"Without you, the Winter Collar wouldn't be able to survive the next Winter ......"

At the castle banquet that night, Lady Winter said calmly.

The winter collar is weakening little by little, and the rat tide is growing little by little. One day, the rats will break into the castle, and Lady Winter will disappear with the Winter Collar for the long night.

The food at the banquet was very simple, fluffy bread, dried cheese, and wild vegetable soup, which reminded Annan of his days at Aunt Susan's house.

Despite Liberty City's sponsorship, Lady Winter didn't want to waste food, so she didn't even have wine.

"I don't think so." Olmedo said.

In addition to Annan, Lady Winter, and Princess Sayles, Olmedo and Itilia also come to the Winter Territory as guests.

It was the rainy season on the Allen continent, and the abundant humidity made them feel like they were breathing fog, or the dryness and comfort of the north.

"You don't know...... There was nothing left in the winter collar. ”

Mrs. Winter said that even the caravan hadn't come for half a month. There are many reasons for this: the nezumi who can't swallow the Winter Collar cannibalize other areas, turning the Winter Collar into an island. And Wintercollar can't pull out anything but rat meat.

It's been a long time since the demons have come, otherwise they would have been able to exchange the demon iron for supplies from the merchants at a high price.

"Where are you going next?"

Madame Winter asked Annan about her next trip.

"I wanted to take a trip to the Black Iron Mountains, but rat people and demons are everywhere...... So I should go back to Liberty City. The purpose of the expeditionary force has been achieved. ”

Hunting nezumi? The nezumi will never be killed. Recovering the old land? They can't do anything.

The women then talked about their experiences, and it was then that Annan noticed that the banquet was all women except herself.

Even Lily, who was lying on her lap, and the silly cat who was lying on Editria's lap were female cats.

It's weird......

"I'm sorry......" Lady Winter said suddenly.

"What's wrong?"

"After receiving your gifts, I sent my subordinates to bring you some gifts, but they defected......"

"It's okay, I've already received your wishes."

As the words fell, Annan received a glance from Olmedo and his eldest sister.

Annan felt his scalp tingle and changed the subject: "You found the Vault?" What is the Vault? ”

"I can't tell you yet." Lady Winter pursed her pale lips, "Knowing the Vault is not a good thing for you......"

"Prophecy? Curse? Annan asked.

"I can't say."

Annan decided. In the future, if you shoot a superhero, you will set the image of the Riddler to look like Lady Winter.

Bell - bell - bell - bell -

The rapid sound of the bell suddenly rang in the sky above the winter collar, and everyone at the table stopped moving, and the light of the eternal magic lamp seemed to become dim.

"They're here again." Lady Winter put down her knife and fork.

"Don't worry. Erin, go and get the expeditionary force and soldiers to cooperate in the defense. ”

Annan familiarly handed it to the female chief of the guard. Erin glanced at Lady Winter and turned to leave the banquet.

Annan wanted to continue the dinner, but Lady Winter wanted to see it, so they went to the castle's tower and looked out over the battlefield.

Under the cold moonlight, a black tide was pouring in from the west. The light of the torches, representing the expeditionary force, climbed over the low wall and took the initiative to meet the tide of rats.

"It's manufacturing depth. The longer the depth, the more nezumi will fall on this road. Annan explained.

The rangers began to intrude, and the expeditionary force stopped about 500 meters from the low wall, and then opened fire.

The night was disturbed by the continuous light and noise of fire, and the militiamen standing on the low wall nervously clutched their fork axes, while the nezumi in the distance were beaten to the ground.

The magic musket naturally restrained this group of rats who couldn't even afford to wear clothes.

There are only 20,000 or 30,000 rat people in this wave of rats. But don't forget that there are only two thousand men left in the Winter Realm - only a tenth of the official warriors and mages, and most of the rest are civilians.

They had to kill an average of ten nezumen, and if Annan hadn't come, it would have been another crisis to retreat to the castle's defenses. But now, the last nezumi didn't even touch the low wall, and fell fifty meters away from the low wall.

The battle is over.

The militiamen in front of the low wall began to cheer, and Lady Winter's red lips opened slightly, with the same surprise.

Annan was about to say something, when the chief of the guard, Irene, came back and said that a caravan had appeared in the east.

The merchant came.

Annan pushed the wheelchair and Olmedo pushed the wheelchair and Madame Winter to the low wall.

"This is the last time we're here!"

The merchant laid out the goods, and Annan asked for the price. The merchant was amazed at Annan's appearance and strangeness, and said a price.

That's about ten times the regular price......

"It's too expensive."

"You see, this is a place, it's full of nezumi...... "The merchant grumbled, "only we will come, and if you don't want it, we won't come again." ”

The merchant was very direct, without any respect for Lady Winter, who was holding the border.

In Liberty City, if you talk to Annan like this, the maid Abby will spit in the coffee he gives, the druid will let the dew of the flowers spill all over him, the nezumi will wander outside his room to terrorize, the blue dragon will rain dragon dung from the sky, and even the succubus will squeeze him so that he can't walk for a month.

Annan thought that Madame Winter would lose her temper, but she didn't say anything, and let the merchant deliberately collect the goods loudly, and leave with threatening words.

How could that snowy flower be so indecisive?

"I need the merchant to go back and tell the others that the Winter Collar is still there." As the caravan departed, Lady Winter whispered.

Annan suddenly heard something out of her words - Lady Winter didn't want to leave here.

According to Lady Winter, she is atoning for her sins.

But she hoped that Princess Sayles would follow Annan back. She's too weak to die if she stays in Winter.

Annan's attention temporarily returned from Lady Winter to Princess Sayles, who was in a wheelchair: "Do you want to go?" ”

"I don't know."

Princess Sayles, who was supposed to die, is still alive, but she has also lost many of her desires.

Annan thought for a moment and said, "Montreal is interested in accepting you, and you will be safer there." ”

Princess Sayles' eyes twinkled: "Will they accept us?" ”

"Don't worry, I have a good relationship with my ancestors, and they will take care of you."

They returned to the castle, and Annan's attention returned to Lady Winter's decision.

Since Lady Winter is reluctant to leave...... It's nothing.

He can help Lady Winter arm the Winter Collar.

Fill barns and warehouses with food and supplies, build tall walls of cement, and place magical cannons on them to ward off waves of rat tides.

Just as children always like to build a small safe house out of wooden planks, bricks and other waste materials, Annan likes to do the same.

(End of chapter)