The Hero Became a Succubus, and the Only Way to Level is to… What?! Chapter 517 – Scion of the Black Wings

Chieftain Sheeba raised the alarm all across Talahurah of a potential attack by the Cult of Lust and Depravity. Mounted riders sped through every district, advising citizens to stay indoors. More ard warriors patrolled the streets than civilians. Tension thick enough to be cut with a knife fell over the city.

Kanae flew circles around Talahurah, keeping an eye out for any succubi attacks. So far by noon the next day, none. She breathed a sigh of relief but remained vigilant. The city had grown quiet, which was unusual for such a place bustling with beastn. It went to show how much its people took threats to Talahurah. Talon's reign, Hilde's takeover, and then Avaline von Cleisseldor when Ortesia attacked. If she had to choose who among the Commonwealth was the most hardy and battle-hardened, it was Talahurah.

From the distant south, a group of flying figures approached at high speed. Kanae very briefly thought it was an attack until she made out Erin and Taileen at the front. The forty unit cell comprised half-succubi of the Sisters of Sin and Talahurah harpies returning from the lowlands. She had sent them on perhaps the most important and dangerous mission— to ascertain Labelle's last seen whereabouts.

"I'm glad you're all back safe." Kanae smiled with open arms.

"Feels like we've been flying non-stop since last night. I've earned this, right?" Erin let herself into Kanae's embrace, snuggling into her chest.

"Find anything?" she asked.

Most of the group shook their heads.

"No signs of the Mistress of Debauchery or Talon. The surrounding villages near where they encountered her haven't seen them either. There's a good chance they just escaped." Taileen frowned.

"What would Labelle want with Talon?" Kanae mumbled to herself.

"I an, Talon hated your guts, right? Even while under Enthrall. They managed to sever that and have a powerful ally against you," Erin suggested.

"No, I get that. But she's just one harpy." She shut her eyes and thought really hard until the twins started shaking her. "W-What is it?!"

"N-North! North!" they cried.

Kanae whipped around. A small army of winged figures descended from the north. The group around Kanae panicked for just a mont until they spotted carriages below the flying mass.

"That must be Arenade and the Black Wings!" Kanae whooped.

They hurried to the north end of Talahurah, where the city's own defenders had gathered in anticipation of a fight. Sheeba stood at the fore with a piss-terrified Thas beside her on his dire wolf. Their hostile formation wavered when the chieftain ordered everyone to stand down, seeing the carriages coming. Her warriors instead stepped aside, framing an open path into the city. Kanae landed next to them, awaiting the new arrivals.

Three Rown carriages grinded to a stop in front of them. Harpies of all kinds touched down, but they were less than Kanae had expected. The door to the front vehicle burst open, and out ca Arenade with her nose to the sky and never more full of herself.

"Behold, my triumphant return! I, Arenade Brightwind, Empress of the Commonwealth, High Priestess of the Eminence of Sin, and Voice of Demigoddess Are—"

"Get on with it, Arenade. We already know who you are." Kanae groaned.

The high elf popped a temple, having been interrupted.

"Ahem. My journey into the Crescent Taiga has been fruitful! I've secured an alliance with the harpy clan, Black Wings!" Arenade exclaid, puffing out her chest.

The several hundred-strong army of harpies behind them was proof of that. Everyone on Kanae's side fidgeted with glee. Sheeba, too, couldn't contain her big toothy smile.

She continued, a little more nervously this ti, "They… kind of have so demands though."

"And what sort of demands?" Kanae arched her brow.

"A demand of marriage to unite Talahurah and the Black Wings!" The harpy army gave way to a short harpy boy, whose wings and plus were blanketed in snow white and painted with light brown highlights. The sclera of his big round eyes were a soft yellow surrounding pitch black pupils. His short hair was just as white as his feathers, and two long plus sprung out from the top of his head that fluttered from every little movent. "I am Kairo Razortip, son of Kaino. One of your leaders is to be my wife." He pressed his index fingers together nervously, the stoicism from his introduction gone and replaced by bashfulness. "I-I may be of age, but I've never dated before, so if we can take it slow…"

Kanae took a deep breath, wiped the drool from her chin, and stepped forward.

"I'll take him!" Kanae bood.

"No you don't, you horny bitch!" Arenade held her back from advancing on the harpy. "Kairo's father specified that his partner has to be unmarried, and last I checked, you're a town carriage. Worse, you might as well be a stable!"

"If not , then who?" She pouted.

Arenade turned to Sheeba, and Kairo was looking at her, too.

"?" Sheeba gasped. "I intend to pick a strong lionman as my mate one day, not so poultry runt my kind would eat for breakfast."

"I'm not weak, if that's what you're implying. As an owl harpy, you would do well not to underestimate . In the wilderness, owls are better hunters than lions!" Kairo fired back bravely.

"Oh?" She bared her fangs and flexed out her claws.

"Sheeba, no!" Kanae and Arenade cried.

They were too slow to stop her and face planted in the ground. The lioness dashed right up to Kairo but swiped empty space. He vaulted over, landing gingerly behind her. His head twisted 180-degrees to face Sheeba. Arenade passed out, and Kanae nearly had a panic attack.

"I don't want to fight, but if we must…" Kairo opened his wings to reveal a pair of kamas in both hands connected by a steel chain. Sheeba didn't see it since his body still faced Kanae, and only his head was turned in the lioness' direction.

"Bring it!" Sheeba roared.

"No, this fight is over!" Kanae shouted, passing the unconscious Arenade to Bright Cloister mbers. "Sheeba, you lost. When Kairo jumped over you, he had every opportunity to slash you with his weapons hidden under his wings. He had enough restraint not to."

When Kairo turned around fully to show Sheeba his kamas, her eyes widened with shock and defeat.

"Fuck. Only because Your Majesty requires it of , fine. I'll accept the marriage proposal. If I end up cucking him later, don't co complaining to ." Sheeba sighed.

"You could have kept that last part to yourself." Kanae rolled her eyes.

There was no excitent or celebrations to be had. The union between Sheeba and Kairo was a political one. Neither of them exchanged rings or vows, just a firm handshake right then and there. Maybe too firm from Sheeba's end, because Kairo winced when they clasped.

Kanae slapped Arenade awake with a stinging cheek, and they entered Talahurah together as diplomatic champions. The strength of clans Black Wings and Fang and Claw now mostly united the highlands and lowlands under the Kh'shanti banner. And having Gaea as their patron deity, Talahurah was poised to beco a force to be reckoned with in the north.

At the Oaken Amphitheater, Sheeba ordered a feast to be held to welco both Kairo and Thas to the city. Kanae and Arenade sat together, as did the two newlyweds. Thas sat to their adjacent side. Large roasted ga drenched in butter were brought to the table. Fresh vegetables and fruits furnished every plate. It almost felt wrong to be enjoying this while the rest of Talahurah was sheltering in their own hos.

"I know this is ant to be a celebration, but I have to address the elephant in the room, Kairo: before you arrived, we received word that Talon's gone turncoat on the Commonwealth. Being that your clan used to be under her rule, will we have any problems?" Kanae asked.

Kairo was stuffing himself when he looked up. "You're asking if we plan to betray a brand new alliance? Believe , we didn't like Talon as much as Talahurah did. She abandoned us as soon as she got her talons around the city years ago. That really made my old man angry. The answer is no, there won't be any problems. If Talon cos to us in the Crescent Taiga demanding fealty, she'll find none. Besides," He looked up at her, bright-eyed and head-plus twitching." I have a big muscular lioness as a mate!"

"Ugh." Sheeba groaned.

"I'll prove my strength and worth to you yet!" he vowed.

Kanae thought they looked cute by their size differences alone. The romance between them was one-sided for now, but things might change later. She still felt bad pressuring Sheeba into this. Maybe Petyr would have made a better match, but that would have been a lot less healthier of a relationship.

"Don't you want to hear about my exploits and how I got them to join?" Arenade leaned in close to Kanae all smug.

"Not when you're giving that look… but sure." Kanae relented.

"They were having problems with yetis coming down from the mountains. Those bastards and their rock, paper, scissor ga. Their innate magic shields them from being fought conventionally. Kaino, the clan leader, got beaten black and bloody, losing so much. Yours truly beat them all in an undefeated 24-win streak! You're now welco to praise ." She smiled proudly.

"Okay, Arenade. You win. That is pretty impressive." Wanting to please her haughty wife, she reached across the table to pick up a slice of cake and fed it to her.

Arenade sighed with delight, opened her mouth again for another bite, and Kanae gladly fed her the rest. She was about to wipe a bit of frosting off her lips until Kanae leaned in to kiss it off her.

"So, how did you do with Fang and Claw? That guy over there is the Pack Leader, right? He looks… not it." Arenade eyed him inconspicuously.

"I just helped Thas win a duel against his rival, and yeah. He isn't much. Thas is basically a fraud, but that's a secret. His clan thinks he's hot shit, which is all that really matters. Oh, I also fucked a bunch of tad dire wolves for them to make a cavalry unit out of!" Kanae explained.

Arenade stared at her aghast.

"I'm not going to feed you in return and tell you what a great job you did. Wolf-fucker!" Arenade huffed.

"This wolf-fucker is going to fuck you next!" Kanae pounced on her, only for them to get into a sumo wrestling match and push against each other.

"Go roll around with your dire wolves instead!"

"Oh, speaking of dire wolves— Kairo, we'd like permission to hunt in the Crescent Taiga. Clan Fang and Claw's population of dire wolves just exploded, and we want to be able to feed them regularly," she explained.

"That can be done. We have a history of culling the caribou and moose population annually to prevent them from overgrazing. It's only a matter transporting their carcasses at this point. Pack Leader Thas, if you like, we can travel together to the Crescent Taiga. I'm sure my father would like to et you personally," Kairo said, his plus straightening up.

"Y-You're father Kaino? I heard he's known for being bloodthirsty having served under Talon. Oh, I don't need to go! When you go back, just cart so our way," Thas stamred.

"Your Majesties will be leaving soon, right?" Sheeba scooted over and asked.

Kanae and Arenade stopped fighting.

"Ahhh, damn it all!" Arenade howled, clutching her own head. "I was supposed to convert people to Bright Cloister! Instead we got sidetracked every step of the way. This is your fault." She pointed an accusing finger at Kanae. "Gaea, too, that vegetable cunt…"

"Listen, if you want to stay in Talahurah to continue preaching, I won't stop you. I'll head back to Ehmvier first. I'm sure your presence is enough to deter the Cult of Lust and Depravity from attacking," Kanae explained.

"Hehe. I'm glad you recognize my greatness. Of course, they wouldn't dare attack while I'm here. Leave it to ." She rubbed the bridge of her nose.

"I'll leave tomorrow. Tonight though, I'm going to collect on that promise for helping you with the backstory play. You rember? Where you were going to let fuck you with the Cock Ring of Hardening on?"

"Eh?" The mug of beer slipped from her hand. "Oh…"