"If my memory doesn't fail me… I haven't seen you before." Morisson spoke in a grave tone as the surroundings grew silent and colder.
"Who are you?"
Xian smirked, expecting a show to unfold. Now, no matter what reaction the coachman had, he will be under Morisson's scrutiny.
"Ahaha, it's just a misunderstanding head butler, I'm a friend of the previous coachman and he was feeling unwell, so called me as replacement at the last moment."
"Is that the case?" Still how could it be easy to convince the head butler like that? In his line of work, once suspicions take root, it spreads like wildfire through dry grass. "Then… he will have to pay for his life for abandoning his duty."
He stepped forward to the coachman, "When I get back, I will be sure to give him the appropriate punishment."
"And carry your punishment right this moment." Xian knew that the head butler was only making consequences out of thin air. If there was really a rule like that, no one would be left at the household, and no one would dare work there.
"Ah? Is the rules really that tight in this household?" The coachman ever carefree spoke, no longer bothering to keep his facade up, "Well, either way, you seem intent already head butler."
Without hesitation the coachman broke to the walls between him and Carmillia intending to make quick work of her death.
But flash flickered and stopped his hand just before it reached the villainess. A knife resembling dining utensils had pierced his palm in place mid air.
Then his hand emitted red aura as he forcibly took hold of the knife and pulled his arm back, moments before a slash cut through from the katana swordmaiden barely avoiding it.
Despite the time being at high noon, a veil of darkness quickly descended on the surroundings. No sounds were heard, the colors were replaced by shades of gray and black.
Xian felt the familiar sense of regression as he lost all senses for an instant. What he saw before him is the coachman constantly running from the chasing knives of Morisson. At one point Morisson stomped his feet and stood still.
In the previous time, the coachman barely won the fight against the swordmaidens and succeeded killing Carmillia at the expense of his life. But this time the coachman tried to flee. Morisson's presence had made that much of a difference.
Darkness didn't disappear no matter how fast he ran, he turned his head and saw his own stretched shadow stood an emaciated old man who didn't even move his feet, and various thread's binding it.
'I see, my shadow has been 'grabbed' huh?' the coachman mused grinning in disbelief.
"Haah. You're not gonna let me leave, aren't you?"
"…" Morisson kept silent as eight daggers floated before him. Despite its ordinary appearance, Xian could tell by the light surrounding it that its a very formidable weapon.
Characters in the game often had their own unique weapon that boosted their strength leaps and bound. And for a 'complete' character like Morisson who already went through his own tribulations and trials, that weapon signified the certainty of his opponents demise.
The fake coachman winced his eyes, seeing those weapon meant he was not going to make it out alive today. "Might as well go out with a bang!" As a warrior, he will give his best to the infamous butler of Montagne household feared throughout the world of filthy nobles.
He popped a pill in his mouth as his aura began to run wild.
Aura was something physical combatant's used instead of mana. It is a flexible power that followed the wielders intent developed by long years of training and one of the core power scaling in the game. Most aura possessed the intent to destroy and exert force because of that.
Just like the coachman's red and explosive light being emitted.
A touch would not destroy an object but a slight tap will be amplified enough to break bones. At the same time, the intent to fortify is used to bear the burden of its force. Hence, why physical training is necessary for those who wield aura.
As for Morisson... He was a special case even among aura users. With his power delving into the control of shadows.
Xian didn't understand how powers worked in the game so extensively. Some were concrete and some were left argued by veteran players and theory crafters.
The devs never explained it since they didn't even accept Q&A's.
But he knew that Morisson's power is terrifying enough to be on the top picks of deadliest power in the game. Controlling shadows might be a cliche power but Morisson put it to use well.
Eight blade's hovered in the air spinning and simultaneously danced. One of it came to the coachman at a blinding speed. He in turn met it with his punch. But a tearing explosion resulted on the impact as clouds of dust rose.
"Hoh? Do you not feel pain at all?" Morisson gazing with his chin raised, leisurely talked.
"Hah, when I popped the pill my senses become numb and newfound strength comes knocking!" The coachman shouted looked at his hand that now resembled just a lump of meat.
His aura allowed him to possess a body that is literally a weapon and a shield, but the head butler's knife easily destroyed his hand.
The two swordmaidens followed up with a coordinated attack to his arms and legs, while a second knife flew towards him the speed at which he is unable to evade. So he took it on the the elbow of his ruined arm.
Flung away by the impact, he somersaulted to reduce it and gain foothold. Since the two swordmaidens were flanking him, he will deal with on of them at the very least.
If only to cause a slight crack to the security around the villainess and pave the way for those who will 'come'.
Taking another hit from the knife with his left arm, he used his right and dominant arm to take a hold of one of the swordmaiden. The katana wielding swordmaiden found herself strangled as the coachman latched into her neck with his legs like a monkey.
Just as he was about to twist her neck using his remaining arm, he had to deflect a dagger aimed right at his head. With his heightened senses and haste, he failed to gauge the daggers force and…
Easily reflected it, even turning it to dust. At that moment, he saw a young man with short red hair and sinister smile. He was the 'special butler' that had come a week ago.
He said special but really, he was someone he could kill with a swing. The man was weaker than even his own daughter who trained martial arts at 10.
'This fucking-'
But that was it as the real dagger of the head butler tore through his torso making him lose all force and limp down.
This time there was no tricks or dying bursts, after all his spine had been directly damaged, rendering his feet useless and causing shock throughout his body.
"*Cough!*" The same first victim from before, katana wielding swordmaiden knelt catching her breath. Xian was now convinced that she is the weaker of the two swordmaiden guarding Carmillia.
Soon, the darkness subsided and the assailant was left bloody on the floor, mangled arm and open torso.
The head butler looked over and was about to finish the job with another dagger but Xian stopped him.
"May I do the honor's Sir Moris?" He didn't forget to call him familiarly like the other workers in the estate did.
"Hm? Then do so." Moris gave a small nod and motioned for him to proceed. Some might question why he was executing the enemy on the spot, but with wounds that severe healing him was impossible. And even if it wasn't, keeping him alive was far too dangerous.
This is going to be his first kill in this world. Xian knew that. He had never killed anyone before, but wanting to kill? He had plenty of people to list in his mind.
The law never allowed it and he wasn't capable to do so, but now its different. This place isn't earth. With enough power, the people here are basically walking targets for him to do as he wished.
With almost bated breath due to beating nervously, he picked up the dagger he had thrown, half if its blade gone.
Before him, lay the man that looked at him with those fleshly eyes.
He hated those eyes the most. The eyes as if someone were looking at a pitiful pathetic wretch.
Why did this coachman felt pity for him at that time? What hypocrisy did he think of when looking at Xian?
He hated it. He preferred the honest gaze that Carmillia turned towards him. The eyes of utterly unmasked contempt. At least he didn't have to hesitate for that reason.
'You will be my stepping stone, mister coachman.'
He thrust the dagger into his neck with some difficulty. He had to repeatedly push to pierce that mans skin and tear his neck. That did it as he finally lost what light was left in his eyes. His mouth hang open, dripping with blood as the stalk he was chewing fell to the ground, dyed by a pool of blood.
Morisson seeing that the job was done turned to Carmillia.
"Please pardon us for the incident, this is all due to my negligence."
Carmillia as spotless as she had been was looking at Xian with a strange gaze for a moment, before smiling towards the head butler.
"It's alright. I saw quite the fun show today, so I don't want the tour anymore." Her smile was infamous from being deadly poisonous who didn't know better. Nobles who didn't know of her reputation would instantly swear on their life to be of service to her only to end up shattered.
"Instead… When your done with the 'special butler', I'd like to have a talk with him. Alone."
"As you wish." First the 'special butler' needed to be questioned. He might have helped but Moris had to determine whether this is a plot of powers to gain their trust by betraying an ally.
If he was proven innocent, then a reward awaits him. After that… even he didn't know what the young miss had in mind for him.
'She had become way too unpredictable…' Morisson felt sad that their young miss had become the twisted girl that she is, but even so he will be loyal for as long as he could walk on earth.
Meanwhile Xian still hadn't moved from his spot as the conversation between Carmillia and Morisson took place.
[Level up!]
"… Heh."