The Guard Captain’s expression instantly tightened, as if someone had committed a heinous crime in this small kingdom.
“Please wait a moment. I’ll send someone to inquire right away.”
“Quick,”
Count of Herli stomped on the floor anxiously,
“It has to be quick!”
During these few minutes of waiting, he couldn’t even focus on official matters and just sat there, waiting in silence.
The heavy atmosphere filled the entire room.
Vina turned her small face away, showing a “couldn’t be bothered” expression.
Ella didn’t understand what was going on and stayed silent as well.
Finally, the Guard Captain returned.
“Count, that person is responsible for cleaning Street No.3. He said he already swept one side earlier. The street was still clean, so he decided to rest for a bit.”
Hearing this, Count of Herli flew into a rage.
“Finished cleaning, and then he has nothing to do? Can’t he find something else on his own? There’s so much work on the main street, not an ounce of initiative, lazy and useless!”
“His food ration is halved today! Do you know it’s people like this who delay things, causing me to postpone matters of life and death for our town?!”
He sounded genuinely furious.
His voice was so loud that even people outside the room could hear.
A maid cleaning in the corridor froze for a moment, then continued her work.
“I truly can’t stand these freeloaders. Enough about them. Miss Vina, what you need is surveillance of passersby, right? That’s easy to arrange. I’ll have people set it up right away. In Herli Town, we might lack other things, but there are plenty of people willing to work!”
“As long as you understand.”
Vina didn’t want to say anything more to him.
She left those words behind, grabbed Ella, and walked away.
“You saw it now, didn’t you? That attitude of his.”
Back in last night’s abandoned house, Vina took out some food ration from her suitcase, preparing lunch, and casually commented.
Ella nodded with lingering fear.
No matter if the work was done or not, people had to keep working endlessly, unable to bear seeing anyone rest.
What a petty way to think.
He didn’t directly take lives, nor did he use corporal punishment or whipping, just reduced the other’s food ration.
But this method, which seemed non-lethal but was actually a top-level torment, was so bad even Lala, a Demonkin, couldn’t bear to watch.
No wonder the Little Witch described it as “Eternal Silence of Torment.”
“Wouldn’t someone explode from this treatment?”
Ella asked.
“Mm-hmm, of course.”
Vina stomped on the blanket underfoot.
“Otherwise, how do you think we got this house?”
Don’t ask how an abandoned house gets abandoned.
Ella was speechless.
***
Elsewhere, Celes rode a Dragon Hawk back to the Royal City, only to find the camp deserted and no one in the Sanctuary Hall.
“Ella and Vina are still handling Magic Court business. A lot has happened these past few days,” Rolls told her. “As for the other two, you should be able to find them at the Cathedral of Light.”
“All right. Thank you, Teacher Rolls.”
Actually, Celes wanted to find the first two people more, but hearing they were away on official business, she had no choice but to head to the cathedral to look for the other two companions.
The sudden return of the Sword Saint Maiden surprised both the Saintess and the Assassin Girl.
“Celes, you’re back! That’s great.”
Leah immediately started complaining.
“Let me tell you, Vina is too arrogant! She actually brought Ella home to spend the night without telling anyone!”
What?
That actually happened?
Celes instinctively thought this at first, then on second thought, wondered, “Was anyone supposed to be notified?”
She also found Leah’s reaction a bit odd.
“I-I mean, since we’re all companions, we should at least tell each other.”
Leah hurriedly changed the subject.
“Zero, since everyone’s here, should we help Ella and Vina?”
“No need. We’re not professionals.”
Zero replied indifferently.
“They went to capture someone. Once they succeed, they’ll come back. It shouldn’t take long.”
Indeed, it didn’t take long.
After Count of Herli’s “mobilization,” many people in the town were immediately assigned to patrol and surveillance duties.
By nightfall, people arrived.
In the darkness, the scattered firelight of the Fire Element glowed like stars fallen to the ground.
Since the rogue Magicians didn’t bother to conceal themselves, even the regular patrolling guards—not just those on surveillance of passersby—spotted the situation.
“The targets have appeared, Miss!”
Upon hearing the news, Vina shot to her feet and dashed out, with Ella close behind.
After several days, the missing High Magicians from the Royal City Magic Court reappeared.
Their steps were unsteady, and they walked forward with difficulty, looking exhausted and starving.
Given their travel path and the current weather, they were likely in a state of hunger and cold.
“Do not approach them.”
The guard gave the order.
“Maintain distance!”
They understood well the power of High Magicians, and these people were radiating heat, their eyes glowing red. By any measure, they looked dangerous.
Vina stepped forward, waving her magic wand to cast a light, illuminating the group’s faces.
“What happened to you?”
No answer.
Ella leaned closer and whispered,
“Anyone you recognize?”
“Some faces are familiar, of course—they’re High Magicians, after all—but not exactly close.”
Vina replied quietly.
“Their condition is strange.”
Their bodies were stiff, eyes vacant, like they’d lost their souls.
Vina’s mission was to investigate, not to eliminate, so she didn’t plan to kill—just to capture and bring them back.
She first tried to suppress the Fire Element in the area, aiming to disrupt the unknown magic on these people.
However—
“Unable to connect?”
The Little Witch was shocked.
“I can’t interact with the Fire Element surrounding their bodies.”
She was certain her magic skills surpassed these individuals, so this shouldn’t be possible in theory.
Ella tried as well. Though the Demon Lord specialized in Necromancy, she was also skilled in Elemental Magic. The result was the same as Vina’s.
“Yes, it’s really strange.”
Their two attempts disturbed the odd High Magicians, who all turned their glowing red eyes at them and roared:
“Roarrr!”
It sounded remarkably like a gas stove igniting in a previous life.
The next moment, a wave of flame burst from their midst, a scorching heat rushing toward the surrounding houses.
Vina swiftly erected an Ice Shield, blocking the surging fire, but the nearby buildings weren’t as fortunate.
The eaves caught flame, becoming torches in the night.
The guards hadn’t anticipated such a wide range.
Unable to dodge in time, several were engulfed in fire, their screams echoing.
“I’ve changed my mind.”
Vina tapped her magic wand against the Ice Shield, reinforcing it with several more layers.
“Abandon the plan to capture them all. Just bringing back one or two should suffice.”
As for the rest, deal with them on the spot!