The morning after the carnage born of a married life, I’m walking in the streets of Bluebell Town. I’m here for an errand. Of course by no means I’m avoiding the strange mood of the two love birds. Nothing like an actual carnage went down last night between Hyx and Senna but there was a heated argument. Although, seeing how cuddly they were together this morning, made it seemed like the argument they had last night didn’t ever occured.

They should just go explode[1].

Perhaps Hyx wants the morning alone with Senna, he gave us a list of things to purchase in the town. They are all things needed for alchemy. Most of them can be harvest from plants which prompt me to ask why couldn’t he just ask Kirin to grow those specific plants. His answer was unexpected but yet logical. Kirin with her Divine Art can grow any plants she so desire but that was only apply to plants that can be grown in that specific area. Hyx further theorize that if Kirin has more experience with her newly acquired Divine Art, she might just be able to summon any plants, any where.

Looking at the list written on the small piece of poorly produced paper, I give a once over the names of the items I’m being asked to buy.

“We should be close. The alchemist shop should be just right ahead,” Cormac the Dark Oni told me. I still can’t get over how he looks like an elder twin of Hyx but due to him having hair and his skin is dark tanned, it’s easy to distinguish them both. Cormac is also taller too.

It isn’t just Cormac who followed me on the errand but Lucy, Kirin, Nilin, and Citra as well. Djin and Indara are the only ones staying back at the cottage. That’s because Djin and Indara are the only ones who don’t mind the lovey-dovey atmosphere Hyx and Senna bubbled themselves in.

“I know where the shop is. We first met each other there, don’t you remember?” I told Cormac.

Cormac made a difficult face. It doesn’t seem like he remembers.

“You know, you’re making us stand out by being the only one being inconspicuous.” Nilin said. She’s probably referring to me being the only one in the group wearing a cloak.

Just as she said that, we passed by a group of Farmas Kingdom soldiers but they spared us no more than a single glance. We might be an odd group to my eyes but this is a fantasy world, it isn’t rare to see such odd groups.

“I can’t risk getting my face recognized,” I briefly retorted. I was actually advised to stay back at the cottage but I need to see the situation of the outside for myself. My main reason for volunteering is not to avoid Hyx and his wife, absolutely not.

Nope, not at all.

To lower the chance of getting myself recognize, I have donned a dark brown cloak. The hood covers only half my face but I doubt anyone could recognize just from the jawline. First of all, the only people who actually knows how I really look like, are the Imperial Soldiers of Zerogian Empire. The soldiers of Farmas Kingdom most likely only have a rough sketch or description of my face as the means to identify me.

Lucy is not wearing a cloak, by the way. Knowing how pompous the empire is, they probably didn’t even remember she exists and adding to the fact they are discreetly a human supremacist, they don’t make an effort in distinguish other races. To them, Lucy is just another beast-kin.

Never thought I’ll see the day where I came to appreciate racism and ignorance.

Officially, the Farmas soldiers are looking for me but from the looks of it, they are just patrolling the town like normal. The ones actually doing the search aren’t dressed in soldier attires at all. I have caught sight of a few of them. They dress like the common folks but they can’t bring themself to act like one or they over-act their cover role. Furthermore, their eyes are darting around, looking like a predator scouring for its prey.

They aren’t amateurs, of course. It’s thanks to my Divine Art that I have such a sensitive perception. Especially after the fight with Valuma and the Water Serpents, I seem to have gotten more sensitive towards such matters.

I really have to fight the urge to grasp my sword in response to my agitation towards these painfully obvious spies.

I currently have Avent at my side instead of Talia. Talia’s design is way too eccentric for her not to stand out. Even she is hidden by the cloak, one glance at her is enough to tell that she’s different than your everyday swords, even the magic ones. I’m glad that I did that considering how many curious gazes I have noticed in this town. Avent’s only difference from a normal sword is its blade, which is whitish silver but as long as it’s sheathed in a scabbard, it passes as any other sword.

Since I don’t have Talia out, my ethereal right arm is not manifested but that works to my favor. Plus, having a missing right arm further discredits my association with “Shizuka”.

“Mm, watched?” Kirin muttered.

“Yes, we are being watched.” Cormac affirmed.

Looks like everyone in our group notice these noses.

“Kyu~ Kyu~” Citra who’s wrapped firmly around Cormac’s neck is making a series of cute noise. She’s pointing at a nearby food stall which is selling meat skewers with her whole body. Since Cormac is wearing a collared shirt, she is hidden from view unless one has close view.

“Not now, later.” Cormac told her while gently tapping her tiny head with his finger.

I thought the glutton Lucy is too quiet but turns out, she is too entranced by the food stall that is selling array of meat skewers.

Her little gesture of placing her finger lightly on her lips makes a pretty cute picture. She probably wants to eat but is being tactful about the situation. She sure has grown considering she has been abstinent from meat for at least two days.

I feel like giving in to her cute gestures but I have to steel myself here.

I took her hand as we keep moving down the streets. Ironically, more food stalls came into view.

Not just the food stalls. The noses and eyes have increased as well. I spotted a few people who has Spy as their title. Their affiliations suddenly appear in SIS just as I think of the list of factions that could possibly be their employers.

I didn’t know it could do that but hey, I’m not complaining.

Most of them are spies working for the Farmas Kingdom. I further spotted two more spies belonging to Zerogian Empire. I take extra care of not showing my face to these two. I also mark their Mana wavelength. It’s not something like putting a marker in video games but it is close to that concept. The mark will disappear if I lose concentration of it though.

Besides Farmas Kingdom and Zerogian Empire spies, there are a few suspicious-looking individuals belonging to Au’ruum. SIS gives me more information about it as I wished in my head for more information. Au’ruum is Helix for Dark Truth. Apparently, it is a cult. A fanatical one. And their object of worship is— as you guess it, Demons.

I have known a few similar cults like this back in the Empire but Au’ruum seems to be relatively new.

This is gonna be trouble. I can see the red flags all over.

There are six of these cultists but I only mark the one with Ritual Head as one of his titles.

As if Demon worshipers aren’t enough, I spotted a strange individual with the least suspicions but I just can’t shake the feeling of him being bad news. So I appraised him.

His name is Kaelus. A B-rank with a thousand ECS. His Arcane Arts are typical of a fighter-type class but he has a rare Magic Spell that I have ever only seen it twice, Gravity Magic. He also has Appraisal and Analyze. His titles are mostly related to espionage. And the ones that stand out are; Murderer, Deceiver, Defiler, and Saboteur. His affiliation is; Covenant. The explanation on Covenant is brief. It is the the largest underworld organization and one the three major superpower in the world of Evarenan.

This guy is obviously another bad news, so I mark him too.

As I kept my caution and subtle gaze on these suspicious individuals, we have arrived at the alchemy shop. Going in with everyone would be too much for a small shop, so only Nilin and I enter. The rest keep watch outside. I remind them to remain constant vigilance of any person that seems too nosy with their gaze.

“Nn, will do best.” Kirin answered me, which is rare. I think this is the first time we had an exchange.

Cormac simply nodded and Citra copies him.

Lucy pumps her fists with some excessive spirit. “Of course, Shizu.” For some reasons, she seems too enthusiastic.

As I turn back, Nilin has already gone into the shop.

It wouldn’t kill her to say something at the very least.

I drop my hood when the door closes behind me.

The same Dwarf alchemist behind the counter turned wide eye when he notices me. Looks like he remembers me too. “Oh, young lady. It’s you again, eh. Not appraising me this time?” His tone is prickly for some reasons.

Oh right, I appraised him the first time I came in here and got lectured for that.

“By the Nines, what happened to you arm?”

His worry is unexpected but reasonable.

I have been finding a lot of things unexpected but reasonable lately, haven’t I?

“Life happened.”

“Fair enough,” he read the mood and moved on.

His eyes landed on Nilin. He looks disappointed for some reasons.

“And you Missy, just you this time? Where’s your sister?” The Dwarf alchemist turns to Nilin who’s looking at the displayed items.

“She’s not my sister, I told you that.” Nilin replied in a tone not unbefitting of a highborn lady. Other than their height and hairstyle, they could even be mistaken as twins.

The Dwarf sighs. “Better mind your tone, missy. At this rate, all the boys would find you unsavory and run away from you.”

“Good. I do not need them. They are all repulsive anyways, especially human boys.”

Despite her haughty tone, I can detect a hint of sorrow in it.

Hyx did told me about Tom. Nilin was quite fond of him. Although it wasn’t clear whether the love was one-sided, Nilin did truly love Tom. And it was his death that led her to practice the art of gun-slinging. She wanted to fight but her nature and physique did not allow her to fight with the usual means. With an old ragged-out blueprint Hyx found in Rising Valley, he managed to make a revolver after much trial and error.

According to Hyx, Nilin has immense talent as a gunslinger. She was able to hit her mark precisely and consecutively after only a week’s worth of practice.

“You two are travelling together now, eh?”

“Something like that,” Nilin replied curtly.

“So, do you need Coral Flowers again? Fortunately for ya, I got a few in stock now.”

“In that case, I’ll take two hundred grams of it.”

Hearing that, the Dwarf prepared two hundred grams of Coral Flower, grounded to powder form, wrapped neatly in some sort of laminated paper. If this is the medieval times of Earth, lamination would be incredibly costly but this world has magic. So it may not be the case for this world.

“Anything else?”

“Gray Spores, a kilo. Soft Dust, two hundred fifty grams. Penuma Sap, two kilos. And a kilo of the best catalyst you have suitable for combustible substance.” Nilin listed them all out without even taking a look at the list I have taken out.

—— What the hell did I even wrote this list for?

And now that I take a good look at the list… This is obviously a recipe for explosives. Gray Spores are like gunpowder but has the combustible and explosive rate turned up to 11. Soft Dust is a kind of powder that reduces the effective range of substances but increases single-area effectiveness. It is mainly used in explosive for greater damage in exchange for reducing its explosive range. Penuma Sap is a type of oil harvested from the Penuma Tree. It is flammable, of course, and often used as fuel in low-end machines.

Even the Dwarf alchemist is a little hesitant in preparing these items.

“Whoa Missy, this is four times the amount you asked for than the last time. You sure you’re not plotting anything?”

“Rest assure, Fairy-folk. If anything, it is used for the good of the world.”

The Dwarf looks to me after listening to Nilin.

I shrug, giving him the gesture of “I know nothing about this”.

“Just so you know, little Missy. These things aren’t cheap. The total will cost quite a pretty penny.”

“All covered,” Nilin said and placed a bulging pouch on the counter.

The Dwarf took the pouch and threw it under counter. I don’t think he missed Nilin taking the pouch literally out of nowhere but he doesn’t question it.

“You accept?” I inadvertently asked.

“Well, ask no question, tell no lies.” The Dwarf answered me and disappeared to the back of the store.

Once his figure is truly gone from my view, I shot a glance at Nilin.

“Are we really building a bomb?” I asked in a low voice. Obviously, I sounded quite alarmed.

“No but close,” said Nilin with a smug face.

My hand curls into a fist when her expression reminds me of Hyx. He really is a bad influence.

“Then what are those ingredients for?”

Still looking triumphant and smug, Nilin taps the clips subtly conceal around her belt.

“Bullets? For those?”

“Yeap. Although, I’m still learning the process of making them. Only Hyx knows for now.”

I didn’t ask for more but Nilin got carried by the sense of self-importance she brandished to me. She went on and explained the whole thing.

To summarize her long-winded explanations with occasional self-boasting, having mixing Gray Spores with Penuma Sap along with a few other chemicals, it creates a highly combustible and explosive liquid substance that Hyx dubbed Eerie Matter. It has an unusual reaction towards magic-infused metals. It burns them at an incredibly high temperature and melt them into nothing in matter of seconds. Yes, into nothing, even high grade magic steels, as long as its not normal steel. No residue, no odour, burn away like flash paper. In just matter of seconds at that.

However—

There was an even unusual reaction in the process of the metal being burned into nothingness. During the burning, the magic metal-in-question’s strength increases by three fold before instantly being burned into nothing.

This so-called Eerie Matter replaces the gunpowder inside the bullets that Nilin uses. Which means, as soon as these projectiles hit their marks, they instantly burns into nothing, leaving no trace. A deadly and effective weapon that leaves no evidence of its cruelty but its mark.

Kinda like committing a murder with ice. The weapon disposes of itself after awhile. This is the same concept.

To think Hyx discover this substance during a trial and error done by an amateur.

The peculiar reactions is called unusual because it does not burn that greatly with normal metal. In fact, it was weaker than normal flames towards normal metals. Hyx theorize that the Eerie Matter unusual reaction is due to the magic in magic-infused metals. These “Eerie Flames” favors Mana more than your conventional flammable substances. The revolver itself is made of normal high-grade steel so it won’t get burned away with the magic steel bullets.

But firearm does exist in this world but not something like a revolver and it all runs on magic instead of gunpowder. Even if it runs on magic, it uses a lot of Mana and requires heaps of experience to pull it off. So it was better to just use normal attack magic.

Some people in the world doesn’t even knows a gun existed because it’s not well-spread due to its unconventionality.

Nilin looks extremely proud of herself after she done explaining. She even puffs up her chest which is slightly bigger than mine. Slightly, mind you. If a comparison is drawn, we will both be categorized under the same alphabet, okay? It’s just a little bigger than mine, a little.

“It’s best to keep those to yourself, Missy. You’ll draw laughs instead of admiration with what little you have.” The Dwarf alchemist put Nilin on a grill with the fire turned all the way up as he emerged back from the backroom.

I stifled a laugh which I failed and incurred a bloodshot gaze from Nilin.

With a heave, he lays down the items before us on the countertop, all packed. With my Divine Art, I could confirm the insides without unpacking it.

I nodded with affirmation of the contents at Nilin who’s still giving me the bloody stares.

Hey, you brought this on yourself.

Nilin store everything into her ring which is enchanted with a Storage-like magic called; Vault, an advance Spatial Magic. She carries only the Coral Flowers by hand. Probably to use it as a a cover so it won’t look weird leaving a shop empty-handed.

I’m slightly worried she did this right in plain view of the Dwarf but she assures me that it’s fine.

“You know—” the tone of the Dwarf changed.

My hand steadily rest on the hilt of Avent. Nilin on the hand, is calm. She isn’t making any move but having seen her practice in action, her state of mind is probably fully prepared to draw her gun at any moment.

“—some people came in and asked for you. They say you were missing in action. Know anything about that?”

“I do,” I answered, honestly with conviction, which surprised myself.

“And what did you tell them?” Nilin beside me has her Mana welling up. She is readying a spell. A pop-up appears with the spell’s name but I didn’t turn to look.

My heart feels warm. I’m thankful for Nilin stepping in for me but I just can’t allow her to get meddled up with my problems.

Just as I was about to stop Nilin from doing anything else, the Dwarf throws up his hands while uttering out loud, “Nothing. I told them nothing. Honesty of the Nines.”

I’m guessing that’s their version of “honest to god”.

“Really?” Nilin pressed on.

“Really. Missy, I gained nothing from selling out my customers.”

“Not even with bribes?” Nilin isn’t backing off.

The Dwarf scoffs. “Not with their own gold. They are Farmas soldiers. Their loyalty and honesty amounts to only their wages. If they’re bribing someone, it will be out of the king’s pocket.”

His status now reads, Fear and Distress: Low. Perhaps it’s because my soul strength is greater than before, Nilin’s threatening aura doesn’t really get to me but it’s another story on a normal person. The Dwarf has ECS but it’s only three digits in the lower half. Guess I should really throw him a life line.

“Nilin, it’s alright. He’s telling the truth.”

Of course, I didn’t know whether he was actually telling the truth but going by his heartbeat and body language, he is as honest as he can be.

“Are you sure?” The way Nilin asked me for confirmation betrays all the image of her as a scatterbrain from before. She’s like a different person completely.

“Yes, I’m sure. Just stand down!” I raised my voice. “He’s going to have some serious damage if you keep up with that!”

Letting out a reluctant sigh, Nilin releases her intimidating aura.

The Dwarf drops his hands. His clothes and vest are soaked with his cold sweat.

“Sorry about that. As you can see, we are really particular with our discretion. I hope you can keep it on the low if you really value your well-being.” I didn’t mean it to come off as some sort of threat but I’m kinda mentally exhausted to correct myself.

“I hear ya, I hear ya. This ain’t my first time with a customer asking for secrecy with that kind of tone and look. You ain’t the first and certainly won’t be the last.”

“You receive a lot of warnings like this?”

“Oh, a lot more than you think.”

Nilin scoffs. I bet she has been waiting for the right time to do that. “You don’t seem use to it.”

“Missy, you don’t get use to stuff like these. Not as long as you value your own life. It’s best you don’t get use to it. People often turns dumb or to the worse once they get used to it.”

“Can we just go now?” I asked.

Nilin, after heaving another sigh, nods.

“Sorry for the trouble,” saying so, I bowed slightly.

“I don’t mind it, young lady. It’s part of life. And please, do come back again.”

“For real?” I notice my Earth-like way of speaking is coming back but it didn’t seem like a problem now.

“Of course. It’s not everyday I make such a sale from a single customer. If you make purchases like these for a few more times, you might just become my favourite customer.”

Seeing as how we are going to be up against an anomaly from another dimension which a foreign concept of death, I say we’ll be back before we knew it.

“I guess we’ll find out.” I gave an ambiguous reply and left the store with Nilin.

“Here, Shizu!” Lucy happily ran up to me and offered me a bag of meat skewers. I can see she already has half a dozen of it in one hand. I was worried for a moment when I didn’t see them upon exiting the shop.

It isn’t just Lucy but the others as well. I guess they lose to the fragrant smell the stalls give out.

There’s still about an hour and a half before lunch. I guess I can have a few.

Citra had greedily swallow three meat skewers at once, minus the sticks. It ends up giving her body a weird shape contouring the meats she swallowed. It’s a little uncomfortable to watch, to be honest.

“What’s next? Come on get on with it. I want to go back as soon as possible.” Nilin said as she bite on a chicken skewer.

And I thought I was cooped-up.

“Nn. Many noses, not good.” Said Kirin while munching away on a skewer. She eats really slowly when it comes to meat.

“She means there are too much prying eyes on us, she hates that.” Cormac explained to me the meaning of Kirin’s few words.

Well, no one likes being pried into.

“Hey, come on. What’s next?”

Urged by Nilin, I look at the next set of list. And suddenly…

——Danger!

A malicious presence is caught in my detection range.

“Kyu! Kyu!”

Following after the shriek of Citra, the people on streets also starting screaming as they begin to run from something.

“Wh-what’s happening, Shizu?”

““Demon.””

Cormac and I said in unison. I’m impressed that Cormac caught on as fast as I did.

And yeah… This is another case of “unexpected but reasonable”. Cormac role is a scout after all.

But strange… The Demon appeared out of nowhere. It wasn’t here when I exited the Alchemist’s Store. Did it teleport into the town? It’s unlikely but not entirely impossible. Or someone summoned it.

Yeah, someone must have summoned it. There are a few possible suspects. Namely, the cultists of Au’ruum.

“I think we better get out of here before we got drag into this mess.” Cormac suggested. With so many eyes still around looking for me, this is the best course.

However— two more Demons appear and they are now surrounding three civilians. The life force of one of them is weakening. This person must be protecting the other two at the cost of his or her own life.

As my legs take me forward to where the Demon emerged, Nilin grabs my wrist and yanks me back.

“What are you doing?”

I stare blankly right back at her. “What does it look like? There’s a Demon over there with three helpless individuals. I’m going to help them.”

“I’m aware of your intentions but are you aware of it of your own? By helping them, you risk exposing yourself and even us.”

Oh? Nilin is unexpectedly quite compose and collected in this type of situation. But even so…

“But I can’t just let that thing run amok!”

“You’ll have to,” came the cold words from Cormac. Citra is nodding along.

“And what? Just let the ones that we could have saved die? What’s wrong with you— with all of you?”

“Nothing is wrong with us. We do not owe this world anything, that is what Hyx said. If anything, we are owed. And most of all, we are not heroes.” Nilin patronized me.

“You’re not,” saying so, I yank back my hand. “But I am. I’m no hero of the empire but I’m still a hero of the peoples.”

Our gaze were still lock as I drew Avent out of the scabbard.

“Luce, you stay here with them.”

“B-but Shizu…”

“No buts. Just listen to what I say!”

My raised voice frightened Lucy but I have no leeway to apologize now.

“You know what this will entail, right?” Nilin asked as I turn to leave.

“I know but even so, I’m still a hero.” And I left to deal with the Demon without waiting for a response.

Nilin screamed something behind me but my mind is too preoccupied with reaching the civilians as soon as possible.

“Kyu~?” A cute noise came from my left as I dash through the streets.

H-huh?

When did you wrapped yourself around my forearm?

Never minding how she got around my arm, I take off into the air and sprint at full speed with Aerial Drive.

I increase my speed with Lightning Walk and Gale Rush when I sensed of one of the three’s life force vanish. Covering myself with Mystic Skin, I further increase the power of Lightning Walk and Gale Rush to the point that it would tear my skin if I didn’t have Mystic Skin on.

Upon reaching the spot where the Demons attack, I quickly land between the two victims and the Demons. Thank god, they are only Mid-Demons.

I take down the Demon in the middle instantaneously with a precise thrust into its Mana Core with Avent coated with Spell Edge. Knowing what Citra can do, I leave my open flank’s defenses to her. The remaining two Demons have their sharpened tendrils met with a gleaming iridescent barrier.

I follow up with a kick to the Demon on my right that sent it crashing into the abandoned stalls while I aim for the other Demon’s Mana Core with Wind Slash.

Just as I’m about finish off the one I kicked away, a black arrow shoots out from my shadow and hit the Demon square in its Mana Core.

All three of the Demons are instantly dispatched when not even ten seconds passed.

Skill Point(s) gained +9

Ability Point(s) gained +6

When I look at my shadow beneath my feet, I notice Cormac lurking inside.

You too…!?

“T-thank you.”

I turned to the voice who offers me her gratitude.

“It’s my duty,” I welcomed her.

The two I saved is an Elven girl and a human girl who’s not even five.

The Elf is a High Priestess of the Nines. Her name is Iluna.

Iluna… Where have I heard that name before?

The little girl’s name is Zoey. She is although, not a believer of the Nines.

As I wonder about the odd pair’s relationship, SIS provides me further information regarding the two.

Iluna is from Cerulean Forest and she’s older than she looks which is what I expected of an Elf. As for the child, she’s….

….

Um…. w-what?

N-no fucking way….

Maybe it’s because I wondered about where her family or parents are, SIS gave me the names of her parents. Her mother is someone named, Xatara Ae’myun and for the father, it’s—

—Hyx Atlas.