The Hero Became a Succubus, and the Only Way to Level is to… What?! Chapter 383 – Departure

Jhene and the ziggurat had gone too far for any effort to be worth it. They would be battling against Savir’s blistering sun catching up to it, and their last ti they trying to brave the deserts nearly ended in disaster. As the day drew to a close, Kanae and her companions drowned their sorrows over drinks in a tavern on the outskirts of Vanuis.

Everyone had a gripe to get drunk over. Petyr, having Riley turn on her. Claudia and Alicia, for Jhene getting the last laugh. Edina, who grew more antsy by the day without the Necronomicon in her paws. Renya, knowing that the Harpy King still had it out for her.

“I can’t believe we screwed up all three of Rasheena’s tasks. All in one day! Lost her people, lost the magical armants, and lost Arnault Pyrelle. I haven’t felt this defeated since Bardell kicked us out of Lograin…” Kanae rested her head on the table and groaned.

The entire table heaved a sigh. Athyst Hall’s first big task, an utter failure. Kanae made a lot of promises she couldn’t keep. Theena… Red… she might not be able to bring them back either. At the very least, cold beer hit the spot. Kanae downed her entire stein and called for another.

The tavern owners’ son, a human boy who couldn’t be older than ten weaved through the tables and tavern patrons with two pitchers in his hands. But the golden nectar wouldn’t make it. He bumped into a burly elven adventurer, spilling everything to the ground and falling on his butt.

“I-I’m so sorry, sir!” He apologized and bowed deeply.

“Huh? Sorry ain’t gonna cut it kid. You drenched new cuirass. Yer parents owe dry cleaning money and pals so free drinks!” The adventurer lifted the boy up by the scruff, and his peers snickered like backwater scums. One of them even shoved the father back from coming to help. Another backed the mother up to the counter. Patrons shied away and turned a blind eye.

“Wait, don’t hurt them!” Kanae rose to intervene. “I have a spell that—“

A heavy hand pushed Kanae back down to her seat. Petyr’s hand. She marched over and tapped the rabble rouser on the shoulder.

“The fuck ya want?” He turned around only to et a right hook to the face.

The boy dropped to the ground, and Petyr gestured for him to his parents, both of whom had been let go by the thugs running in to fight her instead.

“Fuck Riley! Fuck Arnault! Raaaaahhhhhhh!” Petyr broke into a full on bar fight, infusing Smite into any furniture she could grab and hit soone with.

“Riley who? Arnault? That’s not even my na, you crazy bitch!” a beastman cried before getting clobbered by a stool.

“Should we stop her?” Alicia asked.

“I’d rather not be on the receiving end of Smite. Just let her fight it out,” Kanae said, heading for the exit.

“Where are you going? You’re missing the show!” Renya pointed to the brawl.

“I’m going to make sure we still have a ride out of Vanuis tomorrow.” She unfurled her wings and made way to the edirashem.

It was all hands on deck at the caravan. Laborers from both the edirashem and Vanuis worked around the clock to repair wagons, buildings, and tend to the injured. Most of the fighting had taken place at the very back, so only the adjacent wagon took so damage. So denizens of the edirashem departed with their belongings, now more sure than ever that Zayn’s caravan wasn’t safe.

Kanae felt guilty. She had been the one to invite trouble. Her involvent dragged innocents into the battles as collateral. Wondering how Zayn must be feeling right now, she flew towards his manor and peered in from the balcony.

The edirashok sat at the edge of the bed, his back to the window and sulking. Kanae nervously knocked on the window, taking him by surprise. Eyes red, deanor deflated, he was no longer the overjoyed bachelor from this morning.

“So, you were a succubus all along?” Zayn opened the balcony door to let her in. “Moreover… not who you really were.”

“Sorry for deceiving you…” Kanae’s shoulders slackened under his sullen gaze.

“Sorry? You played with my heart, succubus! Losing one of my warehouse wagon is one thing, but losing the love of my life? I don’t know what to live for anymore…” He dropped to his knees in defeat.

“I’m still ! Let’s have sex, and you’ll know it’s ! You can pour your cum into all night, daddy~” She stripped down to nothing and embraced Zayn with her bare body, hoping to bring back his lecherous self.

But the man pushed Kanae back. He took a few steps away from her and pulled down his pants. Kanae got excited for all but half a second until she saw the sad, unerect noodle between his legs.

“How can I have sex with you, when you don’t even get hard?” Zayn asked.

“Guh!” A knife might as well have plunged into Kanae’s chest from how much that hurt, pride and all. “I-I have magic that can make you erect!”

“No, please… Just go. Tomorrow, I will direct my edirashem back to Spineridge. You and your friends will leave, and we will not see each other again. Goodbye.” He turned his back to her.

Kanae hesitated to leave. However, she didn’t want to hurt Zayn any more than he already was. On the way out, she felt his lingering gaze but didn’t dare turn around to be sure.

Co morning, Kanae bid farewell to her newly-transford succubus. Quinncera hugged her tightly and refused to let go. She might have even followed them if Kanae allowed it. But the succubus had an important role in Vanuis, the temple city of Savir. As a high priestess of the Eminence of Sin, it was her job to sow the seeds of their still infant religion.

The deacons, Bali, Rahael, and ena of the Priesthood of Three, couldn't be more grateful for being saved. Although there wasn't much that they could do in return, the priests promised to grant their support to Rasheena as religious authorities when the ti ca.

Kanae and her companions boarded the edirashem, which was a little less crowded than before. More people had left in search of new lives, be it in Vanuis or elsewhere. Kanae, Claudia, and Alicia took turns sexually tornting their thrall, Praijya. They might have failed all three missions Rasheena had tasked them with, but the Left Talon of the Harpy King could make for a small consolation prize.

The journey back to Spineridge didn't co with any surprises or delays. They stayed in the little wagons afforded to them from the start of the trip. When the long spine of the canyon ca into view, Kanae knew her ti on Zayn's edirashem had reached its end. As the group descended from the ramp one last ti into the long shadow cast down by Spineridge, she glanced back up to the caravan. The edirashok stared back from his manor with a sad look.

Kanae thought to wave goodbye, but Zayn retreated back to his room.

"Are you actually sad about not marrying that fat old dude?" Edina squinted.

"M-? No! What about you? You never got the Necronomicon." Kanae was quick to change subjects.

"I get the feeling this ain't the last ti I'll see Riben Crow and Necronomicon. I'm not strong enough to take it yet. I gotta get stronger first," she muttered to herself.

Kanae couldn't know for sure if Edina had it in her. Riben didn't seem like a bad guy. Sure, he acted on Zayn's order. But he saved them. Several tis. The man only wanted to resurrect his family. However, if he stood on the side of Sultan Cerberus in hopes of a war, then they would inevitably co to blows one day.

The dark elf with the eyepatch, Guin, was there at the cave entrance to the underground lift. He and a group of resistance mbers were in the middle of playing cards when they walked through the illusion. Unfortunately, he looked anything but glad to see them. Especially Praijya.

Before Kanae knew it, she had returned to the subterranean city of Jayir, seated once again across Rasheena, the aunt of Sultan Cerberus and commander of the Avanessi resistance.

"Hahaha! You're telling , you bungled every step of the way yet managed to co back with one of the Harpy King's strongest? I am quite frankly impressed. You've also returned all grown-up!" Rasheena couldn't sit still, she was laughing so much.

"Y-You're not angry?" Kanae hesitantly asked.

"Anger clouds the rational mind." She tapped her head with a sharp claw and grinned. "I need my mind to stay rational if I want to overthrow the bastards puppeteering my nephew. Besides! If you couldn't achieve what I set you out to do, what hope did I or my agents have to begin with? While you were gone, I'd been moving pieces and making plans to hit Avanesse. I still need help. So…" The hell hound woman extended a hand across the fire. "What do you say we continue this alliance? An accord between Avanesse and the Commonwealth can only prosper, don't you think?"

Kanae nodded and clasped Rasheena's hand over the firepit. The licking flas scorched them both, but the pain secured the beginning of a new union.

"What do you want to do with Praijya?" Kanae motioned for the harpy slave closer, and she did as ordered.

"We will question her. Tenderly and thoroughly. Without violence, of course, since you have assured that Praijya is enthralled into obedience. I assure you, she will co back to you intact." Rasheena smiled.

She patted the harpy on the back. "You hear that Praijya? You're going to be staying with new company for a bit. Be on your best behavior. Before I let you go though, there's sothing I need to ask you: What happened to the Knight of Red, Sivvy Brenhallow?"

"That stubborn harpy from Radevic?" Praijya thought for a bit. "Ah. I almost forgot about her. My king infused her with the core of an elental lord, giving us access to the Plane of Elents. Thanks to her, we're able to pull living elentals out from there, empower ourselves, and bind them to his will. The Harpy King has her locked underneath his keep to power the portal."

Kanae sighed. It didn't seem like getting Red back was going to be easy. As she was leaving, Rasheena caught up to her at the door.

"My new friend! Stay a while in Jayir, if you can. In a few days, another edirashem loyal to the resistance's cause will co to ferry us to the western coast. There, we shall dismantle Ortesia's docks and send them scurrying back across the sea," Rasheena explained and clenched a fist in front of herself.

"Hopefully, I won't fail you there," Kanae joked. "Hey, while we were in Maraag's Crossing, another edirashem led by Levain had stopped by there, too. I overheard Levain and Zayn talking about a eting of Sands. Should we be worried about that?"

She frowned. "Yes, very much so. By now, everyone suspects that Sultan Cerberus intends to formally declare war against Bravost and Elusis. The eting of Sands will recall all edirashems to Avanesse, and they shall serve as the machines of war that sweeps across Savir. That cannot be allowed to happen. Those edirashems are sacred and vital to our people. If even a few are destroyed, it will cripple the livelihood of Avanesse's people."

Imagining the edirashems fielding tens of thousands of soldiers into battle would be quite the sight. Terrifying, too, just like witnessing the Ortesian fleet off Shard Coast.

Kanae took Rasheena's advice and descended into the city. She checked into an inn that the others should have already done earlier. Only a few patrons occupied their own tables around the first floor. A crackling fire from the large hearth invited her up to the mantle. Her hand still pulsed from shaking hands with Rasheena over the fire. After a mont of thinking about casting Flash Heal on it, she decided against doing so.