The inner space of Vergil's soul was not empty. Quite the contrary. It was structured, organized, almost like its own territory, where energy circulated constantly and in a controlled manner. The presence of the Qliphoth kept everything in balance, distributing flow, preventing overload, creating sothing that shouldn't exist in that way… but it did.
Vergil stood in the center of that space, observing.
Nivara and Crymsaria were there.
Not trapped.
Not exactly.
But linked.
The two maintained their partially manifested draconic forms, large enough to make their presence felt, but adapted to the space without causing rupture. The energy around them flowed naturally, without resistance.
Vergil crossed his arms, looking from one to the other.
"I was thinking," he began, directly, without unnecessary introduction. "Perhaps I can separate you from my soul."
The two looked at him at the sa ti.
He continued.
"And return you to the real world." The silence that followed wasn't one of surprise.
It was one of assessnt.
Crymsaria was the first to react. She tilted her head slightly, as if she were genuinely considering the proposal, but she didn't seem enthusiastic about the idea.
"No," she replied after a few seconds, just like that.
Vergil didn't change his expression.
Nivara didn't respond imdiately either. She observed her surroundings for a mont, feeling the flow of energy, before letting out a small sigh.
"…neither," she said.
Vergil raised an eyebrow, but didn't question it imdiately. He simply waited for an explanation.
Crymsaria spoke first.
"Your soul is more comfortable than anywhere I've ever been," she said bluntly. "Seriously."
She moved her tail slightly, as if content.
"This place is basically a perfect nest for a dragon. It has abundant, constant, uninterrupted energy. There's no instability, no conflict, no external interference." She made a small gesture around.
"And then there's the Qliphoth managent keeping everything balanced. This place is too peaceful."
Vergil glanced briefly at the flow of energy around them.
That made sense.
Nivara nodded shortly after.
"And besides that," she added, crossing her arms. "Here, nobody tries to ss with us."
Vergil looked back at her.
"ss with us how?"
Nivara rolled her eyes slightly.
"Try to break the seal, steal power, summon, control… those annoying things that always happen when soone discovers you're a dragon with too much power."
Crymsaria agreed with a small nod.
"We attract attention. We always have."
Nivara continued.
"Out there, there's never peace. There's always soone trying sothing. Here…" she shrugged. "Nobody bothers us."
Vergil was silent for a mont, processing.
This wasn't what he expected.
He looked at the two of them again.
"I thought you two couldn't stand each other," he comnted. "And that being together would be a problem."
The two were silent for a second.
Then they looked at each other.
There was a pause.
"…wow," said Crymsaria.
"That's true, isn't it?" added Nivara.
The two continued looking at each other for a few more seconds, as if trying to rember sothing specific.
Vergil observed.
"…you forgot you hate each other?" he asked.
The two looked back at him.
And shrugged at the sa ti.
"We never hated each other," replied Crymsaria.
"Yeah," added Nivara. "We just can't stand each other."
Vergil kept his gaze fixed on them.
"…isn't that basically the sa thing?"
"No," they both said at the sa ti.
There was a short pause.
Crymsaria explained.
"Hating is hard work."
Nivara nodded.
"And it requires unnecessary emotional energy."
Crymsaria added.
"Not being able to stand each other is more practical."
Nivara crossed her arms.
"And more honest."
Vergil was silent for a few seconds.
"…and that's not a problem here?" he asked.
The two looked around.
Then at each other.
Then shrugged again.
"It's quite bearable here~" said Crymsaria.
"Very much so," confird Nivara.
Vergil looked away for a mont, observing the flow of energy in his own soul, as if recalculating sothing.
Then he looked back at them.
"…so you'll stay."
"Yes," they both replied.
Without hesitation.
Without a doubt.
Vergil nodded once.
"Understood."
The matter, for him, was closed.
Crymsaria settled into the space, clearly comfortable.
Nivara did the sa.
And the flow of energy continued.
Stable.
Without conflict.
As if that were… normal.
…
Vergil's return to the Underworld was unceremonious, unannounced, and t with no reverence from the environnt itself. The territory simply… received him. The surrounding energy adjusted to his presence as if it were natural, as if the entire space recognized who had just crossed its boundaries, even if he didn't yet have a na, a formal identity, or any consolidated position within the demonic hierarchy. Still, there was sothing there. Sothing unusual.
The territory existed.
And it responded to him.
Vergil walked unhurriedly to the center of that domain, passing through the structures still forming, the layers of energy slowly organizing themselves around his presence. Nothing there was improvised, but nothing was finished either. It was like a concept under construction, sothing not yet fully defined, but already possessing enough weight to be recognized.
In the center—
The throne.
Pure, dark obsidian, absorbing the surrounding light instead of reflecting it, as if matter itself had been molded to negate any external interference. It wasn't just decorative. It was functional. An anchor point.
Vergil sat down.
Effortlessly.
Without hesitation.
As if it had always been his.
To one side, a little apart, Vanny and Rize watched in silence. There was no need for imdiate comnt. His presence there was enough to completely fill the space. Still, there was sothing in their eyes.
Appreciation.
Pride.
And a slight amusent.
Because they knew that… it wasn't complete yet.
And the reason was right in front of them.
Selene.
She stood a few steps below the throne, holding a clipboard.
A clipboard.
Full.
Vergil observed for a few seconds.
In silence.
Then he tilted his head slightly.
"…what is this?" he asked, looking directly at the object.
Selene let out a long sigh.
Tired.
"This," she began, raising the clipboard slightly, "is an attempt to correct an extrely irritating problem."
Vergil kept his gaze on her.
Waiting.
"You are, technically, a demon king," Selene continued, with a slight narrowing of her eyes. "But your position… is ridiculously low."
Vergil blinked once.
"Why?"
Selene raised the clipboard a little higher, as if that were evidence enough.
"Because you have a naless territory," she answered directly. "A place without identity, without title, without formal recognition. This affects how other demons see you."
Vergil was silent for a mont.
Processing.
"Is this relevant?" he asked.
Before Selene could answer—
Vanny let out a low laugh beside her.
"Oh… yes, it is," she comnted, crossing her arms as she observed the scene with a wry smile. "Especially when visitors show up."
Rize smiled imdiately afterward, clearly rembering sothing.
"She got into a fight the other day," she added, her tone too light for the content of the sentence.
Vergil slowly glanced at them.
"…what?"
Vany shrugged.
"So demons ca to visit," she explained. "And they started making comnts about the territory not having a na, not having status… that kind of thing."
Rize finished.
"Selene didn't like it."
Selene lightly gripped the clipboard.
"They were being disrespectful," she said, her voice controlled but clearly carrying irritation. "And completely ignorant of the situation."
Vergil looked back at her.
"And you resolved it… by fighting."
"I did," she replied without hesitation.
There was a brief silence.
Vergil blinked twice.
Slowly.
"…I understand."
Rize tilted her head slightly, smiling.
"She's very devoted to the master," she comnted. "Even if you don't know it."
Vany nodded, still with that amused smile.
"Much more than it seems."
Vergil looked at Selene again.
Assessing.
"…what's it like?" he repeated.
Selene looked away for a second.
One second.
Then she returned.
"That's not the point," she replied quickly, trying to regain control of the conversation. "The point is that you need to na this territory."
She raised the clipboard again.
"I made so suggestions."
Vergil looked at the clipboard.
Then at her.
Then at the clipboard again.
"…how many?" he asked.
Selene took a deep breath.
"A few."
Vanny leaned slightly to the side, trying to peek.
"…there are more than fifty," she comnted, holding back a laugh.
Rize chuckled softly.
"She spent the night on it."
Vergil was silent for a few seconds.
Then he extended his hand.
Selene hesitated for a brief mont… but handed over the clipboard.
He looked.
Line by line.
Na by na.
Expressionless.
No visible reaction.
Silence stretched.
Vany and Rize exchanged a glance.
Selene waited.
Tense.
After a few seconds—
Vergil lowered the clipboard.
"…no."
Selene froze.
"…no?" she repeated.
"No," he confird.
Simple.
Direct.
Vany turned her face away, clearly holding back laughter.
Rize lightly covered her mouth.
Selene narrowed her eyes.
"…and what would your suggestion be, then?" she asked, crossing her arms.
Vergil thought for a second.
Just one.
"…I don't have one yet."
Silence.
Complete.
Vany lost.
She laughed.
Rize joined in.
Selene slowly closed her eyes, breathing deeply like soone trying not to explode at that very mont.
"…incredible," she murmured.
Vergil returned the clipboard.
Calmly.
"When I decide, I'll let you know."
Selene took the object back.
Still breathing deeply.
Vany leaned slightly forward, still smiling.
"Until then," she comnted, "good luck arguing with naless visitors from the territory."
Rize chuckled softly.
Selene opened her eyes.
And looked at the two of them.
"…I don't argue without reason."
"Of course not," said Vanny.
"It was out of honor," added Rize.
Selene sighed.
Vergil simply leaned back in his throne.
Watching.
As if that—
That was also… normal.
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