"You got rejected."
As she watched Grayfia walk away, Inukimi poked her head out, her tone tinged with teasing.
Lynn looked down at the two twitching ears on his shoulder. The corners of his lips lifted slightly as he instinctively reached out, grabbed them, and began to gently rub.
"He-hey hey hey!"
Inukimi trembled violently, completely stunned.
She was the most noble royal of the Western Lands…
And yet…
She was being treated like a pet?
Inukimi instinctively bared her sharp fangs, ready to bite and remind him just how fearsome the Princess of the Dog Demon Clan truly was.
But…
Lynn suddenly said, "Considering you aren't paying rent, don't you think this is fair?"
Rent?
Inukimi froze. She looked down at where she was curled up on his shoulder.
Okay… fair enough.
Besides, this was the Underworld. She had no choice but to rely on Lynn right now…
Forget it, she thought.
I'll just pretend to be a pet for now…
She consoled herself mentally.
Then she tilted her head, letting Lynn pet her without resistance.
Since she couldn't stop it, she might as well enjoy it…
And to be honest.
His technique wasn't bad.
Inukimi narrowed her golden eyes in comfortable silence.
Lynn chuckled and turned his attention back to more important matters.
Grayfia's rejection hadn't affected him in the slightest.
He was used to things not going smoothly when recruiting Peerage members. Even Natsuki Minamiya, who he met early on, hadn't been brought in yet.
Still…
"The war, huh…"
He had no interest in the civil conflict within the Underworld.
But just then, Lynn flashed forward and reappeared in front of Grayfia, blocking her path.
Her pupils contracted slightly.
That speed…!
She hadn't even reacted before he was already there.
Although surprised, Grayfia's expression remained stoic. She frowned and asked, "Do you need something?"
Was he going to drag her off and force her into marriage?
She couldn't help but wonder, though oddly, she wasn't worried.
From that speed alone, and his overwhelming presence she already knew.
This man was powerful.
But so was she.
Lynn kept his expression calm. "Do you know where House Valefor's territory is?"
"Valefor?"
Grayfia was momentarily surprised, but pointed to the west.
"Thanks."
The moment he finished, Lynn vanished, leaving only a few glowing sparks in his wake.
Just wanted directions?
Grayfia blinked in silence, then stared at the lingering embers.
There was an overwhelming energy hidden in those flames. Even she felt wary.
When did such a being appear in the Underworld?
As a core figure of the Old Maou Faction, she knew of most of the powerful devils.
But Lynn… was a complete unknown.
Someone that strong shouldn't have remained anonymous.
Unless…
He had the power to end this war.
Her heart wavered slightly.
She was tired of endless bloodshed.
If someone could bring peace to this chaos…
Then maybe it was him.
…
On the other side.
Following Grayfia's directions, Lynn arrived at the territory of House Valefor in a flash.
He had come to the Underworld with a clear purpose.
To awaken his innate magic traits.
As a descendant of the 72 Pillars and a noble house of devils, his magic should possess unique characteristics.
But until now, it had yet to manifest.
Now that he was in the Underworld's past, it was the perfect chance to visit House Valefor and unlock it.
Even though Lynn already held the strength of a Satan-class Devil.
Certain innate traits could offer terrifying boosts.
Take Sirzechs, for example. His advancement to Super-Class Devil was largely due to the destructive nature of his magic.
So Lynn saw no reason to delay.
But…
He furrowed his brow at the tense, militarized atmosphere surrounding Valefor's estate. Armies were stationed in formation, clearly on high alert.
"Valefor is part of the Old Maou Faction?"
His expression twitched slightly.
How did the Valefor clan, part of the Old Faction, end up forming a marriage alliance with the Sitri of the Reformists?
Shaking his head, Lynn let the thought go and strode directly toward the Valefor mansion.
His bold movements immediately drew attention from the soldiers stationed outside.
"Who goes there?"
A devil general narrowed his eyes and instinctively reached for the massive blade strapped to his back.
Anyone daring to approach the Demon King's army had to either be suicidal or absurdly confident.
The general remained tense.
Other devils quickly gathered, bloodshot eyes filled with hostility and killing intent.
War had long driven them mad.
And the Old Maou Faction was infamous for its brutality.
Lynn didn't bother to speak. He didn't even glance at them.
He simply walked forward, completely unfazed.
Four High-Class Devils and a swarm of fodder?
They weren't even worth a thought to him.
"You bastard…!"
The general's face twisted in rage.
This guy was way too arrogant!
And if he disturbed Lord Beelzebub while he was inside.
Just imagining the consequences made the general break out in a cold sweat.
"Take him down!"
The demons, already impatient, erupted with eerie screeches.
Bat-like wings spread, and a horde of devils took to the skies and ground, surrounding Lynn.
"Haha! Let's tear this guy's head off and use it as a ball!"
"For the Demon King!"
The chaos was deafening.
Inside the Valefor mansion.
In the conference room.
The Valefor Patriarch frowned and leaned toward his butler.
"What's going on outside?"
"A fool must've wandered in."
The butler whispered cautiously, trying not to disturb their guest.
How blind could that idiot be? Couldn't he see the Maou's army outside?
The Patriarch sighed.
He glanced at the man resting silently across from him.
Beelzebub.
Seeing no reaction, he quietly relaxed.
But the next moment, Beelzebub's eyes snapped open.
His pupils burned like hellfire.
A twisted grin stretched across his face, his voice hoarse and gleeful.
"Heh… something interesting just showed up."
The Valefor Patriarch stiffened. Cold sweat beaded in his palms.
"Think of it as dessert before the main course…"
Beelzebub stood, burst with magic, and shot out like a missile.
…
Meanwhile.
Inukimi, still nestled in Lynn's arms, groaned slightly.
He had flown too fast just now. She was still dizzy.
When she finally came to, she realized they were surrounded.
"!"
Her body tensed.
She could sense at least four High-Class Devils here!
Was the Underworld always this full of monsters?
But…
She quickly relaxed.
She was currently Lynn's… pet.
She turned to glance coldly at the surrounding devils.
Her golden eyes gleamed with disdain.
Demon King's Army: "?"
Did that dog just look down on us?
The devils boiled with rage!
"Kill them!"
"Skin that dog!"
The entire Demon King's Army charged at Lynn.
But Lynn stood calmly, unmoved.
He lifted a hand.
And slashed the air.
A brilliant light burst forth from his palm.
Blessed with holy, light-based attributes, pure nemesis to devils.
His magic exploded instantly.
Buzz—
A blinding wave of light swept outward like a rising sun.
The demons' eyes widened in horror.
It was like facing their natural predator.
Just being touched by it was like bathing in acid. Their bodies began to dissolve.
"AHHHHHHH—!!!"
Agonizing screams echoed across the Underworld.
Every devil was affected.
Even the top general dropped to his knees, trembling and drenched in sweat.
"Did… angels breach the Underworld?"
That was the only explanation he could think of.
Lynn's magic felt like something straight from Heaven.
The entire battlefield shifted in seconds.
Low and Mid-Class Devils were annihilated instantly.
The High-Class Devils were reduced to ruined corpses.
Even the strongest devil present could barely stand, his body eroding like he was cursed.
At this rate.
Death was inevitable.
Lynn's face remained calm, unmoved by the carnage.
These blessed attributes were just too effective.
"Interesting! So interesting!!"
A crazed voice echoed.
Beelzebub arrived at the scene, eyes gleaming with madness as he beheld the devastation.
"A devil… with the power of angels?!"
"What a joke!!"
His expression twisted with desire.
If he could master that kind of power.
He would truly be the Devil King!
Who could possibly oppose him then?
He had to know how this ability worked!
Capture. Restrain. Dissect.
All those thoughts flashed through Beelzebub's mind in an instant.
Unable to contain himself, he lunged toward Lynn like a starving wolf.
Lynn's eyes narrowed.
Four Souls Devil, activate.
Purifying Devil, activate.
Angel Devil (Chaos Mode), activate.
Aries Crown, activate.
…
"Haah…"
With multiple states stacked on top of one another, Lynn felt like he was a universe unto himself.
Even his exhale sparked arcs of lightning through the air.
His blood surged.
He was fired up now…
It was time to draw his blade.
(To be continued.)
***
For every 200 PS = 1 extra chapter. Support me on patreon to read 30+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/Blownleaves.