The last drop of the downpour was squeezed from the sky and the dusking daylight slowly dies from the horizon. This inn in the middle of the forest that Higanbana and her group chose is a perfect fit to hide from both the eyes of the Elven and Dwarven army. It is also, by any means, help from me.

“Um…Miss, is there anything else you wanted?”

“Do not mind me. I am waiting for someone.”

I am currently at the diner, waiting for Higanbana’s group for a report since something happened when I left. The whole place is a little desolate because of the downpour. You can guess that the sudden weather took everyone by surprise and sheltered themselves at random places.

Of course, since I am one of the few customers around, the man waiting for the tables is eagerly asking me. I have ordered some desserts and a fruit juice earlier together with a salad as a snack. It wasn’t that special but it was still quite refreshing as the ingredients used are around this part.

I am not hopeful to get dinner here and I have to keep my diet in check for my unborn child. As that thought crosses my mind, I once again caress the bulging womb, the last reminder of Mrothgir, our child.

As it stands, I am still anxious and confused as I cannot see myself as a mother, less, a caring person. I am still thinking of theories and methods of becoming an excellent mother, however, in the end, I figured such instinct will kick in when the child is born.

Four months…there are still five months left of my pregnancy.

I still do not understand motherhood and I cannot wrap my head around it. What’s the difference between a kind person and a kind mother? How do I treat my child when she’s born into this world? Many more are the sources of my anxiety…

I get to be exempted from tedious jobs at the castle but it only makes me restless and I end up reading books all the time. Now that I think about it, I was just the type to read books whenever.

As my thoughts circle around my pregnancy, the door of the inn’s diner opens up and heavy footsteps came barging.

It was them.

Well, I kind of knew since a kilometer away and I knew the additional presence within their group. On the arms of Lu rests the girl called Mimi. The appearance of the girl has become apparent of one that belongs to the late Demon Lord Baal’s appearance.

There are streaks of red hair and her horn started curving upward. Her magical power stagnates at a dangerous level. Judging from all of this alone, the seal that which binds both her memories and identities are coming loose.

It was plain as day that this girl is Baal’s daughter from long ago. So that plays the question why were her memories sealed? Asagao doesn’t know the answer, that’s given.

“Oh, you’re earlier than expected today.”

“Yes, we are about to meet with our third collaborator.”

“…After all of these?”

“It can’t be helped. By the way, are you fine?”

I talked to Higanbana casually as they walked near my table. She was limping and holding onto her flank. Blood dirties her clothes so I assumed she is injured.

“This is nothing. Well, no, it hurts. I’d like to receive treatment soon, though first aid was applied.”

“I see. Let me tend to it. As for the girl…”

“It rained hard and we are all drenched.”

Higanbana said as she called a waiter with a gesture. The waiter hurriedly strides toward our direction as if his life was on the line.

“My apologies for not meeting you right away.”

“That’s not an issue. I want you to prepare another room for my companion here. Also, prepare us the hot bath and all commodities.”

“I’m sorry to interfere but this unconscious girl…I am quite hesitant about…”

“I’ll pay upfront with an added fee for the service.”

“Alright! It will be done!”

“Also, prepare a private room for us.”

Money matters.

The man promptly leaves with a huge grin on his face. Even if he refuses after that, Higanbana or I will just be a little bit forceful. It’s thoughtful that she also mentioned for a private room. Not that anyone can overhear our conversation with my magic but that guest will create a commotion.

“Boss, what do we do now?”

“Rest. Take a bath and take the whole night as yours.”

“About this girl…”

“Make sure you put her on her bed properly.”

“Will do.”

Higbana’s entourage left. Some of them are swaying left and right from the fatigue, especially the girl from the rabbit clan. If I remember correctly, her name is Aina, the blacksmith whose ability in weaponsmith shames a dwarf.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Higanbana sat down beside me by letting her whole weight falls on the sofa. She leans towards me with an extremely exasperated countenance.

“Geez…how long will this last? I want to snuggle on Asagao already…”

“I’ll hook you up with her after this.”

“That is quite a proposal. You bet I want it.”

“Stop yapping and show me your wound already.”

“Right.”

Higanbana cocks away from me and pulls her clothes up to show her flank to me. I immediately gave the onlookers a glare and they all turned away in an instant. Some children can be so careless when it comes to their appearance.

It wasn’t that serious and it’s almost closed, however, I’ll make sure it doesn’t leave any scar with my magic. Since this could become a lead towards her disguise, ultimately revealing her identity.

I immediately took out a distilled healing potion made of arum grass, rare to these parts of the country. It’s a herb that grows only at the fairy forest. I invoke magic into the vial to raise its potency and slowly drops the content on Higanbana’s wound.

“Ow! O-o-ow!”

“Bear with it.”

“Easier said than done.”

“It makes me wonder where all your spunk went when you ripped your own tails out of pride.”

“This and that are two different things.”

“Yeah, yeah, as you say so. I’ll make sure your skin is smooth and pristine for our little Asagao. No, you’re also little.”

“I can bear with that.”

Throughout our idle talk, the wound was healed and left no scar. I lightly pinch the baby fats that Higanbana has on her flank and it made her flinched a little.

“That tickled!”

“At least it’s not painful, right?”

“You got a point.”

“Well then, care to explain what happened?”

“Ah…that…Let’s move this talk to the private room.”

“I see. I’ll have you change into fresher clothes there.”

Deciding that our talk should become private, we called out to the woman handling the reception and asked for our reserved private room.

Higanbana and I entered the room and I deftly retrieve fresh dry clothes from my storage paired with underwear for children. Since Asagao came to us, I always bring children’s clothes with me. I handed the clothes to Higanbana and in the process, I enclosed the room with magic.

Higanbana took her clothes off without hesitation in front of me and promptly remove the magic ring on her finger, revealing her true form. The black hair refurbished with a bright caramel color and her eyes brighten from a dark iris to a delicate golden brown hue. A pair of triangular ears atop her head appears and twitched repeatedly.

She tossed the wet clothes aside and picked up the clothes that I provided after swiftly wiping herself dry. Since those clothes are far cry from her usual style of attire, she’s having some difficulty wearing it herself so I helped her. Even if she is devious and sly, Higanbana is pretty much still a little girl after all.

“So, how was it with my mother?”

“Yes, I told Lady Izuna that you are still under my care in the fairy continent, training swordsmanship under my tutelage.”

“Well, it was not wrong to say I am under your care.”

“So, let’s discuss what you have learned for the past days here. Give me the details of how everything entailed into this. From that, I’ll also tell you what Asagao told me and connect the dots.”

“Hoho, is it really fine to trick Asagao like that?”

“Regardless of the method that we take, Asagao will always involve herself. It’s better that we both know what’s happening inside out so we can make actual countermeasures for when Asagao and everyone get in danger. Be it a political or physical danger.”

“Political…Asagao’s position within the council is extremely delicate, huh and the person herself doesn’t give much thought about it.”

“Knowing how she thinks actually gives us the advantage of what plans to lay out next…however…she isn’t as spontaneous as we thought. I never thought that a simple war intervention would lead to an array of a new problem.”

“About that…”

“I know. Mimi’s memories are resurfacing as the daughter of the former demon lord Baal. If we do this right, we can use Mimi as a playing card to gain some authority at the Demon Continent. If everything falls according to my theories, Mimi has all the rights to ascend to the title.”

“Is that possible?”

“The demon continent does cater to who is the strongest, however, they are monarch first and foremost. We can bypass Demon Lord Gria’s authority and give Mimi the position.”

“I see, but do we really need to resort to that? I feel like if Asagao found out that you have such motives, it’ll be bad.”

“I don’t plan to go that far. If Mimi doesn’t agree to it, then that’s it.”

“I understand that. Let’s reevaluate the reports that we gathered.”

“Before that, let’s wait for the third collaborator.”

“For how long?”

“She’s keen about time so any time now—Ugh…speak of the devil.”

Higanbana’s back tensed up together with mine as a sinister and foreboding presence quickly envelops the room. Higanbana together with I restlessly looks around the room to anticipate where that woman would pop out.

Suddenly, the door promptly opens…and there, she comes…normally?

“Why are your faces painted with flabbergasts?”

On the doorway stands Miss Priscilla, one of the summoned heroes, the one that dons an attire of a maid. Possessing an intellect far beyond my understanding and indomitable wits. If there’s a word that I prefer describing her, it’s the word “Perfection.”

Her power almost rivals mine and whatever she could actually do, everything is an enigma. If there’s one factor as to why I trust her for a matter like this, it’s because she’s that kind of person who is upright and fastidious and a…clean freak.

I turn to look at Higanbana and she has this complicated countenance. She looks back at me with an unsure stare and I hesitatingly nod, giving her the answer she’s trying to confirm. Yes, she is our collaborator.

“I do not possess adequate information about the whole situation, however, I take it that you have gathered enough parts?”

“Parts? So…this is what it is…”

Higanbana immediately brightens up the idea of why we collected the Ether machinery parts. I don’t feel like understanding the principles and the ideas behind ether machinery or how they use their power. It’s not something I will fancy from the bottom of my heart.

Cutting the details of how and why Miss Priscilla casually entered the room, she seated herself elegantly, more elegant that I could ever do. There was a huge difference in our mannerism. I studied mine and diligently learned it for special occasions.

Miss Priscilla, without a doubt, is born with it, like it’s her birthright to have. Her cold piercing eyes that contain no visible emotions direct towards our direction.

“Well then, let’s start our discussion. Things have taken a bad turn and we need to come up with a new plan. Higanbana, what are the current events happening on your side?”

“Firstly, it’s hard to keep my identity hidden at this point. I need a distraction for Asagao. Bring in new people in the field that can be of help. Not to mention, we are up against one of the Aracana Sins. Then there’s the trouble within Asagao’s group. Lastly, the fact that the dwarves might be holding a bigger and stronger weapon that can obliterate the elves.”

I nodded at Higanbana’s words. It’s within my expectation but the trouble it produced is greater than what I actually thought. Stalling and breaking off the war is no longer a suitable range for an ending. At the very least, we need to keep other kingdoms uninvolved as much as possible…at least, during the war itself.

“Before anything else, I would like to reconfirm the operation’s objectives and the personnel involved here. I want to plan an effective way to make it possible for us to hinder such scale of unsightly war.”

“Miss Priscilla, under the guise of ending this war, the true goal holds the potential that both beneficial for the Human Kingdom and the Beast Kingdom. The Demon Kingdom can also be an extension of the event’s turnout.”

“Ho?”

Miss Priscilla’s eyes lit up in a quick realization of the goal.

“That’s right. We plan to make the elven and dwarven kingdom exhausts their resources, dry enough to make them ask assistance from the neighboring kingdoms. It’s causation with a definite result in an economical way. Both kingdoms will be indebted and will cease all combat.”

“In other words, you want to control the kingdoms through their inadequacy to produce enough resources, to put their people in an untimed manner for their daily consumption for food.”

“Calm down. Knowing Queen Hinoki who loves her kingdom, she’ll grab such hand offering her people help.”

“You are also aware that their economy will be having extremities in their upkeep. It’s like a draught for them if such a thing occurs. Well, as long as an immediate remedy can be applied. If that is the case, I have a proposal of my own but before that, can I see a sample of these ether tech we talked about before?”

Upon her words, I brought a piece of metal out from my dimensional storage with weird machinery and buttons. As I set it down on the table in the middle, she quickly slides her hands on its surface before proceeding to carry it deftly.

Slowly, her lips curved upward briefly but her eyes completely showed that she indeed knows what the device could be.

“This is…this will be a huge step. It shall bring us immediately to a new age in a flash.”

“What does that mean, Miss Priscilla?”

“I do not have any means to elaborate the detail, however, with this, we can immediately leap out of this primordial age.”

“That’s a bit harsh, calling our era primordial when the complexity of magic has been refined and the economical range of our kingdom is fully established…”

“Anyway, moving on, I would like to hear more about the situation before we proceed with my proposal.”

I turn to Higanbana who has been listening all-ears to our conversation. She nods in agreement and I nodded back.

“Both are in agreement, huh. Then, let’s start orchestrating the stage for the performance.”