Gathering Allies – Outside
“So, how was it being with him all day today?”
“More popular than I expected, or rather, he seems to be well-liked by people.”
“Hard to believe coming from such a rough demeanor, right? He himself has been questioning why he is so well-liked.”
“Well, we’ve only known each other for two days, but I can imagine why.”
“Hehe, I thought you might.”
Under the terrace where the moon and stars twinkle in the night sky, Fana and Stella sit together with cups of tea in hand, chatting amiably like old friends. The topic of their conversation revolves around Ferno, their shared leader, with Fana asking Stella for her impressions after spending the entire day with him for the first time.
Meanwhile, the subject of their discussion, Ferno, is not at the Faritia residence but rather staying at a Healing Clinic in the town below the castle. He is not hospitalized due to an injury; rather, he noticed a gaze directed at him while returning from making a reservation at the Underground Slave Market. Upon investigating, he found a frail and exhausted Beastman girl and decided to take her to the Healing Clinic to care for her.
“By the way, is he always like that?”
“Which part? I haven’t seen his attitude while shopping, so I can’t say. But if it’s about taking someone to the Healing Clinic and caring for them, then yes, he tends to act like that when he has the capacity. He treats anyone who isn’t an enemy like this.”
“I see… Is it out of kindness?”
“From an outsider’s perspective, it seems that way, but he once said it’s not quite so simple.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. I believe he referred to it as pride. He thinks that human endeavors are precious and living positively for the future is the most beautiful thing. That’s why he extends a helping hand to ensure that way of life continues. He also mentioned that witnessing innocent lives lost right before him would haunt his conscience, which is why he puts himself at risk.”
“Wow… that’s quite wonderful.”
“I thought so too. But he seems to take it for granted, not seeing it as something good. He even said it feels cruel to impose happiness or positivity on others.”
“Ah, I can understand that. It makes sense.”
“You get it? Impressive. I couldn’t grasp it, so I decided to just think your perspective is lovely and left it at that.”
“Well, that’s understandable.”
Though both women have long since reached adulthood and appear mature, the sight of them playfully teasing each other over tea evokes the charm of young girls staying up late. In reality, their experiences are quite similar. Fana, who trained to become a knight out of admiration, has fought fiercely against the Demon King’s Army, while Stella became a knight to survive after being cast out of her home, purging the evils that plagued the Kingdom.
Having both lived lives far from ordinary for young women, they genuinely enjoy their late-night conversations as new friends and allies.
“Ah, speaking of which, we need to decide on a name for our group.”
“Huh? Oh, I see, something like a party name?”
“Yes. Ferno doesn’t seem to care much about such things, so we should come up with something nice.”
“Hehe, so he seems perfect but is actually not?”
“Exactly. Ferno has his moments of forgetfulness, and I’ve caused him my fair share of trouble. That’s why I support him gathering allies.”
“Now that you mention it, he hasn’t shown any signs of denial or dissatisfaction.”
“Right.”
With a look reminiscent of a lovestruck maiden, Fana continues to weave her words.
“Ferno has begun to see others for his own sake. Since we were the first, it’s heartwarming to see him trying to trust someone other than himself. That brings me immense joy.”
Having lived together for five years, Fana’s words, born from close observation, resonate deeply with Stella, who finds her beautiful. Just as she is about to respond, she notices Fana’s cheeks faintly blush, adding to her charm. Stella gently lifts her cup of tea to her lips, suppressing a soft smile.
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“So, how is the Hero moving?”
“Yes. It seems he is trying to recruit the former captain of the Thirteen Knights Order and secure additional personnel from the Underground Market.”
“Hmm… So he’s working on increasing his allies. Is there anything else?”
“It appears he has rescued a frail Beastman girl. She was dirty, and due to the risk of being noticed, we couldn’t ascertain her species.”
“…I see. We can’t stop him from doing that. We may need to support him quietly from the shadows. Can we send personnel to the Underground Market?”
“Arrangements have already been made.”
“Then ensure that the slaves the Hero intended to purchase can be acquired. Also, I have a bad feeling about that Beastman girl, so investigate any recent kidnappings in the area and the status of the Beastmen’s settlements.”
“Understood.”
In the Alstoval Kingdom, within the King’s bedroom, the King sits on his bed while a knight in a special golden uniform kneels before him, discussing the surveillance reports from the Chamber Knights. This reporting session has been ongoing since the current King ascended to the throne, and in recent years, the topics have largely revolved around the movements of the Demon King’s Army, particularly focusing on Ferno and the executives of the Demon King’s Army.
“So, what’s the latest on the Demon King’s Army?”
“The Succubus continues to charm and increase her followers without changing locations, so we regularly thin their numbers. The Dullahan is gathering Monsters and Demon Race members in the eastern plains and pitting them against each other. As for the Lich and Merman, we confirmed they were expanding their forces, but they have since vanished.”
“Hmm… The Merman likely retreated to the seabed, but I’m a bit worried about the Lich. I don’t quite understand what the Dullahan is up to, but the Succubus is a bit frightening.”
“Should we increase our numbers?”
“Yes. For the Lich, we need to expand our search area. As for the Succubus, gather married or betrothed female knights.”
“Understood.”
“Continue monitoring the Merman from land. They excel in combat at sea, so we shouldn’t recklessly send people after them.”
“Understood.”
“Now go. Move swiftly and calmly.”
“Yes, sir.”
After receiving the report, the King issues directives for the next course of action, prompting the knight to exit the room quietly. As the knight leaves, a middle-aged man with dark circles under his eyes enters, carrying a stack of documents.
The man kneels before the King and begins to speak as he hands over the documents.
“I have come to report.”
“Yes… Is he sleeping?”
“He can sleep since tomorrow is a holiday.”
“I see… And this is… regarding the Monsters?”
“Yes, we have gathered confirmed reports after thorough verification. Upon reviewing the contents, I deemed it necessary to report to Your Majesty promptly.”
“Oh? …Is it true?”
“It is true. We have confirmed the existence of a fire serpent dwelling in a volcano, a beetle that devours great trees, and a lizard that creates abysses. Some were illusions or mirages, but everything I’ve handed over exists.”
“Even amidst the chaos of the Demon King’s Army, these creatures too?”
“Regarding that, I have additional reports on some of them.”
“…Bad news, I presume? What is it?”
“There is a possibility that the Demon King’s Army is involved in their emergence. Remnants of the Demon Race were scattered around the discovery site, and we found living members of the Demon Race.”
“…What a troublesome lot.”
“Indeed, very troublesome. We sent some knights to subdue them, but they were unfortunately wiped out.”
“…I see.”
The report brought by the man concerns powerful Monsters that have gained strength. Such occurrences are not rare, as they appear several times a year like disasters, but this report differs due to the sheer number and widespread locations involved.
Seventeen in total, spanning the entire Kingdom, with various environments mixed in, this situation poses a significant threat to the Kingdom.
Each of these entities is on par with or exceeds the highest-ranking members of the Demon Race. If not dealt with swiftly, they could potentially rise to the level of the Demon King’s Army executives. Thus, prompt action is essential, but the ongoing threat of the Demon King’s Army complicates rapid response.
Understanding this, the King places the stack of papers on the bed and exhales a deep sigh toward the ceiling.
Then, the King rises.
“We need to devise a countermeasure. I apologize, but I’ll need you to work a bit longer.”
“Of course.”
“Good. I will now investigate the personnel available to the knight order. If that suffices, we can proceed, but if not, we may need to request the Hero’s assistance. Have we confirmed sightings in the territories of other races?”
“We have confirmed sightings among the Dwarves, Elves, and Mermaids. As for the others, we are still investigating, so I cannot guarantee anything, but there have been reports of damage.”
“Hmm… Then I will draft a document and send out a vanguard. We need to hold an emergency meeting; summon the sleeping Chancellor and Knight Commander to the office.”
“Yes. What about the Hero?”
“There’s no need to call him yet, as we haven’t decided which situation he will address. Instead, summon the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Military Affairs or their secretaries. We will determine the order of tasks for the Hero while gathering their opinions.”
“Understood.”
As he sheds his sleeping attire and changes into formal wear, the King continues issuing instructions to the man who came to report. The Hero, the Kingdom’s most significant asset, cannot be moved carelessly, so the King stirs his body and mind from the brink of sleep. While the urgency of the situation is not immediate, a misjudgment could lead the Kingdom toward swift destruction.
Thus, the King consumes his life for the sake of his Kingdom.