Seizing the Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet

"Aaaah..."

Kalawarner kept howling in unbearable agony.

Without needing a single word of instruction, she was already on her knees, prostrating herself and begging for forgiveness.

Lind pressed down on her shoulder, his expression cold and indifferent. "As a Fallen Angel, you understand what you've done wrong now, don't you?"

Feeling the pain coming from her soul, Kalawarner couldn't stop her tears from flowing.

"I... I know I was wrong. Please forgive me..."

Before she could finish, Lind stopped her mouth.

"When someone wants to correct their mistakes, what matters isn't what they say, but what they do."

"You betrayed God, so you deserve punishment."

"Clean away the filth. This is part of your atonement, too."

"I... I know I was wrong, too..."

Mittelt, who stood only 1.4 meters tall, quickly rolled over, looking every bit like a little puppy.

The pain, as though her soul were being torn apart, had already made her abandon all her dignity and pride.

Through Mittelt and Kalawarner's efforts, the church began to look clean and bright.

Only the red petals on the floor looked even more glaring.

Watching this scene, all the onlookers stood around, dumbfounded.

The way things had unfolded.

Was completely beyond their expectations.

The three formerly ruthless Fallen Angels could now do nothing but bark like dogs.

Gulp!

Asia swallowed and looked toward the statue of God in the church.

She clasped her hands, closed her eyes, and prayed, "Almighty Lord, please forgive... Ow, ow, ow!"

Before she could finish, she clutched her head and cried out in pain.

"..." × N.

This girl was in a league of her own.

How many times had this happened now? She really never learned.

Shiho Miyano and the others looked at Asia, then at Lind.

The contrast between how those two behaved really was something.

"All right, things here are settled. It's time we headed back."

At that moment, Lind snapped his fingers.

The next instant.

Light flashed.

Everyone vanished.

The following day.

The sunlight was unusually dazzling, even though it was still early morning.

Lind opened his eyes and looked at the Familiars around him.

As usual, Vermouth and Shiho Miyano had been caught up in it.

"Mmm..." ×

As though sensing Lind's gaze, Vermouth and Shiho Miyano murmured and opened their eyes.

Shiho Miyano felt an inexplicable twinge of resentment and said plaintively, "Master, you've only been back for a day, and you've already gained another four Familiars."

Lind rubbed his chin and counted silently. "Actually, there are six more."

Shiho Miyano's eyes widened in disbelief.

In an instant, all the color drained from her face.

"Master, why didn't you bring them here, then?"

Vermouth felt a little jealous, too.

"Oh, they're in another world."

"Another world?" × 2.

Vermouth and Shiho Miyano cried out instinctively.

Lind nodded and began explaining.

The more they listened, the more astonished they became, their mouths falling open without them realizing.

"So that's how it is..."

They had been demons for some time now.

Their understanding of this world had been growing, too.

They knew all too well.

How many mysteries and dangers lay hidden beneath this seemingly peaceful world.

But the more they knew, the more they understood how difficult certain things were.

Other worlds, for instance.

Their existence had already been proven.

Countless factions were interested in them.

For demons in particular, they represented vast populations.

Even a Demon King had once tried to find them.

But every attempt, without exception, had failed.

Yet their master had actually accomplished it.

Beyond that.

Their Reincarnation Ritual was special, too.

From what they had learned.

It also completely surpassed that Demon King's Evil Pieces.

All of this was simply too astounding.

Their master had accomplished two feats surpassing a Demon King.

For a moment.

Vermouth and Shiho Miyano felt that their jealousy seemed rather petty.

Their gazes grew even more reverent and admiring.

What's with those looks?

Lind blinked, a little bewildered.

Why does it feel like their affection for me has gone up again?

At that moment.

Raynare and the others stirred and woke one after another.

Still groggy, they caught sight of Lind and froze.

The events of yesterday.

Flashed before their eyes once more.

Their bodies instinctively began trembling in fear.

"Now that you're awake, shouldn't you say hello?"

"H-hello." ×

"Are you three still half asleep? Call me Master."

His calm voice struck their ears like thunder.

With a thud, all three dropped to their knees.

"Good morning, Master." × 3.

"Mm, good girls."

As though dealing with kittens, Lind gave each of them a pat on the head.

An intense sense of humiliation made their gazes shift.

But before the thought could even take shape, they shuddered again.

Yesterday's lesson.

Was still vivid in their minds.

They didn't dare cross the line again.

Satisfied with this, Lind asked directly, "Which of you three knows how to extract a Sacred Gear from someone's body?"

"I... I do."

Raynare spoke up tactfully. "Would you like me to make the preparations, Master?"

"Mm, we'll discuss it after breakfast."

Chapter 46: Seizing the Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet

Lind's Mansion.

The dining room.

Lind sat at the head of the table, while his other Familiars ate on either side.

The three Fallen Angels were also allowed to sit at the table and eat.

Their attention, however, wasn't on the food at all.

"Lady Raynare, have you noticed that we seem to have gotten stronger?"

"You noticed it too, Mittelt?"

"So I wasn't imagining it."

The three exchanged words, their gazes all turning strange.

If anything had happened recently, it had been last night.

But...

Wasn't gaining strength this way a little too absurd?

"No need to whisper among yourselves."

"Your leveling up does indeed have something to do with me."

With a flick of Lind's hand, the transcribed attribute information floated over to the three of them.

"So... that's how it works?"

As they read the attribute information in their hands, subtle changes came over all three of their gazes.

They had become Demons while retaining their identities as Fallen Angels.

And.

They could actually get stronger, too?