According to Serena's account, I was out for four entire days.
The night had fallen upon the grygan village and I made the wise decision to call it quits for the day and let the minotaurs take a break from their construction work. We were replacing the flimsy thatched roofs with sturdy timber in order to improve the quality of the houses.
I gotta hand it to Serena and her skill - [Inventory] - we had managed to secure and store a plethora of magical airships, minerals, items, cores and crystals we discovered within the labyrinth. Ophelia had quite a loot selection to choose from. However, the airship had some technical issues and was basically unusable for our purposes, although this was something I planned to address later.
Thanks to the efforts of Mai Tai and her team, we had an abundance of clothing and there was no shortage of fruits.
Sangria and her team of minotaurs had done a magnificent job in hunting the animals (for protein) that would sustain the grygans and minotaurs residing within the thriving Andarbani territory.
Serena and I focused our efforts on improving the herbs and their medicinal properties. I was also tutoring Mimosa on how to optimize her [Plant Magic] skills so that she could create top-tier quality herbs. We had big plans to make different types of medicine to address a variety of issues such as wounds, ailments and colds.
Fasit, on the other hand, proved to be knowledgeable about the different types of herbs, even though she unfortunately lacked an affinity for [Plant Magic].
Skarz, the illustrious Minotaur Lord, communicated to me the issues that affected the minotaurs themselves. It was quite amusing how I was given the title of High Minotaur Lord, despite being a mere human.
Mojito did an excellent job thus far in maintaining the security of the grygan village. However, him and his security division required superior weaponry, which I planned to provide them with upon assessing the inventory we've collected from the dungeon.
Unfortunately... acquiring skilled blacksmiths proved to be a challenge.
---
I was currently engrossed in my work in my luxurious quarters, engrossed in a deep strategizing session to enhance our trading options.
Bazirta, the wise and experienced minotaur, had promised to put his vast knowledge and expertise in commerce into action so that we could climb the ladder of economic success.
Despite owning immense lands and resources, failure to optimize them for trade purposes would be of no use to us. As such, I brainstormed a few ideas on the development of infrastructures for education, clothing production, food preservation, and an expanded herb garden.
These were pieces of infrastructure that would boost our trading options.
While lost in thought, Isadora, the highly energetic demon spirit burst into the room, materializing out of thin air and immediately embraced me tightly, "How are you doing, Lumiere?"
I could feel her hardened nipples brushing my back, but I wasn't necessarily fazed by it... unlike before.
With the level of sensual views Serena gave me, you could say I was resistant to getting aroused for the day.
"Oh? I'm fine... I'm just plotting ways to improve my domainʼs economic standing." (Lumiere)
Things suddenly took a turn towards sensuality as she sprang her libido to life, "Oh my, hmm... it's like you know what gets me going Lumiere, I love a man who works hard.."
Then, her hands slowly slipped down into my pants and the faintest of contacts her finger made with my Master John Goodfellow caused an explosion of impulses.
"Oh my.." she said, amused by what she touched.
I made a quick escape by slipping out of her grasp and responding sternly with a swift but gentle chop to her head, "Alright, that's not any way to behave Isadora, I'm not even old enough for that yet!"
"Aren't they the best when their young? Ara~Ara... you're so inexperienced Lumi," she said, her voice sexually enthralling.
"That's enough Isadora," I sighed, a tad exasperated.
She responded with a sly smirk. "I'll consider it," she said.
I was starting to believe that my unique skill, [Beginner's Luck], was taking a sexual turn for the worst.
So far, the power had been useful in the areas of business, personal relationships, and battle.
It was a passive skill that brought me good luck in any situation, but now it seemed as though it was turning me into a walking sex box, which was honestly quite inconvenient.
At this point, I was a living representation of - 'Insert your honey hole here.'
But no matter the cost... I MUST STAY STRONG!
I already promised Serena that she would be my first, and I hers, so this sudden sexual attraction from Isadora was definitely not my thing.
I stood tall with my hands on my hips, trying to look confident as I confronted Isadora. "So, um... Isadora, why are you still um... well, why are you still in the village? It's been four days.."
Almost like she was heartbroken, Isadora almost turned pale as she spoke with a feeble voice, "Oh my, Lumiere... you have a wicked sense of humor."
"I'll take that as a compliment," I said, grinning. But when Isadora placed a hand on her ample bosom and her voice cracked a little, I realized I might have gone a bit too far.
"Isadora, I'm sorry," I said, my voice softening. "I didn't mean to offend you or anything."
The room was silent.
I stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to say. "Umm, Isadora? I didn't mean to offend you or anything. It's just that, well, you seem a bit out of place here," I said, scratching the back of my head.
"Out of place? What do you mean?" Isadora asked, her voice cracking a little.
"Well, you're a demon and all. And most of the people here are just regular not-so-scary folk. I mean, no offense or anything," I said, trying to sound as diplomatic as possible.
Isadora placed a hand on her ample bosom, looking slightly hurt. "I may be a demon, but I still have a conscience, you know. And it's not like I'm here to cause trouble or anything. I just want to be of service to you," she said, trying to hold back her tears.
I felt bad now. I didn't mean to hurt her feelings. "I'm sorry, Isadora. I didn't mean it like that. It's just that, well, why do you want to serve me? I don't have much to offer, except for food and shelter."
Isadora looked down at her feet for a moment, and then looked back up at me with a determined expression.
"I used to serve a demon lord. But some few years ago he died, and now... I have no master. I want to find a purpose in life, and I believe serving you would be a worthy cause. After seeing how you passed the labyrinth test so easily and now, this thriving village you've established I want to be under you... I mean, I want to serve you." (Isadora)
"(You want to be under me? Yeah, right... those words don't sit well with me given our past experiences..)" (Lumiere)
Still, I was taken aback. "Me? But I'm just a novice village chief. What could I possibly offer you?"
Isadora took a step forward and placed a hand on my shoulder. "It's not about what you can offer me, master. It's about what I can offer you. I can be your loyal servant, your protector, your confidante. And in return, I ask for nothing more than the honor of serving under you."
I couldn't help but chuckle a little at Isadora's passionate speech. "Well, who am I to argue with that kind of commitment? Alright, Isadora. You can serve under me. But don't expect too much. I'm still learning the ropes when it comes to being a ruler."
Isadora beamed with joy and threw her arms around me. "Thank you, master! You won't regret this. I'll be the best servant you've ever had!"
Isadora had officially become my servant, and I could see the joy in her eyes as she pledged her loyalty to me. However, she wasn't done yet. "Master, I ask that you grant me your family name," she said, her voice hesitant and filled with hope.
I raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Why do you need my family name?" I asked, curious about this strange ritual.
"Family names are essential to form a contract between a demon spirit and their supposed master," Isadora explained. "It solidifies the bond and allows us to connect on a deeper level."
I rubbed my chin, contemplating her request. It sounded like a big responsibility, but I knew that Isadora was trustworthy. "I see," I said, finally nodding my head. "I grant you my family name, Isadora Del Silva."
As soon as the words left my lips, I felt a surge of power leave me, causing me to lose my footing. I stumbled, but Isadora materialized behind me and caught me in her arms. "Are you alright, master?" she asked, worry etched on her face.
I nodded, feeling a bit lightheaded. "I'm fine, just a bit drained. Thank you," I said, grateful for her quick reflexes. Isadora had truly become an invaluable asset to me.
"Thank you, master," Isadora said, a small smile forming on her lips. "I'm truly yours now."
I smiled back at her. "Great. Now serve me well enough to live up to the family name - Del Silva."
Isadora beamed with pride, her chest swelling with determination. "I will, master. I shall devote my existence to you and you alone."
And with that, I had gained a powerful ally, and Isadora had gained a new identity, one that symbolized our bond and our shared destiny.
『 ---Status Update---
New Title: Demon Lord Candidate.
New Magic Skills: Additional Skill: [Demon Wings] (Rank N/A), [Demon Lordʼs Ambience] (Rank E), [The Ruthless One] (Rank E), [Infirmity Nullification] (Rank D), [Telepathy] (Rank C)
New Magic Arts: [Dark Magic] (Rank D)... also gained [Dark Spirit Magic]
Curse Series Update: [Curse Spirit Magic] (Rank E), [Curse Dark Magic] (Rank E)
New Series: 「Arcane Magic Series: [Dark Magic], [Spirit Magic]」
Upgrades: Fire Magic (Rank B ---> Rank A), [Poison Resistance] (Rank B ---> Rank A), [Enhanced Vision] (Rank C ---> Rank B), [Enhanced Olfaction] (Rank C ---> Rank B)
Physical strength | 34 + 6 ---> 40/40 |
10,000 mana points have been used for skill and affinity trades. User now has 15,000 mana points.』