บท 17: Chapter 17: What goes around, comes around

Like a child drawing on a diary, a cloud floated above her head and stick figures made themselves known again.

Her three dames with their fluttery haircut that was all the same in her head would be in the forest too.

They would talk with her Isaac all the time.

Then she would save Isaac no problem.

But these cunning vixens would then comfort him! They would lend him their shoulder! Seduce him with their vile make-up that she herself did apparently looked 'horrendous' on her.

And before she could even slay the behemoth bam! Marriage! Just not with her.

Never.

If that happened she would kill every woman in the world.

Kristine's hands clenched the table until it cracked her teeth grated as she looked up.

"Selena, Immi, Celia, you three will manage this place with Reley…" Her words bordering on thorns, Kristine spoke while suppressing her anger. How could she ever take these vixens along?

"Eh?"

"Captain… I understand Selena, but I am stronger than most of us!"

"I agree with Celia," Karl said. "It would be a big loss to remove her—"

This punk said she's horrendous, huh? He was just as bad as the rest of them. He couldn't control his trash mouth in front of her allies what were wizards! No way. This guy too.

"Karl is out too."

"Captainnnn!?"

Nothing was going to come between her and Isaac. Not today.

Sit tight, Isaac. Don't let those behemoths faze you.

Kristine was right on her way.

***

Under the shade of the trees, the young count of Athenus, Isaac von Athenus, was having his morning coffee while reading a newspaper.

No mention of this or that, things seemed at peace.

It was another peaceful day before he had to head out for work.

Just as the ice cold wizard was about to stand up from his seat, his lips and nose extended outward by a total of one centimeter each for exactly three-fourths of a second.

"D-did you notice…?" One maid muttered.

"What?" The other asked.

"He totally sneezed just then! Definitely!"

Isaac had sneezed indeed, but he didn't think he'd be explaining that to them.

It seemed someone was missing him.

***

After a lot of convincing from both sides, and some more secret convincing from Johan leveraging the count's name, Kristine et Kaiser finally decided to concede and let Immi and Celia on the team. Selena was still out, she was too pretty for a knight. Kristine wasn't taking those chances.

Karl was back in too, on the condition that he be the driver. He wasn't sure what he had done to deserve it, but judgment was made, and following it was his fate.

The caravan rattled and tumbled past the passes of Mount Erymanthos, crossing its ranges while hunting for game, and eventually nearing the forests of the west.

"Captain, we're almost there," Karl announced and Kristine peeked out of the window.

Her heart was thumping in excitement, it was like a child that had just received a new tympani drum and was banging on it over and over with the sole intent of making the child's parents want to throw the drum out of their house or bury it in the ground.

How would she not be? She was going to see Isaac! Finally, the heart-throbbing, marriage-causing, behemoth subjugation was upon her!

This was it! The time was here.

The two knights in white and gold armor entered her sight, the emblem of the royal knights floating on the flag around their tents.

Karl tooted a horn and her knights pulled up their flags.

Behind the group was the large expanse of oak trees where their target dwelled.

In one of those tents!

The caravan came to a stop and the lady hopped right off. She rushed over to the knights and stretched out her hands.

"Ah, Lady Kristine—"

"That's me. Nice to meet you. Thank you for the opportunity and we're looking forward to working together, all of us. Now, where is the master-ranked wizard?"

The two knights were left blinking.

Sweat dripped over Johan's head as he finally connected the dots.

"Ah…hahaha, yes, the master-ranked wizard is right in that tent," said one knight.

"Mr. Wizard, please come over here!" said the other.

The tent's flaps rustled.

Smoke oozed out of Kristine's every breath.

With a long white beard and a hunched back, stepped out, master not-Isaac.

"Eh?" Kristine said.

"Ohoho… I apologize for the tardiness, lady Kristine et Kaiser. These old bones get in the way at times."

"Eh… Where is the master-ranked wizard?" Kristine muttered.

"That's him!" The knights answered. "He's old, but his skill is the real deal. He also doesn't mind knights, nor do his students."

"So… uh… like, Count Isaac?"

The knights blinked, and so did the wizard.

They thought she was in a rush to put down her nemesis.

"Haha!" The wizard laughed. "I understand the need to show off against that child. Fortunately, you win this round, lady Kristine. After all, Master Isaac is a researcher."

Researcher…

"Knights set off!"

Researcher…

"Damn it! This behemoth is tough!"

Researcher…

"WE DID IT!!"

Researcher…..

"Congratulations, lady Kristine. With this, the Royal Knight Order will be keeping you in the best of their graces. We recognize you as a staunch ally and hope you see the same in us. This is your victory before anyone else's."

Kristine lost.