“Are you ready, Nier…?”

“Sorry, Your Majesty, umm… I did my best… but… because I’m in my breastfeeding phase… this… is the best I can do…”

Nier took a lot longer than usual to pack up . I waited at the door for a long time . I was puzzled . Nier usually didn’t care too much about her make-up, which was why I never had to wait for long . In addition, the guards in the North’s uniforms weren’t hard to wear on . I started to suspect Nier was doing something .  Worth mentioning was that only male versions of the uniform in the North was available .

Nier walked up to me . She kept on rubbing her chest . She smiled apologetically: “I am sorry, Your Majesty, but the chest region is uncomfortable no matter what I do . It’s honestly too tight… All of my previous chest binds feel a little weird . It seems my b.r.e.a.s.t.s have grown another size thanks to Daisy…”

“I concur . ”

“I will do my best to become the same as Her Majesty!”

I shook my head with a smile: “Give up while you’re ahead…”

Nier grumpily frowned . She vigorously shook her sword hanging from her waist as though she wanted to draw her sword and hack me… I nearly jumped . She adjusted her cloak then scrutinised her clothing . She pouted: “This is so thick for the weather… Your Majesty, should we adjust our uniforms or not?”

“I don’t think there’s a need to . In the North, it’d still be frosty even in this season . The guards are only active in the North, so it’s pointless to adjust the uniforms . ”

The temperature in the North had changed . That said, due to the snowy mountains around still standing, it was far from being as warm as it was in the South . Summers in the North were the equivalent of springs in the South . That was why the best sellers in the North were always firewood and fur .

Nier nodded: “True . ”

Nier followed behind me . I awkwardly extended out my arm to gesture for her to wrap her arm around mine . She giggled: “I am your bodyguard now, Your Majesty . Have you ever seen a bodyguard and her master behaving affectionately? I will always be behind you just as when we first went out . Your Majesty, you must be going somewhere that’s somewhat dangerous this time, right? I will protect you . I won’t leave you behind alone . ”

Nier was talking about the first time I came to humanity . I had her return to the palace by herself that time . As a consequence, I was dragged down into the sewers and given a beating . Back then, she didn’t feel guilty about it . However, she probably felt scared when she thought back on it nowadays . I was sure history wouldn’t repeat itself . I didn’t think I’d get beat up, not that it would hurt even if they did hit me . I did have dragon scales, after all .

The two of us went onto the streets . Despite me seldom appearing in public in Hilles City, I met many n.o.bles and high-ranking officials at Troy City, which was why they recognised me . Those who served the officials also understood me . Nevertheless, it was better for n.o.body to know my destination . The location was best kept secret, after all . I wanted to get deep into that area, the street that separated the two church factions .

All I could see from the watchtower was the street’s appearance . There was no way I could get a hand on its pulse unless I, personally, went there . Needless to say, it was dangerous to personally go to their area when their relations.h.i.+p was a mess . I specifically brought Nier for that reason . Nier had her own agenda, too . She never learnt to use the firearms that I invented, as she viewed using guns to kill as a disgraceful action for a warrior . Her dignity as a Valkyrie wouldn’t allow her to accept it .

I pulled my hood over to cover my face . Nier looked left and right . From the visual information and some deduction, she was able to figure out my plan: “Your Majesty, you want to investigate the two churches, don’t you? Although I have always remained at the outer court, I managed to learn a lot from the Valkyries . All of the Valkyries are my eyes and ears . That’s why I believed you when you said you went to Her Majesty last night . ”

“… Women really are terrifying, particularly women with power . ”

“Hehe . ”

Though Nier giggled, she soon wiped any emotions off her face . She was cognizant that the street was far from safe, which was why she was particularly serious . Both of the churches were located on the street and an a.s.sa.s.sination took place before . Therefore, the atmosphere on the street was tense – supposed to be .

I didn’t sense the tension surprisingly . All I could sense was that the people were divided . Also, the stores on both sides of the street hung flags representing the two churches . One was a h.o.a.ry flower, while the other was a water droplet . That signified that, though there was no risk of violence, the stores on both sides had actually chosen sides . As for why they’d lined up in teams, it was self-explanatory . To be explicit, it meant that both camps’ confrontation had begun, except that they had yet to escalate into direct conflict .

The people didn’t wear anything on them to indicate who they aligned with . Hence, people could still walk on the street without concern . Wearing something specific or your beliefs wasn’t enough to warrant beating you up .

Nier stopped in her tracks and then quietly informed, “The surrounding atmosphere isn’t tense nor can I detect any additional hostility; therefore, this place is still safe . ”

“You can detect that now?”

“When people are about to fight, they’ll emit killing intent . Only very professional a.s.sa.s.sins are able to suppress that intent . There is no way ordinary people are able to hide it . I can detect a fight when it’s about to happen . At the moment, I don’t sense any . Plus, judging from the stable business here, this place is still safe . ”

Nier was a competent bodyguard . If she said the street was safe, it really was safe . In saying that, the street, alone, couldn’t prove anything . I needed to interact with the people from both factions on the street to form a conclusion .

I asked, “So, Nier, is there anything that you want to buy?”

Nier stopped to think before answering, “To be honest, I want to make a trip to the orphanage… I haven’t been there in a long time . I kind of miss the children… How about we buy something for them?”

I nodded . I looked around: “Sure . Let’s buy some stuff from the stores on both sides of the street . While we’re at it, I want to get a grasp on some things . ”

“Uhm!”