We had entered the Kingdom of Harzion for about an hour.


    We were still driving the carriage in the grasslands.


    The Kingdom of Harzion is mostly villages and settlements, except for the royal capital, which is solidly made up of tribes of sorts.


    The number differs from village to village, but in the most places there are tens of thousands of people living in solidarity.


    The demon tribe, as Felix Gladio said before, most of them think of themselves as weak and strong.


    There are many different settlements, but they are all settlements that are fighting and winning. The weaker settlements are destroyed by other places.


    It was Ceredonian Harzion that turned it into a country a few decades ago with most of the settlements and other settlements in tow.


    Millions of people live in the royal capital Harzion.


    It is the Kingdom of Harzion that the people of the settlement are watching vigilantly for the head of the King of Ceredonia.


    It passes through the gate and arrives at the royal capital in about five hours on the road.


    It''s still quite a long way to go.


    ''''I can''t find much of a settlement,''''


    Christo says as he looks around in the carriage.


    I also look around while doing the gosha, but the grasslands continue and there is no shadow of a village.


    ''I think there was at least one of the settlements when we got here,''


    He remembers the last time he came to this country.


    ''''The demon race settlements move around quite a bit. We don''t want to stay in the same place for a year.''''


    Is that so?


    ''''Yeah, I''ve been to the demon community a few times myself, so I know.


    Mr. Liberto replied as he lay down in the carriage.


    I don''t know how you can lie down in the middle of it, which is shaking so much. Doesn''t your back hurt?


    It''s my first time in the land of demons.


    Is that so?


    The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that there aren''t too many outside duties for the deputy commander. I hate all the paperwork I do these days.


    ''I super agree. I think you should just do the paperwork for the Commander.


    The two deputy commanders of the Knights and Magical Knights are complaining about it.


    I guess that kind of work is hard, after all. Both of them don''t seem to be suited for paperwork or anything like that.


    And after that, as we drove the carriage along the road, one settlement came into view.


    As far as Christo could remember, there wasn''t a settlement in that place, apparently.


    The settlement was built so that it completely blocked the road to the royal capital.


    ''''I mean, that was........''''


    The settlement is still far away, though, and I can''t see it clearly.


    ''You''re being attacked,''


    Mr. Liberto assures me so.


    ''I agree with you, that look is definitely an assault.


    ''Really?　No. Can you see it from here first?


    I don''t see him.


    Christo and Viviana are trying to stare at it, but they can''t seem to see much.


    ''Me and Eric are used to close quarters combat, so our eyes are good. I wish Christo could see this well, though.


    ''No, no, no, I don''t want to be with you guys who slay hordes of demons while half asleep.


    I don''t think that had much to do with good eyesight, just a keen sense of battle.


    ''But what do we do now? Most of the roads are blocked, and the village they are blocking is under attack. It''s a pain in the ass, isn''t it?


    Hey, Liberto. He''s fighting in there, right?　Then why don''t we just bypass it while we''re at it?


    It''s the best thing to do? And Christo, that wasn''t a fight.


    ''What?　I thought they were fighting?


    Didn''t I tell you I was attacked?


    Yeah, it wasn''t a fight.


    It was more like a one-sided killing, that one.


    ''　Oh, really?


    I think the scene me and Mr. Liberto are seeing is almost identical.


    Fully armed guys are cutting down those who can''t do anything to resist.


    Probably the people living in the village over there are the ones being attacked.


    Of course there are weak people among the demon tribe as well.


    For those people, King Seredonia is the savior.


    If you live in the royal capital, the king is there, so the fight won''t happen.


    However, there will be a limit to the number of people living in King''s Landing.


    Those people will have no choice but to live outside of King''s Landing.


    And the settlements where there are weak people who don''t like to fight are targeted.


    ''''Well, we haven''t been noticed yet, and if we''re going to make a detour, it''s now or never.


    Liberto-san says that while looking at the settlement, but Christo is lost.


    Normally, it''s better to bypass this place.


    There''s nothing in particular to be gained if we get involved in that battle, and it''s usually dangerous.


    If you''re the prince''s bodyguard, you should act to avoid getting caught up in it even more.


    However, that prince is not sure if he wants to bypass it or not.


    ''''What are you going to do, Christo? You''re the star of this trip. We''re just your guards, and you need to see and learn about this country.


    Liberto-san says that to Christo in a stern tone.


    The leader this time is not the deputy leader, Liberto-san or Viviana-san, but Christo.


    We''re going to follow Christo''s instructions.


    ''''Kudos........!


    Christo looks at the settlement. Christo couldn''t see it earlier, but now that he''s a little closer, he can see it somewhat.


    There is still a one-sided killing going on in the settlement.


    Christo has a sad look on his face as he looks at it.


    Then, Christo falls on his face once and looks up as if he has decided what to do and says.


    Go for help, Christo.


    I told him, interrupting his words.


    ''Huh?　No, we''re going to have to go around...


    I can''t do that just because you say so.


    You looked so frustrated, and you said you''d regret it.


    Christo was probably just trying to keep us safe.


    What if we had gone to save it and the enemy was stronger than us. That''s why he was going to abandon the settlement.


    You are a kind man, Christo. You haven''t changed at all since your last life.


    When I see someone in trouble, I feel bad if I don''t help them. You''re the kind of guy who''d sacrifice yourself for others.


    That''s why you saved me, and that''s why you and I are best friends.


    ''You want to help?　Then we''re going to help.


    .....


    Your kindness is what I like about you.


    That''s what I like about you.


    So I''m going to have to do something to make sure you don''t lose that kindness.


    "Now, tell me what to do, Prince Cristo.


    I''m getting off the driver''s seat.


    From here, I''ll run as fast as I can and get there faster than the carriage.


    Yeah, well, that''s the way it goes.


    Mr. Liberto comes down from the carriage with a sigh.


    ''Me and Eric will be enough. Viviana, take your place.


    Yes, sir.


    You guys...!


    Christo, standing up in his carriage, watched our actions with wide eyes.


    But the next moment, he chuckled.


    ''Thanks, Eric.''


    That''s a word I''d like to hear after the mission.


    Yeah. Eric, Liberto!　Go help that settlement!


    He instructed us with an imposing manner that made it hard to believe he had been lost earlier.


    ''All right!''


    I''m on it.


    I must definitely help my best friend, to protect his kindness.


    Christo''s instructions inspired me more than usual, and I ran to that village to help him.