Momonga sat alone by the bonfire.
His hands crossed against his lips while his elbows rest on his knees. Though his eyes shone as they remained fixed towards the fire, there is an emptiness in them. Showing how deep in thought he truly was.
'Albedo is truly cunning.'
Momonga remembered the earlier altercation. With everyone taking note of her yellow slitted eyes, added with the horns. It didn't paint a good picture.
The tension was high, and was crushed like a fragile glass when Albedo lifted her circlet, and slowly masking her horns with an illusion, making them vanish.
She said no words, no explanation but everyone else just came to the same conclusion that they were just part of the circlet.
A Magic Item Accessory.
'It was a smart decision to paint it as a magic item. We could get away with a lot of things using the excuse but... '
Momonga was simply glad that no one was crass enough to ask permission to touch her head.
Setting the his worries aside, he focused instead on the present.
'Gold Adventurer Team...'
The thought sparked a implications.
'I either arrived too early, or in a different universe entirely... this is gonna be a problem. But at least I'm within the same generation. I guess my knowledge of the timeline is not entirely useless.
'SkyWolf, Kalgra, Rainbow. The three were supposed to be Mithril Ranked Adventurer Teams.
'instead they're Gold Rank Teams, alongside the rapidly rising Blue Rose... and without any mention of the Golden Princess no less... Perhaps not yet. But the Bloody Emperor already rules. Already solidifying his claim and had been said to be fair for the last five years.
'Just like Gazef Stronoff. A commoner that surprised the Kingdom as he was granted the rank of Warrior Chief by the King no less.
'...and that was three years ago. It had been said that the man now has the full confidence of the King.
'...now... where should I go? Re-Estize will be entering a time of conflict. Both within and without. Constantly clashing with the empire with the Theocracy aiding Baharuth in the shadows.
'...or I could stablish myself at the Draconic Kingdom. News of the Beastmen Country's invasion had started three years ago. Meaning things have started to get worst. I could go there and earn myself a good reputation. Maybe even a land for myself. But-'
The thought halted him as his lips curled into distaste. As if he could taste his disappointment in himself. To live a quiet and peaceful life... it sounded easy enough and yet... his stomach twists as if it had swallowed something it wants to blurt out.
Peace... felt like a lie. A lie he is trying to feed himself.
Momonga sighed, rubbing his temple with his hand. He stared at his hand and clenched his fists, silently feeling the power waiting to be unleashed.
Yet, he doesn't know where to direct it.
"...what am I doing..."
"Momonga-sama?"
His head snapped to Albedo and smiled, beckoning her to join him.
She stood beside him, quiet, waiting and attentive. Only when she wasn't sitting did he realize that the log he was sitting on was too small.
He chuckled at his stupidity, and as he took in a deep breath, he let out a ragged one.
Unknowingly inhaling the succubus' aura.
His eyes took in a pink hue at the edges, the colors of the stars and moons seemed softer and then her... radiant and... soft, smooth and warm.
He suddenly grabs her wrist and pulls her on top of him.
Albedo yelped as Momonga sat her down, sideways on his lap with her head pressed against his chest. The arm she was leaning on gently ran from her arm to her elbow, with the other draped atop her lap and his palm softly running up and down her clothed thighs.
While Momonga felt something was wrong. Something inside him screamed all was right.
The confidence, the assertiveness, the claim. His eyes remained affixed against hers and he couldn't help but be curious. What kind of woman is she... Her likes, dislikes, and wishes... and should he find her to his liking... the mere thought fed the burning urge with him. To show her there is no better man for her. That she belongs to him.
Momonga gazed at her, maintaining eye contact so strongly that Albedo couldn't help but gasps softly.
Her red lips, let out a soft puff of pink air, visible in the cold night. And it smelled intoxicating... he wanted more.
His hand roamed her arm, making her take deeper breaths. And then his other hand squeezed her thigh. "Hnk-!" she gritted down with her teeth, biting down on her lips while her eyes fluttered. The image made his heart hammer.
She was– "perfect..."
Not bothering to correct the word he had spilled, Momonga instead spoke to her through the [•Message•]. Telling her what he he thought so far regarding the Kingdoms, leaving out details of the future.
And in the end, Albedo connfidently gave him an answer. "{So Re-Estize then Momonga-sama. When do we leave?}"
"{Elaborate my Overseer.}" asked Momonga.
Albedo breath out softly and answered. "{Because it is divided? There is no collective institution that could threaten you there Momonga-sama. Less threats and plenty of ways to spin the tale of your arrival. You would also be able to not only set yourself apart in recognition but to also make yourself indispensable.
"{You would be able to dismantle any form of action against you by utilizing the very masses, if the words if this Adventurer's hold true. That's not yet mentioning the amount of opportunities that chaos offers that could be used for many things. Credibility, wealth, power, connections and most of all, information.
"{Re-Estize has everything you would want Momonga. To establish yourself untouchable to the point that they would leave you in peace.}"
Momonga's eyes were wide as he realized his folly.
He had been so busy strengthening his personal power that he had blinded himself with it. Completely forgetting how power translated in many ways aside from strength and magic.
For a time, he felt like an idiot. Thinking of only gaining claim through strength. That he had completely underestimated the world he had found himself in.
'... Neutrality is letting someone else take the wheel, and pray they don't drive you off the cliff...'
Ulberts words rang through in his mind.
Momonga knew then, there was no path but conquest. There is no peace in spending his life backhanding everyone that attacks him. No peace in tossing coin to the noisy poor just so they would leave and shut up.
No, he must build himself up. And secure the peace of those around him so that by the time trouble reached him, they would already be silenced.
"A fine idea..."
He has no plan, not really. Specially with the unknown timeline he had found himself in. But he at least has a direction now.
"Thank you... I don't know what I would've done without you."
Momonga then kissed the wide eyed woman on her forehead. Letting it linger for a few seconds before softly removing his lips and focusing on the fire.
Albedo burried herself closer to her Master's chest. Quietly taking in his scent. As she let out a ragged breath at the feeling she was receiving from him.
The earlier confusion, worry, and loss. Now drowned out by gratitude, joy, clarity and hints of lust... it was an intoxicating scent that she can't get enough off.
What held her back is Yamaiko's imbedded teachings into her. The fragility of a tired and broken man.
She feared the mere thought of him pushing her away should she push too far. And so she settled into what she can get.
'Be patient with him. Give him time to find his own footing. Just be there for him and wait, and know that he will do the same for you.'
Albedo made sure to hold on to the word's of Yamaiko. It is after all the knowledge she was recently parted with. The so called, 'character lore.'
Face hidden beneath her Master's gaze, wide glowing eyes, an ear to ear smile, while releasing soft puffs of breaths with a pinkish hue from time to time. Albedo's body remained rigid, fighting the urge and growing warmth in her womb.
'Momonga-sama~!'
—.—.—.—.—
Sunrise was well received. Soft rays of light and chirping birds within a healthy forest.
It wasn't long before everyone packed-up their things.
Momonga helped, lifting sacks upon sacks of herbs they had gathered. It wasn't till he loaded the last and turned to see their work, did he realized he they had loaded three large carts worth of haul.
'This was three time more compared to the series...and that was after receiving free reign to the territories of Hamsuke. Where herbs were said to have bloomed undisturbed... What is going on?'
"I don't mean to intrude but, doesn't this seem excessive, or is the the title of finest pharmacist in the Kingdom heavier than what I believe?" asked Momonga.
Everyone shared defeated sighs. But Nfirea answered.
"It's mostly the annual war with the Empire, Momonga-san."
"You mean to give them for free to the injured?" guessed Momonga.
"No... the church, wouldn't allow it." the boy replied with surprising vitrol. "But we could sell it. For favors. Promise of protection during harvest seasons. Or even word of mouth if they really can't afford it. There would be less coin, but word of mouth would travel and it would serve to bring in more customers really." the boy answered warmly.
'Won't that mean that those who would hear of it would come believing they could get free potions instead?' Momonga silently thought.
"You're too modest Nfirea-san." adds Belotte, before turning to Momonga. "They're trying to help. In the only way they know how... and, well, what they're allowed to."
"Specially with those greedy nobles and the Hypocrite of a Church trying to stall their efforts..." whispers the ranger, his anger received unspoken agreements from the rest.
Momonga sighed, and whispered. Remembering all that he endured in the Old World. "... different country... same problems..."
Everyone snickered and laughed. Even sending sympathetic smiles his way, specially the weary sigh that genuinely left his lips.
They soon took to the carriages and departed, with Momon sitting beside Brita while Albedo sat at the front cart, right beside Belotte.
The Overseer turned to his carriage from to time. Pouting all the while. Something that made Belotte laugh, only to fight it off when she sent him a chilling glare.
As they travelled, Momonga kept asking about the Kingdom. Mainly the laws he wanted to avoid if he is to decide to integrate himself. Something Brita was more than happy to answer, blushing as she exchanged words with the handsome warrior.
—.—.—.—.—
Three days down the road and and a Mave, the ranger, noticed something about the wind.
He stood at the carriage, smelling the air and frowning at the direction it was coming from.
"What is it Mave?" asked the Mage.
"Foul... Ogres, somewhere down the road."
"You sure?"
"I can smell the rotten flesh and bark from here."
"Fuck! Belotte!"
"I heard." answered their leader. He then turns to Nfirea and asked. "You're our client, our priority. Do we wait them out till they leave or do we fight through it?"
"H-how dangerous would it be?" the boy stutters out.
"We can handle it Nfirea-san. But we have to warn you, you will have to follow our instructions."
"He means no panicking and going 'AAAAAHH!— till we say so." adds Mave, lightening the mood.
"I could also join the Vanguard." adds Momonga. "Take it as payment for everything you've given us."
"Our gratitude." Belotte thanks, curious to how skilled the man is and then turns to Mave. "Scout the numbers."
"You got it!" the ranger vaulted down and ran with near silent footfalls, out-running the strutting horses with swiftness and ease.
The rest trudged forward and prepared. With the warrior checking the sharpness of his axe, the mage, silently calming his nerves, Brita unsheathing her longsword and Belotte grabbing his shield from his back and strapping it to his arm.
Amidst the preparations, Momonga steeled his nerves by clenching and unclenching his fist. Eager to finally feel what his body could truly do.