Dragon Kingdom of Lugunica, the Royal Capital.
After accepting Emilia's invitation and arriving at the capital together, Shendu finally took in the city's full appearance. Overall, it resembled ancient Europe. Soldiers in armor patrolled the streets back and forth, keeping watch in every direction.
It was clear that the capital had entered a state of wartime alert. Most likely, any suspicious individuals would be seized and interrogated.
Fortunately, when she first transmigrated, Shendu had appeared in the outskirts. Had she shown up directly in the capital, trouble would have been unavoidable. Thinking of this, she felt rather fortunate. Relying on Emilia's status had allowed her to avoid unnecessary complications.
"Wow, so this is the royal capital? I never had the chance to see it in its entirety before!"
Upon entering the capital, Felt's eyes sparkled as she looked around. She had already changed into an elegant noble outfit.
"Don't worry. There will be plenty of opportunities. Take your time and enjoy it."
Shendu reached out and gently stroked Felt's small head with a smile.
Originally, the clothes she purchased had not been in Felt's size. But one must not forget—she was the strongest demon dragon. Adjusting the size of clothing with magic was a trivial matter.
The once dirty and ragged Felt had vanished. Now she wore a red dress, looking adorable and lively, always clinging to Shendu's side.
Faced with a girl so eager to stick close to her, Shendu did not feel the slightest bit annoyed. Having such a little sister did not seem like a bad thing at all.
Before long, an upscale inn came into view. Soldiers stood guard around it, clearly monitoring the area. It appeared to be a residence specifically arranged for important figures.
"We're here, Sister Shendu. This is where I stay in the capital."
Emilia introduced it enthusiastically. Just as she was about to say more, an unharmonious voice rang out from inside.
"I've finally found you, Lady Emilia."
As they reached the entrance, a petite blue-haired girl in a black-and-white maid outfit appeared before them.
The girl carried a cold aura. Her sky-blue eyes swept over Shendu's group, and a trace of hostility surfaced in her gaze.
When she noticed Shendu's silver hair, confusion flickered in her eyes. She did not know where this girl had come from, and her vigilance increased several degrees.
"Lady Emilia, where did you go last night? Lord Roswaal instructed Rem to remain by your side at all times. I was not to leave you even for a single step. But you were gone all night. I searched the entire capital and was terribly worried."
The blue-haired maid launched into a rapid barrage of questioning, catching Emilia completely off guard. The half-elf girl looked embarrassed, unsure how to respond.
Seeing the deep concern in Rem's eyes, Shendu understood that this was born of loyalty. There was nothing strange about it.
"I'm sorry, Rem. This time was my fault. It won't happen again."
Emilia lowered her head in apology.
"It is good that Lady Emilia understands. The kingdom has been unstable lately. Rem is worried that those with ill intentions may approach you."
As she spoke, the blue-haired maid did not conceal her vigilance. She glanced at Shendu, who appeared to be an ordinary noble young lady, then at Felt, who looked like a common girl.
When her gaze landed on Natsuki Subaru, however, her wariness intensified severalfold. The hostility in her eyes almost became tangible.
...
"That's enough, Rem. They aren't bad people. Especially Miss Shendu. She chose to help me. Without her, I wouldn't have returned so quickly."
Seeing her maid so tense, Emilia briefly explained what had happened. However, she glossed over Felt's involvement.
Otherwise, Rem would never let the matter rest. She might even eliminate Felt as the so-called culprit.
"I see. Miss Shendu, Miss Felt—please forgive my earlier rudeness. Thank you for assisting Lady Emilia."
Rem bowed deeply in gratitude.
Yet even as she spoke, she quietly assessed the strength of those before her.
First was the silver-haired girl most highly praised by Lady Emilia—Shendu. However, after probing carefully, Rem found that she seemed no different from an ordinary person. There was not the slightest trace of magic in her body.
Such a situation meant one of two possibilities. Either the other party was far stronger than herself, or she truly was an ordinary person. In any case, it felt strange.
When it came to Felt, Rem could sense that she possessed some kind of Divine Protection. She was clearly not normal.
Lastly was Natsuki Subaru. The scent of the Witch lingered faintly around him—something Rem found especially repulsive.
"It was nothing. Just a small matter."
Shendu showed no concern. She glanced at Emilia, then at the patrolling soldiers in the distance, speaking thoughtfully.
"By the way, why is the kingdom in a wartime state? Has something happened?"
Regarding the overall story, Shendu only remembered the general outline. Many details were vague—such as the circumstances behind the royal family's disappearance.
"That is rather strange, Miss Shendu. Even neighboring countries are aware of this matter. Why do you not know?"
Rem frowned, suspicion deepening in her eyes. Compared to Natsuki Subaru, Shendu seemed far more unfathomable.
[Ding~ Rem's hostility toward the host +60. Current hostility: 60.]
After Shendu asked that question, Rem's hostility rose sharply to sixty, which surprised her slightly.
"Sister Shendu, it's like this," Emilia quickly interjected upon noticing Rem's lack of courtesy. "The royal bloodline of the kingdom has almost completely perished. The Council of Wise Men has temporarily announced to the entire kingdom that a new king will be selected."
"Oh? That sounds rather strange. As the highest stratum of nobility, how could the royal family suddenly vanish? There must be something suspicious behind this."
Shendu's expression grew serious. A contemplative light flashed in her crimson eyes. Surely someone was orchestrating matters from the shadows. Such a situation could not occur without cause.
"To be honest, I'm not entirely sure either," Emilia continued. "Starting three years ago, members of the royal family began suffering from a strange illness. Even the best doctors could not save them. Half a year ago, the last remaining royal passed away. Now, the royal bloodline has completely ended."
After hearing Emilia's explanation, Shendu became even more certain—this was a conspiracy, and a very large one at that.