Sophia handed the paper and pen to Selim, then watched as Selim began sketching something on the paper.
Is she going to draw my portrait? She had little interest in so-called art, far preferring that others simply give her money, but since this was Selim’s territory and Selim was a noble it wouldn’t hurt to spend a little time indulging the other’s hobby.
Maybe it was because she was too exhausted today, but Sophia lay back in the chair and gradually closed her eyes. When she opened them again, moonlight had flooded the entire room.
Sophia yawned and said, “Are you still not finished?” Bathed in moonlight, the silver-haired girl flicked the drawing into the air.
As the sketches fluttered around, Sophia saw Selim rise to her feet, crimson lips softly murmuring something. “Rhine Snow Wolf.”
“The youngest Demon Hunter of the Hollow Moon class.”
“Chief Disciple of the Demon Hunter Hall.”
As a sketch of a fiery red-haired girl drifted in front of Sophia, she heard a whisper as if rising from the abyss.
“Miss Sophia, you wouldn’t want your previous life as a member of the Imperial Guard to be exposed, would you?” The room was filled only with the sound of fluttering paper. No, there was also Sophia’s steadily quickening heartbeat.
Gone was her earlier laziness. Staring into Selim’s eyes, which glowed like rubies, Sophia said, “Miss Selim, I don’t understand what you mean by ‘Imperial Guard.’ I’m just an ordinary Demon Hunter.”
“Haha, Miss Sophia, you know better than anyone what I mean.”
Selim showed her tiger teeth in a smile and said, “Over twenty years ago, the Lupine Heart Kingdom’s Super Soldier Program trained the Imperial Guard Squad to counter the threat from the Blood Lion Empire.”
“But now, the Lupine Heart Kingdom has long since become an Affiliated State of the Blood Lion Empire.”
“That doesn’t mean you no longer have value.”
“But why did the Imperial Guard turn on itself in a single night?”
“You, who possess a Second Life, aren’t you curious?” Even though she could sense that the other girl was nothing more than a powerless mortal, Sophia still felt an indescribable pressure.
Her hand instinctively tightened around the hilt of her Silver Sword. Imperial Guard. That word was once her nightmare.
She had prepared herself, knowing that one day in the future, she would have to face her past head-on. She would write her Revenge in blood. But definitely not today.
And the secret of her rebirth—this was something no one should ever know.
Having both secrets uttered at once by the silver-haired girl before her was completely outside Sophia’s expectations, but as an exceptional Demon Hunter, in the next instant, she forced her emotions under control and regained her composure.
What to do? Sophia was at a loss for a moment. Her drowsiness was completely gone. On the surface, she pretended nothing was wrong, but inside, her killing intent surged wildly.
Should I kill her? But that would mean bearing the crime of murdering a noble and still being hunted by the kingdom. If she was wanted, it would hardly be different from exposing her past as an Imperial Guard. Besides, taking action in this manor—she couldn’t guarantee she’d make it out alive. But sitting and waiting for death was not in Sophia’s nature.
Her curiosity about the truth and her own rationality drove her. In the next moment, a silver sword’s tip pressed against Selim’s throat.
“Tell me the truth about the Imperial Guard, or die.”
The sword against Selim’s neck gleamed bone-white under the moonlight, and Sophia’s chilling murderous intent locked on her.
Selim’s frail body began to turn pale even without feigning weakness, her breath coming almost to a halt. Is this the end? Of course not. How could she ever put herself in danger without a plan? This was her second gift.
Under the moonlight, she felt safe, she was not afraid that Sophia would truly kill her.
Noticing the growing savagery in Sophia’s gaze, Selim covered her face and coughed softly, then raised her neck for Sophia to see, whispering, “You want to kill me? So be it. Consider it my own foolishness.”
With Selim’s pale face, she seemed all the more pitiful.
If a third person were present and heard these words, they would surely think Sophia was threatening Selim. Looking at her willing posture, Sophia gradually withdrew her killing intent.
She was now completely confused about the situation.
Her fingertips slid from the sword’s hilt, and her tense shoulders relaxed slightly. Hoarsely, she asked, “What do you really want?”
“I don’t want anything.”
Selim shook her head gently, opened her eyes, and turned her wheelchair to face the moon. In the place where Sophia’s gaze couldn’t reach, a satisfied smile appeared on her face.
Selim knew she was already halfway to success.
“If I only wanted to report you, there’d be no need for me to take this risk now.”
“Think for yourself. Relying on you alone—can you even find out the truth, let alone have any chance at Revenge even if you do?”
“Maybe I can help you?” The room fell into a strange silence once again. After calming down, Sophia gradually began to see through certain things.
Clearly, the moment she saved Selim, it was no accident. Instead, it was a carefully staged encounter. She understood Selim’s intentions now.
The Marquess Selim before her not only wouldn’t report her, but also wanted to help her fulfill her long-held wish. Such a windfall, no matter how she looked at it, it seemed more like a deliciously poisoned apple.
Up to now, the other had behaved with courtesy, but Sophia knew clearly: with her secrets in Selim’s grasp, it was likely she would soon be asked for a price she could hardly accept. That made her all the more wary.
Staring at the girl in the wheelchair, Sophia asked, “Why?” She didn’t pursue the truth she’d been investigating all along.
You don’t accept a reward for nothing, and free things are always the most expensive.
She understood that well. It was less a negotiation and more like Selim unilaterally tormenting Sophia.
“That’s because…”
“Pure friendship.”
After a slight pause, Selim’s words were clearly audible in Sophia’s ears.
Silence again. Even if Sophia didn’t believe a word of it, she was smart enough to know what she ought to say at this moment.
“Miss Selim, what do you need me to do?” That’s right.
Under Selim’s relentless pressure, Sophia chose to yield. Even if Selim’s loyalty was likely a negative number right now.
But it didn’t matter. In the days to come, Selim had many ways to make Sophia Hoffk submit completely. To script for this girl a brand-new life, different from any game storyline? Selim’s lips curled slightly with delight.
She slowly wheeled herself to face Sophia and beckoned her closer. After a moment’s hesitation, Sophia stood before Selim.
Selim reached out her pale hands and tugged at Sophia’s sleeve, signaling her to lean down.
Then she pulled Sophia closer, until their eyes were mere inches apart and they could feel each other’s breath. Faced with the sudden intimacy, Sophia became flustered, turning her head awkwardly.
The next moment. Sophia felt a hand on her neck, gently pulling her down so that her ear was right next to Selim’s lips. The warmth of her breath made Sophia’s ear itch.
“I want you to be my sword, my eyes, my hands, the extension of my will.”
“Help me ambush and kill a group of villains on the road to Kaen Village.”
“They are with the Maple Leaf Caravan, transporting a box.”
“Secretly bring the item back.”
“Make sure there are no survivors, understand?”
“For the sake of our pure friendship.”
Feeling the other’s actions, Sophia’s heart fluttered with panic, but after hearing the request, she was instead completely relieved.
If all she was needed for was to kill, she was more than familiar with that role.
“All right, I will.”
She softly agreed, then tried to stand and leave this awkward scene. But she found her hand gently held by Selim’s cold, soft hands, even getting a slight squeeze. “Miss Sophia, why the hurry?”
“For the sake of our pure friendship, how could I let my friend go unprotected?” With that, Sophia saw Selim take out two exquisitely woven pouches from who-knows-where. One crimson, one azure.
Selim gently placed them in Sophia’s hands.
“The Crimson Pouch—open it before battle, it will help you defeat your enemies. The Azure Pouch open it only when you’re in desperate straits, and it may help you find a sliver of hope.”
“Whatever you do, don’t open them early, or the magic will lose its effect.”
“Oh, and take this House Badge. With it, you can come and go freely here.”
She had no idea what Selim was planning, but there was no reason to refuse the gifts now. Sophia accepted the two pouches and the House Badge.
“Go. I await your good news.” With a feeling she couldn’t quite name, Sophia fled the room, nearly bolting as she opened the door.
She had barely gone a few steps when she ran into Eric the butler, who was carrying a bag of coins.
Eric’s face was no longer as friendly as before. In a slightly disdainful tone, he said, “Demon Hunter, since you failed to protect the family’s property, according to the rules we must deduct—” Having experienced too many instances of her reward being docked, Sophia should have felt nothing by now.
But having just been manipulated by Selim with the bait of a reward, Sophia was left with a simmering anger. For once, she decided to stand up for herself and refused the so-called payment.
She brushed past Eric. One step, two steps, three. Suddenly, she turned back and snatched the coin pouch from Eric’s hand.
No need to punish herself for someone else’s mistake. Hearing the coins clink together, Sophia’s mood improved a little.
Watching all of this unfold from afar, Selim chuckled softly. Seeing her plan executed perfectly, she wished she could pop open a bottle of champagne to celebrate—if only her current body could tolerate alcohol.
This operation was a triple win for her. First, she removed some of her fiancé’s power while averting a crisis on her own territory.
Second, she could acquire materials for constructing Soul-Based Supernatural Power.
Third, by giving Sophia the pouches, she planted a seed of awe in her heart.
The seed was sown—now she could hardly wait to see it grow.