A New Objective

"So, what's your plan now?"

"If you're not the culprit, then we'll have to go find the next bitch."

I said while kneading Beatrice's breasts. Beatrice, as if accustomed to it, nestled in my embrace and began listing the remaining suspects one by one.

Aside from Saintess Beatrice, the remaining candidates were the mage from the Magic Tower, Camilla Arwen; the elf ranger Eloi Riman; and the utterly hopeless thief Bel.

I pondered for a moment. Who should I deal with first?

'Camilla is probably at the Magic Tower, so she won't be easy to approach.'

The Magic Tower was notorious for denying access even to ordinary people. Even the Empire couldn't enter it freely unless it was during the Tower's open period, making it too risky to simply force our way in.

'So, the Magic Tower is out of the question.'

That left either Eloi or the thieving bitch, but neither seemed like an obvious choice.

'Eloi isn't the type to stay in one place, and Bel's whereabouts would be hard to track.'

Since the thieving bitch belonged to the Thieves' Guild, there was no guarantee we could find her in any specific location. Ultimately, there was no clear solution.

I glanced at Beatrice. Sensing my gaze, she trembled slightly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and looked back at me.

"What's wrong...?"

"Don't you have any way to contact Eloi, Camilla, or Bel?"

"...No."

Beatrice fell into deep thought for a moment before speaking.

"The Holy Night Festival ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠will be held in the Empire soon. I don't know about the other two, but Camilla, as a disciple of the Magic Tower, might attend, right?"

"That's a possibility."

If I remembered Eloi correctly, she'd probably tell the Holy Night Festival to fuck off and ignore it. As for Bel, being a thief, her status would make it difficult for her to attend.

But Camilla?

'She's not the type, and she wouldn't have the option either.'

For the sake of the Magic Tower's pride and dignity, she would definitely attend the festival.

"Good. Our next destination is set. We're heading to Stein, the capital where the Holy Night Festival is held."

"There's a problem."

"What is it?"

"Well... the Holy Night Festival is invitation-only. We don't have a way to get in."

"Is barging in an option?"

"Are ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you out of your mind?"

Beatrice looked at me as if I were an insect, her eyes rolling slightly. That stung a bit. I'd make her pay for that later.

"Is it impossible? If I bring the entire Demon Army, it doesn't seem entirely out of the question."

"Think logically. The Holy Knights, the Empire's knights—everyone will be gathered there. Charging in would be suicide. If that's your plan, leave me out of it."

"You're my sex slave. Where do you think you're running off to alone?"

"If I'm a sex slave, you wouldn't take me to a battlefield, would you?"

"Don't you know the most important thing in battle is stress relief? Absolutely not happening."

"Ahhh!!"

Beatrice's whining had no effect on me. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠There was no way I'd let her go just because of that.

"Wait, I might have a solution for that part."

Aria, who had been quietly observing the situation, spoke up. Beatrice and I both turned to stare at her.

"What is it?"

"What do you have?"

Aria pulled out a small invitation from her pocket. Though I didn't know its exact purpose, the emblem engraved at the bottom gave me a rough idea.

"An invitation from the Empire?"

"You know your stuff. It's an invitation to the Holy Night Festival. This should work, shouldn't it?"

"Ah... That's right! Since Rubalu is a kingdom under the Empire's jurisdiction, it's only natural they'd receive an invitation to the festival."

"But there's still a problem."

"What now?"

"How you two will come along. The Holy Night Festival is strictly for royalty, so there's no way to bring you with me."

"Can't we just pretend I'm your new husband?"

"I'd rather not."

Aria's face twisted in disgust. It was baffling how she could act like this after spending yesterday tangled up with me in excitement.

"Fine then. I've already gotten the Precious Jade, so I'll just have to confiscate your dick from now on."

"W-What? Wait, hold on!"

Aria exclaimed in panic. She clearly hadn't expected that response.

"If you don't want to stay with me anymore, that's a real shame."

"Indeed. What a shame. I guess there won't be anyone to clean the cobwebs from your pussy anymore."

Beatrice chimed in. Aria shot her a glare before curling her lips into a sneer. It was blatant mockery.

Aria wasn't the type to just sit back and take that kind of expression.

"......"

Aria's shoulders trembled slightly. Her face was flushed red—she must have been absolutely furious.

"You'll accompany me as my new husband."

It was the answer I expected. But what followed was unexpected.

"And you, you filthy sex slave, you'd better believe you're absolutely not coming along!"

"What did you say? How dare you speak to me like that!"

Before anyone realized, Aria and Beatrice had grabbed each other by the hair and begun arguing. At first, I considered just watching, but even spectating has its limits. If they kept fighting like this, their relationship would be completely ruined.

"Both of you, stop fighting. If you keep this up, I'm confiscating both your dicks."

"I was just defending myself when she picked a fight!"

"That filthy sex slut started it first—"

Both spoke up indignantly, each defending their position. Honestly, I could have listened, but this wasn't the outcome I wanted.

"Stop fighting!"

"...Fine."

"And Beatrice, I need to take her with me for... reasons. So figure out a way to make it work."

"...Understood."

Aria lowered her head, clearly resentful inside. For now, Beatrice had the upper hand, but that wasn't something Aria planned to tolerate forever.

'I'll just beat her up later.'

Beat her up.

That arrogant attitude needed to be corrected with a good beating.

***

"Hero."

"Y-yes...?"

Lily, who had become the Hero overnight, trembled slightly at the priest's voice calling her. Thanks to the Pope's one-on-one training, she had managed to acquire the basics of being a Hero, but that was it.

She was still terrified of actually acting as the Hero.

'...They say there are so many scary people out there in the world. Can I really do this?'

Being a maid had been hard too, but that was only because of the people—the work itself wasn't difficult.

"You should begin preparing to attend the Holy Night Festival."

"The Holy Night Festival?"

Lily's expression changed at the unexpected reply.

The Holy Night Festival was a famously beautiful imperial celebration, and having heard countless rumors about it since childhood, Lily had always been secretly curious.

"Yes, the birth of a new Hero is an event as central to the Holy Night Festival as its core. Therefore, you must prepare more diligently than ever."

"...Ah, I understand."

The thought of attending the festival lifted her spirits again. Lily followed the priest outside, where maids waited to assist her in getting ready.

It still felt surreal—just a short while ago, she had been on the other side, working alongside those very maids. Receiving such treatment now was something she couldn't quite adjust to, yet it was undeniably fascinating.

Lily relaxed and let them work. When she reappeared moments later, even she could see how drastically different—and beautiful—she looked.

***

"...What in the world happened?"

Yohan Runfield, Beatrice's older brother, had traveled a great distance to reach the vicinity of the Church.

But something felt off.

"This is the Church?"

And he wasn't the only one who noticed. The holy knights and priests who had accompanied him all sensed something amiss.

In the place where the Church should have stood, there was now a strange building shrouded in a sinister demonic aura. No matter how he looked at it, this was not the Church he remembered.

Yohan immediately turned his steps toward the village below the Church. Thankfully, the atmosphere there was much the same as before. The only slight difference was that the villagers' expressions seemed somewhat stiff.

"Hey! What happened at the Church?!"

"Huh?! Y-Yohan?!"

The village chief, who had just stepped out of his hut, jumped in shock upon seeing Yohan's face. Among those living near the Church, there wasn't a soul who didn't recognize Yohan and Beatrice.

The chief, especially, had no choice but to know them.

The siblings were quite famous within the Church. Both were exceptional holy knights, and Beatrice being a Saintess was rare in itself. Of course, they were also known for being rather hot-tempered—Yohan's personality wasn't exactly the best.

And right now, Yohan was furious.

"Tell me everything you know. Where is my sister?"

"...Beatrice was—"

With a blade pressed against his neck, the trembling village chief spilled everything he knew.

That the demons had occupied the Church, and that Beatrice had been taken away by the demon forces.

Unfortunately, he had no information about their destination.

"You've told me everything you know, right?"

Yohan glared sharply at the chief. The chief, nodding vigorously, suddenly seemed to remember something and added:

"That Grand General of the Demon Army said he was going to look for the Hero Party."

"He's looking for the Hero Party?"

At that moment, something clicked in Yohan's mind.

The missing Hero, and his sister—who had been the Saintess of the Hero Party.

There were a few other members too, if he recalled. Though none as valuable as his sister.

"I get the gist of it."

Yohan immediately mounted the horse behind the chief.

"Where are you going?"

"First, back to the Empire. I need to gather information on the Hero Party's whereabouts."

Something was targeting the Hero Party—he could sense it. And he also instinctively knew that by following this trail, he could resolve it.

I won't just stand by and watch.