Chapter VI: The 100 Angels' Slaying Assignment – You Shall Become my Student and Slave – Part II

Nya's eyes widened. "100… angels?"

"Yes."

"Girl, what exactly did you do to…" Nya tried to ask before seeing the girl's expression grow even darker. "Ah, well, I guess it doesn't matter. So if I understand correctly, you are a kind of criminal with no money and no house, is that right?"

"Ye, Yes…" she replied, taken aback. 

Alexandra didn't really like the idea of being called a criminal even though she WAS one. Having her name associated with criminality was hard enough as it was, so she didn't want anyone to make her recall that.

Nya sighed. "Listen girl, that mission you received, you realize it is a disguised death sentence, don't you?"

Alexandra nodded. She was fully aware that the LIBRARY expected her to die on duty – she realized it when she learned that her contract only counted angels killed but didn't take in account their ranks. Supposedly, it still marked down the angel's power level, but it didn't make her work easier to kill a high leveled one. For instance, if she killed a rank 7, it would mark that she did, but it would count as a single kill so it was strategically better to kill only rank 1 to 2. In fact, she thought it was a chance at first…

Until she realized the time it would actually take…

"I also have a time limit," she said, nervously. "If I can't do it within 1 year, I will be banished."

A banishment was more or less a clear dead sentence. While an exiled was a criminal with as much rights as a puppet, a banished was someone actively hunted by the LIBRARY a.k.a. the government of the higher ring.

Alexandra then calmly explained her situation. "Angels don't exactly appear every day, and even if they did, my assignment would still be very dangerous. As a criminal, I don't exactly have rights and could be chased by slave traders at any moment. Angels could still kill me even if I was very cautious. And, of course, I could be randomly killed by pretty much everyone like that doll for example."

"You… You thought about it a lot, didn't you?"

"I did. I had to."

A tense silence filled the air as Nya drummed her fingers on the tabletop. Despite the burning question on her mind, she didn't want to ask it, fully aware that doing so would entangle her in an unwanted situation. Instead, she had to keep the conversation going and steer it towards mundane topics, making every effort to avoid the topic that threatened to disrupt her inner equilibrium.

"So, why are you telling me that?"

Nya cursed herself internally. She knew exactly what would be that girl's answer, she knew it would get her involved somehow, but she still asked.

The girl timidly opened her mouth, visibly hesitating.

"Just say it." Nya scolded. 

"Ye, Yes!" Alexendra stuttered, the strand on her head getting straight up. "Um, you see, I was wondering if you could… keep me? No, I mean, just for the time of my initial assignment! I am weak, but I think I can learn a lot from you. In exchange, I will do… well, everything you need me to do. If I can help in your mission, that would be an honor."

"Now that's rare. A Wolf asking for help in such a pitiful manner?"

"I… don't exactly have a choice. My pride can really help me right now." Alexandra replied, lowering her head.

Nya leaned in close to Alexandra, her piercing eyes locking onto the young girl's gaze. 

"Listen to me carefully, girl," she said, her voice low and commanding. "If you stay with me, your mind, your body, in short, YOU, will belong to me. Are you sure you're ready for that kind of commitment?"

Alexandra felt a shiver run down her spine at Nya's words. She didn't know what to make of this woman, but she didn't have anywhere else to go. Besides, if this woman was as amazing as she thought she was, sacrificing her body wouldn't be too much of a high price.

"If I accept, will you teach me how to become a great bibliomancer like you?" she asked, looking straight into Nya's eyes.

Nya raised Alexandra's chin with her fingers, tilting her head up as if to kiss her. Alexandra's heart raced as she stared into Nya's blue, alluring eyes.

"Well, that's one of the things I will teach you, yes. As for the others… why don't we start now?"

She swallowed hard and nodded, her determination unwavering.

But instead of a kiss, Nya pulled away and stood up, her expression unreadable. 

"Good grief," she said after a sigh. "You won't give up, will you? Very well, I shall become your master and your teacher. With such naivety and stubbornness, you wouldn't have survived long enough to finish your assignment around here! I mean, seriously, what proof did you have that I wouldn't simply throw you out after using your body? Or that by using your body, I didn't meant selling it or its parts? Are you stupid?"

"Eh?! Uh, well, I did think about it but… a bibliomancer word is sacred. Besides, you didn't look like that kind of woman so…"

"And what would a kid like you know about 'that kind of woman', huh?" Nya asked with a slightly annoyed tone.

"Um, well…" Alexandra stuttered.

Nya sighed, yet again. "Anyway, you said it, didn't you? A bibliomancer's words are sacred. You accepted being my slave and disciple mind and body alike. Do you confirm?"

Alexandra nodded. "Yes, I Alexandra B.B. Wolf – 9th of the name, swear on her name and soul, to become your slave and disciple."

Alexandra felt a mix of fear and excitement at Nya's words. She knew she was taking a risk by staying with this mysterious woman, but she also knew that it would increase the likelihood of her accomplishing her assignment in time.

Surprisingly, Nya smiled ear to ear but in an unusually ominous manner. 

"Oh-ho? That's sad. That's really sad."

Suddenly, Alexandra felt a sharp pain in her abdomen, and she doubled over in agony.

"What, What is going on?" Alexandra asked, her face distorted by pain.

"Don't worry, girl," she said, her voice low and menacing. "That's just the mark of our agreement." Nya rolled up Alexandra robe until her stomach was exposed, "Now, take a look at this, would you?"

Alexandra looked down at her stomach and gasped in horror as she saw a butterfly-shaped crest painfully appear under her navel. She tried to scream, but no sound came out as the pain continued to pulse through her body.

Nya placed a hand on her shoulder. 

"It's alright," she said, soothingly. "The pain will pass soon enough. And then, we can begin."

"Begin?" Alexandra asked, frightened. 

"Girl, you made many… many, many… many, many, many mistakes today, you see?" she replied with her bright smile. "Firstly, you confessed knowing about Shogo's curse and time bending powers. Secondly, you insulted your savers and my friends. And finally, you assumed I was a bibliomancer just because I could use bibliomancy. None of these were good moves."

Alexandra face whitened.

"What… What will you do to me?" she asked.

Nya shook her head. 

"Oh, me? Nothing. It is you who will work for me starting today. Don't worry, I WILL teach you bibliomancy, but for that, you must do 3 things. See those as my own little assignments to you," she said, raising a finger as she spoke.

"Bu, But—"

"Of course, you don't have a say in this."

"..."

"Firstly, you must obey everything I say. Disobedience will be severely punished."

Nya raised a second finger. 

"Secondly, you must befriend and/or understand the people from the lower ring. They aren't the uncivilized people you think they are. They ARE rude however, especially to know it all like you."

Nya then raised a third finger. 

"Lastly, you must understand that parasite. Her story, her behavior, her thought process, how her powers work, and so on. In short, I want you to understand her even more than yourself. I don't care about how you reach that objective, but you must report to me everything you learn."

As Nya finished speaking, she took a step back and spread her arms wide.

"Simple isn't it? I will teach you proportionally to how close I estimate you are to completing those objectives. So? What do you say?"

Alexandra clenched her teeth. "You… You are exactly like that doll, aren't you?!"

"My, why so angry? You did ask to be my slave, didn't you? You should be happy right now, shouldn't you?" Nya said, raising an eyebrow. 

"Why would I?! Isn't that what you planned from the beginning?! Isn't that the reason why you saved me?! I was stupid thinking you were good hearted! Of course, you had to be a cunning and cruel woman!" Alexandra barked. 

As the only answer she could find, Nya sighed, her eyes closed. She then at Alexandra with what seemed like utter deception. 

"Oh… I guess your determination was nothing but a house of straw blown by the wind, wasn't it?"

The teenage girl's body froze. That woman was right, she was the one who asked to be a slave. She lowered her eyes in shame. 

"Um, sorry," she said, barely above a whisper. "It is just that I wasn't expecting to be branded… I thought we would only make a verbal promise since we are both bibliomancers, but I understand that it is necessary…"

"Good girl," Nya replied, patting Alexandra's head. "Anyway, now that I branded you, nobody else can do it. You are mine and mine only. However, I do understand that nervousness of yours."

"…"

"You should go to sleep now. Tomorrow won't exactly be easy."

"Yes…"

The woman went toward the stairs but stopped as if she just realized she forgot about something. "Oh, nice panties by the way. They seem very… mature."

Alexandra felt her face flush with embarrassment. 

"Wha?! That's so rude! You turned around just to say that?! They are not even mine!"

Nya's eyes widened. "Oh, really? Whose are they, then?"

"Why don't you ask that doll of yours?! Wait, you looked at them? Then you are that kind of woman after all! I can't believe you!"

Nya burst out laughing. "You take everything too seriously, girl. Anyway, make sure to wear your own panties next time, okay?"

"What do you mean by 'next time'?!"

Nya only answered by another laugh before disappearing up the stairs.

As Alexandra found herself alone in the living room, the events of the day swirled around in her head like a hurricane. She couldn't believe how many crazy things had happened to her in just one day.

First, she had been robbed by a complete stranger. Then, she had narrowly escaped being burned alive by a fiery angel. And if that wasn't enough, she had been killed twice by a mind-reading and time-bending doll. To top it off, she had been forced into a pseudo-romantic dinner with said doll, which was awkward to say the least.

But the day wasn't over yet. No, she had also been coerced into becoming a slave for a strange woman, who may or may not have sexually harassed her. She couldn't quite decide which it was, but either way, it was definitely weird (although admittedly she DID ask for it but wasn't as ready as she thought she was).

"What did I put myself in exactly?"

She still had 100 angels to kill and about 359 days to do it. As she reflected on all of this, she couldn't help but wonder what tomorrow would bring.

"I sure hope I won't get abducted by aliens."