The knights are gathering all of the Bandit body to burn it in order to give them a proper burial. While they gather them, Romain stops in front of Volya's body and closes his eyes. He then says,

"This battle is really small compared to our other battle... But, the cost is higher because someone unrelated from us becomes the victim."

"I know about that..." answered Aubert as he prepares the wood to burn all of the body.

"Even though it's only one... the burden is much heavier because of a small fact that there are some unknown people that dragged into this conflict," says Albert as he pats Romain back.

"If only I'm more prepared... He will not die in this battle..." says Romain

"Don't blame yourself or it will really make your performance drop, Romain," says Clement.

Romain nods and takes Volya's body with the bandit's corpse. After that, Albert lit the fire and all of them prayed for Volya's soul. Not long after that, all of them heard something coming from the bushes behind them. All of them prepare their weapon immediately and wait for anyone or anything that comes to them.

Not long after that, all of them are really surprised to see Volya standing there. And what is more surprising is he is unscathed. Romain looked at the fire behind him and then at Volya in front of him. Volya then laughs and says, "It is a good thing that I follow my guts to create a copy of my body to meet all of you before this, if not I will meet my father in heaven."

All of them can't hide their surprise at Volya laughing at them. After that, Volya starts to walk again and says, "Then, let's continue our chat before while I will lead all of you to the outskirts of Azalea."

Thirty minutes later, all of them continue to walk in silence and all of the knights are focusing their attention towards Volya, the magus that suddenly helped them.

Volya understands that they are really suspicious of him, but he doesn't care about that. So, he asks them,

"I believe all of you should understand about that treaty, right?"

"Did you mean the treaty about Azalea?" asked Albert.

"That's right. If you understand that treaty, why did you chase them to this area?"

"That's fully our fault to follow them without thinking about our location." answer the 'Queen'.

"Then, why did you chase them?"

"That's because they already killed a lot of our villagers and raided a lot of villages near here." answer the 'Queen' once more.

"Hooo... And then all you chase them until here and the rest becomes history. Then, my next question is why don't you let them go?" asked Volya.

"If we let them go, they will continue to raid other villages and more people will be killed by them," answered Albert.

"Hooo... And the end is all of you almost falling to their ambush if I didn't intervene. And together with that, you let your kingdom in pinch with you almost break the treaty."

"About that..."

"This is a small suggestion from me, it's better not chase them too deep as they could suddenly bite back like a small creature that is already cornered."

All of the knights are really surprised to hear that from Volya. Meanwhile, Volya continues talking,

"And I believe all of you break a lot of basic principles in chasing something. Like how many is your target? Where are they going? Do we know the location? Etc. From there should be safe from a bigger problem."

Albert looked at Volya with awe and wanted to ask something. But, Volya already finished it with saying,

"But, that's just a theory. Sometimes it's hard to apply it in practice."

"Still... It's an embarrassment for us to forget that basic principle as a knight," says Aubert.

"Well... I can't blame any of you as it is a dire situation, no?"

Volya then continues to walk and lets the knight think about their action for a while. He then continues to lead them towards the edge of the forest in silence until he asks them again,

"Then, what will you do to them if all of you arrest them?"

"We will bring them to the capital and hang them!" answered Clement.

"Hmmm... execution without a trial? Isn't that quite brutal?" ask Volya.

"It's not a problem as they ask for it," answered Aubert.

"Is that so..."

"But, isn't what you have done to them almost the same with us? Killing them without any hesitation?" ask the 'Queen'.

Volya looked behind him and then says,

"At first, I thought I could avert any conflict from this forest. But, everything changes from bad to worse in a split second and I need to take such action."

"But, you still kill them without any trial," said Albert.

"The forest and fate will."

"Huh?"

"Hahahahahaha... Just ignore this hermit rambling alright. And you are right, I am a hypocrite for doing that."

Albert and the 'Queen' looked at each other and they understand that the person in front of them is someone unique in his mind. They continue to follow the person that helps them until they arrive in front of a vast field.

Volya stopped there and asks them,

"By looking at your insignia, I could say that all of you come from the kingdom in the north. Am I right?"

"Yes, you are right." answer the 'Queen'.

"The kingdom that is located at Snowmarch mountains, the Haegia Kingdom. Isn't that quite far from here?" ask Volya once more.

"Yes, we know that it is quite far from here. But it is our job as a knight to protect everyone near our border," answer Albert.

"Then, is it something ordinary for that?" Volya asks him to take a glance at the 'Queen'.

"Of course." answer the 'Queen' after seeing Volya looking at him.

"Ah... I'm sorry, my question isn't that clear. What I mean is this... Is it something ordinary for the Queen of the kingdom to follow their knight and hunt down the bandit?"

The 'Queen' really surprised to hear that and seems hesitant to answer that question. Volya then smiles at her, then bows, and asks her,

"If possible, could I ask your name, Your Highness? It's rare to meet a Queen that also acts like a knight."

All of the knights are really surprised and looked at the 'Queen'. The 'Queen' looked at Albert and saw a nod. She then laughs a little bit and then says, "If you insist."

The 'Queen' takes off her helmet and lets her saddle brown hair show to the world. She let her hair tied in order to not disturb him under the helmet, but that didn't reduce her beauty at all.

Her blue eyes as clear as the sky looked at Volya with full determination, and Volya could see that the 'Queen' is smiling as if she is teasing him a bit. She then says,

"My name is Helena Estrudiantes, The Queen from the Haegia Kingdom that rules the north side of Therious Island at Snowmarsh Mountains. It's an honor to meet you."

Volya is really surprised that Helena really introduces herself and reveals herself as the queen in front of him. And because of that, he laughs really hard and that really triggered the knight. Albert then says,

"You are really impolite, Sir."

"Ahahahahaha... I'm sorry... I'm really sorry.. It's just... This is really unique in my eyes..."

"Unique? Why did you say that?"asked Clement

"Isn't it simple? You Queen really answers a question from a stranger like me. If I have a bad idea, I could just kill her after her confirmation, right?"

Everyone prepares their weapon, but Helena gives a sign to stop. Helena then says,

"But, at least I believe you."

"Why did you believe me?" ask Volya.

"Someone who really cares about this place isn't someone who will have a bad intention to anyone around them, except for those who dare disturb this place," answer Helena

"Heee... Is that so..."

"And if you are a bad guy, I believe that squirrel will not come to you, right?"

Volya is really surprised and sees one squirrel at his leg and smiles. He then bows at Helena and says,

"I'm really sorry for making such ruckus in front of a wise Queen like you."

"That's alright," answered Helena.

"You know it's been a long time since I have a long chat with anyone."

"And it's been a long time since all of us find a unique person like you."

Volya can't hide his embarrassment and then hears Helena asks him,

"Then, could you introduce yourself? I want to know the name of the person that saves all of us."

Volya looked at all of them and then took off his cape. He let his saddle brown hair to the open air. He then smiles at them and says,

"My name is Volya Portar. A Magus. It's nice to meet all of you."