"Finally!" Relief floods my voice as I clutch the receipt triumphantly. "I paid the rent for this month!" Okay, so technically, I had to borrow some money from Aunt Chi since my paycheck didn’t make it on time, but that’s a minor detail. The real catch? Aunt Chi’s condition.

I groan, my joy deflating. "Ugh, she wants me to visit her next Friday. I can’t go to that place alone! Azazel, can you come with me? I don’t think I can handle her." The thought of Aunt Chi’s interrogation paired with her intense homemade herbal teas gives me a headache.

Azazel leans back, exhaling as if I just asked him to fight an ancient dragon, not spend time with my eccentric aunt. "Next Friday," he repeats with a sigh that somehow makes my stomach sink. "I forgot to mention, but I’m leaving this realm next week."

"But… you didn’t even finish your research!" I protest.

"I know," he replies, the coldness in his eyes softer than usual. "But I don’t care about that anymore."

His expression is oddly genuine, and I feel something twist inside me. Sympathy? No, pity. It's so rare to see him like this, stripped of his usual indifference.

"Not going to lie," he says, and for once, his gaze meets mine directly, his eyes searching. "It was…" He pauses, and I brace myself. What will he say? A nightmare? A disaster?

"Entertaining," he finishes, a small smirk tugging at his lips.

Entertaining? I don’t know whether to feel flattered or insulted. But before I can overthink it, he continues. "From now on, I won’t stick around your apartment. I’m going to travel, see the world before I head back to Hell."

"Oh," I managed, my voice caught between excitement for him and disappointment.

“I am leaving this night to go around the world,” Azazel announced, his voice casual, and his expressions without a change, he is calm always, saying it like it's the normal thing ever.

Going around the world—a dream I can’t even begin to fathom. My "big adventures" barely stretch beyond scraping together enough for a cab ride to the center of the city for an overpriced coffee. But this guy? Azazel doesn’t have restrictions, responsibilities, or even a vague concept of being held back. He’s like a cloud drifting wherever the wind takes him, blissfully unaware of the struggles of mere mortals.

A demon lord, huh? That title alone makes it pretty obvious—he’s got lackeys, probably legions of them, to do all the dirty work while he lounges around, perfecting his smirk. Must be nice.

But enough about him. If Azazel wants to play the mysterious traveler, let him.

"Sounds cool. Maybe you’ll be entertained by the beauty of this world."

"Perhaps," he says

"So, where are you going?" I ask, with curiosity.

He pauses, a shadow of a smirk playing on his lips. “China, perhaps,” he muses, “to walk the Great Wall. I've heard it's best at sunrise when the mist clings to the stones. Or India, to witness the chaos of a marketplace brimming with life.”

I nod eagerly, but he’s not done yet. “Of course, there’s Egypt,” he adds with a spark of mischief, “where the pyramids guard secrets older than some demons I know. And perhaps I’ll wander through the forest of the Amazones,” he finishes, “to dance with the wildness or stand in the shadows of ancient ruins.”

He considers, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “Then there’s Japan,” he continues, “where I might find peace in a garden of cherry blossoms or explore the mysteries of the old Shinto shrines.”

“Wow, you actually know a lot! I thought—” I begin, only to have Azazel cut me off.

His eyes narrow in mock offense. “You thought I was an ignorant demon in your world?” He almost chuckles. “I might not like this realm, but I am a Demon Lord. Knowing the realms of living beings is essential. Remember this, Elysia: even the smallest piece of information you have more than others can make all the difference.”

He stands up abruptly. “Well, I have luggage to pack. Bye.”

I wave at his retreating figure. “Bye.”

I shake my head, shifting to another thought. “Well, at least my paycheck is coming tomorrow!” It’s a bigger paycheck, which means—

“Noodle soup premium!” I squeal, before facepalming. “Wait, no. Real food. Fruits and vegetables. I have to be strong!” I march toward the store where Maria works, determined.

The sounds of steps when I went down the stairs are combined with others stepping coming from the sideways, someone running.

Elene appears and his voice loud as ever, good thing she is not with the killer instinct with me anymore. But she still have to work on her logical sense.

“ELYSIA!!!” Elene’s excited voice pierces through my ears. She rushes up and wraps me in a bone-crushing hug.

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“We see each other at work! Why are you so attached to me? Personal space, please!” I protest.

Elene pulls back, pouting dramatically. “Fine! If you detest me so much, I’ll just cause chaos in the city.” Her sarcasm is practically tangible.

“Wait—don’t play those games with me!” I snap. “You can’t just use that guilt card! It’s unfair!”

Elene crosses her arms, smirking. “Elysia! Don’t forget, I can break your bones if I want to. I’m really strong!” Her cockiness radiates, but I grab a lock of her hair and give it a playful tug.

“And I can make you bald if I want, so behave.” I grin as she yelps.

“Ouch, fine! I was only kidding!” She protests, rubbing her head.

I lean in a little closer, trying to keep my voice steady. “Hey, Elene, did you know Azazel is leaving?”

She tilts her head thoughtfully, her crimson eyes narrowing. “Kind of. He is a demon lord, you know. Governing hell and all that. But I didn’t hear anything specific. Why?”

“He told me he’s leaving next week,” I say, crossing my arms. “But tonight, he’s starting some world tour or something.”

Elene’s face scrunches in confusion. “Wait, the world? That doesn’t sound like him at all. He’s not exactly the ‘take in the sights’ type.”

For a moment, she’s quiet, her brows furrowing as if she’s trying to crack the secret of the universe. Then her expression lights up, like a devilish light bulb just switched on. “Ah, I see it now!”

I raise an eyebrow, not sure I want to hear whatever nonsense is coming. “See what?”

“Ellysia,” she declares with all the confidence of a self-proclaimed genius, “Lord Azazel isn’t traveling to see the world. Duh!”

“Uh… yeah, he is?”

“No, no, no,” she says, wagging a finger like I’m the clueless one. “He’s obviously going to look for other girls. It’s crystal clear. He wants to find answers faster, right? What better way than flirting his way to them?”

My jaw drops. “...And?”

Elene gasps, clutching her chest like I’ve insulted her entire existence.

“What do you mean and? Elysia, if some random girl catches Lord Azazel’s attention, it would be completely unacceptable! Do you even understand the stakes here? I can’t let him get attached to other filthy human. No offense.”

“None taken,” I say flatly. Then I casually reach out and tug on a strand of her hair, earning a yelp. “And for the record, he’s not ‘our’ Azazel.”

She pouts, rubbing her head like I’ve mortally wounded her. “Don’t be so selfish, Elysia. Share him with me!”

“That’s not what I meant!” My face burns as I glare at her.

“Let’s go then!” Elene chirps, already halfway to the door.

I blink. “Go where?”

“With Lord Azazel, obviously! Let’s top him, maybe you will have to beg but it will be worth it!”

“Elene…” I pinch the bridge of my nose, my patience teetering. “I have a job. Besides, I couldn’t care less if Azazel is meeting other girls or… appreciating the so-called beauty of the world.”

“Well, I care,” she huffs, puffing out her chest like she’s volunteering for a noble crusade. “So, we’re going.”

I grab her arm before she can bolt. “Wait—no. Listen to me for a second! Azazel told me he gave up on his search for love. He said it himself!”

Elene freezes, then tilts her head like I’ve just said the dumbest thing imaginable. “Oh, poor Elysia.” Her tone drips with condescension as she pats my head like I’m some clueless child. “Lord azazel is such a charmer, he deceived you like no idea”

I slap her hand away, glaring. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Elene shrugs dramatically, twirling a strand of her hair. “Even I know him better than you, and it’s clear he lied to you. Do you seriously believe he just gave up on this quest? His hunger for curiosity, for answers? Pfft.” She folds her arms, looking at me like I’m hopeless.

“ So you are saying he did not give up, and im also saying he is going to a world tour”

Her face is like she is not understanding me.

“Elene, perhaps he is looking for a girl around the world to still look for his answer about love”

“That makes sense” She responded me back, good thing she is agree for once.

I blink at her, unimpressed. “Okay... I have to go. Groceries won’t buy themselves.”

She perks up immediately. “Huh? Elysia cooking? Fine! Count me in!”

“Nope.” I cross my arms. “I’m also visiting a friend who works there. And I don’t want someone causing problems.”

Her jaw drops in mock betrayal. “A friend? So soon, you’re replacing me?!”

I smirk, deciding to play along. “Relax, Elene. You’re… quite the bomb.”

Before I can capitalize on her rare moment of silence, she suddenly brightens. “Hey! What if we do a sleepover? A proper girl’s night!”

That catches me off guard. “A sleepover?” I repeat, as if she’s just suggested summoning a demon (again). “I mean… that’s actually not a terrible idea. But…”

I trail off, hesitant. My gut is already screaming that inviting Elene over would be asking for trouble. I don’t need to see the future to predict something will go catastrophically wrong. But at the same time, a small part of me feels guilty. She’s trying, in her own chaotic way, and I’ve been brushing her off.

Elene interrupts my thoughts with her ultimate weapon: puppy eyes. Her big crimson gaze softens, sparkling with fake innocence.

I groan, already regretting my next words. “Fine. But there are conditions. No trouble, and absolutely no demonic stuff.”

Elene's face lights up like Christmas morning. “Okay! I promise! No demonic talk. None at all.