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

Chapter 247 Roland issues a declaration of philanthropy
The atmosphere inside the First Fortress City was extremely heavy.

Roland crossed his arms, leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes slightly, and twitched his lips as if trying to express some opinion.

Roland's opponent, Kalia, was in a similar situation.

The blue-haired witch also crossed her arms, her eyes fixed on the sumptuous meal on the table, her expression more serious than ever before.

After a long silence, their eye contact was finally broken.

"Roland... has been tricked."

"Yes, Lia, you've been tricked."

Roland echoed Kalia's words, then stared at the almost untouched food on the table in front of him.

Food that looks and smells delicious... why does it taste so awful?

It was as if the food in front of them was cursed.

I should have known better than to listen to those food guides in travel magazines. I should have just wandered around the streets and seen which shops had the longest lines of locals.

That way, even if you don't necessarily find amazing food, at least you won't make any major mistakes.

Today's food is so unpalatable that even Kalia wouldn't eat it!

That was a terrible mistake.

And it's expensive.

My limited number of Golden Eagle coins are about to decrease again.

Although he knew very well that his title would be finalized soon... well, after more than ten years of hardship, even if it's easy to go from frugality to luxury, it would still take some time.

At least Roland doesn't know how to spend money right now... Maybe he should learn alchemy after he gets his title?

However, the empire's alchemy was not advanced, and there wasn't even a single person who could be called an alchemy master.

Furthermore, since the empire has focused its development on magical technology, the development of alchemy has also focused on materials.

Therefore, the Alchemy Department of the Royal Capital Magic Academy was even able to create flowing metal with the same effect as the Moon Spirit Essence Liquid that Roland had imagined out of thin air.

However, precisely because of this, the empire's alchemical development was lackluster in other areas.

Alchemical potions, bio-alchemy, or alchemists who can use alchemy in combat are almost nonexistent within the Empire.

The alchemical potions available are the most basic; even Roland could make two bottles.

Compared to Roland, whose mind was quick and who had already shifted from the unpalatable lunch to studying alchemy in the future, Kalia's thoughts were much simpler.

She wanted to meet the chef who made the meal.

Since leaving Blackthorn Territory and embarking on her wondrous adventures, every restaurant, even the canteen, has offered her an experience of unparalleled deliciousness.

Whether it's Riskan's café, the late-night pub, the various restaurants in the capital, the academy's cafeteria, or the Hatter's branch cafeteria... the food in all these places is delicious! And very unique!

Even the cookies and snacks sold at the Blackthorn Territory train station are better than these!
At least she quite liked the ladyfingers she'd snatched from Cellina that day.

Rather than saying that the food was so bad that even she could hardly swallow it, it must have been extremely unpalatable.

She was very curious how the chef could maintain the perfect appearance and smell of the food while making the inside so terrible.

Thinking of this, Kalia looked up at Roland: "Well, how about we go to another place and eat something else... Although I really don't want to waste food, it seems we have no choice but to do so today."

Roland nodded: "Yes, let's go to another restaurant. Although it's wasteful, these things can no longer be classified as food."

"Hey, I did eat some of it, isn't it a bit much to say that this isn't food?"

"Okay, let's go to the place next door. I said from the beginning that if we can't decide what to eat, barbecue is always a good choice. And the barbecue in the North is really good."

"Oh, it's not that I'm just thinking eating only barbecue is too monotonous... Hey, is that a bad woman?"

"A bad woman? Ah~~ You saw Iluvia? She skipped work too?"

Roland followed Kalia's gaze with some curiosity.

Sure enough, Iluvia was there, wearing a white coat and a white fur hat—an outfit that surprisingly suited the local style.

To be honest, white does suit her light chestnut hair quite well... Hmm? Why does this guy seem a little excited?
Before Roland and Kalia could react, Iluvia literally dashed to their side.

Then, completely ignoring Kalia's presence, he grabbed Roland's free hand and said, "Roland! I've finally found you!"

"What happened?" Roland asked instinctively.

However, he quickly realized that it might not be the kind of "emergency" he had thought it was.

After all, although communication magic cannot be used within the main city of Isfar, communication in the First Fortress City where they are currently located is still not a problem.

If something truly serious happens that requires Roland's help, he can use communication magic to send a message.

Iluvia's expression, in particular, proved this point.

Some excitement, some impatience, and some barely concealed smugness.

Clearly, she was showing off something to one of the blue-haired witches beside her.

Of course, Kalia, who had already undergone an "evolution," didn't react to this. She simply smiled and hugged Roland's arm, pressing herself against him and resting her head on his shoulder.

He had an expression that said, "I'm not going to let him go."

Surprisingly, Iluvia completely ignored Kalia's assertion of sovereignty this time.

She shattered Kalia's calm facade with just one joyful sentence.

"Roland~~~ Father's messenger has arrived!"

"Due to some matters, your knighthood ceremony will be held in Isfar, and our engagement will also be officially announced today!"

"Hehe, of course! Father said that if you want to hold a formal ceremony, he can hold one for you in the capital after everything is over!" "Aren't you surprised? Aren't you happy?"

On the snow-covered streets, the already few pedestrians began to deliberately avoid this street where an eerie shadow was beginning to spread.

Even the shops and residents on both sides of the street began to close their doors and windows tightly.

This looks very unlucky!

They had already heard about what happened in the main city. After all, the refugees were first settled in the first fortress city, so there was no way to keep it a secret!
I didn't expect there to be new anomalies so soon!
That shadow looks really scary; I have a feeling something might crawl out of it.

Survival is the priority; let's also send a message to the garrison.

I heard that the great elven mage who once participated in the battle against the Demon King is in the city right now, and might be able to resolve the strange events happening on the street!
As someone directly involved, Roland could clearly sense the change in Kalia's emotions.

Having already experienced the feeling of sinking into the shadows once, Roland felt the familiar sensation of being "swallowed."

If it weren't for the fact that the protection that Da Yuan had bestowed upon him still seemed to have lingered, he would probably have already been pulled into the shadows by now.

Wait, why is Da Yuan's blessing still in effect?!
Although he had discovered some very noteworthy points, Roland's immediate priority was to resolve the current situation.

Clearly, the relationship between the two was not as harmonious as they had imagined or perceived.

They had just achieved a certain balance, but now... that balance seems to have been broken.

Just when Roland thought things were heading towards chaos and an unpredictable situation, Kalia released her grip on Roland.

She even gently pushed Roland's back, causing him to lean towards Iluvia.

This scene stunned both Roland and Iluvia.

Iluvia was even more flustered than Roland.

However, Kalia's words quickly caused Iluvia, who was already feeling somewhat apologetic, to erupt in anger.

The blue-haired witch smiled at Roland and Iluvia: "Well, it's just an engagement, not a real marriage."

"Even if you are a princess, you are not yet of legal marriage age under imperial law, are you? Roland is the same, isn't he?"

"Hmm... if I do the math, it'll still be two years, right?"

"It's not impossible that the engagement could be canceled due to some unforeseen circumstances, right? Hehe."

Iluvia: "!!!"

Oh no! How could she not have thought of that!
No! Why should I be afraid of this?
She turned her head to look at Roland, who had been pushed into her arms by Kalia: "Roland, you wouldn't do this, would you? You wouldn't, would you?"

"I will not break my promise... to you, and to Leah."

After a considerable internal struggle, Roland quickly made his decision.

Perhaps after confronting the evil god, Roland's rationality underwent a transformation, and he no longer hesitated on certain matters.

Moreover, he had wanted to say a similar line for a long time.

Like a certain Li Tan Hua, he also wanted to perform that!

That's it!

The atmosphere and environment are perfect right now; if we don't speak up now, we'll miss our chance!

No sooner had he finished speaking than Roland teleported behind Kalia, pulling Iluvia into his arms and then using his free hand to embrace her as well.

At this moment, for some unknown reason, the blue-haired witch, who was unusually shy and reserved, made a token struggle in Roland's arms: "W-what are you doing... We're still on the street!"

Yes, even the sound was so faint it was like a mosquito's buzz.

Roland didn't answer, but after taking a deep breath, he tightened his embrace on the two of them: "Just like I said, I won't break my promise."

"So... I will firmly fulfill my promise to both of you, Iluvia and Iluvia!"

“You are all my wings!”

After speaking, Roland let out a long breath. Although the process was somewhat forced, he had indeed completed the recitation of the famous line.

He's wanted to do this for a long time.

But soon, the reactions of the two people in his arms made Roland unable to hold back.

"Um... so what are you trying to say?"

"The same question."

"..."

Roland sighed, and after comforting himself, he expressed his thoughts to the two of them in simple and unadorned words.

"I just want to say... don't worry that I will ignore the others because of one of you. I will not let down anyone who likes me and loves me."

"Okay, that's it."

Kalia was still a little sullen, but after looking up into Roland's eyes, she sighed softly, "Alright... so can you let me go now?"

"I'm not full yet."

Iluvia spoke up at the opportune moment: "There will be a banquet after the ceremony."

"Hey, you should have said so earlier!" Kalia glanced at Iluvia: "If you had said so earlier, wouldn't I have gone back with you sooner?"

"What good will it do you to come back with me? I'm here to find Roland!"

"it's the same."

"Completely different!"

(End of this chapter)