Chapter 58 : Multiple Personalities is the Worst Trope

The Change in Cecilia

In a daze, Lita felt like she was back in that night—the night she truly first encountered Cecilia.

The words Cecilia had said that night seemed to echo in her ears.

“A late-night visit is a bit rude, isn’t it?”

“A… lost little Nightmare Demon? Or do you plan to fill your stomach with me?”

“In exchange, how should I deal with you?”

That tone, that expression, was exactly the same as the Cecilia standing before her now, wiping the bloodstains from her face with a cool hand.

So, who exactly was the person standing in front of her now?

“Lita, you look surprised, don’t you?” Cecilia‘s palm stroked Lita‘s cheek again. The coolness from her fingertips slightly lowered the temperature of Lita‘s face, which was hot from tension and running.

Lita should have felt relieved seeing Cecilia unharmed, but this current version of her made Lita uneasy. Her voice was inevitably a bit dry.

“Her Highness Cecilia, are you… alright?”

“Of course, I am very well.” Cecilia gave Lita a smile that Lita could not feel reassured by, no matter what.

Cecilia rarely smiled. At least, the number of times Lita had seen Cecilia smile was even less than the times she had seen her blush.

The Cecilia now was simply like a different person.

Ideas like multiple personalities, darkening, or a second soul inside her popped up one after another in Lita‘s mind. Since this was a game world, anything was possible.

Don’t tell me. Multiple personalities is the worst trope. Lita really did not want to deal with this.

But Lita needed confirmation. She stammered for a long time, asking a foolish question: “Um, are you Her Highness Cecilia?”

As expected, Cecilia, hearing the question, looked at Lita with a ‘Are you out of your mind?’ expression.

However, Cecilia usually did not show her emotions so clearly.

I already asked! Lita didn’t mind confirming again.

“Are you?”

“Who else would I be?” Although Cecilia looked speechless, she still answered.

“Then do you know who I am?” Lita asked again.

“Lita, did you lose your memory? Did the Nightmare Demon‘s magic in this room work on you too?”

There was indeed a residual enchanting aura in the room. That was why the guards were lying haphazardly on the floor.

Compared to Cecilia‘s change, Lita felt the enchanting aura was not her most urgent concern, which was why she hadn’t mentioned it.

“Then why was I arrested the first time?” Lita pressed.

“You’re worried a Nightmare Demon controls me? You’re a little smarter than I remember.”

“Please answer me, Her Highness Cecilia.”

“Are you referring to being accused of participating in the assassination attempt on me? I only recall that one.”

Cecilia said this, her gaze drifting toward the window behind her.

Liar. Cecilia definitely remembers the time she caught me climbing her window!

But Lita was reasonably certain that only Cecilia‘s personality had changed; her memories remained intact.

To be precise, her personality had become significantly more unpleasant.

“Alright, I don’t know what you are trying to confirm, Lita. Now shut up and listen to me, understand?” Cecilia walked back and sat in the chair she had just vacated: “A Nightmare Demon sneaked in during the chaos. I seem to have been hit.”

So… so forceful. She really has become more unpleasant.

“How do you know you were affected?” Lita didn’t dare push further on Cecilia‘s own matter, instead asking an even more idiotic question.

“Because I feel quite excited right now?” Cecilia tilted her head, showing a very cute contemplative expression.

“I can tell,” Lita muttered.

“Hmm?” Cecilia‘s eyes curved into a slit, issuing a soft, drawn-out sound of confusion.

“N-Nothing. What next?”

“Next… she seemed to want to do something to me, but unfortunately, she didn’t succeed.”

Though unbelievable, Cecilia was now unharmed. And the Nightmare Demon had briefly crossed paths with Lita while leaving the Lord’s Manor; she had been trying to say something but Lita‘s attack had interrupted her.

More importantly, Cecilia had no reason to lie to her.

“Alright, continue listening. Someone invaded Solus City and attacked the night patrol guards,” Cecilia continued, giving Lita no chance to interrupt: “This relates to your next mission.”

“What is it?”

“First, you need to know the enemy is divided into two types: one is the wanderers with rusty weapons. They are like swarming rats; they won’t amount to much, but they are disgusting enough.” Cecilia tapped her finger on the map:

“The other is the professionals mixed among the wanderers. They look no different from the wanderers, but their combat experience and equipment are stronger than most soldiers. They have their own goals, but mostly they improvise, so they are not too worrying. Also, their numbers are not large.”

The Third Enemy

…

Cecilia was unaware at this time that there was actually a third kind of enemy.

The Demon Race, a single individual of the Demon Race.

It was normal for Cecilia to be unaware; aside from the soldiers Angus personally led, likely no one knew of her existence.

And now, this Demon was being chased and routed by Angus.

While fleeing, the Siren never lost her sharp tongue: “Heh heh, persistent harassment. A man like you wouldn’t be popular.”

She spoke confidently, but her desperate appearance greatly reduced the impact of her words, so much so that Angus didn’t even want to respond.

“Aren’t you worried about your soldiers? Aren’t you worried about that Imperial Princess? People are dying every second you waste! Doesn’t your heart ache? No, it doesn’t! You only care about yourself!”

Angus‘s greatsword remained steady: “If Her Highness is unharmed, I will use your head to atone for my failure. Otherwise, I will use your head as a sacrifice.”

“You want my head? Too bad! You won’t get it! Look where we are!” The Siren sneered, diving toward a nearby sewer entrance: “Didn’t you notice! This is my escape route! Idiot!”

Just before she entered the sewer, a greatsword descended from the sky, completely blocking the entrance and forcing the Siren to avoid the powerful blow.

What? That’s not Angus’s sword?

“Who is it!”

A girl in heavy full armor jumped down from high up, landing steadily on the sword’s body, answering the Siren‘s question with her action.

“Maggie…” Angus lowered his greatsword, speaking the girl’s name.

“That Demon was right. You truly are an idiot for letting the city become like this! And, old man, you need to call me General!” The girl stepped off the greatsword, kicking its hilt with her toe, sending the greatsword flying up.

She reached out without even looking behind her, and the greatsword landed firmly in her hand. She then casually rested it on her shoulder: “But old man, you’re right too. She’s keeping this head.”

Damn it, another one.

The Siren‘s face was uglier than if she had eaten a few rats raw. She reluctantly raised her stiletto.

Just then, purple flames suddenly erupted from the ground where she stood, instantly engulfing her body.

Angus and Maggie both had to step back from the raging inferno, avoiding the rolling tongues of fire.

Simultaneously, the same flames erupted across various streets in Solus City. Soldiers watched in disbelief as the few remaining, desperately resisting wanderers were completely consumed by the flames, letting out hideous screams.

Gradually, the flames subsided, leaving only scorched earth. Nothing else remained.

“My apologies, Lord Angus. These fellows were simply too noisy, so I was compelled to wake from my slumber and deal with these grating insects.”

A graceful figure outlined by a black robe steadily approached Angus. The purple flames dancing on her fingertips were enough to explain many things.

“I stole your prey. You don’t blame me, do you?”

“How could I?” The aversion in Angus‘s eyes flashed and was gone: “Thank you for your assistance, Lady Dorothy.”