Volume 2 Chapter 24: The Plan Part 1

[Author's Note: For bonus chapters, the goal every week is:

- 25 Power Stones

- 50 Power Stones]

Volume 2 Chapter 24: The Plan Part 1

Carmilla: "Then you will transform the bow you are holding into a sword and shield layout, just in case Daniel is currently watching us."

Pepper: "Master, why am I getting a very bad feeling about this plan? Am I the one who will act as bait to lure out Daniel?"

Carmilla: "Yes."

Carmilla: "Clap, clap, clap, alright this will go with the current situation where I can't clap physically, Congratulations, you guessed it right. Do you have an opinion? If so, we could consider another plan that might work, but that seems like a waste. I think this plan has the highest success rate among the other plans we can think of."

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Pepper: "Okay, master, stop guilt-tripping me; I agree to the plan."

Carmilla: "You saw through it, huh?"

Pepper: "Yes, it's not that hard not to notice you guilt-tripping me master, and it's not that I'm opposing the plan by being the one to lure out Daniel, master. I'm just curious about why it has to be me?"

Carmilla: "It's because your personality will fit the current situation."

Pepper: "Uh, master, what do you mean by saying my personality fits the situation?"

Carmilla: "Sigh, I knew it. I'll let Eve explain since she must have also noticed it."

Pepper: "What are you talking about, master?"

Eve: "Let me explain why you fit the situation as bait, as master said. First of all, Daniel should have a preliminary understanding of our personalities and traits."

Pepper: "Why do you think he knows about us?"

Eve: "Based on the information and my observations about him."

Pepper: "What are those pieces of information?"

Eve: "As I was about to say, Tria mentioned before she revived Daniel that he likes to use a bow. But based on my brief observation of him, he is not a regular archer; rather, he is an assassin."

Pepper: "So what's the connection between him being an assassin and knowing about us?"

Carmilla: "What Eve is saying is that if Daniel is indeed an assassin, he should be the type who gathers every possible information about his target before stalking and waiting for a chance to attack."

Pepper: "I get it now, but master, you still haven't answered my question as to why I'm the one being used as bait to lure out Daniel?"

Carmilla: "Sigh, you still don't get it even after we've spooned feed you all of the information. It should be obvious. It's because Daniel may already know about us; he might have more information about us from his private conversations with Tria. But even without that, Daniel should still know that you're the type of person to act first without thinking. Therefore, it wouldn't appear as an obvious trap if you were the bait, rather than if either me or Eve acted as bait. Now, after all of this, do you understand?"

Pepper: "Yes, Master."

Carmilla: "Good."

Eve: "Sigh!"

Pepper: "Master, what comes next after I transform my bow into a sword and shield?"

Carmilla: "Then, while you're in the process of changing your weapon, I'll notice that you're transforming your bow into a sword and shield. I'll be asking you, 'What are you planning to do?' and you'll respond with 'to find him' or something similar. At that moment, both Eve and I will advise you against your plan, but this time you'll ignore us and proceed to leave the blood dome. Are you following up to this point? Could you repeat the plan up to this point just in case?"

Pepper: "Yes, I understand all the parts of the plan that Master outlined up to this point. First, I'll display irritation due to our inability to find Daniel. Then, I'll transform my bow into a sword and shield. You, Master, will notice my action and inquire about my intentions with the transformed weapon, to which I'll reply, 'to find him' or something similar. Following that, both of you will advise me against my plan, but I'll disregard your advice and proceed to exit the blood dome."

Carmilla: "Great! Next, after you exit the blood dome, you'll stop just beside it. This move is in case Daniel was watching us and decides to come out of his hiding spot to suddenly attack you. It'll also serve as a ruse for Daniel to believe that you're hesitant and afraid of him ambushing you suddenly."

Carmilla paused, taking a moment to let Pepper absorb all the information she had just conveyed. After the brief pause, Carmilla resumed speaking, allowing some time for the plan to sink in.

Carmilla: "Okay, next, you'll start walking slowly toward the forest, and I'm confident that Daniel won't ambush you while you're near the blood dome."

Pepper: "Why do you think he wouldn't ambush me?"

Carmilla: "That's because if he ambushes you too early while you're close to the blood dome, you can quickly turn around and sprint back toward it, revealing his hiding spot for no gain. Conversely, if he waits too long to ambush you, you'll be so close to him that he risks getting rushed by you. Hence, he should aim to ambush you when you're halfway between the blood dome and the forest."

Pepper: "So, Master, he will still ambush me, right?"

Carmilla: "Is it even considered an ambush if you're already aware that an ambush might happen?"

Pepper: "Fair enough. So, Master, what's next?"

Carmilla: "While you're walking towards the forest, you should take control of the still lingering blood stream on your way. Once you've controlled the blood stream, ensure not to reveal that you've managed to control it. Don't actively manipulate it, and let it naturally dissipate without abruptly stopping it."

Pepper: "But, Master, why should I avoid showing that I've controlled the blood stream?"

Carmilla: "Because if he suspects something unusual, he might alter his plans. Be prepared when you're about to reach the midpoint between the blood dome and the forest; that's the ideal distance for Daniel to ambush you."

Pepper: "Master, what do you think Daniel will do when he ambushes me?"

Carmilla: "Of course, he'll shoot you with a bow and arrow, duh."

Pepper: "What should I do then?"

Carmilla: "You should act extremely surprised by his sudden appearance and refrain from attacking him even after he does."