As the demon wolf howled, the surface underneath made a huge crack. The echo forced the kids to cover their ears, but the butler didn't step back. He then fixed his gloves on his hands and clicked his neck from left to right. He stretched his arms and bend his body with delight.
"Greetings, you demon pedo. You've chosen today. My Don wants you dead after dawn." he gave a royal bow. "Former Head Butler and Consigliere of the supreme leader. The sole right-hand, Justin, you huge eater. Remember this name and don't be ashamed. I'll ensure your life won't be in vain. C'mon little puppy, let's have a little walk, shall we?" the end of his mock, waving his right hand to come after him.
The demon creature understood his words of mockery. Its fangs improperly grew bigger in the size of a long spear, showing an antagonistic sight to the butler. The aura around its body made another huge crack in the surface within its sphere. In one glance, the beast disappeared and suddenly Justin has pushed away after. Four to five consecutive bites and strike of claws from left to right approached the man. When it finally saw an opening, its mouth ate him as fast as it can. But the person it thought ate was just his after-image and finally realized it facing a mage. But it never minded his movements 'cause he was angrily traced. It sensed his presence behind its back and used its tail to strike him. However, the butler dodged it by bending his body in ninety degrees before it reached him. When it turned around to give him another blow, a heavy uppercut hit its chin, sending the angry beast up the air for three hundred sixty degrees spin. The demon beast fell in the ground like a wimp and the butler mockingly compared itself from a blimp.
"Oh my, you've hurt so much? I'm just warming up and gave you a light touch. C'mon, C'mon. Give me some hype already, you filthy scum," his word made the beast more frustrated and angered once again. When it stood from its feet, the veins showed up and its powerful aura to give him pain. A huge cloud of black shadows appeared in the air and encircled the creature in pair. The clouds steadily reshaped after it but smaller than its origin. Four medium sized demon kin formed and lined up with a mocking grin. The Alpha beast ordered its minions to attack the butler simultaneously. Obediently followed its first command and rushed to his direction beforehand.
Although outnumbered and poorly equipped with only a sword hanging in his left waist, the butler didn't move and bravely faced his opponents. The beast's minions onslaught his body but didn't leave a mark so badly. One of them tried to bite his head but its teeth broke into pieces whilst the butler mumbled a proponent. He grabbed the neck of the toothless and threw its body towards its buddies. They tried to split but their bodies quickly hit.
"Is that all? Boring after all," he raised his arm, targeting the minions who were harm. "It's boring to the point I'll puke. Time to finish before somethin' fluke. " A black shadow underneath of their feet swallowed their breath. The Alpha, surprised, lowered its tail when it witnessed its instant death.
But the Alpha courageously summoned more than a dozen. But in one cast of [Dark Cummonue] from Justin, his special and powerful tier spell buzzed in. The minion's personal shadows swallowed their origins and dragged them all into hell. It gave the butler a deep pleasure while watching the suffering of the poor creatures that were trying to escape from his spell. The Alpha, on the other hand, was starting to rethink its next move, trembling in fear as it witnessed the gruesome death of its frontier.
"Hoho, is that all? Are you telling me those puppets of yours worth to scratch me? C'mon, you should summon a thousand … no… more than a million of them if you want to defeat me." Justin said, walking towards the demon wolf. Cracking his fingers, his rape face gave another fear. The demon wolf started to step back when it finally sensed his huge mana flowing around his body. For such a long time, it had never seen anything like him. It doubts whether the person a human or not. But one word accepted, that this person was extremely dangerous and couldn't be defeated alone. Hence, it opted to escape from the upcoming death. But Justin knew its plan, showing his crescent moon smile.
"Hoho, you're deciding to withdraw now? Do you truly think I would let you do that? Well, it's normal. For the puppy, I mean, a weak-hearted cockroach-like you, wave its tail down. You should've do that before when you've still time. Too bad, it's already too late," he grabbed his sword holster, "I was planning to use this one but looking at your despicable face, you're not worthy."
The gust of wind blew loud and the surface quaking as the butler showed his inner mana. The demon wolf rethought for a new strategy to prevent its death. Rolling its eyes to find an escape route, it saw the kids behind the rock. The filthy creature smirked when it saw an opportunity. It disappeared in the butler's sight and rushed its body to the twins.
"Oh shit," Justin snapped his fingers and some shadow sticks shoot the beast but even it hit its limbs, it didn't stop to approach the kids.
"Graaaarwh!" The moment of silence when the beast opened its mouth to eat them alive. The twins closed their eyes and covered each other from the fangs. But as it is approaching them closer in two inches, one click from the trigger, several bullets hit its face.
A young man wore weird clothes, carrying a black Tommy gun appeared. He reloaded his gun and restarted his shooting, hundreds of bullet shells fell. The beast, impaired, lose its half-cheek, wherein its inner flesh such as its tongue and teeth from the left side, appeared.
Hermes Archnemesis, who pulled the trigger, walked with the face of a tiger.
The young Don gave it another round of bullets and fired its feet, cutting it into pieces. The demon wolf loses its right legs and arms, the dust of smoke covered its body when it fell.
"A filthy dog needs to learn a lesson. This monster must learn whose the supreme race in the world's system," he exclaimed, reloading once again. The system he was referring to the ecosystem.
"Boss, let me do it." his butler insisted but his request rejected. He stopped his butler to come closer and pointed his gun to the decapitated beast.
"What would you do to that creature?" his servant asked, slowly step forward three steps ahead of his boss. "Are you capable to kill that creature?"
"Capable, generous men do not create victims, they nurture victims." His butler, surprised, amazed on his logical reasoning. "Still, this was a broken stone. It was not a human life. The most glorious battles in history have those with the biggest number of dead. As if we pay tribute to death and not to life. Kids, please step aside and close your eyes." the twins didn't think twice and obediently followed his request.
Hermes didn't understand his words either but his mouth spouted it out loud. Although he didn't want to interfere, his body instinctively moved. When he foresaw its plan to assault the twins beforehand, he tried to search for a weapon and luckily found the gun under his chair. He picked it up, loaded in and that moment happened in an instant.
"I have from an early age abjured the use of meat, and the time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men." he aimed at the head, he saw it struggle and its eyes shed in tears from pain. "You won't achieve your dream without getting your hands dirty. My name is Hermes Archnemesis. The person who'll kill you. You're my first victim. So be grateful for that. How unfortunate, sorry, that's how mafia works," said the young Don as he brutally shoots it without remorse. Its blood flowed in the ground whilst its entire body was piercing into pieces one by one.
The demon beast's heart dropped from its ribs followed by its intestine and another internal organ. Its eyes were craving its final sight to its murderer as determine as a spartan. The young Don didn't show any mercy to its victim and pulled the trigger until the end. When he hit the brain, the blood hit his mask as it resembled a shadow fiend. His butler paused for a minute and returned to his senses, immediately moved closer to his boss and used his handkerchief to wipe out the blood dripping in the ground. The bullets stopped coming out from the barrel, a small smoke was the last scene when he shouldered it over his apparel. The scarlet-raged sight disappeared and completely went zinc white. The previous hunter, who hunted its prey, passed away.
"Justin, clean up the mess," Hermes changed magazine once again. His butler followed his command and put his right hand in his chest in compliment. The young boss only for few seconds gazed at the blood in astonishment. He moved back to the vehicle and returned the submachine gun and the remaining magazines to its former container. He slowly covered his eyes and river of sweat dripped down from his reddish face.
What the hell? I'm faintly embarrassed. Those words come out from my mouth and I couldn't stop to face out. The flask of blood dripped so long from my mask. Bluffing is a must. Thank goodness, Justin came to remove it that makes me sniff better. I keep my cool for much longer.
"Amazing," the only word interpreted by the twins who were watching from the scene.
When Hermes has finally cooled down, he clapped his face before he turned around. In his right, the young Don witnessed the corpse of the demon beast swallowed and vaporized like a bubble from his sight. He approached the twins afterward. But the children, scared and hopeless, didn't like his face, although, he had saved them earlier.
If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
"My Don, the mess was cleaned up," said Justin. "What will you do to the little peasants? Do you want me to purge them or enslave them like an ant?" his words made the twins even more frightened from before.
"Shut it, neither purge or enslavement is the best option. We're not here to commit such an impeccable crime for both. Shut your mouth or I will be smack your throat." Hermes replied, showing an evil stare to his servant. Instead of being afraid, his butler was undismayed.
"If you insist, but if they do a wrong move and say something unpleasant from their choice of word, I won't tolerate such disrespect to you, my lord. I mean, my Don." Justin stepped back, putting his arm in his right chest with his head bowed in respect.
Hermes's eyes smiled showing his gratitude. He approached the twins, with a friendly approach as an alternative and raised up his hand over his head no weapons to be seen. But instead, his approachable presence made the kids in quiescence.
Am I that scary to make them feel like that? Seriously, they're making me feel bad. He thought.
"Hey, hey, hey, kids. This man is a friend." He stepped forward for two steps. "I know I'm a stranger and new to your eyes. But please don't show me that kind of face, your sights are showing a block of cold ice." The young boss saw the little girl's wound in her right knee, he quickly approached her, asking if she was alright but her twin brother threw a tiny rock in his forehead from the right. Hermes stepped back, his rock leaves a cut from its scratch and he quickly hides the bleed part. He was surprised by his attack, he concludes the brother must be the eldest and he thought his action will hurt his younger sister but it was not his intention. He opted to help her not to hurt them yet the eldest rejected his attempt.
"Don't come any closer," the twin brother said, picking up another rock.
"Oh, you have some guts. Your attack leaves a tiny cut. Do you want me to reply with the same way, you mutt," said Hermes, opposed to his option to say this out loud. "Wait wait wait, hold it right there. I'm friendly you know."
"You're showing your true colors, July we must not befall in his scheme. Your mask shows an imperative aura and more scary than the beast.." the twin brother replied, putting his sister behind his back.
"Haha, you mean this," Hermes pointed his mask and boisterously laughed. "Oh my, so you hit me just for that reason? You're kidding me. Do you want to go to prison? .... Naah, If you think I look so scary then why I'm approaching you so friendly? This mask... It's for my own safety. You know people have kind of disease so he needs to cover his mouth in order to prevent infecting other people. But this is how you treat your savior after all we've done? The people of the village must be gone mad. They haven't taught you, children, what should be paid to the people who risk their lives. No wonder they produced someone like you, an irritable little —"
"—Don't belittle our people. The villagers are not —" the twins saw the butler, cracking his fingers. "Don't get too close to us, sir!"
Hermes felt like he was hit by a lightning rod by the eldest twin brother yelled those words, mistakenly thought he was referring to him. In one blink of an eye, the twins' body was almost cornered by his butler's hand. The kids trembled in fear, almost dropped in tears. The butler appeared behind their back, readied to slice their throat and digestive tract.
Hermes was paused for a second. His servant's action made his boss be stunted, finally realizing his butler didn't joke his part back then.
"Hooo, this is the payment for our service we have done for you," the butler slowly rolled his pointing index from their throat, "Hey you little cubs, did your parents taught you how to say ‘thank you' to the person who saved your lives? To appreciate the effort of your savior? You're lucky that my boss was in your favor. I was watching behind and let my boss did his part. Hey, boy, I didn't like what you did earlier. I let you guys slide before, but your disrespectful act cannot be ignored. Prepare to meet the beast, good die."
"Halt!" The young Don quickly interrupted before his hands reached their end.
"No boss, they should learn how to show some respect to you. I should teach them a lesson, they would surely never forget," Justin held the hands of the twins, they resisted to release themselves from his grip.
"Please don't hurt my twin sister, we apologize. Please, please don't hurt her." the twin brother begged.
"Please don't hurt my twin brother, we don't intend to be mean to your companion. Please, we don't mean any harm, we apologize and we take back what my brother said to your Boss. Please release us." the twin sister who kept herself quiet earlier, began to persist.
"Hooo, now you're talking? But even you beg, I will still break your arms like a boiled egg." Justin began to tighten his grip.
"Justin, I order you to halt!" Hermes grabbed his butler's hand. His butler was surprised by giving him antagonistic eyes offhand.
"But boss, will all due respect. These scums ruined your skin, disrespect you and —"
"— I order you to halt but you insist to revolt? Do you want to defy my orders?" He tightly held his butler's hand, making him be confused from his action. The butler dropped a sweat in fright. It was the first time he opted to show such offensive sight. He gave in and let his boss do his thing.
"As you wish, boss," he released them both. The twins dropped in the surface and embraced each other.
Hermes rushed in and scanned their condition, asking which part was hurt and need medical attention. The twins felt guilty for what they've shown to the young Don. Although he looked like a monster and spoke an unforgivable word against their people, the masked man was more or else much better than his companion.
"We're so sorry, mister. My twin brother didn't intend to hurt you. We admit our mistakes," the little girl said, lowering her head towards him.
"Me too. I apologize for hitting you, I-I, I'm so sorry," the young boy lowered his head. He thought the young Don was going hit his face but a soft hand patted their heads instead.
"It's fine. Don't be bother. It's my fault for wearing this thing in my face." his eyes showed joyous eyes. "Forgive me for saying too much against your village. My apologies for being so bad and treated you unkind because of my rage. I'm sorry but I can't show you my face right now. There's a big reason that I don't want to reveal it to you both but I will give you a hint. I have asthma."
Justin clicked his tongue in disgust. He didn't like the treatment his boss' showing to the kids. He asked himself why his boss treating them regardless of what they did from him. Back then, he knew his boss would never save anyone and just leave his subjects left to die. But it comes to his mind that his boss was scheming something from behind. He concluded that the twins were a new subject for his plan, hence, the plan must be obscure so he must go in flow as much as he can.
"Who are you, mister?" the little girl earnestly asked.
"Aah just a passerby. We came from Southern Cimeria Continent, it was a deserted place and always hit by a sandstorm. I apologize too for my friends' misbehavior and misdeeds to you, little kids. He was just doing his job as my butler." said Hermes. All of the information was just a made up story. He wanted to speak the truth but he needed to cover his identity for good. If he revealed himself, he wondered what would happen next if the villagers found out that he saved them both? Will he be rewarded or his body will be hanged regardless of his action provided? "Likewise, we are merchants from that place but unfortunately, our things got wiped out from our voyage and only our car and ourselves was left behind due to an unforeseen event. We're on the way for the next village nearby to buy kinds of stuff to replenish and trade our own products. But in the middle of the muddy road, we saw you kids had been chased by that demon beast earlier. That's how we met." Hermes replied. "And you guys, what's your story before this happened?"
"Oh, my twin sister and I were living in the village of Neue Fiona. Maybe, it is the place you're looking for. We're just gonna go back to our home but like what you said, we've been chased. We tried to run away but it was too fast to escape. We thank you for saving us and show your kindness." the young boy lowered his head for the second time.
I see…
"By the way, my name is Troy Camelia and this is my little twin sister, July Camelia. Twin children of Village Chief of Neue Fiona. Despite our small height, we're both twelve years young and working as the collectors of herbs in the Dark Scily Forest. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, mister." July greeted.
"Oh, it's my pleasure to meet you guys. My name is Her… Ahem... Aljen and the person who save you and later tried to hurt you earlier is Justin, my personal butler. Say hello too, Justin," he turned his head towards to Justin who didn't like his idea.
C'mon just says hello. Nothing will be lost if you try too. Be a good person for now. It is not bad to show a bluff face, you know.
Reading his gesture, Justin refused to do so.
C'mon Justin. That's an order.
Justin clicked his tongue and gave up. He put his right hand to his left chest and lowered his head towards them without saying a word. The twins smiled at him in return, making the butler more dismayed from their accord.
"That's my butler. You see guys, he is a good man after all."
"Yeah, he is a good man and gentleman." the twins said as goodwill. But the butler was acting the opposite when he heard the word "good", making his ears to tear apart.
"Oh by the way, if you're heading in the same location as us, then how about joining us in our journey? We will give you a lift. Free with no additional fees." Hermes offered.
"Is it okay for us to enter your car?" July asked, worrying about their condition. "Our face and hands are dirty, full of muds and sweat, we can't accept your offer. And... and... our odor is a little bit smelly."
"If you must, I don't mind since I have a mask. Justin clean it afterward. Come on, kids. Hop in." Hermes replied, grabbed their hands and dragged them to the vehicle. He opened the door for them and let them entered. His butler couldn't stop him, it was unacceptable and despicable but he needed to go in the flow to not destroy his vim.
"T, T, Thank you very much," July said, entering the car with pleasure. "Wait, our herbs!"
"Aah, July, please don't jump out. Let my butler pick it up. Hey Justin, bring those herbs behind the car."
"Yes, sir." Justin disappeared and instantly appeared, carrying the baskets of their herbs. After a few minutes, he approached his boss and began to speak.
"Boss, seriously what are you planning?" Justin whispered in his ears, worrying about his boss' decision.
"Just go in the flow, for now, Justin," Hermes replied. He entered the car and let his butler close the door for his part.
"Yehey! What a beautiful car! The inside is more pleasant than what we know!" Troy rejoiced as he enjoyed the smooth, comfortable and fluffy feature of his seat whilst his twin sister was nervous to move because she thought their presence was unfit and ruining the surroundings by their feet.