As Lucifer's conversation with Goddess Amara concluded, a slight, charming smile lingered on his face. He was already imagining what Amara would do after hearing his demand, completely certain she would not refuse him no matter what.
While Lucifer stood there smiling like a fool, staring at the waterfall, Goddess Amara was watching him from the void. Seeing that foolish smile, her lips curled upward of their own accord, a beautiful smile tugging at them without her even realizing it.
One of the privileges of being the Creator and Supreme Goddess was that she could spy on anyone without their knowledge—yet no one could spy on her in return.
After watching Lucifer for a while longer while she bathed, she waved her hand. The display screen vanished.
On the other side, near the waterfall in Valmare Town, Lucifer turned his attention to the rewards his system had granted him. With a single thought of "collect rewards," everything the system had prepared for the completed missions began to manifest before him.
First, four people appeared out of nowhere and knelt before Lucifer, addressing him in perfect unison as "Master."
One of them was a robust, muscular, and handsome man holding a mace. He wore simple leather armor over a shirt, armored trousers, and leather boots—every inch the seasoned warrior.
Beside him stood three beautiful, athletic women, each armed: one with a bow and arrows, one with a dagger, and one with a hammer.
The woman with the bow had ginger hair, azure eyes, a striking face, and the athletic, muscular build of a true warrior. She wore a green robe over her head, a lesser dragon-hide chest armor, black leather hunter's trousers, and wind-magic-enchanted boots.
The woman holding the dagger had black hair, black eyes, rosy lips, and a beautiful face marked by a cut that spoke of past battles. Unlike the archer, she wore no armor—only a simple black tight gown that beautifully outlined every curve of her body.
The last woman, the one with the hammer, was the most peculiar of all. She had silver hair just like Lucifer's, black eyes, peachy lips, and a well-shaped mature figure. She wore a white gown and looked like an ice beauty—yet she seemed rather frail compared to the other two, and her expression was surprisingly innocent for a legion master. Strangest of all, she was holding a hammer nearly as tall as she was and weighing about four hundred kilograms.
Seeing her, Lucifer honestly did not know whether to laugh or cry.
After examining all four, Lucifer named them. The robust man became Cassian. The woman with the bow and arrows was named Arlena. The dagger-wielder became Arlira. And the silver-haired hammer-wielder was named Arlissa.
Next, two wet-nurses manifested. Both were extremely beautiful women with voluptuous, sexy, seductive, motherly, and busty figures. Like the legion masters, they knelt before Lucifer and called him "Master" in unison.
They looked like ordinary citizens of Westirifer—except for their massive breasts, easily M-cup or larger, with proudly protruding nipples clearly visible even through their black maid gowns.
The moment Lucifer saw those breasts, an overwhelming urge to rush forward and suck on them surged through him. He forced the desire down. The hunger in his eyes did not go unnoticed by the two women; their cheeks flushed red and their own desire became plain.
After examining them, Lucifer named them Giselle and Nella.
Then two more ladies and a man appeared, kneeling and addressing him as "Liege."
The two ladies were beautiful and shared similar bodily features with the wet-nurses, though their breasts were smaller. They wore brown gowns and sleeveless white surcoats.
The man carried a scholarly air, with a fair face and body. He wore a simple white shirt, brown pants, a leather belt, and held a book under one arm.
Lucifer named the midwives Mabel and Tabitha, and the physician Theron.
From that moment on, all nine newly manifested beings entered the Velmora family lineage.
After naming them, Lucifer began giving them a full overview of Westirifer, the Velmora family, neighboring territories, and both enemy and unfriendly states.
While he was still explaining everything in detail, the final reward manifested: four eggs of guardian beasts.
Seeing the eggs, Lucifer bit his finger and let drops of his blood fall onto their shells to establish a soul connection. The eggs lit up with extreme vitality, but none of them cracked. Through the newly formed bond, however, he knew they would hatch very soon—perhaps today or tomorrow.
He then instructed the four legion masters to each take one egg and follow him back to the duchy.
---
*Clip… clop… clip… clop… clip… clop… clip… clop…*
On the trade road of Valmare Town, a large cavalry force was moving toward Serendity Town.
One hundred well-maintained war horses carried war paladins and one hundred valkyrie knights of the Holycross State, riding on both sides of the road. Leading them was the commander of the paladins, Gothras.
Behind the Holycross cavalry came the forces of Weilheim Duchy and Ironford County: roughly seven hundred knights from Weilheim and eighty knights from Ironheart County.
In the protected center of this combined escort rode twenty-one carriages.
The first three carriages bore the emblem of the Holygrill family and Westirifer, making it clear that Holycross was now fully part of Westirifer.
Inside the foremost carriage sat Matriarch Aria herself, together with her two daughters Gloria and Delya, the Oracle Master, and Aria's own aunt, Synthia Holygrill.
In the second carriage rode Aria's three main husbands—Nad Kevlon, Branson, and Desmond—along with their youngest son, Harry.
In the third carriage were Aria's older sons and two sons-in-law: Nxy, Stuart, Paul Librator, and Von Miller.
Behind the Holygrill carriages followed five carriages bearing the emblem of Redbarn Barony.
In the foremost of these rode Baron Denford Redlife, his main wife Baroness Neria, and three other wives—Lady Nadira, Lady Jumana, and Lady Safiya.
In the second carriage were four more wives: Lady Soraya, Lady Bonnie, Lady Imogen, and Lady Chloe.
In the third: Lady Ashley, Lady Madison, Lady Delphine, and Lady Manon.
In the fourth: Lady Solla, Lady Margot, Lady Morgann, and Lady Noor.
In the fifth and last carriage rode two more wives along with the baron's two daughters: Lady Clotilde, Lady Yolanda, Lady Aelema, and Lady Fiji.
These were followed by five carriages of Ironford County.
In the foremost rode the retired Count Goccrek Ironheart, his wife Lady Layuri Ironheart, and their grandson Ildrek Ironheart.
The remaining four carriages carried thirteen noble ministers under the current count, along with three maids.
Finally came the massive entourage of Weilheim Duchy—eight carriages flying the ducal emblem.
In the foremost carriage sat Duke Gelvin Weilheim with his three wives: Lady Qyrel, Lady Azhara, and Lady Olyssia.
In the second and third carriages rode eight more wives along with the duke's daughter: Lady Ithrielle, Lady Lubava, Lady Mirosalva, Lady Myr, Lady Milun, Lady Lada, Lady Teren, Lady Khryst, and young Lady Lorisa.
The last five carriages carried twenty ministers from the noble families serving under Weilheim Duchy.
---
The combined delegation continued forward at a steady pace under the lead of the Holygrill household. Eventually they reached the border of Valmare Town and began entering the capital city of Serendity.
According to what the Holygrill family had told Head Minister Allen via magic crystal ball, they should already have arrived at the ducal palace. The gathering of Weilheim Duchy, Ironford County, and Redbarn Barony had delayed them by about an hour. Escorting the guests was necessary, however, and Lady Aria did not mind the delay. She knew the people of the Velmora family were broad-minded and open; they would not make an issue of a late arrival. With that thought, the procession kept moving.
*Clip… clop… clip… clop… clip… clop…*
As Gothras led the cavalry of paladins and valkyrie knights toward the ducal palace, his eyes suddenly locked onto a group of ten people roughly half a kilometer ahead. They were walking leisurely in the same direction.
Gothras glanced at one of the war paladins. "Margerett, ride ahead and tell those people to clear the road so our cavalry and the carriages can pass without trouble."
Obeying her commander, Margerett tightened the reins and spurred her horse forward. Within a few minutes she came up behind the group and called out in a sharp voice:
"You people, clear the way! A massive entourage is coming behind me, and we need to reach the ducal palace as soon as possible!"
The leader of the group did not even turn around. "We're heading to the ducal palace too. Why don't you just give us a lift?"
Margerett's tone hardened. "That decision is not mine to make. My commander ordered me to clear the road. Kindly step aside, or I will have to use force."
The group leader's lips curled into a mischievous smile. He snorted. "Use force, will you? How very brave—always eager to oppress the weak and powerless. Fine. Let's see what you've got. If you can push me even a single step… no, wait—that's aiming too high. If you can so much as make me wobble, I'll move. If not… then I'll ride the rest of the way in the carriage with the most important person you're escorting."
Margerett's anger shot straight to the seventh heaven. "You bastard!"
She dismounted and glared at the nine people behind the leader. They wore expressions ranging from incredulous to openly furious and murderous, but she dismissed them at once. In her eyes they were nothing more than ordinary countryside folk.
One was clearly a monster hunter, carrying an egg the size of his own head. Three beautiful women each carried a similar egg. Beside them stood four others—two with unusually large breasts who looked like maids or nannies, and two similar women with slightly smaller figures. A frail-looking man held a book under his arm, as if he had just come from a library.
All of them, in Margerett's assessment, were harmless. The real problem was the so-called leader: a young boy still wet behind the ears, probably not even twenty.
His sheer audacity made her blood boil even hotter. She took a few steps back, then charged forward and shoved him with every ounce of strength she possessed. She did not bother holding back. In her mind the insolent brat had insulted both her and the Holygrill family. If he ended up crippled, so much the better—he would have deserved it.
What happened next completely shattered her worldview.
Her full-powered shove did not move him at all. It felt exactly as if she had tried to push a mountain. She stood there frozen in shock.
By then Gothras and the rest of the cavalry had closed the distance. Seeing Margerett completely unable to budge a young boy while nine other people still blocked the road, Gothras dismounted and approached.
He spoke politely. "We have no wish to use force. I apologize for my subordinate's rudeness. Please make way so we may reach the ducal palace. Everyone there is waiting, and we are escorting important guests of the duchy."
The boy's mischievous expression only deepened, though Gothras could not see it—the youth still had his back turned.
"I'm in a hurry too," the boy said. "I asked your subordinate for a lift, and she tried to force her way instead. Are all your people like this—always bullying the weak?"
Gothras's patience was fraying, yet he kept his tone civil. "That was my failure in training her. Kind sir, please clear the road."
The boy stomped his right foot. "Same conditions as before. Two choices. One: give us a lift all the way to the capital. Two: try to shake me even a little. Succeed and I'll move. Fail, and I travel in the carriage with the most important person you're escorting. Your choice—peace or force."
Gothras felt frustration and anger rising. "If I manage to shake you even a little, you'll give us the road? You won't go back on your word?"
"Believe me," the boy answered.
Gothras tensed his muscles and pressed against the boy's back with steady force. No matter how hard he pushed, the youth did not budge so much as an inch. Time dragged on. Another quarter of an hour passed while Gothras strained uselessly, his face growing redder with every failed attempt.
At last he admitted defeat. The boy's voice came again, amused and faintly disappointed:
"You're not following the training plan I gave you, are you, Gothras? I refuse to believe that after everything I taught you, you're still this weak. Right now you feel even weaker than Oriana. How do you expect to lead the Westirifer army with strength like that? Truly a shame."
Until that moment Gothras had been too focused on reaching the palace to pay close attention to the voice. The moment the boy mentioned the training plan, the army, and Oriana, recognition struck him like a hammer.
The boy turned around, revealing a mischievous, playful grin. "According to our agreement, you failed. So I'll be riding in Lady Aria's carriage."
He pointed to the nine people behind him. "These are my people—recently recruited and added to my household. Give them a lift to the ducal palace as well."
Without waiting for a reply, the boy dashed toward the foremost carriage and knocked on the door.
A feminine voice answered from inside. "Who is it?"
"It's me."
The women inside found the voice strangely familiar. Gloria opened the door—and came face to face with a charming young man with silver hair and neon-green eyes.
Before she could speak, an even more surprised voice rang out from deeper inside. Aria exclaimed, "Young Master Lucifer! What are you doing here?"
Lucifer smiled. "I felt I didn't spend enough time in Holycross last time, and I somehow managed to upset Lady Synthia. So I decided to come ahead, greet all of you properly, and spend a little more time together. Am I not welcome?"
Aria reached out, seized his hands, and pulled him inside. "No-no—you are more than welcome. Now get in here, you mischievous brat."
Lucifer's teasing expression only grew wider. "Lady Aria, why are you calling me a brat? I am the only son of the Grand Duchess of Westirifer. Show a little respect."
Aria nodded, then yanked him closer and hugged him tightly, smothering his face against her soft, milky breasts.
Lucifer's muffled voice emerged a moment later. "That's more like it. Boobs are the best—soft, squeezy, plump, and juicy. Pure heaven."
All four women inside the carriage burst into uncontrollable laughter, thoroughly amused by Lucifer's shameless priorities. Meanwhile Lucifer kept snuggling contentedly against Aria's chest, cheerfully measuring the depth of her cleavage.