“Ho Ho,” Sun Wukong smiled in interest.

“What are you planning, monkey king?” Sun Wukong’s expression annoyed Alkrasha as she senses a foreboding feeling from it. She then resolves herself to fight the monster king till one last standing.

“Nothing,” Sun Wukong answered with a playful tone.

“Seeing that he’s your man, then as a gift for your new enthronement, I will respect your wishes of secrecy upon this matter.”

!?

But, as obvious as it was, Alkrasha certainly didn’t believe her and even heightened her vigilance even more.

“What are you planning?!” This time, her voice became even more forceful.

“You should learn to trust charming people like me more…” As if offended by the lack of trust, Sun Wukong displayed a downcast expression as if she was hurt.

“… In fact, I wouldn’t do anything even without your interference. Although he’s certainly a dangerous demon, however, I’ve already left my identity as a demon hunter and currently enjoying an idle life.”

Though, I’m certainly interested in him, but for another reason…

“Liar!”

It was rejected immediately.

“H- How rude. Why would I lie?” Sun Wukong displayed a shocked expression due to Alkrasha’s merciless rejection.

“If the infamous monkey king says that she wasn’t thinking anything about matters like this, then the world would become a more peaceful place!”

“That’s harsh!”

"I just wanted to find out what your true intentions are," Alkrasha said in a sharp tone.

A spine chilling killing intent overflowed from the surroundings.

"How scary... But regrettably, the open matter has already been settled. This old Sun will be heading back home now. So, let us meet again if willed by fate."

Alkrasha looked at Sun Wukong with a glare. She was trying to find any clue from her eyes and expression but sadly, she couldn’t find any…

Letting out a sigh, Alkrasha choose to give up.

"… Very well, but monkey king, I warned you again, if you dare touch my husband then you shall become my enemy!”

If the Insect Queen were to pursue using godlike speed, she would surely stop the monkey king from escaping. However, the problem is the monkey king’s power.

Among the Monster Kings, Alkrasha had heard that Monkey King’s power is one of the highest and could even be said to be the strongest. Although she was confident of her strength, against her she was not confident enough to win.

Knowing that the cold reply of the Insect Queen implied that she had no intention of giving chase, Handsome Monkey King, Sun Wukong flew into the sky, enveloped in golden light.

"What a waste of a trip... That said, the strength of this monkey called the Great Sage Equaling Heaven really was too abnormal. What was the source of all that power?"

Watching the infamous monkey king depart, Alkrasha muttered to herself.

Although Monkey King is a rascal and mischievous, since she had given her words, Alkrasha has no choice but to believe in it. Even if she turned back on her words, Alkrasha was still prepared to go all out—

Ending her contemplation here, Alkrasha shrugged her shoulders.

It was pointless to dwell any further on a concluded incident. If another similarly alarming situation were to arise in the future, just start gathering information all over again...

Alkrasha looked towards the city where her beloved person was and couldn’t help but sighed in regret.

At this moment, a golden bug flew down and landed on her shoulder.

It was the [ Golden Dragon Bug ] Allen had seen before.

“I know, although it pains me as much, for now, I had some important things to do first. Allen’s existence wouldn’t bypass the other kings' attention so I need to do now is to divert them to something else.”

Alkrasha muttered with a bitter smile. She then turned for the last time and with a faint smile, she said, “…I missed you too…”

After saying so, casting another look at that place, Alkrasha disappeared from her position.

---- ---

Allen woke up.

He was in the middle of this dark small room. Looking around, he noticed that the room was worn down filled with cracks and holes. Even the roof had already disappeared and was instead replaced by a makeshift roof made from a plastic looking cover that looked like a blanket.

“Why… am I sleeping at such a place?”

He murmured to himself, tilting his head.

This obviously wasn’t his room.

His body was as heavy as a lead block, for he was sleeping on a hard place. It did not seem as if he had just napped at all.

When he looked down on my own body, he saw that a bandaged was wrapped around his chest region to his abdomen.

“Ah, right, I was fighting that Qilin the other day wasn’t I?”

--- ---

The battle with the Qilin took place the day before yesterday.

After the battle, he coolly left the place but then suddenly remembered that he has nowhere to go. His house ( Ye Yuesheng’s house ) has already turned into pieces of rubbles. But embarrassed to return back after leaving with a cool behavior, he kept on walking around until he found a clean area under a huge tree.

After short seconds of resting there, Unable to fight the eyes that were slowly closing on their own, Allen lost consciousness. Fortunately, Mia and the others had followed him.

Allen slept like a log for almost an entire day and when he woke up, he saw Mia’s face. As he came to, he felt a warm and soft sensation on the back of his head.

He noticed that he was resting on Mia’s lap.

“Are you okay?” she said. She was looking at him with a gentle smile. On the other side were Tang Yu, Ye Yuesheng, and Raya, wearing worried expressions.

Looking at this scene, Allen couldn’t help but express happiness while nodding his head with a smile. Indicating that he was okay.

It was originally going to be a restful and relaxing night, spent to recover his battle wounds—a leisure night like that.

But he never expected to receive a fierce scolding from Mia who was wearing a gentle expression to the point that both his mind and body felt bared to the bones.

Still, he tried his best.

But Mia despite wearing a feminine expression, her response was still cold.

"So that's how it is. From Allen’s point of view, as long as all things go according to your plan then you would never say anything to me – ”

“But I’m fine! Alright.”

“How’s that ‘All right’ ?! That monster almost killed you, didn’t it?!”

“That’s…”

And so on and so on…

However, it still hadn't finished.

"Is that how....... Allen, is this excuse your idea? Don't you feel it's rather ridiculous?"

"... ..."

"Such unrealistic, convenient reasons should be moderated at least. Don't think that some nonsense excuse could fool me."

Not a single way out was offered. Even Ye Yuesheng started feeling sorry for Allen after listening to her.

Tang Yu, on the other hand, was harshly berated when she tried defending her young master. In front of Mia’s nuclear-like anger, she could only tuck her tail and glared silently on the side.

Raya was wise enough to keep her silence and watched the scene like a spectator.

“What the heck happened to you? What’s with these horns? This tail? Just what the hell happened after a short few months when I’m not here?!”

But since Allen didn’t also know what happened to him, he could never explain anything. How could he say that it just happened all of a sudden? What the heck is that? It’s like saying, ‘Oh this? This is just natural, it means I had climbed the stairs of adulthood!’ if Mia didn’t smack him, she would surely throw him in the sea!

Thus, the result was three continuous hours of cold, non-stop scolding; he really learned his lesson in full this time.

Face to face with the beautiful yet harsh girl, alone with just the two of them, the entire time had felt like he was sitting on needles......

Mia ended up being cold the entire night, her words filled with barbs.

Despite this, Allen was very thankful that she cared for him over so many little details.

Sometimes when her words ended, she would ask Allen about his body's condition.

"Are you really...... alright? Though your body is really strong and different from usual people but isn't there still a chance of something going wrong?...... it's hard to believe that you're already almost recovered, just completely abnormal in every way, but such a weird thing only happens because you're an absurd person like that!"

She berated him with seeming anger.

Though it wasn't very frank, Allen knew it was because she worried over him.

“Please, I’m begging you be careful!!”

—So no matter how angry or how cold she was to him, it was all a sign of consideration to Allen.

Thinking this way, Allen bowed and apologized seriously even at the end of all the scolding.

Fortunately, just like how night passed by while the sun rises brilliantly, the harsh scolding ended as to let Allen had a peaceful rest.

With all this and done, everything had turned up all right.

--- ---

His head hurt. His body was still dull and lack of strength.

As he was recalling his memories, at this moment,

“Don’t go wild….”

A clear, beautiful voice rang could be heard from behind, ringing his head that was yet to be fully awake.

Allen’s body swayed lightly as he opened his eyes with a, “Hmm?”

At this moment, he finally noticed a warm and soft sensation.

Someone was gently stroking his head and it felt really pleasant…. who was it?

He opened his eyelids and reflected in his eyes were two voluminous swellings, brilliant blonde hair, and a kind expression.

After he stared at her, he looked around perplexed. Upon that his drowsy eyes regained their usual sharpness. “…Mia?”

The warm sensation of soft, yet firm thighs and Mia’s considerable breasts that blocked one fourth of his vision, Allen called out the name of the lovable girl looking at him from above.

“Mh? You came to?”

Mia peered at him and asked with a worried expression.

“How do you feel?”

“Eh? A- Ah, fine, I guess…”

Her sky dyed eyes as if made from precious stones were staring right at him.

“Why do I always found myself sleeping in your lap whenever I woke up? Did you like giving lap pillow to someone?”

Mia smiled: “Not to someone, but to you. As If I’m going to give anyone other than you an enviable and heaven inducing jealousy thing like this?! They should be happy that I didn’t throw them into the sea or hack them into pieces.”

Mia’s tone was joking but her expression was, on the contrary, very serious. With a flushed face, she concluded, “… I will only do something like this to you…”

Allen smiled unmeant. “Hey, what an honor.”

Allen looked around for a moment and then, “… Where're the others?” Just before he fell asleep, he remembers Ye Yuesheng, Tang Yu, and Raya staying beside him, taking care of him.

But now, he couldn’t see even their shadows.

“That woman called Ye Yuesheng and that Arachnid was outside, helping with organizing things and cleaning the rubbles. They started fixing some broken houses though others need rebuilding from scratch.”

Allen scratched his cheek awkwardly. Well, he was responsible for destroying them though, only half. The other half should be the Qilin’s fault.

That’s right, that should be it!

“As for that self-proclaimed little servant of yours, she left looking for medical herbs inside the forest. She said that there should be some good herbs for you in there…”

“I see,” Allen rested his cheeks on Mia’s thigh and closed his eyes.

Then suddenly his head was petted. The sensation of smooth fingertips and a warm palm. It was, without doubt, pleasant, but

“… Don’t you have something to say to me …?” Mia suddenly said.

Allen cocked his head in puzzlement. Something? What?

“Sorry…?”

“Idiot.” Mia pinched Allen’s cheek while pouting.

“… That’s not it. I couldn’t say anything last night since my temper took hold of me but, you know that I’m quite thinking of you, all this time…”

“Hm? Oh?”

Allen asked back in surprise when Mia nodded with a smile.

“Is that so,” Allen smiled.

He then raised his right hand towards Mia’s face, gently caressing it. As if stroking a very fragile thing, Allen’s touch was soft and gentle.

Smiling, she entrusted her cheek into his palm. Then she placed her own hand on top of his and closed her eyes.

Allen put more strength in his hand and slowly took Mia’s face towards his. Obediently, Mia leaned in closer to him so their lips were very close. He could taste her breath. He could smell her perfume. She opened her eyes and stared deep into his eyes.

Mia continued to look fascinated at him.

She slowly leaned closer, sending her red lips up.

Allen didn’t budge, “I missed you too.” He said, as his hand cupped her head and drew her towards him.

“More than me?” she asked, then felt his lips touched hers, giving her a quick kiss.

Mia was looking at Allen’s face with slightly red cheeks, but then suddenly an adorable smile bloomed on her face and once again she leaned in and kissed him full on the lips with her tongue probing deep into his mouth.

When Mia bent to kiss Allen, she somehow noticed his eyes drift to her slightly protruding chest, then realized she actually didn’t care at all.

In fact, she wanted him to look, wanted him to desire her, to want her.

“Do you want me?” Mia’s fragrant tongue emerged from her mouth gently licking her rosy lips. And her sky blue eyes fixated invitingly on Allen’s shy and eager expression.

She looked at him eagerly.

With such sexy lips, what kind of man wouldn’t kiss you! Allen was already breathing heavily, with the fragrance from Mia’s rising chest strongly stimulating him.

However, he still shook his head. Even though he wanted her, but not now, not on this broken, messy place.

Their first time should be in a grander, much beautiful place. Although he can’t see himself as romantic, he still wanted to think himself as a gentleman.

For Mia, that thing should be done in proper way.

“Hmm, okay.” Mia didn’t argue and just enjoyed herself in their kiss. Although she’s a bit disappointed, she was a proper woman with class. She also found it appalling to do it in this kind of place, and besides, Allen doing this to her meant that he was not against it anymore.

This is a good sign!

Allen broke the kiss and looked at Mia with a wry smile, “… Could it be, you’re sexually frustrated?”

Allen asked with a joking tone.

“Of course not,” Mia shook her head in denial. Petting Allen’s hair lovingly, Mia’s cheeks were a bit flushed.

“… However,”

Mia murmured with great feeling as she reached out to Allen’s cheek.

Then she pinched it hard.

"Ouch! What are you doing!?" Allen cried out in pain.

Mia began pouting on a rare occasion. Her well-shaped eyebrows were creased into a frown and her cheeks were slightly puffed out.

That expression of hers was rather cute. Allen had these out of place thoughts, as Mia said dejectedly.

“Lately, you are leaving me out of things, Allen.”

“Eh? Really?”

Allen had no memory of occasions like that, but Mia replied with a “You are” and pressed her lips together tightly.

“Alkrasha’s matter, no, before that, that teacher Grace of yours and now, this single mother, China woman, Ye Yuesheng and your little servant, Tang Yu…”

“Th- That was, you know things happened… acquaintances from our previous lives. I wasn’t really leaving you out of it….”

Allen tried to explain, as Mia stared at him.

Letting out a sigh, Mia continued: “… That is why, in exchange for absolution from me, this little punishment is nothing, so stop complaining... Or perhaps in consideration for the future, it'd be best if I stab you once instead?"

Completely ignoring Allen’s protest, Mia pondered seriously.