Another One (3)
The High Priestess asked. Yushin opened his mouth in response to her question.
“The Diablo Slayer of the Holy Empire... Are you so sure just because I'm strong that I must be the one who killed the Tyranny Demon King, Agares?”
“That's right. To be honest, there's no real evidence. We don't have much information. We don't even know what he looks like or his name. That's all we know.”
Ileina said she'd only gotten a small clue from Tanya Mainz, the imperial chamberlain of the Holy Empire. An Another One. And not a knight of the Holy Empire. The chances that it wasn't Yushin Gilliard were high. He was strong enough to consecutively defeat the 3rd and 4th Warrior Captains, but that alone wasn't proof he was the Diablo Slayer.
Ileina freely shared everything she knew, building trust with Yushin.
“Ah, sorry. I've been talking too much. The tea the maids so carefully prepared will get cold. Let's eat first and talk.”
Ileina picked up her fork. She seemed to especially love strawberry cake, to the point where whipped cream smeared all over her lips. The tense atmosphere gradually eased. Ileina acted casually, as if she had no intention of intimidating them. Seeing her so similar to Alonne, Yushin let his guard down too.
“Warrior Captain Ardena, sit down too.”
“Pardon? No, I'm fine.”
“I said sit. This is part of the negotiation.”
At Ileina's words calling it “part of the negotiation,” Ardena—who had been standing guard—looked flustered but obeyed the High Priestess's command and joined them at the table. Ileina then glared at the warrior captains standing guard and ordered them all to withdraw.
“Having warrior captains around will just interfere with the discussion. It's rude to a guest who's come all the way to the palace.”
“But High Priestess, if we do that, your protection will be at risk...”
One warrior captain protested. She glanced warily at Yushin, her caution heightened. In the Liberia Elf Kingdom, the High Priestess was like a living god. Ever since the previous High Priestess had died young under mysterious circumstances, the warrior captains had been extra vigilant about her safety. They worried about her to the point of overprotectiveness.
The warrior captains guarding Ileina had served the previous High Priestess, who had perished mysteriously. They feared any misfortune might befall her.
“It's an order. Withdraw.”
Ileina's eyes sharpened as she repeated the command. The warrior captains hesitated but had no choice but to obey. Finally, the room fell silent. But it wasn't an atmosphere for leisurely enjoying dessert. The tension was thick enough to choke on water alone.
Seeing the culprit behind this situation stuff her mouth full of strawberry cake, Yushin wore an incredulous expression.
“Water alone would give me indigestion in this vibe.”
“Quiet.”
Ardena poked the back of Yushin's hand with her finger upon hearing his mutter. They looked like a married couple. Ileina smirked at the sight.
“I don't think I got an answer to my earlier question. Could you tell me?”
The High Priestess placed both hands on the table and propped her chin on them as she asked. Her eyes gleamed. There was no evidence, and the odds were low, but the Elf Kingdom's High Priestess acted with conviction.
“If I confirm I'm the Diablo Slayer from the Holy Empire, as you suspect, what then?”
Yushin asked. His tone seemed to acknowledge her guess. Ileina's face lit up with a broad smile. It wasn't a full confirmation, but close enough. Her excitement at finally meeting the Diablo Slayer was palpable.
“In the name of the High Priestess, I'll support you with everything we have.”
For the Liberia Elf Kingdom, conquering the southern regions was a mission passed down since its founding. They had to completely drive out the Demon King Army from the peninsula, eradicate the wicked demons and monsters, and declare the Libria Peninsula as elven territory. That was Ileina's ambition too. To achieve it, they needed to defeat the Raging Flames Demon King in Granata. The only one who could do it: the Diablo Slayer. He was essential to fulfilling the Elf Kingdom's long-cherished wish.
“What do you want? Shall I give you Warrior Captain Ardena as a bride?”
“High Priestess!”
Ardena shouted. Her face flushed redder than the strawberries delicately garnishing the cake, her expression full of embarrassment.
“Sorry about earlier. The warrior captains are all on edge. They've been wary of outsiders ever since we lost the previous High Priestess.”
The warrior captains' wariness toward Yushin wasn't because he was human. He was an outsider in the palace who surpassed even warrior captains in strength. It was only natural they'd be cautious. The previous High Priestess's death remained a mystery; rumors even said she'd been poisoned. To the warrior captains sworn to protect her, it was an unprecedented tragedy that had stripped them of honor and pride.
No, the truly rude thing is your outfit, Yushin muttered, glancing at Ileina's sloppy clothes. A training top and dolphin pants. It seemed some Another One deeply influenced her fashion. Otherwise, an elven High Priestess wouldn't be dressed in 21st-century casual wear.
“I've washed my hands of it. I don't want to fight Demon Kings ever again.”
Yushin said. Ileina nodded at his response.
“Of course I'm not asking you to do it for free. I'll grant anything within my power. I promise as the High Priestess representing the Liberia Elf Kingdom.”
A status equal to high elves. Wealth and power promised in the High Priestess's name. And the honor and fame of the hero who saved the Elf Kingdom. Ileina promised it all. She declared she'd grant anything she could. The Elf Kingdom's situation was that desperate. They didn't know when Sabnack would lead her kin to assault the capital, Maherith. Ileina, who truly loved her kingdom, was determined to drag him into the Demon King subjugation even if she had to cling to his pant leg.
* * *
After parting with Yushin, Alonne and Allen moved together. Ignoring his order to hurry back to Valencia Forest, they wandered the capital's streets, indulging in gourmet food.
First, they filled their stomachs at a famous Maherith steakhouse. Alonne and Allen savored T-bone steaks made from black cattle grazed in vast mountain ranges. The rare-cooked steak was so flavorful that juices burst out with just one bite.
“This is good. Couldn't get anything like it in Valua.”
Allen said, popping another piece into her mouth. Maybe because she'd turned ronin, the meat tasted especially delicious.
“Right? Good call coming to Maherith.”
Alonne and Allen got along so well that Yushin would've been shocked. Why are they so chummy? The question was inevitable. But they did get along. They were still getting to know each other, but no conflicts had arisen. Did they share some common ground? Allen treated Alonne kindly, like a little sister.
“Why not call a friend instead of dragging me here? Not that I'm complaining—free gourmet's great.”
Allen asked. Alonne bowed her head deeply again at the question.
“...No friends.”
“Oh?”
Allen responded indifferently to Alonne's answer. No friends. That clicked as their common point. Like Alonne now, Allen had been shunned as a “monster” by her family in the past. Not just friends—her parents and brothers had turned away too. Those dark days still haunted her as trauma.
“We can grab a meal again sometime.”
“Thanks!”
After devouring plenty of T-bone steak, Alonne and Allen bought souvenirs and local specialties in Maherith before heading to the warp gate. Yushin had told them to rush back to Valencia Forest. They'd enjoyed food and shopping along the way, but she figured he'd understand. Because Master loves me! Alonne hummed to herself, careful not to let the woman walking beside her catch her thoughts.
“Can we stop by Santander Forest?”
Alonne asked. Allen shrugged.
“Do whatever.”
“Thanks! There's someone I want to give a gift to.”
Alonne planned to give souvenirs from Maherith to Leticia Santander. Call it fondness from rivalry. They fought at the drop of a hat, but she didn't truly hate her. So Alonne decided to swing by Santander instead of heading straight to Valencia—to brag about her Maherith trip and all. With her guardian Allen's permission, Alonne and Allen used the palace-operated warp gate to transfer to Santander Castle.
* * *
The targets might escape. So before assaulting Santander Castle, the dark elves had first seized the warp gate connecting to the outside. They left two subordinates behind. These two guarding the warp gate were elite assassins specialized in killing targets, unlike the infiltration team focused on curses and martial arts.
Vmmm...
The warp gate activated. As it suddenly surged with mana, the dark elves gripped their sword hilts. Someone was coming. They slowly drew their blades from their sheaths. Planning to slit their throats in an instant. The Shadow Clan was acting on their own, not by the High Priestess's orders, so their identities absolutely could not be exposed.
One strike to kill.
Figures emerged from the warp gate. Two in total. Perfect—the dark elves numbered the same. They'd split and finish them quickly. They swung sharp blades at their necks, aiming to sever carotid arteries and spill blood. As always, the targets would turn into cold corpses in seconds.
Clang!!
The blades that should have pierced necks and torn arteries bounced off instead. The shortswords, swung with full force, didn't even scratch—not unlike hitting solid rock. The razor edges snapped instead.
“What the hell are these guys?”
Allen muttered. She swatted like swatting a mosquito, and the dark elf's neck snapped viciously. She then caught the dagger aimed at Alonne barehanded. Even with mana blade projected, not a scratch on her. The blade shattered under her grip instead. As the dark elf stared in shock at the bizarre sight, Allen's fist smashed him headfirst into the ground.