The Daughter of Evil - Volume 1 - Chapter 2.22

Chapter 2: Section 2: Scene 2 
♠Germaine~Lucifenia Kingdom’s “Forest of Bewilderment”~

“Here! Carry the water here!”

“It’s not working! The fire is spreading too quickly! It’s unstoppable!”

“Ahhhh…… The forest…… The forest is burning.”

In just one day, the flame engulfed half of the forest. Although I called a whole crowd to extinguish it, it’s totally meaningless.

“It seems that it’ll soon spread to Elphegort’s Thousand-Year Tree’s Forest.”

Minage muttered by my side. He was originally an immigrant from Elphegort.

“We won’t be using our base temporarily…… But it’s just a matter of time.”

“We could always build a new base; what’s important now is extinguishing the fire.”

Behind, York and Sekka spoke as they desperately carried water.

“Stop! Stop the extinguishing at once!”

Abruptly, a group of Lucifenian soldiers riding on horses appeared in front of us.

“You’re actually telling us to stop the fire…… If we don’t act quickly, the whole forest would be burned!”

Mark protested in disbelief. However, the Lucifenian soldier’s answer was more surprising.

“That’s no use. Because this fire is a direct order from Queen Riliane; the fire was done on purpose.”

“Fuck! What is the Queen thinking!? Exactly why……”

“To pave the way so that we could attack Elphegort.”

“In order to…… attack Elphegort?!”

Minage was stunned by the soldier’s words.

Why attack Elphegort? Over several decades, any political conflict between the two countries didn’t occur. Rather, shouldn’t I say it was always harmonious? Is there any evidence before the food support?

And…… Just to invade another country, burn the forest? Are you kidding ah! Although very few, there are people living in the forest ah! Does she intend to burn them to death with it?!

As I was getting ready to refute the Lucifenian soldiers——

——Plop——

I felt something on my cheek. Water? I looked up and saw the blue sky gather up dark clouds; it started to rain.

Instantly, the rain changed…… into a powerful rainstorm I have never seen before.

The heavy rain swept through the forest and gradually extinguished the flames…… ‘till it completely suppressed the fire.

This is such a sudden occurrence.

“Yay! This is a gift from heaven!”

The people rejoiced. The Lucifenian soldiers stayed a while and when they finally regained consciousness, they turned around and ran towards the Palace.

“…… Those guys might come back and set fire to it again.”

York muttered as he watched the soldiers at the back.

“But at least it’s all right while it’s still raining. When the rain stops…… let’s enhance our vigilance for the forest. We must not allow this to happen a second time.”

Confirming that the soldiers had already left, everyone peacefully went to their respective homes. I also intended to go back home, when suddenly——

I saw a shadow in the forest. It’s a familiar silhouette. It’s……

As I chased, I followed it into the depths of the forest.

And there, I saw two women sitting with exhausted faces. I’ve seen them before in my father’s funeral: the Court Mage Elluka and her apprentice.

“Whew…… Quite a good job. What a waste of a rare octopus. Nice work Gumilia; your magic improved a lot.”

“……”

“Magic”? What are they saying?

“The rain should temporarily stop it. Good thing we were able to control the fire before the ‘Thousand-Year Tree’ was burned.”

…… This sudden rainstorm…… was made by them?

“Elluka-san”

I openly said as I went nearer.

“Oh, you’re…… Leonhart’s daughter, right?”

“Yes, my name’s Germaine. You two look very tired; my home’s not very far away from the forest. If you don’t mind, you can go there and rest.”

“…… Although kind hearts like yours are rare, but that would be a bit difficult for us since we’re being chased by the Royal Palace.”

Elluka mischievously smiled, as she freely told the staggering fact. Court Mage Elluka is actually chased by the Palace? Why……?

Elluka and her disciple stood up, walked to the depths of the forest, and soon disappeared.

The forest is going to be burned.

One of the Three Heroes is being hunted.

“What exactly happened to the Palace……?”

I gazed unto the direction of the Palace in the heavy rain.