- Justiciar Captain -

The unsuspecting knights wander into Akari’s room. A knight’s leg trips off a wire that flashes the room. All of the knights shield their eyes from the glare. When vision is restored to them, they see they are surrounded by opponents with weapons ready to strike.

“Ugh… We’ve been had!” A knight sweats,

“To think we could be apprehended so easily,” another one laments,

“Don’t take it too hard, we’ve got a strategist with us after all.” Aoi smirks,

“Wait! There’s another one coming!” Elaine says, “But-! Something’s off”

They hear an odd stride hop from a distance.

“It’s the captain!” one of the knights says,

“Keep quiet.” Aoi threatens,

The steps get closer and closer… Then!

“Hii!~” another knight walks in, “Oh! Akari dear!!~”

It was the female adventurer of the dim couple. She wore justiciar armor, which juxtaposed her frizzled blond hair and thick makeup.

“Oh! Why’re you guys fighting!! No good!” she scolds,

“H-Huh?...” Elaine says dumbfounded.

…

The knights were released for negotiations

“T-They’re demons!” a knight complains to the captain.

“No! They’re my friends!” she shoots back, “If you hurt them I’ll get rweally rweally mad!!”

“Ach!” he rescinds,

It seems for some reason, all of the knights revere her.

“Lyla?” Akari addresses the captain, “What’re you doing here?”

“(That was her name?...)”

“Oh Akari! Sweetie~” She hugs the red oni, “You know the winter air is very dry! I hope you’ve been moisturizing!”

“Ahaha…” Akari laughs awkwardly,

“As to answer your question~ My boss said there’s a big scawwy demon around these parts.” Lyla explains, “But I see they were mistaken! I’ll tell Aurelion that it was just the cutie Akari!!~”

Akari holds her head back as she tries to kiss her.

“But why did you become a Justiciar?” Taro asks,

“Ah! That…” her face took a solemn look, “David didn’t make it out of the tower… He’s trapped from what I can tell! These guys are fighting against the bad tower people!”

“I’m fighting!... For love!” she declares,

“W-Wow…” Aoi reacts,

Taro was reminded of the bargain that was made to Asmodeus.

“If you can make that miracle appear, then I am honor bound to do my part.”

“Lyla!” Taro shouts,

“H-Huh?”

“Can you take us with you?” With determination Taro boldly asks,

“Hmmm…”

The blonde knight takes the time to think it through. After a few seconds she makes up her mind.

“Okay!~”

“C-Captain! You cannot be serious?!” A knight shouts, “These are demons?! Even if we wanted to, the Justiciar will not stand for this!”

“It’ll be ok!” she smiles brightly, “I’m here aren’t I?”

“Ah…” another knight puts his hand on the shoulder of the irate one. “Once she’s like this there’s no point in arguing.”

……

Akari gathers her things and they all set off to Justiciar’s Capital. They traverse the way they came; across the lake. However, underneath the water, a large beast seeks redemption.

Upon feeling the movement of the travellers reaching the half way point the beast rushes to the surface. It jumps into the air like an orca performing tricks. Taking no chances it desire to flatten them all in a single movement.

“Wow! A whale!” Lyla laughs, “Gyahahaha!”

“W-What do we do?!” Aoi still terrified of the beast shouts at Taro,

“Um it’s ok!” Lyla says, “Watch this!”

She does a simple flick of her wrist towards the fast approaching beast and says an incantation.

“Immolate.”

The beast was consumed by flames in an instant. By the time the flames subsided it was naught but ash particles that float away in the wind. Not a single remnant remains in sight.

Taro could only think at this moment.

“(Little wonder none of the knights, dared to challenge her.)”

“Ah.” Lyla says, “I need to get my nails done soon…”

……

The knights led the party to a horse drawn military carriage, random parts of the vehicle had sections spattered in glitter. One would assume it to be of Lyla’s influence. She excitedly runs into the carriage and pokes her head out.

“C’mon friends all aboard!~” she excitedly says with a wink,

The compartment was, as expected , cramped due to the increase in passengers. Taro sat crushed in between Akari and Elaine. The two fidget in the awkward silence.

“Hmmm…” Aoi smirks from across the carriage.

“Ara!~” The Justiciar captain squeals, “Such a player at such a young age! It’s not good, you know!”

“I-It’s not like that!…” Taro protests, “Tell em!”

“U-Um…” Elaine overwhelmed just looks away,

“AhH! You’re making it worse!” He shouts, he turns to Akari whom was also flustered,

“S-Sorry, it’s been a while since I’ve even made contact with other people…” she bashfully says,

“So, being this close is a bit...”

“Oh god…” Taro felt like he was being jeered by his aunts and uncles at an awkward family reunion.

“Just so you know,” Aoi starts indignantly, “I don’t approve! This kid is far too scrawny!”

“K-Kid?!” Taro shouts,

“Since when did I need approval from you?!” Akari adds, “And in any case it’s not like that!”

“I‘m just saying!” she retorts, “He’s a bad suitor! His head is probably full of perverted thoughts right now!”

“Well nobody asked you!... He wouldn’t!” Akari defends Taro, “And again It’s not like that!”

“Somebody kill me…” Taro says under his breath,

Thankfully something interrupts the awkward teenage banter.

“Damn! We’ve been spotted!” The carriage driver shouts,

Taro looks out the back window and sees the dust billowing behind the cart. A warg carriage was giving chase.

“Don’t worry!” Lyla assures the group, “I’ll take care of it!~”

She climbs out to the side door. Half her body pokes out from the compartment. Taro sees that two more carts join the raiding party. Lyla makes a serious face.

“In that case…!” she deeply inhales in preparation for a grand attack.

“INFERNO!” She screams out stretching both hands towards the attacking party.

*FWOOOMMM!!!

An enormous blast ignites from her palms. The cart itself felt a great kick back shaking all of its passengers in the carriage.

The disoriented Taro gets up from the mixed person's sardine can and tries to take stock of the current situation. Looking back he sees an enormous crater where the pursuers once gave chase. The proportions of the cavity extend far longer than his eyes could perceive, and the width nearly reaches the same dimensions.

“Holy…” Taro says in disbelief,

Looking back he sees the mage still halfway out of the cart limp and foaming at the mouth.

“Ah! Lyla!” he shouts pulling her back into the carriage.

The grand attack must’ve taken all of her mana, as near limitless as it seems. He sits her at her seat as everyone else gets reoriented.

Then war horns were heard around them. One by one, oni encampments sound off in the surrounding landscapes to signify attack.

“(Lyla’s grand attack must’ve set them off)” Taro thinks,

In the distance he could see raiding carts being dispatched to the scene of the blast.

“Damn!” Taro curses, “Akari! Aoi! You’re up!”