Ch. 10 A day in Azura

The following month after I had joined the Anti-Satan faction was one of preparation.

But the one thing which was different was the fact that Serafall had decided, without consulting me, that she would visit basically the day before things were set to begin.

As you can imagine that did not end well due to her not knowing where I even was, so I had to get the pouty Serafall and placate her.

After getting pampered by Liora and myself, she was back on her feet.

"You weren't lying when you said Liora was a great cook!" She excitedly said as she was excitedly taking everything about my 'home'.

Only a few people I trusted had ever actually known about where I live, with the staff 'believing' i actually live here. I do eat, work and pass a lot of time in the castle itself, but home is the H.A.H. It's the place I can comfortably walk around in my underwear and be as lazy as i want.

Anyway, I gave Serafall a tour of the place and of the Azura itself.

She found it a really interesting place compared to the Sitri Capital.

Sitri cities generally use a calm, natural environment to create a peaceful air useful when recovering from illnesses or if suffering from one. It was interesting learning that devils had concepts regarding psychological health affecting the body's state, even if they didn't have a study for it. Their cities also had a contrast when reaching areas totally focused on healing, which led to more sterile areas with cleanliness being important.

The major cities also had great market places for natural ingredients and medicines, large libraries and even various animal rearing areas.

In comparison, Azure was a bustling city of steel and stone.

It didn't start out this way, but because of the large number of blacksmith, academics and artisans I had recruited, the city transformed into a very progressive one which focuses on discoveries, creations and craftsmanship. Becoming very lively and hectic in nature as workshops popped up all over the place, research buildings were created, libraries formed due to the large scale importation of books.

The place didn't just focus on academia and technology however, we also had a thriving food culture thanks to Liora and our own schools dedicated to magic and healing.

It was lively, with new things happening all over the place, which also led to it being a lot of my own paperwork and the city probably having the largest guard force around. That last one mostly to handle the dozens of little accidents happening all over the place or when someone breaks some rules, real crimes not being much of a problem when I can feel everything within the city and then some.

Serafall on the other end was fitting right in the lively atmosphere as she ran around like a child on Red Bull.

"Oooh look Lith! What was that explosion!?" My energetic guest asked.

"That would be Tryo's alchemy shop. I think he was trying to make some sort of animated fireworks." I answered the girl.

"That's sound great!" She responded, "What's happening there?"

The direction she pointed out had two men in aprons cooking over outdoor grills as people salivated in the audience.

"That would be a cook off. Liora thought having some competitions would help stir her creativity regarding cooking and it took off amongst chefs and cooks in my territory, mostly to solve disagreements, improve themselves, show off their skills or for a chance to challenge the undefeated chef: Liora herself." I explained as I remembered the day when Liora began turning my city into one straight out of Food Wars.

It was honestly a good day.

It would improve the quality of life, help the agricultural sector, boost the economy, make the people happier and my food would get tastier.

I just had to pass some laws regarding abusing the challenges.

"Let's watch!" Serafall said as she dragged me to the intense cooking match.

From what I could tell, the burly cook on the left was roasting a special species of great boar and the one on the right was grilling a type of sea serpent found in one of the lakes I had form a city at.

Both men were working furiously as the hourglass continued to flow.

"Excuse me. Lord Azaroth?" A hesitant and nervous voice came from my side.

What I found was a young man with short brown hair and green eyes, average build and height.

"Yes? Is there a problem I can help you with?" I asked the devil.

"N-No my lord! It's just that, we wanted to know if you could give them the honor of judging their dishes." The young man nervously asked.

"I want to be a judge!" Serafall quickly said as a bit of drool leaked from her mouth at the thought of eating the food being prepared in front of her.

"Then I guess if you can include my friend I'll do it." I calmly answered the man, which caused him to thank me profusely before guiding us to the judges table.

Serafall was practically bouncing in excitement, but the crowd noticed my appearance at the judges table and this caused quite a few exciting whispers to spread across the crowd.

The entire atmosphere of the challenge become a lot more focused once I sat down, something which the two cooks noticed and couldn't understand why until they saw me, swallowed heavily and doubled their focus.

"Why'd everything get more intense?" Serafall questioned as she sat next to me.

"That's because I eat the food the best chef in my lands makes everyday. The know I have eaten the best and are going to be compared to it, so they'll do what they can to impress.

My words do carry a lot of weight after all and a honest praise could make their shops much more popular." I answered truthfully as it was interesting to basically see marketing techniques be put into action in such a place and time.

"Wow. I didn't know just that would be a big deal." An impressed Serafall said.

"Well I do reward excellence and support many people in their crafts. I have a reputation for seeing potential in things and liking to see new creations.

Plus going around like this helps get a proper feel for how my people are really doing while given them a chance to get to know me." I explained as I looked over the crowd.

"Sounds like you care about them a lot." Serafall gently said as a soft smile appeared on her face.

"That I do. Each one is a part of the future I see for devils of all kind after all." I replied as I looked out towards my city.

The regal but hopeful look I had unconsciously put on left Serafall stunned as she dazedly stared at me.

That is until a few whispers became more than that and we could hear a few things from the crowd.

"Do you think that's the Lord's fiance?"

"Look how cute she is looking at the Lord with such a dreamy stare"

"Is the lord on a date?"

That was when Serafall snapped out of it and started blushing.

"Such an adorable girl. I just want to hug her!"

"Look at her being all shy."

"*Chuckle* You don't have to worry too much Serafall. They are mainly curious to see me with someone who is clearly not part of my servants or guards." I said in an effort to reassure and calm the blushing weapon of mass destruction.

She did look adorable all flustered however.

Thankfully for her, the hourglass was done and it was time to judge the dishes.

First up was the one working on the Sea Serpent dishes which ended up being a glistening piece of perfectly grilled meat with a red glaze and accompanied by lightly seasoned rice. The combination was certainly hunger inducing.

Without any hesitation I took some of both and ate.

It was an impactful flavor which energized those eating is as the glaze highlighted the great qualities of the sea serpent and the rice induced a desire to continue eating a it refreshed the eater.

Serafall meanwhile had over the top reactions as she rapidly ate and gushed over the taste.

Once we were finished, the second cook brought us his great boar roast.

It was cooked to apparent perfection as the slight layer of fat around it dripped with fragrant juices which made stomachs rumble in desire. The meat itself look supple as it moved with each motion, appearing as if it was tender enough to give way without a knife. Accompanying the meat was herbal bread with cheese.

Looks I was right about the meat's tenderness. One could almost drink it due to how easy it was eat. Every bite gushing out meat juice and the bread actually helping you experience the sensation all over again, but with a nice twist when the cheese offered a counterbalance.

In the end the match would end up being impactful vs smoothness.

It was really close in all honesty, but in the end the Boar dish was more to my liking as I prefer to be able to leisurely enjoy my food. However Serafall and our third judge voted for the Sea Serpent dish.

The result was that the winner was actually feeling a bit down and the loser feeling proud.

"Both your dishes were excellent. It simply came down to my own preferences whilst enjoying my food over the taste itself. I look forward to hearing both of you improve in the future." I said to the two which made their passions burn even brighter than when they were cooking.

"That was so good!! Can you tell me where your restaurants are!? I want to try your foods again next time I visit!" The very happy Serafall said as the two dazedly gave the beautiful girl the addresses for their shops before we took out leave.

What followed was passing time going through shops, hunting for weird or unique creations and just enjoying a nice break from thinking about the fighting behind us and ahead.

In the end, we found ourselves on the observation platform for what is currently the tallest building beside my own castle: The Clocktower.

"Wow! The view is great from hear! You can see everything and even over the walls!" My companion exclaimed as she looked over the railing.

The reason this was a thing is simply because unless you were me, on important or urgent business, or were guards, one was not permitted to fly within the city. It would simply be far too chaotic and dangerous to allow such a thing.

"It is indeed, but I brought you here to actually see something other than the city." I calmly told her as I fondly watched over the city's atmosphere slowly changing to its after work vibes of merriment mixed with tranquility.

"And what's that?" She curiously asks.

"Just give it a few moments." I mysteriously answered just in time for the clocktower chimes to go off, signaling that it was 8pm. "Now look up."

As she did a silent gasp escaped her lips and wonderment light up in her eyes as she witnessed the usually featureless night sky of the underworld light up with countless twinkling stars dancing in the sky.

"It's so… beautiful." She softly said as she looked up mesmerized.

"Yeah. That's probably one of the things I'm most proud about honestly. My greatest and probably only piece of art." I said as I too looked at my own work in satisfaction.

"How did you do it?" An astounded Serafall asked.

"I worked it into the protective barrier of the city itself. It's a massive illusory enchantment mixed with Light magic i got the dwarves to embue into the ward stones. I wanted to give even the night it's own beauty." I answered as I remembered how frustrated those dwarves got and also how some of them cried when they saw the beauty of the night sky after being exiled so long in the Underworld.

"Thanks for showing me this." She warmly said as opposed to the usual excitement, "and for spending the day with me. I know we met not too long ago, but I just felt like we could be, you know, friends. And then today was just probably the most fun I've ever had in my life. So thank you for going along with me."

"I had fun too Serafall. I don't really have many true friends, if any besides my familiar, even if I'm close to my servants or advisers they still treat themselves below me, so this was nice." I replied which makes Serafall show me a stunningly bright smile.

"Then we can be friends? Like real friends?" She asked.

"Of course. I would be delighted to be friends with a girl like you." I warmly answered with a soft smile.

She didn't answer, only getting a bit closer as we enjoyed the night sky together.

Some time later as the two decided to go back to the castle.

"Hey Sera? Did you tell your dad you were coming here?" I suddenly asked as I decided to see if the nickname would be ok.

"Hmm, I don't think I did." She answered with a bit of thought as she just went with the nickname.

"Then won't he be mad?" I curiously asked since I sort of had protective father vibes from the man.

"Oh crap." She was the only reply as the realization hit that she had been gone for an entire day without telling anyone and now it was very late.

"My suggestion is just being honest and it'll probably minimize the lecture. Maybe take his mind off of it by saying you had some good times with me alone." I said to my new friend.

"Why would that help?" A confused Serafall asked.

"Because he seemed quite protective of you and didn't seem to like you being alone with guys much. It'll probably make him focused on me instead." I answered as I couldn't really care much about this unless it affected business.

"I guess I can try." She said as it was worth a shot.

"Just talk about all the things we did and specify that we were alone the entire time." I added so she could deal some heavy damage if her father was as protective as I thought.

"Alright. Can you send me back? I still don't actually know where this is in the Underworld." She said as she readied herself.

"No problem. I've been to the Sitri capital before." I replied as I opened a portal outside the gates.

She should be more than able to get inside from there.

"That's really handy." She noted, "But again, thanks for the best day ever Lith. I'll see you during the meeting tomorrow then."

"See you then." I say as she went through the portal and with one final wave to each other I close it.

Turning around I find myself spotting every servant and guard on duty looking at me with either knowing smiles, blushes, impressed looks, jealousy or disappointment in something.

"We are not together, simply friends." I clearly announced, which seemed to do nothing except make them go back to their jobs.

'This was probably the most enjoyable and worry free day I've had in the last 10 years. Maybe more if you count my past life.' I thought as a lot of my body's fatigue and tension seemed to have been lifted, making me feel very light.

"Seems i'll have pleasant dreams tonight." I said to myself before…

"*Achoo!* Looks like Lord Sitri is talking about me already. Pretty sure it isn't anything nice though.

-meanwhile in the Sitri mansion.

"LET ME GO!! I NEED TO GO BEAT DOWN THAT BEAST BEFORE HE LAYS HIS CLAWS IN MY LITTLE GIRL!!" Roared a berserk Lord Sitri as Serafall looked on absolutely baffled by the turn of events.

She arrived at the gates to her family city, got through easily and then headed back home. Only to be welcomed by a very displeased dad and relived mom.

And when he loudly asked where she had been, she decided to try the thing Lith told her to do. So she talked about her day she spent together, about the food they tried, the shops they visited, the people they met and how beautiful the stars he had given his people were.

By the end her mom had a happy smile and looked like she was remembering a nice memory, while her dad looked almost white before erupting angrily and saying he needed to find Lith so he could neuter him. That snapped out her mom from her thoughts and now here we were.

With her mom using water magic to restrain her dad as he thrashed around trying to escape but not using any magic to do so for some reason.

"I'm glad you had such a lovely day dear. Just make sure to warn us next time ok? We were really worried." She gently said as that made her feel guiltier than her dad's usual lecture somehow.

"Yes mom. I'm sorry." Serafall replied as she hung her head a bit.

"Good. Now I would very much like to meet this young Lord Azaroth, so next time you meet could you invite him over? I'm sure it would be nice for you to show him around our own city." Lady Sitri said with a smile Serafall didn't get.

"Yeah! That would be great!" The now excited Serafall responded at the thought of hanging out with her friend again.

"OVER MY DEAD BODY AM I LETTING THAT - MMHMMH MMHMMMH HMMMMM!" Lord father tried to reject the idea, but the water capturing him covered his mouth.

"Now off to bed honey. You have a busy time coming and I need to have a talk with your father." Lady Sitri calmly said.

"Ok mom. Love you!" A happy Serafall said as she left while thinking of fun things to do with Lith once he comes over.

Serafall never heard the wails of despair a certain lord made as he dealt with a mother. hoping for grand babies.