“As long as you’re alive, there’s always a chance to wash away your shame. But once you’re dead, that’s it. So, I’m going. I won’t engage in a battle with no chance of winning.”

There’s no lie in those words.

Daring to dive into a battle with slim chances of victory is a foolish act only a true idiot would do.

I don’t think I’m wise in the slightest, but precisely because I’m not smart, I should be cautious in my judgments. A sage might arrive at what is a common conclusion in an instant, but fools like me take longer to get there.

Todd knows this is the way of those who have nothing.

I can’t throw myself into a battle with no prospects.

However, paradoxically speaking—

“—It’s safe to say I’ll participate in a fight with a chance.”

I bring my right fist up, peering through the slight opening between my fingers.

Closing off my field of vision to look farther, I can see quite a distance; however, in the chaotic City Hall, I can’t tell what’s happening, except for the blazing flags.

“Hey, the roof of City Hall is gone! What’s going on?!”

Just beside me, a fierce companion, rife with pent-up energy, is making a ruckus.

It’s noisy and disruptive, but I wave my hand, signaling him to shut up. I’m also deliberating what’s happening here.

“It’s got to be that the ‘Nine Divine Generals’ have barged in.”

If they hadn’t, there wouldn’t have been a reason to hold the castle city that had fallen to the enemy.

As mentioned before, the moment City Hall fell through enemy strategies, Todd intended to abandon the city and run. I never planned to surrender and obey disarmament orders with good manners.

If that guy—who dubs himself the genius of war, Natsumi Schwarz—is leading them, then it’s only logical for dangerous elements like Todd and Jamal to be eliminated first.

Even if executions are usually avoided in Volakia, he’d surely concoct some reason to execute us himself.

At the very least, I know I would. It’s only reasonable to plan for living.

Therefore, choosing to escape and abandoning the city without hesitation was my initial plan. Yet, upon confirming the presence of ‘reinforcements’ heading toward the city, I hesitated.

“No doubt about it. That’s the woman I saw two years ago during the extermination of the barbarian tribes—Arakia of the ‘Two’!”

I leaped over the sealed main gate with ease, spotting a lightly-clothed woman confidently entering the city, and Jamal declared that with intense breath.

He was like a man wearing the wild instincts of a beast. Whether it’s strength as a creature or the nature of a male discerning a female, those who strike a chord in his instincts, he will never forget.

Meaning, one of the strongest of the Empire—the ‘Nine Divine Generals’—had shown up to suppress the rebellion. This clearly signals the ‘win’ that Todd decided had vanished.

Moreover—

“Whether to join or refuse, it’s worth a serious debate.”

Natsumi’s schemes and maneuvers are skillful, but above all, during our three encounters, he has had no direct combat prowess. The ‘People of Shudrak’ accompanying her, while known for their resilience, fall short compared to true strength.

True warriors like the ‘Nine Divine Generals’ don’t measure themselves by such standards.

Even Jamal, with impressive sword skills and fighting capabilities, is only about equivalent to ten regular Imperial soldiers. That’s also a standard benchmark for ordinary people.

Those outside the norm are capable of treating Jamal with ease, and the ‘Nine Divine Generals’ are the epitome of that.

“Then, it’s wise to ride on the winning horse.”

There’s no need to collaborate with the ‘Nine Divine Generals.’

Simply aiding a general would bear more significance than being the pawns of captured, ineffective City Hall soldiers. If I can help with enemy detainment or interrogation and gradually gain command, I might earn the general’s favor.

That way, I could get promoted and quickly find a path back to the Imperial Capital.

“Alright, let’s go back, Jamal. We’re going to help reclaim City Hall.”

“Oh? Oh, is that so?! Hahaha, that’s fine by me! I’ve been itching everywhere since I can’t stand running away! I won’t let the general steal all the glory!”

“Don’t talk nonsense. We’re the ones riding on the general’s coattails.”

With fists clenched over this policy shift, Jamal rejoiced at the thought of returning to death’s clutch, while Todd sighed, joining him as they turned back to City Hall. Instead of directly storming the building, they decided to observe the situation from a safe distance.

Adhering to his beliefs, cautiously and persistently—then—

“—Kill her, Arakia.”

The uppermost level of City Hall, blown away in the storm, revealed the faint silhouette of a general’s onslaught.

The sight of the silver-haired, tanned figure swinging a branch picked up off the ground made it seem as though she were dominating the laws of the world.

Shudrak soldiers and Imperial troops alike collapsed, regardless of distinction, into the devastated hall.

Amidst that chaos stood none other than Natsumi Schwarz, blocking Arakia’s path.

“——-”

Upon seeing that, Todd’s thoughts didn’t contain any relaxed attitudes like “Standing against a general is foolish” or “Surprisingly she’s still alive.”

Instead, he tightened his focus, and inside, he screamed.

—Here, make sure to kill that man, Arakia.

At worst, it wouldn’t matter for me to claim glory. It wouldn’t matter if all my deliberations about hesitation and turning back proved to be useless.

As long as Natsumi Schwarz—the war’s paradox—took her last breath.

That would be—

“…No way, that’s a joke, right?”

As Arakia moved to eliminate Natsumi, I focused on that decisive moment so as not to miss.

—Then, at the moment I thought I’d seen everything, a sudden red gleam startled me.

Dividing the space between Natsumi and Arakia was a figure standing tall, protecting Natsumi as if the strong was shielding the weak. The second Todd noticed, the scales within him tipped considerably.

“What just dropped down from the sky?! A flying dragon?! Which one did it come from?!”

“——-”

“Are you listening, Todd?! What are we doing?! Shouldn’t we assist General Arakia?! Hey! Can you hear me…”

“—Shut up, Jamal.”

Jamal’s voice raised in response to the change, while Todd remained fixated on the scene at City Hall. The woman in the crimson dress stood directly confronting Arakia.

At a glance, it was clear. —That woman, too, belonged to those who have transcended the ordinary.

Furthermore, the fact that Natsumi, appearing to be on the brink of death, also had a form of ‘having’ apart from combat prowess or physical ability, hit Todd’s heart profoundly.

“——-”

Had the red woman not interrupted, Arakia single-handedly would have sufficed.

Yet the situation altered, and an outcome became obscure. Could two stones—in the form of Todd and Jamal—be enough to tip the scales in our favor?

“Todd…!”

“Don’t move, Jamal. —Even moving won’t change a thing.”

The chances that should have existed had vanished, and as Todd watched, the circumstance worsened.

He understood Jamal’s rage steadily advancing, but stepping out now would only lead to a futile death.

After all—

“Just now, General Arakia was taken down.”

Bathed in the red woman’s blade, Arakia fell without a chance to struggle.

The once-tilted balance shattered without a second chance to sway back again.

“——-”

As Arakia fell, the situation at City Hall reached its conclusion.

This time, it could finally be said that the fortress city, Gwararu, had unmistakably fallen into enemy hands.

There was no method of regaining control from here. Of course, despite the dispatch of the ‘Two’ from the ‘Nine Divine Generals,’ there wouldn’t be a string of additional reinforcements pouring in.

The ‘Nine Divine Generals’ operate like one soldier against a thousand and represent the peak of the Volakia Empire’s military might.

When the ‘Nine Divine Generals’ take action, they’re as seamless as orchestrating a grand army, and managing to delegate multiple reinforcement troops to a single crisis is simply not done—they’re all out of the game.

The scales have tipped completely. All that remained is dealing with the aftermath of the war.

“So, what now?”

Presently, behind the buildings observing the developments at City Hall, Todd pondered quietly.

Sincerely, a boiling mix of anger and regret churned within him, but venting won’t solve anything.

With the reason for their return now moot, it would do well to make a hasty retreat.

However—

“Hey, Todd… Are you really thinking of running away without a plan?”

Hearing those words and spotting Jamal, veins bulging on his forehead, Todd couldn’t find words to persuade him.

Initially, even right after the banner of City Hall had been burned, convincing Jamal proved arduous.

Back then, Jamal’s emotional state was easier to direct. He could sheath his drawn sword and begrudgingly comply.

Now, however, getting him to re-sheath his blade would be far more difficult. Telling him to withdraw quietly wouldn’t fly.

In fact, in light of their next dialogue, he might even turn that sharp blade toward Todd.

If that happened, there would be no reason to spare Jamal. —He’s going to be my future brother-in-law. I’d rather not kill him if I could help it.

Returning him safely meant the promise they had made would be broken.

“Let’s go with that line of reasoning.”

“Huh?”

“…I get where you’re coming from. But calm down. Since General Arakia was downed, even if we storm in, we can’t possibly win. Is it worth dying in vain? Your sister would be crushed.”

“——-”

Trying to sway him by tugging at his familial love.

As soon as he made eye contact in hopes that it would be effective, Jamal’s arm quietly reached out and grabbed Todd by the collar, pulling his face closer while showing sharp teeth.

“You’re dead wrong if you think mentioning Kachua will make me back off at any time.”

“I see… that’s unfortunate.”

Shaking his head slowly, Todd revealed genuine regret from the bottom of his heart.

It wouldn’t be a problem to let a few punches from Jamal calm him down, but it seemed like Jamal wasn’t one to yield, even as he clicked his tongue and shoved Todd away.

There appeared to be no need for direct violence, but there were no means to stop him.

So, Todd decided to change direction with Jamal, changing course to climb over the walls of the fortress city.

Fortunately, he had picked up on the geography during the hole-sealing operation.

Though Arakia didn’t achieve her goal, she had indeed caused enough chaos, allowing for an easier escape now than before she had arrived.

It seemed like Jamal would amuse himself with one last outburst to draw attention as they made their escape.

“Jamal, sorry, but I’m going. It’s a waste to say this, but you’ll die in vain. Even if you storm in, there’s no way you can take them all out…”

“You idiot! I’m not going to aimlessly throw myself at them! I’m going to bring out General Arakia.”

“…What?”

Despite realizing it was futile, Jamal blurted out an unexpected response.

Stopping mid-step, Todd earnestly gazed into Jamal’s face, only for Jamal to grumble a discontented “What?” in return.

“You seriously thought I’d charge in with reckless abandon?”

“Yeah, I did. I thought you were just looking to die for no reason.”

“Bastard! I’m playing along with all your clever notions, but don’t think I’m without my own perspective! I know the difference between what’s possible and what isn’t.”

Jamal’s unexpected words genuinely surprised Todd.

He had thought him too impetuous and reckless—someone who couldn’t fathom the significance of having a brain.

“If you’re a coward, then that’s on you. Kachua must have poor judgment. I’ll carry out the general solo. She was quite a lady after all.”

“—Wait, I’m going too.”

“Huh?! You’re not satisfied with just Kachua’s backside?”

“I didn’t sign up for a suicide mission, but if that’s not the case, then it’s a different story.”

Ignoring the accusations directed at him, Todd put his palm over Jamal’s mouth, forcing him to silence.

He silenced him and began to construct a planned course of action based on the strategy in his mind.

Ordinarily, taking things on the fly isn’t Todd’s style. However, sadly, through repeated outings alongside Jamal, he had gained plenty of experience improvising.

If Jamal were to charge in alone to face certain death, Todd would leave him to it. However, if their goal was to rescue Arakia, then things couldn’t proceed on that basis.

“——-”

As they quietly approached the chaotic situation in City Hall.

The primary threats were Natsumi and the red woman—making a move in their vicinity was tantamount to a suicide mission. However, they surely hadn’t emerged unscathed in the process of establishing order.

Should Todd lower his guard, there would be an opening there.

“We’ll burst in and create a ruckus. If we can take advantage of the chaos to rescue the general…”

“If you say it like that, it diminishes our chances…How many should we be wary of—two potential threats at least. Absolutely, we can’t act with those two present. No need to worry.”

While scolding Jamal for his eagerness, Todd smirked faintly, peeking through his fingers. He couldn’t help but smile at the sight of his white canine tooth.

Ahead, there appeared to be a near-death Arakia being pulled along.

As long as she wasn’t dead, they could find ways to extract her no matter what.

“——Infiltrating City Hall was a piece of cake.”

It was, after all, a place they’d set up camp in briefly.

Todd had a habit of familiarizing himself with the geography and layout of any place he visited, at least once. Without knowing an escape or hiding place, his nature’s unable to relax.

Hence, after the camp in Badheim Forest burned, upon entering Gwararu, he had made a point to visit every location in the city, City Hall included, engraving the map into his memory.

No matter where they kill, it shouldn’t draw undue attention. He was knowledgeable about where hiding things would remain concealed.

“Go—”

Sneaking inside City Hall, he eliminated the scattered eyes scanning the area, one by one.

The watchmen weren’t Imperial soldiers or ‘People of Shudrak’ but rather former self-defense groups protecting the city’s security. Conscripted as bodyguards, they had turned into unsavory elements who brought about the city’s capitulation—now, they could only be viewed as ‘Rebel Army’ foot soldiers.

“I won’t show you any mercy.”

Grabbing one lookout’s neck with both hands, Jamal easily snapped it with annoyance.

Proud above all else of being an Imperial soldier, Jamal felt immense anger toward the rebels that had turned against the Empire. It made sense that he harbored ire toward those once allied with the Imperial army before the city’s downfall.

“Well, it’s not a mindset I’ve ever held.”

He only committed murder out of necessity; if it could be avoided, then he wouldn’t.

The quick switch in allegiance to survive could hardly be blamed if that’s all it was. Of course, the consequences for wrong judgment would still come due to their lives.

Proceeding, he and Todd continued onto the next phase, neutralizing the pesky guards and arriving at their destination.

Within the lower levels of City Hall lay a prison, a customary place where convicts awaited the mayor’s judgment. Arakia, now a prisoner, was likely confined there as well.

Naturally, against someone like a ‘Nine Divine General’, iron prisons are nothing more than embellishments; but, on the flip side, it also wouldn’t do to welcome her into a guest room with the flair of hospitality.

If it were Todd, he might even opt for that, but—

“—Found you, General.”

In the underground chamber they descended into, a multitude of cells stretched left and right. More minor offenders filled the closer cells, while the most secure held the worst offenders at the very end.

Naturally, the innermost cell housing Arakia was adequately guarded.

Rather than soldiers, however, it was a woman from Shudrak standing guard. With her large frame and yellow-dyed hair, it was evident she was a capable fighter.

Plus, due to the structural design, there was no way to sneak past without being noticed by her.

In other words—

“Slinking in like a thief has its limits.”

“…Why do you look so pleased?”

The looming battle made Jamal’s cheerful aura perplexing.

Todd didn’t want to kill and, if possible, avoid fighting. If escape weren’t unavoidable, he’d aim for the safest route with minimized danger.

Yet, Jamal seemed to carry the face of someone eager to dive headfirst into danger.

Likely, the riskier the situation, the more bloodshed he thinks would display loyalty to the Empire.

“It’s obvious. As an Imperial soldier, I must fight and earn victories! Only then can I stand proud and call myself an Imperial soldier!”

“——-”

“What’s got you shocked?”

“No, it’s just that I imagined that was your mindset.”

It’s rare to find someone so united in their actions and words.

While Todd’s response left Jamal displeased for a moment, he soon shook it off. Next, he traced his calloused fingers over his stubble with a thoughtful “Ah”.

“Come to think of it, you’ve come to a thoughtful conclusion yourself.”

“I won’t join a suicide mission. If it’s not that, I’ll change course. I haven’t changed my mind.”

“You said you were trying to escape, but it looks like you ended up staying.”

“I’ve decided to grab some souvenirs on the way out. No change in their plan.”

As Jamal tightened his grip over his swords, he expressed a low growl as anger brewed in his eyes.

While Todd turned his focus to the goal ahead, he kept an eye on Jamal’s building rage.

The guard was built stoutly, her limbs thickly muscular. Considering Shudrak’s fitness, Todd’s axe might struggle to deal with a single limb in a single swing.

It’s clear that the neck or head must become the target.

Exploding the head, breaking the neck, or slashing the face were all present options; however—

“——This is the time for me to shine.”

Slowly stepping forward, Jamal’s innocence led him to ignore Todd’s warning to halt.

A brief moment of hesitation crossed Todd’s mind about whether to stop him, yet he chose silence. It was indeed the best option to push Jamal forward to divert attention, allowing Todd to act in the rear.

Less effort was needed, and if Jamal was single-mindedly set on action, he had no need to dampen that enthusiasm.

“M-Move aside, who are you?!”

“I don’t need to answer you. You bastards disrespected the sword-wolf of the Volakia Empire. Don’t think you won while I wasn’t here on the battlefield!”

“Crazy fool, who does he think he is?!”

As Jamal confronted the Shudrak woman, she readied her spear, while he drew his twin blades, dancing with a crazed smile.

There had been many instances of trouble with Jamal, yet his capabilities were beyond reproach. At least against an opponent from Shudrak, he wouldn’t lag behind.

“Take this! Take this! Take this!”

“—Whoa! Strong guy!”

With loud shouts, Jamal unleashed a furious flurry of slashes against Shudrak. The adept guard skillfully evaded him, yet ultimately found herself on the defensive.

To keep an eye on Arakia, they logically placed someone competent, yet no one could have anticipated that someone would come charging in right after locking her up.

Plus, their lack of capable soldiers turned out to be a critical flaw for the Rebel Army.

“That said, she isn’t immediately useful to deal with right now.”

Wetting his lips with his tongue, Todd jumped in after Jamal, darting past the sword play blazing sparks, heading straight for the prison.

“Ah! A comrade… Gah!”

“Is that really the time to be spaced out?! Huh?!”

Fortuitously saved by Jamal, Todd slammed his axe against the lock of the cell.

There wasn’t time to search for keys. While he couldn’t demolish the cell, he could still break its lock.

A dull thud reverberated as the axe head crumpled, but it managed to break the lock open with a loud creak, allowing Todd to leap into the now-open cell.

“General Arakia!”

Inside lay a single girl, sprawled face down on a makeshift bed.

Even being part of the same Imperial Army, the opportunities for an average soldier to meet a ‘General’ are few and far between. Even a third general commands an entire army, and as for the second or first generals, those are beings beyond the clouds.

Therefore, this was Todd’s first close encounter with a true ‘Nine Divine General.’

“——-”

Arakia lay unconscious, prone due to a savage slash across her back. Her body bore grim scars, which had been burned shut.

The wound from a blade had also been seared closed, creating a horrific trace. —Such injuries wouldn’t be possible without being struck by a heated blade.

“What the red-haired woman did…”

That woman wasn’t an ordinary opponent; her treasured sword possessed considerable power.

Lacking any further detailed intel, Arakia gave no response to his calls. Thus, reluctantly, Todd hoisted Arakia’s body and flew out of the cell.

“I’ve recovered her! Jamal, let’s go!”

“Let me handle… Ah?!”

“For crying out loud! Are you spacing out right now—??”

With Arakia taken, the Shudrak woman’s focus momentarily faltered.

In that instant, a flash from Jamal cut into her attention, which she barely managed to ward off with her spear. The impact freed the weapon from her grip, and the follow-up spinning kick from Jamal struck her squarely.

A small shriek escaped her lips as she crashed into the near wall of the dungeon hard. Hitting her head roughly, she fell limp, motionless.

As Todd was about to command Jamal to finish her off—

“—Whew, things got noisy up top. Did they find the body of the guards?”

“Damn it, we have to hurry. The general—”

“She’s still breathing, but she’s unconscious. That’s good enough.”

Todd answered Jamal’s query bluntly before running toward the exit of the underground cell. Jamal would soon follow and act as the path clearer, bolting past Todd.

“What in the world… who the—Gah!?”

“Get lost, you fools!”

A guard doused in blood fell as Jamal charged through. Todd dashed after him, leaving behind the increasingly tense City Hall.

Sorry, I have no time to coddle the body of Arakia as I carry her. As a ‘Nine Divine General,’ she was probably made with a sturdy physique. Trusting her endurance, Todd kept running.

“We made it! Where are we headed?!”

“The main gate is closed. —Follow me!”

Slipping into the dark chaos of the city, Todd veered with Jamal into the back alleys. He skillfully navigated narrow paths, evading the eyes of those pursuing them.

Only just having come away from battle, chaos still permeated the battlefield. To top it off, with three hundred Imperial soldiers wearing the same attire still roaming about, they wouldn’t stand out.

All that was left was—

“—Eh?!”

The sound of wind slicing through the air caught Todd’s attention as an arrow struck just behind him.

Turning around, he saw a large, thick arrow embedded in the ground at his feet. It was a shot aimed at him, and instinctively, Jamal rushed to protect him.

Within the urban sprawl, that well-aimed shot would’ve been a deadly one.

Surely, this was fired by the same archer who’d pierced Todd’s chest a few days prior.

—I’m being watched.

If so, it was risky for them to move carelessly.

Stepping out of the alley would surely get them targeted, and clutching Arakia made agile movement tricky. Even killing the archer wouldn’t be logical given their angle of attack—most likely toward City Hall—there would be no second choice available.

So should he abandon Arakia and run away? While it would be the safest route, it leaves the question of why he risked it in the first place.

Considering the circumstances, searching for a viable means to act while ensuring a bountiful result:

“—Jamal, you realize you’re targeted, right?”

“Yeah, troublesome fools. They’re far enough away that we can’t risk a counterattack. If it continues like this, we’ll only be singled out and volleyed down. What do we do?”

“There’s only one option.”

Todd’s response made Jamal narrow his eye, expecting a ploy carved in desperation. He exhaled a deep breath, closing one eye.

“The moment we rush out, they’ll zero in on us. You’ll charge in first, cutting down arrows like before. Not one, but two or three. I’ll run with all my might so I don’t drop the general.”

“Ha, that doesn’t sound like you. Is that your plan? Sounds like a last resort.”

“Ultimately, when all options wipe out, that’s what we’re left with. But hey, I’m still lucky, right?”

“Huh? Where’s the luck?”

“You still have quite a strong card left in your hand.”

The strategy he proposed was nearly entirely entrusting Jamal’s abilities.

If Jamal fails to chop down the incoming arrows, their fate would be sealed then and there. Throwing away their lives on such a gamble wasn’t something Todd would normally abide by.

Yet he proposed it. Given Jamal’s skill, the possibility remained—one far from zero.

“…Looks like Kachua’s judgment failed her after all. I expected you to be smarter.”

“Stop badmouthing my fiancée, you jerk.”

With Jamal scratching his head in contemplation, Todd grimaced at him in earnest. After hearing that, Jamal took a short breath, readjusted his grip on his twin swords.

Then, confidently turning his sturdy back toward Todd, he stated:

“Fine, you can count on me for this. Sometimes a foolish gamble can actually pay off.”

“If I weren’t there, you’d be the one at constant risk of dying, wouldn’t you?”

“Shut it. —You keep quiet and stick to my back.”

Trading jabs back and forth, Jamal was quietly bolstering his fighting spirit.

Watching his back, Todd readjusted his grip on Arakia.

“Jamal, once we exit the alley, run straight ahead. At the wall, make a right turn. That should give us some breathing space.”

Listening to those instructions, Jamal repeated it in his mind, slowly closed his eyes, then opened them again, stepping forward toward the exit.

“——!”

The moment they burst from the alley, an arrow cloaked in a fierce wind struck at Jamal.

He responded with overwhelming reflexes, crossing his twin blades to slice it in two. The shock ran through to his wrist, and he laughed like a wild beast with clenched teeth.

Blood pumped, adrenaline surged, and that rush of life overwhelmed Jamal.

A pinnacle of focus slowed the world; even the drop of a bead of sweat gliding down his skin and a speck of flying sand could be sensed distinctly.

“——Hah!”

An onslaught of arrows fell upon them like a rainstorm.

Firmly grounding himself, he danced as he sliced through the barrage of arrows. The scene unfolded was a sword dance—a dance of swords belonging to Jamal Aurelie.

If all had gone as planned, he would’ve enjoyed the performance of a dancer invited to City Hall.

Instead, it’d fallen to him to be the one dancing. Jamal couldn’t help but let laughter escape him, for every movement he made unveiled an immense enthusiasm.

Amidst desperately parrying strikes, Jamal marveled at Todd’s tenacity.

With a tidal wave of deadly arrows raining down, Todd ran fearlessly alongside him. The moment Jamal faltered, it would be death knocking at their door.

That’s why Jamal pushed Todd from his mind, devoting all of his soul toward dodging ‘death’ itself.

Sprinting forward, dodging, deflecting, leaping, and striking.

“The end—!”

Miraculously escaping death, they collided with the end of the designated path.

While unclear how much time had passed, the dance could’ve spanned hours, yet it had merely been seconds. Still, they had only crossed the first obstacle. Refusing to soften their resolve, Jamal accurately veered right into the designated corridor and then—

—Blocking their path, an entire formation of Shudrak soldiers stood enemy.

“——Damn it.”

Targeted by the archer, breaking through with that many Shudrak soldiers was not only difficult; it was practically impossible.

Naturally, he was prepared for a fierce battle till the very end, but even dying in that struggle would yield no outcome. To think they’d flawlessly anticipated their every move, Jamal felt they’d run out of luck completely.

“Try all sorts of clever maneuvers, and ultimately, luck lets you down… Hah, how empty. But still, it wasn’t terrible.”

Gripping the feel of his twin blades while blood seeped through his palms, Jamal voiced his feelings to Todd.

His mention wasn’t mere vindication but a genuine sentiment.

Through all the twists and turns, Todd had often stirred his emotions, causing frustration on numerous occasions.

However, he ultimately chose to strive and do his duty as an Imperial soldier.

“Sorry for putting Kachua through this, but it can’t be helped. She’s an imperial noble; she was bound to expect things could end up this way for us.”

As thoughts of his sister back in the Imperial Capital surfaced, a twinge of pain struck Jamal’s heart. Yet it was quickly drowned out by the fighting spirit raging before him, as the iron scent filled his nose completely.

In truth, that realization brought him relief. —He was the sword-wolf of the Volakia Empire to his very bones.

“Let’s do this, Todd. At the very least, let’s show them something they won’t forget.”

Taking a forward-leaning stance, Jamal tasted the blood trickling from his bandaged-right eye.

And then he lunged forward directly at the enemy, determined to demonstrate the final honor of an Imperial soldier.

A barrage of deadly assaults fell upon him like a storm, but he held no regrets whatsoever.

Ultimately, remaining true to himself was more than enough reward for Jamal.

“…You were an idiot to the very end.”

With waves of Jamal’s ferocious roar echoing in the distance, Todd murmured as he traversed the wall.

Closing the gaps behind him, he meticulously erased any trace to ensure they couldn’t follow. For a while, the chaos in the city would be steered by Jamal, giving them time to escape.

He was unlike himself, as Jamal had pinpointed out.

Tossing his life away on a desperate gamble wasn’t something Todd would ever consider. —In fact, he wouldn’t stunt his life by gambling away his future.

“If I send you flying out of the alley, their attention would divert from me. But… Kachua’s bound to suffer immensely.”

He could no longer fulfill the promise to bring back her brother, leaving his fiancée distressed.

That only made him wish to return to the Imperial Capital all the sooner. Fortunately, in losing Jamal, he stumbled upon another means to orchestrate his return.

Furthermore, it seemed that had linked him to a potential massive opportunity with greater leverage than Jamal, who was in jeopardy of being upgraded to the third general.

“…Princess.”

“Goodness, you sure have an innocent face. You’re a ‘Nine Divine General,’ so it’s not like you haven’t killed at least one hundred or two hundred people.”

In Todd’s arms lay Arakia, whose closed eyes streamed with tears. Watching the traces of her tears made Todd absently recall that once again his companion was wearing an eye patch.

Reflecting on that made him tilt his head slightly.

And then—

“Which side did Jamal wear his eye patch on, again…?”