n

n

nMount Windigo, the border between the Center Empire and the northern empire,

nThe border which was covered in snow on the part of the north and the other part was filled with flowers from daisy to lavender.

nThe woman wearing the straw head with her black hair along the wind was smiling in the field of lavender at the back of the town which was built at the border.

nThe blue sky above her with the floating fluffy cloud, it was very beautiful since the last time she ever saw it was maybe almost a decade.

nThe sky was blue, the water of the river current with fishes swimming in it, it was such an ideal place for someone to die.

nHer white eyes turned to the old lady with the hair all grey smiling at her with the basket full of the bread which Marinette gave on the other side of the 'white' daisy which one might think it was a rose with one glance.

nSince all the flowers already turned red from the blood which splattered on it for the full week to that moment.

nThe beautiful town which was described to be the crowded place for selling and trading was abandoned by the people because of the appearance of the...

nThird Rank Legendary Demon, Valencia.

n

"Hello, Valencia...you've grown well these past thousand years.

" the old lady dropped her wig taking a piece of bread out to eat even though the black-haired demon in front of her had already taken out the sword from the man standing behind her.

n

"My lady, your sword.

" the man named Lucas standing there set a barrier in a second trapping the old lady who had red hair now after she threw her wig.

n

"No time for chit-chat, let's finish this before human gets here.

" Valencia used Lucas, her subordinate as her eyes struck her sword at that lady.

nA finger dropped on the ground making a part of it turn black, the old lady finally knew who she was facing, the legendary sword woman of the world. She turned to her original form, wearing the pink dress with her red hair laid down to her waist and blue eyes which emit light destroying the barrier Lucas made.

n

"You're too young to fight me, Valencia.

"

n

"You're old enough to die...empress Aimila.

"

n

"Ohoho, so there's still someone who knows my name in this generation.

" the red-haired lady crossed her arm and then summoned her minions from the ground of the flower field to stop Valencia's tracks and then vanished dropping smoke blocking Lucas's version.

nDemon Art: Raining Sword

nThe swords dropped from above slicing all of those minions the red-haired lady summoned in one spell, again Valencia's target escaped from her claw.

n

"Lucas.

" she called the man in the black suit to take back her sword as she was feeding on those minions' souls.

n

"My lady...the demon king is asking for you.

" Lucas tap her shoulder to let her know where he was since Valencia was blind and she only used her hunch in battle.

nThe demon king appeared in front of her using the rabbit nearby as his vessel, that rabbit then turned to a horrifying demon with the voice of the demon king speaking to Valencia,

"Have you caught the destruction yet?

"

n

"My apology, my lord. She ran off again.

" she bowed down to the demon king's vessel and soon after receiving the punishment with one of her hands cut off right in that instant.

nIt grew back but the pain of the demon who hadn't been injured once for one thousand years was agonizing as her black blood dripped on the lavender.

n

"We can't let her get disciple anymore this time. You must bring her back to the demon realm as soon as possible and...don't let her meet with Marinette of Mortel.

"

n

"Yes, my lord.

" the vessel of the demon king blew up after the conversation was finished.

nLucas took out his handkerchief and wiped the blood which splattered on Valencia's face gently. She smiled and then continue searching for the destruction, empress Aimila again.

nIt was a difficult task for her, but the demon king knew what he was doing since no one knew the inside out of the center empire and northern empire more than her among all demons.

n

"Lucas, I heard that emperor sending the army to eliminate us...you should stay here while I'm crossing the border.

" Lucas nodded in hesitation since crossing the border of these two empires wasn't an easy task even for the demon king himself couldn't hide his presence from the mighty dragon Igneel.

nValencia waved her hand goodbye and then followed the trail of the destruction left behind to the northern empire using the crow as her eyes that time instead of Lucas.

nIn the northern empire,

nIn the middle of the night,

nThe perfect time for a group of three people to search for the true location of the royal palace,

n

"Diana, look out!!!

" the dragon which the human guard turned into spat fire at them as they ran across the rooftop even with hiding their scent.

nThey couldn't escape their sharp nose, Victor after shouting at her rushed to her roof and then kicked the dragon from her.

n

"Thank.

" she nodded and continued following Oliver in front of them running toward one of the clock towers of the Northern empire.

nMarinette in Diana's body ran to the side of Oliver and stared at him as he was thinking hard about which entrance should they take and then turned her head to Victor who was fighting with the dragon knights.

n

"Oliver, you're not a duke...aren't you?

" he giggled his way out, but that wasn't enough to avoid Marinette's question.

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"If you're a duke, you must know the secret entrance to the true royal palace.

"

n

"I never said I was a duke.

"

n

"But you're wearing the duke uniform right now.

" she said bluntly to him straight in his embarrassing face.

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"I rented it to woo a woman.

" she turned her head to the other side avoiding his eyes holding her laugh.

nShe couldn't have the courage to laugh in that life-and-death situation.

n

"We need to get out of this place before sunrise, the mighty dragon Igneel might not detect you with his vision at night.

" Oliver said to Marinette while they were hiding in the sewer and when Victor alone was fighting against hundreds of knights above them in front of the clock tower.

n

"But we must need to steal that gem from the emperor to cover our scent.

" she said after him then pointing her finger at the map trying to figure out the secret entrance.

n

"The gem should be at the true royal palace, but to get in...it might...be a little difficult.

" he said with sweat on his forehead as he himself never broke in the true royal palace hidden underground either.

nMarinette was frowning and then pop her head out of the sewer to look at any clue above but ended up getting the knight's blood on Diana's face.

n

"That guy is crazy strong, if it wasn't for him, we might die already.

"

n

"...yeah. It's lucky having him with us.

" Marinette got back in the sewer and said with a worried look, Oliver sitting across from her in the crampy smelly sewer noticed something was off about her since she woke up in the afternoon.

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"I'll tell you this...since I already knew your secret anyway.

" he said with a grin.

nMarinette who was in Diana's body listened to him with full of her attention,

"I can see your weakness. And this is not your body.

"

n

"...why do you tell me that??

"

n

"Because!! Because I want to, okay??

"

n

"I meant...I already knew that since we first met.

"

n

"Eh??

" he was in disbelief when her face showed no sign of a lie.

n

"You're also a thief too, aren't you?

"

n

"What?? Me, a thief?? Haha, no way...

" Marinette was smirking when she showed him the bracelet on her wrist.

nHe was startled when he saw that bracelet, he shoved his hand in his back to check. He was surprised to see the bracelet he stole was on Marinette's wrist but what shocked him more was the fact he didn't know when or where she did that.

n

"We shall cut to the chase, shall we...Mr. thief.

" she grinned taking off the beautiful bracelet he stole the lady that morning and giving it back to him.

nHe put it in his bag with a smirk appeared on his face.

n

"I know you're an interesting person~

" he was right for once in his life about guessing with his hunch.

n

"I'm Marinette Mortel, the half-sister of this body.

" no matter how much the person in front of her did a lot for her, she still couldn't trust that man fully to the point she revealed her true identity which was Sun-hee.

n

"I'm Oliver, the worldwide handsome thief.

" he looked smug and proud at the end of his sentence, Marinette couldn't help but show a face of disbelief to him.

nHe suddenly lost all his confidence hugging his knees when she showed that face as if he was a filthy rat sharing the same sewer as her.

n

"Hey, guys!!! A little help here, please!!!

" Victor was screaming pitifully while Marinette patted Oliver's shoulder cheering him up.

nThe dragon overnumbered Victor grabbed his legs and spun him around. He was weak against that.

n

"Hurry, Mr.worldwide handsome thief...pfft.

" she couldn't hold onto the urge to laugh any longer let out a little laugh as she pushed Oliver to help Victor.

nHe gritted his teeth in embarrassment and then went inside the fight like dog and cat to help Victor. Marinette regained her composure calming herself down then looked up at the beautiful moon in the sky.

nA shadow passed on the moon making her eyelashes shake a little as that shadow was quicker than the wind jumping from one block to one block.

nMarinette couldn't afford to lose that opportunity rushed to Victor and then grabbed him with the magic vine running following that shadow.

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"What about me?!! What about me guys??

" Oliver was left behind with the small rose monster Marinette left behind to fight against all those guards.

nHe felt like he was abandoned...again.

n

"Mr.worldwide handsome thief...hit the enemy!! Yahoo.

" the little rose monster wasn't any help with that bright cheering. Oliver gulped seeing the dragon turn into humans and the shadow surrounded him like he was a cube of sugar around the ants.

n

"I'm f*cked up.

"

n

nThey finally found the secret entrance to the royal palace, it was the second clock tower of the empire which the minute hand of the giant clock was later than the rest of the clocks by one minute.

n

"Victor, are you hurt?? Sorry for tying you up.

" she was very worried while untying Victor's hands which she tied with her magic but when she looked at blushing Victor panting, she for the first time didn't understand humans.

nIt was as if he liked being tied up by her.

n

"Oh?? Ah, it's alright.

" he finally snapped back to reality when noticing Marinette's stare at him.

n

"Ah...then let's go.

" Marinette pushed the hidden wall and went in before Victor while he was stretching his hand. It was such a wonderful experience for him to be tied up by her.

nHe was smiling and then jumped in happiness to Marinette to the true palace, the light in the underground palace was so flashy with all the rare ore attached with the ground.

nMarinette was standing in disbelief holding onto the rail looking at the vast underground city before them. She and Victor were amazed by the beautiful scenario she didn't expect to see.

nEspecially, the replica of the moon that was hung on top of the ceiling, there was stair everywhere with many floors with the high-rank noble living down there.

nIt was a mass of popularity living there with their luxurious life swimming in the pool and hanging out with each other in the park walking their dogs.

nVictor held her hands supporting her walking down the stair to the lower floor. As they arrived, there were so many people dancing at the fountain along with the music.

nEverything was so beautiful, the garden and the fountain they built one by one to the real royal palace at the end of the path with the white pure dragon sitting there with the palace's back was built next to where the dragon's stomach located.

n

"Shall we go?

" Victor asked and then kissed her hand in a polite manner.

nShe put her hand on his and nodded,

"Let's go...to the northern palace.

".

n'Get the gem.'

n'A date with her.'

nThey each had a purpose different from each other.

nTo be continued....!

n