A deep blush spread across the Dhampir's pale cheeks.
Valerie coughed delicately, turning her face away as she murmured,
"O–oh… never mind then…"
I studied her quietly before speaking again, my tone calm but serious.
"You believe your power would be used to destroy the world."
...
A short while later.
The room had fallen completely silent.
Valerie sat frozen in place, her red eyes wide, her expression blank as the weight of my words finally settled in. Enkidu watched from beside me, arms folded, while Regulus lay quietly in lion form near the window, his golden tail swaying slowly.
Finally, Valerie cleared her throat.
Her voice trembled.
"So… you mean my power would be used for something like that?"
"Yes," I answered honestly. "That's why I want to protect you. If all you want is a safe place to stay, you're welcome here. You won't have to worry about fighting or danger. I have no objections to letting you live peacefully in my home."
I paused before continuing gently.
"You don't owe me anything."
"No!"
The sudden shout made my eyes widen.
Valerie stood up abruptly, fists clenched at her sides.
"I'm going to fight by your side!" she declared, her voice shaking but resolute. "I don't want something like that to happen ever again. And if it means I can see Gasper… then that's even better!"
She looked straight at me, fear and determination mixed in her gaze.
I stared at her for a moment.
Then I smiled.
"Thank you, Valerie."
Her cheeks immediately turned red again.
A few seconds later, she let out a small yawn, exhaustion finally catching up to her.
"Sebas," I said, turning toward the butler. "Please prepare a room for Valerie."
"Of course, my lord."
Sebas bowed and gently guided the sleepy Dhampir away.
Once they were gone, I turned to Enkidu.
"I think it's time we greet our guests."
...
Outside.
Enkidu and I stepped out into the forested grounds surrounding the mansion. Regulus followed beside us in his lion form, his massive frame radiating quiet menace.
Ever since we left Italy, I had felt multiple presences trailing us.
They hadn't been subtle.
Regulus let out a low rumble.
"I believe we should act more like kings, partner," he said, his voice echoing in my mind.
I sighed.
Ever since forming a contract with Regulus, he had become oddly obsessed with the concept of royal conduct. Apparently, being bonded to the "strongest bearer" had inflated his sense of dignity.
I focused my senses outward.
"Show yourselves," I commanded.
The forest stirred.
From between the trees emerged dozens of devils.
They were humanoid in shape, but each had a goat-like head, bat wings extending from their backs, and long spears clutched in their hands. Their collective magical pressure filled the air, most of them ranging between Middle and Upper Class.
The symbols etched into their armor made their allegiance clear.
Old Satan Faction.
Descendants of the original Maou.
Enemies of the current Underworld.
Allies of the Khaos Brigade.
However, three presences stood out sharply from the rest.
Ultimate Class.
My gaze settled on them.
The first was a tall woman with glasses and a voluptuous figure. Her skin was tan, her long brown hair tied into a bun beneath a headset. She wore an obscenely revealing dress, its deep slit exposing much of her chest. Her purple eyes gleamed with barely concealed excitement.
The second was a handsome man dressed like a noble, black clothes adorned with dark red motifs and belts. A cape draped over his shoulders. His black hair was tied into a short ponytail, violet eyes glaring coldly beneath pointed ears.
The third was another handsome man clad in black armor with a flowing cape. His long brown hair reached his hips, thick bangs covering his right eye.
The noble-looking devil stepped forward.
"Long ago, King of Heroes."
I stared at him blankly.
"…Who are you?"
His face twisted violently in rage.
"How dare you not remember me?! I am Creuserey Asmodeus—heir of Maou Asmodeus!"
Ah.
That explained his attitude.
Still, I didn't recognize him.
Enkidu leaned close and nudged my arm.
"He's one of the devils who hunted you in the past. You defeated him, but he escaped."
"I see."
I turned back to Creuserey and smiled warmly.
"My apologies. I can't remember every worm I've crushed."
His face went purple.
"How dare—!"
"Enough, Creuserey," interrupted the armored man beside him, releasing a wave of pressure.
The voluptuous woman covered her mouth, eyes shining.
"What a shame we have to kill him. He's so handsome…"
The other two visibly flinched.
"Calm down, Katerea," the armored man said dryly. "You can abuse him later."
I raised an eyebrow.
"And you are?"
Their expressions darkened.
"I am Shalba Beelzebub, descendant of Maou Beelzebub."
"I am Katerea Leviathan, descendant of Maou Leviathan," the woman added with a lecherous smile.
A shiver ran down my spine at Katerea's expression.
I'd seen that look before.
Being attractive to supernatural beings was nothing new—but devils were especially problematic. I still remembered one who had tried to reincarnate me into her peerage purely to use my body.
I pushed the memory aside.
"What do you want?" I asked calmly.
Shalba pointed directly at Regulus.
"We came for your Longinus," he said. "And your treasures."
I stared at him for a moment.
Then I laughed.
"Of course not."
Creuserey snapped.
"How dare you—!"
"In my treasury," I continued, my voice turning cold, "there are weapons capable of killing Gods and Satans with ease. Weapons that slew primordial beings and shaped the world itself. I would never hand them to you."
My aura began to rise.
"You are not even worthy to look upon them. The same goes for my Longinus."
Creuserey trembled with fury.
Shalba's patience finally snapped.
Katerea, meanwhile, looked even more flushed, clearly intoxicated by the pressure rolling off my body.
"You don't have a choice," Shalba said, raising his hand.
Behind him, every devil activated their magic.
Fire.
Water.
Wind.
Lightning.
Earth.
Ice.
Darkness.
Countless spells formed simultaneously, painting the sky in violent colors as waves of destruction rushed toward me.
I stepped forward calmly and motioned for Enkidu and Regulus to stay back.
"Then try."
Shalba dropped his hand.
Every spell fired at once.
The heavens screamed.
I simply drew my fist back—
—and punched the air.
For a fraction of a second, nothing happened.
Then—
CRASH.
CRASH.
Everyone's eyes widened in horror as the space in front of my fist fractured.
Not metaphorically.
Literally.
The very air split apart like shattered glass.
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