Route 1: Similarities

*

*still in the dream of Scarlet Aubrielle*

I can't help but to heave a deep sigh as we make our way towards our carriage. The ball has already ended and honestly the only thing that I have enjoyed is the damn wine and not the party itself. If you are going to ask me what I hate about the party then I would definitely say the people who keep on talking to me about their town and how they defended it from monsters.

If I am really pissed off a while ago I would definitely speak regarding the way they defend their towns. Like do they actually call it as successful defense mechanism when there are alot of casualties? Like what the actual f-ck? That is not a successful defense mechanism, that's a total failure.

I heave a deep sigh again as I saw Cain open the carriage door and once again he lend me his hand for support. I accepted it and I slowly entered the carriage. I took my seat and I immediately closed my eyes. Although my eyes are closed my senses are wide awake. I am just so damn f-cking tired entertaining those assholes.

Not to mention, my mind was a bit out of place because of that favor the Duke of Franceschi is asking me of. It is not a small favor but it is also not that big. In other words, he really did a good in asking me a favor that I couldn't refuse because I can perfectly do it without any mistake.

Well, I commend him for that, however, I failed to ask him why me? Like all of the damn fucking people why me? Not to mention he already has a talented knight right here.

I am about to heave another deep sigh but it was interrupted by Cain.

"Lady Mila, If you think that the Duke is asking you a large favor, you could always decline. I personally think that you shouldn't be involved with that issue" - he said which made me open my eyes and turn my gaze towards him. He has this same old expression plastered on his face, emotionless but you know that he is serious about it.

He has actually a point about that. I have no actual reason to be involved with such matter because first I am just a new citizen around this town, second is that though I am rich, I still have no title so that means that I am still a commoner, third reason is that it really does not benefit me. Well, maybe it will be exciting but that's all that I am going to have and oh- of course informations as well.

"You know Sir Cain, I am not the type of person to say yes then change my mind afterwards. I am a woman of my words, so I am already involved in it in one way or another" - I said as I move my gaze towards the window and I could see the post lamps that illuminate the road. After I said those words neither of us talked anymore.

And before I knew it we already arrived back to my house.

*

"Let's check out that cave" - I said and I immediately started walking again and the two silently followed me. Anyway, this is just an investigation and even if I want to put an end to this shit, I have to let Cain do the job.

Tch but if that's the case and if I am going to be given a chance then I would probably kill that Duke Alfred instead. Like why the fuck is he keeping a dangerous dark beast around here.

As we continued walking I noticed how the dark things covering the trees and plants are growing. And this sign is definitely not a good sign. These signs are already telling me that my hunch is right, that Duke Alfred is really keeping and taking good care of a damn beast inside that cave located here in this forest.

However, the question is what the heck are the mages or magicians of the magic tower are doing?! They should have known the abnormalities in this forest since from the start. They should have detected and felt the strange increase in miasma in this certain part of the forest. Unless, those people are letting it pass since monsters are indeed rampant around this world and they are thinking that the unusual increase in miasma is normal because of the monsters that lurks around this forest every night. Well, if that's the f-cking reason then they are indeed so damn f-cking stupid.

They could have fucking prevented the corruption of this part of the forest if they only checked it when they felt the unusual miasmic activity.

After a few more minutes of walking we finally reached the cave the Duke Franceschi is asking us to look into. The three of us stood in front of its opening and I immediately felt nauseous, although I feel that way, the miasma is not really affecting me because of both light and dark magic affinity I have inside my body. The light magic cleanses the miasma around me and the dark magic helps me to make sure that no miasma particles or viruses that could affect my whole being will enter my body. The reason why I actually feel quite nauseous is because of my the light magic giving me signals that everything around this place is dangerous and the fact that it needs to be cleansed.

"Alarick you stay here outside. Me and Aesir will go check inside" - I said and Alarick immediately nod his head and in just a second he is now in his original form. He already know his job, and that is to make sure that no one will ever go in this part of the forest, and if there are people who are on their way here, he will make sure that they will never reach their destination not until we are finished and the three of us has finally teleported back to our house.

Aesir also changed to her original form and we both started walking towards the entrance and as we entered the cave a breeze of miasma greeted the two of us and I can't help but to grin because I've already have the answer I want.

There is not just simply a monster inside this cave and it is also not just a beast. A beast would never give off this kind of powerful miasma, not mention that this miasma radiates pure darkness and poison. I am about to ask Aesir why the heck is the Duke actually planning but I just realized the answer to my own question.

And that is the fact that the presence of monsters are the source of magic stones, the more monsters and the higher its level then purity of magic stones are also higher than usual, the higher the purity of magic stones then it will be sold in a much higher price and if it will be sold in a higher price then that only means that the person who sells it will surely become rich.

And as we walk a little farther I could already noticed the magic stones on the wall and on the ground. I appraised the magic stones and I can't help but to grin when I saw the results of the appraisal; seriously all of the magic stones are either going to Grade A, already grade A and some are already in the S grade.

"That Duke is really witty to keep a monster contained inside this cave" - Aesir said which made me nod my head. Well, I do think the same way. I commend him from doing such thing, however, how would he actually harvest these magic stones? No ordinary knight or mage could possibly stand this kind of miasma.

Unless they have divine protection or anything that would shield them from the miasma even just for a couple of minutes. Anyway, it's their own problem, I don't care whatever they do to harvest these magic stones, the only thing I am here for is to actually damn investigate and see for myself what kind of monster they are keeping inside this cave.

When we are already quite far away from the outside, me and Aesir both stopped from our tracks and we both stared at the pair of red glowing eyes looking at our way. Seriously? There are even lesser monsters here? Anyway, I do not plan on killing them anyway, I don't want to waste my energy fighting with these lesser spirits.

I heave a deep sigh and I slowly let out a pinch of my dark magic, and I know that I am releasing a dark aura.

"Stand back" - I said in a nonchalant tone and in just a second the red glowing eyes slowly disappeared right in front of us. Where did they go? They hid themselves inside the walls of this cave.

After that, me and Aesir continued walking and as we walk farther and farther lesser monsters always greet us, however because of my magic they cannot attack us and instead they are following my orders. Am I not afraid that the magic tower will detect my abilities? No I am not because this will only seen as a miasma activity around this place since I am also using dark magic.

Those people will not realize that fact.

After a few minutes of walking and repeating the same thing, the both of us stopped from our tracks. Aesir immediately positioned herself in her battle stance and she even let out her fangs and growled. While me on the other hand can't help but to grin because I can see in front of me the monster who is creating the powerful miasma and producing the incredible magic stones around this cave.

The monster slowly stood up from lying down and it looked-- no it began glaring at us, it even let out a growl.

My smile grew even wider when my hunch is actually correct. That Duke Alfred is the reason why Cain's powers were awakened in the game because right now the monster in front of me is not an ordinary one. Because it is a --

"Hello there Dark Dragon" - I said with still a wide grin plastered on my face.

*

Scarlet Aubrielle

“My lady wake up!” I suddenly jolted from my bed and I noticed that I am also panting. So, I was sleeping and that was only a dream. However, why does that dream feels so real that I feel like I am that woman?

“My lady, thank goodness you finally woke up.” someone said and there I look at my right side and I saw the head maid with a worried expression on her face.

How long has she been here in the first place? I didn’t even feel her presence and how long have I actually been sleeping? But right now, I am more than worried about that dream that I had. What does it actually mean especially the fact that we have similar names bothers me.