Chapter 8

With the Skele Dragon gone, the dark magic that had enveloped the area completely disappeared.

Perhaps it was the Undead Dragon that had filled the cemetery with dark magic and created the undead.

Anyway, it was defeated...

Alicia looked up at the sky, her mouth agape.

"What... was that...?"

I muttered in distress, but it was too late now.

Alicia stared at me as if to say, "You did this, didn't you?"

Oh no, I scared her...

She must think it's terrible to be my servant.

Meanwhile, people from the temple and the monastery began to gather.

How do I explain this... anyway.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"I'm not... scared."

Alicia said this and knelt before me.

"Please, let me serve you, Your Highness. You freed me from that dragon."

She looked at me with a straight gaze.

I don't know how long Alicia has been working here, but from her expression just now, I can tell she's been suffering for a long time.

"Alicia... are you sure?"

"Yes. Please make me your 'exclusive' servant."

＜Do you want to make Alicia a familiar?＞

Please don't repeat that in a serious situation. Of course I'm going to do it... huh?

＜Alicia is now a familiar.＞

The moment the demon's voice echoed, Alicia's body began to glow.

"What are you—! ? Huh! ?"

The Alicia standing there was not the plump one... but a tall, blue-eyed beauty with long blonde hair.

"Huh? The view is higher... huh?"

The beauty looked down at her own body.

The tight-fitting nun's habit accentuated her slender figure and large chest. The hem had become like a miniskirt, revealing her long, white legs.

For someone who works in a monastery, she looks quite... provocative.

And this habit, is it Alicia's?

"So, Your Highness? What is this?"

The beauty looked at me with a puzzled expression, not the narrow-eyed look of the original Alicia.

Given the situation, it's clear that this beauty is Alicia.

I closed my eyes and asked the demon.

...Is this your fault?

＜Huh? It looked like the flow to make her a familiar, didn't it?＞

I said 'exclusive.'

＜Isn't that the same thing?＞

No, it's not... what exactly is a familiar, anyway?

＜Hmm, what should I do?～＞

If you don't answer, I won't speak to you again.

＜S-Sorry!! I'll answer anything!!＞

You gave in so easily... do you have no pride as a demon?

＜Well, the familiarization magic is like a subservience spell that humans use on monsters. But the difference is that it can make any living thing subservient! No, I lied! It can even work on the undead!＞

Even the undead?

I thought subservience magic required the other party's willingness to obey.

＜That's the same for familiarization! Basically, you beat them up and force them to obey!＞

Though the words are harsh... when humans get a familiar, it's basically the same. They weaken the monster and strip it of its will to fight before casting the subservience spell.

Anyway, the other party needs to be willing to obey.

In this case, Alicia's willingness to serve me was reflected.

＜Also, unlike familiars, your magic power increases as you gain more familiars! If a familiar dies, your magic power decreases!＞

Interesting.

I remember from the records of demon battles that when a demon's servant is defeated, the demon itself weakens.

So, the demon's available magic power decreased when its familiars were defeated.

＜Of course, familiars also gain more magic power in response to their master's magic power! Additionally, familiars take on a form similar to their master's race!＞

Indeed, demons can take on diverse forms, but it's said that demons and their subordinates all look similar.

So, Alicia has taken on a form closer to my human race. She was originally a demon, so she's almost human now.

＜Anyway, let's make all these lowly humans here into familiars! The master can kill any familiar at any time, so it's safe and has only benefits! – When I take over the body, it's better to have more subordinates... hehehe.＞

Your thoughts are leaking...

＜H-Huh!? N-No! That was just a hallucination!＞

How incompetent are you...

Anyway, this isn't something to use lightly on humans or demons. Especially without an explanation.

Can it be reversed?

＜The master can unilaterally cancel it! Or when the master dies.＞

I see. Then, let's cancel it.

＜Eh! ? But I just got a pawn!＞

I don't want to force anyone to obey, whether they're human or demon.

＜Humans are strange.＞

Ignoring the demon's words, I opened my eyes and spoke to the transformed Alicia.

"Sorry, Alicia... this is a special magic that went wrong. I'll change you back right away."

The moment Alicia heard this, she shook her head vigorously.

"Huh? N-No... I mean, it's fine! ...Please, leave me like this!"

It seems she likes her new form.

Well, since I can always cancel it...

"I see. Anyway, you really want to be my exclusive servant, right?"

"Yes! Please, I beg of you!"

"Thank you, Alicia. I also ask for your help."

And so, Alicia began to serve me.

I explained the situation to the people at the temple, telling them that a powerful undead had emerged from the cemetery.

However, I said the undead self-destructed. If I said I defeated it, strange rumors would spread. Reina also agreed to align her story with Alicia's.

Additionally, since the cemetery was purified, permission was granted for Alicia to become my servant.

She apparently said her appearance changed because a curse was lifted. Since the cemetery was considered a cursed place, everyone seemed to accept it.

I left the monastery with Alicia, saying goodbye to Reina, who had come to see us off.

"See you, Reina. Thanks for showing me around today."

"No problem. I really wanted to go with you, it sounds fun. But the kids I'm taking care of are still young."

"Take your time. I'll always welcome you. But, think carefully about the future."

"I'm already thinking about it! I'm going to believe in what Alex said and train with a sword!"

"Great. But be careful not to get hurt."

Reina nodded energetically when I said this.

"Take care, Alicia!"

"Take care, Reina."

Alicia waved in response.

"Shall we go?"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

And so, Alicia and I headed back to the palace together.