Guardian: Greetings, my dear readers! It is yours truly, the Magic Swordmaster, Guardian once again! Just to inform you all, you are advised to read LN vol. 12 in advance this time, as this chapter may contain spoilers. Just in case if the following content counts as a spoiler, it would be safer for you to read LN vol. 12, since some of the content of the chapter is based on this volume.

Iris: (shouting in the background) Onii-chan! Time to go! Loby says he's going to eat your lunchbox (bento) if you aren't coming back!

Guardian: I am coming! Please enjoy the following chapter: Realizing the Thief's Hatred for Demons!

After tying up Karu, I summoned the Light Pegasus to help me get to the soon-to-be Operational Base ASAP.

3 minutes later, I saw Iris and Loby were trying their very best to restrain Chris from entering.

I then jumped off the Light Pegasus and did a superhero landing.

"I am back (Tataima)! What... what happened right there...?" I asked as I turned on the Light Core.

"Onii-chan, you came at the right time! The dealer says a lich was inside the house, and Chris got mad AF when she heard the word 'lich'." Iris explained as she still held Chris tightly, in order to stop her from doing something rash.

"Well, seems like there's a new lesson for you Iris, that is: Try NOT to trust anyone easily." I told Iris in a slightly solemn tone.

Then, I turned my attention to Chris and Loby.

"We are unsure of how strong the lich is (if there is one that is), so the safest thing to do is: stay together, since as the saying goes: strength in numbers."

"No I'm taking him now!" Chris dashed towards the house.

"Core change, Pegasus to Wolf."

Before Chris could enter the house, I cast Shadow Bind on her.

"I understand your hatred for demons... But try NOT to work on your own, OK? You are going to screw things up if you fight alone." I sighed.

"After all..." I whispered. "You may end up with your true identity exposed... Do you want that?"

Chris glared at me as hard as she can, I looked back in response.

"I suppose not." Chris sighed.

I opened the gate and released her.

"Come on guys, we got one job to do." I said as I turned my Core Outfit back to the one I was wearing before, pulled my sword out and opened the door.

"Excalibur." I channeled light magic into the sword, which started to emit a faint blue light, and light up the surroundings like a torch.

"Summon Core Constellation: Shadow Wolf. Enemy Detection." I summoned the familiar for the Shadow Core, Shadow Wolf and activated the skill as I searched for the lich.

"Okay, due to the sheer size of the house, it would be better for us to split into two groups. Loby, you are with Iris. Chris is with me." I told the trio the plan. "Iris, I have something to tell you before we go."

I handed her the Fire Core.

"The Fire Core should be able to protect you. Channel your mana into the weapon to increase its attack power." I instructed Iris as I demonstrated the technique and watched her put on the Fire Core.

"Like this?" Iris asked as the nodachi turned bright red.

"Exactly, good luck out there and stay safe." I told Iris before I turned my attention to Chris.

"Come on Chris, let's go."

We searched a few rooms before we searched the Master's Bedroom, where we found the lich mentioned before, whose eyes were filled with lonely and sadness, instead of anger and hatred like one would have expected.

Chris drew her dagger and lunged at the lich as her purple eyes glowed dangerously.

I pointed my sword towards Chris in attempt to stop her from doing anything stupid.

"What are you doing, Guardian? Demons, should be purged without question."

"Are you deaf or something? She said: Help me." I replied. "I mean, she must have some inexplicable reasons or something like that for turning into a lich. It couldn't be more obvious that she needs our help. Now, take a chill pill, let's try talk our way to solve the problem."

"But in case of you attacking... Bind." I summoned some ropes to tie the lich, to ensure that she won't attack us out of the blue.

"Now, Miss. What's the matter? How can I help you?" I squatted in front of the lich as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Help me...! My family was affect by the Premonition of Death, and I need to be a lich to save them! I wouldn't turn into a lich if I had a choice! Please... help me!"

"Did a Dullahan cursed them?" I asked as I wiped her tears with a handkerchief.

"No, the God of Darkness and Death... Volras!" She answered as she trembled and thunder rumbled. What a cliche scene.

"Volras...? Is he...?"

"Precisely I am." The dark creepy voice whispered once again.

"Hey! Stop eavesdrop on us! That's disrespectful man!" I shouted aloud as I covered my ears.

"Anyway, since you are a lich, so prepare to die. No reason is needed for your death. Being a lich itself is a crime and disgrace to this world. So, Farewell." Chris rushed towards the lich as she prepared to take her out.

"Stop it, Chris. This is going to make you look racist." I said as I blocked her dagger with my sword. "I will resort to force if I have to." Judging from the look in her eyes, Chris had no intention of hearing the lich out. So I warned her solemnly as I readied my sword.

'Hmph, I would like to see you try. Just to warn you, I won't hesitate to kill you if I must." Chris said coldly as she took the battle stance.

The room was filled with silence as tension formed between us, since a heated deathmatch was about to go down in a matter of seconds.

A/N: Hope you all are enjoying the story!