Chapter 131

Only a few seconds had passed before the silence in the arena was broken.

In fact, a few seconds was already considered a long time in the arena’s assessment.

That was because the host needed several seconds to reorganize his thoughts and grasp the current state of the battle.

And now, the result was already obvious.

——The host's voice announcing the result erupted at the same time as the audience’s roar!

【Th...The result is in! The one still standing is... the victor! It’s Her Highness Sheffy Harl!】

The crowd’s reaction wasn’t a cheer for the victor—it was a heated discussion of a different kind.

When the outcome of the match had still been uncertain, both the Demon Clan and the Human spectators had assumed this bout would end inconclusively, without any clear result.

After all, it was just an internal exhibition match between the Demon Clan. The two sisters had nothing to gain from fighting—no matter who won or lost, it would reflect poorly on the royal family of the Demon Clan.

But no one expected... that a victor would actually be decided.

One had to remember that Sheffy had entered this match under the identity of a peace ambassador.

She had participated in two rounds of battle in total.

In the first round, she had defeated a Platinum-rank adventurer from the Human side.

In the second round, she had personally defeated her own younger sister from the Demon Clan—the Second Demon Princess.

Such impartial victories—weren’t they making a statement?

Perhaps some would suspect it was all just for show.

But judging by the outcome, they couldn’t help but anticipate that *possibility*.

If Princess Sheffy truly intended to remain neutral, to firmly take on the role of peace ambassador... and then go on to win the championship...

Then the significance of this tournament would be entirely different!

So that was it...

Some even speculated that the leaders of the Kingdom, the Theocracy, and the Demon Clan had all shown up just to support and facilitate this outcome!

The Demon Clan’s warlike spirit remained unextinguished, and the Humans' hatred was undiminished—this was a thousand-year-old problem.

But if the heads of the three nations were to personally take the lead, and on top of that there existed a powerful enough, neutral figure who could be trusted by all three sides as a peace ambassador... such a thing had never occurred before in history!

That’s why people had already begun to cheer, fully convinced by their own deductions.

However...

Sheffy hadn’t thought that far at all, you know?

The King of Aurus, the Pope of the Theocracy—none of them had any reason to trust her, you know?

Just now, Sheffy’s so-called “putting justice above family” had a pretty simple reason behind it.

——Because there was prize money for the champion.

Hey, hey, hey, after coming this far, she couldn’t just go home empty-handed, could she?

Belith might not lack pocket money, but *I’ve* been wandering out here—do you think it’s easy for me to make some money or what!

“Royal... Royal Sister? Can I get up now?” Pretending to be unconscious, Belith quietly opened one eye and asked in a whisper.

“Wait a moment. Let them finish cheering. Tch, I don’t even know what they’re so excited about—they were just yelling at me a moment ago.”

“That’s definitely because Royal Sister’s charm is just too overwhelming.”

“Now *that* I like to hear. Say more of that.”

Since the match had already concluded, there was no point in playing dead any longer.

Sheffy cast healing magic—

—to restore Belith’s depleted stamina and mana, then reached out with the gentleness of a peerless big sister and helped her up from the ground.

Thank you, Belith. Your quick reaction helped me make a fortune—you really are my good little sister.

Suddenly...

In the now softening atmosphere where hostility had dissipated across the arena, Sheffy’s peripheral vision caught movement from the elevated platforms.

The previously empty seats of the Holy Theocracy and the Demon Domain...

The Pope, along with the Demon King and the Queen, had all returned to their seats.

The Demon King wore a beaming smile, as if he could burst into laughter at any moment.

The Pope, on the other hand, had a gloomy face. The once splendid and ornate crown atop his head was gone, replaced with a plain and unimpressive cap.

It seemed...

The outcome of *their* battle was equally clear, huh?

---

**44. Silence (4K)**

【Perception-Shielding Barrier】

【Visual Obstruction】

【Auditory Obstruction】

A triple-layered defensive barrier enveloped the Demon King’s viewing platform.

It was a spell cast by Queen Herilet.

After all, they were about to have a little private chat with their daughters~ shielding themselves from prying eyes was only natural.

Just moments ago, Herilet had heard about what had happened within the Domain. From her perspective as a mother, this was absolutely something to be joyful and relieved about!

“Wonderful...! This is so great! Children, your mother is so happy that you’ve made up! Mm-hmm, sisters should always be open with each other—don’t hold onto grudges overnight. As long as you talk things through, everything’s fine. That distance between you before? From now on, you should become even closer! Hoo... I was so worried—what if you two had really started fighting inside the Domain...?”

Herilet pulled both daughters into her arms—one on each side.

She smushed Sheffy and Belith’s faces so close together they were practically touching!

Mother...! When you said we should be “closer,” I think you meant emotionally, not physically!

Struggling upright, Sheffy let out a humph—her tsundere thoughts laid bare.

“Ma...making up is fine and all... but I’ll say this now! Just because we’ve made up doesn’t mean things will be like before! I’m still going to live how I want...! Mmph!”

“Uuuu... Royal Sister, you’re so cute! I can’t take it anymore... I need another hug!”

“I just said... don’t get carried away, you brat!”

Heehee, Royal Sister said nothing would change, but the change was already obvious.

That change was—now that she clung to her Royal Sister like this, she wouldn’t get kicked away anymore!

Not kicking you doesn’t mean there aren’t *other* methods of punishment.

While jabbing Belith’s forehead repeatedly with her finger, pushing her back to a safe distance, Sheffy simultaneously observed the situation with her father and mother from the corner of her eye.

Her father, likely still riding the high of battle from earlier, remained visibly fired up. His dismissive expression seemed to say—*Tsk tsk tsk, such sentimental nonsense. Sisters reconciling? Isn’t that only natural? What’s there to make a fuss about over something so trivial?*

So then—why was he thinking it, but not saying it?

The reason, naturally, was that her mother was “smiling” at him.

That smile was *devastating*, in both senses of the word.

The first “devastating” meant breathtakingly beautiful in the usual sense. The second—was the *physically destructive* kind of devastating.

Alright, alright, let’s set aside the sentimental stuff for now. Let me ask about the real business.

“Father, how did things get resolved on your side? Did you beat up the Pope? Look at that sour face of his... And what about Aimeris? Don’t tell me you hit her too?!”

“Ohhh...! My daughter, you’re finally asking the important questions!” The Demon King was visibly thrilled that she brought it up!

“Dielzner...?” Herilet clenched her fist, her smile slightly twisted. “How many times have I told you... family matters *are* serious business too, you know? Why is it that there’s nothing in your brain besides fighting... I really want to crack open your skull and see what it’s made of.”

“My wife, I beg you—please don’t crack it open.”

In the presence of his wise wife, Dielzner finally reined in his arrogant expression.

Sitting upright on his temporary throne, the deep thud of his blood-red armor echoed as he adjusted his posture. Clearing his throat, he began to recount the events that had just transpired.

“Ahem! It wasn’t anything major. That Gustana Pope has no real skill, relying only on a few magical trinkets and cheap tricks. Trying to play smart—he pissed me off, so I snatched his hat and burned it. The reason I made a move was to see what was behind that golden light of his.”

“The golden light called itself Aimeris.” Sheffy shared what she knew. “She claimed to be one of the Four Creator Gods. Whether that’s true or not, we’ve got no way to verify it yet. Did you learn anything new in your fight with her?”

Huh...?

Belith tilted her head in a daze, completely lost in the conversation.

Ahahaha... So even gods showed up while I wasn’t around? Life really is full of surprises!

“We didn’t discover anything.”

The next line came from Herilet.

“Because we never truly fought with that golden light.”

“You didn’t fight...?”

“That’s right. Your father and I had forced the Pope to retreat. Your father, still brimming with fighting spirit, intended to press the advantage and severely injure him. But just then, the golden light appeared—taking shape from a phantom into a physical form—and blocked your father’s magical attack.”

“She could block Father’s attack...? That suggests her defense isn’t bad, huh.”

“She got sent flying.”

“......”

So... the divine being looked kinda... pitiful?

Herilet wasn’t done yet.

Even in her usual calm gaze, a hint of concern surfaced as she continued.

“But what’s strange is... even though she directly took your father’s 【Disintegration】 head-on, she didn’t seem to suffer any real damage. That golden light rose again afterward, exchanged a few words with us, and then this meaningless battle simply came to an end.”

“Uh... Father’s a battle maniac. He gave up the fight that easily...? What did she say?”

“That golden light said—‘Do me a favor, let it go.’”

“！”

Wow...

Sheffy had imagined many possible outcomes for how the battle might have ended, but she had *never* considered Aimeris being this spineless!

“Do me a favor,” huh?

How much is that *favor* worth, exactly? You’re all sparkly—what, do you drop coins when you shine?

And yet... it was that one line that completely drained Dielzner of his will to fight.

Demon King Dielzner waved his broad hand dismissively, his tone full of disappointment.

“Boring. I thought that one would show some real trump card. Turns out she really doesn’t have any combat strength. The path of the Demon King disdains bullying the weak! If she doesn’t want to fight, then fine—we won’t. Fighting her would only sully the name of the Demon Clan!”

If those people went around afterward saying that the Demon King bullied the weak, he’d be too embarrassed to show his face!

She hadn’t expected Aimeris to be *that* spineless... and now, this left Sheffy a little troubled.

While she was lost in thought, she didn’t notice Belith had quietly taken her finger in her hand.

“So... can you confirm whether she’s really a god? Or is it all bluff—just an empty title?”

“That’s hard to say.”

Dielzner wasn’t entirely a musclehead.

His sharp intuition as Demon King often allowed him to draw conclusions from battle.

“That one didn’t seem to have combat strength... but I’ve got this feeling she’s hiding something. Either she has some reason that prevents her from fighting, or maybe... she *can’t* fight just yet.”

Herilet added, “And the nature of her magic was very special—extremely pure. Your father and I have encountered countless races and enemies, but we’ve never seen magical energy with a composition like that. If I had to describe it... it’s like finding a legless grasshopper among a pond full of fish—just bizarre.”

“......”

Whoa, Mother, that description is *not* even a little abstract.

Now I know why I’ve been saying weird things lately—I must’ve inherited your speech gene.

There wasn’t much point continuing the discussion—it wouldn’t yield any further conclusions.

This was the extent of what they could share.

Although the truth remained out of reach, the Demon King’s journey had already fulfilled its purpose.

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