A/N: The new Fan Illustration can be seen in Questionable Questing and AO3.
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Chapter 57: Tears of Despair and Love.
Asuramis Seas.
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"Hey! Captain! Look!"
"What is it?"
"Th-There's a massive ship over the horizon!... It's as big as an island!"
In the midst of the open waters, the sailors of an Order Galleon were awestruck by the sight of a colossal ship cruising over the waters with its sheer size. The captain was in shock and his jaws almost fell.
"What in the world...?" The captain rubs his eyes and looks up again. "It's colossal! Who would've thought that we'll witness a ship this massive?"
Little did the crew know. As they were distracted by the sight of Queen Diana, several black tentacles slithered their way up to the handling rails while the creatures of the abyss climbed up the wooden hull without making a single noise.
"I heard in the legends there used to be a colossal ship that reigns this region." One sailor spoke up with breathtaking awe. "Locals spoke that the ship had been sunk long ago by a powerful Kraken."
"No way... could that be?" His crew mate then looks back up to Queen Diana in shock. "Then how the hell did that ship come back to the surface?"
"ENEMY ATTACK!"
The crew and the captain then spun around as they heard their helmsman cry out a warning. But it was too late. The monstrosities of the abyss jumped into the deck with their bone spears and swords. Now had drawn the first blood against a hapless sailor.
The ship fell into disarray and the captain upholstered his pistol and drew his sabre to face the abyssal creatures, which he had never seen the monstrosities in his entire life.
"To battle men!"
The captain cried out while shooting the creature of the abyss from the railings, falling back into the waters. The sailors were desperately in need of any weapons they could find in the midst of chaos, while many more were killed left and right.
"By the Chief God! We're being overwhelmed!" His men cried out in vain. "It's an ambush-AARGH!"
The poor sailor didn't finish his words once the abyssal monstrosity jabbed a bone spear through his back. The captain grits his teeth and charges into the fray along with his men.
...
Abyssal Ship Queen Diana.
...
"How unfortunate... it could've been amusing if they lasted longer~!"
Maura groaned in dissatisfaction while sitting near the throne of the Abyssal Prince. Ja-Yearl closed his eyes and huffed, dismissing the vision which portrayed his minions cheering and dancing in celebration while holding up the head of a dead Order Captain.
"Worry not, Maura. There is still more to come..." Ja-Yearl smirked with a chuckle. "Despite our only goal is to kill that Dark Lord, there are more that will come into our fray."
"... Who? The new pawns hailing from Lescatie?" The Mindflayer asked curiously.
"Indeed. Once we claim victory, perhaps you can torment them to entertain thee." Ja-Yearl answered as he laid his cheek rested upon his fist. "Subjecting this world to the Abyss is easy when I claim the title of a new Lord."
"The Gods of Chaos were expecting thee to be our Lord." Maura spoke sincerely until a slight blush appeared on her cheeks. "While your scent is awfully human... and you're a man. I find it amusing that you and your kind were a different race."
"... We "humans" are born from the Dark. Such is our nature that we cannot deny." Ja-Yearl explained with a grunt. "We were made as the successor of the Furtive Pygmy, our creator, and inherit the Dark Soul to subject the world into darkness once the flame subsides."
"I find it strange... unlike the humans we knew for countless millennia." Maura hummed in amusement. We knew their origins made by the original Chief God... but your kind truly piqued us, the Abyssal Chaos."
"Unfortunately, that human refuses to rule this world with the power he has... a power to subject the gods." The Prince of Darkness continues with spite in his eyes. "Maura... the reason why your gods chose me is they want to end the reign of Lilith and to expand the darkness. Because they knew the era is ending as our world has stepped foot."
"I see... they wanted a world of insanity and malice... I would like to see this forward." Maura clarified with a smirk before looking down in shyness. "Ja-Yearl... I-... I would like to beg for your request."
"... Hmm? What is it?"
The Mindflayer then stood up from her seat and leaned over to the prince of the Abyss with a smile.
"For the coming of the future ruler of Darkness... would it be nice if we can create an heir to the throne of Abyss?"
"... Pardon?"
At that moment, the Prince of Darkness fell silent, and Maura let out a playful chuckle with a slight blush on her cheeks.
...
Above the Sea of Asuramis.
...
"So where are we heading for, captain?" Ornstein asked the captain.
"To the island of Mira, Lord Ornstein." The incubus captain of the ship replied with a salute. "Songstress Arial requested we shall go there and meet up with Asura Mythra and Admiral Eizen."
"Do we not tell the nearby islands?" The Golden Dragonslayer raised his brows. "I assure you they requested help from the incoming invaders."
"I can see your point, but Asura Mythra and the Admiral of Queen Diana are of utmost importance." The captain replied sincerely. "They are the strength and the brains to muster up an army. Without them, more lives will be lost if you fight them head-on first."
"Hmm... fair." Ornstein nods and spun around to see people conversing with each other. "I heard Arial needed them. Not just only them, but their heroes who saved the city."
...
"Eh? You knew Ash?" Artor spoke up with a smile. "It's been a month since I met that guy! So how's he doing these days?"
"We don't know. The last time we heard about him is that he and his companions came here to deal with otherworldly forces." Francesca replied with a nervous tone. "It was a surprise there was someone else who knew the Silver-Blue Knight!"
"Huh?! You mean he's the rumoured Silver-Blue Knight who ruthlessly kills mamono that everyone is talking about!?" One of the Dragon Knights spoke up in shock and confusion. "That's strange. After he helped our kingdom after fending off the hollows and the otherworldly dragons. I'm pretty sure Queen Deonora already knew who he was..."
"Really? That's even stranger! We knew nothing else for what he did!" Primera spoke up, agitated. "While our dear "friend" who lost her husband and wants to claim him back. We never knew he was helping mamono as well!? How can he be that complicated!?"
"Yeah, that was completely strange coming from that guy," Mimil spoke in concern. "Other than the fearful rumours."
"Well, Ash is human... thou shall know humans more." Mimil, Francesca and Primera stopped and spun around to the giant, who was busy carving wood. "Humans are more complicated rather than simple-minded creatures. They do not abide by what is right or wrong. Only they did abide by their senses of reason."
"Uh... sorry for interrupting, but... what's your name?" Mimil asked curiously while raising up her hand. "Also, how can a giant like you still exist?"
"Hm, it takes a while coming from you for questioning my existence... My name is Gough, a pleasure to meet thee." Gough introduced himself politely. "I belonged to a race of giants. I am a loyal friend to Sir Ornstein and to his son and his son's wife, Sir Artor and Lady Alto-Eris."
"Ah~! Jeez! Every time when anyone calls me your Lady, it makes me go crazy~!" Alto-Eris blushed madly, embarrassed as she hugged Artor's left arm. "I just want to go home and snuggle with my eggs containing our unborn kids!"
"Hahaha! Oh, come on Alti, being called a lady isn't that bad!" Artor chuckled mischievously. "Besides, it's more formal than anyone calling you a wife. Because as your beloved lord, I treat you like a lady and a knight, respectively."
Alto-Eris' face became redder as she slammed her paws onto his arm, pitifully, out of embarrassment, while the other Dragon Knights chuckled at their comedic moment.
"But wait a minute... since you're the Queen of Lescatie, then what are you doing here?" Iria asked in curiosity. "You shouldn't be here without a reason."
"Yeah, that's what I was wondering about." Della joined in as well with questions in mind. Her eyes glared at the three with caution. "Mind telling us what were you doing out here in Court Alf and why is Lescatie attacking us?"
"We came here just to warn the Silver-Blue Knight and his allies," Primera explained and let out an exhausted sigh. "A lot of bad stuff happened in the Demon Realm Nation of Lescatie because of the bloody coup that Wilmarina brought up and overthrew the Radical Faction."
"A-A bloody coup!? In a Demon Realm!?" As soon as Della spoke up in agitation, the news reached their ears as everyone joined in to hear the conversation. "How did she do that!? Monsters are incapable of doing such a thing!... Well, you know! Killing against their own monster kind!"
"Indeed, hearing about such events troubled me," Jenna said in concern and then turns to Francesca. "So what happened next? Is everyone alright back home?"
"No... It's no longer safe... Those who never abide with Wilmarina will face consequences..." Francesca breathed out while closing her eyes in sorrow and grief. The Ogre Captain and the Centaur Knight reeled back in shock. "Either will it be execution or, in a streak of luck, a lifelong sentence in prison."
"So what made her do all of this?!" Jenna then spoke in a hissy-fit manner while crossing her arms. "What does she want from attacking Al-Mar!?"
"... For her revenge," Francesca answered, thus the centaur and the ogre captain grew silent. "Her husband has been stolen away from her and they turned him back to human. From that result, the bindings of our love were severed and we do not know why she instigated the coup while he was still alive."
"It's probably the Order of the Dark Ice Flower that is suffering from their previous losses and Wilmarina still hasn't got over that," Mimil spoke up while waving her index finger. "Ash Cyrus, the Silver-Blue Knight, had done the impossible that his actions never come up to our expectations... eliminating the Fallen God."
To this moment, Jenna, Della and other refugees from Al-Mar, including Difina, felt their jaws fall from Mimil's explanation. As for Dragon Knights was less dramatic, they feel calm. Yet somewhat uncomfortable. Nevertheless, they had been already bathed under the blood and fire from the previous invasion of the Hollowed Dragons and witnessing the deaths of their fellow sisters-in-arms have already moulded their mindsets that dying will be inevitable.
"No wonder... why I felt the strange aura of death weaving across the world," Difina speaks up in worry. "From what I heard, the Order of the Fallen God is in shambles and their followers in De Ryua were uneasy in their businesses, closing themselves from their customers."
"Wait... so how did the Fallen God die!?" Iria then spoke up with a question. "Is there a reason for the Silver-Blue Knight to kill off the God, who has been spreading love to humanity and monsters!?"
"The truth is... there was a reason he did so." Francesca breathed in and out to speak the truth she had witnessed so far. "She ordered her adherents to kidnap the former Order Priestess, Sasha Fullmoon, and turned her into a monster so that they can lure him to the side of monsters... it didn't bode well."
"We've witnessed that guy has the mysterious power to turn her back to human with a kiss!" Mimil added, causing the monsters to stagger back in confusion. "We aren't sure how the Fallen God died, but I'm sure she was killed because of that after we saw a flash!"
"A kiss that defeated the Fallen God!? Is that possible?" Difina cupped her in deep concern. "But how...? No human can do that throughout the recorded history of the current Demon Lord."
"Perhaps it was his sheer willpower? No, humans couldn't overcome the charms of monsters unless that is something." Mimil said with a tired expression. "I guess from now on, we never know how that even worked."
"Huh, then that's a mystery that will never be solved," Della said while scratching the back of her head and giving out a chuckle. "The followers of the Fallen Order kept spouting words about that man killed the Fallen God. As it turns out, a kiss de-monsterized his maiden and took her out! That's a real embarrassment coming from a god!"
"Perhaps this Silver-Blue Knight is driven by true love? Having a monsterized hero priestess as his wife is not his desire?" Difina guessed in deep thought. "If that is true, then the Fallen God must've done worse that resulted in her death... because it sounds like he wanted her the way that she wanted to be and deeply cared for her as a human."
"It's strange... that man also has a monster to his side as well, and she's a royal red dragon." Difina then turns around and sees Arial comes in. "I've met them personally. The woman of the Order and the Princess of Dragonia do like to share their same love interest with their knight and there are no lies behind their feelings."
"Oh~! That must be Princess Dracolinde!" Alto-Eris chirped in joy as the Dragon Knights swooned in excitement. "I heard she developed big feelings for one of the saviours of Dragonia before the invasion even began~!
Francesca, Primera and Mimil were stunned by this recent information as they did not expect the Silver-Blue Knight to accept a royal monster to be standing by his side, along with Sasha.
"... Eh?... HUH!? NO WAY!" Primera then spoke out loud. "He accepted a monster to be by his side!?"
"And isn't she one of the most powerful dragons in existence?" Mimil clapped both of her cheeks in dismay. "Are you kidding me!? Did he have a change of mind!? Since when!?"
"Speaking from the tone itself... I felt he has an intention of being with them together..." Francesca felt a single sweat running down her cheek. "A man... sharing his love with a human AND a monster? That was truly unheard of!"
"That guy must've been one lucky son of a bitch." Primera said while looking down in realisation. "While he kept Sasha human... I didn't expect he would want a royal monster!"
"True... It seems like he's living in a dream than any man would imagine." Mimil said with a nervous chuckle. "Nevertheless. I thought he hated mamono."
"Talks aside, we have a few hours left until we reached Mira." Everyone in the ship's upper deck area turned their attention around to the tall dragonslayer. Ornstein then clears his throat. "The captain ordered his helmsman to increase the speed so we can reach the island as soon as possible."
...
Island of Mira, Ruins of the Great Tree.
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"Druella!"
Junayd dashed across through the deep forest filled with ruined statues and overgrown roots. He had been tracking down the lilim for more than an hour since the goddess of the seas spoke of the recent news of the Demon Lord.
'I can't believe she's fallen into such a desperate state!'
Junayd looked around frantically to find any signs of trails while nearby elemental spirits ran away from the human who set his foot onto the sacred place of the island. Some elementals were scared and confused as Junayd hacked through the bushes while traversing the forest to find the Demon Lord's fourth borne.
"Druella! Where are you?!" The mercenary yelled hopelessly for her. "Damnit! Why has she been driven like this?!"
Once he got out of the forest, he stumbled upon the sacred ruins of the island. That is not until the ground quaked for a while and several gnomes popped out from the earth. The carthus mercenary noticed he still have his weapon on hand and sheathed it on his back before waving both of his hands, signalling the mamono that he was not a threat.
"I came here with no harm... I'm looking for someone," He spoke calmly. "It's a friend of mine."
The gnomes stared at each other with confusion until one, who had a more mature look, stepped forth and spoke up.
"Are you searching for the succubus with white hair?" The gnome asked, and Junayd nods. "Yes, she is here... but we have a problem."
He raised a question. "A problem?"
"We tried to help her, but she's in a state of sorrow and refused to comply." The elder gnome answered in a worried tone. "We don't know what happened to her, and we tried our best to lift her spirits."
Junayd then asked. "... Where is she?"
The elder gnome then stepped aside and points to the specific direction behind a humongous owl statue.
"Over there... she went to the river stream." The Elder Gnome answered. "She said she wanted to call someone."
'Someone...?' Junayd looks back to the gnome and thanked her while making a polite bow. "Thank you. I'll be on my way."
...
...
...
"... What?"
...
"Mother... what are you saying!?"
Druella dropped her knees to the ground, her eyes staring down at the reflection on the clear running waters of the river stream. Turns out it was a vision, revealing the face of her mother, showing no compassion and only pure disappointment etched on her face.
"You cannot undo what you have done." Her mother scowled at the fourth borne. "Because of you... our family will be forever tarnished in history because of your act to invade Lescatie... that leads to this! What else can you explain, young lady!?"
"I-I only just did it to liberate the people from their suffering, mother..." Druella explained, trying to ease the anger of the Demon Lord. "Give me a chance and we'll end this! Please! I beg you!"
The lilim's voice tried to reach for her mother's heart. Little did she know her mother's heart had already been turned into ice like an impenetrable fortress, which no sound can reach.
"I'm sorry, Druella. But there is no need for that."
"Mother! This isn't what you taught me about the world!" Druella raised her voice and trembled while her tears broke out. "This isn't what we wanted... THIS ISN'T WHAT WE DREAMED ABOUT! WHAT ABOUT YOUR WISH FOR PEACE!? MOTHER! TELL ME WHY!?"
"... Tsk... As expected, you're always been stubborn and naïve. Despite fate having already given me the warnings that you were the sole cause of this." Lilith crossed her arms and gives off a glare to Druella. "I told you often not to make reckless decisions, despite how many human nations you've conquered under your heels... you do not think of the consequences that one day will be our downfall."
"Huh?... But I didn't know that will happen!" Druella tried to make up an apology. "Listen! I should be the one who will apologise for this mess I've caused and fix it! Mother! Think of this as our chance to revert the world the way it was-"
"I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ANY MORE OF YOUR STUPID EXCUSES!" Druella staggered back in fright once the voice of the Demon Lord howled through the reflection, causing the birds and animals to flee. Even the Elementals nearby hid in fear. "I cannot fix your wrongdoings as long as the children of those fate-breaking outsiders remain and I see no reason to keep them in paradise while you are trying to persuade me to preserve them and their existence... and there will be no peace if you insist not to exterminate them!"
"... But..."
"I have enough of this... Druella... I declare your status, a daughter of the Demon Lord... no longer." The lilim felt her shoulders slump in complete shock. "I felt your emotions that you are attached to someone with outsider blood, which I am not aware of... Then you are stripped from the family, just like your sister."
Without another word, the fourth born stared down with horror-stricken eyes, as if hope within her spirit was shattered. For many years, she grew up and despise the world itself, which is lacking love. That was her dream ever since she was a young child. Throughout centuries, she wandered the lands and spread her ideology to fix the world of hatred and replaced it with Love so no one else could find any reason to counter her righteous ways.
Unfortunately... not in this current era, since Ilassa had been broken up from the family and never returned.
"... Wh-What? What do you mean by that...?" She trembled in a weakened tone. "No, you can't do this to me... to your beloved daughter like me!? What about father!? Do you think he will forgive you-"
"We've talked. Knowing that you've been spending time together with the enemy." Lilith interrupts, growing annoyed at her plea in a hissy-fit manner. "And then learning the situation about what has going on in Lescatie and how you handled the situation poorly... he approved to disown you."
"That can't be..." Druella was at a loss for words. "This-... this isn't right!"
"... Our last talks end here and we are done. Do not call me again." Lilith sighed deeply, trembling slightly. "Now out of my sight... Be gone!"
The Demon Lord ended their talk as she waved her one hand and closed the vision within the water's reflection. Druella was in a state of silence until she slowly move away from the river stream and curled her knees and arms together before burying her face...
Thus letting out her muffled cry, emitting despair.
Meanwhile, behind the oversized roots of the Great Tree, Junyad had been hearing the entire conversation between the Lilim and the Demon Lord. He let out a deep sigh and marched his way in.
...
'Mommy! I don't like how hatred is still all over the world!'
She heard her youthful voice from the past and hearing it caused more pain that struck her heart like a knife.
'Oh, don't be like that~! Perhaps you can change the world as I did! My little Druella~'
The face of her mother resurfaced in her head and tries to shake them off. Her mother's warm smile, which used to give her happiness, now remained in her memory. Not like the glares of hatred of today that were etched within her.
'I think you'll do it! Perhaps converting them into monsters can unite the world. Then what do you say?'
Her father's jolly voice echoed in her mind and Druella's fragile heart slowly cracked a second time, which extends her pain. Hearing his words from the past made her regretful and wanted to change that. But she sensed the voices of mana. Hearing whispers that changing the past cannot be avoidable.
'Yay~! Then I will grow strong and spread love~!'
"It's all but a lie... If I hadn't looked up to them... can things be changed?" Druella muttered, shaking off her thoughts and trying to stop the tears. "I never felt so betrayed by everyone... even by my own parents... I just want to make things right."
...
"Hey... I guess it's time to move on, Druella."
Druella felt her spine jerking her out from negative thoughts once she heard his voice and then spun around to see Junyad. The Carthus Swordsman reeled back in surprise to see her in tears and the Lilim pouts in annoyance and turns her glance away from him.
"Just leave me be... I don't want your lecture!"
The mercenary didn't speak a word and stepped in... thus he sat beside the Lilim, which caused her to yelp a bit. Druella felt a blush on her cheeks in surprise, sensing that he was sitting closer to her.
"What do you want...?" she spoke in a trembling voice. "I told you to leave me alone!"
"What's with that attitude?" Junayd cocked his brow in question, curious. "Don't you have anyone who's with you?"
"I-... I have no one else... nothing." Druella answered while looking down in regret. "No one will look up to me and now... they're against me."
Junayd didn't say another word, and she continued to sob. "... All I want is to make things right... I did no crimes and-... and..."
"... All you did is convert people into monsters without denial. That's the only thing you do." Junayd spoke and Druella nods in admittance. "But absolving yourself from your wrongdoings isn't easy... unless you are going to make things right, then it's better that we should turn them back to normal."
"I didn't kill a single person... throughout the years..." Druella spoke shakingly. "But how did it leads to this?... I can't understand anymore."
"... It tells me you never have a genuine friend in your life," Junyad spoke, causing Druella to glare at him. "Do you know why?"
"What else should I need to know...?" she scoffed at him in frustration. "What's the importance of having friends when they're already against me!?"
"It's not that about accepting their absolute loyalty... it's because no one else disagrees with your decisions." Junayd replied, explaining the reason to the Lilim. "The ones you had in Horseback Inn are your subordinates, not true friends. They accept any decision you make for your fulfilment and recognise only your status... thus using you to make their own desires come true without lifting a finger, but they do not doubt your obvious intentions. For a friend, status and the desire for luxury did not matter to them. The true intention of a friend is about achieving goals in their own strengths for themselves and helping others in need without a force to change them."
"... Hmph... So... that means I have no friends?" Druella muttered, feeling conflicted by the subject she was hearing. "The ones I converted people into monsters and were friendly to me... weren't friends?"
"To be honest, that is true... you've seen what happened to Luciana, Olivier and Vermut." Junayd nodded. "Even Elt, they never recognise you being their friend. Only their image as monsters do... but not to themselves."
"... I see..." Druella sighed, admitting to herself and hugged her knees even tight. "Then I truly don't have anyone else besides me..."
"Hm? What are you talking about? I'm still here." Junyad then expressed his toothy smile. "You've been with us for a while and you did make friends along the way!"
"... Huh? What do you mean by that? Your companions didn't like me!" Druella sputtered back in confusion. "They're giving me those nasty glares whenever they see me!"
"Yet you helped them and earned their trust. Despite you were our former enemy." Junayd chuckled and Druella widened her eyes in surprise at his response. "Be glad that we're being merciful and it's the reason your sister wanted this for you, Druella... you need to have someone helping you to move on in life. Not being secluded in your own bubble."
At this moment, the Lilim now senses his emotions revealed for being genuine and not a single lie hid behind his words. For the past ten centuries, she believed that anyone who looks up to her and got along was her loyal friend. After the bloody coup, they turned their backs on her and lost their trust after the dispute about leaving her faction with no one else who would come up with other solutions.
However, after joining the companionship of the Silver-Blue Knight. She thought that being herself as a hamster in a cage full of snakes would mean her imminent death. Turns out that they were grateful for having her and saving the lives of Reginald, Daniella and Junayd for warning the others during the abyssal raid on Mira Island. Despite her status of being their former enemy, they no longer cared for who she was. But as a friend within their inner circle.
"You are our friend, Druella. There's no denying how you have shown yourself that you truly cared for us." Junayd smiled. "A real friend never leaves someone behind, despite the odds and circumstances thrown at us... and no matter how we disagreed, you still cling to us."
Druella felt her emotions being touched and fully understood what Junyad meant. Her heart was no longer cracking as it was on the verge of breaking apart, thus it slowly mended together anew. Her tears still fell from her cheeks from the disputes of her mother, but she smiled. Being grateful for him and helping her to seek forgiveness for the mistakes she made.
"I-... I never thought... in days like this... Only I was thinking in despair after she threw me out..." Druella stuttered out, crying as joy came over her bad thoughts. "I was being all alone... without someone. Yet you... you were here for me."
Junayd looks at her and smiled before turning his attention to the river's stream. Seeing a group of Undines are surprised to see the man healed the Lilim's heart as Druella was overwhelmed with joy. He chuckled as he saw them being happy and joyful as well.
"Heh... it takes guts to grow up." Junayd chuckled silently until of a sudden, he felt a pair of arms wrapped around his shoulders. "Huh?"
"Junayd... thank you for being with me." The Carthus Mercenary looks up and felt his cheeks blush slightly to see her smiling and her eyes were no longer crying. "I will... I will no longer do what my mother wishes and we will make things right, without turning people into monsters... This time, for real... Promise me?"
Junyad carefully held onto her arm. And he admits she is indeed soft and warm. He smiled as Druella slowly leaned her face to his.
"Yes... we'll do it this time."
...
"HEEY~! There you are!"
Junayd and Druella almost fell into a kiss, and they were interrupted as they heard Elaine's voice calling them over. They looked up and saw the Orc Knight and the massive wolf, Sif, standing above the large ruined tree trunk.
"Woah!... Did you two just get together?" Elaine dropped her jaws in disbelief while pointing her index finger at them. "Seriously! I'd never thought you had a thing for a Lilim!"
"A surprise... a mercenary and the Daughter of the Demon Lord being a couple." Sif chuckled in amusement. "I'm not sure how her family would react to this... or to her sister."
"Eh... just keep this a secret between us, alright?" Junayd spoke nervously while waving his hand in dismissal. "By the way, we should head back."
Junyad and Druella stood up and walked past the Orc and the Greatwolf. Thus Elaine raised a brow, just noticing the reddened cheeks that are present on Druella's face.
"Huh... for real?" Elaine sighed. "Since when did he break your threads?"
"W-Well... that's over a week ago," Druella answered shyly with a merry tone while childishly swinging her shoulders back and forth. "Now I'm relieved to be with you... everyone...!"
...
Grand Lescatian Fleet. 3rd Fleet Squadron.
...
"So... do our scouts know where that ship is heading?" Eristia questioned the aide standing beside her. "I need the reports, quick. The Lord herself isn't patient."
"The Dragonian transport ship is heading eastwards, ma'am." The Dark Strategist reported as she salutes. "We're not sure where they are heading... however, the exact coordinates are believed to be heading to an island called Mira."
Eristia raised her brow curiously. "They went further east?"
"Indeed... however, there are pirate activities already running through the regions that we're about to cross." The Dark Strategist answered with some sweat running down her cheeks. "Some of our ships got taken down from the skies."
"... What? I thought they were active at sea and not on air!" Eristia squinted her eyes in displease. "Do they have airships as well?"
"It might be the case." The Dark Strategist responded nervously. "It seems like the islands have already heard our presence and forming resistance."
"Tch!... That doesn't matter. Let none of those fools stands in our way." Eristia scoffed. "If they don't comply and are stubborn. Blast them out with our firepower, understood?"
"Yes ma'am." The Dark Strategist salutes as she acknowledges.
...
Chapter 57: Ends.