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

Celebrations continued well after the wedding. From Radevic all the way up to Artaggon, everyone was still up in a hubbub over the two queens tying the knot at last. Their accomplishments and influence had touched the hearts of many. The creation of the Eminence of Sin, lifting the poor from poverty, and creating a haven that accepted people from all walks of life, these were among the many things countless souls were grateful to Kanae and Arenade for.

To thank them for their service and the wedding occasion, Grand Eye Analise approved Kanae’s request for time-off to go on her honeymoon. Their destination? The pearly white beaches of Kandis. Arenade had taken the liberty of booking their vacation. If Kanae had been denied from going, Arenade would have gone alone herself because of course she would.

Southwest of Upper Turic forest and South of Port Kandis laid a beautiful beach beloved by all. It was known for its warm sands, exotic multi-pronged palm trees, and gorgeous scenery. Before the war, high elves from Ortesia sailed across the sea all the time to vacation there. Lords and nobles of the city state of Radevic visited often, too.

The only way to get there was by boat, since a canyon range sealed it off from the rest of the mainland. Although Kanae and Arenade had the ability to fly, her new wife wanted to take a boat there like a normal person instead.

Before leaving, Kanae had something to settle at Amethyst Hall first. She had her armed unit stand in a line in front of her. Petyr, Edina, Alicia, Claudia, and Hilde stood in formation. All five of them looked absolutely confident about themselves, especially in what Kanae was about to do.

”I…” Kanae began and caused everyone to swallow hard, ”choose Alicia to be Vice-Captain of Amethyst Hall.”

Alicia flashed a triumphant smile. Meanwhile, the rest of them erupted in groans.

”A mistake. I’m Amethyst Hall’s strongest asset. The position of Vice-Captain should fall to me. None of them can even match my strength!” Petyr complained.

”You can be about as unhinged as Roshasha. I was clearly the better choice!” Claudia pouted.

”What about me, Kanae? I’m your best friend! You chose this succubus, who you only really just met not too long ago, to be Vice-Captain? Come on!” Edina folded her arms in disapproval, and the pair of undead minions behind her did the same.

”Petyr, you’re too prone to violence. Claudia, you’re just going to taunt Petyr if I give you the position. Edina, you don’t even like leading! Hilde, do you want to voice your protests, too?” Kanae asked.

Hilde shook her head, seemingly the only one to agree. ”I think Alicia is a prudent choice. My sister is often composed and collected. Calculating even. I go to her for advice, and while she may be quite the tease, she takes me seriously. Alicia won’t fail you.”

That was Kanae’s exact thoughts. Edina was right in that they were only recently acquainted. However, in that short time, Alicia has shown herself to be a reliable friend, confidante, and fighter. Vice-Captains had already been chosen over at the Silver Hall and Ivory Hall, but Kanae was holding off on that position for obvious reasons.

The others were… less suited to a leadership role. Petyr could have been perfect, given her experience as Lord-Major of the Ortesian invasionary force, if only she wasn’t so short-tempered. But putting the high elf in command of a bunch of succubi probably wasn’t going to end well. Grand Eye Analise also wouldn’t have appreciated a war criminal in the position of Amethyst Hall leadership. At least with Alicia, she was far enough removed from recent events that Radevic has little reason to be antagonistic with her.

”I won’t let you down, Knight-Commander. Is there anything in particular you need me to take care of during your absence?” Alicia asked.

”You’re going to be answering to Grand Eye Analise, so she should have tasks for you. If it was up to me… I’ll be happy if the place doesn’t burn down while I’m gone,” Kanae said seriously, shooting a glare at the two most prone to make that happen.

Petyr and Claudia avoided eye-contact.

With the matter of Amethyst Hall’s leadership resolved, Kanae bid everyone goodbye. They saw her off at the entrance, and she flew for the manor— only for Elizabeth Bedlam to catch up mid-flight on the flying broom.

”Oh, no. Please, don’t ask me for anything. I’m about to go on my honeymoon!” Kanae groaned.

”Amethyst, come now. I’m not here to ruin your day. I wanted to give you this.” Eliza plopped a teleportation pellet into her palm. ”While I have zero intentions of jinxing your honeymoon, I’m here to give this to you out of an abundance of caution. Should anything happen to you, or anything happen here, you may consider using it to come right back to Aidenhall. And with that, I bid you a wonderful vacation in the glimmering sands of Kandis!”

The sorceress veered off back to the palace. Kanae pocketed the pellet and sighed. Still, this was good to have regardless of circumstances.

Arenade was waiting at the manor in Brighton, surrounded by their children and family. A luxurious Rown Company carriage had parked out front, ready to take off.

”Took you long enough!” Arenade planted both hands on her hips.

”What? That was hardly an hour! Anyway, I’m ready to leave. Kids, behave while we’re gone. Teana, Pan, Revah, and Mikki, the four of you better listen to your instructors. Feraline, Suvee, and Kanade, don’t hurt or charm anyone just because I’m not here to stop you.” Kanae shot each of them with a stern, motherly glare.

”Master…” Esta dragged her feet up to them in apparent anguish. ”I still wish I could go with you two…”

”I know. It’s hard for you to stay behind as my servant, but this is mine and Arenade’s vacation. It wouldn’t be a honeymoon if we brought a third,” she said.

Esta helped them one last time by lifting their bags onto the back of the carriage. Kanae hugged each of her daughters, kissed Mitty and Noah, and promised to bring souvenirs back.

”Don’t worry about the young’uns, Kanae. I’ll keep ’em fed and looked after!” Moira waved.

Arenade picked up Kanade and Suvee, squeezing them with affection before climbing into the carriage. Kanae followed her in, and as the carriage lurched its first step of the journey, the kids raced onto the road to wish them goodbye.

”Have a safe trip!” all of them shouted at once.

”Finally.” Arenade relaxed into the silken cushioned seat. ”No responsibilities, no war, and no fighting!”

”You’re going to jinx it by saying that out loud.” Kanae joked, then rested a hand on Arenade’s thigh.

”Hey, now… You’re not seriously— mmph!”

Kanae leaned in to kiss Arenade, her beautiful high elven wife. She resisted at first, but the effort was half-hearted. Their lips pressed together deeply until Kanae’s tongue took it another step further. The two laid down on the seating that was wide enough to accommodate them both. When Kanae slipped a hand under Arenade’s dress, she was surprised to find a soaking snatch.

”You’re looking forward to this as much as I am,” Kanae teased.

”Nngh… It’s only because I know you’re going to be insatiable during the honeymoon… B-But sex better not be all we’re doing! I want to go to the beach, see the wildlife, and fly over the ocean for most of the trip! I… I want to have a romantic time…” Arenade pressed her fingers together and blushed.

”Looking all demure like that makes me want to fuck you even more!” She plunged her tail into Arenade’s pussy just as the front slat pulled open.

”Hey, hey, hey! Don’t get too frisky in there, or you might tip the carriage over!” Renya shouted from the coach seat.

”RENYA?!” Kanae and Arenade snapped upright.

The chairwoman of Rown Company wasn’t dressed in her usual crimson longcoat and tricorn hat. Instead, Renya had on a black trench coat and bowler hat to look the part of a stagecoach. She tipped her hat, grinning from ear to ear.

”Howdy! I’ll be your coach for this journey. The forecast from Radevic to Lograin is looking to be mostly sunny, then cloudy as we draw closer to the evening. From Lograin to Orturic and finally Port Kandis, we’ll have a light rainy spell but otherwise calm trek. Will there be any questions or concerns, ladies?” Renya asked.

”Yeah, why in three hells are YOU our coach? I specifically ask your taxi service to send anyone but you!” Arenade groaned.

”And like good Rown employees, they went straight to me!” She thumbed to herself.

”Renya, Arenade and I were hoping to have a honeymoon between just the two of us,” Kanae explained.

A clone suddenly appeared inside on the seat across from them. Clone Renya reached for a compartment underneath her, pulling out a bottle of wine and three glasses. She filled two for Kanae and Arenade, then another for prime Renya.

”I know, I know!” Renya said, vanishing the clone and taking a sip of wine. ”But you’re going to need a ship to take you to Kandis. Unless you plan to fly there? With all those bags in the back?”

Kanae recalled Esta loading a bunch of Arenade’s bags into the carriage trunk. She did bring a lot of stuff…

”What’s in all that anyway?” Kanae asked.

”Clothes, skin care products, and nutrition and vitamin potions,” Arenade answered as a matter of factly.

”What? How did you manage to pack five bags worth of that stuff?!!” she exclaimed.

”How else am I going to stay this divinely beautiful?”

Kanae slapped a hand to her face and sighed. This wasn’t a honeymoon between herself and Arenade. This was a honeymoon between Arenade and Arenade.

”See! Anyway, two queens deserve the royal treatment. My Songstress will ferry you to Kandis in style. I’m just coming along for the ride. And a vacation of my own,” Renya said.

They were already in the carriage and had no other choice but to accept. Might as well take it all the way to Kandis. The journey from Radevic all the way to Port Kandis had taken a week and a half, pausing only to swap weary languisteeds during pit stops. When they had arrived in Lograin, the City of Sin and Piety received them with open arms. Citizens tossed flowers onto the road and cheered in congratulations. It was the same in Orturic, the small town where Kanae had begun her adventure with Arenade and Edina.

The attention was great, but it stopped when they reached Port Kandis. In the early morning, sailors and common laborers had more important things to do than care about two married queens.

Renya’s Songstress was moored at the docks. Her tri-dagger crew were in the middle of loading cargo when they got there. Kanae spotted a few familiar Ortesian galleons, taken from the empire during the war and commandeered for use by port authorities.

”Ah! My beloved ship!” Renya ripped off her trench coat and bowler hat. A crewman came running over to help throw on her crimson longcoat, and another kneeled to offer her the signature tricorn hat. She laid it gently on her head, feeling right at home again with the seabreeze coursing through her hair.

It was a throwback being on the Songstress again. Even Redmane Solas, the lion beastman, who had purchased and prostituted Kanae a long time ago was still here.

”Er… Kanae, is that you?” Redmane squinted.

”Well, if it isn’t my old enslaver. How’s it going being a part of Renya’s crew?” Kanae asked.

”I can’t complain, actually! Falling from my grace and losing everything was the best thing to ever happen. I have a steady pay under Rown Company, and I don’t have to worry about being imprisoned for running a crime ring,” he explained.

”Get those crates loaded, Redmane! I’m not paying you to stand around!” Renya barked, sending him scurrying back to work.

”Enslaver? What was that about?” Arenade whispered.

Oh, right. Arenade wasn’t there when it happened. Kanae had long escaped after she met her.

”Just some slaver who pimped me out. Nothing serious.” Kanae shrugged.

Renya gave them the guest suite beside the captain’s quarters. The ship set sail from Port Kandis at noon, heading south along the coast. Kanae and Arenade availed themselves to the pirate lord’s accommodations. Come afternoon, Renya hollered for them to come up to the deck.

When the two of them emerged from within the ship, they were stunned to find the shimmering blue sea pushing and pulling from snowy white sands of Kandis. All along the coast, tall palm trees split into three crowns swayed like pendulums to the gust of gentle winds. Above, a flock of squawking gulls soared past. Below, schools of sword-nose fishes swam beside the hull.

Farther inland was a mountain of dark green forests, and unseen behind that, way into the distance was the sheer cliffs which separated Kandis from the mainland. The Songstress sailed until it entered an inlet, revealing a gorgeous city hidden within.

A large stone pier stretched out into the waters with a tall lighthouse built at the end of it. Three and four story buildings made of colorful bricks stretched along the immediate coastline. What really captured Kanae’s attention was the palace-like landmark inside the city, with its domed cerulean rooftops and gold trims, and many open balconies from which harpies jumped out of.

Few frigates and dozens of rowboats sailed out into the waters, with fishermen throwing lines to catch some fish. Harpies, on the other hand, swooped in to snatch a catch in each talon. Children played in the sands, racing back and forth as the tides willed.

The people here were mostly beastmen, with humans and common elves as a minority. They wore light tunics. Others were dressed in skirts woven with palm leaves, and some women had on bras made with coconut shells.

”Hnnngh! Even the air here smells so crisp and fresh!” Arenade stretched her arms.

Meanwhile, Kanae was weighed down by all the bags her wife had brought.

”There was a whole city here?” Kanae gasped.

”You didn’t know?” Renya descended from the plank and marveled at the city before them. ”This is Kandis, the Sapphire Jewel. It isn’t part of the Radevic city-states. The city is actually an outpost of Savir, a desert country in the southern part of the continent ruled by three bitchy sultans, who are always bickering over borders. It’s why the Empire of Ortesia left this place untouched during the war. They didn’t want to accidentally unite the three against them.”

Wasn’t the Knight of Red somewhere down there? Maybe they got caught up in whatever was going on.

Two female harpies suddenly landed in front of them, bowing with their arms and wings outstretched. They were dressed in headscarves covering their mouths and long, loose-fitting dresses. Their chests were embroidered with tiny jewels and ornate patterns stitched in gold.

”Queen Kanae and Queen Arenade of the Commonwealth of Sin, and Renya Rown of Rown Company. Welcome to Kandis, the Sapphire Jewel!” the pair exclaimed in perfect harmony.

”Is this normal?” Kanae whispered.

”Nope. First time it’s ever happened to me, and I’ve sailed here more times than I can count. Maybe it’s because you’re here?” Renya shrugged.

When Kanae turned to Arenade, she was just as confused.

”I didn’t tell anyone here that we were coming.” Arenade shook her head.

”You didn’t,” the dark-red feathered harpy began, ”but word of your marriage had reached Vizier Duran. He sends us to congratulate the two queens and apologizes for not being able to come down himself.”

The other, another harpy woman with green and blue feathers continued, ”Vizier Duran would like to extend to you an invitation to the Cerulean Palace tomorrow night for a banquet, as an official welcome and in honor of your recent wedding. Of course, you need not accept, but he only wishes to provide you with a most memorable stay.”

”Is me being a succubus not a problem?” Kanae asked and pointed to herself.

They both shook their heads.

”Hey,” Renya whispered. ”Vizier Duran is the cousin to Sultana Dudula, one of the three sultans ruling Savir. He’s considered a top dog, practically royalty. Guy like him doesn’t usually meet with anyone. You should accept, so I can get my foot through the door!”

Kanae and Arenade exchanged nervous glances.

”This better not end up with us on some adventure! I’m here to relax, not work!” Arenade groaned.

”And I just wanted to have constant sex with my wife… Fine. Tell Vizier Duran we accept his invitation,” Kanae relented.

”There better be some fine Ortesian wine involved to make up for it!” her greedy wife exclaimed.

It was hard to see, but Kanae could tell by the corners of the harpies’ eyes that they were elated to hear them accept.

”Your majesties will be served only the best! We shall come find you tomorrow night at your place of stay. Until then, please enjoy all that the Sapphire Jewel has to offer!” In a hard beat of their wings, both harpies shot to the sky in the direction of the Cerulean Palace.

”Fuck yeah!” Renya pumped her fists. ”I’m so happy, I could fire my flintlocks, but I won’t because that will only terrify the locals. You two have a good one! I’ve got work to do before tomorrow’s date.”

The pirate lord returned to the ship to start barking orders left and right at her crew.

Left to their vacation, Kanae and Arenade sighed in deep relief.

”On three, we say what we want to do first?” Arenade suggested. ”One, two—”

”Sex,” Kanae said.

”Beach,” her high elven wife said.

Unamused, Arenade put both hands on her hips.

”Er… Beach, dinner… then sex?” Kanae compromised.

”Deal. Come on, you sex fiend! We have a honeymoon to enjoy!” Arenade marched ahead.

”Can you at least carry some of your bags? These are mostly yours anyway!” she complained, struggling to keep pace.