Fractured God

“...” Mr. Bentley silently looked on.

(“I don't know what that material is, but even if the only thing they have are their looks, I can easily imagine there are some people in high places that would find them desirable simply based on the fact they require a human life to create.”) He mused as he looked at them.

Father Daniel picked up the crystals and nodded to himself in satisfaction as looked at them. “Just as the Bishop had shown.” He whispered to himself before noticing Mr. Bentley’s gaze. “Ah, a bountiful harvest for our lord. Have fun playing with these bodies, old man.”

He waved before making his leave, not sparing the pile of bodies a second glance.

Nearly a year had passed since he began working with that group but so far it had been smooth sailing. He could increase the budget of the guild and so far, thanks to his efforts, no one had realised the killings were all made by the same group.

Granted, increasing the budget while not arousing suspicion certainly took effort but the amounts of the money they could use definitely helped. But this wouldn't last for long…

(“Dear lord, she's here.”) He thought as he looked down to the lounge area of the branch building.

There she was. The thing that would likely ruin him. If he had known she was around he wouldn't have taken the deal in the first place.

Now she referred to herself as simply Elizabeth, but everyone who ran a branch office knew exactly which Elizabeth it was.

She was Elizabeth Ventus Validus Stermass IV. The youngest princess of the royal family.

Now he wasn't sure why, but she had been going around the parish shopping around for some fool to take her offer of gold to accept her into her guild. It seemed her father, the King Of Anglia, forbade her from becoming an adventurer. Well, he heard as much anyway, there wasn't anything official on the matter. But that rumour alone was enough to scare any self-respecting guild branch off her. She likely went through every parish’s branch building before she came here.

Standing next to the blonde girl with green eyes on the first floor, was a sight to behold. Mr. Bentley was convinced it was a tamed beast that wore armour rather than any man.

To say she towered over the princess was an understatement. She looked like a child compared to the standing armour. Their armour was pitch black with horns on top. They looked sort of like a demon.

As he walked down the stairs and approached them, he realised just how ridiculous this was as the princess obviously towered over him. She seemed barely shorter than Ezekiel. Which meant that standing armour beside her was all the more frightening. When it turned to him, he realised he had to accept that something living was under that armour.

“How can I hel-”

The girl immediately threw a bag of gold at him. He quickly dodged out of the way and turned back to stare at it.

“I want to create my own guild.” She coldly stated.

“Sigh (I can already tell this is going to be an ordeal…) Can we please move this discussion to my office?”

She nodded and followed him up the stairs after he picked up the bag of gold.

(“I can already imagine the king has who knows how many people observing her. Combined with the fact she'll likely get more eyes on my dealing with that group and she's already a pain in the ass, even if she doesn't do anything other than live in this parish!”)

He looked behind and noticed that guard? Golem? Protector of hers had remained still.

“Is he not coming?”

“Oh no, these stairs aren't sturdy enough to support my master's weight. He’ll wait down there in the meantime.”

“Ma-master? Is that not a bodyguard of yours!?”

She raised an eyebrow and pushed him up the stairs.

“I don't know what sort of rumour you've heard, Branch manager, but that person right there is my master and benefactor. The only reason I'm here is for my own growth and she is helping me in that area.”

“Hmm?”

Mr. Bentley led the way to his office and both of them sat down and began their discussions.

“No.” He simply stated before pushing the bag of gold back in her direction.

She immediately pushed it back towards him.

“I've heard you've made dealings with certain individuals in the parish. So why is my money suddenly off the table?” She asked as she pushed it into his lap.

The old man sighed and lifted the sack out of his lap.

“Well, let's just say that you're far more of a detriment to me and my operations than those other men.”

“Just officially recognise my guild and my business is finished with you.”

“(Based on the way she talks, she likely doesn't know about the murders…) Are you sure a delicate little girl like yourself can handle my test?”

“Oh, it was just a test you were concerned with. By all means, go ahead.” The tense expression he wore when she entered the room suddenly faded.

“(Hmm? What's with the sudden confidence?) Girl, you are aware, in addition to the money, I want you to pass this test correct?”

“Yes, I'm ready whenever you are. (Finally, I've been waiting for this. Who knew it'd take such a greedy man to give me what I want.)”