Danmachi Familia from Hell

14

The young woman effortlessly turned the crank of the well to draw up a large wooden bucket filled to the brim with crystal-clear water. Despite her petite figure, she was rather muscular beneath her clothes due to the physical labor she had performed since early childhood. Darius’ wife had died during her first childbirth, so he never had a son to help with the heavier duties. Fortunately, his daughter turned out to be a mirror image of her mother: beautiful, resourceful, and hardworking—an ideal.
The blonde unhooked the bucket from the chain and set it down on the ground. She straightened up, wiping sweat from her forehead when suddenly, the shadow of someone much taller than her enveloped her figure.

- It’s not polite to eavesdrop - Belakher whispered in her ear, covering her mouth with his left hand. - For your own good, don’t move or try to scream.

She’d dealt with more than one pushy drunk before. Maybe the Landgrave was as sober as a newborn, but she still knew how to handle someone sneaking up behind her. She swung her elbow into the elf’s liver and that move hurt her more than it did the long-eared one.
The necromancer no longer had the musculature from his days in service in the Rasa Sill forest due to a significant shift in his fighting style, but his body, reinforced with falna on level three was still damn tough. Especially to someone who had never faced a god-blessed warrior.

- I warned you - he said, pressing the dagger in his right hand against the blue-eyed girl’s back. - I’ll take my fingers off your lips now, but if I see you even think about screaming, I promise, you’ll choke on your own blood before you can make a sound.

Goosebumps rose on the girl’s skin, now damp with cold sweat despite the heat of the day. This man had threatened her life without the slightest hesitation in his voice. Based on what she had overheard, she had already guessed that neither he nor his companion were mere travelers but she hadn't expected someone this... ruthless to be sleeping under her roof.
Though fear wrapped around her like the tightest of ropes, she obeyed the Landgrave's command.

- Good - he said calmly, keeping his word. - What should I call you?

- I-I'm Leila - the woman replied softly and delicately, afraid that even raising her voice too much might cost her life.

- Well then, Leila, now answer me: Why were you listening at my companion’s door?

- I... I... - Her fear tangled her tongue.

- If I put my knife away, do you promise not to scream?

The violet-eyed man knew what kind of person he was dealing with. Not a soldier hardened through years of physical and mental training, ready for any torture, but a simple peasant girl, overwhelmed by the situation. In her case, the stick should be put away instead of waved over her head.

- Y-yes - she replied, still frightened.

- I trust you. So please, trust me that I don’t intend to hurt you. I just want to find out a few things, without causing unnecessary commotion. Do you understand?

- I... do - she replied uncertainly, but more clearly than before.

- If you want, you can move away from me or sit down.

The young woman took him up on the offer and stepped a pace away, sitting down on the brick circle surrounding the well. Only now did she have a chance to see his face. The visitor had a completely calm expression. Not angry, not sinister, but also not friendly, simply neutral.

- I repeat the previous question: Why were you listening at my companion’s door? - he asked slowly and without anger, so as not to scare the blonde further.

- It’s not like I meant to eavesdrop - she assured him, sweat glistening on her face. - The sun was especially strong today, and the wind was blowing hard, so your clothes had dried. I wanted to return them to you, but then I heard…