That night everyone who lived in the Grim Palace sat together. In the vast living room, where couches were spread over in a grand fashion. In the center sat Weiss, in her hands the black cat. Next to her, on the ground, were three golems. One a rocky golem, my height, standing on all four limbs, the other half its size, and the last was the gardener that looked more like a wooden gnome. Treska and Delka took seats, Jake the living armor was behind them. Across this group, on another couch I sat, and next to me stood John, and in my hands was the Grimoire, acting like a book now in front of Weiss.

John was in tatters. His armor was chipped almost everywhere, hand burnt off, one leg melted to an unrecognizable level. It was more like a block of steel than an armored leg. Listing his injuries alone would take the night.

With a cup of coffee in my hand, I leaned ahead.

"Begin," Weiss said.

"Haah... I don’t know all the details, but it was a large case of badluck."

I explained the entire situation to Weiss, hiding the details about Karina and Nea, of course. We had gone to the Blue Danube, in the time I entered the bathroom, all of this had happened. First the civilian outfit, who I learned later were the Torville Gang from all the curses the CEF was shouting at their mothers, the CEF, of course, Reinvelt Knights, and a fucking live jazz band.

Even Weiss couldn’t believe her own ears, her bow had raised up.

"I know not about these mafia and knights, many have tried to come through the forest and died. But if the Corduil Elimination Force is involved..." Weiss muttered. Despite being a shut-in no-lifer, she still knew about the existence of the CEF. Those bastards really broke through all boundaries of fame.

"They made a mess out of John... I am sorry, I should have been more careful."

Weiss shook her head at my words.

"I’ll fix him. It will take a couple days, but alchemy will handle it."

John being a living armor wouldn’t be feeling pain either, at least I hoped that, the cuts in his body and his melted leg might be cold and painless, but that didn’t mean it would not feel anything at all. The armor was his body, paining or not, I would lose my shit if my leg had melted into a block.

Weiss turned to her left, gesturing with her gaze, my eyes followed her. Delka.

I nodded.

A sigh left her.

"I think," I said. "They are believing John to be a demon."

"Demon...?"

"Sir John?"

Delka and Treska both spoke softly, they seemed very surprised at that assessment. Well, what else will you think when you see a 7-foot-tall undying metal tank? That he is a wee man who just turned old enough to start drinking? Nuh-uh.

Of course, there was another reason. People won’t just believe anything to be a demon, it was almost impossible to run into one since they all had been behind the Ice Wall for a long time, but the CEF could think it true.

And right now, Weiss and I were also of the same thought. If Delka had been inflicted with the corruption, then there must be a demon around. They would also be looking for a corrupted. The Reinvelt Knights would get involved too, stronger than before.

I looked at Weiss again. There were children here, and the rest of the residents of the Grim Palace were too prone to panic.

She nodded this time.

There was likely a real demon around somewhere, considering Delka was corrupted.

"Butler, why didn’t you tell me the CEF was here?"

"I thought they do their thing and that they would leave on their own, my lady."

We couldn’t be hopeful of that anymore. They had seen John, and would not rest until they had gotten their hands on that exact kind of ’demon,’ and if that was not bad enough.

"I think the Reinvelt knights would also not stop. Not after this incident."

"What worry do knights pose."

"These ones do," I said. "The Reinvelt Knights are one of the most elite orders. Their leader, I am certain, could get through the forest."

Weiss pouted, her beautiful skin and her charming purple eyes glistened.

"Little we can do today," said Weiss. "You, rest for today, I’ll start fixing you tomorrow."

She stood up, the cat in her arms, and started walking off. The meeting was to hear what had happened to us, after all.

Before going off, Weiss stood at the door frame, her back facing all of us. "You did good coming back alive, no need to go there for a while."

Leaving those words, the Witch Queen left us behind.

A sigh left me as I sunk back into the couch. All the others now started coming over to my side of the room, surrounding my couch. The golems came closest, and I tapped one’s head.

"S-sir, you’re not hurt anywhere right?"

"Not at all," I said. There were a few scratches and a few blows that I took, but John had protected me from everything after having fought outside. Petting Delka next, I looked at all these ones around me.

What a strange thing... I would do my best to escape the Grim Palace, but even if I do that, I can come back here and hang out now and then right?

Till then, we would rest.

***

A black crow flew out of a room in the Grim Palace. Weiss leaned outside the windowsill of her room, after having changed into pajamas, and peered outside at the moon, and the flying crow.

When she closed her eyes, she could see the Grim Palace and herself staring at the skies.

Whatever trouble that could be coming them, it was best to be prepared.

Preparations had started.