After the lizardmen's great victory over the undead army, they decided to take a well-deserved rest, holding a great celebration in honor of the first battle where the entire race was united under a single banner against a common enemy. The war was still raging, but they had dealt a major blow to Almodeus's armies, and a celebration was a must to keep morale high, despite the numerous losses suffered in battle.

  "It was great! I haven't had this much fun in a long time!"

  Kan roared, ecstatic and a little tipsy, still gulping down a bowl of liquor. He had been rescued and healed by the druids along with the other heroes, all exhausted from their respective battles.

  "Battle...great!"

  Shark added, with his usual difficulty in speaking.

  "Now that I think about it, where is Druso? And Lulu?"

  Sakka asked, licking his alcohol-stained lips. He hadn't seen the two since they returned to the village and feared they might have been seriously injured. From Kan's side of story, the monster they faced had proven to be much more dangerous than Darkbright- the one that Tiberio’s group fought.

  "At rest. They were destroyed...especially Druso! Using the Lich Bane requires a lot of energy, after all."

  Tiberio replied seriously, crossing his arms as a woman poured him some liquid into the bowl on the table. He thanked the girl and took a sip. Even when drinking with friends, he managed to project the image of a stoic captain of His Majesty's army.

  "Its main attack is Mana Slash, right? I know it can only be used once before you need to recharge it..."

  Sakka asked, intrigued. Unlike the other relics of their species, Druso's Lich Bane was the only one that hadn't been passed down from generation to generation, like Kan's medallion, for example.

  "He kept it a secret until the very end...he's a great fighter! The best I've ever met! Now I know why my father never won against him!"

  Kan commented. His eyes shone with absolute respect for the warrior and companion who had quickly become one of his best friends.

  "Yes, I'm very proud of him."

  “I share your sentiment, Tiberio. Druso was fundamental for this victory.”

  “Exactly, I don't know if we could have beaten Scratcher without him and- “

  Tiberio fell silent abruptly when he saw the colossus next to him rise and stagger away.

  This one's going to make a mess...

  “-Where the hell are you going, Kan?”

  He roared at him, watching as the large warrior was walking strangely due to his drunkenness– he looked like he was about to fall over at any moment.

  "I'm going to call Druso! I don't care if he's tired! What's the point of a party without the star of the show?"

  The monk muttered, putting down his now empty bowl.

  "Let them rest and don't go snooping!"

  Tiberio's words went in one ear and out the other. He could only watch Kan stagger away, sighing. When the monk got something into his head, there was no stopping him.

  "He's as stubborn as his father Jengis! It's going to end badly; I can feel it!"

  The warrior finished, shaking his head and returning to the conversation Sakka and Shark were having. The two were already on the verge of deciding their next move. They had won that day, but who could say that luck would continue to smile on them?

  "What do you think will happen now, Tiberio? We've won a battle, but the war is still open."

  He nodded at the head hunter's words. It would have been foolish to think the enemy would stop after a single skirmish. They had managed to eliminate thirty thousand undead, and that was a given. However, they too had lost many troops and would have to request more from the royal palace. In his heart, Tiberio feared that the enemy might attack them before they had a chance to regroup. In that case, defeat would be certain.

  "I don't know. Maybe they'll send another army, or their Absolute Lord will take the field himself... Who knows?"

  Tiberio replied with a sigh. Even though they were celebrating a victory, he couldn't deny that their situation was still very precarious. Many soldiers had died on their side as well, and he ruled out the possibility of the enemy attacking in exactly the same way, so they would have to prepare a new strategy.

  We cannot give up, our survival depends on this war.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  In the darkness of his hut, Druso rested grimly on a small bed. Lulu sat beside him, asleep with her head on his chest after having given him the necessary medical attention. They were both drained of energy and almost completely unable to move.

  "Um...what...happened?"

  The tramp muttered, waking slowly, still groggy and in pain.

  "Hm?"

  As he looked up, Druso noticed Lulu beside him. His heart began to race, and his tail slapped the ground uncontrollably, waking the druid as well. The girl initially took a step back frightened, then leaped onto the other's neck.

  "I see you're feeling better! I was so worried!"

  She smiled at him, massaging his cheek gently.

  "Th-Thanks...wait! You stayed here taking care of me for who knows how many hours?!"

  "Of course! You know...you helped me in battle and... well..."

  The female could not help but blush, crossing her tail with that of the vagabond.

  "You were the first to do all this for me. Others laugh at it playfully, but my feelings for you are sincere, even if they're young."

  Lulu concluded, blushing even more.

  "Same thing goes for me..."

  The wanderer declared. Druso was trying to remain serious, but the blush on his cheeks made it harder. It was the first time he'd opened his heart to anyone. He'd been reluctant to do so because of the precarious situation they were in, but recent events had changed the game. He'd almost died against Scratcher and knew the war was far from over; he didn't want to have any regrets before his inevitable death.

  “At first I was struck by your rare beauty, but then I saw that there is much more than what meets the eye.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Y-Yes. Lulu, I-“

  Druso was about to approach the female, when the door of the hut suddenly opened, frightening the two.

  "Hey! Druso! Are you there? The party is...oh..."

  A drunken Kan watched the couple, who had moved closer due to their sudden fright. Both were red with embarrassment, as if they were a couple of teenagers caught in bed by a parent.

  "You're going all out, huh? How is the baby making going? Hahaha! Sorry! Take it easy!"

  The monk commented, closing the door and walking away as if nothing had happened.

  "What a fuck just happened?"

  Druso muttered, completely stunned by the monk's indifferent and irritating behavior. Yet he knew him, he knew that Kan had zero tact for private matters —he was the type who, when was in the bathroom and someone knocked, asking if he was busy, wouldn't respond with "Busy" or "I'm almost finished!" but instead would shout at the top of his lungs: "Wait a minute! It’s almost out!" Unfortunately, Druso had discovered this personality trait in his friend the hard way shortly before the war.

  "I do not know..."

  Lulu concluded, extremely embarrassed, but still clinging to him, with no intention of letting go. It took the two of them a moment to regain control of their intimate moment, making sure they locked the door before they could bask in the pleasure of the covers.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Hardshell's footsteps were heavy as he made his way to his master's office, followed closely by Frederica. Under normal circumstances, he would have been delighted to be summoned before the being he most admired, but now he was trembling inside, and for a just cause. Not only had he failed to conquer the lizardmen, but he had also lost a gift bestowed upon him by Lord Almodeus himself.

  Personally, being a warrior, Hardshell had grown to respect the lizardmen and would have accepted defeat at their hands, but this was different: his lord knew no defeat, and he had tarnished that fact with his poor performance. It was the Fear Tower's first military campaign in the new world, and it had ended in defeat through his own fault. How could he make up for it?

  After all, he was nothing more than a beast in the service of his Absolute Monarch—a mace that kills when used. He had already braced himself for punishment, but he couldn't bear to disappoint his master. Moreover, his brothers' disgust at his failure would only serve as a source of further self-pity. Hardshell had dozens of scars on his metal exoskeleton, signs of past battles—he had fought more than his tiny brain could remember, but that one would remain etched in his memory as the worst of all, even though he had not fought directly

  He reached the office door and opened it, letting Frederica pass with a chivalrous gesture. Even though he was her superior, Hardshell felt unworthy of being waited on by his maid at that moment, especially since he had lost a bet with her. Normally, there would be no one in the office except Almodeus and his wife, C. But- on that occasion- Morello, Sergio, Smaug, and some of their serving maids were also present. Ever since the Homunculus Maids had been introduced, they had been sought after as assistants by certain high-ranking members. They had everything one could hope for: beauty, loyalty, and kindness. Frederica lacked the latter, but Hardshell liked the she-wolf's fiery demeanor—and she also had a tail, which was a huge plus in the colossus's book.

  Once fully inside the room, Hardshell's footsteps became even heavier, as if under the influence of an exhaustion spell. He felt his brothers' gazes; it was clear they were disappointed or disheartened, but some tried to hide it, as if to avoid further burdening him with his defeat: that honor belonged only to their Absolute Lord, who sat in his chair as always, with C at his side—the only one who seemed truly calm in all of the room.

  "Welcome, Hardshell! Finally, we are all here! I've been waiting for you..."

  Almodeus began, gaining everyone's attention with his powerful, authoritative tone.

  "I'd say we start with the news! The conquest of the Dark Jade led to the founding of the city of Almy, where my daughter is now in charge. I ask you all to give her all the support you can when requested, without holding back!"

  Everyone nodded at those words. Although it was a request from a caring father, for them it was an imperative order from the Absolute Lord.

  "Still speaking of the Dark Jade, even after more than a week of searching, Shaco hasn't been able to find anything, so I think we should put the orc issue on hold for a moment. We'll return to it later. Moving on to the lizardmen..."

  At the mention of the lizards, all eyes fell on Hardshell, kneeling in the middle of the room, with Frederica standing behind him. The colossus swallowed the artificial saliva he was producing, doing his best to maintain his composure.

  "Hardshell, I hear your attack ended in a resounding defeat!"

  The demon's cold, disappointed tone made the colossus' artificial blood run cold, and he lowered his head in embarrassment.

  "Yes, I failed miserably! It wasn't my intention, I-“

  "Lift your head, I want to see your face!"

  "R-Right away!"

  At that harsh command, Hardshell raised his head and locked eyes with his master: the Absolute Lord's two-toned eyes were bloodshot as usual, suggesting a perpetual killer instinct. They almost acted as a mask for his true intentions.

  "I'd like to know what you have to say. Leave the excuses aside and get to the point..."

  Hardshell nodded at the request. It wasn't like him to apologize, but right now he wished he could do so. He wasn't good with words, so he couldn't satisfy his master with flattery or some detailed explanation. Sergio could, but he- the one who was jokingly called retarded when it was partly true? Absolutely not.

  "I can't forgive myself for having disappointed you and wasted your gift, I-"

  “You understood anything. I'm not interested in that useless monster! I am not here to punish you..."

  Hardshell opened his eyes in confusion. If his master didn't want to punish him or hear him admit his failures, what did he want from him? His head began to ache—thinking wasn't something he excelled at.

  "I- I...I don't understand..."

  "I don't want to blame you for your colossal defeat."

  At that statement, Hardshell's brain completely stopped working. He had no idea what was happening. Even his brothers present were surprised, except for Sergio, who remained calm and attentive to the conversation.

  "B-But...Why?"

  "Because everyone makes mistakes, that's natural! What I want to understand is not how you failed—because I already know that—but how you could have avoided such a failure! Basically: where did you go wrong? Do you understand what I mean? Or should I put it more simply? I know these discussions are difficult for you, so take all the time you need to think..."

  Hardshell was completely lost in his master's calmer tone. He'd expected to be beheaded on the spot or turned into a coat hanger, not to be asked questions. How could he answer that question when he hadn't even understood it?

  "I...well...um...I..."

  Noticing his subordinate's difficulties, Almodeus sighed.

  “As I suspected, this is too difficult for you. But I'll try to explain what I mean anyway. Frederica, can you give him a hand?”

  "M-Me, sir?"

  The maid stammered stupidly, surprised to be called into question so suddenly. Her heart was already pounding, fearing an unjust punishment; why had she been called to the stand for no reason?

  "Yes, exactly! You were with him and witnessed the fight. Please share your opinion."

  Almodeus replied, motioning for Frederica to answer.

  "I-I think Hardshell- I mean M-Master Hardshell! Forgive me!"

  Frederica coughed, trying to calm herself. She wasn't ready for this—she didn't even want to be there in the first place.

  "I think Master Hardshell should have deployed his troops better and gathered more information, such as about the catapult or the traps set by the lizardmen."

  Almodeus nodded at that answer. A small smile began to form on his face.

  "Very good! That's the answer I wanted! Hardshell, do you understand what I asked now?"

  The colossus nodded and tried to formulate a response similar to the one Frederica had given.

  "W-Well, I think I underestimated the enemy..."

  He managed to stammer, hoping he had done well.

  "Exactly, we have to be careful! As I always say, you can never trust the universe! It has a bad habit of changing the cards on the table during the game!"

  Almodeus commented, reiterating his hatred of fate.

  "B-Besides, I should have immediately deployed one of the generals you assigned to me! I didn't think they were necessary and didn't want to waste your gifts, but they are experiments and must be tested! The lack of a general has greatly aggravated the army's conditions, being composed of low-level undead to begin with."

  Hardshell's reasoning surprised those present—and not a little. He was finally using his brain, even though it was clear he was struggling. It had taken repeated examples and little nudges to get him to say a sentence longer than ten words.

  "Good response, but beyond that? Anything else?"

  "N-No! I can't think of anything, and to be honest, my head is hurting as hell right now..."

  Almodeus laughed at that answer and banged his fist on the table, not in anger, but rather in satisfaction.

  "Excellent! Excellent! Except for Scratcher and Darkbright, all the undead are easily summoned en masse! Losing them isn't a bad thing in itself! In fact, it was very profitable! Making someone like you understand something is worth every penny!"

  The Absolute Lord turned his gaze away from his subordinate, staring into space. He moved his hand to his chin and began to ponder the question of the monsters they had managed to create from the meager humans of that world. Creating machines from garbage, you might say.

  “The experiment using Marquis Baldur's body and soul has resulted in the creation of a level 34 Scratcher, who knows what Shockwave will create when he has something more powerful to use as a test subject!”

  "So...you're not angry with me, Lord Almodeus?"

  Hardshell asked, confused.

  "Angry? Not at all! If this made you learn something, then it was a real bargain! I'd lose a thousand times if it helped one of you! At the end of the day, our victory is a given. We can invest some resources and time into improving ourselves."

  Almodeus replied, laughing heartily.

  "I-I...I am honored, master!"

  "However, a defeat remains a stain on the resume. Therefore..."

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Almodeus stopped laughing and raised his right hand toward Hardshell, pointing with his index finger. His seriousness suddenly returned. It was something that made him as unpredictable as his daughter Almodea; changing the attitude like when you changed a shirt.

  "You will have to be punished!"

  Hardshell nodded and bowed his head, realizing he had to do something to atone for his sin.

  "I am ready to offer my life, if it helps-"

  The colossus began, but was immediately interrupted by a roar.

  "You're just an idiot! That last sentence shows you don't understand anything!"

  Almodeus snorted, trying to calm himself down.

  "Please, try to think straight. I know it's hard for you, but just do it! What do I gain if I kill you?"

  Hardshell scratched his head, frightened and confused by his ruler's change of mood.

  "Nothing?"

  "Exactly! You see, you can get the points, when you want! So, what's the logic of punishing you if I don't gain anything in the process?"

  To Hardshell, his lord's reasoning made little sense. Punishment served to prevent someone from making mistakes again, so death was logical. What didn't make sense, however, was the question of gain, but if his lord wanted it that way, then so it would be—it wasn't up for discussion.

  "Wash away your sins with the blood of the lizardmen! We will prepare a second army, and this time you will be able to enter the battlefield. However, I want to see your strategy- not only brute strength!"

  This statement surprised the colossus, who had slowly begun to understand what his master was getting at.

  "This seems like a great find, love!"

  C intervened, clapping his hands.

  “Hardshell can cleanse the shame this way! Everyone needs a second chance!”

  "The Queen is so merciful..."

  One of the Homunculus Maids in the room commented quietly, taking a handkerchief and starting to wipe away her tears.

  "Yes, it is not for nothing that she is the companion of the Absolute and mother of his glorious offspring."

  One of her colleagues added, blowing her nose with a handkerchief. Frederica simply watched them, embarrassed. They looked like a couple of young women who had just witnessed the climactic scene of a play.

  And then they wonder how I knew right away that they're not human... The Absolute Lord thought to himself, rubbing his eyes in irritation. It was all so embarrassing and exaggerated.

  "L-Lord Almodeus, wait! I-I have a request to make to you and-."

  Hardshell began, sounding hesitant, but was immediately interrupted by Morello, who barked at him like a mad dog.

  "Did you hear the orders or not?! You dare make demands of the master after disappointing him? Do you even hear yourself?!"

  "Silence, Morello! I'll take care of this."

  At Almodeus's command, the white-haired robot immediately fell silent and lowered his head, giving the word to his master.

  "Put this question before me, Hardshell. Don't be afraid..."

  The colossus took a deep breath and raised his head, then stood up straight but remained on his knees.

  "The truth is that.... that I am against the total extermination of the lizardmen and other forest races! Please show mercy!"

  Before Almodeus could respond, Morello turned to his brother, looking at him as if he had just sworn a curse in church.

  "Are you kidding?! Don't you understand the position you're in?! This request is absurd! I—"

  Another slam on the desk silenced the white robot, causing him to look up at his master.

  "Morello, be quiet! I won't say it again!"

  "I ask your forgiveness, Absolute Lord!"

  The drone stepped back, leaving the word to Almodeus once again, who turned his attention to the mechanical behemoth that had brought the matter to him in the first place.

  "And tell me, Hardshell...Why should I spare them? What do we gain from it?"

  "I believe it's possible to instill loyalty to you in them! They're great warriors! They could be useful to us! It would be a waste to use them to make undead or feed them to Shockwave."

  He proposed, surprising everyone once again with the complexity of the speech he had made – even though it was clear that he was having a hard time using his brain so much.

  "It's actually a tempting proposition."

  Almodeus declared, rubbing his chin.

  “We've already seen what Oni and goblins evolve into when exposed to a powerful magical force over a prolonged period of time. I wonder what might happen to the lizardmen...”

  “So that means you-“

  "However! Extermination remains more convenient. Even with the relics of the six great heroes, those demi-humans are still of little value to us, we could risk a rash move like making a deal with a hostile enemy. But if you have any other arguments in favor of your request, please let me know..."

  "I... don’t...I"

  "If you don't give me any further reasons, we'll proceed with my plan..."

  The demon continued, checkmating a Hardshell who had reached the limits of his argumentative powers. He couldn't expect more from the colossus. It was already considered enough that he hadn't gone haywire from the mental effort he'd put in.

  "Lord Almodeus, may I?"

  Smaug asked, raising one of his four arms and taking the stage.

  "Of course, go ahead and speak up... You're all free to express your opinion. Just be respectful of other people's."

  The monarch declared, granting the floor to his subordinate.

  "I agree with my brother Hardshell. Through evolution, we could empower the lizardmen as Lady Almodea is doing with the Oni and goblins."

  "Fascinating idea, but it would take too long... besides, lizardmen don't necessarily evolve as quickly as other lizardmen. I'm curious to know what they would transform into, though. Do you have anything else to bring to my attention, Smaug?"

  The four-limbed robot shook his head and lowered his head, also the victim of a heavy checkmate. He didn't know how to help his brother, even though he shared his position. Just before the Absolute Lord could settle the matter, an arm rose from across the room.

  "Lord Almodeus, I have a proposition!"

  Sergio declared, standing up and entering the discussion with determination.

  "Tell me what you have in store. After all, you are the most brilliant mind, along with me and my wife."

  "You see, in the future we'll likely have to conquer vast, populated territories, and we won't always find ourselves using the same formula we used this time—subjugation or death. Why don't we use the lizardmen as a sort of experiment?"

  The proposal from the robot in the brown jacket intrigued Almodeus, who raised a hand to his chin and began to think it over.

  "I like the idea. But...what makes lizardmen different from the goblins and the Oni we've already conquered?"

  At that question, Sergio smiled knowingly. Unlike his brothers, it would be difficult to checkmate him.

  "It's simple, master! They will be conquered by force, while the others were conquered by diplomacy! We could observe their behavior and gain important information on how to proceed in the future!"

  Almodeus smiled very happily at that answer, as if he had been waiting for such a proposal.

  "I like it! Idea approved, Sergio! You never disappoint!"

  "You are too good, my Absolute Master."

  Almodeus's gaze returned to Hardshell, still confused by the constant exchanges that had taken place; it was too much for his poor mind.

  "Hardshell! Your proposal has been accepted! The extermination is canceled, so I will modify your mission! Invade their villages! And bring them all under our rule, but you will have to do it alone! Let me see the strength that you saw in them! Do you understand?"

  The drone smiled at that statement and lowered his head, nodding happily.

  "Yes! I will not disappoint you, Absolute Lord! My actions will repay your kind visit! Your magnanimity will not go to waste!"

  "I want to tell you one last thing, and it's for everyone! What you saw shouldn't be considered a strange event! I want you all to be able to tell me your opinion without fear...I congratulate everyone! Remember to always put our family first!"

  With that, the demon rose from his throne. Meanwhile, the Homunculus Maids present began to weep again at Almodeus's words, which they saw as a kind of gospel. Noticing them, Frederica felt embarrassed again; being the representative and head of all the maids in the tower, she felt guilty for their behavior. However, none of those present seemed to notice. Many of them, like Smaug and Morello, seemed to respect and welcome this exaggerated loyalty to the rulers.

  "My beloved, please tell Shockwave to prepare two armies of undead according to the instructions I will give him shortly and send them to the front, at the village of Combust. It is time the lizardmen realized who they are dealing with!"

  Almodeus declared, turning to C.

  "Of course! I'll report back right away! What will you do in the meantime?"

  She asked, smiling.

  "I have some business to attend to..."

  Having answered this, the demon disappeared into thin air.

  "Thank you, brothers! This was one of the hardest things I've ever done, my head hurts!"

  Hardshell muttered, turning to Sergio and Smaug, who had supported him during the argument with Almodeus.

  "No need, I witnessed the fight against the lizardmen. They deserve my respect..."

  Smaug replied, producing hot steam from the small pores on his body.

  "Exactly! Besides, I believe this was exactly Lord Almodeus's original plan!"

  Sergio added, ecstatic.

  "Wait...you mean he was planning this all along?"

  Hardshell asked, stunned.

  "Of course! He's our ruler after all! Lord Almodeus is always a thousand steps ahead of us!"

  Sergio finished enthusiastically. He seemed to know more than he was letting on.

  “I wonder what our master has really in store for the Dark Jade Forest!”

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Almodeus reappeared in front of his bedroom, where one of the Homunculus maids was waiting for him.

  "Welcome to your rooms, master."

  She greeted him, giving him a short bow and opening the door to the room for him.

  "Thank you, Decret..."

  The demon replied, entering the room, followed by the maid. Some time ago, the Homunculus Maids had been offered a reward for their hard work, and all asked to become the personal maids of Almodeus or someone else in high places. Consequently, it was decided that the maids would rotate to assist Almodeus as his companion, twenty-four hours each. To say this greatly disturbed the demon would be an exaggeration. Initially, he saw no problem with it, but then Almodeus noticed how all the maids were workaholics: they worked tirelessly and would risk starvation to do their duty. It was so embarrassing for the Absolute Lord—he felt like an exploiter without even actively doing anything to eradicate it.

  "Did you take a day off?"

  Almodeus asked, approaching the window of his room. From the outside, the windows weren't visible, so anyone approaching couldn't know they were being watched. That was a huge tactical advantage.

  "No, Lord Almodeus. I'll take it tomorrow, is that a problem?"

  The girl replied, remaining on the threshold of the door and not daring to take even a single step forward, as if the floor of the room were boiling lava.

  "No, it's not. Just make sure you get adequate rest."

  The demon concluded, approaching the mirror in the room, positioned in front of the double bed. Almodeus had to bend down to look at himself, as the piece of furniture on which it was mounted had been adapted to his wife's smaller height.

  "Reflection, are you there?"

  The sovereign asked, watching his reflection come to life and nod.

  "Of course! How can I help you, master?"

  "How's Almodea doing? And Hirashi? Is everything okay in Almy's town?"

  "Everything's okay! Hirashi is helping out with the construction of his dojo, while Almodea is in her office cuddling with the Oni named Shion."

  Almodeus nodded happily at the answer. Only after a few seconds did he notice a small detail that seemed out of place in the report and raised a confused eyebrow.

  "Cuddle? Did I hear that right?"

  "Oh, sure! They've finished work and are reading together! Almodea is having her tail redone by the other female."

  "Ah...Shion was one of the two female Oni saved by my daughter, right?"

  The Absolute Lord asked, genuinely curious. He had never met the Oni in person, so he couldn't have a clear idea of who Shion was. However, he knew she had become Almodea's bodyguard and that the two were very close. Almodeus had no objection to this, but he would have preferred to get to know the woman in question better.

  "The one with the big chest and muscles? Yes..."

  At that response, the demon slapped his forehead. His reflection was a bit too direct at times, but he couldn't complain too much—it was born from his own pride, after all.

  "Don't call her that anymore. It's disrespectful to other women and to my daughter's tastes."

  “As you wish, master.”

  “Keep an eye on her until further notice, now go!”

  With that, Almodeus moved away from the mirror and sat down in the armchair at the side of the room, scratching his eyes with his fingers.

  I wasn't expecting that much from Hardshell, or even from Smaug to be honest! Sergio's idea? Perfect! I could have thought at that, but I haven't had much time lately, because of the Guild...

  While he was thinking, a heavy knock came at the door. The maid quickly checked who it was, then turned to Almodeus to introduce the newcomer.

  "Lord Almodeus, Queen Nikusa has arrived with some of her Esoterica. May I let her in?"

  And now what does she want?

  Almodeus simply sighed and nodded, watching Nikusa enter the room, followed by three winged women clad in heavy white armor. He immediately recognized the one in the center as Albedo—the leader of the twenty-six original Esoterica who served Nikusa as if she were a goddess. Their loyalty to the Chaos Queen was as unquestionable as the A.L. Bots' to the Absolute Lord. The only real difference was that the Esoterica were all level 100 Eldritch Horrors. Even one of them would have been a formidable opponent for Almodeus’s strongest subordinates.

  "Nikusa! Old friend...To what do I owe this visit?"

  The demon stated, trying to appear friendly.

  "Oh, nothing special! I just wanted to talk to you for a second...I'm bored!"

  The pale woman replied, sitting on the double bed as if she were the lady of the house.

  "And why are you telling me?"

  "Because you're the boss here! Shockwave's always busy doing experiments, and my little Hirashi's busy in that town doing who knows what! I feel alone!"

  Wait...didn't Hirashi tell you what she's doing to Almy’s city? Curious...well, that's her business.

  He was quite surprised that the white giantess hadn't informed her mother of her affairs at the city. Almodeus knew that Hirashi had always been quite submissive to Nikusa's wishes, even though the latter had never forced her daughter to do anything in the first place.

  "It's strange to hear you call your little Hirashi, since she's as tall as you."

  Almodeus chuckled, poking the pale woman's maternal side.

  "Oh, shush you! Be as it is, they grow up so fast! She's twenty-five, but for me she's still my little girl! I missed her childhood, unfortunately..."

  Nikusa sighed, heartbroken.

  "The Queen is such a caring mother!"

  Albedo commented, crying along with the other two winged women.

  "You are right, Lady Albedo."

  Decret added, wiping away his tears with a handkerchief and handing more to the Esoterica. It seemed like a tragicomic spectacle.

  What's today? Everyone's crying...

  "I understand your boredom problem, Nikusa...but what do you want me to do about it?"

  Almodeus muttered, trying to remain serious and not lose himself in the vale of tears unfolding before him. It was truly embarrassing to see all this reaction over nothing. If anyone had walked in at that moment, they would surely have blamed him for everything.

  "Simple...I want you to let me take the field!"

  Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh?

  Almodeus's eyes almost popped out of his head at that statement. Sending Nikusa out of the tower was pure madness! That the Chaos Queen was a force to be reckoned with was a sacrosanct truth, but sending her on a mission would have been overkill. Not even Almodeus was so careless as to send out a woman with destructive potential that would have made even a nuclear bomb pale in comparison.

  "No, no, and no again! Get it out of your head!"

  "What? But why?!"

  "Because I'm not crazy! I won't let you roam free in this world! I'd rather not find myself with a wasteland to govern like our old world was!"

  Nikusa seemed irritated that the other didn't believe she could control herself, even though it was the truth. The old world of Almodeus—as far as hell was concerned, at least—had been reduced to a mostly desolate wasteland precisely because of Nikusa's carelessness.

  "Come on! I can control myself!"

  The woman muttered, puffing out her cheeks.

  "Nikusa! You and I are probably the strongest beings in this world! Do you have any idea what will happen if we let go of ourselves?"

  "No, what?"

  "That the world exists before you get mad, but after you get pissed off, the world disappears! Coincidence? I don't think so!"

  The Absolute Lord gestured, trying to convey the gravity of the situation to the other. They couldn't just wander around that place doing whatever they wanted. In theory, they were allowed to do so because no one could stop them, but what would be left? Nothing! An expanse of absolute nothingness! Almodeus couldn't allow Nikusa to cause damage that he would then have to repair, not to mention the possibility of accidental casualties among Almodea's new friends. No, he wouldn't let himself be put in an awkward position by the whims of that petulant Queen.

  "Almodeus..."

  "What Almodeus and Almodeus! I won't jeopardize my daughter's happiness just to please you. Imagine if you accidentally kill a friend of Almodea or Hirashi! Do you have any idea how much it would hurt them? You may not have been there, but it's only been a short time since Almodea had her last crisis, and I don't want to see her locked in her room crying anymore!"

  He replied, as serious as ever. The Absolute Lord was perfectly playing the part of a down-to-earth leader who would command respect. Normally, that would be enough to make anyone withdraw their complaints, but Almodeus was not talking to just anyone. Nikusa was a queen, and no one could boss her around.

  "If your daughter is a spoiled, overly emotional brat who would like to have a harem of big and strong women it's certainly not my fault!"

  Nikusa growled, irritated. She could barely stand being told what to do, much less ordered or forced by someone whose authority he didn't recognize. However, Almodeus wasn't one to take insults directed at his little spot lightly.

  "Oh yeah? At least my daughter knows how to smile and doesn't work out all day like a soulless bodybuilder instead of spending time with me."

  Those words made Nikusa's eyes red with rage. Her right hand filled with dark energy, clenching into a fist. She was this close to punching the Absolute Lord in the face.

  "TALK ABOUT MY HIRASHI ONCE AGAIN AND I WILL- "

  At that moment, the Chaos Queen was interrupted by Albedo, who stepped in along with Decret.

  "My Queen, calm down! I beg you! We all know that a clash between you two would lead to the destruction of this world and perhaps other realities, so let's take a breath and think! For the sake of Miss Hirashi and Young Miss Almodea!"

  Upon hearing her daughter's name, Nikusa suddenly calmed down and sat down on the double bed, nodding.

  "Yes, I went too far. Almodea is a very good girl, and you raised her with all the love she could possibly need. Also, I admit that when it comes to relationships, she's definitely ahead of my Hirashi..."

  She admitted, sighing. To Nikusa, Almodea was like a niece, and they were more alike than she thought: both immature and bitchy, if they wanted to.

  "I've gone too far, too. When people talk badly about my daughter, I lose my mind. And Hirashi is lucky to have a mother who spoils her so much...even if she doesn't take advantage of it. Anyway, I just have to thank her for everything she does for us, and her training is totally justified as a hobby."

  Almodeus added, regretting his own behavior. Stress, combined with Nikusa's dickish attitude, had led him to say things he didn't mean, all just to silence the other person. Every now and then, he had to vent, too.

  "Yeah, we both messed up! It's ironic how we always end up in a tie, don't you think?"

  Nikusa laughed, returning to her usual carefree attitude.

  "Real..."

  The demon sighed, before resuming his speech.

  "Look, I can give you some missions, but you have to promise me you'll be gentle. This world is highly unstable! You alone could destroy it! And if you ever visit Almy City, please don't kill anyone..."

  Nikusa nodded and shrugged, accepting the terms.

  "Okay, I can do that! So, what do you give me to do? Hopefully something fun!"

  "I have nothing for now. However...it's likely that we'll attack the trolls' base in the future. Will you be one of us?"

  Almodeus proposed, trying to create a compromise between his needs and those of the petulant queen.

  "Trolls, huh? I like it! I'll be there!"

  Nikusa replied, standing up, excited at the thought of finally being able to let off steam. Fighting wasn't something that necessarily turned her on; she preferred simpler things like beauty treatments or spa baths—but she needed to let off steam sometimes, too. And nothing let off steam like a good fight against someone.

  "Since you have nothing for me to do now, I'm going to take a beauty bath at the tower Spa! I have to keep myself the most beautiful Queen of all, not just of the chaos! Until next time, old man!"

  She laughed, before leaving the room, followed by Albedo and the other two armored women.

  "It was a... heated discussion, Lord Almodeus."

  Decret commented, closing the door and placing a hand on her chest, trying to calm herself. She was shaken by the situation that had just unfolded before her.

  "Yes, you're right! I'm too stressed, I should take a break..."

  The demon replied, settling into his chair. With everything that had been happening lately, he hadn't gotten any rest. The conquest didn't worry him much, but he still wondered who Almodea had attacked. He had a lead on the two Archdemons and would investigate once the Dark Jade affair was over, but he had nothing on the knights and the elite squad of soldiers.

  I need to find out more information...and what I have in mind might help me.

  Almodeus had only revealed his true intentions with the forest to his wife, so no one truly knew his true plan. It was a risky move, but it was the most efficient way to allow his daughter to mature as an adult, fix the problems the girl had created for the guild with the massacre a few weeks earlier, and—with some luck—bring Almodea's attacker out into the open.

  "If I may advise you, you could rest now, right? You have a few hours free, if I remember correctly."

  The maid suggested, starting to straighten the crumpled blankets on the bed. Nikusa had left without tidying up. It wasn't a big deal in itself, but for someone as obsessed with order as Decret, it would have been impossible to leave her master's room in that undignified state; it would have been an insult to his perfect persona.

  "Yes, you're right, Decret. Let me know if my wife or anyone comes to the door, okay?"

  Almodeus requested, making himself comfortable in the armchair. He breathed a deep sigh of relief. Since they had arrived in that world, almost two months ago, he hadn't had time to rest properly.

  "Sure! Let me handle it for you, master."

  The maid nodded promptly, still busy making the bed.

  "Listen, Decret, can I ask you a question? I want you to answer honestly..."

  "Of course. Ask away, Lord Almodeus...I can't lie to you."

  The demon swallowed and prepared to ask the question. He was sure he wouldn't like the answer he received—especially since it was impossible to get a critical, cutting assessment from the maid, without any basis for preconceived judgment.

  "To you, am I a good parent?"

  There, he had asked what he wanted to ask. He had dropped the bomb, now he had to see the results of the explosion.

  "Of course! You're the best! No one loves their daughter as much as you do! Honestly, it always brings tears to my eyes when you speak of her so lovingly; even the other maids think so!"

  Almodeus smiled slightly; those words were slightly helping his almost nonexistent self-esteem as a parent. Truth be told, he would have appreciated a critical and cold comment, but he was sure he couldn't get it from the maid.

  "Thank you! You know, I'll tell you this in confidence, but I've always thought I was a terrible father. Mainly because, not having had parents myself, I don't have a clear idea of what I should do. I tend to follow the logic of What would make my daughter happiest? However, sometimes what would make Almodea happy isn't the most sensible choice in that situation."

  The maid opened her eyes in dismay, as if she had just heard a dozen curses at once.

  "B-But, Lord Almodeus! That's absolutely not true! You are the best father ever! Every time you show affection for your daughter, you make me want to kill myself because I'm so unworthy of observing such perfection! And above all—"

  "Enough! That's enough, for goodness sake! I understand, and thank you for your point of view! There's no point in continuing!"

  He interrupted her, exhausted. It was already the fifth time someone had wanted to kill themselves for him today; that level of loyalty was too much even for Almodeus.

  Shockwave will hear me! I can't go on like this! They cry at every word and threaten suicide every five seconds!

  The demon sighed bitterly. It was truly difficult being the absolute ruler, even with fear itself. Worse still, besides his wife, no one actually tried to help him constructively. Having subordinates who obeyed his orders without question or hesitation was something Almodeus would never have complained about, but the complete lack of any counter-consideration became a problem at times.

  I wish everyone would do more like Hardshell did: give me an opinion! It doesn't have to be contrary to mine, but at least a different take on the situation.

  He sighed for the umpteenth time, rubbing his eyes. Things were going well, he couldn't complain. However, he felt he could achieve more—much more. It wasn't greed, but a desire for efficiency taken to the extreme. A true paranoia to prevent every possible threat. Fiora's tragedy was a warning to everyone at the Fear Tower: they were powerful, but not incapable of suffering.

  "Master, you sighed...is something wrong?"

  Unfortunately, his inner laments were noticed by the diligent maid, who immediately approached to understand the reason behind her sovereign's unhappiness.

  "No, nothing..."

  Almodeus hissed, shaking his head. He wanted to do anything but burden his senseless worries to a poor employee who worked for him for no pay—and who threatened suicide at the slightest thing. Better to spare her the emotional burden.

  "I'm such a fool! A maid who can't entertain her master doesn't deserve to be in this world!"

  "Huh?"

  Despite Almodeus's response, Decret had still taken a negative stance. The Absolute Lord was stunned. Was it a glitch in their programmed intelligence? A bad joke? One of his countless passive abilities that he had accidentally activated? It might have been possible, given that he had so many skills that even he himself often forgot some of them. Nonetheless, it was highly embarrassing that these maids were more adept at threatening suicide than serving food. He had to remedy this before the situation escalated...

  “Um...Wait, come on. It's not your fault, you didn't do anything wrong.”

  “There's no point in consoling me, master! I'm not worthy of your infinite mercy! I beg you to grant me the honor of death by your hand!”

  “Ehhhhhhhhh?!”

  Woe to you and your brainwashing, Shockwave!!!!!!!