A week had passed since the tournament's ending. Most people already had moved back to their daily live, slightly less fearful of what their world would face in the future after Luka's display at the arena. A few were still afraid, particularly after a powerful fire destroyed an inn. A few voices tried to pin the blame on one of the fire monster living with him, but between the power the latter group had and the massive presence of alcohol in the inn's basement (and in its dwellers), the cause was considered accidental. Luka's army went back to the Pocket Castle, either to rest or to train furthermore. Grand Noah itself resumed its daily activity soon enough.

This day, however, the Pocket Castle's library was curiously empty. Everybody avoided the place as if it was the cursed den of a terrorizing beast. Most residents of the Pocket Castle would have told you it was probably true, as Alicetromeria, also known as "totally-not-Black-Alice" was holding a tea party in the library's study room. Why she did chose this place instead of any of the more accomodating room was unexplained, but she invited Spider Princess, and the latter strongly suggested holding their little party there. The yoma also invited: Fatima, the vampire queen, Cassandra, the leader of Lady Village, Promestein, Morrigan, Mephisto and Elizabeth, a slug that had the traits of a yoma thanks to the angel scientist's handiwork. In front of this assembly, monsters and humans that usually lounged there preferred strolling in less dangerous rooms within their home base, or decided to explore another library. Anything was better than remaining around, even if you were already dead.

The group had settled around a table with tea brought from Yamatai. The atmosphere was cordial, as the air was filled with chatter from the monsters smiling around the table. They were discussing equipments and curios, the tournament, the latest gossips, and, of course, their favorite activity.

"I am telling you!" Spider Princess's voice was booming enthusiastically. "There is nothing better than this moment when you're done having sex with someone, and he realizes you are going to eat him. You get to enjoy his expression of sheer terror as you slowly drag him inside for his final moments."

Morrigan directly gulped a large quantity of tea, grimacing as she almost burned her tongue. "Naaah, eating them takes too much time, and besides, not everybody can do it!" She grinned. "But pleasuring them through magic, having them beg you to stop as they keep shooting their white stuff over and over again, that's the best way to do it! And if you get tired of it because they can't shut up…" She snapped her fingers, producing a small bright flash. "Done! You no longer have to deal with their supplications!"

"Finishing your partner so fast is so… unrefined!" Fatima was petting Tama distractedly. The nekomata had decided to sit on the vampire queen's lap, and enjoyed the attention of its temporary mistress. "You have to draw it out slowly, make them beg to end their life in exchange of a little more pleasure. This is when you know you have dominated a male fully."

"But you must admit…" Elizabeth blew over her tea to cool the hot liquid. "Eating your partner as he is begging you to stop is an exhilarating experience when it comes to domination. He can scream and beg as much as he wants, it doesn't matter, you're the one in control."

"Oh yes, it is so fun to hear them scream! Ufufufu…" Black Alice laughed sinisterly. "Even during my time with Heinrich, I always made the effort to find the time to make someone scream. And not only humans, but monsters too…" She took a look at Morrigan, who suddenly felt very uncomfortable.

Mephisto shook her head. "I don't enjoy making them suffer, or even dominating them." She shrugged. "I only devour them when they mean trouble, otherwise, I feel like the time I give them is just wasted."

Morrigan laughed. "Didn't you restrain Luka and used him as an experiment for your students?"

The yoma teacher kept her cool, even if the succubus was already grating her nerves by simply reminding her she had failed to teach her anything. "Good grief, that was purely educational. Even if this is genetically ingrained, giving the young one an opportunity to practice their sexual skill is a good way to ensure they stay in control and do not get carried away when dealing with a weakened partner. The last thing you want is a tragedy of impulsiveness."

The succubus froze up. Mephisto had definitely mastered the art of getting under people's skin. Maybe she should get Sonya's support to teach the yoma a lesson…

"Fufufu, it's good for the little ones to learn to have fun properly." Alicetromeria stared at Mephisto. "After all, you wouldn't want to turn them into old hags that disregard anything enjoyable because it could disturb them."

Morrigan smirked. Mephisto had tried to keep her reaction hidden, but the succubus could clearly see that a nerve had been hit hard. She'd have to thank Not Black Alice later for that one. However, someone else sided with the teacher…

"I do understand that she doesn't want to spend as much time as you on it though, not everyone is a demon living on sex." Everybody had almost forgotten the silent angel scientist, who was still reading a book while stirring her tea. "It takes time over your work, and it doesn't require using intelligence, only your lower muscles."

The vampire queen sneered. "Mph. It looked like someone never enjoyed the occasion of dominating a partner in a bedchamber. Maybe you should find yourself a moment to get intimate with someone to the point he would give up his life for the sake of being in your company longer, even for a bit." She looked around her haughtily. "Elizabeth, get me the sugar."

Elizabeth sighed. "For the fifth time, I am NOT your right hand."

Fatima dismissed the remark. "Then maybe you should consider changing your name. What is it with nobles naming themselves Elizabeth anyway…"

The slug girl snarled at the vampire queen, but the latter had already moved on.

Mephisto sipped her drink. "Does anyone happen to have news from Hellgondo? My usual contacts recently went silent."

"I cannot seem to get a hold of what is happening there either." Fatima turned toward Morrigan. "But I remember one of us still has family there?"

"I didn't get any new from my sisters if that's what you mean. They didn't even answer my message three days ago. I hope nothing bad happened to them."

"Oh, yes, that would be a shame, ufufufu…"

Morrigan looked warily at the disguised yoma for a moment, before she dismissed the idea. Her sisters wouldn't have had any trouble dealing with her if it came to this. Even if she was an infamous Monster Lord, "Alicetromeria" had forced herself to follow a set of rules that put her at disadvantage.

Spider Princess snapped her finger as if a realization hit her.

"Oh, I have a guest that is coming from afar that could give us news on the matter."

"Ufufufu, really?"

"Yes, let me call for her!"

Spider Princess grabbed on a string that seemed to be randomly dangling near her seat.

As soon as she pulled it, a large item crashed from the ceiling on the table, spreading dust everywhere. The monsters jumped back, worried that the roof might have been falling apart, while Promestein fell from her chair. Tama jumped on the vampire queen's face all claws out, earning itself a few insulting nicknames in a record lapse of time. The cloaked monster managed to throw her away from her after a few seconds of struggle, and the nekomata hid herself behind Mephisto.

As the dust settled, everybody was staring at the item, save for Promestein who was looking on the ground for her glasses. It looked like a human size boulder made from thread. The string itself seemed to glow, as if it had been magically enchanted. At one end a red cat like head seemed to prod from it. Upon closer examination, they realized the ears were definitely those of a fox. The kitsune was bound up to the neck and gagged by several layers of thread. As Alicetromeria was in front of it, she was the first to recognize the victim lodged inside the cocoon.

"Yao? How delightful of you to join our little tea party! I would offer you a drink, but you seem a little bound for the moment."

The kitsune looked at the disguised yoma upon hearing her name. She looked more annoyed than actually afraid. The other monsters were starting to gossip about the kitsune's presence and what it meant. Mephisto clapped her hands twice to get everyone's attention.

"Come on everyone, let's get back to our seating. The tea will end up stone cold before long."

Instinctively, the other monsters went back to their respective places. They moved their position slightly so that everyone could see Yao's face.

Promestein got back on her chair and dusted her coat after having finally found her glasses. "I didn't see her before. Where did you find her?"

Spider Princess sipped a little of her tea. "Oh, I heard the other kitsunes talking about her. So I decided to put a few traps around potential hiding spots. Morrigan helped me enchant the thread with her aura to incapacitate anyone caught inside. We ended up catching her in this very place." She flashed an evil grin. "It was easier for the surprise to get everyone there than to move her unnoticed."

Fatima pointed an accusing finger at the arachne. "So you are the reason we cannot fly around in the castle? We keep being entangled in your web each time we try to stretch our wings!"

"Ha, but you have to admit such a minor inconvenience is nothing compared to the fact we managed to catch one of the Monster Lord's more powerful spy!"

Mephisto clicked her tongue as she put back her cup on the table. "Even if we managed to catch her without trouble, her presence in the castle is still worrying."

Mephisto pulled out her wand and started fiddling with it, which earned her a glare from Morrigan. Didn't the yoma know how her nervous habit was annoying? The succubus's train of thought was soon interrupted by Fatima's aggravating laugh.

"Ohohoh! Do you really think such a silly fox could be dangerous to us? Why would we even get worried by one of the Heavenly Clown's lapdogs?"

The yoma pointed her weapon at Yao like a teacher would.

"She did manage to intrude in a privately owned Pocket Dimension without being detected. She also apparently has been around for several days. Maybe we should at least consider warning Luka about that." She closed her eyes. "Furthermore, she's Tamamo's first and most trusted lieutenant, and a resident of the Monster Lord's castle. She came here either because the kitsune queen gave her the order, or either because her mistress is in a difficult situation that requires help. Both situations could be extremely concerning, and we do need to know more in either case."

Promestein pushed back her glasses on her nose. "Logic dictates that we should gather as much information as possible first. As such, I suggest interrogating her."

Fatima tapped her chin with a finger. "Indeed, we will have to make sure she tells us everything we need to know, and getting her to answer might require some skills that the hero would disapprove. Having him aware of our guest would complicate their use."

Spider Princess was looking enthusiastic at this perspective. "You're right, Luka won't mind us indulging in her if he doesn't know of her presence. We are free to do with her as we wish." She shivered in delight as she ended her sentence.

Promestein looked at the princess as if the latter was an idiot. "This is exactly the opposite of what we want, only an idiot would kill her without finding out what her presence here entails." Spider princess started to scowl in front of the scientist's insolence. "Besides, she's not a toy for someone who is too weak to exercise any power on someone who can fight back."

Before the arachne could throw a scathing answer, Alicetromeria raised her voice. "Don't be a buzzkill!" She got closer to Yao. The bound fox didn't react to the movement. "We are going to have a big tea party with our guest, and it will be a looooooooong one."

Upon hearing this, Morrigan almost jumped from her chair. "NO! We should remain civil to our guest and let her leave freely! We should apologize and maybe even offer her some tea!"

Everybody was dumbfounded by the declaration coming from the succubus. Was it the same legend who took glee while slaughtering Luddite Village? Suddenly hearing Tama talking would be less surprising.

Her eyes still opened wide, Elizabeth finally decided to break the silence. "Is this… really your wish?"

The succubus slammed her fist repeatedly on the table in a fit of maniacal laughter, startling the nekomata who ran out of the library. "Pfff, nah! I was joking of course! You should have seen your faces! That was too funny too pass up! Of course we will torture her!"

Her eyes started to sparkle with sadistic glee as her hands covered themselves with her aura on cue. "I will do it myself. Just give me a little time to violate her, they always yield after five minutes. You can watch if you want!"

Mephisto sighed. She definitely failed in her attempts to change the succubus for the better. This failures was unsurprising considering that, in spite of her childish appearance, she was several thousand years older than anyone at the table. She had no chance to change her from the start.

Spider Princess intervened. "No, no, you are skilled when it comes to making people scream in that perfect mix of pleasure and agony, but I noticed you are not enough personal in your dealings. This kind of work is more effective if you act close and intimate to your subject. This is easier to do if you have a particular and specific reason to do this and not just mere sadism."

She smiled sadistically as she looked at Yao. "And I have one bone to pick with the fox kin after they kicked me from Yamatai under the pretense that I was too dangerous for the population. I may even consider devouring her whole after that. Just like old times."

Fatima made a dismissive gesture toward the fox on the table. "Please, do as you want, but I find it improper for royalty to lower itself in dealing with rabble by using torture. I will pass on indulging myself on our prisoner."

She scoffed. "Besides, it would be unbecoming of me to feed on a dog."

Cassandra licked her lips. "I wouldn't mind also making her my next meal. I am afraid I would fall back into this bad habit, but it has been so long since I have not enjoyed someone tortured expression as I slowly digest them alive."

Mephisto pinched the bridge of her nose. "What did Promestein said five minutes ago?"

Alicetromeria inched her face a little closer again, nearly touching the kitsune. "Oh,the hag is right, it would not be fun if she was to die! Teaching bad people lessons on how to behave is so fun!" She moved back while still looking at the monster stuck on the table. "Didn't your mother tell you how to behave? It is quite rude to enter in people's house uninvited, after all. You're a bad lady." She proceeded to look at everyone around. "We should play with her and train her until she conducts herself correctly in the presence of royalty!"

The bound kitsune was looking at Mephisto. There was neither fear nor anger in her expression, only a mix of shame and contempt with a hint of concern. The yoma could clearly read the prisonner's jaded eyes telling her "I actually just want to discuss a serious matter, you are the only one reasonable at the table, so please ungag me before they decide to do something stupid everybody will regret."

"I don't think that will be necessary."

Mephisto carefully removed the enchanted gagging on Yao. The fox smiled at the yoma.

"Thank you for allowing me to talk, although I wish you would have been a more accommodating host. Your little plans for me would have brought more trouble than what you would have gotten, as I would have gladly told you the reasons of my presence."

Morrigan nearly shoved her smiling face into the kitsune's."Those are big words coming from a spy."

Yao moved as if she shrugged, which was hard to tell as she was still cocooned by a casket of silk. Mephisto decided to take back control of the situation before anything more could go wrong. "In that case, do you care to explain the reason of your unwarranted presence within the castle's wall? I do not remember Luka inviting, and even less recruiting your person."

The kitsune smiled softly, surprising Morrigan who decided to take a step back.

"Actually, the reason I am here is because I need to see Luka. It happens we have an issue at hand with the tanuki tribe, and we wanted to ask for his help in dealing with her."

The Spider Princess smiled sarcastically. "How surprising! A faction of monsters turning on the royal advisor's race of weaklings as soon as the Monster Lord is no longer here to protect those! If only they were stronger!" She stepped up dramatically. "Or maybe you were counting on the Heavenly Knights, and those are not even able to deal with the rabble anymore?"

Yao chuckled. "Is the pest still sour from her forced departure from Yamatai? I do remember swatting her quite easily in that time. Or maybe does her memory needs refreshment?"

Spider Princess huffed. Everybody else mockingly smiled at her. Mephisto tried once more to keep the situation on track. "If you are so strong, then why do you need help, and furthermore why our?"

Yao looked falsely uncomfortable. "We have… several reasons to turn to you. First and foremost, as you said, we have limited resources. Most of the Heavenly Knights disappeared…" She turned toward Morrigan. "…and your sisters are too busy dealing with the mess the death of the Monster Lord made to care for what they consider a sideshow. They are focusing either on strengthening Hellgondo's defenses or busying themselves by acting like good little succubi. We can't really rely on them."

Mephisto sighed upon hearing the new. Even with the Garuda Girl's raw power, getting on the continent would prove a problem if the Lilith Sisters attacked them with some support. She hoped that they would be too busy to notice their infiltration attempt, but apparently, they were now on the defensive. As nobody interrupted her, Yao continued.

"The second reason is that we are not exactly on the Sister's good side anymore…"

Morrigan jumped up. "Oh, is it because of what Tamamo pulled in Grangold's castle? This world would already have been saved if, for a reason, your leader did just follow our instructions!"

The legendary succubus shoved her face in the kitsune's once more as she ended her sentence. While her predicament was only a passable issue, Yao was starting to get annoyed by those supposedly powerful monsters completely disregarding her personnal space. Her ears flattened themselves on top of her head as she sighed. "The fifteenth did follow theirs. It ended so well for her."

Merphisto could not help but smile at the kitsune's sass. She was starting to really enjoy the turn this conversation was taking. Yao continued her announcement.

"Also, the tanuki queen got a gift from Black Alice."

"Fufufufufu."

"The Chaos Goddess I mean. We could have handled the situation if she didn't decide to balance the scales in her champion's favor. And I am pretty sure once she will be done with my kin, everybody else will be next on her toy list."

Mephisto nodded. "A fair assumption. I will tell Luka of your request."

"Thank you, now if you would be so kind as to free me so that I can inform Tamamo… I am sure she will be overjoyed when he will come help us."

Promestein muttered under her breath. "If he accepts."

Elizabeth whispered back. "You've ever seen Luka refusing to help someone?"

However, before Mephisto could do anything, Morrigan stepped forward and readied her aura again. "Oh, no, no, no! Don't think that will be that easy! You still didn't tell us how you got in and why WE would actually help you!"

Yao smirked. "It is simple. My mistress happened to be the one who created the castle we are currently in. She taught me hidden paths to get in." Her smirk grew, revealing her razor sharp teeth. "It is the same situation for the Monster Lord's castle, and I can easily conceal our entrance in Hellgondo should you use the Garuda girl."

"Pfff, like we would actually need help for that! I'll just have to ask my sisters when I tell them we captured you traitor, and we'll have a red carpet ready for us in no time!" She was beaming with pride. "Besides, they owe me after that little incident at the coliseum."

Promestein stepped forward. "Actually I think we will need Yao's help on this one."

"Oh, because little miss scientist knows my own sisters better than I do?"

"No, I only base my analysis on what I studied from monsters. Even amongst your own kin, you only acknowledge someone if his or her strength is worthy of consideration. As a consequence, the more powerful ones repeatedly test their subordinates to see if they cans serve them well, and it is pretty clear your sisters consider Luka a potential one as they keep facing him, as well as whoever is with him at the time. They want know more than ever to gauge his team's strength, and now that you are on his team and weakened… I don't think your help for that little incident will compensate"

After a second, Morrigan deflated. "Fuuuuuck…"

Mephisto chuckled. "Welcome to our lot. We hope you enjoy the perspective of facing the Monster Lord forces repeatedly. Please keep our plan hidden from your sisters."

The succubus grumbled. "I will."

Fatima roused herself from her seat menacingly. "And what guarantee do we have that this little fox will not betray us at a critical moment." She eyed the fox haughtily. "Do you offer yourself as collateral?"

Yao smiled. "Actually you will need me to guide you once there. And may I ask you for whom I may betray you?"

The vampire queen nodded. "A fair point. In that case, I accept your offer!"

"I still need to see the hero myself. Mistress Tamamo was insistent on the matter."

"In that case I will personally see that you get to meet Luka yourself." Mephisto got up. "Let us free you first."

Yao chuckled. "Thank you, but that won't be necessary."

She disappeared before anyone could react. It took a second for Mephisto to realize that the kitsune did transform into a small ball, and could easily have escaped during the "tea party." She only initially acted as she did to get everyone's trust.

Yao proceeded to roll out of the cocoon before she unfurled standing on the table in front of everybody.

"The bedding is quite good, but…" She took a break in her sentence as she stretched. "The service is deplorable."

Spider Princess and Morrigan were dumbfounded, while all the other monsters were silently laughing at their companion's misfortune. As she stepped down, Yao held up a small sheet of paper toward Morrigan.

"You should learn to check for talismans before imprisoning someone."

The succubus took the talisman, still surprised by the fox escapism. Mephisto laughed darkly.

"We have one escape artist there, no wonder you managed to enter the castle."

"I answer my mistress's order." Yao looked around. "Sooo, where is Luka?"

"Oh, I remember him saying something about going in the Labyrinth of Chaos to kill Lilith and get additional masteries. I think he is in Ilias Temple right now. Ufufufufu…" She punctuated her sentence by twirling her staff.

Yao raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Mephisto shrugged. "Ah well, we'll just wait for him to come back then. I hope he will get Heinrich's ghost to teach him another hero's skill. The boy would need it."

The kitsune looked at each monster, confused. "What?"

Promestein looked down as she pulled out her notebook. "I hoped he would at least have invited me so that I can observe the transfers happening. At least I would have been able to identify how a vial full on an Ancestor's sexual fluids ended there."

Yao stared at Mephisto. "Is it some secret code, or…"

Mephisto smirked. "Long story."