Léon: The Cat Killer

The use of witchcraft is essentially about purchasing miracles that distort reality by consuming the currency of life... This practice is undoubtedly extremely evil, at the very least, raising livestock requires herders to provide meticulous care and put in a lot of hard work...

And by what standards should humanity determine whose life will be saved and whose life will be sacrificed?

The Tikaz of the past were rebelled against because of this, and Kazdel of today has been split in two because of this issue... Even the Sarkaz of today are still suffering because of this historical legacy.

Nana wasn't a Sarkaz, so she didn't need to think about such an unsolvable problem... The altar was completed, the sorcery was successfully activated, and she successfully led those Sarkaz out of the landship's firing range... Her deal with the Sarkaz was finally established.

No one discussed whether the lives collected by Nana were truly used effectively, and those who were still alive probably already knew the answer in their hearts.

As for Nana, she still can't stay idle.

Two trucks carrying Blood Demon Cat and her 'assets' were heading north along the Ursus military's map route. On one hand, Nana needed to rendezvous with the exploration vehicle to revert to 'Medic' and solidify her alibi... On the other hand, only a land-based vehicle like the exploration vehicle could allow these Sarkaz followers to evade possible pursuit.

Without a doubt, now that the old man has admitted that they are eyewitnesses to the battle between Rhodes Island and the Ursus army... whether you call it 'bribing' or 'destroying evidence,' the best way to take that matter to the grave without physically silencing them is to make them employees of Rhodes Island as well.

Ideally, it should be placed in a location where it will never be exposed to the outside media... such as the Rhodes Island main ship... This way, while taking into account Nana's religious and moral needs, the issue of Rhodes Island defeating the Ursus border guards and being seen by others can be perfectly resolved.

Looking back at what the old Sarkaz did, he first confirmed that Nana did not want to harm the 'wanderers', and then released the bait of having everyone follow Nana as a test.

After confirming that Nana and Ursus were at odds, he agreed to cooperate and teach Nana to use witchcraft to bind the two factions together. Finally, he revealed that they all knew the truth that Rhodes Island did not want others to know... In this way, Nana would have no reason to abandon any of them.

It can only be said that this tactic is very effective against Rhodes Island employee 'Medic', who still has some sense of shame and must at least maintain a certain level of moral integrity... However, if Nana wanted to physically eliminate him according to the rules of assassins, then the witchcraft possessed by the 'butler' would become an unpredictable hidden danger...

And so, things have turned out the way they are now.

……

"So...you're actually a cleanup crew member from Rhodes Island?"

"From now on, call me Minister, Minister of Personnel... Of course, that's after we reunite with Rhodes Island... So what about you? You possess the skills to use witchcraft, wear maid outfits, and carry that prince's belongings... Are you really just ordinary refugees?"

"Of course, we haven't told you a single lie..."

Looking at the old man driving with a smile, his relaxed expression as if the wrinkles on his face were blooming like flowers, Nana sat in the passenger seat with her hands folded and remained silent... She was very familiar with this routine; everything he said was the truth, only some parts were concealed, right?

“Butler… not to mention that I don’t even know your names except for Eileen and Athena (the seamstress)… while I still have the intention to properly settle you down, I think we should have an open and frank talk.”

"Of course, I am Alfred... just an ordinary person who has lived a long time and therefore knows a lot... I once served in the Royal Army, but later, due to the Sarkaz Civil War, I left the army. His Highness invited me to teach the Sarkaz children at the Babel Tower school, mainly teaching history... Of course, after the Babel Tower organization failed, I also occasionally taught mercenaries Sarkaz writing and made a living by it, earning some fuel money for the team."

"Without your help, I think our refugee group would have had to succumb to reality in the end, either being absorbed by those mercenaries or dying silently in the wilderness..."

"Your name is a bit long... Can I just call you Afu?"

"Of course, I am your butler, and you may call me whatever you like."

Seeing the old man's relaxed demeanor, as if he had achieved his goal, Nana assessed the credibility of his 'loyalty' and spoke again:

"So, Afu... First of all, you escaped from the Tower of Babel... Judging from the fact that you still have some Sarkaz noble items, you... picked up some items from there and then started your escape?"

"...That's a difficult question to answer... First, I must correct one of your misconceptions. The Tower of Babel isn't a tower...it's a town, as you should know, especially since Rhodes Island's main ship is docked outside the Tower of Babel...in fact, Rhodes Island had to set sail urgently on the day we left..."

"That day was no different from any other day... The soldiers were still frowning, food prices in the market were still rising, and the opportunist king's forces launched their attack very suddenly... Our soldiers unexpectedly offered no effective resistance. It seems that something went wrong with His Highness and His Highness's commander. The Tower of Babel was suddenly captured."

Listening to the old man's rambling story, Nana asked with some concern:

"Rhodes Island... is it alright?"

"The false king still needs Rhodes Island's medicine to support his sorcerer forces in maintaining their combat capability, so the departure of the Rhodes Island main ship will not be met with any difficulties... But the royal court's attitude towards those of us who follow His Highness is very clear... Those who refuse to surrender will be exterminated."

"You're clearly commoners?"

"...After all, our identities are somewhat special. Whether it's called faith or unwillingness to betray, we are indeed among those who are to be exterminated..."

“Eileen is a parliamentary attendant maid who can get close to His Highness, and Lady Athena is His Highness’s personal tailor, although she also sews clothes for the people… As for me and those young men, as long as we are still here, we will continue to advocate the elimination of hatred… His Highness’s influence will not disappear.”

"This is incomprehensible to the members of the Royal Court... They see us as traitors, and they want to settle scores with the Sarkaz... Although, in our view, there is nothing more ridiculous than that claim..."

Hearing the old man's distressed sneer, the altar forged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood flashed through Nana's memory, and the young assassin, still dressed as a blood demon, shook her head to shake it out of her mind.

"In other words, you were actually hunted down to the border."

"Yes, the journey was extremely difficult... We used up all our accumulated wealth to bribe the mercenaries of the false king... Although those things are nothing compared to what Your Highness described as the creations of various countries in modern times, they were indeed the fruits of our labor... We used those things to bribe the mercenaries... With the secret help of the soldiers who originally belonged to Your Highness, we escaped to the border... For us, that should have been our limit."

"Then you encountered us... So... do you know the situation with the pursuers?"

The old man nodded, and the previously relaxed atmosphere turned serious.

"At first, it was the army of carrion eaters that drove us out of the Tower of Babel. Later, as the fleeing groups dispersed, the vampire court... the Blood Lord's men replaced those brainless corpse soldiers... That's why we all thought you were dead the moment we saw you."

"...Is my disguise really that easy to see through?"

"Haha, your actions seem completely unrelated to the Royal Court to us, so when you said you weren't one of them, we immediately believed you... If your actions were truly imitating a Blood Demon, then you must be a follower of His Highness... Those vampires are indeed approachable, and as far as I know, they have even overcome their thirst for blood... I hope Ms. Blood and her people can escape this war."

"...So, we actually have Blood Demon Lord's soldiers chasing us?"

"Yes, that's right... But don't worry, their attitude towards us... is extremely contemptuous... Just like we said before, even if we get caught, as long as we endure their so-called torture... after about five people die, they'll lose interest... The rest will die easily... And that was the original situation. Now, with your help, I think we're probably safe."

Have you considered the possibility that I might not be able to beat them?

"...If that situation really occurs, it can only be said that it is fate. You should escape quickly, sir... We will not have any objections to it."

Seeing the white-haired girl beside him, who remained silent after hearing his words but whose face clearly showed 'I'm not happy,' and moving like a cat with her hands tucked in, Alfred smiled and asked:

"So, what are your plans next? Besides joining up with Rhodes Island... As a company with close ties to His Highness, I don't think you would bother coming to Ursus, a place with such a terrible attitude towards the infected... This is a country where even fleeing from civil war is the last thing on your list."

"...some official business...their emperor wants Rhodes Island to go to the countryside to do some...Oripathy education."

"Just that?"

"At the same time, international opinion is very curious about the reason why Ursus persecutes infected people in the same way it did during the outbreak... After all, this kind of thing is the worst in the snowfields, isn't it..."

“I see… Although it’s still a bit of a stretch, it’s a task worthy of your skills… We will assist you, whatever identity you choose, we will fully cooperate…”

"Oh? For example?"

"For example, what if we deliberately get discovered? A few of us young men have clear mineral crystals on our skin... We can help you gather information from that so-called 'mine'..."

Nana frowned and refused Afu's seemingly flexible suggestion:

"That's not how you use manpower. Didn't you just remind me not to become a true blood demon? If you're still testing me, you don't need to."

Upon hearing Nana's refusal, the old man nodded respectfully and solemnly apologized... but soon, he seemed to remember something else:

"However... the issue of infected individuals... perhaps we really can help you in some way... after all, as you know, the Sarkaz are a race sensitive to Originium. As long as they live to a certain age, no matter how well they are protected, they will still get Oripathy..."

"During the past civil war, many powerful and well-known Sarkaz warriors migrated to Ursus because they disliked the civil war... Ursus was not like it is now back then. The previous emperor promised the people an opportunity to exchange military merits for better treatment..."

"I remember, the Wendigo clan... the former ogre royal court migrated as a whole because they opposed the civil war... and considering the timeline, most of them, if not all, must have suffered from Oripathy..."

"Given Ursus's current anti-infected policies, they're probably quite troubled... If Rhodes Island is willing to help them, you'll receive a lot of assistance, whether it's in infected investigations or rural science education missions."

Listening to Afu's explanation, Nana thought about it intently and found it very reasonable:

"...Can you contact them?"

“No… but witchcraft is something in the Sarkaz bloodline… We built an altar, and for a time, we will be as conspicuous to the Sarkaz as the Sarkaz in the night… Although we don’t know their attitude, even if it’s just to confirm the effects of our witchcraft, they will at least come to meet us.”

"...So, we're just as conspicuous in the Blood Demon's eyes right now?"

Faced with Nana's questioning, the old man's smile began to turn awkward. Clearly... in that life-or-death situation with bears in front and bats behind, there was no consideration of not using witchcraft.

After realizing she might have narrowly escaped a fierce battle, the white-haired girl frowned even more deeply:

"Besides you, everyone else here is a civilian with little combat ability... How about we travel day and night from now on? I need to rejoin Rhodes Island as soon as possible... My assault equipment and the combat personnel I trust are there."

"As you wish, Your Excellency."

……

…………

At the Third Army headquarters in Ursus, Viscount Dunker, dressed in a magnificent military uniform and sporting heavy dark circles under his eyes, urged the radio operator:

"...Still no response from our border patrol ships?!"

"Yes...yes, Your Excellency..."

"Where are the high-speed warships? Haven't the mobile fleet's drones arrived yet?!"

"...Not yet... Ah! The mobile fleet is sending a telegram..."

"Read!"

"Yes, 'We have arrived at the scene of the incident, and the reconnaissance drone has discovered two sunken patrol ships'..."

Swallowing hard, the telegraph operator, sweat dripping down his cheeks, continued reading:

"It has now been confirmed that the silence of both warships was the work of the Blood Demon."

With a soft snap, the pen in Viscount Dunker's hand broke in two, splattering blood-red ink everywhere. Enraged to find his white ceremonial robes stained with ink, the Viscount slammed the broken pen onto the sand table map.

"What a bunch of good-for-nothings!!"

"...But...Sir, that's the Blood Demon..."

"Uh... that untrustworthy guy—!!"

It seemed that mentioning a certain Blood Demon Cat made the Viscount's blood pressure soar even higher... but before he could continue his rant, the camp's spatial magic defense was suddenly triggered, and the explosion of the defense equipment triggered a shrill enemy attack alarm in the military camp.

As Viscount Dunker looked out in confusion, a massive sphere of blood solidified in the air, then, like a blood tap being turned on… a crimson aura instantly filled the entire military camp.

A man dressed in white, with white hair, meticulously wearing the Sarkaz military sash and a black military council cloak, stood with a sour expression in the Ursus military camp. As he stepped out of his spotless military boots, a rolling sea of ​​blood surged around him, advancing towards the camp. (Shan)

Viscount Dunker uttered the man's name in a hoarse voice... even though he didn't actually know the man's name.

"...Blood Demon...Great Lord!?"

Just as the Viscount was at a loss, another figure wearing a ram's head mask suddenly appeared beside the Blood Demon Lord.

"You've acted without permission again, Your Majesty..."

"Ha, with the 'Blood Demon' leading the rebels to escape the pursuit... Don't you think this is a test of my loyalty...?"

"Well, as far as I know, aside from a few traitors, almost all the Blood Demons no longer support that theory... And putting aside whether those dealing with Ursus are truly vampires, even if they are... your current actions have crossed the line... Your unauthorized actions have put His Highness in a very difficult position... Please do not continue."

"So...you're telling me to sit idly by and watch potential traitors tarnish the glory of the Vampire Royal Court?"

Staring at the man in the ram's head mask... the Blood Demon Lord glanced at the longsword at the man's waist, and finally let out a cold snort... As screams filled the camp, a crimson red aura re-condensed around the Blood Demon Lord, the viscous life and souls wailing and howling, and the Blood Demon Lord disappeared from the camp.

Looking at the devastated camp and the now-ineffective 'blood beacon,' the male 'pardoner' smiled bitterly as the Ursus army surrounded them:

“Alright, it seems we need an explanation here too… I remember those mercenaries said… the Ursus border patrol ships attacked the refugees… oh, Sarkaz citizens, and then got taught a lesson by a passing blood demon… Hmm, so, you’re in the wrong here, aren’t you?”

As he spoke, two sword blades, each tens of meters long, suddenly appeared on the ground. The Pardoner smiled and looked at Viscount Baigal, who was protected by a group of shields and had a gloomy expression... Obviously, the Ursus people could not see the smile behind his mask.

"...Then, sir, I'm here on behalf of the Blood Demon Lord to negotiate terms..."

P.S.: Waaaa, cat...fox!

PS2: It seems no one is considering discussing those foreshadowing elements... Oh well... I'll just keep writing QAQ

PS3: Um... I'd like to ask for a vote... QAQ, I feel so lonely.

4th Bloodstained Warm Winter: 090 Villages, Local Braves, and Unruly People

Nana was unaware of the psychological pressure her disguise and impersonation placed on the Ursus Third Army.

Ursus craves war, but not a war that yields no results.

Having been ravaged by war time and again, Kazdel has long since become a graveyard to be avoided... Getting involved would only be a futile waste of energy. Ordinary countries simply cannot cultivate normally on that land full of hatred. Let the Sarkaz regime wallow in that quagmire... This is the current international consensus.

But just like how Nana had no idea that the moment she jumped away with the altar, the Blood Demon Lord would find her by following her scent.

The patrol boat, spared by Nana, was then approached by the true Blood Demons, and its fate was self-evident... True Blood Demons don't even need to communicate; they find everything they want from blood and soul.

To some extent, Nana effectively accomplished the task of diverting attention and clearing the field, so no one would believe that Rhodes Island was behind it.

But this doesn't mean the trouble is over.

Blood is the carrier of life, the currency of the soul... Yi Lin Yi Qi Si Wu IV (8) extracted the blood of Ursus soldiers and learned from their memories that a little 'fellow' had defied him... Even if he was ordered not to continue his actions due to the so-called international situation, the Blood Demon Lord would certainly not swallow this insult.

Having demonstrated his absolute loyalty to the royal court through his actions, the Blood Demon Lord still needs to purge the 'descendant' who dared to defy him in order to reaffirm his supreme authority within the clan.

In order to appease this staunch hawk who supported him, Theresis sent one of his capable subordinates to investigate the unknown blood demon and its abduction of the remnants of the Tower of Babel...

Nana is completely unaware of the changes that have occurred.

……

..............................

"...So, is there any way to make witchcraft less...evil?"

As always, with their hands tucked in, Nana and Afu's tone of voice was much more normal now, as if the two had truly become the runaway Blood Demon Miss and her loyal butler.

"At least it won't be so awful to use... Of course, it would be even better if it could avoid the side effect of affecting one's personality..."