When Kazuma regained consciousness, the first thing he registered was the soft cover of his bed beneath him, encouraging him just enough to crack open his eyes, wincing as sunlight almost instantly blinded him in the process. Raising a hand, he slowly sat up and glanced around the room, confirming he was back home, and in his own room.

"KAZUMA!"

The emotionally drained young man instinctively reeled back as Aqua, Megumin, and Darkness all rushed to his bedside, with Wolbach and Sena approaching in a more cautious manner. Kazuma's girlfriends were talking over each other, saying and asking all sorts of things that came in as little more than static in his mind. Despite presumably getting a full night's rest, he still felt like he was on the verge of getting another migraine.

"Ok, ok! One at a time, please!" Kazuma protested through the chatter, earning him some merciful (temporary) silence. "Thanks. I just...I'm still a little fuzzy up-top, and all that noise isn't helping. How long was I out for?"

"Nearly a whole day," Darkness answered solemnly. "We never left your side for even a second."

A small smile grew on Kazuma's face at that, dutifully ignoring the echoes of The Daughter's words that still resided in the back of his mind. They'd fade eventually...hopefully. "Well, I appreciate the company. What exactly happened while I was...what's the proper term...kidnapped?"

Nobody cracked a smile at Kazuma's poor attempt at a joke, not that he expected them to. In fact, he was already regretting making the ill-timed wisecrack at all. Thankfully, the girls didn't seem to hold it against him this time as Aqua started explaining.

"Well, after The Daughter and Serena captured you, we spent the rest of the day searching that general area. The woods, along the road, even in a nearby dungeon. There wasn't a trace." She stated, keeping her gaze low and tone even. "Eventually, we headed back to town and talked to Luna about filling an emergency job so more people could try and find you in the places we couldn't."

"It was a massive search and rescue operation after that," Megumin interjected, well aware of how Aqua hadn't fully forgiven herself for taking her eyes off Kazuma during the ambush. "We were blessed with enough adventurers to help us track you down. They even aided us in capturing enough demon scouting parties which gave us an eventual lead on your location. Darkness was a big help in the following interrogations."

Darkness shifted slightly, her eyes similarly downcast like Aqua's as she answered. "I played my part, yes, though I can't say I enjoyed it. Regardless, I wasn't the one to get a location, was I? The credit for that should go to Wolbach."

The dark goddess similarly shifted in the corner of the room, though noticeably less uncomfortable than the crusader across from her. "Indeed. It took a few hours, but eventually, I ground down one of the captain's spirits enough to get the location of the enclave you were being held in. After that, well...it was just a matter of storming the gates, so to speak."

Kazuma blinked slowly, his brain still a little slow on the draw. Truth be told, he didn't think there'd be enough people in the guild who actually gave enough of a shit to warrant a search and rescue for him. He was somewhat of a controversial celebrity amongst Axel after all, for various reasons. So it honestly felt…nice to know that there were those outside of his support group who cared about him. It was almost enough to reassure him that everything was going to be alright. Keyword being "almost".

"That's...not what I expected to hear, honestly. Huh." He managed, before shaking his head slightly as if to sort his consistently jumbled thoughts. "I'm, uh, sorry that you guys went through so much trouble just to get me back. Sounds like a lot of work for little payoff I guess, heh."

"You take that back right the FUCK now, Kazuma!" Megumin vehemently demanded. Kazuma was already getting some pretty dirty looks from all across the room after he said what he said, so to have one of them blow up on him like this should've been expected in hindsight. "I've had it up to here with you putting yourself down like this! We spent the past week looking for you non-stop because we were worried that taking a break, even once, would mean your death! And you're here saying you weren't worth the effort? I'm sorry, but what the fuck is wrong with your head!?"

Kazuma flinched at the harshness of his girlfriend's tone, but it sure as hell had the desired effect. His mind was still reeling with the events of the last week, but he was conscious enough that he should at least try and pull himself together properly. Still, it sounded so much easier than it felt…

"Geez, alright, I get it! That's a helluva way to put things in perspective, y'know!" He retorted, crossing his arms leaning back slightly in his bed as he leveled a conflicted look at the Crimson Demon. "Look, it's not that I don't appreciate you guys coming to save me or anything! It's just that all the shit The Daughter put into my head isn't exactly doing me any favors right now. I'm-I'm trying my best here, alright?"

The restrained whimper in Kazuma's tone at the end along with the subject of his words was enough to make Megumin back off slightly. Everyone else in the room also softened their glares once they noticed how uncomfortable the young man had become when he mentioned The Daughter.

"Kazuma…could you elaborate please?" Sena gently yet firmly asked. "What do you mean The Daughter put things into your head? What did she say to you exactly?"

"...S-she said that you guys didn't really love me. That it was all a farce, that you were just using me for your own gain." Kazuma answered after a moment of hesitation, once more flinching at the expressions of surprise and anger that filtered over the assembled women. "It's bullshit, and I know that, but after she locked me in the room for...fuck, I don't even know how long I was in there...it was all just too much, and even now, it's just lingering in the back of my head..."

Kazuma could no longer bring himself to look at his friends and family, opting to glance down at his bed as he gripped the comforter. He felt like he had just ruined his wonderful relationship with these amazing girls. The very girls he once thought of as shallow and undesirable personality-wise. Maybe…maybe Megumin was right. Maybe there really was something wrong with his head, especially if he was capable of questioning their own feelings for him. Why was it so hard for Kazuma to accept that there were people in his life who honestly loved him? Why did he have to overthink his girlfriend's affections for him like this?

Just…why?

Meanwhile, the tempers of the assembled women settled for the moment as they all glanced at each other in obvious concern. They'd seen Kazuma in a rough state before, but this...this was different. It felt far too finite, too close to an unseen edge. They needed to support him now more than ever, with everything they had. Their hearts were with him, and it was more than time to express as much.

"Kazuma, could you look at us please?" Aqua asked softly, prompting the young man to do as she asked after a few seconds of consideration. "We know it's not your fault you feel this way, and I promise that no matter what lies The Daughter told you, we do love you. All of us, with all of our hearts...which is exactly why I think we need to ask something of you, something that could help you heal. Have...have you considered seeking therapy?"

"…therapy?" Kazuma repeated, his voice layered thick with uncertainty and concern. "But…doesn't suggesting that imply there's something wrong with me? I know Megumin made that remark about my head being messed up but I didn't think that's how you all felt about me."

"It's not! There's nothing wrong with you, Kazuma!" Megumin amended hastily, catching her boyfriend's undivided attention as she attempted to clarify further. "It's just...you've experienced a lot of trauma in your life. Your parents, the Black Fang, The Daughter, all those deaths...they've clearly left their mark on you. That doesn't mean you're screwy, or defective, or broken, but you still need help. At the very least, it's someone to talk with and decompress with. It's just meant to help you."

"Megumin's right, we're only suggesting therapy because we care that much about you," Darkness expressed with great honesty, securing one of Kazuma's hands into her own. "Forgive me for being blunt, but what you're going through…what you've been going through is simply way beyond our level of expertise. We're not properly trained to handle this kind of problem you're facing. Which is why we believe it would be in your best interest to seek help through a professional who is. Honestly, I'm mad at myself right now for not suggesting this sooner."

Kazuma bit back a frown, a fresh debate starting in his mind as he offered Darkness' hands a gentle squeeze. On one hand, he still despised the idea of sorting through all the shitty things life had thrown at him over the years with a complete stranger...but on the other hand, the girls had a point: he needed to get serious help. And with how hard they were trying, even acknowledging that they alone wouldn't be enough...he owed it to them to at least consider their words.

"Alright. I'll...I'll give it some thought then. I promise." He vowed quietly, a small, sad, but determined smile rising on his face. "Thank you, all of you. As much as it stings to admit it, I'd be lost without all of you. I-I love you guys, you know that right?"

"We know, Kazuma. We know," Aqua reassured, giving his head a loving hug as she planted a kiss on the top of his dome. "We just want to be happy, that's all. We may have had our differences in the past, but if you just trust us, everything'll be alright. You'll see."

"If you ever do decide to go through with seeking therapy, just know that the Adventurer's Guild offers free counseling services," Sena informed politely. "Contrary to popular belief, not all adventurers are emotionless stone walls. Psychological trauma is unfortunately quite common in questing, so every guild in the kingdom has in-house therapy sessions for those who need it. Just say the word and I'll be more than happy to help sort out all the boring paperwork for you, provided that you can sign a few dotted lines of course."

"Thanks, Sena. I'll keep that in mind." Kazuma replied before easing back into his bed and sighing heavily, some of the weight that had been plaguing him receding as he did so. It wasn't much, but it was probably a step in the right direction, so might as well enjoy the feeling of success while it lasted. "Ugh, why is it every time something bad happens to me, we gotta deal with the mushy, emotional stuff first before we can move on? Why can't I just keep it all trapped inside, like a normal teenager?"

"Uh, probably because it isn't the healthiest thing to do?" Megumin suggested, a subtle smirk of amusement crossing her lips as she idly played with the fringes of Kazuma's hair. "Besides, you're no fun when you're depressed. Even us Crimson Demons can only stomach so much angst, and we practically live for it!"

"Mhm, didn't expect your people to even have a limit, but hey, good on them for having a stopping point, I suppose." Kazuma chuckled quietly, amused with the prospect of the ever energetic and fearsome Crimson Demons releasing their angst properly. To be fair, spells would be a damn good way to do so. "So, you guys really searched for a week straight while I was missing? Like, no breaks?"

"Well…we were forced to take the necessary b-bathroom break every now and again," Darkness shamefully admitted, backpedaling almost immediately when she noticed the scrutinizing look on Kazuma's face. "Lady Eris knows I would've looked for you without pause! But alas…it would seem even crusaders have their limits when it comes to…certain things as well."

"Obviously. That's not really what I was referring to, Dark." Kazuma reiterated, sitting up once more and glancing amongst the assembled women. "I mean, how are you guys not more tired than I am? I just got locked in a cell and didn't sleep for a few days, you guys must have been running on fumes since the second day!"

"We were," Wolbach stated plainly. "That's what energy potions and spells are for. Granted, abusing such substances for an extended period is ill-advised, but, as you humans often say, desperate times call for desperate measures. We couldn't afford to take it easy while searching for you."

"Wow. That's...kinda heartwarming, actually." Kazuma admitted with another small smile, before adopting a more serious expression. "In the future, though, just take breaks please. Hopefully, I never get snatched again, but on the off chance that I do, I don't want my friends turning into addicts for my sake."

Wolbach offered a faint smile in return. "Fair enough. Even though Aqua and I are immune to such addictions, Darkness and the little one are not, so you still make a valid point. We'll refrain from relying on artificial energy boosters in the future. Not that you needed to ask us to stop."

"Awesome. Well, with everything settled, it's probably time I try and get some more rest." Kazuma replied, fully intent on laying back down and getting a few more hours of shut eye. However, his prospects were put on hold with the sound of more footsteps approaching from outside, and fast ones at that. He quirked an eyebrow, and once more glanced among the assembled group. "...I'm about to get more visitors, aren't I?"

Kazuma didn't need confirmation as the door to his room practically burst open to reveal Wiz, Chris, and Yunyun, all three of whom looked like they had just run a marathon. The lich and visiting Crimson Demon both cried his name and proceeded to smother him with tight, warm hugs. The thief restrained herself to simply kneeling beside his bed and locking her hand with his, the worry on her face clear as day.

"Kazuma! We weren't sure if you were awake yet, and the girls told us they'd call us when you were, but we thought we heard you so we came to check and-!" Yunyun babbled eagerly, before taking a moment to breathe, the bright and relieved smile never leaving her face. "Oh, I'm just so happy you're alright!"

"Heh, yeah well, it takes a lot more than a simple kidnapping to keep me down," Kazuma bluffed, not entirely ready to tell the poor girl how much it really got to him. Besides, he didn't want to ruin Yunyun's moment of joy and relief. "I'm happy to see you guys too."

"When Luna put out the emergency bulletin, we joined whatever search party had an open spot and got to work. We were getting so worried before the captured soldiers were brought back." Wiz admitted, her embrace tightening ever so slightly. "Even after Wolbach got a location, we were told to stay behind, just in case. Words can't express how scared we were when you were taken."

"We're just glad Aqua and the rest finally managed to track you down," Chris heavily sighed. It was something of a rare sight to see her in such a distraught state. Even when Kazuma had stolen her panties in the past, the cheeky girl still managed to hold a certain level of control about her despite the initial shock. Not so much here, however. "I know it's not your fault, but don't you ever scare us like that again! Not after all the progress we've made together…"

"Well, if it's any consolation, I'll certainly try to keep from getting kidnapped in the future. Definitely do not recommend the experience, zero stars outta ten." Kazuma snarked, earning a light punch to the arm from the thief, eliciting a short chuckle. "Seriously, though. I don't plan on going anywhere without you girls, alright? We're in this together, every step of the way."

"Yes, we are, aren't we?" Wiz said right before planting a lovely kiss on Kazuma's forehead. One second later and the undead shop owner blushed in embarrassment as she turned to his three girlfriends. "I-I know we were given your blessings, but still, I'm sorry for stepping out of line like that! It was in the heat of the moment!"

"You don't have to apologize, Wiz, we gave you permission for a reason." Aqua playfully chided with an eye roll, an amused smile rising on her own face. "Well all have our turn to show Kazzy some love, so if the rest of you have anything you'd like to say or do, please, go right ahead."

"Really? Well in that case…" Chris purposefully trailed off with a semi-devious smirk plastered on her face. Before Kazuma could interject, he suddenly found himself getting pulled up by the collar of his shirt only to then be engaged in a short but intense make-out session with the sly thief. A few seconds later and he was back to lying on his bed, momentarily stunned from the invigorating sensation that lingered on his lips.

"W-well, if we have permission…" Yunyun muttered quietly, equally as surprised by Chris' display of affection but determined enough to provide her own. She leaned over, pausing just above Kazuma and mumbling a meek, "K-Kazuma? C-can I k-kiss you?" that almost made the young man snort in amusement. Naturally, the poor girl was gonna be polite enough to ask despite her friend's actions.

"Sure~" he answered as smoothly as he could muster, before stealing the young mage's first kiss. She even squealed a little as they kissed, causing Kazuma to inevitably break off with a light chuckle. "I take it you were enjoying it then? I haven't exactly been 'practicing' as of late so I may be a bit rusty."

"It was wonderful, yes!" Yunyun replied exuberantly, her eyes shining a bright red as she hugged herself, a delighted giggle slipping past her lips. "Oh, it was everything I was hoping for! I've never felt this happy before in my life!"

"Don't get too wet down there Yun," Megumin snarked, lightly jabbing her elbow in the girl's side while showcasing her world-class smug grin. "Just remember which of us got to swap spit with him first. That's another win in my score-keeping book!"

"M-MEGUMIN!" Yunyun practically shrieked in embarrassment, her cheeks quickly flushing a shade of red to rival her eyes as she covered her face, thoroughly embarrassed as assorted laughter bubbled up from around the room. "Oh, this is my nightmare...and I was doing so well, too!"

"Even when you're finally her friend, you can never really give her a break, can you?" Kazuma deadpanned at his feisty girlfriend, not shocked in the slightest.

"Hey, don't give me that look! It's all in good fun, right?" Megumin retorted with a smirk, before patting her fellow mage's back and adopting a slightly more kind tone. "Sorry if I'm teasing you too much, Yunyun. It's nothing personal, just my way of showing that I care about ya, y'know?"

"…yeah." Sighed the meek Crimson Demon. "I'm well aware of that. Still, that wasn't very lady-like you know!"

"Pssh, lady-like, shmady-like. Manners are overrated, you know!" Megumin retorted, lightly jabbing her friend's shoulder with an amused smile. "No reason you can't let loose sometimes, Yun. It's only healthy!"

Despite her best efforts, Yunyun couldn't hide the small smile from forming on her face as she eventually relented. "Y-yeah, you're right. It is only healthy..."

After that, an idle but comfortable conversation arose amongst the girls, which was more than enough for Kazuma to lean back and settle into his covers a final time, allowing sleep to take him once more. He was safe and with his family again. While things weren't perfect, with the girls by his side, they were more than good enough.

Passing by nervous guards patrolling the halls, the Devil King calmly kept his stride as he made his way over to his daughter's room. In spite of his best intentions on trying to level with all his minions, it still seemed as though most would go stiff at his presence. Truth be told, it really annoyed him at times.

Right now, however, he had more pressing matters to attend to. News came in that his daughter had returned home from her mission and had silently barricaded herself in her chambers. It didn't take an omniscient god to tell that things hadn't quite gone according to her plan. This called for some fatherly intervention.

Stopping outside his daughter's quarters, the Devil King raised his armored hand and knocked rhythmically on the large oak door, keeping his tone light and encouraging. "Akarui, are you alright? I heard you returned from your mission early. Did things not go well?"

The demonic father didn't receive an answer in the first ten seconds. Eventually, though, a muffled yet despondent, "What do you think?" was the answer he received.

Frowning in concern, he cracked open the door and peeked inside, spotting his daughter sitting on the far end of the room next to her armor stand, which currently stood bare while her battered and bloody armor lay around her feet. "Ah, poorly then. What went wrong, exactly?"

The Daughter sneered at nothing as she recounted, "I was so close to making a breakthrough with Kazuma. I had groomed the boy perfectly and was about to make a connection with him until fate decided to intervene. Those damn harpies of his along with that cowardly traitor, Wolbach, found our hideout and attacked. The water goddess practically flooded the bunker with holy water while the knight took on all the guards by herself. Even with Serena on the support, the combined spells of the three magic-users proved too much to handle all at once, forcing us to teleport away. So not only did we lose our one hope of success, but we also lost a valuable base in the process!"

The Devil King's eyebrows furrowed as his daughter explained, crossing his arms and adopting a far more serious tone. "I'm sorry, but what exactly do you mean when you say you 'groomed' Satou? What did you do, Akarui?"

Akarui's hateful expression faltered somewhat at her father's demanding tone as she carefully explained herself. "I...may have planted some ideas in his head about how his girlfriends were merely using him and left him alone in his cell to dwell on it for an undisclosed amount of time. Truthfully, I didn't think the isolation would have affected him as much as it did..."

"Akarui…" Her father huffed in disappointment, cupping his face briefly and exhaling sharply before bringing his attention back to his darling daughter, a frown now permeating on his face. "Why would you resort to that?! I thought when you said you were going to turn him to our side, you were referring to an actual alliance, not torture and manipulation!"

"We're in a war, father!" The Daughter hotly retorted. "And in case you weren't aware, wars aren't exactly black and white! Satou has already firmly established himself on Belzerg's side of the conflict and has made a name for himself even within the kingdom's head government; same goes for his party! Do you really think he would be so willing to join us after everything we've done, including attacking the very town he calls his home!?"

"Satou was not a soldier, Akarui! He was a boy, a boy whom we have indeed slighted in the past! Regardless, that does not justify your actions, nor your exploits I've supported in the past!" The Devil King retorted, some heat finally entering his tone as his fists curled and dark magic rose around him. "I never should have allowed you to become a general. Look at what it's done to you! Your mortality is warped, your morals ruined! How could you possibly think war justifies such atrocities?!"

Akarui stood up and barred her teeth at her own father like a rabid dog would to its caring owner. In a spark of twisted fury, she almost gave in to her baser instincts and unleashed a wave of dark magic at her father, who stood his ground. Realizing this for herself, she screamed and made a sizable hole in the stone wall right behind her. A moment of tense silence hung in the air as The Daughter had yet to remove her fist from the wall. The Devil King was going to scold her for acting like a child until he noticed the way her shoulders were heaving, like she was refraining from crying.

"I've been doing everything I can to keep this empire from falling. Every slaughter, siege, torture. Every fucked up, deplorable act I've ever committed, I did it to keep us alive. To keep us from losing another home." She hissed, voice thick with emotion as she turned to her father once more, amber eyes slick with barely restrained tears. "I know I'm a monster, I've accepted that fact long ago...but I was always able to lie to myself. To say that it was all in your name, that it was for the greater good...but that's not true, is it?"

"You're right, it's not," The Devil King sighed as he walked over to his child and enveloped her in a hug. Without thinking, The Daughter returned the hug and the two finally had a much-needed family embrace, something they both realized they were severely lacking in. "I'm starting to think we should just cut our losses and end this damn war altogether."

"How could we? We'd never be safe again." Akarui replied, sinking deeper and deeper into despair as the composure she'd held for years started the crack and waiver like glass. "Belzerg would hunt us relentlessly, as would the adventurers we've scorned, the thousands I've hurt in your name. How could we possibly move on from this? HOW?!"

"By being civil and using diplomacy, two tactics I should've been deploying instead of soldiers," answered the Devil King as he soothed his daughter by rubbing her back. "We'll request a formal surrender at Belzerg's capitol, you, me, and Serena. There, we'll peacefully conduct ourselves during the negotiations to show we're serious and give back the lands we've conquered. The only thing we'll ask in return is sovereignty over our small kingdom, nothing more. The rest will be up for Princess Iris to decide."

Akarui looked skeptical of her father's suggestion, not to mention fearful of what failure would entail for them both. Years of combat had hardened her spirit, forged her into a brave warrior, and yet all it took was her father confronting her with a few words to shatter that resolve. He was trying so hard to keep her safe, to make things right, when in reality they had been doomed from the moment Yasaka Kyouichi showed up on their doorstep all those years ago.

"But...what if they don't accept our request for peace?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What then, father? We can't just keep running away for the rest of our lives..."

The Devil King fell silent for a moment, eyes closed in concentration as he fought valiantly to keep his own composure. There was always a chance they'd refuse. A chance they'd do everything in their power to strike him and his daughter down, as well as the remainder of his forces. He also knew that if it came to that, he'd do whatever it took to protect his daughter. No matter the cost.

If she was safe at the end of all this, he was more than content to face the consequences of his actions.

"We won't know unless we try," Akarui's father said, eliciting a very subtle wince from the heir to his throne. "There's no sense in worrying over the what-ifs. We have to at least make an honest attempt first before we do anything else. Just know that no matter what happens after, I won't let them take you away from me. I can't lose you like how I lost your mother."

Akarui barely flinched at the mention of her mother, as it was one of the few wounds that she'd truly managed to come to terms with. The only people responsible for her death were long gone now, reduced to dust and cinders among their former home. Still, her father's words struck home, and she managed to nod in understanding as she fought to regain some semblance of composure.

"Very well then," said The Daughter as she forced her voice to fit a more formal tone. "We will begin preparations for a mutual surrender with the kingdom of Belzerg. Anything to end this mind-numbing war already."

The Devil King nodded, and walked alongside his daughter as they both exited her quarters and headed towards the throne room, both grappling with the fact that for better or worse, this was the beginning of the end for the Demon Empire.