The Demon Lord's Bride (BL)-Chapter 707: All political summits need a neutral mediator

The silence was loud in the plaza.

The Goddess’s eyes twitched; I wondered if she felt annoyed that I embraced my druid side more than my human side. The church members, who I expected would be screaming loudly, were only parted their lips in silence. So did the templars.

I guess, they didn’t really think that I would claim my right to the throne. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

Well, neither did I. Before this whole Old Covenant idea, I didn’t think I would ever exercise my right as the last heir to the throne of the Druid Kingdom. Especially because the kingdom was no more.

It was the same with Natha. For all I knew, he never meant to be the King’s Candidate, since he didn’t want to leave me and our little family behind. In the first place, he only took the mantle of Lordship to give me a comfortable life and ample protection.

But, well...sometimes you have to make a sacrifice for the world.

Thus, I turned toward the Hero and Bishop Avarash. "We are waiting for the representative of the Human Realm," I said, pressing down on the old man beneath my foot. "Not this one, obviously."

I didn’t care which one of them would be the representative, but I hoped they didn’t take too long--or, you know, decided to discuss it first.

Thankfully, Jin seemed to understand my intention. He opened his palm, and the seven beads we had been gathering for the past few months merged into one large crystal ball. Perfect for a staff, I must say. He raised the crystal, and placed it in Bishop Avarash’s hands.

"Mister Jin?" the Bishop looked at the Hero with widened eyes.

Well, logically, the one who called forth the connection and had been going around the Human Realm should be the representative. I mean, even the Goddess called him her champion.

And yes, the Goddess was also surprised.

[My champion?]

Ugh. At least Mother called me her child.

"I’m a human, but I came from another world, and I wish to return one day," the Hero said, expressing his intention clearly for the first time. "I don’t think I have what it takes to be the representative."

[You...wish to return?]

Jin looked up and shrugged. "Of course," he said. "I have my family there."

That was why you shouldn’t take a minor somewhere without any consent, dear Goddess. It was called kidnapping.

The Goddess fell silent and I cleared my throat impatiently. "The representative?"

"My Lady?" Jin urged the Goddess, who reluctantly agreed.

[Very well]

Jin looked at Avarash and nodded, giving the old man reassurance. My urging expression was probably helping too, and the Bishop finally cleared his throat while clutching the crystal ball.

"Then, with the Goddess’s permission," Bishop Avarash nodded at me and Natha. "I’m not sure I am worthy of this position, but I shall become a temporary representative for the Human Realm."

The Goddess flicked her fingers, and a golden staff fashioned around the crystal ball, which glowed brightly and shone upon the humans, as if erecting a barrier.

Territorial much?

[The Old Covenant cannot be established without a proper arbiter. In that case, I shall preside over--]

"No, Luxera."

A deep voice came from a flickering portal that suddenly appeared on the Plaza and made the Goddess flinch. Yes. She flinched. I had no idea how it was possible, but the golden statue seemed to turn pale. Or maybe because she stopped shining so much up there?

Anyway...

[Stan!]

Chii!

Jade flapped its wings in greeting and even Ignis flicked its tail on my shoulder. But once again, I told them to be calm. We shouldn’t show that we were buddy-buddy with the referee, you know.

Still, I watched Neel in her disguise slip out of the portal to meet with--huh? Was that Izzi?! When did he arrive--why was he here? Was Zia here too?!

[Concentrate, sweetling] D’Ara whispered in my head and waved with her fingers before closing the portal.

Ahem. Yeah. Concentrate.

The Goddess being silent in front of this new addition confused people who didn’t know. Maybe because Stan looked more like a knight in full armor rather than a highly-sentient ancient golem who used to babysit the Goddess. Uh-huh. No matter how old you get, you’d turn into a child somewhat in front of your nanny.

Even if said nanny was a golem.

[Lo...Logos...] the Goddess stuttered.

What...his name was Logos? Damn it. How could I reduce it to...Stan? No wonder D’Ara was holding back her laughter so much.

"I go by ’Stan’ now," the golem said, and I was so embarrassed I wanted to bury my face between my knees right away.

But that would seem undignified, would it?

[...Stan?]

I know! I know!

Ignoring the Goddess’s inquisitive tone, the golem stepped forward, making the plaza vibrate a little bit under his true weight. "The Old Covenant is made by the representatives of the Three Realms with their patron deities providing the power of the seal. It should not be mediated by one of those deities," he announced, which told me that he had regained his memory code. "That was what you deities decided in the past."

[Well...] the Goddess paused. [I didn’t know a neutral arbiter was available]

"That is what the Sacred Guardian is for, Luxera," the golem said with a dry sharpness. Now that his memory code had been revived, I felt like he got more life-like.

You know, like more personality. Truly bringing that Uncle who babysat a lot vibe.

[Well...]

Ah, this felt refreshing. The Goddess truly looked like a scolded child, which for me indicated some sort of guilt. After all, she owed an explanation on why she erased Stan’s memory and made him a guardian who would self-destroy after the ’chosen one’ found the relic.

Sounded like a homicide attempt, if you ask me.

But eh--that was between her and the golem, unless they wanted to make it public.

"Enough," the golem stopped beside the golden statue and clapped his hands. The sound echoed loudly across the Plaza, like the sound of a judge’s hammer on a trial. "As an arbiter, I demand the presence of the patron deity."

Stan looked at me, and--oh, it started from me? Well, I guess.

I kicked the old man under my feet toward the templars--who readily caught him despite this probably confusing situation--and walked away slightly. You know, so there was equal distance between me and them and Natha.

[Papa, Mother whispered to Jade!]

"Say ’yes’, baby."

[Yes!]

The air vibrated the moment I stopped walking, and a zephyr surrounded me like a caressing mother. The trees shook and whispered as Jade flapped its wings and colorful glittering light surrounded it. The green eyes shifted and glowed, no longer the curious, innocent child.

When the bird landed on my arm again, it was no longer my child, but Mother. "I am here," the bird spoke.

[Jade too!]

[Shush, Jade. Stay quiet, okay?] I warned the soul of the elemental bird that became the vessel for Mother’s descent.

The golem nodded in acknowledgment. "Welcome, Sarte."

"Long time no see, Logos--ah, I supposed you go by Stan now."

"Yes, I do."

Ugh...it felt weird to hear a mature voice coming out of my little baby bird. Although it didn’t look little. The stream of mana made the elemental bird look majestic despite its juvenile state.

Still! My baby!

"Then, the last one..."

Stan turned toward Natha, who actually looked rather tense. Well--others wouldn’t know, but I knew him enough to know that he was anxious.

Which was understandable. We were on our path to confront the Demon God--and he was already confronting him when he activated his immunity to the God’s influence--so...it would be rather awkward, don’t you think?

I wonder if Lord An’Hyang would actually answer to the--oh!

While I was wondering, the bracelet on Natha’s wrist blazed in seven colors. So beautiful it was that Ignis almost crawled forward in a daze. Almost. The colorful flames swirled in the air and formed a shadowy figure behind Natha--almost like the shadow flame Ignis used as projection.

"Oh..." I couldn’t help but exclaim together with Ignis as a vague figure of a man in a suit, made of seven different colored flames, stepping beside Natha.

"An’Hyang," the golem nodded.

"Mm," the figure let out a voice that was familiar to me, but sounded as if spoken from far away--you know, like using a telephone or something. I thought the figure would look at me or address Natha’s ’transgression’, but he was looking up instead. "Are you going to continue this charade, Luxera? Stop making us tired by looking up."

Oh, look at that. He was actually speaking some sense!

The golden statue gritted her hands, but Stan also spoke in disapproval. "To make the meeting conducted easier, please abide by the standard size of a mortal regulation."

There was a standard size for a meeting done in the mortal realm? The Old Days seemed to be interesting.

Anyway, I was sure there was a sound of a grumble before the golden statue glowed and gradually reduced in size, until it looked like a regular...golden woman. She hovered toward the human side, and stayed between the Bishop and the Hero.

Ah, whatever.

"Then," the golem swept his gaze across the plaza and once again clapped his judgment hands. "The re-establishment of the Old Covenant shall begin."