Leaving only the wounded and sick and the guards in the city, the reorganized heraldic army stands in front of the walls of Garouamaria. There were about three thousand of them, including the volunteers from Garouamaria.

　It was hard to say that their numbers and equipment were sufficient, but it's always a luxury to want everything. If you can't afford luxury, you have to make do with the money you have. That's what war and life are all about.

　I put my foot in the stirrup of my horse, look at the figure in my pocket, and open my mouth.

"Are you really coming? We can turn back now. There's nothing wrong with waiting here.

　I tell him that there's no turning back if the army is already on the move. That's what I told Leung below me. Her white hair swayed, and her eyes, like fresh blood, looked up at me.

　A gentle, yet fragile smile appeared on her face. Her face was the same as the jewel's, but the impression was different, probably due to the goodness of her nature.

"No, Master Lugis. No, Master Lugis, I will not wait for you alone when Master Fialaert is gone.

　A white breath brushed her lips. You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few of them in the marketplace.

　The jewel Agathos fell asleep after the battle with the Gear Laboure. I don't know if it was because the magic he had stored up was depleted, or if Leu had lost his function as a demon.

　One thing is for sure, she is just a weak child now. She's not even fit for battle.

　Normally, I'd leave Leu in Garou Amalia, but...

"Lack of power is no excuse for not doing anything. Master Lugis.

　No matter how hard I tried to persuade her, she wouldn't budge. No, given her faith, it was a natural choice.

　Reaching out to help someone, for the sake of others. That's what Leu's faith is all about. Sigh.

　If I'm being honest, I didn't really feel the same way about Leu's faith. Giving up your life for someone else and saving them. I think it's noble. I'd applaud it if it was a saint from history speaking.

　But when there's a girl right in front of you who's really trying to do it. How many of us can admire that?

　A man should live for himself. If you can live your life to the fullest, you're good. Why is that not good enough?

　But looking at Leung now, I didn't feel like slashing his faith head on.

　She lived for the sake of others, and as a result, all that was left in her was faith. If even faith is taken away from her, what will be left behind?

　I sighed deeply once more as I steadied the blanket-bound Leu on the horse. I could see the horse's hooves kicking the snow beside him.

"So this is Agathos, the jewel of today. The more things change, the more they change.

　When I looked back at the voice, I saw a hexenbiest, Dohasura, riding a horse as if he was lying down. He was a beast by nature, so he might be a good match for a horse, but not dressed like that. This guy may be more serious than I thought.

　Dohasura blinked his large magic eyes and held up his twin horns.

"The only jewel I know. The jewel I knew was a woman who could stab even her own people in the back with ruthlessness, and who could do it all by herself.

　Dohasura looks into Leu's eyes and opens her lips suspiciously. It seems that Agathos' behavior, which she had heard, did not fit her memory in any way.

　I felt the same way about that discomfort. The jewel Agathos that I once saw was not a being that showed tolerance to anyone.

　Rather, he was more cruel, seeing others only as objects. A demonic disaster in itself.

　What is involved in her transformation? Is it coincidence, or is it Leu's existence itself? In response to Dohasura's statement, Leu opened his mouth slowly.

...... Agathos says, "Don't say whatever you want.

Are you awake?

　You're awake?" He hadn't fallen asleep, he'd just retreated to the back of the room. In fact, he seems to be in better spirits than I thought. I'm sorry for worrying.

　Just as Dohasura began to talk about the past with Agathos through Leu, a messenger flew in to say that the army was ready to march.

　When I looked up, I could see the majesty of Borvat's army. An army still numbering less than 40,000 standing in an orderly line is, in a word, breathtaking.

　If I had really faced this head-on, I might not have been able to live this day. I felt a shiver run down my spine.

　The man who leads the entire army, the Magician General Mastighios, is approaching us, quietly pacing his horse. As I rode along with him, Mastighios opened his mouth with the vivacious smile of a good man.

I had a good time last night, Lord Lugis. It's not a bad idea to have a few drinks together once in a while.

"Yes, me too, General. Yeah, me too, General. But I'm guessing there really wasn't one. All we talked about was Fialat.

　The mastighios smiled broadly once more and did not reply. He responded with a shrug of his shoulders. Well, there was no politics involved, I suppose.



"As agreed, we will now split into north and south, and head for the capital of Borvat. Let us part ways for a while and wish them well.

　The journey from the walled city of Garou Amalia to the capital of the Borvat dynasty takes about a month for a normal army. It might take a little longer in the dead snow.

　There are several roads in between, but only two are passable for an army.

　One is the main road built for the army to run on, and the other is the road for the merchants to drive their wagons on. The former would be used by Borvat's army and the latter by our heraldic army.

　The reason for separating the armies was that it was difficult to match the marching speed of the different armies, and also to avoid annihilation in the event of a demon attack. In short, it was to prevent people who had once killed each other from causing discord during the march.

　There was no way that everything could be appeased on the spur of the moment. It was a necessary measure.

The road is a bit of a detour. We'll get to the rendezvous point first, but if we're too late, we may have to defeat the demons and monsters first, Lord Lugis.

　It's a good thing I'm not the only one who has a problem with that.

It's easier that way. You can do whatever you want, just make sure you have food and drink.

　I noticed that Eirene and Hind, who were standing behind Mastighios, were looking at me suspiciously.

　I guess they didn't think that the leaders of the army would be talking to each other in such a casual manner.

　As he finished, Mastighios thrust his fist out from his horse. It was an old greeting, but I made a fist to match. The mastighios smiled, still cheerful.

See you in the city. For our tomorrow--

"Yeah. Oh, it's no big deal. Just go, see, and kill.

　At the same time, he claps his fists lightly. That's all it took for them to turn their horses around. There's no turning back now. The time to endure the demons and monsters was over. Now you must raise your blade and bring it down.

　What lay ahead was an event that hadn't even happened on the journey before.

　What would happen, what would come?

　I close my eyelids. Alueno was in the back of his mind. Would she be okay? Alueno's body had been taken by Althea, her soul oppressed. That in no way meant that she was safe.

　Frustration caresses her lungs. Faster, faster. I have to get Alueno back. If I don't get Alueno back soon, there's no point in me being here now.

　In the past, she's been my everything. My support. She saved me, no doubt about it. Then I'll save her.