An Extra's Rise in an Eroge-Chapter 193: Grandparents

As Arthur stepped into the chamber, his eyes widened at the sheer luxury surrounding him.

The polished marble floor gleamed under the warm glow of enchanted crystal chandeliers. Massive pillars with gold inlays stood tall, and the royal crest was displayed proudly across banners hanging from the ceiling. It was the very definition of wealth and power.

Before he could take in more, he was suddenly pulled into a tight embrace.

"Oh, my sweet boy… You’ve grown so much."

That voice…

Soft yet firm, filled with affection

Arthur stiffened for a moment before realizing who it was. Helena Hestia, his maternal grandmother.

"Look at you," she said, pulling back slightly, her piercing green eyes scanning him with both warmth and nostalgia. "You’ve turned into a fine young man."

Arthur took a step back and finally got a good look at her after so many years.

And damn—she had definitely aged well.

Despite being a grandmother, Helena Hestia was a certified milf, no question about it. Her body was fit and well-maintained, with curves that most noblewomen half her age would kill for. Her bust was… generous, to say the least, and the way her form-fitting gown hugged her figure made it clear that time had been extremely kind to her. Her red hair, vibrant and silky, cascaded down her back, complementing her striking emerald eyes. A few fine lines on her face hinted at her maturity, but rather than diminishing her appeal, they only made her look even more refined.

Arthur couldn’t help but glance at his grandfather.

And that’s when it really hit him.

Regulus Hestia—the Emperor—looked like a battle-hardened war veteran well past his prime, while his wife looked like she was still in her late thirties at most. The contrast was almost comical.

Damn.

The Emperor was a man of culture.

Arthur quickly straightened his expression before he got caught staring.

Before he could say anything, a deep, authoritative voice filled the chamber.

"Hmph. I read the reports about what you did at the Royal Museum incident."

Sitting on his ornate chair, the man radiated power. His sharp golden eyes studied Arthur carefully, and though his once-fiery red hair was streaked with silver, his presence was as strong as ever. His body, though aged, still carried the unmistakable build of a warrior, a man who had seen countless battles.

After a moment of silence, he gave a small nod.

"You did well, Arthur."

Arthur blinked. He hadn’t expected immediate praise from the Emperor himself.

Regulus then turned his gaze to Lucious, nodding in approval.

"You have raised a fine son, Lucious."

Before Lucious could respond, Iliyana smirked and crossed her arms.

"Hey, I’m the one who gave birth to him, you know."

Helena chuckled beside her. "Not without him, dear."

New novel chapters are published on freewёbn૦νeɭ.com.

Arthur stared at them, momentarily thrown off.

Wait… is this really the Emperor?

He had expected a cold, strict ruler—not someone casually making jokes.

Lucious, on the other hand, remained composed and formal. "I greet the Emperor and the Empress."

Elona followed, her voice graceful. "I greet the Emperor and Empress as well."

Regulus let out a low chuckle.

"Calm down. We’re in private; no need for such formalities." He leaned back in his chair, smirking. "You may address me as father-in-law."

Helena, smiling warmly, stepped forward and pulled Elona into a gentle hug.

"And you too, Elona," she said, her voice soft. "Relax. You are family."

She pulled back slightly, still holding Elona’s hands. "Tell me, how is Countess Whitmore?"

Arthur observed the interaction with a raised brow. This entire situation was turning out much different from what he had imagined. The Emperor, a man known across the empire for his ruthless decisiveness, was cracking jokes, and his grandmother—who looked like she belonged at a noblewoman’s ball rather than a royal court—was warmly chatting with Elona.

Elona, still getting used to the casual atmosphere, composed herself and answered, "Mother is doing well. She wanted to visit the capital, but you know how she is—always busy managing affairs at the Whitmore estate."

Helena sighed dramatically, "That woman never slows down. I should visit her soon."

The atmosphere slowly settled into a warm, familiar comfort as everyone took their seats around the lavishly decorated sitting area. A long table filled with refreshments sat between them, the soft clinking of tea being poured filling the room.

Arthur found himself seated between Iliyana and Elona, with Lucious sitting calmly across from him. The Emperor and Empress occupied the grand chairs at the head of the arrangement, their presence undeniable despite the casual setting.

"You really have grown," Helena said, looking at Arthur with a mix of pride and nostalgia. "Last time I saw you, you were just a tiny thing, clinging to Iliyana’s dress. And now, look at you—so handsome."

Arthur chuckled. "Well, I was five. It’d be a problem if I hadn’t grown since then."

Helena laughed, playfully flicking his forehead. "Still as cheeky as ever."

Regulus, who had been mostly quiet until now, let out a low chuckle. "If anything, that trait seems to have gotten worse."

Lucious smirked. "You have no idea."

Arthur rolled his eyes at the collective amusement at his expense. He was about to fire back when Regulus suddenly straightened in his chair, the humor in his eyes vanishing.

The air in the room shifted instantly.

"Arthur."

Arthur tensed.

"I received reports that during the Royal Museum incident, you wielded the Demonic Sword."

The room fell into silence.

The cheerful atmosphere from earlier was gone, replaced by something far heavier.

"What?" Iliyana’s voice trembled slightly, her eyes widening in alarm. "He held the demonic sword?"

Arthur sighed internally. Here we go.

"Calm down, Mom. As you can see, I’m perfectly fine." He gestured toward himself, as if to prove the point.

"And that’s exactly what’s concerning," Regulus interjected, his sharp golden eyes narrowing slightly. "You should have gone insane by now—completely possessed by the demonic sword."

Arthur opened his mouth to respond, but Iliyana quickly cut in before he could.

"What do you mean, Father?" she asked, her voice tense. "My son being okay is concerning?"

Regulus sighed, rubbing his temple. "Iliyana, don’t twist my words. What I mean is—this isn’t normal. That sword has been sealed for centuries for a reason. No mortal has wielded it without losing themselves to its corruption."

Iliyana frowned. "But still—"

Before she could argue further, Lucious finally spoke up, his deep voice cutting through the tension.

"Let the person involved explain everything himself."

At that, all eyes turned to Arthur.

Helena’s voice was softer but laced with concern. "Arthur, dear, no mortal can wield that sword without succumbing to its corruption. How… are you still yourself?"

Arthur hesitated, his mind racing. He couldn’t exactly tell them the truth—that the divinity of seven primordial goddesses within him had completely wiped out the demonic soul of the sword and was now making it serve Sol, his ever-dominant celestial companion.

That kind of revelation would cause more questions than answers.

But he had to give them something.

A thought crossed his mind. Instead of explaining, he’d show them. Read new adventures at novelbuddy

Raising his hand, he summoned the Abyssal Fang from his inventory.

A dark aura flickered for a brief moment as the sword materialized, its pitch-black blade absorbing the light around it. The very sight of the weapon sent a wave of unease through the room.

"Arthur! Put that down!" Iliyana’s voice was sharp with panic. She instinctively reached for him, but Arthur held his ground.

"Arthur, are you insane? Drop that thing!" Elona added, rising from her seat, her eyes filled with fear.

But amidst the alarm, two figures remained calm.

Regulus and Lucious.

Their eyes were locked onto the sword, their expressions unreadable.

Regulus took a step forward, studying the weapon in Arthur’s grip. His brows furrowed. "There’s… no demonic energy coming from it."

Lucious narrowed his eyes, nodding. "That’s impossible. If this really is the Abyssal Fang, it should be radiating enough malice to make even high-ranked knights tremble."

Arthur held back a smirk. Of course, it wouldn’t emit any demonic energy. That part of it was wiped out when the demonic soul tried to take over my body... and now she’s currently serving Sol.

—

Inside Arthur’s Sea of Consciousness

On an opulent bed, a breathtaking woman reclined, her voluptuous figure draped in sheer silk that barely concealed anything. Sol’s eyes were locked onto the scene playing out in the real world. A playful smirk tugged at her lips as she observed through Arthur’s perspective.

Meanwhile, at the foot of the bed, a tiny figure begrudgingly massaged Sol’s bare, supple legs.

A petite girl, no older than ten in appearance, pouted as she kneaded Sol’s soft skin with her small hands. Her dark, messy hair framed her youthful face, her crimson eyes flickering with resentment.

"Hmph! This is humiliating…" she grumbled under her breath.

Sol let out a satisfied sigh, stretching slightly. "What’s that, little one? You’re speaking as if you have a choice."

The girl scowled, pressing harder into Sol’s legs.

Sol arched a brow. "Pathetic. Have you even eaten today? Put some strength into it!"

The loli’s face burned red with frustration, but she didn’t dare disobey.

—

Back in the Royal Chamber

The tense atmosphere slowly began to ease as the moments passed. When the women in the room realized that the sword wasn’t reacting in any way, their initial panic dulled into cautious curiosity.

Iliyana, still wary, looked from the sword to Arthur. "You’re really not feeling anything?"

Arthur shrugged, twirling the blade effortlessly. "Nope. It’s just a sword now. Feels like any other high-grade weapon."

Elona, arms still crossed, frowned. "That doesn’t make sense… That thing should be oozing corruption, even in a dormant state."

Regulus remained quiet for a long moment before finally speaking. "And yet… it isn’t."

Lucious, ever the pragmatist, glanced at Arthur. "What’s your theory?"

Arthur exhaled, keeping his expression neutral. "If I had to guess? The sword was sealed for a thousand years. That’s a long time, even for cursed weapons. Maybe, over time, its demonic energy simply… depleted."

Regulus tapped his fingers against the armrest of his chair, his gaze thoughtful. "Possible. But still unlikely. Even the most degraded artifacts retain a fraction of their original malice."

Iliyana, though still shaken, finally let out a relieved breath. "Well… if it’s harmless now, that’s all that matters."

Regulus gave Arthur a long look before leaning back. "For now, we’ll accept that explanation. But that sword needs to be thoroughly examined first."