Chapter: 50. Impulse
Surrounded by the royal family, even when King Celtic stood on the ground, facing the proud Jeffrey floating in the sky, he did not lose an ounce of authority.
Though his words were diplomatic.
The tone was enough to inspire.
“O distant friend from the Demon Race… You have unilaterally crossed the border between the Demon Territory and the Aulus Kingdom and launched an attack with magic against us. Should I take this to mean that you wish to reignite the war? It has only been a few days of peace… what is your intention, my lord?”
The amplified voice was clear.
This was quite different from Jeffrey’s thunderous, aged voice bolstered by magic.
“Ha… if I said this is war, it wouldn’t be wrong. However… our army remains still. Today, I come to the capital city purely for personal reasons, simply to sightsee. But the scenery of your human race… really does not compare to my Demon Territory…”
“Sightseeing…?”
Hearing this, if it weren’t for the ongoing negotiations, King Celtic would have laughed out loud.
“You are an elder, how could you say such a thing…? Ah… the Six-Winged Demon has recklessly leaped into our territory; this can no longer be considered a personal action. You have already broken the balance treaty among high-level races. How about this… If you clarify your intention or retreat at once, I can pretend that today’s events did not occur, and the high-level races will not impose sanctions on the Demon Territory.”
In an instant.
Thunder and lightning roared!
Jeffrey showed no signs of emotional reaction, but this sudden change in atmosphere was as if he were laughing madly!
“Oh, king of the human race… how pitiful you are. In wanting to protect your home, you always rely on the protection of high-level races. When I say this does not count as war, then it simply does not count. The high-level races are not so foolish as to take action against my Demon Territory. They will need to think carefully. Enough, enough… I sympathize with you. I can now clarify my intention. If you can satisfy me, I will leave.”
“That would be very good.”
In truth, beads of sweat had accumulated in the palm of King Celtic’s hand.
Mentioning the high-level races was already an indication of his insecurity.
With the Demon Princess having essentially exited the battlefield, he had long worried about the involvement of a new Six-Winged Demon, and now that Jeffrey had invaded the capital city without the high-level races stepping in to balance things, it confirmed that the balance among races had yet to be shattered.
The army was still rushing back from outside the capital…
Moreover, engaging in a battle now, it was unclear how much of a chance they would have.
So, for the time being, a negotiation would have to suffice.
Celtic held his breath and focused, patiently waiting for Jeffrey to state his conditions.
After a moment of silence.
The elder’s words caused the king to furrow his brows tightly.
“I come here to ensure the safety of my race’s princess. If you bring her here, I will confirm her safety and then peacefully leave, which will provide an explanation to my people. Can you accept this?”
“……”
King Celtic turned to look toward the direction where the Hero was.
Xialet shook her head gently, the meaning was already very clear.
In fact, the Hero did not need to express herself.
Celtic knew that some things, once compromised temporarily, would lead to the most grandiose destruction later on.
“Sorry, Lord Jeffrey, we cannot accept your proposal.”
“Oh? King of the humans, you said you wanted to negotiate, yet now you say you cannot accept such a simple request?”
“If you simply want to see the Demon Princess, that’s easy to say. However, if we really bring her out from the sealed location, will you not take her away directly…? This is still uncertain.”
The thunder rolled, dark clouds churned.
“Haha… hahahaha! King of the humans, have you grown senile, unable to understand reason! I am giving you an opportunity, yet you are arrogant and completely out of touch with reality! Fine… then let’s proceed! Today I have come; it won’t be so easy for me to leave!”
“Hiss… My Lord, be cautious! The Demon Princess is currently under our control. If you act recklessly, we can also fight to the death!”
“Haha… hahahaha! Then let’s give it a try! I want to see if you have that capability!”
The negotiations completely collapsed, the echoes resounded in the sky, and Jeffrey’s hand drew upon thunder and lightning, transforming into a purple phantom staff.
With a gentle tap on the void, it exploded with a booming sound like a threat.
At the same time— a streak of golden light flew from the other end of the sky.
Hearing the sound of the wind, Jeffrey twisted his murky gaze back, his eyes filled with the radiance of the Holy Sword.
Jeffrey merely tilted his head slightly, the blade of the Holy Sword swept past his head, taking a few strands of his white hair with it, and continued onward, embedding itself into the ground right in front of Xialet, creating a crisp sword chime.
This “golden meteor” that cut across the sky finally came to a halt.
“The Holy Sword, huh… ha… it seems the Hero is also here.”
The old man smiled as he looked at the golden-haired girl holding the Holy Sword, nodding in approval.
At the same time, upon seeing the black-haired girl hiding behind her… confusion appeared on Jeffrey’s face for the first time.
He floated in the sky, seemingly wanting to see something more clearly, but the little girl skillfully moved, like playing hide-and-seek, always hiding behind the Hero.
Just a moment ago, Xialet had summoned the Holy Sword at a distance using her magical power.
The first attempt of the magic link failed, calling the Holy Sword over, but Xial had said she was sleeping and remained unmoved, completely ignoring it.
On the second attempt, Xiya added a bit of information in the magical disturbance— “Xue Fei needs your help.”
This was what created the momentary golden light that shot across the sky!
Xialet held the Holy Sword, taking a stance.
At this moment, her burgundy dress looked more like a blood-stained battle robe, and her hair, which had been up, had unknowingly come undone, dancing in the wind, exuding elegance.
The presence of the Hero naturally instilled confidence in the nobles, making them feel that they could survive today!
Yes… indeed, the Hero has defeated the Six-Winged Demon Princess before! Since there was a first time, there would be a second. If she could slay the incoming Six-Winged Demon, surely everyone present who hadn’t run away would gain some glory, right?
However, just as Xialet prepared to leap into battle.
Miss Shaya suddenly pulled lightly on her sleeve from behind.
“Xue Fei?”
“Ah, if you insist on going up against him, I’ll keep an eye on the other guy hiding in the dark, and we’ll drive him away. But… it seems like you don’t need to fight just yet? Hehe… look over there, isn’t someone eager to jump in? Why not let her give it a try?”
“Ah?”
Having been focused on the sky earlier, Xialet turned her head toward the king as she was reminded.
A certain genius young lady, who had just fallen and embarrassed herself during the banquet, was now standing with one hand gripping a sword, her face fierce as she confronted her brother, Carl Light!
“Carl, let me go…! Why should all the attention go to her, the Hero? I’ve wanted to challenge the Six-Winged Demon for a long time…! I want to see, if Xialet can do it, can I not do it too!”
“Nona, don’t act impulsively! The Six-Winged Demon is not something you can handle! Uncle and the others are preparing… quickly put away your sword, do you hear me!”
“Hiss… how can I know if I don’t try! If you stop me again… all the credit will go to Xialet! This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity… I must fight today…!”
“Nona!!”
The ninth-stage Carl couldn’t hold back Nona, who had already been preparing her magical power for battle far in advance.
Nona Light took the lead, gripping a crystal sword crafted from a magic crystal, and launched herself into the air.
The royal family was all present…
The king was there, the queen was there, and the promising third princess was also there.
If she didn’t showcase her abilities now, would she have to spend her life defending territory at the border?
【Floating】【High-Level Acceleration】【Enhancement】【Magic Enhancement】
Her eighth-stage power was sufficient to propel her several steps into the air toward Jeffrey.
She even turned her head proudly to glare at Xiya before taking flight, fully provocative.
“Uh… Xue Fei? Should we stop her?”
“No worries, no worries~ Uncle Jeffrey doesn’t like killing. Well… but it seems this girl will have some suffering ahead, that’s unavoidable.”
In Jeffrey’s aged eyes, the figure of the short-haired girl soaring towards him was reflected.
He chuckled twice, his lightning staff still withheld, not lifting it at all.
To say it plainly, he didn’t have any actions at all.
“Youth has a certain vigor… Having courage is good, but being brave without strategy is the most harmful poison… sigh.”
“Demon Race! Die! Uh…?!”
Having already used 【High-Level Acceleration】 to rush ahead of Jeffrey.
She swung her sword down at the fastest speed.
However… the blade did not fall.
Standing before her was Jeffrey’s aged and expressionless wrinkled face.
As her vision shifted slightly… Nona Light realized her arm gripping the sword had twisted in the opposite direction, clearly having been broken.
Moments later, even the sturdy crystal sword crafted from magic crystals began to crumble away.
The late realization of pain surged through her body, Nona Light’s eyes widened in fury, thinking it was just bad luck, so she decided to try again!
“Ah… ah ah…!! Damn it…! Damn it!!”
“Foolish…”
The result was clear.
Her otherwise safe arm— also twisted back with a crisp sound of a bone snapping.
Regret and powerlessness quickly flooded this proud young lady’s mind like a tide.
Hey, hey… Xialet…
What kind of monsters have you been facing all this time…
The cries of pain echoed through the air.
