Let me know if there are errors.
Freya, the Great Nobles, and Arthur were moving through the streets of the empire slaying the demonic monsters.
As Freya predicted—there were way too many than the number of lights she saw. it was illogical to think all of them were mutant humans. But the chaos won't allow the leeway of thought right now.
Their goal is to get Freya to the center of the empire, where the cathedral lies.
It's the highest point in the capital and dwarfs even the imperial palace.
After locating the terraformer, they'll split up into teams and Arthur, along with the Great Nobles, will head there to destroy the artifact. Hopefully, they run into the heroes that slayed Valtraak as well.
While riding their horses, Freya looked at Ronia, who was the least capable fighter, even less than her silent brother who was an actual knight recruit.
"Are you wondering why I'm here, Lady Freya and not commanding my people?"
"…Yes."
They came to a stop for a moment so that the Great Nobles can deal with the demons in front of them.
"I'm going to Whitage city to ask for aid from Arnold von Ber—Arnold Valtraak."
"You want to negotiate with Arnold!?" Arthur heard that and shouted after blowing away one of the monsters.
Ronia nodded. Arthur was about to get angry but another demon attacked him so he was a bit too occupied.
It probably looked out of place but in order to ensure as many lives as possible are saved, they need a force equal to or greater than the imperial army that's still marching to the empire.
The Republic is so far that a journey back with an army like that will take a day at least if they run nonstop. The emperor probably thought that so long as the other kingdoms ready their armies, they can handle any enemy nation trying to take advantage of their absence.
But what the emperor didn't foresee was that the demons would be the enemies this time.
As such, requesting help from a strong city like Whitage, that sits right on imperial soil and is about two hours away from the capital, is the best course of action.
'I hope you take this opportunity I'm giving you to become a central figure in our empire, Arnold. This will eliminate any that still want to turn on you.' Thought Ronia, 'I'll need my own favors from you in the future.'
"Arnold will sap you dry of all resources or connections you have! You should know he possesses a cold heart and fights only for benefits!" Arthur tried to reason.
"Are you saying that the only reason he fought the Kaiju Demon was to maximize the support from the people? Why would someone as smart as him endanger himself just for such an idiotic reason? He should know there's easier ways to gain support from the citizens yet he chose to stand up for others."
It was probably unheard of from Ronia of all people, but she believes he fought with his life on the line because he wanted to protect his country. That probably doesn't imply he cares for the people, but why should it? Protecting your country is enough.
It's like defending your home. You'd do it even if you despise your family that live there but it's still your home. They'd be thankful for you for protecting the house.
Maybe she's wrong but she chose to trust in her judgment.
"Your Highness, I hope you're ready for the price he'll ask. Your body… won't be excluded from the list of benefits he'll ask for." Arthur continued reasoning with her.
"Fufu, if my body will satisfy him then so be it." she didn't particularly care. She heard he's good at sex and he's already so handsome so it won't be difficult to endure being with a man for once.
Ronia doesn't particularly hate men but she refuses to have sex with one unless she's very sexually frustrated to the point where fingers and toys aren't enough. She just can't stand the smell of a man's sweat though she always made sure her room was scented with the market's most effective candles if she does have sex with one.
Vance didn't seem to have any objections, nor did Marcus. In fact, they seemed more focused on holding back the demons than caring about who they'll rely on. Since Feldena went back home, she wasn't here to even out the vote, so Ariane (who was also against it) and Arthur lost the majority vote. Not that there was a vote in the first place but Ronia was open to suggestions anyway.
"It's settled then. I'll split up with you at the cathedral, Lady Freya."
"Twenty of you knights at the back will protect Her Highness." Marcus ordered, "I will accompany you to the gate but after that her life will be in your hands so that I can focus on the capital where the most danger lies. So help me, if you return with your lives but Her Highness dies, I will execute you myself! Is that understood!?"
"Y-Yes, commander!"
Ronia noticed something odd as they were running through the capital towards the cathedral.
Why are there so many demons? Just from looking at the skies, there were hundreds upon hundreds of flying demons just flying around but she was told by scholars at the palace that the purple lights were most likely heavily-concentrated demonic energy being released into the air.
But there weren't that many purple pillars of light earlier compared to the number of demons she could see.
Or perhaps each pillar didn't represent one human?
Ronia looked up, noticing that the detectors were still flashing red. That indicates that there was still demonic energy in the air. The first beeping sounds were just warnings but if the lights stay on, the detectors are still sensing something.
Could the residue from that highly concentrated demonic energy still be in the air?
"Your Highness," Freya flew down to Ronia as they moved through the streets, "Don't think about the situation too hard. We're going to need you to lead the troops back to the capital with a clear and focused mind."
"…"
So, she knows what Ronia is thinking about.
'If Freya is telling me to ignore it, is she thinking the same thing? Or maybe she already has an answer to it but that answer can lead to casualties?'
Ronia was about to use her ability to probe further but stopped.
Keeping that ability out of her ordinary life as a princess was a promise she made to herself the day she was born. And she's never broken that promise.
'I should heed her advice and focus on coming up with strategies to repel the demons. This isn't an ordinary invasion. Unlike back then, the demons colluded with humans this time to come up with a different method to enter our world.'
If that's the case, it's possible the usual strategy—demon has divinity weakness so just continuously attack them with divine spells and skills—won't work.
She glanced at Arthur, who was leading the charge, 'I hope our Hero understands that as well.'
The cathedral came into view when they entered the main road.
"They must've expected us to locate them." Said Arthur, "Can't you use your spell anywhere else, Freya?"
'Using informal speech for our country's Archmage, huh? What a brat.'
Freya didn't seem to care about it at that moment so she simply answered: "Being at the highest altitude will allow me to send the magic circle over the entire empire. I can't do that if it's not the cathedral."
"Why not fly up and cast the spell then?"
"Hero Arthur, there are flying monsters too. I need the protection of the cathedral's powerful barrier so that I can use the spell safely. None of you can fly right? So, who will protect me then?"
"…You have a point."
'Everyone has figured that out but it's only this idiot hasn't yet. Is he thinking at this moment at all?' Ronia withheld a sigh, 'If he didn't have the Holy Sword, I would've showed my support for Hero Luke instead.'
He can't seem to think too much under distress, which is a bad thing for a leader. He's more like a toddler that needs his mommy to tell him what to do.
'I should stop insulting him in my head and come up with a way to deal with the mutants. There has to be more strategies than simply firing divine spells at them.'
Ronia quietly observed Arthur slicing a monster apart from its side to its shoulder. It looked as easy as you would expect from a man blessed by divinity.
She observed the monster's flesh. Though she hasn't seen it in action before, she knows divinity is supposed to char and cauterize the demon's flesh when cut, even more affectively and quicker than fire.
Not just that, the divine properties should spread over the monster's entire body and slowly eat them alive, to leave nothing behind in the end.
But looking at this one, it was barely ablaze with golden fire.
Even though the evidence found in Rael and Jenlak's labs doesn't back this up, it's highly likely something changed in the formula of the drug to cause some kind in change in the mutation.
"Lady Freya, something worries me." She caught up to the levitating Freya with her horse. The two were far enough that no one was within earshot, likely to avoid getting in Freya's way when she casts spells.
"Go ahead."
"The demonic mutants seem to be taking less damage. While I was not an eyewitness in the past, I've heard that even a small 1st-rank [Divine Ablaze] ball of fire, can kill a Greater Demon if it doesn't have natural or magic defenses against divine energy."
"Your perception is as sharp as ever. I think something's going on. Would you like to join me for an investigation later? Once we succeed in repelling the demons, if even for a short time, we should experiment on the corpses left behind to determine what's going on."
'She shrugged me off again. She definitely knows something.' Ronia fell back behind Freya, giving her room once again, 'Let's keep this between us for now. Pointing it out will only tank the soldiers' morale. There's nothing more heartbreaking than knowing there isn't a cure for a plague, with even the antibiotics and vaccines ineffective.'
Freya smiled seeing how Ronia didn't pester her. The princess was thinking of her people as a royal should.
An admirable trait that only she and her brother possess. That being said, Freya didn't forget all Ronia's wrongdoings or schemes. That unity she established between many of the nobles definitely wasn't formed through comradery or loyalty.
There's no way to gain the loyalty of that many nobles.
Would it be strange of her to think Ronia is prime monarch material?
As they neared the church, the paladins and priests spotted them so the mages quickly chanted to open the Divine Formation barrier to let them inside.
"Welcome, Your Highnesses!" everyone bowed once they spotted Ronia and Jurius.
They then greeted the Great Nobles and Freya as well.
Ronia came to the front and asked them about the situation. Taking a cursory glance at the crowd, she could spot many people clutching their scriptures and crosses.
Melis sent them two heroes so their faith seemed to be stronger than ever.
"There are about 500 people gathered here. Some gathered here for mass while the rest flocked here shortly after the disaster happened." Answered the knight leading them inside, "We're working on expanding the barrier and setting up more defenses so that more people can come inside but that proved to be difficult for just our mages."
He then looked at Freya, "Lady Archmage—"
"Tell the mages to reserve their mana. I'll expand the barrier myself. I hope you will go find any citizens that are outside."
"Of course, thank you!"
Noticing the large group, the people drew nearer.
"T-The Archmage is here! We're saved!"
"Even the Great Nobles and Her Highness!"
A high-ranking church official, someone Ronia recognized as the bishop hurriedly ran up to the group and offered a heartfelt greeting.
"U-Uhm, Your Highness." Immediately after greeting them, he whispered, "There is something I'd like to ask…"
The bishop looked quite hesitant to ask with this many ears, "Speak, Bishop."
"Uhm… Does Your Highness perhaps know where… Sir Arnold is?"
A commotion spread throughout the crowd, "Is the Bishop seriously asking where the demons' collaborator is!?"
"That demon lord factor probably had something to do with this!"
"Yeah, just like with the first demon cult attack, he's going to try and gain benefits from this disaster as well!"
The voices were divided—those that still doubt Arnold, who were in the minority—and those that believed in him like a third hero, who outnumbered the former.
"Silence!" Ronia shouted, "We won't have this kind of discussion in the midst of an invasion! We need to be united now more than ever! If you believe he is a traitor to our people and colludes with demons, that's fine! But keep your opinions to yourself until we actually see him on the battlefield! If Arnold truly joined their side, no one will survive. He entered a realm of demigods, has the power of dragons by his side and most of all, he doesn't possess a weakness to divinity—yet we're still standing here!"
She paused for a brief moment, "So, tell me: what's stopping him from erasing us? A deal with the demons for power? He has a dark magician that can control life and death so why would he strive for more power? And most of all, Arnold thinks of the benefits to his life his actions will have. He recently began selling the precious minerals in his land. Who will he sell it to once the empire and surroundings nations are destroyed?"
"….."
"Anyone still fighting among yourselves from this moment onward can do so outside instead of creating conflict in this situation!"
The voices immediately stopped. Everyone cowered from Ronia's fierce gaze.
"T-Thank you for seeing the truth, Your Highness." Said the bishop with a bow.
"…To answer your question, no, I don't know where he is."
"His signature isn't in the empire, either." Marcus added further.
"Ah…"
"I'm going to request support from his city, Whitage. Anyone willing to fight should speak up now. The imperial army still hasn't returned, more than half of our country's high-ranking adventurers went on an SS-rank quest in the elf country, and we don't have enough mercenaries to handle this full-scale invasion. If you have the courage, step up, as I'm about to head out soon."
The people looked at each other, as if they're waiting for others to step up.
A girl barely in her twenties, with long blond hair, wearing an elegant dress, stepped forward.
"My name is Adavire. Please allow me to fight by your side, Your Highness!"
"Y-Your Highness, I apologize for her lack of manners." The woman next to her, Duchess Isolde, who Ronia knew from her many visits to formal events, smiled bitterly as she pulled Adavire back, "She's just recovered from grave injuries and holds hatred in her heart that she yearns to release somewhere. I'm afraid it will lead to her doing something reckless."
Evelyn was also standing beside them. She was looking at Adavire with a frown, as if what she said was ridiculous.
"But, Lady Isolde you said we should seek refuge in Arnold's city because we'll be safest there, didn't you? I'll protect you along the way. This is part of my thanks for taking care of me all these years."
Murmurs started again, "Did she just say it would be safest in Arnold's city?"
"I heard that there hasn't been a single war over territory in his land. Even Serz couldn't recklessly attack him!"
"And some bastard noble attacked the caravans carrying his crystals, almost killing many of his workers. I don't pity whatever household upset him."
Hearing that discussion, Ronia cut in, "Everyone is welcome to go with us, whether you can fight or not. We're not sure if other countries are being attacked, but I'm certain the demons would never be able to get this far in Whitage city so going there is the best option right now."
While Ronia wanted to hear from Freya where the terraformer is located, her duty to secure an army mattered more than her curiosity.
As expected, many of the ordinary folk wanted to go to Arnold's city as they gathered around Ronia, including Duchess Isolde and her niece. That Adavire girl was busy putting on armor and sheathing her sword that she took out of her magic bag.
Without ceremony, Ronia and her entourage—with the Great Nobles serving as guards until the gates—quickly left the cathedral's formation, on their way to Arnold's city.
**
Meanwhile, Freya was sending her mana throughout the empire while Arthur was standing on the rooftop waiting for her.
"Such a troublesome energy." She muttered in annoyance due to how difficult it was to send her mana across the empire. The mysterious red mist is meant to disperse mana so that made sense to her.
"It probably won't be impossible to cast spells once the empire is fully terraformed, but I can tell there will be difficulties."
"—Nothing yet!?" shouted Arthur from the rooftop.
"I've identified a strange signature with my spell but I can't pinpoint where it is yet. Give me a few minutes."
'Why is he so impatient? Surely, he's not thinking of storming that place the moment I find it?'
In truth, Freya could sense several strange signatures all over the capital, one even close to the cathedral, confirming her earlier suspicions. But she shouldn't reveal it now as the people are already panicking.
'If Lancelot and Lady Guinevere could come here, the morale would be unshakable…'
Freya alone wouldn't be able to handle the threats
"Ah…" She finally managed to pinpoint the signature.
Arthur noticed her looking in a certain direction, northwest of the capital.
"Did you find it?!"
Freya flew down and gave her findings, making sure to omit the full details.
"Yes, it's in an abandoned castle ruin a few kilometers from the empire." She pointed northwest of here, "Judging by how the red mist is strongest there, I believe it originated from there."
Now they need to find Lancelot, Ceru and Guinevere to have a team strong enough to fight any demon. Luke will probably need to stay back as he can't use his full power yet.
And Lauran… well, Freya has many things to teach Lauran and believes she isn't ready to bear the responsibilities of an archmage yet. She'll have to stay back.
"The Lottless family castle? I know where that is!" Arthur walked to the edge of the roof, about to jump, "You handle things here. I'll be back with good news soon."
"What!? You can't just leave on your own! We need a strategy to approach first! Not just that, we don't know how big their force is. There might even be a demon lord there! The most important thing is looking for more allies that are capable enough—"
"What's there to think about!? They're demons so they'll die if I hit them with the Holy Sword enough!" after white golden energy surrounded him, he charged towards the place Freya discovered the artifact, leaving behind a white trail of sparkling light in his wake.
'This simpleton!' she cursed in her mind.
How could he leave her alone at a critical time like this!?
Freya looked worriedly at two approaching giant demon monsters that were heading this way.
"…You're going to get an earful from me later, Arthur."
She cast a Tenth-Rank single target spell, ready to take the demonic beast down.