Chapter 218: To the Demon Realm
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 218: To the Demon Realm
Cloud had used [Constraint] to prevent the dragons from harming his companions. However, that didn't protect them from the aftershocks of the battle.
The very earth trembled, nearly knocking them off their feet several times. The barrier strained under the constant barrage of gale-force winds and magical fallout.
As the situation continued, anxiety spread among the women.
“What in the world is happening out there…! Cloud will be okay, right?”
Katarina was particularly distressed.
If they could feel such impacts even from within a powerful barrier, what must it be like outside? She was sick with worry for Cloud.
“Hey… just for a moment, can’t you get rid of that red thing?”
Thanks to Hailey’s blood magic, [Blood Veil], which enveloped the barrier, their view of the outside world was completely blocked.
Katarina, desperate to confirm Cloud’s safety, asked Hailey cautiously.
“Absolutely not.”
The reply was a firm refusal.
“I don’t know what’s happening out there, but even with three layers of high-level barriers, we’re barely holding on. We could add another layer, but removing one is out of the question.”
“Is it that bad…?”
Katarina looked at Leslie with trembling eyes, as if asking for confirmation. Leslie bit her lip hard and nodded.
With that, Katarina could say no more.
The fact that the prideful Leslie remained silent with such an expression meant they were truly powerless in this situation.
Once Katarina fell silent, a hush fell over the group inside the barrier.
While the women grappled with feelings of helplessness and despair, Hailey silently did her job. Sharpening her focus, she added another layer to the [Blood Veil] whenever she sensed danger, absorbing the impacts.
Time passed.
One hour… two hours… four hours… eight hours…
After about fourteen hours, the pressure battering the barrier finally ceased.
Still, Hailey maintained the veil.
She held it until a soft knock, knock sent ripples across the [Blood Veil].
The moment she felt the light knock, Hailey dispelled the [Blood Veil] surrounding the barrier.
She didn't know if it was a dragon or Cloud, but either way, the decision was not hers to make.
If it was a dragon, they would meet a gruesome end. If it was Cloud, they could breathe a sigh of relief.
And thankfully, Hailey’s reality was the latter.
“Cloud!”
The instant the barrier fell, Katarina rushed out and looked Cloud over from head to toe. Seeing the wounds on his body, her face crumpled.
“Why are you so hurt!”
“It’s nothing serious.”
“But you’re still hurt!”
“Katarina is right, Sir Hero. No matter how small the wound, it’s never good to leave it untreated.”
Ophelia followed close behind and began healing Cloud’s injuries. Eri and Leslie, completely drained from maintaining the barrier for fourteen hours, collapsed to the ground, struggling to catch their breath.
Hailey was just as exhausted, though not to the same extent. Still wanting to maintain her dignity, she scanned her surroundings for a place to lean against.
But there was nowhere to rest among the large, deep craters pockmarking the ground and the fallen, shattered trees.
Just how fierce was this fight…
It was clear from the circumstances that Cloud had fought a horde of dragons. And since he was standing before them perfectly fine, he must have won an overwhelming victory.
To think he had defeated numerous ancient dragons, even if it took a long time…
And they called this man an incompetent hero?
They must have all been insane or had eyes only for decoration. How could they fail to recognize the potential of a man like this?
If I had known…
She should have looked into other kingdoms.
She had acted too hastily, trying to become the hero’s guardian, and had missed out on a true gem.
Just as Hailey was repeating the same regret for the umpteenth time…
“Master~ Are you sure there won’t be any problems with this?”
A woman descended from the sky, fluttering a pair of black bat-like wings attached to her waist.
She had light violet skin and long, matching purple hair.
Her eyes had red pupils set in black sclera, and thin goat horns sprouted from her head. Her appearance was undeniably inhuman, yet paradoxically, she was more beautiful than any other woman present.
Hailey frowned at the sight of her.
Why is a succubus here?
More importantly, Master?
Had Cloud made a succubus his familiar?
Was he more of a womanizer than she had thought?
Would a day come when even her own chastity was in danger?
As she was lost in such useless worries, Ophelia’s horrified voice echoed through the area.
“S-Succubus Queen! What are you doing here?!”
Hailey’s expression hardened.
Could what she just heard be true? She looked from the succubus to the others.
“Weren’t you supposed to be dead?!”
“Huh? What’s this all about? Why would I be dead?”
“Because you were defeated by the Hero!”
“Losing doesn’t mean you have to die, does it? I survived on the condition that I become Master’s slave.”
The Succubus Queen shrugged. Ophelia’s eyes wavered uncontrollably.
“Wh-what does that mean… Why would the Hero take in s-someone like you…”
“Why else would a man make a contract with a succubus?”
Her eyes crinkling lewdly, the Succubus Queen stuck out her tongue with a vulgar expression. She made a circle with the thumb and index finger of one hand and repeatedly poked the index finger of her other hand in and out of it.
“Thrust, thrust, thrust, thrust~! Isn’t that what it’s all about?”
With the exception of Shedia, who tilted her head in confusion, Cloud’s companions turned deathly pale. Seeing this, the Succubus Queen grinned.
“You know what they say, right? Once a man tastes a succubus, he can never be satisfied with an ordinary woman again. Master won’t be satisfied with your bodies anym—”
“Angelica. Unfortunately, it seems our contract will end today.”
“—ore is just a joke! It was all just a mean little prank~. Master and I have never even held hands, so you don’t have to worry! Now that the misunderstanding is cleared up… uh, Master? Could you please move the sword? To be honest, it’s pretty scary.”
Angelica said, breaking out in a cold sweat as a sword was held to her neck.
Cloud shook his head.
“No. The more I think about it, slitting your throat right here and now seems like the best way to prove my innocence.”
“Oh, come on, you’re joking~. You wouldn’t throw away a superior slave like me like an old shoe just for one little prank…”
“…”
“You wouldn’t…”
“…”
“I was wrong. Please spare me.”
When Cloud simply stared at her coldly instead of replying, Angelica finally whimpered and begged.
Watching the pathetic display, Hailey sighed.
They must be mistaken. There’s no way that’s the Succubus Queen.
It was common knowledge that succubi were insignificant demons, and for the most part, it was true.
Unlike other demons who possessed abundant magic power or superior physical abilities, making them formidable in combat, all succubi could do was seduce opponents and drain their life force.
Their only other notable trait was the ability to invade and control dreams, but this was only effective against weak humans or low-level monsters; it was useless against most demons.
Because of this, succubi had always been treated as trivial, weak beings.
That is, until the new Succubus Queen ascended the throne.
The new Succubus Queen was in a league of her own.
Her body was sensual and soft, yet her skin was tougher than a minotaur’s hide.
Her eerie yet captivating inverted eyes could mesmerize anyone of any race who met her gaze.
Her ability to manipulate dreams, in particular, was far beyond a mere racial trait; it was on a level that could only be called an ‘Authority.’
It was said, half-jokingly, that she might even be comparable to the Witch of Dreams. That said it all.
The first thing she did after her coronation was to kill the demons who had looked down on succubi.
They had gone to sleep as usual, but they never woke up.
The incident where over a hundred chieftains were assassinated in their dreams in just two days was a famous story known to all who lived in that era.
After that, the tendency to belittle succubi vanished from the Demon Realm, and despite her origins, she proudly took her seat on the throne as one of the Four Heavenly Kings.
And that same Succubus Queen was now a hero’s slave, whimpering just because a sword was pointed at her?
It was impossible…
—Shouldn’t we help her?
—The Queen can’t even move. What can we do? Let’s just pray she returns safely.
—Poor Queen…
—How did she get captured by such a dreadful human…
Hailey’s sensitive hearing picked up voices murmuring from the sky above. Looking up, she saw succubi floating high in the air, carrying what looked like living corpses.
Her eyebrow twitched.
To think I missed their presence, however faint their aura… I must be more tired than I thought.
More important was the succubi’s conversation.
They used the word ‘Queen’ without any hesitation.
That meant the pathetic, still-whimpering succubus was indeed the Succubus Queen she knew of…
That’s the Succubus Queen…?
That was the Succubus Queen, a being on par with or perhaps even greater than Hailey, the Vampire Lord?
Hailey, who had admired the Succubus Queen’s achievements as a fellow woman, couldn’t believe it.
No, it was more accurate to say she didn’t want to believe it.
After all, just like the Succubus Queen, Hailey also served Cloud as her master.
…Will I also end up like that one day?
Perhaps, in the eyes of others, she already did.
She groaned, then let out a deep sigh.
To think that she, who once ruled a bloodline, was now worrying about what others thought of her.
Hailey felt a pang of sadness.