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"Lord Edgar, please begin the reincarnation ritual."
Lapis clenched her fists and spoke with unwavering resolve.
"Very good."
Edgar smiled, raised a finger, and said, "Then take off your outer clothes first."
"Eh?!"
Heat rushed to Lapis's cheeks as her pupils shrank.
"Um… Lord Edgar…"
"Lapis is a little dirty right now. Could we… could we talk about it after Lapis takes a bath?"
If she was going to serve Lord Edgar, she couldn't do it while still reeking of medicine.
"..."
She's completely misunderstood this.
And she's way too proactive about it.
Even he wasn't sure how to respond.
Still.
The medicinal smell really was pretty strong. Not ideal.
With that in mind, Edgar said, "Don't get the wrong idea. I'm just going to leave a mark."
"Huh?"
Lapis's face turned crimson. She nodded timidly. "O-okay…"
So she'd misunderstood.
How embarrassing was that?
Would Lord Edgar think she was some shameless woman?
Her thoughts spiraled as she reached up and undid her buttons.
Beneath the white undergarments, two soft curves were outlined in a flawless silhouette.
Seeing this, Edgar didn't hesitate. He squeezed out a drop of his own blood and let it fall onto her smooth skin.
Thump. Thump thump.
In the next instant, Lapis felt her heartbeat surge.
Her flesh, cells, muscles, and bones began to change, violently and completely.
And…
Her back and the place where her rabbit tail had been grew unbearably itchy.
"Mmm…"
Lapis clenched her teeth and spoke with difficulty. "Lord Edgar, it feels like… something is about to come out…"
"Relax. That's your wings and tail."
Hearing that, Lapis stopped suppressing it and let the transformation happen.
Rip.
A pair of small, adorable black wings burst free.
Her rabbit tail vanished, replaced by a slender tail that emerged slowly, its tip shaped like a heart.
"My tail changed…"
Lapis stared at the demonic tail, her eyes flickering.
No.
Lord Edgar seems to like rabbit tails better. I should change back.
He'd just explained the whole race thing to her earlier.
With a soft hiss, the demonic wings and tail withdrew back into her body.
She returned to her Star Rabbit form.
At that moment, Edgar was checking Lapis's status.
[Lapis]
[Race: Demon]
[Master: Edgar Lucifuge]
[Level: LV33]
[Skills: Star Rabbit Form, Godspeed]
Star Rabbit Form: Uses demonic power to assume Star Rabbit form, granting all racial talents of the Black Wing clan.
Godspeed: Instantly detonates magic and leg strength to achieve unimaginable movement speed.
Star Rabbit Form and Godspeed.
Edgar's eyes gleamed.
Star Rabbit Form was as expected.
As for Godspeed…
With a thought, Edgar activated it.
Whoosh.
In the blink of an eye, he was several meters away.
"Hiss…"
Edgar sucked in a breath.
That felt almost like teleportation.
At long range it still couldn't compare to the Dimensional Array, but the potential was terrifying.
As expected.
Rabbit-eared girls really are the best.
"What is it, Lord Edgar?" Lapis asked, blinking.
"Haha, Lapis, you've brought me good luck."
"Hehe…"
She didn't know why she was being praised, but she was happy all the same.
"Here. Take a look at your status."
"Mm-hm."
After getting dressed properly, Lapis began reading.
"Godspeed?"
Her eyes lit up like bulbs.
Just from the name, it sounded incredible.
And speed fit her race perfectly.
Creak.
At that moment, the door opened and Shana poked her head in.
"Master, I came to call you for dinner."
"Alright."
Edgar nodded, then looked at Lapis.
"Master, I'll come a little later," Lapis said, glancing down at herself.
No.
Still too dirty.
She couldn't stand it herself.
Now that she was healed, she wanted to present herself to her master in her best state.
In the dining hall, only Edgar and his retainers were present.
Carol was considerate enough to designate this place as Edgar's private dining room.
"Master, what's our next move?" Akame asked while tearing into a slab of meat. "Both the Black Wings and the Star Rabbits are under your control now."
"Isn't it time for the next step?"
Edgar nodded slightly. "The Star Rabbits were an unexpected bonus."
"But this works out well. When we attack the Demon King's castle, we won't need to pull troops from the royal capital."
"Still, Master, it'd be best to have Najenda and the others come over," the Star Spirit said. "None of us really understand troop deployment."
"The Black Wings and Star Rabbits just pledged allegiance. It's better to keep a close eye on them."
Edgar agreed.
He trusted those two races well enough, but caution never hurt.
He wasn't afraid of betrayal, but being disgusted by it would still be unpleasant.
As they spoke, a graceful figure pushed open the door and entered the dining hall.
It was none other than Lapis, the Star Rabbit princess, freshly bathed and changed.
In an instant, Edgar's gaze was completely captured.
After her bath, her face looked even more delicate and flawless. Her jade-white skin glowed faintly.
Silver-white hair cascaded down naturally, and paired with her rabbit ears, she looked playful and adorable.
A luxurious dress traced her full, curvaceous figure perfectly.
Her generous bust looked ready to tear the fabric at any moment.
Her waist was slender enough to wrap a hand around.
And her long legs, wrapped in white garter stockings, radiated explosive power.
Gulp.
Edgar swallowed hard, his gaze sliding downward.
Those thighs were lethal.
As expected.
Rabbit-eared girls had a natural advantage here.
No wonder they could awaken a skill as terrifying as Godspeed.
Sensing Edgar's burning stare, Lapis's pretty face flushed red.
But she still stepped forward bravely, throwing herself into his arms like a fledgling returning to its nest.
Edgar immediately felt the overwhelming softness crash into him.
A rich fragrance flooded his senses, making his eyes burn even hotter.
"Ma… Master, she is?" Akame and the others twitched at the sight.
Seriously?
Where did this one come from?
Straight up dragon-riding his face?
"Ahem. Let me introduce her," Edgar said. "This is my new retainer."
Lapis curtsied slightly and smiled. "Hello, everyone. I'm Lapis. I hope you'll take care of me from now on."
Then she promptly snuggled back into Edgar's arms.
"..."
This woman is definitely not someone to underestimate.
The Star Spirit and the others exchanged looks, their expressions turning subtle.
Ignoring the stares, Lapis looked up and gently cupped Edgar's face with her soft, pale hands.
"Master, Lapis has just finished bathing. I can now fulfill a retainer's duties."
As she spoke, her rabbit ears were tinged pink.
Yet her gaze stayed locked firmly on Edgar's.
Edgar's lips curled upward.
This kind of straight-forwardness was exactly his thing.
He suddenly stood up and slammed her down onto the dining table.
Lapis: "???"
"..."
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