Lilith and Ina
Early the next morning, avril's caravan set out, and Leon also led twenty blood slaves, following Morlock and the others by a side road, secretly returning to a human town—he needed to carry out a special task assigned to him by Serea.
As for what that special task was...
Leon would remain in the human town with his blood slaves under the identity of mbers of the White Blade rcenary Group, completing tasks for Serea that she could not do herself.
For example, gathering human intelligence, escorting the Xiyun rchant Guild outside the jungle, and—
Catching Black Hat!
The town they headed for was Sedis City, situated near the edge of the Corrupted Jungle. It had beco a paradise for adventurers and rcenaries. The White Blade rcenary Group's base was also in this human town.
In the distance, the outline of the town had co into view. Upon seeing it, morlock spoke up.
"This is it. Our base is inside the town. That information broker nad 'Black Hat' usually moves around the taverns or the intelligence market in the town."
At this point, morlock no longer spoke with his forr authority. Compared to the twenty blood slaves beside Leon, he and his five followers, although now also changed into blood slaves, still found it difficult to accept their identities. However, having been controlled by the 'Blood Spring (Corrosion)', they could only be forced to obey Leon's orders.
Seeing that they had arrived at their destination, leon was the first to leap down from his direwolf.
"Now that we're here, let's go in on foot."
As Leon spoke, the others all dismounted and sent their direwolves back into the jungle.
They were all dressed in the White Blade rcenary Group's equipnt. Looking over at Morlock, the forr leader, leon reminded him once more,
"Listen carefully: I am your cousin from the countryside. Our village was attacked by monsters, so I'm leading the villagers here to seek refuge with you. Got it?"
"Yes, I've got it."
"Good, take these."
Leon handed Morlock a pouch of gold coins.
"What's this...?"
"Get us rcenary credentials and temporary residence permits for the town. We need to stay here for a while."
With that, he made clear the purpose of the money—using it to smooth things over for Morlock.
Although their 'villager' status would be difficult to verify, to play it safe, anything that could be solved with money should be solved that way.
"Yes, I understand. You may rest assured—it's in my hands."
Morlock agreed. Although he was technically still the group leader, with Leon's arrival in the White Blade rcenary Group, that might not be so certain anymore...
"Rember, don't try anything funny. You know the consequences. On the other hand, if you cooperate well, there will be plenty of rewards for you—whatever gold is left after the task is yours."
As Leon spoke, morlock's hand trembled as he held the pouch—he could feel that there were at least a hundred gold coins inside. That ant...
"I certainly won't disappoint you!"
"Good, let's go."
With that, everyone headed toward the town. Morlock truly lived up to his reputation as a local kingpin—just a dozen or so gold coins, and Leon's group already obtained temporary residence permits.
Of course, that's only possible during peaceti. During war, it wouldn't be that easy.
Walking along the bustling street, the group headed straight for the rcenary Guild. Next, they would need to get their 'rcenary credentials' to proceed with their tasks. Getting such credentials was easy—as long as you had gold.
After filling out the paperwork, leon wandered out of the rcenary Guild, feeling a bit bored. Looking at the lively crowds on the street, he couldn't help but get a little emotional.
How long had it been since he had seen such a bustling scene? In the deep forest, other than the beauty of Queen Serea, there was little worth appreciating. Human towns were the best after all.
And just as the thought of Queen Serea's beauty crossed his mind, leon's eyes widened.
"Queen Serea!"
His gaze beca fixed on the other side of the street. There, he saw a group of knights clad in golden-and-silver battle armor surrounding a young woman.
The girl wore light knight's armor and a Saintess' silver-white diadem; her golden hair flowed down her back like a waterfall. And her features...
She looked exactly like Queen Serea!
"Li—cough, cousin, the rcenary credentials are ready."
Just then, morlock ca out of the rcenary Guild, calling to Leon and drawing his gaze away. When Leon looked back, the girl had already turned away, leaving only her back visible.
"Hey, did you see that girl?"
Leon asked his companions, who looked where he indicated.
"We saw her. What about her?"
"Isn't that Queen Serea?"
Leon's words stunned everyone for a mont, then they burst out laughing.
"Hahaha, boss, I know you're always thinking about Queen Serea. But why would she be here?"
"Co on, who's always thinking about Queen Serea? I'm serious—that really looked like Queen Serea."
Leon's tone beca serious, prompting everyone to look at each other before one person spoke again.
"Boss, you can't really have a crush on the Queen, can you? Conquering a woman like that is no easy feat."
Everyone still thought Leon was joking. Realizing he couldn't explain, leon walked directly toward the girl.
"Hey, don't go over."
Suddenly, morlock grabbed Leon.
"What are you doing?"
"You want to approach that girl?"
"Yes."
"You may not know this since it's your first ti here, but look at that emblem."
At Morlock's prompting, leon looked at the insignias on the knights beside the girl.
A golden cross on a shield—the emblem of the Holy See!
"People from the Holy See?"
"You just noticed? Besides, didn't you see how heavily guarded that girl was? Her status is easy to guess—so it's best not to get involved."
Morlock's explanation made sense to Leon. He still had an important mission from the Queen—complications were best avoided.
Still, leon asked out of curiosity,
"You really didn't see that girl?"
"I caught a glimpse, but she didn't look like Queen Serea."
Soone else quietly replied. Hearing this, leon stroked his chin.
"Could I have been mistaken?"
"Definitely. If the Queen were here, why would we even bother to co?"
"Hmm...true."
Leon nodded, convincing himself it was just a mistake.
But seeing Leon's strange reaction, morlock—as a resident of the Otto Kingdom—felt a prior doubt resurfacing.
Which was...
Was "Serea Darkmoon" and "Serea Otto Bloodstorm" really just a coincidence in na?
Yet, few had actually seen Princess Serea in person—Morlock was not one of them. So he couldn't confirm anything.
Thinking it through again, morlock found his idea a little too far-fetched.
Princess Serea had long died in the Ailera Empire—there had even been a state funeral. Suspecting that "Serea Darkmoon" was actually "Serea Otto Bloodstorm" was wildly unrealistic.
Not even those crazy novelists would write such a coincidence...
Morlock kept his suspicions to himself. The group watched the knights escort the girl to the chapel, then watched as they mounted griffins and flew off into the distance.
"Wow, that's a flashy mount. When will I ever get to ride sothing like that?"
One of the blood slaves under Leon joked. Leon replied,
"Rather than dreaming, let's think about how to complete our task first."
With that, the group prepared to head for the tavern and intelligence market to gather information about "Black Hat."
On the other side, the golden-haired girl was flying on her griffin toward the Otto Kingdom's capital, "Okkento."
While en route, she took out a golden pocket watch. Opening it revealed a magical family portrait—a kindly mother, a gentle father, and three girls...
Seeing the girl with her watch, a Holy See knight asked,
"Saintess, are you missing your family?"
Suddenly questioned, the girl snapped the watch shut and put on a stern face.
"Just bored, so I took it out to look."
"Ah, then forgive my nosiness."
Seeing she was unwilling to say more, the knight sensibly fell silent. And with that, the girl's identity beca clear—
She was none other than the eldest princess of the Otto Kingdom, one of the candidate Saintesses of the Holy See:
Lilith Otto Bloodstorm!
After three years, she had returned to the Otto Kingdom. Compared to three years ago, the country had not changed much.
If not for the Holy See dispatching her to handle the "Undead Plague Outbreak," she probably would never have returned to this sorrowful place for the rest of her life.
As for the reason for her sorrow...
Father, sister. That was all.
Originally, she wouldn't have returned for several more days, but with a griffin mount, it only took a day and a night to cross from the Holy Empire border to southern Otto Kingdom.
Upon her return, she first went to the chapel to report in, then planned to go "ho".
She hadn't planned on returning at all, but upon hearing that "Ina" had returned, she decided to visit her and their mother.
Only for those two...
With these thoughts, after another hour of flight, the Otto Kingdom's capital "Okkento" ca into view. Lilith, who had sent word ahead, brought her followers to the royal palace.
As soon as she landed, "Gibusk Otto Bloodstorm" and "Catherine Otto Bloodstorm" ca out to greet her. Only Lilith could prompt both the king and queen of the Otto Kingdom to greet her in person.
"Mother,"
Lilith called softly, and Catherine imdiately embraced her.
"My sweet daughter, you finally ca ho."
Tears stread from Catherine's eyes. Her daughter, gone for three years, had returned—how could she not be overjoyed?
Gibusk, standing to the side, looked a bit awkward. He knew that Lilith still resented him, so he simply stood by silently.
"It's cold outside. Let's go in and talk,"
Gibusk said, then the kingdom's knights escorted the Holy See knights to rest, while Lilith entered the royal manor with Catherine.
"I heard Ina's co back."
"Yes, she has..."
Speaking of Ina, her other daughter, catherine's eyes showed a trace of sorrow.
"Why that look, mother?"
"Hm? Oh, nothing... I just can't bear the thought of you leaving again so soon after returning."
Catherine responded evasively. Lilith lowered her head, feeling slightly guilty, and didn't try to interpret her mother's expression any further.
But after returning, lilith never once ntioned her twin sister, "Serea"—the reason why was worth pondering...
The three arrived at Ina's room; she was already waiting outside.
Ina Otto Bloodstorm, the third princess of the Otto Kingdom, also had royal golden hair, braided to the side. Unlike Lilith and Serea, who looked nearly identical, her appearance only faintly resembled theirs, but she was still undeniably beautiful, with A charm.
When she saw Lilith, she excitedly called to her handmaiden,
"It's Sister Lilith! Take over at once!"
"Yes, Princess Serea,"
the handmaiden replied, pushing the wheelchair carrying the young girl forward.
Seeing Ina approaching, lilith walked toward her with a bright smile and gave her a big hug.
"Sister!"
"Yes, I'm back."
Lilith's brilliant smile would be hard to believe for anyone used to the "Ice Saintess" of the Holy See.
"Aren't you cold?"
"No."
"Your cheeks are so rosy—how could you not be cold?"
Lilith dotingly pinched Ina's pink cheeks.
"Sister, stop pinching —I'm not a child."
"If you're not a child, what are you? Co on, let's get inside, I brought you a present."
"Alright!"
At the ntion of a present, ina broke into a naïve smile.
Everyone went inside, and Ina went to her room to change. After entering, lilith looked around and felt sothing was missing.
"Where's Big Brother?"
Upon Lilith's question, catherine hesitated, and Gibusk finally broke his silence.
"He drank all night—he probably can't get up."
"Oh."
Lilith answered indifferently and asked no further. After exchanging her light armor for casual clothes, she erged from her room.
While Ina was still inside, Gibusk said to Lilith,
"There will be a welco banquet for you tonight. All the young talents of the nobility will be there, so—"
"I need to stay with Ina."
"Ina can go with you—after all—"
"I'm not interested."
Lilith's voice was cold. Gibusk lowered his head, sighing. Catherine, wanting to ease the tension, tried to speak, but Gibusk spoke first.
"That's alright. If you don't want to go, we three can have our own al."
Lilith said nothing in response, remaining silent until Ina reappeared.
Seeing Ina, the frost on Lilith's face slowly lted; it seed only this sister could stir a trace of attachnt to this cold "kingdom."
This ti would only last a few days; after that, she would have to leave again—
To carry out her "mission"!
(To be continued...)
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