I think this is the right place… Yep, seems that way. I’m pretty sure these are Mom’s unit. Still though I don’t see her anywhere… 

“Are these people the force you mentioned?” Rosia asked.

“Yeah, I came by a few times but never really did anything” I replied. Maybe one of them would know where she have gone to. Who to ask… maybe that purple haired cat boy would know, if I remember correctly he’s the strongest here.

“Hey purple cat, where’s the general?” I asked as I approach him, with him looking quite perplexed.

“A-Ah, she’s at the training ground at the moment” He replied. 

“Thanks for the information, let’s go” I said as I turn back and Rosia follow along.

*Zoom*

She should be-

*Swing* *Parry* 

She is, and in fact in a sparring match with the librarian at this moment. She’s supposedly a former mythril ranked adventurer but how will that fare against Mom?

“[Buster Spark]!” The librarian… Belphi, chanted.

*Beam*

A big beam of light is aimed toward Mom.

*Block*

Who blocks it using her sword and slowly close the distance between the two. Eventually the beam dissipate and Mom quickly close the distance.

*Swing* *Block*

“Ugh…” Belphi groaned. Mom swing and targeting Belphi’s left side, but she managed to block it in time, though the force applied seems to be too much for her, and she kneel down onto the floor.

“Seems this is your limit” Mom noted as she noticed us.

“Um. Hi” I said. 

“Hm? What are you doing here?” Mom asked finally noticing us.

“Just checking in on you, I mean it seems you’ve been a bit busy” I replied. 

“How considerate” She said. Belphi stand back up and look at me as well.

“Seems this place is just full of absurd stuff” She said.

“It’s your choice to be here, not mine” I dismissively replied. I think I might as well apprise her now, see how she actually stacks up.

[Appraisal]

 

Name: Belphi

Gender: Female

Age: 88

Race: Human

 

Level: 384

Class: Flower Knight

HP: 69,401/83,899

MP: 6,021/8,107

Strength: 3,001

Magic Prowess: 3,003

Dexterity: 2,794

Agility: 2,333

Luck: 2,841

Vitality: 2,944

Magic Resistance: 2,988

 

Special Trait: [Longevity] [Ancient Power] [Mana Regeneration]

 

Weapon Proficiency

Sword: A+

Polearm: B

Axe: E+

Bow: E+

Brawl: B+

Hidden Weapon: A

 

Elemental Proficiency

Fire: B

Cold: D

Water: D

Lightning: C

Wind: B+

Earth: A+

Light: S

Dark: E+

Life: A+

Death: E+

Mind: D

Space: D

 

What the hell is a flower knight? Sounds like a made up class honestly. Still though she’s even stronger than the Hero herself, guess these people are mythril class for a reason. Her stats are on the overspecialized side of things, which is rather uncommon amongst humans. Also [Longevity]? That explains the age of 88, she looks about third her age. There’s also [Mana Regeneration], and what is this [Ancient Power]?

[Appraisal]

 

[Ancient Power]: The trait that make one stronger with age, unable to die of old age.

 

Seems a bit redundant when paired with [Longevity], but it seems like it doesn’t give eternal youth. Still what a ridiculous trait to have, this woman have some surprise up her sleeves it seems

“Fair enough, speaking of which can I request something of you?” She suddenly asked.

“What is it?” I said.

“Think you can bring maybe a flower to my room? I like them” She said. Weird request but okay, not that I have any flower in mind… except that one…

“That should be manageable” I replied. Hopefully they don’t get too attached, though that seems unlikely. Ah, now that both of them are here...

“By the way, what was this problem you two came across? I heard about it from Kaa-san” I asked. She won’t tell me so maybe Mom will.

“A sage she considered a pest or something along those lines, she simply approached us and I was having a bad feeling. Yeig took care of her so there’s no need to worry” Mom explained, another sage? That does sound like a problem isn’t it, still if even Mom said that then it most likely won’t be a problem, I shouldn’t be focusing on this topic anymore, not that it explains why Kaa-san doesn’t want to talk about this sage.

“I see… well thanks for telling me that Mom, and I’m glad you’re fine” I replied. 

“Appreciate the sentiment. Regardless is there anything else you want to ask?” I don’t really have anything else to say really… Yep can’t think of anything.

“No this is all for now Mom” I responded. Rosia have been silent this whole time and I’m not sure what to make of that.

“Actually Rosia do you have anything you want to say?” I asked.

“Ah… well I don’t have anything to say either” Seems that caught her off guard. Now what am I to do next…

“I have a thought, now that you’re here how about you try sparring with this woman here?” Mom suddenly suggested pointing at Belphi.

“Um… what?” I asked nervously. Belphi seems fine with the idea and Rosia didn’t object at all.

“Of course you have to not go all out, or are you incapable of that?” Mom said sounding like she’s interrogating me.

“Of course I can! But that doesn’t mean I have to spar with-”

“That’s an order” Eeep!

“Y-Yes Mom” I replied as I bring out my katana and began walking and giving space between us, Belphi did the same, from the looks of it Mom healed her while I wasn’t looking. Mom and Rosia obviously get out of the way.

“Seems even you aren’t spared” Belphi noted as she ready her stance.

“Please don’t remind me” I replied as I do the same.

“Ready… Go!” 

*Dash*

I immediately rush towards her and swing at her from her right.

*Turn*

And fake it out and attack from her left instead.

*Block*

She still managed to block it, if obviously struggle to keep a good footing, I step back so she wouldn’t counter me right away. She then also backed up as well, what is she trying to do? She’s raising her sword and then-

*Swing* *Whirl*

“What the-?”

*Evade*

A whip sword, to think I didn’t expect that, almost get a clean hit on me there. 

*Swing* *Whirl*

She’s definitely going on an offensive now.

*Jump*

I jumped over the incoming attack and toward her. She immediately retract her whip sword into its default state and-

*Parry*

Parry my strike from above. I barely put anything into that attack but she’s obviously losing her footing from that, the power gap is too drastic for even with me holding back to close it. Regardless that parry recoil me back giving space between us again. Let’s see how she deal with magic. 

*Throw*

I throw some dark arrows at her. Her sword glows faintly.

*Block*

She blocked them all with her enchanted sword, seems she can use chantless magic as well, though perhaps not with all type of spell considering her scuffle with Mom earlier. She pointed her sword at me and flow of mana is surging.

“[Buster Spark]!” She shouted.

*Beam* *Block*

A big beam of light flying toward me quickly forcing me to block against it. That was what she use against Mom earlier, I can actually feel its force despite the difference between us, what a powerful attack all things considered, not that it mattered in the end!

*Dissipate*

The blast dissipate when I use my mana to disrupt it. That was probably her strongest spell, and she seems rather spent after using that.

“Take this” Mom suddenly said as she throw something at Belphi.

“Huh?” She let out as she receive something, a potion. Mana potion to be exact. I turn to look at Mom as well.

“Intuition of mine is telling me you could use a stronger spell than that, you just don’t want to use it for some reason. I will say this now, use it on her or else” Mom explained and commanded. She have even stronger spell than that? Belphi look concerned all things considered.

“Well… nothing for it” Belphi said.

*Chug* *Throw*

Drinking the potion and throw the container back to Mom.

“Haa… Allow me to demonstrate” She let out a sigh and grip her sword tightly with both hands, the sword brighten and she point her sword upward.

“[Blossoming...” She chanted something quietly as she stare at me. I can feel the mana surging violently and gather around her, whatever she does will definitely be more destructive than before. She then point her sword at me with mana surging violently.

“-SPARK]!!!” She suddenly shouted.

*Beam*

What the-!?

“[Shield of Light]!” I unintentionally said out loud.

*Block*

A massive beam of light shifting in colors fire toward me, to think someone of her level pull out something this… absurd! 

*Crack*

This shield is seriously cracking? I thought it might be in danger of cracking slightly but to think-

*Crash* 

…

“What the hell was that?” I said as look straight at the completely exhausted Belphi still standing if on a flimsy footing. I wasn’t gravely injured or anything but it’s actually a noticeable damage. Clothing partially destroyed and body bruised slightly, this woman has done far more to me than anyone else aside from my parents. Actually that attack remind me of-

“That could’ve been bad” Huh? Kaa-san was here since when? I look around and good deal of the training ground is absolutely wrecked, but weirdly nothing pass that.

“Vermy I don’t think pressure her like that is a good idea” Kaa-san said to Mom.

“I supposed. Also stop coming up with random and silly nicknames already” Mom replied. Rosia stand there looking rather concerned then walk up to me and heal any wounds I might have.

“Thanks” I responded.

*Twirl* *Shine*

Kaa-san twirls her staff around and light covered the area and fixing the place, also Belphi seems to recover from that light as well.

“There’s a saying cornered rattlesnake for a reason” Kaa-san said as she inspect the place, seems she’s looking for any other damage this place might’ve taken.

“That was impressive, no wonder you were one of the few mythril ranked adventurers” I said to Belphi.

“Said the person tanking that blast, but I appreciate the compliment” Belphi replied. 

“Anyway are you people going to try anything else that dangerous? This isn’t a place for that” Kaa-san asked. 

“I don’t have anything in mind” Mom said.

“And you?” Kaa-san asked looking at Belphi.

“Nothing of the sort” She replied.

“Well to prevent anything like that happening again…” Kaa-san said as she walk to a corner of the training ground.

*Twirl* *Spark* *Crack*

Suddenly a… tear in reality appeared? Something along those line I would imagine. She suddenly hop in and back out again.

“Go in there to do your crazy experiments, not out here” Kaa-san said as she walk to us and-

*Poke*

Poke Mom’s forehead with her staff.

“Well then, hopefully I won’t have to intervene again” Kaa-san said.

*Zoom*

And there she goes. 

“Rather unfortunate she can’t be that serious or critical with everything” Mom commented rubbing her forehead.

“Hah… I hope none of you are dissatisfied or mad at me for that” Belphi said. 

“Not at all, if nothing else that was quite neat” Mom replied.

“I don’t see anything wrong with it” Rosia replied.

“Same here, we mess stuff up sometimes as well” I added.

“It’s really only you that do so” Rosia suddenly remarked.

“Hey!” I replied playfully. 

“Well I supposed our sparring ends here. Do you have anything else you want me to do Vermilla?” Belphi said and asked. 

“Nothing. You should keep training and polish your skill is all I’ll say. I’ll go check up on the troops after that ruckus” Mom replied. Wait I just remember I have to ask her something!

“Hold on Mom!” I said out loud.

“What?” She replied looking back at me.

“Can you or at least Kaa-san clean up the library and have Kaa-san prepare a private training room for the new girls. They want to two place” I said.

“I’m not good with this stuff but I’ll pass the message along. Anything else?” She replied.

“Nothing” I said.

“Well then, see you all later” Mom said then walk away. Now onto the current matter.

“Say, what’s with that spell of yours? No matter how you look at it that’s not a spell anyone can just obtain, let alone use” I asked. Sure it’s just a massive beam of light, but next to no human should be able to conjure something of that scale, at the very least not unassisted.

“I don’t really have a story for that. I simply have the raw power needed to do so, I have always been known for having a lot of it even compared to others” Well that explanation isn’t really anything to go by, but not everything have a complex or deep story behind it, so whatever.

“It’s that simple huh… I won’t press on the issue further” I replied.

“I’m curious” Rosia suddenly speak up.

“Hm? About what?” Belphi asked.

“Why do you stop being an adventurer in the first place then? From the looks of it you’re extremely capable and still is now” Rosia explained. Yeah she’s a former adventurer despite her strength, all to weird I must say.

“My heart just wasn’t in it, I’m not opposed to fighting at all mind you, but a more quiet and relaxing job just feels more suiting for me personally” She replied. 

“You only thought so after already achieving the highest rank of all adventurer no less?” Rosia pointed out.

“It was enjoyable at first, but after gaining quite a reputation for myself it feels like the world around me won’t calm down, infamous title, rumors, you named it” Belphi explained. Title… if I remembered correctly all mythril ranked adventurer practically have one… hold on…

“Is your title Bloodied Flower perchance?” I asked. She look genuinely shocked.

“Y-Yes it is. It’s not exactly a flattering title, and it cause all the more trouble. It just sore the whole thing for me even more, so I retired and stay in the academy looking after books and such” She answered. That’s two mythril and one retired mythril ranked adventurer I came across that he talked about, all of them are very distinct in some way, especially that one in white. This rank is very much not for show.

“Hm. That would indeed be troublesome. Guess we’ll never try to reach that rank, if we ever go back to the human society” Rosia said.

“We probably will at some point, just to make sure nothing sinister is happening on the other side” I responded. Humans do all kind of stuff so leaving them alone would be bad.

“Speaking of humans is it really alright to have a human like me here?” Belphi interjected.

“I couldn’t care less” I replied.

“Not my problem” Rosia replied.

“Really not helping my case here are you?” Belphi said.

“I mean considering what you told us people would rather believe you a demon than a human” I teased.

“Oh come on” She exasperatedly replied.

All of this aside I wonder what else is there for me to do… I got nothing, I think I’ll go back to my room and just relax there for now I supposed… I think I’ll go visit the trio’s home tomorrow and if I’m crazy enough… maybe go to that tree… not. I’m not really sure just yet. I’ll just wrap up this conversation.

“Do you have anything else to ask?” I said to Belphi.

“Hmm… say what type of flower do you have in mind?” Belphi asked. Right, the one I’m supposed to give her.

“I’m not really sure what it’s called. It have pinkish red petals and yellow in the middle” I explained not really knowing much terminology about flowers.

“Huh. I was hoping it would be a sunflower…” She replied quietly.

“How picky of you, unfortunately I have no other flower in my possession” I said. Well that’s not quite true, sometimes Kaa-san would decorate the room with them, but I just want to see what’ll happen when a flower enthusiast like her would do or react to it, when sooner or later it should change drastically.

“Well I’ll take what I can get” She said.

“Anything else?” I asked.

“Nothing” She replied. I guess we can leave then.

“Then we’re leaving. Rosia” I said. She get close to me and all that.

*Zoom*

“Well that was more intriguing than one might expected isn’t it?” I said to Rosia. Now we’re back in our living room.

“Perhaps, though none of it is of my concern” She responded.

“Yeah yeah. Now what time is this… afternoon it seems. Well let’s just stay here and relax. Not like we really have anything else to do today, or want to” I said as I lay down on the couch. 

“I really don’t know what to during time like this” Rosia said.

“Just rest, we’ve done enough today I would say” I replied.

“I don’t think I can just rest and stay relax” Rosia said.

“You’re way more alert and active than necessary Rosia. Just stay put” I said.

“Easy for you to say… I always think of trying to do something productive” She said. She really won’t stay put will she, at least not now.

“Well… I can’t stop you if you want to go do something. What do you have in mind then?” I asked.

“...Perhaps trying to get stronger to be more helpful to you, or I’ll go check up Revia, or perhaps inspecting the society of this forest, there’s a few things I could do” Rosia answered, wasn’t expecting her to come up with any answer, let alone more than one.

“So you’ll go do so then?” I asked.

“...You won’t come with me aren’t you?” She asked in return.

“Yeah, sorry but I really do think we should just relax, not always a good thing to be so proactive all the time” I replied.

“And why is that?” Rosia asked.

“All living beings need to rest and relax, humans, demons, or whatever. Sure we need way less rest than humans, but we still do. Also having such a mindset really make you unable to appreciate peace that we have right now, something people always fight for” I explained.

“...If you insist I supposed I’ll just sit down and contemplate” Rosia said and she sit down near me. There’s no way anyone would adopt a new mindset so quickly so all things considered this went better than expected.

…

“...Say Maova” Rosia suddenly said.

“What is it?” I responded.

“Would we be doing… that again?” She said… I think I know what she meant… what a weird direction she took.

“Soon enough, let’s stay put and relax, take it easy okay? Take it easy, do it slowly. Take it easy, do it slowly” I said. 

“No need to repeat it so many times” Rosia remark. 

“Yeah yeah, also as you may figure out by now tomorrow I’m going to go to that kid’s place again. Will you come as well?” I asked.

“Is it not apparent?” She retorted. It should be obvious but not like it hurts to ask.

“Just asking” I replied. 

…

“Say Maova. That activity we did by ourselves, demons or not does it not pose it any risk?” Rosia asked. Well this is getting more and more awkward isn’t it.

“You ask that only now? Well demons are a bit weird in that regard, when it comes to that activity humans might be at risk of disease and some physical problem, demons don’t get sick so the first risk is out, and while they might get exhausted or hurt during the… process they shouldn’t receive any long term physical problem since they’re much more superior to humans in that regard, to put it simply” I explained. So now that she can’t do anything else she keep bringing stuff up and getting into uncomfortable topic. I wonder if she notice that about herself.

“And pregnancy?” Now she’s just being blunt about it. Uncomfortable up to eleven. Why is she even asking about that considering I’m the one… Ugh whatever, might as well tell her now.

“It’s... in a similar boat, due to the physique of the demons that wouldn’t really pose much of an issue, of course it also depends on the type as well, not to mention many different way… reproduction happened for different type of demons. Still demons in that situation shouldn’t be in much trouble even with that, also the development of the… offspring is somewhat quicker as well” Can’t believe I just told her all of that. If it was someone else I would’ve crawl in a hole somewhere.

“I see… say Maova what else can [Lust Magic] do?” Rosia asked more and more. She’s way into this topic.

“Anything related to lust really. Libido, fertility, and other lust stuff. Just what spell are you trying to use?” I explained and asked. No need to ask on whom since it’s pretty darn obvious.

“I’m simply gathering information that might be useful for the future” Sure… 

“You know fooling me isn’t exactly your expertise right?” I said.

“Same with you and I” She retorted.

“Touché” I replied.

“Huh?” She let out… right she wouldn’t know what that means.

“It’s a word used when acknowledging someone’s point when it’s directed back at you at your own expense” I explained.

“Where do you learn these words anyway? Is it perhaps not made up?” She asked.

“Other world stuff” I replied.

“I see” She noted.

…

“Okay so anything else you want to ask?” I said.

“Since we’ll free until tomorrow why don’t we do it right now?” Rosia said… Uhhh…

“I mean… is that really a good idea?” I asked.

“In my head it is” She said as she’s now on the couch pinning me down.

“H-Hey, how about we do this somewhere more private?” I asked. This’ll turn into an extremely awkward scene no doubt if we do it in a living room other can access! They’ll barge right in and- that’s a flag isn’t it!

*Push* *Open* 

“Ah! Sis!” That was crazy close! Revia and Yuuna literally barge in the second I forcibly push her off. Please don’t spill the beans Rosia!

“That was an accident. What is it Revia?” Rosia said. Thanks the stars, the demon realm, and the afterlife! 

“Umm… I want to check on you is all” Revia said.

“That’s nice of you” Rosia replied.

“Okay then… see you later Sis” Revia said then close the door. It’s always people checking at the worst time possible. It’s always like that.

“We almost got caught in the act” I said.

“Seems your action then was quite fortunate for us. Now where were we?” Rosia said almost licking her lips right in front of me!

“Rosia I’m not repeating this again! Do it in the bedroom! I’ll do it now but please not here!” I said desperately trying to reason with her. 

“Acknowledged” Her formal attitude just make this whole thing all the more weird… this is going to be a marathon of a round I could already tell...