Chapter 236: Planning To Obtain The Flaming Sword (1)

As Raegis slowly opened her eyes, she stretched her limbs and let out a contented sigh. The warmth of the morning sun filled her room, a welcomed change from the cold nights spent on their adventures. She yawned and rubbed her eyes, getting up from her bed and making her way to the dining table.

To her surprise, she found Willow and Amelia already sitting at the table, chatting and giggling like old friends. 

Amelia wiped away a tear of mirth from her eye, her laughter subsiding as she tried to catch her breath. "By the spirits, do you remember when we encountered that mischievous sprite in the Enchanted Forest?” 

Willow chuckled, a fond smile gracing his lips. "You mean that time where you got led around in circles and we took the entire afternoon searching for you?”

“It’s not my fault!” Amelia giggled, cheeks a light red. “It was only because-”

Raegis frowned, a canine appearing. A tinge of jealousy crept into her heart as she observed them laughing and sharing intimate conversations over breakfast at their private dining table in the tavern. Her instincts told her that their bond had deepened overnight, and she felt a sense of threat to her position as Willow’s trusted companion. Willow was hers!

The tavern they were staying in had given them their own private dining table, a luxury that they could only dream of when they were still lowly ranked adventurers. But now, after successfully completing their last mission, they had finally reached C-rank and were at the top of their game. Although the truth was that they had saved the tavern’s owner from being captured by a group of nasty goblins, and this was simply his way of repaying favor. 

“Oh Raegis, finally awake, sleepy head?” Willow waved the frowning, little or rather, not so little anymore, beastkin over. “Come, sit.”

At being waved over, Raegis smiled immediately and pranced over like a little dog, before taking her place, right beside Willow which didn’t go unnoticed by Amelia, whose expression turned rather stiff.

“Um, Raegis, why are you sitting so close beside Willow?” Amelia asked, gripping her wooden fork rather hard. 

Raegis didn’t even glance her way, as she simply took Willow’s right arm, getting even closer as she looked down to the piping hot, meat stew. Her favorite. 

At being ignored, Amelia nearly broke the wooden fork. ‘Stupid mutt.’

Willow on the other hand, didn’t seem to notice as he simply grabbed himself another serving of his meat stew, and rice. “You’ll have to get used to it. Raegis’s always been pretty clingy ever since I found her.” But then, a flash of understanding came across Willow’s head as a mischievous smirk adorned his pretty, pink lips. 

“But, if you want, my left hand’s always free~” Willow watched as the elf’s long ears suddenly started flapping about excitedly. 

“N-no, it’s okay. I wouldn’t want to trouble you too much,” Amelia said before whispering the next part to herself. “Besides that would be too much stimulation for me.”

Willow just shrugged. “Alright then, suit yourself. Oh, for Hum’s sake, Rae, you’re getting stew all over your lips!”

The next few moments were pretty wholesome as they simply talked about the adventures they were on, in the past week. As they finished their food, Amelia turned to Willow with a curious expression. “So, Willow, what's the plan now that we're C-ranked?” she asked.

Willow took a moment to think. What was his end goal? To live a detached, but simple life in the countryside with a group of overpowered beings at his beck and call to ensure that his future simple life remained simple. 

And, to get there, he had to first defeat the Demon God.

While there were only a few, very, very selected ways to hurt the Demon God, much less kill her, if you played the game as much as Willow did, you would find that there were other ways to avoid the Demon God and her shenanigans. 

But first, Willow needed his nuclear deterrent, and although his little sister was surely trying her best, it would still take time for her to actually grow strong enough to protect him, much less defeat the Demon God once and for all.

So, what was the nuclear deterrent? Well, a sword that could make nuclear explosions go brr didn’t sound so bad. 

But, before that. “We need to level up.” Willow finally said, his serious tone making Raegis sit up straighter. “It's time we take on bigger challenges and become stronger.”

Amelia nodded in agreement, but Raegis couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive. She knew enough about Willow by now that he was definitely thinking of some horrible plan to grow stronger. 

“And, how do we do that exactly?” Amelia asked.

“We need to get a weapon.”

“A weapon?” Raegis tuned in, her ears perking up at the mention of a weapon. 

“Yes, but before that,” Willow closed his eyes. “Let me tell you a story.”

His gaze grew distant as he delved into the tale. 

Once upon a time, in a realm where light and darkness battle for supremacy, there existed a legendary artifact known as the Flaming Sword. Its creation was steeped in myth and mystique, said to be forged in the heart of a long-extinct volcano by ancient beings of unparalleled skill and wisdom. The blade shimmered with an ethereal radiance, its hilt adorned with intricate engravings that told the tales of heroes and their triumphs.

The Flaming Sword possessed a power like no other. It was said to be imbued with the essence of righteous fire, fueled by the collective hopes and dreams of countless generations. Its flames danced with the purity of a hero's heart, capable of vanquishing the darkest shadows and turning the tides of battle.

But alongside the legend of the Flaming Sword, another tale unfolded—a tale of tragedy and corruption. It spoke of the Succubus Queen, once a shining beacon of light and valor. She had stood at the forefront of the 1st Celestial Hero's Party, her skills in combat unmatched, her dedication unwavering.

The Succubus Queen, whose true name had long been forgotten, was celebrated as the epitome of virtue and loyalty. Her unwavering devotion to the God-King and her comrades inspired all who beheld her. But the path of heroes is treacherous, and betrayal can lurk in the most unexpected places.

As destiny would have it, the Celestial Hero fell in love with the Maiden, the embodiment of innocence and compassion. Consumed by jealousy and blinded by his desires, he turned his back on the Succubus Queen, forsaking their bond and the sacred oath they had sworn to protect the realms.

Heartbroken and betrayed, the Succubus Queen's spirit shattered. The darkness that had been her eternal foe whispered seductive promises in her ear, exploiting her vulnerability and luring her into its embrace. She succumbed to its temptation, forsaking her righteous path and surrendering herself to the abyss.

From that moment, the Succubus Queen transformed, her radiant visage twisted into one of ethereal allure and malevolence. She became the embodiment of the darkness she once fought, wielding her newfound powers with ruthless precision. No longer a protector of the realms, she turned her gaze upon those she had once vowed to defend.

The realms quivered in fear as the Succubus Queen's reign of terror began. Her seductive enchantments ensnared the hearts of mortals, rendering them slaves to her dark desires. With every soul she claimed, her power grew, and her dominion over the realms tightened.

Yet, a glimmer of hope remained—a whisper in the wind, carried by ancient prophecies and the dreams of heroes yet to rise. The Flaming Sword, hidden somewhere within her territory, shall be reclaimed by a hero in the far future, and this hero shall use this sword to slay the Succubus Queen, putting her misery to end, once and for all.

And, with this sword, shall the hero grow to become strong, strong enough to slay even the gods themselves!

“Or so, the story goes,” Willow sighed. He really did love reciting the myth of the Flaming Sword & The Succubus Queen. “So basically, we need to get that sword.”

“Um. . .there’s just one problem with that plan,” Amelia started slowly. 

“Yes?”

“Isn’t the Succubus Queen one of the four Cardinal Guardians of the Demon God?” Amelia asked, her expression stiff. 

“Yup.” 

Amelia peacefully placed her spoon beside the wooden plate. “So, how about we devise another plan?”

***