V3 Chapter 24

In the Forest of Fog: Old Cathedral…

“Is there still no news about the master’s whereabouts?”

At an old, ancient cathedral, two figures could be seen at the top of two broken pillars.

The one who had just spoken was a lithe figure standing atop the third pillar that was closer to the statue of a broken god that was said to have been worshiped by the people who lived in this ancient city long ago.

However, from what the remaining records say, after a nightmarish disaster strike, a black dragon descending and destroying everything, even this cathedral was not exempted from death, and all that remains was now a vestige of the past.

The God’s statue has a broken head, so there was no clue as to what God was worshiped at that time. There had been many hearsays, but nothing was proven right. Nevertheless, for the current landowners, the statue’s severed neck has now become a throne for the one and only God their worship- the one that would lead them to everlasting glory and peace: The Garden of Eden's one and only Master-- [Primo].

However, for some unknown reason, the God they love and worship has been missing for quite a long time for the first time, and this worries them. Especially to some selective few who’s been racked with worry that they were starting to panic. And one of them was none other than Terzo.

These past few days, she’s been assaulted with incredible anxiety and longing that her mood turned worse each day, and her weak health even deteriorated even worse. Well, she has always been quite a fragile girl.

“Unfortunately, there is none,”

A figure came out from the shadow and stood atop the second pillar. She has a dark-blue colored, shoulder-length hair. She was wearing a frilly maid uniform that suited her busty and slender figure, boosting her incredible charm.

However, what made her even more eye-catching was the fact that she possesses a pair of cat ears and the shine of her beautiful azure cat-eyes that seemed to gleam in the dark.

It was none other than Ruka Hashbern. The personal servant of their Master, as well as, the illegitimate daughter of the noble Hashbern Family of the Demon Empire.

Though, secretly, she adorns a second name of [Secondo] among the members of the Garden of Eden. One of its high leaders, and prominent loyal servant that directly serves the Supreme Being the Garden worshiped. Though, this also caused her to become the object of envy for the other members due to her closeness to their master compared to the other members.

“Since three days ago, the connection with the master has been cut off, which also caused Lady Eve’s distress and anxiety over these past few days,” she said with a darkened expression. “However, we are confident to believe that the Master is safe and sound since the Jewel of Life connected to Master has not displayed any change. But that’s all we know… we already sent people to find the master’s location, but sadly, there’s no success on it either.”

Terzo hugged the stuffed figure that resembles Aanuel tightly and curled on her seat.

“The Master…I want to see the Master,”

“Don’t be so spoiled, Terzo. You also know that we all want to as well. However, the Master should have his own reason for disappearing so suddenly. We cannot disturb him for selfish reasons. You have been given the duty of overseeing the members of the Garden, so you should do so with eagerness. Stop your gloominess, and do eat properly your meals. If the Master knows that you're forsaking your health, it would displease him, no doubt.” warned Ruka.

“Spare me your lecture, Secondo. I am doing what I should do,”

Terzo raised her face, and through the eyepatch hiding her eyes, she glared at her and said with an indifferent voice.

“The plan is going smoothly, as it should be. We already spread out our influence on the Holy Empire as much as we can. And we had even successfully planted some spies on the royal palace and great noble clans. And through them, we already grasp quite a lot of the movements of the group who calls themselves Heroes as well.”

“Hm, that puts me at ease. Leaving everything to you is indeed a good decision.” Ruka smiled gently.

“If it’s for the Master, of course, I will do everything I can to succeed.”

Terzo could not help but feel superior when she said that. Though Secondo was their master’s lover, when it comes to necessity, perhaps, she can be a rival to the loyal servant despite all odds.

Since Secondo is tied down on her duty as a servant in both their master and the Demon Princess, she cannot be of use to the major plans set by their beloved Master, in which, all task is directly handed to her.

To be of use to the Demon Prince they worshiped is the greatest honor one could ever have. And this honor cannot even be compared to just warming his bed- well, it might also be impolite and can be considered rude to say that out loud, so Terzo could only keep it to herself. But the envy she was feeling for the servant of her Master was satiated just like this.

As Ruka saw the look on the little girl’s face, though with the girl’s cold expression that doesn’t seem to know the existence of a smile, she still couldn’t help but raised an eyebrow.

“Is something wrong Terzo?”

“Hm, nothing,”

Her usual cold voice, for some unknown reason, seemed different to Ruka, and she frowned even more. She felt somewhat irritated when looking at her- though, perhaps even more than usual.

“…setting that aside, I fail to understand the reason why the Master placed all importance in these Heroes. Their powers, abilities, location, movements, and even how the kingdom treats them… I admit being called Heroes is already enough for them to be seen as obstacles to the Master's plan. Furthermore, the power to resurrect after death made them even more of a terrible enemy. But ability-wise, they cannot even compare to the weakest of us. Them, becoming an issue for Master is but one in a thousand chance.”

“The Master has his own reason for doing so,”

Ruka replied nonchalantly, though she was also baffled. What’s even more confusing is that Prince Aanuel actually ordered them to assist the Heroes in their endeavors. Though, only minimum interference at most. Such as saving them if possible whenever the Princess uses the Demon Pagoda against the Heroes.

Though, being killed is alright, but why does Master against them being imprisoned on the Demon Pagoda.

Wouldn’t it be better if the immortal Heroes be imprisoned there, so that they cannot be revived anymore, and caused trouble?

Though, an illogical order, but Ruka and the other members of the Garden wouldn’t hesitate to carry out the order. In fact, they had already done that, saving the heroes against the Princess several times, through, assassinating and killing them first, before the Demon Pagoda completely absorbed them.

The Princess had already started to doubt that there is a spy inside her circle. If this goes on, would the princess know of their existence?

Furthermore, trying to preserve the lives of the Heroes by killing them is starting to become heavier on their shoulders as the Princess was getting careful on her side. The only consolation they had was that, because the Princess only fights against the Heroes in the North, where the latter seldom participate, there is no need for them to always be on guard.

As long as there are no heroes involved, the Garden would not move either.

But why does the Master placed so much importance on these Heroes? And why does he went his way just to protect them? And if the Master wants to protect the Heroes, wouldn’t giving them a warning against the Demon Pagoda be enough? Why does the master specifically order to save them, by killing them? Is he protecting them? Or is he trying to kill them himself?

The second Demon Prince orders are without a doubt, very confusing.

Still, Ruka didn’t dare think too deeply about it, nor placed much concern about it. If the Second Demon Prince, their beloved master says to do it, then they would certainly obey without any hesitation.

“Still, the state of the Heroes are not that interesting. Though they are indeed stronger than average people, and in fact, can be considered stronger than most elites. However, their powers are not that impressive for the so-called Heroes. If not for the Holy Sword or the power that exempts them from death, they are even weaker than most elites in the Demon Empire.”

“Perhaps, but don't you think the power to revive after death is a very troublesome power? Not only that, I heard that they possess fast growth and incredibly impressive learning aptitude, which can also be worrying. I guess, placing much attention on these people like Master ordered is the correct choice. However, sealing them inside the Demon Pagoda should be the right solution- why does Master doesn’t allow such a thing?”

Terzo asked with a bewildered tone.

“Only the Master knows the reason. What we need to do is obey without question.” Ruka shook her head. She shared the same question. However, doubting their Master's command would be heresy. And so, she decided to ignore these matters.

In any case, the Master has never been wrong!

Surely, the Master should have reasons for doing this. Reasons that we would never be able to imagine or even understand.

“...as you say.”

Terzo continued to groom the stuffed toy in her hand with a gentle expression.

“Still, although the plan is progressing smoothly, without Master, we can’t do anything. Did Lady Eve give out new orders, instead?”

“No. The Garden remained on standby, and just continue doing what it was doing, perhaps, until the Master returns.”

“I see…but speaking of the Winter Mountain. Perhaps, Master went into the Winter Mountain because he wanted to verify the legends regarding it? Perhaps, he had found something?” Terzo suddenly said.

This has been weighing on her mind lately, and because of that, she couldn’t help but connect the mystery of the Winter Mountain to the disappearance of her beloved Master. Though, whether that was true or not, it’s hard to tell. In fact, it has a very low chance of happening.

After all, countless years have passed, people of various races had never stopped trying to uncover its secrets but not a single one had yet to succeed. It would be a miracle for a single person to do that now.

“I and Lady Eve had the same suspicion. Perhaps, the Master had uncovered some secrets of it, causing his sudden undivided attention.”

“The Winter Mountain has always been one of the greatest mysteries that no one had ever uncovered since thousand years ago. To think that the Master could perhaps be the one to do it, aaaah, just thinking about it made me feel delighted. Overwhelmed. To serve such incredible master…!!”

Terzo’s smile shifted, going from graceful and elegant to lewd and wicked in an instant. It was a smile she would never show to her beloved master. A complete sluttish expression that is completely ill-suited to her innocent, and elegant expression.

Looking at it, Ruka could only roll her eyes and sigh. If only the master knows this side of Terzo, surely, he would be disappointed.

Ruka knows that her master favors Terzo. Ever since he had picked her up from the slave auction that was hosted by the Black Garden, the Second Prince had always favored her, teaching her a lot of things, and also treating her as his little sister.

Terzo was a hidden gem, sold as a slave by the Black Garden. A Death Slave, so to speak. However, no one had been able to see through the little girl’s rare affinity to Death. Only her beloved Master.

Though many people had tried to buy her at an incredible price, after all, such a beautiful, and innocent little girl was quite hard to come by. But in the end, the Second Prince successfully bought her. At that time, Ruka didn’t know why the Second Prince was so desperate, to the point of using Millions of Gold just to obtain her. A mere little girl could never be that expensive. Much less, a mere, powerless little girl.

But now she knows.

The Girl was proven an incredible genius in Magic. And most of all, she has the rare Magic Affinity that only one in a Million people could possess. The Death Affinity. Just like her Master.

Furthermore, through unknown reasons, or rather perhaps- only the Second Prince knows why, but Terzo awakened the Magic Eye of Petrification. An incredible inherent ability that was said to be possessed once by a legendary figure. A Monster called Medusa and was used by her to spread horror and death to the continent.

Ruka and the others always thought that she was a rare breed of Lizardmen, due to some scales on her body. But to think, she has the blood of a Lamia, and perhaps, even the blood of the legendary Medusa at that.

Now that I think about that... how did the Second Prince know that at that time?

Among many people who had seen her, only the Second Prince was the one who had believed that she was of the snake-tribe, not the Lizardmen. In fact, when they first met, Terzo also believed that her ancestor was that of a Lizard Tribe- though, her appearance caused her to become a taboo, and was cast out. Then, she was caught and turn into a Death Slave by the Death Temple.

But when she heard that her master told her she’s not a lizardman but a Lamia, she was also baffled like the others. After all, her appearance completely differs from that of demi-humans called Lamias, as she had no tail, nor any clue that shows she possesses snake blood.

Though, I can only say that, as expected of the Master. There’s nothing he can not see.

But still, to think that this little girl would surpass me in magic in just two years…

Ruka felt at a loss.

Though she didn’t see herself as a genius, she still has some confidence in her own magic.

Well, I’m not only great at magic anyway. Comparing close combat ability, she’s not an opponent for me.

Thinking like this, Ruka felt as if she had regained her confidence.

“...I’m sorry for my delayed arrival,”

Suddenly a voice appeared from the side.

“Secondo, Terzo, a pleasant greeting.”

It was a tall woman, with quite a large, muscular build. She wears a sleeveless top with a black skirt and equips light armor that covers her right arm, left forearm, and most of her legs. Her face can’t be seen clearly as she wore a plain, black mask.

The newly arrived woman placed her right hand on her left chest, all while showing the ring, with an engraved snake that seemed to be biting its tail.

Looking at her, Terzo muttered: “No need for formality, Sesto. This is not a formal meeting, there is no need to be so strict.”

Ruka nodded her head as well, showing the fact that she also didn’t mind it. Since Terzo was the leader of all Garden Keepers, Ruka was not in a position to say anything to Sesto. Though, she also wanted her to act without formality. She was just a servant, hence, she’s not used to being treated like a superior.

Sesto didn’t say anything. She only nodded her head.

“Emergency news from the North has appeared,” she started.

“North?”

Ruka furrowed her brows. After all, she was the one who has been stationed in the North, serving and protecting the First Princess.

“Did something happen there?”

Sesto nodded her head.

“According to the information received, the War of Beasts had started to move suspiciously. And that they seemed to have been spotted in the north.”

“The War of Beasts?”

Ruka frowned, so is Terzo.

“The war of Beasts, one of the three great mysterious organizations that hide in the darkness of the Demon Empire. According to the information we have on that organization, it’s a gathered group of hybrids between demons and Beastmen. Monsters possessing the ego of a Demon and savageness of a beast. Cast out from either race…” Suddenly Terzo realized what she had said, and turned towards Ruka, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anything about it.”

Ruka smiled faintly and shook her head.

“It’s nothing. Those words would not affect me now, my life is all for the Master,” she said. Though she felt somewhat ill when she heard what Terzo had said, it was just a passing emotion. Right now, all she needs to know and wanted was to be acknowledge and loved by her master.

Whatever race or species she had, she didn’t care about it anymore.

In the first place, what Terzo said is true.

It would have been better if the union is of a Demon and a Human, or even other races, but a union between a Demon and a Beastmen is the worst of them all. In fact, they are even considered taboo for both races. With a magic capability of a Demon and the animalistic instinct of a Beastmen, they are often seen as creatures of destruction.

But since because of the incompatibility of their blood, often, they would go of control. Their blood turned against each other, and as a result, they mindlessly attack anyone, especially on the night of the full moon.

Because of this, the children of Demon-Beasts are said to be cursed or discriminated against.

Well, Ruka possesses very strong Demon blood. Aside from her physical characteristics, she was more of a demon. Because of that, she rarely loses her control even at the night with a full moon. Hence, she was able to live up until now. Though, it was also mainly attributed to the fact that Aanuel had taken her under his wing, in the guise of becoming his servant that she was not killed by others.

But not all Demon-Beasts are like her.

Most Demon-Beasts were killed in their childhood, especially when they become mindless beasts.