The Fake Saintess and the Elf Warrior

"By the way, have you seen a little silver-haired girl recently?"

"A silver-haired little girl...yes."

"...What?"

After the princess arrived in this city, she might have dined at a human restaurant out of curiosity, or perhaps she had even been here... This was just Diaz's speculation. He had no idea what actually happened, and he wouldn't be surprised if the innkeeper shook his head and said he didn't know. He never expected that the information he had been searching for so desperately would be casually mentioned by the innkeeper.

While silver-haired individuals are rare, it doesn't mean there are no other people besides the Demon King and his daughter. To avoid misidentification, Diaz immediately provided information about the princess for confirmation.

"About how tall is that girl?"

"About... 1.4 meters tall? Anyway, several heads shorter than you."

Was she adorned with jade ornaments from head to toe?

"Yes. She was a little girl covered in jewels. Because her outfit was so unusual, I remember her quite well. I really don't know how her parents could let her go out alone dressed like that. As a result, she was surrounded by a bunch of good-for-nothing guys from the city right after she finished eating."

Judging from the shopkeeper's description of her physique and attire, Diaz was now convinced that the person the shopkeeper spoke of was indeed the princess. Just as the Demon King had said, the princess had indeed visited this place after coming to the human world. Diaz couldn't help but admire Naka's foresight. However, if what the shopkeeper said was true, then what happened next greatly concerned him.

"Surrounded?...And then what?"

"And then? Let me think... Oh right, it seems a green-haired boy helped her out and pulled her away."

"The green-haired boy...did he pull her away?"

The Demon King not only mentioned her coming here, but also warned her of a crucial point. She said that the princess, who had fled the Demon King's castle, would foresee the Demon King sending men to hunt her down. Therefore, she would undoubtedly use every means to deceive humans, using them as her shield to buy time for her escape. And now, it seems the princess has found a suitable candidate.

If she already had humans she had captured to serve as scapegoats by her side, then things wouldn't be so easy for Diaz. Even a half-second's delay could allow the princess who inherited the Demon King's power to vanish without a trace. Diaz had intended to complete the mission while the princess was still alone. But he was still a step too late.

However, he had at least grasped the valuable information that the princess was indeed in the city and already had a young man with her. Even so, compared to searching with the naked eye like looking for a needle in a haystack, this was already a major breakthrough.

"When did this happen? And where did they go?"

"Not long ago, just yesterday at noon. As for where they went, how could I, a small business owner who's busy running around this shabby shop all day, possibly know that? It's hard to say whether they're still together... What? Are you a relative of that girl?"

Because Diaz showed unusual interest in the girl and kept asking her endless questions, the boss finally couldn't help but ask. He thought, perhaps the girl really was some runaway heiress. Otherwise, her parents would never allow their daughter, dressed so extravagantly, to venture out into the world alone. In fact, his guess was pretty close to the truth.

Diaz simply nodded in response to the question.

"Well, I guess so."

"Oh my... is this the place?"

"That's right, this is one of the famous attractions in Vado: Vadonia Falls!"

"I can't believe it..."

The most important figure, the Demon Princess Meera herself, accompanied by the heroine Tatia and the saintess Pais, has traveled for several hours to reach a high mountain near the town of Vado. A waterfall cascades down the towering cliffs into a bottomless abyss. Sunlight, reflected by the water, transforms the entire waterfall into a dazzling ribbon of light. A huge rainbow often hangs above the waterfall, and combined with the thunderous roar of the water, it creates a breathtakingly beautiful scene, like a fairyland. It is a truly magnificent sight.

Before yesterday's mission began, Pais had promised Mayera, who was reluctant to contribute due to her supposed tourist trap, that if she helped him and Tatsia complete their mission and demonstrated abilities worthy of being a teammate, Pais would take her to visit the tourist attractions near Vado Town. As it turned out, Mayera's performance last night not only met Pais's criteria for a companion but far exceeded his expectations. Furthermore, with her help, Tatsia was able to deal with the centipede. Therefore, Pais gladly kept his promise and accompanied her to the famous tourist attraction that made Vado Town famous.

This place is one of the most captivating spots in the entire human kingdom. Regardless of the season, year, month, or day, countless tourists flock here. The mountain path leading to the waterfall is already packed with people, who seem oblivious to the harsh winter weather, chatting and laughing.

This was actually Pais's first time here, having only recently moved in. Having just finished the move and immediately thrown herself into her mission, she finally had the chance to witness this magnificent spectacle. Using this place as a bargaining chip was largely Pais's own selfish motive. As the procession slowly moved forward, finally allowing them to see the waterfall's true form, she and Mayra gazed at it intently, their hearts filled with excitement and joy.

"How is it, Maya... isn't the scenery here beautiful?"

"Mmm! It's so beautiful... This is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen since I was born!"

For Meira, who had spent 99.9% of her life seeing only dark walls, witnessing the breathtaking artistry of nature—a world that made her feel so insignificant—brought a sense of liberation and freedom she experienced for the first time in her life. In the Demon King's castle, she had masked her weariness with a false smile, facing the hideous monsters and her mother who had never shown her her true face. Now, Meira smiled genuinely. The cold wind, the sunshine, the beautiful scenery, and the many creatures that resembled her… this was what Meira truly wanted, the life she longed for. Only at this moment did she truly understand how insignificant her status as a princess was before such magnificent wonders. Only in this instant did she truly feel that she too could be a vibrant part of this rich and colorful world.

At the height of her excitement, Mayra couldn't help but run to the fence, lean over, and shout loudly to the heavens and earth.

"Being alive...it's so wonderful!!!!"

Mayera, who had always believed her life was worthless and even contemplated suicide—a desire forever thwarted by her immortality—cries out for the first time in her life about the wonder and happiness of life. Only by living can one witness such magnificence. And in this vast world, she believes there are countless other breathtaking sights yet to be discovered, waiting to be explored. Thoughts of death have long since vanished. She decides to travel the boundless land on foot, seeking even more beautiful and wondrous landscapes.

With a long howl, Mayera released all her pressure and excitement, feeling much better. Then, she went to Tatia's side and took her hand.

"Sister Tatia, come and take a look too!"

"Okay, sure."

Tatsia, who hadn't shown any interest in the sights before arriving, was now captivated by the magnificent scenery she'd only ever seen in paintings. Born and raised in the forest, she was familiar with the lush trees and verdant foliage, fluttering butterflies, and tranquil lakes. But these mountains and rivers, with their unstoppable, cascading waters, possessed a different kind of allure. If the beauty of the forest was the beauty of stillness, then what she was seeing now was the splendor of movement.

Tatia and Pais stood on either side, with Meera in the middle. They leaned against the railing, silent, simply admiring the scene and listening to the sound of the spring. At least for this moment, the three of them had cast aside all their troubles and forgotten the hardships of the previous night. They were wholeheartedly immersed in enjoyment. They believed this day would be unforgettable for them, and these scenes would be deeply imprinted in their hearts.

"Here you go, Meera! Tatia!"

Upon reaching the rest area, Tatia and Mayera found some empty chairs and sat down. Pais then said she had something to give them. When she returned, she was carrying three drink cups with straws. Pais kept one for herself and handed the other two to Tatia and Mayera.

Tatia immediately recognized what Pais had bought. But Mayera had never seen anything like it before. She tilted her head and asked...

"Sister Pais, what is this?"

"This is called Tabioka. It's a super trendy drink that came from the East! I figured a pampered young lady like you probably wouldn't have much of a chance to try something like this. So I bought you a cup! I don't know if the flavor I chose suits your taste. Come on, give it a try!"

Mayra picked up the cup hesitantly. Forget about the word "tabioka," which she'd never heard before; even using a straw to drink was a first for her. But she mustered her courage, put the straw in her mouth, and took a deep breath. The pink drink and the round purple sweet potato ball flowed into Mayra's mouth, making their first encounter with her taste buds.

Pais chose strawberry-flavored Tabioca for Mayra. It was a liquid that, while not actually strawberry, had a sweet strawberry aroma, accompanied by a bunch of soft, round things. This novel experience surprised Mayra, who initially looked away from her mouth. But when she swallowed the portion in one gulp, she found it incredibly delicious. She exclaimed excitedly...

"This...this stuff is so delicious! Sister Pais, what's this called...Tabioka? I want to drink it again next time!"

"Okay. I'll buy you other flavors after I get my reward for the mission. They're all delicious!"

"Um!"

The mere anticipation of food brought a genuinely sweet smile to Mayella's face. For the Demon King's daughter, this small moment of happiness was a novel experience.

The terrifying Mayera from their first meeting now wore an expression like that of an ordinary girl... no, even more adorable than an ordinary girl. Tatya, who had always harbored fear and wary that Mayera might harm humans, felt a warmth in her heart. Mayera was no longer the terrifying daughter of the Demon King, but simply a girl yearning for freedom and a life lived without constraints. And the way she smiled, holding the Tabioka, made Tatya, no matter how much she tried to deny it, unconsciously overlap with the image of her beloved benefactor: Naka. She vividly remembered that Naka also loved Tabioka. She picked up her own drink and took a small sip. She said softly...

"It tastes so good..."

"Right! It's delicious, isn't it! I've heard that the tabioka here is a bit different from other places, even more delicious!"

"Sister Tatia, may I try yours later?"

"Okay, sure..."

Pais and Mayera seemed to have misunderstood each other. Only Tatia herself knew that the taste she had just experienced was not just the flavor of a beverage.

Just as the three of them were finishing their drinks, Pais suddenly stood up, raised his glass, and said...

"Takia, Meera... let's have a small victory celebration!"

"A victory celebration?" The two seated girls exchanged bewildered glances. Pais continued...

"While celebrating with something like a five-gold-coin cup is a bit meager, we did manage to complete our first mission yesterday. That's a great start for this new team! To celebrate this victory and to wish us all the best for our upcoming adventures, let's toast to this beautiful day with a delicious drink!"

"good!"

"Um!"

After the mission, the three hadn't really had a proper celebration for their hard-won victory the night before. Pais started it, and Tatia and Mayera immediately followed suit. The three of them simultaneously raised their arms and clinked their three plastic cups together. And so began a small victory celebration consisting of only three cups of milk tea.

However...

"Excuse me, could I bother you for a moment?"

A man dressed in strange clothes approached the three of them as they toasted.

*Tabi-ka sounds the same as the Japanese word タピオカ, meaning bubble tea. This was already mentioned in Volume 1, but I'm adding it here again to prevent anyone from missing it.

The Missing Actress

Interrupting the three men's enjoyment of a toast was a middle-aged man, dressed in a neatly pressed tailcoat and top hat, who looked like an elderly gentleman. His forehead was covered in sweat, and he appeared flustered.

The three girls exchanged glances. After a brief exchange of looks, they confirmed that none of them knew the old man. The outgoing Pais put down her Tabioka and, on behalf of the other two, stepped forward to ask...

"Hello, how can I help you?"

"that..."

The old man spoke haltingly, as if he were worried about something. It took him quite a while to finally get his purpose out.

"Excuse me, have you seen a woman nearby?"

"Woman? What woman?"

"A long-haired woman wearing a large red sun hat and a bright red dress... have you seen her?"

This is, after all, a famous tourist spot, with countless visitors coming and going. Among them, the number of female tourists is certainly not small. And a long red dress isn't exactly rare, nor is it an outfit that would attract attention. Even if someone had seen it before, it's impossible to remember it so clearly. Pais shook his head at him.

"Sorry, I've never seen him before."

Behind her, Tatia and Mayera adopted the same attitude as Pais. So engrossed in admiring the scenery, they paid no attention to those around them. This made the already melancholy old gentleman even more dejected.

"Oh, I'm sorry to bother you... Sigh, how could this happen..."

After saying this, the old gentleman lowered his head, turned around, and ran to the other side of the rest area to ask the same question to the others.

"that..."

Even when the next person he approached gave the same answer as Pais and the others, the old gentleman persisted, going to find yet another person to ask if they had seen a woman in red. After his interruption of the small celebration, the three of them kept their attention focused on this strange old gentleman. Pais muttered to herself with a hint of sympathy.

"Did he get lost from his family? So pitiful."

In crowded tourist attractions, it's common for families to be separated by the surging crowds and lose contact. Pais, at this moment, assumed that he and Pais were searching for their daughter or wife.

However, a man who had witnessed what had just happened approached and, somewhat familiarly, corrected Pais.

"No, no, no, he's not looking for family."

"what?"

"His name is Misin. He's the owner of a theater troupe. Their troupe travels all over the kingdom, and recently they announced they'd be performing here for a month. The person he's looking for is their troupe's star actress: Amari. He just came to see me. He said the performance was scheduled for an hour from the rest area in front. Amari arrived this morning, but for some reason, she suddenly disappeared a few hours ago. They can't find her anywhere. Although their lead actress is known for her temper, threatening to quit if things don't go her way, disappearing right before the show isn't unusual. But because her acting is truly superb, and she's a veteran member of the troupe, having known the troupe leader for decades, even the troupe leader and others can't really do anything about her. But she's such a capricious woman. How can they perform without the lead actress at this crucial moment? Hasn't she considered that? Now the troupe leader is worried about this, searching aimlessly like a headless fly."

"Is that so...? Thank you for letting me know."

Although Pais was somewhat startled by the man's sudden, unannounced conversation, she still thanked him for answering her question. The man waved his hand, said nothing, and left.

"...What a strange man."

He's a kind guy, but also a bit odd. That's Pais's impression of him.

But what he was like wasn't important. What he did bring up was a topic that piqued Pais's interest. She enthusiastically told her two companions...

"Takia! Mayera! It looks like there's a performance at the rest area up ahead! Want to go check it out?"

"Didn't he say the female lead was missing?"

Tatia and the others overheard the conversation. Tatia didn't have any particular opinion about watching the play; she was indifferent. Plus, the man who passed by had mentioned the lead actress's disappearance. She was even more convinced that the performance was likely canceled. However, the wide-ranging Pais still held a sliver of hope that they might see a great show.

"Maybe we'll find it soon? And even if we don't, they might perform something else, right? Since we're already here, just drinking tabioca isn't fun. Why don't we go check it out together and relax a bit!"

"...You really do enjoy watching dramas."

"Of course! My brother always took me to see it when I was little."

At this point, a light shone in Pais's eyes, revealing her passion for theater.

Having only known each other for less than two days, Tatia truly hadn't expected Pais to have such a love and passion for theater. While she wasn't particularly interested, Tatia wasn't averse to theater either. If Pais insisted on seeing it, she wouldn't refuse.

"Hmm, whatever you want..."

"Great! What about Maya?"

"Drama...what's that?"

However, this question might be a bit premature for Mayra. Having been confined to her room by the Demon King for years, Mayra had no idea what theater was before considering whether or not to watch it. She tilted her head, asking innocently.

So Pais had to spend a lot of time explaining to her what theater really meant, what kind of organization a theater troupe was, and what he was going to do next. After explaining all this, Mayra remained silent.

"..."

In Pais's explanation, drama is about presenting a story to an audience through performance, or through songs and dances. Mayera had never heard of the former. The latter, however, brought back memories for her. In the Demon King's castle, her sole purpose was to sing and dance before her mother and the Demon King. Now she realized that this was also a form of theatrical expression, as humans called it.

If that's the case, then Mayella clearly had no liking for the play.

"...Sister Pais, Sister Tatia, you can go if you want. I'll just stay here and have a drink."

"Huh? What's wrong, Mayera?"

"...I don't want to go."

"Why? I don't know what kind of play they're planning to put on... but watching a performance is a lot of fun! It's a rare opportunity, why not give it a try?"

Since she knew nothing about theater, she shouldn't have any aversion to it. In fact, the first reaction to hearing about something new is usually great interest, with the outcome depending on whether it meets or doesn't meet expectations after actually seeing it. But she neither knew anything about theater nor expressed such clear aversion to it. This puzzled Pais greatly. After hearing Mayra's heartbreaking story last night, he understood the source of Mayra's disgust.

"Um...Payse, I'm sorry, she might have misunderstood something...I'll go talk to her."

"what?"

After saying that, she pulled Mayra up and dragged her to a deserted area at the edge of the rest area, leaving Pais behind.

Because Tatia used the excuse that "Meira is an old acquaintance" to conceal Meira's true identity, these two long-time acquaintances knew things Tatia didn't. Perhaps Tatia knew the specific reason for Meira's reaction. However, Pais felt he had explained things clearly enough. There shouldn't be anything further to clear up the misunderstanding. What's more concerning is...

"Is it necessary for you to hide from me and tell me this?"