(Part 1)

It was a strange day to come across friends and foes on one narrow road but I had to go with the flow and keep it all together. I couldn't risk failing a quest to this System whose existence is veiled in mystery and is the center of all the strange things I have been through.

Even though I was drowning in my nose in problems, I managed to put myself into a new one. I was supposed to get back on my feet in society first but it seems that some people fear not only me getting back, but even me having the chance to do so. With them around every corner, I was at least suspecting some trouble but not to this level of nastiness.

It all started last night when I walked out of the auction house. That night when I was first hit by the storm.

***

—Last Night after the Auction—

Victory!

Small as it was but a victory is still a victory.

Vivian was ready to kick off a celebration because of what happened earlier that night. She fulfilled her mission of knowing who was going to interrogate her and bought the Spirit Lotus, which her father lured her to buy. She even trash-talked to her heart's content and left some deep slaps on some of those who tried to bully her.

"What a time to be alive!" She exclaimed on her way out.

Alas, she can't attend the dinner party after the auction, the De Clare family is famed for their parties but with the Prince and the Heroine around, Vivian must tread carefully.

"Hm? Where is the carriage? I want to go home." Vivian said as she waited with Logan and Esmeralda outside the auction.

Naturally, the employees of the De Clare would call for her carriage to pick her up the instant she came out but it seemed that her carriage driver was absent.

"I'm sure it's nothing. I'll check it out." Logan said as he made sure the area was relatively safe and guarded.

Vivian nodded and naturally stayed in front of the Auction House. The place is safe if not the safest place in the capital after the Royal Palace, half of the nobility are gathered here after all. With most of the nobles at the party, Vivian found a quiet fountain close to the entrance and walked beside it to brood at the tranquil reflection of the moon. Esmeralda was quietly following her.

"Beautiful night, isn't it?" Vivian asked.

"Yes, my Lady." Esmeralda replied.

"How do you find working for me so far?"

"It is… thrilling."

"You're being dishonest."

"Fine, it is worrying. My previous employer was old but quite influential so I've seen my fair share of politics, but with you, my Lady… they are not just forcing their influence, there is hate in their actions." Esmeralda said.

"Sometimes, I think you are too perceptive for your own good." Vivian turned to Esmeralda smiling then turned back at the fountain.

"I apologize if I said anything…"

"It's alright, I like your perspective on things." Vivian said, "There is indeed hate, the unjustified discriminating sort of hate… I never understood why but I think the coming days will unravel the mystery one way or another. Until then, I'll decide whether or not to give them a real reason to hate me. It will be lots of fun I assure you."

"Please, be careful with this sort of people, my Lady."

"Thank you for your worry, Esmeralda."

While the two chatted, Vivian would always try to unravel more about Esmeralda, the talented and interesting Hulking from Sauran.

The people of the south were known for their large stature and bronze skin, at first when Vivian transmigrated and started reading about the world, she always thought it was just baseless rumors because of how far Sauran is, but after meeting Esmeralda, she changed that opinion.

The southern continent Sauran is swampy and lush with forests and mountains that house the docile race of the Hulkings. Large-bodied humanoids, the Hulkings are brave and strong yet lack the destructive nature of mankind when they go to war. They are nomads but the ancient civilizations of Sauran used them as slaves and now the people of Albion continue the traditions but it was rare to see them in cities.

The humans of Sauran were also enslaved once their nations were defeated and their lands were colonized but they were of no particular use outside their lands. They were farmers and laborers in their own homelands under Albionese supervision.

As for Esmeralda, Vivian already knew that she traveled from Sauran on a ship that she named herself after and trained in Lozan as a maid. It also seemed that due to the Religious Civil War in Lozan and the conflict with Velleux, her former mistress escaped to exile fearing the Inquisition Order of Saint Heimdall.

"You have been through a lot." Vivian said.

"Right, but it is our experiences that shape what we are." Esmeralda replied.

"Oh! An excellent tea brewer and a philosopher… I believe I was lucky to find you."

While Vivian was getting to understand her new maid more and more, others started moving around them in the shadows. It wasn't anything suspicious and Vivian did not notice at all the danger she was in. She was worried but she thought that the front entrance of the most prestigious Auction House in the Capital would be more guarded than any ordinary place.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

She couldn't be more wrong, however, since the security was already lifted the moment she started brooding at the fountain, and things started taking unexpected turns. It all started with the appearance of two young women who looked as if they belonged to the ranks of the lower nobility. Those two young ladies approached Vivian and Esmeralda with smiles.

"Lady Vivian… am I right?" One of them asked.

Vivian examined the young lady seeing nothing out of place about her before confirming.

"Indeed." Vivian replied. She only thought that the one in front of her was simply another nosy noble.

"Thank the Saints we found you." One of them said.

"It is your Knight, my Lady. He asked us to come and get you. He was trying to find the carriage driver when some horse started panicking and hit him." The other spoke.

"He seems to be in no condition to escort you so please, come to the carriage yourself. This way, my Lady." The first continued about to lead the way.

"Goodness! That's horrible." Esmeralda reacted worriedly.

It seemed that Logan's situation was dire being hit by a raging horse. That certainly hurt, Vivian had that bad memory with horses from when she was young so she knew the pain but there was one slight thing. Vivian's face was just looking at the two young ladies with an utter cringe.

"Seriously?" She wondered, "I mean… if you really want to make up something, don't put so much effort into your lie."

"Hm?" "Excuse me!"

The two young women were tilting their heads from Vivian's reaction.

"I said you need to be better at acting casual… liars always look for excuses and make unnecessary details." Vivian seemed not interested one bit then her tone changed right away, "Where is my Knight? And who sent you?"

Seeing the change in Vivian's attitude, the two young women realized they were seen through. It was supposed to be an easy pick-up but this would turn rather troublesome if someone was to take note of it.

In a full synergy, the two young women moved towards Esmeralda and Vivian each with sharp blades hidden under their sleeves.

"Come quietly or we will harm him, that maid, and most definitely you." The young woman who was holding Vivian spoke quietly not to arouse attention.

Esmeralda tried to struggle but she was in no position to fend for herself while Vivian was regretting not taking distance right off. Her eyes looked around trying to find Logan or any guard but it seemed that there was none other than some people past the bustling entrance of the auction house.

"I advise you to be wiser than screaming around." The young woman holding Vivian said while pressing her blade against Vivian's side.

"Right back at you. You think it is wise to try to mug me like that?" Vivian asked while waiting for anyone to show up.

"Move!" The young woman holding her used a concealed blade and poked Vivian with it.

This bad situation left her with no option but to quietly stop resisting. Her eyes didn't stop from trying to look for an opportunity but the young woman holding her walked beside her very closely and led her away from the auction house's entrance.

To the passers-by from a distance, these are just four ladies walking together, nothing to be suspicious about.

As the four finally reached a corner at the end walkway leading to the auction house, the young woman holding Vivian pushed her towards a certain door before anyone could notice, followed by the other woman holding Esmeralda.

This door led to an empty stable that seemed to belong to the auction building but was currently empty save for two figures that stood right in the middle.

"Oh! Our guests have arrived." A man's voice spoke lazily as one well-dressed man walked across the stable silently with another behind him holding a cane.

The man approaching was wearing a brown suit and a hat which he left up to reveal his bright blonde hair, the man with a cane was a bit taller dressed in a black coat and a hat but he kept his distance as he scanned Vivian with his sharp eyes carefully.

What Vivian noticed, however, was the dialect of their speech. While the women seemed to speak in native Elgardish, the men were crude to an extent.

"Criminals! Let the lady go!" Esmeralda was nervous but she tried to put up an act but the woman behind her held her from her hair.

"Silence, you dumb giant."

"No!"

The woman holding Esmeralda pulled her hair for Esmeralda to fall down from the pain on one knee and now had the knife at her throat, Esmeralda's tough act proved to be a facade as she started shaking with fear. Even though she is a girl taller than most men, she is still intimidated by a knife.

In a world of knights and wizards, a stray Hulking like her isn't even anything special.

The man in the brown suit looked at Esmeralda as he walked to her and was about to raise his hand while insulting her.

"Why is this woman so damn tall? You sure you're a housemaid, not some circus freak?"

But just as he was about to hit her, Vivian spoke.

"Hitting a lady's maid, now? Truly shameless! Dogs these days aren't trained right."

No matter the situation, the villainess is still the villainess. Her sharp tongue and sassy eyes would provoke the heaviest of nerves. Seeing the way she locked her arms together and stood impatiently as if not bothered with the lowly folks around her, the man in brown completely forgot about Esmeralda and turned to Vivian with his eyes wide open.

"Say that again!" He pointed a finger at her and acted overbearing but Vivian looked at him with decreasing interest and turned to the other man.

The man in black was sharp and perceptive. A knight as it seemed compared to the other man who clearly had no powers. He could understand that Vivian saw through the act of hierarchy. Normally, he wouldn't be bothered to talk with such a woman and would let his lackey do the beating and the questioning but he saw no fear in Vivian's eyes. This is either foolishness or confidence and both will be a waste of time.

"That's enough." The man in black spoke as he pointed to the others with his cane, "Bring them inside."

The other man halted his action despite the anger that he couldn't vent and didn't argue one bit. He pointed forward as he was ordered and Vivian simply walked by. However, that man had a toxic look in his eyes for being told off by Vivian that way.

"Move!" The two women forced Esmeralda to walk in after Vivian while pointing their knives at her.

Vivian scanned the stable left and right to see no escape, those people just wanted her to be trapped but little was she worried about that. As soon as she reached the end of the stable, Esmeralda was pushed down by one of the women and she helped her up.

Facing them, Vivian assessed her situation carefully. Four individuals; two women with knives, one thug, and a Knight. The only danger is that knight in a black suit as he seemed very wary about Vivian's actions.

"Let's make this quick, shall we?" He spoke.

"Whatever you have in mind, whatever you aim to accomplish, this won't go unpunished." Vivian spoke right back at him.

"I see… so Lady Moore is trying to throw her weight even in such a situation? Interesting!" The man said, making an intrigued expression.

"I assume you are after the Spirit Lotus. I regret to inform you that you won't find it on me." Vivian declared in full force.

"Is that so? It is regrettable then… still, it would be way simpler if we searched your bag." The man pointed to her side.

"I dare you try." Her anger rose as she felt she couldn't just be humiliated by the likes of this thief in the dark.