The village girl's food was some of the best Copsi had ever tasted. There were even traces of magical ingredients that left Copsi feeling unusually refreshed. The village girl must have really put a lot of work into making sure Clarence would like it.

That night, Copsi paid her a visit. She broke in through the window, swiftly forced the girl's mouth closed, and dragged her to the forest before shoving her up against a tree.

The village girl seemed to be trying to say something through her covered mouth. That worked for Copsi as well.

She wanted to hear the bitch scream and beg before she died.

They were far enough away. She let the girl speak.

"Copsi Bloodthorne? What's going on? Is this a dream?"

Surprisingly, instead of just screaming in terror, the girl seemed to be struggling to understand the situation.

"It isn't a dream. Did you really think you could get away with trying to steal my man, you shameless bitch?"

"What? No! How could that be possible? I would never dare!"

Copsi sneered. At least this bitch knew her place.

"Oh? 'All I could do was make you dinner. I hope you enjoy it!'" Copsi said mockingly.

"I-I had no idea he was yours. And I wasn't trying to flirt. I just-"

"Just what? Gave him dinner for no reason?" Copsi leaned in close until their faces were almost touching.

"N-No, it wasn't like that. I made it for both of you."

For some reason, even in this situation, the delusional skank was blushing a bit.

"For both of us, huh? Then why did you give it to him? Do you think I'm stupid? Of course you made enough for two! You've got nothing but your body, so you have to act all virtuous if you don't want to get fucked and dumped like a common whore. I know your type!"

Now that she looked at it more closely, the village girl really did have a nice body. Unlike Copsi's firm, scar-covered muscles, she had soft curves that complemented her clean, pure face.

She was just the sort of woman men inexplicably went crazy over. Well, she wouldn't be so hot when she was a mangled corpse.

At her intense scrutiny, the hussy had strangely flushed an even deeper shade of red. Had she finally understood how to feel shame? It was too late. She should have discovered shame before throwing herself at Clarence.

Copsi lifted one of the girl's hands and began to examine it. She enjoyed starting with breaking the fingers.

"I wanted to give it to you!" The village girl suddenly blurted.

Copsi stared at her. She hung her head.

"I gave it to your companion because... I was too shy to face you. I've always looked up to you, ever since I first heard of you and the Blood Wolves. I didn't have the courage to even meet your eyes, so I gave it to your companion instead. You're so strong and beautiful and famous and I didn't want to be presumptuous, b-but I still wanted to do at least something for you, even if it was something small."

The village girl's voice was soft and quiet, but Copsi caught every word.

For a second, Copsi was quiet. Then, she started to laugh.

"Alright, I'll give you credit, that was a nice try. It seems I underestimated you. If I didn't know your type, I might have even fallen for it. How could a bitch like you, with perfectly smooth skin and a well off family, ever know to respect someone like me?

"You're just afraid of death. Well, good. I'll give it to you."

"W-Wait," stammered the girl, "If you kill me, that's that, but I don't want you to misunderstand me like this. You really are my hero."

She was finally crying, but not hysterically. Tears gently ran down her face as she smiled at Copsi. She carefully reached for a slightly old but well-cared for locket she was wearing around her neck and opened it.

Inside was a beautiful painting of Copsi's face. She was wiping a smear of blood off her cheek and looking forward with a bold expression.

What the fuck? This girl was serious?

Even if she was Copsi's fan, was there really a need to carry her portrait everywhere?

This time, Copsi stared for even longer.

On one hand, she thought the girl definitely had proper taste. On the other, she knew she had fans, but she never expected to be popular with the 'pure, innocent country flower' type.

Somehow, she no longer hated the girl the same way anymore. Still, even if unintentional, she had flirted with Clarence. And more importantly, she had seen Copsi abduct her with the intent of killing her.

It was unfortunate, but she couldn't let the girl survive to report her to the authorities.

"Before I go, there's one thing I'm curious about. Why am I the hero of someone like you? If it's to the extent that you'd wear my portrait like that, it probably isn't just a passing fancy."

The girl looked away. Copsi was still holding her wrist. Her pulse was racing.

"I... I might not have gone through nearly as much as you have, but... I-I've had my own troubles too. There were many times I wanted to give up and let people do whatever they wanted with me, even if it meant losing everything.

"But when I was on the verge of accepting my fate, I saw news that a young girl had fought her way out of the worst cesspit on the continent and c-created one of the strongest mercenary bands in the country. I was intrigued, so I gathered all the information about you I could find.

"No matter who it was, if someone crossed you, you would destroy them. Even if you were standing in a field of blood and corpses, you would keep cutting through everything that got in your way.

"Then, when the critical time came, your image flashed through my head. I thought... y-you wouldn't hesitate when facing someone who wanted to control you against your will, no matter the cost. If it were you in my place, you'd cut them all down.

"So I a-also fought back. And then, ever since that time, whenever I've been in a hard place, I thought of what you'd do. It gave me the courage I needed to survive.

"In a way, I owe you my life. Even if you kill me, I will always respect you."

Copsi had been planning to kill her as soon as she finished, but this raised more questions than it answered.

"What sort of conflicts were you having with your all on the line? Weren't you the granddaughter of the elder in a small community? And how could you become so attached to me based only on news reports?"

The village girl seemed more relaxed now.

"It wasn't only from news reports."

As she spoke, a snake slithered from a nearby branch and wound its way around the village girl's arm. Copsi had the uncanny feeling that something was watching her through the snake's eyes. The chirping of the crickets, which had previously filled the night air, abruptly ceased.

Copsi looked down at the girl's hand, which she still hadn't released. An intricate circle of black ink was gradually appearing around the girl's wrist. Then, the crickets started to chirp again, the snake left, and the shackle-like tattoo began to fade.

"I haven't lived as boring a life as you'd think."

It was time for Copsi to kill her. She had indulged her curiosity for long enough. Yet she hesitated.

"Aren't you going to kill me now?" The village girl still looked at her with that pure expression as she casually indicated a spot on her own chest, "I'll let you. Just press your knife in right here."

Copsi scoffed. She wasn't such an amateur that she needed help with killing someone. But still her knife didn't move.

"I think... I don't want to kill you?" Copsi replied, confused.

The girl smiled warmly.

"Then you don't have to," she said, softly putting her hand on Copsi's shoulder, "I will make a binding vow with my life on the line to soothe whatever worries you may have. Since it's you, I don't mind."

Copsi immediately brushed her hand off, but the feeling lingered. She never knew another person's touch could feel so gentle.

"I don't know what's wrong with me, but fine. Let's begin, then."

Copsi began to shape her magic to capture the girl's words, and the girl began to make her oath.

"I am Alissa and I offer my life to this vow. From here until my corpse turns to dust, my flesh is bound by by these words. If I do not keep them, I will die in agony. I make this pledge with full understanding and intent."

She then swore to not rat Copsi out to the police, avoid Clarence at all costs, kill herself if she developed feelings for him, and a few other similar clauses.

Copsi headed back for the city feeling strangely muddled. So muddled, in fact, that a few days later, when another member of her band suggested adding a new adventurer to their group for the next mission, she agreed without even meeting the new person first.

It turned out that the elf was a skilled archer and she passed her licensing exam with ease. After she expressed her desire to go on the mission to the border, a few members of the Blood Wolves had quickly invited her to join them.

I was talking with her to try to understand her a bit better when I felt a pair of eyes burning a hole in my back.

It was Copsi.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" I asked.

"What's your relationship with that girl?"

"We just met. I heard she'll be joining us for the mission."

"So you're talking to her? Why are you talking to her instead of other people? You don't like her, do you?"

Copsi pulled out her knife and started twirling it.

"Are there rules against members of the Blood Wolves dating each other? Regardless, I don't."

"There are no such rules," Copsi said, "But I wouldn't like it if you did."

She tried to caress the side of my face with her knife. I grabbed her wrist and met her glare.

"Don't worry," I told her, "It won't be a problem."

I pushed her arm away and let go.

She seemed a bit surprised, but didn't try to stop me from leaving.

I was only planning on staying with the Blood Wolves for as long as it took for them to get to their destination.

It was good, because Copsi's apparent interest in me was starting to become concerning.