episode_0046

Another head was about to be severed.

Colonel Hydra, who should have been bowing his head to my words, cried out, his shoulders trembling.

“W-what do you mean by that! I didn’t do anything wrong…!”

“You coveted my subordinate.”

“!”

As soon as he heard those words, he turned to the Immortal Sword Princess. As if his obsession to chase her to the ends of hell was a lie, Colonel Hydra immediately shook his head frantically and shouted.

“No! Absolutely not! The revered Black Serpent personally took her in! How could I, a mere nobody, dare to be greedy! Th-that was merely a past matter!”

The name of the Serpent flowing from the Colonel’s lips. Only then did an undeniable tremor of unease spread among the Grand Duchy’s secret police, who had their heads bowed without understanding why.

“I, I swear upon the name of His Excellency the Führer! It’s true!”

Colonel Hydra frantically waved his arms as if denying it completely. I silently glanced at Alina’s figure. The Immortal Sword Princess, who had been reborn as a Death Knight, a body that couldn’t die even if it wanted to.

“W-what are you looking at.”

At the same time, Alina asked back in a feigned bewildered voice.

“Alina-yang, as your superior, I offer you this advice—”

Then, Aria finally broke the silence and spoke.

“The person before you is the Commander-nim you must now obey and serve.”

“!”

As a superior, holding the second rank in the organization.

“From now on, it would be best to remember it without fail.”

“Commander…”

“That’s enough.”

“…Ah, I get it. I just have to call you that.”

The Immortal Sword Princess hesitated, then spoke the name. That was sufficient. I had no intention of making her grovel for my acceptance.

“…Commander, Commander…”

The Holy Maiden Jeanne also shivered, repeating that name.

“This is the new title by which you will call me—”

As if that name, clearly engraving their master-subordinate relationship, was utterly lovely.

“You are my Commander.”

It was the happiness of a slave who didn’t know what to do with the lovely chains bestowed upon her.

Suddenly, the expression the Holy Maiden, depicted on the cover title, made in front of me felt strange.

Perhaps because it was a side of her that couldn’t normally be seen.

“As I said, I have no business with him.”

I finished asking the Immortal Sword Princess what I wanted to say.

“You two wouldn’t be, would you?”

“!”

Towards the Holy Maiden, who, along with the Sword Princess, wore the slave’s chains and was overflowing with happiness.

“Commander, what must I do—”

The Holy Maiden spoke. As if she wished for me to wrap thread around her body and make her move.

“Give me… a command.”

“…I can’t forgive you.”

At least not the Sword Princess, Alina.

“…I cannot forgive you. —Never.”

“Do as you wish.”

“!”

So I said. After speaking, I murmured again towards the ‘Death Knights’ guarding the Colonel.

“ .”

Along with the incantation, something like bone dust scattered from my fingertips and was swallowed by the undead supporting Colonel Hydra.

A magic with no effect on living creatures, but one that exerts absolute influence over non-living entities such as the undead and golems—a spell specialized for non-living beings.

“Ah, aah…!”

Just as ancient mummies turn to dust after repeated weathering, the Death Knights were no exception.

They collapsed on the spot. Leaving no trace behind. Becoming handfuls of bone dust, scattering faintly.

“!”

Perhaps because she, like them, possessed a lifeless body, the Sword Princess also trembled on shaky legs like a frightened girl before the scattering winds of annihilation. As fellow undead, as a , she instinctively grasped the power of this magic.

In that state, I extended my arm towards the Holy Maiden and the Immortal Sword Princess once more.

Perhaps because my fingertips were pointed at her, Alina flinched and her shoulders trembled. The tremor in her wobbly legs was soon impossible to hide.

“Wh-what…!”

“ .”

I continued to chant the spell without concern. I wasn’t trying to harm them.

With that, it was more than enough to heal their utterly exhausted bodies.

“Ah, how truly merciful you are.”

Aria laughed joyfully at the sight. I turned my back without concern, leaving behind the business between those who remained.

“Aaaah! That’s unfair! How can you guys play without Alice!”

Along with the belated voice of the blonde girl, a scream echoed.

*

That night. At a luxury hotel in the city.

Women elegantly dressed in evening wear entered a restaurant exuding an air of luxury and extravagance.

The guests there belonged to the Grand Duchy’s highest echelons, not only wearing expensive clothes but also possessing considerable discernment for beauty and nobility.

Yet, even those of such high society couldn’t help but be inadvertently overwhelmed by their appearance.

Provocative attire that brazenly exposed their backs and waists, with cleavage on display—.

Dresses and accessories embroidered with rare jewels that even they seldom saw. With every step, a radiance that seemed not of this world captivated the eye.

But what captivated their gaze most of all was not the clothes or ornaments they wore.

More than that, it was the purity and nobility emanating from their figures, thanks to which their highly revealing outfits seemed less vulgar and more like art for aesthetic appreciation.

“…….”

As they captured the attention of everyone in the restaurant, two women took their seats at a table.

In contrast to the two women, several men and women in dark black coats were already seated at the table.

“W-what is this scheme?!”

As she took her seat amidst the torrent of gazes, the Immortal Sword Princess cried out.

“As you see.”

I said. The Holy Maiden sat down, her face slightly flushed.

“This must be… where we belong.”

After sitting, she whispered softly, as if understanding the meaning.

“This is by your side—Commander.”

“Hoho, that’s right.”

“…Really, no one dares to touch you when you walk around like this?”

“It’s not that there aren’t any.”

I replied. At my answer, Aria let out a cool, cold smile.

“─.”

Understanding the meaning, Alina bit her lip once more.

Then, unlike before, blood flowed from her lips, where blood shouldn’t have appeared.

It was bright red blood.

A peal of laughter rang out!

“Ah, it’s Freya! Her laughter boomed!”

At the same time, a voice that captivated attention to an incomparable degree to the two women was added.

Alice’s laughter beside me was an added bonus.

“Indeed, it’s this girl.”

Annoying drill hair twisted in spirals.

Although her attire was a dark black uniform, like any Serpent, her uniquely distinctive drill hair and laughter alone were more than enough to overwhelm the entire room. To top it off, there was also her lace fan.

“How is a body enhanced by this girl’s touch, my cute junior-yang?”

“…….”

Undying Freya.

Just as her name implied she couldn’t die yet—Undying Freya had provided much assistance to the Immortal Sword Princess. Assistance Alina couldn’t even imagine.

“Now, please, it would be best to savor it to your heart’s content.”

“Savoring, you say…”

“Even with our bodies, there are still plenty of pleasures in this world to taste.”

“Dinner is ready.”

I said. Along with my words, Aria, who was beside me, glanced at the waiter, and as if on cue, the waiter began to bring various dishes on silver platters.

“……!”

“Tasting delicious food is just the beginning.”

Even the Immortal Sword Princess, who believed she could no longer taste food, was no exception.

“For my cute junior-yang, there are still many ‘pleasures of the living’ that need to be revealed.”

Undying Freya said, sipping crimson wine before the meal.

“Pleasures of the living, you say…”

“For a girl who was treated roughly enough to become a Death Knight—her condition was quite clean.”

“!”

“To be honest, it makes me wonder if the sorcerer was perhaps impotent.”

“W-what?!”

Ignoring Alina, who was blushing and about to raise her voice, Freya continued.

“Thanks to that, my junior-yang was truly fortunate! Your nerves could be revived without any loss!”

“W-what do you mean by…”

“Hehe, by the way, it’s also possible to adjust sensitivity, just like this girl. How about it?”

Freya smiled meaningfully before the Sword Princess, who swallowed her words in bewilderment.

The Holy Maiden Jeanne also couldn’t hide her agitation before the dishes placed sequentially on the table.

“It would be best to eat before it gets cold.”

I said. Picking up a knife first so as not to cause any burden, I left Alice behind, who had already emptied one plate and was looking for the next. I wish she would feel some burden.

Anyway.

—They had lived a life worse than beasts, eating rats in the sewers and avoiding human eyes.

And now, what lay before them was a luxurious life they could never have dreamed of.

It was a happiness that could only be enjoyed because it was purely evil.

Regardless of how they would accept that fact.

“It’s… delicious…”

After muttering, Alina burst into sobs. Stuffing her mouth full of food. Knowing, feeling, and savoring the taste.

As if the life where they had to be anxious and fearful of a single person’s gaze was a lie, they sat so proudly like this.

So thankful that the hateful man before them had given them another life, it brought tears to their eyes.

And so hateful of herself for feeling grateful to him.

“…Alina-yang.”

Taking her sobbing hand and wrapping her arm around her shoulder, the Holy Maiden Jeanne whispered.

“Don’t cry.”

Embodying the benevolence befitting the name of a Holy Maiden, as her name suggested.

“Such a beautiful and pretty face will be ruined—”

*

At that time, in the Führer’s office.

The Führer of a nation once called ‘Gustadolph Whitley’ was there. And before him stood a man called , looking down at the Führer with emotionless eyes.

He was a handsome man wearing a golden monocle, adorned with numerous golden decorations over his black uniform.

“Ergo.”

He looked at him, then called out his name. Not the Führer’s name, but his son’s name.

“Yes, Father.”

“Lastly, recall the command bestowed by Lord Rain.”

“It is the order to re-arm the demilitarized zone on the Western Border and the activation of Operation Order 66.”

“Yes, you remember well.”

After speaking, Golden Mirror smiled quietly.

“Heroes emerge in times of chaos [a chaotic era]—”

He continued, smiling.

“Because bringing forth chaos is the role of us Serpents.”

After that, he gave a deliberately exaggerated Grand Duchy salute and murmured.

“Long live Lord Rain—”