Starly said, "Enchantment Magic: Strike!" as she used her needle-like sword to strike Lia. As Lia was on the ground, Jade said, "Looks like it is over."
Liebe said, "Not yet. She will win."
Jade said, "Want to make a bet?"
Liebe said, "Will 10,000 gold be sufficient?"
Jade said, "Honestly, that's a bit much. Just 1,000 is plenty."
Liebe said, "1,000 it is, then."
Seeing this from hiding, Licht said, "Why does the dumbass make so many dumb financial decisions?"
Lichee said, "Exactly. How much is 10,000 gold?"
Licht said, "Enough to buy like two of the Vale Estates, since he said his mansion cost 5,000."
Fate said, "Our combined earnings of the whole team are 2,170 gold a month, yet our expenditure is actually about 7,400 gold, excluding Liebe's personal expenditure. Even the fact he has his own residence—a three-acre mansion—was unknown and not noted in our team's expenditure."
Alysa said, "Wait, then how have we been functioning all this time?"
Fate stated, "While on top of our regular salaries, Liebe ensured we had at least a 15,000-gold budget every month to operate so that we wouldn't face any financial restrictions. So as of right now, we have approximately 219,000 gold in savings, adjusted to inflation, where 21,900 gold is invested in various sectors to cause further rise."
Licht said, "Damn. Do we really spend this much?"
Fate said, "Unfortunately, yes. Your eating out, sleeping, and gear alone cost about 900 gold monthly. For Mrs. Alysa, it's your attempts to try exotic bakeries and sometimes use rare, expensive ingredients, as well as your want to try new games and your hobby of buying every game that releases, which costs 1,200 gold. For myself, my want to buy every possible teddy bear costs 400 gold. For Isurugi, the fact he ends up tearing his uniform every time he transforms requires an additional 500 gold. And Mrs. M uses her salary in order to buy equipment and metals for new ones, which costs another 1,500 gold. Then Gaia requires maintenance as a child, as we usually buy her whatever she wishes, which takes about another 600. And then Miss Alysa's generous donations cost another 175 gold. And of course, Miss Elizabeth spends an average of 1,900 gold on decorating her Shadow Realm to use as her leisure. And counting usual maintenance of gear and equipment is another 25 gold in total."
Licht said, "Damn. I guess we never had to count since Liebe was there. Who knew?"
Fate said, "Stating from a strictly financial point, just on our savings, we can easily last 39 years without any issues, adjusted to a 2% inflation."
As Lia got up, Starly said, "How are you still standing? I hit you with so much!"
Lia said, "If that is all you got, it's nothing compared to Frey. This Enchantment Magic is weak."
As she smashed the rocks keeping her feet in place, she said, "Now, summon Holy Relic: Katana That Slashes All Infurnas!" As she grabbed it, it was a simple katana that had been worn out and chipped, lacking the smooth blade of a katana.
Starly said, "Enchantment Magic: Wings!" as she grew wings. "Now, Enchantment Magic: Friends!" as she created wind golems.
Lia said, "Flame Magic: Inverse Flames!" As wind golems went near her, with her slashes, she froze them. "My flames are hot enough that they freeze all that stands against me."
Jade just said, "Damn, that's something I can't argue with. A number so high it turns inverse."
Liebe said, "Trust me, nothing makes sense when it comes to her."
Starly said, "Enchantment Magic: Pierce!" as the needle pierced Lia's shoulder. "What are you? After taking so much pain, most people's minds can't even comprehend it. Yet how are you standing?"
Lia said, "Compared to my pain of losing a kin, this pain is nothing. Time to end this. Flame Magic: Purgatory!" As her katana was engulfed in flame.
Starly said, "Enchantment Magic: Darkness!" as she launched a light of darkness toward Lia. Lia simply stopped it with the tip of her katana. Then she said, "Slash!" As her attack finished Starly, she wins.
Liebe said, "Well, Jade, looks like I win the bet."
Jade said, "Guess so. Here is your gold."
Liebe said, "Thanks. Now I wish I had bet 100,000 gold."
Jade said, "Good thing I didn't."
As Lia joined them, Lia said, "Looks like I won."
Liebe said, "Yeah. And for winning, feel free to order whatever you want—my treat."
Lia said, "Thanks."
And after eating, the bill was 20 gold.
Lia said, "Told you this was my lucky bunny suit."
Liebe said, "Yeah."
As Jade looked at Liebe and laughed and said, "And they say evil doesn't exist."
Liebe said, "A 980-gold profit isn't bad."
Jade said, "Wow."
Lia said, "Well, that was good. I need to know—how do you do it? How do you make so much on the side?"
Liebe said, "Long story, but mostly invest and hunt."
Lia said, "What is investing again?"
Liebe said, "Long story, but I will need a whiteboard and a marker."
Lia said, "Then I suppose it's unnecessary."
Liebe said, "Okay, then. And by the way, sis, you are still bleeding."
Lia said, "Okay."
Liebe said, "Want me to heal you?"
Lia said, "No need. It will heal on its own."
Liebe said, "Okay, then."
Lia said, "And by the way, tomorrow is Lana's birthday."
Liebe said, "I remember. I think we should visit her grave and talk."
Lia said, "I'm sure she will like that, since she liked to talk so much."
As Warner joined them, he looked at Lia and said, "You must be Mrs. Lia Scarlet Tatanya Faust. But I heard you go by 'Guardian Fairy.'"
Lia said, "Of course."
Warner said, "Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Warner Crimson Makido, a warrior of Aldina and a supporter of Mr. Liebe Faust, and a worshipper of the God of Darkness."
Lia said, "I'm his older sister."
Warner said, "I'm aware. I would like to express my gratitude, as Mr. Liebe Faust has been taking care of my sister."
Lia said, "Good to know."
As Licht and the others were watching the matches from a pillar, Licht said, "I want to join in so much."
Lichee said, "Same here."
While they were watching, they slipped and fell in front of everyone. As everyone stared at them, Julius said, "You dare ruin the sanctity of this temple again?"
Emma said, "How dare you interrupt this Festival of Warriors?"
Licht said, "Hey, if this is for warriors, why aren't we invited?"
Lichee said, "We are all strong enough to join!"
As Liebe came to them and said, "What are you guys doing here?" as he sighed, he said, "I can't even leave you guys alone for two days."
Licht said, "I can explain. We got lost."
Alysa said, "Exactly. It was Lichee's idea, and we just tried to stop her. Please don't be mad."
Liebe said, "I'm not mad. I'm simply disappointed."
As Lia joined and looked at them and said, "Lost again?"
Licht said, "Umm, no, no, big sis. It was Lichee."
Alysa said, "Yes, exactly, Lichee. We tried to stop her."
Isurugi said, "It was Lichee."
Fate said, "Exactly, Lichee."
Elizabeth said, "It was Lichee."
Gaia said, "Lichee."
Lichee said, "Wait, why are you all trying to throw me under the bus?"
As Lia grabbed Licht by the head and said, "So, Lichee is the one who planned this?"
Licht said, "Exactly, big sis."
As Lia threw him off the cliff, she screamed, "Then why the hell are you here, you goddamn lazy ass of the person in charge?"
Next was Alysa. As she grabbed her by the head and threw her off the cliff, she said, "You are supposed to be the goddamn parent! Set a better example for the goddamn kid! Don't encourage stupid ideas!"
Next, she grabbed Isurugi by the head and threw him, and screamed, "You are supposed to be the one with common sense and loyalty!"
Next, she grabbed Fate and threw her over the cliff and said, "You are supposed to be the one with logic!"
Next, she grabbed Gaia and threw her. She said, "You are supposed to be the idiot who everyone babysits. You should have goddamn thrown a tantrum before you left for this dumbass plan!"
Then she said, "Lichee, please don't do that again. Otherwise, I will be sad. And the stairs are this way. Also, watch yourself, and if anyone bothers you, tell me, okay?"
As Lichee said, "Okay, godmother," and walked out.
Liebe said, "Wow. Lichee sure got lucky compared to the others."
After it was done, Lia said, "I suppose it must be their rebellion phase. But of course, I can't let that slide. Maybe a bit of tough love is required."
Liebe said, "Exactly, sis."
Lia said, "And I suppose I wasn't too harsh on them because they are only in that phase."
Liebe said, "Exactly. That's exactly what I was going to say."
As he went to the bar, Jade said, "Well, that sure was interesting. But at least I was correct about the loyalty part."
Liebe said, "Yeah."
Jade said, "Well, do you know what is the point of this festival?"
Liebe said, "To invite promising, strong youngsters and see who comes out on top. The Empire sponsors this event every year only because each generation, about two to five people from here end up reaching the status of one of the 25 Princes of Hell—including my grandfather, mother, your father, and Julius's sister."
Jade said, "Exactly. Yet the real question is, who will be first to become one? I would say I'm in a pretty good spot, yet you and your team show otherwise."
Liebe said, "You are simply going a bit much. We aren't that strong."
Jade said, "Honestly, when we first saw you, and from the rumors we heard—how Lilith paraded you around—we never expected you to be strong. We never considered you to be one of us. Since why would someone like you join? Think about it—the child and grandchild of the 20th and 10th seats, respectively. And you are allowed to do whatever you want. She would literally bring you to every meeting of the Princes and scream, 'This is my adorable, adorable son!' And she would say stuff like, 'Look at how adorable he is! How he can walk! He said words!' For people at the pinnacle of humanity, hearing such words and wasting time was unfortunate. And Mr. Tenebris Faust would have to join and drag her out so that at least Domr Faust could ensure there was an effective conversation. So what changed?"
Liebe said, "Tenebris Vale is dead. After he died, my mother and I stopped talking. He died with Grandpa."
Jade said, "I understand. No wonder your eyes lost the light. You are same as me—fatherless."
Liebe said, "Yeah. Yet mine is still with me spiritually, I guess. He watches over me."