Chapter 81: The Aftermath (1/2)

It was almost dawn when the sounds of battle subsided. Harlan, Jayce and Malborne were already back from the other side of the Fortress, the enemies they faced off retreated when the sounds of crumbling walls made by the Spirit King reached their ears.

Aside from a few wounds and scratches, there's nothing life-threatening.

Upon seeing her father, Jayna became a little child as she jumped onto his arms but only for a moment. When she realized we're looking at her, she controlled herself and stepped away from her father.

”Ember. I heard about your mission. You didn't let my little girl suffer, did you?”

Jayce turned to me as he started his doting father act.

He still kept his way of calling me Ember even if I already told him my name. I guess it's because it's easier to pronounce for him but if he continued, then Ember would stop being a legend.

”Father! Do I look like I suffered?”

Jayna ran in front of me to block her father's questions. She stretched her arms wide as she did a 360 spin to show that there's nothing wrong with her.

After her embarrassment was dispersed, though she's still a bit upset, she started looking at me properly again.

Ah. But the thing she was curious about was still unknown.

”Of course not, my little girl is still this enchanting after all.”

With a big smile on his face, Jayce answered her. Even with her pranking habits, his doting to her never decreased.

”Then why are you asking him?”

I think I know why. It's still that, right?

”You know why, Jayna.”

Err... He's still hung up on that competition and the question he asked me. I think he's more troublesome than the Spirit King.

”Ugh. Go away, old man!”

Jayna turned around and pulled me away from her father. Afraid that if I stay, he will really bring that up again. However, she didn't see how her father smiled at this scene.

After a while, Yumiko atop the Spirit King could be seen flying towards our location. Really, she shouldn't be called a Priestess but a Dragon Rider. Only she was brave enough to stand atop the strongest existence in this world.

From a distance, they looked like they had just taken a stroll. Unlike the three Noble Spirits, there's no visible wounds or scratches on them. Even Yumiko's revealing shrine maiden outfit stays the same.

”Uncle Harlan.”

Yumiko called out to him and smiled.

I tried guessing at which time did she ask for Harlan's help but then I recalled the communication equipment which the twins used.

Through Harlan, she managed to enlist two more Noble Spirits to aid in our rescue. Jayce is a given but for Malborne to be the 3rd one, he probably couldn't find someone else to invite or he has another motive.

”Yumiko.”

Harlan smiled back at her like seeing a daughter. Out of the three Noble Spirits, he's the one with the most injuries. There were stab wounds all around his body but they're all shallow.

I wonder what's the state of that Leandro who was chasing after us?

”Oh? A member of the Council? What are you here for?”

The Spirit King, Ezyn, commented when he saw Harlan.

”Be quiet, old thing. You already met him, have you forgotten already?”

And dropping her daughter behaviour, Yumiko scolded the Spirit King again. This kind of scene. If told to anyone in the city, they wouldn't believe it.

”The Spirit King!”

Malborne exclaimed as he almost pulled out his weapon, totally ignoring the way Yumiko talked to him.

As a Garrison Commander, he's the one most exposed to the attacks of the Spirit Beasts, no wonder he'll be this alert.

”Don't worry, Malborne. Remember, we have signed a treaty between The Council of Twenty and The Spirit King.”

Harlan reminded Malborne.

Any Noble Spirit level Spiritas or Spirit Beasts aren't allowed to join any war except when they're defending.

Of course, if the enemy is the Dark Elves, they're allowed to go all out, to annihilate the Invading Forces

”Uncle Harlan, after this, we'll be going to the Spirit Beast Capital.”

Yumiko could say that to Harlan through the communication device but she probably chose to say it here for Malborne to hear.

”Wait, Priestess! Why are you going there? It's dangerous!”

As I thought, maybe Harlan and Jayce were already in the know about Yumiko's relationship with the Spirit Beasts but most of the other Noble Spirits or members of the Council of Twenty didn't know about that.

They only knew that with her help as an intermediary, they got that treaty.

Is Harlan trying to pull Malborne into his faction?