Apparently, the candle worked. If he had more, it could be handy.
And apparently, this revelation caused an uncomfortable feeling in his stomach.
Liel threw a disgusted look towards the former prisoner. Without a second thought, he threw a punch. Ruis Bagfort didn't even have the time to blink.
The disgusting former prisoner grunted, hands holding his bloody nose as he stared hatefully at the white-haired man. "What are yo–"
Naomi took a step, one leg held back. Mercilessly, she shot her foot right between Ruis' legs. The disgusting former prisoner was forced to shriek like a banshee, howling at the top of his lungs. "You should be happy you still can feel it."
Liel hid his wince at the balls-kicking and severe implication. And by severe, he knew that Naomi could easily cut Ruis' family jewels off, considering the sharp knife she gripped tightly behind her back.
Shaking his head, Liel sighed and crossed his arms. "Now, I don't really care about the laws here nor about this trash," he said to Naomi, "But, if we want his expertise, we have to forget about his sins for a moment."
"That's so easy for you to say?" Naomi turned an accusing look at him.
"Well, what else could I say? It's not my village who needs this scum's expertise." He knew it was a little insensitive, saying that to his girlfriend's counterpart in this fucked up world. 'Damn it. Now, she'd think I'm a heartless bastard.'
However, instead of that sad look Naomi showed him, Liel was given a nod. He sighed a small breath of relief.
"I swear, if I can get out of this city, I'll kick your balls seven folds and then feed them to my dogs," came the threat from Ruis, who was nursing his nose back into perfection. As perfect as it looked, with his plain, boring face.
Hearing that, Liel glanced down at the cowering former prisoner with his red eyes. "Why are you threatening me? It's not my foot that kicks your balls."
Without even looking at the ginger-haired girl, Ruis explained. "Because she'd be dead before I do that to you."
"What did you just say?" Naomi's anger made her freckled face flustered red. "Say that again and I'll cut–"
"Fuck, woman! This is exactly why I kill little girls! You makes me sick!" Ruis yelled, vein bulge on his forehead. A second later, that façade disappeared, prompting sweats of bullets to appear on his face. "Shit. I really don't mean to say that."
"Of course, you don't," Liel said, looking at the candle still burning between them. Fishing out the Russian doll from his Weightless Bag, he opened it to show what was inside. "Now, tell me. Do you know what it is?"
"Graveyard soil?" Ruis shifted closer so he could sniff on the offered Russian doll. "It's a medium to transfer the curse of the user's hate, rage, and her desire to avenge something."
"You know it's a her?"
"Most curse users are women. Women feel deeper,they use their emotions and heart for everything. Including applying a curse. Especially that. the more hate they give, the more powerful the curse will be. Hence why there's a saying, 'hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.'"
In seconds, this disgusting murderer proved that he was quite adapt, probably even a true expert in this purifying magic. "Can you really lift the curse?"
"Yes, didn't I say so, already?"
"How will you do it?"
"It's easy. You only need to wash the graveyard soil away with Celestia– wait!" Ruis suddenly stopped, jaws clenched angrily. "If I say that first, what's the guarantee that you'll protect me?"
Liel silently berated himself for being so obvious. If only he could get that information before Ruis became aware, they wouldn't have to protect him. It was such a hassle.
"Who said anything about protecting you?" Naomi interjected, arms crossed in front of her bosom. "I don't have that deal with you. I would never."
"We don't?" Liel frowned.
"You don't?" Ruis followed.
A fucking loop hole. That was what it was.
"Still, I want that deal now. You know I almost told you about the cure, it's on the tip of my tongue," Ruis demanded, "You only need to protect me against the city guards, that's all."
"That's all?" Naomi repeated, blue eyes narrowed at the lack of explanation. "You don't specify for how long."
Shit. Liel almost made a big mistake with that.
"As long as I want," the disgusting murderer said.
"A month," Liel bargained, not giving Naomi enough time to answer first. She protested, "That's too long."
"A year," Ruis tilted his head back, looking over himself even when he wasn't really in the position to demand.
"Two weeks," Liel said again, and Naomi caught up on what his plan was.
But, not Ruis, it seemed. "What? Two weeks? Six months!"
"A week, then."
"No, no, no! That's not how you make a deal!"
That was how Liel made a deal. He always had. "Oh? You ask for it."
"Three months!" Ruis hastily spoke.
"Three days."
"No! Three months! I want three months!"
"No can do," Liel sing-songed, smirking widely. "One da–"
"Fine! Three days!" Ruis hurriedly cut him off. "You have to protect me in three days!"
"Deal."
Beside him, Naomi gave an appreciative look, as if saying, 'You're pretty good at this,' without even opening her mouth.
Unbeknownst to her, Liel had survived prison by making deals with corrupt officers, street thugs, and mob boss, on some occasion. So, bargaining with this scum felt like a breeze.
"It settled, right? Let's get going."
"Stay where you are," Naomi ordered, pointing her knife at his face.
"Do you want me to lift the curse or not?" Ruis asked, feeling mighty, for once. "I can only do that if I do the purifying ritual there."
"One last question, then," Liel said, glancing at the Honest to God Candle between them. The little fire almost burned it all. "Do you have any ill intention towards us?"
However, before the murderer could answer, the candle died. Blown by the wind. Only then did Ruis chuckled, "Of course, I have no such thoughts."
Which, did not assure them in the slightest.
"Now, if you don't mind," Ruis rose to his feet, "Please lead the way."
Seeing there was nothing they could do, they did as told. Walking down the narrow alley of the city, Liel asked Naomi to walk first, then carefully guard Ruis behind her. He was the last one to enter through the small tunnel.
Liel didn't know what happened, because the moment he took his eyes off Ruis, that vile murderer did something he didn't expect.
Ruis grabbed Naomi and shoved her right into Liel. They collided against each other. With their lips. And teeth, but that was beside the point.
[Congratulations!]
[Quest No. 5 completed!]
[Please choose your reward.]
Fucking hell.
This was not how he pictured kissing the love of his life.
Or, her counterpart in this insane world, he meant.