Chapter 46: Druella's Plan
The Capital City of Dragonia.
...
"Since thine kind were not crossbreeds from the beginning... but dragons... then how did you take such feminine forms?"
"Well... our ancestors had been large flying beasts where they terrorised humans back then until the Demon Lord changed us," Lyra explained with a cheerful smile. "I'm sure you'd like to live here! You'll meet a variety of dragons and new people!"
"I see. But 'tis feel strange." Priscilla's concern then caught the attention of the wyvern. "Since this is an empire of dragons... I've heard that your culture was centred around love, pleasures and desires. Is it not?"
"Yep! Most of the time and every dragon of dragonia who was born here grew up and learn to love humans~!" Lyra expressed a wry smile while wiggling her tail as if she was daydreaming to capture a man's heart. "Ahn~! I really want to have a man, enrapture his heart and make love~! Since the invasion was over, I bet you can tell us more about you and your encounter with Ornstein!"
"... Does your kind has no sense of dignity and modesty? The demon lord seemed to have changed the usual nature of thine species to fit her views." Priscilla mulled over in question regarding this Demon Lord. "Alas, I shall ask no further to antagonise... and now you asked about my origins?"
"Why yes, of course! I've never seen a mamono like you being so unusual!" Lyra's eye glittered with joy. "I've seen how dragons changed into their true form. But you're bigger than anyone else in their mamono form! Even your friend like Lady Yorshka."
"The history of my kind wasn't grand and known... because of my existence... I was an abomination, seen by the eyes of gods," Priscilla said until Lyra's smile fades downward into shock after hearing that. "It traces back to the Age of Ancients... a time where the formless world was ruled by the Ancient Dragons for aeons and they were different. My mother told me the stories when I was young... a war between the Dragons and the Great Lords broke out. The Lords unleashed the powers of their Great Souls and brought the dragons to near extinction, taking the world for theirs to rule... all but a few who survived. And one of them is my father. Seathe the Scaleless Dragon."
"Your father is a dragon!?" Lyra stuttered out in disbelief. "Th-then your mother must be..."
"A goddess... her name was Velka." Priscilla answered. "She is the deity of sin and justice."
"So... uh... did they meet each other after the war?" Lyra guessed while asking. "Then how do they love each other? Weren't they enemies?"
"More precisely, Seathe sided with Gywn to betray his own kind." The crossbreed answered while the wyvern stood with a pale expression. She didn't expect to hear the possibility of a dragon who could betray his own kind to extinction. At least she heard about her ancestors, which they did betray each other in history, but they did not lead them to their annihilation. "My mother told his reasons because he was born without scales and his kind saw him differently rather than their own. So he sided with the gods and provided them with their weaknesses. One of which is lightning."
"Oh... hold on, what!? The dragons being weak to Lightning!? That sounds boring!" Lyra criticised out loud in incredulity. "At least they should come up with something dangerous!"
"... And yet thine kind feared Lord Ornstein the Dragonslayer."
Lyra fell silent in dismay. Indeed, that point got her. The rumours turned out to be true that Ornstein used lightning against the Red Queen and her Dragonian Knights, thus later on utilising it in their battle against the hollowed dragons. She also heard Alto-Eris was engaged with the son of the Dragonslayer, who inherits the powers of his father.
She knew Alti was one of the strongest knights in the Order due to her being chosen to be trained under her teacher, Death Sentence, and the Black Dragons were the elite among the common ones. When she heard the words how Alto-Eris was defeated by her soon-to-be husband, then he was probably one hell of a fighter.
"... You have a point." Lyra points out in defeat. "But the war that you've stated, which is aeons ago... how old is Ornstein?"
"He could be older than any dragons of this kingdom," Priscilla explained while closing her eyes. "I've also heard of thine kind... thou hast stirred the ire of Lord Ornstein from a recent decade, am I correct?"
Lyra silently nodded, and the Mistress of the Painted World gave out a heavy sigh of pity.
"I see... how unfortunate. Perhaps thine people should seek change." Priscilla said as she gives an advice. "Thine kingdom must maintain the values of modesty and dignity... so thine kind should not stir the ire of the Lords ever again."
"Then the only way to prevent it is to act normal and follow human common sense?" Lyra cocked her brow incredulously. "That sounds dull!"
"It is the way, and that giveth a good impression on foreign Lords," Priscilla spoke softly. "So... shall we teach you to be modest when thou greets a traveller?"
...
The Kingdom of Gaul, Town of Gerth.
...
"Whoa~! They're actually good!"
"Yeah... too damn good."
Adelmar narrowed his brows intensely while watching the match between the Silver-Blue Knight and the Swordsman of the East. Both warriors of two different worlds clashed with their blades like a mad flow of winds. The spectators were awed by their display of swordsmanship and footing while Sasha was watching with starry eyes.
"Go Ash~! You can do it!" She cheered while raising her fists.
At the arena, Ash was keeping back the distance while deflecting the blade on a defensive counter as Shin strikes his blades from all directions. The Astoran knew the easterners have unique swordsman skills of their own which put all the training in their life into the blade. Quick strikes and keen perceptions have always been the traits of these warriors.
"Interesting. You've blocked all my strikes where I can land them." Shin said musingly as he strafes back, distancing himself from the Astoran within a blink of an eye. "Unlike the Knights of the Order, of whom they swing their swords like an Oni. You're as cunning as the men of the Carthus or even the Mirrah..."
Then Shin made a stance that Ash was aware of it. It was a ko-gasumi stance, either it's for offence or for defence and the prediction where Shin can land a hit makes it unpredictable. The knight would not risk it to be caught off-guard and cautiously step forth with a plow guard.
"... You talk much," Ash stated blankly.
"I appreciate your compliment, kind sir." Shin made a cocky smile behind his mask. "I had no challenges in my previous travels. But you may prove to be competent."
Ash cocked his brow in amusement. "Right... now let's end this farce."
The easterner thus bends his knee and dashed forth within a blink. Ash saw a small string of the incoming blade and raised his claymore. The two blades clashed with sparks and Shin spins as his katana swings in an uppercut. Ash made an immediate backward quickstep to avoid his swing until he saw another strike coming overhead.
He raised up his claymore and deflected it, releasing another flash of sparks.
'This guy's fast...' Ash's mind stated while blocking Shin's wild strikes. 'Like he seems to dance... this man doesn't leave a vulnerable opening.'
Then Shin thrusts his sword forth and Ash countered with a deflection with his blade. The Ashen One pushed his crossguard and slid past his opponent's blade, then slammed across the face of the Easterner's mask, which made the Spectators reel back in shock at his unusual technique. Shin stepped back with a dazing look behind his helmet and he did not expect that the knight would pull that up.
'Still, it seems like my half-swording can get through his tricks.'
"Hoo~? How unusual. I did not expect you would pull off the half-swording technique." Shin said while wiping some blood from his lips. Then forming a smile. "Then I would like to use the tricks of my own..."
Once the winds blew the dust, Ash sensed something was coming. Then, in a flash, he saw the swordsman drawing his katana. Ash swung to deflect it, but the blade avoided his claymore and Shin slammed the bottom of his hilt, slamming across his chest with inhuman force, which flings Ash roughly through the ground before rolling back to get on his feet.
The Easterner sprints while Ash readied his sword. Their blades clashed once more and drowsed in a flurry of strikes and sparks, creating some wild whirlwind around the arena which was strewn with an amount of dust. The spectators gawked in awe. Even the Maiden of Lescatie was speechless to witness a clash is even wilder than the previous one minute ago.
"S-S-Such speed and inhuman reactions!" Sasha comments as her jaw slacks down in awe. "Yet why doesn't he consider himself a hero?!"
On the other side of the spectator's seat, Lucrezia and Adelmar felt the pressure of the match as their sweat beads rolled down their faces while Lucena keeps munching on her popcorn, expressing her excitement over the intense duel.
"Haha! This is more entertaining than the previous fights!" Lucena laughed out loud with a grin. "Whoo! Go beat his ass!... Wait, whose ass is going to be beaten?"
...
"Damn... would you look at that," Gerome said in breathtaking awe while Elaine let out a whistle as they watched the match. "They're both actually good."
"Yeah, like our hunch stays corrected." Arcturus nods in return and crossed his arms as he was impressed by the Easterner's expertise in his swordsmanship. "He's in a different league than us... what do you think, Luciana?"
On his left, Luciana was jaw-dropping at the sight of the duel with starry eyes. Drool escaped from her lips and Arcturus cringed in disgust while he slowly lifts her jaw back up. To Luciana's right side, Vermut was watching the fight with a tense look, unsure who she was rooting for.
"Such extraordinary skills like I haven't seen in my entire lifetime...!" Vermut comments. "That guy is no pushover and Ash seems to hold on his own against Shin's assault."
"Do you think we can let Ash join the Holy Order of the Ice Flower?" Luciana chirped in excitement with glee. "Since he's a Hero. I think letting him join us will improve the Ice Flower's image, don't you think?"
"What!? Are you nuts!? I doubt he'll join us and have you forgotten!?" Vermut cried out, outspoken in disbelief. "He's the Knight of Lady Fullmoon, whom he took a vow to protect that naïve traitor priestess of ours!"
Hearing Vermut's point made Luciana face down in shame and embarrassment. "Oh... I forgot about that."
As the Knights observed the duel, Ash swings his claymore as he read where the Uchigatana was striking from until he caught a feint blow. For the second time, Shin strikes Ash against his chest with a pommel strike coming from his eastern sword, knocking the wind out of his lungs as he was being pushed back while his feet skids back by a couple of meters away. The Astoran held his left foot on the ground to hold his footing. Shin then relentlessly lunged in for another assault with an overhead strike, only that leaves the opportunity to strike the opening and he held both of his hands at the Claymore's blade. Then struck the greatsword's pommel into the belly section, sending the wandering easterner to the ground.
The Astoran Knight then counter-attacked as he dashed forth and then brought his greatsword down, but the easterner didn't give up the fight when he quickly rolls back up to his feet and avoided the claymore's blade.
'Heh, I haven't fought this long since I came to this world.' Ash's thoughts spoke in amusement. 'Although, this is just a sparring.'
"It seems our time is almost up," Shin said as he noticed the giant hourglass that was placed on the table near the announcer is nearing its deadline. "Whoever draws the blade fast... wins."
"It doesn't matter who wins this match," Ash spoke as he prepared his greatsword. "Either of us will face defeat or a draw."
"Who knows?" Shin raised his brow, amused. "Even if I get my victory. You will still earn my respect as a warrior."
The two warriors made their last standoff while Sasha felt the pressuring aura coming from the arena. She was worried that her knight would lose the match and the reason she made him join was to show off his skill and his abilities. Little did she know that Ash somewhat met his match, and it was a warrior who came a long way from Zipangu, a member of the Blue Mountain Clan, which is said to be one of the closest allies of the Five Factions.
"Come on Ash! You can do it~!" Sasha then heard a female voice coming from her right. "Show us how you're capable of~!"
'Huh?... Who just-...' When Sasha spun around, she saw an individual who was wearing a cloak with her hood down. The Priestess then felt her skin go pale as soon as she noticed those familiar horns, a pair of reptilian wings and a scaly tail. All of which were coloured red. 'WH-WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE!?'
This individual was none other than Dracolinde herself. A Royal Red Dragon of Dragonia and the younger sister of Queen Deonora.
"Ohh~! This is getting intense~!" Dracolinde jumps in excitement as she brought up her popcorn. "I've never seen such entertaining duels like this and their sword skills truly flow like clear water, unlike warriors we had in Dragonia!"
"Dracolinde!?" The red dragon heard someone calling out for her and then turns around, noticing the priestess gawking at her awkwardly. "Wh-What-How-Huh!? What are you doing here!?"
"Oh hey, Sasha~! It's been a while~!" Dracolinde greeted her with a friendly smile as she waved a hand at her. "I came here to follow you two."
"Follow us?... Wait, are you here for Ash?" Sasha asked warily as she furrowed her brows.
"Hmm~ Nope! Well... alright, you got me there. Teehehee~!" Dracolinde replied sheepishly, while nervously scratching the back of her head. "Eh, yeah... My intention here is I have to follow my heart... yet I feel lonely when you guys left Dragonia."
"Oh boo! You just came here for my knight, aren't you?" Sasha pouts while crossing her arms in a fit of displeasure. "I doubt you'll capture his heart because I'm his most trustworthy acquaintance~!"
"Hmph! We'll see about that, Priestess of the Order." Dracoline grinned devilishly while giving Sasha a challenging look. "Let's see who he'll choose between the two of us!"
"You're on, Red Dragon!"
As the two women locked their eyes against each other as sparks of electricity seek challenge, the spectators grew silent as they noticed the last grain of the hourglass fell and the two warriors gripped their hilts to make their last draw. As the gust of wind sailed past them, Shin made the first draw and flings forth at inhuman speed.
Then Ash moved his blade.
*CLANG~!*
The spectators stood still, as they were in awe for a brief moment. Until, one by one, they clapped before rousing in cheers. The announcer came forth while raising his hand to declare the winner.
"The Winner Is..."
On the field, Shin held his uchigatana above the right shoulder of his opponent. However, Ash held his claymore closer to Shin's neck, which surprised the eastern warrior into disbelief. He calculated the risks, but the odds of winning were low and he must've admitted. The knight was quicker than he realises.
"Ash Cyrus, the Knight of Astora!"
Cheers erupted further until Sasha and Dracolinde broke their gazes away when someone announced the winner. Both the two women expressed their joy at seeing the Silver-Blue Knight, who stood as the victor of the match. Shin calmly retracted his blade and so as Ash, who lowered his claymore.
"You are truly an exceptional warrior, Sir Cyrus," Shin spoke with gratitude while smiling behind his mask. "Quick-witted and cunning. I didn't expect you to pull it off. As this is my defeat, my honour remains unstained."
"Like I've said before... I have my fair shares of experiences," Ash replied while shrugging off his shoulders. "Nevertheless, you held me back and I respect that."
"Likewise..." Shin offered out his hand and Ash accepted with a handshake as a sign of a warrior's respect. "It was indeed a thrilling match."
As they broke off and parted ways from the arena, Ash saw Sasha running up to him and hugging him tightly. The young priestess was happy to see her knight being the victor of the match... that is, not until another person was hugging him from behind. The crew of the companionship at the spectator's seat were shocked to see a familiar royal monster girl once more.
Elaine stood up from her seat with wide eyes. "Wait... isn't that...!"
"N-No way, what is she doing here!?" Arcturus points out his finger toward the red dragon.
"Isn't she the young sister of the red queen?" Luciana gasped out loud. "Did she come all the way here from Dragonia!?"
...
"Ahn~! So you were strong after all~! " Ash heard a familiar voice and spun around, and then he froze. " Hey Ash~! Do you miss me~? "
The knight stood speechless to see the red dragon of dragonia once more as his mind raised a question; what is she doing here in all places? Sasha reeled her head back in much to her rage and a fit of jealousy due to Dracolinde's attempt to seduce Ash.
"H-Hey! Who gives you permission to hug him!?"
"Who says I'm not, tehee~!"
Sasha grits her teeth and growls at the Red Dragon, who strikes a nerve in her. In the midst of their bickering, the Knight had heard enough and pushed the two ladies apart.
"Sasha, that's enough," Ash said and then he glanced over to Dracolinde. "And you... what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in Dragonia to help out your country?"
"The capital is already fully recovered. Then after that, I decide to travel out." Dracolinde said as she fidgets while her cheeks blushed red. "Only to follow my heart's content to whom I desired most..."
Ash raised his question. "... Who?"
"That is... you~! Ash Cyrus~ " Dracolinde leaned forth while seductively pressing her index finger on his chest, which caused Sasha to feel more agitated than ever. "You... your mysterious aura of strength... and your true identity... Ahn~! I was still captivated by it and I couldn't think of any other man but you-"
"My apologies. Unfortunately for you, I reject." Ash replied blatantly while raising his hand. "Also, we shouldn't make a scene here."
"... Eh?"
Dracolinde fell speechless. Did the knight outrightly reject her? It was impossible. She knew there was no way a man should deny the beauty of a monster who was being fancied by a man she likes. The Red Dragon went pale as Ash did casually made a doubting look towards her while Sasha breathed out in relief until she noticed the spectators were jeering at them and praising the Silver-Blue Knight was being lucky for having two women at his side. The Knight wasted no time and pulls out of the arena along with the Priestess and the Red Dragon.
After they vacated the area, the announcer came forth with a medallion in his hand. But the victor of the match was nowhere to be seen.
"Huh... where did he go?"
...
Demon Realm of Lescatie.
...
Druella stared over the entire map of the western continent, and her glare was locked directly at the small town of Gerth in the midst of the rural region of Southern Gaul. The place where the 2nd Borne Lilim and her army fought Artos and his allies during the failed invasion of Gaul. Now the latest news is that a Wight tried to capture the settlement, but failed regardless.
As it turns out what went wrong, was a lilim who was involved to protect that settlement. The place where it stained the glory of the Demon Lord for decades.
"I heard he was still there, including Sasha." Druella frowned and then glanced back to the captains of the Radical Faction, most of which are mostly demons and some were former heroes of Lescatie. "Wilmarina's mental state is not recovering well... and she's in desperate need to recover her husband."
"But why don't we roll in and teach them a lesson?" One devil spoke up, and Druella raised her hand. "I'm sure the plan will work, right?"
"No, that's a bad idea. You know what happened to our heroes at the Fallen Tower." Druella recalled as she bit her lips. "We need to come up with something that we shed no blood and to avoid the Silver-Blue Knight."
Then a demon spoke up while raising her hand. "Then why don't we ask the gods at our side-"
"That's also not going to work. There is something that will hinder us and look... the Fallen God is dead and her Pandemonium is in ruins." Druella interrupted while letting out a deep sigh. "We need to think outside of the box. Since the temptations of monsters will not work on him... then maybe we should sneak in and abduct Wilmarina's husband back in our hands!"
"Then why don't we monsterize the entire settlement?" One succubus raised her hand. "I'm sure that will distract them!"
"Tilly, are you out of your mind!?" Druella furrowed her brows in disbelief. "The Silver-Blue Knight won't give a damn and we'll be held responsible for their deaths!"
"So then... we'll go with your plan?" Tilly raised her brow, and the Lilim stood silent. "Perhaps we could hire some Hero Hunters for assistance. I mean, they're professionals at sneaking behind enemy lines."
"Hmm... not quite a bad plan. The plan, however, is its intention that we should not draw our blades." Druella declared the plan. "The goal is to sneak in and get Elt from that place as soon as possible and remonsterize him back to an incubus. You got that?"
"Yes, ma'am!" The monster girls saluted as their meeting was dismissed.
As Druella was about to leave the meeting chamber, she noticed a werecat who was guarding the meeting chamber is standing upright diligently. She raised her brow in question to see how serious she looks, unlike other werecats on duty who looked bored and sought something playful if guard duty didn't provide entertainment.
Then one intriguing thing which may have struck her suspicions is the lack of her essence.
'Is this werecat covering her scent?' Druella thought as she walked past the werecat. Once she looks into the guard's eyes, she saw the steel within Monster Girl remained stoic and relaxed. 'She must be... one hell of a serious guard on duty. Covering her own scent will make her get a husband that easily.'
While Druella left the hallways, the werecat guard watched cautiously as the lilim was out of sight and she have something hiding under her sleeves. Behind her back, her paws held a communication device that may have recorded the lilim's entire plan and quietly turns off with a single click.
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Green Demon Realm of Arum Sedis.
...
'Hmm... not quite a bad plan. The plan, however, is its intention that we should not draw our blades.'
...
'Perhaps we could hire some Hero Hunters for assistance. I mean, they're professionals at sneaking behind enemy lines.'
...
In the underground secret headquarters, which is located underneath the Palace of Arum Sedis. Ilassa couldn't help but slap her own forehead after hearing the plan made of sheer incredulity coming from the Leader of the Radical Faction through the recording of a magic mirror. It was a pity for Druella to get that far and try to infiltrate into one of the Federation's territories and that is the Kingdom of Gaul.
Their intention is to recover the "husband" of Dark Hero Wilmarina from the Silver-Blue Knight and his fellowship. The thirteenth-born daughter of the Demon Lord sees this as nothing but re-imprisoning someone who just got liberated from a deep dream that is a prison in nature.
"They're also sending in the Hero Hunters, huh..."
A Hero Hunter is a title given by profession to the most competent monsters who hunt down dangerous heroes of the Order and turn them into one of their own. The majority of those who earn such titles were the Arch Succubus, monster girls who have more magical strength than an ordinary succubus, and their power scale was akin to a Dark Hero of Lescatie. Heroes within the Order states feared the Hero Hunters... but within the Federation...
"My sister and her poor sods don't know who're they dealing with..." Ilassa tilts her head sideways in discontent. "What she is planning for is beyond silliness... especially when the wolf who donned his Silver-Blue Armor can outright smell you."
Ilassa remembers that the person she had met over a week ago, Ash Cyrus, was a mysterious individual. His existence was akin to those of the blank humans and mamono, but her hunch tells otherwise is that he was something else. He and his maiden escaped after the invasion of Lescatie and overcame impossible odds, including killing the Fallen God. His actions will no doubt change another course of history. Just like how Artos achieved the impossibility that broke the Succubus Terror of Pleasures after nearly a millennium since the ascension of her mother.
Then the lilim had one question running within her head.
'Ash Cyrus, since you're a stranger within these lands... then what is your role within our world...?'
She keeps thinking in thoughts before she shakes it off. Ilassa has another task to deal with before her sister will cause unintentional bloodshed due to her sheer radical stupidity. She might hate her mother and her family, who did not heed her truth. But deep within her heart, she cared for them and cared for her sisters' well-being, ensuring to keep them out of harm.
The reason she joined Artos and the people who shared the bloodlines of outsiders is not that they can change history and end the expansion of monsters, but it will lead to unjustified and indiscriminate killings from mere misunderstandings. That is why she wanted to prevent that and with a stroke of luck, she did reach her goal and the Monster Girl Encyclopedia became widespread across the Federation to make humans understand the monsters even more.
It was, however, not without warnings that were added to the books and the Secret Agencies of the Five Factions will ensure that monsterization shall not occur for the sake of the people's lives.
"Aedra, I'm leaving for Gaul," Ilassa spoke while donning her cloak. "I have a business to deal with some very, unusual guests."
"Oh, alright. Then take care~!" Aedra waved a farewell until the lilim left the palace using a portal. "Jeez, what's going up there in the north?"
...
Kingdom of Gaul, Viola Region, Gerth.
...
"Oh~? So you're a Royal Dragon from Dragonia on her travels, hm?" Siegward mused while polishing his trusty Zweihander. "And the reason why you came here all the way to seek your desires... which is my ol' friend here?"
"Precisely~! Ash is the man who caught my heart! So just came to follow my heart's content~! " Dracolinde replied with a heartfelt tone. "Ever since I laid my eyes on him, he radiates the power of a warrior. Such power can attract even the strongest dragons throughout Dragonia~! "
"Oho! I see, then I must admit..." Then Siegward laid his Zweihander on top of the table and grabbed his wooden mug of Siegbrau. "My ol' friend... must've been very lucky than I imagined! Two maidens in one go! What luck does a knight such as he would have?"
"Perhaps it was fate is making fun of this poor young lad." Jennifer sighed in pity while polishing the wooden mug. "Imagine, marrying two women might have been very raunchy~! Hahaha~!"
As Jennifer, Siegward and their draconic guest shared their laughs. Ash placed his palm over his forehead while leaving out a heavy sigh that a dragon has some petty reasons to follow him, just for being love-sick while Sasha still has an irritated look on her face and then morphs into a glare at the Red Dragon once she caught Dracolinde's mischievous smile.
Then, she let out a whisper which only the priestess can hear it. "After all... Ash Cyrus... is fated to be with me~ "
'That woman has the nerve...!' Sasha growled, feeling a tick on her head as she shakes while balling her fists. 'I won't lose Ash to her!'
"Ah yes. Right, my "love rival" seems to be... agitated when I greet them." Dracolinde spoke haughtily. "But to leave that aside. My true purpose here is to join Ash and his amazing fellowship~!"
At this moment, Ash perked up in shock from his stupor as Sasha dropped her jaw in disbelief.
"... What!?"
Luciana, Olivier and Vermut, who sat at the bar, have also heard the conversation.
"Huh!?"
Meanwhile, Elen almost choked on something while drinking some apple juice then Reginald and Arcturus spat out their drinks when they heard Dracolinde's declaration of joining their team.
"*Cough!* *Cough!* W-wait, did I hear that right!?"
"She wants to join us?"
"But... what's her reason for it?" Arcturus asked.
"Good question. Why do I come here? It'll be obvious." Dracolinde then closed her eyes as she crossed her arms and explained her reason. "It's not just I came for Ash... I came to join the fellowship as you guys went on some adventure that made me very curious. So hear me out, will you?"
Everyone fell silent and opted to hear her explanation. "Mysterious entities, monsters and something else that went beyond our expectations. We weren't ready about anything that has come to us..."
"Then... well... most of you guys were there and knew what happened to Dragonia from a week ago." Everyone nods at that point. The invasion of the Hollowed Dragons was an example of the near obliteration of a Demon Realm. "My purpose is to study them and learn something different that will benefit my homeland."
"Um... I'm not sure we'll trust you on that one, miss." Reginald points out. "How are you sure that you're not tricking us?"
"I came here on my accord," Dracolinde responds while picking up her small cup of tea. "Besides, you've gained our trust... despite I knew that man is the Silver-Blue Knight himself."
Ash then frowned in concern from the mention of his title. Then Dracolinde continued on. "However, he doesn't seem like a bad person unlike anyone in the demon realm has ever spoken of."
"Well, as far as you know, young lady. My ol' friend here can get cold if ye' get on his bad side." Siegward said musingly, leaving a chuckle. "The young lad will kill no one unless he has reasons for it. A knight such as him still has the sense of duty and justice, even beyond death."
'Come on, Siegward. We are hollows no longer.' Ash rolled his eyes until he noticed someone entered the tavern and turns his glance around. 'Speaking of which...'
"Heya everyone~!" Everyone jolts up in surprise and turned their attention toward a Lilim, who brought down her hood. "It's been a while~!"
"Oh, hey! It's Aunt Ilassa!" Arcturus smiled as he waved his hand over to the lilim. "Hi, granny~!"
Thus, within an instant, Ilassa teleported behind Arcturus and start rubbing her fists, ruthlessly against his temples, as the young knight of the Sunlight screamed out in utter, comical, pain.
"Now my favourite nephew is starting to call me a granny, huh!? Then how did you become a little runt, eh!?"
"S-Sorry! I won't call you a granny any more!"
Reginald and Elen chuckled nervously as sweat rolled down their faces while Luciana and Vermut reeled back in shock to see a lilim who just came inside the tavern... and everyone casually greeted her in a friendly manner.
As for Dracolinde, she was speechless to see the most infamous Demon Lord's Daughter who had just come out of nowhere.
"H-Hold on! I-Isn't she a Lilim!?" Luciana pointed out while trembling in fear. "W-what is she doing here in all places!?"
"Even worse, she's a daughter of a Demon Lord!" Vermut warned everyone while reaching for her weapon. "Everyone! Can't you see that she's our enemy!?"
"Vermut, Luciana. Calm down." Vermut and Luciana turned around to Olivier and both of them were surprised at how calm she was. "Ilassa is our friend here, and she's not our enemy."
"O-Olivier!?" Vermut widened her eyes. "What do you mean a friend!? Don't you see that monster is directly related to the Demon Lord!? There's no doubt she'll deceive us!"
"If I work directly for the Demon Lord, then I would've turned the Federation into a Demon Realm years ago." Vermut and Luciana froze once Ilassa stepped in to intercept their bickering. Then she flashed a mischievous smile. "I'd say you two have gone down deep into the rabbit hole, huh..."
"Just don't worry about Aunt Ilassa! She's no longer affiliated with the Demon Lord!" Arcturus explained while calming down the two knights of the Ice Flower. "Also, my aunt here was one of the founders of the Federation... Just a slight note."
"You didn't have to say that out loud, don't you?" Ilassa gave Arcturus a wry, nervous smile. "Now you're dragging them down further."
"Ehehe~! Sorry, auntie." Arcturus apologised while scratching the back of his head.
While hearing more about her background, the women of the Order dropped their jaws from her revelation. Ilassa sighed until she noticed a red dragon from around the corner, while Dracolinde kept her mouth shut.
"Huh... what do we have here? A Red Dragon, eh?" Ilassa said, amusingly with a smile. "Now what is a royalty such as you mingling around this place?"
"I-... Uhh... Uhm..."
Dracolinde tries to speak up as sweat rolls down her face. She knew that one infamous lilim who turn her backs on the Demon Lord and there was a rumour that Ilassa has no qualms about interfering when someone kills a mamono. Now, as the Royal Red Dragon comes to face a lilim, she knew her own power could be outmatched by her pure power alone because the Lilim's extraordinary magic was linked to the Demon Lord. And that would mean trouble if she gets Ilassa on her bad side.
"She just came here to Gerth to join our jolly fellowship here~!" Siegward answered joyfully while raising his hand. "Our fellow Silver-Blue Knight was lucky to have another maiden coming from the lands of dragons! Haha!"
Under the awkward silence... Ilassa blinked and then stared at the Red Dragon, which Dracolinde was staring down in embarrassment and then look to Siegward, and then to Ash and Sasha, then to Dracolinde again before the Lilim then let out a burst of laughter while slamming her palms on the wooden table.
"Hahahahahahaha~! Seriously!? A Red Dragon stooping low to join a jolly bunch of misfits, huh!? HAHAHAHA! I haven't heard such a silly joke in my entire life!" Ilassa laughed until her lungs couldn't bear the most comical situation she was in. "Haaahh~! This fellowship is the most ambiguous group that I've ever met! First, an outsider, then some members of the Order and now a high-ranking mamono coming from the Demon Realms to join forces? This group is special indeed!... So then, what's your name?"
"D-Dracolinde... I'm the young sister of Queen Deonora." Dracolinde fidgeted nervously while pressing her fingers together. "I-I want to join Ash b-because I want to learn more about our new enemies that had been threatening Dragonia after we found out not even our allies can take them out."
"Hmm... I see, well, you're in luck. I've heard that Dragonia was leaning away from the influence of the Demon Lord. Is that right?" Dracolinde listened to Ilassa's question and slowly nods in response. "So make yourself useful. You'll learn a thing or a two from them... especially..."
Then Ilassa turns towards Ash and Sasha, who sat at the nearby table and then smiles at the couple.
"I bet you'll make great friends with them~! "
Upon hearing that, Ash went speechless while Sasha jerked up, reacting even more agitated than before.
"What!? No way!" The priestess cried out as she protested while crossing her hands and then points her fingers accusingly toward Dracolinde. "That woman is trying to steal his heart!"
Ash cocked his brow incredulously. But he gets her point while being aware of Dracolinde's ambition. '... Is she saying about me?'
"Hm~? Well, that's too bad~!" Ilassa then smiled mischievously as she gives off a wink. Sasha slumped her shoulders in disbelief. "Perhaps you can share your love with her, then why not~?"
"Huh!?... Hmph!" Sasha then looks away with a blush on her cheeks while grunting disapproval. "I-I... won't lose to that woman."
"So aside from the love affairs, what are you here for?" Elen asked while raising her hand. "I bet there's some big event or something?"
"Well, you're not wrong. I'm here with you all with a warning." Ilassa then placed her hands above her hips and exhaled. "It's my older sister from the Radical Faction. She's going to plan an infiltration into Gerth."
At that moment, everyone stiffened when she mentions the Radical Faction's new plan to infiltrate Gerth. Ash then casts a serious look on his face and Dracolinde raised her brow in mild surprise. She must've admitted that his eyes were fiercer when he looks serious than any warriors she had seen from the previous Dragonian Tournament. But that's not all, now there is something that is truly unexpecting is that a Lilim from the Radical Faction is coming over to the Federation under disguise.
"Then when will they strike?" Ash asked.
"About a couple of days, but who knows? It depends since we Lilims possess teleportation magic, and landing on a specific spot isn't easy," Ilassa answered. "However, my sister will be sending in the Hero Hunters before she could roll in."
"Hero Hunters?" Arcturus raised a question in curious. "Who're they?"
"It's a title for the strongest monsters who hunt down the most dangerous Heroes of the Order," Olivier informed the knight of the sunlight with a serious tone. "They're mainly Arch Succubus or other types of monster girls. The Heroes of the Order feared them because of their extraordinary magic powers."
"Hero Hunters, huh... I bet it's one of those usual types of Dark Knights of the Ice Flower." Reginald wondered while crossing his arms. "Yet with extraordinary powers, then they're in the same leagues as Dark Heroes."
"J-just don't underestimate them! They have access to magic which can disable a hero's mana without warning!" Vermut warned the Farron Swordsman. "One stroke of their attacks, then you're out!"
"Ahem... Lady, you don't know how far we've gone through." Elen pats Vermut on her right shoulder while pointing her thumb towards Ash. "If you have a succubus problem, call this guy. He kicked some godly ass that you've never heard in your life."
"But they're heroes! How can you guys be calm with that!?" Luciana cried out, trembling in disbelief. "The Silver-Blue Knight might be a mercenary who knows how to kill a monster girl, but I doubt he can stand up to a hero who might be stronger than Wilmarina!"
"True, Wilmarina is indeed a rookie hero. I doubt he'll stand a chance to go up against other heroes." Vermut agrees while crossing her arms. "So it's better to plan out before we can get rid of the Hero Hunters."
"... These guys that we're gonna meet weren't the first ones whom I met months ago," Ash spoke as he pulls out a black cross with a red-eyed emblem from his pouch. "In my time in Lescatie, I met some nuisance who has the gal to lay a hand on me."
Dracolinde felt the shivers down through her skin when she felt the aura of a deceased Arch Succubus coming from the demonic cross and indeed it belonged to some Hero Hunter. Ilassa whistles and tilted her head sideways for some unfortunate sod who tries to get rid of a Godslayer in disguise.
"Wait, you've met with Hero Hunters before?" Sasha asked while raising her brow.
"... Yes, they, unfortunately, crossed paths with me," Ash answered. "Since my head never had a prize in their bounty, they attempt to monsterize me as a part of their disguise..."
Then Vermut raised her question. "Then how did you escape?"
"Escape? I didn't, instead..." Then Ash laid his back to relax. "As they expected from me, which I won't fight back... I turn them into a lump of meat bags."
Ash's words sent down a chill to the two knights of the Ice Flower that made their skin crawl. His voice wasn't exaggerating as the tone speaks of silence and deadliness. Even Dracolinde was shocked to hear that he brought down even the toughest hero slaying monsters prior to the invasion of Lescatie. Then that means Siegward wasn't joking in his words. The beauty of monsters did not faze him at all and as for making him fall in love with her... she needs to be careful when he gets cold as ice.
'No wonder the Demon Realm of Lescatie feared this guy and earned the reputation of a blood-thirsty murderer...' Dracolinde bit her lips as she looks down. She knew from the rumours that Ash killed a lot of monster girls, but on the other side of the story was another matter. This knight tries to live a life of his own while the monsters kept interfering with him and the others like it was never-ending and kept on fighting. 'It seems I am lucky... turns out this person only trusts those who do not share the same sentiment of the Demon Lord... or the fanaticism of the Order... In fact, he is truly an odd fellow. Fighting for others in need at all costs... maybe... maybe I will earn more of his trust and he'll earn mine as well.'
...
On the rooftops, a lone eastern warrior laid his back while facing the sunlight that hangs above the clear blue skies. While chewing a single straw of hay on his lips, he noticed a shadow blocking the sun. He raised his straw hat and saw a black mist of shadows looming over him until a face of a woman, having black hair with a ponytail, takes appearance, then her lips forms a teasing smile.
"Having a nice nap, Onii-chan?"
"Hina... still having a habit of waking up someone, eh?" Shin smiled as he sat up. "Are you enjoying the festival, too?"
"Oh yes! I do!" The mamono then materialises her entire female body, revealing her armour which matches her brother. "I saw your match against that knight earlier. So how were you beaten?"
"He has a stroke of luck. That person acted at the moment I've made my move." Shin recalled his experience of his duel with the Knight of Astora. "That man is no amateur. In fact, he held back his true strength, which I have felt with my own hands... the moment we clashed our blades."
The Nurarihyon then sat beside Shin while overlooking the settlement as the jolly townsfolk from below were doing their usual activities of having fun, enjoying food and drinks, and even competing themselves during contests. Despite the cheerful atmosphere, her eyes caught a pair of suspicious-looking individuals. One is a man wearing a black uniform, and the other is a succubus who wore some black bikini with demonic crosses, showing who they were affiliated with must be that they belonged to some demon realm.
'Both of them were covered under the illusion of the mist of mana while everyone around them was unaware...' Hina furrowed her eyes suspiciously. 'But what were these folks doing here?'
...
"Aurola... any signs of the Silver-Blue Knight?" An Arch Succubus heard her lover as they scanned around the public plaza that is filled with crowded people. "We're not just here to take him out... right?"
Aurola felt her husband shaking in fear since they knew that the Silver-Blue Knight was around these places. A Hero Hunter such as herself and her husband was only hired as forwards scouts to see the potential powers of their enemy before Lady Druella can roll in. Yet that would be proven to be difficult since the knights they've sent out to get rid of the human knight never came back.
From the previous events that happened before, only Wilmarina survived her encounter with the knight in Dragonia in a stroke of luck, yet she lost her husband. Hearing those rumours made her skin crawl. She didn't want to lose her husband and Aurola was damn sure she needs to avoid Ash Cyrus at all costs before returning home alive.
"Within three days, Druella will send in reinforcements as long as we made progress," Aurola said confidently. "So that we can go home, trust me, Markus~!"
Her husband, now named Markus, nods as fear within him has culled down. Calming himself that they will return home one day. As the couple walked past a few groups of people, little did they know that a certain blonde-haired Mirrah Knight, who leans at the corner of an alleyway, was staring at them. Lucena knew infiltrators from the demon realms were covered in black mists to deceive people with their illusions before disappearing under the shadows to warn Ash and the fellowship.
...
Meanwhile, Demon Realm of Lescatie.
...
"Lord Governor..."
While Wilmarina was busy filling up the papers, her left ear jerked up once she heard a Dark Knight enter her chamber and the succubus then bowed before the Hero Succubus.
"Our knights discovered an extraordinary area in the midst of Lescatie forest..." The Dark Knight explained. "An underground civilization that is filled with filth and monstrous inhabitants, unlike any kind they've seen before."
The Dark Hero stopped moving her pen as she slowly turns around. The Dark Knight gulps to see the eyes of the Hero, who had been restless for the past few days. Wilmarina stared down at the knight with a dark look and her eyes shows no emotion, only what she had felt was the coldness coming out from her.
"Is it... distorted?"
"From all accounts, our knights confirmed several anomalies coming out of nowhere." The Dark Knight replied. "Worse of all, the inhabitants are said to be hideous and dangerous. They requested to set up a quarantine over the entire area and-"
"No... and don't even try to monsterize the entire area. It will not work." Wilmarina interrupts. "Secure the area and... did they find anything from the underground?"
"Well... not much, most of which are rubbish and a bunch of stones." The Succubus then produced a bag filled with Titanite shards. "This is all we've collected and there's not much worth with these stones."
For the Dark Knight, the stones that were collected from the distorted dungeon weren't worth a single penny. But for Wilmarina Noscrim, she knew what these stones were. The Dark Hero immediately swats the bags away and kept them to herself, catching the surprise of the dark knight. The Lord Governor knew Titanite was more valuable than anyone else in this demon realm has ever imagined.
She went through hell that is called Anor Londo. Wilmarina understood a small lesson from Havel about how valuable these stones can be, not just used as a value, but to enhance the weapons beyond the limits and she knew the potential.
"I see... then what is the name of that dungeon?"
"Our knights called it... Blighttown. O' Lord Governor."
"Huh, interesting... then gather all knights of Dark Ice Flower and arm them with steel weapons," Wilmarina spoke coldly as she ordered. "Kill the inhabitants on sight, from whatever you can find within that forsaken dungeon, and collect these stones of every quality and quantity. These... can benefit us all... and I don't care if anyone dies, do it for the sake of Lescatie!"
"Y-Yes m-ma'am!" The dark knight trembles with a salute and hastily exited her chambers.
As soon as the poor succubus left, Wilmarina stood while holding a large Titanite shard until her lips formed a malicious smile.
"Hehehe~! Soon, I will have my revenge... Ash Cyrus... Sasha Fullmoon." Wilmarina cackled madly. "While Druella is taking so long with her plan... then I will take any matters on my hands and to ensure none should stop us... so by the way... how is Eristia doing with the recruitment of our new cannon fodder battalion?"
...
At the Lescatian recruitment centre, Eristia was filling up the papers and documents while the succubus and some beastly monster girls stood waiting in line in front of the recruitment booth.
"Next!"
Eristia called out for the next appliance, a succubus came next in line before the dark hero questioned her reason to join.
"What's your reason to sign up?"
"I came to join the fight for Lady Noscrim, and to bring forth justice!" The applicant speaks out with sympathy. "I heard she was hurt and we'll make sure that the Silver-Blue Knight shall pay for his crimes!"
"Huh, nice motivation you got there. Then here, sign this." Eristia gave out a sheet of paper before the applicant fills-in. "Make sure your life shouldn't go to waste..."
'So this is her secret plan that Druella doesn't know about... it is to secure our victory for the demon lord against Ash Cyrus...' Eristia narrowed her eyes as her thoughts speaks. 'Although, this may take to the extreme... but we have no choice. We are racing against time before something else would happen to us.'
"Here you go~!"
The applicant finished filling in the paper and Eristia took it in with a stamp before the next in line would step into the booth.
'Yet I'm starting to ask myself... why are we doing this...? Are we truly fighting for the sake of love... or just an act of all-out revenge?' Eristia clenched her fists as she grabbed her stamp print and then pounded it against the application sheet. 'We truly have no choice... and this is our only shot that we can win... I wish Yuriy is still with me and none of this shall happen between me and Wilmarina... this plan...'
Once the last stamp was imprinted on the application form and the last recruit left the recruitment booth, Eristia was left alone at the booth as silence reigned in the empty room. Then tears flowed down her cheeks. She wipes them off until she slammed her fist on the table in frustration.
'No... Why...? Why am I being miserable?... There's no going back...and I'm damn sure we're having blood in our hands!'
Eristia couldn't handle the emotions swirling within her that no monster should ever feel, and that is guilt and regret. Both of which are only applied to humans only. However, as a monster, she thought she was making a good thing by corrupting humans for their cause but deceiving many of her kin to die for the sake of Wilmarina's plan to decimate the one who tore apart her love was another story.
'We are held responsible for this plan to work... but I ask myself of my own... Am I truly liberated from the horrible reality from which I have suffered?'
...
Chapter 46: Ends
...
AN: Finally, finished this chapter and the good news is... I finished playing Elden Ring so I can concentrate on my writing after a long hiatus.