The hustle and bustle of the city of Artar never ceased. Adventurers returned on a dusky day, bringing back piles of hunted spoils after the Underworld opened to the public. The Underworld is a treasure trove. While hunting, there was only one question adventurers always asked, 'How could they abandon treasures like this?'.
It seemed, the demon race was not as greedy as humans in the upper world. Demons appeared to guard it, and took only what they needed. Bringing humans into their world was not beneficial to them, truly. Whatever it was...
"Cheers!"
Clink!
The sound of several glasses clinking against one another. The loud thud of glasses slammed empty onto the table was heard clearly, followed by ear-screeching laughter from the townspeople in the plaza. Joking until they danced, together celebrating the abundance of the hunted spoils. This was the result of the first week of hunting in the Underworld.
"Pwah!" Someone slammed his glass down after drinking beer in one gulp from a large mug. "I didn't expect to get out alive from that demon territory." He said in a half-dazed state from being drunk.
"Ah, how foolish..." An adventurer approached with unsteady steps, "Didn't you see how beautiful that world was...?" He chuckled while drunk.
"Right!" Someone replied after tearing forcefully into roasted meat in his hand. "I thought I would hear the sound of terrifying crows, but instead it was birds chirping. This is truly hard to believe."
"Hah..." A heavy sigh from a man was heard. "That's just the outer part. Do you not remember when we went deeper? The difficulty increased more and more, demon monsters attacked viciously, and ah... it was so hard!" He complained.
"Naturally! You're already at a level where you have to request approval from a royal knight."
"Hha... is that so." The man awkwardly scratched his face.
"Huh." The female Guild desk attendant snorted in annoyance as she stretched her waist. "How could it be that during a harvest season like this Louis is busy in the capital instead?"
"Calm down. There too he's not looking for trouble, but rather pursuing knowledge." The husband interjected, finishing pouring a drink into an adventurer's glass.
"W-what is this...?" The adventurer who was reading a letter from his child far away in the capital turned pale. "Louis has been missing for a month?"
The crowd fell silent. Gazes turned to the moon peeking out from behind the orange glow of dusk. Night would soon fall, and on the other side of the forest surrounding the city of Artar, three figures in black cloaks walked until they passed through the entrance to the city of Artar without a guard. They heard a hysterical uproar.
"What?!"
"Hey, is it not possible your son is lying?"
"Right! His father is a liar, maybe it runs in his son too!"
"How dare you! My son Sam is a smart child who will become a hero of the world, you know!"
From the three cloaked figures, one approached his companion's ear to whisper, "Sir... are they truly good people?"
"Ignore it, Sir! Allow me to rub your head and hug you!" All three of them were women whose breaths panted with desire. "You are indeed handsome, but with a face like this you are truly adorable!" She shrieked softly.
"Stay away from Sir!" Lucifer. He pulled back his hood with a hand holding a black scythe that emanated an aura of death.
That woman. Guess who. Yes! Karya. She manifested a silver-bladed sword with a grip layered in pure gold shaped like wings. "You want to fight? Then come." Boldly, she pointed her sword at Lucifer.
"You two, stop." Leviathan closed his eyes as he opened his hood, revealing the form of Louis the angel of Artar.
"Kyaa, Sir!!" Karya dissolved her weapon and shrieked hysterically upon seeing Leviathan in Louis's form. "I must quickly cure this madness before I explode!"
"Karya." Leviathan rebuked with his cold voice.
"Ah, sorry," Karya tapped her head lightly.
"Remember. Karya, you are my fourth older sister, and you, Lucifer, are my eldest brother. Belphegor will be my younger brother. I am Louis the angel of Artar, child of a husband and wife whose identities are unknown."
"Understood, Sir." Lucifer replied after making his scythe disappear from sight.
"Where is Belphegor?"
"Don't look for me."
From behind, Belphegor walked through the mist. His face was not angry, only blank as if nothing caught his attention. His cheeks were puffed out. His arms were folded across his chest. There was no bed, and he was not asleep. That demon was truly walking on his own two feet!
"So it's you, Karya. Boring." Belphegor approached Lucifer so the demon would pat him. "Pat me."
"Don't you miss me?"
"No."
"Shut up, both of you." Leviathan cut in as he covered his face again, "Approach naturally."
Leviathan stepped forward first, followed by the others. The sound of their footsteps drew the attention of the crowd of adventurers. Some of them were surprised, some were wary, and also curious. From a distance that was still far, Leviathan smelled the strong scent of drinks. His eyes caught piles of hunted materials. Lips that rarely smiled curved.
"How could you have a party without me."
Leviathan quickened his pace. People became afraid. Black cloaks looked like a cult. Until, from a close distance, Leviathan opened his hood. He smiled as usual. The townspeople with stunned faces approached. Lucifer was about to stop them, but he was outnumbered.
"Is it you, Louis? Our Louis?"
"You see, he didn't disappear!"
"Thank goodness you're alright."
Louis, not understanding, tilted his head to the side. "Where did I go?"
"You've been missing for a month from the academy."
Louis awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, "Ah... about that..."
The Guild desk attendant looked at the other three people and asked, "Who are they?"
Lucifer bent his back slightly, "I am Lucifer, Louis's eldest brother." He approached Belphegor and Karya, "This is my fourth younger sibling, Karya, and Belphegor the youngest."
"In the end you found them, huh." The attendant's wife smiled happily at Louis.
"Are you the woman who has been taking care of Louis all this time?" Lucifer asked, seeing how very close the woman was to Leviathan. "Thank you very much."
"Ah, it's nothing," The woman flustered upon seeing a handsome face she had never seen smile with gratitude. "Louis has done a lot for the city, so what I did was not something great."
An adventurer approached to put his arm around Louis from the side. "What a coincidence you came when we were holding a celebration."
"Really?"
"Come on, come."
"B-b-but... I have to return to the academy."
"Tomorrow then. I'll have them take you again at dawn."
Louis could only comply. He was helpless against their kindness. "Alright."
The adventurers swarmed to ruffle Louis's head affectionately. Lucifer watched happily from where he stood, looking up at the dark sky and then back down. What feeling was this? A warmth long forgotten. Thoughts spinning with a rushing current became calm. Is this... peace?
"They seem like good people." Karya remarked.
"What do you think, Sir would interact with criminals? Sir is not you, you idiot."
"Like Asmodeus, his face doesn't match his personality."
"What do I care, huh!"
"You all... are annoying."
Lucifer followed Leviathan in annoyance. Belphegor and Karya looked at each other, confused. Lucifer was so hard to understand. Sometimes annoyed, sometimes smiling. As long as it wasn't something bad then it wasn't a problem.
"Let's party!" Karya shouted as she started running.
"Tsk, brat." Belphegor with his arms folded across his chest followed.