The laser woman was originally set to fight Bony since she could use light magic, but since she lost that role she took up the role that was left. Getting rid of additional guests.
It was a vague task but as one of the three who were informed of the key portions of the mission, she knew exactly who her two targets were.
The woman blasted through the undead on the first floor and rushed on to the second. Kaili, who saw her rush in from the window in a corridor and heard the disturbing sounds below, was pale with terror, but Lily had a relaxed smile.
Kaili stuttered, "Li, Lily, let's go to the throne room."
"Don't worry. They won't make it up to here."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Just trust me."
"But-"
"Shh."
As Lily embraced her, Kaili found it hard to resist her softness, but her fear wasn't completely abated. It was only when the loud noises stayed on a certain floor for a decent length of time that she started to feel relieved.
On the third floor, in a ballroom, the laser woman was stopped by a humanoid figure with nothing but a robe to cover itself. It was a skeleton so its nudity didn't bother either of them, but the colour of its bones caught her attention.
It was a black shade mixed with vibrant gold that seemed to have an archaic feel to it. The robed skeleton seemed to be a wise sage that had overseen the end of many kingdoms, but that atmosphere only lasted until it started talking.
"What? Like what you see?"
Though it didn't have any skin, she could clearly imagine a vulgar smile on its face.
Despite being in enemy territory, the skeleton's carefree and confident tone almost made her retort, but her training allowed her to restrain herself.
Any respect she felt for this foe was gone, but its aura was enough to keep her from dropping her guard.
"Not answering, huh? Well I guess you're too embarrassed to, I can't blame you. I would admire me too. After all, this is all thanks to master and my creator, it's only obvious that my bone structure would be to die for. Get it, kekeke."
The more she listened to the skeleton who wouldn't stop talking and was surprisingly expressive for an undead, the more the woman felt the urge to bury it.
"You know, you don't look too bad either. What? I can't see your body? I don't have to. Just your clear eyes tell me everything I need to know. Please give up this dangerous line of work and join me. I promise I'll even let you stroke my bones. Just not my pelvis. Kukuku."
She couldn't figure out who this robed skeleton was or where it came from so her logical side didn't want to make any rash moves, however its chatter was a scarily effective taunt. Eventually, she wasn't able to stay still anymore and stretched out her hands to fire ten holy-imbued lasers at it.
But, much to her dissatisfaction and surprise, the ten lasers were sucked into four mini vortexes that rotated in place by the skeleton's side.
"That wasn't very nice of you. Don't you know you should be proud of being my first opponent? Even though you won't make it out alive, I'll spread your description in my biography that will become a must-have for every demon..."
As she frowned at the skeleton that wouldn't stop talking, the woman fixed her stance and got ready to fight an opponent that would be far more troublesome than she thought she would ever have to face.
***
*Chink*
The blade swung at me without any warning, but without taking any action against it, I waited for my automatic defence to pop up. And when the blade was a couple inches from my head, a glossy jet-black ribcage rose from the ground to block it.
This was the ability I had gained from assimilating with one of the rings that the Lich Lucarius had. Once I learned how to set the density and power of the bones that would appear to protect me, I was honestly just waiting for someone to activate it.
"I must admit, my mood isn't too bad right now. Any excuses you wanna make, William?"
Behind me with a difficult expression was a minotaur with his axe blocked by the tough ribcage. In his eyes I could see confusion, relief and conviction, but the moment he made his decision I stopped caring about his emotions.
I looked around for a little bit before shouting, "Come out, do you really think this guy will be enough to take care of me?"
"Elios-"
"Shut up."
Without glancing back at him, I focused on the figures that emerged from the forest. There were six of them in total, cloaked in black. After revealing themselves, they stayed inactive and only waited for their chance to finish me off. As I examined them one by one I found them honestly,
'Disappointing. Is this really all they prepared for a custom-made trap? Or are they just planning on keeping me away from the castle?'
When I tried to connect to my familiars, I found out that my telepathy was being blocked so either option was likely.
"Elios. I'm sorry. I didn't want to do this, but I had no choice. My soul isn't as pure as yours."
While I tried to speculate on the enemies' plan, William started talking while tightly gripping his axes and clenching his teeth. It was a face that could scare children but I felt nothing but annoyance as I looked at it.
"Stop right there, let me guess. You're being threatened, right?"
The surprise look he gave me made me want to roll my eyes, but I held back that urge.
"That's, right. When did you find out?"
"It wasn't that hard. It was on short notice so I couldn't ask Lia to verify it, but your story was too suspicious for me to trust it so easily. Though I didn't want this to happen, it's not like I didn't predict this situation."
'I'm trying to cause a revolt here after all. It would be weird if I wasn't backstabbed once or twice.'
"I, see. I won't ask you to forgive me, but I couldn't say no when they used my daughter against me."
"I can imagine, you naïve noble."
In response to my criticism, a wry smile appeared on his face. At this point I was only slightly irritated, but what he said next unsealed the lid I had on my emotions.
"You're right. I am naïve. You're completely right, my friend."
"...Huh?"
I wanted to think that he didn't mean it, but as I looked into his eyes, all I saw was stupidly straightforward honesty.
'Oh you have got to be kidding me.'
"After all this, did you really think we were friends?" I asked solemnly.
When I saw the confused look on his face, my anger grew fierce. Normally I wouldn't say anything, but I couldn't send him off with him having such an admirable imagination of being stopped from taking the side with evil by his true friend.
"Listen and listen well. Do you know what bothers me the most about this?"
"Um, my betrayal?"
"Not a bad guess, but no. The number of people I can trust won't betray me can be counted on one hand, and you ain't one of them. And it isn't this unexpected trouble either. I've learnt to accept problems as they come and then quickly think about how to solve them, so though I don't like it, I can handle the trouble too.
What bothers me the most, is my wasted effort. And I'm not talking about something like coming last in an event or a sport because the experience would still make it worth something. What I hate is that I had to spend all of that time learning your habits, hobbies, subtle movements, favourite foods and drinks, beliefs. I had to spend so much time playing along with your fantasy and this is how I'm repaid.
I bet that even if we weren't close they would have still come to you or someone else and made them lure me away, therefore, you weren't special, you weren't important, you weren't necessary."
"No, don't say that."
With eyes begging for me to stop, he pleaded, but I felt not a hint of hesitation.
"After making me waste so much effort getting close to you, don't fool yourself by making it some beautiful friendship. That was just a business relationship. We were never friends, never have been and never will be."
"Ahhh!!!"
As if he couldn't accept his dear memories being trampled on, William recklessly charged at me. The desperate look on his face erased the last bit of respect I had for him.
'Hmph, I guess with a Demon King that selfishly wages war I shouldn't have expected much of the nobles, but for a Count to be this much of a disgrace. No wonder his wife didn't want me getting close to him. This idiot is way too gullible.'
I held out my hand to receive a grey halberd that I made by magically compressing the earth, leaving a decent-sized pit behind.
I then slammed this halberd into the charging bull and watched as he was blown away. Once his flight was stopped by a solid tree trunk, the six cloaked figures started leaking sharp killing intent but William's shout held them back.
"Don't interfere! That was the deal."
Since I was already prepared to fight all of them at the same time I didn't feel much relief. I strolled towards the minotaur with blood dripping from the corner of his lip.
"You're tough if nothing else."
"How, are you so strong? We should both be at the limit of Strength so why are you so much stronger?"
"What? Are you really that ignorant? Did you think an ant and a human would have the same power if they both reached the limit? Of course not. The limit is connected to your race after all."
"Then, how can a small demon like you beat me?!"
"A small demon, huh? Well, I'm not generous enough to give you all the answers so keep thinking about it until I send you off."
I pointed my halberd at him, this time determined to deal a serious injury. However, before either of us could make a move, we felt the air of the forest shift.