Holy Mania Empire, Maple Leaf Collar on the Southwestern Border.

As the frontier of the Empire, the mapped Collar looks like a protruding sharp knife, crossing the Vimur River and slanting into the junction of the Dark Mountains, the Elven Forest, and the Kingdom of Iris.

In fact, as early as a thousand years ago, this place did belong to the original Elven Forest, and there are still many elven ruins left in the territory, but it has become a good place for some nobles and tourists to visit......

Maple Leaf Collars Southwest, Creek Township.

The winter sky was blue, the town was creaked by the freezing windmills, and there was still a thin layer of snow on the brick and wood houses.

The old alleys are filled with smoke, the aroma of bread and barbecue, and the sound of children playing and playing can be heard from time to time.

The entrance to the town, the guard post on duty.

The campfire danced to the crackling of dry wood, and two guards in leather armor sat around the fire, one fat and one thin, drunk on the muddy ale and roasting a fat rabbit that had just been caught in the field.

"Hiccup...... Okay? ”

The chunky guard burped.

He stared at the brown, dripping rabbit meat with an enticing aroma, and then couldn't help but ask expectantly as he swallowed his saliva.

"Don't worry, bake again! More flavorful! ”

The tall and skinny guard who presided over the roast rabbit rolled his eyes, took out a small bag with him, and carefully opened it, revealing some finely chopped salt.

I saw that he took out some of them painfully, and sprinkled them carefully:

"Put a little salt in it, it tastes better."

"Hiccup—"

The short and fat guard, looking at the golden rabbit meat, his eyes became straighter and straighter.

While the two were barbecuing, suddenly, the copper bell hanging on the side of the outpost made a series of crisp sounds.

The tall and thin guard who was roasting the meat looked back, and then his eyes were scolded:

"Huh? The trap is touched! ”

The stocky guards were in good spirits:

"Huh? Caught the beast again? ”

He subconsciously swallowed.

"I don't know, it could also be Warcraft, there have been a lot of Warcraft in the direction of the Elven Forest recently, maybe there are big guys, we are not professionals, we have to be careful......"

The thin guard shook his head, and then Nunu said:

"Let's go, take the guys, and let's have a look."

"That'...... Rabbit meat. ”

"Leave it here first, and I'll be back in a minute."

"Hmm...... All right. ”

The two men put on their helmets, picked up their weapons, and walked out of the outpost.

They walked out of town along a hidden rope......

In the field, covered with heavy snow.

And the trap that the two of them planted to catch their prey was also hidden in the snow.

For some reason, there are more beasts operating outside the town this winter than in previous years, and there are many monsters that have only been heard of in the Elven Forest.

Earlier, Ximu Town had even been hit by a tide of beasts.

Therefore, in consideration of safety, the town has set up such a special outpost for observation.

Traps, on the one hand, are used for warning, and on the other hand, they are also tools for hunting.

The cold wind blew away the drunkenness of the two of them, and they clenched their weapons, held their breath, and cautiously groped in the direction of the trap......

Soon, they saw a figure caught in the trap of the beast.

It's just that it's not a beast, it's a human.

It was a human male in his fifties, emaciated and disheveled, wailing as he clutched his legs caught in the trap.

He was dirty, extremely embarrassed, shivering from the cold, and his clothes were tattered and tattered, with a trace of blood, but he could vaguely recognize that he was wearing a butler's uniform, and it was a good material that only big people wear......

Mankind?!

The two guards opened their mouths wide.

And when they see each other's faces clearly......

"Master Anders?! How are you?! You escaped from the Black Dragon?! ”

The thin guard looked surprised.

"Lord Anders? What's wrong with you? How did you lose so much weight?! ”

The fat guard said in surprise.

Anders:......

"Don't mention it! Fast! Help me get out of this trap, I don't know which bastard set the trap at the entrance of the village! Damn it! I don't know if I can hurt people by mistake?! ”

Anders scolded, but ...... Some are weak.

It's winter, it's the border again, and apart from those smugglers, how can anyone come from outside the town?

The two muttered in their hearts.

However, they moved quickly and hurriedly helped Anders out of the trap......

The other party is the lord's butler, a high-ranking figure!

Breaking free from the trap, Anders limped to his feet, and at this time, his stomach rumbled loudly.

"Gollum~"

Anders's smudged old face flushed slightly.

He coughed lightly and asked:

"Is there anything to eat?"

The two guards looked at each other and were about to answer, but Anders sniffed and his eyes lit up:

"What a smell, it's so fragrant."

Guardsman:......

……

The outpost in Creekwood.

Anders sat in front of the campfire, gobbling down the golden, charred rabbit meat, his mouth full of greasy.

Looking at him as if he hadn't eaten for a month, the two guards looked at each other and were speechless.

The thin man was fine, but the fat man looked at the rabbit meat that was gnawed less and less by Anders, and his eyes were straight.

In the end, it was the thin man who tugged at his sleeve, and he withdrew his gaze.

"Ahem......"

It seemed that he had eaten too quickly, Anders was suddenly choked, and when the thin guard saw it, he handed him the fat guard's wine bag with ale:

"Master Anders, eat slowly, drink a little wine."

He said.

Fat Guard: ......

Anders didn't say no.

He grabbed it and took a big gulp.

But soon, his face changed, and he vomited all the wine he drank with a "poof":

"Is this an ale? How much water was mixed with?! It's so unpalatable! ”

The thin guards are fine, but the fat guards are unhappy.

He pouted and muttered:

"Ale wine is so expensive...... How many times can I drink without water......"

"Huh?!"

Anders's expression instantly turned unkind.

The Skinny Guard was startled.

He hurriedly pulled the fat guard behind him and sneered at Anders:

"Ahem...... Master Anders, you also know that our side of the town is relatively tight, and it would be good to have wine to drink, so you can take care of it. ”

Listening to his words, Anders's expression softened a lot.

He took another bite of the rabbit meat, reverted to his original lofty posture, and praised:

"The rabbit is well roasted."

"Thank you for the compliment."

The Skinny Guard replied.

However, even if he deliberately made a high-minded gesture, Anders looked a little embarrassed now, and it looked a little funny.

And looking at the embarrassed appearance of the other party, there was also a faint hint of happiness in the hearts of the two guards.

You know, a few months ago, the housekeeper had come to the town as a tax collector to collect taxes.

Like the nobles in the city, he was very greedy, much to the dislike of the townspeople.

At the beginning, when this guy was kidnapped by the black dragon, there were still many people who applauded.

Of course, they did not dare to say these words.

And...... Anders was taken along with many of the town's townspeople.

Thinking of this, the thin man couldn't help but ask:

"Master Anders, that ...... What about the others? ”

"What others?"

Anders was slightly stunned.

"That's it...... Those who were captured by the Black Dragon with you. ”

"They......"

Anders' eyes flickered slightly, and then he sighed:

"Don't mention it."

"Hey...... Breaking free from the black dragon's control, we encountered a tide of beasts when we returned, and we were all scattered. ”

"I ran in the wrong direction when I fled, and I didn't know the way, so I finally came back today...... What, didn't the others come back? ”

The two guards looked at each other, their expressions becoming serious.

Others...... It is true that he did not come back.

However, when Anders mentioned the beast tide, they knew it wasn't good.

In recent months, the surrounding demonic beasts have been stirring, and if they really encounter a beast tide, it is really ...... It's dangerous.

You know, a few months ago, I didn't know what the demonic beasts in the Elven Forest had encountered, and they suddenly rushed out like crazy, causing a lot of losses to Ximu Town.

And that time, fortunately, the level of the impact of the monsters was low, and there were no casualties.

But in winter, if there is really a beast tide, then all the powerful monsters will appear!

Thinking of this, the hearts of the two guards were also sad.

If you really encounter a beast tide...... I'm afraid I'm going to have to shed a layer of skin if I don't die.

And Anders is back, and the others haven't come back yet, I'm afraid...... It's never going back.

"The Lord of Eternity is above......"

The fat guard drew a symbol of the sun on his chest, and his expression was a little depressed.

Among those people, there are also friends who he has played with since childhood.

"The Lord of Eternity is above......"

The thin guard also sighed and prayed silently.

For a moment, there was silence in the small outpost.

Anders' eyes flashed, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

He swallowed and continued to eat the rabbit meat.

The two guards stared at the campfire in a daze.

At this moment, the brass bell of the guard rang again......

————

Well, it's not a short day, isn't it time for a monthly pass?