True Vorpal Bunny (Danmachi SI) Ch.32 (Patreon)

Chapter 32:

In the mansion bought by Freya in Leodo, the goddess’ room was currently being used by a dozen people around a table.

Ali was seated at the head of the table, flanked by Bofman and Douglas.

The princess was feeling awkward. Since she ‘won’ her bet against Freya, the goddess had told her subordinates to treat Ali as if she was the Familia’s patron deity herself.

Some of them took that more seriously than others.

Ottar’s presence two steps behind her while she sat down was very intimidating. Even though she knew he was taking the role of a bodyguard, she felt like there was a mountain to her back and a rockslide was imminent. The man’s stoic presence was a very intense thing.

Hedin behaved like a gentleman with the respect owed to royalty, because in his eyes she had shown she had the qualities to be a queen by facing the goddess’s trial without faltering. Ali was actually feeling jealous of how pretty and dignified the elf was.

The quadruplets were clearly bored out of their mind and didn’t bother to hide it.

Allen was clicking his tongue every time Ali looked at him. The catboy was not happy about pretending to obey someone other than Freya.

Hogni, Ali felt, was even more anxious than she was. His eyes kept shooting from one side to the other, unable to withstand another person’s gaze, before he just lifted the hem of his cloak to hide his face under it.

And then, there was Iru, who hadn’t changed his way of addressing her at all, but he also didn’t show any respect to Freya, so she hadn’t expected anything different. As far as Ali was able to tell from the few days she had spent with the Hume Bunny and his goddess, whereas the other members of his Familia were too obsessed with their goddess to care about anyone else, divinity or noble blood just didn’t register in Iru’s eyes. It was equally frustrating and refreshing.

“This is…” Douglas had a troubled expression as Hedin fully explained the plan he had concocted with the information at his disposition. “Only the nine of you?”

He was also expressing Ali’s doubts, so she let him talk.

“Yes, it is the most optimal plan that doesn’t bring any more loss to Shazald’s forces while allowing us to take care of Warsa’s army.” The blonde elf nodded his head while pushing his glasses up.

And the more he explained his thought process the less Ali could contradict him.

The first part was pretty simple. First, they would send the nine members of the Freya Familia around the town of Israfan currently being pillaged by Warsan soldiers. They would spread the word of being warriors brought by Prince Aram to take back his country.

Then, Ali under her Aram disguise would make a public speech spread by merchants and Warsan spies. She would declare her intentions to gather the remnants of Shazald’s army in the Gazoob Wasteland, which was in the frontier between Israfan, Shazald and Warsa, making it a threat that the Warsan army currently occupying Shazald couldn’t ignore.

And finally, all that would be left was the clean-up. The Warsan army, secure with their number advantage, would most likely try to surround Shazald’s forces, only to slam into the iron curtain that was the Freya Familia.

“But, the Warsan army counts more than eighty thousand men!” Douglas tried to protest. “Some of them leveled up twice or more!”

Hedin’s glare shut Douglas up before he could say anything else.

“You think some second-rate adventurers can take down the Freya Familia, no matter how numerous?”

“It’s going to be a drag.” Dvallin yawned, leaning on one of his brothers’ shoulders.

“If you’re that bored. Go to sleep, the four of you, and I’ll take forty thousand on my own. Maybe I’ll have a decent warm-up then.” Iru couldn’t help but needle the Pallum siblings.

“You already got enough fun playing around with Lady Freya, you crazy rabbit. Leave us some.” Grer retorted. Berling besides him nodded in agreement.

“Oi, you idiots. Show some manners in front of our Lady-for-the-time-being.” Hedin interrupted their bickering with a vein throbbing on his temple.

“You really are playing the role, uh?” Iru asked.

“Yeah, you fake intellectual. Your acting is as fake as your glasses.” Allfrigg echoed.

The Pallums and the Hume Bunny switched from arguing to tag-teaming Hedin without a moment of hesitation.

Hedin’s eyelid twitched.

“How many fake pairs of glasses do you buy in advance with all the ones you break when you lose your temper?” Iru asked with a tone that could have passed for real curiosity if not for the big grin on his face.

“Tch. All of this is a joke.” Allen spat.

“It is the goddess’s will that we help. If you can’t even do that, leave.” Hedin shot the grumpy cat down immediately before he could start to rant.

“Why are you even here? You should have stayed and played with Anya.” Iru said matter of factly.

“Yeah, you grumpy siscon.” Allfrigg kept his insult short and to the point.

“Fufu. T-The bonds of the malicious tiger’s blood are thicker than the ones of his oath.” Even Hogni joined the fun in his own chuuni way.

And that was the last straw.

“You wanna fight?” Allen pulled up his non-existent sleeves and the planning session dissolved from here.

[hr]

So, during the following days, Warsan soldiers who had been terrorizing the region in search for Prince Aram were suddenly taken out, with few survivors left to report.

Then, Prince Aram Raza Shalzad revealed himself to the public eye after taking out a troop of Warsan soldiers attacking a town with the help of ‘legendary warriors’.

During his grand speech asking his hiding subjects to rise up and join him in the Gazoob Wasteland, he swore that they would retake Shalzad on the name of their ‘ancestor Ali,’ which served as a signal for the generals and advisors who were aware of the prince’s real identity.

The Warsan army, under the threat of having an army heading for their currently defenseless country, had no choice but to prepare to intercept.

The night before the battle, Iru was watching the streets of Leodo from one of the mansion’s balconies. Deep into the night, lights were still on and the people were mingling.

 He heard footsteps coming from behind.

“Hey, Allen.” He identified the intruder without turning back. The big bunny ears were an advantage he didn’t appreciate enough sometimes.

“Hm.” The cat grunted grumplily as was his habit.

“You really didn’t need to come. It isn’t like Freya is in danger with me around.” Iru complained.

“I am her chariot. I go where she goes. I carry her where she wants to, even though I sometimes wish to put her in a cage to keep her safe.”

Iru’s eyes flicked to the side to take in the Cat person. Allen was frowning, but that was normal. The Hume Bunny sighed.

Allen and Anya’s relationship was mended, and Allen hadn’t made the mistake of pushing his sister away thanks to Iru’s early intervention. But while Anya may have been Allen’s greatest treasure, no matter how much he denied it, the very close second place was held by Freya, and his loyalty to her for taking both him and his sister from the street was deeper than the ocean.

“Yeah, but you should learn to relax a bit. Spend more time with your sister and learn to smile like her. Maybe that way, you won’t become the only first class adventurer below forty years old with wrinkles despite the rejuvenating effect of the Falna.”

That earned Iru a growler from the catty spearman.

“That’s a weird duo.” A new voice joined him before Allen could try to strangle the bunny boy.

Crimson and silver eyes turned to meet amethyst.

“Yo, Ali. Taking a night stroll before the big battle?” Iru waved while Allen scoffed and turned back around. “Ignore grumpy. He is like that with almost everyone.”

“I noticed.” Ali replied deadpan. She had spent three days being escorted by the eight Freya executives on the way back. Outside of Freya, anyone who tried to talk to Allen got shut down fast.

Then, the princess released a deep breath.

“I just needed some fresh air. The pressure has been getting to me.”

Iru smiled at the princess, glad to see she took his advice to try and relax when she could.

And then, Allen ruined it.

“If that stresses you out, quit. It’s just a country. Lady Freya has invited you. You just need to accept.”

“Dude.” Iru threw an exasperated glare at the tomcat.

Allen ignored it and walked away, his piece said.

When Allen passed the corner, Iru turned his gaze towards Ali.

Her eyes trembled for a moment, clearly envisioning a future where she joined Freya. Then, it settled and determination filled those purple eyes.

“I won’t lie. This was tempting.” She admitted to Iru. “But I have two reasons to refuse. Firstly, I have a duty to fulfill, something too many people have sacrificed their lives for.”

“And the second?” Iru asked, curious.

Ali’s lips twitched.

“I’m too competitive to bear being second place to Freya’s affection because I don’t see a way to dethrone you.”

Iru blinked.

“Even while I caught her interest and she tried to polish the shine of my soul as she called it, her eyes would only really light up when you were in her sight. Here I am, a king-to-be jealous of a commoner.”

Ali smiled, though it was a bit sad.

“Thanks for being here Iru. That way, I didn't gain false hopes.”

She then ran away.

Freya poked her head out of a corner, clearly having heard everything.

“I don’t think the lesbian night attack to cheer her up is a good plan right now.” Iru said blandly.

“Drat.” The goddess cursed.