Leon and Alpha entered the orphanage.
There was no one in the courtyard. At first glance, it looked like an abandoned building.
However, Leon immediately sensed the vast hidden space beneath the orphanage.
As long as crime is buried underground, strangers won't easily discover it. No matter where in the world, criminals always think the same way.
"Are you going to search for the hidden door?" Alpha asked.
Leon shook his head.
"That won't be necessary."
Boom!
Leon stomped on the ground with force.
The strike, infused with magical power, was as if a giant had stomped the earth itself. The hollow floor cracked instantly, revealing the space below.
"As expected…" Alpha muttered, shaking her head.
She had originally planned to sneak in quietly.
But now, it seemed Leon intended to invade head-on.
The prince and the elf jumped down into the underground chamber. At once, the air felt ten degrees colder. A murderous intent seeped from the darkness, accompanied by the stench of blood.
If this were the Cult, a swarm of enemies would have rushed out immediately to surround Leon and Alpha.
But this was the training ground where the Demon King's believers raised candidates for Demon Kings and assassins. Second-rate killers wouldn't appear so openly here—they would lurk in the dark, waiting for the chance to strike with a single fatal blow.
"Eight, nine, ten… there's a lot of them."
"It's honestly ridiculous."
Leon and Alpha walked calmly through the pitch-black corridor. And as soon as the darkness obscured their vision, countless deadly attacks were launched.
Throwing knives. Crossbow bolts. Steel wires. Poison. And more.
Yet, the slime suits both of them wore deflected every attack.
Before the assassins could retreat in shock, the slime suits extended dozens of tentacles, seizing their limbs and dragging them toward Leon and Alpha.
"You think the darkness is your ally, don't you? That might be true… but we are the ones who truly command the darkness."
Leon's tone was cold, indifferent.
His violet eyes gleamed with a frozen light that made the assassins shiver in terror. They were eyes more dreadful than the abyss itself.
They were strong enough to realize it—the young man before them stood on a level far beyond their own.
"Huh? What… you're just a bunch of little girls."
Leon was mildly surprised to see that their attackers were girls about the same age.
"So it's true," Alpha added. "They capture children with talent and raise them into assassins. As far as I know, there are very few men who can contract with spirits."
This kingdom, situated far to the west, was different from Palettia. While noblemen also possessed magical power, the ones who could form contracts with spirits were exclusively women.
It was said that spirits preferred pure girls—and the most effective way to destroy a spirit completely was to rob that girl of her purity.
Leon frowned. "…I feel like my magical medicine research could really advance here."
This world lacked technology like artificial fertilization, which made it devastating for women who wanted children without breaking their spirit contracts.
In truth, to preserve their identity as spirit contractors, many women in this kingdom chose to remain unmarried their entire lives. Some, even when married, refused to let their husbands touch them.
…But Leon shook the thought away.
"Master, what will you do with them?"
Leon crouched down, lifting one of the young assassins' chins. Her eyes were void of human emotion—hollow, lifeless. They were all pitiful beings, trained only as tools of murder. Beings in desperate need of salvation.
"Actually, I do have a way. It won't make up for the time they lost, but it's not too late to start over. We'll let them begin again," Leon said with a faint smile.
With the slime tentacles, he forced the girls to look directly into his eyes.
Then, Leon issued a command—one that could never be refused or defied.
"You will forget everything about this place. No, forget everything except the common sense of being human. After that, I'll have someone prepare new lives for you."
"As you command, my king."
Bound by Geass, the assassins' memories were erased and they collapsed unconscious. When they awoke, they would be blank slates.
Leon planned to entrust them to Gamma or Ningguang.
Both women, empresses of vast commercial empires, oversaw enterprises so massive that caring for dozens—or even hundreds—of people would be nothing. In fact, they desperately needed manpower. Especially Gamma. The few hundred girls of Night Raid were no longer enough. The combined number of branches under the two was already nearing a thousand.
And recruiting was always a delicate matter. Countless spies longed to infiltrate and uncover the secrets behind their immense wealth.
These assassins were mostly orphans. Even if Leon set them free, they had nowhere to go.
And even with their memories erased, their assassin instincts would remain. Released without guidance, many would inevitably return to killing.
Thus, placing them under Gamma and Ningguang was the best choice. Once their minds were wiped clean, they would be as ignorant as newborns—someone had to watch over and guide them through this stage.
Leon could choose later to restore their memories… or let them walk whatever new path they desired.
"Haha, still so kind as ever, Master."
Alpha smiled. Leon only shrugged.
"It's nothing. I just feel unusually cheerful today. Besides, if it had been a group of boys, I might've simply killed them—and given them redemption in the next life."
"Hmm… okay…"
Alpha almost said he wasn't that kind of person, but then thought again and realized—he actually might be. She wisely kept quiet.
And so, Leon and Alpha advanced deeper into the underground complex.
Along the way, the memories of hundreds of assassin girls were erased.
But of course…
Geass, having reached its maximum capacity, spiraled out of control. The crimson sigil resembling a bird remained glowing in Leon's left eye—it could no longer fade away.
"Alpha, don't look into my eyes from now on."
"…Why don't you just give me an order, then?"
"Hm?"
"Command me to surrender to you forever—and to love you for all eternity. Whether as your lover, your subordinate, your slave, or even your toy… as long as it's your order, I'll accept it, no matter what."
Alpha's smile was dazzling.
She gently cupped Leon's face, gazing into his eyes with devoted warmth.
---
(End of Chapter)