Chapter 31: Blades under disguise.

Crucifixion Dungeon, Farron Keep.

...

"I see you were having some fun in this new world," Hawkwood said sarcastically, with a chuckle while standing up. "I never call for our reunion... to be scheduled today."

"Likewise. I didn't expect to see you here as well," Ash said calmly behind his helmet. "So... what are you doing here?"

"Hm? Well... I was supposed to meet my two squirts in Gerth..." Hawkwood answered before making a deep sigh. "Yet my hunch was drawn to this place... I never knew the day that I should meet my dead colleagues who were still here, within this big tomb of theirs... speaking of which..."

"Dad...?"

Ash and Hawkwood heard the voices of Reginald, and Elen echoed through the area. The siblings shifted their attention from the skeletal remains of the Abysswatchers and expressed their surprise at seeing their father standing in the last section of the dungeon.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" Elen asked out loud, agitatedly. "And second, how did you end up in this place?!

"Hahaha! Elen!... Reginald. It's been quite a while." The former Deserter chuckled with a smile while opening up his arms wide. "Don't you miss your old pops? I'm just coming to see how you two are fine."

Elen then rolled her eyes before smiling at her father. Then she leaps up from a long distance and gives Hawkwood a bear-crushing hug. Yet the deserter keeps his feet in balance to stand on his ground without falling back. Reginald then came up to his father and raised a fist. Hawkwood returns with his knuckles and does the same gesture, making a fist bump.

"So, how were you two doing on your adventures?" Hawkwood asked the siblings until he turn his gaze down at Elen. "And I've read your message... I can see you two have been through a lot."

"We're just... fine, dad," Reginald answered with a bit of embarrassment while shrugging off his shoulders. "A lot of things had happened. So how's mom?"

"Oh, well, she's sane and fine as well after taking the Divine Blessing," Hawkwood said while taking a brief thought about his wife. "But... I'm aware she might be here for following me to meet you, kids."

"Oh? So you were aware of me, dear?"

At that moment, Hawkwood grunts in defeat after hearing the voice of his wife. "Ugh, I hate my hunch that stood always correct."

Reginald, Elen, and Ash turn up to see a vampire floating down through the cavity from the rooftops and gently landing her feet on the cobblestone floor. Arcturus, Elaine, Sasha, and Olivier entered the building of the Abysswatchers and saw some unexpected individuals were already inside an area filled with swords and skeletons. The Maiden of Lescatie and the Hero Musketeer widened their eyes to see a vampire had appeared among the group through the gap in the ceiling.

"Don't say such words to me, dear." Valeria pouts in annoyance as she crossed her arms. "As your wife, I'm always by your side... No matter where you go~!"

"Hah~, At least it's nothing trivial going on, honey." Hawkwood smiled nervously, with a scratch on the back. "Besides, the kids are okay."

"Ah!?... I see." The vampire breathes out in relief and then comes in to hug her human son. "Reginald~! Oh, my sweet little boy~! Look how I, your mommy, missed you so badly~! Did you get hurt? How about we can spare some drinks together with your father and sister?"

At that moment, Elen and Elaine snickered out of laughter to see such a sight while Reginald groans in displease as he rolls his eyes over. Arcturus fell speechless, but he felt sorry for the guy and he can clearly see him being treated as some "momma's boy". Sasha felt strange and delicate as sweat drop rolls through her forehead while Olivier had a baffling expression plastered on her face to see an interaction between a human son and a vampire mother. Ash, on the other hand, felt that this kind of sight was very awkward to behold.

The Hawkwood he knew before, was quite a nihilistic individual and had always been downcast after knowing about his fate as an unkindled. After their duel within the Abysswatcher Sanctuary to see who is worthy to receive the Arch-Dragon stone, he admits his fate as a warrior in death. Right now, he seems quite happy to receive a second chance in life, married some noble vampire, and blossomed two children with the blood of the great Farron.

"Well, this is awkward to see," Ash mumbled underneath his helmet.

"I know. Times have changed." Hawkwood agrees with a nod. "My old guts still feel dissatisfied after you beat me in a duel. But regardless, you deserve what you owned."

"Old habits die hard, you say?" Ash raised his eyebrow in question and Hawkwood chuckled while tilting his head sideways. "I... never mind."

"Oh, Elen~ Come here, my sweet little daughter~!" Valeria sang until she hugged Elen, much to the dismay of the dhampir. "So... did you find your potential husband?"

"Mom! Really?! I don't have the responsibility for having a family yet!" Elen seethed out loud in a hiss while feeling annoyed. "Also, you're embarrassing me!"

At that moment; Elaine laughed out loud while Arcturus' deadpanned expression hinted that he felt sorry for her as well. Reginald then grew a cocky grin, but regardless, he still feels pity for his little sister. Then Elen wished this embarrassment should end.

"All of you..." Elen felt miserable as tears leaked out from her eyes like a waterfall. "Just... shut up."

Sasha snickered at such a comical sight; she used to know Elen is a brash, yet cool-headed person. However, seeing this awkward interaction between Elen and her mother has quite some backstories. Hawkwood tilts his head with a smile after witnessing such an amusing sight and then turns his gaze back to Ash.

"So, what brings you here in this swamp?" Hawkwood asked.

"We're only here to decrease the numbers of dungeon monsters that have spilt out from this dungeon," Ash explained while crossing his arms. "That is... until we've discovered an entry into Farron's Keep."

"Ah, I see. I've seen a lot of adventurers and heroes who tried to traverse this place. The swamp even became wider and bigger than the usual place I know." Hawkwood then crossed his arms. Expresses his disappointment and pity for the adventurers he comes across. "The poor sods... getting poisoned, maimed, cursed, and petrified. This place has turned into an even more dangerous death trap for fools. But I've never seen even more foolish people who would touch some random purple phantom signs."

His words then struck into Ash's head, wondering why there were more corpses around this dungeon wasn't just the case of the local dungeon monsters. But the possibility of invaders and summoning mad phantoms was the case.

"I believe our quest here is done," Ash said straightly. "At least we just killed off a big number on the outer area of this dungeon."

"For adding a big plus, we've collected a lot of antidotes along the way!" Ash heard Sasha and turns in her direction. He saw her joyfully holding a bag filled with Purple Moss Clump and Blooming Purple Moss Clump. "I'm sure these items can sell well in the market~!"

"Save some for future use," Ash replied. "Those mosses are lifesaving, but they were hard to harvest."

"Oh... so.." Then Sasha wondered while looking down not the purple moss clump. "I wonder how worth is this?"

"As I can say... they're worth over fifty gold." Ash guessed, to the surprise of the Priestess. "They're cheap, yet worthy, for facing the challenges of the dungeon."

"Ugh, why do these rare items found in the corpses of dungeon monsters?" Sasha exhaled in distraught before pouting, murmuring. "At least they should send in a weaker monster than we dealt with and get these items we never had."

The Silver-Blue Knight then raised his brow in curious and crossed his arms. "Are you getting greedy about this?"

"Huh? Wh-What!? No!" Sasha then flustered red. Waving her hands in denial while feeling exposed. "That's not what I meant!"

"Sure, sure. I never knew a priestess would get greedy by now." Ash then made a mischievous smirk behind his helmet until Sasha reeled back in disbelief. "But remember, being greedy will get you killed."

Sasha was shaken before yelling out loud in frustration. "Ash... YOU MEANIE!"

...

Theocracy of Al-Mar.

...

"Thrust!"

"Hah!"

"Another one; hit it harder!"

"HAH!"

Deren surveyed the training across the entire field. The place was already filled with a formation of recruits and experienced soldiers. There has been a military reform in Al-Mar from a few days ago in which the Diva Arial wanted the soldiers to stay up with vigilance from day and night after the raid of the Red Wyvern and the Lightning Drakes. With the new reform coming into effect, there will be no slacking off or having sex with their wives due to these bloodthirsty otherworldly monsters that seek to devour the living flesh.

However, these reforms did not please many human-monster couples, and some protested against them. The Lion Knight couldn't help but exhaled in disappointment that these people are, in fact; oblivious nor forgotten how cruel the world is. Their long-lasting lives living in peace and harmony in the Seven islands of Court Alf are only brief. No one knew one day, a new conflict shall arrive while Deren knew the consequences: that the Demon Realms had lost the will to shed blood ever since the Succubus Demon Lord came to the throne and relied on corrupting their opponents.

That's the sole problem. But they had one advantage, and that was Dragonia. They have dragons who are rational enough to dispatch those monsters with ease, yet their species was too arrogant in his opinion and he met one in his previous travels. A dragon tried to strip off his dignity, and he retaliated with a great lightning spear from her high horse. That act was enough to teach her to learn merits after seeing him as an inferior being and demanding respect for no reason. At least there have been rumours going on in Dragonia where they feared the Golden Knight, who brought down the queen of dragons, was undoubtedly an ancient Dragon Slayer from his world.

"You know... I've heard rumours about you from other travellers." Deren woke up from his thoughts and turned around to see Arial, who stood on the side with him. "In your adventures, you defeated a Dragon by merely using lighting magic. Is that true?"

"... Yeah, Dragons are weak to the Holy Miracles of a Great Lord," Deren replied. "The Lightning Miracles can come in handy to pierce through their scales and their durable skins as well."

Arial then raised her eyebrows in question. She never heard the rumours of pure lightning can simply beat a dragon. "That's... hard to imagine, but from what I can remember. The scales of the Dragons have strong resistance to all elements of magic."

"You may be right on that, but the Lightning Miracle differs from the usual lightning magic of the system of this realm," Deren explained the details. "It is said that in the legends... the Lightning Spears were forged by the Gods when they were at war with the Immortal Dragons."

"I... never heard about this tale before..." Arial's statement turned concerned. "Was there a connection to the First Chief God?"

"No... In fact, my realm has its own tales." Deren said with a nostalgic smile. It has been a long time since he recalled the lost tales of the gods. Perhaps he can express some stories with the Sea Bishop. "Do you want to hear the legends of the Gods?"

"Well, I would like to hear it," Arial said admittingly. "Tell me, how does the legend start?"

Deren then stood for a mere pause while making a small cough. Remember where the Legends began after receiving the knowledge of the old gods before the existence of Drangleic. There was a land called Lordran.

"In the Age of Ancients; the World is unformed. Shrouded by fog. A Land with Craycrags, Archtrees, and Everlasting Dragons."

"But then, there was Fire. And with fire came disparity. Heat and Cold. Life and Death. And of course, light and dark."

"Then from the Dark, they came... and found the Souls of Lords within the Flame."

Once Arial hears him tell these words of the tale, some cold wing brushed through her skin and brought a shiver down her spine.

"Nito, the First of the Dead."

"The Witch of Izalith, and her daughters of Chaos."

"Gwyn, the Lord of Sunlight and his faithful Knights."

"... and the Furtive Pygmy, so easily forgotten."

The Diva of Al-Mar wondered who were these gods? She never heard of it before. And what purposes do they serve? Thus, how did life in their realm start with the appearance of fire, and what were the Souls of Lords? Was it the ultimate source of power that gave them to achieve godhood? The only thing she understood they have their own God of Life and Death, known as Nito. But how can she compare it to the Goddess Hel?

"With the Strength of Lords, they challenged the Dragons."

"Gwyn's mighty bolts peeled apart their stone scales."

"The Witches weaved great firestorms."

"Nito unleashed a miasma of death and disease."

"And Seath the Scaleless betrayed his own, and the dragons were no more."

At that part, Arial felt her heart just stop, which got cold chills and goosebumps on her skin. She never heard such tales that were so frightful, that might bring an affront to the Dragons of Dragonia. Hearing the tales of their Gods had just almost wiped out an entire race of dragons, and even to add matters worse, there was a mention of a scaleless dragon who betrayed his own kind.

"Wait, his?" Arial widened her eyes in realisation. "Seath is... a male dragon?!"

"That's right." Deren nodded. "He was born without scales and sided with the Lord of Sunlight in a fit of jealousy."

"How horrible... Just why?" Arial felt saddened by the tragic turns of events within the tale. "I do not understand why?... Why would he do that to lead his own kind to extinction?"

Deren sighed once more. He wished he'd understand why the pale drake would do such betrayal. "Perhaps someday, I will learn to know the reason for Seathe's ambitions."

Arial looked down with a depressive look and Deren continued his tale to the very end.

"And thus, began the Age of Fire."

"But soon the flames will fade... only dark will remain."

Within a sudden, a sharp pang struck her core, and the Diva felt her legs were shaking and knees dropping to the floor. That last sentence of the tale was chilling. It reeks of mortality and dread from his tongue, which made her monster senses go haywire with fear. Deren tried to help Arial get up on her feet and saw the uneasiness in her eyes.

"What's wrong, are you alright?" The Lion Knight asked worriedly.

"N-Nothing. It was just..." Arial was now in a state of loss as she felt her fingers shaking for no reason. "... My.. my heart went speechless."

"I see... every mamono I've met and spoken such tales like this..." Then Deren paused for a while. "They've gone... frightful of it."

"I understood, but what was that last sentence?" Arial asked while stepping back in fear. "Only dark will remain... what does it mean all of that?"

"Well, according to the storytellers in my previous journeys... many say it will be the rise of the creatures from the Abyss," Deren explained. "But some say it will be the coming age of humanity."

"Humanity? Some people believed that?" Arial's eyebrows raised in disbelief. "I thought humans were only created by the light side of the Chief God..."

"The history of my people was erased for centuries. Some individuals dug up some discoveries and read our real origins." Deren then looked down with a sigh. "In contrast to the humans of this realm, they were made with the Chief God's Light. According to the hidden legends of my people, humans were made and raised in the darkness by a Dark Lord and helped the Gods to defeat the Dragons."

Deren had been in this world for over a decade after defeating Nashandra and Aldia. He heard some new tales from the people of the Five factions, most notably the People of Carthus, who came from the third age after Drangleic. Some spoke a legend about the dark lord and the origins of humanity. Arial was utterly bewildered by this information.

'Humans made from darkness instead of light? That's something new.' Arial's thoughts spoke. 'If so, then that means Deren's people were a race of monsters in human form? No, that can't be right.'

Deren wasn't like her own kind who are seducing and luring humans to sway them into sex, and their nature alone is absolutely human to her senses. Yet, she wondered, how does he, who lacks mana, still perform magic? The last time she sensed the power of his magic was when he performed a Lightning Spear during a training course with Al-Mar's troops. It tells her that the energy itself he manifested was different and in another league than she knew. Her guts also tell that his power was indeed tremendous in one mere flick, which can easily cripple a valkyrie or even the Gods.

That alone shuddered her own core to think that's possible and wondered if that power can go up against the Chief God and even the Demon Lord herself. In fact, she once heard a legend from a time where before Arial became the current Diva, that some knight on the western continental mainland had crippled a God of Fighting with lightning, much to her disbelief.

"This knowledge is truly unusual, but the world hides many secrets. No doubt." Arial murmured softly while anxiously rubbing her right shoulder. "I've heard a tale from a travelling Lilim who told about the Five factions, an alliance of humans in the Federation that was said to be immune to monsterization. I've never met one person until you and Anri came to this place."

"I see you were not unaware of our existence. I'd give you an appraisal," Deren said while Arial appreciated his statement. "Good... Then in the future, I would like to request you to come up with new tourist regulations for my kind people."

"How so?" She raised her brow. "The tourism on my island before the invasion has no problems."

"Well, the thing is that we don't want some unwanted marriages to trap certain individuals." The Lion Knight explained while looking down as he placed his hands on his waist. His words appalled the Sea Bishop to a shocking degree. "It also goes for the concern of public decency at night times and my people didn't like the taste of monster food because of our tongues differing from other humans."

At that moment, Arial slowly widened her eyes, and her jaw dropped in disbelief. This is the first time she had ever heard of such criticism about her tourism of Al-Mar ever since it was turned into a Monster Realm shortly after the Asuramis War. While Deren admits the wonderful view of the White City, the hedonistic society is a concern for the likes of him and his people.

'And claiming their tongues didn't even appreciate the taste of their monster cuisine? Absolutely impossible!' Arial's inner thoughts protested. 'No humans could resist their food until he spoke up!'

"Then you wonder why I and Anri were eating our own crackers during dinner." Deren then formed a cocky smirk under his helmet and chuckled at her reaction. "My kind prefer eating food, conventionally made by humans and free from any single tinge of Demonic Energy."

The Sea Bishop went flabbergasted. "W-What!? How!? How can anyone not like our cuisine!?"

"Simple, I've told you my kind is different," Deren said while exhaling. "Eventually, in the future... I may believe the time of the long era of hedonism is coming to an end because of our existence."

Arial felt concerned about his words. While it sounds neutral, her senses picked up that he was telling the truth in his words.

'The era of their hedonism is nearing its end? That can't be true!'

The Diva of Al-Mar longed for her people to experience the happiness of joys and love through pleasures for all eternity, as her God wishes to be. Because of the influence of the Demon Lord's vision, they wanted a peaceful coexistence between humans and monsters. A world where there should be no wars and no hatred. The Lord of Monsters' ideal is indeed a noble goal and absolute for everyone in this world and even beyond anyone's understanding.

'Yet why is Deren telling this?'

"Why do you tell me that our time is coming to an end?" Arial grew weary upon asking Deren. "Goddess Poseidon and the Demon Lord tell us that nothing can change that."

"Hmm... Who knows? I just felt it, not seeing it." Deren shrugged off his shoulders, trying not to get the Diva to her bad side. "It's just the way the world is telling us that everything is changing."

The Diva then narrowed her eyes towards the Lion Knight.

"Strange creatures and beasts appeared out of nowhere and attacked anyone in sight." He continued while looking up at the two seagulls flying in the skies. "But the world is crueller than those creatures, and not everyone wants to enjoy the fruits of happiness without knowing how it grows from the seeds of struggles."

"But we can change them! We can find a way to give them a peaceful world where the pleasures of joy stay eternal!" Arial then speaks up. But Deren felt nothing but more disappointment towards the Diva as he titled his head sideways. "Why?... Why do you doubt?"

"I think nothing of that could work." He answered. The Lion Knight did not hide his emotions while Arial grew silent once she felt a cold aura. It reeks of death and tragedy. "Why would you let your enemies join your side after what they did to your people?"

"W-Well... I may think that it's because... they were suffering too," Arial answered as she looks down. "Their hatred towards us swelled into their hearts and they must change."

"... And what do you think about their victims?" Deren then asked while raising his brow and Arial felt somewhat uneasy. "Do you feel they're happy about that?"

"Well, of course!" The Sea Bishop answered and stood firm. "You don't understand that seeing them changing their ways could mean peace, right?"

"You mean changing those beasts who indiscriminately killed people will please the deceased?" Arial's breathing stopped once she heard his tone change even more seriously. Even her words to convince him couldn't change him. Only it will stir up the troubles. "Then... do you see them? Do you see they're happy about it?"

The Sea Bishop was dazed as soon as she saw the shadowy phantoms appear in her surroundings like mirages until they unveil their faces. All of them were glaring and their gazes were staring straight at the Diva. Only nothing, no joys and smiles, but disappointment in their eyes and she saw them. The faces belonged to the deceased people of Al-Mar, and she even saw some of them were entire families, scowling right at her in spite.

"If you consider them to turn them into one of your own will never fully atone for their actions... on what they did to them," Deren stated with a crisp voice. "Atonement is the first thing to form regret and seeking forgiveness, not seeking luxury such as pleasures and monsterize others in an instant. Do you see your own ideas as the way for their forgiveness?"

"... I-...I..." Arial's eyes then looked down in realisation until the phantoms of the deceased slowly dissipated from her sight. "... I don't know."

Then he looks down at her and the Diva felt pathetic as his words put pressure on her until the ghostly phantoms completely vanished. Leaving their spiteful stares that were ingrained into her mind.

"Then what is your answer?"

"... I don't really know..."

"You seem to forget not to disrespect those who did not die in vain." Deren then took a deep breath and then turned away from the Diva. "Your kind... only had it easy because of the Demon Lord and the lack of our presence in this very realm we stood."

"Then what are you about to go up against the Demon Lord?" Arial then seethed towards the Lion Knight. "She only wanted peace for the entire world! What's so wrong about that!?"

"Peace, huh..." Deren answered straightly and Arial tensed for a moment. "It's assimilation... There's no coexistence in that."

"... What?" The Sea Bishop uttered in disbelief. "What do you mean? Humans can still live. There's nothing wrong with that!"

"Then tell me, how will humans exist in a new world of monsters?" He questioned sternly. "Just tell me straight... how?"

"Men will be turned into incubus while women will be turned into monsters." Arial openly stated, showing off her bravery and pride in her monster ideals. "Despite removing their human nature... their humanity remains in them!"

"That's the point. You don't want their nature to remain as humans." His answer is sharp, and Ariel feels something that her mouth could no longer produce reasoning. Only silence once he pointed out the flaws of her belief. "You think that turning them into monsters will mean a so-called "coexistence" as if there is not a single human left in this world?"

"Did they feel regrets when they swore on their oaths to see the young generations live on while they want to pass away, yet instead, seeing themselves outliving their lives?... or have they forgotten about it?" He continued, and the Diva was still left speechless by his point and felt her lips tremble. "Just think of it. How long do they live and outlived their beloved family members and friends who hadn't been turned into monsters?"

"... How should I know that?" Arial muttered as she looked down. "I... don't know how to answer that question."

"Then use your head," Deren said while tapping the forehead of his helmet with his finger. "You're talking with somebody who uses a brain."

Arial then slowly gazes her eyes at the city. She saw a formation of soldiers doing their training routine, and now she thinks about the people of Al-Mar. She tries to find sense in his words until her eyes perked up in realisation. The men she saw around and lived in the city were only incubi, formerly humans. Plus putting it into an addition; there is not a single speck of female humans living in this city. There are some who tried to live, but it didn't last long until they were turned into monsters.

'Wait... it's only monsters...?'

Thus, to her horror, she thought it will be coexistence between humans and monsters. But in fact, only the males remain in their human form and had their lifespan increased, and the assimilation of their women felt like robbing off their identity. Also, she didn't even think to encourage them to love the men they desired when they weren't monsters yet. She had thought that making them into monsters will solve those problems. Thus her mind grew aware that those were nothing more but... a loveless affair without trust and recognition?

"That... can't be true... right?"

"... There was a saying from a certain wandering Lilim..." Deren then told her. "She tells when a human was monsterized... their humanity will be locked away in a dream-state reality while their monster persona, known as the "Manifestations of Desires" took over their bodies while their human side lived in an illusionary reality where they earned their desires and didn't recognise any changes."

The Sea Bishop then looks up at him with a silent gasp to hear him mentioning a Lilim, who told these words. Arial felt those words she sensed in his voice were true, despite the doubts that swirled within her head. The tone and the emotion that emitted from him didn't tell any lies. She shuddered at that fact and the emotions within her heart trembled in fear.

Why does she feel his words were right? She wished those were false statements.

"I hope you'll change one day as an admirable leader of this island." He sighed as he walked away from the Diva. "With these words... will tell you the reality of the Demon Lord who wished to create a world which won't suit everyone's mind. Remember that."

Once he left the hallway, the Sea Bishop was left distressed and had no answer to doubt his fact. Out from the dark corners of the hallways, Asura Mythra has been stalking the two from the corner and listening to their conversation. After hearing the words that Deren spouted, the Kraken isn't pleased to hear that and noticed Arial is thrown into disarray after their conversation with his last words.

"What nonsense... That can't be true!" She whispered while the Kraken's expression turned sour and her fists clenched. "I must talk to Difina about this."

...

The Capital City of Dragonia. Dragon Winged Street.

...

"Look over here Elt~!"

The incubus, Elt, spun around and sees Wilmarina pointing toward a piece of unique bikini armour through the shop's windows. He blushed madly as if his mind were shrouded in pervertedness to fantasise about his wife wearing that.

"Do you think that will make me hotter~?" Her sultry voice reached into his ears and felt the hard stick between his legs become stiff. "Ufufufu~ My goodness, I can see you're getting hard, hm~?"

He couldn't help himself from resisting the urges of his desire, and the incubus let out a defeated sigh before flashing a smile to his wife.

"Well, I couldn't help myself." He chuckled while nervously rubbing the back of his head. "We'll do it later when we get back to the hotel."

It's been almost three days since they've gone outside of Lescatie to make a tour. After mourning the dead from the disastrous losses that the Order of the Dark Ice Flower had received from the Fallen Tower. New numbers of dark heroes and knights were swelling into Salvarision to form up their numbers. Wilmarina needed more strength in numbers to deal with Ash Cyrus, the infamous Silver-Blue Knight who hailed from a land called Astora, in their later incursions.

However, other than doing some trivial matters against the Knight and his merry band of misfits. She and her husband, Elt, planned a trip to Dragonia to get away from all the stress and the unhappiness that plagued the Order of the Dark Ice Flower since the aftermath of the battle in the fallen tower. Luckily, her two best knights, Luciana and Vermut, were taking over her work on the recruitment and other bureaucratic stuff of paperwork. As of right now, the couple should enjoy themselves on their vacation in Dragonia.

"I've heard the famous Tricoromelle had opened their new branch around this place," Wilmarina said with excitement while holding on to Elt's right arm. "I can't wait to take a taste of the Prisoner Fruit Parfait, hehehe~!"

Elt smiled at Wilmarina until he noticed a group of people standing in line in front of an unusual store. First, there is a man wearing a golden set of armour and a strange-looking helmet with a pair of twisted horns. Then, the next person to his side stood a massive knight. Elt never felt so intimidated to witness the size of his height and having a massive sword carried behind his back. He crossed his arms and stared at the customers like an imposing security guard.

"Ah, yes! This here is the famous Crimson Water." The vendor's clerk raised up a red bottle while handing it over to a Wyvern. "It will cost ya' three hundred gold for one each."

"Tsk, a big waste for my pouch." The Wyvern grunts in dissatisfaction. "But thanks, I needed it for raising my focus at work."

"Thanks for your purchase, and have a good day!" Zena thanked mamono with a polite bow before she left off and another customer comes in line, this time an incubus. "Aye siwmae! What can I do for you?"

"I've heard you sell herbs that can heighten my endurance," He asked with a nervous smile. "Is there such a plant?"

"Oh, yes, certainly!" Zena nodded before bringing up a green herb. "Here you go! A Budding Green Blossom! Costs only fifty gold each."

"Huh, I can feel the power and the smell is fresh! I can feel my body heightening just for smelling this. Thanks, I take this!"

Wilmarina and Elt stared at the single Market Vendor in surprise. They've never known there's a human vendor in the middle of a place that was supposed to be a Mamono Realm. While only one vendor appears to have more customers, all other shops seem to have fewer. Even the newly opened Tricoromille, which stood eight blocks away, only has three individuals waiting in line. Wilmarina then saw a succubus, who is some local owner of her nearby store, staring at the humans selling their items to their customers out of jealousy.

"Ugh~ These guys appeared four days ago." The succubus said in a hissy fit. "People began spreading rumours to say that they sell magic items which were totally out of this world."

"Yeah, but I hate to admit that their selling products are superb and they're actually stress-relieving." Elt heard someone to his right and saw a Danuki was having the same expression as the succubus store owner. "I can't believe my magic charms and illusions couldn't work on them to save my business."

"But I heard they'll go on to another place someday. These guys are travelling merchants, after all."

Elt then looked down at his wife. "So, Mary. Why won't we try what they sell there?"

"Hmm~? Alright! Let's buy some souvenirs~!" Wilmarina nodded while expressing her cheery smile.

...

"Thanks for your purchase, see you around!" Zena thanked the customer until Elt and Wilmarina came next in line. "Aye siwmae and-Oh? Goodness me. A pair of lovely customers, eh? Are you both on your honeymoon?"

Elt and Wilmarina then looked at him in surprise before the pair exchange their looks and felt their cheeks blush in embarrassment. Yet they don't seem to mind and enjoyed themselves as lovers.

"We just caught our attention and didn't expect there's a human vendor in the middle of a mamono realm," Elt said nervously and the merchant cocked his eyebrow in question. "But we want to browse for some souvenirs."

"Souvenirs you say?" Zena rubbed his chin in wonder and then gave off a friendly smile behind his helmet. "Well! Looks like it's time to bring up my best items I can sell."

The merchant then turns around and rolls in another vendor with the wheel. Then unveiling the items behind the white sheets. Exposing it to the monster couple in front of him.

"Tah-da! These rare items will surely be bought as souvenirs!" Zena stated proudly. "Although most of these are weapons and armaments."

Wilmarina and Elt stared at the next vendor in disbelief that they saw swords, shields, lances, and other kinds of weapons that were commonly seen. However, some of them had distinct designs from others and on the next left side of the vendor stood displaying sets of armours.

"I'll watch over you two if you dare to steal."

The couple froze and looks back to see a massive armoured Knight behind them.

"W-We're not trying to stealing, okay?" Elt said nervously while raising his hands. "We're just... browsing."

The couple continued to browse through a selection of rare weapons past the common ones. But Wilmarina caught something strange in her senses thanks to her new nature as a monster. Almost every weapon and gear were somewhat enhanced with magic or other unrelated energy. The succubus then felt a strange tinge of energy coming from her left and saw a peculiar-looking sword. It was designed with elegance and has a golden hilt, and its blade was white as snow. And once she touched it. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"This sword... has an abundance of divine energy." Wilmarina breathed out loud once she pulled out the sword and scrutinised it. "Just what is this sword? I've never felt so much power that radiates from this weapon as some kind of God made this."

"That is an Astoran Straight Sword." Wilmarina heard the voice of the Knight of Berenike behind her. "It was once held by an Elite Knight of Astora, and they are very rare to be found somewhere within the distorted dungeons."

The word 'Astora' made her eyebrows raise in realisation. Definitely, this guy sells gears and items from that mysterious land as well? But how come did they get into their possession of these extraordinary items and from where did they get them and how were they made of?

"So... how do they make this?" The young succubus asked. "It feels more like a magic sword. Is it enhanced by some god?"

"No. It was made by human blacksmiths. Astora is known for having skilled craftsmen." Upon hearing his answer, Wilmarina reeled back in shock to hear that; she knew from the recent information that Astora had skilled blacksmiths, yet she didn't know that they could forge high-quality weapons with a secret potential that is akin to a divine weapon. "The Astorans used a special ore which has an abundance of divine energy that derives from the powers of the Gods."

'Did they make gears and weapons using special ore's which derive from the power of the gods?' Wilmarina cupped her chin in deep thoughts. 'How was that even possible?... and how were they able to obtain it from?'

"Mary... look at this..."

The Dark Hero perked up from her thoughts and heard her husband call out in a worrying tone. She went off to find Elt and saw what was going on. The hero succubus caught her husband pointing towards a set of armour in horror.

"Elt! What is... going... on..."

Once she saw where he was pointing, Wilmarina fell silent once she saw a set of armour they were very familiar with and didn't expect to be there. An entire set of Elite Knights Armor just stood on a pole hangar. Just as identical to the Silver-Blue Knight.

"That armour..."

"It's just like... the Silver-Blue Knight...!"

"Ah, over here is the armour set that belonged to an Astoran Elite Knight." Valor informed the couple while still crossing his arms. "It's a very rare medium armour. It has overall good defences against all forms of magic, and taking absorption from physical damage is also quite good. I've seen a couple of individuals in Albion who wore armour sets such as these and had taken blows from a high-ranking succubus. The monster's attack didn't even faze them a bit."

Wilmarina and Elt felt their sweat beads rolling down on their foreheads to hear such information from the armoured merchant. According to his descriptions of the weapon and gear; the Astorans, like Ash Cyrus himself, could forge enchanted weaponry that might bring any demonic soldier down to their knees with ease and even a god, like the Fallen God herself. Elt was having questions swirling into his head while Wilmarina went for the armour to take a closer inspection. Only then does she feel an unnerving aura of energy that emits from the Elite Knight Armor. It isn't a living armour, but she could tell that gear is enhanced as what the armoured merchant tells.

Wilmarina then rubbed her chin in deep thinking.

'Maybe we should buy one and that sword, too. I must send it over to the Sabbath branch in Lescatie and analyse to exploit the weaknesses of the Silver-Blue Knight.'

"How much does it cost?" The Dark Heroine asked. "I want that full set of gear and the sword, too."

"An entire set cost two thousand and six hundred gold. For the sword is only three hundred." Valor shrugged off his shoulders before Elt gawked in disbelief. "That'll be three months' worth of saving fortune for an ordinary person-"

"I'll buy it." The Knight of Berenike then raised his brow to the succubus in surprise, while Elt felt his skin paled even further that she just bought an expensive set of armour and a sword. "This is just it. Our only souvenir."

"Hum, I see. I guess you're from a nobility." Valor guessed as he grabbed the armour from the hangar pole. "Come and we'll go check on the counter."

Elt looked back at Wilmarina in disbelief and realises that the succubus has a dark look on her face with a wicked smile, which made him worried. The Dark Heroine desired knowledge to know its gear's capabilities and that power she felt wasn't the same as the powers of the Chief God. It was entirely different. The weapons which the Heroes had were enhanced from the shrines of the known Gods or through inheritance from their previous predecessors, who were already been blessed.

She dreads to hear that the Kingdom of Astora has knights equipped with such high-quality weapons and formed a belief that it also gives them protection from high concentrations of Demonic Energy. Yet to Wilmarina's relief, the Kingdom has been long-shattered into ruins by some curse. However, after hearing the words of the Armoured Merchant spoke that there is not one but two other Knights as well, and they were in Albion. A nation that is part of the Federation.

Ash Cyrus, The Silver-Blue Knight who has possession of the armour, can bring down a god is a big concern for the Royal Makai and they should never let this guy do what he wants. Yet the existence of the other two knights will bring a big problem into the yolk.

"It feels like we're fighting against time." She muttered with concern. "We shouldn't let these Astorans bring down the plans of the Demon Lord into ruins."

...

Mountainous Region. Buffer Frontiers.

...

Artor was currently sharpening the blade of his spear while his father and his uncle Ledo went off to a nearby human settlement, so close to where he is and his mother went to another place to train his young sister to master the blade. Once he finished polishing his spear, he looks upon the clear blue skies while the sun radiates its warmth and braced unto the son of a Dragonslayer.

"I wonder... if there is anything interesting." He mumbled until his eyes caught two shadowy figures flying in a distance. "Huh... more valkyries?"

Once he squinted his eyes to take a closer view, he spotted the winged humanoids that appeared to have reptilian wings and scales. He grunts in irritation when he saw them flying over.

"Hmph. A bunch of flying Dragons, huh?" He muttered under his helmet. "Or are they Wyverns?"

Artor then noticed the sounds of wings coming from above, and a shadow loomed over him. A pair of green reptilian feet, covered in scales, just landed on top of a rocky boulder. The son of the Dragonslayer noticed that this dragon mamono had her sights forwards on the rocky mountains and she's unaware of his presence.

Based on her body movements, she was looking for someone.

"Alti~! Where are you~!" A Dragon Mamono called out for somebody as her voice echoed through the mountains. But there was no response. "Jeez! You damn idiot! You shouldn't head out from Dragonia and hunt down the Dragonslayer on your own! He'll kill you!"

The Dragon, Leia, let out her frustrated groan. It's been three days since Alto-Eris left Dragonia in her search to hunt down the killer of her mother. After noticing the young Dragon Knight left the country by leaving a letter behind, Deonora quickly dispatches the royal dragon knights to search for her, even beyond the country's borders. But they have to take notes which they must not incite the Wrath of the Dragonslayer Ornstein.

Wish that would mean a death sentence.

"You idiot! Stupid, stupid idiot!" Leia stomped on her feet out of temper, addressing Alto-Eris. "Why are you bringing this up to kill yourself!? Are you committing suicide!?"

Artor couldn't help but grunt in irritation. He doesn't understand the brash antics of the Mamono. "Ugh, typical dragon."

Leia felt her ears perked up and picked up a mumbling sentence. Words that would mean an insult to her kind and she spun around, giving the stranger an ill-tempered look.

"I heard that!" She growls while breathing out flames from her mouth. "You dare to say those words and I will let you regret saying that!"

"Alright, fine." This individual doesn't seem to be intimidated by the dragon. While chuckling, he waved both of his hands. "But don't put your problems on me. Go search for your friend."

"You have a nerve of talking back, pathetic human," Leia said bitterly while her brows scrunched into a more disdainful look. "And one more word. I will bring you down for real."

"Wow, really? Huh, so you really wished to have a bolt of lightning up into your abdomen?" Then Artor made a cocky grin behind his helmet while crossing his arms. "If the Golden Dragonslayer were here, he would've ended your life right now if you insulted him further."

"Pah! He's not here, isn't he? That's some cheap talk!" Leia spat back while curling her fists. "I will punish you for insulting my kind!"

"... Whatever."

Artor rolled his eyes and the young dragon knight couldn't help but a tic appeared on her forehead. Leia threw a punch directly into the individual, but he vanished immediately from her sight before her punch creates a loud explosion. A powerful blast sends out shattered rocks and smoke into the air. She widened her eyes in surprise and noticed the individual reappear behind her, noticing his spear come downwards.

'Not on my watch!'

She spun around and catches the blade of his spear. Leia grinned in victory until the Steel Knight smirked behind his helmet; he poured the power of Light into his weapon, coating the blade with Lightning Miracle. The Dragon Knight noticed cracks of electricity emitting on the blade of his spear until it caught her claws, sending a shockwave of unbearable pain.

"GYAAAAAAAAHH!" The Dragon Knight screamed in agony as her body was weakened in an instant and couldn't let the blade go. Her nerves and senses went haywire until she begged to stop. "STOP! STAHP IT!"

The Steel Knight then pulls his spear back and kicked the dragon through her abdomen, then sent her flying against the rock and crashed with a hard thud, producing cracks on the boulder. Leia groaned in pain. She never felt such force coming from a mere human who lacks mana until she heard the clacking sounds of his armour. Her body then shakes, not getting heated up for a man who had beaten her, but out of fear which she picks up killing intent that emitted from the Steel Knight.

As she tries to get up, Leia froze still once she felt a sharp blade was pressed against her neck. The dragon mamono then slowly looks up and widened her eyes to see how this "human" is if far taller than the other human tourists she has met.

"Well, not so tough, are ya'?" He said, amusingly. "Your stubbornness and arrogance costed your life. Will you do that when you're in the presence of a Dragonslayer?"

Leia then meekly uttered out. "W-Who are you...?"

"The name's Artor, A knight and the son of Dragonslayer Ornstein." Once Artor introduced himself. Leia widened her eyes in shock. "Now then, what will a dragon such as you do then from now on?"

The dragon mamono felt a lump went down through her throat. She didn't expect the infamous Dragonslayer to have a son. Let alone that this guy isn't even fazed when he presented himself towards a dragon and speaks so casually to them, which might infuriate her kind. Yet this guy is tough and his appearance alone of a mere human is not to be underestimated. Then she cursed on her own arrogance that she would've left him alone and all that talk was from before should've been ignored.

"I-I-I'm sorry! I won't do it again!" She stuttered out to apologise, but Artor pressed his spear deeper into her throat until a small drip of her blood rolls down. Leia then forced out a shriek for forgiveness while tears welled out from her eyes. "HIEEEK! I MEAN IT FOR REAL! I'M VERY SORRY! I'LL LEAVE!"

"You see? Discipline is important to not let your arrogance and unwanted pride swell in your head." Artor said, giving advice to her before he pulls out his spear from her throat and the young dragon coughed out while being dropped to the ground. "That will be a lesson for today and you're lucky that my father isn't here... Now go."

Leia quickly crawled out while holding her wound in her throat and spread out her wings, then ascending herself into the sky. Artor saw the dragon flew up and out of his sight once she took another flight path through the mountains.

"Hmph. I hope another one isn't trying to ruin my day here." He grumbled before he sat on the boulder until he gives out a relaxing sigh. "Now I'm wondering what's Father and uncle Ledo were doing...?"

...

"He wasn't here... is he?"

Alto-Eris flew through the greyish clouds, finding for clues to track down the killer until she caught sight of some... burial grounds in the midst of the Buffer regions. She flew closer and her eyes widened to see a mile-wide graveyard, where the swords and armour pieces belonging to the knights of dragonia embed in their graves.

"What... is this place?"

Alto-Eris landed on the hard surface to inspect the area and looked around. Her senses caught some pressures weighed on her shoulders and felt the emotions stirred in the very atmosphere. Dread, sadness, pain and regret. The dragon knight touched a broken sword that stood on a grave. She closed her eyes and realise the place where she is at.

"This place... isn't this where you all fought...?" Alto-Eris whispered. "... I see... so the dragonslayer must've been here."

The young dragon knight then turns her attention to one particular grave. She felt a familiar scent that she's all too familiar with. Alto-Eris walked through each grave she passed by until she stood in front of a burial. A knight's helmet that is nearly identical to hers and a sword, which the blade jabbed on top of it.

On the sword hilt, a silver necklace was tied to it. Alto-Eris carefully grabbed the necklace while tears rolled down her cheeks. The dragon knight never knew the day she will have a painful reunion.

"So you were here... mother..." Alto-Eris dropped to her knees, crying. The Dragon Knight still felt the emotional pain within her after all those years when her mother didn't come back. "I swear... I will avenge you... and restore the glory of Dragonia!"

"I will find Ornstein..." She curled her fists. "And bring him to justice...!"

...

Town of Gerth. Later Evening.

...

"I'll take another Siegbrau, please!"

"Yeah! Me too!"

The two customers raised their empty ale mugs high into the air while Sieglinde sighed out of stress before heading for the bar, which her mother produces more ale from the barrel. The Waitress took the wooden mugs before serving them to the jolly customers.

That is not until she heard the door opened and Sieglinde raised her eyebrow in surprise to see two new guests came in and these two individuals were wearing quite elegant clothes like some nobility. She finds it bold of them to go into a local bar in the town.

"Welcome to Horseback Inn!" Sieglinde greeted with a friendly smile. "How may I serve you two?"

"A table for two, please," Jack ordered, while raising his hand with two fingers. "So this must be the famous restaurant. I find it quite rowdy."

"Well, it's late after all," Sieglinde answered politely. "On the upper floor, we still have some reserved tables."

Sieglinde took the two noble guests in disguise upstairs from the rowdy guests on the ground floor. Once after taking their orders, The Inquisitors looked upon the people and noticed a few mamono's such as the werecats, holstaurs, and even Ogres were having fun with the men and women, raising up their Siegbraus out of pride while the bards played their music.

"Quite an enjoyable folk, if you ask me," Royce muttered in mild amusement. Yet her expression turned unamused. "So, why here?"

"I've heard about local bars are places where you can hear more information from the spreading rumours." Jack surmised while tipping his trimmed hat before eyeing at the barmaid Jennifer. "Surprisingly... that woman has some unusual amount of spirit energy. She must've been a former hero, I presume."

"Yeah, and about that, there's a weird-looking Knight," Royce muttered while overseeing the rowdy crowd of guests. She spotted the Catarinian Knight in much to her amusement. "Since when does a knight's armour that shapes like an onion exist?"

"I dunno." Jack shrugged off his shoulders in question. "We have to wait until someone mentions our target."

"Hey, have you heard? The Silver-Blue Knight's giant wolf is taking care of the children!" Jack then raised his ear to hear a familiar name coming out from the mouths of some young customers at the next table. "I can't believe that guy made that wolf a babysitter! I should've expected that the beast could have been more violent."

"I heard about that beast is quite intelligent as well. So that means it shouldn't be biting us unless unprovoked."

Then more rumours had spread through the upper floor from a variety of individuals.

"They say whenever a person mentioned about the Silver-Blue Knight will send a shiver down to any mamono."

"I don't know what to say. To be honest, I've met him once in person and that guy is giving me chills, dude."

"I heard there's that green-haired maiden was always been on his side. That guy must be so lucky then!"

Jack couldn't help but grunt in frustration. The people around the local bar had been mentioning the Silver-Blue Knight, but that was just only a rumor in his belief and not of his concern unless this vigilante would dare to cross their paths. The only concern is Sasha Fullmoon, their target.

"I've heard Lady Fullmoon went on a quest with Ash Cyrus." Suddenly, Royce and Jack heard the name and looked down from the upper floor, setting their attention at the barkeeper who's talking in a conversation with her husband. "Is it another Dungeon Quest?"

"Indeed. They're on a quest to exterminate and investigate the same dungeon near Fior village." Siegward spoke with a sigh. "Ash and Sasha will be alright along with the others upon their return."

"Sasha Fullmoon... Well, well, I think we got our clue here." Jack then grinned maliciously. "And it seems she gained some allies with her as well."

"Hmm~ Her allies are not of our concern. They must be some ordinary adventurers." Royce muttered with a boring look. "They couldn't handle to deal a fight with someone who has the blessings of a Hero. Isn't that right?"

"Yeah, a useless bunch of fools who would dare to pick up a sword on us." Jack nodded in agreement with a smile while crossing his arms. "For their so-called "Judgement" against us is nothing compared to our true ways of Justice. Remember that, Royce."

Sieglinde came up to the upper floor and handed them their orders, two mugs of Siegbrau. The disguised inquisitors picked up their mugs and give off their silent toast.

"Cheers, Royce."

"You too, Jack."

...

Chapter 31: Ends

A/N: This chapter will be updated in case of errors and typos.