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

For the past five minutes, Kanae had been sitting in awkward silence in front of a hell hound woman. The smoldering fire between them boiled a tea kettle to completion, but the sharp whistling continued unabated. Everyone else grew anxious, more because of the noise than the facing strangers.

Kanae’s companions stood behind, staring down the woman’s men. Guin cleared his throat once, louder a second time, and when it was obvious his commander was too absorbed, gave up.

”Are… Are you going to get that?” Kanae asked nervously, pointing to the whistling kettle.

”My apologies.” The hell hound lifted the pot off the fire and set it aside. ”I’m just having a hard time discerning whether this is a joke or not. You, a child, is queen of the Commonwealth of Sin?”

”I told you, this isn’t my real form! A damn berinath transformed me!” she cried.

Everyone behind Kanae snickered. This was the farthest thing from being a laughing situation. No one took her seriously because of this appearance.

Guin had escorted Kanae and her companions into another subterranean dwarven city. It was smaller than Nan’Garo, more akin to an outpost than a residence. However, they were all surprised to see exactly how large this resistance group actually was on the way in.

Sitting before them now was commander of the underground resistance against the Cult of Lust and Depravity’s influence in Avanesse. The hell hound looked to be a beastman in her 40s. Similar to Lady Dahlia, her coat of fur was dark. Patches of gray suggested she was some years older. Just like any member of Savir’s upper class, she wasn’t without jewelry. Rings adorned her fingers. A silver ring pierced her flared left nostril, and a long golden claw was fastened to the middle finger of each hand.

Kanae found it difficult to meet her piercing crimson eyes, but she at least showed a glint of gentleness that Lady didn’t have. While she poured, her free hand rested on the floor near a dagger sheathed to her waist. She was ready in case talking turned to fighting.

”Since you had the courtesy of introducing yourself, I should do the same. My name is Rasheena dir Khalid. Sultan Cerberus is my nephew.” The hell hound named Rasheena gingerly handed a cup of tea with the fingertips from both her hands.

Before Kanae could take it, however, Claudia snatched the earthenware cup and gulped the entire thing.

”If it’s poisoned none of you are leaving this room without being drained into husks,” Claudia threatened, causing some of Rasheena’s guards to reach for their sabres.

”I assure you it isn’t poisoned. I was about to pour myself a cup as well. But I admire your willingness to protect Queen Kanae. Perhaps she is who she says she is.” Rasheena filled two more cups and handed Kanae another in the same way.

Together, Kanae and Rasheena sipped on the tea. It went down smoothly. She didn’t taste any bitterness at all, as was normal for tea. Instead, she tasted a pleasant yet strangely ashy flavor. A zesty aftertaste like lemon followed suit and cleansed the palate.

”This is good!” Kanae gasped.

”I’m glad. In Avanessi culture, we begin any sort of meeting with tea. Now, we have met. Now, we can make talk.” Rasheena smiled.

”Aunt, huh? Is the plan to overthrow the Mutt of Avanesse and install you as its ruler?” she asked.

Every armed guard behind Rasheena drew their swords. Behind Kanae, the others reacted in kind but with a hint of apprehension. The light but albeit tense mood turned hostile at a flip of a coin. Kanae instinctively scooted back, taken by surprise by their aggression.

”You dare call Sultan Cerberus that slur?” Guin growled.

”Now, now.” Rasheena dispelled the tension with a wave of her jewel-encrusted hand. ”They are foreigners and do not know better, or so I hope. ’Mutt’ is a derisive insult my nephew’s enemies have branded him. And no, this resistance group isn’t intended to be a coup or power grab. All of us here are fiercely loyal to Sultan Cerberus. We wish simply to remove the cult’s grip on him, and end the influence that permeates our beloved Avanesse.”

”S-Sorry, I didn’t mean to insult him. So… what’s the plan? How can we help?” Kanae asked.

”The plan,” she began with an air of caution, ”is not privy to you. Yet. You’re all still strangers. Among you are succubi, the same race who infiltrated the royal court. I do not know why you’re here, and I’m not foolish enough to hope you will tell me the truth. I shall have you prove yourselves as allies by aiding us in a few simple assignments.”

Three not so simple tasks fell into Kanae’s lap. In order to earn Rasheena and the resistance’s trust, she needed to fulfill all of them.

For one, they needed to intercept a shipment of magical equipment and potions coming from Bravost. The resistance wanted those arms for themselves. Traitors in the East Saviran Trading Company continued to do business with Avanesse. Even the setback in The Diamond during the banquet wasn’t enough to dissuade them. That was fine. It gave Kanae the opportunity to foil Bravost’s enemies again.

Another task involved stealth or a lot of fighting, and nothing in between. A month back, Rasheena sent nearly twenty resistance members to a temple city called Vanuis. Their purpose there was to gain the support of the Priesthood of Three, a denomination of the Church of Many that worships three of the seven demigods Regallis, Glentir, and Threcia. Unfortunately, they haven’t reported back since. Rasheena hesitated to send anyone else for fear that Vanuis was under the cult’s control. Kanae and her companions were to infiltrate the religious city and rescue the captured resistance members.

Lastly, and possibly the most difficult of all— kidnap Lord Arnault Pyrelle. The younger brother of Guillaume Pyrelle. Petyr’s right eye twitched when she heard the name. Her lips curved into a wicked grin.

”The Ortesian’s smile tells me she has no qualms about capturing one of her fellows.” Rasheena keenly pointed out.

”There is no greater pleasure than impeding the families of the empire’s Lord Council. Those bastards have been sitting in their high seats for too long. I want to remind each and every one of them what dirt looks like,” Petyr said.

”Good. It seems the magical sandstorm in the Arkesian Wastes has subsided. As a result, high elven imperials have been popping out of nowhere like locusts. We all know what happens when enough locusts swarm. These Ortesians have been sighted colluding with the cult. Rumors abound of an attempt to build a large harbor on the west coast to receive Ortesian ships. That cannot be allowed to happen. So, we will go directly for their commanding officer, Arnault himself.”

Kanae sipped her tea absentmindedly. Maybe it was best that Rasheena didn’t know they were the ones who ended the Harpy King’s magical sandstorm. She gulped hard, only to have her cup refilled immediately by the gracious host.

”Something the matter, Queen Kanae?” Rasheena cocked her head.

”You’re having us do a lot of heavy lifting. No promises, but we’ll see what we can do,” Kanae explained.

”Very well. I pray an alliance will be fruitful for all of us. When you need to reach the surface, Guin will kindly guide you out. Until then, please accept my humble hospitality. I’ll have the inns informed of your presence, and they will grant you modest accommodations.” She stood up and bowed.

The meeting had exhausted everyone. Kanae, with the members of her hall in tow, emerged from Rasheena’s manor and into the cavern city of Rayad. The dwarven outpost carved and sculpted from the very earth itself used to be an ore processing plant. Forges now served Avanesse’s resistance against the Cult of Lust and Depravity and Ortesians.

Kanae leaned over the stone fence and peered down at Rayad. Thousands of refugees and resistance members sheltered below to escape what was going on above ground. Not everyone wanted to be lorded over by succubi and Ortesians. Archbishop Patrice wanted her to bring Savir into the fold and make an empire out of the Commonwealth. That might be harder than she hoped.

The expedition was waiting for them at city-level. Jayir, the goblin miners, Vienne, Shurran, Rodan, and Seif and Panner stayed behind while Kanae had gone up.

”What happened up there? They don’t know we’re from Bravost, do they?” Jayir asked nervously.

”Nope.” Kanae shook her head. ”My party and I are going to be staying here for a while though. What are your plans?”

”The point of the expedition was to find a way through to Avanesse. We’ve achieved that. We’ll stay here for a few days to restock. Some of us will return to Dry Gulch, and the rest will stay. Although… Archmage Donnu might not take news that an Avanessi resistance group lies on the other end.” The minotaur expelled a heavy sigh.

Rodan shot Kanae a lecherous look that made her pussy clench and nipples stiffen.

”R-Rasheena said the inns in Rayad will give us free room and board. I’m sure everyone’s exhausted! Why don’t we retire for the day?” Kanae suggested.

Everyone split up to different parts of town. Since Rayad was built on a steep incline against the cavern wall, the roads zigzagged and buildings were built into the earth. Ancient dwarven architecture had been covered over by Saviran banners and decorations.

Kanae spent the evening in a humble tavern in which furniture was made of stone chiseled from the very walls. Only the doors were fashioned out of wood. She hopped onto a bed that was just a flat rock slab. At least the tavern had furnished it with plenty of linens and cushions.

The coarse fabric of the poorly-woven sheets made it hard to fall asleep with. Kanae tossed and turned. Her body heated up. She was on fire and needed to be quenched. Unable to sleep, she grabbed Cockcalibur from her bag and plunged it into her pussy.

”Hnngh… Mmmh…” Kanae twitched and shuddered, squeezed her nipples, and arched her back. ”It’s not enough…”

Frustrated, Kanae threw her sheets off and hopped out of bed. She was stark naked. Her nipples were pointed and perky. Her pussy dripped like a leaky pipe. She left the room without putting any clothes on. The hallway was dark and musty, still unbearably humid. Beading sweat trickled down the length of her body with each step made down the quiet corridor.

Damn it. If only she and Rodan hadn’t been interrupted earlier, they could have gone all the way. Now, she was pent-up and in dire need to be fucked. His room shouldn’t be much farther. Light bled through the crack in the door, so he was obviously still up. As Kanae neared, however, whispers gave her pause.

Someone else was in Rodan’s room with him. A gruff voice. Jayir’s. Kanae tiptoed the rest of the way and pressed her ear to the door.

”The Avanesse resistance being here complicates things. I don’t want to be the one to tell Archmage Donnu.” Rodan sighed.

”I’m with you there. Well, too bad for Rasheena and the Avanessi. When Kanae and her people soften up the enemies, it’s going to make taking Avanesse from the Mutt a lot easier. Sultana Dudula seizes the city, and we get a big payday for it,” Jayir said, followed by the sound of glasses clinking together.

Kanae clicked her tongue. Donnu, that bastard. She had an inkling that a fight between Bravost and Avanesse was inevitable, but not like this.

An idea sprung to mind.

Kanae opened the door to the surprise of Jayir and Rodan, who were in the middle of toasting. Both of them jumped from their seats, looking like deers in the headlights.

”K-Kanae! What brings you here… naked?” Rodan gulped, eyeing her body.

”We were just talking about how we’re glad to be leaving soon.” Jayir swallowed the lump in his throat.

”If you’re leaving so soon, who’s going to fuck my brains out?” Kanae asked coquettishly, walking past them to jump into the stone bed. ”We’re just going to have to make up for it by going all night tonight~”

The promise of sex got the better of them. Worries washed away, they tossed aside their clothes and approached Kanae. Jayir’s cock was even more massive, about two-thirds the size of her height. He laid the thick rod of meat on her body, and she was able to hug it. Meanwhile, Rodan pressed his dick against her cheek, coaxing her to suck on it.

Instead, Kanae casted Charm on them.

”When you return to Bravost, you’re going to tell Archmage Donnu that you didn’t find a way through. The rest of us were caught in a collapse, and you had to turn around. Got it?” Kanae asked.

”Yes,” they answered obediently at the same time.

Good. That should buy some time for them to get a handle on the situation in Avanesse. Archmage Donnu, and by extension Sultana Dudula, wasn’t going to be happy when they eventually found out. But it was better than letting two countries already on the brink of war to tip over the edge.