Chapter 117: A Familiar Scene
"Master, what are we going to do next?"
Mine asked excitedly, her beautiful pale pink eyes wide with anticipation.
This was only natural.
Everything before her eyes was bustling and prosperous, a sight Mine had never seen before and could hardly have imagined.
Beyond the tall, wide city gate, streets stretched in all directions, paved with smooth, sturdy bluestone, bustling with an endless stream of pedestrians.
There were youths from the countryside, venturing into the city, curiously looking around, their excitement barely concealed.
There were mercenaries who traveled the world, weaving familiarly between taverns, their hearty laughter echoing from time to time.
Even some of the local poor, though living in poverty, were not destitute or emaciated like those in small towns.
Street vendors and merchants lived comfortably, their businesses thriving.
It seemed as if all the wealth and grandeur of the world had converged in the Imperial City, the vibrant atmosphere exhilarating, with magnificence and prosperity coexisting side by side.
At least on the surface, the scene before them appeared prosperous, with no signs of decaying decline.
Compared to the lively and magnificent Imperial City, the town where he had grown up seemed like a shabby little village!
"Let's explore first. This is my first time here too."
"Yay!"
Mahiro strolled through the streets of the Imperial City with the girl.
However, compared to the street vendors, he was more interested in the notices posted everywhere.
Recruitment posters were everywhere, along with scattered wanted notices.
After these past few days, Mahiro had finally figured out the timeline he was in.
Roughly speaking, the old emperor had not yet passed away, and the young emperor had not ascended the throne.
The rebel army was causing trouble everywhere, and Night Raid, which was lurking in the Imperial City, had not yet been established.
Looking at it this way, Mahiro felt that there seemed to be plenty of fun waiting for him.
As for Mine...
"Master, look! That street has so many beautiful shops, and the goods are so lovely!"
She exclaimed excitedly, as if curious about everything.
She didn't even notice the strange glances from passersby.
Before they knew it, they had wandered until nightfall, and the vendors had already packed up.
"Ugh... Master, I'm sorry. Mine got too excited and is a bit tired now. Can we sit down and rest for a while?"
Mine looked up at him with a pitiful expression.
After all, they hadn't had time to eat lunch on the carriage and had planned to have a meal in the Imperial City, but the girl had completely forgotten about it in her excitement.
Once the excitement wore off, a wave of exhaustion washed over her.
"Ah, you..."
Mahiro was both amused and exasperated, but he agreed to Mine's request.
And so, the two sat by the street to rest, planning to head to the inn later.
However, feeling a bit bored just sitting there, Mine struck up a conversation with him.
"By the way, Master, you've never been to the Imperial City before, right?"
"Mhm, that's right. Why do you ask?"
"Then why aren't you the least bit surprised or excited by all this prosperity?"
Not only was he not surprised, but he also seemed completely calm and indifferent.
In response, Mahiro simply smiled faintly and looked up at the dazzling starry sky:
"Because your master has seen even more magnificent sights before, so none of this is surprising to me."
"...There's actually a place more prosperous than the Imperial City?"
Mine's mouth fell open in surprise.
To her, or to all Imperial residents, the Imperial City was the epitome of grandeur in the world.
Not only did it have a thousand years of history, but it was also where the emperor resided.
But if someone claimed there was a place more prosperous than the Imperial City, they would think it was just boasting.
"Master, you're not lying to Mine, are you?"
Mine said suspiciously, "How could such a place exist in this world?"
"Perhaps."
Mahiro smiled and gave an ambiguous answer, not bothering to argue.
He simply added calmly, "That place... could be considered where I grew up."
"Is it Master's hometown? Can you take Mine to see it?"
"It's not exactly a hometown, but if Mine wants to see it, no problem. One day in the future, I'll take you to experience it."
"Then it's settled, Master! You can't lie to Mine—let's pinky swear!"
"Alright, alright."
Mahiro hooked his little finger with the girl's outstretched one, gently shaking it a few times.
Mine immediately beamed, her eyes curving into crescent moons, with a flicker of slyness deep within her gaze.
This way, I can stay by Master's side forever...
Though their time together had been short—not even a year—Mine had already grown completely dependent on Mahiro.
So, whether Master's hometown was bustling or not didn't really matter to her.
All she cared about was whether she could remain by her master's side.
That was all.
Just as they had rested and were about to get up to head to the hotel,
suddenly, a carriage stopped in front of them, and from it descended a petite, graceful girl with golden hair.
Her attire and the elegant way she lifted her skirt made it clear she was undoubtedly a noble lady from the Imperial City.
Yet, she was heading straight toward Mahiro and Mine.
For some reason, Mahiro felt a sense of déjà vu.
...Could it be?
"Good day to you both."
The girl greeted them first, then asked,
"I assume you've come from outside the Imperial City? Judging by your clothing and style, you must be from the landed gentry or something similar?"
"Huh?"
Mine didn't understand how the other party knew they were from outside the Imperial City, and given her master's wealth, being called landed gentry wasn't exactly wrong...
Her surprised expression was completely noticed by the girl.
Letting out a silvery laugh, the girl gently explained,
"It's not hard to guess. Although many people come to the Imperial City every day, and there are plenty of local residents, you can easily tell from the way they dress. And at this hour, still lingering on the streets, it could only be outsiders."
"So that's how it is..."
Though it was just a brief exchange, the naive Mine felt she had learned a lot.
Then, the girl smiled again and introduced herself to Mine, "Hello, lovely miss. I'm Aria."
"Hello, I'm Mine, my master's maid."
"Mine~ What a lovely name."
Aria offered a small compliment.
Then, she turned to Mine's master, the exceptionally handsome young man, and smiled demurely,
"You look like you might be in some trouble? If you don't mind, would you like to come to my home? Although the Imperial City's security is quite good, it can still be dangerous at night."
"Ah, no, actually we..."
Mine started to say something but suddenly stopped.
She noticed Aria's gaze was fixed on her master and instantly realized that, as a mere servant, it wasn't her place to explain or make decisions.
She had overstepped...
Mine felt a flicker of annoyance at her own behavior.
Meanwhile, Mahiro gave a slight nod and offered a polite smile.
"Hello, Miss Aria. I am Yotsuba Mahiro."
"Yotsuba Mahiro? What an unusual name."
Aria placed a finger to her lips as if pondering something, then smiled and said,
"No matter. So, Mr. Mahiro, what is your decision?"
"If it's possible, then I would be immensely grateful."
Mahiro's reply took Mine completely by surprise.
Though they weren't in distress, and were merely resting briefly here due to their own circumstances before heading to the hotel soon—
Why accept this young lady's invitation?
Could it be that Master wanted to use this opportunity to get acquainted with local gentry?
That must be it. As one of their kind, Master surely shares plenty of common topics with them.
Thinking this, Mine followed behind Mahiro and boarded the carriage, flanked by two guards.
Throughout the journey, the guard driving the carriage kept praising their young lady.
"Our young lady is very kind-hearted. Every time she encounters people like you, she brings them home to care for them."
"That's right. At least twenty or so people every month, right? Lady Aria simply can't ignore people like you."
"Oh, it's not as grand as you make it sound. That's just how I am. And I want to do what little I can."
Amid the guards' praises, Aria blushed slightly, covering her face in embarrassment.
"Oh, really? Then Mine and I are truly fortunate~ to have met such a kind-hearted person like Lady Aria."
Mahiro joined in the praise, his expression as usual—wearing an inscrutable smile.
But to Mine, it sounded strange.
Having been by Mahiro's side for so long, she was familiar with his speech habits.
Clearly, though it sounded like praise on the surface, it was actually sarcasm.
Had this young lady done something to displease Master?
Mine didn't know, but she didn't pry.
Soon, their carriage arrived at Aria's home.
It was an extravagantly luxurious mansion with sprawling grounds.
The estate alone was nearly a quarter the size of the town where Mine had previously lived.
The mansion that came into view was even more exaggerated—it seemed easy to get lost inside.
"A beautiful house."
"Hehe, thank you for the compliment."
Mahiro's praise seemed to please Aria greatly. Covering her mouth, she giggled softly, her cheeks flushing with an inexplicable blush.
As if she were shy.
"Come quickly, I'll take you to meet my parents."
Saying this, Aria took Mahiro's large hand and pulled him toward the mansion.
And Mahiro let himself be dragged along.
Mine followed quickly behind and, under Aria's guidance, met the masters of the mansion.
A gentle, honest middle-aged man and an elegant, tender, and exceedingly gracious noblewoman.
Like Aria, they were very kind—as if that kindness was inherited from them.
But the more this was the case, the more it puzzled Mine. Why had Master spoken with such sarcasm?
Of course, she wasn't doubting her master but rather suspecting this family.
Could it be that this family had a completely different side to them in secret?
Thus, after dinner, when they returned to their room, Mine asked about it.
"Do you really want to know?"
"Yes."
While organizing her luggage, Mine nodded firmly.
But just as Mahiro was about to speak, he suddenly heard a faint, complex set of footsteps in the corridor outside their door.
About ten people or so.
He immediately revealed a smile completely different from before, like a cat toying with a mouse.
"Rather than me just saying it empty-handed, why not let you see it with your own eyes, Mine."
"Huh?"
Just as Mine was about to ask what that meant, she suddenly felt dizzy, her eyelids growing heavy, and she uncontrollably leaned forward.
She ended up falling into a warm embrace.
"M-Master?"
She forced her eyes open, looking at that gentle and handsome face.
"Wait a moment, it'll be done soon."
A faint Psionic Light emanated from his body, and through the Eye of the Spirit, he instantly decomposed all the toxins within the girl's system.
Upon regaining clarity, Mine naturally understood what had happened. Her eyes widened as she wanted to say something, but Mahiro covered her mouth, shook his head, and whispered close to her ear:
"The real show is just beginning."
At that moment, knocking sounds came from outside the door.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Mr. Mahiro, have you already gone to bed?"
Hearing the mistress's inquiry from outside the door, Mahiro signaled Mine to pretend to be asleep, then he picked her up and lay down on the bed together.
Wrapped in a strong masculine scent and listening to the powerful heartbeat from his chest, Mine's face inevitably turned red.
Just as expected.
After receiving no response, the door was slowly pushed open.
People from outside immediately filed in.
Leading them was the elegant noblewoman from before and her daughter, Aria.
They were accompanied by several guards.
"Mom, really, you're being too cautious~" Aria complained.
"Hehe, my dear daughter, caution is the parent of safety. Since that young man has the ability to bring a burden all the way to the Imperial City, he must have some skills. It's never wrong to be careful."
"Then later, that pink-haired girl is for me to play with. Don't you take her for experiments, Mom."
"Alright, then that young man belongs to me~ With such a handsome appearance, he must taste absolutely delicious."
The mistress seemed to think of something, her face immediately flushing with a vivid red.
She gently stroked her cheeks with her silk-gloved hands, as if experiencing some ultimate pleasure.
Seeing her mother's lustful appearance, Aria remarked, "Mom, if you keep this up, Dad might get angry."
"It's fine, your father doesn't mind at all. Besides, he wants to taste that young man too."
Like dividing spoils of war, the mother and daughter discussed matters while spewing demonic filth.
However, when they saw the two on the bed embracing each other in sleep, Aria suddenly felt a surge of jealousy, puffing her cheeks in dissatisfaction.
"What a shameless servant, daring to be cuter than Aria and even seducing her master! Just wait and see how I deal with you later!"
Aria's expression had already twisted somewhat.
Hearing Aria's words, Mine, who was pretending to sleep, couldn't help but tremble slightly and even shrank further into Mahiro's embrace.
She was very scared.
"You there, separate those two for me!"
The guards, having received their orders, immediately stepped forward and reached out toward the two on the bed.
Even seeing such an adorable girl and such a handsome young man about to meet a cruel fate, they showed not a shred of pity.
After all, they had lost count of how many times they had done things like this.
But what they never expected was that this time, they had provoked someone they shouldn't have.
Just as they were about to touch the two on the bed, the bodies of several guards suddenly froze in place.
"Hey, what are you dawdling for?! I'll throw you outside to feed the Danger Beasts! Hey, did you hear me?!"
Seeing the guards hesitate, Aria stepped forward and kicked one of them.
With that kick, the man suddenly collapsed.
His entire body fell apart like a toppled stack of blocks, shattering into pieces.
The head that rolled to her feet still bore the frozen terror of his final moments in its wide, staring eyes.
But eerily, though his body had broken apart, not a drop of blood flowed. Instead, under her gaze, it all turned to ashes.
"Ah…!"
Aria screamed in horror, backing away with her mother toward the door. But with a loud thud!, the door slammed shut tightly in front of them. No matter how much they pounded or shouted, it wouldn't budge.
For a moment, she even regretted why they had made the guest room door so sturdy!
Then, they heard a sinister laughter echoing through the room.
"Heh heh… heh heh heh heh…"
Turning around, they saw Mahiro, who had been lying on the bed, now standing up, holding the petite Mine in his arms.
His originally pitch-black pupils now glowed with a vivid crimson, as red as fresh blood.
It was just a small trick to change his eye color, meant to suit the current scene.
But the effect was remarkably striking.
Bathed in the moonlight from the window, his demonically enchanting appearance frightened Aria so much that she wet herself on the spot.
In contrast, her mother mustered her courage and stepped forward, saying:
"…Mr. Mahiro, let me warn you, this is the Imperial City, and we are local nobles. Do you know what happens if you kill nobles in the Imperial City? You'll be hunted down throughout the city!"
She spoke with a threatening tone, as if this were her ultimate shield.
Perhaps it would have been, had she not encountered someone like Mahiro.
"What's all that gibberish?"
Mahiro completely ignored the woman's words, directly drew the Night Demon, aimed it at her, and pulled the trigger.
An intense frost spread upward from the woman's feet, encasing her in an ice sculpture, freezing even her mind and soul.
"Ah—!!!"
Aria let out an even more piercing scream.
Tears streaming down her face, she looked at the gruesome scene before her, her mind nearly shattered. Crawling to Mahiro's feet, she begged: "Mr. Mahiro, I know I was wrong. Please spare me, okay? I'll do anything, I can do anything! Just let me live!"
It was astonishing that someone so young could say such things.
But considering her actions, it was even more unbelievable.
Looking at the pleading girl, Mahiro shook his head regretfully and said:
"Miss Aria, you aren't truly repentant—you merely realize you're about to die."