In the late evening, in Parnatau Kingdom, nearby the capital…

Vrrrrrrroooooooooooommmmm!…

「…Fucking… About to break some shit… Just to spite that BDSM bimbo…」

Straf grumbles as he drives the kubelwagen towards the gate. On the way there, he spots the forces of Redwing Kingdom on the march towards the capital, and stops the car by the gate.

Vrrrrrrttttrtrtrt…

He turns the key, and the engine goes silent.

SLAM!

Straf opens the door, takes a step out, then slams the car shut, and waits for the troops to come closer with his fists on his coat-covered hips.

「Minister, sir?…」

Roughly ten minutes later, the officer leading them runs up and asks, not recognizing Straf.

「Took you long enough… Got your practice in? I don't want to have to cover my fucking ears again.」

「Yes sir! The men know how to play the instruments by heart now!」

Straf points his hand at the men holding the various brass instruments, then returns his fists to his hips. The officer nods with confidence, and glances at his men.

「Alright… Where's the fucking banner!? Why are you hiding!?」

Briefly looking around their column, Straf searches for the dragon banner. A nervous man in the rear raises it high.

「Ah… We had some trouble at the checkpoint. We had a heated argument with the troops manning it, and since it's just us here…」

The officer chimes in, defending the nervous soldier.

「And you killed 'em?」

Straf asks, raising his brows.

「Nooo, no!… They relented, eventually… But we were watching our backs all the way to here, and the banner was held low.」

He shakes his head, and explains.

「Tsk… Raise that fucking thing high and proud! You're here to make a show of your entrance!…」

With a click of his tongue, Straf shouts at the banner-carrier and waves his hand up at him. The nervous man raises the dragon higher, proudly displaying it to the disgruntled garrison.

「…Officer! Victory parade!」

Straf declares, and waves the column towards the open gate. The mustached officer then waves his arm towards his men, draws his sword, waves it up in the air as they prepare to play.

Toot too too toot toot too! Tootootootootoo too too toot!… Toot tootoo too too too!…

The column of troops begins to march into the capital, with the officer showily pumping his sword up and down with each step. The gate guards glance at each other with furrowed brows.

CLACK! CLACK! CLACK! CLACK!…

Still playing the melodic, yet strangely ominous tune, the troops pay close attention to stomp their armored feet and march in lockstep.

…Toot-toot-toot too too too!… Too too too toot-toot toot-toot-toot!…

They go in through the gate unopposed, and Straf follows them inside the city. The loud noise and its ominous tone is impossible to ignore. The starving people look on as the soldiers march on, but when they see a red dragon on a banner, their gazes become significantly more hopeful. Right behind the banner carrier, four men with large backpacks reach into them.

…CLACK! CLACK! CLACK! CLACK!…

Still marching onward and making a large show of themselves, the men in the rear start throwing military rations towards the onlookers. Confused, the citizens unwrap the palm-sized, rectangular packets wrapped with a string. Their eyes widen when they realize the contents are a collection of dried meat, hardtack, along with some salt and pepper. When those who didn't manage to, or weren't interested in catching the food packets realize that the troops are handing out food again, a non-violent riot begins.

…Too too too tootoorooroo!… Too-too too tootoo!…

The people jump and scream, waving their arms and begging the backpack men for another chance, but their throws are truly at random. When someone merely brushes against the flying ration with his fingers, failing to firmly grasp it, the citizenry descends upon it like a band of raving ghouls that caught an unfortunate victim. Only those who have unquestionably caught the ration and began to unwrap it are safe from the crowd, who are apparently unwilling to resort to theft, despite their obvious hunger.

The marching band stops at a crossing, and turns to face the crowd, still playing their kingdom's ominous-sounding lovesong. The dragon banner is held high, and flaps in the cold wind.

…Toot toot tootoooot!

The soldiers play the final notes, and lower their instruments.

「Food!」「Me! Please! Me!」「I didn't have a chance yet! Please!」

The citizenry shout and jump. The begging intensifies now that they can be heard more clearly, while the officer fiddles with a sheet of paper, unfolding it.

The band pack their instruments. Some of the soldiers disperse into the city, wielding hammers in their hands and nails between their fingers, while others carry stacks of papers in their arms.

「…Those were our last ones, sir!」

One of the soldiers with the larger backpacks exclaims towards the officer after throwing one last ration, and the mustached man acknowledges him with a nod. Those who are not currently wolfing down the handed out food appear to be utterly dismayed by the soldier's declaration. The officer clears his throat, and takes a large breath.

「Citizens of Parnatau Kingdom! Listen to the news concerning you!…」

The officer shouts, briefly lifting his eyes off the sheet of paper to check for engagement. The entire crowd is looking at him, and even those who were busy eating have stopped for the moment.

「…As of yesterday, Queen Redwing and King Parnatau signed a contract of understanding!… The hostilities between our kingdoms are over!…」

He continues reading off the sheet of paper. Straf watches on from the sidelines with his fists on his hips.

「…As a part of this contract, King Parnatau authorizes you to resettle to Redwing Kingdom at your pleasure!… You may live, work, travel, or otherwise stay there as you please!…」

「What? We can leave?… But what's the point?…」「How much do their mines pay?… Anyone know?」「But all I have is here… And it's not much…」

The officer reads more, and the crowd begins mumbling amongst themselves. Deeply confused, most of them furrow their brows.

「…Currently, Redwing Kingdom is facing a shortage of laborers! Many farms need farmhands for help, and craftsmen seek apprentices! They all offer high wages!…」

「Huh?…」「What?…」「Really?…」

The gaunt, thin faces perk up in surprise, but the reactions are very tempered as the mustached man continues to read out loud for the crowd.

「…A factory in the capital city of Draconis is hiring an unlimited number of interested laborers for light work! Additionally, the army is always seeking recruits for contracts!…」

The officer continues reading, and the crowd begin to gaze at each other, even more so confused.

「But we have an army here too… What's the point?」 「How many years do you need to serve for full rations, anyway?」 「What's the difference?…」

The citizenry begins to grumble out questions, though more than a few have their interest at least piqued. Those who caught the rations watch the officer, and slowly resume eating.

「…The queen's army offers higher pay than Parnatau Kingdom! Men only!-」

「Ahh!… Excuse me!…」

A man interrupts the officer, who lowers the sheet of paper, and looks at the young, thin man in the front of the crowd.

「…After how many years?」

The man asks, and the officer furrows his brows, lightly puzzled.

「…Immediately. We simply pay higher-」

「Me!」「Me, me, me!」「I want to sign up! Take me!」

The people in the crowd collectively jump up, and swarm the officer, screaming and shouting with their hands raised. Those at the front desperately pat their chests to be selected. The kingdom's soldiers who stayed behind are scrambling to keep the crowd in check, and from crushing the officer by pure accident.

「Order!」「Step back!」「Order!… We'll take you, but step back!」

Though they're low in numbers, the handful of infantrymen manage to push the starved, scrawny crowd away with ease. The very fact seems to surprise the soldiers somewhat.

「Order! Order!… Everyone calm down! We are taking plenty of recruits! There's more than enough work for everyone! Order!…」

The officer finds a random crate to step on, and begins shouting, waving his arms to the crowd. The people slowly calm down, and the troops breathe a sigh of relief.

「…Military service in her majesty's name is for men only, and only for the motivated ones! Those unwilling or unable to serve may work as a farmhand, or in a factory!」

He explains, further pacifying the crowd with his hand.

「What's a factory!?」

Someone shouts from the crowd.

「It's a!… Honestly, I don't know! But I know it's light work! Women can do it! The pay is good!…」

The officer thinks, but then gives up and throws his hands up, admitting defeat.

「…If you are interested in settling in Redwing Kingdom, form a line here! Orderly line!」

He points his finger a few paces aside. Two soldiers jog there, and one helps the other get a quill, inkpot, and a stack of paper sheets out of his backpack. The citizenry quickly line up.

「Name, and military or laborer?…」

The soldier holding the quill asks the first man in the line, while the other one serves as an assistant, holding his ink pot, and the paper sheets.

「I'm Ashimal, sir… I want to be a laborer.」

With his head lowered, a skeletal-thin man introduces himself to the soldier. With his hands in his pockets, Straf approaches the officer's side.

「…Can you travel to Redwing Kingdom, or will you need to be transported?」

Scribbling down the man's details, the soldier lifts his eyes off the paper resting upon a small plank, held in his hand for as support for the paper.

「Uh… I don't think I could make it on my own. I'm too weak, you see… How much do I have to pay?-」

「It's free for those interested…」

The man replies with a troubled grimace, and the soldier nonchalantly explains, making an additional note.

「…Be here exactly by noon tomorrow. Next!」

The armored man adds, and waves for the thin citizen to move out of the way. Confused, he walks out of the line, and a woman steps up.

「Name?…」

The process continues, and Straf turns his gaze to the officer. The banner carrier continues proudly holding the banner high behind the two men writing the names down.

「So, can you handle the rest, at least until I set up a permanent post here? I'll have a supplies delivered to you tomorrow, and they'll pick the workers up. Try to nudge them to join the army.」

Straf asks, staring at the officer with his mouth aslant.

「Yes, sir! Leave it to us! But, uh… Sir?」

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The mustached man nods, but then glances at the queue behind him, and leans in towards Straf, speaking with a hushed voice.

「Yeah?…」

Straf raises his brow, looking at the man's face as it closes in.

「…Is it really a good idea to allow foreigners to serve in our army? Their weakness can be worked out, but what about their loyalty? What about spies?」

The officer asks with a concerned expression, and glances at the citizens once more.

「I have ways to deal with both… And it's easier than you think. I'm the Minister of Security and the Minister of War. Let me handle those two.」

With a shrug of his shoulders, Straf turns away and heads for the city gate.

「Yes, sir! Apologies, sir!」

The officer exclaims with a quick salute, then turns his attention to the crowd, while the previously dispersed soldiers begin to return…

…

Late into the evening, in Redwing Kingdom, in Cycelia's room…

Crreak…

「Knock knock.」

Straf says with a lightly amused tight-lipped grimace on his face, peeking his head into Cycelia's room. Surprised at her desk, she jumps up, and a happy smile appears on her face.

「Straf!… You're back quick!」

Looking over her shoulder, she says with a warm smile. A flame dances on the candle nearby her thick tome.

「Yeaaah… When I can really put the pedal to the metal and just go without someone whining about wanting to sleep, the world really becomes smaller. Had to change the gems, though…」

He walks in, and shuts the door. His eyes drift to Cycelia's book, and the elements of the magic circles being explained within.

「…Still studying, huh?」

He asks, nodding up at her book.

「Ah… Yes. I'm taking magic seriously this time!」

Cycelia glances at her tome, then nods her head with her dainty fists clenched with determination, smiling at Straf, blinking her large emerald eyes up at him.

「So… Did you give it some thought yet? Are we an empire yet?」

Straf asks, smirking slightly as he throws his hands aside. They drop down, and limply pat at his sides before snaking their way back into his pockets.

「Ah, actually…」

Cycelia quickly turns back to her book, finds the red bookmark string, and places it on the current page.

Tfwap.

She shuts the thick tome with with a soft noise, slides out of her desk, and stands up to approach Straf.

「…You know, I've been thinking… My father told me a lot about the kingdom's history, and I remember him teaching me how we used to be an empire once, actually.」

Cycelia reaches for Straf's wrist, and pulls his hand out of his pocket, clutching onto it. He listens with a lightly raised brow.

「Seriously?」

He asks, tilting his head.

「Yes! It was a long time ago, but I distinctly remember reading about that. There were mentions of Redwing's Empire… Not quite Redwing Empire, but close enough, right?」

Her warm smile grows, and returns a strong nod of her chestnut head.

「So… What happened? Why did it go from an empire to a kingdom? A rating agency didn't like the sitting king much?」

An amused huff escapes Straf's nose, and he shrugs his shoulders with a smirk.

「Hm?… Well… Redwing was already long dead at that point, and then the demon lord's forces began ravaging the land. The empire wasn't spared, Straf. Most of the vassal kings perished…」

Cycelia explains, tilting her head, before turning her emerald gaze off to the side to look at the wall.

「…To avoid being mocked for being an empire with no vassals, the king declared that the empire became a kingdom, though the exact date is very blurry.」

She concludes while looking at the map of Redwing Kingdom hanging on her wall, Telas and Parnatau kingdoms included.

「…When did you hang that up?」

Straf asks, quizzically pointing his finger at the map.

「Hm? Just after you left, why?」

Cycelia tilts her head, and blinks her large emerald puppy eyes at him.

「…No reason. You really like that map, huh?… So, what about that empire thing? It used to be one, but is it now?」

Straf shrugs, and glances at the map with a tight-lipped grimace on his face, before returning his gaze to Cycelia.

「Well… I've been thinking, and… If we were to call ourselves an empire… It would be actually a return to tradition!… And I think it would be quite valid to do so now!」

She says as she throw her index finger up and replies with a large, bright smile on her face.

「Nothing new, huh? Just going back to the good old days?」

「Yes! Exactly!」

Straf smirks with furrowed brows, and Cycelia rapidly nods her head, fully clutching onto his hand once again. The two look at the map.

「…These borders are a little… Unaesthetic, though. Don't you think so too, Straf?」

She remarks, and gently tilts her head while looking at the map.

「Uuuhhhhhh…」

With his eyes narrowing, Straf's brows furrow, and Cycelia's green-eyed gaze suddenly snapping to his face forces him to take on a neutral expression, which results in a tight-lipped grimace.

「…Like an untrimmed hedge?」

He asks, raising one brow.

「Hmmmm… I was thinking… More like wild, untrimmed grass? Weeds in a garden?… Now with Parnatau Kingdom being a part of the empire, the border with Rankor Kingdom turned ugly…」

She pouts slightly while pensively looking at Rankor Kingdom on the map, and the jagged border it creates at the edge of Parnatau Kingdom.

「Yeaaaahhh… Uhhh… Listen, I'm going to let you continue studying-」

Straf tries to pull away and head for the door, but Cycelia tightens her grip on his hand.

「I'm done studying for the day. Why not spend a little longer with me?」

She asks, tilting her head with her brows innocently raised.

「Uhh… That'd be great, but… Uh, knowledge doesn't absorb too well unless you sleep on it, you know? I've got a busy day tomorrow too, so…」

A little troubled, Straf points his free hand at the door, and shrugs his shoulders.

「Really?… I see. Too bad. I'll be sure to get some good rest then. Goodnight, Straf.」

She lets go, though her face becomes visibly gloomy.

「Yeah… Goodnight, Lia… Remember, empire is just a fancy title!…」

With a tight-lipped grimace, Straf backs out of the room, nodding his head as he shuts the door behind himself…

…

Well into the night, far in the east, at the foot of the Mountain Palace…

In the shade of the clouds obscuring the already weak moonlight, a hooded dark figure wrapped shrouded in a black robe descends the final steps of the mountain, clutching tight onto a bundle in its arms. An old man with a walking staff trails behind the figure, struggling to keep up, grunting and panting as he shifts most of his weight onto the staff.

「Falcon!…」

Just before the figure is about to disappear behind the terrain, Willow calls out from behind. It stops in its tracks.

「…Heh. So it is you, after all.」

A sly grin appears on the old man's face as he descends the final steps, and approaches Falcon, who looks over his shoulder at him.

「You were guessing?」

The young swordsman asks, pulling some of his black hood aside.

「It was an educated guess… The child went missing, and so have you…」

Willow shrugs, and looks at the bundle of cloth in Falcon's arms. A child opens its sleepy, confused amber eyes, and briefly glances at the two, before closing them again.

「…It was fairly easy to figure out what happened, and where you two might have disappeared off to. I know you well, Falcon. What are you planning?」

The old mage says, and calmly strokes his short beard.

「They were going to kill it tonight, Willow.」

With eyes warily narrowed, Falcon glares at the old man.

「I know. I heard.」

He casually nods his head, grimacing lightly, looking back into his glaring gaze with his tired one.

「…That's not right, Willow. If I'm supposed to protect the innocent, is this not it?…」

Briefly clenching his teeth, Falcon asks, and nods his head down at the sleeping child.

「…It might be part demon, but it's part human, too. It's just not right to kill it before it even had a chance to do any good or evil. It has no allies in this world. If I won't stand for it, who will?」

He adds, and returns his glare to the old mage.

「You're not wrong…」

Willow nods along, looking aside towards the city lights below.

「…But what's your plan, Falcon? Only I know that it was you, it seems.」

He asks, and looks at the young swordsman's hooded face.

「I'm going to take it somewhere safe, to someone who will want it.」

Falcon replies, glancing again at the child.

「You could get into really bad trouble for this, you know?…」

With his brows raised, Willow smiles lightly through his heavily wrinkled face.

「So be it…」

The swordsman replies, and covertly reaches into his black robes wrapping him.

「…Are you going to stop me, Willow?」

He asks, gripping onto his sword, glaring at the old man. A strong gust of cold wind blows, and the two look at each other for ten seconds.

「…Nope. To be honest, I'm glad you went and did something stupid like this. It didn't sit quite right with me either, but I didn't want to encourage you…」

With a light smile, Willow turns his gaze back to the city. Falcon lets out a long, relieved sigh, and takes his hand off his hilt.

「…That'd be irresponsible. But you are young, and particularly stupid, so even if the word somehow gets out, I might be able to argue that you just have a soft heart.」

The old man quickly glances at Falcon, then returns his eyes to the lights down the winding road.

「Can you do something to help me, then? Anything?」

「No. You've went and done this, so the child is now your responsibility, Falcon. I can't offer you more than advice. This isn't the first time I'm dealing with an abandoned child…」

Falcon asks, and Willow quickly, bluntly replies with a shake of his head, calmly watching the tiny, carefree people in the lights below.

「…And I'm not going to be around to deal with another, so take it to good people, and watch whether the seed you planted grows into something bountiful, or a man-eating plant.」

The old mage shrugs his robed shoulder, and lets out a sigh.

「…Willow, if they ask whether I had something to do with it, don't lie for my sake. If something comes out of it, I'll take the full responsibility.」

Falcon looks at the child again, then lifts his now-softer gaze up to Willow, who dismissively throws his hand up, rolling his weary eyes.

「Ahhhh, Falcon… I'm an old man. My sight isn't so good anymore, and I struggle to remember things…」

Willow turns away, and begins to climb the steps back to the palace.

「…When you're back, remind me that I saw a hooded figure leave the palace, but it was dark… It's important!」

He wags his finger at Falcon, without as much as looking at him, slowly climbing each step.

「Heh… Sure thing…」

Falcon lets out an amused huff, adjusts the hood on his head, and descends the dirt road down…