After exploring the library’s contents for a few more hours, I decided it was time for me to retreat to my domain. I made my way down the castle’s hallways, already familiar with the paths. I headed for the front gate, Nayala’s request still circling in my mind.

So the demons began affecting other continents as well…

Mimosa Online, as its name suggested, only covered the continent of Mimosa. That didn’t mean other continents didn’t exist. The Nanawak Empire was located to the east, across the Morozia Sea. The location was quite far from the place where the demon king was sealed, but I guess it shouldn’t be surprising that the demons had a way to get there.

Or maybe, the demons found a way to affect monsters in faraway places? That shouldn’t be entirely impossible, either.

During the first demon war, there were no mentions of the demon king forces reaching out to other countries. Syla took the brunt of the attack, suffering great damage to its land and forces. The war decimated many villages and claimed the lives of many people. It was one of the worst wars fought in Syla’s history, but the effects were almost exclusive to Syla alone.

Nanawak did come to help, and they too suffered the consequences. They lost many people trying to prevent the demons from going further.

Many years had passed since those events. Things are different now. I had yet to find mentions of demon-tempered monsters in that era. Many of the regular monsters were used, yes, but none as powerful as the ones we faced.

The demons might have learned something new.

It was worrying, to say the least. The people of this world had grown lax, forgetting the existence of the demon king, while the demons grew underground, pushing whatever knowledge they knew further.

If I can learn new things on this trip to Nanawak…

All things considered, I should definitely go to Nanawak. Even if the others chose to stay, I could recruit some local adventurers to accompany me.

I could know more people, learn new techniques, helping me prepare for the demon king. Since Prilus was the one who told her about me, earning permission to leave shouldn’t be hard. The rest could stay behind and continue grinding, not like they needed me to increase their levels. Besides, despite working as a team, they needed to learn to fight on their own as well.

Alright, I’ll go see the king.

Normally, that would mean me requesting for an audience. I still do that, just the wait times tend to be drastically less. I thought about using Connect with Emori when I spotted the familiar man making his way down the halls.

“Good evening, Your Majesty.” I bowed my head. The kingdom’s advisor and two knights stood beside King Torez.

“Good evening, Fortisbel. You seemed busy.”

“Thank you very much for your permission to access the secret library.”

“Did you find something?”

I shook my head. “Unfortunately, I failed to find anything related to the demon king. Not yet, at least.”

King Torez looked at me with a slight worry on his face. “Don’t push yourself too much, okay?”

“I shall do my best. Your Majesty, may I have a quick talk with you?”

The king didn’t seem troubled by my request. “Sure. What is it?”

“It’s about Her Imperial Highness Nayala-”

King Torez covered his face. “Emori did it again, didn’t she?”

“Well… she did… but I have something different to discuss.”

“... Is this about the request for help?”

“Have Your Majesty heard about it?”

“The situation does seem worrying.”

I had reported demon-tempered monsters to King Torez several times, and the knights did run into the monsters every so often. It was a pretty clear sign indicating the demon king’s return.

“However, years ago, Syla was the only nation attacked by the demon king. I am worried about an invasion when you’re away.”

He only has so many level one-hundreds at his disposal. Considering the tough battle that I endured against the demon-tempered monsters, it was natural that he was worried about lending away one of his strongest subjects.

That said, “I believe I may be able to learn more if I’m allowed to go to Nanawak. My arrival there may also help foster the relationship between the two countries, and we shall gain an ally to fight the impending war.”

Nayala’s betrothal to Prilus could help with the latter, but there is nothing wrong with growing an even stronger relationship, right?

“You have a point… But how about your investigation in the secret library?”

“I believe that can wait. I’m currently stuck anyway.”

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

“Will you be taking the others with you?”

“That would be preferable, but I haven’t talked to them yet.”

“Very well then. You talk with the rest, I’ll contact the school. How does a three months trip sound?”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” I bowed my head. King Torez smiled and passed by. I then returned to the dorms.

* ••

The next day, the five of us met in the principal’s office. The principal had received a letter from King Torez and had given us permission to leave.

“So that’s the story.” I told them everything Nayala told me.

“Miss Nayala told me and Brother about that as well…” Emori murmured.

“So, Solicea, Maya, you two coming with us?” I asked.

“Her Imperial Highness Nayala…” Solicea murmured, then she glanced at Prilus. “Is she Your Highness’ betrothed?”

“... Yeah.” Prilus gave Emori a side-eye.

“Sorry…” Emori murmured.

“Anyway, back to the topic,” I said, not seeing a point in talking about Emori’s mistake.

Prilus turned his eyes toward me, raising his brow. “Why are you the one that gets to decide that?”

“I don’t. That’s why I’m asking if the two of them want to come. I mean, I can go alone.”

“That’s not what I meant. Why are you the one deciding that we’re no longer discussing Emori’s blabbering?”

Oh, so that’s what he was talking about.

“Well, you want to push that conversation farther? You won’t be able to be all lovey-dovey with your future wife if we all die from the demon king.”

Prilus clicked his tongue and looked away. I was admittedly surprised he didn’t retort.

I thought there was no romance in royal marriages.

“Wait, you actually want to be lovey-dovey with her?”

“I swear, one day I’ll cut your head clean off your body, Fortisbel!” He stood up and pointed at me, the pure anger clear on his face.

I could kill you just as easily, though.

“Ple- Please don’t fight.” Emori stood up between us. I let out a sigh, not moving from my chair.

“Again, you can’t do that if the demon king gets my head first.”

“Humans.” Maya shrugged. It’s easy to forget that she’s from a different species.

You’re the one who started all this, though.

I wonder what would have happened had Maya not fought with Prilus. Would I be his friend by now?

Imagining myself as his buddy feels… weird, somehow.

“Nanawak, huh? I can’t say I’m not interested…” Solicea murmured. “It would be interesting to see the country my family does trade with.”

“You never went there?” Emori asked.

“Once when I was little, not like I understood a lot of things back then.”

“Last week's play went off without a hitch, so I don’t think the president will mind us taking some time off,” Maya said. They were members of the drama club, a thing I found out only recently.

“Shouldn’t you be more concerned about school, though?”

Maya gave me a thumbs-up. “I’m here for the experience.”

“Just the experience, huh?” Solicea elbowed her dragon friend.

“Well, not like we dragons use that knowledge a lot.”

Pretty sure fighting monsters, grinding levels, and saving the world are not part of a regular school experience.

“I’ll come… Going to another country on my own is a bit scary, but I think I can handle it.”

“Don't worry, Emori, we'll be with you.”

“Thanks.”

“I can’t come. I have businesses to tend to. I’ll continue grinding here,” Prilus said and sat down, throwing his face away. He really hated me, didn’t he?

The rest of them turned to me.

“Another trip with just Fortis, huh?” Solicea snickered. Maya nodded next to her.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine… No… it'll be fine…,” Emori said. I wasn’t sure whether she was trying to encourage me or herself. Well, whatever gets her fired up, I suppose.

“If that’s the case, then we should depart the day after tomorrow. We’ll be away for three months.”

“I wonder what I should bring… What are you bringing, Maya?” Solicea asked.

“I don’t need anything.”

“Please bring a change of clothes,” Solicea said, exasperated.

“Fine, fine, if you say so.”

Dragons are truly a different breed.

“We won’t be able to bring everything, though,” Emori said.

A knock came from the door, the principal appearing behind it. He brought a stack of papers. “Excuse me. Have you decided who will be departing?”

The four of us raised our hands, Prilus being the only exception.

“I see.” The principal put the stacks of paper in the table in the center of where we sat. He then made his way to his desk and sat down.

“I have contacted my colleagues there. We might arrange a student exchange program.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Why? Do we need that?”

Prilus picked up the stack of papers. “It’s a good cover-up for why you’re there.”

“I see…”

This world didn’t know that the demon king would return. They probably didn’t want widespread panic to strike this world.

And, while it was true that the only country that suffered damage to its land was Syla, the only reason the demons didn’t destroy the entire country was because other nations came to help. Nanawak among them. The demon army would decimate entire divisions within a few hours.

Examining the history of the war, it could be said that only by luck did the demons not win.

As such, knowing the sudden return of the demon king would plunge countries into chaos.

“But, with our current combat readiness, the demons will still destroy us easily.”

We weren’t strong enough to take on the same scale of invasion as the people faced a century ago. If the demon king returned now, we would suffer tremendously.

“Yeah, but imagine the chaos if the country suddenly declares that he’ll return,” Prilus said. He had a point. “We'll need to gradually bolster our defenses. By the time the people hear about it, they can rest easy knowing we're ready.”

“... Alright, then.”

If we needed to pretend, then we’d pretend. We could get to know more people anyway, and maybe we could find new allies.

We worked through the various forms and documents needed for our departure to Nanawak. It took a bit, but we managed to finish it all before night came.