Ezekiel didn’t rest at all after the death of Han-shin, and the first thing he had to do was to grant freedom to those who were being forced into labor.
“Really…?”
“You mean we don’t have to work anymore?”
“How can we repay this grace…?”
With people blinking in disbelief, Ezekiel just shook his head slowly.
“Grace? Just focus on returning safely.”
“But if it weren’t for you, we would’ve worked ourselves to death here. We feel we must repay you to feel at ease!”
“I said it’s fine.”
“Oh~ You want to repay us? That’s a nice sentiment.”
Suddenly, a charming and alluring voice interrupted the conversation; it was Goddess Arcne.
Her sunset-colored eyes captured the humans.
“You just said you wanted to repay a favor, right?”
“Uh, uh…?”
The humans started to tremble as if catching a chill, and understandably so. Arcne was a very high-ranking demon entity even in the Demon Realm.
“What… what is this situation…”
Did they just walk right into a trap? The humans looked at Ezekiel and Arcne with eyes filled with unease.
“It’s simple. Whether you meet other humans in the Demon Realm or return to the continent, spread the word that Lady Ice Ghost is saving humans.”
Surprisingly, the words coming out of the Goddess’s mouth were very unexpected, eliciting questions on the humans’ faces.
“Y-yes?”
“Hm? Was that such a difficult thing to say I had to repeat myself?”
“N-no! I’ll spread the word as much as I can, I promise! Please, just spare our lives…!”
“Hmm, good.”
Ezekiel, who was trying to stop Arcne, ended up closing his lips. Her request wasn’t unreasonable at all.
This made him even more curious.
While the laboring humans seemed completely unaware, Ezekiel could clearly feel it: Arcne was barely suppressing her rising bloodlust.
He whispered to Arcne for a moment.
“Arcne, why did you say that?”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“That request you just made. I was curious why you said it.”
In response, Arcne tilted her head, as if wondering why he was asking something so obvious.
“I’m just supporting my husband?”
She calmly continued.
“I don’t know the details, but humans are disgusting… but this helps you, husband. So, yeah.”
In other words, she was suppressing all other desires and putting Ezekiel first. It was appreciative yet simultaneously complicated.
Just then, the freed humans cautiously spoke up.
“So, um, what happens to us now?”
“There’s a dimensional gate in my city, Atra. I’ll send you right to the continent… or, well, throw you away,” he said casually.
“The continent…?”
“Oh, no need to worry. I won’t drop you in the middle of nowhere. I can send you to the Empire. Unless you have a specific place in mind?”
“N-no, we couldn’t possibly ask for that….”
“Okay, then could you keep your mouth shut?”
Arcne muttered that under her breath, as if it would shred their limbs if they spoke again.
Afterward, the work proceeded rapidly, and Ezekiel had to reassure the humans several times, who were feeling uneasy because of Arcne’s presence and demeanor.
After some time…
“Dear husband.”
Arcne approached with a subtle arm cross.
“I just finished transferring the slaves from this city to Atra. Did I do well? I deserve some praise, don’t you think? Hurry up and commend me…”
Ezekiel nodded and patted Arcne’s head, causing the Goddess to look as if she was about to melt right there.
“Yay… I’m so happy… Oh, I found out how that guy, Han-shin, was capturing slaves to bring to the Demon Realm. He’s been planting fiends all over the continent, luring humans into jobs.”
“Can’t we wipe them out immediately?”
“Well…”
Arcne shook her head.
“They’ve been operating as a covert organization for a long time, making it quite difficult to pinpoint them right now.”
They send humans to the Demon Realm regularly without revealing their identities or status.
“Hm.”
It was unfortunate, but it couldn’t be helped. For now, he could only focus on the immediate tasks at hand.
“Arcne.”
“Yes, husband?”
“It feels like the other demon entities are being overly quiet.”
“Well, they typically don’t care about each other and have little interest. They might just think this is an interesting event.”
Arcne rubbed her cheek against Ezekiel’s chest.
“If there’s a meeting, I’ll gather information for you.”
“A meeting?”
“Yes. When important matters arise, a meeting of demon entities must occur. It’s a place where all sorts of information and decisions circulate… It will surely help you.”
Ezekiel fell into thought.
There was no doubt Arcne was providing excellent support, but there was still one thing weighing on his mind.
“Will it be okay for you to support me like that?”
“I’ve dedicated my life to serving only you, husband. If I intended to use some pathetic excuse, how could I dare speak of marriage?”
He was thankful, yet it bothered him.
‘I can’t leave her in the Demon Realm.’
Since Arcne had already actively sided with Ezekiel, she was undoubtedly a traitor from the perspective of the Demon Realm. Her treatment wouldn’t be good in the future.
‘Indeed, I must persuade the Emperor.’
Ezekiel swore that to himself once again.
Fortunately, there were more and more grounds for persuasion. Just saving these human slaves already had Arcne’s contributions tied in.
However…
‘That contribution needs to be bigger.’
Thinking so, he opened his lips.
“Arcne.”
“Yes, husband.”
Arcne buried her face deep into Ezekiel’s chest, eyes closed in bliss as she savored his scent.
“If we think about the whole city of the Demon Realm, how many human slaves are actually being held captive?”
“Hm?”
Arcne answered with a slight curiosity.
“I don’t usually count the number of flies… but I think there are quite a few. It could probably fill a decently empty city in the Empire.”
Ezekiel was struck by the realization of just how many perverted demons there were in the Demon Realm.
Those who gained power in exchange for souls.
Meaning that the number of slaves they had captured just to witness the suffering of innocent, living humans was quite significant, wasn’t it?
“I’d like to rescue all of them and send them back to the continent.”
Ezekiel’s wish was something Arcne could achieve. If he could rescue an entire city’s worth of people, even the Emperor would find it hard to ignore.
“Yes. Let’s save them, husband.”
“…hm?”
Such a huge proposition received an extraordinarily easy acceptance.
“If you have a desire, I, Arcne, will follow without question. If I’m useful for other things beyond my body, that would be a joy.”
“That response is burdensome.”
“What’s there to be burdened about? My body and heart belong to you, husband. Just treat me harshly, and I’ll consider that happiness…”
“…anyway.”
Ezekiel hurriedly changed the subject.
The more Arcne’s face flushed and gaze heated, the harder it became to handle as her breath turned sticky, and her hand gradually made its way toward his lower body…
“So, how about it?”
“Yes?”
“Is it possible to realize what I’m planning?”
“Husband, there’s absolutely nothing that cannot be done.”
Arcne’s eyes glittered with delight.
“If there’s an opportunity for the demon entities to gather, I’ll rally the slaves from other cities and send them to the continent. It may sound easy… but isn’t turning difficult ideas into reality also part of capability?”
“I’ll work with you.”
“But.”
Arcne looked up at Ezekiel keenly. Her sunset-colored eyes were unusually serious.
“I’d like to attach a condition.”
“A condition?”
“Yes, not exactly a condition, but rather, I want a reward. A reward I can receive from you, husband.”
“What do you want?”
Then, Arcne licked her lower lip.
“I desire unity with you, husband.”
“…”
Thump—! Thump—!
Ezekiel’s heart raced wildly. Not out of excitement, but because the Blood Spirit was yelling for him to do it right now. Supposedly, it would strengthen his powers.
‘Stay quiet.’
The Blood Spirit raised a fist high, threatening him. There was no joking around. It might explode his heart before he knew it.
‘You’re going to quit your administrator job?’
—…
His body immediately fell silent.
“It’s so sad that this body, dedicated solely to you, has never actually been used for your sake. How could there be a more heartbreaking situation? Please… I’m begging you to use me.”
Arcne carefully extended her pinky, evidently asking for a promise.
Ezekiel sighed and hooked his finger with hers.
It couldn’t be helped.
He needed Arcne’s help for the rescue, and he could only bring her to the continent if the rescue succeeded… and if things went smoothly, what was so wrong about unity?
“Okay, I promised. Now let’s focus on work for a while.”
With that, Arcne’s eyes curved like a crescent moon.
A look as if she had obtained what she wanted in accordance with the plan.
“Husband.”
The woman’s voice was incredibly alluring.
The way she slowly licked her lips was downright wicked.
“…I didn’t set a number on how many times we’d unite, right?”
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