A while had passed since purchasing Maria Stella and Uru. I think our relationships are pretty good.
(Maria even triggered the bath event that was supposed to happen with the protagonist. Of course, I didn’t lay a hand on her, okay? I'm only ten, so my libido isn't that high yet. That’s the only thing I regret.)
“My Lord, allow me to wash your back. Hehe, come on, turn around, I’ll wash your front too… There, there, please stop glaring at me. It’s okay if My Lord wants to get a little frisky… How about we take a bath together? I’ll wash your back every day from now on, My Lord♪”
(I’m worried I might have a wet dream because of this… But in the novel, Maria was supposed to be strict with the protagonist before rewarding him with affection. Why is she so doting on me?)
In the original story, Maria used a mix of carrot and stick to encourage the disheartened protagonist. But Maria judged that Absolute Ark's home environment had only provided the stick, and what he needed was the carrot. That's why she was so indulgent with Absolute.
As for Uru, I healed her with recovery magic after she broke a vase and got injured. Our relationship improved considerably after that. I even secretly gave her sweets occasionally, and she started to follow me around whenever the maids weren't working.
As I spent my days like this, I was summoned by my father for the first time in a while.
I knew that nothing good ever came from being summoned by him. I didn't want to go, but I didn't have a choice. I headed to his room.
My father, with his usual stern face, was waiting for me.
"You came, Absolute. It seems you've grown stronger again. I'm proud of you as the head of the Ark House."
I feel like I hear the same thing every time I come to his room. Can't you say anything else! Are you an AI or something!
"Yes, I train every day. May I ask what you need?"
My father got straight to the point.
"As I've said many times, the Ark House is a necessary evil for the Rainana Kingdom. We manage the country's evils, eliminate potential dissidents for the royal family behind the scenes, and deal with dark organizations from other countries."
(That's right… In the original story, the Ark House was depicted as purely evil, but originally, they were shadow contributors who were secretly responsible for national defense. Considering that they were ultimately destroyed by the hero, there's a possibility that they'll be abandoned by the country in the future. In that case, continuing to serve the royal family as we are is dangerous. I have to consider how to deal with this…)
"Yes, I understand. I've handled many jobs myself… So, what's the mission this time?"
"...Ah, it seems that a 【Color Gang】 not affiliated with the Ark House is smuggling weapons from an Imperial dark organization in the royal capital. Kill them. Every last one of them."
I nodded silently. After that, I listened to the details.
The enemy's numbers were around three hundred.
The mastermind from the Empire was said to be someone from the House Noir Duke, an Imperial noble family.
The Noir House was a dark organization that controlled the underworld of the Empire, and recently, they had been trying to extend their reach to other countries, so naturally, the Rainana Kingdom was being targeted as well.
The Noir House and the Ark House were from different countries, but they were hostile organizations that had been engaged in underground conflict for many years.
From what I heard, there was once a major conflict in the past where the Ark House lost many young people who had participated in the battle, and the Noir House lost key figures such as the head of the family and their heir, resulting in a draw.
"Understood. Then, I'll go at once."
I left my father's room.
"Are you going to work now?"
I told Maria before leaving.
(It would be a pain if she came looking for me.)
"Shall I come with you?"
Maria looked at me with a worried expression.
"No need. And I might not be back today. You can go to sleep without waiting for me."
"...Understood. Please be careful."
With Maria deeply bowing, I left the mansion.
◆
The transaction was taking place in an abandoned village in the Aquamarine Territory, located on the border between the Rainana Kingdom and the Empire.
Three hundred and eight members of the Green Ant 【Color Gang】, who were not affiliated with the Ark House, gathered to watch the transaction.
"We were able to bring out ten magic guns, fifty intermediate magic wands, and a set of swords and armor from the Empire."
"Is that all…? That's not enough. Can't you do something about it?"
"Haha, please have mercy. Just bringing this out required us to fight several times."
"Well, whatever. Here's the money we promised."
The Green Ant's subordinates received the cargo containing the goods and began counting the number of items.
The gang leader who was making the deal checked the goods with a somewhat excited expression, as if he were a child who had just bought a new toy.
"What are you planning to do now?"
The member of the Noir House asked.
"First, I'll use these guys to take control of the thugs who aren't affiliated with the Ark House and turn them into my soldiers. Then, I'll crush the top of the dark organization and take control of this country."
I want to stand at the top. It's something every man dreams of.
I'd gained allies and obtained magical items that would make my dream possible. All that was left was to climb.
"You guys! The era of the Ark House is over! It's our era now! Let's turn this country upside down!"
"Oooooooh!"
A roar from about three hundred people.
At that moment, a dark organization was born in the Rainana Kingdom.
Thump!
Immediately after that, a mysterious pressure assaulted the 【Color Gang】.
The area fell silent, and cold sweat poured down.
"Whose era did you say was over?"
I looked in the direction of the voice. He was short with a youthful face, still a child.
But, contrary to his appearance, I felt an overwhelming pressure.
"【Dark Hole】."
The mysterious child chanted, and darkness spread across the ground, and black hands emerged from the darkness, dragging the gang members in.
"W-What is this!"
"Calm down! It's dark magic. Those who escaped the magic, attack that brat!"
Those who were lucky enough to escape the magic took up their magical items and tried to counterattack.
"「Fire Lance」"
Spears of flame fired from the magical items attacked the boy.
"Rot in hell!"
Undeterred by the approaching magic, the boy put his hand forward and cast a spell.
"【Dark Hole】."
A magic circle appeared in front of the boy, and the same darkness that was spreading on the ground appeared and swallowed the magic.
"I-Impossible!"
"This magic devours everything with magical power. Magic won't work on me."
"Damn it, one more time!"
I ordered another attack… but that child was nowhere to be seen.
"Damn it! Where did he go!? Sear…"
Thud.
The leader's head, who had been giving instructions, fell off, struck from a blind spot by a magic-infused chop of the hand.
"H-Huh?! Leader! What the hell is going on?!"
Thud… thud, thud… thudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthudthud.
Before I knew it, the heads of all the 【Color Gang】 members who had been standing were falling.
"Is that everyone…? How worthless. What shadow contributor? Aren't we just convenient handymen? As I thought, I can't stay under the royal family. Power… I need power. The power to resist the violence of numbers!"
Clatter!
I looked towards the sound. It seemed there were still survivors.
"H-Hey! I'm a member of the Noir House! If you lay a hand on me, the Noir House won't stay silent!"
It was the man who had been trading with the 【Color Gang】. He had hidden well and managed to escape my magic.
"The Noir House? That's what I want. If they come after me, I'll take them on. Well, you'll die before that, though."
"Who the hell are you! Why…"
The man looked at me with eyes as if he were looking at a monster. I chuckled self-deprecatingly and answered the man.
"I'm evil… Just like you guys."
Saying that, I finished off the survivor.
After that, I used magic again to clean up the scene.
"【Dark Hole】."
I cleaned up the remaining corpses and left the place.
◆
Late at night, when everyone was sound asleep, I returned to the mansion.
"Welcome home, My Lord."
I was slightly surprised by the voice I didn't expect to hear.
"Maria… I told you to go to sleep."
I sighed in exasperation, but
"My Lord is fulfilling his duty for this country. I wanted to be the first to welcome you."
Maria gave me a smile, but I was surprised by her words.
"How did you know that?"
I glared at Maria.
That was something that only a few members of the Ark House should know.
"It was Uru. She was worried about My Lord and told me. Actually, Uru was waiting as well, but she couldn't resist the sleepiness. Still, I was surprised. I never knew the Ark House had such a role…"
Maria looked at me with a sad face.
"Uru's 【Search】 skill, huh… That girl. I'll scold her later for telling tales… Hey, what's wrong?"
Maria gently hugged me.
"My Lord has been fighting for this country all this time… Even though you're still so young…"
Maria's grip tightened. It felt like I was going to be buried in her body.
"I hate it. The country… the adults who make My Lord, who's still a child, fight! This is just…"
Maria's emotions exploded. She was angry for me, even to the extent of expressing the emotions I usually didn't show.
"Maria… I'm fine. As you can see, I'm perfectly alright."
"No, you're hurt! Your heart is! You're so broken that you don't even realize it."
I gave a wry smile.
At first, I was also heartbroken about taking lives, even though I was a villain. But that was gradually fading. I thought it was just a matter of getting used to it, but if it was because I was so broken that I had become insensitive to the pain, then I was the one who was strange.
"I won't deny it, but it's late now, let's go to sleep."
"...There are still things I want to say, but it's wrong to say them to My Lord. I understand… Then, let's sleep together today."
"No need… I'll sleep alone. Don't come in."
Saying that, I returned to my room and went to sleep.
The next day, when I woke up, I felt a soft sensation.
It was a sensation I had never felt before. It was soft and addictive. What is this? I touched it with my hand, and
"Mmm, My Lord♡ Where did you learn to do such things♪ That's fine… Big sister will take it all!"
Maria was in the bed.
Get out!
Absolute Ark
Age 10
・Charisma V7… Significantly increases charm
・King's Rule V7… Increases own stats
Lowers enemy stats
・Absolute Evil V9… Stats grow easier
Worsens impression to others
Special effects against the holy
Stats
Level: 55
Physical Ability: 420
Magic Power: 840
Intelligence: 100
Learned Magic
Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Healing, Dark
Skills
Swordsmanship, Torture, Gore Resistance
