Chapter 1: The Devil and the Hero's Unexpected Night
The tavern bustled with life as various people wandered in and out of their seats. Laughter, gossip, rumors, and conversation were the currency of this establishment. Yet one person seemed awfully poor. Satan Jacob easily hid his raging jealously of the lives of humans. Seemingly carefree and unaware of the starving need to fight one another to see another day. He wanted to conquer the land quickly, bringing much-needed prosperity to his people.
However, Satan knew rushing into battle was a gamble few commanders took, and for good reason. Intelligence is a vital deciding factor in winning a battle, the more and better quality intelligence one has, the better odds they can win the battle ahead.
That said, Satan could recall the entire conversation as to why he was sent here, rather than a simple agent who blends in with the populus.
-o-
"So the situation requires my abilities?" Satan asked as he visited his army on the Western continent. Standing before him was Lucifer, the fallen angel now demon general assigned to conqueror the Western Continent of Ente Isla.
Lucifer's head laid bowed with his long purple hair covering the outline of his forehead; his trench coat swayed under the gentle wing as various demons bustled around their camp, readying themselves for the many battles ahead.
"Very much so your majesty. I can't seem to conjure the magic required to fool whatever wards they have created and we are in a desperate need for intelligence, your majesty." Lucifer explained with head bowed down.
"I very much despise this idea my liege," Alciel communicated, using the idea link that Satan had set up between himself and his generals.
"I understand your concern but given the situation, this may be the only way to successfully gather some information."
Satan gestured for Lucifer to rise.
"I will go into the town myself, however, be ready to attack at moment's notice," Satan commanded as Lucifer gave another bow.
"Understood your majesty."
-o-
As Satan drank, contemplating the unusual situation he found himself in, another figure of equal power, disguised as a commoner, entered the lively tavern. Their eyes shone a bright green and their hair was a scarlet of roses. Her aura gave inspiration yet Satan sensed tragedy behind the buff of strength.
Emilia had arrived, both enemies being unaware of the other, both enemies failing to see enemies in the tavern.
The hero, still unaware, sat in the open seat beside a distracted Satan.
"Pint of ale please," the hidden hero ordered.
"Here you go."
"Thank you."
Emilia took her mug and looked at the frothing drink. Her eyes seemed unfocused and her posture stilled like a cat preparing to pounce on prey but with eyes failing to remain still.
"Satan is not resting so why should we?" Emilia thought as she began the first few sips of her ale. Her friend recommended she find some rest after training herself near to the point of exhaustion. She appreciated their concern but her seething hatred clouded her mind, wanting nothing more to defeat the devil, and by extension, Lucifer. Yet her mind seemed to calm with the flow of her drink, she took notice of her surroundings; lively and warm. The presence to her right seemed to radiate fear and isolation but to her, there was a strange sense of familiarity, and with it, a sense of ease.
The person to her right, on the other hand, was anything but welcoming as his frustration grew.
"This wretched noise is making it hard to acquire information, much less focus due to this drink," Satan complained as he continued drinking. Despite being there for an important mission, he felt a growing urge to keep drinking; the drink he had brought a strange sense of comfort that may or may not have been the effects of alcohol. Although he would need to ask Camio about looking at the effects of alcohol on demons.
"It may be best to strike a conversation. After all, people tend to let slip more than they intended," Satan strategised. Looking to his left, he felt a strange aura emanating from the commoner to his left. Yet this strange aura seemed more comforting to Satan than he would have expected.
"Do you come here regularly?" Satan asked, conversation with humans was admittedly not his strong suit. Normally, sympathizers would collect the information, but given recent events and the desperation of people, finding able to collaborate human sympathizers for the demon army proved impossible, hence the requirement of his presence.
"Why would you care?" the disguised hero answered aggressively, her guard still up at the possibility of the person beside her having less-than-ideal intentions.
"Apologies, just curious," Satan nervously chuckled a weird unease setting on his mind before dissipating as the woman looked back to her drink. The hero, wanting to avoid a scene, swallowed a single gulp of her drink and took a few breaths before facing the stranger again.
"No, the fault is mine. Apologies for my response, I've been rather irritated as of late," she explained, her voice possessing a hint of annoyance.
"Why are you so curious about my reason for coming here?" The hero asked out of harmless suspicion.
"I thought it might be polite to strike a conversation with someone who also seemed alone at a place where social groups always meet." Satan took the opportunity to gulp down another drink.
"Well, again, apologies for my attitude. May I also inquire as to why you are here?" It was Emilia's turn to ask the disguised Satan.
"Same as you, although I have also come here with the intention of completing some work," the devil half-lied.
"Likely a traveling merchant," the hero guessed as merchants frequented taverns to meet with clients or secretly find information that may prove useful.
"Are you perchance selling anything?" Emilia asked rather innocently. Satan was slightly taken aback by the question but quickly found an opportunity.
"Sadly not anymore. I lost my license when the demon army advanced west, so I cannot sell any goods without risking my life," Satan explained with some level of sadness as he smiled internally to himself, knowing that such a loss was difficult to prove and easily believable.
The hero, on the other, felt as if she stepped into more personal matters and reminded the man of something he wished to forget.
"My apologies for inquiring." Emilia knew very well of the effects of the advancing army on the livelihoods of everyone. She witnessed those consequences firsthand, the many refugees and beggars now flooding the capital and the surrounding towns and villages.
"If I may, I encourage you to reapply for your license. After all, you may have lost much but that does not mean you cannot recover what you lost. Additionally, it also gives you an opportunity to find undiscovered wealth where you may have avoided," the hero smiled as she radiated and seemingly gave the man a sense of hope.
Satan was taken aback and genuinely smiled at the encouragement, forgetting the world and his responsibility as demon king to focus on the smile of the woman next to him. He felt himself afloat for that brief moment and at ease, a feeling that he forgot many many years ago.
"Thank you for the encouragement. I also hope you forgive your companions for irritating you, they seem to be concerned for well being and are only doing their best to help you. They have your best interests at heart and they did not mean to intentionally irritate you," now Emilia was taken aback, blushing slightly as she realised that the person beside her was right. Emeralda did have her best interest at heart and, as a close friend, she was rightfully concerned seeing how hard Emilia was pushing herself in training for the battle against Satan.
Emilia looked at the man and smiled slightly.
"I think… that was what I needed to hear, I'll apologise to her after, thank you for reminding me," Emilia looked at the man and gave him a friendly smile as he smiled, although not as brightly, back.
Both their smiles grew as they talked with one another, their conversation dragging on and into the night; Satan modifying his stories to avoid suspicion but laughing as they talked about the antics of allies and the small funny moments in life.
As words were exchanged, the alcohol in their blood grew. By the time most left for home, they were both having difficulties standing. The bartender, assuming the two were lovers, allowed them both to use a spare room at the tavern, hoping for themself to be isolated from the noise that may ensue.
As the couple reached the room, the magic that covered Satan dissipated along with his clothes as Emilia, too drunk to notice, pushed him onto the bed with inconceivable strength and started to undress. Both Satan and Emilia didn't care, they were irritated with colleagues and their work and they enjoyed each other's company. What was wrong with taking it one step further? The door closed behind them as the night continued on.
-o-
"Uuuuuugggghhhh…"
Satan woke up in a blurred whirlwind of pain and warmth. The world seemed blurred but it came into focus. He looked around and realised that he had turned back to his true form, stuck in a room designed for humans. He quietly used his magic to cast a strong illusion spell on himself, turning into the disguised human from earlier. Feeling strangely relaxed, he took another look around and rose with the rising sun, with a kick in his step he turned back to-
"Oh."
Laying on the bed he slept was the woman he talked with earlier, a now naked woman under the sheets in which he also slept in.
"This isn't good." Satan, now in a rare state of panic, quickly checked for any traces of evidence that may prove he was at the tavern. He scrambled around the room and used his magic to sense any objects that may be his. After ensuring no such evidence could be found, he quickly made his way out. Luckily the bartender was asleep and didn't notice the disguised Satan leaving the tavern. The bartender/innkeeper would wake and find a bag of silver coins dropped infront of them, more than enough for the ale and night at the tavern.
-o-
Emilia woke up feeling relaxed yet somewhat parched. Her throat felt somewhat dry but otherwise, her body felt limber. She looked around the room and smelled the alcohol coming from her breath.
"Maybe I should be more cautious with alcohol next time," she said to herself as she rose out of bed.
As she rose, she couldn't help but notice a strange but welcoming soft warmth in the bed and sheets and one side of the beat smelling of sweat more than usual.
-[9 Months Later]-
"AAAAAA!"
Emeralda watched in panic before breathing a sigh of relief as she held the newborn in her arms.
"It's a girl!" Emeralda cheered with her last breath, handing the baby over to a now panting Emilia. The hero cradled her newborn in her arms. Smiling as the baby let out its first cry.
"Shhh… it's okay, mommy's here for you."
Emeralda couldn't help but smile the heartwarming scene.
"I'll leave you two alone, I'm going to bring back some water," Emeralda excused herself, placing a healing spell on Emilia to ensure whatever physical damage that occurred was healed, to an extent.
"Thanks, Emeralda."
Emeralda soon left the room, closing the door behind her and her footsteps fading deeper into the abandoned house.
Emilia was left with her baby in her arms. She thought of all that has happened these past few months. Emeralda was kind enough to keep Emilia under illusion spells to hid signs of her pregnancy and undertake a heavier burden during combat. She also discovered that her magical armour also managed to hide her pregnancy as well but her movements were still limited. All in all, the past 9 months have been challenging for her, and now she was placed with the burden of taking care of a baby that she had no experience in whatsoever and held the responsibility of the 'hero.' Emilia could only darken at the thought but another issue came to mind.
"What will be your name?" She quietly whispered to the baby as it finally fell asleep in her arms. She smiled at its sleeping form and began contemplating names for her daughter. However, a strange sleepiness enveloped her mind and her eyes felt heavy.
"Wait… What's…" Emilia fell unconscious, still holding the baby safely in her arms as a figure approached, behind her laid an unconscious Emeralda with a broken glass in front of her asleep form.
"My, my. Didn't expect this to happen," chuckled the women, thoroughly amused at what had transpired. She gently grabbed the newborn out of Emilia's arms and held her like an experienced mother. The baby was fast asleep and making a soft snore in her arms. She smiled like a grandmother holding their grandchild.
"This changes things…" She contemplated as looked at the sleeping Emilia.
"But first…" She held up her right hand and casted an extremely strong spell. Smiling, she then disappeared, leaving a few bottles as a parting gift, so to speak.
When Emilia would wake, she could recall the past 9 months as normal days and the sleeping Emeralda, and herself having one too many drinks. However, she couldn't explain the weird soreness that came from somewhere in her body.
-[9 months prior]-
"This is troubling sire," Alciel noted with disturbance in his voice, sitting with Lucifer, Camio, and Satan in a private meeting room of the Devil's castle. Several layers of noise suppression spells covered the room with physical measures as well, no noise could come in or out.
"Didn't expect this to happen, so what do you plan to do next my lord?" Lucifer asked. Camio sat deep in thought with his eyes closed.
"If I may speak my lord?" Camio raised, and the rest of them looked at him for an answer.
"Go ahead." Camio opened his eyes and looked at the rest of them.
"Aside from obviously keeping it a secret, it should be our top priority to find the woman and mitigate any political risk," Satan contemplated Camio's idea for a brief moment before Camio continued on.
"However, it may be best to search passively rather than actively. We will cause suspicion to spread otherwise."
Satan rested his chin and continued to contemplate what Camio said.
"I agree with Camio, besides, a filthy human should not have the gall to-"
"Enough," Satan lowered his hand and looked amongst the present generals.
"Killing a lowly woman is a waste of resources, especially when there are notable possibilities to consider as well as the fact I made a few mitigations myself," Satan spoke.
"You're as great as ever my lord," Ashiya praised.
"I've made sure the woman didn't and couldn't recognise me with a spell and, since we were both drunk beyond contemplation, we can keep calm about this information spreading amongst the humans and our ranks," Satan leaned back into his seat looked amongst his generals.
"That said, if a child was sired, as unlikely as that would be, and was discovered, then you are to bring me the child alive and well by any means necessary. Am I understood?"
"Yes, my lord," The rest of them said in unison.
"Good, as of right now, only the 4 of us will know about this incident as it is unlikely the other generals will need this sort of information. However, if any of you find evidence of the woman fleeing to the other continents, inform whoever's responsible for the continent at once. You may leave."
The three generals bowed and took their cue to leave.
Satan sat back down in his seat alone in the room.
"If you exist, I'm sorry for cursing you with such a horrible existence…"