Previously on The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne...
Rafine is flustered by Elina's teasing about Nolan. Meanwhile, Nolan discusses gods with Obsidia and Malverna, revealing he met the Sun God and was tasked with finding the Goddess of Life's incarnation. He asks Malverna to reunite the demon race to aid in this search, which she agrees to.
"Hahaha! That tickles! Master, it tickles! Hahaha!" Eira squealed with laughter as Nolan playfully tickled her stomach.
Nolan let out a light chuckle, his amusement growing as he continued to tease the little girl, eliciting even louder peals of laughter.
After a few minutes, Eira was beside herself, breathless and flushed, lying limp on the bed.
"Master… you… you're so mean!" she complained, though a wide smile still graced her lips, betraying her enjoyment.
Nolan grinned, pinching her cheek playfully. "Who told you to tease me first? If you had been good, I wouldn't have done that," he retorted.
Eira pouted, but upon reflection, she couldn't truly fault him, having initiated the playful encounter herself.
As their happy chatter filled the room, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from outside. Elina entered, a sealed envelope in her hand.
"Brother, am I disturbing you?" she inquired.
Nolan looked up, shaking his head.
"No. Is something the matter?"
He sat up, his gaze meeting hers with curiosity.
Elina walked over and presented him with the envelope. "I almost forgot to tell you. There's news from the Lionheart family that I'm sure will pique your interest."
"Oh?" Nolan's eyebrows rose slightly in surprise as he took the letter. He examined the seal for a moment before carefully opening it.
He spent a few minutes reading the contents, his expression shifting as he absorbed the information.
"The Decennial Contest?"
"That's right," Elina confirmed with a nod. "I received it two days ago but was swamped with work and completely forgot to mention it. Would you like to head over to my place?"
A shy blush spread across her cheeks. The letter was indeed an invitation from the Lionheart family to attend their grand event. However, Elina was currently overwhelmed with responsibilities, particularly with the lumber factory that had just commenced operations.
Numerous noble families were seeking negotiations and product purchases, making it impossible for her to leave the town of Virella for at least the next two months.
"Alright. Leave this matter to me. I'll let Uncle Luke know that you won't be able to attend," Nolan assured her.
He neatly folded the letter, placed it back into the envelope, and handed it back to Elina.
Elina beamed with relief. Fortunately, she had Nolan, a steadfast pillar of support she could always count on.
"When will you be departing?" she asked.
"Probably tomorrow morning. I have a few things to take care of tonight."
Elina offered no further questions, and after a brief exchange, she playfully pinched Eira's cheek before turning to leave.
Nolan turned his attention back to Eira, his voice gentle. "Do you want to come with me tomorrow?"
Eira's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Can I?"
"Of course," Nolan affirmed, patting her head. "Get ready tomorrow, and wear something nice, alright?"
"Mm! Got it!" Eira replied with an enthusiastic nod.
***
Nightfall descended...
A swift silhouette dashed between the trees, revealing itself after a moment. It was a strikingly handsome man, his features framed by black hair and piercing purple eyes.
None other than Nolan.
Nolan landed softly on the ground, his eyes scanning his surroundings.
"You're here," a calm voice emanated from behind him.
He turned to find Malverna emerging from the deep shadows of the trees.
Nolan nodded. "Where are the demons?"
Malverna snapped her fingers, and instantly, three imposing demons appeared behind her.
Their appearances were terrifying. The one on the left possessed a towering, muscular physique, topped with the head of a ferocious wolf, its mouth baring rows of razor-sharp teeth.
The demon in the center was even more colossal, standing nearly three meters tall. His body was humanoid, but his face was that of a formidable red bear, his pitch-black eyes radiating a menacing aura.
The final demon appeared remarkably human-like, donning a pair of round spectacles. He had a pointed nose and long, pointed ears, reminiscent of an elf's. However, his pupils were vertically slit, like those of a serpent.
Upon seeing Nolan, all three bowed their heads in unison. "Good evening, Your Sovereign."
Nolan acknowledged their greeting with a nod. These three were powerful, high-ranking demons that Malverna had successfully brought under her control.
"I require your assistance. Malverna has already briefed you on my request, correct?"
"Yes, Your Sovereign!" the three replied in unison, their voices respectful.
Nolan's satisfaction evident, he continued his explanation. "The individual I seek is a woman. She is human, and her exact whereabouts are unknown. However, her most distinguishing characteristic is a unique ability – she can cure all ailments. Remember, if she possesses magical abilities as a mage, then she is not the one I'm looking for. It's most likely she originates from the common folk, or perhaps a noble lineage that previously had no exceptional gifts. But suddenly, she has gained the power to heal others and perform unprecedented miracles. Do you understand?"
His explanation mirrored the instructions he had previously given to Jorgan.
The whereabouts of the Goddess of Life's incarnation remained unknown. Despite the Phantom Chain unit's diligent efforts, satisfactory leads were still absent. He harbored a hope that with the assistance of the demons, the incarnation could be located swiftly.
Among the three demons present, the one on the right, whose appearance was the most conventional, listened with rapt attention, committing every word to memory.
"Although your description is somewhat vague, I grasp the essence of your request. Rest assured, Your Sovereign, we shall assist you in finding her," the demon declared with unwavering resolve.
The other two demons echoed his sentiment with affirmative nods, offering their own pledges of support.
"Thank you," Nolan expressed, a smile gracing his lips.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the three demons dematerialized, vanishing from their sight.
Nolan then turned towards Malverna, his gaze conveying a profound sense of gratitude.
"Thank you."
"You are most welcome. I shall proceed to rally the other demons and enlist their aid. The more individuals we mobilize for this search, the more expeditiously we will locate her," Malverna stated with an air of nonchalance.
Nolan simply nodded, trusting in her words without further comment.
***
The following morning, after bidding farewell to Rafine and Elina, Nolan and Eira departed from the mansion.
Nolan opted against using the horse-drawn carriage, deeming it too time-consuming. The most efficient method available was long-distance teleportation magic.
Observing their departure, Elina absently scratched her head, a puzzled expression clouding her features. "That's peculiar. Why aren't they utilizing the horse-drawn carriage?"
The journey to the capital was extensive, and typically, the carriage represented the swiftest mode of travel.
"Didn't Nolan mention his carriage was awaiting them outside the town?" Rafine inquired hesitantly.
"Oh? Is that so?" Elina responded, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Indeed. Do not fret," Rafine reassured her.
However, inwardly, she released a subtle sigh, murmuring to herself, 'Poor girl… she still hasn't realized her brother possesses magical abilities.'
Rafine felt a pang of desire to reveal the truth to Elina but was bound by a promise made to Nolan.
Thus, she found herself compelled to maintain her silence.
...
The grounds of the Lionheart family estate…
"Hya!"
Evalyn executed a powerful sword swing, cleanly bisecting three training dummies before her.
With a sudden upward leap and a swift mid-air rotation, she cleaved through four more dummies positioned behind her.
Her movements were characterized by such exquisite grace and blinding speed that the observing servants could only watch in stunned admiration.
"Young Lady Evalyn is truly magnificent!" one servant exclaimed, awe evident in his voice.
"You speak the truth! Her swordsmanship is utterly captivating – a genuine spectacle to behold!" another servant chimed in, his admiration palpable.
Yet, Evalyn herself was far from pleased. She landed lightly on the ground, exhaling a long, weary sigh.
"My abilities…" Her gaze drifted to the wooden sword clutched in her hand, her expression a complex tapestry of emotions. "They show no sign of improvement."
