Chapter 3: VS Succubus

Several days had passed since the start of our journey.

Thanks to Cecilia’s combat instructions and our improving party synergy, the adventure was progressing smoothly. I was still plagued by the girls’ increasingly defenseless physical contact, but thanks to <Charm Resistance: Perfect Rejection>, I’d managed to avoid making any disastrous mistakes.

To be honest, as a guy my age, part of me wanted my heart to flutter a little, but my skill completely shut down all temptation, so there was nothing I could do. It felt weird to complain about a skill, but I felt like I was missing out on a lot. Goddess... isn't this skill a little too powerful?

What’s more, for reasons I couldn't fathom, their 'skinship' was gradually getting more intense. Just what were the social boundaries between men and women in this world?

The nightgowns Fiona wore for her 'prayers' were getting more and more revealing—I’d swear I saw the tips of her breasts once—and when Cecilia trained in her bikini armor, she was constantly touching me or pressing her chest against me (though it was mostly just the hard sensation of metal). As for Iris, she’d actually started using me as a literal body pillow. I won't lie; having her modest but definitely-there chest pressed against me was nice.

But... I was starting to suspect they weren't just being "defenseless." If that were the case, why were they touching me this much? The question kept nagged at the back of my mind.

Then, one afternoon while we were traveling along the main road, we heard a barrage of screams and the clashing of blades from further ahead.

"Something’s happening! Let’s go!"

We exchanged looks and sprinted toward the noise.

Emerging from the forest, we were greeted by a scene from hell. A group of burly knights was being utterly decimated by a swarm of voluptuous, winged monsters.

"Ehehe... Big sister, please, come closer... and then call me a piece of trash againnnn!"

"How beautiful... My sword, my soul, I offer them all to you... so please, step on me harder!"

"Mommy—! Pamper me more! I’m sick of the Knight Order being so strict!"

"Is this... a literal depiction of a nightmare?" I muttered.

"Those crests... Is that not the Holy Light Knights? They are famous for being sturdy and noble... I had heard they were patrolling this area, but... what a pathetic display. As a fellow knight, I am mortified..."

I couldn't blame Cecilia for holding her head in her hands.

The knights had dropped their swords and were groveling on all fours with ecstatic expressions before a group of beauties with blood-red eyes. They were weeping tears of joy every time they were insulted.

"This is a mess... Also, aren't those women dressed a bit too... erotically?"

"What are you drooling for, you pervert?" Iris snapped.

"Indeed, Hero-sama... 'Tis quite lewd," Fiona added with a frown.

I was scolded by Iris and Fiona, but I felt it was justified. The beauties were all clad in what looked like provocative black lace lingerie, exposing their ample chests and supple limbs without reservation. Fishnet stockings only served to heighten their carnal allure.

And to top it off, they had bat-like wings and tails... Wait. Wings and tails?

"Those are Succubi! And not just a random pack. With that level of charm... they must be subordinates of the Succubus Queen, one of the Four Heavenly Kings."

"Perhaps they are an elite force sent to charm the Hero...? It seems these knights were unfortunate enough to stumble upon them first."

Succubi?! The legendary erotic monsters of fantasy!! No wonder they were dressed like exhibitionists.

It seemed the sweet, dense mana the Succubi emitted was enough to charm even trained knights. Seeing men look so infatuated with Succubi was... well, it was a hard watch.

"Ugh... For a knight to be led astray by such demonic temptation! I shall show them the path of the true knight!"

"Wait, Cecilia—!"

Ignoring my attempt to stop her, Cecilia drew her sword and charged toward the knights being assaulted. The moment one of the Succubi turned a bewitching gaze toward her, Cecilia’s movements ground to a halt.

"Oh? Does the big sister want to bully me? ♡ Why don't we do something much more fun instead? ♡"

"Ngh...!?"

Cecilia’s dignified expression began to slacken before our eyes. Her eyes lost focus and began to gaze at the Succubus with rapturous adoration.

"Ah... ahh... How beautiful... ♡ To swing a sword at you would be... unthinkable..."

"Right? You should come and play with us too. Come on, take off that stuffy armor... ♡"

"Yes... Please, punish me for my foolishness in pointing a blade at you..."

Her beloved sword slipped from her hand, and her eyes literally turned into hearts. She was about to let the Succubus strip her armor off. This was bad—at this rate, a girl-on-girl theater between a female knight and a Succubus was going to start.

"Did she just suffer a two-panel instant defeat?!"

"It can't be helped! Leave this to me! <O Holy Light, Purify This Soul!>"

At Fiona’s cry, a pure light enveloped Cecilia.

"Hah...! W-what was I...!"

"You were foolishly charging in and losing your mind, that's what," Fiona said flatly.

"Ugh... How humiliating for a knight..."

"It really is pathetic," Iris added.

With her sanity restored by the Saint’s purification magic, Cecilia pushed the Succubus away, her face pale with shame. Still, I could tell this was dangerous. Even she, the strongest of knights, had almost lost her heart in an instant.

"Oh? Is this a new customer? And look, there’s a boy with particularly delicious-looking mana! ♡"

"I won't let you. <Let There Be a Barrier!>"

The Succubi noticed us and fixed their gaze on me, licking their lips. In that instant, a wave of temptation incomparably stronger than before washed over us, but it was purified by the light Fiona generated.

"I won't let you have the Hero!! Kya!"

"Are you okay, Iris?"

Iris was about to fire a counter-magic spell when one of the charmed knights pointed his sword at her. I pulled her into a hug to shield her and parried the knight's blade with a snap-reflex, sending his sword flying. It seemed the training with Cecilia in her erotic gear hadn't been a waste. I could fight calmly even while looking at the Succubi's swaying breasts.

"...Um, thanks."

"Don't worry about it. Protecting my companions is part of the Hero’s job."

Iris turned red and nodded without her usual rebuttal. Wait, I was expecting a 'What are you trying to look cool for?' comment.

"I’ll protect the big sisters!" one knight yelled.

"If I protect them, a reward awaits... I’ll be insulted so much...!"

"They might even become my mommy!!"

One after another, the knights drew their swords and attacked.

"Are these guys really 'noble knights'? They’re kind of gross..."

"Well... knights and clergy suppress their desires so much that their fetishes tend to get a bit... warped," Cecilia explained awkwardly.

"Hero-sama, please rest assured that as a Saint, I am the exception," Fiona added.

Cecilia answered Iris’s jab with an embarrassed look. I guess even in my old world, people in stiff, formal professions were rumored to have the wildest tastes...

"Fiona, support everyone while healing them! Iris, cover us with magic! I’m going in!"

"Hero-sama, a Succubus’s charm is powerful! If you charge in recklessly, you'll end up like Lady Cecilia!"

"Please stop mentioning that!!" Cecilia screamed.

I gave a wry smile at Cecilia, who was howling in shame, and glared at the Succubi.

"No, I’ll be fine. I have my skill."

"Hehe... I’ll give you plenty of love too, boy ♡ So why don't you put that sword away? ♡"

As I approached them, one of the Succubi gave a flirtatious smile and blew a kiss. A sultry sigh that seemed to vibrate directly against my brain shook the air. A sweet, dangerous scent that seemed designed to uproot a man’s reason paralyzed my thoughts.

"Hero-sama, be careful!"

"Their charm is off the charts! Don't look at them directly!"

Fiona and Iris cried out in panic. Their own cheeks were flushed, and they looked like they could barely stand.

While everyone else was being seduced by the Succubi, my heart remained as calm as a still lake. The temptation from before was already being nullified.

They were definitely beautiful, but my heart just wouldn't flutter. Must be the skill...

"It’s okay. I won't be seduced by something like this."

I gave my worried companions a smile and answered calmly as I leveled my sword.

"'...Eh?'"

Not just the Succubi, but my companions as well, stared at me with wide eyes. In that split second of distraction, I moved.

Pulling my physical abilities to their limit, I zipped past the knights who were standing dazed, awaiting the Succubi's orders.

"Hehe... It’s no use acting tough. The closer you get to me, the stronger my charm becomes. Now, become my slave and kneel as a sign of your loyalty... ♡"

The Succubus smiled triumphantly and began to slide her outfit off her shoulders. Her chest, which was every bit as impressive as Fiona’s or Cecilia’s, was fully revealed. I found myself staring for a second, but my head cooled down instantly.

"Actually, how about you guys kneel?"

I accelerated instantly with <Physical Ability Unlocked: Overdrive>. Diving into the guard of the shocked Succubi, I condensed the holy mana I’d gathered with <Total Magic Mastery: Infinity Mana> into my blade.

"<Holy Sword, Strike Down the Wicked!>"

With a single flash of the divine blade, a slash of light swept through the swarm of Succubi.

"GYAAAAAAAH!? I-impossible! A human who is immune to charm...?!"

With their final screams, all the Succubi were purified by the holy light and vanished into dust.

All that remained were the knights, who were coming to their senses and looking around in a daze, and my three companions, who were frozen in place as if they’d seen the impossible.

"I-impossible... Even I, with the strongest mental fortitude in the Knight Order, could not resist... and he was completely unfazed?" Cecilia whispered in horror.

"That wasn't just a simple temptation; it was a powerful mental domination akin to a curse. And yet, he acted as if it were nothing more than a cool breeze..."

Fiona stared at me with a pale face, looking like she couldn't believe her eyes.

"W-what is with this guy?! To not even change his expression against a Succubus...! There’s no way he’s going to get flustered just because I snuggle up to him a little bit!"

For some reason, Iris’s face was bright red as she kicked the ground in frustration.

The captain of the knights stumbled over to me and gave a deep bow.

"Lord Hero... you have my gratitude. I shall never forget this debt. But... to be unmoved by a Succubus’s charm... truly, you are the Hero. What kind of mental training have you undergone...?"

"No, I didn't do anything special. Come on, guys... let’s go."

I smiled, laughing a bit on the inside since it was all thanks to my skill, and sheathed my sword before calling out to my companions.

"Ah, yes... 'Tis true. It seems even a Succubus is insufficient... Half-hearted seduction will clearly not work on him..."

"As expected of the Hero... I have my pride as a Saint as well. I shall surely make you fall for me."

"Hmph! You’re pretty good. But I’m definitely going to make you head-over-heels for me!"

For some reason, the girls all looked at me with complex expressions, their eyes burning with a new sense of resolve.

★★★

After defeating the swarm of Succubi, we took a room at a nearby inn under the guidance of the knights.

Thanks to the knights' heartfelt gratitude and their providing us with the highest-quality inn, I was finally able to sleep in a soft bed for the first time in a while.

"Man, my <Charm Resistance: Perfect Rejection> is even more powerful than I thought. To not even flinch against a Succubus... My only goal was to avoid becoming like my brother, but still..."

Alone in my room, I was looking back on the day’s events.

"But... that sensation I felt when the Succubi attacked... it was the same feeling I get when Fiona and the others come to my room... No way, are they trying to charm me too? Like some kind of honey trap...?"

Weren't they acting out of concern for me as companions? I was happy to see them in their erotic outfits or have them hug me, but if it was all calculating, that was a lonely thought. To wash away the fatigue of the journey, I crawled into bed early.

"Oh, but I guess no one’s coming today. Well, it’s nice to be able to sleep peacefully once in a while..."

Usually, someone would visit me, but it seemed tonight was an exception. I figured they were probably exhausted from the battle. With that thought, I fell into a deep sleep.

★★★

Fiona was standing before the mirror in her room.

Having finished her bath, she was wearing her usual thin nightgown. The lustrous silk fabric clearly reflected the lines of her voluptuous body. Normally, she had absolute confidence in her appearance. But...

"...Even the demonic charm of a Succubus couldn't reach his heart... and no matter how many times I tempt him, the Hero shows no interest in me."

Looking at her reflection, Fiona bit her lip.

The iron-clad defense Kamiya always showed was beginning to shake the very foundation of the 'Saint Fiona' persona she had built up until now.

That was why she’d briefly dropped her barrier earlier—to observe how Kamiya would react to the Succubi's charm. But even that had been pointless.

In her mind, the audience with the Pope on the day she left the church flickered back to life.

'Fiona. Your beauty and sanctity are treasures granted by God. You must use those treasures to capture the Hero’s heart. For the prosperity of the Church, you must secure his lineage... You understand, do you not?'

A voice that was solemn, yet carried an undeniable pressure. She had never been in a romantic relationship before and felt some resistance, but she couldn't refuse.

"I thought it would be better than going back to that life... but still."

A self-deprecating chuckle escaped her lips.

Until now, she’d been able to get anything she wanted just by smiling behind her perfect mask of a 'Saint.' But the Hero, the one who mattered most, wouldn't even look at her.

"...It seems half-hearted measures will not suffice."

The version of her in the mirror gave a provocative smile.

"I see. If my charms and beauty as a Saint are not enough... then I shall use my knowledge as a Saint. It is an aphrodisiac, but it shouldn't make him too wild... Hehe. Just you wait, Hero-sama. I shall surely make you feel the urge, and I will make it so you cannot live without me."

She let out a breath and picked up an incense she had formulated, wearing a bewitching smile. She grinned as she imagined the look on Kamiya’s face when he would later come to her, begging to do 'something erotic.'

★★★

Meanwhile, Cecilia was silently maintaining her beloved sword in her room.

Her hands were steady as she wiped the blade with an oil-soaked cloth. However, her mind was in turmoil.

"...It was not mental fortitude. That was a conversation on an entirely different level."

Her face reflected in the blade was filled with bitterness.

A Succubus’s charm is a direct attack on the mind. Those who have trained their spirit should be able to resist it. And yet, while even she, the 'strongest in the Knight Order,' had fallen in an instant, he had brushed it off with a cool face.

"It is as if the very concept of temptation does not exist to him... The bikini armor I wore at the cost of my shame must have looked like nothing more than mere protective gear to him... Ugh... if that’s the case, was I not just an exhibitionist...?"

Along with the shame, the pressure of her mission weighed heavily on her shoulders. Before she left, the King’s strict order echoed in the back of her mind.

'Cecilia, you are the strongest knight of my house. But as a woman, you cannot inherit the title. Therefore, you must use every ounce of your feminine charm to ensnare the Hero. To bear his child is your greatest mission! Only the union of the strongest knight and the strongest Hero is worthy of our bloodline!'

She acted like a knight, but she was ultimately the daughter of a noble. To disappoint her father’s expectations meant death. But currently, she couldn't see even a hint of progress toward her mission.

"...'Tis a humiliation. I am suffering an utter defeat, not as a knight, but as a woman..."

She ground her teeth. Beside her, the aforementioned True Records: Night Warfare Tactics for Beauties Who Topple Nations lay open. The pages detailing the more practical and extreme techniques—the ones she had averted her eyes from until now—seemed to be beckoning her.

"...Knightly pride, womanly shame... I must forget them all for now, it seems."

Putting her sword down, Cecilia swallowed hard.

"...It is my father’s command. I have no choice... and if I do what is written in this book, surely..."

Muttering an excuse to no one in particular, she picked up the manual. Her face turned bright red with a mix of resolve and shame as she placed her hands on her chest and her private areas.

"Yes... this is a royal decree... Mnh... ♡"

It’s just like training. She comforted herself with the thought that this was merely to make her body more attractive.

★★★

And as for Iris...

"Ugh, what is with that guy?!"

She was hugging a pillow on her bed, kicking her legs.

"To be unfazed even by a Succubus! There’s no way he’s going to get flustered just because I snuggle up to him a little bit! It’s infuriating! Infuriating! It’s infuriating, and yet...!"

Along with the frustration, an unidentifiable anxiety burned in her chest. At this rate, she would remain 'just a companion' to him. She absolutely hated that idea.

The cold voice of the King right after the Hero was summoned and the Demon Lord defeated flashed back to her.

'Iris, your magical talent is national-treasure grade. But that alone is not enough. Secure the superior bloodline of the Hero and lead our nation to even greater heights! Failure will not be tolerated!'

'I wanted to go myself, but... someone like me with no combat ability would only be a hindrance. Besides, he doesn't seem interested in someone with my physique. A shrimp like you is much more suited for the task.'

'Are you calling me a "childish physique" in a roundabout way?'

The words of the arrogant King and a slightly frustrated Princess Loresia echoed in her head. Well, it seemed Princess Loresia had tried to target him for the sake of the country ever since she saw his strength and failed... To be honest, she didn't care what happened to this country, but being looked down upon made her furious.

But more than that...

"...I can't let things stay like this. And I absolutely refuse to let those two get ahead of me!"

The thought of him being smitten by a Succubus made her heart ache. The thought of him being smitten by the other party members made her heart ache even more. It had started as an order... but she’d never felt this way before.

"He was so big... and so strong."

Recalling the time Kamiya had hugged her to protect her from the attack of the charmed knight, a strange feeling washed over her.

It was the first time anyone had ever been so kind and worried about her.

"I can't afford to be shy anymore...! Roundabout methods won't work on that dense moron!"

She sat up abruptly, a fire of fighting spirit burning in her eyes.

"Just you wait...! Starting tomorrow, I’m going to be even more bold! Even if I have to use magic! I’m going to make you mine!"

While her face was bright red, Iris made a firm, iron-clad resolve.

And so, on the night the strongest Hero in history slept soundly, the three maidens gathered from three nations made their respective resolutions.

It was no longer something as simple as 'temptation.' It was the beacon signaling the start of a total war, fueled by national prestige and a maiden’s pride.