I walked through the city streets with Kishirika holding my hand, I knew she wouldn't run away as long as she had a debt to pay but I still couldn't risk anything.
"You know it's a little dangerous to go around the world looking for teleportation circles, right? That magic was banned centuries ago after the second human-demon war." She muttered with a frown.
"Yes, I know, that's why I need you. I can't say that I was actively looking for teleportation circles, but because of your age, you can say that you told me the location." I answered.
"Hmm... That sounds like a plan!" She muttered, scratching her cheek.
"Okay... But there's also something else I want to warn you about," he warned her.
"what is it?"
"I'm traveling with a Superd and his name is Ruigerd, do you know him by any chance?" I asked.
Kishirika immediately frowned as she stopped and stared at me.
"...Yes, I do know him. During Laplace's time, he and Badi fought on opposing sides and killed each other's comrades. They're not on good terms," she said with a sigh. But by then I was dead so I don't have any personal grudge against him, besides that was a long time ago hahaha! I'm sure Badi doesn't hold a grudge against him either!" She said while laughing which made me relax.
"...And can you tell me who this Badi is?" I asked as we continued walking.
"Hhmp! That's easy! He's my fiancé and his full name is Badigadi!" She said in a proud tone.
"I see, I would like to meet him someday" I replied and she just nodded in response.
...
"Rudy!" Sylphie said happily as she saw me enter the inn's bar.
I had activated my mana eye and my Superd eye to find them around the city and it was somewhat easy since they hadn't strayed too far from where we separated.
"I've arrived and I found someone important" I said while putting a hand on Kishirika's shoulder.
"Huh?" Sylphie muttered in confusion as she saw the girl with horns and a shark-like smile and looked at me in astonishment.
"Rudeus... You're back," Ruigerd said in an awkward tone, staring at Kishirika.
"I didn't think you had already been resurrected"
"Hmmm yeah, although I died a couple of times so I couldn't grow."
"...I see"
"Aha! And if you ask, I have no problem or grudge against you Ruigerd Superdia! What's done is done in the past! I hope you feel the same!" Kishirika and Ruigerd spoke in an unusually serious tone.
"II see... Thank you very much" Ruigerd responded in shock at the words of the demon empress who only smiled smugly at the end.
"But Rudeus... Where did you find it?" He asked looking at me.
"Well, it's a rather long story...or actually, not" I muttered and so I began to tell how I found her.
"eeeh?!, so she's an immortal demon from the time of Laplace?!!" Eris shouted with excitement startling Kishirika.
"Heh! Actually you're wrong! I've been alive since centuries before Laplace was even born!" She announced, proudly raising her chest.
"Haaah?! Incredible!!!" Eris continued to scream with excitement to the point that even Kishirika got nervous.
"Ahem!" I coughed loudly, drawing my team's attention.
"I didn't bring Kishirika here just to show off, I brought her here because she could help us with an easier and safer way to get home," I said.
"An easier way?...And what is it?" Hope asked suddenly, the expectation clear on her face.
"Yes, an easier way," I said, signaling everyone to come closer to me.
So I started telling about "everything" that I had been doing only making up the parts that Kishirika had told me about the teleportation circle and that she would guide us to it as a way to repay a favor she owes me.
Mixed reactions were not long in coming, Eris seemed totally excited to use teleportation magic just like Sylphie but in a more hidden way.
Hope, on the other hand, was skeptical, as was Ruigerd.
"Teleportation circle?... Wasn't it similar magic that brought us here in the first place?..."
"I thought all the teleportation circles had been destroyed centuries ago... Is there really one still in use?"
"I believe in Kishirika" I said and the others remained silent.
'Shit... Alpha's influence on the system is no joke!'
"I believe there are still teleportation circles out there. No one would ever discard such good magic just because, and if it's used for our benefit, so be it."
"...I will abide by your decision," Ruigerd said with a slight smile.
"If Rudeus says it's safe then I'll go too" Hope murmured blushing.
Sylphie glanced at her mother and Eris nudged her slightly, causing her to lower her head in shame.
'how cute!'
"And where does that teleportation circle lead to, Rudy?" Sylphie suddenly asked, making everyone stare at me.
"It's in the forest outside Millis, isn't it, Kishirika?" I muttered, looking at the horned girl out of the corner of my eye.
"Huh?...Oh! Yes, yes! That circle will take them to Millis, skipping a long and tedious journey!!" She said slightly confused.
"Ah Millis?!!! That... That would save us a year of travel!!!" Hope said excitedly and Ruigerd smiled slightly.
"Indeed," I smiled with satisfaction, "and with Kishirika here she will be able to guide us to other teleportation circles that will make our work much easier!" I said while putting a hand on her shoulder.
"eh... Hehe yeah..." Kishirika laughed nervously but then pulled my hand looking at me anxiously.
"Can we talk privately please?" She whispered in my ear and I frowned.
"Okay, we'll all leave tomorrow, get your rooms and rest, I'll be back in a few moments," I said and everyone nodded.
Also, I think everyone in the group considers me the leader, although I don't complain.
I walked with Kishirika out of the inn to an alley behind her and stared at her.
"I... I can't accompany you on your journey..." She murmured, avoiding looking at me.
"Huh?...and why?" I asked confused.
"When the second human-demon war ended, Laplace's warriors implanted a curse on me... In short, I can't leave the demonic confinement or I'll die and never be able to revive..." She muttered heavily and I frowned.
'That really complicates things...'
"And you haven't looked for a way to seal your curse?" I asked.
"Haaa... No, the only ones who knew were Laplace's men, but they died before I resurrected..." Kishirika's tone was discouraged as she shrugged her shoulders.
*Ding!*
[Seduce Kishirika!]
[reward: curse suppression knowledge!]
"..." I didn't even react to the system's mission and just massaged my temples.
"This really complicates things..." I muttered with a grimace as I approached Kishirika.
"You must have had a really bad time all these years, right? Being mistreated like this and not being able to leave this arid and ugly place..." I whispered in her ear while hugging her.
But inside I was screaming.
"e-eh?!!" She squealed in surprise, tensing up instantly.
"Y-yes... It's b-been hard..." She murmured, reciprocating the hug and burying her face in my chest.
*Ding!*
[Kishirika's affection increased to 15%!]
[A person I can trust...]
"..." I hate this...
"I think I have an idea on how to break your curse," I said, taking her hand and caressing it.
"A-an idea?...h-how?" She murmured blushing, squeezing my hand reflexively.
I looked into her eyes with a smile and kissed her hand making her blush even more.
*Ding!*
[Kishirika's affection increased to 30%!]
[T-this is wrong! I'm already engaged!]
"Yes, I have some knowledge on how to cancel curses, and I really need your help, please, let me help you" I said while gently caressing his cheek.
"I..." She hesitated, looking away with a weak smile on her face.
"A-are you trying to win my heart?...b-because if that's the case... I must tell you that I-I already have a f-fiancé!" She squealed blushing but without moving away from me.
"But he's not here right now, right?"
"n-no..." She whispered.
"And your fiancé is also a demon?"
"y-yes...his name is Badigadi, I already told you!"
"And why hasn't he tried to find a way to cure your curse?" I asked as my hand moved to caress her lips.
"e-eh?...W-Well that was because he..." She tried to refute but remained silent and looked down in embarrassment.
*Ding!*
[Kishirika's affection increased to 50%!]
[I-is this really happening?!]
We were silent for several minutes as Kishirika held my hand firmly and looked at the ground.
"O-okay... Please help me" she mumbled at the end and I smiled.
'just in case...'
Take your cheeks with both hands and bring your face closer to mine.
She realized what he was planning and closed her eyes in anticipation.
"mmm~..." I kissed her softly on her lips and surprisingly she didn't have bad breath.
I kissed her for about two minutes until we separated due to lack of air.
"Haaa... Haa.... " She gasped as she looked at me with a weak smile.
"s-so?..." She muttered "w-what are we now?" Her eyes were slowly generating tears
"Whatever you want us to be," I replied, stroking her head.
"I-I've been engaged to Badi for 400 years... But he rarely comes to the Demon Continent..." She said sadly "If you can break my curse... then I'll be yours..." She muttered.
*Ding!*
[Kishirika's affection increased to 80%!]
[I'll leave Badi alone for you...]
Ding!*
[Seduce Kishirika!]
[reward: curse suppression knowledge!]
[Managing the knowledge to the bearer, please wait a few moments...]
"Well..." I murmured slowly as the flood of knowledge washed over me.
Suppression magic... Curse-nullifying magic...
Right now I felt like an Uzumaki! And my Kyuby would be Orsted hahaha!!
"I-is something wrong?..." Kishirika asked timidly, taking me out of my thoughts.
"No, it's nothing, I just think I have an idea of how to proceed," I said "Let's go back to the inn," I said and she nodded.
Night came quickly, for some reason I ended up between Sylphie and Eris in a bed.
Hope, Ruigerd and Kishirika went to the next room to the disappointment of both but I couldn't object to that.
Right now I was in a Green and Blue sandwich while trying to figure out ways on how I could undo Kishirika's curse.
"No...No Rudy, you can't drink that..." Sylphie mumbled in her sleep with a silly smile as she snuggled closer to me.
'What an adorable little girl!' was all I could think as I hugged her tightly.
Tomorrow I'll have to work on finding a way for Kishirika to join us...but first I'll have to warn everyone about the recent events...
With this thought I opened the ring panel and started sending messages.
...
[??? Pov]
I opened my eyes in this blank space that now seems so familiar to me.
The first time I appeared here I thought I was dead, after all I was ambushed along with my group by enemy mercenaries and I barely managed to escape.
"Hello! Happy to see me?!" The being in white spoke with a terrifying smile, but it still calmed me to see him.
"Yes, what do you need?" I asked cautiously.
Since he is a god, I must know my position as a mere mortal.
"Hehe, relax, buddy. First, I want to know how you've been. I've been busy and haven't been able to keep an eye on you," he said with a big smile, and I instinctively smiled back.
"We finally arrived in Millis, and we're already looking for the woman you told me about, but according to reports, she has some kind of ring that gives her powers and is also very elusive..." I murmured slowly.
The smile on Hitogami's face widened slightly, and then he gave a weak sigh.
"I see... then I think you should go confront her. I don't think she'll be much of a challenge for you," he said, and I blinked in surprise.
"Me? Does she really warrant my presence?" I murmured, confused.
"You yourself said she was troublesome. Besides, most of your group are advanced swordsmen, right? So she should be repelled and detained before she reaches Millis!" he said, clapping lightly.
"Hmm..." I stroked my chin lightly.
The last group sent after her included six advanced God Swordsmen...
It wouldn't be unreasonable.
"Fine, I'll go," I said determinedly.
"Excellent!" Hitogami responded with a smile that made me sigh in relief.
"But you must follow your own advice and be careful, my friend! You mustn't hold back against her, much less let her reach the capital of Millis!" He said in a stern tone that made me gulp.
"I-I understand," I said without asking any more questions.
"Fine, also, you must remember that under no circumstances should you kill her. Only wound her or knock her out, anything but death!" With those last words, my consciousness faded, and I opened my eyes in my now-familiar room.
I looked to my side and saw my two wives, each sleeping, hugging me tightly. A smile spread across my face.
"Haaa..." A sigh of satisfaction escaped my mouth as I slowly got out of bed. I changed my clothes and went down to the first floor of the inn, where I met up with my team, who bowed to me upon seeing me.
"Chief!" Arthur's voice echoed through the inn as he slammed the door.
I crossed my arms, turning serious.
"What's wrong?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"The woman! She's been spotted in the forest about three kilometers from the city!"
I immediately tensed, grabbed my sword, and mounted my trusty steed.
"I'll attack first! We mustn't let her set foot in this city!" I shouted, and so my group and I set off outside the city.