First Demonic Dragon

Kaela listened to all of her adoptive father's story as if it were a fantastical motion picture unfolding right before her very twinkly eyes.

It wasn't often that she got to hear about her father's work directly from the source himself. Usually she was only hearing retellings from the cooks or maids.

It was cool to have a guardian who was an actual monster hunter and led one of the strongest forces in the multiverse.

However, she couldn't help but notice there was something about the story that was a little bit less grandiose compared to the rest of the ones she'd heard.

"…You got your butt beat."

Shin showed a smile that was not a smile as he accidentally snapped the wooden spoon his daughter had been using to eat with.

"…I most certainly did not." He defended.

"Did too."

"That dragon got lucky once! It will not happen again."

Kaela stared at her father with particularly big eyes and a scowl.

"…Papa is a bully."

"E-Excuse me?!"

"Sounds like he just wanted to go home to me." Kaela defended. "You could have let him go home."

"So that he could have eventually returned to the any world he wanted to wreak havoc on us all??"

"Maybe he just wanted to go home to eat toaster strudels." Kaela shrugged.

Shin stared at his daughter with unveiled suspicion.

"… Are you sure he's the one who wants to eat toaster pastries?"

Kaela shrugged again, significantly less innocently this time.

Ordinarily, Director Shin would have would lecture her on excessive sugar in her diet, but this time was a bit different.

Since they were both going to be stuck at home for a while, maybe it would pay to adjust his approach a bit differently.

The way his father did with him.

"… I too believe that I would like a toaster strudel."

Kaela felt elated.

Her father lifted her out of bed and into his lap and he wheeled the two of them towards the door.

They had almost left the room when the door slid open once again to reveal a new face.

She wore the standard white shirt, brown coat and slacks that members of the order usually wore.

Her bright olive skin was soft and blemish free, as was the delicate black hair that fell down her back.

She had warm eyes with a small trace of mischief hidden within their brown undertones.

"I heard someone was feeling a little under the weather today. Looks like you're getting the VIP treatment, huh?"

"Big sister!" Kaela threw up her arms with glee.

Shin could not help but noticing that at the moment Branch Leader Fiona entered the room, he ceased to be interesting to his young daughter.

He had already been notified through several reports of their close relationship, but this was the first time he actually had a problem with it.

"Good afternoon, Director." Fiona smiled and offered a crisp salute. "I'm glad to see you're recovering well."

Shin stuffed down his unwarranted hostility so that he could atleast pretend to be an incorruptible superior.

"…I thank you for that, Branch Leader."

"Awh, so formal."

"When you're in your browns, I will refer to you by your station only. Nothing else."

"Her name is Fi-Fi!" Kaela reprimanded.

"Not right now it isn't."

""Fi-Fi!"" The girls cheered in unison.

"What did I just say?"

""FI-FI!""

Director Nagumo plucked Kaela back from Fiona and took her into his lap.

"Ahem… My daughter and I were just about to go and procure a treat from the kitchen. You are free to join us for a moment before returning to your duties."

Fiona rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Oh? Welllll, I suppose I might be able to spare the time."

"Yes..!" Kaela cheered quietly.

Once again, Director Nagumo felt as if his special bonding time with his daughter was being intruded upon.

Kaela crawled out of his lap once again and took her big sister's hand; intending to lead the way.

As if a god had finally decided to answer Director Shin's prayers, a small buzzing sound suddenly came from Fiona's coat pocket.

She checked her phone with a grimace before letting out an annoyed groan.

"Sorry, guys. Seems like im going to have to head downstairs to handle a bit of desk work first."

"Aww…" Kaela visibly deflated.

"I'm surprised you're not trying to put it off…" Shin muttered under his breath.

"What was that?"

"I said I should learn how to play golf. Be sure to work hard for the order."

Shin snatched up Kaela a third time to position her in his lap. He then proceeded to wheel out of the room before she could run away and ruin their plans again.

Fiona watched them depart with a bit of a melancholic look on her face.

How nice would it be if she had been adopted by the Director instead of that young girl.

Being heir to the order seemed nice and everything, but having a father and a real mentor seemed nicer still.

- Tehom.

Abaddon didn't know how long he'd been asleep for.

When his eyes fluttered awake, he was in the same position as before. Lying on his back on the tatami floors of their private dojo.

Lately, he felt like he was walking through a bit of a fog.

To keep his mind from immersing itself in constant worry, he was almost walking around on autopilot.

He performed any work he had to do with efficiency and finished in record time; leaving him in need of more to do.

He went to go find his siblings so that he could talk to them about their dating lives as a distraction, but they only wanted to ask about him at every turn. It was appreciated, but not what he needed.

He even went to find Satan and sparred with him to truly get his mind off things.

But because he was half-sentient and therefore not being mindful of his current opponent, he ended up destroying Satan within three moves.

It was so bad that the usually bottomless pit of anger, wrath, and fighting spirit conceded after two bouts.

Not happily either I might add…

At the end of the day, Abaddon somehow ended up here; the dojo where Seras spends almost 60% of her time.

It was almost like she was here again.

He could smell her in nearly every corner of the room. Visualize her working tirelessly to improve herself and earn their family's praise.

…Maybe this wasn't the best place for him to be after all.

An animalistic snort suddenly drew his attention.

A large furry beast with a mane of black fire threatened to push him over with it's furry concern.

"Entei..? What are you doing in here, buddy..?"

"We were worried about the master!"

Abaddon looked up at the ceiling and found a large demonic bat hanging from the rafters.

"Should you two not be with your actual owner..?" Abaddon yawned.

"Little master is currently third wheeling on a date with Monica and Straga." Camazotz answered.

"Why?" Abaddon tilted his head in confusion.

"She said that she didn't have shit else to do."

"…Fair enough." Abaddon lay back down onto Entei's soft, but study body.

But he suddenly opened his eye and realized that certain other little beasties were missing from the room.

Namely, Bagheera and Bayle.

"Where are my pets?"

"Asleep. We told them to come with us."

*Grunt* 'They did not care.' Entei confessed.

Abaddon felt a vein bulge in his forehead.

He'd see if those monsters cared about him when he coincidentally forgot to feed them for a week… or four.

"The master smells like depression. Why is that the case?" Camazotz asked.

"… I do not smell like depression, bat."

Entei placed his large paw on Abaddon's shoulders and gave him a cheesy sympathetic look as if to say; 'It's alright, bud. You can tell us that you need help.'

"…That's it, no more television dramas for you or Mira."

*Depressed whimpering.*

While Abaddon was trying to get back to resting, another significantly more annoying individual contacted him.

A dark 'rip' was created in the space in front of him.

Through the opening, Abaddon could see the loathsome face of Maliketh staring back at him.

"…Overlord. There has been a development I thought you should be aware of."

Anger showed on Abaddon's face immediately.

The air around him wavered as if it were enduring a heat wave; and all tangible light in the room was sucked in by his darkness.

"I can assure you, Maliketh.. my mood lately has been an unbearably foul thing. I urge you not to tell me anything that could make it worse or the fate that awaits you will not be kind."

Maliketh was no stranger to Abaddon's immense dislike for not only him, but the rest of the Uma-Sarru as well.

And yet, this was the first time that he ever actually believed that Abaddon would seriously harm him. It somehow instilled even this deathless being with fear.

"I-I understand. I've come here to speak to you about the collection…"

- 15 Minutes Later…

When Maliketh was long gone, Abaddon went back to lying on Entei with his eyes shut.

He would have been sleeping already, if Camazotz was not so determined to keep him company.

"Why does master hate the Mr. Maliketh so much?"

"Why won't you let me sleep..?"

"Mrs. Audrina says you sleep too much and Camazotz responsibility is to be a 'goodest boy' and keep you occupied."

Abaddon groaned in indignation.

"…His body's power is unsettling. I would loathe him significantly more if I could lock him inside a specific appearance."

"Why? Who does the master see?"

"…My father."

"Mr. Asmodeus is indeed nauseating to look at. He's quite ugly." Camazotz nodded.

"Not him, bat." Abaddon suppressed a snicker.

Before Camazotz could ask what he meant, the sliding door to the dojo was pulled open.

Hajun and Kirina both stepped into the dojo while hand in hand.

But the particular condition they were in was alarming to say the very least.

"You two… What have you done..?"