Fairy tale: Little Red Riding Hood's wolf mentor

Inside the palace, Prince Happy raised his hands, draping a golden armor over himself.

Many commanders of the Goethe Kingdom stood by, their faces etched with solemnity.

"Leake, Poro, you're back? Have you made up your minds?"

Prince Happy asked, his voice gentle, as the swallow, Zipallo, waved its wings amiably above his head, refraining from uttering any words of entreaty.

Perhaps Zipallo didn't want to interfere with Leake or Poro's decision because of its own sake.

Especially when it came to participating in a war between kingdoms.

"Your Highness, if we don't join, is there any chance of victory in your battle?"

Leake didn't answer directly but instead posed a question.

"I don't know, but I've always believed that miracles exist in this world," Prince Happy said with a smile, gazing around as if sensing the presence of every Goethe soldier.

"But these miracles are only born from belief—of course, a long time ago, I decided to stop being an idealist.

I know that there is a vast difference in military strength between the Goethe Kingdom and the Wither Kingdom, and we have suffered repeated defeats, but now, we have more opportunities for victory.

Because you have come, Zipallo has brought back the part of me that I had not yet recovered.

My eyes, and—power."

As Prince Happy spoke, he opened his hands, and the pouch on Zipallo's chest opened, from which three different colored gems flew out, circling in the air.

But then, Prince Happy's expression turned stern as he faced Leake and Poro, saying:

"However, in that case, regardless of victory or defeat, the number of people who die in Goethe and Wither Kingdom will be unimaginably high. In that case, even if our kingdom wins, it will take a long time to recover.

If you help me, perhaps this war will end sooner."

"Is that so..."

Leake nodded upon hearing this and then spoke directly, "Alright, I will help you, but I don't want to do too much. I don't want to slaughter ordinary soldiers. I know that those Wither soldiers have indeed killed many innocent people in the war.

But... I don't want to kill too many people, and the Star-Slaying Sword doesn't like it either."

"Ha, I know, don't worry, I won't arrange for you to do such things!"

Prince Happy laughed upon hearing Leake's reply, he pointed to the Star-Slaying Sword on Leake's waist, and then said, "Zipallo told me about you, and I myself—absolutely don't want that pure starlight to be stained with more blood."

After that, Prince Happy restrained his smile, he beckoned, and a strategist behind him stepped forward, holding a wooden model of a warship, supported in the air with a wooden stick, placed on a sandbox in the center of the palace.

Prince Happy stared at the model and said to Leake:

"The King of the Wither Kingdom, using magic and techniques from unknown origins, has created this fleet that flies in the sky, called the 'Conquest Sky Fleet'.

And the King of Wither will personally be present in every battle, his position is on the flagship of this fleet."

As Prince Happy spoke, he looked at Leake, slowly adding:

"If you can board this flagship and kill the King of Wither—perhaps this way, you can end this war early and bring peace back to the world."

"It's just as we thought..."

Leake and Poro looked at the warship on the sandbox, raised their heads, and looked at Prince Happy again, "We will do it as quickly as possible."

……

Goethe Capital, as time passed, the atmosphere of slaughter became increasingly cold.

Fewer and fewer people left Goethe Capital, until the army pressed the border, no one could leave anymore. Now, the people still in Goethe Capital are only those who are fighting for tomorrow.

"Your Majesty, traces of the Wither Kingdom's Conquest Sky Fleet have been found in multiple directions. They may directly implement an 'encirclement' of the city on the day of the war."

Every day, sentinels from the Goethe Kingdom reported to the Worry-Free Palace in the royal palace.

And inside the palace, many generals spent the night deducing on the sandbox every day—the Wither Kingdom's army, just the ground forces alone, was several times the size of the Goethe Capital garrison.

Not to mention... that air force that could almost be called 'invincible' on the ground battlefield!

"Has the location of the flagship been found?"

"We are tracking it. The Wither Kingdom's flagship has been marked for reconnaissance seventeen times, and the trajectory is already being determined..."

"Well, time is running out. This will be our last stand."

Prince Happy tirelessly created military orders and tactics on the paper in front of him. After a long while, he raised his head, looking at the ancient palaces around him, the walls still revealing a faint golden color behind those somewhat aging murals.

And in Prince Happy's vision, he couldn't see any colors. The world he perceived was pieced together by countless complex lines and energy flows.

He could accurately sense every corner and everything outside the walls.

"I... must prepare to reopen my eyes. Suffering and threats will not disappear just by closing your eyes."

He murmured, his senses penetrating the walls, looking towards the top of the Goethe Capital city wall not far away.

There, he could sense that gathering of stars.

Clear, transparent, holy...

Like that distant paradise.

"I am... the king now. I am no longer a prince. I can do more, I must do more—"

Prince Happy, or rather... the King of Goethe, perhaps he was not as powerful as all the Goethe people thought, or rather, every king's heart would become more dazzling under countless burnings.

"Humans, living in this world, should not just be to feel pain. I just want to allow more people to enjoy happiness without worry."

……

On the city wall, Leake and Poro looked into the distance.

Among the swaying vegetation, the army of the Wither Kingdom stretched across the mountains and plains, the camps undulating, like a black forest, with no end in sight.

Many siege weapons, like giant beasts, had already been erected.

Like one bloodthirsty beast after another.

But these were far from the most oppressive. In the clouds not far away, several warships, seemingly made of steel, floated in the air.

"How did they make such big things...?"

Poro widened his eyes. He clearly saw that on the dark bottom of the Conquest Sky Warships, there were many subtle engravings, but no matter what—it was a miracle-like project!

It's just a pity that their goal is for war and slaughter.

Poro turned his gaze, on the other sides of the city, there were also Conquest Sky Warships suspended under the clouds.

They did not deliberately conceal their figures.

It was as if they were deliberately using the ferocious engravings on their ships to put pressure on the Goethe city's garrison.

"Ms. Leake, and... uh, Mr. Poro."

A Goethe officer walked to Leake and Poro's side and gave a military salute, "His Majesty the King invites you two to the Worry-Free Palace."

Inside the ancient Worry-Free Palace, all the Goethe generals were already fully armored.

And Prince Happy, wearing golden armor, stood upright in front of the throne, the three gems of orange-yellow, blue-green, and azure slowly rotating behind him.

"The flagship of the Conquest Sky Fleet where the King of the Wither Kingdom is located has been found, and at the latest the day after tomorrow, they will launch an attack, but this time, we are not defending, but—attacking!"

All the Goethe generals tightened their long swords around their waists upon hearing this.

Although in their previous discussions with Prince Happy, they understood that what they were going to do was not defending the city, but taking the initiative to attack.

But such an action of attacking the enemy's strengths with one's own weaknesses still made them feel a little difficult—

This was a war destined to have no retreat.

"Our city walls cannot stop the attacks from those flying in the sky. They will throw rockets and oil barrels from high altitude, slaughtering our people in the sky—

We cannot prevent such things from happening in the city, so we can only do this, actively choose the battlefield outside the city walls!"

After speaking, Prince Happy maintained the posture of looking up, as if looking into the distance, a little golden light gathered on the silver-gray skin surface.

He murmured:

"Happiness, joy... all good things require a price, even if the price is sacrificing what I have..."

At the open skylight at the top of the palace, a shadow flew over.

The golden sunlight shone on Zipallo's black back, illuminating her body as if it were cast in gold.

Zipallo gently landed on Prince Happy's head, and all the Goethe generals below looked at the bird that flew in from the sunlight together.

"My most intimate swallow partner, you are my eyes. Can you tell me, what do you see outside the city walls?"

Prince Happy asked Zipallo softly, just like countless years ago when he first lost his eyes.

"I saw those foreign armies, sharpening the blades and spears in their hands. Next to their warhorses, hang the heads of the dead. They sharpen their knives, and what they talk about is only the ambition of killing, plundering, and aggression...

Those slaves, chained with iron chains, are building trenches under the thorny whips.

The ground they passed is full of bloody remains..."

Upon hearing the words of the swallow Zipallo, all the Goethe people were silent, and Prince Happy responded again in a calm voice:

"I understand, I will stop the advance of war and suffering, even if I offer—this second life given to me by God!"

His voice fell, and then, all the Goethe soldiers drew their swords and pointed them at the sky, shouting loudly:

"Sacrifice!"

"Sacrifice!"

"Sacrifice!"

In the shouts, Prince Happy walked out of the palace, along the street, under the gaze of all the Goethe soldiers and civilians, towards the city wall.

Step by step.

On his forehead, the gold-white blindfold covering his eyes slowly fell off, turning into a glittering dust.

Prince Happy's eyes were exposed, but in them, there was only a deep, lightless darkness.

"Before coming here, I once fantasized that I hoped that when I regained my sight, I would look around and see that everyone was already living a happy and joyful life...

But I failed.

I understand, it is still the same truth that I should have understood long ago—only those who have personally witnessed suffering can solve it."

Behind Prince Happy, the rotation of the three gems gradually stopped.

Among them, the azure and blue-green gems slowly floated in front of Prince Happy's eye sockets.

"I once gave the blue eyes to a playwright, dreams, the interpretation of the soul, let the will transcend suffering, under my gaze, the dreams in your hearts will let you leap over suffering—"

The azure gem flew into Prince Happy's left eye.

He looked at those Goethe generals, and behind every warrior reflected in his eyes, a pair of invisible wings appeared.

"I once gave the blue-green eyes to a freezing and hungry girl selling matches. No one is born to suffer. I hope every trembling soul will regain warmth and strength."

The blue-green gem flew into Prince Happy's right eye.

Under the blue light, everyone felt a warmth and comfort from the inside out.

Several warriors widened their eyes. They saw that on the surface of their skin, long-standing wounds began to heal again.

Finally, Prince Happy drew his sword, and the long sword at his waist was raised high, pointing to the sky—

"I once gave the red gem on the sword to a mother who worked hard for her young child—under the red light, all the warriors who wield their blades to protect will be invincible!"

The red gem was re-embedded in Prince Happy's long sword.

Not only in the palace, but throughout the city, all the people who were prepared to sacrifice for protection heard the gradually rising war drums in their hearts!

The weakness caused by hunger, age, or pain was slowly dispelled.

Replaced by a power that seemed to be born from the bottom of their hearts!

"Guard!"

"Sacrifice!"

All the soldiers began to shout.

And those women, children, and old people who could not fight also shouted, cheering for the Goethe soldiers.

In the wave of shouts, Prince Happy ascended the city wall, looking at the steel forest shrouded in the Wither Kingdom's flag under the dim sky, and the Conquest Sky Fleet revealed in the gaps of the dark clouds.

Prince Happy took a deep breath, his voice was extremely calm, but it rang in the hearts of every Goethe soldier:

"I once gave the full body of gold leaf to the people who were sinking in the sea of suffering.

Every soldier who is on the expedition today, you use your own blood to exchange life for your beloved, I respect you—now, all the people who are protected by you, their prayers and love, will also put on golden armor for you!"

As the voice fell, on the surface of Prince Happy's silver-gray body, countless golden lights condensed into substance, covering the surface of his body, and became golden and dazzling again.

The other Goethe generals were the same, golden light appeared out of thin air around them, weaving into golden armor.

"Warriors, open the city gate, our last war has begun."

Prince Happy waved his golden long sword, pointing to the front—

The enemy array is like an abyss, and dark clouds are pressing down on the top.

But at this moment, where the black tides intertwine, golden light flashes!