《Blood Princess, Kill them All》 CH 1 001 Something precious, spilled from my hands Mary Pulcherrima was a hopeless, forgotten princess. She was the second daughter of the Pulcherrima family, who ruled over the Orvis Kingdom, and were known for producing many excellent magicians. A magician being a person who uses ¡®mana¡¯ the energy that dwells in the human body to manipulate fire, water, wind, earth, and other elements. Mary¡¯s parents, older brother, and older sister were all first-class magicians. Only poor Mary had no talent for magic. (I¡¯m empty. I¡¯m a worthless, magicless bastard of a royal daughter.) Her parents were superficially fond of Mary, but in recent years had become completely estranged from her. Mary¡¯s brother didn¡¯t like her either. Only Frances, her older sister, was always on Mary¡¯s side. Those around the younger princess coldly looked down on her and rumors circulated that she bore no royal blood whatsoever, she lived with the stares and whispers her entire sixteen years. Even her sister¡¯s affection wasn¡¯t enough to cheer her up. That¡¯s why, when the Duchy of Slavar proposed a marriage between her and Romeo Slavar, she accepted without hesitation. (The duke¡¯s reputation in the kingdom is only growing, and there are rumors he may push for independence. If I behave well in this marriage, I will be recognized by my father and no longer be useless. For that reason, today¡¯s engagement ball must succeed.) For royalty, it doesn¡¯t matter what your feelings were. Mary never had a partner in mind in the first place, and Romeo seemed to be a kind enough person. However, the relationship between the Pulcherrimas and the Slavars was poor to say the least. Marriage despite the tension ¨C Mary didn¡¯t know what deal was struck behind closed doors, but the respective parents must have had some shared interests. The marriage talks proceeded at a rapid pace, like beats on a tonton. And today was the day of the party to introduce ¡®Fiancee Mary¡¯. It was held in the Duchy of Slavar, at a manor inside Captis, the central city in the territory. Mary danced with Romeo underneath a large chandelier, her colorful dress making her stand out. ¡°Princess Mary, don¡¯t be so nervous. Leave everything to me,¡± Romeo whispered softly. ¡°That¡¯s not how it works.¡± ¡°Even if it would make your fiance happy?¡± ¡°We cannot say that we¡¯ve played our roles properly until we satisfy our families.¡± ¡°Perhaps then I shouldn¡¯t say that you look like you¡¯re enjoying the party.¡± ¡°Did you think I would be a woman who kicked and screamed all the way to the altar?¡± ¡°No, I simply thought you would be a woman who would marry me. That¡¯s all you need to worry about.¡± Mary was a princess, if only in name. In terms of position, she ranked above him, but Romeo seemed to be quite self-confident. But his personality didn¡¯t matter. As the focus of the ball, all eyes were on Mary. She couldn¡¯t relax for even a moment. Yes, Mary was being tested. Mary herself didn¡¯t care to stand out much and due to her low self-esteem, she wasn¡¯t confident about her appearance, but she was proud of her long, golden hair that swayed with her every movement and the fleeting beauty make up could create on her face. Nothing else about herself impressed her much. After the dance was over, the party started coming to a close. Mary wanted nothing more than to sit down somewhere quiet where no one would look at her any more. Then the entrance door was flung open. Soldiers of the Slavar army rushed in wielding guns. ¡°Kyaaaaa!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°There¡¯s an intruder in the Duke¡¯s mansion!¡± While the partygoers were confused, a woman stepped out in front of the soldiers as if to lead them. At the same time, Romeo stepped forward to protect Mary. ¡°Who are you?! No matter who you are, I won¡¯t forgive you trying to interfere with our engagement.!¡± Romeo¡¯s majestic voice echoed through the hall. But the woman didn¡¯t falter, but approached him and said, ¡°Lord Romeo, I have come to expose the sin of that woman ¨C Mary Pulcherrima!¡± Even examining her face closely, Mary couldn¡¯t recognize the strange woman. ¡°How dare you disrespect Princess Mary?¡± ¡°Her sin is great enough to demand my action.¡± The woman glared unpleasantly at Mary. Unable to endure this, she objected, ¡°My sin? What the hell did I do?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t deny it. We have all the evidence here.¡± The woman threw an envelope to Romeo. Inside were dozens of photographs. ¡°This is¡­ a photo of Princess Mary and a soldier from a neighboring country?¡± Romeo wondered. Mary, who peered at it over his shoulder, unintentionally raised her voice saying, ¡°What is this? I never met with a soldier from a neighboring country!¡± ¡°But the photograph clearly shows the opposite. Mary, you might have been born into the royal family, but you didn¡¯t have any magical prowess. Treason, isn¡¯t that what you were doing?¡± ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°I see, Princess Mary, you hated your family and the entire Kingdom of Orvis, so you tried to sell state secrets to a neighboring country?¡± ¡°Lord Romeo, don¡¯t listen. It¡¯s impossible, I would never do this!¡± ¡°Then ¨C how about we call for a witness.¡± The woman turned to reveal three people, two men and a woman, enter the room. People who weren¡¯t supposed to be at the engagement ball. ¡°His Majesty, the King, and Her Majesty, the Queen!¡± ¡°Even the prince is here, what¡¯s happening?¡± The clamor of the nobility grew louder. No one, not even Mary, could have imagined that the allegation would be backed but such powerful people. ¡°Father, mother, and even brother?¡± The woman knelt before the king and asked, ¡°If it pleases Your Majesty, is it true that Mary betrayed her country and was engaged in spying?¡± The king looked down at the woman, stroking his beard. ¡°Ah, there is no doubt about it. I also have my own evidence. I never thought that the princess would go so far as commit adultery with a man from another country.¡± ¡°Eh, uh¡­ why, father?¡± Mary was at a loss for words at her father¡¯s statement and the cold gaze he directed towards her. Continuing on, her mother and brother cursed her in the same way. ¡°Not only does she not have magical powers, she also ruined our family¡¯s credibility, a truly hopeless daughter.¡± ¡°I¡¯m embarrassed to have such a sister. I feel like she is a stain upon the royal blood.¡± Cruel words from a cruel family. Mary¡¯s heart dropped like a stone in her chest. ¡°You¡¯re guilty, Mary. Shouldn¡¯t you admit it now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not¡­ I¡¯m not¡­ I¡¯m not doing that¡­ none of it! Father, mother, and brother should all know!¡± ¡°Princess Mary, in the face of this evidence, I cannot marry you.¡± ¡°Lord Romeo? Wait, this is a misunderstanding.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what criminals always say, Mary.¡± Romeo said, dropping her title as if she were no longer even a princess in name. ¡°I¡¯m not¡­ please believe me, someone, anyone, yes, my sister! Please ask my sister!¡± ¡°You¡¯re on the verge of death, Mary. But whether you admit it or not, the result is the same.¡± Soldiers grabbed Mary on both sides, gripping tightly. Even if she desperately struggled, she didn¡¯t have the strength to break free. Her family struck the final blow. ¡°You will soon be executed.¡± ¡°In order to maintain this beautiful world, we need to dispose of trash as soon as possible.¡± ¡°It is my duty to remove any blemishes from the Pulcherrima family.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do any of that! Something is absolutely wrong! Hey father, mother, brother! Say something! I don¡¯t want to be executed! I don¡¯t want to die because of a lie¡­ I hate it!¡± No matter how much Mary shouted, all she got was looks of contempt. Not just the nobles, but Romeo, the strange woman, and even her family saw her off with the same hateful glare. + Mary was taken into custody and thrown into a dark dungeon. ¡°Why¡­ that I¡¯m a spy¡­ I didn¡¯t¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t remember anything like the pictures ever happening. Firstly, Mary, being a princess and without magic, couldn¡¯t have ever easily arranged a meeting with a foreign soldier. Without a doubt, it was a false accusation, a false accusation ¨C there was no way she could accept being executed on the basis of such a thing. ¡°Somebody! Get me out of here! Something¡¯s wrong! I¡¯m sure, yes, my sister will know! Please! Someone!¡± Not matter how much she grabbed the bars and shouted, no one came. Eventually, Mary fell to her knees exhausted and weakly bowed her head. ¡°No one¡­ came to help me¡­ why did father, mother, brother, why did they say that?¡± Had she been abandoned? No, it didn¡¯t make sense. No matter how she looked at it, she couldn¡¯t understand it, and became more convinced this was nothing more than a bad dream. ¡°If it¡¯s a dream¡­ I wonder if I can wake up if I close my eyes. I wonder if my old life will come back¡­¡± With a heartbreaking prayer in her heart, even if she closed her eyes, the nightmare wouldn¡¯t end. She could hear footsteps approaching in the distance. When she opened her eyes and looked, she saw a familiar face, one that she held very dear. ¡°Older Sister Frances!¡± Frances Pulcherrima ¨C Mary¡¯s older sister and the first princess. With short golden hair, a slender figure, and somewhat hooded eyes, she gave off a cool impression. She didn¡¯t talk much and had a playful personality, combined with the fact she liked to wear casual clothes, she didn¡¯t look much like a princess. However, she was very sweet to her sister. That¡¯s why Mary was so attached to Frances and had expected her to come help her. ¡°Sister, please listen! I am not doing anything like spying!¡± ¡°I know, Mary. It¡¯s all a hoax.¡± ¡°Ah, my sister believes me!¡± ¡°Unfortunately, it¡¯s difficult to prove your innocence.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Father has decided to execute you at dawn.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already four o¡¯clock in the morning, that¡¯s in a few hours! Besides, this is the Duchy of Slavar, so why would Father be making these decisions?! I thought His Highness the Duke and our father weren¡¯t on good terms!¡± ¡°There are so many things that even I don¡¯t know. Normally, a princess wouldn¡¯t be accused of being a spy nor be executed so easily. So one thing is clear. Father, from the beginning,¡± Frances bit her lip, closed her eyes tightly, paused, before saying, ¡°he was going to kill Mary.¡± CH 2 ¡°Kill me¡­ kill me? Why? Why would he do that¡­?¡± Mary asked reflexively. Why on earth, who it was, for what purpose ¡ª many questions sprang to mind all at once, but judging by Frances¡¯ impatience, there wasn¡¯t much time left. With the key in her hand, she opened the cell and took Mary¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯ll explain later. We need to escape from here, so move quickly, Mary.¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Mary rushed out of the basement with Frances pulling her hand. When she climbed the stairs and entered the upper floor, there was a man lying down and bleeding right next to her. ¡°Um, the security guard is¡­!¡± ¡°I did it. I don¡¯t think he¡¯s dead but I couldn¡¯t afford to be gentle,¡± Frances spoke coldly. Mary was frightened by those words, but at the same time, she felt safe. Ordinarily Frances was never a short-sighted or violent woman. If a first-class magician felt like it, they could manipulate ¡®water¡¯ and kill any number of people. That¡¯s why she disciplined herself and didn¡¯t use force unnecessarily. Frances had hurt others in order to save Mary ¨C and Mary herself wasn¡¯t so dull as to not notice her sister¡¯s resolution and determination. ¡°¡­Three incoming, twelve-o-clock.¡± ¡°Eh?!¡± Frances stopped just before the turn in the hallway. Mary didn¡¯t hear anyone, let alone footsteps ¨C but a few seconds later, she heard voices. Three soldiers with rifles and waistcoats approached. Most of the equipment matched that of the soldiers who¡¯d restrained Mary. The waistcoat likely had a plate resistant to magic, and the rifle a type of ¡®magical gun¡¯ that used the user¡¯s magic to create bullets. ¡°Apparently there¡¯s an intruder. It¡¯s not often that happens in a place with such high security.¡± ¡°The Duke wants to protect it, because all of his secrets are here. To a thief, it looks like a treasure trove, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Frances assessed the strength of the soldiers from around the corner. The opponent¡¯s evaluation appeared in her field of vision, generated by the magic of ¡®Analyze.¡± (The first has a magic rating of 104, the next of 201, and the third 236. None of them are ¡®magicians¡¯. In other words, there¡¯s no need to be wary of spells.) The magical evaluation was determined by multiplying the maximum amount of magical power that a person possesses and the amount they can use at once. Generally, the minimum required to be called a ¡®magician¡¯ is 300, but that was only if there was a good balance of amount possessed and the amount output. For an unbalanced magician, they may have the potential but their firepower was too low, and even if they had a great output, they would burn through their reserves too quickly. However, by using magic guns that fire bullets using magical power, it is possible to compensate for a low output imbalance. Of course, such weapons were only for the convenience of those who couldn¡¯t become magicians ¨C a first-class magician didn¡¯t need a magical gun, nor would it work for them. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, you two. You don¡¯t know where the intruder is.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. These days, even a decent magician couldn¡¯t break through our equipment.¡± By the way, for reference, Frances¡¯ magic rating is 5658. ¡°Go.¡± When she held out her hands, clear water appeared. It stretched out like a snake towards the soldier¡¯s feet ¨C grabbing his ankle and pulling him, sending him sprawling. ¡°What?!¡± The other two turned to the man who fell down. At that moment, Frances stepped forward, created a water needle, and sent it straight through one soldier¡¯s head. ¡°Ah¨C!?¡± ¡°Kheh, you¡­ aaaaaah!¡± The soldier whose comrade was killed at point-blank range prepared to shoot his gun. Frances used the corpse as a shield, causing her opponent to hesitate. She took the opportunity to steal the gun from her ¡®shield¡¯ and pulled the trigger without mercy. After receiving rapid fire at point-blank range, his body trembled as if he were convulsing, and died. ¡°One left,¡± she muttered in a businesslike tone, putting her gun to the fallen man¡¯s forehead. His skin was scorched as the hot metal was pressed against it. Considering how uncertain the future was, it was better to use the gun and conserve her fighting strength for stronger opponents, even so Frances¡¯ power was overwhelming. ¡°Hey, hey! Please forgive me¡­ oh, oh I don¡¯t want to die!¡± ¡°Okay. I don¡¯t want to kill you.¡± Hearing Frances¡¯ kind words, the man had a relieved look on his face ¨C immediately after that, he was hit hard on the back of the head, breaking his nose on the ground and fainting. When the fight was over, Mary ran up to Frances and hugged her. ¡°Sister!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry to scare you, Mary. The exit is right there, so let¡¯s hurry.¡± Franes pulled her sister¡¯s hand again and started running. Mary looked back at the corpse, tears welling in her eyes, but she swallowed her fear and ran through the corridor. + They exited through a back door. Mary turned and saw the appearance of the building for the first time. ¡°A building at the center of the city¡­ I was in a place like this.¡± The gray walls were lined with large glass windows and stretched high into the sky, as if to assert the duke¡¯s authority. The engagement party was held in a wooden ¡°mansion¡± owned by Duke Slavar, but this impressive, imposing building was also owned by him. ¡°The cityscape is ruined, isn¡¯t it? Rumor has it, that Romeo designed the appearance himself.¡± ¡°It¡¯s bad taste, not to mention that a dungeon like that has been prepared¡­¡± ¡°I guess they¡¯re planning to use it for evil things.¡± While talking, they left the building and walked up to a high wall. Frances lifted Mary in a princess-carry and used a rope of water magic to grapple their way over top of it. With a single jump she launched them into the air and landed almost soundlessly on the other side. As expected of a magician who specialized in melee combat, not only was she able to control magic power, but her physical abilities were also considerable. Mary stared enchanted up at her sister. ¡°Come on, Mary, get in the car. You must get out of here quickly.¡± In front of them was a black car arranged by Francis. It was a so-called ¡®magical vehicle¡¯, and by using both electricity and magic power, it could drive at top speed for a long time. Looking at the Orvis Kingdom as a whole, the number of units in use wasn¡¯t very high, but in the wealthy Slavar territory, there were quite a few. Mary climbed into the backseat and Francis tried to close the door. ¡°Are you not coming with me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mary. I still have work to do.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll join you soon,¡± Frances said while stroking Mary¡¯s hair, but it was difficult to believe her sister¡¯s words. Even if Frances intended to meet up again ¨C she had already killed several guards. Mary didn¡¯t think her sister would be safe. ¡°No! I hate you leaving!¡± ¡°Mary¡­¡± ¡°I know I¡¯m not much use, but I still want to stay with you.¡± Hearing those words, Frances had a sad expression on his face, but declared with a big smile, ¡°I will never abandon you. I¡¯ll always be by your side, Mary, no matter what.¡± ¡°Sister¡­ do you promise?¡± ¡°Absolutely, absolutely. I¡¯ll swear it in blood.¡± Mary and Frances entwined little fingers. And after pulling away, Frances closed the door. The driver stepped on the accelerator and the car started moving. Mary pressed her face to the window and stared at her sister as she disappeared on the horizon. CH 3 Archaic Smile CH 4 Resting on a Bed of Rotting Flesh CH 5 Death God CH 6 Not Even Child¡¯s Play CH 7 Dead End CH 8 Genocide Party On the evening of the following day, Romeo could be found on the upper floors of a towering building in the heart of the city. In a lavish hall, nobles surrounded him, dressed in their finest suits, engaged in lively conversations. Standing by Romeo¡¯s side was none other than Juliet, the woman who had exposed Mary. ¡°Can you believe it? It¡¯s only been a day since yesterday, and yet so many people have gathered to celebrate our engagement party. I consider myself truly fortunate,¡± remarked Romeo. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to your charisma, Lord Romeo,¡± Juliet replied. ¡°Hehe, everyone is eager to catch a glimpse of your beauty. You¡¯re nothing like Mary, who was a failure. You, overflowing with talent and ambition, are truly the perfect match as my wife.¡± ¡°Lord Romeo¡­¡± Romeo gently lifted Juliet¡¯s chin, drawing their faces closer. They had been lovers even before Romeo met Mary. Although I was reluctantly engaged to Mary under my father¡¯s orders, the truth is, I was supposed to marry Juliet. But¡­ why? Why did Father vehemently oppose the idea of me marrying Juliet, a noble of lower rank? Why did he suddenly say things like, ¡°If you play along with this little charade, I¡¯ll allow the marriage¡±? The day after that incident, this party was promptly organized. While the nobles around them schemed and speculated, Romeo himself struggled to comprehend his father¡¯s mindset. It wasn¡¯t because he had something to hide that he couldn¡¯t provide an answer; it was simply because he genuinely couldn¡¯t grasp his father¡¯s thoughts. Well, to be honest, I couldn¡¯t care less whether Mary is dead or alive. I was never interested in that woman to begin with. Trying to understand Father¡¯s thinking is just a waste of time. For now, all Romeo could do was immerse himself in the joy of this party. As he parted his lips from Juliet¡¯s, he placed his hand on her waist. ¡°Look, Juliet, at the view from this floor.¡± ¡°Yes, Lord Romeo, I can see it. The sight of common people toiling tirelessly for the sake of our future.¡± ¡°This building represents my power. Soon, Father will retire, and I will assume the title of Duke. Once that happens, this panoramic view will belong to both you and me, Juliet.¡± ¡°Hehe, indeed, Lord Romeo, you are truly remarkable. Allow me to accompany you on your path of conquest for the rest of my life.¡± And with those words, Juliet planted a kiss on Romeo¡¯s cheek. The surrounding nobles were suddenly filled with excitement. Feeling even more uplifted, Romeo moved closer to the window with Juliet. This room had been meticulously designed by Romeo during the construction of the building, with every wall adorned in transparent glass. They spared no expense, utilizing the kingdom¡¯s cutting-edge technology to showcase their opulence. ¡ó¡ó¡ó CH 9 Episode 1: Following the Maze Painted by Blood CH 10 Hunger Remains Even by Flesh Mary transformed both her hands into a giant, monstrous maw made of bones, swallowing the bodies starting from their heads, as if gulping down them whole. Within her mouth, she chewed and consumed the bodies, ensuring not a single drop of blood was wasted. The sound of crunching bones and flesh echoed as Mary feasted upon the corpses, causing the girl who had stopped in her tracks to pale. CH 11 Dark Clouds Looming CH 12 Life is Always Unequal CH 13 Crushed by the Golden Dream CH 14 Those Dancing on the Stage Platy, the butler entrusted by Duke Slaver to deliver a message to the army, found herself stationed at the Slaver Army¡¯s base in the northern region of Captis after successfully completing her mission. As the Duke¡¯s butler, she reveled in generous privileges, including her very own private room. Leaning back in her chair, she rested her cheek on her hand and let her thoughts wander as she gazed at the night sky outside her window. Before she knew it, an unexpected guest barged into the room without so much as a knock. ¡°Is it all right for you not to return, Platy?¡± a deep, rugged voice questioned. The intruder was a tall, well-built man with slicked-back hair, bearing scars that spoke of his exploits on the battlefields. ¡°General Devarre, if memory serves me right, I did mention earlier that if you knock, you should wait for a response.¡± ¡°Oh, my bad, my bad. You¡¯ve grown quite a bit too. Back in the day, you wouldn¡¯t have complained about something like this.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the issue! Honestly, for someone your age, you lack composure,¡± Platy sighed, readjusting her chair. The man chuckled heartily, a wide grin stretching across his face. He was none other than Devarre Neville, the commanding general of the Slaver Army and a man of considerable influence, ranking third only to Dugan and the president of Marjoram Technology. In his heyday, Devarre was a legendary mage, wreaking havoc on the front lines during the war with the neighboring country. Rumor had it that he expertly swung his mighty axe in close combat while unleashing devastatingly powerful magic, single-handedly decimating thousands of enemy soldiers in a single battle. ¡°Regarding your previous question¡­ His Grace the Duke has given the instruction to limit the frequency of people entering and leaving the shelter,¡± Platy explained. ¡°That¡¯s quite meticulous. But it doesn¡¯t align with His Grace¡¯s usual behavior. He¡¯s not one to remain silent during such festivities, and as a person who enjoys battles, he would certainly not stay quiet¡­¡± the general pondered. ¡°General, we¡¯re simply following His Grace¡¯s orders,¡± Platy replied. ¡°But still, it¡¯s hard to believe. Even though news of King Majesty¡¯s arrival finally reached our ears, the military was left in the dark¡­ What does that mean?¡± ¡°There must be a reason beyond our comprehension. Please accept and find peace with it,¡± Platy suggested. ¡°I¡¯m not one to fret, but what about the folks from Marjoram?¡± ¡°¡­One of Marjoram¡¯s young ladies, Cassy, came to the shelter. She seemed overjoyed about selling weapons,¡± Platy responded. ¡°Do you reckon that cunning vixen speaks her mind? Both she and her father are probably seething with frustration towards His Grace.¡± ¡°If so, what will you do? Will you personally negotiate with His Grace on behalf of Marjoram¡¯s sentiments?¡± Platy asked. ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll take on the task,¡± Devarre declared confidently. It was no jest; he was a man of his word. ¡°Uh¡­ I was just kidding. Please stop. This matter is best left to His Grace. We shouldn¡¯t interfere,¡± Platy quickly interjected. ¡°Alright, I shall spare the young lady this time,¡± the general chuckled. ¡°Please refrain from calling me ¡®young lady¡¯!¡± Platy glared at Devarre, her face turning red. Once again, the general laughed heartily and brushed off her protest. Feeling a bit outwitted, Platy swiftly changed the topic at hand. ¡°Speaking of which, what¡¯s the latest on Mary? I heard she was found hiding in a nearby village.¡± ¡°Yeah, some foolish noble used poison gas to flush her out, killing the villagers in the process. The search is proving difficult.¡± ¡°Poison gas? Did Marjoram really develop something like that for domestic use?¡± Platy questioned. ¡°Who knows? Only His Grace would have that information. But it¡¯s highly likely that the princess is hiding in that area. We¡¯re keeping an eye on Captis while scouring the surroundings.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we question the noble about it?¡± Platy inquired. ¡°The mansion was empty,¡± the general replied. ¡°They fled?¡± ¡°There were traces of blood, faint but present. They might have all been devoured.¡± ¡°To think she wouldn¡¯t even leave a corpse¡­ It¡¯s hard to believe this is the same girl who was considered a mere figurehead princess until a few days ago. Can Arcana really transform people to such an extent?¡± Platy wondered. ¡°¡­Arcana, huh?¡± ¡°Is there something troubling you?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not my place to say. But more importantly, troublesome folks are starting to emerge. It seems things will get even more hectic soon. I mean, Mary alone is quite a handful.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true¡­ It¡¯s an opportunity for those troublemakers, after all. It¡¯s only natural for them to make a move,¡± Platy muttered, biting her lip in frustration. The mistreatment of farmers had long been a problem, and despite their impressive military power, resentment still lingered. And now, the resistance was becoming a reality. They¡­ had already begun their activities in the city of Captis. ¡ó¡ó¡ó Mary successfully infiltrated Captis, carrying Ami in her arms. Using bones as makeshift climbing tools, she climbed up a four-story building and perched on the rooftop, surveying the bustling ground below, filled with soldiers. The ease with which she had accomplished her mission to infiltrate surprised her, prompting her to question the conspicuous existence of these ¡°blindspots.¡± She would soon uncover the answer as she ventured further into the city. ¡°Now, everyone, charge!¡± Armed soldiers donning black protective suits adorned with a crimson sword emblem launched a coordinated assault on the Slaver Army group. ¡°Uooooh!¡± ¡°Down with the military! Perish, you pompous nobles!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think you can continue your tyrannical ways!¡± With firearms slightly different in design from the standard military issue, they methodically picked off the soldiers one by one. ¡°Uwaaaah! Are those people from the Liberation Front?!¡± ¡°Take cover! We¡¯re exposed here! Fall back!¡± Frantically seeking refuge around corners, they met a barrage of bullets before finding safety. The Duke Slaver soldiers, caught off guard while searching for Mary, crumbled without putting up much of a fight. From her vantage point above, Mary furrowed her brow. ¡°The military is engaged with someone? They mentioned the Liberation Front¡­ Could it be a rebellious group opposing Duke Slaver?¡± The guns they wielded were clearly of a new model. The protective suits were also new, with space to accommodate emblems, indicating a significant scale. These terrorist attacks against the military weren¡¯t limited to this location; they were unfolding throughout the city. From her elevated perch on the rooftop, Mary could discern the distant echoes of gunfire and shouts. ¡°The ease of infiltrating Captis seems to be thanks to them. If I can slip through their defense network¡­ Well, despite their radicalism, our interests might align¡­¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ huff, huff¡­¡± Ami, still in Mary¡¯s arms, struggled to catch her breath, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead as her chest heaved. Mary tenderly brushed away the strands of hair clinging to Ami¡¯s face. ¡°¡­They¡¯re well-prepared. If they share the same ideals as Ami¡¯s parents, I might be able to seek their assistance in her treatment.¡± The haunting image of the villagers who perished from the poison gas flashed in her mind. However, if these individuals were mere terrorists, they would have been involved in the chaos from the beginning, so there was no need to worry. The unit that had been positioned below the building had moved on, taking the soldiers¡¯ equipment with them. Mary spotted another nearby unit and gracefully descended from the rooftop, landing directly in front of them. ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± Guns were swiftly aimed at her, accompanied by hostile glares. But a man who appeared to be the squad leader gestured to halt, ¡°Hold on, don¡¯t shoot! You¡­ You¡¯re Princess Mary, right?¡± ¡°Yes, I am. It¡¯s sudden, but I¡¯d like to join forces with you. Who should I speak to?¡± The squad members responded eagerly to her proposal. ¡°Hey, hey, Princess Mary is on our side¡­!¡± ¡°It feels like a dream¡­ She¡¯s truly our beacon of hope!¡± Taken aback by their swift change in demeanor, Mary let out a wryly smile. Meanwhile, the squad leader remained composed and handled the situation calmly. He spoke, ¡°Before that, I¡¯d like to see your power. According to the information, Princess Mary should have the power of Death Arcana. Can you demonstrate it?¡± In a swift motion, Mary summoned bone blades from the back of her hand. The soldiers couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°Is this sufficient?¡± ¡°Y-Yes, absolutely! Please accept our apologies for any offense!¡± The squad leader knelt before Mary. With the demonstration, any doubts seemed to dissipate. They¡¯re quick to believe. How convenient. Similar to the villagers, it seemed they had deified Mary for killing Romeo. ¡°Excuse me, Princess Mary, who¡¯s the girl you¡¯re carrying?¡± ¡°Do you know about the incident with the poison gas in the nearby village?¡± ¡°Yes, we heard that the villagers were likely wiped out.¡± ¡°She¡¯s the sole survivor. She inhaled a small amount of gas and requires medical attention¡­¡± Mary¡¯s words shocked the soldiers. The idea of a goddess of victory rescuing an unknown commoner from the clutches of a tyrannical lord¡ªit couldn¡¯t have been a more perfect tale. The gaze fixed upon Mary grew intense, fueled by impassioned admiration. ¡°To save an unknown commoner¡­ How extraordinary. It suits Princess Mary perfectly.¡± Amidst the undeserved praise, Mary felt a slight unease. ¡°Our leader is in the hideout. The girl should be able to receive treatment there. I¡¯ll have one of our squad members guide you, Princess¡± ¡°Understood. Who should I go with?¡± ¡°Tinny, can you go?¡± ¡°Yes, of course!¡± A squad member stepped forward, straightening her posture. She lifted her goggles and lowered the mask covering her mouth and nose, revealing a kind-looking woman who suited a smiling expression. ¡°Princess, I¡¯ll guide you to the car, this way!¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Oh, no, you¡¯re welcome.¡± Judging from her reactions, she seemed younger¡ªthough older than Mary, who was only sixteen. Tinny, in a cheerful manner, took the lead with Mary, who was carrying Ami. While walking, Mary suggested, ¡°You can wear your mask and goggles if you¡¯d like.¡± ¡°Huh? Is that¡­ I mean, wouldn¡¯t it be impolite?¡± ¡°It¡¯s to avoid any trouble if your face gets captured.¡± ¡°Princess, you¡¯re truly kind¡­ Okay, I¡¯ll take you up on your offer.¡± Her cheeks flushed with gratitude, and her glistening eyes were hidden behind the goggles and mask. Meanwhile, Mary closely observed Tinny¡¯s equipment. The gear is different from that of the regular army, but still cutting-edge¡­ Who could be their patron? Possible options included her father, King Henry or the royal army, who may desire the turmoil within Slaver territory. However, would Dugan let such an obvious ¡°enemy¡± go? Currently, there was no concern regarding the organization¡¯s members, but caution was necessary regarding their background. ¡°That¡¯s our ride!¡± After passing through a dark alley, they came across a military vehicle belonging to the Slaver Army. Although the body was thin to be called an armored vehicle, it was an impressive four-wheeled magical vehicle. Mary had something she wanted to ask, but it could wait. They got into the car. Ami was placed in the back seat, and Mary took the passenger seat. Tinny, in the driver¡¯s seat, nervously inserted the key, and the car started moving. ¡°This is a vehicle from the Slaver Army, right?¡± ¡°Yep, we just stole it a little while ago. With this, we should be able to deceive the military¡¯s watchful eye for a while.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t they recording the travel route?¡± ¡°Oh, if they analyze it later, they¡¯ll notice. That¡¯s why we¡¯re not going all the way to our hideout. We¡¯ll ditch the car at a safe distance and continue on foot.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Mary nodded, but then she glanced back and spotted three identical military vehicles through the tinted windows. ¡°So much for deceiving the military¡¯s eye¡­¡± Mary let out a sigh. ¡°W-Well, that¡¯s the plan, but¡­¡± ¡°They¡¯re practically tailing us¡­¡± At that moment, a voice came from the radio installed in the car, ¡°Are you people part of the Riverta Liberation Front?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Tinny turned pale. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you all! No need to put up a fight!¡± the voice thundered, dripping with anger. Tinny looked at Mary, seeking help. ¡°W-What do we do¡­¡± ¡°By the sound of it, they haven¡¯t realized my presence¡ªlet¡¯s handle this quickly. Just make sure not to slow down,¡± saying that, Mary opened the door. ¡°Ughhhh! Princess, it¡¯s dangerous!¡± Ignoring the warning, Mary swiftly climbed onto the roof of the car. *** CH 15 Freedom or a Deceptive Puppet? CH 16 Cheap Questions CH 17 Blooming Memories CH 18 Heavy Metal Waltz The opponent turned out to be a woman dressed in a maid outfit. Her fox-like, slender eyes glared at Mary with intensity. She held a pair of massive gatling guns, resembling chunks of iron, firmly in both hands, pointing them towards Mary. Realizing that countering with gunfire was futile, the maid adjusted her grip. Then, with finesse reminiscent of wielding tonfas, she skillfully parried Mary¡¯s scythe. The clash of their powers resounded through the entrance, accompanied by a piercing metallic sound and a shower of intense sparks. ¡°What? It won¡¯t cut through?!¡± ¡°Will it shatter like this?!¡± Both of them were taken aback by the turn of events. They pushed each other away, creating some distance. Upon landing, they locked eyes once again, facing each other anew. ¡°Mary Pulcherrima¡­ An Arcana user with a magical evaluation over 15,000¡­ I should charge Fidelis an extra fee.¡± ¡°Using two gatling guns and handling them with just hands is no ordinary feat for a human. Are you an Arcana user yourself?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, I¡¯m nothing of the sort.¡± Calaria readjusted her grip on her guns, pointing the multiple barrels arranged in a circular formation directly at Mary. ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary person. Not even a mage by any means.¡± CH 19 Gun Salutes CH 20 Embracing You CH 21 The Magical Night Where Stars Twinkle CH 22 Retribution is Nothing but a Lie CH 23 Metaphor of Rebirth CH 24 Zombie, Minced Meat, and Gatling