336. Aftermath (2)
336. Aftermath (2)
- 1 -
The heart of Agares's Demon Realm.
The outdoor garden of the Duke of Corruption's palace.
The red sunset was slanting beyond the horizon at dusk.
With the two shadows stretching long across the wall, Agares and Eligos were looking down below the citadel.
"Truly, your vile tastes are filthy to a rare degree."
"For me, that is the highest praise, Duke of Violence."
Eligos spoke as he watched the scene unfolding below the citadel.
At his contempt-laced words, Agares chuckled. The corners of his eyes curved dangerously.
There, hundreds of humans and demon beasts were currently engaged in copulation.
It was a festival of carnal desire brought on by Agares's poisons and aphrodisiacs.
"In any case, I kept my promise."
Eligos's crimson eyes blazed.
The violent aura emanating from that intense gaze was something uncontrollable.
"The promise you made with Libertas... no, with Hecate?"
At Agares's question, Eligos nodded his head.
Agares snorted and said,
"You carried it out more faithfully than I expected."
"That is because, unlike you, I am a demon who knows the importance of a promise."
"Ah, is that so. Anyway..."
Agares narrowed the corners of his eyes to slits.
"With this, the humans will fall into great confusion. Since dungeons will start appearing inside their own lands, after all."
Unconcerned by Agares's mocking words, Eligos drank the blood wine in his hand.
The two of them had each fulfilled their promise with Libertas.
To cause chaos by strengthening the dungeons and demon beasts of the surrounding nations.
"But I wonder, what does she intend to do with that?"
"Well..."
At Eligos's question, Agares stroked his long lower snout and then laughed at length, saying,
"Unlike us, who have already established our Demon Realms, she lacks any decent subordinates, wouldn't you say? She seems to have many extraordinary summoned creatures, but her number of Dungeon Lords must be insufficient. She must be trying to make up for that."
"So if we create the presence of dungeons, she can hide her other dungeons in between them?"
Surprisingly, Agares's words had accurately guessed Libertas's intention.
At least half of it.
"Probably. Only she herself would know the true intent, wouldn't she?"
"Hmph."
Looking at Eligos, who had snorted, Agares asked this time,
"You seem to have prepared what you promised?"
"Aah."
Eligos leaned his back against the wall with his arms crossed.
"I have selected the eyesores near my territory."
"Hmm. I see we were thinking the same thing."
The two Grand Dukes of the Demon Realm faced each other for a moment, exchanging glances that gauged each other's inner thoughts.
The targets they chose were ones that were troublesome to deliberately seek out and remove, yet bothersome to leave alone.
If they hadn't been such tricky existences, they would have subjugated or erased them long ago.
This was a plan to have them dealt with by someone else's hands now that the opportunity had arisen.
"A promise is a promise, but that is all it is."
Agares shrugged his shoulders.
"I just hope she doesn't profit too much from this, because our 'gift' might one day return to us."
The two exchanged meaningful glances.
Their cooperation was for mutual benefit, but beneath that surface lay wariness.
True friendship simply did not exist among the Grand Dukes of the Demon Realm.
After exchanging information, the two departed into the deep darkness, each going their separate way.
The sky was now completely dark, and stars were beginning to appear one by one.
- 2 -
At the hour of complete darkness. Deep underground beneath Clarent.
"Aren't you afraid?"
I was standing before the ritual altar.
In the center of the room, a mana crystal emitting purple light lay, and around it, complex magical patterns were carved into the floor.
Sonia sat quietly upon the altar.
Dressed in a pure white ceremonial robe, her face bore a serene expression at my question.
"Not at all. I am only looking forward to it, Master."
Her blue eyes were filled with certainty.
Certainty that what I was about to do would bring her no harm.
After successfully transplanting a dungeon core into Harai, Sonia was the second case of a core transplant targeting a human.
Of course, this was not an 'experiment.' It was merely a 'blessing.'
'Since I've eliminated the side effects, after all.'
It was something I felt both apologetic and grateful toward Harai for.
If a 'side effect' were to ever visit him, it would be my duty to help him with all my strength.
But for now, I decided to focus on Sonia before me.
"Once this work succeeds, your body will no longer be the same as before."
"That... is what I wish for."
Sonia said, a small smile gracing her lips.
"To transcend human limits and to serve you better, Master."
"Yes. Thank you. Sincerely."
I held in my hand the mana core refined from a dungeon core.
Emitting a faint blue light, it was exactly like a small, pulsating heart.
When I gestured toward the mana lamps placed around the room, they all blazed brighter in unison, tinting the interior blue.
Feeling the mana in the air grow ever more dense, I whispered,
"Prepare yourself."
Sonia took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
My hand moved to her abdomen. A different spot than with Harai.
The suitable place for the core to settle existed in a different location for each person.
Bringing the core to the area below her navel, with my other hand I wove and attuned the ambient mana and the magic circle.
Swaaaak —
The core slowly seeped into her skin.
Sonia's face contorted briefly, but soon grew peaceful.
Beneath her skin, a faint blue streak of light, optimized for her, began to spread outward.
"Endure just a little longer."
The ritual was progressing far more smoothly than with Harai.
Sonia's mana affinity was naturally high, and her body did not reject the mana core.
Though the fact that I had already succeeded once before also helped.
Hwooook — !
As the core fully entered her body, all the lamps in the room simultaneously went out and then came back on. Sonia's body emitted a concentrated, core-like light before slowly returning to its original state.
"It is done."
I gauged her power.
I would have to confirm it to be sure, but she now appeared to be a 'high-rank' mage.
"Ah..."
"Do you not feel physically weak?"
"No. I'm all right."
Sonia slowly raised her body.
She lifted her hand and gathered her mana once.
Seeing the blue light bloom at her fingertips as if dancing, she then placed her hand over her chest with a look of wonder in her eyes.
"This is..."
"Inside you now beat two hearts."
I placed my hand over the back of hers as I spoke.
"One is your original heart. The other is the mana core. The second heart will grant you stronger mana and help you exert even greater power using forces you already command. In your case... curses and freezing, I see."
A look of wonder and a slight sense of pressure rose on Sonia's face.
"Along my blood vessels... it feels as though mana flows instead of blood. Master."
"It is part of the process of your body adapting. It may feel a bit foreign at first, but you will soon be fine."
Several changes were visible in Sonia's body as she rose from her seat.
She had escaped the side effects of the mana overadaptation she originally suffered from, and a new vitality now flowed through her once-pale skin.
Her eyes also bore a deeper, denser shade of blue.
"Now then... may I look? Inside you."
"Yes."
Sonia extended her hand as if it were a matter of course.
Considering that revealing one's internal mana is something only possible before someone one truly trusts, that trust was immense.
Though, as her master, I had naturally examined her inner self often before.
I grasped her wrist and infused my mana.
'This is...'
The flow of mana running within Sonia had blossomed into a shape completely different from ordinary mages.
The mana blooming profusely around the core possessed a beauty of the highest order, one that would put most works of art to shame.
If the flow of ordinary mages was a common hexagon, hers could be said to resemble a snowflake crystal.
"It's beautiful. Sonia. You have now come to possess three kinds of beauty."
"Pardon...?"
I raised my hand and caressed her face.
"Physical beauty."
My hand moved down, stroking over her heart.
"A strong and resilient mind."
And then it slid down to her abdomen.
"And even the power to see your will through."
Sonia's eyes sparkled with joy and bashfulness.
"...You flatter me, Master."
"Rest a little more before you rise. You will still need an adjustment period."
I stroked her hair, pressed my lips to her forehead, and then rose from my seat.
After watching the ladies-in-waiting and maids approach to support her and guide her to her room, I turned and headed for the conference room.
- 3 -
On the top floor of the citadel, familiar faces greeted me as the heavy doors opened.
My close aides were already seated around the circular table, waiting for me.
"My lord, is Sonia... all right?"
The first to speak was Yuran.
Within her gentle smile, unconcealable worry lingered deep in her golden eyes.
I nodded my head reassuringly.
"She is more than all right. No, she is excellent. The effort I poured into optimization has paid off. She is beyond expectations."
At my reply, relief flashed across Yuran's face.
As I sat in my designated seat, Evangeline wordlessly pushed a tray of refreshments toward me.
With her gesture, the report began.
"Reports have come in from multiple regions."
When Evangeline lightly touched the table's surface with her fingertip, the smooth surface rippled like water and images of various regions rose like holograms.
"As you declared, Master, the first phase of the 'Solar Eclipse Plan' has been completed. Congratulations, Master."
""Congratulations.""
At the words my close aides spoke in a single voice, I smiled in satisfaction.
Once the atmosphere settled, Evangeline opened her mouth again.
"The detectors of all guilds in the five kingdoms—Haisen, Orbis, Leophere, Kiza, and Hilsa—have been completely blinded by our mana. Now they will be unable to detect the presence of the dungeons we create."
"Yes. Everyone has worked hard."
After that, I shifted my gaze to Saya.
"What of Norn?"
"Their adventurers are engaging in sporadic clashes with the Rugnis Kingdom as expected. The eastern Tailand border is quiet, but this is likely because their main adventurer force is concentrated on the point of contact with Duke Eligos."
"Hmm. Just as expected. Good... next, Ash."
This time, I gave my attention to Esther.
She skillfully manipulated the images on the table and began to speak.
"People have gradually started to distinguish between the Celestial Religion and the Sun Church."
"The response?"
"It is very favorable. While the Celestial Religion's relief activities are mainly centered on the wealthy and the renowned, our 'Black Temple's' activities are open fairly to all, regardless of status."
On the table appeared images of priests in black robes and the faithful who followed them.
Contrary to the dark atmosphere, their faces were imbued with hope and tranquility.
It was a welcome sight.
"I heard a summons has arrived from the Holy Kingdom."
At my question tinged with worry, Esther instead showed a confident smile.
"As long as I am still fulfilling my duties as 'Saintess Esther,' the most they can do is send a summons to pressure me. Do not worry, Master."
At her dignified attitude, I nodded my head.
With this, the reports on the currently ongoing matters were concluded.
I slowly surveyed the close aides gathered around the table and brought up the next topic.
"The two Grand Dukes of the Demon Realm have provided us with the locations of Lord-level magical beasts as promised. There are three of them, in fact."
At my words, Shue furrowed her brow slightly and muttered.
It was a slightly cynical attitude, as if she had expected it.
"Hmph... They pushed their troublesome ones onto us, I'd bet..."
"That is exactly right."
I let out a chuckle in agreement.
"They probably don't know exactly what I intend to do with them, but their intention is to cooperate so long as it causes no direct harm to themselves. Though, of course..."
I drew my lips into a wide arc.
"It won't be easy, but we will accomplish it in the end."
I felt the eyes of my close aides subtly change at my words.
Especially in the eyes of those with a strong yearning for power, an unconcealable expectation lingered.
"However, the first one is not a target from the information they handed over."
"Have you obtained other information?"
At Ran's sharp question, I lightly tapped the table once more.
This time, an image of a parchment document written in ancient language with complex patterns appeared.
Saya furrowed her brow and read it as if fumbling over the words.
"This is... do you read it as 'Gertrude'?"
"Yes. Its epithet is 'the Great Mother of the Deep Sea.'"
In the center of the page, the form of a gigantic tentacle monster, a kraken, was depicted in grisly detail.
"Wepar obtained information from the merchants, I hear. Recently, the sound of her crying was heard in the distant northern sea in the far reaches of the Central North Ocean. The reason is unknown, but her location has essentially been confirmed."
At that moment, the air in the conference room changed.
In the eyes of everyone except Esther, greed and excitement kindled.
Feeling those heated gazes warm the air, Evangeline whispered softly. As if voicing everyone's innermost thoughts.
"...If we only had that, your first Lord-level magical beast...!"
At her words, everyone's breath stopped.
The core of a Lord-level magical beast. It was no mere trophy, but a sacrifice for the ascension of 'grade.'
Esther, who still possessed a human body, was far from a direct ascension and thus stood one step back, but even her eyes were filled with interest.
I fixed my gaze on two people and gave the order.
"Shue, Saya. Assemble an expedition force for this campaign."
It might be a disappointing decision for the others.
For it was only natural that those who go out to hunt directly receive the reward first.
But Ran was in the middle of handling Leophere's internal affairs, and Esther was preparing matters in the east.
Sonia was in a crucial period of stabilizing, and Evangeline was the one who could completely fill my seat if I had to vacate it in an emergency.
""Yes!""
Along with their energetic answers, I erased the image on the table with a gesture.
And as if gently calming the heat that filled the conference room, I whispered softly.
"And... do not be too greedy. Though I do enjoy putting things in order..."
I smiled slightly, taking in each of the five women one by one with my eyes.
"My love for you has no order."
At those words, a flush rose on the faces of those strong, cold-hearted women.
Some lowered their heads slightly, and some turned their gazes away, pretending composure, but those expressions mixed with shyness and joy...
All of them were a truly welcome sight.