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

After a long day of meetings and barking orders, Kanae retired to the margrave's manor for a nice long rest. Two days have passed since the Demon Three's Alliance, and it was nothing but work, work, work. Draw up land for Queen-Mother Zariah and Lord Charron, move infantry into place for the war, placate the masses who were uneasy about succubi and demons in the Commonwealth…

"Ahhhh! It would be so much easier if Arenade was around to help!" Kanae cried, squeezing Noah and Mitty to death in bed.

"I'm sorry, Kanae. I wish we could help!" Mitty stroked the back of her head.

"Let's not… We're not cut out for that. Kanae, have you considered leaving it to my father?" Noah suggested.

"He's too busy managing the defenses up here. Sure, we're allied to the Queen-Mother and Demon Lord now, but that just means Highgreen needs to be extra careful in case of an attack within. If anything, he suddenly has a lot more work," she explained with a sigh.

A part of Kanae wished the alliance had fallen through. Things would have been so much more straight-forward. Now, however… She shook her head. Work was over for the day. It was time to feed on her concubines.

Both of them were also getting antsy, after having not seen her in a while.

"First, Noah… I want you to go sit over there." Kanae placed a charm on her dark elven husband and shooed him to the corner of the room.

"Eh? Why?!" Noah cried.

"You let Suvee and Kanade out of your sight. They almost died! I don't even want to look at the silver lining that we got the alliance out of it. I had half a heart attack, you know? Now, I have to go check on Ambrosia later, and she's the hardest to deal with among the Mistresses. As punishment, you're sitting there and watching Mitty fuck me stupid. You can get sloppy seconds after," she huffed angrily.

"Sorry, Noah. I'll try not to loosen her up too much!" Mitty said teasingly.

"I thought we were supposed to be friends, Mitty! Fine. I'll just… watch." Groaning about his own luck, he relented.

Kanae sat up on top of Mitty and stradled his waist. She nibbled on her lower lip, desperate to kick the stress with some feeding. When she reached behind her back to loosen her clothes, a knock came to the door.

"Queen Kanae, are you busy?" Gretchen's voice came through from the other side, sounding slightly troubled.

"I kind of am! Can it wait?" Kanae deflated.

"It's your children. They want to apologize to you," she explained.

Kanae, Mitty, and Noah let out a simultaneous, "Oh."

Right after securing the alliance, Kanae might have let her anger get the better of her. She had raised her voice at Suvee and Kanade for the very first time in… ever, and even grounded them for a single day to reflect on their actions. Kids. What was a mom going to do?

"I'll talk to them later, Gretchen. Can you just… I don't know, take them out to the Hunter's Ward to play?" Kanae asked.

There were no footfalls. Instead, it sounded like a heavy sigh.

"I'm beholden to obey you. But because enthrallment also demands that I see to your best interests, my feet remains planted here, urging you to speak with them. Don't be absent in their lives like mine were to me. I've spent enough time with Suvee and Kanade long enough to know they only need a little guidance—"

"Alright, alright! I'm getting dressed. Geez. You're like that single aunt who won't stop nagging about parenting when you don't have kids yourself." Kanae sulked.

"You're the one who has compelled me to take care of them!" Gretchen retorted, causing a twange of mental feedback into Kanae's mind.

The thought of their children dropped the mood faster than a stone tossed into a river anyway. Gretchen was right though. Taking care of them should always be her top priority. And if what happened that fateful day was any indication, it was that parents never stopped being parents to their kids.

"I'll be back." Kanae got up to leave, much to the disappointment of Mitty's boner.

"H-Hey, I'm still charmed over—"

Gretchen was waiting outside the room. Together, they descended into the living room where Suvee and Kanade sat on the sofa in front of the fireplace, heads down and twiddling their thumbs.

"I convinced your mother to come down. Go on you two. What do you have to say?" Gretchen asked softly.

"We're sorry," Suvee and Kanade said in unison.

"Please, don't be angry at Suvee." Kanade added right after. "It was my idea… I thought you were in danger going out in Mom's armor. I wanted to make sure you were okay."

The former archbishop turned to Kanae with a pushing look to return their sentiments.

"I'm not angry at you two anymore. But you need to understand how worried I was. That feeling that made you want to come find me? It's how I felt seeing you two rushing out yesterday, but you scared me even more because you almost got really hurt. One day, you two will grow up to be strong enough to protect everyone you care about. For now, promise me you won't do anything reckless again."

"We promise!" they exclaimed.

"Good girls. Still, what you did ended up getting one of the Queen-Mother's daughters hurt, and she's pregnant! You're coming with me to apologize and thank her for saving you. Also, no ice cream for a week."

Both of them let out a long-drawn wail of disappointment.

"Oh, come now. No ice cream is too much," Gretchen whispered.

"Do I need to hard-restart your enthrallment?" Kanae rolled her eyes.

On their way out to visit the Queen-Mother's succubi encampment, several of the manor guards stationed outside backed away and reached for their weapons. Lord Charron, who was accompanied by Minestra today, rode up to the iron-wrought gates upon fiery-maned steads. Their presence brought Gretchen defensively to the front.

"My apologies! Were you about to leave? If it isn't too much, perhaps we may join you!" Lord Charron offered in much higher spirits since sealing the alliance.

"Sure." Kanae smirked. "We were just going to check on Ambrosia."

"Urk. On second thought, I just remembered… s-something I had to do…" He tugged awkwardly on his tunic's collar.

"What? No, you don't. We literally freed up your schedule for… " Minestra trailed off and shifted her tune when Lord Charron glared her down. "Ah. Ahhh! I remember now. Yes. You did have something to do after this!"

Kanae squinted suspiciously at them.

"You obviously care about Ambrosia. Why are you avoiding her so much?" Kanae asked.

"We're military allies, not family— er, I guess we technically are… What I mean to say is, keep your nose out of my immediate family! It's of no concern to you. Anyway, I wanted to come and apologize to Kanade." Lord Charron dismounted from the flaming horse and rummaged through a bag saddled in the back.

"Me?" Kanade poked her head out from behind Kanae.

"It's about time, you ugly-face!" Suvee shouted from the opposite side.

"Kuh… Here. A gift for each of you." From each hand. he dangled a locket beset with a faceted ruby.

They hesitantly took it from him.

"A necklace?" Kanae wondered aloud, kneeling down to inspect them.

"Not just any necklace. They are barghare pendants!" Lord Charron explained with a big smile and tapped ruby Suvee and Kande's hands.

Two creatures that looked like rabbits popped out, but they only looked like rabbits in shape only. Their fur coat was dark red. Spikey quills lined their backs from neck to tail. Instead of buckteeth, they had sharp, dagger-like fangs.

"Ooh! Cute!" Suvee tried to pet one, but Kanae yanked her away.

"WHAT ARE THOSE?" Kanae cried.

"I told you. Barghares! Distant cousins of barghests. They are extremely loyal critters and will shred to pieces anyone who threatens their owners." Charron nodded to himself like this was the best thing ever.

"You gifted my kids pendants containing MURDER RABBITS?" She gasped.

"Sorry, Kanae. I suggested he buy your children toys instead. He declined, saying he would know better." Minestra bowed apologetically.

"Clearly not…" Gretchen remarked off to the side.

The man himself expaseratedly threw his arms out, wondering why they weren't agreeing with him. Edina gifted the kids fake swords, and Grell gifted them a pony. This dumb uncle bought them killing machines.

"Still, I find it really hard to believe. Are you really Arenade's daughter?" Charron casually picked up Kanade, hands underneath her pits and at arm's length like holding an animal.

"You don't see the resemblance? Look at how pretty her hair and eyes are, too!" Kanae gushed about her kid.

"Yes, and a resting face of contempt for me…"

Because of the way Charron was holding Kanade, her shoulders were shrugged up and a look bordering on wrath stared back at him. It reminded Kanae of a grumpy cat.

"Maybe if you didn't pick her up like a cat… Actually, you should probably—"

"Barghare, attack." Kanade sicced the murder rabbit on Lord Charron. It latched onto his face, sinking teeth and claws into the skin.

Everyone froze. Except Charron. He calmly put Kanade down, then flailed around screaming and trying to pull the barghare off.

"Hold still, my lord!" Minestra chased him down and, with four hands at her disposal as a herzulith, slowly peeled the barghare's claws off.

"I didn't expect to be its first victim." Lord Charron sighed, face all scratched up like he had fought a blender.

"Now I believe that you're bad with kids, but that's not your fault. Kanade, Suvee. Your uncle gave you two a present. What do you say to your uncle?" Kanae ushered them forward.

"Thanks, Uncle Charron! I'll take good care of Claws!" Suvee beamed.

Kanade flashed an expression of sheer disgust.

"Kanade…" Kanae said scoldingly.

"No, no. It's quite alright. I recognize that from Arenade as the 'you have my gratitude, but you're still a good-for-nothing so don't think we're good yet' look. It means I'm making progress!" He smiled proudly.

Well… If Charron was alright with it…

"Kanae, you still have the Queen-Mother to visit," Gretchen reminded her.

"Oh, right. Sorry, Lord Charron. As much as I'd like to question your choice of gifts for children, we have to go. I believe you have to go, too?" Kanae asked.

"Y-Yes, that's right. Before you leave, I have one more thing. Ortesia has the disadvantage of being the invading force, leagues away from their homeland. They will want to strike the capital of the Commonwealth hard and fast. Withstand the siege, force them to spread their armies throughout the country in an attempt to starve you. We shall then sweep across them like a plague of locusts. As per our alliance, I lend you Minestra and a legion of Artaggon forces back with you. The rest of us will wait here and build garrisons in the meantime, while observing their next move." Charron decisively evaluated the weakest part of the Commonwealth of Sin and determined how best to handle it.

This was the Demon Lord of Artaggon after all, and his thousand-year rule was nothing to scoff at either.

"I look forward to being by your— I mean fighting! Fighting by your side, Kanae!" Minestra exclaimed excitedly.

"Whew! I prefer you over Lady any day." Kanae clasped the herzulith's hand.

A couple of stablehands working at the manor brought Avon and Titan around. Gretchen helped Suvee and Kanade onto the pony, then herself and Kanae onto Titan. As they set off, Lord Charron called out to them.

"Forgive me. One more. Just one more thing! C-Can you… tell Ambro… my daughter, congratulations on her child?" Charron asked.

"Fine, but you really need to get off your butt and talk to herself!" Kanae shouted back.

They rode out of Highgreen and into the succubus encampment. Slaves were treated like actual cattle, chained to posts outside of tents and with bowls of food and water at their feet. Others who seemed to be a particular succubus' favorite only had a collar aroudn their necks. The camp also didn't have guards or lookouts. After all, who would dare walk into a succubus-infested place on their own accord?

As a matter of fact… Plenty.

"Oh? Hellol, Queen Kanae! Good morning to you!" An elf waved, leading a group of similarly excited Highgreen citizens into a large tent held open by an eager succubus.

"Are you kidding me?!" Kanae slapped a hand to her face.

"Haha! Don't worry, Demon Queen." Claudia landed gingerly in front of Titan and patted the languisteed's head. "We haven't charmed anyone. Mother's orders are absolute, and we're allies now. Wouldn't wanna piss you off. What brings you here? Hoping to get a taste of what it feels like to live among your people?"

"You do know I live with plenty of succubi, right? I'm here to—"

Claudia leaned to the side. She noted Gretchen behind Kanae, then Kanade and Suvee who were riding together on the smaller horse.

"Oh. My. God. How are they so kah-yoote?!" Claudia hovered around them and pinched their cheeks.

"Uhh!" Kanae noticed Kanade and Suvee slowly reaching for their murder rabbit necklaces.

In a brief flash of red light, two violent barghares lounged at Claudia. 

"What the— What are these?!" Claudia writhed in agony for a moment and seemed to settle down. "This… sharp, exquisite pain is delectable! How can something so tiny and unassuming produce such searing torment!"

"These were the demons and succubi my home has been cowering for centuries at?" Gretchen stared in disbelief.

"Girls, put your barghares away! Claudia, I'm looking for Ambrosia!" Kanae exclaimed.

"Oh, please! I don't mind them at all. If it's Ambrosia you're looking for, follow me!" The Mistress of Pain spun around and headed deeper into the camp with barghares still eviscerating her face.

They arrived at a large, lavish tent with banners bearing the image of a tail constricting around a heart. Nearby smaller tents were decorated with the same.

"Yo, Amby! You got visitors!" Claudia pulled the tent flap open to let them in.

"I think I'll stay outside…" Gretchen held back.

Kanae entered first and found Ambrosia sitting upright in bed.

"Demon Queen?" Ambrosia greeted in surprise.

"You looks like you're doing alright. I brought my kids and wanted to thank you for protecting them the other day," Kanae said, gesturing for Suvee and Kanade forward.

"Th-Thank you for saving us," they said shyly.

The Mistress of Desire sat there, stunned.

"Ambrosia?" Kanae called out when their moment of silence lasted too long.

"Sorry! Your children, I never imagined how cute they can be. Of course, saving them was nothing at all. My body reacted on its own then. I thought about my child being their position, and… Forgive me. I'm distracted by what's on my sister's face. Claudia?" Ambrosia shot her sister a glare.

One barghare clung to Claudia's right horn, and the second was hanging from her nose. Although blood trickled from her face, she seemed unfazed.

"Oh, these? Kanae's kids had them attack me! But, I'm alright! This is perfectly copescetic for me!" Claudia insisted.

Everyone decided it was best to ignore her for now.

"By the way, Lord Charron asked me to deliver you a message. 'Congratulations on your baby', is what he wanted to tell you," Kanae said.

"F-Father did? I see." Ambrosia smiled softly to herself. "You must wonder why I bother? He had been gone for centuries. To be honest, I do not know myself. I keep mostly high elven slaves around me. Some believe the high elves carry strong familial ties, and the blood in my veins are why. But I carry fond memories of Father when I was an whelp. The melodies he hummed to put me to sleep, his hand on my head, and the warmth of his back. I want to know why he left. It must be more than just Mother, yet she won't tell me anything. I hope, by this alliance, I may find an opportunity to learn from him why. So I thank you, Kanae, for giving me this chance."

"I'm glad. I won't say what he did was right, but like him, I ended up leaving one of my kids behind once. When she was a baby, too. Whatever his reason was though, I'm sure he cares about you," she offered.

Sometimes, parents did unthinkable things. They weren't infalliable. They made plenty of mistakes. Charron, the great demon lord that he was in this world, wasn't an exception.

"You're having a baby?" Suvee climbed onto the bed to ask.

"I am. I hope she will be cute as you," Ambrosia said, resting a hand atop Suvee's head and turning to Kanade. "In fact, I believe you and I… are cousins. My child will be your niece."

Right, Kanae thought. This was a much bigger family tree than she expected.

"I'm going to be an aunt!" Kanade gazed up to Kanae.

"Sounds like it… I need to plot out a family tree before our family gets even bigger." Kanae sighed.