Raven Town, Life Tavern.
“Sophia, do you think that Anna can really get us into the Expeditionary Army?”
At this moment, Freya, the Duke’s daughter, for once did not have her usual confidence and poise.
In a sense, joining the Demon Lord Subjugation Team had already become her obsession. Not just for fame, but more to prove her own worth.
“I… I don’t want to be like before, always protected by others.”
Freya quietly clenched her fist. “I want to prove that I can protect others now too.”
To the Hero, and… and that idiot…
For some reason, apart from the mysterious figure of the Hero descending from the heavens to rescue her from the Withered Cult, Freya also strangely recalled Green’s friendly smile.
What is this?
Why am I suddenly thinking of that ungrateful wolf?
Freya frowned slightly and tapped the table with her finger.
She was thirsty.
“Hey, Gr—” Freya suddenly stopped herself and fell silent.
Green was gone.
He’d been duped and tricked by that wicked woman at the Adventurers’ Guild, foolishly ending up as a Consultant.
He really didn’t think about it—how could a mere mortal like him be qualified for such a position?
That woman named Betty definitely had some other motive.
“Hmph, if he ever gets bullied by that bad woman and comes crying to me, I’ll, I’ll…” Freya had wanted to refuse, but the words unconsciously turned into, “I’ll have him apologize properly, and then, maybe let him rejoin our party!”
“What, my lady, still thinking about that lowly commoner?” Sophia smiled softly, hiding her face with her feathered fan. “Don’t worry, I know Anna very well. She’s even heard of our exploits and has reported them to Her Majesty Angelica.”
“Besides, we’re a five-star Adventurer Party, almost legendary high-ranking professionals. However you look at it, we’re a rare force.”
Putting down her fan, Sophia said with confidence, “Unlike the Hero, Her Majesty, who hails from royalty, surely understands the value of a grand force and noble spirit. So as long as we meet the standards, we’ll definitely be able to join the Expeditionary Army.”
“Alright, by the way, is Anna coming soon?”
Thump thump.
Just as Freya waited expectantly, the tavern door creaked open.
A noblewoman dressed in a magnificent robe entered the lively tavern, her slight weariness unable to hide the refined air that set her apart from her surroundings, as if she belonged to another world entirely.
“Anna!”
Spotting a familiar face, Sophia eagerly went up to greet her.
“Oh, it’s the Saintess. I’ve missed you ever since we parted in the City of Radiance.”
A smile appeared on Anna’s face as she reached out to gently pinch the Saintess’s cheek, asking affectionately, “I heard your party also wants to join the Expedition… the Demon Lord subjugation?”
For some reason, Anna’s smile turned a little forced at the mention of “Demon Lord”.
But Sophia, too excited to notice, didn’t see it.
“Anna, is Her Majesty well? If not for her back then, I, I would have…”
Sophia suddenly thought of her deceased family.
“It’s all in the past now, poor child.”
Anna pulled Sophia into a tight hug, eyes full of sorrow. “But with your abilities, you should have passed the Hero’s selection, shouldn’t you?”
“Hmph.” Sophia grew indignant at this. “Anna, you don’t know—the selection was supposed to test our strength, but most of the test focused on things other than direct combat.”
“But we’re going to subjugate the Demon Lord, not explore secret realms!”
Sophia complained, “And our party’s original record keeper wasn’t reliable, quitting right before the exam, which is why we failed the selection.”
“I see.” Anna nodded in sympathy. “I understand. By the way, what was that record keeper’s name? I can report it to the Adventurers’ Guild…”
“Let it go, Sophia.” Just as Sophia was about to speak, Freya pulled her aside and whispered, “Green may be a bit of a fool, but I don’t think he’s bad by nature, just gullible.”
“Alright.” Sophia shrugged nonchalantly. “Anyway, people who don’t know their true strength, who sit where they don’t belong, the higher they climb, the harder they’ll fall…”
Green?
Anna, who was about to greet Lucy, who was staring off into space by the table, paused in her tracks. Though they were far apart, such a distance was nothing to her true abilities.
That name… Could it be?
It couldn’t be such a coincidence, right?
No, thinking carefully, it made perfect sense.
Anna’s relaxed expression turned instantly grave.
If the Green they were talking about was the same as the one at the Adventurers’ Guild, or rather, Her Majesty’s long-intended Chancellor from years ago…
Anna changed her mind on the spot.
If it really was that Green, who had silently stayed with this party for so many years, it couldn’t have been just for fun. There had to be a deeper reason.
“Back then, Her Majesty almost reunited with Green in the Kingdom of Kilan. If only we hadn’t misunderstood the so-called Fate and Script of the Twilight Circus.”
But this time, Anna and Her Majesty already had a Plan.
“If this party member is the target Her Majesty wishes to nurture in this reincarnation, then I absolutely cannot treat them carelessly.”
Watching Freya and Sophia returning from afar, Anna’s gaze turned profound.
“Last time, Lord Green, you helped me take my revenge. This time, let me and Her Majesty help you.”
Remembering that heroic figure who sacrificed himself for others without hesitation, Anna took a deep breath.
“Miss Sophia.”
With that, Anna looked toward the members of the Starlight Adventurer Party.
They were truly outstanding.
Whether it was the famed Valkyrie Freya, the Hundred-Year Genius Mage Lucy, or Sophia, Saintess of the Church of Light, any one of them shone like a gem, dazzling all just by standing there.
“But a genius is only a potential future powerhouse.”
Without becoming legendary, it’s all empty promise.
“Therefore, I welcome all of you to join our Empire’s Expeditionary Army.”
Anna wore a gentle smile.
She’d already decided how she would temper these naive young ladies in the army.
“Oh?” Freya’s eyes lit up. It seemed Sophia hadn’t been exaggerating—they really were close with Anna.
Very good.
Although her first goal was always the Hero, since she couldn’t pass the selection, this was the next best thing.
As long as she could prove herself on the true battlefield…
Heh.
Once she made her name on the battlefield, Green, that big idiot, would surely regret it bitterly!
Just wait for me!
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