Chapter 44: Arriving in Azure
Near a newly formed crater, and drawn by the noise, some clever animals resembling monkeys appeared in the area of commotion. From the branches of the trees, they observed a figure standing close to that place.
Iris noticed their presence, but as long as they didn't attack, there was no need to do anything. She simply continued her mental messages.
With the message passed to Gorus, she looked at the destruction she had caused.
"I didn't overdo it too much, right?~"
She stared at the crater for a few seconds and shrugged.
Yeah, it's not that bad...~ Either way, I have to go back and don't have time to fix this.
Jumping onto a branch, the animal that was on it was pulverized just for being in her way. The creature's companions simply watched without doing anything, as their instincts screamed not to attack.
Ignoring them completely, she just kept going.
Jumping from branch to branch, she reached the carriages, though not at the same place she had left.
Looking ahead, the trees she had bent and the knight she had killed were still there.
Well, he's not dead, is he?~ At least they don't have life to lose...
Getting close to the armor, she bent down, folding her legs. She touched her hand to the armor, which began to twitch.
Just a little bit of Hope is enough...
Once it stopped moving, she ordered:
"Imitate what you were doing before.~"
The armor stood up and went to its knees as before, holding something invisible.
Iris narrowed her eyes at the knight's action.
What happened? He doesn't seem human anymore...
She poked the kneeling knight's head.
"What happened? Not the same anymore?"
The knight spoke as a purple eye shone from inside the helmet.
"I fear I do not hold the answer, Lady Iris."
"Hm~"
With a finger on her cheek, she looked at him while her spirals slowed down.
Should I just tell him to act like the others, then? ...Azath should have given me some manual for these things~
With nothing better to do, she simply gave an order that seemed right.
"Act like before... I mean, like a knight. And return to your duty."
"Yes! My lady."
The knight stood and returned to the group, tying up some people.
Iris walked in the same direction. As she got closer, she stopped.
"Did you catch all of them?"
A knight, with a small piece of purple fabric coming from his helmet, spoke.
"Unfortunately, some escaped, Lady Iris."
"Tsk."
She crossed her arms as her spirals slowed down again. Looking away from the knight, she stared at the tied-up group sitting on the ground.
Seeing the situation, her eyes spun a bit faster, and a smile formed on her lips, as if a cruel idea had just come to mind.
"Cut off the feet of all the tied ones."
A small commotion began as the knights simply advanced in their direction.
"N-No, please..." an adventurer begged, but it was useless.
The knight in black armor, without mercy, cut the adventurer's feet as he screamed in agony. That scream triggered many others.
The scene in front of Iris only fueled her excitement, making her spirals spin faster.
With the last foot removed, she healed them all, though the healing wasn't enough to restore their feet to what they once were, only sealing the skin and stopping the bleeding.
"Unfortunately, I'm not good with this kind of skill~ But you'll be able to survive until we reach our destination, I guarantee it, hehe~"
With cheerful gestures, she pointed to a spot, then said something horrible with casual ease to the knights.
"Tie them to the carriages at the back."
She leaned close to the face of a woman who was tied up in a group on the ground.
The woman, staring at Iris's spinning pink eyes, trembled as tears welled up in her own.
"If you don't want to be dragged, you can try walking, heh~"
Finishing her provocation, the knights began pulling the people, now split into four groups of five each.
While they begged, Iris simply turned and walked to her carriage as if nothing had happened.
This should be a good enough gift for the King of Azure... My sweet Khan will probably be proud of me. Hehehe~ I can't wait for praise.
...
In a room lit partially by the afternoon sun, with luxury furniture all around, someone stood near a mirror adjusting their clothes.
"This is so exhausting..."
A woman with striking dragon-like features leaned against the wall.
"No point complaining now, Yuri~ You're the one who refused the maids' help."
Yuri looked at the woman with narrowed eyes as he pulled at his collars.
"You're a poet when you're quiet, Vivianne."
Vivianne let out a small laugh as she straightened up.
"My~, your insults are getting more creative every day, huhu~"
With the outfit adjusted, they left the room, coming upon a vast hallway filled with maids cleaning the place.
"Don't you think it's a bit much to have them clean everything out of nowhere?"
As they walked, Vivianne asked this question, making Yuri question her intelligence.
"...Do I really need to say again that we'll have an event soon? The maids started early to lighten the workload for the week."
Vivianne looked at Yuri and jumped in front of him. Getting close to his face, she spoke playfully.
"So you just feel sorry for the ladies?~"
Yuri pulled his head slightly back and stared into Vivianne's orange eyes.
"No. I just respect those who work hard... now get out of my way."
He pushed Vivianne's face to the side and continued on. Behind him, a small smile grew on Vivianne's face.
...
Yuri and Vivianne walked toward the receiving room where they would formally greet Iris.
Interrupting the morning peace, the clashing of metal was heard. In the distance, a knight was running quickly toward the two.
Reaching them, he knelt down. Yuri simply stared, waiting for an answer after such an abrupt arrival.
"Your highness, it seems Lady Iris has arrived and brought something she calls a gift."
Yuri had a bad feeling about this.
"I'll go to the entrance personally, then."
The knight trembled and spoke strangely.
"F-Forgive me for saying this, but I recommend not going and sending an envoy instead, your highness..."
The knight lowered his head after speaking. Yuri frowned, a few veins pulsing.
Why does everyone in this kingdom try to order me around? Am I some kind of joke?
Ignoring him, he just continued forward, not paying attention to the kneeling knight.
Vivianne came close to Yuri's ear and whispered:
"You think there's something wrong with the gifts Iris brought?"
At that, Yuri relaxed a little, the angry expression fading as he answered:
"I don't know, but I'm curious to see."
They walked to the castle's entrance, where several carriages were parked, and a tall elf with white and pink hair stood near a large white carriage.
Iris seemed to be waiting for their arrival. Upon seeing Yuri and Vivianne, she smiled and waved.
This thing tries to act like a child, but look at her size... this is so unreal.
Yuri thought, with his own prejudices, as he approached her.
Getting close, Iris began speaking, her spirals slowly turning.
"Helloo~, it's been a while since we last met, hasn't it?~"
With a completely different expression, he started a friendly conversation with Iris.
"Haha, yes! It's been quite some time since we last saw each other."
The tone shift was abrupt, catching Vivianne by surprise, who let out a small side laugh. Yuri just ignored it and continued.
"So... what are these other carriages?"
Iris answered in her "usual" cheerful way.
"They're gifts, which my creator wanted to offer..."
With a small pause, she snapped her fingers as if remembering something.
"And my gift... Well, it's at the castle gate, I don't know why~"
Yuri heard that while glancing at some of his knights nearby, who were sweating.
What did she bring that's making the guards react like this?
Curious about the gift, Yuri spoke while forcing a smile.
"Ha, no problem, I can go see now what you've brought?"
Iris smiled, her spirals spinning faster.
"But of course~ Just don't be too shocked and faint like some people did on the streets. Hehehe~"
Yuri gestured to a knight, who ran toward him upon seeing the gesture. Getting close, the knight spoke with vigor.
"Yes! Your highness!"
"Take us to Iris's blocked gifts."
The knight froze for a moment, then replied:
"As you wish, your highness."
He turned and began to guide the way, while Yuri, Vivianne, and Iris walked side by side.
As they neared the gates, sounds of empty, meaningless wails could be heard. The scene was horrible — some corpses with brutally mutilated lower bodies, and those who survived, due to higher resistance, just kept begging for forgiveness.
Upon seeing the scene, the first thing Yuri felt was pity. But that didn't last long due to Iris's words.
"These are heretics who attacked the caravan on the way and..."
Her smile vanished, her spirals slowed. Feeling the air pressure shift, Vivianne jumped in front of Yuri, and Iris continued.
"...Damaged the symbol of union among my dear Khan's creations."
The pressure disappeared completely. With her spirals spinning again and a pure smile on her face, she added:
"So I applied a small punishment, but I'd like to hand them over so you can enforce the laws of your territory, since I found them around here~"