(AN: I didnât think I would be able to finish this before midnight, but I did! [TL: I didnât!])
The elves were gathered outside the cell.
Seeing Wynn come out pulling Leticiaâs hand, they made a path.
Standing amongst the crowd, Tiara caught a glimpse of Wynnâs angry face and Leticiaâs teary expression in the light of the World Tree, and started to go after them, but thenâ
She shook her head, and instructed the other elves in the crowd to avoid getting in the coupleâs way.
As Tiara and the other elves watched, Wynn and Leticia walked to the towards the World Tree sapling and stopped at its roots.
âHow pretty. I canât imagine how many more breathtaking sights there are in the world.â
Wynn looked up at the World Tree sapling.
From its trunk, from its branches, from its leaves, many different colored b.a.l.l.s of light â red, blue and yellowâ spilled out from the all over tree, just like dewdrops of light.
Leticia also looked up.
ââ¦It truly is pretty.â
She whispered in amazement.
Unlike Wynn, it wasnât the first time Leticia had seen the World Tree sapling. She had even seen the World Tree in the elven capital.
But when she thought back on it, she didnât remember feeling moved.
The World Tree would normally touch anybody who saw it, but she considered it as moving as a pebble on the roadside. Back then, she thought of the World Tree as a source of magic power for transfer magic. Merely a convenient tool.
Beside Wynn, Leticia also looked at that mystifying sight. She held her hand up and caught one of the floating droplets of light. Like snow, the light melted and and dissipated.
âHey, Leti.â
As he looked up, Wynn started to speak.
âLeti should stop fighting. Especially in battles between humans.â
Leticia looked towards Wynn.
Wynn kept watching the lights floating down from the tree.
âYou might be the Brave who slew the Demon Lord. Praised by everybody, admired by the people, respected by all. Howeverââ
His gaze moved from the tree to Leticia.
âYou canât let them believe that you would wield that power against humans. You are strong, Leti. You are extraordinarily strong. If you got involved in a conflict, the side you supported would definitely win. I donât have much knowledge about the outside world, apart from what I learned in school and read in books. Coming to this elven village made me realize how the world I knew was only a small part of the real world. I truly canât imagine how big the world really is. Even if I had knowledge of the World Tree sapling, seeing it in person is completely different from seeing it in books.â
Wynn once again looked up at the tree.
âBut I do know one thing. People can change their perceptions of you. Since you are a n.o.ble of the Empire, it should be justified for you to fight in the defense of the country. But, as Leticia van Mavis the Brave, you canât do that. You saved the world by defeating the demons. You will not use that power against humans. Thatâs what the people believe. â
âHowever, if people begin to believe that you could turn that power towards humanity, then the praise and respect people give you as the Brave can easily turn into fear and paranoia. If that happens, then itâll be difficult to change their impression of you. They dread the notion that a power that exceeds human understanding could be turned against them. From the Brave to a monsterâ you would become the new Demon Lord. I donât want to see Leti thought of that way by other people.&
rdquo;
Leticia thought back to the day the oracle proclaimed her the Brave.
Even as they praised her strength, their eyes betrayed their fear as they drew away from her.
ââIs she⦠really⦠human?â
ââCould she be a demon in disguise? What a monsterâ¦â
ââThe Brave really is different from us humans.â
ââSheâs definitely a monster.â
âIâ Iâm not⦠a monsterâ¦â
âThey saw me as an existence that surpa.s.sed human limits. Thatâs right, shouldnât I have understood that best? I must have noticed it before Wynn pointed it out to me, right?â
Wynn looked at Leticia, who was crying while hanging her head.
He gently stroked Leticiaâs hair. The lights emanating from the World Tree caused Leticiaâs flaxen hair to sparkle.
Those who didnât know better would never believe that this girl possessed immense power. But those who did know would want to obtain her as a p.a.w.n to manipulate as they pleased.
The easiest way to do that was to hold Wynn hostage.
âThatâs no good. Like this, Iâm just holding Leti back⦠Becoming a knight is my dream. But should I just stop there? What should I do?â
âHey, Onii-chanâ¦â
Leti spoke right then.
âI understand well why you tell me not to fight. I really needed to realize that I had gotten Onii-chan involved.â
âNo, Leti, itâs not like thatââ
Leti smiled at Wynnâs words.
And then, Leticiaâ
Clatter.
âAh⦠S- sorryâ
Sherry said in a small voice.
Everybody was startled by that sound.
Sighing, Kelvin leaned back against the wall of the stone cell.
âHey, Kelvin. Even though itâs been a long time, you donât seem livelyâ
âLike I would change after a couple of years or so! â is what I would like to say, but youâve both changed quite a lot these past few years. Especially Royce. How the heck did he become like that? I almost thought he was a different person when I saw him from afar, you know?â
âHe became fatter from indulging in his fortunes. Heâll have to cut down quite a bit later⦠but enough of that.â
Kelvin then turned towards Locke, who was standing beside him.
âPlease take Sherry out for now. Rosefeld, we will take the girl into our custody. That wonât be a problem, right?â
âRight now the Elders are occupied with the preparations for a reception, soâ¦â
Rosefeld poured two cups of the wine he brought, then held one cup out to Kelvin. Since he was cold, he gratefully received the alcohol. Kelvin drank it all down in one sip.
The sweet and sour taste of the fruit wine filled his mouth.
âWas what that boy said before true? Were you really trying to use the Brave?â
ââ¦Eh, well⦠â
Rosefeld also downed his wine.
âI donât intend to criticize you. Itâs a reasonable course of action in your position. But for you two, itâs not that simple, right?â
âWell, if they entered the forest, that is inevitable. We may not have caught everything, butâ¦â
Rosefeld and Kelvin exchanged information and plans over the wine.
Once Kelvin heard the information he needed, he stood up.
âThank you very much. You helped us out.â
âPrincess?â
âI see.â
âOh yeah, the Great Sage was a High Elven princess, wasnât she?â
âKelvin. I said that it was a reasonable course of action to use the Brave, but the elves would never allow it. If you humans wrong the Brave in any way, we elves will take her side. Donât forget that.â
Kelvin shrugged off Rosefeldâs suddenly lower and harder tone of voice.
He left the cell.
They could hear the sounds of the elves bustling about.
Even though they were separated from the main scouting platoon, and had to return as soon as they could, Kelvin decided that it would be fine to stay a night.
He would be able to get some warm food. Remembering that he had worried about what to eat when he arrived, Kelvin quickly started walking as his stomach growled.
It was the day after the scouting platoon returned to the camp.
âSir, Lieutenant Royce wishes to make a report.â
âI donât want to see him. I would rather eat rubbish than see his ugly face!â
He dipped a soft loaf of bread into the warm cream stew made with a generous amount of milk. The stew contained the meat and vegetables set aside for the high-ranking officers. Drinking down the luxurious grape wine, General Feyl, commander of the advance troops, started yelling at his guards when he heard the name of the subordinate that he detested the most.
âBut Sir, Lieutenant Elstead wishes to report an urgent matter.â
âShut up. I am in the middle of my meal. If he needs to, he may see me afterwards!â
âB-butâ¦â
âGood morning Sir. While everybody is busy preparing to set out, you are gracefully indulging in your food, I see.â
Brus.h.i.+ng aside the knights who were guarding the entrance to the tent, Royce barged into the tentâs s.p.a.cious interior.
âImbecile! Who gave you permission to enter! What are you doing, reaching out like that!â
Without minding him, Royce picked up a piece of grilled chicken from the plate atop the table and took a bite. He stroked his chin while holding a piece of the chicken.
As soon as Feyl saw Royceâs face, his appet.i.te became replaced with nausea.
âWasnât it an urgent matter? Did you just come here to steal my food!?â
âI am very sorry. It looked so deliciousâ oh, this is delicious. You can tell that a first-cla.s.s chef from the Logistics Division made this meal. You should share this with your men.â
Even though he apologized, he wore an unrepentant smile, and kept eating the meat. His every word dripped with sarcasm.
âDidnât I tell you to stay at the back to protect the commoner last night! Why did you abandon your post?â
âLast night, the girl that we brought back told us the location of the enemy camp. That is what I wish to report.â
âOh? Where is it?â
âDoria village. Two villages away from Torc Village, where we got the first report.â
âHmph. How foolish.â
Feyl laughed at Royce.
âNow look here. This is the information we received from the main army. The location of their camp is written here. It is only a few hours from here by horse. We should crush them immediately.â
Feyl smirked and tossed the missive from the main force onto the table. Royce looked down and read it silently.
âWe should immediately halt our departure.â
âWhat!?â
âSir. Looking at the current state of affairs, it seems that our movements are being leaked to the enemy. Please think about it. There is a traitor within the main armyâ no, a rebel who was enticed by another country. Those orders may be a trap.â
âWhat sort of foolish drivel are you spouting? Which one is correct, the information from a village girl, or the information from the main army? Even a fool could tell!â
Enraged, Feyl shouted at Royce, but Royceâs expression remained unperturbed.
âSir. There seems to be something amiss with the enemy movements. Why is the Petersian army attacking and annihilating villages? If Petersia wanted territory, it doesnât make sense to act like this. They infiltrated our border defenses, and are slowly going around raiding our territories. Itâs only reasonable to believe that there is somebody on the inside guiding their movements.â
Royce pushed aside the dishes on the table, and gestured to the knights who were standing by. Feyl frowned at Royceâs inconsiderate action, but did not object. It may have been because seeing Royce made him lose his appet.i.te.
Royce unrolled a map on the now-cleared table.
âThe attacks on the villagers and merchants all happened near the border: within the fiefdoms of Count Valessia, Marquis Remrandt, Marquis Cliffdorf, and regrettably, my own. But of those, only in Marquis Cliffdorfâs lands have merchant caravans been attacked, while none of the villagers were. I believe that the wise General Feyl can connect the dots?â
âM- Marquis Cliffdorf is the traitor, you claim. But is that all supposition?â
âNo, of course it is nothing more than a conjecture. The origins of those merchant caravans also havenât been investigated. But what is more puzzling is their current position. Up until now, we had just barely missed them. We are clearly being guided to that location.â
Feyl also looked down at the map. The route they had taken until then did seem to lead them to the place the latest orders indicated. But it could also be just a coincidence due to their pursuit.
There was something special about that location.
There, the border between the Remuls.h.i.+l Empire and the Kingdom of Petersia was unclear.
But Feylâs disdain for Royce influenced his judgement. He cast away his suspicions.
âSilence. n.o.body will listen to you. The orders are orders. We will move as planned!â
âThen, we should at least scout out the area thoroughly once more before we depart.â
âHow insolent! We donât need to doubt whether or not the orders we received from the main army are real or not. It wastes time and energy. We have five hundred men. They have two hundred. We outnumber them more than two to one. What are you so afraid of?â
Incensed, Feyl accused Royce of being a coward.
âThe expedition has been decided upon. Anymore will be seen as insubordination.â
ââ¦Please excuse me.â
Royce bowed. Dissatisfaction clearly lingered on his face.
ââ¦Lieutenant Royce. Whatâs with that expression? I see⦠You really are scared of the enemy.â
âI donât fear them. I donât even know who our enemies are.â
âBy the way, your squadron was in charge of protecting that commoner. I had told you to stay in the back, but if the commoner hangs around among the other knights, it would affect morale. You will protect the commoner in the rearguard.â
ââ¦Are you referring to when we reach the battlefield?â
âThatâs right. Life is precious to you, right? Honorable Count. You will comply with the request, right? You will be sent to the back to protect the commoner. The orders give you the perfect opportunity to flee from the battle. Rather, you will become a hero for saving the people.â
Royce smiled along with Feylâs coa.r.s.e laughter.
âI see. That will be fine. I do think life is precious. I will take the commoner to the rearguard and protect her there.â
With a salute, Royce left the tent.
âWhat a coward!â[3]
Feyl spat at Royceâs back.
Royce paid no heed to him and continued to walk away.
âGood. I have now removed him from the battlefield. There is no way he can meddle anymore.â
Feyl looked at the orders solemnly. They were to use their numerical advantage to overrun the enemyâs camp.
âThose guys are history. I have the upper hand. Soon, I willâ¦â
Those thoughts made Feyl more determined.
âThanks for your work, Lieutenant Royce. How did it go?â
Royce shook his head.
âRejected as usual. He didnât listen.â
The previous night, Rosefeld had visited Royce in secret. He told him where the the enemy base was.
âI had wanted to stay behind and observe.â
âIs there a problem?â
Royce recounted his exchange with General Feyl.
âItâs clearly a trap. What should we do?â
âWe can just stay at the back and protect the civilians. I promised to do that. We can act independently. I donât want to fight, but it doesnât seem that we can avoid it. If that happens, Reeno and Wedgeâs movements will become critical. Well, I guess all my preparations wonât have been in vain.â
Royce smiled at Kelvin.
Kelvin couldnât be faulted for thinking âWhoa, what a vicious smile.â
Under the pretense of going to the rearguard to protect the commoners, Wynnâs platoon advanced and went towards Doria village, the village Rosefeld had indicated.
Right there, was the enemy base.
Reeno and Wedge were currently headed towards Count Elsteadâs territory.
They carried a letter from Lieutenant RoyceâCount Elsteadâ asking him for reinforcements.
As a n.o.ble with the influence of a Count himself, Royce had his own personal knight order.
It would be beyond his authority to arbitrarily summon troops, but Royce wasnât attached to his own status. He would do anything to protect his territory.
Wynnâs squadron approached the edge of the village, observing it. They could see several houses, a few fields, and some chickens being raised.
The chickens were grazing outside the coop, clucking.
It seemed like an ordinary idyllic village.
However, instead of villagers, armoured men holding swords and spears walked the streets and fields.
They werenât the original inhabitants of Doria Village. It was likely that they were all confined in one of the buildings.
Some of the men wore simple clothing and worn-out leather armour. They werenât Petersian soldiers, they were probably the bandits and mercenaries that were colluding with them.
Among them, they could see a group of soldiers with uniform metal armour and weapons.
Unlike the unruly bandits, their disciplined movements clearly indicated that they were knights.
âHm? That man⦠Where have Iâ¦?â
Upon seeing an aged man among the group, Kelvin felt a tinge of unease.
If he was from Petersia, Kelvin shouldnât have met the old man before, but the old man still felt familiar.
The man who appeared to be the leader rode on horseback at the front of the group.
They were planning on attacking the advance force from behind.
The three people could only grind their teeth in frustration as they watched the group depart. The reinforcements from Count Elstead had not arrived.
They could only see seven or eight people left behind to guard the base.
It would be better for them to join up with the reinforcements from the Knight Order of Count Elsteadâs fiefdom. Sherry and Royce had stayed behind to wait for the reinforcements.
Locke, Wynn and Kelvin quietly turned backâ rather, they were about to turn back.
With a crash, a young girl was flung out of a building.
Twoâ no, three men came out from the door. They wore vulgar smiles on their faces.
They kicked the girl, who was desperately trying to get up and run away while screaming, and then leaned over her. They ripped off her plain villagerâs clothing.
The girl screamed once again.
Wynn clenched his teeth, trying to hold back his anger.
âThose⦠those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds.â
Locke clenched his teeth, watching the barbaric scene angrily.
âPlease bear with it. We need to wait for reinforcements first. Then we can save them all.â
Despite his words, Wynn could see unbridled rage in his eyes.
ââ¦Iâm sorry, Vice-Captain⦠I wanted to⦠No, I will becme a knight who protects the weak. Before my eyes is somebody who needs help. I canât just abandon her!â[4]
âWynnâ¦â
Kelvin sighed.
ââ¦As a commander, I would have to reject that reasoning. Itâs too idealistic. If you lose sight of the forest for the trees, you could lose everything⦠Howeverâ¦â
The corners of Kelvinâs lips curled up slightly.
âFrankly, I also agree with your point of view. Captain Royce might get angry, but if itâs just some bandits of that level, the three of us will be fine.â
âRight now, everybody is looking at that girl. Theyâre full of openings, Vice-Captain.â
Locke, who was monitoring the village as he listened to Kelvin and Wynnâs conversation, cut in.
Even the men who were supposed to be keeping watch were also looking at the men surrounding the woman, not paying attention to their surroundings..
âLetâs go!â
On Kelvinâs command, they all leapt from behind the thickets where they were hiding.
âWha!?â
âWhat is it?â
Wynn slipped past the guards, who had their backs turned to him. He jumped into the middle of the men surrounding the girl.
He swung his sword. All the men around the dishevelled victim were cut down in an instant.
They couldnât put up much resistance, since they taken off their armour and thrown their weapons off to the side.
Wynn slashed the backs of the men who were crawling away while letting out pitiful moans.
âYou b.a.s.t.a.r.ds!â
The lookouts came to their senses and tried to counterattack, but were stabbed in the back with the spear in Lockeâs hands.
âIâll leave this place to you!â
Saying that over his shoulder, Kelvin leapt into the building where the other villagers were being held.
He wanted to defeat the bandits before the ones inside realized what was going on outside and took hostages.
They heard angry shouts from the bandits and screams from the villagers, but it soon became quiet.
âThat was easier than I thought.â
Kelvin walked out of the building, blood dripping from the sword dangling in his hand.
âWh- Who are youâ¦?â
An elderly man followed Kelvin out of the building. After him came an elderly woman, who rushed towards the woman that the men had pinned down and hugged her.
âNow, we should evacuate⦠but that will be a bit difficult, wonât it?â
âs.h.i.+t⦠Iâll kill them.â
One of the men Wynn had cut, the bandit groupâs second-in-command, felt his consciousness slowly fading away. However, fueled by anger and vengeance, he held on.
He was once a knight of a knight order.
He simply loved to kill.
But during the war with the Demon Lordâs monsters, that personality was not a problem.
Rather, skilled as he was in the Knight Order, he was a hero on the front lines, where his personality was extremely convenient.
However, after the war, his personality became too much for the knight order.
When those times of spending everyday doing nothing but fight were replaced by a time of peace, he couldnât adapt.
One day, he went a bit too far during one of the missions.
Instead of just killing just the monsters, he ended up attacking civilians and other knights too.
After fleeing the Knight Order before they could punish him, he eventually ended up as a bandit.
As a former knight, he was more skilled than the chief, but since he disliked thinking hard, he was content as the second-in-command.
âIâll kill them⦠Iâll beat them to death. Iâll kill you all too!â
In the end, he was taken by surprise, and would die a dogâs death, but he put the last of his energy into chanting a spell. It was an explosion spell he learned during his time as a knight.
Not much time had pa.s.sed since the aged man had left Doria Village with the troops.
âLocke! That one is still alive!â
âToo late! Go to h.e.l.l, you b.a.s.t.a.r.ds!â
With a ghastly smile, the man detonated a nearby building with his spell..
On the brink of death, the explosion wasnât as large as he had hoped, but it was enough to bring down the worn-out building.
The building collapsed with a thunderous crash.
âShoot!â
Locke finished the man off with his spear.
âHurry up, please. That sound will cause the enemy to come back!â
âHow could there still be somebody who could use magicâ¦!â
Kelvin clenched his teeth.
The enemy would be able to chase them down on horseback if they simply fled.
âTo the forest! Hurry!â
They could only flee into the forest, where the horses couldnât follow. Kelvin showed the villagers the place where Royce was waiting.
âNow the rest is up to fate. Iâll leave it to you, Wynn. Iâll also rely on you, Captain Royce!â
The sound of the hoofsteps gradually grew louder. The sounds announced impending death, but Kelvin just smiled fearlessly and drew his sword.
âNow then, I think the chances of winning this gamble are quite high. I just have to try a bit harder!â
Wynn held up his sword, and Locke prepared his spear.
And then, in the corner of the town square, three men faced off against two hundred men.