"THEY DESECRATED MY HOUSE!!!"
It was approximately the one hundred twenty-fourth time Jemina had heard the exact same complaint from Raisa.
At this point, Raisa stood only one minor inconvenience away from committing murder.
Which was precisely why Jemina decided they needed to leave immediately.
There was no real destination for their sudden expedition.
No grand mission.
No proper planning.
Only one objective:
Save their precious Raisa before she snapped and poisoned the Demon King.
A few days earlier,
while Cyrinne and Isaac remained very busy inside the lodge,
extremely busy,
unreasonably busy,
making love,
making passionate love,
making deeply scandalous love,
and then apparently finding enough energy to continue making even more love,
two entire days passed.
Nobody inside the village could endure it any longer.
So everyone collectively decided to go camping instead.
Naturally.
The group sat quietly around a bonfire beneath the cold night sky while roasting meat over the flames.
For several peaceful moments, nobody spoke.
Then Jemina sighed absentmindedly.
"…A normal person would die."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then everyone reacted at once.
Lucas nearly choked on his food.
"Did you really have to say that right now?!" he complained. "Now I've lost my appetite!"
Jemina stared thoughtfully into the fire.
"Don't you feel envious of the Demon King's stamina?"
Lucas immediately turned red.
Completely red.
Even his ears betrayed him.
"I am going to sleep," he announced stiffly. "Good night."
Then he stormed away toward the tents with all the dignity of a man fleeing for his life.
Jemina clicked her tongue dramatically.
"Tsk. Tsk. A capable mercenary on the battlefield, yet still a child when it comes to these things." She turned toward Rosaline with great disappointment. "Are you not frustrated by how slow he can be?"
Rosaline calmly picked up her wooden bowl.
"I prefer him that way."
Then she left.
Leaving Jemina smiling victoriously beside the fire.
"…That girl is progressing nicely," she whispered proudly.
A heavy sigh suddenly emerged beside her.
Jemina turned slowly.
Raisa still sat beside the bonfire looking deeply dissatisfied like a child fuming from having her candy stolen by a jerkface kid named Terrence.
Jemina immediately looked away.
Pretending not to notice.
Unfortunately,
they were now the only two people remaining near the fire.
"I swear," Raisa muttered darkly, "I will rub crushed chilies all over their bedsheets tomorrow."
"And risk blinding yourself?" Jemina replied wisely. "Are you emotionally prepared for that level of damage?"
"Ugh! No amount of cleaning will ever save that house!"
"True," Jemina admitted. "Honestly, we should probably just build another one."
She turned toward the nearby tents where the lamias were still awake.
"What do you think, girls?"
The lamias exchanged glances before quietly discussing among themselves. After a moment, Ayine approached the fire and sat beside them.
"We actually wished to speak with you about that," Ayine admitted.
"Oh?"
"We thought it might be better to expand the settlement properly. The area near the river receives more sunlight."
"That sounds good."
"But we would need to cut some trees," Ayine continued carefully. "And we worried about how that might affect the mudwolves underground."
Jemina waved the concern away immediately.
"The mudwolves barely care about anything happening above them. They can even sleep with their tongues out even with a strong earthquake."
"That is an enormous relief. We also wanted to widen the farming areas."
"And perhaps redirect part of the river so we can begin fishing properly," Ayine added.
Jemina's eyes sparkled.
"That sounds amazing! I'll tell the mudwolves to help immediately."
Ayine smiled softly before bowing and returning to the others.
Eventually,
only Jemina and Raisa remained beside the dying fire once more.
Raisa still looked angry.
Very angry.
"Alright," Jemina sighed. "You're clearly not done complaining."
"Not even near enough. Why are you unaffected by all of this?"
"And now you're trying to start a fight with me."
"That house…" Raisa's voice softened slightly. "It meant something to me."
Jemina finally understood.
That lodge had been the first place where Raisa truly lived freely.
The first home where she did not exist solely to serve someone else.
The first place where she could sleep peacefully.
Nap during the afternoon.
Exist quietly without fear.
Jemina gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Raisa," she said softly, "come with me tomorrow."
"For what?"
"I'm planning to search for more familiars. I'd appreciate your help."
Raisa nodded quietly.
Jemina smiled.
"When we return," she promised, "we'll have a better home."
For the next two weeks,
Jemina and Raisa wandered through the Null Forest searching for new familiars.
Jemina's goal remained simple:
Tame enough monsters that their villagers could finally move safely throughout the forest without fear.
Raisa marked each successful familiar with flower-shaped markings across their fur, scales, or skin so the villagers could distinguish friendly creatures from hostile ones.
The work proved exhausting.
Some monsters accepted Jemina immediately.
Others rejected her violently.
One enormous beast spat sticky saliva directly at her face before wandering away in disgust.
Another screamed at her for three straight hours.
A third stole her food and vanished permanently.
By the end of the expedition,
Jemina looked one step away from death.
Dust coated her hair.
Dark circles rested beneath her eyes.
Her clothes smelled like mud, monster saliva, and emotional suffering.
"I can't feel my soul anymore," she whispered weakly while dragging herself through the trees.
Then,
they arrived home.
And froze.
"What in the goddess's name…"
Jemina's exhaustion vanished instantly.
Before them stood an actual village.
Not a campsite.
Not scattered cabins.
A real village.
Wide farmland stretched across cleared fields.
Fish ponds shimmered beneath the afternoon sunlight.
Bridges connected various sections of the settlement beautifully.
And at the center,
stood a massive two-story manor.
Jemina stared with her mouth hanging open.
"This is INSANE!" she shouted. "Raisa, look! LOOK!"
Then she turned,
and immediately froze.
Tears streamed silently down Raisa's face.
The lamias approached her gently before pulling her into a warm embrace.
Soon, all of them were crying together.
Jemina quietly stepped away to give them space.
A few moments later, Lucas and Rosaline approached her.
Lucas stopped immediately.
Then frowned.
"You smell like aged vinegar and morning breath."
Jemina gasped in offense.
"Gee. Thanks."
Then,
she whipped her filthy hair directly into his face.
Dust exploded everywhere.
Lucas coughed violently while stumbling backward in horror.
Rosaline burst into laughter so hard that tears formed in her eyes.
Satisfied with herself, Jemina walked beside Rosaline toward the manor.
"So," Jemina asked curiously, "how did everything go while we were away?"
Rosaline smiled softly.
"It was peaceful."
"…Peaceful?"
"The Demon King eventually started leaving the treehouse."
Jemina blinked.
"Really?"
"Only for short periods. Usually early morning." Rosaline paused. "I think he only comes out when Cyrinne is asleep."
Jemina nodded thoughtfully.
"I suppose immortal beings experience time differently."
Then she narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"…Did he cause any trouble?"
Rosaline hesitated.
"…Not exactly."
That alone worried Jemina.
"He is actually… very pleasant."
Jemina stopped walking entirely.
Then grabbed her own face dramatically.
"Wait. Say that again."
Rosaline laughed quietly.
"The lamias are no longer afraid of him."
"…What?"
"In fact…"
Rosaline glanced ahead awkwardly.
"You should probably see for yourself."
Jemina slowly looked forward.
And nearly lost consciousness.
Isaac,
fully recovered,
perfectly dressed,
radiating beauty and confidence like some divine creature personally sculpted by unfairness itself,
was walking toward them, smiling brightly.
Very brightly.
Far too brightly.
"You've returned," Isaac greeted warmly. "I was unable to properly thank you before."
The Demon King bowed elegantly before Jemina.
"Thank you for saving my life and allowing me to reunite with my wife."
Jemina stared blankly.
"Oh. Uh. You're very welco—WOAH!"
The lamias suddenly swarmed Isaac from every direction.
"Lord Isaac! Please teach us that technique again!"
"No, no! Continue the irrigation lesson first!"
"You promised to explain roof support structures today!"
"You had him all yesterday!"
"Ladies," Isaac laughed helplessly, "one at a time."
Jemina watched in confusion as the once-terrified lamias transformed into the Demon King's greatest admirers.
"…What happened while I was gone?"
Rosaline looked strangely amused.
"He's very knowledgeable. He taught everyone better irrigation systems, preservation methods, construction techniques…"
Jemina narrowed her eyes suspiciously while watching the smiling Demon King surrounded by excited women.
"I don't think it's just the knowledge attracting them."
Rosaline immediately turned red.
Jemina's eyes widened in betrayal.
"Rosaline?"
Rosaline avoided eye contact.
"Oh no."
Jemina grabbed her shoulders dramatically.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"