Chapter 32: Dragon Knight meets Dragonslayer
...
The sun rises across the morning sky. Ash Cyrus and the Village Chief Goran shook hands for a farewell before the group part their ways.
"You did a great job for handling those monsters and decreasing their numbers." The Elder said with an indebted smile while looking down, embarrassed, as he scratched the back of his head. "I apologise for the rowdy festivity we had last night since the return of your quest. Many men and women had been uncontrollably drunk."
"No worries. It's no longer a concern." Ash smiled while waving his hand dismissively. "Well, we'd better get back to town and take good care."
"Haha! You and your friends as well, Silver-Blue Knight." Goran laughed.
Once he and the group departed from the gates of the village, Arcturus and Elaine waved their hands while Goran's handmaiden waved back her farewell with a handkerchief. Hawkwood smiled towards the jovial village before turning his attention to Ash.
"Well, seems like it's our time to head back to Auvergne Region," Hawkwood said while offering his hand to the Astoran Knight. "Also... thank you for taking care of my two squirts here."
Upon hearing their nicknames, Reginald rolled his eyes in annoyance while his sister groaned in discomfort.
"Dad~! Don't call us squirts anymore!" Elen spoke up agitatedly with a pout. "We've already grown up, you know!?"
"Of course, you two grew up." Their father replied while smiling mischievously and rubbed his hand on top of her head. "But you remain the little squirt, I knew."
Elen scoffed. She couldn't help but make an embarrassed blush and Reginald was hugged by his mother until Valerie left a kiss her son's forehead.
"Goodness me... you've already grown up into a handsome man." His mother smiled with warmth while softly cradling his hands. "I remember the days how adorable you are when you were just a toddler, but look at you now. I bet some young women might have struck a fancy on you~!"
"M-Mom, please. When I had the responsibility, I will let you know." Reginald replied with a deep sigh and spoke up in admittance as he thinks of a particular dhampir who works at a Tavern in Gerth. "Although... there is one who took an interest in me and I... I believe I'm interacting with her more than often."
At that moment, Elen cocked her eyebrow. '... Wait, who?'
"Ooh~! Now that's my boy~!" Valerie then clapped her hands out of joy and then let out a disappointing sigh towards her daughter. "And Elen. Look, your brother already has someone who likes him-"
"I know what you're saying, mom." Elen interrupted her mother's speech as she groans in discomfort. "I will find the right man if I ever want to retire from adventuring."
Valerie then widened her eyes in surprise before crossing her arms with a displeasing pout and displaying her disappointed look towards her daughter. The vampire mother couldn't let her daughter waste a big time in her life and need to find a worthy husband so that her relatives from other vampire estates could see the worth in her daughter.
"Hahaha! Now, now Valerie. Settle down for a bit and let Elen do her own way." Hawkwood laughed off while diffusing the mother-daughter talks before turning to his vampire wife. "Let's go home and while the kids have their own fun in their adventures."
Elen and Reginald slapped their own foreheads out of annoyance and grumbled in unison. "We're not kids anymore, dad!"
...
"Goodbye~!"
Sasha bid a farewell to Hawkwood and Valerie shortly before they part ways. The Priestess saw the married pair vanish into thin air from their sights once Valerie waved her black cape along with Hawkwood.
"By the Lords, imagine having an interview with someone else between us and our moms," Elaine said mischievously while nudging Elen by her shoulders. The dhampir brushed it off, much to her frustration. "Earning such treatment and hearing them telling us we needed love partners right away, eh?"
"Yeah! Yeah... does your mom do that to you, too?" Elen raised her eyebrow in question. The orcish Knight of the Sunlight felt her jovial mood go down and nodded in admittance. "Huh, so you're in the same as I am."
"Well, my mom. Too, actually." Arcturus exhaled down in unease while raising his hand. "She wanted to see me having a wife, and my younger sister gets such treatment."
"Your mothers want you two to search for a wife and husband?" Olivier questioned Arcturus and Elaine out of curiosity. "Were they that desperate to become grandmothers?"
"Well, kind of. Because of my mother's mamono nature and motherly instincts; she wanted the best for us." He answered with a nervous grin while scratching the back of his head. "It's more of a repetitive annoyance rather than the real issue. All I wanted is to be a man of responsibility before I can end up marrying a woman I liked."
"I see... that's good to hear- wait... did you say 'mother's mamono nature', right?" Olivier then stared at Arcturus with an incredulous look in her eyes. "Is your mother... a mamono as well?"
"Yeah, a kikimora." He answered with a sheepish grin while exhaling once more. "My mother is more gentle than Elaine's. So... she expects me to find some random love partner out here... somewhere in the world."
"Uh-huh, so... what's your life like?" The musketeer then asked with interest. "Pardon me, while I'm still new to this subject... A mamono having a human son is quite unheard of."
"It's normal on our turf. Back then, when I was in my studies, to become a knight of sunlight. My mom teased me with a lot of innuendos." Arcturus replied while shrugging off his shoulders. "But there's nothing unusual. My dad's usually busy. My sister is studying her courses to perform extraordinary miracles... that's pretty much it."
"Oh... so nothing unusual?" Olivier questioned while raising her brow.
"Nope, we're just an ordinary family." He smiled proudly while pointing his thumb at himself. "I'm much happier to live a life on my own. Go outside and see how the world goes!"
"That sounds like any adventurer could dream of." Sasha smiled while clasping her hands together. "Your parents will be proud of it~!"
"Hahaha! Thanks, Sasha." Arcturus chuckled in embarrassment. He couldn't help but appreciate her words. "I bet they will... someday... well, my father once told me a joke that I'll end up marrying a royalty, hahaha!"
...
Uncharted Buffer Region.
...
"Where is she?"
Shirtiya felt frustrated and nervous at the same time. It has been a few days since she left Dragonia together with Leia in their search for Alto-Eris, under the orders of Queen Deonora. Despite her job as a Tourist Guide in the Empire of Dragons, she's one of the most notable Dragon Knights who was raised into the ranks from a squire. Shirtiya observed the mountain ranges from the high skies until she caught a figure with reptilian wings resting her back against the boulder on the cliff of a rocky mountain.
When she flew over her and landed on the ground to get a look closer, her eyes dilate in shock to see an exhausted Leia, and the look of her condition seems to worry Shirtiya once she saw bloody bruises on her skin and ruined scales.
"Leia! What happened to you!?"
Leia slowly opened her eyes and looked up to see a worried wyvern who was trying to tend her wounds. She was glad Shirtiya came in a nick of time to patch her up.
The green dragon groaned with mild pain. "Shirtiya... glad that you haven't met him yet... hrgh!"
"W-Who!? Did you meet Ornstein!?" Shirtiya gasped with a look of horror, but Leia tilts her head sideways. "Then who did this to you...?"
"A man named Artor, he...*cough!*... did this to me...!" Leia coughed as a single drop of blood spat out. "Don't even try... to search for him...!"
"W-Why!? Why did he do this to you!?" Shirtiya wanted answers. She wanted to hear his location and wanted that man to pay for his actions for what he did to her fellow Dragon Knight. "I will make sure he would regret living his life!"
Once Shirtiya tries to leave, Leia got a firm hold on her left arm to prevent her from searching for that man who was capable of beating a dragon.
"Don't!" Leia pleaded to the Wyvern. "It will make matters worse."
Shirtiya went silent as the Dragon said the words filled with dread and despair in her voice.
"That man... is the son of the Dragonslayer Ornstein."
The Wyvern felt her eyes open slowly, as wide as saucer plates when this recent information digested into her mind. She didn't expect that this quest was getting even more dangerous than expected when she heard there is not one, but two. There was another Dragonslayer, who's the son of the infamous Ornstein. Shirtiya cursed to think in a scenario that Alto-Eris might get perished by his son before she would even reach the Golden Knight.
The silver-haired wyvern then balled her claws together, growling in utter frustration.
"Damnit Alti... You just brought us a one-way ticket to Hel!"
...
"He must be here somewhere..." Alto-Eris scanned her surrounding area as her nose caught a scent of gold in the air. "He can't be that far!"
After visiting the graveyard, the young dragon knight caught a familiar scent that reeked of gold and realise he was somewhere around the part of this region.
Alto-Eris followed the tracks as her wings spread out and ascended further into the skies in her search of the murderer who killed her mother twenty-six years ago. The infamous Dragonslayer Ornstein, the sole person who was responsible for robbing off the happiness which she would've deserved in her life. But instead, his act of defiance against the will of the dragon queen gave her life for revenge.
She remembered how her father grieved for her beloved mother, even some years after her death. Then there is Queen Deonora, a mighty dragon who ruled the land, who has turned into an empty shell of her former self. These acts made by the Golden Dragonslayer were nothing but evil and atrocious in her eyes, and it's even worse than Julius Rigride Drake, the infamous King of the Dragai Empire in history. While no one had brought down a Red Dragon, this Dragonslayer who came from a land called Lordran is capable of taking down all kinds of dragons. Even the Queen.
She even heard some small tales from the Queen. Alto-Eris remembers how Deonora retells from Ornstein's words that Lordran is a land of Dragonslayers, where they have brought down the Dragons into extinction. Such tales as that only boiled her blood out of anger even further.
Once Alto-Eris noticed that the trails of the scent met their ends. She descends from the skies and lands on the ground before inspecting the surrounding area. Yet to her dismay, she didn't find the infamous Golden Dragonslayer and instead, she only caught the scent of steel coming from an individual who was meditating on top of a boulder while wearing a full set of armour.
When he caught her attention, and open his right eye slightly behind the helmet visor. He couldn't help but gave out a deep sigh.
'A shame... while she's kinda cute. However... I felt some bad tinge of emotions in the air as if she reeked ill...'
"Hah~... Another dragon trying to mess my day." He grunts in uneasiness. "Couldn't my free time at least give me one peaceful day...?"
After hearing his words. The Dragon Knight felt offended by it and it hurts her pride as a dragon until she pulls out her sword. Her blade glimmered in crystal blue and it blazed in raging green flames while giving the steel individual a maddening glare.
"Watch your tongue, you imbecile." She threatened him with a bitter tone. "One word and I will cut you down!"
"Goodness me. Just like that other dragon I've met a day before." The steel individual made another deep sigh. "Could you at least-"
*BOOM!*
The steel individual was interrupted once green flames erupted in his position. Fortunately, he jumped away before the flames would consume him. The warrior swirled his spear and got into a defensive stance while facing the enraged Dragon Knight.
"Looks like you weren't taught how to suppress your pride and anger as well." He smirked behind his helmet. "But at least you would give me some challenge. This day bores me a lot."
"Don't you know you're facing a dragon!?" Alto-Eris scowled while gritting her teeth. "You're a fool who would dare to speak those words in front of me and I will put you into your place-"
"Yeah, yeah... and I don't care what words you're spouting." He spoke back in a bored tone. "Even to a dragon such as you. Your ire is not my concern. I've met some who are foolish enough to detest me and never came back if he was here."
His words made her reel back in a mixture of surprise and shock. Some of them didn't come back? Does this mean this guy knew a person who can beat down a dragon? Then that means her target is even more closely than she could imagine and can get her chance to restore the Pride of Dragonia. Yet to her confusion, she wonders why this steel knight was even taller than the average human?
'Well... that matters not for me...' Alto-Eris shakes her thoughts away.
"So you know who Dragonslayer Ornstein is?" She asked while lowering her weapon. "Then tell me... where is he?"
The steel knight then raised his brow in question. "Why should I tell?"
"It's because I want to find him and dispose of him from this earth." She growled while her temper builds up. "I will leave you alone if you can tell me where he is-"
"No, you won't." The Dragon Knight was then left speechless by his sudden response as a warning. "Finding him will mean signing up for your suicide."
"Y-You!... You dare!"
Alto-Eris then charged forth at neck-breaking speed as she aimed her sword at his abdomen. Only for him to step aside. And her blade missed the target before the Steel Knight smacked the butt of his spear against her face, sending her away at a good distance with substantial force and crashed through the ground. The Dragon Knight groaned in pain while stroking her right cheek and felt pain aching through her body.
"You're strong..." She grits her teeth while readying her sword again. "And you have the guts to strike back a dragon."
"What can I say? I was trained to become a Dragonslayer." His words made her body freeze of a sudden.
'He was trained to become a Dragonslayer?' Alto-Eris felt her hands shaken. 'Did Ornstein have a pupil?'
"Those who seek revenge against my father never came back," Artor warned her once more. "Once again... I will give you a warning. Leave this place."
"Father...?" Alto-Eris then felt a gulp through her throat. Something that her gut felt didn't expect this as her blood boiled once more in fury. Unbeknownst to him, the rage of the Dragon Knight grew despite how calm she looked. "Who are you... and who is your father?"
"Hmph... The name's Artor." He introduced his name. "Son of Dragonslayer Ornstein-"
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAHH!"
The Dragon Knight then sprints into the battle of a sudden, without warning. Artor then took quick evasive actions immediately from her flurry of strikes, which caused several explosions, sending clouds of dust flying around and making the ground quake. Alto-Eris raised her sword once she finally caught him, but Artor responded to block her sword with the enhanced blade of his spear; causing a big blast of wind upon their clash.
"So you were his son, huh?!" She screamed in anger while trying to push him down. "I'll kill you when I had the chance! He'll likely fall into despair!"
"Tch, not going to happen." Artor then made a swift move to her right and sends out a kick, sending her crashing, once more, against the boulder. "Do tell, is your life not worth it when you seek revenge that will lead to your death?"
"Shut up... SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" Alto-Eris screeched in fury as her mouth breathes out green specks of flames. "I WILL SCORCH YOU DOWN UNTIL NOTHING IS LEFT!"
The enraged Dragon Knight let out a beam of highly concentrated molten plasma that scorched the rocks in her way, melting them away in an instant. Artor leapt away from her beam, and Alto-Eris re-adjust her beam to where he tried to flee away from her attack until he vanished from her sight by leaving a trail of electricity until he reappeared behind her and swung his spear upwards, sending her up and slashed her several times with lightning while in mid-air before he sends her body crashing down against the ground with a kick.
"Gah... hah!... Grrrr!" Alto-Eris panted heavily as she stood up groggily on her feet. Her claws clenched. "I'm not... I'm not done yet!"
Artor didn't say another word until he disappears and reappeared behind her in an instant and brought her down with a swift kick of his elbow against her neck. Sending the Dragon Knight falling flat on the ground as the unbearable pain left her body numb and paralyzed until Artor pressed his boot on top of her back while placing the tip of his spear beside her neck.
"Do you give up?"
"Nnngh... Its... It's not... yet... over!"
Suddenly, Artor noticed her body glows with radiance. His senses warned him to jump back before an explosion erupted. The Steel Knight avoided getting caught from the blast in a nick of time until an enormous shadow loomed over him. The beastly eyes that belonged to a reptile glared at the knight as if he was a mere cockroach. Alto-Eris, in her dragon form, raised her massive claws, ready to cleave apart the son of the Dragonslayer.
"DIE, LIKE AN INSECT YOU ARE!"
"You know what? Making yourself bigger doesn't mean you can get stronger." Artor chuckled in amusement while readying himself for battle once more. "But getting big means you're an even larger target for a hail of lightning spears."
"YOU WILL REGRET SAYING THAT!"
Artor then skids to the left before her massive claws would hit him. Alto-Eris widened her eyes in disbelief once she saw the tall "human" jumped on her right arm and dashed directly to her head section. She swung her arm to make sure he'd fall, but to her surprise; he jumped towards her in a great leap.
'Damnit! He can jump from that distance!?'
The massive dragon used her left arm to swipe him away, yet Artor used the blade of his spear and jabbed it into her thick scales. Thanks to the Titanite that reinforced his spear by uncle Ledo, if it weren't for it, his weapon would've shattered. Then he swung himself in a spinning attack while in mid-air and his Lightning Miracle imbued his weapon and then slammed against her head with a thunderous crash.
The dragon was knocked out with a powerful blast and fell to the ground. Artor landed on top of the dragon's chest and jabbed his miracle-imbued weapon, sending courses of electricity through the massive being while the Alto-Eris' Dragon form let out an agonizing screech. At the same time, her soul screamed out in terror and pain. Once her arms fell, Artor jumped off from the massive beast before Alto-Eris dragon form collapsed, and dissipated itself into a mist of steam until her humanoid form reappeared.
Alto-Eris appears to be badly bruised and breathing heavily until her eyes slowly opened just to see Artor approaching her. She grit her teeth and tears swelled out from her eyes. The son of the Dragonslayer had beaten her without breaking a sweat. She cursed at her own efforts to strike him down, and it was all wasted, which had led to her defeat.
"Dammit... Fuck! Dammit!... I was so close to finding him..." She wept. Not even her hands would move and remain paralyzed by the electricity that was coursing within her. "This isn't fair... this isn't fair at all!... All of my efforts were wasted... Dammit, all!"
Artor couldn't help but feel pity for the Dragon Knight until she fell unconscious. He turned around, as he was supposed to leave. That is not until he heard muttering words escaped from her mouth.
"Mother... I'm sorry..."
His footsteps stopped and then turn his attention to her and looked down. Thus, his emotions stirred, feeling a sudden sympathy for her growing within him. Why does he feel an urge to help her out?
"...I failed you..."
The Steel Knight couldn't help but give out a deep sigh. For Lord's sake, he's a Dragonslayer. He was trained to be one to fend off arrogant dragons that might threaten the rights of local men. He knew between him and his father were different and the dragons his father slew were beyond the leagues of the dragons of this realm. At least the Lords kept Seath the Scaleless and granted him the title of a Duke, and he also heard tales from his father that there is Midir, the last dragon who was raised by the Gods.
And he knew that the local Dragons in this realm were nothing more but fill themselves with arrogance and pride than the Everlasting Dragons. Thus, it's the reason his father grew tired of slaying them because their strength alone disappoints him. After defeating Deonora, no dragons would ever come close to him with his appearance as the Golden Knight. While the Dragons that lived all the way back in Ancient Lordran can tease the emotions of the Lords during the Dragon Wars, this world is reversed. The emotions of these local dragons are quite volatile and quite more open to humans.
Therefore, in his decision, he gave her his mercy.
"You're very resilient, aren't you?" Artor grunts while looking down on the unconscious Dragon Knight before he patches her up in a bridal style. "You're lucky to have my mercy. If my father would be here, he would've killed you for your recklessness."
Thus, he and the dragon disappeared from the place once the fog took over. But unbeknownst to him, a Silver Knight stood on the nearby cliffside, who has a massive mace on his back. He chuckled in amusement after observing the entire fiasco between his nephew and a dragon.
...
Demon Realm Nation of Lescatie
...
"Just what the heck is this armour made of!?"
The Witches and Baphomets gathered themselves to take notes to study the Elite Knight's Armour after Wilmarina sends it via Magic Transportation a day ago. The members of the Sabbath only discovered that this armour was mostly made with ordinary steel, yet they found unusual components which are enhanced with magic and a small percentage of unknown materials.
They tested the armour's strength by using a corruption method, exposing it to a massive amount of thick invasive demonic energy which can corrupt any object and they have to do it in the test chamber. The results led were baffling. The armour was still intact in its same shape, and there are no signs of degradation or even corrosion. Next was the physical test. After utilising steel weapons with brute strength, there is a slight degradation appearing on the armour, which is filled with scratches and small bumps.
"Not even the sword itself can turn into a Silverrealm Sword."
Even the sword too could not be corrupted, but then, to their shock, they discovered something that is out of this world. Later, after their testing procedures; one witch came into their superiors' room with a frightened look in her eyes and had a sheet of paper in her shaking hands. She explains her group found the two objects' unusual capabilities while amid testing, which sounded problematic for the Sabbath.
"While the sword has some unknown energy, which is similar to the divine power. It is capable of filtering Demonic Energy." Runya-Runya reads the report out loud while turning to the next page. "The armour itself has the same capabilities as well... like the sword. It can withstand thick demonic energy for over five hours straight. But it still doesn't show any signs of degradation. The result is that these items can filter out mamono mana with no problems."
Upon hearing her reports, the Baphomets and the Witches gossiped in whispers. Bapho-sama seems to be nervous after hearing that. This report made a belief that the armour and weaponry of the Silver-Blue Knight are out of this world. Even she studied magic that came from some alternate worlds like theirs; this one takes it to a whole new level of knowledge and needs to find out what the remaining percentage of its equipment is made of.
On the other side of the table, Druella is seen from their magical projecting mirror and the Lilim had a concerned look on her face while cupping her chin. At the right side of the magic mirror sat Greilia. Another Baphomet raised her hand.
"I see. So that means his armour is giving him protection from our mana all along." Greilia guessed while some witches nod at her assumption. "Then there is no wonder that he is never influenced by our mamono energy."
"Actually, he might be one of those people immune to our mana," Druella said while her eyes gazed at Greilia. "I mean, look at the Astora Family and their allies who have connections with them."
"Oh, right. I forget they exist." Greilia slapped herself at her own naivety. Then giving off a deep sigh and then asked the Lilim through the magic mirror. "Are there more "souvenirs" that Wilmarina had bought?"
"No. Only the armour and the sword." Druella replied. "I'm sure she will keep us updated whenever she finds items which may have any connections to Astora."
...
Dragonia, Capital City.
...
"UUaaaaahh~!"
Elt yawned as he stretched his arms apart before rubbing his eyelids and then looking down on the sleeping Wilmarina, which appears to be butt-naked, but him too as well. He smiled wryly as he remembered they had a long night of pleasures. He stood up from his bed and opened the window sheets. Rays of sunlight shone within their bedroom and the Dark Hero of Lescatie mumbled before yawning as she woke up.
"Having a wonderful dream, Mary?"
Wilmarina groaned while rubbing her eyes and then smiled at Elt.
"Mhmm~! Yeah, it was a pleasurable night, after all, dear husband~"
"I guess we're already late for breakfast."
After waking up from their sleep and dressed up, the pair went down the stairs and entered the dining hall, where there are quite a lot of people going around. Both monsters, incubi and a lot of dragon maids walk around, providing services for tourists and monster couples. Even some lovers were in process of having fornication during late breakfast.
The Dark Heroine then felt her portable magic hand mirror had just rung behind her breasts before pulling out.
"Oh? Mistress Druella is calling me."
"I see. Then I'll go find our seats, alright?"
Wilmarina nodded to her husband and Elt went for the nearest dragon maid to ask for their reserved table. Wilmarina activated her hand mirror and the face of Druella appeared.
"Oh, Druella. Good morning." Wilmarina smiled with a brief yawn. "Let me guess, is it the equipment that I've brought it over?"
"Yes, the Sabbath has done some testing with every nook and cranny," Druella responded and the Lilim sighed in dissatisfaction. "Unfortunately, monster weapons and magic don't seem to take any effect on Astoran equipment. Therefore, only through lethal attacks is the only way to deal with it."
The Dark Heroine doesn't feel right when she hears that. Then this could mean the reason why the Silver-Blue Knight could withstand their mana is the works of his armour and armaments. Then she'll imagine so see him without his set.
"Then he's completely vulnerable!" Wilmarina smiled while victoriously raising her fist.
"So that means... our weapons are nothing but wooden sticks to him, huh..." Wilmarina murmured a guess while in deep thoughts. "If we remove his armaments away, then that means we have the chance to take him out for good."
"I am not sure about that, my dear." Druella tilts her head sideways. "He might be one of those people. Didn't you forget he slew the Fallen God, and we had our talks with Francisca?"
"Oh, right... I forgot there are people out there who can withstand our mana." Wilmarina slapped her own forehead and then let out a deep sigh. "Then yet, my money which bought that armour has gone to waste."
"Humm~ Then I guess you will find more about them if you and your husband should infiltrate the Federation." Druella shrugged her shoulders. "But I think that would be too risky because Ilassa is working with those guys who oppose the dreams which my mother had envisioned."
"Well, I know little of the Federation." The Dark Heroine grumbled while crossing her arms. "I've heard from the scholars who told me it is a land of heretics when I was young. Well, I might plan to go there one day and learn more about the people who can resist our temptations."
"I see, so you're going to-... wait a minute..." Then she saw the Lilim slowly gaping, staring at the Noscrim Succubus in disbelief. "Don't tell me... you're willing to travel there!?"
"Why not? I have my sword, Oruforyu!" Wilmarina then spoke up proudly. Oruforyu, the magic sword she inherited as the new hero of Lescatie, now in its monsterized form, might bring half of the world into a demon realm in its full power. "If I would meet Sasha again, then there's a chance that I will beat Ash Cyrus for sure!"
Druella couldn't help but slapped her palm against her face after hearing Wilmarina's plan. That will mean a serious problem. She knew the fact that Gods such as the Fallen God would turn an entire world into a realm of depravities at her full power. Even the Fallen Angels have said that some lands in Pandemonium belonged to other worlds which are created by the original Chief God. Yet there is Ash Cyrus, a mortal who faced a god which no Heroes would dare go up against her.
Thus, he did and slew her out from existence. Means that this guy is no pushover.
She knew too little about Ash Cyrus, only what she has about him is his place of origins where it did not locate on any known maps, his strange magic and life energy, and the mention of the mysterious flame deity that is supporting him.
Thus the Lilim decides on a plan for Wilmarina that she wouldn't risk the heroine's life of getting killed. Heroes and Monsters can be revived thanks to the effort of Hel. But when they come against the Silver-Blue Knight would mean permanent death under unknown circumstances.
"Your plan seems reasonable, but I have a better idea and no, I wouldn't let you dare to follow him," Druella said until Wilmarina reeled back in disbelief. "Seek more information in the Federation and avoid him at all costs. Even if it means seeing your dear friend Sasha once more."
"H-Huh!? You must be joking!" Wilmarina then cried out loud in disbelief. "Your Highness, this is our only chance!"
"No, I order you not to do it," Druella said firmly as her gaze hardened. "Remember, there is a guy named Artos. A guy who just beat the crap out of my older sister, which she should've been irresistible to men. "
"B-But-"
"No Buts! He'll just kill you with his steel sword instead of a meaty one, which Sasha almost have it when she was a Dark Priest!" The Lilim scolded the Dark Heroine through the magic mirror like a strict mother. "After your trip from Dragonia, we'll sort the plans out and have a good day spending a vacation with your husband!"
After that, Druella's face disappeared from the magic mirror, which left Wilmarina speechless until Elt came to her and nudged her right shoulder, which caused her to yelp in fright.
"Ah! Sorry for scaring you, Mary." Elt apologised with a nervous grin before pointing his index finger towards a table. "Our reserved table is right over there."
"Uh... oh, um, right..." Wilmarina then looks down in embarrassment. "Sorry, I've got a rough call from Druella."
"I see, then what did you talk about with Druella?"
"W-Well... we're planning our trip into the Federation state, the Kingdom of Gaul," Wilmarina said meekly while pressing her fingers together. "So we'll get to learn more of our new enemies."
"Oh, that doesn't seem too bad-..." Then, the incubus froze once his mind retells what she just said and then spun his gaze to her, expressing shock. "... wait, what did you just say?"
...
Court Alf, Theocracy of Al-Mar.
...
"Are you saying this is true?"
Asura Mythra nods at the magic mirror in response to the Great Songstress of Court Alf, Difina.
"Yes, that man is offering Arial a policy to turn the Theocracy back into its human state." The Kraken said with a firm gaze. "The Lion Knight is taking an advantage of her so that Court Alf will be splintered."
"I... may find that hard to believe." The Undine felt concerned, but the words of the Kraken never tell if there is truth or lies. At this moment, she was confused. "I am confident in Arial's position as the leading Diva for Al-Mar. Nonetheless, these monsters submerging from the seas might be a problem for the seven islands, and that city is the only place where they have the first-hand experience of fighting them."
"But we need to find ways to corrupt them!" The Kraken Songstress spoke up. "So that none should sacrifice their own lives and live in an eternal life full of fulfilment!"
"Yet didn't Deren say that these beasts won't be corrupted by any means?" Difina then crossed her arms, giving the Kraken an unamused look. "Mythra, please. We don't want our talks here getting heated into a petty argument."
"Listen, if Arial would do to turn her city back to its pre-Asuramis War state..." Then the Kraken balled her fists in frustration. "Then it would mean the citizens are going to suffer in the future!"
"Ugh... this is giving me a headache." Difina sighed deeply while massaging her temples. "We should talk together with Arial when I have the time."
Once the Great Songstress disappeared from the magic mirror, the Kraken couldn't help but feel bitter about it. Even Difina didn't believe her and isn't sure how to respond to her statements, whilst the Kraken Queen's only concern is Al-Mar.
"Dammit, the Great Songstress didn't believe me either." Mythra grits her teeth in frustration until she noticed someone entering the room. She turns around and saw a curious nereid, which is no other than the Meivia, the Sixth Songstress of De Ryua herself. "Oh... it's you."
"So... what did you get?" The Nereid asked. "I bet Difina would find a way~!"
"No... not even her would believe it," Mythra responded with a deep sigh. "We need to come up with an effective plan to ward those beasts off and get rid of that Lion Knight."
"Why him? What did he do?" Meivia questioned with an innocent expression.
"Listen, he's taking an advantage of Arial and we wouldn't let him change Al-Mar," Mythra said. "Therefore, this will bring a problem to the rest of the six islands if the City will fall into the same route as Lescatie."
"Huh? Are you saying it for real!?" Meivia then uttered incredulously. "But... I'm not sure if you're telling the truth or not."
"AARGH! Even you didn't believe my words!" Asura Mythra then yelled out loud in rage as she tried to pull out her hair. "What's on to you guys for not believing me!? I just say is only the truth!"
...
Kingdom of Gaul, Town of Gerth.
...
"Finally~! Home sweet home!"
Elaine stretched her arms apart in relief once she and her companions had just returned to town and went their way directly to Horseback Inn. Siegward and Jennifer were joyed to see them return safely from their journey before Gerome reunites with his relatives while Junyad shared his drink with the Catarinian Knight.
"Cheers!"
The Carthus Swordsman and the Onion Knight made a toast before gulping down their ale. Meanwhile, Daniella walks up to Reginald upon his return and spoke to him with an apology.
"Reginald... I'm so sorry for what I just said days ago~!" Daniella pleaded with teary eyes. "I was such a dummy... for telling dumb words..."
"... Huh?" Reginald cocked his brow in confusion while Elen raised up her concerns. "... um, what were you talking about?"
While Daniella confessed her apologies for the incident days prior, Jennifer came up to greet Olivier with a mug of warm milk.
"So how was your first quest in the dungeons, miss Amaltia?" Jennifer asked the Lescatian Musketeer. "Oh dear, the look in your eyes must've told me you've seen a lot of things just recently."
"Well... fighting in the Dungeons is no easy feat." Olivier sighed deeply while expressing grief. "And... there were a lot of deaths in our way."
"That sounds dreadful." Jennifer comforted the musketeer while handing her a warm cup of milk, then expressed her smile. "But I'm glad that you all make it out alive."
"By the way. Jennifer, did something happen around the town?" Sasha asked, curiously.
"Well, not much." The Barkeeper replied before placing the wooden mugs on the shelves. "My dear Siegward had just returned from his quest to rescue missing people since the last undead incursion, and a pair of nobles have visited our restaurant."
"Nobles visiting a local restaurant in the middle of the frontier?" Sasha raised her eyebrow in question. "That's... unheard of."
"Well, Horseback Inn is the only place in town where people gather here for food and drinks," Jennifer said while serving a pair of ale to nearby customers. "Although nobles coming here are a rare sight and head for the place available to serve them. At least we're lucky to have Siegward because one of them stated that they have never tasted an ale so good, which should be a luxury for the kings and emperors."
"That's... an overstatement." Olivier deadpanned. "But I must admit, the food and drinks here are too good for the common folk in this place."
"Oh! I needed to head back home right away and see how the children are doing well." Sasha said while packing up her backpack and then turns to Ash. "Ash, I'm heading back home to see how Sif is doing with the children."
Ash then nodded. "Alright, then take care."
Once Sasha left the tavern, the knight caught his gaze on the two individuals dressed in noble attires who have left the building as well. But his hunch caught his concern. Something that he didn't like, as if these individuals were very suspicious. Then he went to the window and saw them heading their way to where Sasha had left off.
He gripped the hilt of his broadsword and growled.
"... Not in my watch."
...
Chapter 32: Ends
Authors Note: So, I've written an MGE-Bloodborne fanfic in SB (SpaceBattles) and it's called "Huntress of the Blood", with the main character starring Luciana Southray (or Sausare). Go check it out.
Update: Scholar Arcanis, I never mind about having issues with long reviews and I do appreciate your feedback. Thank you.