"You are not pulling your hand away?" Masa asked with a smile, teasing Ingvild as she was so docile instead of being aggressive toward him.
"...don't get all smug like that." Ingvild blushed, feeling embarrassed, but as he teased her, she tried to pull her hand away. Masa tightly held her hand so she couldn't escape, and then she gave up helplessly. "If you hold me that hard, then how can I pull my hand?"
"Then, don't pull your hand. Just stay like this forever with me."
"...you have others, though. Yet, you still want me?"
"I do."
"Scumbag!"
"Don't leave, okay?"
No people, or most creatures, had the ability to mind-read, so if one wanted to express their feelings, they had to say it from their lips. Naturally, there is a chance that their feelings might not be appreciated, but one could do something to help their success become higher, such as how Masa hugged Ingvild directly.
While his movements might have been bold, as they had been in the past, this was nothing.
Being embraced by him, Ingvild remained in silence, pressing her ear close, hearing his heartbeat as her palm lightly caressed his chest. Yet, because she loved him so much, it was so painful, knowing that he was such a bastard who cheated on her.
"...did you cheat on me?"
"No."
"No?! After you made me fall like this, you told me that you didn't cheat and lie to me?!"
Facing her anger, Masa said, "I never thought that you would fall so much for me, after all."
"...do you think I am so cheap, then?"
Yes, their meeting was so short, yet Ingvild fell in love with him so hard that it was so unbelievable. More importantly, with their short meeting, how could he even tell her that he had a fiancée and many women by his side?
"No, it's because I never thought of you as cheap that I want you to stay by my side."
If it were anyone else, Masa wouldn't do this, but Ingvild was different, and he would treat her well.
"I know that I might have hurt you, but forgive me since I can't let you go, and while I can't make you my official wife, please stay by my side."
"...you are so selfish."
"If I can't be selfish after I gain so much power, then what's the point of me working hard?"
Power, money, and women.
Those were what every man wished for, and Masa, who wasn't perfect, also wanted that, and because of that, he was working hard to the death despite how exhausted he was.
Yes, he knew that he was being selfish and hurting the women, especially those who had fallen for him, but he didn't want to give them up or give them to someone else. He had the ability to take care of them, and he believed that he could make them happy. While the shape of the happiness was different from what they imagined, his feelings didn't change, and he wished for Ingvild for himself.
"So, Ingvild, be my Queen."
"Queen?"
Ingvild looked at Masa in surprise.
"Yes, be the right hand by my side and the one who supports me the most."
If there was someone who could take the position of the Queen of his Evil Piece, then it could only be Ingvild, as he couldn't think of anyone except her.
"But..."
"But?"
"I have a sleeping disease, and I might fall asleep again. I can't be by your side all the time, and I might trouble you."
While his feelings were unfair, they were sincere, and Ingvild wanted to accept them, hugging him, but she knew well how horrible her situation would be. The sleeping disease had been haunting her, and she wasn't sure when this situation would relapse and part him and her.
If their happiness was forever, then it was fine, but if, in the end, their ending would be parted by this disease, then what was the point?
"Stupid. I know that, and I want you, so don't refuse me. If it's a sleeping disease, then you don't have to worry since I will try to search for a cure for it.
"Believe in me and stay by my side."
His embrace never loosened as he patted her softly.
"...okay."
With all of that, how could she refuse him?
No, she didn't want to refuse him even if she knew their ending wouldn't be good, so as Masa took his Queen's Piece, she accepted him and became his Queen.
If someone saw her, they would probably be reminded of Sirzech, who made Grayfia his Queen.
The previous dragon slayer, who had slain the evil dragon, had become the evil dragon.
Knowing Ingvild was powerful and was also the descendant of the Leviathan, Masa made her his Queen, which made him a supporter of the Old Satan Faction, who was still hiding and had considerable power within the Underworld.
Yes, despite the defeat of the Old Satan Faction in the Devil Civil War, it didn't mean that they had completely lost, and some of them accepted the rule of the new government despite their unwillingness.
As for the new government, even though they knew that the Old Satan Faction might be dangerous, it was impossible for them to completely erase them since, by doing that, their races would be on the verge of extinction.
The devil was a great race, Masa thought, but at the same time, it was also due to this that their problem was immense, since not only did they have a hard time reproducing, but they also had many dangerous diseases and many enemies due to their nature and reputation.
Masa just wanted to live peacefully, and because of that, he needed Ingvild.
Still, while some parts of him weren't so pure when he wanted Ingvild to stay by his side, instead of having her be used by others, it was better for her to stay by his side.
Nevertheless, when everything was solved, Ingvild didn't want any regrets, so after a simple ceremony, the two went to another room, as he taught her the happiness of a woman, teaching her a forbidden knowledge that made her unable to leave him as she moaned sweetly.
"What's that voice?"
Naturally, Ophis, who was known as the second strongest, heard Ingvild's voice, which confused her. Ingvild's voice made her appear to be in pain, yet happy at the same time.
"..."
Hearing that question, Asia only closed Ophis' ears.
"Asia?"
"Let's take a walk outside."
No one disagreed, and they decided to bring Ophis out while thinking of scolding Masa later!
Still facing him, who was a veteran and also the strongest being, Ingvild, who was a beginner, lost without any resistance, and then slept as she was exhausted.
Masa didn't bother her and just washed up. Then, she met Diehauser, who was waiting for him patiently. While he didn't really want to meet Diahauser as he was sure that he would meet a troublesome situation, he knew that he couldn't escape.
"Masa-sama."
Diehauser quickly stood up and greeted Masa with the greatest respect.
"You don't have to show such politeness."
"Okay."
"...."
Masa was speechless, but he didn't care much about etiquette, yet even so, he knew that it was important, especially if someone wanted to stay at the top, as power alone wasn't enough, especially when Diehauser's power was just so-so.
If Diehauser's power reached Ophis or Masa, it would be different, but Diehauser's limit was just about Ajuka, so even if Diehauser tried hard, nothing could be done.
"Just say what you want, I am busy."
Masa didn't want to talk too long with Diehauser, and Diehauser also wanted to be straight to the point, so he nodded and said, "Yes, I want to tell you that a group of people have dirtied the Rating Game by cheating."
"...."
Taking a deep breath, as expected, the trouble that Diehauser brought was so troublesome.