Chapter 4

I made my way back toward the villa in the cold and illuminated night, I was in the upper district of the summit’s vicinity and could overhear the sound of the rich and famous partying and enjoying themselves. Seir did say that the summit was a place for the upper echelons of hell to get together in the same place and parlay with each other in a neutral setting.

Just when I was about to leave Hell’s answer to Tinseltown I spotted a familiar sight, two huge shadows were chasing a frantic looking smaller shadow. I had a birds eye view of the whole thing and recognised the two ogre brother’s from the other day, I couldn’t make out the person they were chasing though.

I checked my left hand to see how it was holding up and sure enough it had some feeling in it, the slimy sensation had now gone and was replaced by a dark purple cast that was wrapped around my forearm and hand. Despite being weary of any potential pursuers from the Earl’s Estate, I decided to intervene and stop these brothers once and for all.

Similar to the situation with Mei-Lien, they were able to corner their target and were slowly approaching it. Before they began reaching their huge hairy arms out, I jumped down and intentionally landed in front of them.

“You guys need to find a new hobby.”

“Huh? Bro! It’s him again.”

“You again! Can’t we just do an honest days work without you interrupting!”

Something was off, I don’t know where but I could faintly detect another presence someplace near us, Just when I was about to discover its location it instantly disappeared and I lost track of it. I turned my attention back to these two and finally noticed who they were chasing. I turned around and spotted a terrified looking Sabrina Sitri in a yellow evening gown and sparkling white high heels, just how the hell did she manage to run this far in that get up…She made eye contact with me and after a few seconds recognised me. Just before she was about to speak…

“...Sorry for interrupting.”

I jumped over the two ogre brothers and began leaving the area.

“H-hey! Just where the hell do you think you’re going Nero!?”

“For the last time it’s Kuro! You’d think you’d at least know the name of someone you’ve actually met recently and want help from.”

“S-shut up! Just get your ass back here and help me already!”

I continued to casually walk away, until I detected some bloodlust and demonic energy making its way toward the three least favourite people I’d met in Hell so far. Out of nowhere the surrounding area became covered in a thick dense fog, I sensed danger and dashed back toward Sitri, luckily I was able to spot her dress and shoes in the fog, I grabbed her and started leaping to higher ground. She began clawing and hitting my face frantically with her hands the second I grabbed her.

“S-stop that! It’s me you idiot!”

She stopped for a split second and then became more violent with her onslaught.

“Damn it woman! I swear I’ll drop you! We haven’t made it to the top yet.”

After saying that she calmed down a little and I was able to make it to the top of the building. I put her down and surveyed the area. It seems the fog was beginning to clear but the two ogre brothers were both gone. Something didn’t add up. There were more people around when they tried this same routine with Mei-Lien so I didn’t notice anything other than a pair of buffoons causing trouble but this time it was different, were they working for someone from the start? It seems whoever that may be, is targeting high profile young women. I continued pondering the many possibilities when something tugged at my shirt.

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“How much longer are you gonna just stand there! Get me down from here!”

I looked toward the now disheveled Sitri and remembered that she was still here. I had half a mind to just leave her here and continue making my way back to the villa but I was curious as to how things ended up like this so decided to humour her for now. I grabbed her one more time and jumped off the side of the building. She began screaming at the top of her lungs until we landed safely at the bottom.

“Y-you coulda warmed me that you were gonna do that!”

“How did things end up like this?”

“What? Oh, I was at this super glitzy dinner party and was talking to this extremely handsome and wealthy gentleman from the Aamon House, after a few drinks and some evocative conversation, he said that he had prepared a carriage to someplace more private…”

“Gross…”

“S-shut up! Anyway, The second I went outside to wait for him those two oafs began chasing me outta nowhere.”

“Hmmm, seems a little bit too coincidental, I think I’ll alert the relevant authorities about my suspicions, anyway, later.”

“Wha...What! Aren’t you going to walk me home?”

“Why would I do that?”

“Wha-what if they come back?”

“They won’t, the fog was obviously used by someone so they could leave undetected, I don’t think they’d come after you, so soon after they narrowly escaped me.”

“B-but you were leaving me at their mercy back there!”

“I was only kidding around, you remind me of someone I know from back home, she comes across a little headstrong too but her hearts in the right place, I would never have just left you like that. My guess is the only reason the fog appeared was because whoever they worked for didn’t want me to apprehend them and start asking questions.”

“...W-well you still have to walk me home! I’m sca...Do you really want to me say it that badly!?”

“Hahahahaha, come on then Sitri, lead the way.”

“S-Sabrina! You can call me Sabrina...”

“Yeeaahhh no...Just hurry it up will ya, I don’t have all night.”

“What!? Hmph, well come on then Nero! It’s this way.”

“...You’re on your own.”

Sitri began dragging me to her home. She was pretty strong for someone her size, so before she ripped my top I decided to escort her. Along the way she stuck pretty close to me and reacted girlishly at everything that moved or made a sound, it was actually pretty cute to watch her put up a strong front or pretend like she wasn’t afraid of her own shadow.

We reached a pretty luxurious looking apartment block and climbed about a little more than half way up, until we reached her front door.

“This is me.”

“Finally, well this has been...I’ll see you later.”

“W-wait! Do you wanna come in for a drink or something? Maybe some coffee?”

“Gross…”

“F-fine! That’s the last time I try being nice to you, good day to you sir!”

After that she unlocked her front door and slammed it behind her. I gave it a few moments and sure enough...The door began creaking open slightly and I could just about see her face looking out of it.

“Look if you’re still scared then I don’t mind sticking around till you’ve fallen asleep.”

“O-only if you insist...”

She opened the door and let me in. I walked into the kind of high end spotless apartment that you’d expect for someone of her status to be living in, she led me to the living area and began pouring me a drink.

“I don’t drink alcohol that isn’t sake…”

“W-what? Oh OK, I’ll make you some coffee then.”

“Nah, don’t worry about it, just get ready for bed and go to sleep. I’ll just wait here till you’ve fallen asleep and then be on my way.”

Sitri pulled a soda out of the fridge and placed it in front of me, after this she proceeded to what I could imagine was her bedroom. A good 45 minutes later she returned wearing more comfortable clothing and carrying some bedding and a pillow. She unfolded it onto the couch opposite and laid down.

“...This is getting weird.”

“S-shut up! I-I can’t fall asleep in there OK.”

“*sigh* Whatever, just sleep already.”

“D-don’t try anything funny when I fall asleep!”

“Would you just sleep already!”

Following this tiring little exchange, She finally turned the other way and began trying to sleep. Another 30 minutes passed and I finally began to hear the rhythmic sound of her breathing. I slowly rose to my feet and began making for the front door without waking the ferocious feline who was the size of a normal house cat. Just when I was about to open the front door.

“K-Kuro? Kuro where are you!? D-don’t leave me alone...”

I took my hand off the front door handle and made my way back inside. I spotted Sitri curled under her bedding and shivering slightly. I guess she was a little more shaken up from what happened than I thought.

“Relax I was just looking for the bathroom, look I’m getting pretty tired, if you got anymore spare bedding and pillows than I think I’ll spend the night here, by the time I make it home it’ll be almost morning anyways.”

“Y-yeah! You have a point, I’ll get another pillow and some covers.”

Sitri disappeared and then returned with the necessities for me to sleep on the couch opposite. She looked more relaxed after setting everything up and watching me lay down, soon after, she fell into a deep sleep.

I laid awake for the rest of the night thinking about who was using those two ogre brothers to corner and frighten high profile young women. Time went on and when I began to see some daylight, I got up, folded the bedding neatly, took one last look at the sound asleep commentator and left the apartment.

I opened the front door and made my way back to the villa, thankfully I was able to do so without any further interruptions.