Feds sat on the sofa to the right of the king.
Hifung, Ray, and Micyl sat on the sofa opposite the king.
The king looked at Micyl, slightly confused.
King: Hifung.
Hifung: Yes?
Hifung looked nervous and confused.
King: Do you know why I called you and Ray here?
Hifung: No, I don't.
King: Our kingdom's spies have gathered information that the enemy troops are preparing to attack again tonight.
Hifung: What!?
Ray: So they haven't given up yet.
Micyl smiled.
King: The reason I invited you here is because I know if a war breaks out, you two will get involved from somewhere.
Hifung: Hehe.
Hifung and Ray scratched their heads.
King: Since I don't want you to get caught by interfering blindly, I thought I should tell you the plan. Maybe you can help, but be careful not to get captured.
Hifung, Ray, Micyl: Understood!
King: By the way, Micyl, you're not allowed to join the battle.
Micyl: Eh!?
Ray and Hifung looked confused.
Micyl: Why not?
Hifung: Yeah, why can't she join?
Ray thought for a moment.
Ray: Could it be because...
King: Yes.
The king stood up and looked out the window.
King: Last night, I received a letter from our spies.
Hifung: And?
Ray: Because Micyl is a woman?
Hifung and Micyl: Huh!?
The king glanced at Ray.
King: You're quite sharp.
King: Yes. I got information that if the enemy captures a female civilian hostage, they will make her a slave for the nobles—just a tool for them.
Hifung was shocked.
Hifung: What about my mother!?
King: Don't worry. Only civilian captives are made slaves. The five soldiers taken hostage are in prison at the Hakao kingdom.
Hifung: Oh.
Ray: So it's only me and Hifung who will join?
King: That's right.
King: Keep in mind, if you get caught as civilians by the enemy, you could die.
Hifung: I understand.
Ray: Me too.
King: Alright then. Return here in the afternoon. We will attack them then.
Hifung: Understood.
Ray, Hifung, and Micyl left the room and stood outside the kingdom.
Micyl looked deep in thought.
Hifung: For now, let's fill our stomachs first.
Ray: Yeah.
Hifung: There should be a kingdom canteen for soldiers here, right?
Ray: Yes, there is.
Hifung: Let's eat there.
Ray: Sure.
Hifung: Micyl?
Micyl: Ah, yes?
Hifung: What's wrong?
Micyl: Nothing.
Ray: Let's go to the kingdom canteen.
Micyl: Okay, let's go.
Arriving at the canteen, Hifung was amazed.
Hifung: Wow...
The kingdom canteen was bigger than he had expected.
They bought their own food and sat together.
Hifung bought noodles.
Ray bought rice with eggs.
Micyl bought rice with chicken.
Ray: You're just eating noodles, Hifung?
Hifung: Yeah, hehe.
Hifung noticed Micyl was still thinking about something.
After finishing their meal, they sat on benches in the kingdom's garden.
The sky was turning orange as evening approached.
Hifung and Ray looked at the sky.
Hifung: It's time.
Ray: Yeah.
Hifung stood up.
Hifung: Let's go, Ray.
He offered his hand to help Ray stand.
Ray looked at Hifung and accepted the offer, standing up with Hifung's help.
Micyl watched them.
Hifung: Let's go.
Ray: Let's go.
Hifung: We'll go first, Micyl.
Micyl didn't answer.
Hifung looked confused.
Hifung: Ray, you go ahead.
Ray: Okay.
Ray walked back inside the kingdom.
Hifung held Micyl's hand.
Hifung: Why?
Micyl: If you go... you might die.
Micyl spoke with a hint of fear.
Hifung lifted Micyl to stand.
They faced each other, hands clasped.
Hifung: Don't worry. I won't die. Not today or tomorrow.
Micyl's eyes welled up with tears.
Hifung: If anyone dies today or tomorrow, it won't be me or Ray.
Hifung: I won't die before I bring you to the surface world.
Hifung: I promise.
Micyl shed a few tears, and Hifung wiped them away.
Hifung: Don't cry, because tomorrow I will stand in front of you.
Hifung moved closer to Micyl.
Their faces slowly approached.
Then they kissed under the late afternoon sun.
Unbeknownst to them, Ray had been watching from behind the castle entrance wall.
Ray smiled and headed toward the kingdom's courtyard.
There, many soldiers, Feds, Darius, three other generals, several commanders, and the king were gathered.
A moment later, Hifung came running to Ray.
Hifung: Ray!
He reached Ray's side.
Ray: Come on, we need to line up.
Hifung: Yeah.
They lined up alongside the other soldiers.
King: The strategy is as I explained earlier to the troops and commanders. These three generals will lead.
King: Darius, you command a thousand soldiers guarding the kingdom center and surrounding settlements.
King: Feds, come with me. We will assist the attacking forces.
All soldiers: Ready!
King: Prepare! Those who don't have weapons, pick your favorite from the armory.
Several soldiers went to the armory.
Ray and Hifung also went to pick swords.
Hifung looked at the swords, then chose one.
Ray had already picked his sword.
They returned to the courtyard.
King: Everyone ready?
All: Ready!
King: Okay, let's march to the Milty kingdom border. Darius and his troops will guard the kingdom.
Darius: Understood.
King: The rest, follow me.
They walked toward Milty's border.
Arriving there...
King: According to our spies' info, the enemy should be in the forest ahead. We'll scatter from here. Remember, don't get spotted before I give the attack order.
The three generals nodded.
They led many troops to surround the forest.
Hifung and Ray followed the king and Feds.
They stood on a tree, watching the enemy camp that looked quiet.
King: Looks like they're sleeping.
Feds: What now?
King: Attack immediately.
King: ATTACK!!
The troops began assaulting the enemy camp.
Ray and Hifung just watched.
Some enemy soldiers woke up due to the commotion but were too late.
The Milty troops were already in front of every camp, capturing the Hakao soldiers or killing those who resisted.
Many Hakao soldiers even chose suicide.
King: Feds, lead the troops carrying the hostages back to the kingdom. Lock them up and make sure they can't kill themselves.
Feds: Yes, sir!
King: The rest, follow me to attack the enemy kingdom.
The soldiers cheered and followed the king.
Ray and Hifung followed as well.
Arriving at the Hakao kingdom gate, five guards were standing watch, one of them a commander.
Hifung: What do we do?
King: Kill them! If they live, they'll call for reinforcements.
Soldiers: Yes!
The king immediately dashed toward two guards and burned
them with fire magic.
King: Forward!
The soldiers killed the other three guards.
The commander was killed by the king.
They hadn't had time to call reinforcements.
King: Hurry! Before the enemy realizes.
Soldiers: Yes!
The king opened the Hakao kingdom gate and ran toward the kingdom's center.