Chapter 2 - The King of Astralrealm

"She's my friend, Cyra!" 

I replied briskly.

"Cyra? Isn't that the Archangel of the True Church?" 

The other was even more confused when she heard this.

"But why does she look exactly like Michelle?"

"Well..."

I didn't know either! I just remembered that Eleanora was with us and had seen Michelle's appearance with her own eyes.

"We don't understand the issue with her appearance either. We can only say it's a coincidence." 

"A coincidence, of course a coincidence!"

 Cyra jumped in as soon as she heard her own name.

"Let me make it clear first, I have no relationship with that so-called Archangel!"

"But isn't this a bit too much of a coincidence?"

Eleanora said with a wry smile. Seeing that we didn't look like we were lying, she could only accept this fact.

"What happened after we returned to Edenmere?"

I asked curiously. This was what I cared about most.

"With the angel legions left behind to protect us, of course nothing dangerous happened afterward." 

Eleanora answered matter-of-factly.

"Also, after we returned to the kingdom's main military camp, the demon army didn't launch another attack. It was probably related to what happened to their leader Michelle. A few days later, all the invaders retreated."

"Not necessarily..."

I said thoughtfully. This was probably around the time the Michelle from a year ago replaced her past self and regained control of the demon army. Except this time, instead of targeting humans, she aimed at Edenmere.

Mentioning this, I didn't want to hide it either, so I told Eleanora all the information I had obtained afterward.

"I see, so Michelle actually went back to the past, and even Edenmere fell victim to her evil hands..." 

Eleanora had an incredulous expression after listening.

"No wonder the joint forces of the kingdom and angels stationed there waited in vain for Michelle to reappear, and even inexplicably killed Blanche."

"It really is strange! I don't understand either why she would appear in a place like that..."

My head hurt just thinking about Blanche. I was never good at puzzling out complicated matters. 

Glancing at Nicola lying idly on the bed, I had a feeling this matter was somehow related to her.

"Is the war between the Astralrealm Kingdom and the demons still going on?"

Just as I was thinking, Nicola suddenly turned her head and asked Eleanora with a cookie in her mouth. These were more cookies that Eleanora had her maid bring over again.

"Of course not, the war ended long ago!"

Eleanora's face lit up with a smile.

"Not only the demons that came through the teleportation in Tethys Town, but the northern border also completely settled down shortly after. Just a few days later, this national defense war was declared a complete victory. Other than the legions stationed in the 'Barren Lands', many soldiers were demobilized, including Adrian and Brennan who returned from the frontline."

"Then what are you doing here..."

I was puzzled. I had thought she came to the royal city because of the war.

"Just a few days ago I advanced to a sixth-order water mage. In the Astralrealm Kingdom, there is a rule that all citizens who reach sixth-order and above have to be received in audience by King Galahad. And Captain Alfreed said that I could also take this chance to get acquainted with nobles in the royal city, which would probably benefit my future. After all, the higher the rank, the more resources are needed for advancement..." 

Eleanora replied somewhat hesitantly.

"Have you met the king, King Galahad? What does he look like?"

Cyra leaned over curiously and asked.

"Is he really bearded like the legends say?"

I knew those weren't actual legends. Mainly in anime works, many kings had that image, so Cyra automatically associated him with that.

"I don't know, this is my first audience with the king. Just now I was discussing the unrest on the eastern border with the Minister of Defense. Then I heard a maid announce that an angel from Edenmere was asking for me to provide healing, so I rushed over..."

Speaking of this, Eleanora's eyes suddenly lit up.

"That's right! Why don't you come with me? Going alone makes me feel a bit uneasy."

"Well..."

I hesitated a little. We had entered the royal city just to heal Cyra's wings. Having suddenly acquired this extra errand to go meet the king when our original business was done...

But Eleanora had personally healed Cyra's wings, so bluntly refusing her didn't seem right either.

"Let's go, let's go, Feliciana! We'll go see what this King Galahad looks like, whether he matches the legendary bearded image."

I thought Cyra would be eager to go shopping, and wouldn't agree. Unexpectedly she was the one urging me first.

"Fine then! Meeting him will be good too. Elara originally had some things she wanted us to pass on to the King of Astralrealm anyway."

Nicola got up from the bed, brushing off food crumbs and said,

"You guys..."

These two were really bad teammates! Now what could I say? It didn't look like I could refuse anymore.

Actually, when I heard we were meeting King Galahad, I felt apprehensive too. What if I made a worse impression than Eleanora?

Eleanora immediately called over a waiting maid and explained our intention. Soon the steward we had seen earlier appeared again, leading us along the passages within the royal city. 

"King Galahad has just woken up from his afternoon nap. He is very happy to be able to meet you three angel ladies."

As the steward spoke, he pushed open a set of double doors. Behind them was a great hall with a carpeted path leading to steps at the end, upon which sat a throne. The layout was a little like the Sanctum in the Tivi Palace, clearly the king's hall for receiving people.

"Your Majesty, the newly advanced sixth-order mage Eleanora and the angel ladies have arrived..."

I was still wondering about the proper etiquette for an audience with the king. But before the steward finished speaking, Galahad who was sitting on the throne immediately stood up and strode quickly towards us along the carpet.

"Hallelujah!"

As soon as he saw us, he came out with these shocking words. He took off his crown and handed it respectfully to the steward beside him, then bowed deeply to us.

"Even the king is like this towards angels?" 

Seeing this, Nicola was a little stunned and whispered to me,

"I don't know..."

I was also shocked speechless. In principle, as the rulers of some nations, King Galahad and Elara should have similar status. How could their attitudes be so completely reversed?