Five months had passed since the fall of King Grand.
The situation in the world has changed dramatically in the past five months.
The Kingdom of Nagras has already placed its territory under the control of the Empire, the Holy Land of Trinidad and Tobago has proclaimed its independence in the north, and the Union of Cities has been destroyed by the invasion of the Sovereign Republic of San Rogel, which came from the southern continent.
In addition to the three countries, the four countries, including the Kingdom of Alban, formed military alliances and started fighting with continental domination everywhere.
More?
For the first time in ten days, Ardis's eyes looked exhausted, showing unfamiliar people sitting on the side of the road.
"Ah, Mr. Ardis."
I picked up a tweet I didn't tell anyone about and turned to Cyril, a sorcerer who used to be Philia and Liana's tutors.
Having received a communication from Marida, he had arrived at Glock Village about a month earlier with a party from the Rover Chamber of Commerce.
Cyril graduated from school and became a magician full of magicians, but in a way, he was also an apprentice to Aldis.
From the edge, it seems to be a natural view, but I don't really feel like my mentors.
Even as an Aldis, it is a recognition of "children with connections."
Of course, Cyril, who was twelve when we met, is now twenty.He is a fine adult.
She disappeared completely from her face and was almost as tall as Aldis.
On the contrary, from a person who doesn't know them, Ardis, whose appearance and age do not change much, will look younger.
"Another refugee?
"Yeah, well...There are wars everywhere. "
The Robles Alliance is creating a battlefield for them.
The Kingdom of Trinidad and the Kingdom of Albany invaded the Republic of Bronche from the south and east, and the Sovereign Republic of Saint Rogel swallowed the cities of the Union of Cities with the backing of the Ermenian Empire.
Fighting occurs everywhere, and as a result, burned people scatter to avoid fighting.
If they arrive on the battlefield, they will continue to wander further, and there will never be many refugees who will eventually reach the village of Glock.
Although there has been a slight increase in the population of the hideouts that Ardis usually live in, it is not as large as the pioneering village once known as Glock Village.
The village of Glock now had a population of more than 5,000 and was too far from the reality to call it a village.
"I can't tell you not to come."
Moore, one of the autonomous members of the town, approached them from behind, looking at the evacuees with a complicated face.
"There is also the problem of food, clothing and shelter, but I can't help but realize that this town exists..."
Yes. The Aldis' greatest concern was that the Empire would know about Glock's existence - to be precise, about Glock's current state.
A border village with no population, no industry, and no need to bother putting it under occupation.
If the Empire had been so aware, it would have earned that much time.
However, Glock actually has a population of more than 5,000, leading to a militarily important industry called heavy iron mining.
It is no longer a missing presence that can never be overlooked.
An escaped refugee arrives in the town of Glock.
The story itself was helpless, but in the process, Glock's presence became a topic of discussion among the refugees as a safe place that could not be fought.
Glock's name is now gathering people's ears and eyes, even though it's a rumor level.
"It's time for the young lady to evacuate to the hideout...."
If Glock's town attracts the Empire's attention, it is likely that Minerva will inevitably become known.
I can't help but tell you how I got here, but Minerva doesn't hide its existence or origin.
It is a fact already known to the early evacuees, even though they have not dared to say so.
I tried to keep my mouth shut, but if there were 3,000 people, those who slipped their mouth without regard to the situation on the Minerva side would never stop.
It was only a matter of time before the information spread to various places through a small number of evacuees who were leaving town.
As Moore, I would like you to move to a safe haven, and as Ardis, I agree.
The problem was that Minerva didn't like it.
"You're not convinced."
Moore nods with a distressing look when Aldis talks about something she doesn't need to check further.
"I'm not the only one who gets special treatment."
"Besides, I'm not treating Minerva specifically."
Ardis' words are true.
Regardless of their origins, only those of the refugees who arrived in the town of Glock were allowed by Sarah to move to the safe house.
Ardis doesn't know the criteria for selection, but at least those who blindly believe in the goddess, who hate the twins, and who have other biased values and prejudices seem to be completely excluded.
Only in a narrow society that is also special and closed, Saira says the candidate is carefully selected.
As a result, about a hundred people are currently living in hiding places from the town of Glock.
"It's hard for the Empire to know that there's a lady in this town.I don't think I can hide it where I hid it.They won't find out if they're just ordinary people, but they won't if they see fallen aristocrats or people who know business well enough in social circles, and they'll find out soon enough the day the refugees got caught up with even the Imperial spies. "
Cyril questions Moore's story.
"But if it's Prince Wang or his lineage, he's the Duke's daughter.And it's not a trace, is it?I heard that the order of inheritance is also low, and I don't think it will happen right away because I found out who I am. "
Moore teaches while scratching his head at such a Cyril.
"That's it, Cyril.As it stands, not only the royal family, but all the other heirs to the throne are prisoners, or they'll already be executed.Neither Milord nor Young Master came back after all.... "
At the time of the fall of the king's city, all the royalties who were trying to escape the castle were captured, and those who were trying to escape the captivity were executed on the spot.
Minerva's father, the Duke of Nyerestelia, died in pursuit of the Imperial Army when he retreated from the border in the wake of the fall of the King's Capital.
My brother, the son, has also lost his life fighting the rebellious Trinian army.
Aldis was heartbroken when he remembered the disturbance of Minerva, who told him of his loved one's death.
Now that I've recovered, I can't afford to lose my close family one after the other and remain calm.
As a tranquilizer for the time being, Rona was by Minerva's side all the time.
There are a few who have not returned from the battle against the Empire, like Nilesteria's parents and children, but most of them have been captured and executed trying to escape or just wandering.
"But not all royalties will be executed, right?Wouldn't you change your name to Nagras Household or Grand Household and add it to the Empire?
"Normally."
Moore answers, conditionally agreeing to the most serious Cyrillic allegations.
"But when it comes to the creation of kingdoms and empires, it's different.If the Empire were to recognize itself as the legitimate successor of the Caucasian kingdom, the Nagras kingdom would be an unacceptable existence that had unjustly continued to occupy the territory of the Caucasian kingdom.I don't think you'll ever encounter a royal human as a lord, as long as you need to crush that legitimacy into dust at the edge of a tree.If you arrogate the heirs of the Caucasian kingdom, the destruction of the clan would be a natural choice.Maybe if the kingdom had won, they would have done the same to the Empire. "
Cyril, who was born and raised in an urban state called Latin, doesn't know how much the Nagras kingdom and the Eritrean Empire are committed to.
There is also a relationship between countries that says, "We cannot accept the existence of the other party itself."
Initially, the seeds of the small sardines can also become irreparable trenches after a long history and years.
Not to mention the ditch of mutual denial of existence, which had no place to walk from the beginning.
Only merciless solemnity awaits after the unilateral winners and losers have decided.
To the best of Aldis' knowledge, the captured royal family awaits execution.
Probably only alive on the condition that the chaos of the old Nagras kingdom calms down.
In that sense, royalties other than Minerva were in a state of total annihilation.
"Eh... so that could be the last person to pull Royal Nagras blood..."
I see. Unless, in fact, we're talking about royalty surviving in secret somewhere. "
"Wow, that's..."
Cyril, who finally swallowed the situation, clouded his words, but Moore said it was clear.
"That's what it is. It is the only remaining flag for man who wants to rebuild the kingdom.In other words, for the Empire, it's an unobstructed existence. "
"... I understand your concerns well."
The nightmare of the incoming Imperial Army must have made it more realistic.
Ardis relentlessly pursued Cyril with a different colour of anxiety.
"Don't look so serious.It's going to get worse. "
"Is there any bad news?
It was Moore who responded to Ardis's words.
There must have been something to look into as Ardis, who wasn't supposed to visit, came to Glock's town.
"I'm sorry I didn't betray your expectations."
Ardis told me with a serious look.
"The Republic fell."
"Eh!?
"Damn, you only had a month?I don't think so. "
In contrast to the astonishing Cyril, Moore speaks out against the republican army.
It was clear that the Republic would eventually lose, and the question was whether it was fast or slow.
But a month is too early.
Moore is right. Were the Republican forces weak, or were the troops of the Kingdom of Tria and the Kingdom of Alban stronger than expected?I don't know.
"Gather them all immediately.Will Aldis go to the mayor's house and tell him first?I'll be right there. "
"Oh, okay."
Apart from Moore, who rushed to summon the autonomous members, Ardis headed to the mayor's house, where the meeting would be held.
The fact that the situation was getting worse day by day was not something to say now.
The south front, where the Union of Cities and the Monarch of San Rogel collide, also continues to be dominated by the Robles Alliance.
Initially the three cities, including Lattin, were under occupation, and the movement of the Sovereign National Army also stagnated.
In contrast, the National Coalition of Cities is slow to organize coalition forces to challenge the final battle.
But it was a little too late.
At the same time as the troops were assembled from each city state, they arrived after being sent from the southern open ocean from the monarchy's own country.
The number of soldiers newly landed is about 10,000.
It would be more appropriate to call it a battalion than a backpack.
Together with the original 5,000 troops, the total number of troops was 15,000, and the urban allied forces no longer outnumbered the 9,000 troops.
The two armies that confronted each other in the defense battle of a certain city state were different in number, but the Sovereign Army won the battle with the help of the Hiba team.
The Sovereign National Army, which occupied cities and states everywhere, now controls 70% of the Union of Cities and Nations.
But the problem before us now lies in the north of the continent.
Now that the Kingdom of Tria and the Kingdom of Albany have taken the Bronche Republic, it is now more likely that the eyes of the Robles Allies will turn towards us.
"The time has come."
Moore spoke for all the autonomous members who had gathered in the largest conference room at the mayor's house.
"Will they attack us?
Elmer, one of the members, dared to ask the question.
The mayor bounced his shoulders and responded.
"It's harder to think that you're not coming."
Aldis answered instantly as if he were reading the lines he had prepared.
"So that means this town... is going to be a battlefield?
A talented man reveals anxiety like a scared fox.
He was the mayor of the house and Glock's steward.
Ardis answers deceptively to the mayor, who shook his voice and turned his gaze.
"I don't deny the possibility."
"That's not true... why..."
The mayor, to whom the unwanted answer was given, blurred his face in sight.
He was the one who led the village of Glock until the Aldis brought in the evacuees, but it was only a small pioneering village.
With a population of more than 5,000, it is difficult for him to steer the village alone.
That's why powerful people such as Moore and Elmer have a council system under the name of the mayor's assistant, and run the town based on discussions.
In addition to the mayor, a total of five people participated in the consultation: Moore, Elmer, Marida, and Minerva.
In some cases, Michelle and Aldis may be added there, but basically the members will remain the same.
Originally, it operates under a system called oligarchy where decisions should be made under the authority of the mayor.
Besides, all the members are close to Aldis except the mayor.
Although it could be considered a substantial takeover, Ardis had no choice but to do so in times of emergency.
Although it is an emergency, no one knows when this situation will come to an end.
"Anyway, now it's even worse.The Empire finally allowed the former kingdom to calm down and look elsewhere, the battle in the north ended and gave the allied forces a battle margin, the population of this town grew so large that it could not be ignored, it was the birthplace of strategic supplies, the existence of a successor to the throne who finally escaped the King's Capital, for whatever reason. "
Marida glanced at Minerva and counted why the enemy was attacking.
"That's what I was expecting.With or without Minerva, the Imperial Army would have come. "
"Yeah, yeah. I agree with you, too."
Marida agrees with her cool face under the puncture gaze of Aldis.
With those two in mind, Minerva said, "Okay."
"If you don't want to get caught up in a fight, give them food and send them out.I don't think many people are forced to stay in this town.Captain Greysta, how many people can get out to escort you to the nearest town?
"I don't know when the Empire will attack, so I'd like to keep as many people in town as possible.Nevertheless, I can't just give you food and throw it away...Well, there will be some exits from the guards, and there will be about seventy or eighty in anticipation. "
"I see. Along with that candidate, we will strengthen our vigilance.Can Father Elmer tell the evacuees?
"I've been entrusted."
"The president of the Lite Chamber of Commerce needs to check the weapons and supplies he bought.Please distribute it to those who send it out of town. "
I'm telling you it's okay with the marida.
A merchant asking for a nickname for the Duchess with a faint smile looks cold from her surroundings.
"Nice to meet you, President Ritte.So, Mayor, is that the policy?
Ardis stood up unexpectedly when Minerva, who had finished the conversation, talked to the mayor to confirm.
All of a sudden, everyone but Minerva was surprised to see Ardis.
Moore was the first of them to ask questions.
"What's wrong, Ardis?
Moore's doubts will soon be resolved.
As Aldis and Minerva's gaze was poured into the entrance to the conference room, a man slowly opened the door and appeared.
Elmer and Aldis echoed each other when they saw him.
"Sarah?"
"Oh, my lord!
Dark brown long hair with redness.It highlights red eyes that burn like a dark black coat wrapped around your body.
There was someone who wasn't supposed to be here.
"Why are you here?
When Sarah opens her mouth to question Aldis, she starts talking.
The content was enough to astonish them all.
The Trinian army has begun marching toward this town.