"I admit that I don't understand the point of sending these humans to attack the palace."

Having returned to Galadriel's office, Pandora had just said this sentence, which forced his creator to respond.

"This world is filled with weapons called 'Teigus'! Each of them has a different power that increases the power of the human who controls them! Even though none of them pose a real threat to us, it is all the same preferable to send our mercenaries, in order to know the means of defense of the palace. "

"Do you mean they will be your guinea pigs?"

"Indeed! Cocytus has just joined Budo, so, I don't know its potency yet! Plus, there may be other teigus users, in the palace! Not to mention that you are the person to me. claimed that magic was in the teigus! We don't know who created them, or if other more dangerous weapons are in the palace! To find out, I'm counting on my "precious" mercenaries, who will have as the objectives of setting off as many traps as possible so that I can analyze them. "

"I understand but ... what are you going to do if one of them gets captured and tortured? All of these humans know that the Queen of Nazarick, and the leader of Darkness are one and only! If this information is revealed, you will never be able to go to town again. "

"Whatever." Galadriel assured. "Although I would have preferred it to last longer, Galadriel's popularity is already at its peak! Even though the Emperor calls me an enemy, I'm sure many people will cheer me on when I have defeated Jaldabaoth."

Grinning grimly, Galadriel declared.

"Do you realize? The next time I decide to attack the palace, if the emperor refuses to give up his place, I will know every bit of his defenses, thanks to the sacrifices of a few people."

Nodding slowly, Pandora's actor ends up advising.

"Be careful not to look like the people you hated."

"Hmm?"

"When the others Supreme Beings left us and you found yourself alone, you often told me about your problems! And regularly, you complained about certain people, who believed themselves to be better than you and who regarded you as a pawn."

Immediately, thinking back to her former boss, Galadriel narrowed her eyes, while retorting.

"I'm not like that asshole! Him, he sacrificed anyone, to earn money! Me, I'm going to sacrifice a handful of people, to save an empire."

Seeing Pandora's Actor staring at her silently, Galadriel asked him.

"Do you have something to retort?"

"No! You saved these people and you have a right to do with them what you want! Just ... they trust you."

Staring at the doppelgänger, Galadriel declared.

"I'll give them a reason to live! Plus, I've said it before ... I'm not going to burden myself with people who won't be of any use to me! If they want to survive, they just have to. 'to succeed in their mission! Moreover, the good of Nazarick will always come before them. "

"Exactly! Didn't you tell them that they were part of Nazarick?"

"What's the matter? They're ready to die, for me."

"Yes! In a fight to save people! Not as simple sacrifices in a mission that involves great risk so that none of them come back alive."

Continuing to stare at Pandora, Galadriel finally asks him.

"Versuchst du mich zu verraten?"

"Nein! Stellen Sie nur sicher, dass Sie Ihre Geste nicht bereuen."

"In that case, don't worry! I'm old enough to know what I want."

Walking in the middle of the street, Sebas was alone again. Having given food to beggars, he had just further increased Galadriel's popularity, claiming that the food came from her. Therefore, being satisfied to help his lady, in this way, while performing a good deed, the butler was happy with the mission entrusted to him.

"I need to get back to Rubedo-san, before she starts her patrol."

"Hello, ally of justice."

Surprised, recognizing this feminine voice, Sebas turned to see Seryu running towards him. Stopping, she performed her famous military salute. At her feet, having managed to catch up with her, Koro began to imitate her.

"Seryu?" Sebas wondered. "I thought you were still in the hospital."

"I'm perfectly fine," the young girl assured, smiling broadly. "Now that I'm healed, I can tell Rubedo-san that I can patrol with her again."

Knowing in advance the reaction that will have Rubedo, on learning this, Sebas wondered if it was better for him, to let Yuri break the news to her.

Remaining silent, he stared at Seryu's arms, which Aura had had fun breaking. Quickly, he noticed that Seryu had very different arms from the last time he had seen them.

"Mechanical arms?"

Smiling with pride, Seryu declared.

"When I saw how weak I was, I let a great scientist do experiments on my body! Thanks to him, my arms, which were broken, are now more powerful than before, as is the rest of my body! From now on, I could better fulfill my role as a soldier of justice. "

Staring at her, Sebas was content to remain silent before leaving.

"Hey! Wait!" Seryu cried, following him. "Don't you want to know more?"

"Not at all." The butler asserted. "I don't see how that makes you happy to have played guinea pig, which gains a little power."

"A little power? Hey, it is through the sacrifice of my body that I can once again ensure the maintenance of righteousness."

"I'll stop you right now! You are not a vigilante."

"What?"

Arriving suddenly in an alley, Sebas saw a woman, dressed in rags, running towards him, before bumping against his chest.

"Sorry." She apologized, before stepping back. "I hadn't seen you."

However, as she tried to put a kind little smile on her face, she couldn't help but moan in dread, seeing Seryu. Taking a step back, she ends up turning around to flee.

Too late. Finding her suspicious behavior, Seryu was already behind her and tripped her up. losing her balance, the young beggar fell to the ground. Opening her hand, she let go of a small bag of money, which she had just stolen from Sebas.

"Oh? I see I just found a thief." Seryu asserted, staring at the woman in hatred.

Knowing perfectly who she was, the beggar tried to get away from her, crawling on the ground. Unfortunately, being in front of her, Koro blocked her path, while he showed her his teeth.

"You're not going anywhere." Seryu asserted. "You just committed a horrible crime before my eyes! In the name of justice, you will disappear."

"I… No… please!" The young woman pleaded. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I just wanted some money to eat! That's it! Don't kill me."

"You don't have to beg to me to forgive your crime." Seryu retorted, starting to smile. "It's up to Satan! Because I'm sending you to meet him right away! Koro!"

In an instant, the teigu changed size before opening his jaws.

"NOOOOOOOOOO!" The beggar shouted, closing her eyes.

Immediately she heard a sound of shock, followed by a growl of agony. Opening a eye, she let out a cry of surprise, seeing Sebas, in front of her, who had just hit the teigu's abdomen so hard that his fist had pierced his body. His eyes widened, Koro dropped to one knee, while Sebas withdrew his arm from his body.

"KORO!" Seryu shouted. "Why?"

Fixing the teigu in his eyes, Sebas displayed his most severe gaze, before declaring.

"I advise you to resume your small size."

Usually, the tegiu would not listen to anyone except Seryu. However, his survival instinct made him obey the butler's order. Resuming his small size, he then flees, before jumping into Seryu's arms.

"Koro?" She wondered, seeing him shake in fear.

Not caring about the duo, Sebas looked at the woman who was on the ground, and who was still shaking.

"Th ... th ... Thank you."

In response, Sebas used the edge of his hand to give her a little blow on the top of her head. Despite retaining his strength, he forced the woman to cry out, as she was sure a lump had formed on her head.

"Stealing is bad." Sebas asserted. "If you want money, next time just ask me, instead of trying to steal it from me."

"I ... I ..."

Gritting her teeth, the beggar retorted.

"Who would give me his money, if I asked him? Nobody would! The rich think only of them! And the soldiers mistreat us all the time! Who would give money to a beggar? Who?"

In response, Sebas took hold of her hand, before putting the bag of money that she had tried to steal from him.

"I give it to you."

Surprised, the young woman stared at him, before looking at the small bag in her hand.

"That ... ? "

"Go away." Sebas ordered. "And don't forget: stealing is bad."

Always surprised by what was happening, the beggar ends up hugging the money, before whispering.

"Thank you."

Then, rising to her feet, she began to flee. Seeing her do it, Sebas remained motionless, despite feeling a strong aura of hatred behind his back.

"Do you have something to say, Seryu ?"

"You let a criminal go." The young woman growled.

"She stole my money! So it's up to me how to punish her."

"You let her steal your money." Seryu retorted. "I saw you! You didn't do anything to stop that pickpocket from rummaging in your pockets! Why?"

"Because this woman needed this money more than I did."

"She stole it! It's unworthy of justice."

"Justice?"

Eventually turning around to stare at the young woman, Sebas questioned her.

"Justice is about understanding the actions of people who commit sins, and whether they deserve to be forgiven or to receive a sentence."

Squinting his eyes, he roared.

"Justice is no excuse to appease the urges of a murderer like you."

"Impulses? Murderous?"

Gritting her teeth, Seryu roared.

"How dare you? You don't know anything about me! I'm not a murderer! I'm a vigilante! A vigilante who makes sure that the evil goes away."

"Do you want to make the evil go away?"

Going away then, Sebas affirmed.

"Look at yourself in a mirror! You will see the real face of evil."

Immediately, growling in rage, Seryu rushed towards Sebas and attempted to strike the back of his head with her metal arm. However, anticipating her move, Sebas took a single step to the side to dodge her charge. Then, when the young girl found herself next to him, he nudged her in her side, which pulverized several of her ribs.

Opening her mouth, Seryu was unable to scream in pain, while she was unable to move. Falling to the ground, she crashed at the butler's feet, who put his hands behind his back.

"You have no control over your anger! And you do not understand anything in justice! In any case, your justice does not resemble that of my creator."

Pretending to go away again, Sebas stopped when he heard Seryu snicker.

"Your creator? I don't understand what you mean! But if this guy thinks my justice is bad, then he's just a jerk."

In an instant, being behind his mistress, Koro shivered, hearing a sound of shock. Being pressed against a wall, Seryu felt the hand of Sebas which crushed his trachea. Watching her gesticulate in vain, Sebas simply said.

"You're just a pathetic puppet! A puppet so stupid and blind that I don't even want to kill you."

Then, punching Seryu in the stomach, he made her cough up blood, before dropping her to the ground.

"Do you feel this pain? Know that it's nothing compared to all the harm you've caused for your stupid revenge."

Then he was gone for good, leaving Seryu on the ground.

Feeling his hands shaking, Ieyasu sat on a step of the sixth floor arena, while his companions were getting ready. In less than an hour, Pandora would send them to the basements of the Imperial Palace so that they could come to the aid of the prisoners. Normally, the mission should not last more than a quarter of an hour. However, Ieyasu knew there was a great chance that he would never return to Nazarick.

"Because of our easy victories, during our last missions, we lost this feeling of fear! And today, if it is back, it is because we know that death will be there, waiting any moment for to take hold of our soul."

"Hey, boss."

Looking up, Ieyasu saw three people in front of him, displaying confident smiles.

"Guys?"

"Butch!" Said a man, with a broad build, while a huge saber could be at his back.

"Rosa!" A woman continued, with two long daggers at her waist.

"And Larok." A blond haired man finished, while holding a bow in his hand.

Hearing the trio introduce themselves, he then saw them perform strange movements, before screaming.

"We are the 'Elders Slaves'."

Remaining silent, Ieyasu finally asks.

"What are you doing?"

"We are working on our presentation! When Galadriel-sama becomes our new queen, we, her mercenaries, must know how to present ourselves in the eyes of the people that we must protect."

"Protected?"

"Of course! After all, Galadriel-sama is sure to make us the new army of the people."

"Bands of idiots! Did you forget that before that we have to go and save the prisoners in the Imperial Palace! There is no guarantee that either of us will come back alive."

"Of course it is!" Rosa retorted. "Galadriel-sama has always given us missions that we could succeed! There are people a hundred times more powerful than us in Nazarick! If this mission was really impossible for us, she would never send us there! She trusts in us."

"That's right." Butch agreed. "We think that is impossible because there will be Budo! But, in truth, we have become so powerful that we are now perhaps stronger than the general."

"Also, it's better to think about our potential future than to think about the fact that we might just die." Finished Larok.

"To come up?"

"Yes! Within the army of Nazarick, we will continue to improve, to become true elite soldiers," Assured Butch.

"We'll even become generals," Larok said.

"What we want is to make Galadriel-sama proud." Rosa terminated. "And that she doesn't regret enlisting us in her army."

Hearing them, Ieyasu then saw Sayo coming towards them.

"Thinking about your future is good! But it's better not to have too much confidence! Never forget that the palace is surely the most dangerous place in the country for people like us! Who knows what we will find it there?"

Grabbing her bow, she declared.

"We are going to save people! But not only! This time, we are going to fight to survive! To fight against this world that rejected us! To fight against those who wanted us dead! I too want to think about my future, because I want to live! But, if it so happens, many of us won't be here tonight! So stay focused. "

Nodding, Ieyasu finally asserted.

"Sayo ... for this mission, it might be best if you are our only leader."

"What?"

"You know me! I don't know how to use my brain! And during this mission, having no strategy will surely be the cause of our defeat! Therefore, since you are the best strategist among us, it is better that you tell us right away how we have to organize ourselves to be able to return to Nazarick. "

" So it's true ... the emperor of this country is a kid! But I don't feel anything extraordinary about him. "

being inside the Imperial Palace, Cocytus had been granted exceptional permission to have an audience with Emperor Makoto, thanks to Budo. being with the general, the guardian facing the child who ruled the country.

Initially, thinking like Demiurge, he expected to see a child who could create a powerful aura around him, which could allow him to frighten everyone around him, as soon as he opened his mouth. Yet none of this had been seen. Cocytus had before him a simple child, whose only difference from those whom they had met in the streets of the city, was the crown on his head, and his scepter in his hand. He didn't even seem to have a teigu.

" What a disappointment! This child will not be able to put up even the slightest resistance, if Galadriel-sama tries to take his throne by force. "

"So your name is Cocytus." Makoto summed up, after listening to Budo's explanations. "And you are the only survivor of your country that has been attacked by the demon Jaldabaoth."

"Indeed."

"The same Jaldaboath who crushed the Northern Kingdom and Fredonia?"

"It seems to me."

"And in order to beat him, when he attacks our country, you want to join our army."

"Not join." Cocytus retorted. "Just establish a temporary alliance ... with you! As soon as Jaldabaoth is defeated ... I don't intend to stay here."

"Hahahaha! So for you, we don't stand a chance."

Stopping to hide behind Makoto's throne, Honest could be seen eating a piece of meat, as he asked.

"Is Jaldabaoth that powerful? Do you really think that our country, which manages to fight against the armies of three different countries, would not stand a chance against him."

"I can't tell! However ... I know your best warrior ... Esdeath has been defeated."

Continuing to chew on her snack, Honest continued to smile, asserting himself.

"I see that you are very knowledgeable, and I can only say that you are right! However, ..."

Smiling mischievously, he declared.

"I am convinced that if all the teigus users in our country decide to unite, we can fight Jaldabaoth."

"I doubt it!" Cocytus said simply. "After all, it's not the number of soldiers that matters ... it's their power! A thousand novice soldiers will never be able to overcome defeating a seasoned general with a teigu."

"Hahaha! You're right." A female voice agreed.

Surprised, everyone turned, to see a woman entering the throne room, with a confident smile on her face.

"Esdeath?"

Level power:

Esdeath: 51

Dijon: 48

Bulat: 39 (1)

Mine (with teigu): 37 (45 max)

Akame: 35

Leone: 35

Sheele: 34

Seryu: 32 (Koro, 44 max)

Ieyatsu: 32 (7)

Sayo: 32 (8)

Lubbock: 30

Tatsumi: 28 (2)