Chapter 201 – Reflection

000

Remilia, who staggered into the shadow of the old building, clutching at the wound on her arm her, sat down, pulling her strength away from her legs her to the point of a thud.

The arrows of the crossbow, which were made with silver tips, were one of the few weapons that could easily injure the body strengthened by black magic, even if it did not contain divine magic.

The maid stuffed them into a crossbow the size of a cannon and fired wildly.

Even if it was Remilia, the scene made my heart skip a beat.

‘…There’s nothing left in the heart that will become chewy.’

Remilia muttered that as if to help herself.

Her scars made it clear that her thoughts her were not metaphors.

Her skin was torn, and instead of blood flowing from the cracked wound, concentrated black magic was trying to escape from her body her.

In Remilia’s body her, several important organs, including the ‘heart’, were missing, and were replaced with black magic.

It was because it was dedicated to the contract with Ishtal and to be used as a material to put a curse on her body.

Heart – In the days of Raymond, an adventurer, the heart beat in pursuit of romance and justice.

When she realized she had lived a life of shame, she pulled herself out.

She was able to be reborn as Remilia thanks to Ishtal giving her new life to the empty part.

In any case, she had to go near her contractor her, Ishtal, to restore her body her.

As she held her breath so as not to be noticed by the attendants of House Tromeia who were after her, she suddenly saw the space tearing apart behind her.

When she sees something like a purple passageway, Remilia jumps right into it.

Because she knew that it was a transfer door created by her own master her, Ishtal.

When she quickly went through her transfer door, all she could see was an empty altar and traces of items used as sacrifices for the circular summoning.

And before her altar her, Ishtal sat in her chair, covering her face her with one of her hands her.

Even though it’s a succubus harp, possessing a human body must be a waste of time.

Besides, it was an inexcusable defeat. He lost the archetype devil and the brainwashed soldiers he had created.

In contrast, the damage on the other side was the intestines of the abbot. It was to the extent that it could be said that it was a disaster just by looking at it.

There are two losers.

First, the Battle Maids arrived too early.

It was going to take at least another 20 minutes to keep Ferdia on her feet.

However, because of someone’s intervention, the battle maids were summoned faster.

If it’s about a monastery that doesn’t have many people to fight, Remilia and Rosaria (possessed Ishtal).

And I thought that even with the archetype devil, I could do anything.

In fact, when it came to the summoned archetype demons, except for ‘she’, they couldn’t move.

And the second defeat.

‘She’ – Eustace Woodnocker.

Her existence her, which was also the purpose of Remilia and Ishtal, was ignored, but it was unexpected that she regained the power of her holy sword with the power of `crystal`.

In addition, an existence with an identity that can withstand the power of an incubus.

To be honest, it was true that I was looking down on Eustes.

Regarding the fact that a ‘crystal’ was born from such a weak being, Ishtal was certain of victory.

But… What about the results.

If this was a battle between countries, it would be a great defeat that would go down in history.
It was the first step in Astarote’s decline, and it was a result worthy of leaving ink in the history books.

Remilia- Raymond was a veteran who had gone through countless battles.

He was confident that he had experienced countless times with the high-ranking members of the kingdom army when it came to war, especially fighting being chased and being defeated.

With every defeat, I felt sadness, resentment, and questions about fighting.

However, it was the privilege of those who endured defeat to use all such resentment as a driving force to inspire themselves in the next battle.

Compared to the Royal Army, the few battles that were able to obtain victory against the Imperial Army, which were ahead in every way, were done that way.

`And- if a little miracle is added to that. Although the precondition is necessary.`

Remilia thought so.

Clearly, losers. When those who are far from winning like themselves are determined to face a great enemy.

As if responding to such a will, miracles that are directly related to the outcome of the battle occur.

A golden hero for the kingdom army.

To the medical corps, the girl named Palanata was a being close to what Remilia thought of as a ‘miracle’.

‘Currently, they don’t even have those two.’

Even so, Ishtal, who had been secretly working in the royal capital until she met Cleon and had not suffered any setbacks, could have been shocked by this defeat.

A misunderstanding of the enemy’s capabilities.

She must have had her own responsibilities her as commander.

However, it is not over yet, Remilia thought so, and she tried to approach Ishtal.

To comfort her, she covered her face with one of her hands her.

However-

“Whoa whoop whoop… Ahaha…!Haha!!”

Ishtal was laughing.

It wasn’t out of rejection or insanity.

When Remilia heard her laugh, she stopped and watched her face her closely.

“-Ishtal?”

“Remilia…! The power of the crystal of perfection is really amazing…! No way, she thought she would equip Eustes, who has no talent, with the holy sword and the power of a hero!”

There was no frustration of defeat, resentment, or shame on her maddening face.

It was just that, although she was her other half her, her name was also a succubus, and she was fascinated by her ‘power’ of her.

“…”

The fact that that powerful power was now in the hands of the enemy seemed to be okay.

If it was a strategist, she might as well have been racking her brains and wrestling with her desk to come up with a means to counter its power her.

After she handed over even Rosaria, which was also a kind of trump card, to her enemies her, Ishtal continues to seem to be enjoying the current situation, which she can only lose.

However. Alas, that’s right. Remilia realized once again.

As expected, Ishtal. The three people who become the center of this Astarote -.

Among the three people Ishtal, Remilia, and Lilim.

Excluding Lilim, who was a perfect devil, he had the most devilish values.

After all, humans are a species destined to be exploited by demons, and such a small deviation is nothing to demons living for eternity.

“What kind of strategy will we use next… Setos must have met ‘him’ in the north… And, the ‘seed’ planted in the ‘princess in captivity’ still remains. If anything, even by using the Pope -“

She thinks of another move, pretending that what she lost this fight was one of her chess pieces on the chessboard.

Seeing that, Remilia quietly closed her eyes and headed to her room where she stored her black magic to heal her wounds her.

That doesn’t stop even after defeat.

I feel deeply that I shouldn’t expect human-like reactions and ways of thinking.

That’s what humans need to be most careful about when dealing with demons. Remilia thought.

But – at the same time this is a weakness.

As long as you don’t break down at defeat, don’t grieve at defeat, and don’t despair at defeat.

What will you learn and what will you grow into?

It was the logic of war to be overtaken if you stood still.

The steps of the humans, including Cleon and Eustes, were right near them.

001

The streets of the Royal Capital, where the brilliantly sparkling sunlight pours down from the cloudless sky, showed a hopeful appearance, the opposite of the dirty, dark back alleys.

Even in the midst of the repeated battle between light and darkness, most of them did not notice.

Last night’s victory can be said to be a splendid achievement among splendid achievements.

Today’s weather was boasting a dazzlingly clear view, as if to congratulate the victory.

And to go to the mansions of nobles, where there are more white elements in the scenery of the streets than the places where ordinary kingdom people live.

There was a feeling of glitter reflecting the sunlight, so it was dazzling to Perdia, who was not used to places like this.

Standing next to her was Eustes, who had returned here after a long absence.

The home of Eustes – The Wood Knocker family’s mansion has already been disposed of, so it must now be the home of another family or a merchant.

She shook her head thinking about that and brushed off things about her past her.

Now I looked at the huge mansion in front of me.

“It’s gigantic… More than a mansion in a gold mine.”

Standing beside Eustes, Perdia seemed a little overwhelmed by the huge mansion she saw for the first time.

Of course, it wasn’t just Perdia who was overwhelmed.

Eustes passed by this place many times when he lived in the royal capital in the past, but now he keenly felt the enormousness of the Tromeia Mansion, which he hadn’t felt so much back then.

Perhaps, it was because the current Eustes developed something called ‘politeness’ or ‘modesty’ that she didn’t have back then.

There were ‘two’ types of nobles invited to the Tromeia mansion.

One is when the duchy, the Tromeia family, keeps them close and invites talented people who want to work together for the kingdom.

The other is to inform and capture the existence that is like a worm that eats away at the kingdom, that it can no longer escape.

Of course, this time it will be the former.

…I wanted to think it might be the former.

Eustes remembered the words of the Tromeia family attendant who had come to the monastery early in the morning.

…

“Battle… Maid? Me? Same as Rubera?”

As for Eustes, he asked a question after pondering a little whether what he had heard was not his own illusion of his.

The attendant in front of me nodded.

Then, realizing that the suggestion was not misunderstood, he kept his mouth shut for a bit.

First of all, let’s recall one easy-to-forget fact.

Eustace Woodnocker is a nobleman. He was also the current head of the Woodnocker family.

It was only easy to forget because he didn’t openly demand rights or seek respect from others about the fact himself.

Even if his position was lower than before, he had not yet given up his position in the kingdom.

Of course, with the head of the Wood Knocker family, the lowest aristocracy among the lowest who bought their status with money.

There was as much difference as heaven and earth between the duchy of Tromeia, the highest aristocratic family that supported the entire kingdom.

Of course, there were cases in which girls from noble families would temporarily go to train as attendants of other families while also taking classes.

In this case, it was a proposition that was outside of that exception.

However, in other words, this was proof that the Tromeia family also wanted Eustes’ power his.

Formal common phrases such as ‘normally’ and ‘generally’ must have been a virtue valued by the Tromeia family, who set an example in the kingdom.

Even if it was a formality, they were ignoring all such procedures and customs and trying to attract Eustes to themselves.

“Can you tell me why?”

When Eustes said that, the attendant nodded.

“First of all, this signing was proposed by ‘Rubera’.”

“…Lubera.”

“Yes. We know that she used to be Master Eustes’ attendant. She told you that she has no personal grudge against you anymore.”

At her words, Eustes remembered the conversation with Ruba last night.

What she said back then, must have meant that she acknowledged herself to some degree.

“She said that if the enemy’s goal is to be with Eustes, then it’s better to stay in the safest place than in a monastery – in other words, beside them where they can fight the demons.”

At those words, Eustes nodded.

Most of the monasteries were non-combatants.

There were some who were originally adventurers, but it was common for them to be unable to produce even half of their abilities with their changed bodies, minds, and souls.

Even in this attack, not everyone was safe.

Although no one lost their lives, some were wounded in the process of resisting.

And, there were also those who were mentally disturbed again by the fear of the devil who had recovered a little.

It was necessary to avoid endangering the monastery if the devil moved to target him again.

“Another thing. I said it was to monitor Eustes.”

“…”

Eustes had no choice but to be quiet at the choice of words by the attendant, who spoke quite openly and directly.

“With Master Eustes gaining the power, we must stop interfering in this and that with ‘Noblesse Oblige’ as our motto.”

It was a remark that made him want to refute it a little, but Eustes could only nod his head.

He must have acknowledged his remarks his yesterday, understood it, and thought that it was necessary to prevent Eustes from running rampant there.

For that reason, putting them close to them is, indeed. It was a reasonable decision.

“…Okay. I’ll accept that offer.”

“Thank you. Actually, this proposal is not limited to you-“

After that, after talking about the necessary matters, he immediately packed up, left the monastery, and returned to the Tromeia Mansion.

Perdia also received a similar offer to Eustes, and in her case her, it was a temporary recruitment of outside personnel.

It must have been judged that her ability would be of great help even in battles within the capital.

As for Per Dia, she came to the royal capital to help those who cooperated with Cleon, so she accepted the offer.

However, unlike Eustes, it was said that she always cooperated with the family attendants and usually lived in a monastery.

The reason was that those who were still mentally traumatized from the previous raid and those who had abnormalities in their bodies could not be left unattended.

For example- like ‘Rosaria’ that hasn’t woken up yet.

Remembering that, Eustes tries to ring the entrance bell with trembling hands—

“Wait. You don’t have to ring it.”

Eustes and Ferdia turned their heads at the voice coming from behind them.

There, I saw Rubera wearing the same apron dress as yesterday.

Although she didn’t have a weapon.

“Rubera…”

“What is it? Calling someone’s name with a voice mixed with a little sigh.”

Still, at Eusteth’s voice her, who could n’t help but feel a little guilty about dealing with her, Ruba turned her head and answered while avoiding her gaze her.

“If you’re going to call me that all the time, I’d rather not call you that.”

“I-I’m sorry…”

Ruba, who looked away from her apologetic Eustes, looked at Perdia as it was.

“-Perdia. Thank you for accepting her offer of her.”

“It’s for Cleon-nim. If you can help him.”

When Ferdia replies with a smile, Ruba recalls the first time she and her met at her Elesia clinic.

At that time, she teased Cleon by calling him a ‘lolicon’.

Certainly, Perdia, who had a bewitching smile that made it hard to believe that she was a child, made even her Ruba throb a little.

“So… Where are we going now?”

“In the mansion’s territory, there is a building used only by the battle acolytes. Let’s go there first.”

Ruba says so, and she goes through the entrance and walks down the road in the estate.

“Madam – don’t you have to say hello to Aurelia?”

“She said it was okay, Mrs. She rather said she would come find her later…”

When Ruba answered Eustes’ question like that, Eustes responded with a flurry of surprise.

“The duke’s wife is coming in person to greet the mansion’s new attendant…!?”

“Well. It’s not like we’ve met each other for the first time.”

“Ugh…”

At Rubera’s slightly sneering remark, Eustes turned her head away without saying anything.

Perdia asks Rubera, tilting her head at Eustes’ reaction to her.

“Did something happen?”

“Eusthes from the old days of being an asshole. He didn’t know that Mr. Aurelia was her married woman of her and he was trying to flirt with her-“

“That, that story is over!… It’s good that Rubera stopped it, or it could have been the dew of her brother-in-law her.”

Tears welled up in Eustes ‘eyes as he resented his fearless self in the past.

“Well. Mistress Aurelia seems to remember about it. She seems to regard it as a child’s spanking.”

“…Should I get on my knees and ask for forgiveness…”

Wasn’t it bad to see Eustes trembling in fear? Ruba turned her head and answered with the corner of her mouth her slightly raised.

“Do whatever you like.”

“This S…”

The three of them continued to walk and arrived at the training ground used by the battle maids.

Today, another sparring was taking place as it was today.

“Ah! Rubera!”

And, when Rubera walked into her training ground, she was greeted by a huge girl, Nora.

Both Perdia and Eustes looked surprised when they saw Nora.

Although this and that had happened last night, Eustes remembered once again that it was she who had saved herself from falling from her sky.

“Oh, thank you for yesterday. Did you say Nora?”

“Ohh! Sister Eustes!”

“Uh, sister…”

Nora, who was hugging her Lubera, smiles broadly as Eustes greets her.

“I’m glad it didn’t break anywhere!”

“That, yes…”

Eustes, who was able to escape the shock of her fall thanks to her Nora’s strength her, let out a sigh of relief.

“You brought it. Rubera. You worked hard.”

And, a voice from the other side.

The one who spoke to me this time was a girl with an unusual appearance with white hair and red eyes.

A little older than Perdia, she maybe about the same age as Sasha.

“…Lavita. For now, I’m serving as the leader of the Battle Maids.”

“La, Miss Lavita. Please take good care of me.”

Even though she looks young compared to the other members, she is the leader.

Looking at Eustes nervously, thinking that she must be a great player, Lavita raised the corner of her mouth and clapped her hands twice.

“Okay then, let’s have a welcome ceremony for Eustes, who will be our new colleague~”

“Wow, a welcome ceremony?”

When Eustes was taken aback by the sudden declaration, most of the attendants around him smiled while whispering.

Ruba gives a hint to Eustes, who is flustered.

“…To find out the newcomer’s skills, it’s a sparring with the existing staff.”

“Yeah, that’s right…”

I was a little nervous, but if it’s about sparring…

“And I’ll be the opponent for today~”

“What!?”

When Lavita spoke like that, Eustes raised his voice his, and the other attendants seemed to be sorry, and some even took poses as if wishing for peace.

“Don’t worry. As a senior of ‘the one who uses the holy sword’. I’ll tell you a lot.”

“Holy Sword – I mean…”

As Lavita said so, she pulled out the holy sword ‘Amur’.

Even among the holy swords, it was much thinner than the Mistiltein, which had a very meticulous design.

“Come on. You also pull out the holy sword.”

Saying that, looking at Lavita who pointed the tip of her sword at him, Eusthes had no choice but to pull out Mistiltein and aim it at him.

… Just like yesterday, divine magical energy overflowed from the inside of her body, and it seemed to amplify that power while riding the holy sword.

“Yes. The one who falls to the ground first loses.”

“Aren’t you too strict!?”

Kkang-! And the ball rings.

In the next moment, Eustes could see that his body had lost balance and collapsed to the ground.

“…Uh!?”

It was so fleeting that before he knew what had happened, he suddenly felt Lavita standing behind him.

“Whoa~ I’ll ‘surely’ train you until you can handle my sword. Junior!”

“Ugh, ugghyaaaaagh!”

Staring at Eustes, who was already screaming, Rubera and Ferdia kept their mouths shut for a moment.

“Eustes-sama is also in trouble…”

“I see. …Ah, that’s right. Ferdia. I have a favor to ask of you.”

Saying so, Ruba handed Per Dia a small note from her.

“…Please, is that you?”

Then, Perdia took the note and read it, then narrowed her eyes and looked at Ruba again.

“This is…”

“No matter how you think about it. The knowledge and tools he possesses are not ordinary… To the extent that being a detective can’t explain it.”

At Ruba’s words, Perdia was positive but a little reluctant.

“But… For now, I wonder if they’re allies…”

“…Yes. So, I just want to make that part a little clearer.”

As long as a relationship that is not completely trustworthy continues, needless suspicion will continue.

As long as that doubt doesn’t go away, continuing the cooperative relationship will only increase the fatigue.

As for Rubera, she seemed to want to solve that part.

“…Okay. Let’s take it. For Cleon-sama’s safety.”

“Yes, please.”

Saying so, the two turned their gaze to Eustes again.

“Wait, wait! How the hell!”

“You’ll find out when you receive it 100 more times!”

It seemed that her suffering would never end.