Nanako was going crazy.
But now, as an executive of Winter Spring Valley, she absolutely couldn't ignore such a crucial matter.
After all, if they really managed to summon a Blood Domain Demon Lord, it could lead to the death of hundreds of thousands of people in mere minutes.
"You naughty disciple, just stay right here! Don't wander off! Wait for your master to return!"
Nanako gritted her teeth.
Then she quickly grabbed the unconscious man in black.
In an instant, she rushed toward the castle at the center with unimaginable speed.
["A Demon Lord level... interesting, very interesting..."]
["Though with my loli master's abilities, she should be able to stop it before the summoning ritual is complete, right?"]
["I don't need to get involved, after all, I'm just an ordinary second-tier mage!"]
Lynn stroked his chin as he watched his petite master disappear into the distance.
He then dismissed the matter from his mind.
Leisurely, he walked down the street with his hands behind his head, whistling carelessly.
But at that moment.
Lynn suddenly stopped.
His gaze shot through hundreds of meters, landing on an ornately decorated building.
Above it were several large characters that read:
["Traveler's Paradise"]
At the entrance stood several scantily clad, exceptionally beautiful young ladies with handkerchiefs, beckoning to passersby.
"So~" Lynn said with a smirk (̿▀̿ ̿Ĺ̯̿̿▀̿̿): "It should be fine to use a bit of master's secret funds for some self-care, right~"
...
Meanwhile.
At the entrance of the castle in the center of Moonlily City.
"Who goes there?!"
Two fully armored knights shouted, instantly crossing their spears to block the petite mage rushing toward them.
"This is Violet Castle, unauthorized personnel must leave immediately!"
Nanako held down her wizard hat and pulled out her identity seal from her chest, saying through gritted teeth:
"I am the Seventh Executive of Winter Spring Valley, Ice Archmage Nanako! I have an extremely urgent matter to discuss with your lord! Go report this immediately!"
The two knights were stunned, looking at each other in confusion.
Seeing the knights still standing there dumbfounded, Nanako grew anxious.
At this point, she couldn't care about proper etiquette anymore, because if they didn't stop those sorcerers' summoning ritual, all of Moonlily City would be placed in grave danger.
Nanako gritted her teeth and suddenly waved her hand.
The two knights were instantly blown away by the storm she conjured.
Nanako's tiny body quickly rushed into the towering castle.
The two knights were shocked and immediately blew their warning horns, shouting:
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!!"
Soon.
After hearing the alarm.
Swarms of soldiers poured out from the castle.
But for where Nanako needed to go, how could these ordinary soldiers possibly stop her!
BANG—
With a tremendous noise.
Nanako blasted open the castle doors with her staff.
In the castle's great hall, First Princess Vivian was sitting on the throne, discussing information about the recently discovered Abyss Sorcerers with several Sky Knights below.
Everyone was stunned when they saw Nanako burst in.
Nanako gritted her teeth, threw the unconscious man in black on the ground, and said:
"I am Executive Nanako from Winter Spring Valley, and I have something important to report!"
...
Ten minutes later.
Citizens on the streets immediately saw large squadrons of knights pouring out of the castle, rushing quickly toward the city gates.
And high up in the sky.
Arnold, the commander of the Silver Knight Order, wore a grave expression as he flew through the air, looking at the petite ice mage riding a broom in front of him, and said:
"Executive Nanako, are you certain what he said is true?"
"Those Abyss Sorcerers really intend to summon the Blood Domain Demon Lord within Moonlily City?"
Nanako rode her broom, gritting her teeth, and said:
"We can't be one hundred percent certain, but regardless, we must take this seriously. If it's true, then everything is finished!"
The knights around Arnold exchanged glances, all seeing the gravity in each other's eyes.
Earlier.
They had verified Nanako's identity.
Although they were very surprised that such a young girl would be an executive of Winter Spring Valley, after verifying her seal was genuine, they chose to believe her.
After all, as a guardian organization, Winter Spring Valley held great prestige throughout the continent.
And if things were truly as Nanako said.
Then this incident was far more terrifying than they had initially thought!
"Can we still make it?" Arnold said through gritted teeth:
"If what he said is correct, the ritual began last night, and by now it must be in its final stages. Damn it! We only just learned of this!"
Nanako shook her head, her eyes grave, grinding her teeth as she said:
"This isn't your fault. Who could have imagined someone would attempt such an evil ritual in the heart of the continent? All we can do now is hurry and hope that the ritual hasn't..."
But before she could finish speaking.
Suddenly.
A strange vibration rippled through the air from the distance.
The wave swept over their bodies instantly, bringing with it an overwhelming smell of blood.
Immediately.
Nanako and the others' expressions changed drastically.
"This... this is..."
Dozens of kilometers away, above a valley, the weather suddenly changed.
An indescribably evil aura swept toward them.
A pillar of blood shot into the sky, piercing the heavens, and even the surrounding air grew cold.
"Not good!" Arnold shouted.
"We're too late!"
Everyone panicked and once again pushed their speed to the limit, heading toward the valley.
Indeed!
Their ritual site was in a valley just dozens of kilometers from Moonlily City.
If not for Nanako's information, they might not have noticed the changes there until the demon had already descended.
Clearly.
The one leading this evil summoning ritual this time.
Must be an incredibly powerful sorcerer!
Otherwise, they couldn't have possibly hidden their aura so perfectly!
After pushing their speed to the limit.
They arrived at the valley in less than two minutes.
As soon as they arrived, a thick smell of blood hit them, and the valley was now filled with blood mist, with large patches of vegetation withering.
Waves of evil energy spread uncontrollably outward.
Nanako and the Sky Knights immediately took defensive positions, watching the rolling blood mist with urgent gazes.
And in the next moment, a sneering voice echoed through the sky.
"Hehehe— We didn't expect you to find this place, but you're already too late. The summoning ritual is complete, and the great Demon Lord is about to descend upon this world..."
"Don't you think it's quite an honor to witness the Demon Lord's descent with me?"
Blood mist swirled.
The next moment.
The rolling blood mist continued to churn, and a long leg wearing high heels slowly stepped out from the mist.
A tall woman with a devilish figure, smiling while holding a staff, slowly appeared before everyone.
She wore a long black cloak, had bright red lips, and emanated an otherworldly allure.
Behind her stood two powerful demon guards.
"You... you are..."
Upon seeing the woman, Arnold's expression changed dramatically.