Chapter 535: The Maid

Meanwhile, on the other side of the group, the women were busy dismantling their camp and preparing to resume their journey.

Alice casually stored the remaining supplies in her void locker, making sure nothing had been left behind. Once she finished, she glanced toward the empty seat where Adam usually sat and puffed out her cheeks.

"Honestly, Adam just had to leave so suddenly. He couldn’t have picked a better time?"

"I’m afraid it wasn’t exactly planned," Isolde replied, brushing some dust from her clothes. "He said it was an accident. What else are we supposed to do? We should continue our journey, and he’ll catch up with us later."

Alice crossed her arms.

"Fine, but who’s going to drive the carriage? Are we just going to leave it here?"

"Of course not!" Ignis immediately protested. "Don’t you feel sorry for the horses? They’ll be all alone!"

Lilith tilted her head, a mischievous smile spreading across her face.

"Well, if the problem is getting the horses to obey, I could always handle it with a little intimidation. I’m sure they’ll pull the carriage wherever I want without needing any reins."

Isolde gave her a flat look.

"And I’m sure they’ll drop dead from terror before we reach our destination."

"Such fragile creatures," Lilith sighed dramatically. "How unfortunate."

"Fortunately, I have another idea."

Isolde raised one hand and snapped her fingers.

"Come forth, my familiar."

A faint crimson glow appeared beside her, followed by a familiar figure materializing in the air.

Celine landed gracefully on the ground, wearing an outfit that made the other women pause.

Her new attire consisted of a maid’s uniform, complete with a frilled headpiece, a fitted bodice, and a short skirt that barely reached mid-thigh. The neckline was rather daring, and the overall design left little room for her usual imposing appearance as a demon commander.

Celine stood with her arms crossed, her expression cold and impatient.

"What is it? Why have you summoned me?"

Lilith’s eyes immediately lit up.

"Oh, my. That outfit suits you wonderfully, Celine. The skirt is particularly charming."

Celine’s expression twitched.

"...You."

She looked down at her clothes, then slowly raised her head toward Lilith. A flush of embarrassment crept across her face as realization dawned on her.

"YOU DID THIS, DIDN’T YOU?!"

Lilith placed a hand against her chest, feigning innocence.

"Me? Whatever do you mean? I merely helped you discover a more suitable style."

"THIS IS NOT A SUITABLE STYLE! I’M A DEMON COMMANDER, NOT A MAID!"

"Really? I thought the outfit made you look much more approachable."

"APPROACHABLE?!"

While Celine was busy glaring at Lilith, Alice stared at her with growing curiosity.

"Wait a minute. Isolde, why didn’t you tell us we had a maid?"

Celine’s head snapped toward Alice.

"I’m NOT a maid!"

"But you’re wearing a maid’s uniform."

"That doesn’t make me one!"

Alice tilted her head, apparently considering this argument.

"Hmm. I suppose that’s technically true."

"Then why did you—"

"Still, it suits you."

Celine looked as though she had just suffered another critical injury.

Nearby, Ignis had been studying the demon from head to toe with unabashed curiosity. She circled Celine once, her golden eyes examining every detail of the unfamiliar outfit.

"Wow! Your clothes are really different! Why is your skirt so short? And what’s that thing on your head? Is it supposed to be a hat?"

Celine’s face grew even redder.

"Stop looking at me!"

Ignis immediately stepped back, blinking in surprise.

"But I’m just curious!"

"BE CURIOUS SOMEWHERE ELSE!"

Isolde cleared her throat, drawing everyone’s attention back to the matter at hand.

"Enough. Celine, I summoned you because we need someone to drive the carriage."

Celine stared at her master in disbelief.

"...Excuse me?"

"You heard me. You’ll be responsible for the horses and the carriage until Adam returns."

"Absolutely not! I have no experience driving a carriage!"

"Then you’ll learn."

"Why don’t you do it yourself?!"

"Because I have other things to attend to."

Celine opened her mouth to argue, but Isolde raised one finger before she could get another word out.

"And before you start making excuses, let me make one thing clear. If you damage the carriage, injure the horses, or cause unnecessary trouble, Lilith will be responsible for your punishment."

Celine slowly turned toward Lilith.

The spider queen smiled sweetly.

"Oh, don’t worry, Celine. I have plenty of ideas for how to discipline a disobedient maid."

"STOP CALLING ME A MAID!"

"Of course. My apologies, carriage attendant."

"That is NOT any better!"

Lilith’s smile widened.

Ignis gave her an encouraging thumbs-up.

"Good luck, Celine!"

The demon commander closed her eyes and took a long, trembling breath.

Her pride had never suffered such a humiliating defeat.

"...Okay, I’ll try."

"Wonderful," Isolde replied calmly. "Then I trust you’ll have no problem getting along with the horses."

Celine let out a strangled groan as Lilith cheerfully ushered her toward the driver’s seat.

The journey resumed, though it quickly became apparent that putting Celine in charge of the carriage had been a questionable decision.

"HEY! SLOW DOWN! WHY ARE YOU RUNNING SO FAST?!"

The horses paid absolutely no attention to her complaints.

Celine desperately tugged at the reins, only for the carriage to veer dangerously toward a ditch. She yanked them in the opposite direction, nearly sending everyone inside tumbling against the carriage walls.

"CE-LINE!" Alice shouted from inside. "IF YOU BREAK MY SEAT, I’LL MAKE YOU PAY FOR IT!"

"THEN WHY DON’T YOU DRIVE IT YOURSELF?!"

"BECAUSE YOU’RE THE ONE SITTING UP THERE!"

Despite the chaotic beginning, Celine gradually began to understand how the reins worked. After several near-disasters, a few frantic adjustments, and enough shouting to frighten every bird within earshot, she finally managed to keep the horses moving at a steady pace.

The carriage stopped swaying wildly. The horses followed the road without trying to drag the entire party into a ditch, and Celine could finally sit upright without feeling as though she were fighting a battlefield rather than driving a vehicle.

She looked down at the reins in her hands.

’I did it.’

A small smile crept across her face. Through sheer effort, she had actually learned to drive the carriage. Considering how disastrous her first attempts had been, she had every reason to feel proud of herself.

Then her smile abruptly disappeared.

’Wait... Why am I proud of this?’

She stared at the reins as though they had personally insulted her.

’I’m Celine, the White Demon! I commanded armies! I brought entire battlefields to their knees! And now I’m celebrating because I managed to drive a carriage without crashing it?!’

Her grip tightened around the leather straps.

’What has my life become?’

Before she could continue lamenting her fallen dignity, the road ahead narrowed between two stretches of rocky terrain. The uneven ground forced the horses to slow, and the rocks on either side provided plenty of cover for anyone foolish enough to hide there.

Celine barely paid attention. After hours of wrestling with the horses, she had finally settled into a rhythm, and she intended to enjoy the rare moment of peace.

Unfortunately, peace was apparently too much to ask for.

As the carriage rounded a bend, several figures emerged from behind the rocks ahead. One stepped directly into the road, raising an arm to signal them to stop, while the others spread out behind him to block any attempt to pass.

Celine pulled the reins. The horses slowed, and the carriage came to a halt.

She stared at the men with mounting irritation.

’Why does someone always have to ruin my mood?’

The strangers, meanwhile, seemed entirely pleased with themselves. Their clothes were ragged, their weapons poorly maintained, and their expressions carried the kind of confidence usually found in people who had never encountered a truly dangerous opponent.

One of them stepped forward, spreading his arms theatrically.

"Well, well! Look at this beauty! That’s one expensive carriage. Whoever owns it must be loaded!"

Another man grinned as he inspected the polished wood and fine decorations.

"Looks like we’ve hit the jackpot!"

Their attention soon shifted toward the driver’s seat.

There sat a beautiful demon woman with striking features, and an alluring maid’s uniform.

The men’s expressions changed almost immediately.

"Hold on... Is that a demon?"

"Who cares? Look at her!"

"Damn! A rich carriage and a beauty like that? Today’s our lucky day!"

Their laughter grew louder as several of them began making crude remarks.

Celine’s expression darkened.

’Filthy, insignificant pests.’

She had already endured humiliation at the hands of Isolde and Lilith. She had spent hours struggling with horses, nearly crashed the carriage several times, and had only just begun to feel a little pride in mastering the task.

And now these lowlifes were staring at her as though she were some prize to be claimed.

A familiar voice suddenly sounded inside her mind.

’What’s happening, Celine?’

It was Isolde, communicating through their familiar bond.

Celine’s eye twitched.

’Some pests are blocking the road.’

There was a brief pause.

’Pests?’

’Bandits. They appear to have mistaken me for some helpless woman they can rob.’

Isolde’s response was remarkably unconcerned.

’There seem to be an awful lot of pests along this road. How troublesome.’

Celine nearly crushed the reins in her hands.

’Master, I am perfectly capable of dealing with these vermin myself. You don’t need to treat this as though you’re assigning me another menial chore!’

’Then take care of them quickly. We have no intention of wasting the entire day here.’

Celine stared at the bandits.

Then she slowly climbed down from the driver’s seat.

The men immediately burst into laughter.

"Oh? What’s this? Have you finally decided to cooperate?"

"Don’t worry, lady. If you’re nice to us, we might even let you keep that pretty outfit!"

One of them stepped forward, reaching toward her with a leering grin.

Celine’s violet eyes narrowed.

"Don’t touch me, you worthless creature."

The man blinked.

"What did you say?"

He never got the chance to hear her repeat it.

Celine blade flashed once, so swiftly that several of the bandits failed to understand what had happened until the man’s head slipped from his shoulders and struck the dirt. His body collapsed a moment later.

Silence descended upon the road.

Celine flicked the blood from her weapon and looked at the remaining men with undisguised contempt.

"Know your place, you lowly creatures. Don’t you dare look at me as though I’m something you can claim."

For a brief moment, the bandits stood frozen.

Then their shock gave way to anger.

"You bitch! Catch her!"

Several men rushed forward at once.

Celine stepped into their midst, her blade carving a deadly arc through the air. The first attacker barely managed to raise his weapon before she cut through his defense. Another tried to approach from her blind spot, only to be met with a swift strike that sent him crumpling to the ground.

Yet even as she fought, Celine became painfully aware of the uniform she was wearing.

Her short skirt shifted with every movement, leaving her far more exposed than she would have liked.

"Damn this ridiculous outfit!"

She instinctively tugged the hem of her skirt down with one hand while dodging an incoming attack.

The momentary distraction nearly cost her. A bandit managed to swing his weapon close enough to force her to twist away, and the others immediately took advantage of her hesitation.

"HAHAHA! What’s wrong, lady? Having trouble fighting in that little dress?"

"Careful! Wouldn’t want your skirt getting in the way!"

Their laughter echoed across the road.

Celine’s face burned with humiliation.

*I’m going to slaughter every last one of you.*

She abandoned any attempt to preserve the uniform’s appearance and unleashed her full strength. Her movements became sharper, her attacks more vicious, and the bandits’ mocking laughter quickly turned into desperate screams.

One by one, they fell.

Those who tried to flee found their escape cut short. Those who attempted to fight back discovered that their weapons and numbers meant nothing against a demon who had spent her life commanding forces far more dangerous than a band of roadside thugs.

Within moments, the road fell silent.

Celine stood amid the fallen bandits, her chest rising and falling with restrained fury. She inspected her uniform, then tugged her skirt into place with an irritated scowl.

"Filthy vermin. You should have been grateful I ended your miserable lives quickly."