[This land… used to be a beautiful vineyard, where they created a rare flavour of wine.]
Asmodeus observed the broken, desolate land lacking water, nourishnt, and care. The mont they left Grimholt and reached the surrounding land. Serena beca more vocal, telling him about the mountains and different locations.
'Really, can it be salvaged?'
He discovered that after learning of his potential future as the ruler of demons, many thoughts and ideas started growing. It was as if soone planted a seed within their heart, and with each beat and pulse of blood, the small seed grew, becoming the roots of a majestic tree and desire.
'You ntioned I could find a special mineral and gemstone in the north-west, wine in the south, then is there anything in the east and far north?'
[Fufu, My beloved Emperor. Are you starting to beco interested?]
"Darling, are you alright?"
Asmodea's horse trotted beside his fierce dire wolf.
Her gaze filled with concern as she reached over and grasped his arm.
"I'm just thinking about the future, Asmodea. I wondered if this land might beco a vast vineyard one day and our kingdom might create a special wine."
"O-Our kingdom?" Her voice echoed a modest, lovely hum.
Because of the long journey and his many won, they took turns, each staying beside him for an hour before the formation switched.
Though this was sothing the won decided, not Asmodeus himself.
Upon hearing his response, her lips curled into a smile. Asmodea, like a cat wrapped around his arm, let out a soft purr leaving her throat. She humd to herself and climbed onto his lap, while her Asmodeus grasped the reins of her horse.
'Oh? Why does she look so happy?'
[Don't you even realise? Haha, such a funny man… of course, because you speak of your dreams in a collective tense, any woman who loves you would be happy to know how much you considered their happiness in your thoughts and dreams!]
Serena enjoyed nagging and guiding him since becoming pregnant, though if he contested her views she would beco like fury incarnate.
'Well, why wouldn't I include them? They're my won.'
[Hahaha~ I love you so much, my gentle and ferocious demon emperor.]
'Those two statents conflict with each other.'
His lips twitched, feeling Asmodea's hands slip inside his robes, not to do anything but rub against his chest, likely to enjoy the warmth.
"It's freezing here, maybe we should have packed more clothes."
"Darling, it's fine, hehe your chest is so warm and feels nice to touch."
The murmur of the demon knights and other won echoed through the plains, their horses passing along the forr paths that used to be roads thousands of years ago.
"Just don't go any further, there's no ti to quell those urges while we are travelling in enemy territory, Asmodea."
"Hehe, of course, but after… you should reward well."
"We'll see…"
If they rushed north, the journey would be short. However, Serena and Asmodeus wanted to view the lands and fight any lingering enemies to prevent future reinforcents from causing troubles for Alan, who needed to wait for his brother's aid.
'King Avandar will send the army when needed. I am sure of it.'
[He should, unless sothing happens, but I doubt the elves or beastkin would do that after becoming your allies.]
Since most of the enemies had died by his hand, Asmodeus didn't believe too many were left.
They marched past desolate land; their path wrapping around the vineyard lands across the western swamp before entering the heart of the demon territory.
"The sky is so dark and miserable…"
"Well, that's just how it is, maybe it can be changed in the future."
Because the gods abandoned the other plains of the continent, the weather beca unpredictable and chaotic. Storms and lightning often occurred, but the sun rarely broke through the clouds. This situation led to the demons growing strange and exotic plants and herbs native to the demon empire.
'It seems my luck can only go so far, though we haven't t much trouble.' Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire
He wasn't sure whether that was good or bad because if there were still living demons here—he thought it might bring a challenge.
Thanks to his evolution, most demons with no direct leader or master, Asmodeus could convince them to help him as long as he did nothing to hurt their trust or pride.
'Though building their trust would take ti, maybe a little too much.'
"Ah, Sariel seems to have changed a lot,"
Asmodea ntioned the thought that ate at her mind, before gazing at the beautiful succubus whose skin shone with a glossy and radiant glow.
Asmodeus turned to regard Sariel as well.
"Yeah, it seems ever since she matured, that girl has beco a little strange."
He didn't want to bring up the fact that Riel, her other half for all her life, vanished. When she vanished, it created a lingering, throbbing pain in his chest. It felt like he'd lost one of his lovers.
'Not yet, she still lives…'
However, when he saw the butterfly wings growing from Sariel's back, a rare sight even among succubi, he realised that her new power and developnt ant sothing significant had changed between them.
Unlike her feathered demon wings, the new ones resembled a beautiful butterfly, bright and vibrant like her hair and skin, as if Riel helped the young succubus express herself physically.
[Don't be hasty, I am sure that Riel will appear…]
'I know.'
The loud gallop of hooves and monster paws echoed as he snapped the reins, improving the pace of their movents. But they couldn't rush too much because they could not protect the carriage riders with his power alone.
"Do you like her change more?" Asmodea leaned against his chest.
Though she knew she shouldn't feel jealous—because she was already one of his closest confidants—the surrounding won weren't weak and forgettable, making her insecure.
"Sariel or anyone else does not need my opinion on their changes."
Asmodeus reached out, stroking Asmodea's smooth red hair. Her eyes flickered between the two colours as she clung to his chest and began whimpering at his gentle and affectionate actions.
"You all only need to know I'll support you as long as you don't betray or side with another male."
"You really like hitting won right where it hurts the most." Asmodea nuzzled against his face, the warmth and comfort seeping into her entire body.
"Haha, who knows."
His lips curled into a satisfied smile.
He noticed Asmodea's insecurity from the mont they entered the city of Grimholt, a sense of loss compared to her sister and even Sariel. But to Asmodeus, the girl in his arms was always special, beyond what she realised.
The storms continued along the western reaches of the demon empire before their army reached a massive lake.
However, a few monts before, Asmodea pouted because the ti had changed. Now, he sat with Ciela, who gazed back at him with her green eyes shimring with light.
"Did you enjoy the ride with Asmodea?"
"Who cares about that, when I am not sitting with the most elegant and beautiful elven princess?"
"S-stay still…"
Ciela shifted behind him, adjusting the cloak around both their shoulders while her arms wrapped around his waist. The distant mountains reminded her of what happened in the canyon a few weeks before. She gazed up at Asmodeus, her lips parting as if ready to speak, but closed a mont later.
[Ciela seems to be embarrassed because you are too cruel to her.]
'How am I cruel?'
[You didn't hold a wedding after saving her family, but rushed to Grigor for Alan!]
The loud growl of his wolf echoed as they passed a pack of demon wolves. These wolves were smaller than the dire wolf and much easier to train and make into pets or tad creatures for battle.
Many within the demon empire would ride a wolf over a horse because of their versatile abilities. Though horses could move faster, wolves were more agile, and the rider could use magic to help them.
'I plan to marry you all at once, is that so bad of ? How could I marry them all without you beside ?'
[…]
Serena fell quiet, unable to argue against him.
"Darling, where are we heading to now?" Celia asked, peering over his shoulder, curious why he didn't continue towards the mountains in front.
Most of the group listened, unsure of what the demon empire looked light because no humans reached this far. But even Asmodeus couldn't help but beco doubtful, since they saw a handful of weaker demons but none of the man's forces.
'This is dangerous…'
"We will be heading around the river and following the western Demonbane mountains which protect the elven forest along with the second set of mountains to the south."
Asmodeus narrowed his gaze.
In the distance, at least ten hours away, he noticed the existence of a castle, with a dull grey atmosphere. It looked similar to Grimholt, but he knew this would be dangerous, if not suicide.
"Why there? Isn't our goal, the castle?"
"The castle is not safe," he murmured to himself. Serena stayed silent the whole ti, just like him, trying to think of an answer about why they have faced no enemies so far.
"We will face our first battle at that castle because there seem to be a few demons remaining outside the capital. I see soone is judging our strength and waiting in the dirt."
[Do you believe soone is controlling them?]
'I think the demon queen evolved sohow. Though when or how I know this… I have no idea.'
If in the past, the demons just rampaged happily. Then now, there seed to be a dark, itchy feeling when watching them flee at the sight of him.
"It feels like they are preparing sothing, likely to defeat ."
"I see, then I will keep my eyes open for you, my dear husband, but you have to let shoot all the demons I want later!"
"I appreciate it, Ciela and please, fire away."
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