After several more hours, the carriage eventually reached the outskirts of the town the group all knew and loved. It was a Sunday so, from their point of view the town looked empty.
With sore asses from their bumpy rides, they all wasted no time getting off their respective carriages and going home.
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Ruby walked with the group of Elizabeth, Ruby, Tina, Tibaut, Lily and Agnes, who were using Tibaut as her shield to hide her from these strange women.
She especially despised the woman with yellow eyes. But make no mistake, these women were all enemies. She could see the hunger in all their eyes as they watched him.
“You okay, Agnes? You're kinda breathing heavy.” Tibaut asked as he turned to her.
“Gah-ahah” She managed to turn her noise of shock into laughter. “Ahah, sorry, I'm not used to moving this much.” She responded, struggling to put on a jovial expression. Luckily for her, it made her sound like she was out of breath.
“I can put you on my back again if you'd like.”
An indescribable sensation filled Agnes. “Ye-”
Before she could shout “YES!” Ruby lifted her up and had her in a bridal carry.
“Come on Tibaut, she needs to learn how to interact with other people,” Ruby said as she looked into Agnes’s eyes with a sly smirk.
She continued in a lower voice. “Besides, you're never gonna snatch a man like that, why don't I give you some tips later?”
“Huh? What was that next part, Ruby?” Tibaut asked.
“Don't worry about it♡”
“(T-this bitch!)” Agnes thought while hoisted by Ruby. Despite her thoughts, she didn't struggle in any way.
Elizabeth gave Ruby a nod.
“Ruby, you can follow them back to my mansion if you'd like. I have to talk to Mr. Bentley about what we learned in the dungeon.”
“Is that so, didn't Furor head there already?” Ruby asked.
The group had now reached the middle of the town and the branch building was now in eye shot. To head back to the mansion they'd have to keep going and exit out the opposite side of town.
“I'd like to fill him in on information that Furor may have missed while unconscious.”
“You don't mind if I tag along, right Liz?” Tina chimed in.
“And why would you want to come along, Tina?”
She looked in front of her, towards Ruby.
“No reason at all. I just feel like stretching my legs some more.”
“(I don't understand why you two don't just makeup already? It's annoying watching you two pretend the other exists unless the situation is dire.) Fine, but you'll have to sit in the lobby as we talk. Furor might be there as well.”
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She split away from the group and started walking towards the building.
“Maybe I can finally teach that bastard a lesson.”
“Sigh, Slow down, I don't want you seeing him before I do.”
“Why not…”
Tibaut’s group soon pulled away from them and their conversation became inaudible.
“So, is there any reason you're coming to our place, Aunty?” Lily asked.
“Hmm, hoh, I guess I could ask Vanessa to make me something.”
“Make you something? Like what?”
Vanessa moved her head down and whispered in her ear. Both Lily and Agnes blushed after hearing what she had to say.
“S-s-she makes those!?” Agnes exclaimed.
Lily covered her mouth and placed a finger over her lip while shushing and scanning their surroundings.
Tibaut could guess what they were talking about and decided to let sleeping dogs lie.
“Yup, just tell her the design you want with the size and she'll-”
“Design?” Lily interrupted. She looked out of her depth. She knew Lily could make those, she'd seen some of them after they got drunk once but was she talking about custom engraving like on weapons?
“Wait, you don't mean like… things other than human, do you!?” Agnes asked, worryingly intrigued.
“I do.”
“I-i-I didn't think I'd find someone like that so easil-” Agnes realised she was giving too much information away and shut herself up.
“Haha, look at you, Miss Blue Hair. You're less innocent than you let on.” Ruby chuckled, giving Agnes’ rear a playful squeeze.
“Stop that, it's gross. I'm not into skinship.” Agnes commented.
“G-guys, what were you two talking about?”
“Quiet down dear, women are talking.”
“You're more of a grandma than you are a woman, Aunty,” Lily responded in a bitter tone.
Ruby managed to carry Agnes with one hand and used the other to mess with Lily's hair.
“That wasn't very nice, dear.”
They had reached the exit of the town and made their way into the nearby forest with Tibaut, glad he wasn't a part of whatever the hell they were doing.
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Elizabeth and Tina entered the branch building and unlike the last time they entered, the building was mostly empty. The ones inside were, as usual, a short jolly old man and the receptionist behind her counter. Well, she was behind but her back was the only thing you could see.
As they approached closer they heard her muttering the word “Gross” over and over while looking through a sketchbook of various soft and fluffy animals.
In the area was another person other than the four mentioned.
“Stop bitching about it, I can hear you from here,” He said in a gravelly tone. It seemed his voice wasn't fully healed as of yet.
It was Furor. He and Mr. Bentley were busy examining a body on a table.
“That bald bastard was one thing but can you really blame for getting like this over a child? I feel like I'll be cursed just for looking at him.” The receptionist said, staunchly refusing to ever turn back around.
“Well, I can say for one thing, not all of this bastard is kid-sized,” Furor responded.
“What the hell does that mean!? Don't you feel unclean with yourself!?”
“Hoho, calm down Melissa, this man is no child. And welcome back Elizabeth and my dear child Tina.”
Furor noticed they had entered but didn't pay them any mind.
Melissa quickly turned around. “Oh, welcome back. Can you two please tell them to take that thing outside? A butcher shop would be more appropriate than here!” She complained.
“Stop being a baby, you've probably seen worse,” Tina said.
“No, I haven't, thank you very much. I'm a receptionist for the sole reason of not seeing things like this!”