Miss Demon King, Please Endure a Little Longer - Volume 3 Chapter 24

Chapter 24: A Strange Request

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“We’ve gathered intelligence about the demon invasion’s main force. They’re under someone called Bloodslaughter Lord, who claims to be leading hundreds of thousands of troops to attack the forest, but in reality it’s at most one-tenth of that number.”

Celeste shared her findings with the elven elders.

“Thank you, our assessment is similar.”

Thanks to this friendly attitude and sincerity, the girls were allowed to stand closer this time and listen in on the elders’ discussion about the war.

Today’s forest intruders were the demon vanguard forces, not many in number, estimated at a few thousand people. After charging into the dense forest, they quickly scattered into small groups of two and three. But their aggressive advance from the start was enough to show how strong the signal of war was.

“An army of tens of thousands of demons is a very dangerous signal. Our entire race totals only tens of thousands of elves. Even though I believe our people can fight several enemies at once, we must respond with caution,” Trinia said forcefully. “Full mobilization of the entire race is urgent!”

But this time, the usually agreeable Isadora wouldn’t budge an inch: “We cannot put the younger generation on the battlefield, they are the future of the elven race.”

In the end, both of their suggestions were adopted. The entire elven race entered a state of war readiness, beginning the battle to defend the forest, but children under 300 years old could not participate.

Trika and the others clenched their fists in frustration, their faces red with anger, but in the end they didn’t dare say anything.

Vina tugged on Aira’s sleeve: “How strange. Since they were willing to let people join the envoy group back then, showing they wanted to train the children, why are they now forbidding this and that? Isn’t this overprotection?”

“It might be for political reasons,” Aira said calmly. “Any unusual decision could stem from political reasons.”

Of course, she didn’t actually know, she was just saying that randomly, since who cares about such things anyway.

However, unexpectedly, after the elder council meeting ended, Isadora specifically sought her out:

“Miss Aira, if you have time, could you come over for a moment?”

“Just me alone?”

“Yes.”

The place for their private conversation was on the other side of the tree house, not far, just quieter with no one around. If it were any farther, the girls probably wouldn’t have been willing.

A few minutes later, Aira followed Isadora to the back of the tree house and discovered it really was a private chat, not another soul besides the two of them.

“I hope you can protect someone,” said the elf who had lived for over a thousand years. “Someone from the elven envoy group.”

Aira instinctively asked: “Who?”

Too direct. She hadn’t expected that after all this mysterious behavior, Isadora was looking for her about such a confusing matter.

“I cannot tell you which one,” Isadora gently shook her head. “I can only tell you it’s one of the envoy group members.”

Aira imperceptibly twitched the corner of her mouth: “Why?”

“Because it’s necessary,” Isadora’s face showed no smile, and she no longer looked so kind. Instead, she appeared somewhat resolute. “You’ll understand later.”

Great, great, great, now she’s become a riddler, huh? She wasn’t like this when we first arrived.

Since she wouldn’t say, Aira stopped asking. She also didn’t bother being polite with her and said directly: “What’s in it for me?”

Hearing this, Isadora’s expression relaxed a little: “If you’re free tomorrow, bring your companions here. I’ll take you to choose Dragon Eagles.”

After ending this conversation, she walked toward the other side to discuss war preparations with the other elders.

Aira remained in place, thinking for a while longer. Mysterious and inexplicable.

Protect some young elf? Who exactly, an illegitimate child, royal bloodline, or someone bearing some racial secret?

All possibilities, and none of them her concern. But since there were benefits, she might as well go along with it for now.

After Isadora left, Aira wouldn’t stay there alone in the cold wind. Just as she was about to return to the other side of the tree house to rejoin her companions, she heard a voice:

“I’m telling you, absolutely don’t let Little Ai hear this.”

She quickly hid around the corner and quietly peeked out, only to see Vina gathering the other three and saying to them: “I think Little Ai might be the real Demon King.”

Hearing this, Aira’s heart stopped beating.

She, she, she, how did Vina find out?!

Celeste frowned slightly: “What do you mean by the real Demon King?”

“I mean the person who actually wields the Demon King’s power,” Vina gestured with her small hands as if casting some evil magic. “For example, in some folk tales and legends within the kingdom, there’s a rumor about a ‘Secret Emperor’, referring to how several hundred years ago, during the Golden Bell Dynasty, there was a king who was a puppet for a long time, while the queen and her relatives were the ones truly controlling the government.”

“What does this have to do with Aira?”

“Of course it’s related! We all know that when Little Ai was at the Demon King’s Castle before, she claimed to be giving strategic advice to the Demon King, but in reality she knew every important command clearly, and they might have even originated from her hands,” Vina lowered her voice mysteriously. “Is it possible that the Demon King is actually her puppet?”

Aira caught her breath, and her little heart resumed beating.

Scared to death! She thought her magical girl transformation had been discovered.

“But Aira said she was being coerced by the Demon King.”

“Just because she says so doesn’t make it true. What if she actually enjoys it?”

“Impossible. Aira is a kind, good girl,” Celeste said firmly. “And that’s what she told us herself, I believe her.”

Lia crossed her arms: “Exactly. What Secret Emperor, what Demon King puppet, you’re talking too mysteriously. Who would believe such things?”

Though Zero didn’t speak, her indifferent expression made her attitude clear.

This is the trust between companions!

Aira felt warm in her heart, very touched, and thought it was time to go over. So she deliberately made some noisy footsteps.

Tap, tap, tap.

“Oh my, Little Ai is back.”

Vina quickly sat back in her original position and waved her small hand at the girl coming around the corner: “Welcome back, Little Ai! Did Elder Isadora have something important to discuss with you?”

“Nothing important, just asked me to help look after the children when I have time,” Aira clasped her hands together with a sweet smile. “Also, she wants us to choose Dragon Eagles tomorrow.”

What a good girl, immediately sharing good news with her companions upon returning.

The Dragon Eagle news was indeed exciting. Only Celeste noticed the matter about looking after children and asked briefly about how to care for them.

“Not much care needed,” Aira said. “Just keep them alive.”

The group discussed briefly and concluded that Isadora was worried about the tribe’s outstanding young people secretly running onto the battlefield and losing their lives under demon blades, so she wanted them to help keep an eye on things.

Such a small matter, what more was there to say? Just watch them, that’s all.

Distant sounds of sharp cries echoed from the forest. The girls looked toward the sound and saw the huge tree canopy swaying gently as frightened birds dove into the shadows.

The war was about to begin.