Nichol Jessica was reflecting.
During the attack on the Capital, the population was roughly halved. Only then did this battle, that would later be known as the “Royal Capital Disturbance,” come to an end.
The Royal Family, the Adventurers Guild, the citizens――all suffered grievous injury. But none so grievous as the Public Safety Force. With almost every member dead from Vice-Captain down, they were as good as annihilated. Having lost almost all her subordinates, the Captain, Remilia-sama, was desperate to recruit in the aftermath.
Meanwhile, the inhabitants of the city were trying just as hard to fix their destroyed homes, and return as quickly as possible to normal life. None of the survivors had the time to be grieving.
It became known that the invasion was the work of a secret organisation called the Malferands, and that they were the long-time enemy of Decarabia[Demon Destroying Pentagram]. Although a number of baffling points remained, such as huge spikes of mana observed here and there around the city, as well as the sudden retreat of the demon, the deaths of all the Decarabia[Demon Destroying Pentagram] members made the truth impossible to know.
The only thing they knew was that the demons had withdrawn, and that peace had returned to the Capital. Most of the residents believed that the desperate resistance of the human forces had repelled the demon attack.
But the truth was different.
All surviving individuals with enough strength or influence, found it suspicious. Why had the demons simply destroyed themselves? After the raid, these people now knew the strength of the demons, unwilling or not. The humans could not have won. They had already speculated that the mysterious deaths of the Malferand officers were likely the result of internal conflict without the demons. Nobody was optimistic enough to think that the humans had done the job.
But Jessica knew even more.
The efforts of one girl saved the nation. But this isn’t something I can tell anybody else. I still don’t know if I should. Even I’m not sure myself. It’s something I’ll need to think about.
That girl, the saviour of our country, was Tilea-san. Is there some reason she isn’t aware of her unrivalled fighting strength?
I can’t say that I don’t want to know, but for some reason I’m afraid of pursuing it.
At any rate, it seems that Tilea-san is going to live in the Capital. She said that she was going to start working here because she was worried about her sister, but is she going to be okay?
Tilea-san is such an airhead that I can’t help but worry. But well, if there’s anything I can do to help her, I will.
In the end, I never got to meet Timu-chan. I wonder if she’s as ridiculous as Tilea-san is.
I really wonder what kind of girl she is. I want to meet her. Well, I guess I can look forward to meeting her at school then.
And speaking of friends…
I hear that Edim is going to continue going to school, even as a vampire. Apparently the authorities don’t know about it. I have no intention of informing them either. If the Royal Family knew, she would be executed for sure.
But is this really fine? What if Edim isn’t the Edim I know anymore…?
Tilea-san told me, “Edim has her human heart back, so it’s fine.”
What’s the truth?
If she’s really still just a vampire, countless people will become victims again. No, I should stop this. I’m really just happy that my friend is alive. I don’t want a repeat of Lyris-chan. I can’t bear to lose another friend.
Thinking about Lyris-chan still hurts so much.
Why…?
For some reason, she feels like a friend I’ve spent years, no, almost all my life with. And who’s the “Aria” that she mentioned at the end?
I’ll find her. It’s Lyris-chan’s last will. There has to be some meaning to it.
Jessica opened the door, and leapt outside.
Now then. Time for school.
There’s no proof that this will be the last demon attack. To defend the country from a second, or third attack, it’s vital to rebuild.
Certainly, there were a number of mysteries surrounding this demon raid on the capital. But there’s nothing to be done, except to be thankful that we’re alive, and to move forward, one step at a time.
*
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*
Camilla Bo Malferand was agonising over something.
The other day, I received some presents from Oneesama.
Jessica and Edim, was it…?
With little strength, they would have little use in battle, but their appearances are not bad. More than suitable as toys. I’ll make sure to show them lots of love.
Oneechan has given me two such enjoyable toys. But whatever shall I gift her in return?
Camilla was troubled.
Perhaps a nation? No, no, the entire world is hers to begin with. It would be ridiculous to gift her her own belongings.
Mn!? But then if everything in the world belongs to Oneesama, how could I possibly gift her something? Truly a conundrum.
What should I do…?
Camilla was troubled. How could she please her lofty and magnificent Oneesama? After thinking for a while, what she came up w