Lumbire Kingdom.

It was a nation well known for its vineyards. Located at a high elevation with a high concentration of winter and spring spirits, the weather was cool for its region. Wine made here was known to be of excellent quality.

Besides its winery, it was also a nation which functioned to control the borders which separated the human empire from the beastkins. It is a nation which poured a significant amount of resources into its military affairs.

After a long wait in queue, Sequencee finally made it through the warp gate. With his luggage in hand, he made his way out of the warp station and into the streets.

Since he had no way of contacting them immediately, he thought he should try to find the castle.

The place was cold, Sequencee sneezed.

“Excuse me, do you know if there’s a good place to stay nearby?” Sequencee asked one of the passersby.

“Are you new here?”

“Yeah.”

Not quite. Sequencee had been here long ago, however, most of his memories of this place were vague.

“Information fee, that would be one silver.”

“Nevermind then..”

“Oi, oi! I know of good places to stay, you know?! How about five copper, sounds good?”

Sequencee walked away from the man. He tried to chase after him, but [Illusion Magic: Universal Haze] stopped his advances.

Sequencee found a knight, and instead asked if they knew the way to the duke’s estate.

“For what purpose?” One of the knights asked skeptically.

“I need to meet up with the hero.”

“Get lost kid.”

The knights pushed him out of the way. Sequencee staggered, but didn't fall.

‘Wow. Talk about rude.’

Annoyed, Sequencee found a nearby park with a big map of the city. He found Dimitri Guild in the list of landmarks.

“Oh, so there is the duke’s mansion here. The castle is much further though.”

While the city of Lumbire Kingdom wasn’t as large as the capital city, at least at the warp gate stations were built closer to important landmarks. Here, the warp gates were to the far west, while the castle was to the far east. Dimitri guild was somewhere in the middle.

“I’ll see as I go then..”

Taking down a rough map in a paper which he tore from his journal, he proceeded to Dimitri Guild.

It was common for adventurers when arriving at a new kingdom or region to find their guild. People tend to seek familiarity.

“There are a lot of private guilds here,” Sequencee said as he passed by yet another guild office.

Private guilds were no different than small guilds. They were run by mercenaries who wanted to try their hands on business. At a certain point, they may be able to earn a fortune. Of course, it wasn’t without its own difficulties.

“If Reese were here, things would be much easier..”

Sequencee watched as a couple exited one of such offices crying. While he didn’t know why they entered, he wasn’t in a position to help them so he simply walked off.

The initial plan was to have Reese guild everyone straight to the estate when they arrive for she had been here a few times in the past. Once with her family, the other two for the purpose of her religion.

BBAAMMM!!

“Fuck off!”

“Guah!! You fuck off me!!”

Two macho men broked out of a bar and began a fist fight. One looked tanned, the other red till the tip of his ears. They both look drunk, wearing nothing but a tank top and shorts as fist pounded flesh, it was quite a brutal sight. The only saving grace in this Sequencee thought was how they weren’t using gifts on each other. Things could end up really bad really quick if they did.

“Quite the scene isn’t it?”

Sequencee turned his head to meet the person who said that.

She also turned to him with that dramatic pause, with a smile she introduced herself.

“I hadn’t introduced myself properly last time. Sir, this one’s name is Linux.”

Sequencee took a couple steps back, the background sound of the two men fighting continued.

She who had a cordial smile on her face was wearing a maid’s uniform. Her height was similar to Sequencee’s own, two fluffy ears adorned her head accessorized with a white headband. Her eyes were yellow-orcher, her hair which had been tied into a bun was gray-brown.

It was the maid who attacked Linton last time when he was out on a date with Schwii. Wasn’t she caught? How did she escape?

“You’re talking with me because you need something?” Sequencee asked.

“I arrived not too long ago. Just happened to see you passing by.”

‘As if I’d believe that..’

Sequencee didn’t know what to do about this situation. He first considered simply walking off, though the likelihood of her simply following him was high. Then he thought that may be a good idea to gauge why she was here to begin with.

“Why are you here?”

“To serve as a guide. I’ve already made arrangements with the Great Lady Dianne. It’s a matter of the hero’s preparedness that needs to be waited on.”

“Okay.. so you’re going to find the hero I assume?”

“How about you? Why are you here?”

‘In the first place, how did she notice me?’

Sequencee wasn’t even wearing the same thing. How did she recognise him? He barely remembered her.

‘Maybe it’s a trait of a beastkin.. yeah. She was able to track down Linton quite easily.’

“I’m just visiting.”

“What a pity. In that case, I wish you well on your way,” she bode the demon lord farewell, not knowing that they were seeking the same thing.

As she walked away, swinging her waist as she did, Sequencee noticed the glint of the whip which hung there.

‘I did not expect this.’

They were definitely going to cross paths again very soon.

===

“I knew it..”

“...”

He stopped by Dimitri Guild, and after a short break to fill in for lunch, he headed for the duke’s mansion in the kingdom city.

There upon he bumped into Linux who was making her way to the gates of the estate.

‘I don’t even know if it’s a good idea to shake her off.’

Sequencee stopped bothering and made his way to his destination alongside her. She didn't think much of it and said nothing.

Linux suddenly turned and threw a fist outwards.

The force created a shockwave, she quickly jumped back and readied herself in a stance looking towards Sequencee’s direction.

“Welcome back Your Highness. Where are the rest?”

It was Iona.

“Complicated story, but in short they’re not coming.”

“How could that be?”

“Who is.. this?” Linux hissed with her canines showing.

“We reclaimed Estia Barony. Schwii took it upon herself to assist Leticia in managing the fief until Evelyn’s intervention arrives, something like that,” Sequencee explained.

Sequencee could feel her doubtful gaze in Iona’s indifferent expression. “What happened?”

“Nevermind. I’ll explain when we reach the mansion.”

“I meant this,” Iona pointed at Sequnecee’s hand.

It wasn’t just that either. The aura around Sequencee had changed. Iona could tell that he had made some kind of breakthrough.

“I’ll show you later, not out here.”

“Understood,” Iona nodded, “I made Shiro and Risa aware of your arrival. They should be welcoming you any time now, you should head right in.”

“Thanks.”

Sequencee glanced at Linux’s direction once before proceeding. She still kept her wary appearance.

Meanwhile, in her eyes, she was guarded towards this dusky-red haired maid which Sequencee called Iona. There was something about this person that made the alarm bells in her mind ring out ceaselessly.

Linux had confidence in her strength, yet somehow she felt small before this enigma.

Her research did tell of the combat maid which served Sequencee and Schwii, but not of her absolute affiliation nor ability. She had misjudged.

She silently watched as the two passed the gates.. when Sequencee stopped and told Iona something. Receiving a nod in response, Sequencee turned to Linux.

“You also plan to meet the hero right?”

“Yes.”

“You can come with us.”

“Hah..?”

===

Sequencee was introduced to the people of the palace from high to low. He had a short audience with the queen and king, the conversation was one which surprised even himself.

“The rumors have reached even my ears. I hear that you are engaged to the imperial princess?” she posed a question.

Before herself, queen Rellias, the king Logues and the current Duke Greg, three people, Sequencee responded, “That is true.”

‘I was sorta forced into it.’

While Sequencee had wanted to deny the engagement, now that it has happened, he would be lying if he said that would’ve been better off without the princess.

If a chance presented itself to reverse the situation back to how it was before this, he didn’t know if he’d take it.

‘Do I even like Evelyn?’

Such a question crossed his mind.

There were phases involved in the development of feeling– or that, there should’ve been. First the moment of first contact. Two individuals would notice a spark between them, and find themselves naturally attracted to the other party; however, they were still unaware of their feelings.

The second phase was discovery, when one of the two realized that they held feelings for the other.

The third phase had to do with denial and fear. This dip in their interaction where a person would suddenly drift apart out of fear of rejection, embarrassment, doubt or some other personal reason. They would try to escape from their feelings.

The fourth phase is when they stop denying their feelings and attempt to court the other party, leading to the occasional self-ignition, for lack of a better word.

The fifth phase is when fear or hope becomes too great that one of them breaks the ice and confesses.

Such was what Sequencee read from the ‘guide to building a harem’ book. From his experiences, there was a distortion of these elements when it came to his relationship with basically all three girls.

“Excuse me.”

“Ah, s-sorry. Could you repeat, I was lost in thought.”

The queen leaned against her throne and spoke with a slightly annoyed expression, “I have no intentions of ostracizing you in asking this, I merely want the truth. There has been word going around that you are not particularly a human, furthermore, not a normal demon either?”

This question incited both the duke and the king to sharpen their vigilance. The air in the throne room changed immediately.

“Don’t worry, the queen won’t eat you,” Risa, who was also in the audience, beckoned with her chin.

“Yes. I’m a demon lord.”

“I will take your word for it,” the queen nodded.

“Can you show us?” but the duke interjected with his whims.

“Show you..?”

“I have heard personally from my daughter that you kept your horns hidden behind some magic veil. I wish to have a look. As a human who had never once encountered a demon of your caliber, it would be an honor to be able to witness your true appearance.”

Sequencee wasn’t sure if the duke thought he was someone who liked pleasantries, but he consented to his request anyways. He would have to let the world know about his identity eventually.

The queen and king’s eyes widened. Duke closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.

Sequencee’s horn had grown to a point where it wouldn’t be long before everything healed.

Risa took the opportunity to tap on his horns.

“Hey.”

“Is that a sensitive spot?”

“.. What?”

“From my world, in some doujins, the horns are in an erogenous zone.”

‘Doujin? Erogenous zone?’

Incomprehensible words came fluttering out of Risa’s mouth. Sequencee had no idea what she was talking about, and it didn’t look like she was interested in explaining herself either. Her hands moved again, Sequence took a step back.

Risa narrowed her eyes.

“Let me test something.”

“Your eyes are scary.. no.”

“Come on, just a little bit, a tiny little bit please~”

‘No way in hell.’

Sequencee made his horn disappear, much to Risa’s disappointment.

And no, a demon’s horn is not an erogenous zone. A tail may be though.

“Ahem, thank you for that sir,” the duke remarked.

“It’s alright..”

“Now that it’s come to this, I will have to warn you not to make a scene in my kingdom. While I may not have a good impression of demons, I will let you off this once,” the queen’s eyes turned sharp.

“Understood.”