Trinitas Mundus

July 18th.

The Rays joined the Mercenary Corps of Mercenaries (Red Arms) in the central Empire city of Ezarrington.

The fact that Luna was on edge with the Blacksmith Guild that day naturally led her into a banquet with the Dwarves, where Hamish Markat and other Red Arms mercenaries had also been invited.

The people of Ezarrington are surprised that a mercenary is being invited to the Blacksmith Guild, but there are those who know the rumors that the Blacksmith Guild hired for the Lockhart family's courtier, and those who did not know it are convinced to hear it.

They weren't actually hired as Luna's escort, but they were deliberately spreading rumors. And with suggestions from Ars' Blacksmith Guild General Headquarters, the Hamish don't deny it either.

That's why, but there were a few complicated circumstances involved.

The Red Arms is a mercenary regiment operating in the Kingdom of Lax, which was at war with the Empire until more than a decade ago. The fact that it belongs to a mercenary guild, which is inherently a complete neutral organization, does not make it problematic, but it was active in the battle against the Empire and the Kingdom of Lax used that for propaganda, so it could be problematic upon entry.

The degree of harassment at the castle gate may be sufficient, but in the worst case scenario, he could have been detained within the empire. There are many Leopold princesses, especially in the nobility of the eastern region, who are taking part in the war against the Kingdom of Lax. As a result, rumors spread that the Blacksmith Guild had hired them.

As an imperial government, I definitely want to avoid getting into trouble with the blacksmith guild because of the Lockhart family entanglement. Especially in the immediate aftermath of the war against Luke's Holy Kingdom, even if rumors just circulate that he could have rubbed it with the blacksmiths, it could have boosted the morale of the enemy nation.

Rumors were also circulating that Hamish and Zacharias Lockhart had met in Ars, and that the imperial government was also a borderline male, taking into account the Lockhart family, known as Dwarf's Friends, and circulars had been issued not to make the entry of the Red Arms a problem in the name of the Chancellor. This, like the Blacksmith Guild, was due to fears of a short-handed aristocracy going wild.

As a result, not a single nobleman has appeared to harass the Red Arms entering from Oriental Street.

The Blacksmith Guild banquet was greatly enlivened from the beginning.

The Dwarves lean their jocks with a full grin at Luna's safe return.

Ray, Ashley and Stella had fun drinking and laughing at each other with their nostalgic Red Arms faces, and Luna was talking to Branch Manager Ivan Kemp and others along with Ryan and Ione.

"Speaking of which, don't ask about Zach," Ivan tells Luna.

Luna nods small after putting aside a few moments.

"I heard it in Imperial City. We hear you've returned to the village of Rasmore via Ars from the central region."

"I haven't heard what Nong went to do either, but he said he's meeting Lord Hamish in Ars. Why don't you ask me tomorrow?"

"Are you with Mr. Hamish...... ok. I'll ask."

Luna nods and sees the Rays talking with pleasure.

(Ray is nothing like he used to be. I don't remember much about high school, but I feel very different. It used to feel more introverted. But I build trust with so many people on my own. Awesome......)

So I spin my thoughts about myself.

(I'm just being helped. Thanks also to Zach for all the Dwarves helping me... and I have to apprentice Ray (Hijiri) too. A lot of people's futures hang...)

Consolidating his determination in his heart, he turned to their circle by saying to Ivan and the others, "I'm going to greet you all in the Red Arms, too".

Ashley finds and introduces Luna and the others.

"She's Luna, Luna Lockhart. The woman behind me is Iona, the healer, and she's Luna's escort and companion."

Hamish says, "It's Hamish Markat," and gives him his right hand.

Luna took that hand and said, "It's Luna Lockhart. I'm looking after Mr. Ashley," he says, bowing his head.

After greeting Ione as well, Hamish says "I'm glad" and slaps Ryan with the basin to pinch his shoulder with both hands.

Ryan became part of the Red Arms after the Periclittle offensive. Not only that, but after entering Fort Toa as a Demonic Crusader, he continued to wait for Luna while enduring the training of Alberic, famous for his tough work.

And because we were able to reunite safely with Luna, we honored the effort and the results.

"Thank you," said Ryan, bowing his head as he scuffed.

Ivan, who was behind me at some point when he said, "There will be stories to pile up, but drink first," suggests booze.

"We want to leave tomorrow, so not much deep liquor..." Ray tries gently to say no.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?

"I'm going to the central region. So I want to stay on the streets before the Imperial Army leaves."

"What does that have to do with Zach?" and a bewildered look.

Luna started briefly explaining to the Ivans.

"I can't tell you the details, but we have to head to Netherton. Mr. Zach has prepared for us."

Ivan nods "um" at the word.

"If Zach's involved, there's no choice."

Ray exhales a breath of relief in his heart when that word no longer crushes him with this. But Ivan smashes that hope.

"If you just care about the Imperial Army, you don't need to rush it so fast. I have heard that the departure of the First Battalion of the Third Legion will take place in three days. I don't have a problem the day after tomorrow."

It was a matter of supply that the Imperial Army was delaying its departure.

Of the forty thousand soldiers of the two legions, half twenty thousand are cavalry, thus requiring an enormous amount of fodder alone. We had already been putting heavy units ahead of us for over ten days, but we had been contacted that the weather was out of order and behind schedule.

For this reason, the soldiers travelling were large cities that were easy to replenish and were waiting in Ezarrington, where barracks and other facilities were in place.

"Bye. We're back today to celebrate safely. Tomorrow's the grand party. You can't finish a banquet in a day."

Ray drops his shoulder disappointingly at the words, but Luna smiled and bowed her head.

(You like banquets called Luna.) Of course I enjoy it too, but thinking about the next day makes me depressed...)

Just like Ray, Ryan was dropping his shoulder.

"You look like a creep. Well, drink."

The two were given a jock by the Dwarves, "Sieg Scotch! I was made to make a toast with the hanging voice."

"You shouldn't be forced. Because alcohol is a fun thing to drink," Luna laughs, but Ashley tilts her neck, "You won't be forced to be strong, etc."

Resistant to Dwarves and alcohol, it seemed normal to Ashley, who was used to sports banquets.

The banquet proceeded that way and, as usual, Ray crumbled, so it was the next day to tell the Hamish a detailed story.

The next morning, the Rays explain the situation to Hamish, Valeria and Alberic.

Ray still had a mild headache, but started talking correctly in his posture.

"I apologize for worrying you first," he said, bowing his head aloud. Ashley and Stella bowed their heads in the same way to go with it.

Ray immediately looks up and continues the conversation.

"If I had, I would have had to go to the King's Capital of the Kingdom of Lax (Fonce) as soon as I returned from the eternal darkness (Kwaedam Tenebre). But we decided we didn't have that time, and we headed to Zirsole. I didn't have a clear reason, but I'm glad it turned out"

"I don't care about that. He handed Al a letter."

Hamish says so, but Valeria says, "But I think I would have done it without that letter. Because Brother Al's explanation would have made no sense at all," he adds with a serious look.

"I don't have that," Alberic protests, but that soothes the air in the field.

"I have to get ready for tomorrow, so I just need you to tell me what I couldn't tell you in the letter and what happened in Jill Saul"

Ray nodded at Hamish's words and began to explain.

"Let me start by telling you about Luna here. She came from my hometown, or another world. Unlike me, I was reborn into this world, no doubt about it. And she is given an important role by the gods to protect this world from the hands of the destruction of the godless (Vanitas) …"

The Hamish have a surprise look on their face, but they listen quietly. Even Alberic, who usually mixes it back, didn't do anything to break the waist of the story.

"... she is worshipped as the“ Son of the Moon "and“ the use of the Dark God (Noctis) ”in Sochius, the land east of the Aquila Mountains, known as Eternal Darkness (Kwaedam Tenebre), the land of the Devil Nation. There have been many things, but now we are supposed to master the Moon Demons and Ghosts in Sochius' guiding position and take a guiding position…"

That's where my gaze concentrates on Luna. He receives the gaze of a first-rate mercenary, wandering for a moment, but quickly regains his grin.

"... and about us, I met the gods at the Temple of the Creator of Zirsol (Creatore)..."

"I met God!" and Alberic shouts his surprise. Hamish tells that voice to "shut up and listen" and nods quietly to Ray to keep talking.

"It's not just me and Luna, the Ashes are seeing each other. I heard a lot about you there. What Vanitas is trying to do, and what happens to the world when that plan succeeds... he's not talking about right now. But if we leave it like this, in a few hundred years, the world will be doomed."

Although Hamish doesn't get a real sense of the big story, I intuit that something big will happen when I think about Ray so far.

"So, what do the gods do?" Hamish asks.

"The gods asked me to stop invading Vanitas. Specifically, he wants us to stop the forthcoming war between the Empire and the Holy King Luke. So we need to head to the central region and further to the border with Luke."

"No matter how much you do, you can't stop the war between the great powers," says Valeria.

"It seems that Mr. Zach is preparing something for Sir Zacharias. We haven't heard exactly what's waiting for us, either."

"Lord Zacharias... he wouldn't know, but he didn't say anything."

Hamish squeals like that, but Ray keeps talking further.

"I don't know what will happen next. At least we know it's dangerous to go and stop the war between the Empire and Luke..."

Mouths like searching for words there. And he opened his mouth again, looking closely into Hamish's eyes as if he had cemented his resolve.

"You're going to get involved in something very dangerous. If it's true, I hope it's just us. But... I'm not saying it's for the world. Help me out for Ash. I'm not strong enough on my own. Please."

That's what I said and bowed my head a lot.

Silence wraps them up.

It was Hamish who broke that silence.

"Don't talk about the smell of water. I came all the way to the Empire to help you. If they tell you to go home here, no one's going home, including me."

That's what I said and put my hand on Ray's shoulder.

"Thank you," Ray says again in tears.

Ashley and Stella are similarly moisturizing their eyes, but Luna, who was watching how it went, was impressed by the strength of the ties between the Rays.

(Ray is really amazing.) I think I would say by myself. But I think I can count on you because I trust Mr. Hamish and his family...)

When Ray wiped his tears, he began to tell the details.

"I think we're hearing rumors about Lukes right now..." the Hamish nod small.

"... in Luke we advertise that the God of Light (Lucidus) descends and brings victory. Among them is the manifestation of the God of Light (Lucidus). And it's like saying that I'm the White Master."

"That's right," Alberic says with pleasure, holding on to Valeria's temple, "I wonder if Brother Al knows how serious it is".

"It is. I'm the reason for the war. [M] That seems to be one of Vanitas' ploys, and there's talk that he showed up in the dreams of the Archbishop and the Cardinal."

"So isn't it hard to stop the war? I don't think that country can change what the great man in the church said."

"Right. And the Imperial side seems to have some thoughts, and it seems difficult."

"You're still going," Hamish confirms.

"Of course it is. Because that's what I have to do," Ray replied in a firm tone.

"I wish," Hamish said, while feeling that Ray had gotten stronger.

(Much stronger than when I came to Fonce. I was about to break my heart when facing difficulties then, but not now......)

And look at my beloved daughter Ashley.

(Ash got stronger too. If Ray tried to be impotent, I would have always disagreed, but now he believes in him and tries to do everything he can. You mean totally parented away......)

I was delighted in my heart to see my daughter grow up even though I felt a little loneliness.