"So, to get this straight, you involved magical energies of unknown origin during your unholy weapon production, and this resulted in fully sentient soul constructs that will do your bidding." (So)

"That's kinda it." (I)

"And you didn't find any other solution but to dump them straight into this realm?!" (So)

"In my defense, I did all this to save Chiaki. I was also most of the time in panic mode. If I had any time to consider the ramifications of using mana in a creation process that my opponent utilized without a hitch, I would've done so, but back then I was rather on the 'whatever it costs' trail." (I)

"This is exactly the kind of thing I was talking about! You tend to lose focus, get swept away with your emotions, and act without thinking things through and considering the ramifications! At your power level, this is straight up irresponsible!" (So)

"So I should've ignored that Chiaki got abducted and instead thought about the ramifications? Sorry, but without going all out, I literally had no chance against Switchy. I mean, he beat me nonetheless, though..." (I)

"I don't intend to say that the life of my intimate would've outweighed whatever you were at risk of causing by going all out. However, a keen mind and objective judgment serve you well in any form of crisis. Let this be told to you by someone who existed through numerous calamities during different eons. It's always better to keep your wits together." (So)

Goddamnit, this goddess really enjoys acting all high and mighty. ...Yeah, I see what I did there. But even if her attitude is totally justified, it's also annoying.

"Fine, you win. I take it that you know your stuff. So will you help me now?" (I)

Maybe she could take them in as some kind of temple attendants. They should have some form of purpose, now that their former one got fulfilled with the end of the match with Switchy.

"No." (So)

"Ehm, what!?" (I)

"You heard me right. I'm saying no. I won't take care of this mess of yours." (So)

"But didn't you just say before that I shouldn't carry this kind of responsibility?" (I)

"Four mana demons are probably as small as it gets for you. Practice has to start somewhere. I mean, those are mere demons, so your failing won't have any undesirable consequences." (So)

In other words: Get your shit together. Well, thank you for nothing. Though that isn't quite right. She helped me just before with her advice.

"Fine, I'll see what I can do... Thank you, Soraja. You helped me a lot." (I)

"Pah. I wouldn't know what you're talking about." (So)

One big tsun, I tell you.

Well, let's go. I vanish out of the temple and start trying to figure out where exactly I had left my demon generals. In hindsight, I probably need a better system to determine the locations of particular individuals. Doing everything by feeling alone only gets me so far. At the very least, it would be nigh impossible to find someone without having marked them in some way.

However, fortunately, I still know where I brought them. Aside from this, my demon generals have very specific mana signatures that help me track them down by looking for those.

It takes only a moment for me to get there, as I became far more aware of the process. I feel how a part of me reaches through dimensions, manifesting in the zone at first as a formless piece of meat and from there growing ever more concrete. In mere moments, it transforms into the body I want to inhabit. An exact copy of my human form. As teleporting doesn't exist, since I only transfer my consciousness, but destroy all the rest.

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Once the connection is established, I'm there and start seeing through those eyes. I find myself on a short lawn, on top of a hill, where a slight trickle flows through and off a cliff.

When I turn around, I stare at a mansion with open walls, made that way to better see the scenery. Right at Damina, who is currently receiving a massage from one of the attendees, while one or two extra tentacles slip from this professional. Outside, Kroga sits in meditation, while Lajus takes a bath in the lake. Helfas, meanwhile, throws fire at the surrounding mountain range. Yep, we are here currently inside my spa estate. This is where I dumped them.

Damina is the first to notice my presence.

"Ieehp!" (D)

"Whomp"

"Master!" (D)

It's astonishing that someone would, without any hesitation, throw themselves from the stretcher to prostrate themselves on the ground. Yet her shout was apparently enough to garner the attention of the others. Lajus is with us at a moment's notice, kneeling as well.

Kroga, meanwhile, stood up but walks with a certain serenity. Helfas was quite far away, but he noticed nonetheless and rushes excitedly towards the gathering group. All of them start kneeling once they arrive, no matter how I try to keep them from doing so.

"You do know I don't give much about kneeling, don't you?" (I)

"This is only appropriate towards an unparalleled being." (D)

"Well, I hoped we'd be beyond that. In the first place, I came to thank you for your help back then. I know it would've been a lot harder without you lot." (I)

"There's no need for that, Master. We are glad to be your servants." (D)

"As are we!" (twin masseuses)

Right, they had this creepy simultaneous speech going for them.

"So, uh, how are you?" (I)

"Grateful that you mind our existence, Master!" (K)

Right. Total devotion.

"No, I meant, how is the general situation here? Are you alright? Is there anything you'd wish for?" (I)

"We don't require a reward, Master! Already this much is plenty." (L)

"Well, it's mostly about you not getting crazy here all by yourself." (I) . . . Oh my god, the time dilation!

"A-are you alright? Was it very bad?! Oh, I'm so sorry!" (I)

How many years did I leave them here, all by themselves?!!

"Master, what is wrong? Why are you troubling yourself like this?" (D)

Shouldn't they be aware? Why are they still in such a positively inclined state? Coming from what I know about them, it's a miracle they didn't kill each other.

"I'm talking about all the time I left you here!" (I)

"I'm not quite sure what you mean, Master. It has only been one day since you brought us into this wonderful place." (D) . . . Huh!?

"Would you allow us to elaborate, Lady Iori?" (twin masseuses)

They seem to know something. I would be stupid to ignore this.

"Okay... What is going on here?" (I)

"The estate is a tranquil place. Dedicated to offering perfect comfort for all of its residents. Therefore, time doesn't apply here as in the outer world. Instead, the residents spend exactly as long here as they wish to. A moment of peace can become an eternity, and likewise, if you're looking forward to something else, you may only spend a moment until the defined time arrives." (twin masseuses)

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! That means any vacation in this place is going to be exactly as long as I want it to be? I could only have a weekend and spend in the meantime here months of vacation? Yet in this case it was rather that they were basically frozen in time, until they can be useful again.

Is a time prison evil? I'm not quite sure. But it was like this because they want it to be so. Because they'd grow terribly bored if they had to spend so many years waiting for me. But is this really alright? At the very least, I should ask them.

"Okay, I didn't know this. Ahem, do you all understand what this means? I want to confirm this." (I)

"Of course, my dark lady. It's a simple enough concept." (D)

"I don't!!!" (H)

"Hsss! Imbecile!" (D)

"There's no need for anger. Helfas, this place has its own rules for how time progresses. Even if I spend hundreds of years outside, if you want it so, it will only be a second here. So I want to confirm with you all if this is okay with you. Outside of this place, time will be running very differently for me." (I)

"If this is your wish, Master, of course we agree." (K)

It would be a rather clean solution to my problem. I don't need to take care of them and they can't complain either about neglect, because they don't perceive the passing time. Yet nonetheless, I kinda feel bad.

"Why would this arrangement be a problem to us, Master?" (L)

"I just want to fight again for you as soon as possible, Master!" (Helfas)

They seem content, but I'm conflicted. It would kinda be like freezing them, only pulling them out of the box when I need some helpers. Said like this, it sounds kinda exploitative.

"I mean, the fight is over. I wouldn't quite know what kind of task I could give you now. It's not like I have anything going that would require your abilities. But nonetheless, it feels a bit unfair to me. You helped me out. And this is what you get for it?" (I)

Silence comes over our group. Nobody speaks up. Yet at some point, it's Lajus who makes the first step.

"Master, I don't wish to talk up against you, but I think I speak for all of us if I say that we align with this arrangement." (L)

"You do?" (I)

"Lajus is right, my dark Lady. Serving you is our greatest reward. And you not only gave us this, but even made it possible that our time till we can do so again won't become too long. There is nothing to complain about." (D)

"It's an honor, Master." (K)

"So we can fight for you soon again!" (H)

Well, if that's alright. Who am I to tell them what they're supposed to want?

"Alright. Then I will call for you if I ever need your help again. Are you fine with this?" (I)

"We are!" (D/K/L/H)

Okay, that was loud and clear.

"Alright. Then thank you and till next time." (I)

Well, now that this is done, I can focus on something else. How about this cult operating in my fake name?

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