My dear witch, please turn evil according to the script!

Chapter 151: The Final Settlement of the Series of Missions – Trust or Distrust?
In another carriage, Kalia, who was leaning against the window looking at the street scene of the royal capital, turned around and looked at Roland, who was reading an ancient book in the seat in front of her.

"Hey, Roland. Why didn't that wicked woman show up to get in the way this time?"

"Logically speaking, she should have forced her way onto the carriage and gone back with us."

"Or are you trying to kick me off the bus so you can squeeze in with me?"

As he listened to Kalia's narration, Roland silently put down the general history of the continent in his hand and looked at Kalia with a strange expression.

"Hey, what's with that expression?" Kalia asked Roland, looking a little guilty.

"It's nothing... just a sentimental thought. If you really want to see Iluvia, you can ask the driver to stop, and then you can invite Iluvia from the back to get in the carriage with you."

"Now you've got the annoying guy you've always wanted, someone you can bicker with."

Upon hearing Roland's answer, Kalia immediately retorted, "Hey, that's not what I think at all!"

"Okay, okay, that's not what you think, alright?"

Faced with Roland's somewhat perfunctory attitude, Kalia tried to elbow Roland, but Roland, who had anticipated this, easily blocked Kalia's elbow strike.

"Alright, stop fooling around. We're almost at the palace."

Roland pointed out the car window, where they could now clearly see the gate leading into the palace.

After saying that, Roland began to have his own doubts.

Is this conversion process really that slow?
It's been an entire afternoon, and the sun will be setting again in two hours.

Why hasn't the system task completion notification popped up yet?

As the last minor character in the first series of missions he accepted.

Once this transformation ceremony is completed, Roland will have officially finished one of his series of missions.

Last time, even with short missions like Riskan's, he still managed to get a bunch of rewards at the end.

Given the lengthy quest in the capital, what rewards will the system give me upon completion?

Roland was already starting to look forward to it.

But unfortunately, the reward distribution is now stuck on the last task.

Ironically, he also has the power to decide how fast the mission progresses.

Roland looked at the progress of the last one.

Assist Iluvia in entering the Royal Heritage Realm – Complete. This objective is practically a freebie, no need to elaborate.

The ritual of inheritance is being carried out once again using the Sword of Silence—it is currently underway.

Finally, assist Iluvia in repairing the broken and chaotic spatial environment of the royal capital—again, it's a freebie, no further explanation needed.

Clearly, all that's left now is the progress on Flam and the chief archmage, Sean.

After all, according to the third condition, as long as the final authority over the formation is with Iluvia and the spatial environment of the royal capital is stable, it will be fine.

As for what kind of ceremony is performed and how it is performed, it is probably not very important; the main thing is to go through the motions and complete the task.

I hope so...

As Roland was thinking this, good news arrived.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, for successfully assisting the decaying witch Iluvia in repairing the spatial environment of the royal capital.]

The third phase of the mission is complete.

[Rewards for the second task of the third-stage objective are now being distributed.]

[The series of quests – The Fall of the Eternal Capital – has been completed. Quest settlement is now in progress… Please wait.]

[Estimated completion time: one hour.]

[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have received the stage mission reward: 20000 experience points and one skill evolution card.]

[Please wait for the completion of this series of tasks; rewards will be distributed shortly.]

"It ended just because I was thinking about it this way?"

Roland glanced at the rewards he had so far: the same old experience points and evolution cards?

He does hope to get more skill points, as they are a scarce commodity right now.

He was hoping to get more points to improve his spell interference and counter-spell abilities.

However, now that I have two skill evolution cards and one skill fusion card, it seems that I can start working on strengthening the spells I have.

But let's wait a bit and see what rewards we get at the end of the series of quests.

Now is not the time to rush.

"Roland, what are you laughing at all of a sudden?"

Kalia, who had unknowingly sat down next to Roland, poked Roland's cheek: "You're laughing, but you look a little sinister."

"Hey, is there any?"

"Of course!" Kalia said, then touched Roland's forehead. "Did you just eat something bad?"

"...If you really have an upset stomach, touching your forehead won't help."

"Is this what you're focusing on?" Kalia quipped. "Are you really okay? Why don't you tell that bastard you to find somewhere to get some sleep later?"

"After all, you haven't had a proper rest."

Roland merely glanced at Kalia: "Who do you think is the culprit for my inability to get a proper rest?"

"Hehe." Kalia stuck out her tongue, then quietly sat back down in her original seat.

……

Meanwhile, Cellina, who was traveling alone, also encountered an acquaintance in the capital.

Because she had been so busy eating melons that she hadn't eaten much, Celinina originally wanted to find a place to have a proper meal.

However, they ran into Toran on the street, who was also buying something to eat and was carrying a huge backpack.

The two bumped into each other on the streets of the capital.

Toran was clearly surprised by Cellinina's appearance. After quickly settling the bill, he invited Cellinina to a side alley.

"Why are you still in the capital? The mission should have been completed by now! And why are you just walking around on the street like this? Aren't you going to try to disguise yourself?"

Seeing Toran's obvious nervousness, Cellina retorted, "Isn't it more suspicious if you're hiding under a black cloak?" "Also, the commission you gave me is indeed over. Now it's a private commission between Roland and me."

"Roland?! What do you intend to do to my beloved disciple?!"

"...Don't get agitated, you damn old man! I have no ill intentions towards Roland. He values ​​my abilities, so can't we just fulfill his request separately?"

Toran scoffed, "You are ultimately just a demon."

The atmosphere between the two immediately turned cold after these words were spoken.

Cellina, who had been looking at Toran with a helpless expression, froze on the spot after hearing those words.

Her gaze shifted from helplessness to astonishment, and then to a slightly melancholic indifference.

After taking a deep breath, Cellina looked at Tolan and replied coldly, "I know, you don't need to remind me."

"To be on the safe side, you shouldn't have too much contact with me, a demon."

"I've repaid the favor you did back then with this turmoil in the capital."

"It seems you don't want to have much contact with me either, so let's leave it at that, goodbye."

After saying that, Cellina turned and walked out of the alley: "Also, don't worry about your disciple. Putting everything else aside, he's definitely stronger than you now."

"Also, this commission is a private matter between Roland and me, so it's best if you don't interfere."

Toran was silent for a moment, then asked in a deep voice, "The Demon King's Hand... has it really appeared?"

"Hmm. Your dear disciple almost destroyed a prototype. Is everything alright now? If not, I'm going to find somewhere to eat." Cherlinina was getting a little impatient.

"One last question, where is Roland now?" Toran continued.

“The palace.” Cellina finished speaking and walked out of the alley completely. “If you want to find him, go find him yourself.”

Cellina walked away quickly.

She was somewhat sad at this moment.

Although it wasn't obvious, she did experience... the sadness that comes from not being trusted.

Even the human who was willing to help him escape the imperial army's pursuit back then, ultimately didn't trust him, a demon?

Even though he protected the other party's disciple during the incident in the capital, he still couldn't gain his trust?

Just because he is a demon?
...Yes, it's because I'm a demon.

This reason seems sufficient.

Cellina let out a long sigh. She paused in the flow of people going against the flow.

She didn't know why her reaction was so obvious.

This is clearly not an isolated case, and this is clearly not the first time.

She had never felt this bad before, even when she had rescued a caravan from a group of monsters, only to have them betray her after discovering she was a demon, nearly causing her death at the hands of the Empire.

Could it be that this time, the one who doesn't trust her is the same person who risked their life to help her escape capture back then?

trust……

Cellina never imagined those two words would carry such weight.

She began to doubt whether she could fulfill Roland's demands.

Did she... truly gain Roland's trust?

After a brief pause, Cellina disappeared into the street against the flow of people and entered the abandoned bar that she had made her temporary residence.

As a demon, she really didn't understand why she had that reaction.

She couldn't understand why Tolan's attitude towards her had changed so drastically.

Since the other party was willing to entrust Roland's safety to me at the time, it means that this guy at least once trusted me.

But such an abrupt change...

Could it be because of the Demon King's hand?

Forget it, it doesn't matter anymore.

Cellina sat on a dusty seat at the bar, leaning against the counter and staring at the cobweb-covered ceiling above her.

Demons...

Perhaps she really wasn't suited to continue being with Roland.

The question that had been troubling me back in Blackthorn Territory suddenly found its answer at this moment.

After this trip to Riskan to find out what happened to her first friend, she had to leave, regardless of whether she could get the answers from Roland.

The appearance of the Demon King's Hand will obviously make her identity as a demon who has long been active within the empire extremely sensitive.

"Then... let's just take a ship from Riskan to Isfar."

“Go to the Federation of Nations… or, simply return to the sphere of influence of the Royal Court.”

Although he knew that Roland had the support of the princess who had already begun her regency and the trust of the emperor.

But Cellina didn't want to cause trouble for Roland and Kalia because of herself, even if the trouble might be insignificant to them.

Since we are demons, we should figure out our place.

Although Toran's words were hurtful, they brought Cellina back to her senses from the wonderful experiences she had recently had.

She is not human after all.

She is just a demon disguised as a human.

Not all humans are like Roland and Kalia.

Even Toran, who once risked his life to help him, began to doubt himself because of the reappearance of the Demon King's creation.

And what about other humans?

Cellina had already witnessed this on that caravan back then.

As a demon, perhaps she shouldn't have had too much interaction with humans.

(End of this chapter)