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Part 2

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We did not need to kill any more than necessary. Our job was to rescue Elly first and then find a safe way to run and hide. And that was what we did. We did not kill all of those guards, but just enough to actually paved a path towards the inside of the mansion. Once all of us made our way, I locked the door and had Rose bolted it further with her vines and roots. In fact, I went out of my way to actually have her filled this place like proper underground ruins even though this mansion was pristine, elegant and still very much in use. Rose’s MP and Stamina was no doubt thoroughly depleted by the time she finished with half I asked her to do.

“Papa, I’m sorry.” She apologized to me but it was enough for now. Popo and Mimi had gone ahead of us in search of Elly. I placed more of my flammable mixtures around the area inside the mansion as strategically as possible.

“It’s alright, Rose. You have done well. Now, I’ll put this thing here and if they even manage to come in, I’ll burn them like fries.” Rose gave a chuckle and asked for a hug. Though it was still early, at least I could give her one now for her good job so far.

“Ghost, we have found Elly!” Mimi came rushing to me bearing the good news. But it was not for long. “Popo is having trouble. There’s a bunch of powerful fighters that he is currently engaged with. And I can’t get anywhere near them!”

“And Elly?”

“S-She is being held at knife’s point. That’s the reason why Popo could not go all out.”

So, they were blackmailing Popo? Bloody wretched people. “Are these people the same as the one that attacked you people earlier?”

Mimi nodded. I uttered a few more curses before I ordered Mimi to lead us.

We immediately hurried up to the third floor. Rose had been designated to seal all possible entrance except for one; a small window by the fireplace. Our getaway was of the utmost importance and I had Rose on the duty to guard it with her life. In addition, she had covered the whole floor with her new form of attack, Gas Poison. It reminded me how much the resemblance between her and the Red Alraune I once fought before.

“Popo!”

Mimi’s shout reminded me of my current task in front of me. The destination was the biggest room on the highest floor of this mansion. And we arrived at the nick of time as Popo was pushed back out of the door. I held him by his shoulder and looked inside.

The unconscious Elly; who wore somewhat of a weird see-through gown was surrounded by four people, all with various costumes but one similar pattern; a spear piercing the shield on their sleeves and chest. This was most likely the King’s personal secret Army called the Vastiel. And from what Popo told me, these people were not just powerful but also cold-blooded. Surely, they were not pushovers like the one downstairs. And because of that, the Bunnian was apprehensive to go all out with them.

“Ghost!” Popo greeted our arrival but did not avert his eyes and sword away from our enemies. Elly was held by the most behind of their member at a dagger’s point.

“Let her go!” I wanted to make sure the stands of things here. We had to hurry up before the real reinforcement came.

“And to what extent shall we listen to your barking?” The front most of the Vastiel looked at me with contempt waving and thrusting his rapier into the air towards my way.

“You can’t even lay a finger on her by your King’s behest. Am I right? So, your threat doesn’t work on me. I’ll give you one choice. Let her go and I’ll kill you with mercy!”

All the Vastiel looked at each other and then broke into a snicker. Looked like the promise of painless death was not even a motivation for them. I looked at Mimi and nodded at her. As I casually walked between the two Bunnians and Vastiel, I wore my ring, Loki’s Mischief. Patting Popo as I passed by him, I whispered. “Once Elly is free from their grasp, go all out.”

I was unarmed. The four of them looked at each other yet again. Seeing a foe entering the battle without a weapon was perhaps new to them.

“So, the mage has now becomes the shield?”

The first one drove his rapier directly towards me, perhaps trying to gauge my reaction speed. It was not surprising that he looked down on me and did not cast any of his skills. Or perhaps at an impasse, all of us could not cast any skill, be it magic or physical. Doing so would break the deadlock and would ensure chaos and free for all fight. The Vastiels were no fools alright.

But unfortunately, their very own downfall was to look down on me.

*****

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Part 3

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“Now, Mimi!” Mimi casted a light skill, called Sun’s Warmth. Normally used to light our way in the dark tunnels or underground or create artificial lighting for plants, I had her purposely cast this skill at the highest level. It was bright enough that it affected all of the others, Popo included with a temporary blindness. Since I knew the plan beforehand, I had closed my eyes to avoid the effect directly and thus took a direct hit from the rapier attack. In one single thrust, my HP dropped below the halfway line. It was a risk that I needed to take to divert their attention from Mimi.

“Argh!! I can’t see!”

I took this opportunity to dash right through their ranks towards the last member who held Elly hostage. Because of the blinding flash, he covered his eyes and let down his guard. I went behind him and drove a dagger right through his back. Surprisingly, the damage did not kill him outright, but it had winded him so much that his first reaction was to let Elly off and tried to slash anything that was in front of him. Since Elly was unconscious, she was an easy target after all. I had to grab her away and rolled on the floor covering her. I then casted my next few skills towards the enemy, starting with Heal. Wearing Loki’s Mischief, all the effects were reversed.

Mimi next move was to cast all the buffs on me. I was not out of danger just yet though I had Elly in my arms. I was still in the enemy’s line and the effect of the blinding light was fading fast.

“You won’t escape here alive, scum!!” One of the Vastiel who managed to recover first tried to strike me with a skill attack. I tried to move away but with Elly on my arms, it proved to be a little too late. I covered my eyes and bit my lips as I offered my back and myself for the attack that would have ended my life.

“Not so fast, Vastiel!”

Suddenly, I could feel someone came in between us. As the metal clanged behind my back, I turned around and saw Popo. As he blocked the attack, he unleashed one of his own and the force sent the enemy back towards the far end of the room. Truth to be told, I was extremely surprised. The lazy rabbit had saved my life. And Elly’s too.

“Go now, Ghost! Leave these King’s dogs to me!” Suddenly, Popo’s body was engulfed with bluish fire. Upon seeing what happened, I heard Mimi’s sudden shout of exasperation. “No, Popo!!”

“Meister’s Edict, unleashed!!” Surrounding Popo next was bright inscriptions and then it turned into… spirits? Instinctively, I got a bad feeling that this would not end well for me or Elly if we continued to stay here.

“Hurry, run away with my wifey, po!” He barked yet another order. The Vastiels were trying to regroup.

“But what about you?”

“I’ll return these dogs some undue favour for how they treat my wifey back then!”

“Popo!!! No… you cannot unleash that!!” Mimi screamed and tried to reach him but was pushed back by Popo’s new skill and ending up burning her hands for all her trouble.

I could not wonder what would have happened. But it seemed Popo was not messing around. This was the first time I had seen such skill and I was pretty sure getting caught it in was a bad idea. With Elly on my shoulder, I grabbed Mimi’s hand and pulled her away. I turned my back and shouted, “You better be safe Popo.”

He just chuckled as the four Vastiels simultaneously attacked him. “I’ll be back to eat my wifey’s food. Make sure she is safe or else, you will be next.” He let out a thunderous roar that stunned his enemies.

“Time for me to show what Royal Meister, 7th level Champion, Popo is made of.” That was the last words of his that I heard before we descended down the stairs.

*****