The Hero Became a Succubus! - Chapter 203 (Patreon)

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Chapter 203

In the grand scheme of things, Kanae hadn't been Knight of Amethyst for long. The other knights within the Order of Color had seniority over her. Before she assumed the mantle of Amethyst, Sylas Briarborn the Knight of Copper was the freshest member. Next would be William Bellevue, to take up the mantle of Knight of Azure after it was stripped from Vander Zolta for his role in the attempted coup. Unfortunately, the order was looking a lot less represented as of late due to some extenuating circumstances.

Bardell's arrest left the Knight of Emerald post empty. The Knight of Red was deep in the southern reaches of the continent. Sylas was busy infiltrating the demon forces as Sire Amerys. Will still had a year and a half left in his candidacy before becoming the Knight of Azure. Gold resided in Ortesia and was likely a member in name only. Three more seats were also unoccupied, each draped in a colored banner: white for the unofficial Ivory, Amber, and Onyx.

So, when Kanae and Esta had sat down to meet with the Grand Eye, King Turren, and all eight Saint Priests for discussions on the eighth day of Arum Taum, the two of them felt very alone on their side of the round table.

"I remember a time when the Order of Colors filled all their seats." Grand Eye Analise sighed.

"Awww. Chin up, your grace!" Ulric Boradin patted her on the back while she sulked. "We'll fill those seats back up in no time!"

"Uhm… I-I don't believe we've had the pleasure of being acquainted yet, Amethyst! I'm Lanil Hammerthorn. Please, call me Lani!" A skittish beastman woman with lop-sided bunny ears and jet black pigtails made herself known among the Saint Priests.

"I'm Kanae Toyomi, Knight of Amethyst. You probably already know me as Queen of the Commonwealth, and a High Priestess of the Eminence of Sin." Kanae stood up and bowed reverently.

"Whew." Lani put a hand to her chest and exhaled. "When I found out a succubus was joining the order, I didn't know what to think. B-But you seem really nice, so I hope we can get along!"

Danito slapped a hand onto Lani's shoulder, causing her to jolt and straighten her back.

"Lani is formerly a Knight of Onyx, represented by the beastman hare race. She won't admit it, but this bunny is timid in appearance only and is quite formidable as a crowned warlock," Danito explained.

"Ah— You think too highly of me, but thank you! Thank you!" Lani bowed repeatedly, flailing her floppy ears like a whip.

This was the eighth member of the Saint Priest. Lanil Hammerthorn. Her glasses were thick and fogged up. She looked like one of those nerdy bookworms Kanae would come across in the library at school. The white robes and staff topped with jagged magic crystals didn't really give the image of a fearsome warlock. Especially while Lani was squirming in her seat and stealing glances Kanae's way.

Hmmm…

"Let's get this out of the way," the Grand Eye began, silencing the room in an instant. "We are two days away from the eighth and final day of Arum Taum. It is the most important, and for many, an exceptionally sacred holiday unlike any other. On the morning of the last day, all eight Saint Priests and I shall begin our walk at the western entrance of Radevic. From there, we shall commence our march, pause at the Old Town square to baptize ourselves in the fountain with the Supreme One's statue, and proceed to the end at the Basilica of Saint Rue. The journey, at a slow pace, is a four hour walk."

"Th-That's a long walk…" Kanae muttered.

She nodded. "Indeed it is. A necessary one. The citizens need to see that we walk among them, and that we see them. I've contacted the adventurer's hall and hired numerous able-bodied members to serve as peacekeepers. Amethyst and Silver, your duty remains unchanged. Keep an eye on the Rook and her people. Make sure she does not act out of line."

"Yes, Grand Eye!" both of them exclaimed.

The remainder of the discussion focused on security and the ceremony's finer details. It was noon by the time the Grand Eye dismissed Kanae and Esta. Free to do as they pleased for the rest of the day, they headed to the Illuminant Repository since Eliza wanted to talk to them about Lapis.

"Ugh. Why does your mom have to be such a pain? Can't your family just be normal like mine?" Kanae groaned.

"But we are normal," Esta said as a matter of factly. "Though, I do agree that my mother has a bit of a meddling streak."

"Far be it from me to suggest this, but… You think we can distract her with a bunch of prostitutes? Is Avaline even into that?" she asked.

"I think my mother would sooner turn that to her advantage somehow…"

When they reached the Illuminant Repository's research laboratory, they found Lapis lying naked and flat on a table. Eliza loomed over her with several mental instruments prodding her boobs.

"Are you sexually harassing Lapis?" Kanae folded her arms.

"How rude. Lapis consented to being touched," Eliza said in defense of herself.

"I did!" Lapis nodded.

"I wanted to touch her, too!" Marwin complained, bound tightly to a seat at the far corner of the lab.

"You wanted to talk to us about something?" Esta ignored Marwin for the sorceress instead.

Eliza flipped open a tome. Recorded in it were three columns of numbers. Kanae recognized the leftmost one as the date, but the other two didn't make sense to her. It was all the same, except for the most recent entry.

"I've been keeping a record of Lapis' anti-magic field. It is similar to an aura and extends up to three meters in radius in all directions from her. Specifically the meisterium core. When I recorded her today, the aura of anti-magic appeared to have shrunk a few inches," Eliza explained.

"Seer Yesenia was chipping away at Lapis. That must have something to do with it," Kanae said.

"To make those orbal capacitors, yes?" Marwin butted back into the conversation. "We dismantled the contraption you brought back. It's made of a special alloy— non-magical, I should add— that focuses energy into a single, devastating beam that permanently knocks out the magical effects of anything caught in the blast."

The old wizard jerked the chair until he got to a table where the orbal capacitor had been taken apart into pieces. It all looked a little charred and brittle. Prior use likely put strain on the item. Such a thing… shouldn't exist.

"I want to get rid of any traces of it. This was what killed Arenade… If it has to use meisterium, the very thing that's keeping Lapis alive, then I don't want us or anyone to ever be tempted into using it," Kanae said.

"Ugh. I'm wholly against destroying any such technology and knowledge. I can't even record this in a book?" Eliza asked, then relented when Kanae shook her head.

"I'm of the same opinion, my old friend. However, I know better than anyone how regret can destroy someone. We should let this go into oblivion and take it to our graves," Marwin insisted.

They collected the pieces to be disposed of elsewhere when the lab doors creaked open. Avaline entered as casually as someone strolling into a bar.

"Mother? You shouldn't be here!" Esta went to intercept Avaline, but the drakeling woman's eyes were focused squarely on Lapis.

"So, this is the tool you pulled out of the dwarven ruins?" Avaline asked curiously.

Lapis shrunk and shivered under the drakeling's burning gaze.

"Lapis isn't a tool," Kanae put herself between them and growled. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't refer to her that way. She's a living, breathing being."

"Oh? Then what is its race? Who created it? Can it truly think for itself without anyone else telling it?" Avaline smirked.

"Y-Your Ladyship, that line of thinking is too close-minded!"

Everyone turned to the entrance. Avaline, especially, looked particularly peeved being interrupted and talked down on. However, Lanil Hammerthorn stood her ground. She was clutching a book, pressed tightly to her chest. Both of her floppy ears were straightened out.

"Oh, great. It's you." Avaline rolled her eyes.

"Do they know each other?" Kanae whispered to Esta.

"A few of the Saint Priests who used to be Knights of Colors were my mother's colleagues back in the day. Lani was one of them. She became Onyx a year before my mother put down the mantle of Silver," Esta explained.

"You describe Lapis as a tool," Lani began, "but tools simply perform what they are designed to do without wants or desires. I heard from others that Lapis has wants and desires. Our parents created us just as the dwarves created her. And Lapis being the first and last of her race doesn't make her any less of a living thing. I think Lapis' existence is a beautiful one."

"My… My existence is… beautiful?" Lapis asked in a quivering voice.

Avaline sighed. She backed away from Kanae and made for the exit, then stopped shoulder to shoulder with Lani.

"The same as ever, little bunny. Your view of the world is still too naive. Looking at you now, I know I made the right choice leaving the order and turning down Saint Priesthood. Don't misunderstand me, Lani. Lapis and Amethyst, too. Especially you, my wayward daughter. We are all tools. Like the demon lieutenants are to Lord Charron. The Mistresses to the Queen-Mother. The Knights of Colors and Saint Priests to the Grand Eye. Yes, even drakelings to their masters. The inevitability of a tool is to be discarded when it is too broken to be of use. Remember that," Avaline said before taking her leave.

"Hahh… It's always so hard to breathe being in the same room as her." Kanae frowned.

Wait a minute…

Kanae and Esta exchanged looks.

"How did my mother know about Lapis?" Esta asked.

"Beats me… Lapis being a dwarven sex automaton isn't exactly widespread knowledge…" Kanae mumbled in thought.

"Amethyst, Silver! Eliza and I will bring the parts to the vault until we figure out how best to dismantle the orbal capacitor completely," Marwin said on their way out.

That was probably for the best. Kanae was about to call for Lapis and head home until she noticed her getting friendly with Lani.

"Do you really think I'm a beautiful existence?" Lapis asked the Saint Priest.

"Of course!" Lani grabbed both of her hands and brought them together. "If you're worried about what Ava said, just ignore her. She's probably projecting. You're one of a kind. That makes you special. Unique!"

"I… I love you," the sex automaton said and popped an erection.

"E-Eh? Wait… I-I didn't mean for this to go in that direction!" she cried, trying to pull away but was stuck firmly in Lapis' grasp.

"Okay, Lapis. Let's not bone the Saint Priest!" Kanae embraced Lapis from behind and pinched her nipples.

The real-to-the-touch sex automaton jumped. She let go of Lani and apologized profusely. Her erection, however, might need some work to get down. However… After Kanae got a good look at Lani, it was hard to blame Lapis.

Lani wasn't any taller than Edina when ignoring the ears. Unlike Edina, this hare was stacked for her height. The Saint Priest garb outlined her rather thick, shapely thighs. Just looking at her made Kanae want to mess up this frumpy little woman in unspeakable ways.

"Uhm… Amethyst? You're staring really hard…" Lani blushed and fidgeted underneath her gaze.

"That must mean Master has taken an interest in you, Lani. Sexually. This is a great honor," Esta blurted out shamelessly.

"Amethyst, too?! Uuu… Why does this happen to me so much?" Lani wailed.

"Don't worry. I might be a succubus, but I'm not going to force you to do anything. Unless you screw with me or my people first, at least. If you have time, how about joining us to eat somewhere for Arum Taum? Lapis is probably aching to get out of this dusty old lab," Kanae said.

Lani accepted as long as she wasn't going to be the food. They traveled to a restaurant in Brighton. She didn't want to stray too far from Aidenhall. Today and tomorrow were apparently the only days the Saint Priests were relieved of their guard duties, free to enjoy Arum Taum like any other citizen. Kanae ordered whatever they wanted to eat and would pay for everything, so Lapis went crazy sampling the entire menu.

"Hehe. I never knew an automaton could enjoy actual food so much. Watching Lapis eat is giving me an appetite again, but I'm so full!" Lani sat back in her seat, stroking her bursting belly.

"The dwarves created me with taste buds. I think they intended that I taste and enjoy ejaculate, but boy am I glad they did because it gives me the chance to taste food, too!" Lapis stuffed large spoonfuls of ice cream into her mouth and sighed in ecstasy.

"S-Suddenly, this pleasant talk of food turned sexual…" The Saint Priest sulked, hiding her blushing face behind the book in her hands.

"I've been curious since we met earlier today. Are you an avid reader? I recall you holding that during the meeting." Kanae pointed to the book.

The book was bound in black leather with foggy gold accents around the edges. A lock latched the contents shut. At the top of the pages, a feathered bookmark stuck out of it. Something about it seemed off, but Kanae couldn't put her finger on why.

"Oh, this? This is Chappy! My trusty grimoire companion. He's asleep right now. It-It would be a problem if Chappy woke up right now," Lani explained, the trembling in her voice belied a loaded answer.

"I always thought it was a simple tome you write in. To think, it was a living grimoire? Isn't that dangerous to keep around? Especially if you're guarding King Turren or the Grand Eye?" Esta squinted.

"Uhh… What's a living grimoire?" Kanae hesitated to ask.

"A living grimoire is incredibly rare and powerful!" the Saint Priest exclaimed. "Y-Yes, it's a little dangerous, and I have to take great care in… managing it. But It's why I've grown so strong. Their pages are endless. I can use any spells written in here, even if it isn't from my crowned class. If I search deep enough, I'm bound to find ancient knowledge. The only thing is… Chappy can be quite needy."

"Needy how?" Kanae and Esta asked at the same time.

Lani became a stuttering mess trying to tell them, and her reluctance was clear. She stopped talking when something clicked. A wave of energy pulsed out from the book. Everyone around the table saw the lock open, and the runes on the cover lit up.

"Oh, no. Chappy's waking up! I-I'm sorry, but I have to go!" Lani rummaged through her sack.

Esta got up. She extended an arm up to guard Kanae and Lapis as though anticipating an explosion. Lani fished out one of Eliza's teleportation pellets, but the magic wasn't activating.

"It's not working?!" Lani cried in panic.

"Lapis!" Kanae shouted.

"Hrm?" Lapis looked up, but was too busy eating to realize she was why the magic was't work.

I had to get Lapis out of range before—

The living grimoire flipped open on the table. Dozens of tentacles erupted from the pages and lifted them into the air. Restaurant patrons and servers everywhere screamed. Chaos ensued. They ran for the exit, leaving Kanae, Esta, Lapis, and Lani alone.

"Ch-Chappy, calm down! I'll t-t-take care of you, so please let my friends go!" Lani pleaded to her grimoire.

"Oh-ho-ho! You brought me a feast today!" Chappy exclaimed excitedly in a deep yet child-like voice.

The teleportation pellet slipped from Lani's hand. It hit the ground and activated, sucking everyone through. They emerged on the other side to a chamber not unlike Eliza's workshop, but it clearly wasn't her tower.

"Tch… How do we… break free?" Esta growled, pulling on the tentacles with all her might.

"I'm sorry, everyone! I'm so so so sorry! Chappy won't let us go until he's had his fill of our mana!" Lani sobbed.

"You know…" Kanae began and resigned herself to being groped. "I'm actually fine with this, but why is it always tentacles?!"