The Valkyries and Duna are returning riding on Faffy's back as Gran is forced to walk as the others voted to make him walk again.
The Exorcist, scratching his head, are feeling hungry as he is pass through the rough terrain and small bodies of water. He also meet some weak monsters there, and they are so unremarkable that it bores him.
"Maybe they really hate me now." Gran thinks out loud as he is continue to walk.
And Gina is trying to see if he is doing fine. She does want to go against the majority's decision earlier, but between Gran and her comrades whom she fought and bled together for some years, she can't choose to be lover at the moment. Veronica doesn't want to make him walk as well as he is the one who pushes about this adventure, and she plans to repay him later.
"I do think you are harsh with Mr. Gran Mayuri, he did save us fron that great force by helping me block some of the force from the Hollow Bomb." Rinko weakly protest as Mayuri just looks at her and basically be sarcastic at her. "Yeah sure, what if that man attacks us later? Anybody knows how to stop that man? Fine, whatever." Mayuri answers as the others get silent.
In no time the Valkyries manage to reach back to Brunskin as the locals happily meets them and Mamerita is looking out for them. Harry grabs the Village Elder's wheelchair as she's being push outside as Veronica and the others meet her. She's tearing up as she prepares the pot to boil the Eternal Crescent Flower and heal her legs.
"My child... Over the years that I take care of you. I feel that I am holding you back. I thought saying that you can live your way of life is good enough for me." Mamerita speaks out while the others are looking after her and the tearing up pink haired mage.
"But now, I can proudly say for anybody who can hear me. I am proud of you, my daughter."
As soon as the Village Elder says that Veronica can't stop her tears and she ends up bursting in tears, ugly tears even. Mayuri catch and replace her boiling and preparing the pot as Veronica hugs her mother and the others are getting emotional as well.
While they are having an emotional scenario at the village, Gran reach the village himself as he witness this. He just smiles by himself and he decides to tap Gina's shoulder. As soon as she turns, Gran pokes her right cheek and she pouts. Gran laughs a little and he notify them. "Well, I'll go back first. Looks like one of your comrade's not too receptive of me lately."
"You really gonna leave us? Please stay a little bit..." Gina begs of the Exorcist, but he hold her hands as he looks down. "Well I do need to return as my folks are probably worried where the heck am I. Also, I'm not sure if I can say I am welcome still. But don't worry, I intend to honor my promise to you." Gran says as he drag Gina out to a place where he notice that their is no foot traffic.
Gran smooches her as Gina doesn't resist. She's feeling every moment of it as the Exorcist are having a sparkly eyes.
"I have to go. I'll look forward about you going back." Gran says as he turns and Gina is trying to call him out, but she feels the warmth of his kiss still. She tries to toughen it out, but she's just discovering how sweet and good it is to have such a girly reaction.
"Oh how you easily have my heart..." - Gina.
Meanwhile...
Inside the palace in Apolonis is a princess having a lazy tea time while she hears a noisy swinging and panting near her courtyard. The princess of this nation is actually sipping her tea while she is looking at several documents and reports that are significant with the appearance of the Black Slime from Helios. For her, she's having an intuition that this is not a random coincidence.
"It seems that the Black Slime is something of a warning. I need to consult the Oracle about this." The princess mutters as she set down the document she is reading. Princess Lucy stands and leave her garden in order to call upon the Royal Oracle. The Sword Saint stops training as he gaze that his fiance left the garden. "What it could be?" Van ask as he follows her.
The Princess is actually having a not so good day since she's having to handle relief acts in Helios as she is also asking the Adventurers and the nobles to have the borders be strengthen since there is an ongoing rising incidents of monsters randomly attacking and whittling down the defense ranks. The Holy Knights are scattered to protect these vital positions, yet the kingdom still needs to send more men to fight.
"We aren't having enough on our coffers to maintain these operations. We need to have the nobles cough up more gold to recruit and this recent attack after the festival is somehow a bad sign." Lucy says as her assistants attend to her outside clothes as she wears a gorgeous fit to meet with the Royal Oracle.
"Where do you plan to go my love?" Van ask as his sweaty clothes and figure turns Lucy off. "Please give some distance. I need to talk to the Oracle about the recent attack from Helios. It is giving me something far more sinister than what we have in the surface." The princess explains as she goes out and the carriage is already ready.
Van quickly left the princess side and change his clothes. As he wears a more presentable clothing, he guide the princess into entering through the carriage and she embark on a trip to the Royal Oracle's office, near the northern edge of the city. The sword saint is sitting like he owns the place while the princess is just covering her mouth as she's having a time of her life while watching Van sleeps and snores. "Such an unrefined man. That's why I like you." Lucy thinks by herself.
It takes them two hours for them to reach the office due to traffic and a lot of merchants selling their products around. The Princess doesn't give a time of day for those as she is waiting for her to see the Royal Oracle's building. As soon as the carriage reach the building she calls upon the sleeping bodyguard and she disembark next to the Sword Saint.
"Wait here, I'll go inside." Lucy tells Van and he just nods. She enters the building as soon as she hears a thunderous laughter in the hall. "Is it time for you to show up your highness?" A voice ask while Lucy respond. "It seems you are already aware of my appearance here Oracle?" The princess ask as the Oracle shows herself in a grumpy but loud voice. "You! The sign of the incoming devastation is near! Its heralds will show up to devour what this kingdom has built for." The Oracle phropesize as Lucy approach her to look for more answers.
"You say that Oracle, then these signs... Are they..." Before the Princess ends her question, the old lady Oracle shuts her by putting her finger in her lips. "But that's the least of your problems. There is a more dangerous star you need to deal with, and the stars align when you last meet him." The Oracle says as Princess sits and ask for her to clarify what she is saying.
"You already meet him, the Sword Saint outside also met him as well. If you play your hand right, he might stop the destruction for you... But play a bad hand." The Oracle says as she exaggeratingly raise her hands. "He'll be the reason why this kingdom will fall, faster and with more lives under the soil." The Oracle state as Lucy is racking up her brain to find who might fit with the old lady's description of the one who fights Van, and she manage to remember.
"Oh that unremarkable man? You sure old lady? I do paint that guy as strong, and somehow Van wants to have a rematch with him. Is it wise to have him at our side?" The Pirncess ask as the Oracle shrugs her off. "Like I say, you'll be the one to answer that your highness." Then the old lady bows as Lucy wants to return to the main topic.
"So we need to bolster our ranks and have the Holy Knights train more warriors to fight huh? We are basically thinning out our coffers this way, but the necessity of the kingdom cannot be jeopardized." The Princess thinks as she stands up and bow to the Royal Oracle. She bid farewell as the old lady. She exits the house as she witness Van mediating between a coachman and the a seller.
"What's going on Van? You seem having a hard time about this matter?" Lucy ask as she see Van stopping the coachman and the seller to hit each other. A Holy Knight in patrol appears as Van just manage to break their aggressive actions off. "This coachman are having enough about the sellers trying to sell any stuff from their carriage and he starts trouble. I have to step in as this people are getting restless." Van explains while the Princess just cover half face with her fancy fan.
"This is getting ridiculous. We need to gather the nobles for a ball. Have my mother write an invitation." The Princess thinks as she goes back to her carriage as Van helps her get on. The ride home is somehow more faster, but the Princess barge in to the Queen's room as she is having some alone time with the king.
"Oh my dear! What do you want?" Queen Victa ask as King Roan looks annoyingly at his daughter as she is not looking their way. "Mother, I need you to make an invitation for a ball for all of the nobles under our control and others that may go against us. We need to get a proper funding this time and they shall comply whether they like it or not." The Princess explain as the King just place his face in his palm.
"Dear... You can ask for that later. You see we're busy." The gruff king states as his beautiful wife is looking at him lovingly. He giggles as the Princess' temple wants to burst out since these two aren't taking their domestic affairs and their military seriously. Lucy leaves the room as she angrily wants to lash out at Van, who just takes it like a man.
"I hate them! I hate them!! I wish they act more like a proper ruler! We are in a crisis but that's what they are doing?! UGH!" The Princess rants as Van ask her to calm down, but he already knows it will not work on her. He continues to take her slamming on his chest as he just also see some servants look at her. Van looks at them as he is looking sorry for it.
Meanwhile...
Gran finally reach Helios that afternoon. He is catching some of his breath as he approach the entrance gate. He inhales and exhales as he sighs since he doesn't know how to deal with Mayuri as he knows she is the most attached member of the Valkyrie and to Gina. He just return to the inn as Arturo and Martha greets him as they ask where he's been.
"I've just help some of my friends from the Guild. I just learn about the legend of the Eternal Crescent Flower." Gran explains as Martha prepares a plate and food as Gran grabs a chair and she hands over the food she prepares for him. "How is the trip to the capital? Hope you manage to enjoy your time there." Gran ask as the couple smiles and happily shares their experiences.
"That's great all! Hope you can introduce me to her though." Gran says while confidently holding his chin, trying to express his looks, but the couple just shakes their head in disagreement as they know he isn't somebody they can trust much. Gran, even though he doesn't want to show that it hurts, have their disapproving statement stings. "Damn, guess I need to look for another place then huh." Gran thinks as he turns for that evening.
He goes to his room, take his bath and reflect to what happen today. "Maybe I'm not fitting properly here huh."
The next day...
The Exorcist goes out as usual after helping the old man unload his fruit crate as he is looking around and thinking. Arturo notice this as he calls him to ask for it. "You're in deep thought. What's running on that noggin of yours?" The old man ask as Gran thinking but he doesn't know how to answer this.
"Well, I don't know. You know any interesting places here in the city? I plan to have a date with this really pretty girl and I don't wanna disappoint." Gran ask as the old man laughs.
"Youngsters this days... If you're worrying so much about that I suggest for you to try hitting a dungeon or anywhere that is far from uninteresting city like Helios. If you like, you can go to Apolonos since there is so many entertaining stuff there, though it will take you half a day to reach." The old man advise as Gran thinks if that will be good since he is journeying a lot recently.
"Somehow I want to take stuff easy and go to park, sit in a bench and eat some sweet. It would be advantageous for me too." Gran shares as Arturo manage to remember something that he can share to the exasperated Exorcist due to his promise and what he recalls from yesterday.
"I think I got the solution for you boy. At the North East. There is a sweet shop there and exactly a walking distance on a park. It would be a cliche dating spot here, but you can't beat the usual place." Arturo shares as Gran's face becomes alive.
"You sure about that old man? Thank you! I'll check that then." Gran says as he turns back and wave to leave. Arturo waves as a customer approach him. Gran then see Gina opening the door to the Adventurer's HQ. He doesn't hesitate as he grab her hands and he bring her at an alley. The Valkyrie Leader is happy to see him as he wants to flirt a little.
"Hey, you sure to ambush me there huh. You know where to go now?" Gina ask as Gran gives her a wall slam as he place his face near. "Are-are you good with sweets?" Gran ask but that nervousness manifested when he speaks, and he blushes and Gina notice this. "Adorable... Is this your first time flirting?" She ask as put her right hand on his shoulder.
"What if it is, I'm not too good with this stuff before. I want to confess that you are my first girlfriend." Gran states as Gina looks down as she doesn't want to show her face to the Exorcist. Both of them are blushing for a moment, and Gran breaks the ice by releasing his wall slammed hands and scratch his nape to ask if they can go to the park. Gina nods and both of them get out of the alley and goes to the North Eastern part of the city.
As the two are walking, Gran initiates to hold her hands. Gina doesn't look, but she clasp her hand on his. The two can't look at each other due to embarrassment, and they are later seen by Sylvia. The Holy Knight quickly understand what's going on, so she backs down and let them have the moment. Lenny follows behind her along with several Holy Knights under Sylvia's command.
"Captain, it seems that answer will be happening sooner or later." Lenny reminds the lady knight as she turns red when she remember her promise from a day before.
They have to journey into the border since a report and an intel informs them that there are an assembling demonic forces there. They will have to stop by Aluteria first and deal with it.
"Our travel will take a week at best and two weeks at worst. I hope you can handle yourselves men!" Sylvia states as the other Holy Knights salute by shouting aye aye. Lenny then takesover when she looks at him and they continue to march outside the city. This ardous task is something that they need to obey as Princess Lucy confirm that Queen Victa have sent the invitation to several nobles and she receive responses from nobles that are loyal to the crown. Some nobles doesn't respond, and this irks her more.
"Looks like we need to tighten their leashes. Problem is Father..." Lucy thinks while she is looking directly to Van while sipping her tea again. Her academic tutor is checking her test scores. "Your highness, if I maybe so bold to ask, why do you need tutoring still? All of your scores and grades a perfect in anyway. I highly doubt that I can teach you anything still." The tutor humbly says as Lucy is content with such a reaction from him.
"Never doubt yourself please. I can function like this because of the education you've given me. You open my eyes to many things. Be proud of yourself." Lucy answers as her tutor bids farewell and leaves with smile on his face. Van looks at his fiance and he then approach her and hugs her from behind. "Guess you take a liking on him... I'm jealous. Am I gonna be replaced now?" Van ask as she reach out for his face as she kiss him.
"You getting jealous now? That's not like you... That's what I thought but your bloodlust in battle does make me also feel jealous you know." Lucy replies as she stand and she ask him to do something. "Van, I know you're my bodyguard and a Hero of the People. I'm feeling that I am stealing you from the people."
"So what do you mean? Are you sending me somewhere? You plan a ball with possible conflict and assassination attempts and you plan something?" Van ask as he knows how Lucy's mind works as she's scheming about something. "Well you know me so well by now. These non complying fools of a noble are going against me and the people. I want you to investigate them and if you manage to find dirt on them, please let me know." Lucy explains as Van understand what she wants to do.
"Blackmail? You plan to pressure them about it?" The Sword Saint ask as the Princess walks to the edge of the garden, which she gazes at the beautiful water fountain that they have on their yard. "More than that if I may. These fools just wants to maintain their status and wealth, but they didn't want to help the people or the crown. They need to understand that this is the will of the people and we need to protect them at all cost."
Van smiles when he hears this since he knows that even Lucy is a shrewd schemer and does underhanded moves to get what her want, she still does it for the people not for herself. Van then kneels and swears his fealty to her. "I, Van the Sword Saint, shall be of use and of service for you my future monarch."
While he is saying that, the princess looks at him with lascivious intent and she ask him to stand as she acknowledges his loyalty. "If you do this mission, you can..." She suggestively lift her skirt a little. "Do anything you want. As your fiance I am bound to do your bidding, my love." Lucy says as he jet black hair sways in the breezing garden while Van is also looking at her with such intent.
Meanwhile...
"Hey hey that's not fair! Did we really need to knock it down? What the hell?"
Gran is complaining at a stall while he and Gina are playing at the park since there are new stalls and games for the parkgoers. Gran doesn't plan this to happen, but Arturo's suggestion turns out to be better than what he is expecting. "Just wait I'll get you damn it!"
Gina's laughing beside him as she witness how clumsy it is for the Exorcist to try and use a bow and continues to miss the target. Gina manage to shot three with three arrows earlier, and she's witnessing how stubborn the Exorcist can be. "Hey Gran, maybe we should move along? I'll teach you how to shoot a bow next time." Gina says as Gran just quits since he see how she's looking at him.
"Well, I am starving as well. Wanna grab some dinner?" The Exorcist ask as he points his thumb at the back, where a sweet shop is. The two approach the store as they see that the place is half full. The servers welcome them and lead them into an open table.
As soon as the two sit, Gina manage to glimpse several familiar faces across the room. Her eyes widen as she sees the rest of the Valkyries there, looking at her and staring to Gran. She keep her head down, reason for Gran to ask something. "You okay? I hope this doesn't bore you." Gran ask while he knows what he will be picking at the menu. Gina looks at the menu as well and she peak back at her comrades and see how they're supervising her next move.
"You guys don't have to be here as well!!" Gina thinks for herself as she remembers how they discuss this matter yesterday.
Yesterday...
"You will what???!!"
The Valkyries react as Gina breaks out the most obvious status of her relationship with Gran to them. She ask a suggestion how she must act and wear for this date. Rinko eagerly recommends several styles and Mamerita chimes in. Veronica just watch while Mayuri is begrudgingly wanting to stop all of this from happening.
"This is bad! This is bad!! Leader is falling in live on that stupid man!! No!!" Mayuri cries while Veronica just looks at her. She do understand her feelings on the matter yet she knows that she can't control anyone's feelings.
"You know you should stop sabotaging her feelings like that. She's a girl like us..." Veronica says to confront her.
"You're saying that because you're not the one holding this party together! I won't allow such..."
Before Mayuri ends her sentence, Rinko manage to dress up their Leader as she lends her some clothes that she can wear for the date. She happily recommend a plain but pretty clothes for a first date instead of any flashy clothes. "Since we need it to be simple. A simple color scheme would be ideal." Rinko explains as Gina thank her for the support. "Rinko what are you doing?? No!!"