Chapter 178: To Be Noble.

I landed in front of the city that I saw, like a superhero who’d come to save them all.“AHHHH!”

“GO GO GO!”

“INSIDE!”

“DEFEND THE CITY!”

“NoOOOOO!”

I smirked.

People were often startled, but it had been a while since I got uninterrupted fear and hostility. The few people outside ran into the gates as the guards ushered them in. The ogre and… finx duo then rushed forward to attack me. A finx was a sapient race of cat-like people, typically the size of a lion, but with differing features and much darker brown fur. They were quite common in the League of Mercanto that Elfrafim had visited way further north, beyond the vast oceans.

I did the rare thing of trying to spare the guards, even when they’d already committed to the attack. I parried the ogre’s mace to his surprise, and then kicked the finx aside. I gave the ogre another kick to topple him to the ground, and then stared hard at the finx who was less injured than I intended because she had managed to jump and reduce the impact even at the cost of being sent flying further away. Of course, I hadn’t even put any mana into that attack, else she would already be dead.

“A bit rude to just attack me out nowhere, don’t you think?”

“What!?” The ogre guard spat, then froze. “You can talk…?”

“You’re not a monster?” the finx added.

“No.” I sighed, then laughed, the situation making total sense. “I am Demon Queen Haell Zharignan. You must have heard of me.”

“No…” The ogre shook his head. “I’ve never seen anything like you.”

“Wait,” thankfully, the finx woman remembered something. “I think I remember seeing something the last time I went to the city.”

“Oh? Is she one of those artsy people?”

“Not that. Well, maybe. I don’t know what she does in her free time.”

“Yeah,” the ogre nodded as if in realization. “I like to paint. Not that I’m any good at it.”

“I think it’s neat…” the finx mumbled, and then bared her teeth. “Please wait a second. YOU UP THERE! DON’T SHOOT! CAN’T YOU SEE THE ARMOR! THAT’S NO MONSTER, AND WE’RE TALKING!” She might have likely just saved her fellow guards on the walls… from making the same mistake she did. “Right. You… demon, correct?”

“Haell. I do have a name.” It was nostalgic, to not be immediately recognized for who and what I was.

“Ah. Yeah. Well, can you stay here for a bit? Actually, what’s your business with Kobarinis Town again?”

“Kobarinis. So that’s what it’s called.”

“You didn’t know…?” the finx puzzled.

“No. I just flew here from Southern New Grandera.”

“Oh. OH I REMEMBER NOW! You’re that hero that appeared there, and is… the granddaughter of the Hero Golex of Edengar?”

“He’s defected to our side now too. But yes. Essentially.”

“Ah… It feels good to have finally remembered!”

“That’s nice, Tinn,” the ogre guard commented, wincing as he stood up.

“Hehe. Yes.” She also stood with only a slight limp to her steps. “Anyway, miss Haell. We’re sorry for the very… bad welcome. We were just startled when you suddenly landed in front of us like that! I’ll go have someone tell Lady Kobarin about your visit, so can you stay here for a moment?”

“I’ll try to be more careful next time.” I felt a little bad now that someone actually got hurt. I seethed, but I could definitely approach slower and more disarmingly if I wished. “I’d rather just enter the city by myself to get a good impression of it.”

“Err. I’m afraid that other people might also react… badly. We really don’t have any other demons here…”

Neither did the south. There were no other demons anywhere.

“Not even with this?” I asked, handing her some identification papers and an ID. I did still have some in hand, despite how my face was often identification enough.

“No… I’m not really sure where this is from…”

“Uh, it says right there that it’s from New Grandera?”

“Well, yes. But there’s no crest that I recognize…”

“Crest?”

“Yeah. You know. On which house’s behalf you received it?”

“Eh? The townhall just gave it. I assume it’s from the government?”

“I… then shouldn’t it have the royal crest of Granola?”work with them! Then I’ll finally be free of this stupid wretched place!”

“Good riddance then, fucker!”

“You’ll come back. They always do.”

“See how you do against all the noble brats with all the money to throw at everything. That’s why we’ll never amount to anything. They are already born with everything.”

“And ? You think you’d do a better job? You’re a fucking waitress! You don’t even know that you can do the same! Many of them were once like you. Some even lived in that shithole of Edengar! But they built this country, and that’s why they’re the nobles! Do something useful with your life, and maybe you can be like them too! That’s what I’m doing!!”

“Oh?” my voice was lost in their chatter, so I spoke a little more loudly. “OH? What do you mean?

“Ah, D-Demon Queen,” she bowed. Hell, she did it in the way that a noble crustecar might, if a lot clumsier. “What is um, what do you want to know? I will help however I can.”

“You said that you can become a noble? If I interpreted you correctly? How? By marrying into one of their families?”

“Well… that’s one way of doing it. But this isn’t like the nobility of Edengar!” she began to pick up steam. “Anyone here can do it! Human, centaur, crustecar, everyone! Not just the damned shepherds! And that’s my fu–treasured goal!”

“You’re missing the point,” someone interjected. “That’s not but their little brats are already well ahead of you. They already have the titles you so desperately want. They’ve even hogged all the best jobs that you pine for. It’s one big family, and you’re the beggar outside.”

“If you think life’s that hopeless, then why don’t you just die?” she growled. “Fuck you, old man. You’ve already given up. I haven’t. I won’t! Even if it’s unfair. I get why. People want to give their children the best future. I’m sure you’d do the same. It’s what my parents did, when they carried me all the way here when I was just an egg.” She turned back to me, self-concious about her manners again. “Umm…” She coughed, then gathered herself to speak in a clearer tone. “It might be presumptuous of me to ask, but I’ve heard rumors about what you’ve accomplished. I’m still inexperienced, but I’m a hard worker and a quick learner. If you can find a place for me in your retinue, then whether it’s on the battlefield, or logistics, or anything you might need of me; I can do it! Please give me a chance to prove myself!”

I smiled thinly. , even. Somehow, I didn’t think we would get along. She downright worshipped the nobles. People I hated. People… like me. lick

“Here,” I stood up and handed her a peculiar glossy dark red card. “Crosand, was it? I have no presence here, yet I suspect that might change soon. If you ever make it to an Angelslayer brand store, no matter which one, a fish market, beauty, exotic Materials, you name it; give this to them and tell them I sent you. They’ll… take you seriously. That much I can promise.”

She was trying her best. She was trying so hard. , I could not hate.

I awoke early the next morning, in full armor and with Devilcalibur hugged tight to my chest. I shook off the remaining sleep, had a wonderful breakfast at the Nook Bog Inn, and then got my maps from the Kobarinis manor.

I did not linger any longer and took off. The short and refreshing flight took only half an hour, until I found myself hovering above Jaleson City, where I might find my long-lost friends.

I descended, this time, taking care not to freak out the guards. The people below stared at me, and a few especially stupid ones began to reach for their weapons, but none had drawn them just yet.

I grinned at them, and it showed, for I did not have my mask on today.

The voice that came out of my mouth boomed, so that all may be reassured.

“Do not fear. I come in peace. I am Demon Queen Haell Zharignan, an ally, a friend.”

They froze. Regular business did not resume, and the people seeking entry did not run to the safety of the walls. Someone jumped off from the ramparts and then flew towards me.

We hovered there for a moment, taking each other’s measure.

“Haell Zharignan,” the harpy guard spoke my name, desperately trying to hide the quiver in his voice. “The demon of the south, I presume?”

I chuckled. “I do love the nicknames people come up with.” I gave him a nod, for a handshake was not something the winged harpies did. “Yes. That’s me. I’ve got the papers and ID and all, up to date with what the north requires.”

I took the documents from my packs, and then showed it to him for he could not hold things while in flight.

“I see. Everything seems to be in order.”

“That they are. May I come inside?”

“I’ll…” he shook his head. “I will have to ask the guard captain.” He looked down, and spotted an armored man walk out of the gates. “There he is now. Please, meet with him… citizen.”

I did as he said, and we flew our separate ways. I landed in front of the guards, who had slowly resumed their regular duties of admitting people inside.

“So, you’re Haell?” the apparent guard captain asked, a human man almost built like an ogre.

“Yep. That’s me.” I handed him the same documents Ania Kobarin had made for me yesterday.

He nodded. “You are free to enter then. I hope you enjoy what our city, and our nation as a whole, has to offer.”

I smiled. “I will. Oh! But I’m looking for someone specific right now. Do you know of a Luine and Salaire? And Baston and Fiya! I heard they’re here too.”

He raised a brow. “I believe I do know of them. You mean the two women who run the orphanage, and the botanists, correct? They are also occasional adventurers, and have been a great help to us many times.”

I smiled, and it was completely genuine. “Yes. That sounds exactly like them. Can you please tell me where they are?”

“...Of course. You will want to go the eastern common district, north of the shops, and just in front of the Salaire Park.”

I handed him a silver coin, my grin never once having left my face. “Thanks!”

I entered the city, and then quickly navigated my way to my friends’ place while sampling all the stalls along the way. Eventually, I found it, after only a few minutes’ worth of confusion. Children played in a large playground, and they were of all different species. I remembered for a moment how I had used to come here….. or a place exactly like it, back when I was just their age. Just like then, the same people came out of their main building.

“Haell…?” Luine froze. She looked… older than when I last saw her.

“Haell!” Salaire cheered and ran over to give me a hug. Her wife soon joined, and the children grew curious and crowded around us.

“I missed you guys. There’s so much we need to catch up on.”

“That’s our line!” Luine countered. I noticed that she had a hook prosthetic on her left arm, instead of the katar she used to favor. “We keep hearing about you……” her gaze was briefly drawn to the children around us, “getting into various conflicts. With the bad guys.”

“Bad guys!”

“Oh bad guys!”

“Big sister, you want to play!?”

“No! I’ll be the templar!”

“Aaaahhhh!! Run!”

I chuckled and then grinned at Luine. “That’s precisely why have much to catch me up on. Sounds like you already know what I’ve been up to!”

We made our way out of the orphanage to go meet with Fiya and Baston. They lived nearby, but in the noble’s district. Thankfully, the guards practically bent over backwards to welcome the three of us in.

Once there, I took a moment to marvel at the storefront full of flowers. The ground was saturated with it, and the walls were the same, if with more subdued colors and visible vines. There were also a few trees, and their rainbow leaves were like cherry blossoms that only occasionally fell. I walked through the elegant marble walkway, and then read the big sign drawn by––flowers! Like everything else!

I smirked. What a thing to name your shop. I liked it. I entered with Luine and Salaire, to the wonderful chime of a bell. A few people who were considering the arrangements on sale looked over at us, and it wasn’t hard to recognize them as people of high society. The floor was properly tiled with long, elaborately carved planks of wood, though there were selective gaps for plants to be planted inside. The walls were painted in various pastel shades, and I recognized the roof’s structure as something that could be opened up. In fact, it was wide open right now, welcoming the sun’s rays inside. Well… it was still early in the morning, so there wasn’t much, but the place did feel wonderful. I loved the ambience.

Fiya looked up from her book at the reception table, and first saw Luine and Salaire. “Hey–!” Then her eyes met mine. “Haell…? Haell, is that you?”

“You know of any other demon?” I smirked. “Yes, it’s me.”

“Oh my dragons!” She leapt over the counter, further startling the already-startled nobles. Without hesitation, the fountan woman gave me a big hug once I was in reach. “Baston! HEY BASTON! Leave your plants! HAELL is here!!!”

“WHAT!? WHAT WHAT WHAT!?” Someone came running out of the back room. His gait was unsteady, and his cane tapped an unsteady rhythm on his way to me. But the short and stout ishkawtan man did not let any of that stop him from giving me just as big a hug as his wife. “I’m glad you’re okay. We were worried about you. I wanted to come with Rallem and the rest, but my leg… And Luine’s own convoy could use the help…”

“Don’t worry,” I said clearly, the tears coming now. “I’m fine. I’m perfectly and completely fine. You did not make a single wrong decision.”

He nodded firmly in my arms. As did the others around us.

The nobles were promptly kicked out.