Chapter 15: Don’t Worry, I’m Not Going to Kill You
Qin Chu trusted the Dark Witch’s judgment. If she said this woman had the makings of a Witch, then it was likely true.
He had underestimated her. Her potential was far greater than he had initially thought.
He smiled, swirling the crimson liquid in his glass, the ice clinking softly.
He was in no hurry, content to savor the moment, to watch her squirm under his scrutiny. He was playing the role of the enigmatic master to perfection.
The night was still, the silence in the tavern broken only by the soft clinking of glasses.
The woman’s composure seemed to waver.
The crimson liquid in his glass swirled, its color deepening.
“Your heart is troubled,” he said, his voice soft yet penetrating, breaking the silence.
Candice, still pretending to be Catherine, stared at him, her amethyst eyes narrowed, trying to decipher him.
Despite her potential, she was still young, her patience easily outmatched by his. His words, revealing her deepest secret, had shaken her facade.
She chose to deflect, her voice carefully neutral. “Sir, why do you mistake me for Candice?” she asked.
“Is there another woman in this world who shares my name and… my appearance?”
She was genuinely curious, her gaze searching his, trying to unravel the mystery that surrounded him. He seemed ordinary, unremarkable, save for his handsome features.
Though he wore a mage’s robes, the magical aura that emanated from him was faint, barely perceptible.
He was weak, so weak that she could crush him with a flick of her wrist.
His weakness, however, made her uneasy.
Why would someone so vulnerable confront her, revealing his knowledge of her secret? Was he suicidal?
There was something strange about him, something unsettling.
Perhaps he was one of those legendary masters, their power so profound that it masked their true strength, making them appear ordinary.
Fear gnawed at her. What did he want from her? Was he here to expose her, to punish her for her past transgressions?
Her gaze darted towards the exits, her mind racing, searching for an escape route. But he was blocking her path. Any sudden movement, any attempt to flee, would be futile.
He had her trapped.
Qin Chu remained silent, swirling his drink, enjoying her discomfort. The silence stretched on, each tick of the clock amplifying her anxiety.
She felt like a fly caught in a spider’s web, her every movement watched, her every thought scrutinized.
Just as she was about to break, he finally set his glass down, his lips curving into a reassuring smile.
“Don’t worry,” he said, his voice calm and soothing. “I’m not going to kill you.”
She let out a shaky breath, relief washing over her. If he said he wouldn’t kill her, then he wouldn’t. Powerful individuals like him valued their word, their pronouncements carrying the weight of law.
In his eyes, she was likely nothing more than an insignificant insect, her life or death a matter of indifference.
But who was he?
She knew of all the major players in the Heavenly Continent: Pope Augustus, Saint Monique, Emperor Wadsworth, the Thirteen Sages, the members of the Hero Squad. None of them matched his description.
Perhaps, she thought, her perspective was too limited.
Rumor had it that those who reached the pinnacle of magical mastery could extend their lifespans, even reverse the aging process. Could he be one of those ancient beings, his true power masked by his youthful appearance?
She took a deep breath, forcing a smile, her voice betraying a hint of nervousness. “You seem to know a lot about me… Candice,” she said, testing the waters.
Qin Chu didn’t answer immediately, his silence adding to her unease.
“Candice,” he finally began, his voice soft and measured, “daughter of the Vice-Captain of the Earth Mother Goddess Church’s Earth Knights and the Queen of the Succubi.”
“A noble knight, his resolve weakened by a moment of passion, succumbed to a temptation that plagues all men.”
“Ten months later, a baby girl was left on his doorstep. He named her Candice.”
“He knew she was his, his blood singing in recognition. But her arrival was a curse disguised as a blessing. She was a half-breed, her veins tainted with Demon blood. He feared exposure, worried that her existence would ruin his career.”
Candice’s eyes widened, her body trembling uncontrollably. How did he know all this? It was as if he had witnessed her entire life, every secret, every heartache laid bare.
Her fear intensified, mixed with a profound sense of relief that she hadn’t attacked him.
This man, whoever he was, was far more powerful than he appeared.
“He abandoned her in the forest, hoping the wild beasts would end her life quickly,” Qin Chu continued, his voice devoid of judgment, merely stating facts. “But she survived. Her Demon blood protected her, the beasts instinctively fearing her presence. She was strong, resilient, her innate magical talent blossoming in the face of adversity.”
“She sought acceptance among the Demons, hoping to find a place among her mother’s kin. But they, too, rejected her, their disgust for her human blood palpable. She endured their taunts, their abuse, clinging to the hope of a better future.”
“And then her mother appeared.”
“The Succubus Queen offered her a deal: prove her loyalty to the Demonfolk, and she would be welcomed as a princess, her status among them secured.”
“She agreed, her human appearance making her the perfect infiltrator. She was sent to the capital, tasked with spying on the human army, relaying their movements to her new allies.”
“But as time passed, her loyalties shifted. She grew accustomed to her human life, her reports becoming increasingly infrequent. She longed for normalcy, for a life free from the shadows.”
“Am I right?” he asked, his smile widening.
Candice’s lips trembled, her amethyst eyes unfocused, her mind reeling.
Fear, confusion, and a strange sense of… relief?
He had watched her, known her secrets, for over two decades. The thought was both terrifying and… strangely comforting.
“An intriguing tale,” she said, forcing a smile, her voice strained. “But what does this… Candice have to do with me, Catherine?”
She took a deep breath, her gaze meeting his. “I have no interest in her past. Now, if you’ll excuse me, sir, I have work to do.”
Qin Chu leaned forward, his eyes gleaming. “A proposition,” he said, his voice low and conspiratorial.
“Do you have a map?”
She hesitated for a moment, then retrieved a rolled-up map of the Heavenly Continent from beneath the counter.
“And a pen, please,” he added.
She sighed, placing a quill pen beside the map.
He unfurled the map, his hand moving swiftly as he drew a jagged line across its surface.
“Tomorrow morning,” he said, his voice taking on a serious tone, “a member of the Hero Squad will depart for the capital, following this route. He is expected to arrive in half a month.”
