The number of prisoners secured is about fifty.
　If you check the bodies, there are about a hundred of them.

　Probably about fifty of them had escaped and returned.

　We also learned a certain amount of the enemy's strategy from the stories of the captured prisoners.
　After all, the enemy was not aiming at our village, but at King Lossies' capital.

　They are planning to invade the country of King Loseys with three hundred of them directly and then surprise them from the forest side while they are distracted by it.

　This place is close to the capital of King Rosais, so if they dropped this place, they could take it by surprise.
　Even though many people won't enter the forest for fear of the gryphons, it's quite a bold thing to do. King Ferrum is.

　And we also found out that the four hundred under King Ferrum's command are heading here.
　It's no wonder the four hundred are in trouble.

　"Any deaths or injuries?

　I ask, a little nervously.

　'No one's dead. Ten people were injured. Five of them were felled by the enemy and three were cut by the enemy. Three of them were cut down by the enemy and the other two were broken.
　Ron reported to me.

　Good.....
　Zero fatalities.

　Let me see those wounds. I'll fix it.
　I'm not a doctor, but I know how to treat a simple injury.

　Scrapes are washed and then disinfected with alcohol and wrapped in a clean cloth.
　Fractures are placed against a tree and held in place with a cloth.

　A cut wound is held with a cloth to stop the bleeding.
　People in our village are strongly influenced by the blessing, so this level of injury is not enough to kill them.

　''Well, next, the four hundred led by King Ferrum...''
　It's not going to be as easy as it was earlier.

　'Ial. I need you to go back to King Loseys and explain the situation. He may be awake. And bring reinforcements for us to come under your control.
　Yes, sir.

　I'm running out of the village.
　I hope we're not going to make it.

　"Tetra, Soyoung. I'd really appreciate it if you would join me on a reconnaissance mission.　Lulu, go to Boros and the others and report back that you won. Take care of yourself.
　Okay.
　Yes!
　Yes, sir!

　The three of us are going to get the soulweed.

　Now, let's get ready to go.



　"Defeated?
　Ferrum couldn't believe his ears.

　''Yes ... all of a sudden fire started blowing out, one soldier after another ...''
　...Do you have any such spells?

　Ferrum asked the sorcerer.

　'You can't do something that big with witchcraft,'
　Yeah?

　Ferrum looks down at the soldier in front of him.
　The soldier's blue face trembles.

　''You don't seem to be possessed by a lie. But still, to be beaten by a mere forty. I guess we'll have to be careful.'
　Ferrum placed a hand on his chin and pondered.

　'Oh my God!
　A messenger comes to King Ferm.
　"What's up?　
　Treason!　A faction of the As sect has incited the peasants to rise up!　The city is under attack from fifty As and a hundred and fifty peasants!
　What?　What the hundred soldiers were doing!
　'And then all of a sudden it was engulfed in flames and blown up and something incomprehensible...'

　Ferrum clicks his tongue.

　'Let's go back!　It's not about killing or not killing King Rosais. This one will be killed!
　Ferrum stood up and straddled his horse.
　If we march at full speed from here, we'll make it in time enough.
　The capital's defenses are not so lenient.

　''We have urgent news!
　What now?
　'The three hundred that were in the diversion were defeated!　King Rosais's army is entering across the border!

　A dizziness overtook Ferrum.

　'd*mn it!　Let's hurry back!
　In a great hurry, Ferrum's army began to retreat.




　'Almus!　King Ferrum suddenly began to retreat!

　Tetra said that to me when she returned from scouting.

　''I see.......could it be that the army that was sent to King Rosais' country was defeated and counter-invaded?''
　But the last battle was won by King Ferm's side, five hundred to one thousand...
　I don't see how we can get invaded so easily.

　Besides, even if there was a reverse invasion, it was a long distance to the capital.
　If King Ferm had made a surprise attack on King Rosais's capital before then, King Rosais's army would come back in a hurry, so in this case, shouldn't we hurry for King Rosais's capital?　King Ferrum's character would likely go for that, but...

　Was there a mutiny?
　Maybe that's it. Or maybe it's both.
　You think they're okay?
　''Well, come on. I've given you the black powder, so if you use this effectively, I'm sure you'll be able to win enough like we are now.......

　Maybe they could do it until they attacked the palace.
　There are few magnificent stone walls in this area.　
　King Ferrum's country is a small country with a population of 30,000.

　The defensive facilities should be made of wood.
　They can be blown down with enough gunpowder.

　Well, we are so few in number that we might lose if King Ferrum's army comes back.

　And then there's the possibility that King Domorgal may have attacked us. I don't know if he'll have time to intervene since he's already fighting King Gilbeth.

　King Domorgal's country is a large country with more than three times the national strength of King Rosais' country.
　It would be possible to send an army to King Ferrum's country if it was somewhat overwhelming.

　When I think about it, one hawk comes down.
　It's Lulu.

　''Mr. Almus!　The Boros had already revolted!　I heard that we're about to take the capital city. And I also heard that King Rosais' army has invaded King Ferm's country.
　'Well that's just what I imagined. Thanks.

　And I suddenly think.

　Huh?　Why do we have to fight?

　Hey, Leader. Shouldn't you go after him?
　'Ummm ... do we really need to go after them?'
　When I said that, all eyes were on me at once.

　'Either way, King Ferrum's country is going to be destroyed, isn't it?　Even if we don't get destroyed, a major blow is certain. We can't take military action for a while. We've defeated the enemy once, so we can negotiate the advantage...
　You can't do that!

　Seo-yeon raised his voice. The others around him also shook their heads.
　''If we don't do this, they'll take all the credit for it, right?
　But more than the credit, it's my life.

　As soon as I was about to say that, a headache hit me.
　My vision wobbled and shook.

　Ouch.........

　Are you okay?
　Tetra shakes me with concern.
　'It's okay,'

　The headache starts to fade.

　'They're right. Let's prepare for the chase. If possible, we'll defeat King Ferm and cut off the evil that follows!

　Start preparing as soon as possible.
　We'll leave ten men to watch over the captives we've captured.
　I've tied them up properly with ropes, and I've taken away their weapons, so I think we can handle ten of them.

　Quickness is the key this time.

　We're not taking much food with us, as we're going to be fighting a short battle.

　Instead, we'll head out at full speed.

　''Don't we have to wait for reinforcements?''
　'You don't have time to wait I'll write you a letter. Seo-yeon, deliver it to Ial by hawk mail.
　I understand!

　So-yeon does the soul ride again.
　It's not really a good thing to make him do it again and again but it can't be helped.


　''Either way, we can't just sit here and stand by and do nothing. I'm sorry for King Ferrum, but he needs to die.

　As long as he's alive, we'll be in danger for as long as he's alive.




　By the time Ial arrived, King Rosais was awake.
　It was thanks to all the sorcerers who nursed him back to health.
　Normally he should have been asleep, but the emergency meant that he had to whip his body to stay awake.

　'I'm sorry, Ial, but I can't send reinforcements. I can't send you reinforcements.
　Why? !

　Ial couldn't help but lean forward and shout.

　'Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, you have to hear the end of the story. ─ Wait, wait, wait. It is not necessary to send reinforcements. After all, King Ferrum's forces have already retreated.
　Oh, really?

　Ial can't help but shout out loud.
　He is genuinely surprised that King Ferrum has withdrawn, and that King Rosais knows that fact.

　King Rosais smirks.

　 This much is naturally to be expected. The response was delayed because of my fall but I've already let the hawk go. And a short while ago, the news that we had retreated arrived. For three reasons: the Bartolo had defeated King Ferm's army and launched a counter-invasion. There was a revolt at home. And you have been defeated. If it weren't for any of these things, the little Ferm lad would have gotten here. That would have been a close call, but anyway, that's the end of the Fellm boy.

　King Rosais says happily that this is one less thing to worry about before he dies.

　
　Can I ask you one question?
　What is it?
　Why do you pledge your loyalty to that man?　From the looks of it, you're quite the negotiator. Why don't you come to me?

　Ial responds immediately to that.

　'Very well. I owe Master Almus a great debt of gratitude. I will spend the rest of my life paying it back.'

　Ial said and left.
　King Rosais looked at Ial's back with amusement.




　It took about a day to arrive in King Ferrum's country.

　As I recall, the capital of King Ferrum's country is about an hour from here?
　Yes.

　Tetra nodded.

　This village is terrible, by the way.
　I look at the village spread out between my eyes.

　The eyes of the inhabitants are dead.
　Even if a group of fifty armed people come out, they don't make a fuss.
　Maybe they're used to it, or maybe they think it's useless to make noise...

　Can I ask you one question?
　I pull a woman over as I walk by.

　'What is it?'
　There seems to be nothing but women in this village. What's happened?

　The woman answers my question.

　'Well King Ferrum said he needed soldiers and my father died five years ago when he was sent to fight King Rosais. My husband two years ago. Three of my sons died in the war a year ago out of five, and the remaining two were taken by King Ferrum a few hours ago....

　The woman breaks down in tears.

　'Have you come to avenge King Ferrum?　Then I beg you. Kill that king and avenge my father, my husband and my son!
　Then the woman cries as she clings to me.

　I look around at the other women in the area and they have their heads down around us.

　''I know what I'm doing. We'll kill that man.
　As I replied, the women started looking at us like we were heroes or something.

　'Huh, more reasons to kill King Ferm.

　'Let me ask you one question.'
　Tetra looks around at the women and asks.

　'Do you regret killing your former lord, Lagow Ath?

　The women answer with a mouthful.

　''The previous lord was better........''
　''But with the previous lord, the taxes...''
　But it's not the same now!
　'There was no war in the last lord's time!
　'We've been tricked. By that Ferm!

　Tetra looks coldly at the women who say this.

　'Alms. Humans are such things.'
　But I'll help you through it.

　When I replied, Tetra hugged me unhappily, but a little happily.




　After walking for a few minutes, I saw a group of soldiers in the distance.
　Is it King Ferrum's army?
　It's finally catching up to you.

　All hands, battle stations.
　Wait.

　Tetra controls me with her hand.
　Then Tetra narrows her eyes and looks at the flag.

　'That's the flag of King Rosyth's army.
　Really? That was a close call.

　So Tetra and I's hypothesis - that King Rosais' army defeated King Ferrum's army and invaded in reverse - was correct.

　"Well, I'll go myself. Brother.

　With that, Rosward kicked his horse in the gut and rode off to King Rosais's army.
　I hope the general knows who we are.
　If he doesn't know us, it would be a long explanation.

　A few minutes later, he came back.

　"He wants us to come with him to attack together. The commander is Mr. Bartolo.

　Bartolo?　...Oh, that's the guy.
　I just remembered.
　You reek of booze.

　"Hi, Alms what's that name again? That's funny. We rushed here after we defeated the enemy two days ago, and now we're wondering why you started marching yesterday and are meeting us?
　We're just fast.

　There's a cheat called Kago!
　You needn't worry about that.

　Yeah, well, it's a good thing we're getting together. By the way, did you put the rebellion going on right now?
　''A subpoena is a poor way to put it but you only gave him weapons and a flagman.
　A bannerman...

　Bartolo stares at the tetra next to me.

　'I think you'd be better off working with the rebels, don't you?
　It's too dangerous. I won't let you.

　I don't know if I'm going to succeed.
　The most important thing to me right now is Tetra and my friends.

　I'm only encouraging the rebellion because it will help me take down King Ferrum, who is trying to hurt his people.
　If I gave Tetra to the rebels, it would be the end of the world.

　"You're probably going to be a big shot if we win this war, by the way. You'll probably take over most of what King Ferm's rulership used to be. Good for you.
　'Really?　King Rosais's country would be a coalition government with the great families. Wouldn't the other great families complain?
　'Here's the thing. The army I lead now consists of King Loseys alone and my own private army. The big boys are very heavy lumbering. If we count the rebels and you guys as one force, it's about two hundred and fifty. We are 400. You have done a great deal of good. I'm sure you're not the only one. Don't call it a bloodline.

　Hmmm, should I be happy?
　It's not that I don't want it.
　I'm a little greedy myself. I'd like to take what I can get.

　I've never run a fiefdom in my life.

　It's a good thing. Well, a big family leader and that means we're his flock!　Hey, leader. I want a piece of land with a lake on it.
　Have you ever heard of a raccoon who doesn't know how to count?　If you keep talking about the war after it's over too much, you'll die.

　'Don't be so fancy.

　'Seriously?　I'm about to have a baby.
　Bartolo asks, pointing a finger in his own face.

　These guys are too much of a death flag.

　'I'll marry Alms when this war is over,'
　Hey! This is not a good time to tell me that!

　It's killing me.