The night breeze danced over the palace, carrying the scent of the ocean and the distant sound of waves crashing against the cliffs. The sky was clear, dotted with cold stars, while the moon cast a silvery glow over Amazon Lily.
Riser stood at the edge of the rooftop, hands in his pockets, his golden eyes sweeping the dark horizon. The world seemed small from up there. The silence was absolute, broken only by the whisper of the wind.
'Peace…'
His thoughts wandered aimlessly, but there was no real sense of nostalgia, only a vague memory of what he'd left behind. A rest… that was all he wanted.
FWOOSH.
The air warped for a moment, and a bluish glow pulsed in the space beside him. Merlin emerged from the magic, her cloak swaying gently in the night breeze.
"Riser-sama."
He didn't turn immediately. His gaze remained fixed on the vast sea, as if waiting for something—or perhaps nothing.
"Do you miss your world?"
The question came calmly, without urgency, but heavy with a weight only the two of them understood.
Riser tilted his head slightly, his golden eyes reflecting the starlight.
"No."
Silence settled between them again. Merlin studied his relaxed posture, but there was something in his eyes that didn't match his words.
"And your wives?"
The wind blew harder. Riser didn't answer right away. His thoughts scattered like leaves in the breeze, drifting to faces he hadn't seen in a long time.
'Sona…'
Maybe… maybe he missed her a little. But what did that really mean? A sigh escaped his lips.
"They exist. But it doesn't change anything."
Merlin watched him for a moment, her expression unreadable under the pale moonlight.
"Even Sona?"
Riser closed his eyes for a brief moment. Her name sounded distant, but not without meaning.
"Maybe."
Merlin crossed her arms, magic crackling faintly around her.
"Interesting."
Riser's gaze shifted to her.
"You expected a different answer?"
She smirked faintly, a glint of amusement in her eyes.
"I expected you to lie. I didn't expect you to admit it so easily."
Silence stretched again. Only the wind filled the space between them.
Riser turned back to the night, his eyes gleaming faintly under the moonlight.
"This world is simpler. No expectations. No responsibilities."
Merlin stood beside him, her presence as calm as the night around them.
"But you've never been the type to like simplicity."
Riser chuckled softly, a sound without humor.
"Do you miss your world?"
The blue glow around Merlin pulsed faintly.
"I live for you, Riser-sama. The world of Devils was fun, but that's all it was."
His golden eyes shifted from the sea to her.
"That's it?"
"Yes. I have no ties. No nostalgia. I live to serve you. The rest doesn't matter."
The breeze blew harder.
Riser narrowed his eyes.
"I meant the world of Seven Deadly Sins."
Merlin's expression remained unchanged.
"I didn't come from there."
His eyes glinted with new understanding.
"Then where did you come from?"
"Nowhere. The system created me."
The wind roared through the trees below.
Riser stood motionless.
'So she never belonged anywhere…'
That was new.
Everything he'd thought was wrong.
For a moment, his mind raced through the possibilities. He'd assumed Merlin came from an alternate universe, perhaps Seven Deadly Sins, maybe some other corner of the multiverse. But an existence created solely to serve him?
Could the system really do that?
If it could… what were its limits?
His golden eyes slid over Merlin. Her presence was real, her magic pulsed in the air around her, her consciousness was there. She existed, felt, spoke. But she had no past. No home, no origin.
'Just code… just a command executed by the system…'
What did that make her, then?
A servant?
A tool?
Or something beyond that?
His gaze returned to the sea, watching the silent vastness of the ocean.
"Then what are you?"
The breeze stirred, ruffling Merlin's hair.
"I am Merlin."
Simple. Direct. As if that were enough.
'For her, maybe it is.'
But for him?
His chest remained empty, as always. He felt nothing for anyone, and Merlin was no exception. But for the first time… a doubt settled in.
If the system could create an existence like her, what else could it do?
The wind roared again.
Merlin stood there, patient, waiting.
The dark sky stretched endlessly, and Riser wondered—
How much did any of this really matter?
'For a long time, I always saw everyone as just anime characters. It's not much different. I myself was a normal human, and now I'm a Devil. The King of Devils in the DxD Universe.'
The irony was almost comical. He, who once saw these stories as mere entertainment, now found himself inside one. Like a tourist vacationing in a fantasy world.
But Merlin…
She wasn't a character. She wasn't someone who had a life before this. She was created.
'A tool with consciousness.'
That was different.
"Riser-sama."
The wind dissolved around her voice. Soft, but firm.
He shifted his gaze from the ocean and looked at her.
"Hancock is preparing a farewell banquet for you. They're expecting your presence."
The night seemed to laugh at the idea. He didn't belong here, nor in the world he'd left behind. A king without a kingdom. A monster without a purpose.
His golden eyes gleamed under the moonlight.
"Alright. Go ahead. I'll follow shortly."
Merlin nodded, unquestioning.
FWOOSH.
The air shimmered for a moment, and then she vanished, leaving only a ripple of mana in the space.
Riser turned back to the sea.
The night remained still.
---
The palace's main hall was lit by torches, casting a warm glow over the long, solid wooden table. The aroma of freshly prepared Sea King filled the air, mingling with the sweet scent of flowers scattered throughout the room.
Hancock moved from side to side, adjusting the silverware with almost obsessive precision. Her delicate hands glided over the table's surface, repositioning plates, aligning glasses, checking every detail.
"This should be one centimeter to the right…"
Her blue eyes shone with focus. The servants around her exchanged glances, hesitant to interrupt the empress's meticulous work.
"Young Hancock."
The hoarse, seasoned voice made Hancock pause.
Elder Nyon watched her with arms crossed, the wrinkles around her eyes accentuated by the flickering light.
"Listen to this old woman's experience. A good wife must know how to cook for her husband. That's how you'll win Riser's heart."
Hancock's lips curved slightly downward.
"I've tried so hard."
Her gaze drifted to the table, her fingers gripping the edge of the tablecloth tightly.
Elder Nyon raised an eyebrow, leaning on her staff.
"Are you going to take off that apron and put on something pretty?"
Silence filled the space.
Hancock's hands trembled slightly.
"He can't see me like this."
Heat rose to her face.
Elder Nyon's words echoed powerfully in her mind. A good wife…
Her eyes widened slightly.
Without another word, she spun around, her bare feet slapping against the marble floor as she rushed down the corridor.
The sound of the door slamming behind her was the only response.
Elder Nyon let out a long sigh, shaking her head.
"This youth…"
The servants exchanged uncertain glances.
The old woman waved her staff in the air, muttering to herself.
"She may be the most beautiful woman in the world, but in the end, she's still just a lovesick girl."
The aroma of the Sea King still lingered in the air.
The banquet was ready.
Now, all that was missing was him.
Bonus Chapter Available!
Enjoying my work on "Between Curses and Secrets," "DXD: The Awakening of Phenex," or "Reincarnation in Smallville"?
Then I have a surprise for you!
By supporting me on Patreon, you'll gain access to exclusive bonus chapters, behind-the-scenes content, and much more.
Your support means the world to me and helps me keep writing the stories you love.
Support here: patreon.com/22Mirko22
Thank you so much for reading — see you in the next chapter!