Quest 1, Part 7: [Failures]

“What?” He asks confused.

“I asked, which one of you want to be the first one helping me in my research?” I speak a little louder, causing some of the closer bystanders to stand up and walk away in fast pace.

“Just because you have a pretty face, it won’t save y-” Is what he manages to stay before the [Assassin], [Interfectrix] appears behind them and cuts most of the tendons in their limbs under a second. It was so quick I was unable to see it with my eyes. I’m glad my mana perception is good enough to follow her movements meaning I shouldn’t worry about potential enemy assassins. Just as quick as she appeared, she was already gone from my sight.

“That was too quick [Trix]. I wanted to play with them a little more.” I say disappointed.

“I perceived clear murderous intent, I had to act.” Is the answer I heard whispered from god-knows where.

“Do you think I, the master of aura won’t notice something like that? Ah.. Never mind, it’s already done. Don’t appear without my order again.” I quietly scold her for revealing herself.

She is a special follower of mine. Originally she was an elemental type monster character, but instead of materializing I evolved her into a darkness attribute homunculus. She is capable of blending behind darkness and shadows and her presence is almost unnoticeable even outside her elements. Using a dimension pocket she can quickly materialize a magical body. Only a few knows she exists, but only I've seem her with my eyes.

She was behind me all the time, safeguarding me. Since she had no reason to ever intervene she stayed hidden. Even I as a fairy and aura user I can barely sense her. If I’m not searching for traces around me, I won't even notice if she is still there.

Wait. Her body is supposed to be a magical artifact. I might be able to learn more about magic programming if I check it. Also, I totally forget to analyze the [Dimension Pocket]. It might lead me to new clues about [Space Magic].

Interesting.

The next moment I see Tronos entering with a pale face. I just smile at him.

“Chain them and bring them to the new room I set up yesterday. Alive.” I give the command.

I start walking towards one of the tables where adventurers are sitting. They are the ones I eavesdropped on before. A wolf beastmen with a few human friends.

I gently stand next to them and show a bright smile.

“Did thee not know, it’s unbecoming to question a lady’s age.” I speak towards all of them first, but then turn to the beastman” But since this male seemed interesting, I might tell if thou prove me thyself”

[NPC]

Name: Mikleo Bia

Race: Wolf-kin

Level: 37

Age: 36

HP: ~3800

ST: ~3200

MP: ~250

It’s quite nice actually to have these stats. He is around D level, but I skillvise seems better. The aura tells me. The guild has a simple rank system. Adventurers has to rise from G to A rank. Most of the villagers are below G, since that means a basic fighter. E is already talented, while D pretty much means they are good. The highest ranking NPC’s are around B rank, in levels I guess 60? Heroes can get to zhe level cap and be A rank, but that’s rare. They die of old age before that. Yeah, all players are cheaters.

And I’m an even bigger one. Though with this high level of realism a B rank could potentially kill me if I’m out of mana and stamina. No, even a kid with a kitchen knife could murder me. It would only take time.

As if death itself spoke, he falls on his knees and bows with his head on the ground.

“I made a mistake Princess, please forgive me!” I just chuckle a little and place a hand on his shoulder, pushing him up into crouching position.

“This is not how thou threat a woman. I order thou to entertain me today.” After saying this, I look at Tronos. “He will be my bodyguard today and he is your’s from tomorrow. Got it?” I say while smiling, but the High Human swallows hard. I won’t let him slack off.

Some of the spectators are already wishing him a good travel to the underworld. How rude, I just need some time to take it easy and rest my mind, so I can continue my evil researches and experiments. So I abduct a male to entertain me. Noting indecent I swear!

As Mikleo is still totally clueless of what to do, I grab his hand and pull him out of the building. I stand in front of him and smile brightly while holding both of his hands in front of him.

“So, what do we do today?” I ask after switching to [Maiden in Love] persona. At first I wanted tsundere, but that would be bad. Very bad.

I alter my aura to a gentle, calming one, the one I named this personality after. It also increases lust, but I’m a magical fairy. Let's change the subject now.

Why do I do this? Because someone very annoying is following me, but until they act I can’t catch them alive. If someone is so skilled that even Trix is unable to sense them, I can’t let them roam free. Then how did I notice them? Simple. The small annoying feeling behind my back. Lame, I know. But at least I won’t get backstabbed.

There is also a small feeling of interference. The constant feeling of being watched. Like someone is watching my soul itself. Creepy and unpleasant.

But how did I come up with this plan… It’s not like me to expose myself this much. Even if this will surely lure out the culprit, it’s unusual from me to not mind the high level of danger. No, I don’t think I would ever turn my back purposely towards my enemies. Just what is feeling that keeps bothering me so much?

Thinking hard about my problems, my escort finally realises his position. He don’t really have a choice but to be my meat-shield if needed. At least this is my plan. But when did I came up with this? Why do I feel that my plan has so much flaws, that it is a disgrace?

Is it even my plan?

I stand in front of the still stupefied male, when a small sound of swish indicates my death sentence. To bad I didn’t fell for it. With a quick leap I stand out of the knives path and watch as they embed themselves into Mikleo.

“Fuck you, he would have made a good test subject.” I say towards the presence.

I clearly feel them as they get behind me using some kind of magic, but for my fortune appraise works checking their aura. I use it without hesitating.

[World Object]

Name: t3.>#

Race: Mana

Age:0

Level:0

HP:0

ST:0

MP:0

Well fuck me sideways.

“Just what the hell are you. Oh no. no! no! No!” I jell at them, while unleashing my [Aura of Death].

“Trix kill that thing!” I order and watch as she appears behind them.

She stabs it in the gut, making it disappear instantly but another appears behind her. As my aura reaches it, attacking directly it’s [Soul] and it dies instantly.

“At least they are easy to kill. But I’m sure getting hit by them is also an instakill.” I say as my bodyguard vanishes back to hiding. Their stats were the same but the name was different.

I walk to my temporary companion and check his condition, only to see that he is barely alive. I pull the knife out of his chest and throw it sideways. The funny thing is, we made zero noise. No one ever noticed this fight.

World Object. Why would the world itself want to kill me? Why assassins? What about natural disasters, monsters or just frying my brain? I don’t understand. Is the world itself a living being?

Slight migraine creeps up in my mind, distracting me from my thoughts. This time I notice the sensation of interference inside me. The moment I realise that the magic already corrupted me. By reflex I reject the foreign connection, that in exchange turns into violent attack, making my headache turn unbearably strong.

I fall on my knees to the sudden pain, losing all my focus of the surroundings. My eyes as well all other senses closed, the only thing I concentrate on is to destroy what’s eating me away.

Thanks to my aura mastery and home-field advantage, enduring the pain I somehow manage to fend off the enemy attack. I try slowly opening my eyes as my senses are coming back, but find it impossible. What happened during this time? Was I attacked?

No, I was distracted and lost my sense of time, meaning this was not only a few seconds as I remember. I was attacked probably. But I should be still alive, for I think.

I try forcing my mana out of my body to sense with it, since my sight wont work. I hope they did not pierce my precious eyeballs out. However, I’m not able to do it. As the information my body provides reaches my brain, I understand everything.

The pain. Blood drenching, gut tearing, soul ripping pain. I can almost see myself from the outside, as a dieing body of a young maiden, dressed in black but but drenched in blood tries to laugh at her own stupidity. Try, because she has no power to do so.

The pain, that wasn’t in the game. The pain that I always felt in my entire life. The pain that I hate so much I ran away and hid in depression. Who needs memories? I only remember the sadness, hate and anguish as I was tormented to hair’s breath before death.

I’m glad I don’t remember! Don't dare to remember me!

This is all my fault. If I noticed that my mind was attacked by magic or at least that something was wrong, I could have done something against it. I was arrogant thinking of this as a game. I saw the signs, this is just mere kidnapping. Or worse. Human experiment. But I can’t refute them.

So [Mind Magic] huh. Interesting.

What has to be done, that has to be done. Let’s play this game of yours. I’ll show you how you won’t fuck with me.

--------------------------------------------

-Interfectrix POV

After erasing the two attacker I withraw into hiding. After I made a mistake and revealed myself I was ordered to not come out unless ordered. I obey my Princess’s words.

I watch as the beautiful princess is thinking about something, then approaches the beastman. Just in case, I move a little closer to be able to act if needed. The Princess is everything I have, without her all of us subjects would not be able to live anymore. My life is her’s.

The Princess suddenly freezes and shows a pained expression. Before I can do anything another two assassins appear from the thin air. How could they be so strong?

With a swift jump a cut the throat of one open, but it turns into ground and falls apart. Not thinking too much by it since there are similar monsters, I rush at the second and with a swift cut I eliminate that one too. I’m a blade of the Princess. I have to be perfect.

Suddenly another presence appears right next to the princess. I use my body by instinct to push it away, and succeed. Before it disappears like the others a knife was thrown by it. Since I don’t have enough time to deflect it I move my own body between it and the Princess. Even if I lose an arm, they can heal it back later.

I push my arms in a protecting pose in front of me to intercept the flying weapon, but it goes right through me. It went through me like a ghost, like I don’t exist. In panic I turn back towards my princess, only to see as she is still struggling. A strong mental attack? Who can be even near as strong as the princess in that? Even the Dragon God recognised her as the strongest Aura Master. But the flying knife is still heading towards her. What can I do?

I the split second before my body could follow my thoughts, the knife hits the neck of the Princess. My heart rages from sadness and flustration.

I failed! I couldn’t keep her safe! Her untainted and beautiful body got damaged! How can I take responsibility for it. I don’t even worth as much as her torn clothes. I failed as a bodyguard. I failed as the servant of her’s. I failed as her creation. I failed all our ancestors letting her injured. I'm the first and only one who failed.

But there is no one else here. I have to bring her back to have someone heal her. Even if she is strong, her body is fragile. She is as strong as a human warrior while being a pure mage, but this only proves how inferior we are compared to her. But even she will die from blood loss if she’s unconscious.

My punishment have to wait for later. I have to take her to safety before that.