Drayla lunged first.
Twin silver daggers flashed under the corridor lamps, her smile widening as she closed the distance.
"Big bro, stay out of this!" Shun barked.
"You don't have to tell me twice!" Shoda shot back.
Mira didn't take her eyes off the assassin. "Go inform Miss Elmira and Sir Eldritch. Evaluate the mansion."
"On it."
Shoda ran.
Behind him, Drayla giggled. "Oh my… shouldn't he have stayed? It would've been easier."
"Oh no," Mira replied calmly. "He's not the fighting type. And I don't want him dead. It would upset my master."
Drayla tilted her head. "Such loyalty. How adorable."
Shun roared and transformed, muscle and fur twisting over bone as he crashed into her. Mira's silver threads snapped through the air, binding, slicing, redirecting. Steel met claw. Threads sparked against daggers.
—
Shoda threw open doors one after another, scanning every room.
He burst into Elmira's chamber.
She sat quietly on a stool.
He rushed forward and grabbed her hand.
"Ouch—Shoda, you're hurting me!"
"Sorry!" He released slightly but didn't let go. "There's an assassin in the mansion."
She gasped. "Father—?"
"Where is he?"
"He went to the Capital with Roderic."
"We have to move."
They ran.
In the hallway, Tomas stood waiting.
"Where are Mira and Shun?" Elmira asked.
Tomas pointed down the corridor, then quickly scribbled on a small piece of paper. He handed Shoda a drawing.
Crude. Childlike.
But accurate.
Shun and Mira on one side. Drayla on the other.
Shoda stared at it.
This is exactly how it is.
"Tomas… how did you—"
The boy shook his head rapidly, making small hand signs Shoda couldn't understand. Then he hid behind Elmira.
"Careful," Elmira warned gently. "He's still a child."
A thunderous thud echoed through the hall.
They ran toward it.
Shun stood clutching his shoulder, blood soaking through his sleeve. Mira was on her knees, threads slack around her fingers.
And Drayla stood before them.
Her body was wrong.
Her neck twisted nearly backward. One arm bent unnaturally. Her legs angled in directions they shouldn't.
She smiled.
"Oh my… I seem to be in a pickle."
"That's not normal!" Shoda shouted. "You need help!"
"Yes," Elmira added firmly. "Just leave!"
Drayla's body twisted and snapped back into place with slow, deliberate pops.
Shun steadied himself. "There's something wrong. She won't die. I don't think she can."
Shoda's mind raced.
"She can't die… or she's not alive."
They all looked at him.
"What if she's already a corpse?"
Silence.
Then—
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
Drayla applauded slowly.
"What a brilliant boy. He's right. This body? A dark magic corpse. I cannot die the usual way."
Her smile sharpened.
"And now that you know… I'll make sure you never leave here with your heads."
Threads shot toward them.
Mira gasped. "That's my magic—how is she—?!"
Elmira stepped forward, conjuring a thick wall of ice that shattered the incoming strike.
Drayla laughed. "I can copy abilities temporarily. It's quite convenient."
Her body warped again—feathers bursting from her shoulders, claws extending, wings tearing free.
A griffin-like hybrid form lunged at them.
"Stay back!" Shoda yelled to Elmira.
She glanced over her shoulder and smiled softly.
"I'm not as weak as I look."
She stepped forward.
Then she punched Drayla.
The impact blasted the assassin straight through the outer wall of the mansion, stone exploding outward. Drayla disappeared into the courtyard, coughing violently.
Shoda blinked.
"…Ehhhhhh?"
He stared at Elmira.
"I just witnessed legendary hero-level strength. I should never get on your bad side. Ever. You're terrifying."
She flushed immediately. "It's nothing! I don't even like it. It's not feminine at all…"
Shun winced, holding his shoulder. "It's biological."
Mira, supported by Tomas, nodded. "The Cain family has a cellular mutation from early development. They all possess abnormal physical strength."
"No wonder," Shoda muttered. "You're like a goddess."
Elmira blushed harder.
"Well… it suits you," he added with a grin. "My strong princess."
They both turned red.
Shun clapped Shoda on the back.
In that instant—
Drayla appeared behind him.
No sound.
No warning.
Shun reacted instantly, grabbing Shoda and spinning, his transformed leg kicking her across the jaw. She skidded back, smiling, dragging a blade across her lips.
Shun's expression changed.
He touched Shoda's back.
Blood.
The fabric parted.
The wound opened.
Shoda screamed.
Drayla sighed. "You children have been such a nuisance. I'll take your heads and be done with it."
Threads lashed out again—
A massive wall of flame erupted, swallowing the corridor in spiraling heat.
A figure stepped through the fire.
Flames coiled at his feet. A legendary blade rested at his hip.
Roderic had arrived.
His sword—Gram—glowed faintly at his side.
He surveyed the destruction. Shoda bleeding. Drayla grinning.
Elmira rushed to Shoda, placing her hands over the wound as golden light poured from her palms.
Drayla's smile widened.
"Oh my… the man himself. The knight of the world."
Roderic vanished.
He reappeared in front of her faster than any of them could perceive.
His fist drove forward.
She blocked—barely—twisting away with acrobatic precision.
He caught her leg midair.
Then smashed her downward.
The floor shattered.
She crashed through multiple levels of the mansion.
Dust and debris rained down.
Moments later, she stood again below, body rearranging with sickening fluidity.
Roderic's voice was calm.
"Leave. And never return."
She smiled up at him.
"I'll be back. We'll meet again. And next time… I'll collect every head."
Then she vanished.
Silence settled over the ruined hall.
Roderic turned back to the others.
Elmira still knelt, healing the unconscious Shoda, his head resting in her lap.
"Where's Father?" she asked.
"At the Capital," Roderic replied. "The work there is extensive."
Shun exhaled. "How did you know we were in danger?"
"I can sense threats from kilometers away," Roderic said. "I flew here immediately."
"Who is attending His Majesty?" Mira asked.
"Lysa."
Mira nodded.
Elmira looked down at Shoda. "Let's take him to his room."
She lifted him effortlessly and carried him through the damaged corridor, laying him gently in his bed.
She brushed his hair back and softly patted his head before leaving the room.
The mansion was quiet again.
But this time, it wasn't peaceful.
It was waiting.
Darkness.
Shoda drifted in it.
A faint room formed around him — hazy, distant. A woman sat in a chair, her face blurred as if covered in mist.
"I love you…" she whispered softly. "Do you love me?"
The words echoed, stretching unnaturally.
He tried to answer—
And jolted awake with a scream.
He grabbed his back, expecting pain, expecting blood.
Nothing.
The wound was gone.
Tomas sat beside the bed, quietly drawing.
"Good morning, little chap," Shoda muttered, rubbing his eyes—
Then he noticed something on the floor.
Mira.
Covered in soup.
Her eye twitched.
"YOU IDIOT!" she shouted. "Why would you scream like you were falling off a cliff?!"
Shoda blinked. "Oh… Mira's angry. I shouldn't have yelled like that."
"Damn right! That was ridiculous!"
"Sorry…"
"Faster."
"…Sorry!"
She narrowed her eyes. "I don't like your tone."
"Who cares—"
Her expression darkened.
Then suddenly she smiled.
A dangerous smile.
"Ohhh… I see you're feeling better now."
Shoda felt a chill.
"You'll begin work today. Mop the floors. Refill the baths. Tend the garden. Go to the nearby village for supplies."
His jaw dropped.
"That's too much work!"
"Take a bath first," she replied sweetly.
She turned to leave with Tomas.
"Oh, and one more thing—" she added over her shoulder. "You and Shun will rebuild the parts of the mansion that assassin destroyed."
She smiled again.
"You're in for a real treat."
The door shut.
Shoda fidgeted, then shouted, "You short jerk!"
—
After freshening up, he headed to breakfast.
Elmira sat at the table, smiling gently as she played with a small floating spirit.
"Good morning, Millie," Shoda said cheerfully.
She shook her head with a soft smile. "Millie? My name is Elmira."
"It's a pet name," he replied confidently. "People close to each other use them."
The spirit floated closer, squinting at him.
"Hm. Who's this kid?"
Shoda stared at it. "And who's this skinny, unfed cat?"
The spirit's jaw dropped.
"Shoda!" Elmira scolded gently. "Don't be rude. This is Lucky. He's my familiar spirit."
"Oh wise Millie," Shoda said dramatically, "what is a familiar spirit?"
Elmira explained patiently, "It's a spirit you form a contract with. Either the spirit proposes or the human does. If both agree, they become partners."
"So he was a stray spirit before meeting you?" Shoda summarized.
"Yeah!" Lucky said proudly. "And Ellie was thrilled to have me!"
Shoda stood suddenly.
"Then from this day forward, you are my rival. My adversary in achieving Elmira's love!"
Lucky floated upward dramatically. "Bring it on! She's basically my daughter!"
Elmira laughed nervously as the two glared at each other.
A small girl entered silently and sat down, ignoring everyone.
"Good morning, Charlotte," Elmira greeted warmly.
"Morning," the girl muttered.
Lucky floated over. "What's wrong, Char? You look grumpy."
"Someone was making noise earlier," she said flatly. "All night."
Shoda and Elmira stiffened.
Charlotte looked directly at Shoda. "You. Newcomer. Who are you?"
Shoda stood dramatically, pointing toward the ceiling.
"I am Iwamoto Shoda, age seventeen! The new manservant of the Cain estate!"
"…Whatever," she replied. "Just don't bother me."
Shoda leaned toward Elmira. "Who's this tiny girl?"
A solid magical block smacked him in the head.
"Ow! What was that for?!"
Charlotte crossed her arms. "Think before you speak."
Shoda picked up the block, examining it. "Hey… can you help reconstruct the mansion?"
"Excuse me?"
Lucky floated excitedly. "Oh, this is interesting."
"Lucky," Elmira said gently, "you shouldn't encourage fighting."
"You're too sweet," he replied fondly.
The bickering continued until Shoda turned back to Elmira.
"Millie, who is she really?"
"She's Miss Charlotte," Elmira explained. "Co-owner of this mansion."
"Co-owner? I thought your father owned everything."
"When Father found this estate, it was abandoned," Elmira said. "Charlotte was already living here. They made an agreement to share it."
"Ohhh…" Shoda nodded. "Even if we don't get along, she's kind of adorable—"
Multiple stone blocks smacked into him.
Mira entered with Shun and Tomas, serving breakfast.
Charlotte stood. "I'm going back to my room. This brat is exhausting."
"Don't mind him," Mira said calmly. "He lacks manners."
"Hey!" Shoda protested.
"And awareness," she added.
Charlotte left.
Mira placed plates down.
Shoda examined his portion. "What's this?"
"Carbohydrates and protein," Mira replied sweetly. "You'll need energy for reconstruction."
She turned to Shun. "You as well."
Shun choked mid-bite. "Wait, what? That's too much work! I promised the village ladies I'd entertain them today!"
"You pervert," Mira said flatly. "No going. Or no dinner."
She leaned slightly closer.
"It should be child's play for you."
Shun deflated. "...Fine."
—
Scene shift.
Shun and Shoda stood before the ruined section of the mansion.
Broken walls. Collapsed beams. Charred stone.
Shoda stared up at it.
"…We're dead."
Shun cracked his knuckles.
"Relax. With my strength and your motivation, we'll manage."
Shoda looked at him.
"What motivation?"
Shun grinned.
"Impressing Elmira."
Shoda's eyes lit up.
"…You're right."
And the rebuilding began.