The two whips of the Dark Moon were left behind and ordered to go and gather the rest of the members in the East before the time to move.
With Bathym posing as my aide after hiding his face that lacked his horns, the two of us returned to the Asahi estate early next morning.
He had offered me his drug, a more potent version that worked on us demon lords, but I refused and decided to blackmail the spirits into changing my appearance for others.
I offered to eventually unseal their ability and they followed right along even though I wasn't drunk.
As things stood, my body was now much more stable and if Bathym's theories were right then being drunk wouldn't be helping me a lot anymore.
I would have to blackmail them all.
The authority had become a strong way to use spirit magic. I was already seeing advantages here.
When we reached the Asahi Estate, a whole platoon of people with spears in hands, donning a full set of armor stood on standby.
Their eyes turned toward me and Bathym.
The one with the armor that stood out suddenly turned toward me and spoke out.
"This is the ancient Asahi family's territory. State your purpose or turn back and leave right now."
"Who are you?" I asked.
"I am the general of the Asahi Wizardry Infantry. State your name and origin, warrior."
I had lost just a little bit of the bulk from before, but I still looked magnitudes more fit than I used to.
The transformation into a Demon Lord was quite the change there. It made the entire kerfuffle I had with Dantalian seem a lot more rewarding than before.
"Well, I am your boss here."
"Our boss? What nonsense—Actually, sir I apologize. But can you please explain?"
My eyes widened in shock.
"M-my liege?"
I almost fell backward.
What was this?
An actually smart character popping out of nowhere? How did this work?
Isn't he supposed to get his entire platoon beat up by me right here? Why is he being reasonable? No, won't the first option be more reasonable.
"I apologize if I offend you, sir. But I would appreciate it if I can get some clarification. Are you perhaps from some other estate? I can contact the lord on your behalf—"
"No, it's ok."
I balanced myself and stood straight. I wanted to enjoy myself a bit, this sucked.
"I will converse with him myself. You should move aside."
"I cannot do that, sir."
He was being respectful yet wary.
"Why are you heeding my words with such propriety?" I asked, giving the same level of respect I was seemingly receiving.
"I do not dare doubt the words of a man as seasoned as you are. I believe my eye for people."
Wasn't he just turning me back a moment ago?
Maybe the transformation did make me seem different like Bathym claimed.
Then was the reason I had constant run ins with idiots all because of the way I looked?
It was when I was thinking so that the sounds of a rattling carriage came dancing our way.
When both parties turned, the sight of a large carriage bearing the crest of the Deep Down Town filled our gaze. At the helm was a young man sleeping while holding the reins, his armor in grand display.
Almost miraculously, he fell backward in his sleep and pulled the reins at the perfect distance from the estate and the sounds of the ones inside came gushing out.
"O-oh, we're here…. I welcome all of you to my home—"
The door was kicked open.
"Yada yada, enough I am already sleepy."
First hopped out a girl with brown hair. She yawned and kicked around before turning our way.
I could tell that she broke into a wide smile.
"Please, Miss Lily. You should show some patience at least now—Oh, dear. Someone's in our welcome…"
Behind her came locks of red hair.
"Someone is waiting? Is it my prince! Prince Albert!?" Third came out blondish drill curls, followed by a person. "Oh! It's you, my cupid!"
"Please make yourself at home…"
Fourth… this was getting annoying. Next came Ikuro Asahi. And lastly, brushing his hair against the entire top of the carriage was Seeck Mohawk.
Behind them jumped out Sharky and Miss Rio as well.
"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Sharky screamed. "Who the fuck are you looking at with such disgust, huh? You picking a fight, Dusk?"
Sharky wasted not a second as he came rushing my way.
—Thwack!
And was smacked on the head.
It seemed it wasn't my looks after all! Idiots were just that, Idiots!
"Young Lord!"
The entire infantry fell to its knees at the sight of Ikuro Asahi.
Who ignored them and bowed his head toward me.
"My lord! You're here!"
"You all too."
"Young Master!" Lily screamed and crashed into me in a tight hug. I let her in and held her back.
"Huh!?" Lily screamed. "What is this? Why do you seem so different? Your muscles have shrunk, and you've grown taller by an entire two inches. What happened to you? This growth shouldn't be so fast…"
Scary.
I simply patted her head and greeted the others.
Out last from the carriage, pulling along the sleeping Zachariah Arke was Miss Rio. The receptionist had decreed that these guys can't be left alone in charge of everyone, and just sending one part of the duo was going to be more counter-productive.
Even if they were worthless, at least they could fight.
"Long time no see, Eugene Hall."
"You too, Miss Rio."
"You've changed a lot. It seems you have been enlightened. I can tell because I am your teacher."
Was that how it worked?
Ikuro Asahi turned to the infantry then and scolded them.
"What is going on here? Why have you kept such an esteemed person outside? Move it now!"
Ikuro Asahi stepped inside first.
And then stopped in his tracks.
"AAH! What happened to the house!?"
"Oh I dug it up, hope you don't mind."
"You did what my lord?"
Now that the second group was here, the time for dungeon diving had come along too.
But before that.
I had to train all the wizards here in shape.
A war was going to engulf the east. A neat, small, tidy, calculated war.