Chương 7: Heh… what are friends for?

what are friends for?

what are friends for? Ophelia led Bianca to one of the nicer parlors in Castle Nighthold. It wasn't a total wreck, and even had a few moth-bitten armchairs in front of a hearth. She took a moment to spark a flame in the firebox, and by the time she'd turned around, Bianca had either summoned or conjured a pair of heavy glass tumblers and a bottle of whiskey. The woman sat in the ratty armchair like it was a golden throne, crossing her legs beneath her pristine white robes. Ophelia's heart hammered against her ribs.

She cursed at herself a few times and sat across from Bianca in the other chair. Somehow Bianca had seemed way less scary in the webtoon - but maybe that was just due to the protagonist's plot armor. Even when the headmistress had been spitting with black fury, a thousand swords of radiant light circling her, the readers knew Rin would get out the situation somehow. This new colder, more proper demeanor felt way more intimidating. She didn't know what to make of it. Was she misremembering the character?

The first one to speak was Bianca, who poured a finger of golden whiskey into a glass tumbler and pushed it in Ophelia's direction.

"It's… good that you are engaging in extracurriculars."

"Oh, that business with pit fighting ring? Yes, saving those children had been a whim of mine. That's where Rin and the others came from. Obviously." Ophelia lifted the glass to her lips, trying not to gag at the strong fumes of the whiskey. Even though she was only seventeen, of course she had been to numerous parties and tried every substance under the sun. But this wasn't normal whiskey. This was… advanced whiskey.

"I just hope I don't get a summons from Prince Solomond. That would be a pain." Bianca glowered at her, her dark eyes glossy with the reflections of the fiery hearth.

"Scared of one little prince?" A shiver went up her spine. Ophelia ignored the comment. She gestured to the second untouched glass tumbler.

"Not drinking?"

"You know I don't drink," she said. Then what did you bring out this horrible swill for?! It didn't seem like Bianca had come here because of Ophelia's most recent activities. Or, not just for that. It felt more like Bianca had used it as an excuse to get through the door. And now she was stalling. Ophelia took a cautious sip of the whiskey, a full-body shudder threatening to go through her at the taste. A burning sensation flared in her stomach.

"If you came here to say something, just say it." Bianca made a noise of acknowledgment.

"I'm afraid another demon war is imminent." Whatever words Ophelia had expected, it certainly hadn't been those. In the story, the world - and Rin - had only learned of the new demonic threat at the end of the first book, when a sorcerer possessed by Demon Lord Azazel infiltrated the Royal Mage Academy to use the school's vast reserves of pure magic to open a Hellgate. After that, half the capital had been destroyed. Demons poured out.

Overnight, the biggest city of humans in the world had been transformed into the spawnpoint for the demonic scourge. Rin had only learned of the threat too late. She had chased after the sorcerer, trying to warn everyone, but she had been recognized at the academy gates, screaming and pleading for people to listen to her as she was thrown into prison. Being stuck in the most highly secured cell in the city actually saved her life.

The destruction of the capital was Rin's biggest failure - the nightmare that haunted her. So many innocent lives lost. Ophelia couldn't let it happen again. The Third Demon War... But how did Bianca know? Or... did she always know?

"Bold words," Ophelia said cautiously. Bianca exhaled through her nose.

"We didn't kill Azazel properly. He's been sighted in the north, regaining his strength in secret. It's only time until he tries to fulfil the dark prophecy once more."

"If he's weak, why are we waiting? Let's just kill him now."

"It it were so easy, I would've done it already and not burdened you with this," Bianca said, a note of hissing disgust in her voice.

"He's a cockroach. He was the best of the Demon Lords at escaping impossible situations and staying alive. We must do this correctly, my lady. Immaculately. Leave no hole for his ghost to slither out of again."

"What is your plan?"

"For now, just keeping an eye on his movements. There are too many eyes in the capital - I doubt he would dare to come here. Likely, he'll continue to stay in the outskirts of the continent." Bianca paused.

"I don't want to alert too many people, just in case Azazel's already looking through their eyes and listening through their ears. But there is one person I want to include in this." The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"Who?" Bianca crossed her arms, fingers tapping against her arms.

"Lucrezia Starling." Ophelia nearly spat out her drink.

"Lucrezia?"

"And it would be best if you were to request her help. That's why I came to you." What a shame. Now Ophelia didn't feel nearly so special. Ophelia set her glass down and thought for a moment, trying to remember all she could about Lucrezia Starling. She was a very cute, yet creepy, necromancer obsessed with death. Rin had spent a whole filler arc trying to acquire a Death Crystal just to bribe Lucrezia into answering a question about the death of her parents.

"Why would she want to see me? I don't have any Death Crystals." The slightest tinge of pink flushed the tops of Bianca's ears.

"You... You know how she feels about you." Great. More friendships she would have to blindly navigate. But considering Lucrezia's eccentric personality, Ophelia felt like her chances were pretty good. Certainly better than dancing with the headmistress.

"Fine, I'll speak with her… on one condition." The woman arched a single, perfectly sculpted eyebrow. Ophelia played with the tumbler in her hands. Her nails dug into the intricate patterns in the glasswork.

"Well, you see, now that I have an apprentice, she'll probably need some gear. Armor, weapons, that kind of thing. My funds are tied up at the moment… so…" Bianca's eye twitched.

"How much money do you want?"

"No, it isn't like that!" Ophelia quickly defended herself.

"I was thinking… it would be good to have a steady source of income. Since I'm an archmage, the most reasonable place to provide my services would be at the Royal Mage Academy right? And since you're the headmistress, maybe you can put in a good word for me?" The woman stared at her. She looked at Ophelia like she'd descended from another planet.

"You… want to work?" Damn it, Lady Vyx, what kind of reputation do you have? Ophelia pursed her lips.

"Not a teaching position. I dislike classrooms." Besides, even though I know how to cast the greatest of spells, I have no idea how to explain the theory to anyone.

"Something small and out of the way would be best." Bianca finally seemed to shake off the shock, a strange, avid gleam entering her eyes.

"Okay."

"Truly?" The woman nodded.

"Do you want a seat in the academy for your apprentice as well?" The perks of the rich and powerful were truly extreme. How many thousands of nobles all around the world were on waitlist for the academy? Even if you could afford the mind-boggling tuition, getting a spot in the Royal Mage Academy was an exercise in politics, bribery, and luck.

"Truth be told, my apprentice isn't mage material," Ophelia admitted.

"Her skills lie in swordsmanship." Bianca was back to a state of shock.

"You selected an apprentice that has no talent for magic? Do you have any idea how many of my students would kill just for one lesson from you?" Ophelia just shrugged.

"I suppose letting Rin train at the academy for a bit couldn't hurt," she said almost to herself. After all, it wasn't like Rin had a limit to how many skills she could learn. Ophelia had already taken away her opportunity to learn [Observe], as well as a number of other skills from the pit fighting arc. The Royal Mage Academy had a monopoly on a few dungeons surrounding the city. If Rin was a student, she could get access to them. Bianca sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Fine. You can work as an appraiser, if you'd like. On one condition. Your identity will be publicly known. No matter what your position is, simply having the Sovereigness of the Seam on staff increases our academy's prestige." Ophelia nodded. She hadn't known Lady Vyx had that title, but it made sense for a spatial mage. The woman pulled out a chequebook and quill from thin air, scrawling for a second before tearing it off and flicking it at Ophelia.

"Will this suffice as a signing bonus, my lady?" Her heart froze when she saw the number before it sped up with shock and glee. Ten million gold??

"Acceptable," she said.

"I can get my apprentice some decent starting gear with this." Bianca gave her a knowing look before rising.

"Talk to Lucrezia first. See if she's noticed any signs." Ophelia barely looked at her. She lovingly cradled the cheque before sending a bit of her mana into it. The cheque disintegrated into glowing particles. [Bank Notification: Deposit of 10, 000, 000 gold made] In a daze, she escorted Bianca to the castle's grand entrance.

"Ophelia?"

"Y-yes?"" Visit Lucrezia."

"Of course, of course," Ophelia assured.

"Is she still living in that creepy morgue?"

"Where else?" The hem of Bianca's robes fluttered and then the woman was soaring into the sky without a backwards glance. Ophelia watched her retreating figure with a fond look. Maybe Headmistress Albini wasn't a psychopath after all. Ophelia had definitely been reading too much fanfiction lately - maybe reality and fantasy had gotten mixed up in her head. After all, how could a cruel and heartless woman hand over ten million gold without even blinking? There must be more to her.

Only after a few minutes did she recall something strange. Bianca hadn't mentioned Lady Vyx's large donation to the Royal Mage Academy. Ophelia looked down at herself, at the dark plum gown she had been wearing since the ball only a few hours ago. Bianca hadn't mentioned the ball Lady Vyx had unceremoniously left either. Was this just Bianca's closed-off personality, or was there more going on behind the scenes? She wished she knew. Ophelia went back to her bedroom.

Marika and Toma were still sleeping on the four-poster bed, while Rin was sitting in a corner with her back against the wall, leaning her forehead against a propped up knee. Her eyes were closed, but Ophelia knew better than to believe she was fully asleep. Tomorrow, Ophelia would buy a proper apartment in Rosenarte. Just then two blue notifications suddenly appeared in front of her face. [The first chapter of Slayer's Requiem has been posted online!] [Click here to read the chapter and open the comments section]