Falikh, Reysha, and Aspara escape from the Sanctum of Divines. They rushed out of the church and dashes out of the city. Not only that Reysha attacked the person with the highest authority, Falikh is also a wanted man.

Since quelling the raging snowstorm, Eiru and Ivy proceed to flee out of the city too, the same as Princess Meriyal’s group who was attacked by assassins.

As such, it was inevitable that they would all gather in one place. And so come the scenario of them looking at each other with confused faces.

“I’m going to assume that Miss Reysha fought someone really strong…” Eiru said with a perplexed countenance as he stares at Reysha’s busted armor.

“…Who are you?” Reysha simply asked as she looks at Eiru in drag.

“Eh?! It’s me!” Eiru shouted as he points his self.

“I’m just messing with you. Anyway, you and Ivy seem…” Reysha’s words trailed off as she stares at Ivy locking arms with Eiru.

“Looks like a lesbian couple.” Falikh said as he used Reysha’s head as a stand.

“Yo, everybody is here, yeah?” Sod happily exclaimed as he climbs down the carriage after stopping.

“So, was it an assassination? Ah, never mind. You guys seemed to have been in a tight situation. Is that woman alive?” Aspara said as she peers inside the carriage.

“Miss Kerias Councilor, I thank you for your warning, however, despite that, we failed to counteract the attempt of the assassins attack.” Ries said as she climbs down the carriage. “Ugh…” she uttered as her wounds impede her movements.

“Ries, don’t move so much! You have it worse than me. Anyway, Miss Aspara, I am also thankful for you and these three men you lend us.” Lala said as she opens the carriage door.

“What in tarnation?! You two are barely wearing anything on your body and on top of that, those wounds…!” Aspara angrily shouted.

“Don’t worry! Sod and Mes gave them a first-aid, well, it was enough to stop the bleeding.” Reld said as he points at the twins.

“I see…Well, I am little frustrated being so helpless against that archpriest so I might as well do something for the two knights over there. What happened to that girl though?” Aspara asked as she saw Meriyal sleeping on the carriage’s couch.

“Princess passed out from fatigue and too much stress as of late.” Lala quickly explained.

“Hmph, how pathetic. Tough as her mentality is, she is still a girl. Come you two, I’ll see to it that those wounds disappear. If I can find any sympathy within me, I’ll also take a look at your wretched princess.” Aspara beckons Lala and Ries inside the carriage.

“Oh? A jerk with a golden heart?” Reysha worded towards Aspara.

“Shut it Einhart!” Aspara shouted as she slammed close the carriage’s door. “I’m going to take their armors off so don’t peek!” She followed.

As Aspara looks into the knight’s wounds, Reld, Sod, and Mes walk toward Falikh. Their eyes were caught by Eiru’s get-up and the beauty of Ivy.

“Hahahaha! You guys are total asshats for leaving me from the fun!” Falikh exclaimed as he fist bumps with Reld, Sod, and Mes.

“Well, we just got dragged but that was a hell of an experience.” Reld said as he fixes his glasses. “Anyway, Eiru, what’s with your clothes?” Reld followed as he points at Eiru.

“Don’t ask…” He just simply replied.

“Hey, Eiru, introduce her to us! That girl with you!” Sod happily said as he looks at Ivy.

“I will introduce myself! It is I, Ivy Hellbeing, none other than the Demon Lord! Be grateful for meeting me!” Ivy grandly said.

Sod, Mes, and Reld look at Ivy with a blank face.

“Ahahaha! What a funny lady you are! Ahahaha! The demon lord! This girl…! Hahaha!” Sod explodes in laughter.

“Look, look! The demon lord will slay with her bubbly cute eyes and big boobs! Ahahaha!” Mes also followed.

“These fools aside, Ivy, what happened to the hero?” Reysha nonchalantly ignores the laughing duo.

“As soon as Eiru showed up and receiving back his horns filled with magic, she escaped.” Ivy seriously answered Reysha as she showed the remaining wounds that weren’t able to heal. “I think she is just playing around, however, her power is…terrifying, at least for me.” she supplemented.

“So, we have another freak to watch out for huh? I was able to take care of my sisters, but, the archpriest that is behind that Hellmind is using divine power.” Reysha said.

As they were conversing, a series of horse steps came to their ears. Everyone who heard the sound had their head turning towards the source of the sound.

From afar, a huge carried pulled by six horses are coming to their way.

“It’s about time he arrives.” Reysha said that caught Falikh’s attention. Falikh squint his eyes and his lips formed a grin.

The man driving the carriage…is Spoof.

As the carriage reaches them, it turns sideways and immediately halted in front of Reysha and the others. Spoof comes down from the coachman’s seat and bows down to Reysha. He then approaches her and falls to his knees and bows down.

“You…is that what you really want?” Reysha asked with a perplexed and disgusted face.

“……” Spoof only gave a thumbs up.

With a sigh, Reysha removes her greaves on both feet and returned it to her dimensional storage. She then retrieved a new pair of simple shoes for her to wear.

“Ivy, you might as well do it with me.” Reysha said to Ivy to pull someone with her in this embarrassing act.

“Wha--?! Why drag me in that?! It can’t be help…” Ivy said as she begrudgingly removes her leather boots too.

“What are you two doing…?” Falikh asked with a really horrified face.

Falik’s question met no answer as Reysha and Ivy were doing something important. Slowly, their feet descend to Spoof’s head and then… they step on his head while rubbing it with force. They rub and rub and rub the very sole of their feet to Spoof’s head.

“Wha--?! I can’t believe you Spoof!” Falikh shouted with a pale face.

“Really something deplorable…right Mes?” Sod asked his twin who is also watching the spectacle.

“How nice…I mean, yeah! Really deplorable! Ahahaha!” Mes replied back with a reddish face.

“……” Sod stares at Mes with a doubtful face.

“Eeeeekk! His hair feels disgusting on my foot!” Ivy said while cringing.

“Oh? This actually feels…really good. I might get a little…swayed by it.” However, Reysha has an opposing opinion of what Ivy feels.

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Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

The ones riding the expensive and large carriage are Reysha, Aspara, Ivy, Lala, and finally, Princess Meriyal who regained consciousness. Falikh forcefully forced himself in the carriage and now sitting beside Reysha who is in charge of his behavior.

Ries is driving the carriage.

The ones riding the beaten carriage are Sod, Reld, Spoof, and Eiru. Mes is driving since Reld drove quite a pinch back there.

“Hey, hey, Dick…I’ve been thinking for a while now but…are we forgetting something?” Sod asked Reld with an expression of racking his brain.

“Don’t call me Dick! And…yeah…wait…Sod…not something…someone!” Reld exclaimed with a pale face as he turns his head around. “We forgot Mika!” he shouted.

“Ah! How could you guys forget Mika?!” Eiru shouted with panic.

“Mes! Mes! Turn around! We forgot Mika!” Sod pokes his out of the carriage’s window and screams at Mes.

“Roger! Turning around!~” Mes replied as he maneuvers the carriage.

Reysha saw their carriage turning around, however, she kept her mouth shut thinking that they realized that they forgot Mika. Reysha knows it right from the start, however, she knows well that Mika will survive under any life circumstances, unlike Falikh.

But at this moment, Reysha has can’t be bothered of what’s happening with them. The pressing matter is inside their carriage where Princess Meriyal gives off a strong presence.

“So, it seems you failed from the start before even meeting with the King of Mesola. Hmph, I feel sorry too for your knights. Well, be glad that you didn’t because the final decision will fall upon the archpriest who wields all authority in Mesola as a whole.” Aspara said with a mocking tone towards Meriyal.

“We really need their assistance in regards to their specialty in healing. The Kingdom of Breille’s citizen, especially the farmers, is in grave danger because the winter is far harsher than ever. On top of that, for them to have an open trade with us in regards of resources since the season doesn’t allow us to perform our agricultural activities.” Lala explained with crestfallen countenance.

“Hahaha! What a dunce! You really are getting desperate! Haven’t you prepared enough for such occasion?! Did you really come to this place to beg!? Thank us because you did not have to disgrace yourself in front of them!” Aspara broke out in an annoying laughter just to piss Meriyal.

“Councilor Aspara, with all due respect, especially after what you have done for us, I cannot allow such badmouthing of Meriyal! You…you don’t know how she does her best for her people!” Lala exploded with anger as Aspara mocked Meriyal.

“But it’s true! Devoting yourself to your people is fine but to face unpreparedness despite that devotion? Laughable!” She added another insult.

“I cannot let you further insult my Prin--!” Lala’s words are cut off as Meriyal grabs her hand.

“Stop it Lala…what she said is true…On top of being unprepared of winter, I also let you and Ries face the danger that we are already told of. I…I am sorry…” Meriyal uttered as tears started piling in her eyes.

“It’s because of me…that…that you and Ries…and now, all of my subjects will be…” Meriyal forced herself to speak despite tears flowing down to her cheeks.

Falikh, Reysha, Ivy, and Lala all look at Aspara with eyes judging her as guilty. They lock their stare at her and move ever slowly closer to her with the same stare.

“What?! What’s with all of you?!” Aspara said as she tried to pull herself backward as they come close to her. “Fine! I get it! I get it!” Aspara said as her face flares in bright red.

“Hey, you! Wench!” Aspara said as she calls out to Meriyal.

“What…?” She replied with a weak voice.

Aspara scratches the back of her head and her eyes swim left and right. “I went a little overboard. I admit that your devotion to your people is admirable…so, I’m s-so---sorr…” Her words won’t come out as she wanted.

Meriyal looks at her, confused and utterly downhearted as she wipes her tears.

“Sorry…! I’m really sorry…geez…I’ve never done this before…” Aspara said as her voice weakens.

“...Head…” Meriyal said towards Aspara.

“What? Huh?” Aspara asked as she heard something coming out from Meriyal’s lips.

“Bow your head if you really want to apologize! Idiot!” Meriyal angrily said.

“Huuuh?! I sincerely said sorry! It took all of my will just to say that! You have some issues if you think that’s not enough!” Aspara replied.

“Bow your head! Bow your head!” Meriyal repeated her words as she shouted back at Aspara. Her face is still wet with tears and reddish but her lips are slightly curving upward.

“Okay, okay! Before anything else develops, let’s stop.” Ivy stops Aspara and Meriyal from their quarrel.

Seeing that they are acting inappropriately from their character, Aspara and Meriyal clears their throats and sat down again. They started avoiding eye contact with each other after that but Meriyal has clearly recovered from her breakdown.

“Okay, listen up. You are Princess Meriyal Breille right from that kingdom near that large forest, right?” Ivy asked Meriyal with her serious face on.

“That I am. May I ask for your name?” Meriyal talks with Ivy in a formal tone.

“I am Ivy Hellbeing, the current Demon Lord. Miss Reysha and Sir Falikh can attest to that fact.” Ivy said as she points at Falikh and Reysha.

Meriyal glances over them and they nodded in unison.

“I see, I have many questions regarding of you being the demon lord but for now…what does the demon lord wants with me?” Meriyal leans forward to have a closer eye contact with Ivy.

“Based on what I’ve heard, your kingdom needs assistance, right?” Ivy asked as she crossed her leg.

“That is a fact. Demon Lord Ivy…are you perhaps…?” Meriyal’s face brightens as she guessed something.

“Yes, it is as you guessed, however, just to be sure, your kingdom is willing to start a trading business with demons? It will be a little relief for me to be acquainted with the kingdom closes to the forest as we can get your cooperation to watch over it.” Ivy said as she pulls out a map from her dimensional storage.

“Our Kingdom has no time to deal with racism, in fact, we are glad to welcome any business opportunities that come in our way to strengthen our economy.” Meriyal explained in a rush as Ivy was opening a new path for her.

“Look at this map, there’s a safe trading route around here. We can add more routes if possible around the mountainside in the forest. Assuming of what resources your kingdom needs, I can immediately have everything prepared. For healers, we’ve got thousands of scholars for the job. We can hire them for you.” Ivy explained to Meriyal.

“I see…the Demon Kingdom Capital is so far from the forest though…” Meriyal said as she looks at the map that also shows the location of the Demon Kingdom.

“You guys kept calling it the Demon Kingdom but we have a proper name like yours. It’s Sirius, the Kingdom of Sirius. If you are worried about the distance, don’t fret. All resources such as food can easily be gathered from towns and cities near the forest. We have the same ecology and way of processing foods so it is safe for your people.” Ivy explained again.

“Then…then…the contract! I need to…I need to make an official contract and…and!” Meriyal panics as she tried to find a paper.

“Don’t worry. The contract comes later. I don’t want people to die too so that’s why I am doing this.” Ivy said to Meriyal with a gentle smile.

“Thank you, Demon Lord Ivy…you are not as bad as people thinks.” Meriyal said her thanks as she reaches out for her hand.

“*stare*” Aspara looks at them with half-closed eyes.

“Miss Demon Lord, I thank you on behalf of our people!” Lala also thanked Ivy.

“All ends well huh…” Falikh softly muttered that only Reysha could hear.

Upon remembering Falikh’s existence, Reysha frowns. The beautiful development in front of her was shattered upon remembering this man beside her. It’s like an automatic response for Reysha or rather, for her former self.

“You…I’ve been wondering for a while now, why did you even come here for? I understand that you don’t like your mother but to travel so far just to piss her? What’s wrong with you?” Reysha said with knitted eyebrows.

“That’s right! You have a lot of explaining to do! That archpriest, your mother, how in the world did she become that absurdly strong?!” Aspara’s attention shifted to Falikh.

As the subject shifted to Falikh, everyone had their attention swayed to him.

“I’d like to tell you my fancy life story but not now! Maybe later, together with everyone back in our base.” Falikh said as he smiles at them.

“I can’t believe you…we got ourselves full of problems and you just shook everything away with a smile. From what I see, you didn’t make your mother angry too.” Reysha said as she massages her temple.

“Oh? But look at this.” Falikh said as he brought out five platinum coins.

“…Hey!” Reysha’s eyes widen as she saw the platinum coins.

“Platinum coins huh? What are you going to do with those? Those are roughly around fifty thousand gold coins.” Aspara said as she shrugs her shoulder.

“Well, I know that woman well and what I’ve done will surely bring more mental damage than you guys can think of.” Falikh’s lips curved in a really evil grin.

Everyone just looks at Falikh with confusion.

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Meanwhile…

Genesis closes the door of the Sanctum of Divines. She laid down her staff and broke into a smile.

“This is getting really interesting, another one with divine aspect in her.” She muttered to herself as she sits down on the edge of her bed.

“Maria, come here.” She said with soft but raised voice.

“I have come, Archpriest, what is it that you need?” the woman named Maria immediately open the door.

“How come people were able to enter my room without you noticing?” Genesis asked the servant with daunting tone.

“I am sorry Archpriest! There was this woman who broke into your room! She…she stole something…” Maria stuttered.

“A woman? What is she like?” Genesis further inquired.

“She has a short brown hair…ah…she is the hero.” Maria said as she remembered it.

“She stole something? What could it be? Something important I presume. That imbecile hero shall soon find her place.” Genesis said with a calm face.

“She…she stole one of your underwear…!” Maria gathered her courage and said it.

“…An underwear? Does she not have one for herself?” Genesis nonchalantly brushed off the issue. “By divines, I am not compelled not to meet this hero further.” She added.

“But..but! Archpriest that’s a used underwear…!” Maria once again gathered enough courage to say it.

“That’s even weirder. However, it does not pique me. Maria, prepare yourself as you go on an errand to buy my favorite sweets.” Genesis said as she stands up and approaches her closet and opened to reach out for something.

“Yes, Archpriest!” Maria bravely answered.

Genesis fiddles inside her closet. As if she found what she was looking for, she pulls her hand out and a cute pouch with a paw mark came to her view. However, he lips frown in utter despair as she realizes something…

“None…my allotted spendable for my sweets…are gone…” Genesis said as she looks inside the pouch with a pale face like she is in deep despair.

“A-Archpriest?! D-Don’t cry!” Maria tries to quells Genesis who is about to spill her emotion.

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“Hey, what did you actually do?” Reysha once again asked Falikh with a serious face.

“Ahahaha! Well, this is just my allowance from my mother. It’s fine to think of it like that!” Falikh said with a smile plastered all over his face.

“You are the worst.” Reysha could only say.