The news of the kingdom of Rothier's plea for help soon came to the Apostolic Council.

Naturally, the plan for the support of Rothschild was quickly decided, and the corresponding work was being carried out in an orderly manner, the troops were being assembled, the supplies were being organized, and the trains were preparing to depart.

At this time, in an unknown place, several apostles were talking.

"The South Loya Empire has attacked." An apostle said.

"Looks like time is pressing." An apostle should be reconciled.

"The crusade must be carried out immediately, and some unnecessary politics/struggles must be ignored."

"Doesn't that stir up the discontent of some people?"

"It's okay, a group of people can be solved immediately, this matter is enough to suppress their dissatisfaction."

"You're talking about, the plan? To get started? You ready? ”

"It's not ready yet, but it's still basically going to be there."

“。。。 Indeed, this is the only way to go. ”

"Then let's go ahead and get started."

"Agreed." Everyone present nodded.

。

Although war broke out again in Frankfork, the impact did not affect the Duchy of Loland.

People learn about the war from newspapers and radio as if they were watching a play from afar.

Without personal experience, it is difficult to imagine what war was really like. The inhabitants of the Duchy of Lorain could only "see" the battlefield from the blurry black and white photographs.

Basically, no relatives or friends went to the front, and compared to other countries that sent troops, the atmosphere in the Duchy of Lorain was relatively peaceful.

Naturally, Kirsten and I were not affected by this and continued our university studies.

However, there was a little problem between us.

Ever since I attended that ball with Kirsten, I've found myself a little uncomfortable with her lately, afraid to look her in the eye.

When I think about the experience of that night's ball, I feel my heart beat faster, and an indescribable emotion arises from the bottom of my heart.

Fortunately, there is now the most recent war.

It's not a good thing to say, but I'm still thankful for the war, and Kersten and I have a conversation that we can talk about relaxed. I can use this as an antidote to the awkwardness and silence that suddenly occurs when we are talking.

The Charles Café, owned by a romantic Gallic principality, is a very Gallic café that Kirsten and I have loved to visit over the years.

"Look, this is the chariot of the kingdom of Rothier." I showed Kirsten a rough drawing of my own drawing. As soon as we talk about science and technology, we can forget about the extra emotions in our hearts for a while.

"Looks like a mobile fortress. Compared to the tanks of the South Loya Empire, it lacks flexibility, the armor utilization rate is not very high, and the dead space of the artillery is too large," Kirsten shook his head, "If this is the latest weapon of the Rothel Kingdom, then I will be disappointed." Compared to the Leviathan I, it is just less expensive and easier to repair. ”

"It is said that it is only a model that can be mass-produced, and the Royal Academy of Sciences in Rothschild is tackling the problem of mass production of the latest combat vehicles. The main reason is that some parts processing needs to develop new production lines. ”

"That's Rothsier." Kirsten nodded.

Then, suddenly, silence came to this place.

"Ahh Yes... I heard that the Cang Dynasty also has its own steam armored knights? "I hurried to find a topic.

"Yes, but according to the technicians on the front line, it was only modified with the Casimoan IV armor of the original Duchy of Turin." Kirsten said disdainfully.

"But I heard that the steam armored knights of the Cang Dynasty are more powerful." I say.

"Their soldiers are a little more physically fit than ours, and they have a better ability to control armor. This is due to the fact that the medical system of the Cang Dynasty was very unique, and the use of herbs and insects was very exquisite. She nodded, admiring the Cang Dynasty's medicine and methods of training soldiers.

Well, no more topic. I took a sip of coffee at a moderate temperature and stopped talking.

"By the way, the Southern Loya Empire has launched an attack on the Supreme Lighthouse Fortress of the Rothil Kingdom, and I heard that the Holy Kingdom will send reinforcements." Kirsten took the initiative to raise a topic.

"Oh? In that case, are we going to go back to China? After all, as the head of the Knights of Unification, this kind of thing that involves the political part needs me to be there. ”

"Yes, the train from the Duchy of Lorrain to the Holy Kingdom is being prepared."

Kirsten suddenly looked into my eyes, my heart trembled, my palms were sweaty, my eyes were evasive, I didn't know whether to look away from me, I didn't know what to do now.

"What's wrong with you lately?" Kirsten asked, somewhat confused. Presumably she had been confused by my strange behavior lately, and only took the initiative to ask it until today.

“。。。 How to say it ... Do you want to hear it real or fake? ”

"True, of course. We're good friends, you say, and I won't tell anyone else. Even if you say that you are secretly in love with Shuyouer, I will pretend that I don't know anything in front of her. Kirsten said.

It seems that she did not guess the real reason.

Should I tell her? Maybe not, because she said we were best friends. But maybe I should have spoken my heart sooner and strengthened my convictions to overcome everything that came to come, unlike my parents.

For people like me, one more choice is better than fighting against the water.

"Kirsten," I took a deep breath, "please don't get too excited for a while, just take it as a joke of mine." ”

"Okay... Good? ”

"I think I may, probably, not necessarily, like you."

"It's normal, we're friends, how can you be friends with me if you don't like me?"

"No, no, I mean ... I seem to be in love with you. The last few words became very quiet, but I was sure that the other side heard them.

I lowered my head, my heart beating so fast that I thought I was on the battlefield.

“。。。” Hearing this, Kirsten fell silent and became expressionless. This is what I saw with a slight nod of courage.

She picked up the coffee cup in front of her and drank it down.

After a long time, Kirsten spoke:

"You, you're joking... No, that must be a joke, right? It must be so. ”

Her tone was a little flustered.

Although, I can admit that it was a joke as she wants, and then we can bury this memory and go back to the past.

But I knew that I couldn't convince myself to go back, I had to keep going.

"No, Miss Kirsten. I said, I'm in love with you. I shook my head and said firmly.

Then, there was a palpitation, and for a moment the brain went completely blank, and all attention was on the eyes and ears, to see carefully every micro-expression of Kirsten, to hear every word she spoke.

"This... This... Now, let me take it easy, okay? Kimchi, let me slow down. She was about to get up, but I grabbed her hands and sat back in her chair.

At this point, I forgot everything around me, forgot about my social phobia, and forgot about my inexplicable embarrassment.

"It's unreasonable and disrespectful, but please tell me the answer."

"You... I... You have a fiancée, don't you, the white wolf princess of the Rothel Kingdom, Felenvinoer? ”

"I didn't make it myself, I think Ferenolle is more like a friend of mine than you."

"You, you, you..." Kirsten seemed to be completely flustered, "But you can't break the engagement, can you?" ”

Indeed, I let go of my hands, a little lost. How could I have forgotten about this? That's the marriage of two Middle-earth powers, how can it be dissolved?

How could I do a noble bastard like Kirsten as a lover? Right, Kimchi. Ayukasi.

"I'm sorry, just take it as my joke."

"It's okay, we're good friends."

As a result, everything today is hidden in the depths of our memory, waiting for that day to be taken out again. At that point, maybe the accumulated emotions will make people crazy.

。

The special train from the Holy Kingdom arrived at the railway station early the next morning, and the accompanying officer handed me a document of dismissal from punishment, and I was officially reinstated in my military duties.

In the case of early departure, we could only hastily ask the embassy staff to help us ask for leave from the school, and then go to the train station with the housekeeper's quickly sorted luggage.

The train slowly pulled out of the train station in a puff of steam. Leaving the Duchy of Loland and heading towards the Holy Kingdom, we will change to another military train and go to the Supreme Lighthouse Fortress of the Kingdom of Rothil with the Knights of the United and the Secret Research Institute.

On the train, the butler, Kirsten, Kelvisia and Mr. Reinhardt gave me a small birthday party.

Compared to the past, in the past two years, I have finally passed a few birthdays that can really be called a banquet.

After all, when fleeing, it is good that the butler can find time to make cakes and trim candles.

Kirsten gave me a mechanical watch of his own making, which I wore on my left wrist.

According to Middle-earth tradition, an engineer is only given a timer of his or her own making. Formerly a pocket watch, recently a watch has become popular.

I hope Kirsten will forgive me for the gibberish I talked that day.

Clevisia gave me a pistol of her own making.

This girl is really not simple.

Mr. Reinhardt gave me a jade pendant from the East, supposedly made by craftsmen from my father's homeland.

I wore it around my neck.

The butler, well, she made the cake, and the creative "15" candle was also made by her, so she didn't prepare any birthday gifts.

So, my fifteenth birthday was spent on the train home.

According to Middle-earth tradition, I am now an adult.

It's time to say goodbye to your childhood.