Since then, I've heard about the safety of my family and the safety of my students. Fortunately, no one is dead and they seem to have evacuated safely. I'm sure my family members live far away from the royal capital, so I believed they were mostly safe, but after all, just being able to confirm their safety is quite different.

　And it seems that Proto and his friends are also safe, thanks to the fact that they happened to be with Rita.

　It's a good thing that you're able to find a way to make your life easier.

　I had lost two members of my family in one fell swoop. I'm sorry to hear that, but there's nothing I can do to help. Mere consolation is useless. Besides, Serena seems to have lost her father and is quite depressed. Fred is the same way. Everyone has lost someone important. So do the knights in this place. We've all lost a lot of loved ones. But we still need to move on. We need to get moving to get our kingdom back.


"Fee, can we go?
Yeah I can do it. No, you have to go...
Yeah.


　After that exchange, I parted ways with Fee. Fee seems to be staying in Ops, but I'm going to join Marie, Rafe, and Aria for once.


"I'm sorry, but I can't help you. I'm not a citizen of the kingdom. You have no right to tell me what to do.
'Gahahahaha!　I would be happy to lend you a hand, but Leif wants to go back to the labyrinth and so do I!　The kingdom is in your hands!
'I've decided to follow you both. I know there is something I can do and it's hard for me to do that, but, well...


　It seems that all three of us are heading to the labyrinth. Indeed, considering the labyrinth, it would be better to tackle the next labyrinth as soon as possible. Aria's one seems to be able to fight reasonably well, and Rafe and Marie are there, so it should be fine.


''I'll go back to the labyrinth after I finish this matter. Until then, wait for me.
Yeah. See you later, Elle.
'Ga-ha-ha-ha-ha!　Goodbye!
'Mr. Elle, I mean ... thank you so much!


　And the three of them left the royal city.

　This is a matter for us, the King's people. Then what are we going to do about it? We'll never give in. We'll never succumb to this atrocity....


　◇


Fee, I heard you three are going to capture the maze.
Yeah. Rational.
Well, here's what we're going to do...
There's going to be a strategy meeting. Will Elle be there?
Yeah, sure.


　When Fee returned, he was back to his usual self. There was no sign of crying. I guess that means she's not much older than me. I really admire his spirit to stand up for himself even though his parents are dead. If it were me, I would definitely lose heart.


　Thinking about this, we joined the strategy meeting.


'Fred, tell us what's going on.
Yes!


　Joining us are me, Fee, Fred, Serena, Ardell, and a few knights. It seems that this is the main force right now.................but we are overwhelmingly outnumbered. Even if each of them is strong enough, there's nothing we can do about it if we're outnumbered. Especially with the Holy Rose Knights 《Heilich Rosen Knights》 almost going over there, it's too painful. I don't know the extent of their strength, but they are the strongest knights in the kingdom. That ability is not a master. I'm sure we'll have to fight somewhere.


''Currently, everything north of the center of the royal city has fallen into the hands of the Revolutionary Army. The royal castle at the northernmost point is probably home to the Holy Rose Knights 《Heilich Rosen Knights》, Princess Alice and Prince Oscar. The center of the royal city has already been extinguished. However, the soldiers of the Revolutionary Army are hunting the remnants. They don't seem to have touched the civilians, but if they rebel at all, they will shoot them instantly. It seems that the only people who are already in that place are the Revolutionary Army. Furthermore, we don't know how long this frontline will last. As for the current objective, I think we should first regain the academy in the center of the royal capital.


　The academy................It's certainly pretty big to get that place back. It's also reasonably well-equipped, and it's the perfect place to resupply. If we can get it back, we'll be able to make great progress. But that wasn't my concern.


　My concern was....


''As Fred said, I want to attack the academy first. Elle-san, Fee-san, are you sure you don't mind?
Yeah.
Yeah.
"So my question to you both is: the revolutionaries are going to kill us without mercy. We've already put the Revolutionary Guardians and their fellow countrymen at each other's throats. Are you ready for this?


　Hearing those words, Fred and Serena turned away. Perhaps the two of them are also unavoidable and have killed.

　Killing people. I already know the weight of that. But this time I'm a citizen of the King. I need to kill people who were born and live in my country.

　Am I prepared to do that?

　As I think about it, Fee's guy is the first to answer.


'I'll kill you. Wars, especially civil wars, have had a lot of blood in the past. The kingdom has been at peace until now but it's time for that to happen. We can't stay in peace forever. I can kill you.
...Where's Mr. Elle?
I've already killed people before. I'm going to do it ... for the sake of the future of this kingdom.
''I've certainly received your resolve. Now, let's make our way to the academy as soon as possible. Today we will hunt down the remaining soldiers of the Revolutionary Army before nightfall.
Yes, sir.


　With those words as the last, a notice goes to the knights.

　Then I take out the thin-winged dragonfly that I'm holding at my waist and start sharpening it.


''Master, are you sure?''
'Fred you've already been through this, haven't you?'
'Yes I put my hand on it to protect the mother and the child. Please be careful. The Revolutionary Guards are not in their right mind. I'm sure your master would be fine, but take care.
'Oh...'


　And as I continued to stare and sharpen in the corner of the room, Serena came next.


'Elle, can I have a word?'
Hmm?　Uh ... fine.
It's really encouraging that Elle is here, but I'm a little concerned.
What's that?　Let me tell you, I've gotten pretty good at melee combat from my experience of capturing the labyrinth, huh?
'Elle doesn't have any resistance?　My hands still shake...


　Serena's hands were trembling as she said that.



Is that why I'm going to regret it?
....
'Serena had better stay back this time. You need to get your head out of your ass. She'll be fine. I'll take care of Serena.
Eruch...!


　Ignoring Selena's voice, I went into my first battle.


　◇


"Mr. Elle, I'll cut through the lead. Can I trust you with the foe that we missed?
I'm on it.


　Ardell at the vanguard. Behind them, me and Fred. In addition, Fee and the others are waiting behind them. I'm sure we won't be defeated by this lineup... and as I was thinking that, Ardell went over the earth with uncommon speed.


''Here it comes!　Traitors!


　With that voice of the enemy as a signal, the battle began.


''........''


　Brilliant stuff I was impressed. Ardell bounced the heads of the Revolutionary Army guys one after another. There is no hesitation or mercy there. He was just killing them indifferently, turning his shining sword scarlet.

''d*mn it!　Die!


　A moment later, the enemy approaches in front of me. He swings his sword wide and tries to split my kesa. But it was too poorly done.


　I quickly freeze my feet and make myself unable to move. And then the rattled neck ... a flash.


　It shifts out of place with a zuzu, and the head falls in a blur to the spot. And I went ahead from there to cut off the head with the thin-winged dragonfly. With support from the rear, we were able to finish this battle smoothly.


''Master, thank you for your efforts.''
Fred, too.
''No, I'm still not as good as my master...''


　Probably Ardell killed the most, then me, then Fred, and so on. The blood was sticky and caked on our bodies as we spoke to each other.

"Good job, Elle.
Fee.
You did it.
Well that went smoothly this time.


　Fee, too, had blood on his body. And it wasn't his own. It was my opponent's blood.


　And so our first battle ended in the form of victory.

　But the end of the hellish battlefield is not yet in sight.