Over the course of time, Mamoru’s main duties were the same as they usually were: keep the Chateau clean and command the skeleton butlers. She has also been loaning them out as basic labor to any of the other chapter lords or characters who she would trust with them. Their undead nature makes them perfect little cogs in the grand machine that keeps the Chateau growing. Meanwhile Mamoru has also been receiving information from her clones, however during those interactions Mamoru felt slight hints of guilt.

She never truly told Rodias that she had done this. She had, of her own accord, sent these clones out and would even go out of her way to obscure their existence or purpose. She didn’t even tell Ashara, feeling as though such things were on a need-to-know basis, and no one needed to know. Or did they? In the end Mamoru did tell Rodias honestly that she had sent a clone out to the town of Gronbell, and would remain on indefinite investigation until otherwise notified. What Mamoru failed to mention to Rodias was the other clones scattered around the world also undergoing their own adventures and investigations, but she at least implied to Rodias that she has a clone out there, and is capable of sending more. That was enough to ease Mamoru’s woes.

More time would pass before eventually Mamoru was called upon by Rodias. He was holding a meeting with other powerful chateau members, so Mamoru ceased her current task to go tend to him. There he announced his intentions to take over the leadership of a local lord via proxy. An excellent idea: this effectively grants Chateau total control while the native populace are none the wiser. Very important since they’re still gauging the strength of this world. Additionally Rodias even carved cute miniatures of everyone! Mamoru made a mental note to see if she can take one with her after this meeting.

Rodias would than explain Mamoru’s purpose: she was to infiltrate the manor as a mere maid and perform some basic espionage. She smiled with glee and accepted this task: she loved doing skullduggery! Not to mention thanks to her information network, Mamoru knew how to create a false identity using various far away villages so she can assuredly come across as a native and not an outsider. She knew a village of draconoids, a bit of their customs, and how someone such as her could come into the service of such a lord in these distant lands, thanks to one of her clones who have integrated into the community.

“I will not fail you, my lord. And I will make sure Bone Daddy returns to the Chateau on standby, ready for whatever task you’ll have him do.”

[hr]

Meanwhile this past week Butterfly has been making a bit of a urban legend of himself. While still hidden behind his illusions, he has been protecting and researching the ritual site. He concludes that the location is a very weak summoning circle, possible to summon perhaps a level 10 minor demon with sufficient offerings. Whoever doing the sacrifices however lacked anything of value: the bones and remains were of fairly weak people. Hundreds more would need to be sacrificed to get anyone’s attention, and thousands more to seal the deal. Butterfly could construct a level 15 Sword Wraith Warrior using just the parts here, and in fact did, just to spite the fools who decided to try this bizarre ritual instead of using necromancy like any sensible mage.

That being said Butterfly’s post had been quite peaceful. Occasionally human hunters would come close to the ritual site, but Butterfly and his sentry never needed to appear thanks to the bunnies. Bone Daddy had been raising some local rabbits in captivity, making them fat and plump until they grew into adults and had children, and then he’s peacefully kill them with his magic and raise them as undead. Since they were freshly killed rigor mortis hasn’t set in, so whenever wanderers came too close Butterfly simply distracted them with a fat and juicy hare. Then send said wanderers on a bit of a chase to snatch up the tender morsel once they’re far away enough from the ritual site. This has created a bit of a rumor that it’s a good time to hunt rabbits now when you hear the song grass, the stuff that grows near the ritual site.

All things will come to an end however as Butterfly received a command to return to the Chateau. He ordered the Sword Wraith Commander to stay and protect as Butterfly returned to the Chateau. He also brought the rabbits along and intends to gift them to the others in the event they want a fat rabbit as a pet or meal. He let some of the younger rabbits go free in the forest and only took the ones ready for slaughter.

Butterfly stood alongside his fellow skeletal brothers outside of Rodias Throne room. They were gossiping about the recent happenings in their native Bone Chatter, a very subtle language known only to skeletons. Though technically their superior and even their creator, Butterfly spoke casually to his fellow skeletons as he himself is simply an underling to Mamoru, and they are all subservient to the Sable Lords, so the formality of hierarchy need only apply to the chapter lords and the creator himself.

They spoke of many things they’ve heard and notice, mostly about the potential drama between the chapter lords. Many have noticed that they have not been sent to the sixth chapter at all, wondering if perhaps Mamoru has issues with Chunnitrix, or possibly if Chunnitrixx will not allow outsiders in her domain. They’ve also overheard Kath being furious about something shortly after her mission, with the common rumor being that Lady Ashara might’ve done something untoward Kath during the quest, as she was the only one present during that mission. The skeletons silently gossiped among themselves to trade secrets and here-say, standing perfectly still and quiet while carrying an assortment of drinks, platters, and snoozing fat rabbits.