Chapter 114 114: The Shadows To Follow [Pt1]



Clair followed Keith with a calm and somewhat substitutive attitude, but she showed dropped her act as soon as they reached Keith's booked room.

"I know what you want to ask me. You want to know why I never brought up the 'list' with you before, right? Well, I did not think it would be needed for a long time. The last time one of these monsters showed up for real was almost 1000 years ago."

Clair tried to clarify her reasoning but Keith was not satisfied with her answer. Especially since it had been hinted by Shinzou that he had left a mission recently because of one of the 'listed' monsters.

"Oh really? Somehow, I do not believe that you are not deeming the 'list' as important was the reason you did not mention it yet."

Keith's cold and rough voice caused Clair to shiver. Even if she knew that Keith was not as powerful as the grandmaster, his voice caused Clair to reconsider her words anyway.

'Looks like there is no point in hiding things from Keith. So, I might as well admit my mistake.;

"Well fine. I forget that this list existed until this sighting was reported back to me, alright? It is my fault and I will take responsibility. Besides, this list is more for my benefit than the grandmaster so it evens out things."

Since Keith looked interested in what Amelia was saying, she felt pressurized to clarify for his sake.

"Look, the main reason this list exists is that I asked the grandmaster to make this list. What I am saying is - you do not need to worry about the monsters. I will capture them since I need to use them for my research alright?"

Clair tried to clarify things once again and Keith just nodded at her words in understanding.

It was not like he could do anything or had the memories of why this list was ranked so high by him. He was perfectly happy to sit back and let Clair handle things.

"Understood. Then I shall leave this problem up to you for now. Do not come to me if you have a problem because I will not help you."

Keith watched Clair's face go from relief to annoyance in a matter of seconds.

"Y-Y-You! I know better than to expect anything from you now."

Clair left his room with a disappointed expression and Keith decided to go out as well. He was getting restless while sitting in his room for so long.

Not only that, but Keith also had a feeling that something might happen if he was found in his room alone by Shimi. She could be determined when she *did not* need to be.

......….

'I cannot believe that the grandmaster asked Clair to accompany him to his room over me. What does that little girl have that I lack? I know I have a better body and a better personality.'

Shimi raged inside her head as she was forced into her room by Master Fushi.

She had every intention of going after the grandmaster and Clair to interrupt their night. But Master Fushi had stopped her short and then proceeded to keep an eye on Shimi.

Even now, the elder master was in Shimi's room (maybe because they shared the room) and she was contaminating Shimi's space with her presence.

"Hey, do you have nothing better than to read that book of yours? There must be something you need to do right now."

Shimi tried to egg Master Fushi to leave her alone. 

Since Master Fushi was a female, Shimi could not use her 'charms' on her and make her go away like that. 

Well, it would have been possible if Master Fushi was bisexual but it did not seem to be the way Master Fushi swung. Especially since the elder woman had been ignoring Shimi this whole while.

Finally, Master Fushi looked up from the book she had been reading all this while and paid attention to Shimi. But her eyes were full of disapprovement and disappointment.

"Please behave yourself, half-elf princess Shimi. You should not be embarrassing yourself with your behavior."

"E-Embarrassing myself? I am just expressing myself and my love for the grandmaster. But what would a prude and virgin like you know about my love and expressing love?"

Shimi stuttered at first, trying to find the words to defend herself. But she soon found the right way to retaliate and the words flew out of her mouth.

"A prude and virgin person, huh? Is that how I am being portrayed in the guild? I never knew it."

Shimi's jaw could have dropped to the floor if she had been any less caring about her public image. But her current self would not allow her to be this careless so Shimi had to be satisfied with swallowing her words for the time being.

"O-Of course. So, you should not say anything about me expressing my love for my beloved and also-"

Shimi was feeling more and more like a fool as she spoke. Looking at Master Fushi, it seemed almost as if Master Fushi was not interested in what she had to say. And it made Fushi angry to think about it. 

'How dare Master Fushi ignore my presence and-'

"Shhh, I hear voices outside. I think we should pay attention to them if we want to help the grandmaster."

Shimi was about to tear Master Fushi a new one when she stopped short and listened to the voices coming from outside as well.

"Hey man, are you sure this is alright to do? What if they are from the guild? We will be in so much trouble if that were to happen."

"Nah, it is alright. Do you know how many people come down here pretending to be from the guild? These people just have better cosplaying features than the others but they are ultimately powerless as well."

"B-But these people-"

"It will be alright once we feed a few more sacrificed to our god. It is still young but it shall awaken soon. That was why we captured a Fenrir beast kit and brought it back with us, right? We risked our lives for this operation."

Whatever was being spoken outside their door seemed serious. Shimi wanted to hear more but the two people were walking away from them.

She exchanged a serious look with Master Fushi. It was time to put their differences away for now and to unite as one against these people.

"Anyway, we need to hurry up. Let us start with the kid first since she is the most vulnerable one in their group. The adults can come later."

Both Shimi and Master Fushi quickly fucked their heads back to not get discovered by these hunters.

They both were powerful enough to defeat and capture these people but it would not solve the problem.

If one was taken down, more would follow and this problem will only rear its ugly head. It also did not help that they were targeting Clair who was a part of their guild.

"Well, if they want to target Clair then I have no problem. These people do not know what kind of trouble they are inviting into their lives."

Shimi sounded unbothered by the whole thing. As someone who had lived and fought with Clair, she knew how powerful Clair was. These peasants did not have a chance against her.

But Master Fushi was different. She knew Clair was powerful but she could still not help but worry about Clair. What is more? Grandmaster liked Clair to the point of inviting her to his room.

"Well, if you want to pretend like you did not hear their plan, then you are more than welcome to do so. However, the grandmaster's disappointment will be something you might have to face if that happened."

Shimi bit her lower lip in agitation as soon as she heard Master Fushi's words. She did not want to be held responsible by the grandmaster for anything.

'Fuck. this is so annoying. I cannot believe I am being made to take care of that annoying Clair.'

Shimi clenched her fists but she calmed herself down. She had to remind herself that she was not doing this for Clair but for the grandmaster.

"Fine, I get what you are saying. Then, what shall we do now? Just so you know, I am willing to follow your lead this time but that does not mean I am admitting to being inferior to you and you are planning."

It hurt Shimi to admit herself as inferior to anyone. Especially more to someone she had sworn as an opponent once upon a time.

"Huh? What do you mean? We are both part of the same guild so there is no need for us to compete. Let us cooperate toward the same goal here."

Master Fushi commented as she quickly followed the fleeing pair.

Shimi gritted her teeth in agitation as she watched Master Fushi leave. She wanted to yell that it was not the same situation for Master Fushi and Shimi but she was left speechless.