Chapter 190 : New Neighbor (x)

Lilia ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍sat in the supervisor’s large leather chair, holding a report Fiona had just delivered, her mood so good she almost felt like humming a tune.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍ring on the ring finger of her left hand suddenly transmitted a scorching, stabbing pain.

“Come ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍here.”

Lilia’s ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍hand trembled, nearly spilling the scalding black tea onto herself.

She ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍let out a sigh, swiftly wiping away the relaxed expression of “slacking off on company time” from her face, replacing it with one of absolute loyalty—“ready to go through fire and water for the boss at any moment.”

This ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was probably the fate of a corporate slave—seamless switching, even a perpetual motion machine wouldn’t dare spin like this.

Not daring to delay, Lilia jogged through the corridor straight toward the Demon Queen’s study at the top floor.

She pushed open the door.

Hera stood with her back to the entrance, her long black hair cascading like a waterfall, that intricate and luxurious black gown outlining a breathtakingly perfect silhouette.

Hearing the door open, Hera didn’t turn around, only slightly tilting her head, a dim and unreadable glint flashing through her golden eyes in the shadows.

“Sent off?”

Lilia immediately understood—this was about Lucy.

She straightened her posture, stepping forward respectfully. “Reporting to Master, she has already been sent to Camilla.”

“Mm.” Hera turned around and casually tossed a parchment scroll onto the table.

It rolled twice across the smooth obsidian surface before stopping right in front of Lilia.

“Take a look.”

Lilia’s heart skipped a beat. She knew this couldn’t be anything good.

More overtime.

Carefully, she picked up the scroll and unfolded it.

It was a map of the edges of the Demon Realm. In the upper-right corner, Hera had circled a location.

That was… the Black Sea?

Lilia’s brows instantly twisted together.

The Black Sea, located in the far north of the Demon Realm, was a dead zone that even the lowest Lesser Demons avoided. Legend said it was the ruins of an ancient battlefield of gods and demons. The seawater was black, and it was shrouded in storms and thunder all year round. Aside from mutated abyssal sea monsters, not even birds could cross it.

“Recently, there have been abnormal magic fluctuations at the edge of the Black Sea.” Hera stepped closer, her slender finger tapping the marked circle. “Someone is making small moves there.”

Lilia’s eyelid twitched. “Small moves? Could it be that ‘Immortality Society’ again?”

Ever since the Dark Moon Canyon incident, those lunatics had been like sewer rats—impossible to completely eradicate.

“Not entirely.” Hera narrowed her eyes.

“Master, do you mean…” Lilia probed carefully, “you want me to investigate?”

“Mm.” Hera’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Whether it’s the Immortality Society or something else, go and chop off their claws for me.”

Lilia sucked in a cold breath internally.

“Chopping claws” sounded relieving—but only if one had the strength.

A place like the Black Sea sounded hellish just from the name. The environment would definitely be harsh, and the monsters would surely be the kind that shattered sanity—tentacled horrors and the like. Even though she had leveled up and possessed cheats like the Seed of Life, at her core she was still a timid little maid afraid of death!

“Um…” Lilia blinked her big eyes, looking at Hera with anticipation. “Master, will you… be going along this time? Like when we went to Dark Moon Canyon?”

If she had a max-level boss carrying her through the dungeon, this would be a fully-funded vacation.

If not…

It would be a pure suicide run.

Hera looked at Lilia’s shameless attempt to cling to her, amusement flashing in her eyes. She slowly walked up, lifting a strand of Lilia’s silver hair and twirling it around her finger.

“What, can’t do anything without me?”

Lilia nodded frantically without hesitation. “Yes! Without Master, I’m like a weaned child, like a snail without its shell, like—”

Hera chuckled softly, tugging lightly at her hair, making Lilia’s scalp tighten. “This time, I’m not going.”

The tiny spark of hope in Lilia’s heart was instantly extinguished by cold water.

“Those old fossils in the council have been getting restless again. I need to stay in the palace and deal with them.” Hera released her hair and adjusted Lilia’s slightly messy collar. “Besides, as my Personal Maid, it’s time you learned to handle things independently. A place like the Black Sea is perfect practice for you.”

Practice?

Lilia’s face fell. Just as she was about to struggle further—perhaps by faking leg pain or claiming her period had come—Hera seemed to read her mind and spoke first.

“Relax. Even if I’m not going, I’ve arranged a helper for you.”

A helper?

Lilia’s eyes lit up. Could it be one of the Demon Generals? If it was Camilla, her personality might be terrible, but she was still a powerful backer. Or even that Minotaur general who only knew how to lift weights all day would do.

“Come out.” Hera turned toward a dark corner of the study and clapped her hands.

The air distorted slightly.

There was no grand entrance, no overwhelming magical pressure.

With somewhat stiff footsteps, a figure slowly emerged from the shadows.

Lilia widened her eyes. The moment she saw clearly who it was, her expression froze, her mouth slightly open, unable to close for a long time.

It was a woman.

Or rather, something that looked like a woman.

She wore a black-and-white maid outfit nearly identical to Lilia’s, except it didn’t quite fit—stretched tight as if it might tear at any moment.

She had short dark-purple hair, with long bangs covering most of her face, leaving only one lifeless, fish-like eye visible. Her skin was an unhealthy pale, like a vampire who hadn’t seen sunlight for years.

The strangest part was how she walked.

It wasn’t a normal human or demon gait—each step seemed precisely calculated, knees not bending, heels striking first, yet the sound was as light as a cat’s.

Lilia stared at that face, the familiar alarm in her mind blaring wildly again.

She had never seen this face before.

So why did it feel so disturbingly familiar?

Like some kind of grotesque patchwork stitched together from mismatched parts.

“This is Bulara.”

Hera’s voice sounded at the right moment, casual as if introducing a newly purchased pet. “For this mission, she’ll accompany you the entire time—responsible for your safety… and for monitoring whether you slack off.”

“Bu… Bulara?”

Lilia almost choked on her own saliva.

Was that name serious?

Boss, did you just pull that from some third-rate fairy tale?

It sounded like the transformation chant prefix of some cheap magical girl!

“Do you have a problem with it?” Hera raised an eyebrow, smiling faintly.

“N-no problem.” Lilia shook her head frantically, survival instinct forcing all complaints back down her throat. “The name… is fresh, refined, and catchy. You can tell she’s destined for greatness!”

The maid named “Bulara” slowly walked up to Lilia and stopped.

She was a full head taller, looking down at Lilia. Through her heavy bangs, Lilia seemed to catch a strange red glint in that exposed eye.

“Lilia… senior.”

Bulara spoke.

Her voice was grating, and the pauses were stiff—like she was struggling to recall her lines.

“Please… take… care… of me.”

After speaking, she bent at the waist in an extremely rigid ninety-degree bow.

At the moment she bent down, Lilia clearly heard a chilling “crack” from her spine, as if some internal component had shifted out of place.

The forced smile on Lilia’s face completely froze.

She instinctively looked at Hera, hoping to find even a hint of “I’m joking” on her boss’s face.

“Don’t die,” Hera said softly. “Especially you, Lilia. If you can’t even lead a newcomer properly… you know the consequences.”

Looking at this “Bulara,” who was slowly twisting her displaced spine back into position, Lilia felt her future turn pitch black.

This trip to the Black Sea might be even more thrilling than facing an Old God.

“Bulara, lift your head.” Lilia took a deep breath, trying to muster some senior authority.

Bulara mechanically raised her head. That dead fish eye stared straight at Lilia’s neck, and her lips suddenly stretched into a twisted grin.

Lilia saw that all of her teeth were sharp.