Lake Fairy Tower, during the autumn season, golden leaves flutter everywhere, birth, old age, sickness, and death, and the change of seasons are all natural laws, yet in the small valley within the tower, life flourishes, with the herbs and flowers planted by the Lake Fairy continuing to bloom.

In the courtyard inside the tower, on the huge marble balcony, the Lake Fairy, the Lake God Witch, and Laine are sitting together chatting, while Laine’s wife Surya is lying asleep on a recliner beside Laine.

Today, the Lake Fairy unusually isn’t wearing the usual long dress; she is dressed in a white snow fox fur knitted sweater and a gray layered collar ball-ornamented hip skirt, her golden hair flowing like silk down to her ankles. Seeing Laine’s slightly displeased expression, the Lake Fairy smiled casually: "Laine, my champion, with your presence, possessing Surya temporarily is not only harmless to her but actually brings her many benefits. She is now my Divine Chosen."

"Being possessed by the Lady is Surya’s honor." Mogiana nodded and said, "The Lady’s Divine Power can help her grow further and keep her away from corruption and curses."

"Who wouldn’t feel troubled if they someday found out their wife was suddenly possessed?" Laine glanced sideways at the Lake Fairy and sighed: "Well, since Surya is willing, I can’t oppose, my Lady, you’re finally back?"

"Call me Lilith~" The Lake Fairy poked Laine’s face with a finger, slightly dissatisfied: "You don’t like my return? I thought my appearance would make you happy, you unsympathetic and unkind man."

"So you specifically came to criticize me?" Laine looked at his sleeping wife, knowing the Lake Fairy had matters she didn’t want Surya to know about, and she certainly wouldn’t wake until their small meeting ended: "Just say what you want directly, Lilith, and I have things to discuss with you as well."

"Hmm~ Mogiana, go bring the pastries I made on the third floor, along with the milk tea." The Lake Fairy instructed. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Yes." Mogiana first responded to the Lake Fairy, then looked strangely at the sleeping Surya before getting up and leaving.

"Looking at things now, during the time I was absent, everything in the Kingdom has been fine." While the Lake God Witch went out, the Lake Fairy sat beside Laine, relaxed as she took off her brooch and sighed: "These past years, this country has experienced quite a few wars and needs some rest, but things never go as I expect; never mind the foolishness at Ossuan! Asuyan can do as he pleases! He’ll ruin all of Asur sooner or later!"

After speaking, the Lake Fairy unceremoniously leaned over onto Laine, who easily caught the soft goddess, adjusted her, and then smiled: "Is the epidemic issue resolved?"

"It’s over." The Lake Fairy, having been helped back into her recliner by Laine, had a deep look of resentment: "I managed to formulate a cure for the epidemic, but Asuyan ordered the captain of the Phoenix Guard, his ’Anointed,’ Kazhoyin, to burn my cure formula. Fortunately, my mother Isa had a dream sent to Ailarielle before the formula was burned, so burning it is fine too, at least the epidemic is resolved. For this, I was directly rebuked by Asuyan in the Pantheon, I’ve done what I should."

"You did nothing wrong in this matter." Laine highly appreciated the Lake Fairy’s efforts in creating the cure, nodding repeatedly, albeit with some concern: "Then... what punishment did Asuyan impose on you?"

"What could Asuyan do to me? Since the time of the Foolhardy King Mowville, as the Divine Power of the Moon Goddess Lilith of the high elves, it has been slowly waning, and my power no longer poses a threat to him." The Lake Fairy always carried a faint fragrance, staring at the mist-filled valley: "However, I shall avoid him in the times ahead and stay with you here."

"Lady, Laine." Mogiana brought the pastries and tea to Laine and the Lake Fairy.

Politics among the elves are always chaotic, and Laine had little interest in the numerous internal issues of the high elves, so he nodded and said no more.

"I understand you and Francois plan to form an Alliance Army to attack the Black Stone Stronghold; Mogiana has already told me." Seeing Laine silent, the Lake Fairy knew he wasn’t interested in this and changed the topic: "How are preparations going?"

"More than half prepared, it’s currently autumn harvest, I’ve temporarily disbanded the soldiers and sent them home to farm, once the autumn harvest is over, they’ll regroup for training." Laine responded to the Lake Fairy.

Apart from the Peasant Conscripts within his territory, the army is semi-professional, including the Longbowman Battalion, Charon Forest Patrol Battalion, and Long Halberd Legion are already semi-professional, but the path to a fully professional army is still long.

The expenditure of supporting conscript soldiers, semi-professional armies, and professional armies differs vastly.

Why do Master Knights love Peasant Conscripts?

Because they’re cheap! Peasant Conscripts bring their own weapons and food to the battlefield; aside from distributing some saltier rations before battle, Master Knights incur no extra costs, only needing to supply army rations when conscription exceeds the limit. Half of the battle bounty is left to the peasants, weapons are retained, armor exchanged for money, and additional rewards granted based on merit.