Chapter 93

Sep 05, 2023

“What? Pandora’s with that woman?”

Orka had already been shocked to find that his older cousin was missing from her room but learning that she was supposedly meeting alone with that specter-like woman left him wide-eyed and babbling.

He had initially gone looking for his cousin in order to discuss how they might draw the unknown woman out of the annex building. He was of the belief that as Pandora was the same sex she might be able to approach the other more easily. But his cousin had evidently already gotten a running start, which could only mean she had her own agenda.

This in turn piqued the White Demon Tamer’s curiosity further. He was certain there were bound to be some interesting developments due to his cousin’s side endeavor. Interesting to Orka at least, while likely troublesome to Pandora. He was fairly certain that whoever the woman in the annex was, she was the master of the poison butterflies. This was an observation he was equally certain his cousin had yet to make. Though that hardly surprised him. Despite the two of them being capable demon tamers, Pandora was undoubtedly far behind him both in experience and ability.

Judging by how taken she seemed to be with the Blue Heir, she must be off trying to remove what she perceives as a thorn in her side. He pondered what his cousin might be up to as he knew she wasn’t the type to waste time meeting a woman like that for some idle chit-chat. Thus, her motive had to mean trouble of some sort was in store. However, if the woman really was the master of the poison butterflies as he supposed, Pandora might actually be in danger.

He became even more worried as he recalled how the winged demons attacked the pack of xylotes he had been tracking. Based on that scene, it was clear that they weren’t just poison-bred but killer butterflies. His cousin was a woman who mainly dealt with mid-level demon monsters, so how she would fare against someone who could control such awesome creatures wasn’t something he wished to ponder. Of course, there was still the possibility that he was wrong about the woman being their master, but he didn’t feel it was a likely one.

All the same, this turn of events had provided him with the perfect excuse to go looking for the annex woman again. As Orka made his way to the garden where she and his cousin were supposedly meeting, he couldn’t help but laugh in wonder.

When he first heard that the Blue Heir had brought a woman into the Blue fortress, he had wondered what could have possibly gone through Cassis’ mind to risk so much. But even the White Demon Tamer could not deny that she was indeed a masterpiece. When he had first laid eyes on her, he truly believed her to be a new type of demon he had yet to come across during his countless expeditions.

Her beauty had quite literally surpassed even his seemingly endless stream of words. Then upon learning that she belonged to Cassis, he could not close his mouth from the shock. He was all the more taken aback to have witnessed the Blue Heir carry her off in his arms firsthand. In summation, it all led to the most obvious conclusion, which was that Cassis Pedelian—the most highly esteemed member of any clan—was smitten. Seriously?

Well, then again... I’d be lying if I said I struggled to see how that came to be.

Orka imagined such a woman could probably reduce a boulder into a puddle, so naturally, even the virtuous Blue Heir had become no greater than a mere man in her presence. He then began to smile as his thoughts drifted in a more lewd direction. The entire situation made Cassis seem almost human. Perhaps even approachable.

“Huh?” Although he was fairly far away, he suddenly sensed one of Pandora’s demon monsters.

That cousin of mine is such a brash woman. As much as she always went on about how reckless he was, she had evidently turned to this most extreme measure.

Beckoning one of her demons in broad daylight? Has she actually lost her mind? He could tell that she was suppressing the monster’s energy since even from afar he could sense it was quite subdued.

She probably summoned a durectus since its specialty is stealth. He was certain Pandora was just trying to scare the woman since he knew that his cousin was at least still not so far gone that she would actually attack a Pedelian’s guest. As most people could not even register the presence of demons, he figured his cousin was likely relying on her beast to go undetected.

“I doubt she can afford to pay the price if she is wrong about that though,” Orka muttered to himself as he considered that perhaps his cousin had spent so much time among demons that her judgment had been impaired.

It was precisely the reason he found it so important to interact with real people regularly. It was a level of discipline many lower-ranking demon tamers woefully lacked. The White Heir tsk-ed at the thought of his socially inept cousin. He was completely unaware that she had harbored the very same worries about him during the grand supper a few nights prior. Perhaps just as Sylvia had observed, they were indeed more alike than the two realized. Though it was a fact the two were likely to deny vehemently to the grave.

Whoosh.

Orka had reached the garden and could clearly feel the demon’s presence. He would have been able to get there faster had he used a demon for a ride, but he didn’t want to risk getting ousted from the Blue fortress by the Pedelians. Beyond the hedges, he could see Pandora and the mysterious woman. The Blue Heir had also appeared to reach the garden only moments before Orka himself.

Flutter.

Suddenly a whirlwind of crimson butterflies scattered forth like flower petals right before his eyes. The White Heir stood transfixed as if he had even forgotten how to breathe. It was the most beautiful scene he had ever witnessed. He expected it would be a miracle if he were ever lucky enough to behold such a thing again in his lifetime.

* * *

“Haa... What a waste of time.”

What Pandora detected in that cool voice was annoyance more than anything else. As Pandora continued to watch in stunned silence, she could hear Roxana seeming to whisper to herself.

“She actually threatened me with this demon that didn’t even qualify as a proper dessert for my butterflies?”

After having quickly gobbled up the large, black beast, the butterflies flew back toward Roxana. It had all played out in less than a minute, but the result was devastating. While staring at the creatures hovering menacingly behind the Agrece, Pandora only just managed to mumble, “P-Poison... butterflies.”

The moment her connection with the colossal demon had been severed, one of the blue gems on her bracelet shattered. Her dark eyes watched helplessly as the events unfolded. Standing amid her butterflies, Roxana seemed to be the queen of demons who was radiating her dangerous beauty for all to see.

How could I have considered her fragile? Pandora recanted her previous assumption before reasoning that since she had only summoned a low-grade demon, the loss wouldn’t be too great. Still, the shock and awe she had felt while watching the poison butterflies and their master was overwhelming.

All demon tamers spent their lives tracking exotic monsters, and poison butterflies ranked especially highly on the list of desired demons to raise. In fact, the only reason she had allowed Orka to borrow Turobe that day they infiltrated the Blue fortress was due to his mention of having spotted the creatures. So Pandora continued to gaze in utter silence at Roxana in awe more than in anger.

Meanwhile, Roxana found the entire ordeal to have been a total disappointment. After the blue-haired Fipellion had acted so boldly, she had expected a serious contender to appear, but the demon had been all show. It certainly hadn’t even been big enough to satisfy her ravenous monsters. She was, however, happy about one thing. Thanks to Cassis she seemed to have gained better control over her little beasts. Not a single one of her butterflies had dared to fly off on their own after feasting. Having also sent them to feed in the demon habitats had likely also helped.

“I’m sorry, but Cassis is already mine, and I have zero tolerance for anyone who would lust after one of my possessions.” As Roxana spoke she was all smiles, but her kind expression bore a sharpness akin to shattered glass. “So if you would, please forgo your preposterous ambition.”

Although she delivered her warning gently, it expressed all the danger of her conviction. As she finished speaking, the Agrece sensed the other sets of eyes watching her.

In the background stood Cassis, and further beyond him was Orka Fipellion. The White Demon Tamer was quivering as if he had just been electrocuted. He was glamorously festooned with all sorts of jewelry and trinkets, yet he was glowering at the red-eyed woman like a hungry animal.

The person foremost on her mind, however, wasn’t Orka. As soon as she noticed Cassis, she sent her butterflies away.

Shoot! Did he see everything? Just how long has he been standing there? She had no idea what he would scold her about first.