Aghanim's Rubick Chapter 27:

Chapter 27: I walked into the room, finding that the inhabitant was standing stiffly at attention near the bed. The area was sparse, only a

Chapter 27:

I walked into the room, finding that the inhabitant was standing stiffly at attention near the bed. The area was sparse, only a single bed that was in the corner, with a desk on the opposite side. No windows, but the floor was furnished with at least a mat and not just bare.

“Have my people been treating you well?” I questioned, knowing the answer.

Phobio, Carrion’s subordinate, answered quickly, “Yes Lord Rubick. I expected much worse.”

“They wanted to do so. Although the attack was unsuccessful, they seemed to be rather angry at the disrespect it implied. I forced them to treat you well until we got to the bottom of what happened.” I informed him, watching as he absorbed that information, “Speaking of, was this a deliberate act of war from Carrion?”

“No!” He started at that, eyes widening in surprise, “No, this was all on me and my stupidity. Please do not hold my lord accountable for this!”

“The actions of the subordinate reflect on the Master.” I spoke, watching as he paled, “However, if what you say is true, then that is most unfortunate.”

“H-how so?” He weakly questioned.

“Because instead of a military matter, this is now a diplomatic issue, one that has a criminal element. Namely, you. Which means that it is much more complicated.” I sighed, “I have sent a messenger to Carrion to set up a meeting between us where we can hash these issues out. Until then, we will keep you here and ensure that no harm comes to you.”

“However.” My voice hardened as my eyes narrowed at the beast-man, “I should warn you, attempt to escape or harm my people in any way, and we will swiftly become less hospitable.”

“I understand, Lord Rubick.” He bowed low, displaying the back of his neck to me, “I will not test you on this. Thank you for your mercy.”

I stared at him, my underlying annoyance with the idiot making itself apparent in my response, “My mercy is not for you.”

Without bothering to explain what I meant, I turned and left the room, nodding to the guard by the door as I did so.

Indeed, I was not being nice and merciful for the sake of it. Instead, I was restraining myself out of care for the civilians of both our nations. Carrion was a Demon Lord, although one of the weakest currently holding that title. Any conflict between us would be immensely destructive for the area in which it occurred. Which meant that either a portion of the Jura Forest would be destroyed or Eurazania would suffer the effects.

Which meant that after the war, I would need to tend to that area and ensure that it is rebuilt properly, not to mention having to take over all the citizens of his Nation if I killed him in the fight. A lot of work, for little gain.

Not to mention that if what the cat man said was true, Carrion was not even aware of what his subordinate did. Which meant that killing him would be a provocative act. The best war was the one you didn’t have to fight and all that.

Still, I would want some restitution for this act. The fact that we defeated Charybdis with no losses or damage to Claszureme was beside the point. This was an attack that utilised a monster that had ended countries before and should be treated as such.

I will need to find Oda and Shingen to speak with them, see what Eurazania could offer us. Already foreseeing the paperwork in my future, I heaved a sigh before stepping into the purple rift in front of me, moving swiftly to my office.

---ARARAR---

He paused at the sight that greeted him, the still, unmoving form of the woman on the bed before him impacting him deeply. Her beautiful features were peaceful, only the slight motion of her chest rising and falling indicating that she still lived.

“She’s been like this for weeks.” The voice of his countryman sounded out behind him, “Gave the kids quite the scare when she collapsed in the middle of class.”

“She hasn’t woken up at all?” Susuru questioned, glancing over his shoulder at Yuuki briefly before turning his gaze back to the comatose Shizu.

“No. Not even a twitch.” Came the response, “Nothing the doctors tried could figure out what the problem was, we even had several healers try to revive her to no effect.”

“I see.” Susuru breathed out, before extending a hand to hover palm down over her as he closed his eyes.

‘Anything, Raphael?’ He asked, praying that his skill could figure out the problem.

‘Report: Subject Shizu appears to be kept in an artificial coma through the use of a Skill. Warning: Use of this Skill requires proximity and frequent application. It is unlikely that the user could have evaded notice. Notice: Several of the lower level healing spells that are used in Claszureme could have negated this effect. Theory: If healers have been unable to break this Skill, it is due to a distinct lack of personal aptitude or a third party interfering.’

Susuru’s eyes flew open at that, working through his thoughts at what his skill just revealed to him. The timing lined up with the Harvest Festival, the widespread collapse that had occurred when Rubick killed the Orc Lord and ascended to a True Demon Lord. That was also when Raphael evolved from Great Sage.

If that was the case, Shizu should have woken up a while ago, but hadn’t. That by itself made him suspect foul play, but he didn’t have any concrete proof of such, especially with his fellow countryman being so helpful. However, the evidence in front of him added up to a very, very troubling picture. One that left him feeling very conflicted.

The main source of that conflict spoke from behind him, “So, did you manage to figure anything out?”

Susuru turned towards Yuuki, looking at the leader of the Free Guild. The Japanese man was worried, his face a perfect picture of worry and care for his teacher. With what he knew now, however, he couldn’t help but think that it seemed somehow fake. It might have just been a trick of his mind however, his suspicion colouring his perspective.

Thinking quickly, he attempted to buy himself some time to consider the implications of what he learned, “Unfortunately, whatever happened to her seems a bit beyond my ability to understand. Her magic is very different from the last time I saw it, I worry anything I try would be worse than doing nothing. Rubick would probably be able to figure it out though.”

“Rubick huh?” Yuuki spoke, putting his elbow in his hand and stroking his chin, “The Dutchman you told me about?”

“That’s the one.” Susuru smiled awkwardly, unable to stop the pang of regret from sharing so much with the other man now, “He has an instinctual understanding of magic, it’s ridiculously unfair.”

“Sounds like a character.” Yuuki smiled, tilting his head, “Do you have any idea how soon he can take a look at her?”

“Unfortunately not.” Susuru pulled on his experience as a salesman delivering bad news to a customer, “It will take me a while to get a response from him. I will send him a note as soon as I return to the Inn.”

“Thank you for this, truly.” Yuuki spoke, looking every bit the relieved boy he portrayed himself as.

“You’re welcome.” Susuru spoke back, tasting ash in his mouth.

---ARARAR---

A knock sounded out, causing the inhabitant of the room to snap from her writing, before relaxing.

“Come in, Hanako.” Lucifer called out, causing the other woman to open the door to their Lord’s office.

The pink haired woman poked her head into the room, visibly deflating when she saw that Lucifer was the only occupant.

Lucifer grinned at the sight, already knowing the reason, “Our Lord is presently in his Void, working on unravelling the mysteries of Magic.”

“I see.” The horned girl nervously shuffled, “I wanted to have him look over our plan for the city wide Ward that we have developed. It was just finished, and well…” She trailed off, uncomfortably.

“I presume that there was some form of a reward promised for this work?” At the wide eyed expression, the Demon laughed, bringing one of her gloved hands to her mouth, “Please, I see the way you and he act around each other. I have been patiently waiting for him to decide whether to take you up on your infatuation.”

The Princess held her hands in front of herself at that, frowning at the white haired woman, “Why would you be interested in that? In fact, I expected you to be jealous.”

“Why?” Lucifer tilted her head, her red eyes taking on a considering glint, “Our Lord accepting your affections speaks well for my own designs. After all, if he accepts you, that means that my own subordinate position will not be a barrier I have to contend with.”

“What if I wished to keep him for myself?” Came the response.

Lucifer laughed at that, genuine mirth in her expression, “I would consider you insane.”

Hanako pouted, “Why?”

“Discarding the idea that you even could do such a thing, considering his position, it would be severely detrimental. Our Lord is very powerful and only growing more so. Are you prideful enough to think that you could hold his attention long enough to completely satisfy him without breaking?” The Demon leaned forwards, a smirk on her face.

Hanako’s face exploded into a deep blush at the provocative words, sputtering, “T-That’s-! I wasn’t thinking about anything like that!”

“Thus showing your inexperience. Fret not, it’s understandable for the youth to be unaware of how things are.” Lucifer smiled, leaning back, looking at the head of Claszureme’s Barrier Corps, “Wisdom is gained when intellect is tempered by experience. It will come in time.”

“You speak as if you have such deep knowledge about things like this. I doubt you’ve ever been in a romantic relationship.” Hanako pouted at her.

“You do know that I have walked this world many times, yes?” A white coloured eyebrow raised in question, “I have heard, seen and witnessed countless aspects of all types of courtships. In fact, I have heard more Mothers than I could count advising their daughters, even if I did not care for their advice.”

“I see.” Hanako spoke, subdued, eyes downcast.

Lucifer returned to her paperwork, sorting and summarising the documents for her Lord’s use. She dearly wished that she could have joined him in his experimentations, but the Void that he held dominion over appeared to be highly hostile to all but him. The more sensitive to Magic the individual was, the worse the realm affected them.

Therefore, she was unable to follow him in his studies. Not unwilling, mind, but her discomfort was great enough that her Lord had noticed and ordered her to leave.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Hanako asking her a question, “Could you tell me what they said?”

“Pardon?” Lucifer looked up at the Majin, eyebrow raised.

“The mothers to their daughters… What advice did they give them? Could you please tell me?” Hanako asked again, a silent plea in her pink eyes.

Lucifer was confused by the request, asking in befuddlement, “Why would you want that? Surely you’ve heard it all before?”

“I haven’t.” Came the soft reply, “My mother… She didn’t live long after I was born.”

Her voice was full of hurt at the end, causing Lucifer to narrow her eyes at the Oni. She didn’t understand what the other woman was feeling, to tell the truth. She never had a mother, having come into existence with the world in which she used to inhabit. She just was, always had been. So the whole concept was rather alien to her, beyond that which she had been able to glean from observation of the living races.

In the end, she didn’t need to understand. She could deduce that this was a point of vulnerability in the Majin in front of her, something which she would be able to take advantage of. Of course, as they served the same Master, she would not do so maliciously. However, gratitude was oftentimes incredibly effective leverage.

“Very well. Let me tell you what I have heard.” She decided to accept the request, her mind travelling through all the ways she could use this to advance her own desires.

After all, her desire was for her Master to be the greatest being to ever live. Surely that was a worthy goal?