An hour before.
Liana glanced at the door when a soft knock was heard. The door opened, and Erisa stepped in along with several maids before gracefully stepping aside, giving way to a person who entered with an elegant, unhurried presence.
Liana, Gloria, Delya, and Mimi immediately stood and gave a graceful curtsy, while Gracelle did her best to rise from her seat and offer a respectful bow.
"Lady Mother."
Francesca smiled warmly, raising her palm to rest on her cheek while crossing one arm beneath her breast, her posture relaxed yet regal.
"Liana~"
"Yes, Lady Mother?"
"I was wondering... would you and the others like to go and meet your fiancĆ© a little earlier than planned? I have a feeling he might need some āassistanceā soon."
Lianaās eyes lit up with understanding. She smiled and gave a graceful bow. "As you wish, Lady Mother."
"Good. Head to the courtyard along with Gloria, Delya, and Mimi. Felicia is already there." Francesca then turned her gaze toward Gracelle. "And you, Gracelle~"
"Y... yes... umm... Your... Majesty?"
"Arara~" Francesca smiled, warmly. "You may call me Lady Mother, just like Liana and the others do. After all, you will also be my Honey Bunās future wife."
"Y... yes... Lady Mother."
"Good~ Now, Liana, bring your co-wives to the courtyard. Iām sure you donāt want to miss the fun. And Gracelle will stay with me for today."
Liana and Gloria exchanged knowing smiles, while Delya and Mimi glanced at each other in confusion before following Lianaās lead.
"But before that~" Francesca said softly, a sweet smile gracing her lips as she raised her palm. A gentle, golden-white light enveloped them, washing over them like a warm breeze. Her voice dropped to a low, melodic whisper, carrying a subtle, flowery hint.
"Go have some fun, my dears. Iām sure your husband will be "happy" to see you."
Meanwhile, at the gravity zone...
Both carriages came to a stop as they finally reached normal terrain, the oppressive weight lifting as they entered the main road again.
Jaigar and Gorak both rushed out of their carriages, their bodies still weak from the gravity zone, but their rage burning hot.
"Iām going to kill you, you asshole!" Jaigar equipped his knuckle duster on both hands, his knuckles cracking as he clenched his fists. "Iāll crush your head and that dumb bird of yours!"
"Whoa, whoa, chill, man." Javier raised his hands with a sheepish grin, while Buddy turned to face them, his tongue lolling out to the side of his beak, looking utterly dumb and harmless.
"You shitty beggar!" Gorak snarled, drawing his magic bow and aiming it at Javier. "Iāll put an arrow through your skull!"
"Ahhh~" Javier glanced at Buddy before shrugging. "Looks like thereās no way out of this, huh, Buddy?"
"Cuquawked!!"
"Well..." Javier smirked. "If you all insist, I believe it is only proper for a host to entertain his guests." He smiled at them, his expression innocent. "But before that..."
"What?!" Jaigar snarled. "Iāll give you one last chance to mutter your final words before I end you!"
Javierās smile never wavered. "Mind telling me... where are you from?"
"Huh?! Weāre from the Human Nation! What else, you piece of shit?!" Gorak spat.
"Chi, chi, chi~" Javier wiggled his finger, his eyes glinting with cold amusement. "I didnāt ask about the country in this world. I was asking about your old world."
Both Jaigar and Gorak froze, their eyes widening in shock. Their jaws clenched, and Jaigarās voice dropped to a low, dangerous growl.
"How the hell do you know that?"
Javier let out a soft chuckle as he climbed down from Buddyās back, patting the massive pekkoās wing before turning to face Jaigar and Gorak.
"Well... how I know that is none of your business." He tilted his head, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "And besides, you two arenāt from the Human Kingdom on this continent. Do you think Iām as stupid as you all? Hmm?"
Jaigar gritted his jaw, his knuckle duster gleaming under the light. Gorak, already losing his patience, released his first magic shot, a blazing fire arrow streaking toward Javier with deadly precision.
Javier kept one hand in his pocket while raising the other, catching the flaming arrow between two fingers as if it were nothing. He glanced at it casually before tossing it over his shoulder, where it exploded harmlessly behind him.
"Hey, hey~" Javierās tone was light, almost playful, as he dusted off his hand. "Whatās with the first shot? Now you leave me no choice, you know?" He gave them a calm, steady look. "I always give my enemies the first move. A punch, a shot, a spell... whatever they want. That way, I have every right to return the favor."
Gorakās eyes widened in shock, his hand still gripping his bow.
"Oi, oi~" Javier lifted his chin, glancing at Gorak with a mocking chuckle. "Whatās with that look of surprise? Never seen someone catch your best magic shot before? Did you think everyone would just fall over and die from your arrows?"
His smirk turned serious, his eyes glowing with a dangerous, cold light.
"Just like how you killed those weak, innocent halflings who ran toward you for help? Or the Amazarak people youāve been torturing as prisoners?"
Jaigarās eyes widened, his voice sharp and panicked. "How the hell do you know about that?!"
"Hmm?" Javier raised an eyebrow, his tone dripping with mock innocence. "Didnāt I already ask you two which country from the old world you came from?" He tilted his head, a cold smile curling on his lips. "Doesnāt that question give you any hint? Are you two really that stupid?"
He tilted his head, his gaze cold and piercing.
"Or perhaps... itās those things you call ādivine weaponsā that made you think you were untouchable?"
Jaigarās aura flared as his knuckle duster glowed with intense, crackling energy. He lunged forward with explosive speed, both fists swinging in a devastating pincer attack aimed at both sides of Javierās head. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, followed by a deafening explosion that kicked up a cloud of dust and debris.
He leaped back and landed smoothly, blowing the smoke off his knuckle dusters with a smug grin.
"Donāt compare my attack to that weakling Gorakās pathetic fire shot. Thatās the power of a true chosen hero."
The smoke slowly cleared, revealing Javier standing in the same spot, completely unharmed, using his pinky to dig his nose, a dumb, unimpressed look on his face. His beggar outfit had been completely shredded by the blast, leaving him in nothing but a pair of short pants.
Jaigarās smirk faltered, his jaw tightening as he saw the beggar standing there without a single scratch.
Javier flicked his pinky before glancing at Buddy, who was now scratching the ground with his talons as if searching for worms, completely ignoring the fight. He turned back to Jaigar with a blank, unimpressed look.
"Err... is that your best shot?"
( End Of Chapter )