In this world, Regulus whose strength ranked among the top five, met a humiliating end just outside the gates of Roswaal's mansion.
Logically, with his extraordinary physical gifts and two complementary, powerful authorities, Regulus's reputation as the strongest of the six Sin Archbishops was well-deserved. His superior physical attributes formed the foundation of his strength, while his Time Stop authority served as his ultimate safeguard.
Regulus's Time Stop ability allowed him to freeze everything within a certain range, including his breathing. During this time, external forces could not interfere or harm him, but he retained the ability to affect things beyond the range of his authority. Anything he threw, regardless of its material composition, could destroy anything in its path. For instance, if he hurled a wad of paper at a city wall under the influence of this authority, the paper would pierce straight through the wall.
The only weakness of this ability was tied to his heart: if his heart were destroyed, Time Stop would cease to function. Moreover, since his breathing was halted during the time freeze, his heart would also stop beating, resulting in his death.
While Time Stop was a near-perfect blend of offense and defense, it had this critical flaw. However, his second authority, Lion's Heart, compensated for it entirely. With this ability, Regulus could designate a woman as his "wife" and merge his heart with hers—a sort of remote heart transplant. This authority directly addressed the vulnerability of Time Stop, ensuring his survival.
With his terrifying physical strength added to these abilities, Regulus didn't need specialized training or techniques. Even after living for over a century, his raw power and unparalleled authority secured his place among the top five strongest individuals in the world.
Unfortunately for him, Regulus encountered Ryou, who nullified his Time Stop using a Time Gem. As for Lion's Heart, it became useless when Ryou pulverized Regulus's body into a bloody pulp, leaving his heart intact but irrelevant.
Using his unique time-based powers, Regulus could vaguely suppress Semiramis, who had transformed herself into a fortress. But against Ryou, he was instantly defeated. His abilities were countered, and his misfortune rivaled that of Subaru Natsuki.
One could only wonder where Regulus got the confidence to spout grandiose. It seemed he failed to realize that acting like a protagonist without a protagonist's luck often led to disaster. His death became a testament to the dangers of such hubris, and Ryou couldn't be bothered to argue with a dead man.
What Ryou didn't know was that as he decisively ended Regulus, a pair of violet eyes had locked onto him. Emilia gazed at Ryou's godlike figure, her eyes filled with boundless envy. While she felt repulsed by his ruthless methods, the overwhelming strength he wielded to protect his companions captivated her deeply.
"If I had that kind of power, could I stand at the forefront and protect everyone too?"
No one knew the pain Emilia felt as she was pulled into the mansion's inner sanctum and heavily guarded. Watching her companions fight dangerous enemies in her stead filled her with endless frustration.
"If I possessed Satella's power, could I stand at the forefront and protect everyone?"
Her previous resistance now seemed laughable.
"A witch who devours the world, a silver-haired half-demon with violet eyes—these are just excuses. I've been running away… running from my responsibilities!"
Emilia longed to stand in front and protect others, rather than being the one shielded. To her, this helplessness was torment. Beneath her seemingly delicate appearance, Emilia was far more resilient than anyone imagined.
So, when Emilia sneaked into Ryou's room that night, he couldn't help but feel surprised. He had expected her to eventually accept Satella's power, but her resolve came much sooner than anticipated. He had even prepared to show her the devastation in the nearby village to push her toward this realization. Unexpectedly, she reached the decision on her own.
Ryou smiled wryly but couldn't hide the satisfaction in his eyes. He had underestimated Emilia's strength and decisiveness.
"Are you sure about this? This is no joke. Once you start, there's no turning back," Ryou warned, concerned she might be acting impulsively.
"I've already made up my mind! I don't want to hide behind others anymore!"
Emilia declared, her radiant gaze making it hard for Ryou to meet her eyes.
Inwardly, Ryou felt deeply gratified. To wear the crown, one must bear its weight. Forcing Emilia to make this decision prematurely wouldn't have been ideal—lies and manipulation would eventually unravel. But since she came to this conclusion on her own, it was much better. In his eyes, he could already see the birth of a peerless Witch Queen.
"Very well," Ryou said, pulling out the sealed Witch's Core from his storage space. He handed it to her.
"Slowly fuse it into your body," he instructed, demonstrating the process.
Thanks to Emilia's natural affinity, she quickly integrated the sealed Envy Witch's Core into her body. The rest of the unsealing process would be Ryou's responsibility.
...
Knock, knock, knock!
Just as Ryou had escorted Emilia back to her room and returned to his own, ready to lie down, a series of knocks echoed from the door. His face immediately showed surprise. Everyone had seemed so downcast during dinner; surely, they would all be resting in their rooms. Yet, just after sending Emilia off, another unexpected visitor had arrived.
Curious, Ryou opened the door to find Semiramis standing there, with Elsa—one of the day's key contributors—right behind her. Ryou immediately noticed that Elsa wasn't wearing her usual revealing, chest-baring dress but was instead draped in a black cloak.
What's going on?
Ryou was completely baffled.
Semiramis spoke first, her voice teasing.
"What, aren't you going to invite us in? Or do you have secrets you'd rather keep hidden?"
A sly glint sparkled in her eyes.
A chill ran down Ryou's spine. This woman was clearly up to something.
"What's going on?"
Ryou asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.
Semiramis chuckled softly, stepping into the room and closing the door behind her.
"Isn't it obvious, my Master?"
She purred, her eyes fixed on him.
"We're here to play a little game."
Ryou frowned, confused by her words.
Semiramis' eyes danced with mischief.
"Oh, but this time it's different. Elsa has a little surprise for you."
She walked over to him, her hands running seductively up his chest.
"And I'm here to make sure you enjoy every moment of it."
Ryou couldn't deny the heat that was spreading through his body as she whispered in his ear.
"What do you have planned?"
He asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Semiramis leaned back, her lips curling into a wicked smile.
"That, my Master, is for Elsa to reveal."
As Semiramis stepped away from him, Ryou's eyes locked onto Elsa. He couldn't help but feel the anticipation as she slowly lifted the edge of her cloak, revealing her body beneath it. She was wearing nothing but a black lace bra and panty set, her skin glistening in the dim light of the room.
"Whew..."
Ryou breathed, his throat suddenly dry. "Nice!"
Elsa's lips curled into a seductive smile.
"Thank you, Ryou-sama. I thought this would be a fun way to surprise you."
She slowly began to unclasp her bra, letting her full breasts spill out from their confines. Ryou couldn't tear his eyes away from her. Semiramis moved closer, running her hands over his chest and down to his waistband. She gave it a gentle tug, and his pants fell to the floor. Elsa continued to undress, her body moving in a sensual dance. She slipped out of her panties, leaving her completely naked. She walked over to him, her hands trailing softly over his erect shaft.
"You're so sexy," he murmured, reaching out to touch her hips. Semiramis leaned in close, her lips brushing against his ear.
"Enjoy her, Master. She's all yours."
Both Semiramis and Elsa, two of the most alluring women he had ever met. He felt their bodies pressing against him, their soft skin sliding against his own. He kissed Elsa passionately, tasting her lips as he explored her body with his hands. Semiramis watched them from the corner of her eye, a smirk playing on her lips. She ran her fingers through Ryou's hair
"I think it's time for a little role reversal, don't you?"
"I think it's time for Elsa to see how it feels to be the one being pleasured," she purred, her finger tracing his lips. Elsa gasped as she felt Semiramis' hands on her hips, pushing her forward. Ryou's mouth found her breast, and he suckled on it hungrily. She moaned softly, her hands running through his hair, urging him on. As Ryou moved lower, his tongue tracing the outline of her pussy, Semiramis watched with rapt attention. She couldn't help but feel a rush of jealousy as she saw how much Elsa was enjoying herself. But then, she felt Ryou's hands on her hips, pulling her closer.
"Take off your clothes," Ryou growled, his eyes fixed on her. Semiramis couldn't believe what she was hearing, but she couldn't resist the look in his eyes. Slowly, she began to remove her clothes, revealing herself to Elsa and Ryou. They both gasped in awe at her perfect body.
Ryou moved closer to her, his hands running over her skin as he took in every inch of her flawless body. Elsa couldn't resist any longer; she joined them, her hands exploring Semiramis's curves and contours.
Their moans filled the room as they lost themselves in each other, creating a symphony of passion and lust. It was a night that none of them would ever forget.
....
Ryou opened his eyes and sat up. As he gazed at the soft, warm bodies lying around him.
Scenes of the previous night's passion played vividly in his mind.
Unexpectedly, there was a twist: Echidna, the strange and somewhat kinky Witch of Greed, wandered into Ryou's room. Seeing the scene of indulgence, she decided to join as well.
Ryou, who had long wanted to teach that cunning witch a lesson, took the opportunity to drag her onto the bed. What followed was a wild flurry of brutal seggs correction, as Ryou thoroughly punished her. Along the way, they explored various extreme playstyles they had never imagined, including choking, bondage, and other indulgences.
The commotion drew the attention of Ram and Rem, who also found their way into the room. Naturally, Ryou, now entirely berserk, didn't let them leave unscathed and deflowered them. By the end, the night had devolved into utter debauchery.
As Ryou reminisced, he felt like he needed a post-event cigarette to steady himself. When the girls began waking up, the atmosphere was awkward—but surprisingly, only Ram and Rem seemed truly troubled. Elsa, now a woman, and Semiramis, were unfazed. Even Echidna, the madwoman, begged Ryou to torment her again so she could fully experience the sensation of death.
By breakfast, Ram and Rem had seemingly returned to normal, though they began mercilessly teasing Ryou with their twin voices antics. Ryou, who didn't want to be a complete scoundrel, took their jabs in stride. After all, the twins had been dragged into last night's events unintentionally, and he felt a twinge of guilt for their loss of purity.
Though he had often jokingly referred to them as his bedmaids, things had escalated to a point of no return. Understanding their frustration, Ryou allowed them to vent freely.
Meanwhile, Emilia observed the scene in bewilderment. How had Ryou-sama's relationship with the twins improved so drastically overnight?
As innocent as a pure white flower, Emilia didn't grasp the complexities of the adult world. Anastasia, however, cast a knowing glance at everyone, her eyes betraying a hint of understanding. Still, she said nothing, maintaining a calm and regal demeanor as she enjoyed her breakfast.
After breakfast, Ryou gathered everyone in the study to discuss their next steps. It was Puck, the self-proclaimed "daughter-con," who spoke first.
"Under my daughter's leadership, we've wiped out the infamous Witch's Cult and killed five Sin Archbishops. Based on this achievement alone, my daughter should have no trouble claiming the throne."
Puck crossed his paws confidently, though the sight of a fluffy gray cat making such a bold declaration looked more than a little absurd.
His boastful statement caused Emilia to feel embarrassed. She had contributed nothing, acting only as a figurehead in the background.
"No, no, no! This was everyone's achievement—I didn't help at all!"
Emilia waved her hands, flustered.
"Lia, don't be so modest. As the leader of the faction, all the credit of your subordinates is yours!"
Puck gave her an encouraging thumbs-up.
However, his arrogant declaration annoyed someone.
Smack!
Without warning, Puck was frozen into a black ball of ice and fell to the ground.
"Quiet. You may continue," Anastasia said coldly, retracting her hand. The room fell silent as everyone swallowed nervously.
"Puck!"
Emilia cried, rushing over to pick up the frozen cat. Thankfully, since their contract hadn't been broken, Puck wasn't in any real danger, much to her relief.
At that moment, Ryou spoke up.
"Indeed, if we announce our victory over the Witch's Cult, it will cause a massive sensation and bring Emilia great renown. However, doing so would also make her the prime target of the other four royal candidates, potentially prompting them to join forces against us. Moreover, the Council of Wisemen, which is supposed to maintain fairness, clearly looks down on us. Competing under such biased circumstances would be asking for trouble."
"Then what should we do, Sensei?"
Emilia asked earnestly. Normally, she would address him by name, but calling him "Sensei" now signified her determination to absorb his political wisdom.
Ryou's eyes glinted with satisfaction. Emilia's active willingness to learn these darker political strategies was a significant milestone. He silently thanked the Sin Archbishops; their reckless arrogance had been the perfect catalyst for Emilia's transformation.
As for her question, Ryou responded with a single sentence.