[Nakime P.O.V.]
Twang.
The sharp and discordant note from my biwa echoed through the Infinity Castle. I frowned, resting my hand over the strings to silence the vibration.
The Castle was usually a place of controlled chaos. Its shifting wooden halls responded to my mood. But today, the architecture felt rigid.
I remained seated on the platform in the Grand hall, my single eye tracking the pacing figure across the tatami mats.
"This is a disaster," Neel muttered.
The poor CEO looked exhausted. He had just stepped through a tatami door from his office, immediately loosening his tie.
"Moo," a soft voice rumbled.
Ms. Moo lay comfortably on a silk futon in the center of the hall. The bovine familiar chewed her cud, radiating an aura of peace and holiness that felt odd in my demonic castle, but that was something you get used to when you live with John Kaisen. As Neel paced past her, she slowly raised her tail, patting his shoulder in a rhythmic motion.
It was absurd. Neel stopped pacing, sighed heavily, and actually leaned into the pats.
"I appreciate the sentiment, Ms. Moo," Neel muttered. He turned his gaze across the room. "But what I would really appreciate is an explanation. Sir Sebas. Care to enlighten the class?"
Sitting impeccably upright at a wooden table and sipping his classic brewed tea was Sebas Tian.
The butler-cum-tainer lowered his teacup, placing it onto the saucer with a soft clink. His white beard was still dry as his posture exuded quiet authority.
"I have already explained my actions, Mr. Neel," Sebas said.
"No, you haven't!" Neel countered, throwing his hands up. "You had Anissa by the throat! You could have snapped her neck and buried her in the yard! Instead, you healed her just enough to survive the trip back to space, and you fed her the one secret that guarantees a full-scale invasion! You basically handed Thragg, Thragg, a great excuse to come kill humans all over the planet, if not outright destroy the planet!"
"I agree with Neel", I replied while trying to tune my Biwa, but the worry still messed it up. "We may be immortal from Master's blessings but I would rather not have Pesi-Man's girlfriend and her children be killed and I'm sure Neel would not want his employees and their families hurt."
I looked up to see Neel nod while Sir Sebas kept looking down at this teacup.
"I have provided Master John with a whetstone," Sir Sebas finally said.
I frowned. "A whetstone?"
"Indeed," Sir Sebas continued, folding his hands. "You have both observed the Master's growth. With every ticket he rolls, he transcends the shackles of his power and he's well on his way to becoming a supreme being."
"He's a guy who likes video games and gourmet food," Neel deadpanned. "He's not a martial arts fanatic like you."
"He is," Sebas insisted, his eyes narrowing with unshakeable conviction. "But rapid ascension comes with a severe risk of lethargy, arrogance and worse of all, apathy. I have served Supreme Beings before. If Master John continues to accumulate power without a challenge to temper his spirit, he will grow casual. He will forget the weight of a true struggle."
Sebas stood up, walking toward the edge of the platform that looked out over the expanse of the ever-changing castle.
"The Viltrumite Empire represents the peak of strength in this universe," Sebas continued. "By revealing the heir of Argall and threatening their ruler, I ensured they would not send foot soldiers. They will send their elite, and even the Emperor may enter the fray. It will force Master John and my disciples to fight at their absolute limit. It is a necessary crucible. A final tribulation before he grows beyond the concept of danger entirely."
Neel couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"You..." Neel stammered. "You are treating the real world like a Xianxia novel. You provoked an ancient empire just to give the Chairman a training arc?!"
"It is my duty to ensure his potential is maximized," Sebas bowed slightly.
"Respectfully, you're insane," Neel groaned, burying his face in his hands. "People are all going to die because the butler thinks his Boss needs character development."
I didn't care about supreme beings nor about character development.
"Is he safe?" I asked, my voice cutting through their argument. "He's taking too long to comeback home. I just want him to return safely."
Before Sebas could answer, the air in the Castle shifted.
A sudden weight dropped onto the mental connection that bound all of us to our Master.
'Testing, testing. Is this thing on?'
John's voice echoed directly into our minds, crystal clear and casual… too casual even.
I gasped, my hands flying to my chest as relief washed over me. "Master!"
'Hey, Nakime. Hey, guys,' John projected, radiating amusement. 'I just wanted you guys to know I'm dealing with a side quest right now before the final raid, so I'm going to be a while away. Hold the fort down for me till then, will ya'
"Chairman, where are you?" Neel asked aloud, knowing the bond carried his thoughts. "Cecil is probably having an aneurysm over here after Sir Sebas's…um..."
'Let Cecil pop his pills, he'll be fine. I'm tying up loose ends in this universe,' John replied. The tone of his mental voice shifted, carrying a pointed edge. 'And Sebas?'
"Yes, My Lord?" Sebas replied respectfully, bowing his head toward the ceiling.
'I heard about the warning from Mark… Canon Mark I mean. Stop trying to turn me into a young master of Chinese slop.'
Sebas's lips twitched upward into a grandfatherly smile. "As you command, My Lord. I shall endeavor to be less proactive."
'Right. Anyway, the main reason I'm calling is to give you guys a heads up,' John continued, his excitement bleeding through the link. 'We have a new addition to the family. He's a bit intense, but as long as you respect the hierarchy, we'll all get along fine. I'm letting him through the bond now.'
A second later, the mental link expanded.
The presence that flooded into our shared consciousness was nothing like we'd felt.
My demon blood froze and my breath caught in my throat. The pressure was suffocating like a predator that was so perfectly evolved and entrenched in superiority, that simply feeling its presence through the mental link made my survival instincts scream.
Next to me, Ms. Moo stopped chewing her cud, shoving her head into Sebas's lap.
Neel dropped to one knee, clutching his chest as he struggled to breathe against the phantom pressure.
Sebas narrowed his eyes. The butler's hands curled into fists, his posture shifting into a flawless stance entirely on instinct, even as he patted Ms. Moo soothingly.
'He has an ego, but he's doing good work,' John's voice chimed in, oblivious to the terror paralyzing his family. 'Anyway, gotta run. The squids made a mess of the lawn. See you guys at home.'
The connection snapped shut, but the lingering aftertaste of the new familiar's power remained in the air.
The Infinity Castle was dead silent, save for Neel panting on the floor.
"What the hell was that?" Neel gasped, looking up at Sebas. "Chairman pulled another monster?"
Sebas slowly relaxed his stance, though his eyes remained fixed on the space where the aura had been strongest. "It appears the Master has done something so out of norms I fear we can't begin to comprehend what he's planning."
I pressed a hand to my chest, trying to steady my heart. The new familiar was terrifying even compared to a Demon king like Muzan, not on strength, but from the dread of just being near him.
But it was bound to Master. And judging by how casual John sounded, he was in complete control.
I let out a shaky exhale, a small smile finally breaking through my anxiety.
"RNGesus really does provide," Neel muttered from the floor, sliding his tea away. "I need a stronger drink."
[A/N]:
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