After we entered the barrier behind Kyle, I began to notice the large demonic presence in this area.
Within the barrier, many succubi and incubi stood ready with weapons and magic. As if they were prepared for an attack at any moment.
However, their weapons were not pointed in our direction. They were watching the rest of the realm.
We walked towards to ruined castle and were let inside without any issues.
Aldaril seemed uncomfortable about being here, but Nasuria clung to his arm as a means of setting him at ease. I was inwardly very glad that he had someone like her to lean on.
Eventually, we arrived at a set of large double doors and went inside behind Kyle.
As soon as we entered, I could see her sitting on a throne made of crystalline magic. She was surrounded by multiple incubus guards wearing black and red armor from head to toe and wielding halberds.
Demon Queen Estelyn.
As befitting of a succubus Queen, her beauty was enough to make most men drop to their knees and beg for even the tiniest bit of affection.
Her hair was long and had the color of luxurious navy blue. Her eyes glowed with a lovely pink.
She wore a form-fitting black dress that left little to the imagination and sat with her legs crossed. She held a crystal glass full of red wine in one of her outstretched hands.
Her black and blue horns matched well with the large wings of the same color extending from her waist and wrapping around her thighs. She had on many pieces of jewelry. A silver and sapphire crown, a luxurious necklace that sat just above her cleavage, a bracelet, earrings, and multiple rings on her hands.
I could now remember why I was so enchanted by her in the past.
Queen Estelyn was gorgeous.
"My my...such an interesting group of people you've brought me, Kyle..." She said.
"Eh...y-yes, your Majesty. Hey, all of you...would you mind showing some respect to her Majesty?" He said.
"Cassandra," I said.
"Yes, darling. Right away."
Cassandra stepped forward and gave a courtly bow to Estelyn.
"Oh...? One with royal manners? What is the meaning of this?" Estelyn said.
"Ahem...with all due respect to her Majesty Queen Estelyn, a King of his Majesty's stature does not typically bow down to other royals. I would like to introduce to you, King Mizik Iratus, the Destroyer of Worlds. I have the honor of-"
"YAAAAAH!!!" Estelyn shrieked.
She dropped her glass and pulled back in her throne. She looked absolutely terrified to her core.
She leaped put of her throne and dropped to her knees.
"Y-your Majesty! D-destroyer!!! Please forgive my behavior!!! I meant you no disrespect!!!" Estelyn said.
Every one of her underlings was speechless. They looked terrified.
"Hm. I may have forgotten to introduce myself, Kyle. Sorry, I had a lot going on right before you showed up. Anyway, please stand up, Queen Estelyn. I didn't come here to hurt you. If I did, we wouldn't be having this conversation. You would already be dead."
"Y-y-yes... Please forgive my sudden outburst..." She said.
She stood up and sat back on her throne. A moment later, she had composed herself. She quickly fixed her hair and adjusted her dress.
Although...I could tell she was still very nervous.
"So...w-what brings you here, Destroyer...?" She asked.
"It really doesn't concern you too much. We didn't come to this world or even this realm for you in particular. But I owe you for everything you did for me in the past. I wanted to extend an olive branch for an alliance," I said.
"P-pardon...? I'm afraid you may have me confused with someone else...or...I may have just misheard you... We have never met before. I'm sure I would remember meeting someone as...powerful and ravishing as you are, your Majesty..."
Having been married to her for thirty years in the past, I could see little had changed. I was apparently still very much to her tastes.
And a part of me missed her greatly. Yearned to be with her again. But I had to suppress those thoughts... I would still cherish the memories of the time that Mizik spent with her.
After all, Estelyn wasn't like the other girls in my harem. She wouldn't settle for being part of it.
Nor would she become passive and be convinced like Isabella was after the atrocities she committed during the Reset Incident broke her.
I could always take her mind, but I didn't want to do that. It would have been disrespectful. Instead, I decided to jog her memory.
Using the reset magic, I approached quickly and touched her forehead.
She flinched and drew back, but it was already too late.
Estelyn clutched her head and grunted...or rather, moaned in pain.
Leave it to a succubus to be lewd...
I hadn't noticed because I thought so little of them, but her guards had all hesitantly raised their weapons at me.
I simply ignored them and moved back to my original position. Isabella was eying me suspiciously.
"Don't worry, I have more than enough women in my life..." I said quietly. She nodded and remained as she was.
Eventually, Estelyn looked up at me. Her eyes went wide with surprise and she flew forward...grabbing my face and shoving it between her breasts as she hugged me.
"MIZIIIIIIIK!!! YOU'RE ALIVE!!!!" She squealed.
"Mmmmfh!!!!"
"Ah, sorry!" Estelyn said.
She let go of me, then flew back and gracefully landed on her throne.
I shook myself off and looked at her.
"Alive is sort of...wrong. What you saw that day didn't betray your eyes. Estelyn, I died. That...Demon King with the stupid name killed me..."
"Nautilankt...yes. He is my rival on Tanavol. Haaaah...damn him... He ruined everything..."
"Y-your Majesty...?" Kyle said suddenly.
"Hm...? Oh, yes. Mizik and I were acquainted in a previous life of his. I forgot due to the meddling of a higher being, it seems. Unfortunately...he has gone and gotten himself married to other women...how sad..." Estelyn said.
"Calling me an acquaintance to my face after all the weird shit you had me do to you seems a bit insulting, don't you think?" I said.
Estelyn smiled at me as she narrowed her eyes. All of her previous fear had completely evaporated.
"I do apologize, dear. It's just that I find it hard to think of you as my own anymore, what with all of the extra...companions of yours. Out of respect, I will treat you with dignity. And goodness...look at how you've grown! The Destroyer of Worlds!? Ahn...you really were a catch..."
"Right...my previous offer still stands. It demands an answer," I said.
"Of course it does. You know my answer already, do you not? I will not share you. My heart is closed off to you, Mizik. I apologize... Although, if you could be mine alone, I would fly into your arms in an instant!"
"I know that. I was actually proposing an alliance. The Cursebreaker and its crew stand ready to assist you. This is my thanks for treating me so well back then."
"Oh...yes! That! Aha...I will graciously accept...on one condition."
"You dare to make demands of his Majesty after he has been so kind to you? Wretched demon..."
I held up a hand to silence Cassandra.
"Apologize to Estelyn, Cassandra. I will not tolerate any disrespect to her or her people," I said angrily.
"Y-yes... I'm sorry, Queen Estelyn... Please forgive my insolence, darling..." She said sadly.
"It's fine, Cassandra," I said.
"You are forgiven. And don't worry, my request isn't unreasonable. It's more like...I want to make sure you really mean to help me. I will be unable to join your crew, but I can most definitely be relied upon whenever the need may arise. My request is simple...please kill Nautilankt with extreme prejudice. I would also prefer to leave this horrid place, but we can discuss that la-"
"Estelyn. You don't have to tell me to kill that fish-faced sack of shit. I already planned to do that. I'm going to make him suffer for killing me and I plan to restore his memories so that he knows why I'm doing it."
"You are so much more brutal than before...it gives me chills! I'm in love! Damn that Nautilankt..."
I allowed a slight smile to cross my lips.
"Then it's settled. We'll be staying for the night, if that's okay. I would like to look through any old documents or archives regarding the Central realm."
"That's perfectly fine. I look forward to a prosperous relationship!" Estelyn said with a seductive smile.
"Let's go, everyone. Aldaril, please lead the way. You've been here before, haven't you?" I said.
"Only once...and it was over 200 years ago! How the hell should I remember anything about this place!? It looks completely different!"
"I'm counting on you."
"His Majesty has placed his faith in you! You should be honored!" Cassandra said.
"Listen, Cassandra, that really isn't necessary to say to our crew members..." I said.
"Of course, darling! I will remain in quiet awe of your greatness! Please forgive my insolence."
When did you become like this...?
Regardless, we turned to leave and I stopped dead in my tracks.
I felt something...
"What the...?"
"Impending doom? Why are we feeling it so strongly right now?" Isabella said.
"Impending what? What's going on?" Nirani said.
"Is everything alright?" Estelyn said.
"No. Not in the slightest. Stay here and don't try to leave for any reason. We'll handle it," I said as I held up my arm to speak into my watch. "Rastair, status update. Did something just come through the gateway?"
"Yep. A group of Corrupted Generals, it looks like. As well as a woman with dragon wings and a guy with green skin holding a trident or something. According to our scopes, that is. Sheesh...he's really ugly!"
"Thank you, Rastair. Remain hidden until further notice," I said.
"Shall we get to work, my love?" Isabella said.
"Yeah. I'm concerned about Valtheim, so please have Stella come to us."
"Right away. Give me a moment..."
Isabella tapped her watch a few times, and smiled.
I turned to the others to address them.
"Avatars, you're about to witness the reason I need Kestel's help. A plague on all of creation...the Corruption. If it isn't stopped, every world will be consumed and dragged down into the Abyss forever. Get ready for a fight you won't soon forget," I said.