The day prior to the commencement of the Hunting Ceremony, Iris, Damian, Seraphine, and Anna convened for a brief meeting at a café nestled within the capital. The choice of venue was attributed to Iris, who claimed that meeting in cafes was the latest trend.
Damian expressed apprehension about the possibility of information leakage to outsiders, However, Iris assured him that she had deployed a sound barrier spell. This enchantment ensured that the crucial details of their conversation would remain confined within the table.
During the meeting, Iris ordered an array of confections, with the strawberry shortcake emerging as her personal favorite. As she savored each bite, she took out a curious item from her inventory dimension. The item looks like a familiar earbud from Earth. Instead of running on electricity, the small gadget seems to draw its power from mana, making it an incredibly valuable treasure.
"Place this in your ear, and you'll be able to communicate seamlessly during our operation. Quite convenient, don't you think?" Iris mused, her cake-laden mouth hardly inhibiting her enthusiasm.
Taking the small earbud, Seraphine gingerly positioned it in her ear. Once activated, it elicited a sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of her use of headphones back on Earth.
"I've also distributed these earbuds to the knights and Adrain. Crafting them proved to be quite a hassle, but my friend managed to produce the required quantity," Iris revealed, her mention of a 'friend' drawing curious glances.
"Your friend... does that refer to another member of the coven?" Seraphine inquired, intrigued by the enigmatic connections surrounding Iris.
"Yes, indeed. Although our coven consists of only three remaining members, we've managed to pool our resources and exert every effort possible," Iris explained, her tone tinged with a hint of exasperation at their self-imposed limitations.
Damian, ever inquisitive, raised a question that lingered in his mind. "Given the reduced numbers within the coven, why haven't you considered recruiting new witches or mages?"
"Our decision stemmed from a pact we made to maintain the coven's existing composition, refraining from any new additions. Looking back, it seems like a rather foolish agreement that needlessly burdens us," Iris admitted, her annoyance palpable as she reflected on their impulsive decision.
"By the way, there's something else I need to provide you with," Iris remarked, retrieving yet another item from her inventory dimension. This time, it was a small box that bore a resemblance to a candy container.
As Iris distributed the boxes, each individual opened theirs, revealing what appeared to be edible treats nestled inside.
"Despite its candy-like appearance, this isn't confectionery; rather, it's a drug designed to induce emotional numbness, temporarily rendering you devoid of feeling," Iris explained as the contents were unveiled.
"Why are you giving this to us?" Seraphine inquired, her curiosity piqued by the unusual offering.
Iris fixed her with a serious gaze before posing a pointed question. "Seraphine, have you ever taken someone's life?"
Caught off guard by the gravity of the question, Seraphine's mind immediately flashed to her previous actions. "I... I haven't. But I have hurt someone to severe injury rather than death when I use my weapons," she admitted, reflecting on an incident where her shotgun had gravely wounded a member of the chaos faction.
"This drug is a crucial tool, particularly for those among you who lack experience in this realm. Taking a human life is a profound ordeal, one that often challenges the strongest of convictions and may even shatter one's sanity upon initial confrontation. It's advisable to ingest this drug prior to the operation's commencement to mitigate such psychological repercussions,"
Iris elucidated, her words carrying the weight of wisdom.
Seraphine's apprehension mounted as the reality of the upcoming mission settled upon her. Yet, she determinedly held her emotions in check, determined to fulfill her role.
"Very well, I'll follow your guidance, Iris," Seraphine replied, her voice tinged with newfound resolve
------------------------
Returning to the current situation, Seraphine and Henry walked on foot as they ventured further into the hunting zone. An hour had passed since their entry, and so far, nothing seemed amiss.
"The situation appears normal. Blue team, please report," Damian's voice echoed into Seraphine's ear through the earbud.
"Everything seems ordinary on our end too. Blue team reporting in," Sir Henry, positioned near Seraphine, relayed his observations.
"I conducted a thorough survey of the surroundings. No unusual activity detected thus far. However, remain vigilant, everyone. I suspect that we're being watched," Iris, a member of the green team, chimed in. She had noticed some suspicious entities lingering within the forest, yet they remained stationary, giving no indication of their intentions.
With the report concluded, Seraphine continued her cautious journey alongside Henry. While other nobles might be preoccupied with the hunt for the crystal horn moose, their focus remained on identifying members of the chaos order.
"Iris, you mentioned that the immediate area is clear, correct?" Seraphine sought reassurance once more, her voice transmitted through the magical earbud.
"Based on my observations, there's nothing in your immediate vicinity. Additionally, the entities I detected through mana are on a separate path," Iris confirmed to Seraphine.
However, in the midst of Seraphine's exchange with Iris, an ominous figure materialized silently from the ground behind them. The figure rose with deliberate stealth, concealing an object behind their back. As the figure came into view, it became evident that they held a dagger, poised and aimed directly at Henry.
"Alice! Behind you!" Alice's urgent cry filled Seraphine's ear, her detection abilities registering the newcomer's presence. The figure exhibited a mastery of cloaking techniques, proving difficult even for Alice to detect in advance.
"Sir Henry, look out!" Reacting swiftly, Seraphine turned, seizing Henry's arm and yanking him forcefully. The dagger, previously aimed at Henry's neck, narrowly grazed his skin as Seraphine's swift action diverted the lethal strike by mere seconds.
After Seraphine deftly pulled Henry, they both lost their balance and tumbled to the ground. As they swiftly regained their footing, Seraphine's gaze remained locked on the ominous figure before her. Draped in an entirely black uniform, only the person's eyes were visible, and those eyes emitted a chilling intent to kill that sent shivers down Seraphine's spine.
Without wasting a moment, they sprang to their feet, assuming combat stances. Henry unsheathed a longsword in a fluid motion, while Seraphine drew her short sword and kept her shotgun discreetly positioned behind her back.
"Your swift awareness is impressive, young lady. Few have ever detected my presence this early," the enigmatic figure before Seraphine remarked with a mixture of surprise and admiration for her evasion of his attack.
"Now, shall we engage in a little game? Surrender is a valid option, and I assure you, I'll be gentle," the person's tone took a sinister turn, eliciting a strong sense of disdain from Seraphine.
"Keep your mouth shut. I'll never surrender to the likes of you!" Seraphine shot back, her expression now one of unyielding determination.
"Very well, then. Allow me to give you a lesson," the figure retorted before abruptly lunging towards Seraphine with remarkable speed. Caught off guard, Seraphine struggled to respond in time. However, instead of wielding a weapon, the figure aimed a fist at her stomach, intent on delivering a powerful blow.
"Stubborn girls need to be taught, after all," he sneered as he closed in on Seraphine, poised to deliver his strike. Yet, before he could land the blow, Henry's sword intercepted the attack, expertly deflecting it. The figure was forced to recoil and quickly retreated.
"If anyone's going to face off with her, it'll be me, you wretched scoundrel!" Henry bellowed, his sword poised and ready, his eyes ablaze with determination.