Chapter 420: Returning Home
First, there were various gadgets combining magic and modern technology, followed by the overall cleanliness.
An average modern person suddenly transported to a medieval town would likely struggle to adapt to its sanitary conditions.
Not only was this Demon King's Castle harmoniously laid out, but its hygiene and public security also rivaled that of a civilized city.
All of this was the result of the efforts of several generations of Demon Kings, but precisely because of this, the Cardinal Assembly had grown increasingly at odds with the Demon King.
Rules and regulations always bind those in power and the strong, but for ordinary demons, they serve as a form of protection.
Using strength and authority to break the rules, like the old fools in the Cardinal Assembly, makes one part of the group that oppresses the common people.
Haruto, maintaining his black cat form, followed Sheila, who was dressed like a little girl and acting cute, as they toured the Demon King's Castle and gathered information.
At first, Haruto felt somewhat uncomfortable staying in his black cat form, but as the journey continued, nestled against the soft, fragrant chest of the young girl, he found himself growing fond of it.
Now, the nekomata form didn't weaken his strength; instead, it even enhanced his self-defense capabilities to some extent. He began to entertain the idea of maintaining this form permanently in the future.
Well, regardless of what came later, to avoid arousing suspicion from the demons of the Cardinal Assembly, Haruto naturally intended to keep his transformation until his goal was achieved.
Maintaining the black cat form required a continuous consumption of magic and mental energy, but this level of expenditure was negligible to Haruto.
To some extent, it even helped him refine his fine control over magic and mental energy.
Of course, if he were to engage in combat with a god-class opponent of the same level, he would need to revert to his original form.
Haruto's greatest strength lay in close combat. Even with his top-tier physical talent, it would take some time and battles to fully synchronize the power differences between his cat and human forms.
...
Haruto lay lazily against Sheila's dress, only his cat head peeking out, occasionally glancing at the architecture around him, which was full of demonic characteristics.
While he quietly played the role of a well-behaved cat, Mio Naruse and Lucia successfully met with Ramusas.
"Lady Mio, Miss Lucia, the residence of Lord Ramusas is just ahead."
Seeing the familiar villa, the demon girl tasked with guiding them breathed a sigh of relief. Her mission was finally completed successfully.
Staring at the ornate vermilion gate, Mio Naruse felt a mix of confusion and nervousness.
With both her biological parents deceased, this uncle was now her last direct elder relative.
No matter how strong she was, she was still just a sixteen-year-old high school girl and couldn't help but feel a bit timid.
"Thank you for your hard work," Lucia murmured softly, leading the conflicted Mio inside.
Due to the changes in the worldline, Haruto couldn't guarantee that Ramusas wouldn't pose a threat to Mio.
However, after their intimate relationship, he had taken the opportunity to form a Soul Contract with Mio and Lucia. So even if they were to fall into a trap, it wouldn't matter—it would simply serve as a test.
Sheila, on the other hand, had not formed a Soul Contract.
This old aunt who loved to act cute and youthful was highly skilled in spatial teleportation magic, and ordinary Satan-Class demons couldn't capture her. But what if?
Haruto's constant presence in his black cat form by her side was, in a way, a form of protection.
The meeting between Mio and Ramusas was neither as emotional as one might expect nor was there any trap.
The middle-aged noble demon, with his red hair and round, gold-rimmed glasses, displayed an attitude that was neither warm nor cold.
Suddenly having such a uniquely positioned niece, he didn't know what attitude to adopt toward her.
Being overly enthusiastic might seem obsequious, while being too cold would appear unfeeling.
Truth be told, his current status was largely thanks to his brother Wilbert.
After the initial tension, Mio Naruse gradually regained her composure under Lucia's reassurance.
After an afternoon together followed by dinner, the two finally began interacting naturally.
"Mio, you shouldn't have come to the Underworld this time..."
Ramusas set down his knife and fork with a sigh. "This is also my fault—I couldn't firmly refuse the demands of the Conclave."
The conflict between the Conclave and Satan Leohart had reached a boiling point. Beyond formally splitting into two factions and igniting war, their contradictions were almost entirely out in the open.
At this stage, demon families lacking sufficient strength and foundation could no longer remain neutral.
Though Ramusas actually sided with Leohart, he wasn't foolish enough to stick his neck out at such a time.
While the Conclave might not be able to defeat Satan Leohart, dealing with Ramusas would be simple enough.
"Uncle, there's no need to blame yourself. We had some suspicions even before coming here."
Seeing Ramusas's stance, Mio Naruse and Lucia exchanged glances, finally confirming his position.
Due to his connection with the former Satan Wilbert, Ramusas's status remained particularly sensitive.
Setting aside the Conclave, even the current Satan Leohart viewed him with caution.
Before Mio Naruse appeared, Ramusas was, in a sense, the only demon with a legitimate claim to contend for the throne of Satan.
Since he pleased neither side, Ramusas had always acted with extreme caution, rarely even stepping outside his estate.
He participated in neither major nor minor affairs of the Demon King's Castle.
Despite this, the nearby residents and household servants still held him in high regard, and his reputation among noble demons was relatively favorable.
Not wanting her uncle to dwell in guilt, Mio Naruse hinted at their plans.
"We came prepared this time, so you needn't worry."
"You mean Sheila?"
Ramusas shook his head. "She is indeed familiar with the Demon King's Castle and has some connections, but that's not enough to oppose the Conclave."
In a way, Sheila was also his sister-in-law, so they had interacted before and understood each other's capabilities to some extent.
"Hmm..." Mio pondered briefly before stating confidently, "Uncle Ramusas, just trust us on this."
As expected, Haruto in his black cat form went completely unnoticed.
Even if the Conclave had people watching Sheila, they would never suspect that the greatest threat would come from that lazy, adorable cat nestled comfortably between Sheila's soft breasts.
Though puzzled by Mio's confidence, Ramusas wisely refrained from pressing further.
It wasn't that Mio was withholding information—she and Lucia weren't entirely clear on Haruto's plans either.
Their role was merely to play their parts, stabilize the Conclave members, lure out the old demons, or wait for Haruto to find them first.
As for Haruto's motives or what he stood to gain, they neither knew nor cared.
Beyond this objective, Mio's return was genuinely to visit her uncle and see the place where her parents once lived.
Indeed, Ramusas's mansion was also inherited from Wilbert.
Before Wilbert became Satan, he lived in this very mansion.
Seeing this, Ramusas couldn't help but smile wryly, feeling some of the pressure in his heart dissipate.
"Alright, get ready. Tomorrow we'll go to pay our respects to His Majesty the Demon King."
"So soon?" Mio Naruse exclaimed in surprise.
Ramusas chuckled. "What did you expect? Did you really think this was just an invitation to visit family?"
Mio and Lucia exchanged glances before nodding in agreement.
It wasn't a big deal—Haruto had promised them he would return tonight to share information from both sides.
As long as Haruto was with them, they feared nothing, even if it meant descending into the abyss.
The night in the Underworld wasn't much different from the human world, except that the moon appeared slightly larger.
In the vast, boundless Three Realms where the sky was round and the earth square, Haruto's previous astronomical knowledge had become completely useless.
"Sheila, why is the moon in the Underworld sometimes red?"
Rolling over on Sheila's soft chest, causing the pseudo-loli's delicate body to tremble, Haruto—in cat form—spoke in human language, his curiosity evident.
The Succubus Queen, dressed in an elegant gown like a noble lady, glared at the black cat on her chest and explained, "Even in the Underworld, the red moon doesn't appear every time. It almost only appears during a full moon, and its appearance often foreshadows some major event."
Haruto recalled his duel with that useless phoenix—the red moon had been present then.
The debut of the strongest Red Dragon Emperor, coupled with the crippling of the third son of the Phenex family, certainly qualified as a major event.
Then there was the time during the Three Factions Summit when the White Dragon Emperor and the Khaos Brigade showed up to cause trouble, sparking a great battle.
Though back then, it was likely due to a barrier that the human world's moon was influenced by the Underworld's, appearing red.
Unlike ordinary cats with their amber eyes, Haruto's sapphire-like vertical pupils instinctively glanced toward the moon in the night sky, its edges tinged with a faint red glow.
It seemed the next blood-red full moon wasn't far off.
Thinking this, Haruto nimbly shifted his position within Sheila's gown, earning a coquettish complaint of dissatisfaction from the Succubus Queen who loved acting childish.
The soft paw pads and smooth, silky fur gliding over her skin felt even more sensitive to her than Haruto's human touch.
Completely ignoring Sheila's displeasure, Haruto instead retorted, "Well, whose fault is it that you don't even wear underwear when going out?"
Though petite in stature, Sheila had a childlike face and ample bosom.
Being a succubus with an open personality, she preferred comfort and never wore underwear at home.
Besides, with Haruto being the only male around, Sheila considered it an achievement just to resist the temptations of her bloodline. She didn't mind him taking some liberties.
After Haruto broke through to god-class, his dual cultivation abilities and bloodline were enhanced, significantly increasing his appeal to her.
If she hadn't already mastered her succubus powers with perfect control, Sheila would have actively tried to sneak into his room the day Haruto returned from the Underworld.
Of course, whether this had anything to do with Lucia and Maria clinging to Haruto every day remained unknown.