Pana pouted as she explored the empty Grand Noah castle. Just like her numerous partners, the Honey Pot had expected to be able to capture the Grand Noah Queen and give her a piece of her mind by mugging her before stealing her personal collection, but the noble was nowhere to be found. While the mimics appreciated the opportunity to plunder the Grand Noah treasury after dealing with its guard with an alarming ease, they were still frustrated. Their vengeance would have to wait. After spending more time wandering around, she regrouped with her fellow mimics outside the castle and started razing the place to the ground with tentacle strikes after tentacle strikes, reducing the proud structure to a shapeless pile of rubble. The mimics stared down at the result of their work for a full minute before one of them decided to ask the one question.

"Now what?"

Pana grunted. "The information we were given was wrong. That damn queen wasn't in her palace. We have to start tracking her again!"

A box girl in the back row stepped forward. "We know that she also has a castle in Ilias Continent as the Medal Queen… as if donning on a pair of glasses and changing of outfit would be enough to hide her identity… I suggest we go there and raze the place!"

Pana and her partners nodded in agreement. They wouldn't stop until every single last person involved in that collection of small medal was begging for their forgiveness.

As the mimics prepared to teleport away, Pana saw a wolf girl arrive from the corner of the street, distractedly examining a small medal. The beast monster froze when she saw the razed palace and the large number of mimics glaring at her. Without a word, she dropped on all four and started running away with all the mimics in tow. Pana didn't notice when the floor changed from paved streets to dirt road to thorns-filled grass as they ended in the middle of the infamously thick forests of the Noah region. The Honey Pot felt uncomfortable for a moment while their target was running faster and faster, and she started wondering if their single-minded chase was reasonable. She even felt her mind starting to muddle up as exhaustion was seizing her, and she needed to turn back to see her fellow honey pots following her to affirm that she wasn't making a mistake… until she felt her barrier collapse.

"It's a trap! RUN!"

One of the mimics started fleeing from the group, but before Pana or anyone else could catch back to her, a lightning spell hit the large group, shocking her and her fellows as they held on for dear life. Luckily for her, another mimic raised a barrier to protect the group against other magical attacks while the Honey Pots started dividing their bodies to prepare to teach their impudent attackers a lesson. However, just as fast as it was set up, the barrier was taken down by a rain of projectiles and another explosion knocked away the remaining Honey Pots. Pana herself ended on the verge of unconsciousness, her ears ringing as she ended near the fleeing mimic. The latter stopped for a second in surprise and healed her. Pana grimaced, and silently got up, not wanting to thanks her partner after the latter tried to abandon them earlier. The mimic set up a barrier while Pana started duplicating herself: Their surroundings were clear, they could see any enemy coming from afar, and they were now ready for them…

The Honey Pot felt a small disruption in the air, then heard the sound of a sword being sheathed behind her. She tried to turn around, but, to her surprise, her whole body was shaken by spasms as if she was electrified. Pana collapsed, and before falling unconscious, she saw a strange woman clad in a red and black kimono walking away, her raven hair swaying in a non-existant wind.

…What happened? Just who is she?

The woman didn't turn back to look at her as she answered while sheathing her katana.

"Nothing personal..."

"…But I just want to be back with Kazuya as soon as possible."

"Come on you stupid doll!" Lampas emerged from the forest, shaking her vines threateningly. "Nutrient-kun doesn't need you, I will keep him company once we're done with this!"

"You'll just suck him dry you grassbrain!"

"And what will you do with him besides attempting to milk him?!"

The two monsters prepared to fight when a vigorous voice called out to them.

"KNOCK IT OFF YOU TWO AND ATTACH THEM BEFORE THEY FLEE, YOU'RE THE ONES WITH ALL THE BINDINGS!"

Lampas and Mukuro jumped back in surprise as Sonya came out of the forest, grimacing. The priestess was barely slowed down by the two unconscious Honey Pots she was dragging with the support of the wolf girl who had lured the mimics in, while Witch was carrying a few more with her magic. The group of mimics got clumped together in a mix of magic, hair-like strands and vines.

"I'm not happy about being far from Luka either, so how about nobody makes the life of one another miserable so that we're done faster with this mess and get back before they do something stupid like requesting company from a shameless purple-haired whore who remained in Yamatai for reasons!"

Lampas and Mukuro both acquiesced and grabbed the bundle of Honey Pots before the whole group got teleported away by Witch. The party landed close to Yamatai Village, where a large group of unconscious mimic monsters of all types was maintained asleep by a succubus spell. The two monsters delivered their own lot while Sonya started walking toward the village at a brisk pace, Witch even needing to run slightly to catch back to the priestess.

"I swear… This month keeps getting better and better… At this point, I'm half-expecting Morrigan to sneak her sisters in Luka's bedroom and those seraphs to blow everything up afterward… And why am I here in the first place, dealing with that mess instead of accompanying him?!" She addressed Witch without taking a pause. "No offense to you or anything, but I just feel like she's trying to keep me away from Luka! How am I supposed to keep an eye on him?"

"Actually... You're partly right." The succubus repositioned her glasses as they approached the chief's house. "She put all the heroes in the same group specifically because she wanted to avoid conflicts between suitors in his and Kazuya's case."

Sonya shivered. "I still don't feel good knowing he's surrounded by all those people from other strange worlds… what if one of them reveals themselves as a nihilistic psychopath?"

Witch shrugged. "Given what we know about them, it's unlikely."

"Whatever… Please not a word to Mephisto. The old hag would make my life a living hell if she learned what I just said."

The duo entered the chief's house that was serving as temporary headquarters, although "headquarters" was a considerate word: Only the main room was used, the living room was currently used as a holding cell where a drunken Daji and an unconscious Monster Lord Cassandra were respectively sleeping their alcohol and unconscious after being struck down yet again. The duo was kept under guard by a stern duo in the persons of Alma Elma and Granberia, the dragonkin being here on Tamamo's order as nobody else could get a hold of her.

Sonya's attention remained focused on the table around which the kings from San Ilia and Grangold were discussing with Mephisto, Alice and Tamamo. A map covered with markers had been laid out on the furniture. The priestess of Ilias sighed. She had never imagined that she would get to approach human nobles, and even less monster ones during her life… And now, she was dealing with them on a daily basis as if it was the most mundane move in the world. She cleared her throat to attract everyone's attention, and failed to hide her frustration as she gave her report.

"Grand Noah is clear, all of the mimics there have been incapacitated and are currently in our custody."

"Good." Mephisto offered a smile as sincere as she could while removing the few remaining markers placed on the location of Grand Noah. "Although we will have to rebuild Finoa yet again, the Noah Region is no longer threatened. You should take some rest, you deserve it."

Sonya swallowed back a few words of choice as she wanted to tell the yoma back where she could put said rest, but she instead simply nodded in agreement before remembering possibly important information she heard from the wolf girl accompanying them.

"We captured all mimics, but they were apparently going to the Medal Queen's Castle to raze the place."

Mephisto's smile disappeared. "What do you mean by apparently?"

Sonya felt herself starting to sweat under the group's intense gazes. Even the two of them that were barely half her size had deployed an aura of power that froze her in place. "T-they said they wanted to raze the place since the Grand Noah Queen wasn't found in the castle… Amara said they were preparing to teleport when she saw them."

She felt the pressure disappear. The Grangold king pointed at the map. "Unfortunately this is consistent with our own observations in the Gold Region. A number of them teleported once done with ravaging Gold Port, but we have no idea where they went."

Tamamo started tapping her chin with her fan. "And we have no news from the groups sent in the northeastern quadrant of the Ilias Continent." The map was still covered with markers. "This is too much to be a mere coincidence. How powerful and reliable are the groups sent there?"

Alice shrugged. "The slugs went there of their own accord since Slug Tower is not far, and I wouldn't be surprised to learn that they forgot to contact us once done. Otherwise, the harpies are keeping an eye on the region to keep track of unusual movements, a large group of kitsunes has been sent to Iliasport, and the Medal Queen's Castle itself is defended by Luka and three other heroes. WAIT FOR ME!"

Alice jumped over the table using her tail like a spring as she chased after Sonya who herself had started running away as soon as the Monster Lord had uttered the H-word.

"Not a word about her education."

"I was wondering if we could have Alliance members give us a hand to make up for Grand Noah, but…" Mephisto turned toward the still sleeping Daji. The kitsune was lying on the mat, still snoring in an inelegant yet lascivious pose, her racy kimono having completely slipped to expose her form to the pleasure of every man around. However, they couldn't put any move as both Granberia and Alma Elma were glaring at anyone who dared staring in their direction for more than a few seconds.

"I cannot think of a single one we could disturb who wouldn't make everything horribly worse."

"I can't think of a single one reliable in the first place…" Tamamo grimaced. "Even this one has more in common with Minagi than me. The remainders are through and thorough succubi, I came to no longer expect anything from representatives of their race in the first place."

"Hey!"

"Sorry Alma, but unless you get at least one of them under control, your title of Succubus Queen will only be worth the ink used to write it down."

"…Point taken. It doesn't mean I'm happy with the comparison though."

At this precise moment, I am glad that the Fifteenth wasn't one for having a lot of retainers…

"Let us focus back on the matter at hand, shall we? We are a bit low on available forces with everyone who had been taken by surprise either captured or resting from their wounds. As for the remainder, the angels are all focusing on defending the Snow Continent, Morrigan is trying to take back the Monster Lord's Castle -on her own, should I add-, and I wouldn't consider calling on our Apoptosis because they don't mix well with the heroes. Trust me, we tried."

The two human nobles nodded in agreement. Tamamo wisely decided not to push further and took a look over the book Mephisto was holding. "How about the ones that just came back? They seem pretty fresh to me, and they have good fighting skills…"

"Because getting that doll and the alraune anywhere near their sweetheart will instantly lead to an inside fight, which is the last thing we need… And Amara has been playing bait all day, while Witch is now giving a hand maintaining that sleeping spell over all those mimics. Remain…" Mephisto grimaced. "Whoever we didn't judge adequate to call upon for all the reasons one can think of. I'm not even sure they can make a difference, even if they wanted to… Monsters make for seventy-five percent of his companions, and yet the only ones that could be of any help to him are the dreg of his party. This is not a shining moment for monsterkin."

As she listened to Mephisto's speech, Tamamo started leaning back while fanning herself, haughtily looking down on the yoma.

"Are you not actually forgetting someone?"

Mephisto distractedly tapped her chin with her wand. "I have no idea who you could ever be talking about."

Tamamo sighed. It was obvious she wouldn't get the yoma to leave the comfort of this room to go on the battlefields outside, no matter how critical the situation.

Then again, she didn't quite look forward to going out herself…

"We'll keep an eye on the prisoners ourselves then."

I thought it was bad back home with ploys from M.O.W., but this world really can't take a break…

Kazuya was currently standing guard near the teleportation exit that made for the only access to the island the party of heroes had been assigned to. The landmass itself was curiously exploited very little: the only other permanent building besides the "Warp Shrine" they were currently standing guard in was a small castle belonging to a queen that exchanged small medals for powerful treasures. Nobody else had decided to permanently install themselves here, even as the warm climate and serene beaches were so many invitations to relax here.

The keyword right now was "permanent". A large number of local humans and weaker monsters had taken temporary residence on the island in an attempt to escape the onslaught of vengeful mimics. Even if he was aware of the whole truth, the man remained as confused as most people on the island.

I heard about a few species living in margin of monster society like spiders and cockroaches, but from what I heard about mimics… They're almost actively hiding from society. Are they actually endangered by people hunting for small medals? Is it desperation that push them… Or something else?

"Are you alright Kazuya? You look... Lost…"

The red-haired hero turned around to see Hakunen approaching with a concerned expression. It's only then that he realized he had been juggling his gun in boredom for a while. He answered with a small smile.

"Sorry, it's just the wait for battle." He holstered his weapon. "I remember a friend in the military telling me it's more stressful than the battle itself. We have no idea when or even if we're going to be attacked… It's killing me."

"…" Lauratt silently nodded as he himself acknowledged Kazuya's words. The man had taken Lest's place in the team as another group needed an extra swordsman while the heroes themselves were seriously missing in mages and healers. The young man didn't look as nervous as Kazuya, but he was still periodically fiddling with a large magic rod. The only one who was visibly remaining calm was Luka, who instead looked as jaded as ever as he was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall. Kazuya briefly envied the hero's ability to relax even with this lingering tension, although it only highlighted how often this world was in danger.

I heard how he pushed back the four armies of the Monster Lord and chased after their leader to beat them before recruiting them to his cause. It's really just another day for him…

Can I even be half the hero he is?

Kazuya's mind wandered during the unending wait. The story Morrigan told kept passing in his head again and again, as he hoped he would find some measure of explanation as to why the mimics lashed out against the world.

Wait a minute… They're looking for retribution after people kept attacking them for those small medals. They're drunk on their newfound power, but they're still focused on them first.

Why are those small medals so important that people are ready to actively hunt for mimics to get those?

And how did those end in possession of those monsters and only those monsters in the first place?

"The Grand Noah Queen gives powerful pieces from her treasury in exchange for a number of those." Luka looked passably bored as he answered while fiddling in his pocket. "I don't know why they have those or what she sees in those though." He tossed a small medal in Kazuya's direction.

Did I really think that out loud?

Kazuya acknowledged Luka's answer, but he still felt unsatisfied. He received the small item and started examining it, soon joined by Lauratt and Hakunen. The item itself was beyond mundane: an engraved piece of gold that was larger than usual, but didn't look magic in the slightest. He checked over his shoulders, and both of his partners looked as nonplussed as him, and came to the same conclusion: that item had barely any intrinsic value.

"Did you even ask her if there's more to it? I mean this is escalating pretty far for what most people see as simple metalwork..."

This time, Kazuya noticed that his remark elicited quite a reaction from Luka. He could almost hear the gears starting to turn into the hero's head before they reached his legs, springing his lower limbs into action.

"…She said that it was to make sure that the recipients of her gifts were worth those, but right now I have a doubt. I'll go ask her again. Nobody on the other side of the Warp Shrine came to report movement."

Luka was almost at the entrance when a harpy showed up at the doorway in a panic.

"They're attacking by the ocean! They will surround this building in less than a few minutes!"

"OF ALL THE TIME THEY HAD TO ATTACK NOW?!"

As they started running toward the beach, Kazuya cleared his mind of his last questioning to focus on the fight ahead of them. He couldn't afford to make mistakes in the upcoming battle. He checked on his ring. He could still call for outside help in a pinch, but the fight with that strange Monster Lord showed him that counterspells were used extremely often in this world and he didn't want to rely on an advantage that could be cut off any moment.

Wait a minute…

"Now that I think about it… Those buffs they're using are magic in nature, aren't they?"

Luka nodded positively.

"Can't they be dispelled then? That would completely negate any advantage they have."

"They'll just put them back up again."

"Yes, but they need more resources to enchant themselves than we need to counter them, no?"

Luka broke to a screeching halt in a heartbeat, forcing his companions to do the same to avoid hitting him in the back. He then completely slumped over himself, defeated.

"…Why did nobody else think of that…"

Lauratt awkwardly shrugged while scratching the back of his head while Hakunen looked utterly confused.

"Sooo… we can easily beat them then?"

"…"

Mitsuko was proudly standing in her pot on the bow of the ship they had justly taken from those adventurers on Mimic Island. Her vindictive gaze was turned toward the island that made for the home of this Small Medal Queen. The moment she would end in the custody of mimics, their vengeance would be complete and nobody else was ever going to hunt mimics for small medals again. They would be safe forever. Nothing would threaten them.

Behind her, eighty of her fellows were enthusiastically shouting various war cries. Aside from them, she knew that more than the double was waiting for the warp shrine to fall in their hands before joining in.

As they started approaching, she noticed the heroes on the beach. Her expression turned into a mask of rage. A few months ago, the Honey Pot thought that she had found someone who understood her and joined him. Then she saw his true face, and how little different he was from any other adventurer. She would show everyone soon enough that this hero and his companions were just as weak as anyone else.

One of them wordlessly raised a staff and threw a large fireball at the ship, creating a large, burning hole in its hull. Mitsuko smirked. It was too little, too late… They already were in shallow waters and could already reach the island. Their barriers would protect them against any attacks.

This is so easy. we're now so much more powerful than them… Their resistance is almost cute.

As they landed in the water, the Honey Pots started multiplying and accumulating power in their tentacle while their mimic partners raised shields to protect themselves. She was already getting elated at the easy victory as her eighty companions were now numbering in the hundreds.

A sudden chill ran up her spine. She looked around her in confusion and saw that all those copies created, all those barriers raised to support them had collapsed. It didn't matter. Everyone once again started accumulating energy, duplicating, or setting up barrier.

Then a second counterspell hit.

The morale in her group dropped at an impressive rate, as all of her partners once again started duplicating, but they were only acting out of desperation. Another wave hit, and this time the lot of them started scattering around.

Dispels? All of my plans have been torn apart because they cast a few dispels in a row? Why-

She felt an electric shock and saw everyone affected as they were still waddling through water. She felt critically weakened before another shock knocked her unconscious.

She didn't even have the time to think about the help waiting on the continent.

"Sooo… for how long were we supposed to wait again?"

"Until Mitsuko sends someone through this shrine. She said that otherwise heroes would beat us up as soon as we stepped through."

Not far from there, Mitsuko's second wave was waiting in the forest near the other side of the Warp Shrine. At first, they had been eagerly waiting for any sign to rush in, but the lack of sign and the waiting was starting to kill them. While a few mimics were still ready to fight, most of them had taken to laze in the forest surrounding the shrine, while a few had even returned to Mimic Island, afraid that this whole adventure was getting too far.

Chesa sighed. She herself had been more than enthusiastic at the idea of getting some payback against some adventurers, but right now she just wanted to leave everyone, hide in a cave and forget everything. It's not that she disliked her companions or was afraid, but mimics like her weren't very sociable by nature. She could even tell that a lot of her fellows were actually in the same situation, but everybody stood their ground because each of them didn't want to be the one that betrayed Mitsuko.

Maybe something is going to happen and give me a reason to get out of this…

The wait continued. Chesa started trimming her nails as a few more bored mimics even started playing poker, betting their spoils of war. After a moment, she joined them out of boredom and followed distractedly any conversation close by while focusing on her game.

"It's starting to get a bit long… Do you think they forgot us?"

Chesa shrugged. "I don't know… Maybe someone should ask them."

"How are we supposed to get to them without going through the shrine? If the heroes are waiting on the other side, whoever is going there will just be beaten up and mugged by the heroes."

"You're right. Did the sentries see anything?" Chesa repressed a grin as she admired the four kings in her hand.

"The what now?"

"The sentries… whoever is watching the island. Someone is watching whatever is happening around, right? In case we get attacked."

Her fellow players looked at each other in confusion. Chesa blamed herself as she was about to win a large pot that could very well include half the treasury of the Monster Lord.

"No, never mind that, it's not like someone would be stupid enough to attack us. We're the most powerful army of monsters there is and we're protected by our magic."

She sighed in relief when everyone returned into the game. Now was the time to win…

A chill ran up her spine before a few whispers ran amongst the group of mimics.

"Is it time to move?"

As an answer, a wave of pure pleasure seized her. Several of her fellows collapsed on the spot while she could only shake periodically in an agonizing bliss. Most of her partners had been knocked out as she still barely hung on. Dazed, she attempted to grab the loot for herself while she heard the sporadic sound of metal clanking and screaming. Before she could grab her reward she felt a burning sensation in her back and collapsed in a cry. She felt her consciousness recede in front of the mix of pleasure and pain she just endured.

We've been beaten so fast we don't even know who did that… If only someone kept an eye around, maybe it could have been avoided!

…If only I ignored all those idiots and left…

…If only Mitsuko never came with her plan…

…If only people left us alone…

…I just want to go home…

"Well, that was rather anticlimatic… Thank you for the help Alice, you brought the team right for the occasion."

The small Monster Lord shifted uncomfortably while taking in the praise. "Well, Kazuya was the one who had the idea to repeatedly use dispels and to take them by surprise at the same moment."

The red-haired man awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "Ahah… I just remembered how we dealt with that strange parody of a Monster Lord and how all those enchantments we used had been rendered useless in a second. It's nothing, really… And we wouldn't have been able to do it if it wasn't for Lauratt. He's the one who did it after all."

The young man blushed and awkwardly nodded at the compliment.

"Still… Neither ancient monsters versed in war for millennia nor our keenest minds have been able to come out with a solution so basic but effective. Not a shining moment for monsterkin…" Alice closed her eyes and sighed. "Now for the hard part. We'll have to try to talk some sense into our Honey Pot and then convince all of them to stand down." She showed the scene behind her. A few mages from various races were keeping the small army of mimics asleep.

"It's not going to be easy. If what Morrigan said is right, their emotions have completely clouded their reason, and turned a desire for justice in one of pure vengeance. They would even have attacked those people if we let them."

Behind Sonya a large number of humans and weaker monsters were cordially discussing, relieved by the defeat of the mimic army and praising the hero Luka and his allies. The party didn't linger around and made their way toward the beach where Mitsuko was kept hidden under the guard of Granberia. Both Luka and Alice noticed that Kazuya stood away from the dragonkin as if he was afraid, while she actively avoided looking at him.

Did something happen between them? Nevermind, I'm not sure I want to know.

Luka focused his attention on Mitsuko: The Honey Pot was looking completely down in the dump, almost catatonic. Alice took a posture as dignified as her childish body allowed it before addressing her in an imperious tone.

"We'll let everyone go and give you a second chance to make things right under the condition that they leave everyone at peace. While we already got the full explanation of what happened we still have one important question for you: Did you take in consideration everything you had to actually do to reach your goal, and did you measure the weight of its consequences?"

Mitsuko hesitated to answer. Before she could say anything, Luka distractedly started talking.

"I mean even if the Grand- sorry, the medal queen and all her advisors died, there's still her ancestor who's a spirit advisor in Iliasville that would give rewards in exchange for those, and he's proven quite popular. I don't know if you would have been able to kill a pure ghost."

The way the Honey Pot further curled on herself spoke volume.

"…Then there are also the issues of outside interferences…" Luka awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "I mean sure, you have taken two of the Lilith Sisters, but there's still a chance Tamamo No Mae reappears again, there are the seraphs running around…"

"Luka. Stop. She's already down for the count."

"…Then there are those twins and Black Alice still unaccounted for… I'm surprised nobody else showed up."

"If I didn't know what she had been doing for the past weeks, I would think it was one of Daji's ploys. I mean, she could do anything while we were focused on them. She would have easily manipulated them for her own nefarious goals and discard them afterward."

"Kazuya, please don't bring more fuel to the fire."

"Even in the alliance, that damn Daji isn't the only one... Isn't Musette's specialty brainwashing? Do the barriers protect against that type of attack?"

Luka winced. "No, they don't work against Demon Eyes. Trust me on this one."

"Huuuh…" Sonya was leaning over Mitsuko. She could see the silhouette of the monster curled up in the fetal position in her pot. "I don't think she will cause any more trouble anytime soon."

When he looked at the scene, Luka actually felt bad for her. In a sense, she just wanted to do what she thought was the best for her and her companions.

I'll ask Sonya and Mephisto to make sure she gets any help she needs… Considering she's skilled and has never been an issue beforehand, I'll forgive her this time. Speaking of the devil…

Luka saw the yoma suddenly teleport not far from the group. As she dusted herself, Luka could already feel his heart race as he noticed her passably distraught expression.

"Greetings to all those I have not seen lately… I bring a number of news from different people."

Please tell me they're good, please tell me I won't have to rush head first in another fight again…

"The first is that we discussed how to deal with our mimic issues at great length with Tamamo and the Grangold King. They've decided that it would be best if most people forgot this conflict." She started fiddling with her wand. "Needless to say, it applies mostly to those mimics and citizens, we wouldn't be included. I'm not looking forward to the effort required for that level of cleaning up myself…"

Alice shivered. "This feels wrong, but if we don't do that relationships between humans and monsters will end up breaking apart. I won't oppose this decision."

Luka chose to standing back. So did Kazuya.

"Good. The second… We received a message from Ilias who is asking for Luka, Gob and Hakunen's presence to create a job in the Hall of Creation. I apologize, but I didn't grasp quite all the details myself."

Alice frowned. "Ilias? A new job? We haven't seen her for a long time and I can't imagine her wanting to do anything for us out of the goodness of her heart. And yet I can't imagine her having the resources to lay a trap either…"

"I'm… just as confused as you. When was the last time we saw her already? Was it back in Grangold? Why would she want to see Gob and Hakunen specifically? And how can she even create jobs?" Sonya regretted her attempt to give her opinion.

"I don't know. I don't care. Do whatever you want, just don't expect me to come see that damn fool of a goddess."

Mephisto grimaced, and Luka already felt his clothes become damp with sweat.

"The small issue is… I wasn't the first to learn of it, and two people expressed an interest into seeing that job creation process, and they're not the kind our goddess would like to see if you catch my drift."

So some succubi want to come? Mmmh… Maybe I can request their company afterward…

Wait… The only succubi that showed any kind of interest in learning were Witch , Mysteltainn and…

…Oh no. There's no way Ilias will ever bear HER.

I guess they will have to do with each other. Maybe I should stop recruiting everyone I come across…

"I'll get them and go see what she wants…" It's only then that Luka noticed that someone was missing. "Wait, where's Hakunen?"

"Where's Alma Elma?"

People quizzically looked at each other, hoping that one of them knew about the current whereabouts of the Succubus Queen. Granberia groaned as she came to the obvious conclusion while Mephisto remained more reserved.

"Now, now, let's not be hasty, it might just be a coincidence, those two disappearances might be unrelated."

Alice pinched the bridge of her nose. "I can't see why they wouldn't. Damn it Alma…"

Sonya grimaced and unconvincingly raised her staff. "Yaaay. More work. With a little luck, she won't have reduced him to a dry fish yet…"

"I have the feeling she isn't far. Let's just check the forest on the other side of the Warp Shrine."

As he followed Alice's lead, Luka started seething inwardly. He looked on his side to see that even Kazuya was muttering something about getting himself a beer in Grand Noah and forgetting today's troubles.

Damn it… I should have known leaving this monster magnet near Alma Elma could only spell disaster. I hope those two surprise guests won't annoy Ilias and make for good company. I really doubt it though.

And with all that mess I have the feeling I'm forgetting something…

"So the mimics have been dealt with?"

"Yes, your majesty. We found a compromise to satisfy everyone, and our relation with them will soon return to the status quo."

"What about their small medals? With the number of mimics beaten, the heroes certainly got a large number of them, don't they?"

"As it happens, the heroes didn't take them."

"They didn't?"

"No, they didn't. Between the circumstances of the fight and the consideration that we would only antagonize the mimics further, everyone was ordered to leave them their possession."

"And yet, the most important aspect of all got left aside. Maybe we should consider the real power those heroes have over royalty."

"What?"

"Indeed, while it would be unethical to consider using them to fulfill our own selfish goal, their inability to consider our own wants in their mission could raise further issues as they involve themselves in future conflicts."

"I'm afraid I don't quite understand your highness…"

"…"

"Are you actually crying, your majesty?"

"All those small medals… uncollecteeeeeed…"

"Good grief…"

Meanwhile, in a parallel universe.

Mitsuko stood victorious in the ruins of the once standing Medal Queen's Castle. Most of her enemies had fled like pathetic whelps in front of her power, but the hero had remained behind in a sad attempt to slow her down. He was now prostrated in front of her.

"I apologize, I will stop attacking mimics, I will give you back all the small medals, all the equipment you want, just please stop!"

"Stop?" Mitsuko exclaimed herself. "Nothing will stop us!"

"I will." Tamamo No Mae appeared from nowhere, an expression of sadistic glee on her face. "And even if I fail, I should inform you that you will remain limited to your pathetic ball of dirt. Now, I shall put you back into your place."

A large wave of fire swallowed every mimic. When the last embers disappeared, not a single one of them had fallen down. They looked inconvenienced at best. Tamamo was bewildered.

"This is impossible... You should have turned to ashes!"

As the kitsune tried to understand why her attack didn't work, hundreds of tentacles struck from every direction, destroying her projection in the blink of an eye. Acclamations fused and Mitsuko scoffed at the pathetic display from a so-called "Ancestor".

But first, she had to deal with that hero…

"Tell me… What should I do with you now?

"I'll do anything for you! Anything!" Luka was on his knees, praying in Mitsuko's direction.

"Anything? Then you'll travel with us..."

And then Mitsuko and her cohorts travelled with the hero in the destroyed city of Remina to go in the world managed by the Dark Goddess. By the time the local monsters reacted to the intrusion, Mitsuko was already standing in front of the Dark Goddess, not intimidated in the slightest by the large lamia whose very body was brimming with power nonchalantly sitting across a throne in front of her.

"I'm impressed. But do you really think you have what it takes to face me? Do not think for a moment that the calm of the last millennium dulled my skills."

"I do! I'm more powerful than you could ever imagine!"

"Very well. Show me the power you so eagerly flaunt then."

The cataclysmic fight lasted a long time, but eventually Alipheese's raw power fell to Mitsuko's masteries over her tentacles. For each time the Dark Goddess attacked her opponent's shield, the Honey Pot struck tens of times with a primal power, eventually bringing her to victory. Soon, even the Ancestors all soon kneeled one by one in front of the new lord. Only Tamamo No Mae remained sour.

"Mmph. You preferred turning your power over your fellow monsters than those angels that oppress our very existence. You're only an upstart after all."

While the Honey Pot could behead the interloper, she did acknowledge the point the kitsune was trying to make and decided to fix the issue. A few days later, she showed in up in Esta with even more Honey Pots and mimics. She pouted when she saw that the Tartarus leading to the Angel World was in the middle of the lake and thus inaccessible to her kin. However, she soon built a master plan to lure them in this world.

"Ilias sucks!"

After a few seconds, angels appeared, only to instantly get beaten up by the army of Honey Pots that had gathered. More and more angels appeared, and then angels of higher ranks, even up to the Seven Archangels themselves. However, they did not fare better than their fellows, and were soon felled by the hundreds of attacks from every direction. Eventually, a furious Ilias herself appeared, looking down on all the monsters below her.

"You fools have blasphemed my holy name and shall be punished. Now disappear."

A pillar of light swallowed Mitsuko and blinded everyone around. However, the Honey Pot remained standing even after it disappeared to the shock of the Goddess of Light.

"How?! No monster ever stood my pure, holy light as its full power!"

"I have barriers and the accessories to protect me. You're a fake goddess." Mitsuko fiddled around with her equipment while answering Ilias.

"Your insults will never reach me… Just like your pathetic attacks! Do you really think that, like this abomination that lived in the dark, I will fall to such disgrace?"

Ilias was so certain of her strength that she didn't even move in the slightest when tentacles rushed her way. The combined strike sent her tumbling through the sky, and she ended utterly shocked from the assault.

"Impossible! No pathetic physical attack should have hit me! Only the purest light or darkness can ever hope of reaching me! How is it possible?!"

"I just equipped an elemental accessory when you were talking."

"What?! This is beyond cheap! I should have expected as much from filthy monsters!"

"It's not as cheap as being born a goddess! Now leave all monsters free and do not come back!"

"NEVER!"

And then Ilias disappeared under a rain of tentacles. When the assault relented, the Goddess of Light was heavily bruised and unconscious.

"There! Now no more monster using their undeserved power to rule over everyone, no more angels to oppress us, we're finally free!"

"Why, let me thank you for this entertaining show!" Black Alice appeared from thin air in the sky, clapping while grinning. "Now that those hindrances have been dealt with, I will make sure to enjoy myself thoroughly in this world!"

Mitsuko grimaced. "We won't let you do as you wish in this world! I will take you down like I took down all those that attacked us out of greed!"

"Yes, you are extremely entertaining indeed… Let me introduce your playing partners!"

Kagetsumugi appeared by Black Alice's side, followed by tens of monstrous dolls as well as other powerful legendary monsters that had been revived. However, the small puppeteer didn't look as confident as her superior as she nervously looked around and scratched the back of her neck.

"…Apologies your majesty, but you always told our clan that when two sharks are in your path, you should try your luck with the one that is the less hungry… And I believe this one is ravenous."

Black Alice completely froze. A full melee blew out between the two monsters and their companions, and Mitsuko's army jumped in the fight right afterward. Even her chaotic nature didn't prevent the horrible Monster Lord from falling under a rain of assault of every element.

The very next day, Mitsuko was sitting on a chest-shaped golden throne atop a long set of stairs, the hero stuck to her side with her honey while fellow mimics and Honey Pots were standing by her side.

In front of her a large crowd had gathered on either side of a long carpet guarded by rows of her fellow monsters. She looked down to see the three goddesses she had beaten laboriously start their ascension under numerous jeers.

Eventually, they ended up in the very front of Mitsuko and prostrated themselves, almost kissing the ground in sign of submission. When they reached their lowest, hundreds of voices echoed the same sentence again and again in unison.

"ALL HAIL MITSUKO, THE ONE TRUE GODDESS!"

So yeah, I originally wanted to do a crack ending but I hesitated because I still wanted to have that (loose) continuity of events in the current series. I still added it as an omake though. Hope you enjoy it!