In front of the mountain stronghold where the bandits had entrenched themselves, Wolles watched in indescribable shock as, in less than half an hour, the fortress that had housed thousands was completely wiped out by those stone giants.
On top of that, the mysterious silver-haired girl—Shendu—might very well be a helper invited by that silver-haired half-elf. The thought made Wolles' eyes light up, and he decided to report this crucial information to the chairwoman.
"Maeda, send a carrier pigeon immediately. Inform the chairwoman of what happened here and see what plans she has. A powerhouse like that joining the silver-haired half-elf's side would be a massive threat to any faction."
"After we return, spread the news as well. Let's see how the other factions respond."
"Yes!"
Upon receiving the order, Maeda quickly began making arrangements.
Wolles understood that Shendu was not someone who could be easily recruited. In that case, the other royal candidates would all gain a formidable enemy.
To muddy the waters and suppress the power on the silver-haired half-elf's side, borrowing a knife to kill someone was naturally the correct choice.
After handling these matters, Wolles shamelessly claimed the bandits' property for himself.
After all, once the stone giants completed their task, they reverted to ordinary soil. That conveniently benefited their company.
[Ding~ Mission Completion +5. Please keep up the good work.]
Meanwhile, as Shendu and her group were nearing their destination, the system's electronic voice sounded in her mind, leaving her somewhat surprised.
"Oh? So the mission completion rate has reached 5% already. I see... so this is how the tasks work."
Resting her chin on her hand, Shendu's crimson eyes gleamed with interest.
Suddenly, she remembered the once-a-month lottery draw. Since there was nothing to do at the moment, she contacted the system in her mind and issued the command directly.
[Ding~ Multiverse Lottery Initiated.]
[Ding~ Reward granted: Sword Techniques—Heavenfall Rend, Worldbreaker Surge, Skyshatter Strike, Thunderflash, Twin Eclipse Slash, Oblivion Cascade, Godrend Blade. (Note: This skill set is a divine art and may still be used after leaving this world.)]
What the hell? Martial techniques?
Was the system trying to turn her into a close-combat mage?
Well, it didn't matter. There was still plenty of time. She could simply continue drawing in the future.
After receiving the skills directly infused by the system, Shendu found them quite practical. Perhaps there would be situations where these martial techniques could come in handy.
After traveling through the night, the dragon carriage finally arrived at its destination—a grand mansion situated upon an open plain.
From a distance, its vast grounds stretched nearly beyond sight. Were all the nobles in this world so extravagant?
But thinking of Roswaal's enormous estate, it seemed only natural. As one of the kingdom's strongest individuals, he certainly qualified to possess such immense wealth.
Gazing at the enormous castle before her, Felt was thoroughly stunned.
She had once been a little beggar in the slums. Never had she imagined she would one day live in a place like this.
The Roswaal family's territory resembled a massive medieval European castle. Even from afar, it exuded an unmistakable noble aura.
The dragon carriage passed through the gates and rolled along a broad road. On either side lay two gardens. Nearby stood a pavilion, and at the center, a fountain decorated the grounds, making the place feel like something out of a fairy tale.
"Whew. This really is a nice place."
Shendu surveyed the surroundings and found the environment rather pleasing.
...
"Let's get off. Lord Roswaal should not have returned yet."
Looking at the quiet estate before them, Emilia spoke politely to Shendu.
"Very well. We shall impose upon you, then."
Lifting the hem of her dress, Shendu performed an elegant curtsey.
Afterward, she carefully observed the architecture of the luxurious manor.
As expected, ancient nobles truly knew how to enjoy themselves. Shendu walked along a long corridor, ascended the steps, crossed over a red carpet, and entered the main hall.
The hall was adorned with a massive crystal chandelier. The floor was made of marble, and the furniture was crafted from wood unique to this world, emitting a faint fragrance.
It was indeed a refreshing place. Yet compared to the magnificent palaces in Shendu's memories, this still fell somewhat short.
Upon entering the hall, Shendu noticed the exhaustion written across Emilia's face. She looked out of sorts.
The light seemed to have dimmed in her purple eyes. It was clear that after traveling all the way here, she was quite tired.
"Emilia, you look exhausted. Go and rest early. You can show me around tomorrow."
Shendu spoke first, smiling at the delicate half-elf before her.
"Alright. See you tomorrow."
Emilia was already drowsy, yet she still looked seriously at Shendu and waved goodbye before leaving.
After speaking, Emilia headed upstairs, seemingly returning to her room. Yet as she departed, she kept glancing back at Shendu, clearly reluctant.
Once Emilia had left, the blue-haired maid Rem bowed respectfully to them and politely offered her suggestion.
"Honored guests, please follow me. There are guest rooms prepared. I will show you the way."
Rem spoke with a serious attitude. Even in the absence of her master, she handled matters responsibly. No wonder Emilia never needed to assert her authority.
"Very well."
Shendu had no objections. Under Rem's guidance, they soon arrived at a guest room. It was impeccably clean, practically spotless.
There was a bookshelf in the distance, seemingly provided for guests to read. The beds were simple, without excessive luxury.
"This room has two beds. You may rest here."
Standing at the doorway, Rem gestured toward the room and explained patiently.
"That's fine."
Shendu did not object. It made little difference to her where she rested.
"What about me?" Natsuki Subaru suddenly asked. As the least noticeable protagonist, he was curious where he would be staying.
"You will stay over there."
In response to Natsuki Subaru's question, Rem pointed to a room across the hall and answered seriously.
Upon learning his assigned room, Natsuki Subaru could not help but pout. He had originally hoped to be neighbors with a silver-haired beauty like Shendu, but this little maid had already shattered his fantasy.
"Fine, I guess."
Although somewhat dissatisfied, Natsuki Subaru said nothing more. He cheerfully pushed open the door to his assigned room to take a look.
Being able to come to another world was, in itself, a wonderful journey for him. Naturally, he intended to treasure it.