Trinitas Mundus

Leaving the Augs, two hours after the re-departure, at 2 p.m., the merchants arrived safely in the village of Chulock.

On the eastern side of the village of Turok there is a forest of black conifers, until then the grasslands and the landscape had changed.

The village is built on a small high hill, surrounded by wooden fences.

At the top of the hill there was a stoneless fortress, and a tall tower was hanging over it, whether to be used for a viewing stand or not.

When the merchants enter the village, they head straight for the fort.

The road up to the fort spirals around the slopes of the hills, with private houses built beside the road. Beyond the private house, fields, grazing land were spread.

The fort is made of light brown stone, about fifty m square in size, but gives the impression of being quite robust.

Upon arrival in front of the fort, Merchant Meracrino begs the gatekeeper to open the door.

Soon the big wooden door slowly opened, and the merchants finally arrived at their destination.

Meracrino and other merchants carry supplies in one after another.

Hamish and Valeria visited the fort's commander, but the mercenaries, the escorts, did not, and watched the merchants' work.

Ray decided to use this time and talk to Stella.

"I heard you abandoned Mr. Renzi and Hal to help us. Is that true?

Stella nods small "yes".

"We could still afford, um, a little different, or we could afford to stick until reinforcements arrived. Didn't you know that?

"Lady Ray was first seen surrounded by three orgasms. The next time I saw it, Master Ashley came in to help...... as I said, it looked like you two were flirting with the orgasms......"

"Right. So, how'd it go with Mr. Renzi and the others?

"I don't know...... no, I could afford Master Renzi until I left. Mr. Hal didn't seem to be able to afford much."

"Yes... so did you think about what would happen if you pulled out?

"... No, I didn't think about it. All I could think about was going to Lady Ray's..."

"I think that's where the problem is with this one. I'm glad Stella thinks of us..."

Her face brightens for a moment in those words. But the expression disappears again in the next word.

"But we don't want to help until we sacrifice our people. Mr. Renzi, Hal, and until you sacrifice Stella, you don't want to help. This is the same for Ash. I think I could give up my life for Ash. But I don't want you to ash that, and I think she thinks so of me, too. But I think that's okay. I'm trying to help each other. But..."

Ray put aside a few moments to worry about what to say,

"But when I go to help Ash, if I go to help at the expense of others, I don't think Ash will forgive me. I think Ash would feel bad if he did the same thing... I think it would be odd. But that's what I'm saying right now."

Stella has somehow figured out why she's bothering Ray.

(That I abandoned Master Renzi and Mr. Hal and never went to help you two...... but Ray told us to protect ourselves. Then I wonder why I can't help you both...)

Ray somehow knew what Stella was thinking.

"I did ask you to protect us when I took you. So I don't think I can accuse you of being wrong this time. Because you're just doing me a favor. So I'm responsible for this one. I decided to take you back, but I didn't really think about what lay ahead."

"But... I don't know what to say, but Master Ray isn't bad..."

"If Hal was dead, I don't think I could forgive myself... no, Hal is hurt badly. So I can't forgive myself already... I'll take this responsibility properly. than that......"

Stella tried to say no, but wait for Ray's next word.

"More than that, it's ahead of us. Stella can't take orders other than me and Ash?

Stella nods forcefully "yes". Ray smiled bitterly at the look of it,

"I'm not sure because I've never been in the army, but was there one person in Stella's growing up who would give orders?

"No, the leader inside commands you, but if you make a squad, you will follow the instructions of the squad leader."

"That's right. So, you don't have to keep orders when the squad leader isn't around?

"The sequence determines the commander of the second seat, so we will follow his instructions."

"Yes. Then Ash is the squad leader, isn't he? So, I'm here. It's not weird to listen to Mr. Renzi, the second seat, when you're gone."

Stella thought a little before

"Yes, but Master Renzi does not have the authority to order me. I am commanded only by the two of you, Ray and Ashley."

"Well... if we order that, for example, Mr. Valeria is our captain, can you follow the instructions if I tell you to follow them?

A lot of things go around the glue in my head, and Stella's going to be confused.

"... Yes. But that's because of your duty to protect both of you and unless you disobey that order."

"Then why don't you tell us to follow the captain's instructions because we can protect ourselves?

Stella thinks that makes her presence meaningless and desperately eats down.

"... yes... then... but then what does it mean to be me... what am I here for?

"During a mission, the mission takes precedence over your own life. They say this is mercenary. So you just have to protect us outside of the mission."

Stella nods, "Okay," but in a rare and strong tone,

"But please just admit that I'm here to protect you both"

Ray scratches his head, but nods loudly.

"I got it. But I also want you to believe in our power. Okay, after this, Mr. Renzi, I'm going to apologize to Hal. At that time, from now on, promise to obey the superiors (...)"

Ray nodded, gently stroking Stella's head.

(Is this solved? The thoughts of Renzi and the others are a problem, even if they are punished by Valeria. Especially since Hal is dying... it's hard to be emotionally obstinate...)

The task of loading supplies was also completed, with the return of the captain Hamish, the captain Valeria.

"That's it! We're going to the village now, but there are more than two hundred soldiers here. Don't make a problem out of it! The departure is early and three days later, depending on the loading of supplies for the return. Get some rest tomorrow and the day after tomorrow!

The mercenaries raise their heartfelt pleasant voices to rest after the death fight.

The village of Turok is a small village, but there are quite a few liquor barns and lodgings to deal with the soldiers of the fort and the merchant corps of goods loaded. It was built in the first place as a food supply base to the village of Turok itself, the fort.

Ray tells Ashley his story with Stella.

"Well... you can think you've convinced me"

"Oh, for once. It doesn't work spontaneously, so I don't think it's really the solution to the problem. In the meantime, I don't think there will be any more problems"

"Okay. Renzi, I'm coming with you to Hal's. It's not your responsibility as squad leader, it's your responsibility as Stella's friend."

The three went to see Renzi, who is in the inn room.

Ray tells Renzi, rolling into bed,

I need to talk to you, okay?

Renzi doesn't even try to hide her unpleasant look when she admits Stella's appearance behind Ray.

"What are you talking about? Have you decided on the captain's disposition?"

"First, Stella wants to apologize. You may not want to hear it, but can you listen to me?"

When Ashley says so, Renzi didn't change her unpleasant face, but she wakes up and turns to Stella.

"I didn't do it this time. When my deeds involved the lives of Master Renzi and Mr. Hal, I did not think. From now on, during the mission, we will listen properly to Master Renzi's and superior's orders. Forgive me."

Stella bows her head and Renzi stares at the three of them in turn.

It's not a question of, "You just have to know." Ashley, Ray. It's not your fault, but now I can't say, "Yes, is it?" The captain's disposition is convincing, can you get it right and then, again, let me hear the words "

Renzi left the room, not in his usual light tone, but after saying so in a heavy way, as though that was the end of it.

Ray gives up and squeals, "I knew you wouldn't forgive me right away," he said.

"No, Renzi has no problem. I just need time."

I doubt Ashley's words, but if she's been dating long enough to say so, I'm convinced she is.

He then headed to the large room assigned for the injured.

Hal, with a bandage around his chest, was sitting in bed.

Ray doesn't think his treatment is complete, and he's surprised to see Hal getting up.

"Is it okay to wake up now? Your lungs don't hurt your breath?

"Oh, Mr. Ray. Mr. Ashley too... oh, Stella too... it's okay. But that's amazing, Mr. Ray. You can use the magic of killing more than ten orgasms to cure me of dying... really, it's amazing."

Ray and Ashley were uncomfortable with some uncertain feeling of perspective Hal.

Stella wants to apologize.

Hal tilted his neck slightly,

"Apologize? Is something wrong?

"Renzi told me that you were injured because Stella fell out on the way. That's an apology."

"Oh, you mean... there's nothing to apologize for. I was dying because I was weak. That's all..."

Ray felt something was wrong with Hal.

(You can't be cheerful as usual, but you're saying you're losing some kind of emotion or you're unmotivated... I hung up on you just a few hours ago, so it's not weird if you're different than usual... don't feel any different)

Ashley, on the other hand,

(I'm totally losing confidence. That's a sickness (...) of a soldier suffering a lot of injuries. But even though he's young, Hal must have already dived through the dead line many times. Why is that suddenly happening?

Stella repeats the words of apology she made to Renzi.

"Really... you don't have to listen to me. Stella's going up to the fifth grade when she gets back to Fonce, so she'll be better than me."

Ashley heard what he said, which also sounded like a throw,

(Are you jealous? To Ray and Stella? I don't know... but I don't care what you say now... no, this is me...)

Ashley urged the two of them to leave the room.

Hal was unreasonable about the difference in talent he was born with, looking at the three of them behind him.

(I've been waving my sword since I was ten. It's been eight years. Yet the level is still twenty-three or seven mercenaries. Yet... Mr. Ray, that man, a hero, called himself a "rare magician," instantly killed more than ten third-degree equivalent orgasms. Not only that, but as a magician, level 39, level 5, that's the same age as me... I guess he's a chosen person. Ordinary people like me are no match for upside down)

And I did my hand on a bandage wrapped around me,

(That's not all. Even as a healer, I have enough arms to help me that Mr. Alberic gave up. Warrior, sorcerer, healer...... which one is so superb...... why is that guy the only one who can give that kind of power...... why isn't that me...... next time I try to die, I wonder if I can make it to the fourth level by retirement. It's unreasonable...)

Stella comes to mind.

(I'm not sure Stella was born, but she's younger than me. That shows so much arm...... I have to be protected by a younger girl, such a pitiful mercenary! You don't have that much talent for me! Whita, the god of man, answer me!

To his inquiry, God "Wita" - the God who made man, a pillar of the Three Gods - answers nothing.

(I dreamed that one day I'd want to be a hero like the captain of the regiment. But the only person you can dream about like that is a handful of people chosen... Interpret, I'm just a normal person. From a hero's point of view, you can only be a lot of other people...)

He looked up at the ceiling with his vain eyes and laughed lightly. There were tears in his eyes, and when he closed his eyes, he poured down his cheeks.

Ashley returned to Hal's after returning Ray and Stella to their room.

"Mr. Ashley, why are you here?

"I'm your squad leader. Is it weird that you're here to see your men?

Hal is just a little surprised by Ashley's unusual and light tone.

"You'll be jealous of Ray, and Stella. I wonder why I don't have talent like those two."

Hal is told what he was thinking, and he says "Yes, no..."

"I don't know much about Ray, but Stella is definitely a genius. And made more effort than any of us whose geniuses are ordinary people. That's the result."

Hal rebels at what Ashley said about herself as an ordinary person.

"Mr. Ashley is an ordinary man. I'm not kidding. Twenty. That's where you went up to fifth grade, isn't it? That can't be normal."

Ashley does not answer the question, but instead returns the question.

"Hal, when did you have the sword?

"What? Since I was ten"

"I had held my sword before I could get my mind on it. Honestly, I don't know how old you've been holding a sword. I've been holding it since I was at least three."

"Oh, really? That's right. If it's Hamish's only daughter..."

"You've held the sword for eight years. I'm twenty years old. In the meantime, he was trained by his father and brother Al. Still say I'm a genius."

Hal loses his word.

"Even I am losing to Stella on a level. Stella was holding the sword when she got her mind on it, too, but still five years shorter than me. And yet...... no, I don't know what kind of training Stella did. But I'm pretty sure he was doing unimaginable training. Yeah, better than the training I threw up blood reflexes."

"Really... But Mr. Ashley must have been coached by the best master, the captain of the regiment. I look like a blessed man."

Ashley laughed invincibly,

"Then try to be treated like your father meant it (...). I'll ask for it from you. If you don't raise your voice on day one, I'll give you a compliment."

Hal battles Ashley's creepy laughing face.

"But I use a one-handed sword. It's completely different from the style of the captain of the regiment…"

"Then I'll ask Brother Al to do it. As you know, you're a first-rate swordsman... but I'm telling you, you're tougher than your father treated you, brother Al. Quit beating me until I throw up blood reflexes with that smile. If the injury prevents you from moving, heal yourself and make him stand up. Still, when you get tired and can't stand up, you're pulled up laughing and held a sword. I used to think about it when I was a kid. The scariest thing in the world is Brother Al."

Hal imagined himself, drawn to the words by Alberic.

"I'm not going to deny the training you've done. But there's more to it than you think. Surely the talented are strong. But I am not jealous of them. Because I'm willing to spare any effort to stand beside Ray."

As Ashley stares far away, saying so, silence comes between the two of them.

(Both your daughter and Mr. Ashley thought you were one of the geniuses. You were just as worried as I was. What do I want? Do you give up being a "hero” like the leader of the regiment? I don't like it. Then I'm just a loser. You don't have to be a hero, I'll do it until I'm convinced)

The usual smile was back on Hal's face.

"Thank you, Mr. Ashley. Could you ask Mr. Alberic for it? Please."

to him bowing his head, Ashley laughed,

"I don't mind, but I'll be sure to regret it later. Heh heh, okay. When I get back to Fonce, I'll ask him to treat me thoroughly. Be prepared."

He pretended frightened,

"Uh, don't you say be gentle?

"You can't," laughs Ashley, with a loose face as well.

"Okay. I don't regret it. But just now, you fell in love with Saraha Ray. Is that what you did to me?

Ashley didn't know what she was talking about at first, but soon she remembers it turning bright red.

"Don't tease me. But I meant what I said. And I'm not gonna lose to Stella."

That's all Ashley said, he raised his hand gently and left the room.

Left behind, Hull lay down in bed again, looking up at the ceiling.

(I'm only eighteen. If you're willing to die doing one thing, you should be able to do anything. I can't help but regret it. But I don't want to regret it without doing it...)

He closed his eyes quietly and fell asleep.