Sera, ever diligent, ly stacked a pile of papers before answering. "This is the sixth, my dy. And there are still three more waiting outside."
Kaede groaned, slumping into her chair.
Ever since Veldora's disappearance a month ago, monsters had been arriving at her city’s gates in droves, all with the same request, to join her unity.
At first, she had weled them with open arms, happy to provide refuge. But what had started as a trickle soon became a flood, leading to an exhausting, seemingly endless process of naming an overwhelming number of new arrivals.
Goblins, Kobolds, two entire wolf packs, and somehow, even the horned rabbits had a matriarch who had decided to move her entire family of four huo Kaede’s city.
"Alright, let's go, Sera."
Kaede took a deep breath before rising from her seat, stretg lightly as she made her way to what her daughters called the Throne Room.
Holy, Kaede had no idea why they insisted on calling it that. It was just a feren.
Seated at the tral chair, she adjusted herself befiving a small motion.
Two Antari bowed before stepping forward, pushing open the massive double doors to allow the visitors inside.
A tiny green haired figure flew in, delicate translut wings shimmering uhe light. It was basically two feet tall with leaf like clothes, with sharp cws and jagged teeth.
Kaede’s eyes widehen, in an instant, she vanished, only to reappear right in front of the tiny creature.
Before the figure could react, Kaede snatched them up, cradling them in her hands with a gleeful squeal.
"What is this adorable creature!!" she shouted, practically vibrating with excitement as she hugged the tiny being close.
"Ack!! Ack!! Unhand me, foul beast!" the creature yelped in both shod indignation, filing their tiny limbs in protest.
Desperate to escape, they bit down on Kaede’s arm.
p.
The guards drew their ons.
Silence.
Then,
"YOW!!" The creature cried out, clutg their mouth in agony. "What is your skin made of?! My teeth hurt, waaaaaah!!"
Tears welled in their eyes as they wailed dramatically.
Kaede froze. "Wha... You're g?!" Her excitement instantly turo panic. "Ah! What do I do?! What do I do?!"
Sera chuckled at her master’s antics, watg the se unfold with quiet amusement.
The guards, meanwhile, simply sighed, shaking their heads with small smiles. 'Somehow, this is our mother.'
When the figure finally ceased her g, Kaede cleared her throat and quickly returo her seat. "State your business."
The figure, still slightly dazed, blinked a few times before responding. "Wha... Hey! Don't just pretend like nothing happened!"
Kaede remained silent, her expressioral. The figure sighed deeply. "I’ve e as the representative of the sprites. We doly have a leader since we’re scattered across the forest, but after gathering everyone, I was chosen to brave the dangers and speak to the demon lord."
Kaede raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "The 'what' now? I’m not a demon lord."
The sprite’s eyes widened in shock. "You’re not a demon lord?! But how? Your power, Demon Lord Frey’s power doesn’t pare to yours!"
Kaede blinked in fusion. "Who?"
The sprite, now calm but still a bit on edge, answered in a more measured tone. "Demon Lord Frey is one of the Te Demon Lords. She rules over the harpies in the try of Fulbrosia."
"I see," Kaede murmured, nodding slowly as she processed the information. "We’ll have to revisit this ter. There are others who wish to speak with me."
The sprite paused, her hands g together in an impl gesture. "Ah, I uand. Uhm, so... will you allow us to stay in your try?" she asked with a hopeful look. "Please, please, oh please let us stay."
Kaede chuckled softly. "Of course, how could I say no to that face? You’re just too adorable!" She made an exaggerated kissing face, teasing the sprite.
Sera, standing nearby, cleared her throat with a formal tone. "My dy."
Kaede blinked, snapping out of her pyful trance. "Ah, yes, right. Focus," she murmured, regaining her posure. She turned back to the sprite. "So, how many of you are there?"
The sprite hesitated, a bnk look on her face. "Uhm... I don’t actually know. We didn’t bother ting."
Kaede sighed, rubbiemples in slight frustration.
Kaede blinked in surprise at the sudden influx of information, then turo Sera. "Put down seven thousand, three huwe sprites on the list," she ordered.
Sera nodded without question and began jotting the number down iy book, her pen moving swiftly across the page.
The sprite’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Kaede. “How...?! To know our numbers in an instant... As expected of our new master.” Her voice trembled with awe, admiration shining in her expression.
Kaede smiled. “Alright, return to your people and gather them. I will meet you at the city gate, where I will grant you all names.”
The sprite’s jaw dropped open in sheer shock. “Names?! You don’t mean... all of us?! But that, just how powerful are you? Thank you, scary dy!”
Kaede chuckled as the sprite took off at an incredible speed, zipping out of the room while chatteriedly.
A momehe visitor ehis one was a tall, reptiliaure, his brown-scaled body covered in faint scars. He carried a sturdy three pronged metal spear, and a small gourd on his back. With deliberate movements, he approached before dropping to one knee.
“Greetings, Ruler of Monsters,” he said, his deep voice carrying respect.
Kaede met his gaze and nodded. “Greetings.”
The lizardman lowered his head in respect. “This one is known as Gaara of the Sand.”
Kaede raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “You have a name.”
“Yes, my dy,” Gaara firmed. “I was named by a masked Majin. In my time of need, Lelmud saw fit to grant me power so that I could protect my people.”
Kaede leaned ba her chair, reag for a snack from the tray a goblina maid had brought earlier. “I see. And what brings you here?”
Gaara’s expression was solemn. “Uhe lizardmen of the eastern ss, my kin chose a different path. We broke away and adapted to survive in the harsh sands of the forest. However, our numbers have dwindled over time. Without Lord Veldora’s prote, I fear our tribe may not st much longer.” He straightened, his grip tightening around his spear. “That is why I am here, my dy. We seek refuge in your nd and are prepared to serve iurn.”
Kaede rested her on her hand, studying him. “I see. And your current numbers?”
Gaara gave a respectful nod. “Acc to our t this m, we number ohousand two hundred.”
Kaede hummed in thought. “You’re right, that is rather small for a tribe. Very well, Gaara of the Sand. I wele your people into my nation, so long as you remember that everyone has something to tribute.” She gestured with a flourish. “I will begin naming your people ohe sprites have all received theirs.”
Gaara stiffened in surprise. “My dy, the lizardmen are already strong. You don’t o...”
“It’s fine, Gaara,” Kaede interjected with a reassuring wave. “Though, your case is a bit different… You already have a name.” She tapped her fingers against the armrest, p.
Kaede’s eyes twitched slightly. She tilted her head at the lizardman. “It appears I override the his Gelmud fellow gave you.” Though she didn’t say it aloud, the question hung in the air, Should I?
Gaara hesitated only briefly before bowing his head. “Please do, my dy. If it will make me of greater use to you, then I gdly accept.”
Kaede smiled. “Then rise, for your name is Gaara of the Sand.”
As golden light engulfed Gaara, his form shifted, his brown scales gleaming with a radiant bronze sheeood taller now, exuding the unmistakable aura of an A-rank warrior.
“I thank you, my dy,” he said with deep reverence before turning and leaving the hall.
Kaede waited until he was pletely gone before slumping ba her chair with an exaggerated groan. “Why was he so formal? I’ve never been that formal in my life! Ugh, it’s exhausting. I don’t want to gh this again.”
Sera smiled gently, amusement flickering in her eyes. “Patience, my dy. It will all be over soon. There is just one more envoy to meet.”
Kaede let out a dramatic wail and g to Sera’s gown. “Ahh, Sera, you’re too good to me! You’re like an angel. A pretty angel.”
Sera visibly blushed but quickly posed herself, slipping free from Kaede’s grasp and smoothing out her dress.
At that moment, the doors swung open once more, and the final envoys ehough this time, they didn’t walk. Instead, they buzzed in, their translut wings humming through the air.
Kaede tilted her head in curiosity. “You look oddly familiar.”
Leading the group was a massive bee, nearly three feet tall, with a regal golden perched atop her head. She was fnked by two smaller bees, their movements sharp and coordinated, like trained guards.
Kaede’s eyes widened in reition before she smacked a fist into her palm. “Ha! I remember now! You look just like that queen bee I killed when I was still level one in New World Online.”
The three bees froze mid-flight, their buzzing abruptly halting. Though their expressions remained unreadable, their entire forms somehow radiated sheer, palpable terror.
Kaede blinked before letting out an awkward chuckle. “Ah… please ignore what I just said.”
The bees, though momentarily frozen, resumed their flight toward the ter of the room, their buzzing steady but still carrying a hint of unease.
Kaede offered a reassuring smile. “Now, tell me, what do you...” She abruptly stopped, her gaze shiftiward.
Her [Universal Sense] had detected something.
‘Artificia?’ she wondered.
A translut blue s flickered ience before her, visible only to her eyes. Within its dispy, distant flying forms moved swiftly across the sky.
Zooming in, she saw them clearly, winged horses, each ridden by humanoid figures. Yet, the magicules she seold her they were not
human.
Her eyes narrowed as she focused on the leading figure.
It was unmistakable.
The Hero King, Gazel Dwargo, was leading an army straight toward her city.
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