"Back to the grind as always..... hah....."
"Yep. I know exactly how you feel. Just keep on plowing through life, one thing at a time. Right?"
It was morning in Pomalis, a city on the Northern end of the Ruthobold Kingdom.
A restaurant was filled with customers who had arrived for breakfast, most of which were filling themselves up before they headed out to work for the day.
"Well, don't feel so down. Things are looking up, right? With the Indeterminant ruling this newly formed Empire, things can only get better from here. Maybe we'll see something exciting soon enough."
"Haha.... I sure hope so. After working all day every day and doing nothing else, I would sure hope we get to see something interesting around here."
A group of laborers sat at a table, leisurely chatting before they finished their meals.
"But you know, with the nations having been united, trade has increased tenfold. Businesses everywhere are booming due to the sudden connection between the three human countries. Before, trading with other nations was a big risk, and Touchette was likely the only safe place to get anything like that done. Crossing the borders without permission was illegal of course, so for a normal merchant it would be impossible to get any trade done aside from through Touchette..... but the tariffs there were outrageous."
"Damn right. I tried going there to trade a stock of textiles once and they charged me 60% of my profits!!!! They were earning more than I did for nothing!!! And you should've seen how rich all the citizens of that place were. They wore clothes that only nobles could wear normally, and their homes were like small mansions with paintings and statues all over the place."
"Hmm..... I guess if you're the center of trade you can get away with anything. Including extortion of the sellers."
The men seemed to let out exhausted sighs, tired of the constant inflow of negativity.
"Soon as the waitress comes over let's get that bill paid and get back to work."
"Yep."
"Sounds good."
With bitter smiles, the men came to terms with the situation.
This was life.
Work. Eat. Sleep. Repeat.
They would mindlessly drone on for the rest of their lives, producing and producing until their hands became wrinkled and they could no longer produce.
If they didn't do this, they wouldn't survive.
One needs income to survive, and one needs to work to gain an income.
Unless one was born into riches and luxury, a better life was not an option.
"Even so..... I heard that the Indeterminant allowed the nobles back into their homes, but they no longer hold any political influence. They've regained their riches, but they won't be able to keep them if they do what they did before. If they don't figure something out they might end up using all their funds to continue living in luxury."
"Hmm..... what about that noble Lord of this realm? Baron Rotheim. A real prick, that one. I once met with him in order to obtain a license to run the textile business here in this city, and he gave me a real hard time. I ended up having to fork over 30% of our profits just to run shops here! Not as bad as in Touchette but....."
"Tch.... they're all good for nothing. They pretend like they're all high and mighty, but in reality they're just taking our profits for themselves without doing any work for it. This is why I think Kyle was such a great ruler. He rid this nation of all that. Well.... he was a bit extreme, and I understand the Indeterminant's middle ground position.... but still..... pisses me off a bit."
Nodding in agreement, the men all seemed to have respected Kyle Ruthobold for what he had done.
"Ah, waitress! Could we get the bill over here!"
"Ah, right away, dear customers."
Waving to the waitress, a woman approached the three men, causing them to look up breathlessly as they witnessed her.
'Beautiful....'
'Gorgeous....'
'She's the prettiest thing I've ever seen....'
The woman who stood before the men had skin which was as white as the snow, and her lips were plastered with cherry red lipstick.
She wore the apron of a waitress, however she carried an elegance about herself which was indescribable.
On her head was a plaid baker boys cap, and peeking out of it was her shoulder length white hair.
Her eyes were bright red, and she looked down on the men with a tempting smile.
"Will that be all for today, gentlemen?", she asked.
"Ah..... well.... er....."
"I see. Then..... follow me."
Placing the notepad in her pocket, the woman took off the apron, laying it on an empty table and revealing a dazzling purple dress.
"That goes for all of you. Come, puny humans. Desire me."
As soon as the woman said this, the eyes of each and every person within the establishment became filled with a strange obsession.
Everyone stared at this woman, standing and following her as she exited the restaurant.
'She..... is gorgeous.....'
'I want.... to please her....'
'I want..... to assist her.....'
'I want to.... give her everything.'
The minds of the people, men and women alike, were filled with obsessive thoughts.
They filed out behind the woman like zombies, their mouths creeping upwards as they smiled with obsession.
The eyes of the people became devoid of life, filled only with one thing.
Desire.
They reached out their hands, wanting nothing more than for her to acknowledge them.
"Our.... Queen....."
As she exited the restaurant, she came across a man who was standing just outside it, rubbing his hands together with a money making grin.
"My... my my my... your ability would serve to produce immense profit, were it used in the correct manner. Isn't that right..... Lustia?"
The man standing before the restaurant was made from molten rock which glowed as lava flowed through his veins.
He wore a feathered cape made from quartz, and a tophat made from a similar material.
His face was that of a young man, though his demeanor would suggest that he was indeed middle aged.
"Do not act as if my ability is something so flippant. It is for the sake of instilling others with a desire for me.... and me alone.... that my ability exists."
Replying quickly as she flipped her hair with her delicate hand, the woman stepped forward with a mature smile.
"Indeed indeed..... the ability of Lust is not for the purpose of greed.... however just imagining the possibilities makes me jump with excitement."
The two stood at the side of one another, walking forth as they looked around the town.
As they walked through this town, more and more people would burst out of their homes, joining the crowd of zombies that walked behind the two.
"Humans are so easy to tame. Even without speaking to them, and from a distance, I can instill their desire for me. It truly is..... pathetic."
"But it is exactly that pathetic nature which we will exploit for our own purposes, no? So it is a great benefit."
As they walked through the town, the crowd had grown to hundreds of people.
Men, women and children. They were all filled with obsession over the woman who stood before them.
They wished for nothing more than to please her, their new Queen.
"Yet.... it is all fake..... is it not? The doings of the system.... the application of a mere ability.", Lustia whispered.
"Yet it is that ability which has made such a false thing into a reality, no? Then.... it is real, is it not?"
With the tip of his hat, Avarco offered his own opinion on the matter.
"You are an interesting man, Avarco."
"We are from the same era. Perhaps better than any of the newer hosts, we understand one another."
"Do.... do not bring up that I am from a previous era."
"My.... are you still sensitive about such a topic? Please forgive my rude statement. However allow me to offer my insight just a bit further if you will."
Turning around, the two faced the zombielike crowd before them as the people stopped in their tracks.
"If your beauty is eternal due to your nature as a spirit, then why would you be so concerned about your age?"
Looking to Avarco, Lustia lightly opened her mouth in surprise.
She didn't have an answer.
The man stood forth, fluttering his cape as he bowed before the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen!!! Welcome to the apocalypse!! Myself and my accomplice here will be serving as your hosts, and today we will be looking at the corruption of these lands. Now then.... how many among you here are willing to die for Lady Lustia?"
Presenting the woman with his hand, the man grinned as the people watched, and in the next moment the crowd erupted with emotion.
"I am!!!!"
"Me!!! Pick me!!!"
"I would die for her!!!"
"Allow me to be the one!!!"
Holding out a hand to silence the crowd, Lustia stood forth with a smile.
"I'm delighted to hear that you all are so willing to give so much for me..... but I don't like loud people. They're not my type."
The people immediately shut their mouths, looking to the woman with veins in their eyes, straining themselves to fulfill her every wish.
"Thank you. So considerate, each and every one of you. Quieting yourselves just to ease my ears..... now.... there are a couple of men who hurt my heart. So I want to ask something of you all."
As Lustia said this, the expressions of the people became filled with a spiteful rage.
'Someone hurt the heart of Lady Lustia!?'
'How dare they....'
'I will slay them.....'
"The evil Baron and his guards hurt me very much..... it pains me just to think about it.... therefore.... will you all take revenge for me?"
[Apply demand: Targeted bloodlust]
As Avarco used his skill, a red light overcame the eyes of the people.
"Of..... of course we will, Lady Lustia!!!"
"We'll destroy that bastard!!!"
"How could someone ever dare to harm you!?!?"
"We'll make him pay!!!"
The crowd was filled with anger, shouting out in fury for the sake of their temptress.
"Is that so? That makes me so happy that you would go so far for me! But I have one specific request."
With a horrid smile, the girl looked onto the raging crowd as they silenced themselves, holding their breath as they awaited her words.
"For the guards.... could you ensure that they suffer? And for the Baron.... he will be kept alive."
Silence overcame the crowd for a moment as the people looked to one another, however in the next moment, an explosion occurred.
"Of course, Lady Lustia!!!"
"We will make them suffer!!!"
"Ahahahaha!!!!"
It was as the people said this that Lustia smiled brightly, and spoke one more statement towards her people.
"Thank you. I have one more order for you. I demand that you feel no pain."
As she said this, the skin of the people became pale, truly like that of zombies.
The people however, took no notice of this, deranged in their madness.
"Now go."
And with this, Lustia and Avarco stepped aside, and the mob rushed forth through the streets, towards the mansion of the Baron.
It was then that the corrupted voice of the Determined played in the minds of the two.
[You two have done well.]
Just these words, yet they were enough to inspire pride in the two as they beamed with smiles.
"Thank you, your eminence."
----
"Those pestering heroes.... they think that they can just come in here and topple the noble hierarchy.... and the people believe them? They believe them, just because they are heroes!? They FOUGHT one another!!! They KILLED one another!!! They clashed over ideals, and yet the people don't even see this!! The fools!!!"
A man sat in his bed, surrounded by maids who stood at his bedside, at the ready to serve him.
"I completely agree, master."
"They are good for nothing peasants who see nothing of the big picture."
"They only focus on what they are spoon-fed, and are far too easy to manipulate. Quite unlike yourself."
The man grinned as his maids praised him, sitting up with a lecherous smile.
"Is.... is that so? Yes.... of course that is so! Those peasants are nothing more than fools who follow whatever figure is at their head!! I'd bet if a monster stormed into this town and told them what to do, they would fall for it's tricks and listen!!"
"They are truly unredeemable, master."
"What would they do without you?"
The man nodded with confidence, his ego further inflated as his maids spoke one dimensional praise of him.
"Of course!! That fool, the Indeterminant.... he believes he can run an entire nation on his own!? And one three times the size of any previous nation!? Without the ruling of the nobles, he is nothing more than one man!!! Even if he is the hero, he will need to distribute the duties to those who know the needs of each area!! That is why he should return our political positions to us!"
"Of course, master."
"Without you, the people of this town will soon realize the hardships that they will endure."
"If a local lord is not in place, the rule of law will soon favor towards other areas of the nation. If that is to happen, the people of this city will be neglected and left out."
The maids continued to stroke the ego of the man, portraying him as necessary for the people of this city.
"That's right. Without a local Lord, the people of each individual city are doomed to be sacrificed for the whole.", he stated while waving for one maid to lean closer.
Grabbing the wine off the platter she held, he took a sip while continuing to nod.
"Yes.... we should give it time. The fools have not endured significant hardship thus far, but they soon will!! Hah! And where is this Determined that the Indeterminant is supposed to be fighting against!? Has he forgotten all about her in order to rule the people!? He should have delegated ruling to someone else and performed his duty! It is truly unfit of him as a hero to interfere in matters which are not his to control."
"You are absolutely right, Lord Rotheim."
"Without a shadow of a doubt."
Placing the wine back on the platter, the man stood up, getting out of his bed as he walked forth.
"Then..... we shall begin preparation of a new set of policies for when the civilians come begging for me to rule them once more."
"At once, my Lord."
Stepping out of the room, the man who was dressed in the overly elaborate noble attire made his way through the decorated halls of his mansion, followed by his maids.
It was as he walked through these halls that he heard something.
'Hm? How strange.....'
"Do you all hear that sound as well? It sounds like....."
The man stopped in his tracks for a moment, taking a second to listen closer.
"The sounds of clashing weapons?", one maid asked.
"It..... would seem that some sort of fighting is going on.", another stated.
Thinning his eyes, the man quickly took his place behind the maids.
"Protect me. I am not sure what is going on, but it is clearly the case that someone with a grudge against me has decided to send some attackers. Let us escape."
The maids looked to one another, back to their master, and then to one another again.
They all nodded in synch, and then they ran.
"Goodbye, master."
"You were a fool who made too many enemies."
"I always despised you. I hated the way you looked at me."
"You are nothing more than a power inflated creep."
With these parting words, the maids all ran off in different directions, escaping on their own.
"What...."
The man was left alone in the halls, not a single person to assist or defend him.
"Get..... get back here you wenches!!!! Protect me!!!! From..... whatever..."
"Do you look to weak women to act as your shields?"
"My..... you are even more pathetic than I expected."
The elegant voices of a man and woman entered the ears of the Baron, who turned around to witness them standing there.
Two monsters.
Both gave off young appearances, and were attractive in their own respects.
They wore high class outfits, however the Baron knew from a single look.
"D-demons....."
Stumbling back in fear, the man could barely even get these words out as he looked up to these beings.
"Demons..... how..... how did you get here!?!?! What is the Indeterminant doing!?!?!"
Shouting out in terror, the man looked around him, coming to the realization that he was completely on his own with these two demons.
'Those.... those damn maids!!! How dare they betray me like this!!! I'll have their heads when I next see them!!!'
"The Indeterminant is likely locked in battle with their excellencies and her eminence. If everything goes according to plan.... then he will be eliminated within the hour.", Lustia stated with a smile. "Now then..... I realize exactly why her eminence put you on the class 3 list. You truly are one who is worth tormenting."
Placing her hand on the man, the spiritual woman made this motion without resistance.
The expression of the man became blank and his eyes were now those of a zombie.
"Come with us back to the monster realm.", Avarco stated with a grin. "There is a delightful woman who is surely excited to meet each and every one of you."
As the two walked down the stairs of the hallway, they entered to witness a massacre.
A large number of guards had fought for life and limb, being slaughtered in horrible manner.
Limbs were flayed all over the place. Blood covered the halls, and each and every guard was struggling on the ground in pain, all of them alive yet gravely injured.
"Urgh!!!"
"Help!!!"
Around the room, a number of civilians who now took the appearance of zombies were also gravely injured, many dead.
However even in death, they had smiling expressions on their faces.
The ones who lived rushed up with happy expressions as they saw the two.
"Lady Lustia, we did as you ordered!"
"We ensured that the guards suffered and defeated them all!"
With a prompt nod, Lustia gave her silent approval to the scene.
"You all have done well. Now die."
And then, as if the life from their eyes had been extinguished, the zombified people fell to the ground without another word.
Walking through the body filled hall, the two led their single prisoner as if he were a dog on a leash.
On exiting the mansion, Lustia and Avarco came across the group of maids, who were surrounded by the dead bodies of the men, looking at them with terror.
"Ah.... you poor little things. You were forced to serve this excuse for a man, and when you tried to run away you were captured by my slaves. But then they all died right in front of you..... and you had no idea what to do with yourselves."
Lustia approached the group of women, who fell to their knees at her overwhelming presence.
Leaning into one of their ears, the spiritual temptress whispered to them.
"Worry not. I will release you all, in accordance with the orders of her eminence. Die."
And then, the maids too fell to the ground, lifeless.
----
[Time log]
[10:00 AM- The former Hosts of Lust and Greed appear in the city of Pomalis]
[10:07 AM- Almost all residents of Pomalis are put under the charm of the Host of Lust and led to the home of the Baron, where they were ordered to mercilessly battle against the household guards]
[10:14 AM: All household guards are defeated and Baron Rotheim is taken into custody by the former Hosts. Note: The guards who loyally served the Baron were left to bleed out, painfully enduing until their deaths approached.]
[10:16 AM- All citizens of Pomalis who were under the charm of the Host of Lust are released from their life force. Their deaths are instantaneous and painless.]