Alistair glanced over.
Beside Ker, within a sphere formed of divine energy, Esdeath slept peacefully.
"Your Majesty!"
Before Alistair could respond, figures began entering through the door.
Akame, Kurome, Chelsea, Sheele.
"Your Majesty."
Sheele clasped her hands together, devout as the holiest of nuns.
Chelsea spoke cautiously: "Your Majesty..."
"Heh heh heh~~~"
Alistair smiled faintly. "No need to be so tense. I'm not some man-eating monster. Relax."
"Yes!"
Chelsea obediently stepped aside, her gaze falling on the three figures on the sofa, sinking into silence.
"Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty."
Akame and Kurome spoke almost in unison.
Akame said softly: "Your Majesty, thank you. If not for you, Kurome and I would likely..."
"Your Majesty, thank you."
"You granted me a new life and reunited me with my sister."
Kurome interrupted Akame's words, her voice soft, yet her gratitude unmistakable.
Alistair shook his head. "No need to dwell on it. You are my dependents; it's only natural."
"Next."
Alistair raised his hand, drawing two orbs of light from Kurome and Chelsea.
The two clusters of world energy transformed into nails in his palm.
Combined with the eight nails he had obtained earlier.
Ten nails floated above his hand.
Alistair looked up. "Ker, release Esdeath. She's the last one we need. Collect the final anchor point, and once the Specters control the entire world, we can proceed to the next step."
Ker nodded and freed Esdeath.
The moment she was released.
In an instant.
Esdeath opened her eyes, her sharp gaze scanning the surroundings.
"Night Raid?"
"The Revolutionary Army?"
"And..."
"You're the one in charge here?"
Esdeath didn't rashly attack. She merely observed Alistair.
Esdeath loved battle, loved slaughter.
But she wasn't a complete fool. Facing Ker's defeat had shown her that she wasn't on their level.
If she didn't want to die, it was best to behave.
Esdeath didn't fear death; dying in battle was what she craved.
But.
To die in such a humiliating way, without any chance to fight back, like an ant being crushed?
Sorry!
Esdeath wanted no part of that.
"Indeed."
"I am the one in charge."
Alistair looked at Esdeath, his eyes lighting up. Undeniably, she was the queen of sadism.
Even from an older series, her popularity endured.
Esdeath was utterly perfect.
Esdeath regarded Alistair and suddenly said: "You're from beyond this world, aren't you?"
"I've heard talk of other worlds from her."
"Correct."
Alistair nodded. "We come from beyond this world. If all goes as planned, this world will soon be mine."
"Then."
"Esdeath, what is your choice?"
"You can gain greater power."
"You can claim a broader future."
"You can face even stronger opponents."
Alistair smiled at Esdeath, seemingly unconcerned if she refused.
Such terms?
Esdeath wouldn't refuse.
"What must I pay?"
As expected.
Esdeath directly asked what it would take to obtain it all.
"Simple."
"Sign this contract."
"From this day forward."
"You belong to me, and everything you desire will be yours."
Alistair released his hold on Persephone's waist and raised his hand. The dependent contract floated before Esdeath.
"Greater power, a broader future..."
"All for the price of my body?"
"What a bargain."
Esdeath signed the dependent contract without hesitation. A pitch-black light enveloped her.
"..."
Watching Esdeath's choice, hearing her words.
Akame, Kurome, Leone, Mine, Sheele, Chelsea.
The six women fell into silence.
Ah!
How to put it.
They didn't know what to say.
Was it really that simple?
"Heh heh heh~~~"
Persephone chuckled softly. "A child who believes in survival of the fittest. For someone like her, it's like taming a wolf—crush her, break her claws and fangs time and again, and she'll submit naturally."
"However."
"You can't break her completely, turning her into an obedient pup. Preserve her wildness."
"Make her a wolf king against our enemies."
Alistair nodded in agreement with Persephone's words. "Indeed, that's Esdeath's nature."
"Survival of the fittest."
"It's etched into her bones."
"She lost."
"So everything she is belongs to me."
The Night Raid women plus Kurome didn't quite understand this mindset.
Survival of the fittest?
This!
Wasn't it a bit too extreme?
They didn't understand, nor did they comprehend.
Alistair watched Esdeath's sublimation and transformation. "As expected, Esdeath's potential was entirely limited by the world. Signing the same dependent contract, yet her transformation takes longer than the others."
"Not surprising."
Persephone said: "In the infinite records, such geniuses are always born. What binds them is the world itself. Break those chains, and they'll have the potential to soar through the infinite records."
"Clearly."
"Esdeath is such a genius."
"When she shatters the world's constraints, what heights will she reach roaming the infinite records?"
Alistair narrowed his eyes slightly, watching Esdeath. He had to admit, he was beginning to look forward to it.
***
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