Kratos vanished with a blur, leaving Azaleth standing there in front of the injured King.
The maids of the kingdom started to peek their heads out of their rooms, wondering if the chaos had ended. One sight of the pink-haired man wielding a sword greater than life was enough to send them away.
"W-why did you let him escape? He's only going to come back and k-kill me later!" King Green winced from the ground.
Azaleth turned and looked down at the man. He seemed to be in his forties and sported a large green beard and bald head. As their eyes met, the king cowered slightly.
He resembles the God Emperor. Not in strength, but looks...
Azaleth allowed the holy greatsword to vanish, storing it in his soulspace. A spiritual realm where butlers can hold artefacts.
"Kratos will not come back, do not worry. He respects me too much. Or perhaps it is fear?"
King Green raised a brow. "Respect you? You just got here, how does he know—Agh!"
As the man tried to push himself to his feet, his ankle twinged with pain. He looked down to find it twisted grotesquely.
Azaleth wasted no time in making his way over. He then hovered his delicate hand above the injury.
"H-hey, what are you doing?"
Azaleth whispered. "Let light be born from suffering."
[Ultimate Skill activated]
A wound suddenly open on the back of Azaleth's hand, spraying blood into the air, but at the same time, Green's foot twisted itself back into place.
The king screamed in agony, but after a few moments, he caught hold of himself.
He stared down at his ankle in disbelief, twirling it around. "Great heavens... you're a healer?"
Azaleth rose, blood dripping from his hand.
"You could call me that."
Then, King Green's eye squinted. "But that greatsword. That's no healer's weapon."
"Yes, it is. A holy knight possesses both the power to heal and destroy." Azaleth responded, to which Green nodded his head, and shakily rose to his feet.
His eyes darted around his palace. It was in a terrible state. "Curses! This is going to cost a fortune to fix. Why did you take so long to arrive? All the other rulers have had butlers for weeks."
Azaleth looked down at the King with a raised brow.
This tone. Even the emperor had more respect for his servants...
Azaleth tipped his head slightly. "Apologies, it takes a while for a man like myself to find a soul worthy to inhabit my body."
"A soul?" King Green repeated. "What do you mean?"
Azaleth shook his head. "Unimportant details." His eyes then looked around, seemingly at nothing. It was as though he was searching for something.
King Green watched him carefully. "So, I assume you know about the Butler War, and what is going on in this world?"
Azaleth nodded his head.
"Yes. All of the world's rulers have been mysteriously granted the opportunity to summon a Butler, to fight a war for power. The victor will emerge as Emperor, ruling over the entire world as the rulers of old times did." Azaleth explained, though leaving out important information that would be known only to him.
It was not much of a mystery at all. He knew the reason for everything, but King Green didn't need to know that.
Not until I've figured out what sort of ruler he is. So far, he's unimpressive.
King Green nodded his head, pleased with his butler's response.
"Good," he said. "As for our first course of action, I need you to—"
"Apologies, but that's not how this relationship is going to work."
King Green's eyes went wide after being interrupted. "E-excuse me? You are my butler, do you understand? My butler."
"Correct. You have summoned me to serve you as a Butler, which entails helping you defeat all of the other rulers, but that does not mean that I must follow your orders."
"That is not what I've been told." King Green retaliated. "All of the other rulers have said that their butlers follow their every order. It's the way that the summoning stones work. Now, as my butler, I command you to—AGH!"
In an instant, Azaleth dashed towards the king and wrapped his hands around the man's throat. He squeezed just hard enough to prevent air circulation, but made sure not to crack his neck.
The king's green eyes bulged, staring down at the butler beneath him.
"You are powerless, Green. I hold all the power." Azaleth spoke in a calm tone. "I could take your life at any moment, but I will choose not to. Not because I respect you, but because I am a good man."
Green's face was red and his mouth hung open, gasping for air that refused to come.
"From this moment onwards, you will respect me. Our choice of action will be determined by me, unless I say otherwise."
Then, without another word, he released his grip, allowing the man to fall to the ground.
"HUFF, HUFF."
King Green clutched at his neck, gasping for air. The maids of the palace had rushed back inside their rooms, sensing more danger.
I am sorry that I had to do that. At least my point has been made.
After a few moments, King Green recovered. His entire demeanour had changed, and he now struggled to feet Azaleth's gaze.
"S-so," he stammered, staring at the crowd. "What will be our first course of action?"
Azaleth smiled, satisfied. Just like that, the dynamic had shifted.
So he does know how to show respect. Perhaps there is hope.
"As I said before, I will do all that I can to ensure that you win this war. That is my oath to you." Azaleth spoke, taking the king by surprise.
"But before searching for battle, there is something I must do first."
King Green finally looked up and met his butler's golden gaze. "What do you need to do?"
"I need to find my wife, Athena, the 5th Butler."