After discussing the terms of the agreements we came to the other night, we decided to spend a couple of additional days in Aquaflora's little cottage in the middle of nowhere. She missed the place a lot, but I could easily tell it was an attempt to delay what awaited her upon our return to the Argyrian capital. I didn’t mind, as long as it didn’t go on for too long. I made it my goal to ensure she was in the right mindset for what was coming.

Right now we were on Veilleuse-19’s back, flying leisurely toward the Argyrian capital. I turned to her for a last-minute confirmation and asked, "Are you still sure you want this?"

"You’ve asked me that question over a dozen times in the past couple of days already," Aquaflora replied.

"I have, because I want you to know there’s still a way out before the cogs get moving," I explained, issuing a final warning. "Once the machine gets moving, there’s no undoing what’s going to happen."

"...I know."

"Then you’re sure you want to take over this role?"

"Me not taking it means him taking it," Aquaflora said resolutely. "I can’t allow that to happen."

I chuckled. "I know how it looks, but Goblin becoming the Argyrian Patriarch wouldn’t be the end of the world for the Argyrian population."

"You and I both know that’s not true. Even if it wouldn’t be, I know for a fact that he’d leave the Argyrian capital worse off than it was under the Patriarch."

Woah. She really had a terrible opinion of my little Goblin.

I couldn’t deny there was truth in her words, but I would have appreciated it if she put up a facade instead of slandering him outright. He might be evil incarnate, but he was still my favorite Dungeon Master—not that I liked the others any less.

I suppose I could only let it go for now, I concluded, "this was the last time I’m asking you." Then, urging Veilleuse-19 forward through the verdant mountains, we soon flew over a destroyed village. Less than half an hour later, the giant white whale hovering above the Argyrian capital came into view. From a distance, the capital looked normal, but as we approached, it became clear something had changed.

Aquaflora’s expression turned grave. "What happened?!"

From the northeastern corner of the city, a trail of destruction stretched out, engulfing what appeared to be 15% of the capital—like a breach carved through a fortress. It didn’t look new, though. Maybe it had happened a day or two ago.

Urging Veilleuse-19 onward, we soon flew alongside the flying whale. On its back, I could see Goblin standing guard. As we hovered above the city, Aquaflora summoned her broom and announced, "I’ll go see what happened. Are you coming with me?"

I shook my head. "I’ll go check on Goblin and the others to learn what happened."

"I see..." she said, clearly disappointed but wasting no time. As she prepared to take off, I called out, "Aquaflora."

"Mh?"

"We..." I hesitated, taking a breath before deciding. "Never mind. Forget about it. Go and return to the fortress as soon as you can."

She seemed curious about what I was going to say, but after glancing at the destroyed area below, she put her curiosity aside and nodded. Then, riding her broom, she flew at full speed toward the northeastern corner of the capital.

As Aquaflora left, I had Veilleuse-19 land on the fortress. Goblin, standing on the deck with his bonded creatures, greeted me.

"You’re sure you want to let her fly off like that down there?"

"She insisted," I replied, approaching Goblin and embracing him. Given his current form, hugging him felt no different than hugging a short teen, which, in appearance and relative to his age as an elf, he definitely was.

"Welcome back, Ma’am."

"Thanks. Where’s everyone?"

"They’re in the fortress."

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"You’re on guard duty?" I asked, glancing at the summoned creatures.

"Yep. I’ve been on guard duty since the attack. It’s a good thing you’re back—I was starting to get tired of this."

I chuckled, throwing an arm over his shoulder as we made our way to the inner sanctum of the fortress. "Alright, let’s go join the others, then."

"Yeah. Also, Licht has been itching to talk to you."

"Talk to me? Am I allowed to assume I won my bet?"

"You have," Goblin sighed.

***

It had been a couple of hours since I arrived at the Argyrian capital, and I now found myself in a room that looked much like a conference hall inside a fortress. Blondie and Bortz were seated to my right, while Goblin and Licht sat across from them, with Licht intently watching the pair. Blondie and Bortz, back to their usual antics, seemed wrapped up in their own little world—cuddling, or so it appeared.

Technically, they weren't exactly cuddling; it was more like Bortz was applying some under-eye makeup that I had picked up in the Umbryan capital as a gift for her. To an innocent eye, it might have looked quite harmless, but the way he leaned into her, their legs entwined, suggested something more. Her eyes were tightly shut, and the noticeable height difference between them rendered the scene almost comically intimate—at least to anyone less naive than our Verdenkind friend.

“You’re staring too much, buddy,” Goblin remarked, elbowing Licht playfully.

“I… I wasn’t…” Licht stammered, his face flushing red.

“Who do you think you’re fooling?” Goblin teased, clearly unwilling to let the moment slide. “Makes you wanna cuddle, doesn’t it?”

Licht was speechless, his eyes darting between Blondie and Bortz, who, sickering, continued their applying the under-eye makeup as though nothing was happening. He turned toward me, clearly hoping I’d intervene, but being in a good mood, I simply looked away, feigning ignorance.

“There’s no shame in that, buddy,” Goblin said, patting Licht’s shoulder. “I can understand it. In fact...” With a mischievous grin, Goblin activated his skill, changing his form. “In fact, I understand it better than anyone. Come here for your well-deserved cuddle.”

Goblin reached toward Licht, who recoiled instantly. “What the hell? Get away from me!” Licht barked, leaping from his chair. “You’re giving me the creeps!”

“Come on, what’s that reaction… Honey?” Goblin replied, emphasizing the last word with a wicked smirk before glancing at me. “Ma’am, I think we’ve found a nickname for our dear Licht.”

I couldn’t help but join in. “It seems we have, my dear Goblin.”

“What?” Licht frowned, clearly wary.

“Today marks your baptism,” Goblin declared solemnly. “From here on out, for this brotherhood, you shall be known as ‘Honey.’”

“What? Do I not get a say in this?” Licht protested.

“No, you don’t,” Goblin answered matter-of-factly. “Everyone here has been blessed with a nickname—a second name, in fact, and have accepted it as the honor it is.”

There was an exception here: Me who was never blessed with a nickname, but still he was right, everyone got a nickname pretty much became a name for them.

At Goblin’s words, Blondie, Bortz, and I nodded solemnly, leaving Licht no choice but to sigh in defeat.

It was around then that the door to the room burst open, revealing Aquaflora standing in the doorway. Her expression was wild, and the raging energy she exuded filled the room as she surveyed us one by one.

“Oh, you’re finally here,” I said, leaning back in my chair.

“Yes, I am,” she replied, stepping into the room with a sour demeanor. “And I can see that no one here is injured.”

“By the grace of the truly divine,” I answered with a faint smile, “no one was harmed in that sudden monster attack that no one could have foreseen.”

“That’s very fortunate… and surprising,” Aquaflora said as she approached me. Then, with a pointed look, she added, “As surprising as the fact in the attack, several clan leaders and their closest allies met gruesome deaths.”

“Oh, that is surprising indeed,” I replied nonchalantly.

“Don’t take me for a fool!” Aquaflora barked, slamming her hands on the table. The force of her outburst made the entire table shake. “It was you, wasn’t it?!”

I barely reacted, meeting her glare with calm indifference. My eyes flicked toward Bortz, Blondie, Goblin, and Licht, who had all adopted stern expressions. Well, in Goblin’s case, he resembled a dog straining against its leash, eager for action.

Aquaflora’s eyes followed my gaze, and perhaps realizing the awkward position she put herself into or feeling chastened by their almost unblinking stares, her voice softened. “It was you who orchestrated their deaths, wasn’t it?”

“And what makes you think I’m behind this?” I asked, arching an eyebrow.

“Arianna, just admit it,” she pressed. “I heard the rumors. I didn’t believe them at first, but then the timing… it all makes sense. You so easily agreed to waste time there.”

“Couldn’t that just be a terrible coincidence?” I countered, shrugging.

“A coincidence?” she scoffed. “That a monster attack happened just as we were away? One that conveniently eliminated all who stood in the way of your elaborate plans for conquering the Argyrian capital? Excuse me, but no matter how gullible you think I am, I’m not buying it.”

I shrugged again, this time more deliberately.

Aquaflora’s response was to slam into my chair, ignoring the others as she locked eyes with me. “Arianna,” she said, her voice carrying an unspoken warning. Although it didn’t intimidate me, I chose to take it seriously, for I’d noticed something in her blue eyes—a light I’d never seen before.

Raising my hands in mock surrender, I conceded. “Alright, let’s discuss this civilly. Take a seat; you’re going to need it.”