Chapter 9 - Daughter of Lightning
"Well, I do know someone who could help." Cleria nodded, though she hesitated slightly, unsure if this person would be willing to assist.
"Oh? Who?" Ryuuga asked, curiosity piqued.
"He's an old devil from the original Satans' era, named Mephisto Pheles." Cleria replied.
Hearing her answer, Ryuuga felt a bit foolish for not remembering Mephisto Pheles—a devil who led one of the largest magician organizations, Grauzauberer.
"Well, if it's him, he might take Lavinia in after seeing her talent." Ryuuga said, nodding in agreement.
Cleria wasn't surprised to find that her master knew about Mephisto Pheles. After living with him for two months, it seemed like there was nothing in this world he didn't know. She even suspected that he was an ancient godly being residing in the body of a boy.
Well, she wasn't wrong…
"Um… don't I have any say in this?" Lavinia felt uneasy, realizing her fate was being decided without her consent.
"Girl, this is also my way of helping you get your revenge. You go there, train for a year, come back here to get your Absolute Demise back, and then train for a few more years. I promise that by the time you turn 17, you'll be able to kill Augusta with ease." Ryuuga said, rolling his eyes. He was confident that within a few years, he could advance to the Heavenly Human Realm.
"...Okay. I'll follow your method." Lavinia agreed, determined to get stronger and avenge her parents.
Seeing Lavinia agree, Ryuuga nodded with a smile. Cleria then took Lavinia away, bombarding her with questions to satisfy her curiosity. Lavinia answered truthfully, finding it hard to ignore Cleria, who seemed older and more experienced.
That night, Lavinia slept in the same room as Cleria. The next day, both of them set off for Grauzauberer.
Ryuuga couldn't wait for the next girl—er, person in need—to show up.
He wasn't sure when it would happen, but he had a feeling it wouldn't be too long.
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Three months later.
Ryuuga was enjoying his tea in the living room while reading a novel. He couldn't help but think the entertainment in this world was pretty lousy. Sometimes, he wondered if he should recreate those ACGN works from his previous life here.
But that was a thought for another day.
Three months ago, Cleria had taken Lavinia to Grauzauberer to recommend her to Mephisto Pheles. Lavinia easily entered the organization after passing a test. The test required her to learn a magic spell and use it within ten minutes.
Most magicians might struggle with that, needing weeks or even months to learn a single spell. However, Lavinia's talent was exceptional, especially after being enhanced by the Caster Card. She managed to learn and use the spell in just five minutes.
With that, she joined Grauzauberer with ease and was personally taught by Mephisto himself.
Meanwhile, Kuoh Town had been in disarray since Cleria left. The current supervisor was doing nothing, neglecting even the extermination of stray devils, which made Cleria quite angry.
She often went out to hunt stray devils to keep the town clean, but they seemed to appear endlessly.
"Ryuuga-sama, may I ask you for something?" Cleria said after some hesitation. She decided to seek her master's help because she wanted to keep the town safe, even though she was no longer the supervisor.
"Oh? Speak." Ryuuga replied, raising an eyebrow. Seeing her determination, he nodded.
"M-May I have the Master Card?" Cleria asked.
"What for?" He answered with interest. He could give her the Master Card directly, but he wanted to know why first.
"I... I want to recruit some talented individuals to guard the town."
"Hmm... well, take it." Ryuuga nodded and handed Cleria the Master Card. He didn't care what her exact plan was. After all, recruiting talented individuals would ultimately help him build a stronger force.
"... Thank you." Cleria was dumbfounded when she received the card. She had expected Ryuuga to reject her request initially, forcing her to convince him.
"When you find your target, just think about which Servant Card you want to give them, and the card will appear in front of you." Ryuuga explained.
"T-Then, I'll excuse myself for now." Cleria bowed slightly and teleported out of the room.
Ryuuga smiled, watching her leave. It might be beneficial to gather more servants to handle simple tasks. Who knows? It might even yield some Destiny Energy.
Cleria's power should advance to the Middle-Stage Grandmaster Realm after using the Master Card. Her servants would then be at the Master Realm, on par with High-Class Devils.
Ryuuga continued to read his novel while sipping his tea.
But...
Bang!
The door to the living room burst open, and a figure rushed in.
"P-Please! Save my Okaa-sama!" A young girl with black hair and a cute, beautiful face entered the room, her face streaked with tears.
"Pfft!" Ryuuga spat out his tea. He hadn't expected to be caught off guard like this.
He glanced at the young girl, wiping the tea from his mouth.
On her back, she was carrying a woman in her mid-twenties who had similar features to the young girl. Blood flowed from the woman's temple and mouth, and her clothes were tattered, with wounds all over her body.
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Thirty minutes ago...
"Okaa-sama!" a black-haired girl called out, hugging her mother from behind as she cooked in the kitchen.
Both were wearing white miko priest uniforms, fitting their roles as shrine maidens of the shrine they were living at.
The mother stood with an air of quiet grace, her long black hair tied in a ponytail that cascaded down her back like a silken waterfall. Her light brown eyes were gentle and warm, reflecting a kindness that seemed to radiate from her very being. Her presence exuded a calming aura, as if she could soothe any troubled heart with just a glance.
Beside her stood her daughter, a striking young girl whose beauty mirrored that of her mother but with a touch of youthful vibrancy. Her long black hair flowed freely down her back, shimmering like a raven's wing in the dim light. Her striking violet eyes were captivating.
"Ara~ Akeno, be careful, Okaa-sama is cooking." Shuri smiled, turning to hug her daughter gently.
"Nee~ Why isn't Otou-sama coming home?" Akeno asked, puffing her cheeks in annoyance. Her father had promised to be back the previous day, but he hadn't shown up.
"Maybe he's busy with work." Shuri answered with a wry smile, masking the truth. She didn't want Akeno to know the real reason her father was absent.
In reality, Shuri suspected her husband had gotten drunk and spent the night with another woman. She had smelled unfamiliar perfume on him before. She never confronted him about it, knowing she couldn't defeat him and wanting to shield Akeno from the painful truth.
Her name is Himejima Shuri. She was once the heir of the prestigious Himejima Clan, destined to become the host of the Vermillion Bird.
However, her life took a different turn when she saved an injured man, unaware he was a fallen angel and one of their leaders. As she spent time with him, she fell in love, not realizing his kindness and gentleness were all a facade.
When the clan head discovered her relationship, he was enraged and banished her from the clan. Her husband then took her to the shrine where they currently lived.
After she became pregnant, her husband started coming home less frequently, always claiming he was busy with work. Initially, she accepted this, knowing his role in the organization. But one day, she noticed the scent of another woman on him.
That was when her love for him turned to hatred. Yet, for the sake of her daughter, she endured. She knew it was her mistake for trusting a fallen angel, but her daughter deserved a father's love too.
"Well, the food is ready. Akeno, can you get rice for both of us?" Shuri smiled at her daughter as she lifted the pot with her bare hands. Despite the heat, her skin remained unscathed, thanks to her ability to coat her hands with her power.
"Okay!" Akeno cheerfully nodded and went to get a pair of bowls for the rice.
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"Okaa-sama's cooking is always delicious!" Akeno said with a smile, patting her full belly.
They had finished eating and were now sitting on the veranda, with Shuri tying Akeno's hair.
"Kekeke! Found you!" An ugly laugh disrupted the peace of the mother and daughter. Shuri immediately stood up, placing herself protectively in front of Akeno.
She looked up and saw several figures floating in the air. There were twenty of them, all sporting three pairs of crow-like black wings.
"Fallen Angels?" Shuri frowned, recognizing them by their wings. These were High-Class Fallen Angels, and their presence spelled trouble.
"Guessed right! Family of Baraqiel, die!" The leader of the Fallen Angels grinned before throwing a spear of light towards Shuri and Akeno.
But Shuri wasn't a pushover. Despite being banished from the Himejima Clan and unable to use her fire powers, she was still a genius and former heir. She could still use Onmyoudou.
"Haa!" Shuri moved her right hand and traced patterns in the air. A barrier appeared in front of her, destroying the light spear upon impact.
"Stay behind me, Akeno." Shuri commanded, her voice steady despite the danger. Akeno nodded, clutching the hem of her mother's miko robe tightly.
The Fallen Angels, undeterred, began to bombard them with a barrage of light spears. Shuri's hands moved rapidly, creating one barrier after another, each absorbing and dissipating the lethal attacks. Her face was set in a determined expression, but beads of sweat began to form on her forehead.
"Hahaha! You think you can hold us off forever?" The leader sneered, directing the others to intensify their assault.
Shuri's barriers started to waver under the relentless pressure. She gritted her teeth, channeling more of her energy into her defenses. "Akeno, listen to me. When I give the signal, run and don't look back."
"But, Okaa-sama—"
"Just do it!" Shuri's tone brooked no argument.
As another volley of light spears descended, Shuri summoned her remaining strength. "Haa!" She thrust her hands forward, unleashing a powerful gust of wind infused with her spiritual energy. The wind howled, momentarily scattering the Fallen Angels and buying them precious seconds.
"Now, Akeno! Go!" Shuri shouted.
Akeno hesitated but then bolted towards the forest, tears streaming down her face. Shuri turned her attention back to the Fallen Angels, who were regaining their composure.
"Impressive, but futile." the leader said, a cruel smile spreading across his face.
"Finish her!"
The Fallen Angels renewed their attack with even greater ferocity. Shuri fought valiantly, her hands a blur as she conjured barriers and counterattacked with blasts of spiritual energy. She managed to take down two of the Fallen Angels, their bodies disintegrating into ash.
But the numbers were against her. Her energy reserves dwindled rapidly. One of the light spears broke through her defenses, piercing her shoulder. Shuri cried out in pain but didn't falter. She erected another barrier, but it was weaker, flickering dangerously.
"Okaa-sama..." Akeno glanced back from the edge of the forest, her heart aching as she saw her mother surrounded.
"Keep going, Akeno!" Shuri's voice was strained but filled with determination.
The Fallen Angels pressed their advantage. Another light spear struck Shuri in the side, and she fell to one knee, blood staining her white miko uniform. Her vision blurred, but she forced herself to stand, drawing on every ounce of her willpower.
"I won't let you... harm my daughter." Shuri gasped, summoning a final barrier.
"Admirable, but ultimately pointless. End this." The leader of the Fallen Angels laughed.
The combined force of twenty high-class Fallen Angels was too much. The barrier shattered, and Shuri was hit by multiple light spears. She collapsed, her body riddled with wounds.
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A/N: Bear with me, there are still three more backstories before reaching the main story of Slash Dog. Now that it has come to this, since being the bartender is no longer the main point of the story, I am going to rename the novel to Immortal's Omniversal Conquest.