As soon as everyone inside the ducal courtroom heard the sound of the drum, they knew the guests from the neighbouring territories had already entered the capital of the Westrifer Duchy.
They would arrive at any moment.
Still seated on her throne, Mia turned to Allen.
"Well, who are the first ones to arrive?"
Allen checked his magic crystal ball. After a moment he answered,
"Madam, it seems there are no first ones.
On the way, the delegations of Florence County and Livingston County met each other on the Silk Road near Serenity Town. From there they joined forces and came here together."
Mia raised her eyebrows.
"Oh, so that's how it is.
Very well. What plans do you have going forward?
What about their grand welcome, and who will receive them when they arrive?"
Allen, standing behind the throne, thought for a moment. He slipped the crystal ball into his spatial ring and tapped the edge of the throne with his index finger, the soft sound filling the brief silence.
"Madam, what grand welcome are you speaking of? Our soldiers are already stationed along every Silk Road that connects Westrifer to other territories, as well as on the main roads between our towns, to deal with any inconvenience the delegations might face.
The streets of Serendity Town are fully decorated with festive lanterns, flags and flower petals. The citizens themselves are showing a warm welcome to everyone.
As for the ducal palace and a display of our strength, Lady Artemis, the entire young master's spy unit, and about two hundred Viper Guards are already at their posts. Lady Almyth also informed me that the powerful auras of our seasoned warriors will be kept carefully restrained.
But for the formal welcome at the palace gates, I believe someone of importance from our household should greet them personally. Both Florence County and Livingstone duchy treated our own delegations with genuine friendship. It would be proper to return that courtesy.
I suggest Lady Veronica go, accompanied by Westeria, Lady Talmora and Elder Guntor. Lady Veronica is skilled in diplomacy. Westeria is the living face of our duchy—after all, the young master named it Westrifer after herself. Lady Talmora was a key figure in the former Keilname County, and Elder Guntor has seen the rise and fall of many eras.
I should accompany them as well, as head of the ministers and the young master's personal butler."
Mia snorted, a short, irritated laugh escaping her.
"Really, Allen? Did you have to remind everyone why Lucifer named this duchy Westrifer?
You did that on purpose to make Amelia and me jealous, didn't you?"
She glanced at the family members and ministers seated in the rows opposite her.
"Do as Allen suggested.
But I will feel safer if more people go with Westeria and Veronica. Therefore I am also sending Gracy, Vritra, Lucelith and Luvina.
Everyone else is to follow Allen's arrangements."
Allen spoke again the moment she finished.
"Madam, there is one more matter I forgot to mention."
Mia raised her eyebrows, signalling him to continue. Allen looked distinctly uncomfortable. Gathering his courage, he stepped forward and leaned close to her face.
Mia tensed, suddenly flustered. For a heartbeat she thought he meant to kiss her. If she allowed it, she would break her promise to Lucifer again. That trust, once shattered, might never be repaired; he might never speak to her again—or worse, leave her entirely.
But Allen did not kiss her. He leaned farther, until his lips were at her ear, and whispered,
"Madam… the young master was rather… aroused today. He spent nearly five hours with all twenty of his shadow-wives and shadow-daughters. We now have twenty new shadowborns.
Around the sixteenth bell he left the palace for Velmare Town, saying he intended to recruit someone. He has not returned."
Mia's expression shifted.
"Lucifer and his shadow-wives—mysterious as ever.
Introduce them to me when you have the time."
Her eyes darkened with a flicker of resentment as she murmured under her breath,
"Motherfucker… didn't even come to see his own mother after returning. I'll teach him a lesson he'll remember. I'll make certain he knows his mother's pussy is better than any of his wives'."
Allen heard every word and chose to ignore it, silently offering a prayer that Lucifer would somehow survive his mother's displeasure.
Mia's voice cut through his thoughts once more.
"Go and welcome the guests properly. There will be no courtroom session tomorrow. Arrange suitable hospitality.
The soldiers travelling with the delegations will stay in the halls—prepare accommodation for them.
Ministers and members of noble families will share rooms.
Lastly, call upon men from the army, the Viper Guards, and the citizenry. Let them entertain our guests who have travelled so far, and see that those men are well rewarded.
That is all for today. The assembly is dismissed."
---
While Mia delegated tasks and closed the evening session of the ducal court, a young man with silver hair, neon-green eyes, and a well-chiselled body walked at an unhurried pace toward the foothills of Velmare Town. He wore a light cotton shirt and black trousers, and seemed utterly unconcerned with the world around him.
He lifted his gaze to the starry sky where twin full moons shone brightly among countless stars.
He walked without stopping until he reached an enormous waterfall—the true source of the River Venessa, one of the three principal waterways that supplied Westrifer, alongside the River Buanwo and the River Ursula.
Water thundered down from a great height, filling the air with a fine mist that made the place feel like a heavenly fountain descending to give birth to the life-giving river.
Captivated by the beauty of the waterfall under the twin moons on that cool wintry night, the young man stood and simply looked for a long while.
At last, finding a large flat stone near the falls where the spray did not reach, he lay down upon it and spoke a single word.
"System."
A blue holographic screen appeared before him—visible and audible only to him.
[Ding]
[Depraved System]
[Welcome, Host]
[How may I help you?]
"System," Lucifer said, "I want to claim the rewards from the previous mission and the latest one."
[Ding]
[Sub Side Quest – 04]
[Mission – Expand your territory. Reach the threshold required to establish your own empire]
[Status – Completed]
[Initial territory – Westrifer]
[New territories – Hecktor, Morrgen, Keilname, Holycross]
[Rewards – 10,000 Guards, 4 Guardian Beasts, 4 Legion Masters (SS-rank), 10 Chimera Beasts]
[Status – Acquired]
[Ding]
[Note – Viper Guards increased from 5,000 to 15,000.
Total – 150 males (A+ rank), 14,850 (A- rank)]
[Ding]
[Main Mission – 02]
[Status – In progress]
[New Event Quest – 04]
[Mission – Survive the combined assault of Lustbound Kingdom and Purefield Duchy that will begin after the Fertility Ceremony Festival]
[Status – In progress]
[Ding]
[Limited Quest – 01]
[Mission – Save Valdren Eldoresia from the grasp of the Risen Kingdom]
[Time limit – 8 days]
[Status – Completed]
[Great Completion – Mission finished before the time limit expired]
[Extra rewards acquired]
[Rewards – Evernight's Heart Pendant; favourable karma established between you and the Hellbris Vampire Family, resulting in improved relations between the host's Velmora Family and the Hellbris faction]
[Extra rewards – 2 Special Wet Nurses, 2 Midwives, 1 Physician, 10,000 Violet Pills (low, mid, high), 10,000 Milk Candies, 10,000 Booster Pills, 10,000 White Pills, 10,000 Green Pills (Transformation), 10,000 Temporary Null Pills, 10,000 Morph Pills]
[Main Reward – Evernight's Heart Pendant]
[Evernight Narkul, seventh princess of Narkul County. This pendant was not crafted; it formed naturally. Vampires can revive from even the smallest living fragment of their body, much like an undying phoenix. This pendant is the sole remaining piece of her living heart. She cast it into the depths of the Fionacracy Sea in the hope that some kind soul might one day help restore her.]
[Extra Reward – 2 Special Wet Nurses]
[Women who nurse children in place of their mothers. Their milk possesses healing and nurturing properties beneficial to infants, children, adults and the elderly. They produce an unlimited supply and remain utterly loyal to Westrifer, the host, and the Velmora Family.]
[Note – Genetically modified. Extremely high libido; always ready, but only for the host and those he designates.]
[Note – Strong maternal affection toward the children placed in their care.]
[Extra Reward – 2 Midwives]
[Women skilled in assisting during pregnancy, childbirth and the immediate postpartum period.]
[Note – Genetically modified. Expert in maternal care. Guarantee 100 % successful delivery with zero maternal or foetal mortality.]
[Extra Reward – 1 Physician]
[Master of diagnosis, treatment and alchemical medicine production.]
[Ding]
[Reward distribution complete, Host.]
Lucifer read everything carefully, then asked,
"According to your description, this pendant is a living fragment of Lady Evernight's heart. It did not die when the Risen Kingdom lynched her.
That means she can be revived. Tell me how."
[Ding]
[Yes, Host.
You can revive her, but the process is difficult and costly.
Do you still wish to know?]
"Cost is irrelevant. I have millions of DP. Take whatever is required."
[Ding]
[Cost of Secret of Blood Revival – 1,700,000 DP]
[Purchase initiated]
[1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6… 7… 8… 9]
[Purchase successful]
[1,700,000 DP deducted]
[Remaining balance – 1,010,000]
[Secret of Blood Revival acquired]
[Description – Blood Revival is the ultimate technique of the vampire races, granted to the Ashmaws by the dark aspect of God Augustus—deity of demons and monsters, father of all demonic and monstrous races. Augustus is the third incarnation of Goddess Amara Velmora. He divided his consciousness into light and dark. The light side is worshipped as the God of Light and Hope; the dark side as the God of Darkness and Procreation. The two aspects do not oppose each other; their shared purpose is to bridge all races.
Though vampires descend from the Ashmaws, the inheritance of Blood Revival has been lost in the present age.
It is a miraculous process that restores the dead to life, but it functions only on demonic and monstrous races. Used on others, it risks catastrophic mutation, often resulting in chimeras.]
[Method for vampires – Vampires are creatures of blood. To revive one requires vast quantities of blood.
Sacrifice ten million living beings. Collect a single drop from each and mix thoroughly.
Heat the mixture in a furnace until it boils and coagulates.
Offer the mass to the single most supreme Being. Shape the coagulated blood into the form of the one you wish to revive, then place the undying fragment within it.
Leave the formed body in the presence of the supreme Being for one full week. The revival will succeed.]
Lucifer frowned.
"Isn't that excessively cruel? To revive one person I must slaughter ten million. That is pure overkill."
[Host, why concern yourself? This will not be the first time you have killed.]
Lucifer rolled his eyes.
"I am not a psychopath who kills for pleasure. I kill only those who deserve it."
[Really?
Then what of the toddler earlier today? Did that child deserve death in your eyes?]
Lucifer did not flinch.
"Yes.
A child today becomes an adult tomorrow.
If I spare him, he will grow up carrying a grudge because I killed his mother, his sister and his aunts. One day he will curse my children. I will never allow that.
I already lost my daughter Seren to the Purefields. I will not permit a single curse against my family—not now, not ever."
[Fair enough, Host.
In that case this technique is a gift. After the Fertility Ceremony Festival, Purefield Duchy will send roughly one-third of its forces against Westrifer, joined by large numbers of Lustbound Kingdom soldiers and thousands of orcs from the Risen Kingdom.
You will have both opportunity and motive. The final choice, however, remains yours. It is your life.]
They continued talking for some time, the system sharing experiences of its own—including the fact that it now kept a harem of four other female systems, one of them already pregnant. Lucifer had no idea how systems managed to mate or conceive, but he congratulated it on impending fatherhood nonetheless.
Eventually Lucifer said,
"Connect a call to Mother."
[Now?]
He nodded.
[Ding]
[10,000 DP deducted as call charges]
[Connecting…]
[1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6]
[Call connected]
[••••••••••• Goddess Amara is on the line •••••••••••]
A melodious, seductive voice filled his mind.
[Calling me after so long, dear. I was beginning to think you had forgotten this mother of yours now that you have found peace in your other mother's arms.
What happy occasion brings me to mind today?]
Lucifer smiled sheepishly.
"I never forgot you, Mother. How could I?
Life has simply been busy. That does not mean I stopped thinking of you. What would I even be without you?
As for jealousy toward my mommy… well… that is a little foolish."
[So now I am the foolish one and you are the clever son? What a fine child I have raised, calling his own mother foolish.]
"You are not foolish. But if you are jealous of yourself, what else can I call it?"
[Jealous of myself? Explain.]
"In Heaven you exist as Amara Velmora, the supreme creator goddess. Here in Westrifer my mommy is Mia Velmora.
Can one child be born of two different mothers?"
[No.]
"Exactly. That means you in the heavenly void and Mia in Sinfare Augustiland are the same soul in two bodies.
You are jealous of yourself."
Amara's voice softened; she found it difficult to argue.
"Even if that is true, I am still jealous that you never call me 'Mommy' the way you call her.
Why is she Mommy while I remain Mother or Mom?
Even if Mia is my clone, then I am jealous of my own clone."
Lucifer shook his head in mild defeat. High in the void, Amara lay on her bed, smiling with quiet triumph—not because she had won the argument, but because Lucifer had declared that she and Mia were one.
With a gesture she summoned a naked attendant whose sole purpose was to serve her body so the world itself could continue functioning. She pushed him onto the bed, took his cock in her hand, stroked it to readiness, then sank down in a smooth cowgirl motion until he was buried deep inside her.
A soft sound escaped her lips.
"[Amhnnnm…]"
Lucifer heard it clearly.
"Mommy, what was that?"
[Nothing, dear. I merely began being fucked by one of my creations. You know it is necessary for the world to keep turning.
But I would far rather ride yours. I also heard that the women of your household are being trained by Mia in the art of deep-throating you. Tell me, honey—do you think my mouth and throat could take you properly?]
"Have you ever given anyone else a deep-throat?"
[No.
I have pleasured gods of other worlds with my mouth and body, and they still visit from time to time.
If only you could ascend and live with me… mother and son could become perfect husband and wife. Whenever I wished for you, I would come to you. Unfortunately you cannot rise here until you achieve godhood.
That does not change the truth: you are both my son and my husband. So cheer up.]
Lucifer nodded.
"Remember a few months ago, when I first arrived in Westrifer? You gave me that mouth of yours and demanded ten loads of my cum.
I am ready to give them to you tonight. What do you say?"
A new line appeared on the system screen:
[Wonderful. At last I will taste my son's cum—said to be like honeyed almonds mixed with fruit. I was growing tired of swallowing the musky seed of those ancient gods.]
"Never again," Lucifer said. "Ask me whenever you wish. Everything that is mine is yours."
[Then I want it once every week.]
"Deal.
But remember your promise: after every ten loads you will grant me one wish. No backing out."
[Agreed.]
Lucifer blew a flying kiss toward the starry sky.
"I have to go."
The call ended.
In the void, Amara spread her fingers, then closed them as though catching something invisible. She felt the ghost of a kiss against her skin. A warmer, more seductive smile curved her lips.
She rose from the attendant, called another name, and a girl appeared from nothingness, kneeling at once.
"Audrey. I do not know when I was born—before me there was only nothing. Yet even in that nothingness I existed. Perhaps I am still unborn.
In the mortal world two days after tomorrow is my birthday. It is an occasion worth celebrating. Go and invite the gods and goddesses of other worlds. I am eager to offer them something special."
She waved her hand. Audrey vanished.
Amara wrapped herself in a silver robe woven from starlight and went to bathe.