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-Fuyuki City.
3rd POV*
Lawrence and his group finished their tour at the amusement park, they decided to leave and just return home despite the enthusiastic emperor's grievance. Well, Lawrence opted that Nero already had her fun so he just chose to ignore her tantrum. They are now relaxing on their house clearly oblivious of their situation.
"Nero, you will become our maid for today. That is already determined" Lawrence suddenly dropped the news at Nero who was stupefied by the outrageous request. She is an emperor! There is no way that she will do the job of the servants. Nero nodded her head feeling pleased about her own compliments, she readied herself to reject Lawrence's request but…
5 minutes later, Nero came out of the room wearing a maid outfit. She has flabbergasted look on her face not understand the situation. She really tried defending herself but Lawrence kept hitting her weak point leaving all of her defenses broken. Well, would an Emperor simply accept being ordered like that? She challenge Lawrence to a duel which immediately irate Lawrence.
And like a logical magus would do, he decided to use the most important thing that a master could possess. "Master! Why did you use it? That was so wasteful!" Nero grumbled annoyed by Lawrence's decision. That's right, Lawrence used a Command Spell to order Nero about the thing and just like what Nero said, it is indeed a stupid decision.
Though do Lawrence care about that? No. He simply does not care about it. "Why bother about it. It was just one Command Seal, it won't hurt anything" Lawrence shrugged her complaints. Nero thought about it and realized she was just being annoying because that order hurt her pride. "Umu! As expected of my master, you are impressive!" Nero nodded her head.
Anastashia who was watching on the side twitched her lips from the absurdness of it. These two people clearly have no normal common sense to just treat a Command Seal like that. Usually it would be treated as a trump card for most master as it grants the servant huge amount of prana boosting their performance.
Yet despite that great use, the two are treating it as if it was a dispensable toy. They are not even faze by how brainless the way they used it. "Yes, yes this is normal thing Ana. You should get used to it" Ana comforted herself trying to maintain her normal common sense. She comprehended that as long as she is with them, she won't be able to return to Moonlit World without her common sense breaking.
"What are you murmuring about? Are you still not used seeing bizarre things like this?" Shiki broke into her thoughts asking that question. She seemed to be in disbelief watching Ana convincing herself as she thought that this girl is one of the most abnormal people in their group. But when Shiki thought about it carefully, Ana is only obsessed with Lawrence, she doesn't possess any kind of difficulties aside from that.
"Ignore me. I don't wish to speak to you right now!" Anastashia scowled at Shiki leaving away. Shiki is aware that the girl is just embarrassed so she didn't chase or tease her out. That is not within her character. "Lawrence… I'll go out" Shiki called out to Lawrence informing him about her departure. Lawrence raised his eyebrow but still chose to accept it.
He smiled at her before saying, "Alright. Good luck out there". Nero who was on his side was puzzled by his choice of word. She didn't dwell on it as she just showed him the new art that she just discovered. "Look master! Isn't this fabulous? I created this art myself, how would you rate it!" Nero pointed at the mess in the floor claiming it to be an art.
Lawrence stared at it for a few seconds before responding, "Right. It's great" he said smiling however there was no emotions on his tone. Nero didn't notice that as she just basked in bliss with her art being complimented like that. "Umu! I know you understand me greatly master! I just didn't expect it to be this deep! You must think highly of me!" Nero posed standing on top of a table.
"Nero-sama, please go down. The table is not meant to be stepped on" Bea narrowed her eyes at Nero requesting. Nero flinched by that gaze, she can't comprehend how she is getting instinct call from this maid but she still went down. "Very well, since you sincerely asked, I won't mind assenting to your proper request" only if she didn't made it more dramatic.
Bea calmly cleaned the table that has the footprint of Nero. Nero backed away from Bea sensing danger from her which made Lawrence and Anastashia chuckle in amusement. "There is a saying on my country. Do not think lowly of servants as they might be more of a predator than you are" Anastashia held her hand on her face while slowly saying that.
Nero was visibly disturbed hearing it so she made a note on her mind not to piss Bea off. Besides her current standing is lower than Bea as she is merely a maid while Bea is the head maid. Bea can easily order her to do things she don't like and she won't be able to refuse it. "Umu! This emperor will now do its job!" Nero grabbed the mop and started making a mess again. Lawrence and Anastashia could not help but giggle at Nero who was unaware that she is making Bea even more infuriated.
???
Shiki walked outside the house, she began her nightly stroll. A habit that didn't disappear in the years that has passed. Despite losing her murderous impulse, she still love strolling at night hoping to find something interesting to appear. She is lucky sometimes as she would encounter interesting events where she will enjoy herself observing it.
Right now, she is humming and even doing leaps in the road! A trait that Shiki does not possess, which means that she just gained this habit. This also represents her joyful state, which is easy to perceive just by glancing at her face. Anyone who know the previous Shiki will no doubt be flabbergasted when they see her like this.
It is almost impossible to request a happy action like this to Shiki. She was always cold and empty in the past, to the point that it would be a wonder how she converted into this exultant being. She walked into a familiar street where she remembered a library was situated at. She didn't know why her feet brought her here but she suspects that something or someone must be here.
"Hm?" Shiki voiced out seeing a literal theft happening in front of her. It would have been a normal scene if not only for the weird presence that the muscular guy is giving. There are two people sneaking around the Library. A large, muscular man wearing outfit that would be more appropriate worn hundreds of years ago.
The other one was a feeble looking young man reprimanding the muscular guy about his reckless actions. Honestly the scene was too odd for Shiki yet she can't help but be amused by their interaction. She already deemed the two as a master and servant, the man's presence was the same one she sensed from Nero after all.
"Oh, what do we have here, Are you coming with us young woman?" the large man noticed Shiki's presence so he didn't hesitate to invite her. "H-Huh? Are you an idiot?! That is clearly a normal person, why are you inviting her!" the young man shouted at the large guy dumbfounded by his decision. "Ah, you're too loud. Tone your voice a bit" the man said picking his ears.
The young man twitched in anger, he felt like no words of his were entering the servant's head. He was merely shrugging everything off. "I would love that but first…" Shiki opened her eyes revealing an attractive eyes that did nothing but made the large man uncomfortable. Shiki disappeared on her spot leaving only broken mirror shards.
She reappeared beside the red haired large guy who just casually parried her attack. "Hah? You're strong little girl!" he complimented not expecting that the blow she gave was enough to slightly push his hands back. This clearly show her strength, of course this fact did nothing but make the man smile in joy. "How about it, would you care to join me, Iskandar, the King of Conquerors?! I will take over the world and you will be there to witness it!" the man grandly proclaimed.
The young man on his side was horrified hearing his words. "Hey!! What are you doing! Why are you telling an enemy about your name!" the young man screamed with pale complexion. Now he feels like he lucked out in summoning a servant as he gained a mentally challenged one. This is different from what he initially thought!
"Ahh, it's the end!" the young man who is named Waver Velvet groaned in despair. Shiki stared at the self-proclaimed Iskandar and smiled. "That is indeed an appealing proposition, however I find it hard to follow someone else as I already have a person I dedicated myself to" Shiki said with her voice full of emotions.
Iskandar of course noticed that making him surprise. "I must say, that is a lucky person there" he commented his regrets. He is disappointed that he wasn't able to recruit this young woman but he is well aware that no matter what he will do, there would be nothing in the word that can change her mind. That is how he perceive her emotions.
It was Shiki's turn to be surprised. "As someone of your stature, I expected you to throw a tantrum for my rejection but it seems like I was misjudging you. I apologize for that" Shiki apologized lowering her head a little to the man. She is now seeing a real Leader with her own eyes, Nero can't be compared to this at all.
"HAHAHA! No offense taken. So? Will you still continue your assault? Uhh…" Iskandar was lost as he didn't even ask her name yet. Great warrior like her must be remembered as there was no instance where someone took the initiative to fight him head on. That is a commendable attitude in this messed up world.
"Ryougi Shiki. That is my name, and I also lost interest in confronting you. We will be meeting in the future, I hope that you can fight me fairly at your strongest" Shiki said before gradually leaving the place. Iskandar watched as the young woman calmly walked away from his presence not even a little bit bothered by it.
It was what initially took Iskandar's attention as people who could do that are either courageous or simply fools. "Ryougi Shiki huh? I'll do better remembering that. Show me what you are capable of Ryougi" Iskandar laughed loudly unfazed by the horrified gaze of Waver. "You let her go?! What will we do now? The enemy has an intel on you!" he grabbed his head getting migraine at this situation.
Iskandar grabbed Waver's collar scaring the young man. "Why the long face? Isn't that more interesting? HAHAHAHA!" Iskandar ignored his concerns and just left the Library holding a book on his hand. Waver reluctantly followed afraid of being left alone on the place.
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