The outskirts of the capital city of Borvat. The place that overlooked the city as a rolling hill surrounded by forest was the initial meeting point of the heraldic and mastighian armies.

　Originally, they were supposed to meet at this place and drive the demon army away in coordination with the city's interior.

　However, that idea proved futile, and all that was left was 3,000 heraldic soldiers and the color of dead snow. Other than that, there was no one else.

　It was no wonder. Mastighios should no longer be in a position to join us. That's probably why he sent word to me.

　I stifled a chewing tobacco with my teeth and looked down at the capital of Borvat.

　A hall of magic with a radiant glow. There was the royal road that all those who wished to follow the path of magic must take at least once.

　I had heard rumors about it, but this was the first time I had seen it. The scale of the city is lower than that of the Garlist Royal City, but the quality of its walls and the splendor of the city may be higher. The best of magic and technology can be seen throughout the city.

　It is at its peak. This city had the momentum to eventually swallow up the declining kingdom of Garleist.

　But now that city is sadly under the control of the demonic. Mages and citizens alike are in the clutches of the demonic.

　It was ironic that the Garlist Kingdom and the Borvat Dynasty, which had been at odds with each other throughout history, became equals in one respect: the fall of the capital to the demonic. What will the historians of later generations write about this event?

　In the first place, I don't know if humans are prepared for such a fine thing as posterity.

You are lost in thought, rare. I'm afraid you don't have time to dwell on your thoughts.

　Kalia said with what could only be described as a smug smile, and stood shoulder to shoulder with me. Silver gazes at me with an air of brilliance.

　He exhaled a mouthful of tobacco and paused before answering.

He paused before replying, "You think I'm pensive? You can leave that to the minstrels. There's only one thing I think about.

　It's called a conspiracy. You take the tobacco out of your mouth and show your teeth.

　The message from Mastighios had taught me something very important.

　The mastighios was on the march when he came into contact with a demon army led by a sorcerer from Borvat. After several clashes, he was forced to retreat, but he rebuilt his army and continued the battle.

　No settlement has been reached yet. The mastighios says that there are no problems, though some of the generals are damaged.

　Perhaps the enemy fears Mastighios too much. I heard from the messenger that reinforcements are pouring in one after another, and the demon army is growing stronger day by day.

　The fact that he can say that there are no problems in the midst of all this is quite impressive. I'm sure that's not just bravado, but pride backed up by strength.

　Also, as most people expected, it seems that many of the Borvatian sorcerers have truly fallen to the magical side. This can't be helped.

　It's not that I don't like sorcerers, but that's the way human beings are. We live our daily lives under the authority of kings and lords who have immense power. If an absolute with more power than the king appeared, there would be people who would hang their heads to it.

　It was a pity for Mastighios, but it was the way it had to be. But burning villages to the ground for reverence is in poor taste.

　But even if that were the case, the current situation is ideal. At least for me.

　After all, Mastighios has attracted most of the demons that run the Borvat dynasty, and the capital is in a state of chaos typical of war times.

　Also, if we are to believe the words of the traitor Shad, the enemy leader Vriliganth is asleep and unable to move. In short, the only people in control of that city, or rather the Borvat dynasty, are the mages under their command.

　Then it's quite simple. I don't know what the poison is, but I'm pretty sure that Gearwheel is in the capital. I don't know why, but every time my heart beats and I sob, I know exactly where he is. I'm sure Fialaat is trapped nearby.

　The only trouble is, many of the sorcerers are still in that city.

　Kalia opens her sharpened lips.

"Well. Are you done playing games, my friend?

　She lifted her lips, her cheeks flushed.

"Yeah. Do you like chivalric tales, Kalia?

　As if caught off guard by my words, Kalia's large silver eyes widened. She frowned at me for a while, but then thought about it for a while and replied that she liked it as much as anyone else.

　What an unexpected reaction. I would have thought that a person like Kalia, who was born to be a knight, would have one or two knightly tales to admire. Perhaps he doesn't have such a hobby.

　She wet her lower lip lightly and continued.

"There are some, I suppose. Some of us dream of a great knight liberating a city single-handedly.

　As soon as I said that, I noticed that Kalia's gaze had become rather stern. A hint of her characteristic ferocity began to leak out of her body, and her silver eyes grew swarthy like a bird of prey.

　Even I, as expected, have recently come to understand her instincts. Perhaps she didn't like the fact that I was riding alone. No, not that she didn't like it, but she's about to bite my neck.

　Is he a hungry lion or something?

　I'm not sure I like it.

"It's not that pretty, but... Hey, Kalia, let's take that city ourselves. We can't keep Fialat waiting.



　I turned my gaze back to the capital of Borvat. A city with a brilliant atmosphere, yet cluttered and filled with chaos and turmoil.

　There was no way he could manage that city by himself. Hundreds of thousands of people live in the city, including the neighboring villages.

　But we have 3,000 men here now. And then there's Caria and, ironically, the demons. With all these people, there's no limit to how many tricks we can pull.

　My cheeks lifted. Strangely enough, more and more heat is pouring out of my chest, and at the same time, something like mud is flooding my chest. I don't know what it is, but I don't feel bad.

　All I could think of was the image of the demon in my eyelids. At his side, Kalia opens her mouth.

"What, you can say it, Lugis. No need to answer. If you give the order, I will do it, of course.

　Kalia says with a sharp smile, keeping her dignified air intact. She seemed to have been waiting for something, and yet she seemed satisfied.

　Looking back, he saw that 3,000 soldiers were already there. It must have been Kalia who had them ready. They were neatly lined up.

　When I looked at them, I saw that they were all slightly wounded from the battle in Garouamalia, and their armor showed scars as well. The only thing that is boiling in their eyes is their will to fight.

　Many of them are heraldic soldiers. They were originally martyrs to the teachings of heraldry, men who took up spears for heraldry. They are not my soldiers by any means.

　But at this moment, they are not defending Garouamalia, the holy land of heraldry, or following the saint Mattia, they are simply following me.

　It's not that I'm not a good person, but it's just that I'm not a good person.

　I looked around at the faces, many of them familiar. Some of them I had seen since the first fall of Galuamaria, some of them I had fought with at the Battle of Sarnio, and some of them were mercenaries I had fought alongside.

　All of them looked tense, and yet, like Caria, they looked as if they were waiting for something.

　Their actions could be summed up in one word: insanity. There was no reason for them to die for me, not for a saint, not for a cause.

　And yet, they followed me.

　Then I owe it to them to live up to their expectations. I have to be worthy of their expectations. I have to be worthy of their deaths.

　He held up one arm and said.

"No, don't get worked up. It's just like any other day.

　I looked at each soldier's face. I could see that all eyes and consciousness were focused on me alone.

"Same as always. Just go, win, and come back.

　Instantly, three thousand savage voices and six thousand eyes answered me. There was no longer any way left for me to go back.