CH. 521: A humble request

The kitsune sat on the floor with her knees folded; her form elegant and her fluffy tails fanned out behind her. In front of her, a cup of steaming green tea was held carefully in her hands. Sharing this moment with Yasaka was the black-haired devil once known as the Devil King of the Underworld.

Despite their poised and graceful demeanor, the two engaged in a conversation one would expect for their roles.

"The gods cannot act like mortals," Yasaka expressed with a disapproving shake of her head. "They must stay enigmatic and unfathomable to maintain a sense of power within their subjects. They must inspire awe and reverence."

"A hard disagree, my fox sister." Lilith licked her lips and smiled, finding amusement in Yasaka's statement. "Why can't gods just be themselves and enjoy their lives? Suppressing their desires will not bode well in the long term for neither mortals nor their own kind."

The devil and the kitsune discussed a deity's relationship with mortals — their subjects. Yasaka stayed on the side that gods keep being a figure to strengthen their faith, even if it gives them a mundane life. Lilith took the opposite side, believing that the gods should prioritize their own happiness.

As a competent and relatively selfless leader, Yasaka held the gods to her own standards. If one had the power, they must not use it to lord over others. A self-sacrificing approach, one could say.

Lilith couldn't give a crap about the others, which resonated with her perception after Asahi tamed her death fetish. She wanted everyone to stay true to themselves.

"My lovely ladies." Asahi chimed in. "Can I say something?"

Lilith turned her head and her eyes widened. "Are my eyes deceiving me or His Imperial Majesty is standing before us?"

Yasaka nearly dropped the cup. "Y-Your Majesty, please don't sneak on us. My heart can't take your surprise emergence."

Asahi grinned. "You'll get used to it."

"I doubt…" Yasaka smiled wryly. "What do you suggest, Your Imperial Majesty?"

Asahi pointed a finger at his mistress. "I take Lilith's side. She is right in this argument."

Lilith spread a paper fan over her mouth, hiding her grin. "His Imperial Majesty takes any side that allows him to bed women. The Hedonistic Devil Emperor."

"Not this time. Your argument resonates with mine. Suppressing desires isn't a viable option for gods with a long life cycle. You are simply asking for them to become evil gods."

Yasaka lowered her head as if pondering over his words. "Your Majesty—"

"Call me Asahi."

"B-But."

"Did you forget about your promise?"

There was no promise, but Yasaka couldn't know about it. She was too lost in the headpats that time.

"Asahi-sama…"

"Just Asahi will do."

He didn't want Aimi to step in and waste Yasaka. Aimi was possessive of how she addressed him.

"Asahi…"

Lilith flashed a grin. "Adorable fox is one step closer."

"I guess so," Asahi replied with a chuckle. "How are things around here?"

"Peaceful."

Yasaka averted her eyes from their talk, cheeks red in embarrassment. How could she not understand their talk? She had yet to be with someone; it didn't mean she was dense. She had the experience of five hundred years!

From Asahi's little gestures to his speech, everything showed his interest in her. Unless she was overthinking things, which would be… embarrassing.

"My charming man, where is Haruhime? I haven't seen her since the beach day."

"Haruhime…" Asahi sighed with a sorrowful look. "My wives are so cruel toward my daughter. They torture Haruhime every day. She has to survive a dungeon full of deadly creatures."

Lilith raised her brow in surprise. "Don't exaggerate. I have seen how your lovers treat Haruhime. She is being spoiled."

"You don't trust me?" Asahi pulled out his smartphone and played a captured video of Haruhime's battle against the giant mammoth. "Look."

Both women were enamored. The small Haruhime showed the fighting skill of a seasoned warrior. Yasaka, especially, paid extra attention to Haruhime.

"She has fox ears…" Yasaka whispered. "Is this your…?"

"Yes, she is my daughter."

"Our daughter," Lilith corrected his claim. "I want to give a hand in raising her… Please, Your Imperial Majesty, please accept my humble request."

Her previous children may have gone astray, but she was confident about Haruhime. The humble fox girl showed promise in both strength and character.

Asahi stared at her. "Why?"

"She is cute, and I like her fox ears." Lilith eyed Yasaka's perky fox ears. "Yours too."

"Alright. If she is okay with you."

"Yaaa! Thank you. You made my day."

Asahi just smiled. There was hardly anything that interested Lilith these days. He would not rob her of that small happiness, but he also wouldn't force Haruhime to accept Lilith.

Yasaka snapped out of her shock at last. "Your Majesty has a daughter?! Why didn't anyone tell me about it?"

"I adopted her. She is a cute kid with fox ears like you. I reckon you looked like her in your childhood."

Both had blonde hair, fox ears and tail, and an old Japanese heritage. Nobody would question Yasaka if she claimed to be Haruhime's mother. Yasaka also noticed the similarities.

Asahi chuckled at her cute and embarrassed side. "Do you want to meet her?"

Yasaka awkwardly looked away, her tails brushing the floor behind her. "Will your wives allow it? You said they… aren't fond of her."

"Silly fox," Lilith shook her head. "He was joking. Everyone in his family treats Haruhime like a daughter or little sister."

"Alright. I'll bring her after her training is done."

His heart warmed up imagining Yasaka and Haruhime's interactions.

"His Imperial Majesty," Lilith whispered. "Come with me."

Asahi didn't need to ask about her intention. Her sultry voice provoked one primal emotion — lust.

The couple left the room for Lilith's residence, and wondrous moans filled the courtyard. Yasaka's ears drooped down.

'The kind Devil Emperor… is a womanizer.'

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