Chapter 172

"You all... are going on a vacation? You think we’re off on a sightseeing holiday? Off to admire the country’s beautiful landscapes?"

"Does Sheffy... think it doesn’t look good?"

"It’s exactly because you all look too good that I’m saying this...!"

Go look at yourselves in the mirror, will you!

First, you, Xiarette. Look at what you’re wearing — that brown knit long dress, topped with a sun-shading straw hat, frilly ankle socks paired with white boots — the fresh and youthful aura is blowing me over like a spring breeze!

Then you, Livra. I know you’re a princess, and you’ve got the sense of duty that comes with it, but did you really have to wear a ceremonial dress with gilded edges and emerald inlays just to travel far from home? We’re not attending a ball right now!

And finally, you, Belith.

What you’re wearing is... well, at least normal — still that black dress from yesterday. Considering you didn’t bring any other clothes, it makes sense.

But what’s the deal with you holding up those two identical triangular pieces of pure cotton cloth with such anticipation?!

Don’t you dare look under my skirt — if you want to wear them, wear them yourself. I’m not putting them on!

Sheffy held her forehead and shook her head. She picked up Sylatrella and tossed her onto the sofa, letting her giggle away by herself.

Once the room quieted down, she shook her head and announced her decision.

"Sigh... Every one of you... Xiarette, your outfit barely passes. At the very least, it’s presentable enough to go outside in. Livra, you’re disqualified! Go change into something more appropriate for an outdoor excursion. Belith, let’s not even talk about you — put away those two pieces of cloth you wove, and go reflect in the corner. Uh... speaking of which, you sure do weave clothes fast, huh? Ahem... but we’ll deal with all that later. For now, listen to my strategic plan."

"Strategic plan... Does Royal Sister want to wear matching underwear with Belith?!"

"No, that’s not a strategy. Strategic plans have nothing to do with you. Just go reflect in the corner like I said."

Sheffy cleared her throat, placing one hand on her hip.

She looked first to Livra.

"Livra, it’s good that you’re coming with us to the Demon King’s Castle. Just yesterday, I formed an alliance between the Demon Clan and the Kingdom of Aurus in your name. There’s no need for you to hide your identity — just come openly under the banner of a royal visit. That way, it’ll also show Aurus’s sincerity."

"Al... alright. Oh, right... I’ll go bring all the heirloom jewelry from our family, just in case the Demon King wants to kill me... at least I’ll have some protection, maybe ward off the disaster with a bribe!"

"No need. My old man’s not impressed by jewelry. As long as you keep your mouth shut when the time comes, there shouldn’t be any big problems. Got it? Uh... Livra? Why aren’t you saying anything?"

Ah, understood.

She’d already shut her mouth ahead of time.

Then, Sheffy’s gaze turned heavier as it landed on Xiarette, who was still adjusting her hair.

Seriously... Stop dressing up already! We’re not going to meet the parents, so why are you—?

Hmm?

Actually... we are going to meet the parents.

"Xiarette, as for you..."

"I don’t need to hide my identity either, right? I’ll accompany Princess Livra as the Hero. This time, I’ve got a clear plan in mind."

"You’re answering before I even finish — but you’re wrong."

"?!"

"Of course you can’t go as the Hero... you’ll need to hide your identity." Sheffy considered carefully, pacing back and forth while twirling her finger as she explained the reasoning behind her words. "What does it mean to be the Hero? You’re the Kingdom of Aurus’s strongest combat force — a hidden trump card. If the Hero just walks boldly into the Demon King’s Castle... wow, wouldn’t that be like the Demon Clan dropping a Six-Wing straight into your Royal Capital! How could the people not panic?"

Indeed, there were no Six-Winged Demons in the Royal Capital.

Only an Eight-Wing.

"Not even if I go under the pretense of protecting Princess Livra?"

"That might’ve worked yesterday, but not today. The old king literally said in front of everyone that he was giving Livra to me. Ahem...! Of course, that was just a performance! He wasn’t actually giving her away. But at least on the surface, I now have the authority to command Livra freely. If she comes with me, and still brings along a Hero, wouldn’t that make it look like Aurus still has doubts and harbors suspicion toward the Demon Clan? That would show a lack of sincerity — and our cooperation would fall apart."

"Now that you put it that way, it... really does sound like that. Ugh, forget it, Sheffy, you decide. I’ve never been good at coming up with ideas anyway. Whatever the case... as long as I can go to the Demon King’s Castle, that’s good enough."

Xiarette, your obsession today is really something, huh...?

At this point, the corner of Sheffy’s lips curled into a small smile.

She had already thought of a solution long ago. All that earlier talk was just to see whether Xiarette could be clever today or not.

As expected, still as slow as ever~

Magic particles began to flicker in her hand — the same kind of magic she had used when transforming into Shaya.

Whenever I act in Aurus, I have to transform into Shaya. Whether I’m going out for a stroll or buying donuts, it’s always a hassle.

Xiarette, now that you’re going into the Demon Domain, shouldn’t you get a taste of my pain?

What goes around, comes around.

I had to conceal my identity before.

Now, it’s your turn.

---

2. Arrival at the Border

"Alright, alright! Xiarette, your brand-new appearance is in no way inferior to your original looks. Be optimistic — show some confidence!"

"What confidence...! The problem is I feel like I’m not myself at all!"

"That’s exactly why you need confidence. You don’t look like yourself at all — if you did, wouldn’t that blow your cover?"

"!"

So that’s the kind of ‘confidence’ she meant?!

Inside the carriage, among the group that had departed the estate and was now traveling along the Aurus highway toward the Demon King’s Castle, there was a new "strange girl".

This girl had silver hair down to her waist — the same hair color as Sheffy Harl and Belith.

But unlike their violet eyes that marked them as Demon Royalty, this elegant and tall girl had eyes as blue as crystal.

She shyly tried to press a straw hat down over her stunningly beautiful face, but the hat couldn’t conceal the flush on her cheeks. Clamping her legs together nervously, she looked clearly uncomfortable.

However, this “stranger” was actually not a stranger at all.

She was none other than the Hero of the Kingdom of Aurus — Xiarette herself! (Disguised version)

Livra clapped her hands together with a sharp slap, her face lit with wonder and surprise. Even this Third Princess, known as the “Emerald of the Kingdom,” couldn’t help but praise Xiarette’s new look.

“Wah...! Lady Xiarette, you truly suit this hair color... Though the face shape is slightly different, just like your original appearance, it’s flawless! But most importantly — it’s the temperament!”

“Hss... Princess, you’re lucky you get to keep your original appearance for this trip to the Demon Domain. So just count your blessings, alright? Could you not say unnecessary things...?”

“Alright, I forgot. Miss Shaya told me that on this journey, I’d better keep quiet.”

The carriage jolted as it traveled, stirring different reactions in everyone’s hearts.

Livra was full of admiration.

But Belith... was the complete opposite.

Belith had shown outright disdain for Xiarette’s new look and had been sitting as far from her as possible since boarding the carriage.

Though perhaps it wasn’t just disdain for Xiarette’s appearance — maybe she simply disliked her as a person, through and through.

“Tch... why did Royal Sister have to give her the same hair color that only we two shared... this feels awful... I swear I want to cut it all off!”

“Don’t you dare. Did you see the Holy Sword in her hand? You might end up getting counter-slashed. And haven’t you finished your ‘reflection in the corner’ yet? You’re still sitting there complaining.”

“I’ll keep reflecting.”

Yes, Belith sat in the furthest corner not only out of dislike for Xiarette. It was also because it was more convenient to continue her reflection in the corner as ordered by Royal Sister.

That said... Sheffy wasn’t stingy when it came to explaining the reason behind Belith’s earlier question.

Crossing one leg over the other, she swung her small foot — clad in white shoes adorned with pom-pom-like ornaments — and waved her left hand casually as she gave her answer.

“It's just to make it easier for Xiarette to move around in the Demon King’s Castle. Silver hair is proof of being part of the Demon King’s main or branch family. I’ll just say she’s my distant cousin. Anyway, no one’s going to bother verifying that — and it’ll let her roam freely in the castle. Isn’t that super convenient?”

“The issue isn’t that, Sheffy...” Xiarette’s face flushed deep red as she finally voiced her protest.

She puffed out her chest, once the source of her pride.

—But now, that once-proud source... looked quite lonely.

Not exactly flat, but only just slightly larger than Belith’s and Livra’s.

To this, Sheffy naturally had a perfectly rational explanation.

“That’s part of making the disguise more believable. Xiarette, you don’t understand. Among our Demon King’s bloodline, none of us are particularly... developed. Even the strongest among us aren’t that exaggerated. If you went around in your original state, your cover would be blown instantly. It’d be too unbelievable.”

“This...! But how is that even possible? Isn’t this just a disguise?! How can you even change someone’s body shape?”

“The body shape hasn’t actually changed. Did you forget? My unique magic is Visual Magic. Through my own research and development! Visual Magic can directly distort space! So don’t worry, Xiarette — your body hasn’t changed at all. It’s just that the... exaggerated parts have been visually folded and tucked away. Isn’t that seriously impressive?”

"Royal Sister is amazing!"

"Lady Sheffy is the best!"

"Hmph-hmph, I don’t mind being praised to your heart’s content, okay?"

With Belith being a certified sister-con and Sylatrella being a full-on mother-con, any move Sheffy made to fish for praise would inevitably be met with overwhelming response.

And this kind of feeling — was absolutely the best, okay!?

Only... Xiarette couldn’t help feeling that Sheffy’s explanation earlier had been a little terrifying... “storage”? “folding”?

She absentmindedly placed both hands on the now severely reduced area.

The sensation truly felt like a perfectly proportioned shrinkage — nothing seemed out of place.

"Xiarette... I’m telling you... could you not start groping yourself in the middle of the carriage ride? Hold it in a little! How indecent can you get?!"

"I’m not doing that! Ugh... forget it. Since I’m already like this, I might as well go with it."

"That’s the spirit~"

Ahem... Of course, not all members of the Demon Royal Family were underdeveloped.

For example, the current Demon Queen had a very perfect figure.

So what Sheffy said earlier only applied to most of them.

Meaning... her explanation just now hadn’t been entirely true.

Hah... She simply wanted to use this opportunity to let Xiarette experience a different side of life — not always standing tall as a powerful figure above the world, but occasionally seeing things from the perspective of the weak. Only that way could one truly put themselves in others’ shoes.

Naturally, it wasn’t just Xiarette who was in disguise.

So was her carriage.

The carriage had also been modified.

The once extravagant and luxurious Hero’s carriage had been swapped out for a more ordinary and unremarkable model.

The horses were still the same fine horses — but the carriage was no longer blindingly ostentatious.

There was no need to lift the curtain to look outside.

Sheffy used Visual Magic to monitor the situation externally.

"We’re almost at the Demon Clan border fortress, Riedekidu. A few more minutes, and we’ll be leaving Aurus territory. Livra, remember — you don’t need to speak. I’ll handle it for you."

"......"

She was seriously obedient. She had already kept silent the whole time.

This was the final stretch before leaving the Kingdom of Aurus...

At that moment—

Finally, someone with very little presence until now timidly raised her left hand, her weak voice cutting through the quiet.

"Um... are you all done talking? Can I ask something?"

"Speak, Fire Lizard."

"So... some of you are going back home to visit family, and some are on official national business. I get that. But... why am I coming along?!"

Timani was seriously fed up.

She had been sleeping soundly in bed, dreaming about catching a wild rabbit — she was this close — when a giant eagle-like magical beast suddenly swooped down and snatched it away at the last second.

And just as she was jolted awake from the dream, she saw Sheffy holding a megaphone-shaped scroll and yelling things like, “Get up! It’s time to hit the road!”

Still groggy and half-asleep, she had been dragged out before she even understood what was going on.