Chapter III: Shared Destiny
High up in the sky above the White Scarred Plains, where wind and white flames had thinned out the mist, two overwhelmingly powerful forces clashed. One was wreathed in sky-blue mana while the other was cocooned in a shell of pitch-black mana.
“Uryaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
“Haaaaaaaaaaaah!”
The air creaked and groaned as a swirling, black sphere of gravity, Miledi’s Onyx Blast, shot toward her opponent, Laus Barn. He countered with an equally powerful shockwave of spirit magic. As the two spells collided, shockwaves of mana rippled outward, causing the Holy Templar Knights surrounding the two combatants to stagger back. The Paragon of Light’s dragon knights were also pushed backward, and they had to struggle to regain control of their mounts.
“Shit, I know she’s been graced by the child of god’s powers, but this is ridiculous,” Mulm muttered as he fought to keep control of Adra, his dragon. For the past few minutes, he’d been trying to hit Miledi with Adra’s aurora breath, but she moved around so fast he couldn’t aim at her. To make matters worse, if he wasn’t careful he’d end up hitting his allies. He had fired a few homing arrows from his enchanted bow, but...
“You’re wasting your time!”
Two gravity spheres were constantly circling around Miledi, and they either sucked up all of his arrows or sent them careening in a wildly different direction. Not only that, she constantly fired off accurate counterattacks any time someone targeted her.
“Crimson Javelin — Thousand Blossoms!”
A storm of flaming spears hurtled toward Mulm and his men. Each one was far stronger than normal too, and a direct hit would be enough to gravely injure even the church’s strongest knights. The fact that Miledi was firing these off without even pausing for an incantation, while also keeping Laus Barn, the church’s strongest fighter, at bay was unbelievable. Still, the Holy Templar Knights and the Paragon of Light’s encirclement wasn’t pointless.
“Uwoooooooooh! Limit Break tier eight!”
“Ah!”
Fending off the other knights forced Miledi to leave a tiny opening, and Laus took full advantage of that opening. He launched himself forward, and in a second he was close enough to Miledi to swing his massive warhammer at her.
“Ngh! Aaaaaaaaah!” Miledi screamed as the blow shattered her right arm and a few of her ribs. Laus’ blow had been powerful enough to break through the barrier Miledi had erected in a split second and to overcome the shock absorption of the Angel’s Raiment artifact Oscar had given her. Miledi shot through the air like a cannonball, right into the waiting arms of the knights. They raised their swords, preparing to chop her to pieces.
“Oh no you don’t! Everyone, provide cover fire!”
Thousands of arrows and wind blasts shot out of the mist. Nirke’s squad, which had been hiding nearby, had come out to support Miledi. The hail of missiles only slowed the Holy Templar Knights down for a second. But that second was all Miledi needed to recover. She flipped around in midair and turned to the aurora breath the Paragons of Light had shot at her.
“Asura!”
Her wall of gravity struck down the beams of light. But a second later, she sensed someone behind her. Miledi’s eyes went wide as she realized Laus had caught up to her in less than a second.
“Onyx Blast — Overdrive!”
“Strike it down! Heavencrusher!”
Miledi unleashed another gravity blast as she turned around. Laus smacked the gravity sphere with his hammer, causing another massive shockwave to ripple out across the battlefield. This time, Miledi and Laus were sent flying along with all the other combatants. Miledi regained her balance using gravity magic while Laus created multiple, layered footholds to stop himself. The footholds shattered, but he managed to kill his speed. Panting, the two ancient magic users glared at each other.
“Haaah... Haaah... Just give up already...”
“Haaah... Haaah... I could say the same to you.”
As they caught their breath, light poured down over the two of them. Laus was suffused in white mana, while Miledi was covered in sunset orange. Laus was being healed by a combination of Mulm and Adra’s powerful healing magic, while Miledi was naturally being restored by Meiru.
“How’re you so strong? I’m even being buffed by evolution magic here. Were you not going all out back in Andika?”
“I was. But I realized I lacked strength, so I trained myself. That’s all there is to it. Once you learn your limits, it’s only natural to surpass them.”
“You’ve gotta be kidding me. What kinda crazy training did you do to get this much stronger in just a few months?” Miledi asked with a frown. A second later, worry started to color her frown.
“But there’s more to it, isn’t there? You’ve definitely gotten stronger, but removing your limiters with ancient magic like that is going to recoil really badly once the effect wears out, right?”
Multiplying one’s stats always came with a price. It was true that part of the reason why Laus was able to keep up with evolution-magic-buffed Miledi was because he’d trained tirelessly since his defeat at Andika, but the biggest factor was that he was using spirit magic to strengthen himself beyond what his body could endure.
“So what? If I’m the only person with the strength to rival you, then I’ll do whatever it takes to stop you. Even if it kills me, I’ll keep surpassing my limits.”
A spiral of jet-black mana shot out from Laus’ body. It rose up to the heavens and extended all the way down to the ground, glimmering with all the ferocity of Laus’ spirit. He was willing to throw even his life away to protect the beliefs he’d stood for. However—
“Idiot...”
To Miledi, that glimmer just looked sad. And so, she narrowed her eyes and began unleashing her own sky-blue mana. Just as these two titans were about to clash again—
“Laus, we have to retreat! The federation’s been routed! At this rate, Lilith’s squad is going to be surrounded!” Mulm shouted with a grimace. He’d gotten a report from one of his knights on the ground telling him they’d been bested.
“...Roger,” Laus said tonelessly.
His mana petered out, and he glared at Miledi, who’d also calmed her surging mana. They stared at each other for only a moment before Laus turned on his heel and gave the order to retreat. Miledi ignored the glares of the knights, who were wary of being struck as they retreated, and watched Laus go. The moment they vanished beyond the fog, the evolution magic that had been bolstering Miledi faded away, and a wave of exhaustion washed over her.
Unlike Laus’ Limit Break, evolution magic didn’t cause its user to end up drained after it wore off. Miledi’s exhaustion wasn’t physical, but mental. She’d been forced to weather Laus’ ferocious assault while also keeping an eye on Mulm and Adra, whose attacks were quite powerful. Little wonder her brain was spent. Both Adra’s aurora breath and Mulm’s homing arrows were powerful enough that they’d kill Miledi on a direct hit. During the whole fight, she felt like she’d been forced to tap dance on thin ice.
Naiz had been guarding Lyutillis the whole time, so he hadn’t been able to help her. Their main concern was God’s Apostle, which was why Naiz, the most mobile member of the team, had been assigned to guard duty. Meanwhile, Meiru had been at a field hospital near the front lines, healing as many wounded beastmen as she could. She’s also been keeping an eye on the overall battlefield and remotely healing warriors who couldn’t retreat by using window-sized portals Naiz created for her, and by infusing the mist’s rain with her restoration magic.
“Are you alright, Miledi-dono?” Nirke asked as he flew over to Miledi. His narrow eyes were full of genuine worry. The suspicion he’d initially shown was nowhere to be seen.
About a month had passed since Miledi and the others had come to the Pale Forest. Since then, Miledi had crossed blades with Laus numerous times. Every time she went out on the battlefield, the knights were forced to focus their forces around her. Against just the federation soldiers and the weaker knights, Meiru’s restoration magic was enough to keep the beastmen safe, so Lyutillis wasn’t forced to overexert herself by expanding the mist everywhere. Since she wasn’t being taxed too hard anymore, the church was no longer able to exploit the moments where she was exhausted and the mist weakened.
Because Miledi’s battles always happened in the air, it was Nirke and his squad who ended up supporting her the most. After seeing how resolutely she fought against the church’s knights, Nirke and the others had come to respect Miledi.
Smiling, Miledi turned to the harpies and gave them a thumbs-up.
“Totes fine! More importantly, are you okay, Ni-chan? You really saved me back there, but it must have been hard to face so many Paragons of Light and Holy Templar Knights at once, right?”
“Don’t worry, all my men are safe thanks to Meiru-dono’s restoration magic.”
“I see. That’s great.”
“Yes, it is. That aside, could you please stop calling me Ni-chan?”
“No way! Nicknames are how I show my love!”
“O-Oh... Thank you?”
Nirke’s men snickered, and he shot them a withering glare. Though, over this past month, he’d gotten used to exchanges like these. His annoyance dissipated quickly and he turned back to Miledi with newfound respect.
“We’ll take over from here, Miledi-dono. You go back and rest. Her Majesty’s power isn’t strengthening you anymore, right?”
“Yeah, it’s not. The church’s knights tired themselves out pretty bad too, so I don’t think they’ll come back anytime soon... You know, without Lyu-chan’s power, I’d have a much harder time fighting off a serious Laus Barn and his best knights.”
“The fact that you could do it at all impresses me. I see you really are of the same caliber as Her Majesty. I’m impressed.”
Until now, Nirke hadn’t realized just how insane ancient magic users were. His subordinates all nodded in agreement, remembering the earth-shattering battle that had taken place minutes before. At the same time, they still weren’t quite sure what to make of the fact that Miledi called their beloved and respected queen “Lyu-chan.” In the beginning, plenty of beastmen had gotten mad, saying Miledi was being disrespectful, but Lyutillis herself had told them she preferred it, so they were at a loss for what to do. Especially since Lyutillis herself was calling Miledi Miledi-tan and Naiz Nacchan-san. It was hardly surprising that the residents of the republic were confused. Moreover, Lyutillis, who was twenty-six, was calling Meiru, who was just twenty-one, onee-sama. The other beastmen couldn’t make heads or tails of that. The first time the army’s commanders had heard Lyutillis say that, most of them, including Sim, had fainted. Many of them had thought they’d been hallucinating afterward and went home to rest.
Incidentally, Meiru had tried to use restoration magic to fix Parsha’s heartburn, but it kept coming back as Lyutillis started doing more and more ridiculous things, so she was stuck fighting a losing battle. Still, Lyutillis’ ultimate secret was kept safe thanks to her efforts. A young messenger flew over to Nirke while he was reminiscing over the rather stimulating month he’d had since Miledi’s arrival.
“I bring news! The enemy army has retreated, and Her Majesty has requested that we return as well.”
“Gotcha. How did things go on the ground? Were there any casualties?”
“Fear not, sir, our casualties were exceedingly light. Thanks to Meiru-sama’s restoration magic, even those beastmen who were on the verge of death are healthy now... Her magic truly is amazing.”
“I see. That’s a relief,” Miledi said with a smile.
“Y-Yes, it is!”
The messenger blushed slightly as he replied to her.
“A-Also, Meiru-sama has a message for you. ‘I want to take a little walk before I go back to the capital. Don’t look for me, okay?’”
Ahhh, she’s worried Lyu-chan’ll get her hands on her again, so she’s trying to stay away... Miledi thought with a wry smile.
“Alright, let’s go look for her!”
She decided to completely ignore Meiru’s request and shot down toward the forest. Nirke watched her go with a bemused expression.
The council room was deathly silent, as if all of the people present were holding a wake. The reason for the silence was simple. A month had passed since the church had decided to wear the republic down in a war of attrition. In that time, it had been the church whose losses had mounted, not the republic’s.
“Report,” Baran ordered curtly, breaking the silence. He had a smile on his face, but that smile didn’t reach his eyes. The bishop he was staring at gulped. The church’s crusade had made no progress at all, and Baran was livid that they hadn’t yet succeeded in their divine mission. Worse, the news the bishop had wouldn’t improve Baran’s mood at all.
“Y-Yes, Your Eminence. The supplies from Uldia will... how do I put this... arrive later than usual. It’s not actually a problem and—”
“Calm yourself. Just state the facts, as concisely as possible.”
“M-My apologies. We will be receiving 30% less food than expected.”
Everyone in the room started muttering to each other. The atmosphere grew chillier by the second and the bishop quickly stammered out the rest of his report.
“Our investigation has discovered that an organized group is obstructing our supply lines.”
The muttering got louder. Interfering with the supply lines of a holy crusade was blasphemy of the highest order, especially when the opponent was a nation of godless beastmen. No country would dare to do such a thing.
“You mean to tell me those half-human brutes snuck a contingent out of the forest?”
“Not quite, Your Eminence. The group opposing us is... human. Their skills are top-notch as well.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because while the assailants are burning or stealing our supplies, they aren’t harming our troops. We have plenty of eyewitness testimony confirming that they’re human.”
Silence returned to the council room, but this time it was a painful silence. Most everyone could guess who the attackers were. In this day and age, there was only one group who didn’t fear god. Besides, it was because of this group’s leader that the church hadn’t been able to make any progress.
“The Liberators, huh?” Baran muttered, putting his hands on the table and lacing his fingers together. His entire body shook with barely suppressed rage. Afraid of facing the cardinal’s wrath, the bishop quickly tried to shift the blame onto someone else.
“L-Lord Barn! Why haven’t you been able to eliminate that disgusting heretic yet!? Explain yourself!”
“What will people think of the church if the commander of the Holy Templar Knights can’t even kill one measly heretic!? Have you no shame!?”
“You... aren’t holding back, are you?”
The other bishops took this opportunity to pile on him as well. Until now, they’d led privileged lives, never once having to fear the consequences of their actions. They were so attached to their authority that they didn’t care who they threw under the bus to keep it. Normally, this would be when Laus’ vice commander, Araym, would get mad at them, but this time he held his tongue. He observed Laus with a neutral expression, waiting to see how his commander would react. Instead, it was Mulm who spoke out, his usually cheerful expression replaced by an irritated frown.
“I will not brook any more slander against Laus. Say another word and you’ll have to deal with me.”
The bishops instantly fell silent when they heard the ice in Mulm’s voice. Sighing, Mulm added, “I can vouch for Laus. Having seen him fight, I know he isn’t holding back. His opponent just happens to be someone who’s inherited Ehit’s powers, even if only a fraction of them. The Reisen heir is a formidable foe.”
“How can you be certain of that, Commander Allridge?” Zebal, the commander of the Templar Knights’ third division asked in a scathing voice. Like many others in the room, his patience was running thin. He was tapping his finger on the table in a staccato rhythm.
“Because she’s so strong that Adra and I wouldn’t stand a chance against her.”
“You, the man chosen by the Divine Bow, can’t hope to match her?”
“Indeed. At best, I can support Laus. True, her fighting style is the type I have the most trouble with... but even if that weren’t the case, I’d never be able to beat her. Humiliating though it is to admit, that’s the truth.”
Over the course of this past month, Mulm had been forced to accept this unpalatable fact. The bishops fell silent, and Mulm’s voice echoed through the council room.
“Honestly, I’m ashamed of myself. I’d thought I was someone who could fight on equal footing with Laus, but I was conceited. His strength is miles above my own. We just hadn’t seen him get serious until now.”
“You’re exaggerating, Mulm,” Laus said as he furrowed his brow unhappily. But Mulm, who’d been awed by Laus’ true power, had no intention of stopping his praise.
Mulm turned to Araym and asked, “Hey, Araym. You saw Laus’ full power back at Andika, didn’t you? How are his skills now, compared to back then? Does it look like he’s holding back to you?”
Araym narrowed his eyes slightly, considering his response. After a second, he shook his head.
“Not at all, Mulm-sama. If anything, he seems to have grown even stronger than before. Moreover...”
“Moreover?” Lilith asked, hanging on to Araym’s every word. Because her post was on the ground, she hadn’t been able to see Laus’ battles in the air. However, she was dying to know what they were like.
“One look at how exhausted Laus-sama is should tell you just how hard he’s been fighting.”
“He looks exhausted?”
That came as a surprise not just to Lilith, but to everyone else in the room as well, except Mulm. Considering how composed Laus looked, their surprise was understandable.
“I’m fine. Araym, you don’t have to worry about me.”
“Yes, I do. Your power is the only thing that can defeat that heretic. Making sure you don’t overexert yourself is a matter of utmost importance.”
“I agree completely with Araym. Do you really think you’ve managed to hide your exhaustion from us?”
The divine beasts Mulm created had a perfect affinity for light magic. And Adra, his greatest creation of all, could even heal someone back from the brink of death, though it couldn’t restore missing limbs.
“It’s common knowledge that using your Limit Break leaves you drained afterward, which is why I and the other dragon knights have been supporting you with our healing spells... However, we don’t have any reserves left.”
“Commander Allridge. Does that mean...?”
“Yes. This is how exhausted Laus is after my entire dragon knight unit spent all their mana healing him. If he keeps using his Limit Break, we’re going to need another hundred knights as strong as my own to keep him on his feet. The negative effects of Limit Break can’t easily be healed.”
Before Andika, the highest level of Laus’ Limit Break let him double his stats. But thanks to the hellish training he’d undergone, he could now multiply them by five. Of course, the recoil of strengthening himself that much was far worse, and if he kept on going past triple his base stats he was liable to kill himself before long. Yet during this last battle, Laus had been constantly using tier six to tier eight Limit Breaks, multiplying his stats by four to five each time. He’d literally been shaving away at his soul to keep fighting. And as a result, even a hundred of the church’s strongest knights constantly using their best healing spells hadn’t been enough to fully heal his exhaustion.
“I see... Quite impressive, Lord Barn. You truly are worthy of being called a child of god.”
No one contested Baran’s statement. Still, the fact remained that despite Laus’ best efforts, the church was making no progress in their crusade.
“Do you believe you can defeat her, Lord Barn?”
That was the important question. It didn’t matter how hard Laus tried if the results weren’t in their favor.
“If we can get rid of Meiru Melusine, then perhaps.”
“The wielder of restoration magic, huh? It’s because of her that we can’t push the battle lines further in.”
It was truly vexing. While Miledi’s presence forced the church to send Laus to keep her at bay, the same could be said for the republic. They needed Miledi to fight Laus, or he’d wreak havoc on their armies. Their situation was deadlocked, meaning the biggest threat to the church’s armies was the ancient magic user most suited for battles of attrition. Meiru’s restoration magic could single-handedly hold the church at bay indefinitely. Now the beastmen were not only supernaturally strong, but they were also practically immortal.
“Allridge-dono, I hear you’ve been searching for her while supporting Commander Barn?”
“She’s aiding the republic’s strongest warriors with the help of someone who can use spatial magic, and she’s infused the mist’s rain with her restoration magic. Since she’s not moving around herself, I’m certain she must have a base of operations somewhere where she treats the wounded, but... the mist is too thick. I know she must be near the front lines somewhere, but I can’t pinpoint the location.”
Mulm doubted she was using her magic from afar, like the republic’s queen. Or rather, he desperately wanted to believe that wasn’t possible. Regardless, the biggest problem was the fog barrier that protected the forest.
Another heavy silence fell over the council room. And again, it was Baran who eventually broke it.
“So long as Meiru Melusine is alive, we cannot wear the republic’s numbers down. And so long as Miledi Reisen is here, we cannot search for Meiru.”
Suppressing his anger as best he could, Baran asked, “What of the others? Where are the creation magic user and the spatial magic user hiding?”
Most of the bishops and knights exchanged glances. Honestly, they had no idea.
“I imagine... they’re protecting the queen,” Laus said.
“Indeed. I cannot fathom why they refuse to join the front lines and focus only on guarding the queen, but that seems the most likely answer. However, doesn’t that mean we can start bombing the forest without worry?”
Everyone present sucked in a breath. The reason the church had avoided carpet-bombing the forest or blasting it with large-scale magic was because they’d wanted to avoid accidentally killing the child of god they’d come to “rescue.” But if she was being protected by two ancient magic users, attacks of that scale wouldn’t be able to harm her, meaning the church could just destroy the forest, massacre the beastmen, and break their spirits.
“Lord Distark, wouldn’t that be... disrespectful?” Laus asked, struggling to contain the emotion in his voice. Baran’s head swiveled with unnatural speed and rested his gaze on Laus.
“Let me tell you what’s disrespectful. What that queen is doing to our beloved Ehit is what’s disrespectful!”
“Well...”
“Why is it that we were refused entrance into the Pale Forest, but the Liberators were not? Well? Because the Knight Hunter guided them there? Yes, I suppose he did. That proves that he’s with the Liberators. But that doesn’t explain everything. Those filthy half-beast mongrels would never allow beings as powerful as the Liberators near their queen. They wouldn’t trust humans. And yet, the Liberators and the republic have joined forces. They’ve forged an alliance. The fact that this child of god has allied herself with the Liberators is a betrayal of the highest order!”
Baran’s words were suffused with fanaticism. But despite the insanity in his voice, what he was saying was logical. This situation was only possible if the queen had accepted the Liberators into her home, which made the queen Ehit’s enemy.
Until now, the plan had been to capture the queen, take her back to the main cathedral, and teach her about the glorious wonder of Ehit. However, now the knights and bishops were convinced the evil Liberators had brainwashed her. If they wanted to bring her back to the light, they’d have to be somewhat forceful.
“I will take full responsibility for this. Once we have rescued the child of god, the pope can decide whether my actions were justified or not. But even if he decides to execute me, my decision won’t change. My life is a small price to pay for the success of a mission ordained by Ehit.”
The madness in Baran’s voice ebbed away, and his peaceful smile returned. Laus felt goosebumps rise up his skin, but he was the only one.
“Wonderful... Absolutely wonderful! Your faith is a shining example to us all, Lord Distark!” Lilith said, then started clapping. The sparkle in her eyes made it clear she respected Baran’s resolve from the bottom of her heart. The other knights started praising Baran as well, and the applause began to grow.
After a few seconds, Baran raised his hand for silence and said, “We can no longer afford a war of attrition. It’s time we make a decisive strike. Commit your entire forces to an all-out assault to prevent the enemy from stopping our aerial raid, Detref-dono.”
“...As you wish.”
“When I say your entire forces, I mean all of them. Am I understood?”
“Yes, Your Eminence. I will call up my reserves as well.”
Detref’s expression was dark, but Baran looked positively jubilant.
“Fear not. I have a scheme that will help this plan succeed.”
“You do?”
“Yes, I actually received a message this morning. I have good news, everyone.”
Baran’s “good news” instantly livened up the council room. For their chances of success had just gone up greatly. Still, it didn’t change the fact that an aerial raid supplemented by an all-out assault was a risky move. They were up against a group of ancient magic users, and an army that had been strengthened by ancient magic. Everyone would have to fight as hard as Laus was if they were to succeed.
In the beginning, no one had expected this mission to become so difficult. Most of the knights had figured they’d easily be able to crush a group of half-breed mongrels who couldn’t even use magic and rescue their child of god. But now they were prepared to sacrifice dozens of knights, maybe even more, just for a chance at success.
“Martyrdom is one of the highest honors. If it is our fate to die here, then so be it!” Baran shouted, and everyone nodded in agreement. None of them were afraid, or even reluctant to lose their lives. If anything, they were eager.
“Uwooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!”
The thought of dying for Ehit brought them nothing but joy. Truly, they were mad. Everyone in the room except Laus and Detref was utterly insane.
A clear, beautiful voice cut through the cheers.
“Splendid.”
Surprised, everyone turned to the doorway. When they saw who was standing there, their expressions turned ecstatic. It was the oracle who had told them of this holy mission, the beautiful Ainz Arsalk. Only Laus looked terrified, but everyone was too focused on the oracle to pay attention to him.
Choked by emotion, Baran nevertheless managed to say, “O-Oracle? Why are you here?”
She smiled faintly, her white dress and unearthly beauty making her look ethereal. As she strode into the room, her shimmering silver hair fanned out behind her. Her beauty alone was enough to take one’s breath away. The bishops who were laying eyes on her for the first time, and even Detref, gulped as her gaze passed over them. Her presence commanded attention, and even the most hardened warriors couldn’t resist. But when her eyes and Laus’ met, Laus broke out in a cold sweat. Though everyone else found her silver eyes captivating, he was terrified by them. He couldn’t understand why everyone found those soulless eyes so beautiful, or her mechanical expressions so charming. Personally, Laus just felt like a rabbit trying to hide from a tiger. Ainz walked over to Baran, and the cardinal offered his seat to her like it was the most natural thing in the world to do. As she sat down he stood behind her, like he was her advisor.
“Your resolve to die for Ehit is truly admirable. You all are shining examples of what every believer should be.”
“We... We are not worthy of such praise...” Baran sobbed, tears welling up in his eyes. All the others, except Laus, of course, looked similarly moved. Ehit’s medium had just told them they were exemplary followers. Even Detref was overcome with emotion.
“My master is always watching over you, his faithful, pious believers. Know that he would never abandon you.”
“What... do you mean?” Baran asked, confused. The oracle closed her eyes, and everyone waited for her next words with bated breath.
“I can destroy the fog barrier protecting the Pale Forest.”
It took a moment for everyone to register the import of what she’d just said, but once they did, they started cheering.
“H-How exactly will you do that, Oracle?” Baran whispered, doing his best to contain his excitement.
For centuries, the mist had guarded the beastmen without fail. Mulm and the other knights got to their feet, their chairs clattering to the floor. Even Laus’ jaw dropped open.
Ainz smiled at the awestruck knights. She went on to explain her plan, then gave them a demonstration of her power to show that it was possible. By the time she was done, the knights were overjoyed. They knew now that Ehit was watching over them. That he wanted them to live.
The oracle swept her gaze over the room one last time and said, “We shall purify the tainted soil of the beastmen and build a new holy land in its place. Bring the divine hammer of justice down on these heretics!”
Her voice rang with divine majesty. Everyone, even Laus, dropped to one knee and swore that they would do Ehit’s will. But unlike the others, Laus wasn’t thinking of victory.
Miledi Reisen, despair has come for you. Will you be able to overcome it like you said you would? Either way, I won’t hold back. Bringing the most happiness to the most amount of people is the correct decision. If you believe I’m wrong, then— Laus paused his thoughts for a moment and closed his eyes solemnly.
Prove it by climbing over my corpse and taking down this inhuman angel. Though he himself didn’t realize it, there was a glimmer of hope within the despair Laus was feeling.
Meanwhile in the Pale Forest—
“Umm, Meiru-neesan. How long do you want me to stay like this?” Sui asked timidly.
“Forever,” Meiru replied.
The two of them were in a small clearing far from both the front lines and the republic’s capital. Meiru was sitting on a small stump with Sui resting on her lap.
“F-Forever?”
“What, do you not like spending time with me?”
“Th-That’s not what I...” Sui trailed off hesitantly. Her bunny ears were twitching rapidly back and forth. She seemed afraid that someone might try to assassinate her any second now. Even though she was an assassin herself.
“Boss, I really think you should go back. Miledi and the queen are surely looking for you by now,” Valf, who was standing beside Meiru, muttered awkwardly. Meiru turned to him with a grin and asked, “Oh, you’re still here?”
“Gah!”
Valf’s ears drooped as Meiru dismissively waved him away. He’d never been so humiliated in his life.
“Whoa! A grown man like you shouldn’t be looking so depressed. It’s kinda creepy.”
“The hell’d you just say, Sui!?”
“Hyaah!? N-Nothing!”
As always, Sui didn’t know when to shut her mouth. But while people normally gave her shit for it, now Sui had a guardian angel, of sorts.
“Valf-kun, I don’t recall granting you permission to glare at Sui-chan. Do you want to die?” Meiru said with a terrifying smile. Valf whined like a beaten puppy and prostrated himself before Meiru.
“Damn, you really just made him into your slave... or your dog, I guess. I really don’t wanna end up like that.”
“Fear not, Sui-chan. I’m kind to women.”
“R-Really? Then, uh, can we return home? I kinda wanna just roll around in bed all day instead of work.”
“Fufu. I love lazy girls like you,” Meiru said, tightening her hold on Sui to prevent her from escaping.
Despite claiming she’d be nice to her, it seemed Meiru had no intention of setting Sui free. Of course, there was a reason she’d kidnapped this bunny girl. Meiru knew that if she went back to the palace, she’d have to deal with Lyutillis. The queen would stick to her like glue. She needed the help of Sui’s stealth skills to stay out of Lyutillis’ sight. Sui’s special magic allowed her to turn things other than herself invisible too, and her perception manipulation abilities extended to anything she was touching. Only when Meiru was hugging Sui could she escape from the surveillance network of bugs the queen had scattered throughout the forest. The moment Meiru had discovered Sui could help her escape Lyutillis, the two beastmen had become joined at the hip. Of course after seeing Meiru tyrannize Valf in that mockery of a duel Sui had been deathly afraid of the dagon. Especially since Meiru could see through her stealth skills. Even now, Sui was trembling in fear. But as far as Meiru was concerned, Sui was her new best friend.
Incidentally, Valf hadn’t been invited; he’d just tagged along. Ever since his crushing defeat, he’d been oddly attached to Meiru. He also acted subservient around her, begging for Meiru’s attention like a loyal pet. When she was cruel to him, he got depressed, and when she was nice to him, he started wagging his tail back and forth. Like Sui had said, he’d basically become Meiru’s dog. The pirate queen’s domestication skills were truly something to be feared.
“By the way, Valf-kun? Would you mind going back? You’re not being protected by Sui-chan’s stealth abilities, so if you stay here they’ll find me.”
“N-Ngh...but I’m pretty good at manipulating my presence too...”
The thirty-year-old wolfman warrior gave Meiru a pleading look.
“Oh god, you’re really creeping me out now,” Sui said in a shrill voice. Before Valf could reply Meiru suddenly turned to look behind her. The queen of the republic was peeking out from behind the shade of a distant tree.
“Eeeek!?”
“Huh, what’s the—!? Eek! Your Majesty!?”
Meiru and Sui both screamed. But the oblivious Valf just bowed his head. He was already prostrating, so it was a needless gesture. However, it went to show just how little pride he had left.
Lyutillis strode over to Meiru, her pure white dress billowing around her. Her two guards, Naiz and the leopardman captain of the imperial guard, Craid, followed behind her.
“Gah, how’d you find me? I thought I managed to escape your bugs and Miledi-chan’s gravity net!”
Meiru slowly backed away, holding Sui in front of her like a hostage. Sui tried her best to wriggle free, shouting, “I have nothing to do with this! It’s all Meiru-neesan’s fault!”
She was only concerned with saving herself. But her desperation was understandable.
“Onee-sama... Why are you with that girl when you have me!? Do you really like her that much more!?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Bwagh! Sui, how dare you steal Onee-sama away from me!”
“This isn’t my fault, Your Majesty! Please, believe me! I’m not a cat burglar, I mean rabbit burglar!”
Lyutillis blushed slightly at Meiru’s blunt insult, but she managed to keep her fetish in check in front of her subordinates. It would be a national issue if they saw her panting in ecstasy after being derided. And Lyutillis knew that if she spilled her secret, Parsha would torture her by being extremely nice to her. So all she could do was glare at her best spy.
“Ugh. Please don’t glare at me, Your Majesty. I didn’t do anything wrong! I just wanna slack at my job, kill a few people, and be loved by everyone. Is that too much to ask!?”
“I love how shameless you are about your worthlessness, Sui-chan.”
“How dare you let yourself be praised by Onee-sama, Sui!”
Curses! I won’t be outdone by some worthless rabbit who only knows how to poison people! Lyutillis thought to herself, her eyes burning with jealousy. Meanwhile, Sui was almost on the verge of tears. The queen every beastman loved and respected was glaring at her like she was an insect. She would have offered to get on her knees and lick Lyutillis’ boots, but Sui had already learned from past experience that such pleas didn’t work. However, she couldn’t be too forceful with Meiru either.
Not only was Meiru healing every warrior on the battlefield, she’d also cured every beastman in the forest of chronic illnesses. Her achievements were so great that the queen referred to her as Onee-sama... Or, at least, that was why everyone thought Lyutillis called Meiru that. And to most people, Meiru seemed like a kind, gentle saint, even if she was really a sadistic pirate. Naturally, her popularity had grown rapidly within the republic, and the beastmen had taken to calling her the Saint of the Sea.
Sadly what that meant for Sui was that she was loved by a saint and hated by her queen. Those who adored Lyutillis were mad at her for fouling the queen’s mood, and those who loved Meiru were mad that she was monopolizing Meiru’s attention. Had Sui been a more sincere individual, things might have turned out alright still, but unfortunately she wasn’t. Even before all of this started happening her comrades had thought of her as an annoying troublemaker. Sui had spent the past few weeks living in fear that anyone might attack her at any time. As Lyutillis and Sui’s argument got more heated, another actor arrived on the stage.
“Hold it right there! Lyu-chan, Sui-chan, aren’t you forgetting someone!? Meru-nee belongs to me, Miledi!”
Thanks to the commotion Lyutillis’ arrival had caused, Miledi had been able to find Meiru too. She floated down and hugged Meiru from behind.
“Miledi-chan! I’m amazed by how you always manage to come at the worst time!” Meiru exclaimed.
“Oh great, things are going to get even more chaotic now. I hate free-spirited people like these guys. They always look so happy it pisses me off,” Sui muttered under her breath.
“My, Miledi-tan. It’s not good to monopolize Onee-sama. If you don’t behave I’ll call U-chan over.”
The girls started panicking at the mention of Lyutillis’ cockroach friend. Meanwhile, Valf remained on the ground, still bowing to his queen. This was the scene that greeted the soldiers who’d gone searching for Lyutillis when she suddenly left. Of course, their addition to the scene only threw everything further into chaos. Craid, who was watching everything from a short distance away, muttered, “Her Majesty... certainly has changed.”
“In a good way? Or a bad way?” Naiz asked casually.
Craid averted his gaze, thinking back to how graceful and majestic the queen used to be. In those days, it had been an honor to serve her. Though she’d spoken rarely and kept her expression neutral, that had only added to her aura of mystique. Just standing close to her had been enough to make Craid feel nervous. But now...well I guess I should be happy that she’s happy. Her expressions change at the drop of a hat, and now she’s become cute as well as beautiful. But still, the queen we respected was more...
“I’m not sure.”
“I see...”
Craid was having a hard time sorting out his feelings. If meeting friends who could stand on equal footing with her had helped his beloved queen be more honest with her feelings, that was definitely a good thing. Still, he missed the image of a perfect and wise ruler that Lyutillis had once projected. While he wasn’t able to put his internal dilemma into words, his tone told Naiz everything he needed to know. Craid wasn’t alone in feeling like this, either. Sim and the others were of similar minds.
After gauging Craid’s reaction, Naiz renewed his resolve to keep Lyutillis’ secret. If these guys ever find out she’s actually a raging masochist, the republic might just fall apart. Naiz gave Craid a reassuring pat on the shoulder and said, “I have some aged wine I’ve been saving for a special occasion. It’s from a famous oasis in the Crimson Desert. Would you like to share a cup with me later tonight?”
“Alcohol from the other side of the continent... That sounds quite interesting. I’d love to, thank you.”
The best medicine for an uneasy heart was companionship and booze. Naiz understood this well, and he’d already become fast friends with Craid and the other warriors. Afterwards, Miledi and Lyutillis succeeded in capturing Meiru—while Sui escaped in the ensuing confusion—and returned to the palace. There Miledi and Meiru gave their report on the previous battle to Parsha, Sim, and the other important members of the republic. Unfortunately, most of them were too nonplussed by the sudden change in their queen’s behavior to pay too much attention.
“I knew you’d live up to my expectations, Onee-sama. You really are worthy of the title everyone’s given you. Saint of the Sea indeed.”
“You know, I never expected to hear that title all the way on the other side of the world.”
During her pirate days, Meiru had created the legend of the “Saint of the Western Seas” to protect her little sister, Diene. Whether coincidence or fate, the beastmen of the republic had picked an almost identical name for her.
“It’s a fitting title. Thanks to you, my soldiers have nothing to fear on the battlefield. So long as they aren’t killed instantly, they know no injury can stop them. You have my deepest gratitude,” Sim said, bowing deeply to Meiru. The other warriors followed suit. All of them had a deep-seated respect for Meiru. Smiling gently, Meiru replied, “Good, you should be grateful. Incidentally, I accept both physical goods and favors as thanks.”
Despite her title, she wasn’t the least bit humble. In fact, it sounded more like she was blackmailing those she healed. But Sim and the others were used to dealing with her by now and they simply nodded, smiling. Their forbearance was far more saintly than Meiru’s demeanor. If anything, she should be taking a leaf out of their book.
“Come on now, Meiru. If you’re going to ask for a reward, at least ask for something that might help the Liberators out...”
Badd started to admonish Meiru, but she turned back to him and shook her head with a pitiful look in her eyes.
“You just don’t get it, Badd-kun. I’m disappointed in you.”
“Huh? What’re you—?”
“Miledi-chan said the Liberators wouldn’t ask for anything in return for their services. We can’t go back on our word now. This is why you’ll never find a girlfriend.”
“What does me being single have to do with anything!? Though I admit you have a point about not asking for a reward.”
“Your lack of insight is why you have such poor taste in women.”
“Again, that’s not the point! Besides, I have perfectly good taste in women!”
Badd shot Lyutillis a covert glance as he said that. Miledi, Naiz, and Parsha exchanged silent glances, then nodded to each other. He definitely had bad taste in women. Unlike the other Liberators, Badd still wasn’t aware of Lyu-chan’s true personality—primarily because Miledi and the others had made completely sure he had no chance to find out. After all, Badd was so desperate for a wife that he’d been willing to abandon his post to look for one. He firmly believed that his meeting with the graceful, ephemeral queen of the forest was fated. If he found out the truth about Lyutillis, Miledi was worried he might lose himself in despair and launch a suicide attack on the church.
“Ngh, don’t get ahead of yourself just because Lyu likes you.”
Even now Badd was jealous that Meiru was taking up so much of Lyutillis’ time. Though of course, it was Lyutillis who’d insisted everyone call her by a nickname and Lyutillis who was always chasing after Meiru. She’d actually wanted to call Badd Ba-chan but that had been what Miledi had called him years ago when she was a kid, so he’d vetoed it. As a result, she’d settled on just using his name without honorifics.
“I’m grateful to you too, Badd. It’s because you’re keeping the Templar Knights at bay that...”
“O-Oh, don’t mention it. If anything, I should apologize for not taking their captain down.”
“That woman’s thunder skills are insane, Badd. Honestly, we’re glad you can just stop her from rampaging across the battlefield. Besides while you’re keeping her pinned down Sui’s free to go around assassinating other knights, so it’s a plus for us,” Valf said. He’d been fighting with Badd on the front lines this past month, and the two had become good friends. Badd had also bonded with Sim and the other strong fighters who were in charge of keeping the church’s best knights in check. Though humans and beastmen were naturally wary of each other, the joint struggle to survive had nurtured a deep bond of trust between the Liberators and the republic. And that, more than anything, was what brought Miledi joy.
“Hehehehehehehe.”
Miledi smiled happily, not caring about how sappy she looked. Noticing her smile, Lyutillis turned to Miledi and said, “Miledi-tan. I’m sorry for placing the heaviest burden on you. Fighting two of the three pillars’ commanders as well as their best knights all at once must be so hard. Are you sure you aren’t pushing yourself past your limits? I know Nirke’s squad is supporting you, but that’s not nearly enough.”
“Don’t worry, Lyu-chan! I’m perfectly fine! Your evolution magic’s made me super strong, and I’ve got Meru-nee backing me up too.”
Miledi flashed Lyutillis a confident grin and made a peace sign with her hands. But then a second later her expression grew serious and she said, “Besides, I’m the only one who can fight Laus Barn. He’s using all of his strength now, without any regard to his own safety.”
If Miledi took her eyes off him for even a second he’d tear through the beastmen’s ranks.
“Plus, I’m the best person to deal with the Paragons of Light. Normally their dragons would be a huge threat, but my gravity magic is their biggest weakness.”
“True, your compatibility with airborne enemies is exceptionally high.”
“And now’s not the time to be taking risks anyway.”
“Because you’re still waiting for reinforcements?”
“Yep, O-kun, Van-chan, and a few other fighters still need to get here. Keeping things in a stalemate is good for us. The enemy’s forces are getting weaker, while we’ll only grow stronger. All that’s left is to make sure we can handle that thing if she shows up...”
Miledi’s eyes glimmered with resolve.
“We can win this war,” Miledi declared confidently. The beastmen raised their fists in the air, Miledi’s resolve rubbing off on them. Everyone was hopeful about their chances now. The other beastmen gave their reports as well, then Lyutillis called the meeting to a close. However, she asked that Miledi, Naiz, and Meiru stay behind. It had become tradition for Lyutillis to have a tea party with her fellow ancient magic users after meetings. By now everyone trusted Miledi and the others so it wasn’t that big of a deal. Sim and the others gave Miledi friendly smiles as they exited the throne room. Parsha would have stayed, but she was too busy with administrative work to relax. She hurried out of the room, begging Miledi to keep Lyutillis in check while she was gone.
“Hey, Lyu, can I—?”
“Is something the matter, Badd? Surely you must be exhausted after that fierce battle. Please, go rest.”
“Ah, actually I’m not that tired, so...”
Badd gave Lyutillis a suggestive glance. He clearly wanted to be invited to their tea party.
“Come now, Badd-kun. It’s obvious we’re not welcome. Let’s go relax in your room,” Meiru said, seizing on an opportunity to flee.
“You’re the last person I’d ever want to relax with.”
Badd protested as Meiru grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and started to drag him out. Naturally, the one person Lyutillis wanted to have tea with was Meiru. With a wave of her hand, she sent her beloved Uroboros after Meiru to bring her back. The writhing mass of cockroaches surrounded her, beckoning her to return. Meiru’s smile froze and she hurriedly thrust Badd away and went back to her original spot.
“Badd-kun. What are you waiting for? Hurry up and get out of here.”
“Damn you, Meiru. Stop getting in my way all the time!”
“Come on Badd, you know it’s rude to intrude on a girls’ tea party,” Miledi said with a grin.
“Oh shut up! Naiz is still here, isn’t he!? What part of this is a girls’ party!?”
Naiz averted his gaze, doing his best to stay out of this argument. But while Badd was determined to stay and have tea with the woman he’d fallen for, it was that very woman who shot him down.
“Badd. I want to spend more time with Onee-sama.”
“Huh? Can’t you do that with me around sti—”
“If you’re here, Onee-sama won’t be able to enjoy herself.”
“Fine...”
Badd slumped, losing all of his vigor. As his head began to droop, Lyutillis gave him an affectionate look and said, “Don’t worry, Badd. I’ll let Sim and Valf know you’re craving a tea party. I’m sure you’ll have more fun with them than you would with us.”
“Okay...”
Badd slunk out of the room, looking like a whipped dog.
“Hey Nacchan, is it just me or can kindness be a weapon?”
“The scariest part is she doesn’t even realize what she’s doing. I guess this is what happens when you grow up a loner. Lyu’s words can cut pretty deep.”
“You two, don’t you think it’s about time we told Badd-kun the truth? Even if he does launch a suicide rush against the church, I can always bring him back to life with restoration magic.”
While the three Liberators were discussing the plight of their poor vice-leader, Lyutillis got off the throne and glided toward them.
“Come, Onee-sama, Miledi-tan, Nacchan-san! It’s time for tea!”
Smiling happily, she led them to a secluded location. Specifically, she took them to a small spring which had become their standard tea party location. Lyutillis went to the edge of the faintly phosphorescent spring and closed her eyes. Raising her staff, she summoned a veil of mist to surround the group and afford them privacy. No matter how many times they watched, Miledi and the others couldn’t help but be awed by how regal she looked when she did that. The curtain of mist she’d summoned was so thick that not even beastmen would be able to navigate through it. It was a security measure to keep Lyutillis’ secret from getting out.
“You know, she actually looks quite pretty when she’s like this.”
“Why couldn’t those guys have been her first friends instead of cockroaches?” Naiz grumbled. Miledi and Meiru nodded vigorously in agreement. While she’d been casting, a group of multicolored butterflies had gathered around Lyutillis. They fluttered happily around her, dancing to some rhythm. Like the cockroaches, these butterflies were also Lyutillis’ friends. They were, in fact, the second group of friends she’d made. These she’d christened “the deadly rainbow, Dietrichs.” Each of the butterfly species carried a different deadly toxin in their scales. While they were more dangerous than the cockroaches, they were also a lot cuter.
“Fufu. Now no one will disturb us. Onee-sama...”
“Please get away from me.”
“Mmmph. Thank you so much for that wonderfully biting comment! Haah haah!”
Now that she didn’t need to maintain a public persona, Lyutillis was free to indulge in her masochism all she wanted. She ran over to Meiru, her eyes filled with desire.
“Seriously, get away from me if you’re gonna pant like that.”
Meiru slapped Lyutillis, but that just made the queen pant harder. As she fell to the ground, Meiru smiled and started stomping on her with her heel.
“How many times do I have to tell you before you understand? Are those ears of yours just decoration? Or is your brain made of mush?”
“B-But... I just want to get closer to you, Onee-sama...”
“Who said you were allowed to speak? Know your place, swine. The next time you speak I’ll tie you up in chains and dump you into the bottom of the sea.”
Though she was being ridiculed and stepped on, Lyutillis looked ecstatic. Her beautiful features, which rivaled those of God’s Apostle, were absolutely wasted on this woman who was laughing giddily as she was abused.
“Onee-sama, I’ve been a bad girl. Please punish me.”
“Absolutely not. That would just make you happy.”
“Please don’t be so cruel! Oh, but being ignored is nice in its own way...”
“Damnit, no matter what I do it makes you happy. What kind of weird creature are you?”
“I’m your personal Lyutillis, Onee-sama.”
“Are you saying Lyutillis is some new species of creature? In that case you should go extinct.”
“Thank you so much!”
“Tch... Keep this up and I’ll start being nice to you.”
“Those brief moments of kindness you show make me so happy!”
“Gah! Miledi-chan, save me! She’s invincible! Nothing I do works!”
Meiru fled from Lyutillis’ grasp, her hair already disheveled. But before she could go more than a few steps, a wall of poisonous butterflies blocked her path. Lyutillis crawled over to her and waited patiently for more punishment, her cheeks flushed. She arched her back a little and gave Meiru a suggestive look, as if asking Meiru to sit on her.
“You know, despite how annoyed Meru-nee looks, everything she does is exactly what Lyu-chan wants.”
“Lyu’s fetishes and Meiru’s personality are a perfect match.”
Meiru reluctantly sat down on Lyutillis, and Lyutillis’ eyes lit up with excitement. Miledi and Naiz watched the two of them with an oddly gentle look in their eyes. Despite how much Meiru said she hated being around Lyutillis, in the end she always ended up giving the queen the sadistic beatdown she wanted. This past month, Meiru had really grown into a good master. Miledi and Naiz took their tea set out from their Treasure Troves as they discussed the evolution of Meiru and Lyutillis’ relationship. Meanwhile, Meiru seemed utterly shocked that her beloved little sister Miledi wasn’t coming to her aid. Lyutillis took advantage of Meiru’s shock to escalate her antics even further.
From the looks of it, the ancient magic users were enjoying their brief respite between battles to the fullest. As the group sipped their tea, Miledi unconsciously glanced southwards. She was unaware of the action herself, and looked somewhat spaced out. Her actions didn’t escape Meiru’s notice.
“Fufu. Oh Miledi-chan,” Meiru chuckled, still sitting on Lyutillis’ back. A playful grin spread across her face as a sudden urge to tease Miledi welled up within her.
“Huh? What’s up?”
Miledi turned to Meiru, looking genuinely confused.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure Oscar-kun will arrive soon.”
Miledi’s cup rattled as her hand started to shake, and she hurriedly averted her gaze.
“Huh? Where’d that come from, Meru-nee? I wasn’t even thinking about O-kun. Why’d you bring him up?”
“You’re not convincing anyone when you look that flustered, Miledi.”
“Shut up, Nacchan!”
Naiz obediently shut up. However, Meiru wasn’t done teasing Miledi yet. She was still holding a grudge over the fact that Miledi had abandoned her minutes ago.
“You know, you’ve been looking south more frequently lately.”
“N-No I haven’t.”
“Yes you have. Who’re you hoping to see there, I wonder?”
“W-Well even if I have, it’s only natural. After all, once the others join up with us we’ll be able to put an end to this war. What’s wrong with looking forward to their arrival? There’s nothing weird about me unconsciously looking south more often than usual! Man, I can’t wait until Van-chan and the others get here!”
Miledi’s composure was back. She really did look like she meant what she said. Of course, Meiru and Naiz were still grinning at her.
“Are Miledi-tan and Oscar-san lovers?” Lyutillis asked, genuinely curious.
“No way. Also, Lyu-chan. Isn’t it about time you sat down like a normal person?”
“But then Onee-sama won’t have anywhere to sit...”
“We’ve got more chairs, you know!”
“I see you all came prepared.”
“Why do you sound so depressed about that!? Actually, don’t answer; I know why!”
Lyutillis glared angrily at the extra chairs Miledi pulled out of her Treasure Trove. But then Meiru ordered her to sit in one and her ears wriggled happily as she complied. Eyes sparkling, she turned once more to Miledi.
“One of my greatest dreams was to talk about love with my friends. But I couldn’t talk to U-chan or Di-chan since they’re guys.”
“Ah, I see. I’d say there’s a bigger problem than the fact that they’re guys, but I’ll ignore that for now.”
“But you already said it, Miledi.”
It would definitely be a problem if the queen of a nation was discussing love with bugs.
“I’ve heard that Nacchan-san is into little girls and has already made two young sisters fall for him, but...”
“Excuse me a moment, Lyu. There’s something I need to take care of. Sorry, but you’ll never see Miledi or Meiru again.”
Naiz’s words were dripping with bloodlust. His eyes had a murderous gleam. Miledi and Meiru hurriedly bowed their heads in apology and changed the topic.
“O-Oh yeah, Miledi-chan. Come to think of it, this is the first time you’ve been away from Oscar-kun since you met him, isn’t it?”
“Huh? Yeah... I guess it is.”
Now that she mentions it... this really is the first time we’ve been apart for more than a day. Even when Miledi and Oscar split up, they’d never been apart for more than a few hours. This was definitely the first time he hadn’t been with her for a whole month. As she thought that, Miledi absentmindedly touched something on her face. Meiru and Naiz narrowed their eyes at her. Noticing their gaze, Miledi turned back to them.
“What?” she asked, cocking her head.
“Oh, just thinking that they really suit you, Miledi-chan. Isn’t that right, Naiz-kun?”
“Yeah, you’ve been wearing them constantly the past few weeks.”
“Yeah, because they’re convenient. Got a problem with that?”
Not at all Meiru and Naiz thought silently, smiling. Miledi’s glare grew sharper, and the lenses of the red-rimmed glasses she was wearing flashed in the light. They were the pair Oscar had made specifically for her, and as Naiz had said, she’d been wearing them constantly recently. While it was true they were extremely convenient, Meiru and Naiz knew the real reason she was wearing them was because she was lonely. Seeing the looks on everyone’s faces, Lyutillis suppressed her masochistic urges for a bit and smiled gently at Miledi.
“Over this past month, I’ve heard many of your stories. As someone who’s never stepped foot out of the forest, I’m honestly quite jealous of the vibrant lives you’ve lived. I know it hasn’t always been easy, and that you’ve faced many hardships, but even so I envy your lifestyle.”
“Do you dislike the burden of being queen?”
Realizing Lyutillis was being serious here, Miledi too became serious. During this past month, Miledi and the others had told Lyutillis how they’d all met, and what their lives had been like before that. But until now, Lyutillis hadn’t said anything about her own life. Miledi and the others hadn’t pried, waiting instead for Lyutillis to talk of her own accord. They knew that once she trusted them, once she was ready, she’d tell them. The reason Miledi had asked now was because she’d sensed that Lyutillis was finally ready to talk. Is she ready to talk about herself? Does she finally trust us? Lyutillis easily read those thoughts from Miledi’s hesitant expression. She could see why Meiru doted on Miledi so.
“No. I’ve never once detested my responsibilities, nor have I ever felt the desire to abandon them. I’m proud of the abilities I was born with, and proud to serve the people who need me.”
Her dignity as a queen was back. Miledi and the others could tell there was an unbreakable will behind that gentle smile of her. She was resolved to bear the fate of her country on her shoulders.
“I love the republic, this forest, and everyone living within it.”
But even more than that—
“I would not regret even giving up my life if it would secure my people’s safety.” She was ready to die for it.
“Lyu-chan! I mean, Your Majesty! You can’t—”
“Fufu. Don’t worry, I know. Badd already scolded me once for saying that.”
Miledi and the others breathed a sigh of relief. They truly are all kind people... Lyutillis thought to herself as she watched their reactions.
“Pride. Yes, it’s pride that drives me. Pride in my homeland, and pride in my duty to protect it.”
Lyutillis paused for a moment before continuing.
“But I’ve always wondered... if that’s enough. This is something I’ve been thinking about long before I took the throne.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“By picking my country, I turned my back to the world. And I’ve always wondered if spending my life in this closed-off paradise really is the right thing to do.”
“Are you saying you long for the outside world?”
“Not quite, Meiru. This isn’t about my desires. I’m speaking of the obligation that our race, the beastmen, has to the world.”
“Lyutillis... Were you planning on fighting with the church from the very start?” Naiz asked, his eyes wide. Smiling faintly, Lyutillis shook her head.
“I don’t mean anything quite so grand. Remember what I said before? If my surrender could stop this war, I’d gladly give myself up.”
“I see... You weren’t saying that out of self-sacrifice, but rather... Hahaha, I’m sorry. It seems I underestimated you, Lyu-chan.”
Miledi bowed her head in apology. Lyutillis reached out and gently patted her head.
“I see... You wanted to become a bridge between beastmen and humans, didn’t you? You were hoping that if you, the beastmen queen, went over to the church, you’d be able to convince both humans and beastmen to work together. You thought you could reform the church from the inside.”
“You were determined to fight too, just in a different way than us. Sorry... I misjudged you.”
“It’s fine. I realize now it was naive to cling to such a foolish dream. Please don’t apologize. If anything, I’m at fault for being so ignorant.”
Lyutillis blushed in embarrassment, but no one derided her for having hope. They couldn’t. Her resolve to fight for her people’s future was nothing short of admirable. Miledi was especially moved. This was the first time she’d met anyone outside of the Liberators whose goal was to unite all the races of the world.
“I see. So that’s why you agreed to Badd’s proposal and guided us here.”
That also explained why Lyutillis had trusted Badd enough to let him visit the capital too. Of course she knew her subjects wouldn’t trust humans, so she’d treated Badd and the Liberators with caution on the surface, but in her heart she’d been ready to accept them all along.
“Why did you decide to tell us this?” Miledi asked, her emotions threatening to overflow. Still looking like a dignified queen, Lyutillis replied solemnly, “You said we could win this war, Miledi. But once we win, what should we do next? While you and the Liberators continue to oppose the church, what should we beastmen do?”
Lyutillis had finally come to an answer. Miledi had said the Liberators needed no reward for their assistance, but the beastmen of the republic weren’t so shameless as to let their benefactors leave empty-handed. So there was only one thing Lyutillis could do.
“Please, allow us to join you.”
The beastmen would join the Liberators’ struggle, both for the Liberators’ sake, and for the world’s. Tears welled up in Miledi’s eyes. This was the first time someone had offered to join her instead of her doggedly recruiting them. Meiru and Naiz smiled gently at Miledi. They knew how hard she’d worked to convince them, and what it meant to her to have someone offering to join of their own free will instead. Noticing their gazes, Miledi blushed. However, while Miledi was extremely moved by Lyutillis’ offer, she couldn’t ignore the practical problem it presented. Timidly, she asked, “Are you sure about this? Will the other beastmen really agree to—”
“They will. That was what this past month was for.”
“You mean...”
“There’s a reason I chose to use nicknames for all of you. Moreover, one of you is a hero who’s protected our forest from the church’s strongest foes, while another one of you is a saint who’s saved the lives of countless beastmen. Even you’ve made friends among my imperial guard, Naiz. Complaining about the recent changes in my behavior has helped you all bond, hasn’t it?”
“Y-You did that on purpose?”
Of course, Lyutillis knew it would be difficult to get the consent of all beastmen. But if she could get the most important people in the republic to trust humans, then she could at least stop them from refusing her request outright just because the Liberators was a group of humans. At the very least, Lyutillis was hoping that’s how things would go. After finishing her speech, Lyutillis elegantly sipped her black tea.
“Ahaha... I guess even if you’re scum, you’re still a queen,” Meiru muttered, impressed. Indeed, even after knowing all about Lyutillis’ quirks, she still looked regal to the Liberators.
“D-Did you just call me, a queen, scum...? Heh...”
Hang on, did our wise and resolute queen just blush? Panicking, Miledi hurriedly tried to think of a way to keep Lyutillis’ serious side around a few minutes longer.
“Umm, Queen Lyutillis Haltina. I am deeply grateful for your support. As the leader of the Liberators, I, Miledi Reisen, humbly accept your offer of aid. Truly, thank you.”
“No, thank you. You have brought a new wind to the stagnant republic.”
Smiling, Miledi and Lyutillis got to their feet and shook hands. Before their handshake ended, Lyutillis asked, “So now that we’ve gotten closer, there’s something I absolutely must ask you. What is your relationship with Oscar-san, Miledi-tan?”
“Are we really going back to that!? Look, we’re just friends! That’s all!”
“Is that really all?”
“Yes, there’s nothing between us!”
The serious atmosphere melted away, and Lyutillis went back to normal. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she pressed Miledi for more details on her love life. Miledi turned to Meiru with tears in her eyes, begging the dagon woman to save her. Lyutillis’ grip was surprisingly tight, and Miledi couldn’t break free. Pervert though Lyutillis was, she was just as strong as any other ancient magic user.
“Lyu, Miledi-chan doesn’t want to talk about this... So make sure you grab her tight and don’t let her escape.”
“Meru-nee!?”
“As you wish, Onee-sama!”
“Wait, don’t listen to her, Lyu-chan! You dummy!”
“Fufu, no one’s called me a dummy to my face before.”
When she was like this, Lyutillis was invincible. Anything anyone did to try and stop her just made her happy. Everything from insults to kindness was converted into pleasure.
“Nacchaaaaaan!”
“Haaah... Fine. Hey Lyu, what about you? Is there anyone you’re interested in?”
Naiz did his best to throw Miledi a bone. Surprised by the sudden question, Lyutillis cocked her head.
“Since you’re the queen and all, haven’t your retainers tried to set up marriage interviews with other nobles or anything?”
“Oh yeah! Lyu-chan, are people bugging you about giving birth to an heir or anything? You’re old enough to have had a few suitors, right? Even that boring, straight-laced, fun-hating Laus Barn’s married, you know! And he even has a son!”
In an attempt to save herself, Miledi threw Laus’ reputation under the bus. Many miles away, Laus sneezed in the middle of the street. Meanwhile, Lyutillis smiled sadly and said, “Parsha did say she’d try and find someone willing to accept the real me.”
“Oho! So, who’d she find!?”
When all was said and done, Miledi was a girl too. She was just as interested in love stories as Lyutillis.
“Did you forget what Parsha said about the number of people who know my secret?”
Parsha had said that only her and a few maids knew. Which naturally meant that despite searching the entire country, she hadn’t been able to find a single man willing to marry a masochist. Miledi and the others’ expressions stiffened. Lyutillis suddenly turned to Meiru. After a few seconds, her face went red.
“H-Hold on a second. Why are you blushing while looking at me?”
“Onee-sama. I’ve been thinking. Love transcends gender, doesn’t it?”
Meiru jumped to her feet and bolted away.
“Ah, where are you going, Onee-sama!? Wait for meeee!”
Lyutillis chased after Meiru with surprising agility. She also sent a cockroach swarm led by U-chan and a butterfly swarm led by Di-chan after Meiru, blocking off her avenues of escape. A gentle breeze wafted through the clearing.
“Hey Nacchan, you think Badd would be willing to marry Lyu-chan?”
“Is he secretly a sadist?”
“Nope.”
“Definitely not then.”
“Figures... Still, he’ll probably freak out anyway when he learns Lyu-chan’s into a girl.”
“Good luck keeping him in line, Leader.”
Miledi’s shoulders drooped, but then a second later her expression grew serious.
“The theocracy’s probably realized by now that they can’t push any further into the forest as long as we’re here.”
“Yeah, definitely.”
“Meaning she’ll definitely be showing up soon.”
“Agreed...”
The two of them were thinking about Hearst, the God’s Apostle that they’d fought in the desert.
“The mist barrier is practically impenetrable. But, knowing her...”
“Yeah, who knows what she’s capable of. Back in Andika she managed to disguise herself so well no one even noticed she was there... Well, that’s why I’m staying back here to guard Lyutillis.”
“Mhmm... I’m counting on you, Nacchan.”
Miledi thought back to the earth-shattering duel they’d had in the Crimson Desert, her expression solemn. Despite their best efforts, the three of them had lost. While Miledi, Oscar, and Naiz had succeeded in inflicting grave injuries on Hearst, it had cost them every last drop of their mana. On the other hand, Hearst had still been in fighting shape. It was obvious what the result would have been had their battle continued.
But for some reason, Hearst had retreated. She’d let them live. Technically the fact that they’d survived at all could be considered a victory, but Miledi and Naiz both knew they’d been defeated in terms of strength.
“We have to protect Lyu-chan, no matter what. We won’t let the church lay a finger on the republic.”
“Yeah.”
“Also—”
Miledi turned her gaze upward, giving the heavens a piercing glare. She gritted her teeth, her usual annoying attitude nowhere to be seen. Her eyes were burning with determination.
“This time, we’ll win. I’ll prove to the world that Miledi Reisen can stand up to god.”
She wouldn’t run. Nor would she let her foe escape. This time, Miledi Reisen would prove once and for all that she could take down the symbol of Ehit’s will, God’s Apostle. It was time to send the whole world a message.
Naiz put a reassuring hand on Miledi’s shoulder, indicating that he’d be there to fight with her. At the same time, he looked south, a hint of impatience in his expression. Please hurry, Oscar, Van. The decisive battle is drawing near. They would need everyone if they wanted to win against Hearst.
However, contrary to everyone’s expectations, the battle the next day was not the finale they’d planned for. The church’s knights and the Federation launched a very lukewarm assault and retreated at the slightest hint of danger.
Of course, the Liberators knew there was no way the theocracy’s crazed zealots had lost their nerve. The concept of giving up didn’t exist in their dictionary, meaning they had to be planning something.
Naiz couldn’t leave Lyutillis’ side, but he could still create portals to teleport people. And so after half a month of half-assed attacks by the church, Miledi decided to use one of those portals to infiltrate Agris and find out what was going on. However, it turned out there was no need for Miledi to go scouting. Because the day before she was planning on going, the Federation launched a full-scale assault using all 170,000 of their troops. They were clearly planning on ending things in one push, without any regard to what it might cost. Every one of the Federation’s exhausted soldiers had a fanatic glint in their eyes that made it clear they would either emerge victorious or perish to the last man.
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