Chapter 55 - Overload and First Servant

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After I enveloped the «Evil Pieces» with my aura and burned them with the purple-black flames of my «Infinity Star Flame» to try to induce mutation, after a while we saw slight cracks appearing on the pieces.

I felt worried and a little panicked because I was afraid that the Evil Pieces I had just obtained with great difficulty would be damaged.

Moreover, Mephisto-jiisama also said he had never heard of a situation like this before.

I frowned silently because I could only observe and wait for what would happen next.

"...."

And then, after a few minutes of waiting....

"The cracks... recovering?"

I saw the cracks that appeared on the Evil Pieces slowly closing as if they were recovering.

And then, I saw that two of the Evil Pieces underwent another change.

"This...."

The two pieces, a [Rook] and a [Bishop], seemed to have changed their appearance where now on the two pieces slowly appeared lines like purple tiger-stripes and glowed slightly.

"Is this what called as «Mutation Piece»?"

I asked in a rhetorical tone and was a little flabbergasted to see the two pieces.

"Hmm.... Mutation Pieces are usually pieces that have undergone mutations and cause them to be different and more special than normal Evil Pieces. And if you consider how these two pieces have changed in appearance, even though as far as I know Mutation Piece's changes are into fully one different color, then these [Rook] and [Bishop] could be considered have undergone mutations."

Mephisto-jiisama answered and explained while holding his chin.

"I see.... So these two pieces indeed turn into Mutation Pieces."

After I said that, the glowing purple streaks on the [Rook] and [Bishop] pieces stopped spreading.

"It looks like the mutation process is complete, Rey."

Mephisto-jiisama said.

"Ah. I understand."

Then, I stopped burning the [Evil Pieces] and retracted the «Infinity Star Flame» into myself.

And then I put all fifteen Evil Pieces pieces back into the box.

"Even so, only two, huh...."

I said while looking at the two Mutation Pieces I just got.

"How many did you expect, Rey? Two out of fifteen is quite a lot, you know. Why do you think Mutation Pieces are so rare and special."

Mephisto-jiisama responded and shrugged his shoulders at my words.

"You're right."

If considered how from one set of [Evil Pieces] the chance for mutation to occur is only less than 10%, then I was indeed lucky to get two at once.

I smiled a little wryly after remembering that.

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"Even so, why did cracks appear on these Evil Pieces earlier?"

I said while touching the «Evil Pieces» pieces in the box.

"Hmm.... I'm curious about that too."

Mephisto-jiisama held his chin and then closed his eyes and frowned looking thoughtful.

And after a long while, he opened his eyes.

"Hmm.... Maybe this is just my guess. But, if considering various factors, the possibility of that anomaly occurred was because of yourself, Rey."

Mephisto-jiisama said while looking at me.

"Huh? Me? What do you mean?"

I was a little surprised to hear the conclusion he said.

He then nodded slightly and explained.

"After you channels your aura and burn the Evil Pieces, it's possible that overload happened to the [Evil Pieces]."

"Overload?"

"Well, that's just the simple term I chose for the anomaly. But the point is that it's as if the pieces received something more than their capacity."

"How could that be?"

"It's not impossible.... After all, you are someone more than extraordinary, Rey."

"Hmm...."

I frowned slightly and crossed my arms over my chest.

Then Mephisto-jiisama continued.

"Firstly, when you burned those pieces with your flame, they received exposure to the energy from the «Snake» that you got from Ophis and have fused with your fire. And as Azazel and I once explained, the «Snake» from Ophis is something that can makes the user or recipient exceed the limit."

«Snake», huh....

Hmm... That's kinda possible, indeed.

"The second is because of your flame itself.... Even though your flame has now merged with the «Snake», it was originally something that shouldn't exist in this world because it came from another world, so the «Evil Pieces» experienced an error because they couldn't recognize the energy exposed by the flame."

Uhh.... «Infinity Star Flame» is a combination of the «Three Thousand Star Burning Flame» that I summoned from another world and the «Snake» that I got from «Dragon-God Ophis».... And «Heavenly Flame» is indeed something that is not exist in this world. So indeed there is no data and information about that.

"Thirdly, when you enveloped those «Evil Pieces» with your aura, they felt another aura that was much stronger and yet connected to you."

"Hm? Whose aura?"

I was surprised again by Mephisto-jiisama's words.

"Did you forget Lady Kulshedra and Lady Scathach?"

Mephisto-jiisama said while looking at Kulshedra-san and Scathach-sama who had just been sitting quietly and watching.

"Ah?"

I also looked at them.

"Us?"

Kulshedra-san asked and she tilted her head slightly because she didn't really understand.

While Scathach-sama remained silent but frowned slightly.

"...."

Then Mephisto-jiisama gave a small nod.

"Right.... Possibly, because «Evil Pieces» cannot be used to reincarnate God-class existences, when the pieces feel the aura of those two who's connected to you, much stronger than you, and not originating from this world, the pieces it's getting more and more erred."

"I see...."

Hmm.... If the «Evil Pieces» could also feel my connection with Kulshedra-san and others which was formed due to the «Pact»-like effect of Summoning using the Balance Breaker of «Serene Summoning» and also the «Spirit Contract» that connected me with Kulshedra-san, it's possible that the error that occurred was because the system/mechanism in the Evil Pieces considered them as part of my powers and abilities too.

"Yes.... And because of those errors, the «Evil Pieces» experienced overload and that's what caused the cracks to appear."

"So that's how.... I understand."

I then held my chin with one hand and thought for a moment.

And Mephisto-jiisama took advantage of the moment to drink.

And then I looked at Mephisto-jiisama again.

"So... those «Evil Pieces» were truly almost broken?"

"Uhh... I think so."

"...."

I slightly twitched the corner of my lips after Mephisto-jiisama confirmed what I was afraid of.

Mephisto-jiisama then chuckled.

"Mahaha.... Well, that was quite nerve-wracking indeed. But, as we also saw earlier, the cracks that appeared then closed and recovered.... It's possibly that it was due to the auto-repair and auto-adapt mechanism activated. Although I don't know whether this mechanism was default in the system or was just added specifically for your «Evil Pieces» by Ajuka."

"Hmm...."

From Mephisto-jiisama's words, I once again realized what a genius the Devil King Ajuka Beelzebub-sama who created the «Evil Pieces» and its system was.

"And after the «Evil Pieces» underwent repair and re-adaptation, due to the various factors I mentioned earlier, the mutation mechanism was activated and the result was that one of the [Rook] and [Bishop] pieces mutated."

"I see...."

"Yes.... But, if I may say my opinion, I think technically it wasn't just those two pieces which mutated but all of them. It's just that, after adjustment and standardization by the system inside the [Evil Pieces], the system/mechanism only chose two."

"Hmm.... You mean, those two Mutation Pieces are like the result of mutation of mutation?"

"That's how it is."

"I see...."

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After my conversation with Mephisto-jiisama finished, I looked at Sakuya-san.

"Sakuya-san, will you be my [Queen]?"

I asked Sakuya-san with a serious look and tone.

And Sakuya-san looked a little wide-eyed.

"Me, Rey-sama?"

"Yes."

I answered firmly with a small nod.

Sakuya-san then seemed to close her eyes for a moment and then opened them again and looked at me seriously.

"Rey-sama, Sakuya will not refuse if Rey-sama wants Sakuya to become one of your Peerage members. But Rey-sama, Sakuya is just a maid. I think [Queen] is too high for someone like me."

Sakuya-san said with a slight frown of reluctance.

And I immediately shook my head slightly at her words.

"No.... It's not about status and rank, Sakuya-san."

Then I again looked at Sakuya-san seriously.

"I want you to be my [Queen] because leaving aside Scathach-sama and Kulshedra-san who couldn't accept Evil Pieces and reincarnated as Devils, you are the one who has been with me the longest, Sakuya-san. And as my maid, one of the people I care about, and most trusted, I want you to continue to be by my side, as my right or left hand, Sakuya-san."

I said with a warm smile at Sakuya-san.

"Rey-sama...."

Sakuya-san's eyes seemed a little teary after listening to my main reason why I wanted her to be my [Queen].

"Besides, you are someone who has the ability to manipulate time, Sakuya-san. For someone with such a high level of ability, [Queen] is very suitable for you."

"...."

Sakuya-san was silent for a moment and closed her eyes.

But not long after, she opened her eyes again and smiled gently at me.

"I understands, Rey-sama.... If Rey-sama has that much hope for Sakuya and is willing to trust Sakuya as his right hand, then Sakuya will try her best to not disappoint."

Sakuya-san then saluted me by slightly crossing one leg behind, lowering her body slightly, and both hands pinching and slightly lifting the hem of her maid uniform.

I smiled at her.

"Thank you, Sakuya-san."

Sakuya-san slightly shook her head.

"No, Rey-sama. Sakuya is the one who is actually grateful for this trust."

"Nn."

I gave a small nod and then I said seriously to Sakuya-san.

"Okay. Then let's start."

I then stood up from the sofa.

"Yes, Rey-sama."

Sakuya-san gave a small nod, stood up from the sofa, and then came over to me and stood about one meter in front of me.

Then I took the [Queen] piece from the Evil Pieces in the box and made it float with my aura in front of Sakuya-san.

Then, I started chanting the spell for the reincarnation ritual to become a Devil and a member of the Peerage.

"I, Rey Rofocale, with my authority as [King], reincarnated you, Sakuya Izayoi, as my Devil-servant and my [Queen]!"

"Yes, My Master!"

After I finished chanting, a purple magic circle appeared on the floor where Sakuya-san and I were standing.

After that, I aimed the [Queen] piece at Sakuya-san and it then slowly pushed and seemed to enter her chest.

And then, on Sakuya-san's chest appeared a purple light that glowed brightly for a moment.

And after the purple light faded and disappeared, from Sakuya-san's back suddenly appeared black bat-like wings which stretched out.

And then, the purple magic circle on the floor faded and disappeared indicating the reincarnation procession and ritual had been completed.

Then I smiled at Sakuya-san.

"Please regards, my [Queen]."

Sakuya-san also smiled and saluted me.

"Yes, my [King]!"

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