Beaming sounds echoed through the vast plain of Olteria. The citisens were confused and tried to find the source of that sound. However, their eyes couldn't keep up with it.
Two unidentified flying figures are passing through the land of Olteria Kingdom. Everyone was looking at the sky, trying to capture a look at the figure.
But since they were just fast, it was futile to make an effort at it.
The figures came to a halt at the front of the capital's palace. There were guards and knights, preparing their weapon as the figure became clear to their eyes.
One of the figures was emitting a black mist around him with a covered face mask and a cape around his body. The one behind him is a female with a different style of wearing the cape. Something was covered more important.
"What are those?" All of them were mystified and alarmed that they were prepared in air-combat formation.
Gigantic bows, mages, and archers were preparing for an attack. At the back were also mages, casting a barrier spell.
"Commander! What are those creatures?" A considerable high-ranking knight his superior.
"It doesn't matter! It's obviously carrying harm to the capital. Prepare for air-combat." The personnel pointed their weapons at the figures and waited for their superiors to signal.
"Fire!"
The mages attacked a long range offensive spell accompanied by the gigantic bow and archers' arrows. However, despite its powerful appearance, the figure helplessly created a barrier made of compressed air and negated the attacks. Everyone was stunned by that tough defensive spell.
"It is a mage! Prepare the anti-magic artifact!" Everyone was panicking, obeying the orders of their superiors.
"Anyways. Let's end this. How can I make them pass out in one attack?" The figure questioned in the thin air, making his companion confused.
The figure seems to receive a response then moved as what he heard. He created a plasma based spell, while covering his companion with thick mana so that it wouldn't get affected.
[Estimately, enough heat will destroy that barrier.] A machine-generated female voice emerged from the male figure's ears.
As soon as the figure finished his spell, he shot it to the top of the barrier, making it receive a strong impact, then broke. As a result, everyone was once again astonished at the play. They seemed to surrender in defeat. There was also someone who passed out during the event, making it look like a disaster.
"I want to meet your king. How dare you attack me out of nowhere? " He uttered with a heavy voice before landing on one of the massive walls of the capital of Olteria.
Inside the castle, the officials are gathering, carrying a report to their king. They carried an artifact that records a real-time situation in a particular marked place.
The king, sitting on the throne, made a frown expression. He was at least in his mid-50's and obviously making a stance of a veteran. He took his feet to stand up, then ordered his trusted servant, his advisor, to prepare the meeting room.
"Father, what are you going to do right now? Is this the end of our kingdom? I already said that we should not bother that monster. And now, look at what has happened." A sweet yet worried voice came from the princess of the kingdom. She has white, platinum hair reaching her waist and bangs with small braids at the side connecting with the otherside at the back of her head.
"Tsk. There's no way we were not gonna save that land. What would our ancestors say if they discovered we just surrendered a land?" An arguing tone coming from the king.
"Still, we can't let our people face the result of our foolishness. If only those nobles didn't take the situation as a stepping stone for their promotion." Then, a devastated tone came from the queen.
The queen stepped down then greeted his family's eyes. Wearing a queen's wardrobe touching the ends of its heels.
"Yet... We still can't touch them. It will be a result of losing a force within the military."
There was no other choice for the royals to do. They can only hiss and regret their sloppy management.
"My Liege, the room is ready." A report from the king's advisor.
Before answering, the king let out a breath before starting walking. "I shall face the consequences. I will return in a moment."
The king walked straightly to the outside of his castle. His eyes greeted the landing figures that seemed to be humans. He calmed his fast beating heart before continuing his walk.
The figures, on the other hand, removed the black mist covering his body. The male figure seems to be regretting his action.
[See, I told you to stop doing that. It even made them really afraid of you.]
'Yahh... Sorry. It's just, I want to establish my power in their perspectives.'
[Tsk! What a stupid.]
'Hey!'
As they finished landing on the wall, they jumped over the wall, to face the wide garden and grassfield. There were also trimmed box-shaped bushes and at the center was a pine-looking tree.
The two entities acostumed their eyes on the surroundings, turning their gazes to every corner. But, they halted when they saw a person walking, approaching from the path within the area of the garden.
The path was paved and had a brick structure. It was just the color brown. However, it doesn't look dirty.
The person who was approaching them wasn't carrying any weapon. Even any item to protect himself. Only his crown was present as an available possible weapon since it has an unbladed spike.
Assuming it was the king, the male approached the person and asked, "Are you the king?"
But being in fear, the king only answered him in a short repsonse. "Y-yes. I am."
"Well then," The male observed the king from head to toes, then concluded, "He is tall! Is he 6'2 at this age? Also, his physique seems topclass.'
"Your Majesty, please proceed with the plan." The female talked, speaking to the male, mentioning their actual plan.
"Right. I am here to have my nation, acknowledged by your kingdom."
"N-nation?" The king asked once more.
"Yes. And... can we move into a different place? I kinda need a rest because of that long flight."
"Ah-! Yes! I have prepared a room for you!" The king bursted into his talk, unbeknownst to the male that his presence was making the king feel inferiority.
They pass through pillars in the hallway, then finally reach the room that the king mentioned.
"Please have a seat." As the king opened the giant doors, a long table welcomed their eyes. The light inside the room was produced by an artifact made of luminant stone.
The male took his seat before addressing the king. "Should we introduce ourselves next?"
"Y-yes!" The king was making uncomposed behavior that made the male notice and squinted his brows, but of course, it wasn't visible to their eyes since he was wearing a mask.
"Please don't mind my aura. It's just because of me wearing this mask. I am really a sweet person."
"Yes... I apologize for the late introduction. I am Arnold Vicente Olteria VI, the ruler of this kingdom."
"Well, I am Hanzel Go Lucifarge, the ruler of the new built nation, Lucifarge from your western border."
'Ah... I forgot to think properly about the name. Since theirs are on their names, I'll have mine on the name of our nation too.'
"Lucifarge...? Perhaps, that you used that land as your kingdom?" The king sounded hesitating, but he tried to sound more confident.
"Yes... But it's not just like that. I didn't just grab that land to be mine. I want to fix those tyrant leaders. So it left me with no choice, but to grab that land as mine."
"So it was because of them?" Lucifarge seems to be intruiged by the king's remarks.
"So you knew?"
"Yes... But I can't do something about it. The family ruling that fortress city was from a long-running marquis family. Even though we tried to save it using the Golden Pheonix Order, we still can't claim that land."
Lucifarge was left in thoughts. He tried to remember what the fat noble said to him. Perhaps, it would be helpful to mention it.
"Can I ask about the Santino family?"
"What-? Please don't mind internal affairs. It would be irresponsible of me to discuss it with an... outsider."
"Hahaha. I see... Forgive me. Then, I came here for the acknowledgement. So I brought a gift in return for destroying your assets."
The king was obviously confused, since Lucifarge wasn't carrying anything with him.
Lucifarge chanted, "Inventory," there emerged a small warping gate which Lucifarge pulled something inside it.
Putting on the table what he took, the advisor, and the king couldn't help but to make a stunned expression.
"These are Dryads' Blessed Catterpillar, Black Lower Arachnids, Giant Thick Ants, and Killer Bee. Is this the gift you said?" Having a doubtful face, yet a surprised tone, the king asked Lucifarge for the large quantity of materials.
"Yes it is. I hope that this will suffice. And I hope to have a good relationship with your kingdom."
The king was speechless for a moment. He can't decide yet since there are processes needed to be recorded.
First was the agreement of the kingdom's alliance with other nations. Having a relationship with an unknown kingdom, most of all leaded monsters, is unecceptable.
"I may be tempted but... I can't break the alliance I made with the Western Alliance."
"Ah... I see... Don't worry, I'm making my way to have others agree too. So, you can decide about it later. But right now, I want you to acknowledge it, making sure no one will attack my nation."
"In what matter are you concerned about... our kingdom... attacking yours?"
Lucifarge let out a snicker. He breathes deeply then holds Lucy's hands.
"You see, this girl right here is from another race. I can't disclose it but I want you to know that I am making a neutral country. A country with different races and accepted by the land."
However, despite those words, Lucy wasn't able to keep her composure. She was redding inside because of embrrassment and also excitement.
'Wha-! Lucifarge-sama's hands!'
[Ehem. Hanzel, maybe you are enjoying it too much.]
Lucifarge widened his eyes before letting go the hands of Lucy.
"Sorry." He said, but Lucy didn't pay heed to it. She was still mesmerized by what had happened.
"I see your point. Well, I won't take revenge on you since it was my fault after all. But, can I ask about something?"
"Yes, what is it?"
"From the reports, the said leader was a Goblin King. Perhaps it was just your servant or it was you."
Lucifarge made a serious face. He clicked his tongue before talking.
"Yeah. And what is it?" The kings were dumfounded at that tone.
"Nothing. It was just amazing that you could have different appearances."
"Don't pay heed to it." Lucifarge made it to don't make any progress on that topic. He seems to be cautious about where the talk will go.
"Understood."
"Then for the last time, your people will be accepted when you finally acknowledge our land. It also includes that you will sign the acknowledgement of being neighbors. But anyways... it doesn't even bother us if you won't. I was just thinking of your kingdom's well-being."
***
After Lucifarge left the castle, the nervous face of the king disappeared. He is now wearing a serious face just like what he had before Lucifarge came.
"My Liege, what do you see in that ruler of the invaded Florencia? Do you think he will be the same as the demon lord, from what the reports said he was aiming at?"
The king made a more frowned face before speaking. "He was a monster, but he had a human body. This phenomenon is uncommon and I can't asses him. But when it comes to governing, I can tell that he has the capabilities, unlike me."
"Please don't talk like that, my love." The queen spoke up as she noticed the unsure tone of the king. She then comforted him by caressing his arms and gave him an embrace.
It wasn't for a charming act in particular, it was just a fruit of the queen's love for the king.
"I think I have found the best partner for our daughter." At that remark of the king, the queen was stunned, making her body away from the king.
"What do you mean? Are you planning to sell your own daughter to a monster?"
"He is not a monster. Monsters are unpredictable and unreasonable creatures. He is beyond what you call human. He even didn't judge my actions earlier. I thought that he'd get cocky and boastful if he noticed me trembling, but it didn't work. My acting didn't work. He is not someone that would step down on others. At least, he knew what the borders were doing."
The queen could only make a furious face before speaking. "I won't let you! If this happens, I would be happy to offer my life to that monster than our daughter."
"Please mother, I am not against it." The conversation was cut short by the princess who entered the room. The king was only astonished, afraid that she had heard what he just said.
"A-ariel."
"Father, I accept what you have said. I will marry that, king... at least, it is the best way for us to save our people."
"Ariel..."
The king has finally decided. He will let his daughter marry the king of Lucifarge. It may look like she's selling her daughter, but it wasn't. It was to build a relationship through political marriage, in a same manner as what the princess had thought.
However, despite this decision seems to be eager, the king is afraid of losing his daughter like what most fathers are.
"Ariel!" The queen bursted into tears, embracing her daughter in her arms. "Please forgive me! Please..." The queen sobbed more and more. The princess was only left with an awkward smile.
"Mother... it doesn't mean I'll be away. It's just 300km... You can visit me every week."
"Still... I feel sorry for you. You can't even decide your own future."
"What are you talking about, mother? This is what I chose... At least, I will do my one last task."
Despite the strong personality of the princess, deep inside she was scared, scared of what would happen if the ruler of that land disagreed with the marriage. It would also mean that they wouldn't have ties with the alliance since it would look like they betrayed the alliance. However, they were left with no choice since they were in the middle of the problem.
'I have finally decided. I will marry that monster, and kill him.'