Xiandre lay naked on the wide bed, glancing to his side. Amelia was asleep, also naked, hugging him tightly with a soft smile on her face — completely satisfied.
"Looks like we kept going for the last eight hours," Xiandre muttered.
He carefully got out of bed, grabbed a towel from the closet provided by the room, and stepped into the bathroom. He sat quietly in the bathtub, deep in thought, staring up at the ceiling.
"Soon, we'll climb our way out of here... and make those people regret sending us down. Especially that princess and that goddess," Xiandre said to himself.
"But honestly... do we really have the potential to defeat a goddess? I know we beat the rulers of Hell, but a goddess is in a whole different league."
He paused for a moment, looking at his hand underwater.
"Though... maybe gods and goddesses in this world aren't as all-powerful as the ones in scripture. Maybe they're just rulers with enough authority to seem like deities."
After finishing his bath, Xiandre dried himself off and prepared a hot soak for Amelia. He glanced at the mirror and frowned.
"My skin..." he whispered.
Moving closer to the mirror, he gritted his teeth.
"I'm not human anymore," he said, rubbing his gray cheek with his fingers. His once-dark hair was now pale white, just like his undead skin.
He sighed, grabbed his towel, and stepped out of the bathroom. Amelia was still fast asleep.
"She's a sleepyhead," Xiandre said, approaching the bed.
"Amelia, wake up," he said softly.
She rolled over, mumbling, "Five more minutes..."
Xiandre chuckled as he grabbed clothes from the closet placing his towel to his shoulder and began dressing, still wearing his old school uniform. He glanced at Amelia's own uniform just below his.
"We really should get new clothes," he muttered.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a few glittering gems.
"Took some diamonds back at the Greed floor. Figured they'd come in handy once we got out of there," he said to himself.
He approaches Amelia and leaned down over her and gently kissed her forehead.
"Amelia, I love you," he whispered.
Her eyes fluttered open, and she smiled, meeting his gaze. "I love you too," she said, kissing him back softly.
He pulled back and pointed at the bathroom. "I prepared hot water for you. Go ahead and wash up."
"Thanks," she replied, stretching with a yawn. Her bare body was fully on display top to bottom, and Xiandre couldn't help but stare.
Amelia noticed, smirked, and said, "Pervert."
She stood, took the towel from Xiandre's shoulder, and walked into the bathroom.
"You're one to talk," Xiandre replied. "You're the one flaunting your petite body."
As Amelia entered the bathroom, Xiandre moved to the window, staring down at the chaotic city of Hell.
"This place... it's not exactly how scripture described it. No lakes of fire. No eternal darkness and suffering... at least not everywhere."
He thought back.
"Maybe those descriptions were from what Hell used to be. The Sloth floor had that eternal darkness. The Wrath floor had those never-ending flames. It's like the scriptures were describing Hell's history, not its present."
Just then, Xiandre spotted a familiar face — Morn, entering the hotel below.
Xiandre narrowed his eyes but kept calm. He continued looking out, watching black crows circling above the city.
Loud banging and moaning echoed from the rooms next door.
"I keep forgetting this place is a love hotel," Xiandre muttered. "Guess Morn's looking for some love too?"
A moment later, Amelia stepped out of the bathroom, her skin glistening and hair damp, giving her a radiant, almost angelic look. Her eyes sparkled like gems.
Xiandre was momentarily stunned.
Amelia noticed and smirked. She walked to the window beside him.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked.
She smells amazing, Xiandre thought before replying, "Just wondering when we'll finally get some new clothes."
"Hm? Soon, I guess. It's not that big of a deal right now," she replied, opening the closet and pulling out her school uniform.
As she got dressed, she glanced over at Xiandre and smiled.
"Shall we head off?" she asked.
"Yeah," he said with a nod.
Xiandre approached the exit door. Opening it, he found Morn standing outside.
"Morn? What are you doing here?" Xiandre asked.
"Well, as you can see, I found out you two actually managed to defeat the Six Deadly Sins of Hell and are trying to escape out of here by defeating Lucifer," Morn explained. "And while I was being taken to my cell yesterday, Paimon told me to bring you both to Tubal-cain and be your guide through the city of Hell."
"I see. But how did you find out we were here?" Xiandre asked calmly.
Morn fell silent for a moment, looking down. Then he looked back up at Xiandre and replied, "When I was being dragged by the guards yesterday, it was already getting late. I noticed a hotel in the distance, so when Paimon told me to bring you two to Tubal-cain, I figured you'd be there. When I asked the person at the counter about the names Kian and Elaina, he immediately told me your room."
"I see." Xiandre's eyes turned serious for a moment before he nodded calmly, smoothing away the expression. "So who exactly is Tubal-cain?"
"Tubal-cain is the best blacksmith in Hell!" Morn exclaimed.
"Does he sell clothes?" Amelia asked from behind.
"No, but I can take you to Velmora. She's one of the best merchants here and sells the finest clothing — just like what I'm wearing now," Morn said proudly.
"Your typical magician's outfit?" Xiandre asked.
"Yes," Morn replied.
"I see, but we don't have any currency to use here yet, so we really can't afford anything at the moment," Xiandre explained.
"No need to worry," Morn said, tossing Xiandre a bag of coins.
Xiandre opened the bag and looked inside. The coins were made of black stones, shimmering with a dark aura.
"What kind of currency is this?" Xiandre asked.
"It's made from infernite stones — forged with molten soul and agony," Morn explained.
"I see, thanks," Xiandre replied.
"No problem," Morn said.
"Let me see." Amelia took the bag from Xiandre and examined the coins closely.
"Alright, shall we head to the blacksmith first or the best clothing merchant?" Morn asked.
"We should get clothes first. These uniforms aren't really suitable," Xiandre answered.
"Alright then, let's go!" Morn said, leading the way.
Xiandre and Amelia followed him out of the hotel as Morn guided them through the city of Hell.
As they walked, Amelia pointed at a nearby shop.
"Xiandre—look," Amelia said.
"Hm?" Xiandre looked where she was pointing, along with Morn.
"Oh, why don't the three of us stop by? The Restaurant of Lucifeast is one of the best in all of Hell," Morn suggested.
They entered the restaurant together and were greeted by the host.
"Oh, greetings to you three! Let me lead you to your seats," the host said warmly.
They were seated in a corner next to a window. Shortly after, the waitress approached.
"What will you three have?" she asked calmly but firmly.
"What would you two like?" Morn asked Xiandre and Amelia.
"Can you order for us? We want something delicious, a very sweet drink, and maybe something a little intimate — just for me and Kian," Amelia replied with a smile.
"Of course," Morn said, turning to the waitress. "We'll have a large Crimson Velvet and one small one and three Elysium's Bane, with roasted behemoth ribs."
"Thank you for your order," the waitress said, writing it down and walking away.
As they waited, Amelia spoke softly.
"Kian, did you know this is actually our first date?"
"That's true. Can't believe we have a third wheel with us," Xiandre teased.
"Hey, I'm here, you know! But yeah, maybe I really am a third wheel — or maybe I'm just your guide," Morn said defensively.
"Whatever you say," Xiandre replied with a grin.
Xiandre glanced out the window, noticing a black figure standing across the street. Immediately, he knew who it was.
The figure's dark skin was stretched tight, with a mouth all over his body. Chains wrapped around its legs, coiled up to its neck as it stared directly at them.
"Beelzebub… He's just standing out there. No doubt he's plotting something—or maybe he's trying to warn me," Xiandre thought.
He turned to look at Amelia, who sat beside him, engrossed in Morn's story about the history of Lucifeast. Neither of them had noticed the figure.
Xiandre glanced back toward the street—but Beelzebub was gone.
"Xiandre, are you okay? What were you looking at?" Amelia asked, glancing out the window.
"Hm? Nothing. I might have just imagined it," Xiandre replied calmly.
"Were you looking at someone across the street?" Morn asked with a grin.
"Did you see him too?"
"Unfortunately not," Morn shrugged. "Anyway, as I was saying—this restaurant was one of the first ever built in the final layer of Hell. And it's known for its incredibly unique dishes."
Their food finally arrived—carried by a sharp-eyed waitress. As she set the plates down, Morn gave her a playful slap on the butt.
"Greeting, Ixalia! I thought you were off duty today," he said with a grin.
Ixalia kicked Morn in the face and slammed his head onto the table with a stomp.
"Who the fuck told you that you could touch me like that, pervert?!" she snapped.
"I-I'm sowwy..." Morn mumbled, his face still pressed to the wood.
Ixalia turned her gaze to Xiandre and Amelia, noticing their school uniforms and lack of horns—unlike the rest of the sinners.
"Oh? And who are these people you invited?" she asked, suspicious.
Morn peeled his face off the table and straightened up, now wearing a proud smile. "Huhu, these two are people who defeated the six of the deadly sins rulers. They're new arrivals—fresh out of the previous world's exit door."
Ixalia froze. "Oh? So you're telling me these two randoms are stronger than the Overlords?!"
Her voice echoed through the restaurant, catching the attention of every customer nearby.
"Eh—! I mean, haha, these two are totally just… normal customers," she added quickly, waving her hands and flashing a nervous smile.
The other diners shrugged it off and resumed their meals.
"Don't shout it like that, Ixalia," Morn muttered.
"Sorry..." she replied sheepishly.
"This is Amelia and Xiandre," Morn said, gesturing to them.
Xiandre and Amelia both shot Morn a sharp look. The damage was done.
"Hi there. Amelia, Xiandre—it's nice to meet you both," Ixalia said, sensing the tension.
Silence fell between them.
"Uh... did I say something wrong?" Ixalia asked, puzzled.
"It's nothing," Morn said quickly, just as one of Ixalia's coworkers called her over.
"Sorry, I'm being summoned. I'll be back," she said, walking off.
The silence remained. Xiandre sighed.
"Interesting, isn't it? Just one sentence, and the whole atmosphere shifts."
"Y-yeah..." Morn muttered.
"It seems our real names were already familiar to you," Amelia said, voice calm but firm.
"Well... Paimon told me," Morn admitted.
"I see. Is that so?" Xiandre replied, his expression unreadable.
"Yeah, that's the reason. I promise," Morn added quickly.
"Alright," Xiandre said, offering his hand. "Sorry for lying and giving you an alias."
Morn took it. "Nah, it's alright. In Hell, you can't afford to trust people too easily."
"Thanks for understanding," Xiandre said.