Chapter 467: Running With The Devil
The moment Brigit finished her announcement, a weight settled on the proceedings.
Not just an emotional one, but a manifestation of mana from above that was more than sufficient to slam the door shut behind them.
Kordia was not impressed by such a cheap trick, though she felt Lapins startle and saw a few of the refugees jump.
"Now, now... I let you two leave to handle your ’monster’ situation, and the first thing you do is run for help?" Maledict’s voice filled the area, its source moving about in a circle. "I’d be insulted if I thought that all of you combined would stand a chance against me. So let’s continue where we left off upstairs, and you can even bring your friends." His voice was dark and serious, tinged with a dangerous edge to the humor he’d injected into it.
Amarena turned to the three Kordia recognized as Kaeya, Ann, and Ann’s brother. "Keep everyone here unless a fight starts." She turned, "Where does this door lead?" she asked, pointing at the door Brigit and Darlae had entered through.
"It lets out in the Second Ward," Lumin answered. "Maledict sounds like a talker. I doubt he’d bother letting us have such a warning otherwise."
After a few more moments of reactions and quick decisions, Kordia, Lapins, and Sin followed behind Amarena, Lumin, and Kir’s moms as they ascended the stairwell, with Stella bringing up the rear.
They found Maledict seated on a chaise as one of Stella’s lovers finished filling the goblet in his hand with wine, a look of strained terror on the succubus’ face.
"You’ve done well for yourself, Stella," Maledict noted as the group finished forming an arc around the Devil of Heresy. "A far cry from where you came from... and to be a matriarch at your age! Not even a century old. Truly, staying by my son’s side has benefitted you greatly." He sipped, the very image of comfortable power.
Kordia looked over at Stella, whose smile was a rictus. "I-I’m glad you approve, old boss."
"Enough small talk. Why are you in my city?" Lumin snapped.