Disguised as Seveille de Iblis:

---

Another day in Myras. Tomoe was beginning to tire of the place, yet he still felt the need to serve it as he would any other town. He was a protector, for better or for worse, and his motives needed to be for the safety of others rather than for money nowadays. A champion of justice. A man of the people. Somebody that even the weakest and most feeble of beggars could turn to in their hours of need, prostrating themselves before him in a desperate bid for his sword to turn to their enemies and his body to defend them from the blows of the cruel. In that regard, some would consider the crimson cutthroat to be an honorable man and one of selflessness. And in some ways, despite his own protests, it could be said that he is. Being the kind of person who would draw his sword for the weak, even in the name of money more often than not, what else could one call him aside from a warrior of honor? Suicidal, perhaps. Bloodthirsty, maybe. Yet through it all, the man known as Tomoe Tanaka subconsciously desired to become a hero of the weak.

It was a shame, then, that Tomoe was not the one to appear for work in Myras on this day. Before the gates of the noble Krauz family was a proud gentleman in his own separate league entirely. Shorter in stature for someone of his age, his presence and wordless charisma made him feel taller than most nonetheless. He wore a red suit with the slight signs of red leather armor underneath, carrying a cane in his hand – blackened wood with a nice silver finish and curved handle. The man's gait made it seem as if he didn't need the cane, likely carrying it for the simple desire to look noble with a cane. His smug aura mocked those around him, making the working class and the peasants that passed feel worthless in comparison. As if they had done something wrong by simply living in the squalor that they did as compared to the scarlet suited man.

This suit is so annoying. Feels like these pants're gonna ride up my ass crack for cryin' out loud.”, Tomoe thought, not breaking his disguise or his rich persona, but nevertheless having problems with his current attire.

The way that he could best relate to and befriend the nobility was if he himself was a noble. As the doors of the pristine manor before him opened, his brow furrowed when he saw who was walking out. Before him at the gates was a young man in his mid-twenties who wore a sparkling white, long-sleeved dress shirt with half of the top unbuttoned. For pants he wore matching snow white bellbottoms with tacky wings sewn on at the ankles. His hair was blonde and curlier than a bird's nest and equally as combed, with piercing blue eyes staring towards the crimson noble with a curious gaze.

What in the fuck...?, Tomoe thought, about to open his mouth to question where the noble he was to escort was, when the curly man opened his mouth first with his eyes changing from cold to warm.

“Damn, dude! I knew they'd send a badass, but check you out! Don't even got a weapon on you! Bro, you're so gonna get a tip from me by the time this is over.”, the man spoke in a tone that sounded like he was trying to be “hip”, as the kids would say.

It failed, and the scarlet suited savant that was in no way Tomoe extended his hand in greeting.

“Sir Seveille de Iblis, at your service. How may we proceed with today?”, Tomoe, now masquerading as Seveille, inquired.

---

WC: 629/2,125 (15% reduced)

Spells used:

Disguised as Seveille de Iblis:

---

“My dad bought this sick new sword from a collector, but he's busy doing work with his maid today so he sent me instead to 'get me out of the house'. Hah, what a goober. We all know he's having an affair. Not that he's the only one! Us guys, am I right? Hahahaha!”, the curly-haired Krauz heir continued, nudging at Seveille afterwards.

Seveille stood there, stone-faced as if not acknowledging the man's implications, and then brought a hand to his mouth as if to “ahem” and divert the conversation in a more positive direction.

“Ah, sorry, you don't even know my name. My apologies, my apologies. I'm Bonetta Krauz, and today we'll be going out to meet this local blacksmith in the lower district who also collects weapons from across Earthland and sells them at a premium. He's in a really rundown area though, so that's why you're here!”, the nest-haired man named Bonetta explained, being more detailed than Seveille could ever have expected given his first impression; perhaps he would need to be more careful around the man than he first thought, based on the duality that he was displaying.

As they travelled through the middle district and down to the lower district, the pair of nobles exchanged details about themselves. Bonetta talked about his brief careers as an actor, a swordsman, a janitor, a guild mage and as a writer. Each came out as ambitious underdog stories from what the Krauz heir was saying, but Seveille heard each story as increasingly elaborate get rich quick schemes that each failed and blew up in his face spectacularly.

He would think the man entirely pathetic, if in the back of Seveille's mind, digging further into Tomoe's psyche within, he himself didn't also have many failed schemes in the past. Thinking back on those as he walked, Seveille got back into character and decided not to mock Bonetta's failures. Failure was important to growth, after all, and the many failings that the Krauz heir expressed warmed Sir Iblis to him. Failure was relatable, and the fact that this bird's nest of a man was so willing to share such parts of his life despite his status showed a level of humility that not many in his position possessed. He was well-versed in such things, for better or worse.

Seveille shared details about himself, as well. Namely his many victories against renowned duelists, his bank investments, and recitals for a musical he landed a starring role in with his dashing charm and startling emotional range. In contrast to Bonetta's life of struggles and greed despite being rich, Seveille's life was one filled with success and intrigue at every stage. Truly, no man could match his social versatility, combat expertise or kind soul.

Bonetta looked at Sir Iblis with a tinge of admiration, fully buying into the story of the red noble and his overwhelming success at life. Perhaps he was more gullible than he looked, much to the disappointment of Seveille. There was a mutual level of suspicion between them that all but shattered once Seveille unloaded his “story”, and it all felt too easy for him as a prideful storyteller. That would make it easier though, at the end of the day, to get the job done.

---

WC: 1,176/2,125 (15% reduced)

Spells used:

Disguised as Seveille de Iblis:

---

As they entered the city block in which they were to meet the man at his shop, something felt... off. Seveille couldn't describe it, but it was a feeling he felt many times before. With the streets so empty and not a bum in sight, he came to the conclusion that there was a trap in the making here.

“Proceed cautiously, Krauz.”, Seveille muttered with shifty eyes and a sharpened glare, strengthening the grip on his cane as they descended further down the shoddily maintained roads of Myras' lower district. It was once Bonetta had pointed out the specific smithy in which he was to purchase his sword that everything went to hell. All at once, three arrows emerged from dark corners of nearby alleyways. Seveille had deflected one with his cane and dodged another, while much to his own surprise, the Krauz heir had evaded the final arrow, ducking lower than the arrow's trajectory. He emerged a moment later with his body in fighting form, getting into a stance.

“It'll take more than that! I got trained by my uncle, and he used to be an A-rank guild mage! Let's take it to them, Sir Iblis!”, Bonetta boomed, rushing forward towards one of the bow-wielding thugs from an alley.

Meanwhile, Seveille charged into action himself, death in his eyes as he quickly cornered the second archer and smashed his face into pulp by cracking him over the head with his cane and then stomping on the man's face until he was bloodied and ceased struggling. Bonetta having subdued his side already, he turned to see Seveille pasting the man's face and merging him with a crater in the concrete and nearly puked in shock and horror. Seveille's face remained cold and calculated as he stomped one final time, a sickening crack echoing through the mostly quiet streets of the slums they found themselves in.

“What... what did you do to him! Why?!”, Bonetta cried out, stumbling to his knees in disgust.

This gave the third archer enough time to hastily swoop in and pull out a sword, putting it to Bonetta's throat in a flash.

“J-Just give up the jewels and ye can go! Yer both loaded, so hand over yer coinpurses!”, the thug shouted with a voice that was attempting to sound demanding and strong but came out frightened instead.

His eyes were about ready to bulge out of his head after seeing his friend stomped into rubble, seething with a combination of rage and shameful fear. It was obvious that even if Seveille gave up his money here, he would not be safe from the man's attempt at murder in vengeance afterwards. Such was the thought process of the common man, something that Seveille de Iblis couldn't relate to for a single day of his life.

Seveille lunged forward in response, causing the thug to give up his hostage and jump to the side, evading a cane poke that would have undoubtedly removed one of his widened eyes. He was prey, and the noble before him was the predator. They both knew this as they exchanged stares into one another, and yet still the thug wouldn't give up the fight. As Seveille closed the distance in a single step once again, the thug attempted a parry with his sword. Bashing the red lord's cane to the side, skidding off to the ground, things were looking up for the robber.

That was at least until he neglected the punch hurtling towards him from Seveille's left fist. It struck him hard in his midsection, sending him crashing backwards. Knowing what fate awaited him, however, the thug stood his ground. He didn't fall to the ground. Not yet. He couldn't fall yet. He had a family to feed, and friends to look after. Maybe he could even get his undoubtedly dead friend medical attention through some strange twist of fate and it would all work out, even? Hope wasn't lost as long as his body stood strong. He feebly raised his sword despite the pain shooting throughout him telling him not to, and prepared for another exchange.

---

WC: 1,863/2,125 (15% reduced)

Spells used:

Disguised as Seveille de Iblis:

---

Rather than grab his cane, Seveille surged forth like lightning with his arms curled into fists and guarding the upper half of his body the way a boxer would. With that winter gaze from before piercing into the thug, he couldn't take the pressure anymore. He knew he was in over his head, but wouldn't give up either. At the very least, he could go out fighting rather than defending. In this particular case, however, defense would likely have been a better option.

As he swung his sword the moment Seveille came into range, the scarlet suited man extended his right fist and clashed it against the thug's sword. The poorly crafted sword shattered on impact, leaving only trace cuts on Seveille's hand as the shards of the former weapon fell to pieces on the ground. In shock, the thug once more didn't react in time to the noble's left fist smashing the same area of his torso, this time sending him sputtering to the ground once and for all.

He wouldn't get up again after that, with Seveille closing in on him on the ground and kneeling down to choke the broken man with his hands. This wasn't the work of Tomoe Tanaka – this was Seveille de Iblis, master of money and murder in equal parts. The choking would continue on for over a minute, the lowlife desperately clinging to life, before all fell silent and the struggle ceased. On the chance that he was faking it, Seveille stomped on the thug's exposed and vulnerable neck several times in a row until his neck was at an L shape with the rest of his body.

All was silent. Bonetta was screaming in horror and inconsolable at the sight, clearly having never seen such barbarism in his life. His entire existence was emotional pain at the moment, blurting out brief, “what's the matter with you” type statements as Seveille guided him towards the blacksmith, leaving the corpses scattered around the perimeter.

Seveille knew that the one that the Krauz heir had taken out was still alive, but he didn't mind. It entertained Sir Iblis, the thought that another person would seek vengeance out on him and Bonetta for the brutal deaths of his friends. Guards would likely not clean up such corpses for days if ever, and so the surviving mugger would inevitably wake up to see his precious friends decimated and desecrated. Seveille laughed to himself at the thought of building up a survivor in such a way for a future encounter, just to see him fail as well in the end.

---

WC: 2,125/2,125 (15% reduced)

Spells used:

Disguised as Seveille de Iblis:

---

They arrived at the blacksmith shortly after, who seemed surprised to see them show up unharmed. Well, physically unharmed, at least. Bonetta muttered quietly to the blacksmith about being there to purchase the sword, while Seveille observed the situation with a nonchalant glare that could freeze weaker men.

The blacksmith was not a man of weaker steel, however, and wasn't intimidated by the looks he was receiving. An older man with many scars, it seemed he was the type that was experienced and unyielding. Moreover, it seemed as if he knew something about whatever had just occurred. It was suspicious. Even so, Seveille wouldn't make a move without complete certainty.

Certainty was not to be found at that meeting, as after bargaining up and down on prices, the Krauz heir eventually found a price he could settle on and left hastily. It was clear that he wanted to be rid of the current situation, and left without even waiting for Seveille. The scarlet savant followed closely behind regardless after making sure they wouldn't be stabbed in the back on the way out, and made their way back to the upper district.

There was nothing notable that occurred on the way back, with no attacks of any kind happening. Or, perhaps there was one. The third thug was missing from the bodies while they were on their way out, and Seveille could already feel as if he was being watched as he and Bonetta made their way through Myras. Quickly, the duo made their way to the Krauz estate. At the gates, Bonetta finally spoke, facing Seveille directly.

“Sir Iblis. I don't approve of you or your methods. We should have defeated them like gentlemen and then been on our way! Instead you... you... slaughtered them. No man of justice would ever do that. You're a disgrace to the world of nobility, Sir! My dad's going to put a bounty on you within moments of me walking through those manor doors, so get running! Here's your pay, psycho!”, Bonetta shouted in disgust and pure, guttural rage, throwing the bag of jewels towards Seveille and then storming off towards the doors of his mansion.

Seveille knew when someone was serious, and the Krauz heir was fully intent on sending guards on him within minutes. It was a hasty retreat that he would need to make, having shown his full sense of superiority and ruthlessness before another. That was a mistake, but not one he could guarantee he'd avoid if similar circumstances arose in the future. No – more specifically, he knew he would make that same mistake again. But surely Bonetta would realize that couldn't be helped. With their long conversation, after all, he had to admit that life was all about failure. In this case, Seveille was a man who would never stop failing in the same ways while continuing to believe that he wasn't failing at all. It could be said that Sir Iblis was the most ignorant of them all, and yet so determined in his ignorance that nothing could stop him.

With a flash, he was gone, retreating down the streets and towards a place to hide and lay low in a burst of speed. Seveille knew when he was in danger, and if he stuck around any longer, he most certainly would be. Once he found an unassuming shack to hide in, he rendezvoused with his trusty winged lemur who was hard at work stealing money from the Krauz estate while Seveille was guiding the Krauz heir along. Thievery was the specialty of pets trained by Seveille, and thievery was what this winged lemur would do whenever it had a free chance. He fed the creature treats to show appreciation as the pair laid low with their money until things would blow over more.

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WC: 2,125/2,125 (15% reduced)

Spells used:

- Exit -