Have a feast of your own.

All the way back at Castle Phoenix, you and Peony stop as the grand gateway comes into view, as well as the road that leads straight though. You've been out all day, but it was quite relaxing, even if it did involve a lot of climbing, and running into an angry momma bear. What really matters is that it seems to have made Peony incredibly happy. Most of a day spent entirely with her seems to have made up for her absence in the Trial of the Erotrain, at least in her mind. Now your stomach is growling. Just like the people returning to their village, you're about ready to feast as well.

"Thank you," Peony says as she steps foot on the road. "I know you're usually busy, and there are so many girls here. But you took the time to go with me when it wasn't even for any sort of purpose. It wasn't an exciting adventure, and it didn't help you defeat that Elok Daven man."

You take her hand. "This is the sort of thing I want to do. This is the goal, Peony."

She giggles and suddenly throws herself back into your arms, once again stuffing her face into your chest. "Mmm. I get it! When we're all safe, we can go on walks all the time!"

"I suppose that's true, yeah."

"Then I'm going to go back to tending to the gardens. You go eat some food, m'lord. I heard that noise just now," she says as she pats your belly. "If you go without food, I'll be really angry."

"All right, all right. Thank you. I'm really glad I found you in that tree all that time ago."

"I would have probably perished if you didn't come!" She places her hands on her cheeks as she stands up straight. "Oh, I'll never do that again, I promise."

Chula the harpy perches on the wall above you. She calls out, "Oh hey, Kyle and Peony! You're back!"

You gaze upward. "That's right! Hey, it's almost dinner time, right? Gather everyone so that we can all eat together! Oh and uh... make sure it isn't all covered in honey, all right?"

After some time, you start to wind down. People gather in the Great Hall, feasting and chatting amongst each other around the fine wooden tables build around the stone columns which hold up the ceiling. You join them of course. There's no use in watching from the throne when you could be a part of the group. The food is delicious. Apparently it was all prepared by Summer and Amara, which isn't unusual, though they really outdid themselves this time. Your connections with Shadow Garden are paying off as goods have moved both in and out of the castle walls to allow access to more ingredients from Avana and Tolis without being caught.

The hall is filled with the rich sound of joy and peace, which is something you realize you shouldn't take for granted, because it never seems to last for extended periods of time.

You raise up a glass and tap it with your fork, hoping such a gesture does exist in Abso as well. As you do, people slowly quiet down and turn to grant you attention. "Hey everyone," you say. It's actually a little intimidating to speak in front of this many people simultaneously, though it's even stranger when you think about how you've not only slept with almost everybody here, but most have been in involved in more than one orgy. You clear your throat. "I just wanted to thank everybody. I can't believe how supportive you all are."

"Take it off!" Delphi calls from the crowd.

"Can I get just a tiny bit more respect though as Demon King?"

"Nope!"

You sigh and roll your eyes. "Listen up. There's apparently a little village several hours east of here on the coast, and it's really important that we make a stand for what we represent. The last person to live here seeded terror. That's not what we're about, and we don't want people to think I'm some sort of diabolical dictator that wants to kill everyone."

Dajy speaks up in a sultry tone. "We're only a little diabolical." As she pulls on a leash, you realize she brought a certain toy to dinner. There's a powerful vampire on the other end, though she's entirely been made submissive to the succubus' will. Catherine, the high vampire, stands in an adorably humiliating maid outfit not unlike Yin's, though the skirt is far shorter. You can see a tease of her lacey black panties. "Isn't that right, my sweetest thing?" she asks her pet.

"Y-Yes, mistress," Cat replies.

"Good girl~."

This is going to be trickier than I thought. "So, I'm going to gather a small party, and we're going to travel to Gobiidae as a peacekeeping mission. We need to prove to some innocent citizens that me and the main party aren't evil at least. We'll start there." They might be kinda hopeless at times, but they aren't bad people. I think it'll be fine.

"I think that is a most wise idea," Nyllia speaks up.

"Actually, better idea. Maybe it should just be you and me, Nyllia. You're a righteous, famous adventurer after all."

She chuckles. "No, no. I think it is important that you travel there with Eva, Amara, and Niki as you originally planned. It simply would not be as interesting if it were only me."

"That's not a good reason. We don't want it to be interesting."

"You can count on me!" Niki shouts as she throws a fist into the air. Unfortunately, that fist is gripping a mug.

Lalarin is standing right behind her. Thankfully, she stumbles as she walks, accidentally dodging the fist just before it would have smacked her--luck powers at work like always. Though as she continues to stumble forwards, she turns and is completely covered in mead. "H-Hey!"

"Me too!" Eva yells as well. Her mouth is covered in sauce from the pork. "We won't let you down."

Amara pats Lala on the shoulder. "Are you all right? Here, allow me to help."

"I'm just wet," she replies. "No worries."

"No, no. I insist. Here, take this healing spell."

"Really, I'm not hurt!"

Despite her words, the elf casts her magic upon her body with a smile upon her face. Lala just looks confused, though she bows her head gratefully before searching for something to dry her clothing.

You know, I don't want them to think we're evil, but I also don't want them to think we're inept...