"What? I'm not a qualified assassin?" Mira's emerald eyes widened in disbelief, her gaze locked on the man before her. Her voice trembled with indignation, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. She, Mira, trained by the third-ranked Skywing Hunter, had been personally praised by Big Sister herself. And now, this… this noble dared to question her skills? Did he even understand the art of assassination? The audacity of his words stung like a slap to her pride.
Lucas's expression remained calm, almost infuriatingly so. He leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes glinting with a hint of amusement. "You think you're a qualified assassin? Then how did we catch you so easily last night?"
"I…" Mira's mouth opened, but no words came out. Her mind raced for an excuse, desperate to salvage her wounded ego. 'I was careless,' she wanted to shout. 'That wasn't my usual performance!' But the truth gnawed at her—she had been caught, her infiltration of the castle a humiliating failure. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she struggled to find a retort.
"What's that? Not convinced?" Lucas's lips curled into a subtle smirk, his dark eyes gleaming as if he could see right through her. "You think you were just careless, don't you?"
"Yes," Mira said firmly, nodding with conviction. She hadn't come to the castle with the intent to kill. If assassination had been her goal, she wouldn't have bothered sneaking in at all—she'd have set up an ambush outside, striking from the shadows like a true predator. Her mission had been to retrieve Amelia, not to spill blood, and that had made her sloppy. At least, that's what she told herself.
"Perhaps," Lucas said, his tone as smooth as polished stone. "But if it weren't for me, you'd be dead by now."
"I…" Mira faltered again, her voice catching in her throat. He was right, and she hated it. A captured assassin faced only two fates: death or torment. She had been caught, her skills failing her in that critical moment. If Amelia hadn't intervened, Mira might not be sitting here now, her heart still beating. The realization settled over her like a heavy cloak, suffocating and undeniable.
Lucas tilted his head, his gaze shifting briefly to Amelia before returning to Mira. "If you're truly unconvinced, let's settle it with a challenge." His voice was calm, almost casual, but there was an edge to it that made Mira's pulse quicken. "If you lose, you admit you're not a qualified assassin. And in return…"
"No, I won't lose," Mira interrupted, her voice sharp and resolute. She knew what he was about to say—that if she lost, she'd have to acknowledge that Big Sister's training was inferior to whatever this noble offered. That would mean Amelia had no reason to return home, and Mira couldn't allow that. Her pride, her loyalty to Big Sister, and her mission to bring Amelia back all hinged on proving herself here.
"How do you want to compete?" Lucas asked, reaching for a sandwich from the plate in front of him. He paused, glancing at Ayesha, whose eyes were practically sparkling with hunger as she stared at the food. "Better start eating, or Ayesha's drool will flood the table."
"Uh…" Mira blinked, caught off guard. "You're the one who suggested a challenge! Why are you asking me how to do it?" Her voice carried a mix of confusion and indignation, her wings twitching slightly behind her.
Lucas took a bite of his sandwich, chewing thoughtfully before responding. "You decide the terms. That way, when you lose, you'll have no excuses." His tone was maddeningly confident, as if her defeat was a foregone conclusion. He bit into the sandwich again, savoring the juicy meat patty inside, its flavor reminiscent of a hearty burger.
"Hmph!" Mira huffed, crossing her arms. Did he think she was the type to back out of a bet? "Fine, let me think about it," She snapped, her mind already racing to devise a challenge that would showcase her skills.
"Think while you eat," Lucas said, gesturing to the sandwiches on her plate. He took another bite, his expression one of quiet enjoyment. The sandwich was delicious, the meat patty perfectly seasoned and paired with the tangy crunch of pickled cucumbers.
"Wow, this meat is amazing! And the pickles!" Ayesha exclaimed, her voice muffled as she devoured a sandwich in three massive bites. Her cow horns bobbed as she chewed, her enthusiasm infectious.
"Ayesha, you big-mouthed monster!" Annie shouted, her own mouth stuffed with sandwich, her words barely intelligible. She had only taken her first bite, and already Ayesha was reaching for her second.
"Nicole, I need five more!" Ayesha called out between bites, grinning mischievously. "And don't give any to Annie!"
"You! Nicole, give Mina five and skip Ayesha!" Annie retorted, her fox tail swishing furiously as she glared at Ayesha.
"Cough, cough!" Mina choked on her sandwich, startled by her sudden inclusion in the argument. "Why am I involved?" She wheezed, her cat ears twitching in confusion.
"Here, drink this," Helen said kindly, passing Mina a glass of water.
"Thanks…" Mina mumbled, gulping down the water. As she drank, her hand absentmindedly reached for Annie's fluffy fox tail, curious about its texture.
Freya, nibbling on her sandwich, noticed Mina's wandering hand. Her orange eyes narrowed, and with a subtle flick of her own tail, she blocked Mina's path, positioning herself between Mina and Annie. Mina's fingers closed around Freya's tail instead, and she froze, realizing her mistake. "Huh? This feels… different," She muttered, squeezing lightly before glancing up. Her eyes met Freya's flushed face, and she quickly released the tail, her cheeks reddening. In an attempt to cover her blunder, Mina grabbed a sandwich and stuffed it into Annie's mouth.
"Mmph?!" Annie's eyes widened in confusion, her mouth now full of sandwich as she stared at Mina, utterly baffled.
Mira watched the chaotic scene unfold, her gaze dropping to the sandwiches on her plate. The aroma was intoxicating—warm bread, savory meat, and the sharp tang of pickles. She hesitated for a moment, then gave in to temptation, grabbing a sandwich and taking a tentative bite. Her eyes widened in delight. "Oh… this is incredible," She exclaimed, her voice tinged with awe. No wonder Ayesha was eating so fast—the flavors were a revelation, bursting on her tongue like a small explosion of joy.
The dining table erupted into its usual lively chaos, with beastgirls bickering and laughing as they ate. Lucas watched with a faint smile, occasionally tossing a sandwich to one of the girls, joining in their playful antics. The warmth of the scene was almost disarming, and Mira found herself momentarily caught up in it, her earlier frustration softened by the camaraderie around her.
Twenty minutes later, the meal was finished, and the room grew quiet. All eyes turned to Mira, waiting for her to announce the terms of the challenge. She cleared her throat, taking a sip of water to steady herself. "Alright," She said, her voice firm. "Three contests. Whoever wins the most is the victor."
"How will they work?" Lucas asked, tapping his finger lightly against his glass, the sound sharp in the now-silent room.
"First contest: disguise," Mira declared, her tone serious. "Whoever finds the other first wins. A true assassin excels at blending in." She was confident in her ability to vanish into a crowd, her training honed for such tasks.
Lucas nodded, a peculiar expression crossing his face. He glanced at the Mina, Elisa, and the others, who seemed to be stifling grins. "Agreed," He said simply.
"Second contest: first strike," Mira continued, holding up a finger. "We set a target at a distance. Whoever lands the first hit on the target wins." Precision and speed were her strengths, and she was certain she could outmatch Lucas in this.
"No problem," Lucas said, shrugging. His smile widened, as if he found her confidence amusing.
"And the third?" He prompted, leaning forward slightly.
"Assassination," Mira said, her voice brimming with confidence. "Whoever can take down the other silently, without being noticed, wins." She felt a surge of certainty—she was in her element now. This was where she would prove herself.
"And who's the target for this assassination?" Lucas asked, his tone deceptively mild.
"You and me," Mira declared, her voice ringing with defiance. She met his gaze head-on, her determination unwavering. There was no way she would lose.
"Interesting," Lucas said, a soft chuckle escaping him. His mind was already racing, calculating strategies and pinpointing the perfect method for a silent takedown—one so subtle it would leave Mira stunned.
"If you lose, you cannot interfere with Amelia's decision to leave," Mira said, her voice resolute.
"Of course," Lucas replied, nodding firmly. "If Amelia chooses to leave of her own accord, I won't stop her."
"Good. When do we start?" Mira asked, her body practically vibrating with eagerness.
"Follow me," Lucas said, rising from his chair. "We'll begin with the first contest." He had already chosen the perfect location for their challenge, and the glint in his eye suggested he was ready to play.
.
.
.
.
You can read advance chapters and view R-18 images of the characters on pat reon page.
pat reon.com/GreenBlue17
300 Power Stones for 1 extra chapter.
5 New reviews for 1 extra chapter.