In the evening in five days.

Istell's army, which left Isteria, was preparing the camp by the street leading to the fort.

If you combine two legions with slaves and servants who follow, it's a great area of over 10,000.

There is a narrow tent on one side of the perimeter, and a large crowd is rushing around.

At the heart of such a camp, Ichiyoshi and Reese watched the sight side by side.

They are both taking off their armor and wearing light clothes.

"Nevertheless, don't make camp in no time. It's not what I saw in Mr. Isaac's cadet squad before."

I look at the tents that are assembled one after the other and say that Ichigo seems to miss them.

"I can't help it with the cadet squad. Noble recruits are just people who can't do anything but deal with weapons."

"Given that, you can count on a citizen soldier. Well, I guess it's a big deal you've been training properly. … but a great number of people"

"Right. I can't imagine what it would be like to have two legions with so many people, but when it's a lot, it's about five times more than this."

"Oh, would a legion of other realms be as good as 40,000 soldiers alone or something? There are two legions of opponents this time, so they're about the same number as us, right?

"Yeah. That's pretty much mutual in numbers. I think there's a lot more cavalry over here."

With the advent of Abumi, Istael's army had nearly doubled its cavalry.

It has only been less than two months since the introduction of the "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "") "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "

Now that we have hunted out all the trained ratas that can withstand the actual battle, we are in a situation where we are lacking more ratas than soldiers.

Lata herself bought from Gregorn and milling territories, and although there are enough of them, she is in a troubled state that her training as a military horse has not kept up.

Cavalry on Istaire territory will increase sharply in the future, as citizens have also applied some of those who excel in equestrian arts.

"How are the Ratas doing?

"It's just that. I have a reputation for running tirelessly no matter how much I run. As a result, it seems that rumors of the descent of Master Gracior have spread among the cavalry."

Since two weeks before the departure, in addition to regular feed, Rata's meal has been fed with porridge of white rice that Ichigo brought.

Since all the latas became tireless and rigid, the carriage almost no longer required rest and there was a considerable increase in the amount of luggage that could be loaded.

Even in that state, they travel faster than the infantry that accompanies them.

The same was true of the cavalry serving in the scouts, which greatly expanded the range of enemies possible.

Although everyone seems confused because Rata is clearly doing too well.

"Dear Kazura! Dear Liese!"

That's how we talked, Nina ran from between the tents.

As a good escort and porter, the village daughters are also accompanied.

"I saw the Vallettas! You'll be arriving soon!

At the same time she was finished, the two ran out.

"Wow, what a fuss"

When Yi Liang reached the end of the camp, there was a lot of civil soldiers making a terrible scene.

Apparently, thousands of soldiers have gathered to welcome the Zirconia.

From all over, he said, "Long live Zirconia!" and there is a voice that glorifies her.

"Oh, that. It wasn't like this earlier... maybe it was because of my fuss when I found it"

Nina looks sideways at the good at first sight.

"Um, you've done that...... where are the other daughters?

"I'm going to tell Master Narson, I'm going to pick up the radio to tell Isteria."

"Hey! You can't go through with this! Get out of the way!

Citizens who notice Reese's voice try to clear the way, but with no niche or satch in a stuffed state.

People were pushing me one after the other from behind, and I couldn't get around.

The three remain stuck, flushed by the waves.

"There he is!? Step aside! Let me through!

When I almost gave up on letting myself be in the flow, a familiar voice arrived slightly in my ear from the hustle and bustle.

"Mr. Barletta!?

"Huh! Mr. Kazra!?

When Ichigo called out loud, a thin hand stretched out of the crowd.

Are you jumping on the spot, up and down into little pieces?

"Rinse over here! I can't get through!

"Get out of the way! Let me through!

Forced to pull the crowd apart and head under its hands.

Eventually, from the gap between the people, Barletta's face peered slightly.

"Mr. Kazra!

"Mr. Barletta!

Reach out to each other and grab it somehow.

Gu, and drew each other together, hugging them all the time.

"Welcome back! Glad you're safe!

"Mr. Kazra, I missed you. So... Huh"

You were impressed with the long reunion, and Barletta rubbed her face against a good chest and cried it out.

"Really, I'm glad you're okay. I was in pain earlier, are you okay?

"Gu Gu...... I'm fine. Because they just stepped on my feet a little bit."

"Mr. Zirconia, are you ahead of us?

"Yes. I can't walk yet, so I'm in the carriage. When I approached the camp, a lot of people rushed over... and I guess I couldn't move."

That's what I say, Barletta looks back.

But there are too many people out there to be able to make it that way.

"Uhm, that way... Reese, once we get back. If I can't make it, I'm gonna get hurt."

I look back to Reese, who is directly behind me, and Ichigo speaks up.

"Yeah, you are....... Valletta"

Leese peeks into Barletta, who is in her best arms.

I looked into her eyes with tears and smiled.

"Welcome back!"

"... Yes, I'm home"

Barletta smiled back at Reese's gentle smile.

Dozens of minutes later.

He asked the regular soldiers who had rushed him to help him, and he managed to pull the people he was gathering on the edge to make his way.

From the end of the open road, Isaac and Havel on Lata come towards us.

Behind it was a carriage pulled by two ratas.

"Mother!"

Reese can't wait and runs to the carriage.

Ichigo and Barletta also continued later.

From the carriage window, Zirconia peeks into his face.

"Stop the carriage!

Zirconia's voice stops the carriage and the door opens.

To the sound, Isaac looked back in panic.

"No, you can't, Master Zirconia! Stay in the carriage! Don't walk!!

"It's okay! It doesn't hurt at all!

"So, but Mr. Barletta said, 'Never walk until you tape it later'! Hey, I can handle Havel too...... where are you going?!?

Ignoring Isaac to stop, Zirconia jumped off the carriage.

There, Reese rushed over and hugged him.

Habel, who was advancing next to Isaac, is also jumping down Rata and hugging Marie as she rushes over.

"Higu... Mother...!

"Reese... you're worried about me"

I rub my face against my mother's chest and Reese leaks a whimper.

To the sight, those gathered cheered loudly.

Zirconia turns a good face with Reese in her arms.

"Welcome back, Mr. Zirconia"

"Mr. Kazra, I'm just back. Thank you for protecting Reese while I was gone."

Under the zirconia, Ichigo and Barletta also walk over.

"Really, I'm glad you're safe. Feet, are you okay?

"Yes, I had a little pain until last night, but it hasn't hurt at all since this morning"

"What, you're in pain until last night, and you still can't walk that? I've heard that sprains can cause abnormalities in the joints later if you don't rest for a while after the pain has pulled off..."

"Huh!?

Zirconia turns to Valletta for a good disturbing statement.

Baretta smiles.

Though a smile that is obviously angry.

"Dear Zirconia, please return to the carriage now"

"Ugh... yes..."

"Mother, grab hold of me"

When Zirconia tried to return to the carriage, supported by Reese, a loud cheer echoed.

Because Narson on Lata showed up with escorts.

Ichigo and Barletta stopped at the edge to stay out of the way.

"Is that it? Why are you on Rata, Mr. Narson?

"Probably as you can see from the others. It's a big event."

"I see."

Narson passed in front of the two people who spoke in a whisper and stopped Lata as he came to the front of the zirconia.

To go with it, the noise stops until then perfectly.

"Jill, you've come back safe and sound."

"Thanks to Barletta and the others. I didn't think you were gonna jump off the fence."

"Um, I hear you did. Are your legs okay?

"Yeah. But he said you can't walk on the 7th yet. We need to get back to the carriage."

"No, just do that after this is over"

Narson said so, letting the escort behind him descend Rata.

The escort takes Rata to the front of Zirconia.

"Get in."

"Huh? So, but my leg..."

"I'll give you a hand. Here."

Zirconia, bewildered, takes the hand offered by Narson.

The escort turned behind her and supported her hips.

Guru, is pulled up with a squeamish force, and crosses the lata.

"Narson, you have power too..."

"We'll talk about that later. Here, use this."

Narson presents Zirconia with a long sword delivered to his sheath.

She said she couldn't figure it out, so she took it.

Narson swirled Rata and looked around at the soldiers he was gathering.

"Soldiers! General Zirconia is back beneath us!

When Narson shouted out, the soldiers cheered.

Wait a few seconds, raise one hand and quiet it.

"Now the commander-in-chief of this offensive army shall be General Zirconia! We'll raid the fort like this and take it back from their hands!

Hilariously, Narson turned his attention to Zirconia.

"... Oh, you know what?"

Zirconia grinned bitterly, pulling out his sword and putting it up in heaven.

The entire camp was engulfed with a roaring cheer.

Leaving everyone in the noise, Ichigo and Barletta returned to the centre of the camp one foot away.

From the rear, 'Long live Zirconia! Long live Master Narson!' and the great chorus continues to sound.

Almost every soldier and servant seems to be gathered beneath Zirconia.

"Oh, that was an amazing cheer. My ear hurts."

You reach your own tent, pay the cloth and go inside.

"Mr. Marie is not going to be back either, and should I finish dinner on my own? In fact, we have a vacuum pack for disasters called curry rice."

When I almost said that, Barletta grabbed a good piece of clothing from behind.

"Hmm? What's up?

"... I thought I'd never see you again"

Barletta tells me to snap.

"If Master Ormachiol hadn't helped me then... I might have died over there"

Hey, Ichigo looks back.

Barletta looks up to the good.

Ichigo opened his mouth and stopped trying to ask what had happened.

Because Baretta's eyes were full of tears.

"I... I was scared... I was scared so...!

Barletta burst into tears, raising her voice and crying out.

Instead of modest crying like earlier, he cries like a child whimpering.

Ichigo held her, hugging her hard.

"... sorry. I won't let that happen to you again."

Barletta sticks with me for good.

I have had her cry several times before, but the way she cried now was clearly different than before.

I'm not sad and crying, I'm shivering and crying in fear.

"From now on, I'm with you. I'll be there for you when you do anything or go anywhere."

Until now, Ichigo had forgotten that she was just a 16 year old girl.

She is smarter than anyone else, more driven, always thinking ahead and not afraid of most things.

But that was only because I was working hard for the good.

She was able to be strong because of her hard work.

"Leave it to her, she'll be fine."

Even if I didn't put it in my mouth, there was a pretence that everyone was thinking so.

That is good and no exception.

When she volunteered for a rescue operation the other day, Ichigo never stopped.

There were also reasons why I didn't stop her because she wasn't the one breaking into the fort, but because I thought that if she were to accompany me, she would be able to handle unforeseen events as well.

I wonder how much he had made a girl who was not even old enough to admire herself wholeheartedly take the blame.

"Higu... Mr. Kazura..."

She cried heavily for a while and looked up as Barletta shook her shoulders just a little calm.

"Is it true? Promise, will you?

"I promise. Didn't I tell you before? I'm next to Mr. Barretta."

"... Yes, that's right"

Baretta smiled a little and put her strength into the hand she turned on her good back.

"... I can't stand a world without Mr. Kazra"

That's what I say, I push my face against that chest.

"Promise… you must keep it"

"Yes, sir"

When Yiliang nodded, the crouching and rubbing sound of armor approached from the outside.

"Is Master Kazura inside?!?

"Shh! Not now! I'll take care of it!

"It's urgent! Get out of the way!

"So please don't speak up!

Somehow out there, Nina and the soldiers are talking to each other.

Nina seems to be whispering, but the entrance and exit are the drapes of cloth, so she can hear the whole thing.

Apparently, you've been listening at the entrance the whole time.

Yiliang leaned against Valletta and went to the entrance, paying for the cloth.

Nina spreads her hands wide open at the soldier with a pressing look on her face.

"What's up? What's all the fuss?

"Uh... sorry. Because..."

With a bitter laugh, Nina apologizes.

A soldier pushed her away like that.

"The Barbell army has marched out of the fort! Hurry, to Master Narson's tent!