Volume 4 Chapter 8 Reflection Meeting
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Damn it! We were so close!” Tiet shouted, furiously scrubbing the seawater from her soaked blonde hair.
She leaned forward, sticking out her plump rear as she held a small cup in hand, grumbling about the earlier battle with childish frustration.
”…What’s with you, Tiet? You weren’t exactly fired up back there,” Hermine said flatly, casting a skeptical glance at the blonde girl.
Her long black hair fell loosely over her bare shoulders as she dried herself with unhurried grace. Fresh from the bath, the princess radiated an elegant air, her words smooth but sharp.
Tiet didn’t answer immediately, just made a small snort as she pulled her long hair free from her shirt collar.
Hermine narrowed her eyes.
It was only natural for her to question it. Tiet had been completely uninterested during their operation to chase down the thief. Even when they’d boarded the ship and closed in on the target, she’d just sat on the deck, looking half-asleep. And now she was acting like she nearly won the war.
With one last tug, Tiet yanked her shirt into place and turned around, meeting Hermine’s stare head-on. The suspicion didn’t bother her. That was just how she was.
”I almost chopped off that cheeky tail at the root! Just one more swing!” Tiet declared, raising a tightly clenched fist.
”…Ah, that part…” Hermine muttered with a sigh, her tone easing as she realized what Tiet had been chasing after.
Tiet’s frustration had been about the sea dragon. Thinking back, Hermine remembered how excited Tiet had looked during the fight—almost giddy, even.
That dragon was enormous. Large enough to make seasoned soldiers scream. Its tail alone was several times longer than their ship. But to Tiet? It probably looked like a naughty dog that needed a slap.
With a sulky expression, Tiet puffed her cheeks.
It was absurdly cute.
Hermine found herself warming to the sight despite herself. Dangerous words aside, and ignoring the absurd strength hidden behind her slim hands, Tiet was—at her core—a beautiful, age-appropriate girl.
”Tiet did her best,” Anna said gently, her voice low and calm. “Thanks to her, the dragon pulled back without causing any real harm. I… couldn’t do anything.”
She spoke as she ran a towel across her damp gray hair, her black locks clinging to her shoulders. Her smooth, fair skin gleamed under the bathhouse lighting.
Anna’s figure, poised and perfect, would make any scumbag drop dead in admiration. She had the soft curves of a noble statue, her expression gentle but tinged with quiet regret.
Hearing her words, both Tiet and Hermine fell silent.
Anna’s seriousness made them hesitate.
She was beautiful. Painfully beautiful. Even as fellow women, it was impossible not to notice.
Hermine, who’d never even thought about men, stared openly at the delicate lines of her comrade’s body—flawless and doll-like.
Surely, anyone would call her beautiful. Hermine felt a strange pride in being both her friend and her ally.
Tiet, on the other hand, looked at Anna with a hint of something else. Having recently experienced the awkwardness of her first relationship, she could now clearly see how sexy Anna was. Her eyes dropped briefly to her own chest, and she sighed in quiet defeat.
Surely, everyone would call her erotic. And that stung, a little.
”…I wonder. Am I still growing?” Tiet murmured under her breath, staring at the floor.
”…Did you say something?” Anna asked, tilting her head innocently.
”…It’s nothing,” Tiet muttered, quickly snapping back to attention.
As if shaking off her mood, she jumped into motion, throwing on her spats and tugging at her clothes in rushed, rough movements. She glanced at Anna’s still-nude form out of the corner of her eye, lips slightly pursed.
Rivalry. Pure and simple.
* * *
Moments later, the three girls stepped out of the bath, changed and ready.
Their footsteps echoed down the stone corridor. The soft clatter of sandals, the breeze slipping through the ventilation window, and the distant flap of birds’ wings set the tone. The floral scent that followed them was subtle, but pleasant.
If you saw them now, you’d never guess they were battle-hardened warriors. They moved like noble daughters returning from tea.
Eventually, they turned a corner and reached their destination: the secret meeting chamber of the imperial castle.
”Sorry to keep you waiting,” Hermine said, stepping inside.
”Welcome back!” Oriana greeted brightly, standing to welcome them. “You all look refreshed!”
Oriana had skipped the bath to report to the emperor first. Since she hadn’t been soaked or injured, it only made sense.
None of them had actually suffered any wounds. Tiet and Anna had been drenched, and Hermine caught the worst of the dragon’s splash. So naturally, they’d chosen to clean themselves up before facing anyone.
”I want to take a bath too,” Oriana said with a pout. “Even if you don’t go in, the sea breeze gets you all sticky.”
”I get that,” Hermine replied, gesturing for her to sit. “But we should finish the meeting first. Just a little longer, okay?”
”…Yeah, yeah,” Oriana sighed, not pushing further.
Tiet dropped herself onto the couch with a heavy thud.
Hermine and Anna followed more gracefully, moving to their usual seats. Over time, the four of them had developed unspoken “assigned” spots.
The black leather seats were well-made, stuffed with wool and sewn with care.
Hermine sat cross-legged, regal and high-handed without losing her elegance.
Anna sat with her knees together and feet tucked neatly, posture polite and gentle.
Oriana placed her heels apart, legs turned slightly inward—a quiet, demure way to sit.
Tiet kicked one leg up, resting her heel on the opposite knee and leaning back with her hands behind her head, relaxed and casual.
They all faced each other around a small knee-height table, covered with a white cloth stitched with floral designs.
Each place had a matching white plate and twisted-patterned teacup. The reddish-brown tea inside filled the room with its sweet aroma.
In the center sat a teapot and a three-tiered bamboo basket—rusks on top, cookies in the middle, fresh fruit below.
The scene was warm and cozy, like a noble’s tea party.
”Well then,” Hermine said, straightening her posture. “Let’s begin the reflection meeting.”
They’d held these meetings dozens of times—in inns, war camps, and now here.
”Even though we had them cornered… they still got away,” Hermine began, scanning each of the other girls’ faces.
Tiet, Anna, and Oriana nodded slightly, letting her lead.
”The Sea Dragon showed up out of nowhere. We probably could have forced the chase, but it would’ve been reckless. It wasn’t something we could take on alone. Letting them go was the right call. So now… we need to decide what’s next.”
They had been toyed with.
If it were only about strength, Hermine and Anna could have chased them. But chasing a target while fending off a dragon-class enemy at sea? That was insanity.
Plus, Hermine’s magic was limited aboard ships, and sending Anna alone was out of the question.
So they’d retreated. Not because they wanted to—but because there was no other way.
”Our target is Klock,” Hermine continued. “If we can’t catch them at sea, then we wait. They’ll have to land eventually.”
”Right,” Anna agreed, her tone steady. “The Sea Dragon isn’t the problem. What is… is why it helped them.”
Belgerona. The Sea Dragon.
Tiet had brought it up earlier, and she had a point—dragons don’t obey just anyone. They’re intelligent, proud creatures. Unless they respect or fear someone, they won’t act.
For a dragon to save a thief… it made no sense.
”Hey, Tiet,” Hermine said suddenly, locking eyes with the blonde. “Why was Cynthia on that ship?”
Tiet’s eyes widened slightly.
She tried to hide the tension in her shoulders by reaching for a cookie. She grabbed a few bite-sized ones, chewing furiously to buy time.
”…Haharahihhaharoro (I told you so). Hoofoo (That person)… gulp …She was attacked by some Gild…something. While I was escorting her. I told you before, remember? We figured they’d head that way…”
Flame General Gildegant.
One of the Demon Lord’s Four Generals. The demonkin who had dared attack the Imperial Capital solo.
Tiet had intercepted her. Anna had delivered the finishing blow. The capital had burned, but the fires were out now—and thankfully, no lives had been lost.
Still, the emperor—Hermine’s father—had seen it as a serious issue.
”…Is that true… or are you covering for them?” Hermine asked, voice low, suspicious.
”It’s true,” Anna answered, cutting in gently. “Tiet fought hard. It wasn’t a good match for her, but she held her ground. I joined in partway through. We beat her. That’s all.”
”…I see,” Hermine murmured, exhaling.
She leaned back, suspicion still flickering in her gaze as she looked at Tiet.
Tiet didn’t flinch.
Hermine had a reason to be cautious. Tiet had once traveled with Klock and Cynthia. That history couldn’t just be ignored. Even now, it was possible… maybe… she still had ties.
”For now, our problems are only getting worse,” Hermine said, folding her arms. “That demon… especially. She’s going to be a major headache.”
The Demon Lord’s forces were already moving.
And this… was just the beginning.
They had bought a little time by following Klock, but that delay wouldn’t last. The problem was still coming, fast and inevitable.
Right now, several nations on both the Demon Continent and Human Continent were connected through trade. Among them were the Kingdom of Crotopone and the Leelit Federation. These two nations were especially active, importing resources from the Demon Continent eagerly—so eager, in fact, that they accepted the risks of dealing with it. Their bond with the Demon Continent was deeper than that of any other human countries.
In contrast, the Second Empire of Dusselhelm had no such ties. Located far to the north, it had no reason to be involved with the southern Demon Continent. Naturally, no trade existed between them.
But that lack of connection might soon become a weakness.
With Gildegant’s invasion underway, uncertainty swirled. Was this a direct act of war from the Demon Lord? Or just a wild rampage? In the worst case… could the Federation or the Kingdom be secretly involved?
”That bastard’s mess still isn’t cleaned up yet, and I honestly have no idea what we’re supposed to do,” muttered Hermine, pinching the bridge of her nose. “We can’t take sides with any one country. This is when the Saint should be stepping in… but we can’t even count on her right now.”
Foreseeing war. Predicting catastrophic disasters. That was the Saint’s role.
”If she were fulfilling that properly,” Anna continued with a tired sigh, “I’d want her to predict what the Demon Lord’s going to do next. Or how the other nations will move. But Cynthia’s out there somewhere—on the sea, with Klock.”
The issue was that Klock and the others were currently unreachable. After their encounter with the sea dragon, their whereabouts had become impossible to track.
”Normally, they should’ve still been in the empire’s waters,” Hermine explained calmly, tracing a line across the map. “But with dragons, they’ve likely already crossed eastward. If their speed held… they’ve probably reached the Federation’s northern edge by now.”
She pointed to the next location on the map.
”If the dragon keeps moving without rest, I estimate two to three days until they reach the Federation’s eastern edge. From there, if they cross the Ryze Strait… they’ll be at the Beast Continent.”
”But… that guy can’t talk, right?” muttered Tiet, arms folded. “Even if she could see the future or whatever, how would she explain it to anyone?”
”She can write,” said Anna. “So it’s not a problem. Besides… I’m not even convinced he can’t talk. I wanted to ask Oriana about that.”
”It’s confirmed that Cynthia can write,” Hermine noted, shifting her weight in her chair. “She sent me a letter. She might not have been able to read or write at first, but the Theocracy must have taught her once they took her in.”
”But about the speaking issue…?” Tiet pressed.
”It’s just an impression,” Hermie replied. “It’s never been officially confirmed. But Oriana know them.”
”Huh? Me?” Oriana blinked in surprise, suddenly called out.
”…Yeah,” Hermine nodded. “Wasn’t Cynthia unable to speak? How did she manage to ask the sea dragon for help?”
That was the core of the mystery.
The sea dragon had helped them. It carried Klock and the others—and even their entire ship—on its back. That massive creature had saved them.
”That’s not normal,” Hermine muttered. “A dragon wouldn’t do something like that without a reason.”
She narrowed her eyes.
”Someone made that happen. And Cynthia’s the most likely one.”
”Um… I don’t know anything about the sea dragon,” Oriana said, fidgeting slightly. “But it’s true the Saint has aphasia. Her sister passed away, and after that, she couldn’t speak.”
”Her sister?” Hermine asked, brows raising. “Where’d you hear that?”
”Uhh… I think it was from her mother,” Oriana answered. “After Cynthia was chosen as the Saint, people immediately noticed she couldn’t speak.”
”From her mother…” Hermine murmured thoughtfully. “Then it’s probably true. Parents would know something like that for sure.”
She glanced to the side.
”If Cynthia was taken in by the Theocracy right after being chosen, and she couldn’t speak from the start, they would’ve learned that right away. Makes sense they’d ask her family. Did Cynthia’s mother die too? How?” asked Hermine again.
”Um… I think it was an accident?” Oriana said, tilting her head. “I heard she fell off the veranda during the unveiling ceremony…”
”Ah, I remember that,” said Hermine, her voice steady but distant. “I was there. Nobles and officials from many nations attended. I went right before I joined up with Anna and the others. So… a little over two years ago.”
She paused, eyes slightly downcast.
”After the ceremony, when we returned to the Empire, we heard about the fall. It was from a spot with a railing only about belly-high. There were even rumors it might’ve been murder.”
”…Were you suspected?” Anna asked quietly, watching her carefully.
”…Yeah… I think everyone from the attending nations was suspected.,” Hermine replied with a strained smile.
Anna glanced down, noticing the tension in Hermine’s voice.
She’s still upset, Anna thought. Someone must’ve said something awful. For her to remember all that so clearly… yeah. It definitely hit deep.
”…If we can’t confirm it, there’s nothing to be done,” the mage muttered. “What matters now is that the sea dragon did help them. And Klock probably…”
”Fuun-hmm, harofah, mmgh (Doesn’t matter),” Tiet said suddenly, her mouth full. “Hahm-ffhm, fuhr-hoh (No way that guy and the sea dragon…) gulp …worked together.”
”Tiet. How many times have I told you not to talk while eating?” Hermine scolded, frowning. “And don’t slurp your tea, either.”
Tiet gave an exaggerated shrug but didn’t stop chewing.
No one understood exactly what she said, but the meaning was clear enough. Klock was being chased by a hero, sure—but he was still just a regular person. There was no way someone like that could form a bond with a dragon.
”Dragons don’t listen to humans,” said Hermine firmly. “They only obey those who defeat them. But I can’t imagine those three defeating a sea dragon. And Cynthia can’t even talk. She has no way to communicate.”
”She can write, though,” Oriana pointed out helpfully.
”Yeah,” she nodded, “but dragons can’t read.”
”…Then maybe,” Tiet said suddenly, swallowing her bite, “maybe that third party did it. Like, someone else helped?”
She threw the idea out casually, like it had just popped into her head.
However, ideas—no matter how fleeting—should never be underestimated. In desperate times, even a cornered army might make a last-ditch gambit, springing to life a legend born not from strategy, but from sudden impulse.
”I see. That could be possible,” Hermine muttered, voice tinged with contemplation.
”Huh? Is it possible?” Oriana tilted her head.
”If a third party used telepathy, it could work,” she replied, pushing up her glasses with a hint of tension behind her composed face.
The conversation drifted from the main subjects—Klock and Cynthia—and turned toward a mystery that lingered on the edges.
According to the magical detective’s investigation, another unidentified woman had boarded the ship during the escape from the Imperial Capital’s bay.
”That’s right. If you think about it, it’s true,” Oriana said. “Sea dragons live in the ocean, right? Without telepathy, there’s no way to call them—unless they just happened to be on the surface.”
”Then what made them cooperate?” Tiet asked, mouth still half-full from chewing.
”…I don’t know,” Hermine said, setting her cup down. “But if there was a Saint involved… maybe they couldn’t ignore her. Or maybe, something made them want to help her.”
The conclusion was vague, but no one offered a rebuttal. The theory that a telepath had negotiated with underwater creatures was, when calmly assessed, the only explanation.
As Hermine had pointed out, unless those creatures just happened to surface—and even if they did, without language—communication would be impossible.
”I understand the method of cooperation now,” Anna said, slowly exhaling. “It’s just a hypothesis, but a believable one. Still… we don’t know why the dragon helped. That means we also have to consider the chance of being stopped by something just as inexplicable. That’s fair, right?”
”Yeah. That’s how it’ll be,” Hermine agreed, her lips tightening. “It’s annoying though.”
”…Hermine,” Anna said, lowering her eyes slightly. “I have a request.”
The moment grew still. She raised her cup to her lips, but the words seemed to weigh heavier than the drink she sipped. Across from her, Tiet was busy chomping down like she was finishing an actual meal, not just snacks. Oriana, ever gentle, quietly pulled a napkin from the shelf and slid it in front of Tiet without a word. Hermine, caught mid-drink, narrowed her gaze at Anna.
”A request? What kind?”
”I’m going alone.”
Crack.
Apple flesh split beneath Tiet’s grip, juice spilling onto the table.
”No! Why?” she cried out instinctively.
Hermine blinked in confusion, and even Oriana froze, eyes wide.
”AnnAnn! Calm down!” Oriana half-stood. “Going alone’s bad news!”
”Exactly!” Hermine added, banging a fist on the table. “Sure, a big group made things harder this time—but next time, we’ll ambush them on land. The four of us together will be enough!”
They all spoke at once, their feelings aligned in one loud message: Don’t rush it.
Tiet didn’t even have the chance to speak more—busy as she was wiping up the mess—but her heart beat in sync with theirs.
Anna, calm and composed, met each of their gazes in turn.
”Hermine, this time I pushed too far,” she said quietly. “You need to sit this one out. The battleship’s in pieces. The Emperor’s going to be furious, right?”
”…That’s true,” Hermine sighed. “But still—”
”There’s also Gildegant. If people think you’re chasing thieves abroad, you’ll be in trouble. You could end up like Oriana—losing your freedom.”
”Ghh…” Hermine bit her lip.
She’d charged forward recklessly, obsessed with catching them. No real groundwork, just brute military deployment. It was wasteful, selfish, and weakened her position. She hadn’t even reported back to the Emperor yet—and failure without results was a deadly sin in the palace.
Even if her father forgave her, her two elder sisters wouldn’t.
”…Tiet, I want you to stay here too.”
”Why?! I’ve got no leash on me! I can go anywhere!”
”…I’m sorry, Tiet,” Anna said with an apologetic gaze. “Everyone knows you’re protecting Klock.”
The statement landed like a sword to the chest.
Even someone as straightforward as Tiet couldn’t keep a straight face. Her eyebrows twitched.
”Tiet. You’ve been with Klock. You must’ve had thoughts. That’s why… you’re against us capturing him, right?”
”Th—that is…”
Tiet stumbled over her words. How did she find out?
No—maybe she had been found out. She intended to deny it regardless. That was her style: lie even if it’s obvious, push through. But depending on timing, place, the people involved—there were limits.
She glanced around. Hermine and Oriana looked like they already knew.
”…No, it’s fine,” Anna interrupted gently. “I figured it out when you tried to protect him. I was wrong to pull my sword on him so fast. We should’ve talked. That’s why… I’m thankful, Tiet. Really. Thank you.”
Tiet looked away.
Gratitude was the one thing she couldn’t stand. She could handle yelling, scolding, even lies—but genuine thanks made her feel vulnerable.
Tiet wasn’t the type to hide behind words. If she liked someone, she’d drag them to dinner without asking. If she was mad, she’d punch first. Simple, rough, honest.
She didn’t capture Klock. Didn’t kill him. Instead, she protected him, tried to steer Anna’s attention away—and that said everything.
”It’s okay,” Anna continued softly. “We’ll talk properly next time. No matter what the outcome is, I won’t jump to violence. Even if I’m told to break it off now, I won’t snap and kill anyone.”
The Hero, Anna. Physically seventeen.
She stood there with a clear resolve. Her words were strange, like they hinted at something darker, but no one called her out on it.
Hermine and Tiet fell silent. Oriana just kept glancing between them, lost in the tension.
”…Ah, I…”
”Oriana. Stay with Hermine. If you talk to her, you’ll be back soon.”
Shut down instantly, Oriana wilted into silence. She wanted to ask about Cynthia, but reading the mood, she held her tongue.
Anna’s gaze swept over her friends once more. With no one opposing her, she stood up.
Her back turned to them, long hair shifting lightly behind her. The newly tailored cloak fluttered as she moved. Her leather boots made light sounds against the stone floor.
”Wait, you’re leaving now? Do you even know where they’re headed?” Hermine asked, standing up hastily.
They were still mid-debrief. A casual girl’s talk was supposed to come after. But now?
”…Klock was heading east when he was with the Federation. Nine out of ten, he’s aiming for the Beast Continent.”
The Beast Continent.
A unified empire—the strongest in history. A realm mostly ruled by beastkin and winged folk. A place hard for humans to survive in.
”…Seriously? The Beast Continent now? Unless he’s clueless, that’s insane,” Oriana muttered.
Trade had always continued between the Beast Continent and the Human realms. It was seen as a friendly land.
A big misconception.
Despite similar races, their cultures diverged completely. And the current ruler?
”The present Emperor of the Hundred Beasts is a full-on dictator. He openly favors beastkin and oppresses humans. Klock wouldn’t even need to steal to get caught.”
”No. He’ll be caught regardless,” Tiet said, voice heavy.
”Because──”
She swallowed hard.
”…He r*ped Elna.”
Silence.
The words hung like a blade in the air.
They hadn’t forgotten her. Hermine had been thinking about Elna from the start. But the connection between her and the Beast Continent hadn’t been made.
Elna. The girl Klock had violated.
The Emperor of the Hundred Beasts’ real daughter.
If they’re caught there… there’s no escape.
Anna didn’t reply.
She only widened her eyes for a heartbeat—then her entire form was engulfed in a light like a clear summer sky—and vanished.
”…She’s gone,” Oriana whispered.
Teleportation. The Hero’s solo departure.
An odd stillness settled between the remaining three.
”This is… a full-blown failure,” Hermine muttered, pressing fingers to her temples. “The Demon Lord’s stirring, and the garbage is slipping away.”
”If they leave the continent and we can’t even talk to them… Anna’ll go all the way after them,” Oriana murmured.
Hermine let out a breath like a sigh and growl at once.
Klock Livorno. The man she wanted to punch until his cheeks turned into frog balloons.
But even now, she didn’t want him handed over to the Emperor of the Hundred Beasts.
That wasn’t the justice she wanted.
”If he gets caught there… it’s going to be a catastrophe,” Hermine muttered, eyes sharp with worry.
The previous Emperor of the Hundred Beasts was known for something typical—a king building a harem. Beastkin men often desired that, and while it wasn’t exactly praised, it wasn’t seen as evil either. His reign was average, neither remarkable nor cruel.
But the current emperor? That was a different story.
Hermine and the others had met the current Emperor of the Hundred Beasts before, when they traveled as part of a hero party. They went straight to the king’s chamber and exchanged words as representatives. Later, Elna and Lona came to the empire and acted adorable, but neither felt the need to meet the great emperor himself.
Everyone agreed: the emperor was the worst. Harsh, cruel, and vile beyond measure—a tyrant far worse than the previous ruler.
”If it comes to chasing him into the Beast Country, we’ll have no choice but to send Oriana, too,” someone said cautiously.
”Huh? Hmm… well, if AnnAnn is there, then it’s fine,” said the gentle member of the hero party, reluctantly. Her beliefs were deeply shaped by the Theocracy’s teachings, which made her strongly dislike other races. She hated demons and often treated Beastkin coldly.
”…For now, let’s observe for two or three days. I’m exhausted from overusing magic. I’ll rest a bit. We’ll check back after three days,” Hermine decided, rubbing her temples.
”Go? Where exactly?” Oriana asked.
”Lushelara Port. If they’re heading to the Beast Country, they’ll probably pass through there. If Anna’s waiting to ambush, it’ll be at the port. They can’t hide without drawing attention in the Beast Country,” Hermine explained, then let out a deep sigh as she collapsed onto the sofa.
She gulped down the last of her tea and sighed again. A princess burdened by too much, her attention split and overwhelmed.
Oriana refilled her cup quietly. “It’s okay.”
Watching them, Tiet hesitated over something heavy in her mind.
There’s no time left. If I’m going to say it, this might be the last chance.
…Should I say it? Or should I keep silent?
Klock remembers Cianie.
That thought kept swirling in Tiet’s mind.
* * *
”Hey. What do we do now?” Klock shouted over the gusting wind.
”I dunno. What should we do?” Suzette replied, eyes wide.
Ahead, right in front of their ship—still docked but not touching water—they rested on something strange. A giant creature’s back, broad and massive enough to hold a ship easily. From the ship’s bow, the long neck of the beast stretched far into the distance.
”I’ve lived a long time, but I’ve never seen anything like this. I honestly have no clue what to do,” Klock admitted.
”I’ve lived longer than most in my line of work, but yeah, this is beyond anything I’ve handled. Definitely not something I wanted to experience,” Suzette agreed.
Suzette guessed it was a sea dragon, judging by its distinct shape. She’d heard legends of such creatures in the North Sea. Klock nodded to that theory, but neither had a clue what was going on or why they were being carried by this beast.
”Adelina, do you know how this happened?” Klock asked, glancing back at the girl clinging to him.
Adelina’s face was blank, usual and unreadable. When Klock met her eyes, she tilted her head slightly, as if she had no answers.
”This is bad. What do we do? There’s nothing we can do,” Suzette said with a nervous shake of her head.
”Guess we just have to wait and see. At least we weren’t attacked yet. We still have our trump card for the last moment,” Klock said, hope barely clinging.
From a hidden fold in her dress, Suzette pulled out a scroll—one she had only ever used once before, when escaping the Federation’s assault.
”This is the worst-case scenario. Do we really have to start over from there?” Klock groaned.
”If so, let’s head west of that mountain this time. That might trick them. No one expects us to go to the Theocracy now. But if the portal is destroyed… well, we’re done,” Suzette explained.
The teleport scroll would take them to the portal they had set up—the southern mountain of the imperial capital, Alvenia.
They had no idea why the sea dragon carried them or where it was going, but having an escape route was a relief. Against a giant sea creature, there was no choice but to run.
”Seriously… where the hell are we going?” Klock asked, staring ahead.
”Looks like east, at least,” Suzette replied, eyes darting nervously.
Klock was bewildered, feeling as if they were caught in a new legend being born. But Suzette felt something else.
Ms. Adelina.
Unlike Klock, who lacked magical talent, Suzette sensed a massive flow of magic from Adelina. It was so intense it felt like a typhoon swirling within the girl’s small frame.
Suzette couldn’t understand what Adelina was doing, but she felt sure the girl was the cause of this situation.
…It’s okay, right?
If this is her doing, she better not cause trouble for Klock.
Wishing that silently, Suzette kept watching without saying anything.
Whether by fate or intention, the three of them reached the farthest edge of the Federation—the Raize Strait—without being attacked by heroes or the sea dragon’s whim.
The sea dragon swam without pause for three days straight.
And finally, they stepped into the last battlefield of this chase on the human continent: Lushelara Port.
Notes:
• Tiet – A companion and friend of Anna. A holy knight from the royal capital. She wears light armor and carries a shield adorned with a dragon holding a sword, indicating her affiliation with the National Military Police. She is concerned about Anna’s well-being and tries to support her emotionally.
• Hermine – A companion and friend of Anna. The mage. She is pragmatic and encourages Anna to focus on her duties as a hero rather than her personal revenge.
• Anna – The legendary Hero, chosen to defeat the Demon Lord. Her past life is Sylvia Croce. She is described as a heavenly being with overwhelming skill and a merciless attitude.
• Oriana – A Princess. A companion who assists in explaining the situation to the kingdom. She is supportive and helps Anna navigate her responsibilities. Her appearance is slender, with dark hair and sharp features.
• Gildegant – One of the Four Generals of the Demon Lord. Flame General.
• Leelit Federation – A federation with a port called Almegai, where demons are allowed to stay at embassies under special circumstances. It is another location where humans and demons have trade relations.
• Elna – Female. A young apprentice mage. Her appearance is that of a child with white hair reaching her shoulders. She wears a black hooded mantle with strange patterns. Her relationship is as an apprentice to Hermine, the Great Mage. Her power involves advanced magic, including spatial teleportation. Her combat style is magical, and she is described as childish and easily provoked.
• Lona – Female. A young apprentice mage. Her appearance is that of a child with black hair reaching her shoulders. She wears a black hooded mantle with strange patterns. Her relationship is as an apprentice to Hermine, the Great Mage. Her power involves advanced magic, including spatial teleportation. Her combat style is magical, and she is described as childish and easily provoked.
• Lushelara – A port in the Federation, accessible from the imperial capital by ship. It serves as a gateway to the Beast Continent, making it a potential escape route for Tiet and his companions.
• Cianie – A noble girl with a fluffy white and light blue dress, indicating her high status. She has a hesitant and flustered personality but is kind and courteous. Her relationship with Klock begins as an accidental encounter and develops into a romantic interest. She has a fiancé but expresses feelings for Klock, complicating their relationship.
• Suzette – The older maid from Viscount Fennec. The head maid at the Viscount Fennec’s villa. She is confident, clear-spoken, and professional.
• Adelina – The slave girl.
• Alvenia – The imperial capital of the Dusselhelm Empire, located at the northernmost point of the continent. A flourishing city known for its many magic research institutes. It is a central hub but considered dangerous for Tiet and his companions due to Hermine’s influence.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply