Lucille could feel it.
Even as an ordinary human, he sensed the looming threat of death drawing closer. Through his avatar, he knew one of the assassins had abandoned his companions and was heading straight for him.
If he faced this assassin head-on, he'd be dead in an instant.
But the more dire the situation, the calmer he became. Before the enemy could close in, he quietly slipped away from the carriage and started moving toward the assassin's direction.
He understood perfectly: the assassin could only track the Little Princess's location. An ordinary person like Lucille wouldn't even register as a threat.
As long as he stayed away from the carriage, he was safe.
After a short walk, a gust of wind roared past. To others, it might have seemed like an odd breeze, but Lucille knew it was the assassin speeding by.
He broke into a run, heading toward his avatar.
On a silent, deserted street, a lone carriage stood still.
The white-haired assassin perched on a rooftop, observing cautiously.
He could sense the target inside the carriage, but now, hesitation gripped him.
A bad feeling gnawed at him.
Was this another trap?
Decades of experience as an assassin had made him wary. His instincts screamed that something was off. He reached into his coat and pulled out a mechanical heart. Despite its metallic texture, it pulsed in his hand as if alive. He took a deep breath, preparing to hurl it down.
The next moment, the carriage—and everything in it—would be gone forever.
His primary mission was to retrieve the Little Princess's body, but he'd already abandoned that goal. Now, his sole objective was to ensure her death.
But just as he was about to act, a chilling sense of mortal danger descended from above. The hairs on his neck stood on end, and cold sweat beaded down his back. Only after his body reacted did he realize—the target's presence in the carriage had vanished.
The target was gone?
How could this happen? What had just occurred?
He saw the carriage's curtain lift. The green-haired girl extended a palm toward him, her lips moving silently.
He couldn't hear her words, but reality soon provided the answer. Several silver-white chains materialized from the void, sealing off all his escape routes.
His face darkened. "Void Chains… a mage… how could this be…?"
Realization hit him, though disbelief lingered. "I see! Transposition! No wonder the target vanished! No wonder you got here so fast! You're not just an assassin—you're a Tier Six… no, a Tier Ten mage!"
"Why?! How can someone so gifted exist in this world?!"
"I refuse to accept this! I've worked for fifty years to reach Tier Ten…!"
The green-haired girl had no patience for his ranting. He'd clearly lost his composure. With a flick of her wrist, she cast a lightning spell, detonating the alchemical device in his hand. The scene erupted into a burst of flames.
She sighed. Was having two classes really that hard for these people to accept?
If they knew she had a third or even a fourth class, would they drop dead from shock?
After all, the game never restricted a character to just one class.
Lucille was panting heavily.
Today's exertion was pushing his limits.
But he didn't dare slow down. He kept running until he reached an abandoned shack and saw the Little Princess lying there, safe. Only then did he relax.
After dealing with the first assassin and scaring off the second, his avatar had come to this secluded spot. Using the Tier Six mage skill Transposition, she swapped places with the Little Princess, who had been marked in advance.
That was how his avatar had appeared in the carriage so quickly.
But during that brief window, neither Lucille nor his avatar could protect the princess. Though short, that time left room for unforeseen dangers.
Seeing the princess safe again, Lucille finally let out a breath of relief.
He could rest, at least for a moment.
The most dangerous assassin had been dealt with, and the one who fled could no longer sense the princess's location. The Shadow Cult might now target Night Star, but as long as they couldn't find Sudiya, they wouldn't act recklessly.
Night Star had deliberately separated from Lucille and Sudiya, using Transposition to shake off any potential trackers or spies. The enemy might eventually figure it out, but by then, Lucille would have already taken Sudiya to a place no one could find.
The plan wasn't foolproof. But given the unknown number of enemies, their unpredictable origins, and his avatar's newfound power, it was the safest and most feasible strategy Lucille could devise in such a short time.
Perhaps his heavy breathing was too loud, but the Little Princess stirred. Her lashes fluttered for a moment before her golden eyes opened.
She touched her chest, where the tattered dress still reeked of blood. The fatal wound, however, had healed.
Without anyone explaining, she knew someone had saved her.
Turning her head, she saw Lucille, panting heavily. Before he noticed she was awake, she confirmed they were alone in the room.
"Um…" the Little Princess asked hesitantly, "where are we?"
Lucille glanced back, saw she was awake, and quickly turned to keep watch outside. "Just a temporary hiding spot to avoid the assassins."
"Thank you. You're a true hero," she said, sitting up on the bed and adjusting her disheveled clothes. "Could you take me somewhere? I'll reward you handsomely once we get there."
Lucille, still facing away, didn't respond immediately. Just as the princess thought he might refuse, he spoke up. "Do you know who's hunting you?"
"It's…" She started to answer but stopped. She knew it was the Shadow Cult, but admitting that would reveal her identity.
Had he already seen through her disguise?
Was his act of saving her driven by kindness, justice, or something else?
Seeing her hesitation, Lucille understood her thoughts. Without waiting for her answer, he spoke bluntly.
"Let's cut to the chase. I know the Shadow Cult is after you, and I know you're the kingdom's youngest princess. I didn't save you out of some hero complex. I want to use your power."
"Sign a contract with me. I'll protect you with everything I have, and in return, you'll dedicate yourself to helping me save this world on the brink of ruin. Until the contract is signed, I won't let the Shadow Cult harm you—but I also won't let you meet the Royalists."
"Of course, you can refuse the contract. I won't hand you over to the Shadow Cult, but you'll be on your own. Until you find the Royalists, you'll just have to pray the cult doesn't find you first."
"A friendly reminder: the Royalists you trust might not be as reliable as you think. Otherwise, no one would've known you snuck out of the palace, let alone which tavern you were in."
"Make your choice, youngest princess of the kingdom, Sudiya Anjou."