Chapter 45: Festival.
Green Demon Realm of Arum Sedis.
...
"Since the Pimor incident, this one is recent. Dragonia came under attack by a mysterious force of nature." Ilassa reads with a paper in hand while sipping her milk tea. "Fortunately, the situation solved out similarly to the Theocracy of Al-Mar. However, the empire of dragons received more large-scale destruction than the theocracy. Infrastructures were reduced to rubble and casualties on the local population were higher."
"That's the second demon realm, which almost fell into ruins. Except for Pimor" Ilassa turns her gaze to her right to a mamono who stood beside her table. She appeared to have golden eyes, reddish hair and a fluff of white feathers. The individual has talons for her feet and her arms were crossed while expressing concerns. "If the appearance of otherworldly monsters and dungeons wasn't bad enough. Then that news alone will surely mean the demon realms will be facing destruction like dominoes when they can't muster up an effective army to deal with them other than corrupting their souls."
"... Monsters of the demon realms were indeed strong for a thousand years... until for now," Ilassa said with a sad sigh while raising up her empty teacup. "Shapira... may I have another one, please?"
The griffon held up the teapot and carefully pour the contents. "So Ilassa... from what you foretold about the great convolution years ago. Does it hold any connections we have today?"
"... Yes... After me, Dina and Artos met with the great fire... it warned us of the emergence of a new world." The lilim breathes out while gently placing down the paper. "Therefore, there is nothing we could do anything but to watch the world turn itself. Brimming with new dangers and wonders... I think it's the time that we should cope with this new era."
"Until today... your mother didn't take heed or notice anything?" Shapira questioned. "I mean, she should take that truthful warning to her heart."
"She did... but you know how stubborn she can be. An idealistic madwoman clinging to her paradise of lies." Ilassa grunts in irritation as she grits her teeth until she furiously sipped her tea. "Damn... bringing up those damn memories from that day makes my mood sour whenever someone mentions it... not even my sisters and my father will take it seriously while they as well are being too optimistic."
"Then that means... her downfall is near around the corner." Shapira sighed sadly while looking down. "But it's strange... why didn't the demon lord or the gods foresee any of this happening?"
"... According to the fire, the predictions of the gods are no longer relevant to the existence of these new humans... because of their blank fates at the time they were born, they can not see it... neither can we. Only they can forge their own destiny when they do is to act. When they first arrived, they wrote history that shouldn't happen while entropy and disparity took a steady root in this realm of ours." The lilim then spoke with a calm, yet depressed composure. "Pure love can no longer triumph over the harsh consequences of reality. Only love can win through real meaning and purpose... not for eternal desires of lust and pleasures. Only the souls who braved the hardships and struggles can find their true motives and pave their way to the light for themselves and the world."
"... And when I heard about our powers will slowly wane in the future... I tried to refuse that truth, but the words themselves didn't deny." Ilassa continued with a wistful tone. "Therefore, we must accept to live in a harsh reality we live in... and cope with death."
"How cruel..." Shapira stared down with a saddened tone. "Will the world find its peace in this new era?"
Ilassa remained silent for a moment while placing her teacup on the table and turned her gaze towards the windows.
"... Perhaps. Hope will remain... as long as there is someone who wished to threaten the world through ideas and greed."
...
Borders of the Royal Makai and the Chaos Kingdom of Pimor.
...
Shirokuto saw a long trail of refugees gathering around the plaza and bazaars in the midst of the fortified demonic town of Ustran. The young Baphomet knew the town itself had a long-standing history since the first monsters arrived in this world, shortly after being created by the first Chief God.
It had withstood the cycles of wars between humans and monsters for centuries. Captured by human forces and then reclaimed by monsters again during the age of the past Demon Lords. Nowadays, the town itself is a sprawling metropolis, more like a city itself than a town. It was a flourishing place with diverse species of monsters and human incubus from any walks of life. The original town stood in the midst of the city's district, which is now a famous place for tourist attractions.
However, as the world goes on and changes of a sudden, the news from Pimor reached the Royal Makai and the noble monsters made a hasty mobilisation of the Demon Lord's Army to reclaim the eastern Demon Realm.
"... Did the Demon Lord's Army make any progress...?" Shirokuto muttered in question as she wandered through the crowd until she heard multiple gasps and mourns nearby. "... What's going on?"
Curious to see the terrified faces of the Ustran citizens, the white Baphomet pushed through the crowd and then stopped once she saw dozens of monster knights and warriors marching down the cobblestone roads... it wasn't a march of victory, but of defeat. Many individual soldiers bear signs of severe injuries, and they were strapped with bloody bandages while some were carrying corpses wrapped under rags.
It was a gruesome sight before Shirokuto noticed a werecat was looking out for her daughter until she saw the soldiers carrying her daughter's corpse.
"Why!? Why did you not revive her!?" The werecat mother yelled in anger with tears. "Please, call the Goddess of Life and Death! My daughter did not deserve this!"
"We-... I'm sorry... We tried to bring her back." A succubus knight replied, regretting to explain her words to the parents. "But from the words of the Goddess herself... your daughter's death was permanent and she will no longer wander in the lands of the living."
The werecat mother was shaking once those words got into her head. They weren't lying. The husband of the werecat mother came to her side and expressed his overall sadness and grief to see his daughter, once a cheerful young lady who wants to join the army to find a husband beyond the borders of the demon realms, now lay as a bloody corpse after being killed by an unknown enemy.
The incubus felt his hands were shaking and hugged his werecat wife for comfort and the wife did as well to cope with their daughter's death.
"Our daughter's fate... wasn't meant to be like this...!"
Shirokuto felt their emotions shake within her heart. She wanted to help to bring their daughter back, but the rumours of death had increased upon the monster girls were skyrocketing. The Sabbath was trying its best to revive their loved ones but to no avail. Then the white Baphomet saw someone among the defeated columns was none other but Bapho-sama.
The white researcher was happy to see her again, yet her happiness fell once she saw Bapho-sama's face had a gloomy look, as if her face, once filled with joyfulness, was stripped away. Instead, it was full of guilt and regrets... regrets that she has witnessed deaths.
"Bapho-sama!"
Bapho-sama felt her ears perked up after hearing a familiar voice calling out for her. She spun around and saw Shirokuto waving out for her. The General of the Demon Lord's Army was shocked, but then relief came shortly to know that the head of the White Goat Branch was still alive and well. Bapho-sama dropped her worn-down weapon and came over to Shirokuto with open arms.
"Shiro... Shiro-san!"
"Bapho-sama!"
The two baphomets embraced themselves in a hug for a moment until Shirokuto slowly breaks up and smiled at her colleague shortly after their tearful reunion.
"Bapho-sama! It's been weeks!" Shirokuto cried in relief. "I heard you went out to reclaim Pimor, and I thought you won't come back!"
"I-... I also thought the same! We were worried that you haven't contacted us!" Bapho-sama wiped off her tears and smiled. "I'm glad you're fine for the entire time!... But, can you tell me what happened back there?"
"We... we conducted an experiment on that monster we've captured, and we didn't expect that it will cause a disaster," Shirokuto explained while looking down with guilt. "A disaster which my branch brought out... kicked Pimor to its knees for their new conquerors. The citizens who survived the first wave of onslaught became slaves to those monsters.
"The Demons of Chaos... they are who call themselves." Shirokuto looks up and saw Bapho-sama expressing her serious side. "Without a doubt, they are a force not to be messed with..."
Shirokuto remained silent as Bapho-sama continued with spite in her tone. "When we've gathered our strongest monsters and mounted our forces to reclaim the region... we were foolish enough for not realising our own powers can strengthen them to defeat us... battle after battle... retreat after retreat... we never thought our losses went higher in a few days since the Demon Lord's ascension."
The White Goat Researcher couldn't help but feel pity for Bapho-sama as if she had been through the horrific events of this new war. A war between the Demon Realm and the Chaos Demons has torn her expectations to bring these monsters to the side of the Demon Lord.
"Now you see here... our underestimation of our enemy... resulted in our defeat," Bapho-sama growled bitterly while experiencing some small flashbacks of blood and flame while looking over the marching columns of injured soldiers and mamono. "Seeing my fallen comrades die and never came back from death... the army was kicked out of the Pimor region... I will never forgive those demons!"
"... So... what now?" Shirokuto stated worryingly. "The worse case... if those Demons would enter the Royal Makai..."
"... That will mean everyone's lives are at stake." Bapho-sama glowered as she clenched her fists. "At the face of our new adversary, we need to develop new weapons rather than corrupting them... then this is our only hope to defeat them."
...
Chaos Kingdom of Pimor.
...
"Your excellency, our proud forces have crushed the army of the Tempting Realms." Alocer kneeled towards the Adramelech with pride. "I require your orders for our next turn."
"The results, General. I must hear it." Adramelech speaks up while raising his right hand. "How many of our brethren had fallen?"
"The casualties are light, but none has fallen, your highness. I've seen their numbers with my own eyes and they had us from three to one... their attempts to repel us are... beyond disappointment." Alocer then let out a burst of laughter mixed with a growl. "The weapons which the Temptresses carried out were nothing but sticks and pebbles thrown at us. Then we responded with steel, bone and fire."
"I see... your eyes do not lie." Adramelech then nods in satisfaction and turned his gaze to the left. "Veona... do you feel guilt?"
"No, your highness. I do what I must what a monster does." Veona spoke stoically and her voice stood firm. "As I no longer pledge to the Demon Lord. I found my purpose here... with the new king of monsters."
"I am pleased to hear that." The Arch Taurus Demon grinned as he waved his hand at Alocer in dismissal. "Tell our forces to secure the borders... we shall do a ceasefire and give our new kingdom some breathing."
"As you wish, your highness." The Taurus Demon nods and leaves the Royal Halls. "Our soldiers will remain vigilant and we shall never let one temptress step foot."
"Dear... I have something to ask." Veona then questioned Adramelech. "What if Lilith would come over to punish us?"
"Do not worry... the Flames of Chaos do not side to the wishes of that Temptress." Adramelech then grinned in confidence as he softly rubbed her back, giving her a sensation of comfort. "Her followers may believe she knew everything. But alas, the claims of her control over entropy will not save her and her paradise. Then we will make our example of her, a path of her downfall."
...
Buffer Regions.
...
... A week after the Invasion of Dragonia...
...
"Whew! After that hectic invasion... All I got for myself was a new house!"
Artor hummed in joy as he hammered the last nail into the wooden beams before wiping off the sweat from his forehead. Once he climbed down the ladder, a group of lizardmen and incubus established the floors and walls while providing some oak wood and tools around the building foundation. The same spot where his old cabin once stood, is now under a new renovation.
"Honey~! Are you thirsty~?" Artor spun around and saw his fiancee holding a tray with a glass jar of lemon juice and a couple of wooden cups. "I made this for you~!"
The young dragon slayer smiled as he took a cup. "Thanks, Alti."
"My goodness, it's bigger than the old cabin!" Artor and Alto-Eris turn around to see Elizabeth, who's observing the construction of their new home. "I must say... the Queen of Dragons is very generous to provide thee a new home."
"Well. What can I say? I and my father were renounced as heroes." Artor smiles while holding up a cup of lemon juice. "While my father isn't interested in rewards... so I took my opportunity to get a new home. Hah... that damn hollowed beast wrecked my home to cinders would've cost a lot of property damage."
"I see. Since this house was big... do tell, was it for your children?" The Mushroom asked.
"Why yes~! It's pretty obvious." Alto-Eris replied with a smile before rubbing her belly. "In the next three weeks, I'm going to lay some eggs and incubate them for the next eight months."
"Then that means you're not carrying the child in your belly all the time?" Artor asked, dumbfounded.
"Of course not! I'm a Dragon! My race is Oviparous, obviously." Alto-Eris explained while raising her index finger. "For a dragon... like me, as for becoming a mother. All I have to do is to take care of the eggs and warm them with enough heat!"
"Huh... so it's like a mother hen, huh? Hahaha!" Artor teased until Alto-Eris felt a tick on her head and sent a minor punch to his side. "Ow! Sorry, no hard feelings, hun."
"Next time, Artor. Don't compare me with a chicken." Alto-Eris made a dark smile while raising her fists. "That truly stings my pride as a dragon."
"Alright, alright! I apologise for what I've said... geez." Artor apologises while waving his hands in dismissal and then turns to Elizabeth. "So anyway... why won't we have a friendly chat, shall we?"
"Oh! Certainly, a cup of tea for me. No sugar!" Elizabeth gleefully responded.
Artor then noticed something. He heard sounds of flapping wings coming from above. He spun around and looks up to see his sister descend from the skies, carrying the little Fillia in her arms. The little Fillia jumped off from Ciara shortly after they'd landed and ran over to Artor, bracing him a hug on his right leg. But they were not alone. Leia and Shirtiya came alongside the Lordress Valkyrie as well.
"Big brother Artor! I've missed you!"
"Hey, good to see you two are fine!" Artor said while patting the head of his little sister. "I heard you two did a good job to save some survivors."
"Yep! I'm so glad Artor made it!" Fillia then jumps on her feet. "I heard you became a hero! Is that true?"
"Haha! That, I am. A title well deserved!" Then Artor spoke up with pride and then turns to Ciara. "So, how was your week?"
"It's all good, big brother. We had a busy week to help out a lot of people and tended the wounded thanks to Fillia's miracles." Ciara smiled while giving her older sibling a hug. "I'm so glad to see you made it out unscathed!"
Artor returns a hug while two of Alto-Eris' companions came up to the black dragon with their joyful reunion.
"Heya Alti~! It's been a while~!" Shirtiya called out in joy with a wave of her hand. "Oohh~! Will that be your new home?"
"Yep! Big enough for a family!" Alto-Eris said out loud with delight. "And Leia is here as well, too, huh."
"Yeah, I took a two-day leave from the Knight's Order." Leia smiled. "I just came to see how you're doing right now?"
"My goodness, Alti! The bulge in your belly is getting bigger!" Shirtiya points her finger out in surprise. "So what did the doctor say? The size of that bulge would've meant that you're going to lay the egg at any moment!"
"Oh, relax Shirtiya~! They're not fully developed yet." Alto-Eris smiled as she waved her hands in dismissal. "The doctor says I have two eggs... so I'll be having twins."
"Twins? Huh... you two are lucky then!" Leia chirps in joy while clapping her hands in excitement. "I wonder what names you'll come up with and... oh! What if one of your babies turns out to be a boy? Wouldn't be it marvellous~? The first dragon of Dragonia will bring birth to the first male?"
"You're... not wrong there."
"Oh, my goodness~! Alti conceived a son~!"
Meanwhile, not far from the construction site. Ornstein was having a quiet tea time with Alissa while staring at the blue skies, thinking deeply in thoughts with one thing that worries him.
'... It wouldn't be worrying when the Pus of Man was already here in this world... but the only concern if the abyss would ever seep into this realm... without a doubt, it will mean chaos..."
"Is there something wrong, dear?" Alissa asked in worry. "Your last battle against the colossal dragon almost killed you. Honey, you shouldn't be worried all the time! We have some time to spare to save strength."
"Alissa... I know. The abomination that came from my ancient home is a concern." Ornstein then smoothed while looking down on his teacup, seeing a reflection of himself. "The Abyss... the perversion of the dark... is the real threat. Then, of course, we have time to spare... and plan out the countermeasures if the abyss ever takes its root in this world."
...
The Kingdom of Gaul, Town of Gerth.
...
"Ugh... I can't believe they trained him into a soldier with the laziest swordsmanship I've ever set my eyes upon." Ash groaned in dissatisfaction while tilting his head sideways. "If he were in the Astoran Military and to be trained as an Infantry Knight... I can imagine the drill instructors would endlessly scream at him."
"How worse can the young lad get?" Siegward asked curiously while polishing a porcelain mug.
"Worse than a bandit who could barely wield their swords better."
...
... Gerth Outskirts... 2 Days Ago...
...
"... Is that how you handle a sword?"
"Y-yes! It's how they trained me in the barracks!" Elt said while raising his wooden sword. The stance he made is similar to a pflug stance, but the way he handles his weapon was awkward. His sword was further front and easy to spot an opening. Thus, worse of all, the footing is tight and out of balance. "Now I'm ready!"
"... Alright, now give out what you can," Ash said as he takes an Ochs stance. "Let's see how the Knights of the Order taught you."
"Here I go!" Elt then took the charge and swings his sword to the left side. "I'll give out all I got!"
When Elt swung his sword up, Ash deflected it. Then bringing his sword down, and quickly drew the wooden blade which held up Elt's neck. To the surprise of the young knight, he didn't expect it to be so rapid in one swift move.
"So... is this how they taught you the way to swing a sword?" Ash whispered. Unimpressed that, Elt charged in without noticing the patterns. "You need actual training and get a better grip. The way you handle it is loose and your stance is unbalanced. That alone will get you killed in actual combat in one wrong move."
"Then how can I get a better hold of my weapon?" The young Knight of the Order asked. "I've been working out in the barracks for at least three years and this feels different from my actual practice sessions."
"You need to know what weapons you have on your hands and learn their use. That's a basic fact for proper soldiers I knew." The Ashen One explained while pointing down on Elt's grip around the sword's hilt. "Learning swordsmanship does not rely on strength alone. You don't require muscle for it. Physical strength is good for endurance, but the weapon itself does not unless you want some heavy ones to crush armour... For handling your weapon, you require skills and patterns to know its full efficiency. A sword isn't just for slashing or stabbing in its honorary reputations... it's a tool meant for killing. Even a pommel can kill someone."
"I-I see! So that's why you were so skilled and cunning! No wonder Sasha looks up to you!" Elt looks up to Ash with enlightenment. "I never had this lesson when I was in special training to become a knight... all they do is to teach us how to swing our swords and beat up some dummies. But this takes to a new level!... And uh... sorry for asking this, how's Luciana and Vermut doing right now?"
"Those two?... They're having some special exercises with Elen." Ash said bluntly while giving out a sigh and turning his gaze over to another field where he spots Luciana was having difficulties while training together with the Farron Swordswoman. "Those two bickered and use strength to wield their swords in wild swings without awareness... even Vermut, who she holds the highest honorary title of a knight, lost in a duel with a rookie named Arcturus. He, too, knows how to handle his equipment more than her."
At this moment, Elt grew surprised and felt embarrassed while remembering his previous training in the Order Barracks made him less than a competent fighter than he was now. He reached the top graduates to earn the position to join the Holy Knights, but the Silver-Blue Knight will put the efforts of his previous training to shame. At least he's here, helping the young knight and shaping him up into a fine warrior.
"Wait... so we've been taught in a wrong way?"
"Either your instructors are lazy, incompetent, or both." Ash then prepares his wooden longsword and took up a fighting stance. "Since you've got potential... I can see it in you. We'll train you to Git Gud on the basic guards and footing."
"Git... Gud?" Elt raised his eyebrow in confusion. "What's that?"
"In Astoran tongue, it's called "making yourself better"." Then Ash leapt into combat, catching the young knight off-guard. "Now grit your teeth!"
...
... Present day...
...
"Ash~! Look over here!"
"Mmh?"
Ash turns his glance around to Sasha while the ex-member of the Order raised up a printed parchment in front of his face, much to his surprise. It reads the Town's 80th Annual Festival Anniversary where people come in and go to enjoy food, drinks and other wondrous projects. There were even various types of prizes written on the list of activities.
"Today is the town's annual festival!" Sasha chirped in excitement with stars in her eyes. "Would you like to come with me to look around?"
"Well... sure. Why not?" Ash nods and then turns to Siegward, who appears to be polishing his wooden beer mug. "Sieg. I'm heading out with Sasha for a while."
"Take care, you two~!" Siegward hummed before placing the mug on the shelves. "And make your maiden to be happy~!"
Ash couldn't help but groan from the Catarinian's antics of teasing the heck out of him while Sasha coughed while hiding her wild blush.
'This... feels like a date.' Sasha felt her heart pounding as her hand gripped firmly at Ash's left arm. 'Is this how young couples... develop their true love?'
Once the couple exited the Tavern, they were met by a crowd of people walking around. Many of them came from nearby settlements to visit Gerth for the festivals. Almost all houses and shops were decorated with colourful flowers, ribbons and small flags showing the Kingdom of Gaul. Humans and monster girls alike traverse through the crowded streets while at the town square, both the townsfolk, travellers and farmers, raised up their beer mugs to joy their meals.
The smell of aroma and the sight of fresh homemade food of the locals made the priestess drool at their presentation. Ash bought some grilled pork skewers and shared some pieces with Sasha. Once she took a bite, the former heroine was enthralled by the taste.
"Huh, not bad." Ash was impressed by the flavour. "Adding spices improves the taste."
"Mhm~! It's delicious indeed!" Sasha was munching joyously before taking another bite. "Mmmhh~! Itch sho guud~!"
Taking another detour down the other street, there was a musical performance as well. Bards and musicians set up their stages and blared their instruments and vocal songs. Changing the mood of the festival with an up-beating atmosphere. The locals gather around and witnessed their performance with amazement. For Sasha, this is her first time experiencing what was like to be at a festival. She knew the Kingdom of Lescatie have its own festivities and they were common in the capital city as well.
However, such fairs within Lescatie's capital were only upheld within the commercial districts for the wealthier middle classes. Sasha had been a pious member of the Order back then while she and her other sisters of the church were excluded from participating in the annual commemoration. Even her status as a hero, it was strictly forbidden to mingle in the galas with the common folk due to their downtrodden status and the priests would like to prefer her to enjoy the quiet, lavish banquets of the nobility behind the walls of the royal castle like a perfect hero.
But on this day, she was no longer a member of the Order and, in fact, this place wasn't Lescatie. This small town of Gerth was free from the strict rules of her old nation and she can enjoy a life without fear. Perhaps Olivier, Elt and the other two knights of the Ice Flowers as well can enjoy the annual festivity.
"... Is this your first time to be in a fair?" Ash asked Sasha, to her surprise. "Your eyes tell me you haven't been to one, do you?"
Sasha looks up at Ash in confusion and saw how curious he was. She closed her eyes and admits. "Erm... yeah. This is my first time... Lescatie does hold such celebrations. Unfortunately, holidays such as this would mean doing more tasks for the church and praying for the Chief God to thank the holy celebrations."
"I see... then today is your lucky day," Ash said with a smile underneath his helmet. "Perhaps let's walk around and see something interesting."
"A-Alright... so then... oh! What about that one?" Sasha then points out to see a group of children and adults gathering together. "Is that a pignatta?"
"Come around folks and whoever hits the pignatta gets the prize!" A Jester wearing red clothes announced the game loudly, which attracted nearby locals. "And the treats are free for everyone!"
"I'd like to participate!" A young man called out while raising his hands.
"That will be five copper coins, young sir!"
The young man was brought onto the stage through the wooden fences. The jester then gave him a wooden bat and covered his eyes with the binds before spinning him around three times.
"One! Two! Three! Here we go!"
"... Let's watch it." Sasha then grabbed Ash with his hand and pushed their way through the crowd. "Oops! Sorry! Coming through!"
Ash and Sasha reached the fence and saw the young adolescent weaving his stick in the air, trying to find his target. He gave out two swings and none of them hit the mark. But to the couple's surprise, this young man is no other than Elt himself who was trying to get the prize.
"Big bro! To the left! To the left!"
"No! To the right! Above you!"
Hearing two familiar voices, Sasha spun around to see the orphans were there as well, and they were trying to help him out much to Elt's dazzling confusion. Once he brought up his stick, he felt friction between the stick and the target.
'Now I got it!'
The young knight then swings to hit his mark... and missed. The orphans groaned in defeat, and that was the last strike.
"Noo~! Big bro almost had it!" Emiyu wailed out, almost on the verge of crying. "There goes the candy~!"
"Well, we can do it next time." Ralph sighed in frustration.
Elt got the binds out and returned the wooden bat to the announcer before turning to the orphans with a nervous smile.
"Hahaha! Sorry kids, perhaps let's find something else to do some fun then." Elt said until he noticed some familiar couple around the corner of his eyes. "Oh! Sasha, and Sir Cyrus! I didn't expect you two to be here! I thought you were planning for a mission today."
"Eh, well. Sadly, there aren't any quests on the board." Sasha smiled while waving her hands dismissively. "We came here to enjoy the festival."
"Huh, sounds good and by the way, would you like to play a game and hit the pignatta?" Elt asked, embarrassingly while pointing his thumb at the orphans behind his back. "The orphans want to have some treats."
"Well... alright. Then I would like to participate!" Sasha called out while raising her hand at the Jester.
"That will be five copper coins, young lady!"
"Good luck," Ash said while patting Sasha's right shoulder. "Give your best what a big sister can do."
Sasha stepped through the gates of the wooden fence until the Jester handed her a wooden bat and her eyes were blindfolded until he spins her around three times. The orphans were worried about their big sister if she couldn't hit their prize and lose the game.
"Sasha! You can do it!" Elt called out.
"Be careful, Big Sis!" Emiyu added.
The priestess stepped forth, trying to sense where the pignatta was. Then she felt a sensation to her left and swing it, yet she hit the empty air. But, to everyone's surprise, she almost hit her prize by a few centimetres.
'So it was on the right side.' Sasha spoke in her thoughts. She would've used her mana to detect where the object lies, yet she can't, as if that would've been cheating the game. 'It's like I'm trying to hit an invisible enemy... is it next to the left or was it above my head?'
"Sasha, it's right above you." Sasha heard Ash calling out to her.
Sasha then felt her senses that the pignatta hanging above her and carefully brought her stick up. Once she felt the bat's tip touch a solid object, she swung it forth and smashed the mock-up into pieces. Candies and sweet treats rained down, and the crowd cheered at the winner.
"We have a winner!" The jester announced.
The jester raised up her hand to congratulate her as Sasha pulled down the blindfold. Shortly after the game, the prize she received was a small teddy bear. She took the nearest exit before the children rushed in to pick up the treats and left.
"This is for you, Emiyu." Sasha knelt down while handing out the teddy bear.
"R-Really!? Thank you, big sis!" Emiyu jumped up in glee while hugging the prize. "Come, big bro! Let's go!"
"Wait 'til we tell the others about this!" Ralph grinned mischievously before the two orphans ran off.
"H-Hey! Don't get ahead of yourselves, you two!" Elt spoke out in a scolding tone before he rushed out for the orphans and went through the crowd.
"My goodness, there they go." Sasha giggled to see them running off into the crowd and then turns to Ash. "So... which place should we go next?"
...
*POP!*
"No way!"
"He shot the target!?"
"Damn, he must've been one hell of an archer."
The spectators dropped their jaws in disbelief to see all the arrows hit on every bullseye mark of the targets and Reginald smiled in confidence once he let the last arrow loose at the last moving target with precision. After the shooting, the Archery Stall Owner came over with a big stuffed lion and handed it over to the Farron Swordsman.
"Here's the prize for your lady, good sir!"
"Thanks." Reginald thanked the owner before giving the stuffed animal over to Daniella in a gentleman-like manner. "Here, this is for you."
"J-Jeez! Regi, you're making me blush with that face of yours~!" Daniella flustered red in embarrassment while looking away as she accepts the price. "But thank you~! I-I really appreciate it a-and your skills!"
"Heh, it's nothing, actually." Reginald chuckled while nervously scratching the back of his head.
As the couple were about to head for another place for entertainment. Sasha saw Daniella has a stuffed lion in her arms and expressed a cheerful smile to her boyfriend. Then she blushed while turning her glance to her knight who stood by her side and he was occupied to see another shooting stall where Elen tries to compete with Olivier in a shooting competition.
The last flying target was shattered and the Lescatian Musketeer spins her pistol gallantly right back into her holster along with the cheers of the spectators.
"Darn... she's faster than I thought," Elen groaned in disbelief.
"Well, she's a musketeer, so it's no surprise!" Vermut explained out loud with dignity. "Olivier is a member of the famed Three Musketeers. So challenging her takes a tremendous skill!"
"Mmhhh... This is my first time using a gun." Elen then pouts with embarrassment while pressing her fingers together. "P-Perhaps can you teach me?"
Olivier raised her brow in surprise. She didn't expect a dhampir would ask for help. Perhaps she can and Alameria would teach her some unique shooting skills... unless her mamono acquaintance would be here, which it wasn't for her current shift in Horseback Inn. Then Olivier noticed someone in the corner of her eye and spots Ash and Sasha wandering around the fair.
Then Olivier waved over to the couple. "Oh, hey! You two having fun?"
"Oh yes, we are! We just went to a Pignatta game to get the prize for the orphans." Sasha replied while turning to the shooting gallery and then looks up to Ash with innocent, child-like behaviour. "Uh... Uhm... Ash~? Would you like to take the shooting? I want to have a stuffed toy like that one!"
Ash turns his direction at where she was pointing and saw a knight plushie. He has a look of surprise behind his visor once gazing down at Sasha, noticing her puppy eyes staring right at him were begging for the prize. The knight couldn't help but sigh. He could tell that his maiden really wants her knight to do something that will make her happy.
"Alright then." Ash smiled with a nod. "I'll take my best shots."
Once he paid ten coins, the stall owner handed him an improvised firearm with a lever-action mechanism. Such an unusual design is unlike an ordinary, well-known musket. Nevertheless, it has an interesting self-reloading operation while cocking the lever to load the bullet.
"An interesting firearm." Ash mused. "Did you make them by yourself?"
"My father is a gunsmith. He's the one who made it before my family moved here to Gaul to make new business." The stall owner replied while crossing his arms in discontent. "These guns were originally made for the armies of the Order and other affiliated states. Unfortunately, the business fell within an instant, as they weren't interested. They said they weren't sufficient to flip the tables of warfare against monsters."
"Huh, too bad, they had their chances..." Ash muttered in a deep tone while taking an aim. "And wasted everything in the favour of their misleading faith."
Once he pulled the trigger, the bullet flew at high speed and landed a direct hit on the porcelain target. Ash cocked the lever to reload and the stall owner pulled a level mechanism as three more porcelain targets flew up into the air. Ash readjust his aim upwards and took potshots at the targets, turning them into fragmented pieces within a matter of seconds. Sasha was amazed at how he efficiently handled his weapon, and Olivier was impressed by letting out a whistle.
"Nearly as fast as Alameria and your shots are pretty accurate," Olivier comments while clapping her hands. "Not bad! You could've become a part of the Lescatian Musketeers!"
"I appreciate your applause," Ash said with a polite bow. "It takes practice until I can grasp the weapon efficiently."
"An impressive shooting you got there!" The Stall Owner was impressed as he approached the Astoran while handing out a knight plushie. "Now here's your prize for your fair maiden, good sir~!"
"Thanks." Ash thanked the owner before giving it over to Sasha. "Here, this is for you."
Sasha felt her heart thumped even further and blushed deep red once Ash gave her the plushie. The priestess smiled as she hugged the prized plushie and the Astoran felt some unusual, soft sensation within him to admit seeing how Sasha was doing something quite cute. Then the maiden gently grabs his right hand and then heads off to another area.
The maiden of Lescatie then makes a heartwarming giggle. "Ash~! Let's go over there! I heard there was a competition nearby!"
Once they vacated the shooting gallery, Vermut stood there with jaws hanging, while Olivier sighed with nervous laughter. The Royal Knight of the Ice Flower didn't expect to see that Sasha was being too uncanny for Ash as if they treated themselves as a couple.
"Vermut, what's wrong?"
"Uhh... how was Sasha clingy for Sir Cyrus?"
"... That, I may not know," Olivier answered with a shrug on her shoulders. "Maybe they have some interesting stories to tell."
...
Demon Realm Nation of Lescatie.
...
"Dr Beatrix?... How is our dear Wilmarina?"
"As far as I can say... her attitude is becoming more... unstable than usual." The Baphomet belonging to the Medical Sabbath replied while bringing up her clipboard. "Aside from the injuries she had received. The loss of her husband was a massive blow to her soul and mind."
Francisca, the Roper Queen of Lescatie, was saddened to hear the results. After the return of Lord Governor Noscrim, her changed personality rocked the entire royal castle with an enormous amount of emotions filled with vengeance and bloodlust, which alerted the other five princesses of Lescatie and Druella herself. As soon as Francisca and her friends heard what happened to Wilmarina's honeymoon trip with Elt, she couldn't help but felt a sting of pain in her heart.
Aside from Wilmarina, the main wife and lover of Elt. There was Merse, another significant other and a member of his harem, who cried upon her loss and shared the hero's pain. She knew Wilmarina and Merse shared their love with Elt shortly after the transformation of Lescatie until the day Merse was excited that she conceived his child. The monsterized hero wanted to become a mother after Druella freed her from the pain and then the Echidna wanted to tell her husband upon their returning trip from Dragonia. Unfortunately, reality came to them and tear their love apart without mercy.
The news from Dragonia was bad enough that it spread quickly and reached Lescatie. The message harbours a lot of bad news that the Empire of Dragons was under attack by the destructive force of the mysterious, invading dragons. Numerous deaths and misery were reported and such tragedies didn't happen to the Demon Realm for centuries since the ascension of the current Demon Lord. The Roper Queen had been praying for their safety to return home.
Her prayers heeded Fate and allowed Wilmarina to return home... but sadly, her husband was never saved and his fate tied to the monsters was severed by Silver-Blue Knight. His existence as an incubus has ended and returned to the human state he was once been. Francisca was aware how the Silver-Blue is inimical towards an average mamono and she doubt he can stand up to the strongest monsterized hero in the demon realm... until the downfall of the fallen god, she stood wrong.
According to Koyoi, Wilmarina confronted Ash at the front of some Cathedral and knocked her out cold without struggle shortly before recovering the succubus hero while making a hasty retreat from the dangerous place that is Anor Londo.
"How cruel..." Francisca's voice mourned and gripped her hands tight. "Why did he do that...? Does he have no shame? Do his wits did not understand how we feel from our suffering?"
...
... Demonic City of Salvarision, Lescatie...
...
At the hallways leading to Wilmarina's quarters within the City Fortress of Salvarision. Druella was accompanied by a pair of Dark Knights until she stopped her tracks in front of the door, leading to a room belonging to the Dark Hero. The Lilim raised her hand to signal the Dark Knights to stay behind before entering the room while knocking on the doors.
"... *sigh*... Wilmarina? Dear, are you here?" Druella slowly opened the door, then peeking in and saw Wilmarina sitting near her desk, writing some documents "Honey~! Look what I've brought for you~!"
Druella then brought up a box of chocolate pralines. After all, the Lilim paid a visit today in Salvarision for Wilmarina and she doesn't want to see her subordinate falling into despair. Druella needs to come up with a plan as soon as possible to get Elt back to her hands to relieve the Dark Hero. After a moment of silence, there was no answer and Wilmarina kept doing her business as usual to sort out some papers.
Druella took one curious step forward to see if she was okay. "... Wilmarina?"
"... What...?" Wilmarina finally answered, but her tone was blunt and then became serious. "... can't you see I'm busy here?"
"I-... um. I came to visit you to see if you're alright..." Druella said, pitying the succubus in front of her until Wilmarina turns her gaze to the Lilim. In a single glance, cold air chilled the temperature room to zero, which made the Fourth Borne take a step back with slight fear, witnessing Wilmarina's deadly glare aiming towards the Lilim as if she was ready to kill anyone. "Wilmarina?... can you calm down for a moment? I wanted to speak-"
"Calm down...? Why should I?" Wilmarina responded in a bitter tone and stood up from her chair. Her gaze steeled as Druella swore she can predict the Hero's next move, which the dark hero could lash out her weapon at any moment. "... I want my husband back as soon as possible, and I will never let him grow old and die without me."
"Dear, we have time for that. But please, think wisely before you can bring Elt back!" Druella reasoned as she stood her stand. But Wilmarina's frosty glare remained. "You need to come up with an effective plan first! Just think about your Knights, Wilmarina. Do you think that throwing away their lives can achieve your happiness? What would become of them and their families?"
"... What about them?" The Lilim then widened her eyes at the Hero's indifferent response. Her words were as sharp as knives and her voice was shaking. "After witnessing the fates of my fellow subordinates... deaths after their deaths..."
"... Wilmarina... You need to relax first and consider another option-"
"AND WHAT!? WHAT OTHER OPTIONS!? DID THEY ACHIEVE OUR GOAL!? DID IT BRING OUR HAPPINESS!?" Druella stepped back in shock from her sudden outrage. Wilmarina clenched her fists. "DID YOU NOT FORGET ABOUT THEIR DEATHS AT THE FALLEN TOWER AND ANOR LONDO!?"
Druella stood still in silence while outside of the room. The hero's sudden cry of her outrage causes attractions of many Succubus Knights and Monster Girls to witness the scene of an enraged hero. Others cower by the sheer aura of her anger and wrath emitting from her room.
"... Wilmarina, I-" Druella tried to speak up but the dark hero interrupted.
"AND THEY CAN'T COME BACK! NONE OF THEM!" Wilmarina shrieked out as her legs were shaken and her lungs desperately needed air until she dropped her knees to the ground. Staring down with misery and tears. "T-They can't... come... b-back...!"
The Lilim was speechless and watched the Dark Hero mourn while breaking into a sobbing cry. "Please... leave me alone... I just want to be alone..."
Druella wanted to comfort the Succubus from her despair. Yet sensing Wilmarina's aura didn't want to seek her comfort. None of it is willing to accept the monster's warm embrace. Wilmarina wanted to be alone to gain comfort, only her alone. The Lilim felt pity and carefully placed a pack of chocolate pralines on the floor and trudged back to the entrance.
"... I'm sorry for bothering you..." Druella sighed while looking down in sympathy and closing the door.
Wilmarina cried as she laid down on the floor, her hands covering her mouth from letting out a muffling, agonizing scream. That's not until her eyes gazed up to see a Titanite Shared lying on the floor, the same material which she picked it up days ago from that forsaken Dungeon City. She moved her hand and held the shard, gripping it until her gaze furrowed itself into hatred.
"One day... one day I will kill you all..." Wilmarina seethed with a hiss. "Ash... Sasha... your days are numbered!"
After meeting with Wilmarina, a distraught Druella walked through the hallways, heading for the exit along with the dark knights. The Lilim didn't want to let Wilmarina live in pain and her only option is to bring back her husband and possibly eliminate Ash Cyrus. But the Silver-Blue Knight had proven himself as a dangerous adversary that not even the Gods nor Fate will shackle him as is his destiny was only written at the moment he acts and no further future predictions.
"I need to seek for that knight..." Then Druella muttered while making a wry smile out of spite. "All we can do is to sneak in and find out his weaknesses."
Once the Lilim left the headquarters of the Dark Ice Flower, Eristia had witnessed the scene. Her eyes remained dull and then turned her attention to the entrance of Wilmarina's quarters. From there, she felt the pain of her rival... the loss of her husband. The Lord Governor of Salvarision has spiralled herself down the same path as she did after what happened to Yuriy.
It's been a month since Yuriy's death, and her heart remains in pain when someone mentioned his name. If she had not been so overconfident in her own new powers as a monster to face Ash Cyrus, then things will be different. She could've listened to her husband after that last night she had with him prior to their mission to face the Knight of Lady Fullmoon.
"... Yuriy..." Eristia looked down with tears while clenching her praying hands to where her heart lies. "... This is all my fault that it happened to you..."
She, too, like her rival, shared the same sentiment to be with their beloved ones and never separate themselves again. That was their wish until the day reality and disillusionment came to destroy their desires for love.
"I... I will support the cause of Lord Noscrim to take our vengeance... no matter the cost."
...
Town of Gerth.
...
"That is disappointing."
Ash crossed his arms, watching the duel reaching its climax between the two fighters. But the display of swordsmanship he saw was embarrassing. The two fighters were the armoured knights of the Order and they merely bashed their own blades instead of using their heads to swing their crossguards and go out for the openings. He let out a deep sigh until the two fighters in the arena were knocked out cold, drawing the match.
The spectators laughed and jeered at their fighting performance until two squires brought the unconscious knights away.
"That was... unusual." Sasha tried to hold off her laughter. "Even so, it was entertaining!"
"I... can't say about the previous fights we've witnessed." Ash rolled his eyes around. "I guess this competition allows amateur fighters to enter without instructions and evaluation."
"Psst! The next fighter is going to be announced!" Sasha hushed in excitement. "Now let's hear it!"
'... Why is she excited?' The Ashen One raised his brow in confusion.
In the arena, the announcer made a small cough until calling out for the next round. "The next fighter... is Ash Cyrus, a knight from a faraway land of Astora!"
Ash froze upon hearing his name and he spun around to Sasha. The former priestess let out a nervous smile.
"... You didn't..."
"W-Well... I just want to see how your fighting can impress anyone..." Sasha giggled while pressing her fingers together. "I-I just signed you in just for entertainment... ehehehe~!"
The Ashen One couldn't help but let out a deep sigh as his palm had struck against his forehead. But hey, at least the competition will be meeting its quick end while the rest of the fighters are composed of amateurs, right? On the other side of the spectators' area, Lucerna was enjoying the show while munching her popcorn until her demonic sister, Lucrezia, widened her eyes in disbelief when the announcer loudly declared the name of the next fighter was none other than Ash Cyrus.
"Huh... didn't expect him to join the competition," Lucrezia said with concern.
"Hehe~! I bet it will be over while there are amateurs still around." Lucerna said with a mischievous smug while turning to her brother. "What do you think, Adelmar?"
"Hmm..." Adelmar narrowed his eyes until he spots one particular individual among the crowd of spectators. "That guy... isn't he...!"
"And the second fighter... a man who hailed from the Far East, the islands of Zipangu!" The announcer stated loudly. "... Shin Ishioka of the Blue Mountain Tribe!"
Out from the crowd, a tall individual raised up from his seat and stepped down silently into the arena as the spectators grew silent and in awe of his appearance. For Ash, he did not expect to witness someone wearing armour coming out straight from his world. A familiar set which is only worn by the Easterners.
"Your eyes... I can see it through." Shin spoke calmly. "You are a professional warrior, no?"
"... I have a fair share of experiences." Ash nodded politely in return. "Perhaps this fight of ours might be... interesting."
"That's what I liked to hear!" Shin applauded while clapping his hands before preparing his Uchigatana. "Well then, Ash of Astora. Let me see how you're capable of!"
...
Chapter 45: Ends
AN: Hey everyone, Newtype here. So I finally manage to kickstart Volume 3, but the updates will be slow since Elden Ring got released... and hoo boy, I was playing for a grinding. So, by the way, everyone, see you soon.