Blood Princess, Kill them All

Freedom or a Deceptive Puppet?

The military vehicles chasing Mary and the others unleashed a relentless barrage of bullets from their mounted machine guns. Unlike magitech firearms, these were ordinary guns that fired live ammunition. Despite the enchanted bulletproof glass, it cracked and deformed under the assault without being pierced.

Shards of glass rained down, peppering Amy in the backseat who was squirming in agony.

“Ah… Ahhhhh!” Tinny desperately kept her foot pressed down on the accelerator.

Swerving and evading the shots would have put Mary in danger, potentially flinging her off the car. So the only option was to keep the pedal to the metal and push the car forward.

Meanwhile, the pursuing soldiers caught sight of a girl in a dress standing amidst the darkness. She appeared elusive, perched atop the car with her skirt fluttering in the wind.

“Somebody’s up there…? Blast it, must be one of those terrorist comrades! Shoot her down!”

The muzzles aimed upward, taking aim at Mary. Muzzle flashes illuminated the night, revealing the figure of the god of death. The bullets mercilessly pummeled Mary, striking with precise accuracy.

“Hehe, they tickle.”

But the bullets were feeble, merely bouncing off her dress. Even when they struck her defenseless face, the wounds instantly healed.

“A graze like that would usually be fatal!”

“Looks like she’s some kind of mage. I’ll crash right into her!”

“Wait, hold on! Let’s assess the situation first…”

Out of the three pursuers, one revved up and pulled alongside Mary’s car. The driver had a nasty sneer on his face as he swiftly steered, attempting to collide with her.

As Tinny panicked frantically, Mary smiled defiantly amidst all the chaos. Suddenly, an enormous wing-like arm sprouted from her back, and she grabbed hold of the oncoming vehicle.

“Uwoooah! W-What the… This skeleton… Could it be… Princess Mary?!”

“You’re a bit slow on the uptake. Take this!” Mary effortlessly flung the vehicle away, as if it were a ball.

“Look out… It’s gonna hit! No way, dodge! Uwaaaah!”

The propelled military vehicle crashed directly into the driver’s seat of the lead car, crushing it. In the process, it ensnared the car behind, resulting in a spectacular collision.

Perhaps due to an unfortunate impact, the three retreating vehicles quickly burst into flames, eventually erupting into explosions.

The orange flames illuminated the nighttime cityscape. In the gusts of the explosion, Mary’s golden hair billowed, while she savored the sensation of the wind caressing her cheeks, her eyes narrowing contentedly.

“Ah… Aahhh…” As Tinny looked through the shattered glass, a different kind of fear overcame her.

Mary, seemingly unperturbed by all the chaos, gracefully hopped down from the car’s roof and settled into the passenger seat, “We should be safe for a while.”

“Y-Yes… That’s right… I suppose…”

Mary flashed a smile, leaving Tinny with a strange mix of fear and admiration.

◇◇◇

Afterwards, before the next pursuers could catch up, they quickly abandoned the car. Mary carried Ami in her arms as the trio weaved through narrow passages between buildings, venturing deeper into the heart of the city, following routes that barely qualified as roads.

In the bustling streets of Captis, filled with questionable shops and shady establishments, Tinny strode forward confidently, without a moment’s hesitation. Some shops had women beckoning from behind glass windows, while others had tattooed, assertive men acting as hustlers.

Amidst this scene, Tinny entered one establishment—a bar that blended in rather inconspicuously on the street. She approached the mustached bar owner and requested something, and he led them to a room marked as the VIP Room.

Is this their hideout? Well, it’s just a regular private room.

To Mary’s surprise, the bar owner extended his left hand toward a shelf adorned with glasses. He picked up a specific cup and pressed a switch beneath it, causing a wall to slide open, revealing an underground path.

Descending the stairs, Mary couldn’t help but comment, “This is quite elaborate, isn’t it? Do you always leave from here when you go on missions?”

“No, this isn’t our only hideout. We gather weapons and personnel in different locations before launching our liberation operations.”

“So, this place serves as a headquarter then?”

“Yes, having a place to come back to gives us a sense of security.”

The concrete staircase was dimly lit by occasional wall-mounted lamps, creating a stark and somewhat oppressive atmosphere. Finally, they reached the end of the stairs, where an impressive silver door stood before them.

Tinny placed her hand on a panel beside the door, and it automatically opened.

A magic-registered automatic door… They sure have some fancy technology.

Using the unique mana frequencies possessed by humans, doors like these could only be opened by specific individuals whose frequencies were recorded. It was a technology commonly seen in new facilities or noble residences, rarely encountered by commoners.

As the door swung open, they entered a spacious lobby—a striking contrast to the confined space they had just left. On the front wall, a large emblem depicted the same pattern as the protective suits worn by Tinny and the others. But what caught Mary’s attention even more were the dozens of members who warmly welcomed her.

Standing in two rows, they formed a pathway for Mary, their eyes filled with hope and smiles adorning their faces.

As Tinny, who had entered a step ahead, joined the line, they spoke in unison, “Welcome to the Riverta Liberation Front! We have been eagerly awaiting a hero like you!”

They must have rehearsed it; their breathing was perfectly synchronized.

Hero—well, it’s not a term that fills me with delight.

Nevertheless, Mary had chosen to come here. She played her role, not bewildered or overly excited, but with a straightened posture and a determined gaze fixed ahead.

Then, a confident man with a muscular build and fiery red hair approached from the front. Wearing a cloak adorned with a crest, he reached Mary and extended his right hand, exuding self-assurance. “I’m Jasam Fibatika, leader of the Riverta Liberation Front. Pleasure to meet you.”

Mary scrutinized his face, as if sizing him up. In response, he flashed a faintly refreshing smile.

“I didn’t expect you to come on your own, Princess Mary. I had planned to fetch you eventually,” he said.

Mary remained silent, studying him intently.

“Well, it would be appreciated if you could shake my hand,” he requested.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t be dishonest,” Mary replied.

“And why’s that?” he inquired.

“I don’t intend to join your group. My goal is to find the whereabouts of the Slaver Duke and get treatment for Ami. I’ll fight in exchange for that, and regardless of the outcome, I will definitely kill Dugan.” Mary explained.

“Princess, so you’re not fighting for some noble cause.”

“You catch on quickly. I appreciate that.”

The exchange between Mary and Jasam made the group members a bit uneasy.

“Alright, if that’s the case, it’s no big deal,” Jasam said, retracting his hand surprisingly easily.

Some members began to question his actions. Jasam turned toward them and declared, “The fact that Princess Mary is willing to join us is more than enough, right, everyone?”

He called out to the members, who had been feeling somewhat dejected. Instantly, their expressions brightened.

“Yeah, that’s right, just like the commander said.”

“With Princess Mary with us, we’re as strong as a hundred people… and that’s more than enough.”

“Absolutely! Let’s celebrate, everyone! Let’s go!”

“That’s it, Tinny! I’m so glad! Woohoo! Long live Princess Mary!”

“Thanks for fighting alongside us!”

“Princess Mary is the best! I’m getting her autograph later.”

The group members suddenly got all energized and started making a racket.

Watching their infectious enthusiasm, quite different from their initial meeting, Mary’s cheeks twitched slightly, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

“You’ve got some enthusiastic people here,” she remarked.

“Though we’re just commoners, we can’t afford to be in low spirit. So Princess, the deal is settled then. Is that all right?” Jasam replied.

“A deal… Yes, I understand. I’ll hold up my end of the bargain. Let’s make the most of each other.”

Once again, but this time, using her bony extension from her back since her hands were occupied, Mary offered her skeletal hand. Jasam chuckled softly as he shook her hand.