★49
ASTERI'S POV
Later in the night, the celebration time was due. Towa along with Eto and two attendants came. Milim also came with Hermes and another person. Ramiris came alone as usual. They all gathered in the open area behind the palace, which was furnished with round tables and chairs.
The space was bright and smelled amazing. The elves ushered the guests to their seats and all waited for the man. After hours of stressful preparation, a portal opened at the far end of the space and Asteri was the one who walked out first.
I have changed my black attire to a golden robe with elaborate golden decorations. I had to change at least for this occasion. I stepped out of the portal, and to my right was Annie, dressed in a white and golden outfit. Elaine was to my left, dressed completely in white.
I don't know what their real goal is but I was forced to accept their proposal. They insisted the figure like me doesn't walk alone. Elfaria even went so far as to say they would each hold my hand and walk with me, which I flatly denied.
In short, I was cornered with two questions either walking arm in arm or walking alongside me. It's basically the same but I chose the latter. I could not help but wonder why they left out Hinata, who they knew I had feelings for.
We walked calmly as the royals did
(Elfaria's suggestion).
We made our way through the crowd of people standing by their designated tables and to the main table, which was made up of those closest to me.
I took a seat at the center. To my right was Atlas, Elfaria, Ramiris and Towa respectively and to my left was Hinamatsuri, Elaine, Milim, Annie, Mikasa, and Sasha. Those standing took a seat immediately after I did. Towa, who was seated opposite me, lacked the courage to look me in the eyes.
"I never wanted this but I have no choice. Now they'll clearly picture me as a king or something."
I complained but they gave me a cold shoulder doing what was in front of them. I sigh in response for been ignored purposefully.
There were numerous tables at which all of Star Island's citizens, including the clones, were seated.
Sai made excuses to attend, while Yami and his adventuring party arrived and took the day off.
I got up and used magic to create screens all over, reflecting me as I began to make my speech, my voice amplified with magic.
(Also Elfaria's suggestion)
"I'd like to first thank you all for attending this precious gathering. It really means a lot to me. I'd also like to thank the crew that made all these happen: Lady Elfaria, Mikasa, Sasha, Annie and the rest and the best of all is Hinata.
Now, we're here and it's time to celebrate. I decided to host this since it's pretty common in this world. Everyone, eat and drink up and enjoy the night."
I raised a toast with a crystalline cup. Cheers erupted around the table as maids of various races moved gracefully through the hall, serving dish after dish.
I took my seat after that.
"That went well."
"Yeah, thanks to Lady Elfaria."
Hinamatsuri nodded.
"Where did you learn all that Elfaria? Mind if I ask?"
"You're supposed to ask first."
With her fan covering her flushed face, Elfaria chuckles a little.
"It's a little secret, but I'll tell you. I used to watch how my auntie acted whenever a royal event was held."
"That's the side of you I don't know."
No one did.
"It's in the long past. This is my present and future"
"I don't like the looks of this."
I complained, noticing the oddities.
"What is it, my Lord?"
Annie responded, concerned that I would find her hard work imperfect.
"I want everyone to enjoy this night as one. That's why I didn't want it to be inside the palace. I want to be the same ground as everyone."
"Could it be you're concerned about the ushers and waiters?"
Elfaria asked.
"Yeah. Shinn.."
He responded sharply.
"Call off the ushers and maids and summon some humanoid figures or whatever to take their place."
"Understood."
"Alter the time if you wish. I want them too to enjoy."
"Consider it done. I'd like to borrow Eto because I can't use Mega Arts properly."
He could do it on his own, but he needed an extra hand. I gave a small nod in approval, and Shinn immediately dispatched, vanishing to carry out his task.
Only a short while passed. just a few minutes at most, before I felt it. The change was subtle, but unmistakable. The atmosphere had shifted, cleaner, more orderly. I couldn't help the smile that crept onto my face.
"What's wrong?"
Someone asked, noticing my reaction.
"They've been replaced."
I said calmly.
My gaze lingered on the environment as the former maids returned, now dressed elegantly, moving with composed grace as they took the unoccupied seats. Everything looked the same on the surface, yet fundamentally different beneath it.
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Milim, Annie, Elfaria, and Mikasa all noticed the shift in Asteri's demeanour. It wasn't abrupt or dramatic, but it was there, a subtle softening beneath the authority he carried.
The artificial maids Shinn had created were immaculately dressed, flawless in posture and movement, yet none of them outshone their master or his subordinates. They were perfect tools, nothing more, and that distinction was clear.
There were enough of them that every table had five or six attendants. They moved in quiet synchrony, serving without hesitation, anticipating needs before words were spoken.
Soon, the environment settled into a gentle rhythm, and we began eating together, not as factions, not as rulers and followers, but as one group, one family.
That realisation struck me harder than I expected. My chest tightened, my heart skipped, and before I could stop it, a smile naturally formed on my lips.
"Young master?"
Atlas murmured. He had noticed.
"Can't you feel it, Atlas?"
I replied softly.
"This feeling…?"
My right hand pressed lightly against my chest as I spoke, as if to confirm it was real.
"Feeling, huh?"
Atlas answered after a pause.
"I doubt I'll ever experience them."
I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. Our voices were low, carefully kept from the others, as the surroundings remained filled with quiet conversation and the soft clinking of cutlery, unaware of the small, intimate exchange unfolding between us.
"Now, Queen Towa, I'd like to lift those restrictions on the portal. How'd that sound?"
I asked, trying to start a conversation.
"I'm ok with it. Anything you decide I will accept."
"Feel free to hit me with any compliments or concerns, or else it won't be fun."
Towa nodded
"You two are in a relationship, aren't you?"
Milim asked, guesting for another round.
"Yeah. I'm imitating human actions. This might improve our relationship."
"In that case, I'd like the two of us to be in the same relationship."
The girls, Hinamatsuri, Elfaria, Annie, and Towa all flinched. From the looks of it, they didn't like what Milim said.
"Huh? What does your poor country have to exchange with Asta kun's Island?"
Ramiris fought back, a pile of cake in front of her.
"Hey?! Where's Midray? He knows what my nation has."
Milim stood up, checking her subordinate.
"You need someone to tell you the resources your natio has? Pathetic."
"You want to fight Ramiris?"
Milim asked, her tone playful yet edged with power as her aura erupted, raw, chaotic, and overwhelming. The weaker ones trembled under the pressure.
I merely tapped the table with a finger. Instantly, her raging aura was drawn away, condensing into a small orb of light that hovered beside her.
Milim flinched, eyes widening. The sudden stillness that followed was deafening.
"Keep it down, or you'll run out of magicule."
Milim calmed down and kept quiet.
"By the way, Asta kun, it's just a question, why do you engage in relationships when your I
Island is so perfect? I mean, you use your magic to create everything."
"Not to side with her, but it doesn't make sense."
Annie joined.
"Just having our people in and out of each other's nation alone will increase our bond. This is just another way for me to get to know the human world better. The act of using magic to create everything is just that for us to build a stable relationship first before resorting to natural methods."
"That actually makes sense."
"Yes, and considering the step you took to free slaves and protect others proves this."
Asteri thought for a moment and spoke.
"Yeah... about that... my clones are pretty occupied now. Sai is elsewhere, Yami is adventuring with Eren, Eto is protecting Queen Towa, Shinn is with me all that's left is Ban who's also planning on going to Ingrassia to meet Yuuki again. Looks like I'll have to create more clones to resume the work."
To my surprise, all the clones appeared behind me, kneeling.
"Serving you comes first. We're willing to discard all out, duties and save some lives."
Yami spoke.
"I know, but can't you see you've earned someone's trust? Leaving them might be a problem."
"I'm willing to let Eto go if you're in need of him.
Towa spoke.
"Eren will understand for sure."
"Yuuki can piss himself. I'll deal with him later."
"..."
"Sai, say something goddammit!'
Eto was pissed by Sai's silence when all the clones were willing to let go of their relationship and posts to serve their master.
"Calm down, Eto. Sai's post is indispensable. He has earned the emperor's trust after all."
Everyone on the table was surprised.
"Emperor? What Emperor are you talking about?"
"Don't tell me it's..."
"There's only one emperor. Don't tell me, the emperor of that empire? Impossible."
Milim, Ramiris, and Elfaria spoke rest were speechless.
"Unfortunately, I trust everyone on this table so I'll say it. Yes, Sai has risen as an Imperial Guard to the Emperor of the Eastern Empire."
"I don't know how, but this is unbelievable."
"I've lived long but I've only seen him once."
Milim and Ramiris spoke.
"What I just said should stay on this table."
They all nodded.
"Good. The last few minutes didn't exist. If you were to rewind time you wouldn't hear me say that. That's happened to everyone here, any attempt to talk about it to anyone won't work."
I was able to isolate the specific time and delete it from temporal history. Temporal Twist really is an absolute time manipulation Art.
"I see.. The fact that you've erased that minutes showed how you value that information."
"Yeah. Don't picture this as I don't trust you all or something. It's just that we don't know who's watching or listening."
I can actually pick up if someone is eavesdropping but this is just a way for me to appear weak to them.
"We fully understand."
"A question to the Demon Lords, why does Valentine's maid has so much energy compared to him? From what I've sensed she has the power to overthrow him."
"Yet she's like this. Ever Since he joined, the maid was always by his side."
"Just like how I have Atlas by me."
"It's a pleasure."
"Of course, they help him in battle or anything if something happens."
Ramiris added.
"Now Asteri, what will you do about the world? How they see you and all."
"Yes. What you did has shaken the Central World. Your threat level is second only to Guy."
Milim and Ramiris spoke.
"I bet they don't know about their sparing."
Elaine said.
"No one does. Even among the Demon Lord some find it hard to believe."
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"Actually, I don't care what the world thinks of me. I'll simply do what I want. Demon Lords are meant to be feared after all."
"I expected you'd say something like that."
When the table got lively, I moved closer to Hinamatsuri and whispered.
"Are you alright? You haven't said anything since."
She flinches, not expecting anyone to disturb her.
"U....I...I'm...ok."
"I'm worried if I see you like this."
Her eyes widened and she turned to look at me.
"Sorry to make you worry."
"I have something to tell you after this."
"O..ok."
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"So Asta kun, what do you plan to do with the demons?"
Ramiris asked.
"Majo said we should send them back to the Underworld and call them when needed."
"Good idea but the power balance has already been disrupted, it'll affect the Underworld too."
Milim replied.
"Of course."
"Well, as Guy said, we can't have archdemons above ground even though they're under commands. I initially planned on taking...Majo."
I paused and summoned Majo.
"Your highness."
She appeared behind me.
"As I was saying, I planned on making them inhabit Flitwood since it's isolated in a different world. What do you guys say about that?"
"Isolation as in how?"
"It simply doesn't exist here in the Cardinal World, it's in one of my worlds. There's no gateway unless I or the clones open it. So interaction between the Worlds is cut off."
"What about the actual Flitwood? Where did the land go?"
"I'll reverse it and make it a plain forest. It was basically an end point currentlygm."
They all nodded.
"We will take care of it tomorrow, Majo. Some will stay here with us and you'll be given the ability to move to the other world too."
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Surprised she'll have a reserved spot, she quickly accepted.
"Ok, my Lord..I'll be waiting for your call."
"Atlas, are you the one incharge of training Tokito?"
"No, it's Eto."
"How was he able to use white flames, Eto?"
"I don't know how but he always had it in him. I saw the risk and told him not to use it at all cost. But.."
"I'd do the same too, he used it to protect this island despite knowing the risk."
"Yes."
"He'll be the potential one anytime soon."
"He's a kijin."
"Not anymore. Elemental Mutation isn't a mere mortal feat."
"Elemental Mutation?"
"Elemental Mutation also known as Elemental Ascension or Elemental Augmentation, it goes by many names. It's not just about dyeing the elements, like I mentioned earlier. It's about fundamentally altering the nature of the element itself.
Such a transformation often leads to a power evolution or augmentation. For example, just hypothetically, black lightning may represent heightened intensity, destruction, or a fusion with another force such as darkness, void, or dark magic. Alternatively, it might simply be a higher-tier version of lightning itself.
These mutations can occur due to unique bloodlines, abnormal mutations, lawbreaking phenomena, or even thematic contrasts like how white often symbolizes holiness or divinity, while black embodies corruption or destruction."
"So you're saying..."
"I'm not sure but its possible. Our presence is corrupting them. In a good way though."
"Like your magical energy?"
"Yes, as well as the star above us. I'll like to check them out."
"Leave that to me."
Elaine intervenes.
"I won't let you take all the credit. I'll like to examine my students as well as Lord Eto's."
Atlas stormed in, taking all the subjects.
"Hehehe, looks like first come doesn't always get first served. Alright, take it easy and divide them among yourselves."
"Leave it to us."
"So, Asteri won't you be in a relationship with me?"
Milim brought up the topic again now pleading with puppies.
"How about a non aggression pact with the City of Forgotten Dragons?"
"Hmmm, ok that'll do. It's done."
"It doesn't work that way, Lady Milim. The one proposing will have to attend the said state for such agreement."
Shinn intervenes.
"This is the culture of this land. Let's try our best to follow them, ok?"
"Sure, I'll be waiting for you."
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The party was nearing its end point and Milim stood up.
"I'll be waiting for you, Asteri kun."
"Are you leaving already?"
"Yes, the celebration and food was amazing. Be sure to invite me again if you're hosting anything."
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I crossed my fingers and rested my chin, deep in thought.
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"Hermes, let's go."
He nodded, and together they all took off into the sky, soaring through the air.
"Given the distance, teleportation might be the best option."
"Don't underestimate Milim. I won't be surprised if she has arrived already."
"That fast...?"
"Yap."
She nodded.
"Looks like the celebration is almost over. I'll round things up."
Asteri got up and used the same screens. After getting all they're attention, he began his closing speech.
"The time was brief, but blissful. I'd like to thank you all for attending this event and celebrating with me. This marks the end of it. We had only three outsiders and returning home isn't a problem to them, the rest of you can take the night off and rest, have a good night."
The crowd responded cheerfully, some beginning to leave while others wandered around the Island, chatting and laughing. The celebration had lasted for over an hour, and many were already preparing to rest for the night.
Sai bid me farewell before departing, while Yami and his adventuring party decided to stay the night and continue their journey in the morning.
Then I noticed her standing alone in the distance, a quiet figure framed by the dim light.
There was a calmness in her posture, yet a subtle tension radiated from her, a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
Without hesitation, I closed the distance between us, my steps confident, deliberate.
To be continued...