RSE CH 46 (Patreon)

“Subjugation!?”

Lucy stayed calm at Leo’s outburst full of incredulity while Asa tilted her head in confusion.

“The Master-Servant Pact is a technique where one person acknowledges the other as his or her master. It’s important to imprint that mentality on the ‘servant’ in the contract from the start. Any thought of betrayal will be severely punished by the rules of the contract.”

“What do you mean by punishment?” Leo scowled.

“I would never betray Leo!” Asa protested.

“Normally, we would use your own magic attribute to initiate the start of the contract but…” Lucy paused, then seamlessly continued as she spoke in her characteristic plain tone. “The intensity of the punishment depends on the fault committed and the attribute used by the ‘Master’ in the ritual. Your magic attribute is… rather extreme, I’m afraid.”

Leo paled at her words. ‘Extreme’ was an understatement. His innate magic attribute was the equivalent of extermination or annihilation because of his Omega Erasure. Even if he managed to use his devil power, the attribute would be Gravity—another crushing overpowered element. No matter what he used, the punishment for the contracted ‘servant’ would be excessive.

He didn’t want to kill anyone he cared about enough to offer one of his Pieces to… no matter what they thought or did. Compared to his attributes, which would spell automatic death for the least rebellious of thoughts, Lucy’s attribute as a Succubus was relatively mild. But even that was too harsh.

 “Why don’t we just use Asa’s attribute?”

“Tch!” Lucy clicked her tongue with frustration, though her expression didn’t change. 

‘As expected of Master Leo… even in this situation, he can find a valid alternative.’

Asa’s power was healing. Her attribute would pose absolutely no danger in this situation. However, Lucy wasn’t going to back down on this.

“While I recognize that you don’t want to punish those you offer your Pieces to, and Asa’s magic attribute would minimize any punishment, if that happens then the Subjugation itself would be meaningless.” Lucy sighed. “And if the Subjugation is meaningless, then there would be hardly any increase in power for either of you. It would be a waste of the pact—rendering it almost useless.”

“My innate magic attribute as a succubus, on the other hand, would be almost ideal. We succubi feed on emotion—we devour it. The result is what might best be described as extreme empathy.” She pursed her lips. “Now, I understand that empathy may seem harmless, but for such magic, it is an incredibly sharp, double-edged sword.”

Lucy held out both hands, palm up. “Safety…” She bounced one hand. “Or Power...” She bounced the other hand. “You cannot have both. I recommend we base the ritual on my innate magic attribute. Personally, I do not think it will be the problem you think it may be, but the decision is yours to make.”

Lucy had no issue with manipulating Asa for the simple reason that she had next to no emotional tie to the blonde. But she knew Leo would be opposed to it. He was the son of two people she respected—and one who might even become her own master. Hence, her dilemma. All she could do in this situation was to explain her proposal and point out the better alternative. 

The choice, as she had noted, was his alone to make. 

For a long moment, Leo said nothing. Brows drawn down in concern, it was clear he was weighing his alternatives. Just as clear, was the difficulty he was having coming to a decision.

“Um… Leo?”

The one who spoke first, breaking the silence that had fallen, was Asa.

“Yes?”

“I believe I understand now, in the context of this Master-Servant Pact magic, what subjugation means.”

Asa might have been an innocent, with little to no knowledge of intimacy, but she wasn’t dumb. She’d picked up on the subtle cues that Lucy had laid out for her. Given her experience with Leo in the bath, and what had happened between them, she wasn’t averse to proving her submission to him.

“I… I’ve already decided to follow Leo. So, if using Lucy’s attribute will have a better outcome for the purpose of the ritual than mine, then let’s use that. I am… I am m-more than w-willing to sub… to s-submit to you.” Asa stuttered heavily as she barely managed to get the words out. 

It felt like her face was on fire, and she was sure her cheeks were as red as a tomato. Despite how embarrassing it was for her, she was determined to go through with it. She wanted more than anything to stay by Leo’s side.

Besides, it wasn’t just about pleasing Leo.

“I hate how helpless I am. Before you saved me, I could only cry and pray someone strong enough would save me. When I was being groped by Barlowe, I could only tremble in his filthy hands.” She clenched her fists. “I hate how my naive self was tricked by the Fallen angels. I don’t want to feel like that—so powerless and so naïve—anymore.”

Asa took a deep, shuddering breath. “I want to go through with the ritual the way Lucy suggested.” The more she spoke, the more sure she was of her decision, and that determination shone all the more brightly. 

Asa didn’t want to be some helpless maiden was constantly in need of rescue. She wanted to be useful to the one she cared for. She wanted to help Leo— either directly or indirectly. She couldn’t continue to drag him down or hold him back.

“Asa, I…” Leo’s voice trailed off. 

It seemed that he’d underestimated Asa. Naivety and kindness were not the same as weakness, as he suddenly realized he’d erroneously believed. What Asa had gone through since leaving the Church had forged her character in a refiner’s fire. It had made make her stronger than he’d realized—both mentally and spiritually.

‘It would be unfair to her and disgraceful of me to hesitate after giving voice to such conviction.’

Leo nodded to himself. “Alright… What do I have to do for this Master-Servant Pact magic?”

Lucy’s eyes, upon hearing his acceptance, lit up. The corners of her mouth tilted upwards in the most minute serene smile. Given her usually blank face, it was a marked change. 

Leo’s heart skipped a beat.

“Thank you. Well then…” Lucy rose from her knees and led the petite blonde to the edge of the magic circle. “Asa, please stand on this side of the circle… right there. That is the side of the Servant. And, Leo, please stand at the edge of the circle closest to the window. That is the side of the Master.”

When both of them stood in their proper positions, she began the preparations for the ceremony.

“Now then, Leo, please take my hand.”

“Your hand?” Leo frowned at her, though he set his left hand in her right hand. “I just have to hold it?”

The succubus maid extended her left hand to Asa. “Asa, you must also take my hand.”

Asa didn’t complain, she simply took Lucy’s hand.

“Leo is using this magic for the first time, so I will perform the role as his assistant. This is also necessary because, as we decided, we will use my innate magical attribute, instead of your own. Master Leo need only chant the ritual phrase to initiate the ritual.”

After Lucy taught him the required words, he took a deep breath to center himself and to dispel his fears.

When Leo nodded, Lucy raised both their hands. “Good, let us begin…”