“What happened to the maid beastkin who tried to attack you last time?”

Sequencee was referring to the event which coincided with Reese’s death. Back then, Risa had to stay back to assist him while Shiro went to meet the ‘escapist’ to negotiate. The only reason why Risa had the confidence to let Shiro go like that was because he had Matilda by his side. No explanation required as to how she ended up there: protagonist correction.

“That maid, she’s preparing for our arrival,” Shiro said.

“In situations like this, remember what I taught you,” Aaron reminded.

“I know, I won’t let my guard down.”

“It doesn’t sound sensible to visit enemy territory just to get them to stop chasing Linton’s tail. In the first place, why him?” Sequencee asked.

“As if even the hero knows,” Linton quipped. “Hey, shouldn’t we start buying? We’ve surveyed enough already, right?”

Three coloured dangos, sticky rice cake, sweet rice dumplings, takoyaki, croissants, sweet bean soup, nim bean ice cream, mooncakes– a delectable variety of options for anyone with a stomach for supper.

By the time they entered the third street, Linton had already bought a couple dozen samples to try. In fact, he was the one busy passing the extra food to the other three.

Sequencee kept a note to himself to buy a couple more of these nim-milk croissants for their trip later.

“Sequencee, why are you visiting Luddite Earldom?” Linton asked, mouth stuffed with cream.

“I’m actually going to Estia.”

“Estia? You mean the place that was burned down by the demons?”

“Yeah, that.”

“Do you have a relative there?”

“In the past. Yeah.”

“Your parents?”

“Linton,” Aaron warned.

“What?”

He didn’t feel it.

The pain whenever people brought up the topic of his mother– it was the first time he felt this way. Normally, there would be this sort of pain in his heart to ignite mucky emotions. There wasn’t such a thing. It felt off, like something about him was missing for no longer mourning for his mother’s passing.

As if it was just an expected part of his past.

His mom would’ve died eventually even if the demons didn’t interfere, that was the truth right?

‘Then again, I could’ve learnt so much if she was still here..’

Sequencee still reminisces those days he could explore the world with someone dear to him.

Linton was clueless as to what had happened three years ago. So it was both expected and insensitive of him to continue further. Shiro, of course, dragged him aside to explain the whole situation.

“Sequencee, regarding your true identity, that matter I will do my utmost to have the royal family agree,” Aaron said.

“Oh.. that’s a big problem, isn’t it?”

“No, please be assured that Her Highness and I will do our utmost. People are aware that you are no normal demon, and the news of the princess marrying a demon lord had most likely reached the ears of the emperor and empress. I don’t know what their response would be, concerning when it was only recently that there was an incident involving the demons and the two young princes’.”

Back when His Majesty prodded him to take up Evelyn’s hand, he had no idea that Sequencee was a demon, let alone a demon lord.

“Yum, Shiro, do you want some of this?” Linton turned to the hero with a small sweet bun.

“Sure thing,” Shiro pinched the top and settled it into his mouth.

Sequencee watched their interaction.

‘Discrimination against demons and beastkins, it’s easy to forget that not everyone sees things like us.’

“Lin–”

“Hm?”

The silver haired beastkin halted in his steps and turned to the fading voice.

“What is it?”

“I thought I heard someone call my name..”

“Really?”

No one could see anyone

“Maybe there’s just someone with a similar name calling out to someone else.”

“No, I think I really heard it though. My ears are sharp, my intuition is telling me..”

“Linton!”

“There it is again!” he exclaimed.

Shiro couldn’t make out the person calling him from the crowd, neither could Sequencee.

They raised their guard. There was a possibility here that the person calling might be here to lure him in.

“Is it alright if we went to check it out?” Linton pleaded.

“Linton!” a third time.

“Ah!!” he rushed into the crowd.

Melty was being restrained by Alice.

“Come on, there’s no way Linton is here. He should be at Riestallia already, there’s no way he came here just to attend this festival.”

Melty shook her head vigorously and continued resisting, her gaze fixed towards the depth of the crowd.

“Come on, we need to get our shaved ice before it melts. Look, even the stall owner is waving at us.”

Melty bit down on her lips.

Was that not the person after all..?

“Melty!”

A voice from behind.

She turned back. And there standing before her was..

“It’s been a while. I didn’t know you’d come to these kinds of festivals. Nice clothes.”

Melty withdrew a few steps, he tilted his head in confusion.

What is she doing?

He was here, now she was avoiding him again? All this time she had been the one capable of interpreting her heart correctly. Most of them would make guesses to what Melty was trying to convey through her silence but only Linton truly understood her.

He said she was the one who helped him? No, he was the one who helped her.

She was but a mute bibliophile, and he.. was the first friend she had ever made.

“Linton!” her puerile voice enraptured the hearts of those around her.

“Eh?! Eh?! Linton! Why are you here?!” Alice exclaimed.

“Oh, Alice. It’s been a while! I just happened to be passing when I heard one of you call me.”

“Ah,” Alice recoiled at the three other male friends he had accompanying him. All of them were hot dudes in her eyes– these were the friends he made ever since joining the hero’s party? Amazing!

“Melty?” Linton called out.

“Safe trip,” tears dripped from her eyes. “I’ve.. always wanted to tell you this.”

Linton showed a troubled expression. An awkward pause amidst their peculiar reunion.

“Thank you Melty. I’ll definitely do my best and not to worry, I have these people that’ll protect me if anything happens.”

Melty nodded.

“I’m sorry I can’t bring you. The mission is going to be very dangerous”

Melty nodded again.

“I’ll make sure to come visit you once just before the semester break ends.”

She did it with more vigor this time.

“Thank you for worrying about me,” Linton said with a confident smile, “Here, want some?”

Melty received the dangos he held out to her. A wave of emotions swept over her, a smile bloomed on her face.

“Thank you, Linton.”

Alice’s mouth fell, since when did Melty become so talkative.

===

“I can only leave this matter in your hands, Evelyn,” Schwii said.

“Depending on how the discussion will proceed, I hope to have your support in this no matter the outcome. Even if my father or mother denies, I want to stand firm with this decision,” Evelyn, the imperial princess responded in a serious countenance.

“To think we’d all be engaged to the same person..” Leticia muttered, followed up by a big bite into the ice cream waffle she had in hand. Some of the cream got stuck on her face.

As much as they disliked having to share the love of a single person, they knew that they needed to strengthen their bonds with one another if they wanted to prevent a massive internal fight.

All it takes is but a spark to bring ruin to the peace in this newfound relationship.

Meanwhile..

“I’ll say it once and I’ll say it again, don’t you dare use your eyes to manipulate the hero. He has an important responsibility to protect the world. If you dissuade him from his true path, the world’s hope will crumble.”

“You’re too serious about this Matilda. Since when have I tried to seduce the hero with my eyes? Aren’t you the one putting on airs? Using your divine beauty to catch the attention of the hero– look, you’re now part of his party thanks to that no?”

“No such thing! I merely have my duty to fulfill! As the representative bestowed the blessing of the Goddess, I’m meant to fight by his side.”

‘She’s an apostle huh?’

“A blessing huh? What kind of blessing? The one that lets you grow wings?” Reese showed a dark smile.

“There is no need for you to know.”

Reese had an inkling that this was the case, her first encounter with Matilda had already sparked some suspicion.

[Blessing: Seraphication]

Blessings are unique in that you can’t acquire them through the system catalog. It could be explained as a gift directly bestowed upon you by the Goddess herself. From Matilda’s recount, she was given this blessing a year ago in a dream.

“The Goddess will not be bested by the likes of you.”

Matilda was aware of the existence of the Savior’s religion. There was an incident involving them in her territory during the past. Like a tumor, one by one, they snatched away believers of the Goddess and put them into this distorted faith built upon distorted images of what was once the Goddess’ chosen one, the late hero Rika. By the edict of the high priestess of her nation, the heretics were caught and slaughtered.

Hearing that Reese was from this cult, Matilda knew she just couldn’t sit still. More so when this girl had this insidious gift that allowed her to manipulate people.

She had to avoid Reese from converting Risa and Shiro to her faith at all cost.

For Reese however, as a believer of the Savior’s religion, the notion that Goddess who is worshiped as the omnipotent being of life and vitality to the people is no more than a lie.

Of course, Reese had her own take on these beliefs. After all, freedom of thought was part of the Savior’s doctrine. To her, the Goddess was a figurehead, an entity of apathy, which wasn’t to say she is a bad person. There was nothing wrong being critical of some of the teachings in her own religion and those of others.

Because there are things part of her own religion which she doesn’t quite agree with. Questions like: Why did the ‘true one’ destroy Estia? Was it wrong to kill the innocent for a greater cause? What if sacrificing Estia had been a necessary step in bringing world peace one step closer? If not for the death of these people, the summoning ritual for the current two heroes would’ve never taken place.

Matilda and Reese were opposites. One was an upright believer of justice, the other was a joker of skepticism. Yet their goal remains the same: to support the heroes.

Lagging behind the group was Risa and Iona who carried Linzy. Some snacks could be seen in Risa’s hands.

“Those two are really like cat and dog huh?” Risa muttered.

“What is a cat?” Iona asked.

She stared at her with incredulous eyes. Cats don’t exist in this world don’t they? How about panthers then?

“Open your mouth Iona.”

“There’s no need for this Hero Risa.”

“Come on! It’s delicious stuff right, say ah~”

An unlikely friendship blooming between the hero and demon general.

Iona indifferently allowed the hero to do as she wished. As long as it served the purpose of bridging the gap between the human empire and demon empire, it was a worthwhile investment to sacrifice some of her pride.

“How is it?”

“Passing mark.”

“Well, at least it’s not my food,” Risa chucked a small mooncake into her mouth.

The group continued strolling around for the remainder of the hour. Nothing particularly interesting happened besides the intensification of Reese and Matilda’s bickering.

===

“We’ll be splitting up here,” Sequencee said.

“Stay safe, and come to Lumbire Kingdom as soon as you can,” Risa said

“I know.”

“Milady, I’ll be parting with you for a temporary period,” Iona bowed.

“You take care of yourself Iona.”

“Stay safe, everyone.”

“Don’t forget to practice the sword when I’m not around.”

“It’s the holiday though..”

“I will make sure they follow through with that sir Aaron.”

“Schwii, I’ll do my best. So you do too,” Evelyn said resolutely,

“Evelyn, whatever the outcome may be, don't fret it, take care of yourself,” Schwii responded.

“Good luck Evelyn, I wish you the best,” Leticia gave her wishes.

Sequencee stepped forward and stood before Evelyn. The two looked into each other’s eyes. He reached out to grab her two hands, her cheeks swelled a little red.

“Evelyn, take care. I’ll see you in a month.”

Not ‘us’, but ‘I’. It came across differently when phrased in that way.

As the two groups left for their warp gates, Evelyn and Aaron stood there relaying their last adieu. Finally when they went, Evelyn opened her clenched fist to reveal a red crystal necklace– the communication pendant.

– Should anything happen, give up a call.

Sequencee had passed her his.

‘Thank you.’

“Let’s go,” she said to Aaron.

Evelyn looked towards the direction of the imperial castle.