Also considering people were calling Seren as Reze's rival only for Reze to become a group of knights that help Net occasionally may feel as if her "rival" was stolen from her.
Not going to lie. Characters like this Flory guy I feel is kind of lazy, writing wise. There's been other stories like this where the Fiance is abusive/cruel. But generally because they believe in the so called rumors and lies people make of the MC due to their own stupidity. So at least this is...
Could be that Zichtberg is a paper general, or one that lived long enough for no one else to dispute any exaggerated victories.
Alternatively our lovely Duches Ritreille has been planning his fall for a long time and sent charismatic yes men/ false intel to cloud and weaken his judgement.
that last few pages with the thorn around her arm indicates the "demon lord" is still attached to her in some way. Giving the end page i guess there will be another title continuing the story.
Especially if word gets out that Ard became king though underhanded means. It would cause Rozel's nobles and underlings to question and doubt him, at least behind his back and possibly have to deal with internal backlash in his kingdom because of it.
I think they're going to keep them to drag out the character for another arc, despite how annoying of a villain he is. For the author is probably easier than making villain character after villain with suddenly greater stakes each time.
I think with other mangas like this. The author/ studio behind the manga is trying to recapture the value of the classic op mc shock gag. Like in classic dragonball where everyone's eyes were popping out of their heads of how one weird kid with a monkey tail can effortlessly beat up a dinosaur...
I think its hiding from him because it's trying to have Katsuya improve and grow without direct influence and somehow mentally manipulate him into the agent it wants. The story for a while gave this sense that the two ai's are trying to get this perfect agent/merc for some goal and akira's and...
As some of the other commenters here have said. the healer girl (Amanda) probably had that thought process ingrained in her from being taught by the healer's guild. Thinking that the only way to do well as a healer would be part of a guild with high prices to secure their safety and finances...