Chapter 3460 - Overlord 4

The next day, the decision was made: Nazarick would dismantle Eight Fingers and assault the royal capital.

It happened fast. Too fast.

First, Sebas's loyalty was cleared, and Tuare was taken under Nazarick's protection-jointly approved by Belial and Momonga. So far, no problems.

Then Tuare was kidnapped by Eight Fingers.

Momonga lost his temper.

Belial had seen him angry before, but this was different. The Overlord's fury, combined with his undead appearance, was genuinely terrifying-like a demon king from legend.

The plan came together quickly. Sebas would rescue Tuare. Eight Fingers would be crushed and brought under Nazarick's control. As a cover, demons would attack the capital-and loot it.

Demiurge had proposed it, and Momonga, not fully understanding but trusting his subordinate, had signed off. Belial couldn't fault him; he'd have done the same.

Demiurge also contacted Renner to smooth things over. He'd planned to invoke the name of the Demon Emperor Baal-Belial's alter ego-to cow her into cooperation. Instead, Renner had been enthusiastic.

"My, Lord Baal? Then I'll gladly assist! I owe him so much-he brought Climb and me together, and he showed me such a wonderful expression on Climb's face. If possible, could he rape me again in front of Climb? The way Climb breaks down in helpless tears is simply adorable!"

Even Demiurge had been taken aback.

That woman was deeply, fundamentally broken. Maybe I shouldn't have gotten involved with her at all.

A princess willing to sacrifice her own people for her fetish.

At any rate, the capital was going to burn. I had responsibilities-both as a member of Nazarick and as Beryl of Silver Wings. I needed to make sure my "new pet" didn't die.

But I wasn't a strategic genius. Left to Demiurge alone, the plan would end in massacre. The other guardians were just as ruthless toward humans.

There was only one person I could use.

"Lazlo, can you handle the rest of the planning?"

"No. Father, sit down and think with me."

She refused flatly.

"Can't I just leave it to you?"

"No. Sit. We're deciding how to handle those girls."

In the end, I sat beside Lazlo, adjusting her proposals with my knowledge of the original story.

-x-X-x-

Late that night.

Outside a mansion in the capital-the residence of Hilma, head of Eight Fingers' drug trade.

A single maid stood before the building, holding a severed human arm. She brought it to her mouth and bit down.

Crunch.

The sound was like an insect's mandibles grinding, accompanied by the stench of blood.

Above, giant beetles laden with stolen treasure flew toward a predetermined location. The maid watched them go.

Her name was Entoma Vasilissa Zeta-one of Nazarick's battle maids, a member of the Pleiades. She was an arachnoid insect-user, her appearance that of a beautiful girl, but her face was a human-shaped insect mask. Her voice was produced by throat bugs. She was a swarm given human form.

Burp.

A cute little belch escaped from the throat-mouth, carrying the reek of fresh blood.

"Muscular men really are the best for dieting."

The childish voice came from a lip bug mimicking human speech.

Entoma reflected on the mission. Subduing the fleeing humans had been troublesome, but the target, Hilma, had been cooperative-thanks to Belial's prior "attention."

The Six Arms member Edström had been collected as a souvenir for Belial. 'My lord really loves violating human women.'

The job had gone off without a hitch, and she was right on schedule.

"Entoma-chan, good work."

She turned at the voice behind her.

"Lazlo-sama, thank you. Is there something you need?"

Standing there was a Doppelgänger with an egg-smooth face and hollow eyes-Lazlo, Belial's personal maid. She wore the standard Nazarick maid uniform, but her face was her true one, not the childish guise she usually wore.

"Yes. I need to deal with the adventurers who will arrive here soon."

"Should I stay and help?"

"No, thank you. This is a solo assignment."

"Understood. Then I'll go on ahead."

"Yes, get some rest, Entoma-chan."

Summoning a giant beetle, Entoma was lifted into the air and flew off.

Lazlo watched her go, thinking how adorable she was.

Then she stood alone before the mansion-now devoid of survivors-and looked up at the sky.

A Greater Doppelgänger could copy roughly eighty percent of a target's abilities-appearance and skills, but not equipment or mastery. Even copying an enemy wouldn't guarantee victory. That was the weakness of the race.

But what if the copied form was max-level?

A level 100 target meant an effective level of 80. More than enough for most enemies.

"It's been a while since I used this form."

Lazlo's body shifted and warped. Beast-like head, bat wings, a writhing tail, a hulking frame-the perfect reproduction of her beloved creator's heteromorphic shape. She picked up a leftover from Entoma's meal.

Crunch.

She bit down. Blood and viscera dripped from her jaws.

"Still tastes awful."

Lazlo was a monster that could eat humans, but she didn't enjoy it. Not a matter of ethics-just preference. Entoma had made it look delicious, but it wasn't.

"Edible, but not worth eating."

The raw meat stank. The hamburgers in Nazarick's cafeteria were a hundred times better.

She spat out the morsel and tossed the rest aside. Then her gaze shifted to the shadows.

"I know you're there. Come out within three seconds."

From behind the trees, a figure emerged.

"Oi, oi... I never heard Eight Fingers was in bed with demons."

A giant woman at first sight could be mistaken for a man in red armor, war pick in hand. Lazlo recognized her-Gagaran of Blue Rose.

"As Father predicted. Truly, he is magnificent."

Inwardly praising her creator, Lazlo turned to face the warrior.

-x-X-x-

"Oraaah!"

Gagaran swung her war pick, each blow enhanced by martial arts-stacking techniques one after another. An ordinary warrior couldn't chain so many arts in succession, but Gagaran was adamantite-ranked, worthy of her title. She could unleash fifteen consecutive enhanced strikes.

The demon before her blocked every one-with a single fingertip.

After the fifteenth attack, Gagaran leaped back, gasping for breath.

"Tch, what a monster!"

She'd survived countless battles, defeated enemies stronger than herself. But this gap was beyond anything she'd faced.

She knew she was going to die. But she couldn't run-turning her back would mean instant death.

"My turn now."

The stone pavement beneath the demon shattered. That was all Gagaran registered before her vision spun. A tremendous impact sent her flying; she realized afterward she'd been struck.

"Gu-ah?!"

She tumbled across the ground, forcing herself upright. The demon stood where she'd been.

Her bones were broken. A potion might help, but there was no time to drink one.

"I messed up.

She should have fled the moment she saw the demon's true form.

Gritting her teeth, she raised her head.

"You're strong. Are you the Demon Emperor Baal?"

"Clever, muscle-brain. That's right."

So this was the enemy Evileye had warned about-and far beyond the estimate.

"Of all the rotten luck... facing a big shot like you."

"Indeed. That bad luck will kill you."

If only Evileye and Lakyus were here. If only the whole team were together. But they weren't.

"Here I come.'

The demon stepped forward.

Again, Gagaran couldn't react in time. The demon was already upon her.

"This is the end, warrior."

The demon raised its arm-

"An impostor?"

The blow missed. The ground shattered, and the demon looked up.

Gagaran was no longer there.

"Annoying pests."

A woman in black stood between Gagaran and the demon.

"Sorry, Tia... I thought I was dead."

It was Tia, the former assassin of Blue Rose.

"Gagaran, what is that?"

"Demon Emperor Baal. The one that attacked the palace."

"How strong?"

"The two of us are dead meat."

"Wish I hadn't asked."

Despite the banter, Tia's expression was grim.

But Gagaran felt a sliver of hope. A warrior alone was doomed, but with a ranger supporting her, the odds improved-if only slightly.

They just needed to buy time. Reinforcements might come. Unlikely, but better than dying quietly.

"Finished talking?"

The demon's voice was like ice. Gagaran raised her war pick; Tia readied her kunai.

The demon moved.

In that instant, Tia activated a ninjutsu.

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

Her shadow split into two duplicates, which rushed toward the demon.

"Childish tricks."

The demon ignored the clones-they were far weaker than the original. But it did seem to know ninjutsu.

Tia stepped in front of Gagaran.

"Immovable Adamantite Shield!"

A hexagonal barrier of prismatic light materialized before her, shielding them both.

The demon's fist struck the barrier.

Crack.

The shield shattered like glass, and the fist continued, slamming into Tia.

"Kuh-!"

The demon's massive hand crushed her small frame, sending her flying.

"Tia...!"

She bounced and rolled like a discarded toy. The shadow clones dispersed. She was out of the fight-possibly dead.

Gagaran moved to retrieve her, but the demon blocked her path.

"You're not escaping."

Time seemed to slow as Gagaran's mind raced.

Retreat? Impossible-she'd be killed before she could dodge.

Defend? Impossible-she couldn't block that power.

Counterattack? Impossible-the demon was faster.

There was no winning move, no choice to make.

Still, she raised her weapon-

A crystal lance of pure magic slammed into the ground between Gagaran and the demon.

"Hmph. Crystal Lance."

The demon reacted, and Gagaran seized the opening, scrambling backward.

"Evileye...!"

A masked girl in red robes floated in the air, Fly keeping her aloft.

"What are you standing there for, Gagaran?! Grab Tia and retreat!"

"But what about you-"

"Shut up and do as I say!"

Evileye's desperate tone snapped Gagaran into action. She ran to Tia and scooped her up.

"Maximize Magic: Shard Buckshot!"

"Acid Shield."

Explosions erupted behind her. Evileye had begun her fight.

Gagaran cradled Tia, who was barely conscious.

"Gagaran... Evileye...?"

"We just have to trust her judgment!"

But even as she said it, she knew-Evileye couldn't beat that demon. Evileye knew it too. Yet she'd told them to run. Disobeying would dishonor that resolve.

Evileye could use teleportation magic. Once Gagaran and Tia were clear, she could escape.

That was the only hope.

"Maximize Magic: Dragon Lightning!"

"Dragon Lightning."

Lightning clashed, and the air burst with light and heat. The smell of ozone and scorched earth filled the night.

The demon could use magic-matching a dedicated caster like Evileye blow for blow. And it hadn't even bothered to use magic against Gagaran. It had been toying with her, holding back.

Gagaran gritted her teeth and ran, not looking back.

"Don't die, Evileye...!"

She fled, carrying Tia, feeling utterly powerless.

-x-X-x-

Evileye clenched her teeth behind her mask. Her maximized Dragon Lightning had been canceled by a mere Dragon Lightning. The gap in magical ability was staggering.

"I underestimated him...!"

She and Lakyus had once speculated that all of Blue Rose together could defeat the Demon Emperor.

They'd been wrong.

Now she understood-the demon's strength was on another level entirely.

She'd lived for centuries, met countless powerful beings. But this one was in a league of its own.

Nausea surged. She wanted to cry, to scream, to run and hide.

But she couldn't.

"I won't abandon my comrades and flee! I am Evileye, the vampire of legend! There is no option but to fight!"

She raised her hand.

"Penetrate Maximize Magic: Crystal Dagger!"

A crystalline blade formed and shot forward, boosted to pierce magical resistance.

The demon didn't dodge or block. The dagger struck directly-and did nothing.

"What?!"

No resistance, no defense-just total immunity.

"Impossible! A penetration-enhanced spell dealt no damage?!"

Not a scratch. The demon's power was beyond imagining.

"An upper-class demon? A demon king... The title 'Demon Emperor' is no boast!"

Before, she'd thought landing a spell would give her a chance. Now she knew the truth: she'd never had a chance. Not even one in ten thousand.

"Futile, Evileye. You were strong, for a child. This was entertaining."

The demon's smug tone made her blood boil.

"Ha... and you're as ugly as your twisted hobbies. I heard you r*ped the princess. Looking like that, I'm not surprised no one would touch you willingly."

She was baiting him-drawing his attention away from the city, away from her fleeing comrades. A last, desperate act.

"What did you just say?"

The demon's face went blank. All emotion vanished.

"This form is ugly? You said that?"

The pressure in the air multiplied-tenfold, a hundredfold.

"You... of all things... my... beloved... Fa... ther..."

The air itself seemed to warp. The demon was muttering something, but she couldn't hear.

'Mistake.'

She'd made a terrible mistake. She'd never imagined an insult about appearance would provoke such fury.

Her body trembled uncontrollably. Her teeth chattered.

"Ah... aah..."

Pure, unadulterated terror flooded her.

She tried to step back-

The pressure vanished.

Evileye gasped, her lungs burning. She'd forgotten to breathe.

The demon's rage was gone as suddenly as it had come. It smiled again.

"To think I'd lose my temper over the desperate words of a worm."

It raised a finger and pointed at her.

"Let me announce this, Evileye. You will suffer-a little."

A chill ran down her spine.

Deep night.

Over the royal capital. In a place devoid of witnesses, explosions echoed again and again.

"Maximize Magic: Shard Buckshot!"

"Futile."

The Demon Emperor ignored Evileye's spell and swung his arm. The ground tore open, rubble flying like grapeshot. Evileye aborted her attack and switched to defense.

"Ngh- Translocation Damage!"

The spell converted physical harm into magical damage. The stone fragments pummeled her, sending her small body tumbling, but she emerged unharmed.

'Damn it, he's draining my mana too fast! I can't keep blocking...'

The demon closed in before she could recover, intent on pressing the attack.

'Translocation Damage!"

Again, she deployed the defensive spell, absorbing the impact as the demon's rush flung her backward.

No physical wounds. And yet-

'I can't take much more! I have to retreat!"

She would use Teleportation. Not to where her comrades were, but in the opposite direction. Draw the demon away, drag him as far from the capital as possible-

"You won't escape. Dimensional Lock."

The air warped around her. A teleportation obstruction-used by certain high-ranking demons. She recognized it instantly.

No escape. No way to keep defending.

The only option left was to attack, to resist with everything she had.

"Maximize Magic."

"You're becoming tiresome, Evileye."

The demon was on her in an instant.

"Guh-!?"

His hand clamped around her slender throat and lifted her off the ground. Her feet kicked uselessly as her windpipe constricted.

"Kuh... guh...!"

She couldn't draw breath. She choked.

"Let go... of me...!"

Her small body thrashed, but it was meaningless. The demon didn't loosen his grip in the slightest.

"Now then. Time for your punishment."

"Pun-"

Fear spiked through her. Even after centuries of existence, even as a legendary vampire, she was terrified.

The demon's tail moved-a slick, slimy appendage oozing viscous fluid. Her eyes went wide.

"Y-you... what are you going to...?!"

"Preparation."

The demon tore away her mask, exposing her bare face. Tears welled in her eyes.

"S-sto-"

Before she could resist, the tail forced its way into her mouth.

"Nngh-!? Mmph, ooo...!?"

She tried to bite down, to sever the appendage, but it was already plunging deeper.

Past her lips-

"Ubuh-!?"

Into her throat-

"Nn... guh...!?"

And down toward her stomach-

"Ugh... geh...!"

She could feel the tail stuffing her from mouth to gut. Nausea surged. Her face twisted in revulsion.

"Nngh...!?"

A terrible premonition gripped her. She struggled with all her might, but the tentacle lodged deep inside her made it impossible to move properly. Then she felt it-the tail swelling at the back of her throat.

"Drink deeply."

'Drink? Drink what-?'

The tail's tip erupted.

Splurt. Spurt. Spurt.

"Nngh-!? Nnnnn!?"

A thick, viscous fluid flooded her stomach. The taste spread through her mouth-bitter, rank, nauseating.

"Ugh... ngh...!"

The demon released her. The tail slurped out, and Evileye collapsed to the ground, retching. She spat the milky fluid from her mouth, but some clung to her throat and stomach, refusing to come up.

But worse than the taste-

'What...? My body's burning...! Poison!?'

She had to detoxify immediately. She reached for magic-

"Antidote... what!?"

The spell failed. Confusion flooded her. When she tried to cast, her mana seemed to dissolve inside her body.

"Why... why won't the spell activate?!"

Some kind of interference. As the realization hit, the demon laughed.

"It's the fluid I just fed you."

"Wh-what...?"

"It steals the strength to resist and doubles the body's sensitivity."

She wanted to scream, but the words died in her throat. It made horrifying sense. She'd heard of this-incubus or succubus bodily fluids that sapped resistance and acted as an aphrodisiac. The Demon Emperor Baal wasn't just a demon. He was an incubus.

'A being this powerful, and an incubus too?! Impossible!'

Her body grew hotter despite her fury. A lust she'd long forgotten stirred, and her womb ached.

"Next... Greater Create Incubus."

The demon summoned a creature-a cylindrical abomination, a mass of squirming flesh and tentacles.

Its presence radiated wrongness, a monster born of pure revulsion.

"A Greater Roper. Let's see how long you can struggle without magic."

A chill ran down Evileye's spine. A magic caster without magic was barely more than a commoner. And the creature before her-its pressure alone suggested a threat rating above a hundred.

She tried to back away-

"Ah..."

A tentacle was already coiled around her leg. With a violent tug, she was dragged toward the roper.

"Sto-"

She struggled, but her strength was that of a small girl. There was no breaking free.

"Let go!"

More tentacles snaked around her limbs. She thrashed, desperate, but it was useless.

"You... stop! Dammit!"

Her struggles meant nothing. The Greater Roper hoisted her into a cruciform spread-eagle, limbs pinned wide, her body utterly exposed and helpless.

The demon mocked her.

"What a pitiful sight."

"Y-you... you have disgusting tastes. It makes me sick...!"

"Acting tough in that state? You're not frightening at all, Evileye."

The demon's hand reached for her chest. He seized her robes and tore them away with a violent rip.

"Kh...!"

Her modest chest and completely hairless pussy lay bare. Humiliation warred with rage-rage won.

"Y-you bastard...!"

"Hahaha. A child's body, just as I thought. Greater Roper-do as you please with her."

The creature moved. Two tentacles rose before Evileye's face, their tips swelling, splitting open to reveal brush-like clusters of fleshy nubs. They descended toward her chest.

They rasped against her nipples. With the incubus's fluid still burning through her, even that light touch made her body jolt.

"Kh... fuh...."

A moan escaped her. She'd never once felt pleasure from having her nipples touched. Never. And yet-

"S-stop stop it..."

Her pleas meant nothing. The Greater Roper probably didn't even understand language.

"Kh... nn...."

She twisted, trying to escape the stimulation, but the tentacles were stronger than her magicless body. They didn't budge.

Then the tip of a tentacle split into four parts-like a mouth-and latched onto her nipple.

"Nn... disgusting... ahh."

Her hips bucked as the sucker sealed around her nipple, the brush-like inner surface abrading the sensitive bud.

Sucked and pulled, the tiny nubs scraped against her.

Her face twisted. This was the incubus's fluid. Her body wasn't supposed to feel this. She had to purge it, had to escape-

A new tentacle appeared before her. Its tip glistened with saliva-like mucus, and it slithered toward her groin.

"N-not there...! Stop!"

She struggled, but she could do nothing. The demon watched, laughing.

"Ah..."

The tentacle began licking her slick folds.

"St-stop, don't lick me... ah."

She tried to twist away, but the tentacle followed her every movement, lapping at her while the others continued their assault on her nipples.

Her body writhed with the pleasure from above-

"Ha... haa...."

-and bucked with the pleasure from below. The demon clapped his hands in delight.

"Hahaha! You're moaning so sweetly, Evileye."

"S-shut... up-"

"Such pathetic sounds. Is this the face of 'Landfall'?"

Mocked by the demon's words, ravaged by tentacles, Evileye's pride crumbled. A heat she hadn't felt since becoming a vampire blazed through her. It was as if sealed sensations were being pried open by force.

"Damn... you."

Her nipples and pussy violated, Evileye bit her lip. Humiliating. She-a hero of legend-reduced to a toy for this vile demon. The humiliation was unbearable.

She thrashed, straining with all her strength, but the tentacles didn't loosen.

"Enough... already...."

Spread and helpless, she could only endure the ceaseless stimulation.

She gritted her teeth, fighting the pleasure. If she gave in, the demon won. She couldn't stop her body's reactions, but at least she wouldn't climax-

Suddenly, the licking at her sex stopped.

"Haah... haah...."

She caught her breath, glancing down. The tentacle at her folds was pulling away. Relief flickered-then three thinner tentacles appeared.

"Wh-what are you-"

They moved slowly, deliberately, toward her clit.

"N-no... stop...!"

Her clit, painfully erect from the forced pleasure, throbbed as the slime-coated tentacles approached.

Two of them touched her clit, then gently traced its tip-

"Ah-"

Her hood was peeled back. The most sensitive part of her body now lay completely exposed.

The third tentacle's tip split into four parts, forming the same sucker shape as the ones still tormenting her nipples. Realization dawned, and Evileye's eyes went wide.

"N-no! Stop! Let go!"

The tentacle's tip drew closer to her exposed clit.

"Don't touch me there!"

She thrashed, she cried, but the tentacle didn't stop. The demon's thin smile never wavered.

"You...!"

And then-

"S-stop... sto-"

It bit down on her clit.

The rough, inner folds of the tentacle's sucker ground against the exposed nub.

Just that stimulation was enough-her clit was engorged, hypersensitive. The tentacle covered it completely and began to suck, slowly.

"AaaAAAaaAAA-"

Her scream ripped through the night as the sucker worked her exposed clit, the brutal stimulation reducing her voice to an animal cry.

"Such vulgar noises. You sound like a beast."

"Y-you... you're the- aah."

Her body convulsed as the suction intensified. Her hips bucked wildly, trying to escape, but the tentacle held fast, refusing to release her most sensitive spot.

'This is bad! Bad, bad, bad! I can't take this!"

Tears streamed down her face as her body shook uncontrollably.

"Let her come, Greater Roper."

At the demon's command, the tentacle twitched.

"N-no! I don't want-"

The tentacle sucked hard on her clit.

Then it began to piston, pumping against the sensitive bud.

The brush-like fibers wrapped around her clit, teasing, tormenting.

"Stop sucking, please stop."

The stimulation only grew more intense, ignoring her pleas.

"Nngh, I'm going to- I don't want to come-!"

Then the tentacle sucked, hard.

"AAAaaAAAH."

That was the final blow.

Evileye climaxed. Her back arched, her legs straightening, toes curling. Her vision flashed white. Her tongue lolled from her mouth.

Her body, drugged by the incubus's fluid, convulsed beyond her control-and she lost control of her bladder.

"D-damn... you... this... thing...."

A puddle formed beneath her. Tears fell freely as she glared at the tentacles, teeth clenched.

Her clit throbbed, so oversensitized that even the air against it sent sparks of heat through her.

And then-

"Wh-?"

The tentacle was moving toward her clit again.

"Did you think you could rest, Evileye?"

"Wait...! I just came! Stop...!"

"The answer is no. Do you not understand your position?"

The tentacle brushed against her aching bud.

"Stop! I can't! Sto-"

Ignoring her screams, the tentacle bit down on her clit once more.

"AaAAAaaAAAH."

Saliva dripped from her mouth. Her face contorted in a silent scream. The demon watched, unmoved.

The tentacles showed no mercy.

"Stop stop it I can't, I can't take it."

Her nipples were still being ravaged, tentacles coiling around her body, rough surfaces dragging across her skin, every inch of her being licked and teased.

"This is... too much. I'm coming com-."

She came again, spraying her fluids. Every part of her body had become an erogenous zone. Every touch, every lick, sent lightning through her.

"I already came I came stop please stop."

She begged the demon with everything she had. If this continued, she'd lose her mind. But the demon had no mercy.

"Absolutely not. This is your punishment for angering me."

"That's... ah aaa."

Pain, humiliation, pleasure-her body was a ruin, her mind ravaged. Pride was a distant memory.

"I'll apologize I'm sorry; just stop."

"Hmm, should I?"

The demon pretended to consider, but the tentacles never paused. They licked her nipples, her navel, her armpits, her thighs, her clit, her folds, even her asshole-every inch of her was tasted and tormented.

"I don't want to come anymore stop I'm coming."

Psshh pssshii

The floodgates broke again. Her orgasm gushed out of her. She could feel her womb contracting, her hole spasming.

Still, the tentacles didn't stop.

"I can't take any more. Stooop.

"No. As I said-keep coming until you die."

"You... bastard... ah."

"Still not repentant. Greater Roper, intensify."

"Hih-"

"AAAAAAH."

No matter how many times she came, no matter how she begged, no matter how close she came to blacking out-the stimulation never ended.

Time lost meaning.

Evileye hung limp in the tentacles' grip, her body soaked with sweat, her own fluids, and the monster's slime.

She'd lost count of her orgasms. Her body felt drained, parched, desiccated.

"Ah... aaah.."

Another climax. Saliva dripped from her slack mouth as she twitched weakly.

The demon laughed.

"Can you hear me, Evileye?"

"Ah... what...?"

Her consciousness flickered. She forced her gaze toward the demon.

"You've endured well. I'll give you a reward."

"A... reward...?"

Confusion. And a tiny flicker of hope. Maybe this hell was ending.

"Greater Roper."

The demon snapped his fingers.

A new tentacle rose before her-thicker, longer, utterly different from the ones that had tormented her so far. Its tip split open, revealing a phallus-shaped organ lined with ridges and knobs. A grotesque parody of a cock.

"Impregnate her."

"W-wait.."

The shaft swelled, pulsing audibly.

"Wait, please..."

The monstrous member moved toward her exposed sex.

"That thing... it'll kill me...!"

"You exaggerate."

The phallus dragged across her belly, measuring. It was too large-far too large for her small body.

"S-stop! I've had enough! Please!"

"No."

She was going to be impaled. She clenched her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut.

'Someone...! Help me... anyone... please!'

She didn't know how to escape this. There was no trick, no spell, no way out.

'Anyone...! Please...!'

Prayer was all she had left.

The phallus pressed against her entrance-

A gust of wind. The tentacles binding her went slack. She was lifted, cradled in someone's arms.

She opened her eyes.

A man's face, silhouetted against the night sky.

"This is... quite the situation. Are you all right, Evileye?"

"Ah..."

It was a face she knew-Beryl of Silver Wings. His usual easy smile now looked like the most reassuring thing in the world.

"I don't know who you are, but you're quite the interloper."

At the demon's feet lay the Greater Roper, its tentacles torn. But it wasn't dead-roper-kind could regenerate unless its core was destroyed.

"I'm sorry, but I'll be taking Evileye back."

"Hahaha. Do you understand? That woman is a vampire. An undead. Is there any point in saving her?"

Evileye's blood ran cold. Her mask was gone. Her fangs were visible.

If he abandoned her now-if he left her-she'd be back in that nightmare. She couldn't bear it.

But-

"And what of it?"

She looked up at his face.

Beryl looked genuinely puzzled.

"What? You're an adventurer, aren't you?"

Beryl smiled, a little wryly.

"Evileye is Evileye. That's all that matters."

A shock ran through Evileye's small body. Her heart-still for two hundred and fifty years-seemed to lurch back to life.

"Can you hold on a little longer, Evileye?"

"Y-yes..."

"Yes?"

"I-I mean... yeah. I'm fine."

She knew she was acting strange. And she knew exactly why.

Evileye-the legendary "Landfall"-had fallen in love.

...

The plan had been Lazlo's: have her transform into the Demon Emperor Baal, then have me sweep in as the hero Beryl. A match-pump scheme to win favor with Blue Rose-killing two birds with one stone.

But when I arrived on the scene, I found Evileye being tortured by tentacles.

That was a Greater Roper—the very monster Peroroncino had once excitedly shown me, calling it an "ero-monster." A disgusting, smelly, weak, debuff—spreading piece of garbage.

And it was currently violating Evileye.

That wasn't in the script.

'What was Lazlo doing?'

I'd hidden, unsure how to proceed, but when I peeked out, Lazlo caught my eye and signaled me. So I'd jumped into action and rescued Evileye from being penetrated and raped.

Carrying her bridal style, I'd said something cool, and Lazlo-disguised as Baal-had asked why I'd save a vampire. I'd acted as if confused, said something like "what of it?"—and only then remembered that normal humans were supposed to hate the undead.

I'd managed to bluff my way through it, but my improvisation skills were clearly lacking. Evileye was acting weird too, and I could feel Lazlo's exasperation through the disguise.

Momonga really was incredible-playing both the demon king Ainz and the hero Momon to perfection.

I silently vowed to not let my guard down against Momonga. He was very talented.

-x-X-x-

Cradled in Belial's arms, Evileye watched the tentacle monster that had almost violated her. The severed appendages were regenerating, glistening with a dull, wet sheen. Without thinking, she clutched at Belial's clothing.

"Let me ask first—I'm going to kill that monster. You don't mind, do you?"

"Kukuku. If you can, by all means."

The casual exchange between Belial and the Demon Emperor Baal carried an ease that suggested familiarity-like old acquaintances. But something in the demon's words troubled her Evileye. Belial had just declared he would slay the Greater Roper, one of the higher-tier tentacle monsters.

She grabbed his arm. "W-wait! That monster is stronger than you-" She caught herself, correcting her tone. "-stronger than you think!"

She meant it as a warning. Belial had torn through the creature's tentacles with a single strike to save her, so she knew he was powerful. But she'd assessed that monster at a level where even in peak condition, she couldn't confidently defeat it one-on-one.

Belial responded without hesitation. "Just watch for a moment. I'm not being careless."

He said it plainly-not a boast, but a statement of fact. Evileye swallowed hard. She'd been prepared to die anyway. If she was going to gamble her life on anything, it might as well be him.

"First-{Create Greater Item: Superior Phantasm}."

An unfamiliar spell. With one arm still supporting her, light gathered in his free hand, coalescing into a crimson, semi-translucent blade. Evileye couldn't judge weapons expertly, but she recognized this was no ordinary armament.

"Evileye, close your mouth so you don't bite your tongue."

The wind screamed. The Greater Roper lashed its tentacles toward Belial with terrifying speed.

'So fast...'

Before she could finish the thought, Belial swung the crimson crystal sword. Once. Twice. Three times. At a speed her eyes could barely track, he struck down every tentacle. The severed appendages burst apart from the force of the blows-his slashes hadn't just been defense, but counterattack.

Silence returned.

"Their movements are too linear. Well... I suppose that's expected from a summoned monster."

Evileye blinked. He'd had the composure to critique the creature mid-combat.

"Kukuku. You move well for someone carrying dead weight."

Evileye gritted her teeth. The demon's words cut because they were true. She was a hindrance-occupying one of Belial's arms, restricting his mobility. She remembered stories from her childhood as a princess, listening to bards sing of knights battling dragons while cradling princesses in their arms. She'd loved those tales once. Now she understood just how much of a burden that princess must have been.

"Having a handicap like this makes things more interesting, don't you think?"

Belial's words were casual, as if carrying her while fighting a monster was simply natural.

"Very well then. Go, Greater Roper."

The tentacle monster regenerated its limbs—

"I'll teach you the weakness of monsters that regenerate over time."

Belial raised the crimson blade and hurled it. The sword spun through the air and struck the Greater Roper dead-on, spraying dark blue-green fluid as the creature writhed.

"{Twin Magic} {Create Greater Item: Superior Phantasm}."

Seizing the opening, Belial cast again. Twin crimson crystal daggers materialized in the air. He grabbed one and threw it—not spinning this time, but straight, piercing the monster's core. Then he took another dagger in hand from the air.

"{Maximize Magic} {Break Timbre}."

He crushed the dagger in his grip. It shattered like glass—and the dagger embedded in the Greater Roper exploded simultaneously. Cracks spread across the creature's body like fracturing crystal, and its form burst into countless fragments.

"Monsters that regenerate over time-you simply kill them instantly, giving them no time to recover. That renders their regeneration ability worthless."

The shattered Greater Roper didn't even twitch. It was dead.

Evileye stared. 'He's strong... no, far too strong. What is this power? Could he be... a God-kin?'

She knew of the beings called "Players." Not heroes, but something existing in the realm of gods. The Theocracy called those who inherited Player blood 'God-kin-descendants of the Six Great Gods they worshipped. Belial might be one of them. No, nothing else could explain this strength.

"That's the intelligent way to fight-put a regenerating monster in front and attack from behind with an area-of-effect creature."

"Is that advice?"

"No. Just thinking aloud."

Evileye forced herself back to the present. The Greater Roper had been summoned by the Demon Emperor. She couldn't afford wishful thinking that the summoner might be weaker than his summoned monster. She'd clashed with Baal several times but couldn't gauge his full power-the gap was too vast. Still, she suspected Baal was the stronger of the two.

"{Maximize Magic} {Create Greater Item: Superior Phantasm}... So, Demon Emperor Baal. Do you intend to fight here?"

Belial now held a massive crimson crystal longsword. It looked heavy, but being magic-forged, it was likely lighter than it appeared.

"No. This is far enough. If I'm to fight you, I'll need proper... arrangements."

With that, Baal spread his wings and launched into the air. The wings expanded to several times his body size, casting a massive shadow in the moonlight. Evileye's breath caught.

"Th-this is bad, Beryl-sa-Beryl! He's getting away!"

"Yeah. I know."

She almost asked why he wasn't pursuing, but the demon's mocking laughter cut her off.

"Hahaha! A brat who can only tremble in a strong man's arms dares to give orders? You're nothing but dead weight—how laughable."

The words echoed through the silent night. Evileye understood the mockery. Beryl was strong—but so was Baal. In a battle between titans, the presence of a liability made all the difference. If they fought seriously here, she would die. That was why Beryl had let the demon go.

She bit her lip at her own failure to grasp something so simple. Shame filled her chest.

"It's fine, Evileye. Your thinking was correct."

"Beryl-sam... Beryl."

She barely caught herself from adding "-sama," lifting her face.

He looked at her with concern, then smiled faintly and turned his gaze upward to Baal.

"Aren't you being a little harsh?"

"Am I? A fool like that deserves to be insulted."

The demon's voice dripped with contempt.

'Why is Lazlo so angry?' I thought to myself, puzzled at her uncharacteristic behavior.

"No matter. I'll withdraw for now—but I haven't given up. I will kill everyone, without fail! Hahahaha!"

With a laugh befitting his title, the Demon Emperor flew off. Evileye could only watch him go. When she glanced up, Belial's face wore a complicated expression-confusion, embarrassment, something awkward.

The crimson crystal dust in his hand fall to the ground.

"Beryl-sa... nn, Beryl."

"Hm? What is it, Evileye? Does something hurt?"

She shook her head at his concern.

"N-no... I'm fine... well, not fine, but nothing life-threatening... ah."

Her nipples still tingled. Her clitoris throbbed. "Fine" was a stretch.

Then she remembered—she was nearly naked. The life-or-death situation and the relief of rescue had driven it from her mind, but she'd just been violated. Face burning, she covered her chest and groin.

Beryl politely looked away.

"Sorry. I saw."

"N-no... It's fine. It was unavoidable."

She managed the brave front despite her blush, feeling pathetic. He set her down. Her legs wobbled, but she could stand. Running would be difficult—her lower body had no strength left after so many forced orgasms.

She could simply fly with magic.

"{Fly}... damn. No good."

Magic wouldn't activate. Whenever she tried to channel mana, it dispersed. Her body still burned-the fluids that wretched demon had forced down her throat hadn't worn off.

"Evileye, you can't use magic?"

"Y-yes... Baal's tail made me drink something. I can't gather my mana."

"That stuff, huh."

Beryl grimaced like he'd bitten into something bitter.

"Beryl... do you know what it was?"

"An incubus's bodily fluids, probably. A greater one."

Greater Incubus—she'd never heard of the race, but it fit. Not an ordinary incubus, certainly.

"It seals magic?"

"Yes. And other debuffs—weakens your physical abilities. Also acts as a powerful aphrodisiac."

Aphrodisiac. Her brow furrowed. Her body was still aching. If they were somewhere private-a bedroom—she'd already be lost in masturbation. She was that aroused.

She shook her head to dispel the thought.

"What a vile ability."

"Yeah...";Beryl reply without hesitation.

'Why does he know so much about it? And more importantly—what was that strength? Was he truly God-kin?' She wanted to ask, but prying into another adventurer's background was taboo. Especially toward someone who'd saved her life.

More than that, she simply didn't want him to dislike her.

So instead, she asked how to resolve her condition.

"Beryl. Do you know a cure or treatment?"

"I do. It's a curse that normal magic can't heal. It wears off in two days, or—" He scratched his neck awkwardly. "—sexual intercourse will cure it."

"Wh-what? Really?"

Confused, yes—but she'd heard of this. Incubus aphrodisiac effects could be purged through sex.

Lower-ranked adventurer parties encountering an incubus would have members pair off to resolve it. That was what she'd been told.

"You could rest quietly for two days... or hire a male prostitute. Those are the only options I know."

Evileye lowered her gaze. The demon was still in the capital. Blue Rose might be called to action. She couldn't afford to be powerless for two days.

But hiring a prostitute was distasteful. She didn't want to pay a man for sex under these circumstances—and as a vampire, she'd have to keep her face hidden during the act, her figure wouldn't help either. Few male prostitutes would accept that. Money might help, but it was late, and finding one would take time. She didn't even know where to look.

Waiting two days was a poor choice. Hiring a male was undesirable. She needed a man who would hold her, knowing she was a vampire.

The only solution to that impossible equation...She looked up at Beryl, who stood taller than her.

"Beryl..."

"What?"

She inhaled. Her goal and her desire aligned perfectly. There was nothing strange about what she was about to say. She told herself that.

"W-would you... sleep with me?"

-x-X-x-

Beneath her thin chest, her unbeating heart pounded like a drum...

With his agreement secured, Evileye stood behind the mansion, before the outer wall. She'd considered using a bedroom inside the Eight Fingers estate, but time was short-so they'd do it here.

This was obligation, she told herself. Not romantic feeling. She and Beryl faced each other in the shadows. She had no intention of removing her robe. It was torn, but she wouldn't strip what remained.

"B-Beryl... I'm sorry to drag you into this."

She apologized, her voice cracking with embarrassment. From her perspective, Beryl wouldn't lack for women. He was handsome, and his body-what she could see of it was incredibly well-built. Attractive.

His status as an orichalcum adventurer, while not adamantite, was still considerable.

For someone like him to have sex with her...

"No, I don't mind. Getting to be with a cute girl like you-there's nothing to apologize for."

"C-cute...?"

"You are. Have you never looked in a mirror?"

She blushed. With her unsettling mask and arrogant demeanor-beneath which lay an undead face-no man had ever said such things to her.

"J-just get on with it."

She urged him, flustered. He removed his trousers-

"...Eh?"

A massive cock appeared before her eyes. Long, thick, enormous-veins bulging along its length. She stared.

"U... ah..."

"Are you all right, Evileye?"

"Y-yes. No problem at all."

Honestly, it might be a big problem. But she couldn't say that when he was doing her a favor. She was a full head shorter than him. Standing face-to-face, the tip of his cock reached above her navel. It would reach. It would reach her deepest parts.

"Then let's begin."

"Y-yes... please."

His hands lifted her by the sides. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders as he hoisted her, then repositioned his grip under her thighs, spreading her legs. She didn't know the position was called

Standing carry.

"Just to ask—do you need foreplay?"

"N-no... I'm already wet enough."

The tentacle's caresses had left her soaked. And there truly was no time. That was the pretext, anyway. Not that she couldn't wait.

"Then I'm putting it in, Evileye."

"Y-yes... put it in."

The tip of his cock touched her entrance.

Slowly, her hips were lowered.

"Ah... aah."

Parting her folds—

"Nngh Ughh."

He entered slowly. As she'd imagined, his too-thick cock stretched her tiny passage wide.

"Nn, ah."

She felt flesh tearing, stretching.

"Are you all right, Evileye?"

She nodded at the whisper by her ear.

"I-I'm fine..."

Her voice came out thin, and she felt ashamed.

"Then I'll go deeper."

"Y-yes... slowly, please."

He pushed deeper, slowly.

"O-oh ah."

There was no pain. The aphrodisiac in the incubus's fluids, most likely. Pleasure seared through her brain, and she clung tighter to him.

Then—

"Ah."

His cock kissed the deepest part of her. And still he wasn't fully inside her pussy. She couldn't take all of him—a shortcoming that made her lower her eyes.

"Evileye, I'm going to move slowly."

She nodded rapidly, unable to speak, and Beryl began to thrust.

"Ah, ah."

The physical pleasure was greater with each thrust-but she felt better each time his cock conquered her insides. This was what happiness meant, she thought. Her heart was melting, softening.

"Does it feel good?"

"Nn, it feels... good."

She clenched around him, arms wrapped tight.

'I'm sorry, Lakyus... I'm having sex with the man you love.'

She apologized inwardly, but had no intention of stopping. She liked him that much, and it felt that good.

She looked up. His face was close. The face of the man holding her was so close.

"B-Beryl... can I... kiss you?"

She'd asked without thinking. This was obligation sex. They weren't lovers. He might grow bored of her for asking.

His answer—

"Nn, slurp."

A kiss. Lips meeting, tongues entwining. Her small tongue was sucked, tangled, toyed with.

"Haa haah."

The kind of kiss lovers shared. It excited her.

"Nn nn nngh."

Her pussy held his cock while her mouth was invaded by his tongue. Lifted, embraced, taken.

"Nn nn, ah."

He moved her up and down slowly, hitting deep each time.

'I love this love love love love love love.'

She'd felt affection when he saved her. But now, in the act itself, affection became certainty. She'd lived so long to meet this man-a romantic thought she embraced fully.

"Ah, no good."

Her heart and body full of pleasure, she had no intention of suppressing her emotions.

"Evileye..."

"C-call me... Keno."

She revealed the name given to her two hundred years ago. That was how much Evileye—Keno Fasris Inberun—was beginning to depend on him.

"All right... Keno."

"Ah ah."

Her heart begged to be loved, to be liked. The vampire princess who'd lived over two centuries was gone. Only a maiden in love remained.

"I'm about to come too."

"Then... inside me."

"Are you sure?"

"It's my safe day, so... I can't get pregnant."

Her womb had descended, hungry for his semen. If both heart and body wanted it, there was no reason to hold back.

"Then I'll be a little rougher."

"Yes, do as you like."

The moment she gave permission-

Bang.

"Oh."

A single powerful thrust nearly sent her consciousness flying.

"Ahh s-so good ohh."

How much had he been holding back before? She could feel it now. He'd been considerate of her-and now he was lost in her body. She felt loved in two senses at once.

"Ohh amazing, coming."

She clung to his back, her inner walls convulsing. She was approaching orgasm.

"Oh ohh, coming, coming."

Not the forced climax from before. Not an unwanted orgasm. This was one she chose, brought by the hands of the man she loved. Her brain was full of euphoria. Her body full of pleasure.

And then, crossing that limit-

Splurt. Spurt.

"Ohh ah, aaaahhhh."

She climaxed as he came. The heat of his seed flooding her narrow passage filled her body.

"Haa haa."

"Good work, Keno."

He kissed her gently as she trembled in his arms. She drooled, limp and immersed in bliss.

'Feels good, feels good, feels good, love.'

The violation had vanished from her mind entirely. Violent pleasure had been overwritten by gentle pleasure.

After sex, Keno confirmed that mana was returning to her body. She'd thought she wouldn't mind if it didn't—it had felt that good—but she was grateful nonetheless. She tested Fly while covering herself with the crimson robe. No issues.

Beneath the robe, her clothes were torn and soaked with fluids, and semen leaked from her pussy-but if no one saw, it didn't matter.

"I'm glad you're cured, Keno."

"Y-yes... thank you, Beryl."

She expressed her gratitude, feeling a little ticklish inside. She'd revealed her real name during sex. In hindsight, what had she been thinking? But being called that way wasn't bad.

Still-

"About my name... in front of everyone, please call me Evileye."

"Of course. It's our secret?"

"Y-yes. Our secret... hehe."

She nodded, aware her cheeks were loosening. She touched her face, wondering if she was making a foolish expression.

'I-I can't help it! This is my first time doing anything like this... after centuries, I'm allowed to think like a woman!'

She crossed her arms, thoughts spinning.

'He's not just strong. He's knowledgeable... and kind. Good-looking. He's perfect! Even if I'm immortal, I'll never meet another man like this!"

She forced herself to calm down and think practically.

'I can't bear children, and I can't monopolize him... but they say heroes love beauty! Yes, someone else can have his children. As long as I'm loved, being a concubine is fine.'

Her thoughts drifted further into fantasy.

'That's right-Lakyus can be his wife too. I'll teach their children magic... yes, yes. Isn't that wonderful?

Loved ones, comrades, children... perfect.'

She nodded along with her life plan-her undead life plan-when-

"Keno. Hey, Keno? Are you all right?"

"...Huh!?"

She yelped. She'd been lost in fantasy while he was right there. Mortified, she forced a twitching smile and shook her head.

"I-I-I'm fine! No problems at all!"

"Really? If anything feels off, tell me."

"Y-yes, I will."

She cleared her throat.

"A-anyway... I need to tell Gagaran and the others I'm safe. They must be worried."

She looked toward the capital's center. And in that instant-her vision filled with light. Not the white of magic, but crimson flame.

"What..."

As her eyes adjusted, the scene before her left her speechless. Scarlet fire roared upward, dyeing the sky the color of blood. Pillars of flame rose from the ground to the heavens-more massive than any magic she knew.

"What is that...?"

The towering pillars of fire burned in a ring around the capital. The happiness she'd felt moments ago receded, replaced by rising terror.

-x-X-x-

A ring of fire pillars encircled the northeastern quarter of the royal capital.

I knew exactly what they were. The Flames of Gehenna-a skill conjured by Demiurge. In truth, they were pure spectacle, inflicting no actual damage. A theatrical display meant to awe and terrify.

We flew over the blazing ring, using {Fly} to cut straight back to the royal palace.

I'd also retrieved Evileye's spare clothes along the way. Her original outfit had been soaked through with sweat and other fluids, and her mask had cracked. If her true nature as an undead were exposed, it would cause no end of complications. Desperate times called for desperate measures.

So it was that deep into the night, before the palace, Evileye descended toward the armed members of Blue Rose. Gagaran spotted her first, her face breaking into shock.

"Evileye! You're alive!"

"Yeah. Sorry I couldn't contact you."

Relief was written plainly across Gagaran's features. From what I gathered, she and Tia had been thoroughly beaten by the Demon Emperor Baal—actually Lazlo in disguise—and had fled. Evileye had bought their escape. From their perspective, the worry must have been unbearable.

I kept my back to the wall, suppressing my presence. This was a touching reunion;I had no interest in it.

Evileye was being swatted and prodded by the other members of Blue Rose. A close-knit bunch, clearly. During the exchange, Tia-one of the ninja twins—threw her arms around Evileye.

"Yeah, I was worried."

"Ah, sorry—wait. Where exactly are you touching?"

"Your butt.... Guh."

Tia received swift retaliation.

Once the greetings subsided, Lakyus took Evileye's hand.

"But how did you survive? You encountered the Demon Emperor, didn't you?"

"I couldn't beat him, no. But help arrived, and we managed to drive him off."

Evileye glanced toward me. Standing there motionless would have been awkward, so I raised a hand in a small wave. Evileye beckoned me over.

"Why are you lurking over there, Beryl? Come here."

"Walking into a circle of women is a surefire way to get hated."

"You're an exception. I'll allow it."

She pulled me forward, positioning me before the group. I knew them, but not well enough for casual interrogation.

Gagaran raised an eyebrow at me.

"So you're that strong, huh?"

"Ah... not really. Just decent."

I tried to deflect, but Evileye shook her head.

"No, he was incredible. Beryl drove off the powerful monster the Demon Emperor summoned without breaking a sweat. His magic rivals mine, and his swordsmanship is hero-class."

Gagaran was now looking at me like I'd grown a second head. Tina and Tia had edged back slightly. Only Lakyus seemed genuinely impressed, her eyes bright with excitement.

"Well, she does love her adventure tales."

Lakyus suddenly turned to Evileye, as if remembering something.

"Evileye... there was a demon at the Eight Fingers stronghold we raided, too."

"What? Truly?"

"Yes. He called himself Jaldabaoth, a general under the Demon Emperor."

I turned to Lakyus. "You made it out intact. That demon must have been formidable."

"We couldn't do a thing against him, frustratingly enough. But-"

She looked toward the palace.

"With the help of Momon, the Dark Hero of E-Rantel, we drove him off."

'Ah, so Momonga went there. So it was a matching set,' I and Lazlo running a show on one front, Momonga and Demiurge on another. The capital had become a stage for farce.

'The locals caught in the middle must be having a terrible time of it.'

Evileye looked up at me. "Beryl... Silver Wings was based in E-Rantel too. What do you make of this, Momon?"

"He's strong. Stronger than me."

Even through her mask, I could see her shock. Lakyus and the others nodded, which told me Momonga had put on quite a performance.

Evileye, having not witnessed it, remained skeptical. But it was the truth. Momonga was stronger. In a no-holds-barred fight, I would lose. Momonga's PvP instincts, his understanding of skills and item usage all superior.

"Momon is strong? Truly? Stronger than you?"

"I said so, didn't I?"

Evileye trembled, muttering under her breath about what kind of monster this Momon was, whether he was God-kin or a Player. I pretended not to hear. If word about God-kin or Players reached Momonga, Evileye would be kidnapped and dissected for information without hesitation.

Lakyus and Tina went on to describe Momon's exploits: cutting down summoned demons with a massive blade, cornering the demon general Jaldabaoth, and the impressive magic of Nabe, the Dark Beauty.

Listening to them, Evileye glanced at me again.

"By the way, your warrior companion... what was her name-"

"Claire?"

"Yes. Where is she? Why did you come alone?"

I'd prepared for this. Belial and Lazlo had drafted a list of contingencies.

"The city felt tense lately, so Claire and I split up to patrol. I happened to spot a magic duel and rushed over."

"I see."

"Hard to miss a Dragon Lightning clash in the middle of the streets."

"True enough."

Evileye nodded, satisfied. In reality, Lazlo had sent me a Message with the location, and I'd teleported in.

"Claire's already inside the palace-l confirmed via Message. Shall we head in?"

I looked to Lakyus, who nodded, her cheeks faintly flushed. He chose not to wonder why.

"Y-yes. Let's go inside and discuss our next steps."

Despite the late hour, the magic-lit chamber was packed with adventurers gathered in response to the capital's crisis. At the top were adamantite-ranked Blue Rose; at the bottom, iron and copper ranks.

My eyes met those of a large man in black armor. Narberal was with him, looking thoroughly displeased. She regarded humans as garbage, so being surrounded and questioned must have been torture.

When I glanced their way, Narberal-Nabe, in public-softened slightly. If she were always that gentle, she'd be adorable. But her habit of calling locals "maggots" and "crane flies" made her one of the more dangerous Pleiades. For human.

Even now, she glared at anyone who passed between her and me.

I looked away and spotted a robed woman standing in a corner, arms crossed. 'Ah. She's angry.'

I quickly excused myself from Blue Rose and made my way to Clementine.

"You're late, Belial-sama."

"Sorry. Got caught up talking outside."

"I'm not mad, you know."

She was definitely mad. Or rather, she didn't seem aware of her own displeasure. Why? He searched for the cause and found nothing.

"If you say so. How did things go on your end?"

"Nothing special. Met up with Sebas, fought some stuff. The Six Arms were all trash."

Clementine had assisted in Tuare's rescue. I hadn't wanted her near Tuare, but manpower had been short.

'Did something unpleasant happen there?'

"That sounds like hard work. Once this is over, I'll arrange a reward from the guild. Anything you want?"

Bribery worked wonders. Clementine's expression brightened.

"Belial-sama's so generous. A reward doesn't have to be a thing, right?"

"If it's within my power. If it's not, I'll say so. No harm in asking."

"Then... I want the right to be dominated by you. For three days-no, one day's enough."

She looked up at me with that request.

She was lonely. I hadn't been spending enough time with her. We used to share a bed nearly every night; now it was once every three days.

If that was the cause of her mood, she was truly adorable.

"Understood. But that doesn't have to be the reward-I'll give you something else. Think about what you want.

"Eh... It's a no?"

"It's not a no. After this mess, I'll take three days off. We'll do something together. Travel, a date, whatever you like."

Clementine grinned-a wicked, predatory smile, but one she wore when genuinely happy. I'd chosen correctly.

"Then I'll work extra hard on this job."

"Sorry for the hassle."

"Not at all. I don't mind."

We shared a brief kiss before parting. I needed to speak with Blue Rose—and when I returned, Evileye was frozen solid, staring into space.

"Evileye? Something wrong?"

"Eh? Ah, yes... what is it?"

I tapped her shoulder, and she rebooted like a malfunctioning machine. She looked up at me.

"You seem close. With Claire."

'The conversation had a weak recognition barrier, so she shouldn't have heard—but she must have seen the kiss.'

"We are."

"Are you two lovers?"

Her voice trembled. A difficult question. Were they dating? Not officially. But close to it.

"Something like that."

"Something like...?"

I leaned close to her ear, out of earshot of the others.

"Keeno."

"Hya-yes?!"

I ignored her odd reaction.

"I'm a man of loose morals. I don't take a single lover—think of it as having many."

"I-is that so?"

"Yes. Disappointed?"

I pulled back, and she began fiddling with her ear, twirling golden hair around her finger, averting her gaze.

"N-no... It's fine. I know people with arrangements like that. Not many, but..."

"I see. Sorry for making you... settle for a man like me."

"D-don't apologize! I asked for it. I don't regret it."

Her demure attitude made me think she was surprisingly easy, but I kept that to myself. She was too easy, but that was part of her charm.

A short distance away, Lakyus was watching us with visible restlessness.

'Are all the women around me this cute?'

Smirking inwardly, I left Blue Rose and approached the armored Momonga.

"Hey, Momon."

My casual greeting earned me a warning.

"Beryl-san. If you get stabbed someday, I won't save you."

"Ah. Yes. Sorry."

-x-X-x-

Afterward.

The Third Princess Renner briefed them on the situation-low-ranked demons running amok, that sort of thing. Jaldabaoth-Demiurge-had been feeding false information, framing the attack as a mission to retrieve a valuable magic item from the capital.

The rank-and-file adventurers would focus on defending the city from the lesser demons. The Demon Emperor Baal and General Jaldabaoth would be left to Momon the Dark Hero.

'So I don't have to do anything? Ah, handling the demons inside the city. Understood.'

And so the stage was set for the birth of a hero...

I spent my time culling the weaker demons at the capital's edge, alongside Blue Rose.

Clementine, notably, wasn't on demon duty. She'd apparently joined up with Brain and Climb-contacts from the Tuare rescue-to evacuate survivors. Odd connections, but fine.

"{Create Greater Item}."

I hurled a conjured weapon at a lesser demon. On contact, it burst and dispersed. Each time, amazed voices rose behind me. It felt like being praised in a game for mediocre play.

'Well, that's essentially what this was. YGGDRASIL.'

"You were this strong? I had no idea," Lakyus said.

"Impressive as always, Beryl. Shall we push to the front?" Evileye added.

I prioritized the stronger lesser demons, saving adventurers where I could.

As I popped demons-

"W-what the-?!"

"Hiii!"

A crushing wave of pressure flooded the air. 'Ah, Despair Aura.'

The lesser adventurers trembled. Even Blue Rose tensed.

'Overacting, Lazlo. Way too much.'

"Kneel, humans! Before the Demon Emperor Baal!"

Lazlo descended, wearing Belial's heteromorphic form. The grandiose speech, the dramatic bearing, the roaring... 'Is that how I look? Is she even imitating me right? Doesn't it seem kind of dumb?'

But Evileye and the others were properly terrified. Fine. But this meant I'd have to roleplay like that whenever I appeared in that form.

"Your reward is upfront! Go! {Maximize Magic: Incubus Army}!"

While airborne, the Demon Emperor cast. Seventh-tier Incubus Army summoned a horde of mid-tier incubi. Massive, poisonous-colored frogs erupted from the ground. Violation Toads-creatures that exhaled aphrodisiac gas. Disgusting.

"Hahaha! This is the end for you!"

The Demon Emperor departed with a laugh.

'What are you doing, Lazlo?'

... No, wait. The goal is Momon's hero debut, plus raising my own reputation. Momon defeats the Demon Emperor, I defeat a powerful monster. That justifies pushing me to adamantite.

So the lesser demons weren't enough—she'd come all this way to summon mid-tier threats.

I drove my sword into a Violation Toad's head. Blue-purple fluid sprayed over me. 'Disgusting.'

The fluids had aphrodisiac properties. But myy level gap made me immune, but I remembered the disgust from YGGDRASIL when players I killed in melee complained about the debuff.

As I killed one, the others lunged at the adventurers. They had debuffs and durability, but low direct damage the adventurers wouldn't die easily.

I conjured another blade-

"Leave this to me!"

Lakyus leaped forward to shield the lower-ranked adventurers. Her demon sword Kilineiram blazed, the blade growing enormous.

"Super Art! Dark Blade Mega Impact!"

A pitch-black explosion struck the Violation Toad.

'That's not a martial art or a skill. There's no need to shout it... but she thinks it's cool?'

The toad took the hit-

"It's unharmed?!"

Violation Toads were mid-tier incubi with high resistance to non-physical attacks. Lakyus's magic couldn't break through.

The toad opened its mouth with a rumbling croak. Evileye reacted instantly.

"Get back, Lakyus!"

"Eh-"

Faster than she could move, the frog's tongue shot out and wrapped around her, pulling her in.

Gulp.

She was swallowed.

For a moment, silence. Evileye broke it first.

"L-Lakyus?!"

Gagaran lunged at the toad. "Give her back!"

Her desperation was understandable-she'd just watched her comrade get eaten. I knew there was no real danger. The toad's "swallow" applied debuffs through contact with its fluids; it didn't digest prey.

But looking unconcerned would raise suspicions. I feigned panic.

"Fall back, Gagaran."

I conjured a sword and kicked off the ground. Once Gagaran was clear, I drove the blade into the toad's head, then ripped it open toward the mouth. Inside, I found Lakyus and pulled her out.

"Are you all right, Lakyus?"

"Nn, y-yes... I'm fine."

She was covered in slime and toad fluids, grimacing. I pulled her free of the corpse. She seemed weak, so I wrapped an arm around her waist to lift her-

"Nngh."

I pretended not to notice, setting her on the ground.

"Rest here. I'll handle the others."

"Y-yes... ah."

Ignoring her soft moan, I turned to the remaining toads. Then I noticed Evileye was missing from Gagaran's side.

"Gagaran, where's Evileye?"

"Huh? She's gone! Evileye! Where are you?!"

Gagaran shouted and spun around. I followed her gaze-

"Croak."

A familiar red robe hem protruded from a Violation Toad's mouth. The toad, looking guilty at being caught, swallowed the fabric.

"E-Evileye?!"

I and Gagaran rushed to rescue her. When they pulled her free, she was teary-eyed and covered in frog slime.

-x-X-x-

Late into the night, Gehenna reached its finale.

The Dark Hero Momon had driven off the Demon Emperor Baal and the Demon General Jaldabaoth. Momon's name would be spoken for ages-as the hero who saved the kingdom.

...In other words, the farce was over. While I had been busy cleaning up the Violation Toads summoned by Baal-Lazlo in disguise-the main performance had apparently played out without me. The Flames of Gehenna had served their purpose. Everyone could go home.

So they all withdrew to their respective bases to rest. I could have returned to Nazarick, but it would be a nuisance if Blue Rose or other adventurers came looking for him and found him absent.

Tonight, he would sleep at the inn. Clementine, meanwhile, had been sent back to Nazarick. She'd been on the verge of collapse from exhaustion-not a figure of speech. She'd apparently fought multiple mid-tier demons. At her level, that would be grueling. She'd had Brain and Climb assisting her, but I doubted Climb had contributed much. Then again, Renner had requested that Climb not be killed, so the demons had likely held back.

So I and Clementine were apart. The Ninth Floor of Nazarick would restore her far better than a luxury inn. She was probably sleeping like the dead.

I lay on the bed and sighed. I wanted to go back to Nazarick too. This inn was high-class, but it felt like sleeping in a break room.

Once you've known true luxury, lesser comforts no longer satisfy. As I wallowed in that petty thought, a knock came at the door.

'Who now?'

I hoped it wasn't trouble. Rising with suspicion, I opened the door. Standing there was—

"Evileye. What's wrong?"

Evileye, clutching a pillow.

...

The Demon Emperor Baal and Jaldabaoth had been repelled by Momon. They hadn't been destroyed, but driven off. A great demon surpassing even demon gods, and a great hero who defeated them-it sounded like a fairy tale. Evileye breathed a sigh of relief that peace had returned, however temporary.

Behind that fairy-tale battle, Evileye had been swallowed by a frog. Gagaran and Beryl had pulled her out, but she'd been covered in its fluids. She remembered a strangely sweet smell, and the concentrated sourness that had touched her tongue.

After the demons retreated, she and Lakyus-who had also been swallowed-cleaned themselves. That was when she noticed her magic was less efficient. Her body also ached strangely. The fluids of Baal's summoned monster likely carried the same magic-inhibiting poison as before.

But unlike with Baal, peace had returned. There was no need to rush, no need for immediate treatment. Treatment-meaning sex-was unnecessary. Evileye knew that perfectly well.

She knew. And yet—

"Evileye. What's wrong?"

Before she realized it, she was knocking on Beryl's door. Mask on, usual clothes.

"Il... may I come in for a bit?"

"...Ah, sure."

Normally, she would never enter a man's room alone at this hour. Aware of her own change, she stepped inside. Two large beds. She and Beryl's companion Claire probably slept separately.

"Where's Claire?"

"Recovering."

"What? Was she injured?"

"No, just exhausted. Nothing to worry about."

"I see."

Evileye exhaled deeply. She had complicated feelings about Claire, who'd known Beryl longer. But she didn't want to see the man she liked looking downcast. So this was a sigh of relief.

"So, Keno. You must have a reason for coming."

"Nn-ah, yes. I did."

Calling her by that name made her acutely self-conscious. She coughed lightly, feeling her body heat, and spoke.

"After being exposed to that frog's-that demon's fluids, my mana has been disordered. It's affecting my spellcasting. Do you know anything?"

"Ah... Violation Toad fluids carry a debuff-an aphrodisiac that lowers physical ability and magic efficacy. Same as Baal's."

"I-I see."

She clutched the pillow to her chest. She didn't know why she'd brought it. Perhaps she was anxious. Holding the pillow with one arm, she removed her mask.

"Beryl... would you treat me again?"

His expression turned slightly troubled.

"The effect is the same as before, but milder. By tomorrow the poison should heal on its own. You don't need to force yourself into sex."

"Y-yes..."

She felt the conversation moving away from what she wanted. She felt pathetic for hoping he'd just go along with it.

How should she say it? What should she do? Her centuries-old mind raced, but no good answer came.

Only one option remained.

"Even so... my body is hot. So-*

She hesitated, then:

"W-would you have sex with me?"

She begged honestly. Tension ran through her. Her fingers sank into the pillow. Her face burned. The brief silence felt long. Her tongue felt dry. Beryl looked at her.

"Are you sure? I told you before-I don't intend to love only one person."

"I-I don't care! I don't care, so..."

She averted her gaze, aware that her expression was twisted with shame.

"I... want you to make me yours."

She still didn't look at him. If he rejected her, if he looked at her with disgust, she wouldn't recover.

"I-if you don't want to, I'll back off. But if even a little-"

Her pathetic excuses were cut off.

"Mm-!?"

His lips sealed hers. She was startled, but interpreted the kiss as his answer. Joy welled up, and she accepted his tongue.

Splurp Slurp.

"Nn... nn...."

They kissed, tongues entwining. She felt his hand on her back and put her arms around him. Despite the height difference, they embraced, deepening the kiss.

"Nn ah..."

When he finally pulled back, she looked up at him, feeling the loss. He smiled.

"Keno, shall we continue on the bed?"

"Y-yes..."

She was soaked, and she blamed the incubus aphrodisiac. A lie, of course.

On the king-sized bed, Evileye faced him fully naked. No robe, no mask-truly bare. Her small breasts, nipples stiff with anticipation.

"Then first... foreplay. All right, Keno?"

"Y-yes... do as you like."

Unlike last time, there were no constraints. They could take as long as they wanted. Beryl's fingers reached for her pussy.

"Ah.."

His fingers-thicker, harder, longer than hers-entered her.

"Aoh..."

Parting her inner walls, slowly filling her.

"Haa... uu...."

Just moving his fingers sent pleasure through her. He caressed sensitive spots, filling her mind with euphoria.

"Ah ah aah."

He stroked gently, careful not to hurt her, yet firmly.

"Aah nn."

Her walls sucked at his fingers, and she moaned each time.

"Does it feel good, Keno?"

"Nn, you don't have to ask... nngh."

Her hips twitched, she panted, she leaked. If he couldn't tell she was feeling good, he'd have to be blind.

"I want to hear it from your mouth."

"I-I don't need to say it-"

"-nngh, aaah."

The sudden intense caress made her writhe. Pleasure stretched her toes.

"So? How is it, Keno?"

"F-fine! It feels good, it feels good, so..."

"I see. Good."

His finger slowly traced her inner wall.

"Haa... haa."

From deep to shallow, probing.

"Oh? Is this your weak spot, Keno?"

4G

He touched her G-spot near the entrance. She let out wordless cries, her pussy twitching.

"Ohh... ah...."

Just gentle strokes nearly drowned her in pleasure.

"W-wait..."

She grabbed his hand with both of hers, sweating. If he kept going, she'd come. Beryl raised an eyebrow.

"What's wrong? Did it hurt?"

"I-it didn't hurt..."

"Not good?"

"l-it's good... but..."

"Then there's no problem, is there?"

He smiled sadistically.

"N-no, don't. Wait-"

"Nnah."

He pressed her G-spot, and her thoughts were painted over with pleasure.

Squish squish.

"W-wait, wait, I said! Ohh."

No matter how she struggled, she couldn't break free. She wasn't really resisting. She wanted this-the

caress, the pleasure.

"Aaaah I'm coming; I'm going to come... stop...."

"No."

He whispered in her ear.

"Come just like that, Keno."

It was a death sentence.

"Aaah coming coming I'm-nnnnn."

She squirted across the bed, climaxing. She collapsed, drooling. No one who saw her now would recognize the usual Evileye.

'He made me come with just his fingers...'

As she lay stunned, Beryl grabbed her hips and flipped her onto her back.

"Oh."

He inserted his fingers again and brought his face to her sex. His tongue reached her clit.

"Th-there's no way! Both at once-"

Slurrp...

"-aah"

She convulsed. His fingers attacked her G-spot; his tongue tormented her clit.

"Aaaah."

She had no room to look at him. She gritted her teeth, gripped the sheets, tried to endure.

"Aaah... guh...."

She made sounds she couldn't believe were her own.

The intense pleasure was like the tentacles, and the sweet euphoria like her first time with Beryl, burning through her at once.

"No, I can't not again... so..."

Her body, already sensitive from one orgasm, was battered by pleasure that was almost poison.

"I'm coming... I'm coming, coming, coming."

She couldn't endure-

"I'm-kuh."

Pshaaa.

She squirted again, climaxing. Convulsing, twisting, gripping the sheets. Her face slack, brows furrowed, tongue out, drooling. Overwhelming pleasure whited out her thoughts.

"Haa... haa....

She sank into the afterglow. Then his erect cock appeared before her. A signal that he intended to put it in. The masculine scent filled her nose. She extended her tongue and licked him.

Slurp... Suck.

Evileye was competitive. She couldn't let herself be the only one brought to orgasm. And she wanted to serve the man she loved. She managed to move, taking his cock in her hand.

'He's too big... and this is going inside me again...'

She'd taken him in her pussy outdoors before. So it should fit, but it still felt unreal.

Lero.

She licked the tip.

Then, she took him into her small mouth. She couldn't fit half. But she slowly serviced him.

'Did he get bigger, wanting to impregnate me? I'm undead, so I can't... but still...'

She increased her pace. She hadn't been taught, but somehow knew what to do.

'Maybe he could impregnate me... a normal human couldn't... but this man...'

Illogical. Yet his cock was so virile it made her think so.

Splurp, slurp, slurp.

She even masturbated while giving him a blowjob. He stroked her head, filling her heart.

His cock pulsed-

Splurt, splurt.

He came in her mouth. Thick, masculine fluid clung to her throat. Far more than a normal human's filled her mouth. When he finished, she pulled away, mouth open, semen pooled inside. She felt his gaze and held it in her mouth.

Slushp sshlurck... gokun

She swallowed the viscous semen with difficulty, wanting to please him. But the unfamiliar act made air return up her throat.

She gave a small burp. She'd meant to please him but had done something vulgar. She started to apologize-

"Keno... you're really cute."

He praised her instead.

"R-really? Cute?"

"Yes... Really cute. That was great."

She didn't know why, but assumed he meant the blowjob. She smiled proudly-and then he pushed her down.

"B-Beryl...?"

His eyes were on her, mouth curved in a predatory smile.

"I was going to be gentle... but sorry. You're too cute. I don't think I can hold back."

She trembled, feeling fear, anticipation, joy, anxiety.

"I-I'd be happy if you were gentle..."

No reply. His smile was sadistic. Despite her anxiety, her womb ached fiercely.

***

"I can't sleep."

Lakyus opened her eyes on the bed. She'd changed into nightclothes, but sleep wouldn't come. She knew why. The frog-type incubus fluids had made her body sensitive. She'd masturbated as soon as she returned, but it hadn't helped. Her body still ached. Even now, she was unconsciously touching herself over her underwear.

'If only I could see that dream.'

The erotic dream caused by the Holy Bangle's side effect-sex with Beryl of Silver Wings. She couldn't see it every night. Her body had built tolerance; now it came only once every few days. So she couldn't count on it tonight. And knowing that, the swollen desire kept her awake.

She sighed and pulled on a cardigan.

For monster poisons like this, Evileye was the most knowledgeable. She'd also been eaten by the frog incubus; she might know a treatment.

Lakyus left her room and headed for Evileye's. She was on the third floor, east wing, which Blue Rose had essentially claimed. She knocked on Evileye's door. No response.

She frowned and tried the knob-unlocked.

"Evileye...? Are you there?"

No answer. The room was empty. No sign of a struggle, but the pillow was missing. Evileye had taken a pillow and gone out. Why?

Confused, Lakyus left. Evileye was out. Gagaran, Tia, Tina-none likely knew about the poison. Then who else might?

She went up one floor. The fourth floor had only one room rented. That was her destination. She coughed to mask her embarrassment.

Lakyus had feelings for Beryl. She'd liked his looks, but after the dreams, affection had mixed with lust. Now she watched him when he appeared, used him as a fantasy when masturbating. She would report her aching body to him. Embarrassing, but she was also hoping he might sleep with her because of it.

'What a convenient fantasy. As if that would happen.'

She chided herself and approached his door-

"Ah aah."

A moan, faintly audible even outside. Her hand stopped. It was Evileye's voice. The inn's rooms had soundproofing magic items active. If Evileye's moans pierced that, she was being loud.

Lakyus's breath caught. She'd noticed Evileye and Beryl growing close. She'd assumed it was gratitude for saving her life. But maybe more.

She should leave. That was right. But instead, she quietly opened the door a crack.

Through the gap, she peered in...

"W-wait, not so rough."

Evileye, naked, was seated on the bed, taken from behind. Her arms held so she couldn't escape, hair disheveled, moaning.

Wet skin slapping. Unfamiliar moans from her comrade. Disheveled form. Lakyus's heart churned. The man she liked was making love to her comrade. The one she'd longed for in dreams wasn't hers.

Sad. Painful. Loss. And yet-

"Ah...."

Her fingers moved to her own leaking pussy.

Sqiosh Squish. She was soaked even through her underwear. Her mind was sad, but her body was aroused.

"Beryl let me rest ah."

Beryl lifted Evileye, and Lakyus saw where they joined. A large cock moving in and out of small Evileye's pussy. Matching the rhythm, Lakyus inserted her fingers.

She held her breath, masturbating desperately.

"Ohh nn."

Evileye moaned in pleasure.

"Aah aah."

She bounced on Beryl's cock. Lakyus could only watch.

Envious. Even fingering herself hard wasn't enough.

'I want it... I want Beryl's cock too... unfair Evileye, unfair...'

She fantasized about being in Evileye's place, masturbating. Imagining being roughly fucked. Peeking through the gap, devouring the sight, masturbating alone.

In contrast, Evileye drooled, face ecstatic under Beryl's thrusts.

"Aaah I'm coming coming coming coming coming."

Masturbating while watching her comrade being fucked by the man she loved-abnormal. Lakyus knew, but couldn't stop.

'I want it!! I want it too!!!!!!!!!!

Even rough fingering couldn't satisfy her. She wanted that big, thick cock from her dreams. The cock on the other side of the door. She wanted to be loved, held, wrecked.

"I'm-nnnn aah ah... aah."

Evileye wet the bed, incontinence. White fluid leaked from the joint. She'd come; he'd ejaculated. Lakyus fingered herself harder.

Splurt. Squirt.

'I want to come... I want to come I want to come. I want to come. Let me come too.'

She'd seen such intense sex. His sturdy cock grinding deep. She only had her fingers-too short, too thin.

Splirt, squish.

Envy came first; Lakyus couldn't climax. Breathing hard, she violently rubbed her good spots. She saw nothing else, focused only on masturbation. And then-

The door opened.

"Ah.."

She looked up. Naked Beryl stood there. Behind him, Evileye lay on the bed, eyes rolled back, unconscious.

"What are you doing, Lakyus?"

"Th-this is... It's not what it looks like...?"

She tried to think of an excuse. Then noticed the large cock standing before her. Glossy with fluids, veins prominent, masculine scent stinging her nose. Unconsciously, she almost resumed masturbating—

"Lakyus."

"Eh? Ah... s-sorry!"

She apologized, realizing what she was doing. He might hate her. No, he surely did. A woman who peeped on others' lovemaking, masturbated, and kept going when caught-

"For now, why don't you come inside, Lakyus?"

"I-is that all right...?"

"Of course,"

Evileye had collapsed from exhaustion, but... could she intrude on the two lovers? Urged, Lakyus stepped into Beryl's room. Beneath her underwear, her entrance twitched with anticipation.

'Maybe he will fuck me that hard and good, too?' She thought.