Chapter 199: Chapter 200: Well-Behaved Cats Like the Kitchen Stove! (5)

“Where am I…?”

Cecily glanced around after stepping through the oddly shaped dimensional gate. The space looked as if someone had liberally splashed purple paint everywhere.Small sparkles twinkled all around her like stars, giving the impression of outer space.In the midst of this cosmic scene, a red carpet stretched far into the distance, its end invisible to the eye.

Cecily found herself quite taken with this place. The all-encompassing purple hue evoked the color of noble lineages, while the glittering stars resembled precious jewels.The red carpet extending into the distance seemed like a royal road welcoming her, tempting her to step onto it.

『This is the Path of Glory leading to ‘Steg Maia’, Grand Duke Nebula’s domain. Those unworthy shall be beheaded.』

Clank- Clatter-At the metallic sound, Cecily turned to see yellow-armored figures forming a long line around the red carpet.They stood incredibly tall, each seeming to reach about 3 meters in height.Clearly, they weren’t human.

Gulp-Melody, who had followed through the gate, clutched Cecily’s skirt and trembled.

“Scary guards! The ‘Knights’, Grand Duke Nebula’s minions, have appeared. Anyone unqualified who walks this path will die!”

Cecily knew nothing of Grand Duke Nebula, their territory Steg Maia, or these ‘Knights’.She vaguely recalled hearing something like “Today we’ll discuss the types of Demiurges—“ in the boring old professor’s theology class, but the details escaped her.

Nevertheless, Cecily quite fancied this red-carpeted path and its knightly guardians.She thought it would be nice for a beautiful young lady like herself to always have an escort of a knight or two.Of course, since her father Judas disliked knights, Cecily had never had any assigned to her.

“At this rate, there’s no need for sneaking. Melody, follow my lead and walk.”

The act of walking.It was the most fundamental yet crucial action.A dignified noble must possess an elegant and graceful gait from their very first step.In that regard, Cecily was confident in her ability to walk as gracefully as an elegant cat.

Step-As Cecily began to walk elegantly on the red carpet, the giant knights’ eyes glowed blue. Their gaze felt appraising, as if grading her.Naturally, since Cecily’s gait was flawless and perfect, Grand Duke Nebula’s knights were secretly impressed.

What an extraordinary guest after so long. We should guide her to the Noble’s Gate.

Among otherworldly territories, ‘Steg Maia’, the most splendid and luxurious domain, was a principality with a rigid class system.The Demiurge Nebula was a being who greatly enjoyed categorizing things into various ranks.

At last, Cecily arrived before the ‘Noble’s Gate’.It was a large, majestic gate painted red, which she found quite appealing.She turned around and called out:

“Melody! Hurry up!”

“I-I don’t think I can do it!”

Having lived in the forest all her life, Melody didn’t know how to walk elegantly. Even as a human, she had been just a country farmer’s daughter.As she hesitated, a yellow-armored knight addressed Cecily.

『Those who enter through the Noble’s Gate may bring one maid or servant. Would you like to do so? However, they must use the ‘Servant’s Gate’.』

The knight pointed to another gate with the tip of his heavy gauntlet.That gate looked old, shabby, and potentially malodorous.Cecily disliked the idea of Melody using such a gate, but it was clear that without this option, they would be completely separated.

“Very well.”

As Cecily nodded, the knights lowered their swords from the path. Only then could Melody, who was still trembling, cross the red carpet.Overjoyed, Melody hugged Cecily tightly.

“Cecily, that’s amazing! You really crossed the ‘Path of Glory’! Now we can enter ‘Steg Maia’, Grand Duke Nebula’s territory! I’ll see you later then!”

Whoosh-Melody passed through the ‘Servant’s Gate’.Cecily stepped through the ‘Noble’s Gate’.Though slightly displeased about being separated from Melody, as the huge gate opened with a Groooan-, Cecily’s mind went blank at the sight in front of her.

“How magnificent!”

Before Cecily’s eyes was a city crafted from purple, yellow, and varying types of beautiful hues.Rather than a city, it resembled more the concept of a ‘castle’ or ‘palace’ on a grand scale. It was truly a ballroom made for young ladies like Cecily.Cecily felt this majestic and grand place suited her perfectly.

“I never knew such a place existed in the world!”

What moved Cecily’s heart most was the appearance of people strolling on the balconies and streets. They all looked like elegant princesses, nobles, and knights, exuding dignity.

“Is this a new guest?”“For such a small child to cross the Path of Glory. How extraordinary.”“What an adorable child.”

The apparent residents of this huge palace took interest in Cecily. She grasped her skirt and greeted them politely, as was her custom.

“Greetings, residents of Steg Maia. I am Cecily Bar Judas, or Cecily von Regdoll. It is an honor to be invited to this wonderful place.”

As she spoke, Cecily glanced around. She wondered if her grandmother, Lady Leone, known as the lady of ladies in this country, might be here.

Whoosh-Suddenly, someone approached Cecily’s side.It was Melody.

“Cecily! This place is really amazing! Melody has never been anywhere so wonderful before! It’s incredible! It’s full of princesses and knights! It’s just like a fairy tale!”

Melody was elated by this marvelous place. She felt like a princess in a dream country. However, seeing Melody’s behavior, the surrounding people became greatly agitated.

“How dare a servant show such disrespect towards their master!”“If we don’t teach her a lesson, there will be no discipline!”

As various people murmured, a man approached Cecily and placed something in her hand - a leather whip.

“Little miss, the residents of Steg Maia must know how to control their servants. If you let your servant act as they please, you cannot become a good master. Come now, teach her a lesson.”

“Teach her a lesson? You mean hit her with this?”

Cecily was taken aback as she looked at the whip in her hand. Melody was not her servant, but her friend. How could she whip her?As Cecily hesitated, the man spoke firmly,

“This is the territory of Grand Duke Nebula, the Demiurge of domination and sovereignty. If you do not follow her will, you cannot be invited as a guest. Come now, do it!”

At the man’s words, Cecily finally looked at her surroundings again. In this wonderful place, there were not only elegant nobles, but also many shabby people.They wore dirty clothes, and some were being whipped and mocked.

“This can’t be!”

Cecily was greatly shocked.This place was not just a wonderful paradise after all!

“Come now, do it. If you cannot, then you are not qualified to be a resident of Steg Maia. You too will fall and become a ‘servant’.”

The man in the bowler hat pressed Cecily further.As Cecily’s pupils darted back and forth, Melody spoke,

“Cecily, no, Miss Cecily! Please hit me!”

Melody knew that Cecily had come here to meet her grandmother.If Cecily became a servant here, everything would be for naught.So Melody thought it would be alright for Cecily to whip her. Just like how Cecily had thrown stones at Melody in the past.

“I can’t! This is not what a noble does!”

But in the end, Cecily refused to swing the whip.Whipping a friend she had just reunited with was far from Cecily’s idea of nobility.

“Oh my, Nebula have mercy!”“That little miss has rejected Lord Nebula’s rules!”“…This is a big problem.”

The onlookers took a deep breath.At the same time, flames Whoosh- burst forth from the top floor of the tallest spire in this territory of domination, ‘Steg Maia’.

“Who dares to not follow my, Nebula’s, rules? How laughable for one who cannot follow the rules to speak of nobility!”

# # #

Swish-I reconstructed the magic circle drawn on the floor.It seemed to be connected to ‘Steg Maia’, the territory of the Demiurge Nebula.I didn’t really know what ‘Steg Maia’ was or what kind of being Nebula was.But Cariote seemed to have heard of it before.

“My mother used to say sometimes. Those who polish their honor, glory, and dignity can go to ‘Steg Maia’, the nobles’ heaven, when they die.”

‘Steg Maia’.The nobles’ heaven, huh.I couldn’t imagine what kind of place it would be.Would it be as strange as my territory, the “Abyss Land”?

As I pondered how peculiar it sounded, Cariote continued while gathering more equipment:

“She said that originally, the status and system of ‘nobility’ was something that imitated what came from Demiurge Nebula’s territory. According to myth, Nebula is said to be an especially arrogant and picky goddess.”

“I’m entering now.”

Swish-I pushed my body through the dimensional gate.Cariote followed suit.Soon, a strange space similar to the universe appeared before us. It was a path with a red carpet stretched out amidst a purple void with tiny twinkling stars.Around it, knights, who seemed to be the Demiurge’s minions, stood guard with huge swords. They noticed me and all pointed their swords while shouting:

『This is the Path of Glory leading to Lord Nebula’s territory!』『The master of another world cannot set foot here without permission!』

I see.This must be how it usually goes.

Click-I saw Cariote pull out an arrow from her waist.I blocked Cariote’s elbow with my hand.

“Stop. We didn’t come here to wage war. If we fight here Cariote, the problem will become more complicated than you can imagine.”

I grabbed Cariote’s waist.Then I lightly concealed our appearance with darkness.

『Where did they go!』『Seal the gate!』

Groooan-After embracing Cariote, I ran towards the huge gate that was starting to close. Though the red-carpeted path was long, I was able to break through quickly.Soon, I was able to enter ‘Steg Maia’, the territory of another Demiurge. It was a city based on purple and yellow colors.Or more precisely, rather than a city, it looked like one huge palace.If you built a majestic castle and kept expanding and expanding and expanding it, wouldn’t it become a city with this kind of feeling?

“What an interesting place.”

Hiss- Hiss- Hiss-The darkness wrapped around my body was dissipating.It seemed that in another being’s territory, Demiurges couldn’t exert as much power as usual.

“What is this? Some kind of stain-.”“Thieves? They look like black-haired thieves!”“Oh my, thieves in the Palace of Domination! Guards! Guards!”

Were we already discovered?Since this was my first experience with something like this, I decided to run away for now. Fortunately, there were many winding and complex structures, so it wasn’t difficult to hide.

“Cariote, even demon hunters have some talent for disguise, right?”

“Judas, you don’t mean—“

Probably what Cariote was thinking and what I was thinking were the same. They say married couples start to think alike.I kidnapped a noble couple walking nearby to a secluded spot and stole their clothes.With this, we became the perfect resident couple of this ‘Steg Maia’.We should look like nobles no matter how you look at us.

“…My chest is tight. This thing called a corset…”

Cariote was breathing heavily as if the uncomfortable clothes were stifling. It certainly felt too tight for us, but there was nothing we could do about it.

“Look at those people. Don’t their gaits seem a bit off?”“Yeah, they don’t look like nobles.”

Even if we disguised our clothes, could we not properly disguise our mannerisms? As we walked around the streets trying to find traces of Cecily, people’s gazes kept focusing on us.

“The woman’s gait is completely off.”“Are they even really a couple to begin with?”

“Cariote, try a bit harder. People are getting suspicious.”

I whispered quietly to Cariote.Then, Cariote grumbled quietly, “…What do you expect me to do!” But then, as if she thought of something, she cleared her throat Ahem- and shouted,

“…How dare you whisper while looking at people. Such incredibly rude behavior…! Quickly bow your heads before me, Garcia von Regdoll, as an apology…!”

…Who is she imitating?Cecily?As I was impressed by how similar they sounded, the surrounding people were also impressed. They soon crowded around Cariote and made a commotion.

“Madam, I apologize for our rudeness. Are you perhaps attending the ball being held at the Grand Duke’s spire during the nobles’ time today?”“You must attend! I hear today is the day Lord Nebula chooses her 25th husband! I wonder what kind of wonderful man will become Lord Nebula’s husband this time?”“There’s also the punishment ceremony for that ill-mannered little miss, right? Has it been about 10 years in Samsara world time since the last punishment ceremony? It should be quite a sight to see, hohoho!”

What? What did they just say?I was quite taken aback by the incredible information I just heard.Cariote also seemed surprised as she quietly said to me,

“Judas, did you hear what they just said? Did I hear it wrong?”

“I was really surprised too. Her 25th husband…!?”

To already have 24 husbands and still wanting to increase the number. It seems this Grand Duke Nebula was an even more incredible being than I thought.Is that the level you have to reach when you become a Demiurge?

“No, not that!”