In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities

Leonardo's face brightened in an instant, and he led Michael to the window with a mix of nervous energy and excitement. There, an easel covered in a white cloth awaited. The surrounding area was cluttered with painting supplies, hinting at his recent activity.

"I... I painted a portrait for you, my lord! May I present this as a sacred offering for the Krazus Mausoleum?"

His voice brimmed with pride, and his trembling hands gripped the cloth tightly. Before even seeing the painting, Michael let out a weary sigh. He had a sinking feeling about what it might be.

When Leonardo dramatically pulled off the cloth, the painting was revealed. The brushstrokes were exquisite, and the colors vibrant. However, the content of the painting left Michael utterly speechless.

In the painting, Michael stood tall, surrounded by a radiant halo, almost like a deity. At his feet knelt Leonardo and other demons, gazing up at him with awe. Some even clasped their hands in prayerful reverence. The painting was, without a doubt, masterfully crafted and breathtakingly beautiful—but it was entirely over the top.

After a long moment of heavy silence, Michael finally spoke, struggling to find the words.

"Isn't this... a bit much?"

Leonardo's shoulders slumped, his expression falling like that of a child scolded by a parent.

"You're right, of course. My skills must fall far short of your discerning taste, my lord. How could someone as unrefined as I dare to present such an unworthy piece to you?"

Michael quickly raised a hand to calm him, knowing that if he didn't defuse the situation, their plans could be derailed. Speaking in a composed voice, he offered a plausible excuse.

"It's not that. The mausoleum isn't finished yet, and this painting seems a bit small to display across an entire mausoleum, don't you think?"

The mausoleum Michael referred to was a residence being constructed in his domain for himself and the demons under his command. Living within the castle had proven impractical due to their peculiar appearance and behavior. Instead, he had decided it was better to create a world of their own on a vast plot of land.

Mages specializing in ice magic, who had returned to the territory, were tasked with building a crypt for the mausoleum. Officially, the crypt was intended to honor the ancestors of House Crassus. In truth, however, its real purpose was to house the corpses Alfred had collected, giving them new life within the newly built structure.

Hearing Michael's explanation, Leonardo's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. Clenching his fists, he exclaimed passionately.

"As expected, only you, my lord, truly understand me! Do not worry. This is merely the first act in a series. I'm planning a total of twelve paintings, each telling a connected story. When completed, the legacy of House Crassus will be immortalized!"

Michael massaged his temples, resigned to the situation. But what choice did he have? A desperate man digs the well he needs.

"Just... don't overdo it," he muttered.

Leonardo, utterly unfazed by Michael's exasperation, became even more animated.

"I promise you, my lord! One day, the Crassus estate will become a holy sanctuary!"

After much back and forth, Michael finally managed to obtain the communication device he needed. Leaving the room amidst Leonardo's fervent farewells, he tilted his head in puzzlement.

"Strangely enough... every time I hear Leonardo's bizarre praises, I feel stronger."

Was there some effect to his peculiar style of encouragement?

Elsewhere, Dominic, immersed in his work, found himself startled by the sudden appearance of smoke rising from the black crystal orb on his desk. White spirals of smoke swirled within the orb, which soon began to emit a hypnotic glow.

"This was given to me by that demon, Leonardo... How did he say to use it again?"

Scratching his head, Dominic tried to recall the instructions. After a moment, he let out a deep sigh and whispered toward the orb.

"I respond to the great and glorious Michael, who is deserving of all reverence."

The words had barely left his lips when his face flushed with embarrassment.

Even the first time he'd heard the activation phrase, he had found it unbearably cringeworthy. A father praising his son like this? No matter how remarkable the son, it was still humiliating.

Dominic sighed again, thinking back to the moment Leonardo had first handed him the orb. After hearing the instructions, he had shaken his head in dismay and quietly pleaded.

"Leonardo, I appreciate your loyalty to my son, but couldn't you make this activation phrase a little less... embarrassing? Maybe something simpler, like a name?"

He remembered vividly how Leonardo's eerie eyes had seemed to pierce into him at the suggestion, sending a chill down his spine.

"He looked ready to cut my throat if I refused," Dominic thought, running a hand over his neck.

It wasn't fear that had made him comply—no one avoids a mad dog because they're scared; they avoid it because it's trouble. At least, that's what he told himself.

At the utterance of the activation phrase, the swirling smoke in the orb cleared, and Michael's voice emerged.

"Father, this is Michael. I'm contacting you with an urgent request."

Hearing his son's voice after a long time, Dominic smiled warmly and nodded. His son had achieved extraordinary feats—repelling the Pamir Empire's invasion, arranging a marriage alliance with a princess, and now even planning to overthrow the empire's emperor. Returning early to the estate to handle administrative tasks no longer felt like a waste.

"Oh, it's you. How have you been? Is everything settled where you are?"

Through the orb, Michael nodded, reassured by his father's robust tone.

"Yes, everything is taken care of. I've devised a plan. Do you remember the lake in the Argo Mountains within our domain?"

Dominic thought for a moment. He recalled the massive lake, a valuable source of iron ore for the estate.

"Yes, I know it. Recently, we even used mages to reclaim some of the surrounding swampland."

"Do you think there's enough there to construct something and then destroy it?"