Even if you're a corrupted magical girl, you still have to try to redeem yourself.

But she still had a bad feeling.

In the fading light of dawn, the procession looked more like a crow covered in black feathers, carrying with it a great deal of dark news.

As Mizuno pondered this, the monarch's procession was already close at hand.

The general fell off his horse, grabbed the reins with one hand, and handed them to the attendant who was trotting up beside him.

Mizuno Yu also imitated the general's manner in a very convincing way. Whenever she stretched out her hand, a servant who was already prepared would take the reins.

Whether it is a monarch or a distinguished guest, dismounting in front of them is a gesture of the highest respect.

But the monarch does not need to dismount.

Yes, the monarch arrived on horseback, not in a carriage or sedan chair.

The monarch was somewhat different from Mizuno Yu's expectations; she was not a fat, old woman, but rather quite young, not much older than General Yumimoto.

The monarch's appearance was like a dazzling sun, radiating her brilliance in every way. Among all the people Mizuno Yu had ever seen, there were very few women more beautiful than the monarch.

Mizuno Yu had heard that this monarch had fought alongside the general through the flames of war to establish the country they now owned, and that they shared a life-or-death bond.

"Haha, Yumimoto! You bastard woman! How can you still be so young!"

Upon seeing the general, the monarch jumped off her horse. Her light and graceful dismounting motion alone told Mizuno Yu that the rumors were very likely true.

But this sun seems to have been immersed in extravagance for too long, its complexion somewhat unhealthy and pale, yet it still cannot conceal its former majesty.

Upon seeing the monarch dismount, the general immediately knelt on one knee and bowed his head before the monarch.

"Your Majesty, you are the same."

The leading general knelt down, and Mizuno Yu was the first to follow suit, immediately bending one knee and bowing her head in imitation of the general.

She had practiced this move countless times and thought she did it well.

Then, Mizuno Yu heard a heavy thud of armor behind her, and the dust kicked up by the kneeling of the servants was a bit pungent.

"Bullshit. Stop with all that formalities between ruler and subject, I've had enough."

Mizuno Yu heard the monarch roar angrily. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the monarch take a few quick steps, stand in front of the general, and kick him.

But it wasn't heavy; it was more like a playful, affectionate squabble.

Just as Mizuno had imagined, the monarch immediately helped the general up with both hands and gave him a big hug.

"Ah, Yumimoto, it's so good to see you."

"Me too... Your Majesty... Yagyu." Under the lord's glaring gaze, the general finally changed his words.

"Yes, Yagyu, just call me as before." The monarch patted the general on the shoulder: "Where's your horse?"

“It is a great disrespect to not dismount in front of the monarch.”

"I told you, don't give me that nonsense. Hey you, bring Yumimoto's horse over here, we're riding into the city!"

The general looked troubled, but still mounted his horse at the monarch's urging.

The monarch shook the reins, and his tall horse took a few steps ahead. Seeing that the general had not followed, he immediately turned back and said, "What are you doing? I told you, ride into the city."

The general seemed to have found a way to avoid addressing the monarch by name or using his surname directly: "Your troops have not yet entered the city, which is against the rules."

"I am the monarch, I am the rule! Follow me!" The monarch turned her horse around, came to the general's side, and kicked the general's horse hard in the rump with her war boot.

The general's warhorse, struck by the blow, staggered back two steps but did not run as the monarch had hoped.

"It only listens to me."

“Then tell it, tell this beast, to run and come into the city with me. Have your men take charge of receiving my men; that’s standard procedure, I made the rules.”

The general could no longer be polite, and he rode into the city with the monarch.

But everyone around breathed a sigh of relief, including Mizuno Yu.

The way a monarch greets his subjects is certainly different from the way a monarch greets his subjects; at least the subjects don't have to be on edge because of the monarch's unpredictable temper.

The procession, which had stopped as if it already knew what the monarch wanted to do, started moving again. Wheels and hooves rolled across the ground, and amidst the chaotic sounds, it slowly made its way into the city.

Following the monarch were carriages, and then perhaps the monarch's retainers or attendants.

Following closely behind the carriage, and closest to the monarch, was the monarch's personal attendant, with short silver hair, bright red eyes, and a glacial wolf with its gaping maw carved on his silver shoulder armor.

"She is a royal bodyguard, the monarch's sword." Mizuno Yu heard whispers behind her. With the monarch absent, the bodyguards had become bolder and began to discuss the person they had seen in hushed tones.

"However, everyone likes to call her the monarch's henchman, and she also has a nickname, the monarch's mad dog."

Mizuno Yu didn't recognize the person, but she saw the girl on horseback's bright red eyes sweep over her.

The silver-haired girl passed by quickly, and Mizuno Yu's gaze soon shifted to the next person.

She was one of the few people in the group who rode a horse without wearing armor. She was about the same age as me, with long pink hair tied up behind her head and a faint smile on her face, which suited her youthful appearance perfectly.

Just then, the whispers of Mizuno Yu's attendants began again.

"I've heard that she's the sister of the monarch's deceased lover, which is why the monarch values ​​her so highly. She got to this point entirely because of her relationship with the monarch."

"I've heard about it too. It's said that this girl is an ominous symbol, and no one who gets involved with her will have a good ending. That's why she's called the 'Pink Devil'."

“What I heard was a little different. I heard that she is very capable, but she never befriends anyone. It’s because someone is worried that she will side with those who disagree with her that so many rumors have been fabricated.”

The pink-haired girl on horseback soon passed by, and the servants' discussion shifted to the next person.

As for this one, Mizuno Yu didn't need to learn about it from the gossip of her servants.

With her long golden hair and petite figure, Mizuno Yu was all too familiar with her.

She has a long history with me, and although she has a bad temper, she gets along very well with Mizuno Yu.

If we were to name the peer that Mizuno Yu trusted most, it would definitely be this one, even more so than Mizuno Yu trusted Sakura Hanako.

Just as Tenrai Herika passed by Mizuno Yu, she lowered her head slightly and nodded to her.

It seems that in Helica's eyes, she is pretty much the same.

The monarch's entourage was long, including other generals who were theoretically of equal status to General Yumimoto, but whose combined territories were probably not as large as General Yumimoto's. Helica came with the general.

There was also a procession to protect the monarch when he traveled, consisting of soldiers, a leader, and personal guards who were like the monarch's henchmen.

There were also some retainers, who were like the pink devils they talked about, but Mizuno Yu didn't know their specific positions.

What surprised Mizuno Yu the most was that the monarch even brought all sorts of servants, chefs, entertainers, dancers, and even wild boars and deer from who-knows-where, as well as fine wine and seafood. It was as if the entire monarch's palace had been moved here.

The monarch's purpose in bringing these people was also very clear. After entering the city, at the monarch's command, the servants she brought immediately set up a grand banquet.

“I knew it, you wouldn’t have time to prepare. Look, I’m fully prepared.”

Mizuno Yu was nearby when the monarch said this to the general.

Mizuno Yu spent a lot of time coordinating the banquet, but it was all worthwhile.

The monarch introduced each of her ministers to the general, and it was there that she learned the name of the pink demon—Yuki Yuki.

But Mizuno Yu didn't hear the name of the silver-haired guard. He was someone she cared about, and Mizuno Yu seemed to sense an ominous aura from that guard.

But that doesn't matter. The general introduced Mizuno Yu to the monarch, who laughed heartily and sincerely praised himself, making Mizuno Yu feel extremely honored.

When the bonfire at the banquet was lit, Mizuno Yu witnessed a jubilation she might never have seen in her life.

Initially, Mizuno Yu stayed by the general's side, but later the lord seemed to feel that it was not good for someone to disturb her and the general's reminiscing, so he sent Mizuno Yu away.

However, the monarch said, "Let these children enjoy the banquet as much as possible. We two also need some private space to catch up. You, Mizuno, tell them not to come near our seats except to add wine and serve dishes."

As if the monarch had planned to do this all along, she dismissed her personal guards shortly after the banquet began.

Mizuno Yu thought this was perfect; she could finally enjoy the banquet and savor the chefs' culinary skills brought by the monarch.

However, Sakura Hanako is nowhere to be seen now. With me here, Sakura Hanako can no longer stand by the shogun's side.

I really should let Sakura Hanako try it too. I must share the exceptionally delicious sashimi and venison buns with her.

Perhaps the morning was a misunderstanding; black crows don't always bring bad news.

Mizuno Yu thought to herself, then picked up another skewer of wild boar meat made of willow wood.

Taking a bite, the delicious oil and the aroma of chili burst in my mouth, bringing me immense happiness.

Before Mizuno Yu could take a second bite, the messenger, who had been running all the way, arrived again, panting just as he had been when he found her on the city wall, and kneeling on the ground for a long time, unable to get up.

"Mizuno-sama, I've finally found you! So you were here all along."

The messenger took a while to stand up, his body covered in the dust he had picked up when he fell to the ground. He stood in front of Mizuno Yu with his head down and back bent.

"What happened? This is a banquet for His Majesty the Monarch and His General. If it's not important, we can put it off for now."

Mizuno Yu put the meat skewers back on the plate, looking slightly annoyed. It was this messenger who had given her that scare earlier.

Now that the monarch, general, or other important figures in the city are all drinking and toasting at the banquet, Mizuno Yu doesn't think anything important is going on.

"It's a very important thing, it's...it's..."

The messenger raised his head, glanced quickly at Mizuno Yu's face, and then quickly lowered his head again.

"What is it? Speak quickly," Mizuno Yu urged.

The bad news, though late, still reached Mizuno Yu's ears.

It didn't happen outside the city, but inside the city.

"Sakura, Lady Sakura, she, she's in trouble!"

Chapter 105 The Banquet

A little earlier.

Sakura Hanako strolled among the guest rooms, realizing that finding accommodations for such a large group of guests in the city was no small task.

Every guest is of high status, and any mistreatment of any one of them could have serious consequences.

As soon as the monarch entered the city, he ordered his men to prepare a banquet. The general had also reserved many rooms in advance, enough for the high-ranking officials to stay comfortably, but it might not be enough to accommodate everyone.

Those cooks or dancers also need a place to stay. Nobody knows which important person they work for, so they can't just be dealt with casually.

Mizuno Yuu was summoned by the general, so he was the only one who could take charge of this matter.

The entire series of guest rooms was incredibly quiet. The banquet was in full swing, and most of the guests were there. Even in the corridor, Sakura Hanako could hear the sounds coming from outside the window.

It was precisely because the guest room was quiet enough that Sakura Hanako was able to notice the unusual activity.

In the open room at the end of the corridor, there were faint but unmistakable voices.