Chapter 24: Rem's mind is L-Lewd!

The air in the street outside the restaurant crackled with a raw, unfiltered anguish that made my skin crawl. The fifty figures who had stood frozen, their faces vacant, their bodies tools of Shido's will, were now a maelstrom of chaotic emotions, their minds a battlefield where the remnants of their conditioning clashed with the flood of repressed memories, the resurgence of their stolen humanity.Tears streamed down their faces, their bodies wracked with sobs, their voices a chorus of anguished cries and desperate pleas. Some, overwhelmed by the sudden influx of pain, collapsed, their limbs flailing, their eyes wide with a terror that mirrored the depths of their torment. Others, their rage erupting, lashed out, their fists pounding against the cobblestones, their voices a torrent of curses and threats directed at the world, at their former master, at themselves.The drones, their programming focused on containment and order, reacted swiftly, their metallic bodies forming a barrier around the most volatile individuals, their robotic voices echoing with the same emotionless pronouncements they used to explain legal infractions."Remain calm. Cease your disruptive behavior. Compliance is mandatory."The words, meant to quell the chaos, only seemed to amplify it, the drones' cold, unfeeling pronouncements a jarring counterpoint to the raw, visceral emotions that surged through the freed slaves."They're not helping," Ram stated, her voice a low murmur of concern, her gaze fixed on a young woman who was clawing at her own face, her screams a heart-wrenching screech of pain. "They're making it worse.""Damn it," I muttered, a wave of frustration washing over me. I'd been so focused on breaking Shido's control, on dismantling his network of exploitation, that I'd overlooked the aftermath, the psychological devastation inflicted upon these people.I reached out with my technokinesis, my mind diving into the drones' programming, my fingers flying across an imaginary keyboard, rewriting code, redefining parameters."Disable verbal directives," I commanded, my mental voice a sharp, focused point. "Containment mode only. No interaction."The drones fell silent, their metallic forms shifting, their stances more passive, their presence a less intrusive, though still imposing, force.Then, I turned my attention to a different kind of programming.A new AI, a rudimentary program cobbled together from fragments of knowledge gleaned from the therapy skill shard and my own understanding of human psychology, began to take shape within the network. It was basic, crude, but it was a beginning to something I hoped would help.The AI, its voice a gentle, calming melody, began to speak, its words tailored to each individual's needs, its tone a soothing balm against the raw, jagged edges of their trauma."You are safe now. You are free. It's okay to feel pain. It's okay to be afraid. But you are not alone. We are here to help you."The other drones followed suit as the new directive from the AI took hold of them.The effects were promising but not immediate.The frantic cries subsided, the thrashing limbs stilled, the accusing and rage filled stares softened slightly. The absolute hatred for everything around them changed to baffled confusion as they stopped lashing out to at least listen.It wasn't a perfect solution, not by a long shot. But it was a start. "I need to create therapy drones," I stated, my voice a low rumble of determination. "Psychiatry drones. Something that can actually help these people heal, not just contain their pain."Ram, her usual smugness replaced by a thoughtful frown, her red eyes reflecting the turmoil unfolding before us, stepped closer, her hand resting gently on my arm."You're still learning, Tereda," she said, her voice soft, laced with a hint of pride.Then her eyes turned to me with appreciation." Also, I told you, I like it when you're so regal and commanding."I turned towards her, my gaze meeting hers, a warmth spreading through my as she smirked.The warmth spread elsewhere as she placed her hand on my chest and started to rub her hands in circles."And the date?" I asked, my voice full of a smile. "Was it at least not a complete disaster?"She shook her head, a mischievous smile curving her lips. "Not entirely," she replied, her voice a playful purr. "There were… definite highlights."She leaned closer, her red eyes sparkling, her breath warm against my cheek. "But next time," she whispered, her voice a tantalizing promise, "No interruptions. Just us. Somewhere private.""I think I like the sound of that, my Ruby empress."We turned away from the recovering slaves, their sobs fading into the background, their future uncertain, their path to healing long and arduous. But as we walked back towards the palace, hand in hand, the weight of responsibility pushed into me.This world was still broken, and I had a lot of work to do to fix it.With Ram and Rem at my side, I would fight to make this world not suck.Ram who was clearly reading my mind spoke up, "Does the mascot help fix it too?"I shrugged. "She can if she wants."—The study, a dimly lit chamber with walls lined with ancient scrolls and shelves overflowing with leather-bound tomes, was a strange juxtaposition of archaic elegance and futuristic technology. Sunlight, filtered through stained-glass windows, painted the polished wooden desk in hues of ruby and sapphire, illuminating the sleek black laptop that sat before us, its screen glowing with a soft, ethereal light.Morgiana, curled up on a plush velvet couch, her crimson hair a splash of color against the muted tapestry, dozed peacefully, her breathing slow and even, her dreams undisturbed by the chaos of the day."It's strange," Rem mused, her voice a soft melody in the quiet room, her gaze lingering on the laptop, its presence a jarring contrast to the rustic surroundings. "To see something so advanced in a place so… primitive. No electricity.""Electricity?" I chuckled, channeling a trickle of electrokinesis, the laptop's screen flickering to life, its fans whirring softly. "Who needs electricity when you've got electrokinesis and a nearly endless supply of rechargeable industrial batteries that would make the best generator from Earth-Bet sob itself into questioning if it actually existed or not, causing it to stop existing due to an object gaining sapience just to question its existence and disappear out of shame?"Rem stared at me, her blue eyes wide, her brow furrowed in a mix of amusement and confusion. "That was rather excessive?" she said, her voice laced with bafflement. "Couldn't you have just said, 'This industrial battery is pretty good'?"I shrugged, my cheeks flushing slightly. "It sounded funnier in my head," I mumbled, my gaze dropping to the laptop screen, the data streams flowing before my eyes.Rem smiled indulgently.She rose from her chair, her movements fluid, graceful, her black and teal gown shimmering in the fading sunlight.She crossed the room, her gaze lingering on Morgiana, her expression softening with a maternal warmth."Well, your Sapphire Empress is tired," she declared, her voice a playful tease, her hand gently brushing a stray strand of crimson hair from Morgiana's forehead. "We're going to bed. Don't stay up too late, Tereda. Even emperors need their rest."She leaned closer, her lips brushing against my ear, her voice a husky whisper that sent shivers down my spine. "And remember our deal," she added, her breath warm against my cheek. "Next time, with each of us, I'm not sure we'll stop at just a date."Then she blew gently in my ear causing me to jolt upright.She winked, a mischievous glint in her blue eyes, then turned and left the study, her footsteps silent against the polished wooden floor, her presence lingering in the air like a whispered promise.I watched her go, my heart pounding, my mind a chaotic jumble of anticipation, desire, and a lingering sense of unease.This world, with its magic, its dungeons, its ancient powers, was a dangerous place.And the path I had chosen, the path of absolute justice, the path of a ruler who sought to reshape the world to his will, was fraught with peril.But I had Rem. I had Ram. I had A new little sister to protect.—Two weeks. It felt like a lifetime, and no time at all.The Chouju Empire was thriving. The streets were clean, the markets bustling, the people… well, they were still adjusting to the new order, to the constant presence of the drones, to the swift, often brutal, enforcement of my decrees.But crime was down, literacy was up, and a sense of cautious optimism was slowly replacing the fear that had permeated this city, which I still needed to rename- for so long. I'd established a council of advisors, selected by AILISA from among the most promising citizens- scholars, artisans, merchants, even a few former slaves who had shown exceptional intelligence and a genuine desire for a better world.They were learning, adapting, embracing the challenges of governing a society that was undergoing a radical transformation.But it wasn't enough.There was still so much to do. So many problems to solve. So many injustices to rectify.And I was only one man."Damn it," I muttered, my gaze fixed on the laptop screen, the data streams flowing before my eyes, a symphony of reports, of statistics, of pleas for help, of cries for justice that the drones couldn't handle due to people using Magoi based abilities and supernatural strength being involved."There's just not enough time," I continued, my voice a low rumble of frustration. "I need to be everywhere at once. I need to oversee the construction of new schools, the implementation of new agricultural techniques, the training of specialized enforcers, the implementation of new technologies- the list goes on and on."I leaned back in my chair, my enhanced muscles rippling beneath the smooth fabric of my black and gold suit, a wave of exhaustion washing over me. I could feel Rem's warmth against my back, her arms wrapped around me, her breath soft against my neck, a comforting presence amidst the storm of my thoughts.Ram, perched on my lap, her pink hair tickling my chin, her red eyes sparkling with amusement, traced a lazy pattern on my chest with a perfectly manicured fingernail, her touch a silent offer of distraction, of comfort, of a different kind of support."Perhaps you should consider delegating," Ram suggested, her voice filled with a playful lilt and a smirk on her face. "You're not the only one with a brain, you know. Rem and I are perfectly capable of handling a few minor tasks.""Minor tasks?" I scoffed, a wry grin spreading across my face. "You call overseeing the construction of a new irrigation system in the southern AND northern portions of a desert nation a 'minor task'? Or implementing a universal healthcare system across the entire empire? Or establishing a network of trade routes that will connect us to the rest of the world?""Details, details," Ram retorted, her smirk widening. "We're smart, resourceful, and we have access to your… ah, rather extensive library of knowledge."She leaned closer, her breath warm against my ear, her voice a husky whisper. "Besides," she added, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "wouldn't you rather spend a little more… quality time with your lovely consorts? We've been rather neglected lately, haven't we, Rem?"Rem, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink, her blue eyes sparkling with a mixture of longing and desire, nodded in agreement. "Indeed," she murmured, her voice a soft melody that sent shivers down my spine. "An emperor's duties are important, of course. But… so are his… personal relationships then- maybe after the third date- we can."I chuckled as she trailed off and clearly entered some kind of fantasy, Rem and Ram's combined efforts to distract me was a welcome respite.But a solution, a radical, almost reckless, idea, had been brewing in the back of my mind for days."There might be another way," I said, my voice thoughtful, my gaze drifting to a vial that sat on the desk beside the laptop. It shimmered with a faint, ethereal light, its contents a swirling vortex of silver and gold, a testament to my mastery of potion-making, a culmination of years of study, experimentation, and countless loops spent pushing the boundaries of alchemy."Another way?" Ram echoed, her brow furrowing, her gaze fixed on the vial, a flicker of suspicion in her red eyes. "What are you talking about, Tereda?""This potion," I explained, picking up the vial, its coolness a welcome contrast to the warmth of Ram's body pressed against mine, "it grants the ability to split myself into four individual units, each with a quarter of my power and a mental link to each other, including the main body."Rem and Ram exchanged a surprised glance, their initial amusement fading, replaced by a mix of curiosity and apprehension."Four of you?" Rem asked, her voice laced with a hint of concern.Her face then turned crimson imagining the other uses.Blood dribbled from her nose as her mind took her places people dare not go."It sounds… chaotic," Ram admitted, her voice hesitant."It's not much of a risk," I shrugged, my gaze returning to the vial, its shimmering contents a reminder of the power, the potential, it held. "The potential rewards are… immeasurable."I raised the vial to my lips, my gaze meeting Rem and Ram, their expressions a mixture of lust and concern etched on their respective faces.But before the potion could touch my lips, a sudden wave of energy, a ripple of distortion, shattered the fragile peace of the study.Rem and Ram, their reflexes honed by countless battles, their enhanced senses screaming in warning, jolted upright, their bodies shifting into a defensive stance, their gazes fixed on the point of intrusion.A single rukh, its form flickering between black and white, a chaotic dance of hatred and despair, acceptance and defiance, materialized in the center of the room. It pulsed with an energy that made my skin crawl, a dissonance that clashed against my very being.The rukh, its form shifting, swirling, coalescing, took on the shape of a woman, her black hair unkempt, her pink kimono tattered and stained with blood, her face etched with a grief so profound it seemed to suck the very air from the room.Her eyes, a dull gray, devoid of life, yet burning with a cold, unwavering rage, fixed on me."My name is Ren Hakuei," she said, her voice a hollow whisper that seemed to echo from the depths of a forgotten tomb. "First Imperial Princess of the Kou Empire. My Djinn, Paimon, told me to seek you out. she said that if I wanted to change my fate… you were my only hope."The words hung in the air, heavy with a desperation, a longing, that resonated with the echoes of my own journey, my own struggles against the seemingly immutable forces of fate.I stared at her, my initial shock fading, replaced by a wave of pity, a flicker of understanding. This woman, broken, betrayed, her spirit shattered, was a mirror, a reflection of the countless people I'd encountered in night city.Victims of a system that rewarded greed, that punished compassion, that crushed the weak beneath the iron heel of power."Tell me your story, Hakuei," I said, my voice soft, gentle, my gaze meeting hers.I set the vial aside, the potion of self-division momentarily forgotten, its shimmering contents a beacon of possibility in a world where fate, it seemed, was a goddamn bitch much more than usual.