Chapter 329: Confiscating Property
For instance, a magic tome documenting psychic magic.
Haruto nodded while looking at the rabbit-eared girl he was carrying, then decided to wake her up first.
Rather than wandering aimlessly and relying on luck, it would be better to have Zest—the one most likely to know the castle's detailed layout aside from Zolgear—lead the way.
Although Lars also enjoyed Zolgear's deep trust, not only was he absent, but Zest undoubtedly knew more secrets if compared.
The rabbit-eared girl was created by Zolgear, with her thoughts constantly monitored and controlled through an instant-death curse...
If Haruto were in Zolgear's position, he would also trust Zest more.
This was why Zolgear sent Lars out on missions but entrusted the castle's defense to Zest.
Since ancient times, the one guarding the home has always been the more trusted individual.
Pale green Healing Magic flowed over the rabbit-eared girl's sexy and fiery body, healing most of the injuries from the lightning strike. Then, a small water ball splashed directly onto her delicate face.
Stimulated by the cold liquid, Zest woke up.
Seeing Haruto so close, the rabbit-eared girl instinctively tried to adopt a defensive stance but suddenly realized she was restrained.
"Who are you? Where is Lord Zolgear?" Even though she was being held by Haruto in a disheveled state, Zest struggled to maintain composure.
Having mainly guarded the castle with little involvement in Zolgear's plans, she didn't know that the Red Dragon Emperor was Haruto.
"Here, that's him."
Haruto turned Zest around, presenting a bloody mass before her eyes.
Though unrecognizable, Zest could confirm from certain features that the lifeless flesh was Zolgear.
The moment she confirmed Zolgear's death, she realized she felt little anger or resentment—instead, mostly relief and liberation.
The spatial distortions in the castle grew increasingly severe. Haruto didn't know if the materials would remain intact once the place fully activated.
With time pressing, he had no leisure to care about the busty rabbit-eared girl's feelings and directly asked, "Do you know where Zolgear hid valuable items?"
"Huh?" Still immersed in the shock of Zolgear's death, Zest answered irrelevantly, "You should leave quickly, this place will soon..."
"I know it's about to turn into a monster, and we're currently in its stomach."
Haruto interrupted, "So, does Zolgear have a place where he stores magic books or materials?"
The rabbit-eared girl was indeed a bit slow-witted, but she made up for it with obedience.
Realizing she had no purpose after Zolgear's death, and seeing Haruto's need, she instinctively cooperated, "Yes."
Haruto released Zest, "Lead the way."
Suddenly freed, the rabbit-eared girl nearly fell face-first but reacted in time, steadying herself with a deft one-handed push against the ground.
Watching Zest half-kneeling before him, Haruto thought she would be well-suited for the Knight class.
Hmm, he'd extend an invitation after returning. For now, the priority was confiscating Zolgear's assets.
The confiscation process went relatively smoothly, as Zolgear hadn't placed much importance on magic books and various materials.
This world ultimately prioritized martial power—these were just unorthodox methods he researched after failing to advance further.
With Zest's assistance, Haruto quickly gathered and packed everything.
Having a personal space was indeed convenient, otherwise it would have been quite a headache.
Just as he was about to pack up the wealth Zolgear had accumulated, the castle finally transformed completely into a massive flesh-and-blood monster.
According to Zest, the treasures were still intact and wouldn't be destroyed immediately, but once the castle turned into a monster, even she could no longer find her way around.
Though it was a bit regrettable, Haruto was still quite satisfied. The gains from this trip had far exceeded his expectations.
He had successfully obtained a mental control magic stronger than that of a succubus, as well as a spell that converted mental energy into telekinetic power.
Although it might take some time to learn and master them—unlike the instant acquisition through Dual cultivation—with his formidable mental strength and the various talents provided by the girls, he felt it wouldn't require too much effort or time.
"This is troublesome," Zest frowned, watching the churning purplish-red flesh around them. "To get out, we must destroy the core of this monster. Otherwise, it will keep devouring all living things and continuously regenerate."
Haruto also furrowed his brow, though not because he was worried about being trapped. If even Zolgear could handle such a thing, why should he fear being unable to deal with it?
It was just that the fleshy, grotesque appearance disgusted him, especially since it seemed to be taking on tentacle-like forms.
While monsters and tentacles did suit demons—particularly someone like Zolgear, who enjoyed artificially creating life—Haruto found it hard to accept.
He wasn't unfamiliar with magical girls battling tentacle monsters, but such scenarios rarely had anything to do with pure love.
If forced to say, tentacles could probably be considered a type of 'blonde'.
The stress response surfaced again, and Haruto no longer intended to slack off. Such things were better destroyed sooner rather than later.
"Hold me tight."
Six pairs of distinctly layered wings appeared on his back, while a dark tear mole added a hint of allure to his handsome face.
The dark-skinned bunny-eared girl was momentarily stunned by Haruto's sudden burst of aura and, in a daze, clung to him.
Haruto hadn't expected Zest to be so obedient—he hadn't even had time to activate his Sacred Gear's Balance Breaker yet.
Well, no matter. It wasn't a big issue.
Sensing the nearest point to the outside world, Haruto blasted a passage directly through the monster's body.
Only after leaving the monster's belly and emerging outside, looking down from the sky, could one truly grasp how enormous this monster was.
The castle, including its underground sections, originally stood about twenty to thirty meters tall. After reverting to its monstrous form and devouring some energy-rich objects, its size had swollen even further.
The largest creature Haruto had previously faced was the monster created by the broom-headed demon, but the one before him now was not only larger in size but also significantly more powerful.
Locating and destroying the core was the most effective way to deal with such a massive monster.
However, the disgusting environment made Haruto unwilling to stay even a second longer.
He'd rather expend a bit more effort to deliver a devastating blow to the monster from the outside.
Releasing his hold on Zest's slender waist and pretending not to notice the blush beneath her slightly dark skin, Haruto instructed her to leave first.
"Teleport away now. Go to the human world and wait for me at Kuoh Academy."
Zest obediently nodded and was about to leave when she suddenly wondered why she was following Haruto's orders.
Haruto glanced at her and asked, "What's wrong? Is there something else?"
"N... nothing."
"Then go already." To deal with this massive monster, Haruto planned to use a long-unused large-scale attack spell, intending to obliterate this entire space along with it.
He could make the effort to protect Zest, but since he could make things easier for himself, why create extra work?
If Zest ran away, then so be it—it would serve as a small test anyway.
He quite liked the obedient bunny-eared girl, even if she was a bit slow.
But he wouldn't force the issue.
Whether in talent, potential, or even strength, Zest possessed nothing Haruto particularly needed.
[Dragon! Boundless heavenly thunder, gather in my left hand]
[My blood ally, Thunder Spirit! Heaven! …]
After Zest left, Haruto first used Balance Breaker to amplify his power tenfold, then silently began chanting the incantation.
A towering blue magic circle covered more than half of the sky and earth, its turbulent magical fluctuations causing the not-very-intelligent monster to instinctively grow restless.
Its massive body, like a mountain of flesh, squirmed incessantly, trying to escape the magic circle's range.
Haruto glanced at its sluggish movement speed and paid it no further mind.
At that pace, there was no way it could escape the spell's area of effect.
Originally, he had wanted to destroy this entire space along with the monster, but executing such an attack in one go was still somewhat challenging for him.
Destroying a country and annihilating a space were entirely different concepts.
Of course, the countries referred to here were island nations like Japan.
For larger countries, such as the United States, even Super Satan couldn't destroy them in a single blow, assuming no one intervened.
However, after this attack, the space was essentially half-destroyed.
The powerful attack had rendered the space extremely unstable. It might gradually stabilize over time, or it could collapse at any moment, adding a spatial storm to this world.
Before it fully stabilized, no one could use this space again—at most, they could take a quick look inside before hastily leaving.
Thick bolts of lightning descended from the sky, carrying not only light that suppressed dark-attribute beings but also an endless aura of destruction.
After fusing the special abilities of Akeno and Rias, its power had directly increased by a whole level.
Even Haruto couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.
No wonder Rias and Akeno could overpower stronger opponents when using their fusion technique—this destructive force was simply unreasonable.