Chapter 181: Sleeping Vanquisher And The Big Mage

A smile creased Elias’s lips as he stepped inside the manor.

Behind him, Sermus furrowed his brows before returning his attention to the plants and flowers scattered throughout the garden.

Elias, however, had already shifted his attention toward Natasha.

She sat in one of the chairs inside the hall with a bright smile on her face, although there was a slightly lost look in her eyes.

’Seems like she still cannot believe that she can talk to me.’

He still didn’t understand exactly why the connection had suddenly allowed Natasha to communicate with him. Envy had never used it that way. She had simply spoken, and the connection had allowed Elias to hear her words, but she had never actually sent her thoughts through it.

Natasha was different. She had actively sent her thoughts to him.

Elias shifted into the chair beside her and asked, [How long are you going to stare at the wall?]

The moment she heard his voice in her mind, Natasha turned toward him, and a beautiful smile immediately appeared on her face.

Elias’s heart skipped a beat at the sight.

[I still cannot believe this...] Natasha replied, her voice trembling slightly. [I... I can talk to you.]

Her shoulders trembled as the joy of finally regaining the ability she had been deprived of for five years collided with the sorrow of remembering everything she had lost.

Elias placed a hand over hers, gently interlocking their fingers before sending his thoughts through the connection.

[Stop thinking so deeply about it and enjoy it. Holding onto the painful past only makes the present painful.]

Natasha nodded slowly, although the faint uncertainty in her eyes remained.

[It just feels too unreal... still.]

Elias smiled warmly and rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb.

[You will get used to it.]

She nodded once more before asking, [But how am I able to do this all of a sudden?]

A wry expression appeared on Elias’s face, and he shifted slightly in his chair before answering.

[Would you trust me if I told you that we are connected, and that is what is allowing you to do this?]

Natasha blinked several times.

Of course she would trust him.

She could feel that connection herself, and it was precisely because of it that she had known Elias was standing near the main entrance before she had even seen him.

However, it seemed Elias did not realize that she could sense the connection as well.

She nodded and asked, [How did you connect us?]

[That...]

Elias fell silent.

He couldn’t exactly explain the truth without revealing the System.

He had no intention of allowing his wives to learn about it. If they eventually discovered that everything he had done for them rewarded him, he feared they might begin wondering whether everything had merely been for the sake of those rewards.

It was selfish, but he wasn’t going to let them know.

Natasha waited patiently as she flipped her hand over and entangled her fingers with his.

Eventually, Elias sighed and admitted, [I do not know how it works.]

Natasha narrowed her eyes.

The same answer.

Every time she questioned him about one of his strange abilities, he simply gave her the same damn answer.

I do not know.

It irritated her to no end, but she didn’t press him.

She didn’t believe Elias was keeping these things secret simply because he didn’t want them to know. There had to be some deeper reason behind it, something he couldn’t even tell his wives.

Accepting that for now, Natasha finished her thoughts and rested her head against his shoulder.

[All of this feels like a dream... being able to talk after five years. It is just... overwhelming.]

Elias wrapped an arm around her and replied, [We will talk so much that it becomes normal for you, My Lady.]

She looked up at him with amused eyes, although the heavy emotions she was trying to hide remained visible beneath them.

Elias leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

[You do not have to hold back.]

Her eyes trembled for a moment before she lowered her head.

After a brief silence, Elias asked, [Should we go to our room?]

She shook her head.

[Stella is sleeping there.]

[I see.]

Elias mumbled the words before a faint smirk appeared on his face.

[What about a bath, then?]

Natasha looked at him and narrowed her eyes playfully.

[Are you thinking of doing something naughty to me?]

Elias chuckled.

[The things I am planning to do are far worse than what you are imagining.]

Her eyes widened, and a faint blush spread across her cheeks.

[Let’s go.]

She stood up from the chair, and Elias rose as well.

[You go ahead. I want to check on Stella.]

Natasha nodded, but before stepping away, she leaned closer until her lips were near his ear.

She obviously couldn’t speak through her mouth, and she didn’t need to.

She blew gently against his ear while simultaneously sending her thoughts through their connection.

[I will be waiting for you.]

She then winked before stepping away.

Elias blinked.

His cheeks reddened slightly as he watched her walk toward the stairs, and his robe threatened to shift forward around his lower body.

He quickly took a deep breath and tried not to think about her big, round ass.

Unfortunately, the thought only made it harder.

"Calm down," he exhaled before taking the stairs behind her and heading toward his room.

The first thing he saw when he entered was Daemon’s corpse lying across the floor, followed by the wide hole that had been carved through the stone wall.

"Fucking hell."

His expression immediately soured.

"W-When did you return, My Lord?"

Benjamin’s voice came from behind him.

Elias turned around and found the old butler standing with Sara and Lena.

He glanced at them before looking back toward the corpse.

"Leave. I will take care of this."

Benjamin frowned.

"But, My Lord—"

"Benjamin. Do not make me repeat myself," Elias interrupted coldly.

Benjamin immediately bowed, followed by Sara and Lena.

"Apologies, My Lord."

Elias stared at them for several moments before repeating, "Leave."

The servants nodded and hurried away.

Once they were gone, Elias crouched beside Daemon and began storing the corpse and everything that had spilled from his body into his Inventory.

He didn’t want to leave behind anything Berlic could potentially use against him.

It took several minutes before he finished.

After washing his hands thoroughly, Elias entered his room and immediately frowned.

"Here too?"

Another enormous hole had been carved through the stone wall.

He released a quiet breath before looking toward the bed.

Stella lay comfortably asleep upon the large mattress.

"Her hair is longer now..."

Before this, her crimson hair had only reached her shoulders. Now it extended down her back, and if she wore a violet dress, she would resemble Envy even more.

It made sense.

Envy had stolen Stella’s beauty and figure, after all.

Elias approached the bed and slowly sat beside her. He ran his fingers through her long, crimson hair before quietly saying, "Status."

An orange screen appeared before him.

[Status]

[Name: Stella Crimson]

[Rank: Monarch (Lord)]

[Affection Rate: 30]

[Note: Due to mental instability, the Affection Rate will be counted as 6.]

[Talent: Sword Saint (S)]

[Physical Constitution: Sword Body]

[Weapon: Sword, Dagger, Bow]

[Weapon Mastery: Sword — King II, Dagger — Elite IV, Bow — Elite I]

[Weapon Aura: Sword Aura — Tier III]

[Mana Aptitude: A]

[Mana Affinity: Fire (A), Darkness (C)]

[Mana Circle: None]

[Spiritual Aptitude: D]

[Spiritual Affinity: None]

[Spiritual Stars: None]

[Stats]

[Strength/Constitution: 76] (228 - 380)

[Speed/Agility: 73] (219 - 365)

[Stamina/Endurance: 71] (213 - 355)

[Perception/Comprehension: 82] (246 - 410)

[Mana/Spirit: 38] (114 - 190)

[Skills]

[Slash (F)]

[Stab (F)]

[Swing (F)]

[Parry (F)]

[Pain Resistance (F)]

[Fireball (D)]

[Fire Wall (C)]

[Excellent Aura Enhancement (A)]

[Aura Layering (A)]

[Aura Sense (A)]

[Aura Invoking (A)]

[Demon Hound’s Seven Sword Strikes (S)]

[Blood Wyrm’s Steps (S)]

[King’s Sword (S)]

[Intent Invoking (S)]

[Intent Layering (S)]

[Vanquisher (SSS)]

[Unknown — Requires Affection Rate: 40]

The first thing Elias noticed was the change in Stella’s effective Affection Rate.

Usually, the System counted one-tenth of her actual Affection Rate because of her mental instability, but now it was counting one-fifth.

’Envy’s removal really did improve her mental state.’

His gaze then stopped on the SSS-grade skill at the bottom.

He focused on it, and another explanation appeared.

[Vanquisher]

[Grade: SSS]

[The wielder can enter a state of absolute dominance, slaying anything that can be slain and purifying everything that can be purified.]

[Activation requires the Mythical White Hellbreaker Sword and Sword Body.]

[In this state, the wielder can sense spirit beings in their proximity.]

Elias read the description twice before silently commenting, ’It is a good skill.’

He dismissed the screen and stared down at his sleeping wife.

The only thing that truly concerned him was how Stella would react to Natasha’s Heavenly Demon Physique.

The two of them seemed almost like twin sides of a coin.

One possessed a body connected to the Sword Spirit and the power to vanquish demons, while the other possessed a physique that seemed destined to stand above demons themselves.

Elias shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it too much.

He softly patted Stella’s head before rising to his feet.

Then he turned away from the bed and began walking toward Monica’s room.

He unlocked the door and pushed it open.

Monica, staring at the door with her blue eyes and a wide smile, said instantly, "You are back!"

A mirroring smile descended on his lips, and he stepped inside.

"Did you think I would not?"

Her smile vanished, and she frowned, staring at him with a deadpan face.

"Hmph!" She turned her head away and added, "Go die."

"Haha," Elias laughed as he moved closer to her.

He stopped right beside her bed, and she tried to look at him from the corner of her eye, waiting to see what he would do.

However, he suddenly turned around and said, "As you wish, Lady Monica."

"W-Wait!" Her eyes widened, and she quickly turned her head toward him.

"Do not go..." she mumbled pitifully, tears gathering at the corners of her eyes.

Elias returned to his previous position and held her face with his hand. Then, he leaned forward and said, "I am not going anywhere."

She smiled faintly and closed her eyes.

Their lips met for a few moments, and then he moved to her cheeks and then to her eyes, taking his sweet time.

Her eyelids trembled as she was startled by the sudden increase in kisses. However, she didn’t mind them a bit.

After a while, he pulled his head back and mumbled while leaning over her, "So? Did you miss me, my little mage?"

A vein throbbed at Monica’s forehead, and she hissed, "Stop calling me little! I am a big mage."

Elias chuckled, and she also laughed with him.

After the laughter ended, she frowned deeply and mumbled in a somber tone, "I was scared."

"You do not need to be anymore," he said.

She blinked, and the corners of her lips arched upward. "You wouldn’t do something like that again?"

Elias’s smile faltered. "That... I cannot promise."

She furrowed her brows and asked curiously, "Then?"

He raised his hand before her face, and a layer of crimson water appeared across his arm.

Her eyes widened, and she mumbled, "You awakened your Aura...?"

He smiled and looked at his arm with pride. "I did."

"T-That is great," she mumbled, staring at his arm.

"It seems to have also altered my body a little," he mumbled as he lowered his arm and stopped channeling aura into it.

She nodded faintly. "Advancing further along the path also purifies and makes your body more suited to it."

A mischievous smile appeared on his face, and he leaned closer to her ear.

"Do you want to check whether that is still the same size?"

Her face immediately became red as a tomato, and she stammered, "G-Get out, you shameless man!"