Akatsuki Translations

“Hmm, it seems there’s no problem. Now then, Palmina-dono, if something were to happen to the essential suspect, our knight order would be in jeopardy. Could you please treat her with the utmost care?” -Zenobia

“Hehe, I couldn’t possibly refuse a request from the Knight Commander. As a priestess of the Fortuna faith, I shall give it my all.” -Palmina

Zenobia probably knew only fragmented information, as she had hurriedly rushed here from the royal palace. It seemed she wasn’t fully aware of what had been happening at this location.

However, considering Farsa, Julia, and Palmina’s personalities, she probably had a rough understanding of the situation. Normally, capturing powerful demons like these would be considered difficult, with killing being the primary option.

Only in cases where the individual’s combat abilities were severely lacking, like Roux, would capturing be considered as an option. When Zenobia left the palace, she wasn’t aware of the demon’s strength, and the top priority of her orders was to eliminate the threat – in other words, to kill Roux.

Naturally, even if a demon like Roux were to die, she wouldn’t be held accountable. Nevertheless, Zenobia reached the conclusion, as stated earlier, that Roux should be treated as a prisoner with respect.

Additionally, she made it look like the Knight Commander’s request was for Palmina to perform the healing. This way, Palmina wouldn’t face any criticism for treating a demon.

As a Knight Commander who stood above others, Zenobia couldn’t have achieved her position solely based on her sword skills. Since meeting Farsa four years ago, the immature young girl she once was had completely transformed into the respectable knight Zenobia.

The previous impulsive Zenobia wouldn’t have even considered proposing the idea of treating a demon.

“Alright, you guys lead the onlookers into the gate and clear the way for the transport. Well done, members of the guard. Your hard work will be rewarded by the palace. For now, we’ll take charge here, but I’m proud to have such an excellent guard. I look forward to your future contributions.” -Zenobia

Upon Zenobia’s words, the White Lily Knight members quickly took action, guiding the spectators toward the South Gate. The ten members who had been stalling for time were personally addressed by Zenobia and, while blushing, gave a perfect salute. They then started guiding the spectators, just like the knights.

The South Gate guards mostly consisted of common-born soldiers, and there was a vast social gap between them and Zenobia, who was both a swordswoman to be admired and the heiress of a duke. To them, Zenobia was both an exemplary knight and an object of admiration.

Moreover, the guards stationed at the outermost part of the capital city, the gate guards, weren’t particularly outstanding in terms of combat ability. They might even panic and run away when faced with fearsome demons. However, their coordinated efforts were skillful enough to stall until reinforcements arrived.

Of course, it was largely because they were dealing with Roux, who clearly had no combat experience. Still, none of them had seen a lupinized demon child before, so they were prepared to face a deadly fight at first.

Zenobia understood these circumstances, which might be why she complimented and mentioned rewards to the guards while also reassuring them that they wouldn’t be blamed if something went wrong.

“Alright… Julia, you seem like you want to say something.” -Zenobia

“Of course! Zenobia, you should understand my feelings, right?” -Julia

Having fulfilled her role as Knight Commander, Zenobia addressed Julia, who wore a dissatisfied expression.

Julia, who had been holding the dagger she removed from Farsa, still seemed to have hostile intentions.

For Julia, who had lost her family and hometown to the same sort of demons Farsa had shielded Palmina healed, and Zenobia silenced the crowd for, it was hard for her to fully appreciate the importance of capturing the demon. Her emotions couldn’t catch up with the situation.

“Yes, I am well aware of Julia’s hatred towards demons.” -Zenobia

“Then! Why do you all defend that thing? Because of demons… my village was…” -Julia

There were no unnecessary ears around anymore, and the ones left in this place were a few of Zenobia’s trusted subordinates, along with Roux, Palmina, Farsa, and Julia.

Under the clear blue sky, several droplets of water fell at Julia’s feet.

“Julia, a sword consumed by vengeance, with a lost heart, becomes nothing but a tool of destruction. Is the sword you’re wielding right now truly a sword of justice? To me, the demon standing here doesn’t seem to be the same as the demons that destroyed your village. Look again with your own eyes.” -Zenobia

“Even if you say that… it’s a demon… and I am…” -Julia

While complaining, Julia followed Zenobia’s words and shifted her gaze towards Roux, who was receiving healing magic from Palmina, lying in her lap. She began observing her closely.

Roux seemed to be either exhausted or finding solace within Palmina’s embrace, as she had a peaceful expression on her face.

It wasn’t the cruel demons that people rumored about, nor the kind Julia was familiar with. There was just a young girl, alone, right there.

For a while, Julia clenched the dagger in her hand and showed the struggle on her face, teeth gritted in conflict.

Eventually, Julia sheathed her short sword and turned once again towards Zenobia, and began to weave her words.

“To be honest, I’m still not convinced. I can’t help but hate demons enough to want to kill them.” -Julia

“That’s understandable. I also have many enemies that I hate just as much. I don’t expect Julia’s feelings to change suddenly here and now.” -Zenobia

Zenobia, who had once hated all magicians, especially those who caused her brother’s death, understood Julia’s feelings better than anyone else. She had felt the same way toward all magicians, including Farsa, but she didn’t hate them all anymore, thanks to Farsa. However, her feelings for the individuals who caused the incident still persisted.

Zenobia had executed the ruthless removal of the court magicians on Princess Aurelia’s orders, but it wasn’t based solely on her personal feelings. Her primary goal was to prevent any more innocent people from suffering. Her personal revenge was secondary.

Suppressing emotions and losing rationality in battle would lead to death. Zenobia learned this crucial lesson when she met Farsa. Even in the face of a demon who appeared to be a child, she couldn’t let emotions take over. Otherwise, she feared Julia might lead herself to destruction.

“However, I understand what everyone wants to say, so for now, I’ll keep quiet. But if that demon there tried any odd tricks, even if Zenobia tries to stop it, it would be futile.” -Julia

“Who are you talking to? I am a knight who protects the kingdom. If that girl there causes trouble again within the borders of Valois Kingdom, I will cut her down before Julia even has the chance.” -Zenobia

Zenobia was by no means an ally of the demons; she simply judged the situation rationally, and all she did was prevent Julia.

It was rare for young demon children like Roux to appear on the battlefield, and on top of that, she was a practitioner of beastification magic, something not often seen.

Among the recognized demon races in the Kingdom of Valois, the most famous are the demon clans with golden horns; for other species, information is extremely scarce.

Of course, despite her youthful appearance, Zenobia, a knight of the Kingdom of Valois, prioritized protecting her lord and the citizens she served. She knew all too well that indulging in thoughts of weakness on the battlefield was not an option. If, by any chance, Roux had killed someone, Zenobia wouldn’t have made the same judgment.

“Sigh, what a waste of a day off… Oh! I left Far-nii rolling on the ground! Alright, I’ll give him a lap pillow!” -Julia

With her usual cheerfulness restored, Julia dashes over to Farsa in a playful manner. However, as if targeting this very moment, three massive fireballs came hurtling their way. One headed toward Palmina and Roux, another aimed for Julia, and the last one was directed at the unconscious Farsa.

“Reflect Wall!” -Palmina

“Ice Shield!” -Julia

“Gale Sword!” -Zenobia

Palmina repealed the magical attacks with her barrier magic, one of the sacred magics, channeling their power back. Julia conjured a shield with ice magic, a skill directly taught by Farsa. And Zenobia, who had flown to Farsa at a speed akin to the wind, slashed through the fireballs with her sword, splitting them into two.

Palmina couldn’t move from her spot as she held onto Roux, and Julia, who had put away her dagger, managed to evade unscathed by channeling all her strength into the activation of magic after assessing that Zenobia was protecting Farsa. Similarly, Zenobia swiftly moved with the same thought in mind.

Compared to Farsa, Julia’s magic activation speed was slower, and had she wasted even a fraction of a second, she would likely have suffered severe burns due to insufficiently developed magical power.

Though Julia and Zenobia were able to respond quickly with powerful magic unleashed in the blink of an eye, an enemy of considerable skill could be inferred from their ability to capitalize on an instant’s vulnerability.

Yet, even in their split-second decisions, Julia and her companions were taking the best possible actions. Truly, they could be called some of the kingdom’s most formidable individuals.

“Who goes there!” -Zenobia

“Good grief! Who dares to interfere with me and Far-nii!” -Julia

“Well, well, targeting someone when they’re defenseless – my, what a naughty child we have here.” -Palmina

Zenobia positioned her sword behind Farsa while Julia drew a dagger from her pocket. Palmina, holding Roux, moved closer to Farsa as they addressed the newcomers.

When the three turned their gazes toward the direction from which the fireballs had come, two masked demons stood there.

One of them was tall and slender, and though their skeletal structure hinted at their gender being male, their face was concealed under a black robe with a mask that covered most of it, revealing only a crimson eye from the left eye section of the mask.

The other was remarkably small, with an appearance that could easily be mistaken for that of a young girl. Silver hair adorned with silver horns, dressed in a military uniform and wearing a mask with two crimson eyes, similar to the tall man beside them.

And both of them carried scythes taller than their own stature.

Their appearance was strikingly similar to Mirage, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Lord’s army, and his deputy, Astarte. However, whether due to the failure of their surprise attack or because they had already achieved their purpose, the two demons took a glance at Julia and her companions, who were poised for battle, and then simply vanished.

Much like Farsa’s teleportation magic, they created a large gate and disappeared within it.

“The masked demons… the demons that appeared when they attacked my village…” -Julia

While Zenobia, looking puzzled, investigated the spot where the masked demons had vanished, a voice on the brink of fading away whispered. It was Julia, the White-haired Hero.

Julia’s memories of her childhood were fragmented in places, and the circumstances of her village’s attack had been greatly lost to her.

However, among those she could never forget was one individual, a male demon wearing a mask.

In the midst of the haunting memories painted in deep crimson, there were only a few figures she could recall with clarity.

Three hundred years had passed since the conflict between demons and humans began, and history was on the verge of a major shift.