Both the Bolverts and the heraldic soldiers gawked at the sight. They felt a strange burning sensation on their cheeks instead of the chill of dead snow.

　What they saw was a huge sandstorm that seemed to be devouring the very earth. The wind was turbulent, and fine sand floated up and hit the sky. In an instant, the sand had enveloped the soldiers of both forces.

　No one could take in the sight. Was this magic by someone, or was it a naturally occurring anomaly? If it was magic, it would have involved both armies, and I've never heard of a sandstorm occurring around Garouamalia.

　Then what is it? Why is this happening?

　A torrential downpour of sand that I can't even open my eyelids for. Everyone paused for a moment, confusion hitting them on the cheek. Every time the sand gets tangled in your limbs, you lose strength. It was difficult to hold onto their weapons. The sorcerer-beast soldier easily made himself fall to the ground.

　As if to take away even the confusion, the sandstorm increased its momentum to the fullest, enveloped the soldiers, and then simply disappeared. Leaving only sand behind, the sky returned to its usual cloudy state.

　At the moment when everyone was speechless and even the heat of the battlefield was lost. The voice echoed.

"Lower your spears, both sides. There is no longer any reason to lose your lives!

　The voice contained a brilliant confidence, and was accompanied by a heavy atmosphere. The voice, amplified by magic, said as if it enveloped the entire battlefield.

　It was a voice that was more familiar to the Borvat soldiers than anything else. The voice of one who leads and guides you. With a voice that seemed to have a slight tinge of sadness in it, it continued to speak.

"In the name of General Mastighios-la-Bolgograd, I command you. Bolvart soldiers, cease the continuation of the battle. Its meaning is now lost.

　For a moment. The sudden order to end the war made it difficult for all of the Bolvart soldiers to accept the words. But that doesn't mean that it's difficult for the soldiers to go against the words of the wizard general.

　What should they believe? Or, for that matter, what is happening now?

　Everyone's eyes reflect the confusion of the battlefield, and yet they are slowly losing their will to fight.

　But the second-in-command, Eileen-Rae Rachidore, was different. Her eyes were still filled with pure hostility and ambition. As if shouting to the heavens, Eirene opened her lips.

"How can that be?　Our victory is before us now. We have our glory!　My lord, we can be the champions of the continent!

　The voice came from the bottom of his heart. The longing of the House of Rakiador, of the Borvat dynasty, is at hand. So why did he need to lower his spear?

　Eirene wondered if the Warlord was doing this to prevent himself from being successful. But then there was a voice that rang directly in her ears.

I was a fool, but I was a fool. I was a fool, but you are not.

　The sound of horses' hooves kicking lightly against the sand was heard. Eirene, who was standing in the main camp, turned toward the sound.

　The mage general Mastighios was there, swaying on his horse. The sound of his voice must have come after he had already approached.

　He had a wound on his body, but he was leading his guards in an imposing manner. When Eirene looked at him and asked him what he meant, Mastighios slowly lowered himself from his horse and said.

The demon Lovul has broken his promise not to harm my people. They no longer have the will to keep their covenant with us.

　Eirene gritted her teeth as she heard Mastighios' words. She shouldn't have been shocked by those words.

　After all, everyone knew that anyway.

　Demons who see humans only as their toys or livestock. The demons they serve. The motherland surrendered to those monsters and the kingdom fell to the ground.

　Why should the demons keep their promise to the humans when they're in that situation? We can't do anything if they break it. Our homeland could be doomed at any moment with them holding a blade to it.

　Eirene opened her mouth, her sharp eyes glittering. The emotions that had been stirred up by the infectious magic were about to come out of her mouth.

"...... You knew that, didn't you? Sir. You knew that, and you chose to prolong the life of our country for a short time.

　Her voice was not condescending, which was unusual for Eirene. Her voice was not condescending, which was unusual for Eirene, but it was full of gloom and inexpressible emotion.

　Eirene's words were the very truth. The Borvat dynasty had fallen to the demons and its authority was humiliated. The once great army is now at the mercy of the demons.

　There was no more kingship, and dignity was shattered. If you still choose to prolong your life instead of dying...

　All that's left is blood and lust. The only way to maintain one's sanity is to get a drink to distract oneself from the worst of reality.

　The general, the commander, and surely even the soldiers knew that. The general, the captain, and the soldiers all knew what this conquest of the West was all about.



　At Eirene's words, Mastighios maintained a moment of silence. There might have been a hint of sympathy in it.

　Even if he knew everything, there was nothing he could do about it. So I just had to be absorbed in what was in front of me. You have to believe it's the truth.

　Eirene immersed herself in the frenzy of the battlefield and kept her sanity.

"Rakiador.

　A word, Mastighios said. Eirene raised her head and looked at her superior.

"Look up and look ahead. There is no need to look away now. Our enemy is in the east. That is the only truth.

　Mastighios looked lightly upward. His dark eyes reflected the slanting sunlight.

"You say you will avenge it, my lord? You would take on a monster that your nation has succumbed to?

　Those wizards who devour all sorts of magic and twist sorcerers like they're babies. Eirene could feel the darkness seeping into her heart just by looking at that image.

　If she had to deal with them, she would still be better off looking to other battlefields. It is much cheaper and more peaceful to stay in falsehood.

Yes. You will understand, Rakhiador. I finally understand. There is no longer time for mortals to fight each other. We are standing on the edge of a cliff.

　Eirene hated this kind of language from Mastighios. Eirene disliked Mastighios' words, not because he was trying to flatter her, but because he truly believed that Eirene was a man of wisdom and resourcefulness.

　Even if all of that wisdom, talent, and magic is a curse that she acquired in order to get rid of the Volgograd family.

　Eirene hated those dark eyes that just stared straight at her. She didn't like the look of confidence on his face.

"You're not to blame. It's all my fault. When all is said and done, I am the only one to take the blame. Lokiador, lend me your strength once more.

　But Eirene knew very well that he was the only one who would admit his power to her.

　That's why Eirene is still his second-in-command. Even though she may disobey his orders, she cannot help but dislike him intrinsically.

　I'd be lying if I said I wasn't lost for words. I'd be lying if I said I didn't have any thoughts in my mind. But Eirene fell to her knees and said.

But Eirene kneeled down and said, "If that's what you want.

　Here, the Demon War has come to an end for the time being. The scars are still fresh and humanity is still at odds with each other.

　But it was clear that an opportunity had been reached. The Kingdom of Garleist, the Southern Kingdom of Illyssarde, and the Eastern Dynasty of Borvat.

　There is no record of any cooperation between these three nations in the history books. If you only want to look at the fact that a nation of the same size was unified, you have to go back to the time of Altia.

　Therefore, this is an opportunity of history. It is an opportunity for nations that were in conflict with each other to unite and become a single power.

　It was only one man who tied them together.