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  Vol 2 Chapter 11: Sharis

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  "... And that’s that," Aris finally halted her movements, surveying the littered bodies sprawled haphazardly across the ground.

  In the past few moments, she had relentlessly repeated the same gruesome act—bsting apart the heads of those men, only tee them before death could cim them, then beginning the cycle anew.

  To expedite the process, Aris had even added a spell to forcefully awaken them from the brink, dragging them back from death's embrace time and time again. It was a torturous limbo between life ah, not merely inflig pain on their physical forms but eroding their very spirits.

  Naturally, the men were not equipped with the mental fortitude to endure suent for long. Their will to think, to resist, had long since crumbled.

  "Sister..." came a quiet voice.

  "Hm? What is it?" Aris tur the sound of Veridith’s voice.

  "My... my treat..." Veridith’s eyes drifted to the cup on the ground. The tents, a type of 'fried ice,' had spilled, half-melted and wasted.

  “... Here, have mine,” Aris said, retrieving an untouched serving from her ste spad it to her sister.

  "But you haveen yours yet..." Veridith hesitated.

  "I’m fihout it. It would just go to waste anyway."

  As she spoke, Aris raised her hand slowly. "Besides, I’ve got to take this lot to the guards."

  The group of men on the ground, as if maniputed by some unseen force, floated into the air, suspended and awaiting their grim fate.

  "Oh..." Veridith murmured, her expression flickering with an almost imperceptible trace of disappoi.

  “... To avoid this happening again, you’d best stay with me for now.”

  "Ah? Oh, alright!"

  ...

  Now, to rewind time a bit. Oher side of town, a tall and short figure walked side by side.

  Uhe lively street filled with food stalls Aris and Veridith had just passed through, this part of town was lined with more ventional shops, primarily selling durable goods like clothing and accessories.

  "Humans do have quite the fir for creativity, don’t they?" Misako remarked, admiring the assortment of garments and tris dispyed in the shop windows. The designs, so distinct from anything found in her nds, piqued her curiosity.

  The bck demons had absorbed much from other worlds, their culture borrowing heavily from various otherworldly influences. But here, despite some hints of fn knowledge, human craftsmanship still retained a nostalgic blend of both old and new—an intriguing fusion of vintage elegand emerging teologies.

  "Indeed, not bad at all," Farkonia added, her eyes sing the merdise, though she found herself iently log gazes with a shopkeeper at the entrance.

  "Hello there! Such a lovely dy! I’m sure our accessories would suit you perfectly!" the shopkeeper called out, rushing over, sh Farkonia with fttery. It was obvious she was eager to coax her into the store. Had Farkonia not subtly dodged, the woman’s eager hand might’ve grabbed her arm ht.

  "Who do you think you are, being so familiar?" Misako’s face darke Farkonia's disfort, her tone sharp as she attempted to drive the persistent shopkeeper away.

  Her words, however, had little effect.

  "Oh my, is this your younger sister? Or perhaps your daughter? I must say, you’ve kept yourself in marvellous shape! We also sell beauty products that would suit you splendidly," the woman tinued, her misuanding of their retionship deepening.

  "You—!" Misako’s height had clearly led the woman astray. Though she appeared younger, Misako was, in truth, only slightly junior to Farkonia—and a by human standards.

  "Tch, I really didn’t want to do this," Misako muttered, narrowing her eyes at the shopkeeper. For a fleeting moment, her golden irises gleamed with the delicate pattern of cherry blossoms. Instantly, the shopkeeper’s gaze grew vat, her mind clouded. She stumbled back a few paces before turning, retreating to her post at the shop entrance.

  "Misako, did you...?" Farkonia raised a brow iion.

  "Just the most basic of illusions. She’ll fet about us soon enough. Holy, I should’ve given her worse for what she said, but I’m feeling generous today. She ought to be thankful!" Misako crossed her arms with an air of smug satisfa.

  "Well, either way, thank you for stepping in."

  "Hmph, you’re far too soft."

  Farkonia wasn't aggresive as she used to be—when she was the Dragon King—was kind to those she cared about but utterly ruthless to anyone who dared to cross her. In the past, Farkonia would’ve needed no assistan dealing with a meddling shopkeeper.

  Still, Misako didn’t mind the ge. Not really.

  "Hm? What’s this?" Farkonia’s gaze shifted to a shop in the distance, where a silver-haired girl sat on a bench outside.

  "Miss Diana, what are you doing here?" Farkonia called.

  "Hm?" Diana turned her head, her usual daft expression pstered across her face.

  "And Miss Elyssa?"

  "Ah... She’s inside," Diana mumbled, pointing towards the shop, where a silver-haired girl could be seen perusing the clothing racks.

  "These don’t look like bat wear... and they’re rather pricey," Misako noted, eyeing the tags in the dispy. Thanks to the universal nguage established turies ago, reading the bels was no issue.

  "Because Elyssa has money," Diana said simply.

  "Clearly," Misako mused, gng at Elyssa’s attire—an exquisite dress b on a ball gown, remi of gothic lolita fashion. The craftsmanship and materials alone suggested it wasn’t cheap.

  Moreover, there was an air of nobility about her, a refined elegance impossible to miss.

  “... Hm? What are you lot doing here?” Elyssa had finished her purchases and was now walking out of the store, bag in hand.

  "We just happeo be passing by and saw you," Farkonia replied.

  "I see." Elyssa offered no further ent, instead shoving the bag she carried into Diana’s arms.

  "For you."

  "Eh? Why give it to me?"

  "Must you ask? That rag you’re always wearing is dreadful. It’s ohing to dress like that for a ission, but in your free time too? You’re dragging down my sense of style."

  Elyssa hadered the shop to buy something for herself; she had picked out an outfit for Diana, no doubt hoping to elevate her appearance from ‘shabby’ to something more presentable.

  Of course, Misako, with all her knowledge of otherworldly s, could see right through Elyssa’s true iions as she forced the bag into Diana’s hands.

  ‘Ah, I see. This could get iing,’ Misako thought with a grin. She had been growing rather bored after leaving Shirone and Haru, but it seemed ertai had just preseself.

  "By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask sioday’s ission." Farkonia suddenly turo Elyssa, curiosity piqued.

  "When you huhat boar, the ability you used—it didn’t seem like something a human could possess. Could it be that you’re of a special race? Ah, o answer if it makes you unfortable. I’m just curious, no hostility intended."

  Farkonia’s curiosity iqued by the fact that su unusual individual was living as an adventurer among humans.

  Before the ‘Demon And Dragon War,’ though the races lived iive peace, they were never particurly friendly. It was rare for one of a different race to veo another’s territory without cause.

  "Hm... I don’t mind telling you. It’s ly a well-guarded secret." Elyssa pced a hand on her chest, then spoke with calm dignity.

  "I am of the Blood Race."