"I can feel that, fufu. Yet it''s too early to be doing these things. You didn''t even confess properly." Yuina pouted cutely before Asmodeus kissed the tip of her nose.

"You''re right, but now isn''t the best time."

"It''s always ''not the best time'' for you... Well, I suppose it won''t change. You are that kind of man." She sighed helplessly, staring up at him with expectant eyes as her blonde locks fell over her shoulders.

"Since we are going into the woods, our clothes have been made more fitting... we should look fine?" Yuina turned to see herself in the small mirror on the carriage door, a mirror that she had brought along.

Yuina wore a leather tunic with a high-grade cloth blouse and pants underneath; though her long boots were made of beast hide, they looked quite stylish. Asmodeus also wore similar clothing, with his collar propped and a buttoned vest under a high-quality white coat.

"Hm? Well... you look adorable to me, Yuina."

"Hmph! You said that to all the girls! Even the knights!" Yuina frowned, pushing his cheek softly before laying her head on his shoulder. Her five tails swayed gently from side to side while she felt his heart beat faster, yet his body remained motionless.

The two rode together in their carriage while the others did the same thing.

***

Meanwhile, at the Grand Hunting grounds, the Empress sat in her private tent quietly; opposite her was a youthful blonde male in priest garbs. His eyes flashed with a black light while mist began to flow from Aurelia''s body.

"Empress, you cannot let those traitors steal your throne—this isn''t God''s will."

"G....gods....will..... traitors?" A strange slur in her tone, and her eyes looked dim as she started speaking. "They... they will all die..."

"That''s correct. No one must be left alive... That boy especially... He will ruin your plans to revive our god."

"Ahhh... God... he is coming back?" She whispered.

Aurelia''s expression was akin to an intoxicated woman under an aphrodisiac; however, this enchantment was nothing kind like those drugs. It drained her life force and brainwashed her.

"Once you gather enough souls... the dark lord will return to our world. If you do as I say, he will reward you..." The man''s face shifted slightly, revealing an inhuman appearance covered by his illusionary magic.

''The prophecy of the demon lord and angel will bring the downfall of enemies kingdom... hehehe.''

The man thought to himself and opened his palm to reveal a shining purple orb, absorbing all the surrounding mana.

"I wonder how you will act when everything begins... Will you rise above everyone else or crumble under the weight? Demon King Asmodeus..." Pope Johan Vidus Pontymare chuckled while holding his black prayer symbol. "Your body should have begun falling apart thanks to my lord''s ''gift'' by now. Hahaha!"

Suddenly, the flap on the tent entrance flew open as two figures appeared before them.

"You must be quiet if you want to speak of secrets, Father Johan..." One girl muttered with her hand behind her back. However, her chest held the emblem of a serpent and two daggers.

A member of the death cult.

"Oh... it''s you, the whore of an apostle."

Her hands carried an elegant spear engraved with red runes, which emanated mana around its edges.

"Hey! Asmodeus!" A loud voice called from behind, and Asmodeus turned to see Lukas jogging over with a sword over his shoulder.

"Oh, Lukas, what''s the matter?"

Since the accident and everything cleared up, Lukas and Asmodeus started speaking. It didn''t mean they were friends, but rather that Prince Lukas wanted to train with him.

The training itself was harsh; however, given how demons trained, it became intense, and somehow, the young prince started seeing Asmodeus as a big brother.

"I was just wondering if you''re all set for today''s tournament. It seems my mother and many other nobles are acting strange. I just wanted to warn you."

"Hmm? Your mother?" Asmodeus cocked an eyebrow and scratched his cheek. ''I haven''t seen the Empress for a while. I wonder if she''s planning something...''

"Yes... I just found her far colder than usual. Even Sister Juliet is getting restless."

"Oh, hello, King Asmodeus..." Juliet called to him shyly while walking over in her unique outfit.

Unlike her noble gowns and dresses, she wore a short skirt with black tights underneath and high leather boots. Her weapon was a crossbow with a small dagger tucked in her boot. She also held a bag filled with arrows.

"Hm... Well, it doesn''t matter. The important thing is that you all remain safe and enjoy the hunt, which isn''t too difficult. Even if someone plans a trick against us."

"Asmodeus... are we really splitting up?" Liana looked worried before she hugged his arm.

In reality, many of the women felt worried because he would be going alone, yet they couldn''t say anything.

Not even Velvet, who could be quite aggressive at times, stepped in to complain about Asmodeus going by himself. Since she knew it would only cause trouble, Velvet kept herself calm.

"It should be the best, they will send the strongest after me, that means the rest of you can fight and survive." Asmodeus looked at the worried faces of his women.

"What if you''re wrong, and he chooses to target one of our groups instead?" Alice added with a cold gaze.

''I know she has a good point, but...'' Asmodeus turned and saw Aurelia finally emerging from her tent.

The beautiful and cold Empress held a bow with a quiver filled with black-fletched arrows.

"Alright everyone, please divide yourself according to your pre arranged groups, the hunt will begin shortly."

Empress Aurelia instructed the nobles.

''Although I prepared, the doubts of Velvet, Alice and the others... I know they aren''t wrong.'' However, Asmodeus felt danger today, as if something might have happened if he hadn''t taken this action. ''If I''m not careful, I might regret everything...''

"Asmodeus, you better come back in one piece!" Ciela suddenly shouted while poking him with the tip of her elven blade.

She looked stunning in her hunting clothes, but she made the nobles turn pale after seeing someone pointing a weapon at another human so visibly.

''I hope that everything goes according to plan...''