RD 7 Ch 26 (Patreon)

The instance had been a bust. Even with the key out and taking control of the instance there was nothing that so much as reacted to the key or a small hole for it. Though, I did end up sticking the key in more than a few cracks that didn’t work.

At the very least Circe had helped me stay… entertained through it all.

I flipped the key end over end in the air as I lay in a bed in Circe's palace. I ran through one question in my head. ‘If I were a paranoid old leech, where would I put my treasure?’ I spun through different ideas, unsure which might lead me closer to the answer.

The key itself thrummed with dozens of enchantments. As I picked them apart, there were parts I had identified that worked in my favor. One, the key had an enchantment that helped it sense blood, and being of the Heros clan gave me access to use it. The leech had put some of his own blood into the clan. It was what gave the Heros Clan their varied bloodlines. Second, the key was protected in dozens ways someone might try to find it. I wondered if, after Sun Wukong collected it, the leech had regretted making it so hard to locate. And finally, no one was going to destroy this key. It might be one of the most durable items I had ever seen.

However, all that information did very little to pinpoint exactly where he would have put his vault. Our scan inside the instance hadn't revealed anything, besides Circe becoming nostalgic and the two of us spending some time that was at least guaranteed to be private.

"Need to go back into the instance and check again?" Circe asked, peeking her head around my shoulder as her sheet fell down to tempt me yet again.

"Where do you think he would hide a vault?" I asked.

Circe rolled her eyes, grabbed a rockie-talkie, and squeezed it. "Bring in the books."

The three golden maids, wearing togas the same color as their namesake, strolled in with an armload of books each, setting them down on the table next to Circe.

"These are all the records we have with any reference to our ancestor," Circe said, pointing at them. Several bookmarked tabs stuck out in every direction. "They tabbed them so you wouldn't have to spend too much time going through them."

The way Circe smiled told me she was expecting to be rewarded for her work.

I rubbed the top of her head and kissed it before turning to the three women, doing my best to act like I hadn't forgotten them. "And thank you. She certainly doesn't get to take all the credit," I said, smirking, making Circe pout in response.

"What if I wanted all the credit?" she demanded.

"Then you should have at least pretended you got the books yourself." I teased her.

Circe wasn't really upset, but she was being a little more competitive for my attention.

"Is there anything else you need, Lord Bran?" the golden maids asked, doing their best to look enticing.

I paused and shook my head. "No, thank you for the books. Is there any place you'd recommend I start from what you read?"

"There are two references to the ancestor being a hoarder," one said, shuffling the books and putting two on top. "Contextually, it's hard to know exactly where he was in that period." She gave a small smile, as if she wished she had better news.

"Well, something is certainly better than nothing. I'm sure Circe will love reading through these to find the answer." I replied.

Circe gasped and put a hand to her chest. "Me?"

I tried and failed to hide my smirk at her predictable reaction.

"Funny," she said with a pout. "I'll remember that for later."

"Oh, please do," I said quickly. "Can I take these books with me?" I asked the sisters, and they gave each other a look before shrugging.

"You weren't expressly forbidden from having them," Myra said. There was something in the way she said the statement that seemed like she might even be working within her limits to help me. But I was more interested in moving forward than arguing semantics, especially with the Heros clan already subdued.

I just needed to avoid upsetting Zeus for a little longer. Though I didn’t think I needed to take these out of the clan. Because they and Circe would most likely be the ones to do most of the reading.

"Well, I should get back to the Amazon, lest Eve think I've forgotten about her," I said, unable to hide my smirk.

The three women frowned. "You won't be staying longer?" Kyra asked, the question slipping out with a small hint of disappointment, only for one of the others to nudge her sharply in the ribs. "I mean,of course, you're a busy man, Lord Bran, and we'd never presume to take up more of your time."

I paused, staring at the three of them. "If you can help Circe dig into this, it would be an enormous help," I said, knowing that giving them something to do would satisfy them, at least if I understood them half as well as I thought I did.

"Of course, Lord Bran," Myra said, and grabbed Kyra by the head, forcing her to bow as well. "Yes, of course."

Fyra, who'd been quiet through most of the discussion, dipped her head too. "We are here to serve, Lord Bran. If you have need of us, please call."

"Right now, the most important thing you can do for me is find that vault. I genuinely have no idea what's in it. However, if it belonged to the ancestor of the Heros clan, there's a good chance there are things valuable enough to affect the state of the world." They took my words with a grave expression, undoubtedly understanding that things were far from peaceful, and that we all had a duty to deal with the Demon King and his armies.

"And are you going back?" Circe asked, her brows pinching down with an unasked question.

"Merlin's going to come get me," I confirmed, and her brows pinched further.

"Of course she is," Circe said, sounding disappointed and like it had been the obvious answer.

"Later today," I added quickly. "And besides, you've had me all to yourself for a while." I narrowed my eyes towards her.

"No jealousy. I would never consider having any." Circe crossed her arms and refused to meet my gaze. I gave a knowing look to the other three women in the room.

"If you'll excuse me, I believe I have some making up to do before I get a chance to look through the books. Come back later. I'm sure Circe would welcome the company." I told them.

The woman looked incredibly disappointed with me, but I'd have to solve that very slowly and firmly over the next few hours.

***

"Are we really bringing all of them?" Merlin asked, looking around at the party of Mul Branova I had prepared to bring with us to the Amazon.

Circe had helped me clear my head and with that clarity I understood a few things that needed to be done.

After the damage we'd done in the city, I was feeling like it would probably be best to put a stabilizing force there, at least for the time being. But even if it was for the best, I wasn't entirely sure how well bringing a small army in would be received. That would be a problem for Amanda and Jenny to work out. They were adept at handling whatever we threw their way.

About fifty Mul Branova, decked out in their robes, stood ready to join us on our next trip. Simone wouldn't be coming, much to her own disappointment. We all knew she was simply too important, with what she worked on here, to go gallivanting off to the other side of the world. I was sure she'd do her best to make me regret not bringing her, but I was also going to enjoy that process in my own way.

"Are you certain this is wise?" Merlin asked one more time, with a pair of pleading eyes, as if asking me not to do this to her.

"It is. If it makes you feel better, you can have Venthra be the one to introduce them to the nuns. I need to go get some facetime with Eve."

Merlin smiled, and shadows engulfed me and spat me out in the First Garden before she could say anything more.

***

Venthra narrowed her eyes at the small army of women dressed like nuns. Although the dress was closer to what would be worn at a scandalous college party rather than an actual convent.

"You realize they're going to think this is a mockery," Venthra groaned.

Merlin held her hands up helplessly, gesturing to Jenny for help.

"It's Lord Bran's request," Jenny said, dipping herself low enough that Venthra could see right down the barely-there dress.

Venthra pressed two fingers to the bridge of her nose. "Fine. Just don't do that." She waved at her. "You're not here to get Bran all hot and bothered. For Simone's sake, you're here to kill demons."

"With sex appeal," one of the other Mul Branova added, and Venthra turned to Merlin, hoping she too would be exasperated.

But Merlin looked completely unperturbed, as if there was any reason she should look otherwise. Then again these women had all drunk the kool-aid at this point. It drove Venthra insane, because somehow watching all these followers being so sure in Bran made her want to feel the same. Yet, she’d blindly trusted her father in the past and that didn’t turn out well. No, she fought at the desire to fall in with the Mul Branova and the rest of Bran’s harem.

There had to be something wrong with it all.

Venthra groaned internally. The longer she stayed with everyone, the more certain she became that she was slowly but surely going insane.

"Right," she said flatly. "Well then, I hope we can do this without upsetting them too much."

"Sure," one of the Mul Branova shrugged. "As long as we don't run into any demons, we'll get along with everyone."

"And if there is a demon?" Venthra asked.

"Well, then they die. Duh," Amanda answered quickly, as if it were the only plausible answer. "We're here to make sure everyone becomes very anti-demon, and in doing so, hopefully help build a long-term space as free of demons as it can be. That way, after Bran kills the Demon King, there can be relative peace on Earth."

Venthra paused, staring at the woman. "Do you really think Bran is going to kill the Demon King?"

"Yes," she said plainly, without blinking. There wasn't a single drop of doubt in her features. 

Venthra wondered, not for the first time, how nice it must be to have such certainty.

"Anyway," Venthra said, hooking a thumb, "let's get this over with." She finished the walk into the central square amid all the churches. Her large group caught eyes. Not only were there plenty of them, but they all were wearing matching outfits. A good number of the onlookers, men and women alike, stopped with their jaws dropping to stare openly.

"Yeah, we're not conspicuous at all," she said dryly.

"I believe part of our goal was to get attention," Jenny said, stepping forward and into the stares rather than away from them.

Venthra had no idea how they did it. The few times Simone had forced her to walk around in the Mul Branova robes, she'd felt like she was walking around half-naked with some sort of exposure fetish. These women didn't so much as blink at the attention.

"Excuse me," one of the true nuns stepped forward, catching Venthra and her group, shooting a scathing glance of recognition at Venthra before turning an even darker one on the women walking with her. "I'm afraid it's not safe for all of you dressed like that. It will attract danger."

"That's fine," Jenny said, pulling out a curved long sword. "I'd be happy to teach an idiot some basic manners. For the rest of humanity, of course."

The nun's patient smile cracked. "While I would welcome teaching such men humility, I would also prefer there be no loss of life or limb over such silly reasons.”

“But we've come because we've heard there's trouble with demons in this area." Amanda had a massive machete out and resting on her shoulder, smiling at the nuns in a way that made Venthra think she was more than a little excited to spill blood.

The nun narrowed her eyes, and it was obvious the Mul Branova had let her inspect them based on the way her eyes suddenly went wide with understanding at the level of power the women in front of her possessed.

The area was far too weak in general, but the Mul Branova were far more powerful than your average person.

"Forgive me. I was rude enough not to introduce myself. I am the mother superior of this small place. Might I ask what's brought you to our home?" The nun clearly did not enjoy having to give so much respect, but she had not survived so long without knowing when she could not win.

Amanda hooked a thumb back at Jenny. "Demons," she repeated. "We are the Mul Branova. We serve Lord Bran, may his blessing and power flow through us all," she intoned, clasping her hands together in prayer. Which was a little awkward with a machete in hand. "It is through his grace that we obtain the power to hunt demons."

Venthra watched the nuns' faces twist in utter horror.

"Is this Lord Bran a real figure?" The mother superior challenged, and the Mul Branova were more than happy to answer with eager nods all around.

Venthra understood then why Bran hadn't wanted to be here for this, and judged him ten times more for leaving her to deal with this mess.

The nun was quickly joined by two others as they saw the group gathering on their territory, beginning to form a natural display of force.

"I'm afraid we aren't aware of this Lord Bran, though it's the same one your classes are based off of?" Mother Superior asked.

"Oh, yes," Jenny answered. "He is the one who will challenge the Demon King in the coming days."

"All hail Lord Bran," the Mul Branova behind her said in unison, and Venthra wanted to crawl into a hole and die.

The nuns went stiff at the sharp declaration, their eyes tracing over each of the Mul Branova, filled with dangerous skepticism.

"And he has all of you dressing like that?" one of the nuns asked.

"No, this is of our own volition," one answered quickly while the mother superior watched on silently with her gathering forces behind her.

It wasn’t just the two forces, onlookers began to gather, though in a much wider circle feeling the tension in the air.

"There have been many false idols since many of the good men and women of this world departed. Ladies, you should be careful not to worship someone who asks you to dress in this style.” The nun stated.

Several of the Mul Branova laughed at her words, and Venthra could only watch as her own face twitched.

"They mean no disrespect," Jenny said quickly. "Though it is funny, because Bran would desperately wish that we not dress this way."

"Yet you do," the mother superior added.

"Yes. He will not touch us," one said, then shook her head. "Perhaps in time we can get him to regret that choice." More of the Mul Branova giggled.

The nuns were clearly out of their depth dealing with the shamelessness of the women before them, yet at the same time were doing the math on what would happen if this conversation shifted towards conflict, and not liking how it worked out.

The weakest of the Mul Branova present was in the eighties; the most powerful was over level one hundred. Should a fight break out, they would crush the nuns.

"How do we know you won't call someone a demon just to kill them, and then do whatever you want with them?" one of the nuns asked.

"People and demons may lie, but blood does not," one of the Mul Branova intoned, and held up a spear before charging into the crowd of onlookers, hoisting someone up on the end of it and throwing them to the ground. Another Mul Branova split them open, and their human illusion faded revealing the demon beneath.

"For Lord Bran!" the Mul Branova shouted again, and Venthra tried to fade back into the crowd while they celebrated their kill.

Unfortunately, the nuns had seen her arrive with them, and several gazes fixed on her, along with the not-so-subtle request in their eyes to get rid of the Mul Branova. One managed to slide up next to her.

"You arrived with them. Is there any chance you might depart with them? I would consider it a personal favor," the nun said, clearing her throat and keeping her voice low.

"You and me both," Venthra murmured, then shook her head. "I'm afraid they're as crazy as they sound, but they do and will hunt every demon in the area."

The nun gave her a flat smile. "I am not worried about that. I am worried about that," she said, pointing to where the Mul Branova had begun decorating themselves with the blood of the dead demon.

Venthra sighed. "Look… since they've found a demon, I'm fairly certain they're going to stick around for as long as they can find more to hunt." Her eyes searched for Merlin, but it seemed the other woman had smartly disappeared after dropping her charges. Venthra had absolutely no idea what to do with that, and could only smile at the nuns.

"If it helps, they're a pretty choosy order. They don't recruit that broadly." She offered.

The nun scowled, staring at the scantily clad Mul Branova. "I can see that they have a type."

"Yeah." Venthra's words weren't helping. Rather than continue arguing with the grumpy nuns, she pulled a Mul Branova robe from her spatial ring, put it on, and dismissed her other clothes back into the ring right in front of the nun.

She performed the wardrobe change so openly that several of them looked scandalized, as if she'd just betrayed them.

Venthra didn't care. She would far rather align herself with the Mul Branova than continue to have the nuns think she was here to satisfy their needs. She knew the nuns were never really going to be satisfied either way, and quite frankly, she couldn't bring herself to care.

"To Lord Bran," Venthra stated, kicking off another round of calls across the Mul Branova as they joined in.

Ventrha glanced down at the blood, pausing and then ultimately deciding she wasn't quite dedicated enough to the bit to join in.

AN - Large chapter, but I couldn't break up the Nun vs Mul Branova scene.