444 443 Say 'Attentional Device'




 I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you've. The amount of dead snow has become much better than it was at the beginning, but it is still annoying.

 As soon as you take your first step, the snow spreads through your shoes and onto your soles. The boy soldier of the heraldry, Hayes, distorted his expression, but did not say it out loud.

 If he said it out loud, it would be even more painful. If I say it out loud, it will make it worse. It would have been better to just look ahead and keep going.

 My breath turned white and rose into the sky. I wondered how long it would be before I could see the walled city of Garou Amalia ahead of me. We should be almost there.

 There, we would come face to face with the elite of the Borvat dynasty, the masters of the east. They would bite their teeth and fight for their lives.

 At the thought, Hayes felt a shiver run down his spine. It was different from the shiver that came from the cold.

"What's the matter, boy soldier? Are you scared?

 Apparently, Hayes' shivering had been spotted by the soldier walking next to him.

 He was an old man with gray hair, and he carried not only a spear but also a bow and a sword on his hip. Just by looking at him, she knew that he was skilled enough to handle multiple weapons, that he had been through many battles, and that he had accumulated enough wealth to be able to carry them.

 One of the old guard Hayes was familiar with was Ziz.

No, I'm not afraid. I'm a soldier myself.

 By all accounts, that was bravado. Hayes himself knew that.

 But being a soldier is a tricky thing, and if you use words like "afraid" too easily, you're mocked. If you're not brave, you're not soldierly, they say.

 And not being brave was a terrible insult to a soldier.

 Knowing what Hayes was going through, Ziz smiled softly and said, "I'm sorry. It was a rare smile for an old soldier.

"Well, I'm scared. They say there are 30,000 or more of them. We're probably only good for a couple of thousand.

 Without thinking, Hayes rolled his eyes. He knew it was Ziz's idea of a joke, but he didn't think someone as skilled as him would say it out loud when he was scared.

 But hearing it made it all the more real to Hayes. The fear was born in his heels and rose to his chin. He wished he could just spit it out here.

 After all, as Ziz had said, the Borvat army was powerful. They've got the numbers, and they're all elite. On the other hand, this one is a combined force of volunteers and mercenaries.

 In addition, it is said that among the heraldic soldiers, there are some who just recently followed Salainio and pointed their spears at Lugis.

 Hayes did not understand why such people were marching together. If Largd-Anne, the regent, says so, there is nothing to complain about, but I can't help but wonder if they can be trusted.

I hope the city-states are doing well, but ...... you know what? They don't get along. It sucks.

I know. I'm from a city-state myself. I'm from a city-state, so the best I can say about it is that it's ...... a place of entertainment and ironwork.

 City-states. The area that exists between the Kingdom of Garleist and the Borvat dynasty is sometimes damaged by invasion as a buffer zone between the two countries, but has developed its own culture over its long history.

 The walled city of Garouamaria, which is owned by the heraldic cult, and the mercenary city of Belfain. More than ten other major cities, such as the entertainment city of Deanheim, the ironworker city of Portus, and the temple city of Seton, form city-states and hold together other smaller cities and villages.

 And while the major city-states formed a coalition, they constantly competed for influence and were aware of each other. It is safe to say that they are even hostile to each other.

 However, they cannot wage war against each other because they have been competing with the great powers with their coalition. On the surface, they try to get along.

 Therefore, the coils that had once been created did not come to the surface, but simply smoldered on.

 Over time, coiling becomes dissatisfaction, dissatisfaction becomes resentment, and resentment becomes hostility.

 The city-states are not monolithic. And now the major city-states have been cut down by the heraldic religion.

 In this situation, how many city-states will join forces against the invasion of the Borvat dynasty? The more independent city-states might think that the coalition had collapsed and would only try to defend their own cities.

 Even if this was not rational, there was no one in the city-states who could hold them back.

 The current situation of the city-states was so chaotic that even Hayes, a commoner, could understand it. That's why fear and anxiety are rooted deep in my heart.

 I can't stop thinking about it. Maybe, just maybe, we won't be able to do anything and will just end up being swallowed up by the Borvat dynasty.

"Well, you won't make it out alive. Boy soldier. Why did you volunteer?

 He mumbles about death like it's nothing. Hayes knew that old soldiers had that quality about them. They'd seen a lot of deaths, and living deaths were not uncommon.

"I'm not a boy soldier, I'm Hayes. ...... Why? I wanted money, that's why.

 And what's more... Hayes was momentarily at a loss for words. Then he looked ahead. In his vision, he saw a green military uniform. There was no need to ask who that was in this army.

 Yes, and... Because I wanted to be there for the hero. If he was going to die, he wanted to die in the story.



 It was a boyish longing for strength and heroic stories. It was a boyish longing for strength and heroic tales, and a boyish resignation to the idea of life.

 Hayes' parents had died early of illness. They died waiting for a hero. Many of his friends had died of starvation or in battle. Was the girl he loved an epidemic?

 Somewhere in his mind, Hayes knew that he would be one of them. It was a feeling close to resignation.

 If that's the case, I'd rather die beside a hero.

 Just as he was thinking this, Hayes was suddenly hit hard on the back. The force of the blow caused Hayes to stagger and take a few steps on the ground. Ziz laughed with a gusto not befitting his age and said.

"That's bullshit. You're a man, you're a soldier. If you're a man, if you're a soldier, say something like, "I'm here to kill the enemy general! Say something like that. And don't say it's obvious you'll die someday. You can't eat or drink if you're dead. You have to live, even if it's ugly. That's why I'm still a soldier at this age.

 It's true that when you're as old as Jiz, you're usually the captain of a small unit, even if you're not very good. If you think about it, maybe this man really did not care what he had to do to survive.

 Hayes rubbed his aching back and said.

"Then why did you volunteer, Jiz? If you don't want to die, you might as well not volunteer, even if it's embarrassing.

 Of course, he replied.

"For something more important than life.

 Hayes tilted his head, and Ziz laughed again. In the end, the walled city of Garou Amalia was finally beginning to show itself.


 The city of Garouamalia was finally coming into view.


 The Borvat Dynasty's Western Expeditionary Force.

 The majesty of the army is different from that of other countries. There is no such thing as a uniformed army like the Garleist Kingdom.

 The unusual presence and magical power of the magical armored soldiers seemed to transform the air, and the sight of magical beasts that could communicate through magic running alongside them seemed to deviate from the military.

 This diversity was the stronghold of the Borvat army, and also its vulnerability.

 Today, however, the Bolvart army itself is different from the usual.

 Tension, disgust, hatred. Such repressed emotions are shared by generals, unit commanders, and even the ends of the army. There was so much emotion that even the earth seemed to tremble.

 Only one woman possessed all those emotions. She was beside the supreme commander of this army, Mastighios the Magician General.

General. You're not fast enough. Send the men running faster. Quickly, quickly.

 Mastighios said with a hint of disgust in his dark eyes. He didn't even seem to be trying to hide his emotions. A small amount of magic gushed from his large frame.

...... It's impossible. Some of the soldiers have already dropped out. If we go any further, our forces will have to be further reduced.

"General Magus.

 The woman had inorganic eyes. They were a beautiful amber color, like crystal, but they did not look like those of a living being. If anything, she looked more like a doll.

 Her silky hair bounced around her head as she said.

When did I ask you for your opinion? Respond immediately.

 There was a sound of teeth clenching. The mastighios' eyes bled as a lightning storm of magic erupted. All around him, his lieutenants looked at their Lord.

 But no matter how hard he tried, Mastighios was only good enough to be a general. He knew how foolish it would be for him to let his emotions get the better of him.

 It is only when the other party is under the command of the great demon Vriligant, who is now sinking his fangs into the neck of the Borvat dynasty.

"...... have them speed up the march.

 The woman, Vriliganth's demon Lovell, nodded in satisfaction at the sound of his voice. Then, without much emotion, he said to Mastigios.

"Very well. All right, General Magus. We have no concern for the humans. Understand this immediately.

 Again, lightning flares all around. It's a sign that a man has more than enough magical talent, and that he has enough emotion in his heart to keep it burning.

 General of Magic. Mastighios-la-Volgograd said with his black eyes wide open.

"Yes. I'll remember those words well.

 The words were like the roar of a ravenous beast. The witch Laboure just looked ahead as if she didn't care about anything.