Tens of demons knelt around a small house that was sitting on a mountain range, each of them with heads that were slightly lowered. One of them, however, was standing up straight and reporting their recent endeavours, which had been successful over and over again.

Everyone’s eyes, however, were not fixed on that demon. No, they were fixed on the person that was occupying a dainty little seat in front of the cottage, and these gazes were beginning to make that person feel a tad uncomfortable.

“That’s all we have, my lord.” The demon returned to a kneeling position, and the Demon Sovereign suppressed an inward shudder. Gemini, who had taken up the Demon God’s earnest wish to save the demons of the Wildlands, didn’t like how everyone else was showing him utter subservience…even those that had previously encircled and fought him.

“Good work,” Gemini replied, his left hand reaching out to hold Lila’s own. Lila, who was standing beside him, was harbouring a very healthy fear of the Exemplars and Demigods kneeling around the cottage, so she took his hand gladly.

It was times like this when they could mutually support each other, but that didn’t mean he was enjoying the reasons why they had to support each other in the first place.

“As planned, we have managed to significantly delay any encroachment of the Five Lands’ forces. For that reason alone, everyone here deserves a reward.” Gemini raised a hand, his divine sense sweeping out and entering the bodies of everyone present.

Within his Divine Kingdom, Gemini could see imperfections in their souls, as if someone had bitten a chunk out of them. He didn’t understand what those missing chunks meant, but it was probably a side-effect of the Demon God trying to turn them insane.

That didn’t account for why Lila had such an imperfection too, but that was the best theory he had so far.

His little gesture nourished their incomplete souls by a tiny bit, but it was enough to make Gemini feel some exhaustion within him. After taking a moment to recover, the Demon Sovereign looked up at the kneeling Exemplars and Demigods and sighed.

“How goes the evacuation of our people?” Gemini asked.

“As ordered, the northern half of the Wildlands have been evacuated. At the same time, the construction of shelters to house those refugees have been sped up,” another demon reported.

“Good, good. Continue as ordered, but where possible, do not kill the attackers. Injure them, but no killing,” Gemini replied. “That way, we will drain the invaders and pull them down into a long, protracted war. Any reports about someone who wants to negotiate yet?”

“No, my lord.”

Gemini sighed, and shook his head. “Alright, we’re done for today. Pai-Relix, stay back for a moment.”

The demons kneeling in front of his little house got up as one, bowed in a synchronised movement and began to leave. The Demigods simply flew away, while the Exemplars pushed off the mountains, propelling themselves into the vast prairie below.

Only one person remained behind. Despite her confident countenance, Gemini could tell that Pai-Relix was nervous. She was taller than both Lila and him, but within his Divine Kingdom, the Demon Sovereign could roughly read minds.

“Lord, what do you need me for?”

Gemini smiled and got up from his chair, Lila following close behind. “I heard from the others that you are a particularly good parent. I have come to ask you for advice and tips.”

“Parent?” Pai-Relix stiffened up. “Lord, surely you realise that when I was beset by that fell madness—”

“That was not your fault,” Gemini interrupted. “And your descendants…they’re still very much alive and well. Last I checked, they were studying in a recently-built school.”

“They’re alive?” Pai-Relix jerked. “I thought I killed—”

“You’re a demon…and it seems that at the crucial moment, your killing intent wavered,” Gemini replied. “You could never commit hissatsu against children, especially your own. Much like everyone else, it seems. The Demon God had some foresight; the madness he induced within you only served to separate you from your family for a small while.”

“But you and everyone else still owe your children a really enormous apology, though.” Lila clicked her tongue. “Fortunately, you guys still had enough instincts to not end your kids permanently.”

“Lord…”

“Alright. Anyway, once all this is over, remember to get the others to find me. The Demon God respawned everyone’s kids into a blood pool at the southernmost edge of the Wildlands — that bastard at least had some conscience — and they’ve been living rather comfortably ever since.” Gemini rubbed his nose.

To be honest, he hadn’t expected the World’s Blight to actually have the presence of mind to do something like that. From what he knew, the Demon God was already fighting a losing battle against insanity, so…

He cleared his throat. “Anyway, there are some things I need to ask you about.”

“Please ask me anything.”

“Well…” Gemini looked at Lila, who smiled. “My child keeps crying whenever I carry her. Is there anything I can do about that? She likes to hold my finger, and giggles when I play games with her, but when I carry her…”

Pai-Relix blinked twice. “Your child?”

“Yes.” Gemini puffed out his chest. “Come on, I’ll bring you to see her. She’s really adorable!”

Leading the way into the cottage, which was sparsely decorated save for the very luxurious cot in the middle, the Demon Sovereign gestured at the sleeping Aria, who was sucking her thumb. “See? Isn’t she just the most adorable thing ever?”

“I think my kids are more adorable, but that’s my opinion,” Pai-Relix replied.

“You’re free to hold your own opinion, but I’m the boss here.” Gemini sniffed, prompting Lila to laugh.

After a minute or two of staring at the cot, Pai-Relix cleared her throat. “I can’t exactly pinpoint the problem here, since she’s sleeping. Carry her up for me to see. Maybe you’re doing it wrong.”

“If it’s an issue with my technique, Lila would have spotted it long ago…” Shaking his head, Gemini carried her up anyway. Immediately, as if on cue, Aria woke up. Her gleaming eyes looked around for a moment, before they scrunched up.

“See?” Gemini handed Aria over to Lila helplessly, and the little bundle stopped crying immediately.

“At this point, I think she’s playing games with you,” Lila observed wryly.

“No, it can’t be!”

“Try it again,” Pai-Relix replied. “I’ll use all my senses this time.”

Aria wailed once more as she entered Gemini’s embrace, and after returning her to Lila, Gemini held out a finger to the baby. Aria reached out immediately and held it close, proving that she actually wasn’t scared of him.

“Even my lord has nothing on babies, I see.”

“He’s been troubled over this as much as the war,” Lila added. “Unbelievable, really.”

“Alright, enough about that. Any ideas?”