Thanks to Violet's 50% discount, Damien's actual magicule expenditure was only 250,000.
After accounting for the 75,000 EP feedback, his net loss was roughly 175,000 magicules.
Trading 175,000 magicules for a fiercely loyal family was hardly a loss.
Besides, Damien had more magicules than he could use.
Whenever he had the chance to grant them, he never held back.
As he'd said before, magicules didn't vanish... they simply took new form, stored in his subordinates' bodies.
"My body…"
Kaede was the first to notice the change. "So light~!"
"It's been so long since I felt this free…"
Her once frail body shed its fatigue, brimming with newfound strength.
She felt better than ever.
Even her aged appearance rejuvenated, transforming her into a striking woman in her thirties, radiating charm.
"Thank you for your grace, my lord."
Without hesitation, Kaede rose and bowed to Damien.
Hakurou and Momiji followed suit.
Hakurou's appearance also youthened, shifting from a man in his sixties to a vigorous middle-aged figure in his forties.
This differed from the original story's Hakurou under Rimuru, whose potential was exhausted, limiting him to fighting with refined swordsmanship due to his inability to handle more magicules.
Damien, however, was not Rimuru.
His abilities weren't confined to this world.
Drawing from the powers of Konosuba, Nasuverse, Douluo Dalu, Pokémon, and other universes, he forged different paths for the same characters.
Kaede and Hakurou were prime examples.
Not only did their magicules surge, but they also earned the Voice of the World recognition, gaining the title of Demon Lord Seed.
With this status, Damien could, in the future, grant them enough soul energy to evolve further into true Demon Lords.
"Rise." Damien said. "I don't care for excessive formalities."
"How can that be?" Kaede replied earnestly. "Forgive my bluntness, but such basic courtesies must not be neglected."
Her bond with Damien growing, Kaede began actively upholding his authority.
"Uh…"
Another traditional big-sister type.
Since it benefited him, Damien let it slide.
"Fine, let's talk about your new unique skills." He said, turning to Hakurou. "Martial Master. Sounds like it's in the same vein as Snow Empress's Sword Saint."
"Indeed, it's quite similar to Lady Snow Empress's Sword Saint." Hakurou confirmed.
He briefly explained Martial Master's capabilities.
As Damien noted, it was nearly identical to Sword Saint, differing only in name.
Hakurou was already a swordsmanship master, well-versed in other martial arts.
Now, he'd leapt from a swordmaster to an all-encompassing grandmaster.
Spearmanship, swordsmanship, fist techniques, leg techniques, close combat, ranged attacks, weapons, or bare hands... any martial path, he could wield to perfection.
Coupled with the various Konosuba class systems inherited from Damien, Hakurou was now a pillar of the Monster Kingdom's martial expertise.
"Then, Hakurou, continue serving as the Monster Kingdom's head instructor." Damien said.
"Leave it to me, my lord!"
Hakurou was already devising hundreds of training regimens for new recruits.
Not just the kijin, but the Star Wolvess and even goblins wouldn't escape his plans.
He recalled spotting a promising goblin youngster before.
Though a bit dim, he was a rough gem.
"Achoo!"
Far away, Gobta, idling in town, sneezed suddenly.
He chalked it up to catching a chill from sleeping poorly, unaware of what awaited.
"Kaede-san, what does God's Favored mean?" Damien asked.
"Oh, that." Kaede said, opening her fan and chuckling behind it. "It's literal... someone blessed by a god."
"A god?"
"That would be you." Kaede said with a smile. "You, who granted me rebirth, are the only god in my heart."
The unique skill God's Favored, on its own, wasn't particularly potent.
At best, it allowed contracts with elementals, daemons, or angels to borrow their power for combat.
But Kaede was different.
She needed no contracts.
With Damien, a being surpassing Elementals, Daemons, and Angels, by her side, she was set.
"It's like a single-target version of Justeaze's Heaven's Decre." Damien noted.
In scope, Heaven's Decre outclassed God's Favored.
But for single-target effects, God's Favored had no limits.
This meant, with Damien's consent, Kaede could act as his priestess, unleashing destructive power far beyond her own.
"A strong unique skill, and very fitting." Damien said. "It pairs well with Hakurou's."
The couple complemented each other... one with unparalleled close-combat prowess, the other capable of casting long-range "divine techniques."
Together, Damien believed they could even topple a true Demon Lord caught off guard.
Especially those without ultimate skills.
Right, Veldora?
"Momiji." Damien called.
"Here!"
Momiji, finally her turn, reported nervously. "My unique skill is Monkey Princess. From what you've shared, Lord Damien, it seems to originate from another world, tied to the Tengu's roots."
"Monkey Princess?"
Damien thought for a moment, then realized. "I've heard of it. The Tengu's ancestor is Sarutahiko, right?"
"Exactly!"
Momiji was learning this for the first time. "My power comes from that."
Sarutahiko, in Japanese legend, was the progenitor of the Tengu.
Coincidentally, after evolving, Kaede and Momiji's race shifted from Tengu to Kunitsu.
Kunitsu, Kunitsu gods.
Damien suspected this was linked to the Kunitsu gods of another world.
Per this world's lore, some myths in Japan likely stemmed from majin crossing over and leaving their mark.
***
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