-Evileye-

Keno took in the extensive grassy planes of the cauldron glancing over at Gagaran as they traveled. She might ask what her warrior friend's thoughts were of this mission, at least if she could speak. Rubbing her throat Kettor said he was working on a cure, but she didn’t know if she could trust him.

She respected the new blood emperor in a way he was not behaving like any of them expected. He was different then Ainz Ooal Gown in an odd way. He quickly became an Adamantite rank adventurer supposedly died at some lost ruins. Then reappears alive as the new emperor of the Baharuth Empire, and in every bit of information, Tin and Tina could gather. He was always saving lives or protecting others. With only a few negative rumors or theories floating around.

Even the adventurer guild master Plunder spoke very highly of Kyuketsuki despite some disagreements. In truth, she wondered where the emperor came from or what he was like before the change. He seemed too human to have always been a vampire.

Like Keno, he had spent most of his time doing good, even going to war with the beast-men over town peasants. Even when he went to demand them back, he didn’t attack them on sight. Like the rumors said he would thirst for blood and death. If this was all they had known, Keno might find him charming like Momon.

But Kettor Minx was personal friends with Ainz Ooal Gown; he kept maids like Entuma the demon maid before Jalbadaoth had turned them. It might just be bad blood, but she could not see that monstrous spider ever being kind. His empress threatened them with unimaginable pains should they displease him and kept calling the rest of her team sheep. Everyone Kettor was close to that Keno had met was powerful, threatening, and/or unhinged in some way. The only ones who were not are nimble who feared him too much to turn against him and Velvet, who didn’t same much in the brief meeting they had.

The former she knew was with Jircniv before he was killed. The latter was polite and was still stronger than all of Blue Rose. Gritting her teeth as her mind wander back to that demon maid. Somehow that spider had stolen her voice every time she tried to speak; it was like some dark hand tightening around her throat, making it hard to breathe. She couldn’t help but wonder why the spider had not used it before in their last encounter.

“Shorty, are you sure you want to go. I know you agreed to come with us. You only began learning that silent casting thing.”

Keno glanced over at Gagaran, turning away to look towards the mountains ahead of them. Her warrior friend was right if Kettor was secretly evil; why teach her to cast spells silently? Making a hand signal, Tin had taught her it was still a little strange to have to talk like this.

Gagaran grunted, not fully accepting her answer. Carefully finding the words to say. “look, I know I didn’t have a good reaction about your nature…but I saw how much harder casting that is besides who knows what kind of deathtrap we are scouting out.”

Tin chimed into the conversation, “I still don’t know how they have any spies here every town the beast-men have brought nothing but ruin. The beast-men are even working with Jalbadaoth, so how did they survive unnoticed?”

Tina grimaced with her thoughts on the matter. “They gained complete control of the underbelly in the Empire. It’s not surprising they can pull this off after that.”

Keno had to wonder about that as well unable to decipher, which was the real Kettor minx the cruel and cunning leader of his followers or a kind kindred soul leading dangerous people.

“We can worry about the ruler's secrets later. From what little the empress told me, something strange has happened in the capital of the fallen dragon kingdom. our major concern should be sneaking past the beast-men patrols and villages.”

Keno nodded in agreement to Lakyus as they trekked through the long dry planes around them. Which would make it hard to hide but also allow them to see others coming their way?

Gagaran shifted her hammer with a frown. “You have your doubts about this, too, right Lakyus. They haven’t even needed our help much with this whole war.”

Evileye saw Lakyus stop before turning around at them with a very concentrated gaze.

“I do Gagaran, but Kettor strikes me as a man of his word. For now, if we just scout out the place. So far, he has kept his word this is Better than being at Nazarick now let's get moving again we need to get close enough to use this teleportation scroll.”

Keno stopped mid-step her heightened sense picking up ash and blood nearby. Spotting a small trail of smoke not far off, they might have moved to avoid it if not for the odd creature rising out of the shadows. It was covered in thick leather straps bound together into clothes that covered most of its tall, lean body, except for the shroud of mist covering the head, obscuring all its details. Keno couldn’t pick out its gender by the androgynous look of its body hidden under all the thick leather.

It raised its dark long-fingered hand to stop them. Even its voice was indistinguishable of its gender.

‘Magla has cleared the path ahead. My summoner permits you to rest there before continuing.’ The creature didn’t speak a word aloud, yet they heard its words. Keno gazed at this odd creature that did not leave but moved to follow behind them. Not saying any more than needed, she wasn’t sure if this creature was a demon or undead. But it radiated a powerful aura of negative energy.

Though Keno was a little wary of it to not even sense it before now, she moved closer to her sisters of Blue Rose. They were careful to only whisper or debate with silent looks and hand signs about what to do about this thing. All the while, the odd shadowy creature stood unmoving just watching them appearing so slothful it didn’t even breathe or speak. Yet its gaze was filled with lust intently staring at all of them.

Lakyus urged them forward eager to complete this mission, and hopefully, the final task of lord Kettor’s term. Once this was done, all of them would have to decide what they were going to do. Keno knew that it would be much harder with how much the Baharuth Empire and the Re-Estize kingdom changed in almost one full year.

-Rita a Day Later-

Rita slowly opened her eyes. Her body was still a little sore after...she tried to shoot up panicking hoping to get a clue of this new area only to grunt and feel a hand on her shoulder. Pushing her back down, looking up at the canvas of the tent roof and lady Kathrin smiling down at her with pride.

Rita fought off the grimace and vial, filling her heart with regret about passing out. Looking away from lady Kathrin in shame, knowing the only reason she stood a chance was by learning from Jaldabaoth. Not that she had an option in the matter, but it tainted her knowledge. The kind of knowledge one only gained from immoral and twisted sacrifices

Lady Kathrin reading her thoughts, smiled gently, lifting Rita’s head to look in her eyes. With nothing but praise, pride, and joy.

“No need to feel shame, my dear kitten, one of the greatest things we can do is learn from our enemies. You have followed lord Kettor’s wisdom, which kept you alive. Besides, you have finally made progress in your pack training.” Kathrin hummed in deep thought before looking back at Rita. “I am curious why only use aspects instead of a full transformation?”

Rita tightly gripped the blanket gritting her teeth at the vile memories as her failure to change quickly. Jaldabaoth had tortured her for her struggles by making her watch him kill other captives until she finally gained progress. Ironically watching that demon use his aspects gave her the idea of using aspects. Instead of wasting more time and lives trying a full transformation like lady Kathrin.

“I tried, but every time it was like my body was on fire from whatever Jaldabaoth gave me. It was only by using aspects of Lycancat I could overcome that burning sensation. If I was stronger, I could have done something or stopped Jaldabaoth. Instead, I...”

Lady kathrin stretched a hand behind Rita’s cat ears before rubbing her head as the regret and pain in her heart lessens. Allowing Rita to hold back her tears, she could not even give words to how horrible the memories of being in that demon's clutches had been. “My kitten, do not let that demon fill your mind any longer you are safe now. Though let this be a lesson in caution, I fear what would have happened had we not gotten there sooner.”

Rita stared up at lady Kathrin in awe with warmth filling her being as the crystal-clear image of the demon’s face hazed before leaving her mind for now. Still, she was hesitant to let the matter drop altogether. “What if he comes back, surely Jaldabaoth wouldn’t just back off after one defeat?”

Before kathrin could answer, the flap of the large tent opened as emperor Kettor walked in with Leinsa, and a winged frogman with glasses in a vermilion suit who seemed vaguely familiar Rita couldn’t think of why as she racked her brain. Only thinking of the blurry image of Jaldabaoth but unable to remember what his face looked like under the blue and gold smirking mask.

As lady kathrin kept patting her head with a content smile. She remembered the demon emperor's original form was that hulking monster pushing away the absurd idea that this frogman looked similar to what could very well be a stolen form. Another crime on the long list Jaldabaoth was guilty of.

-thank you Leinas, now organize the supplies and keep me up to date. You are dismissed for now.” Kettor waved the elite knight away outside the tent, Rita could hear the happy cheers and what sounded like a celebration.

“You don’t know how relieved I am to see you awake, Rita. There is no need to get up most of the fighting should be over for now.”

The frogman bowed his metal tail curling behind him. “Hello, it is a pleasure to meet you in a more formal setting, my lady, and chosen knight of lord Kettor. Tell me how soon shall I expect an heir?”

Rita blushes and fumbles with her hands at the erotic thoughts of lord kettor. Staring at the ground, regathering her thoughts like most of the women in the army, she was taking a unique magic herb mix. So, it should not be possible to get pregnant pushing the ideas away; for now, she didn’t have time to settle down yet maybe after a few years.

“Demiurge, we will have time for those kinds of talks later. Besides, Rita is still recovering from her ordeal, and we still don’t know what Carnival is plotting in the capital.”

Rita's heart froze in dread at the mention of the admin’, which she still didn’t understand what an admin’ was, unable to hide her shock. She had thought they had already taken the dragon kingdom by now. But not only was Jaldabaoth here, so was the other monster.

The emperor, upon seeing her shaking, walks up to Ritana’s bedside, taking her hand. “It's ok, Rita; you can stay here if you want. But we won't act till I know what they're planning, and this time Demiurge can assure we will have the sorcerer kingdom's help.”

Rita noticed Kettor's gaze switch to Kathrin's watching their faces as they silently spoke through a message spell. They were debating something which gave Rita the time to go over the choice in her head. She didn’t feel as confident in her abilities to face Carnival, which was possibly an even more significant danger than Jaldabaoth.

Taking a deep breath, allowing mistress kathrin to keep giving her head pats as Rita gathers her thoughts. Remembering her mother and father, remembering to be more careful this time.

As lord Kettor's words came to mind by letting her emotion get the better of her, she had put her life in danger and failed to save anyone. If she had calmed down and focused on why she was fighting him. Her choice would not have led to watching so much death and suffering for that demons amusement. Still, no matter how much she felt like folding over and enjoying this soft bed and forgetting about such worries

She was a warrior, her honor, and duty to protect her husband, and the emperor demanded she faces this threat with him. Jaldabaoth would not hold her back no matter how much she feared the hulking demon's true form. Carnival was just another evil that threatened Kyuketsuki’s dreams and her own of a world without monsters like the demon emperor, the covenant of crows, or eight fingers.

“I want to help with this, my emperor, if you give me a few days to recover and let me talk with one of the gentle hand's healers.” Rita couldn’t help but smile, resolving herself to not allow the fear to stop her from doing the right thing.

-Fallen Temple –

Simmra takes up the pen she created and began writing in these strange scribblings they called their written language of this new world. Which if she ever got back home, she would be using it in one of her future books. She determined herself that if she was going to be stuck here. She might as well practice her writing until she got back home. Plus, the last few meetings where just the admin’ trying to get them to work for her while Delight and HK kept arguing about every little thing. She even noted they seemed to be butting head far more than usual.

Sighing as she put those morons out of her head as she began to write down some of her ideas into a short story. Relaxing as she blends into beginning writing, nothing too elaborate just simple gestures of the story idea. Already these odd ciphers that were her practice writing looked better than the last one hundred tries once it was done.

What made it slightly easier to write was the ciphers where similar to Japanese. If not infuriatingly different in small ways was making it harder to learn. It felt like she was just scribbling lines on paper, which were not translated like spoken languages. So she had to physically remember each written word. Once she felt she had vaguely written out an idea, she put down the pen.

Simmra called over three of her disciples, handing them the script as they went over it. Nervously but bubbling with joy at being able to serve her. Simmra was still trying to get used to it but after a few days of thinking it over. Perhaps, the crazy voice in her head was partly right. She might as well practice her writing now if she could just write legibly in her disciple's language, she could get her first readers. Possibly even free beta readers.

The new girl spoke up, her voice quivering a little. Stumbling over her words as he tried to critique the work.“Um, it’s better your holiness but um…your symbols are still a little rough.”

Gabriel was a bit more forward with his opinion. “The writing still needs a lot of practice, but the story is charming. My goddess, if you have so spare time, might I suggest some more personal tutoring with us. I know with just a few months, we have it perfected.”

Simmra smirked slyly Gabriel was cute when he was trying it helps, he was kind of handsome two claw scars on his shoulder and his nicely tanned skin, from working outside a lot. Though she had no interest in a serious relationship until she knew for sure, there was no way back.

Hanauma hummed before finally answering. “I still don't understand the point of the magic music. Why don’t they just charm this villain.”

Simmra sighted Hanauma with her black eyes and dark hair, her skin tone was slightly lighter than Gabriel’s with a different charm but really didn’t seem to like stories. Simmra crossed her arms, trying to think of how to get Hanauma into them. If she could, it would be a great example of her writing skill to make someone fall in love with her stories.

Hanauma grumbling and Simmra thinking were interrupted by another disciple rushing in and bowing. “I am sorry, Lady Simmra. Some strange people from the Slane Theocracy are asking to see you. We told them you were busy as you asked, but they had knocked out our temple guards when they tried to make them leave and are demanding to meet you.”

Simmra grumbled to herself as she told her three disciples to stay put. If it wasn’t some annoying admin’ it was something else. On her way to the front of her temple, she asked about this Slane Theocracy. A close neighboring kingdom separated by a body of water. This would be her first-time hearing about other nations, walking out of the temple, she saw six strangers, one of which had a white and gold dress. Which was clearly a WCI putting her on guard; she didn’t have any way to counter it right now.

Preparing to teleport to the Alvanle city guild base the minute it looked like they might use it. Worse with her silent divining magic, most of them far outclassed any the other inhabitants of this new world. Sweating a little, this would put her in a tight spot if it came down to a fight.

“What is a demon doing leading a temple in the city?”

The woman with very light brown hair and orange eyes. She had on a female school uniform and purple-framed glasses. She also has a black hair accessory and has a light purple bag. Simmra didn’t know what was in the small white handbag; she did sense some kind of monster was contained in the bag.

Simmra prepared several spells in her head to cast as she reached into her inventory, pulling out her daggers. Her tail uncoiled from her side, puffing up the scales as it withers around. it would be an extra weapon if it came to a fight. “Tell me why you have attacked my followers and what you are after here? Or leave.”

“Do not mind the 7th Seat’s rudeness. I am Quaiesse Hazia Quintia. I was asked to come here by our leader. We are hoping to meet with both you and the other two sent by the six gods in our time of need.”

Simmra narrowed her eyes. They must have had a divine caster. Otherwise, they shouldn’t know what she looks like. Fingering her spell ring, a little trap she created incase the admin’ tried teleporting her alone into a battlefield again.

“Why has the Slane Theocracy sent you? Tell me this, and I will forgive you for assaulting my temple guard's.”

Simmra could tell right away she didn’t like any of them if not for the one leading them being polite. She would have used her prepared spell ring otherwise to trap them and call angels from the once floating city. Her eyes never leaving the woman in the white and gold dragon dress.

“We have a grave message to prevent a coming catastrophe, a powerful vampire who has taken control of the Baharuth Empire under his iron fist is headed here with his army of demons and undead. The Thousand leagues Astrologe saw the vision the other half of our team is already headed to get them. If you, my fine lady, would join us, we shall go to meet up with them.”

Simmra looked over each of them with a critical eye, not trusting any of them. Though she preferred not to get in a dangerous fight with a strong unknown group. Glancing behind her to the nearby disciples inside watching ready to come to her aid. They would at least slow them down. Putting the idea aside, if they beat the nearby temple guards so quickly, more level 10 or 15 followers wouldn’t do much good.

[Go with them, learn about this group before you fight them.]

Hissing at the idea of more people forcing her hand, though, the strange voice was right. She would need to learn about them before risking making more enemies. Plus, for now, she was still a higher level than all of them. If they turned out to be enemies, she would need to get that WCI away from them or find one of her own.

“What if I don’t agree to come with you?”

“Quaiesse pleas tell the demon she doesn't get a say in the matter!”

The blonde gave an apologetic smile. “While I disagree with my rude comrade, she is right. We must unite against this monster before it comes for us all.”

Simmra glared at the burnet, trying to hide her nerves. She knew looking weak would be detrimental to this situation. Still, she didn’t know what any of them could do or if she could trust any of them; this could be a trap set by that clown.

“Please understand the six foresaw you helping us. We will explain more along the way if it eases your worries.”

Simmra let out a breath relaxing her tail, curling it around her waist again for now. She would like to avoid life-threatening situations, but who knows they might be able to get her home or at least help her escape the demented admin’.

“Alright, call me Simmra, I can lead you there, but you're going to have to convince both of them to help.”

Quaiesse beamed, as all six of them followed though not without keeping the WCI wearer in front of her at all times.

-End of Chapter-