I think it's time to put you in a better mood, guys.

....

　It doesn't work. Everyone has turned away pui. We left the run-walker territory before noon with Zeke and the others seeing us off, but it's been like this all day.

'You're an idiot, Ray. At a time like this, a man should apologize to each one of you for one kiss, right?

　My brother-in-law Fergus, who is sitting next to me, said something like that. Just because it's none of your business, doesn't mean you're not interested. I can tell he's amused.

　Right now in the carriage are me, Alexia, Ferris, Caro, Helen, Aeris, Pricia, Clona, Haku, May, Roy, Eclat who is sleeping on my lap, Clondine who is sleeping on May's lap, Brother Fergus and sister-in-law Carome who is riding in the carriage.

　It's a royal carriage that Brother-in-law Fergus had brought all the way from Warbestos to carry us. It's quite spacious.

　Dagris and his men are in another carriage. Over there are Dagris, Renee, Alma, Elea, Kate, Emma, Burdon, Shizuk, Mr. Rose, and Rabbi riding in that carriage. These two carriages are surrounded by war vests protecting us. Well, we'll be fighting when the time comes.

　The problem is that people are ignoring me. Because of the incident in the morning when the hikarins were sleeping naked on my futon, there is an awkward atmosphere in the air. I'm sure I've cleared up the misunderstanding, though.

　Mei and the rest of the girls are feeling a bit restless because of this atmosphere. I'm jealous of Ekla and Clondine, who are sleeping peacefully in such an atmosphere. Just as I was thinking this, I hear a knock on the door from outside.

''What's up?''

They are bandits and they are attacking the village. What do you want me to do?

What's the number?

I think there's about 30 of them.

Then catch as many as you can.

Ha!

　When Brother-in-law Fergus said that, the Warbestos soldiers rode their horses towards the village that was being attacked. But bandits?

''Do bandits appear frequently?

Lately. They're either former soldiers in Regalia, or they're from some village where life got tough and they fell into banditry. Apparently the regalia had a big tax on this war, so the hardened ones became bandits.
　You know the Regalian soldiers. When they go back to the Empire, they're just going to be executed. The rest of the world can't be trusted. That's why they're bandits.

　On top of that, there's a rebellion of former Regalian nobles. This is going to take a lot of work. Even though General Melia is holding us back.

　When we're talking about that.

'Wow!　He's a witch soldier!

　I heard such a scream. I opened the window and looked outside to see a man whose body had turned purple and was rampaging. Is that a magic sword in his hand?

Why do they have those things?

There's a bunch of them out there that were used in the war. We're taking them down as soon as we find them.

　Indeed, the Worshipful Soldiers seem to be familiar with them and are attacking from a distance from the Majestic Soldiers. A half-hearted attack will cause them to recover, so they're trying to finish them off with a single blow.

''Is every city and village like this?''

　Alexia asked brother-in-law Fergus if he was still concerned about it as a deputy.

'No,' she says. It doesn't happen that often. I'm sure you'll be able to find a great deal of information on this. I don't have any proof, so I can't denounce them.

　That's another hassle. The Regalia Empire might use that as an excuse to intervene again, so we have to get it over with.

　The bandits seem to have been safely subdued, and the war vest soldiers are capturing them with ropes. However, as for the man who used the magic sword, they killed him and stopped him. If that happens, there's nothing we can do about it.

　After that, we spent about two days moving through the royal domain. In terms of size, it's about half the size of the Nanor Kingdom. It's quite large.

　We stayed in various villages and towns in the middle of it and proceeded, but perhaps because of the war, none of the villages and towns are lively. Well, it can't be helped. From the point of view of the former citizens of Regalia, we are the invaders. I guess it's not so easy to divide us.

　Then again, I've managed to get everyone to forgive me during this trip. They asked me to kiss them and hug them and all sorts of other things, but I did it for them all if that was what they wanted to forgive me for. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to punch brother-in-law Fergus, who was grinning at me from the side.

　And then, on the fifth day of our progress through the royal estate. I hear a door banging from outside the carriage. I opened the window and looked to see that the Warbestos soldiers were running their horses like a line.

''What's up?''

We'll be arriving in the city we're supposed to be in soon.

Okay. Then keep going.

Ha!

　Then we are led into the city. The size of the city is about a little smaller than the royal capital. I've heard that the population is about 40,000.

It's still not very active.

　Helen seemed to think the same thing. It's just as lifeless as any other village or town. The main street that used to be quite full of people is now deserted and has a lonely atmosphere.

'Is it because it's been taken over after all?

'That's part of it, but the lords here have left their people behind and fled for themselves. The people have not been told what to do, and before they know it, they are being occupied by another country. If they are occupied without knowing what they will do, they will be worried.

　It's true. I didn't know that was possible. I'm sure it's unsettling. You don't know how they will treat you. You can feel the eyes on you from time to time, because they are watching you from their homes.

　We were confused by the indescribable atmosphere of the inhabitants, but we were advancing through the city.