Anakrez looked up, her eyes filled with confusion and uncertainty.
Her gaze met Raven's—
A face so delicate and pitifully beautiful, it could only be described as otherworldly—like a fairy descending from heaven.
"Don't worry. I'm a good person."
"I'm definitely not the leader of some criminal organization."
After stating his position—
Raven reached out toward the collar on her neck.
"Ah…?"
Anakrez instinctively shut her eyes, her ash-blond hair trembling slightly from fear.
In the next instant—
The pale lavender collar clasped around her swan-like neck was crushed in his hand.
Anakrez shivered.
Silently, she let out a breath of relief.
"Come with me."
Raven withdrew his hand and gestured.
"Y-yes."
Anakrez didn't resist. She simply nodded and followed.
Inside the spacious VIP lounge—
There were two bathrooms, as well as several private rooms at the back.
Though not very large—
"They'll do. You guys wait here, I've got something to take care of."
Raven waved to Silence, Gluttony, and Empress before leading Anakrez into one of the private rooms.
Inside, there was a small white bed for resting, a mahjong table, and a deck of cards.
"Sit."
"Tell me what happened. Why did you end up at this casino?"
Lowering her eyes, Anakrez spoke softly from the heart:
"My father…"
"Because of your War Game… he gambled away everything we had."
"Then he tried to win it all back at the casino… and lost everything again…"
"And then he…"
Sitting beside her on the bed, Raven frowned as he listened to her story.
"So he used you as collateral… and when he lost, you were taken to pay off the debt?"
"P-pretty much…"
Anakrez whispered, fiddling with the hem of her dress. She looked a bit nervous.
Her parents weren't adventurers—they were just ordinary people.
They survived day to day working in magic stone factories and shops.
They lived in the Western District.
Anakrez, their only daughter, worked part-time at a flower shop there.
Thanks to her natural beauty—
She quickly gained local fame while making deliveries around town.
But that also drew the attention of people with less-than-noble intentions.
Then—
When the War Game was suddenly announced…
Her gambling-addicted father saw it as a golden opportunity.
So—
He went all in, betting everything on Apollo Familia.
The result, of course, was complete ruin.
Trying to recover the money—
He gambled more and ended up losing it all.
Not only was the house repossessed, he even wagered and lost his own daughter.
"In other words."
"After you were taken, they sold you at the marketplace?"
The so-called "marketplace" referred to the southwestern trading hub of Orario.
Goods from other countries—by land or sea—
Would first pass through there before being distributed across Orario by merchants.
Even regular citizens often visited to buy rare foreign items.
"Mm…"
Anakrez nodded sadly.
Raven thought to himself for a moment.
So the plot followed the original after all…
Tod had paid the fee and bought Anakrez from the market.
He'd instructed the thugs who brought her not to use force.
One could say—
This was just another link in the city's black market chain.
Still—
At least she hadn't ended up in the Pleasure District.
Raven, though called a demon king, didn't actually have bad intentions.
All he wanted—
Was to give this poor girl a safe, peaceful home.
"If I let you go back, what would you do?"
Raven asked.
At his words—
Anakrez lifted her eyes, trembling:
"Y-you'd… really let me go?"
During the War Game—
Through the divine mirror—
Anakrez had watched the entire battle. Raven's heroic might was something straight out of legend.
And his bold, handsome face had been deeply engraved into her heart.
She never expected—
To meet him in person under such circumstances.
That's how she recognized him immediately.
As a local Orarian girl—
Anakrez was different from the foreign elf girls who were trafficked in.
She admired Raven.
The others? They were like dolls—emotionless and unaware.
As the Hestia Familia's captain, Raven couldn't afford to tarnish his image.
"Yeah."
"So if you go back, would you return to the flower shop?"
Anakrez shook her head, her expression like a deflated balloon:
"No… I don't want to go back."
"I'm really disappointed in my father."
Without hesitation, Raven said:
"Then come with me."
"Eh…?!"
Anakrez's eyes lit up, trembling with joy:
"R-really? You mean it?"
She looked at him with eyes full of affection, like a girl madly in love.
"Yes. I mean it."
Raven replied with a smile to her tearful gaze.
He'd been worrying about staffing his new commercial building in Babel—
With Anakrez around, problem solved.
Who knew if Ryuu would eventually come knocking, just like in the original story?
As the man behind this casino empire—
Raven had no interest in being destroyed by her fury.
Seven years ago—
During the Great Conflict—
This casino had helped save thousands of Orario's refugees.
While the city was engulfed in war—
This casino, along with Loki Familia, Ganesha Familia, and the Guild—
Opened its doors to house the displaced.
They provided food, aid, and supplies to the people.
The casino's current prosperity wasn't without good reason.
…
"Th-thank you, Lord Heavenly Demon King~~"
Anakrez's eyes filled with tears of gratitude—
As if she'd just been rescued by a fairytale hero.
Suddenly, Raven remembered something and asked:
"By the way, Anakrez."
"Do you want to be an adventurer?"
"Or would you rather stay a regular civilian?"
His Familia was still short on members, and Anakrez hadn't received any Falna yet.
If—
She gained a rare magic or skill upon receiving one…
It'd be a huge win.
Seeing her hesitate, Raven added:
"You don't have to become an adventurer. I can still have our goddess grant you a Falna."
"Once that bond is formed… you're family."
Just like commercial Familia—
Having a Falna didn't necessarily mean you had to fight in the Dungeon.
And judging by her featherlight frame—
She didn't seem suited for day-to-day monster slaying anyway.
"Okay…"
"Thank you for taking me in, Lord Heavenly Demon King~~"
If her original family was broken—
Then building a new one… wasn't such a bad thing.
"Just call me Raven."
"Raven-sama~~"
Anakrez's gaze softened, completely enchanted.
She realized—
She had fallen deeply, madly in love with him.
Raven let out a soft sigh in his mind.
She hadn't joined the Familia yet—so there was no way he'd give her food for free.
Otherwise—
It'd be a waste.
That food equated to valuable experience points.
As for Guild employees like Eina and Misha—
They were originally students of the Baldr Familia at the Academy.
Their Falna—
Had already been activated long ago.
But after becoming Guild staff, their stats had been locked.
So there was a distinct difference between the two cases.
…
"Raven-sama… c-can I hug you?"
Anakrez finally blurted it out.
Seeing her take the initiative—
Raven didn't refuse.
He leaned toward her open arms.
With one hand wrapped around her waist—
Anakrez trembled in his embrace.
Raven's other hand gently stroked her waist and abdomen through the dress.
After a long silence—
He patted her back and asked:
"That enough?"
But her answer—
Was to hug him even tighter.
She wasn't the slightest bit embarrassed by their closeness.
For her—
This was a blissful moment.
"Alright, alright. I'll come back later."
Time was running short.
Raven let go and stood up:
"I've got some business to handle. Rest up for now—I'll be back later."
"Okay…"
Though reluctant, Anakrez finally let go.
He stepped out of the private room and returned to the VIP lounge.
"All done?"
"Guhaha, that fast?"
Charld grinned mischievously when he saw Raven.
Even Alfia shot him a strange look.
Only Ragunales looked completely indifferent.
"What are you imagining? I didn't do anything."
"Alright then."
"Time for business."
Raven walked up to one of the elven girls.
"You."
"Give me your hand."
"Y-yes, my lord."
The violet-haired elf girl extended her soft, fair hand.
Raven reached out and grasped hers.
Moments later—
A golden aura glowed faintly around her body.
She had officially ascended—
To Level 5.
"All right. The rest of you may leave now."
This time—
None of the elf girls asked questions. They simply left the lounge.
Because what came next—
Couldn't be seen by outsiders.
He couldn't risk leaking information about his abilities.
"—O supreme dark god of the Underworld…"
As a clear chant echoed through the room—
Raven began reconstructing a new body for the soul he would summon.
Immediately—
He felt his stamina, mental energy, and mana drain rapidly.
It meant—
Whoever he was about to summon was no ordinary being.
"They're coming…"
"Opening these mystery boxes always gets me hyped."
Empress Ragunales crossed her legs, clearly excited.
"Now you've got me curious."
"Guhahaha. I wonder if they'll be worthy of being devoured?"
Gluttony Charld set aside his liquor and watched intently.
"Will you two shut up already?"
The aloof and twitchy Alfia closed her eyes.
"—I beseech you. I offer myself to you."
A massive black magic circle appeared across the entire floor.
Twice the size of the one from the second summoning.
"—With the life around me as offering…"
Spirit refined to its limit fed the magical core.
"—Grant me your mercy and lend me your great power."
The giant circle began to glow darkly.
Black star-like particles danced inside it.
"—Bestow new life upon my dearest ones."
The intricate black patterns spun rapidly counter-clockwise.
"[Reincarnation Summon]!"
As the final chant rang out—
From nine positions—north, south, east, west, center, and four corners—
Nine overwhelming figures began to rise from the circle.
"What the…?"
Ragunales stood up in shock.
"So they've finally come."
Even Alfia opened her eyes, momentarily stunned.
"Haha!"
"Now this is a surprise. I didn't expect them to show up."
Charld laughed heartily:
"Looks like Orario's about to be turned on its head!"
"Right, Captain?"
Standing in the center of the formation was a calm-looking man.
His name was Maxim—former captain of the Zeus Familia.
Level 8. Title: Hero.
Race: Dwarf.
But his height—
Was a massive two meters.
Fifteen years ago—
In the battle at Dragon's Valley against the Black Dragon—
He had unleashed his strongest attack.
But it failed to pierce the dragon's scales—and he lost an arm instead.
Afterward—
He survived and passed on his achievements to Leon, the best knight in the Academy—
Allowing her to reach Level 7.
…
As for the other eight summoned figures—four men, four women:
Bashir, Zeus Familia officer, Level 8.
Gabel, Zeus Familia officer, Level 8.
Dalbazal, vice-captain, Level 8, title: Thunder Lord.
Phylon, commander, Level 8.
Semeret, Hera Familia officer, Level 8, title: Thousand Faces, half-elf.
Regunant, vice-captain, Level 8, title: Enchantress, pink-haired elf.
Melvitore, officer, Level 8, title: Night Fox, beastman (fox).
Arlong, officer, Level 8, title: Blood Tassel, Amazonian.
(Note: These characters are original creations outside the canon. Due to limited info, their screentime will be minimal.)
…
"Huff…"
Raven let out a heavy breath—
That single summon had drained half his stamina, mana, and mental energy.
"These people…"
"You all seem to know them?"
None of them were familiar to Raven.
"Those four women were senior members of Hera Familia."
"In terms of strength…"
"They're weaker than me, sure—but most of them are stronger than Charld."
"Alfia, don't you agree?"
Ragunales explained, watching Alfia with interest.
Alfia, unable to deny it, replied coolly:
"It's true."
"And you, bull-man. Stop acting like you're the strongest."
"You haven't forgotten what happened when we faced the End Dragon, have you?"
Raven took a deep breath after drinking a high-grade mind recovery potion.
It was said that the legendary Black Dragon—
Crushed every Familia considered heroic, tearing them apart and devouring them whole.
When Alfia had been gravely wounded—
All she could see was a sea of blood.
It painted a horrifying picture—
Of just how terrifying the dragon sealed in Dragon's Valley truly was.
Though he had power—
Raven had no intention of taking on the Three Great Quests just yet.
Conquering the Dungeon came first.
Shaking his head—
He activated a thought command.
The mental restraints sealing the nine's consciousnesses—
Were all released.
---
Access more chapters at patreon.com/dzeref887