Marilyn skillfully prepared a rich and hearty beef barley stew, simmering tender chunks of beef alongside plump barley grains and a medley of fresh vegetables they scavenged off the Mayor's ship that occupied the market street of Ars. The savory aroma filled the temple as she combined fragrant herbs and spices, creating a comforting dish that promised warmth with every spoonful.

  "Hmm... I think it's ready," she announced as she took a small sip from a dle. She thought it tasted good, but her father would have said, "It could be better," or "Too much salt," or even, "Not enough pepper," and then he'd go on and on about her inability to cook.

  But this was her chance to shine. After all, her father had never cooked for her mother. It had always been Marilyn. But there was that small lingering fear that she wasn't good enough for anyone, least of all a man like Chase, and if he rejected her cooking, she didn't know what she would do.

  Marilyn was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard Chase.

  "It smells wonderful," Chase complimented.

  Marilyn was surprised by how quickly her worries disappeared when Chase said those words. She thought Chase was humoring at first, but when she saw his warm purple eyes staring at her, it caused her loins to tingle, and her heart raced. She didn't even notice that her lips curled up into a smile.

  "Th-thank you, Mister Chase," she replied, her voice trembling.

  Chase took a deep breath and exhaled. "Please call me Chase, Marilyn. 'Mister' sounds weird."

  "Ah, I'm sorry, Ch-Chase." With a swift motion, Marilyn snatched the pot from the makeshift stove and pced it on the table with a satisfied thud. The rich aroma wafted through the air, drawing everyone’s attention. Bowls were quickly filled as Lai, Lilith, and Fiona all approached the pot, their faces alight with curiosity and anticipation.

  "Wow, this looks amazing," Fiona praised, her mouth-watering.

  "Yeah... I've never smelled food that was this divine... Um, is it really alright for us to eat human food, Master Chase?... I-I don't want to be disappointed if we can't taste it," Lilith whispered nervously.

  "Eve said, it is fine, especially for you, Fiona. You and Lai should eat whatever you want, but she mentioned something about needing to be near me to feed your succubi hunger. And if I add a drop of my blood in Fiona's food, then it will satisfy her vampiric needs."

  Lilith's tail wagged as she moved closer to her master, "Oh no! I have to be next to you when I eat? What a tragedy," she teased.

  Chase couldn't help but smile.

  "Oh, shut up and eat your food," Lai said, spping Lilith's ass to move her aside. Chase was her man, and she wasn't going to let Lilith make the first moves on him.

  "Hey!" Lilith gasped, jumping a little from the sp.

  Chase chuckled. "It's alright. There's enough room for everyone."

  With a slight pout, Lilith sat down next to her master, her face burning red with embarrassment and indignation. But before long, her expression melted into one of pure bliss as she took a bite, her eyes widening with surprise and delight.

  "Wow... This is incredible," Lilith gushed, her eyes sparkling with delight. Back when she was still a human, food was just a means to an end, but her tastebuds were heightened since her transformation into a demon. Her food was delicious, and she loved the way her master's body released a sexual energy that made her feel euphoric.

  "This is the best thing I've ever eaten," Lai agreed, her cheeks rosy with excitement. She's experienced having quality food while being in a noble family, but her succubi body amplified her senses tenfold. She never thought she would fall in love with something as mundane as eating a stew.

  Chase grabbed Fiona's bowl before using the nail of his pointer finger to cut into his thumb. He grimaced slightly as blood welled up, and a few drops fell onto her meal.

  "I'm sorry that you have to taste my blood," Chase said.

  "N-No. I'm gd. If anything, I should be the one who apologizes. It must be difficult having someone who needs to drink your blood..."

  "Don't worry about it. It's a small price to pay to keep you alive and happy," Chase said.

  He offered her a warm smile and returned her bowl. Fiona's ice-blue eyes shone brightly with joy and gratitude. She felt grateful for his kindness and his willingness to provide her with sustenance, but her feelings were mixed with a hint of guilt, but the scent of Chase's blood stirred the beast inside her.

  Fiona couldn't help but imagine biting his neck and drinking his blood as he ravaged her insides. Just the thought alone made her panties wet.

  'Focus, Fiona. Focus. We don't want to scare him away.'

  With a soft nod, she picked up her bowl and brought the rim to her lips. Her fangs descended, and her eyes glowed as her mouth filled with saliva.

  Chase couldn't help but find himself captivated by the sight, her beauty radiating like a beacon of light. He imagined her fangs piercing his skin, drinking his blood, and him thrusting his hard cock into her wet pussy, her walls tightly gripping him, and him feeling her body against him.

  'Shit... I'm surrounded by beautiful women. Focus, Chase, focus.'

  As Fiona took a sip, her eyes widened, and a shudder ran through her as the few drops of demon lord blood entered her mouth with the stew. The rich fvor danced on her tongue, mixing with the sweet and savory ingredients, and she felt like her body was being embraced by Chase's arms.

  "This is delicious," Fiona muttered with a dreamy gaze as her wings popped out. The images of sucking blood faded instantly as Chase's blood satisfied her vampiric hunger, but her loins were now tingling and begging for attention. If she had a few drops of blood from a human, then she could st about two days before needing another drink. But with Chase's blood, it could be weeks.

  Chase was a bit surprised by her reaction and was a little concerned.

  "A-are you okay, Fiona?"

  She nodded, her eyes still gzed over with bliss.

  "It was more than satisfactory. Thank you, Chase," she murmured, her voice a sultry whisper as she relished each bite of her meal. The metallic tang of blood danced on her tongue, perfectly banced by the deep, savory warmth of the stew's broth and the nutty undertones of hearty barley. In that moment, she felt a profound satisfaction that she had never experienced before—a blissful contentment wrapping around her like a soft, warm bnket.

  The succubi and vampiress savored their meals with lingering pleasure, indulging in each sumptuous bite. Meanwhile, Chase finally set his spoon into the stew, and as the fvors danced on his pate, he found himself pleasantly surprised. The dish was a rich tapestry of fvors—each ingredient harmonizing beautifully, awakening his senses and surpassing all his expectations.

  "This is great, Marilyn," Chase praised with a smile. "It might be my demon tongue talking, but I can taste every ingredient you put in. Well done!"

  Marilyn blushed and thought they were just being nice and humoring her. "I-I'm not that great of a cook...," she said while waving her hand dismissively.

  "Well, you did amazing with what we had," Lai said.

  Marilyn blushed even more and was happy that the others liked the food she made. She had been worried that they wouldn't enjoy it, but Chase and the girls reassured her, and her confidence grew.

  "Yeah, Marilyn. Thank you for the food. And thanks for the help," Chase said with a kind smile.

  A deep crimson spread across her cheeks as she averted her gaze, unable to meet their eyes. "Y-You’re just saying that… I’m really not that special," she murmured, fingers nervously twisting her hair, her thoughts spiraling in a whirlwind of uncertainty.

  "Well, you shouldn't listen to your father. I don't think he could tell the difference between a Duepon filet mignon or horse manure," Lai stated while pointing her wooden spoon at Marilyn.

  Fiona let out a giggle while Lilith paused, her brow furrowed in thought before she nodded earnestly in agreement with Lai.

  “Oh my, how delightfully crass, Miss Lai! You've become bold since becoming a demon,” Fiona chuckled; her ughter was infectious.

  "What?! I-It's true! He doesn't just insult Marilyn's cooking but everyone's cooking. He is a bastard and an-" Lai stopped herself as she didn't know the fate of Marilyn's family, which made her sad thinking about what happened to them. Sure, her father was rude, but he was still her father.

  “An ass,” Lilith interjected, finishing Lai’s thought with a knowing look.

  With a heavy sigh, Lai returned to her food, the ughter fading as the conversation shifted to quieter, more pensive tones.

  "I-It's alright, Lady Lai... I'm not the only one who doesn't know the fate of our families..." Marilyn murmured, her heart aching as the memories came flooding back.

  Lilith and Lai looked at the young woman and shared a gnce. They weren't sure if Marilyn's parents were alive or not. And that went for Fiona and Grace's parents as well.

  Grace was on the far side of the table, observing everyone as she slowly ate the stew that Marilyn gave her. Her mind was racing as she was trying to figure out what Chase's intentions were. She was still wary of the Demon Lord. Yes, he was very nice, a bit weird, and handsome, but overall, she didn't know if he was genuine or not. And she needed to save the girls from him.

  'Look at him... Buttering up Fiona, Lai, and... Lilith! Can't Marilyn see that she'll become one of them next—I can't bme her. The Demon Lord is crafty with his words. Yes, he is a crafty one, indeed. But I'm growing a tolerance to his charms. He hasn't charmed me yet, so that must mean something, right? And if it means something, then I'll get the girls away from him, even if I have to hurt him...'

  Chase's eyes locked on Grace, and she felt a shiver run down her spine and straight into her loins. He was staring at her.

  "You're not hungry?"

  Grace's heart raced as her breathing became heavy. She couldn't take his gaze anymore and broke eye contact, her face flushed with heat and sweat.

  "I-I'm fine..." she managed to choke out, her voice wavering with uncertainty.

  Chase shrugged and focused his attention back on the girls, who were ughing and enjoying their meal.

  'Gods... H-He just has to look at me, and I can feel his stare. It's making me feel funny...'

  Grace stole a gnce at the Demon Lord, only to find that his captivating gaze had shifted away from her. A weight lifted from her shoulders as she let out a heavy sigh, momentarily embracing the relief.

  'Focus, Grace. Focus. Save them from his charms...'

  Yet, the battle within her raged on, a fierce internal struggle between desire and dread. Her heart and mind were locked in an intense conflict, and she felt herself slipping away from the resolve she desperately held onto. She clung to the notion that it was an insidious demonic aura clouding her thoughts, unaware that it was simply Chase's natural charm at py. If she could peel back the yers of her biases, she might finally recognize the undeniable truth—she was drawn to him in a way that both thrilled and terrified her.

  'Okay, okay... I need to remain calm so I can find out his evil schemes. That's what he's doing. He's pnning something, and I have to stop him...'

  Her eyes narrowed and summoned all the strength she could muster, forcing her gaze to meet his once again, but this time, there was an underlying defiance in her icy gre.

  "Um... M-Mr. Chase," Grace struggled to say, her voice trembling, her legs shaking, and her hands balled up into fists.

  Chase paused, his gaze shifting to meet her cold gre. A silence hung in the air as his eyes bored into hers, his expression unreadable.

  "Yes, Grace? Is there something wrong?" he asked, his voice calm and steady. While putting down his spoon and bowl, giving her all his attention. Grace paused as she was not sure where to start. She could feel her resolve cracking, but she didn't back down.

  'J-Just asks him something! Anything!'

  "S-So, once you're done with whatever you are going to do here... Um? What are you pnning on doing next?" Grace managed to say, her voice sounding less confident than she intended.

  Chase grimaced, his expression twisted with uncertainty as he pondered his next steps. The weight of the dead lingered heavily on his mind; though he felt a deep, instinctual urge to give them a proper burial, he found himself at a loss for what to do beyond that gesture. He understood one thing clearly: he needed to grow stronger. The thought of the other Demon Lords lurking in the shadows, along with the ominous figure of the Summoned Hero, sent a wave of unease coursing through him. It was all beginning to feel overwhelming, a storm of worry swirling in his head.

  With a weary sigh, Chase set down his spoon, the ctter echoing softly in the stillness around him. He rubbed his temples with deliberate pressure, trying to ease the mounting tension. Each gentle knead was a small attempt to ward off the headache that threatened to consume him, a futile struggle against the chaos encircling his thoughts.

  "Ugh... To tell you the truth, Grace? I don't have any clue what to do next in the long term. After burying the dead, I got nothing... Somehow, I need to get stronger to protect myself and others. If you have any ideas. I'm open to suggestions."

  Grace was surprised that he was honest. She wasn't expecting him to admit his shortcomings—hell, no man has ever admitted anything close to a weakness to her. She wanted him to be the bad guy, the maniputive, conniving, selfish asshole that she had read about in books, but here he was, being honest with her, which made her even more conflicted and curious about him.

  'Damn it! H-He must know I'm on to him, so he's putting on this nice guy act to throw me off. Y-Yes, that's it. But wait, why is he looking at me like that?'

  "S-Stop staring at me!" Grace excimed, her cheeks reddening.

  "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare. You have beautiful blue eyes. They remind me of the color of the sky, but you're not shy, are you?" Chase said, smiling at Grace, her heart pounding in her chest as the blood rushed to her cheeks, his words sending her heart racing.

  "Hmph!"

  "Okay, okay, I'm sorry," Chase apologized, holding up his hands. "I shouldn't have stared, but it was unintentional, okay?"

  Grace crossed her arms and huffed, her brow furrowed, and her lips curled downwards into a deep frown.

  "Fine...," she grumbled.

  Lai, Fiona, and Marilyn exchanged wary gnces, their skepticism evident but unspoken. In the midst of it all, Lilith’s mind raced with possibilities, her thoughts swirling as she desperately sought inspiration to assist her master. She was determined to conjure up a brilliant idea that would aid in his quest, her heart filled with pride and a deep sense of satisfaction.

  "Oh! What if you went and destroyed the castle of the Kingdom? You get stronger by killing people, right?" Lilith suggested.

  Lai frowned, and Fiona looked horrified at the idea of the Demon Lord killing innocent people. Chase sighed, but he knew that Lilith was trying to help.

  "No... I don't get stronger by causing unnecessary death, and even if it did make me stronger, I still wouldn't kill the innocent."

  "Huh? But I thought that's how all Demon Lords get stronger?" Lilith questioned.

  "Maybe if I was the Demon Lord of War, but I'm not. Plus, it seems I get stronger... Um? B-By helping you gals out?" Chase replied with a half-truth. He didn't know how he was getting so many Love Points from all the girls, but he didn't want to weird them out by saying that.

  "Huh? You get stronger by helping us?" Marilyn repeated while tilting her head.

  "Y-Yeah. Something like that."

  "That makes sense. You did help me," Fiona said, nodding her head.

  "I suppose so," Lai added, her expression softening as she looked at Chase.

  "Wait! You're the Demon Lord of Lust, right? You can use my body to become stronger. My pussy can give you a lot of energy!" Lilith shouted while standing up, her tail wagging behind her.

  "OH NO, YOU DON'T! CHASE IS—" Lai Jumped up in between Chase and Lilith, her face red with anger. She'd never been jealous before, and it was an alien emotion to her, one that she was struggling to suppress.

  "I-It's fine, Lai," Chase said, pcing his hand on her shoulder. "And no one needs to force themselves on me sexually, okay? It won't make me stronger. I just need to think about my next move..."

  Lai blushed as she felt Chase's powerful hands on her shoulders. Even through the fabric of her armor, his touch was electrifying, sending sparks racing down her spine, causing her tail to stiffen.

  "I-If you insist...," she murmured, reluctantly returning to her seat, her eyes fixed on Lilith.

  The succubus grinned mischievously as she sat back down, her tail wagging excitedly behind her.

  Chase sighed as he knew that everyone must be tired, and some of them wanted answers and what he was going to do next.

  "Listen... After burying the fallen, we need to get out of town and look for another pce to live. Maybe we can find some way to become an ally with some noble or royal family or something—"

  "YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT, CHASE!" Lai excimed, cutting Chase off, and his eyes widened in surprise. Lai sat back down and looked at the empty space in front of her with a pensive expression on her face.

  "What did they do, Lai? Did they hurt you?" Chase asked with a concerned expression.

  She still struggled with the idea of a man in a position of power treating her as an equal. It stirred up a mix of emotions inside her—ones she wasn’t quite sure how to handle. At first, the attention didn’t bother her, but as he continued to respect her in ways she had never experienced before, she found herself embracing that treatment more and more. It was a refreshing change, and it made her heart flutter.

  Lai shook her head. "N-No, it's just... The nobility isn't as noble as the fairytales would make them out to be. Some are, but most of them are not. Well, most of them treat the people as lesser beings. They look down on the common folk and see us as pythings. Some are cruel and torture the popuce for their amusement. My family is one of the few who tries to stop their cruel treatment. But they are few and far between," she expined.

  Chase noticed that Lilith was nodding her head as well. This told him all he needed to know. The nobles and the royalty must not be taken lightly. He would have to figure out another way to gain power.

  "Is the current king one in this group of cruel nobles?"

  Lai paused for a moment, but she shook her head no, which baffled Chase.

  "But he doesn't stop the nobility? What am I missing? If he's a good person, then why does he allow the nobles to do as they please?"

  Lai sighed and expined. "Well, he's seven years old. His parents were ambushed by Orcs when traveling from a neighboring kingdom... His uncle is the current Regent until the nobility thinks King Robert is old enough to rule. Duke Vincent has all the power of the Delinora Kingdom, and he is doing everything as he sees fit. And that includes not caring about the people."

  Chase paused for a moment, his brow furrowing as he absorbed the weight of the information presented to him. He felt as though time had slowed, each detail sinking in gradually while his mind raced to comprehend the implications.

  'The damned Regent thinks he can overstep his bounds and act as he pleases... This is shaping up to be a far bigger headache than I anticipated,' Chase nodded to himself while rubbing his temples, a faint groan escaping his lips. 'Well, fuck it... I'm in a fantasy tale, so maybe I need to act like the protagonist, and we’re going to stand up for the people and restore order to this chaotic hierarchy. Haah... I can’t quite expin why I feel compelled to do this... I guess I'm a sucker. But if I have the power to do something, I'll use it.'

  Chase leaned in, his hand gently resting on top of Lai's. With a reassuring squeeze, he offered her a warm smile that radiated hope.

  “Don’t worry, Lai. We’re going to help the people and save your King,” he said firmly.

  Lai's head shot up, her heart racing as she locked eyes with him, disbelief written all over her face.

  “Really? You’re not joking, right?” she asked, her voice a breathless mixture of excitement and disbelief. Her stunning green eyes shimmered with the flicker of hope she thought she had lost.

  'Okay... Now I know why I'm doing this. Her eyes... Fuck. She's so cute and adorable. And seeing her hopeful face makes me want to do it. To save the King and help the people. Damn, I sound like a hero from a storybook. Oh well...'

  "Yeah. I'm not joking. I can't stand by while bad things are happening. I don't care what race they are; everyone deserves a chance at dignity. But the ones who oppress the helpless, we will punish them."

  Lai's tail started to wag at his words. She didn't care what Chase was. He's done enough to show her that he was a kind, decent person, and she wanted him more than she knew. All she wanted was for the King and people of Delinora to be safe and have their freedom from the corrupt nobility.

  'I-Is he an angel? Or is he a god? He's so nice and handsome. I can feel it. There is a reason the gods brought him here to save the Kingdom.'

  Lai's heart swelled with emotion as a radiant smile spread across her face, but soon enough, tears began to shimmer in her eyes. Realizing the flood of feelings threatening to spill over, she quickly pulled her hand away from Chase's, hastily wiping her tears as though they were a sign of weakness. After all, she was a knight—strong and composed.

  Chase chuckled softly, sensing the turmoil within her. With a warm smile, he extended a napkin toward her.

  "Here, you might need this," he said, the kindness in his voice cutting through her moment of vulnerability.

  "Thanks," Lai replied, grateful yet a bit flustered. "I just didn't want to seem ungrateful for everything you've done."

  "No need for that," Chase said, a determined glint in his eye as he gnced at Marilyn, Fiona, and Lilith. "If I have the power to help, I will. Besides, it's clear I'm not the only one feeling the weight of this situation."

  Fiona and Marilyn exchanged knowing looks, their heads nodding in agreement.

  “I can’t stand watching the nobles behave like this,” Fiona said, frustration bubbling in her voice. “If it weren’t for you, we’d probably be sold into svery… or worse.”

  Marilyn sighed, her expression heavy. “My father’s been crushed under an avanche of taxes, and my mother walked out on us a year ago. My older brothers? Who knows where they are or what they're doing.” Her words hung in the air, a shared sense of loss binding them together.

  Lilith nodded her head as well, "My father is a noble... He saw it fit to beat me when I started doing things he thought unfit for a boy... I despise him and will gdly take his life."

  'Oh... That's a lot of trauma to deal with, but if it helps motivate them to fight against corruption and save the King and the people, then that's all that matters. And Lilith's dad sounds like an asshole. If we encounter him, I'm not going to stop Lilith. Well, let's finish up our meal and get to bed. We need some rest.'

  Just as Chase was about to speak, Eve came out of his chest, and the floating grimoire flew around him.

  "What is it, Eve? Did you want to join us in the conversation?" Chase asked, curious as to why the magical book decided to pop out of his chest.

  "Yes, Master! I think it will be easier to liberate these people if you corrupt those two other wome—"

  *THUD!*

  In a swift motion, Chase smacked the grimoire gently atop its “head,” a pyful reprimand that sent a cascade of shimmering sparkles into the air.

  "Eve?!... What did I say about the corruption thing?"

  "But it will help you become stronger, though. You can turn them into something that would be useful for you and them."

  He let out a heavy sigh, the weight of indecision palpable in the air. "Eve... No. This isn’t a decision for me to make. If they truly wish to follow me as their mentor, then that choice belongs to them."

  Chase had hoped that this stance would put an end to the whole corruption thing, but to his astonishment, Marilyn's voice broke through the haze of uncertainty, adding another yer to the discussion.

  With a hint of hesitation in her voice and a touch of rosy color creeping into her cheeks, Marilyn looked down momentarily before meeting his gaze. “W-What if I’m interested?” she asked softly, her shyness evident in her fidgeting fingers and the way her eyes sparkled with curiosity.