Primordial Villain with a Slave Harem

Chapter 1623  Cheeky Daughter

Orianna was having none of that, her nonchalant voice hardening.

"We both know he was using the Consortium just as we were using him. And he did help the syndicate, did he not? He took serious wounds for us, even facing off against Queen Morgana, the Scarlet Lilies, and Kaede Fujimori. In fact, even now, his actions are drawing these people away from the Greenvale conflict. If not for him, our fight would've been significantly uglier."

The brass instrument clicked once under his thumb and was set aside.

"Haaah… You're right. I apologize, I was saying nonsense. He's the Consortium's pride, our greatest Vesper Phenom in history."

"Yes, and it's time we help him."

The Mediator's grey eyes lifted to hers properly for the first time.

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"The Vesper Consortium's goal has always been earning legitimacy in a system where such rights were reserved only for those of royal blood. The conflict on this continent is entering its final stages. If we help him, that goal will be recognized. I believe he's going to take over the entire continent soon, and we are primed to be some of the biggest beneficiaries of that. But only if we are there with him for the finale."

The Mediator's fingers folded inside his sleeves.

"You want us to aid his effort in the war between Elvardia and Vraven?"

She shook her head. "It's no longer between two nations. Now, it's Quinlan Elysiar and his allies versus Iskaris. Old power versus new. We must decide on whose side we are."

"…Flower Queen."

When he spoke again, the grumbling was gone.

"You know well we can't afford such a fight. Our resources are strained, Alastair Greenvale's forces are relentless. They're sieging multiple strongholds of ours as we speak. If we send our forces to Devil, we'll be defeated within days."

Orianna smiled, slow and devoid of warmth.

"Well, about that…"

...

The dogkin capital had changed little since Kitsara had last walked its avenues. Black-stone walls and banners she had grown up under greeted her at the gate, and the guards posted there caught her scent from forty paces off and snapped to attention before she had reached the first step.

"My Lady!"

"Princess Kitsara!"

"You're back!"

She waved them off with a grin and kept moving. A maid turning a corner with a linen basket nearly dropped it when she saw who was passing. Another froze mid-polish and bowed so deep her nose touched the floor.

Kitsara did not slow for any of it. Her father's chambers sat at the top of the eastern tower, and she had only one destination.

She pushed through the doors and found Vargis exactly where she had expected him to be.

He was seated by the window. A cup of tea had gone cold on the table beside him, and the graying chieftain of the dogkin people was staring out at his own city alone.

His nose twitched before his head turned.

When it turned, his golden eyes widened.

"Kit-"

She did not let him finish.

She launched across the chamber and tackled him where he sat, arms around his neck.

"Father!"

Vargis rocked under the impact and nearly tipped his chair. He caught her with both arms and sat very still for a long moment, as if not trusting what he was holding.

Then his grip tightened.

"...my little rascal."

"I missed you!"

"...I have missed you too, daughter."

Kitsara squeezed harder, then pulled back.

"Father, we're kinda waging a brutal war right now, you know? I just helped Quin defeat Queen Morgana not long ago!"

Vargis's brows drew together.

"...he did WHAT?!"

"Defeated Queen Morg-"

"He let my little princess enter a battlefield like that?!"

Her eyes brightened, not understanding - or caring for - the wrath of a protective dad.

"Yeah, and it was amazing! I even shook my butt at that manic cunt before she got enslaved by Quin, it was the most amazing fight of my life! Well, I didn't really fight, but you get the point…! I was pretending to be Quin with one tail while using my other to hover as a second Quin high in the skies, and then I used my last tail to make it appear I still had three tails while I helped the girls fight the Fujimori bastards!"

"..."

The chieftain of the dogkin people did not speak. The merciless downpour of information was a lot to process.

"Father?"

"...Did he really defeat Queen Morgana?"

"Yeah! She is his slave now. She helps us besiege lands in Elvardia, we're kinda attacking the dwarves right now."

Vargis's head tilted slowly.

"...Didn't you attack humans while allied to the dwarves?"

She burst into amused giggles. "Father, your intelligence needs more work! That's old news! Elvardia betrayed us, so Quin got really mad and now he's burning dwarven fortresses to the ground while using his mom's name to turn the elves to his side. It's a real clusterfuck over there."

"..."

Vargis's hand came up and covered his forehead as he released an extremely long and deep exhale.

His daughter beamed at him.

"...Kitsara."

"Mm?"

His hand came down. The chieftain who had received ambassadors and sent warriors to their deaths for centuries was sitting behind the dejected father now.

"The father-in-law in me wants to slap the bastard for dragging you into a war like that."

"Hey-"

"The warrior in me understands his actions."

She shut her mouth.

"And the father in me…"

Vargis took a slow breath.

"Kitsara Ironfang."

Her ears stood straight up.

"You have become a daughter any father would be proud to name his own."

The silence held for a beat.

Then Kitsara crashed into him a second time.

"!!!"

"Daughter-"

"You're the best father a daughter could have!"

"Are you trying to kill this father of yours? My ribs are about to snap."

"What do you mean? I'm a weak illusionist, I bet you barely even feel it!"

She buried her face in his fur and squeezed harder. Vargis's eyes closed. His hand settled on the top of her head, between her ears, and stroked once.

Eventually, she leaned back.

"So, father."

Her ears tilted back slightly. Her smile took on a cunning edge.

"I kinda need you to call the Beastman Confederation's other lords."

Vargis's hand paused.

"...ah."

"You need to get them to join the war on our side."

"Ahh."

'So much for a family visit just to see her father after so long,' the chieftain thought. 'That bastard must be behind this…'

"I will call the meeting."

"Hehe! Love you, Father!"

Her arms went around his neck a third time.

"And please be quick about it."

"I will."

"I mean, like, get on it right now. Chop chop."

"…" A second tired exhale left his lips. "Yes, darling."