In the 184th year of the film festival, the Western kingdom "Didvia" in the Otinger continent, after quelling the years of turmoil, the old knights who had fought for many years unleashed their armor and returned to their fields, preparing to enjoy their old age.

No one expected that a general suddenly led the knights to lead his army to capture the royal city and massacre a large number of nobles outside the royal family in the name of collusion between the nobles and the enemy country.

The general's rebellion shook the morale of the army, and the troops in various places fell into chaos and could only seek help from neighboring countries.

The reinforcements sent by neighboring countries were a group of brave and warlike mercenaries.

Led by a man named "Thad Tarux", the rebellion was quickly put down, and the Knights that occupied the royal city were all defeated under its fierce attack.

The royal family members were rescued safely, and the whole country was filled with joy of returning to peace.

THAAD was significantly promoted to aristocrat for his military achievements, and the relationship between the two countries was closer than before. Whether it was formulated or sent to conquer, it could be implemented through discussion between the two sides. The two countries were closely combined like brothers and jointly protected the vast territory in the northwest of the mainland.

The afternoon sun shines in the mountains, and the sound of birds singing makes the forest more quiet. The animals shuttle back and forth between the tender green grass and treetops, creating a vibrant scene.

The black-haired boy with firewood on his back hummed a tune and strolled on the familiar forest road. He was about to return home and noticed the sobs coming from not far away, and then stopped.

After crossing several clusters of grass, the boy finally found the source of the sound - a seven- or eight-year-old girl with long chestnut hair.

Wearing a light blue satin dress, she sat under the tree and cried with her legs. When she saw someone passing by, she hurriedly wiped away the tears from her face with her hands.

Because there are often children in the city who run to the mountains to play and can't find the way back, the boy thought that this child was probably one of them.

So he approached the timid girl, bent down and asked:

"Are you lost your way? Or are you separated from your friends?"

The girl who was about to cry shook her head and stared at the ground without saying a word, her wandering eyes seemed to be looking for something.

"Have you lost something? I'll help you find it."

The boy placed the firewood on his back aside. Then the girl looked at the boy and couldn't stop crying and said:

"I want to help...the sick sister pick some flowers...but no matter how hard I look for it..."

Judging from the soil and weeds stained on her clothes, she had been searching in the mountains for a while.

The boy lowered his chest and lowered his head, thought for a while and replied:

"If you want to find flowers, I will walk a little further into the mountains and have a field of flowers."

"Please tell me where it is!?"

The girl let go of her tight skirt, wiped away the remaining tears with her sleeves, and her clear eyes looked at the boy with earnest eyes.

"...I can't help, I'll take you there before the sun sets."

The boy who picked up the firewood reached out with a kind smile.

He thought that if the girl was allowed to go alone, she might not only get lost, but also be attacked by wild beasts or monsters in the mountains.

Although my deceased father gave many instructions, he should not stay in the forest without any trouble and would have to return home before dusk, he should not give up on the people in need in front of him. This is also his father's teaching.

The girl wanted to hold the boy's outstretched hand, but she timidly retracted her hand.

"...I'm sorry, my mother said she couldn't touch outsiders casually."

"Why can't you touch outsiders?"

The boy tilted his head in confusion.

"──Because I am a princess."

"That's the case, then there's no problem~"

The boy stretched out his hand again and showed a friendly smile to the girl who claimed to be a princess.

"no problem?"

This time it was the girl's turn.

"Because I'm a knight."

"knight?"

"Well, the princess's exclusive knight."

The hesitant girl stared at the boy's hand that stretched out again, and finally gently held it.

They were pairs of rough but very warm hands.

The afterglow of the sunset penetrates the dense forest, dyeing the path golden yellow, and birds and beasts return to their respective nests one after another, preparing to welcome the arrival of night.

Two petite figures are still wandering in the gradually dim forest, wandering leisurely like travelers who have forgotten time.

"After picking so many flowers, my sister will definitely be very happy."

The expression of joy was written on his face. Natsuki held the flowers in one hand and held the hand of his first friend in his life with his other hand.

Life in the castle is very boring and boring, as various stories describe.

Just like the princesses in various stories, they always find ways to sneak out.

It should be said that he had poor skills or bad luck. Natsuki had never run away before, so this trip up the mountain was not only just picking flowers, but also the first time he could get rid of the female servants.

Natsuki, who was excited about this, seemed to imprint the entire outside world into his eyes. He looked around excitedly along the way. Insects, mushrooms and even strange-shaped stones, everything was so novel and interesting.

The boy beside him could not hide his worries on his face, and he was uneasy to observe the movements around him.

"Nah, how many other animals do you know? It turns out that the book says-"

"Natsuki."

The boy called the girl's name and focused his eyes on a large bush ahead that was fading from the golden afterglow.

"What's wrong? I stopped suddenly."

“…There’s something nearby.”

A huge figure quickly shuttled through the forest, flew through the bushes at high speed and approached the two of them.

"Not good, come here!"

The boy held Natsuki's hand tightly and ran, and the shaking petals scattered all over the ground.

"What is that? What happened!?"

Natsuki looked at the boy's anxious side face, and his trembling palms were sweating nervously.

A pair of sharp red eyes that flashed fiercely, locked the two of them from behind.

“Are there!?”

The boy suddenly stopped, removed the firewood on his back, and threw it to the bushes behind him with all his strength.

The cry of insects around him seemed to be frightened by this sudden action and became quiet for a moment.

As the moonlight came, the eyes hidden in the darkness slowly revealed its appearance.

The dark purple long hair that covered the whole body was comparable to the body of a lion and the sharp teeth that were enough to tear the big bear apart. The sharp blood-colored eyes were covered with an ominous evil spirit.

─────Juelang, a demon wolf that lives in the deep mountains and appears to hunt at dusk and disappears before midnight, will attack creatures that step into their territory or have magic power.

After living in the forest for so many years, the boy was the first time he encountered a monster with such oppression.

Faced with such a huge enemy, the boy racked his brains to think about how to resolve the danger.

If he was afraid of this, he would not only insult the reputation of the knight, but also inability to protect Natsuki behind him. Therefore, he suppressed the tremor of his body and faced the fear in front of him.

"Don't...so terrible..."

Natsuki, who had never seen a wild deer, encountered a terrifying monster for the first time. Her legs were already weak and she collapsed on the ground, and the remaining flowers in her hands fell one by one as she shook.

Juelang, whose head was injured, let out a low roar, exposed his fangs and slowly approached, and the branches on the ground were shattered by a huge forefoot.

The two were forced to retreat to a cliff, and there was no way out to retreat.

Because the forest at night is too poor, and Natsuki is not familiar with the terrain in the mountains, it is impossible to get rid of the pursuit and escape. Even if you hide it, it will be a problem sooner or later to be found by a wolf with a keen sense of smell.

So the boy made a decision.

"...Nayue, do you still recognize the way back?"

The boy shouted the girl's name, and his gentle tone seemed to be out of the matter.

"what are you up to!?"

Natsuki, who noticed that the boy was planning to do something dangerous, tears burst out from his eyes, grabbed the boy who was walking towards Juelang.

Just as firmly firm in his determination, the young man took another step forward.

"I am your knight, so I will protect you until the last moment."

The boy broke free from Natsuki's hand and ran to Juelang without fear, sacrificing himself to hit the opponent's huge body.

"Roar woo-woo-woo--!"
Chapter completed!