Chapter 249: Killing Intent

Giliath demands your power stones! Let's continue to try and get over 500!

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'So that's where it starts falling into place...', Musse inwardly thought to herself, seeing Emma now standing beside Rutger and Fie. 'Now that I think about it, not just everyone can stand by His Highness, even if he is being treated as a foreign emissary presently. These two did introduce themselves as some sort of guards to His Highness, but I didn't think it'd be so literally like this...', Musse continued to think, observing the present situation for a little longer.

'And Jaegers to boot. It's almost a little scary thinking that two young girls would be active Jaegers like this. And now that I think about it, this man's face does seem familiar...', Musse continued to think. Seeing Musse stay silent for a moment after Emma re-introduced herself alongside Rutger and Fie, Renne was quick to notice Musse's silence, causing her to smile.

"Did something catch your fancy, miss honors student?", Renne's voice said, causing Musse's head to turn toward Renne. Hearing Renne suddenly ask this only caused Musse to smile, as her eyes remained gazed on Renne's figure for a moment after the three Jaegers introduced themselves.

"Oh it's nothing. I am curious though, after starting to see the bigger picture here. Where do you do fit in all of this? Seeing that you and that Sherryl girl also appear to be on a personal level with His Highness, especially after last night.", Musse wondered, having another look at the violet haired girl in her St. Astraia's uniform. She wasn't wearing her normal frilly white and purple one piece dress that she often wore during the sky games. Hearing that caused Renne to reveal a playful smile.

"Didn't I tell you? Consider us friends with benefits, courtesy of His Highness of course.", Renne simply answered Musse, causing Musse to stare back at Renne.

Yet the moment Renne nonchalantly answered that, Musse blinked her eyes once. In the next moment, Renne's figure completely disappeared from sight, as if she had vanished into the shadows, despite it being clear as day out right now with the sun's position slowly on its path to high noon. Musse felt her blood run cold the moment she heard Renne's voice directly whisper into her ear, and at the same time, she felt a rather sharp pain and cold thin blade-like material streak across her throat, almost as if it was a blade trying to slice through it without hesitation.

"If you dare to even touch a single hair of His Highness's during his stay here, well, let's just say it won't be fun and games anymore.", Renne softly whispered directly into Musse's ear. At the same time, Musse felt her back run cold with a hidden pressure, acting as if this pressure was trying to take a hold of her. Musse could only tense up. As for Emma and Fie, they just looked on with mostly a deadpan look in their eyes while Rutger raised his eyes.

From their eyes, Renne's position hadn't changed a bit, they only saw Musse's body tense up with her eyes turning a bit dull for a moment. Yet from Musse's perspective, she acted as if she had a brief encounter with the grim reaper. The moment she blinked again, Renne's demeanor returned to normal, acting as if she hadn't done anything. But in reality, Renne let out a small portion of her killing intent with Musse taking the bulk of it. Renne's killing intent reached the end of the bridge, causing the couple guard's back to run cold together with Musse's, but in the end, Renne only smiled seeing Musse take Renne's killing intent silently.

As Renne did that, Rutger recalled the experience they shared taking part in the raid on Paradise, and remembered this little eight to nine year old girl standing before him was far from a normal girl. She had developed a unique killing intent during her stay inside the caves, and combined with slaying monsters in the last couple years. Renne would often finish the job where Naoto lacked, so her killing intent was developed a lot quicker than Naoto's, even though the two now respectively share their own, thanks to the latter becoming a Jaeger alongside Fie and Emma. And to add to that giant mess, she was personally trained by the Bladelord. Her combat prowess mostly involved in casting complex arts, but often triggered deathblows, so this training was held to support that.

So Renne thought it was a good idea to let Musse taste a tiny bit of her killing intent.

Seeing the atmosphere resume normally as if nothing had happened, Musse could only look at the small violet haired girl before her.

"You...", Musse tried to utter, but she couldn't find words to say what she had just felt a moment prior.

"What is it?", Renne replied, revealing a playful smile, acting as if nothing had happened. After Musse blinked her eyes that one time, Renne appeared in the same position she was standing prior to unleashing her killing intent. Musse was more confused than anything, but she could only let out a sigh, seeing Renne stay aloof on the matter.

"It's nothing.", Musse said, shaking her head as she silently recalled what Renne had uttered. At least, it would seem Renne is taking her position seriously while Naoto is staying here. Musse did have interest in developing some sort of bond since that prince said he would be here for the next two or so months, but seeing people like this lurking in the shadows, Musse was starting to have second thoughts. And seeing Renne do this, Rutger let out a laugh, since he was used to feeling killing intent, since he was the Jaeger King.

"Haha, remind me not to underestimate you, kiddo. It would seem the Direwolf's words are not baseless after all.", Rutger said, drawing their eyes to him. Hearing Rutger say that, Renne smiled.

"Hehe, I get that a lot. I have not had many interactions with him as of late though. As you can see, my present life has been rather preoccupied.", Renne said, giving another curtsy of her St. Astraia uniform, causing Rutger to gaze Renne's way again.

"So I see. Well, I wasn't expectin' a new one of ya to be with Fie, but no harm in it I guess. It wasn't a lie sayin' that the boys and me will remain in Heimdallr for the time being.", Rutger replied, observing the girls before him again. Hearing that, Fie's expression softened and started to dangle her legs again.

"I take it you secured another contract, Dad?", Fie asked, causing Rutger to nod his head.

"Sure did. We're currently trying to arrange our living space for the time being. I know you and miss Ghost Tracer were invited here as guests last night, but I doubt you'll want to disturb that prince any longer. How about roomin' with us for the time being?", Rutger suggested, drawing Fie's and Emma's attention.

"I don't see a reason not to. Her Highness did extend her hand out but I feel we would be just intruding if we did that. Is that alright with you, Fie?", Emma asked, glancing her eyes toward the white haired girl.

"Sure. We'll be roomies for the time being. We were about to go out and have some fun today so I didn't expect you to make your way here, Dad.", Fie said, nodding her head.

"Well I wouldn't want to disturb ya any more than I need to. Go and have your fun for now.", Rutger said, looking at Fie again. Hearing him say this, Fie knew what to do, and jumped down from his shoulder.

It didn't take long for Fie, Emma, Renne and Musse to see Rutger vanish into the crowd. In the far distance, it appeared he rejoined with two other men, causing Musse to raise her eyebrows again.

Seeing the four girls alone on the bridge, they regrouped again with relaxed looks in their eyes.

"So what will you do, miss honors student? You kinda forced your way to tag along with us. I know we had plans to visit a few eateries and enjoy some sweets, but we were looking to head out of Heimdallr to hunt some monsters. I doubt you'll have interest in the latter.", Renne said, causing Musse to look at Renne.

"Monster hunting...", Musse uttered, not expecting to hear such words from this group of three. Then again, Musse recalled who these girls exactly were. Considering her options, it wasn't hard to figure out that it was likely they have done this before. But to Musse it was a foreign concept, considering her upbringing.

"It wouldn't hurt to see what hunting monsters is like. But I have no experience in combat techniques, apart from my family teaching me a bit of self-defense. I'll try not to hinder you guys. I do hope you look forward to me working with you all. Despite all that happened, I do consider you girls my friends. Just like I do with Her Highness and Elise.", Musse happily responded as she clapped her two hands together.

Seeing Musse so friendly even with what had just happened, Renne stared at her in silence for a moment.

"Suit yourself. If you die, we won't be responsible.", Renne simply answered, doing a motion of her hand, before starting to walk, leaving the three girls behind.

"Renne!", Emma immediately retorted, only to see Renne ignore her, walking out into Dreichel's Plaza in the distance. On the other end where Rutger and his group went to, a trolley could now be seen pulling up. This allowed Heimdallr's people to navigate through each district without the need of having a car, and it made travelling quite easy.

Seeing Renne slowly vanishing from sight, Emma quickly bowed at Musse with an apologetic look in her eyes.

"I'm sorry for Renne's behavior, Musse. She can be a bit mischievous.", Emma responded, scratching her cheek a bit. Hearing that caused Musse to smile.

"Oh it is no problem. It is true I see you girls as my friends, even if it hasn't been for long. Renne almost reminds me of Her Highness in a way. She's almost as if she's a cat.", Musse responded, clapping her hands together. As Musse said that, Fie just looked at her with a deadpan look for a moment, before turning around. Emma's eyes turned a bit wide seeing Fie just leave like that, making her way to where Renne was walking in the distance.

Seeing Fie do this, Musse blinked her eyes.

"Not much of a talker, is she?", Musse uttered.

"I'm sorry. You'll get used to it.", Emma said, feeling apologetic again. Since the rest were gone now, only Emma and Musse were left behind. To not leave Fie and Renne alone, Emma urged Musse to quickly chase after the two.

Thankfully, both Emma and Musse were able to catch up to Fie and Renne who were just arriving to stand in line outside of the parked trolley, waiting to go to the next district they currently had in mind. As they did, Musse observed with growing interest, considering where they will eventually head to. She did find it a surprise to see that the three girls before her had experience in hunting monsters, but that would have to wait until she saw it with her own eyes.