"Who are you, and what is your relations to that boy?" Jessica's eyes narrowed slightly as she inquired. To her sudden question, Arianna tilted her head slightly.
"Were you not listening to what I said just now? I said he is my master." Arianna answered easily.
"He... Is your master? That's a lie. Even if what you said is the truth, how exactly did you get here?" She was getting more confused the more she ponders.
That was to be expected, after all the ones who had brought Kenta to the temple of power were Jessica and Leroux. He hadn't brought any servants with him when they arrived.
And even if he had such a powerful servant, why didn't he bring her out before? This is the question that had left her the most puzzled.
The flaming bear and the black crow glared at her warily, the aura of death shrouded her body, surrounding her.
The flame bear and the black crow were not able to move closer, it was an instinctual fear, the fear of death. They understood that if they approached any closer, they could die.
The two tailed wolf growls in fear as it hid behind Jessica's feet. "If we're just going to talk, could you dispel that unpleasant aura around you? And you three stay back." As beings who were of the living of flesh, they were weak to the aura of death which feed off life energy.
Jessica's face was tensed ever since the aura of death appeared. There was no telling how the situation would play out if one of her beasts had attacked impulsively, so she chose to call them back.
"Understood." Deeming that the other side no longer has any hostile intentions, Arianna nodded and quickly dispersed the aura of death around her slender body. Seeing that, Jessica subconsciously exhaled the air through her lungs.
However, despite not having the aura of death anymore, the pressure she exuded was overwhelming. 'How could he have someone so strong as his servant?' Jessica furrowed her brow in contemplation.
'The mysteries surrounding that boy just keeps getting bigger.' Jessica sighed, as though expelling her pent-up exhaustion. She then glanced back to the woman with long blackish red hair before asking.
"Did Kenta hired you as his servant? Your characteristics seems to be those from the hidden mist clan."
The hidden mist clan were recognized to be the best assassins known in this world; they were also known to be the best at manipulating shadows.
Arianna had hidden in the shadows and had concealed her presence enough that it was impossible for her to notice without the help of her beast.
Arianna was already skilled at shadow manipulation even before she had died all those years ago.
Kenta further enhanced her abilities when he turned her into an undead vampire, not only was her natural abilities significantly improved, but she had also gained a stronger soul, bringing out even greater potential from her body.
But when Jessica mentioned the hidden mist clan Arianna merely tilted her head in confusion.
Apparently, she wasn't aware of the hidden mist clan's existence. After her revival most of her past memories were lost. She didn't have any lingering attachment to her past memories either.
The only desire she feels now was serving her current master. Jessica observed her reaction and heaved another sigh, "Forget it, inform your master I will be visiting him later tonight." Jessica turned and was about to leave.
"Sigh, this boy, he really knows how to cause trouble for me, doesn't he." Jessica sighed as she left, the invisible barrier shattered, as the training grounds returned to its natural state.
After receiving Jessica's message, Arianna didn't linger there any longer. She once again merged with the shadows and disappeared. Feeling the presence behind her suddenly vanish without a trace, Jessica glanced a little over her shoulders.
A gleam flickered in those pair of beautiful sapphire-like eyes.
"To think he would have such a mysterious woman serving him. And she didn't seem to be forced against her will, nor was she under any kind of manipulation spell to forcefully bind her will to him."
The behaviour of Arianna was natural, she could feel her unyielding loyalty being directed towards Kenta. It was unmistakably the demeanour a servant would show to their master.
There was nothing superficial about her attitude. There were many spells that could forcefully bind one's will to their master.
The master would have to completely dominate the servants will, turning them into their puppets. But Arianna didn't seem that way as she interact with her.
"And even then... Was Kenta even strong enough to achieve such a thing?" Jessica's brow furrowed.
Her master will be coming here within a few days to teach Kenta the 'demon strengthening physique.' She wanted him to train within the temple and familiarize himself with this place more, but—
"I guess it can't be helped." She mumbles to herself.
The fact that Emerson also wasn't aware had bothered her.
"Sigh, forget it. I shall have my questions answered later tonight. It's fine."
Jessica shook her head, causing her long waist length brown hair to flutter as she left.
...
Meanwhile, sometime after Arianna had ended her conversation with Jessica, Kenta had already returned from his meeting with Aurora. While he still had another class left, he chose to head back to his room instead.
"... Once I reach within the top thirties on the ranking list, we will have our duel. For a princess she sure is a whimsical one." Kenta mumble to himself, recalling the words of the ice princess, Aurora.
"Indeed. For someone usually seen as cold and detached, that princess had quite the adventurous spirit, didn't she? She reminds me of princess Sophia."
Kenta wasn't the only one present within the room, currently brewing steaming hot tea was a beautiful silver-haired woman who had donned a black and white maid uniform.
It was the undead ghoul, Julia.
Who was currently serving as Kenta's personal maid. Although he was curious about princess Sophia, who was suddenly mentioned by Julia. He decided not to pry into it as he responded.
"Sigh, it's annoying, but... I can't help but be interested in facing a strong opponent, even better someone of her skills." Kenta's eyes shone eagerly; his mouth twisted into a slight grin.
"Hehe... As expected of master. So eager to brawl, but... I love that side of master as well." Julia chuckled. Despite his appearance being that of fourteen years old, Kenta usually has a calm and serious demeaner unbefitting of his age. It was very rare for him to show such a childish side of himself.
"On another note." She said, changing the topic.
"What are you going to do about those guys who are secretly plotting against you?" Julia's carefree expression gradually became serious as she narrowed her crimson eyes.
Her senses were much sharper than those of ordinary humans, despite being inside the room, she could feel the presence of another individual hiding not that far away.
In fact, she had noticed once their conversation with Aurora had ended.
"Are they still following us?" Kenta's eye's narrowed slightly as he asked.
"Yes, they have hidden themselves very well. However, I'm picking up the magical energy of two individuals hiding somewhere nearby." She explained calmly. However, there was a subtle trace of murderous intent from her cold tone.
"Is it really okay for us to leave them? We could easily take them all out quickly." She added.
"Maybe so... but, I have another idea in mind which is why I ordered Arianna not to assassinate them when she had the chance." Kenta responded.
"Oh, do you have something in mind for them?" Julia asked as the scent of the steaming hot tea filled the room.
"Now that I can control this aura, I want to try out its capabilities. Those guys will be the perfect test subjects for me." Kenta's eyes shone coldly as his lips spread into a smile.
It was a very ruthless way of going about things, but he didn't care. They concocted a plan to harm him.
And so, he saw no reason to show them any mercy. For those who foolishly direct their hostility towards him, they will naturally receive his own hostility in return.
"M-Master is so cool~." A sweet voice resounded. Turning his head to the sound of the voice, a beautiful woman dressed in a purple robe wearing a large witch hat, who was endowed with a beauty equal to Julia sat elegantly on the bed.
Her long silvery-white hair cascaded down towards her slender back, her crimson eyes gleamed with undisguised admiration as she gazed at the blonde-haired boy heatedly.
"Eh, w-when did you appeared here, Morgana?" Julia put down the teacup onto the table as she asked, taken aback.
"Fufufu. How pitiful, for the head maid to fail to sense my approach. Maybe I should attend to master instead~."
"Wh-What did you say! I'm the only one who will attend to masters' personal needs, someone like you is unnecessary!" Julia's brow twitched, as she retorted somewhat annoyedly to Morgana's sudden suggestion.
"Heheh... What's wrong? Are you trying to monopolize masters' attention all for yourself? What a bad maid." Morgana mocked.
Dark flames gather around Julia as she glared at Morgana. "Hmph, sh-shut up! You annoying witch!" Julia said, coldly as she hurled a blast of flames towards her.
"Heh, I'll pass on this." Morgana casually erected a purple magical barrier to block the flames.
"Oh, this is?" Suddenly, she narrowed her eyes as she observed the dark flames burning through her barrier.
The blackish flames seem to be imbued with the aura of death.
'These flames aren't ordinary flames constructed through magic. It seems to carry some sort of corrosion.' Morgana dispersed the flames along with her barrier as she took an interest in Julia's flames.
There was no doubt Julia was a strong fire type mage when she was alive as an ordinary human.
Her knowledge on the field of magic was already very extensive after receiving the best teaching at the royal castle from the kingdom of Oura.
However, after being contaminated with the negativity of the aura of death it had influence not only her physical body, but also her flames.
Now that she has received the blessing of the death god, her strength had naturally reach new heights.
'It's not just her, but the rest of us should have gone through our own evolution as well.' Morgana was once a researcher during her early youth, noticing the recent changes to her own body had made that side of her surface once again.
Her lips spread into a slight grin while she was letting out a "fufufu" laugh, she felt thrilled to know more.
"Ugh, what's with that creepy expression your making, don't tell me you enjoy being attacked, you crazy masochist!"
"A masochist. Fufu. I can't deny that. I do get really hot when thinking of master pushing me down and forcing me to submit to him." Morgana's cheeks were dyed a shade of red as her seductive body trembled.
Julia's face turned red as blood rushes to her cheeks. "P-pervert!" She exclaimed, firing multiple flames of corrosion towards Morgana, but she delt with them all accordingly with a playful grin.
"You two are always so loud." Kenta murmured annoyedly, as he sipped the tea he had just brought to his lips. Once the taste spreads into his mouth his eyes widen slightly. 'Although she can be very clumsy, her tea making skills really are top-notch. Well I guess I should say as expected of her.' He thought inwardly.
Suddenly, space distorted for a moment as the soul eater sword appeared. It's beautiful blade shone with a radiant light. Although the feeling was faint, he could feel and even hear the howling of souls whom had been devoured by the souleater.
"Your existence is a sin!"
"The god of death is a plague that must be killed!"
"Why did someone like you had to be born?!"
"Your existence only causes suffering!"
There was hundreds, thousand or even millions of voices who were suffering constantly entering his ears. Yet despite that, he felt strangely at ease.
Their curses and words of malice had failed to reach his heart. In fact, he only relish their suffering even more.
"I should be able to draw out more of soul eaters power." Kenta's eyes shone eagerly, as he observed the blade of his sword.
[Don't forget, make sure you don't use the soul eater sword right now. Your soul is too strong, much stronger than what your physical body can endure at the moment.] Suddenly, Agni's voice resounded inside his head.
"... Right. I have to learn the demon strengthening physique before I can increase my strength." Kenta sighed heavily as he put down his teacup onto the table. Jessica had said someone would come within a few days to teach him, there was still a chance he won't be able to learn it.
If such a scenario were to happen, he would not be able to get any stronger than he is now, which would make things even more difficult moving forward.
'Even without soul eater as a factor, the more my comprehension on the laws of death, the laws of lightning and the laws of flames increase, my soul would also gain a huge increase in strength in order to accommodate my comprehension with the universal laws. In other words, even without using soul eater I'd be screwed anyway.'
His face turned grim as he pondered those implications. He needed to increase the laws of death, and the laws of lightning and flames to deal with the other threats that could potentially target him in the future.
Kenta took out a small pink coloured gem from his pocket. It was the gem he had received from the goddess of concealment, Lize.
Although she had said he could use it to contact her whenever he wished, there was something inside him that felt repulsion at the idea of relying on the assistant of a goddess, besides—
"Lize is only a low-ranked goddess. Even she would struggle against the more powerful." Kenta's expression hardened when he recalled the unknown god that was responsible for the destruction of the kingdom of Oura.
He had also placed a cursed onto Julia and his other servant soul, preventing them from speaking of those events.
'The way I am now I'd be helpless against a demigod or a god. I hope that person would hurry up and get here.' He truly felt helpless in this regard.
The demon strengthening physique was his only ray of hope
[I should warn you, the demon strengthening physique isn't something that can be learnt easily. Especially with an untrained body like yourself. Be prepared to experience something so harsh death would probably be nothing in comparison.]
'The way you put it makes me feel worried and I haven't even started training yet.' Kenta wore a bitter smile.
Suddenly, a shadow entered the room through the tiny opening in the door and a beautiful woman with blackish red hair emerges from within the shadow.
"Oh, Adrianna, were you able to convey my message?" He inquired.
"Yes, I explained to her as you informed me." Arianna said in an emotionless voice. Her beautiful face was completely devoid of any expressions.
"Good. Once she gets here, I can finally get my plans started." Kenta smiled in satisfaction.
"... If you don't mind me asking, why did you decide to reveal our existence to that woman? Wouldn't it had been better to keep us hidden as your trump card?"
Adrianna asked, curiously. Julia and Morgana who were arguing a few meters away also seem interested in this topic as well, as they both stopped messing around and awaited his answer.
Sensing the blatant curiosity of his servants, Kenta knew he had no choice but to explain. He once again sipped his tea before answering casually, "Because I didn't see a reason to keep this secret hidden from that woman. I was the one who had decided to follow her here on my own volition, so naturally I do trust her to a certain extent."
His answer was so simple, that they didn't seem entirely convinced. And as though sensing that, he continued.
"And as for another reason, I can feel a certain attraction from her. It's hard to put into words, but I feel like she is similar to me in the same way that she is also someone searching for vengeance as well."
As the saying goes, "birds of the same feathers flock together." It was that kind of attraction.
Back when he had first met her, he could feel killing intent being exuded from her. At that moment, he didn't become hostile because he knew instinctively that her intent to kill wasn't directed towards him, but someone else.
Since she needed him for something that meant she had no hostile intention towards him. And so, he had decided to trust her.
"I see... As long as that is your decision then I won't pry any further." Said Arianna. As usual, there was no intonation to her beautiful voice as she spoke.
And with a graceful curtsey, her gorgeous figure vanished back into the shadows silently.