D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

Chapter 1279 1279 Talking Behind Kress’ Back

--- Kat ---

"So… how about we move off everyone's relationships?" asked Nixilei. 

Asteodia, seeing the unimpressed glances coming from Kat and Lily, decided to jump in and add, "What about Kress then? We can talk about his budding relationship right?" 

*Should we let up on them a bit?*

[I think so. At this point they're just stalling but they're at least working together for their stalling tactics so I'm willing to go along with it. Plus, it's at least an interesting enough topic for now. I'm curious about what they'll say.]

"Sure, we can talk about Kress. Who's going first?" asked Lily. 

"I'd like to go last," said Nixilei. Everyone in the room glanced at her with some confusion so she explained, "I know the most about Kress, and I've got a few ideas… but I'm also a bit too close to the problem. So even though I have a lot to say, I'm not sure how useful it will be. Kress' attitude has recently taken a real turn so I might be more lost then you three, even if I do have a history with him," 

"I guess that means I'm going first then?" said Asteodia with a shrug. "Considering I don't know all that much about either of them… I don't know if it can work out. I don't know how restricted demons are… do you have like… special provisions for visiting boyfriends?" 

Kat shrugged and said, "I don't know. That's the sort of thing I'd normally be allowed to look up and get a quick response… but because Stan and I are nominally apposed the system that would normally give me an answer to questions like that won't help either of us. Just in case something it says gives us an advantage," 

"That's… huh" Asteodia mumbled. "I'm actually not sure what I'm supposed to say to that. Wait… does that mean that if an empire is using demons to fight, a good way to handicap them is to just hire a single weak demon so that system stops working?" 

"That sounds… like it shouldn't work," said Lily who looked over at Kat. 

Kat shrugged and said, "I don't know. I feel like it might work, or there might be a range limit. Perhaps a range limit based on the strength of the demon? I imagine it wouldn't be so easily exploited… but depending on what agreement the higher rank demons reached whenever the rule was implemented then it might have holes like that in there," 

"Right," said Asteodia with a nod. "So, with that in mind, I'm just going to assume that there should be provisions, but there might not be, and if they do exist they might not be too generous. Plus, Kress has to travel around anyway so I'm going to say that it could work, but I think the effort is doomed," 

Kat and lily looked at each other after Asteodia finished speaking. *So are you going next or am I?*

[I suppose technically I should since you've met Kress one extra time.]"I think it could work… but I also think it will depend on two major factors. The first is how much free time Thyme is going to give us here after the end of the tournament, and how much effort Kress is willing to put into this relationship," said Lily. "Kress seems interested… 

"And Stan seems willing to go all the way but talking long distance could be a bit of a pain. I think what they need is a nice solid foundation they can work on starting the day after tomorrow. Stan seems really interested… but I don't know if he's ever done something like this before. He was able to say he hadn't to Kat, which implies he's at least quite serious… 

"But I know enough from spending time with Kat to know that you can say something truthful but misleading. Perhaps his infatuation with Kress is unique because it took less time then normal, or that Kress doesn't have red hair, or anything really. So it's a good indicator… but not something to rely on. 

"For the Kress side of things… he seems interested, but I don't know him well enough to know how interested he actually is in Stan. I feel like he's willing to put in the work, at least somewhat because he's stubborn like that. I'm not certain it's something that will last though," 

Kat was nodding along as Lily finished and waited for the others to make their comments. A few moments past and nobody else said anything. Kat flicked her foot towards the two, hoping to get them to say anything, and Nixilei did. "I'm going to hold my own thoughts until last remember, and I can address what Lily and Asteodia have said then," 

Asteodia shrugged at that and said, "Well I guess I'll say that I'm still on the fence like I said, but that Lily's point about Kress being stubborn is a good one so I wouldn't say the relationship is doomed or anything," 

"I guess I'm next then," said Kat. "I'm not sure how much my opinion differs from Lily's honestly. It's going to be a matter of hard work on both sides but I don't know either of them well enough to say if that work will get done or not. I didn't think about the extra time we might have to relax. That could be the decider… 

"But I suppose if I had to bring up my own unique take… I'm going to put forward that things will seem to be working, and they'll keep in touch for the first month or so but slowly they'll drift apart. If Stan doesn't find a chance to visit, that drifting won't stop and eventually they just won't talk to each other. Not sure if they'll even officially break up, just stop talking to each other for weeks at a time until randomly sending a message and thinking 'well maybe' but it won't re-ignite anything," 

"Not sure I agree, I feel like things would come to a head sooner then that," said Lily. "I feel like they're more likely to force the issue before a month is up if things look to be going in that direction," 

Kat shrugged and said, "Yeah. I mean, I did say it was just to put forward my own unique take. I think I mostly agree with you, but I felt it was a good secondary option," 

Nixilei let out a sigh after that. With a glance at Asteodia to confirm her elven friend had no interest in speaking Nixilei did so. "Well I guess it's my turn then. I think you've all got potential with your ideas… and I think it will really come down to how much Kress has changed. 

"You see, Kress has had… I hesitate to call them relationships, but I suppose it's true. He's kissed a few girls, and perhaps a few boys. I admittedly tried not to pay attention to Kress' love life without orders to the contrary, and with none of them ever getting serious I didn't look too closely. 

"I know Kress picked up a girlfriend after talks about Gareth and Green getting together got serious. I suppose he wanted to know what he was missing… but it didn't last longer then a week. It was a bit of a thing at the time. Kress was getting close to one of the maids, but it didn't work out in the end, and while I can't say the split was a happy one… 

"It didn't cause them any professional problems. I'm not even entirely sure who started the argument. I want to say Kress, but I can't be sure. Anyway, everyone came to check out the yelling and at the end of it they'd broken up, though from the rumours I heard they didn't do anything more risqué than kiss a few times. 

"After that, in a bid to… I guess show that he'd moved on he tried to 'date' like six other girls in rapid succession but none of those relationships lasted longer then a night, and at that point Kress decided not to date anyone that worked at the manor… and from there I mostly lost track of what he was doing. Kress was, and still is, a highly trustworthy individual despite his attitude. 

"I also wasn't acting in my role as a spy, but a bodyguard who reported back occasionally. Which is still a spy I suppose, but I was, and still am I suppose, being a lot more casual about it. Sure there where nights Kress came back that seemed like he might have spent time with a girl or guy… but it's hard to say. So… I suppose for this current relationship I really want to see it last a week. 

"If Kress and Stan can manage to build something that survives the week then I think there just might be something to this. I worry that Kress is more interested in Stan because Stan's actively pursuing him… but I can't be certain of that. So… I suppose that makes my unique take 'The week shall decide their fate,' or something like that,"