The mobilization bells continued to echo throughout Vailor as we arrived at the barracks where the adventurers had gathered. The place was far busier than I had imagined. Men and women carrying swords, spears, bows, and staffs walked back and forth while organizing equipment and mounts.
Many were already prepared to depart.
Others were making the final adjustments to their armor or checking their supplies.
As soon as I arrived, many eyes turned toward me.
It still felt strange to receive that kind of attention.
For a long time, I had been just another adventurer trying to survive in that world. Now, somehow, those people were waiting to receive my orders.
I took a deep breath.
There was no point in overthinking it.
I needed to do my job.
I approached the main area of the barracks alongside the girls.
A middle-aged man wearing heavy armor immediately came to greet me.
I recognized him.
It was Darven, a well-known Rank A adventurer in Vailor.
He gave a slight bow.
"Hero Takumi."
"You don't need to do that."
He smiled.
"Maybe not, but you're our commander now."
I shook my head.
I still didn't like that title.
"Is everyone ready?"
"Almost."
I surveyed the area.
Around three hundred adventurers had gathered.
Some were experienced veterans.
Others looked younger.
But all of them had real combat experience.
That was important.
War was no place for amateurs.
Lyannis observed everything beside me.
She carefully studied the groups.
After a few seconds, she approached.
"Something feels off."
I looked at her.
"What is it?"
"Not everyone is confident."
I looked back at the adventurers.
After paying closer attention, I realized she was right.
Some were talking normally.
Others looked confident.
But many seemed worried.
It was understandable.
After all, facing monsters inside a dungeon was one thing.
Taking part in a war was something completely different.
Scarlett noticed it too.
"They're nervous."
"Yeah."
Rai'kanna crossed her arms.
"I can't blame them."
Elara nodded.
"Not everyone has been through something like this."
Liriel looked at a small group standing farther away.
"And many of them probably have families waiting for them to come home."
That made me think.
She was right.
Not all of them were warriors who lived only to fight.
Many had people waiting for them back home.
Parents.
Siblings.
Wives.
Children.
That made everything even harder.
While I reflected, one of the adventurers approached.
He was a young swordsman.
He couldn't have been much older than twenty.
He looked hesitant.
"Sir Takumi..."
"Yes?"
He scratched the back of his head.
"May I ask you something?"
"Of course."
The young man took a deep breath.
"Do you really believe we can win?"
Silence fell over the place.
I noticed several nearby adventurers listening.
Some pretended not to pay attention.
But they were listening.
Waiting for my answer.
I looked at the young man for a few seconds.
Then I replied.
"Do you want an honest answer?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
I crossed my arms.
"I don't know."
Some looked surprised.
But I continued.
"If I told you victory was guaranteed, I'd be lying."
The silence remained.
"War never offers guarantees."
I looked around at everyone.
"We're going to face an enormous army."
"We're going to face dangerous enemies."
"Some of us may not come back."
No one spoke.
But everyone kept listening.
"But there is one thing I do know."
I paused briefly.
"We're not fighting because we're certain we'll win."
The adventurers remained attentive.
"We're fighting because there are things worth protecting."
Their expressions began to change.
"Our cities."
"Our families."
"The people who trust us."
"Our homes."
The young adventurer's expression gradually became firmer.
I continued.
"It may be difficult."
"It may be terrifying."
"But if we retreat now, no one else will do this for us."
I looked at every face present.
"So I won't promise you an easy victory."
"But I promise I'll fight beside you until the very end."
The silence lasted for a few seconds.
Then someone raised a sword.
"That's right!"
Another adventurer smiled.
"This is why I became an adventurer."
A woman wearing light armor crossed her arms.
"If the Hero is fighting on the front lines, then so will I."
Conversations began to rise again.
But now the atmosphere felt different.
Lighter.
More resolute.
Lyannis quietly approached me.
"Good answer."
"I just told the truth."
She smiled.
"Sometimes that's enough."
Not long afterward, we began our final preparations.
The horses were brought forward.
The supply wagons were organized.
The mages checked their magical equipment.
The archers inspected their arrows.
Everything was ready.
I mounted my horse.
Beside me were Scarlett, Liriel, Elara, Vespera, Rai'kanna, and Lyannis.
The seven of them watched the movements of the adventurers' army.
Vespera looked ahead.
"I guess it's time."
"Yeah."
Scarlett smiled.
"Finally."
Rai'kanna looked eager.
She clearly preferred action over long waits.
Lyannis, on the other hand, maintained her usual calm.
Elara observed the surroundings with curiosity.
Liriel looked worried, yet determined.
When everything was ready, I gave the order.
"Let's move out."
The adventurers began to advance.
Soon, we left the gates of Vailor behind.
Our journey north had begun.
During the first few hours of travel, the road remained relatively peaceful.
Green fields stretched for miles.
Small farms appeared from time to time.
Some villagers watched us pass.
Many waved.
Others simply watched in silence.
They probably knew where we were going.
And they knew what it meant.
After a while, Elara guided her horse closer to mine.
"You're thinking too much."
I looked at her.
"How do you know?"
"Because you always do."
I ended up laughing.
Maybe she was right.
She continued.
"You're worried about the adventurers."
"A little."
"It'll be fine."
"I hope so."
She smiled.
"So do I."
Up ahead, Rai'kanna was talking with several adventurers as she rode.
It seemed she had already won over part of the group.
That wasn't surprising.
Her straightforward personality made that easy.
Scarlett was explaining something to two mages.
Probably combat techniques.
Liriel was speaking with the healers.
Lyannis constantly analyzed the terrain.
Vespera remained alert to the surroundings.
Each of them contributed in their own way.
That made me feel satisfied.
As the hours passed, the landscape gradually began to change.
The signs of war became more visible.
We encountered small military patrols.
A few wagons carrying wounded soldiers.
Messengers racing between different positions.
At one point, we crossed paths with a group of soldiers.
Their commander stopped when he saw us.
"Are you the adventurers from Vailor?"
"Yes."
The man nodded.
"Good."
His expression turned serious.
"The situation farther north is becoming difficult."
My eyes narrowed.
"What happened?"
"The fighting has intensified."
That wasn't good news.
"The demon army is still advancing."
"How many days until the main battlefield?"
"If you keep this pace, you'll arrive around noon tomorrow."
I thanked him for the information.
The commander continued on his way.
Meanwhile, I kept thinking.
The war was closer than ever.
When the sun began to sink toward the horizon, we finally stopped to rest.
The camp was set up quickly.
Campfires were lit.
The adventurers began preparing simple meals.
Some chatted.
Others simply rested.
I sat beside one of the campfires with the girls.
For a few minutes, no one said anything.
Everyone simply watched the flames.
Until Vespera spoke.
"Can you feel it?"
I looked at her.
"What?"
"The mana."
I closed my eyes for a moment.
Then I realized.
She was right.
There was something different in the air.
A heavy energy.
Distant.
But present.
Demonic mana.
I opened my eyes again.
"Yeah."
Lyannis sensed it as well.
"It's getting stronger."
Liriel nodded.
"Much stronger."
Scarlett looked toward the north.
"And that means we're getting close."
No one needed to answer.
Everyone already knew.
Silence settled over the group once again.
After a while, I started to stand up.
But before I could, one of the adventurers pointed ahead.
"Look!"
Everyone turned toward the horizon.
Far away.
Very far away.
A thin column of smoke could be seen rising into the sky.
Then another.
And another.
My expression immediately turned serious.
That wasn't normal.
Lyannis observed carefully.
"There are a lot of them."
Rai'kanna narrowed her eyes.
"Camps?"
I shook my head.
"No."
Vespera answered before I could continue.
"Battlefields."
The entire group fell silent.
Now everyone could see them.
Small columns of smoke were scattered across the distant horizon.
Clear signs of battle.
The war was just ahead.
I took a deep breath.
Then I turned my gaze north.
Tomorrow, we would reach the front lines.
And, for the first time, we would witness the true battlefield against the army of the First Demon General.
With that thought, I remained watching the distant columns of smoke slowly fade beneath the light of the setting sun.
The war was waiting for us.