The Road to the Capital
The road to the Capital was both far and near. The Capital lay even farther south than the Starting Village where Kairan had begun her adventures with Eli. It was only natural to stop by the villages they'd passed along the way to get there. And among those villages was Eldaum Village.
"Eldaum, huh? It's been a while."
"Yeah, doesn't feel like much time has passed, though."
"That's travel for you."
Eldaum Village. The home of the priestess Heilyn they'd found in Rock Canyon, and the village where one of the Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings, Bellamorta, had been hiding. The two women smiled faintly, lost in nostalgic memories.
"Come to think of it... what happened to that blessing Bella gave us back then?"
Kairan asked as she stroked Karni's head, who was using her lap as a pillow while sleeping.
"Ah... that? Hmm, blessing might not be the right word. It's in the form of a seed. It sprouted a few days ago... but, well, it's kinda weird."
"Weird how?"
"Yeah. Usually, things like this grow into divine trees, like the elves' World Tree. In those cases, they have strong holy power from the seed stage onward..."
"But it's rejecting holy power."
"Yep. Probably because it's a divine tree from a being that's fallen to succubus."
Eli pulled the divine tree seed from her inventory and showed it to her. A pure white seed close to snow-white, a small crack in it, and a purple sprout emerging from that crack. The egg-sized seed pulsed at regular intervals, and each time it stopped, the sprout grew just a tiny bit.
"You said it's rejecting holy power?"
"Yeah. Seems like it's feeding on yin energy instead."
"...Yin energy?"
"...Yup."
Eli turned away and started whistling innocently at Kairan's look that screamed how do you even know that? Of course, no proper sound came out—just air blowing through her lips as she rolled her eyes.
"Umm... after messing around with a bunch of girls, I noticed the seed only moves a lot during sex...?"
"Lewd saintess."
"Eek... but Hero's a lewd hero too..."
Kairan ruffled Eli's hair hard in response to her half-hearted whining.
"Eeeek!"
"Pfft, but it's true."
"Uuu..."
Eli pouted her lips in complaint. Kairan watched her fondly for a moment, then turned to look out the window.
Eldaum Village was just a brief stopover. Even with an inventory full of preserved rations, luxury items like booze or chocolate were different—they needed restocking. They'd stay maybe a day, and aside from Heilyn and Airin, there was no one they knew. But beyond it, past the Starting Village, lay the Capital. The home of the Kairan Borg family. Where the original Kairan's relatives lived, not the transmigrator herself.
Should I let them know it's me?
Who knows. She wasn't sure. There was that manga where a father noticed his son had become something else. Even though the appearance, behavior, and voice were identical to his son, the father was convinced it wasn't. For some reason she couldn't explain. Maybe it was just the dawn making her sentimental.
Who am I, really?
Kairan shook her head vigorously to dispel the odd predawn thoughts.
"Sigh."
"What's up?"
"Huh? Oh, nothing. Probably just the early morning."
"What kinda nonsense is that?"
Eli looked at Kairan and said,
"Need confession?"
"You can do that?"
"I'm a priestess? A saintess!"
"Pfft, right, you are."
At Kairan's words, Eli's eyes widened round.
"What... seriously."
"Pffhehe."
"I thought hard about it and told you..."
"Sorry, sorry. Pfft...!"
Eli stared at Kairan with cold, dead eyes. She was covering her mouth with her hand, choking back giggles. Kairan was treating her more strangely lately. But it was fine. She looked happy. If the Hero was happy, that was enough. Because she loved her. Because she was loved.
"Just say if you need it."
"...Yeah. Thanks, Eli."
Wasn't that enough?
Basking in the warm sunlight, Karni stepped down from the carriage. From the room-like interior, she set foot on the cold dirt ground. Protected by magic, her feet didn't get hurt, but the feel of the earth was still awkward. Probably from riding in the carriage too long.
"Pretty village."
"Eldaum's got that charm."
Eli, who had also gotten off, stretched languidly. Her face showed a hint of fatigue from staying up all night. Of course, a flash of holy power erased it in an instant.
After taking a deep breath, Eli looked at Karni and said,
"Okay, free time till evening. Meet at the inn."
"Inn? Which one?"
"Guild second floor."
"...Isn't that—"
—for receptionists only? Before she could finish, Karni sighed as she watched Eli walking off into the distance.
"...She's got something in mind."
After traveling with her for a good while, the only thing Karni had figured out was that Eli was an eccentric in saintess clothing. How could someone's daily routine be prayer-women-prayer-women on repeat? She couldn't understand it, but she knew Eli was a devout believer befitting her title—and just as much of a womanizer.
Of course, being a bit of a womanizer wasn't a big deal. Priestly celibacy was a relic of nearly a millennium ago; these days, even priestly marriages were blessed. A little womanizing wouldn't tarnish the name "saintess."
So it wasn't a problem... but
Human Eli without the saintess title is a whole different story.
Karni genuinely thought it was a good thing Eli was a saintess.
If she wasn't, she'd have gotten stabbed to death by now.
Of course, that included the Hero too.
"Ah, wait up!"
Karni snapped out of her thoughts and ran after Eli, who was already far ahead. Luckily, she caught up quickly.
"This is... the cathedral?"
"Yeah, gotta meet someone."
Eli opened the cathedral doors and went inside. The clean interior. Beautiful stained glass windows sparkled in the sunlight, casting colorful shadows. The sacred sight almost reminded her of the grand cathedral in the ducal estate.
"Ah...! Saintess Eli!"
"Long time no see, Airin."
"It's been ages! If you'd told me you were coming, I'd have prepared!"
"Hehe, do we need preparations between us?"
Eli approached Airin and hugged her tight.
"Hmm? Something's... different about your vibe?"
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah. Like... more futanari now?"
"Ufufu, what's that supposed to mean."
Airin giggled as she looked at Eli. Her eyes, tinged with a hint of lust, fixed clearly on her. The changed atmosphere was obvious. She felt much more mature than last time.
"Well... I've learned a thing or two from Hero Kairan."
"Oh, how's Heilyn?"
"Much better. Her eye's healed, her pale skin's back to normal. She's healthy."
Airin, sharing Heilyn's update, turned to glance at Karni.
"That bitch... oh, an onahole, right?"
"Oh my, yes. Onahole No. 1."
"Hmm. Nice. I've got myself an onahole too, or pet, I guess."
Bitch, onahole—words the old Airin never would've used. Eli finally pinpointed the odd feeling she'd had. As she'd suspected, Airin had grown. A bit more futanari-like.
Come to think of it, her dick's bigger too.
Not quite up to her or the Hero's level yet, but nothing to be ashamed of anymore. Had she shed her bitch skin and matured? Her holy power seemed stronger too. Either way, it was good.
"A pet, huh. Wanna see."
"Hehe, not today... tomorrow?"
"Oh, thanks."
The two priestesses smiled and chatted for a while longer. Karni, listening in, quietly slipped out of the cathedral and headed to the nearby guild.
"...Hero?"
"Hey."
"..."
It was Kairan in the guild. Karni sighed at the sight of her and walked right back out. She shook her head imagining the Hero handling two on each side and three on the dicks—five bitches total. Neither of them was right in the head.
Late at night. Karni stepped out of the second-floor guild inn room that Eli and Kairan had somehow charmed the staff into giving them. She walked the empty night streets. She'd always liked night walks. After not being able to do one on the carriage, this felt refreshing.
"Hm? Who's there?"
She tilted her head at the presence she sensed. Deep night. Even with the bright moon, most people would be asleep. Maybe someone else who liked night walks like her? Karni headed toward the sound.
"..."
The sight was a little—no, a lot—shocking.
"That's it, good girl? Woof woof."
"Woof, woof..."
"Pffhehe. Aww, so cute."
Karni watched the priestess Airin from earlier walking what she assumed was Heilyn. Deep in her heart, she thought:
All futanari are out of their minds.