193 [Bonus chapter] Failed Recruitment
The guests picked up their drinks and shouted back. “Cheer!”
Chuzuke looked at the side and signaled to the band of bards he hired to start playing on their instruments. He then looked at the butler, “Get the food out.”
The large side doors of the room opened, and two butlers started pushing large trays out on tables. Whole roasted chicken, turkey, and boar. Large pots of salad, fish, and more.
“Eat all you can. Don’t hold back.” Chuzuke said, walking downstairs and approaching the table. He extended his hand, grabbed a handkerchief, and pulled the chicken’s thigh out. He then took a large bite from it. “I’m still a kid so don’t even bother with manner if you don’t like it. I won’t care. Eat to your fill.”
Chuzuke announced the start of the feast, and Mira sighed in relief. She knew nothing of the noble’s manners and had feared she might embrace her mother.
Arad approached the table, and Aella grabbed his shoulder. She glared at his eyes, and he knew what she wants.
Arad pulled one of the boar’s ribs out and bite the mean. Feeling a bit sad that he can’t eat the bones as well. To him, they added a nice texture and are a part of his diet.
Everyone started to eat, but only after Arad and Abel took the first bite. It might have seemed strange, but the girls wanted to make sure the food is safe to eat.
After about half an hour, Mira retreated to the back. “I ate too much.” She sat on a chair and took a deep breath. She could feel her stomach was about to burst.
Lyla approached her with a smile. “Are you all right?”
“Too much meat. It filled me quickly.” Mira replied, resting her back on the wall and closing her eyes.
“Don’t throw up.” Lyla smiled, handing her a glass of water. “Drink slowly and then take a walk to help the food get down.”
After drinking the water, Mira stood and looked at her mother. “You’re right. I should move a bit.”
“Is she okay?” Chuzuke approached them after hushing a few noble ladies that were flocking around him.
“She’s fine,” Lyla smiled and gave Chuzuke a slight bow. “She might have eaten a bit too much.”
Chuzuke nodded and went to call one of his maids. “Please take care of her. And get her to wash her face. That might help.”
Mira looked at the maid, shaking her head. “I just need some fresh air.”
The maid bowed. “Please follow me then. I will take you to the garden.” The two walked out as Chuzuke returned to the party.
Mira walked out of the balcony as the maid supported her. “Are you sure you don’t need to wash your face?”
Mira nodded, “Yeah. I only need to walk a bit.” She took a deep breath of the fresh air, looking at the starry sky with the crescent moon.
After a moment they reached the garden’s edge and stood before a small pond. “This place is beautiful.”
“We keep it tightened thanks to Chuzuke’s orders.” The maid replied.
“I’m happy you liked it.” Chuzuke’s voice came from behind them. The maid and Mira stared back to find him standing there with a smile.
Chuzuke waved his palm with a smile. “I don’t like big parties. I’m still a kid, after all.” He stood beside them and looked at the plants.
“What happened to the tree?” Chuzuke asked. “Did you do something strange to it?”
Mira looked at his red eyes. “Yeah, the elder tree is a parasitic fungus. We killed its core since it attacked us.”
Chuzuke scratched his head. “So you really killed it. Even though I asked you to only locate it.” He looked at the sky, facepalming. “What happened to the tree branches?”
“Those were the fungus’ spores, so we burned them so they won’t spread,” Mira replied.
Chuzuke gasped. “You burned everything?”
“Yeah, we had a way to gather all the spores.” She replied.
Chuzuke looked down. “I only asked you to find the tree. Not destroy it. We have the wood. But…but…” He scratched his head, glaring at the ground, and then sighed. “It doesn’t matter now. I will find it somewhere else.” He looked at the sky. “It’s a failure.”
“What do you mean?” Mira looked at him.
“Jomanga. Do it.” Chuzuke said.
The maid looked at Mira, her eyes slowly turning red.
BAM! Arad appeared standing behind them, his eyes flashing purple as he grabbed the maid by the neck. CRACK! He broke her neck with a single squeeze and threw her back.
“ARAD!” Mira gasped, “The maid…you just…”
“Get behind me,” Arad growled, glaring at Chuzuke. “I was wondering when you will show up.”
Chuzuke smiled. “What are you talking about? You just killed my maid. Do you know what that means?”
The two glared at Each other. Chuzuke is barely as tall as Arad’s knee.
“It means you’re next.” CRACK! Arad kicked Chuzuke as hard as he could, sending him flying above the mansion with a stream of blood.
“ARAD!” Mira shouted.
“Damn it.” Arad growled, “He’s dangerous.” The blood splashing wasn’t from Chuzuke. It was from Arad’s leg. He could see a chomp mark on his calves.
Mira gasped, seeing blood dripping from Arad’s legs, “Stay behind me. I will rip that brat apart.”
Thud! Chuzuke landed on top of the mansion. Munching on what he bites from Arad’s leg. “Strange,” Tuf! He spat it out and glared down. “You don’t taste like a human, and I get a hint of us in you.” Chuzuke smiled.
Arad’s leg healed as he glared at Chuzuke. “It doesn’t matter. You will die soon.”
Chuzuke glared at them.
Thud! The maid Arad thought he had killed jumped back, swinging a claw at Mira’s torso.
CRACKLE! A flash of lightning broke through the windows, rushing forward and severing the maid’s head. “So it was you, bastard!” Abel shouted as the maid’s body fell to the ground..𝒄𝒐𝒎