Chapter 915: Summon the Valkyrie
Not long after the sudden hysteria, Baltimore’s atmosphere had surprisingly transformed into a massive banquet and meal around a huge bonfire with massive cauldrons of Meat and spiced stew, a staple diet of Elena’s tribe.
After being terrified by Riel, she began gathering both the dazed and confused Beastmen and the various humans who saw their crazed state.
"She’s quite amazing, huh?" Asmodeus sipped the sweet broth, enjoying the hints of cumin, cinnamon and honey, while the seasoned meat had its smoky taste of paprika, something akin to Cajun spices and chili flakes. "Even the bones taste good to suck on..."
Of course he meant the delicious marrow, but Asmodeus, who hadn’t eaten like a human for three years, felt this simple meal was quite interesting.
"I won’t deny that you’ve got this annoying habit of finding talented women... even Gretel and Anna... though I hope you won’t touch her. She’s literally the first crush of your many sons..."
"Hahaha, even I am not that cruel."
Riel snapped her wings violently before turning to him. "Then please stop letting her sneak into your bed during the weekly orgy sessions. We all know she’s after you... Even her mother is struggling."
"Hahaha... yeah, I don’t plan to touch her. You have my word."
He wasn’t just saying that, but for him, Anne signified a special moment in his life, when he began to change his thoughts from a human to a demon.
To a Demon Ruler who needed to think of his people and their safety and futures.
"Don’t just laugh! I know you well. If she ever managed to catch you off guard, then you would just take her virginity and leave her unable to enjoy another man!"
Though mistakes could happen, he would do his darn best to avoid this one.
"I know, I know..."
Elena danced between the various people, her wide grin almost intoxicating as she bounced and hopped around. "Damn, her ass is big..." Asmodeus watched silently, enjoying the ambiance as the knights from the castle finally came from the inner keep.
"It seems that Simon and Paul were a bit nervous this time, haha."
"Would you blame them?! Last time it was a black plague... before that it was a crazed sword master, and even before that..."
Riel paused mid-sentence as a familiar voice erupted from the approaching group of knights.
"RYUJI!"
Asmodeus almost spat his stew back into the bowl.
’There he is.’
Even after all these years, and accepting his role as a Royal knight, Simon remained completely incapable of entering a peaceful gathering like a normal person. The older swordsman pushed past two confused Demon Knights with a broad grin plastered across his face, waving one arm above his head while his other remained carefully wrapped around the waist of the woman walking beside him.
’Wow... they really make a good couple.’
Asmodeus smiled as he noticed Paul covering his face behind him. Unlike Simon, the wizard looked as though he had been dragged from bed, dressed by somebody else and then personally blamed Asmodeus for the entire process.
"Stop shouting, you fucking idiot." Paul rubbed one ear while carrying several wooden runes between his fingers out of pure habit. "Half the city spent the evening screaming already. They don’t need your contribution."
"Hahaha! They’re celebrating now!"
"That doesn’t make your voice pleasant."
"It never bothered you before."
"It has bothered me for almost twenty years."
Simon paused, then showed a fake sad expression, patting Simon’s shoulders.
"...Brother... you should’ve said something."
"Piss off!" Paul raised one of his runes, forcing the knight to quickly rush back to his wife’s side, peeking over her shoulder like a frightened mouse. "Baby, help me!"
"Tsk! Don’t you dare embarrass me before His Majesty, SIMON!" Though she stepped down as a demon knight, Ygrenne was one of the few demons who held Asmodeus absurdly high in her heart and mind after the events several years ago in Baltimore.
’She’s really changed too...’
Asmodeus remembered the prickly demon knight who showed defiance to him back then; now, despite her swollen belly, she prioritised respecting him.
"It’s fine, Ygrenne. Who here doesn’t know what my big brother is like... haha. Let’s forget titles for tonight and just speak as family."
"Y-Your Majesty.... Ahem! Lord Asmodeus..."
"Good girl."
Suddenly simon narrowed his eyes, glancing between his wife and Asmodeus. "Hey, hey... hey...! I know you’re handsome and are hung like a horse, but Ygrenne is mine, Ryuji! You can’t even look at her, right!?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
Paul stared at him, almost raising the rune over his head, when he froze. Because Asmodeus started laughing again, it was a bizarre sight. Everyone who knew him well suddenly glanced over, their eyes wide open at Asmodeus hugging his stomach.
’Some things really never change.’
However, his amusement disappeared slightly when his gaze shifted towards the woman tucked against Simon’s side for the second time.
His eyes shimmered with a gold light as he scanned her fully.
Ygrenn looked healthy.
That was the first thing he checked.
Her stomach had grown considerably since the last time they met, forming a pronounced curve beneath the loose dress and protective mantle she wore around her shoulders. Despite that, her back remained straight and her gaze sharp, sweeping across the banquet, injured Beastmen, soldiers and civilians before finally settling upon Asmodeus.
There was a strange silence, and even Paul swallowed his spit as if scared Asmodeus might actually do it.
But then his words caused everyone to sigh with relief.
"I’m truly relieved that the baby is unharmed..."
Ygrenn sighed, slapping her husband on the shoulder and giving him a stern look as if to say, "See, I fucking told you. Now go!" Simon immediately placed a proud hand over her stomach.
"Strong, isn’t it?"
"Yeah, just like his father. Simon... I’m really happy for you."
"E-Eh?! W-What’s with this... laying it on thick here, boss? I didn’t think you’d be so concerned."
Asmodeus sighed as he stepped towards the annoying old knight, who was now full of grey hairs and seemed to be a bit more weathered than the man who had guided him almost five years ago in that shitty goblin dungeon.
"Fool... you’re like family to me... I see that child as my niece or nephew to be."
Paul walked past them without slowing. "Hahahaha, look at this guy about to cry again because of our little Ryuji’s words."
Of course, the knights were sweating. To hear their emperor called boy, little or by his name was almost blasphemy to them. In Lumeria, Asmodeus was close to a god in the main territory and for the demons.
He created them, saved those he didn’t and protects them from all harm.
Thus, their hearts palpitated like crazy at this scene.
Yet, they could feel the deep respect from both men, and the same emotion from their emperor, which helped keep the scene from crumbling into a chaotic sight.
"I DID NOT!"
Ygrenn’s lips curved faintly.
"He did."
"Traitor! I expected that bald bastard to betray me... but you?!"
Paul’s forehead bulged with veins as he brushed back his newly growing locks of hair. "Who the hell is bald, you bastard!?"
The nearby knights struggled not to laugh as Simon looked genuinely wounded, while Paul finally reached the cauldron and inspected the contents without bothering to ask permission. He dipped a wooden ladle into the thick stew, sniffed it once, then filled himself a bowl with the casual entitlement of a man who had long ago stopped caring about noble etiquette.
"This is extremely tasty... I want the recipe!"
"You could at least greet me first."
Paul blew across the steaming broth.
"I saw you yesterday."
"You haven’t seen me since someone tried to turn Baltimore into a civil war."
"And judging by the enormous bonfire, dancing Beastwomen and the fact that you’re eating enough stew for six men, you handled it. Right, Your Majesty?"
"Tsk, fucking baldy."
"!?"
Paul’s choked on the broth at Asmodeus’s crass remark, while Simon became more vigorous and shouted, "Yeah! See! Bastard got a hair transplant and thinks he’s all that!"
A loud laugh came from nearby as Elena had apparently heard him.
"Of course it’s good!"
The lioness appeared almost immediately, carrying an enormous wooden plate filled with roasted meat, peppers and several chunks of bone still covered in caramelised flesh. Whatever embarrassment she felt from being railed by Asmodeus earlier seemed to have been buried beneath the responsibility of organising several hundred displaced Beastmen, leaving her in a remarkably cheerful mood.
"Eat properly, skinny mage! You look like you might just blow over in the winter’s chill."
Her sudden remark took the mage off guard as he glanced at Asmodeus, then Riel, as if to ask, "Who the hell is this?!" Because Asmodeus wouldn’t have let her close if she wasn’t someone he knew. This was a fact both Simon and Paul knew for sure.
Almost instantly, Riel frowned, turning her head away with a little snort. "Hmph!"
"This beautiful woman is called Elena. Be good to her."
"She’s already become one of his women!" Riel added with her sharp tongue.
Simon, Paul and even Ygrenne looked up at Asmodeus, their eyes gradually spreading open as, in complete synchronisation, they said. "Oh... Another one fell, huh?"
Asmodeus laughed with them for several seconds before the smile slowly left his face. Then he set aside his empty bowl, stroking Elena’s plump butt before giving it a good slap. "Go, spend time with your people." He then turned back to Paul, Simon and Ygrenne and glanced at the guards. "Leave us for now; guard the perimeter."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Once only the five of them remained, he sat on an overturned cart and beckoned them to join him on the sitting stones across from him. "Alright. Jokes aside." The change in his voice was enough to make all three straighten. "I need to speak to you about something serious. Forgive me for ruining the fun atmosphere, but this wasn’t their final attack... but a mere part of a five-pronged attack."
Asmodeus gazed up at Paul and Simon, whose auras transformed immediately into those of knights.
"What can I do to help you, Your Majesty?"
"My Emperor, as long as my magic can help you... I will do your will."
Seeing two of his most respected and trusted friends act this way did feel cold and lonely. But he was the Emperor!
"Prepare a small elite squad of knights and mages. No more than twenty each; once Ciela arrives, we’ll be heading to the south and west to stop their plans preemptively.
There is no time to bask in this warmth, forgive me... Old friends."
However, neither man showed displeasure at his words. Instead, their eyes burned with delight and a fierce aura.
"Never, Your Majesty! Knowing this old swordsman is still the one you trust is enough for me!"
"This idiot is right, to think you would still come to us..."
"Fools! This is the last time, alright!? After this, you’re both retiring and getting noble titles and never facing danger again!"
Asmodeus turned his back to the idiotic pair and looked up at the moon.
The moon always reminded him of his dearest wife... and thus he gave her a command.
[My Empress, the enemy has once again encroached on our lands...
Summon the Valkyrie and prepare for battle.]