"Not so fast, Asmodeus!" A voice called out just before Asmodeus stepped off the wall and flew into the sky. The next moment, several pairs of hands grabbed his arms, stopping him from taking flight.

    Asmodea, Alice, Ciela, Erika, Sariel, Velvet, and even Vinea stood behind him.

    All wearing black leather armour and cloth underclothes, while fully transformed into demons with their features on display, hiding nothing.

    "Did you think we would let you leave alone, darling?"

    "Honey, this isn''t a single space carriage."

    "My dear, I can''t believe you tried to sneak away."

    "..."

    "Master, Sariel wants to come too!"

    "Asmodeus, don''t leave without me."

    Their voices echoed, showing their discontent with him leaving alone, but Asmodeus looked at them blankly. There were numerous reasons he didn''t want them to join, after all.

    "Hey... is it not an obvious decision?" Asmodeus''s gaze trailed across the seven girls standing before him. "I wasn''t planning to stay there long, just a brief visit to see Alan." His mouth twitched slightly in the middle of his sentence, unable to hide his hesitation.

    Though they understood where he was coming from, his beloved Demon Queens did not share that sentiment.

    "Then what if you found another woman, like always D.A.R.L.I.N.G?" Asmodea''s gentle voice nowhere to be seen, her eyes narrowed at him. "It''s happened far too many times when you are left unsupervised!" She rolled her eyes as he began to sweat, then took a step forward.

    "Honey~ are we not enough for you? Do you have to go to my foolish brother?"

    "My dear, last night, who did you sleep with?" Ciela''s gentle smile seemed strange. Her eyes were bright, but they were not smiling!

    "I can''t believe you''re abandoning us just to go to Alan." Erika mumbled sadly, though the others couldn''t agree less. Sariel clung to Alice''s side, looking between them worriedly.

    "So, your wives are not enough?!" Velvet''s lips formed into an upside-down v as she spoke, anger apparent on her face. However, it was obvious she was just having fun. Her eyes were twinkling, and she seemed rather happy.

    "No..."

    "Yes!!"

    Their voices overlapped, though Asmodeus shook his head slightly. "What are you talking about?! Of course, you girls are the best!"

    The one who said no was Erika, who mimicked his voice before collapsing into laughter, along with the others. Leaving poor Asmodeus confused.

    "Fine... if you want to come, then join me. I just thought you might want to spend time with your family."

    "Well, I guess you were being thoughtful after all, darling."

    Asmodeus hugged his back, kissing his cheek. Her eyes transformed from the fearsome Asura a moment before, into the charming ones he knew well. Asmodea had returned to normal.

    "I''m fine, so let''s go together."

    "We''re staying here, thank you for being so considerate, honey." Alice, whose tone betrayed a mixture of amusement and annoyance at the antics of her niece, she stepped close to Asmodeus and leaned her forehead against his chin. "Don''t get into trouble, my love."

    Mwah ?

    A soft kiss pressed to his collarbone. Alice chuckled and took a step back, but quickly replaced by Ciela, who stared up at him intently. Her long green hair gently fluttered in the light wind as her fairy-like wings beat softly behind her back.

    "Make sure you don''t get hurt, and come home soon."

    The women approached him one at a time, embracing and kissing him as they parted ways with him.@@@@

    In the end he was standing alone, with himself and Sariel who seemed insistent on leaving with him. Not that he minded.

    She would secretly follow him if he didn''t let her come, anyway.

    Instantly, three knights pointed their spears at the three, while using their shields to protect the one beside them. Forming a small triangular blockade. Behind them stood several archers on top of the walls.

    "They are dressed strange-"

    "They might be demons in disguise, keep them away from the people!"

    "Alan''s really training his men well, I am proud."

    "How dare you call his grace in such a way?!"

    "Gentlemen, do you not recognise me? I will be a little disappointed if you don''t." Asmodea, the former princess of Grigor, turned her gaze to the headstrong knights.

    "P-Princess?"

    "Princess Linea, how are you here, didn''t the demon king take your life?"

    "Are you truly-"

    Their conversation ended abruptly as an older voice interrupted, causing the two knights flanking the older one to pause mid-sentence as well.

    "I heard a commotion, and what do I see when I get here?" A handsome male with a deep scar on his cheek smirked, a black-haired woman holding his arm with her own hand.

    "Oh? The hero has become a little cocky now, huh?" Asmodeus smiled cheerfully, pleased to see his friend again after such a long time.

    "A demon dares to be cheeky, how about I cut you with my sword?"

    The knights looked confused because their commanders'' voice and face looked so happy, clearly excited.

    "Sir Hero, that''s a poor joke..."

    Asmodea rolled her eyes while sighing. "Darling, Uncle, can you both stop playing around?"

    Immediately after, Alan''s face loosened, and he stepped forward, pushing the knight''s spears down, and standing before Asmodeus, gazing up slightly as he was now shorter.

    "Ryuji! You''ve grown well."

    "Not too bad yourself, nice scar. Makes you look handsome."

    "You bastard!"

    With a sudden movement, Alan pulled a blade free from his belt. It moved so fast it was impossible to tell what had happened until the sharp steel rested lightly against Asmodeus'' neck. "What?" Alan''s eyes widened because there was a blade pointed at his neck...

    He never saw Asmodeus'' movements.

    "Really? You surprise me in the strangest ways, dear friend." Alan lowered his blade, trying to calm his knights with a smile.

    "Hear this, my knights. This man is Asmodeus, my dearest friend and saviour of the Grigor Kingdom."

    "Asmodeus?"

    "The princess lover?"

    "That woman slayer?"

    "Oh shit! I thought he was just another pretty boy..."

    The knights made several comments, rumours travelled faster than expected, causing Alan to chuckle his knights, while enjoying his old friend''s face.

    "Shall we head inside, my lovely Niece and brother-in-law?"

    When Alan said those last words, the world seemed to freeze, and Asmodeus remembered Alan''s warning...

    "Don''t touch my sister."