Celstia and Lei moved at once.
Celstia bit her thumb—blood dripped onto the air and bloomed into a glowing crimson magic circle.
[Blood Magic: Chain Binding.]
Five blood-chains shot out and wrapped tightly around the chimera's body, stopping its rampage for a moment.
Celstia exhaled. "Lei, handle the cloaked man! I'll hold the monster!"
"Nyaa—got it!" Lei dashed forward.
She targeted the cloaked man, but he raised an earth barrier, blocking her claws with a sharp thud.
Lei clicked her tongue. "Tch, stubborn!"
Meanwhile, Norax had already retreated to the far end of the hall, eyes narrowed.
Shadow magic shares similar rules with creation magic… which means…
He inhaled deeply.
He cleared his mind.
He shaped his hands as if holding a gun.
A ripple of black mana rose around his arm.
Then—
BZZZZZTT—!
A long, purple-black crystal formed, shaped like a sniper rifle.
His nose burst with blood immediately.
"Damn it… this is using too much mana…"
But he didn't stop.
"Celstia! Lei!" he shouted. "That's enough! Get back—now!"
Celstia spread her vampire wings and shot upward.
Lei leapt onto the cage top with cat-like agility.
The cloaked man panicked.
"You idiot! Pet, attack him! Don't let him—!"
Too late Norax pulled the trigger.
For a moment, he smirked to himself.
The chimera's tentacles lunged!But—BOOOOOOOOOM—!!!
A massive sound shook the underground hall.
The purple bullet tore through the air and punched straight through the chimera's chest.
The impact blasted Norax backward—he slammed into a cage and coughed.
The werewolf chimera froze mid-attack.
The cloaked man screamed, "W—what the hell was THAT?!"
A gaping hole opened in the chimera's torso.
Its core shattered.
Its body collapsed.
Celstia didn't let the cloaked man move.
Lei jumped down, claws ready.
The cloaked man fired a fireball in panic.
Celstia stepped forward deliberately, acting as bait Lei blurred behind him.
SLAM—!!
She tackled him to the ground, pinning him.
Norax stumbled forward, coughing violently.
He wiped his mouth—blood again.
"Got… you… bastard…" He staggered, drained from the mana cost.
Celstia and Lei turned to the chimera—And froze.
Because the monster's body was shrinking—its fur fading—its limbs returning to human shape.
Celstia's eyes widened. "A human…? That thing was… human?"
Lei trembled. "Nyaa… this is my first time seeing something like this…"
Norax stared at the corpse His entire body went cold His pupils trembled.
His breath shook He covered his mouth as nausea surged Then—He vomited.
"Master!" Celstia ran to him instantly.
Lei grabbed the cloaked man tighter, but she was more focused on Nox.
"Boss! Are you hurt?! Is this because of the magic? Nyaa—say something!"
Celstia held him up as he leaned against her, pale as a corpse For a long moment… he said nothing.
Because the truth finally slammed into him.
I didn't kill a monster. I killed a person.
His hands trembled.
His thoughts tangled.
His breath wouldn't settle.
He didn't kill any thugs… he avoided it every time…
But this—this was a human…
I thought it was just a chimera… I—
His vision blurred.
Celstia suddenly hugged him from behind, her warmth stopping his spiraling thoughts.
"Master… please… breathe. We're here."
Lei's voice softened. "Boss… at least look at us… nyaa…"
Norax slowly lifted his head.
His eyes met Celstia's worried gaze.
And reality returned.
Norax leaned heavily against Celstia, breathing unevenly.
"Ugh… my head is spinning…" He pressed his temples.
His legs felt weak, but he tried to stand Celstia clung to him tightly, refusing to let go.
Her arms were firm but trembling—she was clearly worried.
Norax exhaled and gently patted her head.
"I'm fine now. It was just the first time I created something like that."
Celstia nodded, but her ruby eyes shined with tears as she rubbed her cheek against his shoulder.
"Master is an idiot…" she whispered, half sobbing.
Lei had already tied the cloaked man's hands and gagged his mouth. She looked over at them anxiously.
"Boss… what do we do now? Nyaa?"
Norax steadied himself and pointed.
"Call Ark. Tell the other team members to start moving the kids up before the Knight Order arrives."
He walked toward the cloaked man and removed the gag.
"I'll ask only two questions," Norax said coldly. "Who is your boss? And who is the person behind that door?"
The cloaked man glared. "Do you even know what you're—"
SLAP! Norax didn't let him finish.
"I said I don't have time. Lei, if he refuses again… remind him we have a vampire whose favorite meal is mages. You want to end up dry and dead?"
Celstia smirked darkly.
"I'm hungry too, you know?"
The man trembled "T-There's a door on the left side of the hall. I don't know who's inside… And our boss's name is—!"
His eyes widened suddenly He convulsed.
A thick, black foam spilled from his mouth.
"Master! Careful!" Lei shouted.
His chest glowed faintly. Celstia knelt and checked him "It's a curse. He's dead," she said flatly.
Norax clicked his tongue. "Tsk. A disposable pawn… nothing new. Damn it, my head hurts. I can't deal with this."
He straightened.
"Lei, hurry. Take care of the kids. Celstia, help her. I'll check the door. We're running out of time."
Both women looked worried but obeyed.
Celstia opened cages and carried children out while Lei sprinted back to bring the other team members.
Norax walked toward the sealed room, holding the wall for balance.
When he reached the door, he frowned.
"A shaman seal tag… no wonder my magic couldn't detect this room."
He broke the seal and opened the door.
Inside—A girl.
Chained hands.
Purple hair falling over her face.
Blindfold covering her eyes.
She was awake but extremely weak Norax slowly unlocked her cuffs.
The moment he freed her, her legs gave out and she collapsed into his arms.
At that exact moment—
DING!
A floating message popped up:
> @Applepie: Congratulations. Your decision has changed the world's flow by 3.5%.
Before Norax could react, another appeared:
> You have triggered the 50% encounter chance.
Result: You have met the Curse Princess – of The Blindness emotions
Norax froze "…Wait. What?"
He stared at the girl in his arms.
"This girl… is one of the Curse Princesses? Why the hell didn't anyone tell me this!?"
Another message blinked:
> @Applepie: You were sleeping when I mentioned it ^_^
Norax's eye twitched.
"You—! I told you to repeat important messages, you idiot goddess or whatever you are! Why show up suddenly and shock me like this?!"
> @Applepie: I can't interfere directly.
Mr. Author, are you dumb?
Norax gritted his teeth.
"Fine! My fault! I'm sorry, okay?!"
The messages vanished.
Celstia entered the room at that moment.
"Master, we only have—"
She stopped Her eyes narrowed dangerously.
"…Why is there a girl on you?"
Norax panicked. "It's not what you think! I swear!"
Celstia looked away with a huff.
"Hmph. Whatever. Ark said the knights will be here in fifteen minutes…"
Norax looked down at the purple-haired girl, unconscious in his arms.
He lifted her gently "She's coming with us," he said.
Celstia nodded and followed him out
A few hours later, after everyone returned safely to behind Neko Café, the building was quiet except for the faint sounds of children sleeping in the other rooms.
Inside the dim bedroom, Ark pushed the door open and stepped inside. Norax lay on the bed with one arm covering his eyes, exhausted to the bone.
Ark bowed lightly.
"Leader, the overall report."
His voice was calm, but there was a strange excitement behind it.
Norax slowly lowered his arm. "Mm… go on."
Ark straightened his back.
"The party was stopped. The Knight Order in charge of the Black and White District arrived exactly on schedule. Just as you planned, there was an explosion in the party venue, and the Red Medal Casino has been shut down and placed under strict observation. They found traces of several illegal groups… and the mage incident occurred right after you left."
Norax blinked. "So the backup plan worked."
"Yes, leader." Ark nodded firmly.
"Everything went as you predicted. And… I made sure to delay the Knight Order enough so they wouldn't interfere too early."
Norax exhaled softly. "You did great. Sorry for troubling you."
Ark's expression softened, almost proud. "It's my role, leader. You may rest now."
He bowed and quietly left the room.
The moment the door closed, Norax let out a long breath and collapsed fully onto the bed.
His whole body throbbed. His bones felt like they were made of wet clay.
After they rescued the children and returned, Celstia and the others were busy caring for the kids… and also for the girl they brought back.
That girl.
The Curse Princess of The Blindness emotions
Eirys Valestria.
Daughter of the prestigious Duke Valestria family.
Norax rubbed his forehead as he tried to sort his thoughts.
At age fifteen, when the curse awakens, she loses her sight completely.>
"And from then on, she sees nothing but darkness and… colours of emotions. Not faces. Not the world. Just colours. And the pressure of those emotions crushes her every moment."
A miserable curse.
Her family tried everything to cure her. But then—her father and mother died in a carriage accident.
After that, her uncle and aunt took guardianship.
Or at least, that was what her uncle publicly announced.>
Neglect. Loneliness. Silence.
Norax clicked his tongue.
"What happened in the Valestria family?"
Before he could sink deeper into thought—
—CRASH!
A sharp, high-pitched shatter echoed from the hallway Followed immediately by a trembling voice—
"S-Stay away from me!! D-Don't… don't come near!"
Norax shot up in bed "That's—!"
He immediately pushed himself to stand, ignoring the pain stabbing through his muscles.
Something was happening.
And from the sound of it—It was coming from the room where Eirys was resting.