Episode 49. The Naive Virgin Knight Gets Tricked Again
"Unlike her sister, Lycoris isn't growing up quickly."
"Isn't that fine? Camellia grew up too fast, so we couldn't fully enjoy her baby phase."
I had this conversation while watching Cecilia hold our second daughter.
Lycoris was an impossibly calm baby.
Aside from when she was born, she never once cried-whether hungry or needing a diaper change, she'd just wait quietly without any fuss.
I worried she might be sick, but examinations showed no issues, which only deepened my concern.
Come to think of it, Lycoris's Intelligence Stat had been above that of an average human adult since birth. Could she be consciously holding back out of embarrassment?
"Is that it, Lyco?"
"..."
When I asked Lycoris directly, my daughter gave no clear response.
She just stared at me expressionlessly-neither confirming nor denying.
Once she grows a bit more, she'll start expressing herself fluently. No point rushing her-we'll wait patiently.
"M-Mama...? L-Lyco... does that mean...?"
Suddenly, Camellia spoke up in a trembling voice, as if shocked.
"Hm? Oh, it's a nickname. Four syllables felt too long, so I shortened it like Cecilia-"
"I want one too!!! A nickname!!!!"
"Eek!"
She shrieked and clung to me, throwing a tantrum.
"Why wasn't I first?! I'm the eldest, Lycoris is second! Shouldn't I get the first nickname?!"
"I was planning to give you one too... Is the order that important?"
"Of course! There's a huge difference between deflowering a virgin and taking a non-virgin!"
"...That analogy is inappropriate, but I get your point."
She meant hierarchy demands differential treatment. Hmm.
Though I've repeatedly taught our family to treat everyone fairly without hierarchy, Camellia instinctively clings to it.
If our eldest daughter-who should set an example for future siblings-holds such values, our demon-blooded children won't integrate well into society.
Instead of forcing correction, I coaxed Camellia into reconsidering-using irresistible bait.
"Camellia, you promised Mama you'd be a good girl, right? If you stay good until today, I planned to do 'that thing'..."
"Th-That thing...?"
"You kept begging for it, remember? Stay good until today, and I'll give you 'that' plus a nickname. Deal?"
Camellia's eyes widened in disbelief, then she nodded repeatedly, lips curling into a joyous smile.
She hopped gleefully, unable to contain her excitement. Do kids love promises that much?
Well, I must keep my word.
"I'll ask Cecilia later to verify. So stay with her and behave today, okay?"
"Yes! Thank you, Mama!"
Today, I decided to visit the city alone, leaving Camellia at home.
With Kumo handled and no remaining threats in Pesto, going solo seemed safe enough.
"See you later, Cecil."
"Come back safely~"
I kissed Cecilia's cheek, then Lycoris's forehead in her arms.
At that moment-Lycoris, who'd been utterly expressionless-looked directly at me and smiled.
Rubbing my eyes in disbelief, I looked again-but her smile had already vanished.
* * *
Thanks to turning off the Lewd Crest's effects yesterday, Rita-ssi could finally resume normal life outside.
Clad in armor with her sword, she looked every bit the gallant prince.
Her Bikini Armor revealed her healthy, toned figure unabashedly, yet emphasized her warrior's strength over femininity.
A noble knight's bearing-enough to make one forget her lust-crazed state under the crest. If this isn't a hero's image, what is?
"Rita-ssi."
"Triae... Did you do all this?"
Rita-ssi stared at the quest board, disbelief coloring her voice.
Overnight, all gang-related quests had vanished-because the gangs themselves were gone.
Honestly, I was surprised too. Though Kumo was strong, I never expected her to wipe out every city gang in a day.
I vaguely nodded.
"Well, I didn't do it alone. Just helped a bit."
"But you succeeded where none could. You should be prouder."
"Really, I did nothing."
"Modest as ever. Whatever your strategy-making gangs fight until they destroyed themselves-it was brilliant."
Somehow, the Adventurer's Guild believed that after I crushed minor gangs, major ones misinterpreted it as a declaration of war and wiped each other out.
Kumo's Kubopa faction allegedly bribed the lord with massive compensation to officially disband (though likely still active) and escape.
Kumo handled things decently-not perfectly, but well enough.
"Pity you won't get rewards. Not official quests."
"It's fine. Since it wasn't my solo effort, I don't deserve payment."
"You're truly admirable. Heroic indeed."
But Rita-ssi's far more heroic than me...
Praise from my crush made me blush fiercely.
Embarrassed, I teased her like a boy pulling his sweetheart's pigtails-reaching behind to grope her butt.
~Squish squish♥
"Hyaa...!♥ Wait, Triae...! Not here..."
"Rita-ssi... I want my personal reward now...♥"
"W-Wait...! If someone sees... Hyaan♥"
Inserting a finger into her backdoor drew a cute moan. She barely muffled it with her hand, avoiding detection.
"Triae...!"
"What's wrong?♥ Even if caught, we're like this anyway-no problem, right?"
"Fine, fine...! Haa, let's move elsewhere. Truly... I'm reminded you're a demon."
Heheh, you're the one who fell for this demon and gave body and soul♥
Seriously...♥ Wearing a lewd Bikini Armor to tempt me first, yet expecting not to get ravished? That's greedy♥
Arm-in-arm, I sexually harassed her under guise of skinship while leaving the guild.
Poking her exposed sideboob or touching her ribs/pelvis made Rita-ssi squeal adorably.
Adventurers stared-amazed, excited, curious. I answered with a seductive smile, pulling Rita-ssi's waist possessively against mine to flaunt her as mine.
* * *
In Rita-ssi's inn room, we stripped each other to underwear instantly.
Shyly, she hunched over, covering chest and thighs with her arms.
Only when I snuggled close with a giggle did she relax, sighing and lowering her arms.
"Now♥ Time for your massage♥ Massage♥"
"'Massage'? You just want to do lewd things..."
"Oh? Is massage lewd? Then did Rita-ssi request massages before because you wanted lewd things?♥"
"N-No! Back then...! It was medical! Not perverted...!"
"Sure, sure~ Whatever you say~♥"
I teased as she flusteredly denied. Her wagging tail betrayed her enjoyment.
Classic maidenly pretense. Haha♥
"Today, I prepared a very special massage just for you♥ Fufufu♥"
"Hmm... You asked for a reward, yet you're serving me? Is that okay?"
"Silly-this is my reward♥"
"If you're happy... Then I'll look forward to it."
Smiling softly, she sat comfortably on the bed.
Seeing her demurely waiting in underwear aroused me intensely-even without forming a penis yet.
Swallowing hard, I coughed to restrain myself before presenting prepared items.
"...Triae, what's this?"
"An eye mask. I heard blocking one sense heightens others♥"
"Ugh... You truly are... an absurd Succubus Queen...♥"
Blushing, she willingly donned the black mask.
I laid her comfortably on the bed, caressing her with one hand while casting magic with the other.
Countless sinister tentacles silently sprouted from my Magic Circle, filling the room.
Unaware, Rita-ssi moaned weakly under my touch.
I commanded the tentacles to restrain her limbs.