Chapter 33

"Almost there, we should be able to get out of the forest soon! Char! Keep going!"

Two young women, who had just reached adulthood, were running through the dim forest.

One was wearing a dirty silver armor, holding a sword in one hand and the other girl's hand in the other.

She was dressed as a knight, but her face was also dirty, and she didn't seem to care much about it.

Both were already exhausted and covered in injuries, breathing heavily as they continued through the seemingly endless forest.

"Al... can we take a break...? I can't take another step..."

The other girl, Char, was wearing a tattered dress, and it seemed difficult to walk, as it was torn at the hem.

She was breathing heavily, being pulled by Al as they cautiously moved through the forest.

"Alright. Let's take a short break... We've lost the pursuers, and once we get out of this forest, we'll be in the kingdom where Lady Natalie is."

The two leaned against a tree and sat down.

Al, the silver-armored knight, remained vigilant, keeping her sword within reach.

(If we can just get to the city... If we can just see Lady Natalie, everything will be alright...)

Al thought this to herself as she caught her breath.

They had narrowly escaped numerous battles, and Al was carrying a magic bag with all their belongings.

She took a water bag from the bag and handed it to Char. Char drank from the water bag to quench her thirst.

After Char handed the water bag back to Al, Al also drank from it before putting it back in the bag.

(How could Father... lose...?)

Al's face twisted in frustration as she tasted the bitterness of defeat.

--- One month ago

The invasion of the Generate Kingdom began suddenly.

As usual, the Generate Kingdom declared war on the Lunette Empire.

For the past few years, there had been minor skirmishes, but no full-scale war.

However, due to the differences in ideology, the two countries never cooperated.

The Generate Kingdom was a human supremacist state, where all non-humans were slaves.

In contrast, the Lunette Empire was a collaborative state, where humans, beastmen, forest people, and dwarves worked together to run the country. Capable individuals, regardless of race, were appointed to positions.

The forest people, skilled in magic, served as court magicians; the beastmen, with their high physical abilities, served as knights; the dwarves, skilled in craftsmanship, and the humans, with their average high abilities, served as civil servants.

Each group utilized their strengths to prosper the country.

Upon receiving news of the invasion, knights, magicians, and soldiers were immediately mobilized to defend the country.

However, a few days later, a report came in that the soldiers had been nearly annihilated and the city had been occupied, without any mercy.

The capital of the Lunette Empire was only about twenty days' travel from the border with the Generate Kingdom.

The emperor, receiving daily reports of defeat, made a decision.

"--- Garet... Can I count on you...?"

"Your Majesty, I will go to battle."

The emperor's words were answered by a knight standing next to him, wearing particularly luxurious silver armor.

Garet von Milda, the silver knight, served as the head of the royal guard to protect the emperor.

He was known as the strongest knight in the Lunette Empire and was highly trusted by the people.

Led by Garet, the royal guards and the best warriors set out from the castle.

The capital was filled with people who had gathered to see them off, eager to witness their heroic departure.

Garet had never lost in any of his previous battles.

The people also waited for the victory reports as they saw the knights off.

--- A few days later, news came that Garet had been defeated and a "hero" who had defeated Garet had appeared.

The emperor, receiving the secret report, decided to send a few knights to escort the princess, Charlotte, and Garet's daughter, Altria, to the Salandier Kingdom.

At the same time, he sent a request for aid to the Salandier Kingdom, along with a diplomat.

"--- Why...? I want to stay and defend this country with Father!"

Sighing heavily at Charlotte's indignation, the emperor gave orders to the knights.

"Altria, I entrust Charlotte to you... You must deliver her to Lady Natalie."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will deliver her safely."

"Garet's defeat... I have wronged you..."

Altria, seeing the emperor bow his head, urgently told him to raise his head.

"Your Majesty, Father fulfilled his duty... But I am frustrated..."

Altria, trying not to shed tears, bowed and then followed the two knights who were carrying the reluctant Charlotte away.

"--- I entrust Charlotte to you..."

The carriage carrying Charlotte headed towards the Salandier Kingdom, but the Generate Kingdom's forces were quick.

The knights who were escorting the princess shielded her from the pursuers.

By the time they abandoned the carriage and fled into the forest, only Altria remained as the guard.

"I can't go on, Al..."

"Princess! No, Char! You can't say that. If we can just see Lady Natalie... If we can just see Lady Natalie..."

"We don't even know where Lady Natalie is in the Salandier Kingdom..."

"Even so, if we give up, the soldiers who fought for this country and the knights who shielded us to let Char escape... They all did it for us. Char must survive and meet Lady Natalie for everyone."

"--- You're right... For everyone. Al, please. Help me meet Lady Natalie..."

"Yes! I will definitely deliver you to Lady Natalie."

The two smiled and nodded, then stepped into the dense forest.

Thank you as always.

Finally, the two characters who seem to be the heroines have appeared?