This morning he was in a explicitly good mood, wide smile, one of a fool, who has gained all that he wants. Who would have guessed that the light connection with the one you love would give you this much of a mood boost? He was practically overflowing with positivity, and something more - manliness, which has activated duo to his desire to protect and take care of her.
His rest tonight was one of the best yet, as he got out of the blankets he wrapped himself in, he walked out, his friends were already awake and chatting underneath him. "Morning guys!" He said his voice heavier yet more gentle.
"Morning. You seem in a good mood, any occasion?"
"Yes, i am alive." Svetislav said with enthusiasm which he never showed before.
He got down from the second floor and joined his friends, but then a bunch of footsteps were heard coming from the hallway outside of the living room. "Kazuma Satou!"
Kazuma was about to crawl out, but Svetislav gestured for him to stand down. "I will deal with her."
And so he crawled out of the fortress. And opened the door before the prosecutor lady could open it. "What do you want? He is a free man. Can't you accept that fact?"
She didn't flitch at his hostile attitude. "Yes, I can. But I'm suspicious of him and his party. There are strange monsters surrounding the town."
Svetislav's brows furrowed and his eyes narrowed. "Is that so... Fine. Then I'll deal with it personally. Let them rest, just like how i had my break."
Before his friends could stop him, he was already out the door.
--- <-(I'm starting to implement this to tell that there is a little time skip or switch of scenes, would be more convenient than saying "He is walking" one hundred times)
Outside the walls, the "monsters" were no demons - they were dolls. Small, uncanny figures with cute little suits and white and black masks. Svetislav crouched to examine one of them.
It tilted its head and hugged his hand.
"...Hm" He looked at it suspiciously, gently petting it with one finger.
Then it began vibrating, he barely had any time to react.
All defenses were up - kinetic, thermal, magic, all transforming into mana, just in case. The doll exploded, fire and debris erupting outward. He stood unfazed, coat billowing dramatically in the shockwave.
The prosecutor, as well as the guards, were left stunned.
"Cute trick," Svetislav muttered, brushing ash from his sleeve. "Alright, Let's see where you came from."
---
They began tracking the trail back towards the direction of Keele's dungeon. Svetislav passed a few dolls, which he tried to convert into mana, and he succeeded, he now knew, he had no reason to worry.
Soon enough they reached Keele's dungeon.
"Wee should return and gather reinforcements," the prosecutor lady urged.
"You will go," Svetislav said, waving a hand as if to dismiss them. "I'll check ahead. If it's safe, I'll come out. If not - then send help."
"It's suicidal to go alone!"
"I've been here before. The only difference is a few soulless dolls."
And without any other exchange he went in.
Every doll spot him, and all that approached him were converted into harmless energy with a flicker of a thought. Svetislav was still in far too good of a mood to be bothered.
It wasn't long before a voice echoed from the final part in the dungeon, theatrical, oozing with flair.
"I could feel the reek of love from a mile away."
Svetislav raised an eyebrow and yelled back. "Yeah? What about it?" He proceeded into that same hall.
As the figure which said that was illuminated by Svetislav's light, he saw a tall figure in formal clothing as well as a black on one side and white on the other with eyes opposite of the color they are on. Svetislav confirmed, he was their maker. And that inspired him.
"Artificial life... A piece of me lived outside me... I will give my creations a soul, so they may assist my body."
His voice carried pride and amusement.
"Allow me a proper introduction. Welcome to my dungeon, of great adventurer turned businessman, i am the source of the problem you are looking to solve. The duke of hell, commander of evil and one of the devil king's generals. I am he who sees all in this world - I am Vanir."
Svetislav reciprocated the flair and dramatics. "And I am the man who does nothing, yet everything. Svetislav - the Automation Baron, the Tycoon!"
There was a pause. Then Vanir burst into laughter.
"Oh, delightful! A mortal with style! Finally, someone with the right sense of theatrics!"
Svetislav smirked. "You sound like you've been rehearsing that speech for centuries."
"Of course i have, you insolent brat! Presentation is everything."
Vanir began to monologue about his evil plan, how he planned to take over this dungeon, make it great again with traps and monsters, and how he would be awaiting great heroes to fight him to the death, but he would fail, leaving behind a treasure in which there would be nothing, but a note which says "You lose". What a glorious death it would be and how he would be satiate-
"Yeah, I don't care." Svetislav cut him off flatly.
Vanir froze. "What- what do you mean, you don't care?! I spent minutes preparing that speech!"
Svetislav crossed his arms. "I recognize that both side - good and evil - are just big goof balls, playing villains and heroes for the fun of it. That's all. Shakespearean saying: 'The world is a big ass stage play.'"
There was another silence. Then Vanir started to laugh, deep, genuine, echoing through the dungeon halls.
"Oh-ho! You amuse me, mortal! Not many date to dismiss me like that. You and I... Yes, I like you. We shall be friends!"
---
Hours later a bunch of adventurers have gathered outside Keele's dungeon, but Svetislav was nowhere to be seen, his friends were starting to get worried. Darkness and Kazuma went in first, rushing so they can shake the others off, because they were already in the dungeon and knew the layout.
---
Svetislav and Vanir were talking on for hours. About evil plans, about Svetislav's machines, about the stupidity of adventurers and the dramatics of gods.. By the time Kazuma and Darkness arrived, the two were sitting like old drinking buddies.
Kazuma blinked, looking at them weirdly. "Are you two... Chatting?"
"Yes." Svetislav said casually.
"Isn't he the source of the dolls?"
"Indeed, i am. I am the source of your problems. I am Vanir, the duke of hell, commander of evil and one of the devil king's generals. I am he who sees all in this world."
"Here he goes with the dramatic intro again."
"And you have been chatting with a devil king's general?!" Kazuma pointed at Svetislav.
"Yep, problem." He grinned widely, troll face looking ahh.
Svetislav stood up and put a hand on Vanir's shoulder. "Yeah... Sorry buddy, i might have to retire you. Don't want to be blamed for treason, you see."
Vanir chuckled. "Then let us make it an epic duel, my friend!"
And so, they fought. Darkness tried to join, but Svetislav stopped her. "No! Stay down!"
Getting ordered around like this was... for some reason a turn on for her. But that's Darkness, so it's normal.
There were no magics involved in the fight, no tricks. Just fists and raw force. Svetislav found himself quite entertained, hand to hand combat was quite exhilarating. Felt like his first hunt.
"HAHA! How alive i feel!" Svetislav yelled out of joy, swinging again. Vanir dodged again.
"Indeed."
And so they fought and fought, Svetislav avoided getting hit in the head quite a lot of times, weaving down, moving his head slightly to the side, Vanir, on the other hand, nearly always dodged or blocked, but Svetislav did land quite a few brutal blows, which were enough to destroy a hand or two, showing that Vanir's body is made out of earth.
"From the earth you came, to the earth you will return." And with that statement, he turned his mind off and struck forward landing a really brutal hit that went straight through Vanir's stomach.
"Truly... Wonderful." Vanir said weakly as he crumbled into unshaped earth, only the mask remained.
Svetislav crouched down and grabbed the mask. "I will treasure you, friend."
"And I you." The mask jumped from Svetislav hand and landed directly onto his face.
---
The possession was like drowning in another person's voice - thoughts overlapping, instincts twisting. But Svetislav's will was stronger than iron.
"Quite the fight you're putting up," Vanir hissed, from Svetislav's mouth.
Svetislav laughed aloud, even as Darkness and Kazuma stared in awe. "You know what happens when a man has something to fight for? That's a clear example."
"That thief girl. She has stolen your heart. She's only using you."
Svetislav smirked, forcing his hand to grab the mask. "I don't think someone who's using me would give me their heart."
Kazuma approached Svetislav and slapped a piece of paper on Vanir(who is just the mask now.)
Svetislav didn't even flinch. "What's that?"
"Some talisman, i don't know what exactly."
Suddenly Svetislav felt a very sharp pain. So much so that he dropped to one knee.
"Give up now," Vanir's voice snarled, "and I'll stop."
Svetislav smirked intensely from the sudden challenge. "You are feeling motivated... Wait no!"
"Nah, feel this."
Suddenly Vanir was the one screaming.
"What- what is this?!"
"I already told you. Now stop being dramatic."
"But I live for drama~ 💅"
Svetislav burst out into laughter. "Zestyy ass bitch."
"Oi, I don't insult your weird Bulgarian accent. You aren't even supposed to be here. Fun how you pressured an angel just to get here!"
"Easy clap. What can i say? I'm built different."
"...Truly. Truly different."
With that Svetislav began walking out, because he was still not thinking of a way to defeat Vanir. Think of it as playing with one's food.
---
By the time they were half way up the first staircase, they looked less like enemies and more like bickering best friends.
Vanir sighed. "Your priest friend is preparing for me, I'm not sure what she will try to do. But either way, I am going to die here. Don't mourn for me though. I will return - in another form, no longer a general."
"Good to know. Well then - do you want to go out in front of many or few?"
"Oh, what a wonderful offer." Vanir said sarcastically, but there was fondness in his tone. "More. Let them all see."
Svetislav nodded, climbing the last stairs at a leisurely pace. Kazuma and Darkness trailed behind, baffled.
---
Outside, Aqua was indeed waiting.
The moment Svetislav poke his head out of the dungeon - "Sacred Exorcism!"
She shot a laser of holy magic straight from the sky and into Svetislav.
Svetislav was quietly enduring while Vanir screamed. Svetislav's flesh seared, but he only frowned. "Hmm. Unimpressive." He grabbed the mask which writhed and resisted to stay on his face.
"Goodbye, Vanir."
"Goodbye, Svetislave," the devil said with a hint of respect.
Svetislav applied kinetic energy through conversion, splitting the mask cleanly in two.
---
The next day at the guild, Svetislav received the full reward.
He scoffed. "That's less than I make in a day. I choose to donate it to my less fortunate friends - who are actually fortunate to have me." He shoved the bag into Kazuma's hands. "Now go pay off your stupid debt so i can finally disassemble the pillow fortress. Also buy real furniture."
Without saying another word, Svetislav came out of the guild with a smile, he felt fulfilled.
He knew. Somehow,, he knew he would meet Chris today.
And he did.
She greeted him softly with a slightly teasing edge. "You seem in a good mood."
"How can I not be..." Svetislav's voice softened, his usual bravado giving way to something tender. He looked at her, eyes warm. "When all my efforts have led me into your heart."
Chris froze for a moment, he breath catching. Her cheeks colored slightly, but a small, genuine smile formed at her lips.
"...You always know how to say things that make it hard to stay guarded," she whispered.
Svetislav tilted his head. "Then don't guard yourself. Just be with me."
Her chest rose with a shaky breath, after which she said. "I... Can't."
Svetisla blinked, genuinely confused. "What do you mean?"
"I mean..." Chris bit her lip, her smile faltering. "I can't be with you... I'm not... Fitting to be your partner."
He reached for her hand lifting it between them. "Why would you say that?"
Her violet eyes shimmered with unshed tears. For a moment, he thought she'd answer. But instead, she pulled free, voice breaking.
"I just- I just can't, Svetislav!"
She turned and ran, her figure disappearing behind a corner and on top of buildings as tears began streaming down her face.
People looked at this drama. "Damn..." Some people said.
The joy that had carried him through battles, through Vanir, through all of yesterday, now weirghed heavy in his chest, but it refused.
He did not despair. A quiet resolve settled over him and with a grin he said to himself. "No matter what you're hiding. I'll find the truth. And when i do... you'll never need to run again."
---
Since there was nothing to be done that day, he went to fix his machine, since it has been producing biscuits nonstop and he didn't want that.
He fixed it so there was still a kneading process, but it was less intense, there was also no flattening section, but cutting, making dough balls which then cooked quickly in the over. The yeast, just how he concluded, quickly made the dough rise. It took only a few seconds of Growth.