The Dark Rebirth of Pandora: Revenge of the Abyss

Chapter 606: Request for War

”...So Elena, you want me to go over there? Itʼs kind of a tense situation for me right now... h-hahaha, I was just training some soldiers.” Calypso asks me from where sheʼs sitting in the chair across from the desk in the office.

”Yes, thatʼs right. Freya and Aokitsu are busy, and I obviously canʼt go. The people I sent need support. Donʼt worry, Iʼll handle what you were working on, so Iʼm sending you—” Before I finish speaking, the door opens.

”...” Calypso and I look toward the door as Lycoris hops in, followed by Aqua and a girl who, from what Iʼve been told, is named Olivia.

”Hey, Elena! Iʼll make this quick. Lycoris and I want to go to the war against the elves. And weʼre taking her with us.” Aqua says, bold as ever.

”...?” I think over what they said. Pandora wasnʼt very clear about what I shouldnʼt let her daughters do. So if they want to go to war now that theyʼre of age, I canʼt exactly stop them.

”I trust you two can handle yourselves. But what about this girl?”

”Sheʼs my little bitch. Donʼt worry, Iʼll take care of her. Bark, Olivia.”

”Woof, woof.” Olivia obeys with a delighted look in her eyes, and I spot the collar around her neck.

ʼRight... sheʼs definitely one of Pandoraʼs daughters...ʼ I just sigh at the scene.

”Actually, this works out. Calypso here is being sent to the war against the elves. Things have started escalating, and they need leaders. Aqua, how would you like to take charge? Your grades... let me see.” I pick up a paper.

ʼTheyʼre very good... though... good grades donʼt necessarily mean sheʼll do well in war.ʼ I look over Aquaʼs academy scores. Even though sheʼs in second place behind Eclipsya most of the time, sheʼs also taken first a few times.

”Your grades are excellent, no doubt about it. Especially your practicals. Plus, your training with Amiya has shown great results—youʼre at the point where you can use your powers much more effectively now.”

”As for Lycoris... do you really want to go? Your grades are good, but...” I stare at Lycoris. Sheʼs the one Pandora imposes the most rules on. Because Pandora knows sheʼs her most troublesome daughter.

”I do! I want to be there! I want to help Aqua, and protect her, and explore the world!” Lycoris says, wagging her tail, while Olivia just stays quiet beside them.

”...If you want to go, I canʼt stop you. But this girl here—sheʼs pretty weak. Her grades range from bad to average. Most of the time, theyʼre right in the middle. I wonʼt be giving her any protection. Sheʼll be your responsibility. Understood?”

”Yeah, we expected that, Elena. We already talked to Oliviaʼs parents, and they gave permission. Iʼll protect my naughty little bitch here.” Aqua says with an arrogant grin.

”Alright then. Youʼre going to war. Go to your rooms and get whatever you need. Iʼll also arrange some things to help you out.” As soon as I say that, the three of them dash for the door, excited.

”Calypso, keep an eye on them. And even though Iʼm putting them in charge of some things, make sure you review everything. Take note of their actions too. Iʼll send some of the kingdomʼs strategists to oversee their decisions.”

”And above all, donʼt let any of them die. You can let them get hurt, but if they die, Pandora will kill you when she returns.”

”T-Thatʼs a lot of responsibility...” Calypso starts sweating. Sheʼs not exactly good at handling ”teenagers,” and now, instead of just going to war, she has to babysit Pandoraʼs daughters full-time.

”It is a lot of responsibility, especially with those two. But luckily for you, Lycoris has excellent regeneration, along with equally good defense and attack because sheʼs a half-dragon. So youʼll need to pay more attention to Aqua—her regeneration is much weaker.”

”By the way, Lycoris has been training with Mikael recently. Sheʼs got a tutor whoʼs really making her much stronger. To the point where Lycoris is already twice as strong as I was back in the day.” Sheʼs almost as strong as me now.

And Iʼve evolved thanks to Pandora—I had an insane power jump. So Lycoris is monstrously powerful. In another year or two, sheʼll have way more power than I have now.

”If you say so, Elena. Youʼre kind of the boss here. But... um... do I get something out of this?” She asks hopefully.

”Yes, yes, youʼll be rewarded. But before we get into that, could you go get Mikael? Heʼs somewhere in the castle. I want to let him know his disciple is going to war, but that he needs to stay here. If he goes, there wonʼt be anything left for Lycoris and Aqua to do.”

”And strange as it sounds, itʼs better to let them both risk their lives and step in to save them only if things go too far.” Itʼs the same with Pandora. Her training always put her life at risk—thatʼs what made her so powerful.

”Fine!! Iʼm going, then.” Calypso heads for the door while I pick up the paperwork with the collected information on Olivia.

ʼHer parents are ordinary, nothing special. Average grades. Weak practical magic. Good potential as a succubus... hmmm...ʼ A succubus quite skilled in that area.

”Poor girl...” Being a succubus with Pandoraʼs daughters as friends is complicated. Pandoraʼs race is quite lustful, so Iʼm not worried about this girl trying to seduce the princesses. Itʼs far more likely sheʼll end up as their personal slut than anything romantic.

ʼAnd it seems like thatʼs already started.ʼ The fact that Aqua treats her like a leashed pet and she obeys with a smile makes it clear who seduced whom in that friendship.

”Haaa... Pandora... she hasnʼt touched me in so long...” Because of the mark of ownership Pandora carved onto my stomach, I canʼt be with anyone. But I canʼt forget the pleasure Pandora gave me. I miss her touch so badly.

”I wonder if Pandoraʼs daughters mark others too...” I lift my shirt, looking at the mark on my stomach. If I tried to sleep with someone, Pandora would know and punish me. So she really has made my life difficult, but thatʼs fine. I accept it.

...

...

...

”I told you it would work, Lycoris!” I say cockily to Lycoris while packing our bags. Olivia already has hers ready, so itʼs just us two.

”Yeah! Elena actually let us go. I thought sheʼd forbid it for safety!” Lycoris says, delighted. This will be the first time weʼve left the kingdom to travel to another realm, so weʼre both really excited.

Plus, for the first time in our lives, we can ignore civility and do whatever we want. Iʼve been practically bursting with the urge to do just that.

”And you, little bitch. Are you happy?”

”Y-Yes.” Olivia says timidly, and I get a little ”excited,” but I take a deep breath because nowʼs not the time to fuck Olivia. Sheʼs a sluttier bitch than she looks—she seems all prim and proper, but when sheʼs in bed, she shows just how much of a slut she really is.

”Well, since weʼre going to war, we should bring lots of stuff, Lycoris! Letʼs go to the treasury and grab some relics. Maybe weapons too? I donʼt know if thereʼs anything worth taking, but we should be prepared.”

ʼI should probably bring some things just in case...ʼ Me and Eclipsya have the lowest regenerative ability. Azazel easily has the most monstrous regeneration, and from what Iʼve found out, Lycorisʼs regeneration is more like Mom Pandoraʼs.

So I need some powerful healing artifacts to make sure I donʼt die in an emergency. And maybe some escape artifacts—even if running away is shameful, my life is worth more than pride. I can come back stronger and full of rage for revenge if I need to.

”Sister Aqua, what are you going to do to earn ʼpointsʼ with Mom Pandora?” Lycoris asks, still perfectly hiding the competition Mom Pandora set up.

”Iʼm still thinking about it.” Iʼm sure Momʼs competition is weird. She didnʼt clarify any rules or criteria. Which means I have no idea what Mom Pandora will consider ”points” to choose one of her daughters.

”Okay.” Lycoris finishes packing her bag while I stuff a few more extra clothes into mine. Sometimes my two ”little friends” down there tear through some of my clothes when I try too hard to hold them in.

”Alright, letʼs go—” I open the door and find Mom Delphina standing right in front of it.

”I heard everything.”

”...” I drop my bag, having completely forgotten that Mom Delphina didnʼt know.

”M-Mom... I... could you just let me go? I swear I wonʼt do anything stupid!! Besides, I need to make a name for myself! How can I make you and Mom Pandora proud if all I do is live in this kingdom without going after any real achievements?” I immediately start begging to leave.

”...Iʼll let you go. But if you fail, Iʼll punish you by taking away what matters most to you...” I follow her gaze to Lycoris.

ʼMy relationship with my sister...ʼ I lower my head.

”I-Iʼll do my best. Iʼll make you proud.” I bite my lip as I say this with my head down. I hadnʼt imagined such a harsh punishment.

ʼI canʼt fail. I canʼt fail. I canʼt fail. I canʼt fail. I canʼt fail. I canʼt fail. I canʼt fail. I canʼt fail. I canʼt fail. I canʼt fail. I canʼt fail.ʼ I donʼt want to lose Lycoris.

”You have the same look as Pandora.” She says, lifting my chin.

”Good luck, daughter.” She gives a little kiss to my forehead before stepping back. It calms me down. Thatʼs right—sheʼs not punishing me yet. Sheʼs just made it clear I canʼt fail.

”Thank you, Mom. I wonʼt fail.” I calm down a bit, giving her a confident smile.

”Good. I only came here for that. Donʼt forget—Iʼm your mother. You should have asked me first, not Elena.” She starts to leave, and I feel relieved she didnʼt stop me.