Chapter 16: No money? No money, what do you say?

“Anyone who stands in my way must die!”

Okolis’s body and twin silver swords glowed with white light—attributeless magic.

Such magic typically enhanced the user or their weapons, often called martial arts by those who preferred a less arcane term.
The distinction was minor, but real.

“Come taste my martial arts!”
“Double Blade Flash!”

Cynthia watched Okolis charge, arms crossed, feet unmoving, her gaze steady.

So slow.

By ordinary standards, Okolis’s Double Blade Flash was blazingly fast—most would see only an afterimage.

But to Blood Princess Cynthia, or even her human self, Jellal, it was practically slow motion.

She could track the blades’ every move.
Sighing, she extended her hands—four fingers, precisely—and caught the silver blades mid-strike.

To Cynthia, it was effortless, but Okolis felt an overwhelming force halt her swords.
The recoil nearly made her drop them.

“What… what’s happening?”

Unconvinced, Okolis pushed harder, straining to break through Cynthia’s grip.

She couldn’t.

Cynthia yawned, tilting her head to glance past Okolis at Ina, who was rising.
“Had enough fun? If so, handle this.”

“I was nearly forced into being a lesbian! Have you no heart?”

Ina grit her teeth, fists clenched, but quickly relaxed, rubbing her forehead and pointing at Okolis.
“Sorry, lesbian-san, it’s just survival. You get it.”

A black magic orb formed in Ina’s hand, morphing into a dark mist that enveloped Okolis and Cynthia, sapping their strength.

Or rather, only Okolis’s strength.
The mist seemed to avoid Cynthia, as if it had a mind of its own.

Ina hadn’t directed it so precisely—her control over dark magic wasn’t that refined.

“Ugh… Damn, it doesn’t affect you?”

“You jerk…”

Cynthia shot Ina a deadpan look, releasing her grip.
Okolis collapsed, unconscious.
“Go find where they stashed the money. I’ll deal with these guys.”

“Find it? You kidding?”

Ina glanced around the sparse cave.
“It’s empty—where am I supposed to look?”

“There are still people awake outside. Ask them.”

Cynthia dragged Okolis by her clothes to the cave’s entrance, tossing her before the still-conscious Vic.
“Hey, where’s your treasure hidden? Spill, or you’re in for it.”

“No clue!”

“Oh? Pretty stubborn, huh?”

Ina stepped forward, a dark magic orb forming in her hand, her face grim.
“After how you treated me, I’ve got every right to make this painful.”

“No! I swear, I don’t know! I’ve always wondered where the boss hides our haul! Only she knows!”

Vic’s terrified eyes convinced Ina he wasn’t lying.

“He’s probably telling the truth. Now what?”

Cynthia shrugged.
“What else? Wait for her to wake up.”

Some time later, Okolis’s consciousness stirred.

Her body felt drained, her back and knees aching, her energy sapped.

Did I sleep too long?

Groaning, she forced herself to sit up despite her weakness.
“What happened…”

Before she finished, she locked eyes with a silver-haired vampire girl glaring fiercely.

Behind her, the familiar black-haired girl peeked out cautiously.

“So it wasn’t a dream?”

Okolis rubbed her eyes, checking for hallucinations.

“Nope. So, where’s the money you hid?”

Cynthia sat before her, staring intently.

“Give me that girl, and I’ll tell you! Fair trade, right?”

“Sounds fair.”

“Not fair!”

Ina’s fur bristled.
She pounced, pressing Cynthia’s head down with her chest in a fierce tackle.
“Be serious!”

Whether it was Ina’s imagination, Cynthia seemed to tremble slightly, her body shrinking under the pressure.

Hmph, I win.

“Ahem… Sorry, the lady doesn’t seem keen.”

What Ina didn’t notice was Cynthia’s frozen reaction, her pale cheeks flushing faintly at the contact.

Despite the softness on her head, Cynthia faced Okolis with a serious expression.

Tch, why do I feel like I lost?

“Right, I’m Cynthia-chan’s—alive or dead! Even as a ghost, I won’t let you have me!”

Ina nodded rapidly, still pressing Cynthia’s head.
“So, lesbian sister, give up and go find a blind date.”

“Get off, you jerk!”

“Just chilling here! Stingy!”

Okolis watched their playful banter, sinking into thought.
After a long pause, she spoke slowly.
“I see. Maybe my love isn’t the black-haired girl…”

Ina quickly released Cynthia, nodding eagerly.
“Yes, yes, your love must be—”

But before she finished, Okolis shot to her feet, her earlier weakness seemingly a ruse.
“I get it! My love is the silver-haired girl!”

“Huh?”

“Your strength, blocking my attack—it’s etched in my heart! You’re my true love!”

Cynthia’s gaze turned odd.
“Is this one hopeless? Or are all humans like this now?”

“You can’t lump everyone together.”

Ina, at a loss, struggled to clear the misunderstanding.

Looking at Okolis muttering to herself, Ina couldn’t help asking, “Sis, Cynthia agreed to the deal—so where’s the money?”

“Hey!”

“Seriously?!”

Okolis snapped her head around, perhaps calmed by Ina’s words, catching the latter half.
“But what money?”

“The cash and treasures you stole?”

“Oh—that.”

“But… we don’t have any money.”