A village road off the main road. Discarded when the road was built in the past, it is now overgrown with weeds, and even the fact that it is a road looks suspicious.

　The abandoned roadside lodgings, with their creaking main pillars, will probably return to nature in a few years. Therefore, this will probably be the last time this place will be used.

　A meeting between the two major commanders of the Borvat and Monstrance armies. In attendance are the mage general Mastigios-La-Borgograd and the heraldic hero Lugis.

　I'm not sure what you mean by that.

I'm sure you've seen them on the battlefield.

...... I can't be sure. But if it is someone like your daughter, whom I have seen in the past, then it is true.

　Hind didn't seem unhappy with the Lord's question, but he did turn his gaze down in annoyance. This was the third time he had asked and answered today.

　It was rare for a Mastighios to confirm a single thing more than once, and it was obvious from the side that he was very interested.

　What I saw was something else. Dark hair, dark eyes. One of Mastighios' daughters, Fialat-La-Borgograd.

　She disappeared during the heraldic wars, and her whereabouts are still unknown. There were occasional rumors of someone similar to her, but all of them were uncertain, and Mastighios could not confirm the rumors directly.

　Master sorcerers are a peculiar race. The idea that even if a child is in trouble, if it breaks, that's all there is to it is universally circulated, and that's why they make so many children.

　It is akin to growing many flowers, leaving only the seeds that are resistant to both insects and medicines, and thinning out the rest. That is the right thing to do.

　There is no way that Mastighios, who is the model of a sorcerer and even of a nation itself, can rush around looking for his daughter.

　But Hind suspected that the general was in fact very concerned about his daughter.

　The letter sent in his daughter's name must have been one of the reasons why he accepted the meeting, which he had never agreed to before.

　Another factor in the acceptance of the meeting was the absence of the demon Lovell, who had been keeping an eye on Mastigios.

　Lovell, who has always moved the Magus General according to his will, is now in conflict with the same demon. In a way, this is why the meeting was possible.

　If only for a moment, he could shut down all of his troops and buy himself some time. Eirene might be angry at the opportunity, but Hind found the meeting interesting as well.

　Aside from the safety of Fialaat-la-Volgograd, what would the hero he had glimpsed on the battlefield, Lugis, have to say to his own general?

　It may not be a surrender, but it could be a temporary truce or reconciliation. Or something else entirely. At any rate, much of it can only be refused. But we can measure their character.

　I'd like to know what a hero looks like. This was Hind's personal interest rather than that of a lieutenant general in the army of Borvat. Many officers are passionate about their heroes. Enemies or not, the interest is insatiable.

　They arrived just as Hind had sent out two scouts around the perimeter, keeping the guards in place.

　Perhaps there were other guards, but in reality there were only two. I recognize them as a man and a woman, both wearing robes.

"My general. They're here.

　The mastighios nodded, saying only, "Yes. It was an absent-minded reply.

　This made Hind unconsciously upset, but he did not show it. Maintaining a firm expression and demeanor, he said to the two robed men.

"Stop. I want to see your faces and your names.

　Use language that includes a minimum of politeness. It was customary not to use euphemisms or language on the battlefield.

　Two faces appear almost simultaneously. One is the face that Hind met on the battlefield. The face with the characteristic evil eye and multiple scars. His lips move in an aloof manner.

"Lugis. That's all I have. I have no other name.

　He said without mentioning his family name or even his title. I had heard that he came from the common people, adventurers, but I didn't think he even had a family name. I was surprised that such a person was standing here now.

　However, it was the black woman standing beside her rather than Lugis that caught everyone's attention.

　She had beautiful black eyes and lustrous black hair. She had beautiful black eyes and glossy black hair, the same color as Mastighios.

She had the same color as Mastighios and said, "...... Fialat-La Volgograd. Thank you most sincerely for this opportunity to meet with you, General.

　Hind doubted his own eyes for once. He had met Fialat in the past. To be honest, the feelings he felt at that time were not positive.

　A girl who was always worried about what others thought of her, a girl who lacked confidence. That was purely Hind's assessment of the girl named Fialat. She was not good enough to be the daughter of Volgograd, that's what he thought.

　She seemed fragile, as if she would disappear into the shadows of her talented brothers and sisters and the people around her.

　But now, I don't know. It was as if I was a different person. It's not just that she's grown up over the years. I can even feel the strength in her core.

　Her appearance showed that she was definitely of Volgograd blood, but she did not overlap with the girl he had once seen.

　Hind took a moment to identify herself and then looked at her general. Mastighios' eyes narrowed, and he rose from his chair, stretching his large frame.

"Mastighios-la-Volgograd. No need to thank me. If I were you, I would entertain you with hospitality, but that is not possible. We have no time for each other, but much to say.



　Mastighios looked at Fialat for a moment, but did not go any further. His feelings as a father and his duties as a general of magic were in conflict, and that was the extent of what he would allow.

　Hind had the soldiers around him make fresh preparations and set up an impromptu meeting. If it were to go down in history, Hind wondered if it would be called the Road Conference.

　As soon as the scene was set, Hind made the first move.

My commander-in-chief, General Mage, has given you the opportunity to meet with him. First of all, I would like to hear the purpose of this meeting and your honest request.

　A meeting between military commanders is not just a matter of deepening friendship, of course. A meeting between military commanders is not just a friendly meeting, but a meeting with clear demands and objectives.

　A halt to the march, reconciliation, or...? Hind waited for the voice with all the possible answers in his mind.

　It was Lugis who opened his mouth at the sound of the voice. There was no hint of self-consciousness in his expression, and he said with a joking air.

I'm not sure if you're talking about the demon Vriliganth, the demon Lovell, or any of the others. Demons and demons against humans. We'll wipe them off the face of the earth. I'd be happy to form an alliance to do that.

　For a moment, everyone's words stopped.

　The words Lugis spoke must have been far from what Hind had in mind, at least.

　The request was not for the war that was being waged here and now, but for all those who were called demons and monsters.

　It's a ridiculous rant.

　We'll wipe out that monster, that menacing catastrophe. Words that make me question my sanity more than my doubts and confusion. 　

"Let's talk.

　But only Mastighios nodded his head in agreement.