"My King, can you explain your true intentions to me now? Don't tell me this is just your temporary willfulness and you're trying to fool me casually!"
Seeing that the dead fox had finally left, Erica, who had been enduring for a long time, immediately clung to Sora. Her fair and slender arms wrapped around Sora's neck, and she had a scrutinizing smile on her face.
Sora naturally understood the meaning of Erica's words. As a king, the most normal and reasonable course of action for Sora would be to make the Four Great Families submit to him. However, Sora had abandoned this, and even Erica, known as the treasure and prodigy of the "Bronze-Black Cross," couldn't understand.
"Haha… I knew you would ask this."
Sighing speechlessly, Sora held Erica like this and returned to the main hall, sitting back on the sofa.
Although Erica didn't understand or agree with Sora's actions, she hadn't raised any objections or doubts in front of Miss Kaoru earlier. It had to be said that she was a very intelligent and capable girl who knew when to do what and would absolutely not challenge her man's and king's dignity in front of outsiders.
"Hehehe… Hurry up and tell me, I'm waiting."
Sitting so intimately with Sora, Erica seemed to be in a good mood, but that didn't mean she would let Sora get away with fooling her.
"Erica, perhaps in your eyes, or in the eyes of most people, making them submit to me directly is the most correct approach. But I want to ask one thing: even if I make them submit to me, what would I gain?"
Instead of directly stating the reason, Sora countered by asking Erica a question.
"Does that even need to be said? Of course, it's…"
Subconsciously, she was about to give her answer, but when she saw Sora's smiling expression, Erica suddenly stopped.
"Hehe… It seems you've already thought of it. Even if I make them submit to me, I won't gain much useful stuff."
"Money? The 10 billion you guys from the 'Bronze-Black Cross' offered as tribute is already questionable whether it can be spent or not. Too much of that stuff is just waste paper."
"Power? The greatest use of power isn't to control others, but to ensure no one can control oneself. Do you think anyone would dare to control me, a Demon King?"
"People? Hehe, I don't need to do anything, so why would I need so many lackeys? Besides, with you, a beautiful and capable knight, do I need anyone else?"
Sora felt truly shameless, using such a method to flatter Erica, but seeing the girl's moved and happy expression, he knew he had truly hit her soft spot…
"So, rather than having those people feign submission to me, it's better to just live our own lives for now, without interfering with each other. Even taking a step back, if I truly need to use them, I just need to issue a command as the Demon King. Do you think they would dare to refuse?"
"Hehe… To be honest, I learned this from that guy Doni. Isn't this how he's always done it? He enjoys the highest treatment and power as a king without having to worry about or deal with the troublesome matters of those organizations and families. This is a business with no capital!"
Sora felt incredibly clever, being able to say such reasonable things just by talking. He even admired himself a little, and a hint of a smug smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
However, in the next moment, Erica's words shattered Sora's little bit of smugness—
"Actually, you just think it's too troublesome, right!"
"Ha… What kind of hopeless Demon King have I, Erica Blandelli, encountered…"
Covering her forehead, Erica spoke with an utterly speechless tone.
She was Erica Blandelli, a genius beauty more cunning than a fox. How could she be easily fooled by a few sweet words!
"Ha… Haha… Was I seen through…"
Sora felt a cold sweat, incredibly embarrassed. He had thought his reasons were flawless and he was full of confidence, but he didn't expect to be seen through by the other party in an instant.
Erica, oh Erica, do you have to be so smart!
"But—"
"I'm very happy with what Sora just said. I, Erica Blandelli, am your sword, your shield, the woman who will one day become Sora's wife and queen. No matter what choice you make, I will always stay by your side and support you…"
A faint blush appeared on her cheeks, making her already exquisite face even more enchanting. The girl's intoxicated eyes made even Sora feel a little dazed.
They looked at each other in silence, both silently feeling each other's warmth, and then simultaneously leaned in for a gentle kiss…
"Ugh… Idiot Onii-chan! Damn Onii-chan! Liar Onii-chan…"
Behind the door, watching the two embracing and kissing not far away, Shizuka-chan tightly clenched her small fists, looking teary-eyed and incredibly resentful.
"Lady Erica and Lord Sora are doing… that kind of thing, how bold!"
This was the maid-san Arianna, whose face was red as she leaned next to Shizuka-chan. She covered her eyes in extreme shyness, but couldn't help her curiosity, occasionally peeking through a gap to look, then quickly withdrawing her gaze. Her little heart was pounding like a startled deer.
…
Netherworld, the boundary between life and death, a place where beings who are tired of the mundane world or have surpassed human limits live in seclusion—
At this moment, in a corner of Netherworld, in a small, ordinary, even somewhat dilapidated wooden house, a black-haired girl with an heroic face was quietly kneeling on the floor, her hands extended outwards. A sword emitting a strange aura was suspended in front of the girl.
At a certain moment, the girl's eyes suddenly opened wide, and a sharp glint, like a sword, flashed from those clear and bright pupils.
Buzz buzz buzz…
The suspended sword trembled, emitting piercing buzzing sounds, but eventually it gradually calmed down and fell into the girl's hand.
"Hoo…"
She let out a long breath, gently stroking the smooth, jade-like sword body. A hint of involuntary joy appeared on the girl's face.
"Hahaha… Is it finally complete, little Ena!"
"Hmm, not bad, not bad. Although it hasn't been completely tamed yet, you can already barely use the power of the Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi."
Laughing heartily, a scruffy man appeared in front of the girl. He looked at the girl, who was Seishuuin Ena, and showed an expression of immense satisfaction.
"Hehehe… Grandpa, Ena can finally use divine power too! That's great, next time, Ena definitely won't lose to Sora again!"
Holding the divine artifact Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi, Ena stood up, her face filled with joy and excitement.
"You can use it, but you are still in a human body. Don't overuse it, otherwise the divine power will erode your life."
Although he didn't want to dampen the girl's enthusiasm, the scruffy man, whom Seishuuin Ena called Grandpa, still reminded her. However, seeing that the girl hadn't listened at all, the man couldn't help but shake his head helplessly.
"Oh, right, little Ena has been staying here these past few days and doesn't know what's happening outside. I heard that a seventh God Slayer has been born, and he's a young boy."
"Ara ara, young people nowadays are really energetic. It seems the seventh God Slayer even has the same name as your friend, little Ena, a boy named Kusanagi Sora."
The scruffy man stroked his beard and said seemingly unintentionally. Ena, who had been indifferent and uninterested, suddenly froze when she heard the four words "Kusanagi Sora." Her beautiful eyes widened considerably…
…
"Hehe, is this the attitude of that Demon King towards our four great families? Interesting, interesting!"
"Hmph! Consider him sensible. Although he was lucky enough to slay a god, he's still just a little brat who doesn't understand anything!"
"Hehe, don't say that. Since that young man can become a Demon King, he naturally has his extraordinary qualities. For now, let's just do as this Demon King says. As for future matters, we'll observe for a while longer before deciding!"
"Hehehe… A Demon King, this is a rare power. I heard that our Demon King is different from the previous six, who didn't care about money or beautiful women and were purely a bunch of battle maniacs. Maybe we can…"
"Hahaha… Old man Renjou, you can just think about these things. I advise you to dispel those notions. Of course, if you really want to do it, although I won't participate, I'm still quite looking forward to it, hahaha…"
"Hmph! Old man Sayanomiya, I was just saying it casually. Do you think I would really be that foolish to be the first one to stick my neck out and let you guys pick up the spoils?!"
…
In a dim room, aged voices kept coming from the upper seats, while Miss Kaoru, the next head of the Sayanomiya family, stood below with utmost respect, her jade-like head lowered in silence.
"A bunch of outdated old guys. If you really dare to underestimate that guy, just wait to pay a heavy price!"
Listening to the voices of disdain towards Sora, Sayanomiya Kaoru's lips curled into a slight arc, and she sneered inwardly…