(AN: Yeah... almost 2 weeks for a new upload...

To be fair, I had anticipated I would be able to write a lot more during vacations, but life had other plans.

Really sorry, please do forgive. I had never anticipated I would go on for over a week without an update.

But oh well, a small break was due... I guess?

On the positive side of things, I have been in deep thought regarding some comments I've been seeing in my story and have decided to pull a LOT more action into the story.

With my regrets out of the way, I'll try my best to bring these chapters to you

Without further ado, the chapter!)

'I regret asking'

That was the sole thought that entered my mind as the demon guard began retreating.

"Just one minute into this undesired job, and we're getting intruders? Seriously? Just how terribly guarded is this place?"

I exclaimed as I became even more frustrated by the sudden news.

However, as much as their unexpected events annoyed me, they provided a convenient excuse to avoid... that.

'For now, I'll just focus on myself and what to do now. To be fair, I'd rather deal with Scarlet's 'words of passion' a little later. Or never, if that's an option'

That thought itself just made its way into my head as I tried to organize my priorities inside my mind. And looking at them, none were pleasing, to say the least.

*sigh*

'That'll be annoying."

"Scratch that, all of this will be annoying"

There was no saving this place and this entire journey from being infuriating. We had literally gotten displaced out of our home for no real or logical reason, I had been scolded by Scarlet and Myria alike, and now we were in the middle of nowhere inside a demonic fortress due to Scarlet's strange plot.

'This day definitely falls into my top 5 worst days ever BY FAR'

In any case, back to the main problem, the intruders or whatever.

'Well, to be completely fair, it's not like I'm going to deal with them anyways. I never asked to become a demon queen or empress-or whatever in the first place. This damned place can fall into ruins for all I care.'

I feel the urgent need to emphasize how much didn't care anymore about the teasing sights of Scarlet or Amanda, and to be fair, I only wanted to go take a well-deserved nap to leave all of this absurdity behind.

But of course, as we should all be aware by now, my luck is by far the most terrible thing in existence.

"So new Demon Empress, Reika-sama~, what will you do~?"

I looked over at Scarlet who stared at me, clearly pretending to be oblivious to my obvious displeasure regarding the entire situation.

*Sigh*

I just rolled over my eyes as I switched my focus over to the demons who kept running rampant.

"REIKA-SAMA! REIKA-SAMA! REIKA-SAMA!"

It was seriously annoying me just how much they kept screaming my name as if I was some sort of goddess to them.

As such, disobeying my previous thoughts on self-control, I turned to the demons and vented away:

"SHUT IT, WILL YOU?!"

"..."

Immediately, silence came over the room, again.

Look, it has happened enough times for me to become self-aware or this. They may have gone quiet for now, but the very second something happens, these demons will begin making a ruckus right now.

Let's all be fair here, I've screamed at least 2 more times besides this one, yet these demons will immediately begin cheering me on, again and again, and freaking again.

As such, I think I'll make myself very clear.

I don't care what they think of me, I will state my intentions as crystal clear as I possibly can in order to shut them up for good.

"If any of you dare to speak out of line again, you'll end up worse than a pile of flesh, and dripping mush, got it?"

*gulps*

I just saw a bunch of nodding and heard a lot of saliva being swallowed. I hope they get my point, I'll be quite angry if I have to keep repeating myself.

'Thinking it through though, it seems they listen to me?'

'Maybe I'll try it?'

"Everyone, leave the room at once."

*steps* *walking* *pushing* *crawling*

One by one, all demons exited the room leaving only Scarlet, Myria and Amanda behind.

"Hm, quite convenient, I guess?"

I said out loud, as the huge, heavy doors closed behind them, now obedient, demons.

'Well then, time to set the important matters to rest'

I once again turned to Scarlet who remained having her childish look and Myria who seemed to be dying inside.

It was quite amusing seeing Myria's reaction to all this.

'Who would've guessed that despite all of the absurdity she has lived with us, I get this is it, huh?'

In any case, combining that, and the fact I really couldn't be bothered to remain as the Demon Empress, I asked:

"Well, I really don't want to stay here, shall we leave?"

"Yes yes yes!!!"

"NO~ NO~ NO~ NO~ NO~, BAD IDEA~!"

Ok...?

Two very different opinions?

Myria couldn't be more overjoyed by my words, while Scarlet seemed to be scared of my very words?

"Uh... Scarlet, why do you not want to leave?"

I asked naturally as I tried to make eye contact with her, despite she averting my gaze.

"I... uh... you must take responsibility as demon empress, no?"

Scarlet responded half-heartedly. It was surprising for both, Myria and I, as we sent Scarlet confused looks, which she obviously picked up on.

"I mean, you're the demon empress now, right? A powerful entity that hasn't been seen more than 4 millennia ago! You're special!!!"

Again, despite her trying her best to hide it, she was still too awkward and obvious to believe. I would even call it funny?

"I don't want to though? I really don't care about fulfilling these responsibilities. Besides, if I am 'special' as you say, well then, I don't care. I am not going to be pushed around into ruling over these demons, ok?"

I was not really sure of what was exactly going on for Scarlet to begin trying to improvise, or whatever she was doing, in order to have us stay.

However, despite her lack of confidence or valid reasons, she still remains my friend... despite her many, many, many teases and tricks.

"Look Scarlet, if you want us to stay, give me a valid reason and I'll consider it, but bear in mind the fact poor Myria is kinda dying inside"

I said half-jokingly as we looked at an open-mouthed Myria, who seemed to be ready to pass out from stress.

"Uh... anyways... Scarlet, please do give us a reason, otherwise, I can't do much. Just look at Myria's and my displeasure with the situation."

I said with a friendly tone to Scarlet who remained deep in doubt.

*sigh*

"Reika, Myria, you need to stay. I can't really tell you the reason, but you just have to. I'm really sorry for dragging you into this against your will and even after you stated your displeasure, but I need you to stay."

Said Scarlet softly, and quite regretfully. It was rather sad seeing my friend in this state, but I really didn't want to stay. If she wished for that, she would need to give me a valid reason. I'm really tired of being pushed around after all.

"Why?"

"..."

Despite my questioning, Scarlet did not even bother to give me an answer as she simply turned her sights away from me.

"Scarlet, tell us why"

"..."

Again, same thing. She would not even look me in the eyes, despite me clearly calling out to her.

To be honest, this is getting kinda obnoxious and worrying at the same time.

However, before I had the chance to say anything else, I caught a glimpse of movement in the corner of my eye.

And before I could even realize what it had been, a determined voice cleared the question for me.

"Reika, let's just go"

Myria grabbed my wrist with an iron grip, looked at Scarlet with a frustrated look and began leading me towards the door.

I was caught off-guard by Myria who had clearly become frustrated by Scarlet's constant games.

"Wait, Myria?!"

"Let's just go, Reika. If Scarlet wants us to stay, then she'll give us a valid reason."

"Wai-"

*FWOOSH* *BOOM*

Both, Myria and I turned around in shock, only to find Scarlet looking at us with determined eyes. As she reluctantly spoke a single line:

"If I can't ask you to stay, I'll make you stay."

We were both taken aback. As Myria had been dragging me to the exit, a dark fireball had been shot straight at the door, missing us by a hair's width.

But that wasn't it, after the fireball hut the door, a strange miasma began covering the door, clearly indicating us there was no longer an exit.

I was rather scared and surprised by Scarlet's sudden actions, immediately remembering my heart-breaking fight with her back in the 'Galvan Fortress'

"Scarlet, why are you doing th-?!"

"-Ohoho? You're on!"

'Waih, wah?!'

I simply froze in place as I sharply turned my head to face Myria, who seemed had said some... uh... uncharacteristic words, to say the least?

"Uh... Myria, what are you doi-?"

"-I will make you stay, even if I have to keep you here by force."

I was interrupted again, by a second very familiar voice across the room, who seemed to be perfectly following Myria's intentions. Scarlet was literally amassing magical power getting ready to strike again.

'Just what is going on?!?!'

"Oi, oi, stop it before this gets out of ha-!"

*Fwoooosh*

"Well then, I am rather looking forward to venting all of my anger and stress from today's dosage of Reika's-mess-ups on you, to be honest."

"Hm, likewise, Myria-Chan~"

Uh... I really have no words.

'I don't know if to feel anxious by Myria summoning her bow, scared by Scarlet amassing magical power, or offended by the fact my friends have a daily dosage of 'Reika-mess-ups'.'

In any case, I really need to stop this before it even starts.

"Stop now! You really don't need to fight over something so stupid!"

I yelled, attempting my very best at being the voice of reason. However, it seems things were already too far gone.

"Reika, if she wants to be all cryptic and ambiguous regarding her reasons, so be it. We won't take part in her plans. But she goes as far as to threaten us with magic, I'm retaliating."

Said Myria, drawing her bow back creating a deadly magical arrow in place.

"Please, just stay! Everything would be solved if you just said yes!"

Desperately replied Scarlet, who, despite her helpless tone, held numerous black orbs behind her, ready to be shot at will.

"Why should we listen to you? You decided Reika should become the demon empress, the ruler of a race that has killed hundreds of thousands of humans, despite her specifying she did not want to, and now you want her to stay here and actually act like one? Don't make me laugh!"

Strongly declared Myria, getting ready to let the string go.

"I had to... I'll have you understand through means necessary...:

Scarlet muttered, closing her eyes, readying her barrage.

"No! Wait, STOOOOP!!!"

I yelled, beginning to dash forward to prevent both of them from actually fighting. However, as I approached, Scarlet chanted:

"[ULTIMATE DEMONIC SUMMON]!!!"

"Wait, No!"

I had seen this chant before, and I knew exactly what it entailed. The reason as to why I immediately knew it would be trouble...

*Rumbling* *crack* *Shaking*

Fissures immediately begin forming beneath my feet, as the fancy quartz floor, the shiny jewel tiles and the expensive-looking blood-red rug are all torn to shreds and pieces.

And soon after, all sorts of demons, undead, and monsters begin pouring out of the cracks and the orbs of darkness Scarlet held behind her.

In a blink of an eye, the room was now overflowing with demons again. And while these were definitely weaker than those who kept cheering me on earlier, this horde was nothing to scoff at.

"Scarlet, what are you doing!?!?"

I exclaimed surprised, seeing the horde of mixed monsters and demons who were aimed directly at me. And once again, despite my honest exclamation, Scarlet coldly responded:

"I can't take you both at once, especially you... I'll make you stay one way or the other..."

I remained to stare Scarlet in awe as thoughts and speculation rapidly filled my head.

'Scarlet seems a little too dead-set on this... Just what has her worried so bad? Also, does she not remember I have [Ultimate Demonic Control] now?'

Thinking it logically, I could stop this fight right now, if I really wanted and simply have Scarlet come with us...

But Scarlet never acts this way...

'I'll just play along for now... I'll intervene if things get out of hand though...'

I know I'm probably taking the wrong decision here. But Scarlet seems actually scared and strongly wants us to stay, for some reason.

'While I can't say I'm not the tiniest bit disturbed by the fact she half-tricked me into becoming the demon empress, if she has that strong a reason to oppose us, it wouldn't be that bad to just accept and stay...?'

That was my thought process as I thought about what course of action I should take. However, in the midst of my pondering, I heard someone call my name:

"Reika"

"Huh?"

Swiftly snapping back into reality, who had just called out to me, was Myria. She was not even looking at me, but rather focusing on Scarlet who was already taking a fighting stance before her.

I was unsure of what to say when Myria confidently said:

"I'm guessing what you're thinking, just let this happen. It's not like we'll stop being friends. If Scarlet doesn't want to reveal a secret to us, that's fine, I'm not so strict enough to disallow secrets. However, her ambiguity, the tricks, the lies and the aggressiveness, just doesn't sit right with me."

I kinda knew what those words were supposed to mean, but I'd rather ask again to avoid resorting to my very poor interpretation skills:

"What are do you mean exactly...?"

"Just do not interfere. I'll settle this"

It was exactly as I had thought.

'Well then, seeing as both of them seem to want this... I'll just comply with their wishes. I'd rather remain an observer to avoid my typical nonsense anyways.'

Also, I did not really mind the horde of demons constantly trying to attack me, as I could kill them with little more than the flick of a finger, leaving me enough of my attention available to concentrate on the battle that would transpire before me.

In the end, with that settled, my doubts at rest, and both of my friends having amassed enough magical power to destroy a small town, they finally rushed in.

As Myria and Scarlet began rushing at each other at inhuman speeds.

Each of them holding small beads of their respective magics in the palm of their hands.

And holding nothing back, that struck each other with their amassed magic.

*BOOM*

Lights of all intensities and colors were shot out from the explosion as a wave of dust and ash forced me to squint my eyes.

I kept hearing punches and kicks being thrown around inside of the cloud of ash, and as it began to clear, the sounds I had been hearing were only backed up by the after-images of their intense battle.

It was insanely fast. You could barely tell the great amount of magic that was being used due to the sheer speed. To be fair, with only part of attention, I was barely able to tell just what was happening, and who was winning.

"[Umbra Beam]!"

"[Holy Arrow]!"

"[Obscurum Chains]!"

"[Fire Beam]!"

It was one spell after the other. Explosions running rampant everywhere.

It was only after I finally killed the last annoying demon, that I could really concentrate on the fight.

And what I saw was truly mind-boggling.

Scarlet was running along the walls of the room, as Myria sent holy arrows aimed at her, each missing Scarlet by a few inches.

*Boom* *Boom* *Boom* *Boom*

Each tiny arrow shook the ground as Scarlet kept trying to escape the unending stream of beams, and arrows directed at her.

And surprisingly enough, she managed to do so by jumping off the wall, doing pirouettes in mid-air, and chanting while not even facing Myria.

"[DARK SHOT]!"

A small bead of dark magic was shot off from Scarlet's hands straight to the roof. And while someone might see such a move as a blunder, what occurred next left even me, surprised.

Scarlet used the recoil of her spell to propel herself downwards and generate a rotating motion...

In less than a second, Scarlet had jumped off of the wall and had directed a strong helicopter kick directly at Myria's jaw.

*Booooom*

It was a direct hit which sent gusts of wind across the room, from the sheer force.

However, it was more than clear that, that attack hadn't decided the battle. As Myria immediately followed with:

"[FIRE BEAM]!"

Scarlet was unable to block or dodge as she had been in mid-air while delivering the kick. And as such, she received the full scorching heat of the blast which flung into the air.

But of course, Myria was far from done.

Without wasting the opportunity, Myria drew her bow and fired numerous holy arrows with tiny chains attached them.

And since she was in mid-air... Scarlet couldn't do anything.

All of the tony arrows penetrated Scarlet's skin, allowing the thick crimson liquid, to begin pouring out.

But, while this was already into overkill territory if this were to be performed on a regular enemy...

This was far from a normal battle...

Using the chains that had been at the ends of each of the tiny arrows, Myria pulled all of the ends together...

And with tremendous force and speed, pulled Scarlet back down as she crashed into the floor with overwhelming force.

*BOOOOOOM*

A shockwave once again was forced out of the attack.

It had truly been a strong blow...

But despite all of that, all of the hurting and the emotional weight of this fight...

Scarlet simply stood up from the crater she had created and looked at Myria with a serious look...

And teasingly asked

"No more games then~?"

And respectively, Myria, drawing her bow again, responded enthusiastically:

"Couldn't agree more..."

(AN: Again, I wanted to apologize for the lack of chapters, just know that I planned enough to know where all of this is going, so bear with me ;3;

In any case, I wanted to use this opportunity to get to ask this:

How are you feeling with the story thus far?

I understand most of you have been very explicit with your praise or hate, but I really need the feedback at this point. There will likely only be 2 arcs more before this book comes to an end, so if you want to see something, you need to tell me, please.

In the end, to those who stuck with me regardless of my disappearance, I thank you and hope you keep enjoying my story despite my inconsistencies. ;-;

As always, thanks to those who read, voted and shared. It's greatly appreciated.

Thanks!)