This is the second chapter for today. If you’re starting here, please read from the first chapter.
This is the finale of the second chapter of the second part.
“……So that’s what happened. I suppose I have to call that child my foolish disciple as well…. I’m sorry, Miss. That child caused you trouble.”
“Not at all. Aria-san has helped me many times. However, I was unaware that Aria’s Magic teacher was a Dark Elf.”
In the desert, lit only by starlight after the sun had set, Serejula and Elena, having finished discussing everything, bowed to each other around a bonfire.
“…………”
Upon hearing Serejula’s name, Ron seemed restless, continuing to repair the air balloon as if to distract himself. He had no intention of telling anyone about the name, but the impact of it was significant.
The two infants who had been frightened by Kuaal’s Nero were now asleep on Chako’s lap. Among them, Noi, a Dark Elf like them, was bashful towards the kind-looking adult Dark Elf he rarely saw in town, and Serejula was patting his head.
Nero, even though he was cooperating with Serejula now, was basically uninterested in anyone other than Aria, and he glared at the Monsters from a short distance away because Aria would not allow those she protected to be harmed.
“I left the country right away, so I’m sorry I don’t know the situation there.”
“No, I feel reassured that you moved for Aria’s sake. So, Serejula-sama, what are you going to do now?”
“Well… before that, could you tell me what you intend to do, Miss?”
Serejula looked straight into Elena’s eyes.
Strong eyes, she thought. She immediately realized that this girl was the one Aria was trying to protect, and she could understand why her taciturn and clumsy disciple had risked her life to protect her.
But at the same time, she also felt a sense of danger. From talking to her, she felt that Aria and Elena needed each other on a deep level. It could be as master and guard, or even as friends. However, if Elena were to say that she wanted to help Aria with Serejula, there was a possibility that it was not friendship but dependence.
However, Elena nodded calmly with a composed look in her eyes at Serejula’s words.
“First, I will go to the Calfaan Empire, reveal my identity, and contact my home country to request assistance. I plan to contact the Prime Minister and have the Shadow Knights, along with Aria’s companions… ‘Rainbow Sword,’ dispatched.”
Rainbow Sword was one of the Kingdom of Claydale’s leading Rank 5 Adventurer parties. Normally, the higher the rank, the easier it is to move abroad, but with their strength and deep connections with the nobility, they could not easily leave the country.
Because they were compassionate, they might consider saving Aria. But if there were any obstacles, whether financial or travel-related, Elena would spare no effort for Aria, using all her authority.
“I see…”
Serejula nodded at Elena’s calm judgment and willingness to do whatever it took, thinking that she would be alright.
“I’ll move for that taciturn disciple too, so don’t worry. That black cat is there too.”
When Serejula pointed behind her with her thumb, Nero snorted and looked away as if sneering.
“Besides… Dolton and Miranda might already be moving.”
“You know those two…”
“Old story… keep it a secret from them.”
Serejula grinned at Elena’s question.
She had fought the two of Rainbow Sword… and the other one, Samantha, on the battlefield several times more than fifty years ago. They were enemies at the time, but precisely because they were enemies, she understood that they were not the type to abandon their comrades.
And Serejula too—
(I’ll bring you back, even from the Evil Race Nation, you foolish girl…)
The port city of the Calfaan Empire was known as a scenic spot with rows of square, pure white buildings.
Early in the morning, the emblem painted on the sails of a huge sailing ship entering the port was the family crest of the well-known great noble of the Kingdom of Claydale… the Melrose family, still respected as royalty by the country that still valued tradition.
Despite the early hour, the ship, given priority to dock and led by the busy management bureau’s small boat in this port with many merchant ships coming and going, was carrying one of the Kingdom of Claydale’s leading Adventurer parties.
“We finally arrived!”
Stretching his back while cracking various parts of his body after about a month of sea travel, a stocky man straightened up.
Outwardly, he had no particular features, and his appearance was that of a man in his early to mid-thirties, but his actual age was close to forty, and his gestures were more like those of an old man than his actual age.
“That’s because Viro is an ‘old man’.”
“I don’t want to hear that from Mira.”
“…Huh?”
Even though she was a Forest Elf over a hundred years old, her appearance was that of a twenty-year-old, and if she had grown up in the forest, her personality would not have been jaded. However, Mira, who had lived in a human country for over a century, had become a complete “old lady” on the inside, as if she were committing appearance fraud.
“You guys, stop fooling around and get ready to disembark. Don’t dawdle.”
The leader, Dolton, sighed in exasperation at the glaring duo. He was also a Mountain Dwarf over a hundred years old, but unlike the Dwarves, who were usually said to be around 160 centimeters tall, he stood out with a height of over 180 centimeters.
Next to him, an even taller human man, fully armed with light metal armor and a Magic Steel Greatsword on his back, chuckled wryly at his companions’ exchange.
“Dolton and Feld, are you ready yet?”
“There’s the matter of Princess (Your Highness), but Aria is Viro’s disciple, right? Shouldn’t you have a little more sense of urgency?”
“I feel like it’s a waste to worry about that guy.”
Viro scratched his head awkwardly at Feld’s exasperated voice.
After all, she had been causing trouble since she was seven years old, more than five years ago, so they trusted each other enough not to worry too much.
For Feld, Aria was a complicated existence. She was a comrade, but also a beautiful girl who caught his eye, and at the same time, she felt like a younger sister he should protect.
If either her appearance or her words and actions were the same as her actual age, he could treat her as a child, but because she was so reliable, he was likely to mistake her for a woman of the same age.
“You guys, first of all, it’s Princess (Your Highness)’s matter, not Aria’s. As soon as we enter the port, I’ll go to the Royal Castle with that person and talk to the Prime Minister of this country. Mira, you come with me. Viro and Feld, you buy the carriage and food.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Mira is accompanying you?”
Viro tilted his head, glancing at Mira, who gave a light reply to Dolton’s words.
If there was a negotiation, Viro would also be present, and Feld still had noble status, so he should be taken along to connect faces. Dolton’s face became grim at Viro, who seemed to want to say that.
“…There are Dark Elves in this country, although they don’t come out into the open. If you accidentally meet Mira…”
“Ah… I see.”
Hearing about the Dark Elves, the Forest Elf Mira showed an unusually belligerent smile.
The fair-skinned Forest Elves and Dark Elves hated each other. This was before the Dark Elves were called the Evil Race, and it was said that their prejudices had solidified as they had been hearing their parents’ complaints about each other for generations.
Mira herself had less prejudice against Dark Elves after a hundred years of city life, but the Evil Race was different. This was because she had been provoked by an Evil Race woman she had met on the battlefield many years ago, and even now, when she saw a Dark Elf, Killing Intent leaked out as a conditioned reflex.
“Everyone of Rainbow Sword, are you ready yet?”
At that moment, as if timing the end of their conversation, a woman with a leather suitcase and a parasol called out to them.
“That’s Baroness Leighton, we plan to be finished by the time we arrive.”
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
Dolton and the Baroness bowed to each other, and Viro, who had not finished preparing, looked pale at the words that were probably directed at him.
Baroness Sera Leighton.
A high-ranking lady-in-waiting attached to the Royal Family and a Shadow Knight in charge of security for the Queen’s Palace.
Originally, a higher-ranking noble was supposed to be sent to negotiate with the Calfaan Empire, but at the request of His Majesty the King, who was concerned about his daughter’s safety, she, who was known to dignitaries in various countries and was the most trusted, was sent.
She usually wore only maid’s clothes, but today she was wearing a navy blue, calm, and mature dress.
“As I’m sure you all know, the top priority is the safety of Princess (Your Highness). Of course, we also hope that Aria, who is her guard, will be rescued as much as possible, but bringing back (Your Highness) takes precedence.”
She felt cold towards Aria, who was her adopted daughter, but she probably separated public and private matters. But—
“I expect the utmost effort from all of you. I will spare no assistance either. If those idiotic nobles from the Calfaan Empire get involved to obstruct the rescue of His Highness and my daughter, I will physically eliminate them.”
“…………”
Dolton and Feld fell silent at the sudden, extreme statement from the seemingly refined lady.
Rumor had it that she had forcibly subdued her son, who was stubbornly demanding to save his “sister,” and boarded the ship.
Viro, who had known Sera’s ferocity for some time, muttered as if sighing.
“…Say what you will, you’re the one who dotes on her the most, aren’t you?”
“Did you say something…?”
“I didn’t say anything!”
In a mansion owned by a noble family within the Royal Magic Academy of the Kingdom of Claydale, a girl dressed in a jet-black dress was enjoying the scent of tea on a spacious terrace.
“How boring.”
Her long, black hair, which seemed to devour light, undulated and wrapped around her playing fingers.
Her skin was not so much white as it was sickly pale, and the dark circles that made her eye sockets appear sunken gave her the impression of a ghost rather than someone frail.
Carla Leicester, the daughter of Count Leicester and one of the Crown Prince’s fiancées.
However, a smile floated on her lips as she spoke of boredom. But it was not a cheerful smile that put people at ease. It was a smile of delight that made others uneasy.
Carla had been ordered by the royal family and her father to remain confined to the mansion at the academy.
This was because Carla had attacked the Holy Church in the Royal Capital, massacred the devoted members who were called Saints, and harmed Nasanitaru, the grandson of the Baron who was the head of the Temple.
Reconciliation had been reached regarding the Holy Church, perhaps because there were shady dealings involved, but the scandal still lingered. The royal family wanted to maintain ties with a powerful noble family, and Carla’s father, Count Leicester, also wanted to gain connections with the royal family, so Carla’s punishment was limited to confinement.
Her father’s aides came to check on her repeatedly to monitor Carla.
When she was young, her father and aides had been arrogant towards her, but after realizing that Carla’s abilities surpassed those of her father, the chief court magician, her father refused to see her, and the aides’ eyes held undisguised fear when they looked at Carla.
What kind of face would her father make if she killed one of the aides? She had once burned one of them to the bone, but her father, who hated scandals, had covered up the fact.
“Fufu.”
Nasanitaru, whose face had been burned, still had not fully recovered from his facial burns even after a month. Since she had burned him so thoroughly, it would probably take half a year for the nerves in his face to regenerate.
Crown Prince Elvan, her fiancé, showed his face about once a week.
He was probably told to do so by His Majesty the King, but the reason he came to see Carla was his own earnestness as her fiancé. That was why he was leaning towards a foolish woman who was driving him into a corner, but Carla found that foolishness appealing.
His beloved little sister was missing, and he was becoming increasingly ill at heart—a foolish, foolish, and adorable man. How much would the country be thrown into chaos, and how many people would die when he became king?
To that end, Carla was supporting the Aristocratic Faction, inviting the Evil Race, and burying his supporters in darkness to sow seeds of discord.
The more the anxiety surrounding Elvan grew, the more he leaned towards that foolish woman, and it was unbearably delightful to see his heart drifting away from Clara-jou, who truly cared for him.
When Elvan gave himself body and soul to that woman, Carla smiled, wondering who she should kill first to hurt him the most.
“How boring.”
Still, she knew the biggest reason why she felt bored.
It was because “she” was not there.
Aria… the only girl who would kill her.
The only human being Carla acknowledged.
She wanted to fight to the death in the burning Royal Capital and be killed by Aria, who was serious.
More than dying of illness, more than dying at the hands of the rabble, more than being judged on the execution platform, she wanted to live only for her and die at her hands.
No matter how harsh the environment, Aria would always return alive. She would use everything as nourishment to acquire the strength to kill Carla.
However, Carla was starting to get tired of her life without her, a life without stimulation.
“Should I go pick her up soon? Would she be pleased?”
Closing her eyes in a trance, Carla wore a chillingly lovely smile, like a girl in love.
A dark room, damp air, stone floors and walls…
In the dungeon of an old castle, a wounded girl chained within quietly awoke and turned her strong, shining emerald eyes towards the “darkness.”
Following my master, that person is also joining the battle!
Are you okay, Evil Race!
I wonder what the Otome Game is!
The academy arc… well, it’s the main part of the Otome Game.
Next time, I’d like to take a week off to put some space between chapters… but next time, I’ll be sending you two things that I can’t manage anymore because there will be spoilers: “List of Characters” (priority given to the living) and “Main Character Status List.”
I think some of you may be confused about ages and settings.
The following week, we will return to regular updates and deliver Chapter 3, “War Demon of the Demon Kingdom.”
Thank you for your continued support.
Thank you for your comments, bookmarks, and typo reports. I am very grateful and encouraged by them.