city. ...... From the looks of it, they don''t need to be questioned, but we''d like to give them a warning."


    Wenli, the former chief of warriors of Rattestwood, the only one standing in front of the murderous group, spoke with a resolute tone in his voice.


    "Ahead of you lies the city of RATESTWOOD, our country. If he had no business in our city, he would not appear in such a place. Nevertheless, I question your intentions for showing up here, fully armed."


    An elf rushed to the man who was questioned.


    When told of the identity of the woman standing in his way, the man replies with a scowl that reveals his contempt for her.


    You dare to question us as if you were a mere warrior leader?


    "Do you think you need credentials to question a group of suspicious people?"


    "Nonsense. If you want to have words with us elves you should at least bring the queen with you. That would be the least you could do.


    The words of disparagement against the half-elves are the purest expression of feelings.


    The man has no doubts about what he says. He was simply stating the obvious. He truly believes that half-elves are not even qualified to speak to elves in the first place, and that it is a breach of civility not to send the queen here.


    Wenli understood this and became aware of an instantaneous surge of righteous indignation.


    "Is that ...... what they said, those who tried to cut off the messenger? ......!��It is hardly the words of an outlaw who responded with a blade to an opponent who reached out to him to find a way to make peace!"


    "Shut up!��How humiliated do you think we are just to exchange words with you!��Don''t you even have the intelligence to guess what that feeling is!��Then cut yourself right here, right now!��That is the civility you "filth" should show us!"


    There is no such civility!��What do you ...... think you are, we half-elves?


    "Filth!��You are nothing but a stain on the forest and the elves, disgracing them by your mere existence!��How many times do I have to tell you!��How many times do I have to tell you to understand!��You are nothing else!��You are not even wanted to be born, you are not accepted by anyone else, you just live on the sly, living in fear of the monsters of the Abyssal Forest,----, and nothing else.


    The man who had been in a rage suddenly became calm as if he had been doused with cold water.


    In his endless rage, he remembered a fact that he had almost forgotten for a moment, and his tall, rounded back trembled with a smile that leaked out.


    "...... Yes, that''s right, isn''t it? You had other important duties to perform. You had a role suited to half-elves, reproducing as food for the faery dragons that would feed us Noblewood''s great desire.


    "......, you are still doing that kind of--!"


    "Not yet, not yet. It has been decided from the very beginning. That''s why we let you live in a corner of the forest. For decades, we have allowed you to live in a corner of the great sea of trees. And now that it is harvest time and you are about to fulfill your role, you have the audacity to turn on us. ......!"


    Says the man. He has dared to watch the half-elves settle in a corner of the forest for this very purpose. The reason why they have been allowed to live in a part of the Sea of Trees, even though it is a very poor environment near the Abyssal Forest, is so that they can be bred as food when the fairy dragons come back to life. And the half-elves are nothing more than livestock to be fed by the fairy dragons, he asserted without any hesitation.


    No one in the crowd of more than a hundred elves standing behind the man raised an objection.


    For the elves of Noblewood, it was a simple fact, an unshakable value, and a common sense that it should be so.


    Incompatible values and disagreements.


    Wenli, who was told this unabashedly, could not muster the strength or even the significance to refute it, and could only stand there in a state of stunned amazement.


    The man nodded his head in satisfaction, wondering how he had interpreted the silence,


    "--But that''s enough. You no longer need to serve as sustenance. It was probably a mistake to have included the existence of the Unsullied in the plan in the first place. Even a wise man of long life makes mistakes from time to time. Let us admit it. It was a mistake to try to farm low quality livestock and feed them to the fairy dragons.


    "...... what are you doing at this point?"


    "It means that a half-elf "defilement" could not revive the fairy dragons. That is why a great disaster has happened. Unbelievable news was to be delivered. Do you know how I felt then?��No, you don''t understand. The fairy dragon was destroyed, the advance party became collateral damage, and the hero entrusted with the mission, Sarawin, the chief hunter, was returned to the forest by the hands of the "Unsullied". My state of mind!��You people!��You don''t understand!


    Ignoring Wenli''s questioning, the man reveals his feelings. His voice soon grew passionate, and finally he let out a cry.


    "Yes, yes!��We don''t need you anymore!��There is no reason left for you to live!��Even without the use of such inferior food as you have provided, our guardian dragon has made a complete comeback!


    Like a conductor in a fever, the man raises one arm.


    At the same time, a high-pitched scream echoed.


    Wenli''s eardrums shook with the distinctive screams he had heard on the outer edges of the capital, which had fallen into enemy hands about two months earlier.


    And then, emerging from the drizzling rain that covers the forest, is the winged dragon.


    Wenli''s eyes widen in astonishment, and she looks ahead to see the guardian that the gods have left behind for the elves--the <>.


    "------"


    At that moment, Wenli''s consciousness was tainted with a blank.


    The guardian dragon for Noblewood is a vindictive enemy for Rattestwood. To see it again would be a shock to most people. However, this is not the only reason why her thoughts are tinged with blankness.


    Wenli knew. She had been told this information in advance by Camilla, who had launched an information war against Noblewood with the full force of the Sixth Legion. Noblewood had brought up the relics of the past without any mercy.


    So I was prepared for this. I knew in advance that I would once again be confronted with the sight of the abominable dragon. Nevertheless, the factor that stunned Wenli, who had already prepared herself for this, was the physique of the fairy dragon she was about to see in person.


    The fairy dragon that Wenli knew - the one that once attacked Rattestwood - had a morbidly fleshy body. It was a winged dragon with an eerily thin body, made up of only bones and skin, with only a little flesh added to it. To her, it was a fairy dragon.


    But what about the dragon hovering in the air right in front of her eyes?


    The morbidly slender body has been transformed into a thick, massive body, and the body that was all skin and bones has been transformed into a massive, heavy frame.


    The thin hind legs, which may not even be able to support its own weight, are now more than two times thicker and stronger than I remember, and there is no trace of the fleshy appearance of the past. There was the majestic figure of a giant dragon with a body so majestic and powerful that it could have been a different kind of dragon.


    And the moment Wenli looked directly at it, he realized.


    That was its true form.


    As a being of Elven blood, Wenli instinctively understood that the majestic figure he was seeing now was the fairy dragon of Elven mythology that had regained its full strength.


    --And now, six of them.


    The crowd of fully restored fairy dragons is flying leisurely in the sky of the Sea of Trees.


    "............ Are you insane? Are you ......"


    Wenli grunts, forgetting even how to speak on behalf of the Ratestwoods.


    Once her people were dragon food. Though the blood of the elves in their veins is thin, the sacrifice of many half-elves is made up for by sheer numbers. The number of her companions who were sacrificed cannot be counted in hundreds or even two hundred. Wenli, who had carved the names of his people on tombstones, knew this fact very well.


    But even so, the individual at that time had a lean physique, all skin and bones. Now that he had actually seen the complete body, he could understand that it was far from its true form, an incomplete, emaciated physique.


    Then, how many hundreds, if not thousands of thousands of purebloods (elves) did it take to fatten up six fairy dragons like this?


    I''ve given up all hope of sanity.


    The man told him as if to throw up.


    The man, his eyes shaking with madness, spoke under a sky filled with dancing dragons that had sacrificed everything they had, not to mention the elves of the neighboring Oldwood, their own non-combatants, unnecessary soldiers, young priests, and everything in between.


    "Yes, yes. We are already mad. Since that time a hundred years ago, since that day ...... when our queen was maimed by those ugly humans, since that day when she took her own life in despair - since that day a hundred years ago when we were defeated and humiliated in the worst way by humans, we have long since lost our sanity!"


    They had it etched in their minds.


    The queen, the most beautiful of all the elves, her beautiful crown twisted in hatred and broken day by day. And they had seen with their own eyes how the beautiful queen, unable to bear the humiliation of being defiled by humans, had fled to her death.


    That is why the Noblewoods have turned to vengeance with all their might.


    However, even if they immediately launched a war, it was inevitable that they would be defeated again once they went out into the wilderness. However, if too much time is left, the humans, who greatly outnumber the elves in fertility, will increase their power, and the opportunity for revenge will be lost. At the very least, Noblewood would not have a bright future as it took on the combined forces of the humans alone.


    Power was needed. Overwhelming force. They needed a violence that would allow them to unilaterally overrun the enemy without giving them a chance to counterattack.


    Of course, such power was not something that could be obtained immediately. Nor is it something that can be achieved through personal study. In the midst of the agony of not being able to find a solution, someone casually muttered


    <


    It was a sweet whisper.


    I was reluctant to let the fairy dragons, who were supposed to be protectors, take revenge, but my hatred for humans overcame my conflicts. The elves of Noblewood followed the whispers and worked to unseal the ruins where the fairy dragon was sealed.


    The priests who had been holed up in the tree were rushed out, and the whole family gnawed at the ruins, eager to unseal the fairy dragon on behalf of vengeance. Everyone worked together and did everything in their power.


    All in order to make up for the humiliation of that day.


    To incinerate the abominable past and avenge our late queen.


    --But...


    "Our cause!��After a hundred years of humiliation and endurance, our plan was foiled in a single night!��And that too at the hands of you filth, who are abominable and fearless...!


    I can''t forgive you. I couldn''t accept it.


    I could have forgiven him if he had been stopped by the elves of another country who foolishly claimed to be in harmony with humans.


    It would have been acceptable even if they had run out of strength halfway before completing their plan and had to leave their dead bodies in the wilderness as a result.


    But they say that it was the "Unsullied" who destroyed their plans.


    It was a drifter who helped them.


    How can we admit to such a fearless fact, that our plans have been shattered by a faction of the "Unsullied" who were just surviving miserably in a corner of the forest?


    We will complete our revenge this time. ...... but first, you. First, you will exorcise the "filth" and use their blood and atonement as a signal to start the war and wipe out the ugly humans!��That is the only path we should take!"


    The hunters lined up behind him picked up their weapons.


    They were the few exceptions among the people of Noblewood who were not dedicated to the fairy dragon.


    The hunters, who were expected to be as good as the first team, looked at Wenli with their bestial eyes.


    "Now give me the Gentiles who helped you!��We know. We know of the underlings who have aided you, who have taken the lives of my brother Sarawin-Welt-Nobleleleaf, the fairy dragon and the chief hunter ...... by foul means!��If you try to hide it from me, I will burn the entire area around you to ashes until I find it!"


    As if to show that he was not a threat, the man - Selwyn Welt-Noble Leaf, the acting chief hunter, put his left hand out to one of the fairy dragons flying in the air. The giant dragon let out a high pitched but powerful cry in response, and its wings lit up with a green magic light.


    Wenli came to his senses and recalled the plan he had been told in advance. <.


    As Wenli was about to send the signal as agreed upon, he suddenly remembered ''s past words and actions. She wondered if she should really call on a man who was so reckless and had no fighting skills, and more than anyone else, she wondered if she should trust her fate to him.


    But there is no way she can change her plans at this point in time.


    Her hesitation lasts only a moment.


    Wenli, determined, takes a deep breath to say the words that will signal her to go...


    "Yes, I jumped out at the call and came right away!��I am Robin, the who visited the Ratestwood!��Greetings, Noblewoods!


    --The jovial kid, who can''t read the air, leaped into the air as usual.


    The dwarf emerges from the bushes, introduces himself, and spins around between the two opponents. Then, as soon as he comes to a stop facing the acting chief hunter (Selwyn), he strikes a pose and says, "Yeah, yeah. He then pauses, facing the acting chief hunter (Selwyn), and says, "Yay." He also makes a peace sign, as if he is trying to make a point.


    Wenli was speechless at the clown-like behavior and opened and closed his mouth like a fish on land.


    Then, for a few seconds, the air that had been in a state of excitement froze,


    "---- what are you?"


    In a whisper. A frighteningly quiet murmur escaped from Selwyn''s mouth.


    The expression on his face, which had been twisted into hatred just a moment before, was devoid of emotion.


    To the casual observer, it would have seemed like the calm of a volcano about to erupt.


    "Didn''t you hear that?��...... Ah, I see. I guess elves are older than they look. Are they deaf by any chance?


    The dwarf Robin tilts his head, asking a simple question. If this were an everyday scene, it might have been amicable, but here it is literally out of place.


    Robin then opens his mouth again, after an unnecessary comment, "Well, I guess it can''t be helped if you''re an old man,


    "Well. I''m the gentile you''re looking for...... ah, the traveler. And I''m a client of yours at Latticewood. When you invaded before, I helped you out of a kind of one night''s lodging and one meal, but it was your fault for bullying the weak and I don''t blame you."


    Robin nods his head and finishes what seems to be an explanation, as if a taller child were admonishing a younger child.


    Wenli, standing behind him, is struck by a powerful dizziness that makes her feel faint.


    Even a child like this is the head of a legion, a legionnaire, one of the eight highest points in Alkimaira, excluding the king. When the time comes, I am sure that he will show himself to be a dignified man worthy of his position. --She has been telling herself this for a long time, but when the time comes, she finds herself in this mess. She is filled with a feeling of wanting to hold her head in her hands, thinking that she should have persisted in her dissenting opinion even at the risk of death.


    Even so, Selwyn somehow regained her nerve and tried to leave with Robin in her arms, but Selwyn reached her limit before Wenri could.


    "This clown ...... is my brother!��Do you insinuate that Sarawin, the chief hunter, has been defeated!��Don''t be a fool, aaaaaa--!!!"


    Wind bullets released in a burst of radiant fury.


    It''s a fiery bullet of intermediate magic of the wind attribute.


    The brilliance of the magic obtained at the end of more than a hundred years of training, in contrast to his raging inner mind, he constructs a flowing formula, and though he chants in abbreviated form, he rushes under the enemy with certainty of power.


    The wind projectile, which caught the face of the dwarf with a carefree expression on his face, cracked and exploded as soon as it landed, and the released mass of wind caused chaotic destruction. A cloud of dust rises up, and broken clods of earth and debris from the trees scatter.


    Eventually, the dust plumes were washed away by the drizzle, and visibility became clearer.


    Selwyn, whose breathing is ragged with rage, raises and lowers his shoulders to confirm the devastation of the impact point, where no trace of the destruction is visible. There was the gutted ground and, as expected, the wreckage of five dismembered dwarfs.


    Still chagrined, Selwyn tries to step on the corpse, and suddenly feels a strong sense of discomfort.


    He noticed that the head of the dwarf, which had rolled down to his feet, remained in an oddly beautiful shape. Moreover, there is no blood from the cross section. There were no traces of bloodshed, as there should be in any living creature.


    This is...


    "Puppet"?��......No way, it''s a small golem. ......!"


    He quickly looks at the other parts lying around him. As expected, the scattered limbs were the same as the head.


    The head that I picked up was of extremely elaborate construction and felt as real to the touch, but it was not a living thing. I have never heard of such a thing that can speak fluent human language, but this is a moving puppet, a golem.


    Selwyn searches for the presence of the magician who might have controlled the golem, but there is no sign of him around. Before he knew it, even the "Unsullied" woman had disappeared. The other hunters, who had begun to search for the golem without being ordered by anyone, could not find the golem-user or even the direction in which the woman had left.


    A single click of the tongue. Selwyn is about to exercise his command over the fairy dragon soaring overhead, trying to get it to look for his servant, when...


    <<1253>, We have confirmation of a preemptive strike by our virtual enemy, Noblewood-- have we crossed the line, Noblewood gentlemen? >>


    A cold tone reaches my ears.


    It was the voice of a clown. It was the voice of the dwarf we had just crushed.


    The hunters look around reflexively at the voice, which retains its own distinctive resonance.


    At the same time, there was a distinct change in the sky. A group of fairy dragons all turned to the east at once. It was because they recognized an abnormally heightened magical reaction in that direction.


    Six pairs of twelve eyes were looking through. There is the capital of Rattestwood and an invisible box-like building constructed on the outskirts of Rattestwood. And as the guardian dragon of the elves gazes, the one who appears in the depths of the box that has been made invisible is...


    + + +


    "Remove the fixtures!��Increase the flow of magical element supply from the external magical ore furnace to maximum flow rate!


    "First and second reactor cores activated successfully. Generator output has breached default. Disconnect the cables from the external arc furnace.


    "Disconnection complete. Confirmation of completion of startup sequence No. 25 through No. 42. Then move to sortie sequence.


    Invisible large box. Upon receiving the news of the first confirmed attack by the enemy forces, the workers of the VII Corps were hurriedly executing the prescribed sequence.


    At the entrance of the large box, standing at the end of the rail extending from the opening, is a painted in azure and silver. The colors of the former are dark and those of the latter are deep. The latter, which occupied a large area, had a color that some people might have called the color of steel.


    Sitting behind the < is a large magic furnace equipped with a large box. Under the direction of the worker in charge, magical elements are extracted from the magical stones stored in the tank and poured into the body of the <> at full throttle. The highly purified magical element was then directed through the mithril-made blood vessels to the heart of the , and eventually reached the two hearts built into the torso.


    At the same time, the roar of the machine echoed. Some of us felt relief at the fact that the machine had been successfully activated, but the sortie sequence was still in progress. Following the instructions of the site supervisor, the procedure continues. The cables connecting the activation power unit to the are noisily removed one after the other, and the obsolete unit is moved to a corner of the large box along with a cluster of cables.


    The bottom of the foot is locked. Prepare to eject catapult.


    "Aye, sir!��Forward hatch open, deploy gravity lens for ejection!��And invisibility is lifted!


    The catapult shuttle then secured the sole from the front and rear. < visually confirmed this and signaled to another worker who was standing by near the opening. He responded with a thumbs-up and opened the hatch.


    At the same time as the opening of the enclosure is fully opened, the boy held in the chest of the <> receives an order from his master. The order came in response to the boy''s report that the enemy forces (Noblewood) had launched a preemptive attack. As soon as the boy recognized the last sentence of the "Order," he felt an unmistakable surge of excitement.


    The last sentence of the order. It was an echo of the speech he had heard that day. The king''s order that spurs the will to fight. The boy longed for a single word, a mere four words.


    <>


    Upon receiving the order, the boy sank shallowly into the small box in his chest, a seat that was called the pilot''s seat, and uttered a small but sure murmur, "Yes, King,


    "Robin Harnaldwerg, commander of the Seventh Army Corps, we''re off."


    A calm voice spins a declaration. A moment later, at the signal of the site supervisor who confirmed that all preparations had been made, the with the boy inside began to accelerate rapidly toward the opening of the hangar (large box).


    The electromagnetic catapult and the gravitational lens deployed in front of it propelled the blue-silver Titan at an explosive speed.


    --To the naked eye, it had the appearance of a knight.


    The flying < has limbs, a torso, and a head, all of which are covered with dull-colored armor. Its appearance, with its entire body covered in armor, could be described as that of a knight.


    However, it was not a living creature, and its fleshless body had an inorganic aspect. Particularly remarkable is the chest armor, which protrudes forward so far that it looks like the tip of a huge spear.


    The head mounted on the torso also differed from the humanoid form in that it had the appearance of a dragon. The two blade antennas extending backward resemble the horns of a dragon, and the built-in rails that extend 180 degrees in front of the head have the gleam of a single, dull, shining eye.


    The chest, legs, and shoulders are extremely massive and large in total area, and the forearms are also thickly armored, while the body and upper arms are slender, and the head is disproportionately small.


    In other words, the knight of the dragon''s head, who is well-trained and lean, wears what might be called multi-layered plate armor with only the chest protruding, a movable thigh cover (tasset) hanging from the waist, multiple armored shin guards (greaves) integrated with iron shoes (sabatons), and finally heavy hand armor (gauntlets). The form of the forearms is like this.


    It is a knight with a dragon''s head made of gold and a golem.


    A masterpiece created by the Seventh Legion, a group of craftsmen.


    Restored from ancient weapons excavated from the ruins of old civilizations, it is Alkimaira''s trump card and the most powerful decisive weapon, a fusion of ancient mourned technology and the latest in magical engineering.


    The name of the weapon is...


    Fafnir. - Now, two months late, it''s time for our first battle. Let''s go out with a bang and make our mark on the world!"


    My heart howls.


    The dragon-headed knight roars, driven by the legs of the alchimaira.


    In the drizzling skies of the battlefield, the duel between the fairy dragon and the mechanical dragon knight begins.

 70 - CHAPTER XIII "Fafnir"

    Sinking shallowly into his seat, Robin felt the pressure of acceleration on his back.


    It was not strong, however. The electromagnetic catapult and gravity-lens ejections would have rendered him immobile if he had not taken any precautions, but the gravity-manipulation techniques in the cockpit mitigated the effects.


    Fafnir, which had been ejected slightly upward from the hangar "large box," fired the thrusters on its back just before the speedometer indicated that it was about to leave its initial speed, and shifted into self-propelled flight.


    The twilight dragon was able to retreat from the atmosphere just by looking at the sky, but if the mechanical dragon knight wants to fly in the sky, he needs to do some tricks. Fafnir, who realizes such tricks with his magical science, passes his magic power through a formula engraved above his chest, which is located at the very tip of his body, to create a mixed wind/gravity field in the shape of a four-sided pyramid.


    The atmosphere that blocked the knight''s way was torn apart by the sharp barriers, and the knight, having lost all obstacles, celebrated the sky of freedom.


    "Good, not bad. It seems that the sky of this world accepts us.


    In a calm voice, the dragon knight''s driver expressed his deep emotion.


    Although he had already conducted a start-up experiment of the reactor core in the large box, this was the first time that Fafnir was put into full-scale operation since the inter-world transfer phenomenon.


    Although this is not unreasonable considering the large amount of materials consumed just to start up the machine, it is understandable to feel a little uneasy when the machine is put into actual operation, which in a sense is almost like a spur-of-the-moment production.


    However, these fears were largely allayed by the confirmation of the aircraft''s ability to fly under its own power. The various engraving techniques necessary for aircraft control are also working without any problems.


    With a shallow smile on his face, Robin attempts to give Fafnir further acceleration,


    <>


    An interception by a fairy dragon attacked from the front.


    The fireball came from the first of the six fairy dragons at the head of the herd.


    The fire from their palates, which were wide open at the top and bottom, approached Fafnir with missile-like force.


    "-It''s fast. Much faster than the last fairy dragon.


    Fafnir sputters his shoulder thrusters and swerves out of the line of fire.


    A torrential fire runs through the upper right side of the tilted fuselage, but its bullet speed is incomparable to that of the previous fairy dragons.


    The distance from the target is so great that it appears to be only a small particle to the naked eye, but it is indeed a perfect body that has been able to shoot with such accuracy and bullet speed.


    "So it''s not just their appearance that''s different from before."


    It seems that they have not devoured all the elves in their own country and in neighboring countries. In addition to their appearance, the amount of magic power they have stored in their bodies is also far greater than that of their predecessors.


    The powerful flames that he just released are not mere breaths, but he must have been able to display his speed by adding his excess magic power to it.


    >


    While Robin calmly analyzed the situation, one of the fairy dragons deployed a magic circle. Green magic light leaked out from the wings of three pairs of six wings on each side, making the magic circle shine. As soon as the glow reached a certain level, the magic circle deployed on both wings shot out two light bullets on each side.


    The total of four bullets turned into penetrating power and approached Fafnir with certain power.


    Fafnir, on the other hand, shook his fuselage and sank down, taking evasive maneuvers.


    However, unlike the first shot earlier, four shots were fired this time.


    The light bullets, which approach with a time lag, cannot be avoided with a single evasive maneuver.


    Robin makes an instantaneous decision, and immediately after avoiding the first shot, he fully opens his chest thrusters to stop the momentum of the fall, and immediately turns his fuselage around to reverse it. The massive power of the back thrusters, which generate the main thrust, sends the huge body of the Fafnir flying upward.


    As soon as he confirmed that the second light projectile had passed under the aircraft, he avoided the third by igniting the thrusters twice. Satisfied that Fafnir''s body moved as he wished, Robin responded to the fourth and final shot with a crubit maneuver. Fafnir was already facing away from him as soon as the light projectile passed under his back as he looked up at the sky.


    "Right Arm Armament, Converged Magic Projectile Cannon, Lady!


    Fafnir, who had avoided the dancer''s flight, now readies his armament in accordance with his driver''s will.


    His steel hands grasp one gun on each side.


    The silver gun in his left hand is over ten meters long, while the black gun in his right hand is more than ten percent shorter.


    Fafnir first used the right long gun and caught the enemy group at the tip of the muzzle.


    The air is filled with magic power with a wailing sound of inhalation. The first shot, which was also a test shot, was set to 30 percent power. Robin glanced at the filling rate displayed on the sub-display and the numerical value indicating the efficiency,


    "--Correction, the convergence rate has not reached the default value. Reset to 20 percent output."


    Robin quickly rewrites the output settings after recognizing that the efficiency of extracting magic elements from the core, the engine that generates the magic power that fuels the aircraft, is far below the expected value.


    Then, as soon as his tiny fingers wrapped in ultra-thin pilot''s gloves pressed down on the main trigger of the control stick, the black iron long gun (awlvang) released the power stored inside.


    The released compressed magic power becomes a bundle of light and runs through the air as a pillar of light.


    <>


    The fairy dragon swarm responded by deploying multiple barriers.


    In exchange for the destruction of the two nations, the fairy dragons, the famed guardians of Elvish mythology, regained their true power. The six of them joined together to catch the pillars of light with multiple barriers that focused only on defense, resulting in a fierce exchange of light.


    >


    A collision of compressed highly concentrated magical mass and multiple deployed barriers. After a slight struggle, a pillar of light extending from the long gun of black iron turned into a movement to push itself through.


    The first barrier disappeared, followed by the second one, which was broken through without a moment''s thought. The third, fourth, and fifth barriers shattered with each passing second, until finally the last barrier was reached. The tip of the light cracked the sixth barrier.


    But that was the limit. Robin hears the warning from the aircraft, removes his finger from the trigger, and the long gun stops firing. The amount of magic power supplied to the plane has dropped below a certain level. Since the amount of magic power consumed by the bombardment completely exceeds the output of the reactor core, which is fed by magic stones, there is a limit to the continuous irradiation time. It was a warning sound that told us of the time limit.


    The light pillar, which had lost its momentum, pushed several rays of light through the cracks, and some of them caught the dragon''s figure, but it was prevented from entering by the barrier shell that was always deployed, a spherical boundary that spread out around the dragon''s body. The light pillars that have lost their power have disappeared and there are six dragons that are still alive and well.


    The group of fairy dragons, the guardians of the elves, even if it was only six of them, had managed to prevent the bombardment of the impossible gentiles.


    "You did it! You are indeed a guardian dragon!


    Robin adjusted the output balance of the reactor core shown on the sub-display and praised the fairy dragon for its endurance.


    For the verification experiment of Fafnir, the second reactor core is made of magical stones collected and refined in this world. It is true that because of this, the magic power supplied to the various parts of the machine was scarce and the output of the long gun had to be reduced more than expected, but it was still somewhat unexpected that they were able to block the bombardment from the front. It would be necessary to reevaluate our capabilities and reorganize our tactics.


    Having thus changed his mind, the Dragon Knight''s driver ordered Fafnir to move forward.


    The back thrusters were fired, and the ship accelerated again.


    The mechanical dragon knight closes the distance in a straight line toward the herd of fairy dragons.


    <>


    The opposing herd of fairy dragons responded with two types of actions: disperse and breakaway.


    One of them turned its back to Fafnir and broke away, while the remaining five moved in different directions.


    If Robin immediately breaks off the pursuit of the one that has fled in a straight line, the five that have dispersed will reassemble, reassemble their formation, and pursue Fafnir''s back.


    In other words, one of them acts as a decoy, and the remaining forces pursue the prey. Robin, too, knew this and pursued the dragon as it turned away.


    "...... heh."


    Robin got the impression that he was used to it.


    The combined defense in the dense formation mentioned earlier, perhaps they are working together in an unvoiced voice that only the dragon tribe can understand, but there is no hesitation in their actions.


    After all, a group of guardian dragons with immense power that cannot be compared to the normal forces of this world is, of course, skilled in combat actions against a single rider that is more powerful than they are.


    According to legend, they were sent to fight a decisive battle against a demon king who wanted to annihilate mankind.


    Robin is pleased to see that the enemy forces are now using .


    Considering the strategic concept given to him, he is not a bad first opponent in this world. His large eyes narrowed into a pair of sharp, narrowed eyes as he looked directly at the main display projected in front of his field of vision.


    <>


    The fairy dragon ahead of us neighs and accelerates, spilling green magic light.


    The shadow of the enemy in the center of the display trailed a tail of light, and by the time we recognized its color, the back of the preceding dragon was getting smaller and smaller.


    It was a move to use all of its magical power for acceleration. The individual flying with its back to the blue-silver dragon knight was trying to outrun its pursuers with pure acceleration.


    Then, in order to respond to it, Robin asks Fafnir to accelerate even more.


    In response, the massive parts that make up the knight''s legs begin to transform.


    The legs, decorated with shiny azure and deep silver, make a sound of steel and are mounted on the torso with the knees near the chest and the heels on the thighs. At the same time, a cluster of medium-sized thrusters inside the skirt-like movable thigh cover (tasset) is exposed, all of them pointing toward the rear of the fuselage. The arms that hold the weapons are bent at the elbows and folded, establishing their presence as a kind of fixed turret.


    Next, the twin wings are deployed, each consisting of two shoulder-mounted, large-diameter thrusters. At the bottom of the long fin thrusters is a large open mouth, the entire shape of which could be described as either a long cannon or a broad spearhead. The thrusters, large and small, are all directed to the opposite side of the chest, to the rear of the lance-like spearhead that points forward, and all of them are open.


    The result is a figure different from the humanoid form. The majesty of a dragon that desires the highest speed. After pursuing speed and completing the transformation, the form that was achieved was...


    "High-speed cruising form - Fafnir''s form as a mechanical dragon."


    The thrust lever is immediately slammed into place. The single eye of the dragon head emits light as if to indicate acceptance, and the thrusters, supplied with magical power from the core, roar.


    The shoulders, back, hips, legs, and soles - all of the thrusters emitted a dazzling radiance, giving birth to a tail of white light. The white light produced by a total of seventy-two thrusters resembles the light wings of a dragon. The horizontal spread of the light wings, consisting of seventy-two strips, scatters the white light as feathers, and brings explosive thrust to the dragon that desires high speed.


    As a result, the meters that show the relative distance between the two quickly decrease in number, and they begin to plummet toward zero.


    "----!"


    It soars through the air, accelerating and accelerating and accelerating.


    Fafnir does not care if the five bodies behind him take his unprotected back.


    The blue-silver dragon leaves everything behind at an explosive speed, and aims for the back of the fairy dragon that conquers far ahead.


    The preceding fairy dragon tries to pull away from the clinging dragon, and even the magic power it has been using to deploy the barrier shells, it tries to accelerate without any hesitation.


    However, the Koryu in its high-speed cruising form outstripped even that speed.


    There was no way that the following team, which had to devote a certain amount of magical power to prepare for the attack, could catch up with it. Fafnir, who had closed the gap between the two, while avoiding the occasional breath from behind with fine maneuvering, pointed the muzzle of his black-iron gun with his right arm folded up small.


    The target cursor displayed by the FCS (Fire Control System) still does not indicate lock-on, but this close distance is enough for an effective shot. Robin does not wait for lock-on and fires visually. The light shot from the long gun of black iron pierced the back of the dragon ahead of him, and pierced one of its wings and several parts of its right body.


    >


    The fairy dragon lets out a shrill cry and falls to the ground.


    It may have missed a vital point, but it was not killed instantly. But it did inflict a heavy blow. The flesh was bubbling up from the gaping wound and seemed to be trying to regenerate, but the speed of regeneration indicated that the damage was not something that could be fully healed in a few minutes.


    Robin feels a reasonable response to her first effective shot.


    On the other hand, however, an unfortunate fact became clear.


    "The magic power is being recharged. 49 seconds until the next round is ready to fire. ...... I didn''t expect it to take this long to reload."


    This is an unexpected and unwelcome development. It seems that the pool of magic stored in the long gun of black iron (awlwang) was depleted after only two shots. Robin frowns as he looks at the reload time displayed on one of the sub-displays.


    The Fafnir he is driving is a mobile weapon excavated from ancient ruins--a miraculously preserved machine that still retains its original frame and intact reactor core--and restored by a group of craftsmen from the Seventh Legion.


    Although it is the result of the latest magical engineering that Alkimaira boasts, the level, history, lineage, and state of the art are all different from those of the lost technology of ancient civilizations, and therefore, it was not a perfect repair.


    In fact, the technology of Alkimaira has intervened and changed the original form. In order to perform the functions for which it was originally designed, some parts have been forcefully reproduced by splicing several techniques together.


    And because of this, Fafnir is not fuel-efficient.


    I would even go so far as to say that it is the worst.


    There was even a mechanism that seems to have obtained one result by expending a hundred resources to make the missing parts function as they were.


    The long gun of black iron that we just used is one such mechanism.


    The long gun, which shoots out a pure mass of magical power as a single comet shot without being converted into a formula, is a very heavy eater and takes a long time to fill up even when directly connected to a generator. It is possible to fire continuously if certain conditions are met, but the current situation is that the supply of magic power from the reactor core, which uses magic stones native to other worlds, requires nearly a minute to refill.


    Although the magical stones used in the reactor core were carefully selected, the level of the stones was too different from the ones brought from the original world.


    Then, I guess this one is next.


    Robin keeps his right hand on the control stick and taps the console panel with his free left hand. Armament switch. The main trigger is linked to the left armament--a single-barreled gun loaded with magic bullets.


    Unlike the black iron long gun (Aurvang), which is a kind of energy weapon that radiates non-attribute compressed magic, the silver silver long gun still has a structure similar to a modern gun.


    It is similar to a real gun in the sense that it has a chamber, is loaded with bullets, and the firing is executed when the firing hammer falls.


    However, it is not the bullet that is ejected from the muzzle. What is ejected with the press of the trigger is the fire-attribute attack formula engraved on the bullet shell--the "Blast Javelin. The formula is released from the muzzle of the silvered gun, and a huge flaming spear, almost as large as Muspell''s throwing spear, is ejected.


    --<


    It is a magic gun that amplifies and releases the magic formula engraved on the loaded magic bullet and its warhead.


    The formula engraved on the shell depends on the size and quality of the shell, so it is not capable of releasing extreme magic, but its long barrel has a special mechanism that amplifies the effect of the magic bullet, and the power it can unleash is comparable to the great magic that a high-ranking magician can unleash with perfect chanting.


    In addition, the magic bullet contains a high-purity magic crystal stone instead of explosives, and the expression of the technique itself has the advantage that the magic power possessed by the magic bullet is sufficient. < is less than one-hundredth that of a normal output .


    However, due to the disposable nature of the pure mithril shells, which have a high conductivity of magic, the cost per shot is extremely high, and it is a kind of defective weapon that is ridiculed by players who know how much it costs.


    There is no doubt that it is a weapon that is not suitable for mass production or heavy use.


    However, if you have the background to swallow the disadvantages, it was unquestionably the best means of attack in this situation.


    Thus, the amplified Blast Javelin was effective enough to pierce through the barriers that the falling dragon had deployed as quickly as possible. The fire-throwing spear, which had pierced deep into the body, exploded, creating a bloom of flames in the drizzling sky. After the red lotus flower dissipated, nothing remained but the corpse of the dragon, which crashed to the ground, losing its original shape.


    "Target, one plane destroyed."


    After confirming the results of the battle, Robin mutters to himself and turns the aircraft around to the next target.


    The aircraft made a 180-degree turn in the direction of the horizontal axis.


    Then, in front of the view of the nose-facing aircraft, there was the sight of more than a thousand light arrows fired from the following four fairy dragons that had been allocating their magical power for the attack.


    "--!"


    Judgment is instantaneous. The decision led to an immediate response.


    Fafnir himself charged into the swarm of light arrows that were closing in with overwhelming density.


    In the space with the thinnest barrage, the dragon attempted to force its way through the gap created by its nose.


    However, the number of approaching numbers is a number. After Fafnir had passed through 500 light arrows, the remaining several hundred light arrows rushed toward him. No matter what kind of machine dragon it is, if there is no physical space to avoid them, it will not be able to avoid them and will inevitably be hit by them. Robin, who had finished his calculations a moment before, popped the lid on the upper part of the control stick with his thumb and pushed in the exposed button.


    Immediately after that, the bullet hit the target. A roar hit my ears at the same time. The rain of light arrows struck Fafnir mercilessly, and the light blasts struck with destructive force. Moreover, the sound of the explosion is not limited to a single shot, but rings out as a sonorous soundtrack, and a thick fog is created by the shattering of the drizzle in the space.


    The last one, which had not participated in the formation of the barrage, shot out a ray of compressed magic power that had been accumulating until now. The well-aimed shot pierced into the center of the dense fog, and the explosion light shined as a proof that it hit the target inside.


    <>


    One of them fishes the enemy as a decoy, and four of them, with their backs unprotected, set up a barrage, and when the movement is sewn up, the last one fires the main attack.


    The fact that the decoys were destroyed in the blink of an eye was unexpected for the dragon swarm, but the coordinated technique, in which each of them fulfilled his or her role, successfully struck the armor-clad dragon.


    No matter how sturdy the armor is, a hail of light arrows and a blast of light is powerful enough to inflict a fatal wound. Even if we assume that they have better defenses than we do, there is no doubt that they have suffered tremendous damage. The fairy dragons are convinced of their victory in the general opinion that if they survive, they will only be able to finish them off with more blows.


    We cannot denigrate it as a naive judgment.


    After all, the fairy dragon, which has been completely revived with many sacrifices as its flesh and blood, has regained its full strength as it was in its legendary prime.


    And if anyone could defeat such a herd, he or she would be something like a demon king, and it is only natural that those who have come into this world would not fall under such a category.


    However, as the fairy dragon gazes out, a spherical mist disperses in all directions.


    It was an explosion caused by the pressure from within.


    Next, something flew out from the mass of fog.


    Flying through the sky, towing a cloud trail, is a flawless and immaculate machine dragon.


    >


    The fairy dragons were all blindsided, but Fafnir was not unprotected by the light arrows.


    The composite armor made of apoitacara has a strong defense, but a direct hit from the previous light shot would have left at least a scar on the surface.


    Therefore, the reason why Fafnir escaped without even a scar, literally completely unharmed, is not because of the thickness of the armor, but because of the defense mechanism that was activated on the spur of the moment.


    All-sky blocking area generation mechanism < - an all-surrounding defense device consisting of a breast armor resembling the tip of an assault spear and an engraving technique engraved on the top of the armor. The crest on its chest, which is supplied with magical power from the reactor core, glows, and a defensive field is deployed around Fafnir, blocking all the waterfalls of light that pour down upon it.


    Aikinskiardi boasts of its all-round defensive capabilities, but its deployment is only limited, and when it flew out towing a cloud trail, it had already disappeared.


    Fafnir, which consumes magic power just to move its body, cannot afford to deploy it all the time. Depending on how much magic is spent on attack and maneuvering, it can be used at most twice in this battle. The reduced output of the second reactor core was affecting them more than expected.


    "Well, it can''t be helped. Well, that''s the way it''s going to have to be.


    Robin says nonchalantly and turns the nose of the Fafnir to his next prey.


    Perhaps realizing that it was being targeted, the fairy dragon captured in the center of the main display turned itself around and flew away.


    However, it did not turn its back and flee.


    Its trajectory of running up toward the upper part of the display indicates that it is ready to stay in the combat airspace and continue the battle.


    Fairy Dragon, judging that it has no advantage in a linear maximum acceleration, intends to challenge a high-speed maneuver battle limited to a certain space.


    "-Nice. Very good. That''s what dragons do.


    Robin wet her lips with her tongue and slammed the thrust lever into it.


    The twin-winged flying machines roar and rage, their rear-facing thrusters scattering blades of white light.


    --Dogfight.


    The fairy dragon rushes to the sky, followed by the kiry��, which begins its rapid ascent.


    The Fairy Dragon quickly twisted its body and tried to escape from the view of the Koryu with a downward slanting trajectory.


    Robin quickly kicked the foot pedal and gave a flash boost. Instantly the right side of the light wing expands. Fafnir''s large diameter thruster on its right shoulder generates an instantaneous thrust. The left flank of the enemy is caught in the center of the field of view, and the distance is closed.


    The Fairy Dragon turns and rises again. Next, it accelerates as fast as it can, shaking itself up and down, left and right, to shake the enemy. The pursuing dragon, keeping the enemy''s shadow in the center of its field of vision, clings to it like a high-performance guided missile.


    The other fairy dragons are not standing idly by. Light blasts that block the pursuit strike Fafnir from the side, but each time Fafnir dodges them with an instantaneous burst of boost. The move to avoid them is an attempt to reduce unnecessary maneuvering as much as possible. Fafnir approaches even closer, using the two long trailing streaks of its twin wings as its wake.


    The fairy dragon, on the other hand, abandons its ascent in an evasive maneuver and turns down in an arc. It made a 180-degree loop on the vertical axis. The fairy dragon, which has shifted itself to descending, falls toward the nadir.


    No, it is not a fall but a flight. As a proof of this, the fairy dragon has imposed on itself a further increase in speed. It wanted to go faster than free fall. The reason is that the dragon has not yet swung out of the way, and it is still in a posture to pursue the individual...


    <>


    Here they come. I knew it. The fairy dragon sees the machine dragon approaching from above.


    The identity of the enemy is still unknown, but there is no doubt that it is a powerful foe. Their performance as an individual is probably better than ours. Its acceleration is superior to ours, and its mobility has just been shown to be better than ours. The fairy dragon judges that it has no chance to win, at least not in a one-on-one fight.


    But for some reason, the enemy was obsessed with his own individuality.


    It was with a firm determination to catch up with him and finish him off.


    As proof of this, even now, it does not fire even though it is on a straight trajectory and its defenseless back is exposed. As if wanting proof of their victory in mobility, the enemy is determined to keep the relative distance from them at zero.


    For reasons unknown, the fairy dragon sees a chance to win in this obsession.


    >


    Ahead of the fairy dragon flying toward the ground, there is a shadow rapidly approaching from below.


    It was another fairy dragon that had been standing by at those coordinates.


    It passed by the descending one at high speed, and rose directly above it. Then, it fired 50 excess light arrows at the dragon ahead of it as it passed by.


    The dragon suddenly formed a barrage of bullets in front of it, which it evaded by activating a series of flash boosts. The skill with which it avoided all the bullets of the near-surprise attack is astonishing, but the result was a useless maneuver, leaving a relative distance between it and the fairy dragon that was ahead of it.


    "--CH!"


    The dragon tries to make up the distance with additional acceleration.


    Its unhesitating behavior indicates that it is trying to catch up with the machine, not to finish it off from a distance.


    As the additional accelerator is ignited, the white light trailing its tail increases in number, and the relative distance that has been vacated begins to close again.


    Just as the ground is about to close in, the one ahead of the others suddenly opens its palate. In the center of its upper and lower jaws, which are full of sharp fangs, shines a green mass of magical power, as if it were sucking. A moment later, it was released directly downwards, resulting in a blast of light that pierced the ground.


    >


    A drizzle shatters with a roar. Clods of earth soaring directly above.


    An instant smokescreen formed by the combination of the above.


    After the penetration, the vision cleared somewhat, and the ground was right in front of our eyes.


    The fairy dragon ahead of us slowed down due to the recoil from the shooting and twisted itself forcibly under the boost of the heavy wind that was brought in with the help of its magical power. As a result, it succeeded in killing the momentum of its fall at an altitude just above the ground, and then moved into a horizontal flight.


    On the other hand, the following aircraft was obstructed by the obstructed view and was in the middle of additional acceleration. The acceleration toward the ground was overwhelming that of the fairy dragon in front, and in addition, there was no sign of deceleration.


    And when it was already passing the altitude at which the fairy dragon had begun to twist, there was no way that it could behave in the same way as the fairy dragon that had avoided crashing. Although the nose of the plane has already started to be triggered, the crash to the ground will come before the plane can fly horizontally. The following Fairy Dragon that prepares for the pursuit will, as a logical consequence of its decision, visualize the image of the Fairy Dragon that is setting itself down on the ground.


    --In fact, if this had been an aircraft, it would not have been able to cause the disaster in time and would have met a miserable end.


    But Fafnir is not an aircraft, but a dragon, a steel knight who wished to fly in the sky. Fafnir, which is in a high-speed cruising form, is propelling itself downwards, and just before it hits the ground, it activates its variable mechanism on command from the pilot.


    "----"


    At the same time, changes occur in the cockpit.


    As Fafnir''s form takes on a shape suitable for each situation, the way in which it is manipulated also takes on an optimal form.


    The change begins with the control stick held by the dwarf''s right hand. Extending from the middle of both thighs, it splits into two parts and joins with the side stick parts that rise up from the lower part of the sides of the seat, changing its shape into one grip on each side.


    Next, the back of the seat, which had been deeply slumped, rises up, shifting the posture of the pilot from a sitting position to a near standing position. The foot pedals that both feet had been pressing down on are retracted into a deeper position and disappear with the standing posture, and instead, numerous sensors decorate the legs of the dwarf.


    The result is a shoe-shaped maneuvering device, similar to a survival boot, which is a kind of tracing system that feeds back the pilot''s movements to the aircraft. Surrounded by numerous sensors, Robin smiles in the dimly lit cockpit and tells the dragon on the display


    The high-speed cruising form was added after the excavation. Fafnir''s original form is this one.


    The man-made dragon knight (Fafnir) has regained his knightly form.


    The boot-shaped maneuvering device, similar to a restraint, did not impede the wearer''s movements in the slightest, but converted the movement of the dwarf''s legs into the behavior of the aircraft.


    The movement of Robin''s leg in centimeters was reflected in the movement of Fafnir in meters, and as a result, the dragon-headed knight kicked the ground that he was about to collide with. The dragon-headed knight does not catch the impact head-on, but leaps forward in a forward leaning motion. A cluster of ultra-sensitive sensors, which even the latest technology of Alkimaira cannot create, detects even the slightest movement of the muscles, and adjusts the power output of the dragon knight''s legs to the optimum level.


    The contact with the ground, which would have been like a collision, was transformed into a forward thrust as the impact was diverted backward. The tough and fluid shifting weight, which is hard to believe that a mechanical body could have achieved, is the result of the "golem manipulation" skill that makes him the "Golem Master".


    By kicking off the ground two or three more times, the inertia generated from the momentum of his descent was completely converted into forward propulsion. With the fourth kick, Fafnir folds his legs again, and white light shoots out from the high-powered thrusters on the bottom of his feet.


    <>


    This caught the attention of the fairy dragon in front of them.


    While the Fairy Dragon had avoided crashing by using a powerful wind that expended a large amount of magical power, its pursuer, the Kairyu, had achieved the same result by physical movement.


    Fafnir, transforming himself into a knight, kicked the ground with agile movements, kept the power of speed under control, and added mechanical output to close in on the dragon.


    The fairy dragon ahead of the knight is not willing to be approached, but it is not fast enough to pull away from the knight.


    The difference in speed between the Fairy Dragon, which slowed down to avoid crashing to the ground, and Fafnir, which shifted to horizontal flight without slowing down, could be said to be fatal.


    In less than a few seconds, the relative distance between them approached zero, and Fafnir, who had finally come within a hair''s breadth of the dragon, raised his silvery white long gun.


    At the same time as the trigger was pressed down, a blade of lightning was produced from the muzzle of the silvery silver gun. This was the result of the Lightning Blade, a technique engraved on the magic bullet that generates a blade of lightning for a few seconds in time with the attack, a special magic for close combat.


    <, and the blade of this great sword of lightning is 30 meters long, with the handle of a long gun of silver and white itself. The blade of the sword''s extra-thickness caught the back of the fairy dragon, and the dragon''s corpse, split in half, crashed down, knocking down the trees.


    "Load the next round! Select warhead [Storm Edge] - Fire!"


    Unsatisfied with the defeat of the second body, Robin immediately made his next move.


    < at the sky and fired immediately.


    The wind attribute of the wide-range attack magic engraved on the warhead came into effect, and a barrage of huge wind blades rushed toward the group of fairy dragons.


    The targeted dragons quickly make evasive maneuvers, but their reactions are delayed.


    They were defeated by the acceleration, the barrage was broken through, they fell behind in maneuvering, and finally, they could not sort out the fact that the second individual was destroyed, creating noise in their thoughts.


    The two individuals escaped from the kill zone, but the other two were captured. The raging wind blades cut mercilessly through the fairies'' bodies, causing fresh blood to dance in the air. One of the dragons was damaged so badly that one of its wings was clipped off, although its power was attenuated by the shell.


    Seeing an opportunity, Fafnir rises up to the falling dragon, which is in a state of pyramidal rubbing. In the short time before the ascent, Robin operated the side stick of his right hand and selected a melee weapon on Fafnir''s right leg. He assigns the setting to the second sub-trigger.


    As soon as Fafnir approached the third prey, the armored plate on the back of his leg slid down, and a blade of light was generated from the gap between the plate and the prey. The dragon knight lightly pulls his right leg as a preliminary action, and tries to thrust the dagger-shaped blade of light...


    <>


    A banshee-like scream suddenly arose in the heavens.


    At the same time, eight magic circles shone majestically in the sky above.


    The eight green lights emitted from them intertwined with each other and formed an extremely thick pillar of light that shot up from the heavens to the sky below.


    Fafnir immediately maneuvers to evade. With a full-throttle flash-boost, he moves out of the line of fire. The pillar of light, unable to catch the enemy''s shadow, pierced the ground and formed a huge crater in a corner of the Sea of Trees. A massive explosion occurs, scattering crushed trees and clods of earth in a haphazard manner.


    "There you go, boss!"


    Robin pointed Fafnir''s main camera further up into the sky. There was a giant fairy dragon, even bigger than the others, which had struck a surprise attack with a large firepower.


    The seventh dragon, which had not participated in the dense formation, was 30% larger than the fully revived fairy dragon in its giant dragon state. The number of wings that light up with green light is also two more than the other individuals, with four pairs of eight wings.


    The basic form is the same as those of the other six, but a close examination of the enlarged image shows that the details of the shape are different. The most noticeable differences are the number of wings, the shape of the head, and the reproductive organs that push up the abdomen from the inside of the body.


    "According to Kammy, this is the mother of fairy dragons. Individual name: Fairy Mother Dragon.


    The database on the aircraft contains information on many enemies obtained from the Sixth Legion via Camilla. The identification of the individual was also the result of reconnaissance by the Sixth Legion.


    However, no combat has been confirmed for the Fairy Mother Dragons, including the attack on Oldwood. Therefore, there were many gray areas regarding its status, abilities, and threat level.


    However, judging from the blow he just received, it seems certain that he has the ability that sets him apart from other individuals. It is only because it was entrusted with a mission in exchange for the destruction of a great and venerable Elven nation. If the first blow strikes a defenseless enemy, even Fafnir will not be able to escape unscathed.


    The reason why the fairy mother dragon has not directly participated in the battle so far is probably because she has been focusing on commanding other individuals. According to the information that has been reported in advance, the elves of Noblewood are only exercising of the fairy mother dragons, and the fairy mother dragons are leading the other six.


    This may be ironic for Noblewood, but it is a much more rational system than having instructions sent from remote locations. The brilliant coordinated attack just now must have been possible because of the leadership of the fairy mother dragon.


    And the fact that the , which should have been evacuated to a safe area, directly joined the battle must have been based on the judgment that they would lose ground if the situation continued as it was. Or, it could be that they are angry at the downing of their own colt.


    Either way, it means that Noblewood''s strongest force, on which Noblewood has risked everything, has finally joined the fray.


    "But I''m sorry, but I can''t let you lose here. My role has always been to kill the strongest forces of the enemy (like you). I''m used to dealing with dragons, by the way.


    Robin, who looked at me through the display, said this without enthusiasm.


    His dark brown eyes sharpened, he tightened his grip and looked at the guardian dragon of the elves with a fearless attitude.


    --Robin Harnaldwerg, commander of the Seventh Legion.


    He is the son of a curious Halfling and a Dwarf of Engineering.


    He is the head of a group of craftsmen who were given the title of "Leg of Alkimaira" by Helian, the King of All Evil.


    He is the second most valued of the eight legionnaires, who tend to be appointed according to their performance as their number increases, and he is a boy commander who was given the title of "Legs of Alkimaira" by the King of All Evil, Helian. --


    "I gave the lion''s head to the lion''s head, though. I was the one who killed the Dragon Emperor (Nogard), who was the enemy at that time, not me.


    --He is a rare genius who had to be appointed as a corps commander even if he had to tolerate those devastating personalities.


    >


    The mother fairy dragon chirps and the dragon knights roar their hagane.


    The mechanical dragon knight scatters white light in accordance with the will of the driver to prove his mightiest.


    And below, fairy dragons and blue and silver dragon knights fly past each other.


    A new battle was about to begin on earth.


    + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +


    Noblewood hunters in green robes were making their way through the forest.


    Above them, a swarm of fairy dragons led by a fairy mother dragon was engaged in an aerial battle with the blue and silver Nanika. < and the "Unholy" woman disappeared, was beyond their comprehension, but the shouts of the Fairy Mother reminded them of their original purpose.


    The identity of the enemy remains unknown.


    However, they understood that all the people living in Oldwood and Noblewood, even the fairy dragon herd that had been completely revived at the cost of their lives, could not be victorious without sacrifices. --At the same time, they could not afford to worry about us as long as they were focused on the battle in the sky.


    It has already been several minutes since the battle began, and no other forces other than the Sogin Nanica have entered the battle. Perhaps the who defeated the advance party is playing a trump card. And since there is no sign of any other forces joining the battle even in this situation, we can be sure that he is the only one who helped the "defilement".


    That''s why the hunters, caught up in their vengeful spirit, are about to invade the empty capital to accomplish their original goal...


    "----"


    A rustling sound is heard, and you stop as quickly as you can. They saw a large number of armed figures at the top of a small hill that had been weaving its way through the trees. The hunters of the Noblewood are blinded by this strange sight.


    The group lacked any semblance of unity. They were a disparate group of different heights, s*xes, ages, and even races. It would be difficult to find a common denominator only at a glance, except for the fact that they were wearing white-colored clothes.


    Needless to say, the identity of the group is a heterogeneous mixed unit consisting of the 6th Legion, which was temporarily dispatched from Archimyra, and the 7th Legion, which was fully mobilized for the current war. ---- Not (????).


    In the current war, Alkimaira provided only one man, Robin Harnaldwerg.


    It was agreed in advance that he would not intervene in any other battles.


    Then, inevitably, under the watchful eyes of fairy dragons and silver dragon knights, the invaders who stand in front of the invaders who are about to invade the capital are...


    "All members of the LATESTWOOD Kingdom Warriors ----


    A clear voice suddenly arises.


    In response, a crowd of long staffs and staff swords are raised.


    A distorted group of half-elves and dwarves, beasts and dwarves, and several other races.


    At the head of this group is a girl.


    There she is, the queen, with determination in her green eyes.


    "This is our war, our battlefield. What is a nation, what is a warrior, if it is left to a grateful nation?"


    Yes, it is. That''s right, the warriors behind me light their hearts on fire.


    What is the reason why they chose the path of warriors from among many options after that day when they were deeply wounded?


    For what reason did they lie down and beg for instruction with the humiliation of not being able to protect what they should have protected?


    And for what reason did they return home without a single failure, despite the torturous training they were subjected to at the end of it all?


    --For this.


    "Conquer!��My Latestwood heroes--!"


    Under the command of the young queen, the surgeons chant and the warriors run.


    The foot that stepped out was full power from the beginning.

 71 - CHAPTER XIV "The Queen and the Warrior"

    >


    I would be lying if I said I was not anxious.


    Even though they helped us, we were in a land of demons. It is a land where all the people are demons, except for the king.


    Immediately after forming an alliance, it was not a matter of deepening our friendship, but rather a situation where we were both groping around, unsure of each other.


    >


    It was a fiction that I made up out of thin air.


    Although I proposed it to the ambassador with the Queen''s permission, I do not deny that I had a mindset of "what can go wrong, will go wrong.


    Surprisingly, however, things went smoothly.


    It seems that the other party was also struggling with the question of how to start an exchange between demons and humans, and under the grand theme of "living together for a certain period of time to bridge the gap in common sense and promote mutual understanding in preparation for a full-scale exchange between nations, which is expected to begin in the future," the training program in the other party''s country was started. I will spend a little more than a month at a facility.


    Again, I was anxious.


    Of course. How could I not? After all, we were dealing with a nation of monsters who love to fight. It makes no sense that demons form a nation in the first place, but considering their nature, it would not be surprising if they suddenly attacked us on the street.


    And if the person who attacked me was a giant or a demon, I could die from that alone, but I pushed those fears aside and entered his country. I wish I could have taken pride in my courage, but it would have been more like barbarism.


    But even so, there was only one reason why he made the pretense of inter-national exchange and visited the land of all demons, even though he knew it was an uninhabitable land.


    I want to be strong.


    I want to have the strength to fight.


    That was the only reason.


    The people of the demon kingdom are surprisingly gentlemanly, and the training was hell.


    And apparently, they are not unforgiving, but they know how to be forgiving.


    It was the first day that I was made aware that these people were from a different world with a different set of common sense and values than the demons.


    The days of hell continue.


    Not only the front line fighters like myself, but also the magicians in charge of logistical support were equally subjected to basic training.


    My childhood friend, a dwarf, who ran with his short arms and legs swinging as hard as he could, looked as if he were being tortured, but that did not lessen the intensity of the training. Everyone was desperate to survive one day at a time.


    However, they were quickly healed by drinking the mead provided by the assistant superintendent of the pavilion. Thanks to this, I am not even able to be depressed because of my physical limitation. Every day, everything but meals and sleep is allocated to training.


    But even so, none of us gave up.


    The instructors told us that we could quit if it was too hard, but we all shook our heads.


    After the actual battle training, it was becoming a daily scene that those who had fallen down uttered something akin to whining, such as <, but even in such a terminal situation, they never said <>, even if it was the only thing they were willing to say.


    What sustained the hearts of these warriors was the memory of the past days.


    In the midst of their modest but peaceful days, a sea of flames hit the capital city.


    Noblewood hunters and soldiers chased away the fleeing citizens.


    In the villages where they barely escaped, they were strangled with a cotton ball.


    And then--the young queen, rubbing her head against the ground, begging the travelers to <.


    <


    Someone said.


    Everyone thought so.


    At the very least, the power to call oneself a queen''s warrior.


    I''ll do whatever it takes to make that happen.


    That''s exactly what everyone here is thinking.


    That''s why.


    So this time...


    He, Felk, who has been appointed as the chief of warriors, has a firm resolve in his heart.


    + + +


    "----ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"


    He screams and charges forward.


    The quiver of sound that rushes from their throats is a battle cry that challenges the past.


    The warriors in their white robes rush out in unison, and the chief warrior (Felk) is the first to break away.


    He is overtaken by a volley of covering fire from a flurry of long staffs.


    Blades of wind, bullets of rock, arrows of flame, and balls of lightning - all of a low rank, but the sorcerers in the rearguard attack with a wide variety of attribute magic, landing on the group of green-clad warriors.


    However, the power of each shot is not so great. As expected, they are all blocked by the barriers deployed by the green-robed enemies. However, by making them devote their attention and actions to the deployment of the barriers, they were able to block the interceptive actions of magic and bow and arrow. The warriors in white did not slow down and closed in on them, taking advantage of the opening created by the check fire.


    FELK, who had been running in the lead, reached the enemy camp and drew his staff sword.


    "Shhh--!"


    He let out a sharp exhalation and flashed his staff sword full of magic power.


    The blow, delivered with the force of a gallop, was barely caught.


    On the other side of the blade, the man in green shaking the small sword he drew from his waist - Selwyn, the chief hunter''s agent, has his eyes on the other side of the blade.


    "How far ...... do we have to go to make a fool of ourselves?


    A low voice that seemed to emanate from the depths of the earth.


    There was a sense of danger, like a bomb on the verge of detonation.


    Selwyn shudders as his small swords clash with each other, his handsome face contorted in hatred.


    They stood dumbfounded, not because they were being waited on along the invasion route. They were shocked to find that the Noblewood hunters had been confronted by a bunch of men and women from LATESTWOOD. And after the irascible warning shot, the shock that has gone away is replaced by a feeling of rage.


    A small army of the lastswood is about to fight a Noblewood hunter who has been trained for more than a hundred years. Moreover, he does not even show any pretense of stalling for time, in other words, he tries to win the battle by his own strength without the help of a or anything like that.


    His insolence, his arrogance, his ignorance of his own size - he deserves to die.


    "Don''t you dare, you filth!


    Finally giving in to his exploding emotions, Selwyn swings his blade wildly.


    No matter how furious he may be inwardly, he is a true master of the art of swordsmanship.


    A downward thrust, a stab that flies in a straight line, a slash that flows in an overthrow, a slash that comes to hunt for the neck - it is the sharpness that befits the lineage of the chief hunter, and it attacks FELK mercilessly.


    "d*mn ......!"


    He received, ducked, handled, and played, barely escaping being hit by a bullet.


    There is no room for complacency. They are just desperate. If he blinked, he could have had his head chopped off at that moment.


    The blade arcs upward. Felk manages to catch it at the base of his sword, but his hand goes numb from the shock. He almost drops the sword from his hand, but he fights back with the dagger in his left hand, which he pulls out from his waist. It did not reach him. Selwyn''s small sword, which had somehow been switched to the opposite hand, blocked the thrust of the dagger.


    A follow-up attack comes. The next blow, however, is not with the blade, but with a kick from a short distance away. The ribs made a sickening sound when the blow hit them hard, and the air pushed out of their lungs became a bitter cry. Felk bit his back teeth to endure the pain, and pushed his almost lifted leg to the ground.


    Then came another blow. The third blow was a thrust from the hilt of a small sword held in the opposite hand.


    Felk ducked as he turned his head to avoid the blow to the jaw, one of the most vital points on the human body, but was immediately hit by a slice of the blade. With a flick of his wrist, he delivered a slash at close range. The blade drew a crescent moon as it approached him, and he made a quick decision to jump backwards.


    "--,!"


    The cost of surviving the lethal barrage of blows was the distance between the two sides.


    Selwyn held his free left palm straight out in front of him, opposite the hand that held the small sword.


    The converging magical energy sent a shiver down Felk''s spine.


    "Release the arrow of the gale!


    A formula assembled in an instant. It is an attack magic of the wind attribute that interrupts the attack and defense being exchanged at high speed and is manifested with abbreviated chanting.


    It is said that it is an extremely difficult task to formulate a magic formula in the middle of a melee battle. This is even more so when it comes to expression through abbreviated chanting, for which chanting assistance is also inadequate. However, the skill of the elves, who are said to be the most skilled in magic among the four major races of the continent, and even the Noblewood hunters, overcame these difficulties.


    A dagger shaped like a gale struck Feruc''s body, and fresh blood was spilled.


    "But, ah......!


    He twisted quickly, but he could not avoid it at such close range. He avoided being hit in the head and central torso, but his left shoulder was gouged out. A stain of vermilion spreads across his white robe.


    But before checking the damage, Felk closes the gap between him and the enemy.


    If he kept his distance from the enemy, he would receive a follow-up attack of magic. And if they exchange magic fire, they will surely be defeated. Although Felk was able to use magic to a certain extent among the warriors who specialized in close combat, he was not skilled enough to compete with Selwyn, the leader of the hunters.


    There was no other way but through close combat, and that is why he jumped into the bosom of his enemies without hesitation.


    And so, close combat again.


    Perhaps his pride was hurt by the fact that his attempt to make the killing blow, , was defeated, and Selwyn was beginning to look as if he were about to become an evil demon. FELK responded to the oncoming fierce blow with an anomalous dual sword style, using a staff sword and a dagger.


    "Ha, ha, ha ......!��Ha,ah--!"


    Gasping breaths. The disordered breathing caused a slight delay in his response, and a laceration appeared on his cheek.


    The blood splattered on the white coat makes a speckled pattern, but I don''t care. A follow-up attack comes soon. He aimed at the neck. He barely misses it and crosses the line of death for the first time.


    --It''s strong. Strong. The elves of Noblewood are arrogant puritans... but they are true champions of the Sea of Trees.


    And they are not afraid to call themselves a proud clan. Their murderous skills, trained with a single-minded determination to exact revenge on those who have left a stain on the history of Noblewood, are not for the faint of heart. They have abandoned their peaceful days and devoted themselves solely to vengeance, and the result of their obsession has been refined to an almost artistic level.


    But...


    "Not as good as Gob Jiro-dono ......!"


    The incoming sword blows are indeed deadly sharp, but they are not impossible to avoid. Even if you cannot avoid it, you can prevent it by matching your blades, as has been proven in the dozens of fights we have had so far. At least, it was not unreasonable to have your bones shattered by a single blow.


    The same is true of the enemy''s magic. If there is no chance to win in a battle of sorcery, and if the enemy can unleash his sorcery by making even the slightest gap between you and them, then you should continue to challenge them in close combat without giving them a chance to chant. If they are of the lineage of the chief hunter, they must be on the lookout for un-chanted magic, but it is possible to prevent it if they are not given enough time to weave their magic.


    Each of these is difficult, but by no means impossible. Only by doing so, you can fight. I can continue to fight as a warrior.


    --None of this would have been possible a month ago.


    "Ha, ha, ha, ah ---- ha, ha, ha ......!"


    We can fight. We can fight. We''re outnumbered, but we can fight. If we put our all into it, we can get close.


    We can fight the people we defeated that day.


    Against the enemy who took away what we wanted to protect.


    We, the Queen''s warriors, are able to face them head on!


    "Don''t get ...... carried away!"


    A small sword is slammed down with an angry voice. The heaviest slash flicks the dagger in his left hand, and the tip of it slices across his forehead. The blood spilled into Felk''s left eye, cutting his vision in half.


    A large blow was fired from Felk''s blind spot, which made him shiver. He knew instantly that Felk had lost his vision on the left side, and he was convinced that he had struck a blow with all his might. He sensed the thick presence of death, but could not cope with it.


    Thus, the deadly blade, filled with the magic power of the wind, was sucked into Felk''s defenseless neck...


    I won''t let you!


    A small man jumped out from behind and intervened.


    The small man in full armor sits down as if he were rooted to the ground and blocks the lethal slash with a large shield that is bigger than he is tall.


    He is a heavily-armed shieldman of the dwarves, with wild limbs disproportionate to his short stature. He is the eldest son of a man who was forced to flee his homeland because he was too clumsy with his hands and was thus disgraced as "no Dwarf at all.


    His father died three months ago in a single battle, serving as a shield for a fleeing princess and her citizens.


    "What!


    A blindingly aware Selwyn flanks him. From there, a kick is delivered by a beastly girl.


    The girl with the distinctive long ears sprouting from the top of her head is a kind of beastman called the Rabbit People, and she comes into this world as a twin sister.


    However, in the village where she was born, twins are regarded as an abomination, and her family, suffering persecution, visited LATESTWOOD in search of a safe place to live.


    During the journey, her father was killed by a magical beast. Her mother has already passed away, leaving her with only two surviving family members, an older sister and a younger sister.


    Surprisingly, she wore no protective gear of any kind. Even the speed-oriented Felk wears light armor, but not even that. This outfit, which abandoned even the minimum protection, was the result of her earnest pursuit of mobility.


    As soon as the girl is taken by surprise, she immediately moves away with her legs, which she boasts of, and busily moves her long ears on the top of her head to look for any sign of her surroundings. As soon as she spots another enemy distracted by the warrior in front of her, she disappears into the crowd, looking for a chance to surprise him.


    Her sister must be fighting somewhere in this battlefield just like her. She is dressed in a garb that could be fatal if she takes even a single bullet.


    "Felk!��Let me see the wound!��While you still can, quickly--!"


    As the Dwarven shieldman blocked Selwyn''s barrage of blows, Felk heard a voice behind him.


    It was his childhood friend, a dwarf born and raised in Rattestwood.


    Despite her race''s distinctive childish voice, she speaks sharply and quickly begins to weave a healing formula.


    The light of healing amplified by the short staff was used to stop the bleeding at a minimum and to join the broken bones. Trained by the gentle but strict saint, she stares at the ghastly wounds that would make a normal person involuntarily look away, observes the damage, and applies the most appropriate treatment.


    The severely injured left shoulder is far from completely healed, but it is enough as a stopgap measure.


    "----"


    Felk looked at him silently, and his childhood friend, a dwarf, nodded his head and began looking for the next injured person.


    According to their common sense, healers are supposed to stay in the safe zone away from the front line, in the relief station, and treat the wounded who are brought in. However, there is no time for such a leisurely approach in this situation. The dwarf woman shakes her short arms and legs and runs to those who need her help.


    --Such a scene was unfolding all over the battlefield.


    Centered around a half-elf light warrior wearing the same armor as Feruc, vanguard groups of dwarves and beastmen joined in from time to time to provide support, forming a front line with only a small advantage in numbers and the power of coordination.


    Needless to say, everyone is desperate. No one here can afford to be complacent. It is a situation in which they are exerting all their strength without thinking of the future, exerting all their deadly power, and somehow making up the gap in their abilities. The war situation continues to be perilous, as if we are dancing on thin ice.


    But it is too late for that.


    We have been living in a hellish environment for the past month.


    I am used to fighting against an enemy I cannot beat. We know how to overcome the unreasonable. We have certainly learned it from those who treated us as , even though we were weak.


    So this is just business as usual, he thought, as he looked into the eyes of his enemies with the eyes of a warrior...


    "O--aaaah!"


    He shimmers and shimmers.


    There is no hesitation in his steps.


    This time, Feruc has once again thrown himself into the blood-spattered front line to fulfill his true duty as a warrior.


    + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +


    A high ground with a good view away from the battlefield.


    Surrounded by priests and elders, the Great Elder''s voice trembled with anger.


    "Why, ...... why can''t we win!


    The question is intended to describe the unrealistic war situation as seen through the vision of a special soldier.


    The Fairy Mother Dragon, which was revived just a few days ago, had originally been sealed in a perfect state, or perhaps it had been sealed in a perfect state, but it had amassed full strength immediately after its release. However, the other six fairy dragons, like the previously unleashed ones, were severely starved and needed to eat a large number of elves in order to be fully revived.


    The people of Oldwood alone could not supply the six dragons, let alone just one. Therefore, Noblewood also sacrificed all of its people to the dragon except for the council of elders, the priests necessary to maintain command of the dragon, and the minimum amount of white soldiers.


    As a result, the remaining white soldiers are only a few who have earned the title of as outstanding soldiers, and the total number of them is not large. Compared to the RATESTWOOD warriors, whose numbers were reduced during the last war, they are at an undeniable disadvantage in terms of numbers.


    But even so, those who have trained themselves to the point of earning the title of <> should be able to overcome the numerical disadvantage of two or three men and hunt for the heads of the enemy.


    In other countries, however, the title of hunter in Noblewood does not come cheap.


    Elves, being a long-lived species, have always been a select few, but a hunter in Noblewood can easily outnumber the average adventurer.


    But what is the reality?


    The great magic he excels at is blocked in close combat, and even in close combat, he is forced to fight in close quarters. A flash of lightning that should have leapt off a head is limited to less than a mortal wound, and that wound is healed by the hands of the healers who are recklessly running around the front lines.


    If the healers with low fighting ability are targeted, they are blocked and out of reach by the beastmen and dwarves with their large shields, who strike out of nowhere. And the enemy soldiers who have completed a minimum amount of medical treatment will rise up again and again like immortals and return to the battle line.


    It is like a single beast.


    Such a way of fighting is not the one of elves who make use of their superior individual abilities.


    Nor is it the way of those who rely only on their numbers.


    They complement each other and fight as if they were a single group of creatures, something more fearless.


    "You''re up against dirt. ......!��We may have lost our best in the advance party, but even if we are hunters, even if we are the Elves of Noblewood in glory!��And you can''t even beat a hodgepodge of factions!��Our soldiers, who have reached the level of hunters, are no better than the "Unsullied"!"


    The Grand Elder blushes and rants, but his words are somewhat erroneous.


    Although they seem to be struggling at first glance, the hunters of Noblewood are not being pushed around. They are in a competitive situation. It is just that the warriors of LATESTWOOD are fighting with all their might, ignoring the distribution of the pace, and the battle is finally being balanced.


    But for the Grand Elder, this alone was enough to cause his indignation. In the first place, the "filth" deserved to be swept away at the drop of a hat. Defeat or even a hard fight is out of the question. The fact that we are still fighting against such an opponent is more than enough to make it an unbearable humiliation.


    With every second that passes, the history of Noblewood is being stained.


    In a battle that was supposed to purge the stain of a hundred years and two months ago, more stains were seeping in.


    The Elder scratched his head as if he had aged several decades in the past few minutes, and the blood that had gushed from his scalp stained his golden hair vermilion.


    I was at my limit. He had reached the limit of everything. The Elder, his eyes clouded with madness, finally looked up to the heavens, his bloodstained fingertips shivering.


    Then he cries out to the cloudy sky where dragons are dancing.


    Mother Fairy, Guardian Dragon, Mother of the Elves!��Wipe out the filth!��--All of us (??????)!


    The words were uttered with a face contorted into a rage.


    When the people around them heard this impossible order, they all peeled their eyes and rushed to the Grand Elder.


    The priests and elders shouted frantic admonishments, but even their screams could not reach him. The Elder''s eyes no longer reflected them. Mother Fairy Dragon, in accordance with her pact, begins her ascent to fulfill the Elder''s command.


    The Elder, with his eyes flashing with madness, waits with a martyr''s heart.


    He waits for the light of destruction that will erase this impossible reality, that will bring everything to nothing.

 72 - CHAPTER XV -- "Beware of the Dawn"

    While fierce battles were being waged on the ground, the battle in the sky was also about to enter a new phase.


    Four pairs of eight-winged mother dragons soar through the sky with ease. They are followed by ordinary individual fairy dragons. Around the swarm formed by one mother and four cubs, there is a spherical membrane made of greenish-green light.


    It is a constantly deployable barrier shell formed by the fairy mother dragon.


    However, both the strength and the range of its effect cannot be compared to those formed by the hatchlings of the fairy dragons. Before it was sealed, when there were still many high elves in the world, the fairy mother dragon, which had obtained a large amount of nourishment, used its abundant magical power to establish a kind of domain.


    Robin tried to test it out by firing a shot with his , but...


    "--The power is reduced. Even if you hit it, it''s still far from a mortal wound."


    The released spear of purple electricity was thinned in the process of penetrating the large green barrier, and its power was greatly attenuated by the multiple barriers that were deployed inside at the timing of the impact. Even though the amplification of the power of the is also reduced to the lowest level to save energy, the attenuation rate is still quite high.


    Although the spear hit the body of the fairy mother dragon to some extent, it ended up only gouging out a part of its flesh, and the damaged part began to regenerate in a bubbling, bubbling manner.


    It seems that it has a self-healing ability (regeneration) superior to that of pups, and will probably fully recover in less than a hundred seconds.


    In short, if Fafnir wants to end the battle with a single blow as it is now, he has no choice but to finish it off in close combat or use .


    However, in the course of the battle up to this point, the remaining amount of stored magic was running low.


    If he uses , and then he has to deal with the rest of the cubs, he would be limited to one shot remaining.


    "......mm"


    Robin finished sorting out the situation and saw a counterattack from the dragon herd coming through the main display.


    However, the attack did not seem to have any intention to finish off the enemy.


    Numbers are better than quality. Continuity over certainty. The intention of the constant fire, fired from a fixed distance, is to...


    "Endurance warfare posture."


    Fafnir is glued to the battle in the sky, so that he will not be distracted by the battle on the ground. This may be the meaning, but the main purpose is to challenge him to a battle of physical strength.


    Having devoured the lives of two nations, he must be confident of his magical power. The group of pups protected by their mother continues to shoot without worrying about the consumption of magic power, and many streaks of green light run through the cloudy sky filled with drizzling rain.


    "......I''m sorry, but I''m starving. I can''t just sit back and let you guys play with me.


    Fafnir, which had been positioned at a high altitude, sinks down and begins to approach, converting its potential energy into thrust. And while dodging the harassing barrage of bullets - more than lethal enough for hunters and warriors on the ground - Robin adjusts his frame through the magic lines extending from the fingertips of his hands and feet. He set to work.


    The thrusters for attitude control were closed, as if to spare even the smallest amount of magic power. The fine orbital adjustment is decided to be covered by the behavior of the limbs and the weight shift (shift weight), and the output of some of the sub-thrusters is reduced.


    He then switches the output control of the radiator, which is marked with the <> technique, from automatic to manual. The magic lines extending from the ring and little toes of his right foot are used for the adjustment, and he begins to calculate the optimum values according to his maneuvers with parallel thinking. There is no need to use the <> technique to strengthen the armor. Applying the "if it doesn''t hit, it''s good" theory, the supply of magical power is cut off entirely. The surplus power is used for firepower.


    Other functions, large and small, are removed as much as possible, and the reduced performance is compensated for by the pilot''s own piloting skills. The calculations necessary to control the aircraft are performed by the company''s own brain. As soon as Robin finishes making adjustments, he kicks in the foot pedal, and the hungry dragon knight responds.


    <>


    The opposing herd of fairy dragons continued to return fire while maintaining a certain distance.


    It seemed as if they were not in a hurry to settle the matter, mixing some of the main targets in their checking fire.


    Fafnir dodged through the barrage of bullets and showed a maneuver to hold the nose of the herd.


    The fairy mother dragon sensed this and changed its trajectory to keep its distance.


    As if to go around its path, Fafnir spurts out its thrusters and accelerates rapidly.


    The Fairy Mother Dragon changes its trajectory again.


    The two sides continue to play a weasel-like game, but the relative distance between the two does not seem to be getting shorter. In the meantime, Fafnir continues to be exposed to the constant fire that is being unleashed on it. To the casual observer, it appeared as if they were being tossed about unilaterally, and the severe war situation continued.


    However, perhaps the direct participation of the fairy mother dragons in the battle had reduced their commanding ability, and their movements as a group were somewhat erratic. Whenever the fairy mother dragons made evasive maneuvers, there was a delay in the movements of the pups following them. This delay accumulated little by little but steadily with each evasive maneuver.


    Then, after shaking the enemy group with his dozens of high maneuvers, Fafnir suddenly raised the long gun in his left hand. The trigger is pulled at the same time as the sight, and a spear of purple electricity is released from the muzzle of <>.


    <>


    The spear of Shiden broke through the skinny but thick barrier shell and pierced the nose of the last fairy dragon, which was beginning to lag behind.


    It did not hit it.


    However, the tail end of the dragon was completely out of the effect range of the large protective shell, because of the sudden braking by the blow that grazed the tip of its nose.


    Robin mercilessly points the muzzle of his silver long gun (gandarvu) at the one that has lost its mother''s protection.


    There is no way that the defenseless fairy dragon can withstand the bombardment that damaged the fairy mother dragon beyond the protection of the great shell and multiple barriers.


    The fairy dragon mother, realizing the danger to her cubs, hurriedly turned around and tried to take it under her protection again...


    "--Oh, I knew you would."


    A well-aimed blow rushed out.


    It was not a silver gun that roared, but a black iron gun.


    The gun sacrificed armor and mobility to gather magical power, securing 30 percent of its output. The gunfire was fired with perfect aim, as a deviation fire that anticipated the movement of the enemy machine (MOTHER).


    A tremendous torrent of magical power transformed into a pillar of light and surged through the cloudy sky.


    "----!"


    The next moment, however, Robin was blindsided by the sight through the display.


    Another fairy dragon intervened in front of the thick pillar of light that was about to pierce the fairy mother dragon.


    The dragon deployed a barrier with the force of burning up even its own magical elements, and caught the torrent of magical power head-on.


    The dragon knight''s main cannon, , pierced the dragon with the barrier itself, but its body caused a slight delay in the countdown until the shot landed. The pillar of light that would normally have pierced through the heart of the fairy dragon only ripped off four of its wings, and did not reach a fatal wound.


    The fairy dragon used its body as a shield and managed to survive the killing blow.


    >


    Soon after, another fairy dragon immediately fired a counterattack. A glowing green light shot struck Fafnir, who had stopped moving because of the bombardment.


    Fafnir immediately pointed the muzzle of his and pulled the trigger. However, what was released from the muzzle of the gun was not an attack technique to intercept. The name of the formula engraved on the bullet was <>, a defensive magic of the wind attribute.


    Eltina, the leader of the Third Army, is a specialist in healing and defensive magic. The defensive magic she wove herself manifested itself, transforming into a giant wall of wind that blocked the light blasts.


    >


    But the enemy''s counterattack does not stop there. < loses its effect, countless light arrows break through the smoke screen created by the exploding drizzle to reveal themselves. It was a counterattack from the fairy mother dragon that had lost its cub.


    Green-green light arrows surrounded them in all directions.


    It is impossible to avoid all the bullets from the current situation.


    Robin made a decision in less than a moment''s thinking time and instantly deployed the all-sky blocking area (Akinskiardi).


    The defensive field centered on Fafnir blocks the oncoming hail of bullets, and the team manages to get out of the inevitable situation unscathed.


    --However, the cost was not light.


    "The second reactor core has been completely shut down. First reactor core switching to emergency power. Aurvang and Akinskiardi are disabled. About 60 seconds until Fafnir''s activity limit.


    It looks like it is on the verge of completely running out of gas.


    < and --two pieces of equipment that consume enormous amounts of magical power--has brought Fafnir''s magical energy reserves to the verge of depletion.


    The basic output of the first core is increased in order to cover the cost of the second core that has been shut down, but the amount of magic stones consumed increases dramatically as a result. The remaining time until the limit of activity will be rapidly depleted if they perform maneuvers that consume high magic power such as instantaneous acceleration mechanism (flash boost).


    If they had been able to finish off the fairy mother dragon during the current attack and defense, they would have had a good chance to win the battle, but it is nearly impossible to recover from this situation. It was obvious that Fafnir would run out of power before shooting down the fairy mother dragon and the three fairy dragons. It would be difficult for Fafnir to even return to the large box, let alone fend off the enemy''s pursuit.


    "Until now,or ......"


    Robin calmly analyzed the situation and muttered in frustration in the dimly lit cockpit.


    His voice carried an undertone of resignation.


    Then, with a resigned "It can''t be helped," Robin removed his right hand from the control stick, touched the sword belt around his waist, and touched the hilt of the jet-black sword attached to it.


    "-As of this moment, the verification experiment is over. We will now move on to normal combat."


    If there had been a third party present, they would have peeled their eyes away equally.


    The words spoken in the cockpit were so outlandish and so out of bounds.


    The words uttered by the dragon''s driver, the dwarf.


    If we interpret them literally, they are nothing more than a declaration that the past offensives were only and not .


    And if that is the case, then what begins here is not an experiment but a battle, and what is brought to the hungry blue and silver dragon is a battle.


    "Magic sword activated. Connections to first and second reactor cores initiated. ---- howl, Fafnir."


    Moment. A shrill roar arose from the dragon knight''s heart.


    The two furnace cores in his chest roared violently, filling every inch of his body with a high concentration of magical power. The armor, which had been cut off from the supply of magic power, regained its original solidity, and the thrusters, which had been closed, opened their mouths.


    The long gun of black iron (Ahlwang) is no exception.


    The magical charge rate of the main gun, which was displayed on one of the sub-displays, easily exceeded the number of 30, which had been obtained at the expense of armor and mobility, and the number was increasing toward the highest value.


    Naturally, <> is not a function that was originally provided in this structure.


    The relics that were excavated from ancient ruins before they were given the name Fafnir were constructed by science, although there were many lost technologies, and they were not equipped with a magical function that could instantly revive the reactor core when it ran out of fuel.


    Therefore, the secret of how the starving Fafnir instantly came back to life was in the jet-black magic sword that Robin had just activated.


    --The secret "Awaken the Legacy of Dyne (Dyne''s Slave)".


    It is a secret of the equipment generation type, which equips the person who invokes it with a single magic sword.


    The time limit of appearance - the time that the sword can be kept as equipment - differs depending on the secrets, but "Awaken Dine''s Legacy (Dineslave) It is relatively long, twenty-four hours.


    And the special ability of this sword is to connect the invoker to the fountain of the World Tree--in other words, .


    At first glance, this seems to be a very useful effect for sorcerers and other rear-guard staffs who work with magic.


    For those who are trying to make ends meet with their savings (MP), which are not enough compared to their consumption, this is something they wish to obtain at any cost.


    In fact, at the time this secret was discovered in Tactics Chronicle, almost all the players were eager to get their hands on it.


    But the reality is different.


    The cursed Dwarven Sword (Dineslave) is an equipment of the weapon slot, and it recognizes nothing but itself.


    It consumes all the available weapon slots by itself.


    No other weapons, not even shields, let alone sub-weapons such as daggers, are allowed, and weapons other than the Dineslave are equally repulsive and unusable until the activation is complete.


    And of course, the weapon category of the Dineslave is the sword. It is not a weapon for the rear guard such as a staff, a magic book, or a holy bell that amplifies the power of magic.


    Therefore, the output of the invoked magic is not benefited by the weapon, but is left as it is, and the skills trained by the rear guard, which often specify a special weapon as a condition for use, are all rendered unusable. In addition, the Dineslave itself does not have any status correction related to the rear guard.


    It is useless. Everyone thought so.


    No matter how much infinite supply of magic power is obtained, it is meaningless if the output of the magic to be invoked is reduced to nothing. Even if you have a lighter that never runs out of fuel, there is no way you can beat a flamethrower in a firepower comparison. The result is literally clearer than fire.


    However, what will happen if you combine this misguided secret with a defective weapon that eats magic power?


    --The answer is .


    "Magic refilled. Aurvang, set output at 70 percent.


    As far as I was concerned, an untargeted shell was fired as a test shot.


    The killing blow that was fired in the attack and defense just now, however, must be called meager compared to the extreme light of this gun. The large-diameter pillar of light, which exceeded Fafnir''s total length, ate through the shell like a piece of paper, vaporizing the tail of the fairy mother dragon in an instant.


    The disadvantage of not being able to equip other weapons is irrelevant.


    Fafnir is a kind of golem, not a weapon.


    Robin himself is equipped only with the Dineslave, and the weapon Fafnir holds in his hand only uses the dedicated equipment slot for the golem.


    Thus, the dragon knight, having paid the price for the magic sword, takes unlimited magical power into his body and unleashes it to its fullest.


    >


    Robin shifted the ship into a high speed cruising form again and opened the throttle to full throttle for the crowd of dismayed fairy dragons.


    There is no need to worry about the consumption of magic power. The standard output of the body was also switched from <> to <> when the magic sword was activated. The dragon, having shaken off the restrictions, soars with comet-like swiftness, trailing its tail of white light.


    The opposing pack of fairy dragons immediately turned their backs and tried to keep their distance. But to no avail. Unlike the previous days, when mobility was sacrificed, Fafnir has taken the whole yoke off. The ruthless thrust ratio quickly closed the distance between the two.


    An intercept shot is fired from the fairy mother dragon protecting her cub. Fafnir, on the other hand, evaded it with a flash boost by firing its large-caliber thrusters on its left shoulder. Fafnir dodged a barrage of light arrows that followed by continuously activating Flash Boost, and drew a sharp trajectory that could not have been possible with an aircraft to close the gap between them.


    At the middle distance, Fafnir returns to his knightly form and draws his right hand, still clutching the black-iron gun, around his left shoulder. His stance, facing forward, could be likened to that of a commander about to give an order.


    He has already recharged his magic power. After confirming the convergence rate on the sub-display, Robin squeezes the trigger without hesitation. And he does not release it. The black iron long gun is set to continuous irradiation mode, and the beam of light emitted from the muzzle of the gun is an image of...


    "The light sword of the master engineer, Mr. Merzel, the best slashing weapon of his time - the light sword of the Aurvang."


    The excessively converged condensed light turns into a blade, and a large sword with a blade length of over 500 meters is revealed, with a black iron long gun as its hilt.


    Then, when he reaves his right hand, which is drawn to his left shoulder, it turns into a random, massive slash.


    The slash, which looks like a bunch of starlight, catches the body of the fairy dragon through the large shell, and melts the toughest part of its body like butter.


    >


    The dragon herd let out a bewildered neigh as their companions were quickly brought down. The fairy dragons, having been informed that their great shells were meaningless, disperse in accordance with their mother''s command. Fafnir, with his light sword in his hand, aimed at one of them and flew like an arrow.


    The dragon knight does not care about the light arrows that strike him from the side, not to mention from the one ahead of him.


    The Aikinskiardi had already been activated in its always-deployed mode.


    There is no room for an attack that takes advantage of the gap for redeployment.


    Fafnir does not even show any evasive maneuver, but pursues the target in a straight trajectory amidst the barrage of bullets raining down.


    Within a few seconds, Fafnir caught up with Fafnir''s back, and with five consecutive activation of Flash Boost, he carved out a trajectory like a lightning bolt and went around in front of the fairy dragon ahead of him.


    In less than a moment, the eyes of the dragon and those of the dwarf meet through the display.


    A silvery-white muzzle is pointed at the dragon''s eyes, which are filled with fear.


    The sword, shield, and cannon of the <> blows fire, and a blast of flame from zero distance blows off the upper half of the fairy dragon.


    "Fifth plane down. --Now, let''s finish up.


    Counting his kills nonchalantly, Robin stared at the multidimensional radar displayed in a corner of the main display.


    There are two enemy aircraft remaining. Only one cub and the fairy mother dragon remain.


    In order to win the battle at once, Robin reversed Fafnir''s body and faced the two rejoined dragons.


    >


    But then.


    Suddenly something happened to the fairy mother dragon.


    The slight glimmer of reason in her eyes disappeared, and she bit down on the body of the cub by her side.


    The fairy dragon, which had been pierced by the sharp teeth without mercy, screamed in anguish with a startled look in its eyes.


    However, as soon as the mother fairy bites through the flesh of the body with her powerful jaws, she forcefully gouges out the fairy''s heart.


    The dead fairy dragon falls toward the ground, and the fairy mother dragon, having swallowed the cub''s heart whole, begins its ascent to the sky.


    "......That''s tactless. You intervene in a duel and then turn him into a complete puppet.


    Convinced of the cause of the murder, Robin looked down at the Grand Elder, who was magnified in the right corner of the main display, and said, "I''m sorry, I''m sorry.


    What''s more, your orders are too far off the mark. What is he going to do by abandoning the only advantage he has in numbers against an opponent who is separated from him only by individual performance? Robin felt an unexpected feeling of pity for his enemy, who had no choice but to follow his orders like a child throwing a temper tantrum.


    While he watches the action without intervening out of pity, the fairy mother dragon that has eaten the heart of my cub breaks through the cloudy sky and exposes herself to the brilliant sunlight. And as soon as its palate opens wide, it begins to produce a mass of magical power.


    It seems to be a higher version of the fairy dragon''s "tame" blow, but the amount of magic contained in it is incomparably huge. Not only the magical power obtained from the heart swallowed whole, but also the minimum amount of magical elements necessary to maintain its existence, not to mention the physical strength to sustain itself after the battle, are being expended to compress the magical power.


    A fairy mother dragon that simply does as it is commanded, even at the risk of self-destruction. This is no longer the way of a life with a will.


    "Ah, I see. So this wasn''t originally a duel between a dragon and a dragon knight, but between puppeteers."


    Ironic, isn''t it?" Robin mutters with a cold expression.


    The dragon has a body of flesh, but it is even more mechanical than Fafnir, who is made of metal.


    "......, then this is my way of showing you something. I will meet your last attack head on.


    With these words, Robin moved Fafnir to a position directly below the fairy mother dragon that stood high in the sky.


    Then he pressed the master arm switch on the control stick, a button hidden beneath it.


    In response, the mechanical dragon knight begins


    "Fafnir, shift to dragon strike form. Start bombardment sequence."


    A declaration similar to a prayer. With this announcement, the long gun of silver began to transform before the main body.


    As soon as the long gun ejects all of the loaded magic bullets, it breaks in two, leaving its long barrel. The barrel of the gun, which was facing downwards, opposite to the open chamber of the classic break-action pistol, served as a pseudo-gun grip, and Farniel''s left hand, held at an angle, clenched it.


    "Chest armor open, twin guns connected. Forced excitation of the first and second cores."


    A black iron muzzle is then inserted into the opened chamber. The silvery-white barrel of the gun met the tip of the gun with a heavy connecting sound, and the right hand, drawn as if by a bow, secured the jet-black grip of the gun.


    The black-and-white cannon in one piece.


    The energy pipe extending from there is connected to the core body hidden behind the multiple armors, and the magic sword through the heart fills it with enormous magical power.


    "Generate gravitational lens, fix the body to the current coordinates."


    Fafnir, with the left half of his body in front of him and held at an angle, looked up to the heavens and set the current coordinates as his firing position. The gravity lens, which twists even light due to its high power, fixes the dragon knight''s body as if it were nailed to a nail.


    "Gun barrel textures are deployed, and the temporary gun barrel is formed. Magic compression rate has exceeded the Type 3 default. Maintain critical state of both core."


    The magic sword trembles. Magic fills the air. The torrent of magical elements, so dense that it was almost drowning, was now filling every corner of the body with a magical radiance.


    And the changes do not stop there. The mass of magical power, condensed to the point of becoming semi-material, enveloped the black and white cannon, forming the first extended barrel. It aimed at the dragon in the sky, as if it were a huge tower challenging the heavens.


    "All processes are complete. Three, two, one, one..."


    The word "zero" vanished before the immense light.


    It was a mechanical dragon knight, a collection of hagane and techniques that created its body, and it was not the palate but only the muzzle that emitted the light. But since it has the attribute of a dragon, the light of tyranny that was released should be called as such.


    --Dragon breath.


    At the same time, a comet light is shot down from the heavens above. The ultimate blow that consumed the life of the fairy mother dragon was, indeed, of mythical power. However, the comet light was drowned out by the glow of the light that surged up through Sora, and the fairy mother dragon, the shooter, was also swallowed up by the light of inevitable destruction, like the night sky.


    There was nothing left behind.


    Only the sound of the dragon knight''s forced cooling exhaust signaled the end of the battle.


    + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +


    Green light falling from the heavens and blue light piercing the sky illuminated the battlefield.


    The glow lasted only a few seconds.


    The battlefield, which had been covered by a cloudy sky, soon regained its original darkness.


    However, there was a clear difference before and after the light was generated.


    It is the presence of a dragon soaring in the sky.


    The guardian dragon that should have been there a moment ago is no longer there, but only a silvery blue dragon knight that is vigorously discharging excess heat.


    There is only one truth to be drawn.


    "The Fairy Mother Dragon (Mother) is ...... dead?"


    Someone in a green coat mutters in a daze. This thought is shared by all the hunters.


    A dragon knight with more power than a fairy dragon. The warriors of Rattestwood who were on a par with them. And the disappearance of the fairy mother dragon that we have just witnessed - one unreal thing after another strikes at the spirit of the hunters.


    And the young queen was not so naive as to let the opportunity pass her by.


    Now is the time!��All vanguards, go on the offensive--!"


    The warriors in the queen''s service responded immediately to the sharp voice on their backs.


    Ferk, the leader of the warriors, took the first step forward and struck his staff sword with a bloodied hand.


    The Acting Chief Hunter (Selwyn), who had come to his senses just in time, caught the flash of the sword with the instincts of a good hunter, but the tip of the sword sliced slightly across his cheek. A small scar is etched on his fair face.


    "How dare you ...... "filth"!


    Selwyn''s agitation was replaced by rage, and he unleashed a furious sword attack.


    Feruc ducked and dodged each blow, and took the flashes he couldn''t handle with his body, avoiding mortal wounds. If he had stepped back, he could have barely survived the attack, but he was unwilling to retreat, so he decided to keep moving forward.


    Apart from such reasons as the possibility of magic flying at him if he left the gap, or the fact that he could not retreat at this opportune moment as a warrior leader, he had a firm determination not to retreat. Pushed by something that I should call an impulse welling up from within him, FELK moves forward with a spray of blood.


    And as he wields his sword, the only thing that comes out of his mouth is...


    "--re, not ......!"


    "...... what?"


    With wrinkles furrowing his brow and a desperate look on his face, Felk steps in.


    Selwyn, on the other hand, utters a questioning voice.


    He swung his blade and took another step forward.


    "Don''t ......, don''t ......!"


    I''ve always wanted to tell him.


    I have felt ashamed every time I have been called such a thing.


    But I have not had the strength to say it out loud, so I have had to endure it.


    That''s why, now, the long-held feelings that have been welling up in my heart are released in the form of words...


    "We are not - we are not "dirt"!


    My name is .


    I am a fourth generation half-elf born to half-elf parents.


    I am a proud citizen of Rattlestwood, given the title of Warrior-Chief by the young Queen.


    "Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ----!


    With a gushing roar, he delivers a full-throated blow.


    The slash, a punching blow with no skill whatsoever, was taken as a matter of course.


    However, the blow triggered a barrage of blows, and the overflowing emotion of the blow slammed into Selwyn, creating a pressure that even the chief hunter was unable to withstand.


    "GGG......!"


    With a grunt, Selwyn fell backward on his feet.


    Although he retreated, it was only a few steps.


    It is a distance that can be closed in a blink of an eye.


    But those few steps were a sure sign that Felk''s attack had surpassed Selwyn''s for the first time.


    "............!"


    There are no more words.


    Selwyn, who had been repeatedly humiliated to the point of almost dying of rage, was about to launch a counterattack when, in the next instant, he was blinded by the spectacle in front of him.


    "......What?


    Felk smirked as he slammed his staff sword down and jumped back from the spot. It was no time to pause. He backsteps several times while facing forward, and moves away to a clear distance.


    And it was not just the actions of Felk alone.


    As if in response to his movement, the other warriors also delivered a thrusting blow and began to retreat at once.


    The sight of this caused a slight stir among the hunters.


    The enemy soldiers, who had always favored advancing, were caught off-guard by this first display of behavior, and their pursuit slowed to a crawl.


    You can hardly call it carelessness. As proof of this, the hunters, still reeling from the defeat of the fairy mother dragon, judged that there was something alarming in the enemy''s movements, and kept their eyes on the enemy soldiers who were moving away from them.


    And that is why, because they were watching the enemy''s every move, the hunters were late in noticing .


    The warriors of RATESTWOOD jumped back, keeping their eyes fixed on the hunters. --In the background is a group of long staffs raised high in the air.


    "What the ----?


    By the time I realized it, it was too late.


    The endless chanting that had been going on since the first shot was fired at the beginning of the war was finally being completed.


    Within the sight of the hunters'' peeling eyes, the magical power contained in the long staffs had reached a critical point...


    "All mages, release ----!


    Under the Queen''s command, a mass chanting grand magic is performed.


    Igus Valuatiga!


    Believing in the vanguard troops, the sorcerers continued chanting, unprotected. Their chants were released as powerful words, and the magic power that had been raised to the utmost limit was transformed into a great flower of explosive flames.


    What was manifested was a great magic that surpassed even the higher level magic, and was called the highest level of magic.


    The lack of magic power and skill was made up for by the group, and it was released with perfect chanting, spreading destruction over a wide area and attacking the Noblewood hunters without any mercy at all.


    Normally, if I had prefaced this with the word "normally," the barriers would have been deployed in time. However, the vigilance of the vanguard against those who could resist them deprived the hunters of the time and energy to do so. Some barely managed to deploy their barriers in time, but they were all destroyed by the great magic that they put everything they had into a single blow.


    And that is not the only magic that manifested itself. As a follow-up, they unleashed a barrage of magic of every attribute except light and dark. The hunters, driven to a state of destruction by the great magic, had no way of surviving the barrage of bullets that surged toward them like a wave, and the continuous barrage engulfed every last one of them, laying waste to them.


    Ten seconds passed, then twenty seconds, and finally the magic fire finally ceased as the last wood magician''s team ran out of magic.


    After the smoke screen clears, there is nothing left but the wreckage of the dead hunters in the devastated explosion site. Among them was Selwyn, the acting chief hunter. The enemy soldiers, their feet stamping on the ground, are nowhere to be seen.


    --The elves are the most skilled in magic. The hunter of the Noblewood who calls himself the strongest among them.


    His end was not by an unexpected attack by another force, nor by a blade from a hand-to-hand combat that exploited their weakness, nor even by a human-derived battle strategy that relied on numbers. It was the great magic they were best at, and had never been able to use in all their lives.


    + + +


    And so, for a while, only the sound of ragged breathing dominated the battlefield.


    The surgeons, drained of their magic power, supported their crumbling bodies with their wands, while the wounded warriors, breathing on their shoulders, kept their weapons at the ready.


    Both men stare at the unbelievable scene unfolding before them.


    The result of a warrior''s true calling, of a man who has demonstrated all of the skills he has been trained to master.


    "----............"


    But everyone stood there in silence.


    They were not sure what to do with the result, even though they had obtained it.


    Although it had been pointed out to them during the first training session and they had experienced it in mock battles, this was their first time in actual combat.


    That is why, now that I actually had <> in my hands, I didn''t even know how to behave, and I just stood there in a daze.


    A group of warriors who kept their weapons at the ready against the enemy''s camp, which was no longer able to move.


    To an uninformed third party, it might have looked like a very funny scene.


    And then, as it should be said, it was a girl who put an end to such an act.


    She was illuminated by a ray of sunlight shining through the dark clouds pierced by Fafnir.


    Immersing herself in the oracle-like sunlight, the girl spins out words in a quiet voice, not showing any sign of fatigue from her role as the key figure in the group chanting.


    "---- we are victorious."


    Short words uttered without hesitation.


    The words, however, had a dramatic effect on the Latticewood Warriors.


    Some clenched their fists tightly, some let the heat spill out of their eyes, and others trembled as they fought back the emotions that welled up inside them.


    And just before her passion reached its limit, the young queen raised her voice extraordinarily and told everyone and everything present in this place.


    Raise the battle cry!��At this moment, we say goodbye to the dark past. Let us roar a roar that will reach the tree of God!��The battle cry that heralds the dawn of a new day is here!


    With the young queen''s voice behind him, Felk raised his scarred right arm high in the air.


    He looks up to the heavens, opens his mouth, and lets out a roar that is more majestic than his lean frame would suggest.


    The warriors followed suit.


    Half-elves, dwarves, dwarfs, beastmen, and all who were present shouted in unison, their cheers becoming a chorus that shook the trees of the great sea of trees.


    Oh, oh, oh, oh! ----!"""""


    --It was a roar that heralded the dawn of the last wood.

 73 - CHAPTER XVI -- TREATMENT OF AFTER

    Out of breath, an elf runs through the forest.


    He was one of the members of the Noblewood Council of Elders.


    He was the second in command of the Fairy Dragons after the Grand Elder and the Acting Chief Hunter, and he was afraid to even look back to see if his pursuers were coming, so he just kept on moving his feet.


    More than fifteen minutes had already passed since the battle between the sky and the ground had been settled, but there was no sign of his companions around him. This is not surprising, since he himself is not even sure how and where he escaped from. However, the voice of reason, which told him that he would have to die if he stayed where he was, made him and the other elders and priests choose to flee.


    The only one who did not flee was the Grand Elder.


    However, he remained there not because of his pride or his sense of responsibility as a representative of his country. It may have been because he could not accept what he saw with his own eyes, or because he had accepted that everything was over. The Elder did not react to anything anyone around him said, and had become like a puppet.


    He, the shell of the Elder, will probably stay that way until the moment his heart stops beating. Is it a happy ending, in a sense, to sever oneself from the inconvenient outside world and to meet one''s end while shut up inside oneself?


    "No. ......!��No, no, no!��That''s not true!��Definitely not!!!!"


    As I wade through the bushes, I deny the sweet fantasies that have been floating around in my mind.


    Do not accept it. We must not accept it at all costs. For if I allow it even for a moment, my legs will be immobilized. And it will meet a cruel end at the hands of the enemy soldiers who have gained momentum after defeating the hunter and his men.


    Just as we did to the half-elves three months ago.


    No, no, no, no!��This can''t be, there must be some mistake. How could such a nightmare happen in reality?


    That''s right. That''s right. Because we are the Noblewoods, a noble family. We are the descendants of the High Elves, blessed by the tree of the gods.


    There is no way that their glorious history can end here. And I am one of the elders at the top of the Noblewood. That is why I must survive no matter what the cost. As long as we survive this place, surely there will be some path left for us...


    "No, this is not the end. This is where your dreams end. A cul-de-sac closed off on all sides.


    A woman''s voice suddenly arose in my ear.


    "............?


    The elder stopped in a panic. Immediately after he tried to look around as quickly as possible, his whole body stiffened without warning.


    It was as if his body was bound by invisible chains. He could not move his arms, legs, or even turn his head. At the bottom edge of my fixed vision, a transparent white arm sprouted from behind me.


    --There is someone behind me.


    "What ...... are you?"


    "Huh. That''s another one of your non sequitur questions. If you claim to be an elder, you ought to speak more elegantly.


    You see?��she whispered in a sweet tone of voice.


    An arm reaches out behind her back and touches her neck as if to entangle it, and a shiver runs down the elder''s spine when he feels her supple fingertips press up against his chin.


    Perhaps somewhat satisfied with this reaction, the woman removes her entwined arms and moves around from behind to the front, to the center of his field of vision, with a leisurely step.


    The woman whom I saw directly for the first time had a distinctive appearance that I would never forget once I saw her.


    Eyes red like fresh blood. Purple hair with a bewitching hue. Her voluptuous body was wrapped in an open-breasted costume, revealing her deep cleavage and porcelain-white skin.


    She was too voluptuous for Elvish standards, but to the human eye she would have been an undeniably beautiful princess.


    ...... is she the running dog of the Unsullied?��Death has finally caught up with me ......?"


    "Kuh--kuh-huh-huh!��Running dog, you call me a running dog!��Well, you can do it, can''t you? The second part of the sentence is too poetic, and I enjoyed it very much.


    What''s funny is that the woman laughs.


    It was an ominous laugh that disturbed the hearts of those who saw it, despite its elegant gesture.


    But the dog is more like Liewe. Of course, if you want me to howl, I will howl with pleasure, but if you compare me to a beast, well..."


    A raven, for short," the woman boasted.


    The elder could not understand what she was saying. But he could understand that the woman was an enemy. Then, realizing that he had been captured by his pursuers, the elder stopped struggling and looked down at the ground with a slumped body.


    "Hmm?��......What''s the matter, you don''t resist?��If you break free of my restraints, perhaps you will survive?"


    The woman asks in the tone of a cat that is shaking a mouse.


    The elder responds with a nod and silence.


    He was practical enough to realize that there was no point in lashing out, but most of all, he did not want to expose himself to any more misery at this point in time.


    They have given their all for the cause, they have fought to avenge their shame, and until recently, they have been running for their survival. We have done what we had to do as elders and as a living being. And now that the results are in, any further struggle is a matter of honor for Noblewood. This thought gave the elder the two words of resignation.


    "That''s very graceful of you. It is hard to believe that this is the deed of a man who has slaughtered his own people, let alone those of his neighbors with whom he had long been on friendly terms."


    "......��"


    But the elder reacted sharply to the woman''s words. The woman''s contemptuous words contained something he could not tolerate.


    Even if I die here, and even if the destruction of my beloved homeland is inevitable, the history of Noblewood on the continent must be written correctly. It must be written that all the people of Noblewood, regardless of their rank and file, willingly turned themselves into the flesh and blood of the fairy dragon for the sake of the noble crusade.


    This sense of mission made the elder, who was on the verge of breaking down, speak out in rebuttal.


    No, that is not true. When we heard the news of the annihilation of the advance troops, we immediately held a council of elders and chose the path of battle as the consensus of our clan. It is an honor to be turned into the flesh and blood of a fairy dragon, and it is the result of the people''s own will. It was never a massacre of the people who were willing to die. ......!"


    "Hoho?��< the consensus. If you knew your shame, you would know better than to say such a thing. Your audacity is such that even I, a concubine, can''t help but feel a sense of fear."


    Call it what you will," the elder muttered to himself.


    The lowly alien race does not understand. They are only a part of the "defilement". They will never understand our noble thoughts. --The Elder stares at the mocking woman, holding on to his hardened thoughts.


    As the elder looks at the woman, the woman suddenly speaks up and asks a simple question as if she were talking about something else.


    "But it''s all a bit strange, isn''t it?��How can you so easily believe the news that the most elite of the elite have been selected and that the advance team, which included a fairy dragon as part of its forces, has been wiped out without a trace?


    "...... What are you talking about? What''s so strange about that? The one who brought the news was a scout who had reached the rank of a hunter, a trusted soldier who has long been in our service. That is why the information that the advance party was wiped out is unquestionably a ...... fact ...... and ......... ..."


    --And...


    The elder''s words, which should have continued there, stopped.


    He stopped because he felt a tremendous sense of discomfort with what he had said.


    It was as if I had been made aware that I had overlooked something fatal--as if the very foundation on which I stood had been shaken from the ground up.


    "----"


    About two weeks earlier, the elders had learned the truth about the annihilation of the advance party. This information was brought to them by a who had discovered the truth and had detected the false heart-story. I can still vividly recall the indignation I felt when I realized that I had been deceived.


    But even though his resurrection was incomplete, he was still the guardian of the elves, the one whom the gods had bequeathed to us.


    A fairy dragon with such a mighty power that even the Count of the Holy Sword, one of the strongest among mortals, would never be able to defeat him in a one-on-one fight.


    Why did we accept such a ridiculous story as true when we were told that a mere traveler had killed it?


    "----,a,"


    I touched something I shouldn''t have.


    In an instant, the certainty of this touched his whole body, making the elder stiffen in a way that had nothing to do with the binding techniques that bound him. Unknown emotions crawled through his brain and his vision became distorted.


    ...... is right. There is something else wrong if you think about it. Amidst the whirlwind of discomforts and contradictions, large and small, the most important one that emerges is that of the unsealing of the fairy mother dragon (Mother).


    It is true that it took them a hundred years to construct and complete the formula for unsealing. And after releasing the first fairy dragon, the other six dragons sealed in the same hierarchical area were also ready to be released at any time according to the amount of food harvested in the latestone woods. That is why, when the false news was discovered and the council of elders resolved to take revenge by fully reviving the fairy dragons, they were able to perform the unsealing ceremony without much difficulty.


    However, the fairy mother dragon was sealed in the innermost part of the temple. Even the chief priests who had done the most to plan the liberation of the fairy dragon were unable to handle the complicated and mysterious sealing technique. How could such a miracle have been performed in the blink of an eye, and without the chief priest, after 100 years of trying to figure it out?


    "-No, indeed. The reason we were able to successfully lift the seal of the deep realm is because of ......."


    "No, it''s no big reason. I had some free time while you were busy feeding the fairy dragon. I was investigating the technique and lent you a hand while I was at it."


    She cowered her shoulders and said, "You''ve started messing with your own people''s grass anyway.


    The woman''s words and actions were matter-of-fact and contained nothing of the sort. At least to the elder''s ears, it sounded like she was just stating a simple fact.


    "In addition, it is not good to leave relics like that behind. Especially if it is the mother of a dragon species that only accepts the flesh and blood of the elves. If they are nothing but harm to everyone, it would be better to wipe them out here.


    The elders froze before the woman who was boasting, "The pus has to be drained out.


    It was as if an icicle had been inserted into his spine.


    His breathing became labored and his heart beat fast.


    "No, no, wait! No, it can''t be! I myself was present at the unsealing of the seal in the deeper realms. The only people present were the priests who performed the ritual and a few elders, including myself. ......


    Desperately scrambling for memories. I utter words of disproof.


    But the more words I piled up, the more I was struck by the sensation that something was cracking.


    The inevitable end was approaching before my eyes.


    "There were others, weren''t there?��There are those who are well versed in the art of witchcraft and its applications. One of the elders asked for help in unsealing a seal, and a female sorceress personally led him to the innermost part of the temple.


    "............ not here. There was no such person.


    "No, no, no, remember. Since the mistress herself has revealed this much information, her evil eye has already lost its effect. Now that you''re free from all mental control, there''s nothing that can block your recollection.


    "Shut up!��There is no such thing!��There was no such person!


    The elder''s eyes run bloodshot and he cries out. He screamed, his eyes bloodshot, because that was the only possible resistance he could make since his body was sealed off.


    But every time he uttered a word of denial, an empty wind blew in his chest.


    Enough of admitting it. I should have realized it already. There I am, muttering to myself in disgust.


    "Oh, yes, I haven''t thanked you for that time yet. Thanks to the kind Elder who was in charge of the rituals in place of the chief priest, I was able to reach the innermost part of the temple without much trouble. Thanks to him, my work became much easier. Let me express my heartfelt thanks to you after all this time.


    Do not listen. Do not listen. Above all, do not understand.


    Because every word she speaks is poison. They are nothing but lethal poison that rots the ears, corrodes the brain, and brings ruin.


    And yet, she adds more poison, as if she were familiar with it, without mercy.


    "Rest assured. Let''s forget about the last battle, but let''s make sure this one is etched in the history of this world. The end of a pathetic and ridiculous nation that, out of spite, clung to relics of the past, sacrificed not only its friends but even its own people in order to take revenge on humans, and in the process was defeated and destroyed by half-elves?"


    The woman whispered quietly, her voice tinged with tenderness.


    Her beauty is tinged with a wry smile.


    Her crimson eyes told me that this was the end of a clown.


    "Aa----aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"


    --That was the limit.


    The cause that I was willing to sacrifice my pride, my life, and the country of Noblewood itself for.


    When the truth that all of this was nothing more than a clown show was exposed, and even the history he had tried to protect at the end of his life was now known to be used against him, the Elder finally went insane in the truest sense of the word.


    "Oops. I don''t want it to break completely.


    Saying this, the woman, Camilla, thrust her arm into the chest of the screaming elder.


    Her right hand, which had penetrated inside without a scratch, wriggled as if groping for something, and grabbed the formless something that was lurking deep inside. The elder''s body twitched and sagged like a mute doll.


    "Hmmm... I guess it will be easier for me to control it if I lose my mental balance. Is this no different from the known demons ......?"


    A mass of darkness suddenly arose beside Camilla, who expressed her impressions without hesitation. The spherical darkness transformed into a human-like shape, and soon took the form of a demon with twisted horns.


    It is the Invisible Demon, a stealthy demon tribe belonging to the Sixth Legion.


    "Camilla-sama. I''ve come to report on the battle situation in various areas.


    "Tell me."


    "Ha. The main force of Noblewood led by the acting chief hunter has been completely destroyed. A small number of other units that were dispersed in various directions and planning to raid the city were also defeated by a detachment of LATESTWOOD warriors that had also been deployed. We have already confirmed that there have been no omissions."


    "Yes. Then I guess this means that the war is over.


    All the fighting, both in the air and on the ground, is over. Now it is time to talk about the aftermath, such as cleaning up the battlefield and manipulating information to bring it back to the border cities.


    As Camilla pondered this lightly, the demon under her command shifted his gaze to the remains of the elder, who was drooping helplessly.


    "By the way, Camilla-sama, what is that individual there?


    "One of Noblewood''s most senior leaders, a member of the Council of Elders. He tried to flee the country after he had led his people into battle, and was personally punished by my mistress."


    "...... I believe that our king said that we need not pursue enemy soldiers who have lost the will to fight."


    The advice he uttered was a reference to a royal decree issued before the war began.


    It is enough if the threat of Noblewood is eliminated. We do not need to go after every single one of the defeated soldiers and civilians who have lost the will to fight. --That is what Helian had told the Sixth Corps led by Camilla.


    But..,


    "Yes, my lord, you certainly said so. --But I do not say that you shall not shoot at them. Since it is not explicitly forbidden to do so, this is not a violation of my command. ...... is it not?"


    "...... ha."


    The demon bowed his head solemnly in response to the question that demanded no other answer than "Yes.


    Camilla nodded her head in satisfaction, and with a cold look in her eyes, she gave her instructions.


    "And there is no need to include this in the report. You are still sick, my dear. There''s no need to add more reports for you to look over, even if it''s only a small amount of work.


    "I''m afraid you''re right, sir."


    Then this is the end of the story. You will secure the others as soon as possible. <


    "Ha. Yes, sir.


    With these words of acceptance, he transformed once again into an ill-defined darkness and left.


    Camilla looked at the soul still gripped in her right hand and muttered casually.


    "...... hmm. I thought there would only be a few left from the collateral damage of the battle, but it looks like we''re going to get more than we expected. I guess there were more cowards than expected, despite all the talk of noble sacrifices. If possible, I would like to keep them in the facilities in their home country. ......


    In the capital city of Agartha, the home country of Alkimaira, there is a special facility for the Sixth Legion that does not allow light or sound to leak out. This facility is also useful for extracting information from captured spies and scouts, and the total number of from the Elders and Priests is expected to be quite large.


    If all of them are transported to the home country, there is no denying the possibility that they will be noticed by their masters.


    Considering the background of the current situation where we are being told that there is no need to pursue the situation, the result will not be very pleasant. We need to take all possible measures for transportation. In some cases, we may have to consider secretly constructing a facility for this purpose in a corner of the sea of trees.


    Camilla lowers her eyebrows, smiles a troubled smile, and reflects on these thoughts.


    "You are very kind, my dear. ......"


    My dear, that is the only and greatest flaw of the perfect king.


    The king is too kind.


    So much so that, at times, even his enemies have too much mercy on him.


    And that''s why we need people like you, Camilla thinks.


    Because I am the ear that hears the end in place of the Unsullied King. All the blackness to be loathed, all the vindictiveness that cannot be heard, it is my body that must bear it all.


    I cannot entrust this to any of the leaders of the eight great legions. This is a role that not even the king''s closest advisor, Lieve-Frechwels, in whom the king places his greatest trust, can fulfill.


    The fact that only she alone could fulfill this role - that she, and no one else, was indispensable for the king to follow the right path as king - made Camilla feel a pleasant emotion.


    "Mmmm..." she said. Mmmmmmmmmmmm..."


    With his arm still thrust into the elder''s torso, he smiled charmingly, as if he could not bear to lose his patience.


    It was the smile of a horrifyingly beautiful woman, as pure as a maiden in love and as lewd as a whore.


    --Camilla Vanadees, Commander of the Sixth Legion.


    She is the "Nightmare Empress" and the ear of Alkimaira.


    She is the master of the Soul Magic and the ruler of many demons.


    She is the only one among the eight great legionnaires to be appointed as legionnaire despite her evil tendencies, and is a fearless yet beautiful empress.

 74 - Seventeenth Lesson: "Lesserly Dreams"

    "Wow, that felt good! Flying with Fafnir is great!


    Robin returned to Rattlestwood after his mission, stretching to relieve his stiff body.


    His sharpened eyes have regained their original round shape, and he looks like a child who has just played with his favorite toy.


    "You''re looking very refreshed, aren''t you?"


    "Oh, Cammy. Good night."


    Robin greeted Camilla with a flutter and a wave.


    She raised her thin arms wrapped in black lace and said, "Yes," and looked at Fafnir, who was being stored in the large box.


    "I see you''ve had a great success, Nushi. I am glad to see that the doll is working without any problems. To be honest, I was concerned about how well it would work with this world-standard magic stone. ......


    "Well, that''s where your skill really shines. I''m still the best puppeteer in the world, Golem Master Robin.


    "...... though there are many questions as to whether Nushi is an ordinary puppeteer or not."


    As Camilla mentioned, Robin''s fighting style is quite different from that of ordinary puppeteers.


    The usual fighting style of a puppeteer is to stay away from the front lines and let a powerful and replaceable puppet - a golem - fight remotely. Most of the fighting ability depends on the specs of the golem, and the status of the puppeteer himself is often low. Therefore, it is considered normal to aim at the main body of the puppeteer instead of the golem when facing the puppeteer.


    Although there are some boarding type golems that can be carried on the shoulder or back, they tend to be used less and less as they become more advanced because they kill the biggest advantage of the puppeteer, which is that . No one would prefer to use this type of golem unless they are inexperienced and have a short effective range for remote control.


    One who dared to go the opposite way, as if he did not care about common sense, was Robin, a rare child prodigy born between a curious dwarf and a Dwarf, a people of engineering, a mixed breed.


    He unearthed the wreckage of a huge automata, a mobile weapon found in an ancient ruin, a piece of lost technology, and submitted a plan to the royal castle to restore it and turn it into a golem.


    The plan, which had an unknown chance of success and would have required a huge amount of money just to attempt it, was immediately rejected by the domestic affairs officer (Ertina), but then Helian intervened.


    >


    The following is a line from Tsukasa Misaki (Helian), who was a high school student at the time.


    He was a young man who understood such romantic words as "decisive battle weapons" and "mobile weapons," and who never forgot his boyish spirit - in other words, he had a chuunibi temperament.


    He gave the go-ahead to this unprecedented and reckless plan and poured money into it like hot water.


    The total amount was close to the national budget of the time, but with the king''s promise of full support, Robin''s enthusiasm was fueled and he eventually succeeded in completing Fafnir, the one and only golem that combined the latest magical engineering with the lost technology of the past. It is.


    As of 150 of the Holy Demon Calendar, no golem of the same type exists, and Fafnir continues to reign at the top of the golem class as a one-off machine that cannot be reproduced.


    "From the enemy''s point of view, it is a nightmare. Even if you try to target the main body, which is a common weakness of puppeteers, the main body is inside the golem. Moreover, the remote control is not even limited to an effective distance, and it can fly around the entire battlefield with overwhelming firepower, making it untouchable."


    "Ha-ha-ha!��Okay, okay, more compliments!��I''m the kind of girl who grows when she gets praised!"


    Don''t get carried away. What the hell was that last one? That last shot was overkill.


    Camilla complains about the dragon shot that put the final nail in the coffin of the Fairy Mother Dragon. Her expression is a little stiff in contrast to Robin''s cheerful smile.


    "It was a good thing that the shot was directly overhead, but if the angle of fire had been slightly off, it would have hit the warding. It would have been exposed to the outside world."


    "That''s why you shot straight up. The warding didn''t break, did it?


    That''s not what I''m pointing out. I''m saying you didn''t need to shoot in the first place. An attack of that magnitude could have been handled by the main gun, the Urvang.


    Camilla had mobilized all of the Sixth Legion''s surgeons and covered the entire battle area with a cognitive barrier--the same one that had been used in the battle with the advance troops--to block information to the outside world.


    Although the wards were deployed as ritual magic and had a certain amount of added defensive power, and could handle a stray bullet from a fairy dragon with no problem, there was no way that they would be able to catch Fafnir''s dragon shot. Even a direct hit, or even just a graze, could cause the warding to collapse, and even Camilla was in a cold sweat.


    "Well, that may be true, but ...... since we''ve been given the opportunity to participate, we want to do it in a spectacular way, don''t we?��Everyone else may be happy with their turn in the last war, but I''m the only one who ended up on standby, you know?��I don''t get credit for anything, I get zero credit for anything.��Do you have any idea how I felt when the war ended with me sitting alone in Fafnir?"


    "...... Well, I can''t help but feel some sympathy there."


    The large boxes that maintain Fafnir and supply the magic power to activate it do not exist in Agartha, the capital of Alkimaira. This is because laboratories and large-scale workshops are concentrated in the suburbs of the capital, and the large boxes are also constructed in those locations.


    Therefore, Fafnir parked in the large box was supposed to be left behind in the original world due to the inter-world transfer phenomenon. However, on that day, in order to celebrate the national celebration, the aircraft was moved to the main square of Agartha with its ceremonial equipment, and thus, by chance, it escaped the difficulty of being left behind.


    It was a fortuitous chance that Fafnir, which plays an important role in Alkimaira''s strategy, could be brought into this world.


    And two months ago, at the time of the war, Robin and Fafnir were waiting for their moment in the deserted plaza, but he was not available and the war ended as it did.


    Robin was very sad when he was told that the war was over, as he had been motivated to the highest level in his life by the King''s speech.


    Considering his state of mind at that time, even Camilla, whose character trait is [ruthless], naturally loses momentum in her pursuit of him.


    "Besides. Thinking about the situations where Fafnir will be needed in the future, you want to try out as many functions as possible, don''t you? and are two very different things, so it''s better to have actual working data, right?"


    Robin is sort of right.


    Fafnir is one of the trump cards in Alkimaira. It is a decisive weapon, deployed only in battles that must be won.


    Its strategic concept is to destroy designated targets within a specified time, and Fafnir''s targets are categorized as either or .


    The former is simply to kill the most threatening forces. The latter aims to damage the enemy camp as a whole by destroying kings, corps leaders, and commanders. In this respect, the latter is given a completely different concept from that of Nogard, which is said to be skilled in military combat by <.


    However, in order for Fafnir to demonstrate its true value, "Awaken the Dine Legacy (Dineslave)" is necessary, and it has the disadvantage of consuming a large amount of resources such as magic stones just once in a battle. In addition, after each battle, the deteriorated parts need to be replaced, forcing the company to raise huge costs. There is no other weapon that makes the domestic administrators weep so much.


    And because of its nature, Fafnir must always produce results when it goes into battle. Considering the tremendous cost and manpower required just to launch a sortie, it is only natural that results are demanded, but the story changes drastically when the word <> is added. It is needless to say that there is an insurmountable barrier between the ideal and the reality. The same goes for the aforementioned absurd strategic concept.


    However, Fafnir, driven by Robin, a rare genius, has never once failed in its mission, and has maintained the myth of undefeat to this very day.


    While the other eight corps leaders have experienced defeat in one form or another, he and his Fafnir are unquestionably the decisive force in terms of being the only one who has maintained the myth of undefeat.


    "So it''s not my fault. I have the king''s permission and Elle''s budget. It''s a perfect theoretical armament.


    "You are out of line when you speak of theoretical armament. ...... Can you say that in front of M?rzel?��You seem to be green as a sheet when you find out that an entire large radiator has been used up."


    With a snap, Robin turned his head in the opposite direction. Then he started whistling deliberately.


    Camilla let out a sigh from her glossy lips as she thought of the poor mechanics.


    "Well, good. ...... Well, by the way, the chiefess seems to have lost her nerve. She must have been very chilled to learn that Nushi, whom she had unwittingly underestimated as a mere child, is one of the strongest in Alkimaira."


    Camilla talks about Wenli, who was present at the start of the war against Noblewood.


    She had left the battlefield at the time of the first attack by Selwyn, a scout of the 6th Legion who was hiding at the scene. She witnessed the entire battle from a safe zone, but her complexion began to deteriorate when the fully restored fairy dragon began to fall like a dragonfly, and when the fairy mother dragon was obliterated by Fafnir''s dragon shot, she was so shocked that she had a stroke.


    He is now lying in his bed, moaning "I was deceived", "He was a monster after all", "I will never be underestimated again", and so on.


    I feel embarrassed when people say that I am the best!��Well, it''s true, isn''t it?��I''m the only one who can use Fafnir, and I''m a super genius!��Ha-ha-ha!"


    "Without your help, I can''t fight in the first place, and it''s only for 15 minutes."


    "If I can use the extremely large magic stone that I brought from the ...... original world, I can do a little better, right?"


    "How much more resources are you going to eat up, you little domestic bureaucrat? You''ve used nearly a dozen Gandharv weapons and you still haven''t eaten enough!


    "Because the magic stones in this world are so empty. I thought it would last a little longer, but the second reactor core stopped right away.


    We still saved money on this, you know?��Robin excuses himself.


    In fact, the premature shutdown of the second core was unexpected, even for the Seventh Corps technicians, led by Robin. It may have been a quality problem, but it may have been simply incompatible with the reactor.


    Robin claims that he had to use Gandharv, which consumes less magic power, because he was concerned about Fafnir, who was about to go hungry. However, since the situation could have been avoided if he had given up early and activated his magic sword (Dineslave), we cannot deny the possibility that he just wanted to enjoy the fight as long as possible.


    Incidentally, the technique for repelling intruders that Celes had installed in her store is similar to magic bullets in that it , but while the former is limited to relatively low-level magic with an aptitude for "trap magic" or "trap spells," magic bullets have no such limitations. As long as the size and quality of the magic bullet allow it, even great magic can be imprinted on it.


    However, the process of engraving a formula on a magic bullet is, according to Celes, like being forced to copy several tens of thousands of pages, and she usually lost her temper when Robin ordered a batch of about 30 bullets after shooting them in vain. It is not surprising that even the patient Eltina shies away from this task.


    "Hmmm... ...... I guess it''s not easy to simply use local materials..."


    "It''s too early to draw conclusions, but it''s a little difficult to get immediate results. My craftsmen are very enthusiastic about the challenge.


    "By the way, you offered some of your prototypes to the Warriors'' Guild."


    "We were experimenting to see how far we could go with local materials," he said. By the way, half of the weapons used by the warriors were made of latestock.


    The weapons that Robin refers to as made in Rattestwood were made by dwarves, dwarves, and other craftsmen living in Rattestwood under the guidance of Seventh Legion artisans who had been dispatched to the area.


    It was not only the warriors who did their best in this case.


    The citizens they were supposed to protect were also fighting on their own battlefields.


    Craftsmen worked hard to learn their skills and manufacture products even while they slept, while other citizens worked hard to rebuild and provide food for the people so that they could concentrate on their work.


    In this sense, this victory is the result of the collective efforts of the country of LATESTWOOD.


    "Hmmm. Now that the test run of Fafnir is over, I think I''ll make something to commemorate it. It''s been a while since I''ve been on a rampage, and now that I''m refreshed, I''m inspired to create something new."


    "You really are a moody one, Nushi. I feel sorry for the other craftsmen who make better products than anyone else. ...... By the way, do you have any feelings at all about being underestimated by the chief magistrate?��If you want, I would be happy to do it on your behalf."


    Camilla again turns her attention to the matter that had just been casually discussed.


    Although it was not so urgent as to be described as "holding out a gleam of hope," it was an action taken after thinking that this would be the last chance, if there was any chance.


    But--


    "No, no, no, you can''t do that, Cammy. Wenli is such a serious girl, and she''s so funny when I tease her. Even Cammy, who is a member of the League of Tricksters, will get angry if you touch Wenli.


    Robin made a large batten with his short arms. His words were unusually strong for him, suggesting his firmness of purpose.


    Although I had no choice but to talk to him, Wenli seemed to be Robin''s favorite. He may not be happy about it, but it''s a good thing that he''s always playing tricks on him, because he''s a tireless prankster.


    "I''m sure there are serious people around here..." he says. The three that started it all are the best of the best.


    "No, the lion head is too hard-headed to talk to, and sister Lee is usually scolding me because she can''t take a joke. And I''m afraid the king will tell on me."


    "What about Eltina?"


    "--Kamy. I''ve promised myself that I won''t offend my sister Elle."


    "............"


    I didn''t have the heart to ask him about the details of what had happened, but he seemed to have been drilled into his bones that he was not good at anything.


    Realizing what had happened, Camilla looked at the large box, which had returned to its concealed state after the Fafnir was contained,


    "Uh ...... what about Merzel. What about the other officers of the Seventh Legion?"


    "I''m bored. They''ve gotten so used to it that they don''t even react properly when we play tricks on them. The girls are so used to it that they don''t react properly when I play tricks on them. --Please go back to work when you''re done. ...... is a terrible way to kill someone. I''m your boss.


    That''s what I''m talking about. After being subjected to his shenanigans for more than fifty years since the establishment of the Seventh Corps, there is no way that he will get any fresh reaction now.


    In this respect, Wenli, whose earnest nature and position made him impossible to play with, was Robin''s best playmate.


    Anyway, he cannot even elicit a rebellion by words when he is Robin''s favorite in addition to the king''s order to stay out of his way. Camilla''s shoulders slump as she realizes that she will have to give up on the idea of personal retaliation.


    "...... Well, if I''m going to be Robin''s plaything for the rest of my life, I guess I''ll feel a little better about it."


    In addition, by concentrating the damage on Wenli, the rest of the people will be more or less spared from Robin''s clutches. If her sacrifice would reduce the number of victims and troubles, it would relieve some of the king''s concern and anxiety.


    Camilla convinced herself with this logic and decided to treat Wenli as one of the many. Such a shift in mindset is one of the talents needed in information warfare.


    "Yes?��What did you say?"


    "Don''t worry about it. I''m talking about us. ...... At any rate, now you''ve put an end to any lingering worries. The plan against Noblewood is complete, and the operational experiment with Farniel has been successfully completed. We have also had a great harvest. I''m sure you must be pleased as well.


    "Harvest?��What else was there besides the Fafnir experiment and the extermination of Noblewood?"


    "Yes, of course. A great deal. As far as I can tell, this plan has at least five objectives.


    And then Camilla looked at Robin and said, "Oh, ......," thinking slightly,


    "--there are three main aims."


    "Hey Cammy. Why did you cut down your numbers when you saw me?"


    "I can explain all five in detail if you wish, but now that you''ve asked, I trust you''ll hear me out.


    "...... and what are those three aims?"


    Robin chose not to ask.


    Although he has [Genius] in his character traits, his power is only demonstrated in the areas that interest him. Politics and scheming are out of the question.


    Camilla returns the expected answer with a glazed look and continues with her explanation.


    "The first is, as Nushi said, the security of the lastswood. First of all, as Nushi said, we need to secure the safety of the latestone woods. We must eliminate the Noblewood, the source of the upheaval, and bring order and peace to the Sea of Trees. It was unexpected that Noblewood destroyed Oldwood, but it saved us a lot of trouble. Although they were not extremists, they were hostile to humans and half-elves, and this could have been an obstacle in the future.


    "What did Cammy do to you?"


    "I would have gladly done so if you had given me permission, but Noblewood had its own ideas and attacked Oldwood. I had nothing to do with it."


    This is true. Before the war started, Camilla interfered in three ways: <, and , and was not involved in the attack on Oldwood or the slaughter of her people.


    I had intended to exploit the gaps in the king''s orders, possibly to lead Noblewood''s thinking, but I was off the mark. Without any action, Noblewood began to run amok.


    In the first place, as can be said in common with the case of the advance team, if it is asked whether the invasion of the human nation, which was the original purpose of the project, could be accomplished even though the fairy dragons had been given the power of war, it is clearly no. If we are talking about the runaway, it can be said that it had already started at this time.


    It is true that they could have inflicted damage on the human nations by deploying supernatural forces, but there was no end in sight. It is a complete one-way ticket. It will only be a journey of death, trying to make as many companions as possible until the fairy dragons starve to death.


    (...... The soul of the Great Elder was strange in some way.)


    Camilla recalls the soul remnants from which she has just extracted information.


    The soul''s memories do not lie, and accurate information can be extracted from a soul that has been separated from its body. However, a soul that is not protected by its body is a fragile thing, and if it is played with carelessly, it will be so damaged that it will not survive reincarnation, but that does not matter to Camilla.


    Therefore, she was playing with the souls of the members of the Council of Elders without any qualms at all, when an unexpected fact was revealed. All of the souls she had extracted had begun to deteriorate before she had even touched them.


    Thanks to this, I could not read much information about them, but judging from the degree of deterioration, they were not from the last few years.


    ��It could be a flaw from the war of a hundred years ago, or interference from another surgeon. (Or maybe it is a curse left by the queen who committed suicide at the end of her humiliation at .......)


    The deterioration is too severe to be certain, but in any case, it means that they have been broken for a long time. I had already guessed this from the fact that they offered their own people as offerings without hesitation, but I found out this fact by playing with their souls directly.


    "And what about the second one?"


    "Mm?��......Mmm, the second is to establish the position of the Ratestwoods."


    "By ''position'', do you mean from the point of view of Alkimaira (us)?��We''re allies, right?"


    "Mm. As you have stated, we wish to be good neighbors. Although we are still technically suzerain and vassal states, it is our desire to be treated as equals. However, up to this point, it has been more in the sense of a pretext. After all, in the battle of two months ago, LATESTWOOD did nothing.


    Alkymaira has continued to lend its support to RATESTWOOD until now, not only by fighting against the advance troops of Noblewood and recapturing the capital, but also by treating the injured, supporting reconstruction, educating warriors, and providing them with equipment.


    Taken alone, Alkimaira is more a protector than a good neighbor. In fact, some of the people of Alkimaira have regarded the Alkimaira as protectors and allies in name only, or as lower-ranked and weak.


    However, in this case, the Rattestwoods have thrown themselves into the fray.


    Apart from fairy dragons, a supernatural force that should not be used in wars between nations, they fought and won the battle without being protected by Alkimaira. They proved with their own bodies that they are not only protected by the alkimaira.


    The residents living near the training camp were in awe of the warriors who had accomplished the feat of <>, but this incident will make more than a few of them take a new look at the warriors.


    "Most importantly, they have proven the viability of their deal to be a cover for the Alkimaira. With this, Ratestwood has clearly demonstrated its value to the Alkimaira. I would have liked to see a few more accomplishments, but at least there will not be many who will publicly oppose the alliance."


    "Hmmm......... King has a lot on his mind, doesn''t he?"


    "After all, this is an exchange of nations from different parts of the world. If we make a bad first move, it could affect all our future diplomacy. I mean, if you''re a legionnaire too, you could at least ...... a little bit. It''s not worth it.


    Camilla frowned at the curt response, but soon gave up and muttered, "I''m sorry, I''m sorry.


    Robin is not the only one who is unfamiliar with the subtleties of this kind of topic. In fact, given the total number of people in Alkimaira, there are probably only a few who can talk about national strategy.


    (Even they are all brainiacs. ...... I can only imagine how hard you have to work to get them to do that.)


    Camilla, who was one of the people who knew, let out a mournful whimper in her heart. And that is why she secretly renewed her determination to be even more active in the dark.


    "And what is the third and final question?"


    "This is a stepping stone for LATESTWOOD''s entry into the international community. This is the biggest thing for me."


    "Hmm?��The international community?


    Robin twisted her head dubiously.


    He seemed to have no idea how the story was connected or what the benefit of it was.


    "Hmmm. So far, Latticewood hasn''t even been officially recognized as a nation, but now you''re going to start interacting with the human nation.


    "...... What''s in it for us?"


    Yes, of course. You will establish a base outside of Japan, and eventually, through the Chamber of Commerce, you will form a network of information on the private sector level, and establish a foundation for collecting information on a wide range of topics. However, there is information that is not available in the private sector. This is where we can fill in the gaps.


    "You mean LATESTWOOD?��Kings and legionnaires......, uh, nobles on this continent, I think. You mean, like, they could pick up information that only those people would have?"


    "That''s what I''m talking about."


    Robin understood, and Camilla nodded her head with her elbows in a hugging posture. The rich duo dunes on her arms swayed in response to her nodding behavior.


    "But won''t that take a very long time to show results?��I''m told that only a few adventurers are outside who have anything to do with Lattestwood."


    "I guess so. So this is just a stepping stone. But we''ll play a few tricks to help it along.


    A little trick?��Robin tilts his head curiously, while Camilla holds up a finger.


    "Here''s the story."


    --Noblewood, trapped in a vindictive atmosphere after a war a hundred years ago. With the help of the Oldwood, a family of old blood, they plan to free a guardian dragon said to have been bequeathed by the gods. However, the ritual to unseal the dragon has a breakdown for unknown reasons, and the guardian dragon begins to run amok after losing control of it.


    "Oh. Sounds like something out of a play or something."


    Comedy or tragedy may be up to interpretation. I''ll continue."


    --The elves of Noblewood and Oldwood gather all their strength and attempt to re-seal the runaway guardian dragon, but fail. They are forced into a state of combat with the guardian dragon, which ends in a deadly showdown. Oldwood is completely destroyed and Noblewood has only a few survivors.


    "...... This kind of thing is called a monologue, isn''t it?"


    A good ironic expression. And here''s how the story ends.


    --The survivors who lost their homes eventually transformed themselves into bandits and attacked RATESTWOOD. However, the Latestwood warriors meet the bandits head-on and successfully defeat them. In their hands were weapons made of Abyssal Forest material by a certain craftsman who had been living in the area for several months.


    "This is about me, isn''t it!��What about the climax!"


    "I''m afraid this is the end."


    "Aaargh!��What about Fafnir''s active scene!"


    "Of course they''re going to cut the whole thing. They couldn''t possibly expose something like that to the outside world.


    Camilla said in disgust. That''s exactly what we were putting up a barrier to block recognition for.


    She continued, quieting Robin''s disgruntled face.


    "And I''ll let the adventurers take this information back with them. They seem to have a good ear for this sort of thing. I''m sure they will be good speakers.


    The abyss seeker who was staying at the village. They were allowed to observe the battle between Rattestwood and Noblewood, and some of the battles, while hiding such inconvenient beings as fairy dragons and Fafnir.


    It would have been easier to use Hupno or Brainwash, but depending on the resistance of the target, it could be resisted by the passage of time, and it is not easy to use them unless you intend to dispose of them after they are no longer useful. Camilla thought it was fine, but unfortunately, her master (Helian) had issued a ban on it. Therefore, although it was a little troublesome, she made full use of illusion and disguise to have some facts observed, and prepared the information to be brought back with her by using her skill in fraud.


    After that, if they return to the border city safely, they will spread the information of the Ratestwood as a well-known - in other words, an outspoken - seeker of the abyss. I guess.


    And the information that craftsmen who can process materials from the Abyssal Forest have settled in RATESTWOOD will be a powerful boost for their future expansion into the international community.


    Anyway...,


    "Now, at last, I can deploy my forces to the border cities. So far I''ve only been able to send one man, but my time of surrender has come to an end. I''m sure she''ll make up for the time Lieve and Celes have already spent in the city.


    "Oh?��You''re looking very motivated, Cammy."


    "Of course, of course. After all, the border city of Shields is the front line for Alkimaira. It is the main battleground where you yourself will lead the campaign. I''m really looking forward to ...... seeing a city populated by just like you."


    "Wow. You look bad."


    Camilla smiles glamorously at the teasing words, replying, "Nonsense.


    However, the crescent moon-like smile is, as Robin says, not a benevolent one.


    But it is perhaps the result of her magic that she is able to find beauty in that wickedly charming smile.


    "Hmmm. I''m going to be busy.


    Letting out a chuckle, Camilla spread her raven-like black wings with a rustling sound.


    She then begins to finish the in high spirits, envisioning a future in which she will be busier - in other words, in which she will have more opportunities to play her part.

 75 - CHAPTER XVIII "At a Meeting with the Queen"

    "It has been a long time, Her Majesty Queen Leifa Lim-Lattwood."


    The meeting began with these words.


    The place was the parlor of a small castle located in the center of the capital of Rattestwood. Helian from Archimyra had come to visit the castle to celebrate the victory in the war.


    In front of him is Leifa, dressed in white and green, with several members of her entourage behind her. Behind her, a servant of the First Corps was standing quietly. The number of participants was minimal, as they were busy with postwar processing and could not afford to hold a fancy meeting.


    "First of all, I would like to congratulate you on your victory. We have already heard of the successes of your warriors. I cannot help but admire their achievements after only a month or so of training.


    Thank you for your kind words. I am sure all of the warriors will be pleased to receive such compliments from none other than Herian.


    Leifa bowed her head and thanked him calmly.


    They exchanged compliments and replies in a formal manner for a while, and then the topic of conversation turned to more substantive matters. It is a roundabout exchange, but necessary in this situation where both sides are being watched by their followers.


    "I heard through the grapevine that Helian-sama was not feeling well ....... How are you feeling?"


    "I got into a little trouble on the road, but as you can see, I''m in good hands. I''m in perfect health.


    However, at this very moment," he added.


    In fact, I was dying from this one incident.


    But it was not because I was involved in a battle or anything like that. He was secretly standing by with a force of rear-echelon troops in case of emergency, but in the end, the battle ended without any chance to go out to battle. Therefore, it was the night before the war started that Helian thought he was going to die, when he invoked the secret technique in the large box.


    That day, Helian activated the secret "Awaken the Legacy of Dyne (Dyne''s Slave)" over Levee''s objection. She revealed the last part of Fafnir, the magic sword, but before she could see the result, she fainted.


    I heard later that Levee, who was accompanying him, was pale at this point. As soon as she caught Helian''s collapsed body, she used her authority as the commander of the army to take control of the personnel on the scene and transported him urgently to the bedroom in the royal castle. The next morning, after a brief medical checkup, she finally regained consciousness and arrived at the scene just before the war broke out.


    (It''s a pity that he almost died even though he didn''t fight. ......)


    To be honest, I had a sense of danger to the extent that "it might be bad. Since I had not fully recovered from the debilitating state caused by the continuous activation of the secret, I was prepared for a stronger feedback than usual. However, it is also true that I did not expect that I would lose consciousness after only one activation of the secret.


    Since there was no way to verify this, I had made a prediction based on my knowledge of Tactics Chronicle, but it seems that my body was weaker than I had imagined.


    However, if it is asked whether the activation of the secret was a rash act or not, it is a negative answer. This is because I had promised Leifa in advance that I would do so. When supernatural forces, which should not be used in war, were deployed, Alkimaira would take care of it, because they had made a definite promise. That is why there was no choice but not to use the secret of the war in that situation.


    I always keep my promises.


    If you cannot even do that, who will recognize you as a king?


    "How are you feeling better than I am?��I hear that not only did you take the lead in this battle, but you also played a key role in the great magic ......."


    "Thank you for your concern. But I am in good health.


    Leifa smiles and replies.


    Considering her stout character, it is difficult to take her words at face value. I don''t know how much of a burden the group chanting would be, but even without that, she was in command of the front line. Considering the fact that she was busy with her work as the queen until the beginning of the war, I think that she is not in perfect physical condition now.


    However, it would be meaningless to pursue the matter in this situation with the eyes of others. I will try to avoid unnecessary talk and move on to practical matters.


    "Well, now. Regarding the various results obtained from this case, ...... we are aware that things are generally progressing as expected. Are there any particular problems on your side that need to be mentioned?


    Nothing in particular. The capital city escaped unscathed, and the cleanup is proceeding without a hitch.


    I''m glad to hear that. We have also received reports that the adventurers staying in the settlement have been dealt with without problems. This is one of the results of your warrior force.


    The Noblewood, a powerful Elven nation, was destroyed. And the demise of Noblewood involved the weak nation of Llatestwood. It would not be surprising if one or two people, even ordinary people who have no interest in the affairs of the Great Sea of Trees, would have doubts. At the very least, it must have lacked persuasive power if the RATESTWOOD side remained weak.


    However, the LATESTWOOD warriors have gained some strength. They had acquired weapons made of Abyssal Forest material through a who came from nowhere, and had created an elite force, albeit small in number.


    In fact, it is due to their own abilities, but as I confirmed with the adventurers of the border city, <> is an easy-to-understand explanatory material. It is extremely difficult to make people believe that white is black, but the difficulty level is much lower if we can make them recognize gray as white. There is no doubt that the work of Camilla and her team has been made easier by the fact that the Warriors have shown themselves to be powerful.


    Besides...


    "No one loses out on this one. Not only the adventurers who originally came to the Abyssal Forest, but also the merchants with a sharp nose will be interested in LATESTWOOD. The fact that the Noblewood is a radical elf-supremacist will work in the right direction for once, I suppose.


    The Abyssal Forest is a very attractive resource area, if we disregard the danger level.


    With the disappearance of the Noble Elf extremists from the Sea of Trees, the fact that there are skilled craftsmen in the Abyssal Wood who can work with Abyssal materials is a welcome development for adventurers, especially Seekers, and for the surrounding nations.


    And as the term "confirmation bias" in social psychology suggests, human beings are inclined to believe information if it is favorable to them. If there is no benefit in doubting, and if there is a benefit in believing, then there is no desire to doubt in the first place.


    Moreover, in this case, the Sixth Army led by Camilla, which specializes in information warfare, has been mobilized. There is no way that they would make a mistake on a stage where the groundwork has been laid so well. Of course, it would take a long way for LATESTWOOD to be accepted by the international community, but this was a good start.


    Anyway,


    "I am sure that in a short while there will be an increase in the number of people coming and going. With that, I''m sure that Latticewood will be forced to make changes as well. ......"


    "I am prepared for that. Eliminating the threat of Noblewood has always been an unavoidable problem for our country. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your help.


    "...... We have provided our forces only for the countermeasure of fairy dragons. There is no doubt that your country has won this victory by its own strength. I see no reason to accept your thanks."


    Alkimaira is trying to use the Ratestwood as a cover. Considering this, this battle was fought for Alkimaira''s convenience, and they would not be in a position to receive pure gratitude by mistake.


    Unable to bear the straight emotions directed at her by Leifa, Helian turns her gaze away from the green eyes.


    However, when she returns her gaze, she finds that Leifa, who is sitting opposite her, has a troubled smile on her face for some reason. A wry smile, perhaps? It was a somewhat mysterious expression.


    After a coughing sound, he continued his words.


    "By the way. By the way, I have received various reports from the people I have dispatched to your country, apart from this case. I would like to have a frank exchange of views on this matter. ...... would you mind?"


    He glanced at the servants standing behind Leifa.


    Then Leifua gave an affirmation and whispered instructions to his attendants. Helian also shakes his right hand lightly, as if to remove it, and sends an "order" to the guards behind him through the "compressed key" (macro) linked to that action.


    The followers on Alkimaira''s side immediately took action, and the followers on Rattestwood''s side also left with a slight hesitation. After the exorcism was completed, only two people were left in the room: Leifa and Helian.


    "Thank you for your concern. --Now then, let''s get down to business.


    After a pause, I felt Leifer''s back tense up.


    "The topic of discussion is nothing else. We are going to discuss the problems that we have discovered in our activities so far concerning the exchange between our countries and yours. It is a rare opportunity for me to have a face-to-face discussion with Mr. Leifer, so I have taken the time to meet with him."


    When told of the problem, Leifer''s eyebrows twitched. She must have been thinking in her brilliant mind.


    Helian wet his lips with the tip of his tongue before continuing.


    "For my part, I am eager to continue our friendly relations with your country. And as we look to the future, I believe that we cannot avoid the problem that has been brought to light once again: ...... the great discrepancy between the common sense of our country and that of your country and, by extension, of mankind."


    At present, there are no reports of any major problems.


    However, this is only a facade of calm due to the careful selection of personnel in contact with LATESTWOOD. Had they not been given several strict orders not to use violence, even if the other party is at fault, they would have caused some friction.


    First of all, I can say with certainty that this is so because--


    "As you know, all of our people are demons. And because of their nature, when there is a conflict of opinions or minor friction, they tend to want to talk to each other in as a means of resolution."


    "Physical language is ...... so-called, that ......"


    "Without any embellishment, I would say that fistfights and by extension combat ...... are . However, if this explanation is to be taken literally, it is a misnomer. For lack of a better word, we can only describe it as a physical language.


    And this term "body language" is a prime example of the difference in culture and common sense between the two countries.


    For Alkimaira, this single word is sufficient for mutual understanding. This is because physical language is recognized as a method of dialogue, not violence, and the inhabitants take it for granted.


    Since it is common knowledge, they do not even question whether or not it is the right thing to do, and it is recognized as a < that should be shared by everyone.


    On the other hand, for RATESTWOOD, this is nothing more than . For them, to use force when there is a conflict of opinions is a criminal act such as threats, intimidation, or assault.


    There may be a culture of dueling, but it is a last resort to be adopted when even discussion or mediation by a third party cannot solve the problem, and it should never be the first choice of action.


    "Of course, we do not intend to impose our culture and common sense unilaterally. In the first place, this culture of , if applied to your country, could be just an armed invasion.


    "I am afraid you are right. If my people are challenged by your people to a contest of strength, I am afraid there will only be a disastrous result.


    "I completely agree. No one, including the parties concerned, will benefit and the result will be unfortunate for both parties. This is why we need to be very careful in our interactions with each other. ......I am sorry to disgrace my people, but many of our people, the demons of Alkimaira, are not familiar with the subtleties of the situation."


    To tell the truth, there are too many brainwashed people who think that if things get too much trouble, they can just go in for a fistfight. Even Rieve was talking with his fists against the 8th Legion''s dragon species, so there''s no need to talk about low-ranking demons.


    "However, the current situation is not an environment in which the people of your country can express their honest opinions. I am sure that there have been differences of opinion and clashes of cultures in the exchanges with the delegation, but all of them have been settled in the form of concessions made by your people. This may be understandable considering the history of our relationship, but it is not a healthy relationship.


    "I have heard about that, too. However, in light of the many kindnesses you have given us for reconstruction assistance and medical activities, I think it is only natural that we should step aside in the slightest ......."


    "Up until now, that might have been fine. But with this one incident, your country has shown its strength. You have shown that you want to be a good neighbor, not a slave. Then our future relations with you should also be in accordance with that. --So..."


    After a pause, Leifer''s eyes sharpened.


    So far, this is just a preface. He understood correctly that this was the core of what he was going to say, without any preliminaries.


    Helian, his stomach tightening so as not to be overpowered, opens his mouth.


    "I would like to set up a contact point to receive petitions, complaints ...... and frank opinions about our country, which I have not been able to say so far and should say from now on."


    "...... window."


    "Yes. We would like to assign a person in charge of the project to listen to your opinions and deliver them through that person. And all the opinions that reach him will be sent to ......, and in all of them, even if they criticize, insult, or deny our country''s ideals or my own, I will not blame them. I also promise that I will not harbor any harmful or malicious feelings toward your country or the opinions of those who express them. --In the name of Helian-Eddah-Elsinok."


    "--......, no, wait a minute, Master Helian. I, we at LATESTWOOD, have nothing to include either you or your country. We would never ...... begrudge you a favor like this!"


    He holds out his hand to Leifa, who is about to rush to argue with him, to stop her.


    ......It may be bad manners for heads of state to meet with each other, but I couldn''t help but raise my hand in response to Leifa''s desperate expression.


    I made a mental note to research and learn more about this kind of civility in this world later, and took a breath to slow down Leifa''s momentum before opening my mouth.


    "No, it is not. It is not like that, Mr. Leifer.


    He observes Leifer''s expression and decides that it will take a little more time for him to calm down. He shakes his head gently to buy some time.


    After taking two more breaths and seeing that a kind of calmness has returned to her eyes, H��lien starts to speak again.


    "I''m sorry to say this, Leifa, but I''m really in trouble. Therefore, this is not a proposal but ...... more like a request.


    "...... sorry. I do not understand your intentions, Mr. Helian. What do you mean when you say that our statement is your country''s request?"


    Her confusion is understandable. She is being asked to raise a request to do this and that.


    Of course, if you are willing to protect them unilaterally, that is a different story. Like a parent who tolerates his child''s selfishness and buys him all kinds of things, such a request may be possible if Alkimaira is so pleased with Ratestwood.


    But Helian has just a few moments ago expressed his desire to be a good neighbor. That is not the same thing. It is as if there is no consistency. The relationship between protector and protected is far from being a good neighbor. This is probably where Leiffer''s confusion stems from.


    "Hmmm......... I may have rushed things a bit. But you know what, Leifa? There is no implication in my previous words. I sincerely hope that your country will send its opinion to us. The reason for this is the divergence of common sense that I have just mentioned, and the long-range discussion that we have to have in anticipation of future exchanges among nations."


    I am aware that I am daring to speak in a complicated manner.


    I, too, wonder why politicians I see on TV use such roundabout and euphemistic phrases. And I have always wondered why they take so long to express their final requests and opinions. But now that I am in this position, I think I understand a part of it, if only a little.


    It is a milestone, and it fills the outer moat.


    They are doing everything possible to pass the final request or opinion that can be said in just a few seconds.


    It is similar to a battle of chess or chess game. They are trying to break the enemy''s position slowly and steadily, conquer the enemy''s position with their own pieces, and try to win the real prize (king). They, and now I, are desperately trying to win by manipulating words, not pieces.


    "As I have said before, the common sense of us Alkimaira is different from that of mankind. Fortunately, your country has shown consideration for ours, and we have been able to maintain good relations with you so far.


    But," Helian punctuated his statement with a single denial,


    "The other powers with which Alkimaira will come into contact will not be as friendly as your country from the start. Even if they were neutral, not even hostile, there would still be problems. --The current state of Alkymyra, which somehow manages to maintain friendly relations by asking the other side to take them into consideration," he said.


    Leifa''s expression changed.


    There is a glint of understanding in her green-green eyes.


    "...... that''s what I''m talking about. That''s why our country wants to learn how to deal with them now and in the future. From the point of view of national strategy, our country, which has no choice but to operate without national presence, would like to educate its people through the one and only friendly country, LATESTWOOD. Please understand that this request is not a proposal, but a request."


    He spouts off the lines he had prepared in advance.


    There is still some distance left to go before we reach the main goal, but we must break through first. For the time being, the process up to this point has gone as expected. Although there were some differences, I can say that it was within the range that I could clear by my ability to improvise.


    However, I do not know where to go from here. If I can get through this point, I will be able to see the goal, but I am not sure how far my words have reached.


    "----"


    Leifer was in a contemplative posture for a while, but we were like defendants waiting for the verdict. I feel like I have thought about the same thing before. And I felt discouraged at my lack of progress.


    I should be used to the pressure by now, but this feeling of being kept waiting seems to be the only thing I still have a hard time with.


    "......I would like to reiterate that I am greatly indebted to your country. The people in the delegation are gentlemen, and I consider the problems that have occurred so far to be trivial compared to what you have given me. I swear on the name of the divine tree, it is true.


    "I don''t doubt your words now. I understand that you are speaking from your heart. But that''s not the same thing.


    "Yes. Yes, I understand your intentions, Mr. Helian.


    For the first time, positive words were spoken. The fact that the words "yes" and "affirmation" came out of her mouth gave me a sense of anticipation.


    "Now that we have come to this point, it would be merely complacency for us to continue to refuse your proposal. I do not know how many opinions will be gathered, but I would like to make it known to the people that in case of ...... culture clashes or friction, they should bring their honest opinions to Ogi."


    "-- then?"


    We appreciate your suggestion. We thank you very much for providing a point of contact for our petition.


    For the first time since the negotiations had begun - and it might be too subtle to be called a negotiation - Leifua gave me a soft smile.


    Helian, realizing that he had overcome a major hurdle, tried his best to hold back a sigh of relief and nodded his head, meeting her eye to eye.


    "It is we who should be thanking you. This is not a proposal, but a request to your country.


    "No, no. No. You have given us a point of contact, and we thank you even more for that. ......"


    "We should be clear about what we owe and what we owe. I think this is a common understanding, regardless of the world or species. Am I wrong?"


    When I asked him about it, Leifa smiled again with a lowered eyebrow.


    I am not sure how to take this, but at least he did not deny it explicitly. So I can assume that he has accepted me on this occasion.


    "......Now. I have spoken at length, but I promise once again that I do not consider petitions and opinions, no matter how insulting they may be, to be a problem. What we want is true and honest opinions, so we would rather have the harshest possible opinions."


    When I mentioned this again, Leifer made an initial move to say something as if she remembered.


    However, I could not let her say it. We have already focused the discussion on <. There should be no room for discussion on the point that . This is the premise of the conversation, and we should proceed at once as if we had already reached an agreement.


    Helian spins his words one after the other.


    "Also, I have taken the liberty of deciding who will be in charge of the contact person. We have considered selecting the contact person after listening to your opinions, but we have decided that we do not have enough mutual understanding to do so. I hope you understand that it is not unreasonable when we do not even fully understand the personalities of each other''s executives."


    "That is, yes. Of course. ......"


    "Thank you. I would also like to provide you with the magical tools to fulfill this condition, so that ."


    The topic is forcibly switched to the next topic by covering the words that Leifa tries to argue.


    I am aware that I am negotiating a little too aggressively, but I think I am just barely in the safe range. At least a minimum level of civility should be maintained. I believe so.


    Besides, the new topic of offering magical tools must be of interest to Leiffer as well. I quickly and suddenly put my hand in my pocket, and I could see her eyes follow my movement.


    Seeing that her attention is captured, Helian takes out a silver bracelet and puts it on the table.


    "This is our offer, but we would like you to consider it as a prerequisite for the establishment of the window. Naturally, this does not include lending and borrowing.


    He tapped the silver bracelet with his fingertips and said, "Kon, Kon.


    "This is a magical device that disguises the wearer''s true identity. No matter how much we forgive rudeness, it would be harsh to read out criticisms and complaints in front of people from other countries. If you meet the person outside of the window, it may be a problem for your healthy friendship with him or her. This is a necessary measure to prevent this from happening."


    "Disguise ...... your true identity, that is,"


    "This means that our contact person will not be able to recognize who in Latticewood has come to represent us. You can think of it as being a different person to other people''s eyes. There is no limit to the number of times it can be used, so feel free to use it."


    Leifua''s eyes widened lightly. It was because the words that Helian had spoken seemed to be talking about some kind of hidden treasure. At least, she had never heard of such a magical tool being bought and sold in the market.


    And as a matter of fact, even in Alkimaira, it is a magical tool of a higher < than the others. Aside from the usage limit - which I omitted as a transformation ability in my explanation to Leifa - this bracelet is equipped with a recognition blocking technique, and in some cases it can even be used for reconnaissance missions by the Sixth Legion. The reason is that it is a level that can withstand the test of time.


    It is not as good as the robe of ashes, which is the equipment only for the king (player), but if we only look at the type of effect it has, it is almost the same as the robe of ashes.


    "Hmm. It''s about time ......."


    He mutters to himself as he looks at the pocket watch he has taken out of his pocket.


    He pretends to be checking the time, but it is just a pose. He just cut the card he had prepared as a way to end the conversation.


    After apologizing for his rudeness and showing the courtesy to leave the room, Herian solemnly put his hand on the doorknob of the door. Normally, she should have waited for her followers to open the door, but they had already been escorted out. Under the circumstances, it would be safe for him to open the door by himself.


    Just before leaving, Helian looks back at Leifer as if he had just remembered. Herian''s eyes meet Leifa''s green eyes.


    "Yes, that''s right. I haven''t introduced you to the contact person yet. My apologies.


    Inhale, catch your breath. Your heart beats a little loudly, but it''s tolerable.


    Helian swallows his spit so that Leifa does not see it, and finally arrives at the line, albeit in a seemingly roundabout way.


    "The name of the person in charge is . I will send you more information as soon as I have it, but you can assume that he is almost human in appearance.


    A twitch.


    Slightly. Just a little. Leifua''s bamboo ears jumped, a small change that she would not have noticed if she had not been watching carefully.


    --Grimnir.


    <, met at the bar of the beginning.


    Helian felt a sense of relief that she remembered his name, and continued.


    "He is not a man of exceptional ability, but he is one of the few in our country who possesses values close to those of . According to him, he is already acquainted with people of your country. I have appointed him based on his sensitivity and achievements.


    Leifa''s expression did not change. She acts as a leader and is flawless in every way. At least, with my own level of insight, I couldn''t have guessed what Leifa was thinking.


    But when she mentioned the name of Grimnir, I felt a soft light in her eyes. It was too selfish, but I would like to think that it was not my imagination.


    "He wanted to be in charge of the LATESTWOOD side, but since our country has decided on its own ......, of course we have no intention of intervening in your country''s selection of the person in charge. You may select the person in charge at your discretion."


    Let the free will of the Ratestwoods take its course. We respect the will of our allies. --Under the cover of such words, he secretly slipped Grimnir''s wishes into the conversation.


    All that remains is to hope that will be chosen to be in charge of the Ratestwood side. As long as the identity of Helian (Grimnir) cannot be revealed, this is as close as we can get.


    "Yes, sir. I will do my best to select the best person for the job.


    He exchanges glances with Leifer, who answers in a calm and collected voice.


    Regardless of the success or failure of the outcome, I have now said all the words I had prepared in advance. This is the end of our clever negotiations.


    So, in closing, Helian spins a few words of sincerity to her and the others who have made the proud choice not to be merely protected, to be conveyed here and now.


    "--This victory was truly magnificent. I salute you, your band of warriors, and the proud people of your country who supported them.


    This time I will tell you everything I have to tell you and turn away.


    With a quiet step, Helian leaves the place, being seen off by the queen, who is the noblest of all.


    + + +


    "-We have been expecting you, Miss Helian."


    Levee was waiting for him outside the castle as he left the room and was escorted away by the ladies-in-waiting.


    It seems that she has already finished her work at Rattlestwood, and there are people waiting around her to return home.


    How did the meeting go?


    "We had a fruitful conversation. And that we had a very productive time."


    I''m glad to hear that. Now let us return home.


    The words are unusually forceful for Levee. However, considering her state of mind, I think it is understandable.


    This is the third time she has collapsed in front of Rieve''s eyes. The one when she healed the people of Lattestwood, the battle with the blue knight, and yesterday''s act at the large box - all of them were necessary procedures, but it was unbearable for her temperament to see her master fall repeatedly in front of her eyes. I guess.


    "We heard from the delegation during the meeting. I understand that there is no urgent business in the city at this time. I would like to leave the rest to myself and the local personnel, and I would appreciate it if Mr. Helian could take a rest in his bedroom.


    As he is arguing, Levee''s face is as clear as usual, but a sense of desperation is evident. He does not want to let Helian work any longer, not even for a second. There was a strong will in the eyes of Rieve, who had given up attending the meeting and was taking care of urgent tasks in the meantime.


    If possible, he would have liked to finish the discussion with Robin and Camilla, but ...... with all that he was owed, it would be difficult to jump off this advice.


    "......Okay, I''ll do as you say. I''m going to rest until my activity time recovers to a certain level."


    When I told him this, Rieve looked overtly relieved.


    Her facial expression remained as clear as ever, but her ears, tail, and the air she exuded spoke eloquently of her feelings.


    Although I don''t think there is any need to be so obviously relieved...


    (Come to think of it, ......, I''m not sure I''ve ever dismissed all of these kinds of advances before.)


    For her, it may be a situation where her stubborn master finally listens to her. If you think of it that way, Rieve''s reaction makes sense.


    ...... I feel terribly sorry.


    (I guess I''ll have to rest in the castle for the time being. ......)


    It appears that I will have to accept house arrest, at least until I feel better. To be honest, I''m worried that I won''t be able to work in the field, but since Rieve is taking such a strong stand, I guess I''ll have to give up and try to recuperate.


    Besides, it is true that he has been working a lot. The Noblewood project was pushed through because of the deadline, but the parallel project to establish a base in the border city is going well. It is not a bad idea to take a break and not try to rush things.


    "...... hmm?"


    Just as I was about to move to the location where I had set up the teleportal, someone descended from the sky.


    Spreading its black wings, similar to a raven, it swiftly descended.


    "Camilla?"


    "It seems so. ...... what in the world are you doing here at a time like this?"


    The latter part of the speech sounded like a soliloquy, but it came out unintentionally, and it contained a repulsive sound. The anger that seeped out was unintentionally overwhelming. Don''t touch it, it''s dangerous.


    "My Lord. I''m sorry to interrupt over your head..."


    "Camilla, Mr. Helian is very tired. I''ll take care of the report. Not now."


    Camilla came down and was interrupted by Levee, who spoke up.


    Camilla, who had been frustrated at the start, looked at Lieve with a miffed expression for a moment, but as soon as she saw Helli��n''s condition through her eyes, her red eyes showed her understanding. On the other hand, she did not close her mouth.


    "If I could, I would, but this is a matter of urgency. I need to confirm this with you right here and now. Do not interfere."


    Camilla makes it clear that even if it is the word of the Commander-in-Chief, she will not listen to it.


    Camilla''s strong stance made Rieve - quite unusually - frown and keep his mouth shut. She then looks at Helian and asks him about the pros and cons.


    Naturally, Helian questioned her.


    "What happened, Camilla?"


    "My Lord. I am very sorry that you are not feeling well. ......"


    "It doesn''t matter. Were there any lingering problems with Noblewood?��Or is there something fatal wrong with Fafnir?"


    When Helian asks her a question with a pale face, Camilla shakes her head. Camilla shakes her head. However, there is a definite tinge of melancholy in her good looks.


    "No, it''s not like that. It''s not like that, but ...... actually, just a few minutes ago, I received a breaking news from the Boundary Cities. ......"


    Breaking news?��Helian frowns.


    He had left Gardi and Ceres there to set up a base for a full-scale information gathering operation. ...... What could have gone wrong?


    The possible reasons are that a troublesome customer came to the store and they failed to deal with him, or that Gardi had a fight with some ruffians in town and caused a commotion, or that Ceres had an explosion in the development of a medicine she was working on.


    ......Any of these are quite plausible. Aside from the last pattern, there is still an urgent need to educate the public about the common sense of mankind. At the very least, the personnel dispatched to the border cities should complete their education at an early date.


    "By the way, I have heard that there is a fortress to the south of the ...... border city to prevent invasion from the demon territory, is that correct?


    "......That''s abrupt. It is true that they have built several forts as defensive positions in the area - the border region. According to the frontier count, the attack from the demon territory has already subsided.


    Camilla''s mouth twitched as she answered.


    I was surprised that this was the first time I had ever seen such an emotional expression from Camilla. The unladylike expression on her face made me feel a bad premonition.


    Is it possible that there has been another attack from the demon realm? If so, it is a very troublesome story. All the hard work we had put in to stabilize the situation at the site would be lost. Additional instructions will be needed from Gardi and Ceres.


    While Helian was thinking about this, Camilla, whose expression was clouded, opened her mouth fearfully and said, "According to the reports from the field..."


    "It is said that the Gulags have attacked a fort in the Borderland Territory. ...... Is this part of your plan?"


    + + +


    The time is September 10, 150th year of the Holy Demon Calendar.


    Local time equivalent, December 14, 1997.


    In a corner of the Sea of Trees, where peace had returned to the world, a young man''s heartrending cry was heard.


    - End of Chapter 3

 76 - "A certain dwarf and a little sister" between the acts

    "Zoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"


    A few days after Helian''s group went to the border city and finished the encounter with the blue knights.


    Robin, who had been dispatched to the Ratestwood, uttered such words at the temporary command post that had been built near the large box.


    It was a lament for the impermanence of the world.


    "......What is it this time, Lord Commander? Are you having your usual seizure again?"


    Robin is met with a look of dismay by his second-in-command, Merzel.


    He looks up from the large box construction schedule he has been staring at and looks at his boss with a disturbed look.


    What''s with the usual fits and starts?��I''m in perfect health!"


    "Didn''t you say your limbs shake if you hold back on your naughty bits?"


    When Merzel asked with half-open eyes, Robin responded by turning away. Robin responded by turning away from him, because she remembered having made such an excuse in the past.


    Shaking his head in disappointment, Merzel resumes his work of staring at the process chart. The sound of chains clanked as she moved her hand to hold the pen.


    "...... hey. I know it''s a little late for this, but I don''t think I''m being treated too well. I''m a corps commander, you know.��I''m the highest-ranking person in the Seventh Legion, remember?"


    The boy leader complains that he sees the source of the sound.


    Robin''s right arm and Merzel''s left arm are each fitted with a bracelet that emits a dull gleam, and the bracelets are connected to each other by a sturdy chain.


    They were, to all appearances, nothing more than a pair of handcuffs used to restrain Robin.


    "I think that''s a very appropriate treatment for a bad boy who never learns, no matter how many times I tell him."


    "I oppose wrongful arrest. Merzel must release me immediately!"


    Ignoring Robin''s grumbling and complaining, Merzel runs his pen.


    Robin continued to boo beside her for a while, but soon grew tired of it and began to tease her by drawing the letters on the floor. He sometimes glanced at Merzel from a downward angle. The meaning of these glances may be attributed to the unintelligible exclamation at the beginning of the story.


    Overcome by the gaze that insisted, "Ask me, ask me," Merzel uttered the question with a sigh of resignation.


    "......, what''s so sneaky about it?"


    "I''m glad you asked me that, lieutenant!"


    Do you want to hear it?��Do you want to hear it?��Do you really want to hear it?��I was annoyed at my boss, whose eyes were twinkling, but I couldn''t stay mad at him at every turn.


    Merzel tries to keep her composure and replies, "Please tell me.


    "It''s my sister Lee who is the sneaky one!��No, I''m always doing interesting things with the king and I''m sure I''m always sneaky, but this time I''m not even talking about that!"


    "......Oh, you mean the case. I heard that you were able to defeat a mythological threat (SS rank) single-handedly.


    This is a scoop that has not yet been made known to the public, but was known to some executives.


    The fact that a mythical threat existed in the expeditionary area was a surprise, but the fact that it was defeated in an encounter for which they were ill-prepared and by a single horseman was even more shocking. In any case, a mythical threat is an entity that should be challenged after careful preparation, tactical planning based on solid information, and sufficient forces.


    The first corps commander''s feat of defeating a threat that ideally should have been conquered by multiple corps commanders, even with the king''s help, single-handedly, was a great accomplishment, as one would expect from the "three bodies of the beginning. When this information is made public, he will be praised together with the king for his great achievement.


    "Yes, yes!��And it''s right in front of the king!��He saved the king from a pinch and played a big role!��That''s so cool and super sneaky!��I want to be a rioter too!"


    The leader of the boys'' group complains loudly at every turn.


    It was very noisy for Merzel, but considering his feelings, it was understandable to some extent.


    After all, he had failed to play any part in the battle the day after the inter-world transition had occurred. While the other corps commanders were fulfilling their duties, he alone was left out of the equation.


    After all the fighting was over, it was none other than Merzel who announced the end of the war to him while he was waiting in the main square of the headquarters, and the look on his boss''s face was extremely amused - or rather, extremely painful. The look on his face, as if it were the embodiment of despair, is still a source of great joy, or at least a tightening of the chest, when I think back on it.


    "No. My true feelings."


    I tried to hide it, but I couldn''t.


    It seems that I am a bit tired, perhaps because I am also engaged in the unfamiliar task of inter-country exchanges.


    "After all, it''s not my main job. ......"


    To begin with, I am from a technical field.


    I have the ability to interact with others, but only to the extent that they can interact with me.


    The fact is that I was appointed as the deputy head of the delegation that pioneered the first exchange between nations in this world.


    When I was told of this assignment, my honest impression was that it was out of my field.


    However, when I was told the name of the person in charge, I was convinced. It was my own boss (Robin) who had been appointed as the head of the delegation.


    He said that he had been chosen with the aim of resolving the various problems including the verification of Fafnir and with an eye on the future prospects of the project. There are not many people who can control this runaway dwarf.


    "...... I, on the other hand, am not so sure that I can control him.


    At best, we can reduce the number of victims.


    The only people who can be truly controlled are the "three bodies of the beginning," consisting of the first corps commander, the second corps commander, and the third corps commander.


    First of all, the Commander of the First Corps also has the authority as the Commander of the General Corps, and is able to judge each corps commander to some extent at his own discretion. Robin without Fafnir is nothing but a helpless lamb in front of her who is well versed in the language of the body.


    The commander of the 2nd legion is a man of character who respects discipline, and is a leader in restraining the demons who tend to run amok. In a sense, he is Robin''s worst enemy. Incidentally, the two do not get along well.


    And the leader of the Third Army is a saint whom everyone recognizes, and whom even the ephemeralist Robin has no choice but to be cautious of. It is said that there was a time in the past when he was unable to exercise self-restraint, and the incident seems to have been traumatic for him. He was not good at the Third Corps Commander, at least to the extent that he tried to play the good boy in front of her.


    Such are the members of "the first three", but it is absolutely impossible for them to take care of their boss (Robin). All three of them are in charge of their own heavy responsibilities. There is no room for anyone else in the current situation in Alkimaira.


    "I''ve heard that the commander of the Third Corps, for example, is even showing signs of death from overwork. ......"


    It is only a rumor, but it is proof that the work is so hard and demanding that it is rumored. The 1st and 2nd corps commanders are not much different in terms of the severity of their responsibilities.


    Thus, through a process of elimination, I am the one who was left behind, and I am thus serving as a watchman for my troubled boss.


    Anyway, since I have been appointed to a position of responsibility, I must fulfill my duties. Organizing the reconstruction assistance and managing the construction of the large boxes are also within the scope of his job as deputy director. Merzel returns to the task of examining the timetable to ensure that the king''s expectations are met.


    "What?"


    Then, I was struck by a strong sense of discomfort.


    I noticed that the room was filled with silence.


    The concept of quietness is something that is the opposite of that of his boss.


    With a bad premonition, Merzel looks at the end of the chain extending from his bracelet.


    "...... got me."


    At the end of the sturdy chain, only a dull, shiny bracelet remained.


    + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +


    With his high skill (DEX) for nothing, Robin is free and heads for the small castle.


    The purpose was to perform his usual routine.


    What he always does, in other words, is <>, and <> is to be kept.


    The king himself said something like that, I am sure of it.


    In other words, it is my duty to do this, and it is not a kind of distraction or stress-relieving activity.


    It is to keep the .


    So, hooray!


    Robin sprinted down the corridors of the castle, shouting the usual lines and going about his business as usual. That is, skirt-snatching for the ladies who work at the castle.


    As one would expect from a prank like this, the ladies'' guards have tightened up, but not to the extent that Robin''s skill is exceeded. His skill (dex), the best among the eight grand corps leaders, is not a fluke. As soon as Robin slips in front of the lady''s feet with his agile movements, he returns the favor and pulls up her skirt to inspect its contents.


    "No, no...!"


    "Careful, I''m coming to you...


    "A swarm of frogs is coming from the ceiling ......!"


    "Calm down, it''s just a toy!��Instead, prepare for an attack on the--Caaaah!


    With a high-pitched scream in the background, Robin runs down the hallway.


    It''s the winds of freedom.


    It quickly leaves the scene of the crime, leaving behind its many victims.


    The embodiment of freedom catches sight of a figure around the corner of the hallway.


    "Mwah!"


    Halfway pointed ears. Half-up white hair. White skin. White tunic. Although I could not see her face because her back was turned to me, I recognized her uniformly white figure.


    It was Lilifa-Lum-Latestwood, the sister princess of Queen Leifa, who ruled Latestwood.


    "...... hmmm."


    Hiding in the shadows, Robin was lost in thought.


    According to the information he heard via the League of Deviousness (Camilla), she is a princess in this country. And now that the first princess, Leifa, has been crowned queen, she has been moved up to the first rank in the line of succession to the throne, and is said to hold the second highest position in the country.


    However, what Robin was told was not quite clear to him.


    To begin with, the concept of the right of succession to the throne is not clear to him.


    ��For the demons who have lived in the world of Tactics Chronicle, the king (player) is an immortal being, and there is no need for generational change.


    Although a king may be usurped by a rebellion, such an event as handing over the throne to the next generation did not exist in a country ruled by a king (player).


    "Speaking of great people other than the king, the commander of the legions, ...... this is different, isn''t it?"


    Probably not.


    A corps commander is required to have more or less fighting ability. And even if he is one step behind others in terms of combat ability, he must be able to more than compensate for it.


    However, as far as I can see from lurking in the shadows, she does not seem to have the ability to fight. She did not seem to have the superior skills like myself or the excellent information processing ability like Camilla.


    The way she was chatting with the courtesan in the hallway, she appeared to be nothing more than a little girl.


    "Hmmm ......"


    Anyway.


    She must be a .


    The respect the ladies are paying her is a sure sign of that.


    And that''s why Robin is confused.


    His mind is occupied with the vexing question of weighing risk and pleasure, namely.


    "To prank or not to prank, that is the question."


    "You''ve got to be kidding me!"


    Robin, with a philosopher''s expression on his face, is struck by Merzel, who has caught up with him at full speed.


    He manages a deft imitation of gasping for breath and shouting in a whisper, then questions his superior with a devilish expression on his face.


    "Commander, do you really know what you are talking about?��You should at least be able to tell who you can and can''t mess with, no matter how hard you try. To put it bluntly, it''s unfashionable. ......!"


    "Well, you know..."


    Not "because. ......, you''ve had your fill by now. Let''s go home. I have to ask the Commander to review our workflow, checklists, and so on. I also have to submit a budget application for the preparation of Fafnir''s sortie, inspect the large boxes, etc. ......Ah, and also compile a report on the exchange activities with the local people. ......"


    "You''re so detailed, Merzel. If you think like that all the time, you''ll go bald in the future.


    If you had done your job properly, you wouldn''t have to worry this much!


    Meltzel screamed with a force that cut the blood vessels in his head.


    It was a roar from the depths of his heart, a roar that unleashed all the frustration he had felt over the past few days.


    The exclamation, which he did not even remember to frown, caused Lillipha and the ladies, who had been chatting and laughing, to turn their heads in unison.


    "Oh, ......"


    It was too late for him to realize his blunder.


    Merzel''s eyes locked with Lillipha''s, and sweat dripped down her cheeks.


    "Uh.........uh...is that you, Mr. Merzel?"


    Yes, yes. I am Merzel, sent from the Alkimaira home country. Princess Lillipha, you have a good day.


    He somehow manages to utter the words of civility he has studied.


    As she looks at Merzel, Rilifa asks an honest question with an innocent expression on her face.


    "What are you doing at that ...... place?"


    It was a simple question that even the princess language had forgotten.


    When asked, Merzel stiffened.


    The way she was hiding in the shadows, looking at the situation, was suspicious.


    ............That is, isn''t it?


    Merzel was at a loss for words.


    After all, they were in the middle of the castle of a friendly country.


    It would be impolite to speak honestly about the current situation, but he could not come up with any convenient excuses.


    He was not good at improvising in such situations.


    The two men continued to freeze up, but suddenly the equilibrium was broken.


    In the midst of this unexplainable tension, Robin Harnaldewergh himself took a few random steps forward.


    However, he had a serious expression on his face, which Merzel could not remember seeing only a few times.


    "----"


    Robin never exchanged words with Lillipha.


    In fact, this was the first time they had even met face to face.


    Through Merzel''s tireless efforts, arrangements had been made for them not to run into each other.


    But words were unnecessary.


    A glance was enough.


    At the moment their eyes met, the genius (Robin) sensed with an understanding that is impossible to explain to others.


    He knew that she was just like him, that she was a definite .


    Robin smiled and Merzel heard a rush of blood.


    "Hello, hello, hello, princess!��I am Robin from Alkimaira!��Feel free to call me <!"


    "...... Let''s see. My sister has told me to treat the military commanders as princesses, not ...... as I''ve been offered."


    "As for me, don''t worry about that, I''m fine, fine, fine!��The king also told me to be friendly with the people of Latticewood, so let''s be more frank, Frank!"


    Robin talks to Lilliput with a big smile.


    Lillipha, on the other hand, was taken aback for a moment, but when she realized once again that <> was being friendly to her, she took the opportunity to respond with a cheerful smile on her face.


    The two of them then proceeded to have a smooth conversation, focusing exclusively on Robin''s pranks.


    The half-elf courtesan in the background was giving Merzel a "please stop it" look, and Merzel was feeling the same way. Although she had read the dialogue manual beforehand, she had not expected such a situation and did not know how to treat her as a princess.


    As a result, the two of them started a conversation without being stopped by anyone, and the conversation eventually took a catastrophic turn.


    "Ha-ha-ha, that''s so funny!��Master Robin--or rather, Mr. Robin, did you really do that!"


    "Of course I did!��I still remember the look on Garu''s face when he sat down in the chair and leaped through the ceiling into the sky!��I was so mad at him afterwards!"


    "But how does a flying chair work?��It''s a magical tool, right?��Wouldn''t that be difficult to make?"


    "Hmmm...you listened to me, princess. But there''s nothing I can''t make!��Because I''m a genius!


    "Amazing!��Oh, you can call me instead of .


    "Then let''s call her Rilifa!��It''s been a long time since I''ve met a girl I could hit it off with like this. Would you like to be my friend?"


    Please don''t do this," said all but two of them in unison.


    Against their wishes, however, Lillipha smiled broadly and took Robin''s offered hand in hers.


    This was the moment when the two bad boys representing both sides joined hands.


    "Oh, yeah. I''m going to play a fun game, would you like to join me?"


    "Interesting games?��What is it, what do you do?"


    "Mmm-hmm. That''s--"


    Lillipha''s eyes sparkle with anticipation.


    Robin lets out a deliberate sneer in front of her.


    The sight of the two of them gave everyone, except the two of them, an inexpressibly ominous feeling of foreboding.


    And then--


    + + +


    "Hyah!"


    "Hyah-ha-ha!"


    Two small shadows sprint down the hallway.


    One belongs to a small boy and one to a girl with a young face.


    Both run like the wind through the corridors of the small castle, shattering the tranquil air that should have been there.


    "Ri, Rilifa-sama ......?��What do you mean, hiyaaaa--!"


    First, one of the maids of honor was sacrificed.


    She was distracted by the princess who leaped in front of her, and while she was distracted, a dwarf crept up behind her and lifted up her skirt.


    The unprotected princess was attacked by the dwarf, who even delayed to hold up her skirt, and was carefully inspected by Robin.


    "Yay!"


    "Yeeeee?"


    The two underlings high-five each other to celebrate their success.


    And by the time the victim came to her senses, her feet were already running off in search of the next victim.


    "Oh, Robin!��There are more of them over here this time of day!��I can flip a lot!"


    "Yes, sir!��Yes, yes, the princess and the legionnaire are coming through!��Yee-hah!"


    The two run down the corridor with their own faces, exchanging lighthearted conversation.


    No one can stop their barbaric behavior.


    With Princess Lillipha, a powerful woman from a friendly country (Rattlestwood) on his side, even Merzel had no way to stop Robin.


    And so the mischievous children of both countries, now on the loose, rejoice in their good fortune to have a new friend and spread chaos all over the castle.


    "Oh, ......, it''s having a bad influence on Lilifa-sama''s education. ......"


    Wenli, the chief of her school, mutters with a sad expression on her face.


    Then, feeling a strong sympathy for her crumpled body in the corridor, Merzel goes around handing out apologies to the victims with a weary expression on her face.


    Later, the two of them would go on a rampage under the name of the "League of Pranksters," a name that is a bit of a headache, but that''s another story.