CHAPTER 31: PREPARATION FOR SURVIVAL

With haste, he hopped several meters into the air, clearing the gate as he landed in the garden. He discovered one of the registered threats, finding it to be another lizard-man, though this one wearing a tattered, black robe while wielding a saw-like cleaver.

["Lizard-Man Berserker"] [Level: 19]

The larger, more muscle-bound reptile was already in the midst of clashing with a few members of the estate.

A woman with hair tied into a brunette ponytail moved swiftly in her light, leather armor, wielding a rapier. She sprinted across the garden, hopping over the pond to deliver a flurry of stabs to the intruding monster.

["Aurora Vald"] [CLASS: Swordsman] [Designated Level: 15]

"Kraaa!" The reptile hissed, spinning around as it swung its tail towards the quick woman.

Aurora raised her arms to protect herself, though the sharp strike of the tail still flung her through the bushes. Even with holes poked in its scales, the berserk monster lunged towards the butler that arrived on the scene.

"A beast?" Salvatore remarked, readying his needle.

Before the calm butler could strike, a boisterous figure got between the two.

"Hyraaah—!" A blonde man in silver armor raised his shield, intercepting the lizard’s giant cleaver that was intended for the butler behind him.

["Karl Harst"] [CLASS: Warrior] [Designated Level: 15]

"Now, Aurora!" The heavily-armored man shouted, bashing his shield forward.

By a feat of undeniable vigor, the berserk lizard was thrown off balance from the warrior’s push. From behind, the swift swordswoman dashed in, pointing her rapier forward like a spear.

"Thanks, Karl!" Aurora shouted, piercing her blade through the lizard’s back. "—Ah?"

The emerald-eyed woman gasped as the obsidian-scaled fiend convulsed, grabbing hold of the rapier sticking through its back.

As it looked back towards the swordswoman, Leon stepped forward from his spectating position—

Squelch.

—His intervention was deemed unnecessary, watching as the cool, calm, and collected butler was already there.

"Ghk..." The lizard-man spat out.

Salvatore stood there, holding his needle through the temple of the beast’s head, "Settle down now."

[EXP: +3500] [27000/50000]

As the monster dropped down, plummeting into the pond with the resting doves scattering, the guards plopped down with a sigh of relief.

Leon walked over finally, verifying the strength of the members of his estate, "Good job."

"Oh, Lord Schoeller!" Karl shouted, looking up as he removed his helmet.

Beneath the helm was the face of a man in his mid-twenties, with a clean-shaven face and bright, cerulean eyes like a happy-go-lucky child.

Aurora stood up, sheathing her rapier as she bowed her head, "I’m glad to see you’re safe, Lord Schoeller..I—"

The guard seemed to be caught up by something as she looked up. By Leon’s own estimate, he glanced down, remembering he was shirtless before laughing to himself.

"I handled one by the gates. There’s still at least one more lurking around," Leon relayed what he found.

Salvatore leaned down, plucking the needle from the slain fiend’s head, wiping it down, "How odd. The barriers around the area should steer monsters away from the mansion."

"It is odd, I agree," he said, looking towards the exterior.

—

In the velvet-carpeted halls, an unwelcome guest lurked. The snake-faced fiend wandered in the shadows of the corridor, peeking into the rooms.

"Is there something you’re looking for, monster?"

The calm, but commanding voice brought the reptilian monster to spin around, slashing blindly with its dual-daggers.

With complete composure, the senior butler moved his head to avoid being cut.

"I must advise you not to dirty these halls. It is disrespectful to those that maintain the cleanliness of this place," Thorgul reprimanded calmly.

"G...get away, old human!" The snake-faced fiend hissed, backing awhile while aimlessly swinging its daggers.

The butler calmly walked forward, catching one of the thoughtless blades between his fingertips, "Hrm. You lack proper etiquette. Allow me to correct that."

"Wh-what?!" It hissed again.

As the fiend attempted to back away, the elder butler got behind it with surprising agility. Around the reptile’s neck, the old man’s arms wrapped with immovable tightness.

"L...let..go!" The fiend struggled.

No mercy was given as Thorgul’s arms squeezed, swelling with youthful muscle fitting a frame of the seasoned butler.

The snake-humanoid struggled, attempting to retaliate by swinging its blade behind its body before—crack. A single, final squeeze snapped the neck of the fiend, dispersing what little fight it had left.

Thorgul released a sigh as the lizard fell limp, "I suppose I shall report this."

—

In the front garden outside of the mansion, Leon stood there while the others gathered themselves.

[EXP: +3000] [30000/50000]

"Ah?" Leon gasped at the sudden experience.

The armored guard stood up from the grass, brushing the green from his silver protection, looking at the young man, "Is everything alright, Lord Schoeller?"

"You didn’t get harmed by the lizard-man you faced, did you? I’ve heard they use terrible poison," Aurora asked, checking his body closely.

Leon brushed the prying eyes away with flushed cheeks, "I’m fine, I’m fine—alright?"

As he assured the worried guard of his condition, the front doors of the mansion opened hastily. Just as he looked up, he found the perplexing sight of a snake-faced fiend slumped over.

It was being propped up, held by the nape in the grip of the silver butler.

"Thorgul! Are you alright?" Leon asked.

The old man brushed himself off, tossing the lifeless monster onto the stone tiles leading to the front steps, "Don’t worry about this old soul. I am not aged enough for a simple fiend to get the best of me."

Salvatore ascended the steps, "I’ll double check the mansion. You can never be sure there aren’t more lurking around."

"Good judgment," Thorgul nodded proudly as his fellow butler passed.

Like a curious kid, Aurora used her rapier to poke at the dead monster as if expecting it to suddenly wake up. With heavy breaths, Karl sat on one of the ivory steps, letting out a sigh.

"Been awhile since you’ve seen action, huh?" Leon asked the guard with a smile.

"You’re right," Karl huffed with a laugh. "Guess it’s been a cushy job till now, so can’t complain."

"It might be getting more tough in the near future, if these lizard-men are anything to go off," Leon remarked.

Thorgul seemed wary of that fact already, wiping his hands off as he overlooked the garden, "The Nebula Eclipse is closer than expected."

"Nebula Eclipse...So this attack is connected to that?" Leon realized, looking towards the eldest butler.

"I would advise a meeting today, Lord Schoeller," Thorgul suggested. "We must prepare."

"Right."

--

["Aurora and Karl are two guards hired to protect the Schoeller Mansion. As a former Valkyrie of the Imperial Army, Aurora’s prowess is undeniable and has been proven invaluable.

Karl lived as an adventurer, traveling from country to country before being hired by the late Lord Schoeller. Tales still are told in some taverns of "Karl, The Pit", infamous for drinking establishments dry."]