Part 1
The Eulia Empire was one of the strongest nations of the New World. This wasn't just because of its wealth and the amount of land that belonged to the imperial family. The Great Nobles and their large territories added to the power the empire held over the continent. They had alliances with nearly half the entire continent.
Though she was from the elven territory, Liumiala liked the empire's cities more than she did her own people's kingdom. The empire had many people who she could steal from or make connections with.
The noble she was currently stealing money from was slowly losing his savings so she thought that it was time they searched for a new victim. Of course, this person didn't need pity because the way they got their money was anything but legit.
Liumiala and her squad only targeted people who had dirty hands. They were unlike the other squads in the organization who would steal from anyone, even if they were good people.
'I should buy a warehouse to act as our base of operations too but it doesn't seem like that noble has enough even for a small warehouse.' Liumiala thought as she walked down the street after coming out of a store.
"Hm?" She noticed something strange when she left the shopping district.
The imperial capital main street was filled to the brim with people. This would normally only be the case if there was a big festival or a party held for the entire empire but the people were gathered for a different reason.
Liumiala spotted that reason after she looked for a while.
"Go back to where you came from!" One person from the crowd threw a tomato towards the luxurious carriage that was surrounded by red armored knights.
One of the knights quickly unsheathed its sword which scared the people. However, all it did by cut apart the tomato, misunderstanding that it was dangerous.
The knight looked at the crowd for a second before assuming its previous position.
"Monsters! Stay out of our nation!"
"Die, you vampire scum!"
'The people sure are in an uproar.' Liumiala thought as she looked at the crowd.
'The queen of monsters, Brynhildr Selia Bloodforth. The conference should be over already but she came just in time for the banquet. What amazing timing, huh?'
Perhaps the Undead Queen knew that she wouldn't be welcomed pleasantly at the conference by the nation's leaders so she decided to time her departure. The difference between a conference and a banquet was that the former was a meeting held in private while the latter was a party to the public.
They could show their ire for the vampire lord in a conference but not in front of other nobles. That would ruin their image.
'The young lord's trial should begin in a few hours. Should I go there first or stick around to see what happens with the empire's nobles?'
She wanted to see what the people's reactions would be to have an absolute monster be in their presence. Then again, she was in her working hours so it was better for her to not get involved unless her client allowed her to.
'I should invite the young lord to attend with me on the last night of the banquet. Surely he can make new connections that way?'
Liumiala wanted to use Arnold for her own goals but that didn't mean she wouldn't help him as well. It was standard protocol for partners to bring equal benefits to the table. If he could allow her to advance in the organization then she would help him grow powerful as an independent noble from his father.
Liumiala nodded to herself in satisfaction.
'I should bring up this idea when I meet him at the gates tomorrow.'
She squeezed through the people in order to follow the carriage of the Undead Queen. The people just kept on insulting her race and throwing things at her carriage.
Unlike before, the knights didn't unsheathe their swords because they didn't sense any danger.
'Those things look strong. There's no way anyone can take her down with that many guards.'
Liumiala, along with her comrades, had one goal… To exterminate those that could threaten the natural order of this world. The High Priests were at the top of this list.
Liumiala could still remember the atrocities the previous Pope committed with the help of the High Priests. They committed a mass genocide of all demihumans and demonkin that had ever been born in and near the Holy Kingdom. Of course, the holy king tried to stop this but didn't succeed in saving that many lives.
Only the minority managed to flee to the Southern Holy Kingdom.
Liumiala lost a lot of her family which was one of the reasons why she wanted the corrupt priests of the Theocracy to die.
Since Brynhildr Selia Bloodforth wasn't really endangering the lives of everyone living on the continent, she hadn't made it as Serz's biggest target.
The executives were keeping a closer eye on the Theocracy's people and its pope.
..
"Leader, what are you doing here of all places?" Si appeared next to Liumiala who was observing the parade.
"I had free time so why shouldn't I wander as I like?"
She already secured the fake Arnold von Berkley and made sure that he arrived at the court safely. Both Arnold and Jurius were awaiting to be called by the court nobles.
The other matter which concerned the head of the Caervil family was still pending. She asked for help from her superiors but it seemed that none of them was willing to help a low-ranking member like her.
As such, Liumiala had to pull strings which may end up becoming troublesome in the future but she almost got the job done at least.
"I am not telling you what to do since you are our leader but someone would like to see you."
"Huh? Who?"
She looked at Si and noticed that his expression was anything but calm and collected as always. In fact, he seemed scared about something.
"Please do not ask questions now. We must hurry and meet with that personage as soon as possible."
'Personage, is it? So this person is someone of high standing.'
Liumiala nodded, "Then let's go."
She left the crowd of people raining insults on the carriage of the Undead Queen as it headed for the imperial palace.
◇
◇
Growing up in a small backwater village, Liumiala had never really known what a functioning and loving family was. She had thirty siblings who lived in the same house as her. They were all from her mother's side. Ironically, her mother had never really cared for her children despite how she had children left and right.
Liumiala hadn't even seen her mother at all during her childhood. Her grandmother, who was still youthful at the time, was the one who took care of them all. That woman who raised her was one of the people who were killed in the genocide conducted by the previous pope and the High Priests.
Liumiala had since then felt that she was alone in this world. Sure, she had her friends as comrades but she still felt that there was a kind of void in her heart that couldn't be filled with friends or subordinates.
What was missing was a motherly figure that she could admire and respect.
The small room's curtains was dropped so low that almost no light was coming from outside. Liumiala could still hear the shouting of the crowd from down the street.
Liumiala entered the room and closed the door. She looked around and could spot a single person sitting by a table, gazing at her.
It was her mother, Miara. She was disguised as a Wood Elf from the Great Forest of Tiliu.
"Come closer, Liumiala." Her mother's voice was cold, unlike the tone you would use for your child who you hadn't seen for months.
Liumiala stopped herself from clicking her tongue.
"…Yes, mother."
Her mother cupped Liumiala's cheeks when she approached. She looked at her from side to side.
Liumiala could finally see what her mother looked like.
Youthful skin of unblemished white. Her eyes which were a vibrant blue and her hair silver. She wore tight shorts with a simple sweater to cover her ample but succulent breasts.
'Is this her idea of a disguise…'
Her body exuded feminine charm that any person would stare three times. Or perhaps her mother was deliberately dressed like that to attract men. Liumiala with her acute senses could smell the whiff of a man's semen from her body.
Typical whore.
"Ah… You will definitely grow into a beauty in the next two decades of your life," Her mother spewed honest praise but her tone was still emotionless, "I hope to receive grandchildren once you find a mate."
Liumiala stepped back in annoyance, "Must I always say this? I do not desire such things."
"That is indeed the case for you. You are unlike me or your grandmother who embrace our gender. "
'Tch.'
"But remember that even people like you date, get married or have children every day. It isn't about the joys of having a mate but what you can gain from it. Even you can fall in love."
"…I…" Liumiala didn't even know how to respond, "I will keep that in mind."
"Good. Now sit down."
"Yes."
Liumiala awaited why her mother would suddenly meet up with her.
The tension in the room rose even though there was only silence. Her mother was merely sitting there but Liumiala's back was drenched in cold sweat.
Though she resented her mother and her ways, Miara was a level 60s executive of Serz. She held unimaginable authority and power. She was also one of the five people in the entire organization of thousands of members to have directly received orders from the leader.
Her mother was a Spiritualist who fought using elementals. Unlike Liumiala who could only control one elemental nature at once, her mother could cast spells using four elementals at the same time. This just showed the difference between the two of them.
"You must be curious over why I called you here without any notice."
"…"
"Firstly, I would like to inform you that you have been promoted one rank and will receive a larger team to move as you like," Miara slid over a metal plate, "This little guy makes you an official member of Serz."
The plate was made from an adamantite ore which was a symbol for recognition in Serz.
Liumiala didn't feel happy.
No, rather she was suspicious.
"…I hadn't even contributed to that much to the organization yet. That was what someone in another team told me. How can I be promoted to an official member?"
"Hmm… That's true but I feel like the tedious tasks you've done up until now is enough."
"…Are all of you making light of me? I worked for you for five years but I'm given an official membership only now?"
The past Liumiala was under the impression that she wasn't doing enough so she worked even harder than usual. Though the tasks were annoying, she had one goal for working for Serz.
Avenging her grandmother's murder. In order to kill the High Priests of the Theocracy, she had to have strong allies who would stand by her side.
But this sudden promotion out of the blue complicated things.
"I suggest you take this and not complain. Even if you are my daughter, I will not bear the consequences of you submitting complaints to the board."
'Those fuckers.'
They weren't giving the medal to grant her official recognition because they accepted her.
"Why?" Liumiala picked up the medal, "Why are they giving this to me now?"
"Simple," Miara smiled, her beautiful face twisted eerily, "You must do something for them. This medal indicates that you will receive more rewards in the future. And to get those rewards, you will listen to whatever they say."
"But this also means I have to do missions that will have my life on the line, right? Are you willing to let your own child do such things?"
Miara didn't answer.
Typical bitch of a mother, thought Liumiala on the verge of anger. But she decided to calm herself.
"I do what benefits our leader and their cause for world domination. Without any obstacles. The complaints of a small subordinate can easily be erased. Do you want that? To be erased?"
Liumiala looked at her mother in stupefaction. Her face blanked as if she couldn't think of anything.
I was wrong to expect anything from you, Liumiala thought to herself as she tried to hold in her anger.
"What… is the mission?"
Her mother leaned forward, a crooked smile on her face, "The elimination of Brynhildr Selia Bloodforth."
Part 2
The winds of winter blew the cold air through the gates of the empire. The time was now early morning before any person was roaming the streets or setting up shops.
A figure stood above the guard post, blankly staring over the horizon.
Her long silver hair fluttered after her hood fell down. Her snow-white skin glowing in the light of the sun with her blue and green eyes observing the morning horizon blanketed by mist.
Liumiala closed her eyes and recalled the conversation with her mother.
"Kill that monster!? Are you insane!? How can I do that!?"
"We aren't expecting you to do it directly. But you must set up a stage for it. The others will send your instructions later on which I will hand over to you."
Liumiala's mind was in a total mess. How could she even think of taking on such a monster? Although she hated demons and undead, that didn't mean that she would antagonize them.
Her only goal was to avenge her grandmother.
Why would she fight a losing battle?
To Liumiala's questioning, her mother only laughed.
"Like I said, you won't fight her directly. I, along with four others will handle her death."
Liumiala asked who would bring up such a thing as murdering a monster of unfathomable power.
Her mother didn't answer her but she did say:
"All you must know is that personage will help us attain world domination…."
Liumiala couldn't understand why Serz would risk themselves like this.
'Surely our leader isn't the one who ordered this?'
No, knowing their leader's habits of ordering the members of the organization, Liumiala could guess that the leader wasn't the one who ordered something this specific. Perhaps his executives decided on their own that the vampire lord would be a threat to their leader's plan to conquer the world.
'Yes. That must be it. Those fuckers are having their own ideas. Maybe the leader doesn't even see that vampire as a threat.'
The leader was rumoured to be a powerhouse even stronger than the Great Nobles and Testaments. What could they possibly fear?
"They're here." Liumiala could see two individuals heading for the empire's gate in the distance. One was a tall man with silver hair and the other one was a petite boy with short brown hair.
Liumiala jumped down from the clock tower she was standing on and headed towards the gate to meet them.
…
Liumiala stood in front of the gate as her client and his companion entered it. The guard checked their adventurer plates and let the two of them inside.
The boy who was with Arnold von Berkley looked surprised at seeing Liumiala standing there.
"Yo," Liumiala greeted Arnold, "You sure took your time getting here, huh?"
"Mia…" Arnold greeted her with a nod, "Me and my companion were preoccupied with some things. Why don't we walk and talk? The two of us are on our way to the Adventurer Headquarters."
Liumiala shrugged, not minding it, "Sure. But who's this kid. I thought you would come alone?"
The three of them began walking down the quiet street of the shopping district. The Plaza was just a few hundred meters ahead. The Adventurer Headquarters was located further north close to the Imperial Knight Order.
"This my companion, Lucri. Lucri, this is…" Arnold frowned as he fumbled with his words, "Err, my…"
"Lover. I'm his lover," Liumiala linked arms with Arnold as she smiled at Lucri.
"L-Lover? Sir Nova had a lover?" The boy didn't greet Liumiala but asked a question instead.
"Ahem. Yes, she is my lover. The two of us have known each other for quite a while. I-I wanted to come to the empire after hearing that she will be here too…" Arnold looked at Lucri to see if his words weren't making it too obvious that they were lies.
Lucri was only silently looking at the two whose arms were linked like a couple.
"Oh, I see…" He only gave a reaction a few seconds later.
"A-Anyway, let's hurry to headquarters and deliver the report."
◇◇◇
Since it was early morning, there weren't a lot of people inside the Guild besides the receptionists. The two decided to put their things on the second floor and wait for Lucri to give the papers to the secretary of the guildmaster.
"What the hell was that?" Arnold smacked Liumiala's hand away.
"Ouch!" She gave a fake cry of pain while rubbing her hand with tears in her eyes, "I couldn't think of anything else to say~"
"You little…" Arnold looked around to see if anyone was looking at them. He leaned forward, "Forget about that. Did you do what I told you to do?"
"Well, the first part of the plan which was preparing a fake 'Arnold' was successful. However, the plan 'capture' the prince alive isn't progressing as I had hoped."
"What!? Why!?" Arnold's face twisted in anger, "Are you playing games with me? I'm warning you—"
"H-Hey, calm down okay? It's not because of what I did wrong. The problem is actually the trial."
"…Huh?"
"The trial…" Liumiala looked around as well, to confirm that no one was listening in, "hasn't started ever since the prince's arrival in the empire."
"Which means…" Arnold's eyes narrowed as if he realized something, "No way…"
Liumiala smirked. She liked that he could catch things quick.
"It is as you surmised. Some of the court nobles are involved with your planned murder," Liumiala took out something wrapped in cloth from her bag, "This was something that the ones involved sent via a messenger that was intended on going to your family. Si managed to kill the messenger after interrogating him."
It was a finger. Particularly, a finger which belonged to the "fake" Arnold von Berkley she prepared.
"The man is being brutally tortured but he is holding on because of my orders. What worries me is that the transformation magic will wear off soon."
"…"
"Also…" Liumiala found it hard to say her next words, "My subordinate, Ziom came back… He has an interesting report to give me…"
"….."
"The castle of the duke was apparently attacked by an unknown group. Many of your household servants died as a result of that."
"…."
Liumiala looked into Arnold's face.
"Uh, young lord?"
Arnold's reaction to this information was stranger than Liumiala thought it would be.
His expression wasn't of pure terror like she had thought. Or one of worry for his family.
No, he was…
"Why… are you smiling?" Even Liumiala was creeped out.
Arnold then began laughing to himself without answering her. His laugh was dry and emotionless. He put his hand on his face and trembled uncontrollably that it freaked out the nearby workers. He looked at Liumiala through the gaps of his fingers. His dark blue eyes were burning with killing intent.
"Hey, this is enough justification to take things into my own hands, right?"
"What are you—"
"I can kill all of them without worrying about having any guilt, right?"
…
Liumiala's reaction to his words were even more bizarre:
Her expression was full of smiles.
"What would you like me to do next, dear customer?"
The aristocracy would now become a bloodbath for which none of those involved with what happened a few days ago were ready for.