059: The Name Melusine That Belongs Only to You
The next day, having confirmed yesterday that her teacher was fine and having received a very nice reward, Nero naturally hesitated no longer.
That morning, after seeing Novia in the palace and sharing a few more tender moments, she directly announced her intention to go to the Isthmus of Corinth in the Greek peninsula to cut a canal.
With the Emperor leaving the capital, Seneca was among the civil officials, the Praetorian Guard leader was Lucius, and Novia's orders held equal weight to the Emperor's. Although for Novia, it didn't seem much different from when Nero was around anyway.
After all, whenever she proposed something, the golden-haired girl would agree.
In truth, after establishing the Holy Church, becoming Pope, and seeing the number of Christians rapidly exploding across the nation, Novia could be said to have nothing left to do. She only needed to sit back and enjoy herself.
But even before learning about the new Apocalypse from John, she had been incredibly busy.
Regarding the Holy Church, although it had personnel from the Burial Agency and had long enlisted the help of Roman mages stationed in various regions to deal with local Dead Apostles, it was ultimately a drop in the bucket. They could only wait for the 'Bible' Foundation Novia created to successfully materialize, allowing ordinary people to defend themselves through rituals—though that would take some time.
As for whether to establish a knight order belonging to the Church, Novia hadn't really given it much thought, figuring it was better to train Executors first.
After all, it was ultimately a public military organization. Even though Nero would absolutely never have any suspicions, as her teacher, Novia still had to be considerate.
After dealing with Holy Church matters came the problems of the Roman Empire. Years ago, Novia in the province of Judea had essentially destroyed all buildings except for the First Temple in Jerusalem. But it was still necessary to relocate populations from overcrowded provinces there. Therefore, rebuilding cities and reconstructing the Holy Land of Jerusalem around the First Temple were matters that needed to be put on the agenda.
In Novia's vision, after all this was finished, it would be about Byzantium.
This place was the necessary passage to Asia and the only route from the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea.
Moreover, the nearby Golden Horn was an excellent natural harbor, historically a gathering place for merchant ships from all over the world. With strong support starting now, convenient land and water transportation would rapidly develop commerce, providing substantial revenue for the Roman Empire's finances and allowing for more infrastructure construction.
Furthermore, vigorous development in Byzantium could also make residents of the major eastern provinces feel proud of their identity as citizens of the Roman Empire, gradually uniting popular sentiment.
In short, these were all things that would take a lot of time to accomplish. But both Novia and Nero were young, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem.
And now, having learned about the new Apocalypse, Novia first wanted to go to a place located eighty kilometers north of Jerusalem: Armageddon.
That is, the final battlefield foretold in Revelation, the ultimate war of nations initiated by the "Beast Kingdom" at the end of days.
"I'm going out for a while. It might take a long time to return."
After bidding farewell to Nero, Novia returned home and spoke to the hanging 'Spear.' Ever since Albion had forcibly used her uniquely long tongue to lick his mouth over a dozen times and then disappeared by dawn, from that day on, no matter what Novia said, she showed no reaction and didn't speak.
Although he could just leave without a word now, he understood Albion was still very afraid of loneliness, so he decided to say something. Whether she followed was her business.
'Don't let me see you. I still really want to eat you.'
Hiding inside the spear, Albion felt reflexive desire and appetite stirring within her. After eating a piece of flesh from Novia's shoulder and stomach, she felt a subtle change in her soul. Instinctively, she wanted more, and she inexplicably hoped that afterward, she would be left panting in disarray because of Novia, hoping to lick and clean his hand, sticky with blood and gore.
After waiting through a dozen seconds of silence, Novia found Albion still unresponsive. He thought he'd have to push a little. Tsundere types were really troublesome.
"...I fear you."
To Novia's sudden words, Albion remained silent, unresponsive. Though she disliked being hated, she hoped even more that Novia wouldn't be eaten by her.
"I… am afraid of your desire to eat me." Novia took down the spear and stroked it. "Although you are precious to me, you are also terrifying. At this moment, normally… perhaps I should destroy you right now."
While the silver-haired girl inside the spear whimpered in pain, Novia did not withdraw his hand from the spear. He did not break his own weapon and discard the dragon, nor did he use the magecraft he knew to destroy the girl's head. He did none of those things.
"....But I want you to live, even if it means consuming my flesh and blood."
".....I can't do it."
Albion finally appeared before Novia again.
"I am the strongest dragon, but I cannot control my desire to eat you. Even though I am very obedient and would never be willful."
"...Come here."
Novia picked her up. The silver-haired girl trembled slightly, then clutched Novia's lapel with her small hands.
I don't want to leave. The expressed emotion was very clear.
"If you can't do it, from now on, let's make a contract. I'll give you a new name. Then, whenever that name is spoken, it will signify that you belong to me. That should be able to suppress that desire."
".....Okay."
The dragon girl's golden eyes now appeared somewhat misty.
"Melusine. This will be the name that shackles your desire to eat me from now on."
"Mhm, I understand. I am the strongest dragon who belongs to you. I am Albion, and also Melusine."
"Then, before the contract is finalized, as an exchange for what you've shown me." Novia, holding her, directed her head towards his shoulder. "Take one last bite."
In that instant, the girl's cheek was showered with flying blood spray, slightly staining her delicate appearance.
"Novia… it hurts, right? You bite me too. I'm sorry, I'm sorry… But I promise, from now on, I will never do this again. Really, truly, this is absolutely true…"
Probably knowing that although she only took a piece of flesh from his shoulder this time, it still hurt Novia a lot, Albion, who had now been bestowed the name Melusine, stuck out her tongue and licked away the blood from where she had bitten Novia and the bits of flesh elsewhere.
"......Melusine, have you gotten a bit heavier?"
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
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