Early in the morning, Arundel and Bianca left the inn and stopped by a nearby clothing store.
Their ragged appearance, contrary to their glamorous looks, was enough to attract people’s attention.
Knowing this, they bought clothes and robes that commoners would wear and pulled their hoods deep enough to hide their faces.
Although they were small in stature, at a glance, they looked like magicians.
“How long will it take to get to the magician’s tower in the east?”
Bianca had arranged for a carriage. It was fortunate that they had a wealthy young lady who had brought plenty of gold coins.
“Well, it will probably take about two days at the fastest.”
“Please go as fast as you can. I will pay you generously.”
They had to spend two days traveling.
However, if they didn’t take the carriage right away, they had no other choice.
Arundel and Bianca climbed into the carriage without complaining.
The sound of the horse running echoed at regular intervals.
Arundel, who had been blankly staring outside, turned her gaze to Bianca and said,
“By the way, Bianca. About that old magician.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Do you think he’s strong?”
“Maybe…why?”
“There’s a plan, right?”
“Of course! I didn’t decide to save you without thinking that far!”
Bianca exclaimed excitedly.
It was a relief that there seemed to be a plan.
Right now, her combat power was zero. Bianca could use magic, but she knew it was very minimal.
The opponent was a famous magician, so they needed another way to confront him.
“Bianca, please refrain from calling me ‘Your Majesty’ outside. People might misunderstand.”
“What?! Then what should I…”
“Just…call me ‘Irina’.”
Bianca made a surprised face, her face turned red as she muttered,
“Yes… Irina.”
“Why? Is it awkward?”
“…I’m just happy because I feel like I’ve gotten closer to Your…I mean, Irina.”
Bianca answered Arundel with a pretty smile. Arundel looked at her and smiled faintly as if she was relieved.
****
“Let’s rest here for a day.”
At the coachman’s words, Arundel and Bianca got off the carriage.
“Where is this place?”
“This is ‘Kesh Village’ located in the east.”
Arundel cheered inwardly.
She was lucky to arrive at Kesh Village so honestly without even mentioning it.
“But, you must never wander around at night.”
“Why?”
Bianca asked at the coachman’s serious tone.
“You must not have heard. Recently, demons have been appearing and the area around the capital is in chaos. Among them, this village is the most troubled area.”
“I see. Then wouldn’t it be better to go a little further and sleep outdoors?”
Bianca asked with a worried face.
“No! I really like this village.”
Arundel strongly denied with a wave of her hand.
Bianca and the coachman seemed surprised at Arundel’s excessive behavior, but Bianca agreed with a smile.
“Yes. Then let’s rest here and leave when the sun rises tomorrow.”
“…Thank you.”
Bianca was very kind and considerate even after leaving the palace.
In fact, until she came here, Arundel had occasional doubts about Bianca.
She wondered if she was in cahoots with Duke Hellen and was trying to get rid of her.
However, her usual kind and considerate attitudes reassured Arundel again.
Or maybe she wanted to believe in Bianca.
She was always indecisive towards humans.
‘It’s okay. It’s too late to regret following her.’
Arundel comforted herself.
This time too, thanks to Bianca’s abundant financial power, they easily secured an inn.
Arundel, who entered the inn, held up two fingers and said,
“Please book two rooms.”
It was shameless without money, but there was no choice.
During the night staying in Kesh Village, she had to wander around and find clues about Hills.
So, she had to go out secretly without Bianca knowing, therefore she definitely needed a separate room.
“The person on the right goes up to the second floor, and the person on the left uses the room on the right on the first floor.”
At the innkeeper’s guide, Arundel and Bianca said goodbye in the lobby.
“Your Majes…I mean, Irina, it’s dangerous outside, so you must never go out at night.”
“Of course. I hope Bianca will be careful too.”
She spoke nonchalantly to the worried Bianca, but her conscience was pricked inside.
‘I’m sorry for lying, Bianca.’
Arundel, who had gone up to the second floor, quickly threw off her luggage and went back down the stairs.
First, she peeked out to make sure Bianca was not there.
And then she ran towards the door…
“Hey, customer! The one in the robe!”
She was about to run out, but the innkeeper stopped her with a desperate voice.
She was in a hurry to leave, but she had to stop for a moment because he was shouting so loudly.
“What’s the matter?”
“It’s dangerous if you go out now.”
The innkeeper dissuaded her with a fierce look.
The meddlesome old man seemed genuinely worried about her.
But because she was in a hurry, Arundel quickly turned her body and said, ‘It’s okay!’
It would be very difficult if she showed that behavior to Bianca while arguing unnecessarily.
Arundel grabbed the doorknob to hurry out. But she did not go out and paused for a moment.
‘Hmm…’
Arundel, who had taken her hand off the doorknob, approached the innkeeper.
And she asked.
“Where is the most dangerous place?”
****
‘This is more creepy than I thought.’
Arundel, who had finished talking with the innkeeper, quickly jumped out of the inn and headed towards a nearby cemetery.
‘Of course, it’s the cemetery beyond the northern fence. But why would you ask that?’
Thanks to the kind guidance of the innkeeper, she was able to go straight to the cemetery without getting lost.
Arundel, who was walking briskly towards the cemetery, suddenly stopped.
“…!!”
She had forgotten something very important.
That was,
‘Can I… fight…?’
The mark was already meaningless.
Looking at the demon riot in the imperial palace, the mark could only scare, not control the demon.
But she had ‘divine power’.
She had come this far believing in that.
Divine power is quite threatening to demons, if not to ordinary people.
The divine power she had used recently would have been enough to threaten a mid-level demon.
‘…I’ve completely turned against Zion.’
Arundel despaired.
Thinking about it, she was in the worst situation with Zion now.
Preventing him from becoming a tyrant was the condition for the divine power to return.
But the last time she saw him, it wouldn’t have been strange if he had turned the empire into a sea of fire.
So it was uncertain whether there was still divine power left on her.
The worst situation was that all the divine power was gone.
If so, she had to return to the inn as quietly and quickly as possible.
Hoping not to meet a demon.
But before that.
‘…I need to check.’
Arundel closed her eyes in fear.
And she concentrated on gathering divine power in her palm as she did last time.
‘I feel something for now…’
Fortunately, it seemed that the divine power was not completely gone. She felt the divine power gathering even though her eyes were closed.
But to be sure, she had to check with both eyes.
Arundel slowly, very slightly opened one of her closed eyes and looked at her palm.
‘Phew, thank goodness. But…’
She found something strange.
Was it just her feeling that the divine power…had returned more than before? Or was it because the surroundings were so dark that it looked brighter?
She didn’t know why, but the important thing right now was that she could use divine power.
‘This is fine.’
As long as a high-level demon doesn’t appear.
Arundel began a full-scale search.
Hoping that a low-level demon like Hills’ subordinate would appear.
****
A few hours later.
“…The sun will rise at this rate.”
How did she know, demons did not appear.
She had been wandering around for quite a long time, but nothing happened.
Should she give up like this? She was pondering when,
“Meow~”
A faint meow from a cat nearby caught Arundel’s attention.
Under a large oak tree, there was a black cat sitting.
‘Gosh… it’s cute!’
Arundel, who usually liked animals, carefully approached the cat.
Most cats were usually wary, but this one seemed unusually calm and gentle.
Arundel reached out to the cat with a mischievous face.
“This cute little…”
“Kyaaaak!!”
Just before Arundel’s hand touched it, the cat transformed with a sharp cry.
‘What… what is that?’
Arundel kept looking up following the growing cat.
There stood something that looked like a hybrid of a cat’s face and a human body.
The creature covered its mouth with its hand and said,
“Ohoho, you’ve fallen for my cuteness, human.”
Something huge with a cat’s face was talking. It wasn’t a visual she wanted to engage in conversation with.
“…I’ll be going now.”
Arundel quietly turned around to leave, but the creature blocked her way.
“Hold on, hold on, you can’t just leave like that.”
“…I’m busy right now.”
“You insolent human. Whether you’re busy or not doesn’t matter. You have to deal with me.”
“I don’t have time to deal with you. I have to meet a demon tonight.”
At Arundel’s words, the monster cat’s eyes sparkled.
“You’re looking for a demon…?”
“Yeah.”
Arundel nodded nonchalantly. Since the other party didn’t seem human, she thought it would be okay to speak honestly.
“Then, you’ve come to the right place.”
“…?”
“Isn’t it right in front of you, this great demon ‘Baphura’!”
What… what? What’s Baphura?
He seemed to say he was a great demon… but Hills also went around calling himself a great demon, so there was no intimidation at all.
Arundel looked at Baphura with a sullen face.
“You’re a great demon?”
Baphura nodded with a face full of pride.
Arundel squinted her eyes in disbelief.
“Really?”
“Hmm, do you need proof?”
Baphura stroked his chin as if contemplating, then lightly chanted towards the tree next to him.
“Hellfire.”
Hellfire blazed up on the oak tree in an instant.
The blue flame brought along the screams of humans who had sold their souls to the demon, and the oak tree turned into ashes in an instant.
“…!”
“Do you believe me now?”
Baphura said, lifting the corner of his mouth.
‘What should I do, such a strong guy has appeared.’
With the divine power that has returned now, she could barely handle a mid-level demon. Anything higher was impossible.
“How about it? Making a contract with me.”
“…A contract?”
“What do you think a demon is doing wandering around the human world leisurely, of course, it’s to find a contractor.”
Baphura came closer.
“You too, that’s why you’re wandering around here late at night, isn’t it?”
“…”
Arundel hesitated, unable to utter a word.
Damn, what should she say?
If she says she won’t make a contract, he’s sure to get angry like fire.
‘Should I push the mark once more…?’
Last time it didn’t have a big effect, but that demon was a combination of humans who had lost their reason, and this demon had consciousness, so it might work.
“I already have a contractor.”
“What?!”
As expected, Baphura’s eyes turned fierce in an instant.
“Who is it?”
“…Hills.”
“Hills?”
The demon seemed to ponder, then opened its mouth with a mocking expression.
“Don’t tell me, you’re talking about ‘Hills, the Ruler of Blood’?”
Hmm…?
She wasn’t sure if that guy had such a grand title, but she thought it would be best to nod for now.
“The legendary monster…that Hills?”
The legendary monster…? Is he talking about a different demon? It was strange, but Arundel continued to nod. Baphura’s mouth hardened.
“If you’ve made a contract with him, you’ll have a mark. Show me the mark.”
Arundel rolled up her sleeve, unwrapped the bandage, and thrust it at Baphura.
“…!”
“Right?”
Baphura’s thin pupils shook. Then, as if denying it, he shook his head.
“…There’s no way!! I heard that guy lost his mind to some angel and isn’t active at all!”
Arundel sighed.
It was annoying that the rumor of Hills chasing her around had spread all the way to the demon realm.
“You’re lying!”
Baphura, as if he couldn’t believe it, gasped for breath and spoke.
“If you really made a contract with Hills, wouldn’t he reveal himself when you were attacked?”
This…this madman!
This wasn’t the development she wanted. She thought he would run away when he saw this mark, but it was really useless.
But now was not the time to blame Hills.
‘His… his eyes…!’
Baphura’s eyes turned red. He seemed sincere.
And after stomping his feet a few times, he charged at Arundel.
“Ahh!! This crazy cat!!”
Arundel wrapped her head protectively.
At that moment,
Zzzt-!
a“Bianca, what are you doing!”
“I know I’m being bad and selfish right now. But…!”
Bianca was crying.
“I want you to know one thing…I don’t care what happens to my father.”
Bianca, on her knees, spoke with a choked voice.
“But… if we are to be annihilated, my younger sibling and mother will all be sentenced to death… Then the knights and citizens belonging to our family will be in danger…!”
Bianca knelt down, clasped her hands together, and bowed her head.
Arundel held her throbbing head.
Indeed, the Duke Hellen’s family is a ducal family with a long tradition and history.
Therefore, not only the family, but also the residents and knights of the territory they hold, and the people belonging to the mansion were an enormous number.
It must be acknowledged that many people will suffer severe damage depending on the actions of Duke of Hellen.
However, it was not right to not judge him at all.
To make a decision, Arundel asked Bianca.
“So, do you want Duke Hellen, who tried to kill me, to go unpunished?”
In the end, Bianca was asking her to turn a blind eye to her father’s sins in exchange for her life.
Then, Duke Hellen will live his daily life shamelessly without knowing anything, and she will again face the unknown threat to her life.
“My father will definitely pay for his sins. Because I will make it so.”
“How can I believe that?”
A sharp voice sprang from Arundel again.
Without flinching, Bianca declared in a clear voice.
“Yes. I have disappointed you, but I will definitely save the life of the Empress and punish my father. I swear on our family.”
Arundel was lost in thought.
Bianca had been a precious friend until now.
A lovely and affectionate person. A person who knows how to get angry for others.
There were countless times when Bianca had been grateful. That’s why she cherished and trusted Bianca.
Even when she heard that she was the first candidate for the Empress, even when Zion nagged her to be careful.
And even now.
‘Even I think, my heart is too soft.’
Seeing Bianca kneeling and waiting for an answer, one side of Arundel’s chest ached.
Could she believe Bianca’s words that she would save her life and punish her father?
Lost in thought, Arundel’s eyes calmly settled.
“Bianca.”
“…Yes.”
“I’ll trust you.”
At Arundel’s words, Bianca’s face brightened.
“I won’t disappoint you!!”
As Arundel was about to nod, she noticed that the collapsed wall behind Bianca was recovering.
Arundel pointed to the back with a flustered voice.
“The wall…!”
Seeing the recovering wall, Bianca urgently said.
“We don’t have time. The magic potion’s effective time is running out. If we’re going to leave, we have to hurry!”
“…Just a moment!”
In the urgent situation, Arundel looked at the firmly closed door.
‘…Zion.’
She knew that he had no choice now.
Since she couldn’t contact anyone else, she couldn’t tell Zion that the parasite was in her heart, and ask him to save her.
Moreover, the last time she saw him, she couldn’t find any reason in his eyes. It was uncertain whether he could handle this situation normally.
Arundel shook her head.
Then, there was only one answer.
Whether she trusted Bianca or not, her life depended on Bianca. She had to follow her now.
“Your Majesty!! We have to go now!!”
Bianca, who had stopped the recovering wall with magic, shouted with a strained voice.
Now, she really had to go.
‘I hope to face a different look when I come back.’
Arundel quietly prayed, remembering the last time he saw Zion.
So Arundel left the Empress’s Palace.
****
“Huff huff, how much further do we have to go?”
“Just a little further and there’s a small village. I think we can rest there.”
The two left the Empress’s Palace and headed for the mountain behind the palace.
Since they couldn’t boldly escape from the main palace, the path they chose was a secret and rugged mountain.
The journey was not smooth, but with the magic potion that Bianca had brought, they were able to reach the mountain a little more easily by hiding their appearance.
They hurried their steps, not knowing when Zion would discover the empty Empress’s Palace.
The mountain behind the palace was dark and the road was rough. Moreover, it was difficult to walk in the uncomfortable dress that was uncomfortable to wear.
So, when they were so tired that they couldn’t take another step, they saw the village.
“You’ve worked hard, Your Majesty.”
“Bianca… You’re stronger than I thought.”
Arundel looked at Bianca as if surprised.
Just by looking at her appearance, Bianca was also slender, but it seemed that there was a big difference in physical strength.
Seeing that she was still energetic after crossing this rugged mountain.
“As you know, Your Majesty, my dream is to become a magician.”
“Magicians have nothing to do with strength. You’re not a knight.”
“Ah, I was inspired by His Majesty the Emperor! I want to be a multi-player who is a magician and has strong physical strength.”
Bianca said with a bright expression.
Arundel’s expression darkened at the unexpected mention of Zion.
All the way over the mountain, she was worried about Zion, her head was about to explode.
[Don’t forget, you’re mine.]
Whether the possessiveness towards Empress Irina was re-expressed, Zion once again showed a grotesque obsession.
If he finds out that she has escaped from the Empress’s Palace, he will never stay still.
‘Please…not a sea of fire…’
It was the ending that Empress Irina had met.
After the Empress died, Zion, who had lost his object of obsession, eventually went mad and turned the empire into a sea of fire.
“What are you thinking so much about?”
When Arundel didn’t move and just stood there blankly, Bianca approached her and checked her complexion.
“Ah, Bianca. You said you heard from the maids that I was trapped, right?”
“Yes… that’s right.”
“How did you hear about it?”
“The Emperor, with a very fierce face, said he had cast a spell on the Empress’s Palace. Not knowing why.”
“I see…”
“They said they tried to stop him, but the Emperor’s energy was so overwhelming that they couldn’t even get close.”
Damn… the more she heard, the more anxious she became.
She really wondered what Zion would do.
But the water had already been spilled.
“Shall we go down before it gets darker?”
At Bianca’s cautious urging, Arundel nodded. After descending for a while, they reached a dark village.
Knock knock-!
“What is it at this late hour?”
When they knocked on the door of the inn that was open late, the innkeeper showed his face with an annoyed expression.
“Can we stay here tonight?”
At Bianca’s words, the innkeeper frowned.
“…It’s late, so we’re not taking any more guests.”
It felt like a lie.
Perhaps the innkeeper felt uneasy about the two women, whose identities were unknown and who were in a mess.
She didn’t expect to be able to smooth things over, but she didn’t think she would have to sleep on the streets.
When Arundel looked depressed, Bianca stepped in.
“Just a moment!”
“What is it?”
“I’ll pay double for the room.”
Just before the innkeeper turned around, Bianca quickly grabbed the door and spoke quite strongly.
The innkeeper seemed to hesitate a bit.
“…There’s only one room left.”
“We can share.”
Indeed…money is the best.
Thanks to Bianca’s extraordinary financial power, they were fortunately able to avoid sleeping on the streets.
Thinking about it, Arundel realized that she didn’t have a penny.
The Empress’s Palace was always filled without lack, and she had never bought anything with her own money.
Bianca probably knew this fact as well.
“Bianca… I’m sorry to say this, but I don’t have a penny.”
Arundel confessed, feeling anxious.
“Don’t worry. I came prepared.”
Come to think of it, Bianca had used a magic potion when she broke the wall that had Zion’s magic.
Seeing her confident attitude, it seemed that the rich lady had brought plenty of things that could be helpful, including money.
Arundel sighed with relief.
“It might be uncomfortable for you to use one room, what should we do?”
“I don’t mind.”
Anything was fine as long as it wasn’t outside.
She briefly missed the cozy bed in the Empress’s Palace, but it wasn’t a situation to be fussy now.
“Your Majesty, would you like to take a bath first?”
Arundel accepted Bianca’s consideration without refusing.
While crossing the mountain, she was finally able to get out of the ragged dress that was torn here and there, the hair that was tangled here and there, and the face covered with dust.
‘Ah, it’s warm.’
As she soaked her body in the bathtub, the events that had swept over her were momentarily forgotten.
When her body was tired enough, Arundel wrapped her body in a towel and left the bathroom.
‘It’s okay because we’re both women.’
Bianca was organizing the luggage from the bag she had brought. As soon as the door opened, the steam in the bathroom escaped, and Bianca raised her head.
“Your Majesty, have you finished bathing…!”
Bianca stopped speaking. Her gaze was fixed on Arundel’s wrist.
‘…Gasp’
Arundel, who noticed Bianca’s gaze, panicked and hid her arm behind her.
But, she knew. It was already too late.
“…Your Majesty. That mark on your wrist…”
Bianca spoke with a serious face.
“Well, this is…”
Cold sweat trickled down her forehead.
She had let her guard down while soaking in the warm bathtub. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have forgotten the bandage.
Arundel wanted to go back to her past self who had been careless and curse at her.
“That star shape…”
Gulp.
“It’s a tattoo that’s been trending among the young people recently!”
Bianca approached, unable to hide her excitement.
“Yes?.. Yes! That’s right! That tattoo.”
She didn’t even know what a tattoo was, but Arundel played along.
“Wow! I wanted to get one too, but I didn’t have the courage.”
Bianca looked at her with envious eyes, not knowing what she was talking about.
“It can be seen as a bit… rebellious.”
She had a rough idea of what it felt like.
A bit… like musicians who criticize society or artists who go against the times.
Well, whatever. As long as this mark of the demon wasn’t discovered.
Fortunately, Bianca seemed to know nothing about demons, as she had no interest or chance to meet one.
She calmed down the excited Bianca and sent her to the bathroom. Soon, Bianca, wrapped in a towel like her, lay down on the bed.
While Bianca was bathing, Arundel, who had been thinking about the schedule ahead, asked.
“Where are we going?”
“Tomorrow, we’ll buy some clothes and tools, leave the capital, and head east.”
“East?”
“Yes, there’s a magician’s tower in the east.”
“Is it related to the old magician?”
At the sudden mention of the magician’s tower, or ‘Magic Tower’, Arundel asked with a puzzled expression.
“Yes. As I mentioned, he is originally a famous magician and an alchemist.”
“So he made the heartworm.”
“That’s right. The heartworm that you ate is one of the potions he made.”
It wasn’t an ordinary magician to create such a threatening bug with a potion.
“His base is probably near the magician’s tower.”
“Bianca, you’re not even a formal magician, but you know a lot.”
“Well, I’m interested in magic-related things…”
Bianca, who had been shy, suddenly looked at Arundel with a serious face.
“If the heartworm was put in during the hunting competition, there’s about a week left.”
“…Yes.”
“By then, we must find the old magician and drink the antidote.”
Otherwise, everything would be over.
This mission, and her relationship with Zion.
‘Come to think of it, I think they said that demons often appear in the east.’
Royden had definitely said that.
Demons often appear in the ‘Kesh Village’ in the east.
If she was lucky, she could meet Hills and solve this mark at once.
The ground split between Arundel and Baphura.
“Who dares to touch my contractor.”
With tightly tied purple hair and dangerously sparkling purple eyes.
Hills, whom she had longed to see, appeared.
