Hmm, this must be it.

Ios decided where to go, jumped up lightly using the wind, reached a window, and opened it. Then he was quite surprised to see what was going on in there.

Huh?

The room was full of all kinds of clothing materials. There was a boy on the floor and a lot of blood around him. There was a tall, thin man who was trying to put the boy in a sack, and he was quite surprised to see Ios.

Of course, they were on the second floor.

Then, the door was suddenly opened and Rubica came in. While Christopher was still in shock, she quickly looked around and picked up a long pole that was right next to her.

Take that!

She mercilessly hit Christophers head with it, but the long pole was meant to be used to twist long fabrics around it so that they could be stored, so it didnt hurt him much.

He reached out to grab her arm, but then Gabriel showed up and bit his arm hard.

Ugh!

Rubica jumped up, put her arms around his neck, and strangled him. He chocked, unable to breathe.

Gabriel, tapeline, tapeline!

Okay!

Gabriel quickly brought a tapeline that was on the desk. They started to tie the man lest he might try to fight back again.

It seemed like trying to help would only disturb the girls, so Ios just quietly sat down on the window sill.

Wow

The nymph was really great, especially that skill of putting the opponents head under her armpit to choke him. He wished he could learn that skill.

Gabriel, tie his legs as well. Therere some strings there!

Okay!

And, it was easy from there. Rubica let go of Christophers head only after Gabriel finished tying him tightly.

Then they found a strong linen cloth and used it as a gag so that he wouldnt be able to talk.

They did it, more easily than they had thought. Rubica let out a sigh of relief, but then Gabriel punched his waist with all her might.

Take that!

Next, she started to beat his thighs and shoulders. She did it so well that she made Ios wish he had had some peanuts and cool sparkling water. It was by far the coolest fight hed witnessed in years.

Gabriel, stop!

Let me go! He deserves more!

She caught her breath for a minute, took off a corset that a mannequin in a corner was wearing, put it on Christopher, and started to pull its straps.

Take that! Huh, you bragged so much, but why is your waist so thick? You should have spent your time on losing some weight instead of giving those empty speeches about muses!

She was having an extremely emotional revenge. Christopher yelled something, but his mouth was gagged, so they couldnt understand what he was saying.

Seeing him suffer from a corset over his jacket made Gabriel feel somewhat better. She kicked him to a corner.

But you were so great! How did you do it? You choked him really hard!

She smiled innocently again as usual, but it looked a bit scary after that fit she had just thrown.

Thank you, Gabriel. He would have gotten me if you hadnt shown up.

Anyway, Gabriel had shown up at the right moment to help.

If Christopher had used the knife, which he used to attack his ghostdesigner, on Rubica she didnt want to imagine what would come after that.

She had been through a war that lasted for decades, and she knew well how hard it was to fight a man who was taller and stronger than herself.

Well, what should we do now? Huh?

Gabriel turned to look around, but then she saw Ios sitting on the window sill.

Huh?

His golden hair danced in the wind and golden particles fell from it, forming a magnificent flow of light.

She rubbed her eyes, unable to believe what she was seeing. She had always thought there wasnt another man who was as handsome as Duke Claymore, but the creature on the window was equally beautiful.

Maybe

It was her hallucination that they had overpowered Christopher, maybe she had been stabbed by his knife and was now dead.

It had to be an illusion. She tried pinching her cheek.

Ouch!

Surprisingly, it hurt. She had thought she wouldnt be able to feel pain after death, but it seemed like she had been wrong.

Then, the entity on the window stood up and jumped down. They were on the second floor.

Gabriel quickly went there and looked down, but there wasnt any blood, much less a man lying on the ground.

Gabriel, what are you doing?

Rubica asked, pretending she hadnt seen Ios.

But madam, havent you just seen it?

Huh? See what?

Of course, she had seen it. She had seen it quite clearly, and she had even been a little mad to see Ios. He should have helped, but he just sat down there and watched.

Plus, she even noticed how he groped in the air as if he was looking for invisible peanuts. She was planning to scold him hard and teach how he was supposed to help when someone was in danger when she got home.

But more than that, we must treat him quickly.

Rubica quickly changed the topic so that Gabriel wouldnt be able to think more about it.

Oh, of course!

Thankfully, Gabriel decided to dismiss Ios as a mere illusion and immediately came to her.

The ghostdesigners wound seemed quite serious. Luckily, the room was a workplace for making clothes, so it had all the things they needed, like clean cloth, scissors, and splint.

Rubica acquired all of them and started to work on the wound.

Gabriel followed her instructions and cut bandages and put the splint to help.

We must take him to a doctor soon

They finished with the first aid, but the man was still in critical condition. He needed proper treatment.

However, there were still guards at the entrance of the building and they couldnt get out.

What if we wait for John to come back and then move?

But I dont think hell be back soon

Considering how huge those guards were, Rubica worried John might not be alive by now. It was still broad daylight, but there was no guarantee of what might happen to them after the sun went down.

Most of all, I dont think hell be able to hold that long.

Rubica said as she wiped the beads of sweat on the boys forehead.

He had been blinded by money to get himself employed as Christophers ghostdesigner, but he was also a victim.

Getting a formal education to become a designer cost a lot, and the lives of ordinary tailors who worked in shops werent easy at all.

If he had been given a proper opportunity, he would have never made such a choice.

What should we do

Rubica tried to think of a plan, but then they heard footsteps from the hallway. Gabriel cringed in fear.

Is it the guards?

It could be.

Rubica grabbed the pole she had hit Christopher with earlier. Gabriel quickly found a pair of scissors for cutting fabrics and held it with both hands.

The buffy guards were not going to be easily defeated like Christopher, but there was no way they were going down easily.

They planned to lunge on the enemies the moment the door was opened.

Your Grace?

But the man who opened the door and came in was not one of the guards but Carl. Rubica was so relieved to see him that she lost strength in her hands and let go of the pole. It then fell to hit Carl right on his forehead.

Ouch!

Oh, Carl, Im so sorry!

Its alright. But oh, what happened?

How did you know I was here?

Rubica was so glad to see him. She had never been so delighted to see the butler.

Oh, Ios told me you were here. His Grace let me use his mana stone carriage so that I could come and take care of you. His guard knights will be here soon.

Oh! Ios does know how to think! I was wrong about him.

Rubica happily exclaimed and said even Ios could improve with the right guidance. She was so proud of herself that Carl couldnt tell her the dragon had run away because he didnt want to be scolded.

Ios? Are you talking about the Golden Dragon?

However, she was so relieved and momentarily forgot Gabriel was with them. The girls eyes sparkled with curiosity, and Rubica looked away.

Oh, um, you must know how we deal with him for his tea. Oh, and Carl, this man was stabbed by Christopher. Weve done what we could do, but hes still in critical condition.

Carl checked on the boy. He was now unconscious, but it didnt look like he was about to die at any moment.

However, his wound was bad, and he needed a stretcher.

Anyway, who on earth had done that to Christopher? He was wearing a corset over his jacket, whoever had done that must have had a weird taste.

Carl had been forced to leave his master before Ios could finish his explanation, so he was very curious about what had happened here.