The sun was beginning to set over the Capital of Frosthold.

The streets were still crowded with merchants, carriages, and nobles walking back and forth, though the icy air made it clear that night would soon arrive.

Nox walked with his hands tucked into the pockets of his coat, accompanied by Misty and Catherine.

The cat girl carried a small empty cloth bag with both hands, the one they had brought to carry the disguises Ellen had prepared.

As they walked through the streets, Catherine kept her gaze lowered.

"There’s something I still haven’t told you..."

Misty turned her head.

"About the guys who attacked us?"

Catherine nodded slowly.

"They weren’t ordinary thieves."

Nox glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

"I figured as much."

"People in the slums know them as a mafia. They don’t have an official name... everyone just knows who they are."

The cat girl took a deep breath.

"The rumor is that they receive power from one of the corrupt Inquisitors who controls the entire district where I used to live."

Misty frowned.

"A Church Hero working with the mafia?"

Catherine lowered her ears even further.

"We worked for them."

Silence lingered for a few seconds before Nox spoke.

"What kind of work?"

"We robbed small businesses."

The demon remained completely expressionless.

"Then the same mafia members would show up offering protection."

Misty’s eyes widened slightly.

"They were staging the robberies themselves?"

"Yes."

Catherine nodded.

"The merchants paid them, believing the attacks would stop afterward. And they did... because the robberies had been staged from the very beginning."

Nox let out a quiet chuckle.

"I’m not surprised."

Both girls looked at him.

"When someone has absolute power, businesses like that always appear."

The same thing had happened in Nox’s old world.

No matter how much the world changed...

People were still people.

Misty sighed.

"What surprised me was how strong those men were. I thought they’d just be common criminals, but they were actually able to fight me."

Nox nodded slowly.

"Don’t worry."

"I already have a plan for dealing with the foot soldiers of someone like that."

Misty smiled.

After a few more minutes, Catherine spoke again.

"I wanted to bring them the money."

"The money you took from the safe?"

"Yes."

"I still owed them the reward from our last job. But we never got to finish it... because they’d captured Félix."

Misty placed a hand on her shoulder.

"See? I told Nox you had your reasons."

Nox fixed his gaze on Catherine.

The cat girl immediately felt a chill run down her spine.

The demon’s expression remained completely cold.

"Listen carefully."

Catherine swallowed.

"You work with us now."

She nodded.

"As long as you never betray us again... everything will be fine."

He paused briefly.

"But don’t forget one thing."

His crimson eyes seemed to grow even more intense.

"I’m a demon."

"Remember that."

Catherine felt the weight of his presence wash over her entire body.

"Y-Yes... it won’t happen again."

Misty had to cover her mouth to stop herself from laughing.

She knew Nox well.

’He’s completely making this up... but he’s actually pulling it off.’

◇◆◇

A little while later, they arrived in front of Ellen’s shop.

A thick cloud of smoke was still drifting out from inside.

Misty opened the door.

A little bell chimed overhead.

"Welcome."

Ellen’s voice came from the back of the workshop.

The seamstress calmly puffed on her pipe while stitching the final details onto a dress.

"I was expecting you."

"My masterpieces are ready."

Nox smiled.

"Thank you very much, ma’—"

Before he could finish the word, Ellen slowly looked up.

Her eyes looked capable of killing someone.

"...miss."

The seamstress’s expression changed instantly.

"Much better."

Then she burst into laughter.

"I see you’re learning quickly."

Misty started laughing.

"For a second, I thought she was going to throw her pipe at you."

"So did I."

Nox admitted.

Ellen set her pipe down on a nearby table.

"Come."

She led them to a large clothing rack covered by a white sheet.

With a theatrical flourish, she pulled it away.

Several dresses, suits, and cloaks made from elegant dark fabrics appeared before them.

Even the stitching shimmered faintly.

Misty’s jaw dropped.

"No way..."

"They’re beautiful."

Catherine was equally stunned.

"You made all of this today?"

"That’s the difference between an amateur..."

"...and an artist."

Ellen replied proudly.

Then she picked up a wooden box.

"But this..."

"...is my finest work."

She slowly opened the lid.

Inside rested several masks.

Each one had a completely unique design.

Nox’s mask was black with silver details resembling twisted tree branches.

Misty’s was white with golden feather-like patterns.

Tessa’s combined dark crimson with black lines resembling flames.

Audrey’s was entirely black, accented by subtle violet details around the eyes.

And Catherine’s resembled the elegant face of a cat.

The three of them stared in amazement.

Catherine smiled from ear to ear.

"You made the masks today too?"

"Of course."

"I’ve always wanted to make masks for a grand masquerade."

"I just never had the chance."

She gazed at them for a few moments.

"Honestly..."

"I’d love to attend."

She sighed.

"But I still have far too much work waiting for me."

Nox inclined his head slightly.

"We truly appreciate everything you’ve done for us, Miss Ellen."

"You saved us."

Misty also gave a small bow.

"Thank you so much."

Catherine smiled.

"As always, you did an amazing job."

The seamstress waved them off.

"Alright, alright."

"Now get out of here before I get sentimental."

The three of them laughed.

"See you soon."

◇◆◇

On the way back, Misty couldn’t contain her curiosity.

She cracked open one corner of the bag.

"I’m just going to take a tiny peek."

Catherine immediately turned her head.

"No!"

"What?"

"It’s dangerous."

The cat girl discreetly gestured around them.

They had once again entered one of the poorer districts.

Several beggars were watching the bag far too closely.

"If they see clothes like these..."

"...they’ll try to steal them."

Misty quickly closed the bag again.

"Alright, alright."

"You don’t have to scold me."

As they continued walking, Nox suddenly felt a faint tingling at the back of his neck.

His chest tightened.

His breathing shifted ever so slightly.

’So this is Danger Sense.’

Without even thinking, he raised his hand.

Tap!

A stone landed neatly between his fingers.

It had been headed straight for the spot where Misty’s head had been only a second earlier.

The dancer hadn’t even had time to react.

Nox slowly turned his head.

A few yards away, three beggars stood frozen in place.

One of them still had his arm extended after throwing the rock.

Nox stared at them.

He didn’t say a single word.

His gaze alone was enough.

All three of them felt a chill run down their spines.

One took a step backward.

Then another.

Finally, all three hurried away without taking their eyes off the demon.

Misty burst into laughter.

"The look on their faces!"

Then she looked at the stone Nox was still holding.

"Thanks."

"You saved me from a nasty bump."

Nox dropped the stone onto the ground.

"That’s what teamwork is for."

Catherine looked at Nox.

Then at Misty.

And smiled.

As the sun finally disappeared behind Frosthold’s towering buildings, the three of them continued toward the Pyrell Household, carrying the dresses and masks that.