Chapter 296
Chapter 296
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Demonic Charm
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"Damn it..."
The campfire from the fallen campsite cast a soft glow, illuminating the nearby field like a dim lantern.
Kendrick, a member of Popendal's Sword Squad, had slipped into the shadows of a tree to avoid that light.
Along with one woman.
He muttered in self-mockery.
"Guess I'm doomed to never reach the Lord's embrace now..."
A deep sense of self-loathing mingled with a chilling thrill of taboo on Kendrick's face.
For catching the eye of some nameless woman and sneaking off for a midnight tryst?
No.
Kendrick wasn't the type to cling to such upright, conservative thinking.
A young man and woman locking eyes?
Perfectly natural. What was the problem?
But.
There were always exceptions.
Kendrick had tried his best not to look away from the woman's face.
But in that brief moment his gaze wandered.
And that's when he saw it again.
The robes symbolizing her status as a priestess.
'How the hell did this happen...?'
Kendrick couldn't comprehend it.
No matter how passionate he was about this sort of thing, he wasn't the type to prey on the faithful.
He thought.
It's not too late yet.
As he tried to pull his hand away from the tree—
"You don't need to worry about that."
The priestess looked up at Kendrick with narrowed eyes.
"The god I serve isn't the Lord God. Even if you lust after a priestess of the gods, the Lord won't take offense."
"...Damn it—"
Yeah.
This atmosphere. This gaze. This voice.
Kendrick realized anew.
Exactly how this had happened.
She was different from any woman he'd ever met.
Not like the florist's girl rumored to be so pure in the city, nor the noblewoman men fawned over endlessly.
Kendrick recalled a story he'd heard somewhere.
'A woman with demonic charm is more dangerous than mere beauty...'
If that demonic charm truly existed, surely the priestess before him embodied it.
Lost in such thoughts, his body moved on its own before he knew it.
Kendrick pinned the priestess against the tree and reached out with his other hand to caress her cheek.
"Oh my."
A flustered smile crossed the woman's face.
Or at least, it seemed flustered on the surface—
But it carried an unmistakable boldness and playfulness.
She pushed his hand away and said,
"And here I thought you'd hesitate before laying hands on me. No respect for the faithful, I see."
"Damn it—what am I supposed to do...!?"
She pulled him close when he tried to back away.
Pushed him off when he drew near.
Kendrick froze, unable to advance or retreat.
Even the smooth pose that had naturally cornered her against the tree now felt awkward.
For all his experience with women, Kendrick found himself robbed of his usual boldness against his will.
The priestess—
Advanced succubus Akirin—watched him with a faint smile.
The kind of smile one might give a fool writhing on the ground.
But Kendrick had no time to notice.
The advanced succubus's demonic charm had him completely ensnared.
Yes.
Demonic charm.
What had captured the Sword Squad elite wasn't some tangible power or ability.
It was the allure of her very existence. Her presence.
Advanced succubus Akirin had him in her thrall through that alone.
A point of pride for one who had reached such heights.
For an advanced succubus, using power to seduce a mere human was like a knight drawing his sword to scare a child.
Overkill. Humiliating, even.
And so.
The advanced succubus leisurely enjoyed her game right in the heart of enemy territory.
She raised her hand as if to stroke his cheek.
Kendrick leaned into it, but her hand pulled away as if nothing had happened.
"Is there something you desire from me?"
"...!"
Kendrick's body shuddered.
The priestess's polite tone had shifted to something like petting a puppy.
"..."
He felt the blatant change, but helplessly nodded anyway.
His eyes desperately followed Akirin's hand.
That pale, slender touch hovering near his face.
"Funny coincidence. I have a favor to ask of you too—"
"Then...!!!"
Akirin's finger pressed against Kendrick's lips.
"..."
The excitement that had him ready to leap calmed instantly.
All his senses focused on the sensation against his lips.
"I'm curious about that man."
"That man...?"
"Stone Heart Delron."
"...!"
They called him top-tier, didn't they?
Sword Squad elite Kendrick.
He was a cut above most adventurers, mercenaries, even knights.
But an advanced succubus had no intention of settling for that level.
Would she have snuck into this den of beasts for just one Sword Squad elite?
This expedition teemed with tantalizing prey that even thrilled an advanced succubus.
'Stone Heart Delron... Ares of the Divrien Family... The artisan of the Granite Guild...'
Targets Akirin and her group were eyeing right now.
The perfect mix of risk and nutrition.
'If things go well, maybe even aim for that hero or the elf...'
The advanced succubus's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Akirin, who had been pressed against the tree, stepped forward toward Kendrick.
"Tell me about him."
Kendrick shook his head.
"Why... why him—"
Anxiety clouded his face.
He thought she'd been interested in him from the start, but it was Delron all along.
"Isn't he the greatest man among you?"
If Akirin had said "the highest-ranking among you"—
Kendrick might not have argued.
But.
She deliberately used an ambiguous phrase.
"Eh? I get it now. You've heard the stories too? Stone Heart. But I've watched him up close for quite a while—"
To an advanced succubus, a man's pride was like a stick for swinging—simple, childish fun.
As Akirin played the "woman who admires a man's fame," Kendrick puffed up with bravado.
Spouting only the words she'd want to hear.
"Really? I thought Stone Heart—that man—was supposed to be incredible?"
"Incredible? Sure, I'll give him that. But what I'm saying is—rumors always get exaggerated..."
Trashing his superior to impress a woman.
Akirin inwardly smiled at the fool's antics.
"Oh? Not as serious and steadfast as the stories say?"
"Pfft~ Delron, serious? Hear this, and you'll change your mind."
"So Stone Heart's reputation is all fake?"
"Huh!? No, not fake. Even so—"
"Right!? Tell me it's not true. I've admired Stone Heart's fame so much from those stories..."
"...It's not fake. Not fake, but—"
Akirin clicked her tongue inwardly.
By now, he should be fully hooked—
Despite the frivolous vibe, his loyalty and respect ran deep.
The fool might act stupid, but he wouldn't cross that final line.
'Then—'
Akirin caressed his cheek.
"Ah—"
The advanced succubus's demonic charm bound him more directly.
"Such a kind man. Considering my feelings, aren't you?"
"Considering...?"
"Stone Heart. You want to tell me the truth about him, but you're holding back for my sake, since I admire him?"
"..."
It was the opposite, really.
But the touch on his cheek stole his mind; he just nodded.
"Honestly, I'm disappointed."
"Huh!? Dis... disappointed!?"
"Yes. In Stone Heart."
"Ah...!"
Kendrick sighed in relief.
And felt baffled at himself.
'Why am I relieved hearing Delron trashed...?'
The touch on his cheek, her scent in his nose—they clouded his thoughts.
It didn't matter anymore.
"From what you've told me, he doesn't seem as great as I thought. Right?"
"...Yeah—"
"Thank you for saying that. You're so honest."
Good boy.
The advanced succubus murmured softly.
"Ah..."
A dopey smile spread across Kendrick's face.
His eyes were clear.
Different from mental interference.
Kendrick had fallen for her with a fully sound mind.
Essential attraction.
Essential submission.
Not something magic could shatter like mental interference.
"Hehe..."
Now, Kendrick had only one way out.
For the advanced succubus to fully absorb him through essence drain.
Death, soon enough.
He craved the woman to the point of death.
His mind filled only with the mysterious beauty.
If Akirin commanded, he'd lure Delron to her anytime.
The advanced succubus was satisfied.
Emboldened.
"Kendrick. One more question?"
"Anything..."
By now, her children should have enslaved members of the Divrien Knights and Granite Guild.
Momentum was on her side.
This surge would soon bring Popendal's Sword Squad, Divrien Knights, and Granite Guild into her grasp.
So—
"The hero... about that sword's master—"
Ride this wave to target the entire expedition.
The advanced succubus's clutches stretched like shadows to devour them all.
Akirin used the same tactic.
Mention the hero to prick Kendrick's pride.
"I heard the hero slew a demon swordsman in Thormun and saved the townsfolk. I thought he was a hero like Stone Heart—"
Akirin waited for the set response.
The pride-stung fool would trash the hero, as expected.
"What nonsense is that? A hero like Stone Heart?"
And sure enough.
Kendrick said sternly,
"That's an insult to the hero."
"?"
Strange.
Not the reaction she expected.
Akirin prodded more directly.
"Th-then...! The hero's as wonderful as you!?"
"Enough!!!"
The pride-stung man finally yelled.
Akirin smirked where he couldn't see.
Now we're getting somewhere.
This time, he'd claim her attention by trashing the others!
"Ahh~."
"?"
A creepy laugh escaped the man.
She thought she'd misheard, but no.
"Him being as cool as me... Pfft... You say that 'cause you don't know him—..."
The man writhed in delight.
A reaction even her touch hadn't elicited.
"Ah, Kendrick! Where'd you go? There you are!"
Then.
A third voice rang out.
A female squad member, Kendrick's comrade.
She spotted his back facing the tree from afar and shouted.
"What're you doing there!? Taking a piss!? Wrap it up and come on!!!"
"Kendrick."
Akirin intervened at once.
"You're not thinking of leaving me alone here, are you?"
"Of course not. That bitch—always interrupting—..."
Kendrick snapped back instantly.
Akirin sighed inwardly in relief at his genuine irritation toward his comrade.
His weird reaction earlier had shaken her confidence briefly.
Just paranoia.
He was still firmly in her demonic charm's grip.
"Hey! I'm busy—handle your own shit!"
Kendrick yelled irritably without turning.
"The hero's taming 'those swords' right now!!! Three at once!!!"
"Whoa~!!!"
Kendrick bolted off like a kid thrilled his dad brought chicken.
"..."
Akirin's tender hand grasped at empty air.
"Annoying. Picked the wrong target?"
Akirin spat irritably, barely regaining her composure.
Kendrick.
She'd pinpointed why the Sword Squad elite had shaken off her demonic charm: his mental state.
"Looked fine on the outside—"
Demonic charm's essence was total subjugation while the target's mind remained intact.
A man repeatedly resisting for unknown reasons and acting bizarre was just a liability.
So Akirin brushed it off.
Besides, by now her subordinates had likely made more slaves throughout the camp.
"Time to..."
To achieve her goals, she needed to stick with the expedition past this night.
Securing a quota of slaves within would make it easier.
Akirin summoned her subordinates to check progress.
Her will as an advanced succubus drew the succubi instinctively.
Soon, the scattered succubi—
er, priestesses—would gather under this tree.
Priestess Akirin waited calmly.
"..."
The advanced succubus seethed with displeasure.
She'd summoned the priestesses long ago.
More than enough time for them all to arrive.
Yet only Akirin remained.
"Where the hell are they all?"
Were the succubi in trouble?
No such worry.
They were all her creations.
Akirin knew they were safe.
For instance.
They were ignoring her orders, prioritizing something else.
—Come here.
—Here.
—Come here, I said!!!
Akirin's frustration and anger mounted.
Her summons grew fiercer.
Now, it was nearly a shrill scream.
A command impossible to ignore!
And finally.
Responses from the succubi.
—Whoa.
Akirin's face twisted.
That damn "whoa" again.
She snapped to her senses.
Racing toward the campsite at breakneck speed.
Closer now, it sharpened.
The succubi were gathered together.
All of them, rebelling in unison.
Plotting something?
"..."
The advanced succubus's face flushed with rage.
And so.
She headed deep into the campsite.
A massive crowd had already gathered.
Probably everyone from the camp.
The advanced succubus wove through without hesitation.
Guided by her kin's presence.
"You—"
At last, Akirin found the clustered succubi.
They were so entranced they didn't notice their queen approaching.
Akirin sneered coldly.
—Here.
She summoned them once more.
Right beside them—to see how they'd react.
Pretend not to hear?
Beg forgiveness late?
Either way, no mercy.
Akirin raised her head, waiting.
—Whoa.
"Arghhh!!!"
Akirin clutched her head in fury.
She shoved through the succubi to see what held them.
At the crowd's center.
Stood the hero.
Stood the demon swordsman.
One and the same.
Holy sword in one hand, demon sword in the other.
Around him swirled every kind of power.
Magic. Dark magic. Divinity.
"Arghhh!!!!!"
Then.
The hero shouted.
Akirin, briefly dazed, flinched.
Here it comes, she thought.
The hero wielding unfathomable power had reached his limit.
Now he—
"One more!!!"
A nearby assistant handed him another demon sword.
"Grahhh!!! One more!!!!!"
Demon swords piled on.
One after another, like training weights.
"...Whoa."
Akirin muttered in dismay.