“Wow, that is… That is freaky, man. I do not know what to say.” I nervously chuckled. At this level, it was already apparent that that geezer wasn’t regular. However why would they only blatantly ignore this truth? Hmm, one thing should’ve been occurring for some time. Maybe at some point I might perceive.

“Eh, I’ve seen weirder issues.” Normal Zhang shrugged it off.

“Yeah precisely, me too. Such as you, for instance.” I snickered.

“Hey~ You are again to being your imply self once more~” He pouted, and I walked away from him.

“Anyway, again to enterprise. We’re principally performed right here, proper? Nothing else to do or focus on?” I requested, every considered one of them.

After getting no adverse response from them, I assumed we had been all clear. Good.

“Alright. Let’s head contained in the fortress. We have to relaxation and patch ourselves up, and quick,” I clapped my arms collectively, “particularly you, normal Emilio. You are like, half-dead already.”

“As are you. I don’t know the way you’re in a position to stroll round and use your fingers. They’re bent the flawed means.” Normal Emilio replied.

“It is truly hecking painful, however cannot do something about it, proper? May as properly fake to shrug it off.” I chuckled and circled in direction of the place the fortress stood erect. Having a couple of damaged bones wasn’t one thing new to me. I by no means actually obtained used to the ache, however I did get used to the shock. So though it was painful, I might nonetheless keep kiiinda calm.

“Is it secure to go contained in the fortress, although? I am certain it is nonetheless stuffed with some elves…” Jeanne inquired.

“Legitimate level, however no worries. The earlier king is lifeless. They’re now loyal to Firiell… Hopefully. She’s half-human and half-elf, so I am undecided if their loyalty can even get lower off by 50%,” I regarded up, fascinated about the assorted potentialities, “properly, getting 50% of them on our facet can also be not a nasty deal.”

“Don’t fret, in the event that they’re nonetheless keen to struggle, I am completely happy to take them on~” Normal Zhang hummed.

“That is even higher. Come on, let’s go.” I nodded in approval.

“Candy~ So we’ll have a niiiice and peaceable sleep tonight. Lastly. You saved me awake final night time, little cub~” Normal Zhang giggled and walked beside me.

“Hey, how is it my fault? You possibly can’ve simply slept, you already know,” I pouted, “and no, you are going to need to work exhausting tonight.” I grabbed his gown and grinned.

“Tonight? In mattress—”

“No. In any case, observe me and you will perceive.” I lower him off sternly and picked up my tempo, leaving him behind.

——–

‘BAM!’

Normal Zhang kicked the entrance door open, sending the massive door flying, crashing into the bottom.

“Excuse our intrusion~” He hummed in delight whereas we stepped foot into the battered fortress casually.

“Very flashy,” I sighed, “alright, now the place are the rooms and the infirmary?” I regarded round, looking for some guides. Did they not have a map or one thing? Or a room nameplate?

As I regarded to the appropriate and left, I observed that there have been nonetheless a whole lot of elves right here. However then, most of them did not appear to be royal guards. Quite, I acknowledged a number of the cooks and the wait workers that we had seen again once we first got here right here.

All of them checked out us as if we had been ghosts, and even worse. Some trembled, some began sobbing, and a few even simply straight up screamed and ran away. I suppose it was higher than that one elf who began throwing up within the nook.

Hmm, so unwelcoming. Made sense.

“Hey, you. Come right here.” Normal Emilio all of the sudden referred to as for considered one of them who was trembling behind a big, broken-down statue.

“Eep!” The poor elf squeaked and hid even deeper behind the statue, though her lengthy ponytail was nonetheless seen to us.

Seeing her response, normal Emilio solely sighed and say, “nice. Let’s do that the exhausting means—”

“Hohoho! Wait, wait! We are available peace! Hey, you. It is okay, we’re simply calling you over to assist your Queen. See? She’s proper right here!” I shortly butted in to cease normal Emilio from thinning down the elves’ quantity, and pointed on the unconscious Firiell on Jeanne’s again for her to see.

“U-uh…” She hesitated, however could not assist to not steal a peek in direction of Firiell.

Ah, nice. It appeared like they did acknowledge Firiell as their Queen, a minimum of.

“Come on, do not be shy. Come and assist your Queen get settled into her new house.” I awkwardly laughed to ease the stress, which simply backfired and made me embarrassed.

“I…” The elf maid reluctantly stepped ahead, however then stopped after simply taking two steps and regarded in direction of normal Emilio and normal Zhang in concern.

“Oh, do not thoughts them. They’re simply grumpy as a result of they have not eaten but,” I laughed and pinched normal Zhang within the arm earlier than whispering, “hey, say one thing.”

“One thing.” He grinned and instantly obtained smacked by me.

“We cannot harm you so long as you comply.” Normal Emilio responded flatly.

“His wording is fairly wack, don’t be concerned, we’re not threatening you,” I shortly lined for him, “simply… Assist us handle her, would you? I am certain your Queen will respect your assist, too.”

“Um… M-Might I?” She slowly got here as much as us whereas nervously taking a look at Firiell each from time to time.

“In fact!” I beamed with happiness. Nice. One step nearer to gaining their belief. Mm-hhm, “are you able to lead us to her new room? You do not thoughts if we accompany her, proper?”

“Sure… I can present you to the primary bed room.” She meekly nodded her head.

Hmm, major bed room? Did that imply Erenduill’s room? … Eh, I wasn’t certain if that was a good suggestion.

“Do you’ve got every other room that is perhaps appropriate?” I scratched my head.

“I can present you round, and perhaps you’ll be able to select whichever room you want essentially the most.” She defined clearly.

“Nice. Jeanne, please observe her and choose a bed room. I am going to go along with normal Emilio to the infirmary or one thing,” I tapped Jeanne’s shoulder and grinned.

“I perceive.” She nodded, and I might see the dedication in her eyes. She understood that going right into a room did not imply that she might relaxation straightforward. As a substitute, separating right here meant that she was the one one left to protect Firiell.

“Oh proper, what’s your title?” I turned in direction of the elf maid, who flinched instantly. She was nonetheless tense, apparently.

“It’s possible you’ll name me Lia, honored visitor.” She bowed gracefully whereas crossing her arm in entrance of her chest. Ah, that salute once more. It had been a very long time since I noticed that salute.

“Alright Lia, do not name us honored visitor, it is bizarre. Anyway, the place’s your infirmary? Or like a physician’s workplace?” I requested whereas strolling in direction of normal Emilio.

“We do have a small clinic. It is proper over there, previous the west corridor to the appropriate. There must be an indication saying ‘clinic’ hanged in entrance of the door,” she pointed to her left, and my gaze adopted, “maintain on, please. I am going to get my coworker to information you—”

“No want, no want. Thanks very a lot in your help. Admire it,” I tapped her shoulder and walked previous her, “come on, normal Emilio. Let’s get your wounds handled or one thing. Hopefully, their court docket physician continues to be alive.”

“Alright.” He reluctantly agreed and walked with me, though he appeared a bit not sure.

“It is okay, normal Emilio. We do not all the time need to resort to violence in direction of monsters,” I chuckled and pushed his again frivolously, urging him to stroll, “as they used to say, there are many methods to, uh, assemble a sandwich or one thing. My level is, a struggle doesn’t all the time come within the type of violence.”

“… I suppose.” He shrugged and picked up his tempo, main our stroll.

“Hey, what about me?” Normal Zhang piped up.

I ended and eyed him from high to backside, “you appear nice. Go do your eel stuff. We’ll want you for later, not now.” I stated with a flat tone.

“No enjoyable~ I will observe you~” He giggled and disregarded beside me.

“Positive, certain. Behave, okay?” I sighed, “Lia, come fetch us when you guys are performed selecting a room, please.”

“Understood, honored visitor.” She bowed once more, utilizing that salute.

Ugh, that sounded kinda cringy. Oh, properly. I obtained one thing extra pressing to consider.

“Normal Emilio, if Firiell does not get up but by tomorrow night time, let’s nonetheless go for it and hit the minotaurs’ base. What do you say?” I inquired.

“Tomorrow morning can also be okay. We will mobilize them so long as we preserve that woman hostage.” Normal Emilio agreed.

“Geez, porcupine, you are so chilly~ Scary~” Normal Zhang playfully giggled.

“No, tomorrow morning we’ll the village’s middle,” I stated whereas placing my hair again up in a bun, “ugh, a heat bathe could be very nice proper now.”

“Would you like me to—”

“No.” I shortly lower normal Zhang off with a pissed-off smile.

“I used to be going to give you a bathhouse, however alright then, no matter floats your boat~” He smirked mockingly.

“A free entry to the bathhouse? Wait, I take that again. Give me!” I pouted.

“A free entry? In fact not, little cub~ I can get you the bathhouse.” He laughed, as if I used to be saying one thing ridiculous.

“Wh—Do not overspend!” I smacked him in proper on his muscular again. How good, I additionally need to have muscle mass like that. Gotta work out extra, I suppose.

“What do you need to do on the market?” Normal Emilio shifted the subject again, fortunately.

I grinned upon listening to the query, “oh, lots. We’ll take pleasure in ourselves.”