Word count: 2450 words
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Meliodas stood in the grand hall of his newly acquired mansion, a sprawling estate he bought one day after meeting the princess, a mansion that exuded both elegance and power. The mansion was huge, big enough to accommodate him and his future summons. It did not have infinite space, but it was more than enough.
It had long gates, meticulously maintained gardens and opulent interiors. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries and nice paintings, adding to the atmosphere of refinement. Through the large windows, the sunlight filtered in, casting a nice glow over the room Meliodas and Makima were situated in.
He walked inside the spacious chamber lined with bookshelves and luxurious furnishings, Meliodas sat comfortably on an elegant couch. His eyes scanned the translucent blue screen before him, the system displaying his recent accomplishments.
It had been a week since his pivotal conversation with Princess Renner, and eighteen days since he first arrived in the Re-Estize Kingdom. In that time, he had accomplished a few things granting him rewards from the system.
[Mission Completed: Increase Your Influence]
[Reward: B rank summon]
Meliodas smirked. 'Contacting the princess of Re-Estize had sealed the deal. I already had deep ties with the Obsidian Chains, but securing Blue Rose and gaining the princess' allowed me to meet the system requirements for the mission.'
Now the underworld knew his name, the nobility spoke in whispers, and his influence stretched beyond mere adventurers or criminals. But still, this was only in the Re-Estize kingdom, his goal was to spread his name all over the world, this would give him more opportunities to get stronger summons.
[Mission Completed: Recruit Strong Allies Beyond Your Summons]
[Reward: A-rank Summon]
'Just like the previous missions, recruiting Brain alone wasn't enough. However, acquiring Blue Rose was the final push the system required.' This gave Melidoas a better understanding of his system.
Now, with both tasks done, it was time to move forward.
"Let's see who's next." With a flick of his hand, the System shifted, and a bright circle appeared before him. Energy crackled, swirling into a concentrated mass before bursting outward.
A girl materialized out of nowhere.
Short light blue hair framed her delicate features, her large sky-blue eyes opened slowly, taking in her surroundings with a moment of quiet observation. Dressed in a cute French black and white maid uniform, the frilled hem of her skirt gently swayed as she moved. Her hands folded in front of her as she lowered her head in a graceful bow.
"Rem greets her master." Her voice was calm, unwavering in its respect and devotion.
[Character: Rem]
[Rank: B-rank]
[Anime: Re-Zero]
Meliodas tilted his head, a hint of amusement playing on his lips.
'I always wanted a maid like her.' That was convenient for him.
He gave a small nod in approval before turning his attention back to the System. 'One more to go.'
Summoning an A-Rank now, he prepared for someone on a much higher level. The moment he confirmed the summon, the air around them twisted, shadows shifting unnaturally before dispersing in a gentle breeze.
A tall, elegant woman stood before him.
She wore a dark purple button-up blouse revealing the top of her bosom, sleeves rolled just enough to expose her delicate wrists. A long orange skirt hugged her curvaceous form, its slit revealing just a hint of her toned leg.
A pair of round orange sunglasses sat atop her head, resting against her soft black hair. She carried herself with a composed, almost mysterious aura, her deep blue eyes exuding wisdom and experience.
She studied the room, then smiled knowingly. "Ara, what an interesting place I've been summoned to."
[Character: Nico Robin]
[Rank: A-rank]
[Anime: One Piece]
"Welcome to the team, Rem, Nico." Meliodas was satisfied with his new summons, even though he didn't know how to use Robin's abilities...
"Oh, it seems there is no need to introduce myself, my lord." Robin bowed with a smile.
Makima, who had been standing silently behind Meliodas, stepped forward, her crimson eyes scanning the two newcomers. Her presence was commanding, her sharp gaze leaving no room for doubt about her authority.
She was dressed in her usual tailored suit, her posture perfect and her expression unreadable.
"Master," Makima said, her voice calm but firm, "Shall I brief them on their roles?"
Meliodas nodded, his hands casually resting on his crossed legs. "Yes, but first, let's introduce everyone. My name is Meliodas." Then he gestured to Makima. "And this is Makima. She's my right hand and the one who handles things when I'm not around. You'll be taking orders from her as well."
Rem bowed her head respectfully. "It's an honor to meet you, Meliodas-sama, Lady Makima."
Robin tilted her head slightly, her smile never wavering. "A pleasure, you must hold quite a bit of trust in her to give her that much authority." She said, her tone polite but with a hint of curiosity.
Makima's expression remained unreadable. "My master's trust is not something I take lightly."
Meliodas leaned forward and chuckled. "Alright, I'll introduce you to more people later, but for now, you two can rest for the day. Makima will give you orders later."
Rem nodded without hesitation. "I will follow whatever command you give, Master."
Robin, on the other hand, smiled playfully. "Well, I suppose a little break before work wouldn't hurt."
Makima's gaze lingered on Robin for a brief moment, as if evaluating her worth, before she turned to Meliodas. "Understood. I will ensure they integrate properly."
With that, Meliodas stretched, leaning back against the couch. "Then it's settled, welcome to the team, Makima, ask Shoko to show them their rooms."
Makima stepped out of the room as she turned her head slightly to the side. "Shoko," she called out.
Within moments, a woman with brown hair and a composed demeanor entered the grand hall of the mansion. Shoko Ieiri, the medic of the Obsidian Chains, walked in, her hands tucked into the pockets of her white coat.
She glanced at Rem and Robin, studying them briefly since it was the first time she had seen them before shifting her gaze to Makima.
"Take them to their rooms," Makima instructed. "They'll need time to rest and familiarize themselves with the mansion."
Shoko gave a small nod before turning to the two newly summoned members. "Follow me. I'll show you where you'll be staying."
Rem, ever the dutiful maid, bowed to Meliodas once more before quietly stepping forward. Robin, more relaxed, gave a knowing smile and adjusted her shades before following Shoko. Their footsteps echoed through the vast hall as they disappeared beyond the corridor, leaving only Meliodas and Makima in the room.
A moment of silence settled between them as Makima turned back to face him. The air in the room shifted, becoming more intimate. She walked toward him with measured steps, her piercing gaze never leaving his.
Meliodas, now seated on one of the luxurious sofas in the mansion's grand lounge, leaned back slightly, his fingers drumming against the armrest.
Without hesitation, Makima gracefully lowered herself onto his lap, her arms loosely draping around his shoulders. It wasn't an unusual occurrence. When they were alone, these moments happened naturally between them.
Meliodas still had one of those missions left to accomplish, to become king, and the reward was pretty tempting too, an SS-rank summon. 'This mission is actually worth some trouble, but unfortunately, I cannot do it anytime soon...'
But also, Meliodas received new missions after he spoke with the princess.
[SECURE 'Razor Edge' THE SWORD THAT GAZEF STRONOFF USES]
[REWARD: C RANK SUMMON]
[SECURE RENNER'S CLAIM TO THE THRONE]
[Reward: A-rank summon]
'Securing Renner's spot as a queen was already in the plans, as for Gazef's sword, I believe it is a decent addition, after all, it's a sword that can actually harm a supreme being like Ainz. It ignores the level difference and cuts anything.
Makima who was peacefully relaxing on my lap tilted her head, her red locks cascading slightly over one eye as she spoke in a soft yet firm tone, bringing me out of my thoughts.
"So," she began, her voice carrying a hint of amusement, "is it today?"
Meliodas sighed, resting his head against the back of the sofa as his fingers absentmindedly traced along Makima's thigh. "Yeah," he confirmed. "Tonight's when the kingdom launches its attack on the undead. But what they don't know is that these creatures aren't appearing naturally. They're being summoned."
Makima's expression remained unreadable. "The Khajat you told me about, right?"
Meliodas nodded. "And Clementine is with him. That's the real problem. The undead are a nuisance, but she's annoying too. The kingdom thinks they're just dealing with a random surge, but the truth is, they're playing into someone else's hands."
Makima hummed in thought, shifting slightly in his lap. "I assume you wanted to send someone from Obsidian Chains. Yoriichi or Mahito?"
"That was the plan at first," Meliodas admitted. "But I can't risk it. Ainz is going to be present. He comes from the same world as me, if he recognizes one of them he might start putting things together. And right now, I don't want him to know about me. Not yet."
Makima smirked, her fingers running through his blonde hair. "Why are you so defensive when it comes to him?"
"Well, it's not as if I hate him or something, in fact, I would like to do business with him in the future. The thing is if he finds out about my abilities too soon he might consider me a threat and try to kill me, this is why I try not to face him until I'm sure I can protect my life in case he tries something. I don't know what goes inside people's minds after all." Meliodas explained.
Makima studied his expression for a moment before nodding. "Then it's a good thing you assigned Brain to this task. It will allow him to prove himself further. His reputation is growing, and with his new training, I'm pretty sure he will have a spectacular performance there. If he succeeds, it will reflect well on the princess. Having a competent knight will only strengthen her standing."
Meliodas smirked. "Exactly. If Brain wins this fight, it'll solidify her influence. The nobles and the royal family will start seeing her as someone capable. And if she has political power… well, that only makes things easier for us."
.
.
.
*Brain's POV*
The air around E-Rantel was heavy with tension as soldiers moved in an orderly manner, sharpening their blades and checking their armor one last time.
The upcoming assault against the undead menace had sent waves of anxiety through the ranks, but discipline held them together. The kingdom's forces had gathered in numbers, and at the forefront of this operation stood some of the strongest warriors Re-Estize had to offer.
Among them was Brain Unglaus, donned in new, polished armor befitting his new position as the princess's knight. It still felt somewhat surreal, to serve a member of the royal family, being part of political intrigue. It wasn't something he would have imagined himself doing before, but orders were orders, and his loyalty was set in stone.
But for him, as long as there was action and experience to gather, he was satisfied.
Brain observed the soldiers preparing, his sharp eyes caught sight of two figures approaching the camp entrance. He immediately recognized them.
A dark-clad man with a long robe covering most of his body and a beautiful woman at his side, wearing a long brown cloak.
'Just as Lord Meliodas described them, turns out they are here…' Brain thought, his fingers twitching slightly. He knew their names, Momon and his companion, Nabe.
Despite their unassuming presence, Brain could feel something unnatural about them, as if his instincts were screaming at him that these two were no ordinary individuals. However, their energy was masterfully concealed, wrapped in layers upon layers of restraint.
A terrifying thought crossed his mind, if Meliodas had warned him about them, then their true strength must be something beyond human comprehension.
Before he could dwell further on the subject, a firm clap on his shoulder pulled him from his thoughts. Turning his head, he found himself face to face with none other than Gazef Stronoff. The Kingdom's Warrior Captain, a man he had fought against once before.
His gruff yet friendly expression was the same as ever, though his eyes held curiosity.
"So, it's true," Gazef said, folding his arms. "You're the princess's knight now."
Brain exhaled, giving a small smirk. "Didn't expect it, did you?"
"I'd be lying if I said I did," Gazef admitted. "You were never one for politics, and yet here you are, standing in the middle of the royal guard, preparing for an operation under royal command."
Brain shrugged. "People change. I needed direction, and this was the best one offered to me."
Gazef let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "If that's what you say. I just hope that whatever put you in this position was worth it."
Brain's gaze momentarily flickered towards Momon and Nabe, who were now speaking with some of the officers. "I'd say it is," he muttered under his breath before turning back to Gazef. "And what about you? I heard you'd be leading this charge. You seem… unusually calm, given the circumstances."
Gazef nodded, his expression turning serious. "We've fought undead before. But this… This feels different. There's an unknown factor in play, and I don't like it." He glanced toward the enemy's supposed location. "Still, it's our duty. If the kingdom orders us to rid E-Rantel of this plague, then that's what we'll do."
Brain already had the info from his master about what was really going on. This mission wasn't going to be as straightforward as some of the officers believed.
"Just don't let your guard down," Brain finally said, gripping the handle of his sword, he warned. "I have a feeling things are going to take an unexpected turn."
Gazef grinned. "They always do."
TO BE CONTINUED --->
Hey everyone! Author here.
If you've got an anime character you'd love to see summoned into the story, feel free to drop your suggestions, including which character you'd like to see and what rank you think they deserve. Your input might just shape the next events in the story!
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