She had met several of her old friends along the way but most of them couldn’t remember her. Even some of those who she saw as sisters, wasn’t an exception.

Although she expected it, it was still quite painful for her. Someone you once treated as family, not remembering you and treated you as a stranger was certainly uncomfortable. She had almost lost hope of someone remembering her and Allen, if not for the fact that she hadn’t met Salamandra when she went to her former habitat.

Since she had disappeared, there are only two reasons she could think of. One was a change in history. In this lifetime, she might have slept somewhere different. And lastly, she had remembered Allen and might be also looking for him right at this moment.

There’s a small chance for the former to happen since all the things that had happened up until now were identical to what she had remembered. And so, the latter had a high chance of being true.

“We are the only one inside this chamber so you can act casually…”

The Elven Queen waved her hand and a cluster of vines moved, forming an elegant chair located in front of the throne. She gestured Mireya to sit on it.

“It’s unfortunate but I didn’t… however, the world tree showed me some scenes that had happened in the other world. And also, the impending danger marching into this world…” A golden goblet floated in front of Falis and Mireya.

“It’s a fruit juice, please help yourself…”

“Thank you…” Mireya grabbed the goblet. “You said that you have seen what had transpired in the other world, does it also mean…”

At this moment, the Elven Queen body jerked for a moment and the hand holding the goblet trembled. This reaction hasn’t bypassed Mireya’s keen eyes. She suddenly showed a mischievous smile.

“So you had also remembered my husband and how he harassed you a few times?”

A blush could be seen in the Elven Queen’s pale cheeks.

“Sleeping without permission in your quarters while bypassing your guards and eating your food that was set aside for your meal while treating your quarters as his. Even the barrier that enveloped the forest couldn’t stop his coming and going…”

“Stop!” The Elven Queen yelled while gritting her teeth. A complicated expression flashed across her eyes but it was mostly anger.

Seeing this, Mireya couldn’t help but started laughing.

“Daughter of the Snow Wolf clan, I was only acting nicely because of the World Tree’s orders. If you still mentioned that barbarian in front of me, believe me, I could throw you away from this place!” The Elven Queen’s flushed face distorted as she muttered those words.

“Your Majesty, I think you have said that I could act casually?” Mireya smiled with satisfaction.

“I take back my words, please act with discretion!”

Mireya continued to laugh while watching the Elven Queen’s appearance. I think only Allen could make the pure and respectable Elven Queen act like this! Hahahaha

“Have you finished your fun?” The Elven Queen asked in frustration.

The sound of grinding teeth could be heard in the surroundings.

“Yeah, I did…” Mireya answered as such but the smile on her face never left. It was really completely different from her normal behavior when she was facing other people.

This might be because of the piled frustration and loneliness she felt along her journey when she realized that most of her sisters couldn’t remember her and even treated her as a stranger.

“Anyway, I think you have already known the reason for my visit.”

The Elven Queen took a deep breath to calm herself down. “I presume that it’s related to that bastard.” The Elven Queen answered but the moment she said bastard, her anger once again flared up.

“Yeah, it did.” Mireya ignored the Elven Queen’s anger and continued. “The world needs a Hero and I believe my husband is the most suitable person for that position…”

“… …”

“So once again, I want to ask for your help and support, just like what you did in the previous life.”

The Elven Queen narrowed her eyes and stared at Mireya. At this time, her anger for Allen had already vanished and it was then replaced by a serious and calm expression. It was the face of a Queen.

“In the previous world, I did it against my will. I only supported him because of the world tree’s safety but now, I think it would be hard for me to do it again.”

“What do you mean by that?” Mireya asked cautiously.

“There is a change, a change that will affect the world greatly.”

“A change? What do you mean by change? The uprising of demons…”

“It’s not about the demons… in fact, it was also related to your beloved husband…” The Elven Queen sighed.

!? Mireya frowned.

“There were several futures the World Tree has shown me. One of these futures was similar to what had happened in your previous world. Although there was now a hope because of returnees like you, however, there is also a very disturbing probability that had appeared.”

“Probability? What probability?”

“That…” The Elven Queen paused for a moment and then her gaze turned from Mireya towards the dark corner of the hall. “Why don’t you ask her yourself?”

“Hm!?” Mireya’s alarmed gaze immediately turned and followed The Elven Queen’s eyes.

At this moment, a cold yet cheerful voice appeared, “As expected of the honorable queen of the Elves. Forgive my late greeting, Queen Falis Florita! My dear old friend~”

What appeared from the dark corner was a woman with a face hidden by a veil. However, what caught Mireya’s attention were the snakes slithering at the top of the woman’s head.

Shhhkkk, shhhkkk, shhhkkk swaying while glaring with their blood red eyes, the snakes emitted a danger as if one looks at them, you will turn into stone.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Ava, a dangerous woman like you… let’s ignore your arrival without permission but, I wonder what would that barbarian think if he knows what you are planning~”

Ava felt into silent.

“What?” Mireya, on the other hand, was covered in doubt. Barbarian? Don’t tell me…

“Mireya, I think you haven’t met her before but she is Ava, daughter of the Medusa tribe and that barbarian’s former lover.”

“What?! Allen!!” Mireya was startled.

“I’m glad that I had met you, princess Mireya. I heard some things about you from Salamandra…” Ava did a curtsy.

“Salamandra? You know where she is? No, more importantly, you are my husband’s concubine?” Mireya felt agitated. She hadn’t met Ava before.

“Concubine… such a strange word to call me.” Ava’s tone was soft, like autumn. “But I am indeed, Allen’s lover, in fact, I’m someone he once extremely loved and cared." Ava's expression turned extremely gentle as if reminiscing something on her past.

"Unfortunately, I had died from the hands of those detestable humans who wanted to harm my beloved.” Ava’s aura suddenly turned ice cold and her body began to emit an intense anger and hate.

Mireya was taken aback by her transformation.

But the Elven Queen wasn’t perturbed. “Is that the reason why you wanted to do what you’re planning? For revenge? Do you even think about the consequences of such actions?”

“… …”

“… because of what you wanted to do, the fate of the world was disturbed. It became unpredictable that even the world tree couldn’t see anything anymore… do you even think about that?!”

“What fate?” Mireya couldn’t understand what they were talking about.

“And so? Do you think I would care about that?!” Ava’s voice had a hint of insanity on it. No, it could be said that she was already insane. Because of hatred, she had fallen deep down to insanity!

“Yes, indeed it’s for revenge but it’s not for me. Humans have already fallen to their greed; it’s time for them to understand where they are standing!”

“But that barbarian is also a human, isn’t it?”

“Allen is not an ordinary human! He’s special!” Ava roared as if expressing her deepest feelings. “… And I will make him even more special, a king that would never be hurt by anyone and will stand above others!”

“That’s insanity, Ava! You don’t know this because of your early death but a demon invasion will happen after a few years. A demon king will be crowned and the world will fall into great chaos. This isn’t the time for your selfishness! What we needed is a Hero, not a tyrant!”

“Ha! Demon Invasion? Why should I care about them? If Allen became a king, then they will be nothing! Allen will rally the world’s power and immediately settle it easily!”

“Ava, your way is wrong! The World Tree had already confirmed it. The world’s balance will be broken if what you do succeed!” The Elven Queen countered.

“Even if it is, I will still continue doing it.” Ava, with an unbending will and firm determination, stepped forward. “… In fact, I came here because I know that you will not stay silent. In any case, you hated Allen quite a bit so I’m pretty sure you will make your move immediately after learning my plan.”

“Excuse me but,” Mireya cut off. Her face was still wearing a smile but anyone could see that this smile didn’t reach her eyes.

There was a cold and terrifying aura radiated from her.

“I heard my husband’s name but, Miss Ava what are you planning to do to him?” the air around Mireya suddenly coagulated and the atmosphere turned cold. Beads of icy droplets fall into the ground.

The floor beneath her feet started to freeze over and several icicles started to thrust out from the ground.

“As expected, you will also obstruct us… aren’t you, princess Mireya?”

“Ava, I don’t know what you wanted to do nor do I care. However, if you do anything to my husband, I will do anything in my power to stop you!”

Boom!!

Mireya’s aura collided with Ava’s and a low explosion echoed in the entire hall. Sparks flew and the atmosphere turned ice cold.

It’s as if, the two party’s swords have already been unsheathed and only waiting for the signal to start the battle.

“Enough of you two!” At this moment, the Elven Queen’s voice reverberated in the entire room and the two auras were swept away by a new aura coming from the Elven Queen.

Her aura was far different from Mireya’s ice cold aura that was like a chunk of ice preserved for a millennium or Ava’s aura that was akin to blazing and raging inferno. The Elven Queen’s aura was calm and serene. It gives off a feeling that calm downs people, giving a peaceful tranquility.

“I don’t care if you fight it out but don’t do it in my kingdom!”

“Hmph!” The two women snorted but they didn’t dare disobey. Although they were confident with their abilities but against the Elven Queen who’s deep can’t be measured, the two women felt a bit of pressure.

Demi-humans such as Beastmen, Medusa, and Elves are considered monsters in terms of the power system. Their levels were divided into chess pieces; Pawns, Rook, Knight, Bishop, Queen and lastly the King. Pawn level is divided into 9 levels.

“And Ava, I advised you once again, not to continue what you’re planning!”

“Miss Ava, what are you planning to do to my husband?!” Mireya asked seriously.

“Princess Mireya, don’t you think anything after seeing Allen suffering in our previous life?” Ava answered the question with a question.

Mireya frowned.

“Don’t you feel anything whenever you see him getting hunted like a dog even though he didn’t do anything?” Ava again asked.

“If not, then what are you? Don’t you feel anything whenever you see him cry and weep after your sisters and comrade died one after another?”

“That’s…” Mireya faltered.

“Me, I’m sick of it!” Ava roared in anger. The snakes on top of her head glared while letting out intense killing intent. “… I can’t let Allen got hurt anymore again. I can’t let those disgusting humans interfere in our lives anymore!”

“… …” Mireya’s eyes widened. This reason, even she felt like doing something whenever she thought about Allen’s suffering. Even now, she was trying to gather her former comrades and create a group that could be his strength when he needed it.

So, it’s not like she couldn’t understand what Ava was thinking.

But even so,

“Ava, what are you planning then?”

“Mireya!” The Elven Queen called out. “Don’t be pulled by her, this action would lead to terrifying consequences!”

But Mireya ignored the Elven Queen’s warning and stared at Ava. She wanted to hear from her directly.

“Of course, for Allen to be a King. A King that would rule the entire world!”

“If it’s that, then I guess I’m also doing something along that line.”

Ava took a deep breath and said with great gravity, “But something is needed to be done beforehand.”

“Something?”

“Ava!”

“I don’t know if you have realized it but there’s another face hiding deep within Allen. And that is something we needed to bring out first.”

“In doing so, Allen would become even more fierce and merciless.” Ava clenched her both fists and the blood colored eyes hidden under the veil flashed a look of insanity. “… And if that happened, his kindness would never be selfishly taken advantage again!”

“And that’s what I said is wrong, Ava!” The Elven Queen cried out. “… As once your friend, I can’t let you do this! This would only bring a calamity!”

“Falis, I apologize but I can’t stop.” Ava shook her head.  “Falis, if you really treasured our friendship in the previous life, you would let me do what I want. Or else, even if it’s you, I will become your enemy…”

“Ava…”

Ava turned her gaze and looked at Mireya. “What about you, princess Mireya. Why don’t you join us?”

Mireya hesitated for a moment.

The Elven Queen even looked at her in worry but fortunately for her, Mireya shook her head.

“Why?” Ava frowned. “Don’t you feel anything for Allen at all?”

“It’s not that…” Mireya sighed and slumped in the chair. “That darkness you’re talking about, I have seen it twice. It was scary that I even felt fear. It was strong and powerful that it had saved mine and others lives in danger…”

“Then…”

“But,” Mireya’s eyes narrowed. “That was not Allen. It wasn’t him at all. It was different, a completely different person.”

Mireya stared at Ava. “I’m sorry, I do feel where you’re coming from but I can’t let Allen turned into something like that. So it’s unfortunate but I’m going to stop you.”

Listening to Mireya’s words, the Elven Queen finally let out a relief and faint smile bloom across her face. Her gaze then turned towards Ava who was keeping silent.

Ava looked at Mireya and seeing her firm resolve, she didn’t say anything anymore and just let out a bitter sigh.

“Mireya, as someone who loved the same man, I won’t interfere in what you have decided to do. Probably, this development might also prove to be useful.”

“… …”

“However, hear me now, in the future, if you obstruct us, we will consider you as our enemy. In that time, there will be no mercy…”

Ava muttered in a light breath. Her voice warmed up.

She wasn’t speaking in a venture. Mireya might become her stop light in the future. There is no perfect plan, but at least they can prepare for something unexpected.

And Mireya can be that preparation…

Although she would continue it, Ava also wanted for Allen to have another pillar of support. A probability that is far different from what she was expecting…

-- Or maybe, deep down Ava was just looking for someone that could stop her…

… Someone that could stop this senseless plan.