"I am already regretting listening to you, Alex." Druella said as the sound of dripping water echoed around them.
"Sorry," Alex sheepishly replied. "But if we're going to find Martin, we're going to have to deal with some discomfort for a little while. But to be honest, for a sewer this smell is pretty bearable."
Alex, Mimi, and Druella were now standing within the Tyrenese Sewer System, ready to begin their hunt for the missing Tyrene Resistance Committee leader, Martin. The cylindrical brick tunnels were unlit and appeared to stretch on forever, but Druella had already summoned a glowing orb to serve as a light source. Fortunately, there were walkways on either side of the tunnel, so the trio did not have to walk through the stagnant, dirty water flowing in the middle. And although this sewer did appear to be actively used, Alex could barely smell any foul odors.
"That's because I'm with you, husband." Druella replied. "My very aura is easing your discomfort, including the most terrible of smells."
"Oh, okay." So that's why monsters are able to live with their husbands in even the most unpleasant of conditions. But still, even if you're spending your days having nonstop sex, who would ever want to live down here?
"But I'd still rather leave this place sooner rather than later. So Alex, do you have any more details on the human we're looking for?"
"Well…" Alex began to speak. "His name is Martin, and…and…and…um…"
Alex then realized that he never bothered asking about the physical appearance of Marina's brother, a rather major oversight if he wanted to find him.
Druella stared at him for a long second. "So you want us to search the entire Tyrene Underground with nothing but a name to go by?"
"Well, it could be fun exploring!" Alex said while smiling awkwardly.
Druella then turned to Mimi. "Mimi, how extensive is the Tyrene Underground?"
"The sewers cover nearly the entirety of the city!" Mimi replied. The succubus-maid had changed out of her maid uniform into more traditional succubus attire; It wouldn't be proper for a Palace Maid to smell like the sewer, after all. "As for the catacombs, they're like a quiltwork of tunnels and chambers layered on top of one another- any extensive search through them would take weeks! And there are still sections that even I haven't explored!"
Druella turned back to Alex with a "What have you gotten us into?" look, and he now felt even more awkward.
"I'm sure the local monsters will be able to help us!" Mimi chimed in. "Most of them are already familiar with me, and they definitely won't refuse you, Lady Druella!"
Druella sighed. "I do hope you are right, Mimi. But Alex, at least tell me that the other human will be easier to find."
Alex now felt more awkward than ever. "Well, Abel's son, Jean, was a participant in the Disaster at Steylia, so he probably got taken as a husband by a resident monster of Lescatie like all the other Order prisoners. At least we won't have to crawl through any sewers to find him!"
But Druella just covered her eyes with one hand and shook her head in disappointment. "Alex, you do realize that once a human gets claimed by a monster, they're both free to travel wherever they please? We don't perform censuses to keep track of every single human-mamono couple out there, that'd be close to impossible. So even if we search through all of Lescatie for Jean, he might not even be there anymore. And that's only if he was even taken prisoner at Steylia; what if he was captured by a Sandworm or a Girtablilu in the Southern Sand Dunes? Do you plan on scouring every corner of the desert for him?"
"Alright, I get your point!" Alex replied, having been thoroughly castigated. "I'm asking for a lot from you, and it's true- we are basically searching for a needle in a haystack. I apologize for not learning more about our quarries. But if we find both of them, the end results would make any struggle worth it! So please, Druella, let's at least make a good attempt at finding them!"
Druella sighed. "Very well, Alex. But you are most certainly going to have to make it up to me later! Mimi go ahead and lead the way!"
"At your command, Druella!" Mimi exclaimed as she began walking down the sewer tunnel, Druella and Alex in tow. Their footsteps echoed throughout the sewer, the only other sound being the constant dripping of water.
"It's not a bad idea, though." Alex suddenly spoke up after a few minutes of silence.
"What's not a bad idea?" Druella asked.
"Performing a census! Not just in Lescatie, but over the entire Mamono Realm!"
"Do you realize how logistically difficult that would be? In order to track down every monster, we'd have to search the deepest dungeons, the most desolate of wilderness, the highest of peaks…and that's not counting places that are still undiscovered!"
"Yeah, it'd be difficult, but imagine the lucrative results! Through one great survey, you'll be able to know just how many monsters are unwed and which ones have husbands, and the total population of each species. Then you can distribute captured humans to the places that need them the most, find specific monsters to recruit, and have a better idea of how to arrange your next campaign! There was once a king who did something similar in my wor-" wait, Mimi's here.-"where I come from. He sent surveyors all over his country to record every landowner in a large manuscript called the Domesday Book! Its real purpose was for the king to secure all of his feudal taxes and dues, but it's still an amazing record of the kingdom at that time!"
"He does have a point, Lady Druella. It has been a while since an Echidna joined our ranks. Maybe we can go to them instead of them coming to us?"
"...I'll think about it."
It did not take long for them to find their first monster. Sliding over the sewer floor in front of them with large green bubbles emerging from her blobby form was a Bubble Slime. The Bubble Slime briefly raised her head in interest at the sight of Alex, but then dropped back down in disappointment when she realized he was already taken.
"Hi there!" Mimi greeted the Bubble Slime. "Have you seen a recently captured human named Martin here? It's for an important mission that'll determine the fate of the city above us!"
"No…I have…not met a…Martin. Sorry." the Bubble Slime murmured while shaking her head apologetically. "But maybe…the King…will know something."
Mimi audibly groaned at the mention of "King", and she seemed far less enthused to continue their mission.
"Thank you for that useful piece of information." Druella said. "Don't fret too much, my dear You'll find yourself a man sooner or later!"
The Bubble Slime nodded, though she did stare at Alex longingly as the trio walked away into the darkness.
"Mimi, who is this "King" the Slime mentioned?" Druella asked.
"Someone I hope we don't have to meet." Mimi replied. "I sincerely pray we find Martin before we have to ask him for help."
"Hmm, why do you not want to meet him?"
"Trust me Lady Druella, you are better off not meeting that weirdo of a human."
The trio continued trudging through the sewer, the constant dripping of water slowly getting on Alex's nerves. After a few more minutes of the repetitive noise, he had to break the silence.
"So, Mimi, what made you decide to become a spy for Druella?"
"Oh, you want to know, Alex?" Mimi's expression brightened, and she looked far happier than she did moments prior. "Well, I can't refuse a request from Lady Druella's husband! Before I joined Lady Druella, I was in charge of preparing the greatest parties and festivals back at the Royal Makai! The Mamono Lord herself was so proud of how I organized things that she let me arrange the festivities for the 900th Anniversary of her coronation!"
"That sounds like a fun gig, and I bet that monster festivals are a sight to behold! But what made you go from 'event organizer' to 'spymaster?'"
Mimi blushed a little. "Well, it was a fun job, but it didn't give me any opportunities to find a human for myself! There aren't any single men to claim in the Royal Makai itself, at least not any that'll wouldn't get me in deep trouble with the Mamono Lord!"
Mimi then smiled at Druella. "But then, Lady Druella offered me the opportunity of a lifetime- infiltrating human settlements to prepare them for takeover! What was it you told me on the day we met, Lady Druella?"
Druella smiled. "Ah, I believe I said "If you can arrange a festival, you can arrange a spy network!"
I…don't think that's true, but I guess the organizational skills do help.
"My first assignment was in Lescatie itself!" Mimi said with pride. "Thanks to me, the soldiers and commanders of Lescatie's Southwestern Garrison were all too incapacitated to protect the city when Lady Druella arrived! Some 500 well-trained knights, skilled heroes, and talented officers all could have been a major hassle while taking over the city, but instead they all woke up to find themselves in the arms of a monster!"
"...That's impressive." Alex replied. "How did you pull that off?"
"The Order usually does not allow any partying or carousing in its ranks except for holy holidays!" Mimi replied. "After doing some research, I discovered the saint day of an obscure Hero and 'convinced' the garrison commander to throw a massive party in celebration of the occasion! By the time they realized I had spiked all their wine with alraune nectar, it was already too late! The Fall of Lescatie didn't go smoothly everywhere, but the Southwestern Quarter fell with barely a whimper!"
Mimi's expression then turned to a grimace. "It didn't go completely perfectly though- I spent so much time preparing things that I forgot to mark a human for myself! So when the Fall of Lescatie finally came, the cute little paladin I had my eyes on got carried off by a Cyclops before I could reach him! That's why I accepted the role as Spymaster in Tyrene the moment Druella offered it to me! This time I won't forget!"
"...but, I guess that doesn't matter now." Mimi murmured, her face once again looking tired and worn. "Under my watch, our entire network has crumbled to pieces, and now The Order's hold over Tyrene is stronger than ever. Some Spymaster I am, I don't deserve to claim a human after this failure."
"Hey, don't discourage yourself!" Alex exclaimed. "You've been a tremendous help to both of us! Without you, me and Druella probably would've gotten ourselves lost in Tyrene!"
"Alex is right, Mimi. You are an excellent spy, and your devotion to your duty is something to be commended! What happened in Tyrene is my fault for shirking my own duties- you have every right to be proud of yourself!"
"...Lady Druella, don't make me blush in front of your husband! …but thank you."
Mimi then stopped, bringing the whole group to a halt. "Hey, I hear something."
Alex listened intently- although it was faint, he could hear the unmistakable sounds of talking and giggling echoing throughout the sewer.
"We should probably investigate." Alex said. "It might be another monster, or it could be the person we're looking for!"
So the trio navigated the tunnels to get closer to the noise, its sound getting ever louder. Eventually, they found a side tunnel obscured by a black curtain, the speech now completely discernable.
"Hmm, you look so excited, darling! I thought it'd take at least a week for you to get used to your new life, but look at you all eager for me!" said a feminine voice.
"I'm surprised at myself too. But man, I'm glad that I got lost here!" replied a male voice.
Alex looked over at Mimi and Druella. Should we barge in? We might be interrupting something…intimate.
The feminine voice spoke up again. "Hehehe, then I'll make sure you'll never want to leave me, Mart- GYAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Both voices screamed in terror as their privacy got suddenly invaded.
Druella had swung open the curtains at the sound of what appeared to be their quarry's name, revealing a Devil Bug straddling a dark-haired human male atop a pile of blankets and cushions. Both were almost completely undressed, and they stared wide-eyed at the unexpected sight of a human, a succubus, and Druella, Fourth Princess of the Mamono Realm.
"Oh, my apologies." Druella said, her cheeks bright red. "I was just…really excited that I might be leaving these sewers soon. Is your name Martin by any chance?"
"...Um, no, it's Marty." the man replied, his face still terrified by the sudden interruption. "Can we…help you?"
Alex felt absolutely mortified at this little debacle, and he tried his best not to look at the embarrassed couple in front of him. This little corner of the sewer had been cleaned up, with the floor cleared of moisture and debris, candles lighting up the area, and even a sofa and some other pieces of furniture strewn about. It was about as cozy as a sewer could be. Alex also noticed pieces of white armor in one corner, a sign of Marty's former profession.
"Um, we're looking for a guy named Martin. Have you seen him?" Alex asked, his face bright red. It wasn't just his face- both Mimi and Druella looked embarrassed too.
"No, we haven't heard of anyone by that name." the Devil Bug replied, her antennae quivering.
"Oh, alrighty then." Alex replied. "Um, thanks anyway though, and uh, sorry for the interruption!"
…
…
…
"So, how are you finding life in the sewer to be-"
"...can you go now?" Marty asked.
"Right. Sorry." Alex replied. The trio then pulled the curtains back to where they were and left the couple to their own devices. After a few more seconds of awkward silence, they continued heading down the dark tunnel.
"...I suggest we don't talk about that." Alex spoke up.
"I agree." Mimi replied. "That poor Devil Bug, we must have completely ruined their mood."
Druella did not say a single word, instead trying her best to cover her face with her wings.
After a few more minutes of walking, the brick walls of the sewer were suddenly covered with a layer of blue slime, making the entire tunnel glow with an eerie blue color. Alex was a little nervous about stepping onto this foreign substance, but after Druella and Mimi walked over it without question he steeled himself and followed. The slime was surprisingly firm beneath his feet, though it did take a little extra effort to walk.
"Mimi, what are we entering?" Alex asked.
Mimi sighed. "So much for avoiding him, but I guess we don't have much choice. What we're entering is the realm of the Sewer King- he's an arrogant little human who got claimed by a Queen Slime and let it get to his head. Now he keeps calling himself the "King of the Tyrene Sewers" and demands homage from anyone who visits."
"I cannot blame a human for embracing their role with a monster a little too well." Druella replied. "If it makes them happy, let them have their fun! Do you think he'll help us find Martin?"
"Oh, he practically has complete knowledge of anyone entering or leaving the sewers! But first, we have to convince him to tell us!"
Just then, two slimes wearing translucent helmets atop their heads formed in front of them, their nebulous arms motioning them to stop. "Halt! Who wishes to enter the realm of the Sewer King?"
"Tell your "King" that Mimi is here and wants to speak with him, and that I've brought along some special guests." Mimi replied.
One of the guard slimes closed her eyes as she communicated with the Queen. When she opened them, she motioned the trio to follow behind her.
"Come, our dear monarch is waiting for you! Be prepared to demonstrate your submission!"
"Mimi, why did you not introduce me by name?" Druella asked in a slightly peeved tone as they followed the guard slimes.
All Mimi could do was smirk. "Because I want to see that Sewer Idiot's face when he finds out who he's really talking to. If you can, Lady Druella, draw back your aura."
As they continued to walk through the slime-coated tunnels, they witnessed numerous other divisions of the Queen Slime performing various tasks. There were knight slimes sparring with one another, worker slimes repairing a damaged portion of the sewer wall, merchant slimes arranging various foods and other goods atop gelatinous stands, and even a slime wearing a transparent beret and somehow holding a brush well enough to paint what appeared to be a portrait of the so-called "Sewer King" and his Queen Slime. There were also slimes that did not appear to have any set jobs or duties at all, instead wandering about the tunnels and occasionally interacting with their fellow slimes. These "civilian slimes" all stopped and stared in awe at the sight of Druella walking past them. Most of them paid little attention to Alex, but the ones that did made Alex wonder if they were actually individual slimes who had simply moved into the Queen Slime colony and hoped to one day snatch a human of their own.
"We have reached the Throne Room!" one of the guard slimes exclaimed. "All hail our King!"
The trio found themselves in a more cavernous section of the sewer system, the walls and floor all covered in blue slime. The room was filled with crates and boxes, some filled with various fruits and vegetables, others with luxurious goods like silks and golden treasures. Random pieces of furniture were also strewn about, some arranged into crude versions of a dining room and a sitting area. At the far end of the room sat a man atop a throne made out of slime, dressed in gaudy multicolored fabrics and adorned with several sets of necklaces, rings, and bracelets. He had long blonde hair falling to his shoulders, and appeared to only be in his late teens or early twenties. He observed the three newcomers with a casual, laidback expression as various slimes attended to his every whim. One held a plate full of grapes for him, another a jug of wine, and two appeared to be massaging his feet. Next to him stood the largest and most voluptuous slime in the room, one with a slimy crown atop her head. After giving her husband one last kiss on the cheek, she turned to face Alex, Mimi, and Druella.
"All hail the Sewer King!" A herald slime exclaimed. "Lord of the Tunnels, Master of the Tyrene Underground, Guardian to all Slimes!"
"Now, now, my dear subjects, let's not bore our guests with all my titles!" the Sewer King proclaimed while lounging on his throne. "All who enter my kingdom shall be graced by my grand benevolence!"
Jeez, Mimi wasn't kidding at all. This guy really did embrace his role as husband to a Queen Slime a little too well.
"Welcome, Mimi! It's great to have your lovely face grace my halls again!" the Sewer King exclaimed.
"It's nice seeing you too." Mimi grumbled under her breath.
"Oh, and you've brought along some guests!" the Sewer King said as he leaned forward on his gelatinous throne. "You may both bow before me and introduce yourselves!"
"You have some nerve, human, telling me to bow." Druella replied, arms crossed. "Are you aware of whom you are speaking to?"
The Queen Slime's eyes widened as she realized just who exactly had chosen to visit them. "Darling," she whispered in her husband's ear. "You must show more respect to her! She's none other than-"
"I don't care who she is, I am King of these sewers and I demand submission!" the Sewer King exclaimed in anger before calming down. "Now, I'm sure you're new here, Miss White-haired Succubus, but we follow a strict protocol! All visitors must demonstrate their acknowledgment of my authority over my sovereign territory!"
Alex could only shake his head at this eccentric's foolhardiness. Is this how I would've ended up if I fully embraced being husband to Druella? Calling myself Prince of the Mamono Realm and delusionally acting like some big shot?
Druella smirked. "By territory, are you referring to all these reeking tunnels? You can play your little game as much as you like, human, but my authority far eclipses yours!"
The Sewer King now looked pissed, like a young child getting annoyed when no one plays a game his way. "Such insolence, such impudence! I ought to have my guards toss you out! Who do you think you are?!"
"Druella, Fourth Princess of the Mamono Realm." Druella said in a matter-of-factly tone.
The Sewer King's eyes nearly popped out of skull, and his face turned pale. "Oh, um, well, uhhh, didn't expect that answer…". Then he jumped out of his "throne" and hid behind his Slime Queen wife.
"Please forgive me! I was only joking about the whole submission thing! I just like playing king!" he shouted while cowering.
"Please take it easy on my husband." the Slime Queen asked as she held his hand reassuringly. "Ever since I snatched him after he fell asleep too close to an open manhole, he has always enjoyed playing the role of king. He used to be an indentured servant at a tannery that mistreated him badly, so his new identity helps him forget his past."
"You can relax, Sewer- do you have a real name?" Druella asked. The Sewer King shook his head.
"My husband never uses his old name." The Slime Queen replied. "He doesn't want any reminders of his past."
"Very well then, I'll indulge his little fantasy." Druella said with a sigh. "Sewer King, I'll brush aside your disrespect just this once, but only if you say the right words! Do you know what they are?"
The terrified young man nodded. "I'm sorry, Lady Druella!" he stammered.
Druella smirked. "Apology accepted, young man. Now, can we speak normally to one another?"
The Sewer King rapidly nodded as he sat back down on his throne, now with a far more humble expression on his face. "So, um, welcome to my kingdom, Lady Druella. If it's alright to ask, who's the guy with you?"
"This is Alex, my husband." Druella introduced him with a smile. "We're currently searching the Tyrene Underground for a missing human. Could you help us find him?"
"Oh, yeah, Yeah!" he stammered. "Anything for you, Lady Druella!"
"Excellent!" Druella replied, her satisfied smirk only getting wider. "Have you heard of a human named Martin being dragged off by a monster not too long ago?"
The Sewer King frowned and shook his head, but then the Slime Queen spoke up.
"One of my scouts did witness a screaming human get dragged off into the catacombs about a month ago! A few other humans arrived too late to save him, but they did shout "Martin!" as he was taken away!"
Druella smiled. "Excellent! We finally have a proper lead! Mimi, do you know how to get to the catacombs from here?"
The succubus nodded. "There's a collapsed tunnel not far from here that'll let us walk right in! Once we're in the catacombs, I'll take us to a place deeper underground where the monsters like to socialize with their husbands!"
"Splendid!" Druella exclaimed. Then she turned back to the Sewer King, who was still pale and rather nervous.
"Sewer King," Druella still looked rather annoyed at using that invented title, "The Order's hold over the city of Tyrene might finally come to an end in the near future. When that day comes, can I rely on you as an ally?"
"Oh, sure! Whatever you want, Lady Druella!" the Sewer King stammered.
"My husband and I will be sure to help you with anything you need!" the Queen Slime said while smiling widely.
"Wonderful, Mimi will contact you with further instructions!" Druella replied. But as she turned to leave with Mimi, Alex decided he needed to say something too.
"Hey, um, Sewer King!" Alex yelled, causing everyone to look at him. "Could you also do us a favor and tell the slimes and all the other monsters in the sewers to leave members of the Tyrene Resistance Committee alone? At least until the city is Order-free?"
"I'm afraid I cannot do that, Alex," the Sewer King replied. "I help all the individual slimes find any stray people that wander into the sewer, and in exchange they recognize my sovereign rule! To deny them my assistance would be breaking the sacred ties between monarch and vassal-"
Then he noticed Druella raising an eyebrow at him. "-but for the husband of Lady Druella, I'll do anything you want! I'll tell all the slimes to leave them alone! I even know a few resistance members who've been captured by slimes- just say the word and I'll help them leave the sewers!"
"Thank you, Sewer King." Alex said with a smile. "You are a generous liege."
"Um, yeah, no problem!" the Sewer King replied while still looking fearfully at Druella. "Good luck on finding Martin!"
Alex then followed Druella and Mimi out of the Slime Kingdom, leaving its eccentric ruler alone with his Queen Slime wife.
"I swear, the Mamono Lord needs to tweak the human brain when she completes her spell." Mimi grumbled under her breath. "Some humans just get a little too loopy around us."
"I agree, he wouldn't be out of place in Wonderland. But at least he'll help us." Druella replied.
"Druella, please never let me become like him." Alex said only half-jokingly.
Druella chuckled. "Fear not, Alex. While I do enjoy seeing you dazed and incoherent at times, I enjoy your rational side as well. I won't let your mind drift as far away as the Sewer King's!"
Then her expression became more serious. "But Alex, I do have one question. Why did you tell him to prevent Committee members from being claimed?"
"If we want the Tyrene Resistance Committee to trust us and discover that monsters aren't a threat, we have to stop their members from disappearing!" Alex replied.
Druella pondered that for a moment. "You do have a point. But it still feels wrong. Why should I stand in the way of a fellow monster's desire, even if it is part of a greater plan?"
Alex gulped- was Druella having second thoughts about his plan? "I know it's against your nature." Alex cautiously replied. "But if we want to break The Order's hold over Tyrene and other nations, it'll help if monster "attacks" suddenly cease. I'm not saying that the slimes and other monsters of the Tyrene Underground have to hold back completely- they can still use their charms and skills with seduction to win a man over, and they can help pick off some Order soldiers here and there as long as they don't make too much noise! And once Tyrene is free, they'll be able to find themselves a husband without any fear of reprisal! Isn't that worth some temporary sacrifice?"
Druella said nothing, leaving Alex wondering whether or not she agreed with him.
I sincerely hope she does. All it'll take is one Parasite Slime snatching some female Committee member or another guy getting dragged to the depths of the catacombs for all sense of trust to collapse…
…and I have to make sure that Druella doesn't give into her own desire to monsterize someone.
[]
After a few more minutes of walking, they came across a collapsed portion of the sewer's wall. Within the gaping hole they could just make out what appeared to be an entirely different set of passages and hallways. The stone walls looked weathered and ancient, and many were covered with alcoves from top to bottom.
Those white things in the alcoves, are those…bones?!
"Ah wonderful!" Mimi exclaimed. "We've found the entrance! Just follow right behind me, Druella!"
"If it means getting out of here sooner, please, lead the way." Druella replied.
So the trio navigated their way through the crumbled bricks and entered the catacombs. The air was far more dry in here than in the sewer, and the constant dripping of water had vanished. But in its place came walls covered in loose bones and skeletons of all shapes and sizes, with skulls staring at them with empty sockets. To Alex, it was not much of an improvement over the sewer.
Seriously, who would ever want to live down here?
"Lady Druella, you should keep an eye on your husband." Mimi said as she led them through the bony maze. "There are traps within these catacombs. They aren't lethal or anything, but they could leave Alex in a pretty vulnerable spot! Some of the monsters down here are so desperate for a human they'll even jump a claimed man!"
"If there is a monster foolish enough to try that, they'll discover just how little I enjoy sharing." Druella said with gritted teeth.
Meanwhile, Alex decided to stick close to the lilim for the rest of their journey. Having one mamono in his life was enough for him, thank you very much.
Like the sewers, it did not take long for the local mamono to make their presence known. After turning a corner, they found a trio of zombies shambling about the bone-lined corridors, driven by nothing but an instinctual desire for human essence. The three raised their heads at the sight of Alex, their glassy eyes suddenly regaining some of their former life through sheer desire. But just as they began shambling towards him, the sight of a very unamused lilim stepping in front of their prey caused the trio to demur. As Alex left the corridor together with Druella and Mimi, he could feel their disappointed gazes follow him as he walked by.
"Poor things." Mimi said as they continued onwards. "They've probably been waiting for their own humans for such a long time!"
"Nonetheless, Alex is not theirs to take." Druella curtly replied.
Alex, meanwhile, took this as a warning- just because he was husband to Druella didn't mean he was immune to the desires of monsters. If he encountered a desperate-enough monster, he was in trouble.
The next room they entered was curiously empty of bones and skulls, or at least not real ones. They were in a circular chamber with a domed ceiling, and a chandelier made up of glowing white crystals lit the room with an eerie light. The walls were covered with frescoes depicting funerary scenes, with black-clad mourners escorting the dead to their final resting place. They did not appear to be sad, however, and some of the imagery also appeared to show the souls of the deceased ascending to a heavenly realm.
In the center of the chamber stood a statue atop a pedestal. The statue resembled a lithe and slender woman in a long dress, with flowing hair and eyes that were so detailed Alex swore they were following him. The woman also appeared to be wearing a necklace made out of bones, and she also had a sharp-looking crown with skull designs atop her head.
"Mimi, is this a shrine to Hel?" Druella asked as she observed the statue.
"Yep! That means we're going in the right direction! Hel used to be popular in Tyrene during the era of one of the previous Mamono Lords, but now only the most devoted of cultists make their way down here to give an offering! Of course, most of them end up becoming the "offering" themselves when one of the undead snatches them!"
Alex took a step closer to the statue to examine it further. Hel's statue was extremely well carved, so life-like he could almost picture it breathing.
And it's nice that the MGE's version of Hel doesn't have half her face rotten off.
"I've gotta say, whoever carved her did an incredible job!" Alex said. "She looks like she can stand up and talk at any moment!"
"Thank you, human." Hel replied. "I do appreciate the compliment!"
!
"…Gyahhhhh!" Alex shouted in terror as he threw himself backwards. He would've fallen into the floor if Druella hadn't caught him by the shoulders.
The statue…just…talked…NO! I AM NOT READY TO MEET ANOTHER GOD! NOT THIS SOON!
"Relax, Alex. It's only a gargoyle." Druella whispered reassuringly.
Alex found the courage to look up. When he did, he found Hel's statue sitting atop her pedestal with a rather sheepish look on her face.
"Sorry for scaring you." The gargoyle apologized. "It's just been a while since I've had visitors. Most of the other monsters here walk by with their husbands and barely give me a glance!"
"It's alright, you don't have to apologize." Alex said, though his heart was still beating rapidly. "I was just worried that another god was about to pay me an unexpected visit in their shrine."
"Another god?!" The gargoyle exclaimed, her eyes wide. "That sounds like a fun story, but I won't pry too much. Anyway, what brings you, a succubus, and one of the Mamono Lord's daughters down here?"
"We're looking for a guy named Martin. He was captured by monsters and taken to the catacombs not too long ago. Have you seen anyone that might be him?"
"Hmm, actually, I have!" The gargoyle exclaimed with a smile. "An arachne dragged a bound human through here about a few weeks ago. I thought it was strange that an arachne would be actively hunting for a human rather than waiting for a human to fall into their webs, so I paid extra attention. When the human noticed me, he cried out "Oh Hel, hear this prayer from poor, unfortunate Martin Talvert! Please don't let this be the day I have to meet you in person!"
Druella, Mimi, and Alex all looked at each other. The gargoyle had just given them the best clue yet- not only they had full confirmation that Martin was in the catacombs, they knew which kind of monster had claimed him!
"Seeing them sure made me jealous!" The gargoyle continued. "I've been waiting in this drafty shrine for months, and not a single Hel cultist has arrived for me to claim! Maybe it's time I finally moved up to the surface."
"Do be careful, my dear gargoyle." Druella replied. "The Order has a strong presence in the city above. I plan on dealing with that presence soon enough, but in the meantime I wish for things to remain quiet."
The gargoyle sighed. "Fine. I guess I'll fall back asleep now." And with that the gargoyle returned to her previous upright stance and stiffened. Within a few seconds she once again looked like nothing more than a well-carved statue of the Goddess of Life and Death.
"Let's get out of here before Hel decides to make an appearance after all." Alex said he led Mimi and Druella to the exit.
"Alex, is it true that you met another god?!" Mimi asked in a curious tone as they continued walking through the catacombs.
"Yes, Ares." Alex replied, remembering that fateful night in the red-orange yurt. "After me and Druella saved her temple in Steylia, she helped us out a lot when we were dealing with the Tazchek."
Mimi looked at him with awe. "You should be honored, Alex. Very few humans and monsters ever have the chance of earning a god's interest, much less a personal visit! You are a really lucky human!"
"Yeahhhh, I guess I am." Alex replied, not wanting to remember the other god that apparently had an eye on him.
The trio walked for what felt like hours through the bone-strewn halls of the Tyrene Catacombs. Throughout their journey the denizens of the Tyrene Underground continued to observe them with curiosity, though the sight of Druella made them keep their distance. But even though they meant no harm, their presence still gave Alex the jitters. Despite the Mamono Lord's best efforts, Undead Mamono were still rather terrifying in appearance, and he swore that he could hear faint feminine laughter and giggling in the distance. At one point, Alex had a near heart attack when a pile of bones stirred and rose upright in front of him, but the Skeleton girl didn't make any moves on him and looked rather apologetic as she moved out of their way.
As for humans, they didn't see that many, though the few they did see did wave and politely greet them. One man who was hanging around with his Ghost wife gave a thumbs up at Alex after noticing Druella, which did make him feel a little bit of pride. Occasionally they heard the moans and sighs of human-monster couples making love echoing through the tunnels, but this time they didn't bother following them.
As they made their way deeper and deeper underground, the bones appeared to be getting only more and more ancient, with some almost appearing fossilized. There were a few skeletons that also appeared to be too misshapen to be human, with extra limbs and non-human appendages.
"Hey Druella, whose bones are those?" Alex said as he pointed to a particular bulky skeleton. Instead of a human head, it had the head of what appeared to be some sort of bovine.
Druella clicked her teeth in disgust. "My my, we really have gone far down. Some of these skeletons are monsters from another era, before my mother completed her spell. An ancient reminder of our dark past, and a warning of what could come again if we're not careful."
Alex only nodded and didn't say anything else. He had noticed that many monsters felt nothing but regret and disgust towards their previous human-killing nature, with many using it as further motivation to serve the Mamono Realm. And Druella, being born a mere few decades after that previous era, also appeared to shoulder large amounts of that regret.
But while it is nice that they're devoted to making the world better, they shouldn't blame themselves for something they had no control over. All of those murderous instincts were the creation of a manipulative god.
"We're almost there." Mimi spoke up. "Just a few more minutes and we'll be in the Ruins!" As the succubus-maid continued forward, she briefly ducked her head to avoid a low archway ahead of them. The archway was covered in weathered, unrecognizable glyphs, but Druella paid them no mind as she also ducked down to follow Mimi. Alex followed their lead, ducking his head as he walked through the archway…
…only to find himself at the crossroads of an entirely different hall than the one in front of him, with Druella and Mimi nowhere in sight.
"What the-" Alex said to himself as he quickly realized that he was now alone. "Druella? Mimi? Where did you guys go?!"
His right hand quickly found its way to his sword while his eyes looked warily around in all directions. The section of Catacombs he was now in looked unrecognizable, and the realization that he was now lost made his heartbeat only accelerate further.
What the hell happened?! I was walking under that archway when all of a sudden- oh, I guess this is one of the traps Mimi warned us about. Maybe if I stay in one place they'll find me?
"Well well well," echoed a giggly voice behind him. "So a little human has finally walked through that ancient trap. At last, these centuries of loneliness are finally over!"
Alex turned around to face the source of the voice. At the far end of the tunnel floated a woman with white hair, translucent blue skin, and large blue eyes that stared at him with amorous interest. The black dress she wore was rather torn and ragged, with pale blue flames emanating around her and accentuating her attractive form. She appeared to be standing in a spherical metal cage full of those same blue flames, and it hovered just a few inches off the ground.
Alex gulped- she was a Will-o-the-Wisp, undead monsters with an infamous jealousy streak. Any man who finds himself captured in their cage would never be released, not even after death. They were high on Alex's list of mamono he'd never want to be caught by, though matango still edged them out on taking the top spot.
"Oh, Hi there!" Alex greeted the Wisp, trying his best to disguise his nervousness. "I was just walking through these tunnels with my wife and a companion when I found myself teleported over here. If you could help me find them, we'd all be extremely grateful!"
The Will-o-the-Wisp giggled darkly. "You really don't understand the situation you're in, my dear lost human. You're all alone, and no one here can stop me from claiming you!"
"Wait a second, I've already been claimed!" Alex said in panicked haste. "And my wife is not someone you want to mess with! Besides, how are you going to be able to share me with her if I'm trapped in your cage?"
Apparently that was the wrong thing to say. The Wisp's smile turned into a scowl, and her flames burned even brighter.
"Human, I've waited far too long for a husband to worry about petty things like sharing. If she didn't want to lose you, she should've kept a better eye on you! Now, be a good boy and hold still!"
"Um, you really don't want to mess with her! She's none other than Dr-"
The Will-o-the-Wisp surged towards him, her flames billowing behind her as she flew through the hall. Her cage door swung open, ready to snatch Alex in its maw…
…only for her to crash into a golden shield with a loud clang and bounce back like a beachball. The Will-o-the-Wisp yelped at the unexpected collision, and she then clutched her nose as she looked at Alex with a look of pure indignation.
Good thing mana shields work on incorporeal entities too!
"Y-you rude human!" The Will-o-the-Wisp huffed. "You're going to be punished for that!"
The Will-o-the-Wisp made a second attempt at penetrating the shield, but the results were equally as unsuccessful.
"Please, give up already." Alex said with his right arm outstretched. "I'm already claimed, and my wife seriously won't appreciate someone trying to steal me away from her. Don't be a homewrecker."
The Will-o-the-Wisp scowled at Alex, but she didn't try to rush the shield a third time. Alex breathed a sigh of relief. Good, she's given up. Now I'll just have to go find Druella and Mimi-
"Ooh, Amilia, you've found one!" came a feminine voice from the hall to his left. Alex glanced over and gulped- there was now a second Will-o-the-Wisp floating within the bone-strewn hall, and she looked equally as predatory as her counterpart. "Hehehe, but it looks like you haven't finished the job! You have to seize opportunities quickly or someone else might take them instead!"
"Hey, don't try to steal him, you harlot!" The Wisp named Amilia yelled. "This human is just being a tad obstinate! I'll wear him down eventually!"
The other Will-o-the-Wisp grinned evilly. "In that case, let's see who wears him down first! Winner gets to keep him!"
The second Will-o-the-Wisp then charged down the left hall with her cage wide open, but Alex was ready for her. By raising his left arm, he deployed a second mana shield and caused the Wisp to suffer the same fate as her companion.
"Ow!" she yelled as she rubbed her forehead. "How rude! Looks like I'm going to have to really break him in later!"
"Not if I get him first!" Amilia yelled as she made a third attempt at the shield. The shield held, but Alex was starting to worry that they really would just continue coming after him until he was worn out.
"Sisters, what are you both up to?" said a third voice to his right.
Ah crap. As he feared, a third Will-o-the-Wisp was now floating in the right hallway, and she gazed at the scene in front of her with desire and hunger.
"Hmm, it looks like you're both a little occupied." The Wisp said with an evil smile. "Sorry sisters, but I can't waste a chance like this!" She then barrelled forward, her flames emanating behind her. "Just surrender to me, human! I promise that I'm far gentler than my sisters!"
Alex quickly threw both arms up and deployed a shield over his entire body, the shimmering yellow dome keeping the three Wisps at bay. The third Wisp managed to avoid the fate of her companions and stopped short of the shield, but now all three of them circled around him like sharks, occasionally testing the shield while waiting for the moment where they could seize him.
"You can't do this forever, human!" The second Wisp yelled. "Just give in! I promise that my cage is more inviting than it looks!"
"Come on now, human, what's so scary about being caught by me?" yelled the third Wisp. "You get a loving wife who'll never leave you, and you can free yourself from all the toils of everyday life! Isn't that wonderful? Isn't that a dream come true?"
"For the last time, I am already taken!" Alex yelled back.
"If you give yourself to me right now, I promise that I'll let you out on occasion so your wife can have her fill!" the Wisp named Amilia offered. "But only if you surrender now!"
Alex weighed his options- he could try escaping through one of the four hallways, but the Wisps might not give him an opening to make a break for it. And while his mana shields were only getting stronger and lasting longer, they weren't indefinite. If these Will-o-the-Wisps were desperate enough to break taboo and steal a claimed human, then they probably weren't going to just get bored and leave.
Ah, screw it. Alex thought to himself as he slid off his ring. I should have just done this from the start.
Unfortunately, removing the ring also meant breaking his concentration, if only briefly. But that was the only window Amilia needed to break through his weakened mana shield and knock him to the ground.
"Hehe, so you've accepted my little offer." Amilia snickered as the door to her cage swung open and blue flames spilled out. "Now, just stay there and accept your-"
"Ahem." came a voice from behind the Will-o-the-Wisp. Startled by the sudden interruption, Amilia turned out to face the newcomer…
…only to find herself face-to-face with a very irate-looking Druella, her arms crossed as she glared at the Wisp. Behind her stood Mimi, who looked rather embarrassed to be there.
"Just what…do you think…you are doing to my husband?" Druella asked, her tone audibly furious.
Yeah, that's my girl! Right on time!
"L-L-Lady Druella?! This is your husband?" Amilia exclaimed, her eyes wide. The other Wisps immediately backed away from Alex and looked at Druella with fear.
"We're sorry, Lady Druella! We didn't know!" one of the other Wisps exclaimed. "Don't worry, we didn't touch him at all!"
"That does not change the fact you were all willing to steal a claimed human away from their wife!" Druella coldly replied. "You will all be punished for your impudence!"
"Hey, hey, Druella." Alex cut in as he rose to his feet. "It's alright. They didn't manage to get to me. You're still the only woman in my life."
Druella's cheeks turned red at that remark. "Oh, um, well thank you for those words, Alex. But even so…"
"Yes, they let their desire completely overtake their common sense, but we don't need to punish them! I'm sure after this little incident they'll think twice before going after a taken human!" He then turned towards the three terrified Wisps. "Isn't that right?"
"Um yes, that's completely right!" one of the Wisps yelled.
"From now on, we'll make sure every married human finds their way home to their wife!" said another.
"We're sorry for trying to steal your man, Lady Druella!" Amilia apologized. "We'll do anything to make up for this offense!"
Druella's anger appeared to mollify a little. "Well, if my husband is willing to overlook this, then I shall as well. As for 'making up', I'll think of something in the future. But for now, I want you three to lead us to the Ruins!"
"O-of course Lady Druella! We'll lead you there right away!" Amilia exclaimed as she and her two sisters rose into the air and beckoned the trio to follow.
"Alex, are you alright?" Druella asked as she looked over him while walking. "They didn't hurt you in any way, did they?"
"I'm alright Druella! But thank you for arriving in time!" Alex replied, causing Druella to smile in response.
"I'm sorry, this whole incident was my fault!" Mimi exclaimed. "The ruins on that archway were so weathered I thought they'd be inert! To think I nearly got Lady Druella's husband taken away…"
"Hey, don't worry about it!" Alex said. "We all make mistakes. Even Druella didn't notice anything wrong with the archway, so don't think too negatively about yourself!"
Mimi's eyes widened at his response, then she smiled. "Thank you, Alex. You are a sweet human, if you weren't claimed already I would-"
"Mimi, too soon." Druella cut in, her voice friendly but with a slight hint of warning.
"Right, sorry." the succubus replied as the trio continued following their Wisp guides. "Let's just keep moving forward and find Martin already".
[]
"We're here!" Amilia the Wisp exclaimed as Alex and his group finally left the tunnels of the Catacombs and entered a wide-open cavern. "Umm, do you still need us for anything, Lady Druella?"
"Not at the moment, you are all free to go." Druella replied, causing the three Will-o-the-Wisps to rapidly turn around and glide back into the Catacombs.
Woah. In front of Alex appeared to be the ruins of some long-lost ancient civilization, with crumbling buildings and temples covered in moss scattered around a step pyramid in the center of the cavern. The cavern itself appeared to be about half a mile in length, with small waterfalls pouring in from the sides and collecting in various canals and pools in the Ruins. Massive clusters of the same glowing white crystal they found in the shrine to Hel hung from the cavern ceiling and provided the entire chamber with sufficient if somewhat eerie lighting.
"Mimi, are these the Ruins?" Alex asked in wonder. "What exactly are they?"
"Some long lost human civilization that found itself destroyed by an ancient Mamono Lord." Mimi replied with a hint of distaste in her voice. "All the monsters of the Tyrene Underground like gathering here to trade goods and socialize with one another, and to give their husbands the chance to make some friends. But…I think some of them also gather here as a way of replacing this ancient memory of slaughter with newer, gentler memories."
Alex nodded. "Monsters really do hold nothing but regret for their past, do they?"
"You are entirely right, Alex." Druella replied as she looked around at the Ruins with a somber expression. "I once asked my mother how many previous Mamono Lords had arisen and fallen before she finally took her throne. Her answer horrified me- she had lost count. That is why we must defeat The Order- to end this cycle of violence once and for all. To save not only monsters, but humanity as well. Though, even when we do finally bring the Chief God down once and for all, we'll likely still be working off our past sins for millenia to come."
'That is a righteous goal." Alex replied. "But you shouldn't blame yourself entirely. The Chief God used you all as tools to achieve her own ends, you had little say over it. And, after seeing what The Order's been doing, there are plenty of humans who also need to work through their past sins. Speaking of the Chief God, is that a statue of her?" he asked while pointing to a rather weathered feminine statue with two outstretched feathered wings.
"That is true- our human-killing instincts were just a small part of the Chief God's system for population control. But even if we did have little control over it, we still took the lives of innocents. And I will not run away from my kind's past by pointing fingers at someone else." Druella then finally managed to crack a smile. "As for that statue, it is of A Chief God, but not the current one. The current Chief God has long blonde hair, while this statue appears to have a rather short cut."
"Oh, okay." Alex replied, still rather shaken by Druella's little moment of introspection. No wonder why she's so motivated to expand the Mamono Realm at all costs.
As they walked through the Ruins, several monsters and their human husbands emerged from more refurbished homes and observed their passing with interest and awe. Besides various species of slime from the Sewers and the Undead of the Catacombs, Alex also noticed a few Werebats literally hanging out with their husbands on high perches, along with what appeared to be a Living Armor walking side-by-side with a man in a worn Tyrenese Guardsman uniform.
Just in front of the central step pyramid was a rather rudimentary market where various mamono sold foods and other goods that likely could not be found in the Underground. One of the stall-owners was a blue slime that smiled and waved at Alex and his group- likely a division of the Slime King's Queen. There were a few men chatting with each other at the center of the "town square" while their wives did some shopping, and Alex even noticed a few monster children playing some sort of ball game similar to soccer. Alex only noticed about a few dozen human-mamono couples residing in the Ruins, but they were enough to give what would otherwise be a dreary location the charm and vibe of a small-town community.
Now I understand how people are able to bear living in the Underground. I still prefer fresh air and open skies, but it's nice that the monsters here try to give their husbands something approaching a normal life.
"Say, is that one of the Mamono Lord's daughters?" a Red Slime spoke up after noticing Druella.
The town square suddenly went silent at that revelation, with everyone turning towards their unexpected celebrity guest. Druella did not appear uncomfortable at all the sudden attention- as a matter of fact, she appeared to revel in it.
"Hello everyone, I apologize for it being so long since my last visit!" Mimi addressed the crowd. "But I've brought none other than Lady Druella herself to meet you all!"
The monsters all became rather excited at the proposal, with the children already dropping their ball and running forward to see the Fourth Princess herself. The human men, on the other hand, looked unsure of what to make of this news.
"Fufu, I did not expect to meet such a vibrant little community this deep beneath Tyrene!" Druella smiled as she ruffled a young Werebat's head. "I am impressed at what you've all managed to create here!"
"Thank you, Lady Druella!" exclaimed a Wight. "Are you here to finally expand the Mamono Realm to Tyrene?"
"Alas, that day has not yet arrived." Druella replied, causing a few monsters to look disappointed. "I've come here to look for someone. Has anyone here heard of a human named Martin Talvert? He arrived about a month ago and should now be wed to an Arachne."
"Oh! You must be referring to Celia's new husband!" said the Wight. "They now live in a ruined temple just down that street! I'm sure you'll find them there," the Wight began to blush. "After all, they barely leave!"
Finally, our hunt is at an end.
"Thank you, my dear Wight." Druella said with a smile. She then turned back to the crowd. "I promise to all of you that the next time I return here, you'll finally be able to go to the surface without having to worry about The Order's presence. On this you have my word as the Fourth Princess of the Mamono Realm!"
This last declaration seemed to brighten the mood of every Mamono present, and they waved their goodbyes to Druella as she, Mimi, and Alex headed off to find Martin. After just a minute of walking, they found the ruined temple in question, with voices echoing from inside.
"Martin, while I am elated at how excited you've become every time I'm ready to bite, it's hard for me to sink my fangs into your neck when you keep squirming." said a soft, feminine voice.
"In that case, you should make sure to tie me up real nice and tight, Celia." said a rather suave-sounding man. "Perhaps a blindfold too?"
The woman named Celia laughed. "My my, how is it that you alway know exactly what I want to hear?"
Druella was just about to barge in to confront their quarry, but Alex grabbed her hand and stopped her.
"Maybe this time, we should knock first?" Alex asked.
"Oh, right!" Druella replied, her cheeks now flushed red. Then she lifted one hand and knocked at the temple door.
"Agh! Visitors, now?!" Celia yelled in annoyance. "Stay right where you are, husband, I'll see what they want."
'Fine by me, though it's not like I can move anywhere anyway."
After a few seconds of scurrying noises, the temple door swung open to reveal a rather annoyed-looking Arachne, though her eight eyes quickly widened at the sight of Druella. She had long silver-white hair that fell past her shoulders, and she wore a cute beret just above her pointy ears. Her human half was clothed with what appeared to be a silken blouse that allowed the Arachne's alluring form to be readily visible. Her arachnid half, meanwhile, was covered in what almost appeared to be brown fur, with lines of white fur lining the top of her abdomen.
"Oh, um, hello. I did not expect to have guests today!" Celia stammered, clearly thrown off by having a lilim on her front doorstep. "How can I help you, daughter of the Mamono Lord?"
"My dear Arachne, I apologize for intruding on you like this, but it is a matter of paramount importance for the future of the city above." Druella replied. "I am Druella, Fourth Princess of the Mamono Realm. This is Alex, my husband. And this succubus is Mimi, spymaster of all my operations in Tyrene. I presume that you are Celia?"
"Yes, that is my name." Celia replied in a still rather nervous tone. "But Lady Druella, what do you mean by 'paramount importance?' I'm not that important of a spider- I've spent my whole life down here and only recently managed to capture a human in the sewers. In what way could I possibly be important to you?"
"We are not here to see you, Celia, but rather your husband. Is his name, by any chance, Martin?"
The arachne's eyes suddenly narrowed, and her stance became far more tense. "Yes," she said with suspicion. "Martin is the name of my husband. Just what exactly do you want from him?"
Druella did not seem fazed by the arachne's sudden coldness- in fact, she seemed to understand it. "Only to talk, my dear Celia. Only to talk. Could you allow us to meet him? If it makes you more comfortable, you can stay with us the entire time."
Druella's reassurances seemed to mollify the arachne a little; although her gaze still held suspicion, she nodded before scurrying back inside the temple. After a few seconds, Alex could hear the sound of silken strands being cut.
"I apologize, Martin, but we must continue this later. You have some guests that wish to speak with you." Celia's voice rang out from inside.
"Aw, how disappointing! And I was just getting relaxed in this position. But fine, you can untie me now. Now, who are these guests you were referring to?"
"Princess Druella, her husband, and her spymaster."
"...Hah! Good joke, Celia! I always knew you had a sense of humor buried deep inside of you!"
"..."
"..."
"...you're not joking, are you?"
After a few more seconds, the temple door swung open to reveal a man in his early thirties, with long flowing black hair and skin that was remarkably tanned for someone who hadn't felt sunlight in a month. He was shirtless, allowing his well-built muscular form to be clearly visible. His face was handsome, with a chiseled jawline and some stubble on his cheek. His dark eyes looked almost familiar to Alex, though he wasn't sure why.
Wait, now I know why- they're the exact same as his sister's!
Martin Talvert took a good long look at his guests, glancing first at Alex, then at Mimi. When he finally looked at Druella he almost stumbled over, but Celia managed to grab him from behind and keep him from falling.
"Huh, that sensation felt like pure, unfiltered power." Martin whispered to himself. Then, as if a switch had been flicked, he looked back up at Druella with a large grin on his face.
"Ah, so you must be Druella! I've heard so many horror stories about you, but like all the other stories about monsters they must be complete bull! I am Martin Talvert, and it is my greatest honor to meet you!" he exclaimed while bowing.
"Thank you, Martin Talvert." Druella replied, smiling at this supplicant human. "Together with Alex, my husband, and Mimi, my spymaster, we have been searching tirelessly for you throughout the Tyrene Underground. Now that we've finally found you, however, we have much to discuss- uh, what are you doing?"
Martin had not stopped bowing, and he now held his right hand out while his lips were puckered together. When he heard the lilim's confusion, he looked up with a grin.
"Why, if someone encounters a beautiful lady of high rank, it's important to kiss their hand!" Martin exclaimed. "I've met nobles and countesses, but never a princess!"
Druella looked rather unsure of what to do next, so she turned to Alex to get his reaction. Alex shrugged- a single kiss on the hand wasn't going to make him jealous.
But you better not try anything more than that, you Casanova. Not unless you want to feel some Mamono Realm Silver between your ribs.
After kissing Druella's hand, Martin stood up again, his grin once again plastered on his face. "So, how can I, Martin Talvert, be of service to you, Druella?" he asked as he led the trio inside. The interior of the ruined temple was covered with massive webs, with several woven floors and passageways extending to the ceiling. There was also a sitting room containing a sofa and a few other pieces of furniture, a dining area with a table and chairs, and what appeared to be a corner reserved for sewing, with finely-woven pieces of clothing either draped on racks or laying atop shelves. It would be difficult to mistake the temple for anything other than the current residence of an arachne and her husband.
"I'll allow my husband to explain. This entire search was his idea, after all." Druella replied. Martin then turned to face Alex, his dark eyes studying him up and down.
"You're the husband of Druella?" he asked, clearly impressed. "Damn, how did you manage to pull that off?"
"She rescued me from my prison cell while I was awaiting my own execution at the hands of The Order." Alex truthfully replied.
Martin raised an eyebrow. "Huh, that's quite the first encounter. My dear Celia took me the old-fashioned way- snatching me from the sewers and dragging me all the way down here. It was a terrifying journey; the whole time I thought I was going to be eaten for sure, but then Celia got me all nice and tied up before-"
"Okay, okay. I already know where this story is going. And I'd rather not hear every detail." Alex interrupted, his face red. "Anyway, it's probably better if I just get right into business. Martin, you're one of the three founders of the Tyrene Resistance Committee, correct?"
Martin's eyes widened, and his expression became far more guarded. "Why, yes. Yes I was. But what does that have to do with anything?"
"I'm actually the Committee's newest recruit!" Alex replied. "And from what I heard from all the other members, you played a major role in getting the organization started after your brother-in-law got arrested by The Order."
Martin rubbed the back of his head while grinning sheepishly. "My comrades do love to flatter me. But you are right- immediately after Pierre's arrest, me and my sister went to work gathering people who were as equally as pissed off with The Order as we were. It took a lot of work to get Abel to join us, but we managed to bond over our shared love of dark beer and dueling!" His grin then faded to a frown. "They're…they're all fine without me, right? Marina, Abel, Adele…the Committee is still going strong, right?"
Alex took a deep breath before delivering some hard news. "No Martin, they're not doing all right. Commander Tyrax has been rooting out the Committee's cells one by one and executing captives at the White Bastion Square. The population of Tyrene considers all of you to be little more than saboteurs ruining an already unstable situation, and most of them have little will to resist anyway. As for the Committee itself, these days it's nothing but Abel and his more radical half of the resistance arguing with Marina and her moderate half. Unless they finally stop being at each other's throats, the Tyrene Resistance Committee is doomed."
Martin's expression grew pale, and his previous suave confidence disappeared. Celia the Arachne noticed her husband's obvious mental anguish and scurried closer to him.
"Martin, is everything alright?" Celia asked with concern while holding his right arm. "If our guests are causing you any distress, I'll firmly ask them to leave."
"No, it's fine." Martin replied. "I'm just a little…rattled, that's all." He then looked back towards Alex with an anxious expression. "Thank you for telling me this news Alex, even if it is distressing. To think they've fallen apart like this…is Tyrene doomed to be under The Order's thumb forever?"
"That's where you're wrong, Martin!" Alex exclaimed, causing the ex-rebel to be taken aback. "I'll admit it- when I joined the Committee, my original goal was simply to gather intel for Druella. But after seeing what The Order's done to Tyrene and your organization's idealistic goals for the future, I knew that I could not let that flame of resistance die out!"
Alex lifted his right hand up and offered it to Martin. "Martin, you were the glue that held the Committee together, and without you it's been falling apart at the seams. They need you now more than ever if The Order is ever to be driven out of Tyrene! But you don't have to do it alone! As you are certainly now aware, nearly everything The Order has been telling you about monsters has been nothing but lies. If you partner up with me and Druella, we can spread the truth to all of Tyrene, destroying The Order's entire reason for being there and rallying the entire city against them! If everything goes to plan, the news of Tyrene voluntarily rejecting The Order will cause other nations and peoples to uncover the truth on their own and stage their own revolt! So, will you come with us?"
After finally taking a breath after his long-winded call-to-arms, Alex anxiously looked at Martin to gauge his reaction. Judging from Druella and Mimi's impressed expressions, they appreciated the passion he threw in. Martin, however, looked conflicted, his eyes darting between Alex and Celia. Meanwhile, the arachne's suspicious gaze had returned.
"Martin?" Alex asked again after he failed to respond.
"Well, you see, umm," Martin still looked unsure, almost ashamed. "Agh, I'll just spit it out! Alex, you seem like a good guy, and what you're suggesting would exceed even the wildest dreams I had for the Committee. And Lady Druella, thank you for trying to save my home city! But I cannot accept your offer."
"Why not?" Alex asked, not expecting a rejection.
"Because…" Martin glanced over to his right at Celia. "Because it's not my decision to make. There's someone else you'll need to convince if you want me to come with you."
Alex gulped- the ex-rebel did make a valid point. Finding Martin was the easy part of the mission- now he had to convince his mamono spouse to allow her husband to come with them. And given the angry scowl Celia was now pointing at him, convincing her would not be an easy task.
"Celia," Alex began. "I know you probably loathe the idea of your husband returning to his old life. But if you would just listen-"
"Listen? I've had enough of listening!" Celia yelled back in anger, her entire spider body quivering. "I knew you would try to steal him away from me! For my entire life I've had to watch countless monsters come down here with their newly caught man while my webs stayed completely empty! And just when I finally managed to gain the courage to seize the initiative and actively capture a husband, Lady Druella herself arrives to take him away from me! No, you will not have even a single hair from him!"
"Hey, don't be harsh on the kid, he has good intentions." Martin said as he held Celia a little closer. "But I'm sorry Alex, if Celia does not want me to go, then I'm not going to disobey her. Besides, I'd rather not be hung by my legs upside-down for several hours again."
Damn it, why do you have to be such a ladies' man!?
"You're a good husband, Martin." Alex replied. "But please, this is far larger than just me and you- thousands of lives are at stake!" Alex then turned towards Celia. "Listen Celia, Druella was never planning on stealing Martin from you! I understand why you feel threatened, and you have every right to be! But the Committee needs your husband! We need your husband! I'm sure we can arrange something if we just talked things out-"
"Alex, I think that's enough." Druella cut in. "If neither of them wish to come with us, we cannot force them to."
Et tu, Druella?
But he should have expected the lilim's response- Druella always valued love and pleasure over everything else.
"If Martin truly does feel happy being with his new monster wife, why should I disrupt that happiness? Every human deserves the chance to be freed from the struggles of everyday life!" Druella continued. "And if Celia has found love and companionship through capturing Martin, then I will certainly not disrupt it by taking him away. To do so would be a dishonor to my role as Princess of the Mamono Realm!"
"Wait, but…" Alex wasn't sure what else to say. Having Druella on his side gave him confidence that he sorely needed in many a conversation, a reminder that he had a powerful ally to support him. Having her stand against him, on the other hand, left him feeling completely flat-footed.
"Do not free too much, Alex." Druella reassured him. "Your plan was a good one. But not every plan will work out by the end. Come, let us return to the surface and plan our-"
"Martin Talvert! Celia! I didn't think anyone could get more on my nerves today than that Sewer Idiot upstairs, but it appears that I was mistaken!" exclaimed a voice that had hitherto refrained from participating in the conversation. Alex and Druella both turned around in surprise- it was Mimi who had spoken up, and her angered expression suggested that she still had a lot more to say.
"Martin, do you still wish to see the people of Tyrene freed from The Order's control?" Mimi asked.
"Why of course I do, I never claimed that I didn't!" Martin yelled back. "But-"
"How about the Tyrene Resistance Committee? Are you willing to turn your back on them forever?"
Martin's eyes widened. "Um, no, not really." he stammered. "But if they really cannot stop fighting each other without me, then maybe they are doomed."
He does not sound like he believes in his own answer.
Mimi's angry expression twisted into a slight smirk. "Last question. Martin, are you content with abandoning your sister to an uncertain fate? Are you content with leaving Pierre slaving away to The Order's whims?"
"NO! OF COURSE I'M NOT CONTENT!" Martin suddenly yelled out. "Those bastards dragged him away just because he wanted his rightful dues! If I let those bastards get away with what they did to my family, to Tyrene, for even a second, I'd never forgive myself!"
"Is that so?" Mimi asked. "Then help them, you idiot human! Get up to the surface and help them! I know it must be painful to return to a life of fear and toil after finding solace in the arms of another, but our responsibilities to ourselves and to others should always go before our own pleasure!"
Alex looked both shocked and impressed at the succubus-maid's tirade. As for Druella, Mimi's words appeared to have struck her deeply, her face red as she tried to hide it between her wings.
"I know you care about your wife, and that is a good thing." Mimi continued in a calmer tone. "You both make for a cute couple. But there comes a time when things far bigger than ourselves get in our way, a time when even monsters and their husbands have to get out of bed and fight! This is one of those times, Martin Talvert. You can stay here with Celia while Tyrene continues to rot above your head, or you can return to your Committee and end their bickering!"
Martin's eyes were wide open throughout Mimi's appeal, his expression only getting more troubled. But as the succubus-maid's brown eyes bore into him, he could do nothing but nod obediently.
Mimi then turned to Celia. "Celia, while I don't have a husband of my own yet, I know how threatened you must feel right now. You've found yourself a man to call your own, and we have admittedly trampled into your idyllic life. But this is far bigger than both you and your husband; if we don't do anything, The Order will only continue to torment the poor humans of the city above. So please, let Martin rejoin his comrades and free his brother-in-law!"
Celia the arachne now seemed less certain in her anger, her legs quivering as she considered Mimi's words.
"Well…you're right, as much as I can try to pretend not to care, I do not want any humans to suffer if I can help it. And I do not want to hold my husband back from his owndesires. But still, what if something happens to him while he's away?! What if he gets hurt or killed and I'm not there to help him? To be alone, all over again…"
"Then come with us!" Alex interjected. "We never said that you had to stay behind. Besides, once the rest of the Committee meets you, they'll definitely realize that there's nothing to fear from monsters!"
"Y-you want me to go to the surface?" the arachne quivered in fear while holding her beret in her hands. "W–well, if it's with Martin, then I won't mind."
"Woah, wait a minute Alex." Martin said. "As attractive an idea that is, are you sure it's a good one? I mean, my Celia can be intimidating at first glance. What if the rest of the Committee is too scared of her to listen to me?"
"He does have a point, Alex." Druella added. "If you do wish to prove to these humans that there is nothing to fear from monsters, why not bring a Weresheep or another, more cuddly monster along? The sight of an arachne may frighten them too much."
"You're not wrong, Druella." Alex replied. "But wouldn't it be pretty weird if we showed up with Martin claiming that he was wedded rather than eaten by a monster only to bring along an entirely unrelated monster? Yes, it's going to be a hard sell, but once they see Martin and Celia together and happy, they'll realize just how much The Order has been lying to everyone." He then turned back towards Celia and Martin. "But if you both feel too uncomfortable, we can scrap this-"
"No, it's quite alright." Celia replied, causing Martin to look over and raise an eyebrow. "You are an annoying little human, Alex, but if your little plan will make Martin happy and help protect the innocent, then I am willing to come along."
"Celia, are you sure about this?" Martin asked. Celia nodded back and gave him a sweet smile.
"Well, if she approves, it's settled then!" Martin declared as he turned back around to the visiting trio. "Alex, thank you for finding me. If all goes well and Tyrene regains his freedom, then, I, Martin Talvert, promise to buy you as many beers as you'd like! Normally I'd reward you by setting you up with some of the prettiest ladies in all of Tyrene, but you can't find a lovelier-looking lady than her!" he said while glancing at Druella. When he noticed Celia scowling at him, he quickly added- "Though I certainly have!"
"As for you, Mimi," Martin continued. "Thank you for helping me break out of my hesitation. I doubt a succubus like you needs much help in finding a nice guy, but if you do want me to introduce you to anyone then there's this one shy kid in the Committee who would go great with an assertive monster such as yourself!"
"Thank you, Martin." Mimi replied while performing a quick curtsy. "But while your little offer is appreciated, I already have a human in my sights."
"Ah, what a shame." Martin said while still grinning. "But I guess I can always introduce him to Adele- he always did have a crush on her." He then turned towards Druella. "Lady Druella, you used to be the subject of the scary stories my parents would recite to me at night. But I can see now that you, like all monsters, really do mean no harm to any of us. Thank you for choosing to help my city. And to add one more thing, you made a great choice for a husband."
"Thank you, Martin Talvert." Druella replied, flattered by his words. "I promise that I will supply the Committee with everything and anything they might need to achieve victory!"
Wow, this guy really does know exactly what to say to get on people's good sides.
"Now, Mimi, I believe it is time to return to the surface." Druella said as she turned to her Spymaster. "How long will it take to get back to the Sewer level?"
"Several hours of walking!" Mimi replied.
All Druella could do was shake her head. "No, that won't do at all. Everyone gather all around me, I'll prepare a teleportation spell."
As Alex gathered with the rest of the group around Druella and let himself be engulfed by the spell's glowing blue light, he silently prayed that everything would go as smoothly as everyone hoped. But he knew better than to think that they were now on a smooth ride to the liberation of Tyrene. Even if they did expose The Order's lies to the Committee and Tyrene as a whole, they still had one hell of a fight ahead of them.
[]
The Jewelsmith carefully measured the uncut yellow gem in front of him, his eyes squinting behind his spectacles as he tried to read the units on his ruler. After a few seconds of fruitless squinting, he grunted in annoyance before whispering a brief enchantment, causing his vision to clear up and focus as if years of declining eyesight had vanished overnight. Satisfied that he could finally read his measurements, the Jewelsmith dropped the ruler and rummaged throughout his cluttered workbench to find a sheet of paper to write on. Because of the delicate nature of the jewelry he was creating, he could not afford to be even a sliver off from the precise cuts necessary for the finished product. Otherwise, the completed piece of jewelry would detonate in a blinding explosion the moment it was worn, destroying both itself and the wearer. The Jewelsmith was occasionally tempted to sabotage his own work, but fear of reprisal and a lingering sense of professionalism kept him from doing so.
Sweat dripped down the Jewelsmith's brow as he clamped the gemstone down on the bench and prepared it for cutting. The Order expected him to continue creating these gems from sunrise to sunset, with breaks only for meals and one hour of walking around the prison courtyard. His unique situation did have some benefits- he had a larger cell in order to fit in his work bench and everything else he would need to complete his tasks, and The Order kept him well-fed enough to be healthy. But in spite of these silver linings, the Jewelsmith still felt a lingering sense of despair deep in the recesses of his mind. Would he be spending the rest of his life in this cage, creating similar jewelry over and over like some sort of automaton?
No, I won't accept that fate! The Jewelsmith thought to himself. I will get out of here, I will return to my shop! And most of all, I will see my Marina again!
…but when?
Just then, the metal door to his cell swung open, and in walked a man in bulky white armor.
"Ah, hard at work, are we, Pierre?" Commander Tyrax chuckled as he noticed his prisoner still stooped over his workbench. "Good, good, the Chief God will reward you for your diligence."
Pierre Morgant grit his teeth at the sight of his captor, who then proceeded to grab a stool and sit right next to him. He always thought that the ex-general resembled an irate bull through his bulky frame, constantly flaring nostrils, and his red, furrowed face that made him look like he was constantly pissed off at something.
And like any bull, all it takes is just a single sight of red to make him abandon all reason in favor of raw aggression.
"What do you want, Tyrax?" Pierre mumbled under his breath. "Can't you see that I'm busy?"
The Commander of The Order's Garrison in Tyrene had paid Pierre a visit a few times in his cell, always claiming that he was just trying "get to know his prisoner a little more personally". In reality, these little visits were nothing but a way for him to gloat about the power he held over Pierre, his wide grins and compliments being little more than mockery.
I just hope he doesn't break into those loud, hypocritical speeches of his. I wonder if he even still believes in what he's saying, or if it's just a convenient way to rile people up. If only his predecessor was still around- at least he never bothered to visit me.
"Now, now, that's not how you address your captor." Tyrax chided him. "Now, how about you kneel and apologize for your disrespect?"
Pierre refused to move, knowing that doing so would mean admitting his own helplessness. Internally though, his heart was rapidly beating out of fear.
"Hmmph, suit yourself then." Tyrax said dismissively. "Just be thankful that you're too useful to be disposed of, or else I'd call for my men to fetch my flail."
The brief mention of torture made the jewelsmith's hands shake, but he bit down at the insides of his mouth to keep himself from shaking. Don't let him see your fear, or else he'll be triumphant. Just breathe normally and pretend that Marina is here with you.
"What do you want, Tyrax?" Pierre repeated his question.
"Not in the mood for some chatter? Very well then." Tyrax then leaned over and stared right into Pierre's eyes. "My first piece of business is to give you my congratulations- your little creations are finally starting to show off their effectiveness. Thanks to you, several kingdoms on the fence in this great war against evil have seen the error of their neutrality and have pledged their loyalty to us. And while there has been one unfortunate setback, you should be proud. Because of your efforts, The Order might soon reach the point where we can launch our final war against the Mamono Lord!"
It took all of Pierre's efforts not to snatch one of his hammers and try to smash Tyrax's skull in. Pierre did believe in the Chief God and was no ally of the Mamono Lord, but the very idea that something he created was being used in such a matter disgusted him. Though he was rather elated to hear that not everything was going perfect for The Order.
"I am…glad to hear that." Pierre lied through grit teeth. "But this all could have still been accomplished if you just left me free and paid me."
"Pay you?" Tyrax snorted. "We both serve the Chief God, do we not? And Gods do not pay their worshippers for serving them."
Pierre had heard that worthless line far too many times- it was far more likely that The Order engineered the whole debacle surrounding the withheld pay to give themselves a rationale for detaining him. After all, he would have refused to make them even a single earring if he had discovered the true purpose for The Order's commissioned jewelry.
Or maybe they really were going to pay me, and the gold is now in the hands of some corrupt Order official. But no matter what the true reason was, I'm now little more than their slave.
"Can you feel it in the air, Pierre?" Tyrax continued. "The final struggle is approaching, and soon our armies will be tearing apart the Mamono Realm piece-by-piece! I await the day when I can charge with my men into the Royal Makai itself, and throw the Mamono Lord right off her little throne!"
"No you won't." Pierre replied. "The Pope demoted you and then sent you here to Tyrene for your disastrous defeat at Steylia. I doubt he'd ever let a tarnished leader like yourself ever see the battlefield ever again."
Tyrax's smile faded from his lips, and his gaze grew cold. Although provoking this bull of a human was a rather risky proposition, Pierre was so fed up with Tyrax's mockery that he needed to throw some jabs of his own.
"Watch yourself, Jewelsmith." Tyrax warned in a venomous tone, a vein throbbing on his forehead. "I've given my own soldiers 50 lashes for daring to spread that vile lie. The Steylian Campaign would have been a smashing success were it not for that idiot princeling failing to pull off his end of the bargain. Even then, I could've still achieved victory, but Druella herself bewitched the Steylians and unleashed monsters against us in the Southern Sand Dunes! I had to escape, or else no one would know that the Conqueror of Lescatie had gotten herself a new prize!"
"Interesting," Pierre replied with a small grin. "I don't hear much news within the White Bastion's walls, but I did manage to hear some rumors that not a single monster aside from Druella was present at the final battle at Steylia. I also learned that the first sighting of Druella took place five minutes after you already fled. Are you able to see the future, Tyrax? Or maybe, just maybe, you simply ran away?"
Commander Tyrax jumped from his stool and grabbed Pierre by the collar with both of his burly arms before shoving him against the nearest stone wall, causing the Jewelsmith's glasses to nearly fall off. The ex-general was fuming with anger, his red face twisted into a snarl as his bloodshot eyes gazed at Pierre with utter fury.
"YOU WORTHLESS LITTLE RUNT!" Tyrac bellowed in anger. "WHO THE HELL TOLD YOU THAT? I'LL HAVE ALL OF YOU INGRATES PUBLICLY BEHEADED FOR DISRESPECTING A COMMANDER!"
Pierre readjusted his glasses on his face before staring back at the irate commander, though internally he was ready to fall on the ground and cry. "No you won't." he replied. "I am quite confident that you won't hurt me."
"And what makes you think that, jewelsmith?" Tyrax hissed as his eyes continued to bear down on Pierre with their furious gaze.
"You said it yourself- I'm too useful to be disposed of." Pierre replied with a small grin. "I can't create any more of those precious jewelry of yours if I'm wounded or dead."
Tyrax's gaze lost its focus, and the commander suddenly seemed a lot less certain. His mouth opened and closed again as if trying to find some sort of rebuttal, but Pierre was right- The Order could not get rid of him. With a single grunt of annoyance Tyrax let go of his iron grip on Pierre's collar, causing the jewelsmith to fall to the cell floor. As he adjusted his glasses and looked up, he could see Tyrax staring at him with utter contempt.
"You're a cheeky little shit, you know that?" Tyrax grumbled. "If I were you, I'd pray to The Chief God every single night thanking her for giving you your talents. They're the only reason I won't be taking your head today."
A smile then returned to the commander's lips- a tiny, evil little smile that made Pierre shiver at what Tyrax might say next. "Now that we're done talking about your work, let's change the subject, shall we? When was the last time you've heard anything from your wife, Pierre?"
Pierre's blood went cold. Since he can't hurt me directly, is he going to go after Marina? Oh gods, why did I dare to provoke him?!
"I haven't heard anything from her ever since my incarceration." Pierre replied. "After all, you don't even let me receive any letters."
Pierre lied- he did manage to receive a single letter from his wife while imprisoned. One afternoon at the White Bastion's courtyard, Pierre had been approached by a fully-armored Order Knight who introduced himself as a "family friend". The mysterious knight then gave Pierre a hidden note and told him to read it privately before destroying it. After returning to his cell, Pierre had unfolded the note to find a message that was short in length yet filled his entire body with renewed hope and vigor:
We have not forgotten you. Martin and I will put an end to this nightmare and reunite all of us. In the meantime, hold fast and stay safe. I love you.
Pierre was unsure how his wife and laidback brother-in-law were going to alleviate his present situation, but the fact that his family would not abandon him kept him going every day. And although he did burn the note like the mystery knight suggested, he had memorized its contents and would sometimes recite them to himself when he was alone.
Tyrax chucked at Pierre's response. "Hah, that is true, we have been keeping you in the dark. It wouldn't do you any good if you were distracted from your work after all." His smile widened. "But there is something you should be aware of- your wife has been sighted frequently leaving your shop and home, especially at night. And every time she does, she has been very thorough in making sure no one is following her. Hmm, a wife whose husband is locked behind bars, all alone and bored by herself…I'm sure you are not sharp enough to realize the implications."
Pierre shot to his feet, his face red with anger. "Marina would never cheat on me! Ever since Martin introduced us, we've stayed loyal and true to each other! Don't try to peddle these outrageous lies on me, Tyrax!"
But Tyrax's smile grew only wider. "On the contrary, Pierre, you should thank the heavens if it turns out your wife is merely cheating on you. True, it would be a great scandal that would ruin your good name forever, but at least adultery does not carry the penalty of execution. Treason, on the other hand…" Tyrax allowed that last thought to trail off.
Pierre was unsure of what to make of Tyrax's words. What the hell is he implying? Treason? Marina, just what exactly have you been up to?
The cell doors swung open again, and an Order officer stepped into the room before saluting Tyrax.
"Commander, one of the Committee prisoners has finally broken under interrogation." the officer reported. "In exchange for survival, he has confirmed the suspicions we've had towards that tavern in the East End."
Tyrax chuckled. "Excellent news. Go now and prepare a strike party, and I want some Heroes to come along as well. We cannot waste even a second of this grand opportunity!" His tone of voice sounded almost jubilant.
"Understood, sir." the officer replied before saluting again and walking back out the cell.
"Well, it appears that I must take my leave now. By this time tomorrow, Tyrene shall finally be pacified." Tyrax said to Pierre as he began walking out in the same direction. "Be sure not to let your hands grow idle, Pierre. You have a lot of work ahead of you."
As the cell door shut behind the departing commander, Pierre sat down next to his workbench, his fears and anxieties finally boiling to the surface now that he was finally alone. What made him most anxious, however, was what Tyrax was implying about his wife.
Marina would never cheat on me- it's unthinkable! But if Tyrax said that she might be involved in treasonous activity…My dear Marina, you've always been the stronger one between the two of us, always keeping the shop functioning and handling difficult customers while I was busy cutting gems in the back room and Martin was off flirting with the seamstress down the street. I knew that you'd never let me get incarcerated quietly- and I'm sure the soldier you decked in the face now knows that too. But please, stay safe. If anything were to happen to you…
Pierre stopped himself before he could make himself feel even more anxious. For the moment, there was nothing he could do to help or even contact Marina- all he could do was pray that she could navigate her way out of danger like she always did. So the Jewelsmith readjusted his spectacles and returned to cutting gemstones on his workbench. He did not want to miss Tyrax's quota again.
[]
Author's note: Kept you all waiting, huh? I apologize that it took me more than a month to get this chapter out, but I've had a very busy May. Unfortunately, June also looks like it's going to be a jam-packed month for me, but hopefully I can return to something approaching a consistent schedule by July.
FelgrandDragon- Thank you for the kind words. And I'm glad to hear that my depiction of Druella works for you- trying to flesh her out without deviating too far from her canon description was a major concern of mine, so it's good to hear that it has worked out so far.
Also, I guess this is as good a time as ever to mention that in this fic, it's been almost a millennium since Lilith became Mamono Lord. Yeah, crazy things happening after 1000 years is a bit of a tired trope, but it's such a nice and round number.
Next chapter: A tense reunion, and things get a little crazy.
