Rade's Demon Elimination Service

Chapter 24: Fannie as a New Attraction

Fannie does look good as the focal point of the new strategy of drawing in customers.

The next day, just before the date that Lyu set their cherry blossoms viewing, Rade saw Megumi putting up multiple posters of a sleeping prince. There were many thing that would make one spit out blood if they were the ones that the posters were all about (it was a good thing it was not Rade since her spitting out her blood would not br good for any one at all). Some of the blatantly stated things in those posters included were five dollars and anyone could get a picture of the sleeping prince while it was ten dollars and the cutosmers would get a picture with it.

This truly amazed Rade to the highest that she could only gaped at the poster, trying to digest what was Megumi doing. But it was not like Fannie was a damsel in distress and it was also not like he would not be able to defend his honor (if Fannie has any).

Rade snorted until she was laughing so hard that she was clutching her stomach so tightly. It almost took her a while before composing herself. It was in that position that Rade was found by Megumi who was just finishing up the last poster she was putting in front of the Attic. It was still hilarious however Rade would look at it (though this posture sure showcased Megumi's talent for photography).

"Rade!" she called to the younger girl, waving her free hand towards Rade while her other hand was holding materials for the poster like a pair of scissors and tape. "Come in, we're about to get bomb with customers yet again."

So Megumi was already expecting it and she was really looking forward to it as though she really needed that money she would get by doing this kind of thing, Rade thought and stifled a laughter. It wouldn't look good for the Shadow Fantasm to see that she was laughing at him because of the poster Megumi made of him.

So, Rade only shrugged and walked away from those accursed posters as though she did not just see an illegal hustle courtesy of Megumi.

Rade walked closer to where Megumi was admiring her posters and also scrutinized the posters. In all fairness, it was actually good but then again, as Rade always forgot, Megumi also owned a photography studio upstairs of the bookshop and wasn't just a bookkeeper.

Fannie was wearing his unusual clothes as usual and one hand was supporting his chin while his half-lidded eyes were looking down on the book he was reading on his hand which was lazily propped up on that. The orange glint of the lights bounced off on his blond hair making it look golden and beautiful. There was a dramatic sense in the way the picture was taken which blew rade away though she will never, under any circumstances, would admit it.

And within Rade's perspective, it was almost sensual with how the delicate neck of Fannie was exposed just like that. He was, per usual tradition, gorgeous and as equally oblivious of the things around him which only added more on his so-called charn. Not even caring about the fact that he was being photograph.

There this sense of remoteness that Fannie exudes. It could make one feel that Fannie came from a fantasy book, an old prince from a fairy tale, waiting for something— what he was waiting for was unknown. That kind of remoteness on a person, it makes one be more drawn towards him.

Does he even know what was a photograph was? Rade asked to herself but banished the thought on her mind.

She shook her head, and not on her intention for it to be physical, only just mentally, Megumi saw her and looked at where she was looking at. The lady pouted slightly while looking at Fannie poster version then she turned to Rade.

"You don't like it?" she asked while waiting for her response, her peach blossom eyes were kind and excited though a little afraid of the criticism.

Rade shook her head.

"Won't that be too..." Rade paused and looked at Megumi, not knowing how to continue. It felt odd— nay, weird, to think of the Shadow Fantasm on such a way which completely threw her off her horse. "A little sensual, I guess?"

Megumi was taken aback and looked at poster again, thinking wherever was the sensual spot but seeing none with her eyes. She made sure that Fannie wasn't violated and covered him up really good before taking pictures of him, she reasoned with herself.

And it wasn't like Fannie was a human being at all— he only looked like a human person.

"Where?" Megumi wondered and asked Rade who was still looking at the humanoid demon. "Is it really?"

"At the neck," Rade answered truthfully, her eyes were still very critical about it.

"Eh?" Megumi tilted her head a little, trying to see it on Rade's perspective. "I rather thought it's quite nice. Should I remove it then?"

Rade shook her head and bowed slightly. "I have been too harsh on my criticism, please forgive me."

Megumi chuckled and also shook her head out of amusement of Rade. "It's fine. There's not really criticism on what you said. I think Fannie is covered well though, or maybe is it the lighting?"

"That aside, I think it would attract many customers though so I do think it's fine," Rade swerved the conversation smoothly, not interested at the poster any longer. Rade even told Megumi in an even tone, "Shall we go inside, Miss Megumi?" she offered and motioned for them to go.

Inside of the café shop, Rade and Megumi found both Lyu and Fannie. Lyu was dusting the booksheleves while Fannie was on his usual spot, with tea by his side and numerous of books that doesn't seem to get any less even how much he reads.

"Rade! Good afternoon!" Lyu greeted Rade brightly and smiled until his peach blossom eyes, so similar to his sister, were only two narrowed slits— as though they were also smiling.

Rade walked over to him and got the duster on his hands as she looked up to him, watching him watching her. His wavy hair has grown so long and it curled at the back of his neck and his cheeks, Rade thought suddenly, and he also grew in height. When Rade first arrived in this city, there was a noticeable difference in height between the two of them but now they were almost the same height though she was till taller by at least a few centimeters than him.

"Good afternoon too," Rade greeted back wih a slight smile but she could feel the extra pair of eyes at the back of her head, looking at her piercingly. She clenched her jaw and narrowed her eyes though her whole attention was still on Lyu, it was only because of her keen sense that Rade was able to feel another pair of eyes looking at her. "Your hair has gone long," she remarked and reached out to touch the curling tips of his hair. Lyu subconsciously leaned towards Rade, letting her touch his hair in an affectionate manner

"Doesn't suit me?" Lyu asked, his lips pouting slightly while his eyes were blinking at Rade— willing her to say what he wanted her to say about him.

"No, it suits you just right but the school would have to tell you to cut it either way," she reasoned with him. "Or you can get away with it."

"How touching, you sweet birds," Fannie mockingly said behind them both, he was suddenly standing just behind them. His red eyes were boring into their cores, trying to intimidate Rade (who does really care and would have no problem smacking Fannie across the room) and Lyu (who was too innocent to even notice the menace within his gaze). "Now get out, you two," he scolded at them, his eyes were sharp and keen with their every movements. "You're in my way."

"Oh sorry, Fannie!" Lyu apologized right away and dragged Rade out of the crook he was originally dusting, touching her on her elbow. "He's always cranky," he then whispered to Rade which made her smile a little.

"I heard that!" Fannie shouted behind them, the menace on his tone was even more pronounced this time, while rummaging through the bookshelf where the book he was finding was probably located at.

Lyu only chuckled and left him then. Expecting Rade would follow him, he didn't bother on looking back. Rade looked back at Fannie. At the Shadow Fantasm. This was the one who killed Laurinette and CarysiabHaeven, her brother and sister, her friends, and many others too. If she kill him right now, she would truly avenge every victim of this monster.

Before she could do anything though, not even drawing another breath, Fannie was already talking to her with a cold voice that makes one's hairs on one's arms stand up from fright.

"I know what you are thinking," Fannie said casually but with also a good dosage of authority. "Thinking about killing me? Then forget about living in the hunters' society. No one would want you if you kill me right now. Or wait, maybe they would want you but only because they want a bounty hunter. Even if you kill me, the Aldeia clan would make sure that you feel my presence. You would never get away from the guilt of killing the Shadow Fantasm, if you're lucky your sweetheart Lyu would not even be drawn towards the problem you would like to brew. So dare do it, Elora."

"Then why are you here, Shadow Fantasm?" Rade asked quietly and frankly, the Aíma was boiling on her skin— singing to be called forth.

"Because I'm weak as of now," Fannie answered truthfully which quite surprised Rade. She wasn't expecting to be faced with such truth. "Don't even think about this weakness is because of you. That immortal is more than he seems to be, I doubt if he even knows. So beware of him."

Rade snapped out of the daze that she was out under and just shook her head at Fannie then just walked away from him. She sighed and tried to dispel the foreboding feeling on her gut.

"Do you like him?" Fannie asked her before she was out of his earshot.

The question made Rade stop from walking but she didn't turn around, only listening to what the Fantasm has to say but what she was expecting did not come so Rade grew impatient.

"So what?" Rade asked back to the man.

"You two can never be," Fannie said nonchalantly as if he wasn't crushing Rade and her hopes, "just look at the mess that is Kalleid Hiro's parents, not even including the real one."

Rade knotted her forehead. Even if she answered vaguely, it doesn't mean that it was actually true. Still, Rade wanted to know what Fannie, or the Shadow Fantasm, would say to her if she gave the indication of an implication. Sometimes, Rade felt as if she was separating the Shadow Fantasm and Fannie because they have different forms when, in reality, they were just one whole entity and even with different forms, the Shadow Fantasm would be as equally ruthless as when he was in his demonic form.

It doesn't seem fair for Rade.

Just because someone was beautiful, it doesn't mean they are so in the outside and that was the line she goes by in living in this cruel world. If some thing appeared immaculate, doesn't mean the same thing could be applied to its insides. As they say, if the apple is red in the outside, it doesn't mean it is also red in the inside.

And Fannie was making her extremely confused with all of those.

So this is what pretty privilege was, Rade thought darkly.

The afternoon proceeded accordingly. Like what Megumi predicted, the shop was full yet again with teenage girls waiting to have even just a small glimpse to the princely or godly face of Fannie. Ai would look giddily at the cutomers, content that there was enough to keep all of them pretty occupied.

At some unfortunate time, Rade saw someone making a sneak attack on Lyu, asking for his number. The boy was bashful about it and he looked down, not knowing what to say to the one asking for his number. Rade only looked, an unsettling feeling dropping on her chest, while Megumi came to her younger brother's rescue. She led the ladies away from her brother and patted their backs, making them look at the dazzling and gorgeous Fannie.

"Fannie seems to be getting a lot of attention," Lyu said beside Rade. "It's kind of funny. I mean I know that he's the Shadow Fantasm so it's natural that Fannie would draw people to him since he has that natural charm."

Rade nodded.

"Are you not angry at him?" Lyu asked out of nowhere.

"I suppose I am," Rade said, "but somehow, I couldn't bring out the Aíma within me to bring its blade on his neck. I just want to be..."

"Free?" Lyu suggested and Rade only smiled at him. "It's easy to say that they'll kill the person that ruin their lives but that won't change anything, just another blood on your hands, right?" Lyu nudged his elbow on Rade's side.

The day finished with Megumi forcing some of the lingering customers around the shop. It was quite the scenario for Rade which almost has her bursting out of laughter in front of the customers being dragged out.

"Rade, would you mind being a dear and restock that section?" Megumi told Rade as they were cleaning up the Attic.

"Shall I get the books out back?" Rade asked and Megumi nodded as a response. "Okay then."

After restocking the shelf, there was a thought that appeared on Rade's mind that bothered her. Seeing Megumi was only just stacking some books by the corner, she came up to her.

"Yes, Rade?" Megumi asked without turning.

"I have a question, Miss Megum," Rade said, pursing her lips.

"Ask away, my dear," Megumi said, finally turning to her with a flourish of a smile. "What is your question?"

"I'm wondering about one thing, Miss," Rade said. "There aren't many hunters who are appraising the cores hunters get during their hunts, are there? I suppose I noticed that I have not seen any hunter around the area, looking for a demon appraiser's opinion on the core they have collected. "

The ease of the atmosphere that the coffee Lyu was brewing suddenly faded that even the aromatic scent of the coffee seemed to have gone bitter. Megumi didn't answer Rade immediately, in fact, she took a long pause before answering. When Rade looked at Lyu for any response, she found her friend evading his gaze quite pointedly.

It was odd that she has been working for them for two days now but there was not even just a single hunter who would let the siblings appraise the demon cores that most hunters make their living of.

Megumi and Lyu were both half demon immortals but with Megumi's powerful abilities as an immortal, they were able to get a normal life like how ordinary human beings do. And with that, they also have an appraisal shop that look at the value of the demon cores that most hunters would hunt demons for. It was under the influence of the Aldeia clan that they were able to get their shop established while also not being hunted as they were demons themselves.

The hunters' population around this area wasn't as big as the mortals' population but it was undoubtedly one of the biggest population gathered in one area that was within the hunters' society. That was the reason why the Aldeia clan was so influential because they were governing and protecting a huge population of hunters. The Aldeia clan took most of the rogue hunters around and gave them coordinated jobs that were better for the rotational schedule of hunting and patrolling of the area. Some demons weren't as vicious as the others unlike what some hunters were thinking, soaking up the negative traits of the space around them, thus, they don't need to be extinguished but were actually good on seeping up negative energy of the mortals. There were also hunters like Nina and Rade who were rogue but were both in contact with the HODE and the Aldeia clan.

All in all, the region that the Aldeia clan was supervising have amassed quite a lot of hunters so it was peculiar that Rade hasn't even seen a shadow nor a hide of a hunter, waiting for the demon cores they collected to be appraised.

"What ever they might say to you," Fannie said, gliding on the floor with bare feet that made Megumi groan. "Will be lies. Often times, mortals like you—" Rade didn't protested on this one, she was, after all and just like what Fannie said, a mortal young girl "—have different sense than us, demons. Bathing on the emotions of humans made us stronger, just ask my little brother Lyu how he ate off you and why you felt light and happy all the time."

Unconsciously, Rade's eyes glided over to where Lyu was but, unsurprisingly, he wasn't there any longer.

"And what did you mean when you said that what ever they would say will only be lies?" Rade asked curiously.

"That there is something coming, Elora Isolde Aldam," Fannie said, his glowing red eyes were quite frighteningly beautiful that Rade has to look away and when she did, it was actually hurtful and painful for her. "I guess you will know soon, but let the time tells you."

Megumi pursed her lips. There was a visible concern on her dazzling peach blossom eyes that also worried Rade. Although she often see the older lady to be worrying and fussing over something, it wasn't often that she looked this serious. That expression of hers made Rade felt the gravity of their situation.

At the end, she didn't get anything to them.

Megumi only smiled, gave Rade her salary for the day then sent her home with the blue wisps of guiding light. It wasn't that dark yet and the night wasn't too deep, just shallow enough to see people still walking the streets.

Rade thought again and she knew she heard two words uttered by Miss Megumi that quite possibly made Ai recoiled from fright.

"The Deep Manifestation Dimension is about to unleash the Spatial Void."