Read Novel Full Chapter 606: Request for War
Chapter 606: Request for War
"...So Elena, you want me to go over there? It's kind of a tense situation for me right now... h-hahaha, I was just training some soldiers." Calypso asks me from where she's sitting in the chair across from the desk in the office.
"Yes, that's right. Freya and Aokitsu are busy, and I obviously can't go. The people I sent need support. Don't worry, I'll handle what you were working on, so I'm sending you—" Before I finish speaking, the door opens.
"..." Calypso and I look toward the door as Lycoris hops in, followed by Aqua and a girl who, from what I've been told, is named Olivia.
"Hey, Elena! I'll make this quick. Lycoris and I want to go to the war against the elves. And we're taking her with us." Aqua says, bold as ever.
"...?" I think over what they said. Pandora wasn't very clear about what I shouldn't let her daughters do. So if they want to go to war now that they're of age, I can't exactly stop them.
"I trust you two can handle yourselves. But what about this girl?"
"She's my little bitch. Don't worry, I'll take care of her. Bark, Olivia."
"Woof, woof." Olivia obeys with a delighted look in her eyes, and I spot the collar around her neck.
'Right... she's definitely one of Pandora's daughters...' I just sigh at the scene.
"Actually, this works out. Calypso here is being sent to the war against the elves. Things have started escalating, and they need leaders. Aqua, how would you like to take charge? Your grades... let me see." I pick up a paper.
'They're very good... though... good grades don't necessarily mean she'll do well in war.' I look over Aqua's academy scores. Even though she's in second place behind Eclipsya most of the time, she's also taken first a few times.
"Your grades are excellent, no doubt about it. Especially your practicals. Plus, your training with Amiya has shown great results—you're at the point where you can use your powers much more effectively now."
"As for Lycoris... do you really want to go? Your grades are good, but..." I stare at Lycoris. She's the one Pandora imposes the most rules on. Because Pandora knows she's her most troublesome daughter.
"I do! I want to be there! I want to help Aqua, and protect her, and explore the world!" Lycoris says, wagging her tail, while Olivia just stays quiet beside them.
"...If you want to go, I can't stop you. But this girl here—she's pretty weak. Her grades range from bad to average. Most of the time, they're right in the middle. I won't be giving her any protection. She'll be your responsibility. Understood?"
"Yeah, we expected that, Elena. We already talked to Olivia's parents, and they gave permission. I'll protect my naughty little bitch here." Aqua says with an arrogant grin.
"Alright then. You're going to war. Go to your rooms and get whatever you need. I'll also arrange some things to help you out." As soon as I say that, the three of them dash for the door, excited.
"Calypso, keep an eye on them. And even though I'm putting them in charge of some things, make sure you review everything. Take note of their actions too. I'll send some of the kingdom's strategists to oversee their decisions."
"And above all, don't let any of them die. You can let them get hurt, but if they die, Pandora will kill you when she returns."
"T-That's a lot of responsibility..." Calypso starts sweating. She's not exactly good at handling "teenagers," and now, instead of just going to war, she has to babysit Pandora's daughters full-time.
"It is a lot of responsibility, especially with those two. But luckily for you, Lycoris has excellent regeneration, along with equally good defense and attack because she's a half-dragon. So you'll need to pay more attention to Aqua—her regeneration is much weaker."
"By the way, Lycoris has been training with Mikael recently. She's got a tutor who's really making her much stronger. To the point where Lycoris is already twice as strong as I was back in the day." She's almost as strong as me now.
And I've evolved thanks to Pandora—I had an insane power jump. So Lycoris is monstrously powerful. In another year or two, she'll have way more power than I have now.
"If you say so, Elena. You're kind of the boss here. But... um... do I get something out of this?" She asks hopefully.
"Yes, yes, you'll be rewarded. But before we get into that, could you go get Mikael? He's somewhere in the castle. I want to let him know his disciple is going to war, but that he needs to stay here. If he goes, there won't be anything left for Lycoris and Aqua to do."
"And strange as it sounds, it's better to let them both risk their lives and step in to save them only if things go too far." It's the same with Pandora. Her training always put her life at risk—that's what made her so powerful.
"Fine!! I'm going, then." Calypso heads for the door while I pick up the paperwork with the collected information on Olivia.
'Her parents are ordinary, nothing special. Average grades. Weak practical magic. Good potential as a succubus... hmmm...' A succubus quite skilled in that area.
"Poor girl..." Being a succubus with Pandora's daughters as friends is complicated. Pandora's race is quite lustful, so I'm not worried about this girl trying to seduce the princesses. It's far more likely she'll end up as their personal slut than anything romantic.
'And it seems like that's already started.' The fact that Aqua treats her like a leashed pet and she obeys with a smile makes it clear who seduced whom in that friendship.
"Haaa... Pandora... she hasn't touched me in so long..." Because of the mark of ownership Pandora carved onto my stomach, I can't be with anyone. But I can't forget the pleasure Pandora gave me. I miss her touch so badly.
"I wonder if Pandora's daughters mark others too..." I lift my shirt, looking at the mark on my stomach. If I tried to sleep with someone, Pandora would know and punish me. So she really has made my life difficult, but that's fine. I accept it.
...
...
...
"I told you it would work, Lycoris!" I say cockily to Lycoris while packing our bags. Olivia already has hers ready, so it's just us two.
"Yeah! Elena actually let us go. I thought she'd forbid it for safety!" Lycoris says, delighted. This will be the first time we've left the kingdom to travel to another realm, so we're both really excited.
Plus, for the first time in our lives, we can ignore civility and do whatever we want. I've been practically bursting with the urge to do just that.
"And you, little bitch. Are you happy?"
"Y-Yes." Olivia says timidly, and I get a little "excited," but I take a deep breath because now's not the time to fuck Olivia. She's a sluttier bitch than she looks—she seems all prim and proper, but when she's in bed, she shows just how much of a slut she really is.
"Well, since we're going to war, we should bring lots of stuff, Lycoris! Let's go to the treasury and grab some relics. Maybe weapons too? I don't know if there's anything worth taking, but we should be prepared."
'I should probably bring some things just in case...' Me and Eclipsya have the lowest regenerative ability. Azazel easily has the most monstrous regeneration, and from what I've found out, Lycoris's regeneration is more like Mom Pandora's.
So I need some powerful healing artifacts to make sure I don't die in an emergency. And maybe some escape artifacts—even if running away is shameful, my life is worth more than pride. I can come back stronger and full of rage for revenge if I need to.
"Sister Aqua, what are you going to do to earn 'points' with Mom Pandora?" Lycoris asks, still perfectly hiding the competition Mom Pandora set up.
"I'm still thinking about it." I'm sure Mom's competition is weird. She didn't clarify any rules or criteria. Which means I have no idea what Mom Pandora will consider "points" to choose one of her daughters.
"Okay." Lycoris finishes packing her bag while I stuff a few more extra clothes into mine. Sometimes my two "little friends" down there tear through some of my clothes when I try too hard to hold them in.
"Alright, let's go—" I open the door and find Mom Delphina standing right in front of it.
"I heard everything."
"..." I drop my bag, having completely forgotten that Mom Delphina didn't know.
"M-Mom... I... could you just let me go? I swear I won't do anything stupid!! Besides, I need to make a name for myself! How can I make you and Mom Pandora proud if all I do is live in this kingdom without going after any real achievements?" I immediately start begging to leave.
"...I'll let you go. But if you fail, I'll punish you by taking away what matters most to you..." I follow her gaze to Lycoris.
'My relationship with my sister...' I lower my head.
"I-I'll do my best. I'll make you proud." I bite my lip as I say this with my head down. I hadn't imagined such a harsh punishment.
'I can't fail. I can't fail. I can't fail. I can't fail. I can't fail. I can't fail. I can't fail. I can't fail. I can't fail. I can't fail. I can't fail.' I don't want to lose Lycoris.
"You have the same look as Pandora." She says, lifting my chin.
"Good luck, daughter." She gives a little kiss to my forehead before stepping back. It calms me down. That's right—she's not punishing me yet. She's just made it clear I can't fail.
"Thank you, Mom. I won't fail." I calm down a bit, giving her a confident smile.
"Good. I only came here for that. Don't forget—I'm your mother. You should have asked me first, not Elena." She starts to leave, and I feel relieved she didn't stop me.