Chapter 6 - Making A Deal With The Devil (1)

I, Shredica, silently traversed the shadowy alley, each step shrouded in the veil of darkness. Upon reaching the alley's ominous terminus, a solid wall confronted me. A cautious scan of my surroundings ensured the absence of prying eyes before I approached the imposing barrier, my knuckles rapping on its cold surface.

Suddenly, a voice resonated from the other side.

"What sound can be heard at the horizon today?"

I replied, "The melodious chirping of birds."

In response, the wall seemed to come alive, shifting and revealing a concealed entrance. Without a moment's hesitation, I stepped through, and as I did, the entryway sealed behind me. Correction—it wasn't a mere closure; it was a deliberate act by someone. Emerging from the very wall itself, the person who closed it revealed most of her body still seamlessly integrated into its structure.

"Welcome back, Shredica," she said.

It was a woman with short white hair, sporting a face that could only be described as cute. However, my focus remained unwavering, devoid of any reaction to her charms. My heart, encased in cold resolve, resisted the easy melting effect of cute or even beautiful faces.

"Don't just pop out like that in your state," I remarked. The woman before me was stark naked, but her fusion with the wall concealed her nudity, revealing only her head and shoulders.

"What can I do about it? I can't use my ability with my clothes on."

Her skill, Permeation, allowed her to phase through all matter. Yet, the catch was that every time she employed her power, she inadvertently left her clothes behind, rendering her naked each time.

"If that's the case, why not create clothes that don't come off every time you use it? Aren't you embarrassed being butt naked in a space teeming with men?" 

As I uttered those words, a crimson blush painted her cheeks, and she began to breathe heavily. Her hand found its way to her cheek, and she seductively licked her lips, "Isn't that the most thrilling thought? Picture men pulling me out of this wall and engaging in a wild gang bang right then and there—it's enough to make my pussy wet. I mean, a beautiful young maiden like me would be utterly defenseless against such barbaric men, right? So, all I can do is take it."

I shot her a cold glare, then turned away and continued on my path.

"Hey, wait. Where are you going, Shredica? I'm still talking to you!"

"I don't want to talk to you," I retorted, pressing forward.

"Why are you being so distant? Haven't we faced countless life-and-death situations together?" She caught up by phasing through the hallway walls. "Aren't we friends now? War buddies?"

I continued to ignore her, maintaining my brisk pace.

"Hmm? Shredica, you look different today. Don't tell me you're heading out... on a date?"

At that, I finally halted, acknowledging her presence. As I did, a grin stretched across her face from ear to ear.

"Hahaha! I nailed it, didn't I? You're off on a date, huh?!" She exuded so much joy that I could practically envision her wagging her rear like an excited dog within the wall she was phasing through.

"It's not a date," I clarified.

"But you're meeting someone, right? I was almost convinced you had zero interest in men and were more into women, but I need to make sure. You're meeting a man, aren't you?"

Why did she assume I leaned towards women? Perhaps it was because, since joining this organization, I'd always harbored a disdain for men and kept my distance from them. That might have led her to think I was a lesbian. However, that wasn't the case. My heart wasn't really into romance. It had been frozen since birth, so I doubted men or women could thaw it.

"Yes, it's a man."

As I stated that, her grin widened even more.

"So, it's a date, after all."

"Like I said, it's not a date," I reiterated, but she paid no attention.

"Ah~ I thought the likelihood of you landing a date with someone was about as probable as urban legends coming true."

Since there was no stopping her now, convinced it was a date, I decided to ignore her and erase her from my mind. However, as I took a step, my smartphone rang. Someone was calling me. I pulled it out of my pocket and checked the caller.

"Oh, is that the lucky one going on a date with Ice Queen Shredica?" She peered at my phone, half of her body emerging from the wall, revealing her breasts. When she saw it was one of our comrades calling, she sighed in disappointment.

Disregarding her, I answered the call. The voice of my comrade echoed from the device.

"The mission of safeguarding the Duke's daughter is a resounding success, Shredica. Please, deliver this triumph to our leader."

"I see. Understood. I'll make my way to her immediately and ensure she receives the news of our successful mission," I affirmed.

The mission unfolded flawlessly, huh? Our leader certainly possesses an acute understanding of how the Eclipse orchestrates their moves.

Intent on reaching our leader without delay to share the news, I braced myself to take a step forward. However, before my foot could land, the voice on the other end offered additional information.

"Oh, and kindly relay to her the suggestion to consider recruiting the individual I'll be forwarding in the message. He boasts remarkable combat skills, and the success of our mission owes much to him. We didn't even raise a finger when the kidnappers struck. When the Duke's daughter fell prey to the Eclipse, he swiftly intervened, dismantling the assailants with unmatched proficiency."

"Really now?" I replied, my voice laced with a hint of intrigue. It was a rare spectacle for someone within our organization to endorse another to our esteemed leader—no, scratch that, it was an unprecedented event. The fact that my comrade saw this individual as essential to our cause piqued my curiosity. "Very well. I'll personally deliver the message to the leader."

"Thank you," the voice on the other end conveyed gratitude. "Oh, and by the way, Claire spilled the beans about your upcoming 'date.' Is that true? I never thought someone of your caliber could land a date with anyone. Well? Is it a man or a woman?"

How did this woman get wind of that information? That was the question I was supposed to ask, but a swift glance at the figure behind me, engrossed in her smartphone, unveiled her as the informant, even before the person on the other end hinted at it.

"It's not a date," I asserted. "Anyway, is that all? If so, I'll conclude the call."

"Okay. Have an exceptional time on your date, Shre—"

Before she could finish her sentence, I promptly ended the call. Turning away, I strolled off. Claire, the woman with the ability to permeate, shot me a mischievous smirk and said, "Bye, bye! I hope your date goes well!" before seamlessly melding into the wall.

I continued forward without a backward glance, slipping my phone back into my pocket. After walking for a while, I reached an entrance at the end of the hallway. Though I was still some distance away, the lively clamor from within reached my ears. Upon entering, I beheld numerous individuals engaged in conversation, their weapons casually slung as if part of the decor in this expansive room that resembled a casino. No, it wasn't just the setting that exuded a casino vibe; nearly every person was entangled in various forms of gambling, giving this room an unmistakable casino ambiance. Even though it technically wasn't one...

Spotting me, someone from the crowd energetically waved their hands.

"Oh, Shredica, there you are. We were just talking about you," a woman with fiery red hair, resembling a lion's mane, called out. She sat at a table surrounded by six people, currently enjoying beer with them.

"Leader..." I breathed out, my disappointment hanging heavy in the air. Witnessing our leader involved in such activities, however skilled she was at guiding us, cast a shadow over my mood.

"You're looking grumpy as always, Shredica. What, did your date turn out to be a dud or something?" she teased.

I knew it was futile to ask, but I inquired anyway, "How did you find out about that? And for the record, it's not a date."

"Oh, darling. Claire spilled the beans to everyone about your impending 'date.' And with a man, no less. I never envisioned you as one for the opposite sex, Shredica. I assumed you were more inclined towards women, but it seems my speculation about your preferences missed the mark.

Defending myself seemed as futile as ever, but I still tried. "Like I said, it's not a date."

She chuckled wickedly. "Oh, you. No need to deny it. I mean, being alone with a man practically constitutes a date, doesn't it? Even without you explicitly saying it, we could already tell just from that." Her grin stretched from ear to ear, cheeks flushed with the telltale signs of excessive alcohol consumption. Judging by the crimson hue of her cheeks, it seemed she'd been hitting the bottle since morning. "So, after your 'date,' what's gonna happen? Is our little darling Shredica finally gonna graduate from being inexperienced? If so, should I be the one to teach you the art of pleasuring men?"

Her words dripped with a seductive allure. I distanced myself from her.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not in the mood for your jests, Leader," I retorted. Simultaneously, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. "I'm here because Arianne informed me that the mission is completed."

"Oh, well done. I had faith in the father-daughter duo's capabilities to handle the job," she chuckled heartily.

"And also," I added, retrieving my phone from my pocket, "she expressed a desire to recommend someone." As I opened my phone, ready to hand it over, I froze. The person Arianne recommended was the very individual I would be meeting tonight.