Chapter 641: Three Years Later
Time moved.
Seasons passed, and with them came children.
Tiny hands clutching at horns or tails, born of love and immense passion. The hard-won peace everyone bled for granted them a place to grow and nurture their little heads. Some wives bore heirs to their bloodlines, a promise with Asmodeus. Others didn’t care for such things and just enjoyed motherhood.
After the grand union and all nations signing the treaty, appointing Lumeria as the guardian of the continent, a period of peace followed.
***
The Fortress City of Zar’Kaleth, Lumeria.
Black banners snapped against a clear sky above the rebuilt citadel.
They repaired the once-ruined walls using elven masonry, with beautiful patterns etched into the stonework. Beneath the spire, countless soldiers performed drills along the parade grounds under a single crest.
The mark of the Demon God.
Upon the highest tower, Asmodeus stood with his back against the cold, obsidian walls. His body bore faint scars, visible through his elegant black armoured attire that exposed his abdomen and back.
A request from his wives.
But the golden glow in his eyes remained steady and unshaken.
’We’ve finally come this far.’
Behind him, the laughter and joyful conversation between the imperial maids, demon knights and others filled the halls.
Velvet’s once hoarse, rough voice now tinged with a softer tone as she scolded the little hands grabbing her spear, climbing it like little monkeys.
"Nyxielle! Get down from Mommy’s spear, look, your father is watching!" Her purple eyes softened over the three years just as much as her curves.
"Pa~"
Asmodeus crept forward while watching the pair, his smile growing each moment, the small devil with dark violet curls, black sclera and star-shaped amethyst pupils watching him with an expectant gaze, her tiny purple horn flickering faintly as she wrapped Velvet’s spear with her little black tail with a barbed tip.
"Are you being good, Nyx?" Her eyes widened as she smiled brightly, and she leapt off the spear, her little wings allowing her to glide towards her father.
He opened his arms while lowering himself and catching her like she was made of cotton wool, cradling the little demon against his chest.
"Pa~~~ Up! Up!"
The little devil asked for something that made his back fill with cold sweat.
"What is she asking for, Asmodeus?"
The little ball of energy repeated the words before putting a tiny finger against her plump lips and tilting her head. "Papa~? No up?"
With Velvet on one side... and his lovely daughter on the other, Asmodeus felt more danger than when he fought against Darius or Mephisto!
"Mother, Sister just likes to be up high."
From the chair, a child with the same looks as Nyxielle spoke up, but unlike his sister, Varian had two tiny horns and the violent runes along his forearms. His eyes, looking at Velvet, carried a sense of pure respect and affection.
’These kids are too good for me.’
Varian appeared like a normal five-year-old, much like most of the demon children.
They grew rapidly over the first three years and settled at five, then another growth spurt happened.
"Well, if my little Var says so... Hmph! Asmodeus, don’t forget what day it is!" She tried to switch from her gentle motherly voice back to her sharp tone, but failed, and her voice cracked instead. The two little devils and Asmodeus watched happily as her pale cheeks turned red. "Y-You... don’t look so happy!"
"I can’t help being happy with such a cute wife."
"I’m not your wife yet! Hah... well, I’ll be going, since there are things to do. Kids, behave for your dad, soon your siblings will be coming."
"Waa! Selra!" Nyxielle called the name of Levia’s daughter, while Varian nodded.
"What, no kiss?"
Velvet’s eyes softened despite her flustered act. She leaned forward, brushing her lips across Asmodeus’s cheek in a quick, embarrassed kiss before whisking her spear free from tiny hands.
Of course, Varian and Nyxielle got several little chus.
"Fine... one. But don’t think it means you won," Velvet murmured, tail flicking behind her as she strode away, Nyxielle waving frantically after her.
"Don’t cry, Mama!"
’These little devils love to hide their claws...’
Asmodeus knew that even at the current age, most of them could speak clearly; he’d heard them playing... and mimicking him and his wives with dolls.
’Children grow up too fast.’
Before the door even closed, a pair of smaller footsteps pattered across the polished floor.
"Dad!" A dark-haired little girl with silver-ringed eyes darted in, using her wings to fly, Selphira clutching a toy shield as big as she was, with Levia following behind in a flowing black dress.
The fortress suddenly felt alive with laughter again.
"My little fairy!" Asmodeus called out, while Nyxielle’s eyes shone as she also called out, but struggled with her short tongue. "Selra!"
Selphira was a little younger than Nyxielle and the same age as Varian, who watched her with a quiet eye. Most siblings got along well. But Velvet and Levia spent a lot of time together as they worked in similar roles.
Velvet led the strongest knight order in the empire, the Black Dragon Order.
Levia led the imperial guard and protected Asmodeus and the other wives.
Levia’s entrance was quieter than Velvet’s, but no less striking. The black-haired paladin carried herself with the same calm authority she had on the battlefield, yet when her eyes found Asmodeus holding Nyxielle, that steel melted into warmth.
"Selphira, slow down," she called softly, though there was no real bite to the words.
The little girl ignored her mother entirely, wings fluttering in excited bursts as she crashed against Asmodeus’s leg, hugging it with all her tiny strength. Her hair gleamed like polished obsidian, and those silver-ringed eyes made him feel as if looking at a mini-Levia.
"Hm?"
Selphira looked up at him with beaming eyes, her little prideful smile that didn’t match her tiny frame.
That’s when he noticed she was flying, not floating.
"Oh? My little fairy are you flying!?"
"Eheh! Dad! Look!" Selphira lifted the toy shield high, the black steel painted with childish golden scribbles. "I protected Mama!"
Levia chuckled, stepping close enough to rest one hand on Asmodeus’s shoulder and the other on her daughter’s head. "She trains every day... just to ’guard’ me, she says."
Asmodeus smiled, touching Selphira’s hair gently. "Then I’ll keep you safe."
Selphira nodded with her big eyes shaped like almonds, while Levia naturally slipped closer, her hand stroking Nyxielle’s hair with a smile before kissing Asmodeus’s temple, a quiet kiss filled with pure devotion.
"I’ve missed you, my King."
Nyxielle and Selphira slipped from his arms and tottered over to Varian.
"Tonight..." Levia’s voice became lower, a husky whisper as she leaned closer. "Can we..."
Bang!
The door slammed open before Levia could invite Asmodeus to her room, as a streak of crimson shot through the air, flowers sprouting from the walls.
Tiny bare feet pattered on the polished marble as a little girl came running, her blood-red hair streaked with faint, violent tips when they caught the light. Small, glossy black horns curled gently towards her ears as a pair of soft, leathery wings unfurled and flapped.
"DADDY!" she squealed, launching herself with reckless confidence.
Asmodeus bent instinctively, catching her mid-air.
She landed against his chest with a triumphant giggle, tiny hands clutching his coat as though she’d conquered a fortress.
"You’ve gotten fast," he murmured, brushing a hand down her back.
"She’s been practicing," a rich, amused voice answered.
Asmodea followed her daughter. Scarlet flowers bloomed with each step, releasing a pleasant scent and purifying the surrounding mana.
She looked radiant, even dressed in a simple black gown, crimson hair cascading over one shoulder in a lazy braid. Her eyes alternated between colours as she carried the atmosphere of a sensual and mature mother.
"This naughty girl refuses to walk when she can fly," Asmodea shook her head, though her faint smile betrayed her feelings. "The moment she heard your voice, there was no stopping her."
Asmodeus chuckled and kissed the top of the little girl’s head. "I see, did you miss me that much, my little princess?"
Levia and Asmodea gave birth on the same day and gave their daughters similar names, Selphira and Seris Rae, after suffering troubles during their delivery.
Asmodea smiled faintly as Asmodeus lifted their daughter higher, the tiny wings on Seris’s back flapping weakly in delight. "You spoil her," she murmured, brushing a stray lock of red hair from Seris’s face.
"She deserves it," he said, eyes warm. "Just like her mother."
A soft laugh escaped Asmodea, half-mocking, half-touched. "Flirt. You’ve gotten worse these past years."
"Worse?" He leaned in, whispering against her ear so only she could hear. "Or better?"
Asmodea flushed, but before she could reply, a gentle cough came from behind.
Levia stood watching with her dark hair combed neatly before she stepped forward. "You two, don’t forget others are watching."
Asmodea snorted and looked back. "It’s not like its the first time we’ve worked together to have fun, Levia~ just come join in."
"Asmodea..."
Levia rolled her eyes but stepped close, resting a hand against his chest; however, as she was about to proceed, a distant horn echoed, and both women tensed.
"Father has the worst timing..." Asmodea complained... recognising Grigor’s horn.
"Sorry, husband... but we’ve got to go." Levia took Asmodea’s hand, peeling her away, both of their faces covered in reluctance.
"Mother?"
"Mom!?"
"Come here, let me kidnap you both! Mwhahaha!"
"Kyaaa~!"
"Waaa~ Sister Nyx, Brother Var! Save us!"
The two girls called out, but Asmodeus grabbed and lifted them in the air like an evil demon emperor capturing two cute princesses.
Oh...
He was the Demon Emperor.