I recommend putting the music on loop since it's really short lmao

Next update won't happen unless I get 5 votes :)

Nozel POV

I came back home, tired from running. Marx had informed me that Asta was back from the mission he went on with his teammates.

He was heavily injured and requested my presence right away. He had told me about strange demonic magic- magic so strong that it surpassed the strength of the Zongratis siblings and their own devils.

Asta had warned me that there was also something going on with Hage.

Maybe the two are connected. If so...

"(y/n)!" I called out. No response.

Maybe she's sleeping or in the dining room areas, waiting for me to join her and the others for dinner.

With that in mind, I walked to the dining room only for my siblings to stare at me.

"Where's (y/n)?" I asked.

"We were going to ask you the same question," Solid said.

I frowned. "She's not here, is she?"

"If she was, we wouldn't be worrying," Solid said sarcastically.

Nebra shrugged. "Maybe she went out to get something,"

I doubted it, after one of my guards informed me that she left after I did after she read some letter from Hage.

I didn't think she'd go, she's pregnant with our kid!

"Damn it!" I cursed.

"What?"

"I know where she is," I said. "Get a spacial mage. I'm going to Hage Village."

None of us knew why she had gone to Hage, but something told me that I should go after her.

I informed only those who should know about the situation and I sped off into the sky on my silver eagle.

"Well, this is something," I frowned as I saw that no one was outside on this warm night. No children were nagging their parents to see the fireflies, no lights on inside the homes.

Except for the church.

Reader POV

I finished helping the two adults get the rest of the children to bed.

"I hope you don't mind sharing a room with me," Recca said shyly. "I know it's probably nothing compared to what you are used to-"

I grinned at the young girl. "Don't worry. My own home back where I come from is half the size of this church,"

"Wow! And you grew up there with your father and three brothers?"

I nodded. "I'm fine, really."

"Can you tell me about the castle?" She asked as she settled into bed.

I settled into the bed next to hers. "Well, it's massive. If you don't have a good sense of direction, then you'll get lost. I can't tell you how many times Nozel had to 'rescue' me."

Recca laughed as I told her stories about the castle and described everything. She was most fascinated with the Royal Library.

I could tell she was fast asleep now. It was around 10 pm and taking care of little kids all day long is tiring.

I slowly crawled out of the bed and looked out the window, only for my jaw to drop.

Standing outside of the church talking to Father Orsi and Sister Lily was none other than Nozel.

I quietly walked down the creaking stairs after making sure Recca was asleep.

"What are you doing here?!" Both of us said at the same time.

"(y/n)! I didn't permit you to come to take this mission-"

"And I didn't permit you to be so damn overprotective of me!" I snapped.

He glared. "I have rights to be overprotective! You're carrying my child, damn it!"

"She's pregnant?!" Sister Lily looked at me with astonishment. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"It's not important-"

"Are you kidding me?!" Nozel was pissed. His voice got louder. "You weren't supposed to leave the royal capital! Do I have to seriously keep tabs on you? You're a woman, (y/n)! You can't-"

I slapped his face.

He went silent and in the glow of the church light, I could see the mark on his cheek.

"You'Re a wOmaN!" I mocked. "Well guess what, you sexist ass. This woman is your wife- and one of the three who defeated the Dark Triad's horrible spell using almost all of my magic!"

The air around me grew cool and the water nearby started to freeze a light red color.

Nozel seemed to notice this. "I know you feel like I'm being 'sexist'," he made air quotes with his hands. "But I just want you and that baby of mine to be safe, alright?"

I said nothing, feeling hurt that he said I was just a woman.

"We'll-"

"You'll do nothing," Nozel turned to the two. "I will stay with my wife to make sure she is alright. Asta has already told me about some strange demonic magic that goes beyond what we've battled before. As strong as she is, (y/n) cannot take it all on her own."

"Who we gonna call?"

(A/n): GHOSTBUSTERS)

"For now, I will be here with you. And when Asta is all recovered, he will join us." Nozel said.

So Father Orsi and Sister Lily gave him the speed run of what they knew so far.

"Around Midnight, the demons like to come out," Father Orsi said in a hushed whisper. "Everyone leaves salt and holy water by their doors and near them at all times."

"Not only do the demons take control of the tatoes and other foods, but the dead are inhabited by the demons and each night, a new villager gets turned into one of them," Sister Lily said in a hushed whisper.

"What about during the day?" I asked.

"It's too risky." Father Orsi crossed his arms and watched as the clock now chimed 11:30 pm. "No one steps out of their home unless if they are armed with holy water. Asta was here briefly and had given us a piece of one of his swords since he got another one. We broke the piece and placed it in holy water. For unknown reasons, the demons dislike his anti-magic."

"That would make sense," I nodded. "And when I used my magic on the demon in that canister..."

"Only demons can fight devils with a somewhat balanced," Sister Lily said. "Wizard King, I'm not sure if your silver magic would be able to work on getting rid of this,"

Nozel himself knew that was true, but he didn't want to admit it. His sole purpose in coming here was protecting me at all costs.

"I don't care."

And so, the curtains lifted up and the ghostly audience clapped as the first notes of the tragic play echoed in the high ceilings of the theatre. It was the first act.

Bonus: