The next morning.
Akuto was stirred awake by a faint rustling sound.
Opening his eyes, he saw it was Rika.
At some point she had awoken, and was now cautiously crawling over his body.
Last night, Akuto had fallen asleep while still joined with her.
Now, seeing his overwhelming strength, Rika had been unable to suppress her own curiosity and desire. So, she had quietly tried to adjust her posture, hoping to let the symbiotic bond sink even deeper.
Akuto reached out to steady her, and as her belly swelled again, Rika let out a long breath of relief. A faintly amused smile tugged at his lips.
"Rika, if you want this, you can just tell me. No need to sneak about like a thief."
At his teasing tone, the proud officer's face flushed with a rare shyness. Even yesterday, when he had first taken her, she hadn't looked this bashful.
"Hmph! And if I tell you, can you really handle me? For the record—I'm strong." Rika arched her waist defiantly.
"Oh? Strong, are you?" Akuto's tone was unreadable.
"Cough, cough… yesterday didn't count, I wasn't at my best. It was… my first time, after all."
"This time, I'll definitely show you my true strength." Rika grabbed his collar, using it as leverage.
"Is that so? Then I'll be looking forward to it."
With a smirk, Akuto pressed his thumb hard against her lower belly. In an instant, Rika's eyes rolled back in surrender.
...
At breakfast.
Kaguya Sumeragi and Kiriko Miyamoto sat across from Akuto, eating while observing him with great interest.
No matter what, his displays of power were unlike anything they had ever seen—deeply captivating.
Women were always drawn to strength.
And the worse the environment, the stronger that instinct became.
Now, in an apocalyptic world of zombies, nothing could be worse.
So even though Akuto had shown little respect for royalty, Kaguya found herself leaning toward submission.
People obeyed laws not because of their nobility, but because the state wielded the violence to enforce them.
Akuto embodied such absolute power. Power that could force all humans—and even zombies—to obey his rules.
And she, Kaguya Sumeragi, only needed to do what she always had: serve as the symbolic figure with a little authority.
"Lord Akuto, I don't see Chief Minami. Did you send her on reconnaissance?" Kaguya asked curiously.
"Oh, that? She's still in my room, sleeping." Akuto answered casually.
"I… I see…"
Both Kaguya and Kiriko flushed crimson.
They hadn't expected him to move so quickly.
After a moment's hesitation, Kaguya parted her red lips.
"Lord Akuto, do you perhaps prefer Chief Minami's type?"
"I understand that your strong genes must be passed on. But… next time, could you consider me first, instead of her?"
"With my imperial bloodline, I could surely give you noble and powerful children."
Her words fell like a bombshell.
Kiriko's smile faltered—she hadn't expected a princess to be so forward.
Akuto chuckled, lifting his gaze to her.
"Deciding such things without your uncle or the Prime Minister's consent—is that really alright?"
"Of course. I've always been a girl of strong will. And besides—who else could be more suited than me to be your wife?"
"With me as your principal wife, your followers will obey you all the more."
Akuto admitted—she had a point.
"Kaguya, you are indeed a clever one."
"Though what you're doing is hedging your bets, I'll acknowledge your resolve."
"When the time comes, I'll announce it publicly."
"…It is my greatest honor to earn your favor, Lord Akuto."
She forced a smile.
Yes, she was hedging her bets.
Even the royal family could be extinguished in an apocalypse.
To ensure survival of their line, marriages across factions—betting on all sides—was the most rational choice.
"Kaguya, as recognition of your resolve, take this."
Akuto drew out a crimson chess piece.
"Lord Akuto, this is…?"
"My Evil Piece. Absorb it, and you will gain power akin to mine."
"But in exchange, both your body and soul will belong to me."
With a light clink, he placed the crimson piece upon the table.
"Power… like yours…" Kaguya's lips parted slightly, her moist eyes trembling.
She had only wanted to be a symbolic figure with a little influence. She hadn't imagined Akuto would bestow upon her a share of his power.
[Perhaps this is what it means to be a true king…]
[Lord Akuto carries the aura of one destined to reign absolutely in this age of chaos.]
As she reached for the piece, Akuto suddenly lifted his head.
At that moment, Shizuka came running.
"Aku-chan! Something terrible's happened!"
"Bats! And crows! Even more than yesterday—they're swarming toward the airport!"
"Crows?"
Kaguya quickly looked outside.
Just as Shizuka said, a vast black cloud of crows was descending rapidly upon the airport.
"Kaguya, allow me to show you how wise your choice truly was."
Akuto rose, striding toward the boarding bridge at an unhurried pace.
[Boost!]
In an instant, the Boosted Gear appeared, his aura doubling.
"Lord Akuto, do you mean to face them alone?" Kaguya asked, stunned.
"Yes. For now, only I can handle this."
"But one day—it will be you who handles such threats," he replied.
[Boost!]
[Boost!]
[Boost!]
With each step, his power surged higher.
By the time he reached the bridge, his strength had risen to that of a high-class devil.
A sphere of condensed energy, the size of a basketball, formed in his palm.
A moment later, a massive fan-shaped blast of emerald light erupted skyward.
[Dragon Shoot! (Wide Scatter Version)]
One meter. Ten. A hundred. Hundreds more.
The beam expanded until it engulfed the entire incoming swarm.
Ten seconds later.
Akuto dismissed the Boosted Gear, calmly walking back to his seat.
"Alright, let's finish breakfast. We still need to return to the shelter afterward."
His voice was perfectly even, as if nothing unusual had happened.
It took some time for Kaguya to recover her senses.
When she did, she fell instantly to her knees, disregarding the dust and her fine dress.
The proud royal princess pressed her head to the floor in a flawless dogeza.
"I, Kaguya Sumeragi, Daughter of Akishino, vow to serve Lord Akuto for life."
"From this day forth, your will is my will."
"I beg for your favor, my lord."
(End of Chapter)
[Get +20 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 500 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]