The sun was dipping between the clouds, colouring the sky a bright orange colour. The Empire of Volcanica was peaceful.

At least that what looked like from outside. But one look at the late night pub and you would be convinced otherwise. The place was filled to brim with predators who thrived over money and thrill.

Your footsteps was lost in the mist of the loud chatter taking place in the special pub hosted for bounty hunters. The people present in the pub were roguish and menacing looking; each person a bounty hunter who kept their identity hidden under cloak and hoods. Most were drinking, celebrating the bounty the had hunted while some stood near the giant board which was covered with bounty posters and wanted criminals, looking for their next hunt.

You ignored them all and made your way to the bartender/owner of the pub.

"Here's the double-headed tiger's horn." You slammed the sharp, pure white horn on the counter with a grin.

Colt a bearded man in mid thirties grinned at you. He took the horn with delicate hands and put it away in a black box. Before going behind the counter to a well concealed door.

As you waited for him to returned, your mind started to wonder off. Two years. It's been two long years since you ran away from Obelia.

You still remembered the night very clearly. Panic, fear, despair had overwhelmed your rationality as you kept sprinting away. The first stop you made was Almayan village where you found that Iseka was dead. That's where you finally broke down, the past, the murder you witness, Claude descending in madness, everything that was eating away at you came out in ugly mess. You were left howling at the empty night with no one to console you. Like a helpless child left behind in storm.

When finally you had emptied your emotions, numb and blank minded you left the kingdom of Obelia and going beyond. You travelled aimlessly with no particular goal in sight. Travelling from one kingdom to another with nothing in sight.

But the past never left you. No matter how much you distanced yourself from Obelia, the despairing thoughts continued to haunt you. You knew even if you weren't there to witness it, the tragedy would still continue. The past you lived would become reality once again. Even if you ran away from everything, things wouldn't change. The people you left behind were the people you deeply cared for. Felix, Diana, lily, Athanasia and.....even Claude. If something were to happen to them you would never forgive yourself. You knew everything. But your small hands that wanted to protect them was just to weak to perform the deed. You were mentally still suffering, reeling from the traumatizing memories from past. Even if you turned back, you couldn't change anything with your weak, crumpled spirit.

Before the despair could drown you in feelings of inadequacy and helplessness, you didn't know whether it was miracle or pure fortunate coincidence. You were attacked by a thug who wanted to murder you and sell your organs in the black market. Of course being the unstable mess you were, you just zapped him with electricity and the man was out cold. That's when another man came in introducing himself as bounty hunter Colt who was hunting the unconscious man for the hefty bounty he had on his head. He had offered you 20% commission for hunting the thug down for him.

At that moment life seem to return back to you. There was this golden opportunity standing before offering it's guidance. You decided to became a bounty hunter and become strong. You had time and with efforts you could change the future, your past had shown you. You could be strong and you could pull yourself back together. With that in mind, you asked the man's help for exchange of not taking his reward. He happily agreed and introduced you to the bounty hunters and it's connections. Soon after you became bounty hunter who hunted down monsters and criminals alike and collected money. You needed strength and money for the plan you had for the future. And becoming a bounty hunter made it lot easier.

You jolted out of your thoughts when Colt came back with red pouch and placed it on the table. "And here's your reward. Total of 10,000 gold coins."

This dirt bag...

You narrowed your eyes at him and removed your dagger from the strap on your thigh and flashed at him threateningly.

"We played this games way too many times, it's getting boring." You held up the dagger and menacingly smiled at him. "Stop cheating me and cough up the deal money, old man."

Another red pouch was added on the counter table with a sheepish smile.

"Greedy bastard! I give you 10% commission, it's still not enough for you?!" You threw the dagger at him in exasperation.

Colt duck in time and the dagger wedged itself into the wall and he shamelessly grinned. "Money can sway anyone heart, sweetheart."

"At least try being a bit apologetic, you shamelessly bastard?!"

"Kukuku." Another shameless laugh

You swore under your breath and just sighed and grabbed the heavy red pouch and put it away safely. This guy helped to become a bounty hunter so at least you could be tolerant towards him. A tiny bit, only.

"You got a customer." Colt pointed a thumb to the side of the bar where a lone person sat.

You nodded and got up, pulled over your mask and hood. You didn't want your identity to be exposed, not when you were a refugee.

You pulled out a chair and sat down. You had double source of income. One was bounty hunting and other was healing.

The man's face was hidden beneath the hood, like you many preferred to keep their identity hidden and he wordlessly pulled his shirt up and a poorly bandaged wound was visible.

You started healing his gash until a single red line remained. You stopped. A good Healer's knew how to combine magic and medicine for optimal use. You can't just exhaust your magic quota when you were in presence of other bounty hunters who very much could hunt you down for your money. You removed a vial from the pouch strapped on your thigh.

You poured the glittering liquid on his wound. "This should do the trick. Tomorrow morning you would be good as new! That would be 2500 +100 gold coins for healing elixir."

"It's expensive." He complaint as he reached inside his cloak.

"Not worth more than your life, bro!" You weren't going to negotiate with him. Dude I risk my life to get the ingredients so, no discount for you.

He grunted and pushed a black pouch towards you and stood up walking towards the bounty display probably searching for his next hunt.

You took the pouch and went back to Colt smiling. "More money. Hehehe."

You sat down, took the drink on the table and asked "So any sales?"

Colt nodded and pulled out a bag from underneath the table. "This week 9 healing elixir were sold so here's your 900 gold coins."

You made healing medicine and trusted it to Colt who sold the items to others for price he sees fit. You were surprised. Normally it would take at least a few months before any healing medicine was sold.

Seeing your shock, Colt chuckled. "Magic products are rare and have higher selling rate. By next month we would be making 10,000 coins per day."

His black eyes were shining with greedy and you could almost see the after image of gold in his eyes. You rolled your eyes at him and put away your money.

Colt picked a wine glass to clean and asked you curiously. "So what are you going to do with all the money you collected over the years? And that's a lot of money you allocated."

"Kidnap a super adorable kid and raise her."

The wine glass slipped past his fingers and crashed on the floor, shattering into pieces. With pale face Colt stuttered his perplexity. "H-huh?"

You looked at him dead serious in the eyes.

Colt forced a nervous laughed, sweating from the intensity of your gaze. "I can never get used to your strange sense of humour. One of this day you might give this old man a heart attack!"

You lazily took the drink he placed on the counter and took a sip. "I ain't kidding. I will definitely take her away from the misery she's going to experience in the future."

Colt shook his head. "Finally going bonkers I see."

You flipped him the middle finger in retaliation.

Your eyes caught the wanted poster plastered on the display shelf. A SS grade bounty with 1 million gold coin bounty. Down was the image of the bounty of a extremely handsome man with rich golden hair and unique jewelled eyes set in sharp cold glare. Recognising him you couldn't help but flinch. Your heart pulsed quicker and your hands started to shake violently. Breathing was getting hard as you gazed at the cold blue eyes.

Seeing your peculiar look focused on the poster, Colt shook his head and ripped the poster away and said in warning voice. "Don't even think about it."

You could finally breathe once the his cold eyes weren't glaring at your soul. As you struggled to compose yourself, Colt continued oblivious to your condition.

"The recently raisen Emperor is far dangerous than any monsters or criminals you've hunted so far. His power and cold reign has struck fear in many nations, afraid he would evade them. But those cowards are too afraid to confront him directly so they left the dirty work for the bounty hunters. Many have tried for him because of the ridiculously high price involved but no one was alive to tell their epic failure. You're better off not hunting him. "

You snorted, shakily looking at your trembling fingers before forming a fist. If I hunted him I'd set for life. If only you didn't break down in anxiety and panic whenever he's mentioned.

You said to Colt. "Don't worry old man. I might have pulled a lot of crazy stunt but I'm not an idiot to go after someone who could kill me with a single snap of finger."

Colt nodded in approval. "I can show you other good bounties."

You shook your head. "It's my last bounty. I'm leaving."

Colt was surprised before he put away the poster and leaned on the table to look at you. "So finally the time has come, huh?"

"Yeah, it's time to confront my demons and kick their asses." You joked, when in reality you scared shitless. The thought you seeing him sent chills down your spine. But fortunately you didn't had to face him.

Colt nodded and said ruefully. "Leaving a lonely man all by himself. Youngsters this day are really heartless!"

"You have a wife and two sons. How the hell are you even lonely, you attention seeker geezer?!" You shouted in disbelief.

Colt just smiled. "Youngsters like you wouldn't understand a old man's sorrow."

You made a disgusted face. "Now don't go all mopey on me. I don't have tissue on me if you started to bawling your eyes out. Wait for your wife, she'd comfort you."

"Oh she would." Colt made frightened face and you laughed at his fear of his bossy wife. You smiled. You were going to miss him.

"Thanks a lot, old man. You might be a greedy bastard who likes to gulp down my hard earned money but you are a good person for the most part, maybe?"

He smiled but a huge vein was pulsing violently. "Was that a compliment? I find it greatly offending!"

"Eh? But that's my impression of you." Colt almost looked verge of tears as you continued. "But all jokes aside, genuinely I'm thankful. I couldn't have come this far without your assistance. So thank you."

You stood up from your seat with a smile.

Colt had a sad smile as he waved you. "Stop. You would making this proud man cry with all those words. Take take care, kiddo. And don't forget to visit once a while!"

You waved him goodbye before leaving the pub with a heavy heart. You came to love this place. It had helped you lot. Grow in strength, both physically and mentally. But your real home was waiting for your return.

"Little girl give me all your money and I won't harm you."

You stopped, thoughts paused. You turned around at the rough voice. A man with giant axe in his back approached you with menacing toothy grin.

He must have seen your exchange of money and probably came here to rob you.

You sighed and said instead looking bored at his threatening stance. "How about I won't beat up into a pulp if you peacefully leave?"

Your taunt seem to anger him and he charged towards you with his giant club.

Ether was sleeping in your hood pocket and didn't got involved like normally he does. Because he knew you were more than capable of handling him after all the bounty you hunted. You had become strong in terms of fighting.

You jumped back to invade the attack and there was a large carter where you stood. You would've turned to squashed meat if it had got you. Instead of being frightened, you whistled causally. "Impressive but too sloppy."

"Next time you won't be so lucky!" He swung the club at your head and you ducked down. Still crouched your you covered your fist withelectric currents and punched him in the guts. With a pained yell he flew back slamming into the wall of the alley.

"A punch even Saitama would be proud of!" You grinned impressed with yourself. "Aww man I miss Animes. Too bad this stupid doesn't have the luxury."

You looked at the man's slumped figure and sighed.

You crouched befoe him and said in serious tone. "A advice for you. Don't attack a experienced bounty hunter or you might end up dead."

He glared at him and you wagged your finger and smiled in faux sweetness. "No, like seriously. Don't. Your life is way more worth than some coins so don't be careless with it."

After giving him not so friendly advice you shrugged off and advanced. You felt after venting out some frustration. Poor man become victim of your nervous, jittery nerves that were overpowering you at the thought of going back.

Your plan was almost complete.

Lots of money? Check.

A house near a cascade waterfall? Double Check.

Friendly neighborhood? Definitely Check.

The adorable child you want to kidnap and raise? In progress

You tapped your pocket and called out ether who continued to doze off.

"Hey, it's your time to shine!"

Ether rose sluggishly from your pocket and yawned before jumping on your palm. He had shrunk in size, for some reason. Now he was the size of your fist. You suspected the Crazy Lady for that. He must have definitely attacked her and in return she shrunk him to small size.

But he was way more cute now!!

Ethers twin tails rose in air and a circle formed beneath you. Your body felt nauseated as you were spun around a magical vortex and were being teleported to Obelia that was opposite side of the continent, far away from Volcanica current you were.

And finally you found yourself into.....

"What the hell?! Why is it so dark? " You shrieked and waved your hands around to feel something. "Gahh! There's something crawling on my hands! Ether did you teleported us to the wrong place?!"

After stumbling and shrieking some more you finally realised where you were. You pushed against the exit and the door gave out. Your body came crashing down on the floor.

"Did you had to teleport me in storage closet?!"

Ether mewled, and licked his paw ignoring your complaints.

"Ew, I'm covered in dust and spider web now!" You grumbled to your smug cat as you dusted off only to be smacked across the head.

"Ack!" You grabbed your throbbing head, tears sprang in your eyes from the pain."What the hell?!"

"Who are you?"

You blinked away your tears. And two faces become clear.

One was deadpanned face with lilac hair looking at you threateningly and other was innocent faced brunette looking nervously at you. Both of them in maid uniforms.

You recognised them immediately. Hannah, Ces! I missed you, my old life friends!

In your first life they were there for you when you had became maid and had no idea what to do. While the other maids were bullying you, these two used stand up for you. Along with Lily these two were the only maids you got along with.

Hannah's high-pitched voice brought you out of your reminiscing. "I'm sure she's a thief! Call the guards!"

You gaped at her before shaking your head rapidly in denial. "No. No,wait. I'm not a thief! I'm the midwife!"

Or maybe a potential child abductor. But you didn't tell them that.

Both of them paused and looked at you skeptic, and their gazed pointed to your clothes. Well shit you forgot to change. You had black hood, black pants, black t-shirt and fingerless black gloves. To put it simply you looked similar to an assassin.

You sweat-dropped at their distrustful gazes and smiled pointing to yourself. "Okay. Wait--I can explain. I'm a multi-talented person. Aside from being midwife, I'm also a bounty hunter who kick ass of monsters and criminals!"

Thwack!

"I knew she was a mental person." Ces deadpanned, lowering the pan she smacked you with.

Was the last thing you heard before you blacked out. Well it was warm welcome.

You came back to you being tied up with robes and Ces and Hannah had brooms as weapons as they looked at you.

"Hello girls, nice to see you again." You wiggled around, your hands was tied behind your back. "Are we playing bondage game I'm unaware of?"

Hannah looked confused.

It was Ces who answered you with a smirk. "No we are playing 'beat the truth out of a mental person' game."

Your smile twitched. "That's sounds painful. Can I pass?

"No."

You panicked at her immediate reply and wiggled violently around. You didn't want to use your magic in case there was a detection spell cast around the place. You didn't want risk alerting Claude and his sharp senses.

Where the hell is Ether?! I sure that guy is hidden somewhere and enjoying this!

Ces tapped the broom in her hand and you blanched in response and said. "Hey now let's not use violence, shall we? I'm a peaceful person and I hate violence."

"She's right, Ces. We should just call the guards!"

No! Not the guards! You internally cried. Oh my god I swear if I got caught because if them I will... I willl....cry!!

Ces paused and you perked. Yes, girl you are supposed to save me from bully, not bully me!

"What do you suggest we do? I don't think warning the guards would help since no one would dare to report to majesty when he's in bad mood. They would surely die." Ces sighed and looked at you.

"No need for that. I'm telling you the truth I'm--"

"Shut up." Ces cut you off with a huff. "No one asked you."

So cold! Was she always this rude? Even Claude wasn't so rude as too....Your mind flashed to back to your childhood. ....Nevermind. He's worse. Compare to him, she's a saint.

Fortunately the Heaven's blessings was on your side because a Angel came to your rescue.

"What on earth is going on--!" Lily gasped and stared wide eyes at you. You flashed her a harmless smile. She turned to the maids with a half-angry, half-worried look. "Why is the person tied up here?! Explain now!"

Both of them straighten up at her authoritative tone. As expected, she's the Lily.

The one who stood before the psycho Claude for Athanasia and got executed for it.

This time for sure you weren't going to let that happen. You were going to save Athanasia and Lily.