Caeldaemos arrived in Nixaloq just after noon and rode into the city. After putting his Magic Cycle away, he messaged Listamati.

“Hey, where are you at? I just got into the city.”

“I’m at a small restaurant toward the central square. Just follow the main road until you see a place called Centrio’s.”

“Okay. See you soon.”

Caeldaemos started his trek through the city. Though it was more prosperous than Venture, it still had the same themes of humble coloring and attire. “Man, they weren’t kidding about the stick…” He mumbled to himself.

Many people had warned him how stringent and uptight the demon race was, but seeing it in person, it was controlled. Even children who moved in groups didn’t act out or run and play like the demi-human kids would. It kind of depressed Caeldaemos to not see laughing and smiling youth.

Finally arriving at the restaurant, Centrio’s, he went inside. The place was clean and well-kept. Several people enjoyed their meals quietly, keeping their conversations tame and not being too loud. He pulled out his Crys-Link once more.

“I’m here. Where are you?”

“(^_^)”

He chuckled, figuring she wanted him to find her. Looking about, he saw four women who were by themselves. The one thing he was sure she forgot was that he could see the status of others. It was a miss on the first one, but she was the second.

Her back was to him, so he didn’t know what she made herself to look like, so he headed over and joined her.

“Can I help you?” Listamati asked, acting annoyed.

He chuckled. “How could I not find my lovely wife?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “You cheated.”

Chuckling once more, he leaned forward to inspect her changes.

Listamati still had her original horns, wings, and tail with some minor alterations to color. Her skin, typically a light purplish blue, was now a dark blue. She had also aged herself a bit to look middle-aged.

“So, find out anything interesting?” He asked.

She shook her head. “Nothing. I think we will need to head to the capital to find out more. I had hoped with this being such a central trade hub, I might have heard something.” She huffed.

“Do we want to head there now? Or do we want to check things out here more?”

“Yes. I tapped this location as much as I could. It may be best for us to head out.” She replied.

“Okay. Shall we go? I still have that request of yours to keep.”

“Request?” Listamati tilted her head in question.

He chuckled. “You remember, right? The one where Lia got you all in trouble.”

It took a moment for her to remember, and she blushed. “Must you do that!”

Other patrons looked at them.

“Ngh.” She turned to them. “My apologies.” Listamati grabbed chuckling Caeldaemos and dragged him out of the restaurant.

As they headed to the inn, he stopped them before an OWP branch. “Oh yeah, I need some more clothes for around here.”

“I know a designer in the capital who can help you with that. There is no need to waste time here.” Listamati stated.

He smirked at her.

She realized why he was smirking. “I am not rushing for that! Get your mind out of the gutter!”

He laughed aloud, drawing some attention to himself. Reaching forward, he lovingly cupped her cheek. “I know. I know. I just can’t help myself since you are so lovely, and have not seen you in a while.”

Many of the female demons watched the public display of affection in shock while the men scowled.

“C-Cael, it is not normal to for such things. C-Come, let’s go.” She took his hand and pulled him along. “Cael.”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you.”

He smiled. “It’s my pleasure to make you happy.”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

After a three-hour break at the inn, a fully satisfied Listamati and Caeldaemos drove in the carriage toward the capital city of the demon race, Forteria.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hana joined Queen Meryl for breakfast. “Good morning, your majesty.”

The queen huffed. “Hana.”

Hana smiled and apologized. “I’m sorry, Meryl.”

Queen Meryl smiled and motioned for Hana to sit beside her.

“How are things with preparations?” Hana asked.

“They are going smoothly so far….” The queen looked away.

“What’s wrong?”

She sighed in frustration. “Some are pushing for all five heroes to be present for the meeting.”

“I see.” Hana was not thrilled about having Gabriel present, but they might not have a choice if the public put too much pressure on the queen.

“I will have a conference call with him later today to see if we can work something out. I would much rather not have him here.” Queen Meryl pouted.

Hana found her majesty’s pouting face too adorable and hugged her.

“Hana?”

“Oh, you just looked like you needed a hug.” She deflected.

“I see. Perhaps I did.” The queen giggled as she pulled away. “Perhaps I could also use some time in my LG.”

“LG? Oh! You have one of those LemoGeon systems!” Hana became excited.

The queen nodded happily. “Baron Delormond personally gifted one to me. If you wish to try them, our knightage has seven of them. I am sure they would let you use one. But good luck keeping it.” She laughed.

“Why is that?”

“The simulator is wildly popular with the knights. They have been training almost non-stop since we got them. It has had quite the effect on our knights.”

“How so?” Hana asked.

Queen Meryl smiled. “Mortality rate has greatly improved due to the increased amount of experience they now have. We had a lesser drake attack a village to the northeast, and a group of fifteen knights defeated it with only minor injuries.”

“What was the normal before?”

The queen grimaced. “Forty knights with typically losing seven to fifteen.”

Hana was impressed by the effect of the simulator. “So, you enjoy the battle simulator?”

“Gods, no!” Queen Meryl laughed. “I use the flight simulator. It creates a random environment for me to work my body and stress away. The last time I used it, I was in a snowy biome. It was chilly, but the system gave me warm clothing to wear. Normally, flyers like me have difficulty flying that high due to the thinning air and cold. It was an experience I shan’t forget anytime soon!”

“I have not seen Caeldaemos in a while. I wonder if I should visit him?” Hana asked.

“If you plan to, call ahead. I called yesterday to see if he was available to speak about some ideas I had for the simulator, but he was out. I believe he was heading to the country of demons.”

“Any idea why?” Hana asked.

Queen Meryl shook her head. “I am too busy to know the lives of every noble. Besides, he still works as a mercenary from time to time. I heard he recently made it rank 9. Pretty soon, he will be very well known amongst royals worldwide. Too bad for them that I got him first!” She giggled.

“Oh, I remember hearing a rumor about him.”

“Hahah! Do you mean the one how he has bedded many women? Some even included me.”

“What?! Really!?” Hana stopped and checked to see if anyone was too close. She leaned in and quietly whispered. “Did you?”

The queen sighed. “If you compare our sizes, he will likely break me. So, no, I have not.”

“Is there even a king consort?” Hana asked.

“Pah! As if any man is worth my magnificent self! Well, perhaps if the Demon-Lord is good like you all say, I may give him a chance to impress me.”

The two shared a laugh together just as the other three heroes entered to join them. With all present, they ate breakfast and continued their preparations to meet the Demon-Lord.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pirates… of all damn things to impede her mission, damn sky pirates have hijacked the airship Sylvia was on. And this group was not even the first one! This was the second time they had been raided. The first time a military vessel was close enough to intercede.

“Oi, check this lovely out.” One of the pirates noticed her.

“My, she is a lovely.” A grizzled old man stated as he approached. “How about it, madam? Show me a good time, and I will show you mercy. I swear by Sylfaerune.”

This disgusting bastard was a worshipper of herself!? Sylvia was shocked.

“Pull her hood back.” The man ordered.

Once her hood was pulled back, her golden hair fell like shining bits of sunshine. She coldly glared at the man with her similar golden eyes.

“Definitely a lovely. So, how about it?” He asked once more.

If Sylvia still had her divine power, she would have turned him into a pig and fed him to orcs! “I will have to decline.”

“Well,” He shrugged his shoulders. “I gave you a chance to do it willingly. Now you are just not going to enjoy it.” A cruel grin came to his face.

“No.” Sylvia stood, looking down at the man from her six-foot height. “You will not enjoy it.”

Her hair flickered to life as she channeled her power of light, something she was very familiar with, and fired a condensed beam of light through the man’s head, killing him.

“C-Captain!” “Kill her!”

The pirates rushed at her. She created a slender sword of condensed light and cut through one pirate’s shield, armor, and body like she was cutting through the air. Sylvia bent backward and dodged an attack while countering with her own. The pirate’s arm fell to the ground as he screamed.

“Dammit! Shoot!”

Some of the pirates aimed their guns at her and fired.

Sylvia flashed about the room, easily avoiding the bullets. “You are all garbage who followed a garbage goddess.” She executed them.

Michael was right. He was right all along about her being a garbage goddess. One way or another, she would make it up to him. Tilra said it. Sylvia needed to do anything she could to get his forgiveness.

Other than the pirates who believed in Sylfaerune, there was even an elf man who followed her, and he attempted to drug her. She got lucky again as some of the security on the airship already suspected him and arrested him. They were just too late to stop him from spiking her drink. She had to spend a couple of days in the medical room for monitoring and to get her stomach pumped.

Sylvia finished off the last six pirates in the room to the relief of the passengers.

“Thank you!” A woman thanked her.

Sylvia smiled. “It was my pleasure.” She needed to monitor the world more closely and stop spending so much more on herself. Io and the others were always busy managing their areas while…

A searing pain pierced her back and into her heart. Summoning her light sword, she swung behind herself and decapitated the one who stabbed her.

“Ahh! Someone! Quickly! Help her!” The woman cried.

Sylvia looked down at the man she had killed. It was the elf who had drugged her. The pirates must have let him out.

She coughed up blood and fell to her knees. People who could use healing magic rushed to heal her, but she knew it was too late. Her heart stopped, and Sylvia died for the first time, her body disappearing into motes of light.