Published: January 4, 2026
Morning.
I woke up and was being helped by Audrey and the maids to change out of my pajamas.
First, Audrey took off my pajamas.
The morning sunlight poured in through the window, illuminating my well-toned, muscular body.
They wiped my body and rubbed in some fragrance.
As usual, I hardly moved at all and left my preparations to Audrey and the maids.
"Noah-sama?"
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
"Are you troubled by something?"
"...How do you know?"
"Your face doesn't look as well as usual."
"You pay close attention."
"Because it's your face, Noah-sama."
Audrey smiled gently, her cheeks slightly flushed as she answered.
I was used to hearing words like this, but hearing them from my wife didn't feel bad.
"You're right. I'm concerned about the Apophis that Your Majesty bestowed upon me."
"That snake staff?"
"Yeah."
I nodded.
Since Audrey also knew about Leviathan and the others, I skipped the preliminaries and told her exactly what was bothering me.
"It still hasn't submitted to me. Today, I intend to make it do so."
"I see. Is it okay for you to watch that?"
"Wanna see?"
"Yes."
Audrey nodded.
Admiration and pleading showed clearly on her face.
"I've heard about your divine artifacts, Noah-sama, but I've never seen the moment they submit to you."
"Ah, now that you mention it..."
I recalled.
Leviathan.
Bahamut Luthier.
Fuwawa.
Behemoth.
All of these were from before I actually met Audrey.
Back when I was still in the city.
"I see... good."
"Thank you!"
Audrey looked extremely happy.
Before long, I finished getting dressed and we moved to the great dining hall, where I had breakfast served by a cheerful Audrey.
After that, I took Audrey and the maids out to the garden.
In front of the garden pavilion, I had had Apophis brought out in its box beforehand.
I approached and opened the box.
I took the staff shaped like a snake and held it up in front of me.
"Obey."
Then, a mental response came back.
It was an indescribable mental message.
"Is this really okay, Noah-sama?"
"No problem. It's just that it underestimates me a little."
"Underestimates?"
"It said if it were to submit, I should defeat it. It said a child being controlled by someone like you couldn't do that."
"What rudeness!"
Audrey's eyebrows furrowed and she got angry as if it were about herself.
I looked at the staff — Apophis.
Though it said that so clearly, what came through from Apophis was "just a child who had been tossed around by triple Ss."
The prime minister prince had been dismissed, and my power had returned to normal.
That's why it looked down on me.
On the other hand, this made things quicker.
"So I just have to defeat you, right?"
I spoke to Apophis again.
The reply came back with mockery mixed in but also a clear "yes."
"Good. Then I'll lend you this."
I said that, put Apophis back into the box, then took off the armor ring and placed it inside along with the staff.
The next moment, Apophis transformed.
Linking with the armor ring, it changed into a huge serpent.
The giant snake swallowed the staff whole and opened its mouth big enough to easily swallow a human.
"Come, snot-nosed brat."
It spoke brokenly to threaten me, opening its mouth wide and flickering its tongue.
"Alright."
I drew Leviathan and slashed at it.
The demonic sword's azure light slash was deflected by Apophis's scales.
"Tough!"
Apophis looked pleased for a moment, then bit at me.
I kicked off the ground and stepped back.
Apophis attacked again.
The snake's long body undulated as it charged, circling around me and then squeezing tight.
I held Leviathan horizontally.
The constriction was halted by Leviathan.
I dropped Leviathan, jumped on the spot, and escaped the snake's grip.
"Shrink."
After escaping, I shrank Leviathan.
It becomes a strength contest if extended, but shrinking causes no problem.
Leviathan shrunk to the size of a needle fell to the ground.
The squeeze missed, and the snake coiled briefly before extending and coming at me again.
I dodged, retrieved Leviathan, and restored it to its original size.
"You're weak. I can't cut you."
The snake said that, flicking its tongue and laughing mockingly.