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

Arenade and Bright Cloister weren’t at the Eminence church by the time Kanae and Taileen returned. They put away their groceries in the storeroom, and the beastman thanked her for the helping hand. With plenty of free time afforded to her, she headed out again to look for her high elven wife. For all she knew, their zealous little cult was going to cause trouble around Talahurah.

More curiously, however, Kanae was interested in how her new Nectar of the Grove skill worked. She wanted to try and use it, but the ability could only be used once a day. It specified ’secrete’ but secrete from where? How?

While still bright out, the sun had crested, and it was beginning the slow descent over the mountains. As Kanae wandered the unpaved streets of Talahurah, she took in the feralness of it all. Animals lived beside people, like the city was just another plot in the forest. Gazelles grazed on overgrown grass. Rabbits darted into burrows underneath someone’s house. Leopards lounged on tree branches, away from the commotion of the surface. Beastmen lived in near perfect harmony with nature.

Something crunched underneath Kanae’s foot. She looked down to find a piece of paper sandwiched between her shoe and the dirt.

”Mommy, what’s this?” A little ways away, a young feline girl picked a similar flyer off the ground.

”It’s someone’s garbage, honey. Leave it on the ground. The worms will take care of it,” her mother said, and the child immediately let go.

Kanae picked up the flyer she had stepped on. It was an advertisement to join Bright Cloister, stamped with the symbol of the sun rising behind a mountain. The back listed bullet points of benefits that came with worshipping Demigoddess Arenade— the feeling of her warmth, companionship, belonging, purpose. All of the buzzwords that a typical cult used to tempt people into joining them. The Eminence of Sin did similarly in its infancy.

Unfortunately, like the Eminence of Sin, people had discarded flyers en masse. Kanae followed the trail to a wide intersection of five converging streets. Mobile traders and merchants with their vardo wagons parked along the blocks, leaving the roads clear. Well, mostly clear.

A gathering congested the center of the intersection. Maybe a hundred people at a glance surrounded and watched whatever was going on. Some passing harpies took one look and continued flying. Kanae lifted into the air to get a gander, only to discover Arenade standing atop a barrel and preaching into the masses. Her Bright Cloister followers handed out flyers to people within the inner ring, but discarded as they shuffled away.

”Of course.” Kanae sighed.

Before she had a chance to go down there, a group of Grovetenders began dispersing the crowd. They wore animal pelts and hardened leathers, but were distinguished by the green cloaks that depicted the Kh’shanti tree on their backs. She held back to watch how things unfold.

”Excuse me! Please don’t block the streets!” shouted a Grovetender, this one a centaur man, trotting up to Bright Cloister.

Two elven women, who mimicked Arenade’s appearance and wore silver tiaras and veils over their eyes, intercepted the beastman. Kanae recalled Arenade telling her that they were called Arenites, her most devoted followers and serving as leaders of Bright Cloister flocks.

”This is Empress Arenade Brightwind of the Commonwealth. She can do whatever she wants. Wait until her sermon is finished!” a dark elven Arenite exclaimed.

”I don’t care if she’s queen of the world!” Another Grovetender threw his head back and laughed. ”And what sermon? All I hear is screaming about loving Demigoddess Arenade. What about that sounds like a sermon to you?”

The man had a point. Kanae shot an unimpressed look at Arenade, who was lost in her own sauce. She belted out the same three sentences over and over again as if some great orator.

”Come into the embrace of Bright Cloister! Sweat your undying faith to Demigoddess Arenade! Love her with all your might and soul!” Arenade boomed, eyes shut and one hand to her chest. She didn’t even realize her followers were being confronted or crowds were leaving.

”H-How dare you! I’ll have you know, her very words uplifted my soul!” The second Arenite recoiled from insult.

”The only thing lifting up here is my frustration. Disband at once in the name of Gaea!” the centaur demanded.

Arenade stopped preaching abruptly. Her eyes snapped open. Kanae could hear the glass shatter inside the high elf’s head.

”Did you just say… Gaea?” Arenade asked through clenched teeth.

”Y-Yes, Your Majesty.” He stepped back with all four legs. ”You’re welcome to conduct what you’re doing elsewhere in the city, but not in the Pentacross. It’s inconveniencing traffic.”

”Why did Gaea’s name leave your lips here? Of all places?!” She ran up to the centaur and pulled him down by his beard until he was eye-level with her.

”Gaea has been looking after Talahurah for the past year, Your Majesty. She blesses the Kh’shanti, our harvests, and those seeking her guidance,” the Grovetender explained with a swell of pride.

Arenade’s eyes twitched.

”Arenade, calm down!” Kanae figured now was the best time to intervene before she blew a lid.

”Did you know about this?!” Arenade whirled around on her, fury brimming from her eyes.

”I-I only found out a short while ago, but what’s the big deal?” she asked.

”Big deal? BIG DEAL? It is a big deal, because another demigod has come traipsing into what should have been my turf! We’re getting to the bottom of this. Back to the church!”

Much to the Grovetenders’ relief, Arenade rallied Bright Cloister and dragged Kanae back to the Eminence of Sin church. Erin and Taileen saw them coming in, noted the rage on Arenade’s face, and made themselves scarce in the back.

”Sit down and start praying to Gaea.” Arenade plopped down on the pew, then added dryly, ”Make it loud.”

Kanae didn’t fight her. She clasped her hands and closed her eyes. Both of them prayed to Demigoddess Gaea. Cool winds enveloped them, and they found themselves sitting in a meadow of flowers. Birds chirped a pleasant tune from the thick canopy above, where rays of sunlight pierced through to kiss their skin. The bark-skinned Gaea emerged from a nearby tree, her blossoming hair emitting a calming scent. Yet her lips creased into a taunting smile.

”Ahh, Arenade. Good to see you again.” Gaea smirked.

”Gaea, what’s the meaning of this? Why are you in this world? You’re in the wrong pantheon!” Arenade raised a fist at her.

”Nu uh. I am part of The Many’s pantheon now. My influence is still paltry, but I do belong here. The Supreme One has promoted me. Meanwhile, you’re still a fallen demigoddess. Your office is mine, by the way. I’m going to enjoy redecorating the place!” She erupted in laughter.

Kanae grabbed hold of Arenade when she lunged for Gaea.

”Stop! Let’s not attack the divine being who promised to protect Talahurah!” Kanae was beginning to lose her grip.

”Enjoy your stay in my domain, Arenade. Bye bye~” Gaea waved her hand, and the world around them dissolved.

They appeared back in the church. Arenade slammed face-first into the back of the pew in front of her.

”Ow…” Arenade rose, rubbing her nose.

”So, what now?” Kanae wiped the trickle of blood off. ”Gaea has a tighter hold here with her Grovetenders. The people of Talahurah just aren’t interested in joining Bright Cloister.”

”That’s what you think. I’ll show Gaea. I’ll show them all! Bright Cloister, we have work to do, and I have a plan.” She rubbed her scheming hands together.

”Yes, Lady Arenade!” they boomed.

The zealots and their leader marched out of the church, impassioned to make converts out of Talahurah.

”Just don’t go making trouble! Ugh. Who am I kidding?” Kanae groaned.

”Was that a bunch of Arenade look-alikes I just saw walking out?” A lioness glanced back the way she came on the way into the church.

”Sheeba!”

”Your Majesty.” Sheeba, the Chieftain of Talahurah, dropped down to one knee in deference.

The lioness had grown out her mane. It was wilder and more unkempt. She wore the skinned pelt of a dire wolf, with the head resting firmly on her right shoulder. Darker eyelashes gave her a fiercer look. Muscles had broadened all her assets, especially her powerful and shapely thighs visible from glimpses past the leather skirt.

”A Sister of Sin told me you came to Talahurah. Sorry, I was out hunting.” Sheeba thumbed behind her, where a cart had been piled full with animal carcasses. ”What brings you to Talahurah? Were the warriors I sent not to your liking?”

”That’s not why I’m here. The real Arenade is among those look-alikes. She wants to spread Bright Cloister influence, so I’m here to make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid. While I’m here though, I can check up on how Talahurah is doing. Looks like you’re pretty good here.” Kanae smiled.

She flashed an even bigger one, showing her razor sharp teeth. ”Oh, well… Thank you! I can’t take all the credit though. I’m not the sole ruler here. We’ve got over a hundred chiefs across the Talahurah Highlands and Lowlands holding it all together. But enough talk. You should join us for the feast tonight! That’s what I killed all that game for.”

”The feast?”

Night fell, but lanterns rose across Talahurah, placed all over the canopy by harpies and beastmen adept at climbing trees. They lit up the city as much as the clear skies dotted with stars did. The moon, much closer in the northern Commonwealth, loomed over them as a giant silvery ball that bathed them in its lunar rays. String lights criss-crossed from branch to branch.

Treering roared with celebration. When Kanae had come to the Kh’shanti earlier in the day, it was practically empty. Now, chairs and tables furnished the stump of the former great tree, occupied by countless Talahurans, feasting and drinking. Large games were roasted over firepits, then placed on a big wooden platter that needed a team of people to lift. Minstrels performed music on long flutes with small drums attached to one side. Jugglers tossed torches to each other, and one pair did so in a wide arch underneath partakers walked through. Fireeaters filled their mouths from a bottle, then breathed flames with magic.

”What kind of celebration is this? And when did Talahurah start doing it?” Kanae had to yell to be heard.

”This is our second time! We do it every first full moon of autumn. Helps raise everyone’s spirit!” Sheeba nodded to the beat of the percussion.

”Chieftain, we could use your help over here!” A canine beastman beckoned from a firepit roasting what looked to have been a cockatrice.

”Come, Your Majesty! Let’s honor Gaea together!” She pulled Kanae over to them.

They slid a large wooden slab over the firepit and snuffed out the flames. Two people, one on each end of the hefty spit made of branches that propped up the cockatrice, chopped it down. The roasted oversized poultry fell down, splashing oils and fats. The group, Kanae included, positioned themselves around the makeshift platter.

”Together now! Lift!” Sheeba shouted.

Everyone hoisted the board onto their shoulder and shuffled up to the young Kh’shanti, guarded by a ring of Grovetenders. They broke rank to let them through, revealing a pile of tributes laid before the tree. Fruits, vegetables, jewelry, woodcarvings, and even weapons and armor. Now, a roasted giant cockatrice had been added to the mix.

Kanae felt a breath of thanks coming from the tree as its leaves rustled from a breeze. She didn’t have long before celebrants roped her in to join a feast. After everyone had filled their bellies, the bards and minstrels switched up the tunes. What were previously jovial ditties and ballads swelled into a more rhythmic and energetic concert.

Folks jumped from their tables— on their tables, too— and broke out in dance. The table Kanae was dining at with Sheeba also had its own dancer climb on top. All across the old Kh’shanti stump, Talahurans danced and swayed and jumped.

Sheeba gulped down her bone horn stein full of beer, tossed it over her shoulder, and said, ”It’s like the thrill of a hunt… I’m going to dance!” She extended a hand. ”Your Majesty?”

”I-I’m not much of a dancer!” Kanae shied away.

”Good. The worse, the better!” The lioness wouldn’t take no for an answer, taking her by hand and dragging her out of the seat.

Surrounded by dancers, Kanae couldn’t look more out of place. At least until Sheeba started moving. She unstrapped the dire wolf pelt, letting it fall to the ground. Beastly and elegant, she circled Kanae like a predator. Yet she swayed and bounced to the music like a playful parakeet.

Kanae did the same. They skipped in a ring, linked arms and twirled, and howled into the night. Sheeba flung her past several dancers, and she bumped into Taileen and Erin in the middle of their dance.

”Oh, now it’s a party!” Erin grinned, hooking one elbow to spin in circles.

”Why didn’t you tell me there was a party tonight?” Kanae asked.

”We thought you were busy with Arenade and stuff! Didn’t wanna bother you. But now that we know you aren’t busy…” She switched off, letting Taileen take her place.

The girls were all smiles the entire dance, but since they didn’t want to hog Kanae all to themselves, they let her free into the waving mass. Exhaustion drew her to the edge of the dancing mob, and she collapsed onto a stool.

”What’s the matter? Tired already?” Sheeba taunted innocently.

”Dancing… took a lot more out of me… thank a sex spree…” Kanae brushed the sweat from her brows.

”That just means you need a breather, and I know just the thing. To the beer gardens!” she shouted.

”Wait, that’s not—”

Before Kanae even realized it, she was lying on her back as someone punched a hole in the side of the keg. Beer flowed into her open mouth, with everyone around her chanting, ”Drink! Drink! Drink Drink!” When she couldn’t take it anymore, Sheeba tapped in to replace her. The alcohol was endless. An extremely busty centaur woman carried a barrel of mead on her shoulder. She let it flow down to her breasts, where Kanae dunked in to drink to the last drop.

But the most anticipated drink of all awaited them at a decorated vardo wagon with a red awning. Their group sauntered over, losing a few along the way from passing out drinking too much. Kanae struggled to stay standing. Her vision blurred. Every step threatened to topple her like Avaline did to the great tree. Sheeba was there every step of the way with a shoulder to lean on.

”Chieftain!” An older dark elven woman inside the wagon greeted them with a gummy smile.

”Elle! I’ve brought a special guest tonight. This is the Empress of the Commonwealth, Kanae Toyomi. I wanna give her a shot of your Hellfire,” Sheeba said, patting Kanae hard on the back.

”Hellfire?!” Kanae gasped.

”Ah, it’s not really Hellfire.” The chieftain waved dismissively. ”Locals call it that because of how strong it is.”

The dark elf named Elle brought out blue fruit the size of a coconut, and the shell was anything if not hairy. Wiry strands gave it the impression of sheep’s wool. She picked up a machete and hacked away the top, and a powerful fermented scent wafted up to Kanae’s nose.

”What is… that?” Kanae couldn’t help but sniff some more.

”It’s garam. An especially sweet melon that grows in the eastern highlands. If you leave it on the vines long enough, they start to ferment on their own. The longer you leave ’em, the stronger it gets. Well, Empress? Ready to see if you’ve got a gut of iron?” Elle handed her the melon.

”Y-You don’t have to drink it. Erin’s tried it once, and it really messed her up,” Taileen warned.

”Ahaha… That’s only because I drank it on an empty stomach!” Erin rubbed her lopsided ear, embarrassed.

”Fuck it! I lost track of how much beer I drank, what’s a garam going to do?” Kanae lifted the melon up to her lips and tasted perhaps the worst thing in her entire life.

However, the nasty flavor lasted all but a split second. Notes of caramel and watermelon spread across her palate. Everyone cheered her own, even those who had been minding their own business. She gulped it down to the last drop, then… blacked out.