Master of the brave.

Northernmost part of the continent.

During the harsh winter months, the sea freezes, as well as lakes and even rivers, and the earth turns into a world of silver on one side.

People outgrow hunger with crops made during short summers and with preserved, dried meat and seafood.

The people who had been forced to live like that made dramatic changes by making it the great 'dragon killer' and 'sword saint', the reign of hero Melvic IV.

The Kingdom of Sein, which was the poorest country, was very successful in launching the national policy you saw of investing all its limited budget in excellent human resources.

Having studied abroad and been highly educated, they have put in place various measures for their country to restore enormous wealth to the country. And the life of the kingdom of Sein became more abundant than before, although the harsh winter will come as ever.

But that happy time didn't last long.

Because the demon king descended, using the flesh of Melvic IV, the hero who brought hope to them, as a vessel.

The descended Demon King then expanded his dominion from the kingdom of Sein to the outside when he summoned his family, the Demons, one after the other.

When I say expand the area of domination, it's not like the country man builds.

Kill all living things.

The feelings of fear, fear, sadness and anger that were thus born are distracting and envelop the surrounding area. Then the presence of the creatures, plants, and spirits whose cares are distorted gives birth to demons and warcraft.

The increasing number of demons, the Warcraft, was led by the Demon Clan, the direct family of the Demon King, who instantly devoured the nations of the North.

Neither was the human side silently waiting for the demonic invasion.

I tried to counter a bunch of demons pushing over in the army.

But the temper of the Demon King and the Demon Clan turned him into a spiritual soldier when he also resurrected the soldiers who lost their lives in the battle against demons as undead.

The more troops the human side sent and the more casualties it took, the more demons it became.

And the place that became the battlefield became full of curiosity.

Life cannot be lived in a place of intense lust. The only things that can live are those whose souls have been distorted and fallen into darkness. The realm where the organism was no longer viable eventually became known as the demonic realm.

"So a demon can be a human being?

"Yeah. This is a knowledge that is also contraindicated in the Great Temple of Emerdia,"

"So, what if one day I suddenly turn into an orga or something?

I laugh at Wynn with a creepy look on her face, as Leticia reassures her.

"I'm not suddenly going to be a demon today or tomorrow. Souls are not that easily distorted. Right......"

Leticia looks for a good analogy when she puts her index finger on her lips.

"For example, the slums of Simlug"

"The Glades?

"If the people who live there continue to think it's a twinge, a pain, a resentment for the world, I think it's possible that demons will be born. However, the negative thoughts that people generate are very weak, so by the time you're concerned, you need to keep those negative thoughts on the spot for hundreds of years. But normally, you don't have to worry about being left alone in a ghetto for hundreds of years."

"So how was the demon born who's here now?

"I just got a little something to tell you when I went to Emerdia too, and I don't know that much about it. Thousands of years ago, when the Genesis God Anastasia created this world, he created something alive and living. But light and shadow are the opposite. At the same time that we created the living and the living, we also created the demon tribe, its opposing being. It is said that the negative beliefs created by the demon tribe have distorted the life created and created the demon."

"Then one day I won't suddenly turn into a demon."

Wynn says with a horrible face.

"Yeah. But, except when demon kings and high-ranking demons are involved. The Demons can amplify their negative beliefs and distort the lives there. Because of this, during the battle against demons, the beasts of Noyama became warcraft. Intelligent people, elves, and dwarves don't transform into demons that easily, except if you get the temper of a demon king or a being close to it. I can't stand it if I'm not someone with a lot of mental strength."

When Leticia fought the Demon King, she did not fight against the Allied forces of the Continent of Demons, but only went with a limited group of people: Raul, Tiara and Riara.

It was only if they were the best of mankind that they could withstand the wrangling temper of the high demon clan that was near the Demon King's side.

And the demon king was destroyed, and the demons disappeared, and those who dwelt on the continent gained first relief.

But mass-born demons are left behind.

Although it is the dominant movement that has disappeared, in the northern part of the continent, which has become demonic territory, many demons are still seen.

"Speaking of which, Mr. Poulat said. The Adventurer Alliance asked for more Demon Crusades than before."

Near the border between the Lemursil Empire and Queen Queen Zelia is where it was at the forefront at the end of the war against demons. So many demons are spreading.

Towns and villages near the border consolidated their defences and sometimes hired adventurers to embark on the exorcism of demons.

Regular crusade missions are part of this, which Wynn took part in when he was a cadet.

"These days, some adventurers have crossed the borders of the Empire and entered Queen Zelia."

Queen Queen Zelia was destroyed by demons.

Some escaped safely from the demonic invasion, but many remained without fleeing to other countries. Rather, there were more of them who stayed in the country. They fought demons with the armies of their own country, and with their country and their destiny.

Regardless of their aristocratic civilian status, they were slaughtered by demons and the towns and villages were turned into ruins, left in the Kingdom of Queenzelia.

If you look at that abandoned and transformed town, you will see at a glance that demonic invasions are not the same as wars between nations.

Even if the country loses in the war, it will only change the rulers for the people.

Of course, life until then must be changed more than my country lost. Harsh labour, heavy taxes and, in some cases, being dropped into slavery, may result in the loss of freedom.

But lives are often saved.

The new rulers will not continue to pursue policies that tighten them for long.

Often, sooner or later, the tightening is eased in order to make the people living in the land accept themselves as rulers.

And they turn into the people of a new country.

But not if this is a demonic invasion.

If you meet demons, they attack you equally and kill you.

When the country is destroyed, the walls of the town are destroyed, and the armies that are supposed to protect us are destroyed, people have no other way to survive than to escape.

That is how the people of Queen Queen Zelia pushed themselves as refugees to other countries.

When they escaped, they were not able to bring out any of their household belongings.

As a result, within Queen Queen Zelia, huge sums of money are now left behind in deserted noble castles and rich mansions.

The adventurers are going to Queen Zelia for the money.

"Looks like a firehouse thief, though."

Fishing for deserted houses and obtaining money.

When Winn says that and laughs, Leticia and Mito, who were listening, shrug their shoulders all together.

But it is far more likely that the treasure is left behind than fishing for ruins that are uncertain if it is asleep.

Naturally, however, there are significant risks.

Queen Zelia is a country where armies have perished and perished.

If it is the Lemursil Empire, demons should not come that close to the areas inhabited by people such as towns and villages.

Even if they come close, they are crusaded instantly by the army and the adventurers.

As a result, the town and village suburbs are relatively safe.

The only place prone to encountering demons is deep in the woods and mountains, where people rarely step in.

But in Queenzelia there are demons regardless of whether they are traces of towns or villages.

It's also massive.

For the first time, they have the strength to destroy the demons, dive into abandoned lords' halls and rich mansions and take possession of the money they have left behind, even though their location is equal to that of a fire thief.

"Even the adventurers who belonged to Simlug, quite a few of them went to Queen Zelia. But a lot of people didn't make it back."

Winn had been told by Poulat that more and more young adventurers were looking to Queen Zelia for a thousand bucks, despite their strength.

Many of them are from slums. Those who dreamed of escaping from the poor and became adventurers.

Many of them who want to go for adventurers are also used to fighting and have confidence in their arms.

Most importantly, from a veteran adventurer, you're no different than the average person.

Experience in battles where you risked your life is scarce, and none of it equals experience in fighting demons.

The way weapons are handled and the way the flesh moves is trendy and immature.

Speaking of lack of experience in action, even the students attending the Knights School are no different, but they are well trained by experienced instructors, earlier knights.

Unlike knights, however, the adventurers have no choice but to acquire skill but to learn on their own with experience or to pay the skilled and ask for guidance.

However, many young people who aspire to adventurers are overconfident and overconfident of their own good fortune and strength.

And we're going to try something that only seems reckless.

The Adventurer Guild speculates on the strengths of the adventurers and introduces them to their work to the extent achievable, but also considers the possibility that they may nonetheless fail.

However, if you fail and look into your painful eyes, you will learn to be cautious and let them live to their next job. That's how you can gain experience, gain strength and try again. Failure feeds and leads to growth.

In case you fail, you can also wipe your ass with the Adventurer Guild.

That's how the Adventurer Guild encourages the young adventurers to grow.

But an intrusion into the Queen Queen Zelia kingdom, which is currently overheated, is not a job through the Adventurer Guild. It's a state where everyone can try whatever they want.

The strength of the monster waiting for you is not even known in the Adventurer's Guild.

Whenever, wherever, you may encounter a demon comparable to the most powerful creature, the dragon.

Even an armed adventurer is a reckless challenge to his life.

Many immature young adventurers lose their lives without being able to challenge and feed on a single failure.

"But some really powerful adventurers have already broken through the town near the Queen Zelia border."

"There is no more expansion of the Demon Realm than the destruction of the Demon King. That's how if the adventurers are in there and the demons are driven away, the residual temper is gradually diminished. And beyond that..."

"Ah... you mean that"

Wynn finally realized what Leticia meant by a wide area of blank land.

"After the adventurers boarded Queen Zelia, defeated the demons, and fished for their possessions, the land was spreading with no one to rule."

"That's right, brother. All the nations north of Queen Zelia and beyond have perished. Naturally, there are many resources left there, such as mines, forests, rivers, lakes and ports, where the country has perished and no one has any ownership. And the Lemursil Empire is one of the nearest countries to the north, where the mountain of lost treasure sleeps."

Now demons are still spreading, and visitors may be just adventurers after a thousand dollars.

Eventually, however, a number of countries bordering demonic territory will send troops as large investigative teams. One of several countries bordering the demonic realm was the Lemursil Empire.

At the end of the war against demons, nations began to turn their eyes to the vast northern earth, where this ruler was gone.

It was the countries that existed from the centre of the continent to the south that started moving first. It is a country that did not suffer significant damage directly into its territory in the war against demons.

It was the Kingdom of Petersia that made the first move.

After the war on demons, two countries have already been destroyed, launching an invasion of the countries that were at the forefront of the efforts to rebuild the devastated country.

"So, His Royal Highness Raul and His Majesty King Darris also mean that the real aim is a land that extends north of the Empire?

"Petersia, in addition to that, wants land facing the sea, for some reason, maybe. However, unlike Petersia, Lyon is not invading by force, but by selling favors to His Highness Alfred, I suppose he is proposing a joint operation when he strikes out north. Distribution of rights that takes place after stabilizing the north, so that it can be exported. Promises have been exchanged between His Royal Highness Alfred and Raul about these conditions."

"I see."

Mito pinched his mouth listening to Wynn and Leticia in silence.

"As I accompanied you and listened to you, I wondered why

Oh, my God, I can fix that. "

"Do you doubt it?

To the inquiring Wynn, Mito looked up at its blade tip facing heaven as he protruded the Halbad pattern in his hand onto the ground.

"Civil unrest started in the Empire, didn't it? I wonder why Lyon didn't take the opportunity to get in tune with Petersia and cut off the empire's territory."

"Lyons in the Empire?

"Nothing, isn't it strange? Neighbouring countries have started civil wars and are also being interfered with by other countries. If you multiply that gap, it's a good story to look back on history."

That's what Mito says to Wynn, who looks like no way.

The kingdom of Lyon took King Darris's place, and made a kingdom with the Lemursil Empire. As a result, the peoples of both countries are free to cross their borders.

But if you look at the history of both countries, the Lemursil Empire and the Kingdom of Lyons have fought a great many wars in the past.

Originally, the Kingdom of Lyons was founded by Cassinato, the oldest historical kingdom on the continent, and a group of free cities sandwiched by two great powers: the Lemursil Empire, which pierces hegemonism, in an attempt to create their own country to defend freedom.

Due to the fierce invasion of demons and the fact that the emperor Alexei was not keen on an outing right now, the Lemursil Empire had not planned an invasion of the Kingdom of Lyon in recent years, but he was definitely asking how it would have been if there had been gaps with each other while connecting national traffic.

But...

"I don't know why Lyon isn't interested in the Empire like Petersia right now because he knows about Lord Brave."

"Letty?

"Hmm. The difference between Petersia and Lyon's attitude toward the Empire is whether they know Lord Brave directly or not. Lyon houses the Temple of the Sword. Therefore I could know the power of Lord Brave. If you knew Lord Brave, you wouldn't want to turn to your enemies. At least not while Lord Brave is alive. But Petersia only knows about Lord Brave in newspapers and rumors. I wonder if that difference is the difference in temperature between the two countries to the civil war that took place within this empire."

"I see."

Winn looked at Mito with a voice of admiration.

If you think that you are too oblivious to public opinion in the mountains of Magil, read the situation sharply from the conversation between Wynn and Leticia.

I guess the strength that keeps wearing "Swordsman" without giving way to others for decades also manifests itself in places like this.

(Most of all, if I am put in a position to wage war on the Empire, I will first aim for the Achilles tendon of Lord Brave)

Seeing Winn with that in mind, Mito gave me a slight look, feeling his gaze from the side.

Leticia gave Mito a meaningful gaze.

I guess I was seeing through Mito's thoughts.

(Naturally, Lord Brave also noticed... Well, I guess so. Fifteen. At the age of fifteen, I can't even imagine crossing the battlefield. I see, the Imperial Crown Prince put Lord Wynn on the Crown Princess and sent him out of the Empire because he was afraid to involve the two of them in Gotagota within the Empire. Because if you are a foreign country, there will be fewer brave men who have to protect you. Nevertheless -)

Mito shook himself up with a burrito.

(How oppressive. I didn't expect this straw to frighten me even for a moment after just one glance... To get rid of Lord Brave, I thought of this young man first, but that should be a little shallow too. On the contrary, it's like removing the safety valve. How dare the Temple of Swords want to fight such a monster? Sorry if I did.)

"Ah, brother. Isn't that the building?

Leticia pulled Winn's hand when she got back to her usual condition, whether she realized Mito was turning her fearful gaze.