A/N: So, the drama's intensifying here hehe. Will tone it down for the next chapters to make way for fluffy scenes, and then the drama comes back again. Can't live without it. Enjoy reading, folks!

Emi has two things she needed to confirm to herself. All those times spent on spying on him when she first discovered who he really was, those times she watched him from afar do surprising things for others she hadn't expected a man of his caliber would do, it all comes down to these scary objectives she has set upon herself.

Maou came back inside saying that they'll be out of her hair as soon as Chiho finds the sleeping NEET, but she wasn't ready to see them off, since he made her all curious with the whole 'I've been meaning to ask you something' deal, and she's not happy with beating herself up about it before bed if he doesn't tell her what it was.

She was about to pull him aside for a bit, but, she wasn't really comfortable doing all of that with the Ashiya watching them. When she told to herself 'ah, to hell with it', and tried to call him out as he sat next to her on the table, the door opened, revealing a rather disgruntled Urushihara rubbing his eyes with Chiho trailing behind.

The high school girl invited them to go grab a bite at this new Yakiniku restaurant that just opened up. Of course, the forever-broke demons said they'd come some other time in order to protect was what she learned was the last bit of cash they had for this month. Emi had to turn her offer down, saying that she has a few things to take of, which wasn't entirely a lie.

She seemed disappointed at first, but then, Suzuno announced she'd love to go with her, and that seemed enough to cheer her up.

Now, she has her place all to herself again, and she was ecstatic to finally breathe from the lack of bodies standing in her living room. Having seven people move around this cramped space sort of feels suffocating.

She slumped down on her couch, exhausted. So many things happened in just one day, and she thought that she deserved to take a satisfying nap, before waking up again and start cooking up some dinner.

One by one, her problems just keep on piling up, and she wasn't sure if she has the willpower to face them another day.

First, she sent Rika running. Then, comes the growing mix of emotions building up in her regarding a certain part-timer. And, lastly, Chiho and Ashiya, who she knew had their suspicions between her and Maou.

She was hoping if she could text him to see if she could somehow come over to 'Devil's Castle' tomorrow (did she really just called Villa Rosa Sasazuka that?), but what she was planning came flooding back to her, so she didn't.

Emi realized that she should've done this from the very beginning. She could feel a heavy weight from every word Ashiya had thrown at her. It got her thinking.

She knew that what she's about to propose to the demon lord will most likely end up in a huge uproar. She couldn't blame them, because if she was in their shoes, she'd probably think she's gone bonkers.

But, no matter what they'll say, accuse her for conspiring with the enemy or beg her to change her mind, the real answer she's been searching for lies within the enemy.

It's time she started acting on her own volition rather than do what was she was designed to do.

A small presence climbed up the spot on her left, and she didn't have to turn her head to see who it was.

Here comes the first trial. She felt uneasy, asking her daughter about something a kid like her definitely won't understand. But, at the same time, it was perfect, because whatever questions thrown at her will be answered honestly, and that'll give her the push she needed to head down to Maou. Hopefully.

Alas=Ramus stole her mother's attention by wrapping her arms around her waist in a hug, and her adorable face brought a smile to her lips. If she only had short nails, then she would've pinch those chubby cheeks around, but she was too tired to even try lifting a finger.

"Mama? Is papa still sick? Where is he?"

She moved to the side and hoisted her up, letting her legs stand on top of her lap. Did she grow even heavier? Emi poked her stomach, and Alas tilted her head to the side, confused at her mother's actions.

She's grown fatter, she thought.

"He's all better now, sweetheart, although, he shouldn't be working tomorrow. He's still recovering"

She considered her statement for a moment, her mouth pursed as she thought a bit, before firing up another question. "What happens if he went to work?"

"Then, we'll fly to Mgronald's and force him to go back home", she brushed away a purple strand of her hair away behind her ear, and Alas=Ramus brightened up when she heard the name of her father's workplace.

"And then, buy nuggets?"

She laughed, shaking her head. There's just no denying her.

"Sure. Nuggets sound good"

"Is papa going to come back here?"

This was it. This was what she has been aiming for this entire time, and Alas=Ramus was the one to engage the conversation for her.

Instead of answering, she kept quiet. This was the right moment, to ask her about her father, but something held her back, and now she didn't know how she was supposed to answer her question.

Was it really alright to do this? At this point, there's not that much room for her to back down anymore.

Thankfully, she didn't have to wait that long. Alas wiggled free from her grasp, climbing down and started skipping towards her room. She was a bit puzzled by her sudden change of mood, but then she sprung back into the living with her drawings on hand, crumpling the edges of the papers.

Emi watched her scramble them all on the floor as she looked them over one by one, trying to find which drawing she was looking for.

Her eyes scanned them all over, until she scooped up the one furthest from the left, showing it to her.

"Who are these people?"

"It's everyone!

If she could piece things together, then she was sure they were in Villa Rosa Sasazuka here. Sitting around in a circle with a table in the middle, she, Chiho, Rika, and the other residents of the run-down apartment had long, noodle smiles across their faces.

She was about to make a comment, but then she picked up another drawing, showing it to her.

This time, it was just the three of them with Maou, outside in the park from the day of the picnic. She chuckled, ruffling her hair.

Then, she picked up all of her drawings, stacking them all up. She sat them on the table before taking both of the yesod fragment's hands. Curiosity was evident in the young child's gaze, and she forced herself to speak up before her own voice fails her.

"Do you miss papa?"

She didn't say anything.

Emi thought that she didn't hear her, when she saw the tears flowing down to her cheeks. Panic rushed down into her, and without even thinking, she enveloped her into a tight embrace, rubbing her back and whispering comforting words as she fought down tears of her own.

How could she not have noticed that her own daughter was having her own mental battle while she's fighting hers? How could she have dismissed all of this?

"I-I want", she sniffled, rubbing her nose deeper into her chest as she held her even tighter. "I want mama and papa to be together. I don't want any of you leaving me"

Seeing her this devastated punched a huge hole in her being. It made her regret all those times when she had to pull her away from her father so she could take her home with her, even though her reasons for doing so were sensible enough.

Alas=Ramus must have been yearning for something that equals to a family's love, and they have only begun to show her one recently, but even that didn't satisfy her.

Her mind flew back towards the time when she thought she lost her father forever. The pain she felt when she wakes up every morning knowing that she ever have the chance to see him prepping up to tend to the fields again.

This was her answer. And, it was enough to strengthen her resolve.

"Mama? Can't we be with papa?", she looked up to her with teary eyes, and she gave her a light kiss on the forehead.

"I swear to you, everything will be alright"

She was still shaking, but she felt her nod her head. This was the day that Emi Yusa has first witnessed her only daughter be so depressed.

That evening, after tucking in Alas=Ramus to bed, she stepped outside and dialed Maou's number. He asked what's wrong, and she told him everything, and without even letting her explain things to him, he said that he'd be here by 8:00, and he hung up. She wasn't expecting for him to come over when he was just here awhile ago, and she could imagine how tired he was, too.

There was a knock on the door, and she wasted no time in hurrying him inside.

"Sorry for making you come here again"

He nodded, offering her a quick smile. He made his way to the couch and sat down, clasping his hands together.

"So, she was crying because she misses me"

"Yes, that is why you're here", she sat down next to him. "Would you like something to drink?"

He shook his head. "No need, but thanks. Where is she now?"

"Asleep"

He frowned, leaning in closer to her. "What? Then, why am I even here?"

She gulped down her anxiousness, willing herself to keep on pushing through now that she's face-to-face with her desired target. She turned off the T.V and placed the remote next to her. This wasn't as easy as she first imagined it'd be.

He waited for her to speak up, but she still didn't say anything. What, he came all this way here and she's just going to sit around here staring into outer space?

Thinking that she might be still shaken from the earlier experience, he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, and that seemed to snap her out of her stupor.

"You okay?"

"Yeah", then, she suddenly shrugged, a wistful laugh escaping her lips. "I mean, no. I think, well, I don't know"

"Come on", he retracted his hand, and she almost missed the warm sensation it gave her. "Tell your most trusted enemy about it. Might help you feel better"

"No doubt about it", she chuckled.

He placed the palm of his hand on his chin, a silent indication that he's ready to listen, and so she spoke up.

"It's just", she sighed. "I've never seen her so sad before. I blame myself for not noticing earlier"

He paused, before saying. "You did kept her away from me for the past few weeks"

She glared her, asking him to shut up, and he raised his hands in defeat. "Not really a good time to be pointing fingers, huh?"

"Well, I thought of what we could do"

"Let her spend a whole week with me?"

This time, she kicked his foot, and he groaned from the pain, muttering underneath his breath something about angels being more demonic. Only towards you, you dolt.

"I wanted to ask you something first. I don't really like where this is going, but", the more she talked, the more nervous she got, and it proved even difficult to do with him staring at her. "I've been confused lately, and no matter what, I want you to answer me honestly. Okay?"

He nodded again, serious.

"Why did you invaded Ente Isla?"

His expression went grim, and the fierce look he gave her sounded danger signals all over her brain. The one she's facing now was no longer Sadao Maou. It was a man who has done far too many indescribable things in more than a century: the Demon Lord Satan Jacob.

He leaned back on the couch, posture stiff and shoulders tensed, and her anticipation only seemed to grow as she waited for his answer.

"Demons feed on fear to live", he started off, avoiding her gaze. "I gathered everyone up after studying more about you humans, prepared a long, boring speech about taking over the whole place and finally", he made a show of sweeping his arm in front of him as if presenting something invisible. "Live a life with no worries"

She listened in to all of this, as she continued on analyzing all of the things he said.

"Tell me", she raised her hand and lifted his chin, forcing him to look at her. It was clear he wasn't comfortable with the flow of conversation, so she asked again. "Did you regretted everything you've done"

"Emi…"

"Just say it"

He hesitated, and she could see him tap his foot anxiously on the corner of her eye. "You'll get angry at me"

She smiled. "We won't find out unless you tell me"

"I don't", he felt like he was hurting her. He didn't want her to hate him. But she remained calm. "Maybe, a little. I regretted doing some of the things I did, but not all. I'm sorry. You're probably mad at me"

"Still am", he flinched. That must have stung a lot.

She processed every single word he said. While it all made sense, she still couldn't approve every crime he had done. But, if what he says was true, then that means that he really did change.

"Listen well, Maou. I still don't agree with your methods of doing things, but if that's what you really feel, then that means you really know what it means to be human. So, we do this"

She stood up, and he wondered just what on earth has gotten into her.

"Live with me"

././

Maou: (Stares at house) nice place

Emi: Too bad we're going to kill him

Ashiya: I have found him. He's inside his room (points)

Urushihara: I'll actually miss these stories once he's dead

Chiho: I won't

Suzuno: (readies hammer)

Meanwhile

Sicnarf: (waking up) where's my t-shirt?