After obtaining the blueprints from Duanmu Huai, Maria hurried back to her factory and immediately gathered her subordinates to begin construction. Duanmu Huai, meanwhile, wandered around and returned once again to Rajel. However, what he did not expect was that not long after he returned to Rajel, Mikiru came rushing over with an anxious expression.
"Inquisitor! Something's happened—something big!"
"Hm? What's wrong?"
Seeing Mikiru so unsettled, Duanmu Huai raised an eyebrow.
Could it be that the Kingdom of Herman has attacked again?
"Please go to the Liberation Front headquarters immediately! Just now, Lisus issued an emergency announcement!"
"Emergency announcement?"
Hearing Mikiru say this, Duanmu Huai immediately took the others with him and followed her back to the Liberation Front's headquarters. At this moment, everyone else inside the headquarters was also standing there, staring at a machine in front of them—a television.
Alright, Duanmu Huai was already too lazy to complain about where the hell a television even came from in this damn age of swords and magic. What mattered was the content on the screen.
At this moment, the television was broadcasting an image. It looked like an open-air balcony, where a burly blue-haired man and a blue-haired少女 were standing.
"That's Prince Barton of Herman!"
"And Princess Lia of Lisus!"
At this time, the host's voice came from the television.
"Everyone, just moments ago we received shocking news. Prince Barton Herman of Herman and Princess Lia Parapala Lisus of Lisus have already entered into an engagement! A wedding will be held shortly!"
"...…Huh??"
Hearing this, everyone in the room froze. At this moment, the camera cut to the Lisus princess. She was holding a microphone, smiling warmly.
"Everyone, Prince Barton and I have already decided upon our engagement. This also signifies that Lisus and the Kingdom of Herman will grow even closer. Everything that happened before was a misunderstanding. Please do not continue to create chaos, and lay down your weapons immediately. Through this wedding, our two nations will become more friendly toward one another, rather than meeting each other with weapons!"
"This..."
After hearing Princess Lia's statement, everyone was completely dumbfounded. At this point, Prince Barton also strode up confidently and said some nonsense about having admired the princess for a long time, but no one had the mood to care about that now. Soon, the breaking news broadcast ended, yet the atmosphere in the room remained extremely heavy.
"Th-this must be fake!"
Kentou Kanami was the first to jump up.
"Lady Lia would never say something like that. She must have been forced!"
"But she didn't look like she was being forced."
Duanmu Huai did not think so. As an Inquisitor, he had some understanding of people's expressions. At least from the footage just shown on television, Princess Lia appeared sincere rather than acting under duress.
"Her Highness must have been brainwashed! Just like us—brainwashed by the demonkin—so she did something like this!"
Bares also voiced his judgment at this moment, and Rick, the commander of the Red Legion beside him, nodded vigorously.
"That's right, it has to be!"
"Regardless of whether she was brainwashed or coerced, the situation has indeed become even more chaotic now..."
Looking at the people in the room arguing in a mess, Duanmu Huai helplessly shrugged. Although Lia was only a princess and not the queen, it was obvious that she wielded considerable influence within Lisus. With her making such a statement, those who knew about demonkin would understand, but those who didn't would inevitably be thrown into confusion.
Just like Bares and Rick right now. Logically speaking, they should immediately return home and purge the traitors around the throne. But with the princess having already made her stance clear, if they insisted on fighting Lisus's own army, would they be branded as rebels? Of course, in this situation, it would be best if the king and queen of Lisus came forward to make a statement. However, Bares had already mentioned before that the royal couple had gone traveling, and due to their advanced age, their reactions were not particularly sharp—
Well, although Bares had chosen his words carefully, Duanmu Huai could practically see the words "senile dementia" written all over his face.
Looks like there's no hope there.
Soon, Bares and Rick went off to pacify their soldiers. As for the Free City Alliance, they didn't particularly care. Whether Princess Lia was truly brainwashed or there was some other reason, the Free City Alliance had already been invaded. Other than driving out the invaders, they couldn't possibly have any other thoughts.
Duanmu Huai also didn't care much. After all, he had already found Maria. Next, he just needed to see whether she could produce results. As for the Herman army coming to Rajel again, they could simply be slaughtered on sight. Thus, he returned to his room to rest.
However, not everyone could be so relaxed.
How did things end up like this...…
Sitting in the courtyard and gazing at the sky, Kentou Kanami wore a despondent expression. She naturally did not believe that the princess sincerely wanted to marry into Herman. But the current situation was extremely unfavorable. Although for now they could still fight together, Kentou Kanami knew very well that once the Free City Alliance reclaimed their territory, whether they would intervene in Lisus—
That would be hard to say.
After all, Princess Lia held significant influence within the country. Although she was not the queen, making such a public declaration would certainly cause upheaval domestically.
Not to mention that this invasion by Herman had been bizarre to begin with. They did not attack from the border like in a normal war. Instead, they suddenly appeared directly inside the royal capital and effortlessly captured it. The Lisus armies stationed across the land likely could not understand how such a situation came about. Even if it could be explained as the work of demonkin, unless one truly faced a demonkin personally, it was impossible to grasp just how terrifying such an existence was.
Recalling what happened back then, Kentou Kanami could not help but curl up slightly. She still remembered that when she accepted the mission from Princess Lia and escaped with the holy relic, she had once come face to face with a demonkin. The bone-chilling terror that radiated from that being, as if it were tangible, was still deeply engraved in her mind even now.
This can't continue. We must rescue the princess from the demonkin's grasp!
But... who can defeat a demonkin? Only him!
Kentou Kanami naturally still remembered the scene where Duanmu Huai sent the demonkin Satra flying with a single hammer strike. She was certain that the opponent truly was a demonkin. Before that, she had attacked her several times, all without effect, completely blocked by that so-called "invincible barrier" surrounding her. Although she did not know what that man's true origins were, only he had any hope of repelling the demonkin and saving Princess Lia!
But... would he help me?
Kentou Kanami did not dare to be certain. After all, she had followed Duanmu Huai the entire day and knew that his purpose for coming here was actually to find Maria, one of the Four Witches. Now that he had found Maria, his objective had been achieved. It was almost impossible for him to follow her wishes, head to Lisus, and venture into a den of dragons and tigers to rescue Princess Lia...
There's only one way left!
Thinking this, Kentou Kanami stood up and made her decision.
Night had fallen deep.
The entire estate had sunk into silence and rest. After all, everyone had fought hard all day. At this hour, aside from the soldiers on night watch, everyone else had already gone to bed early.
Duanmu Huai was no exception. At this moment, he was sprawled on the carpet in a guest hall, sleeping soundly—not because anyone had been neglectful, but because with Duanmu Huai's size, a normal bed simply couldn't accommodate him. And at that moment, the ceiling not far above his head slowly opened, and a petite figure silently leapt down from it.
"Guh...…"
Looking at Duanmu Huai before her, Kentou Kanami's expression tensed. But soon, she took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, and then tiptoed to his side. She quietly lifted his blanket and then reached out—
Then came a smack, as a black shadow suddenly sprang up and slapped across Kentou Kanami's face.
Seeing the black shadow before her, Kentou Kanami's face instantly turned deathly pale.
"N-no way...… it's this big...… that's impossible, right...…?"
Even though she had already steeled herself, when faced with something that completely exceeded her understanding, even a ninja could not help but feel trembling fear. But soon, the少女 clenched her teeth—
To hell with it!
Within the dream, Duanmu Huai once again felt that intoxicating sensation.
Heat that seemed capable of completely melting a person gradually surfaced, spreading around his body, as if trying once more to coil around him and erode everything completely.
Hmph, you really never learn. Once might be excusable, but you dare try again?
Although Duanmu Huai was still asleep, having gone through it once before, he was now familiar with it. This time, he did not wait for the other party to try to subdue him. Instead, he reversed the situation, fiercely restraining that force and locking it tightly in his embrace. That force clearly had not expected Duanmu Huai to counterattack and immediately struggled desperately. But Duanmu Huai gave it no chance to escape. He gathered his strength and then surged forward mercilessly, smashing through the tightly closed gates like a ruthless battering ram. At that moment, the invading force seemed to reach its limit. Its movements grew increasingly frantic, writhing wildly like a fish trapped in a net, desperately trying to escape.
However, Duanmu Huai showed no mercy whatsoever. Once, twice, three times—
No one knew how much time passed. Accompanied by another fierce eruption from Duanmu Huai, that force finally seemed to give up struggling and fell completely still.
That's it? It's over already?
Sensing the other party's weakness, Duanmu Huai frowned. He felt that this time seemed far too easy. Compared to before, it felt much easier to deal with.
But... maybe it's just because one gets used to it after the first time?
However, Duanmu Huai did not think further. Soon, his consciousness sank once more into pitch-black darkness.
When Duanmu Huai opened his eyes again, the first thing he felt was the piercing sunlight.
"Ugh...…"
Duanmu Huai sat up, yawned, and then looked around—
Then, he froze.
All around his body was a complete mess—torn and shredded clothing, and traces emitting a fishy stench... wait, what the hell was this?
At that moment, Duanmu Huai suddenly sensed something. He hesitated, then reached out and lifted the blanket, turning his gaze to the side.
Then Duanmu Huai saw a girl lying there completely naked, her eyes red and swollen, her body covered in marks of having been ravaged.
Isn't this... Kentou Kanami?
Seeing this scene, Duanmu Huai's entire mind went blank.
What the hell is going on?
Could it be that, in his half-asleep state, he actually... slept with her?
(End of Chapter)