"I see..."
Ariel gave a helpless smile.
"Is something the matter, Princess?"
"Yes. I'd like to try approaching the Armored Dragon King and winning his support. Ideally, I'd start with a letter."
"That's pretty direct. Well, Orsted knows him, but I seem to have a bit of a grudge with him."
Cain still remembered Almanfi the Bright. He was probably one of Perugius's twelve apostles. Just before the Displacement Incident, Cain had nearly chopped him to pieces.
"A grudge?"
"Yes. I'm a member of the Demon Race, and I injured one of his apostles."
"That is unfortunate."
After all, Perugius was one of the Human Race's Three Heroes, and rumor had it he hated the Demon Race.
Ariel thought for a moment, then continued.
"Would Lord Dragon God be willing to put me in touch with the Armored Dragon King?!"
"I can ask him. I'll let you know how to contact him."
"Thank you, Lord Sword God!" Ariel's lips curved upward as she lifted the hem of her dress and gave a graceful little bow.
"No need to thank me."
After the tea party, Cain took a leisurely stroll through the Magic University with Roxy. Rudeus and Sylphiette still hadn't come out of their room.
"Nanahoshi doesn't seem to have come today."
"True. I didn't see her at the academy, either."
"Um, Cain, could you come with me for a little while?"
"I'll always be with you, Roxy."
Roxy looked at the boy who had leaned close to her. A faint blush rose to her cheeks, and she smiled.
"Then come with me."
Holding Cain's hand, Roxy soon led him to the forest Training Ground behind the Magic Academy.
The blue-haired girl with twin tails raised her staff high. Columns of icy-blue water surged up around her. Roxy slowly opened