The caravan set out from the southern gate of the Royal City and reached the first supply point in less than half a day.
Ella sat atop the carriage, eyes closed as she rested, feeling utterly delighted inside.
During this period, she had done so much to blend into the team, putting in considerable effort, and now, she was finally reaping the rewards.
Hmph, the Human Heroes have been tricked by just a few of my words into fighting for me.
Yesterday, at the Sanctuary Hall in the Royal City, after Rolls explained the mission details, Ella pretended to think for a moment before weakly casting her vote in favor.
Unexpectedly, the moment she voted, the others didn’t even ask or say a word—they just agreed to go along with it.
So much for the future of humanity.
Not a single original thought among them, just waiting to be played with in the palm of my hand…
“Ella, Ella~”
A voice from outside the carriage pulled her back to reality.
“Could you come out for a moment?”
“I’ll be right there.”
Ella drew back the curtain and hopped down, finding four pairs of eyes fixed on her.
“What’s up?”
“It’s just a small matter,” Celes spoke up.
“About this mission—why did you suggest we accept it? We’d like to hear your thoughts.”
They hadn’t asked back in the Royal City, only now that they were on the road.
This was what you’d call trusting first, questioning later.
Ella was momentarily stunned, but then gave a sweet smile, pressing her palms together.
“Because I think, wherever we go is fine, as long as we’re all together, that’s the best~”
“Ahem, well,” Celes said gently, “you don’t need to act like that.”
“Eh?”
“Please, show us the way you were that day. We need ‘her’ right now.”
Ella was at a loss for words.
So I can’t be cutesy now, huh.
Forget it, everyone’s already seen that side of me anyway. No need to act—switching to speech mode!
“There’s a lot of room for maneuver in this mission. Look, Harbor City is at the southern tip of the Kingdom’s continent, a special kind of geographic boundary. The sky is high, and the king is far away, and the city basically runs independently. If we can take control of it, we’ll have a solid base in the rear. Next time we clash with the High Officials, we’ll have a plan B, or rather—a retreat!”
The girls’ eyes sparkled, feeling like this really made sense.
Only Celes frowned slightly.
“But aren’t we going to establish relations with the Nearsea Sirens?”
“Yes, but there are many ways to conduct diplomacy.” Ella tilted her head slightly, a wicked curve appearing at the corner of her lips. “Sirens are savage and hard to negotiate with peacefully, so it’s only reasonable to take a more aggressive approach. For example, if their current king can’t understand us, then we just have to help them get a new one who can.”
Propping up a puppet regime—just a trivial trick for a Demon Lord.
Celes felt a chill run down her back.
“Let’s go take a look first. If things are really tough, we’ll do as you say.”
She’d been raised with knightly virtues since childhood and couldn’t accept this so easily, but deep down, she still trusted Ella’s abilities.
The discussion finished, the resupply was almost done, and the caravan got back on the road.
Before Ella returned to the carriage, Zero quietly slipped over and whispered,
“Ella, you’re so bad~”
“Eh? Ah! It’s not like that, I didn’t mean—”
“I know, it’s fine. Being bad is good too.”
“?”
Leah had also wanted to go over and say, “You’re really wicked,” but seeing Zero go first, she just huffed in place.
More importantly, it had been several days since that night, and the “Blessing of Holiness” she’d given Ella last time had faded, almost completely dissipated.
What should I do?
The Hero Squad never dawdled on the road.
Wherever they went, they just set out, traveling day and night straight toward their destination.
A few days later, the caravan left the hilly region and entered a lower-lying alluvial plain.
There was only one city on this small plain—Harbor City.
Harbor City of the Human Kingdom, but not entirely so.
A hundred years ago, when the Highborn Alliance still existed, Harbor City was at its peak, with close cooperation between humans and sirens.
Both sides had ambassadors stationed with troops, and order was well maintained.
After the Alliance broke apart, order collapsed.
The Kingdom couldn’t maintain troops so far away, and it wasn’t wise to tangle with the sirens who had the home advantage.
In the end, they only set up a Governor’s Mansion and let the city govern itself.
The local governor was from the Lalai Family.
Many years ago, they’d only been local fishermen, but thanks to their knack for navigating between powers, they quickly established themselves.
“The current governor is Kru Lalai, a young lord in his thirties. He’s inherited the family tradition well and has done a great job in Harbor City.”
Celes produced a Royal Decree.
“He’ll host us and provide assistance for our activities.”
“This time there won’t be any trouble, right?”
Zero rubbed her hands.
“Like at Lielburg.”
Sneaking out at midnight to kill people—it was her job, but still exhausting.
“I don’t think so. It should be fine.”
They arrived at the inn in Harbor City.
The slightly salty sea breeze blew in from the shore—not fishy, but rather fresh.
“The seafood market’s on the other end. The wind here comes from the beach,” explained the innkeeper, leading the horses to the stables while chatting with the girls.
“Where are you all from?”
“The Capital.”
“Wow, so you’re young ladies from the Royal City. No wonder you’re all so pretty and dressed so nicely.”
Ella jumped off the carriage and gazed in the directions the innkeeper had pointed.
This way was the beach, that way the seafood market—it all seemed quite orderly.
Of course, the real situation would only be clear after they checked it out.
Public facilities like the inn, as well as the Governor’s Mansion, were all located on the northern side of Harbor City, farther from the sea.
After leaving the inn, just a few steps brought them to the Governor’s Mansion.
It wasn’t tall, but it was very wide, with lots of windbreaks all around.
Governor Kru Lalai welcomed the girls in the mansion.
The banquet was filled with local seafood delicacies—the smoked fish was delicious, and the grilled squid was satisfyingly chewy.
“I’ve read the Royal Decree. Please rest assured, ladies, I will fully support the reestablishment of relations between the Kingdom and the Sirens.”
He elegantly set aside his napkin and addressed them.
“However, it’s been many years. The Sirens are not what they once were. I hope you’ll consider things carefully after getting to know them.”
Compared to the lord of Lielburg back then, Kru was much more courteous, only going so far as etiquette required, with none of that suspicious flattery.
“Of course,” Celes nodded happily.
“That’s exactly what we intend.”
“Then that’s wonderful. Tomorrow, I’ll arrange for someone to show you around the market.”
After a pleasant dinner, Ella’s belly was stuffed.
From her previous life to this one, she’d always loved grilled food—so satisfying.
“They really handled it well, not a hint of fishiness,” Zero said to her companion beside her.
“Right?”
Leah’s pretty face tightened.
She thought, Before we ate, I gave my blessing.
Even if there was any fishiness, it would’ve been purified.
But the problem now wasn’t the taste of the food.
She glanced at the pink-haired, busty girl, her delicate nose twitching slightly as she frowned.
It had been more than ten days, and the Blessing of Holiness had completely faded.
That seductive aura was seeping out again.
What should I do?
Miss Saintess was feeling troubled.