The Sub-Circle

Red fell on the floor after a gruesome training session in her training room. Her panting body kept going up and down as sweat danced about her muscle-toned body. She then looked at the man standing next to her. He wore a dark robe and had a black mask over his face.

"What do you want, Grimm?"

Grimm sat next to her and let out a bored yawn.

"Oh nothing. I just came to tell you the plan."

"For the monster?"

The man stretched out his hand let a gentle chilling breeze fly over his friend. She closed her eyes and smiled contently at this action.

"Let em rip."

He took out a [Projection Stone] and holographic figures formed. Maude opened her eyes to look at what was being shown. At first, she was confused, but then noticed how easily the adventurers had been beaten by two women. What shocked her most was the woman who used giant spider legs to fight. She scrolled through her memories quickly and was suddenly reminded of Arachnes. Although that race didn't look like that, the woman's legs looked just like one. She was probably a variant species.

"What is she?"

"I am not sure about that. I believe some variant in the Arachne race. Anyway, what got my interest was the one who looks like a kid."

"Because of her magic?"

"No. Because the bigger one was acting subservient to it. That would mean the kid is the stronger one."

"Hmm. Is she also an Arachne?"

"Have you forgotten the video file from the markari? She had wings, not claws."

"So, some variant of the Harpies?"

"I doubt that, but it's worth considering."

Maude closed her eyes again.

"I see. So… what is the plan?"

"The plan is to capture both of them alive. I remember Derbyshire telling me that he wanted to capture her alive for The Boss."

"How do you plan on capturing her, when my best team failed?"

"You forget who I am, you bastard."

"Hehe. Anything else to report?"

There was no response after that. Maude opened her eyes and noticed that Grimm was not around anymore. She clicked her tongue and sighed.

'You've got to stop doing that! Also… this creature could help out with that. Grimm, you genius!'

***

Grimm walked out of the room and found himself walking in the hallways. A pair of hands grabbed him by the shoulder and he froze still.

"Oh dear, did you do it?"

The seductive voice asked. Without moving a single inch, Grimm replied.

"Yes."

"Good, good. Now, on to the next phase of our grand plan."

Grimm nodded, just as the pair of hands disappeared. He proceeded to move towards his destination.

---------------------------------------------

A dark room

One large round table sat in this chamber which was illuminated by lit torches all around. The room was dark enough that the features of those present couldn't be properly seen, yet their outline could be made out.

The round table had eight seats, of which three were empty.

"Shall we begin this meeting my friends?"

One of the members suggested and the others straightened their postures.

"Finally. This meeting was starting to piss me off."

One of the members with a high pitched voice said. The others silently agreed.

"Very well then… this regards the boss."

He remained silent for a brief moment, making sure he had gotten everyone's attention – successfully did.

"It seems his greed for one little dhampyr has summoned a monster to this city."

"Don't call her one little dhampyr. She is a near perfect experiment that cou-"

The member who spoke out had his voice cut off by a surge of killing intent being shot at him. He looked around and couldn't tell who was sending it. All he knew was that it would be best for him to shut his mouth.

"A monster? Just send the grunts to kill it. Or even better, leave it to the Adventurer Guild."

One proposed a solution to the seemingly stupid problem in a bored manner. She even yawned and rested her head on the table.

"I would have sent the Adventurers to handle it, but this monster… it was more than I thought."

He responded. The whole room was silent once again, everyone eager to know what he meant by that.

"Explain."

A man with a large outline and a deep voice said.

"Yes, yes. This creature already killed off the majority of Ciligan's group. Only the markari we left to monitor them survived."

"Who now?"

"Oh? Could you be referring to the Secret Task force that received personal training from the Great Grimm Black himself?"

One of the members asked and all the others' ears twitched.

"I have not… trained any person and I will not train any person if that is what you were trying to lead to. This team was trained by Maude who is the Boss' Right Hand."

"His right hand?"

"Interesting."

"Then I am guessing that this team should be very impressive."

"Trust me, when I say they are. Or they were. I received a report from the task force's surviving member as to how events played out that day and to be honest, it was a bit unnerving. Five mercenaries, two of which were stronger than quite a few experienced adventurers and the others at least on par with experienced adventurers. Four dead, the only surviving member a markari who are known for their… 'Resilience'."

Grimm threw a stone to the center of the table. The stone projected an image of a little girl with blonde hair, red cowlick, large golden wings with dark patches and glowing red eyes.

"And last night, I received a report saying the creature is in this city, right now."

All members present looked at the naked beauty with all sorts of thoughts going through their minds.

"How did the creature get here so quickly?"

The man from earlier who had been silenced asked.

"Obviously Teleportation Magic, stupid husband of mine."

The woman who sat very close to him responded.

"Still…"

"Shut it, you two."

Another voice came.

"You mean to tell me that that little girl is the monster?"

"Definitely. I don't think you should call her a little girl though."

Grimm defended.

"Why not?"

"Well… here."

The video continued and those present were surprised. They witnessed the monster cast different elements simultaneously and effortlessly beat Ciligan and his men, barely using seconds. Afterwards, she called in goblins to come carry the men away in some sort of tunnel, filled with hundreds of rat men. She then called in some hob-goblins, a rat man and some humanoid… an elf? She woke up the subordinates and questioned them. They watched as Ciligan was mercilessly killed by the little girl for refusing to answer her.

Her methods were cruel… still, there was a bit of a human touch to it. Something they wouldn't expect a stupid monster to do. And from the information they could gather, other monsters were subordinate to it. For all they knew, this creature had an army of monsters under it and they had just come to anger it. Even if the creature didn't have an army of monsters, with the power it just displayed, it might as well have been a Superior Beast or beyond.

"Oh my…"

The woman sitting next to the skinny man commented.

"Remember how I went to Larm to secure the fat ogre's daughter?"

"You did what!?"

"Yea, when I did, Derbyshire told me of a little bird monster in the West portion of the forest that was fighting Krull's army."

"His army?"

"Yeah, there was a little feud going on between the West and the East. Nothing special."

"A feud?"

"Like I said, nothing special."

Tensions were slowly rising in the room. None of those present were stupid enough to underestimate the prowess of a tyrant. If they were, they would openly hunt down resources from Larm.

"So this is the monster?"

"I believe so."

"What makes you think this?"

"Are you stupid? I don't want to hear another word from your mouth."

The woman sitting next to him ordered.

"Eeek!"

Again, he had been silenced.

"Even if she use various magical elements, those were nothing but basic level magic. Not even intermediary… Not to mention advanced. That monster is weak. Stop wasting my time, Grimm. Tell me why it is I'm here?"

The deep voice asked. His body was releasing a violent aura which made the air distort and breathing became a bit difficult for the more… weaker members.

"Calm down, Aigen. I just wanted your help to capture this monster for the boss."

"Stop fooling around. Even kings aren't major threats for you, so why would a tiny monster be able to do anything to you."

"Eh? Since when?"

"I shall take my leave now. I still have to attend to my business. It was bad enough that my shipments have been delayed by a few weeks due to some idiots calling themselves the "Hero Party". Don't call me on this matter again."

"I'm out as well. The Mexar Empire's efforts to smoke out my rings have intensified greatly."

The silent woman who seemed tired said as she stood up.

"You two. Hold up."

Grimm ordered and both stopped walking away.

"If you two aren't participating, I wish for you to at least leave the capital for the next few days."

"Huh?"

"Very well. I had a mission elsewhere, either way. I'll be leaving in an hour."

"Same goes for me. I only came because this could be the last time I meet you people. It was fun."

They both said and left the area.

"Huh? What? Grimm, you are going to let both of them leave just like that?"

"What else can I do?"

"Don't play dumb with us. Everybody here knows perfectly what you are capable of."

"Oi, oi, oi. Aren't you guys overestimating me?"

"Hmph… anyway, I'm guessing you already have a plan?"

"Indeed. Are you two ready to take up your roles as parents?"

"Eh?"