Immediately after Roffrey went out on sentry to see if there were any subsequent demons, what sounded like a quiet neighborhood was a persecuted yell.
"- He said he used Shui Ming for a meal!!
Yeah, that was the scream of Trinity, the one that just ripped me apart.
- Not to worry. Trinity grabbed his chest as close as she could to Gregory's suspicious ear, which continued from the words.
The respect for the knight that I had expressed until earlier had blown away.
Such a shrinking Gregory to the revelation of the Russian passion of a man called the brave.
"Ha, ha..."
"Is that a true story!
"Ha! Everything is exactly as I said."
"Become,... Huh!
Trinity gets stuck with words too much. I don't know that jokes that don't even make such jokes are true.
And I bit my lips off, and it was when I was really about to grab his chest.
Titania, relieved by surprise, went in to stop Trinity, as if she had never been here before.
"Oh, please calm down, Master Reggie!
"Yes, but!
"Gregory is still in the middle of a conversation. Let's listen to him till the end…"
"... ok"
The words of Titania made sense. Indeed, as she complained, Gregory merely said that "there is no great danger here because I have made Lord Swimey" yet.
More than that, I haven't heard about the details yet.
... It's important enough for me to take it myself.
The story is accepted and breathes like Titania stroked her chest down.
And not long after he calms down, he looks to Gregory and orders him with such a strict gaze and language that he cannot always imagine from his kind girlfriend.
"Gregory. Talk to me. Is that good?
"... Ha"
Gregory kneeling (kneeling) back with a reply to her. Are you blinded by the see-through eye that can be directed at you? Sweating on his forehead, he also, starts talking.
"... I heard this story in a fold where I made contact with my liaison officer before. According to the story of the man, the Demon clan was leading a great army to the vicinity of Astel to defeat the brave men, and they made Lord Swimei safe from them."
That would be the general history. But the more I hear, the less I understand.
It's like a mountain to ask why and why it happened.
As Trinity sorts out what she wants to ask, Mizuki, who was in a hurry to cloud her expression, asks Gregory first.
"Um, what does it mean to say that Mizumin-kun was killed after all? I didn't ask Shui Ming-kun to become a fool..."
"Yes, this is an unknown story of Lord Swimey."
Getting out of Gregory's mouth was, in a way, a rather difficult situation to anticipate, but to implement.
Even though Mizumi herself did not know that she had fallen, she did. Then naturally, questions arise.
"... then how can you do something about Shuiming? You're not gonna let every Metail attack you, are you?
"About that, it seems to be in line with Lord Swimei's Metail departure..."
"Suitable for departure?
When Trinity hears back, the water tree dews confusion to it.
"Huh? Huh? Why? Sumiaki-kun didn't say anything about leaving town, did he?
Yes, when we left the castle, Shuiming only said that we would leave the castle and live. Camelia has a hard time staying, so she leaves the castle to live at will. Then the question of Mizuki is especially true, and his story of Metail's departure does not fit.
Then Gregory coughs one with a sweat on his face.
Answer the question of Mizuki.
"After we left Metail, information came in that Lord Swimey was looking for a request to escort the merchants in the Adventurer's Guild."
"Swimey goes to the Adventurer Alliance, is it?
"Yes, according to the story, Lord Swimey had already become an Alliance member of the Xiao Dark Pavilion a few days after he left the castle, from which I suspect he originally intended to leave Metail. I don't even know why Lord Swimey leaves Metail... and the nobles involved in the Demon King's Crusade who found out about it..."
Did you use it?
But what the hell is wrong with Shuiming? He refused to accompany himself in the hope of safety and chose to remain in the king's capital.
Yet time did not pass, and he was gone from the Metail. I didn't know you'd sign up for the guild and then take a request from the merchant squad, which is not going to happen if you don't have any thoughts.
"Sumiaki-kun, what's wrong...? It's dangerous when you get out of town. You can't possibly understand."
"I don't know. But it's about Mizumino, so I think he had some idea."
"Yeah......"
Watching Mizuki shake her eyes anxiously, Trinity asks Gregory again.
"So, what's ahead of that merchant squad?
"According to the information left in the guild, we're headed to the Nerferia Empire via the city of Kranto"
"It's... it's pretty much the same road we've come through"
That's what Titania says.
Yes, on the route, we didn't stop at the city of Kranto, but the journey that Mizumi is coming through would be about the same as ourselves from Nerferia to Sardias.
That creates one possibility.
"Could it be Mizumin-kun? Are you coming after us?
"... have you been following me,? That's not an unthinkable story either."
It's not an unthinkable story. But applying that possibility doesn't make sense.
Eight keys Shuiming is solid. I'm not the kind of guy who changes his mind because he's lonely or because he's anxious, and if there's any reason why he has to come after it, he should offer directly to the castle.
So I'm not sure. The motive is unclear first. But don't pry it even if you're worried about it here and now.
Leaving the story aside, Trinity asks Gregory again.
"... okay. Now I know why I was able to keep Shuiming alive. But why did the nobles do that? You shouldn't have to force Shui Ming."
Yes, if the Demons came leading the great army, now we have no more choice but to flee than we have no power to fight through. Then you just have to run.
There is no reason why Mizumi should be turned off.
"Hall of the Brave. It's a massive army of demons that's on their way. The overall movement is supposedly dull because of the scale, but still the opponent is the Demon Race. As far as that march is concerned, it is not such that it can go hand in hand with the progression of the human army, both in speed and in scope. Sir Hadrias said if anything should happen to Lord Brave in case of capture..."
"Huh... Is there a Duke of Hadrias!?
"Ha..."
To Titania's surprise voice, Gregory bows his head in awe.
Well, who is that Duke of Hadrias? It must be a name I remember hearing a long time ago.
Digging into memories, but I can't remember Trinity.
Therefore, I asked Titania, who now has a hard face, as you will know.
"Sorry, Tia. What Duke of Hadrias?
"... Duke Hadrias is one of Astel's leading aristocrats, who sets domestic guidelines on this crusade to the Demon King. I mean, he's the one who has the authority to arrange operations in Astel to support us, etc. The Demon King Crusade will not be easy, and in a few cases there will be some deficiencies, your father created an organization to support us and appointed him as its head..."
"So you turned Shuiming into that?
When asked back, Titania nods heavily, even without certainty.
Gregory knows what's going on.
"… ha. As I said, it is at the discretion of Sir Hadrias and some nobles who cooperate in the Crusade of the Demon King. I didn't doubt the help of Master Reggie, who is a brave man, but even if he had prepared soldiers to support him, he decided it was premature for Lord Brave to stand up to the army."
"... but that's not why you have to tailor Mizumin-kun, is it?
"As for that, the reason why the Demons were able to perceive the presence of Lord Brave was uncertain. Sir Hadrias' hand caught demons only say they came to kill the brave ones, how much shall I ask... excuse me, I didn't know why in the end, so I was wondering if I could possibly stir them up with the summoned Lord Swimey as well... so I circulated false information to the Demons and let them target Lord Swimey for every merchant squad"
Sure, that might work. The fact that we are not in contact with the army of the Demon Nation means that the current situation means that neither the Demon Nation completely knows where we are, but only its existence.
What if? If we assume that the means to sense the summons of the brave are on the devil's side, irrespective of its unexpected hit, it is worth striking such a hand, and if the devil's side also considers the existence of the brave as a threat, it is by no means unlikely that it can be defeated if its place roughly turns the army, as this one does.
But first, there's information you need to know.
Called, timing.
"... it was during the parade that we first went out of the castle, and even if the demons found out then, is there a progression so far?
"Yeah, it'll be hard to think about. Mizuki's right, it's too soon."
"Yeah."
So I guess there are still people in the Demon Nation who have the power to detect even such things.
But if I did, here comes a problem.
"How could that Duke of Hadrias have flown false information to the Demons...? I don't suppose that's why you know the Demons? How the hell did you do that?
Not even in the pattern, Trinity puts a tight gaze on Gregory.
Yes, humans would be able to spy on each other even in hostilities, but that's not the first thing they can do if their opponents are Demons. Sending information from humans to demons doesn't keep it credible in information, and probably doesn't have ears to ask demons before they believe it.
I mean, there's no pipe. Therefore, it seems that there are some measures that may be difficult to think of, but close to insight, in order to disseminate false information.
"Leh, the liaison officer said he sent the soldier as a use to Chardock. I tried to remind the soldiers who didn't know about the Demons that the brave men who summoned them were currently acting disputed by the merchants on their way to the city of Kranto to deliver false information."
"Become!?
"Oh, no way..."
The trembling voice of a water tree stirs up a miserable imagination. Apparently she sensed correctly what Gregory was trying to say. A look that made your face blue and passed through anxiety. To her like that, Gregory puts a bitter and thoughtless look on that sinister face and answers.
"... if a soldier is caught by a demon tribe in the march who only knows the information of lies, he or she will sometimes be forced to throw up what it is for. But if you teach a soldier a lie beforehand, it naturally only comes out of that mouth, even if the soldier cracks his mouth. If the Demons believed it, they would have done the same thing, so they passed the plan first..."
"Oh my God..."
"Terrible......"
That, it seems, was a pretty strong shock to both of us. Teatania with her hands on her mouth and no more words to carry on, and the water tree that makes her face cry.
In front of them like that, Trinity puts her outrage at Gregory.
"I can't believe you treated a soldier like that... oh, not really! What do you think people's lives are!
"Yu, that the life of the valiant lord and the life of the soldier is not like being hung on a scale. To help a few soldiers, if you're going to lose a valiant hall that will save 10,000 people, look at it in the big picture, it seems that you don't think you can match it...
"That's how the Mizumi thing...!
"Even the merchants have nothing to do with it. Yet..."
Gregory, who hears the roar of Trinity leaving to the fierce, and the whining of Mizuki, can't say anything more, or shut up.
To him like that, a smashed and somewhat sluggish Trinity asks discouraged.
"... besides, didn't you have any hands?
"When I heard the story, they said the demonic army had crossed half the territory of Chardock and was in front of the mountains near the border. By then, I can't beat any more hands..."
"If you knew so early, how could you not have told me before!
"And I had no choice, Lord Brave! My life was given to me not to say anything until the hour came, and I have no right to disobey that order only as a knight... and by the time I heard this story, the plan was already over..."
And I say to Gregory, who says he couldn't do anything, that the water tree was driven by worry.
"Oh, no... then Mizumin-kun is"
"... I thought maybe I was already in contact with the Demons. The information is that Lord Swimei did not have any such characteristics, so he was wearing unusual clothing, and only conveyed the general position where the merchant team would be, so I can't say for sure, but if anyone who fits that condition is searched around the middle between the Wang capital Metail and the city of Kranto..."
"So, but! If you run away or dive somewhere..."
"It will be difficult. For some reason, the Demons have spread their hands here within the Nerferia Empire. In view of that, the size of the demonic army is considerable. If you have an identified location, you will likely look for it to smudge and crush. That way, the merchants who know nothing..."
"Oh no..."
"Swimei......"
…………
Gregory's speculation strikes me with unspeakable emotions. The lack of words is sadness, disappointment, or both. Neither Mizuki nor Titania would think Mizumi would be safer than this happened.
Suzu said so himself, too.
Shuiming is certainly an indelible man, but I can't say enough that that's why I can get through this situation safely.
No, you probably won't get cut out. No matter how much swordsmanship you wear, Shuiming is just a student who can't use summons protection or magic. Then there is no reason for a small demon to be able to fathom the Demon Clan.
... asks to spill words in situations where my teeth are itchy but I can't do anything anymore.
"... how could it have been now?
"Now what...?
"He told us about it."
Gregory muttered then that it was a good time. Then he said he was weighing the timing of the conversation.
What the hell fit into the terms of speaking?
"Ha. It must not be too late to speak because Lord Brave must be evacuated to the safe zone before the main team of the Demon Nation arrives, and if you speak too soon... with all due respect, I do not know what action Lord Brave will take. So..."
"There's nothing I can do about it. You mean now!
"Ha, ha! Sorry!
Gregory shudders his throat in a hell-anger with the momentum of the convergence, shrinking and laying flat.
That's what Titania asks him.
"Gregory. What about your father?
"... you shouldn't know. His Majesty was extremely concerned about Lord Swimey. I thought perhaps Sir Hadrias would tell you that he was afraid to buy anger..."
"Really..."
Is there a slight relief in that heart of exhaling Titania? I guess it didn't bother me to think my own father was involved in such a ruthless thing.
Has the anxiety of those who are on the caller's side cleared up just a little?
And did Titania have any first ears there? Ask Gregory.
"Nevertheless, I didn't know your father was exceptionally concerned about Swimey?
"Ha. When there was talk of Lord Swimey leaving on the occasion of the meeting, the Duke was fiercely opposed, but His Majesty told him to push it off and set him free about Lord Swimey. On top of that, we also have the funds, so... excuse me, but there were rumors in the castle that it might have been slightly excessive to treat the escaped man, and after we left, it became a little noise in the castle."
Teatania's surprising mixed voice would be more than admiration. I didn't know King Astel Armadiyaus thought so much about Mizumi. The king is a kind man. I'm honestly happy there.
and where the water tree presents a mundane question.
"But why are Astel's nobles opposed to Mizumin-kun leaving?
The question of such a water tree also had a pretence to think of Trinity.
"That's to make us listen when we stop listening."
"Huh..."
The face trapped in the surprise of a water tree was half as predictable in Trinity II.
If you're a ruthless person who can easily cut off soldiers and irrelevant merchant troops in your own country, you'll probably think about that. If we change our minds and stop crusading the Demon King, we will be Astel's people.
This one's human, too. There is a change of heart. You won't be afraid of that over there either.
They won't be able to prevent such a change of heart either, but they can also prevent a halt to the Demon King's crusade.
That's right.
"- Take Shuiming hostage and force us to crusade the Demon King. Right?
"Probably."
――
"... and now that we can't do that, and we're unlikely to be able to manage the matter of Shuiming ourselves, we just tailored it. I don't know what Mizumi's going to do, so I'm going to finish it early."
Gregory nods again.
And when he saw the snort, the water tree wept in his eyes.
"It's terrible. It's too much..."
The mourning and tears must rightly be the heart of the water tree. Whether she has the strength to follow the Demon King's Crusade resolutely or not, she is also one girl.
... this is how you treat people who are called to help, but don't even cooperate. If you listen to me like that, like a water tree, you also want to mouth the spiciness that has sprung up in your heart.
So, the teatania.
"... of the country, no, what about the protection of Metail and the city of Krant?
"Ah..."
"That's right...!
At Titania's inquiry, they remembered. The story of Shuiming filled me with heads, and I completely lost track of it.
If the Demons are after the Mizumins, it becomes certain that the Demons are entering the country now.
After they hit the merchant squad, there's no chance they won't break out. If so, it is inevitable that there will be danger in nearby cities.
To Titania, the princess of Astel, it is a worry of her own country. I guess that was an unmissable story to hear there, too.
"Ha. Recruit those who can fight from local mercenary regiments and wizard guilds for defenses on the part of the city of Kranto, gather elites from Adventurer guilds in secrecy, and for Metail, attack demonic troops in addition to defense units. From each nobleman's immediate army, the court will gather a selection of hands from the Knights and the Magic Division, and you will be in the midst of forming them today."
"If you're so handy, why don't you..."
"We just didn't have enough time to anticipate the formation of the troops. A decree to the city of Kranto or the movement of the forces of war from each noble territory. To this end, Swimei will be targeted and sacrificed by the merchants..."
Didn't you? To save the great, cut off the small. It makes sense, but is it not much as an act against those who are called without desire?
When you think about Shuiming, who knows nothing, only don't let it go through your mind.
That would be the same for both water trees and teatania.
In the face of toppling and subtraction, there is a mixture of remorse, grief, and disappointment.
There again, Gregory lays flat.
"Sorry"
…………
What will happen if I apologize any more? We can no longer overshadow the fact that Shuiming is in crisis. Therefore, there was no word to hang. I've already exhausted my anger. It just leaves a pan of depression that can't be cleared up.
- Still, there's a mature knight in front of me with his head so low that he rubs his forehead against the ground.
What thoughts did the apology send out to the edge? A sobering apology for the occasion. An indication of how seriously sorry I am. A back-bellied heart with a grudge.
Either way, he said he was corrupted by speculation that seemed to make him self-loathing, like exploring his belly.
(Ah -)
Yes, so Trinity could understand as if she had been accidentally struck by lightning.
He said he was. He said he left himself to the fierce passion, he didn't think anything of it, he was just banging his anger and words against him.
Without regard for his mood or his heart. If you'd been calm and thought about it, you'd know.
"Triju-kun?
Did Mizuki surprise you because she saw herself at the point?
But not if you're explaining it to her now.
"Enough, Mr. Gregory"
"Yu, Lord Brave?
Grab Gregory's shoulders and pull the curtain of a long apology.
Yes, he didn't have to apologize. Rather, this one was a position to thank him for.
Because...
"Mr. Gregory. The truth is, when you heard this story, you were told not to tell me everything. We were told only that the Demons were approaching and that we should be able to lead them somewhere."
"Huh -?"
――
Teatania and Gregory gaze. And soon, Mizuki asked.
"Triju-kun, what do you mean?
"If Mr. Gregory was just listening to a nobleman named Duke of Hadrias, he wouldn't have to talk to us about Mizumi. Mr. Gregory just needs to get us out of here, so you don't have to bother saying that to create mistrust about yourself."
"Ah..."
Only such a small, attentive voice of the water tree stood out more than any sound around.
Buy distrust. Yes, in retrospect, it was a strange confession. If we speak of the status quo in which Mizumi was placed, it is imperative that we buy our own anger. While I know that, I can't do anything to distrust my superiors or myself, and if that's the hand of the person who adopted this measure, let alone keep the matter of Shui Ming hidden.
Besides, if you keep your mouth shut without letting them know, you don't have to bow your head to such a child.
Still, Gregory told me about Mizumi, probably because this guy had something inside that he couldn't bend.
And I didn't say that. I just lowered my head because there was one, because my muscles were through.
"Excuse me. I finally realized. I'm sorry I yelled at you without thinking about you."
"Lord Brave..."
When Trinity bows her head with her honest thoughts, Gregory's voice is overwhelmed with feelings.
That's what Titania did to him.
"Gregory. I'm sorry. Until I heard about Lady Reggie, I mistrusted you."
When he hears the words, Gregory lowers them like this so that they can be dropped.
And he took his words with him, as he repented.
"... I couldn't do it. There is no connection whatsoever to this world, only to defeat the Demon King, and to deceive those who have taken it upon themselves. And even though your friend is in danger right now, you still look like a stranger, don't you think?"
Gregory slowly bowed his head one last time, not hiding his nostalgia.
"I'm sorry. I just don't have the strength."
In contrast, Trinity shook her head sideways.
"That's okay. Because..."
Yes, if you say what's wrong, it's all your fault. This happened because the human being called here was supposed to be one of his own, but he involved two friends, and he didn't refuse, as his friend said.
So...
"... Master Reggie?
On his own back rising, it was Titania's voice that chased him.
Without looking back at it, Titania calls again, this time in a terrible hurry.
"Duh, where are you going, Master Reggie!?
"... it's settled, isn't it? I'm going to help Mizumi now."
The words came out half impulsively.
Decided. He said going to help was no longer a certainty. When she tries to shake it off by telling her without a handful of patrols, Teatania speaks confusion again.
"Oh no, what does it mean to go now!?
Following it was Gregory's voice.
"Lord Brave! I know how you feel, but we're not gonna make it now! There are no more horses!
He's certainly right. The horse was killed in an earlier battle. I can't make it without my legs.
But not without a single head.
"There's a horse. There's a Roffrey horse."
"Yes, indeed, Master Reggie is right, but what the hell is going to happen now! Even if you make it under Swimey, it's the Devil's army that's there. As it is now, it just makes a dog die!
"But..."
And, Titania's rhetoric discourages this objection. Her statement is correct and I will not allow her to speak differently.
And it's all folded up with a stop.
"Dear Reggie, please reconsider. If anything happens to Master Reggie right now, who the hell is going to take down Nakshatra?
"... Huh!
Yes, as Titania said, I am more of a brave man than I have come here to take on their favors.
Let's just say it's a betrayal, in a way, to forget about it and run into personal affection and end it.
- But still, there are things I'm not convinced of.
"... Dear Reggie. I'm having a hard time with Swimey, but I don't know now."
So.
"No!
"Fuck, Master Reggie?
"I don't want to abandon Mizumi! He's my friend! So!"
Neither the teeth bite from remorse, nor the fist I gripped, gave up.
I wanted to go help. A friend. Just like Mizuki, he's an irreplaceable friend to himself. So I didn't want to lose it. I could lose it, but I didn't like to do anything.
There, Titania's worries pierce.
"There is no guarantee that you can help Swimei out of the Demon Clan!?
"I know that, too! Still, I still am."
"Dear Reggie..."
When you sue out of breath, teatania shakes her eyes in confusion. I know very well the heart worrying about me, my duty as a princess, and being haunted by them.
Evidence of this is that the words were swayed whichever way they came with the thought of guiding the Demon King's Crusade and himself.
Off her gaze like that, Trinity turns toward the water tree. Those who come from the same world will understand.
"... water tree"
"Wow, I..."
"Mizuki! Let's go! Go help Mizumi!
Grabbing the shoulder of the water tree, Trinity complains so. Trying to help a friend. Strong. Believe me, she would agree.
But...
"Ah, uh..."
When I noticed, the water tree was shaking small.
"Ah..."
A water tree that shakes its black eyes like a shooting ball.
Yeah, she just finished her first line. In my first battle, I fought the Demons for the first time. And at that time, she did feel a fear of battle. Then can there be such things as forcing her to fight against the army of the demons?
No, I don't.
There was something completely wrong with it, such as imposing such imposition on the trembling girl.
For a moment now, the word "alone" runs through my head. When I looked around again that all the thoughts that came out here were so, everyone was shaking their expressions in confusion.
"Sorry, Mizuki"
"Shit, Trijukun?
Turn your back on the call that came back to apologize. I see you're on your own. But I don't want to give up.
Such thoughts mix. So.
"I'm the only one who can go. Everybody stay where you're safe. Roffrey!"
Just back from the sentry, roffrey, emits a call from afar. Then Roffrey, who doesn't know what he's been up to, hurries his horse as he leans his neck.
"Ha, huh? How are you, Lord Brave?
"Lend me your horse"
"What? Oh, I don't mind, but what the hell..."
Roffrey coming down from the back of the horse. Two voices, to block his words.
"Please wait, Master Reggie!
"Wait, Triju-kun!
A chase that hangs from behind. At that time, Trinity...