Even though she was witnessing it with her very eyes, Pest was still unable to believe what she was seeing.
A templar and a low level succubus were interacting peacefully? Furthermore, they were smiling as they chatted...
Even though she was unable to understand the contents of their conversation, things like ‘opening card pack’ and ‘guaranteed legendary in sixty packs,’ Pest was able to clearly hear what Messai and her friend were addressing Ynor as — ‘lucky angel.’
In the teachings of the Holy Church, the angels were the gods’ closest servants. Those ignorant humans viewed angels to be existences on par with gods.
For them to address a low level succubus as an angel, Pest felt that it would be a very blasphemous thing to say.
Are these all templars that had defected from the Holy Church?
This might be the only answer Pest could think of.
That female templar no longer had any intention to battle her. As for the other templars present, they did not notice her at all.
In this tavern, the relationship between the demons and the templars was very strange.
After confirming her guess, Pest sheathed her dagger and followed Pluk up the stairs to the second floor.
When Pest arrived at the second floor’s study, she was finally able to meet the target of her mission, Joshua Annerlaude.
Accompanying the Second Princess Cecily the entire time, Pest had a slight impression of her younger brother.
The Joshua sitting in the study was pretty much the same as the one in her impression. In other words, he does not give off any sense of imposingness at all.
His older sister Cecily Annerlaude possesses the airs that a Chaos Demon Royal should rightly possess. She was like a sheathed sharp blade. The moment the blade was pulled out, that sharpness would bring fear upon anyone.
But, Joshua does not possess that Royal air at all, does not possess the airs of a ruler. He appeared very ordinary. His tired face seemed to be illustrating his desire to sleep.
If it wasn’t for Joshua’s outward appearance to resemble Cecily slightly, Pest might not even be able to believe Joshua was a Chaos Demon, a member of such a powerful race of demons.
“Go ahead and have a seat first.”
Joshua pointed to the two chairs placed before his desk. Pluk obediently sat down on a chair. But, Pest had no desire to slowly chat with Joshua.
“Joshua Annerlaude, or perhaps I should address you as Your Highness Joshua... your elder sister Her Highness Cecily wishes for your prompt return to the Demon Realm.”
Pest took out the written instructions Cecily gave her from within her cloak. Even though Pest wanted to directly bring Joshua back to the Demon Realm, Joshua was, no matter what, a Chaos Demon Royal.
Pest needed to show a subject’s respect toward a prince.
“My second sister? Have a seat first, we can talk about this matter sitting down.”
“But, Your Highness Joshua, this place is...”
Pest still did not believe that a tavern guarded by a whole bunch of templars was a good place for them to conduct extended discussions in. She wanted to quickly bring Joshua back to the Demon Realm.
She took the Second Princess’s written instructions and walked toward Joshua. But, she had only taken one step when she felt a cold sensation from her shoulder. A hand that does not belong to the living was placed on her shoulder.
The vampires were a cold-blooded race without body temperature. But, she was still able to sense the aura of death coming from that hand. It was a very powerful undead.
“I said to sit down first. This is an order, Miss Sentinel.”
Gray magic power flowed out from Joshua’s hand. The magic power unsealed the Second Princess’s written instructions and unfolded it before Joshua.
At the same time Joshua used the magic power specific to the Chaos Demons, Pest noticed the imprint on his hand.
Seeing that, she was once again overwhelmed with shock... that was the Soul Imprint from the Duke of Bones! One of the Four Dukes of the Demon Realm, existences with power second only to the ruler of the Demon Realm, the Grand Duke of Bones, actually equally splitted his power with Joshua...
Pest’s father was one of the Four Grand Dukes. Because of that, she knew very well what sort of power the four Dukes possess.
The simple display of the soul imprint made Pest realize that she cannot look down upon Joshua in terms of strength.
The power of the Vampires does not utilize magic. Instead, their power came from blood. That was why Cecily ordered her to bring Joshua back to the Demon Realm.
If Joshua was to resist her, Pest could utilize her authority as a sentinel and the Second Princess’s written instructions to forcibly bring Joshua back to the Demon Realm.
But, neither Cecily nor Pest could imagine that the alliance between the Duke of Bones and Joshua was not a simple verbal alliance at all. Instead, it was an agreement with their souls and lives.
As Joshua possessed the power of the Duke of Bones, Pest was not confident that she would be able to bring Joshua back at all.
She abided by Joshua’s order and sat down on the chair.
“My second sister felt that the human world is too dangerous for me, that’s why she dispatched you to protect me and bring me back to the Demon Realm, is that correct?”
Joshua sipped on his cup of black tea as he browsed over the Second Princess’s written instructions. Roughly, the content of the letter was a request Joshua to return to the Demon Realm.
“Correct. Even though your whereabouts has been discovered by the Ecclesiastical Templars, I am able to guarantee your safety.”
What Pest hoped for the most was Joshua’s cooperation. But, judging from the various encounters she had, Pest was already able to guess the owner of this tavern to possibly be Joshua himself.
If that was the case... What sort of relationship does Joshua have with those Ecclesiastical Templars staying in the tavern and chatting merrily with a demon?
They’ve come to seek shelter under Joshua after betraying the church? Or did Joshua reach some sort of secret agreement with the church?
If it was the latter, then nothing would be worse than it.
“I thank my second sister’s concern for me. But, please tell her that I am very safe here.”
Joshua took out a piece of paper and pen. He was planning to write a reply letter back to his older sister.
Safe... There’s a bunch of Ecclesiastical Templars downstairs, how could that be safe for a demon?
“Your Highness Joshua, there are six Ecclesiastical Templars guarding downstairs.”
Pest reminded Joshua the situation with a stern tone. If Joshua had submitted to the Holy Church, she would forcibly bring him back to the Demon Realm or return to the Royal City and report all of this to Cecily.
“Those Ecclesiastical Templars are, for the time being, not my enemies. They’re only guests of the tavern. Or, better yet, they’re players of Hearthstone,” said Joshua.
“They’re not... your enemies?”
Pest found what Joshua said to be very bad.
“It’s as you’ve seen, I’ve opened up a tavern in Norland. My tavern is open to anyone. Humans, demons, dwarves, goblins or vampires like yourself. The only condition is that they’re not allowed to cause troubles inside the tavern.”
Joshua began to explain to Pest...
If it was a couple hours ago, Pest wouldn’t be able to believe Joshua’s words. But, just earlier, she saw a veteran templar chatting cheerfully with a succubus. Furthermore, there were many non-humans coexisting peacefully with humans in the tavern.
All of these were facts placed before her very eyes. But... even now, Pest was unable to understand how all of this came to be.
“How did you manage to do this?”
Pest was unable to contain her confusion and directly asked Joshua.