Savior! Redemption in Another World! - Chapter 51

Making our way back to the mansion was relatively hassle-free.

We were accosted by two nobodies, but instead of playing along with the whole song and dance, I just sunk one down to his waist and Flare knocked out the second.

As we approached the mansion, a deep knot began to settle in my stomach once I opened the door.

“Nice place ice freak! I figured someone with your skill would be living well,” Ivy said as she boldly walked forward, not feeling any of the fear that I had been.

“I’d expect no less from a Legate Class Mage, but even so it is a little surprising,” Flare said, noting my fear yet choosing to ignore it and walk forward.

Maybe it’ll be okay?

After walking through the foyer and taking off our footwear, I headed towards the living room, my confidence growing with every step.

Why was I even scared in the first place? Teresa ought to understand, given she’s royalty and all.

Just had I begun to let my guard down, the three of us stepped into the living room, and I felt it.

Murder.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, as I could feel the full brunt of Teresa’s malicious mana, if not for my own relatively expansive pool of mana and newly developed mental defense against it, I may have passed out on the spot.

Unfortunately, Flare and Ivy had not braced for impact, so Flare reacted with a stumble and the grabbing of her weapon whilst Ivy fell down right on her backside, her knees buckling underneath.

“Evening, Antonio. I see you’ve brought friends,” Teresa said, her calm smile and tone being betrayed by the thick mana rolling off of her and the glint of murder in her eyes.

“H-hey Teresa, these two are adventurers I recruited to assist me as your bodyguard,” I reply, yet before Teresa is able to reply, Ivy is the first to speak.

“Your client is a crown princess?! What the fuck?!” She said, her voice shaking as she glanced between Teresa and me.

“Oh? I’m surprised you can recognize me in my subdued form, but you are correct.” Teresa said, dropping Alter Ego and standing up, causing Flare to flinch a take a step back. “My name is Teresa Delarus, heir to the throne of Elarus and Antonio’s client. I had hoped he had picked you based on strength, yet it appears he may have had ulterior motives.” Teresa said, casting a downward look on Ivy as she continued her approach.

Yet, once she was less than five steps away, she stopped and looked Flare straight in the eyes, as the weight in the room increased twofold.

“Unsurprising that you’re able to resist and all, Icefield, yet it seems you’ve brought along an interesting ally.” She continued, giving a small impressed smile towards Flare and dispelling her murderous aura.

“T-thank you, your highness. My name is Flare Meadowflame, at your service.” Flare said, immediately regaining her composure and dropping to a knee.

With a snicker, Teresa looks over to me with a quick remark.

“You could learn a thing or two from her, also, drop into your other form. Looking at you like this still feels strange, no matter how natural you’re able to act and seem in it.”

Sighing, I drop Alter Ego.

“What the fuck?!” Flare blurts out, a look of confusion flashing across her face.

“I told you he was a monster, a monster who pretends to be a child to make others let their guard down,” Ivy says, standing up and bowing to Teresa. “The name’s Ivy Mossbreeze, B-rank archer at your service. Very sorry about earlier, I hope that we can begin to mend our relationship under your employment.”

“What is there to mend? That little mana cloak stunt was just to test the mettle of you two, nothing more.” Teresa said with a pleasant smile, but I won’t be so easily fooled. Her eyes betray those soft words.

I think I’ll choose to keep the nature of how I met Ivy a secret, no point in needless drama.

“You’re really going to forgive me after I nearly killed you? Thank you so much!” Ivy said genuine happiness in her voice whilst genuine confusion filled Teresa’s.

“What do you mean by that?” She said, glaring at me whilst Ivy was still bowing.

“What do you mean what do I mean? I killed two of your guards and your horses in the woods, well, in the section there used to be woods.” Ivy said, bringing her head up, quickly realizing exactly what she had done.

“Antonio. Did you let one of the assassins go because they were a pretty girl? Then did you try to leverage that life-saving event into recruiting them, not checking if they were still after my life?” Teresa said as it felt as if the entire world was weighing down on me.

God damn it, Ivy! Is it so hard just to keep your damn mouth shut!

“Well, uh-” Before I was able to make an excuse, Teresa’s sharp glare cut me short.

“I call upon the lord of earth, chain this fool unto the ground in which he came, never relent, never allow escape. Gravity Well.” Teresa quickly chanted, pointing at Ivy.

Without any warning, Ivy was slammed into the ground, defenseless.

“I’m not trying to kill you! I swear! I already reported the job as a failure with Midnight Rose! I got kicked out because of it, I swear I wasn’t planning on trying anything!” Ivy yelled in panic, as Flare was too stunned to move, let alone talk, whilst I was just happy to not be slammed into the ground.

“Prove it,” Teresa said as Ivy grunted in pain, attempting to grab the guild card from her bag on her waist. “Antonio, grab her bag and her union I.D out of it.” She said with an icy tone.

“Yes ma’am,” I say, crouching down and grabbing the I.D. out of the minor storage bag.

At the bottom of the card, the only guild that was showing up was ‘Hunter’s Mark’, Rank-B, Age 19.

Handing the card to Teresa, she read it over for longer than necessary, and let go of the spell.

“Antonio, tonight, we’re going to have a nice long chat about your future employment. However, these two pass the shit test.” She said, helping Ivy up with a gentle hand and smile.

“D-does that mean we’re hired?” Ivy and Flare stutter out at the same time.

“Yep, now go get cleaned up and get back here at sunrise sharp. Tomorrow we’ll be shopping and preparing for the next leg of our journey.” Teresa said, dismissing them and gesturing me to follow her into a separate room.

“Uhh, what money are we going to shop with?” I ask as I can’t seem to recall Teresa ever spending a dime aside from buying my new mage’s robe.

“Yours. It’ll be coming out of your monthly payments and the two oro you were able to squeeze out of the union.” She replied, as my stomach dropped further.

God damn it! I just got this money!

I wanted cool gear, or a sword, or something like that!

But money is a secondary issue, as we’re heading suspiciously far from my two new allies.