Relentless Assault - 1
Bringing Ersha Scarlet on as Nahen’s secretary sent ripples throughout the blood clan. It was tantamount to their progenitor openly declaring she would follow him, so even the lingering resentment they had harbored toward their previously forced alliance melted away completely.
In that atmosphere, Nahen made a suggestion to her.
“How would you feel about bringing the entire blood clan back to the Demon Realm?”
“This maiden believes that would be best as well. But isn’t it impossible right now?”
“It is. We’ll do it after the Demon Realm general assembly ends.”
The ban on entering the Human Realm was still in effect. If they moved such a large group through a portal, they would obviously be detected. Even Nahen’s magic could not transport an entire race at once.
So he returned to the 50th Floor with only Ersha. Nahen, Secily, and Ersha, having come back from the blood clan’s territory, headed straight for the office where Seere would be waiting.
“This is your first time meeting Seere, isn’t it?”
“Yes. This maiden has been looking forward to this encounter quite a bit.”
“May I say one thing in advance?”
“What is it?”
“…She might glare at you rather fiercely. It’s not something to take too seriously, so just let it slide.”
“How curious.”
“You’ll understand what I mean the moment you meet her.”
Nahen reached the office and knocked. A sweet voice answered from inside.
“Come in, Teacher.”
“…Right.”
Nahen felt a touch of discomfort. He always thought the same thing—how overly sensitive she was to his mana. Even when she was little, she would wake up and wait for him whenever he tried to visit secretly. Now she still recognized him before he even spoke.
Still, it’s convenient that she knows right away. That’s a good thing, right?
He opened the door. Today Seere von Devata rose from her seat in her Demon King regalia to greet him warmly.
“You kept your promise. You came within three days.”
“Of course I did.”
He didn’t dare break it. He knew what would happen if he did.
“And, as always, you’ve picked up another woman.”
“Picked up? That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?”
“Is this the one? The progenitor of the blood clan….”
“My name is Ersha Scarlet, Seere von Devata.”
Seere’s brow twitched slightly. Ersha had used “-nim” instead of “Your Majesty.” It was a title reserved for fellow Demon Kings of equal rank, so hearing it from someone else felt unfamiliar.
Even so, Seere did not press the issue. She knew Ersha was the blood clan’s progenitor—an existence on par with the primordial Demon Kings.
Nahen pointed out the form of address.
“Ersha, it may not suit you, but you should call Seere ‘Your Majesty.’”
“Ah, I see. This maiden is currently Your Lordship’s secretary, after all. At the moment, you are serving under Her Majesty, correct?”
“That’s right.”
By the chain of command, Ersha was in a position where she had to show respect to Seere. Ersha smiled brightly and offered a proper greeting.
“This maiden apologizes for the discourtesy. Seere von Devata, Your Majesty, I am Ersha Scarlet, newly appointed as Lord Nahen’s secretary.”
“…If you’re Teacher’s secretary, may I speak comfortably?”
“By all means.”
“Good. I’m pleased to meet you as well—First Moon, Ersha Scarlet.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve heard that nickname.”
“I won’t question your decision to serve as Teacher’s secretary. He must have judged it necessary. However, you should be aware of a few things.”
“What points should I keep in mind?”
Seere narrowed her eyes. The way Ersha continued to smile with perfect composure somehow displeased her. Or perhaps it was simply because she was even more beautiful than Secily had described.
“Romance is forbidden in my Demon King’s castle.”
“…Pardon?”
“It means you’re not allowed to do anything strange with Teacher!”
Ersha tilted her head, looking genuinely puzzled. Seeing that pure, innocent expression, Seere herself grew slightly flustered.
“Ah, did you understand?”
“I don’t quite grasp the meaning, but I will remember it.”
Nahen, meanwhile, was utterly dumbfounded. What on earth was this “romance ban” nonsense?
Then what about Dane and Eri…?
Did she not realize that such a rule would apply to herself as well? When he looked at Seere with that exact thought in his eyes, she met his gaze with a fierce glare. It was such an adorable act of defiance that he simply let it pass.
He turned back to Ersha.
“…That’s enough for greetings. There’s something I want to ask first.”
“Ask me anything.”
“I already told you why the Demon Realm general assembly is being held, correct?”
“Yes, you did.”
He had already explained the current state of the Demon Realm to her.
“With the Heavenly Demon War right before us, we need solid information on the enemy.”
“This maiden’s knowledge of the Heavenly Realm is also limited. Many angels must have changed while I slept….”
“You should still know the important ones.”
“I can speak about them.”
“Seere needs to hear this too, so I’d like you to talk here.”
“As you wish.”
When Ersha nodded readily, Nahen looked at Seere.
“Do you have time to listen?”
“…Yes, I do. This is the kind of conversation we must make time for.”
“Good. Thank you for understanding.”
Nahen felt relieved, yet also found it fascinating. Seere clearly disliked Ersha, but Ersha seemed to rather like Seere. That gentle, unwavering smile made it obvious she felt no negative emotions at all.
Is it because she knew Seir?
To Ersha, Seere’s slightly arrogant attitude and jealous barbs probably registered as nothing more than a child’s cute rebellion. It was fortunate. He had worried the ancient vampire might respond in kind to Seere’s hissing, but she was merciful, as expected of one who had lived so long.
Nahen, Seere, and Ersha each took a seat on the sofas, and the real discussion began.
“We need information on the archangels.”
“First, you should know one thing. The archangels will not step onto the battlefield of the Heavenly Demon War themselves.”
“That makes sense.”
“Then why do you wish to know about them?”
“There may come a time when the information is needed.”
“…May this maiden offer one piece of advice?”
“Go ahead. That’s why I seated you here.”
“Please abandon any thought of traveling to the Heavenly Realm yourself.”
“……”
Nahen narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Why?”
“The Heavenly Realm is unmistakably the angels’ domain. Your power would be neutralized there.”
“Is that so?”
“If you had regained your original strength, it might be different. But in your current state, you cannot help but be affected by the holy energy of that place.”
That meant he would have to scrap any plan of striking the Heavenly Realm first, depending on how things developed. Nahen nodded.
“Even so, I don’t believe the possibility of archangels intervening is zero.”
“Even in a Heavenly Demon War, they would normally refrain… unless the exalted ones themselves get involved?”
“There is a chance.”
“Oh my….”
Ersha looked genuinely surprised. The reason Nahen could say such a thing was because he had seen Golab’s attitude while in Hell.
“Then I should tell you.”
“Please do.”
“…Um, Teacher.”
“Yes?”
Seere let out a small sigh.
“I can’t follow the conversation.”
“Ah.”
Her expression had turned somewhat sulky. It seemed she felt left out as the two of them spoke over her head. The topics were indeed beyond what she could keep up with.
“To begin with, thinking of going to the Heavenly Realm—what kind of reckless idea is that?”
“…I only meant I would if it became necessary.”
“I absolutely will not allow it.”
“You just said it’s impossible anyway.”
“Even if it were possible, I wouldn’t allow it!”
“Understood….”
Only after Nahen gave a firm answer did Seere nod in satisfaction. Because he had not returned for eight years, she had grown extremely sensitive to him leaving on his own. Of course, it was entirely his own fault.
“The possibility that the exalted ones might participate… does that mean Archdemons like you could join the war?”
“It’s only a possibility.”
“If that happens, unlike all the previous Heavenly Demon Wars, it would become an all-out war between Heaven and Hell….”
“We must prevent that. It has to end at the level of Demon Kings. But we should prepare for the worst.”
Seere nodded as if she understood.
“Then this maiden will tell you everything she knows.”
“I would be grateful.”
“Shall we begin with the ruler of the Heavenly Realm, the archangel Metatron?”
Ersha Scarlet’s lecture on angels had begun. It took more than an hour for Nahen and Seere to absorb all the information.
“How was it?”
After the discussion, Nahen sent Ersha out for a moment. He wanted to speak with Seere alone.
“Honestly… most of it was hard to believe.”
“Hard to believe, huh….”
It was understandable. Even Nahen, who possessed meta-knowledge from Evil Queen Maker, had found himself wondering if it could really be true. Ersha did not know everything about the archangels, yet even the fragments of their power she described were enough to inspire such doubt.
…It’s practically cheating.
He finally understood why the archangels had never appeared prominently in Evil Queen Maker. And if the archangels were that powerful….
The Archdemons who stand in opposition to them must possess equal strength.
The answer was clear from the fact that Nahen, weakened by his restrictions, had still been able to overwhelm the highest-ranking Demon King, Barbatos.
“Teacher.”
“Yes.”
“How can we prevent archangels or Archdemons from intervening in the Heavenly Demon War?”
“It’s simple, yet incredibly difficult.”
It sounded easy when put into words, but in truth there was no harder method.
“We simply have to end the Heavenly Demon War as quickly as possible.”
If they gave them no opening to intervene, that would be enough.
“As you say, it will be difficult.”
“Indeed.”
When Nahen agreed, Seere spoke quietly.
“If… I were to die in the war, what then?”
“Do you think I would allow that?”
He had meant it as a promise that he would not let his precious disciple die, but Seere interpreted it a little differently. Her cheeks flushed slightly, as if the words had improved her mood.
“Hehe, I only spoke hypothetically. Still, it is dangerous, isn’t it?”
“…Yes.”
“Then…”
Seere bit her lip. Nahen waited patiently to hear what she was hesitating to say. Sensing his consideration, she asked in a low voice.
“If it were my last confession… would you accept it, Teacher?”
“…Don’t say such strange things. You are not going to die.”
Nahen’s voice carried a hint of anger.
“I told you. I will raise you to the very top. Do you think I would let you die in something like the Heavenly Demon War?”
Seere smiled bashfully and stopped speaking of endings.
“…If anyone else had said it, I would have found it ridiculous. But when it comes from you, Teacher, it feels strangely reassuring.”
“You don’t need to worry. Even if an archangel tries to intervene, I will stop them.”
“Wouldn’t that make the war even bigger?”
“Of course, it would be best to finish the war early through prior preparations. What I mentioned was only the final… most extreme option.”
“Then what do you plan to do?”
“For now, the Demon Realm general assembly comes first. We’ll discuss methods after that.”
After listening, Seere lowered her head slightly.
“…Teacher, you know…”
“What is it now?”
“In the worst-case scenario, have you never considered that you might be the one who ends up disappearing?”
Nahen narrowed his eyes. He answered her question honestly.
“Of course I have.”
If the Heavenly Demon War truly escalated to the point where both archangels and Archdemons intervened, even Nahen could not guarantee his safety. In fact, no one could.
“…Then if you disappear after protecting me, what should I do? Are you telling me to simply let you go without doing anything?”
“Seere, that’s…”
You just have to give up on me.
The words rose to his throat but he swallowed them back. They seemed far too cruel to say to a girl who loved him. Yet the quick-witted Seere seemed to have already guessed what he intended to say.
“I have told you many times. I cannot give up.”
“……”
“Even if I say this… your heart won’t change, will it? I know.”
With those words, Seere rose from her seat.
“So…”
“…Yes?”
So? Before he could hear what came next, Nahen unconsciously tensed.
“Since it might be the last time, I can try a little harder, can’t I?”
Nahen stared at her, body rigid with tension.
“…Try what?”
Her voice was so thick with desire that he asked again without thinking. He already knew exactly what she meant.
“What do you think?”
In the blink of an eye, Seere was standing right in front of him. There was no hesitation in her movements. Nahen’s eyes widened as he looked at her, and Seere watched his reaction with clear amusement.
The atmosphere inside the office shifted completely. Seere unfastened the brooch holding her mantle and tossed it onto the sofa behind her. Nahen instinctively sensed danger.
“S-Seere! You mustn’t do this. I have no such intentions at all…!”
“Hm? I was just…”
Seere chuckled softly.
“…going to sit on your lap like before?”
“What?”
Before he could fully process her words, she had already acted. She settled lightly onto his lap.
“Like this.”
The problem was that the direction was the complete opposite of before. In the past, when she sat on his lap he had always seen her back. Now he faced her front. That meant Seere’s ample chest and the alluring valley created by her mature figure were suddenly right before his eyes.
“!?”
When his gaze instinctively went there, Seere smiled with deep satisfaction.
“Hehe, Teacher really is a man after all.”
“…What are you talking about?”
Realizing he had been caught in her trap, Nahen quickly adopted a cold attitude and denied his reaction.
“I wasn’t thinking anything.”
“Oh, is that so? Then it must have been my mistake.”
Even as she spoke, Seere leaned forward a little more. Nahen hurriedly turned his eyes away in panic, but she continued doing exactly as she pleased.
“Then you probably won’t feel anything no matter what I do.”
“That’s right, so stop this meaningless—”
Seere slipped both arms behind his back and pulled him into a tight embrace. Her soft breasts pressed firmly against his chest.
“W-Wait!?”
As Nahen froze in confusion, Seere whispered directly into his ear.
“Ahaha, Teacher… what a cute reaction. It really must be your ‘first’ time experiencing this.”
“Enough with the jokes!”
“It’s too much to call it a joke when I’m always sincere.”
“Just how much leniency do you think I’ve been showing you?”
“Then push me away. Mercilessly.”
Nahen frowned deeply and grabbed her shoulders. When he pushed, Seere yielded surprisingly easily. That only confused him more. Why was she letting herself be pushed away without resistance?
While he was still lost in that question, Seere gave a small laugh and rose from his lap.
“That’s enough for today. Any further and you really wouldn’t accept it, so it would be pointless to push.”
“What…?”
“It was rather impulsive of me. I wasn’t prepared at all.”
Prepared? Nahen blinked in confusion. Seere laughed lightly, as if his bewildered face was adorable, then raised a finger and pointed at the hem of her skirt.
“It’s so plain.”
“……?”
His eyes followed her finger for a moment before he stared blankly. Only belatedly did he realize what she meant.
“…Seere!!!”
“Puhahaha!”
Seere burst into bright laughter, then suddenly threw the office door wide open.
“Where are you going!”
“Teacher is angry, so I’d better run away~.”
“What?”
She really did dash out through the open door. Left alone in the office, Nahen sat there with an incredulous expression. Ersha entered cautiously and asked,
“Did something happen?”
“……”
Nahen let out a long sigh. He answered simply.
“…It’s nothing.”
There was no way he could tell anyone about this. Once again, Nahen’s troubles had only grown deeper.