Chapter 1565 (2/2)
Without needing to speak, DiOrtho hopped down into the pit. Raymund could hear the princess yelping and scrambling backward away from the demon but ignored the noises. The Vulpine pivoted and looked toward the East. The only way into the valley housing the Class Lighthouse was through a thin game trail that meandered down the dense cluster of trees that had sprung up between the surrounding peaks. As a dull thump from the pit was followed by retching noises, heavy footfalls came from that innocuous dirt path.
Gradually, the hairs along Raymund’s arms began to stand on end. Each step of the approaching figure echoed strangely through the ground. It wasn’t an image, exactly… but there was weight to the resonance in the ground. Like there was more presence to the approaching figure than just physical mass and image.
Somehow, seeing the azure-haired beauty walking out of the forest with her hair done up in an elaborate braid didn’t ease Raymund’s nerves in the least. When she saw the Vulpine and her expression brightened, Raymund felt a chill running up and down his spine. Carrying an unconscious princess with a bit of bile dripping from her lips, DiOrtho clambered out of the pit and stood next to Raymund. They exchanged a long glance.
“You know you’ve really kept me waiting,” The azure haired woman grinned. That innocent smile immediately jogged Raymund’s foggy memory. Although he had been near dead with exhaustion at the time… this ominous woman was clearly the romantic partner of Head Drill Sergeant Ghosthound.
Suddenly, Raymund felt like the wind in the valley had completely died out. When Overseer Helen had mentioned that the plans for their training had changed…
“What the fuck is she doing here?” DiOrtho whispered. But from the tremors in his voice, it appeared the ram-demon was jumping to the same conclusion that Raymund had come to. Seeing Lady Vualla’s expression soften at DiOrtho’s words, Raymund had the urge to run.
Yet even with their powerful physical bodies, even if he could also utilize his image… he had no confidence that they would escape.
Either of them.
“Oh, don’t act so tense, you two. I don’t mind a little swearing and banter between training partners.” She waved her hand lightly. Then her smile widened and she looked at the duo carrying the princess with the eyes of a predator. “Because that’s what we are, right now. Ah, I should explain a bit. Due to Randidly’s circumstances… our stay in this world will be extended for a bit. Well, maybe more than a bit. We might be here for quite a while… so I’ll be helping Overseer Helen with your training. Exciting, right?”
Her smile slowly shrank into something small and poisonous. “But don’t worry, I’ll be under the same handicaps as you. I won’t use an image. And also… well, I was planning to wait until you got the princess a Class before revealing myself, but what is taking so long? I was starting to get bored.”
Once more, Raymund and DiOrtho exchanged a glance. Raymund barely suppressed the urge to growl in front of this woman. Her presence rivaled… no. In terms of the raw force of her person, she likely even surpassed the Head Drill Sergeant. Just by standing there, she almost pinned Raymund to the ground. Sparring against her seemed suicidal.
Yet paradoxically, despite the significant threat she represented, she also ignited his urge to fight. In DiOrtho’s eyes, Raymund could see that same desire mirrored back at him. A strong foe smiled at them and they both clenched their fists and narrowed their eyes.
Lady Vualla clapped her hands together, releasing a resonating pulse in the process that hit Raymund and inflicted a dull ache in the marrow of his bones. “I’m not relieving you of the responsibility of this task; the princess will get her Class from this Lighthouse, one way or the other. But I simply have to assume that you haven’t been taking this mission seriously. Perhaps its a problem of motivation. Digging a hole and threatening her…? And apparently without much effect. Tsk Tsk.
“See, I’ll help with your motivation; I’ll give you one more hour to finish this. If you manage to wake up the princess and get her to agree to receive a Class, that hour will be time for you to have a headstart on me. If you continue to dawdle… well, we will start fighting right here. Honestly, the prospect of being cooped up in this place… has me quite stressed. I think a few scrappy brawls will do wonders for my mood.”
As Lady Vualla continued to speak in front of them, both of their faces were solemn. Her humanoid form had every instinct in Raymund’s body screaming that she was extremely dangerous. When she casually cracked her knuckles, Raymund had to suppress the urge to shudder.
And her azure eyes… there was something else there, something that was bothering her. Yet it undoubtedly felt true that she wished to work off some aggression, to their detriment.
DiOrtho grimaced. “Might be about time to try this your way, Raymund.”
With a nod, Raymund Ballast took the princess’s body and did his best to rouse her to wakefulness. As he did so, his traitorous senses couldn’t help but detect that Lady Vualla’s smile widened.
She enjoyed this.