Ch.342Chapter 342 – The Princess’s Greeting

It was the morning after our new destination had been decided.

Diana immediately began sorting out who could sail, and in the meantime, we headed to meet Princess Gabriella.

When we arrived at the princess’s tent, Gabriella sent even her domestica outside to greet us.

“I sent my dome away because I wanted to speak comfortably in private.”

“She could have stayed.”

“The dome is busy anyway. And you’re not people who would do anything foolish. Please accept this as a sign of trust.”

Princess Gabriella said this with a slight bow of her head.

And shortly after, hearing what came from our mouths, she nodded and said:

“So you’re setting off on your journey now.”

“That’s right.”

I nodded toward Princess Gabriella as I spoke.

“It may sound cold, but I think we’ve done everything we can for you, Princess. It’s right that we continue on our original path.”

“How disappointing. We had arranged for me to enter the royal palace today.”

Princess Gabriella sighed softly as she said this.

“I’ll instruct that the compensation we promised you be secured first, then entrusted to Diana’s soldiers. We’ll gather everything in this tent, so just tell them to collect it.”

“Thank you.”

“On the contrary, I should be the one thanking you.”

Princess Gabriella smiled bitterly.

“This may sound like empty flattery, but I wanted to reward you as much as possible before you set off again. I wanted to hold a banquet for you at the palace and bless your future endeavors.”

“That is unfortunate.”

The princess nodded at my words.

Then she briefly gazed with melancholy eyes at the teddy bear she kept beside her.

‘I didn’t know she had a hobby of keeping such things.’

Naturally, since this was my first time entering the princess’s tent, I hadn’t expected her to have such decorations.

I thought it was surprisingly cute taste.

“That doll looks familiar.”

“…It looks like the one we bought in Count Metis’s territory…”

I heard Chris and Sera whispering quietly.

At Sera’s words, I noticed Eve quietly staring at the doll for a moment, and Princess Gabriella smiled and said:

“That’s also one of my sister’s keepsakes.”

“Keepsakes?”

“Yes, keepsakes.”

It looks too well-maintained to be a keepsake.

Gabriella spoke with a bitter expression.

“When I was very young, I found it during a secret trip outside the castle and begged my sister to buy it for me. I never thought it would end up in my hands like this.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Gabriella smiled slightly at Eve’s question.

‘A doll she begged to have.’

And if that doll is, as Chris said, the one they bought in Count Metis’s territory, then the reason it’s here is…

While I was thinking about this, someone else spoke first.

“Your sister sounds kind.”

“Yes. …Though she had her dishonest sides, she was generally a kind person.”

Gabriella smiled as she answered Eve’s comment.

Eve also smiled and gave Gabriella a look of agreement, then spoke again.

“Let’s get back to the main topic. Among the other rewards, will you provide the ship you originally promised?”

“It’s not here.”

Eve frowned slightly at Gabriella’s words.

Gabriella quickly continued:

“The ship I promised to give you was taken by Beatrice. I think she’s probably preparing to move the ship by now.”

“Beatrice came and left?”

“Yes. The one called by that name came and went.”

The one called by that name.

So she had noticed after all.

The princess’s forlorn face told me everything I needed to know.

“I heard the domestica was very angry, yet she managed to come and go safely…”

“……”

The princess deliberately didn’t respond to Chris’s comment.

She just gazed sadly at the doll for a moment.

But soon, as if wanting to change the subject, she turned her face.

“By the way, what do you plan to do about the injured members of your group?”

“I was thinking we should take them with us, but…”

The injured ones Gabriella mentioned must be Gigas and Vanilla.

Both were already injured, and after pushing themselves here, they were in a very weakened state.

None of us would object to taking them along, but doing so might push them too hard.

‘Or should I leave them with Kara?’

I quickly tried to think of a solution, realizing I’d made the mistake of not properly discussing what to do with them.

Sia spoke up before I could.

“I have a proposal for that.”

“Is that so?”

“Is that acceptable?”

“I permit it.”

With Gabriella’s permission, Sia nodded.

After a moment, Gabriella appeared to be considering something.

“…You want us to provide a place for demons to gather?”

“That’s right.”

Sia spoke quietly.

“It might not make sense to you, but demons are currently divided into two factions. Those who support the former Demon King and those who support the current one. These are the two groups. And you can think of those supporting the former Demon King as the moderate faction.”

Gabriella nodded, and Sia continued.

“The moderates have little intention of causing trouble in the human realm. The former Demon King they support strictly prohibited reckless behavior except in self-defense… And those of the current Demon King’s faction who dislike this are likely attacking them.”

“I’m sure they’re not just taking it passively, so some must be fleeing here and there.”

Vanilla and Gigas were exactly in that situation.

Sia nodded at Chris’s words.

“So you want us to shelter them?”

“In exchange, I’ll tell Vanilla and Gigas to stay here until they recover and help Firenze or the kingdom.”

Sia said.

“I see.”

“Is it difficult?”

“Honestly, yes. Demons are practically the common enemy of the continent, so it’s hard for Firenze or the kingdom to recklessly shelter them.”

Gabriella said.

Sia’s expression darkened slightly.

“However.”

Gabriella spoke quietly.

“Regardless of their race, without their help this time, destroying the Soul-Absorbing Formation would have been much more difficult.”

Gabriella said.

“Above all, the goddess and those two demons played a crucial role in removing the fake guardian tree created by the royal family. Without their efforts, the resistance might have been annihilated there.”

Gabriella was right. Even we, who originally planned to move separately, had to split our limited personnel because leaving the resistance alone would have resulted in heavy casualties.

The giant three-headed dog was quickly stopped by our people, resulting in minimal damage, but it’s clear the resistance alone would have struggled to stop it.

“I must become queen. As a leader, I need to maintain a broad perspective.”

Gabriella looked at Sia as she spoke.

“If I don’t clearly reward merit and punish wrongdoing, it’s obvious I’ll lose the hearts of my subordinates. Furthermore, wouldn’t the people point fingers at a queen who doesn’t properly compensate those who helped her?”

“Then.”

Sia’s face brightened slightly.

Gabriella nodded.

“I promise on my name and honor. I will protect those demon companions of yours.”

With no domestica present, there were no subordinates to stop Gabriella’s words.

And Gabriella looked at Sia as if in exchange and said:

“But as you said, let me borrow their strength for Firenze or the kingdom. …It would be difficult to protect them indefinitely based solely on their assistance in battle.”

“That makes sense.”

“Still, they’re injured, so I won’t push them too hard. And…”

Gabriella smiled as she spoke.

“According to what you’ve said, there’s a moderate faction among demons. Refugees who have no intention of fighting us.”

“You don’t mean…”

Gabriella smiled at Sia’s expression and answered.

“If such demons flee to Firenze or the kingdom, I will protect them. I’ll entrust that task to those two.”

Sia’s eyes widened at Gabriella’s words.

And immediately she asked Gabriella, as if testing her:

“I feel bad asking after making the request, but won’t that be burdensome for you?”

“I can’t say it won’t be a burden.”

Gabriella spoke quietly.

“But I want to maintain a good relationship with all of you. So I’m willing to take on this burden to gain your favor.”

Gabriella was willing to take on such a burden to gain our favor.

“…Are we worth that much to you?”

“I wish you wouldn’t underestimate yourselves so much. You killed the fake guardian tree and the sea dragon hybrid monster, repelled the Dragon Slayer, and even drove away a god who briefly descended upon this land. Moreover, you have a goddess traveling with you. Is maintaining a good relationship with such people really worthless?”

Hearing Gabriella put it that way, I realized we really had fought quite spectacularly here.

“So I’m saying I’ll take on this burden even if it’s just to gain your favor.”

“You’re being very honest.”

“I thought that would be better with you all, but is it having the opposite effect?”

Gabriella smiled teasingly at Sia’s comment.

And I nodded and said:

“Honestly, I like it.”

“I’m glad.”

It’s much better than hiding complicated inner thoughts and speaking in roundabout ways.

“…Yes. I’m truly relieved.”

Gabriella smiled as Sia sighed slightly, seemingly relieved that her unreasonable request had been accepted.

“One more thing. If I didn’t help those two, my soldiers would surely be displeased. So I had no choice but to accept your proposal.”

“The resistance fighters?”

“That’s right.”

Gabriella nodded.

“Within the resistance, many people noticed they were demons at that time. Yet they remain silent. To the soldiers, including Lord Archery, those two are already recognized as comrades who fought alongside them and saved their lives. Of course, the same goes for all of you.”

Gabriella paused briefly before continuing.

“I believe none of my subordinates would be so ungrateful as to abandon their comrades and benefactors.”

“…Truly grateful people.”

Sia smiled slightly.

“I’ll convey your words to them.”

“Please do. If they refuse, it would be difficult for me to help them.”

Gabriella was implying that she wouldn’t help if they refused.

Then, Gabriella rose from her seat.

And bowed her head.

“Princess?”

“…There are many ways to express gratitude, but I think speaking with sincerity is best.”

Gabriella said with her head still bowed.

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping and saving me, my subordinates, and my country.”

Gabriella spoke quietly.

“I swear on my name. On the day you need my help, I will mobilize everything at my disposal to aid you, as long as it doesn’t harm my people.”

“That’s too much…”

“I promise.”

Princess Gabriella raised her head again.

“If your journey ever ends, please come to the royal palace of Firenze. I’ll save the banquet we couldn’t have today for that day.”

“Understood.”

“And…”

Gabriella thought for a moment, then approached me gently.

And whispered softly in my ear.

“…Please take care of Beatrice.”

There was no reason to mention Beatrice here.

But the fact that she did meant she had probably figured it out to some extent.

Beatrice might have changed her mind and told her directly, or the princess might have noticed despite Beatrice’s attempts to hide it.

‘Either way, it doesn’t matter.’

There was no reason not to grant the princess’s request.

Thinking this, I nodded at the princess’s words, and Gabriella stepped back with a satisfied smile.

“Beatrice has probably gone ahead to the church where Father George is, using warp. She’s likely already handling the procedures to launch the ship. If you follow, you’ll meet her soon.”

“Understood.”

“It seems it’s about time.”

Gabriella said with a hint of regret.

“Though we’re not parting right away, I’ll be busy now, so this is probably the last time we’ll meet like this.”

As Diana had mentioned before, the princess would now be busy dealing with various matters.

Today alone, she was scheduled to enter the royal palace, making her even busier.

“So, though it’s a bit early, I’ll say my farewells here.”

After saying this, the princess stepped back slightly and bowed to us once more.

“I sincerely pray that at the end of your journey, you will find what you seek.”

“May you also have a long and prosperous life, Princess.”

I replied to the princess’s words.

When she raised her head again, the princess was smiling very brightly.

+

Somewhere on the continent.

The stronghold of the Demon God’s followers.

The Demon Lord exploded with rage.

“Aaaaargh, aaaaaaah!!!!”

All his plans had failed.

The operation to spread Soul-Absorbing Formations from the Kingdom of Firenze to surrounding countries to build power.

An operation he had sent all his corps commanders to execute.

‘If it had gone well, by now I would have…!’

He would have gained stronger power by converting souls into magical energy through the Soul-Absorbing Formations, and with that, he could have qualified.

The qualification to become the Demon King, which only the strongest in the demon realm could attain.

‘I was clearly told that once you qualify, you immediately become aware of it.’

Having served close to the Demon King, the Demon Lord had heard what he had said.

However, there was no further explanation.

Perhaps it was a sensation only the Demon King could understand.

Given that even that vulgar half-demon Lisrilsia had said something similar when she briefly became the Demon King, it was certain that there was something one could sense upon becoming the Demon King.

But the Demon Lord had never felt such a sensation.

What that meant was all too simple.

‘I lack power.’

With his current strength, he clearly didn’t meet the condition of being the strongest in the demon realm.

Of course, he hadn’t been idle.

After driving out Lisrilsia, he had continued to build his power, devouring the offerings and souls provided by the Demon God’s followers.

Still, it wasn’t enough.

The efficiency wasn’t good either; except for when he ate some woman’s soul a long time ago, he rarely felt his power growing.

He had forced this operation to break through that situation.

And he had failed.

Only painful losses remained for him.

‘…Serious, was following that woman’s plan the problem!’

The Demon Lord clenched his fist, thinking of the vampire woman who had proposed the plan.

But he could do nothing more than that.

Because Serious wasn’t by his side anymore.

“Damn woman, if she’s alive, she’ll tick-tock her way back…!”

The Demon Lord assumed she must be alive, as news of her death would have reached him by now.

Though perhaps she was dead.

She was the only one whose fate remained unknown.

The other three corps commanders had all been reported dead.

“Weaklings…”

At least Minos had died at the hands of a white dragon.

But the other two had ultimately perished after being pushed back by a mere girl.

“If I had gone, I wouldn’t have fallen so easily…!”

The Demon Lord shouted in frustration.

While the actual outcome was unknowable, the Demon Lord blamed only his subordinates’ incompetence.

More urgent was the need for commanders.

At the very least, he needed capable subordinates who could move according to his commands.

Like his own limbs.

He needed soldiers who moved like puppets.

“…Puppets, huh.”

The Demon Lord fell into thought as he watched the Demon God’s followers bringing him more offerings.

Puppet soldiers who moved according to his will, who didn’t even fear death.

If someone provided the technology, he could directly command and use them as commanders even from a distance.

It would allow him to handle multiple tasks by himself.

‘…Hmm.’

The Demon Lord thought this might be more useful than expected.

Thinking he should prepare for this, he rose from his seat and felt a sudden headache.

“…Am I fatigued?”

The headache was brief.

“Because of those incompetent fools, I have more things to worry about.”

The Demon Lord blamed his already dead subordinates for this headache.

He also heard what might have been an auditory hallucination—a woman laughing.

‘…Damn it all.’

The Demon Lord tried to forget the sound and the headache by forcibly hitting his head.

But the headache wouldn’t subside.

“…I’ll have to forcibly block the pain sensation.”

The Demon Lord attempted to block his pain sensation with magical power to forget the headache.

When it finally calmed down a bit, he nodded and said:

“I need to prepare.”

With slightly stiff movements, the Demon Lord moved.

The headache had stopped by now.

The auditory hallucination also seemed fine when he ignored it.

Though something felt off, the Demon Lord thought he would be fine.

“My lord, something terrible has happened. That corps commander we kept as a prisoner is nowhere to be found…!”

“Silence.”

Ignoring the urgent report from a Demon God’s follower, the Demon Lord muttered:

“Everyone, get out!”

At the Demon Lord’s roar, the followers quickly left the room.

The surroundings became quiet.

But the Demon Lord’s ears did not quiet down.

[Hee, heeheeheehee.]

A woman’s laughter continued to echo inside the Demon Lord’s head.