2.23.

In the bakery's private-use dinette.

"..."

"..."

Schwii found Evelyn's gestures astringent. One arm supporting her chin with her head turned away from her. The other holding a spoon, gently swirling the liquid contents inside the cup on the table. Her stern purple eyes burned in the evening sunlight, silver hair in a messy bun, held in place with a gold lotus barrette. The air around her appropriated the title of the empire's princess, even Schwii felt somewhat nervous just sitting in her presence.

To quell her nerves, Schwii added one sugar packet more than the usual into her cup of coffee. She noted Evelyn's demeanor and reminded herself to be more careful with the way she acted in front of Sequencee. Evelyn somehow reminded her of herself.

It was a painful silence, Schwii wondered if she should begin speaking or that there was a guest that had yet to arrive– judging from the empty third seat on the table.

"Schwii, what are you plotting?" a chilly tone reverberated.

"Why would you think that, Your Highness?"

"Why, of all people, would you be supporting your fiance against the demon race?"

"Against the demon race? It's the opposite…" Schwii's words ceased at the intense glare sent her way.

"So you're saying that you're manipulating him?"

"Manipulating? No. I'm just trying to stop him from killing himself."

"By turning him into your fiance so he would be spared in the coming war.. so that's your plan?"

"As a demon myself, even I know that The Sovereign isn't keen on causing genocide," Schwii picked up her coffee.

"If The Sovereign isn't keen on waging war, how would you explain his mother's death?" Evelyn's voice struck a chord in Schwii's heart. She, who was about to take another sip of coffee, casted her gaze down.

"I don't deny that it was our mistake. That's why I'm here to make up for it.." Schwii's voice trailed off.

"How do you intend to do that? By telling him to stop?"

"Yes. That's the gist of my entire plan."

"..."

"Your Highness. I want him to live in peace. Revenge and forgiveness, if it were you, which would you choose?" Schwii looked on with concern.

Evelyn didn't know what to say. The same demon-kind that killed his family, was here to reconcile?

'What exactly is going on in the demon empire?'

Evelyn wasn't well informed about the politics in the demon world. Taking into consideration how they have already permeated into some parts of the human society, even to the point of integrating with the human inhabitants, was it safe to say that the demons were in plans to reconcile with the entire human race?

'No. That can't be possible.'

Takashi was ambushed that night by a black knight at the royal castle. It was an assasination attempt by the demons which had failed.

"This concerns the balance between the two races, not merely his decision for revenge or forgiveness. His safety is at stake," Evelyn said.

"Conflict between races is of no concern to me. My role is simply to persuade him to change his mind."

"You're putting him at risk by not looking in the large. What if he were to become humanity's enemy?"

"Are you saying that he should kill himself after saving humanity?"

".. I never said that."

"Assuming he remained fixed on his path towards revenge, what do you think he has left once he achieves his goal?" Schwii narrowed her eyes.

"..."

"Is that what you wish, Your Highness?"

Her argument was sound. Both of them cared about Sequencee, both in their own way.

"He won't.. die so easily."

"How sure are you?" Schwii narrowed her eyes.

"..."

A tense silence brewed between them.

"Am I late?" without knocking, a third girl came into the dinette– Leticia.

"So she's the guest you invited? Good evening to you Leticia," Schwii sighed.

"G-Good evening.." Leticia froze up.

"Would you like to go order a drink first? We'll be waiting here," Schwii said.

"Okay?" Evelyn was the one who planned this meeting. Leticia found it odd how the succubus was taking the lead.

Coming back with a cup of tea on the table, Leticia glanced between the two girls; both of whom held feelings for the same person she held feelings for. A sense of inferiority suffocated her.

"Leticia, I don't know where you got the idea from, but I sincerely have no intentions of harming Sequencee," Schwii declared.

"O-Okay?"

"Anything else to add, Your Highness? Misgivings, doubts.. ?" Schwii sipped on her coffee as she said.

Evelyn gritted her teeth, knowing that she lacked the options to argue back. If she really tried, the argument would likely spin towards the conflict between demons and humans, instead of her main concern, Sequencee. Anymore would just show how selfish she was as a woman..

Was this truly her intention? Why did the argument sound logical? Was it right to stop Sequencee's wish for revenge? Evelyn wasn't able to grasp the scale of the issue.

===

"Are we allowed to cross this?"

"I've been granted permission, and it's not like there are sentries that'll shoot us down if we get close."

Sequencee stood before the red-painted bridge which crossed the lake towards the central island of the hero's domain– the pagoda. It was a known rule that only the chosen ones were allowed to stay in the building, even the maids that were assigned to maintain the interior had to pass strict criterions before being allowed the chance to carry out their duties at such a monumental place.

Never would Sequencee have thought that he'd actually step foot into this sacred ground.

'Schwii told me to avoid the hero though..'

"If you're stepping on I'm going first," Judy stepped forth, the wooden boards made a dull sound at each step.

Sequencee gazed towards the lake, the pink lotuses and white lilies which drifted along the water–

"What are you doing? Don't keep the hero waiting, you know?" Judy turned around.

'You know what. I'll give them my regards at least.'

He stepped onto the bridge and advanced.

===

The design of the pagoda took advantage of an open air concept. The place was larger than it looked from the outside, had five floors and each was intricately architectured to create a scenic interior which really personified the hero's culture. Design elements using paper as window glass, wooden beams to interlock foundations, sliding doors, straw mats and many circular patterns.

Hidden from plain sight, there were also small vent holes etched into the walls, which helped allow the circulation of air, making the place feel cool despite the lack thereof a magic cooler. Lacquer ware pottery with fresh flowers; ancient shelves housing gold antiques. What Sequence found particularly eye-catching was the sword sheath that hung there above the entrance. If his guess was right, that sheath was one which Hero Rika had used in the past.

Guided to the drawing room by a maid, Sequencee and Judy sat by a low table. A pillow cushioning their butts, they weren't sitting in a proper seiza but it wasn't like they knew such a thing.

"There's no tea this time around," Sequencee muttered.

"Maybe we'll get the chance to taste tea made by the heroes," Judy said with anticipation.

"That would make my day."

Boom!

A rough sliding of the door followed by a shout.

"Nice to meet you Mister Mage!"

A girl looking to be around 15 years of age. Her glossy black hair shimmered as if she had just taken a shower. She wore a one piece dress, simple to the design looking slightly oversized for her figure. Her cheerful eyes shifted between Judy and Sequencee, in her hands she held two cups of something.

'Hero Risa Takashi.'

"It's a pleasure to meet you Hero Risa," Judy lowered her head.

"It's a pleasure to meet you.." Sequencee dragged his sentence a little longer to ponder how he should address her when..

"Call me Risa," Risa put the two cups down on the table. Tea with a slice of lemon in it.

"???"

"Risa, you didn't need to barge in like that.. uh, nice to meet you. I'm Shiro Takashi," following behind, Shiro, who also held two cups of the same drink, greeted.

Black hair and eyes. He and Risa looked like siblings, sharing this common otherworldly vibe to them.

"Big brother, Sequencee is weird."

"Weird?"

Risa went over and whispered something into his ear. His expression went from understanding.. to a blank stun.

He was looking at Sequencee with [Blessing: Appraisal].

/

{Name: Sequencee Arch;

Race: Demi-human (Demon Lord [Hidden]);

Age: 17

/

Attributes:

[B(A)] Vitality

[C] Strength

[C-] Dexterity

[C-] Agility

[A(S+)] Mana

[S] Intelligence

/

Gifts:

[Illusion Magic: Universal Haze];

[Passive Trait: Growth Multiplier]^;

[Activated Trait: Focus]}

/

Shiro's own attribute values averaged at around C, and that was after having leveled up to 12. The leveling system is only limited to heroes, and the inhabitants of the world would have to rely on training to raise their stats manually.

The highest value Shiro had seen was a S+ Strength attribute from Aaron.

'But what do these brackets mean?'

It was also at this time that Aaron entered. When he saw Sequencee he couldn't believe his eyes. The image of the boy three years ago overlapped with the person before him.

"It really is you.. I didn't think you would be alive.."

Sequencee couldn't remember Aaron so his reaction was one of puzzlement.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be of any use for you," Aaron got down on his knees. Sequencee froze up.

"Uh.."

"You sure do know a lot of people don't you Sequencee?" Judy said in a jest.

"I'm sorry, my memory is hazy but who are you again?" Sequencee asked.

"Aaron. Aaron Smite, the heroes' guardian. I own your mother a great deal. I'm glad that you're safe at least and.. I convey my condolences."

"Hey. So..?" Risa jabbed Shiro, perplexed by the situation.

"I don't think they know about it. We'll respect his secret," Shiro whispered.

"Got it," Risa kept up her guard.

"Nice to meet you, Sequencee," Shiro greeted.

"Same here. It's an honor to meet you, Hero Shiro."

"Shiro. Call me Shiro."

The two siblings sat down in a seiza opposite to Judy and Sequencee. Aaron sat to the side with his legs crossed. There however, were only 4 cups of tea. It seems one of them had forgotten Aaron's share.

"I was surprised when I heard that you were still alive from the princess." Aaron said, feeling a tad awkward. He was happy yet guilty that Anna's son was actually alive. "How have you been?"

"I've been alright.. I guess?"

"How did you get to the academy?"

"Well.. I had some help.."

"You and Evelyn have a little something going on between you, right..?" Risa interjected.

'What..?'

"These two are a lot more blunt than you think. You don't need to mind the way you phrase your words.. and pardon their rudeness at times," Aaron said.

"Feel free to share your past with us if you'd like," Shiro said.

"Hey, hey. So do you like Evelyn or Leticia?" Risa questioned.

Sequencee only felt more uncomfortable at their casual remarks. Especially the one from Risa

"Risa," Aaron shook his head.

"What? I'm curious– it feels like a big drama is going to unfold."

"Sorry Seqeuncee.. my sister is just.. like this, don't mind her," Shiro said with a slack expression.

"Like what?"

"I-It's alright.."

'The fact that she wants to talk about Leticia and Evelyn means that they're hinting at 'that' aren't they..?'

"How about everyone give a brief introduction of yourself, our past and what each person wishes to aim for? That'll help standardize the conversation, if all is in agreement?" Judy suggested.

"Good idea," Shiro said.

"In it. Let's begin with Sequencee then. Tell us about how you saved Evelyn!" high strung, Risa demanded.

Shiro massaged his temples.

"How I saved her Highness?" Sequencee thought they were misunderstanding something here.

"The incident from three years ago. Don't you remember then?" Aaron asked with a bitter smile.

"Right.. you were there weren't you?" Sequence seemed to remember a little from back then.

"So you do remember," Aaron scratched his chin.

"Sorry. It's just been a while since then. Everything is just fuzzy," Sequencee said awkwardly.

"Evelyn wouldn't tell me so I thought I should ask the person who saved her directly instead. So.. what happened between the two of you?" Risa asked.

"It's nothing much really. Most of it was still dealt with by my mom. I only protected her from assassins and stuff."

"Assassins?! Aren't you a mage?"

"I am a mage."

"But your stats.."

"Stats?"

"No. Nothing. So why was Her Highness being targeted by the assassins?"

The simple summary of it was that while Anna busied herself to resolve the internal conflicts within the royal court, Sequencee spent his days looking over Evelyn after her rescue. Some eventful days, some not eventful days. The situation ended when Evelyn declared publicly that she would give up fighting for the throne.

"Your mother did, what?" Aaron jumped on his seat.

Then, the topic then shifted to the incident when returning from the capital– Anna recklessly charging to fight against the Majesty Black Dragon, Astroth.