When Lancer heard from Budo that Leone had been kidnapped, his first reaction was anger!
However, the target of his anger was not just the kidnappers and Budo, but more so because of himself.
He hated his own powerlessness, incompetence, arrogance, and selfishness.
He originally bought the other party back simply because he didn't want to see a 'familiar person' become a slave, that's all. Later, he kept the other party because he simply didn't know how to send them away. And then, when he wanted to 'give' the other party to Najenda, he found that he seemed to be unable to leave the other party.
He didn't know if the other party's 'welcome back' when he returned was a casual act or something else, but he knew that at that time, he didn't plan to let the other party leave.
This was very selfish, he knew, but he longed for the other party to stay by his side. Even a simple phrase like 'welcome back' gave him the illusion that maybe he also had a 'home'.
Even though he knew this was just an illusion, he still chose to deceive himself because he had been away from his 'home' for more than two years. Even though he kept telling himself that 'since I can cross worlds, maybe I can go back someday', he also knew that this possibility... was far away.
He could never forget his own feelings when Leone told him that she 'wanted to be with him', the feeling that his originally empty heart was instantly filled.
Perhaps because of the age difference, or because of the tomboy impression from their first meeting, his impression of the other party was more of 'family' than 'woman', so when the other party confessed to him, he didn't choose to refuse. After all, a 'lover' also belongs to 'family'. He knew that he hadn't fallen in love with the other party, but he had also sworn at that time that he would make himself fall in love with the other party, even if it was just to repay the other party for what they had given him, but...
"General Budo, I request to fight! This time, I will personally take Honest's head!"
Looking at the murderous expression on Lancer face, Budo didn't know what to say for a moment.
Lancer massacre of the foreign tribes was very famous throughout the empire, but in reality, he was more 'excited' in battle, but this time it was different. It was naked killing intent!
———
When the carriage arrived at the territory controlled by Honest, it was surprisingly Honest himself who came in person. This made Esdeath, who was sitting in the carriage, also feel a bit strange, but it was just strange. She herself was not affected by the other party's actions. After all, she knew that the reason the other party did this was because of her value, that's all.
"Welcome~ Miss Esdeath~"
"Okay, don't waste time. Take me to see that 'Imperial Armament' you were talking about!"
"No problem~ But Miss Esdeath, you seem to have brought a 'gift'..."
"That's my thing."
"Haha~ No problem~"
Facing the inexplicably strong Esdeath, Honest did not talk nonsense, but nodded and said no more.
The information about Leone had already been sent to his hand. He also knew that that woman was the woman of the man who had ruined his good deeds several times, but that was all.
Playing with her for some fun and venting was fine, but if he couldn't play with her, he wouldn't care. She was just a woman anyway. He cared more about the person in front of him.
The two quickly disappeared from everyone's sight, but this was not the end. A crack appeared next to Honest, and he walked straight into it, and after a moment of hesitation, Esdeath also walked in without hesitation. It was just that what surprised her was that the two of them were now standing in a courtyard.
"Where is... this?"
"It's a detached house I built when I was a governor. Our destination is ahead, please follow me."
After saying that, he walked towards a certain room, and as expected, there was a secret passage in this room. Within the secret passage, the two of them also turned into several secret doors. Esdeath was not surprised by this. After all, it would be strange if a precious thing like an 'Imperial Armament' wasn't hidden securely.
The two of them walked around for almost half an hour before finally arriving at their destination.
In a room hung several strange things. An ordinary person would probably not be able to figure out what they were, but Esdeath slightly narrowed her eyes. She felt... these Imperial Armaments seemed to be calling out to her?
No! Rather than calling out to her, they were calling out to her inner ambition and fighting spirit. These Imperial Armaments longed to fight alongside her on the battlefield!
Seeing the smile on Esdeath's face, Honest also smiled, but he clapped his hands to signal Esdeath to focus her attention.
"These Imperial Armaments are all good, but they are still a little lacking for you, Esdeath."
"Oh? You mean there's something better?"
"Of course! Good things must be hidden!"
Honest didn't know what mechanism he triggered, but the originally closed wall suddenly rotated, and then a huge earthen jar appeared next to him.
"Demon's Manifestation [Demon God's Extract]! This is the name of this Imperial Armament! This is the most special existence among the 48 Imperial Armaments of the empire, and it is also an existence that can be crowned with the name 'Strongest Imperial Armament'!!"
When he said these words, Honest's expression was full of ferocity.
That's right! This was his trump card to make a comeback!
"Since it's so strong? Then why are you giving it to me?"
Compared to the somewhat crazy Honest, Esdeath was very calm and clearly noticed something was wrong with his words.
And Honest also showed a helpless expression.
"Indeed, this Imperial Armament can be crowned with the name 'strongest', but it is not something that everyone can use. I have already had many people test it, but unfortunately..."
"They all died?"
"No, they all went crazy. But even just a thousandth or a ten-thousandth of it made their strength improve significantly. I wonder if you are interested in giving it a try?"
When Honest said this, the entire secret room fell silent, and Esdeath looked at the strange jar in silence. Finally, the normal expression on her face turned into a somewhat crazy smile.
"Of course I'll try it! The reason those guys failed before was simply because they were too weak!"
After saying that, she walked to Honest's side without hesitation, and Honest, with a face full of excitement, opened the jar and handed a wooden spoon to Esdeath.
"Drink it! Greet your destiny!"
Without any hesitation, Esdeath put the wooden spoon into the jar, raised the wooden spoon, and drank it all down.
Even though it was placed in a jar, Esdeath felt that the fishy-smelling liquid in her mouth was as warm as freshly spilled blood.
But after she drank it, a cold air surged up from her abdomen...
Honest, who was standing to the side, also became a bit nervous when he saw Esdeath freeze, because the few people who failed before all started to lose control at this point. At the same time, his hand was also on the button of the mechanism next to him. Once the other party was not right, he would immediately take action!