"Did you get taller, Ian?" Aunt suddenly asked, her gaze shifting towards .
Hmm…?
Now that she ntioned it, Aunt was indeed a tall woman, her bird-like appearance adding to her imposing stature.
It was a bit unusual for to be able to et her eye to eye, considering her height.
"I guess so?" I replied, realizing that I hadn't really taken the ti to asure my height recently.
The thought hadn't crossed my mind amidst everything else happening around .
After all, I was still only 18 years old, and boys my age typically continued to grow until around 21. It made sense that I might still be experiencing so growth spurts.
Aunt chuckled slightly at my curious reaction, reaching out to pat my head affectionately.
Her gesture was both comforting and reminiscent of the affectionate gestures my mother used to make when I was younger.
….
As we entered Aunt's office, the furniture was already arranged neatly.
A comfortable sofa and chairs were placed around a small table in the center of the room, while a group of demonic maids stood attentively on each side.
Judging by the trays they held, laden with snacks and beverages, it was clear they were prepared to serve us during our eting.
Taking a seat on the couch, Aunt positioned herself opposite , crossing her legs elegantly. anwhile, the ever-annoying Loki settled himself right beside , his presence as grating as ever.
"All of you may leave now," Aunt instructed the servants with a nod.
They complied, albeit with so evident disappointnt, before quietly exiting the room.
"They seed quite loyal to you already, Aunt," I remarked, noting their obedient deanor.
"Fufu, of course, why wouldn't they be?" Aunt replied proudly, chuckling softly.
Even in this mont, despite her gentle nature, she exuded a sense of charisma and authority that was impossible to ignore.
If one were to see her like this, they might mistake her for an empress.
Indeed, Aunt was more than just a re mortal or even a goddess; she possessed a presence that commanded respect from both mortals and gods alike.
As the room emptied, only five of us remained: Aunt, Loki, Schwi, Elowyn, and myself. It was a surprising lineup, especially with Elowyn's unexpected presence.
I had anticipated figures like Elaniel or Gobel to be part of the eting, considering their usual involvent in such matters.
However, seeing Elowyn here made wonder what specific role Aunt had in mind for her.
Watching Elowyn carefully, I couldn't help but notice her attempts to avoid eting my gaze.
It was understandable, given the trauma I had inadvertently inflicted upon her during our previous encounter. Reassuring her would take ti and effort, sothing I was willing to invest.
On the other hand, Schwi seed delighted to see , her happiness evident in her expression. Ignoring the tension between Elowyn and for the mont, I pondered over Elaniel's absence.
Considering the significant impact she had made during the Estelle Academy incident, I had expected her to be present to provide her perspective.
However, Aunt's decision not to include her suggested that she might have a separate plan in mind.
Even Iselia, Elowyn's sister, was conspicuously absent from the gathering.
It appeared that Elowyn was determined to keep her sister away from , perhaps viewing as a threat or harboring negative sentints towards .
'I guess I'm basically the devil for her now huh… which was quite sad considering we already saw each other bare naked…'
Cough...!
Aunt coughed getting my attention.
Oops…~ I guess I stared at her a bit too much…
"Let's talk about what you probably ca her for, you need information right?"
I nodded in response, considering the limited tis I can probably visit again, I needed all the crucial information happening in the world right now before making any big moves.
Not to ntion my already limited movent back at the holy nation.
Having the role of hero was a bit too tiring than what I imagined it to be.
Straight to business, Aunt addressed Loki, indicating she wanted him to proceed.
Understanding her intention, Loki nodded and began his task.
Floating around the table, he clapped his hands once, conjuring a 3D holographic map that transcended the conventional definition of a map.
The hologram displayed a comprehensive overview, resembling a satellite's view of the world.
Every detail, from cities to individuals, from natural landscapes to human activity, was depicted with remarkable clarity and precision. It was as if I was observing the world in real-ti.
Observing the intricate display, I couldn't help but express silent admiration.
Loki, noticing my reaction, smirked knowingly before focusing on the northern region of the holographic map.
As he zood in, a vast expanse unfolded before us, revealing a sprawling city.
However, its once-grand castle lay in ruins, consud by flas.
Adjacent to it stood a massive tree, reminiscent of the world tree, its once-vibrant white leaves now tainted by a dark and ominous aura—a clear indication of its gradual demonification.
"This is Saildan, the capital of the frost elves. Well, at least it used to be their capital," Loki explained, his tone tinged with a bit of mockery. "As you can see, it's gradually transforming into a re shadow of its forr self."
"Did the demon lord attack here?" I questioned, despite already knowing from the eting back at the Holy Nation that the demon lord had targeted the northern nation.
However, the precise origin of the attacks remained unknown to .
Understanding this detail could significantly impact my forthcoming mission of subjugating the demons.
Moreover, sharing substantial information with the Holy Nation could potentially provide with an advantage.
While manipulating people with lies was challenging, presenting the truth held a different weight.
"Hmm, no," Loki responded, shaking his head. "Although the demon king did technically target this place, it was another nation that initiated its destruction. Our old friend rely capitalized on the chaos and exploited the aftermath—truly demonstrating a demonic approach."
"I see, so his primary objective was the White Palace," I remarked, drawing connections.
Aunt and Loki expressed surprise, widening their eyes slightly at my insight.
"Hmm? We assud you weren't well-inford back in the Holy Nation, but it appears you possess more knowledge than we expected," Aunt remarked
"Ah, don't get wrong, I didn't know which place the demon king attacked first. I just pieced the information I had together. Contrary to what you might expect, the Holy Nation's information network is quite good, considering how fast they got their information about the demonic invasion. After all, they easily deduced the demons took advantage of the ongoing war between these two nations and exploited it."
"I see..." Aunt nodded thoughtfully. "What the demon king did was smart, considering he took down two of the most powerful nations in the northern continent in a single night."
"It would only be a matter of ti before he goes down to the southern plains and starts rampaging against the smaller nations in the northern continent, then slowly makes his way past the borders of the strongest nations of this world." Loki comnted as well with a twisted smile, as he looked at the dying people on the screen.
Even though he's a god he functions more like a demon, he reminds of Lucifer sotis.
"Is Yamara Kingdom part of his target?" I asked, although the demon king was technically our ally, at the sa ti, not really.
We had already made him take part in our deal to listen to us, and the deals go vice versa.
The Yamara kingdom was more than likely where Euphemia and the other stranded people and students back at Estelle Academy were being sheltered.
I can't have him attack there yet.
'Considering Siena, Tristan, and the others would probably be there as well.'
"As of now, no. He's very particular about keeping his end of the deal; that's why he's making sure we do ours," Aunt explained.
I nodded, acknowledging her words. At least this demon king had so sense. Demons were always quite particular about deals and contracts, making them more reliable than gods in many ways. That is, if you accept all the downsides that co with it, though.
Loki, sensing the need for clarity, snapped his fingers before giving a brief, summarized detail of what was truly happening in the northern continent.
Although Loki skipped through a lot of minor details, the amount of information he provided was substantial.
First, he confird that only the two of the strongest countries had already been conquered by the demonic forces, the others were still relatively safe although in a state of panic, the kings and tribal chiefs of such nations asking the power houses of the continent for help.
Secondly, while the demon king himself hadn't yet ascended to the mortal plains, his daughter was currently acting in his place, and that I should probably et with her soon.
Thirdly, Loki explained that their main base, the demon king's castle, now resided at the very heart of the capital of the White Palace, slowly being corrupted and transford into their stronghold.
Furthermore, Loki disclosed that the king of Sialan, known as the Frost King, had not actually perished like what the news entailed but had succumbed to the influence of the demonic princess.
He was a re sec toy for the demonic princess now.
Additionally, the emperor was focusing on fortifying his borders, and all the dukes, except for Duke Tellus, were gathered at the capital.
Moreover, Gobels' group was actively engaged in bombing the outskirts of the empire, as well as so allied countries, spreading terror while falsely claiming responsibility for the actions against Estelle Academy.
And Lastly, Loki revealed the most crucial piece of information: the queen of the White Palace, Mavis, was still alive and currently held captive by Elaniel, serving as a prisoner or perhaps more like a reward in the northern castles.
'So Elaniel really wasn't here, huh?' I muttered to myself, a pang of disappointnt tugging at my heart.
The absence of her familiar, lodic voice calling "father" was conspicuous, and the realization struck with a mix of relief and lancholy.
'Usually, there would be soone moaning in my ears right now...' I mused, shaking my head to dispel the thoughts that threatened to consu .
As I found myself dwelling on Elaniel more than I should, I couldn't help but acknowledge the strangeness of my sentints.
It was disconcerting to admit that I might actually miss that monstrous presence.
'I'm becoming weird with all the influences near , 'I conceded silently, recognizing the subtle shifts in my own deanor brought about by the turbulent circumstances surrounding .
"Did you get all the information you needed?" Aunt's voice broke through my contemplation, her gaze fixed on with a mixture of concern and expectation.
"Well, yeah, more or less," I replied, pushing aside the swirling thoughts to focus on the matter at hand.
'Although so of it was already discussed back at the holy nation, there were a bunch of crucial news that I can probably use to my advantage'
Pausing my thoughts for a mont, I placed a hand on my chin, deep in thought, before turning to my aunt with a determined expression.
'If Queen Mavis really is alive….'
it's probably better to make a move now especially since the ga is still quite early.
I can't afford to be stuck at the holy nation due to political tension and safety.
Wherever I go, danger awaits anyway. It's better to be done with it sooner rather than later
"Can you spread rumors that the queen is alive?" I inquired, turning to Aunt, but before she could respond, another voice chid in with enthusiasm.
"Oh, oh! I can do that~!" Loki exclaid, his hands raised in eager anticipation.
Initially, I felt a twinge of apprehension at the thought of involving Loki, knowing his penchant for mischief and manipulation.
However, a realization dawned upon - his lies often had a strange way of manifesting into truth.
With a resigned nod, I acquiesced to his offer, sensing that refusing him would only result in more trouble.
While Aunt's subtle influence could sway minds more effectively, when it ca to spreading rumors, one couldn't beat the god of lies and mischief, albeit with a hint of concern for the potential scale of the rumors he might unleash.
Sighing inwardly, I acknowledged the weariness settling in, despite the seemingly innocuous conversation.
Aunt kindly offered a bed to rest, but I declined, mindful of my prior commitnts.
"The others are waiting for …." I explained, knowing Aunt would understand without further explanation.
After all, with all my lovers waiting for , their safety and well-being took precedence, especially until they secured my mother's blessing.
With a knowing chuckle, Aunt nodded in understanding.
The safety of my loved ones was paramount, and until they were fully secure, even my protection couldn't guarantee their safety.
As I rose to my feet, preparing to conjure another teleportation portal, a sudden disturbance halted my actions.
Without warning, a beautiful woman materialized in my arms with a soft puff sound and a scattering of starry sparkles, leaving stunned by the sudden turn of events.
Her ruby-red eyes shimred with the afterglow of teleportation as she gazed up at in astonishnt.
Clad in a nightdress that accentuated her sensual curves, she exuded an undeniable allure, and the sight of her stirred my heart in ways I struggled to comprehend.
"Aria?" I questioned; my confusion palpable in the air as I struggled to make sense of the absurdity unfolding before .
Why is she here?
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