Arranging a Date
Having heard whatever Muriel had told her, Rebecca stepped into the room in full combat gear. Her expression remained rigid as her eyes met mine.
At her waist gleamed the pair of twin swords I had gifted her.
"Did you summon me?"
"Yeah. Have a seat first."
"Understood."
Rebecca brushed back her vibrant orange hair and settled onto the couch opposite mine. Cacciola cautiously watched the room before slipping into the seat right beside her.
...With Rebecca's fiery orange and Cacciola's deep dark green hair, the two of them looked like a set of traffic lights side by side.
"By the way, Cacciola, why are you here?"
"H-Huh?! Muriel told me to come! Wasn't I supposed to?"
"No, I mean... it doesn't matter. The more hands we have, the more helpful it is, especially since you're a Shadow Arts practitioner..."
Gulp.
I downed a mouthful of liquor, pondering for a moment.
"It's just that I feel a little awkward bossing you around."
"What...?"
Cacciola scowled in offense, baring her sharp teeth aggressively.
"Are you doubting my skills right now?"
"No, that's not what I mean. The truth is, I'm not really in a position to demand anything from you."
"Huh?... Uh, what? What are you talking about?"
She tilted her head, looking genuinely baffled.
"Didn't you say you're my master and I'm your slave? You were the one who said it."
"I said that, sure. But does that word actually bind you in any way?"
"Ha, what? Did you think I was going to run away? You don't need to worry about that. I'm actually pretty satisfied with my life right now. You could say I feel myself growing stronger by the day."
"Hmm? Really?"
"Yeah. I can say with complete certainty that nowhere else offers growth this efficient. So until I have my family's revenge, I plan to stay planted right here. But that's only possible with your permission. So give me whatever orders you want. I'll carry them out to the best of my ability."
"Glad to hear that's how you see it."
"...Your flippant attitude makes me uneasy. Wait, were you testing me just now?"
"Nope. No idea what you're talking about."
Ignoring the glare she shot me, I merely shrugged and took a drag from my rolled cigarette.
"Phaaah... Right, anyway. For Rebecca, this is a second commission, and for Cacciola, it's an order. I need the two of you to act as my bodyguards for a while."
"Bodyguard duty? Are you going somewhere outside again?"
"No, not that. The issue is that there's a chance I might get assassinated right here in the Duke's Castle."
"Pardon...?"
"What?! How the hell did that happen?"
Both Rebecca and Cacciola wore dumbfounded expressions, utterly blindsided by the revelation.
"Well... our Muriel here will explain it in terms that are easy to digest."
"......"
Muriel cast a subtle side-eye my way, but I paid it no mind, merely smiling as I picked up another drinking snack.
"Haaah... May I disclose everything?"
"Go ahead. It's not like these two are the type to run around blabbering about it... Right? Cacciola."
"Do you really have so little faith in me?... Ugh, fine. I'll keep my mouth shut. Happy now?"
"Great. Muriel, if you would."
"Understood."
Muriel's briefing took no longer than the time it took me to take a single sip of liquor and exhale a cloud of smoke.
"Lord Alzen. I have concluded."
"Uh... already?"
Just like last time, Muriel possessed an extraordinary talent for condensing complex situations into concise, crystal-clear summaries.
"Uh, right... Well, looks like both of you have the picture now?"
"Yes. While somewhat complicated... to put it simply, an extraordinary assassin syndicate known as Greenjack is targeting Lord Alzen. And Lord Berick belongs to them as well."
"Not just belongs. He's an executive of Greenjack."
"I see. Hmm... This sounds like it will be quite a difficult commission."
"Oho? Weak words, coming from Rebecca. Not confident?"
At my jab, Rebecca smirked, baring her teeth with fierce resolve.
"What nonsense. I am fully confident. Ah, but one question."
"What?"
"If push comes to shove, will there be any issue if I kill Stanasila Berick?"
"Huh? Hmmm..."
I pondered for a brief second before nodding.
"It'll probably cause a monumental amount of trouble, but don't sweat it. I'll cover for you somehow."
"And if that fails?"
"Who knows?... Maybe we'll all just pack our bags and run away together."
"I see. If Lord Alzen possesses such resolve, then I must match it with my own. Understood. I will rampage to my heart's content."
"Yeah. I'm counting on you."
I crooked my finger toward her with a sly grin. After a momentary flicker of confusion, her face flushed crimson.
"U-Um... Lord Alzen. Right now is a bit..."
"You don't want to? If you hate it, never mind."
"Ah, ahhn...! I-It can't be helped, then..."
Shuffling closer at my gesture, she knelt down on the floor before the sofa.
"Huh? What? What are you doing?"
Completely oblivious to what was happening, Cacciola stared in utter bewilderment. Ignoring her, I reached down and lightly stroked the nape of Rebecca's neck.
"Haaah, ngh...!"
From that mere touch alone, Rebecca's body flushed scorching hot. A tremor ran through her limbs, and a delicate, breathless whimper slipped from her lips.
"...W-Wait, what? What kind of situation is this?!"
"What does it look like?"
At my teasing reply, Cacciola's face contorted into a grimace.
"...J-Just to be clear, you aren't planning on having some messy, wild romp right here in front of me, are you?"
"Probably not. Most likely."
"Hyaaahn...!"
Tracing my fingers down from her neck to tickle along her collarbone, I slipped my fingertips past the rim of her collar. Rebecca's hips shivered violently, releasing a melting moan that sounded almost indecent.
"...If that's what this is, I'm leaving."
"Leaving? Where to?"
"What? Don't tell me you're about to ask me to join in! Don't screw with me. Do you think I'd stoop to behaving like a whore?"
"Hahaha! Having spent so many years as an adventurer, your mouth sure is foul."
When I laughed and pulled my hand back, Rebecca wriggled her hips with a profoundly disappointed look in her eyes.
"I'm joking. Rebecca and I don't have that kind of relationship."
"...Anyone looking at you two would swear you do."
"I make it a rule not to care what others think."
"Maybe you should care just a little...?"
Cacciola scoffed in disbelief. She watched Rebecca subtly lean against my knees with a bizarre expression, then seemed to remember something and locked eyes with me.
"Oh, right. Alzen."
"What?"
"Is it true that you awakened knights of the Stanasila Knights with just a few words?"
"Yeah. It kind of turned out that way."
"I don't know what you did, but... can't you do that for me too?"
Seeing the sparkle in Cacciola's eyes gave me pause.
I possessed encyclopedic knowledge of all the fortuitous encounters across the world that could vastly raise their realms—their levels. But awakening someone with mere words like I had with the knights wasn't something I could just pull off on command.
However, if I borrowed the authority of a Demon King...
"Would that even work? Can't say until we try."
"Then try it right now!"
"Hmm... should I?"
Whether that Demon King would actually grant my request was another matter entirely, but there was no harm in trying.
Whatever the method, beefing up the combat power under my direct command would make my life significantly easier in more ways than one.
Besides, the situation didn't afford me the luxury of complacency.
With none other than Greenjack hunting for my head, any boost to our fighting strength was more than welcome.
"Ah, I-I would like that as well..."
Perhaps the thirst for martial advancement proved potent enough to overpower even lust. Even Rebecca, whose breath had grown ragged from arousal, began looking up at me with hesitant anticipation.
"Don't worry. I'll look into the futures of all three of you without leaving anyone out. Assuming it's possible, that is."
Rustle, rustle.
The moment I focused my consciousness on the Silk of Atonement tightly wrapped around my left arm, the fabric unwound itself as though alive, exposing the hideous, blackened limb beneath.
Then, I called out to the Demon King within my mind.
—Did you call? My dear friend.
Instantly, the connection snapped into place.
This was the first time I had initiated contact from my end, and the sensation was decidedly bizarre compared to receiving her voice. It felt as though a fragment of my soul was momentarily drawn toward an invisible nexus. Rather than unpleasant, it was simply fascinating.
"Yeah. I called. Rubias."
—Fufu... I never dreamed the day would come when you would reach out first.
"Cut the crap. You were reading the future, weren't you? That's the only reason you answered so fast."
—No, truly. I was not peering into the future this time. I am simply bored as a rule, which allowed me to connect immediately.
"What, a shut-in Demon King? That trope went out of style ages ago."
—What do you mean by that?
"It's a compliment."
—Hmm...? Well, it matters not. Still, why have you called upon me? Surely you did not summon me merely for idle chatter...
Roll.
An eyeball sprouted on my left forearm, revolving in a full circle to survey Muriel, Rebecca, and Cacciola.
While Muriel remained impassive, Rebecca and Cacciola—seeing the demonic eye and mouth emerge on my arm for the first time—froze in horror, their hands instinctively flying halfway to their weapons.
—Ah, the women from before.
"...Lord Alzen. Is that safe?"
"Why is a Demon King...?! A-Are you all right? You haven't been brainwashed by a Demon King or something, have you?!"
"Nothing like that. Quit overreacting and sit down."
With a dismissive flick of my hand, the two of them broke into cold sweats, hesitating before sinking back onto the sofa.
"Whew. When you don't share information in advance, explaining everything becomes such a chore... Muriel, from now on, make sure to periodically brief Rebecca and Cacciola on essential matters."
"Understood."
"Anyway, Demon King Rubias. I have a favor to ask."
—Oho? A favor... How amusing. What will you offer in exchange?
"Price? Can't you just do it as a courtesy? You helped me out for free last time."
—Hmph. Not a chance. Why would I grant a free favor to someone who refuses to even converse with me?
"...Are you sulking?"
—I am not sulking. I merely harbor dissatisfaction.
"That literally means you're sulking..."
Taking another sip of liquor with an exasperated sigh, I glared down sideways at the eyeball on my arm.
"Fine. So what is it you want from me?"
"W-Wait! Lord Alzen! Even if we asked for this, there is no need to make deals with a Demon King! Please stop at once!"
"...She's right. If I had known the rumors about you awakening the knights involved a Demon King, I never would have brought it up."
Watching the situation unfold, Rebecca and Cacciola turned pale and tried to dissuade me, but I merely shook my head.
"You use tools when you have them. What's the point of letting them rot? You two don't get it, but a Demon King's authority is practically an outright cheat. Assuming the price is reasonable, of course..."
When I dropped a pointed hint, the mouth on my left arm split into a delighted, mocking laugh.
It looked thoroughly grotesque.
—Hahaha! How true! Mortals favored by I, Demon King Rubias, are vanishingly rare! Nay, calling him the very first would hardly be an exaggeration! To let such an advantage go to waste would be the height of idiocy!
"Yeah, yeah. That's why I'm using you. Cut the chatter and state your terms."
—Hmm. Let us see... Ah, of course. How about a date?
"...A date? You mean meet up in person and hang out?"
—Indeed. Conversing like this has its charms, but it carries inevitable limits. I wish to feel you closer, flesh against flesh.
"Ha, haha..."
A Demon King asking for a date.
The sheer absurdity left me speechless.
"Do you truly wish to die, Rubias?"
Unconsciously, the corners of my mouth curled upward into a vicious grin.
"Did you honestly think you'd be able to escape like last time? I can promise you this: give me enough time and sufficient resources, and you will die. No exceptions."
—Khehe... Hahaha! Exquisite! A delicious shiver down my spine!
The Demon King erupted in laughter, the eye on my left arm fixing upon me with predatory fascination.
—Yes. Perhaps our next encounter will indeed be my last. Yet even so, it matters not. I desire you. I wish to see you, meet you, hold you in my embrace.
"My, how passionate... Anyone listening would mistake you for my wife."
Sizzle!
Crushing the smoldering cigarette stub into the ashtray, I bared my teeth in a smirk.
"Fine by me. I'll gladly accept terms like that any day. Grant my request, and I'll meet you wherever you want, whenever you want. Ah, but just so you know, the Demon Realm is off the table."
—And why is that?
"Because I can't guarantee your permanent death there."
—Khehe... Hehehehe...!
Rapt with profound delight, the Demon King laughed in low, somber tones before whispering with breathless ecstasy.
—Kang Han-gil. When you claimed our bond was forged through mutual death and shared communion, I could not fully grasp it until now. This truly is the exchange best suited to us.
"Is that something to brag about, you crazy lunatic?"
—Fufufu... Indeed. I have been mad for centuries. Perhaps even millennia...
Murmuring in distant nostalgia, her voice abruptly rose in volume.
—Now then, what is this favor you wish to ask of me?
"Ah. I need you to show me the future where these women ascend their realms or experience their awakenings. Right here, right now."
As I gestured toward Rebecca, Cacciola, and Muriel, the eye blinked several times before the lips curled into a broad grin.
—Very well. However, the sheer volume of information will be immense. It may prove rather painful.
"What? Kuuugh...!?"
The very next instant, a colossal deluge of memories and imagery crashed into my brain like a tidal wave, tearing through my thoughts with ruthless abandon.