Queen of Monsters

Prologue

“Alfheim. Athena’s pride and joy. A country she created so that all race could live in peace. Safe from monsters, bandits, and tyrants that plague the world.

Somewhere in this peaceful land resides a bustling metropolis called Athens, the capital of Alfheim and home to the Goddess Athena.

People come from far and wide to get a little peek at the Elven Goddess. And today is no different. The tower where Athena is rumored to live is again packed with excited tourists. And in midst the crowd, a little elf with unkempt scarlet hair and dark circles under her eyes squeeze her way through the crowd.

“I should’ve stayed home.” The elf let out an exhausted sigh as she made her way to the reception’s desk.

“Good morning Ms. Claire.” The lady at the desk bows her head to the little elf. “The knights you requested are waiting near your office.

“T-Thank you.” Claire bows her head to the lady and then quickly made her way to the elevator, her face flush red with embarrassment.

She was happy someone wasn’t treating her like a child but being called “miss” and being treated like royalty was just as embarrassing, even though she is the highest-ranking officer in the country.

Highest ranking officer, huh? Just a few years ago I was just a shut-in. Now I’m the right-hand woman of the Elven goddess Athena. How did it come to this? Claire thought to herself, as she pushed the highest number on the elevator.

“I just wanted a simple job so that I could finally buy the games and comics I couldn’t afford in the past.” she groans.

“I’m making plenty of money now, but what’s the point, if I’m too busy to use it.” she shudders at the thought of falling behind in her favorite comic series.

“I want to quit, but I can’t. Athena needs me, no the world needs me.” Realizing what she said, she couldn’t help but to laugh. “To think there would come a time I would say something so cheesy unironically. But still, it feels good to be needed.”

The elevator stops and opens on the highest floor in the tower. Claire steps out of the elevator and notices a man with short blonde hair and woman with long blonde hair wrap in a ponytail, standing by her office.

They must be the knights I requested. Claire thought to herself. She looks downs at her documents to see pictures of the two knights on the front.

Joseph and Elizabeth. Nothing noteworthy stood out in their files expect for them being children of nobles, but that isn’t the reason why Claire call them here. What caught her attention is that they’re both skilled trainees who haven’t taken the recruitment test yet.

“Since they have no military record, they should easily be able to sneak into New Eden.” Claire nodded her head satisfy with her plan. “Now for the hard part, talking to them.”

Being a former shut-in, Claire’s greatest weakness is talking, especially to strangers. Unlike most people who desire fame she more than happy to go unnoticed. Unfortunately, the unreasonable task Athena given her this time won’t allow her to remain hidden in the shadow.

“H-Hello, my name is-“

“Sorry, no kids allow.” The man swept her off her feet and carried her back to the elevator.

“Wait, I’m not a child! See, look!” Claire grabs her I.D that dangle from her neck.

“You’re a part-time worker how cut- “The man drops Claire onto the ground. “C-Captain Claire, it’s good to see you!”

“You idiot what are you doing dropping a child?!” The woman stomps down the hall and slaps the man in the back of his head.

“S-She’s not a child. She’s the Captain of the royal guard!”

“What? No way this kid our captain.”

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“Here we go again.” Claire mutter to herself as she raises her I.D in the air.

“C-Captain!” The woman quickly bowed her head to Claire. “I didn’t know it was you!”

“It’s fin-“

“What are you doing? apologize already!”

“R-Right!” The man bows his head to Claire. “I’m sorry I thought you would be taller!”

“You idiot! You’re making the situation worse!” The Woman punches the man in the gut.

“Um, that isn’t necessary,” Claire said timidly, as she watches the girl beat the boy down until he stopped moving.

Did I witness a murder? Claire slowly backs away from the girl who was wiping the victim's blood off her hands with a satisfied smile. Noticing the fear in Claire’s eyes, the girl bows her head again. “I’m sorry Captain, please forgive us for not recognizing you!”

“It’s fine,” Claire said, wondering how many times she’ll have to repeat herself. “By the way, is he ok?” Claire points to the corpse next to the girl.

“Of course! He’s used to this, right?!” The girl kicks the corpse causing it to twitch. “See? He’s fine.” She said with a fake smile.

Was the twitching his way of responding to the girl’s question, or was that the sign of the last electric signal in his brain going out? Claire decides not to think too much about it and ignore the body.

“By the way Captain, if you don’t mind me asking, why did you call us here?”

“Ah, that’s because-“Claire froze. A low thud sound behind her caught her attention. She turns around to see an apple fall off a table an ominously roll down the empty hallway.

A white aura emanated from Claire’s body. The girl next to her shiver, as the invisible energy, passes through her and slowly travels down the hallway engulfing everything in its path. “Nothing….” Claire turns her attention back to the girl “Did you see anything?”

“N-No ma’am.” The sharp alertness in Claire’s eyes caught the girl off guard.

My aura didn’t sense anyone on this floor, and the girl didn’t see anyone. So, what could’ve caused the apple to fall off the table?

Claire fell into deep thought She could’ve shrugged it off and said it fell on its own, but she wasn’t trained to do that. In this world filled with creatures with supernatural powers. One must stay alert and analyze the tiniest of details if they want to survive.

“Joseph, Elizabeth get behind me!” The two quickly took cover behind the little elf. They grab the hilt of their sword and look at each other confused. They had no idea what was happening, but the serious expression on their captain’s face was enough to tell them to be on guard.

The apple rose off the ground and floated in mid-air. Claire raises her hand towards the apple the invisible energy surrounding her body tightly coils around the apple, causing it to burst apart.

“C-Captain did you do that?” Elizabeth slowly back away. She couldn’t see what caused the apple to levitate and collapse on itself, but for some reason, she could sense Claire was behind it. “Captain?”

“It wasn’t a bomb nor was it a familiar, it was just a regular apple…” Elizabeth’s words fail to reach Claire who was lost in her thoughts. After running multiple scenarios in her head, she came to one startling conclusion; she was being followed.

“For them to make it all the way up here without being notice must mean they’re pretty skill or have a strong ability. Perhaps invisibility? No, that isn’t possible, my aura would’ve picked them up unless they ran away, but the elevator hasn’t moved at all. The only way to access this floor is via elevator. Unless you’re a summoner.”

Athena flashes in Claire’s head. Whenever Athena had something to do in office, she would teleport herself into the building to avoid her rabid fans.

“Yea, a summoner can easily bypass security,” Claire mumble to herself as she slowly approaches the fruit bowl the apple fell out of, “But if he just simply teleported to this floor, Elizabeth would’ve seen him, unless he sent a familiar in his stead.”

The fairies that reside in Athena’s pocket dimension came into Claire’s mind. “Something that small can easily sneak past security and hide in unconventional places like an apple.”

“Captain!” Joseph grabs Claire’s shoulder and roughly shakes her, snapping her out of her thought.

“W-What is it?”

“Is everything alright?” Both Elizabeth and Joseph were visibly startled. Without realizing it, Claire exposes their young and untrained mind to the supernatural.

“Yea, everything is fine.” Not believing her own words she turns her attention back towards the splatter remain of the apple she crushed.

Am I being paranoid? No, if something were here then it would’ve seen the kids, comprising the mission before it could start. I could potentially be sending them to their death if I send them to New Eden but allowing Alexander to roam freely any longer will put Athena and the other Entities in danger, especially if he’s working with the Demon King.

“Athena, what do I do?”

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.

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The usual scene presents itself to the half-conscious Demon King. An abandon kingdom cover in overgrown foliage. The crumbling stone structures cast large shadows, as the sun fell behind the thick forest that surrounded the empty kingdom.

Now, fully awake he leans back in the throne of the previous king. “It was just a dream.” he lets out a relieved sigh. The memories of becoming one with Anna and being chase by sex-crazed goblins were still fresh in his head.

“I’m afraid it wasn’t a dream.” The iron door to the throne was swung open, and a pale skin girl with long chestnut brown hair and emerald green eyes confidently walk towards the bewildered Demon King.

“No…. this isn’t possible.” The Demon King jump out his seat, knocking the throne down in the process.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t wrap his mind around it. He couldn’t understand how the dead princess he watched over for thousands of years was standing in front of him now.

“Who are you?” With a mischievous smile grin that reveal her sharp inhuman fangs, the girl proudly points at herself.

“I’m The Demon King.”