Chapter 95: Lower Realms 4
The subsequent settlement proceeded quite smoothly.
I later heard that after Gaia appeared, Ernest Rail was accused of treason and executed by the central forces before he could completely withdraw from the northern front.
The Mega Corp “Dawn” apparently pulled out entirely from the northern front and the satellite city Zain for some reason.
Rumor has it that several branches and the full-time staff dormitory complexes of Dawn Corp in Zain were completely decimated, but since there are countless individuals and groups bearing grudges against Mega Corps, it wasn’t surprising.
Thanks to this, the Saya Guild managed to take complete control of satellite city Zain with almost no effort.
Honestly, it was good news for me.
Saya Guild.
To be precise, Sohi promised to pay me a steady 0.3% share of the guild’s monthly income.
This way, I wouldn’t have to leech off a Mega Corp under the guise of “collaboration” or request marine-style civilian support like some third-class Overseer.
Although 0.3% might not seem like much, Saya Guild was already profitable enough to gain corporate approval, and now that they had taken Zain, their profits were bound to snowball.
【Saya Guild’s income may fluctuate, but Ark’s central Mega Corp’s first-quarter accounting record shows a total of $12.264 billion. For a human, this ensures a minimum monthly income of $12 million.】
$12 million.
Honestly, that’s enormous.
Falling into this world called Ark… No, rather, my original world as the Demon King had changed over time into what it is now.
Anyway, though I’ve only lived here for three months, $12 million means I no longer have to worry about financial constraints.
According to Oriana, Overseers often have significant expenses while carrying out their missions, so it’s necessary to have a steady source of support or donations.
Thus, some Overseers take on requests akin to Hunter commissions, and even someone like Rosa Vintz, the third-class Overseer I fought, ended up engaging in human trafficking or accepting bribes in exchange for turning a blind eye to various illegal activities because she needed the money.
“Kyahaha!”
“Take this! Gotcha!”
-Bang!
Watching the gunfight among the Immortal Girls, I realized it was time to part ways with them.
It was a short time if short, or a long time if long, but we had spent it in chaos—playing war games and hunting games in the shelter, constantly interacting.
Most importantly, my memories of living and fighting as comrades with these 20 Immortal Girls on the northern front remained vivid.
Although they all looked identical, I could distinctly recognize the 20 girls who had fought by my side.
“These kids have grown on me….”
“Oh my, then would you like to take one with you?”
“What?”
I flinched at the sudden voice of Sohi behind me.
Even though my physical capabilities had upgraded in various ways through unison with Gaia, allowing me to sense Sohi’s approach, her words caught me completely off guard.
“Taking an Immortal Girl to Ark…? Isn’t that impossible? I heard Immortal Girls are prohibited from entering Ark.”
“To be precise, it’s because the regeneration and immortality of Immortal Girls might violate Ark’s taboos.”
Sohi smirked and sat down beside me.
For some reason, her expression was the same as usual, yet I felt a strange chill from her presence.
Of course, with a half-flesh, half-machine android body, I couldn’t literally feel chills, but Sohi’s gaze seemed to scrutinize me differently than before, making me uncomfortable.
“But this time, there’s a reliable guardian, isn’t there? Who could refuse entry for someone under the protection of Alice, the future first-class Overseer and precious blue blood of Administrator Rilstia Frostia?”
“I wouldn’t mind taking one, honestly. But aren’t these kids precious to you? Why suddenly give one to me?”
“Because they are precious. While this place may be a free and peaceful outer zone, the inner regions of Ark are where people live and can accumulate various experiences and knowledge.”
That was true.
Satellite city Zain was suitable for living freely out of Ark’s sight, but Sohi and the Immortal Girls were no longer in a desperate situation to merely survive.
They now had the means to pursue better living conditions and happiness.
This included the Immortal Girls’ games, cultural activities, education, and various experiences.
“Actually, even without that, it’s common for Overseers to have multiple assistants, secretaries, subordinates, contact units, accountants, and lawyers under them. Third-class Overseers typically have around 20 people, which is why it’s not unusual to refer to groups of Overseers as ‘divisions.’”
【One accountant or lawyer is enough for me.】
[Heh, me too!]
【Gaia, you’re of no help at all.】
[But I help by replenishing Alice’s energy! Ah… so sleepy. I’m drowsy from being consumed head to toe by Alice nonstop today…]
Seeing Gaia and Theresa subtly asserting their presence beside me made me think that having more people would only cause unnecessary chaos.
While Theresa could be excused, Gaia often joked absurdly about being “devoured” or “sucked dry” by me all day—her random innuendoes were absurd and uncalled for.
“This is more like giving you a gift, honestly. While our kids might be a little difficult to handle, they’re quite capable in combat. They rarely die even when left alone, and you can treat them like disposable tools for rough tasks like a contact unit. Of course, you don’t have to accept them if you don’t want to.”
“Calling a child a gift… This feels like human trafficking.”
“See? I said it was a gift for you to handle however you want, and Alice already feels uncomfortable about it. That’s why I trust that Alice wouldn’t treat the kids carelessly.”
That’s true.
If there really were an Immortal Girl who wanted to follow me, I wouldn’t be able to treat her as a mere tool.
“But what if the girls don’t want to follow? What would you do then?”
“Haha, I don’t think that’ll happen. Do you know how many of them adore Teacher Alice~?”
Still, Sohi’s proposal seemed quite sincere.
The combat power of the Immortal Girls was already verified on the northern front, akin to that of a junior First-Class Overseer.
Of course, this only refers to their specs and fighting strength.
If you include real skills, experience, instantaneous judgment, and mental fortitude, it would be a stretch to call an Immortal Girl a First-Class Overseer.
Even considering that, there’s no denying they’re valuable assets. Sohi seemed to hope that at least one Immortal Girl could broaden her horizons and accumulate various experiences through this opportunity.
“Marlang!”
“Huh.”
At that moment, an Immortal Girl who seemed to be listening to our conversation approached us cautiously.
An Immortal Girl with a habit of saying “Marlang.”
Like Sohi, she had striking black hair and dark eyes.
Of course, all Immortal Girls looked alike, but this one had slightly fuller hair, giving her a puffier appearance, like a small bun.
Incidentally, she was also one of the twenty girls who had accompanied me to the northern front.
“Oh my. It seems we already have a girl who doesn’t want to part with Alice.”
“Marlang!”
“Alright, sweetie. Do you want to go to Ark with Teacher Alice?”
“Marlang!!”
“Hahaha, I see. Then since today is farewell day with the other girls, we need to prepare a lot of things. This guild master will have to show some effort, huh? How about sweet and sour pork?”
“Marlang!!!”
“Then, since we’ll need a lot, can I pour sauce over the sweet and sour pork?”
“No.”
Well, I thought she only said “Marlang,” but it seems her language skills are perfectly functional.
Alright, this might work out well as a subordinate.
Of course, I wasn’t sure if I’d really treat an Immortal Girl as a subordinate, but having one was better than none.
If it’s only one girl, managing her shouldn’t be too difficult.
After all, I had been hanging out with over a hundred of them for a while, so looking after just one should be easy.
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Thus, time passed quickly, and it was finally time for me to leave Zain.
Along with the Immortal Girl who had the habit of saying “Marlang.”
After a few days of rest, Oriana and Administrator Rilstia also decided to return to Ark together.
There’s said to be a designated space seat that only Overseers and Administrators can use. It allows for the instantaneous teleportation of up to ten people.
Apparently, the window-like teleportation device Rosa Vintz had used was one of those. Rilstia promised to apply for its production soon after we returned to Ark.
I heard the two had been dealing with post-ownership issues and administrative tasks for the satellite city Zain. However, compared to their duties in Ark, it was practically a vacation.
“Well then, goodbye, Administrator Rilstia.”
“Haha! I had a good rest for a few days, Sohi! Satellite City Zain is entirely yours now, so take good care of it!”
“I won’t disappoint you. Overseer Oriana, thank you for your hard work as well.”
“I’ve left copies of the proof of demon integration documents in the office. If you ever deal with demon-related matters, refer to those.”
“Yes, thank you.”
The elegance with which Sohi raised her skirt as she bowed showed that she once held a high status in Ark’s central region.
“Marlang!”
“Alright, Marlang. Did you pack your clothes?”
“Marlang!!”
Incidentally, I decided to name the Immortal Girl accompanying me “Marlang.”
I had to take her with me, and it would’ve been awkward to not have a name to call her by.
“Alice, it’s time for farewells…”
“Seems so.”
“Hmm… I’ve always disliked external independent hunters and contractors. Most of them would go crazy at the sight of the Immortal Girls or have impure intentions.”
Honestly, when I first saw the Immortal Girls, I was shocked and surprised.
The other hunters or contractors Sohi mentioned probably harbored schemes to abduct and sell the Immortal Girls.
Girls with infinite regenerative powers and agelessness.
Selling them to some heinous Ark laboratory or Mega Corp would’ve brought them endless wealth.
“Alice, your arrival brought a string of good things for me and the girls, but… above all, there aren’t many people who genuinely care for us like you did.”
“It wasn’t anything extraordinary. You’ve done a lot for me too.”
“Haha, it was worth it. The girls genuinely adore you.”
Sohi’s eyes clearly showed her reluctance to part, as if she had grown attached to me over time.
“Malang!”
“Well, it’s not a complete goodbye. I’ll have to come back to return Malang someday, right?”
“Hehehe, that’s true… Please do visit. Next time, I want to show you a more flourishing Zain and treat Alice even better.”
Sohi gazed at me with a truly regretful expression.
For some reason, Administrator Rilstia’s gaze beside me seemed to grow sharper, but I assumed it was my imagination.
Ever since my body upgrade, my heightened sensory perception sometimes caused unfounded spikes or dips in my emotions.
“If I drag this out any longer, Administrator Rilstia might give me an earful.”
“Alright, I’ll be off. Malang?”
“Yes! Guild Master, I’ll see you again soon!”
“Take care!”
“Goodbye, friend!”
“Teacher Alice! Bye-bye!”
“Bring back ice cream next time!”
“I’m satisfied with steak and sushi!”
“Malang-cha…”
I could see the children waving at me from the mansion.
I didn’t dislike any of them, though I wasn’t sure when we’d meet again.
This commission had brought me money, results, and even a successful unison, making it a satisfying outcome overall.
“Oh, Alice.”
“Hm?”
“The child you’re taking with you has rather weak thighs.”
“Weak thighs?”
Was this something akin to an Achilles’ heel?
“The inner thighs are very sensitive. Even a light rub with your fingers will make her go limp in no time.”
“Oh, really?”
“I’m just letting you know, just in case~”
Just in case?
Ah, perhaps she meant that if Malang went berserk, I could quickly subdue her by rubbing her thighs?
It made sense.
An Immortal Girl could act unpredictably, and if an issue arose, it would fall on me to handle it.
Even though I had received her as a subordinate or a gift, she was still my responsibility.
“Alice, please don’t forget about me~”
With those words, Sohi stepped out of the range of the spatial array, waving at me.
As soon as she left, the spatial array activated by Rilstia shimmered faintly, cutting off contact with the outside.
“Ha, shady b****.”
Administrator Rilstia’s voice was dripping with irritation.
Did they know each other from before?
Or had some hidden signals passed quickly between the two, unbeknownst to me?
“Ahem, then, I’m heading back!”