A Clamor of Ecstasy
A clamor of ecstasy...
"...Husband?" Cecilia muttered through her teeth, repeating the word.
This did not feel good. Looking at that deep pink color hovering over Rosesha, that single word was about to turn this place into a complete disaster zone. I could practically see Charlotte charging in, screaming, 'Why is my Master your husband, you wench?!'
Just as I resolved to throw my entire body into mediating, another short voice drifted over.
"What is a... husband?"
She tilted her head, looking genuinely clueless. Her character settings automatically floated into my mind. Was she supposed to be a deadpan, airheaded female swordsman?
Even Rosesha let out a dumbfounded chuckle upon hearing her question. "It means my husband, you ignorant brat."
Flinch. Cecilia's shoulders trembled slightly. Her half-open eyes narrowed into thin slits.
"Why is my master the husband of a whore?"
"What?"
"Why is my master the husband of a whore?"
"You little brat..."
"Enough. Both of you, stop."
Unable to watch any longer, I stepped between them. If they traded any more insults, they were going to start throwing blows.
"Rosesha. I recently came to be in your debt, but do you intend to make me regret it?"
"...I only came because I was worried about you, Darling."
"I appreciate the sentiment. However, there is no need to dwell on the past. This human has turned her back on the Empire and sworn to be my knight."
In other words, she belonged to the Tomb of Faith now. Rosesha opened her mouth to argue, then closed it.
Next, I glared at Cecilia. She flinched as if she had been shot by a real gun.
"Behave yourself. And apologize for your rudeness. Rosesha and I are allies. She is a Lord of the Abyss Palace with whom I share a deep personal bond."
"But she's a who—"
"I said, enough. If you are going to open your mouth, let it only be to apologize."
"...Understood."
Cecilia gave Rosesha a half-hearted bow.
"Sow-ry."
Talk about insincere. It turned out there was an even bigger problem child here than Balutak. This wasn't something I could just gloss over. If handled poorly, this conflict could escalate into a clash between Lords of the Abyss Palace.
"I am deeply embarrassed, Rosesha. Allow me to apologize on behalf of my subordinate's insolence."
"...I am sorry."
Only after I apologized on her behalf did Cecilia bow properly. Why couldn't she have done that from the start? I'm the only one suffering because of this brat.
"Forget it. It's only natural for a young, ignorant girl to make mistakes."
I glared at Cecilia once more, sending her a silent warning. Stay quiet, please. If you talk back one more time, you're getting evicted.
Fortunately, Cecilia only furrowed her brow and kept her mouth shut. It was a relief it was Rosesha; if it had been any other Lord of the Abyss Palace, it would have been a catastrophe. Once Rosesha lost her temper, she usually didn't care about the consequences, but she showed mercy out of respect for me.
"By the way, that thing in your hand... is that the Moonlight Sword?"
"So what if it is?"
"Oh, look at that attitude. Has this girl not been properly disciplined yet?"
Cecilia, about to snap back, caught my glare and quickly corrected herself. "...Yes, it is the Moonlight Sword."
"Listen here, sweetie. Keep your eyes polite and your mouth civil from now on. I'm only letting this slide because of my husband. Otherwise, you'd already be a cold corpse. Got it?"
"Yes. I'm sorry."
Meanwhile, Charlotte stood by my side, watching the two of them. Was it just my imagination, or did her expressionless face seem to scream, 'Serves you right, hehe'? Charlotte was surprisingly sly in her own quiet way.
Fortunately, unlike before, Cecilia accepted it without further argument. My heart had been in my throat, but now that it was resolved, I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"In any case, is that all you came for, Rosesha?"
"What do you mean, 'is that all'? My beloved husband collapsing is a massive crisis!"
"Do you have no other business? Since you are already here, would you care to stay for a chat?"
"I'd love to. It's been a while since I've seen you, Darling. Ah, but before that..."
Rosesha spun around to face Cecilia directly.
"What is the meaning of this? You were trying to kill him not too long ago, weren't you? Why are you suddenly claiming to be a knight of the Abyss Palace? And you're even holding the Moonlight Sword."
"I am not a knight of the Abyss Palace. I am Master's knight."
"Master?"
Rosesha turned to me, demanding an explanation. I deliberately shrugged my shoulders before replying.
"She claims that was the case in my past life."
"You were her master when you were alive?"
"I do not know. I have no memories of it."
"...What is your name?"
"Cecilia."
"Cecilia, Cecilia..." Rosesha repeated the name over and over, as if digging up a deeply buried memory.
At the end of her murmuring, Rosesha suddenly snapped her eyes open. Before I could even register the strangeness of it, she pressed her body flush against mine. Her abnormally dilated pupils reflected my image perfectly.
"Darling... are you Lucas?"
Ah, not her too. After a brief hesitation, I nodded.
"However, I have no memories of my past life. It is merely what those around me claim."
For some reason, the expression Rosesha wore as she looked up at me became incredibly complex. She pulled away from me, taking several steps back.
Vrooom! She went so far as to tear open a portal and vanish back to her castle.
Left behind without a single clue, I stood there in a daze. Her attitude completely flipped the moment she heard the name Lucas...
"It seems you two shared a terrible ill fate, Boss."
"Maybe Master cut off her arm in the past. Serves her right."
The two who had crept up beside me began tossing out various theories. Judging by Rosesha's behavior, one could only assume she was disappointed to hear the name Lucas. However, I was the only one who could read her true emotions through the color of her level.
Why did it get darker?
The already vivid pink had deepened to an even darker shade. Learning that I was Lucas had only amplified her affection. Then why did she suddenly run away?
The top floor of the Ecstatic Castle.
Click, clack. Drabule, who had been waiting, bowed his head and walked toward the source of the sound. In the deep darkness, a dress redder than blood fluttered. As Rosesha passed by him, Drabule bowed formally.
"You have returned, my Queen."
"Do not let anyone into my room. I always say this, but pay extra attention this time."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Click, clack. Rosesha walked away, leaving only those words behind.
Watching her retreating figure, Drabule guessed that the boss room would soon be filled with ecstatic moans once again. Lately, nine times out of ten, that was exactly what happened whenever anyone approached her chambers. She spent all day enjoying her personal "healing time," chanting the name of the Rank 7 Lord.
To think any further would be disrespectful. Drabule thoroughly patrolled the top floor, keeping watch.
Rosesha glanced back and smiled with satisfaction. I love how obedient he is.
Click. Stepping into her chambers, Rosesha snapped her fingers. Instantly, her elegant dress transformed into a completely sheer, see-through nightgown.
"Haa..." A sigh escaped her lips as the tension drained from her body. Rosesha placed her hand over her pounding heart. She took deep, ragged breaths to calm her racing pulse.
"I really almost lost control this time."
She had almost shown an utterly scandalous side of herself in someone else's home. Feeling genuinely relieved, Rosesha threw herself onto the bed. Rustle. The silk-thin, soft fabric tickled her skin.
"..." Snap. Snapping her index finger, a Bargore doll materialized in the air. Without a word, Rosesha patted the empty space beside her.
"Come here."
The Bargore doll slid over and lay down next to her. Rosesha stared intently at it. In appearance, it was the spitting image of Bargore, but it was ultimately nothing more than an empty shell. Setting aside that slight dissonance, Rosesha spoke.
"You know... they say you were Lucas."
"I am Bargore."
"No. From now on, your name is Bargore Lucas."
"My name is Bargore Lucas."
Giggle. Rosesha draped her leg over the doll. Hmph... A soft hum escaped her lips unconsciously.
"So it's true. You really were Lucas. No wonder I kept feeling so drawn to you."
An awakened Holy Sword. A hero executed by humanity. She should have put the pieces together from those two facts alone. Why hadn't she realized it until now?
"...I should have looked into it sooner."
Rosesha hadn't been particularly curious about who Bargore was in his past life. She believed the man she had fallen for was the Death Knight Bargore, and him alone. Likewise, she had no interest in the politics of the Empire, leaving her virtually without any sources of information. Her dungeon was located in the Demonic Realm of Kalasutra, completely cut off from the Empire in both distance and news.
Originally, she had cared little for humans. They were trivial things—it didn't matter if they existed or not. Still, they made for decent entertainment from time to time, and they were useful for satisfying her subordinates' lust and thirst for blood. But over a decade ago, a certain man had changed her perspective. Looking at him, she had thought that perhaps humans weren't so bad after all.
"So that was you, Bargore."
She felt a pang of regret for her past indifference toward his mortal life, but at the same time, she felt relieved to have finally learned the truth. A romance between a Demon Lord and a Hero. Rosesha had once shared a relationship that seemed straight out of a fairy tale. No matter how hard she tried to erase his always-hopeful face, it remained etched in her mind. Like a scent clung to a sleeve.
Rosesha gently closed her eyes, letting her memories drift back through the bittersweet past.
"I have a disciple. Her name is Cecilia."
"Cecilia. Our Lia will become a hero. A much greater hero than I could ever be."
Lucas, who had bragged about his disciple until his lips were dry. It was thanks to Cecilia that Rosesha could vividly recall him now. In truth, their first meeting had been nothing more than a passing amusement. But over time, it had grown into something genuine, ultimately leaving a deep scar of love in her heart.
The lingering warmth she felt toward humans in a corner of her heart was likely his residual scent. The reason she had flared up in anger and defended humans during the Assembly of 72 was partly due to her hostility toward Calandas, but perhaps his influence had played a small part as well.
Faint voices bloomed vividly in her mind, washing over her ears.
"It is not just for humans. I desire a paradise where everyone can live together in harmony. That is why I became a hero."
"The Empire and the Demonic Realm. The 72 Dungeons and the Four Heroes. How wonderful would it be if we could tear down the walls between us and achieve true harmony?"
"I suppose some might view me as a traitor to humanity... But one day, everyone will understand. Though by then, I might no longer be around."
"What matters is that such a day will eventually come. And you will likely live to see it, as an immortal Lord."
What had she replied back then? Had she merely scoffed, pitying his futile hope? She couldn't remember, and a self-deprecating chuckle slipped through her lips. Finally, as if rewinding time, the face of their very first meeting came to mind. Wearing a smile that was both ridiculous and endearing.
"How could I ever raise a sword against someone as beautiful as you? Ah, well... perhaps if it were a flower, haha..."
Though she hated to admit it, she had been briefly captivated by his awkward smile as he scratched his cheek. The tender, fresh feelings of that time were among the few moments of flutter she had ever experienced in her long life. That innocent man was distinctly different from any other human.
The days had passed in a blur of hesitation, wondering if she would truly fall for him. Before she knew it, his warmth had drifted away like a scent, scattering like the wind. If he hadn't met such a tragic, futile end, what would have become of their relationship?
Back then, Rosesha had quickly erased him from her thoughts. Their red thread of fate had been severed long ago. Believing they were destined never to progress, she had closed her heart. Whenever she occasionally thought of him, she actually felt relieved that it had ended before they could truly bind themselves to one another. Clinging to a lost connection was unlike her. Since then, Rosesha had completely wiped him from her memory. Or so she thought.
"Lucas has returned as Bargore."
Had the red thread that scattered in the wind ridden the breeze back to her? That man had returned as the Death Knight of the Rank 7 Tomb of Faith. As if he had become the dark knight protecting the Rank 6 Queen, a miraculous coincidence had become a connection, and that connection had once again become destiny.
Undead could not make facial expressions. She liked the stoic Bargore, but if he had smiled even once, she would have recognized him instantly. If she had seen that sun-like smile, it would have naturally triggered her memory. Undead forgot their past lives. While that was a pity, she was simply overwhelmed with emotion that he had returned at all. Her beloved husband, back from the dead, serving as her dark knight. Wasn't that just incredibly romantic?
"Haa... I won't be able to sleep tonight either. I'll probably spend the whole night humping again."
Rosesha wore a sticky, sweet smile as she climbed on top of the doll. A doll that looked exactly like Bargore in every way. I should use this for practice for the time being.
For a long time afterward, the chamber was filled with ecstatic moans, as if dawn would never arrive. It was indeed a castle filled with the moans of an eternal night.