Chapter 41: The news

「We have been sitting around doing nothing for a few months now, Kibadios sama.」noted the dragonoid while slurping the delicious noodle and its thick broth. Having sealed away for thousands of years, Ryuu was not able to enjoy any gourmet so he had decided to try out all the foods the capital of Maeg got to offer.「Should we start making our move? You were saying that before we deal with the Astrals, you want to settle the score with the commander who attacked the Village you reincarnated into right? Why don't we do that now?」

「Master is worried about Ryan chan, Ryuu chan. That's why he's been waiting to see if Kyles recover.」Rowan, sitting opposite from the hybrid and the dragonoid, explained.

「Chan? Don't be too familiar with me, lowly human!」Despite having shared a bed with the other three humans in his group, Ryuu's opinion of them has not changed one bit.「And seriously, it'd be better if this Kyles just dropped dead. That way, Kibadios sama may just have a chance to rekindle his relationship with Sylvia sama's reincarnation. They are supposed to be together!」

「Shut it, Ryuu!」Kibadios gave Ryuu a light headslap from the back before continuing.「First of all, even though Rowan is younger than you, he's still your "senpai in the sheet", you should show him some respect. Secondly, I have no interest in having Yllaner joining me. How many times have I told you, Yllaner is not Sylvia. I really don't mind you worshiping her as Sylvia's reincarnation, but as of right now, it's better for her to live her life as "Yllaner", the princess of the wood elf, rather than "Sylvia." Besides, she doesn't even remember her past life.」

「Buttt!」Ryuu dejectedly tried to argue but stopped short since Kibadios quickly agreed with his first suggestion.

「Though you're right that we need to get going now.」Kibadios turned to Ryuu, gently rubbing the back of his head, where he had just hit him.

「What made you change your mind now, Kibadios sama?」Rowan curiously asked.

「Just like Ryuu said, we can't afford to stay idle for too long. On top of that, earlier, Ryan just confirmed he would leave his brother behind and come with us.」

「I'm not surprised he would.」smiled Rowan.

「He's still under your hypnotic charm, right master? It makes sense that he would follow you until the end of time.」

「... If his decision is because of the hypnotic charm I placed on him, that begs the questions: firstly, has hypnotic skills advanced that much ever since my first reincarnation? Back 10000 years ago, hypnotic skills were only supposed to cloud one's judgement, similarly to having gotten drunk. They're usually not strong enough to dictate someone's action.」

「And why would you care about that? That just means you are possessing a really strong skill as half incubus right?」

「Idiot!」Ryuu frowned. 「Master's clearly worried about it because that means hypnotic skills can be used on us.」

「If that's the case, then we have to be wary of those you can use mind control related skills.」Kibadios explained. 「though I'm more worried about the fact that if Ryan has been acting obediently just because of the hypnotic charm I placed on him, what will he do when it somehow got removed?」Kibadios turned grim.

「... I have already made a promise with him.」Rowan told his master. 「that if one day, he ever turns his blade on us, I'll deal with him. I will make sure he can never harm you, master.」

「With me staying beside Kibadios sama, he would not be able to do anything to our master… He'd be dead before he can draw his sword.」Ryuu quickly turned murderous, which caused the hybrid to hit him to calm him down once again.

「Stop suddenly releasing your Haki like that, Ryuu kun.」reminded the hybrid. 「Anyways, we just have to watch out for Ryan, just in case. But that settles it, we will leave this capital in a few days.」

「Ara ara~」A familiar voice approached the hybrid and his group from behind. 「And where are you planning to go, Kiba-chan?」

「How many times have I told you to stop calling me like that, demon lord dono?」Without turning around, Kibadios could tell the uninvited guest who intruded into his conversation was no other but Gilga. 「and I thought we have left Lorian a month ago?」

「I did!」Gilga pulled a chair to sit at the hybrid's table. 「I just arrived here on another diplomatic mission.」

「Uruk must be running out of officials if its ruler has to make personal trips for every small diplomatic missions like this.」

「Don't be like that.」Gigla wrapped her arm around Kibadios' shoulder, much to Ryuu and Rowan's annoyance. 「I have made so much investment into the rebuilding of Lorian to improve our diplomatic ties, it's only reasonable that I should come here frequently to check on the progress we made. Besides, I get to see you again, Kiba chan. Have you given another thought about my offer yet?」

「You know our master's answer is still no!」Ryuu was irritated at how flirty Gilga's been acting toward Kibadios. 「like if he would ever come work for you.」

「There you go, my answer is still no.」If anything, Kibadios would want to applaud the great demon lord's persistence. Despite knowing nothing about the hybrid, she had asked him to work for her before she went back to Uruk three months ago. And ever since, whenever she visited Lorian, she had always made a point of hunting down the hybrid and convincing him, trying to turn a no into a yes.

「Is that so? What about you Ryuu chan?」her gaze turned toward the dragonoid. Just like Kibadios, ever since their first meeting, Gilga had also paid special attention to his so-called attendant, Ryuu, whose power might one day rival her own.

「Not even in your dream.」

「Oh well, there's always next time… So where are you planning to go now?」Despite her repeated attempts at recruiting the hybrid, she always seemed to easily drop the topic once Kibadios reaffirmed his answer.

「...」Kibadios thought for a moment before deciding to let the demon lord know. After all, he's got no reason not to. 「We'll be travelling up the Kuren river to settle some unfinished business. We'll probably set out soon, in a few days.」

「Up the Kuren? Then that means you'll be travelling close to my city-state then. Why don't you pay us a visit?」

「Maybe after I'm done.」

「...With what?」Gilga creepily smiled.

「Sorry, can't disclose.」

「Well, I'm willing to help you with whatever you need, Kiba chan」

「So that I'd owe you some favor? No thanks.」

「You've already owed me a favor or two, Kiba-chan! For helping to deal with the Prime Minister and for keeping your summon, whatever that was, a secret. 」

「That's true, huh? But still, I don't think I need your help. If I ever do, I'll let you know.」

「Great!」Gilga excitedly clapped her hands before remembering something. 「By the way, if you're travelling upstream of the Kuren, you'll be traversing through the Vernys Forest right? Will you going with that elven princess, the former heir of the Shilna clan?」

「No? I dont have any intention to… and what do you mean by former?」

「Don't you know? Interesting political events are happening there as we speak. Soon enough, the whole Vernys forest will be plunged into chaos.」

「What?」

「... You know what?」To much of Kibadios' annoyance, Gilga ignored the hybrid's question while studying him for a moment before an idea popped into her head. 「The favor you owe me, I think I know how you can pay me back!」

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「So you're planning to leave for the Vernys Forest with Kyles dono, Princess Yllaner?」King Lance was surprised at Yllaner's sudden decision as the two and Ryan met up in the newly rebuilt audience hall.

「Yes. It's been three months now and Kyles still did not respond to any treatment. I'm planning to take him back to my forest. We have a lot of skilled healers, ready to treat him. On top of that, we have the Spring of Healing, which hopefully can help with his wounds.」

「That's true… But I thought no one but elven kinds are allowed to be in the Spring?」

「That's the law, but I can use my authority as a princess to convince them… I can't just sit around and do nothing.」Fears seemed to grow in Yllaner's eyes, her body trembled as she thought of the unconscious Kyles.

「Don't worry, Yllaner sama. Nii chan will be fine.」consoled Ryan.

「If you have decided to leave, I'll prepare the best carriage for you guys. I'm so sorry that our doctors could not help him.」

「No. Your help is much appreciated, Your Majesty...」Suddenly, an one-arm Royal Knight suddenly rushed into the hall and whispered something into Lance's ears. The young king soon turned aghast at the news he just received.

「Princess Yllaner!」Lance quickly called out to the Princess.「Arch just told me an urgent intelligence report about your Vernys Forest.」

「What is it?」

「Your brother, Prince Yllaes has apparently staged a coup against Lady Seoder's rule. Currently, he's taking over the control of the Shilna Clan」gulped the young King, who was still trying to process the news himself.

「What?」Yllaner shouted.「How can that be? Turning against mother? Other tribes would definitely be against his action.」

「I'm afraid...」Lance looked at Yllaner, worryingly. 「the Great Confederation of the Vernys Forest is falling apart. Three of the other clans have already accepted his legitimacy, though in return, they wished to be treated as independent and equal partners with the Shilna clan instead of the current vassal status. The last remaining clan, the Fyeran, who's opposing Prince Yllaes, is now under threat of being invaded by the Shilna's forces.」

「... Foolish Onii san...」Yllaner clenched her fist.

Standing beside her, Ryan was eerily quiet. So the plan has begun, he thought to himself.