Luna POV:
We kept flying as fast as possible, or in this case, as fast as Evileye could. It took us some minutes but we managed to arrive at our meeting point. Everything would be great if only somebody would have greeted us. We were supposed to meet with the others here, or at least with those that managed to run from that demon, but reality is cruel and painfull.
"Looks like they didn't care enough to help and simply left us to die. This is one of the reasons why I chose to be alone, in my whole life I have ever trusted only one person. I was betrayed many times like you now, they couldn't betray me as I was never their comrade and I wasn't trusting or depending on them in the first place. I can be wrong, maybe they simply trusted you to make it out alive and safe, who knows? I can tell you for sure only one thing, no matter what you will never experience such pain coming from me. I would rather experience the worst hell imaginable for eternity than casue you any bad feelings. If they did betray you intentionally, only say a word and I will make sure to make them pay for everything."
"...Thank you. But first I want to be sure of their betrayal and even if they indeed left us to die, I don't want any kind of revenge on them. For me they are still my comrades and causing them pain is not what I want. I trust them and know they are not like that."
"You don't need to thank me. I know what you feel right now. My whole life was filled with betrayal thanks to being naive when I was still young. I did pay for it many times until I've learned that it's better to stay away from most and only interact with those exeptional but misunderstood and ridiculed. Being alone was considered smart at that time by me. I accepted that I won't experience what I want the most. But when we were finally alone I experienced something new, I gained these feelings. Now I'm not sure what they are, but I feel such happines and joy whenever I hug you that it's hard to contain myself. I don't understand my own feelings, but something tells me to make you feel loved, needed. I feel that eternity in a void of nothingess will be nothing to me if there's you in my embrace. If I am righ--
"Luna, just wait a second" Interrrupted me Evileye
"Let me finish first... If I am right then what I feel right now is love. I want you to depend on me to... share? everything you feel with me... As I said I don't understand myself, but I feel the need to say this... I love you!" Why am I so happy when I said it? Is this why people want to fall in love so much?
"Luna, I'm sorry but I cannot say the same... While love is too much for now i can at least say that... I like you. It's not love but there is definitely something. I also do not understand why it's happening so fast. I just know I can trust you with everything so... just give some more time, please."
"...I knew it! You try to act cold and uncaring, but inside you're just a big softie, arent you?"
"...Don't tell anyone... I can be quite emotional inside, I know. It's something I try to hide from my comrades as much as I can. Only *mumble* *mumble*."
"What is it? Can you repeat it a bit clearer?"
"I said... only *mumble* *mumble*."
"Onee-sama, you know that I won't understand unless you say it clearly right?" Is she doing it on purpose?
"Aaaaaaaah... Only you are allowed to see this side of me! Is it clear enough now?" Finally admitted Evileye in an embarassed tone? Her reaction made me instantly hug her.
"Onee-sama, you're just like me,a big emotional sofite inside trying to show courage but likes cuddling nontheless... Earlier in our talks you said that magic research and development was your hobby right? So how about after this whole mess is over we will go out and do a research trip/date? Let me plan the whole thing, I just know what you would like. It may be a crazy idea because no one ever thought about it so first I would need to develop a special transportation spell or at least change an existing one to enable said spell to do what I have in mind. It shouldn't take more than a day with my previous experiments. The only risky part is finding the location without me first being there. Hopefully a mental image will be enough. So how about it? We will spend some time together to know each other better and at the same time do some research and maybe upgrade our arsenal by developing some spells? What do you say?" I proposed my idea to Evileye. Now, if she accepts there will be some work in small time frame... maybe I can modify the gate spell? It technically rips another asshole in space allowing passage to the location the caster had in mind, so maybe with some modifications I will be able to rip a new asshole in our universe allowing us travel to another world? It requires some testing but it can be possible with my power level.
"... I would like that. While I don't understand myself why we are moving so fast with this. I feel myself falling in love with you, I cannot reject this idea, because I would lie to myself then, and it's not like I don't enjoy it."
"I can tell already that I love you, but for you... It's propably infatuation, or early stage of love. It's propably the latter seeing as you're already accepting the idea... We have talked too long already, let's discuss our date later in more detail, you need to tell more of your likes as I want to surprise you. Now we have to get rid of this demon, but first let's go to the adventurers guild and make sure if your comrades did betray you or not."
"Let's look out for people on our way there, someone might give us some information about the situation." Added Evileye
"Evileye, remember that whatever happens, I'm with you." I said as a last thought and reached for her hand squizzing it lightly just to assure her.
"..." She said nothing and just squizzed back, there was nothing else to say.
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"What do you mean I have to go to the royal palace?" I asked out loud to the receptionit at the adventurers guild.
Apparently we weren't supposed to be here. Not much happened during our run here. The streets were empty so there wasn't anyone we could ask for the situation at hand. After finally arriving at the guild we were dumbfounded because the guild was empty, thats when the receptionist came in and demanded that I answer some princess summons. Who does she think she is?
"The third Princess asked the adventurers guild for help in the crisis we are currently in. We agreed and every adventurer of every rank is ordered by us to answer the summons. Every adventurer refusing to participate will be stripped of their rank and as a citizen of this kingdom judged properly." She's pissing me off with her useless rambling.
"Oooooo... Is that a threat?" I asked just to be sure
"No, I am merely stating what was decided in this kind of emergency the capital is facing." She stated with a smug face.
"Then listen closely right now, because i'm neither an adventurer or citizen of this kingdom. I don't care about your laws, you cannot do anything to me. Know your place waste of air, you don't want to anger me because if you were to rank me with your system a problem would ocur seeing as there isn't anything beyond adamantite." I warned her while releasing some killing intent, hopefully she will understand.
"Luna, please stop. While I understand your feelings about this matter, scaring a stuck up receptionist is the least of our worries. Let's focus at the matter we had in mind before arriving here.
Hey you behind the counter! Do you know where the rest of Blue Roses are?" Asked Evileye the only person besides us in the guild after calming me down.
"Is that you Evileye-sama? I'm sorry for not noticing you earlier! Please allow me to confirm something first, is the person beside you miss Luna Scarlet?" Oh, she asked this and carefully looked at me with some fear?
"Yes? Is something wrong?" Replied Evileye.
"Then, please forgive me for my earlier words miss Luna." She apologized to me and bowed? What the hell happened and why is she bowing to me now?
"I don't care about your apologies, explain." Now it was my turn to demand something.
"Of course miss Luna. The leader of Blue Rose, Lakyus-sama asked the adventurers guild to allow a person named Luna Scarlet reach immediately the adamantite rank upon registering and add her to their group. Our leader agreed to this as long as miss Luna gains acknowledgment, either from the princess or fellow adventurers in this emergency."
"Hmm, is that so? So I have to prove my strenght to as much people as possible, or to someone in high position like the princess..." There is not much I can do. The easiest way would be getting rid of the ringleader. Easier said than done, if he decides to go all out a part of the capital will vanish.
"Was there any message left for us?" Asked Evileye to the receptionist in a hopefull tone.
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"I was about to tell that there indeed is a message left for Evileye-sama. Lakyus-sama was pressed with time so the message is only verbal, it goes as such 'I'm glad you did make it back, when Gagaran and Tia rushed to us and asked to go help you, I was conflicted, on one side I wanted to help you but on the second I knew that you woulnd't tell them to run away if they could be of help. We believe in you and Luna, so we went to the palace ahead of you. If we cannot help you two, then we will at least help where we can. Come back to us we have a capital to defend afterall.' That's it. Now please excuse me I have some matters needing attention." She said this and left us alone again.
"I'm glad for you. Betrayal is not something I wish for you to experience."
"What are you saying? They are also your comrades now. Didn't her messsage include you? You're not alone anymore, even not counting Blue Rose you still have me." Evileye hugged me as she said this.
"...Thank you, thank you so much." What are these feelings? Am I happy right now or something else? Why it feels so easier now, like a great burden was just taken from my shoulders? I don't understand but it's something special, like nothing matters now, let's squizz the life out of her because by the looks of it I have to take action in these times, leaving all the work for my juniors would be unfair afterall.
"Let's go Evileye, we wasted enough time as it is, we cannot leave the defense of this capital to kids. It's time for me take action once more." I said after some minutes of comfort. I hate politics, but planning a defense and offense is not something I am against. The tactician is once again in game.
"Then we should fly right to the palace, the guards should allow us entrace when they see me.
*Nod*
I nodded to Evileye and we left the guild behind. Our target, the royal palace.
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We arrived at the palace without trouble, a guard took us immediately to the princess upon seeing Evileye with me. Now we are standing before the doors separating us from the rest. I hold my hand right at the door, ready to knock. There's however a slight problem, I'm conflicted if I should do this. If I reveal myself too much some people might ask questions, try to force something upon me. While it won't work on me, I cannot say the same about Evileye... or the rest of Blue Roses.
"Don't worry everything will be fine, I'm with you so don't have to take everything by yourself. If you want me to depend on you, then you have to do the same." She took my hand in her as she said this in a reassuring hold.
"Onee-sama... I guess it's time to show some of my true capabilities, as a person, as somone people would follow."
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
"Come in." Said a gentle voice from inside.
We did as we were told and walked in, still hand in hand. Some raised their eyebrows, but there wasn't any other reaction besides that. The room was pricely decorated with many windows on one side and an occupied table with only two chairs left. There's some unfamiliar people but that doesn't matter. One is the Princess, she's propably the one that let us in, close to her is seated a short and fat man with some resemblings to the princess, propably a Prince. On her other side is snake-like looking man, he's quite old so maybe a noble or some advisor, anyway I got a bad feeling from him. Next we have the whole Blue Rose group opposite to them. Left out are some guards at the flanks, a blonde boy in adamantite armor that seems familiar somehow? and a black haired, black eyed, muscular man with a dark skin tone. The last person is a black haired woman propably in her forties.
"It's good to have you with us, please sit with us and join our discussion regarding the strategy we will use in this emergency."
It's time to shine, I guess?
"Then I will start with some information for you. I don't care about your standing, we have lost much time on our way here and you still haven't planned anything. I won't comment how incomptetent it is, because right now people are dying while you are waiting... for what?" I stood up and said what was on my mind to these 'holier than thou' nobles. Why people in most worlds do the same mistake and create nobility is beyond me...
"Y-You... Do you know who you're talking to? I'm the second Prince of this country Zanac Valleon Igana Ryle Vaiself, I could've excetued you right now for this insult." Said the chubby and short boy.
"You're done? Will there be any more interruptions, or are we finally going to save some people?"
"I'm Renner Theiere Chardelon Ryle Vaiself, may I please know your name miss...?" Asked me politely the Princess.
"Luna Scarlet." I gave her my name, let's see what she wants to say.
"Miss Luna then, would it be possible to reserve any opinions in this meeting for later? Sadly we cannot waste more time if we want to help as much as we can. Miss Luna, please start with some information regarding Jaldabaoth. Gagaran-dono with Tia-dono informed us already of your help in their rescue. Seeing you here with us we would like to know what happened." This Princess is good, she has a mask to hide her true intentions but she cannot fool someone who lived their whole life with such a mask, not to mention how long I have already lived.
"...Let's start then with some information. I can give you a plan saving much more people you could with a normal one. Not many know this but I'm the best battle strategist you can get right now. I have to give you and other adventurers a good impression to become the first person reaching adamantite rank right after registration. This is my goal right now, which requires me to save this capital. With that out of the way Let's start with Jaldabaoth and his plans.
Jaldabaoth is an archdemon, or more precisely one of the highest ranked ones. If some of you think about killing him and be done with it... you can leave this room right now. We barely made it out alive, were it not for me then Evileye would be in best case scenario dead. Any magic equal or below 6th tier is useless against his magic immunity. In simple terms, unless you cast a 7th tier spell you won't be able to even harm him. He was toying with us and even the small amounts of damage done by me was useless in the long run. If Momon the black did not help us and began fighting him in pure physical strenght...
Next some of his abilities, for example dimensional lock. Quite simple spell used only by the highest ranked demons and angels which blocks any form of teleportation or transportation magic. Another of his spells was called hellfire wall which summons a literal wall of hellfire trapping it's victim inside. Hellfire doesn't cause any physical damage, instead it incinerates the soul.
This is only the magic he used, not counting flames of gehenna which I wll inform you about that later. His physical strenght is many times above adamantite ranked warriors, the only one that would be capable of even standing against him is Momon the black, as much as I want to deny it, he's strong for a warrior, stronger than any other adamantite warrior.
In our quick fight we allowed jaldabaoth to leave, otherwise we would be dead and the capital most likely without any defense. Do have in mind that he was toying with us and he still has servants we left to take care of.
Evileye is there any ranking for monster strenght? How strong would be the insect maid?" I informed them about Jaldabaoth leaving most of the important stuff out. Their expressions with every word said turned graver than a moment before, finally comprehending just how bad our situation is, while Blue Rose looked as if lightning chose to strike them. Did it register in their mind that leaving us behind could be seen a betrayal?
"We have the difficulty ranking, which describes most of the known monsters. The insect maid difficulty would be around 150," Answered for me Evileye
"Thank you, then I can conclude that Jaldabaoth strenght when he was toying with us was at least 250. In the best scenario we have to fight him, six servants of equal or higher strenght than the insect maid, and possibly Jaldabaoth at full strenght that is above 300."
Silence, not even breathing can be heard, which is a feat with my superior senses.
"What do you propose we do then?" Asked the blonde snake-like man.
"Who are you?"
"Marquis Reaven will do for now, what do you think we should do?"
"Luna Scarlet, and our plan should be quite simple. First of all we don't go inside the flames of gehenna at all. It's a illusion for us, but on the other hand it's a buff for demons. Every demon inside gains improved attributes, meaning for example stronger spells and better demon ingredients. What? There are some pretty usefull parts a demon can have for armors, weapons or potions. First take note that we know of the demons objective. It wants to retrieve an item capable of controlling it's kin. I say we don't interfere with it, he has propably achieved that one already so not that it matters much. Our problem are the people still inside and we have to get them out as soon as possible. Remember demons don't lie, they twist their words to achieve what they want, it's angels that lie to you. Which once again means he has a second objective. Namely people or other resources in that city area. If what I understand from the map here on the table is correct then the area of demon invasion is a warehouse district.
*Nod*
What I propose is as such, every city guard we have, alongside copper and iron rank adventurers should be placed outside the danger area. We will block the biggest roads with higher than platinum rank adventurers. Above iron rank but below platinum ranks will be placed between the roads occupied by platinum and above and the lower ranks. Adamantite ranked adventurers, or in this case Blue Rose will be placed as a mobile defense. For this we will need to leave out some mages with the fly spell to inform other teams in case of problems. Lastly Me, Evileye and Momon the black along with his companion will face Jaldabaoth. Taking him out would solve our problems, but our main goal is forcing him to leave. We don't want now a full scale invasion, because his forces can't be small enough to cover only the warehouse district. So he has taken only replecable minions with him. Low level demons will pose a threat to most of our people and there are stronger ones, but all of them for sure qualify as low level. Mid level demons would be stronger than most, but still killable by the higher ranked adventurers, especially with 6th tier magic.
Rescue of any civilians will be left for a special team of my choosing. They should be capable enough to force their way if necessary, but ultimately try to go inside silently and quickly. Going with numbers would prove as a disadvantage so we will focus on stealth and capability of defending any encountered people on their way back. I don't know how many demons are there, so we will let them come to our defense line and move only after getting rid of most.
If you think that we won't be able to take down Jaldabaoth quick enough, then don't worry. I have a way to deal much damage to him, sadly it's not without a cost but with Evileye with me it won't be much of a problem. After everything is done I will recover quickly with her help. Any questions?"
"Yes, how do you know so much about the situation we are in? Isn't it too good of an opportunity for you? People like you don't appear out of nowhere. Don't make me even say anything about your strategy because I know it will work." The fatass once again has something against me.
*Giggle* *Giggle*
"You're so silly, of course I would know because I killed many other demons before. Not some monsters thinking themselves as demons, but true demons like the one invading the capital right now, Named ones. This one has a specially powerfull name, but it's not your place to know about it. Your life would be forfeit with this knowledge. Besides it's not me leading these demons right? About the strategy of course it will work, one does not gain a title for their brilliant commanding mind without reason. I have planned many more strategies, used many more tactics, lead too much people to battle to not know what I am doing." That finally shut him up.
"Is there anyone against this plan...? Then we will move out and inform other adventurers of this." Concluded the Princess
No one complained, everyone got their roles. Now it's time to fight and earn a name for myself. No one will stop me this time, if needed then I will unleash most of my power at these demons, but they are not getting out unscathed.