With Bruce stepping in to mediate, the primarch sisters—who were more than capable of tearing the Scarlet Devil Mansion apart if they really went at it—finally calmed down. Their relationship was still a little stiff, but it was far better than the ready-to-erupt state they had been in before.
At the very least, they were now willing to sit on Bruce's bed and talk things out properly.
Why the bed? And why all three of them? Was that not a little too unhealthy?
That was because Bruce's room had been thoroughly wrecked. The bed was the only piece of furniture still intact. Everything else had basically been smashed to pieces, and even the walls had several gaping holes punched through them.
And it was precisely those holes that gave the Black Guard and the fairy maids who had rushed over a convenient window to watch the show.
It was also because of those holes that quite a few Astartes realized for the first time just how absurdly capable this acting commander really was.
Good heavens! He had managed to calm down two enraged primarchs while not wearing any pants! What terrifying power!
Acting Commander, you are truly authoritative!
"Kur—"
"Hm?" Curze looked at Bruce with obvious displeasure.
"Ahem! Father, you should try to be a little understanding toward Lady Lion—"
"Lady Lion?" Lion's expression instantly turned cold.
"Sorry…"
Bruce had no choice but to reorganize his words. "Father, you should try to understand Lion. She only just got off the battlefield of the Holy Grail War. It's only natural that she can't adjust right away. Besides, nothing actually happened, did it?"
"I swear my absolute loyalty to you, in the Emperor's name!"
"You really won't run off with her?" Curze asked seriously.
"As genuine as it gets! I live as a member of the Night Lords, and I'll die as one too! Besides, both my assigned Legion and my gene-seed came from you. How could I possibly leave?"
"If I ever do leave you and the Legion one day, issue a kill order and have me put down. I won't resist at all."
"…" Listening to Bruce swear such vicious oaths, Curze was still unhappy, but she reluctantly calmed down.
Hmph. His attitude isn't bad. For this recruit's sake, I'll let Lion trying to steal my son slide... for now.
"Phew—"
Seeing that Curze was no longer as furious, Bruce turned toward Lion, who was sitting off to the side, sulking with her face turned away, and began coaxing her in a softer tone.
"Lion~"
"…"
"Miss Saber~"
"…"
Hearing that familiar title, Lion tried very hard to maintain her aloof expression, but she failed.
"Didn't we agree already? We're supposed to work together! Compared to saving the Imperium and all your brothers, doesn't some useless fool like me matter a lot less?"
"Otherwise, what was the meaning of winning the Holy Grail War?"
"We should set aside these pointless prejudices for now and get things done first, then settle everything else later. Isn't that right?"
"Anything powerful always starts falling apart from within. We absolutely cannot make that mistake."
"If we do, what would the Emperor think of you? What would have been the point of you fighting so desperately to win the Holy Grail War?"
After just a few sentences, Lion fell silent, began thinking seriously, and finally let out a helpless sigh.
"You're right, Bruce. I shouldn't have been this willful."
"It's okay~" Bruce said with a smile, continuing to soothe her. "A little willfulness now and then is fine. After all, you're my Saber. I can accept that."
"You… should stop saying things like that…" Lion lowered her head, visibly embarrassed.
"Heh." Curze cast a scornful look at the two of them, like she was looking at a shameless couple.
"Oh, right! Father!"
Bruce turned back to Curze and reached out to hug her.
That single action finally pushed Sevatar, who had been watching from the doorway, past her limit. The maid-captain instinctively reached for her throwing knife, ready to crack Bruce's skull open on the spot.
You bastard! Who exactly do you think you're hugging?!
"Calm down, First Captain!"
At the crucial moment, Meiling threw herself forward and grabbed Sevatar, who was already radiating murderous intent.
"When… when I was in danger, you came right away to save me. I… I'm truly honored!"
"Thank you, Father!" Bruce said through gritted teeth, nearly grinding them into powder as he endured the murderous stares from the Black Guard.
Right now, he only hoped that later tonight his battle-brothers would not skin him alive. He still needed enough strength left to go hunt Erebus.
I absolutely cannot fall here!
"Get off!" Curze snapped, though she did not actually resist the hug. "Who told you to just casually invite people into your room like that?!"
"Oh, right! Speaking of that! Perfect!"
Bruce let go of Curze and stood up. With a solemn expression, he seized the chance to bring up an actual serious matter, hoping to use it to redirect both primarchs' attention.
No matter what, killing Erebus had to come first.
"Lion and I have already discussed a plan for how to kill Erebus! I'm sure you'll be interested!"
Bruce pulled a backup paper copy of the plan out of a storage compartment in his power armor.
"You don't mind?" Curze did not immediately take the document. Instead, she turned to ask her elder sister.
"I don't. I was going to show it to you anyway."
"Good. Then let me see what exactly the two of you came up with."
Curze took the papers and read them carefully. There was not much text, but the entire plan had been laid out clearly and comprehensively. At its core, it was all about one thing:
How to kill Erebus.
And since Curze knew exactly what kind of scum Erebus was, she not only understood the plan, she found it deeply satisfying.
Yes. This is exactly the sort of thing I want!
For a moment, fully drawn into the idea, Curze temporarily forgot all her displeasure from earlier. Her mind was now full of how to optimize the plan further—preferably in a way that would let her take part personally.
After all…
The chance to hunt Erebus was just too damn tempting.
I'd even lend the recruit to Lion for a few days if it meant killing Erebus once. As long as she sends him back washed clean, it's not like I can't ride him again.
"Sevatar, send word. Convene the Night Haunter Council. I have something important to announce."
Curze hopped off the bed, still reading the report as she spoke.
"At once, Father!" Sevatar immediately set about relaying the order to the council members.
"I'll handle the supplies needed for the interception mission. The two of you should focus on getting the Invincible Reason ready."
Curze left that parting instruction behind, then glanced toward Lion.
"And elder sister, I'm glad you didn't insist on sacrificing Horus's safety. I honestly thought you'd keep pushing your own approach."
"Leave it to me, Curze. I'll handle my Legion."
Lion stood and nodded to Curze in firm acknowledgment.
"Good."
The two exchanged a look and each understood exactly what the other was thinking.
Erebus had to die.
And so Curze left with Sevatar, while the spectators watching the drama gradually dispersed as well—except for Meiling, who was still trying to estimate how much work it would take to repair Bruce's room.
It's already this wrecked… how long is this going to take me to fix? What a headache.
"Phew. All right, that's enough for now. I need some rest."
Looking at his room, now bare on all four sides, Bruce did feel a bit sad, but it wasn't like it had become totally unlivable.
At worst, he just needed to be a little careful while sleeping. Besides, there was no way some creep in the Scarlet Devil Mansion would come peeping on his sleeping posture… right?
"Sorry. Your room ended up like this because of me."
Lion apologized, conscience pricking at her.
"It's fine. I won't be staying here in a few days anyway," Bruce said, waving it off.
By the time he came back from completing the mission, the room would probably already be repaired. It really wasn't a big deal.
"In that case…"
"Acting Commander, why not come sleep in my room tonight?" Meiling raised her hand and offered. "Your room's already wrecked anyway."
"My heated kang bed is super comfortable. There's definitely enough room if we squeeze a little. Worst case, I can just go out on patrol, and by the time I come back, you'll probably be awake anyway~"
"…"
Bruce froze for a moment at Meiling's invitation, but the instant he saw Lion also pause in surprise, he immediately leapt up and pounced toward Meiling with both hands raised.
"Wah! Shen! I respect you so much!"
"Uh… you can just call me Meiling… I've already gotten used to it…" Faced with Bruce suddenly using her real name again, Meiling was so touched she nearly cried.
"From now on, you're my good brother! Hahahaha!"
And just like that, the two of them slung themselves against each other and walked out of the room laughing, utterly carefree, their voices gradually fading into the distance.
"Ah…" Lion let out a helpless sigh as she watched the two of them leave.
Just as she too was about to get up and leave, she suddenly noticed something lying on the bed. Curious, she pulled back the covers and found Bruce's personal device there.
"…"
After a brief moment of hesitation, she glanced left and right to make sure no one was around, then quietly pocketed Bruce's device and hurried out of the room.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter108)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter82)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter144)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 70
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 99
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 95
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 99
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 92
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 47
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 44
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 43
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 26
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 32
My patreon : patreon.com/queen_sin