Roland stood on the ramparts, looking north. For a month, he repeated the cycle of castles, mines, and city walls, examining every detail that might have been forgotten.

The militiamen's stabbing skills grew more and more skillful, and they were able to hold their guns steady under Carter's repeated drills, until the hunter in charge of the observation shouted the cry of attack, and then sent their spears.

Standing behind them was the Orion Band, which was incorporated into the ranks of hunters who remained in the frontier towns and were adept at using bows and crossbows. These experienced hunters are the main force of killing and injuring the evil beasts, shooting at the corners of the twelve-foot high walls, with little chance of missing.

Finally, there is the mending team of Iron Axe, Carter, and two other elite hunters. The four front-loading flintlock pistols forged by the blacksmith and assembled by Anna have been delivered, and are only killed by the mending team when encountering a thorny monster or hybrid beast whose skin cannot be pierced by a bow or crossbow. They are in a very free position, traveling a distance of about 200 meters, and they are there wherever they need it.

As for the explosives packs, they were stored in a heavily guarded warehouse under the city walls. When you need to save the scene, you can transport it to the city wall alone - after all, if something happens to this thing, it can cause more damage to yourself than the evil beast, the evil beast's teeth can't bite the cement, but the explosives can send the entire section of the city wall into the sky.

So far, Roland has organized two combat drills, including the use of explosives packs. Thanks to these two drills, the embarrassment of the militia in the formal defense wartime was avoided by the loud roar of explosives and the embarrassment of throwing away their weapons. Another benefit was that when everyone found out that the prince still had such a powerful weapon in his hands, the morale of the team suddenly rose.

"Your Highness," Barov tightened his collar, "most of the income from the ore trade has been spent, and if the Demon Moon is as long as astrologers say, I don't think it will last until the end of winter." ”

"Then fill all the money in my vault," Roland said without hesitation, "and don't stop trading with Willow Leaf Town." The first steam machine has been delivered to the mine, the collapse of the gravel is almost complete, and we can still get a little production through the winter. Especially for rough gemstones, there is no need to emphasize the price, and if you can sell it as soon as possible, you can sell it as soon as possible. It's always right to stock up on more grain and jerky. ”

Barov nodded, "I'll do it, Your Highness." Just ......"

Seeing that the assistant minister looked like he wanted to say something, Roland certainly understood what he wanted to say, "Don't worry, I have arranged a small boat, and if the situation really collapses, I will leave the town." ”

"Then I'll be relieved," Barov breathed a sigh of relief.

Roland smiled at him, "You go and get busy with yours, I'll take a look by myself." ”

After Barov left, the prince slowly ascended the watchtower. This is the highest point in the middle of the city walls, and from here you can look out over the vast jungle and rolling hills ahead. The cold wind howled in his face, but he didn't care. It was only on this empty platform that his nervousness in the face of the great war calmed down.

"You're lying to him," someone next to him said, "and you have no intention of leaving." ”

"Life is already so difficult, some things are better not to be debunked. ”

"I don't understand what you're talking about, if the identity of the prince is difficult, then what are we?" Nightingale revealed, "Even if you don't become a king, as long as you survive the five years of fighting for the king's order, you are also the lord of one party." Rather than worrying about this, it's better for you to spend more time with Anna, I'm just afraid...... She didn't have much time left. ”

Roland was silent for a moment, "I don't think she survived the Demon Moon. ”

"Why?"

"She said she wouldn't lose to the Hive Devourer," he paused, "I trust her. ”

"You would trust a witch," Nightingale shook her head, "we are cursed by the devil. ”

"Yes, I believe in you, too. ”

“......”

Brian is dressed in civilian clothes and stands in front of the gravestone of the Greyhound.

He gently stroked the brand-new stone stele, and a line of words was engraved on the pure white stele: "Nameless, but everlasting." A hero who died for the border town. 」

"Greyhound. ”

"I have fulfilled my dream, and when the Demon Moon is over, His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince will hold a canonization ceremony for me. ”

"But I don't want to sit in a hospital bed and wait. ”

"My wounds have healed, and the walls are where I should be. ”

"The Demon Moon is just around the corner, and the beasts may be terrifying, but they will crash headlong into the defenses that have been built up by all of them, and they will not be able to move forward. ”

"I will wield my sword to defend this town, along with you. ”

"It's not the end of the story. ”

"The man who framed you is still alive...... But he won't live forever, this is His Highness's promise to me. ”

"The next time we meet, I'll have good news. ”

Brian bent down and placed a bouquet in front of the tombstone.

"Goodbye then, my friend. ”

"Sister Anna, aren't you afraid?" asked Nanawa as she lay on the bed and crossed her calves.

"Afraid of what?"

"Demon Devourer. Nightingale said it was winter, I only became a witch in the fall, and this year is the first time ......"

"The first time," Anna thought for a moment, "it hurts, and sometimes you want to die right away." ”

"Ahh

"But you will survive, just like me. ”

"I don't know...... Nanawa whispered, "I'm not as strong as you. ”

"I'm not that strong," Anna said, closing her eyes, recalling the scene from her first meeting with Roland. In the dark, cold dungeon, he draped his clothes over himself and whispered that he would hire him—and to this day, she thought it was incredible, "You will encounter things that make you want to live, even if you are struggling to survive." ”

"Like ......?"

"Like a sauce-stained steak," she sighed, "how do I know what you want—huh?"

Looking at Nanava, who was staring at her intently, Anna wiped her face with her hand, "Is there anything dirty on my face?"

"No...... "I'm just a little surprised, you've never said so much to me before...... Sister Anna, the way you closed your eyes and thought about it just now, it was so beautiful. ”

Anna rolled her eyes, jumped out of bed, and walked to the window.

Nanava followed, "What are you looking at, Hidden Forest?"

"The forest is to the west," Anna said without breath, "and there is only the Chishui River to be seen." ”

"Sister Anna, look!" the girl pointed to the sky.

Anna was stunned, then pushed open the window, and a cold wind mixed with a little snowflakes poured into the room.

She reached out and pinched the crystal clear snowflake, and a chill came from her fingers.

"It's snowing. ”

“......”

After a long silence, the nightingale spoke, "You are not lying. ”

"Of course," Roland laughed, "I don't panic much in the first place. ”

The nightingale didn't say anything more, she turned her head away, and there was more insignificance in her eyes.

Suddenly, she felt a chill on her neck, and she couldn't help but shrink her neck. When I looked up, I realized that at some point, snowflakes had fallen over the city wall. There seemed to be countless white elves in the gray sky, dancing on the north wind and flying around to the sound of militia training slogans.

...... The Demon Moon has begun.