Hades Palace

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Demon lord Hades didn't know what to think of the reports . Ashfall is dead—this was the greatest news he received in centuries . The family's bitter enemies were actually dead . This was incredible! So much for his trap, he spent many years constructing . In the end, everything worked out . He got ahold of the Omen's sphere, but sadly, not the control of Ashfall forces . That was a goldmine within itself . He'd send spies into the demon realm to find out where they fled .

Hades sighed . His daughter, his little girl would never forgive him for using her as bait . She didn't trust him . As if he'd make his precious blood, life mate to absolute sc.u.m, undeserving of her brilliance . He was proud of his daughter . Powerful, independent, and a fine successor to the Hades throne . She reminded him of her mother, his missing life mate . She even had the same irritating, but tolerating fondness for humans . His niece Tear was another story . Even more powerful—made him proud too, but where did get the nerve to go killing off his Middle Eye? Sure, it was a good call . Matazus, who didn't know of the trap, was the one who gave him the idea of making Alice life mate to Ashfall . It inspired Hades to design the trap . But the suggestion bled so much treason—Hades had to use every ounce of strength and will to restrain himself from tearing his former Middle Eye into pieces . Instead, he planned to use him for his worth then send the fool off on a suicide mission .

He eyed the guard that stood before him again . He was a strange creature known as a hallow . He took on the appearance of a thin half-shadow, half-ether creature, with the pale face of a man, but a body of shapeable dark magic . Matazu's former right hand and Hades's spy, Elsado . The only Eye allowed to run amok, unchecked, was his daughter . She needed the independence and experience to take over in his stead . He'd rest easy in retirement and she'd rule the Hade's estates with grace . Even her own family would be jealous, plot against her . Nothing new for those of n.o.bility .

"Good work," Hades said then chuckled . "I take it you secured owners.h.i.+p of their estates . Go ahead and start renovating it . We'll—"

"It's owned by the adventurer who killed the Ashfall head, my lord," Elsado said, kneeling .

Hades blinked .

"Ashfall was defeated by an adventurer . " He threw back his head and laughed . "That old fool was better at manipulating others and torturing them rather than fighting, but he still could keep up with the rest of us . Find out who owns the estates . Then kill him . We'll expand our control to Ashen City and rid it of Ashfall supporters . "

"There's a problem with that, my lord and you may not like it," Elsado said .

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"You're wordy today, Elsado," Hades said . "What could possibly be the problem?"

"While these rumors remain unconfirmed, several of our guards had reported Alice working with adventurers . And probably the adventurer responsible for destroying the Ashfall family . I've tried to find him, but either he's naturally warded or works in the shadow . "

Hades sneered .

"Get my Hidden Eye on the job . I want this adventurer found! Either you kill him or Melody or the guards—I don't care . Don't bother with the estates yet until he's dead . Wards and magical traps sometimes fade when their owners die . Besides, it'd take way too long for me to send for my trap negator from the demon realm . And you know n.o.body wants to deal with her over some adventurer . "

"My lord declared it and so it shall be done," Elsado said .

"Dismissed . "

Elsado stood, saluted with one first over his heart, bowed, then about-faced . Hades turned to his three beautiful lady guests .

"I think I've kept you waiting long enough . To the bedroom . "

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[Area unlocked for Jump: Libado Gra.s.slands . ]

[Quest updated . Step one: go to Libado Gra.s.slands, completed . Step two: Train in Libado Gra.s.slands . ]

They appeared just a dozen or so meters from the inn ahead . Clyde observed the area, in taking the vast beauty of the green pastures . A few hundred meters past the inn lied a forest—so it wasn't all gra.s.slands . Something about it felt off . Of course, no one should be dumb enough to go snooping into the creepy dark forest . He voiced that to the others .

"Look, we all know what happens in the movies when some idiot decides to go into the forest, whether alone or with one other person," he said as they walked forward . "So don't go into the forest . "

"Oh quit being so paranoid," Tear said then smacked him on the back, grinning . "We're the demons here . Even wild animals will instinctively clear this area . "

"Yeah…any idea why that happens?" Clyde asked . Tear shrugged .

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"Mmm-mm . No idea . Maybe it's the demonic energy inside . "

"You know dudettes, I keep forgetting you're demons," Seth said . "You're really no different from us, aside from being uber strong and what not . "

"I wonder," Yuki said . "Chika's completely human, but she'd be a force of nature when her power level reaches one hundred . "

Chika turned them out, humming, while holding onto one of Clyde's arms . Alice had the other, glaring daggers at the her .

"Still sore," Clyde said, wiggling out of their grips . At least he tried to wiggle out, but the young women weren't having it . At this point, he knew to just accept the gift horse as it came .

"I'll end your soreness with a nice demoness-style ma.s.sage," Yuki said . "And I will have no interruptions this time . " She looked right at Alice . The twin-tailed demoness harrumphed, anime girl style .

"Clyde, kill yourself," Seth said, fake smile on his face .

Toru sighed then gave Clyde a look of sympathy .

"It'd be a miracle if you return to the city in one piece . "

Clyde frowned .

The group stepped through gla.s.s doors . Tear talked with the attendant at the front desk and soon they were led to their rooms .

Everyone had their own rooms, except Natalia who insisted on sharing one with Alice .

"But I want to room with my Clyde," she said, gathering a round of blushes and protests . In the end, she and Natalia were placed in a room with two beds .

"Out here, you must be protected at all times, Highness," Natalia said to the glowering young woman .

Clyde decided before changing into his robe, he'd check out the building . It didn't let him down—every cliché and trope possible was there . Men, women, and mixed areas that contained easily swappable signs . Ping pong tables and fridges with cold milk . There were even a few rooms that were ancient j.a.panese-style . This place left no doubt about the trope . Somehow, he found himself appreciating it—walking around and admiring the design styles .

He decided mixed bathing went without saying . But which signs will be swapped? Which girl would he accidentally walk in on?

If he was being honest with himself, Tear or Yuki are among the biggest jackpots . Kitome would probably kick him in the b.a.l.l.s . She had to be…tsundere or something . One minute, she's a feisty death sentence, the next she'd be b.u.t.toning up Clyde's s.h.i.+rt like some wife .

And yet…while vulnerable, she was d.a.m.ned cute . And for once, he could allow himself these thoughts since they were on a two-day vacation and not fighting for their lives .

Clyde heard husky breathing and the click of a lock only seconds before Chika tackled him to the bed .

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