Ren’s group continued toward Kaelthar Veyron’s castle, where Ren would be officially introduced.
Lythera looked ahead.
“We’re almost there!”
Dargan seemed hesitant.
“Are you sure we’re not going to end up fighting?”
“Of course not.”
Sylvara then looked at Lythera.
“How about Mirelya and I stay outside? We can provide support if everything goes wrong.”
Dargan immediately agreed.
“If the two of you stay, I’ll stay too. Someone has to protect you!”
Ren thought for a few seconds.
“That sounds like a good idea.”
Goro had been watching Dargan carefully for a while.
Dargan noticed.
“What are you staring at?”
Goro answered calmly,
“I’ll stay as well. You never know what might happen.”
Sylvara frowned and stared at Goro for a few seconds.
Mirelya then spoke.
“I didn’t want to go in there… but I kind of do. I have a score to settle!”
Lythera looked at her.
“A score to settle?”
Ren seemed to remember something.
“Oh, right. Your parents were captured by the demon army, weren’t they, Mirelya?”
Mirelya hesitated.
“Y-Yes… I-I want revenge.”
Lythera looked confused.
“Huh? Are you sure about that? The demon army hasn’t invaded anyone’s territory for years. In fact, we’ve actually lost a small part of our own territory.”
Ren’s eyes widened.
“S-Seriously?”
Mirelya looked at him.
“You really think I’m going to believe that?”
Everyone fell silent for a few moments.
Garrick sighed.
“Look, if we’re going to fight, we’ll need everyone. But if it’s not necessary, then fine. What do you think, Lythera? Ren trusts you, but I don’t have a plan for this.”
“G-Garrick?”
Ren looked at him in surprise.
Garrick continued staring at Lythera seriously.
Lythera let out a small sigh.
“Fine. Listen… things might go terribly wrong, but if I’m there being used as a shield, no one will die. That much I can guarantee.”
Mirelya narrowed her eyes.
“How can we trust you?”
Ren answered immediately,
“I trust her, okay? I know she’s telling the truth.”
Garrick smiled faintly.
“Then I’ll trust you too, Ren. Let’s do it.”
Goro then spoke.
“The Demon King knows me. I really will have to stay outside.”
Mirelya clenched her fists.
“Ren, I—”
Garrick interrupted her.
“Stay outside, Mirelya. I think the bigger problems are in there.”
Sylvara and Dargan agreed at the same time.
“We’re staying too.”
Garrick looked at them in surprise.
“I thought you were joking. You’re really staying?”
Goro replied,
“I’m here. Go help them, big guy.”
Sylvara crossed her arms.
“Dargan and I work better together. We’re staying.”
Ren began counting on his fingers.
“So inside it’ll be me, Garrick, Lysera, and Lythera!”
Lythera’s eyes widened slightly.
“You… included me?”
“I already think of you as part of the group, even if it’s only temporary. Heh.”
Lythera smiled.
“Ah… thank you, Ren.”
Mirelya stomped her foot.
“J-Just go already!”
Ren flinched.
“O-Okay! We’re going!”
As Ren, Garrick, Lysera, and Lythera walked away, Lysera thought,
Has Ren been charmed?
I know the Demon Kingdom has forbidden magic…
As the four of them approached the castle’s main gate, outside on top of the hill, Goro watched Dargan and Sylvara for a few moments.
Sylvara noticed.
“Why are you still here, old man? Don’t you have a nation to lead?”
Goro smiled.
“There are five leaders, but in truth, we are all one. In Drakthar, there is no prejudice between races. That is why all of the leaders respect every race.”
Dargan frowned.
“But you’re human.”
Goro let out a small laugh.
“What irony, isn’t it? Heh. Even though there are few humans in Drakthar, they are all treated with great respect.”
Sylvara still looked suspicious.
“Fine, but… is it really okay for you to stay away for this long?”
Goro’s expression became slightly more serious.
“Yes. I’m fine with it. I’m in no hurry to return. Besides, I need Ren. And he wouldn’t want anything happening to his friends.”
Dargan narrowed his eyes.
“Why are you saying that? We stayed behind to guard the exits.”
Goro looked at him.
“Hmm… did you really?”
Sylvara frowned.
“What do you mean?”
She became irritated.
“What are you trying to say, old man?”
Mirelya immediately tried to intervene.
-G-Guys, let’s not fight!
We need to stay focused!”
Dargan clenched his fists.
Sylvara was already on the verge of summoning her bow.
Mirelya looked at the three of them for a few seconds.
Then she shouted,
“STOP IT!”
Everyone looked at her.
Goro sighed.
“Listen, young lady… I’m trying to help.”
Sylvara pointed at Goro.
“This old man is crazy, Mirelya! Come over here and stay with us!”
Mirelya hesitated.
“W-Wait! Goro helped Garrick, and he helped us too!”
Sylvara replied,
“Don’t stay near him, Mirelya!”
Goro then asked,
“Why were you so determined to bring Mirelya with you as a guard?”
Suddenly, everything went silent.
Mirelya blinked.
“Huh… what?”
Goro pointed at the others.
“Look at them. They’re ready to attack. Do they perhaps know they can’t defeat me?”
Dargan placed a hand on Sylvara’s shoulder and replied,
“We just don’t like you, old man.”
Sylvara sighed and sat down.
“You’re… weird!”
Goro smiled.
“Wonderful, wonderful! Haha! I thought we were about to fight.”
Mirelya sighed. Get faster updates on g.com.
“What a tense atmosphere…”
Goro looked to the side.
“Well, it seems the fight came to us.”
Everyone looked into the distance.
A man with shoulder-length white hair was approaching.
His crimson eyes glowed intensely.
Sylvara’s eyes widened.
“N-No… I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!”
Dargan was shocked as well.
“A vampire? Aren’t they supposed to stay hidden?”
Lioren, the vampire, continued walking toward them.
“Lythera doesn’t need any more distractions. You’ll all die quickly.”
Everyone immediately took a combat stance.
Mirelya gritted her teeth.
“Damn it… why now?”
Meanwhile, inside Kaelthar Veyron’s palace, several guards pointed their spears at the group.
Lythera raised her hands.
“Calm down! They’re my guests!”
One of the guards replied,
“Humans are not allowed in here!”
Lythera put her hands on her hips.
“Oh really? What if one of them is my future husband?”
All the guards fell silent for a moment.
Then they burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! Don’t joke like that!”
“Hahaha! The king is going to kill you all!”
“Hahaha! You’re hilarious, Princess!”
Lythera became furious.
“MOVE!”
The guards immediately stepped aside.
“Alright, haha! Alright, go ahead.”
As they walked past, one of the guards muttered,
“It’ll be funny when the king throws them out…”
Another added,
“He wouldn’t kill the princess… would he?”
After walking a few meters, Lythera looked at the group.
“Sorry about that.”
Ren smiled awkwardly.
“No, no. It’s fine. Heh.”
Lythera pointed toward a large door.
“That door leads to his chamber… Are you ready?”
Ren took a deep breath.
“I’m ready.”
Lysera looked at the door.
“I have a bad feeling about this.”
Garrick cracked his fingers.
“I’m not at a hundred percent yet, but I can still run away just fine.”
Lythera placed her hand on the doorknob.
She slowly opened the door.
Everyone was breaking out in cold sweat.
Lythera poked her head inside.
“Hi, Father!”
Kaelthar looked at them.
“What the…? What are these humans doing here?”
Lythera stepped into the room.
“I’ll keep it brief… This is Ren, my fiancé.”
The wine glass slipped from Kaelthar’s hand and shattered on the floor.
Clink!
The Demon King stood there with his mouth hanging open, completely frozen.
Ren watched his reaction.
Looks like we’re going to have to run…
Damn it!