As the former general put on the bracelet, the light disappeared from Hurt's eyes.

''You, what have you done to Master Hurt?

　Sensing Hurt's change, Tina was about to pounce on the former general, but was stopped in her tracks when a spear of fire was driven into her feet.

''What's going on, Master Hurt?''

　Tina's voice trembled.

　It was Hurt who shot a fire lance at Tina.

''Hwahaha, this guy is already at my mercy. Here, show him.''

　As if to follow his words, Hurt shows Tina and the others the bracelet attached to the former general.

''It's the bangles of servitude!
How did you find out?

　Sylph and Rifa knew what the bracelet was. It was called the bangle of servitude, one of the magical treasures possessed by Alhaim. It is a powerful brainwashing spell that when worn by another person, the person wearing it will be at the mercy of the person wearing it.

''I was a general in the national army, you know?　It's as easy as duplicating the key to the treasure room where this was kept.

　The former general had been skimming treasures from the treasure room and secretly selling them to other countries for money to play with. When he was discharged from the army, he stole the servant's armband, which had been stored in the farthest corner of the treasure room.

'Hey, let Hurt go now or I'll kill him.

　The sylph flies a killing qi towards the former general.
　The Spirit King's real killing intent.

　Unable to stand, the former general fell to his knees.

''Sylph, return to the spirit world.''
"...?

　A word.

　Halt's orders forced the sylphs to return to the Spirit Realm.

Yo, good job.

　The former general stands up, wiping the sweat off his face.

''Deporting Master Sylph I can't believe you can do that.

　Rifa looks at Hurt with astonished eyes.

'Master Halt, please wake up!
..........

　Hurt didn't answer Tina's call.

'No use, it's a magical treasure that works on us elves too, right?　There's no way this human being can resist.

You!

　Tina throws a lightning spear at the former general. The spear, which was coming towards her at super speed, was easily shot down by Hurt as he stepped forward.

''Ha, Halt-sama........''

"Tina, you were going to kill me, weren't you?　Hurt, kill yourself.

What did you say?

　You take the dagger that Harut was wearing and place it around your own neck.

Stop!
Stop!

　At the former general's command, Hurt stopped moving.
　The skin on his neck snapped and blood flowed down.

'Do you understand?　If you disobey me, I won't hesitate to kill him. You are not to do anything at all until this war is over.

　The former general's mouth twisted in disgust.

'Hero Tina, and Princess Rifa. You will be my slaves when this war is over. So don't die, okay?

　With that, the former general left with Hurt. Tina and Rifa were unable to chase after them.


　─ ─ ─ ──***──.

　The grassland leading from the border to the royal capital.

　There, the Fifth Prince of Apristos and his private army of three thousand men were camped out. The soldiers are gorging themselves on the food they have obtained from the villages and towns they have overrun before coming here.

　If possible, they wanted to capture the female elf and do with her body as they pleased. However, it took a long time to defeat the border guards and get through the country gates, and in the meantime, all the elves had fled from the villages and towns near the border.

　What they got was food and precious metals.

　You can f*ck the elven women as you please. That being said, the adventurers of the Dark Guild who participated in this invasion were also mixed in with the private army, so there were many disgruntled soldiers.

　In the center of such a camp, a magic circle suddenly emerged.

''What the hell!
''Be alert!''

　The soldiers surrounded the magic circle. The inside of the magic circle was painted black, and out of it appeared the former general, Hurt, and a female elf with an eye patch.

''Who are you!''

''Whoa, we're on the same side, okay?　Or not.

'You're an elf for all intents and purposes!　How did you show up here!

　The private army soldiers point their swords at the former generals.

''Wait!　They are our friends, draw your swords.

　The Fifth Prince of Apristos appeared from behind the camp with his SS and had the soldiers lowered.

'Well done,'

Yeah, thanks for taking me up on my offer.

　The former general had been in private communication with the Fifth Prince of Apristos. The former general had divulged to the prince's side the time of the border guards' change of guard and other information, so the private army was able to break through the country gate at the time when the defense was least available.

''But why did you join us?　And how did it show up here?

　The former general planned to stay in the royal city of Alheim, and when the national army of Apristos besieged the city, he planned to revolt inside and open the gates from the inside to invite the enemy in.

'That's a pretty good one. I've got the power to destroy the country without a civil war. That's why I'm here. And by the way, it was also thanks to this that I was able to travel so far.

　As he said that, the former general pointed at Hurt. The former general's real reason for coming here was because he feared that the prince would betray him.

　If he opened the gate from the inside and let Apristos's army in, the prince might betray and kill the former general, who was no longer of use to him. That's why the former general decided to show Aplistos the power of Halt.

''This human race boy has that kind of power?　Do I listen to you?

'Oh, I put on my country's treasure, the braces of servitude, so I'm at my mercy. And this guy is strong. Show him.

"Firelance.

　Following the order, Hurt made the flame knight appear.

''Prince!　Please step back!

　The SS who were around pointed their swords at the flame knight as if to protect the fifth prince.

''It's a ridiculous amount of magic. If you're not good, this unity will destroy my army.''

　Sweat poured down from the foreheads of the SS who faced the flame knight.

''Hey, hey, don't be alarmed. This is my servant.

You're sure you can control this?

No problem. Trust me.

　The former general was happy to show the princes Hurt's power. Now the princes would not be able to betray him out of fear of Halt.

　The former general thought so.

''The national army of Apristos will come tomorrow at noon?''

Yeah, that's the plan. Your father just sent word.

'Well, then, let's take the day off. Tomorrow is the day of plunder. Tomorrow is a day to sack the city, and we will be the first to attack the capital. We'll be the first to storm King's Landing and our men need to rest.

But there could be a night attack.

No problem. Harut, you're on watch. You've got to keep the enemy in check.

All right. I'd like to increase the numbers so that I can keep an eye on all directions. Is that all right?

Hmm?　Well, I don't mind.

　Hurt said, and the former general didn't understand what 'numbers' meant.

'Firelance!'

What...?
Holy shit!

　About a thousand flame knights appeared.
　Those flame knights surrounded the private army.

　A thousand flame knights with enough power to destroy three thousand human race soldiers in one piece.

　This surprised even the former general who had ordered Hurt to do so.

''Whoa, hey, this guy really is on our side, isn't he!

''Oh, yeah, no problem.''

　To the Prince's question, who looked very impatient, the former general also stuttered and replied.

''Don't let the enemy come to you until tomorrow noon.

Okay.

　When he heard the former general's order, Hurt stood with his back to the private army's camp alongside the Knight of Fire and stopped moving.

　Seeing Hurt obeying his own orders, the former general was satisfied.

　This overwhelming power was now his own. Depending on how he used it, he might be able to take control of the world. Afterwards, the former general walked through the private army as if he were walking his own army and headed for his prepared bunk.

　The prince, in contrast, could only follow behind the former general with a frightened look on his face.