Chapter 428: Feeding the Fox Girl Well, the Sky Queen

[Ding! Mjurran’s affection has reached the required level. Defeated and copied trait: Witch Inheritance (Purple)]

[Ding! Kumara’s affection has reached the required level. Defeated and copied trait: Nine-Head Beast Bloodline (Gold)]

The instant those two traits dropped, Mjurran and Kumara both let out soft, melodious cries.

Mjurran collapsed, while Kumara entered another transformation.

With the “miracle elixir” Takumi had provided, the juvenile Kumara was growing at an astonishing rate.

One soft, fluffy fox tail after another emerged from behind her.

The intertwined tails swayed gently, trembling whenever Takumi lightly touched them.

Then, almost like pythons, they curled around his fingertips and wrapped themselves around him.

“These tail tips are really cute.”

Takumi pinched the tip of one fox tail, then began sorting through the Witch Inheritance he had obtained from Mjurran.

It was an extremely complete magical inheritance. For an ordinary person, it truly contained everything from the basics all the way to a lifetime’s worth of mastery.

Compared to Takumi’s own techniques and magic, however, it was insignificant.

After breaking down and absorbing the Nine-Head Beast Bloodline, Takumi also obtained Kumara’s divine ability known as the [Eight Legions].

[Black Mouse], which controlled disease.

[Thunder Tiger], which manipulated lightning.

[Moon Rabbit], which manipulated gravity.

[Winged Serpent], a flying snake.

[Sleeping Sheep], which could seize another’s consciousness.

[White Ape], which wielded sorcery.

[Flame Bird], which controlled fire.

And [Mirror Hound], which reflected the true appearance of all things.

“Some are useful. Some aren’t.”

Having completely absorbed and mastered the abilities of the [Eight Legions], Takumi shook his head.

He could certainly mix them into the [Ten Shadows Technique] and create eight immortal members of the Eight Legions.

But there wasn’t much point.

He didn’t rely on little creatures like these to fight anyway.

Takumi wasn’t particularly interested in the ability of this bloodline either.

So what if it can split off eight magical-beast clones?

Strictly speaking, every member of the Shadow Demon Corps could be considered one of his clones, and each was far stronger than those magical-beast avatars.

Takumi simply devoured the bloodline completely, turning it into nourishment for his own body.

His aura rose slightly.

Then, while still asleep, Takumi welcomed the following morning.

“Master~~”

A sweet voice, noticeably different from yesterday’s, awakened him from his sleep.

When Takumi opened his eyes, a graceful figure entered his view.

Her shapely body had curves in all the right places, with flawless proportions from every angle.

Every inch of her skin was smooth and translucent, carrying a faint, enticing fragrance.

Silky brown hair fell all the way to her waist, while a pair of fluffy fox ears twitched atop her head.

Her features were exquisite and alluring, yet still carried the bright freshness of a young woman.

The familiar fox-shaped marking between her brows revealed her true identity.

Kumara, who had still been in her juvenile form yesterday, had grown into her adult form overnight!

Nine fluffy tails draped across Takumi like a blanket.

And Kumara’s seductive call made him feel like he could barely take it.

Apparently, she had gotten addicted to his “miracle elixir” after realizing just how beneficial it was!

More importantly, thanks to her bloodline, Kumara had actually endured Takumi’s forced acceleration of her growth.

Mjurran, on the other hand, was still lying pitifully off to the side, unable to even lift her eyelids.

“As expected of a fox spirit. Fine, I’ll help you stabilize your strength!”

“Ah~ Master!”

Kumara swayed all nine tails, not having thought that far ahead.

But since Takumi had come over to help her, she naturally lowered her head obediently and moved her tails aside.

Seeing how docile she was, Takumi naturally had to give this “big fox” a thorough petting.

While he was thoroughly enjoying himself, Kagali had already arranged for Shizue Izawa to bring Sky Queen Frey over.

As both a queen and a Demon Lord, Frey wore her pinkish-purple hair neatly styled, with a small red jewel embedded in the center of her forehead.

Her features were elegant and refined, while her beauty carried a mature allure.

Her golden eyes gave her an unmistakably lofty air.

Her tall stature naturally needed no introduction, and her figure was exceptional as well.

Above her slender waist, her ample curves pushed prominently against her red formal dress.

Below, her silhouette flared outward again into a naturally rounded shape.

A pair of long, full, straight legs were wrapped in matte-black stockings, the snug fabric creating an extremely striking visual.

Behind her stretched a pair of wings the same color as her hair, making one instinctively want to reach out and touch them.

“Mm-hm~ Very good.”

Looking at Frey standing before her, Kagali nodded in satisfaction.

Under Kagali’s gaze, however, Frey felt goosebumps crawling across her entire body.

Kagali was looking at her like some kind of merchandise, and it irritated her immensely.

Yet at this moment, Frey had completely lost the domineering confidence she normally carried as both Sky Queen and Demon Lord.

Shizue Izawa, Setsuna, Lapis, and the others had taken turns visiting her, and every single one had pinned her down for a very thorough “discussion.”

Otherwise, how could a Demon Lord like her have endured the humiliation of coming here with only two trusted attendants?

Looking at Kagali, Frey asked, “Are you the ruler of this empire? I believe we can discuss matters properly. There’s no need to resort to violence.”

“~I’m only a secretary. You’ve got the wrong person.”

“My Master is the true ruler of this empire.”

“Whether it’s me or the people sent to negotiate with you, we’re all merely his dependents and servants.”

Kagali’s answer caused Frey’s pupils to contract.

What?!

Those people who are incomparably stronger than me are only servants?!

And what does she mean by negotiation?!

What kind of envoy pins the queen of the Skywing Nation to the ground and beats her during negotiations?!

Having already learned [Mind Reading], Kagali immediately heard Frey’s inner complaints.

She snorted coldly and activated the holographic projection behind her.

In the next instant, the current state of the Puppet Nation, Beast Kingdom, and Kingdom of Falmuth appeared before Frey.

“We were already being friendly when we negotiated with you.”

“Look at what happened to these nations, and to those so-called Demon Lords who stood at the same level as you.”

“In fact, I myself was once Demon Lord Kazalim.”

“Never think your status as a Demon Lord makes you especially important. We’re all nothing more than ants.”

“The only difference is that I’ve climbed much higher than you now.”

Staring at the ruins displayed by the hologram, Frey’s pupils trembled violently.

“So the disturbance yesterday… was the Beast Kingdom being destroyed?!”

“Y-You’re Demon Lord Kazalim? The Curse Lord?!”

“Then what happened to Demon Lord Carrion? Where is he?!”

Frey fired off question after question, beads of sweat rolling down her forehead.

Before coming here, she had still harbored some resentment and unwillingness.

Now, however, what she felt far more strongly was unease and fear.

She was only a relatively new Demon Lord, but even she had heard of Kazalim, one of the older Demon Lords.

She had previously believed Kazalim had been killed instantly by the new Demon Lord Leon.

She never expected her to still be alive.

What Frey cared about even more, however, was Demon Lord Carrion’s fate.

After all, her own strength was roughly comparable to his, and their nations were neighbors.

In response, Kagali calmly snapped her fingers.

A moment later, Suphia and Albis entered the room as Kagali’s guards.

…