章 20: The Echidna’s identity revealed!?
[ Walpurgis Venue ]
The banquet was finally finished. One by one, each Demon Lord and their subordinates took their leave, until only the first three Ancient Demon Lord's, Milim, Guy and Ramiris remained.
"I guess it's time the great Ramiris returns to duty." The Fairy Queen flew to Aria, landing on her head. "Onwards my steed!"
"You mean laze around, right?" Aria said, rolling her eyes at this shameless fairy.
"What?! How could you even insinuate such blasphemy!" Ramiris looked appalled, how could someone even consider she would do such a thing? If they do, it's only because they have eyes yet fail to see… 'Huh? Why did I feel like I was about to say something…revolutionary?'
"Heh!" Milim smirked at the Labyrinth Fairy, "Imagine not having a job, that can never be me."
"What are you talking about, Milim? You don't even do anything other than spar, it's your head priest that does everything." Guy mercilessly shot down the Destroyer.
"Aren't you also just sitting on your frozen throne all day too, Guy?" Ramiris pointed out, quickly forgetting what she was thinking moments ago.
Guy smiled at her, "Did you say something?"
With cold sweat rolling down her back, the Fairy Queen quickly corrected herself, "I said, how long will you stay as a woman?"
The Lord of Darkness looked over himself with a thoughtful expression, "It's been a while since I was a woman, so I'll stay like this a while longer, what do you think?" He turned to Aria with a smirk.
"I approve." The Echidna gave him a thumbs up.
"Lady Guy, will I have to call you Lord or Lady now?" The Blue Primordial decided to make herself known, asking a stupid a question.
Guy just gave her a blank look, sometimes he really regretted beating her up , then he wouldn't need to deal with her dumb antics.
"Don't worry, Lord Guy, I'll make sure to work her harder than before." Misery spoke up with her ever-stoic face.
Guy just hummed in response, satisfied at her competency.
"Then I'll be going back. Middray is waiting for me to spar." Milim said excitedly, as she walked towards the door, before pausing, "Echidna! Don't forget to visit me, I want to fight!"
"Don't worry, I'll make sure to visit," Aria smiled as she thought about learning Milim's True Dragon Magic: Star King Magic, and her Milim Arts. She could feel her sin of gluttony urging her learn everything that she can from the Dragonoid.
{If you don't come soon, I might accidentally say something I shouldn't.}
Aria's smile froze, but before she could say anything, the Dragon Princess jumped into the door. 'That was unexpected.' She couldn't help but feel amused at the fact that she just got blackmailed, truly one mustn't underestimate someone old just because they are childish.
"It's not only Milim that you need to fight, make sure you don't keep me waiting long." Guy smiled, licking his lips in anticipation.
'He did that on purpose, didn't he?' Aria thought to herself, that small action turned her on in more ways than one. "I won't." Was all she said, and that was enough of Guy. He didn't need to make a contract to have her uphold her promise, he was too prideful for that…And strong, so he could find her again whenever he wants.
"In that case, we'll take our leave." Saying so, the Echidna made her way to the creepy looking door, "Ah, by the way, the food and drink was good, Raine, Misery."
Raine looked towards Misery with a smug smile, as if to say: Heh! You can't punish me now!
Misery on the other hand bowed elegantly, "Thank you for the compliment, Lady Echidna."
"Bye Guy!" Ramiris waved her hands, and soon disappeared into the door with Aria.
"That bit—human is finally gone." Velzard said with a pleased smile, and the others in the room ignored the slip up she almost made.
Guy turned to her and asked, "So, do you think she's Aria?"
The Frost Dragon's expression immediately turned serious at the question, "I want to say yes, after all, just like Aria, she has Divinity and even Milim couldn't see through her too, it seems almost impossible to be a coincidence."
"But Echidna is a human." Guy added, and that was something neither of them could deny.
After a moment of silence, Rain decided to make her presence known, "Lady Guy, if you think that Lady Echidna is Aria, the one who caused the analysis, then maybe she just has the ability to mimic anything she analyses perfectly."
"…."
"…."
"…."
"W-why are you all staring at me like that?" Rain couldn't help but feel self-conscious from the intense looks she was receiving. Wait… 'How could I have not realised? They must have been momentarily stunned by my beauty!' The Blue Primordial's narcissism once again flared, as she got lost in her fantasies.
"Misery, are you sure this person is Rain?" Guy asked with utmost seriousness. He couldn't believe what he had just witnessed. The useless Daemon saying something smart? That was something impossible, it had to be an imposter.
Misery stared at the smug expression on Rain's face, and she could almost hear the haughty laugh and endless praises Rain was giving herself. "I also can't believe this Lord Guy, but it is indeed the real Rain."
"Maybe she awakened a Ultimate Skill that increased her intellect or something," Guy whispered, but Misery and Velzard clearly heard him, and they also felt that it was only way for the most useless Daemon in existence to suddenly say something so smart.
With her mood better than before, Velzard looked to Guy, "I would like to think that Rain's words are false, but it makes the most sense given Aria's actions, with the exception of taking on Milim's actions and coming to the Walpurgis."
"Even if she is Aria, she wasn't hostile against humans, so it's fine." Guy went back to being relaxed after hearing Rain's theory, cause if it was the case, then he didn't have to worry about some crazy woman comparable to a True Dragon destroying the world.
Velzard's mood dropped again as she heard his words, 'Why does he trust that bitch so much!' She couldn't help but wonder, even going as far as to change his gender to accommodate her wishes.
'Should I let Echidna deal with her?' Guy noticed the True Dragons change, and questioned himself, as he recalled Elaine who even seemed ready to fight him to the death when appeared behind Aria. 'The level of devotion rivalled or surpassed what Velgrynd has for Rudra, to make someone so obsessed, truly Echidna is a worthy foe.'
And thus, the Red Primordial's mind started working overtime to find a way to throw the frozen planet-buster into Aria's lap.
….
[ Ulg Nature Park, Dwelling of Spirits ]
"Home sweet home." Ramiris commented with a nostalgic look, as they stepped out of the door, which vanished as soon as they all exited.
"Stop acting like a drama queen, we were gone for less than half a day." Aria rolled her eyes, she was sure that this Fairy Queen could easily win an Oscar with her acting.
"What's a drama queen?" Ramiris ignored her words and zoomed in on the new word she heard, it had 'Queen' in the word so it must be something good right?
Aria smiled in amusement and just used [Thought Communication] to explain to her what it meant, and oh boy was her reaction funny.
"What! There's no way I exaggerate—" Her eyes widened and she quickly covered her mouth, glaring at Aria.
"How cute." Aria giggled, her eyes moving towards the kitten sized Fenrir who tapped her leg, as he looked at her with an aggrieved look, "Aw~ Of course my little Fen is cuter than her though, and sorry if I made you feel neglected." She said, bringing him to her eye level.
"It was Mother's order so I obeyed." His words was once again a reminder to Aria that any and all her creations would instinctually be loyal to her. They would live, fight and die for her.
'Even if I can revive them, it doesn't make their lives any less important than mine. If they're going to live the rest of their lives with me, I'll make sure their existence is filled with purpose and joy. After all, loyalty that stems from genuine connection is far more valuable than blind obedience.' Aria mused inwardly, feeling amused, just a few hours ago she acknowledged she was goalless, and hours later she finally found one.
"Mother?" Fenrir looked up at her when he felt her stop stroking his fur.
Smiling, the Mother of All Monsters said, "From now on Fenrir, Elaine, I want you to promise me to enjoy life as much as you enjoy being with me. If you like something, do it. If you love someone, tell them. Make sure you don't regret anything and have fun." She chuckled as she finished her words, it did feel like the words a dying person would say after all.
""I love you Mother / My Lady.""
"…." Aria was left speechless, but immediately a smile graced her lips as she felt the emotions reaching her through the Soul Corridor.
"I love you guys too." The words left her mouth before she could even think.
"*Sniff!* How *Sniff!* heartwarming." Ramiris blew her nose, as tears ceaselessly poured down her face.
Truly the Fairy Queen deserved an Oscar award.
*****
A/N Hope you enjoyed the chapter.
Alternative Title: Fluff Moments~
週次パワーステータス
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