Chapter 98: Chapter 94: Night of the Chimera’s Cry – Killing Intent (1)

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Aurora Isla and Lillian Lancaster face off against each other in an archery competition meant to test Aurora's skills. Does she truly deserve the recommendation letter written by the previous famous rune mage and current blacksmith, Gaius Lancaster and the Duke of Rizar, Lucius Rizar? But this isn't just a simple competition. Lillian Lancaster is suspected of being the mass murderer going after young beautiful ladies, who all have a similar appearance to Aurora. Is it a coincidence or...? And what is the secret behind Lillian's black blood? The conclusion of this volume is close at hand. 

"What is that?" Aurora pointed at a small mysterious liquid on the floor.Anya bends her knees to get a closer look. She dipped two of her fingers in the liquid, and rubbed them together, and moved it to her nose."Sniff. Sniff." She widened her eyes when she realized what it was. "Blood.""Blood?" Aurora could not believe her ears. "What kind of blood is black?"Anya stood up and took out a handkerchief to wipe her fingers. "It is black blood found from the beasts in the Corrupted Region. And only from the mutated beasts, My Lady."

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"Continue protecting me in secret for now. And no matter what happens next, you are not allowed to interfere." While maids were allowed to enter classes with their master, Aurora had Anya hide her presence so it can seem as if she was alone.Anya hesitated at first, but after recalling the instructions master gave her before leaving the mansion, she nodded her head. "From henceforth, you will obey her words over mine. Protect her well."Anya's aura vanished without a trace, but not before she left parting words. "Please call me if you need me."Seeing this, Aurora made her way to the archery field. 

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Meanwhile…

The Knights that escorted Aurora returned to the restaurant from earlier. It was due to the Duke's order to be on standby and protect her if necessary.

Of course, Aurora was not aware of this.

“It’s amazing that the “Monster of the North” let someone else use his people.”

The twin maids Tanya and Anya were also known as battle maids. Their true purpose from the start has always been to protect the mansion rather than the Duke himself.

The mansion was situated right outside the entrance to the Corrupted Region. While entering the forest of death was difficult due to the rune barrier, it was not impossible. And some mercenaries and merchants try to forcefully enter for the sake of collecting the corpse of beasts to sell to the Black Market.

Thus, the twins rarely left the mansion unguarded for too long.

Cassis snorted. “Careful Geve, lest His Grace hears you and shows you what a real monster is.”

Geve’s expression paled. He almost forgot what His Grace did to the last Knight who called him that.

“Haha, still, Geve’s words are not wrong.” Wilmot laughed as he chugged down a pint of beer.

Cassis folded his arms. “Not really. She is the future Duchess, so I doubt it will be the last time.”

“Hah!” Geve, who recovered from the scare from earlier, dug into the large plate of chicken. With a chicken leg in his hand, he pointed at Cassis. “Do you think our Commander is so easily swayed by just any ordinary woman?”

“But she isn’t just any ordinary woman, is she?” Izaak rebutted. “Our Lady proved that recently when she nearly put an arrow in Christopher.”

Cassis smirked. “That’s right. I pity those who she has in her sight.”

“I shivered when the Lady targeted that young Knight.” Wilmot trembled as he recalled it. “Her killing intent was as heavy as the Commander…I think she has killed before.”

“No.” Geve paused, gorging his food. “It’s clear that she has killed before. And not just once.”

With such a heavy aura, there is no way she would have only killed once.

The four stopped talking and stared at each other. Without saying another word, it was clear the Knights understood each other’s thoughts.

‘It’s the birth of another monster in the Rizar family.’

Cassis shook his head from useless thoughts. “Well, I know one thing for certain. Seeing as how he has us protecting the future Duchess in secret, His Grace will soon join the rank of us married men who have become mere slaves to our wives.” 

“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day!” Izaak laughed.

“Here, here!”

Wilmot raised his mug for a toast, and the other three followed.

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“Achoo!”

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Hearing her master sneeze, Tanya took out a handkerchief. “Your Grace, can it be that you are coming down with a cold?”

“Ridiculous.” Lucius shooed away the handkerchief as he continued looking through the piles of papers on his desk. “And? Did you come to talk to me about Aurora?”

Tanya flinched in response.

It seems like he saw right through her. Even though she told her little sister to listen and not ask, wasn't she doing the complete opposite of her advice?

“Your Grace seems to care for Lady Aurora…and yet, you sent her straight into danger. I don’t understand…”

Lucius told Aurora to investigate Lillian and find evidence of her killing others or having become a monster, but it isn’t something that will end just with that. Her target from the beginning was Aurora, so Lillian would not let her go so easily.

“And even if Lady Aurora can somehow take care of Lady Lillian, what if THEY show up?”

The Sigel organization.

The very same organization that taught the twins how to enjoy taking the lives of others. Those bastards not only experimented on children but also raised a few chosen as assassins.

Only the previous Duke and his son, Lucius Rizar, knew the truth of their past. And it was them who saved the twins from that hell.

Tanya clutched a fistful of her maid dress as she thought about the danger Aurora might be in now.

Lucius saw how worried Tanya was but did not reprimand her. Instead, he found it amazing that Aurora received their acceptance.

The first time he met the twins, he thought there would never be a day where such basic feelings would return for them.

That day, there was no trace of warmth in their body, inside or out. Their eyes were empty as if living had become nothing but troublesome. There was no way for the twins to care about others when they did not even care about themselves.

But now…

“You don’t have to worry.” Lucius continued reading through the papers on his desk, but he knew very clearly that his words did not ease her mind at all.

He glanced at Tanya and sighed. “You should trust Aurora more.”

“That’s..!” Tanya sharply raised her voice in objection.

“I will answer your question from before. I want to see her growth with my own eyes.”

“Yes?” Tanya asked in a confused manner.

“I do not want her to get hurt, but after seeing how hard she trained and the amazing progress she showed in such a short amount of time, I can not help but want to see how far she can go.”

Tanya didn't really understand what he meant but seeing the Duke's gaze soften as he spoke of Aurora was enough for her. "I thought maybe it was due to the fight you had with my Lady before her departure."

'Fight? Was that considered a fight?'

What Aurora said that night did disappoint him. But he didn't understand why when the relationship between them was only due to a contract. Be it their connection as summoner and familiar or their engagement, both was through a contract that could end any moment.

"....No. Why would I put her in danger's path for such a reason? That determination and dedication she showed when training under Gaius' guidance, I also hope that Lillian also notices it and remembers what it means to be a Knight."

Of course, that was not the only reason. When Aurora succeeds in her summoning theory, her power will be on par with his. Eventually, the Empire will learn of her strength. And when that day comes…

‘I can't wait to see those in the Aristocrat Faction at the Imperial City suffer by her hands. Surely, it will be an interesting sight to see.' 

When Lucius smirked, Tanya blinked her eyes.

'Why does it feel like Master is thinking something entirely different than what I imagined?'