Miss Demon King, Please Endure a Little Longer - Volume 3 Chapter 10
Chapter 10: Medal Ceremony
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The elven race, one of the oldest races on the continent, once the absolute dominators of the Highborn Alliance, with long lifespans, dwelling in the vast central great forest, with a small population and low reproductive efficiency, the entire race numbering only tens of thousands. This is also the main reason why despite having excellent configurations in all aspects, they lack expansion capabilities.
The above wasn’t what Roars was going to say, but what Aira heard Celeste explaining on the way.
Originally she wasn’t too clear about it either, but because of today’s visit, the perfect knight lady had properly brushed up on her knowledge these past few days.
Don’t ask what use it was, being able to speak up today, answering Aira’s questions and earning a soft exclamation from the girl, Celeste already felt it was more than worth it.
As for what Roars wanted to tell them—
“Once upon a time, I too stood in a place where all eyes were upon me, and was bestowed the title of Great Hero. We all know that a hero’s title doesn’t lie in the rewards from above, but in the people’s recognition. But objectively speaking, ceremonies are indispensable for materializing honor.”
Aira secretly yawned, she got up too early today and was having a bit of low blood sugar.
She could understand what Roars was saying. In plain terms, without this medal ceremony, most people in the kingdom wouldn’t know what you all had done, so the hero’s name needed the higher-ups to help promote it.
“For you, today is an important day, and also your day. Enjoy this day.”
Celeste sensibly hummed in acknowledgment, Zero obediently nodded, and Aira sat there well-behaved.
Only Vina raised her little hand with a question: “What about the elven race?”
“Uh, they have other people receiving them, don’t worry.” Roars gave the two girls meaningful looks. “If everything goes smoothly, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to communicate.”
He was afraid the kids would directly ask about Iselis right off the bat and scare people away, since that fairy tale book was itself a forbidden book back in the day, and talking about it wouldn’t be conducive to harmonious relations between the two races.
First be friendly, only after being friendly could they communicate.
“Alright.” Vina sat back down. “I have no objections.”
After eating some pastries as breakfast in the Hall of Tribute and resting for a while, around 9 o’clock in the morning, people from outside came to invite the distinguished young ladies and the beloved Great Hero Roars to proceed to Royal Square.
“Let’s go, it’s your time.”
This wasn’t Aira’s first time at Royal Square. Last time she came was for negotiations, wearing a big white T-shirt that said “I Love Humans.” This time, as a hero of the kingdom, she wore a pure white shirt and coffee-colored skirt, like a girl next door who had wandered into a ball.
The others had all put on their equipment, especially Celeste, dressed in silver-white armor with a knight’s longsword at her waist, looking imposing and not to be trifled with.
Last time everyone’s relationship was rather tense, so it wasn’t appropriate to bring weapons. This time they came for a medal ceremony, equipment demonstrated strength, so bringing it was fine.
The scene was even livelier than last time, except there were no negotiation tables or similar things, only bigger and more numerous viewing stands filled with people all around, plus a court orchestra holding various instruments, playing music together.
Dum~ dum dum dum~!
She couldn’t understand it, but it seemed to be some kind of entrance march. Aira listened with surging emotions, feeling that the demon race could learn from this in the future too.
Scanning around the viewing stands, some people looked familiar, they seemed to have been there last time too. Some people’s expressions weren’t quite natural, forcing smiles, but more people were beaming with joy, waving at the girls in the center of the square, occasionally saying a word or two to those beside them, sharing in the glory.
They indeed could share in the glory. During the last assassination case in the royal capital, it was their backing and pressure that led to the compromise ending.
As for Princess Grell from the royal family, she soon walked out surrounded by others.
Aira casually looked her over, her appearance was decent, mainly her clothes were very gorgeous, and she was well-maintained, fitting the image of a kingdom princess.
Grell held several bouquets of flowers and came before the girls standing in a row, distributing the flowers to them while saying:
“You are heroes of the kingdom.”
“Thank you for your dedication to the kingdom.”
“The future of the kingdom belongs to you.”
Aira took the flowers and looked at them. There weren’t any splendid roses, but it was still a generous assortment. To gather so many varieties in late autumn, which wasn’t the flower season, the Royal Garden had put in great effort.
She suddenly felt a gaze upon her. Turning to look, she found the assassin girl staring at her, so she quickly whispered:
“Generally speaking, I don’t like flowers from others, I only like the ones you give me.”
Zero turned her head away, satisfied.
After distributing the flowers, Princess Grell walked up to the viewing stand. Just as she was preparing to read about the deeds of the five little heroes, the sound of clip-clop-clip-clop came from the main gate.
The elven delegation had arrived!
People in the viewing stands stood up one after another. After a hundred years, elves were entering the human royal capital again. People were very curious about these “old friends” they hadn’t seen for many years.
First to come into view were deer, tall and graceful deer with antlers shaped like bagpipes. These were the Whistle Deer that the kingdom wanted to introduce.
Five young elven men and women rode on the Whistle Deer, two men and three women. The men were handsome and dashing, the women ethereal and otherworldly.
“Do you think they’re good-looking?” came a voice from beside her.
Aira had gotten used to this these past few days, so she instinctively said: “So-so, not as good-looking as you.”
Hmm, wait? Who was asking?
Vina giggled and poked the girl’s arm with her little finger: “Little Ai, I didn’t expect you to be so good at sweet-talking girls normally. Just now, who did you think was asking?”
There was no way she could tell the truth. If she said she thought Zero was asking, it would be equivalent to telling the little witch that Zero held the most secrets about her.
She wouldn’t bother coaxing without having leverage.
“Whoever among you asks, I’d say the same thing.” Aira said calmly. “Because it’s the truth.”
Although the elven race had a high average attractiveness level, with their lower limit being excellent even among ordinary people, the girls of the hero party weren’t ordinary people, they were all once-in-a-millennium beautiful girls.
She was too!
“Hmph, fine then.” Vina blinked her peach blossom eyes. “You pass this time.”
“Honored guests, on behalf of my father, Herman III, I greet you.”
Princess Grell expressed goodwill toward them. After everyone was seated in the VIP section, she continued reading what she had been saying before.
Now, speaking of the five little heroes of the human kingdom, young and spirited, newborn calves unafraid of tigers, brave and resourceful. They first teamed up to battle the sinister and cunning Great Demon King Io, making him flee in great defeat. Then, sensing the threat at the border, they angrily launched a northern campaign, slaying the wolf leader and driving the wolf pack back to the snowfield. Finally, they went to Harbor City with friendly intentions, only to discover the merfolk harbored evil intentions, so they decisively acted and once again protected the kingdom’s coastline.
The script was written by court officials, using passionate language and full of emotion, giving it an epic feel that stirred people’s blood.
But just then, a girl from the elven delegation raised her hand and said: “I also heard that they fearlessly confronted the powerful in the royal capital and killed high officials who were harming the countryside. Why wasn’t this mentioned?”
The atmosphere at the scene instantly became extremely awkward, and Princess Grell’s face turned half green.
This was practically a face-slapping attack.
Another elven girl beside her quickly pulled her back and said flatly: “Sorry, she’s still young and doesn’t understand these matters. Please forgive her for speaking without thinking.”
Aira nudged the girl beside her, heard Vina say “What?” and realized she had nudged the wrong person. She then nudged the other side and said to Celeste:
“This kid is a bit simple. We can find an opportunity to get information from her.”