2.24.

"She tried to fight the Astroth saying that because we were 'on the way home'. I tried to stop her, she didn't listen. I wasn't sure what happened during the fight, but she returned half-dead and I had to carry her back to Estia Barony where the High Priest tried to cure her.. nothing seemed to work however.."

"What a reckless fellow," Aaron sighed.

"Then during the time when she was recovering, the demons attacked and everyone was wiped out."

"..."

"I see.. so that's why she didn't make it.." Aaron muttered blankly.

'Yeah..'

Sequencee had his head lowered.

"Oh. So it isn't because the demons were super strong but because your mom wasn't in a condition to fight?" Judy asked.

"No. The demons were strong.. very, very strong.." His shoulders trembled.

"What happened after that? The princess and I were unable to find you despite our efforts," Aaron said. This was a more pressing concern he wanted to address.

"About that.."

'I didn't go because back then I thought it was my fault.'

Sequencee had just come to the realization that his father is The Sovereign. That shock left a deep mark in his heart, knowing then that he, while being the victim, was also the world's greatest enemy.

"Sequencee. Where was your father during the incident?" Shiro threw his two cents.

"My father?"

'Why is he asking this now?'

"I don't know where he was," he said.

"Sequencee, can you spare a moment," Shiro got up.

"Big brother?"

"Just between us. Follow me for a second."

"..Okay?"

Sequencee followed Shiro out into the hall. He made sure that there was no one around before turning to Sequencee.

"Your goal, from what I heard is to kill The Sovereign, am I getting that right?" Shiro asked in a quiet voice.

"Yes?"

Sequencee nodded slowly. A good and bad premonition creeped up his spine, the intensity of Shiro's stare made him doubt himself.

'What's going on? Why is he talking to me like this?'

"Bartonn Arch, is your father, am I.."

Sequencee reacted, attempting to grab him by the neck. Shiro reacted by restraining Sequencee before it reached him.

"Calm down– I'm not trying to say you're wrong here.." cold sweat poured down his face.

"How many people know?" Sequencee's chilly tone echoed.

"Me and my sister. That's all."

'How in hell.. is it because they're heroes?'

"I don't think someone who saved the princess would try to turn against humanity. And you said previously that your mother is a well known SS-rank mercenary right? On the outside you're a demon, inside, you're just like everyone else," Shiro's hands trembled.

Sequencee loosened his strength.

"I don't know why your father tried to kill your mother but, it's really fucked up."

"..."

"Let's work together on this."

"Aren't you going to kill me?"

"Look. I'm not from this world, I can't relate to the common sense of the people here. Back where I came from, demon lords aren't necessarily the bad guys. Humans are just as bad at times."

"I see.."

Sequencee released his arm, letting it dangle to the side.

He extended his hand for a handshake. "I'll be in your care, Sequencee."

"Please don't tell others about my identity."

"I won't. I'll let my sister know about it too."

"Thank you," Sequencee took his hands.

It was the beginning of an unsurprising journey between a demon lord and the hero.

===

It was one thing to say someone is a demon, another thing entirely to call someone a demon lord. At the moment, Evelyn had no idea Sequencee was the son of The Soverign, still under the assumption that he was a regular demon known as majins. Schwii found that to be a relief as she wasn't keen on explaining the further details if they knew that Sequencee was in fact, her own cousin.

"Sequencee is a.. demon?" Leticia's eyes rounded.

"A half demon," Evelyn said.

"I don't get it.. why would he be a demon?" Leticia was confused. If Sequencee was a demon, why hadn't he told her about it? Rather, despite having been with him the past two years, how could she have known nothing about this?

"In that way, Anna is peculiar for her 'activities'," Schwii said.

"So she had a child with a demon.." Evelyn's brow twitched.

"Imperatively," Schwii confirmed.

Even the succubus herself found it hard to imagine that a human would catch the eye of The Sovereign. It's as impossible as Evelyn's father, His Majesty, to be laid by a female demon.

"Then building from earlier, it seems the demons don't see eye to eye on certain matters? This is the first time I'm hearing this. I thought demons were all under the absolute rule of The Sovereign?"

"The system has changed. The current Sovereign doesn't practice tyranny," Schwii said.

"Then.. Schwii, you are a noble then?" Leticia confirmed.

"You could say so. Here's a food for thought. If Sequencee, say from whichever house he may originate from, attempts to go against The Sovereign, what do you think would be the outcome?"

"Death.."

Schwii nodded. "I want to avoid that," she was cooking up a story of mixed truth and lies. Though she wasn't sure if her father would take such extreme measures considering how he had spared her own mother, she wasn't sure if the same benevolence would apply to Sequencee.

Schwii didn't know much about her father's relationship with Anna, so she didn't have a lot to work with in terms of familial understanding.

"Then that is the reason why you don't wish for Sequencee and the heroes to meet?" Evelyn said.

"If he met them, it's likely to only fuel his aspirations further."

"I don't mean to be presumptive but.. aren't the demons planning to attack us?" Leticia asked with her hands raised timidly.

"First of all, are the human race not similar? Initiating war for conquest and domination– for the safety and prosperity of their own people, for achievement, glory, status, amusement.." Schwii sighed. "Secondly, the attack on your homeland was all a big misunderstanding. It wasn't intentional.. just.. some.. political strifes between the demons," she said through her teeth.

"Similar to how we wage war between kingdoms I see.." Evelyn sipped on her tea.

"Demons are just as afraid of humans as humans are to us. That's why we try to avoid meddling between the two.. of course, I have no idea what it is that Our Sovereign is planning. He hasn't given any orders to expand the army, I think it's unlikely that he's planning an attack."

"Then how about the ambush?" Evelyn queried.

"I don't know that an ambush happened, nor am I certain if it was an order by The Soverign or another high demon. In any case, I can't comment on the matter."

The three girls, having a mini tea party of their own, had come to a united understanding of the situation. Though it may not be the most comprehensive, it was clear here that their objective was one. That said, none of them were happy that any of them wanted a piece of the same pie.

"To wrap things up, I will first apologize for my misunderstandings in regards to the matter. Please take care of him well," Evelyn lowered her head.

"Me too.." Leticia said.

"I also have my share of wrongs. Leticia, I sincerely apologize for the sufferings the demons have caused you. I'll make it my duty to compensate you within my limits. And, Your Highness, thank you for arranging this banquet. It has been a productive meeting."

"Still, I don't intend to give up just yet.." Evelyn said.

"Pardon?"

"We'll make a pact to save Sequencee however! The one to win his heart will be me!" Evelyn announced.

"Oh? Is this a faction war? I do hate this a lot," a shadow loomed on Schwii's face.

"..." Leticia had no say in the matter, feeling her heart sink.

A red light flashed twice; Schwii's pendant.

["Milady, dinner is ready, are you and Sequencee not back yet?"]

"Oh, my bad.. hm? Sequencee is not back yet?"

["Is he not with you?"]

"No.."

"A meeting with an instructor shouldn't take so long, right?" Evelyn found it suspicious too. They had been sitting here for almost an hour now.

Schwii shifted the channel and reached out to Sequencee.

"Sequencee, are you there?"

There was a short pause before the reply.

["Yes, what is it?"]

"Where are you right now?"

["At the lobby. What is it?"]

"No.. I mean.. that's rather late.."

["Sorry, it was an unexpected meeting with the hero so there was a lot to talk about. Apparently they're a lot kinder than I thought."]

"..."

["Schwii?"]

"Didn't.. I tell you not to meet them?"

["That.. it just happened so.."]

Scwhii released the mana, causing the message to sizzle off. She raised her head, hands trembling as she glared at Evelyn.

"Your Highness.. did you plan this?"

"Plan? What did I plan? What's happeni.."

"Stop acting like a fool! You arranged this didn't you?!" Schwii screamed.

"Calm down and tell me what's going on!"

"You had him meet with the hero didn't you?" her voice seethed.

"What? I.. no, was that why.." Evelyn's expression contorted.

Schwii held back the urge to smash the table. A simple slip up had sent her way past the starting point. What exactly did Sequencee and the heroes talk about? Fear slowly took over her as her father's warning kept repeating itself in her mind. She felt her heart lurch.

She didn't want Sequencee to be killed.

She didn't want him to die.

"It's not too late," Leticia's words brought the attention of the two. "Unexpected things happen, it's inevitable. It's what we do after it happens that we need to focus on."

"Y-You're right.. I didn't think they would arrange a meeting without me. They must've been waiting," Evelyn said.

Schwii said nothing as she stared at her empty coffee cup, wondering how she should approach Sequencee later. She was furious yet didn't want to empty herself at him.

"Schwii, we're in this together."

She peered upwards to meet Leticia's pair of ruby and gold eyes.

"I don't want Sequencee to go down this path too."

"Schwii," Leticia held her hands.

"I.. I admit I can't do this alone.." Schwii croaked, "Please help me convince him."