In front of the temple-like mausoleum at E-Rantel's cemetery, a woman appeared silently.
Looking around twenty years old, with well-defined features and short, messy blonde hair, she draped herself in a cloak, wearing a chain mail outfit underneath that protected her rather voluptuous figure.
A few dagger-like blades, known as stilettos, were strapped to her lower back, and an almost predatory grin, like that of a carnivore, spread across her face.
If one were to describe her, she gave the impression of a ravenous beast, ready to pounce at any moment, to bite and tear into someone—looking dangerous.
"Something interesting seems to be happening in the city. Let's go check it out, shall we?"
With an attitude as if she were setting out for a picnic, the woman took a step forward, ready to leave the cemetery and head toward the city.
However, as soon as she moved, a raspy voice stopped her.
"Didn't I tell you not to act rashly until I finish preparing?"
A figure slowly emerged from the mausoleum.
He wore a long, dark red robe, with a necklace made of small animal skulls hanging around his neck, while his hands were so thin they looked like skin and bones.
Frankly, he looked more like an undead than a human—some kind of zombie.
In one hand, he held a black staff, and in the other, he carried a gravel-like pearl with a rough, round shape.
Such an appearance, if topped with a tall hat, would make him look exactly like a wizard.
Seeing the old man, the woman flashed a carefree, playful grin.
"Oh my, caught already? Didn't think you'd come out, Khaj! Or were you secretly watching me the whole time? Iyaa! Pervert!"
Her playful taunt made the old man feel disgusted.
"As if I wouldn't watch you! I know exactly how reckless you are!"
The old man yelled at the woman with an irritated expression.
"Don't say I didn't warn you, Clementine. Right now, you're still being hunted by the Windflower Scripture. If you go wandering around again and get caught, what's waiting for you will be worse than death."
"After all, you're a traitor—the former Ninth Seat in the Black Scripture, Windstride."
At the old man's words, the woman, known as Clementine, kept her predatory grin, and if anything, she seemed even more excited.
"Khaj, those Windflower guys have already pulled out, you know~" Clementine said with glee.
"Don't call me Khaj! My name is Khajiit!"
Making another irritated expression, the old man, known as Khajiit, first yelled at Clementine, then frowned.
"They left? Why?"
He knew that the Windflower Scripture had been sent to capture Clementine, who had betrayed the Slane Theocracy and deserted the Black Scripture. Given the theocracy's ways, it seemed impossible they would just let a traitor like her go.
Clementine had been hunted since her betrayal, never given a moment's rest, so why were they suddenly ignoring her?
It didn't make sense.
"Why? I think I might have a guess!"
Clementine chuckled, ignoring the way Khajiit frowned and struggled to think.
"I heard the Sunlight Scripture recently came to this kingdom on a secret mission. I don't know what the mission is since I already betrayed the theocracy, but the way those Windflower guys suddenly panicked and ran off—it's gotta be connected to the Sunlight Scripture, right?"
"Maybe something happened to the Sunlight Scripture, which is why the theocracy called those guys back?"
"If so, this is getting interesting! Maybe even my old friends will get involved this time! Should I go pay them a little visit?"
As Clementine spoke, her face lit up with excitement, as if she were about to jump in and put her words into action.
"Aren't you worried you might run into the Captain of the Black Scripture or the Extra Seat?" Khajiit asked, his tone cold. "Or do you think you can take them on?"
Upon hearing this, Clementine's expression froze, and the excitement drained from her face in an instant.
"You're so annoying, Khaj!"
Clementine puffed out her cheeks, looking kind of cute, but her gaze fixed on Khajiit had a dangerous glint—a look that said she was seriously considering killing him for bringing up something she didn't like.
Khajiit, however, wasn't afraid in the slightest.
"Hmph, you should be grateful that I'm stopping you from marching to your death, Clementine."
Khajiit sneered as he spoke.
"Anyway, until I'm fully prepared, you'd better not act on your own. E-Rantel hasn't been calm lately—it's not the playground you're used to messing around in."
"Just a few days ago, Gazef Stronoff showed his face here, and the adventurer who supposedly saved him has been active lately too. I heard that even a group of Platinum Adventurers got crushed by that adventurer with ease. They say his strength is at least at Orichalcum, maybe even at Adamantite."
"If you mess things up, it's not just my plan you'll ruin; you'll be putting yourself in danger too."
Upon hearing this, Clementine looked astonished at first, but then she laughed—laughed so loudly and mockingly.
"C'mon, Khaj, do you even know who you're talking to?"
Clementine's grin stretched almost to her ears, and her tone turned vicious.
"I was once the Ninth Seat in the Black Scripture and someone who had already reached the Realm of Heroes. Even without the equipment I had back in the theocracy, no mere Adamantite Adventurer could threaten me."
"Even if Gazef Stronoff came at me fully armed with those so-called kingdom treasures, it'd still just be a fun fight. I'd at least need those annoying Blue Roses brats to make it interesting."
"As for that new adventurer? Even if he really is an Adamantite Adventurer, who cares? Adamantite Adventurers who haven't reached the Realm of Heroes are just my toys, no matter how impressive they seem."
"Now that you've mentioned him, you're just making me wanna go find that adventurer now and have some fun with him, Khaj~"
Clementine's tone grew darker and more menacing the longer she spoke, making Khajiit click his tongue in annoyance.
"If you dare interfere with my plans, I won't let you off."
While speaking, a pair of red lights—or rather, a pair of glowing red eyes, began to flicker behind Khajiit.
In the next second, two massive silhouettes appeared behind Khajiit, their massive shadows looming and swaying with a decayed aura, half visible in front of Clementine.
"I'm going to perform a ritual in E-Rantel and turn this city into an undead city. No one is going to get in my way, not even you, Clementine."
Upon hearing Khajiit's deep, threatening voice and seeing the two massive silhouettes behind him, Clementine's face twisted briefly, showing a hint of fear.
However, she quickly regained her usual composure.
"Uwah, scary, scary~"
Clementine raised her hands in a lazy gesture of surrender while smirking.
"Alright, since those Windflower guys already retreated, I don't have to worry about being chased anymore. And whatever you're up to sounds pretty interesting anyway, so I'll leave you and your undead buddies to your little love fest, yeah?"
"But…"
Clementine suddenly licked her lips and then grinned.
"The adventurer you just mentioned… once you officially make your move, hand him over to me, will ya?"
Upon hearing this, Khajiit knew right away that Clementine's old habits had returned.
"What are you planning?"
Khajiit asked in a flat, emotionless tone, which only made Clementine's grin grow wider.
"What am I planning? I just wanna have a bit of fun with him~"
While speaking, Clementine's cloak shifted slightly, causing a faint clink of metal to echo from within.
A closer look revealed rows of metal plates—silver, gold, platinum, and even mithril—all hanging beneath her cloak, hidden from view.
After showing off her trophies, Clementine's voice rang out again.
"High-ranking adventurers, the kind who think they're invincible and love to flaunt it... the look on their faces when I grind them into the dirt, there's nothing quite like it~"
"I wonder what kind of face that adventurer who saved Gazef Stronoff will make?"
"How many bones will I need to break, how many muscles to tear apart, before he starts begging for mercy?"
"Aah~ I can't wait to find out~"
"Hehehe... Hehehehe..."
Clementine's delighted laughter echoed over the cemetery, lingering in the air.
She had no idea that, at this very moment, Riezel was also thinking about her and already deciding whether or not to deal with her once and for all.
===
Time rewound back to several minutes ago.
Tonight, E-Rantel was anything but peaceful.
Not only had the Shining Golden Pavilion nearly burned to the ground in a huge fire, frightening numerous distinguished guests, but a sudden storm swept in, only to vanish just as quickly.
All of this, one way or another, was clearly impossible to ignore.
As a result, even in the middle of the night, word spread fast, and before long, the name of the one behind it all, Riezel Brynhart, was once again the talk of the city.
In the end, the guild master of the Adventurer's Guild summoned Riezel immediately and listened as he explained the entire sequence of events.
Upon hearing that Riezel had been forced to fight to eliminate monsters sneaking into the city and then seeing the corpse of one of the Eight-Edge Assassins, the guild master could only helplessly admit that none of this was Riezel's fault.
Regardless, Riezel offered to compensate for all damages and then left the Adventurer's Guild.
However, as Riezel walked down the road, he suddenly remembered something important.
'Come to think of it, isn't there supposed to be a big event happening soon in E-Rantel? Maybe... I should go and look for those two?'
Riezel fell into deep thought, contemplating what he should do next.