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“Wait, harass me later?”

Claire just dragged her over, ignoring her question.

Seria resisted as she was dragged, “No, wait! Seriously, what did he mean by later?!”

Claire was obviously several times stronger and continued to pull her while cooing, “Now now, we won’t bite~ Well, actually I might, but I promise it won’t hurt~”

Seria shivered, Claire was an undeniable beauty, but that did not mean she was going to submit herself as food. Seeing how the others had impish grins it was clear that they did not take Lyka’s words to heart when he said that they would continue their harassment later. They were clearly still going!

“Stop that! We have matters to attend to, let her take a seat so we can get started.” Lyka spoke up again. He frowned, he clearly did not like having to repeat himself.

Claire could only pout as she let Seria go. The young dark elf could only silently cry to herself as she took her seat. 

“Alright! Now everyone start by standing up and saying your name to the class! Then tell everyone your age, race, and hobbies!” Nile, who had somehow disappeared until this point, suddenly stood up and made a ridiculous comment.

A random individual that looked to be a youth with partially scaly skin shot up from his seat and spoke in a monotone voice, “Alright. . . Now everyone start by standing up and saying your name to the class. . . Then tell everyone your age, race, and hobbies. . .”

Nile rebuked the youth while flailing his arms in the air like a child, “No! Endorph you aren’t supposed to repeat what I said, you are supposed to come up with your own answer!” 

The snakekin looking boy copied Nile in a lackluster manner, “No. . . Endorph you aren’t supposed to repeat what I said you are supposed to come up with your own answer. . .”

Seria’s face scrunched up as she watched, “What are they doing?”

Claire replied, “Endorph has an interesting habit of copying people he can’t understand. As you can see, Nile often does stuff that doesn’t make sense, so this is common.”

“So you are saying that what he did earlier with that demon king stuff. . .”

“Happens often.”

Seria could only sit there silently.

The exchange between Nile and Endorph continued for quite some time, it wasn’t until Nile gave up on Endorph that they were able to move on.

“Whatever, we still have things we need to discuss.”

“Whatever, we still have things-”

“Shut up!” Nile ended up cutting Endorph off. Seeing that the snakekin finally stopped speaking, Nile continued.

“By now you are probably wondering who we are and our purpose. . . " Nile stopped his banter for a moment and looked at Seria with a somber expression. 

“It all started 100 years ago, we were a peaceful people, that is until. . . THE FIRE NATION- OW!” Lyka mercilessly smacked Nile in the back of the head.

Endorph jumped up and stated, “The Fire Nation attacked!”

Seria could only assume that this must have been one of those things Nile did often, seeing how Endorph completed the sentence.

“If you are going to tell the story then tell it seriously! It wasn’t even 10 years ago not even 5! And what the hell is that Fire Nation you keep on talking about?!” The foxkin mercilessly looked down on Nile as his mouth twitched.

Nile got back up rubbing his sore and rising bump, “Che! Fine! It was actually 4 years ago and we, the founding fathers of Vanps noticed the mistreatment of people from the Nightosphere. As a result we founded this organization to be a home and a beacon for the less fortunate.” He turned his head towards Lyka.

“There! Happy?”

Lyka frowned in response,“No.”

Nile raised his eyebrows“What else is there?!”

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe the fact that we are an organization of assassins?”

The room fell silent, Seria’s eyes widened with disbelief. Slowly, she started looking at all the people in the room, carefully observing their actions and appearances. 

She couldn’t help but think, “Seriously? This group of flashy people are assassins?”

Claire saw the look on Seria’s face and frowned, “Oi what’s with that look? So what if we are flashy! We still are assassins! In fact, would you ever suspect that such flashy people were assassins in the first place?”

Seria’s face twitched, “This lady, not only a vampire but a mind reader too!?” 

Nile coughed to get everyone's attention, “So yes, we are an assassin organization, but don’t worry, we won’t kill you.” He threw a wink at Seria.

Lyka sighed, “Didn’t I already tell you to stop that? At this rate we won’t get anywhere. I don’t know about a fool like you, but I still have an organization to run here!”

“Ah! Ah! So scary~ Fine, Seria, we need to wrap up this little meeting of ours so do you have any questions for us?” Nile mocked Lyka before turning his attention to Seria.

Seria was shocked that the attention was suddenly redirected back to her. The flow was very hectic and she found it difficult to follow what was happening. She pondered for a minute before asking, “What happened to Holly?” 

Nile had a quizzical expression, “Holly?”

Seria’s face darkened, “I am not so naive to think that my actions did not endanger my friends, but don’t tell me that you only saved me and ignored the others.” Her shoulders began to shake and her hands balled up into tight fists.

Nile looked clueless and started tilting his head back in forth as he thought about what she said. Eventually his gave up and looked at Lyka, “Did we do anything about the normals?”

Lyka looked down at a notebook that suddenly appeared in his hand and rapidly flipped through the pages before stopping. During this entire process, Seria was stiff as a board her words and feelings choked back in her throat. 

Finally he found what he was looking for, “It looks like there has already been contingencies set in motion. Ret already put in a request for information control and monetary assistance. The arrangements have already been made.”

Seria was shocked, information control? Monetary assistance? His  words seemed foreign to her.

Lyka saw her confused expression and explained, “To counteract the effects of this incident we spread rumours that a dark elf spy had infiltrated the city and was using a mind-control spell to force the inhabitants of that inn to cooperate. In addition we had to bribe certain key officials to ensure that the family was not further interrogated. It will still affect their business and their relations with the inhabitants of the city, but we have set up certain measures to ensure that they will not be harmed because of this incident.”

Hearing these words of reassurance, Seria couldn’t help but sigh in relief. One of the heaviest burdens she faced was taken care of before she could even worry. 

Lyka continued, “Although, to ensure their safety, we were forced to place the blame on you.”

Seria shook her head while smiling, “That’s fine, I would have been forced to leave once I was discovered anyways, at least this way they won’t be harmed because of me.”

Her argument with Ret is still fresh in her mind, she now realized how fortunate she was to be discovered under these circumstances.

“Great! Now that is out of the way, will you be joining us?” Ret seemed to be clueless of the mood and broke the tension with his remark.

Lyka stood up, “If we are done here I am leaving. I leave recruitment to you.” With that said he left the room, several others left as well.

Seria’s eyes widened for a brief moment before she fumbled with her words to give a reply, “Um, I am afraid I wouldn’t like killing anyone.” Seria could only sheepishly reply. She wasn’t to keen on joining a group of assassins.

“That’s fine! We do need other things to get done too. Like cooking, cleaning, and espionage! I am sure you can do all those things.” Ret said this with a goofy grin.

“Wh-what espionage? Wait, why espionage?!” Seria was baffled, she didn’t even notice that she was getting swept away with Ret’s pace again.

Ret put on a pondering look, “Ummm, because you're small? Ah, don’t forget cooking and cleaning, those need to get done too!”

“What do you mean too? I can do cooking a cleaning just fine but why be a spy? I don’t have any skills, how could you make me be a spy?!”

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“Don’t mind it, don’t mind it. We will cross that bridge when we get there~”

“No! I will cook and clean but no spying!” Seria shouted at Ret.

“So you will stay and be a maid for us? Perfect! If you insist!” Ret gave an impish grin.

Seria paused for  moment, then she realized that she just willingly chose to work as a maid for this mad group of assassins. Seria had fallen for his trap. . .

Claire started petting Seria’s head. “There, there. At least it’s not espionage. That will have to wait until later.”

Seria stared at her wide-eyed. “Later?!”

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A few days had passed since her fate was decided, Seria was busying herself sweeping the vast amount of hallways that ran through the headquarters. 

“I don’t get it, why is this place so huge? There’s no point for all these rooms!” Seria mumbled to herself in a disatisfied manner. It was baffling, how could a secret hideout for a small group of assassins be so huge! Just cleaning the areas she is allowed to be in took her a week! 

“Seria~” A sing song voice rang through the hall.

Seria turned to see a bubbly vampire bouncing down the halls.

“Hm? Hey Claire, did you need something?” Seria smiled, but secretly she was lamenting her luck. Every time this lady appeared she would dish out a new chore that was more troublesome than the last.

“Yes, here take this storage bag.” She tossed a small velvety purple bag at Seria who fumbled with her broom as she tried to catch it, dropping both the bag and her broom in the end.

Daintily picking up the bag she stares at it inquisitively, “This is?”

“They are light stones! The old ones are losing power and most of them have already gone out. So Lyka told me to have you replace the lights in all the major walkways and rooms.” Claire smiled sadistically. 

Seria’s face twitched, “You do realize that I’m too short to replace lights, right?” 

“No problem! I already thought of that and placed a ladder in the bag for you to use too!” 

“Are you serious? Without help it will take a week or longer! I will need to reposition the ladder every time I change a stone!” Seria was a more than a little peeved. These people were terrible at cleaning!

“Don’t worry, once you change them out you won’t need to change them again for another two years!” Claire smiled charmingly. 

Seria gritted her teeth and stored the broom in the bag before trudging off to get started on the lights. “This is abuse! Even maid have rights! Stupid Ret, this is all his fault!” 

With little control over her situation, Seria climbed up and down the ladder for the rest of the day. There were several incidents where she was nearly injured by the crazy residents as they ran/fought past her ladder.

It wasn’t until several hours later that she collapsed on a bench in the dining hall.  The rowdy place was filled with colorful figures that came and went at a rapid pace. Fights often broke out and strange yet comical scenes were the norm. 

“I still can’t believe that such a flashy group can be considered assassins.” Seria couldn’t help but mutter under her breath.

“Yo~” An extremely cutesy greeting came from behind Seria before a pair of arms forcefully wrapped around her. 

“Geh!” Seria collapsed slightly under the weight of the new arrival. 

Seria quickly shielded her meal. “Cynthia! Stop! This is my food get your own!” She was familiar with the wolfkin girl’s habits after a week of interaction.

“Muuu~ You can share! Look how tiny you are, you don’t need it all!” The annoying girl wagged her wolf tail back and forth as she pestered Seria.

“Stop that Cynthia, she has been working all day the same as you, just let her eat in peace.” Another familiar voice came to Seria’s aid.

“Eh? Vyc, why? I just wanna little.” Cynthia didn’t let go of Seria, but started pouting at her younger brother that just arrived.

He sighed as he grabbed his elder sister under her arms and dragged her away, she didn’t really resist as she was forced into a seat that wasn’t already occupied.

“Sorry, Seria, thanks for putting up with her.” Vyc bowed his head in apology towards Seia.

Seria waved her hand in a dismissive manner, “Don’t mind it, I am already used to the colorful characters in this place.”

Vyc nodded, “Still, don’t give her anything or she won’t leave you alone.” 

“Hey! I’m still here you know!” Cynthia pouted.

“Good, then maybe you will actually listen and start behaving.” Vyc scolded her in return.

“Lalalalalala! Not listening.” In response she covered her wolf ears and started singing loudly, ignoring her little brother like a child.

Vyc shook his head at this act and furrowed his brows. Seria threw him a sympathetic look.

“So, how are the chores going?” Vyc instead engaged Seria in conversation, disregarding his childish sister.

Seria grimaced, “I know for a fact that everything has been neglected. Lyka already told me that the last time this place was clean was when it was constructed. Take into account that this organization has been in operation for four years, this place has four years of maintenance that needs to be accomplished and I am the only one doing it.”

Seria stared bitterly into her food. 

Vyc just patted her on the shoulder, then he stabbed his fork down on a hand that was creeping towards his dish.

“Ouch! How could you stab your sister!” Cynthia quickly withdrew her hand and started massaging the point on her hand that now sported a row of red marks.

Vyc shot her a glare, “Easy!” He redirected his attention to Seria, ignoring the obviously dejected sagging ears and tail of his sister.

“Well, don’t give up, most of the stuff that has piled up only needs to be completed once a year or every few years so your workload will decrease once it’s been done.” He tried encouraging Seria.

Seria just gloomily ate her food, “I doubt it. Lyka said he wanted me to start tending to greenhouse after the big chores are done.”

Vyc stiffened a bit, “I am so sorry.” His eyes were filled with a look of pity.

Normal greenhouses were not a problem, time consuming but harmless. Unfortunately, the plants grown at Vanps were used for the trade. Meaning Seria had to be careful in her treatment of each individual plant and take care not to die.

“I was already gifted an encyclopedia of medicinal and poisonous plants, but I am not certain of my ability. I intend to spend time with Endorph. He is strange, but his knowledge about plants is huge.”

“Yeah, he’s a weird one. His knowledge on any topic is immense, but you have to catch him when he is coherent.” Vyc nodded in agreement.

Seria slumped down in her chair, it was hard for her to tell what was more exhausting, the work or the people.

“Seria.” A little voice came from behind her, belaying her lamentations. She turned to see that Abigail was had approached. Her face was placid and emotionless, a constant that she later realized after prolonged exposure to the girl.

“Hello, Abigail.” Seria smiled pleasantly, she much rather speak with her than one of the more. . . excitable residents in Vanps.

Abigail took a seat across from Seria, without any food for herself, not their for leisure then. It is possible that she was there to socialize, but Seria doubted it. The little foxkin wasn’t the type to waste time with friends.

“Lyka wants you to report to Tetsuki, the alchemist.” Abigail made the report, short and efficient, her eyes lasered in on the wolfkin siblings that were secretly fighting over food.

“Is there a particular reason?” Seria had many talents when it came to housework and chores, alchemy however wasn’t in her repertoire.

“Tesuki requested an assistant, didn’t want anyone experienced because she guarantees that they are stubborn folks set in the wrong ways. Someone fresh.” Abigail briefly explained. “Plus, she is the one in charge of the greenhouse.”

Seria’s shoulders sagged. More work.

Abigail stood up from her seat and stood on her tippy toes. She reached forward as far as she could and gave Seria a well-meaning pat on the head trying to be comforting. Though it was more comical because her short stature just barely made it so her fingertips brushed the front of Seria’s head.

Seria was secretly shedding tears on the inside. Sure her days as a barmaid were hectic, but at least she was able to rest during the off hours. Here, there was no such thing. She could only sigh as she resigned herself to her fate.