Muriel and Lilith followed Hari into the palace. The walls of the hallway were painted white from the base to the ceiling, and the glass windows on their right offered a clear view of the courtyard garden. Muriel glanced to the side with a dispassionate expression, idly wondering what those flowers outside would look like when she burned the palace to the ground.
"Muriel, I don’t know what you’re planning, but you should know this: in this place, the walls have ears and the eyes are always watching," Hari muttered softly under her breath. Her voice was so low that even Lilith, walking right behind, couldn’t catch a single word. But Muriel’s ears picked up every syllable.
"Hmm…" Muriel turned her gaze forward after hearing Hari, but she didn’t respond.
"How should I play this next?" she thought as she walked. Her eyes caught sight of the barracks situated within the palace walls, and at that moment, an idea sprang to life in her mind.
"That should work," she mused.
Lilith tilted her head up to glance at Muriel as they walked. But when she saw Muriel suddenly smirk, she instantly knew the dragon was scheming something. What exactly? Lilith couldn’t tell just from that smile. But as she pondered, they arrived at a door where Hari stopped. Hari raised her hand to knock, but before she could touch the door, a voice from the other side called out.
"Come in," a woman’s voice said from behind the door, startling Hari and causing her to hesitate briefly.
"Knew it... they’re watching," Hari whispered to herself before pushing the door open.
In front of them lay the office of the baron who ruled this city. However, the person seated at the desk wasn’t the baron himself—it was Leon, busily writing and reading documents. Muriel already knew that this country was being puppeteered by Darkwarden from behind the scenes, but she hadn’t expected such blatant interference. Before she could think too much about it, her eyes caught sight of the baron and his wife sitting together, huddled on a long brown leather couch to the right of the desk.
Directly in front of the desk was a low, elongated table separating it from another long couch. The table was piled high with plates of food, drinks, and snacks. The man, appearing to be in his forties, was clean-shaven with not a single trace of facial hair. His blond hair shimmered under the light, and his attire—a red, black, and slightly purple silk shirt paired with khaki trousers—was further adorned by a long black fur coat draped over his shoulders.
“Ah, my apologies to all three of you for not personally welcoming you to this city,” the baron of the city said, turning toward Hari with a courteous tone. “I was simply enjoying some quality time with my beloved wife. Please, help yourselves to the food on the table.”
“You’re so rude!” the woman seated beside him added playfully, a smile gracing her lips. “When guests arrive, you should at least invite them to sit down first.”
The woman beside the baron had an olive-toned complexion, dark brown hair that flowed down her back, and a long-sleeved green dress. She glanced briefly at Muriel with her striking red eyes, and Muriel immediately sensed that this woman wasn’t human. However, another scent pricked Muriel’s sharp nose—a scent of a spider above her. She tilted her head upward, looking at the ceiling, where green eyes—all four of them—stared back at her.
Above them, a human torso twisted unnaturally at the waist, merging with the body of a spider. The arachnid frame resembled that of a tarantula, with gray bristled fur and eight long legs, each spanning nearly a quarter of the room's ceiling.
“Oh my, so this is the newcomer the boss said he’d personally welcome?” the arachne dropped down from the ceiling with a thud that lightly shook the room. She now stood directly in front of the group of three. Up close, Muriel noticed the black coat the arachne wore—clearly a uniform of the organization. The sight of it filled Muriel with a sudden surge of disgust.
“And Lilith! And Sheria too! How have you two been?” the arachne—Slyvif—bent down toward Lilith, who stood beside Muriel. Muriel’s ears flicked slightly at the mention of “Sheria,” likely a false name Hari had used within the organization.
“Yes, Lady Slyvif,” Lilith replied innocently, showing no fear of the massive spider before her. “We flew all the way to Listerok and back. It was so much fun!”
“Is that so? How wonderful! You should be proud of yourselves,” Slyvif said warmly before stepping back from the group and settling onto a long couch opposite the baron. Her body sprawled across most of the seat, leaving little space.
“Leon, give these two some praise, won’t you?” Slyvif added with a sly grin as she turned to look at Leon.
“Hm?” Leon, engrossed in the papers on his desk, finally raised his head. His eyes fell on the three standing at the entrance—Lilith with her sword and staff strapped to her back, and Muriel wearing an expression of barely-contained irritation. He froze for a moment, quietly assessing the tense atmosphere.
“When did you all arrive here?” Leon asked nonchalantly, his gaze momentarily lifting before returning to the papers in front of him, showing little interest.
“About… almost half an hou—” Lilith began to respond but was abruptly cut off when Muriel slowly raised her hand in front of her, signaling her to stop.
“I think we’ve had enough chatter,” Muriel interjected, stepping past Lilith and striding toward the low table laden with food. She stopped in front of it, scanning the dishes with a look of disdain.
“So, you’re expecting me to squeeze in beside that shameless arachne?” she said, her tone dripping with contempt. “No thanks. I’ll take this seat instead.”
Without waiting for a reply, Muriel let her tail emerge, using it to sweep the dishes and glasses in front of her toward the baron and his wife. Plates clattered, some spilling their contents as they skidded across the table. Muriel then lightly brushed the tabletop clean with her tail before perching herself on it. Her right leg stretched out before her while her left leg bent at the knee, her left arm resting casually atop it.
“What are you doing?! That’s—utterly disrespectful!” The baron exclaimed, leaping from his seat as some food splattered onto him. He glared at Muriel, his voice echoing with indignation.
“uh uh, hush, shut the fuck up. Let the ones with actual power talk. Besides, why are you even sitting here cuddling your wife? Isn’t this your office?” Muriel waved her hand dismissively, which rested on her leg, without even sparing him a glance. Instead, she kept her gaze fixed on Leon, who was now looking up at her, meeting her eyes directly. Her words, sharp and laced with mockery, made the baron bristle. Before he could retort, Leon interjected.
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“She’s right. Lord Baron, I suggest you and your wife find somewhere else to sit. I need to have a word with my subordinates.” Leon straightened in his chair, his tone calm yet authoritative.
“Can you believe this?! You barge into my home and then have the audacity to kick me out?” the baron grumbled furiously, grabbing his wife’s arm and storming toward Hari to leave the room.
“Great… it’s starting already,” Hari thought to herself, sighing quietly.
“Are they going to fight here and now?” Lilith wondered nervously, her body trembling slightly. She instinctively reached for the Dragon Candle strapped to her back, her fingers brushing its handle.
“So, you’ve returned sooner than expected,” Leon began, his sharp eyes locked on Muriel. “Got what the boss ordered, I presume?”
Muriel responded with a low chuckle, the sound barely escaping her throat. She casually drew Fumiko’s long dagger, letting it gleam briefly in the light before tucking it away again. The subtle but deliberate action made Leon’s gaze narrow as the tension in the room thickened.
“What’s the big deal? We’re just here to stay a night. By the morrow, Lilith and I will be on our way. Too bad you won’t get to see me become the boss’s new favorite,” Muriel smirked, reaching for a slice of thinly sliced meat on a nearby plate and popping it into her mouth. She gestured with her other hand for Lilith and Hari to sit where the baron and his wife had been moments ago.
“Dreaming of being the boss’s favorite, huh? Keep dreaming. Everyone knows Veenciel is the favorite. First friend of the boss—obviously, that’s number one,” Leon said with a slight smile as if he found Muriel’s claim laughable.
“Oh, really? Interesting.” Muriel chewed her food and swallowed before replying, but her mind began to whirl. First friend? Am I really serving a loner who had no friends to begin with?
Leon’s eyes shifted to Lilith, now sitting stiffly on the long bench. Her grip on the Dragon Candle tightened as if it were her lifeline. “And that staff and sword Lilith’s holding—where’d those come from?” he asked, his gaze narrowing slightly.
“Found them on the way here. Or, if you’d rather, I could say I burned down a dwarven city and looted them along with this knife,” Muriel said, her tone as casual as if she were commenting on the weather.
“Listerok? That’s a huge city. And you’re saying you burned it to the ground, just like that?” Leon’s skepticism was evident, though he didn’t fully grasp the enormity of Muriel’s power.
“Of course. I’m a dragon. Stone cities melt a lot easier than you’d think,” she replied, plucking a charred sausage from the table and biting into it with an audible crunch.
“A dragon, huh? Hard to believe, even when Leon mentioned it,” Slyvif chimed in, trying to start a conversation with Muriel. But her interest quickly shifted to unease, and promptly, fear when Muriel turned her gaze on her.
“And you,” Muriel said, her tone suddenly venomous. “You’re the one spinning those silk threads and turning them into the clothes we’re wearing, aren’t you? Filthy spider.” The change in Muriel’s expression was so swift and filled with disdain that it sent a shiver down Slivif’s spine. She forced a nervous smile, but inside, she wanted to crawl away from the dragon’s intimidating presence.
“F-Fierce one, isn’t she? This newbie,” Slyvif stammered, trying to mask her fear with a weak attempt at humor.
“Anyway, Lilith and I are just passing through, heading back to Senwara. If it’s not too much trouble, we’d like a room for the night. The palace’s spacious enough, isn’t it?” Muriel spoke again, her attention already back on the food in front of her, completely unconcerned with anyone’s reactions. Before anyone could respond, Muriel asked, “Oh, by the way, the city’s slave market—do they hold auctions? Or is it just private transactions?”
The question hung in the air like a thunderclap. Lilith’s face turned ghostly pale, her heart pounding in her chest. She froze, her mind unable to process the sudden shift in conversation. Even Hari, usually composed, couldn’t hide her surprise at Muriel’s bluntness.
“Why ask about that all of a sudden?” Leon replied, not necessarily suspicious but intrigued by the abrupt topic change.
“Just curious. You know, I’ve been around since those times,” Muriel replied nonchalantly as if discussing a mundane topic.
Leon chuckled darkly. “Well, tonight at 8 PM, there’s a slave auction at the city’s market. Do as you please—just don’t cause any trouble that gets out of hand.”
Leon wasn’t particularly interested in Muriel’s words and simply let them slide. Muriel, hearing his lack of concern, smiled again and popped another slice of ham into her mouth. Lilith, who had been sitting motionless, suddenly lifted her head and noticed the abundance of food in front of her. Almost instinctively, she slid off the bench, sat on the floor, and began eating from the table. She hadn’t eaten all day, and seeing Muriel eating made her follow suit almost immediately.
“Ah… looks like we’ll need to teach you both some manners. Sheria, get them out of this room. I’m working here, and get some servant to clean the mess,” Leon said with visible annoyance as he turned to Hari, signaling for her to remove the two guests.
“Yes, Lord Leon. You two, stop eating and come with me,” Hari said, grabbing the collars of Muriel and Lilith’s clothes and pulling them out of the room. Muriel was surprised by the half-elf’s strength, wondering where she got the power to drag her along like that. Still, she found herself unable to resist, and the same went for Lilith. Left in the room now were only Leon and Slyvif.
“Do you feel something odd, Slyvif?” Leon asked without looking up at her.
“Hmm… let’s see. Where do I even start? Coming and going so quickly, boasting about burning down an entire city, or the way they seem to know Sheria so well?” Slyvif smiled as she got up from the long bench and walked to Leon’s side.
“There’s something else you missed,” Leon said, watching as Slyvif stopped at his right side.
“Huh? I thought that covered it all. What could I have missed?”
“Lilith’s slave collar—it’s gone.”
Meanwhile, after Hari had dragged Muriel and Lilith to one of the palace’s guest rooms, she sank into a chair and let out a deep sigh. At the same time, Muriel found a tablecloth and used it to wipe her hands and mouth, then did the same for Lilith. Finally, Muriel let out a long exhale as well.
“Tough day for you, Sheria. Here, take this pouch,” Muriel said, pulling out her bottomless coin pouch and handing it to Hari. Hari hesitated, surprised at Muriel’s gesture, but as soon as she reached out to take it, Muriel’s voice echoed in her mind.
“Take this, go to the barrack armory near the palace walls, and gather every weapon you can find. If you know of any other armories, raid them too. Bring everything to me after sunset.” The words reverberated in Hari’s head without Muriel needing to speak aloud. Hari looked up at Muriel, who was smiling faintly, and nodded. She took the bag.
“The rooms around here are vacant. Take the one next door if you like. Rest well tonight, and I hope your journey on the morrow is safe,” Hari said as she stood up, leaving the two alone in the room.
“Lady Muriel… What should we do next?” Lilith asked, her voice filled with confusion and doubt. Her faith in Muriel had nearly faded due to the latter’s earlier words, which Lilith suspected were nothing more than lies. Even so, the uncertainty of Muriel’s intentions gnawed at her. Muriel paused for a moment, then turned to look at Lilith, holding her gaze for a while before responding.
“Hmm… Lilith, I suggest you stay in the bedroom tonight. If anything happens, find that half-elf immediately. If you’re uncertain, don’t stay alone,” Muriel replied, her tone earnest with concern. She was genuinely worried about Lilith’s safety, knowing they were deep within a place teeming with dangerous enemies—at least two, if not more.
“Yes… I understand,” Lilith nodded, though Muriel’s expression didn’t soften. If anything, she seemed even more anxious.
“Lilith, did you see the baroness with that old baron earlier?” Muriel asked abruptly.
“I did… Is something wrong?” Lilith asked back, puzzled about what Muriel was implying.
“Did you see her shadow?”
“Her shadow? I… I’m not sure. I didn’t notice. I was too focused on Lady Slyvif,” Lilith admitted, almost as if afraid Muriel might scold her for not paying attention. But the reprimand never came.
“Is that so? To be honest, I didn’t notice either. That arachne is quite hefty, though—large body, massive lower half. But what I’m worried about is that baroness. She might be a vampire,” Muriel said as she leaned closer to Lilith and whispered softly.
“A vampire… a bloodsucker?” Lilith asked, her voice trembling slightly.
“Exactly. I know Reyona’s territory isn’t far from Veridia, but for them to plant someone here as the baron’s wife… It seems like they’ve been keeping an eye on this place for some time. If you ever have to fight her, do not, under any circumstances, face her alone without me,” Muriel instructed, pulling back from Lilith. Despite the distance she created, the unease about the baroness lingered in her mind, amplifying her worries for Lilith’s safety.
“Two demon lords targeting the same place, huh? Interesting.”
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