Book 3: Chapter 36 (1/2)

Apollonia raised an eyebrow at Tafel. “Does this mean you approve of my plan?” She glanced at Vur before smiling at Tafel. “Since it seems like you’re the one who makes the decisions.”

“By plan, you mean the one involving”—Tafel motioned at Mary with her head—“and…, wait. Why am I even trying to hide it? She thought I was a devil coming to kill her. She knows about the plan, doesn’t she?”

“The one where Apollonia tries to take my throne from me by summoning a devil to kill me?” Mary asked. She nodded. “I know about it.”

Tafel stared at Mary with a blank expression. “And that’s something you’re alright with?”

“Yes,” Mary said. “I’ve never killed a devil before. I’m looking forward to it.”

“And that’s how it is,” Apollonia said. “You’re not going to interfere, right? It’s her wish.”

“That’s….” Tafel bit her lower lip. “But does she know about the other part?”

“What other part?” Apollonia asked, raising an eyebrow. “There is no other part.”

“Aren’t you forgetting the human wave?” Mary asked as she picked up a dried mango. “Of course, I know about it. After I kill the devil in one strike, I’ll run away. I’m very fast.”

Tafel’s expression darkened. “You’re—”

“Um?” Mary made a small sound as she reached out for another mango but grasped empty air with her hand instead. She looked down just in time to see Vur stuff the last slice into his mouth. “You did it again! My mangoes….” She hung her head before glaring at Vur, clenching the hilt of her sword. “I’m going to train. Goodbye.”

Vur made a face as he swallowed the mango slice. “Like I thought, mangoes still taste bad.”

“Then why’d you eat it?” Tafel asked with a sigh. She pursed her lips as Mary left the room. “I’m going to follow her. I want to see what kind of training she puts herself through.” Vur yawned and leaned back, resting his head against the back of the couch. He was just about to close his eyes when Tafel grabbed his hand. “You’re coming too.”

“Eh?” Vur’s eyes widened. “Me? Why? Dragons don’t train. We naturally grow stronger.”

Tafel’s eye twitched as she dragged Vur out of the room. “You’re going to train with me!”

“Should we go too?” Mr. Skelly asked Alice.

“Nah,” Alice said, shaking her head. “I don’t want to be made fun of after not being able to keep up with those two. There’s other ways for us to be useful.” She turned her head and gestured at Apollonia, waving her down. “Do you have a library?”

“Ah, yes,” Apollonia said. “I’ll show you where it is.”

Mr. Skelly and Alice followed Apollonia out of the room, leaving behind a woman with blue hair all alone on a couch in front of a table filled with empty plates. Alora blinked as her head swiveled around. “Wow. It’s so quiet. This is amazing!” She curled up into a ball and closed her eyes before chuckling to herself. “I wonder if Dad can sleep with the annoying trio bothering him now that I’m not there.”

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