Ch.307Chapter 307 – Those the King Must Not Forget

Around the time Kei entered his training, Sera was in her room inside the carriage.

Her room, usually filled with alchemy research materials and tools, had become even more chaotic, but Sera paid no mind as she checked her equipment.

“Since we don’t have much time, first…”

She sorted the tools that could be immediately replenished or substituted.

Sera had never neglected her alchemy, so she had made plenty of spares.

Meanwhile, she also sorted tools that couldn’t be replaced or seemed unnecessary, and continued to rack her brain.

‘Demons and a Dragon Slayer, right?’

The fact that the enemy was a demon was troublesome.

Simply put, Sera didn’t know which demons she would be facing.

Of course, she knew there would be vampires, so she could prepare tools accordingly, but there was no guarantee that vampires would be the only enemies.

They might even have to fight against the kingdom’s soldiers.

‘The Dragon Slayer alone is enough of a headache…’

Since he carried a sword that completely absorbed magic, many of Sera’s various methods would be sealed.

But believing that she would be fine if she didn’t rely on magic wasn’t realistic either, given the opponent’s extraordinary physical abilities.

‘This is giving me a headache.’

Sera’s head ached as she sorted and organized her tools, prepared what was lacking, and tried to devise countermeasures against their opponents.

As she continued to consider various strategies—

*Knock knock*

Someone was knocking at the door.

Sera briefly thought about who might be behind the door, then opened it and said:

“Eve, what is it?”

“You’re asking while opening the door—how did you know it was me?”

“Well, right now it’s just you and me in this carriage.”

Of course, there was a possibility that Kei, Chris, or others might come looking for her, but that seemed unlikely.

It wasn’t mealtime yet, so the probability of others coming to find her was low, and if Kei needed tools, he would have come to her directly.

Though secretly she had hoped it would be Kei, and thought there was about a 20% chance it might be him, it made more sense that it would be Eve, who had entered the carriage with her.

Eve soon looked at Sera’s room and quietly said:

“…Looks like you have a lot to prepare, Sera.”

“Indeed. Did you need something from me?”

“Yes.”

At Eve’s response, Sera stepped back a little.

After all, they couldn’t continue their conversation with the door between them, so she was making room for Eve to enter.

Soon Eve carefully entered Sera’s room, and since there wasn’t a suitable place to sit on the floor due to all the equipment, she quietly sat on the corner of the bed.

In fact, even the bed was occupied by Sera’s tools, so she could barely fit in the corner.

But Eve didn’t seem to mind as she sat on the corner of the bed and placed the white bundle she was carrying on the floor.

“I thought about going to Beatrice, but I figured she’s probably helping Kei, so I came to you.”

“Did you check on them directly?”

“Just a hunch.”

It might seem like too casual an answer, but Sera decided to accept it, thinking that a woman’s intuition was not something to be ignored.

Besides, she also thought Beatrice was probably helping Kei right now.

Eve soon pointed to the items she had brought and said:

“I came to ask you to adjust these so we can fight without problems anytime.”

“Hmm, let me see the items first.”

Sera said this and quietly took out the items from the bundle.

Then she quietly said:

“Didn’t you already adjust these in Ferarius?”

“They were completed too late there, so I couldn’t use them properly. I wanted to check once more for any issues before using them.”

Eve said this, then added seriously:

“I don’t want to hold Kei back by being negligent with these things.”

“We think alike.”

Sera said this and created a magic circle in front of her.

It was magic she had learned from Beatrice and Asam some time ago.

She examined the items Eve had brought for a while, and soon noticed one problem:

“You must have filled these with magic, but now they’re a bit low on power.”

“I see.”

“I’ll fill in the missing magic for you.”

Sera said this while looking again at the items placed on the floor.

Then Eve quietly asked, looking at Sera’s face:

“What are you thinking about?”

“I was just wondering what you were thinking when you brought equipment that wasn’t used in Ferarius.”

That’s something you could just ask the person directly.

As Eve thought this, Sera looked at her and asked:

“…I’m just wondering, but are you planning to fight the Dragon Slayer directly?”

“If I’m unlucky, that possibility exists. We don’t know what will happen there.”

Of course, the possibility of not fighting is greater, Eve quietly added.

“…But I didn’t want to just sit around doing nothing.”

Eve briefly thought about the scene she had witnessed.

Kei wearing the White Dragon’s armor and the Dragon Slayer confronting him.

Having followed Beatrice, she knew this future was becoming almost reality.

Naturally, Eve had no intention of letting that future unfold.

“If necessary, I’m willing to sacrifice my life to protect Kei.”

Thinking of when she first met him, Eve quietly said:

“My life was practically saved by Kei, so it’s only right that I use it for him.”

He had changed the future where she would have died.

After that, she gradually got to know him and stayed by his side.

“Above all, I’m now afraid to even think of a future without him.”

That’s why Eve decided to prepare as much as she could.

“…Um, Eve. You know I’m here while you’re saying all this, right?”

“Of course.”

Watching Eve speak so nonchalantly about things that might make others blush, Sera carefully said:

“…Still, I can sympathize.”

Because she too was now afraid to think of a future without him.

So Sera quietly nodded.

“I didn’t come here just to worry and hold him back either.”

Sera said with a smile:

“I’ll put everything on the line to save Kei.”

She still couldn’t clearly see how to do that.

But:

“Whatever happens, we have to struggle until the very end.”

Muttering her grandmother’s words, Sera looked at the items Eve had given her.

Perhaps because they had talked about Kei and sorted out their feelings for him, her complicated thoughts seemed to clear a bit.

Then Sera looked at Eve and smiled.

“Let’s do our best, shall we?”

“Of course.”

“First, let’s establish the outline of our strategy.”

“Since we’re few in number, infiltration would be the first step…”

They continued their conversation without stopping their hands.

To protect the person they loved most.

The two women continued their preparations while discussing their plans for what lay ahead.

+

Sia was on top of a tower.

The highest tower in the fortress, built to monitor the outside.

As if that wasn’t enough, she had climbed all the way to the roof and was quietly gazing at the red sky.

Two demons appeared behind her.

“See? I told you she’d be here. In a high place, right?”

“I can’t believe I lost to Gigas…”

Vanilla muttered sadly.

Seeing this, Sia tilted her head slightly and asked:

“Did you two bet on where I’d be?”

“Yes. He said the top of the tower. I said the room of that super-strong woman.”

“Even though there’s still quite some time until mealtime, she wouldn’t go to that alchemist to ask for food.”

“Not food, medicine. You’ve got internal injuries now.”

Gigas scolded Vanilla, but Vanilla scolded him back.

Seeing the two bickering, Sia laughed lightly.

“I went to all the trouble of giving you two the slip, only to be found so quickly.”

“Well, we have a persistent connection.”

Vanilla said with a grin.

Then she quietly asked:

“But are you really okay? You shouldn’t leave internal injuries untreated.”

“I already have medicine. It’s supposed to accelerate natural healing.”

Sia said lightly, looking at the sky.

“It’s medicine I take regularly, so I still had some left. That should be enough.”

“But will you be alright? …That Dragon Slayer guy was really strong.”

Vanilla looked at Sia with a worried face.

And Sia nodded, saying:

“He is strong. Honestly, with my current internal injuries, he’s not an opponent I can easily defeat.”

After saying this, Sia continued with serious eyes:

“He too is a swordsman who has reached the pinnacle.”

“Like you?”

“Yes. …Though I think he’s still a bit inferior to me.”

Sia grumbled that she could have won if not for her injuries.

And Vanilla smiled with narrowed eyes:

“Deep down, you’re bothered that you couldn’t properly fight the Dragon Slayer.”

“Be quiet.”

Sia responded to Vanilla’s teasing like an old friend.

A light laughter covered the place, and Gigas quietly asked:

“…So what were you thinking about?”

“Just seeing the soul-absorbing formation reminded me of bad memories. You know I really hate that thing.”

“We both know that’s not the real reason.”

Gigas shook his head at Sia’s words.

Then Vanilla quietly asked:

“Is it because of Princess Gabriella?”

“…Well, yes. I just couldn’t ignore it.”

“So your meddling tendency activated again.”

Gigas looked at Sia with a slightly bitter smile.

Sia crossed her arms and looked at the sky.

“She’s not an evil person. And honestly, I can’t say she lacks qualifications either. The fact that people still follow her despite the dire situation shows that much.”

“Then?”

“…There’s something she’s forgotten.”

Sia quietly lowered her head to look down at the fortress.

“A king doesn’t exist merely to repay favors.”

Various soldiers and what appeared to be civilians were moving around inside.

“There are people a king must never forget.”

“Look at you, being all roundabout again instead of just saying it clearly.”

“In the end, the answer seems obvious… Why do you have to be so indirect?”

Vanilla and Gigas said with narrowed eyes.

And Sia looked at them proudly and said:

“Because it’s cool.”

Gigas and Vanilla sighed.

But the swordswoman proudly thrust out her chest and looked down at them.

Soon Vanilla giggled and laughed.

“You’ve changed a lot, but fundamentally you’re still the same.”

“Even after what happened to you.”

“Well, when I was betrayed and things were barely getting better, my resolve did waver a bit.”

“You?”

The two demons looked at Sia, surprised by her unexpected words.

“That’s surprising. I thought you’d be like, ‘This much won’t stop my dream!'”

“I tried to be, but even I have moments when I waver and doubt myself. …Like when I think I’ve put my old friends who followed me in danger because of my dream.”

At Sia’s words, Vanilla and Gigas looked at each other.

Then they smiled and said:

“We followed you because we wanted to.”

“If anything, we lacked the ability. We’re sorry.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for. It was my lack of virtue.”

After saying this, Sia turned her head again to look at the sky.

Then, Vanilla quietly asked:

“But you managed to regain your spirit. What happened?”

“Well, when I saw a young man who said he would support my foolish dream and lend his strength, I pulled myself together again, that’s all.”

“So it’s ‘My dream won’t stop!’ after all.”

“That’s right.”

Vanilla and Sia exchanged words.

And Sia quietly said:

“So for the sake of my dream, I’m thinking of pushing myself a little more.”

“I can’t approve of that.”

Vanilla said with narrowed eyes.

But Sia looked down at Vanilla again and said:

“I’m sorry, but I must. To keep my dream going, and to prevent that young man from dying.”

“…But think about us too. If something serious happens to you or if you die, then it’s really over.”

At Vanilla’s words, Sia quietly nodded.

“Thank you for worrying.”

“So, don’t push—”

“But I’ll say this: I have no intention of dying. And…”

Sia quietly said:

“Unfortunately, for all of us to survive against the Dragon Slayer, I need to push myself.”

“Hey.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t push myself to the brink of death. And I have new comrades, so I can’t easily die for their sake either.”

After saying this, Sia turned her head to look in the direction of the carriage.

She could see Sera and Eve inside, and Kei, Chris, and Beatrice preparing something nearby.

“They and you all are supporting me from behind as we walk together. And those who are waiting for me and those who are suffering because of my absence are watching over me from behind.”

Sia spoke resolutely:

“So I cannot retreat for the sake of my own safety. Because…”

“You are our king.”

Vanilla said quietly.

Her face suggested she would no longer try to dissuade Sia.

“Really. Since the old days, you’ve always been getting involved and meddling in various affairs.”

“That’s right. Quite exhaustingly so.”

“I apologize.”

Sia said proudly.

Soon Vanilla grinned and said:

“It’s fine. If we don’t support you, who will? With Merry and that lazy duke not around.”

Vanilla and Gigas nodded to each other.

Then Vanilla carefully opened her mouth:

“But for the sake of us, and the people waiting for you, please don’t cross bridges that are too dangerous.”

Vanilla said with pleading eyes:

“Promise me, Demon King Lisrilsia Bael.”

“It’s been a while since I heard that name.”

How long had it been since she was called by her name rather than her nickname?

Knowing that Vanilla was seriously concerned about her, Sia decided to accept it gladly.

“…Let’s head back. Nothing changes by staying here.”

“Mm.”

Sia answered thus, then looked at the sky again before looking down.

Seeing this, Gigas quietly asked:

“Sia?”

“I’m sorry, but it seems we have somewhere else to go first.”

After saying this, Sia looked toward the fortress wall.

And Vanilla also looked where Sia was looking, and said in surprise:

“That’s a demon!”

“…Wearing a maid uniform.”

In the sight of the demons atop the tower was a maid nervously fidgeting near the fortress wall.