"GLADIA"
Queen Luna was at her study handling work along with Assistant Liu and another person wearing worn-out armor.
"Your majesty, according to the latest report, the 'Damnatio' has witnessed an unprecedented increase in the activity of monsters...if it keeps going like this, we may be in danger soon enough."
"General Ron, how bad is the situation?" Queen Luna asked.
"Report to your majesty, according to the latest evaluations, it's a red calamity."
"What?!...Are you sure about it?...Details, we need more details…" Assistant Liu was shocked hearing the words "red calamity." On the risk scale there are about three stages: green, yellow, and red.
Assistant Liu was actually terrified of how much danger this might cause; his mind was like,
'If the scale is red, it means a monster raid is on its way, and if that's the case, the border areas around the forest will be wiped out completely.'
"As per orders, the white knights responsible for monitoring the forest must hand in a report to the northern duke. When His Grace received the last report, he immediately headed towards the border in person and led an inspection team deep into the forest. The first third was completely empty except for some harmless monsters that weren't there before, but it was still safe. As for the second third..." The moment he mentioned the second third, his body started trembling, his breath became heavy, and his face turned pale.
Assistant Liu had a bad feeling about what he was about to say, but still he calmly asked, "What happened?!"
He gritted his teeth as he started telling what he went through: "...O...once we entered the second third, we were about a hundred soldiers, but only I and His Grace came out alive."
Assistant Liu had a blank, impassive expression, like a poker face, thinking, "Two out of a hundred—that's a complete annihilation."
The queen had a stern, intense gaze fixed on the general, waiting to hear what's next.
"After less than five minutes from entering, we were surrounded by monsters attacking us from all directions. The weakest of them was rank B. We couldn't hold on for long before ranks A and S started engaging in the fight as well. We tried retreating, but some of them seemed to have developed intelligence and stopped us, so we had no choice but to get deeper, and the last thing we remember was waking up at the edges of the border area... The second third originally held harmless monsters, but now it's becoming the third part... I am afraid they are advancing towards us, and a huge monster raid might head our way in the near future."
"How long do we have?"
"Judging from the monsters' state that we saw at the second third, a month at most."
"Heed my orders, empty the towns and cities near the border, deliver compensations for the deceased family, deploy soldiers around the forest, leave no opening, and raise your guard. I will arrange for an elite force to go help. Our priority is to make sure of the people's safety."
General Ron adjusted his posture and saluted the queen. "Roger."
"You may take your leave."
"I'll excuse myself then." General Ron bowed his head and left the queen's study.
"Assistant Liu, what's your opinion on this matter?" The queen asked,
He took a deep breath to calm himself and finally started analyzing the situation. "Monsters at the Damnatio are the kind that care most about territories; they never get out of the forest, let alone attack. There's something fishy going on here."
"You mean someone instigated this?"
"Probably…but there is another probability: a magical artifact may have awakened..."
The queen smiled, saying, "We're on the same line," but then her expression turned serious. "The Damnatio is a dimensional rift between Gladia and Volgate. If there really is an artifact causing this mess, then an S-rank monster will be the least we fear; that forest will turn into a war zone soon enough."
"I am afraid so."
"Anyway, contact the 'FABERS' and see their attitude toward the situation first."
"As you wish."
-Ring ,ring...Ring, ring-
Assistant Liu's phone suddenly started ringing, which startled him.
'What the hell...who the hell is calling at such a time?...I have enough trouble as it is.'
He looked at the screen to find it's an unknown number calling. 'Is it a joke?...If I reply, I will pour all my frustration onto whoever that is. I better not reply...On a second thought...' Anyway,
"Who is it?" he still replied, thinking, "I need someone to vent to."
-Assistant Liu hand the phone to her majesty-
"What the...who are you?!"
"What is it?" The queen realized Liu's change of expression, so she asked him with a sarcastic tongue, "Who managed to anger our stone-like face, Mr. Liu?"
"Oh, it's some unknown person who wants to talk with you; I'll just hang up."
"No need, just give me the phone." The queen extended her arm to Liu; he handed her the phone right away, and then she took on the call from then.
"I am Queen Luna. Who's with me?"
-Mom-
"!!?"
Hearing the voice at the other end of the phone, she recognized the person immediately; she placed her hand over the phone speaker and told Liu,
"Assistant Liu, you go and take care of your work; I will take this call from here...oh!...and don't let anyone disturb me."
Assistant Liu seemed confused by her request, but he obeyed the order; he bowed before going out and closed the door behind himself.
close
"Why did you suddenly call me? Are you in some kind of trouble?" The happiness on her face after hearing his voice was unimaginable; she could hardly contain herself.
- Why does everyone think I am in trouble just because I called? I am fine, okay? -
"Everyone?...Did you call the others as well?"
-Not everyone, but I called Aries, and he was just as rude as ever. Guess he still doesn't like me.-
"Ohh...don't worry, baby boy; he doesn't hate you. He's just not used to you being around; just give him some time. "
-I know; I never held it against him. -
"That's good. All I want is for you brothers and sister to be at the back of each other, protect each other, and help each other grow stronger."
-Got it, Mom-
"I am glad you do...so what do you want from me?"
-Looks like I can't hide from you-
"Of course, you're my son after all. Now tell me..."
- Actually, I am with Sister Serenity right now. -
"Eh??!"
-It's actually about Sister Serenity... When I met her, she seemed quite different from what you told me; she was more like the sister I saw when we were kids at the Alkana's estate-
"Go straight to the point, kid; stop beating around."
- Haah...Mother, what happened to Serenity ten years ago? -
"..." The queen stayed silent for a while, but not long after she arranged her thoughts, she started narrating the events from ten years ago. "Guess you're all grown up now... It's time for you to know the truth about what happened. Pay attention and listen carefully. At that time, we were divorced, and Serenity was staying with me."
-...-
"Ten years ago, at the time your sister was supposed to undergo an awakening at the church, I had a meeting at the time, so I had to stay at the castle and follow to the church later. After finishing my job back then, I had your sister accompanied by a fifth-circle magician to protect her... We never expected anyone would dare ambush a royal carriage."
- The carriage was actually ambushed? -
"Exactly... we received news from the church that Serenity was late for her awakening ceremony, but it was too late; by the time we got the news, your sister was already kidnapped and the magician was dead...."
-...what happened after that? -
"That place was a bloody mess, yet the injuries on the magician's body showed he was overpowered and died instantly. The mana in the ground was messy and unclear, with some ominous black air covering the area, which was a clear sign of black magic. We got the people from the church to help, since that was a case of demonic magic; we needed people who specialized in dealing with it...if we were talking about the worst day in my life, that would be it..."
- You worked hard. -
A flicker of distaste crossed her face—a slight wrinkle of the nose, a tightening around the eyes—as she was speaking.
"Don't console me; I know what I did. It was my fault for not taking care of her...forget it; let's continue where we left off..."
-ok-
"So after we asked for their help, the people from the church said it will take at least three days to be able to identify the source of the magic; at most, we can trace them to where they left. After that, we will need to find our way into the demon realm ourselves.... At that point, I called your father since the Alkana family is known for their influence in the demon realm."
TEN YEARS AGO
"The demon realm, you say...?! That might be hard actually."
"Jevon, don't give me that shit; I already know. Are you helping or not?"
The young Luna was sitting opposite a man with a balanced physique, expressive sky-blue eyes, and long straight black hair falling on his shoulders, drawing people with a unique spark. With a deep and calm voice, he was talking to her.
"Stop right there, kitty. That isn't child's play...although our fox clan is considered demons, we're not as influential as you think in the demon realm. We mostly avoid going in there because in there our magic increases uncontrollably; we might die from mana toxicity if we don't take precautions beforehand. In short, we are invensible in there but all useless. What's the point if you're going to die?"
"Does that mean there is nothing we can do?" She gritted her teeth strong enough that blood dripped from her mouth.
Seeing blood on her face and how angry she is, he got to her side and placed his hands over her head, his deep and calm voice comforting her. "Serenity is also my daughter; I won't let anything happen to her, and look at the bright side: she's not a fox like me but an elf like you, so the demon realm's functions won't affect her."
She poured all her anger and frustration on him. She pulled his hair with both hands. "Jevon, you motherfucker, am I supposed to be happy hearing that?... With your daughter's personality, it would be best if she had an increase in her magic; that way, at least she would have come back by now."
"That's actually .....true."
"Did you just realize, you idiot…"
She shouted at him, but he turned back to his seat calmly, saying. "So did you calm down now?"
"What?!" Only when he said that did she realize her mind felt clearer than before and her body became lighter; she examined her body and then looked at him again with a surprised face.
"Why are you giving me that look?"
"What happened to me?"
"Negative emotions taking over a blank memory and body ache are symptoms of being exposed to dark magic."
"What dark magic?...I haven't been in contact with any dark magic."
Luna questioned Jevon's words, but he explained to her,
"...you said the place where serenity was ambushed had traces of dark magic in it; it was then that you got it on you."
Luna asked in concern, "So am I still affected?"
"Don't worry, my 'VOX' magic is enough to cure you since it was a faint trace. Don't worry, all is okay…now back to the main topic."
"Right...how exactly are we going to find her?"
"Wait till they find the opening gate; I will come with you," Jevon said.
"Didn't you say you can't go there?"
"I also said without percussion... please remember correctly." He was so done with her, but he was used to it. "Anyway, once the results are out, inform me, and I will be there right away. Don't worry; that's our daughter over there. She will be alright."
"Okay," even though Jevon reassured her, but she couldn't help but worry. "Little demon, please be alright wherever you are."
After three days had passed, they met again in front of the demon realm portal.
"The portal will be opened for five minutes maximum; our job ends from here... any operation inside the demon realm is not our specialty; we will retreat from here. Excuse us."
All the church people retreated after opening the portal, knowing the portal will close in five minutes. Jevon and Luna armed themselves and jumped straight into the demon realm.