Boring Trip

A small envoy of two carriages were passing through the open flatlands, one of the carriages was filled with magical tools and supplies, being tended to by a few servants while the other one had Gwen yawning loudly, obviously bored of the trip.

"I don't get it, why couldn't we just have taken a mount? We could've just flown there in an hour." Gwen leaned at the window, letting her forehead lay flat on it. She could see just grass and common flowers filling the sides, not even seeing another magical creature. This was one of the few times where she had felt bored ever since she entered the novel.

Felix stiffly smiled, "I thought we were going to experience something new but apparently…"

No. 12 was right beside Gwen, exuding a magical aura that made countless creatures instinctively run away. "Sir Felix, I cannot take any chances! You know how scary Lord Nio could be if he wants to be."

"Humph! I can't practice my spells, I can't run around, I can't explore, I can't do anything! You're basically killing me here! No. 12, hear that? Killing me!"

"No. 12, I hate to say it but Gwen's right. There should only be low-level monsters here, they shouldn't even pose a threat to any of us."

"Huh? Hate to say it? Felix, I thought you were on my side. Gah, my friend hates me." Gwen clenched her chest as she raised up one hand in the air as if speaking to a higher being.

"Lady Gwendolyn, I will not and cannot take any chances here. I want to live too, you know?" No. 12 kept up her righteous look, completely immovable in her decision.

Gwen rubbed her temples, trying to think of a way that would let her break free from the monotony of her current predicament. When she traveled here, she expected her life to be filled with action and drama, vast spaces of land with many ruins ripe for exploring, however, she had severely underestimated the boredom of travel.

"Alright how about this, if Gwen promises to not cause trouble for six hours, you'll recede your aura."

"Mmm, twelve hours."

"Wait, what about my opinion?" Gwen pointed at herself.

"Seven hours and I'll look after Gwen's every action."

"Huh… every action… 9 hours, you keep Gwen occupied and I get a raise."

"Guys, I'm still here? I know you can hear me so stop ignoring me!"

Felix rested her chin on his palm as he thought of a counteroffer, "How about six hours, I look after Gwen, and I'll take responsibility for what happens in Jiana Kingdom."

"I know you guys can hear me! Felix, hello?" Gwen waved her hand in front of Felix, trying to catch his attention yet he didn't even acknowledge her.

No. 12 sucked in air through her teeth, "I don't know Sir Felix, Lady Gwendolyn's a handful. Do you know what spell she just recently learned? Eye of Darkness."

"Eye of Darkness? I hadn't seen it before. Do tell."

Gwen finally got an opportunity in, "Great Evil, bestow me the power to control darkness itself! From the shadows, I'll swallow up the light! Devour hope, devour light, consume everything! Eye of Darkness!"

Felix finally broke his façade of ignoring Gwen as he noticed her use the new infamous spell for the first time. He could tell just how destructive it truly was as the runes that composed the magic spell were extremely complicated, weaved into countless individually moving parts.

A slight eerily dark mist started to form all around her, yet it was immediately snuffed out by No. 12's mana. It tore apart Gwen's spell without the slightest form of resistance. No matter how well formed it was, the gap between realms was well beyond what the current Gwen could cross.

Gwen grumbled out in dissatisfaction, "No fair! Stop using your Archmage powers!"

No. 12 replied in an honest tone, "Remember what you promised? No magic. You should be sightseeing with your beloved in his home kingdom."

"I didn't give my verbal consent! Shrugging my shoulders doesn't count!" Gwen vividly recalled what No. 12 expressly wanted on this trip. To be nothing but an obedient child that enjoys herself in a new place.

Felix noticed that No. 12 wasn't backing down on this point, 'Nio must've wanted to suppress Gwen's growth. That's… something new.' Felix was completely taken aback for as far as he could recall, Nio had always wanted his children to excel and even surpass him, to hold Gwen back was essentially going against his own pre-formed goals.

"As far as I could tell, based on your body language, it means yes. Now, stop causing me trouble or I'll confiscate your Death Artifact."

"Eh… I got a really potent one for this trip. Are you sure you want to risk it? Hehe." Gwen cheekily nudged No. 12 using her elbow, the current Death Artifact she had on her was the very same blood-red ruby that she had when she was kidnapped. Knowing that No. 12 wouldn't want to risk being infected by The Corruption, she knew she had leverage here.

Gwen took the Death Artifact out of her pocket and waved it in front of No. 12. The evil energy started spewing out everywhere as Felix's face immediately whitened. No. 12 saw his expression turn rigid and immediately took action.

"That's it, I'm confiscating it, young lady. You'll get it back after this trip." No. 12 covered her hand in dense mana and snagged it out of Gwen's hand, concealing it with even more mana and storing it away in her person.

"No! Wait, give it back! I was wrong so please give it back!" Gwen reached out her hands, trying to grab the Death Artifact back but No. 12's reach was almost twice her stubby arms. Gwen desperately wanted to take it back since most of her capabilities relied on the Death Artifact in her possession. Without it, Gwen was only as strong as a Tier 3 Mage, still impressive but not as exaggerated as before.

Felix's expression returned to normal as soon as this severely evil energy was contained. Gwen still thought that the contract provided Felix immunity to The Corruption, so she brought it out thinking that it wouldn't have caused any of them any trouble.

No. 12 gave Felix a side glance as he mouthed, "Thank you." No. 12 didn't react but instead verbally said, "So, Felix, how about you and Gwen have fun without leaving Jiana Kingdom? Promise me that and I'll recede my aura."

Felix smiled, knowing that without a Death Artifact in Gwen's possession, she would be manageable, not controllable but just enough that he could stop her from doing anything too troublesome. All the meanwhile, Gwen was at the edge of tears, "No. 12! Please give it back, I won't make it harder for you anymore! Please, please, please! If you don't give it back, I'll tell Father you bullied me!"

Felix came up to help No. 12 out, bringing Gwen away from grasping onto No. 12's maid attire. He sat her down right beside him, "Don't worry there's a lot of… wait a minute, No. 12, you smell that?"

No. 12 calmly replied, "Blood."