Asmodeus discovered Alice differed from how she appeared in the past. He once thought of her as the most pristine and noble woman he met. Yet now, revealing how vulgar and violent she was each time they fought, her guard became weaker, showing her true self more and more.

In reality, he understood why his interest in her was minimal before, yet after the past two days of training in the woods with her in secret. He began to feel a sense of de?ja? vu. Something about her brought him back to the past.

Alice used her power to restrict her body during combat. Though they fought since early morning, she refused to release that restriction. Two hours later, she crushed the last remaining monster with a brutal axe kick, shattering the furry monster''s neck and collarbone.

"Haa.... my god... this is so fun.... haa... though my wrist is fractured... hahaha!"

He watched Alice from a distance, fighting most of the monsters in the nest they found. Asmodeus would let a small amount attack the Duchess before he killed the rest, slowly leaking one or two monsters for her to fight as she progressed.

However, watching her at that moment he saw her image overlapping with another woman...

[She is not her! Though you might think it is, your mother''s soul was wiped clean before rebirth!]

''Then how does she know mother''s martial art? Even Yumiko and Velvet don''t know the complete style she used... I have only seen those stances and movements a few times, so I couldn''t properly recreate them for Yumiko!''

[I don''t know! But I am the one who accepted her request and wiped her soul... this shouldn''t have happened.]

Serena''s angry voice carried her frustration and an emotion Asmodeus couldn''t quite identify. He noticed that in recent days, the goddess who once lacked a speck of warmth was thawing rapidly the longer he spent with her.

This situation was caused by Alice''s off hand comment of her just knowing how to use that martial art from a young age.

Asmodeus thought about her words and felt a sense of confusion.

"I just felt the movements coming to me in my sleep, but in my dreams, I am not human. Instead, I''ve become some sort of monster. That''s why when I met you, somehow, something clicked and drew me to you... because your eyes looked like mine in that dream."

Since then, Asmodeus spent more time with Alice hunting in secret, while pretending she was weak to the others.

However, he wondered if it was the right thing to do when he saw the beautiful and noble Alice fighting in that style. The brutal and violent style mixed with her captivating style.

He couldn''t stop himself from becoming captivated.

''I know you don''t know, but maybe someone else interfered and played a cruel trick on both of us. After all, my mother was special to you... right?''

[...]

Serena couldn''t deny it because his mother was indeed the first and most special existence to her after Asmodeus himself.

[It cannot be her! They destroyed Lilith''s soul... only a fragment remained when she took you to that world. Her punishment... No? Maybe it was Our punishment.]

Asmodeus closed his eyes, listening to the movements of Alice, who began to pick the useful parts and cut out the mana stones and core from the monsters.

At first, she claimed it wasn''t worth the time, but after she started, it seemed Alice wanted to become the best at dismantling monsters, too.

''She''s very competitive. Mother was the same even with me, her son.'' This became a slight complex for the current Asmodeus. Lost between his sexual attraction for the duchess and the strange feelings of loss and nostalgia, he couldn''t move closer than this.

''What''s going on?''

However, despite his conflicted emotions and thoughts, the goddess helping him remained silent. Her lack of reaction only added to his confusion and uncertainty.

Alice''s hand continued to move up and down. As if curious, she grabbed, squeezed and twisted while stroking his member through his clothes. Asmodeus felt pleasant yet kept himself contained despite her intensifying with each stroke.

"Haa... haa... it''s bigger than I thought... I wonder if it''ll fit... haa...did Velvet really put this thing in her mouth?" Alice''s hand moved faster, and her breathing became heavier. As she stroked him, she began to pant, and her voice became hotter.

It almost appeared that it was her receiving his touch. "Does it feel good? Am I better than Velvet?"

Her voice became more seductive and provocative. She was challenging him to admit that she was better, and he wanted to respond, but his mind was in turmoil.

''Shit... I''m really enjoying this... but I don''t understand why I feel so hesitant to accept her touch.''

Since he couldn''t give her the reaction she wanted, he reached out and grasped her soft, squishy breasts. His large hands kneaded and fondled her breasts with ease, causing Alice to moan and gasp in pleasure. Not that he wanted to be obscene, but his mana needed to be applied through massage to heal such scars.

"Haa... ahh.. ha... you''re so rough... haa..." Alice began to breathe harder and faster, her hand stroking him even faster, and she began to unbutton his pants. However, before she could, Asmodeus suddenly grabbed her hand.

"No." His voice was stern and authoritative, his face showing no emotion, and only a pair of blazing eyes looked at Alice.

"Why? Are you going to let Velvet touch you but not me?"

There was something different about Alice, at least for Asmodeus; he somehow felt that if they rushed their relationship, it would ruin everything.

He felt that with each step forward, he would lose a piece of her, and it would disappear forever. He couldn''t explain this feeling or why he felt this way, but it was strong and unyielding.

Asmodeus wanted her, but he was afraid of losing the Alice he saw and liked right now forever.

''What should I do, Serena?!'' It wasn''t his intention to ask her, yet he was desperate for answers.

[Why ask me?! I don''t remember you asking me for all the other women!]

It was the first time he heard her speak with such anger and frustration towards him.

''I''m sorry, Serena... but she feels special to me... no, us. I know this girl is special to you too... otherwise, you wouldn''t be so angry.''

The silence that followed made Asmodeus feel a cold chill run through him as if he had just lost something precious.

[Idiot...]

"You don''t want me to touch you, right?" Alice spoke while panting slightly, her face red and her eyes filled with desire but also a hint of loss, knowing his rejection and unwillingness.

"Well, this time, I can let you off, but next time..."

Her hand squeezed him tight, almost hurting his little brother. "Don''t make me feel this way again, or else~ I will make the future hell for you."