"Ah…ha… haha…" Sophia sits on the bloody floor, her hands trembling, her face as pale as paper, yet there is a twisted smile. "You… are… a monster," she gasps for air.
"Sorry, I just had to test it, to know if I can really trust you," I reply.
I had already removed all the bullets before I handed her the gun. It was just a test, so Sophia is fine.
I thought she would need at least a few minutes to collect herself, but in less than ten seconds, she crawls up.
"Let's go. We can't stay here for long, master," she says, seemingly understanding her situation very well..
"Good." I nod.
The longer we stay there, the more dangerous it will become. Anyone can go check on us any second. Thus, we need to get out of here as soon as possible.
But there is still one more thing.
"How long will your mind control spell last on her?" I question, glancing at Yumi, who is still entrapped by Sophia's magic.
"Perhaps, one hour, or until I cancel it," Sophia replies.
"Then keep the spell, don't cancel just yet."
Waking Yumi up right now would only complicate things even more. There is no time for that. Besides, I don't want her to see the gruesome sight of the two knights having their brains blown out either.
"As you wish, master," Sophia nods and maintains her spell.
Now, our exit strategy is straightforward. I plan to put fake slave collars on myself and Yumi, pretending Sophia has enslaved us. Sophia's collar can be concealed under her hooded cloak. In the future, I will need to find a better concealment method, perhaps crafting a bracelet or belt. But for now, she will have to wear it as is.
"Alright, let's go," I say, letting Sophia open the door. Despite the loud noise from my guns, no one has come to check yet, likely because the chamber is soundproof, originally designed as a torture chamber to contain the victims' screams.
After that, we move swiftly through the underground tunnel, up the stairs. A few minutes later, we find ourselves threading through the castle's shadowy corridors. The dim torches lining the walls cast flickering lights and elongated shadows. Sophia confidently leads us forward, her perfume permeating the air. The atmosphere is thick with tension.
Thanks to Sophia, our disguise holds firm. She has a really powerful spell called Euphonic Aura that is constantly active. Its mechanism involves cloaking her with an aura of allure that works through both scent and sound. This aura affects those in close proximity, making them more susceptible to the bearer's words and actions. It can evoke a range of emotions, from tranquility to fervent desire, depending on her intent. Additionally, her voice becomes mesmerizing, capable of swaying even the most resolute minds when combined with the scent. I wonder if that is the reason why my guard was lowered when I first met her.
Anyways, the guards and castle dwellers spare us no more than cursory glances, accepting our presence without question. And when someone approaches us, Sophia easily sends them away with just a few words. But the most challenging part is still yet to come.
As we approach the grand entrance of the castle, two guards in steel armor with scarlet plumes on their helmets stand at their posts, their gaze fixing on our group immediately.
"Please, leave it to me," Sophia whispers and steps forward.
"Good evening," one guard blocks our path. "Ms. Sophia, where are you going at this hour? Do you, perhaps, need anything?"
Sophia, calm yet assertive, replies, "We're simply leaving the premises. Lady Arina has requested these two slaves be delivered immediately."
"I see," the second guard narrows his eyes. He then scans me from head to toe. "Wow, this man is definitely Lady Arina's taste! But… why does she want the girl too?"
"The girl is for her husband. And honestly, aren't you guys asking too much?" Sophia raises her tone.
Bonk!
The first guard hits the second guard on the head. "I'm so sorry, Ms. Sophia!" he apologizes, casting a chastising glance at his partner. "Please excuse his lack of tact!"
"Y– yes!" The second guard bows, rubbing his helmet. "I'm very sorry!"
"But… didn't the King order that the gates remain closed until dawn?" the first guard asks. "My apologies, but please wait until morning to make your delivery!"
With that, it is time for Sophia to use her power.
She blinks once, her eyes then shimmer with an ethereal glow as she softly speaks, "I understand the King's orders, but Lady Arina's request is urgent. She wants this man, tonight, in her bed. I believe you wouldn't want to upset her, would you?"
The air around Sophia thickens with her intoxicating scent. Euphonic Aura is in full effect. The guards, noticeably affected, struggle to maintain their composure.
The first guard, his gaze locked onto Sophia's, swallows hard. "Lady Arina's wishes are... important," he murmurs, his voice a little dazed.
The second guard nods in agreement. "Yes, very important," he repeats, almost like he's in a trance.
"Then, I'm sure you can make an exception for us, just this once?" Sophia takes a step closer, her voice dripping with sweetness. "And in return, I will give you guys some treats when I come back."
"O-of course, Ms. Sophia!" The guards both say in unison. "Please wait a second, we'll open the gates for you!"
The two guards then put their hands on top of a magical device that requires two people to activate. It glows, and shortly after, the heavy gate creaks open.
And that's it. Mission completed.
Witnessing all of this, I am deeply impressed.
It's just that easy.
We then move quickly into the nearby woods. Sooner or later, the guards will discover the horrifying mess that I made back there. And until then, we have to use every second to distance ourselves from the royal palace as far as possible.