Loki waited for a moment before Christine finally replied.
“I can’t do anything to her.”
“Can’t? Why…?”
“Literally. According to the law, Imperial Knights must exercise the utmost restraint. Violence against ordinary citizens or groups can only be used after they show clear intent to attack.”
Christine said this in a very straightforward manner.
She wasn’t inflexible just for the sake of it; she was merely stubborn in certain matters—unless there was a special reason.
In fact, from Christine’s somewhat helpless tone, Loki already understood one thing.
That woman named Elcardo was more than just a mere mercenary.
“I originally wanted to just cut her down and be done with it, but she recited that exact speech I just said right in front of me, and she had no intention of attacking me. So, I was stuck staring each other down.”
Hah…
It was easy to imagine Christine already having drawn her sword, only to be silenced by a barrage of words until she could only glare angrily and grudgingly sheathe it.
Unfortunately, the female knight would never show a pitiful, cute expression.
“I have to warn you first, Loki. For your own safety, if you ever run into that woman again, you’d better keep your distance… or bring along the two girls you know. In any case, don’t go alone.”
…Two girls?
Had he mentioned Ena to her?
Ah well, it didn’t matter.
“You know her?”
“We worked together before. That woman is a pure mercenary, very capable, which is why she’s often hired by imperial nobles to solve their problems… More importantly, she’s a Blood Demon.”
Blood Demon?
Loki’s heart skipped a beat when he heard those words.
No surprise—this was one of the demi-human races he had left traces with before… of course, in the bad sense.
It was said that the ancestors of the Blood Demons were humans corrupted by the Lord of Bloodshed and mutated, but then successfully purified.
Bearing the title of “Blood Demon,” which sounded ominous by itself, they were naturally subject to discrimination and persecution… Even now, fully integrated as an indispensable part of the Empire, many still feared the legends surrounding them.
Though Loki wasn’t one of them…
Elcardo might be an exception.
Just thinking of the things she said back then made Loki a little uneasy.
He had heard Blood Demons often had some mental issues; it was probably the same with Elcardo.
“Sounds like you have quite the problem with her.”
“Because that woman talks too much. If I had the chance, I’d definitely throw her in prison for decades.”
It seemed there was indeed some personal grudge involved.
However…
“You actually have a reason to take action against her, Christine.”
“What do you mean?”
Loki reported today’s itinerary to Christine.
The female knight sighed deeply.
“I see. You should tell Rosern about this first; that witch Reich’s empire side will find a way to handle it. Kaisania really stirred up a big mess this time.”
“And right under our noses.”
“Not exactly. After all, we don’t stay in Kaisania permanently. You have to understand the corruption in the Sea of Souls is everywhere. Only someone like you can avoid being affected.”
Christine added half-jokingly.
“Like a stinky stone in a cesspit.”
“You probably won’t find a second person who would take that as a compliment.”
Loki couldn’t help but smile.
Talking with Christine was always so stress-free.
“When will your work be done?”
“Soon. That bunch of rabble can’t last long. Without anyone dragging their feet, efficiency has improved a lot.”
“Don’t tell me the person dragging their feet is me?”
“Heh, no way. You… well, let’s leave it at that for now. It’s a bit late, and we have to get up early tomorrow. Good night.”
“Good night.”
Loki slipped another gold pound into the raven’s beak, and it spread its wings, disappearing into the night sky.
Turning back, he saw the two girls had already quieted down.
Loki certainly didn’t want them to really start fighting; otherwise, this ancient castle wouldn’t be far from becoming a true relic of history.
Hmm… If Ena lived here too, though it might feel a little strange, it should be able to keep Celulu’s more excessive behaviors in check.
“You seemed to have a great chat with your old flame, Loki.”
Celulu lazily leaned back in her chair, like a puddle of melting slime.
She held a hard, small stick of bread, gently tapping it against her palm.
The girl wasn’t blind; she naturally noticed the two very different expressions Loki wore when talking with Christine versus talking to her.
The former was like lovers in a passionate romance, the latter like a father dealing with a clingy daughter.
Hmph.
Just wait.
“The witch Reich, the red-haired woman, the mysterious employer, the rotten root in Kaisania city… how come our invincible champion knight lady is still out wandering? The house is so busy it’s about to bubble over.”
“The champion knight is still only human after all; invincible she’s far from.”
“Exactly, exactly.”
Ena chimed in supportively.
No matter who it was, Christine or Selene, as long as she could ruin Celulu’s mood, Ena would find an ally.
The girl puffed out her sharply carved chest with great momentum; it was hard to imagine she’d been sulking just half a minute ago.
Since the two had met, the witch had never won verbally, which gave Loki reason to suspect that the educational environment provided by the Holy Church was probably worse than the Prison of the Hand of Truth—at least when Loki was occasionally inspired, he would read fairy tales to lull Celulu to sleep.
“They’re not old flames at all, that’s what I’ve personally…”
Before Ena could finish “personally witnessed,” her tongue got caught.
“Personally what?”
Celulu narrowed her eyes.
“…Personally asked Selene. After all, she has a pretty good relationship with ‘Black Sword.’”
Ena hastily corrected herself.
That witch definitely had some unspeakable secrets… Looks like they’d have to find a way to peel a layer off her in front of Loki; her arrogant and cool attitude was seriously annoying.
Making a mental note of this, Celulu looked at Loki and knocked on the table hard with her breadstick, producing a loud “bang.”
Both remained unharmed.
“By the way, Loki, everything Christine said earlier was true, right?”
“True what?”
“You vent your desires using your hands—”
Loki’s hand trembled slightly.
If there had been tea in his mouth, he would probably have sprayed the girl so thoroughly that her clothes would have been soaked enough to see the skin color through them.
This guy was really infuriating… Although he knew Christine was bound to get teased after saying that, saying it in front of Ena was a bit too disrespectful.
“I call it keeping myself clean. Also, don’t bring this up again. No matter how good-tempered or tolerant I am, I will lose my temper.”
“Is it because it concerns your so-called male dignity?”
Celulu winked at Loki, softly squeezing the long breadstick in a gesture that was very easy to misinterpret.