My name is Edelweiss and I am fallen noble. I no longer use my last name as I threw it away long time ago.

At a very young age, my family, my household and everything was taken and destroyed by the previous king of the Land of Prosperity, the human continent. That’s not the only reason they deserved such fall, through my adventure with Ashfon, Violetta, Lily and Ishtal, we unfolded my family’s deepest darkest secrets and that disgusted me to the bone.

Apparently, my family, knowing that they are nobles, they tortured and tormented people for their own gains. I’ve lost my innocence at that time and my mind is filled with emotional turmoil.

What is left for me other than pride and dignity is my loyalty. I poured everything in this loyalty of mine to one person.

My loyalty doesn’t lies towards Ashfon but to Violetta who desired Ashfon’s rising to power. Her wish is for Ashfon to properly lead the people and I only heed her wish and became one of Ashfon’s royal guards.

When my prestige was stripped from me, I was literally sold to slave merchants and taken to The Land of Mana Gathering, the demon continent.

I was young and really scrawny. Weak and naïve of the way this world works. That’s when I met Lily who is also a slave that time.

She was taller and smarter than me even though we are of the same age. She took care of me and would always make a way to help me whenever I am in trouble. Lily would stand before me to defend me.

We lived the life of a slave where hunger was always the real enemy and appearance is the least important. Sick, weak, skinny and almost dying, no one would want to buy me at any cost.

Until the day she arrived…

Violetta…

I remember the day when her sight met mine. It was warm and gentle as if her stare alone caresses me. The very same day, she bought me and Lily.

After that, she took care of us and nurtures us but most of all she revealed her true intentions which are to train us as she saw aptitude to me and Lily. It was also that time that we met the cold, distrusting and twisted Ashfon.

Because of some incident involving the sealing of demon lord Baal at the cave of vortex, Violetta saw something from Ashfon and continued following him together with Ishtal. From that day on, we would train and travel while being taught by Violetta in magic and Ishtal in fighting.

Because of Violetta, our life took a turn and it was changed forever for the better. For me and Lily, Violetta is a mother, a sister, a friend, a mentor and even a lover as she indulges us in sexual activities where two girls would intimately make love with each other.

Even now, every now and then, Lily and I would engage in such activity and sometimes, together with Violetta. We honestly don’t have any interest to Ashfon as we, ourselves, have a deep rooted fear towards him.

But recently, my heart seems to sway to a one man. Even though I am making love intimately with Lily, I still yearn for a relationship with a man.

It was a man named Susanoo, one of the summoned heroes.

Susanoo is a tall and leanly built man but seemingly listless. But contrary to his listlessness, his true nature is like of us, bathed in the blood of people. He was strong, even without any training, he was able to use his powers naturally like breathing and he keeps getting stronger.

When they left the Castle, Susanoo and the others took me in a bout and I won. Most of them did hold back including him. I know it because I am constantly gauging their strengths.

But when we met again, I noticed…

His power became overbearing and malicious. It doesn’t feel bad or weird, it’s just that his growth in power compared to my training since young is astoundingly different. It felt like his power was almost comparable to Violetta and it was still growing.

It is still unclear for me of how I really feel about him, but sometimes, I feel like there are butterflies in my stomach. It was weird feeling that keeps bothering me.

Despite all of this, my loyalty won’t waver and I will do my duty.

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Asagao, Violetta, Ashfon and Mrothgir the dragon kin left the castle together with Milin to the Dragon Capital Mujinn in the dragon continent where the heroes are supposedly training and learning things from the dragons.

After some time, I felt their presences.

But before I could arrive at the place where they are, they disappeared again leaving the lifeless body of Milin and Mrothgir.

I also felt a huge influx of power from Violetta as a ray of light pierces the sky.

What happened?

The maids and servant were told to take care of their bodies and we do so. These two are, even though not to me, are precious for Violetta and Asagao.

I just met Mrothgir so I really don’t have any thoughts about it but for Milin who served us since the foundation of Astlan’s Castle, I can at least give my deepest sympathy.

Milin is loved by Asagao and I know that they have a deep understanding if not, connection with each other. I know how she would be saddened by it. Unlike me, I have already hardened my emotions that I am almost numb to this kind of situations.

It is something I needed in this line of work since I prioritize my duty over emotion.

Speaking of, I myself am fond of Asagao despite her circumstances. It may be sound like I am a scum but I am attracted to her appearance alone. I get it that Ashfon and Asagao also has this deep connection with each other despite their differences but her identity is next to none of my concerns.

Lily and I were always looking at her and we expect that she would grow into a pretty and adorable woman. The question now will be her preference in a relationship. If she like otherwise from what we, Lily and I have, we will respect that.

For now, I have to heed Violetta’s order and stand on guard.

I don’t know when they will be back so I shall protect this place even if it will cost my own life. After all, this is just a life that Violetta saved. I am just merely utilizing myself for her use.

“Lady Edelweiss!”

“What is it, soldier? Why are you in a rush?”

A soldier comes running towards me while panting and then bow slightly. His face is ghastly like he saw a ghost. When called out to me, his voice was trembling and terrified.

I didn’t train these people to be so spineless like this!

“A…A large army of devils are approaching from the north, east, west and south gate! There’s about approximately ten of thousands on each gate!”

“Calm yourself. Quickly gather our main forces and send division one to five to the east gate, division six to ten to the west gate, division eleven to fourteenth to be sent to the south gate! The remaining division will be divided into four platoons and one platoon will come with me to the north gate. The rest will be helping the citizens.”

“Yes!”

“Our main objective will be subjugation but since half of our soldiers are out in different towns and cities for patrols, try to hold on to your ground! Also, send someone to Ishtal to come to the north gate! Send messages to the nobles in our jurisdiction and have their personal army help in defending the capital!”

“As you wish, Lady Edelweiss!”

“You servant, prepare my full plate! I shall need it in five minutes so go!”

The soldier promptly left and the servant behind whom I shouted my order also moves in haste. I have the servant prepare my set of armor since I won’t be using the one I am wearing, a dress with intricate designs under a breastplate and guard piece in my limbs.

The full plate that I had prepared is an armor that covers everything made of pure orichalcum and repeatedly forged and strengthened with elunium by one of Ishtal’s acquaintances.  It’s a silver luster armor that I am proud of.

I am also going to do my own preparations but before that, I head towards the unused chapel of the castle.

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I kneel down in front of the messy altar and firmly clasp my hands. Ashfon and Violetta don’t believe in god and goddesses and that’s the reason religion is almost dead but…

I always pray to the Goddess of Blessing for protection and strength. It is something that never changed since my youth. Loyalty and faith are two entirely different things so I balance them accordingly.

Violetta didn’t stop me from doing this as I pray every day before I go to sleep and when I wake up. I also pray before I engage in a battle uncertain of victory.

I am thankful for the life I am given and for the people I am introduced to.

I always pray for everyone’s safety and for their happiness. Even though I show little emotion to almost everyone, my compassion for people never dies.

I convey everything in one prayer and end the prayer with a sign of the cross by gently tapping my finger to my forehead, to my chest, to my left shoulder and then to my right shoulder.

As I stand up, I turn my heels and head towards the exit to prepare for the battle.

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The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

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If there is something I could call this situation, it’s a mess.

Taking care of a large amount of devils are less trouble if they move in large group. Dealing with them in several places is the real ordeal. Also, their target this time is the city so defending would be extremely taxing.

I am the only one capable of battling a large sum of this enemies, the only thing the soldiers could do is to whittle their numbers by cooperating with each other and good coordination. If they were able to defend the gate before we arrive, that would be good. If they were able to subjugate them, that would be better.

I will be appealing to the council for a raise in pay for the soldiers. I am not in need of wealth so I just use them to help enrich people’s lives. Besides, Violetta keeps spoiling me together with Lily so I guess I don’t desire anything anymore.

In front of me, soldiers are bravely fighting the devils in north gate. I step up and brought out my soul weapon, a large white hammer with blue outlines. At the tip of the handle, there’s a flower crest attached to it.

Donning the full plate, I charges towards the devils as I shout commands to the platoon that was stationed here by me. I use body enhancements to increase my overall specs making the full plate as light as feather.

I bash and swing my hammer to devils that get in my way.

The soldiers at my disposal created a v-formation around me as I face a large force of the devils while they protect my flank.

It was not a hard task but the casualty that it could produce is what worries me. What could happen here is something I need to shoulder since I am in charge.

The soldiers are doing a good job keeping the formation. Some of the soldiers are capable of using elemental magic based skills with either compounded or non-compounded kind. Some are capable of using enhancement magic that stands at the front. Some uses soul weapon that gives them a unique abilities.

Before we knew it, we were able to whittle their numbers but we did not slack. We were able to reduce them to only a number of hundred.

“All soldiers, attention! Since the devil's number has drastically decreased, I shall take the matters into my hand and finish the job. I need all of you to coordinate with the other divisions that I assigned at the other gates!”

“””Yes, Lady Edelweiss!”””

Everyone shouted from my command with vigor. They finished the devils that they are engaging with and slowly retreat behind the gate.

I am getting a bit hasty so I sent them off so I can move freely without reserve. I want to go all out for a while. I want to swing my hammer wildly and I don’t want hitting or even killing my allies. The reason I brought a platoon with me is to prevent any devils from slipping past me.

It is simply unacceptable to me for that to happen.

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“Finally… there are none left, huh…”

I stretch my shoulders and crack my fist as I stare at the damaged landscape but this much is acceptable as I was able to eliminate all of the devils. The paved road is just a collateral damage.

Lily could do better than this but I stopped comparing myself to her long time ago. Violetta could eliminate them without breaking a sweat too.

“I should head towards the east gate for now.”

As I walk away, a chill suddenly blows past my nape and my hair stands on its end. I quickly put my guard up and look at the direction where the bloodthirst came from.

None!

I know something is out there! I just have to be vigilant enough to notice where it is.

Where…where is it coming from?

I work up quite a sweat but this time, only icy cold sweat flows down from my forehead and palm becomes sweaty too.

……

Is it hiding in the forest?

From the left…from the right… I turn sideways and made a long glance at each side.

None!

Suddenly… a shadow covers the place where I am standing…

Above?!

………

Before I could even lift my head upwards, I was pulled away by someone!

“Watch out, Edel!”

“Woah!”

BAM!

Wha--?!

I was thrown backward and roll several times on the ground. A strong impact courses through the ground and from where I was standing before, the ground sunk.

In my place, there was a large muscular old man with ripped robe and balding head with long beard is standing there. No, he is shielding his self with his arm against an attack from a girl with her foot that came from above.

“Ishtal!”

“I came as you ordered. My apologies for being late!”

Ishtal put more force in his block and threw away the girl forcibly making her leap backward. Ishtal who just arrives actually saved me. He also leaps to my side and keeps his guard up.

I glare at the enemy because…she has an atmosphere that wouldn’t even felt from a usual person with strong blood thirst.

This one has a much creepier, eerie and more fearsome aura going on in her.

It was girl from the demon kin. She has a short bobbed brown hair and a single horn stick out from her forehead parting her bangs sideways. Her sharp golden pupils stare back at me and it made me shiver. She is lightly dressed emphasizing how voluptuous her body is. Her skirt is long but has a slit to show her thighs.

“Good day weaklings.”

“Who are you? Are you the leader of the devils?!”

“Leader? My, that’s a real insult. Only my beloved Lord Nil has the ability to manipulate them. I am merely a maiden who yearns for my Lord’s love.”

“Manipulate? What are you?”

“Hmm? Oh, I’m sorry! Lord Nil always reminds me that I need to introduce myself to the enemy, how rude of me.”

“Wha--?!”

“I am Sistina Everland. I hailed from the race of Oni and in the Order of Arcana Sins, I am the current Arcana of Lust. I don’t have any title to present.”

“Order of Arcana! So, it was you guys… Do you think you could easily take Astlan City down?!”

“With the amount of devils that I brought, I think not.”

“Then why do something foolish?!”

“Foolish? You don’t get it, do you. A little number of devils is most likely not even comparable to what to come.”

“What do you mean?”

“Archdevils.”

“!!”

“I’ve sent three archdevils in each gate. I guess three is already over kill. How many archdevils can you handle all by yourself? One? Two? My guess is not even three.”

I messed up.

This isn’t accounted for and I didn’t have any prior knowledge to this kind of attack. We need to attend to each gate one by one. If that is the case, the only option that we have is to minimize the loss and maximize efficiency.

“Ishtal, I’ll hold her off, please, attend to each gate and defeat the archdevils!”

“That’s impossible Edel.”

“Why?”

“This woman…will defeat you in an instant.”

“…”

“We need to work together to defeat her. Arcana magicians are the most fearsome fellow out there after all.”

“Damn… If you try to take her by yourself, then…”

“Impossible. Even if I have my artifact that I lost a long time ago, I believe I can’t even be in a stalemate with her.”

“No way…you who thought us about fighting…”

I already know it myself.

“Why are you targeting this city?!”

“Hmm? What are you saying? Not only this city, you know?”

“Don’t tell me…”

“The Dragon Capital, The Demon Capital and then this… We’ve sent devils to those places! The absence of the Rage King and Continental Destroyer in this city, and after that, since the demon lord is just a snotty brat she isn’t a real threat but the True Ancestor is. Well, since he is not in the demon continent too, then we also launched an attack there.”

“Then the dragon capital…”

“Oh? That’s where the biggest party is. Geez, I wish I could have join Lord Nil!~”

“The other continent…”

“Oh? The Land of Greenwoods, the elf continent has its leader present so we deemed it unsafe. Whatever she does, their leader is really strong. We left the dwarves on their own stinky mountains. But the fairy continent, well, there’s a monster there so we didn’t even bother. The beast continent has lot of islands so Lord Nil said it would just be a hassle.”

“[Earth Shrine!]”

I quickly cast a spell and array of stalagmite shoots out around her. Ishtal and I move accordingly and dashes sideway.

I spin my body once and slam my hammer towards the place where she is standing. In accordance, Ishtal throws a punch.

BAM

But we only landed our attacks in an empty lot.

She already fled from the spot by leaping back.

“Sorry, even though I said I am from the oni race, brute strength is not my specialty. Also, that’s extremely rude. Attacking me while we are in a middle of a conversation… you should be more grateful that I am extending your time.”

I didn’t bother with her blabbering anymore and continues my assault. I follow her and swing my hammer sideward. She dodges it easily and dances around me. I quickly volley from my position and swings my hammer towards her again.

BAM

When I thought my attack landed, she steps inside the range where the hammer can’t reach. She holds the handle with an iron grip.

“Edel!”

Ishtal quickly rushes up towards me. I quickly let go of the hammer and deliver a kick to her. Instead of dodging, she caught my feet and hangs me upward by my feet. Since she is taller than me, she easily hangs me upside down.

Ishtal jumps above her and swings his fist down but to no avail, Ishtal was flung away by a magic she cast.

“Well, well, let’s get a bit tiny serious.”

“[Love Touch!~]”

As she said that, dark mist covers my body but it instantly vanishes. As that happened, she swings me and slams me to the ground, easily breaking my armor.

“Gack!”

“Oh, how weak.”

I spit up blood and my body armor shatters as she slams me. The ground got gouge and cracks spread throughout the ground.

What left in my armor are the wrist and ankle guard. I can’t believe that even she admitted that brute strength isn’t her strong point it was enough to destroy my armor.

“Hmm!~ Hmm!~ It should be working now.”

“Working what?”

“You’ll see.”

Suddenly, my body grows hotter. My heart pounds really fast and my face seems like it’s getting flushed. My vision becomes a bit fuzzy as I stare hard at her.

Come to think of it, I haven’t checked her face that much…

It’s actually kind of pretty…really pretty and beautiful… it’s like… I want to lick her…

My body staggers but I desperately stand up to approach her.

“That’s right. Come closer.”

“Y-Yes…”

I got closer to her. She held me by my waist as I limply walk.

“Well then, aren’t you an easy one? Let me check you down there now.”

“N-No…L-Lady Sistina…”

What am I doing?

She reaches out into my crotch and began sliding her fingers to it. It feels really good and it makes me wanting for more.

“Edel! Snap out of it!”

“Ishtal…?”

Ishtal made a huge knuckle out of stone. The stone knuckle was hardened by magic and is several times stronger than an iron.

He then threw the punch at Sistina which she immediately evades, letting go of my body. I fall to the ground limply as if I lost all of my energy.

“Edel, have you come to?!”

“S-Somewhat…”

I try to stand but unfortunately, I can’t summon any strength to do so. It seems she had me…

“Thanks for the meal!~ It was quite tiny in amount but it is still your energy.”

“How…”

“Not telling.”

And so, I just lay down there without any strength left after she sapped it. Ishtal is the only one capable of combat at this point.

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Roughly five minutes has passed since Ishtal and Sistina fight with each other. No, it is just a one-sided beating where Ishtal has to endure most of her attacks.

Her power…

I still don’t get it. Even though she used it, I still don’t have any idea. With just one touch, my whole body got hot and then after caressing me for a while, the hotness fades and my strength left me.

………

I see… she is absorbing arousal from other people!

Sex drive is another form of energy after all.

She then uses that energy is diffused in the air becomes her own power. But that’s still not everything…her overall specs are rigged to the point that she can block Ishtal’s attack with ease.

“This is getting boring. I really wanted to see Lord Nil so I think I’ll end this game.”

“[Insatiable Lust!]”

She casts a spell and a dark orb appears from her hand. It is a size of a palm and it flickers like a flame. She approaches Ishtal who is enduring the pain from her earlier attacks.

“Old man, do you want to know what this is?”

“……”

“It’s a ball of lust. This orb will corrupt your mind and you will become a mindless sex craze. I don’t think that girl over there could stand your size. Hahaha!”

That’s madness…

Such twisted power that manipulates people!

She plans to use that to Ishtal and…

“After you’re done with her, if the lust isn’t sated, you will die too!”

“……”

She holds the ball of lust closer and closer to Ishtal.

Goddess…please have mercy on us…

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“[Purifying Flame of the Gods!]”

BOOM!

What just happened?

A large explosion occurred and golden flames bathed the place where Sistina was before.

“Y-You…you’re that brat from before!”

“Ah, and you are that slut that defeated Master Mrothgir.”

Insult was thrown as the girl who used the skill landed.

It was a little girl with fox ears and tails.

Isn’t that… one of Asagao’s friends?

“I remember how that scum made of a man beaten me and proceed to torment Asagao. It’s utterly unforgivable!”

“You dare call Lord Nil scum made of a man?! It’s was his good will that you and that paranoid useless snotty brat are still alive!”

“You…You dare mock Asagao?!”

Ishtal collapse on the spot and I was just lying here.

And right now, someone appears out of nowhere to fight Sistina and it is one of Asagao’s friends, Higanbana.

But there’s something weird about her.

As they mock each other, their eyes visibly become blank and darker. It’s like they have a common trait that even I cannot comprehend.

“You dare look down on Lord Nil’s glorious figure?!”

“What glorious figure? He is just like standing garbage for me!”

“Bastard! I am going to make sure that fear and will be carved deep inside that skull of yours!”

“Fear? Is that delicious? The only possible way for me to feel such emotion is when Asagao hates me or she doesn’t want me anymore.”

“You cocky brat! You piss me off!”

VWOOSH

A gust of wind breaks out from the place as the enraged Sistina charges towards the little fox girl. But her attack, a punch, was stopped before it could even reach Higanbana.

“[Astlan’s Ira.]”

That power…!

It’s like…Ashfon…!

Sistina, alerted leaps back several meters away from the fox girl.

“Well then, let me show you the way out…of the realm of the living that is.”