[Spirit of Lust] Chapter 148: Ironing out the details. (Patreon)

The crystal was, according to Aoi, something Jack had ordered her to look for in that other world. Supposedly, it was rare enough that Jack shouldn’t find it odd that Aoi still didn’t report to him. If the ogres in that cave hadn’t happened to have one with them, who knows how long Aoi would’ve been wandering there?

“Yes, that’s exactly it,” Nanami said. “It’s rich in natural aether and I could use it for what we need, but… It’s such a rare thing. You don’t normally find aether in crystalized form. If you had plans for it…”

“No plans,” Will easily said. “I have no use for this, but Jack does. I don’t know what he wants it for, but using it against him will be poetic. And if it’s as rare as you say, I’d rather get rid of it quickly. Feels like carrying jewels that could be stolen at any second. That said, are you sure it won’t be a problem to use it on me? Won’t Ishtar’s smelly scent give us away?”

‘Say that again to my face. Say it.’

Nanami and the others snickered as they tried to hold in their laughter.

“Don’t listen to him. You smell fantastic, Ishtar,” Reina told her.

‘And this is why she’s one of my favorites.’

Nanami shook her head with a smile and answered, "No, it should be okay so long as you don’t use your powers. Even I wouldn't have known you were possessed if I hadn’t been around when you used your powers. Remember? When you healed yourself from broken ribs?”

Ah, that time. Nanami hadn’t been close, but saw Jeremy landing a blow on him. After following Will back home, she sensed him using sexual energy to heal himself while having sex with Ruth.

‘We’ve seen the guy up close too, remember? The only thing I felt from him was a disgusting lack of libido, and the reason he sent your friend after you was because he found out you were fucking his wallet.’

“Then it’s a good thing Jeremy caught me off guard last time,” Will said. “He probably told Jack that I didn’t pose a threat. We could even use this little encounter for our story. Jeremy followed the girls back to my place, I tried to defend them but he got me with the spray instead of them.”

“Going directly to him will give you away, though,” Nanami said. “He won’t know there’s someone else ‘under his control’ until he senses his signal in them. We would need to orchestrate a situation where you two meet ‘by coincidence’”

“I could call him to Ladies Magazine!” Anna suddenly said. “Mrs. Evans sometimes asks me to call him to the office in her stead, since she doesn’t like talking to him. I could tell you when he’ll be at the office.”

“...Then you can act like you’re under his control.” Reina grimaced. “Will, this is dangerous.”

“I’m aware.” Will sighed. “But it won’t stop being dangerous until we deal with him somehow. He’s already sent people after you, and we know for a fact he has more. He’ll probably find out by tomorrow that Jeremy was taken in by the police. He’ll start investigating again.” He clicked his tongue, his body began to tense up. “I wish I could've had more training sessions with Aoi. One wasn’t enough. All it did was make me realize how much control I lack. And what am I even supposed to do once I’m in front of him? Do I beat him senseless in the middle of the street? Can I even do it? Should I try something else? And try what?”

Will’s heart was beating faster and faster with every word. The reality of what he was about to face suddenly felt tangible. This wasn’t a surreal expedition to a deserted fantasy land with monsters and magic. This was the real world, with people and consequences. Much as Will hated him for his actions, Jack was a human. How was he supposed to stop him? Killing him? Aoi had said she’d be willing to go that far, but Will?

“Hey,” Nanami’s voice woke him up from his inner turmoil. She took one of his hands in hers and gave it a hard squeeze. As hard as she could, at least. Nanami wasn’t very strong. “You’re not alone, remember? Do you think I’m going to send you off to solve our problems for us again? No. Maybe I can’t fight, but I’ll be there. My aunt won’t forgive you if you let her out of this, either.”

“...Right. Right.” Will breathed deeply and slowly. Once, twice, thrice. He hyperventilated all of a sudden. “Okay, so we have a means to get close to him. What happens when we do?”

“Is there a way we could lure him into that other world?” Reina suggested. “If we do, then not only would we avoid a confrontation in public, but…”

“The incubi and succubi!” Nanami exclaimed with a smile. “They pledged their loyalty to Will, didn’t they? We’d have a big numbers advantage!”

Anna blinked and turned her head from one person to another. She kept quiet, trying to piece things together for herself instead of asking for an explanation. Still, mentions of incubi, succubi and another world threw her out for a loop.

“But how would I even lure him there?” Will asked. “I’d give myself out if I said anything regarding that other world. The only one with a reason that might compel him to go is…”

“My aunt.” Nanami shut her eyes and bit the inside of her lip. “I said she’d never forgive you if you did this without her, but she’ll never let me hear the end of it if I don’t tell her of the plan to dilute the potion. And knowing her… she’ll volunteer.”

It would make the most sense. As far as Jack knew, Aoi was still under his control and in that other world. If she returned, wearing his ‘scent’ and gave him an excuse to walk through the portal himself, then they’d be at a huge advantage. Normally, Will wouldn’t like putting Aoi in danger, or any girl, for that matter, but after getting beat up for nearly a whole day… Yeah, it was clear that Aoi was far more competent than he was, and she was the right person for the job. Realistically, he should be the one supporting her. But he’d stay silent, for Nanami’s sake.

“...” The Japanese girl looked at him, her knuckles tightening on the hem of her shirt. “Yeah. We can’t let you keep risking so much to solve our problems. You agreed to help us, and I get that you have a stake in this, but stopping Jack Evans is our job.” She took out her phone and made the call to her aunt.