The Demon Saint is Missing, so I Ran to Another World

An Enemy of Unfathomable Proportions (Side Story)

***The Holy Palatial Gardens, a week later...***

Lady Coreen, the paladin captain that led the squad attempting to capture the Lord Kuro at the Chersea-Cherflammen border kneeled in front of the Beastman Saint, and the Lady Braunhauer, along with her entire command. The entire courtyard of the Saint's Palace was quiet; no one among the paladins tried to defend the failure of their expedition.

Ruro's face was filled with anger; likewise, the Lady Braunhauer was shaking her head as they received the news that the Lord Kuro had crossed into the other side of the crossing.

"Your Holiness," Lady Coreen continued on her explanation, "we tried to run after him, but the demon soldiers prevented us from doing so. They say that there's no official request from any of the human kingdoms to prevent the Lord Kuro's entry into their lands, nor they are inclined to hand him over to us, since the Lady Usarved guaranteed his safety."

"Yes, I understand that part, milady," Ruro reassured her. "You did the right thing, Lady Coreen. We don't want a diplomatic incident during these dark days..."

"This feels like Cherwind all over again..." the young maidservant uttered.

The Wolf Saint—as she was the perpetrator of the incident on Cherwind before—preferred to change the topic, "While we praise your prudence regarding the matter, Lady Coreen, I can't help but to ask, who commanded you and the knights from the other kingdoms to launch a search and pursuit party for the Lord Kuro. Surely, Her Holiness the Human Saint is unconscious the whole time, so she can't give the order."

"Hmm...you're right, Your Holiness," Eris backed her. "We have no standing orders for a search party for the Lord Kuro."

"Miladies..." there was a significant pause from Lady Coreen, as she was confused, "...you say there's no standing order, but it was the Lady von Leese, under the authorization of our captain, the Lady Henristone, who gave us the command. Perhaps you overlooked the matter?"

"Huh?" Eris and Ruro exchanged bewildered looks. It was the young maidservant who broke it to the paladin, "Lady Coreen, what are you saying? The Lady von Leese and Lady Henristone were beside the Human Saint all the time, standing vigil!"

"Perhaps they sent a messenger to the paladin, Lady Eris?" the Wolf Saint raised that possibility.

"N-No!" Lady Coreen countered, "It is the Lady von Leese who talked to me personally, handing over the letter written by Lady Henristone..."

Ruro stared at the paladin for quite some time, and concluded, "Yes, I saw it in her memories...it was indeed the Nerfes princess who gave the command."

"But that's impossible," Eris insisted. "Lady von Leese and Lady Henristone strictly told us to keep the door shut. Your Holiness, you're with me during that time; you're the one who put a barrier on them so that they won't be affected by that dark miasma!"

"Miladies," the Lady Coreen called their attention again, "speaking of the Lord Kuro, he was also aided by a fox-girl in his escape."

The Wolf Saint's ear perked up, "A fox-girl?"

The other paladins brought Kashca Telis—bound in chains and unconscious—before the Beastman Saint and Lady Eris. Ruro quickly took her from them.

"What is this girl doing there?" she asked.

"She helped the Lord Kuro escaped to Cherflammen, Your Holiness, on horseback," Lady Coreen explained. "She sought to delay us long enough for him to cross the border, and the demon soldiers to block our pursuit."