Master of Myths

Back inside the large flower the guards and generals were once again inside the hall, this time seated on a large table, all their eyes resting on the shaking kneeling midget by the door

"And then what?"

Asked one of the general, his overgrown mane shaking in anger

"Then he told me to, to convey a message.."

"Which is?"

"...Sir, please spare me, please don't make me-"

"Speak!"

The hyena didn't know if he should be scared of the lion's current anger or the rage he would face when saying those two words

"Little one, speak the message and don't be afraid"

The one to comfort him was Verbrand, at least it sounded like comfort but he knew he was being urged not to waste their time instead

"He said, word by word, if you want to fight me you hairy cat then come face me head-on, stop sending your useless goons to their death instead"

Everyone who was paying attention paused a second to register the unexpected words they heard, once they did everyone adopted a confused expression, all but one

"RAWR!"

The long-maned lion roared, pouncing on the midget from his seat with every intention to finish the poor sod's life

"Fabusika!"

The giant elephant who was seated next to the lion yelled in an unknown language with his long nose shooting water at the lion, but his reaction was too slow to stop him

Bang!

The sound of heavy collision rang out in the hall, there was no blood or screams however as Belbus's life was saved by the large trunk of a hand covering him

"Now now Gremm, this is no way to treat a messenger"

"A messenger!? Verbrand if you want to fight me then just say so, no need to go about it in such a roundabout manner"

"Heh, I would be down for a fight whenever you'd like, but the little one was indeed only doing as he was ordered"

"Ordered you say, since when was that bastard able to dish out orders"

"Ever since I appointed him as a black guard"

This time it wasn't Verbrand's hoars voice that answered but the sweet voice coming from the head of the table

The arguing two looked back at her, one with relief and the other with shock

"Are you defending him, commander?"

He questioned but regretted it the next second as a slightly suffocating pressure came from the table, its origin being everyone seated whether it be a general or a guard

"YuJu acted in his capability as a black guard when a normal guard showed extreme disrespect, if you fail to see reason in that then you can go ahead and confront him about it, taking your anger out on others is not an option, understood?"

"Understood!"

The lion gave a salute in response, only then did the pressure cease, the cold sweat on his back didn't disappear with it though causing him to stay silent and return to his seat

"Belbus"

"Yes commander"

"You have acted out on your own disregarding your orders, you should receive a harsh punishment normally but since you were already taught a lesson I will only assign you to the purple swamp"

"Thank you for your leniency commander!"

"You are dismissed"

Belbus saluted before leaving the hall with everyone in it thinking this would be the last they see of the midget, no one is assigned to the purple swamp comes back alive, at least not in one piece

"Should I send someone to guide him through the city?"

Verbrand suggested, this time intending on taking things into his own hands rather than let those two dumb meat bags test out the new guard

"You do that, meanwhile Gen will start building a residence for the two"

"Three my lady"

Reminded Verbrand, recalling that YuJu wanted Anput to be included in the new guard regiment

Aminta nodded, she didn't have any objection to non-anthropoid creatures being her guard

Everyone's eyes then glanced at the only fleshly beings at this table for everyone but them were fauna, the lion and elephant had objected the last time they wanted to send a normal guard and suggested they send Belbus instead which caused this troublesome matter

The two noticed all eyes on them but didn't comment, only Gremm threw a grunt out of frustration

"This concludes today's meeting, all of you are dismissed"

The guards and general stood from the table and gave a salute before leaving the hall

"Latvia"

Aminta called for one of her generals to stay and have a word with her

"How goes the search for the origin of Genus Insania?"

"It is stagnant as always, they don't move a lot and keep to themselves"

"If that is the case then put the operation into suspension, I want you to focus all your efforts into finding out who YuJu is and what he is up to"

"? I will do as you command, but may I ask why we are doing such an intense search on him? After all, he is a root after all, he wouldn't harm us"

"That is confidential, I need you to do your task without anymore question"

Latvia bowed in a show of acknowledgement and left the hall as well

".....Just what are you planing"

The lonesome Aminta muttered to herself, unsure what to make of his aggressive actions

...

"Wuwuwu! Wuwu"

Anput pawed at the door of the hall excitedly, unable to wait to go out with her master now that she filled her rumbling tummy

Ellis smiled at her cute actions while wearing her black outfit that the maids washed

"Miss, mister Mustela is requesting sir's audience, shall I go inform him?"

A maid with one arm came to her and asked in an unknown language making her confused on what to do as well as to why this maid was suddenly missing an arm when she was whole just yesterday when she let her in

"Just in time, tell him we will be there shortly"

YuJu said as he exited a room donning his vampire outfit, the blindfolds now covering his eyes once again

The one-armed maid bowed silently before returning to the gate to inform the Mustela, her calm demeanour showed none of the fear she had for the smiling man

"Put your face mask on Ellis, we are resuming our vampire persona"

"Yes Master"

Ellis covered her mouth with it and allowed her hair to cover her ears, he explained to her that vampires had pointed ears and thus they had to their round ears, his was hidden under the blindfold

Now disguised once again the two exited the residence with Anput running around the place, taking in the sight of the large closed space with curiosity

A few steps away from the residence was a hunched back figure waiting for them by the gate, this person had brown hair going all the way from his ears to his legs covering most of his body with how thick it was, only his forward bent neck poked out from under the hair along the small crafty eyes that peered at them from beneath it

"I assume you are the leader of the black guards, YuJu, I am Mustela, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance"

"Likewise"

"May I ask of the other black guard's names?"

"This one is Ellis and she is Anput"

YuJu briefly introduced

"It's a pleasure to meet you"

The man nodded at them, is neck making weird angle in order to do so

"Have you come to give us a tour around the city"

"How sharp of you sir, indeed I am here to escort you around the premises of the first five floors, you may go up to the sixth as well but I would not recommend that with it being another administrator's territory"

"Don't worry about that, for now lead me to the craftsmen around the area"

The man turned and walked toward the entrance of the fifth floor taking them down to the fourth floor which had a lot more creature's roaming around

Ellis and Anput looked around and found many more beasts walking around than two-legged folk, the difference in their numbers wasn't massive but noticeable nonetheless

"Any type of crafts specifically?"

"Blacksmiths would be preferable"

"Oh, you're looking for some armour or weapons? The fourth floor is home to one of the cities best blacksmith classes, one unique in that it used plants to make weapons, you can find a great variety of tools there as well, I dare say you would be surprised by the sheer variety of items there"

"I don't need ready-made weapons and armour, I want one that can craft me some on demand, one that deals with ores rather than plants"

"I see, well there is one that resides on the third floor, shall I take you to them?"

"Yes"

YuJu agreed to visit the shop knowing full well the blacksmith there couldn't make what he needed, but while he already showed everyone that he knew more than what he should he also didn't want to show them that he knew everything there is to the place else he would unnecessarily freak them out