1st day of the month of the gray dragon (March) 9:23 AM

  “So...I have to take this to the arena. The mistress told me it's on the sixth floor.”

  Talia sat anxiously in the Fear Tower elevator. She had received orders from C to deliver the letter she clutched in her tiny hands to Albedo, the controller and administrator of the Esoterica. She had seen them around the tower time and again: they were women of varying heights, clad from head to toe in gleaming white armor, equipped with two black feathered wings that made them resemble Valkyries. They seemed to have appeared in the tower at any moment, as if they had recently been added to the ranks of servants.

  However, the way those women moved through the corridors made it seem as if they knew the place well enough to be able to orient themselves without getting lost, something Talia couldn't say she could do so easily.

  Let's see...This should be it.

  She pressed a strange button on the right side of the door. As if by magic, the elevator doors opened before Talia, allowing her to exit and begin her journey toward the arena. She still couldn't fathom what strange magic could allow an entire Colosseum—the size of a city block—to be part of one floor of the tower.

  After walking down a long, spacious corridor, she suddenly found herself in the stands of the gigantic arena. The white marble of which it was composed was illuminated by the enormous red A that served as a sun in what should have been the floor of a building, but which in reality looked more like a landscape that should have been seen from outside.

  The stands were practically empty, but in the center of the arena stood two distinct figures: the first was a colossal, robust, four-armed robot, wielding a sword in each hand; the other was one of the Esoterica, clad from head to toe in full plate armor and armed with a battle axe as large as Thalia herself.

  Damn...that girl is huge!

  Although the winged woman was smaller than the mechanical being, she was still a giantess in her own right—even if her armor obscured a clear view of her body. Compared to the other Esoterica guarding the main gate, the one fighting was noticeably taller, sporting thicker armor and clearly greater physical strength.

  She throws some scary shots...

  Talia could hardly believe her eyes. Between the two fighters, the winged woman had the upper hand. Despite the size difference, the giant robot seemed incapable of going on the offensive. If it exposed itself, its opponent would strike it without hesitation with a force capable of collapsing a five-story building.

  Talia quickly recovered from her stupor and tried to avoid being distracted by the duel. Honestly, she enjoyed fighting as entertainment—it was a tradition in her homeland—but she hated it when violence was used to subdue the weaker.

  Stop getting distracted! My mistress gave me a task, and I have to finish it!

  C had trusted her to deliver the letter she clutched in her hand. Talia truly owed a lot to her new mistress: she was extremely kind to her, spoke to her with respect, and occasionally scratched her head affectionately. Not to mention the food—C was a divine cook. Talia had only been with her for a few weeks, yet she no longer looked skeletal and malnourished. She had put on about twenty pounds at lightning speed, and with all the cleaning she did around the house, she could swear she'd even gained a few muscles—nothing comparable to the winged woman fighting in the center of the arena—but definitely better than her previous situation.

  “Um...S-Sorry?”

  She stammered timidly, approaching the two female guards in the room. She didn't understand the purpose of guards in an arena to begin with, but it wasn't up to her to judge. The Esoterica she was referring to turned to face the little raccoon girl, regarding her as if she were a nobody. Despite the helmets obscuring their faces, Talia could tell they were looking down on her—and not just metaphorically.

  “Do you need anything, demi-human?”

  The one on the right asked, her tone cold and disinterested—almost irritated at being distracted from her task.

  “I-I... My name is Talia, and I have this letter to give you from Mrs. C.”

  “Mrs. C?!”

  “Yes, to a certain Albedo. They told me she was one of you and that I could find her here.”

  At the mention of Albedo's name, the two women snapped to attention, straightening their backs—as if the person they were speaking about were right there, glaring at them. Their attitude toward Talia suddenly changed: from calm and boastful to reverent and friendly, as if they were speaking to an equal.

  "Lady Albedo has gone to the Supreme Queen for a moment. You can wait here if you like. She'll be back shortly."

  “Are you sure I won’t be a bother?”

  “Absolutely not. Right, Kai?”

  “Certainly, Omega.”

  “Perfect! Sit down, Talia. Lady Rubedo and Smaug are finishing their warm-up fight.”

  They changed their attitude as soon as I mentioned Mrs. C and this Albedo...

  The women looked at each other and returned to observing the confrontation between their colleague and the robot. Talia sat down on a bench next to the two, still puzzled by the Esoterica's sudden kindness. It wasn't the first time it had happened, actually. As soon as Talia mentioned C, anyone she spoke to would immediately change their attitude, becoming more friendly. Was that really all it took? Was it really that easy to gain the respect she'd never had before?

  She should consider herself fortunate to be treated well by her mistress, given her position in the Fear Tower. However, Talia couldn't hide a slight fear. C was kind, but she didn't want to be seen as a mere pet. She had accepted her role as that sweet lady's servant, and she didn't want others to degrade her to a mere tool because she was half-human.

  Although...

  Her gaze shifted to the two women's feathered wings. They were pitch black and looked meticulously cared for. Talia couldn't help but wonder what race these warriors belonged to. Among the few winged species she knew of were harpies and valkyries, but she ruled both out a priori. The former were capable of modifying their bodies to appear more human, but would still have had chicken feet; the latter, however, were a sort of evolution of the aforementioned harpy race, specialized in physical battle, but it was known that they had white wing feathers. Had they dyed them?

  Once the fight was over, the two fighters exchanged a friendly greeting—as if they hadn't been fighting a quarrel just moments before. The giant robot was definitely the one in the worst shape, retreating to one of the preparation rooms immediately after the match to repair its damages. Talia knew him: he was Smaug, one of Almodeus's strongest servants. He had been surprisingly kind to her during their meeting a few days earlier and had offered to teach her the basics of swordsmanship, which she had quickly mastered.

  That woman...She must be strong as hell.

  Talia's attention shifted to Smaug's opponent, a certain Rubedo. She was approaching them as if nothing had happened, appearing unfazed by the battle. Smaug was far from weak, and the fact that this woman had been able to dominate their fight- even if it was only a practice match- made Talia realize how dangerous she could be.

  “You were exceptional as always, Lady Rubedo!”

  The two Esoterica beside the raccoon girl declared in unison, moving swiftly toward their colleague, greeting her respectfully. From the way they addressed Rubedo, she seemed to outrank them. But it wasn't just respect—Talia could sense admiration in their tone. Rubedo was indeed much taller than the other Esoterica she'd encountered in the corridors of Fear Tower; she was by far the largest and bulkier of them. Did they see her as some sort of role model?

  “Thanks girls! That was fun! I wish the Queen could see me fight!”

  “We're sure the Queen would appreciate that as much as we do. Seeing you fight is always a lesson in how much Kai and I still have to do to reach the level of a Chaos Number like yourself!”

  Chaos Number?

  Talia had no idea what the term meant, but she was sure to have heard it before. She assumed it was some sort of elite guard or internal faction within the Esoterica; that would explain why Omega and Kai were so excited about even talking to Rubedo in the first place. It was as if they were talking to one of their idols.

  “You White Numbers aren't bad either, keep it up!”

  The tall woman's gaze shifted to Talia. Despite her face being covered, it was obvious she was scrutinizing her curiously, as if she'd just noticed her presence. Talia sighed bitterly at the sensation, but couldn't really blame her for not realizing who she was. After all, the raccoon girl was just a servant, not someone important whose name was essential to know.

  “And who are you, little one?”

  “I’m…er…Talia.”

  “You’re Mrs. C’s servant! Big Sis Albedo told me about it.”

  "Big sis?"

  The girl replied, trying to maintain a composed tone in front of the warrior. Talia had to admit she felt awestruck. The other removed her helmet to wipe the sweat from her brow, revealing long black hair, purple eyes with black irises, and two large, dog-like ears on her head. It was only then that Talia noticed another small detail she hadn't noticed before: Rubedo, in addition to the classic feathered wings, also had a large, canine-like tail sticking out from behind. She was visibly pleased, as she was wagging her tail like a happy dog.

  “Talia, huh? I like that name! You're super cute, you know? Rubedo like cute things!”

  is she using the third person to talk about herself?!

  Compared to the other two, Rubedo seemed much brighter and friendlier—a stark contrast to her tall, muscular and intimidating appearance that would have made an experienced warrior pale. The raccoon girl didn't have time to let the blush fade from her cheeks before Rubedo's large hand reached her head. She felt a movement between her ears and couldn't help but wag the tail, enjoying the cuddles.

  “So cute!”

  “Lady Rubedo, perhaps you are exaggerating...She remains only a low-level demi-human.”

  One of the two Esotericas muttered, while their superior was enjoying herself by cuddling Talia. Omega received a sharp look from Rubedo in response, which made her immediately lower the head in fear.

  “Come on! Don't be a pain in the ass! I'm doing something innocent, not insulting our Queen!”

  "True, Lady Rubedo. But-"

  “No buts! Treat her with respect! She's Mrs. C's servant, after all. If you mistreat her, you’ll have to deal with me after!”

  The woman clenched her fist in the other two's faces, threateningly. Her bicep even bulged, making her armor make various noises as it struggled to contain the growing muscle. Omega and Kai nodded, bowing their heads in respect.

  “A-As you wish, Lady Rubedo.”

  Talia couldn't believe the proud declaration of the Esoterica who was scratching her head, smiling goofily.

  “Um...Thank you, Lady Rubedo...You are very kind.”

  The raccoon girl stammered under her breath, trying to stop her tail from wagging- She failed miserably.

  “Oh, no need to thank me, cutie! We're all servants of a queen, after all.”

  Rubedo replied, moving her free hand up and down.

  “Rather, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t Lady C be in the imperial capital?”

  “Exactly, but I’m here to give lady Albedo a letter from her.”

  “Ahhh! I see! And I thought you'd come to watch Rubedo fight...What a shame.”

  The tall woman snorted, almost irritated that she wasn't the reason for the little demi-human's visit, even though she'd only just met her. Honestly, she didn't seem the smartest of the group, and the fact that she alternated between using the first and third person to refer to herself didn't help. But her strength made up for her lack of intelligence.

  “Anyway, if you want to see Rubedo kick other people's asses, come over every time you want! I'd love to have you as a spectator! Unfortunately, my Queen is almost never here, but I have the honor of training with her glorious offspring sometimes!”

  Talia was lost in the conversation and had no idea about who Rubedo was talking, but she decided not to ask any questions to avoid angering the large woman who was still scratching her head like a dog. Rubedo seemed to have taken an immediate liking to her.

  “Oh, Big Sis Albedo is back! Welcome!”

  Suddenly, Rubedo began greeting a figure who had just entered the arena. Omega and Kai regurgitated, lowering their heads in fear. Talia realized that the person who had arrived must be someone important. From the tall woman's words, it seemed to be the famous Albedo, the Esoterica to whom Talia was supposed to deliver the letter. Despite being completely covered in armor herself, a certain stern aura could be felt emanating from the newcomer.

  “Rubedo! How many times have I told you not to call me that while we're on duty!”

  “Ikkk! Excuse me, Lady Albedo!”

  This woman means business, if even Rubedo is scared of her.

  Despite Rubedo's larger stature, she was trembling before the other Esoterica. From the way her doglike ears had suddenly drooped, it was clear that the woman's mood had seriously darkened—like a dog scolded by its master. If they were indeed sisters, it was clear to everyone who was the elder.

  “Have you finished your workout?”

  “Yes, your ladyship, sir!”

  "Good..."

  Albedo's icy gaze shifted to the little Talia, who swallowed a lump of saliva she didn't even know was in her throat. The Esoterica was watching her with a murderous intent, like that of a monster who has just found its prey for the day.

  “Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be with Mrs. C?”

  “I-I have a letter to deliver to you, L-Lady Albedo! F-Forgive me for wasting your time...”

  Suddenly, Albedo's killer instincts completely disappeared. The woman grabbed the letter Talia was holding in her tiny hands. She opened it and read the contents, then returned her gaze to the little demi-human. Her voice sounded warmer than when she'd spoken to her a few seconds earlier- it sounded almost friendly.

  “Thank you, Talia. I will act according to the mistress' requests."

  “T-Thank you, Lady Albedo. Unfortunately, I have to return to my mistress by noon. I must go now.”

  “I understand. It seems fair to me. Send her our regards, please..."

  Albedo nodded, pointing to one of the two Esoterica next to her.

  “Omega! Escort the demi-human to the portal. I—”

  “No need. I can take care of it!”

  Talia's eyes widened when Rubedo offered to accompany her. She didn't understand why the winged woman was so friendly with her in the first place. They had only known each other for a short time, yet she was acting as if they were old friends. She didn't mind though, since it was different from how she was treated by anyone except C.

  “Really? I see you’ve made a new friend, Rubedo. After all, you were a therianthrope yourself, back in the day.”

  The controller of the Esoterica muttered, shrugging.

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  “Go ahead, but I want you on guard duty on the fifth floor- as per your shift. Understood?”

  “Certainly, your ladyship, sir!”

  The winged woman with the dog tail stood at attention, then picked up Thalia with her usual goofy grin on the face, like the little girl was a package.

  “H-Hey! I can walk on my own!”

  The demi-human girl's face flushed with embarrassment. She was being held like a stuffed animal by a woman nearly twice her height and with ten times her strength. However, Talia’s complaints were completely ignored. She would have to endure that situation without being able to do anything about it.

  “See you later, Omega! See you later, Kai! See you later, big sis!”

  At that amused greeting, Albedo couldn't help but sigh. He dropped his arms to his sides and flapped his wings, almost bored.

  “Rubedo will never change. All muscles and very little brains.”

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  2st day of the month of the gray dragon (March) 2:35 PM

  “Welcome, Amon. Please take a seat in the free chair.”

  There were four men in the room, two of them robust and fully equipped, and another who, though massive in build, was unarmored. It was the latter who had stood to welcome Almodeus and encourage him to join the company. In addition to the three large men, there was also one with a hawk's mustache and so fat he resembled a pig. Finally, a tall blond-haired woman sitting with them at the table rounded out the list of those present. After the Absolute Lord was seated, the man who had welcomed him resumed speaking under the gaze of his attendants.

  “Gentlemen, even though some of you here already know each other, I'd say we should introduce ourselves anyway. My name is Isac Schnurrbart, and I'm the head of the adventurers' guild here in the city of Arel.”

  Despite his age, Isac gave the impression of a seasoned warrior. That, combined with his fiery handlebar mustache, made it impossible to doubt his words or prowess.

  “While this person to my left is the esteemed mayor of the city, Adolf Pantano Bürgermeister.“

  Almodeus greeted him with a respectful nod, and the mayor responded with a light wave. He was decidedly obese, so much so that the rolls of fat had transformed his face into a spitting image of a pig.

  “Nice to meet you, young Amon.”

  He greeted him, making a slight whistle, probably due to the unhealthy condition of his teeth. Honestly, Almodeus found it strange to be called "young," considering he was as old as the universe itself.

  “The three sitting with us are the jewels in the crown of our guild. Like you, they answered our call. From left, we have Ivano, representing the Grober Hund; Malcom, representing the Twisted Fate; and Scarlet, leader of the Paladins.”

  All the nominees had a proud and powerful appearance, befitting their rank as Platinum adventurers. Even their equipment, though rubbish compared to what Almodeus boasted, was far superior to that of ordinary adventurers. Each had a different expression, but curiosity united them all. Especially Ivano, who was eyeing him sternly.

  “Before we begin, satisfy our curiosity, guildmaster.”

  The only woman in the group, Scarlet, began with a sharp tone.

  "I've never heard of this Amon, yet he's been invested with the Platinum rank like us. He must have accomplished something remarkable, or I can't explain it. I emphasize that I'm just curious, I don't want to cause any trouble, and I apologize if I seemed offensive."

  “I'm really curious too!”

  Unlike Scarlet, Ivano's tone was vaguely hostile, but Isac pretended not to notice and responded professionally.

  “In addition to a few side assignments, Amon’s team rescued hostages held captive by Dark Calling, chased away a ghost vessel that attacked a merchant on the Plains of Mort, and even took care of that cemetery mess from a few weeks ago.”

  “A-A ghost ship?! And by the graveyard incident, you mean the undead incident, right?”

  Malcom, the leader of the Twisted Fate group, asked in amazement, instead of the astonished Ivano, who looked like he was about to tear his hair out with envy.

  “We tried to keep it a secret, but it didn’t work out.”

  The mayor declared, sighing. He consoled himself by taking one of the scones in the center of the table that had been offered to the adventurers—he was already on his sixth and was the only one with an appetite.

  “Is that all?”

  Ivano muttered, abandoning all courtesy towards Amon and openly showing his hostility.

  “Guildmaster, tell us the truth. Why was Amon promoted so quickly? Even my team and I could have eliminated a horde of undead. What makes the same feat so special when done by him?”

  Isac maintained a stoic and professional expression, but he was irritated to the very tips of his mustache. Ivano's behavior was intolerable at a gathering of the city's top adventurers.

  “You think that feat isn't that great?”

  "Exactly."

  “Then we couldn't disagree more.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Come on, Ivano!”

  Scarlet intervened, admonishing him sternly.

  “There are those in the Guild who even consider this feat to be on par with the Emerald class, if not Diamond!”

  “it's a...Umpf!”

  Ivano blurted out, without finishing his sentence– even though it was obvious to everyone that he was about to say “idiocy” or, given his famously colorful language, “bullshit.”

  “Master Amon has made his way through an undead graveyard alongside his companion, eliminating members of an evil cult.”

  “And as I told you, it’s not much!”

  Isac had to restrain himself from lashing out at Ivano, trying not to lose his professionalism.

  “Not just that, but he slaughtered the Masked Beast. The monster's remains prove it. Is that nothing to you, too?”

  At that revelation, the adventurer's face turned pale.

  “W…Well, the Masked Beast is a fearsome monster, I'll grant you that. But my team and I could have done it too!”

  “Even against a Des Gorgitus?”

  "What?!"

  It wasn't just Ivano who cried out in shock, but also the other two adventurers sitting at the table with him. The way they looked at Almodeus changed radically. Scarlet and Malcom looked extremely surprised, while Ivano was clenching his fists so tightly his knuckles were red.

  "We found the remains of two different creatures. They were so rare that we were forced to seek help from the Mages Guild for information, and they were as surprised as you are now. Do you think your teams could have fought their way through thousands of undead and eliminate two Disaster-class beasts in a single night?"

  Ivano didn't reply- he simply held back the insults that were rising in his throat like a regurgitating poison.

  “And yet... We all know that Master Amon's team consists of only one other member, the amazing sorceress Alcina, who, despite being a level 5 sorceress, must have found herself helpless against beasts known for their immunity to magic. Given all this, would you have been able to do what he did with just one companion?”

  Having finished his speech, Isac turned to Almodeus with renewed respect.

  "Master Amon, I thank you again for your assistance. I do so both as guildmaster and as a simple citizen of this beautiful city."

  “No need to thank me, guildmaster. I was simply doing my duty as an adventurer. It was Alcina who convinced me to try, to be honest. I'm just glad I prevented any needless deaths.”

  “Uh! Uh! I agree! Captain Balik said Master Amon was essential! On par with a Diamond rank, according to many.”

  The mayor declared. From the way he was wiping the sweat from his brow, it was clear he was trying to save face in front of everyone. Due to his incompetence, city security had sunk to its lowest ebb. If he hadn't skimped on the guards' salaries, he could have avoided all this mess in the first place.

  “For me it remains excessive!”

  Ivano blurted out, turning purple in the face.

  “My entire team would have taken even less time, I'm sure! If there are only two of them, it's their fault! They probably couldn't find a scout or a tank because of this jerk's terrible charisma!”

  He declared, spitting saliva that seemed filled with poison.

  “Look at him, he hasn't even taken off his helmet or his armor! We're left in just our vest, and he looks ready to attack us at any moment!”

  “Enough now!”

  With a fist on the table, the guild leader brought the attention back to himself, shooting a sharp glare at Ivano, hoping to silence him.

  “We brought you here for a very different reason than to argue!”

  Isac's call was so agitated that Ivano had to force himself to calm down, but his angry gaze remained fixed on Almodeus, who simply ignored him. Noticing the adventurer's behavior, the guildmaster sighed helplessly.

  “Good Isac is right. We have other things to talk about.”

  “Thank you, Mayor.”

  "No need, Guild Master. Truth be told, I've been so busy with that matter regarding Stronghold, I haven't even asked you what emergency you wanted to talk to me about."

  A stressed sigh followed that sentence. Adolf didn't seem like a very good mayor by any means, but at least he was trying.

  “If I may make a note...”

  Almodeus who had remained silent until then, began.

  “I haven't removed my helmet because I come from outside the Empire's borders and have an ugly scar on my face that I don't like to show. You may consider it shyness or a lack of knowledge of your etiquette. I harbor no hostility toward you fellow adventurers.”

  “Relax, Amon. We can all understand here.”

  “Tsk, a damned foreigner…”

  "Enough now, Ivano! A man who defends the innocent alongside the Guild knows no bounds like state or nations! The challenge to this rule, especially from someone who practices this profession, is a grave affront! Now be quiet, since we have much more to discuss!"

  Ivano tried to argue, but was shushed with disapproval. His own earlier comment had confirmed why the knight had remained to himself. The others glanced sympathetically at Almodeus, while Ivano simply snorted.

  “I think we should get to the topic of the day. Let the meeting begin!”

  “We could have started earlier, if someone hadn't just arrived now.”

  “Sorry for the delay, really.”

  Almodeus bowed his head, offering his apologies to the entire group. His humble demeanor contrasted directly with Ivano's aggressive and pompous manner, making him appear even more genuine. That alone had earned him the respect of almost everyone at the table.

  “Enough now. Listen…”

  Isac stood up, unrolling a map of the area on the table. It depicted the entire city of Arel, plus surrounding areas, such as Anna's village and a small portion of the Dark Jade Forest.

  “I'll be brief. About a week ago, a squad of Imperial soldiers was completely massacred. We're talking about a platoon of about a hundred men, completely torn to pieces by five mysterious beings. They're leader is believed to be a vampire or a demon.”

  Isac continued describing the creature's appearance, causing the Absolute Lord to snort beneath his helmet. There was no doubt he was referring to Almodea and her three succubi. The missing being was likely the Half-Demon she had spawned, the only monster found dead in the area.

  Damn! I didn't think this would become such a big deal. I have to find a solution...

  Almodeus gritted his sharp teeth. He had to resolve this annoying situation without starting a demon hunt. If he failed, every man in the room would die, raising a cloud of dust that would never subside.

  Maybe I could summon a monster similar to Almodea and kill it, increasing my fame and fixing the situation at the same time.

  It was a great idea, but it would be difficult to put into practice, especially now that his focus was on conquering the forest.

  Maybe...It could work, yes...

  A different plan was taking shape in the Absolute Lord's mind. It wasn't exactly the most peaceful or discreet, but if it succeeded, it could have yielded many advantages- giving his daughter political experience at the same time. Two birds with one stone.

  “It's a bad thing...”

  Adolf's sad words brought Almodeus' attention back to the conversation, which was now waiting for the right moment to intervene, like a predator waiting for the right moment to pounce on its prey.

  “Normally, we wouldn't have had such a display of forces, but the Emperor was very strict. You must know that the squad of soldiers that was wiped out was on a special mission to clear out a band of bandits. An additional legion, led by the First Imperial Prince, was supposed to arrive the following day. It was they who found the bodies and rescued the very few survivors who had hidden. I think you can understand his Majesty's concern.”

  Everyone nodded at the mayor's words. It was clear that the Emperor wanted to ensure such a dangerous monster was eliminated, not only for the safety of the people, but also for his son’s.

  “Guildmaster. No offense, but we all know imperial soldiers aren't that good, so maybe this monster isn't all that powerful...”

  Ivano's words were correct: imperial soldiers could be considered the same as Bronze or Iron-rank adventurers, so their testimony should be taken with a pinch of salt. Despite the correct observation, Ivano's boastful tone, combined with his previous behavior, earned him a disapproving look from the other humans present.

  "That's true, but the battered corpse of Captain Carvin was found, and he was certainly far superior in skill to an Iron rank. This gives us a better yardstick, though we're not sure he was killed in a one-on-one fight. There are also several additional issues..."

  The guildmaster replied, with a grim look.

  “First, we need to figure out who summoned this demon and whether it has a name. We also need to figure out how many servants it has and how powerful they are, not to mention one last question—”

  “The priest named Roberdick.”

  The mayor finished the sentence for the guildmaster. He looked like he was about to faint from the trembling, and he would have made a huge racket if he fell to the ground with all that lard.

  “A priest? What does that have to do with it, excuse me?”

  "He's the only body that hasn't been found, and that's a big problem! He was a visiting priest from the Church of the Holy Northern Empire! If he's declared dead, they might demand compensation! If the city ends up paying out of pocket, we'll be ruined!"

  The men present, except Almodeus, turned pale at the mention of the Holy Northern Empire. It was a nation extremely distant from their own, on a completely different side of the continent, but nevertheless extremely powerful. Excluding the Demon Kingdom, it was probably the strongest state of all, along with the Theocracy. Its fame was due entirely to a single individual: Rose, the Martial Goddess. Not even Gareth Stronghold could have defeated her if they had met on the battle field.

  The possibility of war breaking out was nil, but the death of the priest—who was supposedly on a duty visit—would surely lead to major political problems. Simply put, Nexia would lose trust in the eyes of the Holy Empire, which might well refuse to lend its support in any future conflict. The Emperor had been trying to forge good relations with the aforementioned nation for decades, and now everything was crumbling before his eyes after one miserable night.

  “I understand, but all this for a demon or a vampire? Couldn't you have turned to a lower class of adventurers? Or maybe just one of us?”

  "Perhaps you haven't grasped the gravity of the situation. This unidentified being killed over two hundred people in a single night, both bandits and soldiers. Therefore, it must be considered at least as powerful as a Gold rank. We've summoned you because you're the best the city has to offer. As you can see, much more than the survival of the people is at stake."

  Politics first.

  Almodeus wanted to laugh, but held back. Instead, it was Scarlet, the Paladins' leader, who raised her hand to speak.

  “I understand the desperate situation, but I remind the guildmaster that I will have to leave again for the city of Noxua-Guaro in two days.”

  Almodeus only discovered it then, but the others already knew that Scarlet was an adventurer working for two separate Guilds. Noxua-Guaro was a small port city, but its flagship were Scarlet's Paladins. Normally, customs duties for passage between fiefdoms made it impossible for some adventurers to join multiple Guilds.

  However, Scarlet was the second daughter of a noble family that took great pride in her work, so that problem didn't apply to her. Arel's Guild could have rejected her, as it wouldn't have been economically viable to have a team that couldn't be present at all times, but the Paladins were one of the few Platinum-ranked teams in the Empire, so they would have benefited from it anyway.

  "Of course, we're not actually asking you to search for this monster. We fear it has taken refuge in the Dark Jade Forest. If that were the case, even all of you put together wouldn't be enough."

  Isac's harsh words were met with irritation by the adventurers, but none had the courage to disparage them. The monsters in that forest were extremely powerful, as were the demihumans, especially those with evolution. Even Diamond-ranked individuals would have trouble entering the forest, defeating a demon or vampire of unknown strength, and emerging unscathed.

  “So...What did you call us for, if not to eliminate it?”

  “I was getting to that, Scarlet. Since you are the best the city has to offer, I must ask you to remain at the Guild's disposal. Whether this mysterious creature is a vampire or a demon, we are certain it is out for blood. Should there be any attacks on the city or nearby villages, we ask you to intervene, prioritizing this task over your own already chosen ones. You will, of course, be kindly rewarded.”

  All the adventurers, including Almodeus, nodded. Some, like Ivano, were ready to demonstrate their strength, while the Absolute Lord was intent on refining the plan forming in his mind. There were countless ways to exploit this situation to his advantage; the only problem was knowing which approach to take.

  The invasion of the forest and this... Maybe I can kill two birds with one stone.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  A young lizardman made his way through the corridor of their underground palace, located in the center of the great swamp. He approached a door guarded by two spear-wielding soldiers, who urged him to declare his intentions. He took a moment to respond due to his labored breathing, leading the two fellow lizardmen on guard to wonder what could have happened to shake the spirit of a proud lizardman to such a degree.

  Once permission was granted, the demi-human was allowed to enter the throne room. He immediately found himself faced with a line of armed soldiers, guarding the lizardman sitting on the large, raised chair. It was their King, Lizard Magnus, the one who had led his people on the path to glory and serenity. Despite his advanced age, he was still equally skilled in combat and politics. Standing beside him was a lightly armored female with a sword at her side. It was Tokka, the king's second-born daughter and head of his personal guard.

  "Speak, my subject. What brings you here?"

  Lizard Magnus thundered, his tone authoritative and serious, leaving no room for wasting time.

  "My King! The orcs have attacked one of our border villages! There is nothing left! Not even the corpses of our brothers!"

  The servant declared in a heartbroken and doubtful tone.

  “It's a tragedy! I can swear to you that when I went on the scene I couldn't believe it was true! I—"

  "Get a grip to yourself!"

  The sovereign's stoic, resolute tone was a stark contrast to that of his terrified and distraught scout. Despite his outward appearance, he was seething with rage, but he couldn't let his emotions overwhelm him. Evolution had granted them the gift of logic, and it wasn't to be wasted.

  “It's a tragic event, that's true—but we lizardmen will not be intimidated! If it's war they want, war they will have! Those damned pigs!”

  The King was confident in his own words. He knew the orcs were swine-like creatures devoid of any high intellect. He was certain that, spurred on by that small victory, the damned pigs would dare attack them right there in the swamp, where they could not be defeated given their knowledge of the terrain.

  "There is another matter, sire!"

  The one who spoke, to the King's great surprise, was none other than his daughter Tokka. She was supposed to be out on business, but had returned to the palace to tell him something. Unfortunately, Lizard hadn't had time to hear his daughter's words before the desperate servant had been admitted into the room.

  "Really? Enlighten me, my daughter."

  "Right away! It seems the orcs are giving the trolls trouble too!"

  She declared confidently, standing at attention.

  “An emissary of the latter has arrived to request a meeting between you and their King!”

  The news made the normally stoic Lizard's eyes widen. Who would have expected the trolls themselves to ask for help? They were a proud race, almost as proud as they were. It all made little sense.

  "Are you serious?"

  "Yes! I doubt it's a hoax, but I wouldn't rule out the possibility that it could be a trap!"

  "I do. The trolls are too stupid to come up with such a plan. The problem are the orcs! If even the trolls fear them, it means they must have their hands on some magical weapon of indescribable power!"

  If his theory proved correct, Lizard would risk underestimating his opponent, driving the Lizardmen to extinction. Their fighting power was unquestionable, but the same could not be said of their overall numbers.

  Less than twenty years earlier, the lizardmen had fought a bloody war with the serpentmen for complete dominion over the swamp. The lizardmen won, but it cost them more than half their total population. Lizard had to choose carefully, or risk sparking a conflict that, even if won, would spell the end for the glorious lizardmen.

  There are only sixty thousand of us; we are significantly outnumbered by the orcs and trolls. This alliance is necessary!

  The idea of allying himself with aggressive and arrogant beings like trolls didn't appeal to him at all, but if the reports were true, then he didn't have much choice. A king must also know when to bow his head before others, to be considered a true king.

  "Have my caravan ready! I will go to the Troll King and bring home a fruitful alliance!"

  Lizard Magnus roared, rising to his feet.

  "B-But sire! It could be dangerous! And who will rule in your absence?"

  Tokka's objections were immediately silenced by an applause. Without further ado, the Prince of the lizardmen, Magnus's eldest son and Tokka's older brother, entered the throne room. It was the one and only Gabiru Abiru Magnus.

  "A wise choice, Father! We certainly need this alliance!"

  "Brother! You shouldn't encourage him!"

  "And why? It's the most logical choice! In any case, I would be honored to rule in your stead, Father...if you'll allow me."

  "Brother! This is not the time to think of vain glory! We must—"

  "SILENCE!"

  Lizard Magnus's words echoed throughout the room, along with his mighty trident, the lower tip of which slammed to the floor. Tokka immediately fell silent, while Gabiru took a step back, still surprised by his father's move—and also slightly intimidated by the aura of sovereignty his elder exuded.

  "The decision here is mine and not up for discussion! Is that clear?!!"

  Both siblings nodded, bowing their heads in agreement.

  "Gabiru! You will be allowed to rule in my stead until I return! I will leave you the Tyrant's Trident as a symbol of your authority!"

  "Thank you so much, Father!"

  Gabiru bowed promptly, honored to be named, while Tokka shook her head, opposed to the idea of letting her father attend an audience with a foreign king without their species' most powerful weapon. Unfortunately for her, everything had already been decided, and she had no choice but to accept her sovereign's choice and follow him as his personal guard. She was a proud and strong warrior, that would protect the King with her life, if necessary.

  "Now go away! I have to prepare for my hearing!"

  Both siblings obeyed and left the room immediately.

  I don't like this story, I don't like it at all... Tokka said to herself, heading towards the armory of the royal palace.