Chapter 89 - Soul Orchid Uproar
"Phew... this should do it nicely."
The subordinate sighed, wiping sweat from his forehead.
He had perfectly repaired the window that Lady Serena had shattered flying through it.
Using magic, he'd restored it without leaving a single shard of glass behind.
The number one survival rule he'd learned working in this castle: never touch Lady Serena's temper.
The problem was that her "temper" was utterly unpredictable.
She might feel bad on a nice day, or get angry if a servant breathed too loudly.
So he couldn't let his guard down for even a moment.
"Now I can finally get some rest..."
As he let out a sigh of relief and turned to leave—
Crack—! Boom!
The moment he heard that sound, the subordinate's heart seemed to stop.
'No... please... not again...'
His body froze like stone.
With a trembling throat, he slowly turned his head, creaking like a rusty gear.
And there she was.
"Haa... haa..."
Lady Serena, who had just returned by smashing through the window he'd repaired with blood and sweat, shattering it to pieces once more.
Her face flushed red, breaths coming in harsh gasps, disheveled black hair.
But what terrified him most were those black eyes.
They held a mad glint, different from her usual cold killing intent.
"You."
At that single word, his knees buckled involuntarily.
"Why are you here? In a room with no master?"
Her voice dropped low.
"Th-that... I was just fixing the broken window and heading back."
"That one?"
Looking where Serena pointed, he saw the window even more wrecked than before, the surrounding wall collapsed in ruins.
"...Yes."
'Ha, might as well just die...'
"But why does it break so easily? Didn't you fix it right?"
"...Pardon?"
The subordinate doubted his ears.
A wall made of black ironstone infused with dark magic power. Obsidian glass windows crafted by Darkteria's finest artisans.
But even that couldn't hope to stop the strongest of the Seven Deadly Sins—Wrath.
"H-how could we stop Lady Serena! No wall in this world, no barrier, can block your great path!"
It was flattery staked on his life.
"Hmph, of course."
Serena nodded arrogantly.
"Got it. Now get lost."
"Yes! Thank you!"
The subordinate bolted at the speed of his life.
'I'm alive! Alive!'
That was when it happened.
Thud—! Crunch—! Crack—!
"Aaaagh! What was I thinking saying that...!"
The castle shook with Lady Serena's scream.
Walls crumbled, doors shattered, marble pillars uprooted in a chain of destruction.
'She's lost it completely...'
The subordinate knew instinctively.
This was a time to run.
"Run if you want to live!"
Survival rule number two flashed in his mind.
'When Lady Serena is already angry, escape the area as fast as possible.'
Rumble—!
The ceiling collapsed.
Dust and massive boulders rained down.
"Gasp!"
He barely leaped aside, dodging the debris.
His clothes tore on sharp fragments.
'Why is she so intense today of all days?!'
Usually, she'd destroy a wall or two, maybe a hallway at worst. Today, it felt like she wanted to flip the entire castle.
"I want to live!"
Screaming near-fatally, he leaped down stairs four at a time.
Crunch—! Snap—!
"Argh! Lady Serena is furious!"
"Run! Everyone evacuate!"
In an instant, the castle became a hellscape.
* * *
In the office Serena had flown out of, only Seraphim's laughter echoed.
"Puhahaha! Sis... Sis said that! I've never seen her like this!"
'What the hell are you talking about...'
I stood there blankly.
I couldn't tell if what just happened was real or a hallucination.
Serena's final words replayed endlessly in my head, deepening the confusion.
'Take responsibility! You took my... my first!'
What 'first' did I take?!
Let me sort this out.
She got mad, asking why I touched her body that no one had touched in 100 years.
And since it was her first time, I had to take responsibility...
I rubbed my throbbing forehead.
"I have no idea what's going on."
A sigh escaped me naturally.
"Kekeke, my sister might seem so strong, but she's surprisingly clumsy."
Seraphim clutched her stomach laughing.
Tears welled in her eyes as she gasped for breath.
"She really kept no man close for 100 years. Wouldn't even tolerate a fingertip brush. That's why we're not close. I like men, but Sis lived like the word 'man' didn't exist. Total iron wall to guys."
Seraphim barely held back her laughter to continue.
"But Captain broke that wall in one go... Puhaha! Grabbing her shoulder once and she calls it taking her first—take responsibility!"
"...Is that really that funny?"
Fatigue weighed heavy in my voice.
Being around Seraphim already drained me; now Serena too... my mental limits were approaching.
Why are these sisters such polar opposites?
"Of course! You don't know how innocent Sis is. She's probably burying her face in a pillow and thrashing around in her room right now?"
I let out a deep sigh, looking at Seraphim.
"But is there a reason Duchess Serena hates men so much?"
The game had no such info, so I was curious—but more importantly, gathering intel for future handling.
"Hmm... who knows?"
Seraphim tapped her finger to her lips, lost in thought.
"Sis wasn't like that at first... I don't really know either?"
Fine, who cares about the reason. I'll get the Soul Orchid and never come back here.
Darkteria's demons rarely ventured out.
Meaning once I left, I'd never see them again.
"Enough. Lead me to the Soul Orchid."
I returned to business with a cold voice.
"Yep! Finish that essence from before and I'll take you~"
Her pink eyes slowly shifted to heart shapes.
A seductive smile spread across her lips.
"Then, bon appétit?"
Seraphim placed her hand on my chest.
Instantly, I felt energy draining from my body.
Like an invisible hand squeezing my life force—a bizarre sensation overtaking me.
"Hahaang~ So delicious..."
A deep blush spread over Seraphim's face as she wore an ecstatic expression.
Moments later, she slowly withdrew her hand.
I steadied myself against slight dizziness.
"If anything bad happens to me because of this..."
Cold killing intent flashed in my eyes.
"It's war."
"Hehe, no worries~"
Seraphim waved with a satisfied smile.
"Draining vital essence like blood occasionally and letting it refill is good for health. Especially for a captain like you..."
She suddenly leaned in, whispering right in my ear.
A sweet scent brushed my nose.
"...who's still a virgin."
* * *
"Here it is. Where the Soul Orchid grows, and Darkteria's most beautiful waterfall... Black Rock Canyon."
As Seraphim finished speaking, I lost my words.
Like ancient giants had cleaved the earth, two massive black cliffs soared toward the sky.
Deeper than pitch black, the rock walls devoured all light, as if sucking in the world's darkness.
And between them...
Roooar—!
A colossal black waterfall poured down with a heaven-shaking roar.
The black water streams glowed with eerie purple and indigo as they fell, misting out to bathe the entire canyon in mystical hues.
As expected, no game can capture this.
I always felt it, but things rendered as mere settings and graphics in the game exuded overwhelming presence in reality.
"Beautiful, right? No one comes for the Soul Orchid, but that's why Black Rock Canyon is popular among demons."
The usual flippancy was gone from Seraphim's voice.
Turning, her face was flushed—not with lust, but pure awe, for the first time.
"What do you think?"
Her gaze shifted from the waterfall to me.
Bathed in purple light, her face looked strangely beautiful, and for some reason, I averted my eyes.
"...Pretty."
Seraphim giggled at my curt words.
"Hehe, right? Pride of our territory."
She stepped back, waving.
"Well, bye then~ If you find the Soul Orchid, come tell me. I like you, Captain."
"Do as you please."
Seraphim spread her wings and soared into the sky.
I watched the canyon until her figure shrank to nothing.
Now, time to head down...
Peering over the cliff, the dizzying height made my head spin.
The black waterfall's base was shrouded in mist; I couldn't even see the bottom.
Too risky alone. Time to borrow Fenrir after so long.
Honestly, there'd been few chances for a mid-grade spirit beast to shine so far.
No real fights. Even if there were, foes usually backed off before drawing steel, cowed by my status and presence.
"Fenrir."
A short call, and the marking on my hand glowed silver.
Air swirled as a massive form materialized.
Awoooo~
A low, resonant howl echoed through the canyon.
The enormous silver wolf fully emerged.
Its moonlit fur gleamed with mystical sheen still.
"Sorry I haven't called you much."
Fenrir wagged its huge tail, rubbing its head against me at my apology.
Awooo~
A mix of reproach and joy in the howl.
"Need to go down that canyon. Please."
Fenrir immediately lowered its front legs.
A clear signal to mount.
As I climbed on, Fenrir charged to the cliff edge without hesitation and leaped into the air.
Whoooosh—!
Weightlessness hit. The bizarre sensation of falling alongside the black waterfall swept over me.