Monday . Week 3 . Month 1 . Year 1 . Season: Autumn .

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Elsado grew weary of his searching, but a chance to impress Demon lord Hades couldn't be pa.s.sed up . He needed that promotion . Done were the days of being someone's shadow . He was a better commander than both Zeth and Lady Alice . He should be t.i.tled, True Eye . Not Shadow Eye .

His break came when he saw them . A large group of people appearing out of nowhere and out of sight . Alice, Tear, their little witch pup, and even that Ashfall maid . What was she doing there? Well, it didn't matter since Ashfall fell . A wise move to dedicate her service to Lady Alice .

He watched most of them enter an apartment with a man he'd never seen before . Something about that one was off, otherworldly . Could it be him? That had to be the Ashfall destroyer . If Elsado brought Lord Hades his head and his daughter's weeping form, he could ask for the promotion .

He walked in that direction .

Within fifty meters, a tingling sensation made him stop . Elsado was no fool . If he moved closer, that inherent barrier would toss him backward like a ragdoll . This man…he was more powerful than Elsado thought, not that it would save him .

Elsado had many abilities and his favorite, Shadow-walking landed him higher on Hades's hierarchy scale . An easily breached barrier for those with his skills; however, another thing came to mind . There was no way Lady Alice wouldn't ward that man's living quarters . Even shadow-walking had its limits .

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He needed to lure them out . A cla.s.sic trap that everyone fell for . Once the man came out to investigate, his life would cease to be . Elsado chuckled to himself . The first thing he'd do with his promotion was reorganize and retrain the troops so that they'd actually be competent . Then he'd thank Tear for making this easy for him before gutting her like a fish . Lord Hades may like his niece, but she was too dangerous . Succubae were powerful—and were the reason why most of these detestable monster girls existed . Some once called themselves Demon lords or Demon queens . Tear needed to die eventually as a precaution . Priorities, priorities .

Inside Clyde's apartment… .

Clyde and the others wrapped up the attack plan, voiced last-second suggestions or warnings . It wasn't going to be treated as a raid since, well, it wasn't—but the young man wouldn't take it any less lightly . Alice still argued about the power of her father .

"We'll have to come up with something other than brute strength then," Clyde told them . "You know, making a demon lord lose his will to fight doesn't sound possible . "

Alice sighed . "Not that I'm trying to be hardcore on killing your father, but I will do what must be done to free this d.a.m.n city . No night-life my a.s.s . "

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"Oh, I don't care about that," Alice said . "For mother, I would've killed him myself if I could . It's just…I feel like there's something I'm missing . Father's elite guards and those three s.l.u.ts he kept around him and…who?"

As if answering her question, the apartment shook violently as if taking a missile attack .

"What the f.u.c.k?" Clyde snapped .

"Something strong hit the wards," Alice said .

"Yeah, that's an obvious trap," Clyde said, "and an annoying cliché . As if we're dumb enough to just walk outside into an ambush . "

"Nya! It normally works," Neko said . "Why do you think he or she did it?"

"Can you do something from here?" Clyde said .

"Pervy-monster why are you asking her when you have a fully capable witch right here," Natalia said . "I'll not only locate the attacker, but get rid of his stupid trap . "

Without any prompting, the loli-witch sat on the floor and closed her eyes . A pink aura surrounded her in a show of concentration .

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[You activated Trust Bond Skill Mimic . ]

[Random skill obtained: Harumi's Tier 2 skill: All mighty s.h.i.+eld . ]

[Skill stored: Tier 2 skill: All mighty s.h.i.+eld . ]

He sent a text to Harumi, urging her not to go outside until he called for her . She complied . Apparently, she was on the phone with her sister anyway .

"Oh he's good," Natalia said, "but not good enough . He doesn't know my skill . "

"Who?" Alice said .

"The creepy-monster," Natalia replied . "You hardly see him at the palace, always in the shadows and stuff . What's his name again, the shadow guy?"

"Shadow guy?" Alice said then thought for a second . Recognition dawned in her eyes seconds later and she cursed . "My father doesn't know yet—which means we'll have to kill him, but it won't be easy . s.h.i.+t . "

"Language, your Highness," Natalia said .

"Oh shut it," she said, pacing back and forth . "Elsado, of all demons . He scares even other demons sometimes . "

"Is he even killable?" Natalia said .

"I don't know," Alice said . "But he's no fool . The man's a shadow-walker . c.o.c.ky shadow-walkers would've waltzed right into the heart of my wards only to die horribly . He's not dumb enough to do so, but it's insulting that he believes we're going to fan out and fall into his trap . "

"Clichéd to the letter," Clyde said softly .

"Got him!" Natalia said . "Everyone ready your weapons . Let's beat down the creepy-monster . "

"Don't let your guard down," Alice warned then looked at Neko . "Observer, we're going to need your help . He doesn't particularly like monsters girls nor beast kin . You'll be his first target . "

"Nya—you could say please," Neko said, innocent smile on her face .

Alice sighed, but before she could say anything, Clyde interrupted .

"We don't got time for this, let's go . "

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