As someone who played shooting games in a previous life, Ella deeply understood one thing: people don’t always appear right in front of you.
Leah, who liked the Ritual of Induction, didn’t count.
In any case, the Demon King, who didn’t want to be a pillow princess, once again became the cheese in the middle of the bread.
“The milky smell is so strong, Ella.”
The girl behind said.
Of course, it’s cheese, how could the milk scent not be strong?
“Ella, why is your heart beating so fast all of a sudden?”
Leah looked at her curiously.
“Do you want to go another round?”
“I…”
I didn’t even get to finish my sentence before the Saintess started moving again.
You’re skilled, but so is she. Practice is mutual.
With multiple experiences of the Ritual of Induction, she’d already become a very proficient kneading master.
Kneading with hands leads to tenosynovitis, kneading with dough uses leverage, continuous and unbroken.
“She’s really good at pressing.”
That was the girl behind again.
Ella bit her lip, not wanting to say a word, because she didn’t know who to talk to.
But Leah was lively.
As a Ritual of Induction expert, the more she kneaded, the more energetic she became.
“Where were we just now? Oh right, Zero helped distract them for me. I watched Vina chase after her and run off, so she probably won’t be back for a while. That’s great.”
Good…
What’s great about it.
Ella started to miss Vina and Celes a bit—not for any particular reason, just hoping they’d come back to save her.
In front, she was overwhelmed by the immense justice, while behind, a cold hand touched her lightly, making her heart flutter.
Stop squeezing Ella (crying)…
“Do you really want them to come back? I can help you.”
Don’t! Absolutely not!
Ella felt her mental fortitude was truly strong.
Even among the interwoven voices of three girls, she could sharply distinguish the most discordant one.
“No price required.”
No thanks!
She resolutely rejected the whisper of Evil God Yiselis in her mind.
It had nothing to do with the Evil God.
The main problem was, Ella couldn’t guarantee those two would save her if they came back.
Right now, she was just the cheese between two slices of bread.
If they returned and didn’t rescue her, wouldn’t she go from a sandwich to a steamed bun?
Kukuku.
The Evil God’s whisper faded with a burst of laughter, followed by the Assassin Girl’s deathly murmur:
“Ella, why aren’t you talking? Miss Leah is still waiting for your reply.”
Reply… Reply to what?
Right, what did she say just now?
Zero couldn’t hear Ella’s inner thoughts, so of course, she didn’t answer.
The pink-haired thunder girl’s blank gaze met the pouting face of the Saintess.
“Fine, you dare zone out during such a serious matter? I have to teach you a lesson!”
“Wait, no, listen to me… Eeya~!”
She definitely listened to her “eeya.”
Behind, another girl shouted something like “Good sister, I’ll help you!” and joined in, as the two slices of bread thundered down on the cheese, carrying out a perfect pincer attack.
Ella fainted on the spot.
***
Bright Cross Star City, corner of Merchants’ Street.
General Glengo touched the towel he’d just bought and couldn’t help but sigh.
“The things sold in this Demon Race city aren’t much different from those in Human Race cities.”
This place was originally meant to accommodate all tribes, so it included all kinds of styles and models.
For example, in daily necessities, the store sold fine-toothed small combs and rugged large brushes—the latter for the Wolfhead Tribe.
There was also an uncommon medicine he didn’t recognize.
After asking the shopkeeper, he learned it was a blood pressure medication for the Blood Demon Tribe, to keep them from getting too fired up to calm down.
“Although the quality of things varies, the right direction is more important than the gap in quality. The most crucial thing is suitability.”
Right?”
That’s what the shopkeeper said.
After leaving the store, General Glengo spoke to his sulking daughter.
“Do you think maybe the direction is off?”
His daughter had been troubled lately, and as a father, he naturally noticed and knew why.
“Direction? For swords?”
Celes was confused.
“Aren’t they all just straight forward?”
Glengo laughed.
“Both swords and the people who use them have direction. Even if they look similar, there are subtle differences. Each inch has its own strength and flexibility—there’s a lot to consider.”
Celes was dumbfounded.
“Is that so?”
“.Maybe.”
In fact, Glengo wasn’t too sure himself.
He was a General who fought battles, not a Sword Saint, so he decided to give his daughter some professional advice.
“Why not ask your master when you go back next time? You haven’t visited in a while.”
Celes’s master was once the kingdom’s top Sword Saint.
Later, he retired for love and now lived in a picturesque town within the kingdom.
“Mmm…”
***
Also in the city, upstairs in an inn, a black-haired girl soaking in a saltwater tub slowly opened her eyes.
She saw a red twin-tailed loli grinning at her.
“All done? Resurrected?”
Vina said.
“Remember, you owe me a favor this time.”
***
The renaming of Dark Star City to Bright Cross Star City, the founding of the Bright Society, and the fact that the leader was a super Succubus—all these messages were sent to Dark Star City one after another.
At a banquet with little wine, many Southern Nobility traveled thousands of miles to attend, not for the drink, but because they’d been invited by those seated above.
Among them, the Noblewoman of Thorns sat at a secondary seat and addressed the crowd:
“We all know that a Succubus couldn’t achieve this level or wield such power, so there’s only one truth—she’s Demon King Aio’s smokescreen. Demon King Aio. He’s back.”
Her words chilled the hearts of those present.
Over half a year ago, when the Demon King was defeated and vanished at Forest Fortress, they quickly responded to the call of Dark Star City’s great nobles, declared Aio dead, seized power, and lived like local tyrants once more.
In short, everyone present was involved.
“I advise some of you not to harbor illusions.”
The Noblewoman of Thorns brushed her hand over the wine glass on the table, her gaze sweeping lightly across the room.
“If he meant to let the past go, he wouldn’t have rebuilt an Army, united outside races, and seized two major tribes and Dark Star City by force. I’m afraid her next target is your territory.”
By this point, everyone understood her meaning.
“We’re willing to send troops to attack.”
A Southern Noble said.
“But we lack high-level combat power.”
Even without considering the Demon King himself, his four Generals were formidable.
“Of course. I’ll send people to assist you.”
***
Bright Cross Star City, tower, bedroom.
Zero returned from outside and immediately came in to find her good sisters.
“Miss Leah, get up, they’re about to come back!”
“What? Oh, right, okay!”