===

Story Fragment

*

Schwii Arch

===

She leaned in and standled on his waist. Her hair wet from sweat or some other fluid, lubricating her smooth, luscious skin. Teasing his lips and chest with her gentle fingers, she began unbuttoning his shirt. With a sloppy expression shadowed in ecstasy, she reached over with her sticky fingers and cupped his cheeks.

“Bad Sequencee. How many times have I reminded you not to come close?”

Her hot breath stifled his consciousness.

“You must be punished.”

And leaving those few sweet, devilish words, she pressed her body against his and invaded his mouth with her tongue.

…

..

.

The air was hot, the wind arid. Schwii followed behind Anna’s shadow as they made their way through the hustle and bustle of town. The cityscape of Estia barony was unlike the gothic streets of Leviath nation. This place was alive with people; merchants and hawkers selling items to foreign mercenaries or townsfolk moving along.

Young men and women donning clothes complete with light armor and weapons; a large wooden cart with crates of interesting food ingredients pulled by a donkey just passed by them.

Schwii walked closer and held Anna’s sleeve.

“Nervous?” Anna asked, her head covered by a hood.

“I-I’m fine.”

“Fufu. Alright, alright. Let’s speed up shall we?”

Schwii’s mother, Vyiella Leviath, a succubus queen was to return to the main castle to meet her father, His Eminence The Sovereign. Incidentally, when Anna was visiting the demon empire, she went to visit Leviath nation to say hi to her nemesis– the succubus queen.

As much as they hated each other for fighting over the attention of the already super busy Sovereign, they were aware of the need for cooperation if they didn’t want their food taken from their plate. Carnage wasn’t something Bartonn liked, so he tended to be quite strict when addressing these issues. His wives had to get along otherwise they would lose his affection, that including Vyiella and Anna.

Having a ‘light’ chat at the veranda with sparks clashing between them, Anna thought to maybe take care of Schwii during the time Vyiella was going to visit His Eminence. That way, she could stay for longer without needing to worry so much about a home-alone child.

Hence she agreed, reasoning that it would be a good experience for young Schwii who had never once stepped outside the demon empire to explore the human empire.

Schwii Arch, age 6. 

Cresting a hill and moving past a set of stairs, they reached the pavers that led to the manor. A simple, wide manor fit for a noble– which she was. An honorary chevalier of Estia Barony. 

“Mom!” 

Entering the residence, a young boy yelled, running towards them with a maid chasing him from behind.

“Welcome back dear,” Anna bent down and braced herself to receive his glomp.

Squeeze–

“Hm? Who’s that?” Sequencee looked past her shoulders and looked at Schwii.

His frilly brown hair and sky blue eyes resembled that of his mother’s. A cute slender face and mellow features suiting his refined profile. He did have an aloof air about him despite the gentlemanly clothes he wore.

“That? Come here and introduce yourself. Don’t worry, he won’t bite,” Anna beckoned

“U-Uh.. Schwii Arch, nice to meet you!” flustered, Schwii greeted with a rushed curtsy. This was the first time she was talking to a human besides Anna! 

“Schwii, didn’t I say to be careful?” Anna pouted.

“Ah sorry. Schwii Archnet…?”

Arch was The Sovereign’s name. Spelling out her family name simply could lead to severe consequences if not careful. The maids and butlers of the mansion played deaf, knowing well that Anna was an eccentric person who shouldn’t be judged with your average stance.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Sequencee,” he said with his head still over his mom’s shoulders. 

“...”

“Mom, who is she?” Sequencee asked, tugging on her sleeves.

“You see, a friend of mine is going to be busy for the next few weeks, so she asked if I could take care of her daughter.”

Sequencee’s shifted his between her mom and Schwii a couple times. Schwii gripped the fabric of her dress out of nervousness. What did he think of her? Was she presentable enough? Did she make a mistake in her etiquette? Was she too scary to approach?

Sequencee took off from Anna’s embrace and walked towards Schwii. She stood there frozen, mind frenzied with various conceptions.

“I’m Sequencee, let’s get along,” he stretched out his tiny hands.

Schwii blankly stared down at his invitation. She knew what the gesture meant, but in the code of etiquette, it was not the best means of receiving someone. She had no idea how to respond.

Seeing how puzzled she was, Sequencee reached over and grabbed her hands instead, giving it a good shake.

“Nice to meet you Schwii,” he said with a dazzling smile.

She was captivated.

===

“Mister Dee, two skewers!” Sequencee shouted.

“Right on it– oh? Eh? Who’s that young lady you have with you?” 

Mister Dee was a guy with a square figure. With an apron over his front, his right hand busied themselves flipping the meat over the charcoal stove while his left painted generous splashes of gravy on the layer of the browning skin. The deep smoky flavor of lemony wood seeped into the taste of the meat dripping in oils.

“Schwii, this is Mister Dee. He sells really delicious satay,” Sequencee grinned.

“Satay?”

“It’s a food item that came from the hero’s world.”

“I modified it myself of course,” Mister Dee said proudly.

Schwii felt uncomfortable when the world ‘hero’ left Sequencee’s mouth. Through the history lectures by her private tutor, she learnt early in her life that the hero killed her grandfather.

“Here you go,” Mister Dee held out two sticks.

“Thank you!” Sequencee paid using 4 stone coins and passed one of them to Schwii. “Be careful of the juices. Don’t let it stain your dress.”

“I will be careful.”

Schwii watched as Sequencee tear the meat off the stick, chewing at it with gusto. She tried mimicking him, but it left a sticky mark on her cheeks. It was unpleasant.

“Should I wipe that for you?”

“No, I can do it myself,” Schwii was about to use her hands when Sequencee restrained it and quickly wiped the stain off with a handkerchief he had in pocket.

The sticky sensation still remained, but Schwii wasn’t focused on that. Her eyes were set on the floating half eating satay Sequencee left in the air.

“Hm.. I think you need to wash it with soap and water,” Sequencee reasoned.

“Is that magic?” Schwii asked.

“Ah, this? It’s wind magic. Mom is really good at it, mine’s nothing compared to her’s though,” he released her hand and scratched his head with a cheeky-embarrassed expression.

“That’s amazing.”

Schwii could barely cast a rapid set of fireball spells in succession, and yet here was a guy one year younger than herself using wind magic as if it were breathing.

===

Schwii Arc, age 7.

It was the second visit following the first one she had last year.

“Schwii!”

This time, Sequencee called out to her name first before Anna’s. He had grown a little bit since the last time she saw him but relatively, her height still towered above his.

“I’ve got something to show you. Want to see?”

“Okay!” his enthusiasm rubbed onto her as she agreed ecstatically.

It was here this year when Schwii cemented into her mind the utter brilliance of this person she was sitting in front of. 

They sat at the study facing each other. Ten or so beads of various sparkling colours danced around Sequencee.

“These all represent one element. Look.” 

Sequencee reached over and grabbed the light green bead. He made some unusual patterns with his fingers and opened his palms facing upwards. The green light expanded into nothing; Schwii was confused.

“Try to touch it.”

“There’s nothing to touch.. though?”

“There’s something really, trust me.”

Though a little incredulous, she reached out. To her surprise, when she tried to put her finger on his palms, there was some resistance pushing it back. As if she were touching a thick goo.

“What is this?”

“It’s wind magic, cool right?”

‘T-That’s not it. Something like this shouldn’t be possible?!’

Schwii who studied magic under the tutelage of the magus of the Leviath castle had not been taught complicated formulas. She didn’t know about fusion magic nor medial-magic, hence why had no explanation to the reality before her. By logic, wind shouldn’t be able to amalgamate into a solid without any visible form. If anything, this should be a type of gravity magic instead.

Or was gravity magic a high version of wind magic? 

“Is it because of your system?”

Schwii came up with another theory. Outside the scope of the typical magic, performing supernatural phenomena is possible through the aid of one’s system. Be it a boost in magical output, or unique magic skill that can’t be replicated by normal means.

“Ah, how did you know? It’s wind magic and illusion magic,” Sequence brought his fingers a little closer, and a hazy sphere materialized.

“Illusion magic?” Schwii tilted her head.

The hazy sphere was transparent, having the appearance of the wobbly air during a hot sultry day. Going by the logic of physics, this is because of the difference in density between the surrounding and the sphere. The hazy sphere would stabilize to become completely air at Sequencee’s command, but the reality was that he was using magic to correct the optical refraction caused by the change in density.

Of course, Schwii’s confusion should be relatable because the sphere wasn’t simply wind magic nor gravity magic. It was an unusual fusion of magic which wasn’t really categorized under any element. Perhaps it should be called air magic? Or even form magic.

“I use illusion magic to make it invisible.”

“I-I don’t understand?”

“Hm..” Sequence dispersed the in-his-mind supposedly wind magic and pondered.

Then the elemental beads around him faded into nothing.

“Ah, you saw the different beads disappear right? It’s actually still here, but it’s hidden by illusion magic.”

“Illusion magic is your system magic then? Not wind?”

“Nope. It’s illusion magic.”

Schwii was slightly confused. System gifts were supposedly difficult to acquire, so one had to choose wisely which to invest in. Once you’ve selected said gift, it will stay with you for the rest of your life unless you decide to cast it away. It was unusual for someone like Sequencee to invest in something so simple.

“How do you earn points?” Schwii asked.

Points are needed to acquire these gifts from the system gift catalog, and the way to acquire points differs from person to person. For Schwii, embarrassingly enough, her points were the accumulation of the number of times she kissed someone. Though said, it wasn’t really a difficult way to acquire points when you realize that it’s an act often performed within the culture of the succubus race.

Schwii herself had only ever kissed her own mother, so the number of points she had wasn’t a lot. She hadn’t acquired her first gift, and was still considering which one to invest in.

“Um..” Sequencee was hesitant to answer that.

“Is it difficult? I earn points by kissing.”

“K-Kissing? Ah? Really?”

“Yes really. How about you?” having offered her’s up, she thought maybe it would prod Sequencee to reveal his.

“It’s kind of difficult to say?” Sequencee scratched the back of his head and laughed. 

Schwii tilted her head.

“I-If I tell you about it, don’t be shocked okay?” Sequencee couldn’t back now here couldn’t he now?

“Okay,” Schwii nodded resolutely.

“I get points by killing people and..”

His voice trembled.

“.. devouring their souls,” and faded till the very last word.

===

“Schwii, what kind of person is your mother?” Sequencee asked.

Schwii, age 12. It was Schwii’s seventh yearly visit.

“My mother? She’s a super strong person, and an S– I mean! She’s very beautiful too!” Schwii’s voice cracked.

Her mother, Vyiella Leviath is a mature queen succubus. Over the years, to fill up on Schwii’s much needed system points, her mother took it upon herself to supplement the kisses– including the other bodily needs of a normal growing succubus.

Schwii had yet to sleep with someone outside her immediate family, rare for a succubus her age, so you could say she was still a virgin– outside the ‘fun’ she had with her mother. 

Though, that was a questionable remark in itself.

/

{ACQUIRED GIFTS: 

1. [Passive Trait: Self Indulgence]; (1st UP: 250)

}

/

Using the points she acquired from kissing, the first thing she invested in is [Passive Trait: Self Indulgence]. There were times when the feelings of lust within her would overflow, overwhelm her mind and force the need to relieve that ‘itch’. To combat that, this system gift allowed her to suppress the need for ‘play’ through self relieving–  to an extent. It was especially important during the times when her mother wasn’t around, otherwise Schwii might kidnap a nearby majin to satisfy her lust.

“How about your father?”

Schwii frowned in her heart when Sequencee asked this. It reminded her of the second reason why she got [Passive Trait: Self Indulgence]. As a succubus, she was aware of her unusually high libido. Yet despite this, she wanted a clean marriage without all the chaos brewing beneath, take for example the turbulent life of her mother. Just because her father had many wives, it shouldn’t be an excuse to not come and see them personally. She often complained about it.

“My father is a popular man,” Schwii remarked curtly.

“Popular?”

“Un. He’s always with other women. I don’t like seeing how my mom has to beg for his attention.”

“O-Okay..”

“How about you? What kind of person is your father?” Schwii leaned in. 

“My father…”

“I heard from Auntie Anna that your father is a demon too?”

“Yeah.. but I don’t think I’ve ever met my father..”

She thought that Sequencee’s father was some kind of majin, not occurring to her that they had the same father. Incidentally, it came as a surprise to her that Sequencee was not a pure human, betraying her expectations somewhat. 

“Really? Why?”

“I don’t know,” Sequencee looked distressed.

Schwii fell deep into thought. An unusual emotion of pity surfaced from the depths of her heart.

“We’re both the same then.”

“Same?”

“It’s always the mom who takes care of us. It’s unfair isn’t it? How the dads always go out and flirt with other women. Don’t you feel the same way?” Schwii leaned in even closer.

“U-Uh.. yeah..”

“I don’t want that. Isn’t it hard to see your mother having to take care of you all alone?” 

‘This should be within calculations right? There’s no reason mama would send me here every year unless there’s a hidden motive to it. Not to mention..’

Sequencee’s gaze was affixed to her’s. It sparkled like the glimmer off the ocean’s surface.

“Sequencee, is it alright if I marry you?”

“H-Huh? Marry?”

“But promise me I’ll be your only one.”

She showed him her pinky. Part of it was that she thought Sequencee was being planned to become her fiance. The other part of it was she wanted to mold him to her preferences, and what better way to do so when he was still young and innocent? Sequencee stared at it blankly for a couple seconds.

“No?” Schwii squeaked sorrowfully. 

“What does it mean to marry someone?” Sequencee muttered, confused.

“You don’t know?” Schwii titled her head.

“Isn’t it a bad thing?”

“Bad thing? Where did you get that idea?” Schwii looked at him as if some zoo animal. Completely innocent, she cheered knowing that she could easily wrap him around her little finger.

“I’m I wrong then? People that marry are unhappy people, aren’t they? I don’t get why people would even do that.”

“Heeh.. you have such a weird thinking. Oh well. Then shall I give you a taste?”

Schwii licked her lips as her eyes curved into a smile. Crossing over to his seat, she sat on his thigh with their bodies facing each other. Sequencee stiffened, she brought her face up to his.

“People that get married can do naughty things every day. Do you want to try?” she whispered.

“WWaH!?” Sequencee jumped.

“Ah?!”

The legs of the chair tilted, toppled, the both of them fell to the floor.

“Geh..”

“Oww…”

“Hikh?!”

“U-Uh!?”

Suddenly their positions were reversed, Sequencee was now on top of her. Her cheeks burn in embarrassment as a dark desire sprung forth from the depth of her heart. As a young succubus, there was nothing more enticing than an unplanned ‘accident’. She was paralyzed by the proximity of their bodies, feeling the thumping of his heart untied with her’s.

Her breath grew hot, her eyes glazed over.

She wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Schwi– nm?!”

And took his tasty lips.

===

“...”

“...”

“Ahem,” the maid coughed, unable to hide the blush on her face.

“What do we have here?” Anna smiled– no, grinned.

Sequencee and Schwii had their heads lowered like two kids found guilty of stealing. Of course, their charges were much more severe than that.

The door to the study they were in was open. A maid came into their room thinking to clean the place when she heard noises behind the table. There she found the young lord and the young miss kissing each other. An innocent but obscene sight indeed. 

Carefully, while they remained unaware, she went to call the head of the house.

So the situation now left two with disheveled clothes, Sequencee with plenty of saliva kiss marks on his cheeks, necks and lips, and Schwii who had raised her system points by 15.

“I-I’ve overstepped my boundaries please forgive me,” Schwii said. Despite this, she couldn’t help but feel silly happy for having tasted the lips of someone who wasn't her mother.

“Me too..” Sequencee who had nothing more to say could only ride on the excuse she made.

“Tsk. Tsk. To think that my boy would grow up to be such a lass. Fufu, take responsibility alright?”

“Ah? Does this mean?” Schwii shot up and looked at Anna.

She merely gave a teasing look.

Schwii clasped Sequencee’s hands. His crystal blue eyes quivered, cheeks flushing red.

“I’ll ask my mother about our engagement.. will that be alright?”

“Engagement?”

“Oh dear, I hadn’t drilled marital studies into my son. My apologies Schwii,” Anna giggled.

“Sequencee, promise me one thing,” She looked up at him with her big ruby eyes, “Don’t you go off marrying someone else. I won’t forgive you if you do that okay?!”

The two of them stared at each other for a while longer. Sequencee’s face had already turned into a tomato. 

“O-Okay..”

He said gazing down at their toes, touching.

===

It was the evening, Schwii had changed into her nightgown. A lewd lingerie type black dress with transparent fabric over the inner wear. Any man who saw this would’ve been struck silly.

She was humming to herself on the bed as she flipped through the books she brought from the castle to study in her free time. She was reading about the geography of the Leviath nation and different demon races. Absorbed in the contents of the book, the evening sun had gone past the horizon and night loomed over the sky. She got up and stretched her stiff body.

Then she looked out the window.

“I’m going to have to leave again tomorrow.”

A tinge of disappointment rippled across her face. When she returned, she would have to grind through her painfully strict schedule and put on a fake face once more. The expectations the demons held for her as princess, flattery of other high demons who wished to take advantage of her and the leechous gazes they would send her way.

‘But Sequencee is different.’

She enjoyed her time here. The respite Anna and Sequencee brought to her was the light to her fragile life. She wanted it to last, but also knew that it was a wistful wish that could never be attained. So was the life of the princess in the demon nation.

Instinctively, her fingers slide down from her navel to the tattoo just below it. Going further down, her finger slipped underneath the smooth fabric of her panties. The touch was euphoric, some sticky wet stain had already clung to the inner side of the silk. She leaked a soft moan.

Bringing her finger up, she stared at the fluid that wrapped around into a gooey web. She stuck out her tongue and sucked on the finger.

A pop sound could be heard as she took out her finger, a dazed, lecherous expression on her face.

‘More..’

She reached into her panties..

Knock. Knock.

“Hikch!?”

Schwii jumped.

“Schwii, it’s Sequencee. Can I talk for a bit.”

“U-Uh..”

She quickly closed her legs together. Composing herself she said,

“C-Come in.”

“Is it not locked?” Sequencee pushed the handle and opened the door. When he saw Schwii, he stopped and stared. Their cheeks blazed, Schwii looked away embarrassingly, sure that she hadn’t left any traces of what she tried to do earlier.

‘Don’t stare at me like that, it’s making me even more wet..’

She shook her head to rid of the thought.

“Um.. sorry..” Sequencee apologized.

“I-It’s okay.. what do you want to talk about?” Schwii’s voice trembled. 

She tried to not move as best as she could. Sequencee continued to stand near the door.

“About the engagement you said earlier..”

“Ah, yes?”

“You do know that I’m a demon, right?”

“Of course.”

“A low half demon kind of demon, demon. I don’t even know who my father is.”

‘Is he worried about status?’

Schwii placed her hands on her thigh carefully.

“I don’t mind,” she looked at him resolutely.

“If that’s the case then..” Sequencee released his illusion magic.

Several dozen beads relieved themselves, like spirits majestically shimmering around him. On top of his head, a black severed horn could be seen. Schwii gasped in horror.

“Since we’re going to be engaged.. possibly, I thought to at least show you the real me.”

“You’ve been using illusion magic.. all this time?” Schwii thought she was imagining things. She thought that Sequencee was a demon who had a human appearance– it never occured to her that he had a horn.

To think that over the past seven years they’ve been visiting each other like this, she never noticed it?Schwii shuddered at the sight of his horn.

‘W-Why?’

For the sake of blending in with the humans, he had to go so far as to axe his horn– the defining characteristic of a demon, their symbol and pride. And most of all, he had deprived himself of his growth potential. His horns should’ve been the catalyst for innate mana, yet he was removed of such a privilege since childhood. And despite all this, he was able to perform his magic to such a degree?

Just what the hell is he?

“Yup. Sorry about that,” he scratched his head and looked away.

“And the floating beads too?”

“That’s part of my training. Master the fundamentals, as my mom would say.”

Though their lifestyles were heavens apart, Schwii thought they were alike in some ways. 

‘I have to be better.’

So that he no longer needed to deprive himself of himself.

Schwii forced herself up.

“Hm?”

“I’ll be leaving tomorrow,” she said.

“Yeah..” Sequencee mulled sadly.

She walked up to him.

“Schwii?”

“Sequencee. When I come back I’ll bring back news of our engagement, okay?”

She grabbed his hands and looked at him gently.

“...”

He pulled her into his embrace.

She relished his warmth.

“I’ll miss you.”

===

“Mama, why?”

In the bedroom, Schwii’s voice echoed. Hundreds of thousands of grim looking books lined the shelves. The walls made of black marble, fluffy red carpet inscribed with gold arabesque covered the floor, silver chandeliers hung from above with hundreds of lilac crystals dangling off thin steel wires, each refracting a rainbow within.

“Don’t you know who he is?” 

Vyiella Leviath wrapped her arms around Schwii’s belly and tickled her navel.

“Sequencee, right?” Schwii stared upwards into the amethyst colours eyes of her mother.

“That’s not what I mean dear.”

“Ngh?!”

Her fingers pinched the cherry on the well developed breast, another slid down and teasingly carrased the lower lips.

Schwii moaned, the indecent assault by her own mother made it even look more obscene. Caressing her over and over and over and over again– till she convulsed. Fluid leaked from below as she went limp in her mother’s arm wholly satisfied.

“I.. hah.. don’t know.. hah..” Scwhii sucked her mother’s wet skin.

“Haah.. what a naughty girl.”

“Tell me mama..” her tongue reached upwards and succled her breast. The vacuuming sensation reminded Vyiella of the time when she had to breastfeed Schwii. Out of habit, Vyiella began stroking Schwii’s hair.

“Dear, Sequencee is the son of that whore you know?”

“You mean Auntie Anna? But don’t you two get along?”

“You could say we do.”

“So why?”

‘Why do you deny?’

Schwii numbed the pain of rejection by drowning herself in the bodily pleasure of intercourse. She was aware that once this moment was over, the pain of her hectic life would return. Fear soon clouded her, which only fueled her desperation for the need of more pleasure. Vyiella herself found it silly how her daughter was being so greedy today.

“Sequencee is your cousin.”

“M-My cousin?”

“Are you not aware? That his father is your father.”

“...”

“Do you understand? I respect your feelings, but aren’t you being too hasty in your selection? You should pick a good man.”

‘Pick a good man? Someone like father who can’t even spare a second to visit mama?’

“But mama, I already told him that I’ll marry him.”

“You’re still young dear. Many times first love doesn’t come true.”

“...”

Vyiella scooped up Schwii’s long hair.

“If he’s the right one, he’ll wait for you. You haven’t seen the world in its entirety yet, you’re only 12.”

“Then mama, Sequencee is from Auntie Anna and father?”

“Yes dear. That’s exactly it.”

‘I-I didn’t know..’

Schwii felt the world tilt upside down. The news that Sequencee was her cousin was like lightning out of a bolt. How had she not known about this? Why did Anna even support them? And most of all, knowing this, could she still accept him?

“I already have a few suitable partners in mind for your future my dear. So if you need someone other than myself to indulge in, I would prefer if you chose them instead for your security. You don’t know when he’ll turn on your back. After all, he received the upbringing of humans, not from us demons.”

“No mama. I won’t.”

“Hm?”

Schwii turned around and faced her straight on. Her slanted amethyst eyes, curly silver-beige hair that clung to the skin and voluptuous body.

“I won’t give up. I’ll definitely make him mine,” Schwii declared with tears in her eyes.

Vyiella’s lips curled into a smile.

“Do your best trying to resist your other partners okay?”

Schwii couldn’t tell if her mother was in favor or against her decision. But what she knew was that she was testing her resolve. As the princess of the demon nation, many things came down to politics. The responsibility she had to shoulder was immense, the fight among the demons who wished for her hands were even more so. If she wished for Sequencee in marriage, not only did she have to protect the stability of her future ruling, she would also have to protect Sequencee from those that did not wish to see her dreams happen.

Vyiella couldn’t simply tell the high demons underneath her who aspire their sons to take Schwii’s hand to simply scram. That would shake her position as the reigning demon lord of Leviath. The best she could do was to say that the decision would be up to her daughter.

It was a bloodbath for love, a fight Schwii would have to win through her efforts alone. 

“I will.” Schwii etched her resolve in her mind.

“That’s my girl,” Vyiella leaned in for a kiss.

And so half a year passed since her personal vow. Schwii had made her first blunder. Word had spread that someone outside the courting candidates would become Schwii’s future spouse. The high demons heard that burned in rage, forming a small faction consisting of the courting members to rat-out said outsider.

Anna had come to stop by during the one year mark to pick her up as usual, but Schwii turned it down saying that if she went, it would compromise their safety. The discord was at its peaks, she wrote a letter to him of course, explaining the situation on her side. 

Two years in, a month to the date when Schwii awaited Anna’s visit. She prayed in her heart that Sequencee hadn’t forgotten her. She planned to send a gift to him this time around– her unwashed lingerie.

“Oh, so you’re the new knight assigned to our nation?” Vyiella was sitting on her throne, Schwii seated at the princess seat beside her. She stared down at the black knight kneeling in her presence.

“Yes,” an androgynous voice seethed through the visor of the helmet, “Under His Eminence’s command, I am to support you with my power in aiding the demon race, ushering into the New Dawn.”

“There’s no need to reveal yourself to me if you find that uncomfortable. Please tell me what use you have. I’ll then assign your role from that.”

The black knight was an unexpected gift from The Sovereign. So Vyiella’s had to welcome it, however, her understanding of this gift was rather obscure. Why would her husband send a knight as a gift? Well, from the looks of it, the knight was some kind of super soldier.

“I am a means to fight against the coming hero. That is my use.”

“I see,” Vyiella somehow reasoned that because her territory was closest to human civilization, The Sovereign decided to assign Leviath nation a supersoldier to bolster its defenses.

“I may also be of assistance outside of that field. Needless to say, the order must be within moral conduct. His Eminence’s commands are absolute.”

“PFtt.. hahahahahaha–” Vyiella burst out into laughter.

“M-Mama?” Schwii froze up.

“Oh dear how silly. I wouldn’t use you in that manner. Sure, I’m a succubus, but my daughter is enough to satisfy me.”

Her bold statement made Schwii’s cheeks burn.

“Is that so? I’m glad to hear,” though monotonous, you could sense the hint of bemusement in the knight’s voice.

“Right then. To begin, I’ll have you send my regards to Anna,” Vyiella clapped.

“What do you mean by that?”

“It’s been a while since I last saw her. She’s usually the only one daring enough to approach me, but I’d like to change that. Charge into her territory and have some fun with her. She should be itching for a battle right about now. Ah, if she can’t be found in the territory, you are not allowed to make a move on it alright?”

“Then what shall be the token of proof?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“In all battles, there must be something to prove that the general has done his deeds. Think of it as a war trophy.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Hm..” Vyiella pondered. She found this knight rather peculiar, her interest was piqued, “I’ll leave that up to you. I simply need you to tell her that I’m still alive and kicking.”

“Intimidation, is what I understand from your request?”

“Yes. I will be awaiting the results. Don’t continue if the battle will sacrifice more forces than necessary. Withdraw immediately at the slightest resistance, there’s no need to fight.”

“I shall see to it.”

The black knight staunchly stood up and bowed, leaving the room in the moments after.

“Um mama.. are you sure it’ll be alright?” Schwii asked.

“You mean Anna? I’m sure she’ll manage. That battle freak could even go against our honeydew Bartonn and win with a draw,” Vyiella sighed.

Schwii blinked a couple times. Anna was that strong?

…

..

.

“W-What is this..” Vyiella twitched at the slight stenching coming from the gift box. A pinch of thyme had been used to mask the smell. 

“The war trophy. I have made your reign aware to the human nations,” the black knight, kneeling before the throne, replied calmly.

It had been a week since Vyiella’s command. She didn’t think much of it when she saw the black knight leave without taking a single troop from the army. She thought that it was a sign that this monster understood what her intent meant but..

A bad premonition screamed from the depths of her heart.

Schwii sat confusingly beside her mother’s throne, eyes locked on the gift.

Vyiella carefully undid the ribbon. She slowly removed the cover.

“...”

“Mom?”

Trembling as she put the box aside, she stood up and trudged towards the black knight.

Her black dress dragged behind her, sliding down each step. Despite the seductive figure of her body as she gracefully made her way over, the ominous pressure in her surroundings spiked/ Schwii gasped, feeling the suffocation of the air around her. Vyiella stood before the knight who still had its head lowered.

“Tell me. Whose heart is that?”

The chilly voice belied the fear in her heart. Vyiella wanted to deny it, she wanted an answer that didn’t come anywhere close to ‘her’ name.

“Anna of the Rending Wind, Your Majesty.”

Killing pressure flooded the room. Vyiella manifested a deadly black orb before herself and without sparing a moment of delay, stuck it down against the knight’s head.

It was void magic, a step above advanced gravity magic. The orb was capable of erasing everything and anything that came into contact with it, yet the effect was somehow nullified by the enchantment of the black armor. Normally, even the best of anti-magic would crack under this severe pressure due to the physical tangents involved in creating a void. Red lighting crackled, running glowing scorch lines across the pillar and walls, the knight remained unmoving, unfazed.

Guilt, disbelief and rage seethed through her entire being. A storm exploded in the throne room as her killing intent surged with the intensification of mana. Obscure to her was how this storm had pushed the gift box down from the armrest of the main throne. A sloop dark red organ fell and rolled on the ground, leaving brown muddy trails behind.

Vyiella released the void orb and grabbed the unresisting black knight by the helmet’s wing, lifting its head up to meet her. She couldn’t see past the dark recess of the visor, but the silence gave off a feeling of indifference. There were no traces of guilt, just a hint of confusion. The knight had simply done its job.

Black flames clad her fist and she threw an extremely powerful punch towards its armor. The heavy gates into the throne room in the direct line of her blow exploded into the hall outside by the impossible shockwave generated. The chandeliers in the ceiling all toppled to the ground, the diamond beads scattered across the ground; all the glass of the french windows shattered along with the swooshing sounds of a gale’s desperate escape.

She released the helmet. Blood dripped from her broken fist as stood there in shambles. Then, she crumbled on her knees.

With her lifeless eyes, she searched around for the heart located in the corner of the room. Vyiella crawled over and scooped it into her arms. Tears kept dripping from her eyes as the soul-crushing guilt weighed her conscience.

She didn’t want this. She didn’t mean to kill Anna, her closest friend and rival. They had known each other for over three decades, loving the same man over the tens of other women by his side. The deep connection they’ve established with each other despite their differences anda aggressive interaction..

They were comrades in arms, a two-member faction of their own.

And now the only thing left of her friend was this.

This flabby piece of flesh.

As she was weeping, the black knight got up and dusted itself off.

There wasn’t a single scratch on its body.

“I shall take my leave,” the knight said.

There was no reply.

It turned to the other girl who had fainted on the throne, Schwii. 

Without saying anything more, it left.

===

Almost three years have passed since then. Schwii, now 18 years old, was walking down a dirt road towards the human nation. Following close to her was a maid, also one of her closest aides since the day she lost the comfort of her mother.

“Does your system show an accurate location of his whereabouts?” Schwii’s once puerile voice had matured a lot since then. Her long hair had been cut short in preparation for this excursion and she had left the management of the nation to The Sovereign.

“Yes. Please trust in my abilities.”

The maid’s expression remained unchanging. Her dark red hair adorned with a white filly hairband loosely swaying with each step; silver eyes stared forward the quiet road. Fourth demon general of Leviath nation Iona Egress. Her unsuspecting disguise as a maid in the demon castle would trick most, which was why messing with her is probably a bad idea. Her capabilities were on par with an upper tier S-rank adventurer; she didn’t have many wants, acting to only serve Schwii.

Of course, another part of ‘serving’ could be defined as ‘that’. After all, Iona herself was a high succubus, and what better food could there be nearby than that from royal blood?

After the destruction of Estia barony, Sequencee went missing alongside many of the people in the nation. The messy flow of survivors made it difficult to trace his whereabouts. Adding salt to the wound, Schwii had to take over her mother’s role as ruler after her father found out about the incident.

Two hundred years of imprisonment in the main castle. The Sovereign's words were absolute, Vyiella, despite being his wife, could not decline. Rather, she didn’t even struggle against it due to the absolute guilt she harbored.

Schwii who passed out that day at the throne room could scarcely understand the situation, knowing only that it must’ve been some big misunderstanding. She suddenly had to take over her mother’s role in ruling over the nation, worse– knowing that it was because of Anna’s death.

Schwii was somewhat fortunate that despite the many enemies gunning for the downfall of her ruling, there were many good subordinates under her mother, nevertheless, the duties and responsibilities were crushing. The past two years had been absolute hell. No matter how great of a team she had underneath her, if she hadn’t the capability to manage them, things would’ve eventually fallen apart. There were more than a few times when Schwii almost lost it all because of her failures brought about by inept judgment. Especially when handling dilemmas and political conflicts, like the noble demons below her ruling refusing to cooperate unless she married their sons or to provide them with more territory– those kinds of bullshit.

Schwii tasted first hand what it meant to sit on the throne. The admiration and reverence she had for her mother deepened.

Amidst the pain of the two years, she almost broke under the pressure– or perhaps she already did. And in those dark times, she sought something to cling onto, a reason to continue.

‘For mother.’

The obsession needed for the continuation of her survival. 

‘For mother. For mother. For mother. For mother. For mother. For mother. For mother. For mother. For mother. For mother. For mother. For mother. For mother. For mother. For mother. For mother.

It was the perfect obsession which helped her pull through everything. From keeping the castle in check until her mother came out of prison to saving her mother from her father’s grasp as soon as she had the power to. 

By the coming of the third year, The Sovereign summoned her to the main castle.

“Schwii Arch greets His Eminence,” she bowed.

“Stand up.”

Schwii stood up and looked at him. This was the first time actually witnessing her father’s face after more than a decade. She could barely remember him from the hazy memories of her faraway childhood days.

Spiky black glossy hair with a greenish tint, bright crimson eyes likened to her own. What surprised her was that he lacked that air of dominance around him. Contrary to Schwii’s expectation, he looked aloof. She would even go as far as to say that being in his presence was soothing, like being swept by a gentle breeze. 

Which only made him even scarier in her eyes.

He scratched his cheeks.

“How have you been?”

“Huh?”

His question was like a hammer to her head. 

The Sovereign of Demons, Bartonn Arch. The harbinger of calamity, the ruler of all demon kind– yet the first question he asked was ‘how have you been?’ She thought her ears were broken. 

“Going through the learning journey to manage an entire prefecture at such a young age, it must’ve been a struggle. I have to commend you on that.”

Schwii didn’t know what to say. His words created disorder in her mind, emotions churned into an inexplicable hodgepodge.

Confusion as to why her father was being so kind to her. Anger as to why he didn’t make a move despite knowing her suffering. Fear because of the juxtaposition. Hope because there was a possibility she could negotiate with her father.

“My aides have relay your progress and achievements you’ve merited throughout your ruling. As your father, I am proud of you, Schwii.”

Schwii trembled while holding back tears, unsure how exactly she should converse with her own father. A hush silence fell for what felt like a full minute before Schwii finally spoke.

“Impertinent as I may be in asking this, could you come to the point?” She knew she was being rude. Her mind just couldn’t come to terms with the reality before her.

“Hm.. if that’s what you wish. Long story short, I shall take over the ruling of Leviath for a temporary period, this may not be argued. You may be dismissed from your post.”

His casual words caused Schwii to freeze up. 

Another torrent of messy emotion muddle her heart. Relief from no longer having to work in that hellish conditions. Anger that all her efforts would be passed onto her father. Confusion and fear as to why he had made this decision– havingall the authority and support she had built up crumbled right this moment.

She did her best not to show her panic, but Bartonn knew she was trying her best to put on a front.

“Schwii Arch, my daughter. I’ll assign you another mission.”

“M-Mission?”

“To put an end to the misunderstanding a year and a half ago between Anna and Vyiella. Complete this mission and I shall release your mother.”

Schwii squealed in her heart. This was more than she expected as it would be shortening the two hundred year imprisonment to only 3 or 4 years. She was excited yet afraid of what it entailed, her consciousness could barely hold on to the hammer after hammer of new revelations.

“Sequencee Arch, your cousin has been recently located. Your mission is to guide him back to us. It’s unknown what kind of experiences he had to endure through his time in the human’s domain, you are there to investigate and quelch the past.”

‘Sequencee?’ 

Schwii expression contorted. He was someone she adored when she was younger.  Out of guilt, or perhaps she had thought that he died; since she took over her mother’s role as ruler, his existence faded from her world, so much that nowadays, his name rarely graced her mind. She felt queasy at the distant sounding name.

At the same time, knowing that her cousin was still alive relieved her. Schwii expected this mission to be straightforward. Investigating what had happened to Sequencee over the past three years and provide a report.

“You are from henceforth, the fiance of Sequencee Arch.”

Until her father dropped this bomb.

Schwii had been dismissed from her post to go on a long trip with her ‘new fiance’. Five years ago when she announced that she would work hard to wed him, she thought it was true love. Now that she had been through the vicissitudes of life, recalling the moment was pure cringe.

‘I was damn stupid.’

Who in the world marries her own cousin? The thought of it suddenly disgusted Schwii. Despite this, in order to free her mother, she had to carry out the mission with her utmost effort.

She looked at Iona.

Since the audience with her father, she learnt that Iona was a subordinate sent by him to assist her. Before her father hinted that he had been working closely with Iona to find Sequencee, she had thought that Iona was a member of the original demon generals in Leviath nation.

Iona had been a great support to Schwii during those dark days, especially as a succubus who still needed to vent her desires on someone. She was Schwii's emotional punching bag whenever she was going through the deep remorse of failures. She was grateful for her presence, at the same time guilty that she never realized this as a gesture of her father’s compassion until now.

One of Iona’s system gift is called [Unique Skill: Ping Location]. Once marked, Iona would be able to note the precise location of the person even if they were half-way across the entire continent. 

“He seems to be headed in the direction of the capital,” Iona, who noticed Schwii’s gaze spoke.

“Let’s catch him before he goes too far.”

===

“He’s somewhere on the top floor.”

With this short clue from Iona, Schwii snuck out of her room per Iona’s suggestion and headed one floor up. Of course, Iona was keeping watch of her from a distance. Oblivious to human culture, she knocked on each room to assess each one for Sequencee. She was under the assumption that he would likely react to another demon lord’s presence.

Funnily enough, every time she knocked on a door, there would be no response.

‘Am I doing something wrong?’

She finished the first row of doors and went to the other row. When she was about to give up, a door opened.

From within appeared a half-elf with delicate features. Green hair, and rare heterochromic eyes, one red, one gold. Schwii was dazzled by her beauty.

“Excuse me?” Leticia spoke first.

“Eh.. um..”

‘Wrong one.’

“Go away. I’m not interested in your service.”

‘Service?’

Leticia shut the door promptly. Schwii stood there in silence, racking her brain trying to comprehend her words. The story her mother once told her popped into mind: that succubus in the human world work as prostitutes.

Schwii’s cheeks burned up, she loosened a sigh.

‘I’m so stupid. Actually, why didn’t Iona tell me about it?’

She fummed in her heart when a slight movement caught the corner of her eyes. She quickly turned to the movement, noticed a pair of blue eyes and strands of auburn hair peeking from the dark. For some reason, despite it being almost six years, she recognized right away that this person was Anna’s son, Sequencee. As quickly as the door opened, it closed shut.

Likes like her search hadn’t been without any fruit. She licked her lips. 

‘Found you.’

She approached the door and knocked.

‘He should recognize me right?’

She knocked a couple times more and even called out his name when a sliver of doubt surfaced in her heart.

‘What if this is the wrong person?’

She felt somewhat embarrassed. To think the proxy ruler of a demon nation would resort to this sort of behavior. She was now being seen as a prostitute? Preposterous.

“Excuse me, could you not knock on the door like that?” Leticia’s presence from behind started her. The chilly tone in her voice only made her feel worse.

“Apologies. Are you perhaps acquitted with the person in this room?” Schwii asked.

“Yes. So do you mind stepping away?”

‘Step away?’

“He has blue hair and brown hair right?” Schwii wanted confirmation that her eyes weren’t playing tricks with her.

“Just go away. Or should I inform the clerk at the ground floor?” Leticia’s eyebrows twitched.

“Do you think you have the leeway?” Schwii frowned in her heart. And as habit would have it, the anger translated into a diplomatic smile on her face. She unconsciously pulled her hair behind her ears as a show of dominance.

“... Just go away will you? I need to get him to help me with something.”

“Me too.”

“...”

“I may not look like it but.. I’m a high noble you know?”

‘I don’t know who you are, but if that there is Sequencee I swear I’m going to..’

“Then why are you..”

“Because..”

“Get..”

Before they could finish words, the door opened. Schwii’s smile froze. 

It had been six years since they last met, yet she recognized this man. Many of his features had changed since their last meeting. His eyes had grown sharper, jawline and nose stretched a little longer. Most notable of all was his height. 

Before this it was Schwii who towered above him. Now, their positions had reversed.

He stood beside the green haired girl. In a calm voice he requested,

“Can you just go away already?”

“Oh my, you’re rather bold aren’t ya?”

Schwii over-familiarized herself with this man, not realizing how her excitement had clouded her judgment. She tried to approach him when a knife made of ice was quickly manifested, directed straight at her throat. She froze.

“I’m sorry, I’m not interested.”

‘Right.. he doesn’t recognize me.’

Schwii showed an embarrassed smile.

“Don’t you remember me?”

She tried prodding. Perhaps it would trigger some memory in the deep recesses of his mind. There was no way he would forget her after six years right? 

Admittedly he did. Just as Schwii had forgotten about him too.

Confusion, conflict and then back to confusion. His expression kept changing, as if he were trying to make sense of this person in front of him.

“Scram.”

Leticia made her move and pulled Sequencee away. 

At those words live branches grew out from the floor and ceiling to block off the path between the two.

Schwii backed off in panic. She didn’t think humans would escalate into battle at the drop of a pin. 

Leticia quickly grabbed Sequencee and dragged his frozen self to the other room.

Schwii stared at them in silence, a puzzled expression on her face.

‘So he doesn’t remember me at all? How in the world I’m I going to approach him then?’

===

So from then on, Schwii and Iona tailed Sequencee’s group. They soon learn that Sequencee’s aim was to enter Riestallia Academy, which was an unusual course of action for a demon lord like himself.

Most surprising was how someone like Sequencee had been able to keep his demon self hidden under the sharp nose of the humans. As a succubus, she could easily hide her features as it was a racial trait. Sequencee however, did not have this luxury, which meant that he had been using magic 24/7. Which was absurd. 

Iona warned Schwii to keep their distance. There was no need to rush as the system tracker will continue to remain on Sequencee no matter what he does. Iona herself had changed her clothes to suit the common people. Maid uniforms were simply too conspicuous.

And then the key event that sparked a chance in their reunion; an unexpected union that sent Schwii’s mind into turmoil. 

“Iona!”

She clutched the pendant on her chest, it gave off a subtle glow as her message transmitted over to her. Disregarding the scummy water of the ditch, she jumped down and grabbed Sequencee before any more water seized his lungs. Her heart squelched at the sight of him.

‘What the hell..’

Even after passing out, his illusion magic was still active.

‘You’re insane..’

Iona arrived and aided Schwii in securing a safe spot to lay him down. His clothes were a soaking mess. Fortunately Iona had mastered life magic to a high degree. She was, after all, a maid.

Having assessed his wounds, Schwii brought him back to the tavern where she met with the other two party members. She wasn’t sure what exactly it was that caused him to be thrown into a ditch, but it had to be no good news.

Not recognizing who Schwii was, Ro and Lilian tried to take him away from her. To which she responded with aggressive dominance. Iona merely watched from afar and would only intervene should some emergency occur.

Schwii brought him to her room, changed his clothes and waited for him to wake up by the bedside.

“Your Highness, do take care of yourself.”

“Thank you Iona. You take care too.”

“Understood.”

Saying so, Iona’s presence thinned as she walked out of the room. 

They hadn’t the slightest idea as to what kind of person Sequencee had become over the past three years. But it was most likely that he hadn't had too good of an impression towards the demons. It was best if Schwii left Iona out of his sight until she could confirm his thoughts. It might be too much for him to take if he knew that the demons wanted his forgiveness. 

This was where Schwii had to take center stage. Slowly guiding him back into the light.

When Sequencee woke up, she tried to weave as much truth as she could while taking care not to reveal anything that might create disharmony between them. She knew he was suspicious of how she kept some parts unspoken, but that was much better than lying or spilling the beans she wasn’t sure he could accept. She prodded him for his thoughts, to learn the horror of just how much more complex her mission was.

Sequencee’s hate for the demon race had grown root in his heart, it wasn’t something Schwii could remove by simply asking him to. She understood the pain of losing one’s own mother, the fact that she couldn’t rewind time and to clarify the command that Vyiella had request for the black knight.

The weight this mission carried didn’t just entail trying to stop Sequencee from taking revenge or becoming his therapist to accept his loss.

She was here to prevent a war among the demons. She didn’t forget that like herself, Sequencee had blue blood running through his veins. He was a demon lord no matter how ‘half’ he may refer to himself as. And if he joined hands with the hero and turned against his own kind.. who knows what kind of chaos would befall.

Most distressing to Schwii was that she didn’t want to see him tread the path towards his own death.

But was it that easy to clear up such a convoluted understanding? If The Sovereign killed Vyiella, would Schwii be able to forgive him? 

It was clearly a no.

The thought of it made Schwii tremble. She needed to learn more about Sequencee before she could slowly slide in hints to the truth of it all. 

“Hold it, wasn’t there a clause that said there would be a penalty for pulling out?” Nynim snapped a finger.

“Oh yeah, they did emphasize on that,” Daizo nodded.

“Eh? Really?” Quora voice in stupor.

“Ai.. doesn't that mean she can’t pull out even if she wants to?” Nynim sighed.

“What? Is there such a thing?” Ro asked, dismayed.

“How much was the penalty?” Daizo asked.

“I don’t remember, but it’s quite a lot.”

“Has it to do with the 4 year bond with the academy?”

“Oh, so it’s that one.” Quora seemed to have remembered.

As their conversation progressed, Schwii thought about the implications of what was to come. How exactly did Sequencee feel about this girl Leticia? She checked for his expression and noticed his stiff indifference.

‘He should do better to hide his thoughts.’

From a glance, Schwii could tell that Sequencee wanted to leave it all to the table, but was also struggling to accept the reality of things. Leticia acquired the scholarship while he was left eating the dust. It was truly a complicated situation where one sacrificed for the other, just to push the other into a deeper predicament. Life truly is unexpected.

“But isn’t that bad? Leticia has no choice but to stay?”

“I wouldn’t say so. That’s just how things work, a 3 year bond is like a blink of the eye.”

“Yeah, that’s because you’re an elf.”

“How much is the penalty?” Schwii asked. She always found it weird that the humans here would shut their mouths whenever she voiced her thoughts.

“A million..”

“Sequencee, do you still intend to pursue your ideals?” Schwii turned to him. She flicked the glass of Nim a couple times with her nails.

“What?” Sequencee stared at her blankly.

“I’m asking you, do you want to join the academy?”

‘At this rate, this girl will break down into tears.’

“You know a way..?”

“I do have a way. I want your input. Ro, Lilian, will you be interested as well?”

‘And if Sequencee is joining, it’s likely he would wish for his companions to accompany him as well.’

“H-Huh? What do you mean?”

“Us? Join the academy?”

“It would be much cheaper for the four of us to enter then it is to pull a single person out,” Schwii swirled the Nim in the glass.

“...”

“Sequencee,” Schwii called his name once more.

“Are you really.. alright with this?”

“I can afford it. Just say the word.”

Why exactly would Schwii do something like this? There were a lot of considerations she had to consider. Though she wasn’t fond of someone like Leticia putting her hands on her fiance, the critical point here is to curry favor with Sequencee.

Though he may not be aware of it now, she’s the one that’ll beg him by the end of this. Beg him to forgive her mother, and the entirety of the demon race. She wasn’t clear if the feelings he held towards him were pity or love, and even if it was the latter, her objective remains clear.

To shower him in so much debt that he can’t say no.

To save her mother.

“...”

“Lilian, Ro.”

“I… don’t know if it’s even appropriate to accept it…”

“Do you even have the money?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“...”

“If Sequencee is taking it, I’m going,” Ro resolved.

“T-Then.. me too,” Lilian said timidly.

The two of them then turned to the person in question. 

“Schwii.. weren’t you against it?” There was a crack in Sequencee’s expression.

“I don’t want to see you like this,” she stated honestly.

“...” 

 Sequencee lowered his head.

“Then it’s decided.” Schwii sipped on her drink and looked away.

‘Seriously. I should’ve just decided this earlier.’

Schwii had more than a couple million G in her system storage. Most of this money was given by her father for the sake of the mission. So she had more than enough leeway to live a better than luxurious life.

Schwii carefully snuck glances around. Asides those that were in direct involvement, the other three human’s gaze irked her.

‘He’s not a gigolo.’

===

“Schwii.”

“I’m doing it for us. I don’t care about that elf, you better get over her.”

If this decision pushes Sequencee closer to Leticia, Schwii wouldn’t mind cutting ties after she achieved her objective. She had seen first hand what having multiple wives would cause. She wanted no part in that.

‘Though, it’s not easy to find someone so loyal in this sort of place.’

Even those high demons that blackmailed her so that they could take her hand when she was the ruling queen had a mistress or two following their backs.

‘This world is crazy.’

Schwii gritted her teeth.

“Can I ask for the catalog?” Schwii’s mellow voice rang out. The attention she was getting just by breathing the same air as these humans was uncomfortable. Nevertheless, it was to be expected as a succubus, so she’s tried not to mind.

Being attended by one of the staff, she arranged second class courses for everyone. As for the accommodation, she secretly asked if it was possible to bring a maid in. The answer was a resounding yes, so she decided to pay extra for the higher tier accommodation.

‘Maybe it's about time they get to know Iona.’

The following day, they packed up and arrived at the academy where they were given a tour of the facilities. It was an attractive place. Certainly wasn’t as grandiose as the demon castles found in the demon nation, nevertheless, it was a lush environment that soothes the soul. Schwii found it hard to believe this mission would come with such a luxury, as if all the pain she had to face the prior three years were old happenings. The expectation of the life ahead fueled her resolve, and the comfort also brought forth some suppressed desire that had been long lying in neglect within her heart.

No longer was she in a situation where she had to worry about the unexpected problems that would arise in the political arena. She was free to be, to express, to feel without needing to wear a mask all day long.

Like a gauge, one by one, the valves to her pent up desires opened. The things she had wanted, she finally had the time to enjoy them.

“Pardon me for asking, but are you two engaged?” Gibera asked.

“We’re engaged,” Sequencee confirmed at once.

“Huh?” Lilian muttered dumbfoundedly.

“Sequencee, you didn’t tell me that!” Ro roared in disbelief.

Schwii’s face bubbled red.

“Y-You..” she lightly punched him.

“What?”

“N-Nothing..” she leaned against his shoulders.

‘I want to be spoiled..’

“No wonder. Seeing you two makes me rather jealous,” Gibera chuckled.

“...”

‘No. I can’t.. I shouldn’t..’

“Sequencee, take care of your words next time,” Schwii returned to sitting proper and said with a pout.

To Sequencee’s quizical look, Schwii turned away.

‘I-I can’t look at him.. if not I won’t be able to hold back from pushing him down tonight..’

And when the tour ended, everyone was sent to the grand foyer of the academy accommodation.

“W-Why are we getting the premium room?” Ro was taken aback himself.

“Schwii.. this is..” Lilian was trembling.

“For convenience sake. Don’t worry about it, I’ve properly paid for the upgrade.”

There were three tiers to the dormitory types. The lowest tier dorm is shared by 8 individuals consisting of 4 bunk beds in two rooms, 2 toilets and a living space. The middle tier room is shared by 4 individuals, similar to the lowest tier room except that the bunk beds were replaced with normal beds. The middle tier room is the normal offering included as part of the second class enforcer course.

However, Schwii paid extra for an upgrade which meant that they were going to stay at the highest tier dorm which had 5 individual rooms, 2 toilets furnished with bathtubs, a living space and even a kitchen for cooking. The extra room would be for Iona while the kitchen will become her estate.

“Schwii, you didn’t need to go so far.. is there a reason why you made this decision?” Sequencee asked.

“For convenience sake. And yes, I have my personal reasons as to why I chose this.”

“Schwii.. thank you..” Lilian lowered her head.

“T-Thank you?” Ro quickly copied.

“It’s my selfish wish. Please do your best in the academy.”

“Yes!”

“Definitely.”

“With this, I end the tour today. Everyone have a pleasant evening. I wish everyone a festive New Dawn. Don’t forget to arrive at your respective classes on time as it’s going to decide where you end up, make a good impression. If anyone gets pregnant, the academy does not hold responsibility alright? Use contraceptives. See you.”

The tour guide Loki’s joke left the group bawling out in laughter. The moment he left, Schwii went to the office to grab the keys when a crowd of cockroaches gathered before them.

“H-Hello. Nice to meet you I’m Andy Doew from the nearby kingdom of..”

“Nice to meet you, I'm Caityln, daughter of viscount Winson!”

“My name is Trevor Francis. I come from–”

“Wow, so you’re a commoner? How did you even get here ahahaha..”

“You’re so pretty Schwii, which country are you from?”

“Are you and Sequencee in a relationship?”

“It’s obvious isn't it? The two of them have been flirting in front of our faces.”

Schwii wanted to speak, but she didn’t know what to say. These people were humans, not demons. If they were demons, silence should be enough as a signal. As for humans.. they were a tad more complicated. She wasn’t well versed with the culture of nobles here.

Just as she began to panic, Sequencee grabbed her arm.

“How about everyone back off?”

His harsh words cut through the crowd. A numbing pleasure struck her mind like a gong.

“Step back and give her some room to breathe. I’m glad everyone would like to know her better but she’s tired after the tour, isn’t everyone the same? If you may, we’ll be taking our leave first.”

With that as a cue, Sequencee pushed through the crowd with Schwii’s hand tightly held. Ro and Lilian following him from behind.

“We’ll wait here for a bit. Until everyone is gone,” Sequencee reassure her. She felt an itch in the pit of her stomach.

‘Iona isn’t here..’

“That was.. scary..”

“Damn those people.. who do they think they are?”

“...”

“Schwii?”

“H-Huh………?” a blurred response.

“Are you alright?” His face approached her’s. Those pair of lovely tranquil eyes enraptured her.

“I-I..” she quickly shook of Sequencee’s hand and took distance. She wrapped her arms around her body, gazing down at the ground.

‘Ugh.. hah, hah.. doon’t..’

“Schwii?”

“I-I’m fine.. just give me.. some space..” she squeaked, stretching out her hands in order to hold him back. 

‘Don’t come any closer ha.. ahh… I’m heating up.. I’m getting wet…’

Her breathing grew increasingly intense, she was trembling all over, as if she was trying to hold in something. Sequencee wanted to intervene when Schwii staggered, leaned against the wall almost passing out but she stopped him. 

[Passive Trait: Self Indulgence]

It took a long while before she gathered herself. 

“I-I’m sorry for causing that mess. I should’ve been more perceptive..” Schwii tried her best to speak, finding her words coming out all stuttery.

“No. No. It’s their fault for trying to do that. It’s..” Ro tried to explain.

‘Calm down.. calm down..’

“No more of this. Let’s go. They should’ve left,” Schwii got up and stiffened her expression.

She needed time alone, to self indulge. Otherwise, she might really just push someone down. The comfort knowing that she had nothing left to withhold her was like a siren stroking her innermost desires.

“Are you sure you’re alright? If..”

“Sequencee. Thank you for your concern, I’m fine now. Please keep some distance between us just in case.”

‘Don’t look at me like that.. it’s only going to make me..’

21st floor, A312. They tapped their cards on the door.

Click. The master switch was toggled, the lights to the living space came on.

“Wow..”

“My gosh, this is.. our room?”

“...”

“...”

“Let’s pick our rooms.”

“Um, you two can pick first. Ro and I will go second.”

“Schwii.”

“I know.”

Schwii entered and locked the door behind her. Then she fell on her knees and loosened a heated breath.

The room was white, soft reddish-brown carpet covered the floor. Some elements of wood and black marble to the furniture around, the dim lights enshrouding the place made it a lovely place to enjoy herself.

This place was all her’s.

Her den to do whatever naughty things she wanted. Free, unrestricted, not having to attend to the normally hundreds of obligations which weighed her down. 

She reached down under skirt, her finger slipped past the thin fold of fabric and slid into the wet crevice. She covered her mouth with her other hand as she pleasured herself to no end.

…

..

.

‘What I’m I doing?’

Schwii asked herself as her lips melted onto his; her tongues searching for his, his for her’s. Slipping her hand under his shirt, she felt the firm and smooth abs on his abdomen; her hands gently caressing the curves over his body. Her ever racing heartbeat comparable to his own; the tantalizing sensation of their skin sticking onto each other.

‘No.. it’s too.. ugh’

From but a mere kiss, Schwii’s mind rose past the clouds into the blinding light of orgasm. She convulsed without end, a wave of ecstasy stripped her off her ability to think. In the seconds after, her mind returned to the present, heat rose to her cheeks as she had come to realize what she had just done.

She trembled.

‘What have I..’

Sequence had already entered a trance, having his body encroached by Schwii’s naturally occurring aphrodisiac, he was not himself. A natural toxin found in a succubus’ fluid which served to either bring arousal or deprive one’s ability to think, turning them metaphorically, into a cattle– that was the chemical Schwii was releasing unconsciously.

The defenseless him whom she would eat up without needing to withhold herself was so tempting. To the desires of her natural being, an unquenchable lust corroded her mind.

Her eyes watered, resisting the sirens with her everything. Her hands, against her better thoughts, reached downwards to his pants.

She gasped, the tattoo imprinted just below her navel begun to shine in a sinister red light.

‘Stop.. Schwii..’

She pleaded to herself.

‘Stop..’

She bit her lips and blood began to trickle down the corner of her lips.

“Schwii.”

His unexpected voice boomed like thunder, the needed stimulus to bring her back to her senses. Stricken with grief, she fell off him and backpedaled until her back hit the wall, leaving wet trials dripping on the carpet.

Sequencee sat up. His calm, clear blue stared towards her.

“I won’t resist if this is what you need.”

“W-What?”

It sounded too good to be true. Her prey was telling her that he was willing to become her food. What better inclination to enjoy the meal than when permission hath been bestowed?

“Stop.. get away.. “ Schwii squealed. 

Fear and lust, two emotions that were tangent to the other, causing a squelching pain in the pits of her stomach. 

“Get away.. g-get..”

Tears and saliva debauched her pretty face, which only did more to worsen her already obscene figure. Sequencee closed the distance.

“Stop.. you idiot.. stop..!”

Until he got in front of her she curled up and suited her eyes shut.

And then she received a soft hug.

“No.. what are you doing ngh..”

She fought against the biting hunger. Her womb throbbed, thirsting for his fluids.

“I heard from my mom. If you’re ever taken by a succubus, what you do is simply hold them until they give up.”

“T-That doesn’t make sense! No person would be able to hikh?!”

“I’m aroused too you know?”

“N-No.. don’t say that..”

“Then stay still.”

Schwii leaned against his body. Their heated breaths transmitted to each other, the beating of their hearts.

A minute, five minutes, half an hour passed with them just sitting in each other’s arms.

The lust they felt had calmed to a soft passion. The untamed desire had been reigned in, leaving behind only the most pure of embarrassment.

Schwii didn’t understand what it was that Sequencee did, because she understood more than anyone that there was no such thing as placating thirsty succubus by simply hugging her.

“What did you do?” Schwii’s voice sounded sweeter than normal.

“I just held you.”

“Liar..”

‘Well, I’m a liar too..’

“I’m not lying. It’s the truth.”

“I don’t believe you. There’s no way you could’ve resisted my charm.”

Saying so, Schwii suddenly felt like she had just lost. Wasn’t everyone charmed by her looks? Then why was Sequencee able to tame his appetite in front of the lust-inebriated succubus who was quite literally spreading her good feeling pheromones everywhere.

“If I didn’t have detoxification magic and [Activated Trait: Focus], I probably would’ve lost myself. And you didn’t use your eyes to charm me either so I had some leeway.”

“...”

‘Too stoic.’

For a moment Schwii thought that maybe it would’ve been better to prove to him who’s the dominant one here. Nevertheless, she knew that to win Sequencee, not only his body, but his heart. So making a move here would win her the battle but not the war..

‘He’s so cool though..’

Schwii recalled how he had confronted the crowd in her stead, for her sake. 

‘He’s not as useless of a person as I thought.. well, maybe calling him useless is harsh.’

Schwii thought it might not be so bad to be the fiance of her own cousin. The way he treated her.. she didn’t hate it.

“Come to think of it, you really smell good,” Sequencee took a whiff of her hair.

“W-What are you doing?!”

“Isn’t this supposed to be how people flirt?”

“I-I know b-but!?”

“You said we were engaged, right?”

“...”

“Alright, alright. I’ll slowly move away. But before that, is there anything you need? I think I’m also at my limits. If I stay any longer I might just..”

“N-Nothing.. thank you Sequencee..”

“Right.”

“S-Sorry I just..”

“It’s okay,” Sequencee pulled back just a bit. Enough that their eyes could meet one another, his hazy eyes to her trembling crimson iris.

He lifted her chin with his hand. Her heart skipped a beat.

“Just a little..” he said as if to excuse himself. He leaned in, closing his eyes.

Their lips touched. For a couple seconds, Schwii thought she returned to the past– to the first kiss they had under the table. 

He gently pulled away. 

“Well.. I’ll be going now. See you tomorrow. Sorry for not listening to your warning.”

“U-Un..” Schwii lowered her head, trying to hide her tomato coloured cheeks. His gesture wasn’t lewd, but it was more than enough to break her fuse.

Sequencee slowly got up and reached the door.

“Good night Schwii.”

“Good.. night..”

He closed the door. The room was empty once more. 

Even so..

Schwii placed a finger to her lips still lingering with his taste.

‘It seems I still love him...’

That thought alone was enough to satisfy her for the rest of the night.