POPIPO popipo POPIPO popipo POPIPO popipo POPIPO WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I own nothing.
"Are you really sure allowing us to see your lab?"
Ajuka, an adult man with spiked bright green hair, asked the man who's walked ahead of us.
"I don't really mind. Just consider it to build the trust between us."
He finishes that with a hearty laugh. It was unsure to tell whether or not if it was genuine.
Whichever is it, one thing is for sure, his answer helped nothing in this situation. The atmosphere is still heavy and grim; the air is so thin makes it is hard to breathe, add to that this narrow corridor and the large number of people I'm in only make things worse.
True, some of them had decided to leave after the meeting, lady Carmilla and Tepes for an unknown reason, and the former chief of Baobhan Sith leave because she needs to organize the army, but for the better or worse some unknown women have come to fill their presence… one of them at least have a cute appearance, so it was rather refreshing to gaze at, but the other one… that horns and dragon's tail, firm gaze, and rather obvious intimidating aura… from just one look I knew, she was strong, so strong even.
It would be better if the previous ladies were here, rather than this scary woman.
Still… is it really the best decision we can make in this situation? I know I'm not one to talk knowing I was the one who lead and sealed the deal, but… is it because of his Charm spell, but hurriedly made the deal like that was not really like my usual self, especially with such a big offer like that.
Seriously… what's wrong with me? Forget about that red-haired cow tits. Now, I'm not even sure if the woman from a few minutes ago was really me.
What if he decided to kill us after this? After he has done showing us the lab, just to spite us, he will stab us in the back while mocking my naivety on my dying body.
Darn, this is truly unsettling to my mental… this is the first time I've ever doubted my ability. My heart flowed with foreign insecurity, this is really not like my usual self. That gray-haired wench would happily laugh at me until she lost consciousness if she were here and seeing how doubtful I'm toward myself… what a miserable state I've brought upon myself.
"If I want to do that, you wouldn't be standing right where you are at this moment."
Can we even trust his words? Ahhh… to think I was that unprepared. I want to bury myself in a hole and never see the sun again.
"Are you alright over there?"
My head move on its own the moment I heard his voice.
"Y-yes, please, no need to pay attention to me." this is the first time I let out such a pitiful voice.
Don't look at his eyes.
Without stopping his step, he asked me who was walking in the last row. His words made everyone in this tiny corridor directed their gazes toward me and I really don't need this kind of attention, especially in this situation.
"Unfortunately, I can't do that when a lady's heart is in such distress."
And who's a fault do you think I was in this state?! On another note, it was not my HEART, but my brain!
I really hate myself when I felt the sudden change of pace of my heartbeat when I heard his question, my face heating up, I'm sure I must have looked like a fool right now.
Wait… how does he even know about my mental state? Oh, right, he mentioned mental and psychological attack was his specialist.
If only I'd known about that earlier… no, that was simply the fault of my fool self, not him, not anyone, but myself… screw this shit, what with this sudden angst shit? I do not suit this depressing stuff. It's not my thing at all. There is no use crying over spilled milk, so what if the offer I gave him was bigger than I'd intended to.
I just need to make sure he was not scheming stuff behind us, make sure to keep close eyes on him… also, what a coincidence, I can use that as an excuse to get close with him to… o…..
STOP… please, stop this, get some help. I'd better ask Ajuka to lift this curse from my body.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Get a hold of yourself! Girl, no more fooling around like this!
Fuhhhhhh, yes, forget everything and start behaving like the usual Serafall Sitri.
"It appears you've found your resolve."
"It's not something as grand as that. I'm just calming myself from something, that's all."
"Whatever it is, I'm glad the, "you" right now is much more entertaining behold than "you" from a few seconds ago."
He completed his statement with a thin but genuine smile… is it a smile or a smirk? Is it even genuine? I don't which one it is, but my heart can't help but have to admit he indeed has a really beautiful smile. That slight gesture is enough to erase the gloomy aura surrounding his body.
My mouth moves on its own to respond to that gesture.
Wait a second… Task failed miserably.
Mom, please pick me up I'm scared. I want to smash my head until it's broken into pieces.
For the better or worse, after that embarrassing scene, we finally arrive in front of the large dark door with really ominous air, a lot of seals were placed on the door's surface. I watched as he bring his hand up and his finger write several complicated words on the air, only after he finish writing that unknown words the door is open on its own.
"Now, welcome to my humble laboratory."
It was not like what I expected, especially on the size aspect. I was expecting his lab to be at least as big as the meeting room or smaller, but this… isn't this larger than it looks.
There's so much stuff that I'm sure I wouldn't understand even if he takes his time to explain what is the purpose of these devices.
We walked depth into the room, passed a lot of large tubes with strange liquid in it, but what even strange or disturbing should I say, a body was there, in every tube we passed by, looking carefully at it again, not only human, I see several of the tubes have animals inside them, wolf, lion, and a lot of others.
In each tube, there is a person scrutinizing them, a tab, and a pen in their hand.
What is this, and what was he doing with the bodies? Are they even alive?
"What are these for?"
It was fortunate we also have a despicable fellow just like him. While there's no significant difference in his feature, as someone who had spent a lot of time near him, I can see a sparkle of curiosity inside of Ajuka's eyes.
Twisted guy, but thanks to him I don't need to ask him to know what are these tubes for.
"I'm in the process of turning them into vampires."
He answered easily, facing toward us.
"What?"
"Simpler, I'm turning them into vampires."
That's not why I'm saying "What" for.
"Can you explain that to me in detail?"
Of course, this mosh guy will cut me, and so these two twisted men drowning into their own world, ignoring the rest of us. Since I'm bored waiting for them to finish their discussion, I'd choose to wander on my own. I just need to ask Ajuka for a short and simpler explanation later.
Watching closely the tube, the woman who's on the duty of observing the tube ignoring me even when I was standing near her, so it's not like I'm not allowed to get close to it, right?
From this distance somehow I can feel such a mysterious aura from her, unlike his gloomy aura or the refined aura of lady Carmilla, this woman, no matter how I think about it… she is human, isn't she? But she also doesn't feel like that much of a human either for me, especially with that almost unnatural red eyes and white hair.
What is she? Seriously, the more I know about this place, the more confused I become.
Hmm… what is she writing? Squinting, I tried to see what she wrote on the tab she held… what is that…. 26 days? What's that supposed to mean?
"56 days." Hearing a familiar voice, I turned my head just to see the old boring face of the red-haired Gremory cow.
Since when was this cow tits standing there?
"What are you saying?"
"Look here," she point her finger to the part below the tube, and exactly at that moment the white-haired woman on my left side crunching to one knee and erase something on the same spot Irene pointed out, then when she finished whatever she was doing, a number 27 were written there. Since the colors are almost similar, I'd miss that part.
"Umm, mind if I ask, what are those numbers stood for?"
I'm certain she was hearing my question and yet there was no reaction coming from her, no-budge nor baiting an eye on me, simply glued her eyes to the thing in front of her. Seriously, what was she?
What kind of dedication was that? That was kind of disturbing, for real.
From the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Ajuka is still in the middle of a conversation with him… so this is what would happen if two twisted people met each other.
Nothing to get in here. I walked to another section of the lab, the red-haired woman accompanying right beside me this time.
Spotting a familiar globe head… what is doing staring at something so seriously like that?
"Hey, what are you doing, baldy?"
"Don't call me bald, kid."
"Then, don't call me a kid, you bald."
"But you are the youngest among us."
"No one asked you, cow tits."
"Back to the topic. What are you doing in here?"
"Look here."
Following his finger, my eyes see a wooden box full of a small glass with yet again strange liquid. Hmm… red, are those blood? I guess these bottles contain high-grade foods for them. Well, I'd better not think too much of what the vampire eats.
It was taking really a long time, and when I said "long," I really meant it, because that green peas head just can't stop talking and we had to wait until they had done with their discussion.
"For the better explanation, tomorrow I'll send the messenger to the Underworld."
"I'll gladly wait for that."
Of course, you will, green head.
"Regardless, I'm glad we have this encounter. I hope we can have a long and peaceful alliance." He brought his hand for a handshake, I guess… didn't think of him as a handshake kind of guy.
I capture him at mine and shake it gently…. Kill me. Why is my body not listening to me anymore, whatever, I'd already done it, now I just have to make sure I'm not making a fool of myself more than I already have.
How can be his hand feels so warm in mine even though he was a vampire… I like this sensation.
"Ah…"
What a pathetic sound I just let out, all of that just because he pulling his hand away.
Just a few minutes ago, I want so badly to end the meeting and leave this place as fast as possible, but what is this? When I finally can leave, why my body and heart hurts so bad, darn it, I really hate this feeling and him who caused this.
His face was the last thing I see before the teleportation circle move us from his land.
Hahhh… what's with this sudden hollow feeling in my heart.
"Ajuka…"
"What?"
"I'll pay you with anything, please just lift this curse from me."
Mom… I've never sounded so pitiful like this before.
"That's an intriguing offer, but I'm afraid I have to decline."
Hahhh?!
"WHY?"
"Because it's interesting and fun watching you acting like this."
Shut up, cow tits!
"Hmm, like she said."
"I hate all of you."
"We love you too."
Curse them all.
- Richarz -
Finally, the time has come!
Time to show the world how magnificent my commander's talent is. Behold carefully because this war will end before the next new moon.
Well, enough with the joke.
I wonder if I can do well, this will my experience meddle in actual war as the control tower, in the Vampire bloody war I was simply requested by Carmilla to help her and since I'd no idea where I am and what was happening at that time so I just followed the flow, and before I knew it, I was already chosen as the new leader of Vampire faction.
What the fuck, right? What kind of domino effect was that? No one was listening to my words and only can accept the title of something I hardly know.
However, this war differed from the previous war where I just need to kill the Eternal Night Terror to finish the conflict. Now I have to act as commander while ordering my people to fight for me, and make sure not to kill the Pillar devils too much… what a pain.
"Are you ready, commander?"
This woman… she sure knows how to read my mind.
"Silence, Carmilla."
Her presence is a relief. I guess, at least there will be someone that will watch my back and support me when I don't know what choice I should make.
Regardless, let's review the strategy one more time:
West force includes the mix of Devil force lead by the bald dude, special force Lead by Tristan and Vampire force lead by Krul, they will defend the territories of Amon, Aim, and Ipos, and if possible take the Orobas' territory from them.
South force is already stabilizing and steadily advancing to the Capital of Underworld with the most minimal casualty, the red-haired woman I saw a couple days ago was the sole reason for this successful progress.
East force that supposed lead by Ajuka had been split into west and south armies and it's purposely left vacant for a trap, be they will take or not is doesn't matter for us, if they fall to our trap that is good, but if not then we have one less thing to concern.
Kekeke, a trick play is only a trick if you use it when no one thinks you will do it.
North force, an army that was previously commanded by Serafall, but now that spot was already occupied by the Royal Guard lead by Talulah and Eucliwood.
This is a good strategy, right? My heart filled with anxiety.
"Uhh, what is this?" Serafall asked after she just opened the door.
The two commanders look shocked all right. That's a good prologue. Not long Ajuka followed her in and scans the room with an equally dumbfounded face.
Hmm, what do you think? Caught by surprise, didn't you? Now, behold these walls of monitors, I set up to observe the whole battlefield from this command room.
Each one of the floating monitors will display a live feed on the various places where our armies have been dispatched and from their perspective. How is that possible you ask?
By using minis-me, of course, with the combination of my ultimate form of shadow manipulation and feeling manipulation that is, [Dear Doppelganger] and [Two Faced Lover].
[Dear Doppelganger] basically is me in the form of a shadow, same stats and personality, so it's a sentient that can think by itself, now I have shared all of me in to every sides of the war, nine-hundreds-ninety-nine palm-sized chibi shadow bats had accompanying both my people and the devil. They also will instinctively protect anyone who were they stay with. My shadow can even catch and deliver sound, smell, and voice.
This means us the commanders can get up to the up to the second info from all the battlefields.
That's right, my clones are essentially serving as super high-tech CCTV, and everything they see will be displayed right here on one last piece of my doppelganger. Communication is the key in a war, and with this our communication method is perfect.
"Just stuff this little guy does." I rub the head of cartoonish shadow bat that stood on the table.
"Adorable isn't it?" I pick the bat up like how I pick a toy and show them its face.
In a perfect circle shape body and a face that occupies its whole body, wide cartoonish smirk mouth.
"I guess it is. I shouldn't think too deeply about it."
Then she sits down in the seats in the center of the room, best place to watch all the monitors.
Uhh… I feel like you could react a little bit more dramatically there. Like, stammering "B-but how did you do it?!" or "That was amazing!" or something like that.
Even Ajuka's giving me more of a reaction.
"That was amazing. This will drastically change the flow of the war."
See, this is what I'm talking about! Praise me more.
Why is she accepted all of this so casually, like it was not a big deal, what a cold-hearted girl is she?
"Why thank you."
I'm starting to questing my orientation for the devil. The red-haired one sees me as a degenerate, the bald dude only aiming for potion, the black-haired one treat me so coldly, only he treats me with proper respect.
Well, fooling around time is over.
"Let's just chill out in here and watch everyone work their butts off, then." Carmilla smiles faintly at my words. On each of the many screens, the battles is just about to begin.
As if a cue, the battle of west force finally starting with Tristan's war cry roaring loud from one of the monitors. With a closed place like this commanding's room, her roar shrilling echoing to my ears.
"Tristan, did you remember my order?"
not bothered to sit, I lean my body to the table.
"Yes, yes, I'm not allowed to kill the pure-blooded devil, aren't I?"
Her voice came from the screens which she's in.
"Well, that's good."
"But for the rest, I can just kill them all, right~?"
A repulsive type of lust is filling her voice.
"Yes, that's right, please kill them all, but if possible make sure they still stay in one piece and use the items that I gave you before."
"Yes~" she brings one her leg high and gives one devil fast and clean slash with the blade on her heels, cutting his armor and painting the clothing in pretty red color. Before his dying body could fall, she grabs his hand and pull one clown mask from her dimensional pocket.
"And now I just have to put this strange mask to their face, right?"
"Yes, but you don't have to insult the mask, you know."
"It's strange though, in the first place, what even is this mask?"
Oh, right, this was her first time she will witness my power.
"A little help to win this war faster."
She forcefully places the mask to his face and almost instantly his body responding, wriggling in nasty and hard to watch manner, trying his best to pull off the mask, but too bad, with his dying body pulling away the mask is second to impossible.
Not long after, his body stopped resisting and standing on its own, ignoring the original owner's wish.
"What the hell."
You say that, but your face shows nothing but an amusing grin, you know.
"To put it simply, that mask will steal away your mind and body from yourself and make you into mindless undead."
[Clockwork Clown] in the game it was only a skill that will stun and disturb the movement of my opponent.
"Wouldn't a dead body will be easier to control since they will not be resisting and all?"
"Easier, but not better."
she looks up to me like she actually knows where I am.
"What do you mean?"
"When they are still alive, living beings have better condition cells and nerve, it would be the best if you put the mask before he actually dies not when he was dying, that case, not only they have better movement, on top of that they no longer have any free will so it will so much easier to control them."
"I can't comprehend that?"
She only moves her shoulder in unbelievable to my long speech.
"What is?"
"What I'd like to know is what is so fun about controlling someone that has no will or consciousness?"
With an absolutely crazy malicious grin, she asked me, what a fucked up woman.
"Well, I'm not a sadist myself, so I don't really have an answer for that question."
That's a lie, but I really don't want to be put in the same place as her.
"Don't act innocent with me, Richarz, you are the same as me, we share the same skin."
Don't lump me with you.
Now, the second stage of the skill will begin.
[Marionette]
Black smoke emerged from the victim body, slowly floating above his body, and little by little condensed into one, shaping the giant humanoid figure, the head without a face, porcelain skin with doll-like joints, strings connecting her dainty fingertips to her victim, gothic Victorian dress, and black hair with white cloth of a veil as her crown.
Finally, the Queen of Clown entered the stage.
"What the hell happened this time? Something strange just popping out of nowhere."
"The mask will extinguish their mind and the Queen of Clown will control them to past their body's limit until they are ruined. She will simply force her victim to dance until they meet their demise."
"HAAhAhAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAhahahahahhHAHAHAHHA!"
why are laughing at yourself like that?
"That was cruel… I love it, so I just have to put the masks you gave me to add our number? That was really useful power."
With flash speed, she flew fast to find her target and in less than one second her claws pierce the throat of her target, pull them out and crush it on her grasp, waiting for the right moment she waiting until his eyes one second before closing.
She's grinning in satisfaction looking at her handwork.
"She's here."
She has been silent this all time and now opened her mouth for the first time after she took her seat.
Just like Serafall said, a wave of icebergs with the size comparable to a mountain stampeding toward Talulah and her soldier.
Long and slick grey hair waving cause of the cold breeze, red succulent lips, cold firm eyes with the same color with her hair, and the most noticeable part of her, her French blue maid uniform… why is she even wearing maid clothes in the battlefield, what a strong policy.
So she's the Grayfia Lucifige, one of the four special potential wars among the Satan army.
So sad… truly such a tragedy that a beautiful woman like her has to leave this world so soon.
"My lord, shall I?"
Talulah asked for my permission.
"Do as you like, but her body is worth a treasure for me, don't go overboard… make sure her body still stays in one piece after you are done with her."
The way I said that… was kind of weird, isn't it?
"As you wish."
Goodbye, the woman for whom I never meet.
- TBC -
There are so many shits that I want to explore in this chapter, like the potion, skill, battle formation (I even re-watch Naruto during the strategy meeting as reference for this part), and the process of artificial vampire… but boy… am I lazy (and shit) at writing.
If you have not noticed, Richarz's skill mostly is named after the Vocaloid's songs. At first, I wanted to use MCR songs, but I'd already planned that idea for my other fanfic.
The thing that I want to write and the thing that I enjoy writing is two completely different things.