Chapter 65: Meeting an Old Friend Again

Bangs smiled bitterly yet didn’t get upset again, feeling as though he had suddenly matured a lot in just the short time we hadn’t met.

How to describe it? It’s that feeling of a clueless young guy transforming into a worldly uncle…

“She was dressed the same as before, but for some reason, when I first saw her, I felt a bit strange. Aileen’s gaze made me think that maybe I had never truly known her.”

“Blythe stood beside her, confronting us with the Ghost Thieves’ strongmen. I questioned Aileen, wanting her to deny it, but she told me, ‘What Grim Reaper’s Scythe said is true.’ ”

“As for what happened next… well, there’s not much to say. Aileen had already escaped using a space scroll. It would be hard to catch up with her anytime soon.”

“…Well, that’s fine.”

Although there were still details, like how Bangs got stabbed and why he had to fight that Blythe to the death, those were private matters between them and really didn’t matter much.

After hesitating for a moment, Bangs surprisingly lowered his head and sincerely apologized to the black-haired girl who was deep in thought.

“I’m sorry; it’s all because of me that your identities were exposed, allowing Aileen to sense something was off. I… was too stupid and trusted her too much.”

“Ah, it’s fine, it’s fine… I can understand…”

Although she said that, Miss Vilyric couldn’t help but secretly break into a cold sweat inside.

Fortunately, this guy isn’t very smart and seems a bit emotionally confused. He hasn’t thought that since Grimmer’s Scythe had already figured out Aileen was the leader of the Ghost Thieves, how could the Queen’s envoy who’d long been in cahoots with them not be aware of Aileen’s identity while being so foolishly self-exposing?

Thank goodness; it would have been way too embarrassing to have his fake identity exposed right to his face.

But that little brat Liliya, sending someone to investigate Demon Town without telling her, if only she’d known, there would have been no need for this whole roundabout trouble…

“Alright, Cyril, since you’re okay, hurry and take these two young ladies away. Don’t forget that they are… the ones who broke into the shop earlier, and they’ll likely be out soon.”

The kind priest uncle subtly signaled, but Bangs, who knew Miss Vilyric and the Little Dragon Daughter’s “true identities,” didn’t act right away and just threw a questioning look at the black-haired girl, perhaps looking for her opinion.

“What do you say? Should we leave now?”

“Well… who exactly is in there?”

“The members of Grim Reaper’s Scythe, and the envoy. The actual behind-the-scenes boss of this all-encompassing shop is the Ghost Thieves, just controlled indirectly. They rushed in before we arrived to clear out the enemies and rescue those slaves some time ago.”

“I see…”

The Queen’s envoy… well, since it’s come to this, might as well meet her. I could ask how they plan to settle thousands of alien slaves in this black market and what their follow-up plans are.

After all, if this matter were to be dug deeper, it wouldn’t just be a few poaching gangs involved.

However, before Miss Vilyric could speak further, the anxious priest uncle was about to say something when the previously tightly shut doors of the shop suddenly burst open. A large group of armed figures in black tight outfits and masked faces swiftly streamed out from within.

These people were definitely not adventurers, but when Vilyric saw their orderly figures, she couldn’t help but smile after a brief moment of shock.

How nostalgic.

The Shadow Guard… though now I think they’re called the Shadow People.

Liliya really is something else, secretly smuggling so many royal experts into Demon Town without anyone knowing. It seems she’s really been working hard for this and isn’t just wasting her efforts.

This batch of Shadow People probably numbered over a hundred. Though not too many, their movements and aura clearly showed they were formidable. They likely came over from the City of Courage together with that envoy.

The Shadow People appeared to have just experienced a fierce battle, as many still had fresh blood on their weapons, but very few looked injured. Clearly, there was a significant difference in strength between the two sides.

Soon, they divided and lined up along the sides of the road, hands on their weapons, and a petite girl with sky-blue hair, wearing an elegant fitted long dress and exuding an air of nobility but still looking quite young, stepped forward along with two men and two women behind her, all dressed differently.

Following them were a number of magical beast slaves who looked somewhat dazed and fearful, as well as a few restrained shop managers and guards. If looked at closely, those beautiful servants seemed to be included among them, but they had been categorized under the first group.

“Wow, this really is…”

When Vilyric recognized the girl at the front, or rather, the little girl’s face, she was slightly surprised and smiled in admiration.

She never expected to see her here at the kingdom’s northern edge again; this really is… the Queen’s envoy.

She stepped out from the crowd and walked toward them, facing them directly.

“Hi, it’s been a long time, Little Mona.”

The Shadow People seemed poised to block, but the girl whose name was called showed a surprised expression, elegantly raised her hand to stop them, allowing the priestess to come closer.

“Miss Vilyric? What are you doing here? No wonder… wait! Could it be that the reliable helper sister mentioned in her message who might show up is actually you?!”

“Yeah, what a coincidence, huh~”

Mona Meikailande, the current Queen Liliya Meikailande’s younger sister, just around thirteen or fourteen years old. Vilyric never imagined that the envoy sent to investigate the Mountains of Ten Thousand Demons would be her.

Though it had only been a few short months since they last met, Little Mona was at the age when girls develop the fastest, and she had started to lose her loli shape, gradually aligning more with her sister Liliya, especially in the chest department, which had visibly grown a full circle. The curve of the fabric stretched out made one’s jaw drop.

The Meikailande family’s bloodline is indeed pure.

However, it was a bit surprising that Mona would react this way.

“Well… although it’s not something to be proud of, I’ve been wanted by Demon Town for a while now. Even if you were too busy to see the announcement, how could these Shadow People not recognize me? And you don’t have…”

After a brief moment of surprise, the esteemed royal, composed and poised, quickly calmed herself and explained with a wry smile.

“The first batch of Shadow People are already in important positions or guarding my sister the Queen. These are the new recruits we’ve just trained. They are alright when it comes to strength, but they lack experience. So I thought it was a good opportunity to bring them out for some real-life practice and broaden their horizons.”

With that, Little Mona stepped forward a few steps, unguarded and without pretense, and, while under the astonished gazes of her four companions and the surrounding Shadow People, leaned in closer to the black-haired girl and whispered softly.

“Actually, I haven’t been in Demon Town for long, just about a week. Before this, Grim Reaper’s Scythe had been investigating on our behalf. The Tuls Family has deep-rooted influence in this city, with spies everywhere. To avoid exposing ourselves too early, this group of people from the capital hasn’t gone out much.”

The blue-haired little princess smiled gently and retreated leisurely before the Little Dragon Daughter’s glare turned too fierce.

“As for that, Miss Vilyric, don’t you remember? It’s hard for me to see anything closely related to you. Plus, for some reasons, I’ve been using that ability less often recently. Otherwise, how could I enjoy this unexpected surprise now~”

This little girl is really becoming more and more like Liliya…

Both in character and appearance.

Just for a moment, Vilyric genuinely thought that the one leaning against her was that familiar young queen who took on the heavy responsibilities of a nation at such a young age.

But where did she learn this strangely alluring attitude?

Feeling the lingering fragrance on her, the priestess couldn’t help but harbor a peculiar curiosity.

   

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