Alexia was looking down on Cid.

Honestly, she shouldn't do that. Really.

But it was all his fault for being this damn alluring! His annoyed face? Cute! His baffled face? Cute! His smiling face?…

Ugh, now she wants to do that even more! She wants to keep him for herself, to snatch him and never let him go! She remembers how Cid was complaining about his sister, Claire, doing something like that. Back then she didn't understand why would she do that. Now she does!

For some goddamn reason he's irresistible for women! Rose Oriana, Sherry Barnett… Even her own sister, Iris! They all somehow get attracted to him! The only saving grace is the fact that he's not interested in relationships with them, at all, but that doesn't mean they won't do anything!

And so she decided to take initiative in her own hands. She would take him to her house and… well, do… something, yeah.

The plan was a success! First part of it. Now she needed to do… something.

"Hmm…" he hummed as he gazed at her with his annoyed look. In response she pinched his cheeks (very cute cheeks, if she might add), making him flinch.

"Hmhp, for how long are you going to stall the inevitable, Poochie?" she was getting annoyed, too, "I asked you a simple question. For all I know, anyone else jump on the opportunity to be with me and not even look at the conditions."

"I am not anyone else," Cid slowly closed his eyes.

"And I wouldn't take it any other way, but now you are pissing me off!" Alexia took his hands into hers as she lowered her face to his, "Last chance. Kiss me, or suffer the consequences."

She probably shouldn't be this aggressive, but she can't see any other way to develop their relationships past cuddling! The fact that he doesn't get their feelings is somewhat helpful against other women, but must he also be like this towards her?! He's so dense that she could probably try to cut his understanding of relationships and her sword would break instead!

"Can't you just let me go?" he sighed and relaxed against the bed.

"Hmph, you've made your choice," she squinted.

"I'll take that as a no-" whatever he wanted to say was interrupted by Alexia pulling him in a kiss.

'Tasty.'

That's what Alexia thought when she finally got to experience everything that prior to that was only in her imagination and romance books.

She has to admit: as much as big breast monster that Natsume Kafka was (and she was totally padding them!), her writing skills were top-notch. Each time Alexia read her books, she could vividly imagine the scenes in the utmost detail.

However…

That was only the start. There is still so, so much more to do.

Alexia slowly moved her right hand to gently hold his head. His hair was soft. Heavenly, even. As she continued on their kiss, she could feel his now free hand reaching up to her own head as he gently caressed her hair.

'This is even better than I thought…' Alexia interlocked fingers with him.

Now, she was content. She marked him. He was hers. He belongs to her.

Alexia slowly let Cid go as they parted lips. And even now he was looking more annoyed than anything else. Wasn't this a pleasant experience for him, too?

"Y'know…" he started, frowning, "If you wanted to do something with me, you could just tell so. No point in playing games."

"Hmph, I know you good enough to understand one simple thing: if I don't go rough on you you will simply slip away," she teased him as she touched her lips (she still could feel the taste).

"Maybe I would. Maybe not. One thing I know for sure."

"Well, amuse me."

"You completely suck at being dominant," he spoke, blankly staring her in the eyes.

Alexia sat silent for a moment.

"Hmm, maybe I was supposed to tell that a bit more… sweetly…" Cid rubbed his ching as he walked out of princess' house.

After his last phrase Alexia went completely crazy to try and prove him that she was the one in control here… which went as he expected.

At first she tried to beat him up, then mid-swing realized that's not how girlfriends treat their boyfriends (his previous life observations said otherwise, though), then once again pinned him to the bed and gently started choking him… Don't ask how can you choke gently, that's what happened. In the end, when all her options were exhausted, he merely took her in embrace and started giving her headpats, once and for all settling the question of who was the one in control.

Honestly, it more seemed like Alexia wanted him to pay attention to her, and once she got what she wanted she was pretty much content with letting him go… If that's the case, he should prepare some gifts… Now what can a mob gift his princess girlfriend?…

Now he was walking back to Mitsugoshi, where Shades currently were supposed to be… Well, maybe not Eta. She was probably busy with her experiments again, but he was fine with that; if nothing else, he will just come to her personally.

Hmm, if he was being honest, this little trip he had with Alexia actually gave him a semblance of normalcy. What does he mean by that? Well, first he was fighting what was unanimously the strongest being in the world (before him), then he resurrected said being, then he fought the Goddess of this world's religion, then he fought gigantic interdimensional worm… One thing after the other, and kinda lost any sense of what was normal life.

Of course, he was long determined to abandon this normal life in order to achieve his dream, but just talking with someone who takes you as equal and just wants to have a fun experience with you? Yeah, that was refreshing. The only other people like that were Alpha and Claire, and first still had some kind of… reverence towards him, while the latter… at first she was busy choking him, now she was looking at him with reverence, too.

On one hand, that flattered his ego; he was now a bona fide Eminence in Shadow! Feared by his enemies, revered by his allies, unknown to the public! He practically achieved his dream!

On the other hand… there's no other hand, his hands were already bare.

Moreover…

He looked at people crafting statues of Serpent, making plays of Serpent being defeated by the Goddess, and other fun things.

Even if it wasn't revealed that he's the one who defeated the Serpent, it still feels damn good for his achievements to be recognized!

"Master Shadow, welcome back," Alpha greeted him once he entered the throne room.

"M-m," he nodded as he sat on his throne.

"All recruits that participated in attack on Sanctuary were sent back to recuperate. We also managed to save one more group of Possessed. Epsilon is currently readying herself for the healing…"

Cid interrupted her with raised hand.

"No need, bring them all here," he ordered.

Well, if he was now a real leader, then he should show something once more. Back then he was healing everyone one by one… How about doing mass heal?

"…As you command, Master Shadow," Alpha smiled at him and nodded to guard at the front door.

Guard nodded back and went out to escort the group.

"Now, while we are waiting, tell me, have you made a plan on what do you wish to do at your time?" he inquired as he crossed his legs. "And you do not need to tell everything if you wish to keep something a secret to give me a surprise, this is your reward. You are to decide what to do with it."

"Well, I do have a rough draft, but I will reveal everything after we are at place," she chuckled.

"Ho? You already have a place prepared? Not bad, Alpha," he approved.

"Indeed, Master Shadow. And, since you told I am the one who decides what to do…"

He got a bad feeling.

"You will obey me in these three hours, won't you?" ragged breath, flushed cheeks, and empty craze in the eyes.

'Yep, she's the same kind of nuts as Alexia, Eta, Claire, Zeta… Wait, practically every woman I know is crazy! Except Beta and Sherry, they're good cookies. Hope they won't get corrupted by these evil scientists, businesswomen, and right hands…'

He sat in uncomfortable silence. If gaze could devour, there would be nothing left of him by now… Hold on, devouring gaze… Hmm, could he develop something like that?…

"Lord Shadow, they are here," guard announced as a group of women slowly entered after her.

He watched them closely. Of course, each and every one of them was covered in blue-ish skin that he saw back then… Well, on practically everyone he healed. Hmm, if Curse of Diabolos is actually real, could he just ask Violet — y'know, the actual Diabolos, — to, well, uncurse everyone? This is just a Magic Overload induced by her cells if she's to be believed.

"I will not start with any glorious opening speech," he whispered, but because of magic everyone could hear him. He worked hard on aspect of being cool!

With that he raised his hand…

"This is your salvation," and released a wave of magic.

Back when he was at this throne for the first time, his mass healing was pretty underdeveloped. It could only heal fatigue, lack of sleep, and some minor to mid-level cuts and scars. Now, however? The moment he released his magic, his mind already calculated how and where to go in order to treat the Curse, aka Magic Overload.

One moment, his magic comes in contact with foreign ones.

Next one, his magic gets a mold from their Astral Bodies at how their physical bodies are actually supposed to be.

And it finished with them being completely healed, with their magic reserves and control increased after Diabolos cells were pacified.

Alright, Cid, you get… Eight out of ten, when he can do it by merely quirking his brow he might give himself nine out of ten… Wait, he can do that by quirking his brow… Oh, right, they wouldn't even see that in their pain. Well then, Cid, you receive a bonus point. Nine out of ten.

Women started looking at each other in disbelief. Next thing he knows, they all fall on their knees and start praying towards him.

He would just play along if not for one simple fact.

You know, the Pylon behind his throne?

It started glowing. Glowing in response to their prayers. And they prayed even more after witnessing this.

And if it just ended there, he would be actually pretty satisfied. Like, even his own creations understand when a moment to look cool strikes! But no, he also felt some kind of energy flowing from women to Pylon, and from Pylon to him.

All too familiar energy, in fact. He also saw this kind of energy after defeating Goddess Beatrix and taking her soul.

The one she told him can't be used by mortals. Faith energy.

This same energy was now flowing to him. From the women in front of him. And, if he concentrated enough, he would realize that there are even more points from where it flows towards him.

Alexandria. Mitsugoshi. Lindwurm (albeit less)…

And judging by the look Alpha and other members give to this scene, they all think this is how it's supposed to be. They even nod approvingly!

Did he just start cult of himself?! That was not in the plans!

Gotta take a break for a day or two. It is exactly one month (30 days) on non-stop posting.

And if you see a chapter tomorrow again, then I lied and wrote again. You are free to do… things to me in that case.