Not what he bargained for

“Okay, you three. I’m a guy so, why the fuck and I in this? Not only do my shoulders constantly ache, but these shoes are so damn uncomfortable! This is bullshit!”

The ever-so-adorable Raze was scowling at the getup he was forced to wear. We all had to wear something similar for this job, but he was the only one to complain. I wonder why?

“It’s not that bad, you look rather cute in that,” I said. “Komoria couldn't pull it off as well as you.”

He glared at me, but it was hard to take him seriously. “You knew her for even less than a day and we look nearly the same!”

“It’s alright, Raze. All we have to do is finish this job and we would be told the location of the Sage of the East. Please bear with it for a bit.”

“Tch,” he clicked his tongue with anger. “I should have been able to wear a tux at least…”

“But you aren't a guy right now. You’re a pretty bat girl beast-kin. You heard her. We all need to look the part, “ I said, trying to make him drop the subject.

And what he said before was mean. I knew both him and the other girls for quite some time now. They just didn't know it.

Maybe if I showed him my romance journal, he would understand…

“Keep that shit back where it belongs! I don’t want you to show me another weird drawing,” he snarled.

I sadly slid it back down my cleavage. He was such a downer.

The main reason for Raze’s anger was that we all were wearing ballroom gowns to blend in with the others at the event. I wore a grey dress that didn't go too far past my feet. I hated carrying the hem to walk around at home, so I requested it to be cut like that. The others followed suit.

Lyra had a brown dress and let her usually tied hair go down. She was rather stunning even if her assets were lacking in some places. She had the same colored wrist-length ballroom gloves as well. It was the same for the others.

Raze on the other hand had an azure-colored dress that, like my own, exposed part of his shoulders to the world. I had seen it quite many times when I watched parties from my portals, but he seemed rather accustomed to even seeing them. What had he been doing with his life before I discovered him?

Let's go back a bit. If you didn’t know, I’m Fionelliana Floronda. That’s right, I’m the perfect princess of this entire kingdom.

Anyways, the spot I took the three of us to was a small town known for its lumber mills, but more importantly: their information network. Listra had some special people working in the shadows. Their information was vast, while their contacts were deep.

I’m surprised neither Raze nor the other girl really thought how such a small backwater town knew so much about the Imp Lord. They even met someone of great importance. She was the one I took them to see today.

We waited for her to finish her shift and met her outside of the Lucky Diner and Inn.

A girl no more than 20 with forest green hair and blazing red eyes appeared from the door. She had a satchel strapped across her chest and wore a brown colored shirt and long pants.

She noticed three anomalies that were us in seconds. “...Hey. What can I do for you…?”

She tilted her head while looking at Raze. She clearly recognized him, but...

“The situation can be explained later, but our hot-headed princess should tell her what’s up,” Raze stated calmly.

I reached my hand out. “W-wait, Raze! Don’t tell people that I-I’m the princess,” I stammered while mildly blushing.

Raze stared at me like I was crazy before the girl cleared her throat. “I know who she is anyway, but what can I do for you three?”

We explained the situation as we walked with her toward an abandoned shack at the end of town. She didn’t seem that surprised or caught off guard by what we said.

“So we have met before, huh? And yeah, I know the whereabouts of the Sage of the East. They are the real deal.”

She opened up the door to the large shack and beckoned the three of us inside. “Let’s discuss the payment for this information here.”

Raze looked crestfallen, while Lyra remained calm and stoic as always. I, on the other hand, knew this was coming.

“Pay...ment…,” he said without conviction. “We should be fine.”

The three of us sat on a long purple couch while the girl, who introduced herself as Milly, sat at a metal desk and stuck her feet up onto the table. It was very inelegant.

“This knowledge will cost you ten gold coins. Do you have them?” she asked.

Raze looked as smug as he could be when he pointed to me. “This is a princess after all. This bitch has to have money out of the ass.”

Well! That is a very rude description of me. I will let him have it later. That rascal, always cracking jokes, ha-ha...Ha-ha-ha!

Lyra gave me a worried look while the inner workings of my mind were displayed across my beautiful visage. I had something to say to Raze, though.

I lowered my gaze and gave him a wry smile. “Uh...sorry to let you down, but Father has never given me any money. I barely know how commerce even works…”

“Oh...I see,” he grumbled loudly, very very loudly.

Milly didn’t look deterred in the slightest. Instead, she clapped her hands together with a wink followed by a grin. “Well, if you don’t have money, there's another way you can help me.”

We all tilted our heads to the side, puzzled by her interesting answer. “Help…?”

“That is correct, Ms. Raze. I got a job for three strong female adventures like yours to help me out with.”

“Ms....?” Raze nearly pounded his fist through the couch in anger but surprisingly restrained himself.

My future husband was really growing as a man while not even being one!

Before anything else could be said by him, Lyra moved the conversation along. She had a dead serious look in her verdant eyes. “How will we need to assist you and can it be done in a timely manner? As we stated before, Raze and Komoria don’t have much time left until the merge is complete. A few days at most from my estimate,” she concluded.

“Yeah, that's totally fine. The job is to be at a museum showcase and make sure no one tries to steal the artifacts. We recently discovered them from underground ruins not too far from here and have set them up for a showcase before sending them to the capital. I can’t allow any thieves or party crashers to take these unknown and perhaps powerful creations”

Her face was very cheerful, but her eyes conveyed the truth. She was serious, like scary serious.

“So you want us to stand guard and make sure no one gets touchy with them?” Lyra asked, to be clear.

“Yup, and I need you three pretty ladies to blend in. Let me give you a hand.”

And so we agreed to her proposition and spent the rest of the day looking for outfits, much to Raze’s dismay. We also had a great time eating at the inn. I have never had peasant food before, but it was amazing. The museum showcase wasn't until the next night so we had to stay in an inn and just enjoy the town.

Now we are outside the prestigious-looking silver building with a ticket in hand to enter. Two knights from the capital stood guard and took our tickets. Others in suits and dresses went in with us as well. There were maybe 50 people in the gallery room in total. So many!

Raze spent his time looking at each guy and girl as if to ascertain who would be the so-called robber. That backfired on him soon after.

“What is a pretty demihuman girl like you doing in a boorish town like this? Are you also fascinated with these artifacts?”

A rather dapper-looking man was eyeing Raze with a bright smile. He was staring directly at his chest area...what a scoundrel!

He was at least a foot taller than him and held out his hand.

“Fuck off, prick.” Raze punched him in the stomach with a little bit too much strength.

Oh my.

The man dropped to his knees and gasped. Raze, on the other hand, let out a loud gasp as if he had made the worst of mistakes. “O-oh, my god! I am so sorry! Here let me heal you. There. That should do it.”

After casting [[Healing Ward]] Komoria’s spell, Raze held out his hand, which the groaning man graciously took. “It’s alright,” he said as he slicked his greased-up hair back. “So...how about you and me…”

“Sorry, but can we chat later, my friend needs me.” He locked eyes with me, sporting the smile of a pure maiden. “I apologize once more.”

He grasped the hem of his dress like a curtsey and rushed over to me with dread all over his face.

“What the fuck was that?! Why did I sound so girly and shit? This isn't good…”

I may have smiled on the inside a little, but I showed him I cared with a grim look. “It appears not even my magic can stop the merging from happening. We probably have another day at most.”

Raze clenched his fist in anger, “Shit. Shit! Shit! There is no way I’m gonna end up with Komoria like this... Ugh...what can I do?”

He looked at me like a lost puppy, seeking salvation. I loved it. I had him in the palm of my hand. I just needed to be the one to fix him. Then he won’t give her the time of day.

I glanced over my shoulder to see Lyra casually chatting with a couple. She seemed to have a knack for adapting to any situation. I wonder if Raze was into that kind of woman? Well...I should focus on the matter at hand.

“We only have another hour or so of this exhibition. If anything happens or not, there’s only a little bit of time left.”

“What the hell are you talking about? An hour feels like forever when I’m like this,” he gestured to the dolled-up body he was currently inhabiting. “I don’t want to end up going home with one of these dudes because of the Komoria in me. I...don’t want to lose...control,” he let out before turning away to admire the circular artifact that was concealed in the glass.

He really seemed troubled by this. It was something I was not accustomed to when I watched him. He was always hot-headed, brash, and full of energy.

Now, he just looked utterly defeated. You better not give up, Raze. I don’t want to marry some hollow weakling!

Time went by and we mingled, mostly chatting between the two of us. For Raze it was so his slip of the tongue wouldn't cause any problems—while for me, I got a blast out of just talking to him.

A true win-win.

It was all going well until three men in black cloaks shattered the windows.

One of them fired a fury of ice shards at every guard inside while simultaneously sealing the entrance in frost.

Now these big wigs with us were held hostage or that’s at least how it usually went.

I could take care of this...but I wanna see Raze fight in person. Hopefully, he can get his confidence back!

I decided I would play the part of a frightened maiden and take refuge in the corner like the rest of the rich folks who couldn't defend themselves.

The other two black cloaks had scimitars, one the color of violet, while the other was crimson red.

Poison and fire imbued, most likely. I have never seen an enchanted weapon in person, but Father said it helps people who lack strong magic Skills.

“We are only here for the artifacts, we have no reason to—”

“Shut the fuck up!” Raze shouted from the center of the room. He would have looked menacing as his usual self, especially with his gauntlet and eyepiece, but as he was now…

“What's a beast girl like you doing all the way out here? It doesn't matter, that’s no way to talk to the ones in control of the ro— What what?”

Raze chucked a large [[Fireball]] at the purple scimitar guy. He hastily responded by slashing an arc in the air, producing a purple haze that enveloped the large ball of flame like a mouth swallowing it whole.

“We can’t have that,” he said with a crooked smile. Rebellion now would be….” his voice trailed off. He was frozen in place, completely unmoving.

“This paralyze shit really is busted as hell,” Raze commented as he prepared another [[Fireball]].

This one hit its mark dead-on, reducing the masked man to a charred corpse.

He must have been a lot lower in level to perish in one shot. That’s my Raze for you!

The red scimitar man trained his eyes on Raze, while the one that could use ice magic kept his gaze on us prisoners in the corner. Lyra was nowhere to be seen for some reason...well, I knew why, hehe.

“Arnock! How could you! You will pay for this you bitch!”

Raze formed a shit-stained grin and smirked triumphantly before puffing out his chest. “I would like to see you try. Ha-ha.”

His light cackle unnerved a few of the people around me. “That girl has such a vulgar mouth...even for a demihuman.”

“That smile kinda scares me…”

“I’m a little turned on right, but also scared.”

I will have to deal with them later.

“Stop talking!” the masked iceman hissed. He was pacing back and forth around our large group while taking glances back at Raze and the other man's ‘showdown’.

“I’ll show you fire!” A barrage of flames burst out from his curved blade and flew at Raze with great speed.

He grinned. “Is that all you got? Well, then…”

His body changed color, his eyes growing crimson while his body became the color of stone and ash with cracks manifesting in between. His hair was already the color I had seen before and four writhing, metallic tentacles sprouted from his back.

“This...power. No wonder she let herself get consumed by it. I’m fine though!” Raze shouted while slapping aside the fire blasts with his tentacles.

The people around me shrieked in fear at the sight of his eldritch transformation.

Wimps.

“What is God's name that!” the fire scimitar man screamed from the depths of his soul.

“Doesn't matter now,” Raze mused while licking his lips. “I’m hungry all of a sudden. C'mere.”

What transpired next was rather unsightly, but I’ll give the rundown. Raze pierced the man’s body with his long tentacles before bringing him to himself. Like a fiend from hell, Raze feasted on the man’s exposed flesh while he was still breathing.

I hope he was like that in bed!

I smiled to myself at the thought. I placed my gloved hands on my cheek to feel their warmth. I must have been having a great time because this whole situation was really doing it for me.

This was also the first situation where he had ever killed a human. It didn’t seem to affect him in the slightest.

Can’t say I’m surprised.

My shivering of pleasure caught the attention of the iceman who had difficulty fighting Raze or using us to his advantage. The outcome didn’t matter in the end.

“Y-you better not c-come any closer—! I got all these people hostage you better not tr—”

I opened up a [[Gate]] connected to the palace I sent Lyra to right above where the fight was occurring.

“W-wha…” 

Lyra dropped right on top of him, slamming a fist directly into his head.

I sent her to a place I went before, filled with weak monsters for her to build her combo with. It should be enough to shatter the skull of our ‘captor’.

His body rolled to the floor, lifeless. I guess Lyra also didn’t have any qualms about killing humans.

Raze returned to normal and put his hands on his hips as he let out a hollow laugh from the depths of his belly. “What a challenge, am I right?”

I was going to give him an outstanding reply when a knife was pointed right at my juggler.

“No one move or I kill this girl.” He pulled the long dagger closer to my neck, nearly drawing blood.

I couldn't see who it was without hurting myself, but I guessed it was one of the well-dressed men who entered with us. They had someone on the inside as well, but why had they taken their sweet time to show themselves?

Raze stopped moving and grit his teeth, revealing his pair of fangs. He was the kind of man to not hesitate when it came to ignoring those he didn’t care about, but now he just stood still and glared.

Did he actually care for me? I would be so happy if that was the case, but it didn’t fit his MO.

Perhaps it was Lyra who was wincing at my side by not being able to do anything. I might have put her too low on the Raze totem pole. She was a woman after all.

What was I even doing? This was a waste of time.

I shifted my hands slightly behind my back. One of them opened up a [[Gate]] while the other sent a little something special into it.

“?....!!!”

The man dropped his knife to the marble floor, allowing me to break free and turn around to face him. He was rather handsome, but most definitely not my type.

Besides, I would have to punish him for that transgression.

I stared coldly up at him, into his eyes, frozen in time, and smiled. No one but myself knew when they would arrive, but I informed Lyra beforehand and sent her away.

I even saw a recording of these same people scoping out the place a day before.

My eyes saw all. No one can escape the fate I spun. That sounded cool!

“What did you do to him?” Raze asked after he came close. He poked at the man’s body but he didn’t react at all. It was like he wasn't even home.

“Oh, him?" I giggled while twirling my golden locks. “I just gave him a small time out of a thousand years in his mind. I did what I did to Lyra, but only to his head. To him, everything is happening very very slowly, but his mind is processing things faster than any human mind is supposed to and his body can’t keep up. It won’t catch up for a millennium. Cool, right?”

Lyra nodded solemnly at the man. I guess she felt bad. Raze on the other hand was full of delight.

“What a crazy Skill. That’s the kinda thing a final boss would have. It would make anyone quiver in his boots. I like it.”

“T-thank you!" My heart started to beat faster than normal. “It makes me so happy to h--”

“Why are you breathing so heavily? Anyway, let's get out of here and drop the bodies off with Milly. I’m sick of wearing this shit.”

He gestured for Lyra to pick up the body she crushed while he walked over to the remains of the ones he took care of.

“What will you do with him?" Lyra asked.

I opened up a [[Gate]] below the frozen man and when his body reached halfway through, I closed the Gate.

The other side of his body dropped from the air and onto the ground next to his upper half.

“Woah. That’s an interesting way to kill enemies. I like it,” Raze praised. "I wish the portal game I played back in my world could do something as sick as that."

I closed my eyes and laughed. “Ha-ha, yeah…”

I looked at Lyra and then imagined the other girl. “...Enemies.. Mhmmm…”

I had them gather the bodies and port us back to Milly’s room where she looked at us with a surprised look.

“Wooooow. Those are some dead dudes. Well, good job either way. I guess it's time to fulfill my part of the deal.”

“Please tell me where the Sage is so I can get the fuck out of here!”

Lyra and I nodded along as well.

That was how we got the location of the Sage of the East. They were located in a desert section of the Beast-kin Warped lands. A place called Amon.