"So, how do you want to go about this?" Asked the receptionist as she placed a map in front of us.
I leaned ahead and saw the distinct half of the eastern bits of the continent. The place was riddled with a number of countries that had been born from the constant conflict. The place was usually so fickle that countries could collapse and rise overnight, the map had to be changed every few years.
The place that we wanted to go to was the Asahi estate, though the rest of the place was equally important.
"Get Sharky, Zachariah, Iffy, and Philip around this place if possible, with groups of my own people as well."
"Got it. We'll be going there too?"
I nodded.
"Yuyu, don't you think we should expand our search area?"
For now, we were targeting nothing but the area around the land of Ikuro Asahi.
I shook my head at Albert's words.
"There are reasons. We'll be targeting the end of the dungeons to find any clues about the outer gods. So diving the deepest and close to others is most important."
What was about to happen was a grand split and sweep.
The teams of five were to be splayed out all over the east and everyone was supposed to be attacking the dungeons wholly. There was a little amount of structure here, almost as if making the students separate into individual units with their two instructors and letting them enjoy themselves.
"And the second reason, during wars you should move with the winning army."
The other four all looked at me.
"What?"
"What war are you talking about?"
"The war of Eastern Unification that would last exactly 27 days starting a week from now. It's important history, you all should study up."
Of course, I was going for a war as well. I didn't like doing the same thing over and over again, and I also didn't like not moving things quickly.
There was a lot to consider here first.
The most important was to bring the east under my control before the Walpurgis Nacht. As a place that was usually war-torn, the East had very little influence of religion.
That naturally also meant that there was very little hate for demons of all kinds. Since they were too busy hating each other and there was no one preaching of gods' enemy.
I was going to use this chance to present the East on the Walpurgis Nacht and bring the demons over to my side. The seven-day was set because I would be meeting up with Bathym soon enough and going ahead with the operation to turn me into a demon king as well.
"You're crazy in the head."
"How are you going to handle so much together?"
"I won't have to really. I am also not planning to kill a lot of people."
The Dark Moon was already spreading in the East. One of the 'whips' was likely waiting for me with Glasses in the territory of Asahi.
"How will you win without killing? This is war!" Luka screamed.
"I don't doubt your strength, Dusk, but remember that a lot of adventurers have ties with the East, and the guild is pretty much international. What would you do if maybe an Adamantium… no you can beat those, Orichalcum ranks, what would you do then?"
Orichalcum ranks were strong. Though the Generals in the empire were all handled by Kai and the Death Queen, there were still plenty of strong enemies that were mauled apart by the Orichalcum ranks. Those guys bit off dragon tails on the daily.
If anything, I would place them just a little below the level of the Duke, Ban Ket.
I could kill them if I go World's End, but it wouldn't be a good sight.
Things were likely much different now, though, since Spirit Magic made me unbelievably strong but also unbelievably wonky and injured.
"Whatever, that won't matter much."
"Hm?"
"You are planning something else?" Albert asked, seemingly knowing what was going through my mind. "How are you going to hold a show of force on such a scale?"
That was correct.
A single person could be ranked at a hundred in a field of tens.
Or a hundred people could be ranked just 20. Honestly, the effect of the second one was much greater when it came to things like intimidation or battle.
Even more so if people were offered the ability to join that twenty.
"I have my ways."
The wizard heir of the East was about to make his family one of the rulers of this continent.
Under me though.
Under me.
***
The discussions ended on a good note. Afterward, only the receptionist and I were left in the room as the others left.
"Dusk. You didn't call even once before you needed help."
I leaned back on the chair and sighed.
"I thought you would call. I won't like to disturb you now anyway."
"Hm, is that so?"
I nodded at her words and flashed her a smile.
"Say, are there any good properties here?"
"In the Deep Down Town?"
"Yup. I was hoping to buy a house."
"Hah! A count wants to buy a house in the Deep Down Town?"
"Oh, you knew?"
"No one doesn't. We held a celebration party after your promotion. Believe it or not, even Roth came back for it."
"The old man!?" I asked in surprise. I had not seen that twin dagger-wielding guy since the examinations. We always talked about him but he always remained gone. As far as I remembered, he had snagged in a few of the wood and iron rank adventurers with him into a party.
"They're all at Silver now. They progressed well, but it seems they've hit a roadblock in their growth."
"Not everyone can exceed all limits. I think they did well for their composition"
"Definitely." The receptionist nodded, signing some papers. "So, a property, huh? I'll look into it for you if you want. How many people would be living here?"
"Two most of the time…"
I stopped and bit my words.
Dawn, Noa, Maria, Lily, Irina, Albert, Luka, Keith, the entire gang…
"Well, maybe a bit more than that most of the time? About twenty?"
"Are you planning to build a soccer team with the lady?"
The receptionist laughed and I laughed back.
"I doubt she would even want children."
"Really? You are thinking that far?"
"If I die I am dying with her or I am not dying at all."
The receptionist relaxed her head on the table, leaning on her hand.
"It's nice to see a young one in love."
"I didn't seem like it before, did I?"
She shook her head.
"But you do now. You seem too soft now."
"Is that so?"
"Protect, but don't let it hinder."
I smiled.
"The strong don't worry about those things."
"Hah! Call Dawn too, we'll be having a celebration party since you're back and before leaving tomorrow."
"Drinks on you!"
I screamed and jumped down the passageways as I made my way through the building back down.
I was slightly…
Excited.
***
It was during the party in that night.
The students were shunned away and the teachers were told to fuck off. The adventurers guild was only the adventurers' for now.
During such a time, the old shark toothed beanie clad bastard walked up to me.
"Hey Dusk," he said. The lights behind him glinted brightly.
"CHUG! CHUG! CHUG!"
The people behind were all screaming as the receptionist and Dawn downed an entire barrel on their own.
Was anyone going to wake up on time tomorrow? Probably not.
I refrained from drinking.
But after seeing this guy walk up to me, I almost wanted to drink.
"Fuck you want? Spill right now."
"One of those school girls! Some of them must be nobles, right? Can I finally get a noble girlfriend?"
"KNIGHTS!"
"HEY!"
Sharky pulled me back down and I sat. Only for now.
""Come on, help a brother out. Only one."
"Fuck you. No."
"I just wanna cop a feel of some breasts man! I will die otherwise. Unlike you, I don't always get to show off, you know?"
"Yeah!" Someone screamed then.
"He always shows off! Bastard!"
"Done it down a little, we know you're strong but don't be a bitch!"
"Excuse me?" I asked these fuckers.
"Yeah! Are you still single?"
"Wait what the fuck, you're still in the guild?"
"I mean he probably hit 18, he must be legal now!"
"He's also a GUY!"
"BIGOT!"
These fuckers.
"Fine." I said. "Let's have a drink off. If you guys fall first, you will all lick my feet."
"And if we win then you're gonna keep it low from now on!"
The drink off began.
Of course I won again.
There was a small statue of me again the next morning outside the adventurers guild.
The people had started to see me as a show off too now, it seemed.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l