“The Alchemist Society has brought shocking news.”
Early in the morning, the Governor summoned her and spoke.
“They say a murder has occurred. And they've named you as the prime suspect, Yustia.”
The Governor looked at the woman sitting in the chair opposite him with a troubled gaze.
Yustia's aura was quite different from usual.
The armor she always wore had been taken off.
Seeing the Silver Knight's bare face was a rare occurrence even for the Governor.
The true appearance of the stoic knight was vastly different from the impression she gave when wearing armor.
Her hair was a vibrant pink, like cherry blossoms in full bloom, complemented by a well-defined nose, thick eyelashes, and an intelligent look.
Yustia had been renowned for over a century, yet there was no trace of age on her. Rumor had it that she had discovered a secret to defying time when she reached the depths of the 8th layer, but only she would know the truth.
However, what caught the Governor's eye more than anything was her daring attire. The outfit, which brazenly exposed her shoulders, cleavage, hips, navel, and thighs, somewhat disrupted the serious and grave atmosphere.
As her direct superior, he should have reprimanded her for inappropriate attire, but the Governor couldn't bring himself to do it.
It was true that she looked far more appealing than her usual stoic and inhuman self, and besides, no one could even imagine scolding the Silver Knight in the first place.
“Is that what they're claiming?”
Yustia swept the hair from her shoulder back and puffed out her chest as she asked.
A symbol of overflowing femininity, whose size he had never realized when she was in armor, swayed, asserting its presence in a way that was difficult to ignore.
“Ahem. I heard you went to meet Duke Galvin yesterday. The murder occurred immediately after that. They claim you killed Duke Galvin and escaped by jumping out the window.”
“That’s right. I killed him.”
“What...?”
The Governor, who had expected her to offer some rebuttal, was flustered when Yustia admitted it so readily, staring at her with wide eyes.
“He was a piece of trash who deserved to die. He was utterly useless to the future of this city. So I killed him. I should have killed him sooner. It felt a bit late.”
And with that, she clicked her tongue, as if blaming herself for her mistake in that regard.
“What are you saying, Yustia? That is clearly murder. You have no authority to weigh sins and mete out instant punishment.”
“No, I do. Because Mael allowed it. It was Mael and I who saved this city from the brink of destruction in the first place. Therefore, I have the right to weed out those who are unnecessary in this city.”
Yustia spoke, her voice imbued with power.
The Governor broke out in a cold sweat under the suffocating pressure.
It was a fact he had forgotten all this time, but it was true. The Silver Knight, Yustia, was a sword. The strongest and most fearsome weapon of slaughter, against whom no one could contend.
Until now, he hadn't worried because he was the one wielding her, but what if she turned against him?
“And Governor. You are one of them. You did nothing while the city fell into this state. Furthermore, neither your predecessor nor you erected a single statue for the great man who sacrificed himself for this city. As a result, Mael was forgotten. He became a pitiful figure whom no one remembers but me. Even though Mael gave everything for this city!”
Yustia stood up and strode purposefully towards the Governor.
The flustered Governor tried to stand and escape, but his back was against the wall.
“C-calm down! This isn’t like you, Yustia—”
Before he could finish his sentence, Yustia's hand gripped the Governor's neck.
Yustia lifted the Governor and snapped his neck. It was instantaneous. As Yustia tightened her grip, his scrawny body twisted grotesquely, his head askew.
Yustia released her grip on his neck. The dead man's body immediately dropped, collapsing onto the office floor.
“Haha. Ahaha. Ahahahahaha.”
Suddenly, Yustia began to laugh aloud.
This murder was akin to a complete negation of the life she had lived.
Yustia had always believed that what Mael loved, what Mael had promised to protect, permeated every corner of this city.
That's why Yustia tried to embrace even the city's imperfections. That's why she chose the path of a guardian, not a ruler or overseer.
But Yustia now realized that this had been a complete misconception on her part.
The future Mael desired was precisely this: an ideal led by an individual of absolute righteousness, strong and unswayed by any personal gain, pursuing the greater good.
And she was that very individual.
Yustia thought with conviction. After all, Mael was still whispering to her.
“Yes. I have no regrets. In fact, I feel relieved. Mael was right after all. These cancerous growths deserve to be removed. I will lead this city down the right path. To the future Mael desired.”
Yustia removed the ring from the dead Governor's hand and put it on her own finger.
Yustia immediately headed straight for the Adventurers' Guild.
She was certain that Elia would join her cause.
“Welcome. The Guild Master is upstairs.”
The clerk smiled kindly, as if she had been expecting her.
Yustia ascended the stairs to the Guild Master's office.
“Elia. It's me.”
The door opened.
Seeing Yustia's provocatively exposed appearance, Elia soon smiled slyly.
“Welcome, Yustia. I've been waiting for you.”
A strange form of address. And words with a strange nuance.
But Yustia decided not to dwell on it, as there was something far more important at hand.
Yustia entered and sat on the sofa Elia indicated. As Elia sat opposite her, Yustia began to speak.
“I intend to transform this city into its 'correct' form. Elia, I hope you'll join me in this endeavor.”
“Of course, Yustia.”
Elia readily agreed.
As expected. Yustia thought she had done well to come here.
“I'll give you this.”
Elia stood up and lifted the bottom of her robe.
She was wearing nothing underneath. Elia lifted one leg, revealing her wet pussy, then inserted her hand into her rear opening.
“You're more flexible than I thought, Elia.”
“Well, female hosts like us need to keep our bodies limber so we can serve Papa in any position.”
“I see. I don't quite understand, but that's an excellent mindset.”
A conversation with a somewhat abnormal flow.
However, Yustia didn't realize what was amiss.
After all, the pussy and asshole were a kind of service organ for entertaining the man one loved. Therefore, Elia's words about training them regularly were rather desirable. Mael was saying the same thing.
Soon, Elia withdrew her hand from her asshole. Her hand, drenched and wet with intestinal fluid, was covered in small, wriggling insects.
“Oh my.”
Yustia's face flushed.
To think there were such adorable children.
The original Yustia was a person far removed from maternal love.
Although she treated Elia with a daughter-like affection, even then she only saw herself as a mentor or teacher, never truly desiring to be a parent.
But the moment Yustia saw the parasites emerging from Elia's asshole, she recognized a mother's heart for the first time in her life.
Just seeing them made her heart pound and her chest ache with an overwhelming feeling. She wanted to caress them endlessly. She wanted to nurse them, shower them with kisses, and whisper how much she loved them.
“Those children...?”
“They're my family. These little ones like damp places, so I usually keep them in my pussy or asshole.”
“I see... Could I perhaps touch them?”
“Go ahead.”
Elia extended her hand to Yustia, offering the insects.
Yustia took the insects, bringing them close to her face to examine them. Their tiny antennae and long, tube-like proboscises were utterly adorable.
“They're cute. How can they be so lovely?”
Soon, the insects crawled down Yustia's hand and reached her chest.
To give the children what they desired, Yustia pushed aside the bra that covered her breasts.
The children diligently crawled to her breasts and inserted their tubes into her prominent, pink nipples.
“Ah♥”
Then, a thin liquid began to flow.
It was certainly strange. The real Yustia had never been pregnant and was, in fact, a virgin. Her sexual encounters with Mael had only ever been in dreams.
Suddenly, Mael's voice echoed in her mind.
“I see... These children are Mael's offspring... the materialized thoughts of Mael remaining in the labyrinth... That's why I feel such love and tenderness for them...”
Yustia understood.
If Mael's words were true, it wasn't so strange for her, a virgin, to be lactating.
Because she wanted to do anything for Mael, and she could.
“Those children parasitize humans.”
“Parasitize... humans...?”
“Yes. They grow by feeding on human minds, and later they brainwash and directly control those humans.”
“Brainwash and control humans... That sounds like a monster...”
Such adorable children doing such things.
Yustia couldn't believe it.
Could Elia be slandering them? Despite not knowing much. Such a suspicion even crossed her mind.
“No. Monsters are beings that harm humans, but these children are different. They lead them down the right path.”
“Down the right path?”
“Yes. Humans are flawed and imperfect beings. Sometimes, someone needs to lead them, even by force.”
Hearing Elia's words, Yustia felt relieved.
Ah, so that's what it was.
There was nothing wrong with these children. If there was any fault, it lay with humans. These children guide humans, just like... yes, just like Mael or herself.
“Then we should... spread these children throughout the city as much as possible?”
Yustia understood the gist of Elia's words.
And she realized that it was ultimately for the good of the city.
Because everyone becoming complete through these children would truly be a happy future.
“That's right. For that, I'll share my 'family' with you. First, please turn all the subordinates under your command into hosts.”
“Okay.”
Everyone becoming one with Mael.
It was a magnificent prospect, enough to make her head spin just imagining it.
How to proceed was already naturally forming in her mind. Mael was telling her.
Yustia leaned back deeply into the sofa and spread her legs.
Her crotch was already thoroughly wet from anticipation. Yustia pulled down the flimsy string panties she was wearing, revealing her pussy.
It was a shy pussy, tightly closed in a straight line.
“Put them in. Fill me up. Mael's children♥”
Yustia licked her lips as she spoke.
With a vulgar and lewd expression that was unlike her.
Elia smiled alluringly and approached her former mentor. Soon, the two embraced, their bodies pressed so close that their shoulders touched. The parasites that had emerged from Elia's pussy and asshole began to enter Yustia, filling her up.
“Ah...♥”