Chapter 37: Seaside City

Ash just stared at everyone seriously and they sobered up after a good minute.

"A vacation? You're really having burnout? I guess that's true, with how much work you're doing..." Margaret was concerned.

"Yeah, how many days do you go by without sleeping?" Zofia asked as she saw him many times working in the night.

"I usually only sleep once a month." He shrugged, thinking about it now, the problem might be because his mental health is declining due to psychological stress.

"Huh!?" The others who didn't know were shocked and they thought that humans would already be having severe psychosis after about 5-7 days of being sleepless.

"What are you doing Ash? Are you crazy? Are you out of your mind?" Enciades was a workaholic too, but he was insane.

"I already told you, my body doesn't need sleep. A lot of things just happened so I'm quite tired." He sighed.

"That's true... He's been working since what? Like he was 6 years old I think?" Adele remembered when he established his business and the man has been working for a decade at the least.

"Baws, you're a machine." Lappland can't imagine working for that long.

"You're severe, I heard of your habits. But it's like you are married to your work." Viviana sighed and was glad he was able to have a nap earlier.

"Enough, your concerns are appreciated. But our talk here isn't getting anywhere yeah?" Ash rolled his eyes and they started searching for vacation spots.

"Ahh, how about the rural areas of Kazimierz? I was told there are many farms to relax there." Maria suggested.

"Maria... You know I'm a farmer right?" He deadpanned at her and Maria remembered that Asmodeus enterprise is a produce company mainly.

"Ahhh, sorry." She twiddled her thumbs and got embarrassed.

"I know! I know! We can go to Siracusa and kill all the mafiosos there!" Lappland suggested and Specter nodded at her which was rare.

"Rejected, what kind of vacation is that you crazy bitch?" Sonus glared at her and Lappland shut up, she has a really high standing in Deliverance after all.

Specter also got a bit disappointed, but they ignored her.

"Hmmm, what about going with Shining and Liz that are in Columbia? There are many sciences and labs there. Don't you enjoy reading about those?" Degenbrecher suggested.

"Ahhh, Columbia huh? I do like science... No, I'll just be roped into work, I can feel it. There's something troublesome there." Ash shook his head and ruled out Columbia.

"You won't do anything at Ursus but fight. Where can we go that is a nice vacation spot?" Margaret sighed.

They were all muscle heads that are interested in either fighting or politics. A break is sitting down and doing paperwork.

"How about Siesta? I heard that they're holding a nice festival there. It's right by the beach too, it looks promising." Adele thought about the place because it was near a volcano.

She really loves volcanoes. "Siesta? Then I'll have it checked out. Everyone in this room will research about it and send me a vacation proposal the next morning, dismissed." He ordered and they saluted.

He returned to his room, Nian and Kjera were there. Talking about Yan and what they should do if they were to ever fight against them.

"Ahh, I heard you're talking about taking a vacation? What's up with that?" Nian was spying on them with a bug and he nodded.

"Isn't that a waste of time? What the hell? You should just look for my siblings if you have that much free time." Nian sighed.

"Shut up, Kazimierz and Leithanien are by our side due to his diligent work. We would destroy Yan if we invade it. The campaigning knights as the vanguard. Leithanien as the rear guard. Paradiso's army as the commando units. We'd crush them like an ant under our boots." Kjera huffed.

"Well, that might be true. We have the strongest combination right now. But they might have other Feranmuts in their midst that are their slaves." Ash replied and they have to be careful against Yan.

"That's right!" Nian agreed. But she knew Kjera's words were correct. Yan's imperial army would be trampled to the ground if they combined all their forces, it wasn't even funny.

The unparalleled swordmasters of Kazimierz, the silverlance pegasi at the front. Sarkaz with many abilities attacking out of nowhere. Artillery barrages of arts from Leithanien's supreme casters.

With the twin empresses and Paradiso's operators leading the charge. They would be nigh unstoppable at an all out war.

"Let's just calm down anyway. I've yet to experience an R&R in this life too." Ash mumbled and was quite sad by that fact. He is overworked even in his next life.

"So? Did you decide on a place? At least make it worthwhile or something." Nian lazed around and was already a top notch slacker, opening a bag of chips and a bottle of soda.

"Everyone's preparing a presentation for a place called Siesta." Ash shrugged and was expecting a lot from them to convince him. If it wasn't good, maybe he'd just go to Sargon that has jungles and have a Jumanji adventure.

"Siesta huh? That place has a nice beach. Ahh! I know, how about we film a flick there? I might not look like it, but I'm the best director in the world!" Nian had a smug look on her face.

"Not sorry, but I doubt that." Kjera deadpanned at her and Ash ignored her claims.

"What!? You think I'm lying!? Look! I have one of my films right with me. A master always treasures their art!" Nian took out a vhs and Ash called a servant to get a player for it.

They then watched it and Ash definitely thought it was like a Bollywood action movie with over the top scenes that she most likely did using her powers due to the lack of budget.

"Isn't this a b-list movie at best?" Ash stared at her blankly and Nian was genuinely shocked out of her mind.

"Yeah, what is this... Garbage?" Kjera looked at her with disgust and Nian received the highest emotional damage of her life.

"M-my beautiful piece of art... Ahhh! You just don't appreciate art! You're illiterate in the beauty of this film!" Nian pointed her finger at them and was trying to defend her ego.

"No, it doesn't work like that. Art always has been and always should be appreciated by everyone. What are you? A snob artist that tapes bananas to canvases and thinks it's their Magnum opus? Only idiots would think that's art." Ash sighed.

He remembered the ridiculous artworks back on earth that were crap. Unlike the classics like back in the Renaissance and ancient times. Modern art is just rotting garbage compared to it.

"U-ugh, you're too mean." Nian got depressed and she did an orz.

"What? It would be pretty fun to make a movie there, how about we do one? You won't be the director though." Ash thought it would be a waste to make a film on the beach with Nian as the director.

"I agree." Kjera nodded and Nian was going to cry at their bullying. "You're ganging up on me!" She whined. "Then deal with it, it's not our fault you make shitty movies." Ash shut her down.

"My heart, I just heard it break into pieces..." Nian didn't have the strength to retort anymore and collapsed on the couch.

"Stop being dramatic damnit, stop sulking." Ash sighed and called for Narcissa, Ceobe, and the twins.

They arrived and Narcissa was already carrying some controllers and her console. "Ash says it's game night tonight. This is rare, I won't sleep tonight." Narcissa had a determined expression.

"Un, Ash. You don't play games with us that much anymore." Alastor sulked and Astaroth sighed. "He's busy, that's enough reason."

"Games?" Ceobe tilted her head and Ash decided to up the ante. "Yeah. And we're betting treats. Come on, Mario kart won't play itself." He took some desserts in the kitchen and they'll use it as currency.

"Ahhh, a chance! I'll beat you up well in this so-called game." Nian was fired up and Kjera was about to leave them to it. But Ash pulled her and was going to teach the ancient one about having fun.

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The next morning, Nian was still depressed because the annihilation trio and Ceobe beat her ass.

Ceobe lost at first, but the stakes made her improve really quickly. And she has killer instincts against anything. The girl uses arts without learning about it after all, she was a bonafide natural prodigy.

"Ahem, we're here today to tell you about Siesta's benefits Ash." Margaret was the presenter and she was wearing glasses, cosplaying as a teacher.

"Will this really work? I don't think so." Margaret whispered to Adele and the caprinae gave her a thumbs up.

"If there's one thing he likes, it's no doubt the beauty and allure of women." Adele beamed at her and Ash felt like he was being slandered.

"We prepared this presentation for you so you'll accept Siesta as the vacation spot." Margaret coughed and she blushed a bit.

Their PowerPoint then started to show the girls in their swimsuits and she explained. "We'll be in swimsuits and frolick on the waters. That is all."

"Umu, a very good reason indeed. I'd like to add something though." Ash looked at them seriously.

"W-what is it?" Adele got nervous and thought he'd reject it.

"I have to rub you all with sunscreen." He nodded sagely and he wanted to try it at least once. Slick skin being rubbed with lotion and slippery sunscreen. He won't be able to call himself a man if he doesn't do so.

"Agreed, meeting adjourned." Margaret nodded and Sonus blushed like a tomato.

"What!? How can we let him rub our feminine bodies!? We're ladies!" Sonus complained.

"Aren't you a little too flat to call yourself a feminine lady? But your butt does look good." Degenbrecher commented and Sonus was shocked.

She did an orz and held her chest. "Y-you bastard! You love big boobs don't you? You're the enemy of women! Harem loving bastard! You probably decide on your women by their breast size!" Sonus had a meltdown and Ash raised a brow.

"What the hell are you talking about Sonus? A big chest feels nice yeah. But you can still compensate with other skills. You're probably a dead lay aren't you? Because if you knew, you'd be confident with your body." He destroyed her.

"W-wha?" Sonus froze on the spot and she had to kneel down from the damage.

"Onwards to Siesta then, prepare your swimsuits and we'll have a nice time at the beach." Ash stood up and everybody cheered except Sonus.

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Siesta is a city state that is close to Victoria. It was located in a volcanic peninsula and has a tropic climate where the annual obsidian festival is held. It is a time of festivities where many bands and musicians go to.

And due to it being close to Victoria, Alexandrina was getting anxious about being found there.

"Why are we going near Victoria? Blimey, won't the traitors find you there Vina?" Hannah got worried.

"I don't think so, they only knew what I looked like when I was a child... But it does make me a bit anxious." Vina frowned and thought that Paradiso is a bit too confident.

Ash then overheard them and he walked up to Glasgow. "Don't worry about it, you have no idea how much we held back in Kazdel you know?" He sighed and imagined their reaction to Narcissa and Kjera.

Kjera would most likely defend Paradiso and Narcissa will definitely kill anything that tries to fight them.

"Thank you for the concern Ash..." Vina gave a strained smile. 'If that was them holding back, I don't know what they're capable of.'

She then thought it was just a festival, so it must be fine. Victoria is being uprooted from the ground right now anyway. Nobles won't be able to go to Siesta.

"I'm not really concerned, even if Victoria's army comes here we would smother them to the ground. You haven't seen what our defense systems are capable of." He shrugged and left them to their own devices.

"Kuuu! He's too arrogant." Hannah was vexed and thought that if only they were stronger, Vina wouldn't need help from them.

"Of course he would be, but it's more of unshakeable confidence. There's a big difference Hannah. How about we test it with one of their knights?" Vina balled her fist and thought that she wanted to play a role in taking back Victoria.

"Pardon?" Hannah was confused and they went to the military barracks to try and find someone to spar with.

They saw Degenbrecher lazing around and was eating some sausages and pretzels while drinking beer.

"Ahhh, that sure hits the spot. Nothing like beer and sausages in the afternoon." Degenbrecher was enjoying her free time and Alexandrina walked up to him.

They didn't really saw the physical fighters in the Kazdel raid earlier due to them using only their swords and spears.

So she thought she must be one of the weaker commanders. Not really knowing that she is the grand master of the silverlance pegasi that teaches them more advanced swordplay.

"Huh? Isn't it her royal highness Alexandrina~ I'll call you HRH from now on yeah? That's too bothersome." Degenbrecher waved her hand nonchalantly and Hannah was about to blow a fuse again.

Vina put a hand on Hannah. They have no reason to put respect on her name anyways. And Degenbrecher is like that with anyone except the twin empresses.

"Can I ask for a spar?" Alexandrina was determined to have a bit of acknowledgement. It was for her gang.

They were treated appropriately of course, but they were like puppies that got picked up by a rich guy. And she wanted to take Victoria back with her powers too.

"Hoh? You sure about that?" Degenbrecher squinted her eyes and was impressed she had the guts to ask for a fight with her.

"Yes, I have to become stronger as Victoria's future empress." She was determined and Degenbrecher shrugged.

"Sure, don't cry though. Let me formally introduce myself HRH and her silly little gang. I'm Degenbrecher, the black knight." She tossed a sword to her and took her longsword.

"Wait, have I heard of that name before?" Hannah rubbed her chin and was trying to remember.

"En garde, princess." Degenbrecher disappeared from her location and Vina raised her sword horizontally subconsciously.

She froze from the immense pressure above her and felt like Degenbrecher was an insurmountable mountain that will bear down its weight on her.

Vina closed her eyes and waited to get hit, but it didn't came. "I see. This is all you amount to, disappointing, but understandable." Degenbrecher shrugged and went back to her beer and snacks.

"Hey! It isn't over yet!?" Hannah tried to interject, but Vina collapsed on her behind and started panting. Her palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy. She almost vomited her breakfast that was spaghetti.

"Vina! Are you okay mate!?" Hannah ran to her with concern and Vina raised her hand. "I... I'm fine."

She breathed in deeply and stared at Degenbrecher with awe and fear. 'I thought I was going to die... How strong is that woman? Her intent was like the weight of the world.'

"Run along now, I don't think you should fight if your resolve is that weak. Come on, shoo." Degenbrecher shooed them away like a fly.

Vina gritted her teeth and she helped herself stand up with her sword. "Vina, let me assist you." Hannah tried to hold her up. But she pushed her away.

"No! I can do this myself... Lady Degenbrecher, please. I have a request. It may be presumptuous of me. But I am the crown princess of Victoria. I must take the throne and alleviate the suffering of my people." She furrowed her brows.

Remembering the screams as the Sarkaz marched into Londinium. Their knights getting killed by their invasion. And even one of her gang members being the only one left of one of the divisions, the tower knights.

"No." Degenbrecher bit her sausage and ate some sauerkraut. "S-sorry?" Vina was shocked.

"Listen here, HRH. You're pretty strong for your age, smart too. Otherwise you would be in a ditch right now. But you're weak, zero multiplied by ten is still zero." Degenbrecher drank her beer without concern.

"W-what do you mean?" Alexandrina frowned. "Exactly what I just said. You can't take Victoria by your own hands. Where's your army then? Your Intel?" She looked around sarcastically.

"I... I will rally the nobles that will help me with this endeavor." That was the best answer she could come up with right now.

"Then are you talking with them already? Did they accept? No, you're as harmless as a royal could be. No influence, no power, no overwhelming strength to rally your troops. Nothing but pure ideals." Degenbrecher squinted her eyes.

"That's where you and Ash are different. Of course you can't compare to him, he's just built different." She shrugged, gesturing that it can't be helped.

"Then... Then what should I do?" Vina was vexed and Degenbrecher smirked. "After our vacation, why not talk to him about it? Compared to monsters here, you're normal. So you should do it the old fashioned way."

"Negotiate?" Vina thought about it and was wondering about her words from earlier. Indeed, their army is like a group of monsters.

"Thank you for your wisdom." Vina bowed and she put the puzzle together. They would just need to relegate territories of Victoria to them or another kind of payment.

"Yeah, run along now." Degenbrecher nodded at herself for her split second decision.

"Hmm, Margaret and the empresses gave him countries. I should contribute too right? I can't call myself his woman if I don't." She was pleased and thought it was lucky that Alexandrina is smart.

"Good thing she's not a meathead. Or she'll just bother me for lessons all the time and would love to suicide into battle like an idiot." Degenbrecher hummed.

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After a peaceful travel to the city of Siesta, their mobile city was docked nearby and of course were invited to the house of the noble that is ruling there.

"Do we really need to meet up with a noble? I might just kill him though?" Lappland sulked and wasn't one to pay respects to people that got their titles through blood.

"Don't worry, it's just going to be pleasantries Lappland. You can go hunt nearby the volcano later all you want. I heard there's tons of originium slugs there. They spit all kinds of acids too." Ash reassured her.

"Muuu, I guess that's fine." She was satisfied enough with that. But it was lacking for her, they don't scream as they die after all.

"Ohhh, can we keep one as a pet?" Narcissa was excited and thought of having one.

"You can take care of it?" Ash rubbed her ears and she cutely nodded with a determined face.

"Then you girls go get some originium slugs. Ceobe though... I don't think it's a good idea." His eyes twitched because their livers are considered a delicacy.

She might try to slurp one like escargot if she gets hungry suddenly.

They then found someone unexpected there. "Ahhh! Leader!" He heard a spunky voice and the angel with maroon hair pointed at them.

She then ran to him and lunged on him. "Leader! I didn't expect you here!" Exusiai rubbed her face on him and he lifted her into the air.

"What are you guys doing here Exusiai? Is it due to the obsidian festival? Monster siren records is gonna perform here?" Ash thought about it and then it was confirmed when a penguin greeted them, raising its flipper.

"Yo, what's up Ash? You looking killer my ni... Ahem, brother." Emperor nodded at him and saw that he was surrounded by women.

"Emperor, long live the penguin empire bro, sup." He nodded at him and the logistic's operators greeted them too.

"Geh." Texas saw Lappland and thought she would have to hide again, but weirdly. She didn't seem as interested in her as before.

"Ash-sama! It's good to see you again." Sora bowed to him and was really excited to see him. Thinking that he would be performing in the festival. Asmodeus Naumann is a hot topic in the music industry too.

"Sora, you're going to do your idol dances here? How about I prepare a magical girl costume for you?" He remembered the idols back in his world and the simps were crazy for magical girls. Not really considering that was when he was a kid.

"Really!? That would be nice~" Sora giggled and Emperor stood in front of Sora. "Oi, she's a bit too young for you. Go chase skirts of people that are of your own mental age."

Emperor had a bad feeling and thought his number one idol would get sucked in to debauchery.

"What the hell are you talking about Emperor? Sora's a good friend of ours, she performed really well for our citizens back then." He nodded as he reminisced.

"Hah, just don't seduce her. You crazy bastard, you already have the history." He pointed at Exusiai and his lovers around him.

"Hehe~ did it look like that? Leader, leader, you have any more new things for me?" Exusiai pestered him for anything gun related.

"Hmmm, we have developed some incendiary and HE rounds that have automatic arts on it. It will help you fight off some heavy enemies." He promised he'll give her some bullets and she was in cloud nine.

"How about you big sis Texas? You're so quiet, Lappland won't pester you. Isn't that right?" He gave the silver haired Lupo a side eye and she started sweating.

"Yes... That's right." Lappland meekly backed away from Texas. Back then when penguin logistics was in Paradiso, they almost fought one time due to Lappland being insistent.

So Ash had Lappland waterboarded and poisoned with nerve agents. She shivered remembering her muscles lose function from head to toe.

She thought she would die like a dog that would just twitch on the ground that day.

"Is that so..." Texas looked at Lappland cautiously, but she didn't really look like she'll do anything. So she mouthed thank you to him.

He nodded with a smile and rubbed her ears that made her blush a bit.

"We'll be going, we're going to meet with the lord of the city." Ash waved his hand goodbye and they went to the estate.

There they arrived and was led to the saloon. A lady in a dress then appeared and curtsied to him. "Hello, your majesty. It's an honor to be in your presence. I am Ceylon Doykos." (pic)

"Well met, who's your little friend?" He looked at the silent looking feline beside her that obviously has a dangerous aura.

"Schwarz, your majesty." She bowed awkwardly. "Apologies with her etiquette your majesty, she's my bodyguard." Ceylon apologized and the feline felt bad for it. (pic)

"No, call me Ash while we're at it. I went from rags to riches yeah? I don't care about etiquette." He smiled and Ceylon smiled.

Schwarz then bowed more sincerely, she read up on his biography and he was an orphan that rose to be an emperor. She honestly respected his drive and rise to power.

"When will your father be here?" Ash asked and the doors opened and they were greeted by the lord. Herman Doykos.

"Please enjoy your stay here." They bowed to him and he sighed. It was pretty tiring to deal with pleasantries and the like.

"Come on, let's enjoy the festival yeah?" He shrugged. "Hah, can I finally wear something more revealing? It's hot here." Enciades complained, she was sweating bullets.

Enya was able to use arts to make herself cool. And Kjera, being the protective big sister also made her cool. But Ensia and Enciades were miserable.

"Yeah, go wear something else. Let's go and roam the city a bit." He gave everyone a bundle of LMD to buy anything they want.

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Thanks for reading everyone, ciao.