Chapter 46

One more head to lose.

Colonel Hydra, who should have been shaking his head at my words, shook his shoulders angrily and exclaimed.

"That, what do you mean, I have done nothing wrong...!"

"You coveted my people."

"!"

As soon as he heard those words, he turned to face Immortal Swordswoman. As if to show his obsession with pursuing her to the ends of the earth was a joke, he then immediately shook his head in disbelief and exclaimed.

"No! Absolutely not! Oh, the Black Snake, whom I revere, has taken her away! How dare someone like me indulge his greed! Well, that's just a story from the past!"

The name of the snake flowing from the colonel's mouth. Only then did a look of agitation emerge among the duchy's secret police officers who had put their heads down without understanding what was going on.

"I swear on the name of the Führer, I promise!"

Colonel Hydra, hurriedly throwing up his arms as if it was absolutely not the case while I glanced at Alina in silence. A body that cannot die even if it wants to, an immortal swordswoman who has been reborn as a death knight.

"What, what are you looking at?"

At the same time, Alina asked back in a confused voice.

"Miss Alina, as your superior, I must advise you-"

Only then did Aria break the silence and speak up.

"That the man in front of you now, is the one you are to obey and serve from now on."

"!"

As the second highest in the organization's hierarchy.

"In the future, you'd better remember that without mistake."

"Master...."

"That's it."

"...Ah, I see, you can call him that."

Immortal Swordswoman hesitated and mouthed the name. It was enough, she had no intention of bowing down to receive me.

"...Master, Master...."

Holy Maiden Jeanne shuddered as she repeated the name.

"This is the new title I will call you-"

The name, so clearly marking their respective masters, was so lovely.

"You, my master."

It was the happiness of a slave who loves her chains and can't help it.

Suddenly, the expression on the face of the holy maiden on the cover of the game seemed strange to me.

Perhaps it was because it was a side of her that we don't normally see.

"As I said, I have no use for him."

I finished what I wanted to say to the Immortal Swordswoman.

"Not you."

"!"

I turned to the Holy Maiden, who was happily wearing the chains of slavery alongside her.

"Master, what shall I do-?"

The holy maiden said. As if she wound a thread around her body and wanted it to move.

"Order...Look down."

"I cannot...forgive you."

Well, Swordswoman was different.

"...I can't forgive you–never."

"Do as you will."

"!"

After I spoke, I turned to the 'Death Knights' guarding the Colonel and repeated.

"<Ashes to ashes>."

With that, something like bone dust fluttered from my fingertips and was swallowed up by the dead that aided Colonel Hydra.

It was a spell that had no effect on living creatures, but had absolute power over non-living beings such as the dead and golems, a spell that specialized in dealing with non-living things.

"Ah, ahhh...!"

Like ancient mummies weathered and reduced to ashes, the Death Knights were no exception.

They crumbled on the spot. No more than a handful of bones, scattered in a puff of dust.

"!"

Like them, she had a lifeless body, and her legs trembled like a frightened girl in the face of the winds of death.

As such, I stretched out my arms toward the Holy Maiden and the Immortal Swordswoman once more.

At the touch of my fingertips, Alina flinched and her shoulders shook. The shaking of her wobbly legs could no longer be hidden.

"Moo, what...!"

"<Regeneration Wind>."

I finished the incantation, unconcerned since I didn't mean them any harm.

It was more than enough to heal their exhausted bodies.

"Alas, how merciful."

Aria laughed in amusement at the sight but I turned away without a care, leaving the business between them behind.

"Awww, that's mean! No one is playing with Alice!"

A scream rang out, accompanied by the voice of the blonde girl who had come up behind me.

*

~That night at a luxury hotel downtown~

In a restaurant that exuded opulence and luxury, a group of elegantly dressed women entered.

The guests were from the highest echelons of the duchy, and they were no strangers to expensive clothing, beauty, or virtue.

And yet, even those of such high rank could not help but be overwhelmed by the sight of them.

They blatantly exposed their backs and waists, revealing their breastbones.

Dresses and accessories embroidered with rare gems that even they couldn't easily see. With each step, an out-of-this-world glow seemed to catch the eye.

But it wasn't the clothes they wore, or the jewelry they wore, that caught the eye.

Rather, it was the purity and nobility of their demeanor, which made their revealing attire an art form rather than a necessity.

"...."

Also capturing the attention of those in the restaurant, two women sit down at a table.

In contrast to the two women, there are several men and women seated at the table, all dressed in dark black coats.

"What is this?!"

Immortal Swordswoman shouted as she sat down under all the stares.

"What you see is what you get."

I said as the Holy Maiden blushed slightly and took her seat.

"So this is where we...."

She whispered as she sat down as if she understood the meaning.

"This is it, my dear–by the master's side."

"Hoo-hoo, that's what he said."

"...Really, you walk around like this and no one touches you?"

"It's not like some didn't try."

I replied, and in response, Aria flashed me a frosty, cold smile.

"─"

Once again, Alina bit her lip, trying to figure out what that meant.

And unlike before, blood flowed over her lips where it shouldn't have.

It was crimson blood.

"Ohhhhhhh!"

"Oh, Freya! Ohhhhhhh!"

At the same time, the voices of the two women are joined by a voice that draws attention to itself.

Alice's laughter next to me is a bonus.

A cumbersome drill head twisted round and round in a spiral.

Though she was dressed in a black uniform as dark as any snake, her distinctive drill hair and laughter were more than enough to overwhelm the room. And then there was the lacy fan.

"How do you like your flesh with a girl's touch, sweet junior?"

"...."

Freya the Widow.

True to her name, Freya had been of great assistance to the Immortal Swordswoman. More than Alina could ever imagine.

"Now, please, savor it to your heart's content."

"Savor...."

"There are still many pleasures to be savored in this world, even with our own bodies."

"Your meal is ready."

Aria, who was beside me, glanced at me, and as if in anticipation, the waiter began to bring various dishes on silver platters.

"...!"

"Tasting delicious food is just the beginning."

Even Immortal Swordswoman, who believed that he could no longer taste food, was no exception.

"Cute junior miss, there are still many 'pleasures of the living' to teach you."

Freya said as she sipped her blood-colored wine.

"What pleasures of the living....?"

"For a girl who was rolled hard enough to become a Death Knight–you're in pristine condition."

"!"

"To tell you the truth, I'm beginning to wonder if you did it."

"What!"

Freya continues, ignoring Alina, who blushes and tries to raise her voice.

"And how fortunate for you, junior Miss, that you were able to save your nerves without any loss!"

"That, what's that...."

"Fufu, by the way, you can also adjust your sensitivity like a girl. How's that?"

Freya smiles meaningfully in front of Alina, who swallows her words in embarrassment.

The holy maiden Jeanne, too, could not hide her agitation as the dishes were placed one after another on the table.

"You'd better eat before it gets cold."

I say, grabbing a knife ahead of her so as not to put any pressure on her, leaving Alice behind as she empties one bowl and reaches for the next.

Anyway

─She's been living a life below the surface, feeding on rats in the sewers, hiding from people, living below the beast.

And now, what lies before them is a life of undreamed-of luxury.

It's a happiness that comes solely from evil, regardless of how they choose to accept that fact.

"Taste, there...."

Alina muttered, then broke into a sob while shoveling food into her mouth, knowing, feeling, savoring the flavors there.

Sitting so tall, so proud, as if her life was a lie, as if she should be terrified and afraid at the mere sight of a man.

She's so grateful for another life that the hateful man in front of her has given her and maddeningly disgusted with herself for feeling grateful to him.

"...Ms. Alina."

Taking her sobbing hand, draping it over her shoulder, Jeanne whispered.

"Don't cry."

With compassion worthy of her name.

"Such a beautiful, pretty face, ruined-"

*

~The Führer's office, at that hour~

The Führer of the Duchy, called Gustav Wheatley, was there and in front of him stood the man known as the Golden Lord, looking down at the Führer with emotionless eyes.

He was a handsome man wearing a golden monocle, with golden ornaments dangling from his black uniform.

"Ergo."

He stared, and then called his name. Not the Führer's name, but his son's.

"Yes, Father."

"Finally, I want you to recall Lord Rain's orders."

"The activation of Operation Order No. 66, directing the rearmament of the western border demilitarized zone."

"Yes, I see you remember it well."

After speaking, the Golden Lord smiles quietly.

"A hero appears in the midst of chaos and-"

He continues with a smile.

"For it is we snakes who bring chaos."

And then, with an exaggerated ducal salute, he muttered.

"Long live Lord Rain-"