On the seas just outside Roundheart, Marshal Lloyd Gracier stood on the deck of the Leviathan. He’d lost an eye, but his piercing gaze was locked on the colossal tree that towered in the distance.
The World Tree of Gluttony.
Crown Prince Ein had coined the name himself, as the tree had pierced the heavens after laying down its roots in Heim’s royal capital. Glittering, crystallized byproducts of the tree’s growth hung on its branches and wavered in the nighttime breeze. The tree’s majesty could be seen from afar, atop the ocean.
“It’s as if...” Lloyd trailed off.
It was as if he were watching a party of heroes assemble to defeat the Demon Lord. He gazed at the trio who had just arrived at Port Roundheart. Now wasn’t the time for him to dawdle.
Lloyd clapped his hands, attracting the attention of the knights and crew on board. “May I have your attention! We’re heading back to Ishtarica now.”
A clamor of confusion ran through the ship. They had assumed that they were on standby, ready to offer any assistance if needed; they didn’t expect their marshal to order a retreat.
“I understand how you feel, and all too well at that. I feel powerless,” Lloyd said. “However, it’s clear as day to me that we’ll only be deadweight. We must realize that our pride and dignity are worthless in this scenario. All we can do is wait for the trio to report back!” The marshal was clearly vexed, but he tried to hide his emotions behind a brave face. It shocked everyone around him. “We must do what we can! We must prevent Ishtarica’s citizens from falling into harm’s way!”
Lloyd spoke vaguely, but it was clear that Ein had become a potential threat to Ishtarica. It hadn’t been long since the prince’s roots had reached the shores of Kingsland. The image of that event had been seared into Lloyd’s mind. Everyone was painfully aware of Ein’s deep love for his nation. However, it was also the duty of Lloyd and his knights to keep their prince from harming the people he loved so much.
“Listen to the marshal’s orders and get into position,” the ship’s captain barked.
The knights and the rest of the crew began to frantically run across the deck.
“Hurry!”
“Don’t just stand there!”
They vowed to do what they could.
Moments later, the Leviathan started sailing back towards Ishtarica.
“I wish you luck,” Lloyd murmured, praying to anything he could as he wished for the trio’s safe return. “Sir Ein, we eagerly await the day that you become king.”
Lloyd truly believed that his wish for the future would become a reality, and that it wasn’t too far away. He vehemently prayed for the return of the hero—the rumored reincarnation of the first king.
✦ ✦ ✦
Not long after stepping off the Leviathan, Misty the Elder Lich, Ramza the Dullahan, and Arshay, the Demon Lord of Nightmares, arrived at Port Roundheart. The World Tree of Gluttony’s roots ran through the city’s cobblestone streets, making it difficult to traverse. The homes that had narrowly avoided the Princess Olivia’s cannon were now tangled in a mess of roots. The city’s sorry state was akin to a village deep in the forest—one left that had been abandoned for many centuries.
“Misty,” Arshay called out. While her gothic dress was splendid, it was unsuitable for her surroundings. “What were you planning on doing with my magic stone?”
“If you hadn’t been resurrected?” Misty inquired. Her lovely appearance equally clashed with the city.
“It’s not something you’d like to hear,” Ramza said coolly. He maintained his dauntless composure.
“But I’ll probably be curious about it later anyway,” Arshay replied. “Tell me.”
“Ramza and I planned on gouging a hole in that tree and tossing your stone inside,” Misty answered.
“Ugh... I-I feel like my stone would’ve exploded.”
“That was really the only option we could come up with. Ramza and I planned on using everything at our disposal to stop Ein, but to be honest, we probably don’t stand a chance against him.”
“Even with that man with us?” Ramza asked.
“Yes, it’s an impossible feat, even with our loyal knight.”
“Um, speaking of, where is Marco?” Arshay inquired.
The other two flashed strained smiles.
“You’ll probably be able to see him soon,” Ramza said.
Misty cleared her throat and straightened her back. “Let’s get back on topic. We must stop Ein—no, the World Tree of Gluttony.”
“And we don’t really have a plan in mind,” Ramza added.
“Oh, I know what that’s called. ‘The brute-force approach,’ right?” Arshay chimed in. “And that name is impressive. Did you come up with that, Misty?”
“No, Ein named himself so before he lost consciousness,” Misty replied.
Arshay nodded in understanding.
“If either of you can think of a plan after seeing the tree, I don’t mind waiting here for a while. But, what are you two thinking?” Misty asked.
Ramza and Arshay looked up at the tree that towered over the royal capital and let out a forced laugh.
“I don’t think petty tricks will help us this time around,” Ramza observed.
“I know what to do,” Arshay added. “Using force is the best way to suppress stuff like that.”
“But don’t forget about teamwork,” Misty warned. “Let’s avoid any reckless attacks or useless techniques. And if we really can’t stop Ein at all, be prepared to self-destruct.”
“Noted,” the king of swords replied.
The silver-haired Demon Lord froze in place and gazed at the ground quietly.
“The same goes for you too, Arshay. Is that clear?” Misty asked.
The little girl recalled her past as she tightly clutched the hem of her dress, her fists trembling. When she looked up once more, her eyes had transformed completely, filled with a fiery glare.
“I’ll stop that child. No matter what,” Arshay said firmly.
After steeling her resolve, no longer did she look sluggish or dopey. Her voice was filled with an overwhelming aura that the other two had never heard before. Ramza and Misty were a touch taken aback, but they exchanged a pair of firm nods.
“Let’s go,” Ramza muttered.
The three quietly walked ahead.
“In any case, neither Misty nor I have received any magical energy,” Ramza suddenly said.
They’d both been summoned due to the effects of Ein’s Follower skill, and a question quickly filled their minds.
“You’re right,” Misty agreed. “I received plenty of it when I was initially summoned, but haven’t received a drop since.”
“Huh? What do you mean?” Arshay asked.
“When Marco used it, the summoned followers would be provided with magical energy. But we haven’t received anything.”
“We’re probably seen as his enemies,” Ramza concluded.
“I thought the same,” Misty agreed. “Which is why I took a few magic stones. We can restore some of our mana at the very least, so don’t you worry about that.”