Chương 68: The Season of the Minotaur (17)

The princess was sacrificed on schedule on the Autumnal Equinox. Satine was brought to the altar on schedule, pale and sick, in front of an audience including Duchar, cultists, and an assembly of fiends. She hadn't said a thing, even as gargoyles chained her up to the stone slab and Simon raised the sacrificial spike. She simply glared at her captors with all of her hatred and bitter defiance. The woman had an iron will that forced respect.

The Stone Muse had tormented her day and night for the better part of the month without success. She never submitted nor gave away anything.

"I have grown fond of her, Beloved," the Stone Muse said in the back of his mind.

"I look forward to adding her willful spirit to my court, so it may keep it alight."

"Her soul shall be mine to use as I see fit," Simon replied. Satine's resolve had earned his respect, and he wouldn't surrender her to the Muse. In the end, her doomed valor didn't save anyone. Everything went more or less as Simon planned. When shown proof of the expected landing and the princess' treachery, Louis both immediately ordered a purge of all White Unicorn supporters and intensified airship patrols of the Dragonsea to install a continental blockade.

Duke Flauros and the monarchists raised his banners in open rebellion, but the War Party's superior intel and aerial supremacy, along with the lack of a princess to rally around, spelled the revolt's doom before it even began. Louis personally put the Flauros castle to the torch and slew Duke Flauros in single combat, with his wife committing suicide by fireball necklace rather than be taken alive. The real surprise came from Duke Eligos.

Though his wife was a sister of Patriate Malphas, they had remained loyal to Louis and invaded the Flauros demesne on his behalf; nothing tied them directly to the White Unicorn plot either. Was that an attempt to keep their cover or something more? Shabram kept them under surveillance to figure it out, but Louis had elected to leave the Eligos family alone since his forces were stretched thin as they were and the White Unicorn's fleet might still attempt a landing in spite of their diminished support.

Other news from the front had been all over the place. Some kind of rabies-like epidemic had begun to spread among Dassein's beastmen troops, halting their advance, and Vouivre was solidifying her hold over the Berwick Islands. Chaos ruled the continent, and Simon's actions would only add more to it.

"Any last words?" Simon asked the princess upon raising the sacrificial spike.

"You will fail," she replied sternly, closing her eyes.

"Your kind always does." I know, Simon thought, but we keep trying until we succeed.

"Great trapped fiend, accept this bloody gift, sacrificed on freedom's altar," Simon chanted as he drove the sacrificial spike into her heart.

"The descendant of an enemy punished in vengeance, to unleash upon us the Autumn of Despair!" The world wailed in horror when he slew Princess Satine. Crimson lightning crackled in a miniature thunderstorm and arcane symbols glowed so bright in the air they became almost blinding. The earthquake that followed was far more terrible than any before it, and Simon worried that the ceiling would collapse upon their heads for a brief instant.

A vision of a third chain breaking over a seal flooded his mind, followed by a rush of demonic power. It wasn't enough for him to level-up, though. The gulf between levels had grown wide indeed after slaying Frea, and all that remained when Simon returned to reality was the soul gem in his hand and a gaping emptiness inside his heart.

"Yes, yes!" the Stone Muse rejoiced, her voice far more vibrant than it had ever been before.

"Paper-thin this prison has become! One more push to freedom calls!"

"Yes, indeed," Simon replied out loud before telepathically sending a message to Duchar through the brand so the Muse wouldn't overhear them.

"Will the seal hold?"

"It should," Duchar confirmed. The whole reason he had come to the sacrifice ceremony was for the purpose of observing its effects on the seal.

"The full effect of the Seasonal Key ritual will activate only with the fourth and final sacrifice. The increasing miasma potency might change that soon, however." That was what worried Simon. The Black Comet would arrive four days before the Winter Solstice marking the final sacrifice according to their calculations. Simon had no idea how events would unfold then. There was a slim risk that the increase in miasma would allow the Stone Muse to escape early without being properly bound by the Seasonal Key.

It would be unwise to rely on her goodwill and gratitude until then. Thankfully, that possibility had already been taken into account alongside the danger her fruit represented.

"You will stop with the Crestone analysis and move on to work full-time on alchemical fire production," Simon informed Duchar.

"I will shift the containment chambers around with my Lord of the Demon Castle so she does not suspect anything."

"As Your Majesty wishes, but I must say it would be a terrible waste to burn such a unique creature."

"I would rather see this manatree perish over us if she escapes before schedule." Simon froze upon sensing an attempt at telepathic contact from Cassandra and focused on that one.

"Yes, Cassandra?"

"Is everyone alright?" she asked with concern.

"Are my father and brother safe?" This gave Simon pause.

"Why wouldn't they be?"

"The earth shook minutes ago, bringing down buildings and houses upon us. I feared you might have been affected." Had the tremors reached all the way to Whispermire? That was new, and worrying.

"They are safe, I promise you," Simon replied before sensing another telepathic attempt at communication.

"Wait, Cassandra, hang on a moment." He then focused on the new caller.

"What is it, Lady Kano?"

"I would like to meet with you in person, Lord Belias." Odette's thoughts sounded quieter, and a little more alarmed than usual.

"To discuss my upcoming tribute and leave of absence." Simon thought he had misheard for a moment.

"Your leave of absence?"

"Yes, since I doubt you would allow me to resign. I would prefer to discuss it in person in a place of your choosing."

"Why this sudden change?" Her business had never been more profitable.

"If you need a loan for the tribute, I can arrange it."

"I do not think this will compensate for Whispermire's destruction."

"Whispermire's destruction?" A chill traveled down Simon's spine. He briefly wondered if the War Party had ordered Whispermire's annihilation before figuring out the most likely cause.

"Oh, you mean these tremors? They are no cause for concern."

"Yes, they are. The ceiling nearly fell on me, and an entire district has collapsed." She sounded more annoyed than troubled, perhaps because she had anticipated something like this and moved her assets elsewhere.

"With all due respect, I would rather have been forewarned."

"Have I not granted you my brands to shield you?" Simon replied so as not to lose face.

"But very well. I shall be on my way soon." He had the sneaking suspicion his days of anonymity might soon come to an end. Simon flew back to Whispermire on spectral horseback, and it took him only a single good look at the Darkwood under the moonlight to realize the seriousness of the situation.

The Halls of the Minotaur might have been at the quake's epicenter, but its enchanted stonemasonry–which they had further reinforced after the first tremors during the last sacrifice—had shielded them from the destruction that befell Whispermire. Dozens of houses which had never been designed to survive such a natural disaster had collapsed, burying streets under tides of stone and starting fires. He could see the smoke under the moonlight from the Darkwood.

The Midnight Market's two uppermost floors had collapsed, the establishment's walls cracking along the edge. Beyond the risk to his plan, the sight of corpses being excavated from crumbled houses tugged at his heartstrings. How many locals would die or lose their homes tonight? And this destruction would pale compared to what would happen when the Stone Muse finally escaped her prison.

Simon tried to tell himself that this wasn't his final reign, that all would be undone, but a part of him wondered if this world would go on beyond his death to continue suffering the consequences of his actions. That doubt gnawed at him like a worm in an apple. Simon discreetly moved to a meeting point at the city's outskirts, away from prying eyes. He found Odette waiting for him there in Silk's company.

Whereas Odette wore a dark scowl on her face, Whispermire's destruction didn't seem to bother Silk in the slightest.

"Greeting, ladies," Simon declared upon landing.

"Shouldn't you be organizing the relief efforts, Lady Kano?" If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"I am. I had already drilled my men for such an eventuality." Odette waved her hand at the Midnight Market.

"Was this your plan from the start?"

"We are just getting started," Simon replied after climbing down from his horse and dismissing it.

"I do admit I didn't anticipate tremors to reach so far away from the Darkwoods."

"Earthquakes have been more common across the continent over the past few months," Silk noted.

"One struck Lore's southern coast not too long ago."

"Certainly you will not blame me for every natural disaster befalling your kind." Simon met Silk's gaze.

"Why are you here, spiderspawn?"

"To inform you we may not meet again for a long while. Louis' crackdown on dissidents disturbs our business, so we will have to lay low and close the mines for a while. We would like to resume Crestone purchases in the future…" Silk gave him a knowing look.

"Assuming Whispermire is still standing when we return, of course."

"What makes you think it will not?" Simon replied, playing coy. He could tell neither Silk nor Odette believed him.

"I hope for your safety that you will not seek to reveal my existence to anyone."

"There is no need to worry about that," Silk replied with a shrug.

"Your interests align with the Prince, and the Cobweb does not betray its suppliers." Simon knew from experience that was a big fat lie. His instinct told him there was more to this than what she was sharing.

"Interesting," Simon replied before brushing it off.

"As for you, Lady Kano, do you intend to leave my employ?"

"Is that even in the cards with these brands on my skin?" Odette scoffed.

"I would like a tribute exemption. I have gathered enough funds and contacts to begin my expedition in Uyo, and I would like to depart for it before the imminent continental blockade makes maritime travel all but impossible, or before whatever you're doing in the Darkwood destroys this city."

"Such suspicions," Simon replied, though she was acting rather wisely.

"I would assume the spider's spawn here will accompany you out of the goodness of her heart?"

"The Prince is highly interested in what treasures we can obtain from looting Rhapta," Silk confirmed.

"As you certainly are, Lord Belias. Surely your interest in the Midnight Market has waned now that this city all but answers to you already." Clever spider… she wasn't wrong either. Simon's cult had steadily infiltrated all of Whispermire's power structures, and most local adventurers had either been wiped out or gotten the memo that the Darkwood had become too dangerous for them to trifle with. Frea's group had been the last source of concern on that matter.

Odette's help was precious, but not entirely necessary anymore. Still, Simon distrusted the Cobweb. It struck him as odd that they would abandon this lucrative operation for uncertain riches, even assuming they were seeking the Zodiac Fiends' crystals. Why would they want to abandon the area entirely for a time? Unless they only wanted him to think they were gone, but what purpose would it ser– Oh. Oh, that was what they had in mind, the little treacherous bastards.

Was the Muse in on it, or were they acting on their own? Either way, Simon knew exactly how to flip the tables on them.

"Very well, Lady Kano," Simon decided, suppressing a smile.

"I will exempt you from tributes and allow you to depart this ruined land for another… under two conditions." Odette scowled. She must have noticed he was only giving her a reprieve, not a termination of employment notice.

"Which are?"

"You will ensure that the War Party does not come to bother us after this. Convince them there is nothing to be done about this quake, that nothing of value will be lost, and that this was a natural disaster which had nothing to do with the Darkwood. Only when my peace of mind is ensured will I allow you to depart."

"I… I will do what I can." Odette crossed her arms.

"What of the second condition?"

"I am giving you a holiday, not freedom. There might come a time when you find me knocking on your door with a demand, and you shall fulfill it." Simon then switched to telepathy.

"As for my third and final condition, you will warn me of anything you find in the city of Rhapta. I suspect it might contain a treasure most precious for the hordes of the Abyss, which the spider will try to steal." Odette scowled before answering out loud.

"Understood."

"Very reasonable of you." Simon smiled at her, showing his teeth to seem more ominous.

"Bring a healing potion, and show me your arm." Simon proceeded to remove Odette's Brand of Greed, the first time he did so for a follower. The various Devil Brand Perk descriptions warned that doing so would inflict damage upon the marked person, and they turned out to be right. It only took Simon a thought to dispel the mark, but it tore off Odette's skin and revealed her flayed flesh underneath on its way out. She was holding back tears of pain even after the healing potions helped her regenerate.

Simon had some hope that he could delay the War Party's response until after the Winter Solstice and the Black Comet's arrival. A quake in Whispermire was worrying, but it could be passed off for a natural disaster and didn't threaten the Goetia Research Center. Louis should be too busy dealing with his many enemies and the civil war to worry about a backwater besides sending relief. Simon only had to hold out for three more months.

Three months, and then he would have both an archdemon under his control and the answers he sought. Everything would change after that. After speaking with Odette Kano, Simon then went to visit Cassandra and her coven. Their house was thankfully still standing, either because of being made of sturdy wood rather than stone or because of the protective spells woven into it.

"Greetings, Simon," Cassandra said after he entered, closing the door behind them. The smell of herbs and sweet potions filled the air.

"It is kind of you to visit me."

"I admit I was a bit worried for your safety, with the quake and all." Simon glanced around.

"Your coven isn't here?"

"Mebbeth is with her grandchildren, and Nora returned to her husband. I gave my bodyguards the night off when I learned you would visit me." Cassandra smiled demurely.

"Will you stay the night?"

"If it is not a bother."

"It never is. I enjoy your company." Her head tilted a bit to the side.

"Something weighs on your mind. I can tell."

"It does," Simon replied with a sigh.

"It's… it's getting to me."

"The ritual?" she guessed.

"Yes. The quake, the Paladin, everything." How could his father have enjoyed sowing torment? It only brought Simon guilt and exhaustion.

"I… I sacrificed Princess Satine today. She was a good woman who would rather be haunted by a deranged dryad for weeks on end rather than betray her allies."

"She tried to kill you and my family, Simon," Cassandra pointed out.

"You gave them chances to back away. A battle was inevitable then."

"I know, but… they were good people, and in the right to raid the Halls of the Minotaur. I do not think most would look kindly on us sacrificing souls to bind a demon to our will. I keep telling myself this is for the greater good, that we can revive their souls as undead, and that it's better for the world that we keep the Stone Muse under control rather than let her escape on her own, that gaining more Overlord levels will give me the strength to help others in the future, but…" Simon looked away.

"All those words sound hollow to me. It wears me down." Cassandra listened to him patiently, her face unreadable. She remained quiet for a moment, weighing her answer very carefully.

"When my brother died, my father had no choice but to use necromancy to keep him among the living. He was condemned for this. Called a monster. My brother lost much in the process, as did we all… but he is still here with us." Cassandra took a long, deep breath.

"I am not well-placed to tell you whether or not what we are doing here is wrong or right. All I can say is that sometimes there are no good solutions, only available ones. Maybe binding the Stone Muse will give you the power to choose a good one eventually. I cannot say." Her words were kind, but they didn't alleviate Simon's bad mood.

"I have tried to convince myself that it will turn out alright, but… how do you live with these regrets?"

"You simply do," Cassandra replied wisely.

"I do not think it is possible to live without regrets. Our acts always have unforeseen consequences. Not even the Oracle herself, who can see the future with clarity, is safe from making mistakes. This is simply something we must live and come to terms with." Simon pondered her words. Did they apply to him, who had been blessed and cursed with the power to undo his mistakes until he eventually got it right? They probably were. Simon doubted his father had died satisfied after seventy-five lifetimes.

There were foes he had missed, plots he had overlooked, and works he left unfinished. Nobody could account for everything, not even time-travelers. Maybe Simon would be no exception. Maybe all he could do was his best. It eased his mind a bit.

"Would you like some tea?" Cassandra asked him kindly.

"Something warm to put your mind at ease?"

"I wouldn't mind a cup of tea, yes." Simon coughed.

"I have a gift for you as well." Cassandra smiled warmly.

"A gift?"

"Yes." Simon moved towards the dinner table and grabbed the nearest glass.

"If you could step back a bit, I need to take care of something first." Cassandra watched with curiosity as Simon raised his hand over the table, focusing on his Inventory, and attempted to bring out his gift… only for the Paladin Crestone to pop out instead. It immediately began to roll across the table towards the door, but Simon quickly trapped it under the glass.

"It always does that," Simon complained.

"The Paladin's Crestone comes out first each time I try to summon something out of the Inventory, at which point it rolls towards the nearest window or crack. It's uncanny how it manages to ricochet around."

"The Crestone can select itself as an Inventory item?" Cassandra inquired with curiosity.

"I think it can either influence the System or probabilities to a degree, somehow. Maybe not outright break the rules, but enough to pull a few surprises." Simon waved his hand and summoned his actual gift: a bouquet of purple orchids and venomous flowers whose beauty was only matched by their toxicity. He put the Paladin Crestone back into his Inventory, then presented his offering to Cassandra.

"Here."

"Are those flowers from the Darkwood?" Cassandra inquired upon taking the bouquet, her Brand of Gluttony protecting her from their poison.

"They smell wonderful."

"It took me a while to find and pluck flowers that didn't look like abominations," Simon admitted.

"I hope you like them."

"I do. I wonder if I could harvest their petals for a potion." Cassandra searched a shelf for a pot and placed them inside.

"That was very kind of you." Then… then she turned to face him, and Simon could feel it in the air. A tension. An unmet demand neither of them could express openly. Cassandra joined her hands and stared at him, waiting for Simon to make the first move. So he leaned forward to kiss her. It was an impulse, a spur-of-the-moment act. He thought about Anna for a brief second, but then recalled that his Anna was gone and the current one was a very different person.

She had probably changed the same way Tiella had become another woman entirely. His fiancée was dead, an extinguished possibility that only existed in his mind now. Louis' advice came to mind. Simon couldn't let those ghosts haunt him forever. Those reigns had flown by, while Cassandra was here and now, made of flesh and blood rather than memories. He wanted her. He wanted the comfort she offered, he wanted her wisdom and kindness, her warmth. So he took it all.

He pressed his lips against her, putting his arms behind her back to pull her closer. She didn't resist and accepted him without a word. The kiss was a bit clumsy on her hand, but was as sweet as it was short.

"I have never kissed a warm body before," Cassandra confessed shyly. Why did she always have to say such creepy things? Then again, part of Simon found it morbidly adorable. He leaned in to kiss her again more ferociously, when Cassandra pushed him back all of a sudden.

"Wait," she said, albeit with some hesitation. Simon froze.

"Was I too forward?"

"No, no, it…" Cassandra bit her lip.

"There… There is something you need to know about me. Something only my family knows." Simon frowned, but let her go. Cassandra took a long, deep breath, like a witch facing the pyre.

"I hope you won't mind," she said, hopeful. For the first time since he had met her many reigns back, Cassandra pulled back her veil. Simon stared at her in confusion, trying to understand the issue, when he spotted them peeking out from beneath her hair: two black spikes so small one could have mistaken them for bumps. His eyes widened in recognition before traveling down and noticing something new moving beneath her robes. Something red, scaly, and sinuous. Cassandra had horns and a forked tail.