Chương 17: Sin's Requests

Elise smiled wryly while holding the huge cooked leg of a creature. It was a [Cooked Tyrannosaur Leg], which was just one of many other food items she'd had stored from the game. The odd part was how she could hold it up without any strain to her arm. Though, I suppose it was no different from me pushing those heavy doors open. Honestly, they might be even heavier than this thing. She held it like it was a turkey leg she'd gotten from a state fair, and on the other end, the dragon sat with her mouth watering.

Her scaly tail waved behind her. Ampherea stared at it as if it would disappear if she looked away. Elise had half a mind to tease the dragon as if she were a dog, but this was what Gluttony had asked for.

"You don't have to wait anymore. You can eat it already." The dragon girl's eyes widened. She chomped down on it and started to devour the hulking piece of meat like a wild animal. As soon as Elise had given them all a task, she asked what would make them the happiest. It just so happened that two of the requests were easy to fulfill at the same time. Ampherea wanted to be fed from Elise's hand, and Bisque wanted to ride on the queen's back for a while.

The little golem girl had her arms wrapped around Elise's neck and hung from her like an ornament. Luckily for Elise, it didn't take long for the gluttonous dragon to gobble down all of the meat and even the bone. She ate it as if she were a ravenous dog who'd not eaten for several days.

"Was the food really that good?" Ampherea nodded and licked her lips.

"It tasted even better when you fed it to me." Elise's hand moved out almost on instinct, and she ran her fingers through the dragon's hair, petting her as if she were a pet. For a second, she expected the girl to recoil, but it created the opposite effect. Ampherea leaned into the touch. The queen only stopped and cleared her throat when she saw Rela's envious expression.

"I already told you and Tyralith that your gifts will come later because of what happened at the inn. Also, the two of you will be accompanying me back there, so I expect your full cooperation." She breathed a sigh when she saw Rela nodding reluctantly. It's like they're all my children, almost. Though, this one on my back is even more like that. Tyralith's reaction was different. She slumped over the table and groaned, her witch hat wobbling on her head.

"Can the others make their requests quick? The sooner we get back there, the sooner I can have you all to myself." Elise's smile twitched for a moment, but she corrected herself. Luckily, the movement was so subtle that none of her subordinates picked up on it. Or if they did, none of them made mention of it. She moved on to Victoria next. The werewolf girl had an easier quest to accomplish than the queen expected. She really only wants me to scratch behind her ears and brush her tail?

Elise stood up and pulled out a [Divine Brush of Fluff]. It was an item she'd gotten in the game after defeating a fox dungeon. She remembered the kitsune realm fondly. In GEO it was certainly one of the more unique places. There were shrines, and the drops contained a lot of traditional Japanese items. The players would often joke on the forums that it was the abyss of fluff, since a lot of items were related to the foxes themselves.

Her adroit hands worked behind Wrath's ears, and even though she was supposed to be a canine, Elise swore she could hear the purrs of a cat. The queen's other skillful hand got to work with the white brush. She straightened out all of the fur on the werewolf's tail, giving it a much needed sheen.

"My queen," Victoria said with a slightly raspy voice, followed by a soft moan.

"Yes, right there." The tail started waving back and forth as Elise worked, making her job a little harder, but it didn't stop her. The Sanguine Queen continued diligently. She worked as if it were no different from when they were video game characters. After all, one of her favorite things to do in the game was get new items for her followers. Dressing them up and making them seem real was a bliss, but now that feeling sank in even deeper. She felt a calming pleasure from giving them things they wanted.

It settled over her heart, making her realize once again that they are more real than ever. Elise let out a soft breath and gave a smile after she finished, holding out the brush towards Victoria.

"You can keep this if you want."

"Really? But this is..."

"Divine item, or not, you are all my treasures. Compared to everyone in this castle, this item is nothing more than the dust beneath our feet." They turned towards her and stared at her as if she was insane. She straightened her dress and held firm.

"I am completely serious. Remember this when you fight for me. None of you are to lose your lives, and every soul here is more valuable than even my own castle." The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. The group of them knelt in tandem, aside from the sleeping child on her back. Did I say something wrong?

"My Lady, we are all devoted to your great self and would gladly die for you."

"Rela, hear me properly. You're not allowed to die for anyone. If there ever comes a situation where your lives are at risk, I must be notified immediately." The queen's eyes flickered towards a maid standing in the doorway of the meeting room.

"That goes for you as well. So to all of my strongest followers, remember that when you risk the lives of those beneath you." She took another breath and continued.

"Though, that only applies to those who were in the castle when we got here. Anyone else that comes under my wing after will be a case by case basis." Several of them echoed their understanding. I hope they take those words to heart. I did not farm for hours in game and spend my own money just so that you would kill yourselves.

"Now then, the next request was Ava'Koz." Elise searched within her inventory and eventually found a divine tome. As an MMO player, she picked up everything that wasn't nailed down, and this tome itself wasn't anything special. It was just a lore book she found during a quest.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Ava'Koz nodded emphatically.

"I crave all of the knowledge you have, My Goddess. I would gladly take a divine book each time." Elise shrugged and moved on to her next request, the twin brother.

"You had a poem you wanted to read to me?"

"If he is going to be reading a poem, may I ask to be excused, My Queen?" Victoria asked.

"Of course, you're all free to leave at any time. Don't forget your task." Elise looked towards Ampherea.

"You can join her if you want, since you're taking on the same role." The dragoness nodded and followed the werewolf. I hope those two get along better when they're following my orders, at least. She turned back to Luscious.

"Now then, please..."

"Of course, Our Benevolent Ruler," the demon said in a posh voice with a bow.

"Your darkness overwhelming, The light recedes at the top of the hill, Your malevolence testing, The world turns like a mill, They all come not knowing, Our Goddess's will, They listen to the crow's crowing, The arrival of Our Queen, Elise Shadowspill." Elise clapped her hands together a few times. It wasn't actually as bad as I imagined it would be, since Victoria acted so dramatically.

"Maybe when I capture the world, you could make a song about it?" His eyes sparkled and he pulled out a small note pad and quill.

"I will not forget these words, and I will etch them onto my heart. It seems that I was right all along! Our Goddess does enjoy a great song!" She chuckled and looked towards Lenore next.

"Are you sure you only want a hug?"

"I want to die in your arms, but since you said that wasn't possible, a hug will suffice, My Queen. I am a bit bummed that you saved me to the end." Elise blinked several times at the monotone voice.

"You aren't the last one, though. I still need to see to Atlus's request after this." She gave a small smile and wrapped her arms around Lenore. Lenore held onto Elise, her black wings fluttering behind her. The fallen angel managed the smallest of smiles.

"You're much warmer than I expected, and I feel like my dull life can end like this." The queen chuckled and ran her fingers through Lenore's raven hair.

"There will be other occasions when I can do this as well, so don't think about ending your life anytime soon."

"Naturally, I would only 'die' but never die, My Queen." If that works like it did in the game, then I would not want to see that in reality. Then again, would I even have a strong reaction to it? She let the rest of them take a break or tend to their duties, while she walked down the hall. When she turned her head, she found Bisque still resting on her back like a backpack. The girl's eyes were closed, and she looked completely peaceful.

Either way, the queen continued her journey down the stairs and underneath the earth itself. She delved until she reached Atlus's crypt domain. It was in there that he stood next to the same altar they used to bring back Tiberius. Speaking of that paladin wraith, he hovered in the air next to it, and his golden shine grew brighter as she approached. Tiberius knelt down next to the altar and crossed his armored hand over his chest.

"My Goddess."

"I am glad you've already settled into your new role." She turned her head towards the holy skeleton instead.

"Atlus, you said your request related to him?" The queen's eyes flickered towards the altar where a dusty old coffin now resided.

"I am to presume it is this?"

"That is correct, Your Majesty. This is the very coffin of Maketh Oolathil. We unearthed it, and there is something inside that I thought you might want to see." The skeleton moved and pulled off the stone lid. It fell with a heavy crash, shaking the ground beneath it.

"Please, take a look." Elise walked closer with narrowed eyes. She saw a mummified man resting behind wraps, but in his arms there was an old book. It barely held together at the seams.

"Is it his journal."

"That is what the two of us have gathered. With your permission, we would like to view the contents, but I wanted you to be the first one to see it, Your Majesty. It might have clues to the surrounding regions and how we can make them more beautiful for ourselves." She reached forwards, and her finger nearly touched the book. However, Elise sensed rather quickly that was a bad idea. She could feel a magic humming around it. It's a [Withering] spell. If I touch this book, then it will disintegrate.

Was his private journal really that important? Then again, I would not want to have my journal found by a random ancient vampire. Oh well... The queen waved her hand over the object.

"[Dispel]." The spell broke into particles of light and fell away, revealing an only slightly tattered journal. So, it also had a spell to make it seem like it was aged more? It's surprisingly well preserved. The Journal of Maketh Oolathil, The Fool.