Chapter Sixty Three

The clouds parted, revealing the nation of Raja below. From atop her mount, a large, black, armored dragonfly named Seth, Kaede finally caught sight of their destination.

"Oh! I can finally see it, guys!" she called out over the rushing wind.

Flying behind her was her entourage: Shifu, Hachi, Kaori, Ari, and Delta. Each rode atop their own armored dragonfly, soaring in formation as they approached the nation.

"Wow, it's beautiful," Kaede said in amazement, taking in the breathtaking view of Raja. Nestled between two towering cliffs and surrounded by shimmering lakes, the kingdom reminded her of a cascading waterfall.

Ari scoffed. "It's pretty, I suppose. But once we're done, Maple Tree will be far more stunning, this place won't even compare."

Kaede chuckled in amusement. "I'm sure," she said, as the others nodded in exaggerated agreement.

Ahead of them, two wyverns ascended to meet them, each ridden by a young knight.

"Oh, look. A welcoming party," Kaede mused with a smile as the riders approached.

"This way," one of the knights, a brown-haired young man, called out, guiding his wyvern ahead to lead them.

"Welcome to Raja!" the other knight greeted warmly as he flew beside his partner.

"It's a beautiful kingdom," Kaede remarked, voicing her admiration.

"Why, thank you!" the first knight responded, pride evident in his voice. "You should have seen it in its prime, truly enchanting."

His companion coughed lightly into his hand, prompting the first knight to realize his mistake. His eyes widened as he quickly bowed. "Ah, forgive me, Your Highness!"

Kaede waved off his concern with a gentle smile. "No, it's quite alright! Your pride in your homeland is a wonderful thing. Never let go of that feeling."

The knight's eyes glistened with emotion, his lips curling into a determined smile. "Thank you, Your Highness! I promise I won't!"

Kaede chuckled softly, pleased by his sincerity.

---

"Allow me to introduce you," Shifu said, gesturing toward Kaede. "This is the leader of the nation of Maple Tree, Kaede Honjou."

Kaede nodded politely. "Thanks for having me."

Queen Towa welcomed her with a warm smile. "No, thank you for visiting our humble kingdom. It's a pleasure to meet you, truly."

She paused, studying Kaede for a moment. "You really are human."

Kaede tilted her head. "Hmm?"

Queen Towa shook her head. "It's just... it's rare for a human to create a nation of monsters."

"Oh? Well, my friends always called me weird," Kaede replied with a playful smile. "I say, what better way to live?" She placed a hand over Ari's, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

Ari smiled and squeezed back. "Thanks, Mom."

Queen Towa chuckled. "Well said, Lady Kaede. My kingdom has survived this long because we stand together, regardless of race. It's incredible what we can accomplish when we unite."

Kaede nodded in agreement.

Queen Towa's expression turned serious. "Which is why I requested an audience with you."

Kaede focused, her expression matching the queen's.

"I would like to establish diplomatic relations between our two kingdoms," Towa stated firmly.

Kaede listened attentively, waiting for her to continue.

"I assume you've gathered some information about our kingdom. If so, you're aware that we are in dire need of assistance." Towa placed her hands on the table.

Ari opened her mouth to speak, but Kaede cut her off. "I have, and you are. I am not against opening diplomatic relations between our nations." she said, sighing. "But I'm not entirely sure if you have anything to trade."

Internally, she groaned. 'Nope. Not letting Ari speak right now. She'd probably try to twist this into making Raja my vassal. This is a kingdom in need, a kingdom similar to my own.'

Queen Towa's expression grew heavy, the weight of her kingdom's struggles clearly etched onto her face. Though she bore the look of a woman under immense pressure, her eyes still held determination, she had not given up.

'Dishonesty will do me no good here. Not with how powerful they seem,' she thought.

Taking a steady breath, she began, "Raja does not have any local specialties, nor is our food production very high." She met Kaede's gaze, her tone unwavering. "We have always relied on imports to sustain our population, paying for them with the gold extracted from our mines."

Then, her shoulders sagged slightly as she admitted, "But soon… even that will no longer be possible. Our mines are poisoning our water supply, and at this rate, our people won't last."

The room remained silent as she continued. "Originally, we considered cultivating the Jura Forest to secure more resources, but the presence of the Storm Dragon made that idea impossible. We had no hope of establishing a foothold there."

She glanced at Kaede's entourage before locking eyes with her once more. "Then your subordinate arrived in my kingdom, bringing news of a nation of monsters, created by a human, no less, within the Jura Forest. At that moment, I knew this was an opportunity I couldn't afford to overlook."

Kaede nodded, her expression unreadable. "So, what exactly are you proposing?"

Queen Towa took a deep breath before speaking. "I would like to propose a mutually beneficial agreement."

She leaned forward slightly. "If you grant us permission to farm within a designated portion of your land, Raja will, in return, provide a portion of our agricultural yield to Maple Tree as compensation. Additionally, we are willing to offer skilled laborers and craftsmen to aid in the development of your nation."

'Ehh? That really isn't offering much. But their kingdom needs help so...' Kaede tapped her fingers on the table, considering the offer. "You want to use the land under my control, in exchange for a share of your harvest and workforce?"

"Yes," Towa confirmed. "Maple Tree would not have to oversee the process. Raja will handle everything, from the initial setup to long-term cultivation. We simply require the land and your protection from external interference."

Kaede glanced at her subordinates, noting Ari's expression of barely restrained disagreement. "And how do you intend to ensure that this deal remains fair? What percentage of the yield are you offering?"

'She's asking me? Honestly, she could ask for fifty percent of our yield and we would have no choice but to comply. My gamble actually paid off.' Towa met her gaze without hesitation. "Twenty percent. A fair amount, considering we would bear the cost of labor and maintenance."

'I don't want to put too much stress on their nation. Even if Maple Tree doesn't benefit.' Kaede hummed in thought. "Twenty percent is fair… but if my nation provides additional security, resources, or assistance, that percentage may need to be adjusted accordingly."

Towa nodded. "Of course. If circumstances change, we can renegotiate. My people simply need a chance to rebuild, and I believe this agreement could benefit us both."

'Ari probably doesn't think so. I'll have to talk to her later.' Kaede studied her for a long moment before finally speaking. "I'll need time to consider the specifics, but the general idea… I don't hate it."

A flicker of relief passed over Towa's face, but she maintained her composure. "That is all I ask. Take your time, Lady Kaede."

Kaede exhaled, a small smile playing at her lips. "With that done, I would like to take a look at your lake. There may be something I can do to help."

Queen Towa's eyes widened in disbelief. "Truly?" But she quickly composed herself, shaking her head. "No, you needn't trouble yourself. We've tried everything, and nothing has worked. The only thing I can do is cleanse the lake with magic from time to time."

Kaede's gaze lingered on the red tiara atop Towa's head. "It's killing you, though."

Towa inhaled sharply, momentarily caught off guard. Then, she smiled, a broken, weary smile. "You can tell?"

Kaede nodded.

Towa exhaled slowly. "This tiara is the reason I can protect my people."

"But in return," Kaede interjected, "it afflicts you with cursed poison."

Towa's voice was barely a whisper. "Every power comes with a price."

Kaede stepped forward, raising her hand. 'Artificia?'

The ministers shifted uneasily as she approached their queen.

Kaede clicked her tongue. 'Losing your touch, Artificia? Though, I suppose I shouldn't expect you to know about this. In the game, we had something called status effects. And given the demonic nature of this curse… I know just the skill.'

She smiled reassuringly. "Do not be afraid."

A brilliant white light engulfed the room, and in an instant, a heavy pressure descended upon the kingdom.

Kaede's eyes turned a deep sapphire blue, her hair blazing into a golden hue. She refrained from summoning her wings, but a dense, milky aura spread outward, seeping into the castle, the city, enveloping all of Raja in its sacred glow.

This was the effect of a subskill of her Ultimate Skill: || Guanyin, Lord of Mercy ||

[Presence of the Heavenly King]

A sacred zone is established around the user. All skills originating from 'evil' sources within its range, including those of the user, are nullified.

Towa gasped as thick black smoke erupted from her body. Unable to contain her agony, she let out a bloodcurdling scream.

"My Queen!" Mobuji cried in alarm, rushing toward her. "What have you done!?"

Behind him, Hiiro swiftly positioned himself between Towa and Kaede's group, his stance defensive. "Explain yourself!"

Kaede's eyes darted around. 'Where's the third one?' She turned to her companions. "Guys..."

Before she could finish, Kaori and Delta exchanged a knowing glance and smirked.

"We're on it."

In an instant, the eldest Tengu and the Wolf Faunus disappeared from the room.

Kaede blinked. 'Wait… I didn't even tell them anything.' She glanced at Ari, who was smirking. 'Did I miss something?'

A sudden shift in the atmosphere pulled her attention back to Towa. The black smoke darkened, turning into a deep, menacing purple. For a brief moment, Kaede felt something staring at her, something odd and ancient.

Then, just as suddenly, the smoke dispersed.

Towa collapsed forward, gasping for breath. "Hah!"

With a sharp clang!, the tiara slipped from her head and hit the ground, its once vibrant red hue now a dull, lifeless black.

"Guards!!" Mobuji roared, positioning himself protectively in front of the queen as the doors burst open.

The room tensed, the moment teetering on the edge of chaos. Kaede watched as a group of four guards wielding spears positioned themselves between Kaede and the queen.

Hachi (who I definitely did not forget about her existence.) exhaled calmly, releasing a soft emerald mist into the air. [Paralyzing Breath]

The moment the smoke touched them, the guards, along with Hiiro, froze in place, their bodies locking up as the skill took effect.

"Stop!" Queen Towa's voice rang out, cutting through the tension.

Everyone immediately ceased their actions, well, everyone except Kaede, Ari, Shifu, and Hachi, who hadn't been doing much to begin with.

"Queen Towa, please escape while you can," Hiiro gritted his teeth, struggling against the paralysis. "I'll hold them off as long as possible."

Kaede gave him an unimpressed look. "Cute." She then turned her attention to the queen. "How are you feeling, Queen Towa?"

Towa shakily pushed herself to her feet, a bit of color returning to her face. "You shouldn't have done that, Lady Kaede." Her voice was thick with concern. "How will I protect my people now? That tiara was the only way."

She reached out toward the lifeless tiara, desperation in her eyes.

CRUNCH!

A dark boot came down, shattering the tiara into useless fragments.

Towa gasped, her expression turning to devastation. Hiiro trembled, tears threatening to form as he realized he had failed to protect the person who had saved his life.

Slowly, Towa looked up at the one responsible.

Her eyes met Ari's.

"That is no way for a queen to act, Queen Towa," Ari said coldly. "Especially since my mother has acknowledged you." She shot a glance at Kaede, who frowned slightly. 'For some reason,' she thought, before turning back to Towa. "And yet, you didn't even realize your kingdom was being sabotaged. Mother figured it out instantly."

Towa visibly tensed. "Sabotaged?"

Kaede raised an eyebrow. 'I did what now?'

---

Deep within the lower levels of the castle, a lone figure dashed through the dimly lit corridors, panting heavily.

"That bitch! How could someone like that be here!?" he hissed, clutching his chest as he ran. "It burns... damn it all!"

The fleeing man was Chikowan, the demi-human doctor responsible for tending to the Queen of Raja.

Or rather, Chikowan, the Arch Devil secretly ensuring the queen never truly recovered.

His breath came in ragged gasps as he stumbled forward, his body weakening with every step. The very air in the castle felt suffocating, thick with Kaede's lingering aura.

'I… have to… escape…!' he thought desperately, gritting his teeth against the overwhelming pressure.

"Now, that won't do, will it?"

A voice echoed through the corridor, halting him in his tracks.

Chikowan spun around, eyes darting frantically. "Show yourself!"

From the shadows of the dimly lit hall, Delta stepped forward, a predatory grin stretching across her face. Her fangs glinted ominously as the torchlight reflected off them.

"Did you really think you could escape?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. "Your fate was sealed the moment my master set foot in this land."

Chikowan snarled, raising a trembling hand. "I won't just stand here and let you mock me, you little shit!" He thrust his palm forward, eyes flashing with rage. "Die!!!"

.

.

.

Nothing happened.

Chikowan's breath hitched. His fingers twitched uselessly.

"What!?" he gasped, panic setting in. "My magic! What happened!?"

Of course, as a devil, being within range of Kaede's Ultimate Skill meant his powers had been completely sealed.

Which, naturally, meant...

Delta's grin widened into something feral.

"I haven't had a chew toy in a while." Her claws extended, sharp and gleaming as she took a slow, deliberate step forward.

Chikowan yelped as a wave of pure killing intent crashed over him. His legs nearly gave out as fear rooted him in place.

The hallway darkened, shadows stretching unnaturally as Delta's voice rang in his ears.

"Want to play with me?"