The night was as dark as ink, staining the slums on the edge of the city into varying shades of gray and black.
Deep within a particularly secluded dead-end alley, several slender figures were gathered together.
They were young girls, and by the faint light from the distance, one could see their delicate features. However, chronic malnutrition had left their cheeks sunken and their complexions dull.
Their clothes were tattered, covered in layer upon layer of patches and permanent stains. Their bare arms and calves shivered in the night wind, evidence of their dire circumstances.
Standing across from them were two mysterious figures draped in large gray cloaks.
One of them, slightly taller, took a step forward and lifted her hood slightly. This revealed honey-colored hair that looked warm and lovely even in the dim light, and a pair of calm, steady emerald eyes.
Her name was Wendy. She was a child Allie had happened to pick up after receiving Greg's commission. She possessed excellent eloquence and impressive organizational skills.
Without her, Allie would probably still be agonizing over what to name the religious order.
Wendy was now the nominal third-in-command of the Dark Night Order, the Dark Crow who spread the gospel.
"Peace be upon the night, lost sisters."
Wendy's voice was not loud, yet it cut through the inherent noise and unease of the slum night.
"The Dark Night Shelter opens its doors to all souls who feel cold under the light, restricted by order, and powerless before fate."
"The Goddess of Night presides over secrets, slumber, and change. She listens to prayers in the silence, gives direction to the lost, and grants inner fortitude to the weak. Joining the Dark Night Order does not require you to renounce anything; it is simply to find a harbor for your souls where you can take shelter from the storm and gather strength."
"Here, no one is born burdened by original sin, and bloodline does not determine status. There is only faith in the night and the warmth of sisters supporting one another."
Her words were sincere. The vision she painted was undoubtedly attractive to these girls struggling on the edge of survival with no future in sight.
However, the girls looked at each other, their faces a mix of longing and fear. Finally, a freckled girl rubbed her cold fingers together and spoke up timidly.
"Th-thank you for your kindness, Miss. But... we... we've belonged to the Gray Rat Gang since the day we were born in these alleys. The gang's rules... we're Gray Rats in life, and even in death... we have to work for the gang. If we join another... order in secret and Boss Scarface finds out... he'll... he'll beat us to death, and our families will suffer too..."
The other girls nodded one after another, their eyes filled with terror of that small local gang known as the Gray Rat Gang.
It was merely a small group that controlled a few slum alleys, barely scraping by on protection fees and petty theft. Their leader, Scarface, was nothing more than a violent thug whose level was likely not even LV15.
Yet, for these powerless slum girls, the Gray Rat Gang was a lingering shadow over their heads—the power that held their lives in its hands.
Wendy listened quietly, a flash of understanding crossing her emerald eyes, quickly replaced by a deeper resolve.
She nodded gently, her tone remaining steady.
"I see. You are afraid of the Gray Rat Gang's retaliation and the punishment Boss Scarface might inflict, so you dare not accept the guidance of the night?"
The girls nodded vigorously, their eyes full of helplessness and resignation.
"If that is the only reason..."
A reassuring certainty entered Wendy's voice. She turned slightly, casting her gaze toward the other cloaked figure who had been standing silently in the shadows behind her.
"Then, sisters, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. For our Dark Night Order's Vice Bishop is a powerhouse who has stepped into the Hero Realm."
"A mere Gray Rat Gang occupying a corner of the slums is no different from dust and rubble in the Vice Bishop's eyes. Should the Vice Bishop wish it, they can be dealt with at any time."
"Th-the Hero Realm?!"
The freckled girl cried out in shock. The other girls' eyes widened instantly, their faces filled with extreme shock and disbelief.
To them, a LV20 registered adventurer was already a grand figure to be looked up to.
But the LV60 Hero Realm?
That was a realm that only existed in the epic tales told by bards!
Such a person was actually the Vice Bishop of this mysterious order?
The massive impact left the girls' minds blank. They instinctively followed Wendy's gaze, looking toward the Vice Bishop who had been standing perfectly still.
Wendy also turned around, raising her voice respectfully toward the Vice Bishop.
"Isn't that right, Vice Bishop? With you here, these small obstacles are not worth worrying about."
The alley was silent.
Only the distant sound of barking dogs and the wind could be heard.
"..."
The Vice Bishop did not react. The figure under the cloak didn't even twitch, as if they were a silent statue.
"Um... Lady Allie?"
Wendy called out again, a hint of subtle urgency in her tone.
"..."
Still no response.
The atmosphere became somewhat awkward and strange.
The shock in the girls' eyes was gradually replaced by confusion as they stole glances at each other.
The corner of Wendy's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
She quickly adjusted her expression, turned back to the girls who were becoming anxious again, and adopted a solemn and mysterious look. She lowered her voice and said:
"It seems... the Vice Bishop is currently in deep meditation, piously receiving a divine oracle and guidance from the Goddess of Night. This is a sacred moment that must not be easily disturbed."
Her gaze swept over the girls, encouraging them.
"If you also close your eyes now, cast aside distracting thoughts, calm your minds, and listen carefully to the sound of the night wind, perhaps... you too will be fortunate enough to catch a whisper of the supreme divine will."
Hearing this, the girls were skeptical, but faced with the title of a Hero Realm expert and words like 'divine oracle,' they couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and curiosity.
They looked at each other and eventually closed their eyes as instructed, trying their best to look like they were listening intently, even though they could hear nothing special besides the usual slum noises.
Taking this opportunity, Wendy quickly moved, silently approaching the Vice Bishop who was 'receiving an oracle.'
She reached out and gently tugged the hem of the other's large cloak, her voice extremely low and filled with helpless urgency.
"Lady Allie, Lady Allie? Please wake up quickly, don't sleep..."
As she tugged, the large hood on the Vice Bishop's head slipped down slightly. A head of beautiful blonde hair, which flowed with a moonlight-like brilliance even in the dim environment, suddenly peeked out.
"Hmm...?"
A nasal sound heavy with sleepiness rang out.
Allie, the one addressed as the Vice Bishop, finally woke up slowly.
She lazily raised her hand, rubbed her eyes, and then stretched her body in a long yawn. The loose cloak vaguely outlined her graceful and powerful curves.
Only after doing all this did she seem to fully wake up. she tilted her head slightly to look at the helpless Wendy beside her, her eyes still clouded with a bit of misty moisture.
"Ah... it's Wendy. Is it... over already?"
Allie's voice carried the characteristic lethargy of someone who had just woken up. She sounded almost... airheaded, a complete departure from the tone she had used when speaking to Greg.
Wendy suppressed the urge to facepalm and quickly responded in a low voice.
"No, Lady Allie, it is not over yet."
"Not finished yet..."
Hearing this, the slight daze on Allie's face vanished instantly. Her beautiful eyebrows drooped, and her mouth pouted unconsciously, unabashedly showing expressions of "how troublesome" and "I want to go back to sleep."
She looked exactly like a child being dragged out of a warm bed by a parent to finish homework.
Wendy could only sigh silently in her heart, powerless to do anything about it.
Although Allie had previously been Greg's exclusive maid, she had a habit that should have been entirely unrelated to the profession of a maid: she went to bed early.
The formation of this habit was largely thanks to Greg Sass.
The old Greg Sass, though arrogant and foolish, never dared to order around a maid as powerful as Allie, let alone make her stay up late to serve him.
Her long-term, leisurely life as a maid had allowed Allie to successfully cultivate an extremely regular routine—she wanted to sleep shortly after dark, and she was the type who fell asleep in seconds.
This peculiar habit had quickly returned once she confirmed that Greg was still alive and well.
It wasn't that Wendy hadn't suggested changing the mission time for expanding the order to the daytime, but Allie had righteously rejected her, saying, "We are the Dark Night Order! What would it look like to operate in broad daylight? Do we have no self-awareness as a mysterious organization?"
Since you said we should operate at night, then work properly for me now, damn it!
Of course, Wendy could only think this to herself, as she had witnessed Allie's true strength.
"However, this is a truly great opportunity! If it goes well, we might be able to recruit a significant number of people at once. Plus, we can resolve the issue of our order lacking a stable base in the Royal Capital!"
Wendy shifted the topic, her voice taking on an enticing excitement.
"Oh?"
Allie's slumped shoulders straightened slightly, and a glint of interest lit up her lazy eyes. "Tell me more?"
Wendy immediately lowered her voice and laid out her plan quickly and clearly.
"These girls are afraid of the Gray Rat Gang, and the gang controls this area. If we directly move to wipe out the Gray Rat Gang in the name of the Dark Night Order, we won't just be liberating these girls and the rest of the slums from oppression—winning their gratitude and trust—we'll also naturally take over the gang's territory and base. It can serve as our order's first outpost in this city."
"This way, we can demonstrate our power and mercy while gaining a practical foundation. It's two birds with one stone. With your strength, Lady Allie, sweeping away the Gray Rat Gang is as easy as lifting a finger."
After listening, Allie blinked and looked Wendy up and down, praising her sincerely.
"You really do have a good head on your shoulders, Wendy. To think of such a perfect plan..."
She paused, as if remembering something, and muttered quietly.
"I really don't get it. How could someone as smart and capable as you fail to survive in your own family? It's not like you're some idiot who acts a fool all day and finally gets kicked out of the house..."
It was obvious who she meant by 'idiot.'
The smile on Wendy's face faded slightly. She shook her head, a flash of complex emotion crossing the depths of her emerald eyes, but her tone remained calm.
"Everyone has their own reasons, Lady Allie. Let the past be the past."
Allie didn't pry further.
She reached inside her large cloak and drew a longsword with a dull silver scabbard.
"Fine then, let's do as you say. Get it over with quickly so I can go back to sleep."
As she spoke, Allie gripped her sword and prepared to walk out of the alley.
Wendy quickly stopped her and turned to clap her hands for the girls who were still squeezing their eyes shut, trying to hear an oracle.
"Alright, sisters, you may open your eyes."
The girls opened their eyes as told, their faces still carrying a bit of confusion.
Wendy smiled and announced in a solemn, convincing voice:
"Through the divine oracle, the Goddess of Night has learned of your plight and prayers. Our merciful Vice Bishop has decided to immediately practice our order's tenets and uphold justice for the oppressed."
"She will personally go and deal with the Gray Rat Gang that occupies this place and acts so tyrannically. This will prove that the protection of the night is no empty word, and the Goddess's mercy shall shine upon every forgotten corner."
The girls were shocked once again, followed by an explosion of excited and grateful whispers.
The way they looked at Allie was filled with unprecedented awe and hope. They clasped their hands together, mimicking Wendy's earlier gesture, and bowed clumsily but piously toward Allie, whispering praises for the Goddess of Night and the Vice Bishop's benevolence.
Allie didn't have any particular reaction to this. She didn't seem to see herself as some Vice Bishop, but rather as a maid about to finish a job.
Carrying her sword, she walked toward the alley entrance with a lazy stride. Her expression was as relaxed as if she were going to the market for a midnight snack rather than soloing the headquarters of a local gang.
To her, this really wasn't a troublesome matter.
Looking back, when Greg had been humiliated by the broken engagement, she had laughed at her young master without hesitation. But then she had turned around and fought her way into the Royal Capital alone with her sword, causing quite a stir, and eventually escaped from the combined pursuit of over a dozen Knight Captains.
Compared to that, cleaning out a small slum gang was practically like a post-meal stroll.
However, just as she reached the alley entrance and was about to step into the slightly brighter main street outside, a figure happened to turn the corner from another direction, almost running right into her.
Both of them stopped in their tracks.
It was a girl.
She looked to be about seventeen or eighteen, wearing a simple yet well-tailored black dress that reached her knees and fluttered slightly in the night wind.
She had waist-length black hair as smooth as the night sky. Her skin was a pale white that suggested she hadn't seen the sun in a long time, and her features were as exquisite as finely carved obsidian art.
What stood out most were her eyes—an extremely rare deep purple that was almost pure black, shimmering with a mysterious and profound luster in the dim light.
She didn't deliberately strike any seductive pose; she simply stood there, naturally surrounded by a unique charm—a mix of mystery, lethargy, and a faint, subtle aura of danger, like a strange flower blooming quietly in the dark night.
Rate on N.U.
