"Sigh... "

A Lycanthrope —A Weretiger to be specific, let out a heavy sigh as she stood before two very large doors.

She then raised her knuckles to knock, but then hesitated for a brief moment to swallow the lump on her throat.

She then looked down on the maid attire that donned her entire being so perfectly as though tailor-made, and fixed any wrinkles or imperfections she found.

Well, to be honest, her attire was in fact a magical armour, so it was not possible for it to develop even a single wrinkle.

But Bethsheba pressed it despite knowing this fact, and she finally mustered up the courage to knock on the door.

...

Absolute silence. Her white, striped ears perked up but she heard nothing, only a dense bloodlust that would suffocate any normal person was given as response.

But Bethsheba was not normal by any means, it would not be a far cry to say that she was one of the top three most powerful beings on the Seventh Floor.

"My Lady, please excuse my Intrusion, but I am coming in."

She said, knowing very well the temper of the one she served. But sometimes such boldness was required, otherwise nothing would ever get done in this place.

"..."

She slowly entered and closed the doors behind her.

She then scanned the conference room, and found that it was an absolute mess. Bite marks and large claw marks were visible everywhere.

The intricate pieces of furniture that once decorated this place were no more, it was as though a juvenile dragon had been running amok in there.

But she knew all too well who the culprit was.

She drew another deep breath, carefully walked around the destroyed round-table and approached the only piece of furniture that was still in one piece —A chair.

And on that chair sat a woman with bright orange, curly hair and a fierce look in her eyes.

"My Lady, I have escorted our guests from the Ninth Floor, as well as the delegates from the Dark Fae High Court."

She briefed, but got no response from Rowena.

"... Did it not go well, my Lady?"

Bethsheba’s concern grew.

"No, it’s not that."

Rowena finally replied and slowly stood to her feet.

"You must have seen Sebastian on your way back here, right?"

Bethsheba nodded at Rowena’s question.

"He was to confirm the intel we received from that blood-sucking leech that dared to come here the other day."

Rowena’s words were accompanied by a low growl.

"Charymos, that slimy bastard. He really did betray me!"

As her anger multiplied, Rowena grew thick whiskers on her battle-hardened face.

"... How dare he. After all that funding and support you gave him!"

Rowena’s wrath resonated with Bethsheba.

"Don’t worry. That slimy bastard will get what’s coming to him!"

Rowena reached into thin air and retrieved a piece of parchment.

"We have been granted permission."

She grinned so much that she nearly tore her cheeks.

"...I have already sent Sebastian to deliver the message..."

"... As from today, the Seventh Floor will declare war on the Sixth and Basement Floors!"

A loud howl accompanied those words, and scattered across the entirety of the Seventh Floor.

Bethsheba let out a roar of her own and followed her superior. She then lowered her gaze and noticed something on Rowena’s waist.

[Three of her tails have already manifested... Lord Skadi, Lord Charymos.]

[You’re both doomed...]

Her striped tail wiggled in excitement, when last had she waged war?

///

Kaelen’s eyelids slowly unraveled like proscenium curtains, revealing his eyes that were like a pair of sapphire gemstones. As his pupils adjusted to the intense light directly above him, his iris became bright like burning lithium salts.

[...]

His mind was blank, but unlike before, there was no confusion, he knew exactly where he was and everything that had transpired before he lost consciousness, began to replay in his mind like a broken record.

He shut his eyes for roughly two seconds, as though forcing them to swallow the puddles that were beginning to form.

He then opened his eyes once more and they had a glint of yearning as he turned to his side.

"Veylith..."

He knew she’d be there —No, he hoped she would be.

Kaelen didn’t understand her infatuation with him, nor did he comprehend how or when it had formed. But here she was nonetheless, the only person in this Tower who he knew bore him no ill-intent.

"Welcome back, Captain."

She spoke from her dry lips that seemed to bear signs of dehydration.

"..."

Kaelen slowly, reluctantly stretched out his arms and embraced her. He knew that this doll-like being would probably not understand the gesture, nor would she have any means of returning it, but he did it nonetheless —He needed a hug, no matter how cold it felt.

"They all died. I couldn’t do anything to save them."

His voice quivered on her shoulder, but she remained silent. Veylith didn’t know who Kaelen was talking about, nor did she care, all that mattered to her was that he was alive.

"I’m sure you did your best. You always do, Kaelen."

She glanced down at his trembling head, her arms hanging limply as they had been for the entire duration of her waiting for him to awaken.

"My best wasn’t enough."

Kaelen took a deep breath and attempted to calm himself.

"Captain. Why are you lying on my shoulder? Is it more comfortable than that pillow?"

She asked and slightly tilted her head. Surely her boney shoulderblade was not as comfortable as a feathered pillow.

"Haha... Would you believe me if I said it was?"

Kaelen raised his head and let out a hearty chuckle.

"Is that so? How strange."

She tilted her head, and seemed genuinely puzzled despite her blank expression.

"Forget about that. How long have I been unconscious?"

[I’m happy to be alive, I really thought I was a goner...]

[...I can’t waste any more time, I need to get as strong as I can, strong enough to be beat Thaldrin on the Fifth Floor and leave this Tower!]

Kaelen balled up a fist, his snow-white brows furrowed deeply.

"Sixteen hours."

She replied, and stood to her feet.

[Yeah? You understand time but not a hug?]

He stared at her blankly.

"Please stand, Kaelen. We have orders to see our Master, Lord Charymos, as soon as you awaken."

Veylith seemed to be a bit more serious than usual as she spoke those words.

[What’s up with her hair?]

Kaelen finally noticed

"Me and you both? Not just me?"

[That bastard’s probably going to torture me for insubordination. But why is Veylith coming?]

Kaelen mused, swiftly got up to wash his face at a nearby basin and change his clothes.

[Also... Is it just me, or is Veylith crazy strong right now?]

Due to his Mana Sensitivity, Kaelen could almost taste the dense magicules that circulated around her entire being.

"Are you done preparing?"

She opened the curtain, she didn’t understand why Kaelen had drawn it in the first place.

"Yeah, I’m done."

Veylith allowed Kaelen to walk out of the infirmary before she led the way, but she didn’t walk in front of him.

[She has no openings at all... Seriously, am I still half asleep?]

Kaelen continued wrestling with his thoughts.

His curiousity got the better of him and he muttered a spell under his breath:

■■ Creator’s Eye: Insight.■■

<□ Veylith — LV. 29

Archetype: Executioner LV. 30□>

[!!]

[Eh?! Wh-what the hell happened?!]