Luka completed the farewell ritual before helping carry his father's pyre to the centre of the town with a solemn atmosphere. He wanted to honour the child's feelings and watched the previous Lord's remains burn in the centre of the town.
While watching the flickering flame, he strained his mind to find the correct path to lead the people from this point on.
'The difference between a human and an archangel is far too great.'
Things he could do without trouble suddenly became a situation of life and death.
To lead a small territory of humans, needed planning, preparation and ingenuity that he didn't require as an all-powerful angel.
'Well, let's finish this and prepare for the future later.'
He stood under the raging flames of his father's funeral pyre. A pleasant heat warmed him as ash and embers kissed his skin. 'I've never felt this kind of feeling before.' Even the subtle pain brought a sense of joy to Lucifer.
The people celebrated with a special fruit ale made on the day Luka was conceived.
A special custom of Babylonia.
Normal villagers brewed cheap wine the moment they learned of their wives' pregnancy, and during marriage, this wine would be served. However, for the child of the Lord, it was opened on the day he took on the Lord's role.
To Lucifer's surprise, the event wasn't dreary or sombre but positive, with many peasants singing and dancing old songs that honour the dead and warriors of Babylon.
'This is why I loved humans...'
A warmth spread through his chest from the appreciation of humans and then his throat as he drank the wine dedicated to Luka's birth.
'To you, Child! Thank you for being born.'
Old Levi stood with his crooked spine, overlooking the people with his toothless smile, before he tapped the altar with his cane.
"Today is a moment of celebration, for our Lord's passing and the rise of his son, Luka, a brief reprise from the terrors of goblins crossing the borders, enjoy one and all, to our future, the hope and light of Babylon, Lord Luka de Babylon!"
"TO OUR LORD!"
"LONG LIVE BABYON!"
Upon hearing Old Levi's speech and the cheering that followed, a sense of relief washed over Lucas.
Whether it was the slight discomfort and resistance that lingered when he moved or tried to speak, it faded, and only peace remained.
As if the spirit of Luka finally rested.
"Hm?"
A strange noise came from beside him, and he glanced to see Galatea chewing a haunch of meat with huge mouthfuls and her eyes narrowed like a fierce beast.
'How captivating.'
The beautiful woman eating like a beast tickled a strange spot in Luka.
He leaned on the massive oak table, his plate filled with various dried meats, salted pork and mashed potatoes with thick, onion gravy. Without disturbing his knight, he lifted a drumstick, the thick, juicy meat almost the size of his head.
'The bounty of these fertile lands cannot be lost.'
Even Lucifer didn't understand why the produce, animals and food produced in the westernmost human territories grew so large.
A few scholars from the Imperial College stated the mana and energy of sin from the monsters and fallen past the desert were partly to blame. One of them realised that thanks to the nature of the soil in Babylon, it diluted the corruption.
'I think that scholar was stoned to death... maybe I should try to find them.'
He glanced at his fingertips, focusing the dark, murky power inside his abdomen, close to his pelvis, pushing it through his abdomen, into his muscles and bloodstream until finally it reached his fingertips.
Woosh!
A small purple flame danced at the tip of his index finger, the shape similar to that of a rose petal.
Luka grit his teeth, enduring the dull ache of his body being sucked dry, the limits of his power still affected by his untrained, weak body.
The flame soon fizzled out.
"Haa..."
The juicy, sweet flavour exploded in his mouth the moment he took a bite, unable to stop, Luka devoured the whole haunch much like Galatea.
*Burp!*
With a loud belch, he covered his mouth, slightly shocked at his human body.
'How unsightly.'
He glanced around to ensure no one noticed.
Only to find Galatea watching him intently with a wide grin and narrowed eyes, her head cocked to the side against her palm.
"Wow, that's a first. Fufu."
Her smile deepened as she chuckled, kicking him gently under the table with her armoured boots before shifting off the table and leaning against him. "I never thought you'd open up to these kinds of things."
The faint scent of flowers, vanilla pods and sweat lingered from her body, as she rubbed against his shoulder.
She placed a hand on his head, stroking him. "I can't believe you've become such a fine young man... even if... even if you've become a little different. If it's like this, I can stop worrying."
Luka watched her in silence, and nostalgic memories of similar situations flashed before his eyes. Images of her lying on his lap while drunk, apologising for acting so disgracefully as his knight and begging him to never abandon her.
Galatea soon began snoring while slouching against him.
'What happened to you in the past?'
He didn't want to know the original fate; the scars covering her body were enough to tell half the tale.
Luka found himself reaching for her sleeping face, unable to stop these unfamiliar feelings. An inch from her face, able to feel the warmth of her breath upon his palm, when a group of men and women wrapped in leather armour and shoddy iron gear rushed in.
"LORD! Where is the LORD?!"
Leading the men was a short woman with fiery orange hair and wavy tips down to her neck, brushed to one side. Her figure was petite, with a narrow waist, but overly wide, plump hips that swayed with each step. The muscles of her thighs shook with each step as she approached him.
She wore a brown tunic and skirt with several belts and fur patches, creating a tribal style fur and leather armour. A pair of iron gauntlets with elbow pads, and knee-length greaves, with leather boots instead of sabatons.
In her hand was an axe covered in wet, green blood.
'Goblins?!'
"I ask again, where is the Lord?!"
Luka stood from his stool, holding Galatea with his right arm, pinching her cheek. "Wake up, my dear foolish knight."
He then met the short, ginger woman's sharp glare.
"I am the Lord, you may speak."
However, the woman raised her chin and frowned, ignoring him, turning to the other knights, asking with a rough, almost thuggish voice.
"Hah, don't joke! This scrawny little pretty boy is the Lord? Peh! Where is the old man?"
"Ahem, Lady Iris spitting is quite unbecoming of a lady..."
Old Levi struggled forward, his arms trembling under the fierce glare of the men and women wrapped in bandit-like armour.
"Oi, Old Man, don't treat me like a dainty maiden!" She swung her axe several times, creating fierce wails of wind. "I've slain more goblins than you've eaten hot meals!"
"Yes, yes, Lady Iris is a strong and capable Militia leader."
The old man didn't take her insults to heart; instead, he nodded to the mature female with dark hair who stood behind her, who gave a wry smile. "It seems that you didn't hear, but the previous lord perished; today is the acceptance ceremony."
Iris nodded along to Levi's words.
She seemed to be quite honest despite her rough tone. Once he finished, she returned her gaze to Luka.
"I see." Then she turned away, muttering in a voice Luka barely caught. "Sorry..."
'Although I could take issue and punish her. I am more concerned about the news; this isn't the time to be a harsh lord.'
Luka straightened himself and stepped out from the table, glancing down at the fierce little tigress of a woman. Thanks to using the remaining energy from when he became a fallen angel, Luka's body grew greatly over the past few days.
Otherwise, he'd be smaller than this girl.
"There is no need, Lady Iris. I am the new Lord Luka de Babylon. Tell me what brought you. If it's within my powers, I shall offer aid."
Her cheeks flushed red as she hesitated a moment before speaking.
"L-Lord Luka... the goblins have taken the advantage of the knight's being absent to launch an attack on our village base."
'So this girl is a member of a small village within my territory?'
He tried to discern her identity, but knew the woman called Iris, just the difference between the two caused a great sense of confusion. 'The Iris I knew was a knight who barely spoke... and covered every inch of her body with cloth, leather and steel.'
Again, he felt a heavy weight in his chest; the only reason to change so much was that his stomach churned.
'Forget it!'
"How many, what kind of goblin, warriors, scouts, knights, any heroes?"
Iris's eyes widened as she heard Luka speaking, her lips and expression changing the more he asked, until she spoke. "Fifty scouts, there are ten warriors, and five archers. They came from the Amol Highlands..."
Luka placed both hands on her shoulder, roughly patting her twice before he turned back and shouted various commands in a deeper voice.
"Galatea! Old Levi! Gather the town hunters and anyone of able age. Leave half the knights to man the defences and prepare to ride to the village." He paused before calling out again, "Knight Zack, come with me!"
Iris watched Luka's face even after he pulled away, in a slight daze.
"Old Levi, do you have any light armour for me to wear?"
"S-Surely you don't mean to ride out personally, My Lord!?"
He turned to the old man with a sinister grin, "Of course, prepare me a strong steed. I like them fiesty and wild!"
Of course, he couldn't tell them about why he must ride out.
Because of the benefits to his new body and future growth, depending on his taking such risks, and Lucifer, who never missed a battle, would never turn away from this! His eyes flicked to the faint glowing panel in the corner of his vision.
He then shouted to the knights, "Fetch me a black gambeson!"
[Emergency Quest Generated!]
Defend the Village of Amol and earn the respect of the former bandits.