The legend of the Crimson Demon clan started from Suqing

#361 - Square table meeting

Zunzun was slightly taken aback when she saw the girl in front of her. She was wearing a bright yellow dress, her golden hair was styled up, and her red eyes revealed a cunning and lively gaze.

"Isn't that Felt?"

It had been half a month since they last met, and she hadn't changed much. No, she had become more ladylike. The girl's dress and demeanor had become elegant, and she no longer had the roughness of a street urchin.

"Ah, this dress is really hard to move around in, so annoying."

She quickly ruined the effect.

"Felt, you're here? ...Where's Reinhard? Isn't he with you?"

Zunzun didn't see the Sword Saint burning like fire beside the girl, nor did she see the trio of street thugs. It seemed she had come alone.

"Why would that guy's name come up?"

Felt snorted unhappily.

She had escaped Reinhard's control with great difficulty, and she had even left the trio of street thugs far behind. She certainly didn't want them following her on her sightseeing trip.

"You're not going to say something about danger, are you?"

"No. Considering Reinhard's strength, he could definitely arrive within five seconds if you called out."

"Ugh, please don't say that."

Recalling her experiences over the past year, Felt covered her mouth, almost throwing up. Reinhard was disgustingly strong, and while it was offensive, it was an undeniable fact.

"And, have you been bothered by strange people?"

Felt looked at Liliana beside her.

"How mean, Felt-sama is so mean!" Liliana cried dramatically, "We only met half a year ago, and instead of a touching reunion, it's like we're distant strangers! ...Please listen to my song, 'Strangers Who Know Each Other.'"

"Shut up!"

Felt covered Liliana's mouth, rolling her eyes, and said, "I call you a strange person because I know your true nature!"

"Isn't that even meaner!?"

The two seemed to have a good relationship.

Otto explained softly from the side that half a year ago, Liliana came to the territory, and after not seeing Zunzun, she latched onto Felt, surprised by her background and actions. Plus, Felt was in her rebellious phase at the time, and the two caused quite a bit of trouble.

"So, Felt specifically shook off Reinhard to...?"

"Isn't it obvious? To go sightseeing!"

Felt grinned, revealing her small fangs.

She had managed to shake off Reinhard with great difficulty, and her goal was to sightsee in the Water Metropolis. It would be a huge loss if she didn't have a good day of fun.

"But this outfit is so inconvenient."

"Leave that problem to me! I know where there's a clothing store, come with me!"

Liliana volunteered to be the guide.

Although she wasn't as reliable as Joshua, she often sang in the Water Gate City, so she was more familiar with each place.

On the way, Zunzun told Felt that Liliana had become a city songstress, and she replied that if even Liliana could become a songstress, this city was doomed, which greatly hurt Liliana's feelings.

They arrived at the clothing store.

Felt chose a light and easy-to-move-in outfit, and at the same time, sold her dress to the clothing store, making money instead of spending it on clothes.

...That's what she said.

"The value difference is too great. Felt-sama, you should have let me raise the price more just now."

Otto sighed, holding his forehead.

According to him, Felt had lost at least half the value of her dress, which made Otto, who was originally a merchant, feel it wasn't worth it.

Zunzun wasn't sensitive to prices, but the fact that she sold the dress would definitely give Reinhard a headache.

"What does it matter? Time is more important than price, right?"

Felt waved her hand dismissively.

She didn't know what kind of deal she had made with Reinhard to be able to go out and play alone, but the price was that she had to arrive at the agreed-upon hotel before evening, otherwise the Sword Saint would search for her in the Water Gate City while calling her name.

Having Liliana as a guide didn't seem like a good choice.

This girl always had bursts of inspiration.

She wanted to sing when she saw the clock tower, sing when she saw the water flowing, and sing when she saw Zunzun and Felt bickering. In short, she sang non-stop along the way. And she sang so well that no one could blame her.

It was just that the lyrics were a bit dark and unreasonable.

It felt like she was turning to the dark side.

Fortunately, Otto seemed to have been here when he was a merchant, so with him as a guide, the group had a relatively enjoyable time, fully enjoying the dragon boats, clock tower, and delicious food, the specialties of the Water Metropolis.

As the time approached evening, Felt and Zunzun had to go to the hotel.

"Then I'll take my leave first."

Liliana cheerfully waved goodbye to the three of them.

"...Wait a moment." After a brief moment of thought, Felt revealed her wicked little fangs and said, "You should come with us too."

"Eh?"

"It's okay, right, Zunzun? This is a gathering of royal selection candidates. Wouldn't it be disappointing if there wasn't a corresponding performance? Since Liliana is called a songstress, her qualifications are enough, right?"

"Eh, eh—"

Liliana exclaimed in surprise, then looked at Zunzun with particularly expectant eyes, looking like she was saying, 'Take me with you.'

The royal selection candidates were gathering, so something big must be happening. She wanted to join as a witness and maybe record something worth singing about. Like—the Knights of the Round Table.

After a brief moment of thought, she slowly nodded.

"Okay."

"Really!?"

Liliana herself was surprised.

Next would be the troublesome meeting. Anastasia might have already secretly taken control of the whole situation. If there was a variable, it might trigger other changes.

"Great! Love you, Zunzun-sama!"

The girl made a clumsy wink, and it was obvious how much she was forcing herself.

Otto sighed helplessly.

The four of them went to the inn together. Felt was surprised to see the uniquely shaped inn, but quickly calmed down.

Because of Zunzun's 'face,' they were not stopped and were quickly welcomed in. The receptionist, Joshua, gave Felt the most respectful greeting.

Felt waved her hand dismissively, asking where the other royal candidates were, and was then led to a room. At the same time, she saw Lazzar, one of the small-time thugs.

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After a brief exchange of words.

"Hey, isn't everyone here? Didn't Lazzar say that it was only the half-elf miss and Anastasia's side?"

She opened the door with great momentum, and everyone's eyes focused on the girl who appeared without hesitation, but she didn't flinch and instead grinned, looking around casually.

In sight was Anastasia on the main seat, with Crusch, Felix, and Wilhelm on her left, followed by Reinhard; on the right were Emilia, Natsuki Subaru, and Garfiel, and at the very end was Zunzun's maid, Flamm.

She closed one eye in disappointment.

"It feels like nothing has changed, even though it's been a year since we last met. Though I'm the same too."

"--Felt-sama, excuse me for interrupting."

Reinhard looked at Felt, frowning, and said, "I should have prepared social attire for you. What is the meaning of this?"

"Hmph, who would cater to your interests? Sightseeing should be convenient! Right, Zunzun?"

"...I guess."

She dragged Zunzun in as well, and Zunzun did act as a proper shield as she expected. Seeing this, Reinhard could only show a pitiful expression.

Felt, as if she had won a victory, strode into the room and introduced herself with extremely elegant speech and manners.

"Thank you for the invitation today. As fellow royal candidates, let us have a meaningful discussion. --Well then, that's enough with the formalities. Let me join in!"

After saying that, she plopped down next to Reinhard, separating him from Wilhelm.

Such a brazen act not only made the people present feel a headache, but also made Zunzun feel a headache.

Had she just been abandoned?

Helpless, Zunzun had no choice but to make a formal self-introduction as well, and then sat next to Flamm with Otto.

After that, everyone's eyes fell on the last person.

"Oh my, being stared at with such passionate gazes is really embarrassing."

"Ah, you guy--"

Natsuki Subaru slammed the table and stood up first, pointing at the grinning Liliana, almost unable to contain his anger. In the end, Emilia held him down.

"A songstress... ?"

"That's right, it's me!"

Liliana cheered, "Seeing so many royal candidates and their trusted knights together, I'm really moved! So, please listen to my song--'King and Knight'!"

Then she started playing and singing in public.

Such an abrupt act could easily cause resentment and might even get her kicked out.

But just as a certain empress had said, one is so beautiful that one will be forgiven for anything, Liliana also won the forgiveness of the royal candidates with her excellent performance and captivating songs.

"As expected of a songstress, as expected of Zunzun."

"...What does it have to do with me?"

"Because you brought back a songstress after only being out for a day, shouldn't we praise you?"

"Hey!"

Being said that by Anastasia, Zunzun felt like he was being shot while lying down. He originally wanted to add a variable to make her feel棘手(棘手 jíshǒu: thorny; troublesome), but instead he was being used as a handle for condemnation.

"I want to solemnly declare here that I like quiet beauties like Miss Crusch, and I'm not interested in crazy women!"

"Eh!?"

Liliana knelt on the ground, wounded.

At the same time, Crusch, who was on the side, lowered her head with slightly red cheeks for some reason.

"...Otto, did I accidentally say something bad?"

"I really hope Zunzun-sama that you would have some self-awareness in this regard. Speaking of which, don't you already have two childhood sweethearts?"

Unable to refute.

Seeing Zunzun's silence, Felix quietly approached Crusch and whispered, "Look, Zunzun is the kind of scumbag who recklessly spreads his hormones just because he's good-looking, and he's the same to everyone, so you can't care about him."

"Yes, I'll be careful. Whew, that was a shock."

"Hey, I can hear you!"

Crusch took a deep breath, gently stroking her unexpectedly large chest, looking like a little woman compared to before, with a kind of moe contrast.

With so many characters appearing, there's more to write, and the pace will slow down.