Chapter 360
Chapter 360
Cecily returned to her residence with her fastest speed.
Instead of calling this Demon Realm’s Second Princess’s room as a place for sleeping, it would be more accurate to say that it was a small library.
All types of maps were spread over a long stony table. A portion of the maps were hand-illustrations of the Demon Realm. The others were maps originating from the human world.
Cecily walked to the edge of the long table. On there were maps of all the various different major kingdoms of the human world.
The information present on the map was not very detailed. But, through the map, Cecily was able to gain a rough understanding of the various different human kingdoms.
Cecily soon found the Capital of Magic Norland located in the center of the map. Toward the south of Norland, passing Rosger Spring and Farseer Strait, one will reach the nation Cecily was trying to find.
Farucci...
A nation renowned for their art?
Cecily immediately recalled what she had read about Farucci. The neighboring country to Farucci was the Nation of Steel.
Unfortunately, Cecily was unable to remember too much information about the nation of Farucci. She walked over to the bookshelves on the side of her room and began to search for information concerning Farucci.
The books on the bookshelves were all from the human world. Several of the travel notes on the bookshelves contained information about Farucci.
“Never participated in the expedition against the Demon Realm.”
Cecily took a glance at the map, at the geographical location of Farucci. The only entrance connecting the human world and the Demon Realm was the Endless Snowfield located in the Nation of Frost. Farucci was several kingdoms separated from the Nation of Frost. It would be very difficult for them to advance their army to attack the Demon Realm.
With this thought in mind, Cecily opened her magic network interface and tapped open the messenger. Prophet would message her every day to report everything that happened in Norland.
A portion of her report concerned the things Joshua did.
Cecily had learned from the reports made by Prophet that Joshua had a close relationship with the nobles from Farucci.
And this time, he decided to directly have Farucci dispatch a group of envoys for the Demon Realm.
Cecily tapped open the message Joshua sent her. After reading the message, the first thing she thought was... her younger brother succeeded!
This was the first envoy group dispatched to the Demon Realm by a human country in hundreds of years!
But... the timing was the worst.
Cecily closed the message. She started walking toward the center of the Royal Capital.
Soon, she arrived at the ‘altar’ of the Demon Realm’s ruler.
The entrance to the altar was closed shut. Cecily placed her hands on the steel gate. When she was about to push it open, a voice sounded from the other side.
“Is it you, Cecily?”
“Yes, father.”
Cecily pulled back her hands. She half-kneeled before the entrance.
Months ago, the ruler of the Demon Realm Nordlein, locked himself in the altar. Cecily had attempted to enter the altar several times to check out on her father’s condition but were all refused.
Because of this, Cecily became even more worried.
“What brought you here today?” The voice sounded from behind the entrance gates.
“It’s because of Jos...” Cecily suddenly stopped mid-sentence. She raised her head and looked at the tightly shut gates. She decided to change what she wanted to say, “It’s almost Faye’s birthday. Father, I think we should celebrate it.”
“Isn’t that little girl’s birthday supposed to be in three months’ time? Cecily, I know what you’re worried about... Recently, some changes had occurred in the altar; I must return it to normal.”
The voice from behind the gates sounded very clear. It was only after hearing that voice that Cecily lowered her head in ease.
This was most definitely not a voice of someone else in disguise. Her father was indeed on the other side of the gates.
“Cecily, now can you tell me what brought you here?”
“It’s because of Joshua. I’ve informed you that Joshua has been staying in the human city of Norland the past half year,” said Cecily.
“That child Joshua seemed to have been accepted by the humans of Norland. That aspect of him resembled your mother.”
“Mother?”
Cecily was slightly startled after hearing the word ‘mother.’ Cecily had not had any memories of her mother since the time when she was a child. Being very sensible, she didn’t inquire about her mother either.
Although Cecily felt an urge to learn more about her mother after hearing her father suddenly mentioning her, she resisted that urge. Right now, there was something even more important that she needed to report to the Demon Realm’s ruler.
“Did Joshua encounter some sort of danger in Norland?” Nordlein asked what he was worried about.
“No, things have been going very smoothly for Joshua,” Cecily recalled the various things regarding Joshua Prophet reported through her messages. It was no longer at a level that could be described using the word ‘smoothly!’
Cecily felt that if Joshua was given some more time, he might become history’s first demon to stand at the apex of Norland.
“Also... Joshua invited a group of envoys from Farucci. He hoped that they’ll be allowed to visit the Demon Realm,” said Cecily.
“A group of envoys from Farucci... What is their purpose in coming to the Demon Realm?”
Cecily opened her magic network interface and tapped open the message from Joshua. The message detailed the reason why the people from Farucci were coming to the Demon Realm.
Actually, Cecily wanted to tell her father that envoys from Farucci came with goodwill in mind. She wanted to tell him the exciting and inspiring news that they were here to become allies with the Demon Realm.
But in reality...
“They came here for the sake of making a sort of performance called a movie and...” Cecily took a glance at the final portion of the message.
“And what?”
After being questioned by the ruler of the Demon Realm, Cecily had no choice but to reveal the true reason why the people from Farucci were coming to the Demon Realm.
“And to tour the Demon Realm and enjoy its sceneries. It’s said that a portion of the young noble ladies are uniquely interested in Sin Demons.”
Cecily took a glance at the final note in the message and read it out loud.
When Cecily first saw that note, she was unable to understand what those humans were thinking!
She would be able to understand if it were male humans that were into succubi. But what was going on with young noble ladies liking Sin Demons?
The Sin Demons were the vanguards of the demon army, one of the strongest warriors. Their sharp claws could rip to shreds countless weak human mages.
Were human ladies all into such violent and bloody creatures now?
Regardless, Cecily lowered her head. The reason given for the visitation from Farucci’s envoys was simply too ridiculous.
Even so, laughter sounded from behind the door. It was a joyous laughter.
“Tourism! Never would I imagine that child to have succeeded. He had changed those humans’ impression of demons.”
Was this a sign of approval? Farucci’s envoys were allowed to visit?
“But father, many of our people still viewed humans in the same manner as before. Furthermore, we are in a period of unrest. Armies from the Nation of Frost and the Nation of the Holy Church are already engaged in battle with us at the frontier. The Royal Capital is affected by plague. I’m afraid that it wouldn’t be possible for the Royal Capital to receive Farucci’s envoys at such a time,” Cecily spoke of her worries.
“Could the sentinels be able to guarantee the safety of those people from Farucci while they ‘toured’ the Demon Realm?” asked Nordlein.
“There is no issue with that.”
Cecily answered without thinking. She was absolutely confident in the sentinels she led.
“In that case, open the gates and welcome those from Farucci! Bring them around to check out the Glimmering Lake in the Water Elemental Overlord’s territory. There’s also the brilliant Demon Realm Flowers. They would be a decent scenery to enjoy. There’s also the ‘haze’ located in the Duke of Blood’s territory. The territories of the Duke of Bones and Duke Black Dragon would be too much for the humans. Nevertheless, you could bring them to check out the borders of Duke Black Dragon’s Volcanic Mountain Range.”
Cecily quietly finished listening to the ruler of the Demon Realm’s speech. He seemed to have transformed into an enthusiastic tour guide.
But, the places he spoke of were all absolutely fatal and forbidden areas for humans.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Even though Cecily knew that humans wouldn’t possibly like places like the Volcanic Mountain Range, Nordlein’s words reminded her that the Demon Realm was not an absolutely barren land. There were also magnificent sceneries in this place.
“Clean up that abandoned embassy. It was established by your mother. It’s been tens of years since it was last used...” Nordlein’s voice suddenly stopped when it reached this point. He started to cough violently.
“Father!” Upon hearing the coughing, Cecily felt her worries being confirmed again. “Are you alright?!”
“Go ahead and carry out your mission. Cecily, this is an order.”
This time around, the voice from behind the gates sounded weak.
“I... understand.” Cecily stood up and began walking away. Before leaving, she took a glance at the tightly shut entrance to the altar. In the end, she bit her teeth and left.
.........
Norland. Hearthstone Tavern.
“Ciri, are you not going to bring luggage with you? This will be a long journey.”
Joshua was packing his luggage. He was putting in his change of clothes, cameras, video recorders and a whole bunch of different items into his luggage.
“These are enough for me.”
Ciri patted the bag around her waist. Contained inside the bag were drawing papers and some alchemic medicines.
Even though Ciri has lived in Norland for so long, Joshua has not forgotten that she was a veteran expert survivalist. She was the sort of person who would take on wild creatures like bears with a staff in hand.
“You seemed to be saying with your eyes ‘this girl doesn’t change clothes.'” Ciri seemed to know what Joshua was thinking. She took out a handkerchief out of nowhere. Then, light blue colored rune inscriptions appeared in her hand.
Sparkling snake-like liquid started to revolve around her handkerchief. In an instant, that handkerchief became sparkling clean.
“My elder sister taught me this. From the Flowing Water and Healing system of magic, ‘Cleaning Magic.’ This is a small trick that all mages know how to use.”
“Magic... is truly a convenient thing.”
Joshua stuffed everything he was holding into his suitcase. The suitcase’s interior was inscribed with special magic inscriptions. This allowed it to carry more stuff than its appearance.
“Are we going to Farucci?”
Ciri sat on the bed by herself and was kicking her legs. This was Joshua’s room. Practically everything in the room has been packed away.
“To be exact, we’ll be meeting up in Farucci before going to the Demon Realm.”
Joshua informed Ciri of the course of their journey again.
“But, after the filming of ‘Avatar,’ I will be returning to live in Norland,” said Joshua.
“We’ll most likely encounter your family in the Demon Realm, right?” asked Ciri all of a sudden.
“We’ll most likely encounter my elder sister Cecily. She has a neutral attitude toward humans. She wouldn’t draw her sword to attempt to kill you the moment she meets you.”
Joshua had just received a message from Cecily. It informed him that she had agreed to the visitation from Farucci’s envoys. At the same time, she expressed that she had arranged a place for them to stay at.
Joshua could tell what sort of attitude his elder sister had for humans just from reading the message. She was starting to become friendly toward humans.
“I think it’s likely not only because I’m a human that she would want to kill me.”
“In that case, Miss Ciri, are you planning to withdraw from the journey?”
“No, I’m confident in my escaping ability,” Ciri patted her non-existent chest.
“That’s not something worthy of showing off...”
Joshua lifted up his suitcase and pushed open the Hearthstone Tavern’s entrance. Outside the tavern, Ynor was waiting with a large suitcase in his hand. The succubus was insistent on following Joshua to the Demon Realm.
Perhaps he missed his home. Or perhaps it was because of something else. Regardless, Joshua agreed to have him accompany them.
“In that case, let us set off. The carriage has been waiting outside for a long time already.”
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