Trinitas Mundus

Tria Calendar 326, January 1.

The Demon Pursuit Corps, which is dominated by the Mercenary Corps of Markat (Red Arms), was heading south on Ars Street - the main street connecting the adventurer's city of Periclitle with Ars, king capital of the southern mountain state of the Kingdom of Kaum - with powdered snow in the early morning of the year. They were scheduled to enter the Kaum Kingdom all at once in one day today.

From the village of Bowden, where we stayed last night, to Bogwood, the border town of the Kingdom of Kaum, is approximately 65 km away. And today is the shortest winter solstice of the year. I was trying to run insanely long distances to travel that day.

However, it is not without bright materials, although it is very long distance travelled.

That the Merchant Corps moves less because of New Year's Day. Furthermore, it is a bright ingredient that it is a safe street with little demons from the next accommodation town of Kilnarek to its destination, Bogwood.

Today we all thought we could concentrate on moving without being bothered by miscellaneous things like compromise with the merchants and perimeter vigilance.

Around noon he arrived in the city of Kilnarek, a fortified city.

Entering the city of Kilnarek, the tavern is home to many citizens celebrating New Year's Eve. But on the other hand, armed soldiers frequented the castle gate.

It was conveyed that he defeated the Demon Clan in the Periclitle offensive, but there is also information that demon defectors are trying to escape, which reinforces his vigilance.

Ray had finished taking care of his beloved horse and was looking for a place where he could have lunch with Ashley and the others.

The snow seemed empty, but the city was full of people. And every face was bright from the exit of the demonic threat.

Ray asks Ashley about the signs she sometimes sees, looking at the faces of such people.

"It's a really vibrant city, isn't it? Yeah, well, I've been wondering, it says," I have a ZL, "but you know what I mean by" ZL ”?

"Oh, that's a sign that there's a long aged liquor..."

Ashley occasionally stares at the sign resentfully, explaining it to her in rap.

"... rarely drinkable liquor around Periclitle. They're only going to get it here in Kilnarek or the village of Rasmore. No, I hear the blacksmiths are getting it if Ars, Kaum's king's capital..."

So I notice Ray's gaze, he says, "I'm sorry," and he laughs bitterly.

Ray laughs when he says, "You really like it, there's alcohol".

As soon as we finish lunch, we head back to Ars Street.

None of the disciplined Markat mercenaries drank, but some of the mercenaries who participated as prostitutes were drinking in Kilnarek.

Hamish Markat, who commands the Pursuit Corps, did not dare to forbid drinking, but was beginning to fear the sweetness of discipline among the prostitutes in his heart.

(Should I have sorted a little more in Periclitle? Even this degree of march gives rise to discontent. I doubt these guys can stand it in the mountains of Aquila ahead...)

Pre-acquired information shows that south of the Aquila Mountains, the Great Mountains to the east, there is a way out for the Demons to use. The place was expected to be a major shock in the Kingdom of Kaum, north of Fort Toa, and also in a high and harsh environment. Military action, especially in this coldest period of the year, calls into question its qualities as an army. Hamish thought it would be difficult to make a protracted operation to a pursuit team that was nothing more than a stopover.

(Worst case scenario, just the Red Arms (us) have to be prepared. If we can get people out of Fort Toa, we can figure it out...)

Jan. 3 at 5 p.m.

The Demonic Pursuit Team led by Hamish had arrived in the city of Barbezy in the Kingdom of Kaum.

Approximately three hundred km from Pericritle to Barbezie. They were treading that distance in just six days. Though not accompanied by a dull heavy force, its marching speed was fast enough to overshadow common sense in this world.

Barbezi serves as the entrance to Toa Street, which extends east from the main street, Als Street.

Toa Street is a military road that leads to Fort Toa, a major impulse east of the Kaum Kingdom. The relatively fertile land along the streets, on the other hand, makes it an important barn zone for the Kingdom of Kaum, where mountainous areas occupy most of the national territory. Since Toa Street combines the transport of food from this barn zone with the supply route to the main impulse of the border, there is a great deal of movement of merchants during normal times.

This invasion of the Demons drastically reduced the number of merchants, but when the victory in Periclitle was communicated, it was regaining its liveliness as if to regain the logistics that had stagnated until then, despite the weather conditions that it called midwinter.

January 4th the following day.

To head to Fort Toa, two hundred km east, the Pursuit Squad, which is dominated by the Marcut Mercenaries, was advancing horses to Toa Street.

Around eleven a.m., they were plugged into a land called Acree Cheyne, twenty kilometers east of Barbesie.

Acree Chain was the battlefield at the Great Invasion of the Demons nineteen years ago.

The battle of Acree Chain began on May 12, 2007, when thousands of demonic armies had pushed against Fort Toa.

Thousands of defensemen were stationed at Fort Toa, but they also struggle with flying demons and other attacks. The Kingdom of Kaum requested support from the countries and, itself, hastened two thousand soldiers to Toa.

On May 25th, Fort Toa finally fell as a result of an offensive that did not cause any damage to the Demonic Army of 7,000. Two thousand reinforcements from the Kingdom of Kaum, who did not make it, withdrew and switched to a strategy waiting for reinforcements from various countries.

The Royal Kaum Army then embarks on a skilful retreat and continues to flirt with the Demonic Army without causing much damage. And about a month later, on June 23rd, with reinforcements from Fortis, the mercenary country, and the Kingdom of Lax in the north, he finally turned to the offensive.

The place was the land of Acree Cheyne.

In that battle, the Lax army was attacked and struggled intensively by the Demonic Army. The only one of them that worked was Hamish and the rest of Lax's mercenary squad. They skilfully shed the demonic army offense and lure the Allied counter-attacks. The demonic armies were crushed by the arrival of each of Kaum, Fortis and Lax's armies in the attack from the three sides, and the coalition won a great victory. And it drove that momentum, recapturing Fort Toa, where the demonic people's ambitions of invasion of the West crumbled. But the price was nothing small. More than half of Lax's mercenaries were killed in battle.

Hamish was looking at Mount Acreechein, visible on his left, as if to recall nineteen years ago. He had lost his wife, Abby, in this battle.

(Eighteen more years, no, it's been nineteen years this year... is it normal for that little Ash to grow up...)

All I know about that time is Alberic Auger, the elf archer beside him. The alberic, too, whose usual cheerfulness lurked in the shadows, similarly watched the mountains silently.

Ashley Markat, Hamish's daughter, was staring at the figure.

(Your father and brother Al still remember the old days. I don't really come pinned here when my mother asleep... but my mother's memory is about as much as I got a hug. I can barely remember what the voice was or what I told you...)

Ray speaks quietly to Ashley like that.

"This is where Ash's mother, Abby, sleeps."

"Oh. I've only been here once, but it should have been a little further"

Ashley points to her mother's sleeping land with her gaze.

"Wouldn't you mind if I stopped by? I'm not even visiting the grave, but it's a corner."

When Ray said that, he headed to Hamish without asking Ashley's answer.

When you suggest that to Hamish,

"You can't delay the march on personal matters. We should hurry now."

Ray shook his head, "Wearing,"

"It's almost time for a break, isn't it? I don't think the march will be delayed if we just go then. And if you're late, you'll catch up soon."

"How can I be late, the general?"

Ray looked at Gareth Ayling, captain of the squad at the most

"It's okay. Mr. Gareth is here, and there's nothing wrong with Hamish, Mr. Alberic, Ash and I falling out..."

And lurk your voice just a little,

"Whatever Mr. Hamish is, I think it involves morale that Mr. Alberic is quiet."

Did you hear Ray, Alberic interrupting the story?

"I don't have that, Mr. Ray. Even I mourn the dead quietly."

Hamish's expression loosens slightly when Alberic protests so unwillingly.

"Right. I'll leave Gareth to report to Abby about Ash and you."

Ray trumpetes "report..." but Hamish ignores it and calls Gareth.

"Me and Al, Ash and Ray decided to go to Acree Chain on the next break. I'm sorry, but in the meantime, take command of the team."

Gareth also knows Hamish's wife is a sleeping place, and nods loudly, "I'll take care of it," he said.

The Rays line up - to a total of ten Rays, Ashley, Stella, Uno and other Beast Troops, Derve and Lauri the Little Ghost Warriors, Hamish and his wife Valeria, and three of Alberic, walk away from the Pursuit Squad.

Only some of the markat mercenaries and prostitutes who knew Hamish well knew their purpose, but the young mercenaries and adventurers did not understand why the commanders left the squad.

As Gareth Ayring silently prays toward Mount Acreechein during the break, so do the faces of the Marcut Mercenaries (Red Arms).

It's usually a break when the private language flies, but only at this time was the solemn air dominating.

The ancient battlefield of Acree Chain is about 1 km north of Toa Street.

The ancient battlefield, the meadow, leads from the foothills of Mount Acreechein in the front, with several small hills. By the way, it was a great land to dot a small forest and hide hundreds of ambushes.

At this time of winter, the grass is withered and shaken by strong winds blowing from the west.

Though it was thought to be a complete wilderness, many mourned the dead, and a path followed from the streets like a hardened beast path.

Ray was in awe of the land of Acree Cheyne.

(That's a place that seems natural when the dead are asleep. When it came summer, I might have gotten another feeling, but sadness, don't take it like that...)

They stop on a small high hill overlooking the ancient battlefield.

There was erected a monument to the soul against the brave men who had stopped the demonic invasion.

Hamish has been silent since he left the troops and meditates quietly in his eyes when he stands in front of the monument. Next to him his wife Valeria accompanies him as she leans in, meditating her eyes in the same way.

Behind it, Alberic, Ashley, and Ray were equally silent in prayer, without exchanging words.

It felt like Ray had a dead soul here.

(I feel like someone is here... I've never even felt this way in front of my grave when I'm in Japan... maybe it's Mr. Abby... I don't know what to say, but I'll do well with Ash...)

Ray held Ashley's hand in silent prayer.

Ashley likewise felt like her mother's soul was nearby.

(Mother... just a little bit, I think I know how you feel. Being more important than yourself. to be with that person, and to protect that person…)

That's where I make contact with Ray's hand.

(... this guy is my half. For you, as your father did......)

Solemn air dominates the scene.

It was only a minute or so of silent prayer, but everyone seemed to feel something.

After about a minute of silent prayer, Hamish quietly ordered him to return "We're going back".

Ray thought it might take a little longer, but he noticed that Hamish's expression was back in brightness and didn't say anything.

On the way home, Alberic, who regained his usual cheer, was making fun of Hamish.

"Did you report that you got a new wife?

Hamish replies, "Oh, sure," as if nothing had happened, but Alberic laughed and went on to say more.

"Then do you also mean working hard to make Ash's brother or sister?

At that moment, Valeria turned red and said, "Brother Al!" Raise your voice.

The brighter Hamish and others join the Pursuit Squad and hurry their way all the way to Fort Toa.

When Hamish says, "Then we're going," the Rays nod silently.

Across the horse, after the spot, Ray looked back only once. And only once I salute him small and follow Hamish.

Returning to the resting place in about thirty minutes, Hamish said without changing his expression, "Let's go!" I commanded them all.