A Dilemma

If anyone's to blame, it's him for having bad intentions towards his senior sister. If Chiba hadn't held Nuolin back then, her sword might have struck prematurely. Killing him was merely doing her bidding.

The war began in the morning and everything has been going smoothly so far. With the arrival of reinforcements, the stalemate has turned into the Magic Council's forces driving the Sword of Slaughter's troops back step by step.

But everything was too strange; neither the so-called Shadow Skull nor the Grimoire Heart was seen. The war was progressing too smoothly...

It was precisely for this reason that Jikade hesitated to commit all his forces to advancing the war.

To the west of Dragon Corpse Valley lies a rather prosperous town.

On the outskirts of the town, the Magic Council's troops were stationed, and atop a tall watchtower, a blue-haired girl stood quietly.

Her back looked so haggard, yet so resolute.

She jumped down from the watchtower, and at the same time, a mage approached and said in a deep voice, "Vice-Captain..."

"Hmm." Tianna nodded gently, then asked, "Is there something you want to say?"

He gritted his teeth and said, "Reporting to the deputy captain... those people... the townspeople are still unwilling to retreat. They say... without orders from the kingdom, they are unwilling to leave their homeland..."

"Hmm..." Tianna said casually.

"Vice-Captain, forgive my bluntness..." He raised his eyes, gritted his teeth, and said, "This was originally a mission belonging to the kingdom. Our Magic Council has already done more than enough. But those people are still greedy for their wealth... we..."

"But this can also be seen as their trust in us, right?" Tianna interrupted him, saying softly, "They believe we can hold this place, and we can hold this place."

"Besides..." Tianna smiled slightly and said, "The captain has assigned us the easiest task possible."

The mage remained silent. Indeed, this place couldn't even be considered a battlefield. Moreover, news from the front lines indicated that their situation was improving rapidly. It was estimated that they would be able to push directly to the enemy's main camp soon.

But...

"Protest! Protest! We oppose the Magic Council's arbitrary actions!"

On the town's main street, many townspeople formed a parade, holding signs and shouting slogans.

They protested loudly, filled with righteous indignation.

"Let that brat take her troops and leave!"

"Yes! Get out of our town! That kind of brat will only cause trouble here!"

The leader shouted loudly, and the townspeople behind him responded in unison.

The Magic Council's magic soldiers and the town's guards jointly stopped the procession. The captain of one of the squads under Tianna's command shouted, "We are stationed here for everyone's safety. Please do not be resistant."

"For everyone's safety?" one of the youths who had been stopped shouted. "What about your so-called dark guild? Why hasn't it attacked yet?"

"Exactly! Wasn't it supposed to be war? Logically, they should have attacked long ago!"

"Yeah, yeah!"

The squad leader gritted his teeth and said, "Our main force is engaged in direct combat with the Dark Guild. We've been assigned here to protect everyone!"

"Protect everyone?" Another person let out a mocking laugh. "I think you're just a bunch of deserters. You don't want to fight on the front lines, so you've come here seeking refuge!"

After he finished speaking, everyone around him burst into laughter, because in their opinion, this explanation couldn't be more appropriate.

"You!" The squad leader was so angry that his face turned red, but a slender hand pressed down on his shoulder.

Tianna strode over, not wearing the Magic Council's uniform, but a black trench coat—the one she had snatched from Chiba.

After Tianna arrived, the streets became quiet.

Her beautiful eyes were fixed on the troublemakers, who were all intimidated by the girl's authoritative gaze.

"Let's go, evacuate the town, and set up camp 500 meters away," the girl said calmly.

The magic soldiers gritted their teeth, filled with resentment.

"Vice Captain Tianna, I'm sorry," the town's guard captain said in a low voice.

"It's nothing." Tianna brushed past him, her tone indifferent, as if it were just a trivial matter.

She led her men away from the town and eventually set up camp in the wilderness 500 meters outside the town.

"Tianna, we live under the banner of justice. If that day ever comes, even if we suffer injustice, pain, or even death... we must uphold it..."

"What the hell are you doing here so late at night instead of sleeping?!"

"Hehe, I'm saying goodbye! I've been assigned to another location for a mission! I just wanted to say goodbye!"

"Assigned tasks? Where are you going?"

Are you worried about me? Don't worry, it's mostly logistical work, there won't be any danger.

"Oh, right! Since you treasure your sword so much, I won't take it from you. I'll keep your coat as a souvenir... Hmm... I'll give you my necklace! An equal exchange!"

"Whoa... a female hooligan! A female hooligan stole my clothes! Senior sister, save me!"

-_-

As she thought about it, a smile involuntarily crept onto Tianna's lips.

Tianna tugged at her trench coat, a self-deprecating smile appearing on her face. Why did these words sound so much like a farewell to life and death...?

A cold wind swept across her slightly haggard face. She was only a sixteen-year-old girl; though not spoiled, she still had a foster brother who doted on her. How could she so easily bear the humiliation these people in town had inflicted upon her and the place she lived?

In the end, she silently endured it.

"Bolunte..." she murmured softly.

She didn't know why this man had taken a liking to her. With his abilities, finding a girl prettier than her would be incredibly easy for him. Perhaps her only redeeming quality was her magical talent...

The town's officials, the leaders of the protesters, and those who instigated the unrest were all likely arranged by that guy. It's been like this from the beginning; he's used some unknown means to deceive the kingdom. The order to retreat was delayed, and then he stirred up trouble in the town, making the ignorant townspeople believe it was just a minor disturbance, thus preventing them from voluntarily leaving. Now he's causing this mess...

However, according to reconnaissance reports, the fighting at the front is progressing smoothly, and they are steadily advancing the front line. It seems the war should be over soon...

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Suddenly, the earth shook.

"What's going on?!" Tianna whirled around and shouted at the person behind her.

But they were equally bewildered; they were still busy setting up camp, how could they know why the earth had suddenly started shaking?

"Reporting to the deputy captain! A large number of monsters have suddenly appeared south of the town, and they are gathering to attack the town!"

A magic soldier rushed over, his face filled with terror.