I immediately recognized the visiting mage. Her hair was darker than I remembered, and it reminded me of what Sinid really was. The rebellious girl has become confident, and her beauty is now a full-fledged woman, calm and composed. Her dark circles and other signs of caution did not detract from her grace and demeanor in the slightest. As I entered the study, she turned to me, her mask cracked. Under this obvious control, is a desperate woman. Two children, a boy of about ten years old and a much smaller girl, were protected behind her.

I couldn't help but smile when I saw her. Because I was a good presenter, I gave her a toothless version.

"Merritt, it's great to see you again."

"Ariane...... You haven't changed at all. She looked a little surprised.

"You've become more beautiful."

It's true. It wasn't until now that I realized that she didn't look any more than thirty years old. Do mages age slowly? This doesn't seem to be the case with my local informant, even though that person is untrained.

"I ask for asylum. Wait a minute, your consortium friend told me that you like to get things done. ”

She started to get down on her knees and I stopped her.

"You are on my side against Merritt of the Herald, it is not necessary. Not for you. ”

"Ah, that's good."

She blinked. She looked a little lost, not because she had missed a night, but because she had been pushing her limits for weeks. Fatigue robbed her of her wisdom.

"I ...... I need shelter for my children. I'm sorry. I'm going to tell you! That bastard..., the Pike family is after me. They followed me here. I've brought danger to your family......"

"Shhh Do you want protection?"

"Yes... I'm willing to do anything. For my children. ”

"It just so happens that I am in dire need of an experienced mage. You are welcome here, and you will be paid honestly for your honest work. I have security during the day and me at night. Interested?"

"The idea of no servitude?" Blood magic? Summon the terror of sorcery behind the curtains?"

"I'm thinking more about the wards and magic. Religious fanatics occasionally go berserk......"

"Standard stuff."

"Yes. So what?"

Merritt took a deep breath and staggered forward, all tension gone. Her children looked up in horror as I helped her hold her with one hand.

"And Pike's business. They followed me. I'll help you...... Keep them out. ”

At this time, Naminata walked in with a glass of brandy and a smile on her face. She loved bright colors and exotic clothes, and today she wears yellow and white clothes with a red belt tied around her thin waist.

"My dear, you are in a state where you are going now. Here, give me some. Ali and I went to deal with the invaders. ”

"Merritt, this is my friend Namanata. She's right, you can't help at all, and besides, you wizards have an unfortunate tendency to set fire to each other. ”

"If you want me to say, it's a waste of blood."

"Yes, a mage is a rarity, and you people like to walk around the fire. It's a shame. ”

The distraught mage blinked slowly, her haggard eyes widening as our conversation progressed.

"I ...... I do not know. ”

"Merritt? What's wrong?"

"Just ......"

She closed her eyes and grabbed the children's shoulders. They stared at us in silent amazement. I'm not an expert on children, but I can see something special about them. They're a little too serious, too focused. Maybe they're growing too fast. Merritt didn't know about my examination and continued.

"I've been on the run for four years and on the road for two months. I lost hope. I can't believe I'm safe now. ”

"Oh, that's it. You take care of your family and settle down. Katie will help you, just in case, I'll let John protect you. You can rest assured that the people chasing you after tonight won't bother you anymore. ”

"Thank you. Thank you, Ariana, thank you very much. Before you leave, I must tell you about them. I'm not going to let you face them unprepared. ”

Merritt sat down heavily, quickly turned the brandy glass upside down, and then put it down with a click.

Wow, that's manly!

"They're my in-laws."

Oh! It's juicy, crunchy gossip! I could tell that the twinkle in Nami's eyes reflected my own eager expression.

"What happened? Gotta tell!"

Cornelius died. He is my husband. ”

She hugged her children tightly. They shared her distinctive red hair, and the boy looked at me as the little girl leaned into her arms, and I guess that was a threatening expression. I think it's cute.

Cubs.

"He was at odds with his family. As long as he lives, they keep their distance. That all changed when he was killed in an ambush in 1928. We were picking out the disobedient monks, and the Order of Gabriel suddenly attacked us all. Things happened so fast... Now, the Pikes want to get Ollie and Lynn back as long as I live, and this can't happen. The story Kony told me about how he grew up...... I'll never let them do that. ”

I placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and winked at her frowning child.

"You don't have to plead against me, dear Merritt. Our deal is done, and we'll deliver on it. With that said, let's go. Dream is made of wood, and unfortunately, it is a flammable material. Teaching assistant and teaching assistant. ”

With a wave of my hand, I left the exhausted woman and ordered her and her children to be protected and fed before continuing to work. It's finally time for some serious entertainment.

"Naminata, dear, I am honored to invite you to go hunting."

"I am glad to accept your invitation, my dear. Let's change our clothes, I don't want to stain this new dress. ”

An hour later.

I closed my eyes and focused as Sineides had taught me. My own vampire aura has always surrounded me, a sign of my nature and a symbol of status. Tonight, I want to keep a low profile.

Slowly, my perception shifted to the sensations I used in Enchanting. The aura is here, quietly. I'll take it in.

The feeling is strange and hard to describe, not because it's confusing, but because of my lack of words. It's like using muscles I didn't know I had.

My presence shrank inward, and I began to feel like I was too small to put on my robes. The sensation is only slightly uncomfortable. After a while, it's hard to continue. Under this unusual pressure, I don't have a lot of concentration.

Sinid assured me that with regular practice, I could eventually disguise my presence and even change its properties for various purposes in addition to the most sensitive enemies, so I practiced dutifully every night. This is the first time I have had the opportunity to apply this knowledge to a real-world situation. Since my presence was so hidden, I walked into the alley on the second floor, where our unwitting intruders and makeshift snacks were following my friend.

"Good evening, kind sir, where are you going?"

The mage facing me jumped in surprise and looked away from the device in his hand. This brass-colored instrument bears a lot of similarities to a compass, and if it weren't for the powerful aura it exudes, it might have been mistaken for a compass. It tastes like perseverance and a weather vane. One of the most peculiar combinations.

The travel clothes that the person himself wore were of good texture and got stained because they had been worn for too long. His face was covered with stubble for days, his black eyes looked at me with anger, and he immediately sent me away.

"It's none of your business, get out of here, whore!"

I like the way they are rude the most.

"Oh, but I believe it's our business, good sir," Nami added as she walked up behind him.

Maybe it's because he feels trapped, or maybe it's because his brain makes a last-ditch effort to warn him of impending doom. He held up a gloved hand.

"One last warning, bitch, stand back."

I grabbed his wrist, broke his wrist, and stabbed his palm with my thumb. His low screams are drowned out by the sound of music downstairs and Nami's hand covering his mouth.

"But, good sir, we're not done yet."

I smiled, enjoying the smell of horror, the crazy heartbeat, and the bulging eyes. Nami joined my game. Her other hand reached into his shoulder, making a sound of tearing fabric, and she leaned gently on his shoulder.

"Yes, Mage, come and spend the night with us. We insist. ”

"You'll be accommodating, won't you?"

Our captives cling to our words like a drowning man clings to a plank. His eyes searched for a glimmer of pity in mine, but found a kind of submission. He didn't even wear a protective charm.

"You want me to be happy with you, don't you?"

"Yes."

"It's important that we become good friends."

"Yes."

"You're from the Pike family?"

"Yes."

"You came by yourself?"

"Yes."

"So brave. You're a brave man, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"What's your name, brave man?"

As the pattern of questions changes, the flow of conversation is interrupted, but not enough to significantly affect the charisma. My victim has been caught.

"Matthias, Miss."

"Tell me, Matthias, are you here to scout?"

"Yes."

"For what purpose?"

"For the sake of the family, find that nasty one and her offspring. They may also be redeemed. ”

"I see, you have friends around you, don't you?"

"Of course, you see, it's a very serious matter. Archbishop Benedict and his two other sons were here. ”

"Really?" Such a noble person would definitely not travel alone, would he?"

"No, for such a task, they brought their retinue, two war-trained mages and a dozen armed men. She didn't stand a chance. ”

"You sound proud, Matthias."

"Yes, miss, it is my pleasure to serve them."

"It seems so, Matthias, but tell me, where can I find this illustrious group?"

"We walked an hour down the road to the east and set up camp on an abandoned farm."

"Oh, I know that place. Now dear Matthias, I would like to share a secret with you. I'll say ...... into your ear."

Fifteen minutes later.

Nami and I walked briskly down the road. I lent her a piece of my black armored gown, modified to fit her figure. With guns, plus our spears and an assortment of blades, we were both dashing figures. I considered taking Metis with me, but unfortunately Nami didn't have nightmares and it would be rude to have her trotting next to me. Despite her commitment to serve me for a year, we have maintained a cordial and respectful relationship so far, which I intend to continue. She is a master and, just as importantly, she is my friend. Our relationship is more like that of a relaxed tutor and experienced student, although some of her lessons are very suspicious......

"A good looking bag is very important. You wouldn't want to pet a shriveled old plum. This is indeed the most underrated charm of men. What I liked the most was ......"

"Aren't we talking about interrogation techniques?"

"I'm talking about the relationship between the scrotum and interrogation. One trick that I learned very early on is that if you hold a certain anatomical feature with your paws, males, any male, will try to give a clear and complete answer. ”

"I don't know, could it be sweaty?"

"Mortals, of course. But that's not the case for vampires, which gives me a trick that is unique to vampires......"

"I'd prefer that we limit our discussion to interrogation techniques."

"Ah, you're so boring. Still, I have to admit that you've impressed me, dear. For your age, your charisma is incredible. ”

"I have a very good teacher."

"You must be very talented, too. Can you use it in battle?"

"Anti-human".

"Amazing!"

I decided to lead the conversation in case Nami hadn't fully elaborated on her preferences.

"Let's say I have a question. What's going on with schadenfreude. Why do I always want to do this? Is this the only one like me?"

Nami smiled sweetly.

"Goose! Proper schadenfreude is an essential characteristic of a good vampire. How can you be immortal terror and misfortune schadenfreude? I ask you how?"

"I don't know, I just feel silly. How many times have our prey had to escape, or we have put ourselves in danger because of our tendency to play with food?"

"It's so much fun!" Come to think of it, successful vampires live a long time. It would be boring if we were to act like a ruthless knight most of the time. Where are the entertainment venues? Why do you like eternal boredom and not eternal excitement?"

"IMHO, Naminata, I'm not sure if your suggestion is reasonable. Die for a stupid record!"

"Pffft! It's just a small problem."

"You're naked and chained to the wall!"

"I've always done it for fun."

"Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons! Intolerable woman. I don't mind a little challenge, I just worry that others will pay for my arrogance. ”

"Then fulfill your obligations when necessary, and enjoy the rest of the time!" A good life requires the right balance. Do you think you're gloating about the dead Matthias right now? "

"A little?"

"Ah, you lovely summer child. You call this schadenfreude? Of course, you're kidding. ”

"Isn't it?" So what would you do?"

"First, pretend to be scared, lure him into an isolated room, then play with him a little, then reveal what you are, play a little more, and finally eat him."

"What if he sets fire to the room?"

"What if...... If...... Everything can go wrong, or it can be very correct. "If you feel uncomfortable that your prey is too close to your pet witch, drag it to some farm where you can play a game of catch. Let your imagination run wild!"

"I don't know ......"

"This is just one example, my little jam jar. The point of schadenfreude is entertainment. "Do whatever makes you happy. If you do need to make sure your obligations are fulfilled before you let go, then let it go. Now, again, where is that farm?"

Originally, I thought that the abandoned manor that Matthias was talking about was empty. If it weren't for a suspicious puff of smoke rising from the road, I would have been angry and scared. Naminata and I found two sentinels warming up around a large fire at Patterson Farm. Perhaps the Pikes found the house empty and thought it was abandoned. They were wrong.

The Pattersons are new to the area, and this place reflects that. The English-style house is small, but comfortable, with an unusual level of luxury in stained glass windows. They worked hard to decorate the new building with symbols of personality, such as an unusual blue flower, small wood carvings hanging from the roof with hemp rope, and even a fake scarecrow with a comical belly inside. I know this because Jenny Patterson used to be mine. They have a child, who is now four years old and I forgot his name. They would often visit their father's family in the city, leaving the house empty.

This could be problematic because I needed an invitation to say hello to Benedict Pike Sr. if it was really his guy out there.

I made a gesture that we should check the back of the house and realized that we didn't need an invitation after all. The Pattersons are home tonight. They shouldn't.

At the back of their house, Jenny has a small garden. Some enterprising thugs began digging a trench large enough to bury their entire family, but stopped halfway through. They left parents, children and their dogs aside. Jenny's legs peeked out from beneath the others, pale and naked in the moonlight. Her shoes fell off at some point, revealing a mended sock, and the display was so hateful and rude that it filled my heart with rage. I don't know why this little detail of profane intimacy shocked me more than countless others. It is what it is. For convenience, the Pattersons were killed and dumped like a pile of garbage in the back of their house to rot. They weren't even worth the effort to get a finished tomb and shroud. I find the depth of this insult abhorrent.

"We won't have a problem getting in."

Nami sensed this emotion and did not answer. Her expression became cold, and her aura gained a brief period of mobility, which determined her fighting style.

I strode to the front of the house, making no secret of my presence. The two sentries quickly noticed my approach and took a few steps back, giving me a glimpse of what they had burned for warmth: the Patterson carriage.

Those were ordinary villains. They knew they had to shut me up, but their ability to improvise was limited by a stunted brain that was completely obsessed with cards and the threat of boredom.

"You're mistaken, miss, there's nothing for you here."

As expected.

"I don't agree," I replied. I grabbed the silver pistol behind me and aimed it at the person closest to me.

I pulled the trigger.

Explosions were loud at night. The heavy shot put took out his right eye and most of his skull. Before the body fell, I grabbed the second person and let my anger manifest.

"You look cold, kid."

He walked face down into the fire. Trembling screams added to the panicked voices coming from within. Seconds later, the door slammed open and a group of people emerged from the house they had stolen. Standing in front of them should be Benedict Pike, Ollie and Lynn's grandfather, a walking dead. He and his grandchildren share some similar traits, such as a delicate nose and sharp eyes. His aristocratic features frowned in displeasure, as if he had smelled something particularly disgusting. Come to think of it, the air is filled with the stench of roast pigs, so he probably did it.

His retinue and two monsters with black hair, his hair was gray, and they spread out and pointed their muskets at us, looking a little unsure of how to proceed.

"Kill them," the older man added hastily.

Before they could react, I took out my modified boar spear and walked forward, impaling the nearest mercenary mage, before throwing his bleeding corpse onto a deadly thug. Before the others could move, I stabbed them. On my side, Nami silently cooperated with my gestures, and out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the three parkers retreating into the house. Ah, the human instinct to hide can always be counted on.

I climbed the two steps leading to the door of the house and pushed it open with the butt of my gun. The initiators of tonight's celebration formed a shielded circle in the center of the living room.

"Fuck off, damn fellow. You can leave this woman behind, and we will leave your land at sunrise. ”

I turned to Nami and pretended to be happy.

"Honey, did you hear that?" The intruder deigned to let us go. We were lucky. ”

"Truly, beloved, he hath laid such glory upon our useless heads. We can go. Should we accept his generous offer?"

Tonight, I really want to gloat.

"I don't know, there's still the problem that those useless pests sneak into my land, kill my things, and then expect to leave unharmed?"

"As if his sins were insignificant, and his existence was only a matter of fact?"

Benedict sneered and said that he was born with privilege and had never faced a challenge in his life. When he came to me, I loved him so much. I like to crush stupid pride.

"You can't scare me, dead thing. People like you can't get in uninvited, and your words are just empty words. ”

"Semantics? Nami chim

I'm sure I told you, when are we're going to talk about that?"

"I have a lot of shortcomings."

"Yes, you see, Benedict, this is a home we can't enter, and this home," I added as I walked forward, "it's not yours." ”

I pointed my boar spear at him and rushed over, activating one of the two gifts that the haughty Princess of the Blue Court had left me. When our brains can't process what our eyes see, the tips strangely glow and the space around them distorts.

After a while, the silver spear pierced Benedict's chest, as if his shield had never appeared. As far as I know, not strictly speaking. I finished the action and nailed him to the wall like a butterfly. Nami

Ata took advantage of the brief chaos to incapacitate one of her two sons.

The last man raised his gloved hand and met my gaze.

"Shaken".

He flinched, and his spell was ineffective. I focused, the edges of my paws glowing blue.

I slid the shield. It hurts my heart. No, it's nothing.

"Hiss".

Unprepared mages are just prey. I gobbled this up and turned to Merritt's nemesis. How short the world is. One moment we are still in control, and the next, we die, sometimes even waking up in a strange dungeon with new, unusual desires.

"It was a good hunt."

I take my time. When I woke up, Nami was licking her lips and greeting me with a cat smile.

"I'll share it with you."

"Uh, thank you?"

She giggled at my answer.

"Your demeanor isn't decent enough, sweetheart. We will work on that as well. ”

"Definitely. In the meantime, our business here is over. ”

"Will your judge use this opportunity to cause more trouble?"

"There is no doubt about it, but it has to be done."

I dragged the body out. Apparently, the bandits who killed the Pattersons killed each other until they died or left. No doubt for the stolen goods. I made sure to pocket most of their valuables so that the story was at least somewhat believable, and I looked up to see Nami with an amused, slightly superiority expression.

"What, it's loot!"

"Indeed."

"If they are too rich, my robber explanation is too far-fetched."

"There is no doubt about it".

"I don't need to defend the seizure of their property, they are my conquerors."

"Uh-huh."

Yes. She is absolutely convinced of the necessity of these actions. Now we just have to go back so I can add the best pieces to my collection.