After the commotion, Kai and the other girls were asked by President Valac to retreat to Succubus Queen's chamber behind the curtain. The man was polite toward them, so Kai didn't mind.
Rather, it was best that they retreated and let the attention die down first. The attention they gained after Kai stopped their clash was… unpleasant. The guests were looking at them with fear combined with wariness.
"What did you think you're doing, Ao? Weren't you the one who said that you should act like a King in front of other people?"
Kai scolded Ao in the corner of the room while the others were watching. The Succubus Queen giggled amusingly at sight.
If not for Ao asking Shuten Douji to become the opener of her announcement, something like this wouldn't happen.
"Besides, I guessed the guests already know what you're trying to announce when you call me a dear husband. There is no need to be so dramatic and clash your Spirit Power like that, no?"
"But, dear husband. That bi– entertainer joined us and made the situation worse." Ao pointed at the Succubus Queen with her eyes, frowning slightly in displeasure.
"That's not important." Kai shot down her excuse almost immediately. "This is her event, and you know that she was just joking."
"Oh? But I wasn't joking about marrying you, Ruler~" The Succubus Queen interrupted from the side. She caressed her lips in a seducing manner as she puffed her chest. "We can even have our first night right now."historical
The atmosphere tensed all of a sudden. Four pairs of deathly glares landed on the Succubus Queen sitting on her soft red chair. Shuten Douji even held her golden microphone and was ready to turn it into her beloved club in case the pink-haired Devil moved ever so slightly.
Everyone knew she wasn't joking. Sleeping here and there with men had been her routine before they had ever met her. They didn't know whether she was doing that since Abe no Seimei left, but her gaze that looked at Kai seductively said that the Succubus Queen truly wanted to sleep with him.
"No thanks."
Fortunately for the girls, Kai refused with a straight gaze.
"What a shame. I can teach you some techniques you can use to satisfy that arrogant Dragon, you know?"
"Succubus Queen, are you implying something here?" Ao narrowed her eyes dangerously as she answered the Succubus Queen. Her Dragon Aura was released, but it was instantly countered by Kai's.
"Enough." He said, letting out a sigh. "Ao, don't make a scene. And Succubus Queen, please don't provoke them any longer."
"Well, if it's your request, darling~ I guess I can stop now. Tell me when you've finished scolding the Dragon. I want to have a little talk~." Saying that, the Succubus Queen closed her eyes and leaned against the bubbly soft backrest. "I will take a nap while you're doing that."
Even her reply was purposely made to provoke Ao.
Kai didn't know the details of their relationship, but they probably had a rocky one. That only made Kai a bit uncomfortable staying in this place.
"Remember our business here, Ao. Besides the event, we have another objective, no? Please don't anger the Succubus Queen too. As she might know something I want to know. Can you do that for me?"
What Kai had said was true, and Ao clasped her mouth shut. Their objective here wasn't only to attend the party and announce their marriage. That was only her selfishness; their goal was to find information about the Astral Plane from the Devil.
Among all Devils, the one who knew about the Astral Plane the most might be the Succubus Queen or the Devil King. But there was also a chance another Devil from 72 noble houses knew about the Astral Plane.
Still, there was no need to make an enemy of the Succubus Queen, who only teased them. Ao and the others seemed to overreact to her teasing, which was practically harmless and not deadly.
"This lady can't promise. She's uncomfortable to be around." Ao replied as she looked at the napping Succubus Queen.
Kai sighed.
Was it because of the Succubus Queen's properties? If he remembered correctly from Qianlong's lecture, her properties were a charm. She charmed the opposite sex with her Spirit Power, making them her slaves or something.
But that charm apparently didn't work on him, as proved earlier. But the other girls were a bit affected by it and became giddy.
If that was the case, he couldn't help it anymore. At least she would try.
"Hey, young man."
At that moment, Shuten Douji called out from behind. Kai turned around, and the Oni God was standing right in front of him with her hands on her hips.
"Are you done? It's the perfect time and place. I should say something to you. This is important so…" She looked at where Succubus Queen was. "You should listen to it, wench. The little Prophet has made another prophecy."
Hearing the words of the prophecy, Kai became curious. "Hmm?"
He had heard one prophecy before, and that didn't end well because he underestimated it. He thought the prophecy was over in that Oni Village, but no. It continued until he lost something within him, but he understood his assignment like what was told in the prophecy.
So he wouldn't look down on the prophecy any longer and took it seriously.
The Succubus Queen also opened her eyes slightly, looking at Shuten Douji while gesturing with her hand for the Oni God to continue. Ibaraki and Amber also looked at the Oni God and listened quietly.
Shuten nodded slightly and turned back to Kai.
"It happened a few days ago when you were still in the Dragon King Castle. That accursed Oni was bringing the Prophet to my abode. I was about to kick them out before realizing they were fleeing from the Japanese government. So I hid them, and the accursed Oni named Sayo told me the prophecy. It goes like this."
Closing her eyes, Shuten Douji then recited slowly.
"Two fates shall follow the fools."
"Lining adjacent to each other, the Ruler shall take what's his."
"Fools who have made a mistake in the past, be prepared."
"As the strongest had awakened. He had guided the current."
"And when they dance, destruction will follow."
"The seven shall move. Death is inevitable."
"Those who oppose will be burned. They will drown."
"Old ones will join. And the King shall laugh."
"The clock hand will stop. Despair will follow."
"At the end of the road is nothingness. The dance shall continue."
"Children of the night shall arrive. The death parade shall commence."
"Only he would triumph. As he will become the light."
"Run. Because he will return."
"Flee. As resistance is useless."
The others listened to the prophecy and turned to Kai to see his reaction. He looked dumbfounded more than anything. And everyone could see the despair in his eyes, especially Ao.
"You do know something." Shuten Douji said with narrowed eyes. She tried to get close to him, but Ao stepped in front of him to stop her. "Get lost, Ao. I need to know what that guy is thinking!"
"No. This lady won't move." The resolution could be heard in her voice. "It's you who need to calm down. Dear husband won't destroy anything. He only… lost something important."
"That's right. Calm down, little twerp." The Succubus Queen's voice was calm and collected.
"Remember the prophecy once again. The ones who would be destroyed are only the fools. Who are the fools in this story? You surely have an idea, arrogant Dragon. If you don't, how about you, Phoenix?" She turned to Amber with an amused smile.
"I do have an idea." Ao replied.
"But for now…" She turned to Kai and saw him staggering back a little. The despair had gone, replaced by something dark. "Dear husband, it's okay. The prophecy only shows something that doesn't happen yet. The prophecy only referred to you for the first 3 syllables, not all of them."
Kai slowly raised his head, looking at Ao's soft gaze.
'Right. Why did I.. give up before trying?'
Without much investigation, he arrived at his own conclusion. A conclusion that could only bring him despair. He thought he had already resigned. But with just a bit of hope, he turned into something like this. Something that he shouldn't become.
"Yeah." He nodded with a soft smile, calming himself down.
Ao was right. Nothing had happened yet. And nothing was certain yet.
"I need to enter the Astral Plane to make sure of it. And even if I can't find it, then I can't fall into a pit of despair."
"Astral Plane?" Shuten Douji asked.
"Hoo?" While the Succubus Queen let out an interested voice. "I see. So that's the case. Hmm, I understand." A big smile appeared on her face as she stood up.
With a graceful movement, she walked toward Kai under the others' gaze, stopping right in front of Ao and him.
"I've decided. I will help you, current Ruler. I will help you to enter the Astral Plane."
Kai looked at the Succubus Queen, and his eyes widened. "You can really do that?"
"Of course." She nodded. "I am the Succubus Queen, Lilith! My kin is the ruler of dream realms, a realm that stood between the middle of the Astral Plane and the real world. So it's easy for me to help you enter the Astral Plane."
"What do you want in exchange?" Kai asked with a serious tone. He knew that such an exchange always came for a price.
"I am glad that you are quick to understand. Fufufu." A giggle escaped her mouth as she looked straight into Kai's eyes. "In exchange, I will enter the Astral Plane with you. I want to meet my beloved strongest man once again. Deal?"
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