Walking through the portal once more, we re-entered my palace. I made an objective to round up the guards, so I made my way to the barracks that was just outside the grounds. Instead of Void Stepping or creating a portal, I chose to walk there, since it wasn’t far and I could gather guards as I pass them on my way.

“So, what are we doing? Do you have a plan?” Chloe seemed anxious to know the details, especially since her dad was involved somehow. Ashley and Louise seemed just as anxious but for different reasons, it seemed as though they were sensing trouble coming up.

“Relax, everything will pan out in the end. I will find out who is behind the plot to get rid of my race, but I doubt they will do anything anytime soon. Besides, I have a prisoner to sentence, a few programs I want to set in place and invitations I need to send out.”

Louise seemed unsatisfied with my answer, “But it seems like this is not the end of it though.”

To that I replied, “I know it isn’t, however there is a kingdom to run and I can’t go anywhere until I stabilize everything. I’m going to set up some programs and regulations that keep the people occupied while I investigate. Trust me, I have got this under control.”

We then walked in the barracks where we were greeted with a salute followed by the order of attention. Everyone was as still a statue, so I ordered, “At ease, I have a mission for you all, but I need all of you here. Is everyone present?”

A nearby Captain responded with, “No sir, we gather everyone shortly.” He then whistled to five others and they followed him out the door. I chose a rather comfortable seat and centered it in the middle of the room and waited. By the time the rest of the guards arrived, I had finished writing all the invitations and placing my seal on them.

“Troops, soldiers, guards, I have mission for all of you. I have no idea if the maids told you or not but my parents are no longer with us. No, your mission is not to catch the suspect as I have already done that. I need two of you to go guard the dungeons, and two of you to inform Duke Adolf of the news. I also need to invite the other dukes to a coronation that will be held in two weeks. The two guards that will inform Adolf of the news will also give him the invitation. I will need groups of three to go out to each dukedom. Be hasty in this, I want the farthest Dukedom of Fuspijan to hear of it within the week, so that way they have a week to travel back. Understood?”

Most of them agreed however a few guards raised some questions like, “Isn’t Oclen directly opposite of the Astral Kingdom? Isn’t Fuspijan that Island Dukedom? A week is pretty short to travel that big of a distance.”

I answered their questions, “Yes it is, however because of the location of Starwind City within the Astral Kingdom, Fuspijan is the direct opposite. And yes, the Fuspijan Dukedom is an Island, so that means either an Air or Water Demon has to travel there. If your training by your superiors is as good as I think it is then a week should be plenty of time.” At that point I made sure to glance at the Captain and he just stared at the soldiers as if to say not to embarrass him. “All except for the squad leaving for Fuspijan, dismissed.”

The room then preformed an exodus, with only me, the girls and three guards left in the rooms. The guards consisted of two Air Demons and one Water Demon. If there were all Air Demons then the trip would run smoothly, however Water Demons don’t have any wings. So I asked them, “Hey who threw the groups together? What are your names?”

The Water Demon responded, “Private Nikaia. Captain Ceobal put us in squads a few weeks ago. I don’t know why he wanted us to go to Fuspijan, probably to see us fail like usual.”

The tallest Air Demon agreed, “Private Arne, yes, since we fail at most things, we have become a laughing stock in the guard.”

The last Air Demon then chimed in, “Private Detlef. We haven’t been promoted like the rest of platoon. He even stopped giving us proper training, so that we may continue to be used as an example of weakness. It’s been going on for four years now.”

“I see, well it’s time to pay that captain a visit.”

They all jumped up in full alert, “Please don’t do that! He will know that we complained to you and make us do extra duty.”

“Haha, no need to worry, I won’t mention that we even talked, I’ll just make a wager with him.” I try to persuade.

Private Detlef asked, “What is it you wager?”

“I know it’s asking a lot but trust me. I got this.”

They grudging accepted my vague proposal and wait for further instructions, while I made my way toward the palace again, undoubtable where the Captain of the guard would be. After I sent the girls off to the room, I searched the palace and I found the Captain in the Ballroom patrolling. I waved him over and he joined my side as I walked with so he could continue his patrolling.

I initiated the conversation, “So I noticed that the squad that is meant to reach Fuspijan capital city of Halo’s Keep is not on par with the rest of the soldiers. Do you think that they’ll make it to their destination on time?”

The captain slowed his pace and scoffed at the thought of the three of them, “Those three have the training of the Astral Kingdom’s finest. If they botch this, it’ll be extra duty for a month, scratch that three months!”

“Ah, well if you say so, then it must be true. But man to man, do you really think they’ll make it? They seem kinda weak to me, kinda laughable.”

The Captain wore a smile and said, “I am not the only that thinks so, alright. Sir, to be honest I don’t think they stand a chance of completing the mission. I will just use their weakness as example for the rest of soldiers. It helps raise moral and keeps performance up.”

He smiled as if he was the sole reason why are military was as good as it is now. Scumbag. “Alright, how I make a bigger example then? If they are not to complete their quest within the allotted time, they will discharged from the service.” The 

Captain looked like he could roll with the idea, but I continued, “However if they were to complete such a task in time, then you will be forced to resign for failure of leadership and misappropriation of power.”

The Captain looked a little fidgety at first but then, as if he reminded himself on who we were talking about, he straightened up and looked me square in the eye, “I will have their resignations in two weeks sir!” With that he continued his patrol and left me. It appears he is so confident in the outcome that he didn’t even take it as a threat.

…

Back at the barracks, I hear the call of attention and I motion for them to be at ease, “Alright I gambled with your careers.” With that they groaned, “But not worry, his is also on the line as well.”

Arne complained, “What’s the point if we lose anyway? We have no chance, and we could have even left an hour ago!”

“Ah, but we are going to cheat a little. I hate corruption with a passion. Don’t tell anybody, but I am going to fix this Kingdom’s feudal corruptions very soon as well. If everything goes accordingly, then the Demon Realm and possibly the Imperial Domain will do so as well.”

The three then relaxed a bit but Nikaia chimed, “How are we going to cheat? Fuspijan is so far away.”

Three pair of eyes landed on me once again, “Follow me.” is all I replied. We marched from the barracks back into the palace’s West wing and walked into the portal room without being spotted by the Captain. “Alright, you see this?” When they nodded, “This is a portal, I created it two hours ago. This portal leads straight into the throne room of the Demon King’s palace.”

They stared at it with awe, “But that’s in Askines!”

I answered with, “Indeed it is. My Mana reserves are back to full so I can create another one to a Dukedom that is close by unless one of you has been to Fuspijan?”

Nikaia then spoke up, “I have family that live in Fuspijan! I think they live in Featherfall, just East of Halo’s Keep. I visit there often from my hometown Stuxumt!”

“Stuxumt… Stuxumt, isn’t that in Raprana?” I inquired?

“Yes it is! To outsider’s it’s just a lot of water and only a lake to them, but we call it home. Most of the busy cities are underwater including the capital.” She started to trail off and reminisce on old memories.

"Alright since you have memories inside Fuspijan, I need you to place your hand on the wall and remember a specific place in great detail.” She agreed and placed her hand on the bit of wall beside the other portal. Activating the skill, an archway appeared around Nikaia’s figure, I then fed Mana into the archway and felt the familiar sensation that left me exhausted a second time today.

The Blue energy spun from the outer edges of the archway until it met up in the center and then presented a room with a bed in the middle of it. The room was dark and it looked as the view of the room was coming from the closet. Everything looked a little empty and tidy, so I assumed that it was just Guest bedroom. I will erase this portal after they comeback.

Turning back to the very impressed Privates, I said, “There, that’s it. I will close the portal after you comeback with the Duchess. You may go anytime you wish, you may explore the area a bit. Just do me a favor, commit the inside of the room to memory in great detail. I wish to have a connection there. Until then, I bid you safe travels, I must turn in.”

They all stared at the portal as if they still couldn’t comprehend it. I smiled to myself a bit, I couldn’t help but to show off, now could I? Oh well, I need to return to my room otherwise I might be drawn to war by the girls upstairs.

After climbing the stairs and walking down the winding hall way, I opened the door to my room. The sight before my eyes was absolutely amazing, there was a Ashley stepping out of her panties, Louise just in her underwear, Chloe in nothing but panties trying to put her shirt on, and Aria stark naked. Maddie was in the back doing who knows what, wait was she going through my belongings?

The door I was holding made a noise so they all looked at me, once I had all eyes on me I shut the door as if it didn’t happen. A lot of noise and rumbling later, the girls were pulling on one side of the door and I was pulling on the other.

From the other side I heard Chloe say, “Hey, come on in! Why are trying to stay out there?”

“Because I’m trying to protect your purity!” I reasoned.

Louise spoke up, “You already promised me children, so come on in!”

“I said after marriage! Besides I have an exhausting day and I just need some sleep. Please understand.” I pleaded.

Silence, they stopped pulling on the nob and said nothing in return, I was about to ask what happened then I noticed that the doorknob turned red hot with my hand still attached. Quickly I let go and began blowing on my hand as a first instinct. When I let go, the door opened and I was pulled into my own bedroom.

Chloe was looking at Louise, “I told you it would work.” I was then herded onto the bed where I was laid face up wings spread beneath me. So I couldn’t move Ashley and Maddie got on my left wing and Cloe with Louise on my right. While Aria snuggled up on my chest.

“We realize that you’ve had a long day, and that you need rest. We promise we take this to far, after all we won’t stop when it comes to after the marriage. By the way when did you say we would get married? I’ve already told father about it, and he is all too eager.” Chloe smiled.

“Wait, what did you tell him exactly? I don’t want your father going to war with over a marriage date issue.” I gulped.

“Well, I might have told him it would be in a few weeks…” She drew a circle on my chest before looking me in the eye.

I looked at all of them one by one, “Ok, since the Demon King knows, and Louise’s parents might as well be written off as dead, and Aria doesn’t have any parents that I know of, I will have to make a trip to the Imperial Domain tomorrow. After that, we will have a ceremony date. It will be after the coronation though. I will also get my own parents approval.”

Louise gave me a sad look, “My Prince, isn’t your parent’s…”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Yes, they perished in the Void, however, I can call them back briefly every once and a while. I can’t tonight because I am exhausted.” Four of them looked impressed, Aria just smiled a bit.

Ashley then fidgeted, “Are we really going to the Imperial Domain tomorrow?”

“Yes, indeed. I will also invite the humans to the coronation as well.” I added, dismissing her nervousness. “I see that you are nervous for some reason, I can’t exactly move to comfort you, but know this, I will solve whatever problem that you may have.”

Ashley visibly relaxed after hearing those words. “Thank you,” was all she said.

I was about to respond but my mouth was covered by Chloe’s, she had immediately invaded my mouth with her tongue, I tried to fight back but my forces were caught off guard, making my fight useless, all the while turning this surprise into a passionate kiss. After a moment she pulled back and we both started to pant for more oxygen or for each other, I couldn’t tell.

Next Louise used her tongue as reinforcements and started the next wave of attack and pleasure on my already routed forces. Though at first there was no sign of attack, her tongue did slip by mine as if to coax it out of a hiding hole, then slowly swathed over it as if trying to get a taste of it. Her attack wasn’t as sudden but it was just as erotic. After she pulled away, I was already getting light headed because of the exhaustion from earlier that day and the constant oxygen deprivation, it was really doing a number on me.

After she pulled away I felt Aria snuggle up to face as she decided to lick my cheek. Then after a moment she dove into a kiss, there wasn’t as much tongue as the others, but the innocence behind it was turning me on none the less. They may have pinned my wings but they didn’t pin my arms. Reaching up, I meant to grab her arms to hold her back. I ended up touching her hair, which made me have the urge to stroke her hair and mess with her ears.

After stroking her hair a few times, I felt completely at ease and by the time she pulled away, I had already passed out, KOed by a long day and stress.

…

Waking up I saw that some position had changed but it was still more or less the same, with me being pinned. I did notice that Maddie had gone out of the room for some reason. My stirring did awaken Aria, who was still on my chest. Seriously if this girl doesn’t stop this, I won’t be able to sleep without her there on my chest. Maybe that was the fur ball’s plan all along.

She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and saw that I was awake. She didn’t say a word to me as she leaned over and stole another kiss before happily lying closer to my face. She rubbed cheeks with mine and went back to sleep. Oi, stay up at least.

My hands start to idly stroke her hair, massaging my hands with the threads of hair that my hands glided by. It was really relaxing. After an uncertain amount of time flew by the others started to stir and wake up on their own. Each giving me a hot morning kisses before getting up freeing me from my prison of flesh. Forgetting about Aria cuddled up next to me, I sat up and Aria slumped to my lap.

Everyone started getting dressed without too much of a fuss, I kinda just sat back and petted Aria. Aria was content with it and stayed where she was at in her night gown. I then stood up and demanded everyone’s attention, “Alright today’s schedule. I am about to go say ‘good morning’ to our prisoner, he should be awake enough for the greeting. I want you girls to not see any of it. Next up is a construction of a circular room I’m going to use as a lobby for the portals; that should be a breeze with the Earth Demon builder experts. Next will be the welcoming of Duchess Periphoia, and the sequential firing of Captain Ceobal. Afterwards I will construct several portals in the newly created room; that will take me a few hours and would like some company. I will then head with Ashley to the Imperial Domain. After we get things done there, I will summon my mother and hold a conversation there. When it is all said and done, it will be about evening when I get done.”

Chloe spoke up, “Why are you going to Imperial Domain again?”

“At least pay attention Chloe, I said I was going over to the Imperial Domain to settle some business. Invitations and the what not, I will be back to talk to my mother afterwards, then we are free for the next week and a half, with only greeting Dukes and Duchesses when they arrive.”

“Oh, so can I come along?” She inquired. After she raised her question, I noticed that the other girls stopped what they were doing to listen to my reply.

“Absolutely not, it is the Imperial Domain after all. I know that segregation and racism has died down, but if I bring more demons with me it will look like an invasion when I pop into the Grand Palace. So I hope you understand.”

Chloe looked depressed but nodded and everyone continued getting dressed and filed out to the kitchen to see what was for breakfast. Walking down the stairs, the smell of chocolate was overwhelming. It took me back to my days on Earth, a few days before my departure to Japan, I woke up to my father making me chocolate pancakes and bacon, using the bacon grease to cook the eggs. Dad’s breakfast was the best. Coming back to my senses, I walk into the kitchen to see Maddie making a giant chocolate cake. She was covered in flour and sugar and there was chocolate everywhere.

“Oh hey guys, I was struck by inspiration to make something. So I made a cake. How’s it look?” Maddie pointed the question to me.

“Well I see you took my lessons to heart, especially that making a mess is clearly the most fun way to do it.” To that she smiled, but I continued, “However you messed up. Cake is not a breakfast food. We will give this to the staff of the palace, in the mean time I will fix us something.” Looking around I realized something was off. “Hey, Maddie.”

She looked up from her defeated posture, “Hmmm?”

“Where are the maids?”

She scratched her chin trying to recall, succeeding in rubbing more flour on her face, “I believe they are in the pantry.”

Rushing to the pantry, I open the door and out falls at least fifteen of the maids. “Why’d you trap them in there?”

She shoved her nose skyward, “They were telling me to stop, and tried to take over cooking.”

I just looked at her for a moment, “It’s their job to take care of the Master and guests. Of course they would try to stop you. However mom used to cook around here too, so it’s not like you can’t reason with them.” Maddie looked defeated again, and just sulked off to a corner. Ah, I better say good morning to the scumbag, but I got keep everyone here, “Hey, Maddie, I have a job for you. Teach them how make pancakes, with my favorite flavor.” The girls all perked up and crowded around Maddie.

With a smooth distraction, I walked out of the room and headed to the hall past the throne room. Walking down the long hall I gazed at the portraits of my parents that lined the halls. Each one brought a pang that stung my heart briefly before the pangs magically left. I will thank the goddess eventually. I reached the end of the hall that turned into a stair case, to go up would mean going into the East Tower, to go down would mean to enter the Dungeon.

So I descended down the spiral stair case and with it tossed away every shred of humanity I had. This puss ball screwed up and I will let him know that with every fiber of his being, for I will break his body, then his spirit, then his mind. Walking down the long, dark corridor beneath the palace, I passed by some empty cells. Some of the cells actually had inmates, but they were quite. They aren’t my concern as of yet, my concern lays within the torture chamber.

Walking into the poorly lit room, I stepped into the light that barely shined. When I came between the light and Janus, he woke up and glared at me. “Oh, that’s not how you say good morning, especially to your good host.” His face sunk low, this look made him seem very pitiable since his face was hung low and his arms strung up in rusty shackles. The bruises and cuts I left on him yesterday seemed to have healed slightly. I need to fix that, so I punched him in the nose, breaking it again.

He glared at me with a blood flowing from his face and tried to speak up but the only noise that came out of his throat was a hoarse grumble, it was clearly unintelligible. So I loosen the straps on his neck and he went into coughing fit. Looking around the room I saw a pot that had been put on boil, no doubt for the tea that the guard was going to drink.

Grabbing the boiling pot I walk over to the dirt bag, “I see, you must be parched, here have a drink.” I neared the boiling pot of water toward his face, his face just inched away the closer I brought it. So I grabbed a cup off a nearby table and pour the boiling liquid into it and I set down the pot with only the cup in hand.

“I said, ‘Drink!’” Grabbing a fist full of hair, I yanked down, forcing his head to look up and for mouth to open in process, I immediately toss the liquid down his throat. His body convulsed in agony as his esophagus blistered and rasp wailing could be heard from him which prompted me throw more scolding water down his throat. His hoarse screaming became gurgles as he was forced to swallow some of the water given to him.

After a bit I stop and sit down and look at his face twisted in pain, “You know humans would have died by now, because they have more fragile bodies. However it’s a different story when it comes to us demons, when we are involved we can come up with some creative tortures that won’t kill us immediately like it would a human.” I stand back and I pull a silver knife from my Void Space. I grabbed his left hand, his only hand, and I cut off his last few remaining fingers.

With his fingers in hand, I stab my knife in three locations, each just an inch away from his heart. I then stab each finger into each wound near his heart and leave them there. Using some of my Mana, I infuse the fingers’ nerves with mana, making them spasm. The fingers just wriggled with an inch of his heart on three sides.

The slime ball was able to pull off just a grunt with each stab of the knife but his composure broke when the fingers started to move. Next I pulled out a Demon’s Blood Rose. I section of into five bits and threw them into the boiling water. As I waited for the rose to react to the water I put mana into fingers and I start tracing his veins and arteries in his right arm. I blocked the flow of the veins and accelerated the flow of the arteries.

His arm swelled up instantaneously, gorged with blood, his arm turn from purple to black, growing to twice the width it started as. His screams were reinvigorated, but right before his arm popped I restored the flow and went back to the rose. 

Extracting the soggy petals, I laid it upon the table and chopped it to fine bits, the petals oozed a green liquid now. I scraped the ooze into a jar and threw the petals away.

Looking back at the murderer, I saw that he was eyeing the poison really hard. “Ah, yes, what did you call it, ‘Soulless Anemia’? I would inject all of it into you, killing you within a few hours, but I want you to suffer for the rest of your life.” I trace his arm one more time and it swells to the size it was before, I then dip my knife into the poison and jab it straight into his arm, repeatedly. I end it with completely cutting off the circulation, leaving the arm to rot and decompose under the poison, while leaving the host to feel everything while not dying.

“I guess I’ll just let you rot here for a few days before I come back here.” I say as I exit the room. Upon exiting I look at the guards and tell them that they are free to use his body as a dart board. Looking closely at one of the guards I recognized him to be of the flamboyant nature and I ring him in and say, “And of course you could use him to ‘satisfy’ your needs as well as experimentation.” With that he blushed and smiled as he began to brainstorm the possibilities.

I think he must have been really frustrated lately to accept my offer that quickly. I smile to myself as I exit the dungeons and rejoin the world above.