RD 5 Ch 35

“Alright, so after discussing it with your harem,” Syssy spun back around and I gave her a raised eyebrow some hours later.

I’d spent most of the time wandering the very small hall and leaving it to Simone.

“My harem?” I said, not sure if I’d call that group my harem. “Sorry. The only one I’m currently in a relationship with is Simone.” I pointed at the saintess, only for Circe to gasp.

“What am I? Chopped liver?” She put a hand on her chest, genuinely angry.

It took a moment for my brain to catch up with what I’d said and several other facts my mind had apparently put aside. Chief among them: Circe still remembered what had happened in the Trial of Kings, and I did as well.

I hesitated, words failing me for a moment as my thoughts flailed. “I didn’t mean it that way, just that we haven’t said anything specific.” My eyes bounced between the ladies as I ran the new calculation in my head.

If everything that happened in the Trial of Kings didn’t stay in the Trial of Kings, that changed what I should do next.

I cleared my throat and leaned close to Syssy. “Do we not lose our memory on this Trial of Kings?” I asked, just to be sure I understood.

“Oh no,” Syssy waved. “I’ve been convinced that what happened during this Trial of Kings ought to be remembered. Otherwise there’d be so many memories Simone would be bereft if she forgot.” Syssy flew over and hugged the saintess, who hugged her back, then turned to me with a giant grin.

I fought through the stiffness in my face and forced a smile. “I see. I didn’t realize the rules had changed. Well, that’s wonderful. In that case, it changes everything, and I’m so happy we won’t forget those memories, Syssy.”

Circe couldn’t help it, she burst into laughter. “You should see yourself.”

“I rather think I’ll pass,” I said, turning to Circe. “It was sudden for all four of you to be included. Of course I was pursuing Circe prior to the trial, and that’s just taken a step faster than I expected. All of you are wonderful and powerful allies.” My eyes dared not meet Winnie’s; instead I found myself looking at Princess Almeria, who had her head bowed and a faint red blush across her cheeks.

“I hope you’ll take good care of me, Master,” she said, and I felt my jaw drop as Simone nearly fell down laughing.

“Why are you calling him ‘Master’?” Circe demanded.

“Because I now serve him,” Almeria said, though it came out more like a question as she looked down and fidgeted with her hands.

“That was just part of the trial,” Winnie spat, suddenly adopting that mid-distant gaze that said she was checking her system.

The princess shook her head violently. “No, I lost to him in a fair duel. That means I’m now his to command.”

I ignored her for a moment and Simone’s raised eyebrow, instead focusing back on Syssy. “Please, for the love of God, Syssy, be the one voice of reason in the room.”

“Well, now that that’s all taken care of,” Syssy said, settling on Simone’s shoulder and folding her hands in her lap, “it’s time to discuss the real benefits of the Trial of Kings. After all, I don’t think you were in such a rush earlier that you can sit around and have tea with me all day, or can you?” she raised an eyebrow at me.

“No, you’re absolutely right, we should get moving.” A little space from here would be good for me to figure out all the ramifications of what just happened.

“Well then, good. Here is your custom Hegemon title. Wherever you go, you shall be a ruler even among rulers.” Syssy flicked her wrists as she sat arrogantly on Simone’s shoulder, shooing me away.

The system menu popped up in front of me, and I dove in so I didn’t have to deal with everything else.

[Hegemon of Rule - Ruler, even among kings.

+15% to all stats

You take minor benefits from having Monarchs serving underneath you.

In all situations, will will be given authority and respect; your presence will naturally lead others.]

“Oh, this is nice,” I said aloud, doing my best to be cheerful. It wasn’t hard, considering what I had sitting in front of me. “Though…” I trailed off. A percentage buff was insane and very rare. It was quite literally always valuable. Fifteen percent was nothing to scoff at. Spirit alone was over 2k bonus. It was bigger than my primordial bloodline buff overall and would only get better.

However, the ‘benefits’ from having other monarchs serve under me was a bit vague.

“Is that not enough?” Syssy was in front of me in the blink of an eye, slamming her hands down.

“Oh no, it’s fine.” I did my best to ward off the upset fairy.

“It’s fine,” she mimed, tossing her head back and forth. “If I had a nickel for every time I heard that…” She paused. “Well, I’d really only have a nickel, but it doesn’t sound very fine.” She pointed an accusing finger at me.

“It’s just not some world-ending ability that I can instantly win with.” Then again, I hadn’t expected that much.

Syssy gasped and covered her mouth. “Why would I give you the ability to end the world if I wanted you to save it?” She spun around to Simone. “You said he’d love it,” she whined.

Simone’s eyes slid off the fairy and narrowed at me. “He will love it dear when he really absorbs and understands what it is. After all, I think he stopped reading before he got to the good part.” That was a hint, if I ever heard one.

My eyes slid back as a notification popped up.

[The Devout Monarch is now your subordinate.]

I glanced around at those present and then at Simone. “I assume this is you.”

“Who else could that possibly be?” she said, batting her lashes and crossing her arms under her chest, pushing them up toward my face. “Now, why don’t you look at the benefits that you get?” She circled the air roughly where my system menu was to shift my attention. Though, she knew exactly what she was doing.

So, rather than ask questions, I wisely did as she recommended and began reading.

[With the Devout Monarch support, you receive additional bonuses to Worship.]

That made me open my own status page. My eyes skimmed down past everything else to see that Worship looked the same as normal, except when I focused on it and read the updated description.

[Worship B - 100 to all stats.

Following of the Devout Monarch - Every month your Worshipped stats become a permanent enhancement.]

“Oh, that is nice,” I let out a whistle. One hundred stats was a small bonus, but making that a monthly improvement… well that was the kind of thing that alone could make me into something far beyond my dreams in say 500 years.

“More importantly,” Simone held up a finger. “That can grow even more as the Mul Branova grows,” she said, bobbing her eyebrows. “In this way, not only am I a subordinate ruler to you, but you’re incentivized to keep me around and keep my group growing. It was also the best thing we could swing within the budget for the titles that Syssy gave us. I’m getting monthly bonuses right alongside you.”

“Well, of course I would continue to support you,” I said with a scoff.

Only for Simone’s eyes to slide slightly to the side. I realized she wasn’t saying that for herself so much as for the others.

“Of course, that goes for all of you,” I added hastily, realizing what she was trying to do. “Well, I’m glad that works. Let’s get this over with.”

Winnie backhanded the air as another notification hit me, followed by Almeria’s and Circe’s. I’d have to dig into them in a minute, but the titles caught my attention: the Monarch of Wind, the Monarch of the Seas, and, most interestingly, the Queen of Curses.

I raised an eyebrow at that last one, silently asking Winnie where it had come from.

“Don’t look at me like that.” Winnie retained the poise befitting an ice sculpture. “This is just the easiest way to deal with it.”

“Right, of course,” I said, flashing Winnie a smile. “I just thought you would absolutely hate curses.”

“Oh, I do,” she said emphatically. “But sometimes you need to make friends with your worst enemies if you’re going to come out the other end.”

Simone leaned forward and tutted. “Now, I think we can phrase it better than that, can’t we?” Her attempt to coach Winnie earned an icy stare that I worried might freeze the room solid.

“I think it’s time we got out of here,” I said. “Otherwise Simone’s likely to try and stuff me in one of those gaudy red robes.”

“Hey, they’re not gaudy!” Syssy shouted, currently wearing one. Apparently she’d become an honorary member of the Mul Branova.

Winnie’s eyes raked over the fairy; she snorted in derision. “You do nothing but prove my point.”

Syssy looked like she was about to pick a fight, only for Simone to scoop her up. “Unfortunately, we do have some things we need to attend to, dear Syssy. We’ve likely been here too long. I know you’ve done everything you can for us, since you’re already on Team Bran, but we do need to get moving.”

As Simone tried to placate the little fairy, Syssy sank lower in the air, pouting. “What if I don’t see you again for a really, really, really long time?” she pleaded, looking up at Simone with wide eyes.

“We’ll just have to make sure that isn’t the case,” Simone said, hugging her. Then she looked at me, silently telling me to do the same.

I wasn’t an idiot, I stepped up and hugged Syssy, reassuring her. “Don’t you worry. We’ll be back. Maybe after we kill the Demon King, we’ll come and throw a party.”

Syssy sniffed. “You’re just saying that, aren’t you?” she kicked despondently at the air.

“The first thing I’ll need is for you to believe me, that I actually can and will come back. If Syssy doesn’t believe me, how will I ever survive?” I tried to cheer her up.

The fairy perked up. “Pinky promise,” she said, holding out a finger.

I took it in mine, dwarfing her whole hand. “Of course, pinky promise.”

“Fine then, go do your thing,” she said, waving her hand. “I’ll just be here, waiting all by my lonesome.” She dragged the words out and floated back and forth.

I cast Simone a glance, asking if this was really okay. “We’ll be back. Besides, Syssy is always with us. The system is bonded to us for life. It’s not like she couldn’t reach out and say hi every now and then if she wanted to.”

Those words made Syssy look up slightly, though she tried to pretend she hadn’t heard. 

“Whatever. I’m leaving,” Winnie muttered, tapping the air.

A prompt appeared in front of me, the others disappeared quickly. We did have other things that needed our attention.

Before I left, I gave Syssy one final wave. “Thanks for everything you’ve done, and for giving me a second chance to make all of this right. I won’t forget it.”

With that I hit the prompt and left the Trial of Kings.