Chapter 12: Chu-Can you do it

A thrilling chase ensued. The blue-haired woman pursued me with the ferocity of a raging bull.

“Stop! Black Hound!”

 If she caught me, I was dead.

She ran with unnatural speed, leaving a trail of dust in her wake.

I ducked into an alley, hiding in the shadows.

“Ha…ha… She won’t find me here…”

The sound of her footsteps faded. I waited, holding my breath, until the sound disappeared completely.

“…I need more than nine lives.”

More like ninety-nine. She’s a monster! How can she create a dust storm on a concrete floor?!

I cautiously emerged from the alley. I had lost her. Time to head to the statue of Thermisia…

“Trying to run, Black Hound?”

A gust of wind swept past me.

I turned and saw the woman standing there, having effortlessly sliced a half-constructed building in two.

“Ha ha ha… Are you even human?”
“…You’re not going anywhere, Black Hound.”
“Ha ha, I guess not. I surrender.”

I raised my hands.

“…You give up?”
“Ha ha, give up? Would I ever?”
“…I’ll make you.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
“You’re confident, aren’t you?”
“Of course.”

I was confident.

The statue of Thermisia was nearby.

And the woman had caused quite a commotion, which meant Seraphina was close.

“Let’s see how long that confidence lasts…”

She smiled and raised her sword.

“…Now.”

Boom!

An explosion rocked the area.

A figure descended from the sky, bathed in moonlight. Seraphina Fires, her long red hair flowing behind her. She parried the blue-haired woman’s attack with her own sword.

“?!”
“You’ve got some nerve, attacking Isabel.”

The blue-haired woman, her brow furrowed, lunged again.

Seraphina effortlessly deflected the attack.

“…Isabel, are you alright?”
“I’m fine! What about you, Seraphina?”
“I’m perfectly fine.”

She smiled confidently and glared at the woman.

“…You’re the one who attacked Isabel?”

That’s right, Seraphina! She’s the one who attacked me!

“Step aside, mistress. She’s a dangerous criminal.”
“…A criminal? He’s the man who’s going to take responsibility for me.”

Seraphina… I haven’t agreed to that… But now wasn’t the time to argue.

“…I don’t know what you’re talking about, but your standards seem rather low.”
“What did you say about Isabel?”
“A pathetic mistress with a pathetic servant. A perfect match.”
“He’s better than a goldfish.”

The blue-haired woman’s face darkened at the mention of “goldfish.” It was Campbell Tempest’s nickname, a reference to her supposed stupidity.

“Don’t insult my mistress!”

As expected, she attacked, her rapier flashing with blue light. But it was no match for Seraphina.

Clang!

She deflected the attack with ease.

“…Give up, goldfish’s lapdog.”
“Not yet!”

“Rapid! Where are you?!”

A woman’s voice called out. The blue-haired woman looked around.

“Mistress…?”
“…The goldfish is coming.”
“Don’t call my mistress a goldfish!”

Seraphina pressed her sword against the woman’s throat.

“What were you going to say?”
“…”

One wrong word, and she was dead. Seraphina’s killing intent was palpable.

“You’re quite beautiful… Perhaps I should carve you up and bathe in your blood.”

[Seraphina is feeling hostile towards Rapid!]
[Seraphina is about to stab Rapid in retaliation for attacking you!]

The malice gauge reappeared, but only at 5%. I could easily eliminate it.

“Seraphina.”

While she wouldn’t actually harm the woman, I felt obligated to intervene. Seraphina glanced at me, then chuckled.

“…You’re lucky.”
“C-Countess…”
“You’d be dead if it wasn’t for Isavel.”

She sheathed her sword.

“…The goldfish is coming.”
“Rapid!”
“Mistress!”

The blue-haired woman ran towards her mistress. Seraphina smiled and turned to me.

“You can’t survive without me, can you?”
“Ha ha, I guess not. You saved me.”

She gently caressed my cheek.

“I’m glad you’re not hurt. Don’t ever get hurt. You’re my precious servant.”
“Don’t worry, Seraphina. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re so optimistic…”

I smiled at her.

“Did you…break anything in the city?”
“No. Why?”
“Just checking.”

I grinned and walked towards Campbell and the blue-haired woman, Rapid.

Campbell was scolding Rapid. I knew why. My items had worked.

“You…what have you done to this city?!”
“I apologize.”
“Ha ha, excuse me for interrupting.”

I inserted myself into the conversation. Campbell glared at me.

“…What do you want?”

Campbell Tempest. The blonde, busty, and often clueless sub-heroine of LilTy.

“You know why I’m here. I haven’t caused any damage to this city. You know that.”
“…What are you talking about?”
“Rapid attacked me. I only ran.”

Campbell crossed her arms, annoyed.

“…So you’re claiming you’re completely innocent?”

I nodded, looking at Rapid.

“That’s right. She destroyed several buildings trying to catch me. Luckily, no one was hurt.”
“…So?”
“I’m not responsible for any of the damage.”
“That’s not for you to decide! You were involved! The Black Hound is always involved in something shady!”
“Oh, really? Then let’s ask these people.”

A crowd of citizens had gathered.

“Those people…!”
“Mistress!”

Campbell and Rapid exchanged worried glances.

“You broke my flower pot!”
“You split my building in half!”
“You destroyed my sign!”

Complaints rained down from all directions.

Rapid, in her pursuit of me, had caused significant property damage.

“W-wait! This wasn’t us! It was the Black Hound!”
“I didn’t do anything.”

I smiled innocently.

“Nothing? You…!”
“I only ran. That’s all.”

The citizens backed me up.

“He’s telling the truth! He just ran!”
“You’re Count Campbell Tempest, right?! Pay for my sign!”
“And my building! Do you know how much that cost me?!”
“Please, wait!”

I smiled and walked towards Seraphina.

“Let’s go, Seraphina.”
“…But…what about the people?”
“I caused a bit of a commotion while I was running. That’s all.”

I had used the “Surprise Powder,” a point shop item that instantly awakened nearby NPCs, even if they were asleep. That was why the citizens had joined the chase.

“You’re so resourceful.”
“I have to be. I’m your servant, after all.”
“You’re incorrigible.”

The investigation ended abruptly.

Campbell Tempest was busy dealing with the property damage claims, and the ending played out as follows:

We were on our way back to Grace Field.

“So you escaped.”
“Yes. I picked the lock and slipped away. Ha ha ha.”

I recounted my adventure, omitting the part about the items. Seraphina listened intently, a smile on her face.

“That’s amazing, Isavel. You escaped.”
“Yes! What about you?”
“I just…walked away.”
“Ha ha, impressive. Didn’t they say they were going to give you an award in Elysion?”
“An award? What’s the point?”

It wasn’t just any award. Seraphina had gained considerable recognition for her wisdom at the conference, capturing the Pumpkin Knight, and subduing Campbell Tempest’s rampaging subordinate.

She had become a symbol of peace, the Heroine of Sacred Fire. Yet, she was refusing the award.

“It would be a great honor.”
“Do you…want me to accept it?”

She looked at me, her legs crossed.

She’s so beautiful… Her closeness amplified her beauty. She smiled and whispered,

“…I’d like to…but I don’t deserve it.”

She looked out the window, a wistful expression on her face.

She was likely thinking about her past misdeeds.

“Then let me give you a reward.”
“You?”
“Yes.”
“Oh? I like that. Isabel?”
“Yes?”

She pointed to her lips.

“Kiss me.”
“Ha ha, you want a kiss?”
“…”

She looked at me seriously, then burst into laughter.

“Just kidding! Did you…want to kiss me?”
“N-no! Well…it would have been nice…”

She flinched and covered her chest, blushing.

“You…you’re a pervert…”
“I’m a gentleman! Ha ha!”
“You want to…kiss me… But…it’s…okay…I guess…”

I tilted my head, confused.

“What?”
“N-never mind! I’m not saying I want to…kiss you and…and…touch each other…! Okay?!”

So she was thinking about it… I was momentarily disappointed.

A kiss would have been nice.

But I had a better reward in mind.

Seraphina’s redemption was at hand.