"Are you sure you want to help us? I mean, we would appreciate your support, if only because you're used to deal with one of our most troublesome recruits, but you do not owe us anything."

While Kazuya was showing his usual smile, he was also slightly sweating under his shirt. The mission ahead of them looked like an exceptionally tough one, and maybe he would end up overwhelmed since he was merely human. But he didn't survive for so long by running away each time a threat showed up.

Well... He stood his ground most of the time. There was no point taking on an opponent that could slay him before he could draw weapons, after all.

"Thank you for your concern, but… I remember how much difficulties I had reining in the girls into My Room, and they were barely more than a dozen… I wish I had help back then, and I just want to be the person that could have helped me."

Alice closed her eyes and sighed. "It's fine by me. Don't tell us we didn't warn you though."

"Good grief, Alice…" Mephisto was juggling with a pen and a small notebook. "We're only checking on how everyone is settling back in and if there's any conflict to solve, we're not going on an all-out war."

"I would still rather prefer storming the Monster Lord's Castle on my own like one of the heroes of legends… On that matter, where is Luka? No offense, but It should be his job, not yours!"

Sonya sighed. "He's too busy dicking around. Literally. He disappeared with Morrigan. Let's just get started."

Mephisto checked her list. "So the first point was repeated minor scuffles in the parlor…"

Alice groaned. "I already know what this one is about… Let's just hurry up before the castle gets destroyed again."

"Now now… It certainly isn't going to be that bad. Aren't you overblowing the issue?"

Alice grimaced as the quartet started making its way to the room where the more noble monsters were hanging out together to drink tea together while sharing the latest gossips. However, most of the noble-looking monsters were instead currently hanging in the unusually crowded library. While they looked as happy as usual, each and any member of the quartet could say that they were putting on a facade to hide their fear of whoever had occupied their usual hanging spot. As they carefully approached the door, Alice raised a protective barrier while Mephisto disapprovingly shook her head and sighed. However, when the yoma's hand approached the handle, she inexplicably stopped her movement for a short second, and slowly opened it instead.

The parlor was in complete shamble, with most of the furniture usually present around being reduced to splinters while large gashes were omnipresent on the walls as if a mad beast scraped them. Only two monsters were present in the room, wallowed in the opposite corners of the room. While their body shape were quite different with one having the body of a lamia and the other looking like a throne, they shared many common points: both had purplish slimy bodies, light green hair, and a look filled with ambition mixed with scorn aimed at the other.

"Good grief… Nevermind what I just said. You can say the four words."

Alice shrugged and slowly slithered forward, completely jaded. "When I was little and heard about politic from Tamamo, the one thing I always hoped was that I would never have to see the Nereneids face-to-face. She always presented them as cruel supremacists whose sole existence was to be a thorn in the side of the Monster Lord that couldn't be removed by force lest we would have been presented as tyrants…" She humorlessly chuckled. "I guess not even being removed from the Monster Lord's throne spared me the duty of dealing with their idiocy."

"Look on the bright side! Now we're sure that Cassandra's hate isn't limited to the bloodline of the Monster Lord, but to herself as well!"

Both versions of the monster groaned as Mephisto grinned evilly. Her expression became neutral back in an instant.

"You don't happen to know what went through Luka's head when he recruited her Kazuya?"

"No, sorry… I guess he pitied her and decided that he could as well put her power to good use."

"You're giving Luka a little too much credit by saying that this decision came from his brain…" Sonya started grinning. "Or maybe you meant it came from his OTHER brain?"

"Agreed." Mephisto smirked. "I think everybody in possession of a decently irrigated prefrontal cortex would have opposed the decision to recruit her. But I suppose it was bound to happen with a team of four men, wasn't it?"

Sonya and Mephisto high-fived each other.

"Hey… we had just gone through several harsh fights in an unusual dimension back then! And besides, it was first and foremost to get Daji back!"

"Right… I guess it makes sense to bring her back if only to keep an eye on her… Attributes. Oh, don't make that face, I don't think a single man didn't take an opportunity to gawk at her at least once. I'd understand why you want to keep her at arm's length."

"…Or rather at the length of your sword…"

Mephisto and Sonya high-fived each other again as Kazuya looked down in defeat.

"I guess I walked in this one…"

"I apologize for disturbing you, but can we deal with the two Cassandras before they start jumping at each other's throat again? They're already back at throwing insults at each other."

Alice pointed at the scene behind her. While the two monsters were slowly moving themselves with the grace of drunken elephants, they had enough energy to insult each other.

"You can't even beat a pair of boys waving their weapons! The air I breath is more powerful than you!"

"You're such a hog that after eating your world, you ate your own brain! It's the only way to explain your stupidity!"

"It's better than starving because you're too weak to even beat a slug girl!"

"Even that would be a step up from drifting alone through the void like shapeless feces!"

"Good grief…" Mephisto slowly shook her head left and right. "Cassandra already was a nuisance when there was only one of them, but now that there's another version to fight with, she's simply unbearable."

"I'm not sure the alternative of them banding up would be better though. At least, the only one that's hurt is herself… and her parallel self. Not that it's a loss in any case."

Sonya acquiesced in a low, threatening growl. "Maybe I should club them both unconscious and throw the one Luka just brought in back in her hole."

"Or maybe they should try working together. At this point, they can learn a lot from one another."

Everybody looked at Kazuya as if the man had just farted. Alice hesitantly put her hand on Kazuya's shoulder. "I expected that from Luka more than from you. As far as I'm concerned, they're lost causes."

"Maybe I'm wishing for a silly miracle, but… they won't ever be able to work with anyone else if they don't at least tolerate the other version of themselves. That hate is currently their sole motivation for everything they do."

The two versions of Cassandra mockingly sneered at the man.

"Do you really think I would consider a pathetic weakling like her as even a fellow monster?" The Monster Lord lookalike uncoiled and started slithering toward the hero's party. While most of them readied their weapons, Kazuya kept his gun holstered. "She doesn't have half the strength I have! I have devoured a whole world! I beat everyone!"

"And then you lost to us because you were alone and overconfident." Kazuya turned toward the other version of her. "And it is the same for you. You have loyal friends supporting you, but you decided to ditch them and strike on your own at the first occasion. Why?"

Cassandra haughtily smirked. "Of course, only a human weakling can ask such an inane question… Why would you be on their side when your power places you above them, giving you the right to have them fulfill every one of your biddings?"

"Because then you just give reasons to more powerful monsters to have you do the same. Do I have the right of life and death over you for beating you both?"

Both versions of Cassandra snarled. "Don't be ridiculous! You only won because you had all those ridiculous friends!"

"Exactly. No matter how strong you are, if people unite to take you down, you can fall. I wouldn't have stood a chance against each of you on my own, and none of us stand a chance against whatever is currently threatening this world if we fight alone. If you don't work together out of friendship, at least do it out of necessity."

Both Cassandras looked at each other again for a brief moment before turning, visibly displeased. It was clear that the only thing more painful than the memories of their respective defeat at the hands of the man was the perspective of suffering another one that could spell their doom.

"I suppose you have a point. Very well. I shall tolerate this hog."

"And I will bear with this weakling. But do not expect us to work together!"

Kazuya raised his hands. "I don't ask for so much right now. But you should at least understand that if you don't work together, you will die alone."

The hero then walked away. While the two monsters looked warily at each other, it didn't look like that they would jump back at each other's throat. The remainder of his team was staring wide-eyed at the scene, completely dumbfounded until Mephisto recovered.

"…And this is why people trust the heroes more than anyone else. Maybe there's a lesson to be learned about taking care of your subordinates, mmh?" Mephisto glanced at Alice with a smirk.

"Tamamo and mother always taught me so. Ruling through fear by using your power against them is the best way to turn them against you. I only ever attacked my subordinates in self-defense."

"In that case, may I know why you froze all the three beelzebubs yesterday?"

Alice sighed. "They relapsed in their old habits a few weeks ago and I didn't have time to judge them then."

"I might be missing some key information then, I didn't have a single negative report from the whole world about them since the Pocket Castle fell apart."

"It happened during the crisis of the Land of Night, and…" Alice hesitantly glanced sideways toward Kazuya. "It didn't quite happen there, so it's normal nobody heard about it. But I want to point out that they didn't kick up a fuss because they knew what they did."

Mephisto turned toward Kazuya who shrugged, just as confused. However, Sonya was confidently nodding affirmatively. The yoma raised both of her arms and looked down in defeat.

"Fine, I will just assume that it involves a place best left unexplored, people everyone is better off not knowing, and a promise to keep everything secret… Just don't be surprised if people start to fear you after you attacked them as they were relaxing in the bar though."

"I'll deal with that. And one of the people involved was the White Rabbiiiiiitchhhhhhhhh…" Everyone looked Alice in surprise as her sentence trailed off between her gritted teeth. "Ahem. Nevermind that please. Let's continue our marathon of pain."

"Right…" Mephisto checked her notes again and started talking in a sarcastic sing-song voice. "Next is everyone's favorite shameless disaster of a courtesan, I'm talking about Daji herself! …You're sure you're fine to continue? I have the nagging feeling that you could bite her throat out…"

"I'm fine." Alice answered in a voice tone that said otherwise while she balled her fists. "Like everyone else, I just want to be done with her as soon as possible."

Mephisto's eyes were fixated on the tip of the Monster Lord's tail which was shaking like a rattlesnake. Alice had definitively been involved in a story that required more explanation… Or maybe not. If the Monster Lord thought she could carry the burden of her story on her own shoulders, she wouldn't be the one to oppose it.

To their surprise, they almost missed the towering kitsune who was calmly reading a large history book in the corner of the library, a cup of tea by her side. Naturally, this didn't alleviate anyone's fears in the slightest, and they approached her with their weapons at the ready. Daji didn't even look up at the approaching group as she addressed them.

"I do understand your suspicions, but I assure you so many precautions are unnecessary."

"Those words would be valid if you didn't attempt to play us… what, five times now? My memory isn't what it used to be and it can be hard to keep track of the games of childish pranksters."

"Well, she pretended to be the White Rabbit to lure us into her personal sex dungeon, ran away in Yamatai, blew up the Pocket Castle, ran away to play more devious games, ran away again in another dimension starting which incidentally started yet another world-ending threat which itself got degraded to yet another annoyance in our team… I also heard that Black- Alicetroemeria has her eyes on her for trying to get Heinrich, and that you have utterly traumatized a team of elite mercenaries with your debauchery." Alice sighed. "So much for supporting us. You're a walking danger."

Daji smirked, amused. "I should remind you that I did bring back a working version of the Pocket Castle and I did lend my assistance in several fights. I also didn't violate any promise, and if the fact that you still accept my presence is any indication, you either accepted that everything evens out nicely, or have another, possibly unmentionable reason to keep me around." She grinned and dramatically closed her book. "Isn't that right, Kazuya?"

The man just answered with a sigh. "Kicking you out would be useless, you would only stalk men that come out of the castle for your next meal or indulge yourself in orgies at any turn."

Daji scoffed. "You are talking of me as if you know more than the act I showed you. This would be entertaining if it wasn't so aggravating… But I reassure you on the sincerity of my intention. After so many adventures, I wish to settle down if only for a short time, and this place nicely does the trick."

Alice haughtily glanced at the kitsune. "Given the numerous times you deceived us, do not expect us to believe you so easily. You also got off quite lightly after the grief you caused everyone."

"I assure you that this world did teach me lessons that I won't forget anytime soon. It is clear that this little morsel of a hero Luka is the best hope for this place and that he will need any support available, hence why I am offering my help."

"I don't see what kind of lessons would get you to change your manners and make you want to defend the world rather than to further ruin it. You can't teach a trick to an old fox. Trust me. I tried."

Kazuya stepped in. "Well… we did beat her repeatedly, and she did end in someone's stomach last time she messed around and nearly ended stranded in a lost dimension. It's only thanks to us that she's still alive. A string of defeats like that would change anyone. And besides, you would rather want to see everyone corrupted by pleasure than actually annihilated. You might be evil, but you're not fundamentally a destroyer."

Daji grimaced. "I'm not overly fond of those memories being called on, and you can believe whatever makes you able to sleep at night."

Alice started frowning in impatience. "We only want to know if we will be able to rely on you when the time comes. We could use your help, but even amongst the already questionable members of Est's alliance, you stand out for trying to deceive us again and again even after joining us."

"I suppose it is the only way to get your trust then… Very well." Daji raised a hand. "I promise I will no longer deceive you. You have my word. Is this good?"

"I heard from Kazuya's other companions that demons don't renege on their promises." Mephisto carefully observed Daji. "I wouldn't quite say they're as serious as I'm with my contracts, but they're coming pretty close."

While Kazuya nodded in agreement, Sonya seemed more reserved on the matter. "She's just going to justify her actions through the use of exact words, isn't she? She said that she wouldn't deceive us, but she didn't say anything about outright corrupting people and actually supporting us."

"Good call Sonya. Although I'm slightly ashamed to think that I am the reason you picked on that…"

"That would be a low move, but I wouldn't place it above Daji."

The kitsune's shoulders slumped as she felt everyone judgmentally looking at her. Eventually, she gave up and returned to her readings. "I should not be surprised that a band of impudent brats would reject my word, but this feels even more unpleasant than I expected."

"Maybe we would trust you more if you had actually showed that you would make an effort to defend the world…" Alice discreetly grabbed Kazuya's leg, surprising him. "I would have preferred the help of Lucy, she looked more reliable than you."

"Contrary to Iron Maiden, I was limited in my actions for a very good reason back then, namely…" Kazuya saw Daji's expression freeze for a single instant before it turned into a smirk. The kitsune dramatically shut her book and delicately placed it on the table before starting to slowly clap to almost everyone's surprise."

"Bravo. Bra-vo." Daji leaned back on her chair, clapping all the while. "I guess you outfoxed me on that one."

"I had a very good teacher. Even if she annoyed the hell out of me."

"Yes, I did meet her after all, and I can confirm both accounts… Now, I should tell you that I had no obligation back then and I could have dropped everything in the blink of an eye, and yet, even if you didn't see me, I can assure you I did give a hand when dealing with that overgrown locust… Is it enough to convince you of my sincerity?"

Alice sighed. "Yes. Now will you finally stop making such a nuisance of yourself and attract attention? We will have to deal with a game between goddesses, we can't afford making mistakes."

Daji's eye twitched in anger. "Do you really think the world nuisance is fitting for me? Maybe I should show you once and for all what I can do!"

"Ok, I don't know what happened between you two, but Daji… if you decided to come back here and to bargain with us instead of disappearing, it's because you found out yourself that there are things you won't face alone out there… Actually, I'm starting to get scared myself. Seriously, what happened out there?"

Daji looked at Kazuya as if he had let a loud belch out. "…I will only say this on the matter. It is out of question that I face again what I saw on my own alone. And the idea that there could be more than one of... THAT actually terrifies me." Daji took a sip of her tea. "I would be the last of idiot to try striking on my own after that."

Kazuya, Sonya and Mephisto looked at Daji, then Alice before switching a few more times. Eventually, the yoma reconciliatory raised her hands.

"If everyone is fine with everything had just happened, then we'll just move on. We still have some work ahead of us."

"As I said, I will now support you… Now, if you don't mind, I have some reading to do…" As Daji returned to her reading, Alice examined in more details the book the kitsune was holding: it was an old book from San Ilias about the Great Monster War.

"If you're interested, I can borrow the uncensored version from Tamamo."

"Please do so, we would all benefit greatly from it…"

Once they were sure they were out of earshot, Kazuya finally decided to ask Alice about what kept digging at him?

"You met Lucy? When? I never knew she came to this world!"

Alice sighed again. "It's… complicated to say the least. I will just say that as scary as she was, I would infinitely prefer having her over Daji."

Mephisto let out an uncharacteristic chuckle. "I cannot possibly imagine for the life of little old me what kind of story involved the White Rabbit, one of Kazuya's unseen ally and the beelzebubs… You should consider writing a book about it, I'm sure people would enjoy it."

"And maybe you will consider staying in this world instead of screwing around next time!"

Everybody turned toward Sonya who rose a hand to her mouth in shock. "S-sorry, I don't know where this one came from."

"It's okay. And besides, the target of your pique should be our dear little idiot of a hero that makes for your childhood friend. Let's move on, I suppose we still have some work ahead…"

"We're more than halfway done… Next comes the chapel. The angels got a bit nervous with the large number of powerful succubi that recently joined us, I have no idea why."

"That's not funny."

"I guess it isn't indeed, particularly when you know that that most of them elected to kick everyone else out of the chapel and barricaded themselves in. This would be a valid plan if… Nevermind, it's dumb and they didn't even bring food in. We could simply wait for them to starve out again, but if we didn't have to spend precious resources keeping an eye out on them, that would be for the best."

Alice sighed. "If they even refuse to dialog, it's useless. And we certainly won't start wrecking the Pocket Castle in a battle to get them out."

"I didn't even consider the latter option in the first place. I simply thought that maybe a representative loyal to Ilias could get them to reveal more about the cause of their latest terrible bout of decisions."

Sonya gasped as she caught on the implied message. "You expect me to convince them to come out on my own? There's no way I can do that!"

"Good grief, young lady, of course I'm not asking you to get them out of their little fortress. I simply ask of you to attempt to initiate a dialog with them so that we can reach a common ground that would get them to accept working with us again."

"I guess I will try then… but I don't guarantee anything."

"We don't ask you for more." Mephisto and the two remaining companions stepped slightly away from the door. Kazuya leaned against the wall as Sonya timidly knocked at the large door.

"Angels in this world seem very… dogmatic."

"No amount of sugarcoating will hide the fact that most of them are fanatically devoted to a goddess who's a total control freak in her best days… And the most powerful of them currently with us is her third lieutenant who's completely under her thrall. Did you often deal with angels back in your world Kazuya?"

"Only one… She was my girlfriend and she had gone against order, so even then she was a bit of a special case."

Alice raised an eyebrow. "You had an angel as a girlfriend and yet you still did get in the company of several monsters?"

"I learned a bit late, and as I said, she was a special case... But she did help me in hard times, and then I did have to save her from her own powers. We always supported each other unconditionally. Unfortunately, I can't say that the angels in this world look as reliable as her."

Alice decided to not push further and looked in Sonya's direction. The priestess was timidly knocking at the door. After a short moment, Mephisto decided to step in.

"Good grief, lady, where is your natural assertiveness? I do remember you putting that dense Spider Princess back in her place quite a few times!"

Sonya awkwardly scratched the back of her head. "Yeah, but there's a difference between dealing with that idiot and messengers from the goddess you're worshipping."

Alice wisely decided to keep for herself her opinion concerning the extremely low intelligence of angels.

"Tell yourself that it's for their own good and that they'll die if they don't open that door. Think about the latest stupid thing Luka did if that helps you gather some courage."

"The latest stupid thing Luka did… I didn't see him much those last days… But I do remember him angering everyone… Why? Oh, right…" Sonya slowly breathed in and out, and started knocking at the door more forcefully. "He disappeared from everyone's sight and only reappeared to bring in a version of Cassandra that's somehow more of a pig than the old one…" She was now knocking firmly at the door. "And then he leaves to go see Ilias with two of the most dangerous monster like one of those irresponsible perverts, without even asking ME!" She pulled out a large war staff. "And then he disappears with one of them, only to then get it on with that WHORE MORRIGAN LIKE A DEGENERATE! AND THEN-"

A large projection of Eden's wrathful visage appeared at the top of the door, looking down on the priestess of Ilias. Her voice was simultaneously imperious and otherworldly, like a majestic projection talking from the heaven itself.

"Who is disturbing her messengers shall know the wrath of the goddess!"

"KNOCK IT OFF! I'M DOING IT TO HELP YOU! WHY DID YOU LOCK YOURSELF IN THE CHAPEL LIKE IDIOTS?!"

The head of the seraph recoiled in shock, clearly surprised that a mere human would tell her off. When she talked again, her voice was surprisingly meek.

"W-we were thinking that you had abandoned us. Several of our fellows have been kidnapped by monsters and nobody reacted even as they walked out!"

"Oh yeah? Are you sure they weren't tired and left out of their own? And maybe you could have warned us like a responsible person!"

"Huuuh…" Eden's face briefly disappeared as she turned around. "When you saw them leaving, were they actually… Oh. I see. You couldn't know yourself of course. No Uranus, we can't go out for food just yet… It's been less than an hour, you can wait longer."

When she reappeared, she was looking down like a scolded child. "We… don't actually know. I just heard that Cupi was mad because she was the only one unable to learn secret elven skills, and a few others disappeared afterward, so we assumed the worst."

"Then get out, and next time, tell everyone like responsible adults instead!" Sonya left in a huff, followed at a distance by the remainder of the team. After a few moments, however, the priestess of Ilias stopped herself against a wall to take a rest.

"Huuuuh… I don't know what's worse between telling of angels or having to do that because they acted like children… Should have I really done that?"

Mephisto gently smiled as she got closer to Sonya. "Now, now, what are you talking about? Thanks to you we know why they isolated themselves, and I'm pretty sure they will come out of their hole soon enough."

Sonya nervously laughed. "I'm just a mere human… It's a miracle I didn't get smitten on place. I mean, how it is that I'm still standing in Luka's party when he has recruited the queens of this world, humans and monsters alike? And that's not considering the… monsters from other worlds or other ones that I thought only ever existed in history books. For the love of Ilias, I'm just a human priestess with a knack for clubs!"

"Don't undersell yourself, young lady. Do you think I would have asked for your help just now if you were a weak, fragile person? For as much as I enjoy teasing you, you've always been by Luka's side during his adventure and never left, no matter what happened, and remained sane through events that broke more than one person. You're also acting more mature than ninety percent of our residents, which doesn't mean much, but… You know what I mean, and I'm pretty sure Alice agrees."

The small Monster Lord nodded in agreement. "You've always supported monsters and humans alike even as the priestess of a petty goddess. You kept going even as we faced stronger and stronger opponents. I don't know many people, humans and monsters alike, that wouldn't have given up midway after facing a legendary succubus. Isn't that right Kazuya?"

The man put on the spot nervously scratched his neck. "I don't know much about you, but… I share that feeling of being a mere human walking amongst monsters and fighting even as people worship me as a hero back home, and I didn't even have my magic power back then… And yet, I continued helping people the best way I could and deal with threats that make most people flee in terror at first sight. I never let that stop me, and when I look at the result... I think I'm on the right path."

"You see? What you did during the adventures is barely short of a mircale. And we didn't even ask our other fellows like Pilate and Samson about how they feel about being humans amongst monsters. As far as I know, they don't exactly care about being part of a weaker race." Mephisto grinned. "Should it come to worse, you could always ask Promestein to change race."

Sonya nervously chuckled. "There's no way on my life I will ever ask her. Thank you for offering me though."

"It's your choice. Now, I think we all deserve a drink, don't you agree?"

"Yeah."

"I second that."

"Third! …Hoping that the place isn't a mess, which seems to be a far-off dream right now..."

Sonya could already hear the laughter and feel the vibrations even if they were a floor above them. Whatever currently happened was probably one hell of a party. She led the way, but progressed with a measure of caution in her step. A drunken oni was laying half-asleep in the stairs as a warning of what the party would have to expec, and as they progressed, the group could hear chanted acclamations becoming louder and louder.

"Well, at least it doesn't sound like people are fighting."

"Good grief… I wish I could be as optimistic."

"Why? It only sounds like your typical party!" Alice grinned evilly at Mephisto.

"I deserve that one I guess… Let's just get in. It's not like anyone could hear us coming over all that ruckus anyway."

Alice nodded, but when she arrived near the room that was used as a pub, she decided to take quick glance to better assess the situation first: a large pack of monsters was chanting encouragement at something that was hidden from her sight by their sheer number. Several tanks and half-emptied bottles were spilled around on the floor, while a few more monsters and humans were already drunkenly asleep at tables a few meters away. She heard Kazuya wince behind her.

"And I thought Daji was a party animal… I'm surprised she decided to stay in the library and miss that."

"Let's get at the bottom of this and… just get anywhere else where we could get some actual rest afterward."

The quartet started progressing through the crowd of monsters who curiously didn't hesitate to let them through. Eventually, they finally arrived in sight of the core of this party.

"Holy crap, is this for real?!"

On a table at the center of the group, Hakunen was currently ridden by Minamo who was grinning heavily. The kitsune kunoichi was shaking her hips over the monk boy who looked as flustered and exhausted as ever.

"Hoo, hooooh…"

"Come on! What's the point of that sorcerer learning stuff if you can't learn hips swinging techniques?! Ah, nevermind, I'll try something else. This time you better watch and learn something!"

While the remainder of his group was jaded, Kazuya was aghast at the debauched show most people seemed to thoroughly enjoy. He remained frozen in disbelief for a minute before feeling a hand softly gripping his shoulder.

"Welcome to the Pocket Castle. We hope you will enjoy your stay."

"Of course, it's one of those damn foxes… I wonder how Magatsu is going to react to the sight of her apprentice in that state."

"She's right there."

"Wait, what?"

Indeed, Magatsu was sitting at a table close by, several empty bottles of sake by her side and a small smirk on her face. Alice slithered toward her, her tone betraying her surprise.

"You're actually fine with your disciple getting toyed with like that?!"

"Mmh… It's for his training. I'm sure if people keep using skills on him, he will learn a few more that could even be useful once back home."

Alice was shocked. Even if she did tolerate Luka getting debauched with other monsters, she preferred not hearing a word about it. She decided to drop it entirely.

"Whatever… At least you're well-integrated in this world… I didn't see that damn self-professed yokai hunter for a while now, I really hope she's not causing more trouble around."

Magatsu distractedly nodded before reacting.

"Wait, isn't she currently in the custody of-"

"Yes, I had a report about her, thanks for reminding me, I will take care of that as soon as possible! …And now I really need a freaking drink, let's just get at the counter."

Mephisto's sudden intervention raised a few eyebrows, but Sonya and Alice followed her through the thick crowd of monsters. To Alice's displeasure, Alma Elma was the one doing the service, and she was currently busier keeping Lest's face shoved into her cleavage than actually pouring drinks. Further down the counter, Freya was trying to cut herself from the world and enjoying a Fairy's Breeze with a surprisingly serene expression.

"Damn it Alma Elma, we can't look away from you for a moment without you hogging one of the heroes!"

The succubus queen pouted even as she tightened her embrace. "He asked me to do it! He said he wanted to become resistant to lewd charms!"

Alice sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "…Then at least release him before he suffocates. I don't think humans are supposed to be this shade of blue."

"Oh."

Alma Elma slowly released the young man who slipped down on the ground. She then poked his head with her tail and shrugged.

"He's fine, he's just fallen asleep."

"Whatever… Just serve us… some Noah wine or anything else that could make us forget this day."

"The Monster Lord's bloodline is forbidden from drinking and you look too young for alcohol, young lady." Alma Elma started serving the remainder of the group.

"I'm actually old enough, and since when do you care?! No, wait, since when do you know?!"

"I heard about it from Tamamo some time ago. When I tried to ask her what happened the last time the Monster Lord got drunk, she told me there are things even I was better off not knowing…"

Alice sighed, but she still accepted the orange juice that the queen succubus served instead. As she started sipping it, she focused on the conversation between Mephisto and the Queen Elf.

"…Yes, Cupi did show up to ask us about elven archer techniques in exchange for knowledge about the ones used in Heaven, but I refused because neither of us can learn the ones used by the others." She frowned. "Then she offered to teach us about pleasure techniques instead, but we're not interested! Elves are pure, we have no point in learning lewd skills like those barbarians are trying to force on that poor monk boy! …Maybe I should comfort him once they're done."

"Do you happen to know what happened afterward?"

"That fake elf showed up and told that she could actually teach her a skill or two as a fellow archer of love. She said that she would demonstrate her skills in Iliasburg."

Alice raised an eyebrow. That was the first time she heard about someone actually posing as an elf. Nobody was dumb enough to risk attracting their anger. Even Mephisto didn't hide her confusion.

"A fake elf? I don't remember recruiting anyone like that…"

Freya groaned. "You don't remember that girl that always show her legs? She's a whore if I know one…"

"…Do you have any idea how little that narrows it down?"

"The one with a wool sweater and long black hair."

"An elf with long black hair and a wool sweater… Oh, come on, not again… Thank you, I'll see that she's dealt with."

Mephisto stepped away from Freya only to empty her whole glass of Noah wine in one go and ask Alma Elma to serve her another.

"Myusca is acting up again?"

"Myusca is acting up again."

"Oooh… Do you want me to take care of it? I'm sure Vinum wouldn't mind if I try knocking some sense in her trainee again!"

"I gladly accept your offer. And while you're in Iliasburg, may you make a small detour and ask Morrigan if… her sisters can return us what we had lent them back in Grangold? I would appreciate it."

Alma Elma, Sonya and Alice quizzically look at Mephisto for a moment before the Queen Succubus gasped. "Ooooh, right… I forgot about that. I don't guarantee anything though. I'm off."

She disappeared in a gust of wind, making Sonya groan. "Damn it Mephisto… Who's going to serve me again now?"

"And what is that about something being lent to the Lilith Sisters? This is the first time we hear about it."

Mephisto removed her hat and started massaging her face. "It was a request from Tamamo at the time… How about I don't push on that story with the beelzebubs and the White Rabbit while you both forget this story about Grangold?" Mephisto extended an open hand toward Alice.

Alice hesitated for a moment, but she realized she was in no position to bargain as Sonya could possibly side against her.

"Deal." Alice shook the yoma's hand.

"Hey! Don't try keeping us out of the loop! This is beyond rude for me and Kazuya!"

"Our most sincere apologies, but I really ask you to trust me when I say you do not want to be involved in this story... On that matter, where's Kazuya?"

"I thought he followed us... Did the crowd hold him back?"

"Wait and listen…" Mephisto raised a finger.

Alice focused her hearing on her surroundings, but she could only hear fighting noises and the clamors from the crowd right behind her as their chant had changed.

"Lampas! Mukuro! Lampas! Mukuro! Lampas! Mukuro! YEAAAAAAH!"

"Oh dear me… should we step in and help him?"

Sonya and Alice both shrugged.

"…Later."

"Well… I agree. Let's try to enjoy those drinks before they warm up…"

"Good grief, I don't want to be the wet blanket, but shouldn't we at least check on him to make sure he doesn't end up torn apart by the conflict between those two?"

Sonya groaned. "It's quite ironic considering that you put Luka between Alma Elma and Morrigan... The only reason those two didn't kill each other is because they think it will break their chance with him."

Mephisto huffed. "And when did I do something so dangerous, little miss?"

"Right now. Did you forget that he's on a date with Morrigan?"

"…Oh crap…"