"You're always, always, always getting in my way!　What do you have against me?

"I've got a grudge against you for leaving me behind in the dungeon. But I can thank you for meeting Lucky, but I can't thank you for almost getting me killed.



"Okay. Rocca... let's negotiate. We'll leave this village alone. So let us play war games with the Suidu nation."



That means they'll go after the other border villages, right?

You're an idiot. You don't need to worry about the deaths of people from who-knows-where."



Even if that's true, we don't have to let the evil one get away. You're doomed to be caught here."

"That's not going to happen. ...... Thank you for taking the time to chat with us."



　Wherever they came from, hundreds of people from the Suiju country surrounded us.

　Karl Feldt and the man with the cane we had met at the village chief's house were also there. Apparently, they didn't heed my warning. People can't change.



　It makes me a little sad to think that I really have to go as far as I can.



"I'm sorry, Rocca. Numbers are strength. If you resist here, your people will be overrun. No matter how hard you try, you'll tire. You can't do that, can you, good-natured rocker?　Karlfeldt, come on, let's go get Mr. Lockyer and the others."



"I think we're done here. If the Suidjes want to go to war that badly, I'll be your man. I don't care what happens to you.



　I can feel the power surging through me.

　I've tried to warn him again and again, but he just doesn't get it.



"It's just a bluff!　Come on, attack them all at once with magic!　Let's show them the power of the magical Suiju nation!



　The Kid looks proud of himself.

　I wish I hadn't done that.



"Emil, help the chief and Margret! Domorte, take out the whole area without a second thought. Lucky... protect us and the people of Anesa. We'll show them what a natural disaster can do.

　He tells his men.



"Mr. Locke, no. "Mr. Locke, you can't do that. You'll end up triggering the war."



　Dove tries hard to stop him, but he has no other choice.

　And it won't turn into a war. We won't do anything halfway.



　Karlfeldt moves silently to the Kid's side.

　Good. Anytime.



　I'll take the first shot at least. But the moment I let it go, I'll make ...... think I'm lukewarm as hell.



"Come on, Karlfeldt, you're gonna make this world."

　The Kid said to Karlfeldt with a look of triumph on his face.



"Of course I will. You're in for it!"

"What?"



　Karlfeldt came up beside the Kid and delivered a blow to the Kid's jaw from zero distance, knocking down the sword he was holding, and then, in a fluid motion, he folded his hands behind his back.



"What are you doing? You're the wrong enemy!　You were one of mine!

"Yes, but people can change. There's no one in Suiju who's for war. I don't know what kind of weapons you've built, but you can't beat the overwhelming force of nature."



　Karlfeldt looks at me and smiles a fake smile.

　I could feel his desperation, like a puppy asking for help.



"I'm sorry Kid. It seems you can't win by sheer numbers. Or is this your plan?"

"d*mn you!　Why do you always get in my way?



I'm not trying to get in your way. I'm just trying to help people as much as I can.



"You can't live with such naive thinking!　The world is made up of the weak and the strong.

"Yes, it is. I guess that's part of it, but I guess that's the way it is.



　The Kid is now prostrate on the ground, completely restrained so that he cannot move. If the Kid was right about the law of the jungle, we wouldn't be in this situation right now.



"Mr. Locke, I am sorry for the trouble I have caused you. Please be assured that Suiju has no intention of going to war with Mr. Locke or this country.



　It was Karlfeldt who greeted us.

　He left the Kid in the custody of his men and then knelt down in front of me and bowed.



"Raise your head, please. But I'm glad to see that the Suiju nation has learned its lesson."

"No, ...... I am truly sorry. I'm sorry for the trouble I caused to you, Mr. Domorte and Mr. Lucky. It will ...... never happen again."



　Karlfeldt looked over his shoulder at Lucky and Domorte, who were shaking slightly, and they suddenly turned away.

　I knew I'd done something wrong.



"I'd appreciate it if you did. But this guy Dove is the one who planned this whole operation, so please contact him in case of any problems. Hey, Dobu."

"Yes, ......?"



　Dobu, thinking he couldn't get away with it, gave up and agreed.

　Since he tried to set us up, he has to take this much responsibility.



　There is nothing wrong with us being in the forefront. We handled it this time, but we don't represent this country.

　Dobb left the rest to me, and I turned around to see Margret.



"Hyahaha ...... rock, you're back earlier than I expected."




"It's true. I thought I wouldn't see you for at least a year, and then you come back in less than two weeks. But I'm glad you're okay."



"No, but thank God. Guitin and the other young men were able to escape safely using the unbroken tunnel. ......"

　As Margret and I were talking, Guichin appeared from inside the house with a weapon.



"You bastard!　We will protect Anesa. ......　Why is Mr. Locke here?

　The villagers, led by Guichin, appeared from all over the village at once.

　They had apparently left the women and children in Kolon and returned to retake the village.



"Guitin, it's over.

"What?　Seriously? You've finished ......?



　Everyone laughed when they saw Guichin looking around with a vacant look on his face.