Kai was able to go many times over the speed of sound, though he couldn't do it before because if he had, the demons would have been alerted by him. Gusion lent him a dragon and in just a few days, Kai had arrived at Goetia. The first thing he did was contact Erina and the others and they all met up in the Illusion World.

Though Yoko and Natsumi's groups weren't here, they had also gotten word of Kai's presence and were heading towards Goetia as fast as they could.

"Kai!" "Master!"

Erina jumped at him and refused to let go. Angie was also clinging to his waist like he would just disappear if she let go. Kei and Date stood back and only after Erina and Angie were satisfied did they charge at Kai.

"You unlocked your Innate Abilities?!"

Kai was surprised. He knew that everyone present would be able to unlock their Innate Abilities eventually but to think that they had unlocked them this early. This meant that there were now three people with abilities that could shake the world.

Now, he felt safer leaving them alone.

"Kei, what ability did you get?"

"「Berserk」."

Kai nodded, it was in line with what he knew from the future.

"When you master that ability, you'll be able to retain your sanity while using it. In exchange, you won't be able to use magic. I don't know if you'll be able to surpass your former self but..."

Kai held Kei's shoulder.

"I believe in you."

"You better."

Kei laughed.

"Erina, yours is 「Stasis」, right?"

Suddenly, Erina vanished from her spot and appeared next to Kai. She kissed him on the cheek before disappearing and reappearing once more.

"..."

Using an Innate Ability that was as strong as hers was exhausting. Just the time it took for her to walk back and forth like that should feel like a normal person suddenly sprinting without any prior preparation.

He could see that her breathing turned irregular but the smile on her face was the same as ever.

"Kai, I just realized but I haven't asked this before. What's your Innate Ability?"

Date asked. Kai had said that he wouldn't tell them about their future abilities because it might make them unable to acquire it. But, that shouldn't be the same for Kai as he should already know his in the first place.

"Ah... that. Well, I don't have one."

"Huh?"

Date blinked twice.

"What do you mean?"

"I've never unlocked my Innate Ability so I don't even know if I have one."

"..."

It was an unexpected answer. Everyone was surprised.

"Then, we all fought in the future using our abilities but you didn't?"

"Nn. Yeah, that's right."

Erina leaned forward.

"Why haven't you unlocked it?"

Although Kai had given them his memories, they were only memories of his time with them. Not only that, he could only give memories he recalled. As far as Erina saw, she couldn't see anything related to his Innate Ability.

"Well, again, we don't even know if I have one. One in a hundred thousand people will have an Innate Ability and of them, only a few would actually be able to unlock their potential and use their ability. It often happens in extreme situations or when their emotions heighten to a certain point...

Though if that was the case then my ability should have long since been unlocked."

Kai explained.

"I guess that makes sense."

Date couldn't say anything else. Whenever Kai talked about Innate Abilities, he always made it sound like that they were absolutely necessary for the future but if he was alright with not having one, then there was nothing else to say. Even with their Innate Abilities, none of them thought they could hold a candle against Kai, after all.

"Hm?"

Kai looked at Erina and frowned.

"Erina, why did you lose more of your lifespan?"

"Ah.. well..."

Erina awkwardly scratched her cheek and began to recount the events from when she unlocked her ability. She had used her abilities at the cost her lifespan but with it, they managed to defeat Mars and escape.

Kai scratched his head. He couldn't scold her because she did what she could. If she hadn't staked her life on it, there was no way they would've been able to escape an SS-class with just them alone. It was likely that Mars was even as strong as Kai.

He held her by the back of her neck and kissed her forehead. Considering that he was an entire head taller, it was easy.

"You did well."

Erina couldn't help but smile foolishly.

"Well then, should we talk about what we're supposed to do now?"

With that, all of them headed to the Illusion World where Akane was waiting for them. No matter where they went, so long as it wasn't here, there was always a chance they could be overheard.

After all, this was a place made by his grandfather.

"We've established contact with the Neutral Faction and they said that they're interested in working with us. They want to meet you for the specifics."

"I didn't think that you guys would be able to make contact with a faction all on your own..."

Even Kai suffered trying to contact the Hostile Faction. And, in a sense, the Neutral Faction was even harder to contact than the Hostile Faction. For one, their members were way less than the latter.

The Hostile Faction outnumbered the Peaceful Faction and heavily outnumbered the Neutral Faction. That was the reason that the demons were so fierce before. Still, demons wouldn't disrupt the chain of command.

If the upper echelons of the Hostile Faction were to side with the humans in the war, or at least cease their aggression, any would voice their objections, but they wouldn't dare reject.

"So the representative... Amanda Heidel Dominucus asked to meet me in person?"

It was an unfamiliar name, she must've been in the Demon Continent or had already died by the time the war started. After all, the Hostile Faction had slaughtered most of the Peaceful and Neutral Faction members when they assassinated the Queen.

"Kai, don't underestimate her."

Erina suddenly warned him. It was rare for her to warn him about a girl and not follow it up with something to make him look bad.

"Did something happen?"

She crossed her arms, closed her eyes, and began grumbling while tilting her head to the side slightly.

"No, how do I put it... I just feel like something's going to happen with her, I guess?"

It looked like even she didn't know why she was thinking that way.

"Well, it's not that bad to be cautious."

Kai decided to listen to her advice and be cautious when it was time for the meeting.

A few hours later, Kai had gone to one of the Neutral Faction's many bases. It didn't take long for them to accommodate him and soon, he was in front of an office door.

When it opened, Kai saw a demon woman standing behind a desk. If Kai were to just sum up what she looked like, it would be "perfect". One look at her caused Kai to stare. Even though he was constantly exposed to the charm of many attractive women, and he had no shortage of time with them, just looking at the one in front of her made his heart race.

Her eyelashes were long, and her eyes were a fiery red. Just looking into her eyes made him feel like he was being enveloped in flames that heated his body up.

He had thought of Amelia as a temptress, one look at her gave him desires that he normally didn't have. However, even Amelia paled in comparison to the charm that the woman, Amanda had.

Her body was perfect, it curved at the right places and accented where it should. Even if Kai were to be given days to come up with anything she could add to herself, there would be nothing.

But, above it all, was the atmosphere around her.

If it was just looks, then Kai could understand. But, the atmosphere around her made it hard for him to breathe, but it wasn't like the time with Gusion.

"Hmm?"

Amanda looked at Kai strangely.

"I have heard that I am meeting with the leader of the humans but... I believe I have not received any information about your name. May I inquire as to what it is?"

Even her voice was wonderful.

Kai shook his head to get rid of his thoughts and answered.

"Kai. Kuroshi Kai. I trust that you're Miss Amanda Heidel Dominicus?"

Amanda nodded.

"Then, Sir Kai. I believe it's best that we get down to business."

She gestured for him to sit at the sofa to the side. Even her mannerisms were absolutely perfect, how could such a person exist? Kai asked himself the question over and over and it took all he had not to show any interest.

'...Was this what Erina meant?'

No, it couldn't be. And, if her beauty was this overwhelming, how come Arata and the others weren't smitten by her? It should be impossible...

"My apologies for asking, but are you perhaps feeling unwell? We may postpone the meeting if your condition isn't..."

"No, I'm fine. Thank you for asking."

After hearing Kai's answer, Amanda sat down.

"Mhm, the matter we have to talk about isn't very complicated. I just wish to discuss the same terms I had talked about with your other members..."

Like she promised, they didn't talk about anything complicated. She just had to clarify matters such as their intentions for being in the continent among other things.

"Now then, I believe there is something you would like to ask of me."

"...You've noticed?"

"The glances you've given me aren't anything a normal business partner does."

Kai shrugged.

"I would like to ally with the Neutral Faction."

"...We've talked about this matter already, but it seems that that's not what you're implying."

Amanda leaned forward, showing her interest.

"An alliance with the human race."

Kai spoke and Amanda frowned.

"...An alliance with a few humans is one thing, but the entire human race, you say? I'm sorry, but I don't believe I've followed the conversation quite clearly. Is there any reason for us to ally with the humans?"

Gusion, that bastard... He didn't even tell anyone about the war?

Putting aside the fact that Gusion was now his benefactor, he was originally one of Kai's most threatening enemies. It was evident that he didn't actually have any good feelings towards him.

"...In a couple of years—or maybe not even that long. A war will take place that will envelop the entire world."

"..."

Amanda stayed silent and let him continue.

"If you ask Duke Gusion, he should know of it. In a few years' time, the Fallen Hero will descend and chaos will follow his steps."

"Fallen Hero?"

It wasn't a surprise that Amanda didn't know about Howard. After all, there had been many heroes in history. Howard's story of betrayal and destruction was something that only humans were privy to.

"A being as strong as the King of Gods and the Demon King."

Amanda stood up from her seat and released her magic power.

"I am a very tolerant person, but I will not tolerate any insults against the Demon King."

To say that someone was on the same level as the Demon King, and not only that, it was someone she didn't even know... it was beyond insulting to her who worshipped the Demon King as her deity.

"I'm not making things up. Please calm down and listen to me."

After pacifying her for a bit, Kai managed to avoid conflict. He talked to her about the prophecies and many things. He didn't disclose that he came from the future, but as luck would have it, she knew about the Guardians and their ability to perceive the future.

"...I am not able to make a decision as of this moment, I have to consult with the higher powers for any further actions."

Kai understood that and asked to take his leave.

"My apologies, but can you please wait for a moment?"

Amanda raised her hand to her face and then slowly waved it. Kai looked on in confusion.

"This is what I truly look like, I apologize for deceiving you."

"???"

In Kai's eyes, she had just brushed her hand over her face.

Seeing Kai's confusion, Amanda held up her hands to her face.

"I-is there something wrong with my appearance?"

She was prepared to answer a question or two but seeing Kai just dumbfoundedly stare at her caught her off guard.

"No, it's just that... you didn't exactly change your looks or anything."

"Nn? Hmm?"

Wait, what did he say?

"HMMM?!"

Amanda suddenly stood up and slammed her hands into her desk.

"Y-you... Sir Kai, c-could you please describe my appearance for me?"

"Uh..."

Kai was a bit weirded out by the question, but he decided to answer truthfully anyway.

"What I'm about to say is the absolute truth so don't think of it as flattery but... I believe that you are the most beautiful person I've ever seen in my life."

Even more than his own grandmother that was said to have driven many gods and devils crazy with just her looks alone. In fact, if not for the fact that he already had others in his heart, he would've given into temptation already.

"I-I see..."

Amanda looked flustered, but it wasn't the same sort of embarrassment that Erina showed whenever he showered her in praise. It looked like she heard an answer that she didn't expect.

"T-then, what color are my eyes?"

"They're red."

"!!"

Kai could see that Amanda's state was turning even weirder by the second. He couldn't help but want to leave and tried to force out an exit.

"Then, I'll just take my leave now..."

"Please wait! P-pardon me, but are you... the Demon of Hell Flame's grandson?"

Kai's eyes widened and after hesitating slightly, he nodded.

Amanda quickly ran over to him and after fixing her attire for a little, she went down on her knees. Then she bent her body by thirty degrees and put both of her hands together in front of her—touching the ground as she did so. She had her legs pressed together and once her posture was complete, she lowered her head.

Kai couldn't help but stare at her. But, there was still more to it than that.

The next words that came out of her mouth were utterly ridiculous.

"Sir-no, Lord Kai I would like to greet you once more... I, Amanda Heidel Dominicus, am your betrothed..."

"...Betrothed?"

Kai couldn't help but repeat the words that he heard but couldn't process.