Generic Isekai Harem #5725

“Lord, who would you fancy today?”

The self-proclaimed “lord”, not holding any sort of official title, leaned back on his chair, fashioned with the makings of a makeshift throne, just as elaborate as it was a vain attempt at playing at glory this man would never possess.

A woman knelt before him, her dirty, messy, red hair more majestic than the lord himself, and today it was she that entreated his preferences, or failing that his mercy.

“Good question, 5725. I am afraid I cannot provide you with any sort of direct choice nor narrow things down sufficiently on my own. All I have to give are my desires, if you would like to hear them.”

What choice was there? He was the one making 5725 do this. Any objection would be no more than an opportunity for the lord to wield his power over her.

“What kind of woman would you like today then, my lord?”
“Someone strong, and beautiful. With glistening red hair as blood-stained silk, and skin as smooth as the blades in our armory are sharp. A fair maiden who would do the necessary in a time of need, even if it spoke against her own morals.”

“There are none fitting that description left, my lord. 5721, 5632, and 5524 would be closest, but you already dismissed them last week.”

The master’s whims were as hard to explain as why so many women flocked to him. 5725 had her ideas, none of which she ever hoped to find out the truth of.

One transient moment of deliberation later, the lord’s eyes went to 5725 herself, hunting her down even as she averted her own gaze.

“Today I will have you, my dear number 5725. I trust you know where to go.”

The same procedure as usual in every way except that this was the first time 5725 herself was sent. She stood up and turned to leave, turning her head back towards her master for one last inquiry.

“Lord, before I leave, may I… May I ask something that has been tugging away at the corners of my mind recently?”

“Of course. I am always open to questions.”
“Why has none of the women you sent away before ever come back?

“Now that is easy to answer”, the lord smiled, “in fact all will become clear once you are there. Suffice to say there are greater spoils than what meagre offerings I can provide. But if you were to find them dissatisfying you are of course always welcome back here. Take the remaining four, and see for yourself.

5725 left the room behind, in search of an answer she never once had thought she would truly acquire.

***

The cries of number 5720 echoed through Cornelia’s ears. A second earlier she had been beside her, and the lower part of her body still was even now. The upper half splattered to the ground beside Cornelia.

Time was precious. Cornelia ignored the throes of her dying comrades to spear the soldier that had killed her friend. Another waited behind him as his body dropped to the ground, and that was all that mattered. Another death, another kill. As long as none of the lives lost were Cornelia’s own hope still remained, a vague desire burning inside her the only thing forcing her body into motion.

This time it was Cornelia’s turn to cut someone in half. The next soldier fell, a sight no prettier than the death of 5720; perhaps uglier.

Cornelia froze up and blinked in shock. No replacement came to take her victim’s place. No echoes of battle and life being lost sounded from around her any longer.

The battle was over.

***

Cornelia stood before the lord once more, hair stained with blood and blade in hand, pointed at the man she had once called master.

“You told me I could get the answers I wanted if I came back here, and here I am. So tell me. Why did you do this?”

It clearly took little time for the lord to realise what “this” may refer to. Some discretion may have prolonged his life at this point, but a man known for his upstanding sense of morality or judgement would never have done what this man had in the first place.

“I wanted to. That is all there is to it. I died alone in battle once, now I wish for nothing more than a harem that can fulfill my desires and fight in my place alike.”

Three sentences. All it took for the pieces to fit together.

Cornelia no longer hesitated.

“I’ve heard the rumours. Some say you came here after dying in another world. That you were granted special magic and that’s why you’re so irresistible to the women of ours. All I know is that I pray the only world you will ever set foot in after this one is the cold halls of the afterlife.”

Her sword lodged itself deep in the lord's stomach before he could utter any further words.

Out of one power-hungry fool of a pretend monarch, the 5725 women he had seduced with his trickery, and one opposing army, at the end of the day only Cornelia still drew breath, the one winner of a battle for power she never desired, her one spoil authority there was no one left to care about and the reclamation of her own name.

5725’s suffering was over, and it was time for Cornelia’s life to officially begin anew.