Kurome the Devil

Elsewhere.

Esdeath ignored the Little Emperor and the ministers and nobles, instead beginning to take over the guards throughout the palace.

She was in the Imperial Capital.

She still had some influence.

Replacing a few commanders was well within her capabilities.

Three in the afternoon.

Inside the bedchamber.

Lind lay with his head on Esdeath's thighs, enjoying her lap pillow.

"Master, how's the pressure?"

Esdeath wore a tender expression as she gently pressed her fingers against Linde's head, massaging him.

Seeing her so gentle, anyone would have found it hard to believe she was a sadistic queen on the battlefield.

"Mmm, just right."

Lind smiled faintly and asked, "How are those ministers doing?"

"They're all under control. A few had ideas of their own, but they've already been dealt with."

Esdeath smiled and began massaging Linde's shoulders with both hands. "What about the young emperor? Should we kill him now?"

Lind considered it for a moment, then shook his head. "Spare him for now. Keep him under house arrest."

He had taken control of the Empire this way precisely to avoid trouble.

If the Little Emperor died.

Who knew how many ambitious schemers would seize on it as an excuse to rebel outright?

Though none of that amounted to anything in his eyes.

He had no desire to waste time on such boring matters.

"By the way, do you know about the Empire's Assassination Squad?"

"Yes. Do you want to bring them under your command, Master?"

"No. I'm interested in one of them, a girl named Kurome."

"That's easy. Just issue an order for her to come here."

Lind sat up and gently brushed a finger against her delicate nose, chuckling. "Not even a little jealous?"

"With your abilities, Master, it's only natural for you to have several women."

Esdeath smiled brightly, a rosy blush already spreading across her cheeks.

She took Linde's hand and smoothly guided it downward. "But, Master, I want to get stronger again."

Feeling that softness, Linde's thoughts began to wander.

"As your master, I'll naturally satisfy my servant's reasonable requests."

The next day!

The palace's great hall.

Lind sat on the imperial throne, shifting slightly.

"What's wrong, Master?"

"Nothing. This chair just doesn't feel comfortable."

Lind stood and stretched.

Countless people dreamed of sitting on this throne.

To him, it was nothing special.

"Because a mere imperial throne means nothing to you, Master."

Esdeath spoke as though it were only natural.

In her heart now.

Nothing could compare to even a ten-thousandth of Linde.

As the two spoke, footsteps approached.

A girl wearing a sailor uniform appeared before Linde and Esdeath.

The girl had a lovely face, her pretty, short black hair falling naturally around it.

Her skin gleamed like fine white jade, and her black sailor uniform outlined her alluring figure.

"Kurome pays her respects, my lord."

Kurome stepped forward and knelt on one knee in salute.

She looked at Zhang Mo, a trace of curiosity flickering in her dark eyes.

Though she knew little.

She did know that the man before her had replaced Honest as the Empire's true ruler.

Lind stepped down from the throne and smiled. "Get up. There's no need for formalities."

He glanced at his panel.

Sure enough.

The devil contract was glowing. Kurome also had the potential to become his servant.

Kurome rose and asked respectfully, "May I ask why you summoned me, my lord?"

"There is indeed something."

Lind looked straight into Kurome's eyes and said, "I want you to become my Familiar."

"???"

Kurome tilted her head.

Why couldn't she quite understand what this lord was saying?

"Put simply, it means joining Master's harem."

Esdeath explained from the side with a broad smile.

"H-h-h-h-huh?"

Kurome's pupils contracted sharply, and she began flailing her arms.

Her pretty face visibly flushed.

D-d-d-did he want her body?

Kurome felt shyer than she ever had before.

"Though what Esdeath said isn't wrong, that's not the whole story."

Lind began explaining carefully.

"So, Lord Linde and General Esdeath are both devils?"

Even after hearing Linde's explanation, Kurome still looked bewildered.

She understood every individual word.

But put together, they sounded far too absurd.

Demons?

He had to be joking, right?

"Esdeath."

As Linde spoke, a pair of long, black wings unfurled from Esdeath's back with a soft whoosh.

Whoosh!

The gust lifted Kurome's skirt.

Mmm... black as well.

From where Linde stood, he could clearly see beneath Kurome's skirt.

"Ah—!"

Kurome immediately reacted, almost instinctively clamping her skirt down.

Chapter 26: Kurome the Devil

A little while later.

The palace's great hall.

Kurome's ears had turned bright red.

Her gaze darted about, and she didn't dare meet Linde's eyes.

He'd... he'd seen it.

Kurome wailed inwardly.

It was the first time a man had ever seen her like that.

Lind looked at Kurome and smiled. "Do you have any more questions now?"

"No... though it's still a little hard to believe."

Kurome wore a conflicted expression.

Demons actually existed.

No wonder he had taken control of the Empire so easily.

How could humans possibly contend with creatures like that?

But...

She stole a glance at Linde.

This Lord Linde seemed completely different from the devils in legends.

According to those legends.

Weren't devils supposed to be filthy and ugly?

Yet Lord Linde was the exact opposite.

"Since you have no more questions, have you made up your mind?"

"Hm?"

Kurome was a little confused.

"About becoming my Familiar."

Lind gave her a somewhat helpless look.

He remembered that Kurome wasn't supposed to be an airhead.

Kurome caught on, then asked earnestly, "Lord Linde, is this an order?"

"If it is, how would you answer?"

Kurome knelt on one knee and said seriously, "Then I will obey your will."

Lind: "..."

Your personality is a little broken, isn't it?

For a moment, Linde didn't quite know how to respond.

Noticing the complicated look in Linde's eyes, Kurome felt an unfamiliar emotion stir in her heart.