“Umm…Asagao…don’t you think this is a little bit hasty?”

“I know…but…”

Hibiscus asked me as she brushes another branch away as she and Casablanca lead the way throughout the forest on the outskirt of the Elven territory.

After having that discussion with Lady Hinoki, I feel like my motivation went to the drain but nevertheless, something really irks me about the situation. I mean, come on, beating three of the male scouts and stripping the six other female scouts, that’s just plain absurd, like a certain someone I know would actually do.

Naturally, I accepted her request and here we are, venturing the woods in which the elves are familiar with. Casablanca and Hibiscus are leading the way while Mimi and Topaz walk behind me.

For now, the twins are giving me a lecture.

No, it’s nothing deep about the ecosystem of the elven forest, more like how I was so hasty with my decision about coming here.

“Even if you are really worried about us to the point of using any authority at hand, don’t you think siding with us alone even though you announced yourself as a peacemaker is a silly excuse? What if the dwarves protest against this?”

“But…if you ask me about my personal opinion, I’d rather see them lying dead than the two of you.”

“Umm…E-Even so. There are a lot of procedures for this, Asagao. It’s wrong to take your own feelings into consideration when you want to play neutral at a war. It will endanger not only your kingdom’s credibility but also to yours…”

“I know that…”

“I don’t know why Lady Violetta agreed to this but I think, of all, people, she knows how valuable your actions can be. That’s why…Asagao…please think about things a little more. Also…we are not that weak anymore…”

“I’m sorry…it’s just that…I can’t figure out how to handle my own feelings if something were to happen to the two of you…”

I would probably charge on the Dwarves using Divine Possession with Ichirou and Hasu and destroy them.

With both of them by my side when that time comes, I feel like I am unstoppable. Although it puts a lot of stress on my mind afterward, it’s worth using it when the time calls for it.

I’m no saint or a good man…err…woman.

Even rage can consume me.

However, what the twins are saying is definitely true. I charge here without thinking much ahead. I can somehow clear understand what they are saying now that I’ve cooled my head from any other thoughts. However, our goal right now…really doesn’t have anything to do with the dwarves…

If the reports are correct, they should be mercenaries hired by the dwarves to mess with the elves. Although I am not sure if we can use the reasoning that the elves hired us for the same reason because, at this point in time, a lot of people from the congregation knows who I am.

““But you know, Asagao…””

Casablanca and Hibiscus said it together and walks close to me. They immediately wrap their arms around me and covered me with their presences. The overlapping sensation of warm hugs sprang up to my nerves and I felt a little embarrassed and at the same time, relieved.

“I’m happy that you chose us despite any incoming problems from the future.”

“Asagao, you don’t know how happy we are, especially when you stood up for us earlier.”

“You willingly risk your own social integrity just to be with us even though a lot of backlashes may happen in the future.”

“Nevertheless, we are happy that you want to fight alongside us once again.”

One spoke of something really sweet…that is Casablanca…

One spoke of an impending doom coming from the future…that is Hibiscus…

“Pii!~”

“Not you too, you fat bird.”

“Pii!!”

“Ow!”

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This fat bird just pecked me on the forehead again!? What are you going to do if it leaves a mark? Well, if it does because last time I checked, I have hyper regeneration.

Mimi just giggled from the sight of us sisters hugging each other. I can’t say I’m not happy about this happy we should be doing what we came here for.

The twins let go of me and proceed to lead away again, however, they came into a sudden halt this time…

“What’s wrong…?”

“Ah…well…how we say this…”

Casablanca sprouted a nervous yet vexed countenance as she turns to look at me. She then surveyed the trees laid out I the forest again and turn back to me. Hibiscus, on the other hand, consulted Emby and told him to fly up above the trees.

“This place…looks unfamiliar to us…”

“I thought you two know the forest like the back of your hands?”

“Yes, we are confident of that! But…this place…”

I survey the surrounding too.

We may have entered the den of the Mad Maidens unknowingly so I raise my senses and immediately deploy the Intangible Barrier.

“It’s tilted, the trees. There is some rushed work around but they were able to hide the soil. There are some traces where the trees are forcibly moved from their original position…”

Topaz told us as she holds her hand on the ground. She must have used her magic to take a good look at the surrounding vicinity with her magic through the earth.

I turn my sight towards the twins and they ponder a little.

If what Topaz said is true, then the Mad Maiden has some absurd magician with them to be able to move trees like this. To completely change the structure of the forest that the elves know, they sure are cunning.

So…that’s why the reports about the scouts included about getting lost…

“Hey!! Why did you leave me behind?!”

A voice suddenly sprang up the surrounding and a gust of wind disturbs our thought process. Since I’m already familiar with the haughty voice, I didn’t raise any hostility.

What came towards us is Daisy…

“Why are you here?”

“Huh?! Because…”

“Aren’t you under Tzari’s supervision?”

“I am but…yeah…why am I here?”

“Isn’t it too late to ponder about that? Did Violetta let you?”

“Yeah, she said I’d better watch you. I’m reliable, aren’t I?”

“Yes, yes, you are.”

“Praise more!”

Daisy puffs her chest out with pride.

I don’t know why Violetta readily sent Daisy here but the question that came flying to me is…

“How did you manage to find us?”

“Your scent, of course! I have to sniff some of your clothes to track you down though.”

“Isn’t that just plain perversion?”

“Excuse you! That’s ummm…”

Daisy reddens as her cheeks are tinged with a blazing blush. What I mean is what I mean though. It’s kind of a stigma that formed in my mind because of Milin’s nonstop perversion and how she sneaks my underwear away.

It’s a crime and she is a criminal in my mind whatever happened.

Daisy notices Casablanca and Hibiscus and she immediately curtsied to them. It’s really annoying how she is disrespectful to me but this diligent at the face of other people!

“Good day, Casablanca Prasiolite and Hibiscus Prasiolite. Let me formally introduce myself for now. I am Daisy Aestasia, the daughter of the former King of Beast Kingdom, Folga.”

“Yes, we remember you. Pleased to be your acquaintance.”

Hibiscus answered and they both returned a bow to Daisy.

There’s a lot of things I wanted to point out but…

Suddenly, a weird roasting smell wafts into the air. Everyone immediately picked up the odd event and perked their alertness…

Except for Topaz and Daisy…

“This smell…!”

“It’s that! I know it’s that!”

“Roasted Pork!”

“It is Roasted Pork!”

They immediately ran towards where the smell is coming from and to our surprise, it’s not even that far but not close enough for my intangible barrier to sense.

The said roasted pork sits on two forked sticks that support its weight with its juice still dripping and the marinate just overflows with deliciousness from the smell alone.

Topaz who is an undeniably a glutton rushes but for Daisy, I’m questioning if it is her natural instinct to prey on food such as pork.

“Wait! That might be a trap!”

WHOOSH!

As soon as I said those words, Topaz and Daisy were caught in a net trap and they got flung upwards. They got entangled with each other inside the net and started struggling. It was not even weird to say at the least that it looks utterly weird as Daisy’s face is onto Topaz’s breasts and her thighs are rubbing on Topaz’s crotch…

It was a rather peaceful trap if you ask me but detaining Topaz to eat what she likes, now that’s unforgivable.

But well…an in all…it was an obvious trap. It was so plain and obvious that I can’t get angry…

“I’ll get them down, master.”

“Sure, be careful.”

Mimi volunteered as she manifested bony wings from her back and flew towards them.

Or what I would like to say but…

“Master…w-what should I do?! My feet are stuck on the ground!”

“What?”

“I mean it!”

Mimi tried to raise one of her feet and showed something icky and disgusting sticking on the sole of her shoe. She tried to force herself to get out but that means destroying her shoes in the process.

THUD

A dull sound came and to my shock, Emby falls on an encased bar of ice. Even Hibiscus was surprised at what happened but judging from the fat bird’s sleeping face, someone must have done it horribly…

I hope…

I took out a sword from my dimensional storage and the twins ready themselves too as we tried to search for an enemy.

We really did fall into a trap…

“W-W-What’s happening?!”

“Calm down, Casablanca…! F-Focus!”

The twins are clearly panicking…

And the one who has lost her composure the most is Casablanca as she looks around while getting all fidgety. She walks backward and then sideward as if to predict where the enemy will come.

However, it was her mistake for moving around too much. Before I can even give out another order…

“Wah!”

She fell into a quicksand that instantly immobilized her. The quicksand only reaches up to her neck but I doubt she can move beyond waving her hands for help.

“Casablanca, I’ll help you right away!”

“Don’t move!”

Too late…

Hibiscus’ foot was caught in a rope and she was flung upward as a sticking branch of tree shots towards the sky.

This girl has a problem with anything shaky. It was proven when she got seasick back when we were staying at Merissa’s ship.

Obviously, she immediately felt sick because of the sudden sensation and now, she got a pale countenance.

Traps after traps…

Now, I am standing alone with all my comrades fallen to the vicious traps that those Mad Maidens made.

I silently observe my surroundings…

Cries of struggles came to my ear as each of them fell into these dumb traps…

“Oh my, oh my, what do we have here?”

A haughty voice echoed throughout the forests. I immediately turn my head towards the place where the voice came from and found the source.

Walking with a boisterous attitude while smiling erratically, a human girl who dons a long black hair and deep hollow black irises show up. She playfully shoulders a blade called a katana as she walks towards my direction.

She wears an oriental garb called kimono in a loose fashion. However, under those loose sleeves, she wears an armguard but her only footwear is a wooden sandal called geta and it makes an annoying sound as it clasps with something hard.

But…what pulled my attention is her eyes…

That…annoyingly flat expression of hers with those deadpan eyes that seemingly making fun of me…!

“It seems I’ve caught myself some interesting game today.”