Zetsumei

Chapter 26. The Demon Maidservants from Hell

In the morning, I set off towards the mansion at the Twilight Kingdom. Soren gave me a magical compass to guide me there. This compass only points towards the given destination and all I have to do is follow it. It was very easy to use and I arrived at the mansion in less than two days. The mansion had a eight foot wall surrounding it with a huge metal fence.

Whoa...their architecture is really amazing. (Smile) This is so cool!

Outside the gate, I spotted a bell with a rope attached to it...I'm guessing that I'm suppose to pull it. So I did and the bell let out a loud chime. Within seconds, the gates open and standing by the gate was a lady with blonde pigtails. She had slightly tanned skin and is wearing a black dress.

Tanned Girl: Welcome (smile) Are you the next challenger.

Zelphine: Hm? Well, I guess so?

Tanned girl: Perfect, please come on in. I'll explain the terms of the contract to you.

With that, I followed the tanned girl in through the gates. Inside, the mansion was absolutely gorgeous. The garden is filled with vivid colors of many plants and flowers. The windows were all polished like mirrors decorated with red and yellow curtains. And most of all, the interior was just like a dream house. These maids do seem promising, (excited) I really can't wait to get one.
Once we're inside the mansion, the tanned girl led me to the living room.

Tanned girl: Please, have a seat.

I did as I was told. Once I sat down, a maid with short blonde hair came over to me.

Maid: Would you prefer regular tea or blood.

Zelphine: Hmm...do you have SoulDew?

Maid: Certainly.

Then the maid walked away.

Tanned girl: Judging by the type of drink you wanted, you must be a reaper.

Zelphine: Huh? How did you know that?

Tanned girl: Well, if a challenger chose tea, that means they are a human or special human. If they choose blood, that means that they are a demon or beast. You chose neither and asked for SoulDew, that is a drink made of the souls from flowers. I heard that a reaper's main meal is a soul, and that's how I knew.

Zelphine: True, I do dislike the taste of tea and blood. I guess every race has their preference.

Tanned girl: (smile) Allow me to introduce, I am the headmaster of all the maids here. My name is Hildegarde, you can call me Hilda. Well, who might you be?

Zelphine: I am Zelphine.

Hilda: Zelphine?...! Are you perhaps the Reaper King!

Zelphine: Yep.

Hilda bowed her head.

Hilda: Oh it's a great honor for the reaper king to contract one of our maids...that is, if you can beat them.

Zelphine: (evil stare) Are you saying that I can't.

Hilda: N-not at all. It's just...the form of this contract comes with a high risk.

Zelphine: What sort of risk?

Hilda: Allow me to explain. If you want to contract one of our maids, you have to defeat them in a battle by making them say "I give up", then you will be able to take hold of their contract. That contract is like their life, they will obey you without question as long as you have it. But if you lose to them, they will kill you. All the maids here are well-trained assassins since birth. They won't lose that easily so I suggest you be careful of whom you choose. Now, do you have any questions?