I determinedly stood up and left Alec on the ground.
Your sacrifice wasn't in vain, brave knight.
"I'll come back and dig you a grave later."
"I'm…. Alive…."
I didn't hear that. Can't have people knowing this happened because of Maria.
Taking in a deep breath, I jumped down his windows again. The breeze swept up my hair as I nimbly landed, making not a sound.
Now right next to the building, near the window, I peeked over inside. From close up, the view was better.
Immediately, the sense of foreboding filled me again followed by a surge of killing intent.
Pentagrams littered the walls, all of them covered in crimson red blood.
Candles were lighting up the room dimly while the same black energy I saw previously floated about.
What was this? What in the world was this?
Soon, my eyes were taken away by the sight at the center of the room.
With a knife in her hands, my black haired darling maid wearing her usual attire was peeking down at another pentagram and a circle around it. The star shaped magic spot had candles and nails dug at each of its tips while in the center was a doll made of straws.
The doll's hair was painted white.
And eyes red.
"Huehuhuehuehue…" A madder laugh seeped into my ears as the woman inside cackled. "If you won't come to me… young master… I'll not let anyone… have you… huehuehuehue… huehuehuye!!!"
"EUGY! I AM SCARED!!"
I was too!!!!
What? What was that?
What did she just say? Excuse me, police, this woman right here please! Not let anyone have me? And that fucking doll, was that supposed to be me? It was me right?
"AH…. I don't… want to hurt you… but you give me no choice… huehuehue… after this… we'll be together forever! I'll join you in the afterlife, young master!!"
Maria raised the knife up high.
The flames on the candles surged.
Her laugh crescendoed and the knife was swung down—
"MARIA!"
I screamed out loud.
In perfect time, the knife stopped. The tip of its blade nigh touching the chest of the door.
My chest heaved up and down while my mind ran marathon laps. She was just about to stab it, she was about to stab straw Eugene!
With my hand on my chest, I heaved out loud sighs.
Maria hadn't turned.
"Maria…" I called out again…
What do I do in this situation?
What did one do in this situation?
No, positively thinking, this was training. The strong could strong-arm this too. Emotionally, of course. Yes, I had to think that way.
"Maria, it's me… won't you even look at me?"
"Dumbass! What's that medieval cheesy shit!?" Titania screamed. "Our life is on the line here!"
My heart beat increased. Don't put me on the spot like that!
I slowly pushed the window, which was unlocked as well.
My eyes ran around for clues.
I noticed there, another doll with brown hair and blue eyes. It was sucked dry to the last straw that made it up.
Alec! This shit worked! It was for real!
I slowly leaned over inside.
"Maria? Maria, are you listening?"
The knife trembled.
"Maria, it's me."
Calling her out would work for now. My mind kept running around.
Ah fuck this.
I took in another deep breath, and sped my thoughts as much as I could.
Things slowed down around me, from the flutter of the flowers to the call of the birds. Everything slowed down to a halt as I rushed myself for answers.
What worked here?
All my interactions with Maria ran in my mind, over and over, and the most optimal answer reached my head.
A small stream of blood dripped from my nose as things returned back to normal. It had been forever since I had to do this.
Right, she was weak to letting me down.
I hated it, but I had to use it.
"Are you not able to hear me, Maria? Did you perhaps, forget me?"
"Y-young… master?"
"You remember?"
"Is it you… young master?"
I slowly crawled further in. For now, it was important to get that knife away from her.
As I stepped past the rows of books and tome highlighting god knows what magic spells, I slowly called out to Maria again.
"Maria, I missed you a lot. Did you not think of me at all?"
"Young master… you missed me?"
"Yes. I really, really wanted to see your face."
Like a parent placating a child. I had to move like that.
"I missed you so much, Maria."
I was almost touching her.
"Won't you let me see you once? I understand if you don't like me anymore," I said. "But at least, let me see you once, please?"
"Y-young master…?" Maria slowly turned back. Her neck creaked with every movement.
And then, she turned toward me.
"AAAH!" Titania screamed.
And I flinched at the sudden scream.
What was it?! What happened!
"She looks like a demon!"
Maria noticed me flinching.
"Ah… I knew it… you're tired of me, young master… you hate me now… that's why you didn't come to see me."
"No! No, not at all! I would never!"
Maria started sobbing.
"You hate me! You think I am ugly! Ah… it's all because of this ugly face!" With her free hand, she started scratching herself.
FUCK!
"Maria, no!" I screamed and neared her. On my knees, I crawled closer.
"I can't even see faces! Why would I find you ugly!?"
"Ah…"
I widened my eyes.
"So you mean… even though you don't mind I am ugly… you still hate me?!"
What was that logical gymnastics! Tetris? Was she a master logical Tetris player that could fit anything anywhere?
"Maria, I don't hate you! Not at all! Never!"
"You lie!!! Or you would have come to see me!"
"I am so sorry, but I was on the verge of death!"
"My young master is the strongest, that can never stop him!"
And now she had faith in me!?
"Maria, please, let go of the knife!"
"No. No nono no no no no no…. Yes… if I can't… then no one!"
Saying that, Maria raised the knife again, and stabbed it straight into the doll.
"Ooof!?…?"
Oh.
Nothing happened.
The source of this c𝓸ntent is fr𝒆e(w)𝒆bnovel