Trinitas Mundus

Episode 48: Peaceful Days, and Dark Clouds

Returning from the royal castle with Hamish, Ray was exhausted in a meeting with the Sorcerer's Tower, the Knight Commander.

I was back in my room, lying in bed, remembering what had happened in the morning.

(Not yet, before noon, but I'm tired today... that was a huge failure on the Mage's Tower. But the effect of the spell is amazing...)

When I was thinking about the effects of the spell, I heard knocking on the door.

Ashley stood outside, and Ray immediately invited her inside.

"Did you find out what you wanted to know at the Mage's Tower?

"Oh, for the most part. I know exactly how unusual my magic is. [M] More than that, a bit of a failure. I ate a big eyeball for the captain of the regiment..."

He tells Ashley that it was a magician's tower. And then we move on to the story of our subsequent meeting with the Knights of the Rockletters.

"That knight leader doesn't feel like a nobleman. There's someone like that."

"Right. Just for the record, Master Victor lived here about ten years ago. They almost jumped out of the house..."

In her story, the younger day Victor Rockletter, a knight of arms pride, recklessly challenged Hamish Markat, who had been said to be the strongest in the kingdom since that time, and failed without a good point. He switched his proud mind on that occasion and tried to join the mercenary regiment, even though he was a man of the Count family trying to teach Hamish.

That Hamish also had difficulty coping, and the story was that he took the then head of the Knights, the Duke of Grant Braveburn, to consult him and managed to sort things out.

Since then, there has been a difference in status between a single mercenary and a senior nobleman, the Count, but he has admired Hamish as much as his brother.

(Well, I knew you somehow respected Mr. Hamish, but was that what happened? But there are some interesting people in the nobility too...)

Ashley has suddenly become a serious look and has changed the subject.

"I mean Stella, but since yesterday, it's been pretty blocked. Isn't that a little too steep?

"Sure. But someday we're gonna have to talk about it, and I'm still gonna be here, so maybe we should have some time to think about it."

"Yes... but if, this is a hypothetical story, what would Ray do if Stella said herself (...) that she wanted to act with us?

Ray was feeling a little strange about Ashley asking a little upward.

(Nothing. Then we can do it together... it looks like Ash's expecting a different answer... does that mean he doesn't want the two of us to be disturbed in time?

She also had a little regret for the way she said it.

(This way of putting it, Ray is determined to be harder to say when he takes them. Were you aiming at that unconsciously or am I... not so sure? Are you afraid he will choose Stella......)

After a few moments, Ray opens his mouth.

"If Stella chose it herself, I'll ask why. If you're bound by duty, say no, otherwise, think on the spot."

"Ko, this is also a hypothetical story...... what if Stella says she wants to be with you because she loves you, ah. As far as I can tell... I think that might be the conclusion..."

Though I said that interruptively, the last one was barely verbal.

(Stella told you about me? I don't think that's possible. If you do have another heterosexual around your partner, you might want to think about it that way......)

"I don't think so. If that's what they say... well, I'd say," I don't see you as a woman. "I'm not clever enough to love you both at the same time, and I don't have any experience."

"But Stella is beautiful even from the woman's me. Besides, don't you prefer beastly women?

(I don't deny it because the Beastman preferred it... because he wasn't on Earth... but I think it's apart from love, how do I explain it?

Himself, he has no experience in love, and Ashley has no experience as well.

She had a complex in her appearance - big body and light black burnt skin. In addition, the lack of femininity in the way she spoke and how she did it was applauded.

(I'm not feminine compared to Stella. The only thing that even a man can be proud of is losing to her with the arm of a sword. There's nothing Ray would choose me for...)

He doesn't realize that she's holding a complex to her appearance. I've been told a few times, but he himself, because he thinks she's beautiful, didn't mean it.

Furthermore, I didn't even think that she was losing confidence in herself because she was always confident.

"Right. I think Stella is beautiful. But I don't think you're gonna like it because it's beautiful, but it's crazy."

(Again, am I losing in appearance... what can I do...)

Seeing Ashley not answering that question, he's leaning his neck.

(Is that it? What's going on? Did I say something wrong?

"Stella's like a sister, I guess. Number one, you're the one who knows my secret. You know what that means, don't you?

Her expression brightens to the word.

(Well, I'm trusted by Ray, wholeheartedly by him. Isn't that good...)

"Oh, I'm going to know. I'll just say one word. If you love me, you can love another woman. But don't forget that I always want to be Ray's most (...)"

(What? Harlem's forgiveness came out?

"You can love other women, what about Ash?

She didn't feel particularly well, with a natural look.

"Oh, if you're a man like yourself, it's not strange to have two, three, or a concubine"

"But I guess Mr. Hamish thinks of his late wife, Ash's mother, and he's piercing his celibacy? Besides, Mr. Deoddard, he was such a big representative of the Chamber of Commerce, and he loved one of his wives... isn't that normal?

"My father and Lord Deoddard (...) are not normal. It's not unusual for a man of power, not a nobleman, to surround many women."

"It is. But as I said earlier, I'm not clever, so I can't love you two. So you just have to have one Ash. If Stella says she wants to come with us, she's gonna tell us about it."

Ashley had a smile back at the words.

(Ray remains the same. If I hadn't changed...... Father's story is that Victor and Annekis liked me. If it's true, Ray, to the knight, no, it's not strange to be a nobleman. I was probably anxious in my heart that he might have changed......)

"Okay. Still, if Stella's going to say she's getting there, I wouldn't disagree. And I won't complain if she and you have a relationship in the future"

"It's up to Stella to come with us, but we won't have a relationship. I mean, because I can't."

Ray, who wants to finish this topic early, takes it forcefully to the lunch story.

"The day off is until today. What is it? It's time for lunch, but you want to eat outside?

She realizes he wants to change the subject, but dares decide to ride it.

And the two of us rolled out into the city.

Stella stared out the window of the room.

(What should I do... I want to be with Master Ray. But why is that? I don't know......)

Markat Mercenary Regiment Squad V, after five days of vacation, once again returned to the routine of training and work.

Training in the river plains was harsh in the glowing sunshine of summer, but seeing first-hand the enemy, the Demon Nation, had increased their willingness and made them take it more seriously than ever before.

Everyone was also trained against magic by Ray, polished to work with each squad, and in anti-magic tactics, his arms were raised to such an extent that he would not allow the following of the other four squads.

He also took Ray's suggestion that he would train crossbowmen, other than archers, to increase his ranged attack power.

His reason for suggestion was that of the Demons, the Winged Demons and the Little Demons fly in the sky, and that if they were crossbows, they were only one shot, but powerful enough to deal damage to the Auga as well, thus leading to enhanced pre-emptive attack power.

(The real reason is because swordsmiths and magicians aren't very helpful when you have to put them in the fort, but honestly, it's hard to say... there are so many big demons in this world, and magic, you have a low bow status that is a flying tool. Bow status is higher on Earth, and crossbows are so easy and powerful that there was even a limit that peasants shouldn't have them. I was concerned that the shooting wouldn't work, but there's a way to fix it. And given the defense, keeping them away is the biggest defense...)

Escort duty came in during the hottest months of late July to mid-August, but it was also a relatively safe part of the country, so there was no combat-like battle, and we were in September.

The demonic invasion of the concerned Chuloch was creepingly lurking the ringing and disappearing from people's memories.

In September, the detachment of the three-horsed winged lion, Griffon, also decided to withdraw to Fonce, and the demonic invasion was perceived to be entirely a thing of the past.

From the Sorcerer's Tower there was an invitation to Ray to call it a study group several times, but every time he kept saying no, it hasn't been a major problem so far.

But Ray was haunting his head that he hadn't given up yet.

(You have invitations on a regular basis. If I keep saying no too much, I'm afraid it's going to come out into forceful hands, but once I get on the invite, I also feel like it fits in the trap...)

Among other things, Ray and Ashley's biggest concern was Stella.

Although she would do her training and assignments properly, she had begun to groove again with other members who had been extremely under-represented and beginning to crack down since Ray told her.

The two of them had looked at Stella's situation and decided to watch that she should solve it herself, though I think she had to do something.

(Tell me for yourself. What, do I really just have to watch? This is the kind of time when you don't have the experience of life. But this isn't all a problem you should talk to Mr. Hamish or Mr. Valeria about, and you and I, Ash and Stella, have to work it out...)

By the time he was haunted by such things, major changes were taking place in the Aquila Mountains to the east.

For the upcoming harvest festival in mid-September, half a month later - a festival to be held in the autumn - the inhabitants of the floating mood of the village of Turok were pleased that demonic damage had recently been extremely reduced.

"Lately, there are no demon dogs or wolves, so it's easy to release the sheep"

"Right. The streets are safe. But there are rumors of deer and rabbits gone."

The peasants who spoke so rested their crop harvest hands, looked around and looked anxious.

afternoon of September 15th.

Fort Chulock's commander, Saul Hinschlwood, climbed onto the fort's observation deck and was looking at the surrounding landscape.

The blue of the skies through autumn, the brown of the fields where the harvest is over and the deep green of the forest make a stunning contrast and look like peace itself.

He has had a heartbeat the last few days and couldn't help it.

I didn't see the demons, I didn't see the demons damaged. Conversely, for the past three months, there has been no demonic damage and rare and peaceful days in Turok.

(Has the Demons really given up? Supplies are well stockpiled with notifications from the Knights. The village's harvest is almost over, so its surplus has also been brought into the fort. There is no slack in the soldiers... for some reason, it makes me strangely anxious. I'm still fine now, but maybe I'm anxious about winter. In winter the streets will have worse road surfaces than ever before. There is no doubt that reinforcements will be delayed...... somewhere in my mind, I may be warning you to do something at this peaceful time...... yeah? Oh, that one!

A huge flock of birds appeared in his eyes as he looked east.

But as it approaches, I realize it's not the shape of a bird, it's the shape of a person with bat-like feathers.

"Enemy attack! Many demonic flocks over the sky! Get an interception system now! Ring the bell! Run the fast horse!

He gives instructions early in the arrow succession, but the movement of his men, who were relaxed, is dull.

"What are you doing! Put the villagers away quickly! Are you ready for the early horses yet!

Usually, my men's movements change to the fury of commanders who rarely abhors their voices.

The sound of the early bells echoes around, the footsteps called butterflies and the cursing of the soldiers dominate the fort.

(I didn't know you were going to attack me this time of year... but it was good in the daytime. If we were ambushed at night, we might not have been able to accommodate the people... and then if the early horses would have made it to Fonce, the king's capital safely...)

His hopes are also empty, and the little demons arrive at the early horses who left the fort.

Countless arrows of darkness pierced the messenger, and Chulock was completely besieged.

Fortunately, many of the villagers who were out on grazing lands and fields were able to escape into the fort. But they were still dressed and many were injured.

September 19th.

In the city of Bridgand, the discontinuation of regular contact from Fort Chulock was the subject of discussion.

"He didn't hear from me regularly, which was supposed to come yesterday. Once every three days, but I'm rarely late at the moment."

Maybe he was attacked by a demon.

Such stories had been heard in the city, but the upper echelons of the defense did not have a sense of crisis.

It was the policy to wait another day and to contact Wang Du if no contact was received.

September 20th.

The contact flight from Turok did not show up, and after contacting Wang Du to that effect, we were to hire an adventurer and send him to Turok just in case.

September 21st.

Adventurers set out for Chulock.

Still, the city of Bridgand remained the usual and had a hasty routine approaching the tenth day until the harvest festival.

September 23rd.

The five adventurers hurrying to Chulock arrived in the village of Bogby.

When I tell them that the fort's contact flights have been interrupted and I ask them if there was anyone coming from the fort, I hear stories that I have been anxious because no one has come in the last few days.

Unstoppable anxiety spreads to the hearts of the adventurers who hear it.

September 24th.

The adventurers arrived in the village in front of Chulock, the village of Millis, in the rain that began to fall in the morning.

Here again, there was talk that he was anxious that no one was coming from Turok, and even tomorrow, he was trying to get a hunter who could ride a horse to the fort.

September 25th.

The adventurers set out for Chulock as it rained from yesterday.

Occasionally, the horse's foot is taken by the mud, but after 2 p.m., he arrived in front of the village of Chulock, on the last hill. When they went up on the hill and moved the fort to a visible position, they lost their words to the sight in their eyes.

On a fort smoking with rain, a crowd of small demons spread over dozens of them, and around the fort, they thought of it as the Great Ghost "Orga" or the Medium Ghost "Orc" and were filled with demonic figures.

"... it's a demonic raid... we'll turn back soon!

I noticed that the leader of the adventurer was surrounded by herds of oaks at those moments.

"Forced to break through! The guy who broke through doesn't care about the others, head to Bridgend! Don't turn around behind me!

One word from the leader said, "Whoa!," the five adventurers answered, challenging the oak siege net.

Later that night, a scratchy adventurer returned to the village of Millis.

The leather armor has many scratches and the horse is also tired, making his breath rough and his eyes pop out.

One of the villagers rushes over and invites him inside the village, but he falls off his horse like he did his best.

"Tell Bridgend. Chulock, the fort is being attacked by demons. The Wingman, the Auga... Quickly..."

To the word of the adventurer, the village becomes as noisy as it was set on fire.

Because we know that Turok is next in our village.

The chief of the village of Millis had ordered the villagers to prepare for evacuation as well as two hunters to contact the city of Bridgand.

September 27th

A messenger from the village of Millis arrived in the city of Bridgand.

The defense immediately sent a fast horse to Wang Du.

October 1st.

Early horses arrived in Fonce, the king's capital, bustling with harvest festivals, and reports of demonic raids were immediately delivered to the royal palace.