Pseudo-Mothers (6)
As I approached the Fox Forest, I could sense Hoaran's energy along with that idiot's energy.
Thanks to that, I had a rough idea of how things had gone down.
"...Good. He's safe."
The traces of spells left at the scene.
They were hers, after all.
I mean, the idea of anyone besides Hoaran being able to use reversal magic was terrifying enough.
Whether it was some individual or a group, they'd clearly tried to kidnap Hanjo—that fool—and gotten shut down by Hoaran.
Hoaran must have been keeping him close this whole time... protecting him while I was gone.
Kkuuuk. For some reason, a sharp pang twisted in my chest.
That was supposed to be my job.
I should have been the one protecting him. The fact that Hoaran had stolen that role from me pissed me off for no reason, but more than that, I was relieved he was unharmed.
"...No, fuck. If that's how it was, you could've at least left a damn note. I was worried sick for nothing?"
Thinking back to how I'd run around like a maniac searching for him made my face burn.
This is all that idiot's fault, I thought. When I see him, I'm gonna chew him out for real.
And then, when I finally arrived at the Fox Forest.
Lilith could see it.
"Uh... so, could you do me one more favor?"
That fool saying those words, and that damn fox bitch beaming at him, wrapping his cock between her tits.
Her tail swishing seductively as she clung to the idiot like a needy slut.
They'd clearly already been at it, reeking of cum and pussy juices and god knows what else. Seeing them like that, Lilith opened her mouth.
"Hey."
A raspy voice she barely recognized as her own slipped out.
How should she put it?
It felt like all the strength drained from her body.
But that lasted only a moment before boiling rage turned her vision white.
Seeing their dumbstruck faces as they noticed her only made it worse.
Ududuk. Grinding her teeth, Lilith snarled at them.
"Looks like you two got along just fucking fine without me? Huh?"
"Why aren't you saying anything? Huh? Had a good time?"
Lilith let out a scornful ha as she spoke.
"No, my bad. I said it wrong. You two look like you got along real fucking great... Guess I asked a stupid question."
Folding her wings, Lilith descended to the ground and glared at us.
Was that her final transformation form?
I'd doubted it could be real, but damn, she really had a three-stage transformation like some kind of final boss.
Even her second-stage form back when she was beating the shit out of Ariadd had been intimidating as hell, but this Lilith? Just her glare made it hard to breathe.
"Hanjo, take this. It'll make you feel better."
Hoaran handed me a talisman, and only then could I finally catch my breath.
Gripping the talisman eased the crushing pressure on my lungs.
Of course, Lilith was still glaring daggers, so the overwhelming pressure hadn't vanished entirely.
"Ignoring me while you two play house? That's kinda hurtful... Makes me wanna cry."
Hoaran stepped forward, blocking the approaching Lilith.
"Step back, Hanjo. Lilith, now that she's gone this far... it won't be easy for me to protect you while fighting."
Yeah.
Unlike last time, she was genuinely pissed.
I mean, it was obvious.
Her skin had turned blue for some reason, her horns were three times longer than usual, and her eyes—now pitch black like her changed skin—radiated pure murder. That alone told me she was beyond furious.
She was dressed in what might've been clothes or some micro-bikini nonsense, but her sexy curves were completely overshadowed by how terrifying she looked.
Hoaran was right—if I got caught in the crossfire, I'd be fucked. Better to back off.
But...
"Wouldn't running do the same thing?"
She looked ready to burn down the whole damn Fox Forest.
What if a fireball came flying out of nowhere? I'd be toast.
"...True enough. No choice, then. Stay right by my side, Hanjo."
No, that sounded bad too.
"You two look real cozy... Whispering secrets while I was gone, got nice and close, huh?"
Lilith smirked mockingly, eyeing me and Hoaran.
"I mean, you were just doing that shit a second ago. Bet you're super tight now. My bad again? Should I apologize? Sorry? You'll forgive me, right? It's nothing compared to what you did to me."
Clinging to Hoaran right now felt like a one-way ticket to hell.
Seeing Lilith like that, Hoaran spoke up.
"...There's a misunderstanding, Lilith. First, hear me out—"
But before Hoaran could finish, Lilith cut her off.
"Misunderstanding my ass, you fox slut. Wipe the cum and pussy juice off your tits and cunt first, then talk."
"Eut...!"
Hoaran flinched, glancing down at herself and blushing.
What could she say? Lilith was right.
My cum from just moments ago was still dripping stickily down her cleavage, and her thigh glistened with her own arousal.
We hadn't had time to clean up before Lilith barged in...
Hoaran's tails and ears drooped limply.
She looked utterly deflated, but Lilith shot her a cold glare anyway.
"Had fun? Taking my son off to fuck around while I was gone? Of course you did. That's why you didn't even notice me coming. Right?"
As Lilith advanced on Hoaran, blue flames erupted around her.
Thanks to Hoaran's talisman, I didn't feel the heat, but the trees and grass nearby withered in seconds.
Not burning...
More like their life force was being sucked dry.
They shriveled up and crumbled to dust instantly.
Thud, thud.
Everything around her footsteps withered away.
Finally, she stopped right in front of Hoaran.
Lilith looked her in the eye and spoke.
"...A bitch in heat who fucks someone else's son isn't my friend anymore. If you don't wanna die, get the fuck out of my sight, Hoaran. I'm... taking him and going home. And never show your face to me again."
She declared it like a verdict, then tried to brush past Hoaran toward me—but Hoaran's tails blocked her path.
"...What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Can't you see? I'm saying no."
"What? You little...!"
Wait... hold up.
She really seemed to be misunderstanding.
I mean, I hadn't actually fucked Hoaran or anything.
Given Hoaran's current state and what Lilith had walked in on, I could see why she'd think that.
Unfortunately, nothing like that had happened between us.
...How could I clear this up without making it worse?
The problem was whether Lilith would even believe me. But there was no time to overthink it.
Seeing Hoaran refuse to budge, Lilith's face twisted in rage as she raised her hand.
Whoosh! Blue flames surged from her palm.
And Hoaran pulled a talisman from her bosom.
No choice.
I had to try something, whether it worked or not.
"Um, Mother?"
"Stay out of th—"
"Hanjo, this isn't the time—"
Both Hoaran and Lilith reacted to "Mother," starting to speak before freezing.
I froze too.
Ah, fuck.
I hadn't expected both to react to it.
Stupid me. With Hoaran, there was no need to distinguish, so I'd just called her Mother. Same with Lilith when it was just us.
They were both my mothers anyway—or so I'd thought. Didn't expect this.
The two who'd been seconds from throwing down suddenly went rigid.
But their reactions were polar opposites.
Hoaran looked like oh shit, flustered and lost, while Lilith stared at her like what the fuck did this bitch just say?
The silence stretched, each for their own reasons.
Lilith spoke first.
"...Why the hell are you answering when he calls me Mother?"
"Th-that's..."
Hoaran's shoulders slumped; her earlier defiance evaporated.
She had no ground to stand on.
She already knew I'd been adopted by Lilith, and she'd declared herself my mother—technically my master—only after pulling a bait-and-switch with the disciple thing. She was morally fucked.
Lilith had kinda scammed me into being her son too, but whatever.
Hoaran wouldn't know that.
I'd never told her.
From Hoaran's view, she was the awkward third wheel who'd wedged herself between me and Lilith.
Technically second in line, even.
"What? Spit it out."
Lilith pressed her.
Hoaran stammered.
"I... I adopted Hanjo as my son too."
"Ha...?"
Lilith's expression twisted into something indescribable.
Like she couldn't process what she'd just heard.
But only for a moment.
"Oh, right. Of course you did...?"
She glanced between me and Hoaran, muttering.
"Yeah. That's how it is, huh?"
Then, whoosh, her wings snapped open.
"Fine, I get it. I'll butt out, so you two can suck and fuck to your hearts' content."
She turned to me.
"...You little shit."
Ah.
Seeing her about to fly off, I had a gut feeling—if I didn't stop her now, I'd never see Lilith again.
So I bolted and tackled her in a hug.
"Eut?! Let go!"
She thrashed, but hadn't taken off yet.
Her strength... was insane!
I barely held on without getting flung off and yelled.
"No, just listen for a sec! Why're you so damn hasty, Mother?"
"Don't call me Mother, you fucker! I never had a horndog son like you!"
"Uh... Lilith okay then?"
"You fucking—?"
She said not to call her Mother.
What the hell did she want?
"Anyway, calm down. I can explain everyth—"
"Explain? You said explain?"
Kkuruk. She glared, grinding her teeth.
"I... fuck, I..."
Something welled up, but she couldn't get it out. Seeing her suddenly go quiet...
"Eut..."
I shouted.
"Fox bitch Hoaran...!"
"Uh, y-yes? Me?"
Hoaran startled, looking at me.
"Do something—anything—to keep Lilith bitch from moving!"
"You fucking bastard? Is this why—"
Lilith's eyes blazed as she glared at me.
"Hurry! Hurry!"
I wrapped arms and legs around her to hold her back. Hoaran fumbled for talismans.
"R-right...!"
Bang! Bang!
Clones identical to Hoaran popped up beside her—one with three tails, another with five.
"Binding Arts...! 'Eternal Bind'—!"
At her shout, the talismans from her and the clones turned into long ropes, lunging at me and Lilith.
"This much...!"
Before they could wrap us, Lilith's wings swatted them away.
First time seeing the five-tailed clone, but she was batting away their combined binding spells with just her wings?
That white-haired chick got wrecked by clones with one tail each.
Our moms are badass.
But no time to admire Lilith shredding Hoaran's spells with her wings alone.
Had to act.
"Sorry 'bout this, Mother."
I bit down on the tip of Lilith's ear—the one glowing extra bright.
And sucked on it, chomp chomp.
"Hiyat?!"
Lilith shrieked shrilly, body jerking.
Then Hoaran's ropes enveloped us both.