Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: A Quiet Meal and Tempting Scents
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I ate delivery food with Helen.
It was a modest break that wasn't easy to find.
Was the delivery food anything special?
Not really.
It was no different from the food we ordered at our place.
The kind of meal that naturally made me think even prestigious families like Helen's ordered the same thing.
But the space was different.
A grand mansion like a palace.
Just the two of us in a place spacious enough to house dozens—it was a far more special experience than I'd imagined. In a good way.
And there was a person here.
Unless it was the day Master returned, I usually ate alone.
But today was different.
"Hehe, delicious, right? It's a restaurant even our Silvesta Family acknowledges."
Helen, stuffing her mouth full like a chipmunk, mumbled as she chewed.
"Shouldn't you uphold a noble's dignity? Is it okay to puff out your cheeks like that?"
"...Today, it's fine to let it slide."
Having someone there eating alongside me was definitely nice.
As we ate, Helen turned to me.
"But, Teacher."
"Hm?"
"Why did you stop me from going to pick up the food? Honestly... I thought it might be kind of fun."
She narrowed her eyes at me.
"Were you maybe jealous? Didn't want others to see?"
She lightly tugged at her collar, revealing a glimpse of cleavage.
The corners of her mouth curved up in a playful smile.
"Yeah."
"You're jealous?"
...
Her voice carried a strangely triumphant note.
I told her as much.
"Because we can't have rumors spreading that the Marquis's lady greeted a delivery guy half-naked."
"...You're looking out for me."
"Something like that."
"......"
Helen smiled at me again.
"Teacher, you're pretty bad at being honest too."
"Just eat."
I ate the food with Helen.
My take after finishing the meal together?
Helen was surprisingly chatty.
Right there in her seat, she nonstop talked about her school life, her thoughts from this territory inspection, and even about the sex we'd just had.
She led the conversation without a single pause.
"Finding the right topics is basic for social gatherings. So you need to learn it too, Teacher."
"Me?"
"Of course. Think about it, Teacher—you tend to just answer what customers ask. You need to bring up topics to them first. That way, they'll relax more."
"...Too much talking might make them uncomfortable instead."
"True, but if you clam up completely, you'll seem boring."
Was that how it worked?
I still didn't quite get the connection between chattiness and charm.
"And you'll be going to social gatherings more in the future, so you should prepare now."
"Social gatherings?"
"Yes. You drew a ton of attention at the last conference. Not just nobles—even His Majesty the Emperor is interested in that thing of yours."
Ah.
Right, the Emperor had summoned me personally.
"Then you'll get called everywhere, and naturally end up at noble-packed socials."
"Can commoners even attend those?"
"Normally, no... but you can."
Helen looked at me as she said it.
"Because your illusion magic is the best."
Helen's face flushed a little after she spoke.
Why did that "best" feel like it meant something else?
Just my imagination?
The elf forest.
As High Elf Reina approached the forest boundary, every elf followed her with worried expressions.
"You're really leaving?"
"Of course. Didn't I tell you? We have to care about humans just as much as the gifts they're giving us."
"But do we really need to improve relations with them? The Demon King is gone now. Considering human greed, they might turn into our enemies."
Reina sighed at Biker Elder, the head of the council of elders.
"Biker Elder, why do you still see the world in such black-and-white terms? I told you—humans have more decent qualities than you think."
"But Reina-nim, last time..."
"Yes. I hated humans. I still do, to some extent. But."
Reina met Biker Elder's eyes.
"That doesn't mean we should cut off exchanges and isolate ourselves."
"......"
"We severed ties to restore the forest. While we did that, humans kept advancing their technology. The magic they used against the demonkin has only gotten stronger."
"You mean you'll bring some back?"
"If possible."
"So it's about experiencing their magic."
"Exactly."
It wasn't a lie.
A magic experience.
The magic she'd gone through.
She was heading back to the human city to experience Max's illusion magic again.
Outwardly, she framed it as for the elves' advancement, but Reina's mind was filled with Max's illusion magic.
*It still lingers in my thoughts.*
That illusion she'd experienced before returning to the forest.
It had been so fantastical that she regretted not actually joining bodies.
Originally, she'd planned to invite him to the elf forest.
But.
*Would these elders really welcome a human into the forest?*
No.
They'd be outright hostile.
She might end up losing a valuable talent.
So first, she needed to ease their wariness toward humans.
This exchange was for that purpose.
Let the elves visit the empire's capital and see for themselves that humans weren't always enemies.
She would be the first to lead that exchange.
Of course, while they experienced imperial culture, she'd check out—and indulge in—Max's illusion magic.
She'd packaged it as for the elves, but really, it was for her.
*I've sacrificed myself guarding the World Tree all this time.*
Once wouldn't hurt, right?
The elves, oblivious to Reina's true thoughts, nodded at their High Elf's words.
"If the Guardian says so, we'll obey."
Even Biker Elder, who'd opposed to the end, nodded in acceptance at the boundary.
"Keep it in mind, Elder. Humans aren't always our enemies. When you get down to it, they fought alongside us to save our forest."
Reina smiled.
Her smile was so pure that every elf watching felt reverence.
"May the World Tree's blessing be with you all."
Biker Elder traced a holy sign with his hand.
"Please protect the forest well while I'm gone."
That was when Reina took the lead of the imperial delegation and the elves heading to the capital.
"...Hm?"
Reina frowned at the strange sensation prickling her scalp.
A bizarre discomfort emanating from the direction of the capital.
*What is this?*
An unpleasant feeling, like something scraping her skin.
No one else seemed to notice.
It was so faint and subtle that only Reina, as a High Elf, could barely sense it.
*Could this be...*
The unique, repulsive power of demonkin she'd once felt when the Demon King was still alive.
*Have the demonkin revived?*
No way.
She'd heard the empire's Saintess regularly exterminated any reviving or summoned demonkin.
Her power hadn't weakened—so why would demonkin appear now?
"We'd better hurry."
"Is something wrong?"
Looking toward the capital, Reina answered Biker Elder's question.
"I'm not sure. I need to go to the capital and see."
"......"
"If something happens to me and it affects the forest, seal the boundary and activate the illusion magic."
"...Wouldn't it be better not to go?"
"I have to. Didn't they save our forest once before?"
Reina quickened her pace.
Worried that something might have happened to Max.
The succubus Prelia—that's what many called her.
A succubus who grew stronger by draining human essence.
Dream demon.
Demon of temptation.
It wasn't wrong.
She'd lived by consuming the vital essence of living beings.
That essence was the source of her power, and it didn't matter the race—as long as it was alive.
From beasts to humans to elves.
Back when the Demon King lived, she'd fed on essence from nearly every race.
Male or female, she didn't discriminate if they were alive.
That was a succubus for you.
Among them, the most delicious came from powerful beings.
The stronger, the more nutritious her meal.
"Kuhhh..."
Prelia licked her lips, savoring the essence she'd drained from the guard captain while he slept.
Quite the fine taste.
Must've been a skilled man.
Not quite Master level, but definitely strong enough to command the capital guard.
Just sucking him dry in his sleep had made the wings sprouting from her waist grow noticeably.
"I like it. I'll spare you specially. So I can eat from you again later."
She glanced at where the guard captain lay.
"This place really is the best restaurant."
Her location was the guards' barracks.
A space where men and women alike had to suppress their desires to the utmost.
Those pent-up desires made for her most delicious meals.
"Who's dessert should I sample today?"
As she licked her lips and wandered about.
"Hm?"
Prelia's senses picked up a thick, masculine scent.
The smell of a male whose desires hadn't been sated.
The aroma of a man brimming with essence she could devour.
If the guard captain's essence had been a tasty ham steak, this sensation was the finest cut from a high-end restaurant.
"Delicious smell."
Her nose twitching, she walked to the window.
Moonlight poured onto the dark street.
Deep into the night, with shadows settled thick.
A street the empire's citizens avoided without the Emperor's grace, and one man walked it alone.
A tantalizing aroma.
A dangerous scent potent enough to entrance even a demon.
"Brave guy. Well, someone with essence that dense has to be a real powerhouse."
She watched the man shambling blankly down the street.
A few days ago, she wouldn't have gone after him.
But now?
She'd drained essence from the near-Master guard captain and all sorts of knights around the capital.
Slowly, without killing, to avoid detection.
In her current state, she could take anyone except Yuris the Goddess of Victory, the Hero, or the Saintess.
Confidence brimmed within her.
No matter how strong a man with desires that pent-up, he'd be her prey.
*If I can just feed on that man.*
She could pick off the Saintess and Hero one by one.
Prelia opened the window and took flight.
She approached the man walking the street.
He didn't notice her until she was right upon him.
Then, lips to his ear, Prelia whispered.
"Hey, handsome."