"Lich-sama, the budget's in crisis."
"Alice, you only ever talk about the budget."
In the shadows behind the lab, a skeleton and a ghost plotted. The Undead district was riddled with graveyards, and Lich's research center was no exception. The sky overhead churned with heavy crimson and violet clouds, oppressive and endless.
The skeleton was, of course, Lich. Opposite him floated Alice—a voluptuous specter, translucent gown draped over curves, lips soft and poisonous-looking, her whole form tinged bluish pale. To him, though, she was just "that woman who only brings up boring stuff."
"Your topics are always the same. Living expenses, research costs, beastfolk welfare, administration..." Lich folded his arms. "If this story were written from my perspective, all your scenes would be cut."
"Even so, Lich-sama, life requires funding."
"...The funding comes from my vault."
"Yes. There is still some left."
"Then why—"
"But the rate of depletion has spiked. If we don't act now, disaster is inevitable."
"...Why so sudden?"
"Because Giant Warlord Leila's food bills are, for some reason, being drawn from your vault."
"...That bad?"
"To be blunt—yes. Very bad."
Feeding Leila now cost more than running experiments, more than housing thirty beastfolk apprentices combined.
"Maybe we should just kill her when she's not needed. Corpses don't eat."
"Absolutely not! That's—no!"
"Listen, soul storage has improved. Thanks to Lanza, actually. She joked that souls feel chilly, so I tried refrigerating them. Turns out it works. Who knew temperature affected spirits that aren't even material—"
"Understood! We'll save that topic for later."
"...See? You never let me talk. I don't like you, Alice."
"Because you go on forever, Lich-sama! Right now I must talk budget!"
"...Fine. Budget is important. I don't want to think about it, but without it, research halts..."
"Exactly. Forgive me, but this is unavoidable."
"Then we kill Leila when she's not needed."
"Again, no!"
"Why?"
"She's Giant Warlord now."
"So?"
"Killing a giant commander for convenience would cause... political problems."
"Politics again! Politics, budgets, ethics, morals—religion! Always in my way! I despise politics!"
Yes, Lich's enemies were always shapeless, faceless things—"the majority," "society." He hated them all.
"...Alright. New plan. I've got it. Leila dies."
"I already said—"
"By her own choice."
"...She's not exactly the type to commit suicide, Lich-sama."
"She doesn't have to stay dead. She just dies. Temporary. Easy to manage."
"...I'll admit, I'm confused. But if it's Leila, somehow it might happen."
"Exactly."
"Then I'll prepare the paperwork. Once she 'dies,' we'll handle it from there."
"Good."
"Dealing with giants is simple—you shout loud enough, they usually agree."
"...If only Leila listened when people shouted."
"Beastfolk, even as a warlord, don't work like giants."
"True... maybe if I shout at the giants to take care of her..."
"Not if she refuses to be taken care of."
"...Ugh! Why does everything keep getting in the way? I just want to research!"
Lich clutched his skull with both hands. Best to settle this nuisance quickly.
So he set out to find Leila—
—unaware she'd already marched off with her giant army, leaving Demonkin territory behind.