"Wait…! That girl means no harm!—"
Before Calca could finish speaking, she saw Remedios leap into the air, her sword slashing toward Zesshi Zetsumei.
"Get down!!!"
Remedios raised her sword, its keen edge aimed straight at the griffin's head. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Zesshi Zetsumei's utterly indifferent expression, and flames flared in her chest.
Looking down on others with such arrogance… Do you really think you're that strong?!
Sword energy surged from her blade, as if in the next instant she could sever the griffin's head and send this arrogant girl crashing miserably to the ground.
"A weakling with no self-awareness…" Zesshi Zetsumei withdrew her gaze from Helant. To her eyes, Remedios's movements seemed slowed dozens of times over.
Especially that twisted fury on her face. It displeased her.
She slowly raised her dainty hand, her slender, snow-white wrist appearing completely devoid of strength.
Mid-air, Remedios noticed Zesshi Zetsumei's movement and sneered inwardly. "Trying to raise your hands and surrender? Too late!"
"Take this as a lesson!" A cold smile finally crept onto her contorted face as her grip on the sword tightened.
Bonk!
A sharp sound rang out as Remedios was smashed down from the air, crashing into the ground and embedding herself deep within it.
Zesshi Zetsumei raised her small hand and snorted coldly, casting a sidelong glance. "Where did this pest come from?"
She then turned her gaze back to Calca and asked in a chilly tone, "Is this how the Holy Kingdom treats its guests?"
"You!"
Remedios struggled to her feet, leaning heavily on her sword. Her right cheek was badly swollen, making her speech slightly slurred. "Who exactly are you?!"
To be defeated by an unknown young girl while being a Hero Class warrior was an unbearable humiliation.
Her eyes sharpened as she prepared to make another attempt.
"Please forgive her. Remedios has just returned from the front lines and has not yet adjusted her state of mind." Seeing the look in Remedios's eyes, Calca quickly reached out to restrain her and offered Zesshi Zetsumei an apologetic smile. "Please do not take offense…"
As she spoke, Calca noticed Quaiesse standing beside Zesshi Zetsumei. This was the person who had appeared in the intelligence reports related to Helant.
"You must be from the Theocracy. It is my fault for not disciplining my subordinate strictly enough, which caused you alarm."
"Your Highness the Holy Queen, you are too kind." Quaiesse quickly dismounted from the griffin and bowed. "The Theocracy learned that the Holy Kingdom was being invaded by the demi-human army, so they sent Zesshi Zetsumei and me to investigate the cause of the incident and make preparations for possible reinforcements."
At this moment, Quaiesse caught sight of Helant and Zesshi Zetsumei from the corner of his eye and thought to himself, With Helant here, as long as no Demon God level opponent appears, the enemy is nothing more than a number…
As for Zesshi Zetsumei, Lord Zinedine, you have truly given me a difficult task… If a problem child like Zesshi Zetsumei develops feelings for Helant, it might be better to let Clementine… Wait!
He snapped his head around and finally noticed Clementine standing behind Helant.
Quaiesse shot her a sharp glare, then instantly changed his expression, putting on a polite smile as he addressed the Holy Queen. "We heard that your country's internal affairs are in a state of semi-paralysis, so we took the liberty of coming unannounced. We ask for your understanding."
The smile on Calca's lovely face grew more genuine. "Not at all. I am already deeply grateful that the Theocracy is willing to consider sending reinforcements."
The Theocracy and the Holy Kingdom had never truly seen eye to eye in terms of political ideology, largely because the Theocracy worshipped the Six Great Gods, while the Holy Kingdom worshipped the four great gods derived from them.
Calca's eyes brimmed with pleasant surprise as she looked at Zesshi Zetsumei. With her current strength, she could clearly judge that the young girl before her was an absolute powerhouse.
Her strength was likely on the same level as Helant's.
The fact that the Theocracy had sent her was enough to demonstrate their sincerity in supporting the Holy Kingdom this time.
Thinking this, she subconsciously patted Remedios's hand.
Her Knight Captain was proud to the point of arrogance, sometimes even appearing overbearing.
She hoped this lesson would teach her to be a little more humble. That would be beneficial for the future.
Zesshi Zetsumei dismounted from the griffin, walked straight up to Helant, and looked up at him.
Her black-and-white heterochromatic eyes gleamed with a trace of excitement. "I can sense it. We are powerhouses on the same level."
To her eyes, the mana fluctuations within Helant's body were even more conspicuous than a magic lamp in the night.
"Miss Zesshi Zetsumei, you seem quite curious about me." Helant looked down, unconsciously comparing Zesshi Zetsumei's height.
Taller than Mino, yet shorter than the Holy Queen. Judging by her build, she should be classified as a young girl.
"Sir Helant, long time no see." After finishing his formalities with the Holy Queen, Quaiesse immediately moved to Helant's side, smiling warmly, though his tone carried a trace of grievance. "Clementine is here as well."
"My dear brother, after all… I wouldn't fail to carry out the mission you gave me~ hehe~" Clementine leaned against the wall, twirling the stiletto in her right hand, her smile exceptionally bright.
That "seduction" mission!
Quaiesse's smile stiffened, and he coughed awkwardly as he tried to change the subject. "Ahem. Zesshi Zetsumei is an extremely outstanding individual from our Theocracy. She…"
Then he thought of something else that nearly made him collapse.
Damn it. Is that old man Zinedine out of his mind?
How could a cold and arrogant powerhouse like Zesshi Zetsumei be made to lower herself to something like a so-called seduction?
Is there really no way to build a relationship other than using a honey trap?!
Letting the Theocracy's trump card play the emotional angle… He truly must have lost his mind.
Quaiesse looked at Helant, who seemed puzzled and was patiently waiting for him to continue, and for a moment, he almost lost his composure.
He cursed inwardly without pause. Guide Zesshi Zetsumei to build a relationship with Helant, but without letting Zesshi Zetsumei realize it was intentional on our part… What kind of ridiculous order is that?
His gaze fell on Zesshi Zetsumei's cold, tsundere little face, and an intense struggle raged within him.
This was simply impossible.
Seeing the other's smile grow increasingly strained, Helant asked out of polite concern, "Quaiesse, you don't look very well. Are you feeling unwell?"
"Uh…"
Quaiesse was momentarily at a loss for words. His gaze shifted back and forth between Helant and Zesshi Zetsumei as he struggled to figure out how to speak in a way that would leave both sides with a good impression. Before he could decide, Zesshi Zetsumei spoke first.
Her cold, tsundere little face tilted up slightly. Her pale, delicate hands reached out on their own and firmly grasped Helant's large hand, her tone steady and resolute. "I like you. Let's get married."
"Oh yes—Eh? M-married?!"
Helant froze. Even strength capable of crushing a world-class boss failed him at this moment. His expression finally slipped, his mouth twitching as he let out a helpless laugh.
Clementine's stiletto slipped from her hand and struck the ground with a sharp clink as she stared at Zesshi Zetsumei in a daze. "Wait, another competitor?!"
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Quaiesse's strained smile abruptly transformed into one of shock and delight. "Did I… just complete the mission?!"
Remedios leaned heavily on her sword. Zesshi Zetsumei's words felt as real as the burning pain on her cheek. She looked at Helant with utter confusion.
That blonde girl likes him, the Holy Queen likes him, and even this split-haired girl wants to marry him the moment they meet… Who exactly is he? A god?
"You have all traveled a long way. You must be tired." The Holy Queen's expression darkened slightly as she summoned the maids, stepping decisively between Helant and Zesshi Zetsumei.
"I have already prepared rooms for everyone to rest. It is getting late, so it would be best to turn in early. Um, the men's and women's quarters are quite separate, so there is no need to worry about privacy."
She firmly shielded Helant behind her. On her lovely face, still wearing a gentle smile, faint veins pulsed at her temple.
As for marriage, I will do it myself.
Anyone else, not a chance!!!
____
15 Advance chapters:
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