In the dark lands of the northeast, from the capital of Grigor a dull land filled with a murky ground of mud, water and blood. She by the demons, knights and heroes who tried to protect the world from darkness.

"Hurry, bring those stones and start to form a new wall!" Alan''s loud voice sounded, his body wearing silver armour with the emblem of Grigor on his chest.

Despite the strange loss of divine power from the church, Alan''s status as a hero remained. There were quiet rumours that Lumina, the goddess of light, fell into darkness, shrouding the land in mystery.

However, the Grigorian royal family did not take any action to condemn or dismiss the rumours, adding to the intrigue.

''As Ryuji said, there would be a significant change in the temple after he left.''

Alan''s blue eyes shimmered with light—he didn''t lose hope even after he lost Lumina''s blessing, instead because something else appeared, which made him almost cry with laughter.

''To think a demon king could also bless a hero.'' Of course, this blessing was not made public, and thanks to a certain goddess, only those who were sworn to an oath to protect Asmodeus in his new form could read it.

"That''s great, we need the third and fourth defensive walls complete first. I will hold off the monsters should they come, my knights. Will you follow me?"

Before Alan left, his brother made a full recovery. The king Avandar no longer seemed to weaken. His wife knelt in tears and apologised; after the event happened, it felt like something inside her vanished.

The ambitious queen vanished as if hollowed out before she revealed all her evil deeds to Avandar, swearing an oath to disappear the day he found another woman that he truly loved. Close to a slave contract, the oath she swore meant that she would no longer act shamefully and would work for the betterment of the kingdom.

''To think that Lord Qwass would change so much too... It seems we were all quick to judge each other. The curse of Grigor would cause the most loyal to be twisted and bent by a power from the goddess... Now he is like the queen and has begun efforts to help the poor and created a program for commoners to join the knights...''

At first, Alan didn''t trust him, but the day when Duke Qwass bowed before him and actually cried caused Alan to realise he was also suffering from the curse—it made him blind and too judgemental.

''Although their sins cannot be forgiven and thanks to my brother''s kindness, he didn''t kill the two children... It''s probably sheer fate that both of them were actually my brothers when we performed the bloodline test... The queen seemed shocked herself.''

"My brother is also changing for the better. No longer is he negative..." Instead, for the two weeks after Asmodeus left for the South, he would train with his younger brother while teasing him about his future wife. ''Akari crafted the tabards for my knights... what a lovely woman, so kind and generous.''

''Maybe learning those two children were his was a blessing in disguise. Although he planned to execute her, thanks to them not being bastard children... Did it save my brother''s heart a little? Maybe the goddess wasn''t as cruel as she tried to make the world believe.''

"Yes, Your Highness, we will work extra hard!"

"Phew... to think we''re getting paid triple our usual wage, and the kingdom is taking care of our families."

The oath between Ryuji and Alan caused a significant change in the kingdom''s dark and stagnant ways. Alan replaced his sister on the front lines. However, he didn''t stop there, cutting away the corrupt who fought with half hearts; instead, he used his influence as both the duke and hero to bring those who desired to protect the kingdom for whatever reason.

''Ryuji, the ideas you gave me truly worked... You have no idea how free I feel now. I hope we can meet again soon, my dear friend.''

"Despite many of the kingdom''s problems being fixed, many remain and although I cannot walk the same path as you... My brother I believe one day we will meet again. Even if I have to beat some sense into you!"

''Though the church is a little doubtful these days, they seem to worship the god of death or rather try to edge off Lumina as their goddess, even on the mainland. Someone else was the mastermind behind these things. Neither my sister-in-law nor Duke Qwass knew anything substantial. Let''s write a letter to my sisters and Aunt Velvet.

"Yes, you changed before, but now your body is going through another change. To think you would reach this level so fast; you are a wonder to me... no to us.... just being close, able to feel the energy leaking from your body, helps her endure the pain."

Asmodeus felt guilty but also confused because he never noticed her suffering so much before. "Is there a reason, Sariel?"

"It''s because you are too amazing... my lov-- I mean, lord." Sariel''s face seemed to blush, something rare for the perfect form that sometimes offered him wisdom. Her soft blue cheeks were now pink before her hand grasped his tight. "Because of your gentle affection and lack of greed, she is going to evolve... how she can evolve with only a small piece of our soul is beyond me.

Asmodeus, you truly are a strange man. Any other might have already taken her as his consort... or lover. Then I would be bound to you for life already."

"Hmm? Would that be a bad thing? Being mine?"

Sariel giggled, turning her eyes upwards, gazing at his handsome face as she enjoyed the warmth coming from his body, the smell of a mixture of liquor, sweat and a scent of leather. "Who knows? But because you waited, gave her love and affection and treated her as a real person, she could evolve... we could evolve."

"Oh, that''s interesting. I wonder what will happen to you both."

"Hmm... maybe you''ll find out if you''re lucky. Ah, I hope that the pain subsides."

The pair relaxed on the sofa, a calm moment looking at the passing world; Asmodeus enjoyed these rare moments of silence with Sariel—both of them soothed his soul that desired combat and carnal pleasure in their ways.

"Sariel."

"Hmm? What''s wrong, master?

"Am I doing the right thing?"

Sariel smiled, "You are asking such a question now... But I think that question is a little wrong... even the cute girl inside me agrees. The better question would be, are you happy right now? My dear Master, Asmodeus."

''Happy?''

Asmodeus sat by the window in the room he shared with the three beauties, Yumiko, Liana, and Erika... He didn''t notice, but just thinking about those three and the others he lived with caused his lips to curl into a deep smile, his eyes softening before Sariels hand cupped his cheek.

"See, that''s all that matters to us, your smile."

"Really, are you sure you aren''t a dream?"

"Fufu, if I was, would I tell you? Even if I am, isn''t that why our race is called the demon of dreams?"

Find adventures at m_v l|e-NovelFire

The pair laughed softly as the red sky above the city twinkled with stars, the wind gently blowing the curtains, causing a cool breeze to enter the room.

''If I am happy, Sariel... both of you are a big part of it.''