"Have you managed to settle the matter?"
"Well, when I came back here, I was worried about a lot of things, but as far as I can see, I'm finally calming down."

　Next to Ray looking over the position, Vihela nods with a happy smile.
　Next to them, they're happily eating a set of ryeots.
　This sweet and juicy fruit was now one of Seto's favorites.
　Two days after Fritzione and the rebels joined and renamed Mercurio.
　In Mercurio's position, which already has more than 10,000 combatants alone, the wounds of the recent battle were quickly healing, as Ray and Vihela said.
　It's not just that the injured have recovered.
　Fences and tents destroyed by the attack by the punitive forces have been repaired, and blacksmiths have repaired weapons such as long swords and spears with missing blades and ear tips.
　Even those who came with Fritzione were training with those who had been acting as rebels, and they were getting better and better organized as Mercurio's army.
　Those who came with Fritzione, in particular, were all the best of the best, and were never inferior in terms of skill to those who originally followed Mercurio.
　On the contrary, the White Rose Knights, which are also under the direct control of Fritzione, are less able to win than the Mercurio's, except for their shortcomings and demagogues.
　...the most different place than the previous rebels would be the presence of the Mystery.
　Just as the White Rose Knights are under Fritzione's direct control, there are demon soldiers under Teoreum's direct control.
　Theorem's men were originally at the core when they were rebels, but as if they were absorbed by the rebels as a whole, they were in a position to command rebel soldiers, volunteers, adventurers, and mercenaries.
　In other words, the rebels themselves were commanded by Theorem's men.
　However, among the rebels, each noble had an independent command, so it is not always the case.
　And just as Fritzione and Theoreum have their own troops, Ray also has his own squadron.
　The shortstop, which achieved great results in the previous battle, naturally gained a reputation among Mercurio's army.

"... well, I think I've certainly improved my skillfully.

　turn one's gaze out of position
　As always, Ray's magic tent was set up at the edge of the position, so he could see the shortstop training outside the position with just a glance.
　In the distance of sight, the members of the squad are engaged in a fierce battle.
　It is, however, a mock battle.
　They use mock warfare weapons to avoid fatal injuries, and wizards who can use recovery magic stand by for emergencies.
　The treatment of hiring a few wizards exclusively is probably due to the attention given to the elite unit called the shortstop.
　At the same time, it was a form of humor for Ray.
　Some don't want to be offended by Ray, who alone has equal strength to that of the first team, and others have the ulterior motive of saving Ray, who is well remembered by Vihela and Fritzione.
　Even Ray could easily understand what the other person was thinking.
　Still, they accept that it is not to their detriment, but to their benefit.
　However, I've said in advance that I'm not going to do anything particularly because I've received the courtesy.

"I guess everyone thinks the final battle is coming soon. You heard the information, didn'
"Oh, I heard that Kabazid and Shurus left the imperial capital with considerable strength."

　That's the information I just received this morning.
　It was an act that could be called reconnaissance hunting by the expeditionary forces, and many of those who had already been in charge of reconnaissance by the Mercurio army were either captured or killed.
　Few of them were able to conduct reconnaissance, and this was the information from the few.

(I wish I could do reconnaissance, but basically I'm not good at reconnaissance.)

　One of Ray's drawbacks is that the fighting methods are so obviously flashy, such as the magic of fire and scythe.
　The sort of covert behavior is not very suitable.
　. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"And when do the rebels -- or Mercurio's -- decide that the decisive battle will be?"
"I suppose it will be ten days at the latest, or a few days at the earliest." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What is left of us is not a man of any ability."
"What about the beast soldiers? They don't specialize in fighting, do they?"
"It's impossible. Some of them are certainly good for reconnaissance, but most of them are good for direct combat. Theorame says that all the top-notch magicians have been killed by some of them?"

　Of course Ray understood that the meaningful gaze of Vihela meant the Spring War.
　But Ray thinks it's a war, and as long as it's hostile, it's only natural to kill an opponent.
　In the first place, demagogues are called monsters and human chimeras, and monsters are not necessarily a single element.
　Many of the demagogues I've seen many times are packed with two or three kinds of monster elements.
　If that is the case, I might have paid for that feeling with my fellow workers' orders at a later date, even if I had been rendered helpless without killing them as a humanitarian response.
　In order to prevent it, it was still necessary to take his life on the spot.

"I don't think any of them could afford to catch their opponents alive."

　Vihela smiles a little as Ray mumbled his shoulders.
　I'm not really blaming the beast soldiers.
　I just put it up as a reason to be spoiled by Ray, who was not with me these days.

"Well, the demagogues are basically criminals, and they seem to have become more aggressive." If you think so, it's not only Ray's fault that there are not many magicians for reconnaissance."
"I'd appreciate it if you could say so. --and I say that Vichela doesn't have to work, as I am so slow about it is."
`You've been training since the afternoon, I thought.
"Then I'm free now,"
"Well, I was... free."

　a viola muttering to look away at the figures approaching them. 　
　Beyond that gaze was Angela, the captain of the White Rose Knights.

"Are you here, Mr. Vihela?" His Highness Fritzione is calling for Mr. Vihela."
"No. You're preaching again anyway, aren't you?"
"... well, that's an undeniable fact,"

　Angela nods while looking at the clothes that Vihela is wearing... the clothes that can be seen through, like those worn by prostitutes and dancers.
　When they first joined, Fritzione was happy with the safety of Vihela and Mercurio, but over time she looked at the clothes that Vihela was wearing and looked indescribable.
　For Fritzione, I wanted to say that it was not something that the royal family would wear.
　However, Vihela recognizes herself as having already fled the Empire of Bestia.
　Due to the differences in consciousness, there was a quarrel last night, not so much as a fight...
　Ray, who was sleeping soundly under the influence of the long use of Heio's armor, didn't know at all.

"If Fritzione calls you, why don't you go? I have nothing particular to do today... if I have to say so, to watch the training of the squadron?"
"Grull!"

　At Seto's voice, who cries out, "Then hang out with yourself!" Ray smiles a little before reaching out.
　Seto, who used to be Ray's sofa, swings his tail happily and purrs his throat.

"I think you can take care of me a little bit... Well, how about a mock game after a long time? It's been a while, hasn't it?"
"No, why do you suddenly do that?" There will be a big battle with the punitive force soon anyway, right? Then why don't we concentrate on that?"
"That's terrible, you throw me away!"

　When I told him so, he muttered tearfully from his eyes.
　But Ray opens his mouth completely unconcerned.

"Well, how many times do you think you'll fall for that fake cry? You can't cry like this, can you?"
"Oh, I'm also a woman, so it's only natural that I feel sad when someone I like rejects me."

　Ray breathes a sigh at Vihela, who responds, but is still naturally calm... and even smiling.She must have been crying, but there is no trace of tears left on her face.

"Vihela, please come with me."

　Angela, who was watching such an act as if it were a joke between lovers, says with a slightly grumpy look on her face.
　For Angela, Ray wasn't even a definite man and woman, but he still liked... no, he was.
　Even though Ray is his lord's sister, it can't be interesting to see how close he is.

"I can't help it, I see," Shall I appear quietly?"
"No, I'm not going to get caught,"
"Really? I don't think it's much different for me to preach. ...well, shall we be filial to our sister once in a while? I think I've caused you a lot of anxiety."

　Viehera, who had heard from Angela about her sister when she ran away, knew she was going to be lectured, but couldn't ignore her.

"Good-bye, Ray," I'll argue with my elder sister for a moment."
"...are you going to argue instead of being lectured?" Well, hang in there. I'm going to relax myself to-day, so please come back when you're done."

　Vihela looks a little surprised at Ray's words.

"Oh, are you sure you're coming?"
"Grull".

　It's not necessarily Ray's place, but Seto responds with a guttural voice.
　Vihela didn't know what Seto was saying, but she still felt a happy atmosphere.
　In other words, he smiles a little when he realizes that he was never uncomfortable with coming.

"Thank you. See you later." I'll bring you something to eat, so please wait for me."
"Roll-rolling.

　Ray also opens his mouth, caressing Seto, who cries more happily than before.

"I heard that Seto will bring food as a souvenir, but don't you have any for me?"
"Oh? Do you have any more souvenirs than me?"
"Oh, yes. Then I'll be waiting for the souvenir."
"Vihela, let's go."

　Watching Vichela being pulled by Angela with a slightly grumpy air, she clenches her fist after she disappears.

"Have you recovered much of your magical powers?" ...the armor of the hegemonic king is an easy-to-use skill, but it is troublesome that he consumes too much magic."
"Grull?"

　When Seto asks, "Are you all right?" he caresses his head saying that it's all right.

"It is true that it is troublesome to recover because there is a lot of magic, but I think I can recover by the end of tomorrow, so don't worry."
"Glu".

　Although he may not have completely trusted the remark, Seto still purges with relief at the words that come out of Ray's mouth saying that it's okay.
　Give Seto the skewers from the mistling who cares about him.
　Spread around you is the burning, appetizing smell of sauce.
　The smell stimulates hunger just by sniffing it, and Seto grates joyfully and rubs.
　Ray nods and offers a skewer to Seto, who says, "Can I eat? Can I eat?" and looks at him in a way that doesn't seem to have been eating Lyot until a short while ago.

"Oh, because Seto has worked hard this time. I feel at least grateful. We have plenty of skewers, so you can eat as much as you like. Perhaps the next battle will be a big one. That's the only way to put an end to this civil war. You'll have to do your best then."
"Grull!"

　One by one, in the mild autumn sun, would build up their spirits for the coming battle.