Fireworks shot up from within the city, blooming into ephemeral yet dazzlingly brilliant flowers against the twilight sky.
This was a day worth commemorating for all the Homu residents of the Great Homu Kingdom, because their princess, who had been kidnapped by the fearsome evil dragon Homusilla, had been rescued today by their knight!
The heavy city gate lowered onto the bank of the moat. Residents gathered at the gate, hiding behind the guards lining the main road, watching Mei's group with a mixture of excitement and fear.
Excitement because their princess and knight looked vibrant and unharmed.
Fear because Shu was also like that!
"Do you think I should try to look a bit weaker?" Shu asked tentatively in a low voice.
Currently, Shu's wrists were bound by a simple hemp rope, the other end held by Kiana, who was leading him forward.
Shu could clearly sense the fear emanating from the surrounding Homus, which was why he said that.
If Sirin also refused to see him because he looked too well, then all their plans would be ruined.
"Probably not..." Kiana replied, also in a low voice. "Sirin doesn't seem like such a timid person..."
Shu thought so too. Sirin shouldn't be the type to be easily frightened, just as the Sirin in that other space wouldn't flee out of fear...
Of course, actually running away was a different matter.
Just as the group stepped through the city gate, a blue Homu with a lazy expression appeared before them.
Hori first bowed to the group, then politely presented three gold-embossed invitation cards.
"Homu... (His Majesty the King already knows of your heroic deed in rescuing the princess. The banquet prepared for you will begin at nine o'clock tonight.)"
After Mei and the others accepted the invitations, Hori turned to look at Shu behind them, his lazy eyes suddenly sharpening.
"Homu (Is this that fearsome Demon Lord? I didn't expect you to be able to capture such a terrifying Demon Lord. You must have overcome unimaginable difficulties!)"
Mei instinctively recalled all the hardships they had endured on this journey, smiled somewhat awkwardly, then brazenly nodded.
After delivering so many embarrassing lines along the way, just nodding was something Mei could completely accept now.
"Homu... (Is that so?)" Hori dabbed at his dry eyes, deeply moved, then bowed to the group again.
"Then, to ensure everyone can enjoy a wonderful banquet, please entrust the Demon Lord to us for now. Tomorrow, please attend the righteous trial regarding the Demon Lord's crimes."
As he spoke, two Homu guards behind Hori stepped forward, ready to take custody of Shu.
Mei and the others' expressions changed slightly, and they instinctively moved to stand in front of Shu.
Shu patted Kiana's shoulder, then signaled for them to hand him over as Hori had said. Only then did the others make way.
"Here." Kiana reluctantly handed the end of the rope to a Homu guard, muttering under her breath, "I'm just lending him to you... Make sure you return him in one piece..."
"Homu? (What?)"
Kiana averted her gaze, pouting and muttering softly, "Nothing..."
Shu chuckled somewhat awkwardly, nodded to Mei and the others, and then left with the Homu guards.
"Mei, Shu will be alright, won't he?" Kiana asked worriedly, watching Shu's retreating figure.
"Don't worry, Shu will be fine," Mei patted Kiana's head reassuringly.
"Kiana, you heard just now, the Great Homu Kingdom's measure against the Demon Lord is a righteous trial. At least until the trial tomorrow, Shu won't have any problems."
"I know, I'm just worried... Will Shu encounter things like in the movies, being bullied and picked on in prison..."
Mei and Bronya Zaychik fell silent for a moment.
"Shu?" Bronya confirmed.
"Being bullied?" Mei repeated.
The two exchanged glances, then simultaneously patted Kiana's shoulders and sighed.
"Kiana, I know you feel guilty for not noticing Shu was nearsighted, but aren't you being a little overly concerned?" Mei said earnestly.
"Is idiot Kiana thinking the Demon Lord would be bullied by ordinary bad guys, or that Shu would be bullied by others?" Bronya couldn't help but retort.
Kiana: "..."
It really did seem that way!
Guiltily averting her gaze, Kiana would never admit she was just overthinking due to concern.
In reality, the main reason they weren't overly worried about Shu was that this was the world of Homu, a world filled with childlike innocence and naivety.
Bullying existing in such a world? How could that be possible?
Even Demon Lords didn't do that!
"Alright, now we should take this opportunity to relax properly. Otherwise, it wouldn't be good if we messed up during tomorrow's trial," Mei said with a smile.
Kiana nodded, then naturally took Mei's hand.
"Hehe, what do you think we'll get to eat at the banquet? We won't just be gnawing on bread at the banquet too, will we?" Kiana was already fantasizing about what she could eat that night.
These past two days, it had been either bread or dry fried rice. Although the portions were sufficient, for a foodie like Kiana, a monotonous diet was a form of torture.
A banquet hosted by the royal family couldn't possibly just be bread, right?
At least... uh, there had to be enough cake, right?
Times had changed. Kiana's demands were now this simple. Nothing else mattered, as long as there was enough!
"Probably not..." Mei also didn't know what they would get to eat that night. Along the way, she and Bronya had also been eating bread, and to make it last longer, it was the kind of hard bread that could chip a tooth.
If their bodies hadn't been enhanced by the Key of Evolution, they might not have even been able to bite through it.
Even Bronya nodded seriously, though compared to Kiana and Mei, she was rather indifferent about what they would eat that night.
After all, back in Siberia, it was bread for every meal, and the bread back then was also hard enough to kill someone.
When she really had no strength or couldn't bite it, she would make a bowl of hot soup or hot water and soak the bread to soften it.
When out on missions, she simply wouldn't eat; going hungry for a couple of meals was fine.
This wasn't just Bronya's life. During that time, all the child soldiers in Siberia lived like that. And below them, there were the refugees fleeing everywhere.
They, at least, were guaranteed food. The refugees were the ones who truly went hungry one meal and full the next...