"Damn it! Who dares use such strong fire magic in the street?"

"Quick, catch that person!"

"Where's the city guard?"

...

Early morning, sky just getting light. I was still half-asleep when I heard a commotion outside.

"What's going on?"

I opened my eyes, but strangely, the noise died down quickly. So I ignored it, pulled the blanket over my head and went back to sleep.

"Feliciana, Cyra!"

But soon after, someone called out several times. The voice came from somewhere in the room.

"What? She's really back?"

I sat up suddenly, still half-asleep. I recognized the voice right away. I quickly got up, put on clothes messily, and opened the door.

It was still dawn. Most adventurers taking early jobs had already checked out, but some guests were still sleeping. I was worried Nicola making such a fuss might annoy people.

Luckily she stopped calling after a few times. I felt relieved. But I didn't rush downstairs. I went to Adrian's door first and knocked softly.

No sound from inside. Adrian is usually alert, so he should respond even if sleeping. Did he already go out?

I didn't have time to wonder where he went so early. I hurried downstairs and saw Nicola sitting at a table in the middle of the lobby.

"Why are you so late?"

I went over, not sure if I should be happy or nervous. She looked very impatient, sipping juice a waiter just brought.

The inn lobby is usually used as a bar and restaurant, open 24 hours. It can get very rowdy when busy, but now there were only a few customers.

But even those few eating breakfast weren't looking at their food. They were all staring at Nicola.

If it was because of her shouting earlier, that makes sense. But why were so many people gathered outside? They were crowding the entrance, not coming in to stay or eat. Everyone was staring at Nicola like she was strange. It felt weird.

"You're so slow! I traveled all night to meet you early. Is this how you welcome me?"

Although she complained, Nicola's expression softened when she saw me. She left her half-finished drink and pulled me upstairs.

"Take me to your room. It's too noisy here!"

"Did you fly straight to the inn entrance before landing?"

Thinking of everyone's reactions, I suddenly understood. I couldn't help asking quietly.

She must have shown herself openly! Plus the fuss Aria caused last night, people around here probably know I'm an angel too!

"What are you afraid of? You know the Sage Council is friendly with angels. No need to hide here!"

Hmph! Easy for her to say. But before I came, didn't she find it troublesome and put away her wings?

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

I wanted to argue more, but seeing how tired she was from traveling, I let it go. When we got to my room, Cyra soon ran over too. As soon as she entered, she pointed at Nicola and questioned loudly:

"It's really you? Why come back now? Your timing is too perfect! Did you chase her all the way here?"

"What do you mean chase?"

Nicola was confused. She quickly explained:

"Two days ago, I heard you got involved in that huge Parristol uprising. I was worried and flew all the way from the northern coast. But when I got to Parristol, everything was gone. The city vanished, leaving a huge crater. Then Elara contacted me and said you all came to Crescent City, so I flew through the night to get here."

I see, that explains everything! We did contact Edenmere yesterday and got scolded for recklessly getting involved in Parristol. The timing matches up.

Too bad Nicola was a step late. When she arrived, all the fighting was over. She even went to the wrong place. The real "Parristol" had moved over 10 km west and crashed in Astralrealm kingdom. Of course she saw nothing at the original site.

"What did you mean by timing just now?"

Although our questions were answered, Nicola caught something odd in Cyra's words and asked.

"Aria! She came to see me last night! Said she's not a traitor, but a spy..."

Thinking of this, I got annoyed and scolded Nicola:

"You're so strange. You chased her all the way to the northern border, but achieved nothing. What a waste of time. If you were with us, we wouldn't have had such a hard time against the enemy!"

"What! Aria snuck here? No wonder I haven't heard about her for so long. Where is she now?"

Hearing this, Nicola jumped up from her chair, wanting revenge. But I pushed her back down.

"Are you crazy? She ran away long ago. Even if she's still hiding in Crescent City, how can you find her with her wings hidden?"

"Exactly! You should think about why you couldn't catch her after chasing so long. Even if you know where she is, what's the use?"

Cyra leaned against the wall and laughed coldly, stirring things up more.

"You said she claims to be a spy?"

Nicola seemed to suddenly understand something. She clenched her fists and said angrily:

"That bastard Elara used me as a pawn!"

She explained that after learning Aria's exact location, she went deep into the Barren Lands. But every time she got close, Aria strangely escaped just in time, as if she knew the angel army was coming.

The angel army even suspected there was another traitor. But they found no one. Often the local monster forces were caught completely off guard and wiped out. Only Aria "luckily" escaped. So the traitor theory didn't make sense.

But if Aria really was a spy as she said, everything fits. The informant was probably Elara herself, the commander.

"But why would Lady Elara do this? She told you the information herself, but secretly warned Aria to escape? Isn't that contradictory?"

Cyra still didn't understand.

"It's obvious. She wanted to use Nicola's fighting power!"

I reminded her. I had figured out most of these schemes last night after meeting Aria.

"The angel army just had a civil war. They were struggling on the northern front at first. Only after Nicola went did they turn defense into offense, pushing all the way to the northern coast. Don't forget how scary top fighters are in this world. One can fight a thousand! They finally found an Ancestor. How could they not use her power?"

"But why not tell me directly? It's not something shameful. And wasn't her strategy always to negotiate with monsters? Why let me kill so many?"

Nicola finally seemed to understand this point. She rubbed her head, very troubled.

"Would you have agreed if she told you directly?"

I rolled my eyes at her, pointing out the truth.

"Remember back in Edenmere, we kept asking to leave. Elara knew we travelers with memories probably wouldn't just join the angel army to fight monsters. Especially since your Ancestor status meant she couldn't force us. So she had to use your desire for revenge! Plus, having the 'Ancestor's Inheritor' draw enemy fire would minimize angel casualties. It was a win-win plan for her."

The answer about wanting peace is simple too. If they didn't take this chance to show Michelle's side that we angels have Nicola as an equal fighter, when would they get a chance to negotiate peace? Wait for the other side to be kind?

But they didn't expect Aria the spy couldn't take it and ran away first, even coming to ask me for help. That's how the scheme was exposed.

"That's why I didn't want to accept the Ancestor title! I didn't expect to still be used even as 'Ancestor's Inheritor'!"

After figuring everything out, Nicola stood up very annoyed. As the Ancestor, she had no way to avoid the responsibilities placed on her. She angrily went to the door to go out and clear her head.

But when she opened the door, someone was standing outside, hand raised to knock.

"Nicola? Long time no see!"

Adrian was surprised. He looked at me and Cyra sitting in the room, then awkwardly asked, holding up takeout boxes:

"I just bought two breakfasts. Feliciana... no, why don't we all eat together?"

"Why are you here? Why are you in a place like this?"

Nicola's face didn't look so good. She glanced at me, then looked Adrian up and down again. She blurted out:

"Why is he wearing my clothes?"