The puppet city of Philos. The whole place was suddenly becoming noisy. With each passing hour, with each passing day, with each passing messenger, with each passing person, the level of noise has increased.

　There are many things they talk about, but there is only one thing at the root of it all.

　--The westward invasion of the autonomous city-states of the Borvat dynasty, the masters of the east.

　The reasons and background are unknown. But it was a fact. The Bolvaat dynasty, led by their valiant magic generals, are trying to sink their sharpened fangs into the city-states.

　There are many who say why, while their own country is also tormented by demonic disasters.

　However, if you just look at the situation in other countries, it is easy to understand their intentions. After all, this is not something that has never happened before.

　The Borovat dynasty has invaded city-states many times in history in order to expand its dominion. Sometimes by surprise, sometimes with large numbers of soldiers.

　However, even at the cost of the blood of many generals, they have never succeeded in establishing long-term effective control.

　One of the factors is that the city-states themselves are now armed states and cannot be easily overthrown. Another factor was that the city-states were under the influence of the Garlist Kingdom.

　When the Borovart dynasty harbored ambitions to the west, they were all crushed by the Garleist kingdom.

　So now, the threat of the Garlist Kingdom, the clasp of the Bolvaat Dynasty, does not exist. The capital has been devoured by demons, and the kingdom's army has been forced to retreat far to the north.

　Then there is nothing strange that the Borvat dynasty has rekindled its ambition. In fact, I would even say it is natural. A nation can never stop its ambition of self-expansion.

　At any rate, the hubbub in the city of Philos shows no signs of abating, and for a while there will be neither morning nor night. Soldiers and civilians are always moving at a fast pace.

　The walled city of Galuamaria and the mercenary city of Belle Fain are undoubtedly major bases for the heraldry. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　But at least Bruder, the mercenary, didn't feel that way at all. With his brown hair hanging down, he pulled on his hat and squinted.

　Beside her, her smooth lips moved as her sister Vestaline spoke.

It looks like another war. I've heard that the Borvat dynasty is also under threat from demons.

　Vestarinu's words were answered by Bruder as if they were nothing.

"Vess. There was once a country where condemned men killed each other as a spectacle. If they lost, they would be executed, and if they survived, they would kill each other again the next day. And so on, day after day, until at last the condemned man was alone and was executed in front of the crowd.

　The way Bruder spoke was something he only showed in front of his sister. The way Bruder spoke was the way he used to speak only in front of his sister, when he had not yet taken the name Bruder. His tone was gentle, but somehow prickly.

　Vestalynne pressed her lips open as if to take in her sister's words.

Vestalynne pressed her lips together as she took in her sister's words, "So you're saying that people kill others before they live another day, even when they know they will die. Is that what you're saying, sister?

　Bruder nodded in affirmation, dexterously turning the needle with his fingertips. The Borvat dynasty said the same thing.

　There is no doubt that they suffered greatly in the face of the demon threat. No matter how good a sorcerer they are, they are no different from ordinary soldiers in the eyes of the demons.

　And so the wise learned. Rather than fight the demons head on and get crushed, they decided it would be wiser to attack other countries and secure their survival.

　Bruder said that he could not read the background that led up to this, but his intentions were probably something like that.

　But that was not what was important to Bruder. To be honest, Bruder was not interested in the invasion of the Borvat dynasty or the destruction of any number of city-states.

　Rather, she was interested in only two things. Her sister, Vestaline, and her employer, Lugis. Everything else is completely unimportant. That is why her eyes are slightly shaded.

　Bruder understands. In this surprise invasion of the Borvat dynasty, he will be called upon again. Because he is heroic. Because he is a strong man. He will be called upon to hold back the Bolvards.

　Bruder's eyes widened and he clutched the needle in his hand.

　This makes him look like a running dog of the heraldry. From right to left, every time there is a conflict, he is addressed and more wounds are inflicted. And people talk about it as if it were an honor. For the greater good, for the world, for the people. It's great.

　Unbeknownst to Bruder, he noticed a fever in his chest. His corner of his eye twitched and his cheek contorted.

　Everyone said he was a strong man. He was a hero, a man of strong body and mind.

　--But is it true?　Isn't it true that no one sees his weaknesses?

　My employer pushes forward no matter how much I try to stop him. As if in pursuit of the ideal he desires. Sure, he may look strong.

　But each time he does, his body and soul are scarred and blood is spilled. Before the previous wounds can be healed, new ones will be inflicted. And still Lugis does not stop.

　Oh, how dangerous, Bruder thought. It's a mad world now. Lugis is stepping into it. The knights, the sorcerers, the elves, and the saints just stare at him lovingly.



　They won't do it. They won't essentially stop Lugis. Because they're the same kind, and their blood runs like mud.

　That is why Bruder narrowed his eyes, knowing that he was the only one who could stop them. He has no strength, no wisdom, no bloodline, nothing. He is not strong, he is not wise, he has no bloodline.

　He is strong, but very fragile. He pushes himself to run away, and never stops moving.

　But that is bound to break down sooner or later. It is not the case that if you push yourself too hard, reason will fall away. You will pay for it.

　What will the one who called Lugis a hero do then? I'm sure they will do nothing. That's what heroes are always like.

　Bruder's eyes caught sight of the noise around him. Among them were those who spoke the name of Lugis. There were those who said that his heroism would repel even the Borvat dynasty.

　Bruder felt like clucking his tongue. Certainly, he had saved himself and Vestalines. If it weren't for him, we might not be here anymore.

　But that's why I don't want him to get hurt any more. Was this selfishness? Bruder didn't know. But he had every right to stop.

　What the world would become as a result was none of Bruder's business.

　--The world that continues to waste him should die out.

　From the bottom of his heart, Bruder believes that. Without a doubt.

　Then again, his sister Vestaline, despite her differences in ideology, was exactly the same. In contrast to the abhorrent Bruder, Vestaline opened her lips in a lively manner.

But, sister, I think the fragile man is also very good.

　The more fragile you are, the more you want peace. The more fragile you are, the more you want peace, and the less you want to give it up, and the less you see of it, Vestalyn says.

　Bruder nodded as he looked at Lugis's stack of chewing tobacco. Bruder's chewing tobacco was now in Lugis's hand.

"Right. And if he is so fragile, broken and crumbling...

　There was a sound of craving. I don't know if I can. I know it won't be easy with those people around. But it's something I want to do no matter what.

"And what then, Vess?

　The answer was obvious. The two sisters said the same thing, and both had the same kind of smile on their cheeks.