## Chapter 1211 – Strength

Has her wariness lessened a bit?

I feel a slight relaxation in Princess Einphel’s shoulders. Perhaps that’s why she seems quite at ease.

“Good. From the start, there was no need to be wary of the paladin of the Order.”
“Now you’re being honest.”
“I hope you understand it couldn’t be helped.”
“I understand.”

It’s no big deal.

“Then… I guess there’s no need to worry about anything. But I don’t want to. Are you not interested in titles and territories?”
“Lordships?”
“Like a county and a territory of corresponding size. I’m asking if you have any desire to become a lord.”

Is she trying to buy me off with a title?

“If you give it, I’ll take it.”

I’m a man who takes what’s given.

“Becoming a lord entails an obligation to be loyal to the royal family.”
“That sounds like a pain.”

I’ve heard that before.

Having a territory and becoming a lord comes with many benefits, but it also becomes a hassle. But even so, the taste of power is sweet, and many nobles desire to become lords.

“I’m already loyal to the Order, so adding the royal family on top of that would be annoying.”
“Hmm.”

And I don’t particularly need it right now.

I always think, I’m someone who can become a king or a great lord with my own power alone. I don’t know how, but it’s clear that it will happen in a perfectly reasonable way.

“So, just think comfortably. Do you really need to buy me off? If you get along well with the Order, there’s no need for that.”
“Oh my… that could be a little dangerous.”

—Clink.

Einphel said that while trying to arrange her long, platinum blonde hair.

Dangerous?

“Why?”
“It sounds like if you fall out with the Order, you’ll fall out with us too. It also feels like you’re subtly pressuring us to get along with the Order.”
“No.”

What is this?

Is this the harsh reality of noble life? Just because I’ve become stronger, every word and action carries such extreme meaning.

“Are you even interpreting it that way?”
“Hmm… you don’t know much about this kind of thing yet, do you? It’s natural to interpret it that way. In reality, that’s what you meant, even if you didn’t intend it. You could say we’re reading between the lines? Even if you didn’t intend it, that’s what you meant in your heart.”

Reading between the lines, huh.

When I think of bones, I can only think of Joy.

“No. I didn’t say it with that intention.”

I just said it naturally, but it’s being interpreted with so much meaning. But thinking about it, is it similar? “If you get along well with the Order, there’s no need for that.” If you interpret that, it can be interpreted as, ‘If you don’t want to get your ass kicked, get along with our Order.’

What kind of crazy bastard would interpret it that way?

If that’s a common way of thinking, you wouldn’t be able to say anything.

Of course, I don’t care.

“That’s so difficult. So I won’t pay attention to things like that. Over-interpreting things only makes the relationship worse. It’s better to take what’s said at face value.”
“…Okay.”

I stood up from my seat.

“If we’ve talked this much, you’ve roughly gotten my point, right?”
“Good. I’ve roughly gotten it. I think I know what kind of person you are.”

What do you know about me!!!!

“That’s a relief.”
“Call me anytime if you need anything. If we can have a mutually beneficial relationship, I can meet any conditions.”
“Well, I’ll keep that in mind.”

Princess Einphel offered me an alliance, and I refused because I didn’t need it. Even so, she left me an opening.

An opportunity to schmooze with the Karga royal family?

I don’t know if I’ll ever need it, but I’ll remember it and call Einphel if such a situation arises. You never know what might happen in life, so it’s good to have connections like this.

I might be able to use it someday.

With that, I left the royal palace.

No one came to find me while I was leaving. I wanted to tease that Swordmaster lady some more, since I met her anyway.

“…”

Still.

If I have the chance, I’d like to clash with her.

That old lady probably feels the same way. She asked me if I had any intention of becoming the chieftain of the Mirkesha, or if I had any intention of avenging my ancestors. That clearly meant she wanted to butcher the person in front of her.

That person in front of her is me.
That killing intent wasn’t a lie.

“Ah.”

Is this what it means to read between the lines?

I seem to be good at noticing murderous intent, but when it comes to talking about political elements like just now, it still feels difficult. Well, none of this matters.

* * *

“Unfortunately, it didn’t have much power left in it.”
“Really?”

I carefully examined the black gem that Risha handed me.

When I killed Adramalech, this crystallized black gem came out of his head. It’s small enough to hold in your hand, and maybe because it’s small, it doesn’t have much left.

“That’s a bit of a shame. What about Hilde?”
“She said she felt an evil aura, but honestly, I’m not a demon, so I don’t really know that feeling.”

An evil aura.

“Only demons can feel it! Katt, Risha. I think I can use this to strengthen my power. Just like I’ve always done!”

Hilde, who suddenly appeared, said that.

“Right? It’s a bit off-putting because it’s an ancient great demon, but Risha handled it well. I think I can absorb it as it is without any problems.”

Hilde smacked her lips as she looked at the black gem in my hand.

“Do you want to eat it?”
“Please say absorb, absorb. Saying eat sounds a bit weird.”
“Okay.”

Anyway, Hilde is currently expressing her desire to absorb this.

“I’m a little worried. Wasn’t that ancient great demon… stronger than we imagined? I don’t know the details, but it had special abilities that even ordinary mana couldn’t penetrate.”
“That’s right.”

He was special.

“There might be some side effects.”
“But I don’t feel anything like that right now. Katt completely shattered it by exploding that power.”

Hilde, holding the gem, brought it to her right eye and continued.

“Even if it’s giving off a slightly ominous and evil aura, it won’t be able to do any harm. To be honest, I want to absorb it. After all, it’s a good thing that my power gets stronger. I want to see the effect.”

If that’s the case.

“Okay. If Hilde says so, we should do it.”
“Yay!”
“But let’s test it out first.”

Something suddenly occurred to me.

I immediately placed the gem on the palm of my hand.

And.

—Whoosh!

I unleashed my power, and a pure white flame blazed on the palm of my hand. Then, the black gem was devoured by the flame.

“Ah! Katt! It’ll disappear!”
“Wait.”

In that state.
Quietly.

I feel the energy of the gem on my hand. It was definitely Adramalech’s energy. But I don’t feel his will or anything like that at all. You could say it’s a lump of pure power.

To that.

—Whoosh!

I mix my power. I’m not someone who can’t subdue a tiny gem like this when I’ve shattered a living Adramalech. I infiltrate my power and transform its nature with it.

Like cooking raw meat to make perfectly grilled meat. My power reverses the essence of this gem. If I have the power of love, something like this is a piece of cake.

“Oh…”
“…”

Before I knew it, Risha and Hilde were silently observing only the palm of my hand.

“Purification. I am purifying this power with my power.”

I burn away the evil power and fill the empty space with my power!
Hilde should be able to absorb it!

“Th-this is better, Katt! It’s better to absorb something with Katt’s energy than to absorb the power of a disgusting great demon!”
“Right?”
“There is truly endless potential in this brilliant power.”
“Hehehe, right?”
“You might really become a godlike being.”

That’s right.

Anyway, I focused my power and grilled the gem.

How long has it been?

“Whoa.”

When I extinguished the flame, the black gem had been bleached pure white. It’s also a very beautiful white. My power caused the power of darkness to disappear and be filled with the power of light.

Truly Shining Katt.

“It’s completely white! Like a snow gem!”
“Let me check for a moment.”

Risha immediately examined the gem.

“The original power has completely faded… and instead, it’s filled with that power.”
“Right? Hilde, how is it? Can you absorb it?”
“I can tell instinctively just by looking at it…!”

Hilde placed the gem on her hand and stared at it with a very serious face.

“Demons can absorb each other’s essence from the beginning, so it was possible from the start, but I can still do it even if it’s changed a little…! Katt! I’ll absorb this! This thing with Katt’s power and energy! I will absorb it!”
“Okay! Absorb it, Hilde!”
“Yes!”

Immediately, Hilde announced to the neighborhood that she would absorb the gem that came out after killing Adramalech. Soon everyone gathered in the living room, and after a brief explanation, Hilde, sitting on the sofa, announced the start.

“Okay, let’s start now!”
“Ooh.”
“Good luck, Hilde.”

I handed the gem to Hilde.

“But it’s a bit embarrassing. Anyway.”

When Hilde opened her mouth, her cute fangs were revealed. And a tongue that felt somewhat erotic came out of her mouth. Hilde then used her index finger and thumb to pick up the white gem.

—…

She placed it on her tongue.

Hilde rolled the gem on her tongue a little, and soon.

She put the gem into her mouth with her tongue.
She began to chew the gem as if she were eating food.

—Crunch, crunch.

“Excuse me? Is that how you originally absorb it by chewing it? I was thinking of something magical.”
“Really?”

Everyone expressed similar questions to Liztina’s words. Nevertheless, Hilde chewed the gem carefully and diligently, and soon swallowed it.

—Gulp.

And a silence descended.

“…”

Hilde’s face became very serious.

“Hot…! Ha…!”
“Hilde!”

And the reaction comes!

“Katt…! Yes! I can feel something…!”
“What is it like!”

I immediately touch Hilde’s back and examine her reaction. Is she in pain? No. It’s not that. She’s not in pain, and she’s not feeling any side effects.

“Katt! Katt’s energy…! It’s spreading inside me…! Ha, ha…! Hmmm, hmmm…!”

Her face gradually began to turn red.

“Hey, Hilde?”
“Hic, hic…! Hiss…!”

A unique aura of purple and pink seemed to flow out of Hilde’s writhing body.

But.

“Katt…!”

Something faintly. I felt a hint of white mixing in there. It’s subtle. It’s subtle, but what I felt there was something similar to my power. I quietly stroked her back and waited for Hilde to absorb the power.

Whatever it is, absorbing power requires you to meditate yourself.

—Ha… ha…

Soon Hilde took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
She fell asleep.

She fell asleep.

Everyone seemed surprised, but I calmly explained.

“It’s okay. She fell asleep. She must have been exhausted while absorbing the power.”
“Ah… that’s what it is.”

I immediately picked up Hilde and moved her to the bedroom.

Let’s ask her what achievements she had when she wakes up.

* * *

Fortunately, Hilde woke up not long after, and when she woke up, she frantically examined her body and tested her abilities.

“Katt.”

She called me with a feeling as if she had made up her mind.

“Yeah. Tell me properly what it’s like.”
“…Yes.”

Hilde, nodding her head, continued.

“First of all, my power has definitely been strengthened. More than ever before… Ah. But it’s not extreme. I’ve grown by about one or two levels. That’s the feeling.”
“Oh. Congratulations!”
“Hehehe… Ah. This is not the time for this. I’ll test it out, so please watch.”
“Hmm?”

A test?

Soon Hilde spread her palm.

—Buzzing.

She floated a magic circle.

Then.

—Whoosh!

Pink flames blazed, and then.

—Buzzing.

Something round.
A gate was created.

“Pandemonium Gate! I can now create it easily! It’s also big and stable!”
“What?”

Pandemonium Gate?

I looked at that in front of me. It was similar to a circus fire ring burning in pink. It was big enough for a few people to pass through easily. What I saw beyond that was. It was a truly ominous black darkness.

Even the great demons find it very difficult to create this gate. But Hilde, a succubus, has often created something similar to this before.

“I can cross it at will!”
“…”

This.

“Can I go in too?”
“I think it’s possible, Katt? Could it be?”

Instinctively.

Yes.

It came to mind instinctively.

“…”

Looking at the gate.

For some reason, the word ‘conquest of hell’ comes to mind.