Knock.
Creak.
"Hmmm," I hummed groggily, the sound of wood shifting and hinges whining pulling me out of whatever strange dream had been tugging me along. My eyes opened slowly, still heavy with sleep, and the morning light poured across the room in gentle rays that made me squint. It was far too early for noise like this.
"Yo, this is a sight I didn't expect to see happen."
The voice was sharp, annoyed, and female—cutting through the haze of waking. Blinking against the light, I turned my head toward the sound, only to find a very unwelcome presence stepping closer to the bed.
"Oh… Miss Anabald," I muttered, finally focusing on the tomato-red figure who loomed at my side. Her crimson hair caught the morning glow like it was trying too strongly to demand attention.
"So," she said, disgust dripping from every syllable, "mind explaining? I don't really want my servants touching some fox juices."
Her face twisted as though just being near me was a punishment in itself.
"How rude of you, Tomato," I shot back immediately, my tone flat with disapproval. "We didn't do anything. And shut up—you're going to wake her." My glare made the words sting sharper. Kayda was still asleep beside me, her breathing even, her body curled in a way that said she hadn't had nearly enough rest.
"Well, I don't care about that, seeing as the great Sage fell for—Boom!"
Before her poisonous sentence could finish staining the air, her body slammed against the wall with a heavy crash. Dust and fragments of plaster rained from the impact point. She groaned faintly, her limbs sprawled, her once-proud sneer faltering.
"I understand you're under a lot of stress," I said, voice low and lethal, holding her pinned by the throat with one hand, "but keep your mouth shut. You are making assumptions that will get you killed." My eyes bore into hers, making it clear this was no idle warning.
She coughed and choked but still managed to sneer, although her sneer was weaker this time. "Hah… so the fox does actually have a heart."
Her bravado ended abruptly.
CRACK.
"Augh!!"
The sound of ribs giving way beneath a sharp impact echoed in the room, followed by her gasp of agony.
"Wasn't it you," I said icily, tightening my grip around her throat until her airway was cut off, "who said you wouldn't be looking to make trouble with me because you'd lose? Then what is this? "Hmm?" My fingers pressed deeper, lifting her a fraction higher against the wall as her legs kicked uselessly.
Her eyes widened, panic replacing arrogance. Despair flashed across them, a silent plea that only deepened my satisfaction. Her strength ebbed as oxygen fled her body, and within moments, she slumped unconscious in my hold.
"Kitsuna, I think that's enough."
The gentle murmur came from the bed. Kayda's voice—sleepy, worn out, but concerned—broke through the haze of violence. She hadn't even bothered to sit up fully, her head still resting on the pillow as she watched.
"I just thought she needed to sleep some. The bags under her eyes are even bigger than yesterday," I muttered, my tone casual as I lifted the limp demoness into my arms. Her weight was negligible, her presence irritating even when unconscious.
"Yeah, but that was too extreme," Kayda sighed, finally pushing herself upright and brushing loose strands of hair from her face. "Something must have happened last night for her to act like this." Her brows knit in mild worry.
"I agree," I said, my gaze lingering on the unconscious girl. "We'll have to ask the butler."
Knock, knock.
"Talk about the devil, and he will appear," Kayda said dryly, her eyes flicking toward the doorway where, sure enough, the butler stood. He smiled faintly as he took in the sight before him, not seeming at all surprised by the passed-out demon cradled in my arms.
Though everyone called him a butler, he hardly looked the part. Sandals slapped against the wooden floor. A flowery shirt clashed horribly with denim shorts. Sunglasses perched on his head, glinting faintly in the light. Only his neatly combed gray hair and mustache gave away the slightest air of proper butler-like dignity.
"Sorry for the inconvenience," he said with a bow so slight it could almost be sarcasm. "We couldn't get her to sleep."
"As I thought," I said, narrowing my eyes at him. "You were hoping for this."
"That makes me sound like a rotten retainer, young miss," he answered smoothly, though the corner of his lips twitched.
"Well, you are." My tone carried no inflection, no hesitation, just blunt fact.
"…Anyways," he continued, ignoring the insult with a professional ease, "I will take the young miss to her bed."
"Nope. Let's walk and talk." I gestured with a flick of my head, the unconscious girl shifting slightly in my arms. "Lead the way to little Tomato's room."
"…Okay, follow me."
"Kitsuna," Kayda interjected hesitantly, "shouldn't we change first?"
I glanced down. Oh. Right. Pajamas. A loose shirt and tiny shorts, nothing more. Meanwhile, Kayda sat up clutching the covers to her chest, her face reddening as she realized the same thing.
The butler's gaze flicked to her, then back to me. His mouth opened with a smirk. "I have seen more people naked than—"
"Shut up! We don't want to know that!" Kayda snapped, her voice flustered and loud.
"We'll wait outside for you," I sighed, cutting off whatever awful anecdote he'd planned to share.
"Hm, aren't you going to—" he started, only to pause as his eyes landed back on me. My outfit had shifted in the blink of an eye; my usual clothes, with a scarf wrapped snugly at my throat, were already in place.
"Yeah, I got skills," I said with a smirk.
"I see," he muttered, unruffled, before turning on his heel.
"Give me ten minutes," Kayda called, still hidden under the covers. I kicked the door closed behind us.
"So," I said, voice dropping as we moved down the hall, "mind explaining what's going on with the girl?"
The butler's silence stretched, thick and stubborn.
"You might want to tell us," I warned, tightening my hold on the unconscious girl slightly. "You never know what sort of connections we've built on our way here."
"I don't know if young miss wants to involve you two with the House of Anabald's problems," he answered politely, though guarded.
"House of Anabald problems?" I scoffed. "Heh. Do you really think something like the head of the house going missing is only your problem?"
"Yes," he replied curtly.
"Wrong," I snapped. "The Anabald are responsible for protecting the border. The kingdoms rely on them to do their job. But you've got a fourteen-year-old—whose training isn't even finished—forced to shoulder the entire territory? Madness. Stupid. Irresponsible."
"So you are saying to leave it to another fourteen-year-old?"
I hesitated, caught in my words. "…Ah, yeah, that doesn't make sense, does it?"
"Yes," he deadpanned.
"Well, leave it to Kayda then. She isn't as young as me."
Smack.
Pain thudded across the back of my head as Kayda's hand connected sharply.
"Don't say it like I'm old," she said, appearing from behind us in her usual clothes, glare fixed firmly on me.
"You're done? I thought you were going to take ten minutes," I muttered, rubbing the sore spot.
"Once again, I learned my lesson from you," she replied, her glare sharpening.
"What?" I tilted my head in confusion.
"Never mind," she muttered. "Mister Butler, lead the way."
"As you will," he said smoothly, turning and walking ahead.
"Now then," Kayda said after a beat of silence, "while we are walking, tell us what happened last night."
The butler sighed, long and weary. "I see you will not give up."
"Well, obviously not," Kayda snapped. "This is the purpose of my visit."
He adjusted his sunglasses slightly, his voice calm as he spoke. "We have been looking into the disappearance of milady for months now. A few weeks ago, we noticed something strange happening in the slums."
"A few weeks?" I cut in sharply. "When did the churches get destroyed?"
"Our intel told us it was connected to the church, so we dug deeper. We found… experiments. Cruel ones. The church was using the inhabitants of the slums as test subjects.
Kayda's eyes hardened. I let out a humorless chuckle. "I can already tell where the group is going."
"Yeah," Kayda agreed grimly, "so can I."
"After confirming, we made plans to raid them. Last night was the night we chose."
"Let me guess—it was a trap," I said flatly.
"Yes," he admitted. "We sent sixty high-ranking military men and women. Only three came back. They abandoned their duties. They even left the bodies of all fifty-seven behind." His voice curled with disdain.
"Abandoned their duties? What do you mean?"
"They ran away like cowards."
"I see," Kayda said coldly. "Let me guess—you killed them."
"Yes. On the spot."
She sighed, disappointment heavy in her tone. "Did you at least ask questions before?"
"They were traitors," he said flatly. "They deserved it."
"That's not what I asked." Kayda frowned deeply, but he didn't elaborate.
"We are close," he said instead, halting before a grand door.
"These guys are as dumb as it comes," I thought bitterly, narrowing my eyes.
"He isn't telling us everything," Kayda whispered to me.
"You don't say that, haha," I chuckled quietly to myself.
"Anyways, what are your plans now that your raid failed?" Kayda asked.
"We sent an investigation team this morning. They should return in an hour or two with a report," the butler answered as he pushed the door open. "This is the young miss's sleeping quarters."
"Great. Then open up so I can put her on the bed," I muttered, clicking my tongue.
Inside, the room screamed of teenage indulgence. Pink walls. Three enormous mirrors crowded one corner. A neon-purple bedspread is buried beneath at least thirteen stuffed animals. The massive walk-in closet loomed like a shrine to vanity.
"Yep. Definitely a teenager's room," Kayda observed, bemused.
"Now this is how a fourteen-year-old bedroom should look," I said as I approached the bed. Pulling back the covers, I set the unconscious girl down and tucked her in gently, surprising even myself with the softness of the gesture.
"She should be out for a day at least," I murmured, turning only to find two pairs of eyes on me, staring strangely. "What?"
"You can be that gentle," the butler said, visibly baffled.
"You actually know how to treat someone younger than you nicely," Kayda added with a teasing grin.
"Ugh. Whatever," I grumbled, annoyed.
"Hehe, just teasing," Kayda laughed softly.
"Anyways, Mister Butler," I said, snapping my focus back, "are you certain the church kidnapped the head of the house?"
"…I did not say anything like that."
"Don't play dumb," I growled. "Since I am from a demon house, the obvious first suspect would be those who oppose demons."
"In the beginning, we thought so," he admitted. "They had started expanding toward our territory. But…"
"But now, an unknown entity is attacking the churches," Kayda concluded for him. "You've figured out it wasn't them."
"Yes," he confirmed with a nod.
"Well, lucky for you, you won't have to start from scratch," I said with a smug smile.
"And what might you mean by that?" he asked cautiously.
"Simple," Kayda said smoothly. "We already suspect who kidnapped her. But we don't yet know their goal."
"We have suspicions, but nothing concrete," I added while crossing my arms.
"I see," he murmured. "Might I be briefed?"
"Nope." My answer cut through his hope before Kayda could even open her mouth. "I don't trust you at all."