“Hei…it’s time.” Eli knocks on my door the next day and I spring out of bed, moving aside the wardrobe I pushed in front of the entrance while picking up my short sword. Can never be too careful with assassins after us. Outside, the half black, half violet haired Nephilim prince greets me. He already has his hood on, and underneath, his unique chromatic eyes sparkle as he turns to the light. Delphie joins us in the living room.

“Got everything ready?” I ask. The two Nephilim nod. From one of the koi ponds at the side of the room, Sophie eyes us while feeding her Nethergulpers. I look at her with surprise, “You’re not coming?”

“Heh, Taer is technically contracted by my family right now. It’s against Rose Family law to hurt a client barring special circumstances. So, I’m sitting this one out. But don’t worry, I’ll be here to celebrate with you guys after you’re done.” The daughter of assassins seems a little bit sad that she has to miss out on the fun. “Delphie, don’t do anything you’ll regret!”

“Obviously we’ll be careful, Soph. Jeez, you worry too much!”

“Hmph! You better!”

We head out the door and take a very careful plotted out by Eli and Delphie back to her manor. Passing through the various stalls and bizzaire alleyways of Meteos City, I do my best not to stare too much. At one point, we pass a group of troll law enforcers. Their skin is blue like frost, and a set of curly tusks jutt out from their cheeks which make them look somewhat like warthogs. Additionally, they stand at two meters of height, giving them an intimidating appearance. The Three Headed Hellhound they have on a leash sniffs curiously as we pass by, but doesn’t bark. Finally, we make it back behind Delphie’s small manor in the more prosperous part of the city.

“Alright, we’ll take this door. At this time, Taer is probably taking his mid-afternoon nap.” The girl quietly produces a key which she puts into a small servant’s entrance. As the thick wooden door opens, a mildewy smell comes out. She apologetically looks at us while inviting us inside. “Sorry, this used to be the kitchen but since we couldn’t afford to pay the servants, it’s a bit gross now.”

“No problem.” Eli conceals his pity by walking through. I follow and close the door behind us. “Which way to his room?”

“This way!” The Nephilim noblewoman leads us quietly through her manor. A pile of rotting leeks and onions make a fetid stench on a neglected chopping board in the corner and Delphie hurries her step. Pretending not to notice, I follow close behind as she takes us to the side of the house which I haven’t had a chance to see yet. Walking quickly down the dark hallways, we silently infiltrate without much difficulty.

“It seems that even though your brother has contracted the Fallen, they haven’t tightened his security.” I whisper over her shoulder and she nods.

“The Fallen take half their money up front for a job. The rest is promised by an official blood seal that the entire Underworld will condemn you for breaking. And thus, they do not really care what happens to Taer. So long as they get their fee. Additionally, my brother probably is not expecting me to be here. It’s a bit…”

“Bold?” I murmur and I think I can just see the tips of her ears turn violet in the dim light from the window. “So, what do you want me to do once we find him?”

“Um, just you know…scare him a bit?” Delphie says it like I’m just going to rough up the schoolyard bully a bit. Eli snorts and murmurs.

“Teach him a proper lesson, Hei. Don’t hold back. I know Taer’s type. He’s like my father, though undoubtably he doesn’t have the brains to back it up. If we let him walk all over Delphie without repercussions, he will inevitably continue to grow bolder himself. This ends here and now!” The Exiled Prince smacks his fist and Delphie is silent for a bit.

“Is that really what you want?” I ask into the sound of our footsteps. After a long pause, she stops outside an ornate black door. Pointing at it, she simply says,

“Do what needs to be done.”

Gladly.

Eli yanks the handle open so the whole thing flies off its hinges with a deafening screech! The quiet of the manner is utterly shattered and we look inside the darkness to see a grand bed filled with frilly violet sheets. Delphie’s brother, Taer, clutches the sheets to him, while also reaching for his sword. The man may be stupid, but he at least has the sense to keep a weapon by his bedside. When he catches sight of Eli and I entering the room, his kaleidoscope eyes widen.

“Y-You! And you! You’re supposed to be exiled!” Taer shouts. “Help! Robbers! Murderers!” He screams into the night, but then Delphie steps into the room and he stills. “Whore! I knew it! I knew you were working with the outsider to seize the family! You’ve always been jealous of my power! Even though you’ve never done anything to deserve it! I was right to contract the Roses! Ahahaha, I was right!”

“Brother…” Delphie’s face falters for a moment when she sees him vulnerable. However, when the depth of his hatred and jealousy becomes evident, the Nephilim’s face grows depressed. “Is that really what you think?”

“What else am I suppose to think now that you’ve brought this mongrel and outsider to assassinate me!” Taer yells, acting like he has the high ground. “Well? That’s it right? You won’t get away with though! Yun’s Fallen will continue coming after me so long as I don’t rescind the contract! Which will never happen if you kill me! So hah, do what you want! We can die together if you have the guts!” He lunges for his sword by the bedside, but Eli rushes forwards and levels his own elegant rapier at Taer’s throat.

“Don’t. Move. Scum.” The Exiled Prince’s expression has changed since being called a mongrel. “You dare to impugn our honor, when you’re a black-tongued worm like this? Calling a contract on a woman because you don’t have the ability to hold onto your own position. Your own sister no less? Pathetic, wouldn’t you say so, Hei?”

“Truly just a worm.” I murmur. Delphie’s brother spits onto his own blankets, squirming without a shirt on. However, when Eli’s rapier begins to prick his throat, he stops moving.

“You mongrels who have never worked for anything in your lives wouldn’t understand. The family only wanted her because of her ability! She doesn’t have even the smallest bit of aptitude for anything! They just want her womb to produce stronger warriors! But she won’t even marry and continue the bloodline-!” Taer is abruptly cut off as Eli jerks the blade and cuts a small slice into his neck. The naked Nephilim trembles as he tries not to move and make it worse.

“Disgusting…just disgusting. Well, Delphie? Do you see what I mean now?” Eli talks softly without looking away from Taer, “This one is worthless. Perhaps we really should just kill him.”

“No.” Her response is swift and Eli frowns slightly. However, her next words cause a cruel smile to break out on his face. “If he dies, the contract on Hei and I will still be a problem. And at the end of the day…as much as he might not believe it. We are family.” Delphie sighs, squatting down and putting her head in her hands. “Still, I can’t deny it. If that’s really what he thinks of me. Hei, I’m afraid I have to trouble you.”

“No problem. Shall I begin?” I’m almost eager to punish this ignorant prick. Family…they’re family and he’s saying things like that. What the hell is wrong with this guy? He deserves whatever he’s about to get.

“Please.” Delphie forces herself to look instead of hiding behind her hands as Eli grabs Taer by hair on top of his head and holds him up to look into my right eye. I think about it for a second. Even though he might not have a high Spirit Stat, he’s probably still a bit high level.

“W-Wait what are you doing! The hell are you looking at me like that for! Why is your eye glowing! The hell is THAT?!” He panics. But I shake my head. Mmm yea, let’s make sure that his willpower doesn’t resist me first.

“Hold on just a second.” I clench my fist and ram it into Taer’s gut. Despite the difference in levels, with no defenses, it still takes the wind out of him.

*Wham*

*Punch*

*Euurgh*

Taer gags as I hit him right in the solar plexus.

“Y-You’re not going to get away with this!” He shrieks, but remains defiant. “Hit me all you want the Fallen are still coming!” Man, this is taking too long. My strength stat is a bit weak for this.

“Hei? We agreed not to kill him!” Delphie is a bit alarmed, but it is Eli who moves faster.

“Relax, Hei’s just making sure his skill works. Here, let me help! TELL ME WHO’S THE MONGREL NOW!”

*SMACK*

“EUUUURGH!” This time the Nephilim nobleman vomits, his hands scrabbling limply at the sheets as he tries to hold the contents of his stomach in. His head lolls as strands of his hair are ripped out by the force of the impact. Eli lets go and grabs a fresh section of his scalp to hold him out.

“There. He’s all ready now!”

Here I go!

“Ugggh…”

I notice that beating on Taer has made my Sin Points go up slightly.

[Current Sin Points: .80]

[Activate?]

[Current Sin Points: 0]

The plan wasn’t to use all my Sin Points.

But for this scum…it’s worth it.

“EEEEEEEEE! ARRAORAWRWARISODGKGDODO!” Taer’s screams are so loud that Eli has to let go of his thrashing body and go shut the door. He sounds almost like a pig or goblin as he squeals and rolls around naked in the sheets, smacking away invisible horrors. “N-NO DON’T COME INSIDE! NOOOOOOO!”

The effect is beyond what I expected to be honest. Even after softening him up with a beating, I expected his mental fortitude to be stronger. But he’s completely lost his mind. Ignoring the sting in my right eye, I just watch, occasionally checking on Delphie every once in a while. She doesn’t look away the entire time.

“Good. That’s right. A noble should be prepared to see the consequences of their actions.” Eli approvingly goes over and wraps an arm around her shoulder. She numbly doesn’t resist, just watching her brother scream over and over. “I’m proud of you, Delphie.”

“Ugh…is it supposed to last this long?” She asks. It’s been much longer than with the goblin. I used more than double the Sin Points, so it seems the effect is multiplied many-fold. One thing’s for sure…her brother will never think Delphie’s a soft target again. “Is he…going to be okay?”

“ARRRRGGHIKHRII MAKE IT STOP!”

His continued panicked begging is beginning to get on my nerves. Finally, after a solid five minutes he begins to quiet. Spit and bits of vomit cling to the sides of his mouth and patchy scalp as his kaleidoscope eyes begin to have some semblance of intelligence again.

“D-DEVIL! Worms! What are you! WORMS WORMS WORMS!” He has clearly returned to reality, but it seems some part of him has been left in whatever shadowy hell I sent him to. Good riddance. Still..jesus, what the hell did I do to him? Even I’m a bit shook up at how strong the effect of the Lonely’s Hell is. Taer shivers and huddles in the sheets, just staring at me with the most intense fear I’ve ever seen. Even if I stabbed him I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t be this afraid. “WOOOOOOOOOOORMSSS!”

“Alright. That’s enough.” Eli goes over and smacks him on the back of the head. Instantly, the traumatized brother goes down. He crumples at the waist and his face goes face down in the sheets like a broken marionette. “Let’s get out of here. I don’t think Taer will be a problem anymore.”

“Y-Yea. I don’t think so either.” Sophie whispers shakily. Her gaze flickers briefly from the broken form of her unconscious brother, lying in his vomit, to me. For a while, I think she’s afraid of me. But as we leave the manor, she tugs on my sleeve while Eli isn’t looking. “Thank you, Hei. I…didn’t have the courage to do something about my brother myself. I can see it hurts you to hurt others. Even if you pretend it doesn’t. So, thank you very much for helping this useless Nephilim!”

“That’s what friends are for.” Her blind faith in me may be misplaced, but it still makes me feel a little warmer inside. It helps that I can see her life force flickering inside. It remains bright and true. I’m sure that her words come from an honest place. As we step out onto the streets, Delphie awkwardly comes over and whispers in my ear again.

“Uh, Hei, your eye!” She says and I’m not entirely what sure she means until she clarifies. “It’s glowing!”

Oh…gotta calm down!

I close both eyes, even the one behind Yggdrasil’s leaf and focus on controlling my emotions. My brain is mentally exhausted, my mana almost depleted from using the Lonely’s Hell at such a high force. After a moment, I open my right eye and stick it in front of Delphie again.

“Better?”

“Yup!”

“Come on let’s go!” Eli waves us forwards, having noticed that we’ve been dropping behind. Feeling tired, I follow him mindlessly back to Sophie’s lair. Behind us, Delphie’s manor remains quiet, but I can still hear the screams of her brother echo in my head. They mix with her words and pound the inside of my head, giving me a vicious headache which I recognize as a sign of mana exhaustion.

I can see it hurts you to hurt others…

Just a worm.

Devil…

DEVIL!