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

Kanae informed Rosaline of the sick Bright Cloister members, and they set off to speak with the seamstress Lenore first. They didn’t need to go far. The seamstress’ home was on the other side of the neighborhood block.

When Rosaline plopped down her wagon many years ago, this place was just a grassy field. Now, the dirt rows paved in stacked stones were interrupted by rows of uneven houses built without conformity from lumber, bricks, and stones. Communal goblins lived in clusters of shacks, and elves in cabins and loghouses. Humans, whose modest yet hefty-built homes, boasted stacked stone foundations and exposed timber framing were a sight right out of Radevic’s townhouses. Meanwhile, beastmen of all kinds seemed to prefer sturdy huts with thatched roofs. It all came together in a mish-mash where there was consistency in inconsistency.

This was one piece of what made the Commonwealth whole, an oddity compared to the likes of Ortesia and Temptation. Their closest was Artaggon, where its diverse denizens were colloquially and antagonistically branded as demons by high elves that had stuck over time.

Kanae hoped they resolved the growing plague soon. The thought of her citizens suffering made her nauseous to the core. They eventually arrived at a thin two-story home sandwiched between larger residences. A signpost made to look like a needle piercing thread creaked above the door.

”Here we are,” Rosaline said, stirring Kanae from her thoughts. ”Lenore’s Needle. I thought I recognized the name. I come whenever alchemical burns perforate my clothes. Which is often!”

”Thank goodness Mikki isn’t training under you anymore. I pity your new apprentices.” Kanae sighed.

”You wound me! I would never have hurt your genius child. What a shame though, that she’s too frightened to taste ingredients. True greatness only comes to some of us.” She shrugged.

Kanae rolled her eyes, then reached out to ring the brass clapper on the door. Someone upstairs shuffled around. Lenore was sick, so just the act of moving around must be difficult. The door opened to a young dark elven woman around Kanae’s age in a bonnet and apron. She had bags under her eyes, but nothing else to indicate bedridden other than exhaustion.

”I’m sorry, Lenore’s Needle is closed for the week. My mother is too sick to work,” the woman said.

”We didn’t come to have anything done. I am Rosaline and this is Kanae Toyomi. We’re here to speak with Lenore about her illness,” Rosaline explained.

”Em… Empress?” Her eyes snapped open. ”To what do we owe Your Majesty’s visit?”

”Relax. I’m only here out of concern for your mother. You’re Lenore’s daughter, right? What’s your name?” Kanae asked.

”Ellen, Your Majesty. Please, come in!” She stepped aside.

The humble house was made with no wasted space. Immediately through the foyer, a staircase led up to the second floor. The first floor, on the other hand, was a narrow room with clothes hanging on the walls. A counter in the back had been furnished with a hand-crank sewing machine, and a loom sat nearby with a rug left unfinished on it.

Ellen led them upstairs, but only as far as the upper landing. She cracked open only one of two doors on the second floor, revealing a sleeping middle-aged dark elf woman inside.

”I only knew that my mother recently joined Bright Cloister and was acquainted with Empress Arenade. I had no idea she also knew Her Majesty, too. Thank you for visiting. I only wish she was conscious enough to see you,” Ellen said.

”Don’t worry. It’s for the best that she gets some rest. Can you tell us about how she got sick?” Kanae asked.

”It started two weeks ago.” The daughter frowned. ”My mother had come back with another fellow Bright Cloister from a small village to spread worship of Demigoddess Arenade. She felt ill, but continued to work. Three days later, she was coughing up a storm, mucus lodged in her throat, and in no condition to even lift a sewing needle. I live on the other side of the city, and only found out because one of her friends discovered her on the floor and rushed to tell me. She’s been in bed ever since.”

”Rest easy knowing that the disease doesn’t appear fatal. There are no recorded deaths yet,” Rosaline added.

It helped a little. Ellen breathed a big sigh of relief.

”The town that they went to, do you know where? And who was the other Bright Cloister?” Kanae asked.

”I’m afraid I don’t, sorry. I do know the name of her peer. A soldier from the barracks, who took a few days leave to accompany her. Berak is his name,” Ellen said.

Kanae and Rosaline perked up. Berak was the other sick Bright Cloister member that Arenade had told them about. Maybe this village was key to the sickness. They thanked Ellen for her time, and Rosaline offered Lenore a few potions to ease the symptoms before leaving.

Next stop, Berak’s house.

The centaur lived in Ehmvier city’s largest bazaar, though it paled in comparison to any of Savir’s. Between ramshackled merchant stalls, clusters of wagons and carriages wheel to wheel with each other, and top of the lungs barking at passersby, this was perhaps the most crowded part of the city.

Kanae preferred not to be seen or risk bringing unnecessary attention to them. They scooted by unnoticed through the masses. Despite word of a plague going around in Ehmvier, the economy still flowed. She didn’t want to imagine how things would turn out if everyone in the bazaar just suddenly vanished.

Still, opportunists were out in force. Some had set up market stalls to sell the beaked masks of plague doctors. Others advertised special herbs or magical trinkets to ward off diseases. Quack healers pretending to be crowned sold their fake services to the desperate. Even if Kanae wanted to do something about them, there just wasn’t enough time in the world. Targeting the source of the plague was the only option.

They made it to Berak’s residence, which is actually a townhouse apartment complex that served as an enclosure of sorts around one side of the bazaar. Three stories high, access to the upper floors were by exterior staircases. Folks hung around with steins of beer in their hands. Bolder merchants went door to door to sell goods, and most were met with silence.

According to Arenade’s instructions, Berak’s room was on the first floor. Centaurs had a hard time climbing stairs after all. They quickly found his place thanks to wooden signs of their names on the front— Berak Blackhoof.

”Berak?” Kanae knocked on the door.

”Who’s…” A masculine voice erupted into a coughing fit. ”Who’s there?”

”Alchemist Rosaline, at your service! Your fellows tell me you’re sick. I’m here to put your pain to rest!” Rosaline exclaimed.

”Ugh. I told them I didn’t need a doctor or alchemist. Fine. The door’s not locked. Let yourselves in,” he said.

They entered Berak’s home, a two-room residence comprising a living room and bedroom. The centaur himself was in bed, and he had been shouting to them from the back. When Rosaline opened the door to his bedroom, they found a centaur man lying on a large cushion on the ground, bedsheet pulled over his lower body.

”Wait… Wait a minute. Your Majesty?” Berak gasped as soon as he saw them.

”I’m investigating the plague going around Ehmvier with Rosaline. It would help a lot if you can cooperate,” Kanae said.

”Yes, of course! It’s just…” The centaur soldier shifted his hind legs uncomfortably, and that hadn’t escaped Kanae’s notice.

”We understand that you and Lenore traveled to a village to spread the gospel of a demigoddess from The Many’s pantheon. You both returned, then fell ill. Can you tell us how that came to be?” Rosaline asked.

”You visited Lenore, too? Yeah, we met in Bright Cloister and became fast friends. Empress Arenade wanted to spread our growing influence outside of Ehmvier. Lenore was among the volunteers, and soldiers were assigned to escort us to nearby villages. There’s a list of them, but mine and Lenore’s group visited Rudura,” he explained.

Rudura village? That was where Petyr and her harem of incubi resided. Rudura was also a somewhat famous melon farm and known for its hot springs.

”Looks like paying a visit to Rudura is in order. Check up on Petyr while I’m there. Thanks, Berak. We appreciate you sparing some time despite being so sick. Rosaline, is there anything else you wanted to ask?” Kanae handed the floor to the lamia.

”Yes, hmm. You appear to have discomfort around your lower body. Is it related to the plague? I may not be a medical expert, but I can give you my best advice. First, I need to inspect the area of discomfort!” Rosaline pulled at the sheets, only for Berak to pull against her.

”No, wait! There’s nothing wrong, I swear! My legs are just stiff from lying down for so long! Stop!” Berak cried.

”Rosaline, quit it! You’re—”

Rosaline managed to rip the sheets from Berak, revealing a fully erect and throbbing hog that might as well be a fifth leg for the centaur. Everyone in the room fell silent, unsure of what to say. Berak pressed his face into both hands, utterly embarrassed.

”Is… is that your normal size?” Kanae gulped.

”Not even close! When I got sick, my dick just got hard and wouldn’t go down. The boys over in the barracks wouldn’t stop making fun of me. I took leave because I couldn’t stand it there. If you find a cure, please bring it to me. Never mind that I’m bedridden. Do you know how hard it is to piss with an erection?” Berak complained in a long rant.

Kanae did in fact know. Fortunately, she hadn’t had that problem in ages.

”Have you tried masturbating?” Kanae asked seriously.

”What kind of question is that? Yes, I have. Not that I can move my arms much, feeling like crap. Thing is, it won’t go down even after blowing a load.” Berak sulked.

When they visited the overcrowded Church of Many, Kanae didn’t get a chance to see any of the men up close. And Lenore was a woman.

”Excuse me. I’m going to get a better look.” Kanae kneeled down next to Berak to inspect his cock.

Damn was it a fine specimen of manliness. She laid a hand on Berak’s shaft, and he shuddered intensely. He had feeling down there at least. His cock had a thick vein running down the length of it, too. With her other hand, Kanae cupped his thick ball sack. They were also swollen.

Centaur men might be hung like horses, but they weren’t trotting around with an appendage as big as their legs. This was definitely unnatural. Whether or not it was due to the plague remained to be seen.

”Empress Kanae’s hands are all over my dick… This is a dream come true…” Berak murmured.

”Should I leave you two alone to finish?” Rosaline suggested.

”N-No! I’m about done!” Kanae accidentally squeezed the centaur’s balls, and his dick unleashed a geyser of cum all over them.

Fresh spunk dripped down their faces and clothes. Rosaline was not impressed.

”Whew… That felt great, but see? I’m still rock hard!” Berak pointed to his cock.

”I can see why that can be a problem…” Kanae wiped the jizz from her face, then pulled out a wand to cast Prestidigitation to clean the mess.

”If your phallus remains erect for too long a period of time, it may harm your body. I will arrange my one remaining able-bodied apprentice to deliver you a muscle-relaxant potion. Hopefully, your erection will subside for the time being,” Rosaline said.

They made their way outside when a commotion outside spurred them to pick up the pace. A large group of people had taken up the street in a vociferous march.

”Convert now! Find salvation in the embrace of Demigoddess Arenade! Membership is open to all!”

”Bright Cloister…” Kanae groaned.

People jumped out of the way to avoid them. The zealous mass was dressed in white, bearing the tabard of the sun rising over the mountains proudly. It looked to Kanae that the orgy in Parn Park turned out to be the biggest publicity moment they needed. Their numbers had since surged from the modest devotees, once small enough to be housed in another church’s single room.

A Bright Cloister member ran up to Kanae and Rosaline, shoving a pamphlet into their hands. Others did the same to passing citizens.

”Illuminate your mind. Join Bright Cloister now,” Kanae read off the paper, which included a long description about how wonderful the high elven demigoddess was.

”Goodness, Arenade and her cult have really grown! They have stopped coming for my potions, too. Probably for the best. I couldn’t keep up with the demand!” Rosaline laughed.

”I… kind of don’t like where this is going,” she muttered.

Among the marchers, Arenade broke off from the group after meeting their eyes.

”Kanae!” Arenade raced over. ”Look how many people are joining Bright Cloister, isn’t it great?” She lowered her voice so Rosaline couldn’t hear. ”I feel my magic returning to me. My pool is increasing by leaps and bounds, too!”

”Yeah. That’s great,” Kanae replied mechanically, only to wince upon witnessing a Bright Cloister member chase someone down to give them a pamphlet.

”Anyway, I know I said we can keep the simulacra, but I think we should get rid of them after all. I don’t need them. I have my followers! Leading them is more thrilling than s… s… doing that thing with goblins,” she explained.

”Aww, man. I was hoping for another gangbang later!”

Arenade pulled Kanae’s ear until she cried uncle.

”No more horny. My followers and I are going to baptise new members later. I’m joining them, so that I can wash away my sins and sinful thoughts. I’ll see you at home later. Those goblins better actually be gone this time!” Arenade returned to Bright Cloister, and the marching mass disappeared around the corner of the block.

”Well, you heard my wife. I’m going to return the goblin simulacra back to Eliza. Maybe she can keep them as servants. We’ll plan to leave for Rudura in two days, how about that?” Kanae suggested.

”Good enough for me! I shall prepare my things and meet you at my master’s tower in two days’ time.” Rosaline took a bow and slithered away.

Kanae flew back to the castle, disappointed that they wouldn’t be having group sex together with Arenade anymore. Maybe she didn’t need to give them back to Eliza. She could keep them in her own room.

”Okay, you lot.” Kanae threw open the bathroom door of her high elven wife’s private quarters. ”Arenade might not want you anymore, but that doesn’t mean I… huh?”

Something was off. Kanae counted off the simulacra. One, two, three, four… There were supposed to be five. A simulacrum was missing. Did Arenade secretly put one away for keeps? Or maybe a servant had discovered them? No, they would have no reason to take them. The simulacra were supposed to be out of mana after a long night of sex, too.

”Uh, oh.” Kanae swallowed hard.