People, people, people.

　People, people, people... Everywhere there are crowds of people looking at you with weapons. The mixture of rage, fear, and hostility is hard to describe in words.

　Kalia is on the front lines of the battlefield, wielding a silver sword, sweat dripping down her cheeks.

　A spear reaches out to taste her guts. The iron arrowheads came raining down on him, threatening to tear through his chest. Just one of them could easily kill a man. The first thing that Kalia thinks about when she is on the battlefield is how fragile human beings are.

　People who gather, flock, and walk around on the ground every day as if they have nothing to do with death are dying as a matter of course on this battlefield.

　This is what tickles Kalia's fancy. Her claws clawed at her chest with a crunching sound. She wondered if he was safe.

"Lugis. How dare you make me do such a trivial thing?

　I'm not sure what to make of that. I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea. Apparently, this horse is just as angry as she is. Kalia's lips twitched in frustration as she clutched her beloved sword.

　On the right flank of her army, she would hold off the enemy and then intercept them. That was the role that Kalia had been given.

　So far, it was working to some extent. Perhaps because the soldiers are on the defensive. There is no sign of any serious damage. Of course, as time goes by, they will be outnumbered, but at least for now they are holding their ground.

　But that didn't make Kalia feel any better. She only gnashed her teeth in frustration.

　I was willing to accept his request because he, Lugis, asked for it in person. I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.

　I'm sure you're not the only one who has a problem with this. The tip of the sword is delicate, though it seems to be wielded with force.

　The silver makes a semicircle in the air, and in a moment, the helmet and head of the enemy soldier fly off in a friendly manner. The smell of iron tickled Caria's nostrils.

　Honestly, I don't like it. If I'm going to be on the battlefield, it's better to be on the battlefield with Lugis. If he was so far away, he wouldn't be able to pull himself up when the Grim Reaper laid a finger on him.

　Glancing briefly at the center of his army, Caria heard the scratching sound in her chest again. An invisible anxiety twitched in her brain as she wondered if he was injured now.

　I wondered if I should have forced my way into his bosom, if this was the case.

　But every time she thinks about it, she remembers the moment when Lugis said he would ask her for help. I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it.

　You can't do that. I just can't imagine myself refusing that request.

　Is this weakness, or is it strength? Is it because of my pride, or is it because of my obsession?

　--But he... Even though my life has been taken from me, I think you should treat me with a little more care and reward.

　The man who had his whole life in his hands at Belle Fain let out a sigh of dissatisfaction, and Kalia shook her silver sword on the battlefield.

　I'm not sure if you're a fan of this, but I'm sure you'll like it.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　The left wing of the heraldic army. A few of the elven troops have bows, and they shoot arrows that are covered with spirit magic to pierce the enemy soldiers. It's just a matter of time before they'll be able to get to the bottom of it.

　It was a sign that the spell of the spirits had penetrated their skin and eaten into their souls.

　Spirits are a blessing to elves, but they can also be harmful to humans. They can curse their bodies to live only in their own realm, or they can wound the souls of men with clear intent to harm. Spirits are such things by nature. To humans, they are closer to demons than to gods.

　But we can't blame them. Because in the past, it was humans who prayed to the gods and kept the old spirits away.

"No matter how much spirit magic you have, it's like facing a giant with a knife. I can't imagine him falling down, even if he's a little hurt.

　In the event you're not sure what you're looking for, there are a few things you can do. I'm not sure if there's really any point to this, Erdis thinks, and even that is starting to look doubtful.

　But still, we can't stop. If we don't attract the enemy soldiers to us, even if only for a little while, he will be blocked.

　In the rearguard, looking over the battlefield, Erdis' gaze turned to the center of the plain. The flags were fluttering and tearing in the wind. In that part of the field, it looked as if the world had gone wild.

　There's no doubt about it, Lugis is there. He has not yet buried his fangs even in the middle of the enemy army, but he is still extending his sword forward, forward.

　That's why I can't stand in his way. He is my knight, and I am his master. What lord wouldn't be excited to see a knight striving to do good for his master? How lovely, how worthy.

　The knight ran on without looking back, so the Lord could only watch and give him a little help.

　Again, an elf arrow slices through the hollow. The arrows that can knock a man unconscious with a single thrust, only seem to bury themselves in an ocean of men. The bottom of the enemy army is still unknown, and the Great Patriarch's army is truly a giant wielding freely on the battlefield.

　The only way to kill it is to cut off its head. Erdis's blue eyes twisted slightly.

"Stand aside, Master Erdis. We can't risk arrows flying at us.



　The maidservant, Valette, shakes her limbs and shouts to Erdis. She is positioned slightly in front of Elddis, as if to shield her no matter what.

　However, his legs and even his voice show clear signs of trembling and fear. She is not the kind of elf that should be on the battlefield.

　I told her she didn't have to follow me into battle because she was my maid of honor, but Elddis quietly let the words escape her as her cheeks fell.

I'm not backing down. My knight is on the battlefield. My knight is on the battlefield and I'm not going to miss his heroics.

　You can step back, Valet. You can step back, Valet," she replied, "but I can't do that. What a stubborn, stubborn character. I'm sure you'll be able to find something that will help you out.

　If you're not sure what you're looking for, you can always ask for help from a friend. I have a responsibility, a responsibility to take care of all of them with my blue eyes. And I have a duty to bear their souls.

　It's the same as it was the day I started the civil war in Gazaria. I have to carry them as they die on my terms.

　And there's something else that bothers me. It's a strange feeling.

　We're keeping the enemy at bay as we should, that's good. If this doesn't work, Lugis won't even be able to reach the enemy lines in the first place.

　So that's a very good thing. But isn't it going too well, even better than our aim? It's as if even the enemy is trying to hold us back.

　--Am I thinking too much, or am I being theatrical?

　Erdis's small lips parted slightly.