Chapter 40: The Calm Before the Storm
I defeated Iris, leaving the crowd in awe. Now my position as Iris' suitor is secure. When I entered the hallway, I met Beatrix.
"Fascinating fight. Your name is Claude Normann, right? I look forward to tomorrow's match." She said in a soft voice.
"Likewise, Lady Beatrix."
"Can I ask you a question?"
"You can ask anything."
She lowered her hood and exposed her beautiful face. "Have you met an elven girl who looks like me?"
I was absolutely stunned. Not by her beauty but her resemblance to No. 001.
"A-Ahh… I don't think I have." I lied through my teeth.
"Really?"
"Really."
"You're not lying?"
"Indeed, I'm not."
"I see. I was looking for my niece. Since many people came here for the Bushin Festival, I thought she might be here. I also participated in the Bushin Festival because I was looking forward to clashing blades with strong people like Shadow and Necromancer who I heard was in this kingdom but sadly they didn't participate in this tournament."
"W-Well… they are criminals so I don't think they'll be allowed to participate." One of them is here though, right in front of you. Still, she's an airhead isn't she?
"I see… Your swordsmanship. Where did you learn it?"
"It was self taught."
"Is it? It's almost unbelievable that such a style is self taught. Then again, I've never seen someone wield sword like that."
"Thank you very much. Maybe tomorrow you should ask around to see if anyone has seen your niece."
"I asked Princess Iris and she didn't know. I also asked Cid the other day. He also didn't know."
"Is that so?" Oh? So she met Cid too?
"But I can sense that Cid has a potential to be strong." Cid? Strong? Pffft.
"Really? You think so?"
"Yes. I think so."
"Very well. I'll trust your judgment, Lady Beatrix. Now if you'll excuse me, I must depart." I bowed.
"See you tomorrow." She bowed back and we parted ways.
The match of the day is over and I went home with my sister. She's strangely quiet today. I wonder what happened.
"Is something on your mind, Charl?" I asked while we walked the streets to our apartment.
"I… met with the king today… And he…"
"Ah. My planned engagement with Iris, isn't it? I've heard of it."
"But… Don't you love Sherry…?" I stopped walking. Sherry huh…?
"You said you would take responsibility of her."
"I did. But we haven't done the deed, in case you're wondering."
"Ehhhh!? Then why did you say you will take responsibility!?"
"Hee hee hee." I covered my mouth with one hand while chuckling.
"You're a meanie, brother! I was worried about your feelings!" She shouted as she hit my back lightly multiple times. Eventually she stops.
"Haaahh… So, do you like Sherry?" She asked after a sigh.
"… Yes. As a friend." I answered... lying but not really lying… it's complicated.
"Do you like Iris?" She asked again.
"Well, she's not as bad as you think. She's mature but surprisingly girly and…"
"Do you like her or not!?" She asked yet again.
"That comes with time, Charl."
"Well, make up your mind before you regret it!" She said with a pout before walking away.
"Yes, yes! I know!" I said as I chased after her. Haahhh. What a troublesome sister I have. Always meddling in my love life.
It was already night and yet I couldn't stop training, despite my wounds. The knights, the servants and even Alexia tried to make me stop but… It's not enough. Not enough at all. I'm too weak. My defeat at Claude's hands revealed just how weak I am. I must push on! I must!
"Aghhh…." I finally succumbed to my fatigue and fell to my knees. Pieces of wood and stones surrounds me, having fallen victim to my rage and frustration.
"Dammit! Not yet!" I shouted as I tried to stand back up.
"It's not good to push your body too hard without giving it rest. You'll just harm your body even further." A soft female voice said behind me.
"Lady… Beatrix…" I muttered between heavy breaths as I looked at her direction.
"But I…"
"Give your body some rest. You won't get stronger without it. Trust me."
"Ughh… I… Okay… Thank you…" I said as I collapsed on the ground, nearly losing consciousness.
She picked me up in a princess carry.
"Lady… Beatrix… How do I… get strong…?" I asked.
"You are strong." She answered.
"But not enough… not nearly…." I gritted my teeth in frustration.
"Everyone has their own ways to become strong." She answered.
"Will you… help… me… teach me your… ways?" I pleaded weakly while out of breath. She couldn't answer. Then I remembered the reason she's even here.
"….Ah. Forgive me. You have your own… duties to fulfill… I can't…"
"It's okay. I'll teach you what I can during my stay in Midgar." She answered.
"T-Thank… you…" I said as I allow my consciousness to slip away.
In the night I sneaked out of the room after putting my sister (who once again insisted on us sleeping in the same room but different beds) to sleep with hypnosis. She is less cautious now and thus it is finally possible to put her to sleep. I teleported to my base in Everick to train Sherry in the magic arts.
She has grown exponentially stronger since we began our lesson. She no longer has nightmares about people she killed and can now kill people without hesitation. She still takes no pleasure in killing, although… so do I.
She also absorbed my lessons about magic like a sponge, now capable of casting spells and enchanting items. I never shared my spellcasting knowledge to anyone but I did taught some other people about enchanting so I won't be the only one working Pseudo-Artifact production but she has surpassed them all in such a short time.
Her talent is astonishing but as a beginner she's still heavily reliant on Artifacts to strengthen herself though. Without equipping Artifacts, she would be weaker than the even zombie Mundane Mann, the weakest of my Seven Wraiths, who I need to replace soon.
I manipulated her into becoming crueller and more obedient towards me with a carrot and stick approach. I would wear the Necromancer's mask and behave coldly while giving her a task and then reward her by taking off my mask and give her praises, hugs and headpats as Claude when she managed to finish the task.
She also took my research into hypnosis and starts exploring brain altering magics with unhealthy obsession that scares even me. It seems like she has chosen her ultimate weapon. But since this research will take time, I told her to focus on destruction magic in order to increase her battle potential.
She is slowly becoming the perfect pawn… the perfect villainess I wanted her to be.
"Lord Necromancer! Look! I managed to cast Chain Lightning!" She said with a happy face.
"Good work, apprentice." I said as I took off my mask and gave her a headpat, which earned her a smile.
"Now listen, Sherry. Tomorrow I will take you to the field. We're going to Midgar Royal Capital."
"To Midgar?"
"Yes. Our objective is to serve as a distraction as Perv Asshat assassinates King Midgar."
"I see. I shall prepare myself then." She replied callously, not caring about the plan to kill a monarch.
"Good. Some of the other Seven Wraiths members will assist you. One of them would like to clash with Beatrix after all. And you'll need this." I said as I gave her a black robe and a white mask.
"Very well. Thank you Claude."
You shouldn't thank me, my sweet Sherry. You really shouldn't.
*Knock knock knock* A knock on the door.
"Enter, Gilfried." The door opens, revealing the figure of the middle aged man who is currently a member of my Seven Wraiths due to his loyalty, reliability and because he is one of my first minions. He is also among the few who knew who I really am.
"My lord. Your agents in the Lawless City received message from Yukime reporting about suspicious activities in the Crimson Tower. They fear that the vampires have turned against you." Gilfried said.
"Hmph. I knew they would do that. They are preparing for the Red Moon."
"What!? Then we should-" Gilfried exclaimed before I cut him off.
"We should let them do as they pleased. I wanted a sample of the Blood Queen myself."
"I see. As expected of you, my lord! To think you didn't fear the legendary Red Moon!" Gilfried said with a crazed expression.
"Indeed. Ignore the vampires for now. We must prepare for the event tomorrow."
In a luxurious living room inside the Villa rented by Oriana diplomats, two male figures sat on chairs facing each other.
The first figure is Perv Asshat, Mordred's most prominent pawn in Oriana. The second figure is King Raphael Oriana himself. King Raphael now looked healthier after resting and getting drugs out of his system, drugs that are no longer necessary to control him as the Necromancer has casted his hypnosis upon the king, making him a perfect pawn for tomorrow's stage.
"How are you feeling, your majesty?" Asked Perv Asshat.
"I'm feeling better now. Tomorrow I am ready to do my part." King Raphael replied with a sadistic smile.
"Is that so? That's reassuring. What a terrifying ability Lord Necromancer has. I was scolded by Lord Mordred for asking for his assistance because it made me indebted to him but I believe this was worth it. Soon war will break out and you will be its catalyst. You are ready for it, don't you?"
"Do not worry, Lord Perv. I shall play the role of a mad king well."
"Really? Do you feel no shame or remorse for what you're about to do? To plunge your kingdom into war and chaos? And to doom your daughter into a fate worse than death?"
"Absolutely not. In fact I would do it with great pleasure." The king grins.
"Ha ha ha! To think that yesterday you were just a hollow shell but now you talk as if you're one of us already!" Perv said while grinning alongside the king.
"It is all thanks to Lord Perv and Lord Necromancer for showing me the correct path."
"Good. Very good." Replied Perv Asshat with a satisfied grin as one of his agents entered the room after knocking.
"Excuse me, Lord Perv. We have received reports from our agents about the identity of Mundane Mann."
"Let me guess. They didn't find anything?"
"Y-Yes. Unfortunately."
"Hmph. No matter. Lord Necromancer has already informed me of Mundane Mann's identity."
"Wh-What!?" The agent exclaimed in bewilderment.
"Mundane Mann is a former aristocrat from Altena Empire who was disowned by his own family and was killed years ago by Shadow Garden when he worked for the Cult as a mercenary. The Mundane Mann that was killed today was the real one that was revived by Lord Necromancer's magic."
"B-But there is another-"
"Lord Necromancer said he will take care of him so we don't have to worry about a thing. Just focus our agents for tomorrow."
"What about Iris Midgar and Claude Normann, Lord Perv?"
"He will also take care of them. With his power on our side, there is no chance of failure."
Author's Note:
Info dump chapter before the next chapter which will have action scenes. Also, progress could be slower or even halted for the next week (2nd December 2023 at the time of this writing) because I have some irl stuff to do so I'll publish all finished drafts before then. Also, I can't believe it's been a month since I started writing this fic. Time passes so fast.
TheVirtualPug: I wonder how the whole brother thing would work out once it's revealed that MM is Shadow.
Answer: Only Annerose assumes that, which fits her character.
primenidus: Brutal
Answer: You referring to her stomach or her emotional damage?
Wholesome07: Now, what will Mundane Mann will do with his battle against Claire?
Answer: You will see in the next chapter. I have a plan.
You're That Ninja: Rip mundane man v2, you won't be missed.
Answer: Press F to dump him in the river.