87 Declaration

Arriving in Dresuarstein, Astur is forced awake by the sudden stop of the car.

"Ugh, my head is killing me…" Astur says groggily while holding her head.

As Kretea and Ystur help Astur out of the car and support her on their shoulders, Elizabeth says, "You have no one to blame other than yourself," Elizabeth turns her gaze towards the extra person who followed along with them, "Actually this fool is partially to blame as well."

"I didn't do anything. What the Princess chooses to do with the stuff I provide is up to her and no longer my responsibility after leaving my hands," Zrathno says.

"Uncle, what did you even give her?" Ystur asks.

"It was… I'm gonna hurl… *Blaargh*"

Instantly, Kretea and Ystur let go of Astur right before she pukes, barely avoiding it, while Astur grabs onto the car to stabilise herself.

"Seriously, what did you give her? She's been like this since we left," Elizabeth asks.

Zrathno crosses his arms, "Some stuff I bought at the trade hub I stopped at before arriving at Vopal. In terms of alcohol content, it's a bit less than what the Princess usually drinks. But it was supposedly made with special magic that makes it many times more potent than most other hard stuff," Zrathno brings his hand up to his face and pushes his glasses up slightly, "However, she only poured herself a pint's worth and with her constitution, she should have recovered from a hangover a couple of days ago. But it seems likes she's still suffering from a hangover while also being completely wasted."

"That doesn't make sense, shouldn't it be one or the other?" Ystur asks, patting Astur on the back.

"Normally, yes," Elizabeth squints her eyes while looking at the hunched over Astur, "But I suspect that she snuck a few drinks while we weren't paying attention."

"... Let's not keep Lisa waiting," Astur says as she stumbles forward towards the bank, only to fall over after a few steps.

Kretea and Ystur move to help Astur up while Elizabeth shakes her head and follows along, "She definitely had more drinks while no one was looking."

"Why is everyone in the first few generations of the family so weird," Zrathno laments before following behind Astur on the others.

As the group entered the bank, they got a few strange looks from both employees and customers alike, but after hearing that they had an appointment with the Overseer, no one bothered them, thinking they were VIPs.

They were brought up to the waiting room upstairs and just as Lisa opened the door to invite them in, Astur puked again. Although they were ready this time as Kretea provided Astur with a bag.

Lisa was speechless for a moment before asking, "Is she alright, we can reschedule if needed?"

"No, this is fine. She's just reaping what she sowed. It's her own fault for making poor decisions," Elizabeth says.

"Uhh… I see. Well, just don't make a mess in my office," Lisa says as she returns to her desk and invites them in, "I see a new face, so allow me to introduce myself, I'm Lisa Anom."

"Zrathno Kojuuin. A distant relative of the drunk sitting there," he says, pointing to Astur who's hunched over the table with a thick paper bag over her mouth. "Wait… you're looking a bit sus," Zrathno says as he notices something off.

The bag by Astur's mouth is slightly tilted up, and if he didn't see wrong, Zrathno is fairly certain Astur just swallowed something. With the matter brought up, Elizabeth also notices and immediately grabs the bag and pulls it away from Astur, revealing a bottle of alcohol, the same stuff Zrathno gave her.

"Astur!" Elizabeth shouts while Astur attempts to grab the bottle back, but she stumbles and fails to do so.

Astur's left eye starts glowing with a bright blue hue and Elizabeth completely stops moving, allowing Astur to snatch back her drink. As the glow fades from her left eye, Elizabeth is able to move once more. Having long figured out that Astur is significantly stronger when drunk, Elizabeth gives up and turns to Lisa.

"I'm sorry for the unsightly display, Miss Lisa."

"No need to apologise, I got to see something interesting so we can call it even," Lisa smiles, "But moving on to our business, take a look at this."

Lisa pulls out a folder from within her desk, containing a small stack of papers.

"This executives approved of your request a few days ago. Here is the contract, please look over it," Lisa says, handing the folder over to Elizabeth.

A few hours pass as Elizabeth and Lisa are going over the minor details regarding the contract and revising some parts. Meanwhile, Astur, Ystur, and Zrathno have dozed off while Kretea is reading novels from her phone. With the final revisions made, a new contract is drafted and quickly brought over within an hour.

As Elizabeth is reviewing the contract for the last time, Lisa receives a call and her expression gradually worsens. As the call ends, Lisa puts her phone on the desk with a bit of force and sighs.

"I'm terribly sorry, but I have some bad news. The higher-ups have decided to freeze our cooperation, temporarily suspending the matter at hand," Lisa says with a guilt-ridden voice.

"What! But why!" Elizabeth shouts, waking the sleeping trio and drawing Kretea's attention.

"Shut up, my head hurts, don't make so much noise," Astur says.

"What's going on?" Ystur asks.

"The people at the top of the bank have decided to cancel our cooperation," Kretea says.

"Strictly speaking, it'S temporarily suspended, not outright cancelled. As for why…" Lisa picks up a remote on her desk and turn on the TV in the corner of the office.

All channels on the TV are being rerouted for an emergency news broadcast. A joint announcement from both the Church of Light and the Kingdom of Virpal.

"We have discovered through our investigations the, Steel Mirage, the menace that has terrorised the people of the faith and the citizens of the Kingdom of Virpal originates from the infidels that have taken hold of the Sea of Trees. This group of monsters and infidels have unlawfully taken hold of the Sea of Trees and its vast resources, from there they launch their attacks upon the faithful. They worship a false Deity and have begun to strike fear in the hearts of all those that surround them. By direct order from the God of Light himself, the Church declares the first crusade in over 20,000 years, against the infidels who arrogantly call themselves the Holy Oulvgar State, we will bring death to the heretics for the light of God will smite our foes. The Kingdom of Virpal has already pledged their support. All who think themselves to be faithful should provide in some way to the war effort…"

Listening to the speaker from the Church, as soon as they heard the mention of the Steel Mirage, Astur, Elizabeth, Kretea, and Ystur turn their eyes to Zrathno.

"What did you do?" Astur questions.

"No need to stare ladies, I know, I'm handsome."

"3… 2… 1…" Astur counts down.

"Ok, ok. I'll talk. So, I may have or may not have left some clues that lead back to you when I was raiding the church."

"Wait so you're behind the Steel Mirage!?" Lisa asks.

"Yes." "No."

Everyone says yes, except Astur.

"It's him," Astur points to Zrathno, "That machine is his."

"But you were the one who told him to mess with the Church," Elizabeth says.

"..." Astur doesn't say anything and instead lights up a cigarette and quickly smiles, "I've probably just used up all my luck for the next while."

Astur walks over to the office door and places her hand on it. After a couple of seconds, Astur opens the door, but what's behind it isn't the bank, but Astur's island, specifically the space right outside of Astur's front door.

"We don't got much time people so move it!" Astur shouts before clutching her head in pain. "It's been so long since I've had one, I've forgotten how much of a pain in the arse a hangover is. Hope you don't mind our abrupt departure Lisa, but you've seen the situation," Astur says while rushing the others through the door before going through herself.

As Astur leaves and closes the door behind her, Lisa gets up to look at the door, but when she goes to open it, it has already been returned to normal as it's just the bank behind it.

"Perhaps, they aren't as doomed as the executives think they are. Should I gamble on them?" Lisa thinks as she returns to her desk to call some people.

Meanwhile, Astur's group has returned to the Sea of Trees.

"Wait, what about the car!" Ystur says.

"The car was stolen anyways, we can just steal another one later. Better yet, why don't we steal a military vehicle when our enemy arrives. Oh, and since this is your fault, you better help, Zrathno. Or I won't help you with your materials ever again. I knew there would be an open conflict eventually, but it wasn't within my calculations for it to happen so soon."

"Sure, I'll help with the war effort. Some live targets will be good for testing my new machines."

"But I liked that car," Ystur complains.

"Why is no one asking about what Astur just did! How did she do that!" Elizabeth shouts.

"Why are you so surprised, how do you think I moved the house here?" Astur says, not giving a real answer.

"We have more important things to worry about. There isn't any point in trying to unravel the mystery that is Lady Astur. It's enough to know that she's weird and does weird things," Kretea says.

"Haha, you're right. We do have more important things to go take care of. Let's gather everyone, I'll get the Oulvgar together, you take care of the Warband," Elizabeth says before running off.

As Kretea and Zrathno also leave, Astur is left standing in front of her house with Ystur before muttering, "... Did I just get insulted?"