“Soaked through... Which bastard did this!”
Her moon-white hair clung wetly to her delicate face. Vieya frowned and consciously absorbed the rum that had soaked into her skin. The heavy alcohol broke down inside her body, dulling her overly active thoughts.
The bitter, choking taste of rum forced a couple of coughs from Vieya, her fair little face flushed red.
Suddenly, a faintly fragrant robe was draped over her shoulders. Startled, Vieya looked up at the purple-haired girl standing before her.
“You...”
Countless questions rose in Vieya’s chest, yet what reached her lips was only a single concern:
“...You are not hurt, are you?”
The purple-haired girl shook her head. Looking down at the white-haired loli gazing up at her, she sighed softly, her voice carrying an apologetic note:
“Sorry, Miss Vieya, once this is over you may need to co with us to the ‘Bronze Tree.’ But do not worry, it is only a formality, nothing serious.”
Bronze Tree?
Vieya’s heart gave a slight tremor. Those three words were all too familiar to her.
Bronze Tree—that was the Royal Capital’s other na for the Tribunal.
The Tribunal, ford by the Order, the convent, the Tower of Knowledge, and other elite human institutions, was a special body united by one purpose.
And that one purpose was, of course, to maintain the stability of human society.
To maintain stability, unstable elents had to be purged.
This was troubleso.
“It is fine, Hero.”
Vieya brushed her damp moon-white hair back behind her ear, appearing weak and fragile.
“If I must go, I will go. After all, I do not wish to see such things happen either. Who could have known—after my family declined, after I left the Royal Capital alone to live here—the very first person to treat kindly would turn out to harbor sinister intent!”
Her words tumbled out in confused rambling.
“Yes, sothing like this would be painful no matter who suffered it.” The purple-haired girl nodded deeply, convinced. She did not even notice how much trust she instinctively placed in this mysterious loli shrouded in mist.
It was like how a great bear in the forest, upon first seeing honey, could know with certainty it was food.
“Miss Vieya, how long has that cat-shaped monster been lurking near you? Did she ever do anything bad to you?” the purple-haired girl asked thoughtfully.
The city had been seething with hidden currents recently, and that high-ranked cat monster surely was not here for re amusent.
“For so ti. She appeared not long after I ca to this city.”
“As for doing anything bad?” Vieya paused. “What do you an?”
“Cough, nothing.”
The purple-haired girl coughed awkwardly, glanced around, and hurriedly switched topics:
“That monster was very dangerous. But when she saw our reinforcents arriving, she retreated decisively. Luckily she did not hurt you—only threw you... put you into a fernting wine barrel.”
“...” Vieya was speechless. What a clumsy way to change the subject. All these years and she still had not improved.
Though that dumb cat’s escape skills really had not worsened.
“Miss Vieya, were you kept captive by that monster the whole ti?” the purple-haired girl pressed with a new question.
“Probably? I fell asleep in between, so I know nothing.” Vieya answered slowly. She seed to have had a very long dream, and her mouth still tasted bitter and harsh... I truly cannot stomach these high-proof spirits.
Sweet and tart fruit wine suited her better—the only drawback being that it was too weak.
“I see.” The purple-haired girl sounded a little regretful. She pressed a round pendant into Vieya’s hand, then waved over two guards from the distance. In a tone like that of a seasoned adult, she ordered:
“You two, escort her back to No. 66, Nick Street. Ensure Miss Vieya’s safety.”
The two guards saluted in unison. “Yes!”
“Do you have urgent business?”
Vieya suddenly asked.
“Well, soone very important to might have appeared.” The purple-haired girl said, summoning her giant scythe once more from the Hero’s Seal in her palm. With a bright smile she added: “No matter the result, I must go see. Sorry, Miss Vieya, I cannot send you ho tonight.”
“It is all right. You have already helped a great deal.”
Vieya waved in the direction the purple-haired girl departed.
“And—I hope you find that person who is so important to you soon!”
She had only taken a few steps with the two guards when a sudden realization struck her.
Huh?!
Could it be that the one her little disciple is looking for... is ?
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