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Ruler Vol 6 Chapter 4

Author: Anit666

Editor: Weasalopes

【3rd person’s POV】

In the throne room of a certain castle.

A man with crimson eyes was staring at the centre of the throne room. A woman with the same crimson eyes was also staring at the place, until she clicked her tongue in frustration and turned to the man.

“You said they were supposed to arrive today.”

“That I did.”

“Then, where are they?”

“As you can see, for some reason they’re running late.”

“I know that, dumbass.” She snarled. “I’m asking you why they’re running late.”

“And how the hell am I supposed to know that?”

“Aargh, you’re useless!” She clawed at her hair. “What if they are in some trouble right now?!”

“They aren’t.”

“Now listen here you little shit-”

But before the woman could continue her words, an orb glowing in golden suddenly appeared at the centre of the room. It quickly expanded and formed a giant teleportation circle, and five women stepped out from it.

“Susan!” Regina squealed, instantly appeared in front of Susan and hugged her. “I’ve been dying to see you! Why did you take so long?!” She asked while rubbing her cheek against Susan’s.

“Hahahahaha, I accidentally overslept.” Susan replied while caressing Regina’s hairs.

“Clumsy as always, huh? Whatever, I’m just happy to see you.”

“So am I.” They gazed into each other’s eyes.

“Ahem.” A sudden cough brought them back to their senses. “I never thought that I’d get to say this again, but, go get a room, you two.” Shiggurath smiled.

“Getting jealous, are we?” Regina smirked. “Too bad, but Susan is mine.”

“I never thought that I’d hear that again. I suppose it’s all thanks to Sam.”

“Argh!” Regina groaned. “You just had to bring up that fuckface’s name and ruin the nice atmosphere.”

“Ha?” Shiggurath frowned. “What do you mean by that? Don’t you remember how much he has done for us? We should be thankful-”

“Sorry, but all I remember is how he sacrificed so many humans, elves and dragons, and almost killed me just to clear some silly perfect scenario.”

“Well, he must have had some reasons for-”

“Are you fucking kidding me?! No matter his reasons, he crossed the line-”

“Now, now, you two.” Susan interfered. “That’s enough fighting for today. The gang is finally back, so let’s just have fun for now, shall we?”

Shiggurath and Regina glared at each other, sparks flying between their eyes, and turned to the other side with a harrumph.

“They still can’t get along, huh?” Liera sighed, but there was a certain warmth in her eyes.

She was getting emotional seeing the scene in front of her; Regina and Susan being too touchy-feely, Shiggurath and Regina finding some weird topic to bicker about and Susan mediating between them, and Liera watching from the sides while thinking how weird the situation was.

It was the scene she had been longing for these past 5000 years. They were back to the old days. Sure, some things were different, but the core members were still there.

Chloe, on the other hand, was feeling left out. The other four had entered a world of their own, and while she knew what they were talking about thanks to the stories Susan had told her, it was still difficult for her to just enter that world. It would take some time until they got used to her, and from there she would have to proceed to create new relationships with the others so that the group of three could turn into a group of four.

Nice, I still remember the basics Sam taught me! She clenched her fists in satisfaction. Ah, I can’t wait to see him again.

Cornellia, who had grown accustomed to the antics of her peers, was currently more interested in the place they were at, and the demon who she could feel was immensely powerful.

Solomon looked at the group from afar and gave them time to reunite and catch up. When it seemed they were done, he stepped forward.

“Welcome, everyone.” He greeted them with a courteous bow. “I’m Solomon El Maxwell, the Demon King of this world and a subordinate of the Overlord, Samuel Hayden.”

“…So he really was the Overlord, huh?” Shiggurath sighed, and then suddenly blinked. “Wait, Maxwell? Are you Regina’s brother or something?” She giggled.

“You are right, Ms. Shiggurath. To be more precise, I’m her elder brother.”

“Wait, really? You are her elder brother? Why are you in this world then?”

“Ah, you know how the classic system of humans vs. demons works.”

“Ahh, right, right.” She then smirked. “But still, how come you are so polite and courteous yet your sister is like… that?”

“Oi.” Regina grunted.

“I myself lament at that fact.” Solomon sighed.

“OI!” And Regina grunted even strongly.

“Anyway.” He then turned to Susan. “I can see that you… enjoyed your time in the other world.”

“Enjoy? Are you kidding me?” Susan scoffed. “I was trapped in a crystal for 5000 years while my friends suffered.”

“My condolences. But hey, at least you did make some good friends, and probably something more than that.”

“I suppose.” Susan shrugged.

“So, do you believe me now?” He smirked.

“I… suppose I do, but only a little. Just a tiny little bit.”

“Then let me rephrase my question. Do you believe in Lord Hayden?”

“That is…” Her lips bobbed up and down, but she couldn’t find the remaining words.

It was to be expected, in a way. According to what she had heard from Chloe, the current Sam was too different from the Sam they used to know. She hadn’t been able to ascertain that as Sam left soon after they arrived at God’s Realm, so her answer would have to wait until she met him again.

But in a sense, she couldn’t really blame Sam for changing; it was just the way humans worked. Who knows what he had gone through. She herself had changed in several ways after she was sent to Phiria’s world.

“Oh?” Solomon frowned at Susan’s indecisive reaction. “I guess it cannot be helped.”

She is not needed now, so I guess she can do whatever she wants. He thought. Though we must avoid making her an enemy.

“I see…” Liera muttered in belated realisation. “You are the one who sent Susan to our world… It’s been so long since she told us that I completely forgot about it.”

“Yeah, and that bastard Sam was also involved in it!” Regina cursed.

“Regina.” Solomon warned.

“All right, fine.” She sighed.

“Um, excuse me, but how exactly is Sam related to sending Susan to our world?” Cornellia meekly asked.

She couldn’t help but be interested when Sam’s name was mentioned, even though she had mostly given up on getting him to love her back.

“While I can’t answer how Sam was involved-“

“You’ll have to ask Lord Hayden, I’m afraid.” Solomon interjected.

“Right.” Liera nodded. “I may be wrong since it happened a long time ago, but apparently Solomon here kidnapped Susan and sent her to our world as a Hero. Right, Susan?”

“That sounds about right. I also don’t remember since it happened a really long time ago.” Susan answered.

“I see.” Cornellia nodded.

Susan had lied; she still remembered the events of that day as vividly as if they had happened just yesterday.

They- she and her Hero party- had arrived at the Demon King’s castle on an expedition to kill him, but were effortlessly defeated. Solomon had used teleportation magic to send off everyone but Susan.

She remembered each and every word of the conversation they had.

“…What are you planning to do?” Susan had asked, clearly afraid.

“First of all, let me reintroduce myself, Susan Invern. I’m Solomon El Maxwell, the leader of the Ten Asuras and the subordinate of Samuel Hayden.”

“…What?” The moment she heard Sam’s name she forgot the predicament she was in.

She wasn’t as strong as Sherry; she had already given up on his return. That was why it hit her harder when Sam’s name abruptly appeared in the conversation.

“Lord Hayden was wondering when he could have your mother’s wonderful steak again.”

“…And how do I know that you haven’t just used a spell to read my memories?” Susan was still skeptical.

“That should be the least of your worries right now, Susan.” He smirked. “From now on, you’re going to start a new life. Persevere in it, and you might just find the answers you’re looking for.”

“What do you-” She couldn’t complete her sentence as a new teleportation circle, one on a completely different scale than the previous one, appeared beneath her.

“Well, until next time.”

“Wait-” The completion of the magic spell interrupted her, and the next moment she found herself in a different room.

From there on she started her life as the Hero of Phiria’s world.

Those were the events of the day her world changed for the second time. The path that she walked on was filled with many hardships, but they were what made her the Susan that was standing here.

But she still had some doubts- after all, it was Solomon who sent her to that world for some purpose, who apparently was working under the orders of Sam.

The very fact that Sam had a hand in everything she went through scared her- in a way her fate had been set from the beginning. Her meeting with Regina, Shiggurath, Liera and the others, the several hardships she went through to survive and protect, the war she had to fight against Balgaar for the greater good, her time spent inside the crystal due to Azell’s betrayal, and then finally being freed by the hands of Sam after a long, long sleep; it was possible that all of that was played on Sam’s hands. That was it was all just a sham and her life was just a big, elaborate lie.

It was possible that she was just being paranoid, but no matter how low, the possibility still existed.

Susan was scared of that possibility; Susan resented that possibility. And naturally, she also resented the origin of that possibility.

That was why she could not believe in Solomon, and as an extension, Sam. At least, not yet.

Susan used to like Sam, and she probably still did. But now she had precious friends to protect, whom she could not bear to part with again. That’s why she had made her resolve.

If Sam’s ambitions ever threatened to swallow their lives, then…