That Slave Girl

Back in the inn, in Libertas room were that slave girl, Caesar, Judas, and Libertas. That girl sat on the bed while the others stood around her. Impatiently Caesar asked, "Why did you gather us? What do you mean with 'hero's descendants'?"

"There is a hidden force dwelling inside you, a force which you can't even dream of, as it is far above your imagination. I was sent by the will of His Truly, as an incarnation of his-"

Judas waved irritated his hand, "Alright, cut the crap. Tell me, who are you?"

The girl sighed, "Didn't I already told you? I am the incarnation-"

Annoyed, Judas tersely inquired, "Your name?"

She frowned, similarly irritated but in the end, she replied, "Tribana."

"How did you know?"

"Know what?"

"How did you identify us as the hero's descendants?"

"Can't you tell? I am a stage above you and I can sense a Law in each one of you above mines. Except for the hero's descendants, who else could it be?"

"If you are a stage above mine, about what could you speak with someone weaker than you?"

From the start until now, there wasn't a single point which Caesar or Libertas understood. Almost everything they spoke of was gibberish to them. As such, after Libertas felt a light tug at his hem, he spoke, "Wait a moment. Shouldn't you both explain everything from the start instead of leaving us in the dark?"

Judas shrugged his shoulders and glanced at Tribana. She sighed while resignedly threw her hand in the air, "Then, I will tell you a quick summary of this grand tale, but first, sit down and make it yourself comfortable. It may take a bit of time."

Judas took a seat beside her, while Libertas and Caesar rested on the floor. Though, after Caesar saw Judas comfortably sitting on the bed, he swiftly too followed the example. After she saw that everyone sat down, she began to tell the tale of Heroes and Demon Kings.

"Actually, not a long time ago, around eighty years, a terrifying Demonic Goddess invaded our beautiful word, Tribus. Our Holy God fought and defended us. Unfortunately, His Holiness was already weakened before. As such he called his friend, but in the end, this friend betrayed His Holiness. A terrible and cruel war ensued in the mortal realm."

Judas frowned, "How can you know this all? Nothing of this, was recorded down in the history books?"

She smiled, spoke smugly, "Didn't I already told you? I am the incarnation-"

"Alright, just stop that. If you don't want to tell, then don't! Continue your story."

She sighed, "The Demonic Goddess and the Traitor God blessed each a mortal to rise as the Demon Kings. Under their guidance, an evil cult was set up to support the demon kings. A large swath of land was forcefully conquered, the man terrorized. To fight against the Demon Kings His Holiness blessed the world with the Hero."

Tribana shook her head regrettably, "Unfortunately, His Holiness couldn't clinch the victory but the war wasn't lost. The world broke in three, as none won the war. The hero died but he succeeded in killing the demon kings. Though they may be dead now, their destiny is carried on in their blood. It is predestined for the war to resume someday in the future."

Caesar opened his mouth, only for Judas to speak first, "So what does this war have to do with us?"

"Well, a lot. As I said, as the hero's descendants you carry his-"

"Shut up! I don't see a single reason to fight in this stupid war! I don't believe in destiny! Give me a valid reason!"

She frowned, "Alright, you won. You can fight to the death for a single chance to live or hide in your nest like a rat. You can kill your fellow descendants to gain their Law, hidden in their bloodline, or be killed for the new hero's uprising! Kill or be killed. Chase or be chased. Besides that, every hero's descendants can become the next hero, and a lot will fear that. They will try to kill the bud before it grows too much."

Judas frowned, then glanced at the others. Seeing his gaze, Caesar peeked at Libertas. Libertas starred at that girl, his nose wrinkled. Then he inquired, "How can you identify as the Hero's descendant?"

She replied in an annoyed voice, "Do all of you like to repeat yourself? Didn't I already tell you that? I can sense a hidden Law inside you all! Do you understand that now?"

"No. I am asking how you can differentiate between the demon kings' descendant and Hero's descendants."

She sneered, "Well, as I told the world broke in three, and this part of the world belongs to His Holiness! Why would the demon kings' descendants be here? Do they have a death wish?"

After waiting a while, no further questions came, she scoffed, "Are we finished with the interrogation?"

As Libertas saw no one respond, he shrugged while nodding his head. She then sweetly smiled back, "Shall we move on to why I requested to speak with you three privately?"

"Go on."

"As you can see, I am currently a slave. During the final battle, the demon kings have deeply wounded me, and until today, my imaginary World hasn't recovered. Furthermore, I don't know what exactly happened after that, as I fell into a deep slumber after the fight. Hence-"

"Do you expect us to fight for you?"

"… Yes, but you don't need to worry. I reassure you will reach-"

"Then I am sorry, we won't participate in your war. What you are doing right now is to kill us, not to save anybody. Judas, do you want to take her?"

Tribana bit on her lips. Judas glanced at her before he replied, "Alright, I will take her."

"Are sure?"

Suddenly, the girl shouted out, "Hey, you can't just shove me to someone else before you then try to convince them, to throw me away!"

Though, she was ignored as Judas answered, "Yeah. In fact, I only joined the auction for her."

Hearing his reply, Libertas shrugged his shoulders, "If you say so, she is all yours. But before that, let me remind you to be careful of her."

Judas took Tribana's hands, then he smiled at Libertas, "Thanks, though you didn't need to say. Then let us go to sleep. Your little brother has already dozed off."

The next day, in the morning, in front of the inn. Caesar loudly yelled out, the reluctance in his voice was clear to hear, "What? Why? Brother, I don't want to leave you!"

"Caesar, you need to understand. This isn't a road trip which we occasional go on together, this is a business trip. You must know I have become a Marquess. If I am not at the border who will protect this land? Who will stop enemies from evading? Caesar, become a good king, alright?"

"But, but-"

Seeing the tears in Caesar's eyes, Libertas kneeled. Gently, he brushed his hands through the hair. Then he whispered to Caesar. "When I have the time, I will come visiting you. Then we can play hide and seek, or whatever you want, alright?"

Caesar's wet eyes sparkled, "Really?"

"Yeah."

Caesar jumped up and ran around Libertas. As if Caesar couldn't wait any longer for the future, he pulled sometimes Libertas forward. Soon, they walked by a church. Igor halted in his walk. He glanced in melancholy at the happy pair before he requested, "Your Highness, may I-"

Then, as if he noticed his mistake, he began the sentence anew, "Your Excellency, may I give a short prayer at this church?"

Libertas turned around, "Hmm? Ah, alright. We will wait here."

Igor nodded, and then entered the church but soon after that he exited again. Awkwardly he laughed at Libertas, "We can go. They were closed for now, as they currently have a secret campaign going on."

"Then, why is the door open?"

"A single priest was receiving the believers there. Besides that, he accepted the donations too…"

At the gate, the rest of the group were already waiting there for them. Judas waved his hand while shouting, "Can't you be faster? We already waited a long time!"

Libertas shouted back at him, "Didn't you have something else to do? Why wait?"

"Ah, something unexpected happened, and now, I don't need to do that any more."

Libertas glanced at Tribana who was beside Judas. Noticing the glance, Judas awkwardly laughed, "Don't think too much into that."

"Alright, did you buy two additional horse?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Igor needs to bring my brother back to the palace."

"Oh, then shall-"

Petro suddenly stepped forward, "Wait a moment, Your-, Judas. Libertas, Igor can stay with you. We will escort Caesar back to the palace."

Judas frowned, but after thinking a while, the frown loosened. He scratched his nose, as he told, "It seems our path was destined to part here. So can we accompany your brother back instead of Igor?"

Libertas similar frowned, the gaze switched between Judas and Petro. Then, he sighed, "Just do it. I can't stop it anyway, right?"

"Sorry."

"No need, I trust that you won't hurt him, right? Now go!"

"See you then at the Obelisk!"

The four rode into the far distance, as the rest stood behind, seeing them off. After they disappeared from the sight of the rest, the succubi sighed. Then they crawled into one of the two carriages. The monkey-brothers each took the rein of one carriage. Waiting for Libertas and Igor, who still stood beside the carriages.