“Lady Louis, it’s time to wake up.”

“Ugh.”

Ah.

At first, I thought it was a strange voice, but then I realized it was the maid from the Count Alphares' household. With quiet footsteps, she had entered the room, opened the curtains, and was standing quietly beside me.

Even though I received the same service yesterday and the day before, I still hadn’t gotten used to it.

“If you’re still feeling sleepy, would you like me to massage your shoulders?”

“Ah... yes... thank you.”

I was exhausted from learning crafting techniques from Dia Yursil until late last night. Soon, the maid’s hands began to gently massage my shoulders.

“Ah...”

The sensation of fatigue fading away felt so good.

“It’s time for your face wash.”

“Yes...”

As I simply sat there, a washbasin was placed in front of me.

“Shall I wipe your face...?”

“Ah, no. I’ll do it myself.”

I couldn’t ask her to wash my face, so I did it myself.

“How cute...”

“Excuse me? What did you say?”

“Nothing, nothing.”

After washing my face, it was time to change clothes. At this point, another maid came in with my neatly washed clothes.

“Lady Louis, I’ll help you change this time...”

“No, I’ll do it myself as planned. Please wait a moment.”

“...?”

There was a brief commotion outside the room, and then the original maid entered, looking slightly tired but satisfied, as if she had just returned from battle after defeating an enemy general.

“Until Lady Louis leaves the mansion, I will be in charge, so there’s no need to ask any other maids for help.”

“Yes, yes.”

With that, after receiving the maid’s help, I finished changing and went down for breakfast. I would get to enjoy the exquisite dishes prepared by the mansion's chef.

‘Is this what noble ladies experience every day?’

In that case, it might have been better to be reborn as a noble lady.

“Louis, you’re awake.”

“You’re the last one to get up again.”

“I guess that means you’ve been working hard. You shouldn’t overdo it.”

The hero party was waiting for me. I quickly sat next to Serelin.

“Louis, eat this too.”

Serelin, who was sitting next to me, offered me her carrot soup. I looked at her with disbelief.

“...Are you not eating? The carrot soup?”

“Uh, I don’t usually prefer soups that much.”

“You can’t change your words like that.”

Quickly taking the soup, I savored it. It was said that the spice from Alphares was particularly excellent, and perhaps that was why the carrot soup was so rich.

‘I want more...’

“Here you go, Lady Louis.”

“Eh?”

Before I knew it, a maid was standing behind me with a new bowl of soup.

Serelin and the maid helped me finish three bowls of carrot soup, and I hadn’t even touched the other dishes.

But as long as my mouth was happy, that was what mattered.

After finishing breakfast, it was time to head to our respective gates.

“Aria, you’re heading to the southern gate today, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct. I heard from Raphiere that there aren’t many injuries. Thank you.”

“Oh, come on. More importantly, once today is over, I’ll buy you a delicious skewer. I found a place yesterday...”

Raphiere and Aria, who would be moving with me today, set off first, leaving only the hero, Serelin, and me behind. And just like that, the atmosphere between the hero and Serelin felt subtly different, as if something had changed.

“Aswell, let’s give it our all today.”

“Uh, yeah. I got it, Serelin. You too... do your best. Don’t get hurt.”

Whoa.

It was obvious there had been some progress. Serelin even sent me a wink. That was roughly a sign of success.

Yet she still couldn't hide her embarrassment, quickly riding off with a flushed face.

Now it was just the hero and me left.

“Lux, come here.”

“Louis.”

While I waited for Night Lux to settle down, the hero suddenly called out to me.

“Yes, hero.”

“Did you learn the technique you wanted yesterday?”

Ah, now that I think about it, I hadn’t spoken with the hero since yesterday when we parted ways. The only exchange had been a brief greeting before breakfast.

“Yes. Thanks to you, I was able to learn it safely.”

“...Well, I’m glad to hear that.”

“And did you make it back safely yesterday? Did you encounter any bad people?”

I asked even though I already knew the answer. The hero reacted strangely.

“Ah, yeah. I met Serelin. We had a meal together and then returned to the mansion.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. ...But that’s all. Really.”

“...?”

For some reason, the hero seemed to insist on his innocence. I didn’t think he would assume anything happened between him and Serelin.

‘Serelin must be quite shy.’

With that, it was time for Night Lux and the hero on Tempest to part ways.

“Well then, hero.”

“Uh?”

“Do your best today.”

“...Yeah, you too. Don’t get hurt.”

“Of course. You don’t get hurt either.”

With those words, we moved in opposite directions.

This would probably be the last peaceful morning I’d feel.

Today, huh.

Today, as twilight descended, the dusk fortress would appear.

There were roughly about eight hours left.

Soon, countless monsters would emerge from the dusk fortress.

However, in contrast, only one type of demon would emerge.

In other words, the dusk fortress is a unique space that is only controlled by one kind of demon.

[Facing the sunset, the black fortress of Alphares’ western gate was revealed... a massive black castle.]

According to the original fate, the western gate would crumble due to the attacks of the demons from the dusk fortress.

As a result, not only the hero party but also the garrison forces would struggle to approach in the early stages.

“Not this time.”

Having completed the additional reinforcement work through Mithril-like, it wouldn’t be breached by any common attack.

I was confident in the quality since I had tested it multiple times with prototypes.

[Adventurers and mercenaries attempted to approach the dusk fortress. But each time, numerous casualties occurred due to the monsters that sprang from the ground.]

To counter this, I buried several magical tools inscribed with detection and observation spells nearby.

When the monsters prepare for an ambush, my tools will sense it and visually show the vibrations to minimize damage.

[Realizing they could no longer afford further casualties, the hero party eventually entered the dusk fortress. They were all scattered due to the fortress’s magic.]

The dusk fortress, which takes on a maze-like form.

Ultimately, to defeat the demon that was the master of the fortress, they must enter it.

“I can’t dispel the magic itself.”

If only I had time, I could unravel it, but there was no crucial time left.

Therefore, I needed a way to regroup quickly even if we were scattered.

Learning the gem crafting techniques might be helpful to some extent.

And finally.

“The greatest damage that results from the death of the master of the fortress.”

If the demon cannot accept its death, it will struggle, causing numerous casualties.

To prevent this...

“...I really don’t want to use you if I can help it.”

I looked up at the eastern sky. Above the bright sun shining in the vast sky, something sparkled.

Even if I use that thing, it seems unlikely that the demon will die... but if it’s urgent, I’ll have to use it.

“Now, it’s really almost time.”

I need to focus.

That way, I can save at least one more person.

“Let’s go, Lux.”

Until then, let’s prepare as much as we can.

The war is about to begin.

“Serelin! We’ve reclaimed all the farmland in the northeast!”

“It's all thanks to your efforts. We could only achieve victory because of everyone’s hard work.”

At the northern gate.

Here, there were more guards than adventurers and mercenaries.

This was largely due to the harsh environment, making it easier for Alphares' guards to operate, but it was also significant that Serelin was active here.

“Serelin.”

“You’re the captain of the northern gate, right? It’s good to see you alive.”

“Thanks to you, Lady Serelin. But also... it seems like the number of monsters has significantly decreased.”

“The number of monsters has decreased, huh? I’ve felt the same way.”

Until yesterday, there had been a horde of about a hundred monsters attacking at every opportunity.

But today, even considering the numbers they had all exterminated, it barely exceeded five hundred.

Could this strange phenomenon be coming to an end soon?

Everyone was thinking that way.

At that moment, a guard rushed in, shouting urgently.

“Emergency!”

“What’s going on?”

“A mysterious black castle has appeared at the western gate! The western gate is being attacked by numerous monsters!”

“What?!”

“Right now, the guards who can move are... Serelin?”

“Our wizard is in danger. We must go ahead.”

With a firm expression, Serelin quickly mounted her horse and sped through the city.

We needed to hurry as much as possible.

“Ah, Lady Aria! It hurts here too...”

“Hey, man! Don’t cause a scene! Lady Aria is uncomfortable!”

“Ah, ahaha...”

In the midst of the mercenaries, Aria was making a flustered expression. Raphiere approached her, kicking the mercenaries away.

“Huh... thanks to you, the battle ended quickly today.”

“It’s all thanks to the skills of the mercenaries and your leadership, Lady Raphiere.”

“No, it’s your healing and encouragement that empowered those muscles.”

She said lightly, but Raphiere had admired Aria’s skills multiple times.

Zero injuries. Even before the mercenaries could be hurt by the monsters, Aria's protective barriers had shielded them, so no one suffered serious injuries.

Raphiere could now understand why Aria had been chosen as the saint.

“Using divine power, her quick judgment and intuition are on par with even the most seasoned mercenaries.”

“Is that so? Hehe, thank you.”

“That's right! Lady Aria is qualified to be my bride... Gah!”

“Shut up!”

At that moment, a mercenary galloped in on horseback.

“What’s the rush?”

“The western gate is under attack!”

“...What?!”

“A black castle suddenly appeared. We need to provide support immediately.”

At the mercenary's words, the laughter on the faces of others faded, and they began to gather their equipment and run.

Raphiere and Aria exchanged glances and shouted one name.

“...Louis!!”

“Lady Louis!!”

“Ugh... Hero! The western gate is currently under attack!”

“Huh?”

“If it’s the hero, he already left with a tense face! It seems he sensed the tremors caused by the castle appearing in the west!!”

“What? That makes no sense!”

“That’s why he’s the hero! Hurry up! We also received a call for support! Other adventurers are moving too!”

“I can’t believe this is happening in a place that hasn’t been attacked at all in the west... But is there a party member over there?”

“Ah, the one that just joined is the wizard who went there.”

“That's why he must have gone so quickly. Because his companion is in danger.”

“Hm... Just calling her a companion feels...”

“What? What’s strange?”

“No, I almost thought she was his girlfriend for a moment because he looked so angry and worried. Anyway, let’s hurry!”