Chapter 236: A moment of Solace
Today was the last day of the festival; after days of festivities, enormous barrels of mead and wine were placed in the centre of the town square. Enough food for a month was also prepared on the tables as everyone danced and enjoyed the Blood Moon's festival.
The fires crackled with the scent of burning wood, a sweet fragrance unique to the special Amura trees. These trees, with their vibrant red leaves and silver bark, grew near the shrine, adding a distinct touch to the festive air.
A spicy yet sweet scent, like cedarwood and pumpkin spice, mixed to fill the air with a pleasant feeling as the pyre burned bright with people dancing and cheering. Their cups were filled with mead, and their hearts were overflowing with joy that could only be found in such peaceful moments.
Despite the neglect of the local nobles, this village had grown to the size of a town. Yet, it still didn't receive the correct blessing and remained a village in the annuls of the kingdom, a fact that the villagers found deeply unjust.
However, what could they do?
They were a small village of heretics who believed in a different goddess and would have been ignored when Lumina was all that mattered to the nobles of Grigor.
"Asmodeus, are you thirsty? Here~ I got you a drink, hehe."
Yumiko's cheeks were bright red. Unlike pureblooded demons who were immune to alcohol, those with thinner blood could still enjoy the buzz of drinking. She offered him a large draft mug of the mead, which was made with local berries that were grown in a small vale hidden in the mountains by the villagers.
"Did you know that monsters are used as fertilisers to make the berries so sweat? Then they soak the wheat and hop in this sweet fertiliser to make both sweet bread and alcohol!" Yumiko's voice sounded bright and her voice energetic.
It felt like her past as a teacher made her learn these kinds of things whenever they visited a village or town.
"Oh really? Then, I will drink some just for you."
Asmodeus didn't know if he could still get drunk because his blood was mostly demon now. Serena apologised but told him that no matter how much he disliked it. In the end, he would become a pure demon and lose all of his human heritage.
'Vinea has been quiet since she sat beside me—what is wrong?'
He turned to look, noticing she began to lean against his shoulder quite some time ago, only to notice the beautiful red colour of her body seemed deeper today. 'Why does Vinea always look so delicious? A mere glimpse, and she triggers my monopolistic desires.'
When she noticed his gaze, her charming face tilted and looked at him with her beautiful eyes. "My Lord~ do you need me?" A sweet voice filled with seduction, desire and uncertainty.
'She's so damn cute!' Asmodeus could only think such a thought, knowing the others would probably scold him for showing favourites to her and Liana. He always felt drawn to the pair of them differently than the others.
Although he adored Erika and the other women around him, there was something special about the two princesses of Grigor that rendered him unable to turn away from their sorrows and feelings.
"I do, but it will have to wait until the party is over. Will you be alright with that, my gorgeous princess?"
She nodded and snuggled up against his arm. He could feel the slight trembling in her body but could only let her borrow his left arm while his right was being stolen by Yumiko, who pouted. Of course, he understood Yumiko was rarely jealous. 'It's only when I am with Liana or Vinea that Yumiko's jealousy appears. Even when I am gentle with Ciela, she is fine.'
Yumiko sighed, "Why is it always those two you cuddle the most?"
"Are you jealous, Yumiko?"
"No way! I, I was just asking...because..." Her cheeks were bright red, her hands fidgeting on the large mug.
Asmodeus grabbed her waist with his right arm and pulled her close, letting her sweet breath, tainted by the mead, blow across his face before pecking her lips with a soft kiss. "Don't be jealous. You are my first and just as special."
"Hmph! Only because you met me first!" She complained but still enjoyed the sensation of him hugging her and kissing her.
"But I was not even thinking about girls back then, okay?" Asmodeus teased.
"Mm, that's true. I am the one that seduced you, hehe~ do you regret it?"
"How could I regret it, look at how beautiful you are, and I love your soft tails."
Asmodeus took out the tail wrapped around his wrist and stroked it, causing the girl in his embrace to shudder and moan. "Asmo, please don't play with my tail, or I won't be able to hold back."
"Really? You've only drank two mugs, and you are this bad? Such a weak little fox." His hand snatched the half-full cup of mead from her hands before downing the entire thing. A warm, spicy taste followed by the deliciously sweet fragrance of berries filled his mouth.
It was so strong that he began to understand why the two women were so strange. 'Ah... I can feel the alcohol even affecting me—what a fun evening this will be.'
After finishing the last drop in the mug, he placed the mug on the ground beside a barrel where several people would refill their cups. When he leaned back into the seat, he found that Vinea and Yumiko had both snuggled up beside him, their arms wrapped around him in an embrace, while the others were not too far.
Asmodeus enjoyed the people dancing, their faces bright as if those who were bleak and filled with depression were an illusion—even the lord's daughter was bright and sunny. Her lovely dress seemed to be made by one of the village widows who used to study tailoring in the capital of Grigor.
'In the end, is this place a village or a town?' Asmodeus wondered while drinking another mug of mead, the flavour of his drink this time not berries but citrus fruits and closer to a cider from his memories in the other world.
"These are pretty good, and the fruit makes them all so delicious. Maybe I'll have to have a garden just for producing these fruits in the future."
"That sounds nice, and we could try growing something together, hehehe~ Asmo, I want to kiss, kiss me, okay?"
He tilted Yumiko's chin and pressed his lips against the girl's. She smelled like flowers and tasted like honey and the mead that she drank. She moaned softly as her tongue was forced into his mouth, and she licked his teeth.
As he parted, he turned to the side and saw Vinea's face was a deep red, her breathing coming out with a gentle breath. Before she leaned close, and as if competing with Yumiko, she kissed him.
Her lips were soft and tasted even sweeter than Yumiko's, or maybe it was just the mead. Yet, she didn't seem to care.
Vinea had a shyness to her when compared to Yumiko, and her tongue was far more reserved and timid. It was clear that despite being an adult, the newly born demoness still had little to no experience with males.
'No... I believe she told me that I was her first kiss, in both human and demon form, I guess?'
"I'm not drunk~" Vinea giggled, a sweet laugh that made Asmodeus's heart melt and his lust become harder to control. Find exclusive tales at m-vl-em,pyr
He looked up and saw the starry skies, a sky so different from his previous life and felt a sense of relief from the constant stress in the capital. Asmodeus realised that each night spent with these wonderful women made his heart become more at ease.
'Slowly... the trauma and fears are melting away, like an icy lake in the middle of spring.'
Asmodeus sometimes felt this world was too kind to him, no matter how he suffered... to have the beautiful women beside him and then accept this situation and make him feel too grateful. No matter how much he gave them back, his heart always felt it was uneven.
Thus, he continued to cherish each of them as much as possible.
"Fufu~ Asmo's cheeks are red. Are you embarrassed or drunk~ I want to be your victim; come ~ make me suffer all night long~ darling." Yumiko's sweet voice became alluring as she wrapped herself around his body, her hand stroking his inner thigh while she licked her plump red lips with her pink tongue.
He could say nothing, nor did he refuse. Instead, he turned his head to look at Vinea, who was watching his face with her watery, longing eyes. "Don't I get a chance to become a victim too, My Lord?"
'In the future, you are still not ready... I have not yet grown strong enough to make sure you never have a chance to cry anymore.'
He smiled and nodded while reaching out to stroke her hair, his fingers caressing her cheeks as if he were a blind man. "I'll make you both my victims, but for tonight... Yumiko should prepare herself."
The young princess smiled and nodded. Her bright eyes were filled with anticipation, but she seemed happy and not disappointed.
"Then, I'll wait for you until you are ready to step into my heart, My Master~ thank you for giving me so much consideration and time."
Vinea separated from Asmodeus and stood up, stretching her body while showing a radiant smile, her body twisting to face him. "Lord Asmodeus, I am already too far gone to leave your side, so take good care of me, and please help me understand what it means to be your beloved woman."
The two of them shared a meaningful gaze before Vinea leaned forward and kissed his cheek, the thick scent of her perfume and warm breath flowing into his nostrils before she pulled away and headed towards their room.
With only Yumiko and Asmodeus remaining, the sound of the music and cheering began distant as the temptress climbed onto his lap and sat facing him.
"Mmm~ did you know?" Yumiko's hands grasped his and placed them against her bountiful, soft chest, his fingers sinking into her squishy round breasts. "You are already in my heart~ too far to leave. Hehe~ so, am I in yours?"
"Yumiko..." He knew what she was implying, and her face was so close, her lips curled into a sweet smile, and her eyes narrowed into a seductive expression.
"You're irreplaceable and have held an important place in mine since the moment I met you, Yumiko."