"I feel I must, once again, apologize for my lackluster performance, Good Hunter."

Selina rolled her eyes and said, "And, once again, I say there is nothing wrong with asking for help, Koga. You have done nothing wrong. You fought as well as you could against the Blade of Salvation."

"Perhaps, but not well enough. I shouldn't have needed you and Matilda's help to defeat the enemy. For if I cannot defeat a mere magic sword, then what chance do I have against those who directly serve the White Lilim?"

Matilda spoke up, raising a finger, "Counterpoint, the Blade of Salvation wasn't just a mere magic sword. It carried the spirits of all those it had killed and gained sentience through exposure to Mamono Mana. Any weapon created using that method cannot be described as a 'simple magic sword'. It was more like a living weapon, without being parasitic to the host."

Koga kept his gaze on the path ahead, his hands gripping Nobu's reins, "You make a good point. And, Matilda, you have my sincerest thanks for what you did. If it weren't for you, Nobu would either be dead or something far worse."

"Oh, don't be so humble, Koga. The only reason this was possible was because of you. Anyone else would have been monsterized. Not to mention, Nobu had the willpower to resist corruption for so long. Isn't that right, Nobu?"

The skeletal horse let out a low neigh, a literal flaming tongue leaving its lips to lick its nostrils. Its fiery tail waved through the air behind it, while its hooves clopped along the path. The tall grass below was charred with each step of the fiery horse, its steps never wavering for a second.

Matilda smiled, "See? Nobu agrees with me."

"That he does," Koga praised his steed, rubbing Nobu's skeletal neck with a hand. Nobu shook his head in gratitude. Selina giggled into her hand at her comrade's conversation. Matilda and her had ridden Nobu through the night, not stopping even as the moon disappeared below the horizon. Koga awoke as the first rays of sunlight landed on his face. After informing him about what had happened, he promptly requested to take hold of Nobu's reins. Selina agreed, and now the three of them were sharing Nobu's saddle. Koga sat at the front, Selina rode behind him, and Matilda rode on Selina's shoulders.

Other than that one brief stop, the trio hadn't paused in their journey since then. They had left behind the graves that the Huntress had dug, along with any hope of returning to Pran efficiently. Nobu maintained a steady trot as the three of them traveled. Quick enough to help them make good time, but not so fast that they would miss the moment when they crossed the borders. Though the chance of that happening was slim to none. After all, none of them needed to sleep. Or eat. Or drink. Or felt real fatigue.

Selina looked around to observe her surroundings. The trees here seemed to have denser foliage, with branches that stretched out to interconnect with one another. Some trees had their branches entwined together, hanging over the path and creating a canopy. The rustling of squirrels and other animals moving through the trees echoed throughout the forest. Selina squinted, took off her hat, and placed a hand over her brow to block the sun. Peering through the canopy above, she spotted some dark, puffy clouds moving in their direction.

Frowning, she put her hat back on and said, "Dark clouds are moving in from the west. It might rain soon."

"Not that troubling. I doubt any of us could get sick from the cold," Koga stated confidently.

Matilda pulled herself up to look over the Huntress' shoulder and exclaimed, "I doubt we'll get cold or wet at all! Nobu's fire will keep us safe."

Koga frowned and said, "That does remind me of three things I wish to say. First, allow me to properly greet you, Matilda. My name is Koga. I am an Ochimusha, serving the Good Hunter. I hope we get along."

He bowed his head in greeting. Matilda returned the gesture, "The same to you, Koga. You already know my name and what I am. I look forward to becoming your friend as we go along."

Koga nodded, then turned his attention to Nobu, "The second thing I wish to ask is, am I supposed to feel this strange connection between me and Nobu?"

Matilda's interest was piqued upon hearing that. She pulled herself up until she was sitting on Selina's shoulder. Her eyes were fixed on Koga's back as she spoke, "Whatever do you mean?"

"It's this... faint pull at the back of my mind. This strange feeling... I'm afraid I can't describe it. And that troubles me," Koga said, shaking his head and growling in frustration.

Matilda smiled at Koga and said, "That's totally normal. Nobu is now a Demon Beast. They are meant to form bonds with their riders. It is this bond that enhances their abilities, enabling them to execute maneuvers that defy conventional logic. Do you remember all those things that the Blade of Salvation's steed did while you fought it?"

"How could I forget? That thing moved like a ghost. It jumped and dodged in ways that were impossible for an ordinary horse. Wait, are you saying that Nobu could do the same?" Koga asked, his eyes widening at the implications.

"The same? Not necessarily. But similar? Yes. You simply need to practice with him. Fight alongside him, take care of him outside of battles, and be a responsible owner. At least, that's how it works for most Mamono who own a Demon Beast as a steed."

At the sight of Koga's frown, Matilda raised her hand and said, "No, you don't have to engage in any sexual activities to make it work. I doubt it would help you at all. If anything, you would probably just anger Nobu."

Nobu stamped one of his hooves in apparent agreement. Koga's body relaxed upon hearing that. He lifted his head and narrowed his eyes, "My third question concerns the Good Hunter: What are we going to do when we reach the capital of Lescatie? Surely, they won't just let us walk through the front gate?"

"Actually, they will," Matilda was quick to say, "Under Druella's rule, Lescatie has become a very welcoming and open nation. It doesn't matter who or what you are; they'll let you in as long as you don't plan to cause trouble. In fact, they might let you in even if you do. Because some Mamono love to 'punish troublemakers'."

Koga frowned, "Then entering the nation is not an issue. But what about afterwards? If we are to meet the White Lilim face to face, then surely there must be a plan for doing so, Good Hunter?"

Both Matilda and Koga looked at Selina. They waited for her to answer, while the wind whistled through the air, carrying the scent of flowers and dew. After a few moments, Selina shrugged and said, "The plan was to enter Lescatie, approach Druella, and politely request that she leave Pran alone."

"...That's it?" Koga asked, raising an eyebrow.

"That is it. Save for taking a detour to give Sasha the bracelet I have," she tapped her chest pocket, feeling the circular object within. She let her arms fall and shrugged again, "I doubt it will be that easy. However, I believe that simple plans with minimal opportunities for failure are superior to overly complex ones that can easily crumble."

Koga turned away, a frown still on his face, "Hmm, I suppose that is fair. Though, I will say that having some long-term foresight would go a long way. Thinking in the short term can only take one so far."

"I understand this. But we are working with limited information. Outside of rumors and second-hand testimony, we know nothing about Lescatie or its inhabitants. Matilda could help, but I suspect her knowledge may be limited. Am I correct?" Selina glanced at Matilda for confirmation.

Matilda nodded, "I knew much of Lescatie as a member of the Sabbath, but not everything. I promise I will do my best to guide us once we reach the capital. But we are bound to encounter things that I have no knowledge of."

She crossed her arms and frowned, "However, I do not think Koga and I should be worrying about Druella. We should be focusing more on ourselves."

"How so?" Selina asked, raising an eyebrow.

Matilda gave the Huntress a flat look and said, "Koga and I are not immune to corruption. You witnessed it during the battle with the Blade of Salvation. While Koga managed to hold off his corruption until we arrived, the fact of the matter is that he is susceptible to corruption. And once we reach the Demon Realm, we're going to be subjected to a dense amount of corrupted Mana. We should be fine for a while, but it's something we need to take into account."

Matilda crossed her legs and closed her eyes in thought, "And that's without accounting for the enemies we may face. While the Blade of Salvation was formidable, it is nowhere near the level of Lescatie's strongest. And if our goal is to confront Druella, we will need to deal with her inner circle. Which includes all six of the Fallen Maidens, their eight Fallen Knight supporters, and the leader of one of the Sabbaths. Alone, they are the strongest people in Lescatie. Together, they are a force that could potentially rival Druella. With their husbands? Potentially unstoppable."

"For anyone but me," Selina bluntly stated, "nothing they could do would hurt me."

"True, but any one of them could easily crush Koga and me without much effort. I have not seen them in battle, but I have been close to some of them. Even the weakest among them could rival a Baphomet in terms of magical ability. If Koga or I had to face even one of them, we would lose within moments," Matilda's tone was calm, as if she were stating a matter of fact. She placed a hand on her chin, "While our goal may be peaceful resolution, only fools go into enemy territory without expecting strife. And if Druella's goal is to capture the Huntress, then they will target us in order to reach her."

"I won't let that happen," Koga's grip on his reins tightened, "I will use the time we have to train myself as much as possible. When the time for battle comes, the Mamono will find that I am not easy prey."

"That's exactly what I was thinking, Koga," Matilda said, opening her eyes and smiling. Then she turned to the Huntress and said, "You should join us as well, Good Hunter."

Selina shrugged, "I don't see why not. It is always good to refresh one's skills. And I do need to practice with some of my less frequently used tools."

"That's good, but I was actually talking about-"

Matilda was interrupted when Nobu suddenly reared up. He whinnied as Koga pulled on his reins, and Matilda had to grab onto Selina's shoulder for balance. Selina gripped the saddle to maintain her balance as she looked ahead of them and asked, "What's wrong? Is Nobu alright?"

Koga shouted at Nobu to calm down. When the skeletal horse let its front legs hit the ground, Koga looked up to see what had caused it to stop. Anger came over his face as he spotted the cause. He reached for his blade as his body tensed up, "Mamono. Get behind us, Matilda."

Matilda pulled herself up to Selina's shoulder, shaking her head to regain her bearings. When she saw the group in front of her, fear made her body tense. Her face turned pale, and her hands started to tremble. She hissed aloud, "Oh, no. Not him. If he's here, then... yes. There she is. Oh, this is bad, this is bad!"

Selina focused her gaze on the path ahead of them. Three Demons, all similar in appearance to the one she had slain in Vinvers, flew out from the sides of the path. They stopped in front of them, their bodies blocking any easy path forward. Their eyes were narrowed and focused on her party. Bodies tensed up like springs, all three appeared prepared for a battle. But, while they were dangerous, the two individuals who commanded the most attention were the man walking down the center of the dirt path and the peculiar fox woman following closely behind him. Selina noticed the dark red gem on his chest, his purple skin, and his handsome yet aged facial features. His dark eyes were filled with curiosity that shifted into pity along with his expression. The fox woman remained a few steps behind him, her head held down and her five tails trailing beside her.

Selina frowned before turning to Matilda and asked, "Who are they?"

"That," Matilda said, swallowing as sweat dripped down her brow, "is Castor Bistol Lescatie. Former King of Lescatie. Current Head Envoy for the Lescatie Demon Realm. An Incubus in one of the highest positions in the new nation."

"And the fox woman?"

"Francia Reinel Lescatie. Former Queen of Lescatie. The Listener Fox. A powerful five-tailed Youko."

"How powerful?"

"Most Youko only have one or two tails. Those who have more tend to be stronger than others. Those who possess nine are revered as gods in Zipangu. She has five. She might as well be a Demi-God," Matilda's hands trembled as she gripped her dress for dear life, "Be careful, Good Hunter."

"I will," Selina said as she turned in her seat and dropped to the ground. She walked towards the approaching Castor, meeting the former king halfway. In the middle of the path, they stared at each other. Neither of them spoke a word as their gazes locked for just a moment.

After ten tense seconds had passed, Castor broke the silence. He raised his hand, his lips curling into a small smile, "Salutations. You must be the 'Hunter' I've heard so much about. My name is Castor. Castor Bistol Lescatie."

"Cynthia. Cynthia Albion," Castor and Selina both bowed their heads in greeting.

Castor straightened up, "Well met. You wouldn't mind if I opened our conversation by speaking frankly, would you?"

"I'd actually prefer it," Selina shrugged, emphasizing her point.

"Good. I do enjoy it when both parties can speak their minds without worry," Castor cleared his throat before looking straight at the Huntress, "Cynthia...your hands smell of blood. Mamono blood."

"I would expect so."

"You don't deny it?"

"Why would I?"

Castor's expression didn't change, but his body relaxed as he nodded, "I see. There is truth to those rumors. Ah, but I forget my manners. Allow me to introduce my companions. These three are Isla, Bella, and Zoey."

He waved his hand at the three Demons, who were all maintaining their battle-ready stances. Two of them, Isla and Bella, moved to stand on either side of Castor for protection. Both's sharp, red eyes glared at the Huntress, claws out. The last one, Zoey, flew into the air directly above Castor, her attention focused solely on Koga.

"And this," Castor turned to address the fox woman, "is my amazing wife, Francia. Though she tends to answer to Listener Fox nowadays."

Francia didn't say anything after her introduction. She simply lifted her head and curtsied to the Huntress in greeting. The Huntress nodded to her before replying to Castor, "Well met. As for my comrades, I will allow them to introduce themselves."

She turned to Koga and Matilda, nodding for them to go ahead. Koga pulled on Nobu's reins to get the horse to move until its right side was pointed toward Castor's group. Koga glared at the diplomat, his voice as cold as ice as he spoke, "My name is Koga. I align myself with the Good Hunter, Cynthia Albion. That is all."

Castor returned Koga's greeting, despite the frostiness of his tone. The Ochimusha only scowled before turning his attention back to the Demons. Matilda positioned herself until she was facing Castor directly. When she came into view, the Demons focused their eyes on her. Castor did the same while tilting his head to the side, "Is that...a Living Doll? Hmm, yes but...you're different."

Matilda, trying to maintain her composure, ran a hand through her hair before she spoke, "Greetings, Castor Bistol Lescatie. You do not know me, but I know of you. My name is Matilda. Former Living Doll of the Sabbath. Now Assistant to the Good Hunter."

Castor nodded, "Ah, I see. You were the Living Doll sent to Pran, correct? Druella informed me that something had changed about you. But it is something else to see with my own eyes. Your soul, it is shining. Like someone who has experienced intense love. But something about it is different. Yet, it is still powerful. Pray tell, how is this possible? What form of love have you managed to find?"

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Matilda placed a hand over her heart and lowered her head. She pursed her lips before looking up and saying, "It is... hard to explain. What I felt back then, and what I still feel in my heart, is not something that can be easily explained in a way that most Mamono would understand. The best way I can explain it is as a profound sense of trust. That no matter how much things change, the feelings of the other person will remain the same. And all that is asked is reciprocation of those feelings. With no need for any kind of sexual intimacy."

Matilda bowed her head and said, "That is the best way I can describe it. I am sorry if it is not helpful."

The Demons looked at each other in confusion, but Castor grinned and nodded his head, "There is no need to apologize. I am fully aware of the love you speak of. All thanks to my wife, even before we were transformed."

He reached out and took his wife's hand in his. She intertwined her fingers with his, but kept her head down and eyes closed. Castor turned back to the Huntress and said, "We saw a large burst of flame shoot into the sky last night. We were heading this way to see the source. Would I be correct to assume that the Demon Beast that Koga is riding is the source?"

"You would be," Selina said without hesitation, "Thank you for the concern. However, I find it hard to believe that you would travel such a great distance from your country just to witness the origin of a burst of flames."

"No, actually. I have a bit of an explorer's spirit. If I come across something interesting or potentially troublesome, I feel compelled to investigate it. And Lescatie is no longer just 'my nation' anymore. Technically, I'm not sure whose it is. I've since abdicated the throne to Druella, but she asserts that Francisca is the rightful heir. And she is married to that wonderful boy, Elt, so you could say that he's the king now. It's something of a joke that's told throughout our new home," Castor chuckles. His laughter is deep and happy, a noise that you wouldn't expect to hear from him based on looks alone.

He let go of his wife's hand and cleared his throat, saying, "But you are correct. My comrades and I have a separate objective. We are traveling to the town of Pran to negotiate on behalf of the Fourth Born herself. We hope to establish a non-aggression treaty with the town in order to prevent any hostilities between the two. I am sure you can infer why we would do this."

Selina stood straighter while staring at Castor, "Truly? I wouldn't have expected Druella to agree to that course of action. Then again, I have only heard discussions about her through secondary sources. I am pleasantly surprised to learn that she is willing to resolve this conflict through dialogue."

"That is a natural response. Not many are aware that the Mamono are not at all like how the Order portrays them," Castor waved his hand through the air, "And judging by how you seem to be heading in the opposite direction of us, I assume that you are going to Lescatie."

"Indeed. I wish to speak with Druella and convince her to leave Pran alone," Selina said, clasping her hands together in front of her.

Castor clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Splendid!" I can assure you, Cynthia, that such an endeavor will be worth it. Especially considering the Fourth Born's interest in you. I have no doubt that she would give you the utmost respect and attention."

"As I'm certain that Guard Captain Felix will treat you all with the utmost respect as well. It would be wonderful if we both succeeded in our diplomatic missions. It would go far towards avoiding bloodshed."

Selina and Castor shared a smile as some of the tension dissipated. The Demons lowered their guard, and Koga seemed to relax a little bit. That is, until Matilda dismounted from Nobu's back and walked over to Selina's side. She pulled at Selina's pant leg to get her attention. Asking Castor to hold on for a moment, she knelt down to be at eye level with Matilda. The doll stood on her tiptoes to whisper into the Huntress' ear. As she did, Selina's smile slowly disappeared and transformed into a pensive frown. When Matilda finished, Selina patted her head before standing up straight.

Her voice was calm as she spoke, "Castor, could you please explain your strategy for securing a non-aggression agreement with Pran?"

Castor put his hands together, "The usual things. Speak with the leader of the town, a man named Guard Captain Felix I believe you called him. See if he would be willing to accept the deal and consider offering gifts to secure or celebrate an accepted treaty."

"And would some of these gifts happen to be Druellite?"

One of Castor's eyebrows rose, "How would you...ah, yes. So, you told her, Matilda."

Matilda nodded, though she refused to look Castor in the eye. Her hands shook as she gripped the edge of her dress. Selina took a step towards Castor. The three Demons tensed in response, but Selina ignored them and said, "And if you were able to negotiate such a deal, would you use your Demon Feather Pens to have it signed?"

Castor's smile faded, but he didn't seem too upset with the way things were going. He put a hand on his chin and nodded, "I would assume so, yes. Why do you ask?"

"Because if what I said is true, then I'm afraid I cannot allow you to continue your journey."

Koga's hand tightly gripped the hilt of his blade. Fire appeared in the hands of the three Demons, while the Listening Fox slowly lifted her head. Her eyes were closed, but three of her five tails had blue fire burning at the tips. Matilda felt a weight descend upon her, and it took immense effort to remain standing. Her knuckles turned white as she tightened her grip on her dress.

Castor and Selina stared at each other without uttering a single word. Neither spoke, even as the tension between them grew thicker with each passing moment. The wind blew through the area, kicking up dust and fallen leaves as it passed. Then Castor spoke, "Before addressing that, I would like to propose an idea to you, Cynthia."

Selina waved for Castor to continue. He took a step forward and spoke with confidence, "Suppose there is a village. Said village is particularly impoverished. It is a place that struggles to survive even for a single day. The land is not fertile, the air quality is poor, and the nearby river is almost dried up. The people are struggling, and many are considering going hungry so that others may not. They have asked for help from a local organization that has an abundance of fresh food and water to give them. However, they are denied because they are not deemed significant enough to receive those resources."

Castor starts pacing back and forth between the groups, "All seems lost, until a group of strangers arrives. Said group has a way to turn the fortunes of the village around. They offer the villagers gifts that will bring nothing but benefits to them. The land will become rich and fertile, the air will become crisp and fresh, and the water will be so clean that you could see your reflection in it. All the villagers will become healthier, happier, and overall have better living conditions. And all because they accepted the gifts from the strangers."

Castor stopped walking and stared directly at the Huntress, "Now lets say that in return for this, the villagers do change. They can't be considered entirely human anymore, but is that truly so wrong in this situation? Their lives are so much better than before, after all. Surely, that is something to be celebrated. Would you be happy for them?"

Behind him, the three Demons were smiling. They watched and waited for the Huntress' response, all expecting her to be stumped or floundering for an answer. But they were surprised to hear her speak calmly and succinctly, "Did they agree to it?"

Castor tilted his head to the right and asked, "I'm sorry? Could you repeat that?"

"In this hypothetical village you speak of, did all the people agree to it? Did everyone agree to accept the stranger's gifts? Were they all aware of the risks involved and what would happen to them if they accepted the deal?" the Huntress fell silent as she waited for Castor's answer.

A bit confused, he nodded his head and said, "In this scenario? Yes, they did."

"Then, it is alright."

Castor blinked. His eyebrow rose as he stared at the Huntress. Behind him, the three Demons had their mouths agape at Selina's answer. None of them had expected her to say that. Curiosity evident in his tone, Castor continued, "I'm sorry, Cynthia Albion. That is the first time anyone has responded to that question like that."

"Truly? What have most said?"

"Well, usually they're fanatical Order adherents who either tell me to shut up or suggest that the villagers should murder the strangers," Castor shook his head, "But enough of that. Could you please elaborate on why you answered the way you did?"

"Because, Castor Bistol Lescatie, if the people of a village are fully aware of what it would mean to accept a gift that could lead to their corruption but ensure their survival, then that is their choice. While I cannot say I would make the same choice, I will not begrudge them for doing what they thought was best," Selina's voice was clear and unwavering.

Castor nodded as Selina spoke, "I see. And what would be your choice? If you were in the same situation?"

Selina took a moment to think of an answer. Then she said, "I'd go look for a mage. The way I understand it, the more mana something has, the better off it is. If this is true, then the villagers' land would be por due to a lack of mana. So, bringing in someone who could enhance the mana density in the environment should significantly improve the situation. Of course, I do not know if this is the best approach and am working based on theories. Could something like that work, Castor?"

Castor blinked, his eyes wide as he answered, "Y-Yes. Yes, it could. It might take longer and have a limit based on the land's mana capacity. But it should work."

"Splendid. Then, please allow me to ask a similar question. Not to you, for I know your answer. But to Isla, Bella, and Zoey."

Everyone turned to look at the three Demons in question. All of them flinched at the sudden attention, but none of them backed down. Zoey floated above Castor's head and glared at the Huntress, waiting for her question. Once she had their attention, Selina said, "Say that the village Castor spoke of actually rejected the strangers' offer. Yes, it would mean that their lives would not improve, but let's assume they were content with that. That becoming Mamono is too much to ask of them, simply for the sake of improving their lives by a small margin. Wouldn't it make sense for the strangers to leave the town alone?"

Zoey crossed her arms and looked away from the Huntress, "Well, obviously that wouldn't happen. No one would deny the opportunity to improve their lives."

"But say this village did. Wouldn't the strangers leave the village alone?"

Zoey started rubbing her arms while avoiding eye contact with the Huntress, "M-M-Maybe they would just stick around to try and persuade the villagers otherwise. Or give them something to assist them."

"And what if they continue to refuse? Wouldn't the strangers be imposing upon people who want nothing to do with them?"

Zoey finally turned to look at Selina, her eyes blazing with anger, "What?! Do you think we shouldn't try to help people?! Do you want the village to just suffer and-"

"Zoey," Castor didn't raise his voice, but the sheer disappointment in his gaze made Zoey fall silent. She looked down at the ground before flying back to the rest of Castor's group. Castor stepped forward and spoke, "I apologize for that, Cynthia. I can assure you that the strangers would leave the village without any problems."

"From anyone else, I would doubt it. But you Castor, I believe, can be trusted. But there is one other thing that prevents me from fully trusting you."

Castor put his hands behind his back and stood up straight, "I assume it has to do with the Demon Feather Pens?"

"Indeed. Would you please explain how they work?"

"Put simply? They ensure that any deals struck between us and others are upheld, thanks to the Demons who legitimize the contracts. Should either party go back on the agreement, they will be given one chance to retract their decision. If they still refuse, they will be branded and taken to the Underworld to be punished for their transgressions."

Selina tilted her head to the side. Then she held up her hand, "Pardon me, but that seems like a rather one-sided arrangement."

"How so? After all, it doesn't matter who breaks the deal. All those responsible, whether Mamono or human, will be taken to the Underworld."

"Yes. And what is likely to happen to them while they are in the clutches of the Demons?"

Castor put a hand on his chin, "Without being too crude, they will be 'punished'. I'd imagine there would be a lot of, ah, sexual stimulation involved. Based on what I have been told."

He cleared his throat and began to tug at his collar. Selina nodded and continued, "Yes, yes. And the Mamono are open and willing when it comes to such matters, right?"

"Indeed, they are."

"And if a human were to be taken to the Underworld, they would either become a Demon's husband or turn into a Demon themselves, correct?"

"Yes, they... oh. Oh. I see what you mean. And also why you would be remiss to allow me to negotiate with Pran, given that fact," Castor frowned and put his hands behind his back. He stared at the ground, processing Selina's words. He remained that way for a few moments, not speaking a word, as he contemplated what Selina had said. Then he stood up straight and stared directly at Selina, "In that case, Cynthia Albion, allow me to prove to you that you can trust me to speak with Guard Captain Felix."

He reached into his back pockets and pulled out two handfuls of objects. In his right hand, he held twenty glowing mineral rocks. Each one was the size of his pinky, and they all emitted a sense of corruption. They shimmered as the sunlight cascaded down upon them. And in his left hand were three dark purple feather quills, along with three capped black inkwells.

The three Demons gasped, and Bella quickly moved to Castor's side, shouting, "Castor! What are you doing?!"

"I'm showing Cynthia that those of us who follow the Demon Lord do not wish to conquer the world. But to bring peace," he walked toward the Huntress without fear, hands outstretched in offering. Once he was just a step away from Selina, he spoke again, "Allow me to offer you this, Cynthia Albion. In my right hand, I hold the Druellite that I had planned to gift to Pran. In my left hand, I hold the Demon Feather Pens, along with the Mamono Realm Ink that I was to use to sign the deal. Please, take them and deplete their mana until they are rendered completely useless. But, I ask that you leave one Inkwell and Pen intact."

"Why is that, Castor Bistol Lescatie?" Selina was already taking off her gloves as she asked.

"Because, I wish to strike a deal between us. An agreement that only puts my life at risk."

"How so?"

"I will swear that I will convince Pran to accept a non-aggression treaty with Lescatie, and I will not use any magic whatsoever. No Druellite, no Demon Feather Pens, and no magic spells. Nothing, except my own ability to convince them to do so. And, if I were to break this deal, I will be swiftly taken to the Underworld. This deal will be considered broken if either I or my comrades resort to any means of obtaining Pran's cooperation that do not solely rely on our words, and not our magical powers."

"Castor!" the three Demons shouted in unison, completely floored by the turn of events. However, none of them dared to try to stop the Diplomat or turn him from his course of action. Bella turned to look at Francia, pleading with the Listener Fox to intervene regarding her husband. But Francia merely kept her head bowed and didn't say anything. She simply listened, as she always had.

"Castor," Selina said, her gloves off and hands bared to the open air, "I accept your proposal. And allow me to say something as well: I will do everything in my power to peacefully convince Druella to back down. I will only resort to violence if she rejects my offer. And even then, I will do whatever I can to avoid harming your people."

Castor's smile reached his ears, "Thank you, Hunter Cynthia Albion."

And so it was. Selina drained the Druellite until all the minerals turned to dust. Castor took one of the Demon Feather Pens and wrote out the contract he had made with Selina. The moment the contract was signed, he rolled it up and placed it in his robe pocket. Then he handed Selina the Pens and Ink. They, too, become dust that was carried away by the wind. Castor returned to his comrades, and the two parties went their separate ways. However, as Selina, Koga, and Matilda rode past the group on Nobu, the Listener Fox stepped in front of them. The fox opened her emerald eyes and fixed them solely on Selina.

All three riders waited to see what Francia would do. A few moments later, the Youko spoke, "You remind me of my husband, Hunter Albion."

"How so?" Selina asked, curious about her similarities to the former king.

"You are both driven by a desire to help others and make a positive impact on the world. You both push yourselves far beyond your limits to achieve your goals. You both prioritize diplomacy and compassion over violence and hatred. You are both kind-hearted individuals who have experienced the harshness of reality, yet have not let go of your dreams. In this way, I admire you. But in this way, I also worry about you."

Francia folded her hands in front of her. Her gaze grew sad as she stared at the Huntress, "My Castor has always struggled with knowing when to stop. If I weren't there to rein him in, he would spend every waking moment traveling the world. Trying to convince those in need that joining us is the key to their salvation. Yet, one man cannot push himself that far indefinitely. He will eventually break down under the weight of his desires. Burn himself away with the fires of his ambition. That's why I always make sure that he takes time away from his work. That he understands there is a time to move and a time to be still. To relax and enjoy the new life he has been given. Thus, I say to you, Hunter Albion, do not push yourself too far. Find time to rest. Relax. And enjoy the world around you."

"Thank you, Francia," Selina said, a small smile hidden by her bandana, "I appreciate your-"

"And one of the best methods of relaxation is lovemaking. Finding someone to share your bed with can be-"

"Thank you, Listener Fox. I will see you again at some point. Let us go, Koga," Koga kicked Nobu's sides and sent the fiery horse trotting down the road. Francia followed the three with her eyes, wondering if she had said something wrong. But then she shrugged and returned to her husband's side. Once there, she asked Castor, "Honey, what did you think of the Hunter?"

Castor placed a hand on his chin and hummed, deep in thought. Then he smiled, "Well, I can say this: she is the one person in this world who would cause problems for Druella and her supporters."

"Oh? What makes you say that?"

"Because she is something that none of them have truly dealt with before. Someone who doesn't stand against them either because they are misguided or because they have directed their unjust hatred towards the Mamono. No. She is someone who understands why the Mamono do what they do...and fights against them because of it."

----------------------------------------

"We need to train."

Matilda spoke her first words since the three of them had left Castor's group behind. Nobu galloped with Koga leaning over the horse's back. Selina had her head down and was clutching her hat, while Matilda gripped onto the Huntress' shoulder.

"I agree," Koga quickly replied, "Those three... they were far more powerful than the Blade of Salvation."

"And they were just a fraction of Lescatie's power. If we arrive in Lescatie without making preparations, Koga and I will be overwhelmed. We must become stronger before then. Good Hunter, I propose that we take some time out of our travels to train ourselves," Matilda suggested, her voice urgent and serious.

"Wouldn't that waste time?" Selina questioned the doll, "Time we could be using to reach Lescatie before the attack?"

Matilda shook her head, "It would, but remember: you destroyed the Blade of Salvation. By doing so, you have killed who knows how many Dullahans and have likely left behind many grieving widows."

"Why is that significant?"

"Dullahans are a core part of any Demon Realm army. The vast majority of an invading Mamono force consists of single Mamono hoping to find husbands to take home. Dullahans are among the few Mamono who truly comprehend the importance of discipline and fighting as a cohesive unit. By eliminating a significant portion of their forces, you have likely set back Druella's invasion by at least a week."

"Leaving us with two to spare before they begin their assault," Selina for Matilda.

Matilda nodded, adjusting herself on the Huntress' back to see better, "Right. And even if we arrive late, Druella specifically wants you. If you show up outside her door, she'll hold off on the attack just for the chance of corrupting you or persuading you to join her side. We have the time. And we need to use it wisely."

"...Very well. We will begin training tomorrow. For today, we will ride through the night to make up for any lost time," Selina said, her eyes fixed on the path ahead of them.

"If that is your order, Good Hunter, then may I ask what you did with the hilt of that accursed sword?" Koga looked over his shoulder at the Huntress.

Selina raised an eyebrow and said, "It is in one of my pockets. Why?"

"I request that you grant me permission to have it. There is something I would like to try with it."

"May I ask what that is?"

"...I believe I can wield that blade for a greater purpose. The idea came to me when I thought about what Matilda had said. If my mana can transform Nobu into this new Demon Beast, then perhaps it can also do the same to that blade. If not, then I can at least keep it as a memento of that battle."

Selina nodded, "As you say. I will give it to you when we next stop. "And what about you, Matilda?"

"I will be helping you, Good Hunter. As I was saying before, while improving your combat prowess is beneficial, there are other areas you must focus on."

"Those are?"

"Hiding your true nature from Mamono, controlling yourself when your memories threaten to overwhelm you, and learning how to channel your ability to destroy mana."