The carriage stopped at the border between the Slane Theocracy and the Kingdom of the Elf Kingdom.
The reason is simple: there is no road ahead.
Higashino Makoto drew back the curtains and glanced outside. Under the gray sky, the earth was ravaged by war.
The scorched earth stretched to the horizon, with only a few withered trees, burned to a crisp, occasionally appearing like twisted, hopeless arms reaching out from hell.
The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder, blood, and some indescribable stench of decay—the smell of death, so strong it was nauseating.
In the distance, the Slane Theocracy's military camp stood like an iron fortress, stretching between the plains and the forest.
The camps stretched as far as the eye could see, their flags fluttering in the wind—the emblems of the Six Great Gods stood out starkly against the gray sky.
Further away, the Great Forest of Evasha stands silently, its dense canopy forming a dark green ocean, unfathomable, like a sleeping behemoth.
"Arrive."
Higashino Makoto lowered the curtain and looked at the other people in the carriage.
Ainz sat opposite him, his black full-body armor gleaming coldly in the dim carriage, his crimson eyes flickering slightly through the gaps in his helmet.
Kurumi leaned against the window, still holding the book in her hands.
Narberal remained silent, as always.
Outside the carriage, Certain Death jumped down from the edge of the carriage, his silver-white armor making a crisp metallic clanging sound as he landed.
She took off her helmet, and her long, black and white hair fell from her shoulders, covering her ears.
Those heterochromatic eyes gazed at the distant forest, their gaze calm, yet something seemed to be burning within them.
"Certain Death."
Higashino Makoto pushed open the carriage door and jumped down.
Have you been here before?
"No."
Certain Death's answer was brief and his voice was flat.
As the Slane Theocracy's secret weapon, if discovered by the Dragon King, she could bring about the Slane Theocracy's annihilation.
Therefore, she cannot leave the Divine Capital at will.
"Yeah."
Higashino Makoto remained silent.
He looked into her eyes. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, but Certain Death seemed very good at hiding those things.
Let's go.
Higashino Makoto turned around and walked towards the military camp.
Ainz followed behind him, with Kurumi and Narberal following behind.
Certain Death stood still, watching their backs, remained silent for a moment, then put on his helmet and quickly followed.
At the entrance to the military camp, a middle-aged man dressed in a white priest's robe stood there.
His hair was gray and his face was aged, but his gray eyes were still as sharp as an eagle's.
Behind them stood several fully armed knights, their armor engraved with the emblems of the Six Great Gods, longswords hanging at their waists, their eyes warily watching Higashino Makoto and his group.
"Mr. Higashino, Mr. Momon."
The middle-aged man bowed slightly, placing his right hand on his chest, performing a standard Slane Theocracy salute.
"I am the frontline commander. The Cardinal has already given orders that the Slane Theocracy will fully cooperate with your actions."
Higashino Makoto stopped and looked at the middle-aged man.
What's your name?
"I am --"
"Never mind."
Higashino Makoto interrupted him.
Your name doesn't matter. What matters is what I need you to do.
The middle-aged man's expression froze for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Please speak."
"First, do not launch an attack."
Higashino Makoto's voice was calm, but every word carried an undeniable certainty.
"Momon and I will cross the battlefield and enter the Elf Kingdom. We need no cover, no support, and no interference of any kind. You just need to wait here."
The middle-aged man's brows furrowed slightly.
"Mr. Higashino, there are a large number of the Elf Kingdom warriors on the battlefield. If we don't provide cover—"
"I said, I don't need it."
The middle-aged man fell silent. He looked at Higashino Makoto, at those golden eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded.
As you wish.
"Second."
Higashino Makoto continued.
"Once we enter the Elf Kingdom, the Slane Theocracy's army must not cross the border. No matter what happens, no matter what news we hear—they are not allowed to cross this border."
"Reason?"
"Because I don't want this war to become a 'victory for the Slane Theocracy.'"
Higashino Makoto's tone was flat.
"The end of this war shouldn't be a victory for either side. It just needs to end. Understand?"
The middle-aged man stared at him for a long time. Then he slowly nodded.
"Clear."
"Very good."
Higashino Makoto turned around and walked towards the battlefield.
Ainz followed behind him, with Kurumi and Narberal close behind. Certain Death brought up the rear, her silver armor gleaming coldly against the grey sky.
After walking a few steps, Higashino Makoto stopped without looking back.
"Certain Death."
"Um?"
Stay close to me. Don't stray more than three steps from my side.
Certain Death was stunned for a moment.
"Why?"
Because I don't want you to kill someone.
Higashino Makoto's voice was calm.
As Elf Kingdom are a frequent character in anime and novels, Higashino Makoto doesn't dislike them.
Aside from war, I do not wish to engage in indiscriminate killing.
Leaving aside the Elf King, Higashino Makoto is quite concerned about the ordinary Elf Kingdom.
Certain Death fell silent.
She watched Higashino Makoto's retreating figure, his long, silvery-white hair fluttering in the wind, and his dark robe looking out of place on the battlefield.
Do you think I still care about killing people?
Her voice was very low, so low that it was almost carried away by the wind.
"I care."
Certain Death seemed to have misunderstood something, but Higashino Makoto didn't care.
Higashino Makoto gave an answer, then stepped forward.
Certain Death stood there, watching his back, and remained silent for a long time.
Then she started walking and followed.
It wasn't because she listened to him, but because she wanted to know what this man was really thinking.
On the battlefield, the army of the Slane Theocracy is facing off against the warriors of the Elf Kingdom.
Under the gray sky, the scene of the two armies facing off was both spectacular and brutal.
The army of the Slane Theocracy was arranged in neat square formations, with spears like a forest and banners like a sea. Magic Caster chanted spells behind the formation, and pale golden light flowed on the soldiers' armor.
The Elf Kingdom warriors were scattered along the edge of the forest, using the trees and terrain as cover. Archers hid in the canopy, rangers moved through the bushes, and forest priests maintained the trees' vitality from the rear.
The air was filled with the whooshing of arrows piercing the sky, the booming of magical explosions, and the groans of the dying.
Higashino Makoto stood at the forefront of the battlefield, watching everything unfold.
Ainz stood beside him, his crimson eyes gleaming through the gaps in his helmet.
Kurumi and Narberal stood behind them, their hands on their weapons, ready to fight at any moment.
Certain Death stood three steps behind Higashino Makoto, his heterochromatic black and white eyes peering through the gaps in his helmet at the distant forest.