Chapter 10

Rising Star

“A sin is a sin.” Those were the last words I heard before everything went black. When I came to, I found myself staring at a cold gray ceiling. It took a few seconds for my brain to wake up and remind me how I got here.

I immediately jump to my feet. Chains were wrapped around my arms and legs, preventing me from moving around the small room.

Great, just when I thought things couldn’t get worst. I let out a sigh and flop back down on the bed. “Well, it can’t get any worse than this.”

“It can, and I’ll make sure it does.” A voice came from the opposite side of the darkroom. A plump man sat on the edge of the bed on the other side of the room.

“You!” I snarl at the shadow. From the silhouette and way he spoke, I immediately knew from the silhouette and the way he spoke that he was the bastard that tried to feed me to an ogre.

“You must feel at home here. After all, a beast-like you belongs in a cage.” The noble said with a punchable smile. It was obvious he was trying to anger me. Probably would’ve succeeded if I didn’t notice the chains on his arms and legs.

“Those chains look good on you; they go quite well with your personality.” The stupid smirk on his face vanishes.

“I’ll be free of these chains soon, once my friends come to get me.”

“Ha! Friends?! You don’t have any friends, just people who pretend they care about you when you throw money at them.”

“Watch it, girl.” The noble jump to his feet. He tightly clenches his hands into fists and stares

“Or what? Are you going to throw me into a cage? I doubt you can do that since you’re in a cage yourself.”

“AHH!” The noble lets out a roar as he charges at me. The chains wrapped around his arms and legs pull him back towards his bed. I laugh uncontrollably as I watch him flail his arms wildly, frantically trying to reach me.

“So, which one of us is the beast again?” Breathing heavily, the noble looked at me like I killed his child.

“I promise you when I get out of here, I’ll- “

“Whatever.” I rolled around in my bed so I wouldn’t have to look at him. He continues to hurl threats and insults at me, but none of it reaches my ears. I have more important things to worry about. Like if Dante betrayed me or not. I highly doubt he did, but it doesn’t hurt to have a plan in case I've been backstabbed.

I wave my arm, rattling the chain around wrapped around me. The chains don’t seem to be that strong; I probably could break them if I had a weapon.

“Are you looking for a way to escape? Don’t bother. A filthy beast like you belongs in a cage.”

My god, does he ever stop talking?

“You know, I wonder how other prisoners would react when they find out that you’re a noble that loves feeding commoners to monsters.” I had hope that my little threat would shut him up. But it seems to have the opposite effect. His smile widens and looked like I was an ignorant child.

“Why should I be worried. I’ll be out of here soon enough.”

“You’re so delusional, no one coming to rescue you.”

“Alright, you’re free to go.” A soldier says as he opens the cell door.

“Huh?” The noble and I stare dumbly at the soldier that walked into our cell.

“See? I told you my friends would come for me.” With a wide grin, the noble he offers his chain bound arms to the soldier.

“I didn’t come here for you.” The soldier turns his back to the noble and approaches me.

“What?! Why are you freeing that filthy animal?”

“Watch your mouth. She’s under the protection of the King’s elite guards. Insulting her is the same as insulting the King.”

“T-The royal guards freed her?” The noble eyes widen, and his face became pale white. He slowly back away and fell on his bed.

“It’s nice having friends and high places, huh?” The moment the soldier free me from the chains, I stuck my tongue out and walked out of the cell. I’m positive I had a stupid grin on my face as I happily skip down the hall.

“Hey, wait up!” The soldier that freed me jog down the hall. I stopped in my track so he could catch up. The soldier- no, perhaps its better to call him a kid. He didn’t have a dog tag, which means he still hasn’t completed his military training, and he looked like he was fifteen or sixteen years old. The kid would probably have a heart attack if I told him I was probably older than him.

“Thank you for waiting.” The kid said as he desperately tries to catch his breath. I was a bit concern about how he was exhausted from running down a short hallway, but after a bit of thinking, my concern turns into pity. Since he hasn’t completed his training, he’s probably forced to do all the chores.

“The royal guards want to see you.”

“They do, huh?” After everything they put me through, I didn’t want to see them. But I still need to finish my conservation with Dante, and since I’m already here might as well get it done and over with it.

“Fine.” I stepped to the side and gestured for him to take the lead. The kid silently led me through the building. Occasionally, the kid would steal a glance at me whenever I wasn’t paying attention.

“Is something wrong?” The boy jumped a bit when I spoke.

“Oh, no. It’s just I never saw a beastman before.”

“Me, either.” Beastmen are valued highly for their strength and endurance, which is why most tend to migrate to flourishing towns, where people will happily pay them for mercenary work or other physically strenuous jobs.

“Aren’t your parents beastmen?”

“My mother a human, and my father a halfling, although he didn’t know this until I was born.”

“That must’ve been quite the revelation for him.”

“Yea…” No one would’ve ever known he was beastman I wasn’t born. Perhaps things would’ve been better if I wasn’t born.

“Are you okay?” The boy’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

“I’m fine.” I must have quite the pathetic looked on my face. As he didn’t seem convinced, but thankfully he didn’t try to pry any further. Instead, he begins to talk about himself. His name is Theo, and he always wanted to be a soldier, I think. It was kind of hard to pay attention to him when there was a group of soldiers shouting at prisoners that were lined up along a wall. The prisoners’ arms and legs were bound by chains, but that didn’t stop some of the prisoners from arguing with the soldiers vowing revenge on the people that capture them, which only cause the soldiers to yell louder.

“Is it always this hectic in here?”

“Not really. We usually have too much time on our hands. But things change quite a bit when the royal guards came. In just one day, they manage to capture over a hundred criminals. Isn’t that incredible?! I want to be just like them.” Theo’s eyes lit up with excitement while I grew exhausted, imagining another royal guard rampaging through town.

“I don’t think they make the best role models.”

“Hm?” Theo turned and looked at me, confused. I responded by walking past him towards the end of the corridor, which split into four halls.

“They're this way, aren’t they?” I pointed towards the right hallway. Theo's eyes widen in surprise.

“How did you know?”

“They have loud personalities. Even louder than the prisoners screaming for blood.” I walk towards a closed door on the right side of the hall. Two people were talking behind it although one was more vocal than the other.

“How was I supposed to know you change your mind on capturing her?! Don’t forget you left me with all the bodies at the underground arena. By the way, thanks for that. It took me all night to drag everyone from there to the soldier center.”

“You could’ve got some soldiers to help you.” The second voice said. Going by how calm and mature it sounds, the voice belongs to Dante.

“Pfft. You expect me to trust these corrupted assholes? The only reason why they haven’t killed us in our sleep is because we haven’t got the chance to sleep ever since we arrive at this hellhole. Honestly, we should just burn everything in this building and have the king send troops to clear out the rest of these criminal bastards.”

“Um, excuse me!” Theo opens the door just as the conservation was heading towards a dangerous place. Dante and the woman who drugged me immediately turn their attention to us. “I-I um, brought the girl as you asked me.” Theo stammer.

“Oh, good. Come in, Catherine.” I accepted Dante’s invitation and walked past Theo, who stood frozen at the entrance of the room. There were only three seats in the small room, so I had no choice but to sit near Dante’s partner. I tried to ignore her, but I could feel her trying to burn a hole through me with her eyes. When I turn to meet her gaze, she opens her mouth to speak, but then suddenly looked away from me.

“Bella, is there something you want to say to Catherine?” Sensing the awkwardness between us, Dante urges Bella to say whatever was on her mind. Bella glares angrily at Dante for a minute to turn her attention to me.

“I’m… sorry for knocking you unconscious.” Bella shyly looked to the ground.

“It’s fine. I should’ve never taken the money in the first place. Besides, Dante did much worse. He even dropped a building on me.”

“You did what?!” Bella jumped to her feet, knocking her chair over in the process. “Don’t tell me. You’re the one that caused that fire earlier?!

“Um.” Dante awkwardly scratches his beard. “Let me explain.”

“Oh, I can’t wait to hear this.” Bella kicks her chair in the air. The chair lands perfectly on its legs despite it flipping multiple times in the air. “Well go on, I’m listening,” Bella says as she flops downs in her seat. Her sharp, jade color eyes cut deep into Dante.

“Fine, I’ll admit,” Dante said as he let out a deep breath. “Things got a bit out of hand.”

“A bit? You guys almost burn down the entire town?!” Bella lean back and her chair and sighed. “Honestly, Dante. You always say I take things to the extreme, but you’re just as bad as me.”

“Um, excuse me.” Theo, who was still standing by the door timidly spoke up. Earlier, he looked so happy when he talked about the royal guards. Now, his face pale as if he was staring right at his worst nightmare. I guess they weren’t kidding when they said you should never meet your hero.

“Permission to return to my previous assignment.” Theo stood up tall and gave the best salute he could.

“Huh, why do you need our permission to leave? If you want to go, then go.” Bella responded to Theo’s heartfelt salute by shooing him away. Despite Bella acting nothing like a soldier, Theo obediently followed her order and did an about-face. Before Theo left, he shot me a worry glance. I chuckle a little to myself. Just a moment ago he saw the royal guards as heroes. Now he’s treating them like they might kidnap me, actually now that I think about it, they did kind of kidnap me.

“Before we begin, why don’t I grab us something to drink.” The moment Theo left, Dante hopped to his feet. “After everything you’ve been through today, Catherine, I’m sure you must be quite parched.”

“Um, sure.” I wasn’t thirsty, but having something to drink might calm me down and prepare me for whatever going to happen next.

“Don’t forget to grab me something too,” Bella said as she tinkers with a crossbow. Wait, where did that crossbow come from? Wait, why am I even acting surprised? Earlier today, I saw an angelic being put out a fire and cut multiple buildings in half with just one swing of her sword. I should just accept that logic doesn’t apply to these two.

“Be back.” Dante slams the door shut to the room, snapping me out of my reverie. With nothing better to do, I silently watch, Bella wiped down her crossbow with a rag. There was a silver cross attach to the wooden frame of the weapon, which reveals how old it was. Centuries ago, people used to believe that Majins and other creatures from the dark world were weak to silver and crosses.

As I watch her gently caress the crossbow, I notice she had an earring in the shape of a silver cross dangling from her left ear. Did she believe in that old superstition, or did she just like crosses?

“Hm? Something wrong cat ears?” The small smile Bella wore when cleaning her weapon vanish when looking at me.

“No, nothing’s wrong I was just- wait, what did you call me?”

“Cat ears. I don’t know your name, so I called you by your physical appearance.”

I’m pretty sure Dante called me by my name before he left. I guess she the kind of person that doesn’t pay attention to things she doesn’t care about.

“My name is Catherine. Catherine Heart.”

“Catherine. Huh?” Bella places her crossbow on the table next to her. “I’m Bella V. Hellsing. But you can call me Bella.” A small smile form on her face as she extends her hand towards me.

How cute I thought to myself as I reach for Bella’s hand. “Wait, your last name, Hellsing?” My hand froze in place as my mind finally process her full name.

Hellsing is a family of legendary hunters during the age when men fear the monsters and other abominations that freely roam the land. The Hellsing took up weapons and fought back instead of waiting for knights or a hero to come to their rescue. Their brave actions led to civilians taking their safety in their own hands and fought back against the monsters, which inevitably led to the creation of the adventurer guild.

“Something wrong with me being a Hellsing?” Bella narrows her eyes as if she was preparing to pounce at me.

“No, not at all. In fact, that’s amazing, you’re amazing.”

“Nothing amazing about me. I just inherited the family name.” Bella leans back in her chair and grabs her crossbow again. “But that’ll change soon.” She said as she gently traces the cross on her weapon with her finger. It seems she had nothing else to say to me, as she begins to clean her crossbow again quietly. Just as the room was about to fall into silence, Dante walks into the room carrying a tray. Three cups were sitting on the tray. A disgusting green liquid that smells of medicine swoosh around inside the cup.

“Tea,” Dante said as he handed Bella and me a cup. Afterward, he grabs his own and sat on the edge of a desk.

“Ha.” I giggle a little to myself. A lowlife thief is having tea with a hero that fought the Demon King and a member of the legendary family of hunters. What even is my life?

I took a sip of the tea to calm myself. As I thought, it tasted bitter. But it helped me relax and finally ask the question everyone in the slums, no, everyone in this town is wondering.

“Why are you guys here?”

“Obviously, we were ordered to come here,” Bella said without so much as glancing at me.

“Yea, I figure that, but why the King send you here? I mean for so longed he ignore people like me, and now all of a sudden, he sends some of his best solider to this backwater town. It doesn’t make sense.

“You haven’t heard?” Bella looked at me wide-eyed as if I told her water is dry.

“Heard what?”

“The King is dead.” Dante blurted out. He said it so casually that I barely register what he says. I thought he might’ve been joking. But pain, anger, and frustration were written all over his face.

“How did he die?”

Dante tightens his grip on his cup to the point it started to crack. “He- “

“That’s classified.” Bella cut in before Dante could say anything. Even though I didn’t get an answer, I got enough information from Bella’s cold gaze and Dante’s pained expression. Someone killed the King. But who could’ve done it? No way a normal person could assassinate him with monsters like these guys guarding him.

“Did a majin kill him?”

“That’s classified.” Bella coldly repeated. I begin to grow angry. How is that classified? The people should know if we're going to war with those demons again.

I took a sip of my tea. The warm, bitter liquid soothes the boiling rage that was building inside me. “Is the reason you guys here because of the King’s death?”

“That’s- “

“No, it isn’t.” This time Dante cut in. Bella coldly glares at Dante as if he was nothing more than an insect. Tension began to build in the room as Dante stare back at her his azure eyes never waver from the murderous intent emanating from Bella.

“Hmph, fine.” After a few seconds of intense stare-off, Bella leans back in her chair and looks away, annoyed. Dante let out a small cough as if that would clear the hostile air.

“Anyway, after the King’s death, his younger brother took the throne. He’ the one that sent us out here. He believes that having us clean up crime would show he support the people.”

“But in the end, he isn’t. This is nothing more than a publicity stunt. A ploy to get the people on his side to support whatever scheme he has planned, right?”

Nobles are always scheming. Even when it seems like they’re doing something good it’s usually to benefit themselves.

“Whether you believe the King is helping the people out of the kindness of his heart or not, it doesn’t matter. Since that’s not the reason, you’re here. What you want to know is how can I help get your store back.”

“Y-Yes.” I sat up straight and tried my hardest to act composed. But my tail betrayed me. It beat on my chair like a drum as it anxiously wags back and forward.

Dante gave me a lopsided grin and gulped down the rest of his tea. “Have you heard of the Rising Star Tournament?”