"Hey, let go of me right now. Do you know how irritating you are? Ugh, it’s starting to hurt—"

"Just let me stay like this for a bit more. I was afraid that something happened to you. I just need to reassure myself that you are alive and well."

Kaiden kept his grip tight and Shuu gave up on getting free in the end. He sighed and flopped himself back down with a sigh on his lips.

"Fine, do what you want to do. I don’t even care anymore."

Even though Shuu said this, his hands came to pat Kaiden’s back and it made Kaiden smile as well. He could tell that they had gotten a little closer.

There was no way to tell how long Kaiden held Shuu for, but he did let go once he was able to reassure himself. Shuu’s face was red and he looked unable to glance at Kaiden’s face.

Kaiden did not pressure him to speak, but Shuu must have felt awkward enough to speak up regarding his thoughts.

"I don’t think I have ever felt like this before. N-Not that it is because of you. It’s just...no one has ever hugged me for this long before. So it was a little scary to feel all these new emotions."

That was news to Kaiden. So he decided to tease Shuu about this.

"Did that goddess of yours forbid hugs in her domain or something?"

Shuu’s face went even redder as he quickly answered.

"It is nothing like that. No one there was big on affection so we...let things like these go. N-Not that there is something wrong with it, right? Showing visible affection like this is not normal."

Shuu tried to justify the goddess and her actions. He was tripping over his words and it drew a laugh out of Kaiden’s mouth. He patted Shuu on his back to help him feel better.

"I know what you mean. Gods are generally stiff in their conduct because they don’t want others to misunderstand their favor as something more. However, we demons don’t have the same restriction. We are free to show our favor and even love."

Kaiden confessed and Shuu looked shocked at the revelation.

"Is...that so? That sounds nice. I wish I could do the same as well."

Shuu seemed unaware that he was making such a wish. But Kaiden felt sorry for him so he extended his hand toward Shuu.

"You can do whatever you want if you join me. Goddess Astoria is not the only one who can help you out. Why don’t you leave her side—"

"Don’t be ridiculous. The next time you suggest something like this, I will kill you."

Shuu’s eyes darkened and the cozy atmosphere between them immediately plummeted to dust. Kaiden flinched and immediately pulled his hands back.

"You are right. I was getting a little too ahead of myself. Still, do think about my offer."

Shuu sighed and closed his eyes. He made an irritated face, but his heart actually threatened to jump out of his chest in shock.

His desire told him to take Kaiden’s offer and leave the goddess. She had never given him anything that he desired.

But the loyal part of Shuu scoffed at such a thought. He was not a coward, much less someone who abandoned his people at the first sight of personal favor. Suggesting otherwise was wounding his pride.

Kaiden could tell that he had crossed a boundary he was not supposed to, so he quickly tried to backtrack his words.

He let out a startled laugh to show that he was joking and immediately spoke.

"Well, since we have nothing else to do, shall we talk about ourselves and get to know each other a little better?"

Kaiden asked and Shuu sat back down. The air between the two was still tense, but it was starting to get better.

Time passed quickly and before the pair knew, it was time to head back. The door to the outside opened and Kaiden made a disappointed face.

"Well, looks like our time is over. Still, I had a lot of fun with you, kid. Do you want to join my party? I can recommend you and stuff—"

"There is no need for that. I have a place I need to return to."

Shuu spoke firmly before he left. He did not say much and Kaiden let him leave as well. But they both knew that they had formed a bond that went beyond friendship. This one month had made them feel things they had never felt before.

"I will always welcome you if you change your mind. I hope we meet again on the battlefield."

Kaiden yelled as he watched Shuu leave. They both went their own way but Shuu’s heart kept skipping beats. He clutched it to try and calm it down, but it was not helping. He had no choice but to take a small break.

’Darn it! Why am I feeling so much? Just thinking about Kaiden makes me feel embarrassed. Just what is this feeling?’

Shuu asked and the answer was simple. And yet, he refused to believe it and headed back to Goddess Astoria’s side.

He did not care much for her, but the people under her had been nothing but kind to Shuu. They deserved to have their kindness returned by him.

Shuu had a debt to pay to Goddess Astoria for raising him this long. But he was going to leave her side as soon as he repaid this debt.

Then, he would join Kaiden and remain by his side. He had decided that it was the best place for him.

"Y-You are back?"

The guards looked shocked to see him. Their eyes widened as Shuu flapped his wings and finally descended. His wings disappeared and he had a slight smile.

"I am back. Did something happen during my absence? I apologize for how long it took me to come back."

Shuu was sincere in his apology but the pair in front of him shook their heads and their eyes looked worried.

"Kid, you should not be here. Head back out if you know what is good for you. Hurry—! It is not too late to run—"

The gate opened behind the guard, welcoming Shuu inside. And now, there was no choice but to head forward. The goddess was aware of his arrival and she was calling him inside.

Shuu had never felt nervous standing in front of Goddess Astoria before. She had always been someone who had felt like a bystander in his life—someone he noticed but did not pay much attention to.

But today felt different.

Goddess Astoria’s eyes were dark and she was looking at Shuu as if he was a worm not even worth her time. It made Shuu feel odd but he kept his guard up and bowed to the goddess.

"May I help you with anything, Goddess Astoria?"

The female did not reply. She continued to look at Shuu, taking in his personality and his power level before she spoke up.

"When were you going to tell me that you were betraying me? I don’t take kindly to people who try to make a fool out of me."

The accusation was so ridiculous that Shuu felt himself staggering and looked at the goddess in front of him with a wide-eyed look.

"Excuse me, but what did you say—"

The attack came out of nowhere and the goddess’s staff smashed into Shuu’s side. He managed to avoid any heavy damage at the last second but it was impossible for him to avoid that attack completely.

Goddess Astoria did not even give him a reason behind her assault. She looked down at him with a face that screamed ’pathetic’ before she grabbed his hair and pulled him up.

"It seems like I will need to reeducate you before our next big battle so that you don’t get a big head. Someone, come here and help me out."

The generals stood behind Goddess Astoria, now frozen as they watched her temper get the best of her.

One of the generals took a step forward to speak and Shuu felt the hope in his chest rising. But Goddess Astoria smashed that hope before it could take root.

"Be careful that you speak out of that mouth of yours. I am not going to take insubordination well."

That mouth closed within seconds and no one dared to step forward again. It stung but Shuu knew why this happened. No one had the power or influence to attack Goddess Astoria, especially for an outsider like him.

This instantly made Shuu feel lost. But the goddess did not leave him with his thoughts alone for too long.

Her hand touched his cheek lightly and made Shuu shiver.

"Don’t worry too much, Shuu. I will make sure to turn you into the best puppet you can ever be. You don’t have to think about anything else but serving me from now on."