The moonlight covers the sky in a quiet night. A group of cloaked men seem to circle a large magic circle in a dark room while reciting a spell in unison. The magic circle glows in bright red as it emits an aura of indescribable power which makes their cloaks blow violently. A messenger in black robes approaches the group of men and being greet respectfully by them.
"He is still sound and lively today. However, the very strong aura just now indicates that he has shown his true form recently"
"Humm"
The messenger then turns away from the men and right before disappearing from the door, he pauses for a moment before continuing,
"Deploy our wizards to trace his location. Search for him in all corners of The Kingdom"
"Ready to execute" replies one of the robed men.
The messenger then continues his journey, walking out of the room. In the dark of night, a cynical smile is etched on his face, revealed by the moonlight.
----------------------------------------------------------
Birds in the sky are flying out to search for food. The dark sky that has been decorated with the light of dawn, indicates a new day has come.
I wake up from my sleep. I quickly look at my body to make sure of any changes but I find nothing different. There is no change in me since the past two days. I'm still a succubus with flaming red eyes and long white hair flowing down my thighs. Under my gaze, Mitsua seems to be lulled into a dream, still hugging my thigh as if it were a pillow.
("I somehow guess that this is Mitsua's sleeping habits?") (Stared)
I shake my head at my sister in disbelief. Then, I move her body that keep hugging me gently so as not to wake her up. I tidy up my bed a little before leaving my room to hunt as usual. However, my steps stop as soon as I open the door and see Saoto's face who has been waiting for me outside my room.
"Good morning, Sei"
"Um, good morning."
My heart beats simply by looking at him. I avert my gaze a little from looking directly into his face and plan to continue my daily routine again.
"Anu, Saoto please move asides. Sei wan-"
"Saoto went hunting earlier. Saoto found out from Mom that Sei really likes to get up early in the morning to hunt. Well, Saoto also can understand it since Mitsua..."
Saoto and I giggle since it reminds us of Mitsua's slightly fussy behavior when it comes to food. At the very least, my heart feels calm again listening to Saoto as he tries to joke with me a little instead of continuing a prolonged romance. However, Saoto grabs my hand without me realizing it. A little surprised, I look back at him in wonder.
"Let's prepare the food together. Mom is still asleep. At least Sei will not tir-"
I quickly cups his mouth while muttering softly. My cheeks are red and my tail kept wagging. Saoto looks at me with a slightly surprised reaction in his still, flat face.
"Hehe, it's fine. Sei can do it alone. Thanks for lighten Sei's job" (Anxious)
I remove my hand from his mouth and straight away running to the kitchen. I think the help he has given is good enough, so he doesn't need to force himself to be with me in the kitchen. I'm worried he won't hesitate to push me a little when I'm cooking. My heart does not calm down whenever I think about him. It would be nice if I could do this simple job myself, I think.
----------------------------------------------------------
I serve the food that I have prepared in the kitchen. To be honest, I get a bit confused about what to cook just now.
("EEP")
("WHY IS HE HUNTING A DRAGON FOR INGREDIENTS?!! I used to catch magic chickens...")
(Sad because I can't use magic)
Anyway, I create this dish by slightly modifying my original recipe. It doesn't take a long time for its fragrant smell to permeate the entire house. Not long after, Mitsua comes out from my room.
"Wow, what have Onee-San coo-..."
I smile faintly as I look at her, though there's no joy in it. In an instant, Mitsua runs towards me and wraps her arms tightly around me. I'm slightly surprised by her sudden action.
"Please forgive Mitsua, Onii-Chan. Just let Mitsua know whenever Onii-Chan is ready. Later Mitsua will call Onii-Chan by Onee-Sa-..."
"You just apologized... Why are you doing it again..."
(Mad)
I pinch both of my sister's cheeks tightly. Although this is not the first time she has tried to call me by that title, I still do not accept the fate that has befallen me at this time, let alone acknowledge the fact that I'm now her big sister. I suddenly loosen my pinch as soon as I see Saoto comes out of my room while putting on the clothes he usually wears.
"Onii-Chan, please help Mitsua. This Onii-Chan is pinching Mitsua's cheeks-"
"Onii-Chan won't help. It's your own fault"
For a moment, Mitsua's eyes fill with tears, probably because she doesn't expect Saoto to answer her like that. In a low voice, she looks at me and says,
"I-I'm sorry, Onii-Chan.."
I let go of my pinch and gently caresses her cheek. I don't know why she like to behave this way. Since I'm now in this shape, she really likes to tease me like that.
"Mitsua, why is Mitsua acting so strange lately?"
"Why though? We're siblings. Besides Onii-Chan and Mitsua are both girls now"
"Aight, Onii-Chan gets it"
"But another reason is that Mitsua becomes jealous that Onii-Chan has more assets than me..." (Staring)
"HUH?!!"
Suddenly, Mitsua disappears from my sight. I don't expect such an answer from her. Even though she just apologized a moment ago, it seems that she hasn't learned anything. I'm clenching my fists while smiling a little, planning to chase after her. However, I bury it as soon as my hand being touches by Saoto, who has been watching from earlier.
"Sei, just take it easy. Sei may not yet understand sensitive things among women. Mitsua doesn't even intend to discourage Sei, but on the contrary, she's the one who is discouraged"
I look directly at Saoto's face, who is looking at me with a slight smile. For a brief moment, I recall that a woman's body is the most important asset. Something they need to take care the most of. That's why so many beauty products are made specifically for them. With that said, Mitsua isn't trying to tease me at all, but rather praising my beauty. Unconsciously, my cheeks reddened as soon as I meet Saoto's gaze again.
"D-Do Sa-Saoto think so?"
I ask him in a low tone. I look down to avoid looking directly at his face. My heart beats fast, and my tail, which keeps wagging, shows him my emotions, all of which are far from calm. Saoto sighs before gently patting my head.
"Why doubting again? Saoto has never been wrong for choosing Sei"
I raise my face and see Saoto smiling slightly as he looks at me. But for some reason my heart beats faster just by hearing that praise. My breathing feels heavier and for a moment my body becomes strange. It is as if a desire arose in me. I wonder if there is something wrong with me right now.
"Eep?!!"
Saoto carries and holds my body tightly with both his hands. A little surprised by it, I lightly hit his chest to tell him to put me down. Saoto looks at me again and asks,
"Sei has calmed down, right? If not, we can stay like this a bit longer"
I'm surprised to hear Saoto's answer. Instantly my hands stop hitting his body and my cheeks start to blush. Apparently, Saoto is aware that I want to be touched and caressed by him. I turn my face away from his gaze while blushing.
"T-thank you. Sa-Saoto can now put Sei down"
Saoto slowly lowers me again. I turn my body away from him and hold my reddened cheeks with both my hands while holding back such an extreme feeling of embarrassment. In an instant, a familiar voice greets me and Saoto, who was just making out at the dining table earlier.
"Did anything happen just now? Sei doesn't look well?"
("EEP?!!) (Shocked)
I realize something. The voice I heard a moment ago is indeed Mom's. I turn to her, waving my hands anxiously.
"Nothing really happened, Mom. Sei was just... surprised that a mouse ran past Sei earlier" (Anxious)
"It's just a rat. What's there to be scared
of"
"Hehe..."
I grin at Mom. Even though it hurts to deceive her, I'd feel far too embarrassed to tell her the truth. The tense atmosphere finally breaks as Saoto, who has only been watching, speaks up.
"Hurry up, go take a shower, and get ready. After eating, we'll get move"
"Okay, give me some time"
I hurry and leave the table for a bath. During that time, I wonder what awaits me on my journey with him.
----------------------------------------------------------
"Thanks for the food"
We all ate the food that I had served without leaving a single bit of it.
"Onii-Chan, when you come back here please teach Mitsua how to cook. Onii-Chan's food is so delicious"
I laugh a little upon hearing Mitsua's request. Then I get up and gather all the plates we just used for the meal.
"Sure, but on a condition. Don't sleep next to Onii-Chan next time"
"Onii-Chan..." (Sad)
Mitsua looks at me and sulks. I cover my mouth, snickering as I watch her react to being teased. Then I turn my gaze to Saoto, realizing he has been staring at me for quite a while.
"Hrmm, it's fine. I'll wait outside"
Saoto quickly get up from his chair and leave the room. Maybe something is bothering him, I think. I then speed up my works to immediately catch up with him. However, a hand pulls me slowly.
"Sei, Mom notices lately that Sei nowadays is no longer the same as Sei used to be. Mom deeply apologize since Mom and Mitsua can't teach Sei how it feels like to love and being loved. Mom can only teach Sei on how it feels to get love from a family point of view..."
I stop cleaning up and hold Mom's hand tightly with both hands. I look at her with a full smile as tears well up in my eyes.
"It's okay, Mom. Thanks to Mom and Mitsua, Sei knows how good it is to interact with each other"
"Sei, if Sei finds out that Sei really trusts him, Please don't hesitate to give Sei's whole heart to him. Although he is strong, he lacks something precious next to him"
I'm shocked to hear Mom's advice. I've been betrayed before, and it really hurts. Despite that, it is different from when I'm with Saoto. My mood changes and I somehow calm down every second I'm by his side. Even though he may dump me one day, I still want to trust him for now. My instincts say so, and I will not regret choosing this path.
"Onii-Chan's smile isn't as scary as it used to be too"
"HUH?!!"
Mitsua looks directly at me, smiling. I sigh at her upon hearing that. Even though the anger is there, I'm relieve that there is a change in myself. A change to better myself.
"Onii-Chan isn't angry?"
"No"
"If Mitsua call Onee-S-"
A knife flies and hits table right in front of Mitsua's body. My hand spontaneously throwing it maybe because my smile now no longer causes any damage to her.
"Eek?!! Forgive Mitsua, Onii-Chan" (Sobbed)
----------------------------------------------------------
"Finished already?"
Saoto asks me as soon as I appear at the door.
"Yup"
I look around the yard. There are no rides or whatsoever in my sight. We are just surrounded by an endless bush next to the jungle. I look at Saoto and ask him in wonder.
"Anu, Saoto. Where's the ride?"
Saoto looks pensive for a moment while thinking about something. Then he looks at me again with a small smile on his face.
"It's not bad to have a walk either. It's healthier"
He replies without having any guilt in his face.
"HUH?!!"
("Why am I here with this poor Great Demon King ") (Sad)
I become depressed as soon as I think of the possibility of breaking my leg in the middle of the trip. I don't deny that I would be willing to face the long journey if I were still a man. But I don't know my limits as a woman. I could just fall down from exhaustion as soon as we start the trip.
"Let's go"
"W-WHAT DO YOU MEAN L-LET'S GO?WE-WE WANT TO WALK IN THE HOT SUN FOR THE ENTIRE WAY THER-"
I'm surprised as soon as I look back at Saoto. A blackish-glowing magic circle is etched on the ground in front of where his feet stand. I cup my reddened cheeks while turning my body away from him in shame.
("He must have used some sort of magic to come here, duh. Why didn't I even think of that?...") (Shame)
"Do Sei really want to put on that shirt?"
I'm surprised by Saoto's question and then look at him, amazed. I'm only wearing the clothes I used to wear when I was a man, a ragged button-down shirt with long brown pants. Although I do feel embarrassed because of its relatively large size, I have no other choice but to wear it so that no one could see my body. I can't possibly fit in Mitsua's clothes since my chest size was more tempting than hers and I didn't deny that. Mom also did not have any extra clothes because of our status that even nobles were not too wealthy.
"Why are Saoto asking now? Sei has been wearing this shirt since the first time we met"
I ask while looking at him in puzzled.
"Well, wear this"
Saoto snaps his fingers before some strange light appears and surrounded my body. In an instant the clothes I'm wearing disappear and turn into other clothes. But rather than like it, I immediately surprised to see the clothes I'm currently wearing.
"W-WHY IS S-SEI WEARING THIS?!!" (Shocked)
I'm surprised to see my body which instead of being covered with an oversized shirt and pant, is now exposed, revealing my curves to him. The shirt I'm wearing earlier has now changed into adult nightwear. I cover my exposed chest and bend down, looking at the ground as I try to hold back my extreme emberrasment.
"S-SORRY..."
Saoto snaps his fingers again, causing the strange light to appear again while surrounding my body before changing the 'clothes' I'm currently wearing into a short white blouse and tight black shorts that cover my body.
("Men sure are scary when they get there") (Trembled)
I put my hand on my chest still shocked by what just happened to me. I look back at Saoto who seems worried even though his face remained flat.
"Fo-forgive Saoto, Sei. Saoto don't mean to make Sei wear that thing. Saoto just never had the chance to give someone a gift before since-".
Just by hearing it, I immediately understand where this conversation would go. As a person who has faced a lot of humiliation and oppression, he never thought of using his power to benefit others. Instead, he has always used it to kill or defend himself against attacks. I immediately hug the body in front of me tightly, my heart moved, unknowingly letting happy tears fall.
"I-it's fine. Saoto already tried Saoto's best. Th-thank you"
I hug the body in front of me tightly while gently stroking his back. Saoto, who is silent for a moment, returns my hug and gently strokes my head with his hand. My tail is wagging slowly and lovingly, showing that I adore the atmosphere surrounding me at the moment.
Saoto let go of my arms before looks back straight into my face.
"Let's get moving. If Sei feels bothered, we can walk-".
I cover Saoto's mouth quickly using both of my hands.
"J-just use magic" (Anxious)
I let go of my hand and play with my index finger while waiting for an answer from Saoto. I know I was wrong to think we would have to walk all the way to his palace when he has prepared a more practical teleportation magic to use. I keep waiting for Saoto, who has been silent since earlier.
"Alright. Let's get moving, Sei"
Saoto hands out his hand to me while smiling slightly at me. I quickly greet his hand while returning his smile.
We stand inside a magic circle that Saoto has etched on the ground. For a moment, it glows black before we disappear from the bushes surrounding the house.
----------------------------------------------------------
"Why do we end up walking towards it..." (Upset)
In an instant, Mom's house disappears from my very eyes and now replaces by a view of a thick forest.
"Hurm, haven't we arrived yet? Sei can't see anything here except the dense forest"
I look around carefully as all I see is an endless forest. I look back at Saoto who remains silent as soon as we arrive here.
"What just happened?"
"Our trip get sabotaged by a party that blocking any teleportation out of The Kingdom. We should have arrived by now but it seems that we are still in the Bloody Forest, the border of The Kingdom before entering Terror Canyon"
"Eep?!! How could they sabotage Saoto's magic-"
"This is not a job done by an individual but rather by a large group of people"
I become a little worried by hearing Saoto's words. It seems like my day filles with romance will come to a halt since we are no longer safe. We are alerted by a group of peoples who seems to know Saoto's plan of taking me away from The Kingdom at this time. I look at Saoto in nervous, feeling something bad is about to happen to me.
"Sei, don't be separated from Saoto. We will continue our journey out of The Kingdom"
Saoto hands out his hand while looking at me with a slightly worried expression. I take it and follow his lead, knowing it's best to avoid any unwanted incident right now."
The silence of the forest clings to our steps. Saoto and I stay on guard, wary of any danger that might emerge. As we move forward, I ask the man leading me,
"Sa-Saoto, Saoto is a great magician, right?"
Saoto looks at me with a surprised expression. I fall silent, worried that I may have asked something inappropriate. Still, I can't help but feel uneasy at the thought that a great magician like Saoto could be challenged by others. Not only that, everything that is happening right now seems to be more than just a coincidence, which only makes my heart grow more anxious.
"Yes, why Sei doubting again?"
Deep within me, a surge of uncontrollable anxiety sends my tail wagging rapidly back and forth. Somehow just by hearing his answer, the things I've been worried about are now becoming more and more real.
I, once believed completely in those who said 'love' was betrayed and it left me a pain that will never subside deep in my heart.
I find myself doubting Saoto who despite being a great mage can still be sabotaged by the other mage. Even so, I don't believe the feelings that have grown between us all this time are just a lie. I still want to trust the man standing before me with all my of heart.
"Sei, don't worry. Please trust Saoto"
I'm shocked to hear Saoto's advice. I don't realize how long have I been putting a worried face that could be read clearly by him. Saoto grabs my hand tightly with both his hands and places it on his chest.
"Sei, feels this" replied Saoto shortly.
At a glance, I feel his heart beating so fast even just by holding my hand. Saoto smiles softly at me who had gradually calmed down.
Somehow I'm very happy to know that his heart is beating fast just because of me. Somehow all of my worries gone as soon as I look at the face in front of me who keeps smiling as an attempt to comfort me.
I hug his body tightly while shedding some tears. I grip his shirt so tight with no intention of letting him go. Shocked by me, Saoto then accepts the hug while stroking back my head gently.
"No need to worry, Sei. Hold Saoto's promise"
I look at his face again with tears filling my eyes. I slowly let go of my embrace before wiping my eyes with my hands. Saoto then grabs my hand again before continuing,
"Let's continue our journey, shall we?"
I nod slowly at him in agreement. We begin moving forward to continue the journey out of the Bloody Forest as it's a war zone separates Terror Canyon and The Kingdom due to its dense forest.
The atmosphere of the forest turns quiet again filles by the our footsteps who continues to walk without stopping. The distance to be cover is not too far so it is not necessary to rest to restore energy. Saoto and I bravely walk through the dense forest. Unbeknownst to me, Saoto's mouth is twitching as he recites something as soon as I look directly at his face. I slowly pull the back of his shirt to call him. Saoto, slightly shocked, remains silent before looking back at me, next to him.
"What did Saoto recites earlier?"
I look at him, puzzled, as I ask my question. Saoto lets out a heavy breath before turning to me and saying,
"There are several mages scattered in the forest right now. Even though they are far far away, each of them has been using some kind of searching magic as if they are looking for someone in this dense forest. Saoto only casts some finishing magic right where they are to confuse them. However, we will eventually being find by them soon so Sei please be careful"
("Saoto is cheating. He can hit them from afar") (Surprised)
I look at Saoto's face, surprised to hear about our current situation, which is far from good. I nod at him slowly before we continue our journey out of the forest.
We walk and keeps walking until finally Saoto's steps that has been leading me stop. The tense atmosphere we've been feeling finally closes in on us."
We are under siege.
I don't know why I seem to hear Saoto's voice calling me in my head.
("Sei")
("SEI")
I realize that I'm not hallucinating about him but rather he is using some kind of magic to talk with me through our minds. I grip Saoto's hand tightly as a sign that I heard him.
("Sei, please stays by Saoto's side. They'll likely to-")
("Sei need to reject Saoto's request. Sei will lend a hand")
Saoto seems shocked to hear my request. I then look directly into his face while smiling at him before saying,
("Just as Sei trusts Saoto, Saoto has to trust Sei too")
Saoto smiles slightly while looking at me. My heart feels much calm seeing Saoto believes in me. My tail sways gently in quiet joy. In an instant, the quiet atmosphere of the forest is soon replaced by a loud shout.
"ATTACK!!!"
"TAKES THAT WOMAN!!!"
In an instant, the cloudy sky is filled with glowing orange light causes by hundreds of fire magics that were released from all directions. Saoto and I split up after I take out the two blades of the knife that I always carry as an emergency defense and Saoto who continues to speed up while chanting a lot of spells.
At a glance, I see as many as twenty mages joining forces to attack me with various types of magic. Even though my ability has greatly reduced due to the difference in stamina and my heavy chest hampering my every movement, I still manage to avoid all the magic that are launched at me while taking them down one by one.
Many trees fall and some even catch on fire. Craters form in many places but I still manage to avoid each attack by relying on my agility and keep jumping from tree to tree while carrying two small and light knives in my hands.
Although many of them has fallen, those who remained still continued to attack me without stopping. I kept dodging and dodging until a large stone magic was shot at me from behind.
My blind spot.
"Sei, didn't Saoto tell you to be more careful?"
Saoto jumped out from my behind and deflected the attack aimed at me. However, I looked at him with a cynical smile.
("I thought that this would happen") (Grinning)
I drew both sides of my knife towards Saoto in readiness. Suddenly, the figure in front of me clapped his hands while laughing at me.
"Ahahaha. What a sharp instincts. I didn't think I'd be caught this early"
I realized that the witches kept attacking me didn't only intended to knock me down but also to bait me into being in a specific place so that they could ambush me. I'm pretty sure this guy in front of me right now is not Saoto since he has already given his full trust in me.
In an instant, the cloaking magic used by the figure that had been standing in front of me was worn off, revealing his true self. A knight with white hair and wearing white armor wielding his large sword that glowed white as it reflected some of the sunlight that hit it.
"I'm amazed a woman like you knows about the blind spot of a swordsmanship. You're even ready to hold your back even though you didn't know I'd come to interfere. However, it's all for naught when you face against me"
"Stop the nonsense already. Let the sword do the talking"
I kept staring at him with a blank look on my face. To hell with what he said. I didn't care a bit.
"I like your reaction"
"LET'S SEE HOW YOU WILL REACT WHEN I SCRATCH THAT BEAUTIFUL FACE OF YOURS"
The man kept speeding towards me at a high speed. I then dodged his sword stroke that quickly aimed at my face where I was standing while taking some distance. He burst out laughter before continuing,
"Maybe I underestimated you a little. LET'S SEE HOW LONG YOU CAN HOLD!!!"
A high-speed fight ensued between me and the armored man. Despite wearing that heavy armor, I admit the speed made me can't be complacent even in a second. One mistake, my life will fly away. I continued to dodge while wielding my knife to his greatsword.
We kept exchanging attacks with each other. Many trees fell and large craters formed as a result of our collision. For a moment our fight stopped when the armored man distanced himself while cracking his neck.
"I admit you managed to draw against me in a sword fight. BUT NOT IF I USE MAGIC"
I was silent as I waited for a counterattack from him. I realized that he only intended to test my abilities before using all of his strength.
"LET'S HAVE FUN ARIES"
In an instant, the great sword emitted a whitish light. I remained in a standby position waiting for any counter attack from him.
"What is the difference between the demon race and a Warrior like me? The demon race has its own privilege while the Warrior has a sword with its own abilities"
I was shocked to hear his explanation. He realized that I was a demon even though I hid my tail as best as I could.
Suddenly, I was shocked to see him already in front of me swinging his big sword in front of my face.
"DON'T SLACK OFF!!!"
Although I managed to dodge and distance myself, one of my knives broke and my hand was injured as soon as it hit his sword. Despite that, the sword did not stop cleaving everything in front of it. The tree behind me fell simultaneously as soon as it was hit with the sword. The greatsword was capable of cleaving everything in a single touched.
I fell down and tore the blouse I'm wearing and bandaged the serious wound on my hand.
"Don't expect that your man will come to help you right now. Many mages are deployed on him who is known as one of the Five Great Demon Kings. Even though he managed to get out alive from there, I bet he didn't have enough might to help you"
I grinned at his face while holding tightly to one side of my knife that was still intact. He is not a man that easy to defeat, I believe in that. I will also not end up dying here because he has given me all his trust. I then got up again and while pointing my knife at him in readiness.
"How amusing..."
The man quickly charged towards me.
----------------------------------------------------------
I was thrown several meters back after a fierce battle against the armored man in front of me. My breathing was so heavy and my body was lying weakly on the ground while the blood kept gushing out non-stop within my wound. Despite managing to avoid most of his fatal blows, the wounds all over my body had weaken me over time.
Even though it was hard to stay awake, I still forced myself to keep my eyes open. Dimly, I saw a man that I knew floating in the air while a glowing blackish greatsword hovered above him.
"Go to hell"