Back at Lostfon, a shadowy figure and an ornately dressed man stared at a motley crew of shivering men, who were currently on their knees, their faces contemplative.

Claud let out a small sigh when he noted the lack of any intense emotion directed at the poor crowd, and he nudged Lily. “Seems like they’ll be fine now, I guess. The count doesn’t seem too interested in killing them.”

“I’m glad we don’t need to fall out over something this small. And as for the Dark Herald…well, she’s just completely disinterested, right?” Lily had an odd look on her face. “I guess Dust’s the type that doesn’t care as long as the job’s done.”

“Probably. Either that, or the two of them have more pressing things on their mind.” Claud leaned against the wall and watched the proceedings.

“Like the possibility of the Coloured Gods trying to start something.” Lily bobbed her head. Right now, the bandits-turned-civilians were thanking the count profusely for sparing them and for welcoming them back to the city, which was a rather heart-warming sight.

Claud already knew it, but not all nobles were wolves that had a questionable taste for blood and gruesome murders.

“Maybe it’s the information I hear from up high…”

“What information?” Lily asked, cottoning on to his self-reflection.

“Oh, my innate bias against male nobles of a certain rank and higher,” Claud replied. “I used to think that all counts were bloodsuckers who prowled the night and preyed on unsuspecting townfolk. Of course, that impression was remedied when I grew a bit older, but I’m sure those storybooks affected me somewhat.”

Lily tilted her head, before her eyes lit up. “Baron Bloodsucker?”

“Yes, yes! And Count Crimson too,” Claud replied. “I remember the artwork. It was an elegant setting. Chandeliers, silky clothes, posh manners…and blood draining from corpses and trickling into glass cups.”

“Uwah. I remember reading the Nasty Nobles series now.” Lily let out a small sigh. “The author never got around to releasing the following books, though. I’m kinda pissed.”

“Now that you think of it?”

“Now that I think of it.” Lily eyed Claud. “Really needed you to bring that up.”

“Sorry.” Claud rubbed her head. “This better?”

“What am I, a child? Well, this does feel good…you have a talent for headpats.” Lily closed her eyes and leaned against him. “Up a bit higher…and there, yes. I like that spot the most.”

Committing that specific part of her head to his eternal memory, Claud carried on with the very entertaining task of cheering up Lily, and in silence, the two of them watched the pardoned families scamper out of the palace. Guided by guards, the entire bunch soon vanished into parts unknown, and Claud had to reluctantly end his pampering of Lily.

“Come on,” said Claud. “Time to go back.”

“Alright.” Lily looked like she was chewing on a lemon or something, but not a word of complaint escaped her mouth.

Count Lostfon looked at them as they approached, a small smile on his face. “Good job, the two of you. I wasn’t aware that those dastardly bandits that had been screwing us over were just families that had been instigated and tempted to rob our convoys. Moons know— err, sorry — that I need more manpower around here to begin with.”

“It seems like the good count’s trust in you two was not unfounded,” said the Dark Herald, who didn’t seem to care that Count Lostfon had swore to the Moons. “Once again, thank you for preserving the sanctity of this covenant between my master and you humans.”

“You flatter us,” Lily replied, her endearing tone of voice replaced with a business-like alto. “We did what we were requested to do, for the sake of the people here.”

“It might not seem like much,” the Dark Herald replied, “and to me, your intentions are immaterial. What matters is the fact that you have prevented any unwelcome incidents that could have potentially arose from the cessation of the covenant between my master and the Duchess Lacuna. That is all.”

“To decline your praise further would be discourteous,” Lily replied, her words an implicit acceptance of the Dark Herald’s praise.

Dust looked at Lily once, and then turned to Count Lostfon. “Disturbing elements indeed have encroached upon the soil on which the two of us stand. The current overseers of this mortal realm…whether this is their doing or not is not something we can discern for now.”

Count Lostfon nodded. “Bandits capable of discerning the origins of their instigator? The instigator might have just let a few words slip here and there. But we find ourselves in a predicament here. The two enemies your master faces are older than me and almost everyone alive. The number of considerations put into this matter cannot be underestimated.”

“Layers of conspiracy.” Dust turned away from them. “In essence, we currently face a recursive trap that’s bent on paralysing us with indecision and considerations. It will do not to dwell on it.”

Claud listened attentively. For some reason, his instincts were telling him that this was probably the only way he could complete the Omen Mission on his mission list. Tricks like this to exhaust the three sides would be the only way he could remotely stand a chance in complete that mission, and—

His mind ground to a halt. Why did he have to complete that mission anyway? It wasn’t like failure would mean anything, and…

He took a deep breath and decided not to think about it just yet. There were things that he wasn’t qualified to think about or to examine in detail just yet, even if they were very relevant to him on a personal basis.

Like the name of a particular passive skill, for instance.

“What will you do now, Dust?” Count Lostfon asked.

“Now?” The Dark Herald paused for a moment. “Let’s move to somewhere more hospitable. You should dispense your rewards, just as I should dispense mine.”

Claud perked up at those words. He had somewhat forgotten about it, but they did make an agreement with both Count Lostfon and the Dark Herald. The former was insurance, something Lily had foreseen in the future, while the Dark Herald was going to help them with the thing that had been weighing down on Claud for a long time.

“True. This isn’t the place to talk about secrets,” said Count Lostfon. “Come on. Follow me. Would you three like some drinks too? I’ve managed to secure a few barrels of our specialty drink, and it would be nice to share it around with you guys.”

As the Dark Herald agreed, the impression that these two fellows treated the other as a peer and equal flitted through Claud’s mind again. Despite Dust’s incredible origins, she was treating the count normally, unlike a certain Holy Daughter of the White Church.

It was rather intriguing, to say the least.

“Is your madam still awake?” Dust asked.

“My lovely wife?” Count Lostfon blinked. “What, you want supper? No, no. No more. She’s busy trying to touch up her mana circuits. How can you disturb her like this?”

“Then you cook.”

“Me?” Count Lostfon stared at the Dark Herald. “Me, cook? Dude, hold up. I’m a count. I’ve never touched a freaking pan before. Lighting a fire? Really?”

“You can do it. Go, Lostfon.”

“You can’t use deadpan words to cheer me on and call that encouragement, alright?” The count ran his hands through his hair. “That’s just crap, alright? I don’t know how to cook, and…”

As the two quibbled over the issue of supper, Claud sidled over to Lily, who immediately produced a small bag of chocolate balls. Taking turns to pick up a delicious snack stuffed with energy, the two watched the little drama play out, occasionally sharing glances full of amusement and interest. Who knew that these two were not that different from close friends? No one could have guessed, and from the conversation between the two, it would seem that the Dark Herald was a regular freeloader — err, visitor — of Count Lostfon’s home.

“Would you look at that.” Lily tossed another chocolate ball into her mouth.

Claud felt a bit conflicted, however. This was just more proof that the people of the Dark, the Shadowed Ones, were no different from regular humans. They too had their own thoughts, considerations, worries and emotions.

And yet…

A hand slipped into his own, and Lily placed her forehead against his own. “It’s alright. Don’t think about that, okay? We’ll face whatever comes together.”

Claud forced himself to smile, his chest heating up slightly. “Thank you.”

A cough broke their little moment.

“Time to go, lovebirds,” the count muttered. “After this, I’m going home to hug my lady for three hours. And if she complains, I’ll blame you two.”

“Don’t make single people curse you,” Dust added. “Come on. Let’s go.”

Clearing their throats awkwardly, Claud and Lily followed behind.