"Life really is full of surprises," Alhaitham mused, gently stroking the cover of an old, worn book. "Who would've thought everything would evolve this far, all because of a single volume like this?"
The book in his hands was none other than Demon Diablos vs. The Three Heroes, the once-banned tome that Agnes had delivered to him. That simple act had set everything in motion.
Through that book, he met Alpha.
Together, they established the [Dark Night Courtyard].
And now, the organization had grown to boast over three hundred members, all committed to resisting the cult that had once nearly destroyed them.
"Everyone is truly grateful to you, my lord," came a soft voice beside him.
Standing at his side was a silver-haired elf—the Beta he had taken under his wing. Her transformation since the day he found her was remarkable. No longer the timid girl she once was, she now stood tall in a crisp black-and-white maid outfit, her short silver hair framing her face. Her tear-shaped mole just beneath her left eye only added to her unique charm.
And her… proportions, Alhaitham noted awkwardly, were quite eye-catching. The kind of figure that made one genuinely wonder if she could still see her own feet while walking.
But it wasn't just Beta.
The other girls he had taken in—many of whom had once been mere children—had all grown. Now, they were strong, graceful, and undeniably beautiful. Queens in the making.
Well, all except for one of the Seven Shadows, who was still… an anomaly.
Alhaitham cleared his throat. "Beta, report the current status and achievements of the courtyard."
"Yes, Lord Dark Night. This month alone, we've destroyed five small strongholds and one medium-sized base belonging to the [Diablos Order]. Additionally, eight new members have joined our ranks. That brings our total number to 317."
"Only six strongholds this month?" Alhaitham raised an eyebrow. "That seems rather low."
"I apologize, my lord. It seems the cult has grown more cautious. They've likely caught on to the presence of spies. Our internal agents are having a harder time returning with useful information."
"No matter," Alhaitham said, waving dismissively. "If I were them, I'd get smarter too after being hit so many times. Even a fool learns after enough beatings."
The tension lifted slightly, but beneath his words lay the truth—the war between the [Dark Night Courtyard] and the [Diablos Order] had grown more intense with each passing day.
And yet, Alhaitham and his people continued to win, battle after battle.
Their success didn't solely rely on strength—though they had that in abundance—but also on the power of GEASS, his unique ability of absolute command. Through it, many enemies had become informants, turning once-tight-lipped cultists into invaluable sources of intelligence.
Over time, more than 90% of those afflicted with [Devil Possession] had been rescued and brought into the fold of the [Dark Night Courtyard].
But with growth came problems.
The most pressing among them?
The rise of yin and the decline of yang.
Despite the organization's size—over three hundred members—Alhaitham remained the only male. An imbalance so extreme it was nearly laughable.
At first, he'd dismissed it as coincidence.
But then the patterns became undeniable.
The three legendary heroes who had once defeated Diablos were all women. As a result, the bloodline symptoms of [Devil Possession] only manifested in females.
And most of those afflicted? Elves and orcs.
Elves, with their long lifespans and difficulty reproducing, had the most concentrated bloodlines, making them highly susceptible. Orcs followed close behind. Humans, with their average traits, rarely exhibited the possession.
Presently, the [Dark Night Courtyard] was comprised of:
50% elves
40% orcs
10% humans
Alhaitham sighed dramatically. "To put it plainly, I'm surrounded by a horde of elf girls and beast-eared maidens."
According to the rules of every two-dimensional world, the stronger someone was, the more attractive they became—probably. And if the three legendary heroes were beautiful, then their descendants must be, too.
Which meant that the 300+ girls who carried those bloodlines were all stunners.
Truly, Alhaitham lived in what could only be described as a living garden of beautiful girls.
The name "Dark Night Courtyard" was almost too appropriate.
"How is everyone holding up?" he asked after a pause.
"Very well," Beta responded warmly. "While there have been occasional injuries, we've suffered no casualties. This is all thanks to your leadership and the gifts you've bestowed upon us."
"Good," Alhaitham said, his tone firm. "Each of you is important to me—not just as subordinates, but as partners, citizens, even family. Remember this: missions can fail. But your lives come first. If you're ever trapped, crawl home if you have to. I will protect you."
Beta's eyes welled with tears.
Such gentle, sincere words from her lord never failed to touch her deeply.
It was exactly this unwavering sense of care and responsibility that made every girl in the courtyard admire, follow, and love Alhaitham with all their hearts.
The [Dark Night Courtyard] was built upon that trust.
And Alhaitham had provided each member with enchanted firearms, greatly increasing their survivability and combat power.
Even Beta herself—ever the proper maid—had a magic revolver strapped to her thigh under her skirt.
With those weapons, combined with their training, the [Dark Night Courtyard] had transformed into a force to be reckoned with. Even when they fell into traps, they were strong enough to break free with minimal losses.
When the girls discovered that these powerful tools had all come from Alhaitham's hands, their admiration became reverence.
"The Lord is truly generous and kind," Beta said as she dropped to one knee. "You gave us new life, new names, a place to call home when all seemed lost. And you continue to grant us knowledge and strength. For you, we will give our all."
Alhaitham nodded, clearly pleased. He reached out and ruffled her hair in a rare moment of affection.
"Do we have any missions today?" he asked.
"Yes, my lord." Beta's expression shifted to serious as she rose and moved to the nearby wall. With a small twist of a lamp base, a hidden mechanism activated. The table before Alhaitham flipped over, revealing a detailed magical map of the entire kingdom.
Beta pointed at a glowing marker. "According to our informants, the cult has kidnapped a girl suspected to be a descendant of one of the three heroes."
"Name, location, and time," Alhaitham said sharply.
"The girl's name is Cleia Kageno. She was taken from the Barony of Kageno. We estimate they'll begin transporting her in five hours."
Alhaitham's eyes narrowed.
"I see… Then let's go stretch our legs a little."
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