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197 Sugita Masami Azuma Perspective 1/2; The Prosperous Empire and the Lurking Darkness

Ten years ago, I was chosen as the new Empress, my mother was a strong woman who always led her army whenever the Thanatos Kingdom or other small Kingdoms threatened us. Because the royal family favors females over males to take the throne, when my mother died protecting our home, I didn\'t have enough time to grieve for her death as I was chosen as the new Empress…

Long after, I met my husband. From a distinguished Noble family of Crow Valkyries, Kimura Yoishi Kuro. He\'s an intelligent and cunning man, however, his heart wasn\'t deviant, as he used his intelligence and cunningness to help me manage the Empire and maintain the peace between the Noble families. Although the Imperial Family is superior, the Nobles still hold some power and I don\'t want to intimidate them if possible.

Kimura is a nice man with me, he treats me fairly, and he\'s modestly handsome as well. Although I don\'t truly love him, I have given my body to him several times, however, it takes ages for us Phoenix to lay a single egg, so a son will take his time. Thankfully, Kimura is a patient man and very affectionate of me nonetheless.

Recently, there have been constant reports from the faraway Kingdom of Athetosea, the Kingdom founded by Merchants. These reports state several monsters and demi-humans lurking around leisurely. I was intrigued about this as I sent more of my spies, only to heard their notice some days later, about all of them dying or disappearing without leaving a trace.

This is… worrying. Although it\'s normal for spies to be captured and killed some times, it has never happened such an occasion were every single spy disappeared or died without leaving a trace or even a last message…

Whatever is lurking in Athetosea, it must be extremely wary of external influences and eyes, and its quickly disposing of anything that could disturb whatever plans it has.

Even the Maki family has stopped communicating with us, one of our most trustful spies, a family that we set specifically to spy on Athetosea hundred of years in the past. If we somehow lose these people to the hands of the beings lurking in Athetosea, an incredible asset that we have been building for so long will be completely destroyed, and one of our trump cards for the conquest of Athetosea will be lost. Forcing us to start from zero once again.

Sigh…

On my melancholy over this, Kimura comforted me with his wide black wings as we had a passionate and warm night.

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Thanks to my husband\'s network and support, we have somehow managed to get a peek of what was going in Athetosea after so long. The Nobles have started sudden disputes that are becoming worse and worse. Without a previous warning, a skirmish happened inside of the Kingdom between a Noble named Alice Lomanie and a group of soldiers belonging to Nanako Maki and other Nobles.

The result was a terrible loss, whatever Alice Lomanie contracted, these demi-humans were incredibly strong, devastating everything…

Before we could continue gathering information through my husband\'s amazing spies, they were suddenly found out and taken down one by one. The only one who was a Crow Valkyrie somehow managed to escape. He reported that Dhampirs accompanied by strange Red Slimes were the ones who hunted down everyone.

Even if this spy was strong, he wasn\'t able to fight off the Dhampir at all, as it showcased incredible techniques and skills that quickly broke any common sense he had left. The Dhampirs used powerful skills that seemed to be from other monsters, alongside more than five types of element spells and body-boosting skills that increased its overall strength and speed.

To make things worse, the mysterious Red Slime was incredibly strong as well, and could easily heal any wound in the Dhampir, cast supporting spells, and even attack by itself, conjuring strong and devastating spells.

Sadly, the spy was not able to find anything about the culprit behind the annihilation of our spies or the sudden control of the Nobles but knew that Alice Lomanie was somehow related to this being. Although we wanted to exchange this information with whoever remained with sanity in Athetosea, it was incredibly hard as we weren\'t able to contact anyone, even the [Merchant Dimensional Shop] was being suddenly blocked from our contacts.

I suddenly felt incredible impotence over what we rightfully deserved being taken away from some random monster that appeared out of nowhere! Athetosea was a long-term plan for our conquest, and over generations, the Imperial Family has been planning on how to conquer it, even to the point of investing in a family of Dodomekis so they can infiltrate in that Kingdom for countless of generations to the point of gaining trust and a nobility status!

Such a rich Kingdom filled with amazing Merchant families, a vast treasury, and countless talented crafters, alchemists, and forgers… Athetosea would have been an incredible asset to our Empire, we would have even able to expand our influence through that other side of the continent and even set our goals to the nearby Kingdoms and Dungeons.

Once again, I am thrown to the sides, while silently waiting for the time that a spy somehow managed to survive and come back. Even when my husband comforts me with his passion, I can\'t help but feel a small hint of fear. Whatever is going on in Athetosea, it\'s something that we will most likely have to fight in the future…

If this creature continues to expand and expand its boundaries… Then, the whole Realm may possibly be devoured by its fangs.

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As I walked around my city, I interacted with my citizens, the people that work so hard to maintain this place where it is. I wholeheartedly thank them, and I always show my gratitude to each individual I see in the streets.

A small family of Kobolds passed by, the small kids running around, enjoying their youth. The moment they saw my presence, the family offered a bow and the kids stopped, admiring my intimidating figure.

I kneeled and patted their fluffy heads with my warm wings.

"There is no need to fear me, I am your Empress, and I work each day to ensure that your lives are safe… I am very grateful for your family for what it has done to help our Empire"

The beautiful Kobold children smiled as they admired the small show of fire that I improvised with my wings. The Kobold mother and father were amazed by the show and for my words.

"Thank you very much, Empress…"

"W-We don\'t deserve such a benevolent Empress… Please, keep ensuring the safety of our kin…!"

"I will… Thanks once again for being my citizens"

Although our past was filled with war and conquest, and most of the species in the Empire were introduced as slaves and such, my family worked hard to destroy these slaving laws and successfully made every species a rightful citizen of Azuma around seven hundred years ago…

Since then, everything has changed for the better, lives are more peaceful and we ensured the life of our citizens, protecting them with our strong military power, they worked hard for the Empire itself. Skillful artisans, masterful blacksmiths, amazing chefs, incredible tailors, outstanding alchemist… In Azuma Empire no one\'s talent is wasted, even one thinks that there is no talent in them, they will be educated in our schools for free and slowly learn a profession.

There are no poor people in Azuma, only those who don\'t want to work. Anyone else will always have food and a house as long as they have the intention to work. There will always be open jobs for anyone. There are no talentless people in Azuma, everyone has their worth!

This is the truth about Azuma Empire, and this is why we want to unify the continent, no, the Realm!

This is why I work hard every day, to see my people prosper, there is anything else that fills my heart with such happiness than seeing my people happy, well feed and having a house and their commodities.

I walked around the streets and wandered through some food stalls, tasting the amazing cuisine that our chefs have prepared, each time I am taken aback by such talented people. On the way, I went towards my favorite sweets stall as I bought twenty boxes of mochis, Dango, dried fruits, and other sweet delicacies.

As I came towards my house, I encountered my cousins, aunts, and grandmother alongside my husband and some of his family. Little Crows and Phoenix Valkyries played around, those were my husband\'s little brother and my little cousin.

"Hehe! Catch me! Catch me!"

"You are too fast Chinen! Phew… Oh! Aunt is here!"

The little Crow Valkyrie was a small boy with black wings and long hair, his name was Chinen, while my little cousin was a brilliant little girl named Amano.

Amano ran towards me as she flapped her tiny wings and managed to fly some centimeters over my arms. I embraced the adorable girl with my arms, releasing a comforting warm aura.

"Amano, how have you been behaving little princess?"

"Hehe… Amano is a very good girl! Aunt… Did you bring more sweets? I want mochi! Please!"

"Ooh… What a sharp little girl you are, how could you tell? You possess the smell of a kobold if you can detect sweets so easily, I even covered them in another bag!"

"Hehe! Amano can tell when aunt brings sweets, aunt always smells like Dango!"

"Oh! I guess its truth haha"

The little crow Valkyrie boy stood at my side with a respectful look while looking at the ground.

"Aren\'t you Chinen? I haven\'t seen you in a while, you have grown into a splendid little boy!"

Over my small praise that broke the ice between me and the small crow child, Chinen smiled as his black eyes sparkled.

"Aah…! T-Thanks Empress…"

"Don\'t call me Empress, Aunt is fine. We are family after all! Leave those formalities when we are outside of the home, now come here, I want to hug you as well"

I grabbed the little Chinen with my left arm as I had two adorable children in each of my arms, Chinen was blushing intensively but it just made him more adorable, what a wonderful little child this is.

Suddenly my grandmother finally realized I was here as she greeted me.

"Ooh! Sugita chan is here! Did you bring me my dried fruits?"

"Haha, grandmother you are as cheerful as ever!"

"Hm? It\'s really Sugita chan!" (Auntie)

"Sugita chan you have finally come back from your cave; you never leave the palace…" (Another Auntie)

"My wife, how are things going?" (Kimura, husband)

"Hello everyone. Things have been fine lately Kimura, although not many details in regards to Athetosea…"

While I talked with my husband, I slowly walked with the two precious children on my arms and left the bag with sweets with my wings over the small table. At this, my grandmother voraciously opened the bag and looked for her treasured dried fruits.

"Where they are? Oh! You brought so many! What a wonderful grandchild you are, Sugita chan"

"Hehe, those are your favorites, right? Oh, can someone call the maids for some tea?"

"Alright…"

One of my aunts quickly called some maids as they brought different types of teas over the table, while.

I sat at my husband\'s side as I enjoyed the tea and the sweets with my family.

"It is fine to relax, for now, you have been tiring yourself too much lately, let\'s enjoy the day with your family, Sugita"

"You are always so good with me, Kimura… Thanks… Here, I brought some sweets for you as well"

"Hm? Oh! Are those jelly-filled mochis?! S-Sugita, how did you know?"

"I am your wife your silly crow… Haha"

"Right… Thank you"

"You are sometimes so cunning but other times so dumb, I guess that\'s what I like about you"

"Sigh… Don\'t embarrass me in front of your family…"

My grandmother and aunties quickly laughed over my husband\'s flustered face as he gently ate his favorite jelly-filled mochi.

"Haha! He acts like a cunning old fox but Kimu chan always show this childish behavior when it comes to his mochis"

"Indeed, fufu"

"Hahaha…"

As we laughed and shared sweets, a warm and harmonious atmosphere slowly filled the scene. These beautiful moments were what really made everything worth it…

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