4,603A/N: 20cruz02 has done it again! This time, they created a chibi version of the cover art for the story! It turned out awesome! So please, go give them some love on DeviantArt!
It was night, and the group was seated at the large dining table in Alderp's villa. Multiple plates of Marbled Crab were laid out before them.
Megumin and Aqua were the first to dig in, table manners be damned. They seemed to have gotten rather comfortable in the corrupt noble's presence, which was also evident in the fact that Alderp himself was doing his best to ignore the two girls despite their ruffian-like behavior.
"M-Megumin, shouldn't you slow down a little? The servants are looking at us weirdly…"
Yunyun anxiously whispered to her fellow clansman.
"Shesh za weird Yunyun who arrived… Gulp! Late to the party! More please!"
Megumin slammed her hand on the table, causing the servants to rush into action as they were now fully aware of the little girl's appetite. She had to build up her strength before her next showdown!
"Bring out the wine! Make sure it's expensive stuff! Also, someone get a burner!"
Aqua shouted from the other side of the table while ripping the leg off a crab and stuffing it into her mouth.
One of the servants sent a nervous look to their employer, but Alderp simply nodded his head.
Naruto's eyebrow twitched as he strained a smile. He could understand why Alderp was anxious around Megumin, but why was he letting Aqua do as she pleased? Did she recently do something to scare the man as well?
"P-please excuse my comrades… Marbled Crab happens to be one of their favorite meals, and we don't have it that often."
Darkness apologized while bowing her head shamefully. She then snuck a glance at Naruto, her cheeks burning red when their eyes met and she quickly looked away.
The knight was reacting completely differently than what Naruto had been expecting. Rather than hound him down to either berate him or finish what she started, Darkness had been completely avoiding him the entire night.
For some reason, it left him feeling both relieved and a little frustrated at the same time.
"N-no, it's no trouble at all…"
Just then, Alderp glanced at the shinobi and their eyes met. But it was only for a second as the noble quickly averted his gaze.
'Why is that old man stealing glances like some shy maiden? Stop it. It's creepy.'
'Mine master… The corrupt noble is thinking-'
'Please don't tell me, Kiki. I really don't want to know.'
While it was unnerving to be under the watch of the sleazy man, Naruto felt his plan was one step closer to success.
"It is too bad the kitchen ran out of ingredients for ramen, Alexei-dono. But as per your request, I will make some more for tomorrow's lunch."
"I would appreciate that, Uzumaki-dono. But while we're on the subject, there is a matter that I have been wanting to discuss with you for a while now. Care to walk with me?"
Alderp asked as he stood from his seat.
Naruto and Yunyun shared a look, both knowing this might be the opening they were waiting for.
"But of course, Alexei-dono. Lead the way."
"Eh~? Naruto still has to make up for… Hic! For abandoning me again in the city with that weird guy…!"
Aqua complained, her words slurring slightly. She was clearly already drunk.
"No, Naruto has to attend our scenic walk tonight so we can have the grandest Explosion Showdown of the century!"
Megumin shouted with her mouth full, causing pieces of crab meat to fly into Kazuma's face as he was sitting right next to her.
"Gross! Don't talk with your mouth full!"
The two proceeded to bicker, with Darkness apologizing to the servants for the mess.
"Haha… Alright, just give me a minute."
Naruto said with a chuckle as he stood up. But just as he was about to follow after Alderp, Darkness grabbed onto his sleeve.
Her cheeks were flushed, but her eyes were steady. It was obvious Darkness was still against Naruto's plan to take Alderp down, but there wasn't much she could do about it now. She could only trust that her friend wouldn't do anything reckless.
Despite his own embarrassment, Naruto flashed the Crusader a grin before walking off. It was time to put his plan into action!
First, he would somehow get Alderp to willingly let him in his room. Then, he would find some incriminating information on the corrupt noble to use to get Morrigan back.
In the event the conversation was cut short, Yunyun would pick a fight with Megumin to distract Alderp. Naruto would leave behind a Shadow Clone in the room for further investigation.
If all went well, he might even be able to prove how corrupt the man was to the authorities.
–As Naruto walked alongside Alderp, the noble began to tell stories about the history of his family. They were obviously exaggerated, but the ninja nodded along while occasionally sounding impressed.
"...and so we come to my generation. Until now, my family was but a humble noble family. But through my leadership, I have grown our wealth to rival, and even surpass that of the Dustiness family! It's because of me that all of the destruction left behind those attacks was properly funded for reconstruction."
"That is quite amazing, Alexei-dono. No wonder your lands have become quite prosperous over the last few months."
Naruto knew the real reason Alderp's land had become prosperous. With the defeat of numerous Demon King Army Generals, as well as the Destroyer, Axel had an abundance of wealth coming into its economy.
Luna had informed him that nobles liked to inflate their own egos by taking the credit for the work that commoners did, but it was best to just go along with it to get on their good side.
"While your family history is quite fascinating, what did you want to discuss, Alexei-dono?"
Naruto asked as they stopped at a pair of large doors at the end of the hall: Alderp's master bedroom.
"Why, business, of course. I just wanted our location to be a bit more… Comfortable."
The nobleman flashed a toothy grin as his guards opened the doors, and he gestured for the shinobi to enter.
Naruto's lips twitched, but he bit down on his tongue to hold back his smirk. This was going a lot better than he'd hoped!
'Mine master… That man is planning something!'
Kiki's fur was standing on end, and she growled at the noble. It was strange. She could sense ill-intentions, and yet his mind was filled with nothing but images of the dreams he'd had the night before.
Alderp's face grew troubled, and he waved his hand towards the Kitsune as if to shoo her away.
"I think it would be best if your… pet remained outside of my chambers."
"I understand, Alexei-dono. Kiki, stay here for a bit, okay?"
Naruto instructed with a reassuring smile.
'But… This one cannot guarantee mine master's safety from out here…'
Kiki seemed reluctant, but Naruto patted the fox on the head affectionately.
'Don't worry. I still have Kurama to back me up if I need it. But can you keep any noise from escaping the room like you did last night?'
Kiki made no objection, so Naruto nodded and stepped inside. The doors closed behind him, leaving the worried Kitsune behind as she discreetly activated her magic.
Alderp's room was large and very well kept. Lavish tapestries of beautiful women adorned the walls, each one woven with fine golden threads.
'Could he be any more obvious?'
Naruto heard rumors that the man had numerous ex-wives. The illustrated women looked eerily similar to Darkness, with long blonde hair and striking blue eyes. Alderp certainly had a type.
A massive bed sat at the center of the room, draped in luxurious silk and velvet, with plump pillows embroidered with intricate designs. Ornate furniture made from polished wood filled the space, each piece carefully arranged to showcase the noble's wealth.
It was very similar to the rooms back in Axel, but on a much grander scale.
Alderp walked past his bed and sat at a wooden table beside a pair of glass-paneled doors leading to the balcony. He opened a bottle of wine that was set out in advance and gestured for Naruto to join him as he poured two glasses.
'Hey, Kurama. Can you sense the devil?'
Naruto asked as he took his seat. There didn't appear to be any other door in the room, other than
'I can sense a presence coming from those bookshelves, but it's weak.'
A hidden entryway? It probably led to another basement where Morrigan was being kept.
Naruto grinned to himself before walking over to the books.
"This is an impressive collection, Alexei-dono."
"Yes, quite… That happens to be my personal collection."
Although the man appeared calm, his eyes reflected a hint of anxiety as Naruto browsed through the covers. When the shinobi reached the center shelf, he coughed into his hand.
"Why don't you join me, Naruto-dono? We have much to discuss, and I'd hate to keep you from joining your comrade for that… Showdown of yours."
Alderp said and gestured towards the seat in front of him.
"Ah, yes, of course. My apologies."
Naruto replied and made his way towards the table, all while stifling his growing amusement. There was definitely a hidden path in that center bookshelf.
'I still don't get why you don't want to just ransack the place.'
Kurama grunted in mild annoyance. All of this tiptoeing was beginning to drag.
'I already told you, Kurama. I don't want to take any chances. Not while Alderp still has his demon to influence others.'
That being said, now that they knew there was likely a secret entrance behind the bookshelves, Naruto could sneak in during tomorrow night's dinner and be in and out before Alderp could even notice.
But that begged the question… where was the demon hiding?
Naruto decided he just needed to get through this conversation.
"I may be presumptuous, Alexei-dono. But could this conversation be about my ramen recipe?"
"Perhaps. But first, I must inquire… What is your relationship with Lady Dustiness?"
Alderp asked as he slowly nudged one of the glasses towards the shinobi.
"Oh, umm… We are comrades who have fought many battles together. Did I not properly explain our relationship at the banquet?"
Slightly taken aback from the sudden question, Naruto chuckled awkwardly as he accepted the drink.
"Oh, my dear… There is no need to play these games with me. I know your little secret."
Alderp leaned back in his chair and smirked as he idly swished the wine in his cup.
Naruto blinked.
So that's where this was going.
"What are you talking about, Alexei-dono? What secret could I possibly be hiding? Surely you can not be suggesting that Lady Dustiness and I are having relations…"
"Hah! Still, you try to play these games… No, I do not think you and Lalatina are involved. At least, not in that way. For you see, I know all about the magic of the Kitsune. I know not why you are using its power to disguise yourself, but it matters not to me."
The nobleman leaned forward, his gut pushing against the table as his eyes bore into the shinobi's.
"Your true name is Naruko Ford Dustiness, isn't it?"
"..."
This time, Naruto was genuinely surprised and his jaw nearly dropped. Alderp thought he was related to Darkness? For real?
But he had to be extra careful with his expressions and opted to remain quiet.
"Yes… Your silence confirms it. I don't know whether you're half siblings, or cousins, but you must be a Dustiness. Why else would Lalatina act so familiar with no named adventurers? She's making sure her family is well… Those bleeding hearts will be their downfall."
Alderp stood up from his seat and walked around the table, taking little sips of his wine as he went.
"It would certainly explain why a powerful man with blonde hair and blue eyes appeared out of nowhere. Are you Ignis's brat, or his sisters? Ah, I guess it doesn't matter."
"...What do you want?"
Naruto finally spoke when the man was fully behind him.
"Change into your natural form. I want to see the real you."
Alderp's tone was authoritative, if not triumphant.
It was almost too funny.
But Naruto wouldn't just give the man what he wanted. No, he needed to play the part a little more.
"If Lalatina hears of this-"
"What can Lalatina do when her family is indebted to me!? Do as I say!"
Alderp snapped, his free hand roughly gripping the back of the shinobi's chair.
…What? Darkness's family was in debt? What was this guy talking about?
"Oh? You look confused. Did Lalatina not share the family burden with you? Yes… That's right. The Dustiness family owes my family a great debt. For you see…"
Alderp went on to reveal the shocking truth.
The wall repairs, the crop fields that had been demolished when the Destroyer had passed through the countryside… There had been a lot more money involved than even the high target bounties could cover.
And the Dustiness family had taken on the brunt of the debt.
"Two-billion Eris… That is what I loaned them. After claiming all of their heirlooms and whatever valuables they were willing to part with, that left them with a little over one-billion Eris left. Oh, and the interest is… Dreadful. Hahaha!"
Alderp bellowed with laughter as Naruto's head swirled from the revelation.
This was the real reason Darkness had wanted him to stay away from Alderp, wasn't it?
Not to protect him from the corrupt noble. Naruto's growing reputation and increasing list of strong political allies was enough to keep the scumbag from targeting him or his friends.
No… Darkness was trying to protect him from her family's burden.
The sheer weight of such a looming debt had to be so painfully heavy, Naruto wanted to throw up just thinking about it.
They had struggled so much just to pay off two-hundred million Eris… How long would it take to pay off a billion?
"What's the matter, Naruko? Do you wish to help Lalatina? Well, you can start by transforming."
Alderp whispered into the shinobi's ear, who was too disoriented by the weight of the truth to give it much thought.
Naruto mindlessly raised his hands together and formed a hand sign. This resulted in his body becoming consumed in a plume of white smoke.
"Yes… Finally!"
Alderp cheered as the vapor cleared away, and a beautiful blonde woman now sat in the adventurer's seat.
'She must be so surprised, the poor thing... But of course she is, because they always were when I outsmart them.'
He knew to be careful of his thoughts when the brat's Kitsune was around, because their telepathy was common knowledge amongst the nobles.
Why wouldn't it be? If such a powerful ability was out there, a smart noble would arm themselves with as much knowledge on that creature as possible.
It was easy, too. All he had to do was fill his mind with fantasies when the Hero Candidate was around since the fox never seemed to leave his side.
Alderp's shaky hands etched ever closer to the woman's supple skin. But before he could touch her, she suddenly stood up and whirled around to face him.
"I will pay off Lalatina's debt."
Her fierce ocean-blue orbs seemed to glow in the candle-lit room as she stared at him defiantly.
'This feeling… Yes… It really is similar to when I look upon Lalatina…'
No, this feeling was even more powerful. Was the Succubus magic influencing him? Did those dreams truly awaken something within him?
'I will make this woman mine…!'
Alderp retracted his hands, clasping them behind his back. That had been close. But he must remain patient. He already had the Dustiness family backed into a corner.
If he played his cards right, he could have both Naruko and Lalatina serving him one day…
"Your determination is admirable, my dear. But pray tell, how do you intend to put together one-billion Eris on an adventurer's salary?"
Alderp didn't even bother trying to hide his sneer.
"Have you forgotten? I'm the Hero Candidate that has defeated multiple high target bounties! I'll have that debt paid off in no time!"
At this point, Naruto wasn't even acting anymore. While he kept up the appearance of Naruko, he was speaking from the heart of Naruto Uzumaki.
Darkness, the hopeless Crusader that had many flaws… Who knew she was such a kind person. He would support her with everything he had.
'I underestimated the world of nobles. Again.'
Naruto gritted his teeth when he heard a bout of laughter.
"You can try, my dear. But you see, I hold a contract with the Dustiness family. Should the head of the house fail to repay me, well… Let's just say I win this little game of cat and mouse that Lalatina has been playing with me all these years."
Alderp said in a cryptic tone, earning a strange look from the whiskered teen. He sounded so confident, like he was talking about a victory from the past.
"What… Does that even mean?"
Naruto asked, and the pudgy man took a few steps forward.
"It means… Time is not on your side. But if you truly wish to help Lalatina, spare her from her inevitable fate… We could strike a deal, you and I."
Alderp now stood behind the shinobi again, his hands gently falling onto the transformed teen's shoulders.
It took Naruto's whole being not to spin-kick the life out of the noble.
A sleazy smile etched its way onto Alderp's face as he spoke.
"You can earn the debt back… Take Lalatina's place, and serve me."
She would never go for it, of course. A woman with such a strong personality never did.
"I refuse."
There it was.
Alderp's sneer grew exponentially. Women were so predictable. But the strong ones always made the game so much more satisfying when he ineluctably won.
"I see. Then it seems we're at an impasse."
To Naruto's relief, the lecherous noble relinquished his hold and walked back over to their table and took a seat.
"What do adults do when they reach an impasse-"
Suddenly, a series of clinks sounded from behind the center bookshelf until the entire thing pushed forward and moved to the side.
Naruto's muscles tensed when he began to hear footsteps, with Alderp seemingly just as shocked.
But to the shinobi's further surprise, it was Morrigan who emerged from the darkness. Her eyes were glossy, like their light was threatening to simmer out at a moment's notice.
It was heartbreaking to see up close.
"...So, the rumors are true. You do keep beautiful women in your basement."
"...! N-no! Are people saying that about me!? I'll raise taxes again as retribution!"
Alderp barked in a fit of rage before coughing into his hand. He then centered his gaze on the newcomer.
"What are you doing, my dear? I did not summon you."
"It's about time for your nightly service, master. You told me not to be late again or there would be repercussions. As your humble servant, I did not dare wish to let you down."
Morrigan's voice was monotone, her head low as she spoke.
Naruto wanted nothing more than to just snatch his friend up and get the hell out of there.
'I guess that was a miscalculation on my part…'
Alderp thought as he poured himself another glass of wine when he noticed the somber look on his target's face. Now that Naruko knew about his secret entrance, he would have to adjust his plans.
"Our guest seems to be a little stressed. Why don't you use your services to help alleviate their fatigue?"
Might as well try to make the best of this surprise event. He could always resort to that.
Naruto deadpanned. Was he stupid? Did Alderp really think that would work on him? Not even Yunyun, as powerful as her magic was, could put him down with the Sleep spell.
Although, he could play along for a bit. If the man tried anything while he was "asleep", he could "accidently" form a Rasengan and-
"I'm afraid I cannot carry out this order, master."
Morrigan suddenly said.
Alderp paused. Was this lesser devil really disobeying him again!?
"W-why ever not, my dear?"
"My powers simply won't work on such a handsome individual."
Was the Succubus's response in that same robotic tone.
"What do you mean they won't work!? You use them on me all of the time! Also, why are you calling Naruko handsome!?"
Alderp's face was red with rage, but the pink haired woman simply bowed her head in apology.
"I am terribly sorry, but this humble servant will accept any form of punishment for being so incompetent. In fact, should you order me to use my body to help with their fatigue instead, I will gladly do it."
"Y-you should be offering ME that! I've been wondering for a while now, but are you actually under my control!? Get back down there this instant!"
Alderp was seething with anger by now, and he stormed back over to the bookshelves.
Naruto was watching the raging noble in amusement when Morrigan slipped a piece of paper into his hand. She offered the faintest hint of a smile before reverting back to her stoic mask as she returned to the hidden passage.
'Come to think of it, Ero-senin was mostly the same… Only his memories seemed to have been affected to make Alderp look like a good guy.'
Naruto thought when he glanced at the note before quickly tucking it into his back pocket.
'That lesser devil is quite the actress.'
Kurama agreed, and the shinobi couldn't hold back his smirk any longer.
Morrigan was a badass.
As soon as the bookshelf closed, Alderp let out a long sigh. That had been a complete blunder, but he would punish that useless woman later. Now he had to do that, else risk word of his secret passageway getting out. It was where he kept most of his documents, some of which containing deals and dirt he kept to hold over his fellow nobles.
"I do apologize, my dear. But it seems I'm going to have to erase your memories now."
"Interesting. How do you intend to do that, Alderp?"
Naruto replied with a grin, knowing exactly where this was headed.
Alderp's smug expression faltered for a moment before he composed himself, clearing his throat.
"No need to trouble you with the details."
"Oh, really? And you're certain it'll work? I've heard rumors about your 'methods', Lord Alderp."
Naruto, still grinning, feigned a look of surprise.
"It's… quite effective, I assure you."
Alderp's face reddened as he reached for something in his coat pocket, clearly unused to his schemes being questioned. Also, what was with the sudden change in attitude? Was this brat really looking down on him because of the blunder with that Succubus?
"Well, then, why don't we put it to the test? But just so you know, I'm more resilient than I look."
Naruto leaned forward, letting his eyes flash with a mischievous glint.
"V-very well…"
The noble brought forth a familiar looking device. It was round, green, and had various markings on its surface.
"...A Scroll Ball?"
Naruto cocked his head to the side. If Alderp couldn't put him to sleep, did he plan on sealing him?
"Is that what this magic item is called!? It doesn't even look like a scroll!"
Alderp's eyes bulged as he looked at the magic item. Maxwell had brought it home after he'd sent the creature out to do his bidding some time ago, but…
"Hey! I'll have you know I'm the co-creator of that item! Show some damn respect for the perfectly clever name!"
Naruto barked while pointing an accusing finger towards the older man.
"Oh, yes. I recall your comrade mentioning something like that… Bah! We're getting nowhere with this conversation! Maxwell! Your master calls you forth to do his bidding once more!"
Alderp dropped the Scroll Ball to the floor, and it burst open on impact. A thick, dark fog spilled out, filling the room with an ominous glow.
Despite all that had happened tonight, with the bombshell that was Darkness's family debt to Alderp, a feral grin sprawled on Naruto's face.
While Naruto had promised Darkness that he wouldn't do or say anything to provoke Alderp, all of that went out the window if it was self-defense.
'You ready, Kurama?'
'Indeed. I hope this devil can at least put up a decent fight like my comrade.'
Kurama replied with a matching smirk, and the shinobi's form burst to life with a golden energy.
The room became dense with power as Kurama's chakra hit the devil's aura like a tsunami, causing the fog to clear away instantaneously.
"Eh?"
Alderp blinked as his wig flew right off his balding head, numerous beads of sweat forming on his paling face. He'd heard the stories, but nothing could have prepared him for THIS.
"Just… What are you?"
"Haven't you heard?"
Naruto replied and canceled his Transformation Jutsu, revealing his natural body, a confident smirk crossing his face as Alderp's eyes further widened with shock.
"I'm Naruto Uzumaki, a ninja from Axel! The number one unpredictable Hero Candidate of Belzerg, and ally to the Dustiness family!"
The shinobi declared before his orange eyes fell on the individual who had fallen out of the Scroll Ball.
They appeared to be a man with ashen colored hair that fell past their shoulders. He was dressed in what was once a nice white suit, but it was disheveled and dirty. The devil's expression was neutral as he looked up at the shinobi from the ground.
'This is the demon that Alderp was contracted with?'
'Don't underestimate it just because it looks human, Naruto. While not as powerful as my comrade, this one is most likely an Arch Devil.'
Kurama's head manifested above Naruto's shoulder and glowered at their opposition, further adding to the noble's panic.
"E-eek! So it's true! Y-you do have a demon fox sealed inside of you!"
Alderp was beginning to full-on panic, but his crazed eyes fell on the demon that was currently just sitting on the floor in front of him. Anger boiled up inside his gut, and he started kicking the creature.
"W-what are you doing, Maxwell!? Protect your master!"
"Kee kee kee…!"
A strange crackling sound came out of the devil's mouth that almost sounded like laughter. But even while taking kick after kick, Maxwell's facial expression remained eerily neutral.
Naruto frowned. This master and servant situation was looking extremely toxic, but that wasn't really a surprise considering Alderp's track record. But the shinobi couldn't help but feel sorry for the pitiful demon.
"Hurry and get up, Maxwell! Use your powers to erase their memories! As your master, I command it!"
Alderp shouted while holding a dark object in the air and shaking it.
"Impossible, Alderp… Kee kee… I'm not that powerful."
Maxwell responded, and the kicking ceased as the nobleman froze in place.
Kurama's eyes narrowed on the object.
'That thing he's holding… Steal it, kid.'
'Hm? Oh, sure.'
Naruto replied and held his hand out.
Alderp's mind was swirling. This was the first time the creature had ever disobeyed an order. Not once had it told him he couldn't do something.
Just how powerful was that-
"Steal."
"Gah!"
Naruto's palm flashed, prompting the nobleman to grasp at his eyes.
"M-my eyes! How dare you try to blind a noble, you-wait. Where is it? Where is it!?"
Alderp squinted as he tried, and failed to locate the thing that he used to summon and control Maxwell. When his vision finally returned to normal, he found the adventurer inspecting the magic item incredulously.
"So, this is what you used to obtain the devil's power? Not gonna lie, I'm kinda disappointed this didn't turn into an actual fight…"
Naruto complained as he pulled out a small scroll from his pocket and sealed the magic item.
'H-how could this happen!? I had the upper hand! How did she-'
Alderp gnashed his teeth until he tasted blood.
But not all hope was lost. They couldn't prove anything. That dunderhead Maxwell would forget this night even happened the next morning.
"Alright, here's what we're gonna do."
Naruto extended his arm again, and a primal fear took over the noble.
"Guards! Guards! I'm under attack!"
Alderp started shouting towards the door hysterically.
"I had Kiki seal the noise in here, so the guards can't hear you. But don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you."
The shinobi assured with a neutral expression and flexed his outstretched arm, which brought forth an appendage made of pure energy.
"Hiiii…!"
Alderp ducked as the chakra limb flew over his head, but it didn't appear to be aiming for him as the claws latched onto one of the books.
'D-damn it! He's going for the notes!'
He'd severely underestimated Naruko. Or was it actually Naruto?
Bah! It didn't matter right now! He needed to do something or he'd be exposed!
The bookshelf slid to the side, revealing the hidden path once more. Morrigan stood at the opening, her head lowered to a bow.
"You called for my services, master?"
This time around, the Succubus seemed to be struggling to keep still. She squirmed in her maid's uniform while stealing occasional glances at the shinobi.
"Y-yes! Help me escape! You lesser devils have wings, don't you!? Get me out of here and I will make sure you live comfortably for two-no, for three lifetimes!"
Alderp all but begged the woman, but he would find no salvation in Morrigan as she didn't so much as look in his direction.
'I'm proud of her for not losing control this time around…'
Naruto thought with a bead of sweat rolling down his face. He then coughed into his hand before pointing towards the window.
"You are free to escape, my lady. Do not worry, I plan to bring this man to justice. He will pay for his crimes."
"Thank you, Naruto-sama. This humble servant will forever be in your debt."
Morrigan faced the shinobi, her eyes burning with passion as she took one step forward.
'She's definitely at her limit now.'
Kurama chortled before receding back into the seal, and Naruto's body reverted back to normal.
Both Morrigan and Alderp sighed as the pressure from the ninja's power disappeared.
Naruto moved over to the balcony and opened the swinging windows, allowing for the cool night breeze to spill inside the room.
"Best be off now, my lady. I'm sure your friends are waiting for you to return."
"Y-yes… Of course."
Morrigan walked up to the balcony, taking in the starlit sky. From this moment on, she was free again.
While being the "captive" of this corrupt noble had been unexpected, it wasn't all that bad. The most troublesome aspect of her time here was the fact that she'd been separated from her beloved master for far too long.
She intended to make up for lost time.
"I know you don't remember much for some reason, Maxwell-sama. But it was this lesser devil's honor to have been captured and manipulated by you for a day."
"A-a day!?"
Alderp balked, but he was further ignored by the Succubus as she turned back to face her true master.
'Is that really something to thank someone for?'
Naruto thought while scratching at his whisker marks awkwardly.
"I knew you would come for me…"
Morrigan said in a whisper as she stared into the shinobi's eyes.
"Of course… I'm sorry for not getting you out sooner. I promise to make it up to you. Whatever it takes."
Naruto offered with a sad smile.
Alderp watched the interaction while grinding his teeth together.
Why were those two getting along so well!? It was almost like…
Wait a second.
"…It was you, wasn't it?"
Ever since the break-in at his mansion in Axel, Alderp had been furiously trying to find out who the Chivalrous Thieves were to bring them down.
He knew they had to be connected to the Succubi. Why else would the fledgling go missing after they broke in?
It had made absolutely no sense that Jiraiya, a former Hero Candidate, failed to apprehend the thieves.
But now it all made sense. One of them had been Jiraiya's student.
'No wonder the overly obnoxious armor, Aegis, had been strangely silent upon my return…'
Naruto was the Succubi's master and had ordered them to investigate his mansion.
Naruto had joined the adventurer Kazuma to capture the thieves, knowing full well the boy wouldn't succeed.
Because Naruto WAS that very thief, and they were staying in HIS villa! It was almost too perfect, Alderp wanted to laugh.
But to top it all off, the Succubus had only been affected by Maxwell's magic for a day! She must have been feeding the thieves information somehow, or made him think he wanted to have all of those dreams about Naruko-
"You really aren't a woman, are you!?"
Alderp roared, startling the two.
"Of course not, stupid. I don't even know why you believed Kazuma in the first place. You're worse than he is, ya know? That's saying something."
Naruto replied with a deadpan expression.
"I wouldn't mind if Naruto-sama was a woman."
Morrigan slyly remarked, causing the ninja to nearly choke on his spit.
"...GRAAAAHHH! YOU WON'T TAKE ME ALIVE!"
Alderp took off running towards the door, but he was cut off by the shinobi who appeared in front of him in an instant.
But the noble didn't give up. He turned around and nearly dove down the hidden staircase.
Naruto let out a tired sigh. This was really starting to drag on. At this point, it would be better just to call the others here. But first, he needed to get Morrgian out of here.
"Is there a secret escape route down there or something?"
"No. It's just a basement down there. Other than the important documents I mentioned on the note I gave Naruto-sama earlier, there's not much down there."
Morrigan replied with a shrug.
"I guess I'll go get him. What a troublesome fellow…"
Naruto complained and started walking towards the stairway, but not before smiling at his Succubus friend.
"I'm really glad you're okay, though. I'll definitely make it up to you. Whatever you want, you name it."
"Is that so…? Well then, I would like-"
Morrigan leaned over to Naruto and whispered something into his ear.
"I-I guess that's only fair…"
Naruto's face instantly steamed up, and he quickly turned away. But that was when he noticed Maxwell.
The Arch Devil was just sitting on the floor, a wide grin plastered on his face as he stared at the hidden passageway.
…Creepy.
"So, what should we do with him?"
"I think it would be best to take Maxwell-sama to Vanir-sama. I can do that right away!"
Morrigan eagerly offered with sparkles in her eyes. This would be ideal as she could receive praise from both Naruto and Vanir in the same night!
"Oh yeah, you did say that fellow was a Duke of Hell. I guess that could work. Thank you Morrigan."
Naruto replied before tapping his chin. That being said, it would probably be really inconvenient for her to fly while carrying that guy…
The shinobi then noticed the Scroll Ball on the floor. It seemed Alderp had dropped it in his haste to try and escape.
"Sorry, Mr. Duke of Hell. But my friend is gonna take you to a comrade of yours."
Naruto said as he picked up the Scroll Ball and made his way over to the Arch Devil.
"Alderp… is suffering. Kee kee kee… It will all go up in flames."
Maxwell muttered while making that same strange noise that resembled a dry laugh, his eyes never leaving the stairway.
'Is this guy alright in the head…?'
Shaking his own head, Naruto dropped the magic item on the demon's shoulder when a strange smell hit his nose.
Was that… Smoke?
Naruto's eyes widened, and he whirled around to see a light flickering inside the dark tunnel.
"Damn it! He's burning all the evidence! Go, Morrigan! Before the others come to investigate!"
Tossing the Scroll Ball that now contained Maxwell over to Morrigan, the shinobi flew down the stairs with haste.
'Good luck, master… I'll see you soon.'
With one last longing look at the secret entrance, Morrigan's wings sprung out from her back and she took off into the night.
When Naruto arrived at the foot of the long stairway, he was met with a horrific scene. Alderp stood in the center of a ring of flames, a triumphant, arrogant grin plastered across his face.
"H-hah! Now you have nothing to take me down, you brat! You lose!"
The noble shouted over the roaring flames that were steadily growing, their heat intensifying. He may have lost all of the documents that allowed him to extort other noble families, but those could always be rewritten.
Corruption, after all, had a way of enduring.
Naruto cursed under his breath, feeling the tension rise as he tapped into Kurama's chakra. His form flared with the familiar golden hue as he thrust both arms forward, chakra limbs extending from his hands and enveloping the flames like a blanket. He concentrated, pushing the limbs outward until the roaring fire smothered under his control, leaving only wisps of smoke drifting into the air.
"Y-you think snuffing out a few flames changes anything? Those documents are gone. The evidence is ashes."
Alderp sneered as the ninja advanced.
Naruto didn't respond immediately. Instead, he created a Shadow Clone to stand by the stairs. He then moved through the scorched debris himself, his eyes narrowed in frustration as he sifted through the charred remnants for any surviving paper or clue.
But it was no use. Everything valuable, every piece of evidence, had been reduced to ash.
"You think this is over just because you burned a few papers, Alderp? The people you've hurt, the families you've blackmailed. They'll talk. They'll have their own evidence against you. You're not as untouchable as you think."
Naruto's fists clenched, but he forced himself to take a steady breath. He had to remain calm, now more than ever.
"T-they'll never find a single witness. You think anyone will testify against someone as powerful as me?"
Alderp took a step back, his smugness faltering.
"Your corruption won't stay hidden forever."
Naruto's chakra flared, filling the room with a surge of energy as he stepped towards the noble.
"And I'll make sure your power crumbles, one way or another."
"...!"
Alderp backed away further, his confidence now visibly shaken. But even as his back hit the wall, he forced a shaky smirk on his face.
"Y-you won't hurt me… I know you hero types. All that nonsense about morals and justice. You can't lay a hand on me without breaking your own precious code."
Alderp stammered, his smugness fading into a wary grin.
Naruto's expression remained calm, but his eyes gleamed with a challenging light. The evidence was gone, but so was Maxwell. Which meant Alderp had no way of cheating the system anymore.
"You're right. I'm not gonna beat you up. That'd be way too easy."
"Then why don't you run along, hero? Without evidence, you have no case, no way to take me down. And as for that little one-billion Eris debt the Dustiness family owes me… well, unless you really plan to pay it off yourself, I suggest you quit while you're ahead."
Alderp regained some of his composure, crossing his arms as if he'd gained the upper hand again.
"Funny you should mention that. How about we make this interesting?"
Naruto's gaze was unwavering, which unsettled the older man.
"...What are you getting at?"
Alderp's eyes narrowed suspiciously, and Naruto Naruto leaned in while folding his own arms.
"I'll make you a bet. I'll gather the one billion Eris to clear that debt in a week. If I do it, you'll back off from Darkness's family for good."
"And if you don't manage it?"
Alderp snorted, clearly amused.
"Then I walk away. You keep your money, and I won't interfere again. But if I win, you leave Darkness and her family alone. No more debt, no more blackmail, no more of your sleazy games."
Naruto stated with a shrug.
Alderp chuckled, his confidence resurfacing. One billion Eris in a week? The boy either had to be crazy, or desperate to think he could pull that off. With the Death Curse Maxwell had placed on Ignis, the fool would probably be dead before the end of the week. His victory was assured.
"I accept."
"Good. Better get ready, Alderp. You're about to see what a 'hero type' can really do."
Naruto extended his hand, sealing the bet with a handshake.
As Alderp's grip tightened, his grin widened.
Naruto had a week to pull off the impossible… and he wouldn't rest until he'd won.
A/N: After reading the mixed feedback in the last couple chapters, I will admit that this arc has been going on a little longer than I had initially planned for. But I feel like everyone has been in character, and it's still been fun to write these interactions.
The most consistent negative feedback that I've been seeing is that Naruto is either acting immature or not properly utilizing his skill sets. But the way I see it, it's been over 100 chapters since Naruto has come to KonoSuba. He's grown attached to a bunch of people with wacky personalities.
In fact, during the war arc in the Naruto manga, Tobirama flat out called Naruto a dumbass. So let's face it, our boy's a goof and he was bound to join the insanity at some point. Lol
As for why Naruto hasn't tried to sneak into Alderp's room, it was stated in the last chapter that Alderp has been spending most of his time in his room. Couple that with the fact that it's only day two at the villa… Not a lot of opportunity there.
Anyways, this was mostly aimed at my guest readers who I cannot directly respond to. I would like to stress that this A/N is not me trying to pick a fight. I genuinely appreciate ANY feedback as it helps me reflect on how I can write better chapters. :)
Thank you for coming to my TED Talk, and I hope you all enjoyed the chapter.
Spirit out.