Chapter 555 – Abyss
“Welcome, everyone. It seems you all had quite a boisterous time yesterday, oblivious to fatigue.”
As soon as we entered, First Prince Barba said with a gentle smile.
Hmm~ Are we going to get a scolding or something?
“You did well. If possible, I’d like you to cause a ruckus at the Adventurer’s Guild again today.”
“Huh?”
Instead of the expected reprimand, we received words that encouraged us even more.
Of course, I wasn’t the only one bewildered by these words; Mr. Craig and Ms. Amanda were just as surprised.
“You want us to do more?”
“I thought we’d get a lecture?”
Mr. Jason remained silent, while Mr. Nino clapped his hands.
“See? I told you it would be okay, right?”
“Hahaha, I was also taken aback at first. But when you think about it, these actions are very beneficial at this time.”
“Is that so?”
“Don’t keep standing, sit on the sofa first. I need to explain the situation in detail to those who came to help me.”
The room had a reception sofa and table set, just like the Guild Master’s office.
We sat on the sofa side by side, and the First Prince sat opposite us.
However, Mr. Jason stood behind Barba.
The First Prince clasped his hands and began to speak.
“First of all, you’ve heard the general situation from Jason… I’ll explain the current situation in Bendina in a little more detail.”
The First Prince… Barba, unclasping his hands, flicked his fingers with his right hand.
*Snap!*
“Silence.”
The silence magic, Silence.
Using magic that Elsie could also use, Barba made sure that the conversation wouldn’t leak outside.
“Camel, the capital of Bridan. At the same time as numerous suns appeared in the sky, black lightning struck, and giant cyclops, hydras, and numerous monsters appeared. And then, a great manifestation of Solishin’s spirit descended, and the knights defeated it… “
Barba rolled up his sleeve, revealing a black lightning pattern more vivid than the one on Mr. Jason.
“This pattern appeared simultaneously on those who carry the blood of the Demon King. When this pattern appeared, we were in chaos because the news from Camel hadn’t reached us yet. As soon as the pattern appeared, a voice tempting an unknown destructive impulse was heard from within our bodies. Moreover, we learned that this impulse and voice were more intense for those with thicker blood.”
“Did Mr. Jason also hear such a voice?”
At my question, Mr. Jason shook his head.
“No, perhaps because my blood is thin, only the pattern appeared, and I didn’t hear the destructive impulse or the voice tempting it.”
“Then, Prince Barba… no, Your Highness, are you alright?”
Prince Barba smiled gently and said with composure.
“I still hear the strong destructive impulse and the voice whispering to destroy. But personally, it’s not at a level I can’t endure. Besides… we can’t break the peace that our royal family and the Abyss have built up over the years because of such an impulse. Never.”
His face was kind, but his voice was serious, reflecting a royal family member thinking about the future of the country.
“But not all demons who carry the blood of the Demon King are like me. Among them… there are foolish demons who accept the destructive impulse like idiots… ahem, slightly lacking demons.”
It was obvious that the lacking demons Prince Barba was talking about were the Second Prince and the hardline demons he led.
“You’re talking about the hardliners, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. I’m glad you understand quickly. Haa… my brother. The Second Prince, Urgos, is usually thoughtless like a clumsy brat and likes to pick fights everywhere like a mad dog.”
Wow, his assessment of his brother is merciless.
“He doesn’t think much about politics, but he has the power of a royal, so he can’t get rid of the hardliners who approach him to suck up the benefits, and he’s strutting around like a neighborhood boss. He has the blood of the royal family and talent for combat, so he’s a real headache because no ordinary demon can match him.”
“Hey, Amanda. Judging by how he’s badmouthing him, the royal brothers are real brothers.”
“Idiot, just keep listening.”
“Haa… But since this pattern appeared, he’s become even more uselessly confident, and even though Father has collapsed, he’s trying to seize the throne, thinking it’s an opportunity. This is just my guess, but Urgos isn’t being swept away by the destructive impulse and the voice of temptation.
Even if he’s foolish, he has a clear will of his own. He’s so stubborn… *grind!* Even if I try to reason with him, he’s a stubborn brother who doesn’t understand.”
Judging by the sound of his teeth grinding in the middle, I wondered if there had been several attempts to persuade him through conversation before we came.
However, it seemed that they had all failed.
“If we hold a meeting like this, he’ll definitely go on about the demon’s instincts and make old-fashioned claims and take a hard line. It’s almost certain that it will turn into a fight. It’s embarrassing, but I’m weaker than my brother.
That’s why I asked Jason, who was dispatched to Pledan, to come with reliable adventurer companions from Pledan. I didn’t expect an S-rank adventurer to come, though.”
Unlike the atmosphere when he was just badmouthing his brother, Prince Barba raised the corners of his mouth and continued.
“Actually, today I was going to show the hardliners your skills and warn them that if the meeting turned into a fight, they would suffer considerable damage.
But… thanks to yesterday’s commotion, there’s no need for that. The hardliners have already heard that the human adventurers Jason brought have great power. So, I’d like you to continue causing a ruckus like yesterday until the day of the meeting to give the hardliners and my foolish brother a greater sense of caution.”
Unexpectedly, things were going very well.
“Um… can I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
“How is the Demon King, who is currently bedridden?”
“…The day the pattern appeared, Father was in great pain. He must have heard a destructive impulse and a voice of temptation that were incomparable to mine. Father is suffering every night and is still fighting that impulse.”
Hmm… Is there no solution?
“But that’s not your problem to worry about. You just need to enjoy yourselves like yesterday. Right now, the priority is to flatten my foolish brother’s nose at the meeting. That’s the end of the discussion.”
Prince Barba immediately got up from the sofa and went to the desk chair where he had been sitting.
“I’m sorry for just explaining one-sidedly and ending it, but I have official duties to handle on behalf of my father. Instead, if you need anything, tell Jason. I’ll do my best to make your stay in Bendina as comfortable as possible, as long as it’s within my power.”
Mr. Craig smiled and asked Prince Barba.
“Oh? Does that mean you’ll grant us a free meal at Bendina’s finest restaurants?”
“If that’s all, I’d be grateful. Jason, take them out.”
“Understood, Your Highness.”
We followed Mr. Jason out of the room again.
While walking down the corridor outside the Demon King’s castle, Mr. Jason said.
“From now on, it’s free time again. Unless His Highness contacts me to see you again, you’re free to do as you please.”
“Um… Mr. Jason.”
“What is it, Rent?”
“Is there no way to get rid of that pattern for now?”
Because of the pattern, the current Demon King, Prince Barba’s father, is still bedridden.
If we look at the results, wouldn’t everything be solved if we just got rid of this pattern?
“There is no solution for now. Currently, the scholars in the royal palace and Prince Barba are researching ancient documents to find a solution.”
Come to think of it, there were several thick books on Prince Barba’s desk.
Were those the ancient documents?
Although we didn’t have a long conversation, Prince Barba seemed to be someone who was working for peace.
Is there anything I can do to help such a person, even a little?
Ah, right.
Mr. Bain!
『Heeeuuung!』
It seemed that he had been constantly caressed by Solly, and Mr. Bain’s first response was a seductive moan.
『Wh-what! Hey, spirit! Rent is talking to us! St-stop it!』
『That’s a shame.』
『Haa, haa… Wh-what! Rent! What do you want to ask! I’ll tell you anything right now!』
『I will caress you so you will speak even if you don’t want to.』
『You stay still!』
The pattern that appeared on the demon royals now, Mr. Bain, that’s something the Bain God did, right?
『It must be.』
As expected.
But it’s not a definite answer.
『Since… since I was captured by you, I don’t even have memory sharing! From the beginning, I was just thinking about what to do next after escaping your mental world!』
Mr. Bain is an individual existence whose connection with the Bain God has been severed.
In other words, even if the Bain God makes other plans after that, Mr. Bain doesn’t know.
Still, since there has been memory sharing until now, he can guess.
Mr. Bain, why did the Bain God do such a thing?
『The giant monster battle was satisfying, so next, he probably wants to go back to the old ways and see destruction as a Demon King. Right now, even if he tries to create a powerful Demon King right away, Solly will interfere, so he’s probably giving power to those who already have the blood of the Demon King.』
Giving power?
『Destructive impulse and temptation, but that’s just awakening the blood instinct that arises when power is granted and they are made into a Demon King. Originally, they would immediately destroy their surroundings or attack other races, but… their blood has become too thin, so it ended up like this. Well, they will become like the original Demon King if they absorb the pattern.』
Absorb the pattern?
『Since their blood is thin, it’s designed so that if they want to gain more power, they can absorb the power contained in the blood by taking the pattern.』
Unlike what the Bain God expected, their blood has become too thin now.
So, is he trying to revive the Demon King by combining the power of other blood?
Um… to take the pattern, do you have to peel off their skin or something?
『No, you just have to overwhelm them with power and take the pattern if you are conscious of it. But they will try not to have the power they were given taken by others, so they will end up fighting each other, and it’s not bad to feel the destruction and death that occurs in the process. …That’s what he’s probably thinking.』
It was a thought that was very much like the Bain God.
『But my main body is probably frustrated right now.』
Why?
『It’s one thing that the effect is small because their blood has become thin, but these guys… they’re not fighting at all. They’re not having a bloody battle. Why are they so friendly? At least in the past, if I gave them some power, they would go, “Mwahahaha! This is power! Give me more power! Destruction! Destruction! Destruction!” and rampage.』
Um… was it like that in the past?
『The fourth Demon King I made was like that.』
Is there no way to get rid of the pattern?
『If one pattern takes up most of the power that was distributed, the patterns of the other demons will automatically gather in one place. And if you kill the one who has become the true Demon King, the pattern will disappear along with the Demon King.』
Is there no other solution?
『I don’t know. There’s no way he would create such a solution in the first place.』
Indeed… Bain, who only thinks of destruction and death, would never create a solution.
If this was not a destructive impulse but a breeding impulse, how much more erotic would the development be?
To cause more destruction, you need powerful demons!
In other words, you need to increase your offspring.
Suddenly, the royals and nobles become sexually aroused.
The outlet for that sexual desire is the vassals who follow them.
In other words, it is directed towards the maids and women they know!
The maids and women are bewildered by the sudden change in the nobles and royals, who were usually friendly and respectable, due to their sexual desire!
However, unable to resist the power and the unique strength of the royals, they become the breeding and sexual desire processing machines of the royals and nobles…!!!
『I’m used to it now, but Rent, why does this guy have such lewd fantasies every day? Even if one side has normal thoughts, the other side is constantly having lewd fantasies.』
『That’s just Rent.』
I could imagine Solly nodding her head.
『More importantly, I didn’t give Rent any helpful information, Number 2. Is this what a sex toy of Rent should do? You should have the mindset to actively solve not only Rent’s sexual desires but also his daily problems. Reflect on yourself.』
『Who’s a sex toy number 2! I’m not a sex toy, I’m a part of Bain… Hwaaaang! D-don’t do it! Don’t put your fingers in my pussy and anus at the same time…!!!』
Listening to Solly and Mr. Bain’s friendly bickering, I pondered.
Hmm… Is there no perfect solution?
I decided to stay in Bendina for a while and find a solution in my own way.
First of all.
“Rent~nim♡”
When I return to the inn, let’s have a happy time with Mr. Nino, who is looking at me with expectant eyes.
