112 Return
The day finally came it was Sunday, and the FPS tournament was going to begin a few hours from now. Alex as per his usual routine was about to head out early to do some recon before the tournament starts. When he left his room, Lilitth had also left her room at almost the exact same time.

The little girl woke up a bit earlier than Alex. When she heard the sound of her onii-sama opening the door of his room, she went out as well.

"Good morning onii-sama." Lilitth happily greeted Alex.

"Good morning." Alex greeted her as well and afterwards was about ready to leave.

"Onii-sama, where are you going? Can I come with you?" Lilitth suddenly asked when she saw her onii-sama seem to be in a hurry.

"No, not today Lilitth. Also I heard dad and you are going to do something together for today." When Lilitth heard what Alex said, she finally remembered what her tou-chan told her last night. She had forgotten that detail, and felt a bit embarrassed as she bowed her head in front of Alex.

"Oh that's right. I'm sorry for delaying you onii-sama." Once the two had cleared that up, Alex proceeded to head out of the mansion into the garage to get his motorcycle. When he got out the front door of the mansion, Alex saw a person who wasn't suppose to be there.

She was a beautiful girl who had long black hair tied into two messy pigtails. This girl was none other than Rachel Regius. Alex spotted her in the distance hesitating to ring the door bell. When he saw Rachel, Alex felt a bunch of mixed emotions, but the most prevalent feeling he had at the moment was panic. Alex didn't like the feeling of being unprepared, so this made him a tad irritable.

Alex spoke at the ear piece he was wearing. "Surveillance team, why didn't you warn me she was here?!" Though Alex still had a stoic look, and still sounded indifferent, there was a minor change in the pitch of his tone, it was just a tiny bit, but the maid in charge of communications noticed it.

"It was to surprise you young master. It would seem that lady Rachel came here with that intent, so as to not look suspicious we didn't inform you. Good luck young master." The maid who was talking to Alex, was trying to stop herself from giggling, so before she accidentally giggled she ended the call immediately after responding to Alex's question.

Alex couldn't believe what he had heard. Even though the maids were employed by his dad, Alex was still technically also someone in charge. The maids were also former soldiers and mercs, so that means they had a better understanding about the meaning of ranks.

'How could they do this to a superior officer?!' This was the sole thought screaming in Alex's mind at the moment. While he was thinking about what to do next, Alex saw Rachel still in front of the button of the door bell hesitating.

Her finger would almost press the button, but then she would stop. Afterwards she would start to walk around in a circle, then she would stop head back to stand in front of the button of the door bell, try to press it then once again stop. She would then repeat the process all over again.

Watching her do this made Alex feel quite amused. After awhile Alex decided to greet her, since watching her do this made it feel like he was bullying her.

....

"How long are you going to hesitate?" Hearing a voice out of nowhere, Rachel panicked and took a defensive stance. The gate of the mansion opened, and the person who appeared before her, was the person she kept on thinking about, while on that training trip with her family.

Black hair, sharp black eyes that seem to pierce ones soul. An ever stoic expression, and that calm indifferent voice, this guy was none other than Alexander Samarita. Rachel who saw Alex just stared dumbly at him while still maintaining her defensive position.

After a few seconds of awkward silence Rachel spoke in a stutter. "H-h-h-h-ooo-w how long have you've been there!?"

"If you're talking about how long I've been watching you, the answer would be around ten minutes ago. I can actually see you while outside the front door." Alex pointed at the front door of the mansion.

When Rachel heard Alex's answer her face started to turn red. Without warning she attacked Alex out of embarrassment. This was a reflexive reaction she had acquired during the trip with her family. This was caused by her deadbeat father always doing embarrassing things. So for the time being every time Rachel's embarrassment reaches a certain point she attacks.

Seeing Rachel's movements surprised Alex. He evaded the incoming attacks easily but the improvement she had after a few days was incredible

'As expected of Instructor Dan... Or is this because Rachel is talented?'

At some point, Rachel wasn't attacking Alex because of embarrassment anymore, she was now attacking Alex to show him how much she improved. So when Rachel saw her attacks weren't working, she decided to use her trump card. Rachel suddenly sped up, which as she predicted caught even Alex surprised. Ever since awhile ago Rachel used a speed that was only slightly faster than what she had shown Alex before, but now she was using a speed that was greatly different.

This was her one and only chance, Rachel did an attack with as much speed as she can muster. To her at this moment, it doesn't matter if the attack wasn't strong, it doesn't matter if it does no damage. All Rachel wanted to do was reach Alex and be able to hit him. This was so that she can convey to him that she was catching up, and she too could walk side by side with him.

It was to show that lonely boy that he wasn't alone anymore. Yet as per usual Alex went beyond what was expected of him. He caught Rachel's fist and pinned her down. This was out of reflex since Alex had somehow determined that attack of Rachel's was actually dangerous.

Rachel was surprised that was a move that caught even her father off guard. Yet it didn't work on Alex, and now she was pinned down. Alex immediately let her go, and apologized.

"I'm sorry it was a reflex, you're attack was about to hit so I unconsciously moved to stop it." Hearing Alex's explanation made Rachel smile.

So that means somehow she was getting closer to that lonely boy's back. "It's alright I was the first to strike anyway."

Rachel was satisfied with this, if it was before she would try to change Alex to her liking. But that was wrong, she liked Alex just the way he is. She was the one who had to change to match up to Alex not the other way around. Some girls like to be pampered and treated like a princess, but not Rachel Regius, not anymore.

After not meeting for a long time some girls would want to hug the other person that they like, but this exchange of blows and casual banter was something only she and this idiot could share. It was their special bond their little joke.

Thinking about that, made Rachel smile at Alex. The ever stoic boy who saw Rachel smile at him, felt like saying something. This feeling of her being with him, felt so natural to him now. It might have been just a few weeks since they met one another but aside from his dad, and sister Rachel was the only other person he had opened up like this.

"Welcome back Rachel." Rachel was surprised at what Alex had said. Yet even though she was surprised, she still happily replied at the foolish boy who was still showing that ever stoic face of his.

"I'm back Alex."


113 The meeting

After the reunion between the two, Rachel started to talk to Alex about her supposed family trip. Alex had no time to spare to listen to Rachel, but he also couldn't deny Rachel, since that might make her feel uncomfortable which goes against the mission's priorities.

"Rachel I need to head to the venue of the FPS tournament. Since you're here why don't come with me?" Alex gave the suggestion of going to the FPS tournament's venue. When Rachel heard Alex's suggestion she looked at the time. They still had around three hours before the tournament starts.

"Isn't it too early to go there? We still have a lot of time, so why are you in a hurry?" Obviously Alex couldn't tell Rachel he was going to do some recon before the tournament... Wait is it really not okay to tell Rachel? At this point Rachel might already be accustomed to Alex's peculiarities, so it might actually be okay just to tell her the truth.

Yet as Alex looked at the impatient Rachel, he felt that it might not end well if he told her the truth. It might actually end with her hating him, thus making this mission a failure. So Alex needed to think fast and tell her something real quick.

"I haven't been to that area yet so I wanted to get there early to look at the place." This was the only thing Alex could think of saying to her, that doesn't sound suspicious.

When Rachel heard what Alex said, she immediately found it suspicious.

'This guy always seems unusually prepared, so it doesn't make sense that he hasn't been to that area before this. Based on his personality he would've already looked around the whole city, the very first day he got here. So then why does he need to get there so early?'

While Rachel was thinking of a reason, it finally hit her. The reason why Alex wanted to go so early and bring her along. It could only mean one thing, Alex wanted to go on a date!

"Then it's alright, let's head there early."

When Alex saw Rachel's blushing face he got confused. Why did he suddenly accept? Did what he tell her, actually work? Well there was no time to ponder, Alex needed to get to the area of the venue now.

"Okay then wait here, I'll bring out my bike." Rachel simply nodded at what Alex said. She then imagined herself riding at the back of Alex's bike leisurely strolling the venue.

'That guy might actually be pretty romantic if he wants to be.' While she was in the midst of her overactive imagination, Alex came back with his bike.

It was a huge customized motorcycle, when Rachel saw this she was stunned. She thought that Alex's bike was a bicycle, not this thing.

"Alex I thought you said you had a bike?"

"Yah, this is my bike, here catch." Alex threw a helmet at Rachel, who caught it.

"Wear that and let's go." Alex rode his bike and started the engine. Hearing the loud sound of the engine surprised Rachel. At first she hesitated to wear the helmet, but in the end she decided that this was nothing compared to the training trip she and her family had.

After wearing the helmet, she rode at the back of Alex's motorcycle, where she hugged him tightly from behind. Once Alex confirmed that Rachel was secured behind him, he without warning drove off.

This was the first time Rachel had rode a motorcycle, and it frightened her. This made her hugged Alex's back even more tightly, as she was suppressing herself from screaming.

...

Kim Suho and his group where in front of the venue of the tournament. It was thirty minutes before game time, and none of the Mercenary club members had shown up. This made the gaming club worry a bit. Since all their hopes rested in the hands of the Mercenary club, well to be more specific in the hands of Emily.

The Emily who was an urban legend, and who easily dominated them in a game a few days ago. After a few more minutes of waiting, the first to appear from the Mercenary club was Sayaka.

She greeted Kim Suho's group and looked around, and smiled. "WOW! I'm first? I'm actually first to arrive? I was faster than Mr. Perfect, and the two timing dense guy. This is really surprising... Wait a minute."

Sayaka then ran into a crowd of people, and got somebody who was hiding behind the statue of an old hero. This guy who was hiding was Kei a member of the Mercenary Club, and his been here a few minutes before Sayaka arrived. He couldn't find the right timing to greet Kim Suho's group seeing that his own clubmates weren't here yet.

"Why are you hiding there Kei? Come on, greet our friends from the gaming club." The gaming club was surprised at how sharp Sayaka's senses were, noticing the hidden Kei.

The next to appear was Mr. Perfect himself Niel, but the current Niel felt a little bit off. He still had that annoying smile, and that radiant aura of his, but there was something else, something more to him.

"Hi guys I'm sorry I just got here. I hope I haven't kept you waiting for long." The moment Niel said this, Oliver suddenly appeared. Upon seeing Oliver, Sayaka immediately pounced at him.

"OLY! How come you just came? Aren't you suppose to be our Club leader? Shouldn't you be the first to arrive?" Not minding Sayaka hugging him, Oliver bowed his head to the members of the gaming club.

"I'm sorry I was late, I had some things to attend to. By the way hasn't comrade Alex arrived yet?" Oliver looked around and didn't see Alex.

"Speak of the devil. There he is." Kim Suho pointed at the distance. When the mercenary club members looked at where Kim Suho was pointing at they were surprised. Cause not only Alex was there even Rachel was there as well.

"RACHEL!" Sayaka let go of Oliver's arm and charged at Rachel, who looked a bit tired.

"Saya, it's nice to see you're still energetic as usual." Rachel had an awkward smile on her face as she said this.

"Why do you look like that? Did this idiot do something to you?" Sayaka pointed at Alex.

Before Alex could respond someone spoke for him.

"Oh I can answer that question. The reason Rachel is like that, is because Alex over there made her go around the whole area without stopping for a break. Rachel's obviously tired and disappointed seeing as she thought there was something more, to them walking around." When everyone heard a mischievous tone of a girl speaking to them, they all looked at the direction where the voice came from.

There stood a cute girl with purplish blond hair, wearing a gothic lolita style dress, she looked a tad short for her age, as she smiled mischievously at Alex. This girl was Emily but to the shocked Alex this girl was the maid who liked playing video games.

114 Emily

Alex was still stunned as he looked at Emily. This was the maid from his house, the one who taught him and his sister how to play video games. So it turns out she was Emily the hacker all this time, Alex wanted to question her but before he could say anything he had received a message. He took out his phone and read the message which stated.

"Heya young master, I know you have a lot of questions. So I'll answer them later, for now you gotta chill. Also don't tell them I'm a maid working for you. Why, shouldn't you tell... Well, think about it yourself, the only thing I can say is telling them might result in a chaotic event 😁 Either way everything is fun for me 😋"

Alex looked at Emily and sighed. Ever since the beginning this maid seems to be playing with him, not only in game but in real life as well. This maid was like Sayaka, and what Sayaka was to Oliver and Kei, Emily was to Alex.

"Nice to finally meet you two in person. Alex and Rachel it's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Emily Hunt" Emily who was wearing a gothic lolita style dress did a curtsy. While doing all this alongside her cute features attracted a lot of attention from the surrounding people.

"Whoah look at that chick, is that cosplay?"

"I think so..."

"OH MY GOD! It's bloody princess Eva! Have I finally transmigated into the 2-D world!"

"Are they shooting a live action series of Bloody Princess? The other girls are cute as well!"

"Eva please say your catchphrase, and after please take a picture with me. Then after that please go on a date with me, then marry me, then start a family with me, then grow old together with me!"

The people started to swarm towards Emily. Turns out Emily was doing a cosplay of a very famous magical girl type anime character.

Emily who had a lot of people taking pictures of her didn't get angry, instead she did a weird pose ,and spoke in a different tone of voice.

"It's time for the eternal night. Bow down before me." Emily's whole persona seems to change as she looked down on the people surrounding her. Some of them actually knelt in front of Emily. Alex and the others looked at Emily dumbfounded at the whole situation.

"WHOAH! It's the real thing!"

"Who knew I would actually hear that line IRL! I can die now with no regrets!"

"EVA the angel of death and darkness has descended before us!"

"Quiet down you peons! Kneel before your queen." Emily pointed her index finger downwards, and the shouting people all knelt in front of her. It was an amazing spectacle.

"OUR QUEEN!"

There was only thirteen minutes left before the start of the tournament, so while Emily was having fun, Alex and everyone else held a group meeting.

"It seems like Emily is preoccupied at the moment. I apologize for this. Anyway let's go to the registration booth, so do we each need to register individually?" Oliver asked Kim Suho who responded with his usual irritated tone.

"No need I already registered the players. It's going to be Emily, Niel, Blair, Alex, and me. Also the actual game will start an hour from now, so Emily can have her fun for the moment."

"Actually who is Emily cosplaying as?" Sayaka finally asked the question most of them wanted to ask.

"That's the main character from the hit anime series Bloody Princess. She's Evangeline Cromwell, a.k.a Eva. Here I'll show you a pic." Shin showed everyone a picture of Eva. When the group saw the picture of Eva, they were amazed on how much Emily looked like the character.

"Wow, so not only is she a God level gamer, a great hacker, she's also A high level cosplayer. Emily is so awesome!" Sayaka happily, and excitedly spoke what she thought.

Kei on the other hand, once again confirmed that he was the only normal person in his club.

"Can someone tell me what cosplay is? Based solely on the word and the topic at hand I can only assume that it's suppose to be costume play or something similar." Alex asked confused at the whole conversation.

"You are right to assume that. Here let me explain, Cosplay is an act of dressing up to look like an anime, manga, video game character. The ones who do this are called cosplayers, which Emily is one of. Also Cosplay can be divided into two parts, basic cosplay and masquerade cosplay. Both types of cosplay involve trying to physically look like the character, including speaking like the character, memorizing quotes and so on. Masquerading, or "The Masquerade," usually refers to a cosplay competition where cosplayers demonstrate their skills in creating costumes, putting on skits, and in technical matters. Right now Emily is doing the basic cosplay." Shin suddenly bombarded Alex with information.

While the group were having this discussion, things were becoming even weirder on Emily's side. The people had form a line and were now asking for Emily's autograph.

"My lady will you grace this lowly one, with an autograph?"

"Heh, are you asking me for something? I don't feel like you're showing enough respect. Why should I reward a worthless peon like you?"

The man in front of Emily bowed down his head hitting the ground.

"Oh beautiful, wonderfully powerful Princess. The night is yours to command, please grant this lowly one an autograph." The man said the lines of what the servants under Eva usually say in the anime, when they were being the most respectful.

"Hmph, you have done well to show me such respect. Very well I shall grant you what you desire." Emily then signed the piece of paper the guy brought to her.

The next guy did the same, so did the next, and the next.

Emily was actually having fun doing this. While she was doing this she suddenly thought of something.

'Oh how about I show young master, and Lilitth-chan the world of anime. Once I get them hooked we could all cosplay together.'

Alex who was having a conversation with the gaming club members, felt a sudden chill. He felt like something ominous was about to happen.

'Oh right I should punish that Oliver as well. I'll force him to cosplay, that might be interesting.' Emily suddenly remembered what happened with the arcade event.

Now it was Oliver who felt a sudden chill. He couldn't understand what was happening, all he knows was this was the second time he felt this chill. He might have a cold, is what he thought. Unknown to him that feeling was something much, much worse than a simple cold.