“You’re saying… you and that First Hero who was declared dead were both summoned by Her Majesty the Empress around the same time, but since you were summoned, you’ve been asleep until waking up three years ago? Is that right?”
The pink-haired, pink-eyed girl stared blankly at Vyea, her eyes full of disbelief. All the questions swirling in her mind were shattered by this revelation.
“Sister, you’re not lying to me, are you?”
“As you can see, I possess Authority—Authority granted by the gods.”
Vyea looked at her with eyes like clear autumn waters, pure and sincere.
“Three years ago, I woke up in the Monster Forest and met a human girl on the brink of death. She accidentally stumbled into the magic circle used to preserve my body and consciousness, and released me.”
Oh my god!
Hua Shiyu swallowed nervously. “Then, sister, are you really still human?”
“Of course I am. And I have someone I love—I love her very much.” Vyea smiled calmly as she spoke to Hua Shiyu.
But the tranquility and warmth behind those eyes made Hua Shiyu feel a pang of envy deep in her heart.
How wonderful.
To have someone you can love without worry.
Since she was very little, Hua Shiyu had gotten used to trying to gauge and adapt to others’ moods. She had seen and become familiar with the natural expressions adults showed when speaking of people or things they truly cherished.
Those feelings weren’t something one could fake…
The shadows of her childhood had made Hua Shiyu highly sensitive to such emotions—those incredibly tender emotions.
Deep in the monster sister’s heart, there really was someone she liked very, very much.
Curious.
“Then why didn’t you live a quiet life with her? Why did you come here to stir up trouble?” Hua Shiyu boldly asked.
Vyea frowned slightly, her smile fading.
You little pink-haired brat!
I wanted you to believe I’m human, not for you to come probing at my wounds!
Sensing the sudden change in atmosphere, Hua Shiyu quickly switched topics to avoid spoiling the hard-won friendly mood.
“Ah, ahem. Sister, this whole ruckus at the Arbitration Office—was it just so you could meet Her Majesty the Empress?” Hua Shiyu hesitated for a moment, “Since you were summoned by Her Majesty, wanting to meet her makes sense.”
“But sister…”
Hua Shiyu looked up at Vyea, who was slowly sitting down across from her, “Starting by attacking the Arbitration Office is too extreme. It reminds me of those gamblers I’ve seen in the Capital…”
“Gamblers?”
Hua Shiyu nodded and began to explain, “According to what you said, it should be easy for you to request an audience with the Empress! Just take it step by step, then go to the Blessed Land in the Capital to get certified as a Brave! Then, you would surely have the chance to meet Her Majesty!”
“But you’re risking everything now, causing such a big commotion in the Arbitration Office. Taking me hostage is one thing; after all, you haven’t hurt me, and I can even provide a letter of forgiveness. But the unconscious knights—that’s another matter. They might accuse you of assaulting public officials.”
“Is… that what you think?”
Vyea’s gaze darkened, making Hua Shiyu shiver.
“S-sister, did I say something wrong?” Hua Shiyu asked.
No, you don’t understand the Empress at all.
Vyea shook her head gently, thinking to herself.
The Empress knew everything about how I, once the First Hero, met and fell in love with the Demon King.
Back then, the naive Empress even brought Flavier to the Capital to meet her… well, it was like introducing a girlfriend to her family.
Unfortunately, at that time I didn’t know my girlfriend was the Demon King.
But if that’s the case—if the Empress knew everything yet still allowed things to spiral toward the abyss, doing nothing throughout the whole process, not even a single warning…
The Empress of the Human Alliance—or the Supreme Leader of the Anti-Demon Alliance, the legendary Legendary Sword Emperor who holds many titles—also has one identity that means the most to Vyea: the mentor of the Night Hero.
Vyea didn’t want to ruin the image of her mentor in her memories, but she feared that the hand of her mentor had been at work behind the scenes leading her to this point…
However.
She did not regret marrying Flavier.
Even if the ending wasn’t beautiful.
Because once loved,
Once you love,
Those feelings, true or false, become truly unforgettable.
Thinking this, Vyea shook her head and said to the timid-looking pink-haired girl,
“That would be too slow. I can’t wait.”
She lied.
As a Slime-girl, Vyea was the one with all the time in the world.
Vyea didn’t look at Hua Shiyu’s slightly curious eyes anymore. She stood and started listening to the sounds outside.
Perhaps the trajectory of her fate as a Brave had always been designed and guided.
If the guidance ultimately led to a good ending, Vyea might choose to lie back and accept it.
But this ending was too terrible—she didn’t want it, really didn’t want it.
Having such a tragic ending arranged beforehand.
How pitiful.
Might as well be dead.
But someone wanted her alive.
Alive!
Living well!
“Rested enough?”
Vyea spoke softly. “Based on the patrol schedule you gave me, the knights I knocked out will soon be found. At that time…”
“…the Arbitration Office will enter Level One Combat Readiness.” Hua Shiyu finished her sentence and asked, “Sister, is the monster attack outside related to you?”
“I don’t know.”
Vyea glanced at the time. Night was about to fall, and a bad feeling weighed heavily in her heart.
Was there some oversight in my plan…?
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