Chapter 312: A moment of Adjustment
Asmodeus felt pressure beyond anything in the past.
The upcoming hunt would test him and the other women. So today, he was training with the knights and all who came with him.
'Thankfully Aurelia managed to delay the hunt two weeks... that's enough time to grow stronger.'
'Since the church is already prepared I must do everything I can.'
After meeting Aurelia, she sent Crown Prince Lukas to help Prince Baberu in training. Thus, we left the capital secretly under the cover of darkness.
The Fenrir warriors would train to the south in a place called Devil's Canyon. The canyon was a place full of Dark Elemental beasts and monsters. Asmodeus chose here to help boost their stamina and resistance to corruption.
'I believe Baberu will do well. I have given him the training plan and an excellent sword.'
'Next is us... the demon knights and Yuina will be joining me in the north. A place where hundreds of extremely powerful beasts linger.'
'Not for stamina or darkness resistance. To boost our strength completely... not just me I will help them surpass any human knights. I will train them... Alice should also arrive soon to help with that training.'
'The other women, Levia, Ciela, Vinea and Velvet who is bringing Alice thanks to the messaging system of the empress...'
"Well they will be training in the west. I don't know what My Queen has planned, but Velvet said she found a great place to train them..."
Two weeks...
That's how long it would be... I wouldn't see any of my women for that long! Of course, it felt hard, however, because of the constant erosion of the divine energy in my core. I needed to fight to my limit and overwhelm myself...
Serena said this was the best way.
I trust her completely.
[Fufu~ you finally realise my power! Good boy, I will give you a reward when we meet again!]
'Yeah yeah, well for now I am going to calm myself... Those two will come tonight right?'
[Yeah... get some rest—you deserve it... Asmodeus.]
***
Meanwhile, outside, Yuina and Vinea seemed worried about Asmodeus. They both felt that after he fought the pope, his atmosphere became unstable and heavy.
'I hope he's okay...'
Yuina thought to herself while gazing out the window; from the moment Asmodeus came into her life, she knew he was a special man.
'Of course... never did I think that I'd fall in love with him!'
These embarrassing thoughts made her face red, and she covered her cheeks while feeling horrible.
'My sister's husband... I am lusting over her beloved!'
'Yuina, why are you such a naughty and selfish girl?!'
She couldn't focus and looked at Vinea, a princess like her yet... Vinea always seemed composed, a calm gaze watching Asmodeus sleeping on the blue cushions in the palace study. He said that going all the way to his room was too annoying...
'I know he just wanted to sleep close to us, because he will miss those girls... Yet he chose to travel with me...'
'Is it because I am too weak, even with that Mana bath?!'
'I am so ashamed...
'To think about copulating with him. Even when I know that in the future I will become the empress... and we will fight a dangerous battle at the hunt.'
"Vinea, how do you remain so calm, even when everything seems like it will shatter and never be the same again?"
Yuina's heart constantly thundered, thumping quickly. She looked at the beautiful demon princess, who just smirked at her.
"Yuina... I am not confident. Even now my heart is like yours... We are terrified he will vanish one day, Asmodeus is our light... the source of our strength and the reason we can keep fighting."
Vinea's hand stroked Yuina's hair, a gentle smile.
"I know you are struggling, but Yumiko wouldn't mind... We are all like sisters, although we fight and get jealous and bicker... in the end, we all love the same man."
The next moment, she chuckled, seeing Yuina's face turning bright red.
"Even though I am weak, is it okay? I cannot fight or... make him smile like you all. Yet I am greedy, and want to remain beside him... Is it still alright?"
Yuina's confession caused Vinea's eyes to widen—she then hugged the small blonde fox tight and rubbed her nose on her head.
"You remind me of Liana in the past... No matter what, as long as you love him and don't betray him... then feel free to follow your heart. None of us started strong."
"Ah... Vinea... You're like a big sister suddenly."
'Why did I take distance with these women... My pride? Jealousy? I was so stupid...'
'They would accept me as I am... He would accept me too!'
These words were something important for both Yuina and the girls. There was a subtle distance between the two since they met. Despite being Yumiko's sister, Yuina's guilt caused a small rift, and their hesitation to bridge the gap made it worse.
"You should try to close your distance with My beloved King when you are alone together."
"Ah~ Vinea! It's embarrassing..."
"Hahah... why are you so cute! I wish we knew your feelings sooner, sorry. I'll make sure to tell everyone while we're gone."
"Tell them what?!"
"That we have a new sister, and she's extremely cute and caring... but a little perverted!"
Vinea's eyes narrowed, her muscular arms ruffling Yuina's hair before she ran off. She rushed through the palace as the lovely fox darted after her, calling out in a soft voice.
"Ahhh! don't! Wait don't leave!"
***
Asmodeus, on the soft cushions, suddenly opened his eyes and rubbed his chin. A slight blush on his face while watching the vanishing pair.
'So that girl made her decision...'
[You are the luckiest man alive... if not for my help and Yumiko being such a wonderful woman...]
'What? I know... I'd have been stabbed, castrated or killed by now right?'
Serena's response took a short while, but he could hear her huffing and breaking things because he did it despite knowing.
She was quite violent after Serena stopped hiding her true feelings from him.
[Idiot... I don't care about you!]
'I love you'
[Ack!]
[Cheater...]
[Mm....]
Asmodeus lay back, his lips curling into a smile—it felt good. Earlier, he was confused and had lost his mind to worry—however, because of everything around him, and thanks to this shy goddess,
He felt he could succeed.
'You won't say it to me?!'
[I don't care!]
He closed his eyes, and the sudden feeling of stabbing pains occurred—these agonising symptoms happened every hour without a chance to stop them or control them.
"Ugh... damn it..."
[I love you... hmph!]
'That makes everything better, haha...'
[I know you're lying... I wish I could help you.]
Despite her wanting to help him, that would cause her to suffer a great punishment.
Thus, Asmodeus banned her from doing so. He insisted he could endure it and made sure that she swore not to make that choice unless he would die.
While he clutched his stomach, a sudden lullaby sounded... the same one his mother sang. Of course, the goddess was the one to sing to him as he began to fall into a comfortable sleep.
When he woke up, it would be time to leave for the north.
[~~~~]
***
Seven hours later, a carriage secretly entered the palace, carrying weapons, medicine and the woman from the Inukami tribe. Yumiko remained with Erika because someone might attack the village.
Not just that, they were also training more shrine maiden warriors and even adding swordsmanship to the menu.
Asmodeus felt much better after resting and eating. He sat waiting with Sariel on his lap and Liana leaning against his arm while watching the knights and shrine maidens gathering. They seemed both fearful and excited to be training with him in private.
'Oh... isn't that Fuuka? I can't believe she didn't quit...'
'Her swordsmanship was powerful. I should make sure to speak with her on this trip.'
"Phew... are you alright, Sariel?"
"Nn~ the food tastes good!"
Sariel ate a peach with shining eyes, despite the lore saying succubi could only feast on human essence. This girl... loved to eat fruit and fish, to the point it made him curious where it all went.
"Mmm~ My King, your muscles are so stiff and tight."
Liana was currently kneading his arms and massaging him. The succubus, on his other side, was now licking her lips clean of peach juice.
"It's all gone..."
The look of loss on Sariel's face made his chest hurt. How could she look so devastated from eating a peach?!
Thus, with a chuckle, he handed her his bowl with five peeled peaches and cream. A size much larger than the first. Her expression instantly transformed like an innocent puppy seeing a treat for the first time.
"They're your's Sariel, stop making me feel bad."
"Ehhehe~"
Before he could continue, Levia came into the room and, with her affectionate eyes, passed on her message.
"Master... Velvet and Alice have arrived!"
The words of his beloved Leviathan caused Asmodeus' whole demeanour to change—a bright and cheerful smile appeared on his handsome face while Liana, Sariel and Levia blushed. It was rare for him to show such a face that it caught them off guard.
'It seems they have indeed grown to like my smile...'
'Well it is time to part ways with many of them. I feel a bit melancholic tonight, should we drink and have fun one last time before I go?'
"Levia, can you bring them to me? Also, get Yuina to find some high-quality wine, food and have everyone gather in the hall."
"Of course, Master!"
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