Dragon Across the Multiverse (Si-WC) (Patreon)

Chapter 29: The Golden Oath, the Crimson Queen

A While Later

After the shortest fight I’d had in a while, we were now back in Lilim’s home. I’d already healed her father of the injuries he’d sustained during our little “match.”

Since he’d wanted a fair fight, I’d agreed to use only hand-to-hand combat. Combine that with this world’s outdated fighting styles and my own prodigious skill in the art, and… well, it hadn’t gone well for him. I’d turned him into my personal punching bag for several minutes before mercifully calling it to an end.

By that point, the man was a walking bruise and had quietly resigned himself to defeat.

“Was that enough to satisfy your ego, or do I need to kick your ass again?” I asked in a bored tone, leaning my cheek against my fist.

“…No. That is more than enough.” Lilim’s father muttered in a defeated tone, rubbing his forehead. “Even after going all out, you never once took me seriously, and you looked like you were thinking about something else the entire time. I admit my defeat.”

“Smart man.” I said dryly with a smirk, then raised an eyebrow. “So…?” I looked at him expectantly.

He sighed, hanging his head for a moment before lifting it again with determination. Then, to my amusement, he stood, knelt down before me, and bowed deeply, his forehead nearly touching the floor.

“From this day forward, we are yours to command, Akari-sama,” he declared firmly. His wife and daughter followed suit, bowing beside him.

“Excellent.” I clapped my hands once, pleased at how quickly that had gone. “Then from this day forward, you shall be known as Claudus,” I said, pointing at Lilim’s father as I felt my magicules flow into him. Then I turned to his wife. “You will be Jagara. And your son… Lion-O.”

Finally, my gaze settled on Lilim. “Since I already like your name, you’ll keep it, Lilim.”

At my words, the three of them gasped, except for little Lion-O, who was still too young to understand anything, and I could feel their power rising with the naming.

Then, focusing on Lilim, I summoned my Shroud. It materialized around her, wrapping her in shadow before fading away, leaving behind her own version of it: the Umbral Shroud, granting her dominion over darkness itself.

“T-This is astounding. I feel so much stronger than before,” Claudus said, staring in awe at his hands.

“Amazing~” Lilim whispered, eyes wide in wonder before she turned those violet eyes toward me. I gave her a playful wink, and a small blush colored her cheeks.

Jagara said nothing, quietly marveling at her newfound strength, while her son yawned adorably and fell asleep again, prompting her to gently cradle him in her arms.

“Where I’m from, names have power,” I interrupted their musing, getting their attention. “Especially if they’re given by someone much stronger than you.”

“Truly marvelous, it just goes to show how much your power defies imagination,” Claudus said with reverent awe, then frowned slightly and bowed again. “I’m afraid, though, that the rest of the clan might have trouble accepting you as leader even with your recommendation. And if the Cult is already entrenched in the town, the task will be even harder. You may have to demonstrate your might for them to give you full respect.”

I waved the concern away. “Don’t worry. My team is already working on removing the Cult members who’ve infiltrated your clan. If anyone still doubts me by that point, I’ll deal with them personally.”

“…Your team?” Lilim asked, tilting her head, her tail swishing slowly behind her.

“That’s right. I’ve traveled across this world rescuing girls afflicted by Possession just like yourself. Since many had nowhere to return to, I trained them to fight and defend themselves. With their help, we’ll destroy the Cult, including the Knights of the Round at the top of its hierarchy.” I said calmly.

As I spoke, Lilim’s eyes brightened and her tail wagged excitedly. “Can I join?”

I half-expected the parents to protest, but at that moment I felt a signature closing in on our location.

“We’ll discuss details after I relocate your clan to our current home,” I said with a smile. “Looks like you’re in luck, one of my subordinates is already on their way, which means things are going well.”

With that, the house fell into a brief, tense silence, one that didn’t last long.

Without warning, the air shimmered, and a figure rose soundlessly from the floor in the center of the room. Claudus and his family flinched, startled by the sudden appearance, but before anyone could react further, the newcomer knelt on one knee before me in a gesture of deep respect.

“Akari-sama, I’ve come to give you a report on the current situation,” a soft, feminine voice said, calm, composed, and unmistakably familiar. Even without seeing her face, I could recognize that voice anywhere.

“Hello, Alpha,” I greeted, smiling faintly at the blonde elf as she lifted her hooded head. Her golden hair peeked through beneath the black hood, and the half-mask covering her face gleamed faintly in the candlelight. “Report.”

Liriel glanced at my guests briefly before looking back to me, her eyes silently asking if it was safe to speak freely.

“Don’t worry about them,” I said, waving a hand casually. “They’ve already agreed to join us. You can speak openly.”

“Understood.” She inclined her head once, then began her report. “We have apprehended who we believe to be the leader of the Cult’s forces within the Golden Leopard Clan. He goes by the name of Petos and currently operates as a high priest within the Church. All his guards and followers have been dealt with. We’re awaiting your orders on how to proceed.”

“Petos!?” Claudus blurted out, eyes widening. He clenched his fists, his tail flicking in agitation. “So, the Church really is involved…”

Ignoring his muttering, I nodded approvingly at Liriel’s report, a proud smile tugging at my lips. The elf noticed and immediately turned her face slightly to the side, no doubt trying to hide the faint blush coloring her cheeks.

“Excellent work, Alpha,” I praised warmly. “You’ve exceeded expectations. Honestly, I thought this would take at least a few more hours, maybe a full day at the most. I’ll admit it, I underestimated you girls.”

“I-It was only thanks to your training and the knowledge you’ve shared with us,” Liriel replied humbly, shaking her head.

“Hahaha, take the compliment,” I chuckled, amused by her modesty. “It’s well earned. Once we return home, I’ll make sure everyone gets a proper reward.”

She hesitated for a moment, as if to protest, then relented with a small nod. “As you wish.”

I turned toward our quiet audience. Lilim’s gaze lingered on Liriel with some envy, though the elf didn’t seem to notice or simply chose to ignore it. I filed the reaction away for later.

“Well then,” I said, stretching lazily and popping my neck. “What do you say we wrap this up? If all goes well, I’d like to have everyone relocated before sunrise.”

“As you wish, my lord,” Liriel responded instantly, appearing at my side in the next heartbeat.

Claudus sighed, shaking his head. “Haah… might as well. Jagara, you should rest. It looks like this nightmare is finally over.”

His wife nodded silently, cradling her son as she gave us a respectful bow before leaving the room. Only Lilim stayed behind, her determination evident in her eyes.

“I want to go too,” she declared, stepping closer until she stood opposite Liriel at my side. Her tone was stubborn, her expression proud, and the slight glance she threw toward the elf carried a spark of challenge.

Claudus looked ready to protest but stopped himself after a moment, exhaling and giving a resigned nod.

“Alright,” I said with a grin, raising my fingers. “Let’s do this.”

And with a sharp snap, the room vanished around us, our forms swallowed by the swirl of magic as we disappeared into the night once more.

=====

A moment later, we reappeared inside a church. The dim candlelight flickered across the stone walls, illuminating a group of girls clad in matching black outfits, each one tense for an instant before their expressions softened in recognition.

“Akari-sama!”

“Boss!”

Their voices overlapped in excitement, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Hello everyone. Good work today,” I said warmly as I strode forward, Liriel and Lilim flanking me on either side. My words drew bashful smiles from the girls, though I caught more than a few curious glances being cast toward Lilim.

Just like before, my praise only made them flustered. Most of them waved it off, insisting that their success was only possible because of my training, which, while flattering, was also amusingly predictable by now.

Shaking my head in mild exasperation, I focused my attention ahead. In the center of the hall, illuminated by the altar’s faint glow, was a man bound tightly in enchanted restraints. His presence, weak, pitiful, and tainted with fear, stood out even more than the bruises that mottled his body.

“This is him, then?” I asked as I approached.

“Yes, my lord,” Livia answered, her tone instantly shifting to a crisp, professional one as she and the others moved aside to give me a clear path. “We subdued him exactly as you instructed.”

The man, Petos, was a sorry sight. His cropped black hair was matted with sweat and blood, his once-pristine priestly robes now tattered. Even so, he still managed to raise his head, a weak, mocking smile twisting his lips behind the blood that stained them.

“S-So… you’re the leader of this group of test subjects, huh?” he rasped before coughing up another mouthful of blood.

“Test subjects, huh?” I echoed softly, my tone dropping as a savage grin crept onto my face. The girls around me stiffened slightly, recognizing the shift in my mood. Then, as if flipping a switch, my grin turned serene, my voice almost gentle as I crouched in front of him.

“I was going to quietly extract information from you before making you disappear…” I murmured, leaning closer until he could see his reflection in my eyes. “…but I’ve changed my mind.”

The moment my eyes opened again, they burned crimson, my Eternal Mangekyō spinning lazily as their glow filled the dimly lit chamber with an ominous light.

“Instead,” I continued in a deceptively cheerful tone, “you and I are going to spend some time getting to know each other. We have so much to talk about, after all~.”

Petos tried to jerk back, but it was far too late.

“Tsukuyomi.”

The word left my lips softly, almost tenderly, as our gazes locked.

Three seconds passed.

Then I blinked, my eyes returning to normal as I stood up again.

Petos didn’t scream immediately, it came a heartbeat later. His body convulsed, thrashing violently against the bindings as he let out an unearthly shriek. Foam bubbled at his mouth, blood trickled from his nose and eyes, and his voice grew hoarse before finally cutting off altogether.

He slumped forward, head hanging limply to the side, eyes rolled completely back.

The only sound left in the church was the faint echo of his last scream, fading into silence.

“Well,” I said finally, dusting my hands off and glancing at the others with a calm smile. “That’s one way to interrogate someone.”

“…W-What just happened?” Lilim asked, her voice a mix of surprise and curiosity as she looked around the room. Petos’s limp form still hung in his bindings, and the faint echo of his last scream lingered in the air.

Her father looked equally unsettled, eyes wide and brow furrowed, clearly unnerved by the sight of a man suddenly screaming in agony and collapsing without warning.

The rest of the girls, however, remained completely calm. Not one flinched, not one seemed surprised. They simply exchanged knowing looks, silently debating whether to explain it or not, until Liriel gave a small nod.

“That was Lord Akari’s Mangekyō Sharingan,” Luna explained in her soft, upbeat tone, slipping naturally into the role of instructor. “They’re special eyes he alone possesses, eyes with unique, powerful abilities.”

“They are the eyes that see the truth,” Eta added dramatically, clasping her hands together with reverence. “Before them, nothing can remain hidden.”

Lilim tilted her head slightly, still looking puzzled.

“Basically,” Yukime cut in with an amused sigh, “Lord Akari just interrogated Petos and extracted every piece of information about the Cult directly from his mind. But…” she added with a sly grin, “since that guy annoyed him, Akari wasn’t exactly gentle about it.”

“I see.” Lilim nodded thoughtfully, arms crossing over her chest with an expression of quiet awe. “So Lord Akari truly is the strongest after all.”

“Of course~” Sara chimed in enthusiastically, practically bouncing in place. “Boss is the strongest in the world!”

“True,” Livia added with a proud smirk, puffing her chest out. “Lord Akari’s strength surpasses even that of gods.”

“Obviously! Nobody can compare to Lord Akari~ He’s perfect!” Natsume declared, stars practically shining in her eyes.

“…God, huh?” Lilim murmured softly, her expression flickering with a mix of curiosity and something else, admiration, maybe? Something deeper.

“Alright everyone, I got what I needed from him,” I said, cutting into their chatter. While they’d been talking, I had already bound Petos and sold his useless husk off to the Company. “Let’s wrap this up and head home.”

“You heard him, move out!” Liriel commanded crisply, immediately taking charge again.

With that, Claudus led us outside, where he quickly called for a gathering of the entire Golden Leopard Clan.

When he explained the situation and my new position of authority, there were, of course, a few who voiced their opposition, proud warriors unwilling to bow to an outsider. That changed the instant I released a fraction of my power. The air grew heavy, the ground cracked beneath my feet, and silence swept through the crowd like a wave.

After that, nobody else argued.

It took a few hours to get everyone organized, but once the preparations were done, I snapped my fingers, and in a flash of shimmering light, the entire Golden Leopard Clan was transported to Alexandria.

There, my clones and the girls immediately went to work, helping the bewildered newcomers get settled in their new home.

=====

Leaving the cleanup to the others, I made my way toward my final stop for the day. There was still time before the sun rose, and one last potential recruit lingered on my mind, one I would need to handle personally.

Unlike the others, this girl was dangerous, possibly unstable even. Which was exactly why I couldn’t let anyone else near her.

That was how I found myself deep in the heart of the Lawless City, carving my way through the Crimson Tower, the resting place of the infamous Blood Queen, Elisabeth.

The tower was quiet now. The only sound left was the faint drip of blood running down the edge of my blade as I stepped over the last obstacle in my path. The so-called Crimson, Elisabeth’s former subordinate, had proven disappointing. I’d sold him to the Company after our short “chat.” The credits I’d gotten from him, his only redeeming quality.

Now, at last, I stood before a grand black coffin surrounded by red mist, the air thick with the scent of iron and decay. Inside, barely clinging to existence, was what remained of Elisabeth: a faintly pulsing heart.

“Hmm,” I muttered, crouching beside the coffin as I looked at the barely beating heart. “A few drops of my blood should be enough to wake you.”

With a flick of my wrist, I sent the heavy lid flying, where it crashed into the stone floor with a resounding clang.

But before I could proceed, I smiled, because the presence I’d sensed trailing me halfway up the tower had finally seemed ready to come out of hiding.

“Well?” I asked lazily, my voice echoing across the chamber. “Are you going to say anything, Miss Vampire?”

Silence.

Then, from behind a cracked pillar, a figure stepped out.

She moved with practiced grace, golden eyes sharp beneath the shadow of her hat. Her long crimson hair fell over one shoulder, and her attire, black and red trimmed in gold, screamed both elegance and lethality. A wide-brimmed hat rested atop her head, adorned with red and white feathers.

Her hand gripped a sword with a curiously cross-shaped guard as she leveled it toward me.

“What do you plan to do with Elisabeth-sama?” she demanded, her voice firm despite the tension rolling off her.

I turned just enough to meet her gaze, a grin tugging at my lips. “What am I planning to do with her?” I echoed playfully. “Revive her, of course. Then ask her to join me.”

A sigh echoed in my head.

“Haah… why are you like this, Master?” Ciel asked, tone steeped in exasperation.

‘Because it’s more fun this way, duh~’ I replied cheerfully, still watching the vampire’s every twitch. Then, with a silent chuckle, I added, ‘Besides… she’s really cute.’