"Welcome to the Sorcerer Kingdom, Miss Enri."
Before the magnificent white-gold palace, a young girl with flowing pale-blonde hair lifted the hem of her skirt and gave a slight curtsy.
A faint smile rested on Renner's face, gentle and charming, like a flower blooming in spring.
When she raised her head, her breathtaking beauty entered everyone's sight, making it seem as though everything else had lost its color.
Her beauty was like a brilliant star, shining with an intoxicating radiance.
"H-hello…"
Enri answered somewhat haltingly.
As someone who had once been part of the Kingdom, she had never met Renner in person, but she had heard the rumors about her.
Her exquisite beauty had earned her the title of "Golden Princess."
Bards competed to dedicate songs to her, and legends of her beauty were countless.
Moreover, she was not merely beautiful. She loved her country and its people, devoted herself to causes such as abolishing the slave trade, and had begun to make her mark on the political stage.
She was, in every sense, compassionate, gentle, and kind, a princess who radiated the dazzling brilliance one would expect of royalty.
There were even rumors that the real reason she had become Prime Minister of the Sorcerer Kingdom was to protect her elder brother and father.
Though born into royalty, she placed exceptional importance on family ties, even using herself as a bargaining chip.
Her character, appearance, personality, and wisdom were all outstanding.
Even Enri could not help but admire her.
"Please don't be nervous. Relax. The banquet is already prepared, so please come with me."
As Renner looked at the girl before her, she kept the same gentle smile on her face, though a subtle ripple passed through her eyes.
For someone as skilled at reading people as she was, the admiration in Enri's eyes was quite obvious.
Unexpected, and the simple, easy-to-lead type.
Renner quickly analyzed Enri's general personality and chose the most suitable mask for herself.
Like an actress, she changed her image depending on her audience.
For someone like Enri, all she had to do was maintain the image of an innocent princess.
"Um… yes. Thank you for the trouble."
Enri came back to herself and hurriedly nodded in thanks.
Under Renner's guidance, the four of them slowly proceeded forward.
That's right, four.
Neia lowered her head, her fingers twisting tightly together.
Even now, she still had no idea what was going on.
After completing her enrollment procedures, she had clearly planned to wander around and see what this country was like.
So how had she somehow been dragged here?
Ugh, what am I supposed to do now?
"Do you need to go to the bathroom, cool-looking sister?"
Looking at her new friend, Nemu tilted her head, a puzzled look on her face.
"N-no… I'm fine."
Poor Neia had been wrapped around Nemu's finger.
Lost amid all those cries of "so cool," she had become like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, able only to be led along.
Each carrying their own thoughts, the group walked along the neat, level white-jade steps.
Along the way, Renner and Enri chatted pleasantly, while Neia followed behind them, looking somewhat uneasy.
"We're here, Miss Enri."
Renner stopped and gestured toward the palace ahead.
Enri looked up and was stunned by the scene before her.
The palace interior was luxuriously decorated and dazzling with gold, while the dining table was laden with all kinds of delicacies.
"Is… is this for us?"
"Of course, Miss Enri. Please enjoy yourselves."
Renner smiled as she spoke.
Enri nodded gratefully, then brought Nemu into the palace.
Neia, however, remained where she was, hesitating.
As if sensing her embarrassment, Renner spoke then.
"Don't worry. Anyone who comes here is a guest."
Renner parted her red lips, her soft voice carrying an inexplicable sense of reassurance, like a spring breeze brushing across one's face.
In truth, she had noticed Neia long ago. She had simply chosen not to pay attention to her until now.
Being ignored would increase the burden on a person's heart.
To leave the deepest impression on someone and make them feel goodwill, timing had to be handled with great precision.
After all, granting favors with the expectation of returns was also a field of study.
Of course, the prerequisite was judging the other person's personality properly. Otherwise, one might fail to catch the chicken and lose the rice instead.
Neia Baraja.
Renner was no stranger to this girl. After all, the files for this group of exchange students from the Holy Kingdom had been approved by her.
From the first moment she saw her, she had already begun considering how to arrange this unexpected girl.
The daughter of one of the Nine Colors of the Holy Kingdom?
In the past, she might have made a decent pawn, but to Renner now, she was barely worth the effort.
A change in status also brought a change in perspective.
Never mind Neia. Even the fate of the entire Holy Kingdom was something she could now interfere with as she pleased, so long as she obtained the Supreme One's permission.
As a subordinate, acting on her own was hardly a wise move.
Even if she felt that, should she make a few small moves, her benevolent Naohara-sama probably would not mind too much.
"I hope you enjoy your time in the Sorcerer Kingdom. If anything is unsatisfactory, feel free to tell me, though that would add to this humble girl's workload."
As she said this, Renner playfully stuck out her tongue, looking just like a cute little fox.
If there was no value, she could dig out value.
The fact that Neia had entered this place today was itself a display of value. After all, that little girl named Nemu seemed quite fond of her.
The younger sister of Enri, one of the Twelve Apostles…
(PS: The "Apostles" here refers to beings who absorb [human blood].)
It would not hurt to plant an idle piece. After all, who would ever complain about having too many pawns?
Renner smiled at Neia like a cunning hunter watching her prey.
"Mm. Thank you…"
As if sensing the goodwill Renner was showing her, Neia gradually settled down and gave a small nod in response.
Renner felt warm to her.
It was the same sort of feeling she got from Her Highness the Holy Queen, and it naturally put her at ease.
Seeing this, Renner gently closed the door, leaving the room to the three of them.
Outside the door, a figure leaned against the wall.
"Your skill at playing with people's hearts really is getting better and better. Tell me, don't you get tired of doing this every day?"
The Bloody Emperor looked at Renner and asked casually.
"Tired? I simply enjoy making friends."
"What about you? How did your talk with the Holy Queen's brother go? With the Theocracy and the Sorcerer Kingdom growing closer by the day, I imagine he must be getting somewhat anxious."
Renner replied unhurriedly with a faint smile, paying no attention to the sarcasm in his words.
The Bloody Emperor did not like her. Renner knew that very well.
But so what?
Life was always full of things one could not help, and compromise was necessary.
To Renner, all of this was nothing more than a bit of frost and wind.
Seeing her like this, the Bloody Emperor lost any desire to keep sparring with her.
What Renner had thought of, he had thought of as well.
"Caspond isn't as useless as you imagine. This former heir, whose throne was taken by his own sister, actually has surprisingly decent ability."
"If that man could sit on the Holy King's throne, he would likely be far better than that weak Holy Queen."
The Bloody Emperor made no attempt to hide his contempt for the Holy Queen, his voice full of disdain.
The Holy Queen held a saintly compassion toward her people and dreamed of creating an ideal nation where no one would ever cry.
But when faced with opposition and internal conflict, she always used tactful, smooth methods to ease things over, never truly resolving the contradictions.
Her personality was far too self-righteous, which was why the Bloody Emperor disliked her.
She clearly possessed the talent to be a king, yet she had focused on the wrong things. It was irritating.
Among the women he disliked, she had once ranked third. Now, she ranked second.
First place was, without question, Renner.
As for the original second place, that had been the Dragon Princess.
However, because of the Brightness Dragon Lord, the Bloody Emperor had long since removed her from the ranking.
"Oh, is that so…"
Renner's expression shifted slightly, but she quickly regained her calm.
The Holy Queen Calca Bessarez. This girl had been able to use Fourth-Tier faith-based magic at the age of fifteen, making her a genius.
With the recommendation of the previous Holy King and the support of the temples, she had passed over her elder brother and inherited the throne.
This situation had provoked dissatisfaction among most of the nobles and even deepened the Holy Kingdom's trend toward division.
In Renner's eyes, that was stupidity.
If a qualified ruler relied only on such things to be chosen for the throne, then the country's self-destruction was merely a matter of time.
"Yes. A pity, though. This former heir to the Holy King has no intention whatsoever of taking the throne back."
"Family ties make him unwilling to fight the Holy Queen for the throne, even though he knows full well there are problems with her rule."
"Yet he pays special attention to the Holy Kingdom's development, which is why he has personally come to the Sorcerer Kingdom several times. It was the same during the coronation ceremony, and it is the same now."
"Hah. That Holy Queen really just needs someone else to shoulder things for her. She doesn't want to move at all, always hesitating, with no judgment of her own."
The Bloody Emperor could not help letting out a cold laugh.
The Holy Kingdom was now a miniature version of the Kingdom.
If not for the threat of the demihumans forcing them to work together, it would likely have fallen into chaos long ago.
When it came to politics, both he and Renner saw things very clearly.
If the Holy Kingdom was to change, the only way was to act while there was still time and have the Holy Queen abdicate, or die by accident, then let Caspond take the throne.
"I hear Momonga-sama thinks very highly of this human. If he really can sit on the Holy King's throne, perhaps he could become one of us."
Renner laughed softly and unconsciously touched her golden hair.
Ever since she had been granted [human blood], her golden hair seemed to have grown smoother and smoother. It felt like it would be very pleasant to touch.
"Become one of us?"
"The position of the Seventh Apostle isn't that easy to obtain. His Highness Momonga is very good at weighing gains and losses. Unless things truly turn out as you say, there might only be the slightest hope."
The Bloody Emperor shook his head, not holding much hope for it.
Being granted [human blood] was not so simple.
Of course, that was not absolute. Enri, the Sixth Apostle, was one such example.
In any case, apart from her devout faith, the Bloody Emperor could not see what other strengths she had.
Thinking of this, the Bloody Emperor could not help speaking again.
"What do you think of Enri? All three Highnesses take very good care of her. Carne Village is nearly being built into a small town now."
At the thought of the intelligence concerning Carne Village, the Bloody Emperor could not help frowning.
He could still accept E-Rantel, but Carne Village was going too far. This was no longer merely a provocation against the Empire's dignity, but outright contempt for the Empire.
His ministers had reported the matter more than once, but he had forcibly rejected every report.
"Enri's master is Sephis-sama, Naohara-sama's strongest child and the first in line to inherit the Sorcerer Kingdom."
"What could I possibly think? What opinion could a weak little girl like me have?"
Renner gave a soft laugh, raised her thin arm slightly, and put on an appearance that made her seem very easy to bully.
"…Forget it. Let's leave it at that."
The Bloody Emperor rubbed his forehead. In any case, he had never expected Renner to help him come up with a solution.
What else could he do in this situation? He could only pretend not to see it.
He would treat it as a welcoming gift for Enri, the Sixth Apostle. He only hoped she would not go too far.
After all, his purpose in coming to the Sorcerer Kingdom today had been to meet this new colleague of his.
...
Inside the palace.
Enri and the other two had finished their meal and were talking.
Just then, lightning flashed, and a blue-haired young man in plain clothes was already seated on a luxurious chair.
"Brother Sephis!"
Nemu was the first to react and immediately tried to rush over, only to be stopped by a transparent barrier.
"Sorry. My current condition isn't suited for close contact."
Looking at Nemu as she clutched her head, Sephis shook his head and explained.
The human cub seemed to have grown a little again.
It looked like she had been eating properly during this period, and her meals seemed quite good too.
"Enri, it's been a long time."
After soothing Nemu, Sephis turned his gaze to the other two figures.
His eyes paused briefly on Neia, then shifted to Enri.
"It's been a long time, Master."
Compared with Nemu, Enri seemed much calmer.
However, her slightly clenched fists showed that her heart was not entirely undisturbed.
"You've been working hard at your training lately."
The three waves of faith on Enri's body could not escape his eyes, and Sephis could not help nodding.
[Human blood] and the Power of Faith. It seemed the two had undergone some sort of special change unique to another world.
"Heh. I can't let you look bad, can I?"
Enri replied with a light laugh.
"Mm. Over the next few days, enjoy yourselves properly in the Sorcerer Kingdom. But I still haven't finished my own business, so I won't be able to accompany you this time."
"As an apology, I have a gift for you."
Nemu, who had looked a little disappointed at first, suddenly raised her head when she heard this.
A gift. Yay!
The delighted girl jumped up at once.
Seeing this, Enri could not help scolding her.
"Nemu! How many times have I told you not to make such a fuss all the time?"
"Bleh, sis, you nag too much. It's not like we're outside."
"You little…"
Seeing this, Enri stepped forward to catch her mischievous little sister, only for Nemu to dodge easily and run straight behind Sephis, where she pulled a face.
"It's fine. Young cubs naturally like to play."
As he spoke, he stretched out his hand, and two pale-blue drops of blood appeared.
"This is the [human blood] left behind from my dragon transformation. Enri, although you have already absorbed Father's [human blood], this will still be of help to you."
The so-called dragon transformation was the removal of the "human" portion from his Dragonoid bloodline, leaving only the part that belonged to "dragon."
"Oh, right. Although I don't know your name, meeting is fate. You can have one too."
Looking at Neia beside them, Sephis thought for a moment, then took out another bead of blood.
He had twelve of these things anyway. Giving away one more did not matter.
"Huh!? I get one too?"
Neia, who had been serving as background scenery, froze slightly.
"Mm… a share for all who see, right?"
"If you were the only one left out, wouldn't that make you look rather pitiful?"
The faint smile at the corner of Sephis's mouth was like a breeze passing over the surface of a lake, stirring ripples through Neia's heart.
Thump!
Neia's heartbeat suddenly skipped faster, like a startled rabbit.
...
After talking for a while longer, Sephis left first.
Next, he still had to soothe a certain Vampire's mood.
In a park on the city's commercial street, a young girl was fiddling with her fingernails.
"Sorry, Shalltear. I'm late."