Beelzebub's tank, Gloria Cottonfluff (2)

Chapter 13: Beelzebub's tank, Gloria Cottonfluff (2)

Anador's soul was imperfect, and so were his memories.

However, everyone has an unforgettable memory — an image they would take to the grave or a vista that would vanish alongside them upon their death…

In the sea of vague memories belonging to Anador, Beelzebub saw that kind of memory, which with was also related to him.

It was a picture of a white-haired woman encased in a shiny and sparkling ice tomb. That frigid prison was unique only to her, not allowing anyone to touch her black armor. Consequently, the woman also couldn't wake up from her slumber and was, unfortunately, subject to a horrific plan conspired by the demons.

But though her fate had been sealed, a few demons like Anador couldn't erase an impression off their hearts caused by Gloria Cottonfluff's strength, beauty, and sacrifice, which she had showcased during the battle that had sentenced them to prison in the chasm.

This gorgeous fox woman, even though she had fought alongside the demons, was always loyal to one man.

Her battle senses, killing intent, tough body, and colossal broadsword had spilled blood for the sake of one man that had left her and was never by her side — at least that was what Anador and other demons believed.

They had never seen Beelzebub, after all.

Gloria's achievements had stretched even to high demons, whose status was only below Anubis, and other demons whose lineages were named after them. Yet, she remained a sole force, pursuing goals beyond their understanding.

"Why haven't you… given up on me? You could have allied with others, stupid woman… even I had connections across the world…." Beelzebub muttered while getting hotter, red patches slowly appearing on his unbelievably pale body as he clenched his hands.

He hadn't had time to see the legendary quest's content yet because the image of his maid sheathed in the ice prison taking over his head.

And the fury boiling within him was because he understood what the demons were planning to use Gloria for. With his keen eyes of a demonic alchemist and knowledge of mana veins profoundly related to his class, Beelzebub had seen through the ice tomb and how it continuously fiddled with mana coursing in his maid's body.

They were turning her into something close to the battery, maybe even worse, for Beelzebub saw patterns that could be exploited and used in many ways.

The point stood the same, though — the demons wanted to sacrifice Gloria.

"Over my dead body…." Beelzebub whispered aloud as though wanting the demons to know that all of them had landed on his blacklist: his usually soft voice was as sharp as a blade.

There was a problem, however.

All those demons were high-level existences.

In no world would Beelzebub be able to catch up to them on short notice… but that didn't stop the Lord Of Souls from scheming a plan to save his maid.

Nothing shall stop Beelzebub.

-

[Gloria's choice(Legendary Quest) - On the day her master disappeared from the world, Gloria and the rest of Beelzebub's maids were left with a choice to prove their loyalty and belonging. Their differences and argument, which had unfolded upon Beelzebub's departure, had torn them aside, and each received a different quest to prepare for the return of their master. Gloria's task had been finding keys leading to Beelzebub's castle in the demonic sphere governed by thirteen demon lords.]

[This is a class quest related to Gloria Cottonfluff. Your response to Gloria Cottonfluff's choice will either finish or prolong the quest...]

[Reward: ???]

David blankly stared at the system message floating in front of him.

He wasn't surprised by the fact that all his maids went their own way… their party was more than capable, and their teamwork and cohesion were famous across the world, but the personalities of Beelzebub's maids were so diverse that it was a miracle they fought so well alongside each other.

Beelzebub was like a glue that kept them together, and it was nothing short of amazing as well… but it was also quite demanding and exhausting at times.

However, the fact that Gloria and the rest accepted their quests was what had rooted David in an unsettling cradle. His past trauma had knocked on the doors leading to his heart… and then David rode a memory ride that presented the good and bad moments of his entire life, only to finish on the game's fourth anniversary.

On that day, he had concocted a divine potion, Your Desire…

And it all clicked at once… David understood what kind of desire had been buried deep in his heart.

It wasn't a desire to see those who hurt him seething in more regret and anger.

It was a desire to find friends… people he could genuinely trust… maybe even lovers.

"I'm so… pathetic…." David covered his face with his hands, gritting his teeth… "Did I really need thousand years to see that they are… more than maids? That there's more to this business relationship?"

Although it wasn't entirely his fault, David put all blame on himself… because of him, Gloria and the other maids had gone through thousand years of hardships, which were caused by his insecurity.

The more he thought about it, the more David hated himself… why was his desire so disgusting? How come he couldn't keep playing the same game with his maids and slowly realize that the game world was the real world and that genuine friends were always around him?

And then, David recalled the last talk with his closest people and their expressions upon hearing the words which told them they would be free from him after getting their own share of the divine potion…

Those faces were even more self-explanatory than [Your Desire]…

Beelzebub's dark eyes narrowed… and he opened his status window, navigating to the skill list.

[You have unlocked alchemy skills from Beelzebub's Grand Alchemy(Legendary), Beelzebub's Transmutation(Legendary), and Beelzebub's Cauldron(Legendary).]

[You have unlocked a magic skill from Beelzebub's Magic(Legendary), Beelzebub's Earth Seeds(Legendary)]

"I'm glad you are the first one to be found, Gloria… our circumstances were similar. We were both shunned by those we thought to be family." Beelzebub stood up and looked over the window toward the chasm. "Your master will answer your loyalty… we'll wander the world together."