CHAPTER 57
Give up on Ceres.

After Ares said those words, a brief silence fell over the area. But it wasn't because the others were shocked or surprised. It was as if to say, 'You called us all the way out here just to say that?' An annoyance lingered in the air, as if they had half-expected her to say this.

"I don't want to?"

The first to speak up was Alios. No longer considering Ares—who kept opposing them and had a strange attitude—as her mother-in-law, she pushed back with a very arrogant demeanor.

"I wondered what you were going to say, and it's just this? You're a truly consistent person, in a bad way. Or should I say naive?"

"For once, this one's not wrong."

Viol chimed in right after Alios.

"Did you think we'd actually give up just because you told us to? Why are you acting so naive, unlike yourself?"

Viol openly mocked her, not taking her seriously at all.

"I'm leaving. I'm going to go sleep and think about how to seduce Ceres tomorrow."

Sibylius spoke provocatively, ignoring Ares, and genuinely prepared to leave.

Half the people present didn't care about Ares's words at all. As if saying, 'What are you going to do if we ignore you?'

However...

"This bitch's vibe is weird."

Red sensed something strange. Even though her words had been completely ignored, Ares remained very calm.

"Even with me asking like this, you intend to continue? Then I suppose all I have to do is continue rejecting you."

"...What does that mean?"

When Ares spoke meaningfully, Sibylius finally turned back around. Then Ares said.

"You might think it's enough to just ignore my words, but the same goes for me. ...Do you think it will be possible to end up with Ceres if I keep interfering?"

The moment she spoke threateningly, everyone flinched. After all, as long as Ares was Ceres's mother and the head of the family, it would be difficult to obtain Ceres if she opposed it. There might be a possibility for Viol, the Emperor, but...

"Would that child really try to marry someone I oppose? Even if it is you, Your Majesty, it will be impossible to just ignore me and take Ceres away."

With Ares taking such a hardline stance, even that sliver of a possibility vanished.

"Is this bitch threatening me right now...?"

"So what are you suggesting we do?"

As Viol flared up and tried to step forward, Hames extended an arm to stop her and spoke instead.

"It's baffling that you aren't even choosing one person, but instead telling everyone here to give up. Honestly, I believe the right woman for Ceres is one of us."

"Bullshit."

Ares cut off Hames's words with a sneer.

"People with fatal character flaws like yourselves are not suited for Ceres."

"...Then who is suited for him?"

"I plan to slowly choose from now on. I'll have to find the most proper woman I can."

If Ceres had been present to hear Ares's words, he honestly would have agreed that none of them were normal. He might not have agreed with her finding a 'proper woman' for him, but he would have understood the sentiment.

However...

"You're saying things you don't even mean."

Red scoffed and denied Ares's words.

"It sounds plausible, but that only works under the premise that you're being sincere."

"Are you saying I'm not sincere?"

"Hey, think about it. After all, the ones here are an Emperor, a Demon King, a Sword Master, a High Priest, and a high-ranking demon like me. Just as you said, we might have personality flaws, but if you look purely at ability, we're nothing but the absolute best."

Therefore, Red argued, saying she would reject all of them to find a 'proper woman' didn't sound true.

"Find a woman, my ass. Why don't you just say you plan to keep Ceres tied to your side for the rest of your life!"

"...Being a demon, you certainly make strange, baseless assumptions. And even if your assumption were the truth, what are you going to do about it?"

To Ares's provocative words, Red calmly replied.

"It's simple. I'll subjugate you by force and take Ceres."

"...You think I would yield to the likes of you?"

"Who knows. We won't know until we try."

"Even if you obtained Ceres through such methods in the first place, do you really think he would follow you?"

"You're the one being unreasonable first, so I have no choice either."

She had no choice, she said. Her words said so, but a faint smile played on her lips. She had followed Ceres here, but she was dissatisfied with having to conform to human rules in the Imperial Palace; now, Ares had given her an excuse to run wild.

"Let's be honest here. Even if we like Ceres, we hate this bitch, don't we?"

Red spoke to the rest of the group as if seeking their agreement.

"Even thinking about it practically, we might need a husband, but a mother-in-law is completely useless. Especially one who meddles like this."

"...That is certainly true."

Sibylius showed a positive reaction.

"Given this woman's personality, it's obvious she will continue to interfere as long as she lives."

"I agree. There's a limit to how much I can let slide just because she's Ceres's mother..."

Viol also frowned and chimed in.

"It might not be a bad idea to fix her attitude this time. Hames, as long as she doesn't die, you can heal her back to normal, right?"

"...That is true, but do you really intend to fight?"

"She's the one who picked a fight first."

Seeing them actually prepare to fight, even confirming if they could heal her if something went wrong, Ares grew frantic.

"Your Majesty, I will not just stand still either!"

Ares immediately drew Black Pain into her hand.

"Emperor, you heard her, right? Your supposed subject is openly trying to fight? If she won't stand still, what's she gonna...!"

As things turned into the chaotic mess she had hoped for, Red, who was also about to join in, hurriedly changed her expression and backed away. It was because Alios had suddenly swung her Aura-coated sword at her in a surprise attack.

"...What are you doing?"

"Because you're in the way too."

Alios muttered calmly, as if stating the obvious.

"Don't suddenly pretend to be friendly and cling to Ceres when you used to be an enemy. You filthy demon!"

"...This bitch is truly insane!"

Red clicked her tongue. She realized the situation had escalated beyond what she originally wanted into an unmanageable state of chaos.

I was sleeping. Suddenly, my eyes snapped open. I thought I'd definitely sleep soundly and wake up refreshed after throwing that fit before bed, but looking out the window, it was still night.

I wondered why I woke up now, but I sensed some kind of disturbance. It wasn't something I caught with my normal senses like hearing or sight. Something was loudly catching on my mana-sensing abilities. The tremors of mana went boom boom!, feeling as if there was large-scale construction going on nearby.

What is it? Did the demons invade again or something?!

Startled, I hurriedly got up and left my room. I walked out and hadn't gone far when this time, my hearing was assaulted.

"Aaaagh!"
"It's a disaster!"

Everyone working in the Imperial Palace was running around screaming.

"What's going on?!"

It was definitely related to the disturbance I felt in my mana senses, so I quickly grabbed someone and asked for the situation. An absurd answer returned.

"H-Her Majesty is fighting!"

"With who?"

"With your mother!"

Why are Ares and Viol fighting?!

"What are you talking about, explain in more detail!"

"I don't know either. They're suddenly fighting in the courtyard of the Imperial Palace for all to see!"

"What are they fighting over..."

I was about to ask the reason but shut my mouth. It's obvious even if I ask. What else could it be but me.

"Then what are you doing instead of stopping them? You should have called me. Or Sibylius and Alios should be here, so call either of them to stop it!"

I scolded the servants who were just panicking and doing nothing, but...

"Those two are fighting as well! Everyone related to you, Lord Ceres, is out in the front courtyard!"

Ah, then it wasn't the servants' fault.

...It's the fault of those damn women! What kind of bullshit did they pull while I was sleeping?!

I let go of the servant and headed straight for the Imperial Palace's front courtyard. As I arrived at a dead run, I saw everyone fighting just as the servant had said.

I don't know what the hell happened, but Ares had pulled out Black Pain and was fighting Viol, while Red and Alios were fighting next to them. Sibylius was watching them fight and playfully shooting a spell at anyone who showed an opening.

Just this alone was an absurd situation, but what was even more absurd was the group watching this chaotic mess. Hames, who had taken a step back and was watching with her arms crossed. And the Death Knights, who had gathered far away and were watching as if watching a fire across a river.

In that moment. An uncontrollable anger surged up from inside me. Here I am, suffering emotionally over the mind-boggling secret of my birth, and these women, completely oblivious to my feelings, are fighting amongst themselves, while others are just watching instead of stopping them.

With them doing all kinds of bullshit, how could I not be angry!

As if reacting to my anger, the Divine Power inside me swelled explosively.

"Stop it right now!!!"

I shouted as I drew out my Divine Power. Soon, I felt a sensation as if something had burst inside me, and my Divine Power soared up like a fortress.

Perhaps shocked by the massive Divine Power, everyone looked my way, but in that moment, their expressions turned strange.

"Ceres?"

"You...?"

I yelled at the women who were looking at me as if they were seeing something bizarre.

"What are you doing right now? You seemed to act somewhat well-behaved in front of me, but the moment I fall asleep, you pull this kind of stunt? You're not a bunch of kids!"

I scolded them, but their reactions were odd. None of them were reacting to my scolding; they were all just staring behind me.

"...What's wrong?"

"Ceres, there's something on your back...?"

At Alios's shocked cry, I was startled as well and checked my back.

Then, I saw a pair of white wings.