The Duke’s Awakening
The Taron Principality. Duke Ilias (2).
And yet, to think there was someone my acting wouldn't work on. "You liar." Kara glared at me, hissing like a cat. "Hiss, hiiiisss!" She bared her fangs as if she were ready to kill me right then and there, her eyes sharp and piercing. After acting threatening for a moment, she suddenly bit down gently on my neck—right where the tooth marks already were—and left.
I stood there blankly, stroking my neck where her saliva had left a damp mark. She didn't hide her hostility this time. Does that mean she doesn't intend to attack me right away...?
Kara was a problem, but I didn't have the luxury of worrying about her constantly. Right now, building a safe nest to hide from the cold winds was the priority. At the campsite in the woods as night fell, I called everyone in front of the campfire.
"You said these things are called 'Jonagi Bugs', right?" I looked at the glowing, dot-like insects floating in the air. They were emitting a tiny white light, much like fireflies. There were four of them in total, matching our group size. Berzena had been diligently collecting them throughout our journey. I planned to put them to good use.
"The original name is 'Mal-jeonagi Bug', but the old Beetle Masters kept calling them 'Mal-jonagi' for convenience, and now they've just become 'Jonagi'."
"'Jonagi' is easier to say."
"Haeru-nim. Please, have some tea." Eleonore handed me an empty cup from the side and tilted a small kettle. Steam rose as the tea filled the cup. "It's good for your health, so please drink it all."
"Thanks." I heard it was a traditional tea that High Elves enjoyed. I forgot the name. Eleonore made sure to prepare it for me every single day. Slurp. I took a light sip and set it down on the ground.
"Let's begin." I turned to Berzena. She closed her eyes and began to commune with the bugs. The floating insects immediately flew into the ears of myself, Eleonore, Kara, and Berzena. Even though the bugs had crawled into my ears, it didn't itch, and I felt nothing.
"I've linked the bugs together. You can talk now. Just think of the person you want to talk to in your head."
We moved to different spots, keeping our distance as we exchanged words.
"Kara, can you hear me?"
[I can hear you.]
"You're our comrade, right?"
[Suddenly?]
"It's a communication test. Answer me."
[You said we were comrades. Then I suppose I am.]
"Let's work hard without causing trouble among comrades. Got it?"
[That depends on how you act.]
[Haeru-nim. Can you hear me, too?]
"Yeah, I hear you loud and clear. Your voice sounds like you're right next to me."
[Why does Eleonore call you 'Haeru'? I'm more used to 'Nightstream'.]
"I hate 'Nightstream' now. I'm going to throw that name away."
[You should've told me sooner! I didn't know and kept calling you that! If Haeru hates it, I won't do it! Berzena will call you 'Haeru' from now on, too!]
The test was a light success. As long as we were within a 1km radius of Berzena, who controlled the bugs, smooth communication was possible.
"Good. We can start the mission tomorrow."
This was exactly why I had Berzena join the party. She's the best when it comes to executing operations. The synergy with me, a thief, is incredible. The preparations are basically done, now I just need to explain the operation to the party.
I gathered everyone in front of the campfire again and explained the plan. Finally, I turned to Kara.
"Kara."
"...?"
"You'll help us out, right? You want to keep traveling with us, don't you? I cherish you and like you a lot, too. Let's stay together without causing any trouble."
"Hmph." She snorted as if it were absurd. But judging by her reaction, it was a positive sign that she would stay quiet.
"That concludes the meeting. Let's sleep. Eleonore, follow me for a moment. I have something to tell you privately."
"What about me?!"
"I'll tell you later when we go to sleep, Berzena."
"Yay! I'll wait!"
I intended to tip Eleonore off that Kara was the Demon King—or her right-hand subordinate—who had come for revenge. So I took her to a secluded spot and explained the situation.
"...I see. Wouldn't it be dangerous to work together?"
"We can't kick her out. She's stronger than us, so we'd be the ones to get hurt. The only way is to keep her in a good mood. Keep a close eye on her."
"Shouldn't we tell Berzena to be careful, too?"
"She likes to talk, so that won't work. She has a personality where she'd innocently blurt everything out once she gets close to someone."
"I'm sorry I can't be of help. Because I'm weak..." Eleonore lowered her head, blaming herself for no reason. I smiled and stroked her back.
"It's fine. More importantly..." I toyed with her red hair. She was wearing it in a long, straight style. She was incredibly beautiful as she was, but... "How about braiding it in pigtails for this mission?"
"Should I disguise myself too?"
"No. Not because of the mission, but because I want to see it. Eleonore with braided hair. I have a feeling it'll look pretty."
Eleonore was delighted. "If that is what you wish, Haeru-nim, I shall braid it right now."
She tried to braid her hair immediately, so I grabbed her hands. "Do it tomorrow. There's something more important right now."
I guided her hands toward my crotch and had her rub the front of my pants. Eleonore's lips parted in a soft, breathless gasp. She had secretly wanted this, too. Eleonore immediately crouched in front of me. She unzipped my pants and began to suck my cock deliciously.
"Kuh...!" After ejaculating coolly into her mouth, I laid Eleonore down on a rock and hurriedly searched for her pussy. It was soaking wet. When I pulled down her underwear, a long, thick strand of love juice stretched out before snapping. I thrust my cock in with all my might.
"Haa... inside Eleonore. It feels good today, too."
"Please, use me to your heart's content. Hnnng..."
"You'll live as my exclusive pussy forever, right?"
"I only know you, Haeru-nim. Please kiss me while you thrust."
"Mmm-wah."
"Aaaah! Haa-ng! Ah!"
Deep in the forest as the night wore on, far away where the moonlight settled quietly, the enemy and her servant were engaging in a scandalous act of passion. Wolves were howling all around, but those two were focused solely on pleasure without a care in the world.
Caladia stared at the two of them, licking her lips. Now that I've actually met him, I can't kill him. It's strange. Mmm. There was something lacking in killing Nightstream right away. It seemed the events of the day were the cause. The memory of Nightstream shielding her with his own body when the humans were throwing stones at her.
It wasn't even a big deal. Strangely, it kept lingering in her heart, trying to sprout a bizarre seed. He had shielded her, taking the stones in her stead, and it had... made her heart flutter, just a little.
It was a strange emotion, one even she, having lived for so long, couldn't fathom. To think that I, who always reigned from the top, would be protected...
Before her resurrection, Caladia was a truly cruel and violent Demon King. Killing, destroying, conquering. Her mind had only ever sought brutal slaughter, ruthless conquest, and the complete destruction of the lands where humans, dwarves, and elves lived.
But... Is my body the problem? Caladia scanned her own body. A body that had been purely demonic, but now had human blood mixed in due to the resurrection. It felt as though the human nature she had unintentionally acquired was suppressing her destructive impulses. It was the same principle as breeding a fierce wolf with a domesticated one, resulting in a mix of their innate temperaments.
On top of this, after learning that her enemy Nightstream had been abandoned by the humans, she didn't feel thrilled—rather, her excitement was dampened. If he had at least been living well in his arrogance, she would have killed him immediately. Seeing him wandering around without a home sparked a kind of curiosity in her. The downfall of that once-great hero. It was interesting to see how he would struggle to survive.
And feeling this interest was also due to the human blood flowing through her veins. Moreover, even that man's blood... Mark my words. If it stops being fun, I'll kill you immediately. Caladia licked her lips again, staring intently at Haeru's lower body.
The next afternoon. The maid who entered the Duke's bedroom looked surprised. "D-Duke! You've woken up!"
I coughed dryly and sat up in bed. "Cough, cough. Why am I lying here? What is this tube in my arm?"
"It's an IV line! You've been unconscious for years! This is no time for this! I must go and bring the Madam! Madam! Madam!"
Not long after the maid left, people rushed in breathlessly. "Oh my god...! You've woken up! You've really woken up! Ah...! Honey!"
As soon as Diana, the Duchess, saw me, she ran over and threw herself into my arms. She buried her face in my chest and burst into tears. "I wanted to see you again! Sob, sob...! Thank you for coming back...!"
"I missed you so much, too."
"Are you feeling alright?"
"I'm a little tired, but I don't seem to be in any pain."
"Thank goodness! Oh, thank goodness!"
I gently stroked her hair and looked around the room. The vassals and servants who had entered were wiping away their tears, their noses reddening. It was a touching reunion. At least to them.
"You've suffered a lot taking care of me. From now on, I will be the one to take care of you."
I stroked the Duchess Diana's buttocks while pretending to comfort her as she wept tears of joy. I smirked inwardly. The infiltration was a success.
Just then, Eleonore's voice echoed in my ears.
[I have safely moved the vegetative Duke Ilias to his room. His condition is stable. I will now submerge his body in the life-support solution created by Kara.]