elapt1c/ElapticAI-512 · Datasets at Hugging Face

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I m sorry I caused you so much trouble.
Heh heh, not at all. Especially when you ve supported me so much. We re both the type to go calm when our partner loses their composure, aren t we?
She wrapped her arms around me, soothing me with her warmth. Still in her embrace, I gave her a kiss on the lips.
A great deal has happened since we came to the empire, she said.
You said it.
We had our audience with Dorothea, enrolled in the Imperial Academy, and met Philine and everyone else.
Remember the pope s visit? That was sure something. Never in a million years would I have thought that I d become a body double.
We even helped improve the empire s cuisine. Oh, and we had a ball.
I still can t believe Aleah became Dorothea s disciple.
Remember when May helped us open the Box of the Forbidden?
There was that time we thought our plan had come to an end with Philine being exiled.
The incidents with Joel, Eve, and Lana remain vivid in my mind.
And I still remembered how hopeless I had felt when my daughters were kidnapped.
She went on, We held the summit, where Philine cornered Dorothea, and now here we are. It s been a tumultuous few months.
You did well, Miss Claire.
As did you, Rae.
We giggled, then kissed again.
Do you think this is what the apostle meant by flirting? I asked.
Most certainly. But I still fail to see how this will help us defeat the demons.
Hmm Maybe love is the only force that can stop a being out to destroy the world!
Wouldn t it be nice if it were that simple?
Whatever the true purpose of our flirting might have been, the two of us certainly had no qualms about getting on with it.
Do you think we can beat the demons, Miss Claire?
Of course we can. And once everything is settled down, we ll return to our home in Bauer.
Of course. Our home was waiting for us. For that, we had to fight off the coming invasion, come hell or high water.
I m a little hung up on what Dorothea said the Demon Queen told her, I admitted.
About history and all that?
Yes.
The words the Demon Queen had spoken to Dorothea, Killing you would too greatly alter the course of history, had me thinking. It was almost as if she also knew the events of Revolution and Revo-Lily.
Maybe the Demon Queen is a lost child of the spirits, I said, like me.
But wouldn t she have to be a human for that? Could the ruler of the demons be that?
I don t know
In the books I d read in my past life, there were many stories of people being reincarnated as villains in other worlds. If the Demon Queen were such a person, then her comment to Dorothea would make sense. However, the question remained: Why was she out to destroy the world?
Rae you re trembling.
I m scared, Miss Claire.
Of the Demon Queen?
Yes. If she knows what s to come, then she has an incredible advantage over us. My book of prophecies only showed me the events leading up to Dorothea s defeat. From here on out, we re fighting blind.
Preemptive knowledge of what was to come and who was involved with who was a significant advantage. The only reason a normal person with no redeeming features, like me, had successfully bumbled her way through thus far was because playing Revolution and Revo-Lily had given me insight into this world s events and outcomes. But I didn t have that power anymore.
I couldn t care less if I died, but I m afraid of losing you and the twins.
Hey, none of that, Rae. Claire lightly flicked me on the forehead. I didn t have the willpower to make my usual joke about how even pain was a reward if it came from her. Do you remember how, when May and Aleah were kidnapped, you told me the four of us would definitely make our way back to each other?
Yeah
Claire smiled as brilliantly as a rose in full bloom. Well, it s my turn to tell you now: I won t let a single one of us die. The four of us will make it back to our home in Bauer together and in one piece.
I m just no match for you, Miss Claire.
Of course not. Who do you think I am?
My dear, beloved sweetheart.
Heh heh, I suppose that s right.
We naturally moved into an embrace and kissed.
I wonder if the apostle is watching us even now, she mused.
Let them watch. A little exhibitionism. Just how you like it.
Wha I have no such sexual inclination!
So you say, but your heart races three times faster than usual when we kiss when someone s watching.
Th-that can t be !
Yep. I m just kidding.
Raeee! She began to pound her fists against me. Of course, even this pain was a reward, as it came from her.
Miss Claire?
What? I can t believe you ruined such a good mood.
I love you.
Ugh You can be so unfair.
Won t you say it back for me?
I won t. Those words can t even begin to describe what I feel for you. Claire pulled me closer and faintly whispered in my ear: You mean more than the world to me, Rae.
A sudden sense of euphoria washed over me. Shall we retire to our room, Miss Claire?
Yes, let s.
With the demon invasion on the horizon, the curtains fell on our brief days of respite.

***

Thank you all for coming. I hereby announce the beginning of the counter-invasion strategy meeting, Philine began.
We were in a conference room within the imperial castle. Those present included Philine, Dorothea, Josef, Hilda, and many more from the empire, as well as numerous faces from Sousse, the Alpes, Bauer, and the Spiritual Church. It would be no exaggeration to say all the key representatives of humanity were present.
Let us start by reviewing the current situation. Hilda, can you explain where the demons are currently located?
Right away. Everyone, please refer to this map here.
With a pointer stick, Hilda indicated a map spread across the wall, which showed the empire and its surroundings. On the map, demon territory was situated to the east of the empire. A total of six strongholds stood between demon territory and the imperial capital.
At present, the demons have conquered the second stronghold and have laid siege to the third, she said. The third stronghold is commanded by the brave General Sascha, but a messenger has arrived to say that they won t last more than a few more days.
So not even Sascha can hold them off, Dorothea groaned.
According to Hilda s explanation, Sascha was a famous general who had never failed to repel the demons advances until now.
The demon army is larger than ever before, and it is now largely composed of relatively intelligent monsters like goblins and orcs, Hilda explained.
Are you saying that was enough to overwhelm Sascha? Dorothea asked.
Not at all. It seems the goblins and orcs, who typically flee the moment a battle sours, are charging ahead with reckless abandon and demonstrate no regard for their lives. It s as though they fear something more than death.
Humph How curious, Dorothea said.
It looks like the demons are betting it all on this invasion, Manaria said.
The invasion seemed to be just that important to them.
Exactly how much time do we have until they reach us? William asked.
At their current pace, about one week, I fear, Hilda said.
I see The reinforcements from Bauer might not arrive in time, then, Dole said bitterly. He had sent word requesting reinforcements to Rod the moment we learned of the invasion. Unfortunately, no matter how skilled Rod himself might be, it took time to move an army. It was doubtful they d make it in time.
Which stronghold has the magical tool Dorothea mentioned installed? Yu asked.
That would be the fifth stronghold, Hilda matter-of-factly replied. And the only thing standing between the fifth stronghold and the capital is the sixth.
In other words, the success of our fifth stronghold strategy was directly tied to the safety of the capital.
Is that magical tool ready for use? Thane asked.
Yes, Hilda confirmed. The magical tool official designation Magical Ordnance: Inferno is fully operational. The problem is whether we can successfully lure the enemy army into its range. Please have a look at this magnified map here. She moved her pointer to the neighboring map. This map shows the terrain around the fifth stronghold. As you can see, the fifth stronghold is surrounded by mountains, making it a natural fortress. The only way to get past it is to force your way directly through or to take a large detour and attack the capital from the north.
I m guessing it d be a problem for us if they chose to take the detour? I asked.
Correct. While their army would be delayed in reaching the capital, we d be unable to make any use of Inferno. There is another stronghold in the north, but we cannot install Inferno there.
So we have to somehow lure the demons to the fifth stronghold, Claire said.
I m afraid so.
But how?
Are we sure the enemy doesn t know about Inferno? Manaria asked.
Absolutely. The existence of Inferno has been kept secret from all but a very select few in the army. The demon spies Lady Dorothea has knowingly allowed to roam seem to be aware we have a powerful weapon, but what and where it is has remained strictly confidential. The likelihood of a leak is immeasurably small, rest assured.
Hilda seemed pretty sure of herself. For all our sakes, I hoped she was right.
Putting aside whether the demons know of Inferno s existence, Philine said with some worry, as things stand, taking a detour through the northern route will appear slightly easier to the demons than forcing a way through the east. If we can t do something to dissuade them from that strategy, we won t get a chance to use Inferno.
What if we stationed forces along the northern route? Thane suggested.
There are already a number of soldiers stationed there. But stationing enough to make the route seem impassable might have the opposite effect, and it would also too greatly weaken the stronghold s defenses, Philine said.
Huh? Th-then how has the empire fought the demons until now? Lilly asked.

I m sorry I caused you so much trouble.

Heh heh, not at all. Especially when you ve supported me so much. We re both the type to go calm when our partner loses their composure, aren t we?

She wrapped her arms around me, soothing me with her warmth. Still in her embrace, I gave her a kiss on the lips.

A great deal has happened since we came to the empire, she said.

You said it.

We had our audience with Dorothea, enrolled in the Imperial Academy, and met Philine and everyone else.

Remember the pope s visit? That was sure something. Never in a million years would I have thought that I d become a body double.

We even helped improve the empire s cuisine. Oh, and we had a ball.

I still can t believe Aleah became Dorothea s disciple.

Remember when May helped us open the Box of the Forbidden?

There was that time we thought our plan had come to an end with Philine being exiled.

The incidents with Joel, Eve, and Lana remain vivid in my mind.

And I still remembered how hopeless I had felt when my daughters were kidnapped.

She went on, We held the summit, where Philine cornered Dorothea, and now here we are. It s been a tumultuous few months.

You did well, Miss Claire.

As did you, Rae.

We giggled, then kissed again.

Do you think this is what the apostle meant by flirting? I asked.

Most certainly. But I still fail to see how this will help us defeat the demons.

Hmm Maybe love is the only force that can stop a being out to destroy the world!

Wouldn t it be nice if it were that simple?

Whatever the true purpose of our flirting might have been, the two of us certainly had no qualms about getting on with it.

Do you think we can beat the demons, Miss Claire?

Of course we can. And once everything is settled down, we ll return to our home in Bauer.

Of course. Our home was waiting for us. For that, we had to fight off the coming invasion, come hell or high water.

I m a little hung up on what Dorothea said the Demon Queen told her, I admitted.

About history and all that?

Yes.

The words the Demon Queen had spoken to Dorothea, Killing you would too greatly alter the course of history, had me thinking. It was almost as if she also knew the events of Revolution and Revo-Lily.

Maybe the Demon Queen is a lost child of the spirits, I said, like me.

But wouldn t she have to be a human for that? Could the ruler of the demons be that?

I don t know

In the books I d read in my past life, there were many stories of people being reincarnated as villains in other worlds. If the Demon Queen were such a person, then her comment to Dorothea would make sense. However, the question remained: Why was she out to destroy the world?

Rae you re trembling.

I m scared, Miss Claire.

Of the Demon Queen?

Yes. If she knows what s to come, then she has an incredible advantage over us. My book of prophecies only showed me the events leading up to Dorothea s defeat. From here on out, we re fighting blind.

Preemptive knowledge of what was to come and who was involved with who was a significant advantage. The only reason a normal person with no redeeming features, like me, had successfully bumbled her way through thus far was because playing Revolution and Revo-Lily had given me insight into this world s events and outcomes. But I didn t have that power anymore.

I couldn t care less if I died, but I m afraid of losing you and the twins.

Hey, none of that, Rae. Claire lightly flicked me on the forehead. I didn t have the willpower to make my usual joke about how even pain was a reward if it came from her. Do you remember how, when May and Aleah were kidnapped, you told me the four of us would definitely make our way back to each other?

Yeah

Claire smiled as brilliantly as a rose in full bloom. Well, it s my turn to tell you now: I won t let a single one of us die. The four of us will make it back to our home in Bauer together and in one piece.

I m just no match for you, Miss Claire.

Of course not. Who do you think I am?

My dear, beloved sweetheart.

Heh heh, I suppose that s right.

We naturally moved into an embrace and kissed.

I wonder if the apostle is watching us even now, she mused.

Let them watch. A little exhibitionism. Just how you like it.

Wha I have no such sexual inclination!

So you say, but your heart races three times faster than usual when we kiss when someone s watching.

Th-that can t be !

Yep. I m just kidding.

Raeee! She began to pound her fists against me. Of course, even this pain was a reward, as it came from her.

Miss Claire?

What? I can t believe you ruined such a good mood.

I love you.

Ugh You can be so unfair.

Won t you say it back for me?

I won t. Those words can t even begin to describe what I feel for you. Claire pulled me closer and faintly whispered in my ear: You mean more than the world to me, Rae.

A sudden sense of euphoria washed over me. Shall we retire to our room, Miss Claire?

Yes, let s.

With the demon invasion on the horizon, the curtains fell on our brief days of respite.

***

Thank you all for coming. I hereby announce the beginning of the counter-invasion strategy meeting, Philine began.

We were in a conference room within the imperial castle. Those present included Philine, Dorothea, Josef, Hilda, and many more from the empire, as well as numerous faces from Sousse, the Alpes, Bauer, and the Spiritual Church. It would be no exaggeration to say all the key representatives of humanity were present.

Let us start by reviewing the current situation. Hilda, can you explain where the demons are currently located?

Right away. Everyone, please refer to this map here.

With a pointer stick, Hilda indicated a map spread across the wall, which showed the empire and its surroundings. On the map, demon territory was situated to the east of the empire. A total of six strongholds stood between demon territory and the imperial capital.

At present, the demons have conquered the second stronghold and have laid siege to the third, she said. The third stronghold is commanded by the brave General Sascha, but a messenger has arrived to say that they won t last more than a few more days.

So not even Sascha can hold them off, Dorothea groaned.

According to Hilda s explanation, Sascha was a famous general who had never failed to repel the demons advances until now.

The demon army is larger than ever before, and it is now largely composed of relatively intelligent monsters like goblins and orcs, Hilda explained.

Are you saying that was enough to overwhelm Sascha? Dorothea asked.

Not at all. It seems the goblins and orcs, who typically flee the moment a battle sours, are charging ahead with reckless abandon and demonstrate no regard for their lives. It s as though they fear something more than death.

Humph How curious, Dorothea said.

It looks like the demons are betting it all on this invasion, Manaria said.

The invasion seemed to be just that important to them.

Exactly how much time do we have until they reach us? William asked.

At their current pace, about one week, I fear, Hilda said.

I see The reinforcements from Bauer might not arrive in time, then, Dole said bitterly. He had sent word requesting reinforcements to Rod the moment we learned of the invasion. Unfortunately, no matter how skilled Rod himself might be, it took time to move an army. It was doubtful they d make it in time.

Which stronghold has the magical tool Dorothea mentioned installed? Yu asked.

That would be the fifth stronghold, Hilda matter-of-factly replied. And the only thing standing between the fifth stronghold and the capital is the sixth.

In other words, the success of our fifth stronghold strategy was directly tied to the safety of the capital.

Is that magical tool ready for use? Thane asked.

Yes, Hilda confirmed. The magical tool official designation Magical Ordnance: Inferno is fully operational. The problem is whether we can successfully lure the enemy army into its range. Please have a look at this magnified map here. She moved her pointer to the neighboring map. This map shows the terrain around the fifth stronghold. As you can see, the fifth stronghold is surrounded by mountains, making it a natural fortress. The only way to get past it is to force your way directly through or to take a large detour and attack the capital from the north.

I m guessing it d be a problem for us if they chose to take the detour? I asked.

Correct. While their army would be delayed in reaching the capital, we d be unable to make any use of Inferno. There is another stronghold in the north, but we cannot install Inferno there.

So we have to somehow lure the demons to the fifth stronghold, Claire said.

I m afraid so.

But how?

Are we sure the enemy doesn t know about Inferno? Manaria asked.

Absolutely. The existence of Inferno has been kept secret from all but a very select few in the army. The demon spies Lady Dorothea has knowingly allowed to roam seem to be aware we have a powerful weapon, but what and where it is has remained strictly confidential. The likelihood of a leak is immeasurably small, rest assured.

Hilda seemed pretty sure of herself. For all our sakes, I hoped she was right.

Putting aside whether the demons know of Inferno s existence, Philine said with some worry, as things stand, taking a detour through the northern route will appear slightly easier to the demons than forcing a way through the east. If we can t do something to dissuade them from that strategy, we won t get a chance to use Inferno.

What if we stationed forces along the northern route? Thane suggested.

There are already a number of soldiers stationed there. But stationing enough to make the route seem impassable might have the opposite effect, and it would also too greatly weaken the stronghold s defenses, Philine said.

Huh? Th-then how has the empire fought the demons until now? Lilly asked.