"And how is Alice taking it? And the kids?" Micaela asked.

"As well as you'd think. Alice is trying to put on a brave face for them, but it won't last long. Nero's been even quieter than usual, and Neris has been... Well, you know how she is. She adored her father." Tamamo said. "It's hard on everyone. The Makina did respond, once. It gave us his location and vitals. So, he is alive, as far as I can tell."

"...I really hope he is. For all of our sakes." She replied.

"Me too," Tamamo said. The two were currently sitting down at a table in Enrika, drinking tea. Tamamo had come to inform her about the Luka situation.

"How far along are we with finding him?"

Tamamo sighed. "It's anybody's guess. Could be done in a week; could be a few decades. We've never even attempted something like this before, and we still haven't deciphered his coordinates." Tamamo said. "As far as we know, he could be dead right now, and the response from the Makian could just be a glitch."

"I see," Micaela said. She took a sip from her cup. "And the world? How much do they know?" She asked.

"Not much. Any problems that arise are being solved by the knights, but many are still asking about him. He hasn't been seen in nearly two weeks now. I doubt we can keep them in the dark for much longer." She explained. "Anyway, onto less grim news. How's your apprentice doing?"

"Fine, I suppose," Micaela said. "Her sword skills have improved, but her holy magic is still... Well, it leaves a lot to be desired."

"Hmm, well, she'll get better with time. Where is she, by the way?"

"In Iliasburg, last I heard. She teamed up with a group of teenagers, apparently. They called themselves the second coming of the Heavenly Knights." There was a Lamia, a vampire, and a Dragon." She said.

"Ah, I know them. Cute, aren't they?"

"I haven't seen them personally, so I wouldn't know. Anyway, when will you be going back?"

"Eager to get rid of me, are you?"

"No, but I'm sure you have a lot of work to do."

"Tell me about it." Tamamo sighed. She took a drink from her cup. "Oh, quite nice. Did Luka teach you that one?"

"His mother, actually. Though, she was always a bit of a hit or miss when it came to cooking."

"I see. Anyway, I must be going. Alice will probably be up soon." Tamamo said as she stood up. Micaela walked her out.

"...It was nice seeing you again," Tamamo said.

"You too. Good luck." She responded. Tamamo nodded and left.

I've never seen her look so tired. I'm surprised she even accepted my invitation. Well, she is Tamamo No Mae. I'm sure she'll be fine.

Alice awoke. Immediately, and instinctively, she searched for an emptiness beside her. She looked to her left, at the vacant space where Luka once slept. She sighed, stood up, and slithered around the room. She got dressed and got ready for the day. But all the while, she could not rid herself of the feeling of loneliness. It had been nearly two weeks since Luka had been taken, but it felt like years to her. Everything she did felt empty, hollow.

She had been separated from her husband before, and for longer than this, but there was a fundamental difference this time. Luka was gone. He was nowhere to be found in the entire world; they had made sure of that. She had no way to speak to him, as he had stopped responding to the Makina Tamamo gave him. She hypothesised that it may have broken, or that there was no signal.

Luka...Where are you?

She opened the door of her bedroom and started to slither down the hallways. Servants bowed upon seeing her; no one would dare anger the monster lord as she was now. She reached her children's bedroom and woke them up. Since they were still young, Nero and Neris slept in the same room. Alice was considering having her children sleep in her room, saying it was for their sake, but really it was to help her.

She woke them up; normally it would be a servant doing this, or one of the knights, but Alice wanted to do it herself. Anything to distract herself from his absence. Nero woke up first. He got out of his bed, methodically dressed himself, and said good morning. His sister, on the other hand, was still lying in her bed, with the sheets only half covering her.

It took Alice multiple attempts to shake her daughter awake, and when she finally succeeded, said daughter lazily slithered out of the bed, yawning all the while. Alice simply waited for her, and once she was done getting dressed, the three of them walked down the hall together.

"Monster Lord, Nero, Neris," Granberia said upon seeing the three, she was also heading towards the dining hall. Alice greeted her subordinate and continued; the group now made four. When they finally reached their destination, Alipheese was greeted by the sight of her three other knights.

"Why are you all here? We have no meetings scheduled?" Alice asked.

"Ah, Monster Lord. I'm glad to see you up and about. It's a bit early for you, is it not? And we're having breakfast; it is a mere coincidence that we're all here at the same time." Tamamo replied, snacking on thinly fried tofu all the while.

Alice dropped the line of questioning, too tired to ask any more. She sat down next to her son, on the opposite side of the knights. She watched as Granberia took a large, well-spiced steak from the table to eat. She saw Erubuite dissolve some fruits and vegetables, and Alma Elma eat a few of the sweets.

Alice could not wait any longer and began devouring all the food in her immediate vicinity. Tamamo calculated that the table would be cleared in less than a minute. Chuckling slightly at the sight, she considered when it would be a good time to tell Alice the news. It was not all bad, and they had at least confirmed that Luka was alive, thanks to the Makina she gave him.

Tamamo thought of the strange watch she lent the hero, which could send data from distant locations, but did not use magic to do so. She found a prototype version of it in one of Promestein's labs, along with some information on the device. It took her a week or two to understand the mechanisms, but once she did, she was able to apply the technology to many new inventions. The world was now turning towards a new age of technology, with it being used to produce more food, and at a better quality.

It could also be used to automate manual jobs and preserve food; it could also be turned into a light source, and one day it could even be used for entertainment. All they needed to do was use Promestein's technology and apply it to everyday life. This technology that Promestein hid from the world, she was sure humanity would've one day invented it themselves.

She had watched humanity invent new technologies, that monsters or angels, had never even thought of. Every few decades, humanity grew more impressive, with living conditions improving every time. Now that the three major races were coexisting, things would only improve even faster.

In the short time Tamamo had been thinking, Alice had nearly finished her portions. Nero and Neris were nearly finished too; in comparison to their mother, they had a much more modest appetite. Tamamo was happy to see them walking around. When Luka first disappeared, the children were inconsolable.

Only Alice could stop Neris from crying; thankfully that only lasted for the first two days. She told them that Luka is still likely alive, although she had no proof of this, only that it would not fit Black Alice's personality to just kill him. If Black Alice wanted him dead, she would've killed him right then and there.

Speaking of, Black Alice had not been seen since. When she made Luka disappear, she stayed for a few moments, and then teleported away. Tamamo had been racking her brains over it; what could she want? They only heard part of what she said, which included something about a 'Trial'. Why would she want to test Luka? Did she want to test his resolve or something? Tamamo chalked it up as her being insane and decided to move on to more practical issues. There were three Scenarios she thought Luka could be in.

1. Luka is dead. He was killed instantly, or slowly after he was teleported. Black Alice then used the watch to trick them into believing he was alive. I'd give this a twenty percent chance of being true.

2. Luka is alive, and he is in Black Alice's possession. She may have turned him into a slave, and plans to use him against us, making him fight his own family. It does seem like something she would do. Chance of being the case? 35%.

3. He is alive and free. He was transported to somewhere very far away, and that is why we cannot find him. The Makina has malfunctioned somehow, and that is why he cannot message us. In this case, he could be saved. Around a 45% chance of being true.

Besides, if she had wanted to just rape him, or kill him, she surely would've done it in front of an audience. I know her type well. After all, I used to be just like her.

Tamamo shivered as she remembered her past self. Back then, during the time of the Great War, she was one of the most ruthless and merciless killers there was. She held no compassion for anyone around her, only caring for herself and her lord. The contrast between who she is now and who she was then was the same as the contrast between light and dark itself.

I really hope those situations are all false, and that this is some crazy misunderstanding. Chance of being true? Zero percent.

Luka, where are you? You shouldn't let your wife worry so much, you know?

Tamamo had devised these ideas based on what she heard from Black Alice, what she knew about her personality and love for games. Plus, if she wanted him dead, she would've done so then and there. Tamamo also wanted to believe it. She had grown to like Luka, and as Alice's husband, his safety was imperative. He was also the symbol of coexistence. Saving him was her top priority.

After they were done with breakfast, Tamamo took Alice into a separate room, leaving her daughter and son with the other knights.

"What is it Tamamo? Do you have news about Luka?" Alice asked with a hint of worry in her voice.

"Yes, I'm nearly sure now. He is alive. The watch sent us some data on him, confirming that he was alive. It also said that our first message had been received. We also got some coordinates, but the watch must have malfunctioned. They made no sense. Still, now we know he is alive."

"...Alive. Good, that idiot promised he'd stay with me until death, and I'll be damned if he breaks it now." Tamamo could sense Alice's relief at the news. Tamamo was worried about the small chance Luka was dead, and that they were being tricked. She pushed it to the back of her mind.

"We're working on a way to contact him now. I have a hypothesis on what may have happened." Tamamo announced. Alice motioned for her to continue.

"I believe he has been sent to another world entirely. I have little idea how there could be more worlds than our one, in fact, it's a possibility I have never considered, but it is technically possible. The evidence for this is the response from the Makina. That watch could only work with our mana, in our world, and yet he is nowhere to be found."

Tamamo stopped for a moment, organising her words and allowing Alice to take in the information. Before she could continue, Alice spoke. "Another world... And if this is the case, is it possible to go there? Can we contact him?"

"I... I'm not sure. I have a few ideas on that matter, but we know it is certainly possible, it happened in front of our eyes after all." Silence filled the room afterwards, and a small smile reached Alice's lips as she broke it.

"So... It's just a matter of time?"

Tamamo looked up at her surrogate daughter, noticing a glint of hope in her golden eyes. "I can't promise anything, but with enough time and resources, we're certain to find something. I've already begun researching the topic. We've also been sorting through Promestein's records, and I remember she once looked into the same thing. It might give us a head start.

Alice smiled once more at the progress being made. Tamamo then told Alice of some more minor news in the world. The disappearance of the Hero was kept under wraps, lest a panic break out. If humanity were to lose its champion now, who knows what it may lead them to do? Alice joined her children, Leaving Tamamo to think about what to do next.

Later on in the day, Tamamo was looking at Alice. She was sitting on her throne, looking like the ruler she was born to be. Today they were educating Neris on her future, and thus the small future monster lord was sitting on Tamamo's lap. They were sitting at the side of the throne room, watching and listening as Alice went through her daily tasks. Monsters came in to ask for help, report something, et cetera. Tamamo answered any questions she asked, a task she had gotten very good at over the many years of educating Monster Lords.

The world had changed greatly since Ilias's death. Coexistence was widespread. Angels, humans, and Monsters all lived together, and while not quite hand-in-hand just yet, they were on far better terms than expected. The story of the hero Luka was a well-known tale, and Luka had become just as famous, if not even more famous, than the Hero Heinrich. Public opinion of Luka was positive, although many angels hated the hero for his slaying of Ilias. Most angels, however, accepted her defeat.

Tamamo had never expected to see the day when angels would learn humility, and walk among monsters and humans. Other figures, like the four heavenly knights and Alice, were also looked upon fondly. In each major kingdom, there were even statues of the slayers of Ilias. Ilias herself was being taught about in schools and was not treated as a complete villain. Luka and Micaela made sure of that. Ilias village had become a tourist destination, and its population had doubled.

Tamamo even saw that there were plays being made of Luka's adventure. This was before he disappeared. Tamamo sighed and focused back on educating the young lamia beneath her. Answering any questions she may have.

But eventually, she asked a question she had no idea how to answer.

"When is Daddy coming back...?" Neris asked while looking up at the kitsune. Her small golden eyes pierced Tamamo's very soul. She struggled to find an answer.

"I..." Tamamo sighed "I don't know. We're doing everything we can to help him right now, okay?"

"Okay..." Neris looked away, paying attention to her mother. She looked more interested than ever before. Normally, she'd be slacking off or complaining by now. Tamamo was happy to see the change.

"Mommy said he'd come back. He promised, right? And I believe her! Daddy will come back!" Neris declared, still paying attention to her mother's work. The girl had no resistance as Tamamo held her tighter, her tails wrapped around her.

"I know." Tamamo smiled. "He'll be back before you know it."

Neris enjoyed the comfortable sensation of her teacher's tails. She thought once more of her father. Her mother had talked to her and Nero about it. Apparently, a previous Monster Lord, Black Alice, the same one that should have died in heaven, had reappeared and done something to her father.

Black Alice... I'll never forgive you!

Neris snapped out of her thoughts, focusing once more on her lesson.

"It's like I said! He was definitely part angel! Probably half." Lucifina said as she reported the news.

"And you're sure of this? It wasn't the sword he wields that you may have detected?" Ilias said in her regal tone. It is not that she did not trust her daughter, but if an angel did have children with a human, she would've known about it. And according to Lucifina, it was a very high-ranking angel. Even seraph tier. It was simply ridiculous and impossible.

"I'm sure! Now, what do you want me to do about him? Can I...?" She left the question open, but Ilias knew exactly what she wanted.

"No. He is an important piece, and we cannot suffer any more losses. For now, he remains neutral, but if what you said is true, then he may join us." Ilias's words annoyed Lucifina greatly. She had left the young boy alive and well, and after he had made contracts with two of the spirits! Such heresy could not be allowed to continue.

If only that damn ancestor hadn't shown up... Oh well, she had to retreat from Safina due to her injuries, and now it's all ours! Well, mostly.

"We will have to confirm this story of yours at a later date. For now, we continue to fight the monsters. How is Safina faring?"

"We have control of the north and some of the south. A group mostly made up of humans controls the centre. We also have reports of our villages being taken over by the same group."

"Ah, The Resistance again, is it? They have grown fairly large in such a short time... Still, they are only humans, and Safina is not overly important. That's also probably why the monsters retreated so easily. It's not very valuable." Ilias sighed. She was happy that no new disasters had occurred. A few years ago, that was all she heard from her children.

"So, what are we destroying next?" Lucifina said with a smile.

"Go rest, Morning Star." Sleep, and gather as much strength as you can. You will need it to serve me." Ilias commanded.

"Yes, my lord."

With that, Lucifina left. Ilias looked forward to her report.

Half-angel...

Ilias thought back to the boy, Luka. She had listened in on some of his conversations. He called himself a hero, and his strength did suit such a title. If he had only joined her, he could've been the piece they needed to end this war once and for all.

The Goddess smiled as she thought of a plan. Perhaps she could convince the hero to join her; she could use the same trick she had used on so many others like him... Her smile faded when she remembered the most confusing thing she had heard today.

...How! How could he be part-angel? It makes no sense!

The only thing Ilias could think of was that he was the son of an angel under the monster's control. If any of her angels were pregnant, she would've known it. But if that was the case, then why was he not fighting for them? And besides, the strongest angel under the monster's control was an archangel, but she was taken only ten years ago, and while the boy may be young, he was definitely not that young.

And why did he not tell me he was half angel!?

Ilias sighed. Nothing made sense anymore, not since he appeared. She moved back to the war room. Planning this war took priority over the little hero.