He's going to the battlefield alone.

Cheryl, Uri, Kumpeu, Bibidai, and Alex looked over one by one.

He was silent for a while and then said, "...You all know what you are going to face next, right?"

Wu Rui smiled and said, "Alex, it's not like we haven't fought together before, why are you being so serious?"

Cheryl raised her head and said proudly, "No matter what kind of demon, monster or devil it is, if they dare to invade us, they will die."

Kun Peiwu said, "Wherever Your Highness is, I will be there."

Bibi Dai stroked his golden retriever and said, "Why are you saying this in my house? A pre-war declaration?"

Alex looked at them. After more than a year of war, they had all obviously changed.

Uri, Cheryl, and Bibidai are already level six knights, two sharpshooters, and a heavy weapons pioneer. Kunpeu has also broken through to level four and has led the team in several small battles. He has the rank of sergeant and is his second-in-command.

But their personalities haven't changed much from when they were teenagers; after all, they are still young people in their twenties.

Alex stopped smiling and said, "You all know that I know part of the future, right?"

Several people looked at each other.

Eric said frankly: "In the history I have seen, you will die, die in this war."

Cheryl's eyes widened, and Wu Rui fell silent.

Bibidai thought for a moment and said, "I heard that what the prophet sees are only possibilities. Have the future scenes you saw changed according to what you are experiencing now?"

Alex: “…has changed.”

Wu Rui suddenly asked: "In the future you saw, did Inger die in the previous poisoning incident?"

Cheryl was shocked.

Alex looked at him with a complicated expression: "You are right."

Wu Rui was also shocked. He just guessed based on his intuition.

Bibidai didn't seem to care. He said nonchalantly, "Why worry about that? The future can be changed anyway. Besides, when you go to the battlefield, your head is always on the line. Everyone is like that. If you are afraid of this, no one will go to the battlefield."

Alex felt a pain in his heart. He had witnessed the death of these companions with his own eyes. How could he turn a blind eye?

But he couldn't tell them about this.

Alex sighed, "This time you are facing a completely different level from the war humans are facing. Once you step onto the battlefield, there is no turning back."

Wu Rui asked bluntly: "Will our death not be pretty?"

He saw that Alex's face turned a little pale.

Bibidai smiled and said, "You might as well just say that we died in a particularly tragic way."

Cheryl gradually understood: "Alex..."

Wu Rui looked at Alex with some mixed feelings in his heart. The Alex he saw was always so brave and fearless, calm and concerned about the overall situation, standing gently and firmly in the front.

The only time he's likely to show weakness is when someone around him is in danger.

Bibidai picked up a cat and rubbed it in his arms, asking, "So what? You didn't call us here to give us a pre-war boost, did you?"

There was a long silence as the three men stared at him.

Alex closed his eyes and finally said, "...I hope you will withdraw from this war and leave this battlefield."

Cheryl blurted out: "How is that possible?!"

Wu Rui: "...Alex, even if we don't go, someone has to go, right?"

Alex: “…”

【I just hope it wasn't you. 】

What he couldn't say was his selfish motive.

Bibidai couldn't help laughing. "What naive words are you talking about? It's not like you would say that."

Alex looked at the three men and understood completely that they had no intention of changing their minds.

Alex was a little depressed, but this result was not unexpected to him, because he knew the personalities of these three people very well. If they would back down in the face of danger, they would not be the friends he knew.

Wu Rui's eyes softened, and he looked at Alex and said slowly: "Alex, do you know what Cheryl and I were thinking when you first greeted us?"

Alex looked over.

Cheryl continued a little embarrassedly: "We wanted to use you."

Alex waited quietly for them to speak.

This was something he hadn't heard the last time.

Wu Rui smiled frankly and said, "You know the rules of our family. Most earl families have the eldest son inheritance system. Our family is the strong inheritance system. Our family, with three children, is destined to compete for this position. If Cheryl and I were content with being weak since childhood, it would be fine. But our parents trained us like this. They wanted us to fight, compete, and struggle, to use our hands to seize our chances of survival, and cultivated our competitive spirit."

"But we still have our brother. He is a genius, a little bit worse than you, but he has also broken through to level eight now, and he is still so young. Can you imagine how we felt when we were suppressed and beaten by him during our growth?"

Cheryl said, "Brother Fleming is a very good person, and we know that, but I am always a little afraid of him. Because we play against him the most, we always lose, and he never lets us win."

Wu Rui continued, "Father and mother gave us the desire to win, but not the opportunity to win. We knew from a very early age that we were not destined for the title and could only be second to our elder brothers and assist them."

Alex opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.

Wu Rui smiled and said, "It may sound a little funny now, but we were ambitious at that time. We wanted to build a good relationship with you, break away from this family, and find our own position in the future."

Cheryl: "We didn't expect you to become the crown prince, but we thought you were the only prince worth helping. So we chose you."

Only then did Alex look Cheryl in the eye. A naive and pure girl doesn't mean she has no wisdom.

Wu Rui sighed and said, "At that time, we thought that if you wanted to get the title of Earl, we would do everything we could to help you get the title."

Cheryl smiled and said, "You are really good at teaching others, much better than our parents and brother."

Wu Rui: "You treat the weak equally. You won't attack others just because you are strong. You will consider our feelings... That's how we know you really want to be our friend. Or, in other words, you approached us because you knew we would become friends, right?"

Alex's mouth corners involuntarily curled up slightly.

Wu Rui lowered his eyes and continued, "Later, as we got to know each other, I gradually realized that what you were thinking about was not that position at all. You and Inger's eyes were looking at a farther place, a larger picture. It took us a long time to understand this. It's really shameful."

Cheryl winked coquettishly: "Now we don't want any titles or anything like that. We just want to stay by your side and do what we can, because we know that this is what we should do and it is the right thing to do."

Wu Rui: "We are no longer children, trying to gain a place in front of our brother and looking down on him in person. Only then did our hearts truly calm down and find our own way... Alex, this is all thanks to you."

Cheryl smiled and said, "Brother Fleming never seems to care about these things."

Wu Rui: "Yeah, we were the ones who got into a quarrel there. Are we really too young?"

Bibi Dai curled her lips in disdain: "It's as if you are a certain age now."

Cheryl raised her hands and said, "The maid I grew up with is now a mother of two children."

Uri smiled and touched Cheryl's head, then said to Alex, "So it is absolutely impossible for you to ask us to withdraw now. We are ready. We want to fight alongside you. This is a decision we made ourselves. We are never afraid of death. We voluntarily protect humanity and our homeland."

Cheryl looked at Alex and said, "But I...I think I understand why you say that."

Not being afraid of death yourself is different from watching a friend face death.

"Alex...are you scared?"

Alex could no longer hide the sad look in his eyes.

Silence was like a pair of ruthless hands, strangling their throats.

It was Bibidai who broke the deadlock. He frowned and said, "You said that you have changed the death of some people, so you should have changed the outcome of the war on the mainland, right? How can reality and prophecy be exactly the same? We are not necessarily going to die, why curse us in advance?"

Alex looked at Quinpeu.

There was a very gentle and peaceful look in Kumpeu's eyes, and his behavior now became more and more like Alex.

He finally understood why Alex was able to find him and rescue him at that time.

Therefore, my determination became stronger.

"Your Highness, I am the best example, isn't it? You know the future and saved me. If some people are destined to die, we go to save them. Isn't this what you want to do? I think everyone present has the same idea. Your Highness, don't think about fighting alone. We are all your strength."

Alex remembered the resolution he had made when he returned to the past.

No matter how many times he repeats himself, his goal will always be to save everyone.

He came back to save these people.

They are no longer a burden to him, but his courage to move forward. These people are standing here now.

They all have their own strengths and are comrades who stand with him. He will protect them, and they will do the same. They will become his strength. Nothing can make him feel more at ease than this.

Alex then relaxed his brows and smiled brightly, "Thank you, you are really reliable."

Cheryl punched Alex in the chest: "Don't underestimate us!"

Bibi Dai said, "You found me for this reason, right? I'm actually very curious about how I died in the future you saw. Can you tell me about it?"

Alex smiled and said, "You are still very interesting."

Bibi Dai: "Tsk, forget it if you don't want to talk about it."

Wu Rui suddenly asked, "Where is Ying? Why did you meet us at Bibidai's house? Why didn't you call Shangying?"

Cheryl was also puzzled: "Yeah, why isn't Ying here? Did you tell him in advance?"

Kunpeu could guess what Alex was thinking. He looked at Alex's dark profile with some complexity.

Alex's smile faded again: "...Say yes to him, he is different...I don't plan to let him continue to fight..."

Wu Rui's eyes became sharp: "You didn't ask for his opinion?"

Alex: “…………No.”

Bibi raised her eyebrows: "I think sometimes you are really bossy. You asked for our opinions but not his?"

Cheryl said, "...I also think he shouldn't go to the battlefield anymore."

Uri looked at Cheryl in surprise. This was the first time she disagreed with him.

But she didn't explain the reason, she just looked sad.

Wu Rui said helplessly: "Alex, even if you say so, you can't stop him? You have never been able to stop him from going to the battlefield. His thoughts are the same as ours. He has made his choice, and you should respect his choice."

Alex couldn't explain the reason clearly. It was really just his sixth sense. The other partners were willing to stand on the front line for the sake of humanity, but Inger was ultimately forced to come here for the sake of his family and friends.

And his ability...his ability, which remains unknown to this day, gives Alex a creepy premonition.

He saw with his own eyes how bad Inger's mood was after seeing the goddess, and it was strange that his spirits inexplicably improved after seeing him.

However, Inger was reluctant to bring it up with him. Alex had asked about it before, but Inger had sloppily changed the subject.

They must be hiding something very important.

All Alex knew was that he could not let Inger go to the battlefield.

Alex found Inger lying under the shade of the star tree, carrying a plate of tea and snacks.

He stretched out on the soft recliner, with Finé curled up in his arms sleeping.

Alex smiled unconsciously and placed the plate gently on the stone table.

Inger opened his eyes and rubbed them: "...Alex?"

Alex looked up and asked, "Why don't we cut down this tree and plant a new one?"

Inger laughed and said, "Why would you chop it down?"

Alex: “It doesn’t look comfortable.”

Inger said nonchalantly, "Isn't it good to stay here and find my way home no matter how many times I try?"

Alex: “…”

That's why I'm unhappy.

Alex pouted and said, "You are not legless or eyeless. You don't need this tree. You can find your way home by yourself."

Inger couldn't help laughing: "Yeah, you're right."

[Why does it sound like a child's tone? It's pretty cute. ]

Alex and Inger chatted for a while.

They tacitly agreed not to discuss official business today.

Tomorrow is the day they have to prepare for the battle.

Inger learned from Florence the date of the demon army's attack. He led the human army to set this date, and no one objected.

Today is the eve of the battle.

Everything that could be done was done within these three months.

The last peaceful day.

Inger's heart gradually calmed down.

Just enjoy this precious peace.

Alex suddenly asked: "If the war is over, what do you want to do?"

Inger subconsciously wanted to laugh. What kind of pre-war flag was this?

But he thought about it and realized that the world he lived in was not a comic book, but real.

No matter what is said before the battle, it will not affect the direction of the war. No one can be sure of the outcome until the end.

He now finally understood why those warriors always liked to make agreements before the battle.

Even though they know they are facing death, they still have great hope, optimistic vision for the future, and the courage to fulfill their promises.

On the battlefield, hope is a bad thing, it drives a man crazy. Also, hope is a good thing, and good things never die. (1)

Inger then said slowly:

"I want to... go see the world. I want to build a house on a clean plain, at the foot of a snow-capped mountain. It doesn't have to be too big, or it will be too difficult to clean. I want to grow some flowers and plants, eat delicious food every day, and travel around the world at any time... I want to see every inch of the beautiful scenery in Onerola, and have a home to sleep in when I go back..."

Alex brought him the tea.

Inger bent his head and smelled the aroma, then smiled: "It tastes like star fruit." He sipped it slowly.

As Inger spoke, he imagined a peaceful and beautiful life.

But somehow, Alex appeared on the canvas of his beautiful vision, and he could not be erased, as if he was supposed to be there.

But Alex has his country and his responsibilities.

Inger looked up at Alex.

As if she had guessed what he was thinking, Alex smiled at him tenderly, "It's boring to be alone. I'll accompany you when everything is settled."

"Then...Qune..."

Alex looked into the distance and said, "It's not that I can't take care of both. I don't need to be responsible for both for my whole life. After all, we still have a long, long time."

Inger recalled that the average life expectancy of people in this world, especially knights, was around 150 years.

Alex could have fulfilled his duties and then lived his life. He could have fought for humanity, but he didn't have to dedicate his life to the country.

“That’s right.”

Inger thought the scene was very natural.

It's amazing how he thinks his other friends have their own lives and things to do. It's nice to hang out once in a while.

But Alex was the one who was right to be with him. Only him.

Alex has taken on too much and he needs a leisurely and peaceful future.

Inger thought about it and leaned back in the recliner, closing his eyes in the warm light.

After a while, Alex carried him into the room.

Inger lay on the bed with his eyes closed, his brows no longer furrowed, as if he was having a peaceful dream.

Alex leaned over, gently brushed away the loose hair on Inger's forehead, and looked at him intently.

There was a pair of insulated stone shackles on Inger's wrists, like bracelets or wrist guards. Compared with the shackles that locked up the prisoners, this one was obviously smaller, had no chains, and was much lighter. It was hard, but so thin that it could not be opened by hand.

Lanmore came out from behind the door and asked, "Are you asleep?"

Alex stepped back slowly. "Well, I'm leaving."

He handed the potion bottle and the shackle key to Lanmore and said, "Feed it to him when he wakes up. It won't harm his body, but if you do it too many times, it will gradually become ineffective. We'll talk about it then. Don't let him hurt himself..."

Lanmore said: "...Thank you."

Alex took a last look from a distance at Inger who was sleeping peacefully on the bed, then turned and left.

(1) Adapted from the lines in Shawshank Redemption.