80 The Necromancer and the Priestess 14 (2/2)

It likely had to do, not with El, but with the great demon himself (though, they were now the same person). The great demon was said to be a grand duke of the demon world, and it was claimed in some vague information they had filched from the church that he came here on orders of the demon king to clear out the residents of this much more prosperous and resource rich world so that they could live here.

In other words, El had run off, leaving behind his woman, in other words her, in order to deal with his work.

If it was Yao Heyan, she would have immediately gone to the company to drag his sorry ass back home, but the problem was, was that she had no means of going to the demon world. She had no idea how El had done so - it looked like some advanced use of spatial magic, but Leon also had no clue.

Because of this, they could only continue to gather information while researching magic.

Before Yin Mei had realized it, a year had passed, and though both the Guild and the information guild had grown greatly in size, there was no progress in the areas that Yin Mei had really wanted to progress in.

”What is your opinion on this time's mission?” Leon suddenly asked, abruptly changing the subject. Although he was the one who constantly brought it up, he also hated to see Celestina like this. It was hypocritical, but for some reason, he could never help it.

”This time's mission? Ah? With the princess girl?” Yin Mei was drawn back to reality, as she recalled what this time's mission was. As Arthur had thought, the person that the kingdom who had requested them wanted to find was their beloved youngest princess. Although there were no rumors that she had gone missing or anything, there was little information that could slip through their fingers - such was due to the capabilities of magic. Except, this mission was a slightly tricky one.

First, Yin Mei found it slightly suspicious that the kingdom would fork over so much money for a girl whose life or death was unknown - and whose death was more likely than her life. Secondly, something was interfering with their magic. In other words, they hadn't been able to gather as much information on the mission as they had liked. Although Leon had personally wanted to turn down the mission because of this reason, Yin Mei had been intrigued and had insisted on taking it.

After all, she needed to know what was capable of interfering with their magic, so that they could come up with counter measures for the future.

”It's interesting, I suppose,” Yin Mei said emotionless, before suddenly breaking out into a smile. ”Well, I've stayed here long enough. Rosella and I should go meet up with the rest of the White Birds.” Rosella - who was wearing a disguise with her long black hair - immediately perked up in excitement. Leon knew that Yin Mei was purposefully avoiding the topic, though he wasn't sure why. But he didn't say anything, letting her go with a wave of the hand.

The two of them went to go meet up with the White Birds at their usual tavern, where things were rowdy for well into the night.

Yin Mei didn't like the commotion that much, but in her eyes, she was just taking care of some kids. The original members of the White Bird party, of which there were six, were somewhat like her kids - she had picked them up from a variety of bad situations and then put them through a hell like training to get them where they were now. As for the newer members, one of which she had just been introduced to now, well, they weren't all that close yet, but she also considered them as kids to take care of.

”So? Leader, are you going to come with us this time? You haven't been going with us at all ever since half a year ago.” Arthur said as he took a swig out of his beer.

”The leader has her own considerations. Arthur, don't keep on bothering her about coming with us when she has other things to do,” Ryan said as he cut through a piece of meat, putting it in his mouth.

”Haha, you say that, but be honest that you and Rose are the ones who want leader to come with us the most.” Arthur mocked.

”Don't put me together with Rose.” Ryan said, not saying anything else about Arthur's statement.

”What? What's so dislikable about being grouped together with me?” Rosella glared at Ryan.

They continued to argue. Sigh, these kids just really couldn't get along. But, at the very least, they had someone to argue with in this manner. And anyways, they're compatibility as a party was actually very good.

Thinking about this reminded her of her past.

Well. That was already a long time ago, though...

”Stop arguing, or I won't come along.” She said sternly, and everyone immediately shut up, turning several pairs of pleading puppy dog eyes onto her.

She smiled wryly as she let out a sigh. ”You guys really... can't be helped.”