Master of the brave.

"The wind is getting wet."

"Yeah. I hope we get there before it rains..."

That's how Winn looked up at the sky when he answered Leticia, who walked side by side with horses next to him.

A gray cloud is blowing in the wind and flowing through the sky.

In the distant hills visible along the streets, shepherds were seen driving away the sheep eating grass. You want to get the sheep into the cabin before it rains.

Occasionally, the shepherds are watching this one resting their hand in pursuit of the sheep. It would be natural for them to care.

From a hill with a good view, you should have seen a march of tens of thousands of armies marching along the streets, becoming a gigantic belt like a giant serpent.

The Lyon Royal Army is the flag that flies in the wind to increase strength.

As close to the beginning of the army, there was the figure of the Winns.

Win and Leticia are moving forward around the carriage ridden by the Lord of Win, First Empress Cornelia of the Lemursil Empire, and three people, Rock, Wedge and Leno, are consolidating the rear as escorts.

In the carriage are the Empress Cornelia, the Ambassador to the Kingdom of Lyon, Count Lieselmann, and a caretaker woman attached to me by the Kingdom of Lyon.

Leticia, if it were meant to be, should be treated the same as Cornelia, but she wants to walk with Wynn, which is this arrangement.

Of course, that extent was also known to the general of the Royal Lyon Army, Raul Orto Lyon, so it was planned that way from the outset in the Royal Army's action plan.

"Is that Peshrika?

A wide river at the top of the hill and a large bridge across the river. And before that, I could see Potsung far from the town surrounded by gray walls.

"Yes, yes. It's the Murray River that runs before that. That river is the border between the empire and the kingdom. If you cross that bridge, it's an empire, brother."

When I was traveling as a brave man, Leticia used to go through this street.

Still Raul, before I met Liara. That's when Tiara and I were traveling together.

"I hope we can get inside the city walls before it rains somehow"

But the Royal Lyon Army never arrived in Peshrika before it rained.

An expedition was sent to Cornelia by one of the generals commanding a leading group of troops. And from the mouth of the haste came an astonishing message.

"Not only can we confirm the Lord's army, led by Count Shrihaden, Lord of Peshlica, but also the military flag of the Knights of the Western Side of the Empire."

Co-nelia, who was rewarded, was unexpectedly stunned.

(Did your father use your brother as a bandit and issue a crusade decree?

In Cornelia's head, the worst comes to mind.

Neumann, who has cut off his brother as a fake, is holding back Shimrug, the emperor, and Alexei, the emperor.

Alexei, who supposedly shows no interest in politics, has not, as its reputation suggests, reacted in any way to this civil unrest. But if Alexei changes his mind and lays down his life to crusade Alfred as a fake, the entire Imperial Army becomes an enemy.

If the Lords of Peshrika and the Western Knights collide here with reinforcements from Lyon, they will be forced to hold off for a long time, even if they win.

Ertz, an oligarchy and possibly continuing his defensive battle in the middle of nowhere, could fall.

It's the worst for Alfred and Cornelia.

Immediately the Royal Lyon Army issued an order for the suspension of the march to see how it was going. Then came a messenger from Raul to Cornelia.

"I say. A messenger came from the town of Peshrika. Count Shrihaden, lord of the town, wishes to greet Her Royal Highness."

Count Shrihaden, accompanied by two knights bearing the emblem of a thousand horsemen, came guided by the knights of Lyon.

Count Shrihaden is a noble ruler of the town of Peshrika and its suburbs, a general with the position of Cavalier of the Ten Thousand as leader of the Order of the Knights of the West.

The Lyon envoy told me that the Royal Lyon Army, which came as a reinforcement to the Prince Alfred Army, was accompanied by the Princess Cornelia, who had kept the army on standby to greet him.

"The noise in the Imperial Capital was heard even by this Peshlica. You're safe and above all, Your Highness. We, the Knights of the West and the people of Peshlica, would like to extend a cordial welcome to His Highness in our town."

"Thank you, Uncle Shrihaden. I've heard more about the Western Knights than my brother. As the patron saint of the streets connecting our empire with Lyon, he said it was a very powerful knighthood."

"Thank you for your kind words."

Count Shrihaden with his head hanging over Cornelia.

For one thing, Cornelia stroked her chest down relieved to find that there was no clash with the Lyon army.

Count Shrihaden, as old as a little over forty.

He grew a moustache whether he was distracting the Dada man, tied a flashy coloured band such as red or yellow to a loose dark green longcoat, and sprinkled his clasp with jewels on gold and silver decorations, dressed like a very samurai.

The sword at the waist is also skinny, and the sheath and pattern are also finely worked with gold and jewels. Obviously it would be a liturgical sword, not a real battle sword.

(Trying to look good, you feel like you've swept away a lot. That's...)

To Wynn, who was holding back in line behind Cornelia receiving greetings, the lock standing next to him whispers bosomly.

(Maybe a traditional ethnic costume around here or something)

(I didn't invite you to the sacrifice, did I? You don't normally wear ethnic costumes or anything to worship the Crown Princess, do you? It is normal to wear the clothes of the Count or the Ten Thousand Horsemen. Besides, if you were a national costume, you'd have had about the chance to see it on the way to Peshlika, but there wasn't a single person wearing that kind of clothing, right?

(Speaking of which, yeah)

(See, the western people are always ridiculed by the eastern people for being rural, so you tried to dress them all up ~?)

Lino pinched his mouth in a conversation between Wynn and Rock.

The western and eastern part of Leno borders the Great River Room River, which flows out of the Magil Mountains to the sea, dividing the Empire east-west.

From the riverside of the Rooms River to the east, fertile plains and forests are spreading, with many populous cities such as Shimrug, the port city Mail, the mining city Ertz and the academic city Rudolph.

Until some of them were conquered by the Empire, several cities flourished as capital of the country. For this reason, the population of the Empire is heavily concentrated on the eastern side from the River Rooms.

On the western side, on the other hand, there are mountainous terrain, with fewer cities per se than 10,000.

Until many of the towns on the west side were conquered by the Empire, they took the political form of free cities that did not belong to any country, as did the group of urban states that were the predecessors of the Kingdom of Lyon.

Originally a land pattern with few flatlands and unsuitable for farming, it is more correct to say a town where pioneering people have gathered together than a free city.

There is not enough room to equip the city walls in many towns, and they are quickly swallowed up before the overwhelming military power of the Lemursil Empire, which has also begun to expand on the west side.

It was then in the border town of Peshrika and in the main towns along the streets that the Empire built and maintained the walls, but the other towns remain rural towns with no city walls either.

This is why people from the eastern part of the Empire despise people from the western part as countrymen.

(When it comes to the Knights of the West, it's a sweep away that the Boom of Nobility, who couldn't get into the Kingsguard, is going. Look, it doesn't seem like Count Shrihaden is the only one who's crazy, does it?

As for Cornelia, who walked out to work the faces of the gathered western knights, across the bridge, he points to the knights lined with rocks.

The Oriental Knights guard the eastern border of the Empire, where the country is destroyed by demons led by the Demon King and where demons still travel.

The kingdom of Petersia and the Knights of the South in a state of tension.

The Knights of the North needed the Empire's largest navy to face the sea.

Unlike these Trilateral Knights, the Western Knights are considered the smallest and least skilled of the Imperial Army.

In support of that assessment, many of the Knights of the Western Knights were youthful, such as those of the same age as the Winns or a little older.

The armor you are wearing is made of iron that is perfectly polished, and the pattern and sheath of the sword are just as over-decorated as Count Shrihaden.

Perhaps both swords and armor are objects made of fine iron, but swords are skinny and armor is just for flashness.

From what I saw, it was very unlikely to help in action.

The west of the Lemursil Empire is the kingdom of Lyon, a friendly country.

There can be no large-scale war, and the main task of the Knights is crusading such as bandits who appear in the streets.

Perhaps an elderly knight, mixed with them, has undertaken such crusading missions.

Winns, a group of Crown Princesses Cornelia and executives of the Royal Lyon Army went into the town of Peshlica, and the rest were to be tented and camped outside the town.

Far lightning will also begin to strike and storm through this town.

"It's good to sleep under the roof."

"Is it a good idea? Are we invited to the Count's banquet with His Highness anyway? It might be easier to tend it outside and eat it properly..."

"Lino. Didn't I say before that I was proud of Winn for being able to attend the feast?

"Yes, it is. It was a little different than I had in mind, wasn't it? More like this, I thought we were free to talk, eat delicious food, wear beautiful dresses and dance..."

Rock and Leno are having such a conversation.

Since the squire basically refrains from beside Cornelia, it is not a place to enjoy the feast in response to those who come to greet the Empress one after the other.

Besides, the majority of the stories that are heard are all about following the Empress.

You'll get tired even if you don't Lino.

"Dear Cornelia, you can always smile ~"

Leno sighs when he sees the carriage Cornelia is riding.

"After all, are you used to that too?

Listening to Rock and Leno, Winn asks Leticia, who walks next door.

If Leticia is also invited to the feast, she is in a better position to be greeted than to head to greet.

"Hmmm... I don't really go to the feast in the first place..."

"But there would be an invitation from His Majesty or some kind of feast that would be hard to say no to?

"Yeah. In that case, I wonder if Tiara would have answered me instead. Of course, some people came to greet me, but when the great guy finished greeting me, I felt I was largely alone"

"Yeah, I was."

"But unlike back then these days, you persistently invite me to dance or give me gifts even after a formal greeting..."

I wonder why, Wynn turned his gaze to the side of Leticia tilting her neck.

When I was traveling as a brave man, Leticia was a young girl only about ten years old. Now, unlike her usual, the 'brave' Leticia makes her feel somewhere intrusive. I guess that was the factor that kept the people around us from coming.

Then a few years later, Leticia grew attractively as a woman.

The distinguished beauty became more beautiful, and the surroundings could not be set aside.

I can see the young knights who are still leading the Wins in watching over the flickering and leticia.

Winn smiled small and bitterly at his beauty and the reticia indifferent to the eyes of the men around him for his habit of reacting sensitively to killing and sword-soaking atmospheres.

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇

That night.

A reception had been held at the Hall of the Earl of Shrihaden in Peshlika, inviting high-ranking officers from Raul and the Lyon army.

"At this time of year, we have prepared alcohol and meals in a whisper, not to mention satisfactory hospitality. Beginning with His Royal Highness Raul, who rushed to the plight of our empire, I would like to ask all of you in the Kingdom of Lyon to receive our hospitality and nourish your English spirit."

"You won't be able to erase Count Shrihaden's favor either. Don't hesitate to accept that offer."

To tell the truth, I wanted to get through the town of Peshrika to Eltz as soon as possible, but Raul accepted the offer.

The journey from Peshrika to Ertz is still a long one. It's not a bad story to feed and place the soldiers' English here.

The seats reserved for Count Shrihaden, albeit a whisper of liquor and meal, were quite lavish. There were dishes arranged on the table with ingredients commonly eaten in the land around here, such as baked goods with river fish, for meat dishes that crushed sheep that were flourishing around Peshlica.

Attendees on the imperial side were invited aristocrats who would rule the land around Peshlica, then high-ranking officers belonging to the Knights of the Imperial Western Side and apparently young people from the aristocracy.

They are dressed in luxurious clothes and dresses and have an atmosphere as if they were attending a night club seat.

The Wins were sending a chilling glance at their appearance like that.

Many soldiers are still fighting in the Ertz.

Alfred, Lloyds, Kelvin, and his fellow Simurgh adventurers who came to Eltz at the behest of the Winns are fighting for their lives.

In the first place, I can't feel the sense of crisis in the nobles of the West, even though it's already shameful to ask for reinforcements to the armies of other countries for the unrest that took place within the Empire.

"You also know that western humans are called country aristocrats. You don't have the political sense... Even for the Knights, it's famous as a place to island a whole bunch of troubled bonkers."

Rock says as he serves the dish on the pickup plate.

"Well, thank God we're in a delicious meal during the march, but Master Cornelia looks like a tough guy."

During the operation, the Royal Lyon Army, and the Wins, were dressed in military uniform to challenge this seat, but Cornelia, the Empress, and the Counts of Lieselman, the Empire's ambassador to the Kingdom of Lyon, accompanying them as representatives of the civilian population, were just dressed up.

And there are still noble young men surrounding the environs of the raunchy young princess.

It is usual for Cornelia to be surrounded by aristocratic youths on the banquet table, and if it is the usual Cornelia, they are accustomed to doing so. However, in concern about the situation in Ertz surrounded by enemy troops, the smile directed at the noble youth had a worrying colour on its face.

"I wish I could read you the air ~"

"If you can imitate that clever, 'cause they haven't been flown to a place like this"

"It is. I wonder if my brother is highly regarded."

Leticia shrugged when she heard Rock and Leno whispering.

"Letty's brother, do you belong to the Western Knights?

"Yeah. Here."

Leticia nodded to Winn's question, where her gaze alone prompted Winn's attention.

"Leticia! It's Leticia!

Leticia carefully bowed her head to the person she had been speaking to as she tried to make a smile.

"Long time no see, brother"

"Oh, really! It's been a long time. Was it the day you traveled Simlug when we met before? I was just a kid then, but you're already a fine lady."

"Your brother is strong and above all else."

Green eyes on golden hair. And a neat face. A young man with the appearance of a sibling and somewhere resembling Leticia.

Rails Van Mavis had made the stand he deserved to be called your son.

"I didn't know Leticia was accompanying His Highness Cornelia. I was surprised to see you here because I wasn't informed of anything."

"Thank you, brother. But it has not been made public that I am acting with the Lyons. As a result, my brother has been delayed in reporting to you. Sorry, sir."

"That's okay. That's okay. Even your father is now being treated with caution in Simlug, so there's no reason why you couldn't report it. If you'd given me the reward in advance, my brother and I would have got you the dress and jewelry you deserve for this seat. But you don't have to wear a dress or jewelry, it's beautiful enough. [M] I don't know if it would have been possible to conveniently arrange any more ornaments that would appeal to you, to the extent of Peshlica."

"Thank you, brother. Really, your father..."

Leticia said so and let her head bow slightly, she gave a worried look.

"Is that the man Leticia's brother? I don't feel like brothers and sisters. Leticia's attitude is somewhere else..."

"I've never met Letty's family. When I was a little girl, Letty never said anything about the house. Even the Duke's maid found out when she was reunited at the Knights School. Rock would have been there, too, wouldn't he? It was when I found out that Letty was the brave man in the world."

"Speaking of which, you did."

"I guess Letty is the lady in some good place, because I've always tried to escape and come to the 'Migratory Bird Inn Pavilion'. I didn't ask Letty about the house either."

Winn is glad he didn't have to ask now.

If Leticia's identity had been found out to be the maiden of the House of the Duke of Mavis, even if it had been between children, she would surely have felt somewhere awe-inspiring and unable to get along.

It was because we did not know Leticia's origins that we were united by a deep bond as childhood friends.

"Lord Rails. Your beautiful princess is a famous brave man..."

"Yeah. My sister, Leticia. Ladies and gentlemen, please make your acquaintance."

"Again, you! Lady Mavis, the brave man, has heard stories of hating parties, etc. The good fortune of having this on the day when such a princess is present. My chest is full of unwanted joy."

"It must be a rumor. Beautiful... I thank God for the joy of seeing you with these eyes."

Leticia quickly surrounded herself by aristocratic young people.

"Exactly, as usual..."

"Really, Letty's hot"

Win and Rock, which took the form of being pushed out by Rails' surroundings, smile bitterly.

"It's that cuteness, and it's the third duchess in the Duke's house who also have the right to inherit the throne. If they were to be sent to this land, with some exceptions, they wouldn't have a lot to talk about or meet. They'll be desperate, too."

"Desperate?"

"Oh. All the noble knights assigned to the Knights of the West could not be assigned to the Kingsguard, to the Knights of the Royal Palace, or to the Central Knights. Still, like Leticia's brother, the eldest son of a well-behaved house would have a good bond, but there is no such thing as a good bond for bonkers who have no eyes to inherit a house such as a noble second son or a third son. Still, if you work for Wangdu, you can expect to meet the children of a good family, but you wouldn't want that on a border like this either, would you?

"So you're appealing to Letty?

"Yes, yes. That being said, from what I've seen, all the people we're gathering here are lacking in character."

"Wow. You know about those people, too?

"I don't know anybody. Except the noblemen always put their house crest somewhere in the clothes they wear. Gloves, cuffs, and chest. If you look at it, you'll be studying what kind of house it's from."

When Rock says so, he tells Winn who's who in which house.

"He's Baron Rihal, that's Viscount Siehan - oh, the guy in front has a pretty good personality. He's Count Milbarria's brother."

"Even the Earl's brother, is there not enough for Letty"

"I guess it's just a matter of countenance. The House of the Duke of Mavis is a family heir to the royal family. It's tough if you're not the other guy."

With that said, Rock saw Wynn nodding so many times that he was impressed. But on that floating look, Rock opened his mouth when he also saw a certain hidden emotion.

"... you know, Wynn"

"What is it?

"Look at that. What do you think?

"How about...?

Wynn saw Leticia surrounding him unchanged in phase, Rock pointed out.

"Wherever you go, Letty thinks you're hot..."

"It's not. I see Lady Leticia being told by a young man, and I ask him what Winn thinks."

Winn nearly opened his mouth, but looked at Locke's face and shut his mouth.

Until earlier, Rock, who had a funny and strange view of the nobles gathered around Leticia, had a look too serious.

It is unusual for a best friend who often taps lightly to give this look.

As Winn mumbles, Rock tells him to ask questions.

"Hey, what do you think? Don't you get angry or something when you see that sight?

"... to be honest, I don't feel good"

Hearing Winn's words, Rock exhaled heavily.

"Right? Then why is Winn leaving Lady Leticia like that?

Winn made his eyes black and white on the words.

(You seriously don't get it!?

Rock whispers and exasperates to Wynn.

"They're stopping by to make Lady Leticia their own daughter-in-law. Am I allowed to leave Master Leticia alone among those people?

Winn turns again to Leticia, surrounded by youth aristocracy.

Introduced one after another by his brother Rails, Leticia was clearly showing the colour of tiredness.

Occasionally, I turn a blind eye to those with Wins.

I'm asking Winn for help.

Usually, Leticia would shake the men out in an unscrupulous manner. She is in a position where the title Duchess Warrant and "The Brave" are allowed to work all that disrespect.

But now my brother Rails introduces me to acquaintances.

As for Leticia, she can't crush her brother's face, she can't move from there.

(Sounds like Letty.)

Even from the side, Leticia can't cut off the people in the Mavis family, even though they never seem to get along well with their real family.

"hehe... hehe"

Face down, Wynn laughed.

"Hey...... Wynn?

To Winn, who suddenly started laughing, Rock, who was about to win until just now, spoke a little pulling.

Winn gives that lock a glass of wine he had in his hand. Then, in a powerful foothold, Wynn enters into the midst of the nobles surrounding Leticia.

(You're right... why are you watching Letty being told and I have to be reluctant)

I know exactly what Rock told me.

I've always been angry when I saw Leticia being told. So I also notice a subtle change in Leticia's expression. I was relieved to see her unpleasant expression and misleading my emotions.

But when it is pointed out clearly that you are not angry, you can no longer delude yourself.

"What? You are."

"Rude! Where the hell are you from?

Without caring for the nobles pushed over and calling, Wynn grabbed her right arm as she went under Leticia.

"Oh, brother...?

Rarely and powerfully held his arm, Leticia looked at Wynn's face with a bewildered look.

"Who is it, you? Leticia will be the princess of my Mavis family. would be disrespectful."

When I saw Winn suddenly intruding, Rails gave me a grumpy look.

"Excuse me. It was a pleasure talking to you, but Letty - Leticia has some urgent business to attend to. Letty, come here for a second. Let's go outside."

"What disrespect! Such as abandoning my sister. You... you know how disrespectful your actions are!

Rails' fury echoed, and the hall quieted back into its sword screen.

"There's nothing strange about a teacher calling out his disciples, is there?

"Ciga? Desi?

Rayles apparently failed to successfully translate what Winn called 'master' and 'disciple'.

"What are you talking about? You! Leticia is a" brave man ", alongside many in awe, His Majesty the Emperor and the Great Cleric. And as I said earlier, she is also my sister, the third duchess of the Duke of Mavis' house. Though a knight, don't think civilian flair can easily help you!

"I am recognized by His Majesty the Emperor as a master of the brave"

"Nah... to Your Majesty?

"If you still can't believe it, this is it"

Wynn showed the Rails and the surrounding nobles a gold mark tied to the pattern of a sword on his hips.

"Phew, phew... looks like it's made of gold for once, but it's a cheap piece of work"

"Cheap making? Then this gold stamp of mine is cheap too."

"La, Your Highness Raul"

Raul, who noticed the commotion, was coming to settle the commotion.

"That equates to the proven gold mark of" Kensei "that I have. It's the gold mark of Swordsman."

"Hey... no way... that's the..."

Rails blued comparing Raul's gold mark to Winn's.

Raul grabbed Leticia's arm and saw Wynn pulling toward him, giving him a pleasant look as he stamped the gold mark of "Sword Saint" in his own hand.

"He's certainly the master of the brave Leticia. I'll vouch for you from me for traveling with Leticia. If the master called for a disciple, I would take it for granted that the disciple would rush even if he were in distress, but what does Lord Rails think?

"Yes, indeed. If that's the case, there's no problem at all..."

"I guess so. That's why Leticia. Your master is here for you. You should just go."

"... it's shaq what Raul tells me to do that, but I will. Now, ladies and gentlemen, if you'll excuse me, I think I can ask you to do something urgent."

With that said, Leticia gave a polite courtesy. And look back at Winn.

"Leave the rest to me."

Raul whispers in a whisper to Wynn.

"Thank you"

Winn also lowered his thanks to Raul as he proceeded through the hall with Leticia, trying to sew between the nobles watching him suddenly. Along the way, I can see a broken lock gushing up my right thumb, and behind it, Leno clapping his hand and gasping.

And Cornelia looked a little lonely when she saw the two of them leaving the hall.