Chapter 5: The Land Ruled by Succubi
────Elise's Perspective (Villance Ducal Estate)
Nord-sama...?!
"I just couldn't help myself and followed him, but to think he'd actually elope with his marriage interview partner!" I gasped.
"Elise... you're letting your inner thoughts slip out loud," a voice whispered from behind.
I jumped, nearly biting my tongue. I had been quietly peeking into the parlor where the interview was held, only to be startled by someone suddenly appearing behind me.
"Nirvana-san?! S-Since when were you..."
"Since the exact moment you started peeking through the keyhole," she replied, a smirk playing on her lips. "I must say, you have quite the exquisite taste."
"My! I never expected to receive a compliment from you, Nirvana-san."
"I wasn't complimenting you!" she hissed.
Apparently, Nirvana-san was being sarcastic, but as Nord-sama’s dedicated personal maid, I believed it was both my sacred duty and my absolute right to watch over his every single move.
"But surely you would have done the exact same thing in my position, Nirvana-san?" I pressed.
"Of course I would! I mean, nobody told me a single thing about Nord having a marriage interview. There is absolutely no way I'd ever permit him to get engaged without my explicit approval!"
"Actually... I already knew about it..." I muttered softly.
"What?!" Nirvana-san gasped, her eyes widening. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?! We promised to share everything regarding Nord! You traitor...!"
"No, you have it wrong! I only kept quiet because I was certain Nord-sama would reject the offer anyway... He was absolutely miserable about the whole affair, and he even begged Wald-sama to decline on his behalf..."
"Hmph. Well, it's hard to imagine someone like Nord being swayed by mere outward appearances. Still, this is highly concerning."
"If you will excuse me, then," I said, curtsying.
"Wait?! Elise?!"
Unable to suppress my anxiety over Nord-sama’s fate, I hurried outside to meet up with Mao-san, who was waiting for me.
Inside our covered carriage, Elise, Nirvana, and Mao had declared a temporary truce, uniting under a single, crucial banner: to prevent Nord-sama's engagement at all costs.
Mao-san, who was sitting in the driver's seat holding the reins, flared her nostrils and sniffed the air repeatedly.
"This is weird..." she muttered. "If they were heading back to the Delihera Kingdom, they should've taken the left fork up ahead. But they've taken the right fork, toward the Theocracy of Elon."
Nord-sama's carriage had already sped far ahead, completely vanishing from our sight. However, thanks to the incredibly sharp sense of smell possessed by our beastman driver, we were able to track his exact path.
"You really are amazing, Mao-san," I praised.
"Heh, it's nothing! Though even among beastmen, my nose is considered pretty top-tier."
Ah, if only my nose were as sharp as Mao-san's, I would be able to appreciate Nord-sama's scent so much more!
I closed my eyes, imagining how wonderful it would be to fill my lungs with his intoxicating scent every single day. The sheer joy would probably drive me completely mad.
Just as my heart was swelling with these sweet expectations—
"Kya?!" we screamed in unison.
The carriage, which had been barreling down the road at breakneck speed, came to a sudden, violent halt. Nirvana-san and I were nearly thrown headfirst out of the back.
"Are you kidding me..." Mao-san muttered.
The beastman girl who had slammed the brakes wasn't even looking at us; her eyes were completely glued to the path ahead.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Nirvana-san complained, rubbing her shoulder. "Stopping so suddenly is incredibly dangerous!"
"Sorry. But there's no way I could've kept driving," Mao-san replied, her voice trembling slightly. "Beyond this point lies the territory of the Crimson Demon Lord. Do you girls actually have the resolve to step foot in there?"
"It looks... eerie," Nirvana-san whispered, crossing her arms as a shiver ran down her spine.
Unlike the ordinary trees lining the road behind us, the trunks of the trees ahead bore faint, unsettling patterns that resembled human faces. They looked like the withered remains of Treants.
"So, what's the plan?" Mao-san asked, turning back to look at us while keeping a firm grip on the reins. "Are we turning back? If we go now, we can still return home safely..."
Nirvana-san and I stood up in the back of the carriage, simultaneously pointing toward the dark, ominous path Nord-sama had undoubtedly traveled.
"We aren't turning back," I declared firmly. "Not until we are reunited with Nord-sama."
"I agree with Elise," Nirvana-san chimed in, tossing her hair back. "To think he would dare get engaged to another girl when he already has a perfectly fine fiancée like me! It's utterly unacceptable."
"The only thing unacceptable here is your delusion, Fana," Mao-san scoffed.
"Exactly," I added, puffing my cheeks. "Please stop arbitrarily claiming to be Nord-sama's fiancée, Nirvana-san."
Leaving aside Nirvana-san’s self-proclaimed status, our resolve was entirely unified. We would find Nord-sama, corner him, and demand to know the true intentions behind this suspicious marriage interview.
────Nord's Perspective
Our carriage, bearing the crest of the Delihera Kingdom—a beautiful goddess holding a golden lyre—sped swiftly through the Crimson Demon Lord's territory. Under normal circumstances, a human carriage would have been ambushed by hostile demons within minutes. However, because our driver had pulled back her hood to reveal her beastman ears, we were able to travel down the highway unmolested.
Having shed her disguise as Princess Ottoline, Vermilia had returned to her natural form. She wore the signature, hyper-scant attire of the Succubus race—essentially a skimpy, skin-tight bunny suit that was highly hazardous to my lower half's composure.
"Things have been incredibly strange lately," she murmured.
At her words, my body stiffened slightly. Well, to be precise, my lower half had already been stiff for a while now...
"Following the incident during the hostage exchange, Crimsonia-oneesama stripped me of my position as the acting Demon Lord."
Vermilia's greatest misfortune was having a pure-blooded Ogress for an older sister. Constantly compared to Crimsonia by the ruling court, her self-esteem was tragically low—even though she was actually far stronger than the chibi, larval-state Crimsonia.
The only saving grace was that, despite being half-sisters, the two normally shared an exceptionally close bond. However, with Vermilia being stripped of her authority, that bond was clearly beginning to fracture.
This was an extremely dangerous development. The absolute only way for me to survive this world was to ensure that both sisters survived.
"But surely that role was a heavy burden for you anyway," I remarked in my best arrogant, detached tone. "What reason do you have to complain?"
"No... you are right," she sighed, her shoulders slumping. "It was filled with painful, grueling decisions. After our father passed away, Crimsonia-oneesama carried the weight of the entire territory on her shoulders. I have nothing but the utmost respect for her."
In the original game's flashbacks, Vermilia was depicted as a tragic figure, screaming in agony as she fought a losing battle against humanity. I had accidentally let my true thoughts slip, but she merely blinked in surprise and continued talking, allowing me to let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"But... something wonderful did come out of it!" she added, her eyes suddenly sparkling.
"Oh? And what might that be?"
"I was able to meet you, Nord-sama. I can say with absolute certainty that if you hadn't been there... I wouldn't be standing here today."
Please, stop looking at me with those pure, twinkling eyes!
In the original plot of Rising Hero, the villain Nord Villance had committed unspeakable atrocities against both Vermilia and her older sister, Crimsonia. Fortunately, her affection for me hadn't reached maximum, star-crossed levels just yet. At most, she viewed me as a highly reliable bodyguard, and this display was likely a honey trap meant to keep me invested in her cause.
Well, I would gladly play the part of the foolish victim. I would save both Vermilia and Crimsonia, and then swiftly wash my hands of the Crimson Demon Lord's territory.
Regardless, I couldn't rely on Kain for help in either of their routes. In the game, Vermilia—who was normally the most moderate and human-tolerant demon in existence—hated Kain so intensely that she would attempt to slice him to pieces on sight.
I was about to let out another weary sigh when I realized our carriage was heading directly toward a massive, ancient tree.
Wait, what?!
We were about to crash! I braced myself for the impact, but in that split second, I sensed a massive spike of concentrated magical energy radiating from the center of the grove.
"An Optical Camouflage Barrier, I see..." I muttered.
"Nord-sama?!" Vermilia gasped, her jaw dropping. "Incredible... to think you could effortlessly see through the state-of-the-art cloaking magic we developed by adapting our Succubus dream-sight..."
While Vermilia was busy singing my praises, there was nothing "state-of-the-art" about it to me. I had played the original game; of course I knew the barrier was there.
The carriage glided seamlessly through the hologram-like illusion, revealing a hidden world.
"The Crimson Demon Lord's territory is actually a loose coalition of various tribes, including demons and beastmen," Vermilia explained. "Our Succubus clan governs a major sector of this alliance. However, recently, Crimsonia-oneesama has imposed exorbitant taxes upon our lands and forced us into brutal physical labor that our people are completely unsuited for..."
"I assume you protested?"
"Yes... but my sister locked herself away in her chambers and refused to grant me an audience."
Though they were half-sisters, they were supposed to be bound by a deep, unbreakable love. It was unthinkable for Crimsonia to flatly refuse to see Vermilia.
As expected, someone is pulling the strings from the shadows.
"Because we were unable to meet the taxes and labor quotas, several of our leaders have been dragged away to the capital," Vermilia continued, her voice cracking.
Hearing that made my chest tighten slightly. It sounded suspiciously like the cruel, tyrannical deeds the original Nord used to commit in the game.
"And anyone who dared speak out against my sister's new policies has been thrown into the dungeons."
In my memory of the game, Crimsonia could be stubborn and unreasonable, but she was never a ruthless tyrant who brutally suppressed her own subjects. I stole a glance at Vermilia, whose head was bowed, tears pooling along her eyelashes as if she were on the verge of sobbing.
"We share the same blood... even if it is only half," she whispered. "She is my sister, and I do not wish to wage war against her... That is why we relocated our base of operations here, living in hiding."
"A wise decision," I replied coldly. "A civil war between demons would only bring joy to the humans waiting to reclaim your lands."
"Yes..."
As the carriage pressed further into the hidden valley, the dense forest suddenly opened up. A grand, three-story stone fortress-city materialized out of thin air. Vast farmlands stretched across the valley floor, where Succubi were happily chatting and working the fields.
The only things that distinguished this from a human settlement were the bizarre, writhing plants they cultivated—resembling Mandragoras—and the highly scandalous, deep-cut work outfits worn by the farming Succubi. Their attire was practically designed to be as sexually provocative as possible.
Do they not even have a security checkpoint...?
There weren't even any guards stationed at the city gates. We trotted straight inside without a single question. I supposed they relied entirely on their Optical Camouflage Barrier for safety, but it still felt incredibly reckless.
Just as I was about to question Vermilia about their complete lack of security, the carriage came to a halt.
"We have arrived. This is the Teman Palace, residence of the Succubus matriarch."
As Vermilia prepared to step down, my body moved entirely on its own.
The original Nord Villance might have been a irreredeemable piece of trash, but thanks to his high-society upbringing, his gentlemanly etiquette and physical grace were refined to absolute perfection.
Matching her step as she descended from the carriage carriage, I smoothly offered her my hand. Vermilia blinked, then gently placed her palm in mine.
The moment our skin made contact, her expression underwent a dramatic transformation. A deep, crimson flush rushed up her neck, spreading to her earlobes and all the way down to her legs. In the same instant, a pair of sharp, black horns erupted from her head, and her heart-tipped tail popped out, swishing frantically.
"Vermilia? Do you have a fever?" I asked, keeping my tone cool.
Judging by the heat radiating from her palm, she didn't seem to be suffering from any human illness.
"I-It is nothing!" she squeaked, quickly pulling her hand back. "I was merely sitting inside the cramped carriage for so long... The sudden movement must have sent the blood rushing to my head!"
Well, it was easy to forget since Succubi and humans looked so physically similar, but they were entirely different species with completely different physiological responses. Still, the fact that our species were biologically compatible for crossbreeding was a classic, shameless eroge trope.
As we stood there, a stunningly beautiful woman emerged from the palace entrance to greet us. She possessed long, sleek black hair with straight-cut bangs that reached all the way to her waist. For a second, I almost shouted "Matriarch!" in surprise, but I managed to choke it back. She had a sultry beauty mark just beneath her left eye, radiating an incredibly seductive charm.
"Welcome home, Vermilia," she purred.
"Mother, I have returned," Vermilia replied, stepping forward to embrace her.
As the two hugged, their massive, soft chests pressed together, yielding with a soft, bouncy squish. Thanks to their skimpy Succubus attire, a simple mother-daughter reunion was turned into an incredibly erotic spectacle.
Noticing that her mother was staring directly at me, Vermilia quickly ended the embrace and gestured toward her.
"Allow me to introduce you. This is my mother."
The gorgeous, voluptuous Succubus gave me a deep, elegant bow, radiating an aura that practically screamed, I am here to trap you in a web of seduction. As she bent forward, my eyes were immediately drawn to the stunning depth of her cleavage.
Unfortunately, my primal male instincts took over. To prevent her from noticing the sudden, impending expansion in my trousers, I had to hurriedly tilt my upper body forward, pretending to inspect the cobblestones.
"I am Roxelana, wife of the late Demon Lord Redra," she purred, looking up at me through her lashes. "I am currently a widow, you see. I have heard many grand tales of your exploits from Vermilia, Nord-sama."
What is this bizarre sensation...?
The way she spoke made me feel like a young man meeting his girlfriend’s mother for the very first time.
And seriously, was it absolutely necessary to announce that she was a widow?! I wanted to throw out a dozen sarcastic comebacks, but I knew engaging with her would only drag me into a swamp of trouble, so I chose to ignore it entirely.
Due to the fatigue of our long journey, I was promptly escorted to a luxurious guest suite.
"Your name is Riel, correct?" I asked, looking at the maid standing before me.
"Yes, Nord-sama," she squeaked.
"Are you absolutely certain this is the correct room?"
"I-I am so terribly sorry!" the girl cried out, her face turning pale. "It seems my service has displeased you... I shall offer my life as an apology...!"
Before I could even process what was happening, the clumsy Dark Elf maid—who was even smaller than my younger sister, Marie—drew a pair of incredibly sharp shears from her apron and aimed them directly at her own throat.
"Stop!" I roared, lunging forward to grab her wrist.
"H-Hyah...!"
"I was merely a bit taken aback," I growled, wresting the shears from her trembling grip. "I shall reside in this room. Inform Vermilia that I find it highly to my liking."
"Thank you so much! Nord-sama!" she beamed, her tear-stained face instantly lighting up with a brilliant smile.
Even if she looked like a child, as a Dark Elf, she was likely far older than me. Still, if a young-looking girl committed suicide right in front of my eyes, it would undoubtedly haunt my nightmares for the rest of my life.
Even if this was a temporary palace, I had no desire to turn my guest suite into a haunted murder scene because of a simple, careless comment.
The room’s furnishings were actually quite tasteful, crafted from rich, dark walnut. The primary issue, however, was the center of the room: a massive, highly suggestive circular bed draped in deep violet sheets, surrounded by velvet-textured walls and sofas. If someone were to light some sweet-smelling incense in here, it would be indistinguishable from a literal harem.
And speak of the devil...
"What are you doing?" I demanded.
"I thought you might be exhausted, Nord-sama, so I was lighting some aromatherapy oils to help you relax!" Riel replied cheerfully.
She was currently lighting a small candle beneath a ceramic dish filled with fragrant, bubbling oil.
Using my hand to waft the vapor toward my nose—just like we had been taught in chemistry class—I immediately recognized the distinct, sweet scent.
An aphrodisiac...
"Do not waste your time with such petty parlor tricks," I sneered. "If you honestly believed you could seduce me with something so basic—"
"Ah... Nord-samaaa... ♡"
"What?!"
The little Dark Elf's face had flushed a deep crimson, and her pupils had literally dilated into tiny, vibrating pink hearts. She began waddling toward me with outstretched arms, intent on wrapping herself around my waist.
"You fool! The trap caught the trapper! Dispel!"
With a snap of my fingers, a wave of purifying magic washed through the room. The hazy, violet vapor vanished instantly. Deprived of the aphrodisiac's influence, Riel’s body went limp, and she began to tip forward, heading for a direct faceplant onto the hardwood floor.
"What a handful," I muttered.
Instantly vanishing from my spot, I reappeared right beside her, sliding my hand under her stomach to catch her before she hit the ground.
"I'm shorry, ehehe..." she slurred, offering a goofy, dazed grin.
Tch... fine. You're forgiven.
Faced with the completely innocent, clumsy smile of a pint-sized maid, my annoyance completely evaporated.
"Riel! Oh my goodness, no!"
Vermilia burst into the room without even knocking, her face pale with panic.
"Did you mistake the aphrodisiac oil for the relaxing blend again?!"
"What is the meaning of this?" I demanded, crossing my arms as I slipped back into my arrogant Nord persona. "Are you disappointed that your little seduction plot failed so miserably?"
"N-No! Absolutely not!" Vermilia stammered, bowing her head in a panic. "It was entirely our mistake! Riel accidentally mixed up the soothing incense with the... the courting blend!"
As Vermilia bowed deeply, Riel suddenly snapped out of her daze and scrambled to her feet. Stepping in front of Vermilia, she spread her arms wide as if shielding her mistress from a monster.
"Please do not blame Vermilia-sama!" Riel cried out. "It was entirely my fault! I made a mistake because of my usual clumsiness! To begin with, even though Milady is a Succubus, far from seducing men, her body! And her heart! Remain as pure as a maiden's! For such a pure lady to spend the night with Nord-sama, whom she has only just met—even if demons and angels swapped places, it would still be utterly impossible!"
The more Riel tried to defend her mistress, the redder Vermilia's face became. Utterly oblivious to her lady’s mounting mortification, Riel pressed on. Eventually, Vermilia covered her burning face with both hands, unable to bear it any longer.
"Do you have any idea how incredibly rare a virgin Succubus is, Nord-sama?! It is practically a mythical existence! I saw it with my own eyes! The moment your hands touched outside the carriage, Milady’s face turned as red as a—"
I already knew from my knowledge of the game that Vermilia was pure, but seeing her get this incredibly embarrassed was a spectacular first.
"R-Riel... that is quite enough... Let us depart..." Vermilia squeaked.
"Mmph?! Mmmph?!"
Unable to take another second of it, Vermilia clamped a hand over Riel’s mouth, scooped the tiny maid up under her arm like a sack of potatoes, and practically ran out of the room.
"I apologize for the unsightly display," Vermilia called out, her voice muffled as she closed the door. "Riel is incredibly dedicated to her work, but she is still young and prone to making mistakes..."
"You certainly have your hands full," I replied to the closed door. "Very well. In honor of her loyalty, I shall overlook this offense. Now, leave me. I wish to rest."
"Y-Yes... If you require anything at all, please call for us immediately..."
I turned my back to the door and raised a hand in dismissal. By the time I sank into the plush sofa, the hallway outside was dead silent.
After taking a relaxing bath, I changed into my sleepwear. However, I found myself hesitating to climb into the bed. It wasn't that I wasn't tired, but the massive, circular, love-hotel-style bed was incredibly off-putting. I could have slept on the sofa, but that would only provide a light nap at best. With a major battle looming on the horizon, I needed a proper, deep sleep.
After checking the bed for any hidden magical traps and finding none, I decided to brace myself. I slid under the silky violet sheets and pulled the blanket over my shoulders. Within minutes, my lingering anxiety faded, and my consciousness slipped into the realm of dreams.
"...Nord-sama."
A sweet, echoing voice vibrated directly inside my mind. I slowly opened my eyes to find Roxelana leaning over me, staring down into my face.
"I apologize for intruding upon your dreams," she whispered, her voice dripping with mature, seductive sweetness. "As a reward for protecting our territory, I have come to offer my services. Once our lands are secured... both Vermilia and I shall belong entirely to you."
A dream created by a high-ranking Succubus was an illusion, yet the pleasure it could inflict felt indistinguishable from reality.
However, whether in a dream or in the waking world, my resolve remained absolutely unshakable.
"Do not insult my intelligence," I sneered. "I do not require your 'services' to save this territory. I have already given my word to Vermilia. Now, return to the waking world. I am exhausted."
"But..."
Roxelana reached out, her fingers gently tracing my chest through the blankets, attempting to stoke my desires. But my heart didn't waver.
"Furthermore," I added, staring directly into her eyes, "you still harbor deep affection for the late Demon Lord. If you truly wished to offer yourself to me, you should have at least removed your ring first."
My eyes drifted down to her left hand, where a brilliant ruby engagement ring—gifted to her by the late Demon Lord Redra—rested firmly on her ring finger.
I was not the original Nord. No matter how beautiful a widow stood before me, I was not so depraved as to violate a woman who still held a flame for her deceased husband.
Roxelana’s eyes widened. Slowly, she stepped back, dropping to her knees and bowing her head in a deep, formal posture of profound respect.
"Please forgive me..." she whispered. "I deeply apologize for underestimating your nobility, Nord-sama."
"Hmph. As long as you understand. Now, if you are finished, get out of my dream."
With those words, her figure dissolved into mist.
Phew... now I can finally get some decent sleep.
Despite the bizarre challenges, I closed my eyes once more, drifting into a peaceful slumber for my very first night in the lands of the demons.
Perhaps because I had firmly demanded that Roxelana leave me in peace, I slept remarkably well on that suspicious violet bed. In addition to the fatigue of our travels, back at the Hero Academy dorms, Elise and Nirvana would frequently take turns trying to sneak into my bed at night, leaving me chronically sleep-deprived.
Come to think of it, I never did tell Elise and the others about the marriage interview, did I?
I didn't want to see them look miserable, but it would certainly make my life easier if they finally gave up on me...
Well, knowing them, they probably peeked in and found out anyway.
Though surely they wouldn't go so far as to chase me all the way down here and crash my interview... right?
The next morning, I set out to fulfill my promise to Vermilia.
I had requested that she gather the most capable fighters in the Succubus territory for a training session. However, the group assembled in the Teman Palace courtyard left much to be desired.
Dressed in skimpy bikinis or bunny suits with tied-up shirts thrown loosely over their shoulders, the Succubus recruits were complaining loudly. If you ignored the tiny wings on their heads and their heart-tipped tails, they looked exactly like a group of trendy, popular high school "gyarus."
—"Ugh, seriously? Is he for real?"
—"I don't care how strong he is, he's just a human, right?"
—"Why do we even need him? Vermilia-sama is way more than enough."
Without even glancing at Vermilia or me, they stood around filing their nails, playing with their hair, and chatting. It felt exactly like asking the popular girls in class to help clean up, only to be completely ignored.
Suddenly, I understood why the city gates had been completely unguarded. While Vermilia was desperately trying to prepare for the impending crisis, her people were beyond pacifistic—they were completely, utterly thick-headed and soft from a lifetime of peace.
I had to harden my heart. These girls had absolutely no idea. They didn't know about the agony Vermilia had suffered during the old Elis faction's invasion, nor did they witness the brutal battle against the Black Wolves in Afegao. They were only enjoying this fleeting moment of peace because Vermilia was breaking her back to protect them.
"Vermilia," I spoke up, my voice cold. "You commissioned my services, correct? That means I shall handle things entirely in my own way."
"Nord-sama?!" she gasped.
I had intended to make a polite request, but Nord’s arrogant vocabulary took over, making it sound like a declaration of absolute tyranny.
To my surprise, Vermilia's cheeks flushed a bright, rosy pink.
Did I actually offend her?
"You are the guest I invited, Nord-sama," she murmured, looking down. "I shall take full responsibility for whatever happens... so please, feel free to unleash everything you have inside of me. It is my very first time, so I might be clumsy... but I am entirely in your hands."
Inside of you...? Well, I suppose she meant her territory, which was essentially her personal domain.
With her permission secured, I decided to put some of the magical principles I had learned during my studies to the test.
Explosion!
Without a shred of mercy, I unleashed a massive explosion spell directly at the dormitory where the Succubus recruits resided. A deafening roar echoed as a brilliant pillar of fire consumed the building.
—"Eek?!"
—"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
—"Are you insane?!"
"Nord-sama?!" Vermilia cried out in shock.
I leaned in close, whispering directly into her ear.
"Trust me. Leave everything to me, and I promise you will not regret it."
"Y-Yes..." she whispered, her lips trembling.
If we let the recruits hear us, the entire plan would be ruined. Tears welled in Vermilia’s eyes, and she clenched her jaw, suppressing her shock to place her absolute trust in my hands.
"What is the matter?!" I roared at the recruits, stepping forward. "If you cannot even stop me, you will lose your homes, your families, and your precious lives next!"
—"You bastard!"
—"I'll rip you to shreds!"
—"You're dead!"
The lazy, unmotivated Succubi instantly flared with murderous intent, drawing their weapons—massive scythes, heavy halberds, and twin daggers—and lunging at me in unison.
"If you can force me to take even a single step backward, it is your victory," I sneered. "Come, try to stop me."
I faced their onslaught without even reaching for my sword. I felt slightly guilty for tricking them, but each and every one of them needed to understand the harsh reality of war.
A massive scythe swept toward my throat. I ducked beneath the blade, slipping forward like a professional boxer dodging a punch. While she was a capable scythe-user, her swings were incredibly sluggish and telegraphed compared to someone like Irina from the Euler Empire.
—"Where did he go?!"
—"Behind you!"
—"Ugh, you're so slow!"
Having slipped behind the scythe-user, I stood back-to-back with her. The other Succubi hesitated, unable to attack. If they swung blindly, they would end up slicing their own ally.
"Get out of the way!" the dagger-user yelled.
The scythe-user panicked, flailing her weapon wildly and only succeeding in blocking her allies' path.
Still, I had to admit, fighting Succubi was an incredible visual experience. Every time these gorgeous girls in their microscopic, string-bikini-like outfits lunged, swung, or jumped, their voluptuous chests and hips bounced and swayed spectacularly.
I tried to suppress my inappropriate thoughts, but this was an eroge world—it was literally designed to evoke these exact thoughts. Due to their lack of regular exercise, the recruits possessed a delightfully soft, voluptuous plumpness.
When facing multiple opponents, the standard tactic is to draw them into a narrow alleyway, forcing them to face you one by one. However, in an open courtyard where you cannot exploit the terrain, the best strategy is to stay as close to your enemies as possible, using their own bodies as shields to force them into colliding with one another.
Every single time I smoothly slipped past an attack, their soft, voluptuous curves bounced. It was an endless, hypnotic spectacle of jiggling flesh.
"Everyone, get down!" the halberd-user screamed.
Slave Charm
She slammed the butt of her halberd into the stone floor, forming a glowing, heart-shaped glyph with her hands. A brilliant beam of pink light erupted from the crest, shooting directly toward my chest.
Ah, a mind-control spell that forces its target into absolute submission.
The pink light struck me squarely in the chest, dissolving into my body with a soft impact. With my massive magical defense stats, I could have easily shrugged it off.
Instead, I chose to drop to one knee, placing a hand over my heart as I looked up at the Succubi.
"I hereby swear my eternal fealty to you!" I declared.
Seeing me drop to my knees, the Succubus recruits burst into hysterical laughter.
—"Ahahaha! Look at him!"
—"That's hilarious!"
—"He's like a pathetic little puppy dog."
They had absolutely no idea it was a performance. Because of Nord’s natural physical resistance, forcing my body into a submissive posture triggered intense physical rejection—my teeth ground together, sweat poured down my neck, and my muscles trembled violently, but I desperately suppressed it.
Oblivious to my acting, the "gyaru" Succubi believed they had successfully enslaved me. They immediately began acting like a pack of mean high school girls cornering a helpless nerd—a classic eroge trope.
—"Alright, slave! Take off your pants!"
—"Ooh! Let's see what a pathetic little human micro-rod looks like!"
—"I'll step on you as a special reward, okay? ♡"
I stood up, slowly unbuckling my belt while the Succubi leaned forward, their eyes glued to my groin with bated breath.
—"Hurry up! Don't keep us waiting!"
—"Should we carve a crest of submission on him too?"
—"Ah, that would be perfect!"
They certainly loved to talk.
The moment I pulled down my trousers and undergarments, the girls suddenly went dead silent.
I had completely shattered their expectations.
Using the spatial-manipulation techniques I had learned from studying their barrier magic, I had projected a massive, pixelated mosaic over my groin, accompanied by a glowing hologram of text:
NEVER LOWER YOUR GUARD!
Staring at the silent, pale-faced girls whose ultimate trump card had been effortlessly neutralized, I sneered.
"Hahaha! You really are an incredibly foolish bunch. If you unleash a mind-control spell on an enemy, you should at least have the decency to verify their status window first."
—"Eek?!"
—"No way...!"
—"Our Charm... didn't work on him?!"
The fatal flaw of the Succubus race was their over-reliance on Charm to solve every single conflict. It was true that if the spell connected, they could easily turn the tables on any foe—much like a bullied nerd turning the tables on his high school tormentors.
"Your arrogance is truly pathetic," I sneered. "Allow me to return your little gift, with interest. Behold! Delay Reflect!"
I unleashed their own Slave Charm back at them.
Using my knowledge of magical construction, I had woven the counter-spell, though this was my very first time deploying it in a live combat scenario.
By capturing their incoming magic within an item box treated with magic-sealing properties, I could store the spell and unleash it at will. While the stored magic's potency would degrade over several days, it could be reflected with almost its original power within forty-eight hours.
Storing spells in an item box was a known technique, but without proper magic-sealing seals, the box itself would violently detonate.
As Lillian always said, magic is a game of deception—just like love. Ironically, Lillian herself was completely hopeless at the game of love, but her philosophy on magic was spot-on.
The key to executing Delay Reflect was the performance—convincingly pretending to be affected so the enemy would never suspect you were holding their spell in reserve.
The Succubi had been completely fooled by my acting.
The three recruits who had been struck by the reflected Slave Charm stopped their hostile movements entirely. Though they glared at me with intense frustration, they stood frozen, panting heavily like dogs being teased with a treat they weren't allowed to eat.
What they needed right now was a thorough lesson in defeat and humiliation.
Channeling my best villain-protagonist aura, my left eye flashing with a dangerous magical crest, I issued a cold command.
"Strip and kneel right there."
—"No...! My... My hands are moving on their own?!"
—"Why am I undressing?!"
—"Stop it! Please!"
Despite their desperate protests, their hands moved automatically, pulling down the skimpy fabrics of their outfits to expose their soft, round chests to the open air. Seeing these normally proud, teasing Succubi blush in intense shame as they were forced to strip was incredibly stimulating to my lower half. Or perhaps my chest.
One of the girls struggled so fiercely against the spell's compulsion that she tripped and tumbled onto the stones, yet the relentless magic forced her to strip off the remainder of her outfit anyway.
Before long, the recruits stood lined up in front of me, entirely nude. They desperately tried to cover their chests with their arms and hide their groins with their tails. Despite usually walking around in outfits that were barely a step above swimwear, being completely naked in broad daylight was apparently a bridge too far.
Because they weren't in a complete trance and remained fully conscious of their actions, the sheer humiliation was exquisite. Since they had intended to inflict this exact fate upon me, they had no right to complain about receiving a fitting punishment.
Meanwhile, Nord's body had automatically drawn a luxurious, gilded throne from my Item Box, and I sat back comfortably, leaning my elbow on the armrest and crossing my legs as I enjoyed the spectacular view of the naked, kneeling Succubi.
—"To think we'd suffer such humiliation..."
—"If I can't get married after this, what am I going to do?!"
—"You have to take responsibility for this!"
Screams of outrage erupted from the recruits, but negative energy was a crucial fuel for rapid growth.
"I am a merciful master," I sneered. "Kneeling must be terribly exhausting. Get on all fours, you worthless Succubi. The spell should wear off in a few hours. Until then, use this time to reflect on your utter foolishness."
—"Wait, what?!"
—"No way...!"
—"No! I'll never be able to get married after this!"
Forced onto all fours, they were unable to resist their natural urges and raised a single leg. A moment later, a stream of golden water shot forth, drawing a beautiful golden arc through the air like a fountain.
"Oh, right. I forgot to mention," I sneered, looking down at them. "If you find this frustrating... you are welcome to come and take my life at any time."
Wait, why did I say that?!
Nord's dramatic persona had taken over once again, turning this into some bizarre, high-stakes assassination classroom setup.
—"I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I will absolutely murder you, Nord Villance!!"
Eek! The Succubi had officially transformed into a squad of highly motivated, bloodthirsty Nord-assassins...
I glanced over at Vermilia, expecting her to be horrified. Instead, she stood quietly about ten paces behind me, keeping her head bowed like a traditional, submissive wife from ancient times.
No, wait, that can't be right.
I had literally stripped her recruits naked right in front of her. She was probably just completely, utterly dumbfounded.
Well, as long as her suspiciously high affection level dropped back down to a professional, business-only relationship, I would be able to save her territory and clear my death flags without accidentally stealing her away from the protagonist... right?
────Vermilia's Perspective
I had gone to inspect the state of the squadron leaders' dormitory that Nord-sama had blown up.
It was, by all accounts, a spectacular scorched wasteland. The phrase "not a single speck of dust remained" fit it perfectly. It showed just how terrifyingly high the damage output of Nord-sama’s Explosion! really was...
Wait...
Although stakes and rope had been set up to keep people away from the danger zone, I noticed something strange as I approached.
There was no smell of burning.
Usually, when a building burns to the ground in a fire, that awful, acrid stench of ash and smoke lingers in the air... Whenever I catch a whiff of that smell, it drags up bitter memories of our battle against the fanatical Elon worshippers who invaded our lands, filling me with rage, grief, and an overwhelming sense of futility...
"Kya?!"
Driven by curiosity, I stepped into the scorched clearing, only to hit my forehead against something with a dull thud. As the stinging in my forehead subsided, I reached out into the empty space. Even though there should have been absolutely nothing there, my fingers brushed against a solid barrier blocking my path like an invisible wall.
Don't tell me... he mastered it in the brief window of time since he arrived here?
He had asked me about the Optical Camouflage Barrier that shrouds the Succubus territory. In truth, it is a highly specialized spell passed down exclusively to the matriarchs who lead the Succubi of the Crimson Demon Lord's domain... Not yet being the official matriarch of our clan, I wasn't sure if I was allowed to share its secrets. So, I had sought my mother’s counsel.
"I do not mind," she had replied instantly.
"But Mother, the Optical Camouflage Barrier is our ultimate lifeline. Are you absolutely certain?"
"Yes. Nord-sama is a rare, noble soul who has come to our aid without demanding anything in return... As the next matriarch of the Succubi, you must show him our gratitude. Besides, it is not a technique one can easily copy simply by witnessing it."
Even for Succubi, who specialize in sensory and psychological magic, mastering the Optical Camouflage Barrier within ten years is considered a mark of genius.
When I demonstrated Dream Illusion, the preliminary stage of manipulating illusions, to Nord-sama, he applauded me. "Splendid! To think the Succubi of the Crimson Demon Lord's territory possessed such mastery..." he had praised. For someone like me, who had rarely received any praise in her life, it was a moment of pure, unadulterated joy.
Of course! That was it!
I wasn't merely astounded by his peerless talent for grasping complex magic in an instant—once I realized the sheer depth of his strategic foresight, a part of me whispered that I would gladly serve him as a mere slave, just to remain by his side.
Surely, Nord-sama plans to project an illusion of a completely incinerated Teman, tricking the enemy into believing we implemented a scorched-earth strategy. Operating so far from the Crimson Demon Palace, maintaining a stable supply line is nearly impossible. For a commander like Ron, who relies entirely on looting and forced conscription to supply his army, a barren wasteland is the ultimate source of despair—perfect for crushing their morale.
Furthermore, without the support of the Succubi, who make up the vast majority of our female population and serve as our primary healers, maintaining a front line would be nearly impossible.
Ah...! Nord-sama, whom they call the Black Hero... Everything he does is so flawless, just being near him makes me feel lightheaded...
Back in my private chambers, my thoughts gravitated entirely toward him.
Our very first encounter was during the hostage exchange... I had always clung to the belief that there were humans capable of earnest dialogue with demons. And I was proven right.
My ideal man had appeared right before my eyes. And it went far beyond that. Nord-sama was strong, beautiful, brilliantly intelligent... and overflowing with profound compassion.
Sometime later, the unthinkable occurred. My sister, claiming that my mother harbored rebellious intent, launched an invasion of our territory. There was no doubt in my mind that Ron was pulling the strings behind the scenes. My sister is deeply compassionate, which unfortunately makes her far too trusting of others...
Against the main army of the Crimson Demon Lord, flanked by the elite Three Beast Musketeers, we Succubi stood absolutely no chance. That was why we evacuated from Kurnis, our Autumn Capital, to Teman, our Spring Capital. Even so, we couldn't simply hide forever. Rather than sitting idly and waiting for death, we chose to take a gamble and carve out a path to survival.
And the demon god Lucifer did not abandon us. By sheer coincidence, talk of a marriage alliance between Nord-sama and Princess Ottoline of the Delihera Kingdom arose. Grasping this golden opportunity, I swapped places with Ottoline and attended the marriage interview. Yet, he saw right through my disguise in an instant.
I had prepared myself for the absolute worst. If a human discovered my true identity, I could have been captured and executed on the spot. At best, I would have been enslaved. Succubi are in exceptionally high demand in human brothels; it would have been entirely expected for a slave trader to sell me off as a mere tool for physical release.
We had deceived him, pretending to be Ottoline solely to save ourselves, yet far from being angry, Nord-sama declared his desire to save our people. He didn't hand us over to the Elon worshippers. Even after learning the truth, he graciously agreed to our incredibly selfish requests.
Of course, once he delivers us from this crisis, I fully intend to offer my entire body to him as payment. Although I am only a half-Succubus, surely a pure virgin like me would bring him joy...
The hours I spent alone with Nord-sama inside the carriage on our way here... It was my very first time being confined in a small space alone with a boy, and that boy was none other than Nord-sama. I was incredibly nervous, yet he was constantly attentive, ensuring my comfort at every turn.
Most demons treat Succubi with disdain, viewing us as nothing more than inherently promiscuous playthings. But Nord-sama was the epitome of a true gentleman.
The moment he gently took my hand to help me climb into the carriage was a memory I shall treasure for the rest of my life. Even through his white gloves, I could tell how long and elegant his fingers were. And the warmth of his body filtering through the fabric... It was a passionate, comforting heat that contradicted the cold, piercing look in his eyes.
I suspect his harsh, arrogant tone is merely his way of masking his embarrassment.
Speaking of hiding embarrassment, there was the matter of this afternoon. To think those wild, unruly girls—who refuse to listen to me or even my mother—became as docile as a borrowed kitten in Nord-sama's presence...
Mew~ ♪
Just as the thought crossed my mind, a soft cry echoed. A pair of eyes glinted in the shadows beneath my desk, and my familiar, a little black kitten, poked its head out. Nukko was incredibly affectionate, rubbing its glossy black fur against my ankles. I scooped it up onto my lap, where it tucked in its paws and squinted its eyes contentedly.
I couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy toward the girls who had stripped so fearlessly in front of Nord-sama.
Mother always said those girls possessed a fierce streak of independence, making them terribly tsundere. Nord-sama likely had no idea of the deeper meaning, but for a Succubus, voluntarily stripping off her clothes in front of a man is equivalent to taking a sacred vow to spend the rest of her life by his side.
I must go and check on them, lest they attempt to launch a nighttime raid on his quarters and cause him trouble.
────Nord's Perspective
Outside, the landscape was completely bathed in cold, silver moonlight. Many demon tribes grow exponentially stronger under the cover of night. The Succubus race is a textbook example.
I had intended to train the squadron-leader Succubi during the day, but their complete and utter lack of urgency had left me dumbfounded. They definitely possessed raw potential, but as they stood now, they were woefully inadequate to defend their homeland. In any case, I needed them to channel their pure hatred for me into raw power, or we were all doomed.
My claim of having incinerated the outskirts of Teman was a complete lie; I had merely analyzed the structure of their Optical Camouflage Barrier and used it to trick them. Then again, the fact that they couldn't even see through such a basic illusion proved they still had a very long way to go.
If the unstable Crimsonia were to locate Teman, these girls wouldn't get off with a simple, embarrassing strip-tease. Even if they were of the same demonic blood, they would be subjected to horrific sexual enslavement before being slaughtered and discarded like trash.
"Kya?!"
As I was contemplating the grim future of the Succubi, a girl’s sharp shriek echoed from outside my room.
Ignoring the commotion, I took an elegant sip of a tea called Maiden’s Droplet, brewed from leaves hand-picked by the Succubi. Just knowing that beautiful, young Succubi had harvested the leaves in those scandalous outfits made the tea taste exquisite. Not that it actually affected the chemical flavor profile, of course.
"What on earth is this?!"
Another scream echoed through the hallway, but I paid it no heed and reached for a fresh scone. This was incredible too! Apparently, it was part of a baked goods line called Leisurely Seduction, hand-kneaded and baked by married Succubi.
"S-Stop! Stay back!"
Once again, a desperate cry rang out...
I added a splash of milk, freshly drawn from dairy cows by young Succubi, to alter the tea’s flavor. Just picturing the adorable little Succubi working their hardest to bottle the milk filled me with warmth. I downed the rich, creamy tea, then stepped out into the hallway to see if any of the recruits had successfully walked into my traps.
Sure enough, the moment I opened the door, I was greeted by the sight of several recruits dangling upside-down like strips of beef jerky, caught in my snare traps.
"Put us down this instant!"
"I'm going to make you pay for this!"
"I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I am absolutely going to murder you!"
The trio of squadron leaders, who had fallen headfirst into my incredibly obvious booby traps, barked at me with impressive energy.
"I am utterly speechless. To think you couldn't even see through a basic trap of this caliber..." I muttered.
Whenever Nord's personality took over, my words turned incredibly harsh, but in this case, the criticism was entirely warranted. If they were green recruits, it might have been forgivable. But for squadron leaders to display this level of incompetence was disastrous.
"You must proceed with far more caution," I lectured. "And keep the safety of those relying on you in mind at all times."
"Ugh...!"
"That's..."
"How frustrating..."
It seemed they were finally beginning to grasp the sheer danger of acting on raw emotion alone. Just as I was about to disarm the traps, a faint, delicate voice called out from behind me.
"Nord-sama..."
I turned around to find Vermilia standing there, clutching her hands against her chest with an anxious expression.
"Are you dissatisfied with my methods?" I asked.
"Not at all! To think you are popular enough to have them stalking you at night!"
Wait, what?! Vermilia, what are you talking about?!
In the original Rising Hero game, Vermilia loathed Nord like a venomous serpent, looking down on him with absolute disgust. Yet here she was, staring at me with unbelievably sparkling eyes.
This has to be a mistake!
I had literally stripped her fellow Succubi naked, forced them to bow, and now had them hanging upside-down in the hallway...
Casting a brief glance at the dangling recruits, Vermilia whispered.
"I see... To reach your side, one must first overcome the barriers of love. I shall do my very best!"
"What on earth are you blathering about...?" I muttered.
She pressed her clenched fists against her chest, striking a hyper-enthusiastic pose that looked exactly like a rookie employee at a game development studio shouting, "I'm going to do my best today!" Even though it was already late at night...
Just as we were exchanging this bizarre banter—
"Vermilia-sama! There you are!"
The petite Dark Elf maid, Riel, came running toward us. She had lost one of her shoes along the way, her bare foot pattering against the cold stone floor.
"Riel-san, what is the matter?" Vermilia asked, stepping forward.
"Y-Yes! The Demon Lord's army has mobilized!!"
"What did you say?!"
So they've finally arrived! I'll wipe the floor with them!
Well... the Succubi will, that is.
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