The Grand Noah queen was examining the preparations happening for the upcoming festivals from the window of Grand Noah's castle. Several workers, humans and monsters, were working in the street to set up the banners for the upcoming tournament and a scene at the center of the town for Sylph's festival. The queen herself had a long discussion with the Wind Spirit (thankfully, with the more serious-minded Fairy queen also present to keep the discussion on its track) to organize the festivals. They made sure the artists who used to organize the festival in San Ilia were involved to keep the original spirit of the party even if it was organized in a different place.

The street themselves were starting to get crowded with people who arrived early for the events. Several humans and monsters were discussing and already taking bets on who would win the tournament. The queen noted that there was curiously very little tension between humans and monsters, as if the war that happened barely a few months ago was just an old memory. She also suspected that the improvements in the relationships were related to the more perverted fringe of the population, but she was glad it was turning out that way for now. She just hoped that the inhabitants of Succubus Village and the travelers from Pornof would keep their perversions private.

In reality, the population at large showed itself more accepting once they learned Luka was the one who wanted to mend the relationships between humans and monsters. Furthermore, every competitor ended up coming from Luka's Pocket Army, which could prove a boon if their skills in the arena impressed the spectators enough. That would show everyone that those warriors who wanted to defend the world had the strength to hold up against any threat. The queen smirked. The hero's name was now carrying more power than those of the leaders of this world. She was glad to be on his good side, even if he had sometimes shown questionable lapses in his judgement. He was strong, and had the well being of everybody in mind. He also was quite skilled with words, as he had managed to bring a lot of monsters to his side. Lastly, she appreciated that he helped her a lot by bringing in an impressive amount of small medals. She suddenly felt Mephisto teleporting a few meters behind her.

"What are the news?"

"We finally found Luka, apparently he was training away against Black Alice in the alternate dimension we explored on our adventure. He will be there soon."

The queen concealed her surprise with an ease acquired from a long time of reigning over a kingdom. Mephisto continued uninterrupted.

"It seems he did actually beat her. Alone."

"His name is already getting more known than Heinrich's. I wonder if he's stronger than him at that point."

Mephisto smirked. "Do you want me to organize the tournament's rounds to guarantee they will face each other? This would be trivial compared to organizing this festival."

"There is no need for that."

A few seconds later, they were joined by Alice. The small monster lord was looking tired as she didn't have enough sleep for the past few days. She had grown restless since Mephisto told her about the Monster's World. And to think her mother supported them… And now she was dead, killed by Luka's father, without a clear reason or even a world. Maybe he did know about what was in stock for them should her plans come to fruition…

"How are the preparations doing?"

The queen answered as she was still looking through the window.

"More smoothly than we initially expected, there is neither contestation nor resistance from the population for now. We can only pray that it last."

Alice looked around for a moment. "Where are the other leaders? I thought they would be there to help the preparations.

"They are back to their own kingdoms, they have their own issues with the recent events. She then turned toward Alice. Besides, I would prefer if we did not involve too many people in this little secret." She shivered. "Some of them may react more strongly and further worsen the relations between humans and monsters."

The door opened, revealing Luka. Alice took a good look at the hero as he arrived. While his step was assured, his gaze was lost in the horizon, as if he had something repressed in his mind. He silently made his way to the window and started leaning on the edge.

"Greetings Luka, are you alright?"

Luka nodded absent mindedly, smiling. "Yes, that training just was exhausting."

The other persons in the room looked at each other, concerned about the hero's wellbeing. Deciding

"Luka, there's something I must talk to you about…"

Luka didn't turn. "What is it Alice?"

"Did you ask Morrigan about where she came from?"

"Hellgondo? No."

Alice sighed. "I am talking about the Monster World. And San Ilia in particular."

Luka shrugged. "What about it?"

Alice decided to stop beating around the bush and closed her eyes as she recalled Mephisto's tales. "It's a hell hole for humans. It's the rule of the strong monsters over the weaker ones. They don't care if they're dealing with their own kind or with humans, it's a food pyrami with the ancestors at the top, and those keep feeding their unending hunger by eating at every level of the ladder."

Alice shivered. "I already feared the worst when I saw how the other world Tamamo was, but damn… thinking my teacher used to be like that… And then Morrigan confirmed it. It's a world of freedom, where the ones who are second to none are free to destroy those below them… And they revel in it."

Luka's gaze was still empty. He nodded lost in thoughts. "You talked about San Ilia."

Alice made a disgusted expression. Mephisto had shared way too many information on the city. "It's governed by Morrigan's progenitor, Minagi, the ancestor of all succubi. You remember Succubus Village?"

Luka shrugged. "It was a pretty good place to live in."

Alice's tone became more severe. "Well, multiply its size by a hundred. Also succubi there don't actually care if their partners survive. And their leader pushes them to further indulge themselves even more rather than trying to rein them in. So it's nothing like Succubus Village, it's a whore who takes pride in her actions enjoying her ideal universe. One of nothing but pleasure and death."

Luka nodded silently, still lost in thoughts.

"And… are you even listening?" Alice got closer and started poking the hero in his face repeatedly. Luka only reacted after several times. "What did you actually do?"

Luka sighed and turned toward Alice. He was actually looking slightly desperate. "I had a few discussions. One was with our Black Alice. Alicetromeria in the past. After we saw… what happened in Remina and the cause of the Great Disaster, I asked her what she thought her alternate self plan was."

Alice was surprised for a moment and quickly recomposed herself. She castigated herself as she didn't consider doing that despite having the opportunity at hand. "What did she tell you?"

"Destroy the world. Because it's fun. Then every other world. Because it's fun."

Aliced looked down. "Nothing useful then…"

Luka looked up at Alice. "She also told me how we could eliminate the Chaos Goddess without destroying this world."

Alice's mouth was agape, while Mephisto and the Noah queen repositioned themselves to get sure they wouldn't miss a word.

"Wha-, wai-." She blinked several times before managing to form a coherent sentence. "How does she even know? She wasn't with us at the time!"

"She apparently knows way more than she let on. I wonder how much she's toying with us. Anyway, since the Chaos Goddess is made from primordial energy, the best way would be to have access to an equal amount of holy and dark energy under their most primal form and to fuse them.

Alice closed her eyes as she reached the conclusion by her own. "The Founder and Ilias."

Mephisto stepped forward. "But one is sealed in this world and the other one is dead. And the only way the first Monster Lord could be awakened is if an impressively large quantity of dark energy was released… and I am not even sure this would work after the great catastrophe."

Alice opened her eyes. "They probably already have a plan, Tamamo might have guessed it, but she's on the run, so finding her will be next to impossible. Unless she decides she needs our help, which won't be good news whatever the reason is."

She started moving around. "And besides, who could possibly control that much chaotic ener-, oh right, Nuruko. The spirit of chaos."

Mephisto took the idea in, as she remembered what happened. "While she's somehow devoted to Luka, there's no guarantee she can do that at the right moment. But if I understand correctly, the only alternative would be to destroy this world, and join Morrigan back into Demon World."

Alice's eyes widened. "And live there? Until the ancestors decide to turn us into their next meal?"

Luka looked down. "I don't want to join force with those that are trying to destroy this world either…"

The yoma advisor shrugged nonchalantly, but she was as much disturbed as anyone else. "They'll be indebted to us if we bring back the Lilith Sisters and several other monsters alive. I think they will let us be, at least by respect for Luka's strength and for his help."

"Until they decide that we're no longer of use to them. And no, getting sucked dry by one of them is not a fate I want to meet."

"Good grief, we're stuck in an impass then."

Alice looked around her. Mephisto was fiddling nervously with her wand. The Grand Noah queen put herself way back, making it clear that she couldn't bring help in this kind of situation. Luka was still looking down. "Do we have any other choice?"

Luka looked up, an idea crossing his mind. "Maybe."


-Hades-

The Reaper was looking at the conversation that just happened through her orb. While her expression remained indifferent, she definitely felt a twinge of concern growing for the situation. The hero was probably going to ask her to restart his adventure again. She shook her head. What was the point? They wouldn't remember a thing anyway.

"Hey."

She didn't turn toward the newcomer. The White Rabbit's perkiness was grating enough as it was, she wouldn't let her furthermore enjoy teasing her.

"What do you want?"

"I just wanted to see how you were doing into your little sanctuary. You saw the discussion? It looks like the hero is going on the Ilias route once more soon!"

"Yes, I do not know what he does expect to find by running through this adventure again."

The White Rabbit's shoulder slumped excessively. "I don't know either, but it's going to end up getting boooring! Why doesn't he wait at least for when it will actually matter. And why do you even reset the world for him?"

The personification of Death frowned. "You're the one who brought the hero here. I'm just doing my job, contrary to you."

The White Rabbit looked further wounded. "Awww, don't say it like that, I'm also just doing my job!"

"Doesn't your mission also include taking care of cross world contact that could impact the history?"

The White Rabbit assumed a coy pose. "Well, they're getting a little too numerous for me. Also the hero's dad keeps beheading me again and again. This is getting annoying. Besides, Luka needs to meet them to make his choice and become stronger. And if he dies, you just bring him back! So there's no problem!"

The Reaper scowled in front of the White Rabbit's ravings. She had to recognize however that she had a point. The situation was out of their control, and they could only give Luka the support he needed in his adventure.

The White Rabbit was now sitting on an invisible chair, a few meters up in front of the Reaper. "Wanna bet about when the hero will ask for a reboot?"

"I do not have time for those futile games."

"The winner gets him for a night."

The Reaper tapped on her chin with her free hand. "Right after his victory speech at the tournament."

"Before that, when Heinrich says he's disappointed in him."

"Deal."