A week after the Harvest Festival, the temperature had begun to drop and was reaching a level that would cause chills.
Winter is fast approaching and the world is starting to turn gray.
The frost made the scenery outside the window blurry, and the clothes became thicker.
In a corner of the office, a fireplace was crackling with wood crackling.
Even though the seasonal changes became noticeable, there was something that did not change.
“Let’s move on.”
“I understand.”
It was the distance from Tyria.
Ever since the harvest festival incident, there had been an indescribable awkwardness between the two.
For some reason, I find it difficult to make eye contact and have long conversations.
Every time my fingertips brush against it, the area feels hot, as if I’ve been burned.
The warm feelings of that day come to mind.
Today, too, we were working together, shaking with such awkwardness.
Elric, by nature, did not enjoy this kind of awkwardness, so he was looking for a way to pass away, and it just so happened that it happened.
Tyria received the newspaper and was reading it.
It was not just a newspaper, but a monthly magazine containing news from the western battlefield.
“It’s a western newspaper.”
There was a little joy in Elric’s voice.
Aside from just an excuse to start a conversation, the news from the West was enough to pique Elric’s curiosity.
Tyria nodded.
“Yes, the western battlefield is a big business.”
“Well, there is no place that needs food supplies more than there.”
War requires a lot of food. How terrible would it be to have to gather together tens of thousands of grown men and take responsibility for their meals?
It is not possible to meet the quota with its own food production.
Since supply was so important, food was often distributed to the western battlefield from outside.
I knew Elric because he had served as an escort in a supply train during his days as a war mercenary.
While I was lost in nostalgia and remembering old times, Tyria suddenly asked.
“… Have you ever been to the West?”
Elric was startled.
What came out of nowhere was an excuse.
“haha… Hasn’t it been 10 years? “I wouldn’t have been able to go anywhere on the continent.”
I had no intention of revealing that he was a war mercenary, so I just glossed over it.
Fortunately, Tyria didn’t seem very suspicious.
“okay.”
She turned her gaze to the newspaper again.
Elric checked the front page of the newspaper she was reading.
『One month after the disappearance of Sword Demon Kasha, the Kingdom of Chebor falls.』
A bitter smile appeared on Elric’s lips.
‘It ended up going away.’
This was an unsurprising result, as Chebor was the weakest among the participating countries in the Western War that lasted for over 20 years.
One thing that concerns me is that Elric had nothing to do with their destruction. This is because the country where he visited most often was Chebor.
How amazing is it that the last time he participated in the war before being injured and retiring was in the defense of the capital of Chebor.
Unlike other countries, Chebor is a country that has not produced one of the top seven continental powers.
In the end, they had no choice but to fill in the lack of military force with outsiders, and with Elric, their core force, missing due to injury, it would have led to their downfall.
Of course, Elric never felt regret or guilt again.
Because they and I were strangers bound together by a transaction.
“Chebor has fallen.”
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Tyria said.
“One has fallen in 20 years, so I don’t know how much longer the war will continue.”
Are you raising a topic?
Elric nodded and answered.
“It could be the other way around.”
“Why?”
“The balance is not lost. “Once a tower starts to shake, doesn’t it tend to collapse quickly?”
“… .”
Elric chuckled at Tyria’s expression of not completely agreeing.
It was because he was sure that he was right this time.
“Actually, Falling Kingdom should have come out five years ago. But do you know why the balance has been maintained until now?”
“What is?”
“It’s because the Sword Demon Kasha was there.”
I felt quite ashamed because I was in a situation where I had to keep my mouth shut, but that was an unavoidable fact.
Among the countries that participated in the war so far, the reason why the weak countries did not fall was solely because of the existence of Kasha, the Sword Demon.
The 7 powerful things that can be moved with money. No matter how expensive the ransom is, is it worth more than your life?
As Elric remembers, the four countries that failed to produce top 7 players hired him by raising prices as if they were competing with each other.
‘It was actually worth it.’
The number of times a country has been saved from destruction is not enough to count on ten fingers.
Now that their existence has disappeared, it is only natural that their balance has been lost.
So you can be sure.
In this situation where he left the battlefield, at least the three kingdoms that failed to produce the top seven would be further destroyed.
“… “If what the head of the family said is correct, a nation will be destroyed in the next war.”
Tyria flipped to the next page of the newspaper.
That was the title written in large letters.
『Igret the Flame of Bildion, Expresses Intent to Participate.』
Elric answered immediately.
“If she competes, it won’t take three days.”
Igret the Flame was a battle wizard who reached the top 7.
Even as an Elric, she was a woman who did not have much intention of participating in the war, so much so that she only encountered it twice on the battlefield, but as long as she stepped forward, the advance would not end unless at least the same 7 powerhouses appeared.
She was the most terrible siege weapon Elric had ever known.
“Uhm… .”
Tyria’s eyebrows narrowed.
“hmm? “Why are you doing that?”
“There has been a move in the West to buy large quantities of this year’s wheat harvest. I thought it was just a reason for the war to intensify, but if this happens, shouldn’t we change our policy? “You will have to choose carefully which countries you want to sell to.”
Did your thoughts flow there all at once?
Elric let out a small exclamation.
It may be rude to say this, but she had a calculation speed that was reminiscent of her father.
This was especially true when it came to picking out only what I needed from external information.
“Anyway, we need to prepare for this.”
“Is there anything I can help you with?”
Tyria’s eyes turned directly to Elric.
At that moment, Elric felt his body tremble from the subtle awkwardness.
I thought we had a good conversation up until now, but when we suddenly made eye contact, I felt hot inside for some reason.
Meanwhile, Tyria said.
“Could you please accommodate a guest?”
“Uh, um?”
What does it mean to suddenly become a guest?
It was a moment when I tilted my head in puzzlement.
“People are coming from the West.”
Elric felt his heart drop.
*
To summarize what Tyria said, it was like that.
-Originally, there was no officer who came to Wibin to purchase wheat. Transactions were only made through the top. However, this year, the officials expressed their intention to visit Wibin in person and conclude the deal.
Supply officers from the western battlefield are visiting.
And in three places.
“Okay… .”
It was a major accident.
If there were any among them who recognized Elric, wouldn’t his identity be revealed at once?
If they brought news to the battlefield, this peaceful country could be disturbed by military personnel.
Considering his time as a war mercenary, he was close to a confirmed outcome.
I had to find a way.
‘Do I have to leave my seat?’
It’s unnatural. Even though there was nothing special to do, leaving the room on the day when the supply officers arrived could easily plant seeds of doubt.
‘Then disguise… ?’
What the heck, that’s even more suspicious.
Elric, who was racking his brains and thinking, soon thought of a solution.
‘rather… .’
Why not go to the supply center in advance and silence anyone who finds out?
It wasn’t that I wasn’t confident.
Because I remember doing similar things many times while serving in the battlefield.
‘The people who come are Empire, Armin, and Disha respectively.’
Fortunately, they are powerful countries that we do not have many points of contact with.
If I were careful about unexpected situations, I could get through this quietly.
Elric left the room immediately.
“Rdio.”
“yes?”
“Can you tell me the arrival schedule of the guests who are planning to come from the West?”
“Yes, I was notified in advance, but… .”
“Good. “Please take me up to my room.”
After completing the order, the place Elric visited this time was Tyria’s office again.
“Is there something you left behind?”
When Tyria said, Elric responded.
“Welcoming guests, I will go alone.”
“… “Alone?”
“exactly. alone.”
“It’s not possible.”
It was rejected outright.
Elric’s eyes widened.
“why… ?”
“How can we not give a proper welcome to people who come from far away? “I plan to use at least 10 people.”
It was a correct opinion.
However, it was the worst news for Elric.
There is a sense of urgency.
Maybe that was why.
chin-!
Elric held Tyria’s hand tightly without realizing it.
Her body trembled, but Elric was in no mood to care about that.
“Please. “I have a reason to do that.”
Of course, I can’t tell you why.
In the midst of the brief standoff, Elric felt embarrassment and an inexplicable stiffness appear in Tyria’s eyes.
It wasn’t important.
“… “If you really want to.”
In the end, the fact that she agreed was the only thing that mattered in this situation.
“Thank you!”
Elric expressed his gratitude and returned to his room.
I took out the long sword I had hidden under the bed.
‘Let’s do it.’
Just in case.
It’s about preparing for unexpected situations.
‘If they really recognize me… .’
At that time, I will have to return to Sword Demon Kasha.
Seung-
Elric’s eyes shone coldly.
romance, fantasy,
