"...What do you mean?"

Kai couldn't help but ask.

"Ummm..."

Amanda was flustered, unlike her earlier look. There was even a slight blush creeping on her face—though Kai didn't know if that was because she was embarrassed about the announcement or something else.

After taking a proper seat by the sofa once more, Kai intently listened to Amanda's explanations.

"Then, where should I begin...?"

Amanda was talking to herself and after thinking about an appropriate spot, she coughed lightly and began to talk. Even just her simple gestures mesmerized Kai.

'And this girl is betrothed to me, huh...'

If it was really true, then while he couldn't say that he was unhappy because he really wasn't, there was still another matter he had to think about. It wasn't like he wanted to have her no matter what, but if he were to have an extra wife on top of what he already had... he wondered how the rest would react.

"My ancestor was saved by the Demon of Hell Flame many, many centuries ago. When asked for compensation, the Demon of Hell Flame had just told us to betroth one of our own to his kin. As he didn't have any sons or daughters, this pact was just an unspoken alliance between our two families. But... one day, news of him having a son was spread."

Kai's father, Juro, was the one that Amanda was talking about.

"Unfortunately, he had left his fiancee and eloped with... your mother. Though many were enraged, there was nothing they could do. The Demon of Hell Flame banished him and sealing his blood but... my family wanted to keep our promise. If not him, then his offspring, and if not them, then their offspring."

Meaning that if Kai were to deny their engagement, their next target would be Emi.

"I understand that you many not want this but..."

Amanda made a contract appear out of thin air with a wave of black flames.

"There's nothing we could do against a higher power."

Kai took the contract and began reading through it in earnest. It wasn't very long, but he couldn't see any loopholes that could be exploited and when he tried to destroy it, the contract fought back and burned his hand.

"I see..."

Kai fell silent for a while—still looking at the contract's contents. Amanda was probing his reaction and when she finally couldn't take it anymore and was about to talk, Kai took the initiative.

"Are you alright with this?"

Kai looked at her and asked.

"..."

Amanda couldn't say anything. She opened her mouth and was about to agree but realized that her voice hadn't come out.

If she had agreed without a second thought, then Kai would have doubted her intentions. After all, who would be alright with selling their lives away to someone they never met?

"...I am."

Though there was hesitation, in the end, she didn't oppose the wishes of her ancestors.

"Then, what can we gain from getting married?"

"I believe you already know... The Neutral Faction will side with you. Though our numbers may be few, I can guarantee that you'd be hard-pressed to find a better force of this size."

Even if Kai were to ally with the Peaceful or Hostile factions, there was no way they would let him borrow their armies. On the other hand, Amanda's influence on the Neutral Faction was so great that she could guarantee him an entire army to command.

"In the end, though the Queen may be our leader, she isn't the one we revere. In a sense... she's like one of your human kings. Though they may be the highest authority, it's not like everyone has to bow down to them. Each king has their own territory to manage. It's just that our scope is far, far larger."

The Queen was just a person under the Devils, any one of them could take her off her seat.

"As for us... we gain the protection of the Demon of Hell Flame. Cruel, though he may be known, there's also his love for his son. Naturally, we believe that the love he had would extend to you as well."

"..."

If the Neutral Faction was slaughtered, then that meant that his grandfather didn't really care about them. Would that really change if he just accepted the engagement?

Normally, Kai would still be suspicious of their intentions. But, the contract had a similar clause to that of Amon's. This time, however, it was a complete clause.

Dominicus and their kin, whether they be allies or benefactors, are unable to harm my bloodline, whether they be my offspring or my offspring's offsprings, directly or indirectly, and even any thoughts about doing so.

Meaning that Kai could even push Amanda down right now and she wouldn't be able to do anything.

'What kind of contract is this...?'

It was somewhat inhumane, but there was no way he would pass it off. Just agreeing to the deal would allow him to control a third of the continent.

He felt glad, but at the same time, he also felt bitter. If he had known about this agreement before, then maybe the war wouldn't have gone the way it had. Countless sacrifices wouldn't have been needed for humanity to last another day.

"Then, the reason you asked about your appearance is because of the veil?"

"Nn."

Amanda nodded.

"None but our kin and future partners will be able to see our faces per the contract. Once our marriage is sealed, this veil will fade away."

She's lived an entire life with another person's face to hide her own, but she didn't look like she had any grievances about it.

"Okay, I accept this proposal."

"Thank you."

Amanda bowed her head.

"...If there is anything you wish to have, please tell me whenever you want."

Kai knew what she was talking about and raised his hand.

"I'm not a beast, I won't lay a hand on someone who's unwilling. Unless your heart is completely mine—never accept my advances."

"...Is that truly what you wish for?"

"It is."

Amanda fell silent and bowed once more.

"Thank you..."

This time, her gratitude was much more genuine.

"Ah, also, can you help me find someone that fits this criteria?"

After leaving his request, Kai left the base and headed back to everyone to fill them in on the details.

"A fiancee chosen by your grandfather..."

Erina muttered.

"Is she pretty?"

"..."

Kai was about to deny her, but he could see that her eye had turned a different shade. She had activated Truth Seeker.

"By the way..."

"So she is..."

Kai tried his best to ignore Erina's mumbling and told them about their agreement.

"So they're unable to harm you directly or indirectly, and they can't even think about harming you?"

It was a ridiculous clause that they had a hard time believing, but they knew that a contract was absolute.

"Yeah, but it specifically stated that they're unable to harm my bloodline. Meaning that none of you are included in this protection. It's best to stay cautious."

There was no reason for them to take any of Kai's friends as a hostage unless they were a traitor. And even then, it was still too risky of a move.

Still, looking both ways when crossing the street wouldn't hurt anyone.

"Hm?"

Kai suddenly looked up.

"Kai, is there something wrong?"

Akane asked. She had been silent while everyone was talking. She was quite perceptive of Kai's emotions, after watching him for the past few months everyday.

"No, there's a visitor outside."

They were in the Illusion World, nobody was left outside for the sake of efficiency in relaying information. Kai quickly let them all out, including Akane. She was already well enough to be able to stay outside. And, while she could always be outside with the rest now, Kai didn't want her to leave until the matter with Azrael was solved and Akane was in the perfect condition.

"Sir Kai."

It was one of the guardians, the woman he always met. Come to think of it, he didn't really know her name despite how long they had interacted with each other. She didn't say anything and neither did he take the initiative to ask.

"Ah, it's the woman from the colosseum."

Erina pointed at the guardian and exclaimed. It looked like everyone but Akane remembered her too.

"What is it?"

"The two leftover anomalies. The one on the angel's continent wasn't as big an anomaly as we had initially reported and after a struggle, my people have finally subjugated the threat. It was a cursed stone, most likely from the Fallen Hero's army."

The guardian handed him a stone not even the size of an entire palm. It was smooth to the touch and looked like an ordinary stone from a river or a beach, but just looking at it gave Kai a sense of malice.

"..."

He understood the guardian's intentions and kept the stone with him. While he didn't know what it was, it was best to keep it where it was safe.

"Kai, I sense a great amount of darkness..."

Reo, who had been silent for a while, talked to him telepathically as soon as he stored the stone.

"Do you know what it is?"

"No, but I believe that it's some sort of... catalyst."

"A catalyst?"

Kai frowned. If it was a catalyst and held a great amount of an element, then could it have been a bomb?

"Reo, assimilate with me for a bit."

Immediately as he spoke, a cloud of smoke scattered around him and was sucked into his orifices. He and Reo had fused when they fought the werewolf but they weren't able to defeat him because of his innate resistance to darkness. During that fight, however, Kai realized that on top of his magic power being amplified, darkness was also amplified as well.

Meaning that if he were to assimilate with Reo, the greatest choice would be to use only darkness.

Kai took the cursed stone out of his storage again and held it in his hands.

"It's not a bomb. If I had to say what it was... it's more of a power source. Kai, stop absorbing mana from your surroundings and expend some. Then, try to absorb this stone."

Kai did as he was told. Everyone looked at him in complete silence.

"It worked."

Kai was surprised. He hadn't seen any objects in this world and neither could he create anything that allowed him to replenish mana other than potions. Not only that, there was a great amount of mana inside the stone, though it was made of darkness.

"Reo, can you study this for a bit? I want to know if Yoko can use it safely."

"Got it."

Reo dissimilated with Kai and began his study on the stone.

After giving the stone to Reo, Kai looked back at the guardian.

"Hey, what's your name?"

"...Nova."

The guardian, Nova, looked nervous in front of Erina. She did have this sort of fear aimed at Erina and Amelia, though Kai didn't exactly know the reason.

"Nova, continue."

"Yes. The anomaly in the demon continent... is far too strong for us to contain any longer. It is a flute held by a certain individual. It allows them to control beasts, regardless of power."

Dragons were also beasts, though they were sentient.

"Where is it from?"

"...We believe that it is from the future."

"What?!"

An item from the future? That meant that someone had sent something back to the past, much like he did.

"We haven't been able to observe it up close, but it is in the possession of a wanted criminal. It is currently being used to amass a great number of beasts at the far side of the continent."

"At this time...?"

Who knew what the criminal would do with the power of the flute? Beasts were strong, but they weren't regarded as extreme threats because they usually stayed in their territories. If the flute were able to command them, then needless to say, no place would be safe from attacks.

More so if those attacks were done by dragons.

"Okay, I'll go and deal with it soon."

Nova bent her body and bowed. Then, she left in a hurry. She must've had a lot more things to do.

Kai was about to prepare to head out but then, he had an idea. He looked at Date and Angie.

"..."

All the hair on Angie's body stood on end. She had seen that contemplating look of her master's before.

"Good news, Angie."

Kai smiled at her and she couldn't help but shiver.

"I have a task for you."