Trinitas Mundus

Lesson 41: Lost

July 1st.

Summer solstice festivals were held in great numbers in the city of Bridgand.

Strong sunshine falls on the city, which seems to be the time to head from early summer to high summer, and some of the people who enjoy the festival also stand out wiping the sweat off their foreheads.

Unlike the quiet atmosphere of last night, the cheerful music played by the musicians plays there and young men and women dance with pleasure in the strong sun.

The city was surrounded by a cheerful summer festival atmosphere.

People walking through the city, young and old, all seem so serene that they laugh joyfully and do not think of it as an area where demons roam right around the corner.

The three Rays were walking down Main Street through the city.

On both sides of the road, many outdoor shops were narrow, lined with the region's unique foods, beverages such as booze, brilliant accessories for couples and monstrous magic props for adventurers. It looks like a jade stone mix to Ray, he takes it in his hands sometimes, but cools it down without buying anything and slowly strolls through the city.

"Is this what Fonce looks like?

Ray asks Ashley, feeling intrigued by festivals in different worlds.

"No, the King's Capital, Fonce, is several, dozens of times the size of this. The square in the center of the capital is filled with open-air shops, and cursive artists compete for art in many places. Outside the city, the rare animals and demons of the South are also shown as spectacles..."

Ashley proudly tells the story of her hometown.

"Right. That's too bad. Though it sounds interesting. Well, I've had enough fun here."

"Right. But this vibe is the same everywhere. There is something heartwarming. Looks like I'm back when I was a kid..."

Stella walks around vigilantly behind Ray and Ashley talking with pleasure.

(With so many people, I can't help but notice. Today is not a mission. A day of paramount priority to protect you both......)

Ray, who felt such a stellar vibe,

"What if Stella enjoys it too? You won't be attacked here. Precisely, I think."

"No. It is my raison d 'être to do my duty to protect you both. So don't worry."

The two of them face to face with Stella's story.

"Then let's just say I'll leave it to you. Ray, okay."

Ashley says so, in a small voice.

"Stella enjoys it too. Since last night. If you buy him something later, I think that's enough."

Ray nods small and speaks to Stella.

"Then I'll do you a favor, too. Give my best to the escort."

She nods loudly and alerts her surroundings with a serious look.

Time goes back seven days, June 24th.

In the royal palace of the king's capital, Fonce, the chief and deputy chiefs of the Knights of the Springs were gathered before King Lionel XII as representatives of the samurai, the head of the Four Dukes family, to discuss the information of the Great Ghost, brought yesterday from Fort Chulock.

At your previous meeting, the Knights of the Springs insisted on an appearance, plus the Braveburn family, a family lineage of martial arts and related to the current Knights Commander, who had expressed their agreement with it.

Meanwhile, three families, the Kilgaroho, Inverhollow and Glendue, many of whom are civilians, were opposed to the sudden appearance that the situation should be identified.

The gray-haired, magnificent man, Kilgaroho family owner Auzias Kilgaroho, raises one hand to ask for a statement. When the King admits to speaking,

"I fool you that this information alone will not determine the strength of the battle to be organized. It's just too liberal information to leave. Therefore, until we have additional information, we should not enter the Knights' preparation period after identifying enemy forces."

The king nods and sees Victor Rockletter, a great, knightly leader with a body as if to intimidate the others. After meeting with the King, the Knights Commander

"At the suggestion of His Excellency the Duke of Kilgaroho, we risk losing the moment. As soon as we have the Knights in our custody, we hope to have the greatest possible force to move the status quo."

The king nods lightly and makes a ruling.

"There's too little information at the moment. Therefore, taking into account the opinion of the Duke of Kilgaroho, I order the Knights to prepare for their appearance. However, the Heavy Squad is to be formed as soon as possible and sent to Bridgand. Is this it, Victor?

The Knights chief hid his inner dissatisfaction and replied, "Your will," and the previous meeting was over.

Grant Braveburn, Duke of Braveburn - a former samurai of disappointing stature in his mid-forties - returned to his chambers, accompanied by the Knights Commander and his deputy, Baron Seaver Gladstone.

"Enjoy this time, Victor. His Majesty also gave me a slow leg.

"Ha! It's easy for us to get around. But Chulock's report on Hinschlwood, is it true?

"That (...) Markat saw it. Let's make no mistake. More curious than that is why the Great Ghosts are here at this time of year. Seaver, do you have any opinions?

Seaver Gladstone - a man about forty years old who is slightly skinny and looks more like a pitiful civilian than a martial artist - takes a short while and starts talking to the two of them.

"Right. I'm not the Duke, but you have too little information. Because even the information from the merchants who were gracious didn't tell us about the Demons. As you know, this year, demonic damage has skyrocketed in the east. This is the point if you say you care. I can't help but think that our country will be invaded this year."

The three will continue to consider measures thereafter.

Deputy Gladstone makes one proposal.

"How about sending a winged lion" Griffon "squad to Chulock? Not all units, for transmission."

The Winged Lions are the only flying force belonging to the Knights of the Springs, made up of knights riding the Griffon. Not hundreds of units of troops, like the Knights of the Flying Dragons of the Southern Caerm Empire, whose total number is only twenty-five. It also has an ambush effect but is not very useful as a real force, as it only releases arrows from the air, even as a force of war.

The Duke of Braveburn meditates his eyes for a moment and sums up his thoughts.

"Let's be good. How's your lord, Victor?

"No problem," replies the Knights Commander.

"Then give me three rides to contact you. From me, I gave Hinschlwood an endorsement. Take it and let me rush to Fort Chulock."

The two nodded and immediately headed to the Knights headquarters.

The following, June 25.

Your meeting is confused by additional information from Chulock.

Various opinions fly with those who marvel at the appearance of the Winged Demons in the information, those who doubt the credibility of the information itself, and those who complain that it has been a crisis since the beginning of the kingdom.

The King entrusted the Duke of Kilgaroho to the chairmanship of the Congregation to Combat Demonic Racism in an attempt to get things sorted out.

The Duke of Kilgaroho immediately decided to send the Winged Lions as a reconnaissance force and ordered Fort Chulock to cooperate with the reconnaissance of the Winged Lions as well.

"This information is too serious. Assuming it's true, you have to send not only the Knights, but also the court magicians. There is no record of the Winged Demons appearing in the kingdom. Even the frontline, Pericritle, had no definite evidence. Even at the time of the past great invasion. Therefore, Non sees this as likely a false alarm."

The Duke of Kilgaroho addresses the Knights Commander after addressing the members of the Conference on Measures to that effect.

"We can't proceed on the assumption that it's a false alarm. I'd like to ask your lord to prepare for an emergency mission in the entire army and coordinate with the court magician."

The Knights chief nodded to agree with it, and immediately went to oversee the Knights' preparations for their appearance.

June 26th the following day.

The Knights were ready to appear, but the court magicians were not ready, and of all ten battalions of the Knights, three battalions, nine hundred, took the lead.

June 27th.

The Knights, commanded by Knights Commander Victor Rockletter, left only two battalions in the King's Capital and set out for Chulock.

Along the way, unlike the early horses from Turok, it is reported that the demons are no longer known where they are.

The Knights Commander stopped the march once and held discussions with the Vice Commander, who is also the Witness General.

"Seaver, what do you think of this?

"Right. It would be most reasonable to see that the Demon Clan was not fully prepared and, once pulled. Just..."

"Just?"

"It's just that the target is the Demon Clan. Let me show you that you've abandoned it, and you can't deny the possibility that you've invaded further west. In any case, we just have to keep moving until we get a return order from the King's Capital."

Rockletter was also convinced of the word and resumed his march.

In the Wang capital, the Duke of Kilgaroho was distressed by the response.

(He put 80% of the Knights and half of the court magicians out in formation. All the men of the king's capital know this. Now, it was a false alarm, so it's like saying that Non's judgment was apologetic. Did His Majesty also anticipate this and order Non to chair it... Now, what is it...)

He decided to put his judgment on hold and let the march continue, but the following June 28th he decided to entrust his judgment to the King following a report by the Knights of the Winged Lions that a massive reconnaissance had also ended in vain.

"This time the demon clan, who feared the beauty of our army, supposedly withdrew for fear of damage. Just in case, it is also possible to keep the Knights going, but now a position where you can return in a few days. It seems like calling it back is one option."

The king nodded heavily,

"Hmm. What does the Duke think?

"Yes, for the time being, we should keep the Winged Lions in the fort, strengthen only the reconnaissance and reporting system, and let the Knights and the Court Mages return."

The king nodded loudly at the words and approved.

The next day, June 29.

From Fort Chulock Commander Hinschlwood arrived at the Royal Palace with a detailed report drawn up after the demonic people lost their way.

The report noted that the demonic invasion was only temporarily stagnant, appealing for the dispatch of a thousand troops and the need for a massive sweep operation.

Three times, the royal palace was confused.

The Chiefs of the Knights had not yet returned, and meetings would be held only at the Four Dukes' house, but the Duke of Kilgaroho, who issued the withdrawal order, was obsessed with the face and in conflict with the claims of the hard-line Duke of Braveburn.

"Lord Kilgaroho is wrong about Hinschlwood's judgment."

"No, it's not. But now that we don't see the enemy, a massive march oppresses the finances. If we keep the vast majority of the Knights in the east, the now dear Caerm Empire will not invade the south. Does Lord Braveburn not mind being deprived of the southern lands because of the invisible demons?"

"I didn't say that. But it doesn't deserve surprise that the Demons disappear. I hear that the last great invasion was also an apocalypse. Even if the frog moves, months away. Now I'm saying we should deal with the crisis ahead of us."

The claim followed a parallel line and Kilgaroho again appealed for the King's ruling.

"Duke. I don't think it makes a lot of sense to chair a ruling like that, if you ever need another ruling."

To the king's word, the Duke of Kilgaroho bows his head deeply.

"Then respect the Speaker's opinion (...) and let the Knights withdraw all. However, only the Winged Lions will continue to be dispatched. That's good."

The king had no sense of crisis about the demonic invasion.

(Dozens of invasions so far, all around Kaum. Even if it ever invades our territory, it will be a positive move. If, in the unlikely event that our country becomes an invasion route, in Fort Chulock, the great army of the great invasion cannot be contained. As per the original strategy, intercept enemies in Bridgand. The pioneering land east of Bridgand will be lost, but if we can buy time at Fort Chulock, the people will be able to evacuate. Sorry about the defense team, but this is the most efficient...)

And I was satisfied that I was able to make a huge crack between Kilgaroho, the Knights and the military in this case.

(Kilgaroho screwed up. After unfolding the passivity theory, we allowed the march, albeit without stopping. And a subsequent withdrawal order. Through passivity theory, I would have been told it was a wise decision...... never ugly. But Kilgaroho must have seemed indecisive in people's eyes. After that, if you control him so he doesn't run wild, he'll grow up...)

Here in the Kingdom of Lax, the royal power was traditionally weak and balanced with that of the Four Dukes. The kings of history were committed to sharpening the power of the Duke's family, and each Duke's family was trying to sharpen the power of other houses, including the royal family.

So far, the equilibrium of power between the royal family and the Four Dukes had not broken, but the king had a sense of crisis because Aussies, now Duke of Kilgaroho, had leaked to seek kinship with the royal family or to place his son in a key position to increase his voice in the Knights.

This will later leave a great deal to be desired.

July 1st.

Mountain area about fifty km east of Turok.

A giant about three meters tall and a woman with black wings like a bat were talking as she watched the sunset fall to the west.

The woman, in her late twenties, had white skin that was clear to her pitch-black hair, a beautiful woman with a smelling hue, and her red eyes had a somewhat amusing look on them. She was only as tall as the waist of a giant standing next to her, but without cowering, she was speaking to him.

"If you hadn't screwed up, you could have dropped that fort by now, Balthazar"

A giant called Balthazar, if you look closely, is a neat looking man in his early thirties, and if you see anything other than the Demons, you will have eyes in the corners of his red eyes and forehead.

Spoken to, he slowly looks down at her and answers with a low voice that suits his body.

"Sure. But I can't even imagine being such a magician in that situation, no, the way they say" magician, "or having that magician. Asura, do you think you could have beaten him?"

I'm going to get the impression that I'm missing somewhere on too many giants, but I ask the opposite of the beauty I called Asla in a narrative that makes me feel intelligent.

"Right. Probably not. Kirishi - the demonic girl Ray was watching when he defeated the little demon - reported using both the art of light and our technique. I saw the scene where you fought, but that's terrible. Even a fireman wouldn't burn so much ground."

"That's right. And there was a swordsman and a bowman with terrible arms. I didn't think there were any people or elves who could defeat the ghosts in one stroke."

Asura nods to agree too.

"Right. But it's okay. Because the ghosts are consumables and there are a lot of them around. In that case, this one's in trouble. I have to call it in..."

When the red day fell, the two disappeared into the mountains.