The place of the demons had somehow been transformed into something quite spectacular. They had made a lot of changes to the place already with the area already being ready to house nobles.
For now, many of them were lying in the same place while slowly making more space for their personal spots.
Standing in the front was Bathym, his horns sticking out from his head, his skin a shade of gray under the sunlight. He was starkly different from his form as the royal physician but he still seemed fairly familiar.
"Welcome, my liege," Bathuym said bowing deeply.
"There you are, things seem lively out here."
"They sure are, it's all things to your grace, my liege."
"Sure, don't suck up to me."
"Ahem."
Bathym faked a cough and stood upright.
"About this…"
"Let's go and see your workplace first."
I was still getting in many ingredients for these guys from the Mirxa and the other places. Of course, it was being done out in the open again, while Mirxa would be trying to find just what exactly was being smuggled out from his place, he'll never manage to without a demonic energy detector.
Lady Sophia had said she was a descendant of an angel, but that was from her Mother's side of the family.
Mirxa did not share his daughter's ability and even the daughter couldn't tell much other than what was the truth and what was the disposition of a person.
It was a useful ability though.
I should probably take her with me to the east. I could use something like that to find allies.
It was then, after passing through many buildings and making our way underground, Bathym stopped me in front of a cellar in the mansion of the emperor of Atreus.
They couldn't have a problem with all this. It wasn't allowed.
"Here, my lord."
Batrhym pushed the door open and the sight of the manufacturing plant revealed itself. Demons walking around, sharing drinks and food while talking in quacks. Many were taking turns stirring cauldrons while others sweated as they mashed the ingredients.
It was a special medicinal plant made pure for the followers of the demon lord of medicine and plants. There was no drug that he couldn't concoct and no illness he couldn't fix, with medicine of course.
"Looks much more livelier than that thing."
"They are people that work for their people. It's a selfless deed, just doing this brings them happiness."
When Bathym's words echoed, the demons turned toward me and smiled.
"Our liege!"
"The liege is here!"
They all waved and smiled at me while many of them bowed as well. I watched with a smirk.
"Teach me how to speak your language eventually, Bathym."
"As you wish."
I waved at the other demons and turned away.
"Now, let's get to the matter at hand."
Bathym nodded and took me away. I followed him all the way to a different part of the village.
Halfway through, a small fairy came flying over and perched herself on my shoulder.
"Eugy, what the hell you left me back there!"
"You were playing with the other two."
"Whatever. Hey demon boy!"
Bathym turned around and bowed.
"How may I be of service, Lady Titania."
"What the heck, you're 7000 years old too?"
"No, I am only two thousand years old. I have only heard of the lady's deeds."
"Chuuni propaganda is everywhere."
Titana puffed her cheeks and pulled at my hair.
Bathym stifling a laugh, turned back and continued guiding us through the streets. We then moved to another mansion and were taken down to the cellar once again.
This time as he opened the door, a much smaller yet fairly big room revealed itself. This place was Bathym's personal space for research and was untouched by any other demon whatsoever.
"Please come in, my liege."
Magic tools and flasks of all kinds were splayed around. It almost seemed like the house of a mad chemist ready to make a virus that could break the world. A plague doctor even.
Cauldrons and many other controlled environments were on the ready for brewing and cooking different types of concoctions while many tools and herbs gathered in heaps around.
"My liege," he spoke, shuffling through a document. He handed it to me and I read through it.
Written in fairly neat handwriting, was the process of how the demonic energy-filled drugs were placed into the bodies of the demons.
"My liege," Bathym suddenly got on his knees. "I wish to ask a favor of you."
"Tell me."
"Three vials of your blood."
I could give him that.
"And those horns. Please leave them in my care."
I raised my chin and thought. Perhaps seeing it as a sign of me taking offense, Bathym shook his head.
"It is necessary, my liege. I only wish to make sure the demonic energy you receive can surely become yours. This authority will be granted to you, but can it be called yours if I just attach the horns to your head? Rash methods will be harmful, I would need to see how your blood reacts—"
I simply snapped my fingers and the horns of the demon fell on the ground.
I had to… learn to trust.
Bathym seemed worth it.
"There you go. Use it however you like."
"My liege… are you certain?"
"Well if push comes to shove I can tear your horns."
Bathym cried and smacked his head on the ground. Between sniffles, he spoke. "My liege, I will gladly give you not just my horns but my life."
"Stop sucking up—"
"I am not! I say with all truth. For us demons, you are the one who has brought us the light of the sun… how can we not be thankful?"
Light of the sun, huh?
That did sound cool. But unfortunately, I already had a title I received from a very good friend.
"I brought you the night skies, let's go with that."
"Uh? Sure?"
Bathym held the horns in his hands and stood up. He gently took it over to his cabinets and placed them inside before bringing out a syringe and vials.
I rolled up my sleeves and took a seat, like a modern doctor, Bathym walked over with the syringe and wiped my skin first.
"So," I asked as he placed the first needle in my hand. "Will I get to change bodies like her?"
"I believe not, my liege."
The syringe pinned in and my blood flowed out.
"How old are you my liege?"
"Don't do that bastard."
"I apologize."
"Coming back, why so?"
Bathym placed away the first vial, burnt the syringe with black flames, and picked up the next one.
He placed it on my hand again.
"It's because Authorities form on the emotions directed to their wielder. Negative ones."
"Oh?"
"The kind of fear or hate others have toward you will shape your authority. I was cursed for being the disciple of an alchemist that was blamed for an epidemic. That hatred gave me an authority that can tell the properties and fate of all medicine."
"Interesting."
"Right? Holy energy and divinity are actually similar."
"Miss Fairy is right. Except, those Overgods use positive emotions."
"Overgods?"
"Just like Demon lords, there are gods that live above other gods. Over Gods."
Heh… Intriguing.
Bathym placed away the second vial and picked up the third.
He pushed the needle in again and my black blood flowed out.
"You would have been better off being an Over God, my liege. Hundreds of positive emotions would have flowed toward you."
"That's useless," Titania said. "Those gods are weak without faith. I don't know about you since you're twisted in the head, but no normal person would worship Eugy."
"Excuse me?"
Rude much?
Bathym covered the last vial and placed them all away. He bowed in front of me once more.
"My liege, I will ensure that no matter what happens. You get to become a demon lord before the Walpurgis night."
"Walpurgis night?"
"It is the meeting of all the demon lords. It is scheduled a little more than two months from now."
"Hmm…"
I crossed my arms.
"Bathym. Two months. You're going to meet me in the east with glasses."
"East?"
"Yes. Finish this up and meet me in the east."
Bathym bowed once more.
"It would be my duty, my liege."
I stood up from the seat and stretched my hands above my head.
It seemed an interesting event was coming up, but before that, we had to get back to school.
I took a step ahead and waved my hand at Bathym.
"I'll see myself out."
"Have a safe trip, my liege."
"You too, eat well."
"Haha… yes."
That day, we all left the city of Apollon. The county would be managed well by the people here, under Miss Glasses and Ban Ket's supervision, the mayor would do a good job as a proxy.
The trip back lasted a long time.
Halfway through, Lady Sophia and the two Hall children joined us as well.
And then, even the two Fonias twins came around. Both of them couldn't stop expressing their thanks to me.
It turned out that the rest of the family had killed their mother. Just as I had expected.
The month-long vacation came to an end.
And soon, we were back in the Academy city.
***
[A/N: Thanks for reading Volume 5 of EroFall!]
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