The mont Asmodeus saw Paul and Simon, he felt like his mind returned to his immature state almost half a year ago. Happiness, excitent and worry flashed through his mind.
These emotions caused him to almost leap from the table and hug the two n. Although he had only t these two a few tis, and they had not t in months, he could not deny that he had missed them.
They were two different people: Paul, the protector who was in the pri of his life and made Asmodeus feel like he gained a big brother, or caring uncle. Then there was Simon, the sly one, lacking confidence in his abilities as a leader, yet he was kind and warm to Asmodeus when he first joined them.
"Paul, Simon!!" He couldn't resist and hugged the two n who were now shorter than him in his muscular arms.
"Haha, Asmodeus, calm down, buddy." Paul patted him on the shoulder when Asmodeus pulled away from him and gazed into Paul's eyes with admiration.
"This kid, look how handso you've beco—I hear that you stole all the princesses from our kingdom, haha!" Simon's eyes narrowed while he showed a sly grin. This man, at first, did not make Asmodeus trust him fully, but over ti, the natural kindness that he tried to hide using sarcasm broke through his cunning nature.
"Yeah... thanks for helping in the past. I couldn't have grown this far without you two guiding back then." His face lowered and his tone quietened into a serious state while sighing at his luck and looking at the ceiling.
"What a funny kid, you were always running ahead with your damn axe! Hahaha, what you've done and achieved is all on you, my little hero." Simon slapped Asmodeus on the shoulder, causing him to jump, almost knocking Simon to the floor, "I am not a little, old man; I'm much taller than you!"
"Haha, that's true. Well, we've co to offer our services—you are on a quest to save Grigor, right?" Paul held several letters and docunts in his hand, but the writing was obvious. It was from Alan and Avandar, several letters for the princesses, Alice and Velvet, along with ones for him.
A contract was visible, and the content was simple but straight to the point: aid Asmodeus in the recovery of Grigor alliances and protect Anne and Liana while they must ensure his safety until returning to Aruna.
"You signed this, but what about your wives?! It's not going to be a quick journey, Paul... Even you, Simon, what are you thinking?"
The contract was written in ink created from Paul's blood, and the agreent was between Alan, Paul, Avandar and the hero Duke Alan Grigor. Asmodeus was a demon, but he treated his allies and friends greater than even a holy man would. He looked at the two n with concern filling his ocean-blue eyes, yet both of them just laughed and rubbed their heads.
"Well, the king offered a good deal, and after this ends, I am allowed to retire with a noble title. Isn't that more than I could ask for?" Simon's voice wasn't sad or disheartened—instead, he sounded joyful.
"Anne and Liana are important to our kingdom, and my wife loves the pretty princesses, so even though my wife may get angry at later, I don't plan to die. I'm confident enough to keep us safe, especially after seeing what you can do, Mr Demon King." Paul whispered the last bit with a wink before placing a hand on Ryuji's shoulder.
"Don't worry—if it were soone else, I would refuse. It's all because it's you that I accepted. Let's finish this mission and go ho, alright?"
Asmodeus was quiet for a mont—the surrounding girls whispered and spoke about how strange he was acting, but the ones who knew his relationship with Paul and Simon, like Erika and Yumiko, just smiled at him with a warm gaze.
"H-Ho..."
'It was a word that I long forgot... since that place beca cold and lonely...'
The word ho wasn't sothing Asmodeus considered. From the mont he lost his mother and stopped returning to the dojo, he realised back then that his ho had vanished. This was the trigger for him to seek older won and search with various partners in the past world to find a 'ho.'
There wasn't anything specific, a house or place where he could relax, but a partner or woman whom he could love and return to when he wanted comfort.
Yet now this old, bald man said sothing that made Asmodeus feel a sense of revolution within himself... Ho no longer ant a place for him to stay; when it changed, he didn't even realise it.
'Ho to is with Yumiko... Erika, Liana... Ciela... it's with them.' However, now included in that group were these two idiotic n. Their exhausted faces and slightly sour odour from not bathing made him wince, yet he couldn't help but want to hug them and thank them for their support from the mont he t them.
It differed from his relationship with Alex, which ended because of his stupid mistake. A strong friendship ford with these two n who weren't perfect or even special—they were just average knights, yet for Asmodeus, they had sohow beco his precious family.
***
The conversation died down, and the food beca scarce; Yumiko began to clean plates away and store the rest of the als they hadn't finished, planning on using the leftovers for tonight's al during their travel.
"So, you managed to get the elf too. What a lady killer~ our naive berserker beca." Simon joked while filling his pack with alcohol and food because Asmodeus paid the landlady extra.
"Can you be more mature? Why are you taking only beer? Get so dical items and water... idiot!" Paul scolded the acts of Simon with a sharp tongue before he suddenly seed to realise sothing... "Ah... A-Asmodeus, there is soone else...
soone else who ca..."
'I know.'
Asmodeus knew she ca, the first woman to try to trick him, to use her holy magic, almost killing him. Yet try as he might, he didn't wish to kill Sheila. After learning the terms of her Apostle contract with Lumina, it didn't feel right.
'Well, her mind was half broken anyway. Will she be able to recover?'
[Kindness won't fix her... you have to treat her like she did you. Shock her into awakening.]
'Serena...'
Asmodeus had received advice from Serena before her arrival, and so he waited calmly with his eyes closed. Inhale... Though it ant acting like normal, unlike with his lovers. Sheila wouldn't be the sa as them as it was done with affection for them, but for her, it was a punishnt and revenge.
[Nobody said she wouldn't like it, though...]
'Even if she liked it, this is my distinction. I will not enjoy it or seek anything from it. That woman needs to be aware and accept the things she did.' Asmodeus snapped back at her and shook his head, ridding the thoughts before opening his eyes.
They had gathered everyone near the entrance—most were ready to leave imdiately and start the journey to the southern kingdom of beastkin one day early.
"Send her to my room; before we leave, I wish to speak to her in private..." Asmodeus walked into the kitchen as he needed to purchase so more supplies and wanted to ask the mistress and her husband if they could help.
His mood seed quite low and dark, and the surrounding won could sense his strange atmosphere. Especially those who beca true demons, like Ciela, Vinea, Liana and Velvet.
Sariel understood but didn't speak or react to his feelings—instead, she watched him with a gentle smile, knowing that he was the sa master she t in that cave. 'He forgave , even when I tried to take his life and steal his power... I hope that he can untie the knot in his heart that she created.'
"I guess I'll go and get her. Sorry girls, if I made the atmosphere sour.... but she's also like a sister to ." Paul apologised while heading outside to the carriage.
"Don't be sorry, it's okay, we understand." Yumiko seed to be the nominated head of the won, who nodded to her words.
"Thanks, girls..." Simon showed a bitter smile while noticing Ciela's conflicted appearance—he only hoped that the girl could fix things with Asmodeus.
***
A few minutes later, Paul opened the door, and sothing walked inside.
Her eyes were devoid of light, her hair brittle and dry with the brilliance she once had faded. Sheila stumbled inside, her lips cracked and fingers covered in minor cuts. She looked horrible. Despite being beautiful, they felt she could only be likened to a wilted rose in this state.
"He will et you on the third floor, the largest room with double doors. Wait for him in there." Ciela was the one who spoke, a neutral voice, but she tried her best not to shake.
"....nn...." Sheila's voice was low, and her throat was dry as she lowered her head, dry tears filling the corners of her eyes as she passed Ciela, her forr best friend, until the goddess accepted her and changed everything.
"I-I am sorry...Ali...C-Ciela... I am s-so sorry..." Each step she took to the second stair seed painful for her, as if she wanted to drop to her knees. Her voice was so dry and broken, yet she apologised. Simon and Paul already knew of the changes and how she now went by the nickna Asmodeus gave her instead.
Ciela didn't answer—the mory of what she had seen was fresh in her mind.
The sight of Asmodeus dying because of the selfish goddess, and the reason it ca to that point, was all because of Sheila in her mind, yet she clenched her fists and nodded. Ti might heal the wounds, but she couldn't forgive this woman before knowing how her beloved would treat her.
Despite knowing the truth, thanks to Serena, they all understood that fixing the broken Sheila wouldn't be sothing easy or kind.
Because Sheila didn't want forgiveness, her heart likely desired to be blad. Otherwise, she would be recovering, thanks to Paul and Simon.
'Please, help her husband... I know it's selfish... but please hear my hope.' Ciela thought to herself while, for the first ti, she grabbed a bottle of the expensive alcohol and began to down it, causing quite the scene on the ground floor as Sheila vanished onto the second.
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