Roland stood on the city wall, gazing north. For the past month, he had been repeating the cycle of castle, mining area, and city wall, checking every detail that might have been forgotten.

The militia's thrusting movements were becoming increasingly skilled. Under Carter's repeated drills, they could steady their spears until the hunter in charge of observation shouted the attack command, then send the spears forward.

Standing behind them was the hunting team. All the hunters who remained in Border Town and were skilled in using bows and crossbows were incorporated into this team. These experienced hunters were the main force for killing evil beasts, shooting at the corners of the twelve-foot-high city wall, with almost no chance of missing.

Finally, there was the finishing team composed of Iron Axe, Carter, and two other elite hunters. The four muzzle-loading flintlock guns, with parts forged by the blacksmith shop and assembled by Anna, had been delivered for use. Only when encountering tricky monsters or hybrid evil beasts whose hides could not be penetrated by crossbows, would the finishing team kill them. Their position was very free, wandering along this two-hundred-meter stretch, appearing wherever needed.

As for the explosive packages, they were stored in a heavily guarded warehouse under the city wall. When needed to save the day, they would be transported to the city wall separately—after all, if something went wrong with this thing, the damage it caused to oneself could be greater than that of the evil beasts. The teeth of the evil beasts could not break the cement rubble, but the explosive could send the entire section of the city wall to the sky.

So far, Roland had organized two live combat drills, including the use of explosive packages. It was also thanks to these two drills that the embarrassment of the militiamen being frightened by the deafening roar of the explosives and dropping their weapons during the formal defense battle was avoided. And another benefit was that when everyone discovered that the prince also possessed such amazingly powerful weapons, the morale of the team suddenly soared.

"Your Highness," Barov tightened his collar, "most of the income from ore transactions has been spent. If the Months of the Demons is really as long as the astrologers say, I estimate we won't be able to make it to the end of winter."

"Then fill it in with everything from my vault," Roland said without hesitation, "and don't stop the trade with Willow Town. Steam Engine No. 1 has been transported to the mine, and the collapsed rubble clearing work is basically completed. We can still get a little output throughout the winter. Especially the gem roughs, don't emphasize the price anymore, sell them as soon as possible. It's always right to store more food and dried meat."

Barov nodded, "I'll take care of it, Your Highness. It's just..."

Seeing the assistant minister's hesitant look, Roland certainly understood what he wanted to say, "Don't worry, I've arranged a small boat. If the situation really collapses across the board, I will leave the town."

"Then I'm relieved," Barov breathed a sigh of relief.

Roland smiled at him, "Go and do your work, I'll take another look alone."

After Barov left, the prince slowly climbed the watchtower. This was the highest point in the center of the city wall, from which he could overlook the vast jungle and rolling mountains in front of him. The cold wind howled and rushed towards him, but he didn't care. Only on this empty high platform could his tense mood in the face of the war calm down.

"You're lying to him," someone said beside him, "You don't plan to leave at all."

"Life is already so difficult, it's better not to expose some things."

"I don't understand what nonsense you're talking about. If being a prince is considered difficult, then what are we?" Nightingale revealed herself, "Even if you don't become a king, as long as you survive the five years of the Battle of the Throne, you are still a ruler of one side. Instead of worrying about this, you should spend more time with Anna, I'm afraid... she doesn't have much time left."

Roland was silent for a moment, "I don't think she will survive the Months of the Demons."

"Why?"

"She said she wouldn't lose to the demonic backlash," he paused, "I believe her."

"You actually believe a witch," Nightingale shook her head, "We are people cursed by the devil."

"Is that so? I believe in you too."

"..."

*******************

Brian, dressed in plain clothes, stood in front of Grey Hound's tombstone.

He gently stroked the brand-new stone tablet, the pure white surface engraved with a line: "Nameless but forever in people's hearts. A hero who sacrificed for Border Town."

"Grey Hound."

"I have realized my dream. When the Months of the Demons ends, the Fourth Prince will hold an investiture ceremony for me."

"But I don't want to wait in the hospital bed."

"My wounds have healed, the city wall is where I should be."

"The Months of the Demons is coming soon. The evil beasts may be terrible, but they will crash headfirst into the defense line that everyone has built together, unable to move forward."

"I will take your share and wield my long sword to defend this town."

"This is not the end."

"The person who framed you is still alive... but he won't live forever, that's the promise His Highness made to me."

"Next time we meet, I will bring good news."

Brian bent down and placed a bouquet of flowers in front of the tombstone.

"Then goodbye, my friend."

*******************

"Sister Anna, aren't you afraid?" Nana Wawa asked, lying on the bed with her legs crossed.

"Afraid of what?"

"The demonic backlash. Nightingale said it's in winter, I only became a witch in autumn, this is my first time..."

"First time," Anna thought for a moment, "It will be very painful, sometimes you even wish you could die immediately."

"Ah!" Nana Wawa exclaimed, then immediately covered her mouth.

"But you will survive, just like me."

"I don't know..." Nana Wawa said softly, "I'm not as strong as you."

"I'm not that strong," Anna closed her eyes, the scene of her first meeting with Roland appeared in her mind. In that dark and cold dungeon, he draped his clothes over her and said softly that he wanted to hire her—even now, she still found it unbelievable, "You will also encounter things that make you want to live, even if it's struggling to live."

"Like...?"

"Like ribs covered in sauce," she sighed, "How would I know what you want—huh?"

Looking at Nana Wawa staring at her intently, Anna wiped her face with her hand, "Is there something dirty on my face?"

"No...," the latter shook her head, "I'm just a little surprised, you've never talked to me so much before... Sister Anna, the way you closed your eyes and thought just now was so beautiful."

Anna rolled her eyes, jumped out of bed, and walked to the window.

Nana Wawa followed, "What are you looking at, the Misty Forest?"

"The forest is in the west," Anna said irritably, "You can only see the Redwater River here."

"Sister Anna, look!" the girl pointed to the sky.

Anna was stunned for a moment, then pushed open the window, and a gust of cold wind mixed with snowflakes poured into the room.

She stretched out her hand and pinched the crystal clear snowflake, and a chill came from between her fingers.

"It's snowing."

*******************

"..."

After a long silence, Nightingale finally said, "You didn't lie."

"Of course," Roland smiled, "I rarely lie anyway."

Nightingale didn't speak any more. She turned her head, and there was a hint of ambiguous expression in her eyes.

Suddenly, she felt a chill in her neck and couldn't help shrinking her neck. When she looked up, she realized that snowflakes had already begun to flutter in the sky above the city wall. In the gray sky, it seemed as if there were countless white elves dancing in the north wind, flying everywhere accompanied by the slogans of the militia team's training.

...The Months of the Demons has begun.

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