A Great War to Defend the Homeland

The group made their way along the mountain road. Aside from the noncombatant retainers who each had their own duties, only Ladon was absent.

Ladon had yet to be elite-ranked. Though as a demonic dragon, its base attributes far surpassed those of the other retainers, it would be useless in this war. Its massive body would be nothing more than a live target before the enemy's artillery fire.

"Who goes there?"

"Stop! Password!"

Before the mountain pass, the gun-wielding guards eyed the newcomers warily. Most had the twin ears of werewolves, with fur in various colors, though some barely bore any werewolf traits at all, save for a tuft of gray fur at the tips of their ears.

Cherinina stepped forward and pointed to her ears. "We're on the same side, but I don't know the password."

The guards exchanged looks and whispered among themselves. "What a beautiful woman. Judging by her fur, she does look like one of us, but I've never seen her before!"

"Sorry, but I can't let you and your companions in without the password."

Watching this, Vinetto frowned. He had long heard of the ideals of New Basilicata's werewolves, but seeing these "kinsmen" of mixed blood who were practically indistinguishable from ordinary people still made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

The leap was simply too great. In his era, he would at most have counted as a reformist among the pureblood faction.

Cherinina was just about to explain when a surprised voice suddenly rang out from the wooden watchtower.

Then, a huge black shadow dropped from the sky.

"Miss Nina?"

"Am I seeing things? By Romulus, are you really Miss Nina?"

The centurion in a cowboy hat and thick beard asked in disbelief, "And Madam Banya, Madam Jeanne, Miss Fringilla, Mr. Kools, Mr. Hans—why are all