"Look mommy! That insect monster is covered in boobies!"
"Shhh…" The mother awkwardly silenced her child who was pointing at a trio of monsters sitting besides them. "Sorry, she's a bit indelicate." The monster didn't spare a glance, too busy sulking even as she was vaguely watching what was happening in front of her.
The three infamous beelzebubs were passably depressed even as they were watching the currently ongoing match in the colosseum. When they were freed by the hero against his will a few months ago, they had endured a powerful cultural shock: They expected humans to flee in front of them and to be able to take over the world easily, and instead they were perceived by everyone as just another group of monsters. People had become too familiar with all the ones existing and running around in cities to fear them, and their legend had been forgotten to time.
During an ever so short moment, they had considered attacking citizens to calm their nerves, but the single presence of Yamata No Orochi at that time had been enough to make them reconsider their plan, and the sight of other monsters definitively stopped them. Hearing about the conflicts between different Monsters Lords had only dug a nail deeper into that coffin, and since then, they barely accompanied the hero on his adventures. Not that they were really willing to in the first place.
They were barely watching the fight between the elves and the beasts happening in front of them. The first and second companies of Grand Noah's army were putting a show as intense as usual, but even as the public around them cheered louder and louder, the three monsters didn't react. The show ended with the victory of the first company led by the dullahan on thunderous claps mixed with occasional grumblings from those that had bet on the opposite.
Even as an already decided match between a soldier and a succubus started, the three monsters left, as gloomy looking as ever as they strolled through the relatively active streets of Grand Noah. Striga, the red Beelzebub, was the first to talk.
"Soooo, what now?"
"Let's go to Yamatai… I want to eat dangos." Media pointed in the general eastern direction. The purple Beelzebub was known to always have food on her mind.
Barbarella scoffed. "Be a little more ambitious! Even if this world is broken, we're still the fly queens! People should fear us more!"
"…You were the first one to acknowledge how broken it was, and decided that Selene and Luka had a responsibility toward us. Media's compensating with food while you're hiding behind whatever's convenient."
Barbarella turned toward Striga with a rage-filled frown covering her face. "Like you're any better? You didn't do anything beyond just being here! I at least try to get us to do something, anything to get us our rightful place back into this world!"
"…And yet we're still wandering from place to place, just like that…" Striga showed the people and monsters alike that were walking around them. Most of them ignored the beelzebubs, except for the occasional man who took a minute to enjoy the sight of their numerous breasts before moving on. "People don't really care about us. We might have been terrors during our time, but today, people deal with worse daily."
Barbarella brought several of her chitinous limbs to her head as she silently acknowledged her fellow's point of view.
"And before considering the idea, no, flooding the world with our children is out of the question! Between one of the Monster Lord and the hero's own forces, we would just end up dead!"
"Then what do you suggest?! Do you have an idea of what we should do then?"
"Me? No. I know someone who does however."
The beelzebubs found Mephisto sitting at her desk in the Pocket Castle. This time, the yoma was busy planning the resources needed to maintain the chimeras, the zombies and the other mechanical monsters when the three monsters arrived.
"…Seriously. Why do you keep coming to me with your problems? I mean, I already have my own work centered on helping Luka and his crew to manage the castle, I also have children to teach, and I'm still the advisor of Grand Noah… And yet, even as my timetable is filled, people keep looking at me for advices. That would be touching if it wasn't becoming so time-consuming…"
The three insect monsters awkwardly looked at each other, then at Mephisto. "Sooo, can you help us or not?"
"One word: Yes. Two more words: Split up." The yoma took a break from what she was doing to fully focus on the beelzebubs. "You're always together. I have no doubt that you're used to live together, fight together, do… a lot of things together, and while that make you a force to be reckoned with, it didn't help integrating you into this new world or even in our little army in the slightest. Now, I don't have a psychology diploma nor I am a succubus -fortunately-, but it's clear that the only thing that exist for you are the two others."
Upon hearing a snarling noise, Mephisto raised a hand and stood up. "I meant that in a codependant way, I don't mean that you like each other, which is perfectly understandable after being forced to be together during so much time. My point is: try meeting other people. There are more than a few hundred monsters, humans and angels in the castle, and while a few of them can be quite asocial, lethal, annoying… Okay, a lot of them don't make for good road companions, there are still tons willing to explore the world and go on adventures to help the orphan and the widow." Mephisto sat back and started writing notes again. "Or you can find a job in society. Your choice."
Barbarella scoffed. "…So you can't really help us can you? You're just telling us to go toward other people… Do you really think they will accept us? Monsters who made the first Monster Lord tremble in fear?"
The yoma shrugged. "Yes."
"…Fine, we're leaving then. Come, you two!"
Barbarella slammed the door on her way out, and Mephisto sighed in relief now that she could finally fully focus back on her work.
On the other side, Barbarella was stomping more than walking forward.
"Who does this woman think she's, for thinking she can tell us what to do?"
"…We came here to ask her for that actually…"
"And it was YOUR idea!" Barbarella aggressively glared at Striga who raised her limbs defensively.
"We didn't know what to do... I thought that was a good idea… And besides, I think she may have a point. I mean, we basically keep bickering like an old married couple."
"Then if you think her idea's so fine, go with it!"
"Ok. I'll go see if someone needs my help in their adventures."
Barbarella blinked several times as Striga was striding away while herself and Media were remaining still.
"Wait!"
Striga had already reached the next corned and didn't reappear when the purple Beelzebub called for her. Barbarella groaned, and turned toward her remaining partner.
"And you, I suppose you're still thinking about dangos?"
"Yes."
"Then why don't you leave on a quest to learn how to cook them yourselves?!"
"…Good idea actually."
Media slowly hovered away from her friend, who was still dumbfounded by her tactless reaction. Barbarella wanted to scream her rage to heaven, but felt all her motivation, her anger slip away, and instead started sulking, her steps unconsciously guiding her to the bar.
Drowning her sorrow was still an option after all.
Striga was checking the bulletin board at the entrance of the castle, looking for anything that could remotely look like a call for adventures. Most of them were requests about needs in food, equipment or necessities which read like a grocery list. It didn't look like there would be anything there… Maybe Mephisto would need some special help?
When she turned away, she nearly got hit by Izuna. The kitsune samurai was walking around with a brisk pace, and briefly excused herself as she walked toward the area where Hild, the mecha girl, was usually hanging. The kitsune briefly muttered something about the missing monster before turning toward Striga.
"You don't seem to be busy… What's your specialty in a fight?"
"Bow and fire… Why?"
"Well that's more than fortunate…"
Striga raised an eyebrow and silently nodded, inviting the kitsune to continue.
"We have to do some cleanup duty for Grand Noah, apparently a few monsters have decided to claim the Minotaur's Maze as their lair. Barbun was supposed to come with us… But apparently, that sheep that makes for her friend has found troubles again and she can't come… Are you interested?"
Striga nodded again, taken aback that not only the kitsune came to her naturally, but asked her to accompany her. It was so convenient...
"Sure, I'll just prepare my equipment and we're good to go."
Less than an hour later, the duo was crossing through the cavern that led to the castle they were aiming for. They were also accompanied by Victoria, the valkyrie, and Cristie, the succubus nun.
The war angel scared the Beelzebub. She kept looking over her shoulder toward her and the succubus, and Striga couldn't tell if it was wariness, contempt or something more sinister present in the valkyrie's gaze. For a moment, she wondered why she even accompanied them as she didn't even know what they were going to face, but Izuna started giving out explanations not before long.
"A large group of sea monsters has been sighted appropriating the castle that belonged to the minotaurs to themselves. Other local monsters tried to get inside, but got pushed back each time by particularly aggressive scyllas."
"Aaaah… All those tentacles… They can be so dangerous…" Christie jiggled around while blushing awkwardly, earning herself a hiss from the valkyrie. Striga's worries about the angel further grew.
"Please, remain focused on the matter at hand. Grand Noah sent both humans and monsters envoys separately, and both got kicked out of the castle. Even Leviathan got turned away. We're not sure what their goal is, and, in any case, the Cow Demon Queen would like her property back."
Victoria frowned. "Monsters who push away men instead of ravishing them? It's indeed strange."
Striga frowned. And here was the stereotype that monsters were nymphomaniacs. At least one thing hadn't change for the last millennia…
…But she recognized that it wasn't entirely wrong either. Still, she felt nervous because of the presence of the angel. Cooperating with them wasn't even considered in their age. And right now, they were siding with one to deal with a passably minor trouble.
"Precisely. Everybody involved want to know if those are just raiders, scared refugees, or the prelude to a greater issue. This is why we've been sent."
"Aaah… we'll send them to Heaven…"
Victoria emitted another disapproving noise before the group spent the next hour in silence. It was the beginning of the afternoon when they finally reached the castle itself, and its doors were locked.
Izuna knocked at the door while the three other party members stood back. There was no answer at first, and Striga took a look around. She noticed some movement on the ramparts, and noticed a scylla wielding a staff and accumulating thunderous energy.
In the blink of an eye, the Beelzebub shot an arrow at the mage's arm, interrupting the latter's spell and making her scream. Her three companions noticed and readied their weapons.
"Good shot."
Was that a compliment from Victoria or an underhanded insult? She couldn't tell and instead decided to focus on the entrance.
"Go away!" An unidentified voice echoed from the other side.
"We only wish to discuss about the cause of your presence inside the Cow Demon Queen's castle."
"We don't have anything to tell you, you traitor!"
Izuna raised an eyebrow and slightly backed away. She looked at Victoria, and the pair of warriors accumulated energy as they prepared their entrance.
"Last chance. We want to come in to discuss."
"Go fuck yourself!"
"Well then…"
The next second, the duo released their attack and the door exploded inward, projecting several sea monsters inside. Striga could see more scyllas, but also a mix of mermaids, starfish girls, and even a narwhal girl.
All of them tried swarming the group before they could even enter the place. The sea monster's numbers played against them as they got into each other's way when they tried going through the doorstep, and the duo made of Izuna and Victoria could manage to hold them back there thanks to Christie's magical enhancements. In the meantime, Striga shot with her bow or a fire spell every monster that tried to flank the group.
As the party kept fighting, Striga suddenly sensed movement coming from behind them: Apparently, another group of sea monsters had arrived and started attacking her and Christie. Before she could warn her partners, she was engaged in melee by several scyllas that tried to restrain her with their numerous tentacles while choking her. She could feel her vision starting to darken.
The next instant, a blast of light freed her and kicked the scyllas away while hurting her. She turned around to see Christie was down, her face covered with an ecstatic expression, and the valkyrie was helping her get up. Right afterwards, the valkyrie used a healing spell on the insect monster and held out a hand toward the Beelzebub.
"Sorry for that…"
"No, no, you saved me, thank you." Striga was still having difficulties to breath. They turned toward Izuna, who was standing amongst her unconscious assailants, only a few cuts covering her body.
"Twenty-five Northern Sea monsters… Enough to cause a problem for most settlements. Let's check the remainder of the place."
The castle itself was now mostly empty. The party still thoroughly checked every corner to get sure nobody would come from somewhere to ambush them. Eventually, they were in sight of the throne room, which was filled by an angry looking, perpetually frowning young-looking red-ish scylla.
"So here come the hero's lapdogs… A weird group if anything, made of traitors and a piece of crap."
Victoria didn't even react to the insult. The syclla continued her diatribe.
"You don't have anything better to do than to oppress us poor monsters? Like save the world or protect people?" She did air quotations each time with her fingers, and punctuated her sentence by scoffing.
Izuna stepped forward and bowed respectfully. Even knowing the kitsune's nature, Striga was surprised that she still attempted to show some form of etiquette as she conversed with the brat that was on the throne.
"After… Several attempt to communicate with you and the hostile behavior of your servants, we decided to stay until we got a reason to learn why you installed yourself in the current Demon Cow Queen's castle and pushed everyone away."
"It doesn't matter who it belonged to! It's our now! Our! Our! Our!" She punctuated each exclamation by jumping up and down with her arms crossed.
The other party members awkwardly looked at each other. Izuna turned toward Victoria, who instantly nodded as she stepped forward, her sword raised.
"And why wouldn't we remove you forcibly?"
"Because my grandma will kick your ass! She's the strongest monster of the Northern Sea, and she's the Temple Guardian, and she will beat you like you're nothing!"
"You're Poseidonness's granddaughter?" Victoria pointed a surprised finger at the scylla.
"DON'T TALK ABOUT MY GRANDMOTHER LIKE SHE'S NOTHING!"
The scylla proceeded to throw herself at an alarming speed at the valkyrie, knocking Izuna away with several of her tentacles and using others to try to choke the angel. The Beelzebub reflexively casted a fireball that singed the valkyrie's wings while kicking her opponent in the wall. The scylla instantly got up and angrily raised her fist. "This isn't over! I'll be back for more!"
As silence fell, Striga apologetically looked at the valkyrie who was getting up.
"Sorry…"
Victoria healed herself. "...Thank you for helping me."
She turned back and started leaving. "I'll have some additional work at Mt St Amos. I'll see you later." The valkyrie disappeared after pulling out a harpy feather.
Striga sighed in relief as she felt the tension disappear. She took a small ribbon that had been dropped by the scylla before the latter left.
"I think she took a liking to you."
The Beelzebub turned toward the fox with a frown. "Not funny."
Izuna shrugged. "I'm serious."
"I felt the hostility from here."
"She's like that with everybody at first… She's kind of a tsundere, and, to be honest, she doesn't like Christie much. Something about the succubus using the faith in Ilias to score some men apparently displeases her a lot."
"Maybe she's better on a good day, but…" Striga shivered. "Her gaze feels like the cold hand of death."
"As I said, she's naturally like this. It's probably related to her role as an angel of war. It's unfortunate, but you learn to deal with it. Want to grab a drink once back at the castle to change your mind?"
Striga was dumbfounded by the kitsune's offer. She didn't expect someone to invite her like that just after one mission together. In reality, as hindsight started setting in, she realized that she was extremely surprised with how easily she made small talk with the kitsune. Maybe her own reputation as an horrible monster had faded after all.
"I, uh, well, thank you but I wonder how my partners are doing after we kinda fell out, sooo I'll try to see if I can find them."
"A commendable reason. In any case, our job is complete, so let's go back home." Izuna slowly started walking away. "Let's not forget that useless excuse of a succubus nun before going back to the Pocket Castle. Not that I'd feel bad if something happened to her, but I don't want to be the one woken up in the middle of the night because she was seen naked with a man on the roof of a cathedral again."
Barely a few minutes later, the team was back at the Pocket Castle. While Izuna was reporting her latest findings to the queen of Grand Noah, Striga slowly made her way to the pub and was greeted by the sight of Barbarella surrounded by empty tanks and bottles. The purple Beelzebub groaned as her partner sat by her. Her speech was quite slurred.
"Sooo, let me guess... You're already coming back to me after getting kicked out? They fled in disgust?"
Striga put out the ribbon she plundered on the table.
"Actually, it was quite a nice experience. I helped that war angel and one of the kitsune clean up a mess. The first is in dire need of taking that stick out, but they were both quite nice and helpful to me none the less."
Barbarella blinked a few times as she swayed in a drunken stupor. "…Really? They didn't run away from you at the first occasion, they didn't try getting rid of you, they accompanied you to the end?"
"That valkyrie even saved me. It's clear by now really everybody forgot our reputation. Or they just don't care."
Barbarella blinked a few more times. "You're kidding me. We're supposed to be the Fly Queens! We're supposed to be feared!"
"I don't really care. That little adventure was fun enough."
Those words knocked the wind out of Barbarella harder than a punch in the stomach would have. She almost fell out of her chair from her shock as she closed her eyes, and the only thing that kept her awake was the smell of something sugary being brought in. When she opened her eyes again, she could see Media carrying a plate of rice balls covered in honey.
"What's that?"
Media was chewing on one as she answered. "Sweet ama-ama dangos. Lemon and Teeny taught me how to cook them and where I could get the ingredients."
"…You learned to do something as mundane as cooking? Why?"
"Because I wanted to." She offered her plate to her sisters. "Want one?"
Striga instantly answered appropriately, and if her pleased expression was anything to go by, she was extremely pleased by the result.
"That's tasty! Extremely sweet, just as I like!"
"Thanks… Lemon said I poured too much sugar, but I told her you'd prefer it like that. She told me I could be an inn manager if I wanted. Apparently knowing and taking your client's taste into account is just as important as actual home economics skills."
Striga nodded enthusiastically, completely enraptured by the tasty treat.
Barbarella snarled again. "Reduced to one adventurer like so many and a cook… How much have we fallen."
Her red sister answered happily with her mouth still half full, projecting rice grains everywhere. "Come on, don't be a stick in the mud! We can't cover the worlds with our children and nobody cares about our reputation. There are other ways to make this world good for us, we just moved on!"
"…Maybe I should move on too. See you later."
Barbarella got up and wandered away. Striga looked at Media in surprise.
"Did I say something?"
Media just shrugged. "She'll come back later."