The crimson princess

Pov Dia,

I entered the war council room. Everyone was there, and Sera smiled at me. She had spent some time with her parents while I was training with Scathach-sensei.

Zekram: "You’re late."

Couldn’t he keep quiet instead of ruining the mood?

Dia: "I went to Lucifaad to assess the situation."

Sirzechs: "And the result?"

Dia: "No survivors. Thank you, Rimuru."

Rimuru had just handed me a small cup of tea and then went to offer the others some water.

Ajuka: "Now we need to find a good strategy to minimize casualties on both sides."

Zekram: "We don’t care about the others."

Falbium: "With all due respect, no, we do care. Some devils might be fighting against their will in the enemy camp. We should capture them and, when the war is over, release them."

Ajuka: "We must instruct our troops not to kill those who surrender."

Zekram: "If you insist. Now, let’s discuss the locations that will be assigned to you. Ajuka, you will fight in Gusion Castle Town. Falbium, I expect you in Eligos. The rest of you will battle in the Valefor Territory. It’s up to you how you choose to fight."

Dia: "Quick question, why are we fighting in the Valefor territory?"

Zekram: "That's where the seven devils you're interested in are located. We also have Damaidosu Zereikel Asmodeus and most of the troops from the Six Houses. Now, I’m going to prepare a defense in case of defeat."

With that, he left, making the atmosphere more comfortable.

Dia: "How do you feel about this war?"

I turned to Oni-sama, Ajuka, and Falbium.

Sirzechs: "It will be much harder to lead the troops because we have more peerage systems now, so we’re less coordinated."

Ajuka: "Actually, the system is ready, and I've already given the commanders on the front lines the option to have a peerage, even if it's a bit improvised. I told them it would be temporary during the war, and then they'll have more time to find members afterward."

Hearing that made me happy because I would finally be able to realize a dream I had since our conversation.

Dia: "I might also have a peerage."

Ajuka: "That’s for assigning Rimuru to your peerage, right?"

Dia: "Of course. The war may not end with Rimuru being part of my peerage, but at least I would have fulfilled my dream."

And so, we went to retrieve what is called the Evil Pieces.

I found myself standing in front of a huge King Piece.

Dia: "At least it’s intimidating. It’s twice my size. So, how does it work?"

(Author’s note: Attention it remains a fanfiction and so some elements that will be said may not follow the canon.)

Ajuka: "You place your hand on the monument, and you'll receive your Evil Pieces."

Dia: "That seems a little too simple. But what if I pour my POD into the monument—how dangerous is that?"

Ajuka: "It's not dangerous. You can try pouring if you want."

I closed my eyes and started pouring my POD over and over again. The monument became so bright that I had to close my eyes to avoid being blinded. Once the light faded, 15 chess pieces appeared: a Queen, 2 Bishops, 2 Knights, 2 Rooks, and 8 Pawns.

Dia: "Wait a minute, where’s the King Piece?"

Ajuka: "The King Piece is unnecessary because all the other Evil Pieces are connected to the King. In principle, it's the King who performs the ceremony, so you can consider that you already have the King Piece within you."

After hearing that, it made sense.

I looked at each crimson-colored piece one after the other, and then I noticed something that didn’t make sense.

Dia: "Ajuka, why are my 2 Bishops different?"

As I examined them, I could feel a difference between the two Bishops.

Ajuka: "It’s a Mutation Piece. It’s a little quirk I left in for fun— for example, for the Bishop we ask a value of 3 to put it as member of the peerage, with a Mutation Piece its value is 5 for example. The chances of getting one are one in ten, and yet you got two."

Sera: "Two?"

Ajuka: "The Queen Piece is also a Mutation Piece."

So that means I could make Rimuru a devil without requiring her to use her power.

I turned to Rimuru, who had kneeled before me like a vassal before their lord.

Dia: "You don’t have to be so formal."

Rimuru: "It’s still an important moment in our relationship."

I delivered a ceremonial monologue to please Rimuru, and she repeated an oath of loyalty.

Dia: "From now on, you are my pet, my maid, my wife, and my Queen."