I'm fighting Kal'tsit? Really?

"Phew, thank you." The succubus took the cup that floated down from the sky, drank it down in one gulp, and sighed, "Sigh, you said we all came here not long ago, how come there's such a big difference between succubi?"

"That's because you didn't spend your time studying, but instead chose to come with them to find a man from another tribe."

Nasti coldly replied, "A banshee from the royal court and a banshee from Kazdel are two completely different concepts, not to mention that she is the lord of banshees."

“You and I were both born during the war and only survived by sheer luck. You must have seen what Kazdel was like back then. In terms of spells, we can never compare to the pure-blooded banshees.”

The young banshee pouted: "What's the point of trying? We can't compete anyway, so we might as well go back to Kazdel and help His Highness build his home."

“Then go back.” Nasti ignored her companion’s disheartening words and took another firm step forward, her already numb feet moving. “Coming to the valley was my own choice, and it’s yours too. The Banshee Queen may feel sorry for you, but she will never stop you.”

"I'm just venting a little."

Seeing that her companion was about to abandon her, the young banshee quickly caught up with her, saying, "You're one to talk! When it comes to this, you're the one who can run faster than anyone else... Why are you looking at me like that?"

Nasti didn't say much, she just kept walking quickly forward.

"Hey! Explain this to me!" Not getting a response, the young succubus nearly choked, her face turning bright red. "You're always so clever, just teach me!"

Upon hearing these words, although Nasti still showed no sign of stopping, her pace clearly slowed down considerably.

“Do you really think a Banshee Queen, a foreigner who personally killed the commander of the three-nation coalition, wouldn’t notice us following behind?” Nasti slowed her breathing and continued, “Isn’t it obvious? They’re waiting for us to catch up. Aren’t all those guiding, disorienting, and desperately related spells along the way tests for us?”

"...What kind of test?" A look of confusion flashed in the young witch's eyes.

"Endurance, intellect, ambition, willpower... Do I need to elaborate? Only with the approval of the Great Banshee can I have even a sliver of a chance to peruse ancient texts, and the more knowledge one has, the better!"

“If Kazdel can be rebuilt someday, we won’t be old enough to live to see that day.” Nasti glanced around to make sure no one was eavesdropping before slowly continuing, “So, the only thing I might have access to right now is the Great Witch’s library!”

“But we’re not members of the royal court,” the young succubus shrugged. “That’s useless to us.”

This time, Nasti really refused to say a word.

--------

On the other side, although Ramalen's face had looked rather pale since hearing about the cause of Oripathy, the voices coming from afar still made her smile.

“That child is absolutely right,” the young succubus, referring to the Queen of the Succubus Kingdom, commented sharply. “They should spend their time studying.”

Gerald ignored the fact that Lamaren was eavesdropping through his wind. After all, although it was Lamaren who made the suggestion, he sometimes wanted to talk about these topics with people... Anyway, the gossip was just carried to his ears by the wind, and he knew nothing about it.

As things stand, once this "stroll" is over, Ramalen shouldn't refuse to fight him, so he can talk about whatever he wants now.

“She’s very perceptive, that banshee named Nasty.” Gerald silently recalled the spells he had encountered along the way: “I didn’t see any spells related to guidance or exertion, but she could. Does that mean she actually has some talent?”

If he had seen it, he would have already crashed into it, ready to experience it for himself.

“I’m afraid her wisdom surpasses her talent.” Lamaren nodded, then shook her head regretfully: “The guiding spell is the one I left behind you, while the spell of exertion is hidden in the bushes.”

"That child probably came to that conclusion based on his environment. He has some talent, but it's far from enough."

Understood.

The ability to calculate the sum of 1 to 500 by brute force versus the ability to calculate the sum of 1 to 500 by using an arithmetic sequence, given the same amount of time required for calculation, is a matter of talent versus wisdom.

The succubus values ​​the former.

“But if you’re thinking about the continuation of the race, she’ll do an excellent job,” Gerald suddenly said. “In my opinion, spells are only good enough if they’re sufficient. If they don’t reach your level, they’ll just be consumables on the battlefield, maybe slightly more valuable ones, but ultimately just consumables.”

"...That's really cruel."

"That's the truth. The cause of that Oripathy disease, the Gallic artillery, and the Victorian steam knights—haven't all of that made you realize the truth? Or did a Pyrrhic victory make you think that as long as you do things the same way as before, achieving nothing, you can just pretend nothing happened and continue living your old life?"

"...Resting and recuperating is the most important goal for the banshee at present." Lamaren shook her head slightly, seemingly disagreeing.

"The goal of letting these children stop clinging to the spell and recuperating is not contradictory. I am not asking you to give up the spell, but I hope you will pay more attention to children like that Nasti, even if in your eyes her bloodline—no, I'm getting a little agitated."

Gerald wanted to say something more, but the surrounding green hills and clear waters, the fresh air in the forest, and the freedom of movement in his body—feelings he hadn't experienced in two years—constantly reminded him of these things.

This is still a world of dreams.

Even if we knew what kind of armies and equipment Colombia, Victoria, and Letania would have in the future, even if we knew the extent of scientific research two hundred years from now, nothing here would change.

Because this is a world of dreams.

...What exactly is he doing?

The frustration in his mind gradually piled up, so he could only add one last sentence: "In any case, I will fulfill my duty."

This time, Ramalyn remained silent for a long time.

……

It didn't take long to walk from the medical clinic next to the waterfall to the edge of the valley, to the tower hidden in the incantation, but during that time, Ramalyn didn't say another word.

Her figure appeared to be tormented by a deep sense of worry.

In just one day, Ramallen had seen many things in Gerald that were even stranger than the decades she had spent in the war.

The causes of Oripathy, assessments of the current situation in Kazdel and Sarkaz, reflections on the future, and that strange Originium Arts that can tolerate the interference of spells without being affected.

From Theresia's words, she had already raised her expectations considerably.

After speaking with him in person, she raised her opinion even higher.

After walking with him in the valley, her opinion of him was rewritten once again.

“I understand your thoughts.” Standing in front of the tower, Lamaren spoke slowly, “However, this idea may be difficult for the older members of the tribe to accept.”

"So, I have a proposal."

The Queen of the Demon King's Court turned around and invited Pegasus, saying, "I know this is asking the impossible, and I haven't even fulfilled the conditions I originally promised you."

"But would you mind fighting me?"

"It is located within the banshee's Tower of Words."

Chapter Twenty-Eight: The True Lord of the Royal Court (4K)

Fight?

This……

This was exactly what he wanted.

—But that's not enough.

"That's it."

Gerald's joy was not outwardly apparent; he maintained a calm and composed demeanor.

"No, you don't need to apologize to me. Rather, I was actually hoping to spar with you after today, and even if you didn't say it outright, I would have made that request to you."

Pretending to be embarrassed in this situation is the behavior of an amateur.

First, if I show that pretentious attitude to the other party, it will be difficult to make similar requests to Ramallian later.

Secondly, appealing to emotions and reasoning with people is the true way to achieve sustainable development.

And most importantly:

He doesn't need a Ramalyn who's just playing around with him and will quickly treat the fight as a formality.

There was no need to give Ramallen time to overthink; unnecessary misunderstandings would only make things more complicated. So Gerald quickly explained, "As I said before, it's not that spells aren't important to banshees."

"In fact, strength is the guarantee of everything. Only after we have a certain level of strength can we talk about whether we should focus on other things or continue to focus on improving our strength."

“If that banshee named Nasti has no talent at all, I wouldn’t suggest you pay attention to someone like her. Gaining the attention of the Banshee Queen will definitely mean facing even more demanding challenges. Without strength, she will only bring disaster. It’s better to let her face reality sooner rather than later, so that she doesn’t realize her shortcomings after getting hurt.”

"So you see, this requires a standard to decide who stays and who leaves, and to determine which female demons need to be given special attention."

Gerald looked up at the massive tower before him. The gray-black building was shrouded in thorns, similar to the thorny clumps he had seen earlier in the center of the valley, and a faint scent of pain and blood emanated from it.

The time since the banshees moved to the valley has not been long enough for them to accumulate to this size. In other words, they were moved directly from Kazdel.

Therefore, the purpose of this building, considering its location in the valley and the events about to take place within it, is self-evident.

"This standard depends on you, Ramalen. It also depends on your fellow countrymen and sisters." His gaze lingered on the tower for a few seconds before turning to look at the Banshee Queen, who was deep in thought. "But it's alright if you can't think of one right now."

"For now, all those children need to know is where the highest standard they can pursue, or even try to surpass, lies."

“You may have already mentored those children, but the biggest problem is that you can’t give them your full attention. So in their eyes, you will always be a vague image, an image that is infinitely deified in their hearts.”

"As a result, this standard has now become very vague."

"Because you yourself are still hesitant about how to treat the future of the banshee."

Just like the conversation he had with Lamaren before he accepted the necklace.

[Don't be swayed by trivial matters, but at the same time, integrate into the community and become a role model and someone we can rely on.]

Gerald understood this perfectly well: pure combat was always the simplest and least demanding thing. Once the focus shifted from war to domestic affairs, many people simply couldn't adapt to the transition in time.

They will waste time and energy in constant trial and error and hesitation, getting further and further away from success.

After all, at the very beginning, no one knew which answer was correct.

Lamaren listened quietly to Pegasus's words, and the smile behind her veil gradually faded—she was seriously considering everything the other person described.

“I want to ask you a somewhat presumptuous question.” Gerald chuckled softly. “Heh, half the people would probably yell at me for saying that… but what I want to ask is: you, Ramalen, what kind of banshee court do you want?”

"If you can maintain your mystique, everyone will respect you and support everything you do."

"No matter how you hope the future will unfold, they will choose to follow, even if the path doesn't lead in the way we want."

"but."

Gerald pressed on to this turning point, his tone filled with unwavering conviction.

He really enjoys giving others choices, doesn't he?

This was true for Saria, and it was true for Ramallen.

Because no matter the outcome, he will accept it gladly.

"If you want this standard to no longer be vague, but to become real, and for these young succubi to challenge and measure themselves against a goal."

"Then you must fight me and let those children witness it."

"From now on, you are no longer just one of the Sarkaz Six Heroes in their eyes, but a real, ordinary banshee who bleeds and gets hurt."

"They will realize that you can also make mistakes. Some banshees may even feel disappointed because they don't like to see reality and would rather stay in this peaceful valley and enjoy the beauty of the world. A hero who is strong enough to protect them and give them a place to belong is what they truly crave."

"You will fall from your pedestal, but perhaps this will also make some banshees realize the real problem and then walk the path they have chosen."

"—How will you choose?"

The conversation can stop here.

He waited quietly to the side, saying nothing more.

Gerald believed that Lamarlene would choose the latter.

He will also gain a complete opponent who holds nothing back, who will not hold back, who will not hesitate or waver, and who will fight him with all their skills.

The true ruler of the royal court.

……

The season at this moment is springtime, and springtime in the valley carries boundless peace and beauty.

The wind gently caresses the rushing river, and the sunlight illuminates the clear, visible riverbed.

The woman behind the veil turned around and looked back at the world she and her sisters had chosen for themselves... But the earth remained silent, silently watching as one life after another settled on it, just like in other parts of the world.

Is she gradually becoming weak, endlessly compromising for the sake of the tribe's survival?

Perhaps so; the man in front of me is enough to prove that.

If viewed from the perspective of the only female demon king in history, her actions would undoubtedly be seen as a betrayal of her own dignity and that of her people.

The consequences of allowing an outsider to interfere at will, and even to make any demands on the leader of a tribe, can be imagined by simply looking at the authors who have written about succubi in their books.

If the other party harbors ill intentions, these vows will undoubtedly make her extremely regretful, making her wish she could tear her past self to shreds.

But she took the gamble.

She gambled on her friend Theresa; on the figure she saw that day; on a possible future that could make the tribe better.

But how could reality catch her off guard like this?

Some bets remain shrouded in mystery until the very end, leaving one on the edge of their seat.

But her bet only required a noon and an afternoon to reveal the outcome behind the door.

So she took out the bone pen from her bosom and wrote the incantation on it.