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The Power of Disguise.
"An Imperial Arms user?"
A sharp gleam flashed in Edgar's eyes. With a single glance, his piercing ability stripped away the disguise.
Standing before him was a tall girl, youthful and striking, her long, silky pink hair cascading down to her hips. She had the air of a sweet neighbor's daughter, yet the faint glimpse of cleavage beneath her loose collar betrayed a quiet allure.
Her slender waist curved perfectly into her full chest, her black pleated skirt swaying just enough to hint at the secrets beneath. Long, shapely legs were wrapped in thigh-high black stockings, her every movement teasing glimpses of forbidden scenery.
So it really was her.
Edgar's lips curled into a faint smile. The last missing piece of Night Raid's puzzle had just delivered herself to his door. Luck like this… impossible to stop once it started rolling.
Catching the weight of his gaze, Chelsea's eyes flickered.
…Did he see through me? No. Impossible.
With Transformation: Gaia Foundation, her disguise should've been flawless.
It didn't matter. She couldn't hesitate now.
This man—he had to be the true power behind the Empire. And right now, he was alone. No guards.
If she killed him here, the Revolutionary Army still had a chance to turn everything around.
This distance was perfect.
In the next instant, an almost invisible steel needle flew from her hand.
Shhh!
It sliced through the air, darting straight for Edgar's throat.
Just as it was about to strike home, two pale, jade-like fingers pinched it delicately from the air.
Crack.
Tiny fractures spread across the steel until it crumbled to dust.
"Chelsea," Edgar said with a mocking half-smile, "did you really think that would be enough to kill me?"
Her face drained of color. She leapt back in shock.
Whoosh!
But before she could retreat, Edgar flicked his fingers. A blast of compressed wind shot toward her, visible to the naked eye.
"What—what kind of power is this?"
Panic flared in her eyes. Instinctively, she crossed her arms to defend herself.
Too late.
BOOM!
The wind bullet exploded, its raw, crushing force tearing into her body. Her Imperial Arms' disguise shattered instantly, her flawless skin dented and battered by the pressure.
"Ahhh!"
With a strangled cry, Chelsea was hurled across the ground like a ragdoll, rolling dozens of meters before coming to a stop.
Snap.
Edgar clicked his fingers. Crimson chains materialized, binding Chelsea hand and foot in an unyielding grip.
"The final piece of Night Raid," he said softly, dragging her unconscious body closer. "Now she's mine."
He turned back to the battlefield.
The fight was nearly over.
The revolutionaries' morale had been completely crushed by Shiho Miyano and the others. The so-called million-strong army was already in ruins.
But slaughtering them all? That was impossible. Even a million pigs, scattered across the mountains, would take forever to hunt down.
"In that case," Edgar murmured, rising from his throne, "it's time to end this."
He lifted one hand. In his grip materialized the Demon Spear.
"This technique is a delicate one… let's see just how far I can push it."
Magic surged through him, pouring into the weapon.
Countless glowing bullets shimmered into existence, filling the air around him.
"Demon Spear—Infinite Barrage."
They rained down like a storm, fanning out in all directions.
A crushing sense of dread swept across the battlefield, swallowing everything in its path.
----
The battlefield fell silent.Shiho Miyano and the others froze where they stood, eyes wide in shock.
Above them, the sky itself seemed to vanish beneath the storm of black magic projectiles, swallowing the fleeing army in an instant.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The deafening roar split the heavens.Waves of raw force rippled across the battlefield, visible even to the naked eye.
The air howled as the shockwave turned solid, crashing outward in every direction.Mountains rumbled, trees and flowers were shredded to splinters, and the earth itself collapsed into jagged craters that spread as far as the eye could see.
"This… this is Master's power…"Voices trembled in awe.
For Shiho and the others, this was the first time they had truly witnessed Edgar's strength—raw, absolute, and merciless.
[Origin +5][Origin +11][Origin +16]
Lines of glowing text flickered across the system panel. Edgar only glanced at them.
There were still strong fighters among the revolutionaries.But to him, they were nothing more than slightly bigger ants.The experience points they gave weren't even worth as much as what his followers had just provided.
If not for his desire to erase them completely, he wouldn't have bothered lifting a hand.
Shhhk! Shhhk! Shhhk!
Moments later, Esdeath and the others returned to the city wall.Chelsea, hanging by chains at Edgar's side, looked utterly lost.
What the hell had just happened?They were in the middle of a bloody war, and suddenly her "captor" was being showered with… beautiful girls? Like some kind of bizarre gift package?
Edgar chuckled, looking around at his followers."You all did well this time. There'll be rewards later."
At that, everyone immediately shuffled back a few steps, wearing the same wary look.
After last night's ordeal in the dining hall—and an entire night of slaughter—they weren't sure they could survive any more of Edgar's "rewards."Even Esdeath looked like she was at her limit.
"…Seriously?" Edgar blinked.Were they… rejecting him?
Here he was, going out of his way to strengthen them, and this was the thanks he got?How ungrateful.
Still, he had other amusements.
His gaze drifted to Chelsea, a sly smile tugging at his lips.
Inside the palace.
Chelsea dangled from chains, suspended high in the air.On the throne below, Edgar sat watching, eyes locked on the girl who was clearly awake but still feigning unconsciousness.
"Drop the act."
Without hesitation, he struck her with a sharp backhand.The sound echoed, leaving a crimson mark across her pale skin.
"Ah!"Chelsea cried out, pain breaking her composure. She thrashed against the chains, only to feel them tighten the more she struggled. Her pleated skirt twisted under the strain, wrinkling visibly with every pull.
"Mm—!"Her eyes flew wide. Instinctively, her legs pressed together.
Chains… why are they—?
Flushed with humiliation and anger, Chelsea glared at him with fire in her eyes."Don't think that winning this battle means you can rule this country. The Revolutionary Army will rise again, and when it does, they'll—"
Edgar tilted her chin upward, forcing her to meet his gaze. Her delicate face glowed like jade beneath his fingers.
Calmly, he said, "You didn't see it, did you? The million-strong Revolutionary Army has already been wiped out."
"…What?"
Her voice shook. She wanted to call him a liar.But deep down, her instincts screamed that it was true.
Her defiance faltered.Her lips trembled.
"No… no, it can't be… The Revolutionary Army is finished… the country is finished…"
Edgar's voice was soft, but each word crushed her deeper into despair."Wanting to change this rotten world isn't wrong. But tell me—why would you ever put your faith in parasites like the Revolutionaries?"
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"Follow me, and your ideals will be far easier to achieve."
As soon as he finished speaking, the chains vanished into thin air.
In their place, a stack of letters appeared before Chelsea.
The moment her eyes fell on the familiar handwriting, her expression faltered, and her lashes trembled uncontrollably."These are…?"
Edgar's voice was calm, almost indifferent."Letters from the Revolution's top brass. They've been in contact with me."
Chelsea's pupils shrank.
"They want to trade the lives of everyone under their command for their own power and luxury." His words cut deep, every syllable steady and cruel. "Admit it—the Revolution you serve is nothing more than another minister in disguise."
"No… that's impossible…"
She tried to deny it, but the words on the page drained the blood from her face.
After a long silence, her crimson eyes lifted to meet his.
"Earlier, you said if I followed you… I could still realize my ideals?"
"That's right," Edgar nodded. "By my side, you won't be alone. Najenda, Akame, Leone… you've heard their names, haven't you?"
A faint smile curled on his lips. Golden blood welled from his fingertip.
"You can build a new nation with them. All I ask in return is that you become my kin."
To him, willing submission was always more valuable than conquest.
Chelsea didn't fully understand what he meant by kin, but the gist was clear.
She gave a small nod."Fine. If it means realizing my dream, I'll give anything—my life, even my soul.
But if you betray me, I won't hesitate to put a blade in your back."
It was both acceptance and a test. If Edgar had something to hide, he'd refuse.
"Of course," he said with a shrug. "Then let's begin the ritual. Take your clothes off."
Chelsea blinked, stunned.
"…Take them off?"
She froze for a beat, then realized he was serious. Heat rushed to her face, but after making sure she hadn't misheard, she began to move.
Soft curves freed from their bindings bounced slightly as she undressed.
…Not bad. Better than expected, really.
Without hesitation, Edgar let a drop of golden blood fall from his fingertip.
A low hum filled the air.
Mystic symbols flickered and vanished, replaced by a glowing heart-shaped sigil.
"Ah—!" Chelsea gasped, eyes widening.
Something surged inside her, a power she had never felt before. Her skin crawled, shifting.
Two wings unfurled from her back.
From beneath her skirt, a tail tipped with a heart-shaped barb slid free.
"This…?"
Shock colored Chelsea's voice.
"I didn't tell you?" Edgar chuckled. "As a demon, my kin naturally become demons as well."
"…Huh?"
Her mind short-circuited.
Ignoring her confusion, Edgar studied the glowing lines of her new attributes.
[Chelsea]
Race: Demon
Master: Edgar Lucifergus
Level: 26
Skill: Stealth
Stealth: Greatly reduces presence, perfectly conceals aura.
Now this—this was a good fit for her.
Edgar stroked his chin, nodding to himself. It would be useful for him, too.
A skill like this was the first of its kind he'd seen.
After copying down her stats, Edgar—
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Edgar patted Chelsea's shoulder."Snap out of it. It's just becoming a demon—hardly a big deal."
"For someone willing to sacrifice everything for her ideals, this shouldn't be too much, right?"
Chelsea still looked dazed.
She had become… the demon of legend.
And yet—Her body felt several times stronger.Something strange pulsed inside her, an energy that didn't belong to mortals.
So this is a demon's power…?
Then, a sheet of parchment appeared in front of her.
"Huh? What's this?"
"Your status sheet. Take a look for yourself."
Edgar gave her a brief explanation.
As she read, Chelsea's eyes widened with sudden understanding. Her fingers tightened on the paper, her expression twisting into something complicated.
She had always been ready to give up everything to change this country. She just never imagined she'd meet a demon—And one nothing like the rumors.
Stronger than ever, with a lifespan that stretched endlessly, eternal youth…
Chelsea pressed her lips together as she studied the attributes written out before her.
This was no curse. This was a gift from the heavens.
Before, she had only half-believed Edgar's promises. But now? Now she truly believed.
Someone as powerful as him had no need to lie.
If Lord Edgar had shown her such sincerity, then after her earlier disrespect, she had to show something in return.
Shhhk—!
A flash of cold light. Chelsea pulled a steel needle from her clothes.
Edgar blinked in surprise.What's this? Is she… about to attack me?
But no—the contract would have reacted if she meant him harm.
Splat!
Blood splattered as Chelsea drove the needle straight through her own palm. The sharp pain brought tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Master, this is my atonement."
Without hesitation, she yanked the needle free and prepared to stab herself again—
But Edgar caught it mid-thrust, sighing."There's no need to go this far. There are other ways to apologize."
"Then please, Master, tell me what to do. No matter what it is, I'll obey."
Edgar stayed silent, then produced a vial holding a single shimmering tear. The Tear of a Phoenix—though not his own, but one he had once collected from Revel in her grief.
As the wound closed under its power, he summoned his alchemy device.
"Chelsea, if you truly want to make amends, then grow stronger. Become my retainer—fight at my side."
Her throat went dry. Her cheeks burned red. Even her pupils trembled visibly.
Chelsea clenched her fists, her breathing heavy."If that is Master's will… then I will obey. This is the price and the duty I must bear."
Her heart hammered in her chest as she leaned closer.
Seeing her resolve, Edgar smiled faintly."Good. Show me your determination, Chelsea."
He gently rested his hand on her head, his thumb brushing through her silky hair.
As her tears fell once more, his tone grew firm."Bring out your will."
"…Yes."
Chelsea nodded, curling her toes into the floor."All of this… is for the sake of my dream."
That final thought echoed through her mind before a storm of emotions overwhelmed her. Her identity blurred, her memories scattered into haze.
Who was she? Why was she here? None of it mattered.
What she knew was this: she had taken a solid step forward.
To change this nation, she would follow her master forever.
Every cell in her body shuddered with transformation—burning, hardening, pushing past every limit.
Chelsea was reborn.
"..."
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