The moon hung on the clouds, and the crickets were chirping on the trees. The water coming out from the fountain of Hermes' garden halted after the young Don and his servant arrived.

The butler cast a spell inside the mansion, activating five powerful barriers that not even a bacteria could enter. All living things who touched it perished without a trace, and only a high-level mage could survive from its dangerous effects. ​​

The window in the balcony was open, allowing the cool night breeze that made the fire in the hearth dance.

Hermes separated from his servant and went to the garden, whilst, the butler excused himself to prepare his dinner.

The mansion's light automatically opened, revealing its finest art that had been drawn of its history. The story behind the illustrations of the family's past leaders and its members illustrated carefully such as the head of the founder who stuck his hand in the heart of his enemies, viciously smiling to their death without remorse and the corpse lay down on the ground under the feet of the headmistress had shown the gruesome and dark side of their personality. From the face of the founder to the last heir of the clan hanging on the center in the two-story entry, the picture frame of the sole survivor, Hermes Archnemesis, of the infamous family had been enlightened with two crystal light.

On the other garden, Hermes was walking alone, back and forth, next to the fountain. The reason was simple, he's disturbed about the consequences of his action.

The selfish favor of Chief Zamor was not a simple mission. It was part of the sub-quest of the game. Hermes covered his eyes in distress.

"What have I done? You fockin' blew it, Aljen. You fockin' blew it," He spanked his forehead for unable to realize it. He shouldn't accept it in the first place. That quest was supposedly taken care of by one of the female playable characters, however.

He stole one of the sub-quests of the game, by mistake.

If he just remembered it sooner then, he could possibly refuse in the first place. But, now. It was already too late.

There's no other way to push it aside and turned it down because there's a high risk that his relationship with the chief would be ruined.

His recklessness and absentmindedness led to his own demise, so he should take responsibility for this mission.

All he had to do now was to make sure he wouldn't go deeper in the forest, or else, he would eventually face the hidden boss.

Since he had still recalled the place where the monster was hidden, he should guide the kids away from the danger. However, there's a loose end to his precautionary move. That was, he had no idea where the kids would venture and the location of the rare herbs could be found.

The kids would inadvertently lead them to that location. He scratched his head when he imagined the corpse of the kids in the forest, laying down on the beast's stomach.

He shook his head and he declared, "It won't happen. I'll definitely protect the kids, no matter what."

A few hours later, he headed straight to his office to do his work as the boss of the organization. It was around quarter to nine when he finally finished the paperwork related to his family's finances, his new business in the Neue Fiona Village, and the requests of his associates outside the island.

He put down his pen and stretched his arms forward. After that, he crossed his arms across his chest and leaned his back against the smooth black backrest.

He sighed before he raised up his head, looking at the ceiling.

"What the hell is going on? I've no idea why this is happening to me. Is this really necessary?" He covered his eyes with his arm. "There are so many things I want to know but it is turning into a big mess. The more I learn, the more troubles come in. Why am I doing the job of the boss? I thought I was about to disband it? What the fuck?" He slammed his armrest by his right hand and his left covered his eyes.

He hung down and rested his chin on his arm.

"There is so much complicated stuff that's happening in that village. If I put myself in their position, I'll already give up and left the place. These messes won't even happen if those sons of bitches didn't come to this island in the first place. Man, I don't want to involve any further, but my reputation is at stake. The 'Handdog gang', that ogre, psycho, that goddess, Priestess, and 'Second Root' aren't even part of the plot of the Otome game, and not only that, there are new characters of this world that shouldn't exist in the first place. Not only that, they are acting very suspicious."

'There's only one person I know who is screwing me in the beginning. It's none other than, Stump G.' His thoughts.

But for now, he had to focus next to this document that upheld the information about the evil organization called 'Second Root'.

To his theory when he summarized the report, the Second Root was a new additional feature in this universe. The organization was conservative and labeled as a dangerous existence in the village. The place wasn't that small but a huge environment for everyone. There's a possibility that they were doing their religious activity within the village, where nobody could easily think they were there.

Hermes could potentially find their trace, however, the problem was the people involved in their criminal activities. Wiping out their existence was possible, however, there's a chance that he could hurt the people important and/or someone who had a connection to the female playable characters of the story.

Despite the fact that he had no intention to ruin the story just to protect his life and topple any chances of death flag in this world, he's inadvertently gotten involved and no other choice but to work on it.

But first and foremost, he wanted also to learn why the former Hermes Archnemesis kept pestering his territory. This character won't even dare to do somethin' like this without a valid reason. There's a chance that these peculiar events must be connected to this reasoning. However, he's still needed some proof to connect the puzzles.

He closed his eyes, trying to remember the death of his character.

After the female character's reversed harem killed the former villain, the new landowner turned the village into ruins. Her male concubines' mismanagement, ignorance, and lack of knowledge about the economy led to the village's life downhill. They ignored their existence, cries for mercy, and instead of helping them out, the character named Arata Kingsman, one of the powerful love targets, let the village lived with corruption, kidnapping, turmoil, and famine.

In other words, the lives of the villagers turned miserable than they expected. Hermes' death only brought his people more suffering ever before. That all of them started to regret everything, and they reluctantly wished to return their time as people under the Archnemesis' management.

"Well, it doesn't concern me at all. I don't care about the lives of those villagers, but the problem here is the amount of money I would get from this quest. That girl is annoying, but I don't think it is a bad idea to slide it away. Also, there's no time limit so I have a lot of time to get this done. Now that I think about it." He rubbed his jaw in contemplation, and he resumed, "Chief Zamor wanted me to guard his kids. Hmm, I wonder what kind of reward will I even get."

Hermes resumed his work, and a few hours later, his butler entered with a sealed document in his hands. He gave respect to him before he handed it over.

"My Don, that is the documents we received from our client earlier," said Justin, respectively.

Hermes scratched his cheeks and looked at the document. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he unsealed it. Inside the file, seven pages of classified information about the 'Second Root' were imprinted in detail. However, the problem was, there were no images and names written about the leaders and members of the secret society.

'Bullshit!' his thoughts.

"This is definitely an impossible task, Justin. Look at this stupid intel," he tossed aside the file on the side of his table, "How exactly we can trace the people behind the illicit organization without proper information? It is a hundred percent - Impossible."

"Then, we should refuse it, I supposed," Justin convinced.

Hermes chuckled, "I disagree."

"Pardon?" His servant tilted his head.

Hermes replied, "I disagree because it will make them believe that I'm just an incompetent man and unreliable ally in their mind. I need the power and influence of Chief Zamor Camella. Not only that, it could only ruin my relationship with the Church."

In this world, the state and church were two separate entities that controlled the world by their own distinct powers. For Hermes, the state he wanted to form a cooperative relationship with was the village chief. The person who held the high authority of his territory, whilst, he wished to create a favorable status with the Church by using the High Priestess' connections.

'Thanks to Mambo, he gave me another idea to topple down my death flag,' he simpered when he said it inside his mind.

Plan A: If he got caught or his identity exposed, he would be saved from any trial with the assistance of Chief Zamor and his crew.

Plan B: Despite the trial executed and the judges declared him guilty as charged for all his misdeeds and crime against the village, he could finally relax because the church would condemn.

'Two birds hit by one stone', he quoted.

Specifically, he must prevent anything unveiling decisions that would only lead to his downfall. There's a saying, 'To prevent hunger in the opened desert island full of monsters, the lone warrior must adapt by eating the grass. The only salvation from death is stripped of his hostility but to prevent indignity, be friends with the enemy.'

Those words he read from the book that he already forgot the title, he wanted to make sure that he must gain their trust. Then one day when he needed them most, they won't be able to disagree and they willingly supported him until the end.

'Playing safe was the most basic thing in survival,' he said inside his mind with a smug face.

The butler lowered his head in apology.

"My apologies, my Don. Once again, I suggested ... terrible advice without thinking about the possible consequences. This act of conduct that I made shouldn't be tolerated according to my oath. With this unforgivable act, I will offer one of my fingers in my hand to pay my tribute of mistake," he pulled out a knife and he got stopped by his master when he responded, "Stop!"

Justin justified.

"But, my Don. I fail to see your decision and I got corrected to suggest something stupid. I should be punished for this because I failed you as your Consigliere."

"There's nothing to worry about. Forget about it. If you lost your fingers, you'll turn into a miserable piece of shit in front of me. So, stop that nonsense. Next time, don't exaggerate for this simple thing, okay. Remember, you're my advisor so act like one. In this situation, you're only reversing our role. Yes, you're right. I'm your boss but that doesn't change the fact that I'm still a kid so I hope you don't show something terrifying like that as an example of overactive fanatics. I ain't going to clean the mess in this room if you do that here," Hermes explained, promptly.

The butler kneeled on one knee and lowered his head, respectively.

"Again, I feel terrible, my Don. I'm so sorry for showing this outrageous act in front of your presence."

He raised one finger and he reminded, "Alright, forget about it. There's a saying, there's always tomorrow for everything and everything will be solved with the same speed like lightning."

Hermes's eyes turned sharp as he realized something, and he stood up from his chair, moving his chair slightly from the distance. He slightly shivered from toe to head like someone was talking about him.

"What's wrong, my Don?" asked Justin.

Hermes answered, "I don't know."

Inside the chamber of the church, Venus Aphrodite, the newly appointed High Priestess of Neue Fiona, was praying alone inside, kneeling down with her knees on the floor. Her white clerical clothes made with the finest silk from Asia par with her pale skin that could resemble a goddess' skin showed how graciously beautiful she was.

Albeit she got kidnapped by a strange group who aimed to use her for their own gains, her mind and body together with her faith remained strong. That the event didn't even affect anything at all.

On the other side, Mambo was next to the chair, watching his master not far from his sight. His eyes turned at the people who entered the chamber, elegantly.

It was none other than Ylla Ereneus on her hoodless clerical clothes and her attendants.

"Good evening, High Priestess," Ylla and her attendants lowered their heads, "It is already time for you to rest."

"I see. I will join you later after I'm done," replied Venus.

Ylla stepped forward, "High Priestess, our nuns have prepared a perfect bath and dinner have been prepared tonight. It is the right time to take a rest for a while. You've been working nonstop and often found alone in this chamber for quite some time."

"That's good. Give me five more minutes. I need more time with God," Venus requested, politely.

"That is your third time, High Priestess. You're already given not five but fifteen minutes in a row. It is about time for you to eat and take a bath tonight." Ylla stepped for another step.

"Eh? W-W-Well, I need more time. I won't move from my position until I'm done. So, please. Let me finish it," Venus insisted and prayed again with cold sweat.

"I know you're going to say it. Girls, do it," she nodded once, giving them permission to dragged away their leader from her current position.

"Please forgive us, High Priestess," one of the attendants said.

The second attendant bowed her head in apology thrice, "For the greater good, for the greater good."

"Eh, w-why? This is a violation of my rights? This is outrageous," Ylla resisted, puffed her cheeks, and stomped her feet in anger.

"This is for your own good, High Priestess. Now if you excuse us, we will do our thing. Take her away. Make sure she eats properly," Ylla directed.

Her attendants replied in unison, "Yes, Regent."

"Ylla, Ylla, what's the meaning of this? I need more time to pray. What are you doing?" asked Venus, argumentatively.

Ylla ignored the mad Priestess and called Mambo.

"Mambo, open the door for your master," she directed, pointing to the door where the dinner hall located.

The black servant obediently obeyed her command and opened the door before his master.

Her puppy crying face made him feel guilty when she looked at him.

'You too?' her thoughts.

"Mambo, why?" she begged.

"For the greater good," he covered his mouth with regret. "I'm so sorry, master."

Ylla comforted him by patting his shoulder.

"You did a good job. You don't have to feel sorry to our High Priestess."

Mambo replied, "I know. However, this is the first time for me to this."

"This ain't betrayal. This is rehabilitation. Her highness needs to be lectured and her engrossed with prayer is dangerous to her health," Ylla stated.

The High Priestess had always been praying every day and every night whenever she's done in her clerical work. She often locked herself inside the chamber, and her behavior led to her own health issues because she always skipped her dinner.

Secondly, she had a habit to go back to the chamber again to pray after she took a bath. That's where she often found by Ylla and her attendants sleeping alone. Mambo had already used to it that he got insomnia as a result of his duty as her guardian and bodyguard.

However, this kind of habit should be ended according to Ylla. This ain't healthy for her lifestyle. So, she devised a plan to rehabilitate their leader, so she could finally get proper rest.

"No, I want to pray. I still have two hours, no, five hours to reach God. Give me more time. This is outrageous. Ylla, Ylla, Mambo, Mambo, please listen to me," Venus begged.

Ylla covered her eyes and sighed.

"Take her away," she waved her hand to drag her away.

"No, I need to — w-wait, please. Mambo, help!" asked Venus, crying.

Mambo turned around, "I'm so sorry, master."

"Don't turn your back on me. I'm your master. No, Ylla, God would never reach my prayer if you do this. Please. Please!" she begged for another time.

The two attendants clung on her arms tightly and dragged her away.

"I need to pray for my bright future with my love!" she declared, crying.

She kept repeating the word, "For my love," several times nonstop like a petty child, and both of the attendants couldn't help but heaved a sigh of pity at this beautiful maiden.

"Good grief. Well, nevermind. Eat well and take it easy when you take a bath, my excellency. I'll join you later in your room," Ylla's smile made the priestess hung her head in defeat. And the little Regent bid her farewell.

Returning back to the mansion, Hermes held both of his shoulders when he sensed someone called his name. He had never shivered like this before.