Chapter 108: Good News

Rolls immediately found paper and a pen on the table and began writing a letter, offering suggestions to the confused Kingdom high officials—proposing to reestablish diplomatic relations with the Elves, so both sides could mutually gain the benefits they needed.

We want their Dilu and Dragon Hawks, and they want… well, we don’t know yet, but there’s definitely something they want. We can exchange and find out.

“If all goes well, we should take the opportunity to ask them about Yiselis. Maybe we’ll get some valuable information.”

***

Bonfire Camp, first-floor hall.

“What are your plans?”

“What?”

“I mean, what are you preparing to do in the near future?”

Vina shrugged her small shoulders.

“Look, Celes is the perfect Knight Sword maiden, full of love and care for the people, fighting for a better world. Miss Leah is the noble Saintess of Light, dedicated to spreading the Light.”

“Ayla has her own matters to attend to, though even I don’t know exactly what she wants to do. In short, three of them have clear goals. Only the two of us don’t. So, what about you? Any plans soon?”

The Little Witch meant that among the five in the team, three were fighting for their goals, but the two of them were just living day to day.

Zero shook her head.

“None.”

“Hey, don’t say that. You must have goals. Like that night in Harbor City, can you just swallow that grudge?”

Vina said sincerely.

“If you have plans, I can help you.”

“You can help with that too?”

“Of course! Celes even helped during their purification, so why can’t I help you with this?”

Celes offered help during the purification just to have a spot to watch, but you helping means you want a share, right?

Zero, sharp-minded, decisively refused.

“No need. I have no plans.”

With that, she turned and walked upstairs.

Vina bared her tiger teeth at her back, silently cursing her for being stingy and wanting to keep everything to herself.

Since that avenue was closed, she waited until the two girls returned from the Royal Palace, then rushed over first thing:

“You’re back, Ayla, and Celes, welcome, welcome! How was it? Was it smooth?”

“Not bad,” Celes answered simply.

“We learned some important news, though unverified. But we already have more options.”

Once friendly communication with the Elves begins, everything will improve.

“I see,” the Little Witch clapped her hands.

“That’s wonderful.”

Ayla thought, Have you really understood anything?

You’re just blindly applauding.

Whatever, today’s been exhausting; time to go upstairs and rest.

“You two chat; I have some things to do. I’m going to my room to sort things out.”

Unbeknownst to her, no sooner had she gone upstairs than Vina leaned close to the ice-blue-haired girl and whispered,

“Hey, what are your plans recently? Need a hand? I can help.”

Celes didn’t expect her to be so proactive and happily said, “Great! I’ve been planning to practice some new sword techniques. Could you help simulate the environment with your magic?”

Vina blinked and rolled her eyes.

“Anything else besides that?”

“Should I have any other plans?”

“Yes, that night’s incident—aren’t you going to pursue it? No intention to investigate further?”

Celes frowned slightly.

“We observed yesterday morning. They were just purifying—normal behavior.”

Leah was under pressure; eating more blessings was no big deal.

If there’s pressure, it’s because of her big chest and the burden on her shoulders.

Vina secretly puckered her lips, thinking we probably have only you who believes them, or maybe you just don’t want to consider other possibilities?

“You still helping me practice sword skills?”

“Sure, sure, I’m bored to death with nothing else to do.”

In the courtyard, sword flashes whooshed, and the wind blew fiercely on the second-floor balcony.

Ayla liked standing on the balcony to look at the scenery, placing the big rice cake on the railing—it suddenly made her feel so much lighter, able to forget the unpleasantness of life for a while and lazily stretch her back.

“Hmm~”

Counting the time, it had been almost four months since she transformed from the Demon King’s Castle into a cute, clumsy girl infiltrating the Human Hero Squad.

Four months isn’t short; a year has four seasons, enough to move from early summer to deep autumn.

Although the maple leaves outside hadn’t fully reddened yet, the Royal Garden she passed by on the way back was already showing signs of decay.

Time never waits.

What was she thinking?

“I’m lamenting spring’s end and autumn’s sorrow, missing those who passed away with the seasons, living like summer flowers in full bloom… huh?”

Did someone speak?

Ayla looked left and right, glanced behind, and checked the door—still locked tight with no signs of forced entry.

No one had come in.

Was it a hallucination?

Next door, the slender assassin girl climbed out of the saltwater bath and fixed her wet hair in front of the mirror.

She had just returned from her Necromantic Form.

What she did while in that form?

Don’t ask—just that she cares about her companions’ daily lives.

***

The next day, Celes hadn’t planned to go to the Royal Palace.

Such an important matter would probably take days to have news.

Unexpectedly, she received a letter from Rolls early in the morning.

The letter was full of good news.

It turned out that after the maritime route plan failed, Mr. Maken had already been considering contact with the Elves.

They also wanted Dilu and Dragon Hawks.

After two days of indecision, Rolls’ suggestion arrived.

With the support of the Elder of the Shrine of Offerings, the decision was quickly approved.

They sent a letter the same day to the border, using a forthcoming grand event in the Royal Capital as an opportunity to invite the Elves to attend.

The Elves’ border wasn’t far.

A messenger riding fast horses took half a day to reach the forest edge.

After handing over the letter, the Elves replied within half a day as well.

From the Royal Capital to the forest edge, the fast horse ride took half a day.

But from the forest edge to the Elves’ core territory was roughly three times the distance—yet they took only half the time.

Such transportation capabilities made the Kingdom envious.

In short, the overnight reply stated their agreement and that they would send a delegation to the Royal Capital’s upcoming grand event.

Celes placed the letter on the table and shared the good news with her companions.

“Reestablishing diplomatic relations with the Elves after a hundred years?”

Vina was excited.

“Awesome! I’ve wanted to ride a Dragon Hawk for so long.”

No more three or four days on a carriage; the Hero Squad’s strategic mobility would be greatly improved.

At this, Ayla calmly raised a small question: “A grand event in the Royal Capital? Has there been such an event recently?”

Celes thought for a moment, her eyes showing a strange look.

“If I’m not mistaken, it might have something to do with us.”

If nothing unexpected happens, the only major event in the Royal Capital in recent days would be the Award Ceremony.