After signing the contracts, we parted ways with Howkins and Meira to allow them to get healed and were on our way to see Mika.
"You still have to be careful with that Meira girl Ares, I sensed some unusual energy from her during your combat with her," Silvia informed me, but she abruptly paused to attend to her secretary, who had just arrived to discuss some paperwork.
Irethiel spoke telepathically after hearing Silvia.
"I think I don't need to explain where her other form comes from, right?"
"Of course, I know what that form was and where it came from," I told Irethiel.
Meira's transformation was similar to Tania's Pheonix form, as they are both '<strong>The Chosen Ones</strong>.'
The chosen ones are those who have been chosen by the constellations and can employ some of their powers.
However, employing constellation abilities is not as simple as it sounds, because the said person must first completely comprehend their constellation powers in order to use them appropriately.
Otherwise, they will lose control of themselves and, in the worst-case scenario, may even go insane.
But if they can comprehend the power bestowed upon them, I won't have to describe how powerful they will become.
For instance, Tania and Mika were evenly matched at the outset of their battle, but Tania was able to overpower Mika by activating her Pheonix Transformation, which she achieved by using her constellation power.
But even Tania, an SS-Rank adventurer, is unable to completely comprehend her powers.
It was also the cause of Tania's losing control, which led to her almost killing Mika despite her seeming victory.
Nevertheless, she managed to quickly regain her composure while interacting with me.
But if Tania, who is already powerful, could comprehend and use her entire power...she might become powerful enough and even surpass the Ascended beings.
However, the chosen ones are scarce, and not many people are aware of them, at least for the time being.
Of course, I'll be encountering many of them in the near future.
And the only chosen ones I've met so far are Ivica Livingstone, Tania Elizabeth, and Meira Ulafina.
Hence despite being an Ascended being, Mika who is not 'The Chosen One' was overwhelmed by Tania's last attack.
And the power difference between her and Tania will only widen over time.
So, I don't see Mika overcoming Tania anytime soon in order to retaliate against her.
But it will be a different story if she becomes the chosen one, as Tania is, which I'm not sure is feasible because I have never read about Mika becoming a Chosen one in the novel.
And knowing Mika's personality, I don't think she will give up until she defeats Tania.
"...."
'What a dilemma!' I really feel bad for Her.
But the future may alter as well, so I can only hope for the best for her.
Nevertheless, I secured a Chosen One to serve as my slave and I'm not sure what Meira's constellation thinks of her current circumstances.
I grinned as I thought that, but I quickly shook my head and stopped thinking about it because I already have my hands full dealing with demon lords and churches, and I don't want to end up being a constellation's enemy-,
"Oh well, I suppose it's already too late to worry about that, as I already challenged them by making their avatar, my slave," I muttered aloud.
"...."
"Huh? Are you thinking about that right now? knowing how cunning you are, I thought you already planned to bottle her Constellation into your schemes as well," Irethiel remarked telepathically.
"Well, I have some plans for that as well. Instead of squandering her life in the gladiatorial games, I offered Meira a chance to spend her life appropriately, and I am even assisting her in gaining her Vengeance," I said and paused my explanation.
"So, where are you getting with this? You assisting her is one thing; making her your slave is quite another." Irethiel questioned as she still couldn't understand what Ares was thinking.
"Oh, I mistook you for an observant demon, guess I was incorrect Huh,"
"Hmm?" Irethiel expressed himself in a perplexed tone.
"Didn't you notice the snake tattoo near her right eye that emerged during her transformation?" I added.
"Huh! what about it-
she paused in mid-sentence with a flash of insight,
Don't tell me you want to perhaps become a serpent bearer," Irethiel stated.
"...."
I'm not sure what she meant, but I disregarded her as I can't explain her in detail, and I don't think Meira's constellation can harm me for the time being because I already signed the slave contract with Meira.
Silvia concluded her talk with her secretary and approached me as I was thinking to myself.
And I told her about Howkins' family situation and asked her to take care of it.
"All right, I'll take care of it," she agreed, looking at her secretary, who nodded and began scanning her phone for the information.
"So, Ares, what are you going to do with him?" Silvia inquired.
"I intend to make him an adventurer, and he will form his own party of high-ranking adventurers; perhaps we can employ them in the future?" I replied.
"If that's what you want, don't worry, I'll sponsor him and his future party," Silvia remarked with a smile.
"I appreciate it," I said, smiling back.
"So then, what are you going to do with that Meira?" Silvia was curious.
"She already has something to do for the time being, and after she finishes her job, I decided to make her into my personal maid," I stated and Silvia just nodded her head unbothered.
Because, as soon as Meira is released from the hospital, she will embark on a path of vengeance, and I have no intention of assisting her, nor do I believe she will appreciate my assistance as she will want to take care of it herself.
I'll merely send her in the direction of where she can find the culprit of her family's murder because I can't provide her specific details due to my limitations.
So, I'll just be pointing the way for her, and I don't care even if she ends up massacring the entire community to get the murder suspect.
"You want to turn a chosen one into your maid?" Irethiel inquired telepathically.
"Don't you think it's preferable to be my maid instead of a slave? Would you also like to serve as my maid?" I spoke out excitedly.
"...."
"I'll have to at least admit that you have a lot of courage, having connections to a vampire, a demon, and now a chosen person.
Do you have the balls of steel? Where are you getting your confidence from, anyway? You're still not strong enough to handle all of these problems.
And don't expect your schemes to always work; there are many people as cunning as you in this world, and when you fight them, your schemes won't work as well, and only your strength will matter." Irethiel issued a warning hearing my arrogant response.
***
Having heard Irethiel and Ares's telepathic conversation, Silvia had an awkward smile on her face as well, because she finds Irethiel's words to be accurate.
She couldn't deny that Ares accepting her despite knowing she was a vampire made her happy, but Ares is still not strong enough to deal with all of these challenges and hearing their conversation she just understood that Meira is a chosen one.
So she was anxious about how Ares would handle all of these challenges, But as she looked worriedly at Ares, she noticed his unfazed attitude, as if he could handle any crisis that arose.
'Ahh, as expected of my prince, he will stand bravely against them even if the entire world is against him.' she thought to herself in reverie.
It's as if he's surrounded by adversaries and still continues to stand alone and fearlessly in between them...
she started to fantasize about Ares's fearless gaze in this whole situation, but Ares next statement jolted her awake.
"Well, what's the worst that could happen? I shall either die in the process or, if I survive, I will be even stronger than before, and by the way, I am not alone in this; you are also involved in this with me." Ares stated telepathically to Irethiel.
"...."
After hearing Ares, Irethiel was dumbfounded, while Silvia who sneakily heard their conversation firmly declared,
"No matter what the future brings for you, Ares, I will always be by your side."
A broad smile appeared on Ares' face as he heard Silvia's firm response.
"Yeah, I still have some insane people who will stand by me in any situation," he admits.
Ares snapped out of his thoughts, as they approached the facility where Mika is being healed.
***************