The morning after his wonderful night with three beautiful women, Asmodeus stepped out of the room. He gazed back onto the bed, with the women all sprawled out unconscious and in deep sleep before leaving the room.

    ''They look really happy, last night was amazing.''

    Asmodeus headed towards the room where Asmodea and the other women from Grigor slept last night.

    Although he felt a slight tinge of pain in his chest for spending the night with other women, this was the only way he could balance the many women surrounding him.

    ''Though I don''t mind making time for them either, my goal of becoming stronger is more important than sex.''

    He wanted to form a family and create a home for them to rest in before accidents like the one that happened to him, Yumiko, and Yuina.

    ''I can''t forget Serena either...''

    Serena seemed busy after he told her about Aristella and the strange vision, though Asmodeus wondered if that cute goddess would contact him again.

    "Asmodeus?" A soft voice echoed through the quiet hallway.

    He turned around to see her standing by the window, a large curtain blowing past her alluring face.

    A vibrant pair of eyes that alternated between blue and red... twisted horns, and a slightly tanned skin colour with crimson hair.

    "Asmodea..."

    "I guess you spent the night with someone else... did you have a good time?" Her lips pressed together, a strange glint in her eye as she stepped closer, swaying her hips while a sweet scent spread from her body.

    "It was great."

    "Not going to lie and say it was bad, fufu?" Asmodea''s hands brushed against his chest, her nose pushed close to his body as she sniffed several times.

    —Sniff~? Sniff~??

    "You smell really good." Her lips touched his ear, whispering as she pulled away, a slight pout and furrowed brows as she pointed at him.

    ''He slept with Erika, Ciela and that damn Paladin... I''m so jealous!''

    "What''s the matter? Are you jealous, Princess?"

    Hmph~

    "Who is jealous?!"

    Asmodeus smirked at her reaction.

    He stepped forward and grabbed her shoulders, pulling her soft body into his chest while gripping her back tightly. "Don''t be jealous—I won''t neglect you."

    ''But...''

    Asmodea''s face buried in his chest, scrunched up as her hands spread apart and grasped his leather tunic while biting her lower lip.

    "You''re going to leave with them, right... Ciela told us about the trial."

    Her words were soft, but the slightly quivering tone made Asmodeus realise that even Asmodea, the woman he gave the most affection to, could suffer from insecurities.

    "Asmodea... I am only going with them for one reason."

    She looked up, peeking into his face, her lovely eyes flickering as they narrowed like a sleepy cat.

    "I know, because they are you former party members right?" The woman nodded her head and sighed while pressing her forehead against his chest.

    "It''s just that... I didn''t understand I could be this jealous, don''t be disappointed with me, Asmodeus."

    "How could I?!" He almost shouted, his hands pulling on her tightly, but careful not to hurt her. He leaned over and kissed her, a light peck that she returned with another kiss, then a much longer and deeper one.

    "I promise, after we finish here... I will make it up to you."

    "Do you mean it? ??" Asmodea smiled and nodded, wrapping her arms around his body.

    The pair hugged for several seconds.

    "I''m so glad..."

    Asmodeus didn''t use this and instead mentioned it as an opening line using humour; instead, he gazed at the two and took a deep breath.

    "You''re both going to retire soon, right? Both said this might be your last mission outside of Grigor."

    "Yes, but what''s it got to do with us joining you?"

    "I will be honest with you. The truth is I need people who are trustworthy to join us on this adventure, but although I cannot endanger the princesses and duchess of Grigor."

    Simon and Paul looked at each other, their eyes flicking before nodding for him to continue.

    ''Will he give us some grand reward now?''

    ''Why doesn''t he just speak his honest feelings...''

    The pair''s thoughts aligned, and their faces became stern rather than the usual gentle Simon and Paul. They loved their families, but to them, Asmodeus was also a dear friend.

    "I need your help... and I want to do one last adventure with you both before the end!" Asmodeus bowed his head slightly and looked serious, his voice full of genuine emotions as his eyes flickered and watered.

    ''Please say yes...''

    "I will go." Simon was the first to speak, rather than Paul. "Though, I cannot die or throw my life away."

    The fact Simon spoke first caused Asmodeus to feel strange.

    He thought Paul would speak first as he gazed at Asmodeus with a focused look before sipping his tea with a sigh.

    "Ryuji... I cannot speak for anyone but myself, but if you truly wish for us to come. I will follow you, can you promise if anything should happen you''d take care of my wife and girls?"

    Paul''s eyes were filled with worry and uncertainty, but Asmodeus thought this was enough.

    ''After all, Paul has always taken care of me...''

    "I promise you."

    "Tsk..." Simon rubbed the back of his head, letting out a huff before he continued. "Always showing off Paul! Just say you want to go with him, you fool!"

    —Knock, Knock!

    The next moment, the door knocks, and two women—Levia and Erika—come inside, dressed in their combat gear.

    "I see you managed to convince them, darling." Erika smiles before she sits beside him, greeting the two men who she knew Asmodeus respected.

    "It''s been a while, Paul, Simon," Levia spoke in a more detached and distant tone, her eyes darting across the group. She then stood quietly behind Asmodeus, hiding her hands behind her back as they clenched each other.

    With a rational mind, she couldn''t help but understand the mistakes she made while lying to everyone, but she couldn''t make up for them anymore.

    "It''s good to see you doing well. You always had a thing for this kid." Simon, instead of Paul, spoke to her as if to offer a bridge. "Don''t dwell over the past. If you''re worried about what happened, just do your best to make up for it."

    ''It''s strange to see Paul sitting back and Simon speaking words of wisdom...''

    "Haha, Simon. You sound like Paul." Erika chuckled, and Paul winked back, embarrassing Simon. His face turned red, and he turned away in a huff.

    "Heh... it''s just things that change in life and make you grow up. Only then can you understand where you went wrong."

    "..."

    Levia watched the group''s interactions and couldn''t help but feel a warmth growing inside her chest. Meanwhile, Asmodeus narrowed his eyes and smiled deeply.

    "It''s good that you''ve become so reliable Simon, now I don''t have to worry about you."

    "Who''s worrying about me, you kid!"

    "Hahaha."

    The room breaks out in laughter because of Simon''s embarrassed reaction, but the nostalgic feeling grows as Asmodeus remembers the past.

    "Shall we meet up with Ciela and head to the trial grounds?"

    With this, the group and Asmodeus finally reunited.

    They felt nostalgic and longing as they left the room and headed towards the courtyard, where Ciela waited with her mother.