“…”

“…”

“…How did this happen?!” I shrieked.

“Grrrr…” Furialis growled weakly on in the dirt, too weak to muster any objections at me.

A magic circle was engraved into my right arm in the form of a faded, drake-shaped tattoo – proof of the existence of a beast bond.

A beast bond tying Furialis to me.

“Abyss take me, I have absolutely no idea what just happened.” I held my brow in frustration.

This was not part of the plan.

“Whatever, we’ll figure this out when we get out of here. Let’s go, Fur-” I said, only to stop in my track.

Forget lashing out at me or even sparing me a glare; Furialis couldn’t even move his head off the dirt.

“Right. What now?” I sighed.

Just as I found myself wishing for a convenient way to move Furialis, both the tattoo and Furialis glowed faintly before the latter vanished into mana particles. Those particles fed into the tattoo, which rapidly began gaining its proper, jet-black color, just like Furialis’s scales.

I blinked in surprise.

“Well, that’s convenient. Anyways, I’ve spent enough time here – time to skedaddle!”

***

The escape went without a hitch; by the time Romellus realized what had happened right under its nose, the Tyrian delegation’s ship – which carried the delegations of the four nations – had rendezvoused with the Tyrian navy.

The Republic no longer had any pretext or power to detain us anymore.

In the meantime, I made my way out of the dirt straight into the seabed, and from there, I swam to the surface of the sea. With the communication device I had, it didn’t take long for me to find the Tyrian navy and to land on our ship.

Unfortunately for me, the Major was less than amused with my impromptu stunt, and she had me locked in my room for the remainder of the trip.

She was under the impression that I went back to get something I’d forgotten, so I have no idea what she’d do if she found out about my little fiasco with Furialis – not that I had any intention of spilling the beans.

The navy escorted us all in order; since Cartagos was closest by, the Tyrian delegation was dropped off first. It was in Cartagos’s port that I waved goodbye to Jezibel – beneath the deck, of course, so I didn’t get to lay eyes on the city.

Allegedly, it was also the home of the Divine Elephant of Tyr, who was so massive as to be visible from anywhere in the city, but I didn’t get the chance to observe the God given that I was grounded.

Resolved to come and visit Cartagos next time and meet the old God myself, I played cards with Durreg and Nico for a day and a half until the Tyrian navy docked at Hebnopet, where the Tameryian Delegation, Durreg and I included, would depart.

The port city and the distant temple were the first true signs of civilization I’d laid eyes on, so passing through it hit me with a strong wave of nostalgia.

‘I wonder if the old man I met in the dungeon with Mom is still around.’ I chuckled.

I can’t remember his name, but I get the feeling that I haven’t seen the last of him yet.

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In the meantime, both teams entered a decorated carriage with the Major, which began heading towards the south gate towards Thebos, where the Pharaoh was awaiting us. Word traveled through Hebnopet quickly, and the streets were filled with cheering crowds giving us a hero’s welcome.

“So, I am not complaining about protecting the carriages or anything, but,” Durreg asked, “why are we taking a carriage? Aren’t we short on time?”

“Believe me, I would like nothing more than to step out and fly straight to Thebos Palace.” Asten said as he smiled and waved through the window.

“However, the Pharaoh won’t be ready to meet us until our projected arrival time anyway, and having the people celebrate our accomplishments in-person through this carriage trip is part of our duties. Besides, the Pharaoh herself will bestow rewards on you personally, so a little patience will prove to be worth it. It’ll be her last act as Pharaoh before she abdicates.”

The confident smile Asten wore for the crowds deeply contrasted with the tone of his voice, but no one in the carriage pointed it out loud. Seeing a heavy mood settling in the carriage, Nuhem, the commoner team captain, spoke up.

“You know, I am glad the rewards are going to be the same for all members of the delegation. Nothing tastes sweeter than the fruit of another’s victory!” He said with a raised thumb and a cheeky smile, earning more than a few rolled eyes and chuckles.

“Both teams reached the last stage of the team tournament, and the individual tournament was dominated by members of the Tameryian team. That is no small feat, and the Pharaoh has declared that all of you are worthy of reward. You wouldn’t want to challenge Her Grace’s judgement, would you, Captain Serapis?” the Major asked.

“I would never! I am a fervently loyal subject of Pha-” Nuhem’s outraged protest halted just as he noticed a tiny, barely perceptible smile on the Major’s face.

“…Was that a joke?” he asked, dumbfounded.

He wasn’t alone – half the people in the carriage, myself, Durreg, and even some of the Major’s aides, were staring at the Major in shock.

The Major turned her head to face the window.

“Who knows?” she said.

Major Amset, the biggest hardass in the entire Tameryian military, just made a joke.

Durreg’s jaw dropped, while Asty put the back of her hand over her forehead, checking if she had a fever.

Soon after, the carriage quickly descended into pandemonium.

***

A Tameryian Diplomat

When our carriage, the one holding all the non-combatant members of the Tameryian mission to Romellus, finally made it to the Noble District, the carriage stopped to let out anyone who had to report to a government office or to a noble house – there were less diplomats than there were groups with interests in the Republic, after all.

Adjusting my collar in hopes of alleviating the merciless afternoon sun’s heat, I made my way to my own destination: the property of House Hor.

It took me less than ten minutes before I finally arrived at my destination. As expected, the guards already knew who I was.

“Count Hor is awaiting your report.” The guard said, presuming I had no choice but to go in and do as he said.

“Hahaha, of course, of course. Wouldn’t want to keep the Count waiting, would we?” I chuckled, though the guards didn’t laugh.

“Excuse me.” I said, walking past the guards.

Once I was out of earshot, I grumbled a number of creative curses at the whoresons and their ancestors.

No matter, all I had to do was make this last report, and I walk away a wealthy, free man, and my family will be out of that demon’s clutches once and for all.

It didn’t take long before I reached my destination; the door to Count Hor’s office was already open, with only the guard standing between me and the Count himself, who was busy laying into his luxurious, monster-leather chair with a scantily dressed woman and a feminine-looking man on his lap.

My brow twitched as I struggled to keep a straight face as the Count was busy fondling his concubines.

“Ah, my darlings, we’ll have to continue this later. It looks like work has just arrived at my doorstep.” He sighed.

“Aww, that’s too bad.” The woman said.

“Don’t keep us waiting too long~” the man said.

The two reluctantly got up and made for the door, not making eye contact with me or the guards.

“Come in, let’s get this over with.” The Count sighed, buttoning up his shirt and pants.

I stepped past the guards and into the office, which had smelled like a brothel by now, as the Count finally dragged a table with a flick of his wrist.

I resisted the urge to gulp as I was reminded that the Count was a powerful mage in his own right.

“I am here to report that the task you’ve given me has been completed.” I said.

“My wife and kids will be safe, right? You promised-”

“Ah, ah, ah!” The Count said, wagging his finger.

“You’ll have to give me a moment until I am ready, young man.” He said, adjusting his collar and combing his hair in front of a standing mirror.

I grit my teeth in silence and waited as commanded.

I don’t know how long I waited on my feet, and I don’t want to know, but eventually, the Count was done, and he was ready to hear my report.

“Well then, let’s hear it. What did you do?” He asked.

An inviting and empathetic smile appeared on the Count’s face; with no hint of the psychopathic demon that I knew was hiding beneath revealing itself.