I’m sorry for being misleading.

They are just in the middle of changing their bed sheets. The scent of the sun the seeps into the freshly washed clothes filled the room and invites sleepiness.

Forget inviting people to dreamland, Topaz has already fell victim to the charm brought by the fresh laundry as she falls on the bed. Casablanca and Hibiscus are taken by surprise but nonetheless, let Topaz enjoy her nap.

“Sorry about this.”

“We really don’t mind. The bed is too big for the two of us too so it is fine if one or two join for a nap…or what we would like to say…”

“Yeah, I’ve heard about the situation. I’d like to talk with Lady Hinoki about it.”

“Asagao, are you really sure about this? Hibiscus and I are also a little bit troubled by it too.”

I know what they mean.

I heard that these two are studying politics too and are practicing economic solving affairs firsthand. Gaining sufficient knowledge about their kingdom’s problem should be obvious.

Still, a war is too much for them to handle. It is an entirely different setting from the peaceful elves. I reckon that Lady Hinoki might have something in hand but these two might be stumped for what they can do.

“I want to see Lady Hinoki. Please take me to her.”

“Aye.”

Hibiscus readily answered while Casablanca nodded. Emby then latches on my head instead of Hibiscus so I think I need to bear for this for a while.

Is it me or this damn bird got heavier!?

Since I’m only headed to Lady Hinoki, I told Mimi to standby in the room together with Topaz. They may raise commotion if the elves felt that Topaz is a devil and Mimi is a magical beast.

Casablanca leads the way and opened the door of their room but they suddenly stop. Curious, I peek my head out and gapes my mouth.

“Halt! Who are you?! What are you doing in my sister’s room?!”

An elf stands in front of us with his spear brandished towards me while the whole vicinity is flooded with elves garb in a full plate armors doing the same pose. The twin’s faces are showing displeasure from their act.

“Casablanca and Hibiscus, you two are not allowed to go out of the White House’s vicinity. How did the two of you sneak in intruders?!”

The twins hang their heads as they are scolded by the man. Why are you shouting at them? Anyway, who is this fuckface?

I can’t believe someone would make these two sweethearts this sad. The man then reaches out for the twins by trying to grab their wrists but…

I don’t like that…the way he acts.

“Stop right there, Let.”

“Mother…?”

“I advice you do not do such act in front of Asagao Lionheart.”

Lady Hinoki’s voice echoed throughout the hallway and all the soldiers part way for her. The man who’s shouting at Casablanca and Hibiscus must be their half-brother from Lady Hinoki’s first husband.

The man called Let stares at me in wonder while he set down his spear.

“So this is the famed Asagao Lionheart? She’s as young as my dear sisters…”

“Hmm? I don’t know what kind of rumors are going around about me but…”

To be called famed, I bet there are a lot of things going around about me that I don’t know of. I wish they aren’t as bad as I think and they aren’t as grand as what other people make it out to be.

That’s what been going around in my mind even though Violetta said that I deserve the praise and my achievement is something I can boast about.

As I was delving deep into my thoughts, Lady Hinoki approached me and touches my hand.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“As for one, there’s a rumor going around that you are as spacey as this.”

“…Seriously?!”

“Well, enough of that for now, what I wanted to know is why you are here. Or should I say what are you even doing here.”

“I am here because I want to resolve this war.”

“Go home. You are not needed here.”

I know this is bound to happen. If that’s the case, I need to give a solid reason so Lady Hinoki won’t send me home without doing anything.

“Is what I’d like to say but…your timing is just right and…we do need help about something right now…”

“Hmm? Really?”

“Yes, please come with me, Asagao Lionheart. I need your assistance. Let’s head to the office for now.”

Hinoki beckons me together with Casablanca and Hibiscus.

Before they can even leave the room, Let stopped them and immediately appeal to Lady Hinoki with unyielding eyes.

“Mother, my dear sisters’ safety is of utmost importance. Why would you still let them go despite knowing the dangers that lie before them?”

“Let…”

“We lost sight of them once so I am not going to let that happen again.”

“I am aware of that but I never thought of my decisions so far as wrong. Casablanca and Hibiscus are indeed young and what we both consider precious but, even the two of them has something they want to protect as well.”

“……”

“You are aware that they are stronger than before. They both have grown in so many aspects and I believe they can carry out things for themselves.”

Let didn’t answer but just lowered his hand with a downcast gaze.

I can definitely feel how he greatly cares for the twins and how he treasures them. I know that feeling of wanting to keep the twins safe but as what Lady Hinonki said, they both have grown stronger than before.

Even after that, one’s heart cannot be stilled. This might what Fonfon and Violetta felt for me. The anxiousness of letting someone go, it’s not something easy.

I feel bad for him.

His feelings may come across as annoying but he only wanted the best for Casablanca and Hibiscus. Knowing how he bears those feelings, I approach him and look at him on the eyes and in response, he stares back.

“Don’t worry, your feelings are pure and contain no ill will. I will protect them for you but in return, do your best to protect a place for them to return.”

“…Yeah.”

After giving him a smile, I turn around and started walking behind Lady Hinoki while the twins followed after. As we walked quite a bit, the soldiers from behind disperse and Lady Hinoki turned to me.

“Asagao, didn’t you see how red Let’s face is?”

“…Hmm?”

“Like Astlan, you’re also a flagraiser, huh.”

I somehow understand what she meant but that’s the last thing I wanted to happen. At the very least, I don’t want to make the same mistake with Ichirou…

Or something similar…

Lady Hinoki silently led us to her office and while we are at it, I can see a lot of soldiers coming in and out to a lot of places. Outside the window, I can see the beautiful city but despite the report that they are at war with the dwarves, there’s not much mayhem going on.

At best, all I can see is a lot of platoon on-standby.

When we fought the devils in the center continent, the elves and the dwarves kept their helping force to a minimum. They are aware that a war will break out any moment and they can’t let their guard down despite the danger of the devils.

The people that they mobilize should be enough to actually start a large war now. I heard that before, they didn’t have the force to stand up against the dwarves military might but from what I can see now, they seem so well prepared.

Before I knew it, we’ve arrived at the office and Lady Hinoki offered me a seat directly in front of her working table.

Is this some kind of habit for all the rulers of kingdoms? To stack papers in their worktable full of mess?!

“I’m so embarrassed about the state of my office.”

“I’m used to it.”

“That’s more worrying.”

“Anyway, Lady Hinoki, I’d like to ask a lot of things. While on our way here, I’ve noticed a lot of things. For example, you are on a war but a lot of your soldiers are on standby. I’ve heard that your capital is also your whole kingdom in its entirety but…”

“What a keen observation. That’s why I needed a help from you about this matter. I don’t need you to go to the war but…there’s this one problem that we are facing.”

Lady Hinoki knits her brows with a distressed countenance. She heaves a soundless sigh as she turns her sight to me again.

“The dwarves announced that they will go to war against us again weeks ago. It was an official declaration so we were able to ready the forces that we previously didn’t have.”

“Yes, I am aware of your circumstances.”

“The battlefield is obviously the vast plains between us and the dwarven territory. That’s an unspoken agreement when one waged war, at least, between us. Since we are hiding in our forest and the dwarves are hiding in their mountains, we obviously can’t invade each other’s territory so we are to clash in the said plains to settle our strife once and for all.”

“So it’s like that. None of you wanted to be at disadvantage by venturing in each other’s territory so you’d rather shed blood in an equal footing. First, that’s noble for each race and second, it will lessen the risks of dragging civilians along.”

“Yes, I hope that is the case. If the dwarves tried to invade further, I may really have to ask for help from your kingdom…however…here comes the real problem…”

Suddenly, Lady Hinoki’s countenance is painted with despair as she sinks her face on her hands.

“In order to gain an advantage, it’s only natural to send scouts to spy on them.”

“Yes, to gather intel and to find weakness about the enemy. It’s also important to know how many enemies you are facing and how big their forces are. We should also consider the land and air advantage to turn the tides.”

“That is correct, however…we can’t scout.”

They can’t scout?

I’ve seen the territory border of between the elves and the dwarves and with the exception of the vast plain between them, there’s a forest that goes around, turning towards the mountains where the dwarves live.

If the dwarves really wanted to prepare for the war, they need to bring down their army from the mountain and camp at its foot. It’s a golden opportunity for a scout. That can also be said for the dwarves if they study the structure of the elven forest.

However…

“What do you mean you can’t scout?”

“It is as I said, we can’t scout the enemy.”

“I see, so the problem now is that…you don’t have the slightest clue of the enemy.”

“Yes, and we’ve been waiting for the dwarven army to come but they never did even though they are the one who initiated the war.”

“Is there a problem with your scouts?”

“Yes…it’s a major problem…”

Lady Hinoki pulled out a file from her table’s cabinet and handed it to me.

“Those are the list of the scouts that we sent. We figured that moving alone is optimal but…”

“Wait…what the hell is this?!”

Lady Hinoki has already sent nine scouts in succession.

I think at first that they don’t need the gender demographic but…

There is a total of nine scouts in which three males and six female scouts have been sent before. That in itself is normal when you think about it. One would say there’s nothing wrong with it aside from the failure of each scout.

But here’s where it gets weird…

The first scout that they sent is a male but after no more than half a day, he returned beaten black and blue. The scout said that there’s a group that caught him and beat him that he lost consciousness. The second scout is also a male, the same thing happened to him.

So, here’s the turning point.

They then sent a female scout but unlike what happened to the first two male scouts, this girl was stripped naked and was only left with her underwear…

Hey…

The fourth scout is a female again and the same thing happened like what the third scout had. After that, they sent another male scout and was beaten black and blue.

Deciding that the assailants don’t hurt the female scouts, they sent girls in succession after that but after the ninth scout, all the female scouts lost any will to go as they don’t want to get embarrassed again.

Hey…!

I mechanically move my face towards Lady Hinoki, as if this whole ordeal was planned by a group of perverts…

No, these people are definitely perverts…

“Say…this report…”

“Yes…I know…but the assailants are all girls…”

“So it’s like that…”

“Their leader is a black haired girl seemingly the same age as you and my daughters and apparently, they call their groups the Mad Maidens with seven members. We don’t know if they are mercenaries hired by the dwarves or not but…this is a big problem for us…”

“So…you want me to solve this?”

“That’s the only thing I want you to do, knowing that there will be less danger according to the reports, well, as long as all of you are girls…”

Now I’m having doubts about my decisions…