A Story to Be Told

"T-That's quite a story," Neri said with a nervous smile. "Forgive me if we don't just take your word for it."

"Then go there and ask her yourself," Beatrice suggested, not even trying to hide her contempt for all around her. "You also might want to take a tour through the part of the castle where Lucarad's priests lived. The one with the giant hole in the wall we blew to escape from the Queen and her demon fuckbuddy. Even if they have cleaned up all the blood and bodies, you might wonder why every single one of his priests and priestesses are nowhere to be found. Except for the two who those eunuchs took as sex toys after the Queen transformed them into giant mutants."

"Well, your story certainly is detailed," Neri chuckled and scratched her head. "But some proof would be more preferable to walking into the royal palace with accusations that will get us killed."

Flavna quietly whispered to Gamesh, "Anything on our captive princess?"

"Only that she's not in her cell," Gamesh leaned to whisper back to his much shorter companion. "Not that we have many eyes to spare after all that has happened. But her cell was right on the edge of the collapsed wing. We can't rule out that whoever was behind this, did so to free her—"

"Or she was the one responsible," Flavna finished and then spoke aloud for everyone to hear. "The Sixth Princess, Mary Sinatus, was detained by us under suspicion of several counts of murder as well as being a collaborator in the demon attack in the mines.

"This most recent attack that cost hundreds of lives was orchestrated by her or her co-conspirators. Until further evidence arises, Princess Mary is considered dangerous and hostile; an enemy to peace and stability in our city! Anyone with any information on her whereabouts must come forth directly to me or Captain Gamesh!"

"Speaking of detainees," Zaki spoke up, both his hands back firmly in his pockets. "You wouldn't happen to know where our good friend, Felicia, is would you?"

"Somewhere behind me under a hundred tons of rubble," Flavna replied. "You can thank the princess for that too."

"Who gave you the right to hold her!?" Zaki raised his voice. And with his voice cool air rose around him in a spinning torrent. "The Guild—"

"Is not above the law," Flavna interrupted. "Any who ally themselves with demons are to be executed on the spot. I was being overly fair and gave them the benefit of doubt despite their hostile behavior. My predecessor would have had all their heads on spikes before yesterday's sunrise."

"Speaking of which, you promised a feast to celebrate the new champion!" Some beastkin in the crowd spoke up. "Was that today or tomorrow?"

"Dude," the guy next to the beastkin looked at him like at an insane person.

"No feasts. No celebrations." Flavna stated while suppressing her urge to roundhouse some fools.

"Y-You cannot seriously intend to start a hunt for one of the royal princesses, right?" Neri tried to reason with Flavna. "Last I checked this city is still part of the Kingdom of Larpsus. Declaring her an enemy, you might as well be-… Wait… You-you don't seriously believe what this-this…"

"Beatrice," Beatrice said.

"Sure," Neri said, clearly caring very little for Beatrice's name. "Look, good job on killing the demon and its demonlings, but no, just no! Captain Flavna, tell me you're not taking her wild accusations seriously! Where's Lord Belmot? As the one who is actually entrusted with the duty and responsibility of keeping peace in this city—"

"Dead," Flavna said flatly. "Along with his only daughter. Assassinated by the Sovereign."

Was that how it went? Ember looked at Flavna, doing her best not to grin.

"Wh-Why? How?" Neri was at a loss for words.

"It was why we called the Guild here for assistance," Flavna reminded. "If you hadn't taken your sweet time to get here, I wouldn't have to waste my time explaining everything while our enemy plots their next move. We also asked for help from the Palace, but no one even bothered to show up. It appears that demons killing their citizens is of little concern over there these days."

"No, we just wanted to see how deep a hole you would dig for yourself," a female voice shouted to be heard. A voice that Beatrice heard before.

Up on several roofs of the buildings on the edge of the rubble avalanche ripples formed in thin air as if on a surface of water. As the ripples grew stronger and wilder, they unveiled several groups of armed soldiers who were hidden behind an illusion. The group closest to the rubble had two young women standing in front of their soldiers.

One of them a wore red and white set of armor, with a short white skirt that showed off her naked thighs. With a claymore on her back and long, flowing rust-colored hair, she was recognized instantly by nut just Beatrice.

"Asuna!" The people cheered. "Princess Asuna!"

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