Preparations Before Setting Out

The muffled sobbing inside the room gradually subsided.

"Aren't you going to wash up? If you go back like this, your shrewd Highness will certainly notice."

"Alright. Please have someone bring me a basin of water. I need to wash my face."

"Understood."

A moment later, the door opened, and Lola emerged, having regained her usual stern composure. She adjusted her glasses, her eyes filled with an indomitable aura as if she had made a final resolution.

"Baker, get me news from the front as soon as possible. I do not want Her Highness to come to any harm."

"I understand. I will do it as quickly as I can, but it will be difficult. There are scattered demons in many places along the border. I tried to have people break through, but the blockade is too tight. There is little opportunity."

"I know it is difficult. I would not have asked you if it were easy."

"Heh~ You really know how to put people to work. Fine, I will have them step up the pace."

"Good."

Lola nodded and stepped out of the room.

Watching her departing back, Baker felt a mix of complex emotions.

In truth, even now, he did not know whether it was a good or bad thing for Lola to have seen that letter.

However...

Baker turned to look at the letter sitting on the table, a cryptic smile playing on his lips.

"Saintess... is this a move to win hearts, or is it a genuine display of emotion? This time, I intend to see clearly."

The door was locked once more. No one would ever know of the small moment that had just occurred.

...

Meanwhile, on Dragon Island.

The golden dragon lay sprawled before a massive platform.

"Your Majesty... does this human Saintess truly demand so much? And you actually agreed?"

"Correct. Go and make the arrangements."

"But Your Majesty, we are facing the demons. This..."

The golden dragon narrowed its eyes slightly.

"The demons are the common enemy of all living creatures on this continent. Just go and arrange it. If the demons truly wipe out the humans, do you think the other races will be able to live in peace?"

"...I understand, Your Majesty. I will see to it immediately."

"Good. Go."

The golden dragon sat up, propped up like a person.

Its massive claw scooped up a huge handful of gold coins from beneath its seat.

It held them high, letting them slip through its fingers and tumble to the ground with a rhythmic clatter.

"Hahaha! Interesting! Truly interesting! It has been a thousand years since I met a human bold enough to speak to me like that."

His booming laughter acted like a sonic weapon, causing the small mountains of gold coins on the floor to tremble incessantly.

"It seems I should meet her in person. Yes, it is decided!"

As he spoke, the golden dragon rose from his throne and suddenly unfurled the wings behind him. The wingspan, exceeding a thousand meters, blotted out the sun!

With a flap of those wings, his massive body slowly rose into the air and flew off into the distance.

...

At that moment in the Temple, no one yet knew of the Dragon King's movements.

Hilda, dressed in full military attire, had already completed all her preparations.

However, before setting out, there had to be a plan. They could not simply head out blindly and start fighting without direction.

That would lead to total ruin.

Therefore, Luo Li was currently discussing where to start the battle with Hilda and Cain.

A large sand table of the entire Kingdom of the Moon sat before Luo Li.

The sand table was composed of one-foot-square models that could be disassembled or combined to form a massive map.

"Hilda, Cain, after leaving the city, each of you will lead a thousand knights. Hilda, you take the vanguard, and Cain, you take the rear. At a normal marching speed, how long before we encounter the refugees?"

Looking at the sand table, this specific section covered the area northeast of Brilliant City, ranging from five hundred to a thousand kilometers away.

Including the cities and forests, the area of this northeast region was vast, and the land was fertile.

However, due to the constant demon incursions, no one would cultivate the land no matter how rich it was.

"Your Highness, the refugees are retreating from the northeast border toward Brilliant City and Plain City. We will not encounter the eastern refugees; they will retreat directly to Plain City along this route."

Cain picked up a pointer and gestured toward a long river flowing from the east coast to Plain City.

"Because of their large numbers, the refugees will generally follow the riverbank and not stray too far. Therefore, the other wave of refugees retreating from the northeast will follow the tributary of the Moon River."

Cain's pointer moved over several mountain peaks, pointing directly at a location surrounded by mountains on all sides.

"If all goes as planned and we maintain a normal marching speed, we should make contact with the refugee vanguard in front of the Four-Ring Mountains."

The Four-Ring Mountains served as the junction between the Brilliant City plains and the northeast region. Beyond this point lay the true northeast, where the climate grew much colder.

"According to Your Highness's plan, we should pass through the Four-Ring Mountains first and then, right here..."

Cain pointed to a narrow north-south corridor at the Four-Ring Mountains.

"This should be the best place to engage the enemy. No matter how many demon elites there are, if we clash here, they will be unable to flank us and will be forced into a head-on confrontation."

The geography of the Four-Ring Mountains was interesting. True to its name, it consisted of four mountains surrounding a valley shaped like a basin, with a massive lake in the center.

The orientation of these four mountains was also unique, facing northeast, southeast, northwest, and southwest.

Consequently, the Four-Ring Mountains had four exits: north, south, east, and west.

However, no matter which way one went, it was necessary to circle the central lake and pass along its shores to reach an exit.

It was an absolutely perfect location for an ambush.

Cain's meaning was simple: have their forces exit the Four-Ring Mountains first, then hold the eastern exit, using that narrow passage as their formation line to meet the demons head-on.

"Why not here?"

Luo Li raised her hand and pointed to a section of the plains behind the Four-Ring Mountains. The terrain there was gentle and far more suitable for a cavalry charge.

Why would Cain abandon the cavalry's advantage to hold a defensive position?

Wait... is it because of me?

"Cain, you aren't suggesting this because you are worried about me, are you?"

"This..."

Cain looked troubled as he raised his head to look at her.

"Your Highness, the Saint's Carriage is, in the end, a carriage, not a horse. Its flexibility is far inferior to that of the cavalry. If we perform a cavalry charge, the Saint's Carriage will inevitably be left far behind."

"Cain, do not worry about me. To utilize the maximum power of the cavalry, we must be on the plains. Therefore, the battlefield will be here!"

As she pointed to the plains, Cain's brow furrowed deeply.

"Your Highness, doing so would put your carriage in danger."

"...Cain, do you think I haven't embraced the resolve to die?"

Cain's hand paused slightly. He remained silent for a long time before taking a deep breath.

"Then the site of the decisive battle shall be here. However, Your Highness, while the Saint's Carriage can participate in the first charge, it will definitely not be able to keep up with the second."

"Therefore, I believe we must leave at least five hundred knights to protect the Saint's Carriage."

"No! The demons coming this time will certainly be elites. Two thousand knights is already the bare minimum. Any fewer and you will never break through the demon army's central command."

"But Your Highness, if we do that!"

"Cain! I am the Saintess!!"

Luo Li looked up, staring directly at Cain, but he did not back down as he watched her.

"Your Highness! If you die on the battlefield, all the knights will lose their will to fight! I beg you to reconsider!!"

This... he was right.

If she died on the battlefield, the other knights would likely lose their fighting spirit instantly.

"We will abandon the Saint's Carriage once the battle begins. I will join the charge with all of you."

"But Your Highness..."

"No buts! Cain, this is a battle of no return. There can be no hesitation. It is decided. I will charge with you the moment the battle starts."

Compared to the night battle in Brilliant City, this field battle was far more dangerous.

If the battle went poorly, there would be nowhere to run on the open plains.

Cain wanted to say more, but Hilda, standing nearby, interrupted him.

"Cain, the Highness is right. On the battlefield, the Saint's Carriage is nothing more than a target. I agree with the decision to abandon it."

Cain's brow tightened as he turned to Hilda.

"How can you say that too?"

"The Highness's decision is reasonable. There is nothing more to say."

That was right... wait.

Why did it feel like something was wrong?

"Hilda..."

"Sir Cain, do not forget that you are merely a knight, while Her Highness is the Saintess!"

Hilda stared directly at Cain. For a moment, Cain was speechless. He stood stunned for a long while before sighing helplessly.

"Fine. Since you agree as well, we will do it that way."

Strange... it really was a bit strange.

Actually, it was very strange!

Logically, the degree to which Hilda treasured her should exceed Cain's. At any time or place, her first thought should be for Luo Li's personal safety.

Yet this time, she had sided with Luo Li without the slightest hesitation.

This strange sense of dissonance left Luo Li somewhat baffled.

"Hilda... you don't have a fever, do you?"

"Hm? Why would Your Highness say that?"

Hilda looked at her with a puzzled expression, appearing as though she truly thought it was a good idea and thus supported it.

But why did that sense of wrongness refuse to dissipate?

"The general strategy is settled. In that case, there is nothing more to say."

"However, Your Highness, if the situation becomes untenable, you can head directly from the plains toward the border. The military strength there should be more than enough to protect you."

Cain thought it over and finally agreed to the plan, but Luo Li still felt that something was off.

"The matter is settled then. Since that is the case, Your Highness, I will go back and make further preparations."

"Yes, go ahead. Hilda..."

"Your Highness, I must go prepare as well."

"Uh... alright. Then both of you be ready tomorrow morning. We set out at dawn."

Watching Hilda, Luo Li couldn't help but feel that she was hiding something.