Editor Makoto

Laurencia? Did you just say Laurencia?

Hey, what does that person got to do with Linford?

Linford? As I recall, he was the evil sorcerer who summoned Myrellia

Hmm. Linford Laurencia

I see Did you say that his surname is Laurencia?

Yeah, He was an old monster over hundred years old.

Hundred years old? I believe Lysias should be over 40. So Lysias probably isnt his child.

Then, his grandchildren maybe?

This Lysias guy isnt an evil sorcerer, is he?

Of course

Rather, Ive heard that Lysias hates evil sorcerers.

In the first place, we dont even know if it is a direct blood relations.h.i.+p. It is possible that the Laurencia family has split over the years, and not all the descendants of evil sorcerers will be evil sorcerers. If the story about Lysias hating Linford is true, its more likely that Linford has done something to him.

Its unlikely that the Beast Kings will miss the evil sorcerer, and there doesnt seem to be any problems with this guy named Lysias.

Lysiass earth magic is unrivaled in siege battles. With him, no matter how many fort there is, its nothing to him.

Do you mean that he is attacking the fort with earth magic?

Well, thats possible, but the most secure way you can do is dig a hole for a way to advance. Normally, theyd be fortified with magical tools and other equipment to guard the bas.e.m.e.nt, but they were confused at the time. Lysias who was digging underground was not noticed or interfered with in any way by the enemy.

I see, so theyre going to build an underground tunnel and send soldiers through it. Im sure there was something called tunnel warfare in j.a.pan. Im not sure how much of that is genuine and how much of it is fiction, but Im sure that the method of going underground and crossing the ramparts is very effective.

Thanks to Lysias and the others, it was easy to get to the Magnolias house.

There were no soldiers on patrol to deal with the Beastmans armies, and it was safe to say that there were no guards in Magnolia territory.

Then, did you manage to get Romeo under your protection?

No, I couldnt

Mea shook her head, her expression darkening slightly.

What do you mean? You have been to the Magnolias house, havent you? Did he resist? Or was there never a kid like that in the first place? It is also highly possible that they were evacuated when the war began.

But the answer from Mea and the others was none of those things.

He had already been taken by someone else.

Someone else?

Yes, Apparently, a man who was over two meters tall, with scars all over his body, and was as ferocious as an ogre took him.

I only have two people in mind. No, Asurasu was with us the whole time. And its not like he is covered in scars all over.

If so, there is only one candidate.

Xellos Reed?

Does Fran think so too? Apparently, Xellos Reed attacked the Magnolia family and kidnapped Romeo.

Xellos Reed was Myrellias partner, but he should have betrayed her in her last moments, right? Why did he take Romeo..? Is he doing this out of spite against Myrellia? Or is there a different reason?

What is the reason?

Dont know

Guess so

Cant you follow him with Urus.h.i.+s nose?

Woof

As expected even Urus.h.i.+ cant do that. Even if you try to trace it back from the Magnolia family, Xellos Reed will be moving around as well, and after a few days the smell will disappear.

I see Im afraid its a dead end.

Now then, lets put the prize money on the line. Its already been arranged, but if we announce it again, it will be just annoying to other people.

You are right

It would be better to leave it to Mea and the others to take care of the prize money. Seems like we didnt really have a choice. Its a pretty bad aftertaste, but the story about a boy named Romeo ends here.

Hmm

Im sure Fran is wondering about what to do too. But I know there is nothing more we can do about it.

Well it cant be helped. If we run into Xellos Reed in the future, well ask him out. Well, I dont think he will speak honestly though.

Mn!

I really dont want to meet a monster like that for the second time. But Ive already met him twice. Barbora, and now this.. they say that what happens twice might happen three times as well, and so we cant let our guard down.

Blow him away and get the full story.

It seems that there wont be any leeway for negotiations. Well, I dont think negotiations are going to work with Xellos Reed, so it will end up being a battle.

We have to be stronger to prepare if that were to happen.

Hmm

Fran nodded with a look of determination on her face.

Now, Master, Im here to take care of Master Kiara.

Yes

After the outdoor debriefing was over, we were entering the royal capital with Mea. I wondered if we would have to wait in that line again, but that didnt happen since we are together with a royal family. There was a private entrance dedicated for the royal family and we were soon able to enter the royal capital.

The one who greeted me was Mianoa, the lady in waiting that was attached to Kiara. She seems to have returned to the royal capital a step ahead from us and was reporting back. At the same time, she seems to have been preparing for Kiaras funeral.

The body of Kiara was taken out of the dimensional storage, and then laid in the coffin that had been prepared. Both Fran and Mea are getting their eyes wet again when seeing that.