Chapter 22

AN: I made a shorter chapter because I just got home from work and I'm having a headache.

Hope you like it.

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Quickly and nimbly my fingers move in front of me as if I'm typing. From an outside perspective, people would probably think I was crazy because the keyboard and screen in front of me only I could see.

"Your majesty, sorry to interrupt you," said a redhead as she knelt just to my right.

I was sitting on the sofa in the living room of a small apartment I rented in Tokyo.

"Mia!? I mean-- 5th division captain, I hope you've adapted to your changes," I say noting her human arms and the absence of any visible wings.

Mia acquired the same ability I did from devils, Shapeshifter.

Out of 50 harpies, Mia was the lucky one to receive an ability. The odds seemed to be very low.

The surprising thing is, the red-haired harpy had gotten the Shapeshifter ability even more powerful than the devils themselves.

To the point that she now had human arms and could hide her wings that now lay on her back.

"I'm getting used to it," she said in her usual political voice and expressionless eyes.

At first I had found her personality better compared to the boisterous harpies, but after a while of living with my subjects, I was a little uncomfortable with her emotionless stares.

Sometimes I didn't know what was on her mind.

"Glad to hear," I smile at her and say again, "I'm still working on fixing the bugs in the system. Unfortunately I can only 'Blessing' a little more than 50 of you simultaneously for now. I want to fix this ASAP."

I was optimizing [index] codes to accommodate as many beings as possible.

"I am honored that your majesty bestowed this gift on me. Among so many of my sisters, I was one of your chosen ones. I thank you."

"No need to act so serious or uptight around me. Umm-- Choosing you is just the obvious. Of all harpies, except for my 'sweet' queen," I smirked as I said the last part. "You are the strongest of them all. Even stronger than Kurumi and Akemi."

If I could describe Mia in one sentence... She was a warrior.

"Your words are kind. As expected of your majesty."

"Huh?"

"From first- I mean- the first time we met, I didn't understand all those sensations you put us through," she said as she brought her hand over her own chest, expressionless.

"I saw my sisters follow you around like a duckling and decided to play along with them. I needed to know about you and see what kind of leader you would be."

"What if he wasn't the leader you expected?" I asked with a little frown.

"If you were cruel to us? A complete asshol*? I'd kill you. I'm ashamed to admit that I can't face you head on while you have that 'skill'," A rare, very discreet blush crept into her cheeks, but it faded quickly, and, "I'd have to hurt my pride and try to catch you off guard."

"Aren't you afraid to admit it to your king?" I said making my hostility clear. "To say you intended to murder me? I can take your head off right here and now."

Contrary to my expectations, she remains on her knees, without any sign of disturbance, and says, "This is who I am, your majesty."

I raise an eyebrow at her and she continues...

"I speak my mind and follow my principles. Since I was little I was considered different in the nest. I don't know much about what my sisters call emotion."

Okay, I might reluctantly give a point for her sincerity, but I was still too angry to be satisfied.

"I speak my mind, for I fear neither death nor the consequences. Winning this system just made me realize something," She said with a silent pause.

"Hmm?"

"I love you," she said as if that was saying an ordinary 'good morning'.

?!!??? Hey. Hey. How did things jump from her wanting to kill me, for that?

"I mean, I think I love you... I'm not sure," she said, as again she brought her hands back to her chest to check her own heartbeat.

"Not only is your majesty mighty, but your wisdom knows no bounds."

I just kept silent to see what she had to say.

"In the nest, we have already made several attacks before your arrival and faced different types of threats," She looks at her own hands with a rare discreet smile and says, "I have always admired our opponents who wield a sword. The dream of being a Swordsmanship is the closest I can get to emotion. I mean --," Mia pauses briefly, before looking at me and saying, "Now, I think swords are the second biggest thing that makes me feel emotion."

For this I did not expect.

"Seeing so many advancements and benefits that his majesty has already brought to the nest... My intention was to ask for your assistance in this matter. But it seems that I have greatly underestimated my king's wisdom."

??? I hoped it wasn't what I was thinking.

"Before I could even ask for help, you presented me with these hands. It's like you always know about my thoughts and intentions. I'm ashamed to have acted sneaky and thought to catch you off guard, surely your majesty already knew my intentions before we even met."

"..."

Ummm, what to say now? My wisdom? Bullsh*t! She just gained this ability randomly and it was just a misunderstanding.

She looks at me expectantly, waiting for my confirmation and I had to do the right thing in that situation.

Though it was bad to let her down.

Lying was wrong and so...

"Ummm, cough. Just like you thought. I'm glad you learned your lessons and don't try to act sneaky with your king again," I said with the skin on my face thicker than the biggest crook.

She widens her eyes briefly and says, "I can only say it again --- As expected of your majesty."

I just give her a warm smile and remain silent.

After a short while.

Mia suddenly rises to her knees and says, "I ask permission to make a wish."

"Go ahead," I say curiously.

"I want to leave the command of the 5th division to my vice captain and be able to travel around the world. I want to improve my sword, face challenges and break my own limits."

"??Can't you learn from your queen?"

She shakes her head from side to side and says, "From this day forward I dedicate my sword entirely to your service, my body and soul. I wish to hone my skills to the peak, lest I disappoint your majesty."

I was about to deny it, but I keep thinking about the pros and cons.

"I won't be satisfied until I'm your strongest weapon. I'm your sword, my king," she said, her eyes for the first time filled with emotion, I mean, at least by her standards it was the most I'd ever seen.

"Okay, go ahead."

It's not like her absence will impact my short-term plans, it's over five thousand harpies at my command after all.

After she left, I could finally sigh.

Being a king is even harder than I thought.

Truth be told, although I have brought major technological advances and innovative ideas to the nest... I have left most of the boring things in my dear queen's hands.

Most of my time was spent strengthening myself and trying to track down a certain psychopath.

But I had changed my strategy now.

I realized that I was doing something wrong.

The way things were going I would never find him.

My creation of [Ressurection] and [Index] gave me what I needed to find it.

Of the 50 harpies I've managed to use 'Blessing', almost all are from the 2nd division, they specialized in assassination and poisoning...

And I've given them spells that allow them to be stealthy and right now they prowl the streets of Tokyo in search of me.

They were my eyes and ears.

Why do a search alone in such a big world?

I'm confident I'll see results soon, I thought about it in a good mood, before getting back to typing and working.