The soldiers finally arrived. Their leader stepped forward and immediately introduced himself as Gazef Stronoff. He quickly clarified that he was not an enemy—he explained that he and his men had been dispatched by the Kingdom specifically to protect the village.
Gazef then asked, turning toward the group standing beside the village chief, "Who are the people with you, sir?"
The village chief was about to explain, but Momonga cut him off. Momonga calmly replied, "We are just an adventurers who happened to pass by this village, my name is Momon."
He gestured toward Ulbert and continued, "This is Adalbert." Pointing next to Henry, "This is Enrique." Finally, to Albedo, "And she is Aurora."
And once the introductions were finished, Momon, Aurora, and Gazef headed together to one of the houses to continue their confersatation in private...
Well, not really private if I'm watching the show right now.
Gazef looked directly at Momon, his gaze sharp but respectful. "First, allow me to express my deepest gratitude once more. When I arrived and saw the aftermath… I feared the worst. Yet here the village stands, its people safe. That is thanks to you all, Momon-dono."
Momonga kept his voice deep and measured, perfectly in character for the mysterious adamantite adventurer.
"There is no need for excessive thanks, Warrior-Captain. We are adventurers. Protecting the weak from monsters—or from men acting like monsters—is part of the job. We simply happened to pass by at the time." It's kind of weird to hear a deep voice coming from Suzuki's face.
"Even so… the power needed to defeat a group of well-trained knights so thoroughly… few adventurers possess such strength. Please allow me to ask directly, Momon-dono."
Gazef continued to study Momon, "Might I know your purpose in coming to this remote village? If you are seeking compensation for your deeds, the Kingdom would be more than willing to reward such heroism. Or… is there something else you desire?"
Momonga paused, as though considering his words carefully, "We seek no special reward from the Kingdom. We simply wished to help. However… if I may be so bold, Captain, this region seems troubled."
He analyze every nuance of Gazef's tone, body language, and the political implications—"Knights disguised as Imperials raiding villages, drawing out the Kingdom's strongest warrior… it feels less like random banditry and more like bait. A trap, perhaps?"
Gazef's eyes narrowed, a flicker of surprise crossing his features before he schooled his expression back to calm professionalism. "Sharp insight. I had the same suspicion. Someone wishes to lure me—or the Kingdom's forces—into the open. But I cannot ignore my duty to protect the people. If it is a trap… then I will sprint towards it, and cut down whoever waits on the other side."
He bowed forward slightly, "Momon-dono. Your strength could turn the tide in many battles. Would you consider lending your power to the Kingdom, even if only temporarily? Not as a subject, but as an ally. I would stake my honor that the King would treat you with the respect you deserve."
Momonga gently placed a hand on Gazef's shoulder and helped him stand. "An intriguing offer… but for now, we prefer to operate freely as adventurers. Still—I will not stand idly by if innocents are threatened. I will continue to protect this village under my name."
Gazef nodded slowly, accepting the answer without pushing further. "That is more than enough. Then I will create a distraction so that all the villagers will have a chance to escape." He bowed once more—this time deeper, a warrior's salute of genuine respect. "I must return to my men and prepare."
Well, pretty much the same. Nothing much has changed, except for Momonga's name (Wait, that's kinda rhyme), in the conversation.
As Momon and Gazef were still discusing inside the house, Ulbert—under the guise of Adalbert—quietly approached towards the villagers had gathered for safety. Without drawing attention, he raised a hand and cast a multilayered protective barrier around the house.
A faint, nearly invisible shimmer rippled through the air before settling into place, ensuring the non-combatants inside would remain secure even if the battle spilled back toward the village.
Meanwhile at the same time, Henry had slipped away to collect the remnants of the enemy force.
Once everything was collected, he opened [GATE] and stepped through, bringing the entire group—both the living and the prisoners lifeless bodies—directly to Nazarick's.
Upon arrival in the Great Tomb, Henry issued clear orders to SebasTian. "Sebas, turn the corpses into undead soldiers. As for the survivors, lock them in the dungeon for the time being and don't let them die, Ulbert will decide their fate later."
Sebas bowed deeply, voice steady and composed. "It shall be done as your command, My Lord."
When that done, I returned with another [GATE], to the village.
-----
By the time i reappeared on the outskirts of the village, Gazef's and his men were already preparing to depart.
The men were mounting their horses, armor clinked as they adjusted straps, checking swords, shields, and forming neat formation—poised to march toward the battlefield where the trap awaited.
Gazef was about to mount his own steed and give the order to advance when Henry stepped forward, and addressing the Warrior-Captain with calm respect.
"Captain Gazef," Henry said, voice clear and measured, "before you depart—if you will allow it, I would gladly provide magical enhancement for your soldiers. A temporary boost to grant them strenght, endurance, and resilience—enough to grant your unit a decisive advantage against whatever force awaits."
Gazef paused, then turning fully toward Henry, a brief flash of surprise flickered behind the Captain's eyes—then it softened with profound, earnest gratitude.
"…Enrique-dono, your generosity knows no bounds. The safety of the people, the lives of the villagers, and the honor of the Kingdom may well rest on the outcome of the next few hours, my men and I would be honored to receive it." He placed a gauntleted fist firmly over his heart in the formal salute of a Re-Estize warrior.
Henry nooded his head slightly in acknowledgment, and began preparing the spell. A soft, warm golden light flowed outward from his palms, forming a circle filled with intricate incantations that slowly spread outward, washing gently over the assembled knights.
And almost immediately the men felt it—new vigor flooded their limbs, muscles tightening with unnatural strength, every trace of fatigue dissolving as if it had never existed.
Their hearts pounded not with fear, but with fierce, unshakable determination. Death, which had loomed a shadow in their heart moments ago, now felt distant—almost trivial.
They stood straighter, gripped their weapons with renewed confidence, their eyes shining bright and fearless.
The knights, invigorated and emboldened, raised their voices in a unified cheer. Swords flashed in the fading light as they saluted.
Gazef swung up into his saddle, sword raised high. "Knights of the Re-Estize Kingdom—forward! For the Kingdom! For the people!"
The column surged into motion, hooves thundering across the earth, banners streaming behind them. They rode toward the trap with heads held high, filled with a courage that felt unbreakable.
Henry watched them go, expression unreadable, and a quiet satisfaction settling in his chest.
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To Gazef and every knight, it was a powerful magical enhancement meant to carry them through the coming clash. None of them suspected anything.
They did not know that the true purpose of the spell was not merely to strengthen them—but to ensure their survival.
Hidden beneath the surface of the boost lay his real intent—a sophisticated layered ward combining illusion and preservation magic.
Should any knight suffer a mortal injury, to the enemy's eyes it would appear fatal. And in instant, the knight would instantly slip into a deep, protective slumber—his breathing and heartbeat slowed like a faintest whisper, making him indistinguishable from the dead.
He would remain in that state until the battle ended and all danger had passed, then awaken once it was safe.
You might ask, why go this far?
He did this because he deeply admired the unwavering loyalty Gazef and his knights showed. He wanted to preserve that rare quality, and more importantly, he wanted to redirect it to serve Nazarick one day.
He felt no concern that Gazef would outright reject an eventual offer. Because he already had several plans prepared for them—whether built on gratitude for their lives, magical influence, or other means—he was confident that the outcome would eventually align with his goals.
---------
...
Ulbert, observing from a short distance away under his guise as Adalbert, watched the casting in silence. Recognized the weave of the spell at once.
It was not a simple augmentation—the signature was unmistakable. His eyes narrowed slightly, but he remained silent.
He already knew precisely what was passing through Henry's mind—no explanation was needed.