CHAPTER 605: THE SOLUTION IS REST

Asmodeus sat on his throne, with his women beside him. He looked around at Simon, Paul and the main adventurers who helped attain their victory. They held a report of the number of casualties and damage done during the battle.

"The total casualties are less than five thousand, your majesty."

"What of the wounded, has their condition improved?"

Paul nodded. He then took another scroll, and with the snap of his fingers, it burst aflame, revealing details about the wounded.

"It seems that thanks to your majesty’s actions the other day have healed more than ninety percent of the wounded and given many who might have died a second chance."

The details then stretched out, with the number of casualties caused by the black spears of Darius. Asmodeus didn’t dwell on them. He saved half that number just by dispersing his blood.

Now, the number of demons could make up a small kingdom; thus, his goal of building his nation wouldn’t be so difficult anymore. The demon blood in his people would never vanish completely, so all people born in Baltimore from this day onward would always have a quarter of demon blood, due to its special properties.

Also, because it wasn’t like human blood, there weren’t issues of inbreeding within his people, as each person adapted and accepted his blood differently. Thus, only his direct children would carry his genes and a bloodline identical to him.

"Any signs of Mephisto?" Velvet added from the side with a stern expression.

Simon and Paul showed bitter expressions before Simon stepped forward, brushing his hair back as he knelt before Asmodeus. "Forgive me, your majesty but we’ve found nothing that even indicated him being here..."

"I see."

There’s no way they could find him if even I struggled. I shouldn’t judge them harshly; it would be foolish.

"Don’t look so frustrated, you’ve done well. Take some time to rest, have one of the Demon Knights help you in the meantime."

"Y-Yes, Sire!"

Both Paul and Simon looked relieved as she stood and left the throne room.

Honestly, Asmodeus didn’t want to do this now. He tried to rush north, because that’s where he sensed something wasn’t quite right.

And yet, the people needed guidance.

In the back row, the merchant couple who helped Asmodeus the night he came to this city faced him with a complex and yet reverent bow.

The adventurers and merchants started leaving one after the other, after Simon and Paul. With their help, the casualties remained low; thus, he granted them a significant reward, and for those who wished to stay and become knights, he would meet them later.

Since the threat of the Demon Queen ended, most monsters became more docile, and many of them would remain in the north now, thanks to the mana-enriched lake that Asmodeus planned to spread through his entire territory.

"You’ve been a great help in this dangerous time. Forgive me for using my strength to claim myself as the new lord and ruler of Baltimore. I promise you that I shall not get involved in your businesses like before, and Tax will be reduced to 12% of profit. Instead of your total income and earnings."

Asmodeus didn’t need to tax his people massive amounts, especially the merchants. He also believed in keeping taxes low to maintain growth. However, he wouldn’t expunge it either, as that was also a foolish choice.

"T-Thank you!"

A member of the merchants’ union bowed to him, eyes filled with tears. For the next few months, maybe even a year, they would struggle to recover, especially those who lost their entire inventory.

"I will give a small startup fee for those that have lost their property and suffered irrecoverable damage, especially to the small merchants local to Baltimore."

Many of the smaller stores struggled to make a living as it was; with their inventory or buildings destroyed, their chances of starting again were virtually zero. Alice advised him to do so because Asmodeus didn’t have extensive knowledge of this sector; he listened well to the people who advised him and chose this path.

Local and settled merchants would get priority, but he would also lower taxes on visiting larger guilds to make them more likely to offer help and trade to repair the city.

In reality, Asmodeus could cover the entire cost.

However, Velvet, Vinea and Alice once again told him not to and that doing everything for the people was also counterintuitive.

"Go, salvage what you can and do not worry. I shall send knights to help you, be sure to meet at the city centre at evening, we will be having a feast each night until the entire city is back to normal. Those who cannot eat, are welcome, make sure everyone knows."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

A lot of the merchants skipped out of the throne room with bright faces.

The throne room emptied slowly, the sound of boots and heels echoing against the high stone walls until only silence remained. The heavy doors closed, leaving Asmodeus with the women seated closest to him. Velvet, Alice, Vinea, Yumiko, and Levia all watched him with varying expressions.

Serena couldn’t be here because of her sudden change in health, and as a result, Asmodea, Sariel, and Riel also remained with her.

They said she might give birth in a few nights...

I wanted to chase Mephisto immediately, but I cannot miss the birth of my children again.

"My dear wives... did I do well?"

For the first time since the battle, he allowed his body to sink into the throne, golden hair brushing against the backrest as he exhaled. His black armour shifted with the movement, scales rippling before dissolving into mist.

Asmodeus wore a clean kimono, the opening revealing his scarred and muscular chest, with dark bags under his eyes.

"Five thousand," he muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing with a sigh. "When did that amount of lives become so trivial to me... I don’t feel any sort of burden or sorrow."

Levia reached across and took his hand, stroking it with her pale fingers, which were warm, despite her usual cold touch. "It could have been fifty, or even the entire city, my lord. Your existence saved more than anyone could imagine."

Yumiko added. "If not just your blood, how many of those spears did you block? Don’t blame yourself darling, you look so tired, so please rest..."

Alice adjusted her glasses and leaned against his arm. "The merchants and guilds will rally faster now thanks to your choices. You cut their tax burden and gave them security. To them, that is worth more than gold. This should help you relax, dear husband."

Vinea leaned forward, her wings stretching languidly. "You look restless, Honey." Her eyes traced the sharp lines of his jaw, the faint shadows under his eyes. "Why don’t you take a rest and sleep with Serena tonight? Instead of worrying about the north so much, it tears you apart."

She wasn’t wrong.

Even now, his instincts screamed. There was something waiting in Grigor, like a thread tugging at his chest. He could not sense Mephisto clearly, but the silence was worse than the chaos. A beast hiding its fangs was far more dangerous than one already biting.

Yumiko draped herself across the arm of his throne, nine tails fanning behind her as she tried to ensure he just relaxed. "If you leave too soon, the people will panic. They’ve only just come to terms with your existence... remember the human heart is fickle."

Asmodeus rubbed his temple.

"I know. But every moment wasted is another for Mephisto to recover."

Velvet’s foot slammed the ground, causing the room to shake, then she placed a hand on her hips, purple eyes glowing with energy. "Stop." She stood up and slipped in front of Asmodeus, before lifting his chin with one hand.

"You don’t have to do everything anymore. We are your lovers, your future wives. If you need anything... then ask, we will help you, support you... I swear it. If you ask me to run north naked without stopping. I would."

"V-Velvet..." Asmodeus tried to speak, but she shushed him before leaning closer.

"I will do anything for you, and I am damn sure the women beside you are the same. So just accept it."

"Then what should I do, right now?"

She huffed, looking at the other women who nodded back to her.

"Nothing. Let us handle the city. You’ve already given orders, created laws, and chosen leaders and the direction we should move. What you need now is rest. A king who charges blindly from one battlefield to the next will not protect anyone."

Asmodeus recoiled slightly, but her hand holding his chin stopped him.

Her words stung because he knew that’s how it looked to others; he couldn’t just be the berserker anymore who fought everywhere and everyone. He needed to protect what mattered most, his family and friends.

If he continued to be reckless, he could lose everything.

For a moment, he closed his eyes; the faces of his cute daughters flashed in his mind, then Serena and everyone else... Yumiko, Erika, Levia... and how cute Velvet was when they were alone and he teased her.

Those were his reasons for fighting.

"You’re right.... I should take some time to rest and recover."