Volume 2

Chapter 14 – Harboring Belief

In the King’s chamber…

So, you are the Kitsune spy. I’ll be honest I am a… bit disappointed. I was expecting some huge guy who is all brawn and no brain.

Well, I am sorry to disappoint my great Sire.

Don’t smile so much it’s starting to give your plan away.

Aides’s ears perked up in a sudden shock as if something he couldn’t believe had just happened.

You look very surprised… Why don’t we have a bit more of a private chat?

King points and everyone present in the chamber proceeds to move out. After everyone aside from Kiria and Aluvia leave. Storm resumes his conversation.

So, let’s start with introductions. I am the current King of Estelle Storm Vexes in the flesh. So then why not tell me who you are?

…

So, you’re just gunna keep quiet??

…

Well, I don’t need you to speak anyway your expression should tell me everything I need to know.

Storm proceeds to tell Aides his theory for why he believed Aides got himself caught. The longer Storm spoke the more Aides fell into fear by the end of it all the smile from his face was erased and a smile began forming on Storm’s face, a demonic smile this caused Aides to fall into a state of pure fear, he was finally able to see Storm’s true power and all he could do was bow his head and ask for his life to be spared.

Judging by your expression I hit the hammer on the nail.

B-but how you were supposed to be a King who didn’t know anything about fighting.

Well, that was the previous King. Unfortunately, the previous King passed on to the next life some time ago. Let’s get ready, we will defeat the enemy before they can even reach our city gates.

Certainly, My master.

Oh, wait almost forgot is the old guy wise by your standards?

…

You might as well help us out now.

He is… he is opposed to war he believes if we go to war with someone, we know so little about we are sure to lose.

Do you only know a little about me?

Yes, Old man Shen does not believe in the information the women gives us so he believes we know very little about you even though we know a lot.

Oh, my dear friend, I don’t think you know anything about me.

The whole room gets covered in dark black clouds and all anyone can hear is Aides’s screams of horror… after a while, the clouds clear out of the room and no one is present in it.

***

ARE YOU READY!! My warriors as you know the city of Estelle and its King has oppressed our kind for some time now, but today they stole one of us and we will no longer hold back we will get revenge. FREEDOM TO OUR KIND!!

The crowd erupts in a wild roar and all cheer at the top of their lungs.

(Sorry Yota my boy but I cannot help you in this endeavor, …not until I see the tyrannical king myself. I really am sorry but this is where we part ways.)

Mikazuchi I want you to take care of everything here. I need to talk to old man Shen in private.

Yes, my lord. (Yes, I will take care of everything… everything.)

Mikazuchi exclaimed with a heinous smile.

Old man Shen are you here… old man, old man. Where did he go??

***

In the King's room…

Aahhh.

Hey, you’re finally awake.

The little girl jumps out of bed and begins to growl at Aisha (Now an Aide in the service of King Storm) who was looking after her. The door swings open and Storm, and Aluvia enter. The little girl recognizes Storm, she jumps and runs behind him and continues to growl at Aisha.

Umm, Aisha, you did a great job I will take care of her for now so you can go and rest.

I am not worthy of this praise King Storm-

Uh-uh anyone who does their job deserves praise, you really ought to loosen up Aisha, or else you will never find a man.

MY LORD!! I WILL TAKE MY LEAVE NOW!!

Hahaha… ah so now that you are awake little one tell me what’s your name?

Ao jmal ni geinlgn

She is speaking in devil's tongue.

Can you translate Aluvia?

Well, I am not exactly able to translate, but from what I understand she said something along the lines of my name is… I don’t know the rest.

Ah, I thought this would happen, guess I’ll just use this. (Storm reaches into his robes and pulls out a locket.) Here wear this.

Storm reaches down and puts the locket around the girl’s neck and asks her to try and speak again.

Aarh-arh my name is Rosieri.

There we go.

But how can she talk in human tongue… was it the locket??

Yes, I imbued it with a certain translation magic. I kinda just stumbled across a pack of Crocotta after taking care of them I absorbed the packs leader and I ended up with a skill called Universal translate.

So, you imbued the locket with Universal Translate.

Enough explaining tell me Roseiri why are you here.

I… only remember fire after that Roseiri was surrounded by people. Roseiri got scared and tried to kill everyone but failed after that I was thrown into the room. Then papa came and got me out of there.

Papa??

Looking directly at Storm Rosieri says…

Papa told me everything would be fine.

Rosieri… am I, Papa!?

Yes, papa is papa…

WHAT!!

***

It took me a bit longer than I expected looks like I really am going senile.

Hey you what are you doing in the tree?

Oh, um my apologies I was just looking around.

All right… I should warn you though during dark these forests get really dangerous. You should go to the city.

Well…

You don’t have money??

Yeah.

I see are you carrying stuff to trade in the city?

No, I am not.

Well, then you can come into the city as a tourist for free.

…Um I don’t get it?

Oh, I see you don’t know about the changes. After King Storm took the throne, he removed the toll for people who are just visiting but If you plan to trade you do have to pay the toll.

Those are the new rules haa.

Yep, so what do you say wanna get in.

I appreciate it. (The toll for visiting was abolished and that human I am sure he saw my horns but even then, he was polite he also told me where I could stay. The Cat’s Tail Inn so this is it.)

Welcome to the Cat’s Tail Inn sir what would you like a room or a meal.

I would like a room and a meal.

The room will be three silvers and the meal will be complimentary.

Here you go.

Thank You!!

(It does not feel like he is charging me extra??) Can I have my food now?

Yes, most certainly just tell us what you want. Ah, I forgot to mention drinks are not complimentary so you will have to pay for them separately.

It’s fine.

*crash*

YOU LOWLY HARPY!!

(Looks like the true nature of humans is finally coming out.)

Shen places his hand on his sword getting ready to unsheathe it. The shouting man raises a plate and throws it towards the girl and just at that moment, the man behind the counter jumps in between the man and the harpy.

Sir, it would be best for you to leave.

Oh, you think you are all big and mighty haa I’ll teach you a lesson. Aah…

(The man at the counter… he saved the girl. It is starting to feel like the information we were being given really was false. So, I was right to not trust the girl. But It's too late now Yota is ready for war this might turn ugly if he really attacks. I have to find a way to talk to the king and tell him about Yota's plan, but how do I go about meeting the king.)

While Shen was contemplating the fight that broke out in the Inn grew intense causing a great deal of damage, and that is when…

– END