Knowing Aoto's personality, She knew he mostly said whatever popped into his head, turning everything into a joke. She also knew his particular taste for femboys, Of course most likely it was an joke too.
But she couldn't take that risk. It was far safer to introduce Evadne as a simple girl than a femboy. That way, Aoto wouldn't prey on him because of his age. And if he tried anything funny, Scarlett promised herself she would personally give him the beating of his life and lock him in Dreadhaven's prison cell for the next few days.
"But why?" Evadne asked, his small face scrunched up in confusion.
"Just trust me!" Scarlett said, her voice dropping to a childish but deadly serious tone. She nodded at him.
Evadne didn't understand at all, but seeing the intense look on her face, he simply nodded in agreement.
***
Meanwhile, in the sprawling grounds of Darwitz, the air was filled with the sharp sounds of combat. Aoto, Xao, Li Feng, Ingrassia, and Irish were in the middle of a sparring session.
Aoto was facing off against Xao, while Li Feng was taking on both Ingrassia and Irish at once. The rules were clear: using magic was allowed, but special skills were not.
It wasn't their first time fighting like this; they had been practicing for days. For Ingrassia and Irish, Li Feng's mastery with a sword was incredible training. And for Aoto, who was weak at hand-to-hand combat, sparring with Xao and her powerful martial arts was a lesson he desperately needed.
"I shall make you fall today, hahaha..." Aoto laughed, his voice booming with the cheesy confidence of a third-rate villain from a children's movie. He charged at Xao, his arms wide.
Li Feng, who was busy deflecting a combined attack from Irish and Ingrassia, couldn't help but twitch his lips in irritation. "Why does he sound so perverted?" he thought, his annoyance flaring.
"How did someone like him become Scarlett's friend?", He had always been pissed off by Scarlett, but he secretly admitted she had a strong character. She always stood up for her people, and her good qualities greatly outshined her flaws. But Aoto... Aoto felt shameless in a way that even Scarlett couldn't match.
Aoto's strikes were surprisingly precise. He immediately bent low, sweeping his leg out in a sliding kick aimed at Xao's ankles to throw her off balance. But Xao was faster. She brought her own leg down, blocking his kick with a sharp thud.
Aoto sprang up and unleashed a flurry of punches, aiming for Xao's chest and face. But Xao flowed around him like water, dodging every single strike without any effort.
"You talk too much!" Xao barked. She spun her body in a fluid, 180-degree rotation, neatly avoiding a wild punch. As she came around, she snaked out a hand and grabbed Aoto's arm. With a sharp, precise movement, she chopped him hard in the soft spot just below his shoulder.
BAM!
At the same exact moment, her leg shot out and kicked him hard behind his knee. His leg buckled, and he dropped to the ground with a grunt. Before he could react, she grabbed his captured arm with both of her hands and twisted.
"Ouch... ouch... ouch! I surrender, I surrender!" Aoto cried out, his face scrunched in pain as he tapped frantically on her arm.
At the same time, the duel between Li Feng, Irish, and Ingrassia came to an end. But there was no clear winner. They had fought so equally that the match ended without a conclusion.
Li Feng panted slightly, his chest rising and falling. "You both are very good," he said, his voice filled with genuine respect. "I don't think there's any need for more sword training."
"I'm much more interested in your sword style, though," Ingrassia praised back, her eyes shining with interest. "Doing dozens of slashes at once... it was really hard to dodge." She wasn't just being polite; she was truly impressed by the fluid, deadly way Li Feng moved his blade.
Li Feng smiled, a bit embarrassed, and scratched the back of his head. "You flatter me. I'm just working hard, hoping to get a unique skill!"
"Is there a way to get a unique skill?" Ingrassia's eyes widened slightly, her voice full of hope. She was desperate for one, too.
Li Feng sighed, his expression softening. "I don't think so," he admitted. "I guess we just have to work hard and hope it all somehow works out!"
Li Feng and Ingrassia chatted for a few more moments, while Irish stood quietly on the sidelines, watching them. "It's been hours, but I haven't spoken a single word," she thought, lost in her own world. "But what should I say, anyway?" Acting like an extrovert was so exhausting and unnatural for her.
Soon, everyone gathered back together and began to leave the training area. They all knew today was the day they would finally depart for Dreadhaven, so they needed to pack their things and get ready.
"Maybe we can just train at Dreadhaven!" Irish added suddenly, her voice cutting through the quiet conversation.
Everyone stopped and looked at her. A deep, uncomfortable silence fell over the group. She had tried to continue the chat Li Feng and Ingrassia had left, but several minutes had already passed. To bring it up so suddenly was incredibly weird.
"Did I say something wrong?" Irish thought.
But Aoto, ever the social chameleon, seemed to understand. "We're only going for a few days," he said smoothly. "And you're the only one who will be staying there. So the rest of us should enjoy our time instead!"
"Ohh, right!" Irish nodded, a wave of relief washing over her.
"Maybe we should take Richard, too," Ingrassia said softly, her voice thoughtful. "His mood might get better this way." She paused, then added, "But will he go?"
"Leave it to me," Aoto declared with a confident grin. "I'll go talk to him." With that, he rushed off, disappearing down the path.
Irish watched him go until he was out of sight. A feeling of pure, unadulterated happiness bloomed in her chest. "Finally," she whispered to herself, a small smile playing on her lips. "After two years, the day is finally here. Only a few hours left."
***
Meanwhile in Dreadhaven, the night had arrived, and the entire area felt like it was in the middle of a grand festival. Lanterns and colorful decorations hung from every place, their warm light spilling onto the streets below.
Most shops were open, offering special discounts, their windows gleaming with festive displays to attract customers. The air was filled with music and laughter. There were theme park rides for people to enjoy, from gentle swings to thrilling attractions.
The smell of delicious street food mixed with the sound of karaoke from nearby bars. In the red light district, neon signs pulsed with life, offering entertainment for the adults. There was something for everyone, from kids to grown-ups.
As Dreadhaven continued to rebuild, many new shrines dedicated to Scarlett had been built. People went there to buy luck charms and to pray for a good future, their faith in their leader shining brightly. Even the royal palace was decorated, draped in so many lights it seemed to glow from within. The whole city felt alive and prosperous.
To be honest, everyone had been looking forward to a big celebration for their victory against the succubus forces, but they never had the time to organize one until now. Irish's arrival was the perfect excuse for everyone to party tonight.
"Yes, yes, just put it right there!" Lunatic called out, pointing to a high spot on the palace wall. She was looking up at Reiza, who was using her extremely tall height to help with the decorations.
Because the palace walls were so high, especially the section just above the main balcony, decorating them was taking forever for the others. But for Reiza, it was a simple, casual task.
She calmly walked back onto the balcony and patted her dress, shaking off the dust. "Why can't you just use your wings?" Reiza asked, her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Doesn't really matter, since I'm not good at decorations anyway!" Lunatic replied, sticking out her tongue as she focused on the work ahead.
Reiza just rolled her eyes and started to walk back inside. "Wait for me, I'll go change!"
Lunatic and the others were already ready in their party clothes; only Reiza was still busy. It didn't take her long, though. She changed into a outfit, similar in style to the one she wore at the banquet in the Victoria Kingdom.
She didn't understand much about fashion, but she trusted that Yumi's sense of style was much better than her own, so she knew it must look good.
When Reiza came back, Lunatic saw her. The shoes she wore made her already impressive height even more commanding.
Lunatic was about to compliment her, but then she noticed something else. Reiza was breathing slightly harder and faster than usual, as if she were very nervous. She hadn't even been this nervous when she went to her first-ever banquet.
Lunatic immediately understood what was going on. "Are you, by any chance, afraid?" she asked, a mocking smile spreading across her face.
"Wha— What? Afraid? Afraid of what?" Reiza's face immediately flushed red. She looked away, unable to make eye contact. "Why should I be afraid?" she clenched her fists, still staring at the ground.
Lunatic couldn't help but chuckle at Reiza's obvious frustration, but then her own smile faded as she thought about it.
"To be honest, I'm afraid, too," she admitted with a sigh. "It seems being a succubus isn't giving me that much of an advantage."
Reiza turned to look at her, her eyebrows raised in surprise.
"I still haven't thanked you for convincing Scarlett to accept me," Lunatic said, her tone shifting. "How about we team up? We can work together and hold our ground against Irish as a team."
Reiza froze. The sudden generosity from Lunatic was completely overwhelming. She even started to wonder if she was dreaming.
"When did she become this generous?" Reiza thought, completely confused.
After a moment, she nodded. "Okay. But only if you help me with one thing!"
"Really? What is it?" Lunatic was also a little surprised that Reiza had agreed so quickly.
"I'll tell you later," Reiza said. "Let's go for now!" She turned and walked past Lunatic, heading for the door with a determined pace. Lunatic watched her for a second, a small, genuine smile on her face, before following her from behind.