Alice loudly gasped as her eyes snapped wide open. The panicking Monster Lord quickly scanned the dimly light room, and slightly relaxed as she recognized the snake-like vines wrapped around a flower that decorated the walls of the castle's healing wards. She did remember feeling weak back when she was looking for Luka with Tamamo and then… She quickly pushed the bad memory back as her husband's scent was reaching her nostrils. Turning on her side, she saw him sleeping soundly, completely nude and visibly spent. Several emotions mixed in Alipheese's brain, freezing her for several minutes before she finally decided to let them express themselves by jumping on Luka and tightly hugging him, silently crying.

"Oof!" Luka woke up as soon as Alice embraced him, all the air leaving his lungs upon impact. The hero hesitated what to do for a second before returning his wife's hug. "There, there… I'm here Alice. It's okay."

"I missed you… I missed you so much…"

The two remained mostly immobile, Luka occasionally patting a softly crying Alice in the back. He didn't know quite what do besides consoling her for the moment.

"I'm sorry… it's my fault..."

Luka kept on hugging her even as he talked in a gentle tone. "What do you mean Alice? It's not your fault at all…"

"Yes it is!" The Monster Lord broke her hug and stared at Luka. Her face quickly flushed before she looked down in shame. "…you got kidnapped because I kept sucking you nearly dry." She nervously removed a wet bang from her face. "I kept telling you I was afraid for you as you kept risking your life to save the others and in the end, I might- no, I'm the one who hurt you the most. And then when I should have stepped in to help you, to finally show you that I could be here for you… I was unable to control myself and pathetically fainted."

"Alice…" Luka took both her hands and looked at her sympathetically. "This is not your fault. I mean… you did drain me a lot, but you had to deal with the stress of knowing I was risking my life, to manage the relations with the other monsters and human kingdoms, and then with the perspective to reign over the Ancestors, all while pregnant with twins. You did show me you always were there for me. I… thinking about you gave me the strength I needed to face all those challenges. You're not responsible for every single monster that attack us because they can't accept the idea of coexistence and just want to dominate humans."

"Mmmh…" Alice nodded, but was unconvinced. "As the Monster Lord, it was my duty to put Kagetsumugi back in line. I should have done it earlier."

"…Well… The Heavenly Knights did it for you. And I heard a wise person say that you can't do everything on your own, no matter how hard you want to."

Alice nervously chuckled. "That damn fox… You're better at remembering her lessons than I am." Her smiled disappeared. "Wait, how are they doing?"

"They're… all resting" Luka nervously dropped Alices hands and scratched his head. "Kagetsumugi has apparently been a real pain, and I heard that Kanade, Saja and even Micaela had to step in to stop her."

Alice sighed. "And I guess you had been quite a formidable opponent as well. Fighting you after you had beaten them in the past, and knowing that they would have been killed this time… It must have been frightening for them."

Luka looked down, ashamed of himself. This time, Alice gently took his hands. "Luka, please. You told me I'm not responsible for Kagetsumugi's actions. Don't think that it's different for everything you did when she controlled you like one of her puppets. I'm sure everyone else agrees. You must really not feel bad about that."

"Yeah… Wait, did someone tell you everything that happened?"

"No." Alice repositioned her coils to support her as she looked down. "I could just feel it… it's hard to put into words, but I could just feel my relation to you being cut off and becoming… cold. Mechanical. Then I felt that you were in danger, and I could somehow feel that you were fighting my Heavenly Knights." She looked up at Luka. A smile slowly appeared on her face once again. "I suppose it's the power of my love for you."

After a moment of silence, both of them exploded into laughter, holding on each other.

"Sorry Luka." Alice cleared a tear from the corner of her eye. "That sounded way better in my head."

"It's okay… I've said a lot of stupid things in the past too."

After calming down, Alice and Luka shared another embrace. After a while, Luka whispered in Alice's ear.

"Sooooo, what now?"

"Can you tell me everything that happened?"

"Sorry Alice, but… I'm not sure I really remember all of it in the first place."

Alice teased him in a sing-song voice. "I guess one can't do everything on their own, can they?"

Luka chuckled back. They reluctantly broke the hug, and as much as Alice appreciated that moment of intimacy, it was time to reassume her duties.

"I'll ask Tamamo for a full report. Then we need to see her and the other knights to make plans and develop counter-measures to make sure nothing like that ever happen again. Once we're done…" Her expression became more serious and dignified, becoming the dutiful Monster Lord that had been on Luka's side for the better part of a year. "I want to personally interrogate Kagetsumugi and find out why and how she did everything in her power to harm us."

Luka nodded with determination. He wordlessly dressed up in his clothes, and examined Angel Halo as he grabbed it once more. Alice couldn't read his mind, but understood what her husband was going through.

The sword has become part of him as much as much as his clothes… And it might be for the best. She looked up at the brass crown gifted to her by the Dark Goddess. If that crown is a symbol respected by the Ancestors, the sight of the red-caped hero with his strange sword is one that is feared or respected by everybody.

Once they were both dressed, Alice and Luka looked at each other, and nodded with a shared determination: they were now back together, and she could feel herself ready to take on the whole world.

Without effort, she opened the large door leading to the remainder of the healing ward. The sound attracted the attention of every mermaids, alraunes and slimes working by who instantly kneeled in front of her.

"Return to your duties. You have tasks to attend to."

Luka still at her side, Alice slithered toward the entrance. She stopped in front of the two bedridden Heavenly Knights who were softly sleeping, most of their wounds visibly healed.

They've done a lot for me… Even with their quirky nature and our checkered relations, they counted when it was the most important. I'll make sure they understand how much I appreciate that.

Alice resumed her progress and slithered toward the throne room, imperturbable as the occasional surprised whisper reached her ears. She opened the large door in a loud creaking noise, and the lamps and lanterns placed on both sides of the path illuminated one after the other in the presence of the master of the place. A quick check informed her that the large room had remained undisturbed since her fall. She slithered to the throne with dignity, and Luka positioned himself by her side in a picture that had become familiar. She looked at Luka once again, as much to reassure herself with his presence than to confirm he was ready himself. Then her voice echoed through the castle.

"Tamamo, Saja and Erubetie are ordered in the throne room."

It didn't take more than a few minutes for the three monsters to show up side by side in the throne room, their heads down in deference. Alice could see Tamamo occasionally shaking in a mix of barely-contained enthusiasm, happiness and relief.

"Tamamo. Report on the incidents happening in my absence."

The kitsune gulped loudly, and Alice could the hand holding her fan slightly trembling.

"As her majesty fell to sickness, we discovered that Kagetsumugi was responsible for abducting Luka as I failed to properly secure the castle-"

"I object!" Everybody slightly flinched as Saja's booming voice interrupted Tamamo. "Minagi was responsible for poisoning the mind of the guards with her magic to enjoy the following debauchery and incidentally allowing Kagetsumugi's ploy to happen."

Alice was surprised by the yoma's reaction. She didn't know quite to make of it, and quickly decided that she needed to get the full story before making a judgment. Whatever had happened may actually be worse than what she expected.

"Objection noted. Please do not interrupt your fellows again."

Saja surprisingly sheepishly looked down again like a noisy student getting disciplined like a teacher. Tamamo resumed her tale, often taking responsibilities for most of the chaos that followed the disappearance of Luka before blaming herself for her inability to find the hero and Kagetsumugi. She passed the word to Erubetie who recounted how Kanade was the one responsible for finding the small puppeteer's hideout and, with a lot of hesitation, how they ended up fighting a puppeteered Luka with the support of Saja as well as an unexpected hand from Micaela. Even if she knew the gist of the worst of the little puppeteer's plan, Alice still carefully listened every single word that came from the mouth of her lieutenants.

So this is what happened… While she did make some mistakes, I feel that Tamamo is blaming herself a little too harshly there, and judging by Saja's intervention and everyone else's expression, they agree as well… Also, nobody pointed out that I was the one who decided to keep Minagi around and only take a part of her power, nor that Luka got abducted because I left him as dry as a rag in a desert.

…I think I know what to do. Let's just get it over with.

Alice smiled warmly. "Saja. I thank you for your support. In spite of your lack of obligation, you diligently stepped in to assist us in a fashion that every other kingdom could only envy. As a reward, you will have my official support in your upcoming work."

"I follow the Monster Lord."

"Erubetie. You have acted and fought in a way befitting of what is expected of a Heavenly Knight. I shall make sure that your next request will be accepted whatever is it, as long as it is reasonable."

"Thank you, my lord. I will make good use of it."

"Tamamo." Alice's tone became slightly severe as her eyes locked on the small kitsune. "Your devotion is appreciated. Your decision about Kanon and Minagi shall be maintained, and the full responsibility of their actions from now on will only fall on them. However, and by your own accord, your absence of results in the search of Luka and your ensuing behavior have been problematic. Once the current investigation has been properly solved, you will be tasked with developing counter-measures to ensure that the methods employed to abduct anyone are impossible to use again. Afterward, you will be relieved of every one of your duties-"

Alice raised a hand as an electrical sensation filled the room. She wanted to make sure that Tamamo fully understood her message as she kept her eyes locked on her.

"-For three weeks. You have to choose a willing replacement for this period, and you will naturally be responsible for their actions. I expect you to return to your full capacities once you reassume them. Am I clear?"

You need vacations. I don't know if you're hearing me, but whatever you think, whatever you say, you need some rest. I may be tired because of my pregnancy, because of the mess your sisters created, and because Luka got abducted, but you… you decided to shoulder every responsibilities for everything that happened as long as it was even tangentially related to troubles caused by the infamous Six Ancestors, and even being a thousand-years old sly fox part of them isn't enough to make that load bearable. You're the one who told that it's impossible for a person to do everything. I hope that you understand that this minor punishment is me asking you to take a break.

Tamamo humbly looked down. "I will, my lord. Thank you for leaving me the chance to still serve you."

Alice was relieved by the kitsune's words. Deep down, she was worried her sanction would be the deathblow to the pride of the one monster that had raised her as her own daughter.

"In that case, I want to be informed of everything pertaining to the progress of the investigation on Kagetsumugi. Until then, you are all dismissed."

The Monster Lord carefully observed the three monsters as they silently left. So far, it didn't look like anyone contested her decision. Tamamo's step was heavier than her two companions, but her tails were still swaying in her back, silently testifying that the kitsune had accepted her judgment and was taking it in stride.

Once the guards outside had closed the door, Luka stepped closer to Alice, visibly concerned.

"Alice… are you alright?"

"I am." Her tone remained imperious. "When my subjects decide to serve the Monster Lord, they take greater responsibilities than when they just serve themselves. It is important that the consequences of their actions are fairly treated, no matter my personal relations with them."

"I… you're right. Sorry."

Luka awkwardly shuffled back to his position. Alice remained immobile, but deep down she wanted nothing more than to hug him.

I'm sure Tamamo appreciates seeing me applying her lessons, even if she might find the irony bitter again.

Back onto Kagetsumugi… will we ever learn anything about her goals?

As Alice got to work on her administrative duties while Luka was watching, a succubus guard entered and kneeled.

"Akiya from the Biolab wishes to report."

"Let her in."

When Alice saw the courtesan enter, she leaned back in surprise: she always remembered Tamamo's six-tailed kitsunes as great performers that could put on any act that was expected from them, from mixing with dignified noblewomen to acting like freaky beasts who could put the horniest succubi to shame, they were always showing an act that was fitting for the moment, no matter how tiring it could be. As such, when one of them entered with an unfit kimono and visibly half-asleep, she was stuck wondering happened to her to make her decide that showing in front of the Monster Lord with so little decorum was acceptable.

I might extend Tamamo's sanction to the whole kitsune clan… They might all need it.

The kitsune still kneeled, although she visibly wavered and shuffled a bit to support herself.

"Monster Lord…"Her voice sounded hoarse and tired.

"Report."

"I wish to inform you that mistress Hiruko has been able to properly neutralize the last of Kagetsumugi's traps and is inviting everyone who wants to hear the truth from the puppeteer herself." The kitsune pulled out a letter from a pang of her kimono. "Her only request for a reward is, and I quote, to get Saja's first husband."

Alice blinked a few times. She took a look in Luka's direction to make sure the hero heard the same thing. Her husband himself was completely immobile, staring blankly at the kitsune.

I want to go back to sleep wrapped around Luka… even if we don't do anything, just cuddled in bed together for hours and hours, I don't want to… no, I should not have to deal with that level of petty immaturity from them.

"She shall consult her own sister on that matter."

A few minutes later, Luka shook his limbs as he cleared out the electrical sensation from the teleportation to the Forest of Spirits. Used to travel on foot or on the back of Garuda girl, the hero got surprised by the unfamiliar aftereffect and needed a small moment to get his bearings.

First time I got teleported… well, first time I'm conscious when teleported if Kagetsumugi moved me like that. That feels… weird. It's really fast, but I prefer travelling on foot. And Tamamo told me this is not as simple as wanting to go to a place and you'll magically end up there. I didn't understand everything, but I got that we could teleport here and back at the Monster Lord's Castle because of focal magic points.

Luka spent a whole minute checking himself. He also reflexively checked the new talismans Tamamo had given him. She had said that she had intended to train him in ways to defend himself against forced teleportation and other underhanded fighting means but that she didn't have the time back then. The pain in her voice when she made that statement was almost hurtful

Focus Luka… This is not the time to feel bad. Once we're done with this duty, we'll finally be able to all take some well-deserved rest.

Tamamo and Alice were each on one of his side, looking at a large crater behind them where the entrance of the Forest of Spirits was. The greenery around was visibly singed. Akyia humbly bowed as if she was responsible.

"Mistress Hiruko has been very enthusiastic in her testing. She wanted to make sure she fully understood how those explosives worked."

Luka loudly gulped as the manor that made for the entrance of the Biolab towered in front of him: Memories of his fight against La Croix and her zombies which included Alice's mother were still uncomfortably fresh in his mind.

Even knowing that this place is now used to do research for the good of the future… I think they should have burned it down and rebuilt another laboratory entirely.

…I can't let all my personal preferences dictate every one of their decisions. Alice and Tamamo told me that all the abominations that happened in this place should be remembered but can't forever taint it… It's like the Ancestors. A second chance has been given, and they'll make good use of it.

Still, Luka and Alice hesitated for a short moment before entering. Without a word, they looked at each other, nodded with determination once again and joined back Tamamo who was waiting for them. While still dark, the entrance was way cleaner and welcoming than Luka remembered. The worm-eaten floor had been mostly replaced, and Luka saw several sober lamps illuminating the walls, while a kitsune and a human soldier were resting at a table at the entrance while keeping an eyes on any newcomer. As the trio followed Akyia, the old furniture suddenly made way for a shiny, metallic wall reminding Luka of Promestein's laboratories. However, the place itself was far livelier than her horrendous hallways, as several humans, monsters, and even a few angels were working together and cordially discussing. The sight of the three major races collaborating brought a smile on Luka's face, and he could tell that his wife was feeling the same.

Luka noticed Lucia coming out of a room accompanied by Chrome, surprising him. The two of them were looking as tired as the kitsune accompanying them, and an undecipherable shrill shouting was echoing from the room before they closed the door. Both of them smiled at Alice and Luka before properly greeting them.

"Monster Lord. Hero. Thank you for your time."

While Luka was still slightly taken aback by the formality, Alice instantly reacted. "And we thank you for your welcome. We've been informed that progress has been made on Kagetsumugi's examinations. Can you elaborate?"

"After she got released in our custody, lady Hiruko worked to identify and neutralize all possible defenses her artificial body had. She was loaded with a large amount of very advanced explosives that have been isolated and taken care of. We're already working on ways to neutralize them from afar."

Chrome continued. "At the same time, we started working on giving her a way to express herself. Using our knowledge in anatomy, we elaborated a way to allow puppets to express themselves through sounds refined enough to be understandable…" Chrome awkwardly scratched the back of her head. "I've basically created a voicebox, except… I didn't quite thought how to interface it out. Lady Hiruko didn't think that would be quite a problem except… she's been trying for a few minutes, and she's not the most patient type."

Tamamo sighed. "Of course she isn't… I'll give her a hand."

As Tamamo quickly disappeared to assist her sister, Alice took the opportunity to discuss with Lucia about the laboratory while Luka took the opportunity to talk with Chrome.

This must be hard for her to work in the same place she ended her sister's life. I hope she's doing okay.

"How have you been doing Chrome? You're no longer in San Ilia?"

When Chrome's shoulders slumped, Luka felt that he had done a huge gaffe. "Lucia offered me the opportunity to work here. I hesitated at first, but between the new king who doesn't share his predecessor's interest in mechanical crafts, my store getting destroyed, and people's shifting interest in monsters… -she shivered- I decided it was time to move on."

Luka frowned. The last new was a drizzle on his parade. "People in San Ilia no longer welcome monsters? I'm a bit disappointed."

"Hurgh…" Chrome looked away with a disgusted expression. Akyia positioned herself behind her and started massaging the ex-necromancer's shoulders, something that the latter was enjoying a great deal if her purring was any indication.

"Since the Ancestor's attacks on their dreams, a lot of people expressed their desire to learn more about the arts of the pleasures of the flesh. They're ready to welcome her and her daughters back for obvious reasons, as they think she would be the greatest masters of all. And then there's been an affair between Astaroth and the new king, making the object of all sorts of rumors."

"Oh." Luka's face flushed. While he welcomed the idea that Minagi was forgiven, he was slightly taken aback by the idea that it was only because they wanted to have their way with the Ancestor and every other succubi.

I mean… even if, by everyone's admission, she's an avatar of sex, there's more to her than that… And besides, Tamamo told me that the survival rate of her partners was inexistent, and contrary to her daughters she doesn't seem to want to change… are they really willing to die just to have sex with her? Or is there something more sinister at play?

Almost as if she was reading Luka's thoughts, Akyia continued. "There is no lingering trace of brainwashing from her spells around."

As Luka pondered the kitsune's words, Tamamo and Hiruko showed up dragging a floating sphere behind them. Tamamo's expression was one of pure anger, while Hiruko herself looked passably shocked, a finger twirling a curl of hair. As everyone gathered, Luka noticed Tamamo whispering something in a small orb before she joined the others.

"My apologies, but we'll have to wait for someone before we start interrogating her."

Alice glanced quizzically at Tamamo, but decided to wait anyway. As if to answer her, Micaela elegantly glided in the room. Her distraught expression softened when she noticed Luka, and she quickly hugged him motherly before reassuming a more dignified stance and glaring at Kagetsumugi.

"My apologies but… nevermind. I'm sure that this little puppeteer has a lot to say, so let's not lose any time, shall we?"

Luka was slightly taken aback by his usually loving aunt's cold behavior, and, for a short moment, felt phased out of the event happening in front of him.

It's… weird. I don't feel anything for or against that Kagetsumugi. Even after hearing that she kidnapped me and used me as a weapon, even knowing the distress she put everyone through, I don't hate her. I can't even really fathom as to how bad she really was. Is it because I didn't even get to see the result of her actions in the first place? Should I even be here?

"Kagetsumugi." Alice was towering imperiously on her coils, making her higher than anyone else, while her tone remained equal. "You have betrayed the good will placed into you by abducting the hero and escaping your confinement. You then transformed him against his will to use him as a weapon against the Heavenly Knights. You then blew your tower in one last attempt to kill them. What. Are. Your. Excuses?"

The room fell silent. Tamamo and Hiruko both checked the flying sphere. It's only then that Luka noticed that a metallic bar was protruding from its top and was connected through magical lines. Alice raised an eyebrow while Hiruko's tentacles were fiddling with said system.

"Hang on, let's bring Chrome, she's the one who created that voice box."

Hiruko left to quickly return with Chrome in tow.

"I tested the system with a makina, I was sure it would work."

As Chrome attempted to grab the head, the floating orb reacted and attempted to move backward, surprising a Tamamo who used her tails to keep the golem steady.

"Do not touch me you filthy klutz." A monotonous, robotic voice came from the strange item. Chrome recoiled, more surprised than offended. Alice stepped closer, her voice booming like a hammer hitting an anvil.

"You are able to talk. You are obligated to answer me."

"Your goons attacked me twice. I am obligated to nothing."

The air was unbearably heavy as nobody talked. Everyone was looking at one another at loss as to what to do.

We can't harm her even if we want to. She lost everything in the fight. We can't harm her, and she knows it… If only I could help interrogate her but… I have no idea what I could do myself. We can't do anything against her now.

"Huuuh…" An intimidated Chrome stepped back. "If I can't help I'll return to work… I'm not done examining how she made all of her dolls work."

The sphere trashed again in Tamamo's tails while the voice box emitted a small screech. A small devious smile appeared on the kitsune's face.

"So little Chrome is the one who crafted that talking system? I'm impressed by the craft from the Artiste's family. I'm sure it could prove useful for the future."

A metallic screeching echoed her statement. Hiruko shrugged. "Heeeh. She still has a lot of progress to do, but I like her curiousness and bold inventiveness. I'm sure that with a little tutoring she could go very far."

Another obvious groan echoed from the orb. Luka eventually caught on the ongoing plan. "I'm just happy to see her doing so fine after being forced to bounce back so often. We ruined her work in necromancy, she had become friend with the now late king… and she still seems happy even as she's working in the place where she had to put an end to her sister's mad plan."

"Indeed." Alice nodded in agreement. "Maybe I should shorten her ban from the Monster Lord's Castle in acknowledgment of her effort. She knows how to use the chances and means given to her…" She haughtily glanced sideway at Kagetsumugi, displaying all her contempt. "All by opposition to a certain puppeteer whose sole achievement is creating an unpleasant mess."

This time, Tamamo had to make a conscious effort to keep the ball that made for Kagetsumugi still while the latter emitted an indignant scream of rage. The kitsune pulled out a flat crystalline structure from its body, and the ball fell to the ground, although it was still illuminated from inside. Both her and Hiruko joined the others as she fiddled with the card in her hand.

"Now that we got your little ego of the way, you will answer every one of our question, and we might consider giving you a chance to show off your craft again, even if it will be in an extremely controlled environment."

"And if you don't, you will remain as is, immobile and stuck with nothing but your own pride and your own rage, forced to see the Artiste name gradually recover while we make sure your own name will be forgotten in oblivion and associated with the mark of shame. Did we make ourselves clear?"

"Yes." Kagetsumugi's sense of weakness filtered even through her monotonous voice.

"In that case, let us restart our trial…" Alice's tail rattled threateningly. "What are the reasons for your actions?"

"I already told you those a few weeks ago. I simply wanted to offer an alternative for monsters that do not accept the coexistence forced upon us."

"We already had that discussion, and considering how little your relations with said monsters evolved as you used them as puppets for your games once more, I am sure even they would agree it's a lie. Let us summarize your actions in full before continuing, shall we?"

Tamamo cleared her throat. "You welcomed every monster that opposed co-existence, allowing them a fall-back point for their raid on human caravans. After being forced to move, you attacked Succubus Village, killing its major and abducting most of the village's population before your plan got thwarted by Lilith and Granberia. You then abducted Luka, who, I shall remind you, is the husband of the Monster Lord. You then you sent a bunch of altered monsters on Heaven before trying to unleash angels on Remina." The kitsune started fanning herself, her voice falling an octave lower. "The keyword being trying, since they escaped your grasp, killed you and attacked the Monster Lord's castle instead, nearly killing her in the process. Finally, we found you, and in a last ditch effort you released every single doll in your collection and a mind-controlled Luka to kill us. Tell us what that scheme of yours was now."

"I never hid it. My plan is to oppose coexistence and make people realize it is an unviable way to live on."

Alice mockingly huffed. "And how did you intend to do so? By trampling and assaulting its supporters? I would be foolish to deny that co-existence has its opponents on every side. You are a fool to think that your own plan is shared by everyone. After so much trouble caused by the Goddess of Light and the patron of your clan, most humans, monsters and even angels are happy living side-by-side, cooperating in their daily lives."

She ended her sentence by turning toward Micaela who took the relay. "And most that don't just want to live in their own corner instead, undisturbed. Less than a tenth of angels followed the True Faith movement. How many are currently imprisoned in this very place?"

"Fourteen." Hiruko scratched the back of her neck. "And I think some of them regret it. There are still a few unapologetic idiots though… I don't know how we'll deal with them yet once they're cleaned. Maybe if we keep working together, we'll manage something."

Alice affirmatively nodded, her point nicely proven. "Now, back onto your plan… although I couldn't see it, I heard about what you did to Luka…" She threateningly leaned closer. "Tell me honestly. Did you intend to use him to assassinate me?"

The situation became unbearably tense as Kagetsumugi remained silent for a moment before answering.

"Yes, everyone would have either seen the hero kill the Monster Lord, or monsters kill the hero as they defended their lord. I had taken measures to make sure everyone would see it."

"Ooooh, so that was what that disc was about!"

Alice was slightly aggravated by the scylla ancestor's oblivious rudeness, but she decided to focus on this new information.

"What disc are you talking about?"

"If I may…" Micaela raised a hand with uncharacteristic reserve, surprising even Luka. "A strange disc had been delivered to Haven by a mechanical bird." She gritted her teeth. "It contained a visual and audible recording of the fight in the Irina Mountains range. I'm ashamed to say I was surprised by its content and broke it."

"I still have mine!" Hiruko proudly showed a shining disc. "I was wondering why I received it. I thought it came from Tamamo who wanted me to create a way to display its content to everyone for entertainment."

Everyone released an aggravated sigh, Luka included.

Couldn't she have said anything BEFOREHAND?! What else did Kagetsumugi do that everyone's unaware of?!

"I don't need a device for that. Give it to me." Tamamo snatched said disk and took a quick look at it. She transformed into her Ancestor form under everyone's dumbfounded gaze, briefly apologized, and started spinning the disc before casting a spell to reflect its content on the wall.

Luka was completely awed by the picture of the fight happening. The short descriptions he had received were nothing compared to its sight. It felt simultaneously like a feverish nightmare and the celebration of cooperation as new and ancient monsters joined force with an angel to free him.

Then he heard Micaela's confession. The seraph was currently hiding her red face in shame. The recording brutally cut as Micaela and Saja were talking about the former's relation with Tamamo.

When it stopped, the reactions were mixed. While Hiruko was indifferent, Luka, Lucia and Akyia were utterly shocked. Tamamo and Alice were looking at Kagetsumugi with a renewed anger. Micaela's voice quickly cut the silence.

"This is a disaster." Micaela regretfully sighed, nervously playing with a strand of hair. "If she delivered two of those here and in Haven, she certainly delivered more all over the world, and destroying those will be impossible. I can't imagine how people will react upon seeing Luka fight with monsters that are supposed to be his friends. And of course, my plan for Haven is done for. No angels will want to listen to me after that rant, and I can't blame them for that."

"No. It's not done for yet." Tamamo shook her head negatively. "I'm not sure most people know how to read them, and besides, what reasons do they have to think it's the truth?" pointed her fan at Hiruko. "You gave me a great idea by calling it entertainment… we'll create our own discs to drown Kagetsumugi's message."

"I can't see how it will help." Micaela glared at Kagetsumugi. "Rejoice. You ruined the lives of those that will decide your fate."

"We can show… stories from books! Anything to show people that those discs don't always contain a truth! If we keep showing them random, obviously fake stories, they'll just think that that one was fake as well."

"That's…" Alice brought a hand to her mouth, lost in thoughts. "A great idea. Now however, I do not wish to stop your momentum in the slightest, but we still have a lot of question to ask Kagetsumugi and we are currently getting sidetracked."

"Right… sorry." Tamamo sheepishly apologized and returned to her smaller form.

"On that matter, how did this recording come to be? Such a spell would have been noticed by Saja or Alma Elma."

"I used a camera given to me by a monster. The camera comes from this laboratory."

"It doesn't." Lucia gritted her teeth at the implied accusation. "We keep a full inventory of the items present and we keep it up to date. I can even say that the only camera not in the lab is in the hand of a scholar named Jean in the Monster Lord's castle. He still has it in spite of.. very close encounters with a few succubi."

Akyia and Hiruko frenetically confirmed. Alice quickly noticed a major loophole.

"And before that?" Luka looked around him, slightly confused. "I mean, I do remember entering this place with Alice quite easily once we had found it, and there weren't any guards at the entrance. We got in quite far before getting to meet anyone."

"…I can't tell." Lucia awkwardly scratched the back of her head. "We weren't very careful with anything besides our core experiments, and La Croix was more focused on her necromancy itself than on reporting her results to Promestein. A lot of the equipment was managed by La Place, and when she blew up… all the info disappeared. I wouldn't be surprised if some monsters plundered the place between then and the moment the lab got sealed and then handed down the equipment to Kagetsumugi afterward."

"Mmh." Alice didn't look fully satisfied with the explanation, mostly as it opened several perspectives that Luka perfectly understood.

So she got some equipment from a monster that joined her… It makes sense that all the monsters who were dissatisfied and remained loyal to Ilias and Black Alice even after their death would plunder everything they could from the margin of society, where people can't see them… And then, they joined Kagetsumugi, get turned into her loyal puppets against their will or not, and their equipment become so much resources for her crafting, and it's been happening for... how long? I think I got something.

"Your puppets… All those dolls that you and your clean created for those past five hundred years... are they made from the equipment you got from monsters that joined you and that you converted?"

Everyone was taken aback by the candid question that seemingly came out straight of left field. They were all the more surprised when Kagetsumugi answered.

"More than I wish for…" Luka could feel a silent rage emanating from the orb. "The Kagetsumugi clan used to have all the resources in the world when Black Alice was reigning. My ancestors received a large share of her spoils of war as long as they were used to create dolls to entertain her. But even since the patron of our clan was killed by that damnable fool Heinrich, we were dependent on what our dolls could scavenge and on wanderers. We had to be discreet as more powerful monsters and humans would destroy our creations like barbarians if they found them. However, their stance after the war with Ilias." Everyone was dead silent, Tamamo even ready to hold Hiruko back to make sure her little sister wouldn't interrupt Kagetsumugi. "Those same monsters that had lauded their supremacy for so long by destroying my creations were joining me by the dozen, giving me once again the resource to perfect my craft and do my clan proud. I wanted my creations to be better than La Croix's pathetic zombies, and I'm satisfied with the result. My clan's magnum opus held up to an Ancestor."

"I didn't even get to have fun with it..."

Kagetsumugi ignored Hiruko as Tamamo shushed her little sister.

"The rest is up to your own incompetence. This is all I shall have to say on the matter. No one who let their husband be so easily captured should be a ruler. You are only lucky that the Six Ancestors decided to side with you. No one would be able to lose with them on their side."

Once the small puppeteer was done, Luka looked around him in confusion. She had answered a lot more than he expected, and everyone was processing the information. Alice quickly answered Kagetsumugi's argument.

"Each Ancestor who sided with us did so out of respect for the traditions. And they stay on our side because they see their interest in coexistence and are willing to dialog, something that you have been unable to do with anyone involved in your quest for petty revenge."

This time, Kagetsumugi remained silent. Alice frowned. "You've been abusing monsters around you, scavenging their equipments and their bodies for your own good, turned yourself into your own creation, and ultimately your plan got defeated before it could come to fruition. The parallel with La Croix is uncanny, wouldn't you agree?"

"Whatever you say, my designs will be forever superior to hers. I'm nothing like her. I know it."

"I give it a few years. As for your opposition to coexistence, I invite you to compare the efforts brought to keep our bond with humanity and angels strong with the effort brought to bring it down... excluding your own work, of course. Hiruko?"

The scylla kneeled in deference. "Yes, Monster Lord?"

"You are free to do as you wish with her short of torturing her. If you decide to keep her around, you will be responsible for the actions of her creations, is it clear?"

"Very clear, my lord."

Eventually, Tamamo reinstalled the card she had taken from Kagetsumugi, letting Hiruko, Akyia and Lucia take the floating orb away from the group. Once only the final quartet remained, the kitsune slowly exhaled. Luka himself patted Alice on the back and wanted to say something comforting, but felt at complete loss.

"...I don't know how to feel about her. Is she seeing everything as a resource?"

Tamamo nodded. "War brings her resources that she can use in her crafting that she can use for war to get more resources… They benefit from that cycle, and Black Alice knew it. That was why she supported them back in the days. They had a codependant relationship. What happened after... Is the result of five hundred years of self isolation spent scavenging resources." She looked up at the royal couple, her concerned green eyes piercing through Luka and Alice. "That must have been a shock to see what really happened."

Alice shrugged. "That happened in the past. The perpetrator will be punished. We will go on."

Luka nervously fiddled with Angel Halo. "I don't know how to feel about all that… I mean I understand that some monsters would fight against coexistence because they want to remain above humans, but in her case… I can't explain why, I just feel detached from her hostility."

"That's because you now have the hindsight on an event that you couldn't influence." She gently smiled and patted him on the back. "I suppose we'll talk about it later. We all need to get some rest." She pointed at Micaela. "You included."

The first seraph was still looking at the floor when Tamamo addressed her. "You really believe that the best way to destroy the credibility in those disks is to drown them out with other fake ones?"

"Yes. I'm sure we can even make something more from them than just distractions, but it will take time."

"Maybe… I'm still afraid of what will happen when all those angels in Haven hear about my rant. Some are starting to conspire even without hearing it. They may end up deciding that I'm no longer worth being their leader, and they might have a point. I care less for them than I care for you. And I'm not even talking about those still in Hiruko's custody."

"Can we see those? I'm curious about them."

"I shall see them too. As the Monster Lord, I have a responsibility to make sure my subordinates do not abuse their power and respect the basic decency of their own prisoners."

Tamamo nodded, and led Alice and Luka to the Biolab infamous prison with Micaela trailing behind. Luka shivered slightly as he passed through the dark hallways, remembering the abominable creations and gruesome sights he had originally seen in his first exploration. Since then, the place had been mostly cleaned up. Only a strange, almost organic gem was present on the ceiling.

Then they arrived in front of a cluster of transparent cells. Luka recognized all the angels that had attacked him on his travels, imprisoned beyond glass walls and power-draining wards. Even as the angels were neutralized and mostly despondent, he was ready to defend himself. Eventually, the trio arrived in front of where Cherub Wormiel was imprisoned. The angel in human form was distractedly playing with a large centipede and completely ignoring them, singing a lullaby-like rhyme.

"Goddess of Light, ooh, Goddess of Light…
We live by your word no matter what
from dusk till dawn we toil the earth raw
and accept all the grace that you show…"

"Hiruko has indeed done nothing untoward to them. That's good to see."

Luka could only feel pity for her. The angel that had come the closest to kill the Monster Lord since the war was just looking like a sad excuse of a being, completely broken and visibly unaware of her surroundings.

Is this because she can't accept the death of Ilias? Most of her angels loved her as a guide, so it makes sense that they don't take her death well. How would Alice have reacted if Tamamo died?

How would have she reacted if I had died?

"Traitor."

Luka turned around at the voice insulting him. Across the room, a blue-haired angel wearing a slightly torn white robe was glaring at him with the intensity of the sun. He slowly stepped toward her cell, ignoring Alice and Tamamo who were glaring at the angel as well.

"Do you remember me? I'm Ranael! I am the archangel that devoured your fellow villagers after you betrayed the trust the Goddess had placed in you!"

"I remember you." Luka remained impassible as he solidly camped himself in front of her cell. "I remember beating you as well."

"That's right! You sealed me!" The archangel was frothing. "We know everything… how you betrayed Her commandments to copulate with the Monster Lord, how you turned Her love away, and eventually killed Her!"

"If I hadn't stepped in, she would have been the meal of the Monster Lord that she personally saved." Luka's tone remained equal.

"Liar! Her plan would have led everyone to a perfect Heaven! But you casted everything that was good away for ephemeral pleasures… And you killed Her!"

"Then she saved me right afterward." Luka looked at his hand. "I would have died of holy erosion if it wasn't for her. I will never forget her crimes against humanity, but she gave me a second chance, and I will make the best of it. What about you?"

Ranael interrupted her string of invective in surprise. "What?"

"I mean, I had sealed you when I first fought you… and then you came back but became one of Kagetsumugi's puppets. What will you do once you're freed again?"

Ranael started panting with a grin of mad rage. "I'll get back to killing all those that turned away from Her path again."

"You'll just get sealed again or worse…" Luka shook his head in disbelief. "What about protecting your fellow angels, or those in difficulty, or… anything else that Ilias really stood for?"

Ranael was looking at Luka as if the hero had just fallen on his head. "Are you actually a fool as well? Her will shall be accomplished, and the world won't suffer anymore!"

"And what about the angels who count on you if you fall? Nobody will hesitate to stand against you, and we will stop you, maybe even end your life..."

"Then they'll carry on the will of Ilias without me! Until our mission is successful, and the world is clean from those that threaten it!"

Luka nervously chuckled. "Thank you. I understand now."

"Then lay down and offer your life in Her name."

"I'll pass. I'm getting back to those that actually care about me." His small smile turned into a frown as his power flared slightly. "And if you decide to come for them…"

"What, you'll stand in front of them to protect those harbingers of corruption?"

"No, I'll stand by their side to fight all the likes of you as often as I need to."

Luka left with a small smile and a lighter step, and was quickly joined by a smirking Tamamo and an Alice as imperious as ever. Once they rejoined Micaela and he was sure they were out of the angel's sight, Luka threw himself in a hug at the trio. Alice gasped in surprise.

"This is not the time for that."

"I know…" Luka waited a small minute before letting go. "I just wanted to remind you that I appreciate you for always being here for me."

Alice remained as serious as ever while Micaela and Tamamo chuckled back. The seraph wistfully exhaled.

"Right… Now that's all the trouble has been dealt with, it's time for the hard part of making sure everyone follows the change… or at least that they come to accept it. Even with Herja's support and more future archangels, I'm not looking forward to going back to Haven."

"Do you want to take a break at the Monster Lord's castle? We still have a free room just for you!"

"As much as I would appreciate…" Micaela looked at Tamamo's enthusiastic mischievous smile, Alice's indifferent expression and Luka's concerned face. She decided that she would rest better far from her current troubles. "I'll check on Herja to make sure she's good and I'll join you right afterward."

"Also, I wish I would be as optimistic as you about our troubles. I'm wary about possible traitors amongst our ranks. One or the other monster pretending to be loyal to us could have given her resources, and she could have omitted that information."

Tamamo chuckled as she prepared the spell to bring the group back to the Monster Lord's Castle. "I'm quite confident in that regard. I know none of our elite retainers are responsible because- ooooh sweet Alipheese I just understood why Kagetsumugi is so angry about our incompetence!"

The trio disappeared in the teleportation vortex.

"That was cute, but… fuck. I wanted to know why as well."

Hiruko was currently sitting at a workbench, her hands and several tentacles busy adjusting extremely thin wires on a mechanical arm with an impossible precision. Her working room was flooded with prehensile limbs and other strange organs, each working on different mechanical devices, her brain analyzing tens of different works at the same time. She could further expand herself to work on even more project, but she would lose efficiency and preferred to remain focused on the more delicate tasks. Behind her, the orb that made for Kagetsumugi was kept immobile in a simple anchored cell. It was simple, but effective.

The vision of the Monster Lord's husband being happy had been surprisingly reassuring. After all, her own mood was quite dependent on him. And a satisfied Monster Lord would be more likely to accept her own requests.

"You could have ambushed them."

"Mmh?" Hiruko fully stopped her work to turn her main body toward Kagetsumugi without hiding her curiosity. The flying orb fully answered to her attention.

"I know about your history. You used to be the hungriest monster. You devoured whole armies of angels and humans as they were so many appetizers. They all feared you rightfully so. The hero defeated you only on a fluke. Why did you give up so soon? You could have gorged yourself once their guard was done or when their precious little hero was in my custody. Several of your sisters would have rallied you to wreak their lust on the world once more. You could have taken it from the ones that remain loyal to the Monster Lord. You would have been completely free. Instead, you're here, unhappy in a little laboratory while your sister's goons watch over you like an hyperactive child to make sure you properly behave yourself. That curiosity you show is only a substitute for your real hunger. Your heritage is greater than that, and you know you can claim it."

Hiruko remained immobile during the whole of Kagetsumugi's speech, carefully considering each of the puppeteer's words. After a moment, she shrugged nonchalantly and all her limbs returned to their respective tasks like so many diligent workers.

"Three out of ten. You don't know the half of it; don't have Minagi's way with words, and certainly not Tamamo's. I want to add that you removed me from your tower and blew up all your equipment so that nobody could use it, which doesn't quite put you in my good graces. The only point you have is that is that I wouldn't mind eating some monsters or angels again. Everything else I'm doing is because I want to."

"I apologize. I didn't think I overestimated your skills so much that the Monster Lord is a threat to you. Tamamo isn't the only one who has grown soft."

A metallic clinking noise was heard as a small screw bounced on the floor. When Hiruko looked at Kagetsumugi again, ice appeared on the cage and on the orb. The scylla Ancestor quickly assembled all of her work in an humanoid silhouette behind her while gathering all of her tentacles under her skirt, save for her two signature ones that twinned around her legs.

"I stand corrected. One out of ten. You have no idea about it at all. I don't need to put my hands on her to say that the Monster Lord is only weak because of her pregnancy. Attacking her now when she's about to give birth to a new species would be disgusting. More importantly, to quote the Dark Goddess…" She emitted several swallowing noises. When she talked again, her voice was carrying an ancient authority. "Should harm come to my biological descendant or threaten the well-being of her future progeny, I will, and I insist I WILL PERSONALLY end the very existence of the one that came to harm her, and do so in a way that will make that person regret that she ever existed." Her voice turned back in her childish tone. "Did I make myself clear? If you don't feel terrified from that, I can assure you it's only because you don't know that the Dark Goddess is free and just how much she can be terrifying when she's angry."

Kagetsumugi quickly retorted. "If you cooperated with all of your sisters, you would have been able to put this world under your boot and feed at your will. Imprisoning the Monster Lord and her husband in an isolated dimension would have solved that issue entirely."

Hiruko laughed. A low, continuous and inhuman laughter that utterly terrified Kagetsumugi who wondered if the scylla didn't actually consider ways to torture her in spite of her word to the Monster Lord.

"Cooperating with my sisters… Saja and Tamamo are too loyal to the Dark Goddess and the Monster Lord to not stand by her side, and the others… Minagi completely screwed herself with her obsession of fucking the hero and the seraph, Kanon's sulking in her corner just like the old times and I didn't speak to Kanade once… she was a bit busy with her own project, and when all of her minds are onto something, I'm not sure she can even stop herself." Hiruko looked up. "I suppose she played along with this world because she knew she would end up like Minagi otherwise… Nevermind, I'm getting sidetracked already. My point remains though." She stared at Kagetsumugi. "You never worked with them. Because otherwise you'd know you can't move them like that. The only thing that made them work together in the past was the threat of Lucifina and the war against Ilias, and then…" Hiruko chuckled. "Maybe I should actually thank you for the whole mess you created. Tamamo realized that she could count on some of us, and the First Seraph even accepted our help! You wanted to destroy co-existence, but by threatening the life of the Monster Lord, and, by extension, making us run the risk of incurring the wrath of the Dark Goddess, you forced all of us to cooperate! Isn't that how Ilias plan went as well? In the opposite direction of what she intended?"

Kagetsumugi fell silent. Hiruko examined the humanoid exoskeleton that made for her latest work. With a layer of that rubber substance synthesized by that necromancer, it would look quite more human than Kagetsumugi's own dolls or the one she saw in Grangold.

"I still don't know what I'll do with you. I'm hesitating between giving you this body so that you can return on practicing your craft or remove that voice box from you so that people no longer have to deal with you. I'll think over it. In the meantime, please keep talking if you think it can improve your chance…"

Hiruko left her workshop and slowly strolled in the hallways leading to the main dining room. Her mind wasn't as much focused on her work than on Kagetsumugi's words.

Crushing this world under our heel to freely feed… That could have been tempting. Nothing would have stopped us from keeping that Monster Lord stuck in a dimension while we indulge ourselves in the greatest party of all…

…except each other. The only one who didn't realize that is Kanon. I'm sure that idiot didn't even realize that we were all observing the Monster Lord's reaction when she was attacking Grangold and acted accordingly. She… No we ALL are lucky that Tamamo actually grew soft. The old of her would have exploited the actions of Minagi's daughters as the proof that we can't let be allowed to roam free, and she might have even managed to keep us all sealed. And that's the best case scenario. If she had prompted the Monster Lord to join the hero instead of holding her back, hurting her would have sooner or later been unavoidable. And then... the Six Ancestors would have been reduced to the two advisors.

Instead? Sure, I can't eat anyone alive... but the worst I have to deal is repairing the damage I've done. Speaking of which… let's get some more goodwill, shall we?

When she arrived in the dining room, Hiruko was expertly balancing a large plate covered with tea pots and other biscuits to the assembly in front of her. Besides Lucia and Akyia, there also were a few human scholars, a villager from Witch Hunt Village and Amira.

"Let's not lose time!" Hiruko used her numerous tentacles to serve everyone at the same time, ignoring the villager's uncomfortable shifting before sitting in front of her. "I heard about your request. You want some help to better control your tentacles, correct?"

"Yes." The villager timidly nodded, her face flushed. "They're… entertaining to use, but even with training they're a bit hard to control as… satiating them does not solve every issue."

"Ooooh, I see…" Hiruko was nodding with a cat-like grin. Teasing people was so fun. The scylla knew what that girl wanted even before she stepped in, but she appreciated those little games as well as the opportunity to see more of this new world. "I'm sure I can work on to make them usable for procreation… If you're willing, you can help us."

"Thank you."

"Next..." She turned toward Amira. The reverse lamia was a gift from Minagi, as a present like none other existed. Hiruko herself had been surprised by her appearance, until the examination of one her cells revealed that it was just the result of a mundane mutation. An unfortunate one, but one that was as interesting as a rock. "I thought about your idea of video entertainment, and think there's indeed some money to be done."

"Yes!" Amira exulted. "I shall be rich once again! Justice shall be done."

"We will manage your activity." Akyia frowned. "You will be a director, but every one of your work will have to meet our approval. Your spending habits have been recorded."

Amira emitted an indignant noise, making Hiruko chuckle. She distractedly followed the following conversations as the possibilities to use some of Promestein's old technologies to purify water and the plan to make non-lethal weapons was evoked. Her mind kept occasionally drifting towards Kagetsumugi's words.

Still, I wonder what could have really happened if we attacked the world in full? Maybe I should ask Tamamo to run one of her tactical simulation, or… even better! Micaela! I'm sure she'll feel better if she doesn't feel indebted to me!

Eventually, I may end just like Tamamo… softening up, enjoying this world, maybe I'll still play a few more pranks, but not right now... those humans showed up to Ilias and want to create new toys. I respect that. I want to see that. I want more. And they can't do more if they're afraid of me.

Alice and Luka were staring at Tamamo in disbelief. Even the unusually unflappable Micaela was taken aback by the reveal.

"That's… can you repeat it more clearly please?"

Tamamo nervously chuckled, and after breathing in and out, talked once again in a clear voice. "Simply put, the castle is surrounded by defensive wards that block teleportation and ward off most intrusions. Being able to teleport at the entrance requires to undergo a minor ritual that any retainer like the Heavenly Knights do under my and the Monster Lord's supervision to be acknowledged as a resident and given the ability to return here at any time. While those marked will still be noticed, they'll be allowed through and not trigger any alarm, and as retainers keep moving in and out, nobody's exactly watchful of said notices."

"Ok, it's like an invisible guard saying who can and can't go in… so far I got it. Except I don't understand what it has to do with Kagetsumugi's plan."

Tamamo started fanning herself in shame. "Since you're a resident of the castle, you should have been able to teleport back at the entrance, bypassing all our alarms. She managed to make you call on your angel's power, so I have no doubt that getting you to cast that minor spell would have been child's play. Without any warning and if it happened at the wrong time when no one was around because we were all searching for you… That could have been a disaster. Of course, it didn't happen because we kept forgetting about it." The kitsune grimaced. "I… don't know how to feel knowing that one of my screw-up prevented a disaster."

"You will have the time to think about it during your vacation. Make sure your successor can hold your tasks for three weeks." Alice slithered toward the door, opening it wide while Luka and Micaela threw a look of sympathy at Tamamo who just shrugged.

On the other side, Saja bowed to greet the group with her usual smirk.

"Greetings Monster Lord. Seraph Micaela. Hero Luka. Tamamo. I shall inform you that the Heavenly Knights recovered and are waiting for you in the blue lounge."

"Very well. I shall see them."

We're back home, there's no need to be formal anymore… I hope she's not acting like that because she's worried about what would happen if she showed weakness.

As the quartet progressed through the hallways of the Monster Lord's castle, Luka caught snippets of conversations between Micaela and Tamamo.

"Creating a copy of Angel Halo? I don't know how we can reasonably recreate a weapon like that without killing six-hundred and sixty-six angels again."

"Me neither but… we can work together on that! We have both the resources of the Monster Lord's castle and the best angel and monster smiths that exist. Considering that the crisis of the lifespans of angels got solved in a few weeks when we both failed for years, I can't imagine what we can make become possible simply working together."

"Alright… I'll ask Rika and Vale to take a look."

Eventually, they arrived in front of an unremarkable room. Before Alice could reach for the handle, the door brutally opened to reveal Alma Elma's huge grin.

"Welcome home! How is the whole company doing? Please come in and make yourself comfortable! I already set up the place, help yourself!"

Luka looked in confusion around him to see that everyone else was just as surprised by the succubus queen, but didn't struggle when the latter coaxed everyone inside the room. Luka could see Granberia, Erubetie and the Four Spirits all sitting around a large table covered with a large assortment of food and beverages, from steaks to cakes without forgetting the must-haves Yamatai tea and ama-ama dangos. Still surprised, Luka sat himself on a large couch and was quickly joined by Alice.

"Thanks Alma but… why?"

"Awww… do I really need a reason?" Alma Elma looked around her to see everyone staring at her. She pouted. "I just thought that you would appreciate to relax after taking care of that pesky puppeteer, and I simply couldn't afford the idea to stay here with my arms crossed while you were working."

"Don't mind if I help myself then. It's been a long morning." Tamamo served herself a large cup of tea, quickly followed by Micaela. Luka himself took a serving of bread and cheese, and quickly everyone followed suite save for Alice who was looking at the scene with her usual indifference.

"Are you okay Alice? Most of the time, you're the first to throw yourself at any food reward."

"While I appreciate the intention, I'm currently not hungry."

"Come on Alice, we're between us, in family… you can let loose now!"

"I'm not sure I qualify as family." Micaela repositioned herself in an obvious attempt to pet Tamamo's tails. The kitsune reflexively retracted the bundle of fur before pushing it toward the seraph.

"Considering how much you've been helping us since the war against Ilias, I consider you family more than Kanon or Minagi!"

"And we helped Luka too!" Sylph zoomed in front of the hero. The latter answered with an exhausted smile.

"Yeah… Sylph, Gnome, Undine, Salamander… Thank you for always lending me your power in time of need."

"You're welcome." Undine answered with a smile of her own. "After so much time shared together, I'm thankful for everything you did for us… Don't you agree Erubetie?"

The slime queen shrugged. "I'm just happy to see everyone alive and well. Our relations with Grand Noah are strong even after Kanade's tasteless actions. Even if most Ancestors settled down, they proved troublesome at first. And that puppeteer… we should have been more careful with her."

Tamamo felt herself slump ever so slightly in defeat. "I was completely blindsided by her. Taking care of my sisters took all our attention, and then… there are still two of them who simply refuse to enter in the fold."

"I'm already happy to see that most people seem fine with the idea to integrate them… I might have beaten them, but you really did a lot of effort to make sure people would accept them afterward."

"It is only my duty as the Monster Lord." Alice's tone authorized no doubt.

"You need to relax, Alice, you keep acting weird… or is it because of that crown on your head? I bet I can remove it without you noticing!"

"Don't try it." Alice glared at Alma Elma. To her surprise, the crown was already in the middle of the table instead of her head. Her anger rose, but quickly abated when she felt Luka nestle himself against her body. She looked at him haughtily, then sympathetically as she felt her eyes fog up as he was looking back at her.

"It's okay Alice. We're together."

Alice finally caved in and hugged Luka, fully coiling around the hero who welcomed her embrace.

"Awww…"

The royal couple remained huddled for a few minutes before Alice regretfully released Luka.

"Sorry everyone…" She sniffled, and smiled. "And sorry Luka, this is the second time today I jump at you. It's just… I'm so happy to see that everyone is safe here even after dealing with legendary monsters, after nearly dying at each other's hand, and after that puppeteer's attempts… I just can't believe it."

"Then you'll have to accept it. Unfortunately, some people died because of the Ancestors and that puppeteer's ploys, but we're all here today!" Alma Elma answered with a goofy smile that made Alice chuckle.

"I know… and you've always been here to help me and protect Luka. I'm lucky I got you as my subordinates. And I thank you as well." She addressed the Four Spirits. "Without you…"

"…I don't think I would have gotten past the Noah region in my adventures. I'm sorry I didn't always give you the attention you deserved."

"Yay! Long live the queen and the king!" Sylph started buzzing around at high speed to Salamander's exhaustion.

"Syyyylph… I know we're between us, but at least please be careful before you end up breaking something."

Alice ignored the fairy's antics. "And Micaela… thank you for stepping up and helping those that had been your enemies for so long. From your help in Enrika to this very day, you've been incredibly helpful each time you showed up. Tamamo's right, no matter what happen to Haven, you'll always be welcome in these walls."

The seraph humbly bowed. "I only wish I had stepped up earlier. I feel that a great deal of catastrophes would have been avoided if I had communicated some key information about the mad plans of Ilias earlier."

"I don't think there's a single person in this room that would contradict me when I say that a LOT of troubles have been solved since we started properly talking with everyone." Tamamo started fanning herself. "Starting with me… But we're all alive today, and relations between humans, monsters and angels are going stronger and stronger. Maybe the situation could be better, but given what I know about my sisters, I expected a worse end to this conflict."

Granberia nodded in approval. "I do not wish to sound rude, but… the powers of the Ancestors were formidable. I still have to train to be able to stand to them. I don't want to fail against an opponent who threatens our lives again."

"Awww… did someone not believe in themselves and little Luka-boy?"

"Well…" Luka grimaced. "I did have doubts myself at moments." He looked at Alice. Her simple smile was bringing a welcome heat in his heart. "But I didn't want to let down those that would suffer should the Ancestors win. Because I realized how important they all are to me."

"Group huuuuuuug!" Sylph threw herself at Luka's face and hugged him. While the Heavenly Knights were amused, her fellow spirits looked on disapprovingly. However, to everyone's surprise, Alice joined in as well, followed by Tamamo and Alma Elma. Salamander shrugged, and joined followed by Undine. Eventually, everyone was huddled together in a large group with Luka at the center. Even as he felt compressed by everyone, the hero welcomed the warmth.

This… feels nicer than anything I ever remember. I want to enjoy it forever… I realize this is what I've been fighting for. I want everyone to enjoy that as well. I want to fight for them, and make sure that everyone return home like me to find their loved ones waiting for them. And I want all those people who, like Alice, wait for their companion to return as they charge in peril to feel happy. I want to keep living on for them. I want to see Alice's smile last forever.

After several minutes, the group slowly separated, everyone visibly happy. Luka sat himself back quickly followed by Alice who gently coiled around him, a satisfied smile on her face.

"Sooo, what now?"

Tamamo leaned back and stretched herself before answering. "Well, even now that Kagetsumugi and my sisters have been taken care of, there's still a lot of work ahead. For starter, we'll still have to keep an eye on them and make sure they don't fall back in their old habit. We're still assisting the human kingdoms in repairing the damage they suffered as well, and then… overseeing the reconstruction of Remina will take a lot of time and resources, and I'm not even talking about these two." She softly smiled while pointing with her fan at Alice's stomach. "You think the responsibilities of a Monster Lord are bad? They're nothing compared to the ones of a parent!"

"Also, my apologies for being a mood breaker, but we also need to do those recordings of you as fast as possible." Micaela sighed. "I don't wish to abuse your favors, but I'm in dire need of help to deal with that possible conspiracy brewing in Haven. I'm going to need another weapon, and if you have a quick way for me to regenerate my energy, I could appoint loyal archangels faster and deal with it more easily."

"I don't think of any reason not to help you. We reached a point where we're past considering trying to balance favors out, and ultimately we'll likely prevent another bloodbath altogether."

"Yeah…" Luka took on a handful of snacks that he shared with his wife. "I'll help you too… although I'm not sure how I can be of use… I feel like all I know is fighting."

"Oooh, don't worry about that." Tamamo mischievously tapped her fan against her chin. "We'll still have to spar regularly to keep all of those old timers in line, and you will also have a lot of fighting to do against a new, terrifying opponent… numbers!"

Everyone stared at Tamamo with a mix of barely hidden contempt. The kitsune looked down in shame. "Sorry, that wasn't actually funny… but my point still stands. Thinking back to when we discussed about the cost of rebuilding Remina, you showed an uncanny ability to quickly solve calculus, and we could use some assistance treating all the financial information when it arrives. This is not the most gloryfying job, but this is one that has to be done none the less."

Luka hesitated for a moment, confused. "I'm not sure I'd be good at it, but… nevermind, why not?"

"Oh, don't worry, I don't want to tire you out." She retrieved her little malicious smile. "I'll make sure you don't overexert yourself. You still need some energy for your lovely wife after all."

Everyone giggled, and while Luka blushed in shame, he was softly smiling, and so was Alice. There was still some work ahead to build the world he always dreamed off, but he was surrounded by people who cared for him and shared the same goal.

Whatever happen, whoever show up and decide to cause us trouble, I'll always remember that moment… the one where we were all together, enjoying the moment and the company of each other. This moment alone made all those adventures, all those fights worth living through, because today... We're all happy.