Klem walked down the street alone. She could have gone to the east gate, but decided to go to the southern gate first. She approached the bakery 《Petre’s》. This was another popular store that on a standard day would have a large number of people lined up, but it was deserted now. The fact that they were still open for business was praiseworthy enough.
As Klem opened the door, a bell rang out. The store’s manager, a Grasswalker who looked like a little boy, greeted her.
“Welcome to Petre’s! Thank you for coming! We’ve got biscuits and bread. What’ll you have?”
“I’m not a customer,” Klem said curtly.
“Gaaaah...” The manager let out a depressed sigh. “Really...? Well, what can I do for you, little not-customer?”
There were more workers in the store than customers. One of those workers — Edelgard — hurried over to Klem’s side.
“Demon Lord!”
“Mm.”
“Is something the... matter? Matter!”
For how long they’d stayed in this city, Edelgard still hadn’t mastered speaking in their tongue. At this point, it was hard to tell if she simply wasn’t suited for it or was just doing it on purpose. And that was despite her being a Fallen with an appearance and form close to a Human’s...
“We leave for the capital,” Klem announced.
Apparently that alone was enough for Edelgard to understand everything, because she got down on one knee.
“Please, allow Edelgard to... escort? Escort! You!”
“Very well.”
“You are, too kind!” Edelgard bowed her head deeply.
Petre, the manager, was looking between the two of them with panicked confusion. Edelgard got to her feet and lowered her head respectfully toward him as she spoke.
“Manager! For a while, can’t come to work!”
“Huuuuh?!”
“Is it, problem?”
“Well...! Ah, erm... Well, I guess we’re not getting any customers anyway... I guess it’s fine...?” He agreed in a somewhat heartbroken fashion.
“Thank you for, everything, so far!”
“Take care of yourself. Oh, about your salary... Do you want to get paid for all this week’s days?”
“...Edelgard rather, have... as many biscuits, as possible? Possible!”
“Huh? Well, sure, I don’t mind.”
Edelgard took a basket full of biscuits. She then said her goodbyes to her coworkers and the few regular customers that were in the restaurant. One gangly Pantherian man spoke up, “Oh, so you’re finally setting sail for greener pastures, huh...? It’ll be lonely around here.”
Setting sail?
“Will you be coming back once you’re done with your business?”
“Hmm...” Edelgard turned her gaze to Klem.
“Of course!” She nodded. “Without this store’s biscuits, there’s no point in keeping the races alive!”
“Huuuh?!” Petre blushed and swayed in place. “Ehehe... It’s embarrassing when you put it like that. I’ll work hard to keep the store open, so do come back!”
Edelgard smiled.
“Will come back! Won’t? Will!”
†
With Edelgard in tow, Klem left Faltra through the eastern gate. It was their first time in a long while being outside the city, and while there were many sentries along the eastern gate, no one faulted them for leaving. The people entering the town were subjected to strict investigation, but those leaving were simply checked to see they weren’t on the wanted list.
Even if they were stopped, the two of them would have simply forced their way through, of course...
They walked down the road to the capital while nibbling on biscuits.
“One more...”
“Yes, Demon Lord!”
“Oh, actually, I take that back.”
“Mm?”
“If I eat too many now, they’ll run out faster. Biscuits are delicious, but they have a critical flaw. They run out when you eat them.”
“Yes.”
Someone suddenly appeared from behind a tree — a man with extremely flashy, golden armor. He waved his hand at them in a friendly gesture.
“Hello there, you two.”
“Mm?” Klem regarded him suspiciously, and Edelgard stepped in front of her defensively.
“You are...” she said.
“Hmm! I am Emile Bichelberger! Ally to all women, and ally to allies of women!” The man introduced himself, raising his helmet’s face guard.
He was a nice guy who had blond hair, blue eyes, and a strongish face.
“What do you want?” Klem asked.
“I’ve heard of you two heading for the capital to fight the Gelmed Empire, little Klem. Allow me to lend you my strength!”
“Oh?”
“Protecting women is my duty!”
Klem crossed her arms in contemplation.
“In that case, protect the women of Faltra. This Demon Lord does not need protection.”
“Ugh... No, but...”
“Besides, you can’t come with us. Edelgard, call for it.”
“Yes, Demon Lord.”
Edelgard wielded a lance in combat, but her class wasn’t ‘Lancer.’ She stuck her fingers in her mouth and whistled. In response, something began rushing in their direction, kicking up a cloud of dust in its wake.
“What is that?!” Emile raised his voice in surprise.
Before he could even finish his sentence, however, the creature ran between them — an Earth Dragon. Edelgard mounted its back with a hop. Her class was Dragon Knight, after all. Klem took a seat behind her.
“Her mount is capable of running for three days and nights without stopping for rest. I doubt you can keep up with it.”
“Aaah...” Emile winced.
“Sorry, but...” Edelgard said with a flat tone. “This one is, two-seats? Two-seater!”
“Stay here and protect Faltra. The palace has probably fallen already. The people of the races will likely soon wash over this place, having been reduced to savage fiends.”
“Aah... Yes, rumor has it that the defeated soldiers and refugees have become bandits and thieves.”
“Can I leave this place in your care?” Klem asked from atop the Earth Dragon.
Emile drew his sword and held it before his heart, its tip aimed at the heavens.
“As substitute guildmaster of the Adventurer’s Guild, I, Emile Bichelberger, swear to protect all of Faltra’s women!” he exclaimed.
Klem nodded, and then ordered Edelgard, “Let’s go.”
“Under...stood!” Edelgard replied and clicked her heels against the Earth Dragon’s sides as she gripped its thorny reins.
The Earth Dragon’s thick hind legs kicked against the ground, and it took off in an explosive sprint, kicking up the earth behind it. With flight-like speed, the Earth Dragon sprinted down the highway.
It was a shaky ride, and the scenery sailed past them with dizzying speed. The wind whistled shrilly in their ears. Thankfully, Klem — and of course Edelgard as well — had the Rider ability, and weren’t strained by the ride at all.
“Demon Lord... You protect, races again?”
“I care little for a conflict between the races, but that one is too dangerous for this Demon Lord to ignore.”
“Emperor...”
“That one is a serpent who would devour the earth. As he is now, he could even be more troublesome than the Demon Overlord, in a way.”
“...But he, is of the races...”
“The races are weak, but they are capable of growth. They can mature faster than other species, stronger, without limit, and by any means. Even if it means discarding their bodies.”
Klem coiled her arms around Edelgard’s slender waist, and Edelgard’s cheeks flushed. Just by touching the Fallen, a Demon Lord sent mana into its servants.
“Nng...” Edelgard breathed out.
“But we do not have enough pawns at hand yet.”
“Pawn... Edelgard, strong pawn. Won’t lose? Won’t lose!”
“Even still. We need more.”