In the darknds of the northeast, from the capital of Grigor a dullnd filled with a murky ground of mud, water and blood. She by the demons, knights and heroes who tried to protect the world from darkness.


    "Hurry, bring those stones and start to form a new wall!" n''s loud voice sounded, his body wearing silver armour with the emblem of Grigor on his chest.


    Despite the strange loss of divine power from the church, n''s status as a hero remained. There were quiet rumours that Lumina, the goddess of light, fell into darkness, shrouding thend in mystery.


    However, the Grigorian royal family did not take any action to condemn or dismiss the rumours, adding to the intrigue.


    ''As Ryuji said, there would be a significant change in the temple after he left.''


    n''s blue eyes shimmered with light—he didn''t lose hope even after he lost Lumina''s blessing, instead because something else appeared, which made him almost cry withughter.


    ''To think a demon king could also bless a hero.'' Of course, this blessing was not made public, and thanks to a certain goddess, only those who were sworn to an oath to protect Asmodeus in his new form could read it.


    "That''s great, we need the third and fourth defensive wallsplete first. I will hold off the monsters should theye, my knights. Will you follow me?"


    Before n left, his brother made a full recovery. The king Avandar no longer seemed to weaken. His wife knelt in tears and apologised; after the event happened, it felt like something inside her vanished.


    The ambitious queen vanished as if hollowed out before she revealed all her evil deeds to Avandar, swearing an oath to disappear the day he found another woman that he truly loved. Close to a ve contract, the oath she swore meant that she would no longer act shamefully and would work for the betterment of the kingdom.


    ''To think that Lord Qwass would change so much too... It seems we were all quick to judge each other. The curse of Grigor would cause the most loyal to be twisted and bent by a power from the goddess... Now he is like the queen and has begun efforts to help the poor and created a program formoners to join the knights...''


    At first, n didn''t trust him, but the day when Duke Qwass bowed before him and actually cried caused n to realise he was also suffering from the curse—it made him blind and too judgemental.


    ''Although their sins cannot be forgiven and thanks to my brother''s kindness, he didn''t kill the two children... It''s probably sheer fate that both of them were actually my brothers when we performed the bloodline test... The queen seemed shocked herself.''


    "My brother is also changing for the better. No longer is he negative..." Instead, for the two weeks after Asmodeus left for the South, he would train with his younger brother while teasing him about his future wife. ''Akari crafted the tabards for my knights... what a lovely woman, so kind and generous.''


    ''Maybe learning those two children were his was a blessing in disguise. Although he nned to execute her, thanks to them not being bastard children... Did it save my brother''s heart a little? Maybe the goddess wasn''t as cruel as she tried to make the world believe.''


    "Yes, Your Highness, we will work extra hard!"


    "Phew... to think we''re getting paid triple our usual wage, and the kingdom is taking care of our families."


    The oath between Ryuji and n caused a significant change in the kingdom''s dark and stagnant ways. n reced his sister on the front lines. However, he didn''t stop there, cutting away the corrupt who fought with half hearts; instead, he used his influence as both the duke and hero to bring those who desired to protect the kingdom for whatever reason.


    ''Ryuji, the ideas you gave me truly worked... You have no idea how free I feel now. I hope we can meet again soon, my dear friend.''


    "Despite many of the kingdom''s problems being fixed, many remain and although I cannot walk the same path as you... My brother I believe one day we will meet again. Even if I have to beat some sense into you!"


    ''Though the church is a little doubtful these days, they seem to worship the god of death or rather try to edge off Lumina as their goddess, even on the maind. Someone else was the mastermind behind these things. Neither my sister-inw nor Duke Qwass knew anything substantial. Let''s write a letter to my sisters and Aunt Velvet.


    I am sure they will want to know what happened over thest two months.''


    The once-dead city of Falmar, where the kingdom of Grigor lost two queens, began to show promise and hope that the hero n could ovee his fears and past defeat and the first step was to rebuild the fallen city.


    ***


    Many dayster, in the city of Baltimore, Asmodeus was alone for once, sitting in his room with a ss of whiskey. He held a letter addressed to him from ''an old friend'' speaking about various things that happened in a fantasy kingdom.


    ''Oh, n... How did things solve themselves so easily for you? Is it because you are a hero?''


    [You asked me to help them... So, I used some magic to help guide the ones who were tricked onto the correct path. Although, I don''t believe you should forgive them, nor will that idiot hero.]


    ''Serena, you''ve be very chatty with me recently.''


    [What''s wrong with that? You don''te to visit me anymore, me yourself!]


    Asmodeus took a sip of his cool drink, the ice jingling in the cup before he gazed out of the window with a mncholy look as he narrowed his blue eyes.


    "I don''t understand. Were those children really his? It''s amazing that bitch slept around with half the knights in the castle, and the weak, impotent king knocked her up twice?"


    [Fufu~ that girl is a twisted woman, but it''s thanks to that Lumina rted to her.]


    ''Hmm... two psychopathic women. Well, it''s good that she isn''t dead. Her family on the maind might have done something to Grigor while I was away, and that would be annoying. Especially with the damn cult of death roaming around.''


    The inn room was filled with various clothes from different women—Erika''s clothes were in a small wardrobe on the left wall, along with Yumiko''s. It seemed the two of them were closer these days, but the other wardrobe was full of Vinea and Liana''s clothes, while Ci would only visit his room wearing underwear.


    "Sariel, are you feeling better?" Asmodeus stroked the soft pink hair sprawled across hisp. The subus seemed to be weaker since he returned from Amura. She would cuddle up to him and show signs of a fever.


    "Nnn... it hurts..."


    When he listened to her groan in pain, it made him feel guilty, knowing that she was only a part of her true soul. It meant that while fighting and growing in level—it was like constantly being restricted by a tight metal chain.


    Sariel''s head turned towards him, her eyes flickering with golden light and a warm smileing to her lips. "Do not worry, this pain. I will share it with her... Are you worried for us both?"


    "Of course I am," Asmodeus'' voice was gentle, like a soft breeze. "Both parts of you are mine. Why would I be okay with you suffering?"


    Her eyes narrowed with a slight smile before she seemed to scrunch them up and stifle a groan of pain. Asmodeus did not like hearing this, but he couldn''t ask her to bear all of her pain, the main cause of which was herself.


    "Should I get someone?"


    "Fufu... the only one we need is you." The adult and perfect form of Sariel was always so seductive, yet because of just being herself, it didn''t feel forced. At least, Asmodeus thought so. "Besides, I know we are both looking forward to seeing the new you."


    "New me?"


    "Yes, you changed before, but now your body is going through another change. To think you would reach this level so fast; you are a wonder to me... no to us.... just being close, able to feel the energy leaking from your body, helps her endure the pain."


    Asmodeus felt guilty but also confused because he never noticed her suffering so much before. "Is there a reason, Sariel?"


    "It''s because you are too amazing... my lov-- I mean, lord." Sariel''s face seemed to blush, something rare for the perfect form that sometimes offered him wisdom. Her soft blue cheeks were now pink before her hand grasped his tight. "Because of your gentle affection andck of greed, she is going to evolve... how she can evolve with only a small piece of our soul is beyond me.


    Asmodeus, you truly are a strange man. Any other might have already taken her as his consort... or lover. Then I would be bound to you for life already."


    "Hmm? Would that be a bad thing? Being mine?"


    Sariel giggled, turning her eyes upwards, gazing at his handsome face as she enjoyed the warmthing from his body, the smell of a mixture of liquor, sweat and a scent of leather. "Who knows? But because you waited, gave her love and affection and treated her as a real person, she could evolve... we could evolve."


    "Oh, that''s interesting. I wonder what will happen to you both."


    "Hmm... maybe you''ll find out if you''re lucky. Ah, I hope that the pain subsides."


    The pair rxed on the sofa, a calm moment looking at the passing world; Asmodeus enjoyed these rare moments of silence with Sariel—both of them soothed his soul that desiredbat and carnal pleasure in their ways.


    "Sariel."


    "Hmm? What''s wrong, master?


    "Am I doing the right thing?"


    Sariel smiled, "You are asking such a question now... But I think that question is a little wrong... even the cute girl inside me agrees. The better question would be, are you happy right now? My dear Master, Asmodeus."


    ''Happy?''


    Asmodeus sat by the window in the room he shared with the three beauties, Yumiko, Liana, and Erika... He didn''t notice, but just thinking about those three and the others he lived with caused his lips to curl into a deep smile, his eyes softening before Sariels hand cupped his cheek.


    "See, that''s all that matters to us, your smile."


    "Really, are you sure you aren''t a dream?"


    "Fufu, if I was, would I tell you? Even if I am, isn''t that why our race is called the demon of dreams?"


    Find adventures at m_v l|e-NovelFire


    The pairughed softly as the red sky above the city twinkled with stars, the wind gently blowing the curtains, causing a cool breeze to enter the room.


    ''If I am happy, Sariel... both of you are a big part of it.''