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"Um Master?" Asked the maid

"Yes? And I already told you you could just call Me Kayla since Allen knows our secret."

"S-sorry I'm just not used to calling you that in public, a-anyway, do you know what grade Mister Allen's Scythe is? I don't know of any weapon that could do that outside of unique grade."

Watching Allen charging between foes and actually ABSORBING all their life energy was disturbing to say the least, how come he was able to use it with no mana consumption? Why does the aura around the blade get stronger with every kill? And most importantly why is he talking to the blade?

"At first the blade seemed to merely be a mortal grade weapon, If finely crafted. But, since only a magic grade weapon could manipulate mana, and since it was blood magic on top of that it'd have to be a top grade magic weapon. If my assumption are correct however it's far more terrifying than that. Unless Allen is simply crazy, which is a possibility, his blade actually has a conscious and is capable of conversation which means it'd skip an entire grade and be Unique, what I fear however is that since the weapon seems to be capable of growth it might become an Artifact."

In the world of Gemini there was various crafts and products. for the sake of convenience a man capable of uniting the entire continent made a grading system, while the man may already have already turned to dust the system he made managed to stick. The grades were Mortal, Magical, Noble, Unique, and Artifact. The grades were split into low, intermediate, high, and top, to make a distinction of quality between similar works. A mortal grade weapon would let you reign supreme against mortals, hence the name, Magical is the name given to Items imbued with mana, if you had something of this grade you no longer had to flow down the river of fate no, you could manipulate the world itself which is what magic is right? Possessing something of noble grade Entitled you to a position of nobility, acquiring Noble grade items is how must clans vie for power. To be titled Unique, it had to be well, unique. It had to be stronger than top grade noble and hold a ability that is one-in-a-million.

Artifacts though, they were the things of Empires. In fact it was considered a crime for an individual to have one, not that anyone would enforce the law for an Artifact possessor. The existence of Artifacts is what keeps the three kingdoms in a stalemate, if any of them were to hold a true campaign it was considered they would face mutual destruction. Of course not every Artifact could be used as a weapon, like in a case of the Iron Demon Clan's Artifact, and those types of Artifacts make up the bulk of them, after all even one could destroy an entire kingdom. Wouldn't adding more to the mix guaranty a Apocalypse? As of right now it is considered that each of the Empires possess two battle Artifacts, though that was from their own mouths and who would trust that?

"Isn't that good Kayla? As long as we can keep him on our side we'd be able to put up an actual fight against the Royal Family, not just cowardly gorilla tactics."

"There's nothing cowardly about gorilla tactics it's just called being smart, besides I was the one who came up with that tactic, are you calling me a coward?"

"N-no, I just meant I liked fighting on the front lines, you should know that demons like fighting because of our blood."

"*Chuckle* I was just playing, don't get your panties in a twist, but I do agree that having Allen could let us win, as long as we can keep him on our side."

Watching the man running around cutting people in half laughing maniacally she couldn't help but sigh. Is he really the person who was prophesied to carry her into Queenhood?

As if sensing her gaze Allen turned away from his newest conquest and stated at her.

"Wh-what? Why are you staring at me?"

"No reason, I just thought you look quite good when your plotting how to manipulate people to your advantage."

"Do you have a problem with that?"

"Not at all, in fact I think a good ruler should have that quality, just make sure you're not the one being manipulated in the end, K? *wink* and like that he ended up taking ten more life's before being satisfied.

"Now THAT hit the spot, onwards to the Iron Demon Clan!"

***

In a small city home to more thugs than decent citizens there was an even smaller General Store. In it was home to mostly food goods and household supplies, in a small section of the store however there was various trinkets, of course considering the size of the store most of the trinkets were barely better than trash, their only use would be a last minute anniversary gift to your wife in the hopes you wouldn't have to sleep on the couch for forgetting.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

That barren section of the store currently had three guests to it's meager collection. A handsome man currently looking at the trinkets as if finding them was on the level of discovering Atlantis, of course bye his side were two women who looked like they had better things to do.

"Just why are you so interested in this trash Sir Allen? Don't tell me you found a hidden gem?"

"Nope they're on the level of Chinese goods, I'm just surprised that this place had stuff like clocks and gears."

"Chinese? Anyway, while they are uncommon definitely uncommon, with how large the population of Gemini is it's no surprise to find clockwork, especially this level of trash, the Masters could even make Automaton with human level expressions."

"Automaton? Since this is a magical world it's not impossible, you'd only need to be able to program, an understanding of gears, and the ability to enchant."

"I'm afraid not, while I don't know what "program" is I do know that only the best of the best Clockmakers enchant their own work, it's an entirely different profession after all."

"So I'm guessing that's why there are so few of them, They need enchanters but enchanters don't need them?"

"While it's a bit more complicated than that, in short, yes. Of course there are some clockworkers that don't use enchanted materials, it's very limited what they can do with that since they have no control over it's properties. With all these restrictions and downsides you'd think that there wouldn't be anyone foolish enough to go down this path right? Wrong, despite all these negatives it's one of the most sought after professions. As long as you obtain the ability to make your own automaton you skyrocket in position, who wouldn't want an army of Metal minions who don't stop till their destroyed? and even then you'd have to hope an enchanter didn't give it self repair. And even if you're not a war monger (like Kayla) wouldn't you want a legion of workers that never tire? Just THINK of all the possibilities of using them!"

"Geez I get it, fangirl much?" The maid's right though, I think a clockmaker is only second to a necromancer in terms of army potential. In fact in some ways it's better, while it's more costly to make a automaton they'd also be higher quality, and they wouldn't rot. Plus you don't need corpses to raise the dead so you could just live in a mine for ten years and come out with a battalion.

"Don't sorry master while the possibilities are quite frightening it's still a emerging profession that doesn't have much known about it, that means it's almost impossible to make anything higher level than a foot solider. And you actually also have a way to create a army, blood slaves, if you wanted to you could turn Loads of people into half vampires and make them completely loyal, of course you could also turn them fully and simply add then to your family but it'd be much easier to just do blood slaves."

"Damn I completely forgot" a vampire makes other vampires right? Should I make an army? ...nah to much work, most I would do is a small battalion, hey that's not a bad idea!

"Hey Kayla if you give me a segment of 50 men I'll follow your orders in the war" if I feel like it " I don't want any professionals, in fact I would prefer new recruits, so, how about it?"

"*Sigh* it's not like I have a choice do I?" I'm definitely not telling him I was planning on giving him his own army to satisfy him " while fifty is a bit of a stretch as long as they are newbies I can do it, as long as you sign a contract that is."

"Sure sign me up, I happen to enjoy the surprise that comes from not knowing you agreed to donate your organs, alive."

"Alright then repeat after me"

""I, Sir Allen Cross""

""Agree to follow the orders of Kayla Iron during the war""

""Until the war is either ended or she is slain, any orders that threaten my well being also negate the contract.""

"I in return agree to give Allen fifty fresh recruits in exchange for absolute obedience, within bounds."

Suddenly a chain started to bind around them while a contract appeared in front of them burning into ash.

Rachel couldn't help but pale when she saw the contract. You would be so serious you would even use a world contract, And such a one sided one as well?

"Aiko void that contract."

"Already done, you should seriously stop giving your word like that, in this world there's a variety of ways to bind you."

"Don't be so stiff, the contract said "during the war" which ment I had plenty of time to nol it, worst case scenario I just kill her."

"*sigh* just be careful alright? Arrogance was the downfall of the previous God right?"

"Haha! Don't worry about it, I already have counter measures up.

1. Any time I die time will reverse until there is no danger.

2. Any time I am forced to do something against my will I die, refer to 1

3. Just in case those fail I have you, you are a separate entity than me, yet have full control of my power, do what you need at your discretion."

"Of course entrusting you with all my powers could also be considered foolish, I however, have full confidence in my decision, I have never made a mistake when it comes to judging people and you my dear, are hopelessly in love with your's truly, I almost feel sorry for you, out of all the people you chose the maniac? I feel like your going to star in a documentary about abusive couples."

"God~ stop teasing me, It's not my fault I was created like this, plus while the mind's a bit fucked up, your face is a solid ten."

"Jokes on you, I feel no shame in being a gigolo." While the two were merrily doing what was their equivalent of "flirting" Kayla was jumping up and down in joy.

"Haha! I got you now! Even if you don't want it now you HAVE to be a good person, if only for a little while."

"Ha, count yourself lucky, bitch, if you held even the smallest killing intent for master I would have killed you"

"Huh?" With a start she jumped up and started to look around. "who's there? You better show yourself!"

"Where are you looking, bitch? Can you not tell that it is me the great Rose? Bitch." Allen couldn't help but laugh when he saw Kayla's eyes almost pop out looking at the Scythe.

"Hey now Rose you can't just call her a bitch, you have to reserve that until we fight the beastkin, the PUNS, I'm shaking just thinking about the jokes I can make about them, on a side note though since Rose already introduced herself you should too Aiko."

"If you say so."

"*Ahem* Stay away from my man, bitches."

Technically she did what he asked, after all she used the plural version, not the singular, English is a bitch.