I like traveling the most

E. Rantel... No, because the fortress city faces the territory of the Three Kingdoms, there is a large amount of traffic, materials, people, money, and all kinds of people and things coming and going here, and this kind of city is bound to flourish.

If you think about it this way, it is understandable that it will be coveted by other countries. Rather, it is strange that it is still under the rule of the Kingdom until now.

After the empire declared war, the kingdom began to urgently mobilize many civilians to join the army. Coupled with the support of the royal family's original soldiers and nobles, a total of 250,000 people were gathered!

But despite this, the kingdom is still not sure of winning.

Just because they got the news, the empire will send six legions this time! You must know that the empire only has eight legions in total! In the wars so far, no more than four legions have participated in the war, but this time it was one and a half times as many as before!

The strength of the Imperial Legion is 10,000.

There are only 60,000 people in the six legions. On the surface, the kingdom can easily overwhelm the 250,000 people, but in terms of individual strength, the kingdom is far inferior to the empire.

It seems that the empire is spending a lot of money this time, as if it is bound to win the fortress city.

You may be thinking, since the Empire is making such big moves, how could the Theocracy remain indifferent? Wouldn't it be nice to let these two face each other and reap the benefits of the kingdom again?

The nobles of the kingdom thought so, so they took the initiative to send a letter after the empire declared war. However, the reply from the Theocracy was unexpected.

Throw away the red tape and lengthy official language and come to a refined conclusion.

——The Theocracy has no intention of becoming an enemy of Ainz Ooal Gown.

This answer is very thought-provoking.

The kingdom knew that in order to save Gazef, he had single-handedly wiped out an army of the Six-Color Holy Scriptures with ease, but how could it be disgraceful for a great country to retreat just by one person?

Of course, I think so because the kingdom didn't take advantage of it.

Many nobles retreated because of this, thinking that if the Theocracy was defeated, how could the Kingdom defeat the opponent, let alone the Empire's support behind them.

But more nobles said: We have an army of 250,000, and I have the advantage! A mere magic caster would be killed by a pile of people. Besides, the kingdom has been suffering for a long time and the empire has been suffering for a long time. Another victory will boost morale. Otherwise, if this continues, the people in the kingdom will be disorganized and there may be civil strife.

"So what is the King's choice?"

"Of course I beat him."

Upon hearing his brother's inquiry, Marquis Rebuen held his forehead helplessly.

The most painful thing is having to fight even though you know you are losing. He knows it, Lin knows it, Gazef knows it, Her Royal Highness the Princess knows it, even the King knows it.

The reason is simple.

Rulers must never hand over territory easily, that's all.

Marquis Rebuen was a little reluctant: "Lin, do you really have to hand over Ye Rantel?"

"There is no choice."

"That would be too easy!"

"What are you talking about? We paid the life of the eldest prince here, how can we say it's easy?"

"Then it's always our side that suffers!"

The normal exchange of interests is to lose one thing to gain another thing, but in Lin's words, he loses on both sides.

"Brother, you just pay too much attention to these things. You need to take a longer-term view."

"...You don't need to tell me!"

He rolled his eyes at his brother.

After a pause, he added: "By the way, the eldest prince has been placed in the rear. That king, after all, loves and protects his children."

"Really, that's a pity."

Lin said it was a pity, but still had a smile on his face, as if he didn't care.

But Lord Rebuen knew.

After starting to win over the eldest prince's men two months ago, the princess, who was gentle on the surface but dark on the inside, sentenced her brother to death early.

The eldest prince must die, or he must die.

"What a mess."

"Who said it was the arrangement of Her Royal Highness the Princess?"

Marquis Rebuen rubbed his brows tiredly. He admitted that Her Royal Highness the Princess was extremely intelligent and that the kingdom would surely flourish after becoming the queen, but he was a little scared when he thought of the bloody and dark tactics of the other party.

"Is it really okay?"

"No problem, brother."

Lin used magic to eliminate his fatigue.

As the war approached, Marquis Rebuen, who had obtained the command, became increasingly busy, and fatigue and fatigue also followed. If Lin hadn't supported him with magic from behind, he would have fallen on the bed from exhaustion. What his brother did was completely worthy of the kingdom.

"Get some more rest, brother."

Looking at Hou Leibuen sleeping soundly, Lin covered him with a blanket and left the room.

————

Gazef walked through the gate and came to the location where the outer part was stationed. He took a deep breath and let out the mental fatigue hidden in his body.

Really exhausted.

Participating in a meeting like the one just now made him realize strongly that he was a civilian after all. But having served the king for a long time, he understood the thoughts of those nobles.

——Putting pride more important than people.

What a joke!

Shouldn't it be the duty of the powerful to protect them? Why should civilians who should be holding hoes and shovels be armed with spears and bows? !

He is not saying that the fortress city should be handed over.

The king was right. Giving up this city to others would harm the people living in the city and aggravate the division of the kingdom.

only--

Thinking of Ainz Ooal Gown wearing a strange mask, a figure so powerful that people could not even raise any resistance, Gazef's fist slammed down on the wall.

"Damn it!"

He couldn't think of a thought, nor could he think of what to do, so he cursed out loud.

Indecision would kill you on the battlefield. Even if people praised you as the strongest warrior in the neighboring countries, you could still lose your life if you were undecided, not to mention that your opponent was Ainz Ooal Gown.

"Yo, you seem to be in trouble."

A familiar voice came to my ears, and I looked up to see Lin, and Brian and Climb following behind him.

"You guys..."

"Just met." Lin waved his hand at him: "Don't say it. Seeing a friend frowning, I would feel uneasy if I didn't come to comfort him."

"I shouldn't be that fragile."

"It seems that I am that fragile."

Brian's words should be more direct and sharp, even if Gazef is his benefactor.

Clem didn't say anything, but he looked at Gazef with concern. Perhaps he didn't want his admirer to show such a helpless and weak expression.

"By the way, Gazef, are you busy?"

"Yes."

"That's fine. Walk with me."

"Wait, I think I said I was busy."

Lin ignored him and walked away. Gazef looked at Brian and Clem. They shook their heads slightly, sighed helplessly and followed.

Soon, the four of them came to the tower of the city wall.

This is the highest point of the outermost circle of the fortress city. The view here is excellent, and even the distant scenery can be seen at a glance. It is also Lin's favorite place.

"The scenery here is magnificent."

Clem was the first to praise, and then turned to destroy the atmosphere and said: "That's the Katz Plains that will become a battlefield."

"Yes, it is a foggy area where undead often appear, and it will also be the battlefield in a few days."

Gazef took a deep breath.

He was breathing a lot of fresh air, trying to drive away the uneasiness in his heart.

"How are you? Are you feeling better?"

"Ah, thank you, Lin." Gazef's expression brightened up, and he quickly said: "You asked me to come here, is there anything you want to say?"

Lin: "No. I just brought you here because you were depressed. I was thinking whether we could chat here."

Gazef: "Hmm... Four men standing and chatting? Normally, shouldn't we go to a store in the city to have a drink and chat while drinking?"

Brian: "I agree."

Climb: "I, I object. But if it's in my own room, I can barely do it."

Why do they have different opinions on drinking?

"Gazef, I didn't ask you to come here to make jokes."

"Oh, are you talking about my apology to Lord Rebuen after the parliament? I have to admit that I actually judged people by appearance. I'm really sorry."

"That's a shortcoming, but my brother doesn't look like a good person... No, no, no, this is also your fault."

Lin wanted to explain, but no matter what he said, he would offend one of his brother and friends. After thinking for a long time, he didn't know how to answer, which made the three of them laugh on the spot.

Climb was slightly surprised and said, "I thought Lord Lin was always a person who had a plan for everything and was calm, but I didn't expect that he would get anxious sometimes."

"I have been with him the shortest, but this should be what Gazef said about judging people by appearance." Brain wiped the tears from his eyes.

Gazef nodded, "Indeed. But I am very optimistic about Lin. He is undoubtedly the hope of the kingdom now."...No matter his identity, strength, or anything else.

The atmosphere suddenly became depressing.

Brain raised his eyebrows: "Hey, hey, hey, why are you so serious, as if you are going to die next? Don't worry, Gazef. Lin will not die before I die."

"Don't talk like you can protect me. I should be much stronger than you."

"Then change you to Clem."

"Ah, me?"

Clem pointed at his nose.

He admitted that he was the weakest of the four, but it was not easy to be said that.

Gazef said slightly seriously: "If the opponent is the Four Knights of the Empire, Brain, your victory is unquestionable. But... if it is that person, Lord Ainz Ooal Gown, goes to the battlefield, I think even you will die."

Gazef's last sight fell on Lin, and the meaning he wanted to express was self-evident.

"Hmm... I don't feel it."

Lin scratched his head.

It's like someone whispering in your ear that the other person's strength is invincible, but every time you go to look for him, you miss him and can't see him, or even feel that the other person is always avoiding you, so naturally there is no sense of reality.

"How does the magic chanter compare to the dark hero Momo?"

"He is stronger, not weaker."

Gazef answered without any hesitation.

Is it true? In his opinion, the dark hero who could fight against demons is not as good as the magic chanter?

Could it be that the psychological trauma caused by this incident is too great, affecting his judgment?

Lin frowned slightly.

This situation is not impossible. When he was a child, he was often beaten by his instructor. This fear did not disappear until he became a Mithril-level adventurer and could easily defeat the opponent.

The fingertips glowed with light and landed on the center of his eyebrows.

"What are you doing?"

"The magic that drives away fear. Okay, now you tell me again, who is stronger."

"His Excellency Ainz Ooal Gown."

hehe.

Lin laughed, whether out of anger or because of Ainz Ooal Gown's great strength.

To be honest, he had no confidence in winning when fighting Momo unless he was not a human being.

And with this kind of comparison in combat power, the magic caster who had never met before was actually stronger than Momo. How could he not be excited.

"Wait a minute, is the Momo you're talking about a steel-level adventurer?"

"What's wrong?"

"actually--"

It turns out that Brian has always wanted to meet the dark hero since he came to the fortress city. Because he heard that the other party had defeated a powerful vampire in the suburbs, and he had seen her in the royal capital when the demon was turbulent, so he thought that the other party should have some kind of connection with Jaldabaoth, and maybe she had something to do with Jaldabaoth. The vampire that the Dark Hero defeated is also related.

Of course, what I want more is to learn from it.

The target that Brain wanted to surpass had switched from Gazef to Shalltear.

"So, did you find him?"

"He's not here." Brian shrugged regretfully, "He seems to have received some commission and left the city. I don't know when he will be back."

"That's really a pity. In fact, I also wanted to talk to him. After all, I was lying on the bed after the demon riot. I left without seeing him off or saying hello. At least I wanted to thank him for saving the royal capital."

It's a pity for Lin.

If the Axis cultists were not allowed to evacuate, they would probably know Momo's whereabouts, and maybe invite him to conduct another beheading operation.

"I didn't have time to say thank you either."

"And me."

Gazef and Climb followed closely behind.

Only then did they discover that all four of them had been indebted to each other.

Brian smiled and said: "Then after this war is over, how about we go and talk to him together? If we are lucky, we can meet him."

"Okay! Now there is something that people can look forward to after the war. He is a steel-level warrior. Listening to his conversation will definitely be helpful!" Climb was excited.

"That's right. There will definitely be a lot of useful topics. I really want to hear him talk about his heroic deeds, such as what kind of powerful enemies he has dealt with."

"Does Gazef also like this kind of topic?"

"Yes. As a warrior, I will also be attracted to this kind of topic."

Gazef did not quibble, but admitted frankly. Even strong men are curious about the deeds of strong men.

"Okay! In order to come back alive, I must——"

"Wait a mininute!"

"Uh...Lin, what's wrong?"

Suddenly interrupted, the three of them looked at the priest beside them in tacit agreement.

Lin raised his index finger and said seriously: "No! You must not say random words at this time. If you make flags like "I will get married in my hometown after this time is over" or "I will confess my love when I get back", it is very likely that I can’t come back! …This is what the goddess told me.”

"Is it a favor from the goddess... Well, I will listen to you this time."

If other priests had said this, Gazef would have definitely regarded him as a liar, but Lin was different. With the blessing of the goddess, he has extraordinary wisdom, and because of this, he regards the other party as the hope of the kingdom.

"Just say you'll come back safely this time."

"Okay! The four of us want to return safely, we can't waste our lives!"

After Gazef finished speaking, the other three nodded.

——Lin, it doesn’t matter to others, only you must come back alive. Because you are the last hope of the kingdom.

He prayed from the bottom of his heart.