Once Asmodeus woke from his deep slumber, he and Velvet headed towards the meeting point. In their original plan, the two groups would meet at a small city just outside the forest border that was under a neutral trading city between the Beast Kingdoms and Grigor.
Although their kingdoms weren't close, they were still required to trade essential goods.
The town was called Baltimore City, a mixture of the stone architecture and wooden styles of the beastkin mixed to create a rather unique city.
'It's a good job that Alice gave me information about the city beforehand.' Asmodeus thought to himself, no longer wearing his mask and his long hair now dyed black and tied in a ponytail beside Velvet who used a magic item to change her features.
"Thankfully, we prepared for this the moment the church announced their desires. Alice and I have gathered enough funds to start. However, after that, we need to register with the guild again and apply for a multi-nation licence." Velvet's rough and sexy voice, like a sweet whisper, sounded inside Asmodeus's ear.
He then closed his eyes, waiting for the line at the gate to shorten.
"I see—these things would be something I forgot about. Do you know where Alice said to meet? Because we are a few days late."
"Ah, don't worry. We have a special tool that vibrates when we get close."
"No problem, then I'll follow you."
Velvet seemed to dislike long conversations and pointless questions. So once he got the answers he needed, Asmodeus became quiet. Their place in the queue slowly approached the front. The walls were made of a dull grey stone with a medieval feeling, and several archers roamed them with irritated faces.
"Greetings, may I ask your business in Baltimore?" A middle-aged guard with old leather and iron armour asked Velvet and Asmodeus in a calm and collected tone. The guard beside him was just as old, with fading brown hair.
"We come from a small guild to join the guild and become adventurers," Velvet answered with a soft and feminine voice different from usual. Her eyes also wet with tears as she grasped the hand of Asmodeus.
"Oh?" The old man looked at their interlocked fingers, beat-up bodies wearing rather cheap armour and clothes, and nodded. "You both must have eloped, right? We get a lot of villagers and townsfolk who are forced into this path because of their feelings..."
"Ah?! How did you know my father wished for me to marry another man? Yet my beloved fought him in a duel and the other party refused to accept his loss, so we fled during the night and left behind everything."
"It's a common story, and many people flee to the southwest and into the neutral areas when this happens. Neither army can enter, and it makes for a great starting place for poor couples."
"I see~ please allow us to register at the guild and get identification, sir knight."
'Eh? What are this old man and Velvet talking about?' Asmodeus wondered. However, Velvet pushed herself against his arm, squeezing it between her ample breasts and leaning against his shoulder.
It seemed that Velvet was not only one of the strongest body-enhancing witches in the kingdom but a damn talented actress.
Asmodeus gave nothing away, thanks to his ability to control his facial muscles perfectly; even when shocked or confused, his face looked cold and handsome.
However, in reality, he was panicking and wondering what the hell she was doing, especially because she kissed his cheek just after speaking to the guards!
Velvet locked the door and shut the windows before she sat beside him on the enormous bed with a springy bounce.
"The owner must have the appraising skill. It's rare, but there are a few that can sense if someone is lying or trying to hide something. It's not as powerful as an actual detection spell, but it's good enough for these kinds of tasks. When her eyes shone green for a moment, I managed to intercept her skill and make her see something different, so don't worry. I made her believe a different version."
"What did she see?"
"You and I both with the title, Elopement"
"I-I see. This makes it easier for the guards to accept their mistake, I guess."
Velvet chuckled; her laugh was pleasant, like a festival bell singing to him. He wondered how they would know where Liana and Alice were, but a moment later, several people entered the room after pushing it open.
The women, of course very familiar.
"Ryuji~ you're okay?!" Yumiko's body was the first to fly into the room as she pushed his body down onto the bed, showering his face and lips with kisses, her nose sniffing his neck and cheeks because the scent of Velvet was too strongly intertwined with his body. She became jealous, her two tails fluffing up as she grasped his arms tight.
Then Erika and Ciela pushed in together, pulling Yumiko off his body and replacing her; one sexy dark elf on the left and a cute blonde on his right; both of the girls missed him greatly and worried after the scene in the sky.
"I missed you so much, Ryu—look at how handsome you are with this black hair and those huge muscles... This form feels so exotic and makes me really excited. Hehe~ let's have some fun, it's been horrible waiting for you!"
"Hmph! Ignore that lustful human, dear husband. It's your loving elf wife—don't you wish to sleep on my thighs while I make you feel a blissful release?"
"Heeeh~ what about me darling? Other than those women, you've never touched me directly. Come~ this lovely princess is all yours-- Aghu..."
Alice chopped her little niece's head before she walked over to Asmodeus. "Hero Asmodeus, I wonder how it feels to be free? Ah, don't worry about Anne—she is just exhausted and taking a rest after helping us reach this far."
"Asmodeus...?" Hearing Alice's words, the other three girls froze. They looked at him and his new features, but they soon understood—he had changed his figure and name, likely to avoid too much popularity and competition for other women.
"Well, we can discuss me later. How about we talk about the plan now? I feel we're still not in the safe zone yet. However, there is something in the forest I might need to hunt to grow stronger."
"Understood."
"No problem, lets have a pleasant drink and meal, then we can solve everything." Liana, recovering from her aunt's chop to the head, said while smiling at Asmodeus.
"Good idea! I want to drink whatever my husband chooses."
"Nn~ what about Sariel?" A cute voice sounded, her delicate hands rubbing her face as she floated from the hallway. They forgot to mention her earlier on purpose. Yet she hovered over and flopped on the lap of Asmodeus. "I want to drink Master's thick... delicious stuff."
Of course, she meant his mana, but the other girls instantly became stiff and turned their aggression towards the poor little succubus.