The notification echoed in my mind bringing me back to reality.
[Congratulations! You survived! You have received an S-rank summon for completing your mission.]
My fingers trembled, excitement bubbling up I almost wanted to punch the air. An S-rank summon? This was huge. I could barely contain my grin as I opened the summon. 'The B rank I have already is super useful. I wonder about the S rank.'
The air around me warped, I gulped in anticipation before something...no, someone materialized from the void.
She stood there, perfectly composed, as if she had always existed in this space.
A woman with a slender figure wearing a formal, professional outfit. She has smooth red hair and piercing golden eyes. No, not just golden. Her eyes had an unnatural, almost hypnotic quality, rings rippling out from her pupils, like endless spirals.
Looking into them felt like falling into an abyss, I felt my chest tighten, my body swaying as if I was about to pass out or throw up.
I blinked rapidly, forcing myself to breathe. The sensation faded, but the lingering unease remained, crawling over my skin like cold fingers.
She didn't speak. She just stared at me.
Then, after what felt like an eternity, she tilted her head slightly and bowed.
"Makima," she said, her voice smooth and controlled, laced with an unsettling calm. "I am here to be useful my Lord. It is a pleasure to serve you."
My heart slammed against my ribs. Makima? From Chainsaw Man? I glanced at the system and it also confirmed for me.
[Character: Makima]
[Rank: S-rank]
[Anime: Chainsaw man]
I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to regain some composure. 'This is insane. I actually summoned Makima... but this presence… it's overwhelming.' Is it because im a normal human, I have no idea.
"Uh… yeah," I muttered, scratching the back of my neck. "Nice to meet you, I guess." I already had a first time meeting with Kurogiri, but it's still all new for me.
She straightened, her gaze never wavering. "May I ask your name, my Lord?"
I hesitated. 'I remember my previous name but I kind of want to leave it behind. I want a new one to start anew. Think, think, think...' After brainstorming for a few seconds I decided.
"It's… Meliodas." I said, my voice steadier than I expected.
Makima's lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile. "Meliodas hmm..." she repeated as if savoring the sound. "A fitting name."
I shifted on my feet, her presence like a shadow clinging to my skin. "So, uh… do you know where you are?"
Her expression remained unreadable. "I know only that I have been summoned to serve you. My knowledge of this world is limited, but if you desire it, I will learn."
Her words were perfectly measured. I rubbed my temples, trying to process everything. "And you'll… follow my orders? No matter what?"
Makima stepped closer, and I instinctively stepped back, her hands behind her back, eyes fixated on mine.
"Of course," she said, her eyes gleaming. "I exist to fulfill your will."
My skin prickled, and I clenched my fists to steady myself. I had an incredibly powerful summon at my disposal, someone capable of controlling others with a glance but she was also Makima. A being who played with people like puppets, bending their souls until they broke.
I swallowed hard, my pulse racing.
'I can only trust the system that she won't manipulate me or something...'
'Now that I think about it, my situation is kind of similar to Ainz's when he first arrived in the new world, and just like him, I need to stand strong in front of my subjects and show authority...' Talking about Ainz, my thoughts shifted once again.
'Talking about Ainz, Jircniv's reaction earlier suggests that the increase of numbers of undead is indeed true but his show of interest in the info means that he does not know about Ainz's existence yet.' I scratched my chin gently while trying to make sense of the recent events.
"So it is safe to assume that I have arrived here at the same time as Ainz huh? Even though the possibility of Ainz not being present in this world is not zero, it's still possible." I muttered to myself, it seemed Makima was able to catch on to what I said, but I did not let her ask for clarification.
*Sigh* "Anyways, we were almost killed earlier so we teleported here. I dont know where we are so I will count on you for now to take us somewhere safe." I could only rely on Makima for now.
Her smile widened at the fact that her master was already making use of her and relying on her. "Very well. I am a devil Meliodas-sama and a strong one at that. I can sense human blood from long distances. I can take you to a city easily. Please follow me."
*Change of POV*
-Somewhere-
The soft glow of candlelight flickered against the luxurious private chambers, casting long shadows that danced like specters in the quiet room. A young woman sat by the window, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall of sunlight.
Her delicate hands rested on the sill, her fingers tracing the patterns on the cool glass as she gazed out at the city below. The kingdom's capital, once a symbol of prosperity, now seemed to wither under the weight of corruption and decay.
The country she wanted to see go ahead and beyond was silently being consumed from the inside out.
*Knock*
A gentle knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. "Enter," she called, her voice as sweet and melodic as ever, betraying none of the turmoil that churned within her.
The door creaked open, and her maid, a young woman with a timid demeanor, stepped inside. She bowed deeply, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. "Your Highness, you asked for an update on the kingdom's affairs."
Renner turned her head slightly, her piercing blue eyes settling on the maid. "Yes, please. Tell me what's happening beyond these walls."
The maid hesitated, her voice trembling as she spoke. "The crimes… they continue to rise, Your Highness. The Eight Fingers grow bolder by the day. They've infiltrated every corner of the city, smuggling, extortion, and even slavery. The common folk are suffering, and the nobility… they turn a blind eye, too preoccupied with their own squabbles."
Renner's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile, though her eyes remained cold. "Is that so? How unfortunate." She turned back to the window, her gaze distant. "If only Father had listened to my suggestions. Our kingdom could have been so much more than this..."
The maid shifted uncomfortably, unsure how to respond. Renner's tone was calm, almost serene, and then she continued. "But of course, his majesty knows better." The smile Renner showed her maid was radiant and bright but there was an undercurrent of something darker. Omething the maid couldn't quite place.
After a moment of silence, the princess waved her hand dismissively. "You may go. Thank you for the report."
The maid bowed again and hurried out of the room, leaving Renner alone with her thoughts. The princess sighed softly, her breath fogging the glass pane. She leaned back in her chair, her mind drifting to the recent pressures from her family. Her father, the king, had summoned her just days ago.
*Flashback*
"Renner, my dear daughter" he had said, his tone leaving no room for argument, "it's time you considered marriage. The kingdom needs alliances, and you are already 16. Lord Perland has expressed interest in you. It would be a beneficial match."
Beneficial. The word echoed in her mind, bitter and hollow. She was nothing more than a pawn to them, a bargaining chip to secure political favor.
The thought made her stomach churn, but she had smiled sweetly and nodded, as she always did. "Of course, Father. I will consider it."
But behind that smile, a storm raged. Renner had no intention of surrendering her freedom to some pompous noble.
She had spent her entire life playing the part of the perfect princess kind, obedient, and demure. But beneath that golden facade, she was anything but.
*Flashback end*
Her thoughts turned to Climb, the boy she had taken under her wing. He was so earnest, so pure, with a loyalty that bordered on devotion. She had seen the way he looked at her, with a mixture of awe and admiration, and it stirred something deep within her.
Climb was different from the others. He was hers, the first pawn she could control and she would do whatever it took to keep him by her side.
A small, almost predatory smile played on her lips as she imagined the future. The kingdom was crumbling, but perhaps that was for the best. In the chaos, she could carve out a place for herself and Climb.
The Eight Fingers, the corrupt nobility, and even her own family… they were all obstacles in her path. But Renner was patient. She would bide her time, manipulate the pieces on the board, and when the moment was right, she would strike.
"Am I destined to be sold for my family's sake?" The princess said to herself. She had hope. But for now, though, she would continue to play the role of the Golden Princess.
TO BE CONTINUED --->