The beast tamer exiled from the hero’s party and the cat eared girl from the strongest race meet
“Lady Reez!”
When I returned to the mansion we use as our base, Monica came rushing over, looking flustered.
Normally, I would have scolded her to calm down, but…
unfortunately, I was so exhausted that those words wouldn’t come out.
I leaned against her as she ran up to me.
“Phew…”
“You’re in such terrible shape…”
“I’m fine. I may look like this, but I don’t have any deep wounds.”
Still… I was honestly worn out.
More than physical injuries, the mental fatigue was overwhelming.
I was barely able to stay on my feet.
If Monica hadn’t supported me, I might have collapsed right there.
“Come, Lady Reez.”
“Thank you.”
With Monica supporting me, I sat down on a chair.
After drinking the water she brought, I was finally able to catch my breath.
“To think Lady Reez would be pushed this far…”
“To be honest, I misjudged his strength.”
“…Rain Shroud, is it?”
“Yes. And his companions as well, I suppose.”
To think they would actually defeat Lady Altera.
This outcome was far beyond my expectations.
Lady Altera possesses both power and cunning.
Among the Four Heavenly Kings, she ranks number two in strength.
By our initial assessment, there should have been no way for Rain Shroud and his group to win…
yet they overturned my expectations and seized victory.
What’s more, they completely destroyed Lady Altera’s plans, leaving the moderates with the upper hand.
What a headache.
“…Well.”
As someone from the neutral faction, it makes little difference to me whether the hardliners or the moderates gain the advantage.
Once the Demon King awakens, everything will end there and be decided.
Even so, this defeat hurts—honestly, far more than I’d like to admit.
It was unexpected to an absurd degree.
Not only was Lady Altera defeated…
I, too, was driven into a corner.
Even after using my trump card—manipulating time.
“Lady Reez.”
“What is it, Monica?”
“Please forgive me for bringing this up at such a time, but regarding Rain Shroud… you must not underestimate him.”
“…”
“If you think of him as a more troublesome existence than the newly appointed Hero…”
“Yes… I suppose so.”
At this point, I have to admit that my understanding was wrong.
Rain Shroud is not just another nobody who happens to carry the Hero’s bloodline.
Even if that blood runs thin, his talent surpasses that of Arios.
At present, he is growing into the greatest threat.
“To think I would misjudge him…”
In a sense, this defeat is my responsibility.
If I had eliminated him beforehand, this situation would never have occurred.
“Lady Reez. If you give the order, I will take Rain Shroud’s life—”
“…No. Now is not the time to act.”
“Will you leave him alone?”
“I acknowledge that he is a threat, but… precisely because of that, we cannot move carelessly. Proper preparations will be required.”
“But if I risk my life and challenge him—!”
“That won’t do, Monica.”
“Ah…”
Though I nearly collapsed, I stood up and embraced Monica, who was about to rush off recklessly.
Her expression softened, and she quieted down.
“It’s true that if Monica were to face him with such resolve, you might achieve results. You are… after all, someone who carries the blood of the gods.”
“…”
“But if you were to die because of it, it would be meaningless. I live for the Demon King, yes… but not only for that. I live for you as well, you know?”
“…Lady Reez…”
“You may be human, but to me, you are like my daughter. No— I think of you as my daughter. What kind of parent would send their child to their death?”
“Thank you… very much.”
Monica lowered her head.
Perhaps she didn’t want me to see her tears.
She’s grown up so much, yet there are still childish sides to her.
Ah… my Monica.
My precious daughter.
I will grant your wish myself.
Monica’s revenge is my revenge.
Monica’s hatred is my hatred.
Everything is for the sake of my daughter…
“…I’m sorry. I showed you such an unseemly side of me.”
“For me, it was a pleasant bonus. I got to see a side of Monica I don’t normally see.”
“Ugh… Lady Reez, you’re cruel.”
“Hehe.”
I’d like to stay like this forever, but we can’t afford to relax for too long.
We must make our next move and recover from this crushing defeat.
“…”
I analyze the current situation…
then think about what can be done right now.
I run simulations over and over in my head, until I finally reach a conclusion that seems workable.
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