บท 8: Katherine
Just as Luciel was indulging hiomself with the upgrades his advancement brought as if he was excitedly playing with a new toy, he could feel his entire body being fully scrutinized.
'Did [Sixth Sense (U)] catch something?', He knew the skill would prompt him if bloodlust or ill-intentions would be directed at him but he was not so sure if it could pick up probing from investigative skills.
'But don't I have [Concealment]?', As Luciel pondered hard for the answer, the feeling just got stronger as if his secrets were laid bare and he could do nothing but surrender.
He then suddenly lifted his head towards the source of the unnerving sensation. What he saw was the familiar face of his mother, towering over him as if to swallow him whole.
Her eyes had now turned placidly white as her usual gentle temperament became apathetic. She stared at Luciel as if he was a rare specimen.
'Is she...Analyzing me?', But before he could confirm his doubt, he promptly activated his [Analyze] to verify if his mother had the capacity of casting probing type ability.
After [Analyze] had generated the results, he felt goosebumps rising on his entire body as the feeling of intense horror and helplessness gripped his heart tightly. He could envision the world crashing down on him as if to proclaim, 'Game Over'.
'I'm..fucked, aren't I?
What was displayed on Luciel's U.I. was Katherine's status information. His tiny mouth was wide agape while staring at the series of data obtained by [Analyze]. Katherine did not possess any kind of concealment skill to hide her strength but that didn't give him Luciel even a moment of respite.
Because what he saw was a string of incomprehensible abilities that sounded dramatically overpowered.
'This time..' he mentally raised his arms in the air in resignation. 'I'm finished. My Title would definitely give away the true nature of my existence. Unless her probing can only retrieve bits of information and not as intensive as my [Analyze], I might find a way out of this dire situation.'
He then earnestly checked Katherine's data. Terrified as he was, he could not help but offer his admiration. 'Goodness me...won't you look at that.'
*****
Name: Katherine Vonbert Mathias (Human) - Level: 87
Class: Crusader of Faith
Subclass: Therapist
Titles: Maiden of the Shield, The Enlightened
[HP 41,500/41,500]
[MP 2,350/2,350]
Active Skills: [Parry], [Provoke], [Shield Bash], [Elucidate], [Placate], [Devotion], [Holy Smite], [Earthen Wall], [Reinvigorate], [Greater Cure], [Shield Storm],
Passive Skills: [Sword Mastery], [Shield Supremacy], [Fervor], [Finesse: En Garde], [Field Commander], [Immovable], [Rapid Regeneration], [Divine Fortress], [The Last Bastion], [Feast of the Blood], [Empowered Reflexes]
Statistics:
STR: 251(+50)
VIT: 415 (+110)
AGI: 139 (+25)
DEX: 170 (+25)
INT: 235 (+50)
As Luciel scanned the list of awe-inspiring skills as well as Katherine's bulky stats, the prospect of disengaging from his bleak situation only worsened. He was demoralized. His [Quick Thinking] was on full operation as it tried to come up with possible solutions.
'Well, any form of resistance would just end up in vain, anyway. It's better to confront her head-on with my resolve, even if I am to be crushed by the insurmountable difference in strength.'
'If she decides I'm an abomination, a monster or an irregularity that needs to be disposed of then I can only accept my fate.'
Luciel then made up his mind, as fragile as he was right now, there's only one option left.
He courageously curbed his fear as he steadily lifted his head and adjusted his line of sight to match that of Katherine's. 'Thank you, [Nerves of Steel]!'
The mother and child duo were now directly facing each other. Luciel's agitated emotions was like a boat tossed in an ocean as the raging storm whipped his hull and sails in an all-out effort to capsize him.
'I can't back down now..I'll end this once a for all', Calming his pounding heart, he executed his last ditch offensive to extricate himself from the conundrum. 'Here goes nothing..'
With a swift movement unbefitting of an infant, Luciel clutched at his mother's fingers with both his hands, conducting his heat to Katherine's skin. His attitude then suddenly changed, as his grievous expression had transformed into that of an adorable one.
His eyes now displayed naivety while his mouth curved slightly downwards. Luciel's facial expression now turned into a pleading look of a puppy who was about to cry at any moment, tears welling in his eyes.
As Luciel finished executing his decisive attack, he could only pray that Katherine would buy his act and continue their wholesome relationship as if the events that took place recently did not happen.
But it seemed he was a bit too optimistic as Katherine's gaze shifted from being emotionless to that of outright shock.
'aww, shit...I guess that didn't work?', Resigning to his fate, he closed his eyes and awaited Katherine's final verdict.
The atmosphere became silent as a grave until a soft chuckle filled the room.
"You're a funny one, aren't you?", Katherine said as she held Luciel's tiny fingers in her palm, gently stroking it.
"It matters not whether the devil or the Gods have sent you to me. At long last, they heard my prayer". Unable to control her surging emotions, she subconsciously tightened her hold on Luciel's tiny hand as he silently endured the pain while gritting his non-existent teeth.'Hey! Ms. Lvl 87 Crusader, thaat hurts~!'.
Realizing her mishap, she abruptly loosened her grip, 'Oh God! what have I done?' She then gently rocked Luciel up and down in order to soothe him.
"I had unwillingly buried my desire for vengeance but with you here...", As Luciel heard Katherine's cold voice as if a dagger had been drawn, Katherine issued a command which he was unable to wrap his head around.
"Jesse, do it"
"Yes, my Lady", in a corner of the room where the scarce illumination could barely reach, a middle-aged woman in maid attire stepped out from the shadows and bowed to Katherine reverently as if she was there all along.
Her austere response gave off an impression of absolute obedience, and what was demanded of her would be delivered without fail.
Luciel was startled at the sudden entrance of the woman. 'The hell...she could have let her presence be known from the beginning like the others.'
As Luciel tried to voice out his confusion, he could only release a string of unintelligible words. "Ma-ma..da?"
Luciel could see a few young women standing at a distance from the mother and child. They wore various expressions on their faces but most of them gave questioning and curious glances due to Luciel's earlier outburst.
Upon hearing Luciel's agonized cry which was rare, they rushed towards his location in order to offer their assistance. They all noticed the concentrated mana permeating in air, especially in the proximity nearest to Luciel. Some of them threw knowing stares at each other, taciturnly acknowledging something.
But before they could validate their conclusions, some of them simultaneously saw the world spin as their vision violently rotated then they heard a heavy 'thud', akin to an object hitting the floor. 'huh?', one maid saw her headless body slowly falling onto the cold wooden floor, the neck was cleanly sliced off as it furiously spurted crimson liquid in all direction. The life in her eyes finally faded as her vision darkened completely.
The scene then devolved into a chorus of terrified screams accompanied by the sound of mutilated bodies dropping on the floor.
Inside the enormous residence, the supposed to be uneventful night regressed into that of a spectacle of slaughter.
As Luciel watched the entire event unfold before his eyes, an intense feeling of dread overwhelmed him which was further magnified by Katherine's smiling face. What was more terrifying was her soft humming of a ditty amidst the splattering of blood.
As Katherine wiped the crimson drop which landed on Luciel's cheeks, his body involuntarily shivered as it squirmed like a maggot due to fear. It seemed that [Nerves of Steel] could only do much. No, if not for the skill, he would have lost consciousness then and there with his bottom drenched in his urine.
Such bloodbath, Luciel had only watched similar scenes in movies during his previous life. 'This is really an entirely different world', he thought to himself. Reality had struck him hard in the face as the savagery got deeply imprinted in his mind.
'I thought I was prepared after I got reincarnated, seems I overestimated myself', Luciel sighed internally, reevaluating his perspective and approach in dealing with matters related to his current world.
All of a sudden, Katherine started walking towards the exit of the room while leaving the carnage behind her as if such fiddling matter was not worth her time.
'Be at ease, my child. Our time will come, without fail.' Was Katherine's last words as she fully walked past the door, her figure merging with the darkness ahead.
*****
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