That night, countless torch fires flowed through the dark night like a river toward the castle.　
　Cursing, shouting, and an invisible heat enveloped Ipyros.

''It's finally begun........ It's just as that one said.''

　Signis gently closed the window curtains.
　Then she took a letter from her desk and sat down deeply on the couch and quietly closed her eyes.
　The emotions bubbling up in his mind one after another are anger, sadness, and conflict and guilt.
　They rushed into Signis' mind like a muddy stream.
(All of this was known beforehand... the feud planted between the refugees and the inhabitants of Ipylos had reached the end of its patience. All that was left was to tilt the scales of the balance just a little bit at the right time. No matter what that man's handiwork is}
　Everyone is desperate to protect themselves, their families and their daily lives.
　This earth world is a hell that bears no resemblance to the idealistic world preached by the priests of the Order of the Light God.
　And this is no different for Signis, one of the strongest knights in northern Roselia.
　Here, weak and foolish people can only be used and trampled upon.
(In the end, everything worked out exactly as that man planned. The only thing left to do is to see what I will do...)
　An incident that occurred in this room just a few weeks ago comes to mind.
　It was shortly after the war began that Cygnis Garbeira was contacted by a man claiming to be under Mikoshiba Ryoma's command, right after they crossed paths on the outskirts of Ipylos.
　It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what you're looking for.
　It's an infinitely difficult task, even at all times.
　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what to expect when you are in the middle of a battle.
　It's a formidable skill.
　And then he whispered to Signis, who was surprised to see his sword in his hand.
　He asked her if she was interested in working with Roberto Beltran for Mikoshiba Ryoma.　
　Of course, Signis laughed at the man's suggestion.
　It is important to note that the quality of the soldiers under Mikoshiba's command, even if they were of exceptional quality, would not determine the outcome of the battle.
　And above all, Signis has circumstances that make it impossible for him to betray the Galveira family.　　
　As long as those circumstances exist, he also cannot betray Count Salzberg, the master of the Garbeira family.
(No ... or is it more accurate to say he couldn't?)
　On that night when many refugees from the south had arrived in Ipylos, the man appeared again in front of Signis and silently presented him with a letter and disappeared.
　The shock Signis received when he read the letter is indescribable.
　First he suspects it is a plot, then he despairs at the realization that the letter is real, and finally he realizes that he is at the crossroads of his destiny.
(I don't care what happens to the Garbeira family now that my grandfather is dead... but I'm both obligated and indebted to the Count... that's a fact...)
　For a brief moment, dark emotions that have been hidden deep inside him since he was a child have risen to the surface.
　Although Signis was the sixth son of the Galveira family, he was not a child of the main family room.
　More importantly, he is not a child of a side room.
　He was conceived in the belly of a peasant girl that his father, the current head of the House of Galveira, had only once carried in his arms as a joke before he succeeded to the title.
　That was Signis.
　Well, it's a world that doesn't even have a concept of birth control. If a man and a woman had s*x, it was natural for them to have a child.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for when you're in the market.
　Even though it is the lowest class, it is needless to say that there is a difference in status between the heir of a baronial family, a full-fledged noble family, and a peasant's daughter.
　Moreover, the father had already had children born to the main family and side family.
　A second or third son would be worthy of being a spare for the successor, but a sixth son would not be worthy of being a spare.
　Moreover, the mother's status as a powerful merchant could not be expected to be supported by her parents' family if she was a mere farmer, let alone if she was the daughter of a large landowner.
　In the sense of avoiding an unnecessary struggle for succession, Signis's father's decision to order his own child to be corrupted can be said to be correct as a nobleman.
　The same is true for his daughter, the mother.
　Considering the difference in status, there was little chance of her becoming a side room. No, even if Signis's father wanted to do so, it would never be a good idea considering the conflicts with the people around him.
　If this is not done well, he may become involved in the struggle of legitimate wives and side rooms who want to give the next baron to their own children.
　A baby unwanted by his parents.
　Under normal circumstances, a baby named Signis would never have been raised. If it weren't for the crane call of his predecessor, Baron Galveira, who was touted for his intelligence....
　Ignoring the conventions of the aristocracy, Signis will be taken in by the barons and officially recognized as the sixth son.
　Whether this was a mere pity on the part of the previous baron, or whether it was a decision based on some fatal premonition. It's something that the current Signis has no way of finding out.
　But at least Signis did not waste the life saved by his grandfather and worked hard to train in the literary and military arts as a member of the baronial family. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for when you're ready to buy.
　As a result, Signis grew into one of the best knights in Roselia.
　Little does he know that this is the beginning of more tragedy.
(I tried desperately to find a place to stay... but as a result I became a potential enemy of the Garbeira family.)
　A person in a weak position makes an effort to win his place in the world. It's a situation you might find in a story.
　But unlike the story, the real world is not as sweet as the story.
　The figure of Signis, who is desperately trying to get his place in the world, is not only an eye-curve for the Galveira family, who have neglected him and persecuted him, but also the source of their fear.
　And rightly so.
　When will he be avenged? For those of the baronial family who understand that their deeds are not to be admired, the more powerful Signis becomes, the more dangerous he becomes as his reputation as a knight grows, the more dangerous he becomes.
　And yet, they couldn't kill Cygnis or let him go.
　Because Signis's ability and fame, which had passed through many shuras at a young age, was such that the military strength of the Garbeira family could be greatly increased or decreased.
　They wouldn't have been fazed.
　And they would find out.
　Signis's greatest weakness........
Anyway, from what I read in the letter, it looks like Elmedha is safe.
　The handwriting of a nanny, familiar to me since I was a child.
　She may have misjudged her own parents' handwriting, but there is no possibility of misjudging the handwriting of her nanny, Hermeda.
　Her dignified handwriting danced neatly on the paper.　
　And it is easy to see from the handwriting that she is safe.
(This letter only says that she is safe. But the fact that Baron Mikoshiba's men brought this letter to me... means one thing.)　
　Elmeda is the only person in Signis' life who can be considered a family member.
　Neither his father nor his mother have any flesh and blood love for him, but Elmeda is different. Signis will not be afraid to die for her.

'Signis, it's me, Roberto. It's not looking good. We must move now.

　Suddenly, the door to the room is slammed wildly.
　Probably Roberto also noticed the situation outside and swooped in.　
　His rough breathing echoed in Signis' ears through the door.
(You're in a big hurry you're a good guy. (Roberto)
　A friend of Signis', who has turned his back on the world and is oblique.
　He is the man who was considered by the nobles to be the most unmotivated man in the war. Signis himself has overheard Robert's dissatisfaction with the war directly from his own mouth.
　However, such a man has come running into the crisis of the Count of Salzberg with a change in his blood.
　He wouldn't simply act out of a sense of responsibility as one of the generals.
　It is proof that he adored Count Salzberg in his heart, even though he usually swears at the people around him as a shitty old man.
I'll have to make up my mind.　　
　Signis slowly sits up from the sofa and takes out a white paper medicine packet from his desk drawer.
(Roberto you told me before the war started that I should only think about myself I'm sorry, but this time I'll take you at your word. (I'll face your judgment after everything is over even if you want my head...)

Open it now. Wait a minute...

　With that, Signis placed two glasses on the table and filled one of them with the contents of the medicine packet.