Charlie was inside Luke’s room in the temple when the door opened. Angie stepped in.

  “Do you need something, Angie?”

  “Dinner’s ready, Charlie. I want you to taste it and tell me if I actually managed to make something decent.”

  Charlie got up from the bed. Angie had been learning how to cook as well, hoping it might help her awaken a profession.

  “According to the books Lord Luke has, if you dedicate yourself to something and master the basics, the system tends to reward you with the option to awaken that profession. By now, you should have unlocked something at least, considering you’ve been studying cooking for over a year,” Angie said.

  They reached the kitchen.

  “Maybe the maid profession,” Charlie suggested lightly. “I think it’s like Master Luke told us. Our system works differently.”

  “That’s very possible. Our title says we are servants of the Dark Lord, and both his title and his abilities mention us as something equivalent to generals. The system might shape us toward offensive paths, making it easier for us to grow in combat roles. A profession might not even be something we can awaken,” Angie said.

  Charlie sat at the table and served herself.

  “That would explain why you managed to unlock a second class so easily.”

  “Hm… it wasn’t easy. It was extremely difficult for both me and Master Luke at the time,” Charlie replied.

  “Easy in the sense that you were the only being in the tutorial to unlock a second class. And then Master Luke, but only after reaching the maximum level in race, class, and profession. Do you see my point?” Angie asked.

  “I do,” Charlie said.

  Angie handed her another plate.

  “Looking at it that way… it makes sense.”

  “We probably have an easier time walking offensive paths because we’re considered ‘Generals.’ That could influence our classes and help us awaken a second one,” Angie concluded.

  The conversation naturally drifted to a single subject.

  Luke.

  There was nothing else for them to talk about. Charlie and Angie spoke about Luke’s plans for the future, his wishes, and his dreams.

  “I… see myself by Master Luke’s side forever,” Charlie said softly.

  “Me too.”

  “You… didn’t understand, Angie. I mean… by Master Luke’s side,” Charlie clarified.

  “Oh. I see. You mean romantically. I don’t have a problem with that, Charlie.”

  “Really? You… don’t feel that way about him?”

  “I’m a tool. If he wants me as a friend, I’ll be his friend. If he wants me as a lover, I’ll be his lover.”

  Charlie fell silent.

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Charlie, what would you do if I stole your precious Master Luke from you?” Angie asked.

  “What do you mean?” Charlie said, completely caught off guard.

  “With my understanding of humans and my angelic intellect, I could steal a human man’s heart if I wanted to. What if I took Master Luke for myself?” Angie continued. “Would you let me sleep with him? Would you let me become one with him?”

  Anger surged through Charlie. She slammed her fist against the table.

  “What are you talking about?!”

  “I’m stating the obvious,” Angie said, standing up, her voice suddenly serious. “How would you feel if you caught me having sex with Lord Luke? If I took him for myself?”

  “I’d be furious!” Charlie shouted, rising to her feet. “No one can steal Master Luke from me. He’s mine!”

  Angie stared at her for a moment, expression unreadable. Then she burst out laughing and sat back down, still laughing.

  “What are you laughing at?! I’m being serious!”

  “I was testing you, Charlie. Your eyes turned red, your canines sharpened, and your mood became aggressive. Your beast side made you a little unstable. Some things surfaced more strongly than they should have,” Angie said calmly as she picked up the fallen cup.

  Testing me?

  Charlie frowned, confused, but little by little she allowed herself to relax.

  “I… I… got a bit explosive,” Charlie admitted.

  Angie explained more carefully, and the misunderstanding faded. She had only wanted to show Charlie the subtle changes that had taken root in her.

  So I’ve become… more territorial?

  That was Angie’s conclusion. Then, suddenly, a loud boom echoed through the air. An explosion. Charlie jumped up from the table.

  “What is it, Charlie?”

  “An explosion! It came from the village!”

  They ran through the temple toward the exit. When they reached it, they saw parts of the village already burning, explosions flaring in the distance. Even sections of the temple’s exterior were on fire.

  “The oni wouldn’t do this,” Angie said as wings burst from her back and she took to the night sky to get a better view.

  That was when it happened.

  Arrows came flying toward Charlie. She leapt sideways, dodging the first volley, but more followed. One struck home, a heavy bolt embedding itself in her leg. Lulie fluttered anxiously beside her.

  Charlie narrowed her vision and spotted a man atop one of the towers, holding an enormous crossbow. More bolts were already on their way. The village was swarming with people.

  She glanced at the wound, yanked the bolt free, and ran. Charlie sprinted through the village toward the tower. [Vampiric Aura] surged around her. As she reached the base, she jumped.

  The crossbowman flinched and tried to fire again, but Charlie shot upward like a bullet. Her sword shifted, becoming a round shield. She blocked the bolt midair, then slammed the shield into him, sending the man flying off the tower and crashing onto a nearby rooftop.

  “What the hell?!” he shouted, scrambling to his feet.

  Charlie came down on him, the shield flowing back into a sword as she completed the motion. The blade severed his arm in one clean strike. He screamed.

  “Hurting people isn’t fun right now,” Charlie said coldly as she watched him writhe. “I want answers. Who are you, and why did you attack my master’s territory?”

  He could only scream in pain.

  Charlie opened her mouth and bit into his neck, tearing away flesh. She spat out blood and meat as he howled, then cut off his head.

  [You have slain a...]

  Charlie leapt to another rooftop and surveyed the scene. A large group of attackers moved through the village, hurling bottles stuffed with burning cloth. The makeshift firebombs shattered against houses, spreading flames.

  She focused on her hearing.

  “Burn the houses. We don’t know if anyone’s hiding. Surround the temple. Dolores wants control of this place tonight,” one voice ordered.

  Charlie tightened her grip on her sword and began walking forward, her armor materializing around her through the system.

  “Lulie, stay on my shoulder and hold on tight.”

  Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you know that there will be a second bonus chapter posted today.

  I’m announcing it here directly in the chapter because I’ve noticed that some readers end up missing the bonus chapters. A few people have even commented saying a chapter was missing. But what actually happened was that when they came back the next day, they went straight to the newly posted chapter and skipped the bonus one from the day before.

  So don’t forget, there will be another chapter posted today!

  https://discord.gg/znGSjCxhkR