The four grand hallways connected to the throne room were immense, each intricately designed to suit their theme. Each hallway had its distinct theme; some featured statues of demons guarding from both sides, while others displayed knight golems.
In one of these magnificent hallways linking to the throne room, adorned with numerous statues of Valkyries and walls painted in blue and red, resembling an amalgamation of ocean and blood, a figure was walking.
Their steps were hasty but not running, as running was forbidden in these grand halls according to their beloved Master's rules. And his rules were absolute laws for her or anyone else, for that matter.
She possessed long silver hair cascading down her back, and her eyes shimmered crimson red. She wore a noble dress that fell past her knees. A headrest graced her silver hair, while a flowing purple cape adorned her back as she walked, a smile of anticipation and relief adorning her face.
She walked excitedly toward the throne room, her breath nearly erratic, her eyes eagerly anticipating finally meeting her Master. He had at last awakened from his two-day-long slumber, easing her worries. Each breath she took now was exhilarating, consumed by thoughts of her Master—although she didn't truly need to breathe.
She continued walking until she suddenly halted her steps.
"Ara, aren't you a little late? Were you busy training again?"
Sophia stopped in her tracks, spotting a beautiful girl with long black hair, clad in a short, long-sleeved black kimono, walking from the connected corridor. Her hair was slightly damp, and one of the two red threads that typically tied her hair was missing.
"Y-Yaya was taking a bath. And Yaya came running right away the moment Yaya received the message about Master awakening," Yaya replied with a cute pout before she started walking, leaving Sophia behind.
Sophia clicked her tongue, an angry expression overtaking her face as she matched Yaya's pace until they were walking side by side.
"Are you suggesting your bath was more important than Master? How could you relax in a bath without knowing the situation?" Sophia's eyes glowed red with anger, her nails extending involuntarily—a result of her struggle with self-control.
Yaya immediately stopped, her eyes darkening.
"Yaya was in the midst of training. There's nothing for Yaya to do when Master is in that condition except to improve herself for his future needs. That's what Yaya is meant to do, all according to Master's desires. Are you defying Master by denying Yaya's training?"
Yaya didn't stop there, continuing with a scoff and a smug expression that seemed to belittle Sophia.
"And weren't you the one who wanted to drink Master's blood? Even a single drop would harm him. Doesn't that inherently betray your beliefs? Having such nefarious thoughts is punishable by eternal damnation."
"What!? N-no!" Sophia exclaimed in denial. She would never do that, obviously, but she still harbored the desire to drink his blood as it motivated her to strive forward and become stronger. It was her Master who had shaped her this way, so having this desire should be acceptable, right?
And she didn't know that Yaya was training; if she had known, she wouldn't have said what she did. After all, it's only natural to take a bath after training oneself—it was among the 500 etiquettes taught in the Etiquette Book authored by their beloved Master's first and personal Maid. Furthermore, Sophia herself had made efforts to look her best in front of her Master, which took a few minutes. It was the 257th rule: "Look presentable when appearing before your Master; there's always a chance he might want to eat you up.
"Nevermind. Let's just get going. Tch," Sophia clicked her tongue in annoyance as she walked forward, Yaya following suit. Soon, they arrived at the magnificent throne room, which remained as beautiful as the day of its creation.
They held deep reverence for this place, knowing it was their Master who had crafted it with his own hands, making them treasure the room immensely.
In the center lay a circular platform with eight seats, two of which were already occupied. One seat was taken by a lady dressed entirely in white, with albino skin—Shiraori. The other was occupied by a lady in black and red armor—Lilith. Both were seated closest to the throne.
As Sophia and Yaya entered the room, another pair emerged from a different great hallway connected to the throne room.
The first woman wore a form-fitting full-body suit with shoulder pads that accentuated her curves perfectly. Her long purple hair cascaded down her back, framing her ruby-like red eyes. Accompanying her was a younger-looking girl, also stunning with a curvaceous figure. She had long black hair tied in twin tails, secured by a red and black headrest, complementing her red and black gothic dress. Her eyes were a striking contrast—one red and the other resembling a golden clock interface.
Their audible chatter echoed as they approached the throne room, engaged in a visible argument.
Sophia and Yaya weren't surprised to see the forefront two seats already taken. Usually, the travel options, such as using any spell or skills to teleport or transport here, were banned. However, for a select few like Shiraori and Lilith, that wasn't the case. Shiraori had permission from their Master, as did Lilith. Hence, it was expected that they would be there at a moment's notice.
Sophia and Yaya immediately took their seats, joining the other two newcomers. Soon, the last two ladies—the ashen-haired witch and the spirit of wind—also arrived, completing the group with everyone present.
This included the Dhampire, whose unwavering gaze looked down at all of them from her position standing before the throne. Her black hair glistened in the ambient light of the room, and her black glasses added to her charm in her maid uniform, giving her an impeccably cool appearance.
"Father..." She murmured for the umpteenth time, under her breath. No one paid any notice to her at the moment; they were too engrossed in their infighting, except for Lilith and Shiraori.
"I'm sure Onii-sama is fine. After all, you received the message from your mother as well, right?" Lilith reassured, prompting a nod from Shiraori, indicating her agreement.
"Yes, but I don't know why I feel anxious." The girl, typically devoid of emotions towards anyone, appeared uneasy. Worry and apprehension furrowed her brows, intermingled with traces of relief and joy.
"It'll be fine..." Shiraori spoke, her words nearly inaudible. Had their hearing not been impeccable, they might have missed her words. It was a rare occurrence for Shiraori to speak, and while Lilith and Adele looked a bit shocked, considering it was related to Lucian, it all made sense.
****
Lucian was walking down the expansive hallway that led from his personal quarters, the Aeternus Chamber, to the throne room. It was one of the four paths connected to the throne room in a circle, alongside the fifth main path.
Clad in the gear he wore at the end of YGGDRASIL, Lucian had now donned one of his guild weapons—the crown with five draconic heads, the [Crown of Requiem], on his head. Each of its five gems shone magnificently despite the brightly lit hallway.
He did this because he thought it would be a good way to signify his authority over the guild and the Great Luxuria, because he didn't know what state of mind the NPCs would have after seeing him, especially because they had actually come to life.
"I should wear something less tacky from next time..." Lucian muttered to himself while walking. The gear he was currently wearing was the same white academic robe with blue and red embellishments that he had worn before YGGDRASIL was closed down. It was a Divine-class gear and, in Lucian's opinion, one of the most aesthetically pleasing. Crafting it had required an enormous amount of data and it came with its perks. Designed to match the data quantity of the guild weapons as closely as possible, it fell a bit short, but compensated with its unique abilities.
It wouldn't be far-fetched to say that every Divine-class piece of equipment/item that Lucian possessed was of the highest quality, boasting immense data and powerful, OP abilities. Although some were useless and merely for aesthetic purposes, they contributed to the overall value due to their substantial data quantity. Despite the hundreds of such divine-class items, their significant data quantity compensated for any shortcomings.
After 14 minutes of slow and continuous walking, Lucian finally arrived in front of the path that would lead him to the throne room.
Leaning on the wall for a bit, Lucian caused the wall to slightly glow with waving patterns appearing on it, as if each touch of his created a wave. It was an effect added by Lucian for extra fun, but at that moment, it wasn't helping him at all.
"Fuhhhh... Let's just do it," Lucian hyped himself up before striding forward, shoulders upright, and posture straight.
Unconsciously, Lucian let go of his normal state of mind and accidentally activated a passive ability that had been turned off. Suddenly, a golden radiance surrounded him, and behind him, a magnificent halo shone with bright, golden brilliance.
As soon as he neared the throne room, Lucian was greeted by a noisy atmosphere, quite contrary to the calm and silent scene he had anticipated.
"Stop trying to poke my breasts."
"Then stop shoving them near Yaya's face."
"Perhaps we should calm down, Sophia, Yaya..."
"They're forgetting that Master won't be pleased to see them fighting over such trivial matters."
"Hoh, are you forgetting the quarrels you've had?"
"When there's a grumpy old lady among maidens, sure, there are bound to be times even I lose my patience."
"Are you calling me old?"
"Ara, I didn't target anyone, but it seems like someone knows themselves best..."
"You guys are so troublesome... Have some decency, at least. Sigh~"
"You four, stop it immediately. I don't want Onii-sama to witness your unsightly behavior right after he wakes up. If you have a problem with that, we can take it to the Grand Arena and settle who's right and who's wrong. But not right now."
Lucian could hear the clear voices of the female NPCs. They resembled the voices they had for their cheers but now sounded more realistic and refined. It was the only way to describe it.
Taking a deep breath, Lucian resolved not to falter. He walked forward and finally entered the grand Throne room, which was still noisy. However, the moment he made his presence clear and his footsteps echoed on through golden marble tiles leading to the magnificent throne, everything fell silent. It was as quiet as if everything had frozen in time. No one was breathing, speaking, or even moving anymore.
Lucian's attention was drawn away from the throne room by the sudden break in silence, caused by Mei Mei's sudden appearance beside him. It seemed as if she had been in his shadow all along, which indeed she had. She stood beside the massive throne, her feet on the red carpet with blue embroidery that led down the stairs to the circular platform.
"I've cleaned the seat, Master. Right this way..."
Mei Mei swiftly moved, rapidly cleaning the throne, before gesturing for Lucian to take a seat.
Paying no heed to the tearful eyes of the watchers below the stairs, Lucian swiftly and calmly walked towards the throne.
His footsteps halted as he appeared right in front of the throne and looked at the one standing next to it. It was a black-haired maid. Perhaps labeling her as just a maid was a disservice, as she was programmed to be Lucian's daughter.
"I'm glad to see you, Father..." The girl said in an almost adorable, tearful voice, completely different from the one she used for others. It was sweeter, softer, and almost adoring.
She was on her knees as she spoke, tears streaming down her eyes, each droplet falling onto the beautiful red and blue carpet.
Lucian, unsure how to respond to her emotional outburst, still tried his best to reply to her words. "I-I'm fine... Don't worry about it..." His words trailed off as he decided to take a seat, pondering a few things as he did so.
Lucian silently settled into the massive throne, a World item. Although its seat appeared uncomfortable, as soon as he sat on it, he realized how comfortable and soft it truly was. It seemed almost capable of engulfing him with its softness and comfort if Lucian wanted it to. The entire throne lit up upon his descent, emitting a brilliant light that illuminated the already brightly lit throne room. It felt as though the throne had finally come alive, as if it had been awaiting its Master all along.
Glancing to his side, Lucian's eyes fell upon his maid standing to his right, her expression stoic, her gaze calm and serene. She didn't look any different from how she would have looked if she had her real face—ah, perhaps this was the new reality, her true face. Lucian admonished himself for a second. He needed to accept everything and everyone as their genuine selves now, even himself. He couldn't afford to harbor self-identity and other issues moving forward. (He won't)
He then looked down, his gaze finally falling on his NPCs, each now alive.
From right to left, knelt Shiraori in her usual white one-piece, Yaya wearing her short black kimono, a tear streaked down her face with a mixture of smile and relief, Sophia almost on the ground, seemingly eager for him to step on her, Kurumi in her gothic dress with a relieved and anticipatory smile. Then, from the left, there was Lilith in her full-body black and red armor, her expression calm yet undeniably tearful. Next was Scathach in her tight suit, her body outlined by the tight fabric, and Sylphy floating but bowing, and finally, Elaina performing the same gesture. There were no tears in their eyes, but their expressions reflected relief.
Witnessing their fervent kneeling before him, Lucian finally understood they were waiting for his permission to rise.
"You can lift your heads up, you know..." Lucian's sweet words rang out, more of a command than a mere statement. His voice echoed in the throne room, carrying weight and authority with every syllable, despite the voice being almost like a melody, sweet and addictive.
Although the throne room should have been destroyed due to his outburst 2 days ago, there wasn't even a scratch anywhere. It seemed as if all the damage that had occurred was already recovered through some unknown means. Realizing it had been repaired immediately after using the [Auto Repair] function, Lucian discovered this upon entering the throne room. Though he was aware of its functionality in YGGDRASIL, he wasn't aware of its presence here until he saw the throne room in its spotless condition.
All eight girls lifted their heads one by one, finally getting the opportunity to gaze at their Master adoringly. Not being able to see him for 2 days was something they never wanted to go through again. The fact that they didn't even know his condition was even more frightening. But now that he was here, they could feel relief and finally let their hearts be at ease while basking in his divine presence.
All of them looked at him adoringly, their expressions clearly conveying their maidenly love and devotion.
"Y-" Lucian was about to say something, but before he could, he was shocked as a black silhouette immediately lunged at him, followed by a white one. It didn't end there, as more figures followed suit, and Lucian found himself being jumped on by 8 figures.
Thanks to the enormous throne that accommodated such a large group, it didn't break despite the force each of these girls used in their throws.
Mei mei furrowed her brows, her eyes darkening in frustration. She was upset—even she hadn't thrown herself at her Master since he gained his new body, yet here these girls were. Her anger, however, was immediately washed away by what happened next.
"Get away from father, all of you! Right now!"
Adele shouted using her Dhampiric racial ability. Her voice was loud enough to make all of the girls that had thrown themselves at Lucian cover their ears, and they finally separated.
Mei Mei couldn't help but feel a sense of pride at Adele's action, giving her supposed daughter a thumbs up in her heart.
Meanwhile, Lucian didn't understand what had just happened. He was suddenly hugged by the crying NPCs—ahhh, no, his crying servants. Although he could understand that they might be feeling intense emotions, he still didn't understand why they had thrown themselves at him.
"Forgive us, Master."
The one to ask for forgiveness for all of them was the most odd one of the eight of them. It was Shiraori. The one that barely spoke. However, her words right now were as clear as they could be.
"I apologize for not stopping them, and even joining them, Onii-sama. But... But... I just wasn't able to control myself," the red-haired maiden said, her eyes uneasy and showing a hint of fear for what she had done. Right now, she looked like a little girl who had broken something and was waiting for punishment. But even in that uneasiness, there was an air of anticipation.
"It's alright," Lucian waved his hand, shrugging it off with a sigh...
He once again made himself comfortable in his seat as they all finally took their seats on their respective thrones, and Lucian was able to look at all of them.
Their eyes were all directed at him, and him alone. They were so focused that it was hard for Lucian to understand if they were even noticing anything else. Their intensity was almost enthralling.
'Wait, what?!' Shouting to himself, Lucian noticed how he didn't feel uneasy at this notion. All these looks of adoration and love directed at him—it all felt natural.
"Weird..." Lucian muttered out loud.
"Is there something wrong, Father?" Adele asked, leaning towards Lucian, intentionally trying to be close to him because she was upset that they were able to hug her father but she wasn't able to take that opportunity. She should've also thrown herself at that time. Now she was regretting her decision. That's why she wanted to be close to him even if just a little.
"No! Everything is fine. Get back to your place," Lucian hurriedly replied, noticing Adele getting close to him, almost touching his face.
"As you wish," Adele replied and immediately returned to her place on the left side of the huge throne.
Lucian's eyes then traveled around the throne room.
The 13 pillars emitted vibrant light, almost feeling alive, as if consciousness dwelled within them.
The now seated NPCs gazed at him fervently, adoringly, with smiles adorning their lips.
In fact, their emotions were immediately visible to anyone with a sense of self.
'They are totally smitten, aren't they?' Lucian wondered to himself.
No matter if it's the gothic girl with her smile that seems to stretch from one end to the other. It doesn't diminish her beauty, but with her eye that looks like a golden clockface, it sure makes her look weird. Or the closed-eyed Shiraori, who, although her eyes are closed, seems to be looking at Lucian with her smile visible through her hooded face. The black-haired beauty in the short black kimono is also looking at him with a similar smile. But her eyes shone even more, almost as if there were stars in them as she looked at him.
The odd ones were probably the group that weren't smiling, but their serious demeanor didn't diminish the happiness conveyed through their eyes.
The gray-haired witch had removed her huge witch hat when she bowed to him, so now her ashen hair was visible, and her hand was holding the hat gently, as if it were a treasure. Well, it surely was after all; it was a Divine-class item that was made by Lucian himself.
The one with purplish hair wearing the tight suit that seems to make all her curves pop out was smiling, but way more creepily than the others. If the others had a smile that conveyed adoration and admiration, her smile was like a predator looking at her prey, but her crimson eyes conveyed her absolute devotion.
The silver-haired vampire was also not smiling. Actually, she was trying to act serious, or at least, that's what it looked like to Lucian. Her face was serious, but it was visible to anyone that she was trying to be serious. Her headband seemed to have also slid down when she knelt with the fastest speed she could muster, and her noble garb was also creased in some areas, but she didn't care about it. (It's sophia)
The other odd one was the light green-haired spirit. Her size was so small that she could probably fit in Lucian's palm easily. Although the throne or the seat was too big for her, she still sat on it comfortably with her eyes fixed on Lucian. Her antennas were twitching. Naturally, she was aware of it. She only did so when she looked at her beloved Master or when she experienced emotional shifts.
The most normal among those sitting was the red-haired vampire who was looking at him with a serious expression. And it didn't look like a facade, it actually looked real, though her crimson eyes begged to differ as she looked at him as if she wanted his attention, like a puppy. But in Lucian's eyes, she was the most normal of the bunch. She was also one of the NPCs who had approached him before he fainted, along with Adele.
His eyes then traveled to Adele.
She was also the most normal one. Her expression was professional, with her glasses neatly perched on her nose with precise precision. Her eyes looked straight ahead, and her posture was similar to Mei Mei, who was also beside him, albeit a lot closer...
"Mei Mei, why are you sitting on my lap?"
A tad bit too close...
"It's only natural... I need to make sure no harm befalls Master."
Mei Mei's words were rational and normal for her. It was an instant response that he would expect from his perfect maid...
"Okay, get up for now." Lucian said that, and Mei Mei followed his words, standing neatly beside him.
Now that things seemed more normal, he decided it was time to address the elephant in the room... Well, not that there is an elephant in the room - maybe comparing himself to an elephant wasn't the best analogy... It's better to focus on addressing the NPCs in the room.
A scrutinizing gaze fell upon each of the girls seated in their respective positions. Some flinched, while others barely reacted. Some reveled in the thought of being scrutinized by their Master. However, all of them were eagerly awaiting his words.
"I..." Lucian began to speak, and each of their expressions brightened. They couldn't help but revel in the melodious voice of their Master. It was sweet, soft, and akin to music—almost addictive, like a drug they could endlessly enjoy. However, their anticipation soon turned to confusion.
Lucian continued, "I-"
Their minds scattered, contemplating executing his orders immediately, complying with his every demand.
"I'm hungry..."
Silence followed.
No one said anything.
The silence that had lingered in anticipation of his first words after his long sleep(if you can call it that) persisted. Their thoughts halted, as no one expected those words to come from his mouth.
Except for one person...
"Do you want me to prepare something right away?"
Mei Mei hurriedly appeared in front of Lucian, question marks swirling above her head. If her Master was hungry, she was ready to fill him up.
"Sigh~ No- Nevermind. I'll eat some apple," Lucian sighed and waved his hand, shrugging his shoulders. Mei Mei didn't understand the cue; Lucian wanted her to break the silent atmosphere. His mind wasn't in the right place, making it difficult to address all these girls who were looking at him with so much love and devotion.
He waved his hand and placed it into his inventory. A dark circle materialized, just the right size to accommodate his hands. Soon, he pulled out his hands, holding an apple.
This was no ordinary apple. It was golden in color, perfectly shaped as if it were crafted by an artist rather than grown from trees. And to some extent, that might as well have been the case.
Although the apple looked like a piece of art, it was not. It was edible. Or at least it was in the game.
It was one of the consumable foods that gave you a buff. Though it didn't work with undeads, Lucian was not an undead. He was a Deity, a dragon, a demon, so he was able to consume foods. But whether he is able to or not in this world remained to be seen. So, he decided to break this atmosphere as well as check this one more thing that will impact his incoming future.
He brought the apple close to his lips, his pale golden lips, and gently took a big bite, tearing the golden skin of the apple, revealing a red center. Although the center looked red, the juice that overflowed from the apple was slightly purplish in color.
At this normal gesture, everyone in the throne room gulped.
Lucian, after taking the bite, continued to chew the apple and swallowed it. Then another gulp was heard from all the people present in the throne room.
This apple's taste was... Otherworldly!
Lucian's eyes didn't reveal his emotion. No, it would be better to say his overreaction didn't emerge. He was actually appreciating the apple right now. It tasted sweet, very sweet, but not the kind that would make your throat itch and burn. Instead, it was sweet and smooth, a taste that was hard to describe. While it resembled an apple, it also didn't; the flavor was a blend of cherry and apple, and it was delicious. Lucian had never eaten anything quite like it, not even in his real life where he had tried many fruits synthetically produced for the best flavor and health benefits.
He continued to eat the apple, disregarding the hungry gazes directed at him. In truth, Lucian didn't feel much hunger. His primary aim was to test the 'food theory', and it seemed that the food was indeed real now. Filled with anticipation, he had an ungodly amount of different consumable foods in his inventory. The endless variety excited him, and he couldn't wait to try them all.
After finally eating the apple, all that remained was the core of the apple with its seeds.
A black circle opened in front of Lucian, and he threw the eaten core of the apple. After all, even that was a useful item that could be used in many ways.
The apple was actually called the [Golden Pomona Apple]. This apple had its own lore. It required completing 11 quests to acquire it. However, even once you had the chance to acquire it, you could only do so once. So players usually spent all their money buying these apples in bulk.
Most players were only able to get their hands on perhaps 10 at best, but Lucian had thousands of them.
The apple granted the following effects:
Affective Healing: +15 of HP every 3 minutes for 3 days.
Affective Strength: +20 in Phy. Atk for a duration of 3 days.
Affective Agility: +20 in Agility for a duration of 3 days.
Affective Regeneration MP: 19+ of MP every 5 minutes for 3 days.
Affective Magic: +20 in Mag. Atk for a duration of 3 days.
Although the effects couldn't be stacked, this apple was still highly coveted in the game. When put up for auctions, it usually sold at high prices, especially for raids.
At least during the peak of YGGDRASIL, it was sought after.
By the end of the game, Lucian had purchased numerous items inexpensively. Among these purchases were many of these apples. In fact, he had bought hundreds of them for only 900,000 yen.
Upon consuming this apple, it leaves the [Seed of Immortality], which apparently grants the person immortality.
Additionally, there's a 0.5% chance of the person advancing 5 levels, as long as they are not above level 50. However, that was useless for high-level players, likely a forgotten fact that no players remember. The quest was high-level, preventing low-level players from obtaining it.
After finishing his meal, Lucian finally noticed the onlookers' gaze while they sat on their seats.
"Heh?" Almost unconsciously, Lucian let out a surprising gasp at what he saw.
They were drooling—whether it was Shiraori's spider-thread-like drool or the small fairy whose saliva was getting on her throne. They were all drooling.
Were they hungry? He didn't recall Shiraori having the need to eat. Were the mechanisms different in this world?
"Do you girls want some?" He asked, but upon hearing his voice, all of them snapped out of their stupor, wiped their drool, and vigorously shook their heads.
"Ehhh? Then what was that for?" Lucian asked, abandoning all pretense. If he continued to stay silent, nothing would be resolved.
To answer Lucian's question, Lilith was the one who stepped forward and knelt close to the stairs leading to the throne.
"Onii-sama, I think we all unanimously know what we were drooling about. It's mean of you to ask something so obvious," Lilith said, her eyes cast downward and a blush on her cheeks. Her words were spoken in a jittery manner, as if she was embarrassed and excited at the same time.
Lucian didn't understand at all. (Don't worry, he is not dense)
"Mei mei..." Finally unable to bear the suspense, he looked at his encyclopaedia, which had all the answers.
Mei mei took a deep breath and leaned forward to whisper something in his ear. Her voice was barely audible as she whispered the answer Lucian was seeking.
"Ehhh?!" Lucian audibly gasped, his face displaying a perfect but troubled expression. Even his frown seemed to enhance his beauty.
"Are you serious?" Lucian asked Mei Mei, who immediately nodded with a hum. Her cheeks flushed red; getting too close to her Master had become risky. His scent was driving her crazy, and each shift in his expression brought her a new sense of joy. She managed to control herself despite experiencing these intense feelings; she couldn't afford to be unprofessional, especially in front of so many servants.
"Sigh~ it's all my fault," Lucian sighed, expressing his immense regret. (He doesn't regret it all)
He knew it was entirely his fault. It seemed like everything coded might be true—NPCs seemed to have derived their personalities from their story settings.
"Come forward... Shiraori," Lucian said loudly, If they were not going to say anything, he'd be the one to speak then.
Shiraori rose from her seat, her braided white hair falling behind her as she walked towards the stairs and knelt down.
Kneeling wasn't necessary, but she did so anyway, conveying her loyalty.
"Get up and look at me," Lucian instructed, pointing his finger at her, signaling for her to stand up.
Without any resistance, Shiraori stood up and gazed at Lucian, her eyes still closed.
Examining her, Lucian opened his mouth once again.
"Come here," he gestured with a flex of his index finger, beckoning her to come closer.
Instantly, she appeared right in front of. him, as if the stairs were not even an obstacle. She teleported. And it was not a spell that she used but her skill.
Lucian didn't mind, but he felt a little shocked at seeing how she vanished and reappeared immediately. Even his eyes weren't able to grasp the speed at which she teleported. That meant teleportation was faster than his eyes could catch.
'Maybe it's because I'm chained, and 90% of my stats are sealed?' Dismissing that thought, he looked at her.
Her ghostly pale, albino-white skin, her snow-white hair, and the one-piece dress, nearly as white as her body, would have appeared eerie if not for her unnatural beauty. Despite her ethereal appearance, she truly looked stunning. If Lucian had to rank whether it was Suzune, Mei Mei, or Shiraori standing in front of him, they were all far beyond anything he had ever seen in real life. Using a 1 - 10 ranking would be inadequate here.
"Come closer," Lucian beckoned. With a smile on her lips that made her appear as if she were smirking mischievously, she moved closer to Lucian's face, almost shoving herself to him. Obviously, she didn't hit him, but now she was within Lucian's reach, allowing him to grasp her, touch her, and feel her anytime.
As Shiraori got closer to Lucian, he could smell a sweet scent emanating from her. It resembled vanilla, a fragrance he quite liked. He wondered whether it was a perfume or her natural scent.
"Give me your hand," Lucian said, extending his hand. Without any resistance, Shiraori complied. Lucian tucked her wide sleeves aside, held her wrist, and pressed his fingers over her pulse points—or at least, he was hoping to.
A second passed.
Then a few more...
Well, his hope was not in vain; he could feel her pulse. It beat rhythmically, just like a human's, indicating she probably had a heart—unless the Arachnes had a different anatomy.
Lucian rose from the throne, causing everyone in the vast room to flinch. It was an unexpected action, prompting anxious gazes from all present. Even the composed Adele displayed signs of worry, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Was her father about to do what she was thinking ?Her face flushed red.
Meanwhile, Shiraori remained composed, but a noticeable blush colored her cheek.
Lucian paid no mind and moved closer, lightly touching her cheeks. They grew redder under his touch, accentuating the contrast of her complexion. If not for them being in the throne room, perhaps she would have opened her eyes, observing her Master with all her eyes, at such close proximity, witnessing his expression as he inspected her.
"Hmm... You are soft," Lucian murmured. He was simply examining her physique, noting any differences from that of a Player's body.
But he could find no difference. Was it because of the textures he had added to her skin? Lucian let it be and released her wrist, but before that.
"Can you let me touch your breast?"
Silence reigned supreme. It seemed like the throne room was truly going to remain silent forever, but it was broken by a shout.
"ONII-SAMA!!! If you want to satisfy yourself, why not choose me instead of Shiraori? I doubt her Arachne body can withstand your power!" The loud shout from the red-haired vampire, Lilith, finally broke the room's silence, plunging it into pandemonium—not the Super-tier spell, but real chaos.
"I-i-if it's about defense, Yaya has the most defense among all of you! So Yaya should be the one serving the Master!" Yaya, the black-haired beauty in her short kimono, stepped forward, her face flushed as she pointed at Lilith!
Lilith shot her a vicious glare, her eyes swirling with blood.
Yaya flinched, not due to any lack of strength but because she was encroaching upon the bloodline of her Master, disrespecting his family member—an action she did not like to take. Despite this, she stood her ground, seeing the opportunity to finally become one with her Master, her rationality was thrown out.
"Fufufu... How foolish. The thought of Master sleeping with just one person is simply absurd. Master deserves more than one partner. Do you honestly believe you could handle Master alone?" Kurumi remarked as she rose from her seat. Her gothic black and red dress billowed, and her ponytailed hair bounced up and down.
"Wha- of course not! If he wants to-" Lilith attempted to retort with an almost enraged roar, but Kurumi interrupted her.
"I believe, if Master desires, he should indulge himself in me first... Fufufufu... With my ability, I can call upon multiple copies of myself to satisfy him... Fufufu..." Kurumi said with a smile creeping onto her face, the subtle mocking expression causing Lilith's face to contort into an angry scowl. If not for her beauty, her expression would have drastically distorted and altered her appearance.
"You bitch!" she shouted with an angry voice, her eyes brimming with frustration. She truly wanted to wipe that mocking look off her face.
"Ara, Ara... To think you would shout in the presence of Master... Are you wishing for death?" This time, Kurumi didn't hold a smile on her lips, but pure mockery and disappointment.
Lilith immediately felt a jolt through her body as she saw the person beside her pinch her waist. It was Scathach, using her rune magic to bypass the defense of Lilith's divine-class armor and directly pinch her waist.
"Calm yourself, young one... You are in the presence of Master. Your anger is getting the better of you again." Scathach's serious face and red eyes, reflecting the angry scowl on her face, quickly brought Lilith back to her rational state. She calmed down, about to sit, but before she could do so, Scathach got up.
"I think I should be the first one to Master should bed... After all, I'm as old as humanity itself, and wandering through different times teaches you a thing or two. Being the most experienced, I believe I am the best candidate," Scathach said with a serious expression. Her words seemed to make sense to others, including Lilith, who had been angry but was now calm, thinking that this might be the best option.
It was a lie, an utter bogus. Scathach was lying. There was nothing to experience. Although she has wandered through time, she had never experienced sexual intercourse firsthand. But indeed, her words had a point. She had watched the most of it. In words. She has watched the most porn possible for a being.
"Ara Ara... if old people aren't trying to be young? Shouldn't you already sleep in your coffin instead of sleeping on the bed with Master?" Kurumi said so with a tone laced with poison. Her voice was dripping with malevolence.
"Hoh... Are you trying to challenge me? Do you think just because you have escaped time, I can't beat your ass?" Scathach replied with a smile. Her smile was predatory. But it didn't faze Kurumi.
"But of course..."
"Hehehe... I'm sure Master would prefer my huge breasts, after all, it's all for him! If he wants to touch breasts, I believe mine are bigger than Lady White's..."
Emphasizing her breasts with her hands, Sophia spoke loudly with a proud expression. Her breasts almost spilled out of her tight gray dress that covered her. Although the dress looked weak and soft, it was Divine-class gear as well.
"Sit down, before I cut those bags of fat," Lilith said, eyeing Sophia's breasts. Her eyes were calm now, but it was evident she was intent on slashing men's dreams.
"Looks like it's too heavy, let me put some holes into it," Kurumi said with a deadly glare at Sophia's breasts.
"Looks like you have forgotten the beating..." Scathach said with a smile that screamed danger.
Sophia shrieked in fear, "Ugh!? Ok!" She immediately took her seat on the throne, holding her breasts tightly. However, she continued to cast glances at her Master, hoping to be the chosen one...
The only ones who didn't voice their opinion were two people... And those were Elaina and Sylphy.
Elaina's expression was solemn, almost lifeless as she touched her small, almost non-existent breasts.
Meanwhile, Sylphy continued to smile. There was no outward desire for sexual intimacy from her. At least not visibly. She was connected to her Master through a contract, which meant if he desired intimacy, she would immediately sense it and respond accordingly. But at the moment, that wasn't the case.
The argument continued with Scathach taking the lead, followed by Kurumi and Lilith. It seemed like a three-way war was brewing, and Yaya joined shortly after, refusing to back down. Meanwhile, the other three remained seated calmly.
Lucian hadn't yet found the opportunity to touch or grab Shiraori's breasts. He observed the unfolding scene before him.
"Are they serious?" Lucian asked, looking at Mei Mei, who nodded in response. She had witnessed it firsthand on the first day. They all held themselves responsible for their Master's sudden slumber, even leading to fights. However, none of them actually harmed each other, except when they were in the arena, where they fought...
"You had to turn all of them into psychopaths. It's not my fault, Master," Mei Mei sighed as she sat down beside Lucian. It wasn't due to distress or fatigue but rather her desire to be close to him. Lucian relaxed onto the throne, leaving Shiraori stranded in the foreground.
"Should I undress?" Shiraori tilted her head, a question mark floating above her head.
"No!" Lucian exclaimed before scanning her, then stated, "There's no need for that anymore," as he held Mei Mei beside him. She blushed profusely, her face turning bright red as Lucian's hand vanished momentarily.
"Hmm..." After 20 seconds, Lucian had left Mei Mei breathless. Her face was flushed red, her eyes glazed.
Shiraori remained standing before them, having witnessed it all, yet she didn't take any action. She was still awaiting her orders.
"It feels real... I can even poke it," Lucian muttered to himself, still lost in thought as the argument at the center continued.
After hearing a lot of noise, Lucian finally stood up, a serious expression adorning his peerless face. The intensity of his expression made it seem as if there could be nothing more important than gazing at his beauty in that moment. (Too much narcissism? It's the beginning)
"Be quiet! I'm thinking," Lucian shouted, inadvertently activating one of his passive abilities, causing all the girls to shiver in fear and excitement, immediately kneeling before him.
"I apologize, Onii-sama!"
"Please forgive me, Master," pleaded Yaya.
"Master, I didn't do anything wrong, but please forgive me," Sophia cried in despair.
"Please punish me, Master," Kurumi said, lowering her head deeply.
"I'm sorry for my rudeness, Master..."
"Master, I do apologize," Elaina said, bowing, despite it not being her fault. It felt natural to seek forgiveness when her colleagues had been rude.
"I'm also sorry, Master," Sylphy added, bowing while still floating.
The apologies didn't end there; they continued to apologize profusely.
Shiraori glanced behind her and softly uttered, "Sorry?" tilting her head slightly, which made Lucian smile a little.
"Pffft! Hahahahaha!" Suddenly, Lucian burst into laughter that reverberated throughout the entire throne room, seemingly illuminating it with joy, albeit not physically.
"Sorry, sorry... Haha, sorry..." Lucian managed to say between laughter, trying to regain his composure while still chuckling. His four sharp teeth were briefly visible before he finally closed his mouth.
"I remembered a funny incident from a while ago," Lucian continued as he wiped away tears from his eyes. Unnoticed by him or perhaps unimportant to notice, a spider immediately caught the tears on the ground and vanished.
The incident was a glitch that occurred just a few months before YGGDRASIL's shutdown. It caused the added NPC cheers to continue for hours. It was a challenging day for Lucian, yet it also led so many funny moments as he always wandered around accompanied by one or two personal NPCs.
"Uhm..." Lucian cleared his throat before addressing them. "Anyway, it's fine... Just sit on your thrones and keep quiet for heaven's sake! Okay?" Lucian asked, tilting his head and questioning them. All of them nodded like obedient dogs, even Shiraori, and sat down on their respective seats.
"Phew. Better." Sighing, he sank deeper into the soft throne.
"Now, Adele," Lucian began again, causing Adele to flinch.
"Yes, father!" With a professional smile on her face, she approached him.
"Truly... You are the most obedient and well-behaved girl here," Lucian said as he gestured for Adele to come closer, and she did so. Lucian patted her head, making her blush and purr like a cat. None of her serious dignity was present here as she smiled and blushed like a maiden in love.
"Good girl," Lucian said as he gently scratched her neck, and she appeared to enjoy it with a smile. Lucian couldn't understand why he chose to treat her like a pet.
Was he dehumanizing his NPCs? Nah, it was probably due to her expressions, making her look cute. Ahh...
"Now..." Lucian held Adele's cheeks, causing her blush to deepen and her breath to become slightly ragged.
"Tell me, my daughter..." Lucian adjusted her position so that her eyes met his. His red eyes provoked various thoughts in Adele's mind. Her very existence seemed to be drawn into those crimson eyes, which were the most precious to her—something she always aimed to keep shining brightly.
"Who am I?" Lucian asked, his soft voice and gentle tone threatening to break Adele's restraint on her face. Her face was in disarray, her glasses sliding down, and she did nothing to adjust them. Her eyes seemed to gaze at him with almost unfiltered, unbridled devoted love.
"The guild leader of Vice Requiem, the one and only Master of the Great Luxuria, the Master of Eight Grand Servants, my father, and the only man to whom I've devoted my life and love," Adele replied, her voice sounding almost intoxicated as if she was drunk, under some hypnotizing spell.
In fact, Lucian hadn't used any skill, ability, or spell. It was a natural effect, perhaps brought about by their lore, or maybe due to his otherworldly looks? Truth be told, Lucian didn't know.
"Thank you for your honest answer, my daughter..." Lucian said as he released her. Her almost drunken state caused the others in the throne room to gulp, even Mei Mei, who had kissed him before, looked at Adele with envy as she continued to smile and blush.
"Father called me his daughter. Ehehehehehe." She giggled like a child while readjusting her glasses. "I'm his daughter...heheheheh."
Lucian ignored her mutterings and turned his gaze to Mei Mei, who met his eyes.
"She is our daughter," Lucian stated. He wasn't asking Mei Mei or telling her; he was merely stating the truth.
"Indeed, as you wish, Master," Mei Mei nodded. She had treated Adele as she would any other, but now she would have to adjust, acknowledging her as both his and her daughter. Adele had her own feelings now, that went beyond her NPC status. She was no longer just a set of codes; she was a living being with emotions.
"Now... Let's get to the real servants," Lucian said, turning his head to those sitting on the thrones.
"Tell me, all of you! Who am I?" Lucian asked loudly, seeking confirmation.
Shiraori was the first to step forward and kneel before the stairs.
"Spiders Lord," she said in a low voice, adding, "and my Master," with a subtle curve on her lips. Her voice was almost inaudible, but everyone, including Lucian, heard it.
Lilith also moved ahead and knelt down. "The only Deity to grace Vampires, the one True lord of all those who dwell in the dark." She paused briefly before adding with a smile that matched her personality, "And also my big brother, the only man to have my love and devotion."
Scathach followed suit. "The one with limitless potential," she paused, allowing a smile that could send chills down anyone's spine to appear. "And my Master..."
"The greatest Champion of all time." Yaya stepped forward and continued. "And also Yaya's Master," she said with a smile and absolute pride.
"The one for whom even time ceases to exist... The only man to step through the boundary of existence." Kurumi walked forward, making a noble gesture of lifting up her gothic dress before kneeling. "And my one and only M-A-S-T-E-R," her last word came out rather flirtatiously and slow.
Sophia was next as she knelt before looking at Lucian with an adoring gaze, just like the others. "The most beautiful being to ever exist..." She smiled and blushed profusely before continuing. "And also my Master."
"The most powerful magician," Elaina stepped forward and knelt. Her eyes were solely focused on Lucian and Lucian alone. "And also my Master."
The last one was none other than the spirit of wind, the smallest and easily overlooked due to her size. However, she stepped forward with vigor and shouted her heartfelt words.
"Master is Divinity. Master is grace! Master is also mercy." She shouted, floating and flying to Lucian, unlike the others, and sitting on his hand before kneeling. "And also my beloved Master."
Lucian didn't mind. He was the one who had set her preference to enjoy perching upon her Master's body.
Lucian looked at all of them. Each of them held the same level of devotion and loyalty for him. It was evident from their actions and words. He had doubted their loyalty when Mei Mei said they were loyal. But now that he had firsthand experience of it, he was sure of their unquestionable loyalty. He could feel those dark and dreary obsessive emotions emanating from their eyes. It would have scared Lucian, but right now, the only thing that could make him fear was the thought of perhaps losing them.
A faint smile graced Lucian's lips, his eyes once again shining with golden brilliance. His slightly reddish-purple dyed lips curved up lightly, and his vampiric ears, reminiscent of a half-Elf's, twitched, causing his Divine-class earrings to sway. (His lips are reddish purple because he ate the apple just minutes ago)
Was it excitement, giddiness, joy, gratefulness, relief, or something else? Lucian couldn't pinpoint the exact emotion he felt. Yet, the only expression that could convey this complex mix of emotions was the smile on his face.
"Thank you," the gentleness in his tone was palpable. The entire room felt hot, not due to rising temperature but because of the body heat radiating from the girls. They were all affected by a deadly smile, so captivating that it seemed capable of cutting through the hardest metal with its sheer beauty.
"M-master, please," Mei Mei held her nose. Was it blood? She had experienced this before, but she had learned to control it. Was it happening again? Well, she couldn't blame herself in this matter. Her Master was becoming more deadly, and it was evident.
"Now, let's focus on the serious matter."
The air around Lucian completely changed. His smiling face disappeared, replaced by eyes devoid of mirth or a smile.
"Tell me the details of everything that occurred after I slept. Describe for me the Great Luxuria's mechanism thoroughly. Provide me with a comprehensive report on each location, area, and guardian, ensuring all minor details are included, nothing should be missing..." Lucian emphasized, his expression signaling imminent danger. Everyone nodded at his words, including Mei mei.
"What are the security levels and how are they being maintained? Detail the costs and defensive systems. Document every difference since our transfer here and give me a brief overview of it. Dispatch some Valkyries to scout the entire surrounding area, and if hazardous, deploy FUI Immunity Golems." Lucian directed his attention towards Lilith as he spoke. Her expression radiated pure delight at the prospect of finally working for her brother, something she truly rejoiced in. To listen to his words, his voice, and fulfill his commands was the most delightful experience for her. Eagerly anticipating his future praise, she nodded with utmost seriousness.
"I want an extensive map of the area where Great Luxuria is currently located, including weather conditions, any hazards present, and details on nearby monsters and their level caps... Begin summoning Mercenary NPCs and explain to me if there's any difference. Block all the Axis Points connecting to other bases until further notice. Investigate the administration system, block all exits, seal the entire castle, the entire Great Luxuria, and check the status of the Ariadne system. Also, summon all my Vampire Princesses. You all have 10 minutes."
Lucian's voice carried a chilling gravity that seemed to affect the very air in the throne room. His eyes glowed bright red, as though they could outshine everything else in the room. His face reflected utmost seriousness, his hands firmly grasping the throne's massive handrests.
All the girls wore serious expressions as they listened to their Master's words.
Their eyes shimmered with anticipation and hope for the unknown future, an eternity waiting to be shaped.
This was the first picture he had painted on this blank canvas.
Without hesitation, all the girls immediately obeyed their beloved Master's orders. They would heed his words even unto death, bound to him alone, eternally.
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