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

Kanae, Edina, and Petyr arrived at the mansion to a pleasant scent wafting out from the open windows. Guards saluted them on the way in, and house servants bowed as they passed by. Even though Kanae had invited her to dinner, their plus one was on edge as always like she was expecting a fight. Maybe that was just her nature. At least she had the decency to leave Shifting Steel behind in the Amethyst Hall.

The smell intensified when they entered the dining room. A feast fit for a king furnished the table. Expensive wine, freshly-baked bread, a whole roasted dire boar, mashed potatoes and gravy, and several species of seared fat fish rubbed with all manner of spices were among what Arenade had gathered for them today.

"Hehe! What do you all think?" Arenade, the woman of honor, strolled into the dining room in a fine purple tunic and skirt. Her hair was done up in a bun, a change of pace from her usual look.

Kanae was temporarily stunned by her. Arenade had always been beautiful and, while likely not intentional, exuded an eroticism from the way she dressed. Maybe it was because their wedding was coming, but her homey and domestic appearance in that outfit struck a chord in Kanae's chest.

Only, it was too bad that Arenade didn't know how to cook, clean, and was prone to tantrums.

"Have I left you speechless?" Arenade leaned down haughtily in front of Kanae's field of vision and grinned. "You're welcome to praise me now."

Kanae rolled her eyes. "I'm not stroking your ego. By the way, I invited Petyr. You don't mind, do you?"

Arenade peered past Kanae to Ortesia's greatest knight, standing upright at attention even though there was no threat to face.

"You guys get acquainted. I'm going to acquaint myself with these nuts!" Edina hopped into a seat and started digging into a bowl of honey-glazed morsels.

Meanwhile, the two high elves regarded each other as any high elves would. They stared each other down as if trying to establish a pecking order over who was more important. Arenade and Petyr, however, came off the end of some extenuating circumstances during the war.

"Stormcloud. You're welcome to the dinner table as long as you don't cause any trouble," Arenade warned.

"There won't be. I'm here as a guest, and… Thank… you… for… inviting… me…" Petyr growled past clenched teeth.

With that awkward greeting out the way, everyone took a seat around the table to start eating. The food was delicious. It was heaven on Kanae's taste buds. The wine was doubly amazing. Throughout dinner, Kanae kept one eye on Petyr. She wasn't exactly sure what to expect. The high elf ate with proper manners, sat up with her back straight and never slouched, and chewed quietly with her mouth shut.

The only ones to fill the air with conversation were Kanae, Edina, and Arenade. They were coming up on desserts, and Petyr hadn't opened her mouth to say anything other than to eat and drink.

"So, Petyr. What's the plan now that you're exiled?" Edina, who had downed one too many cups of wine by now, was the first to make conversation with the brooding elf.

"I've joined the Amethyst Hall. My plans haven't changed. Kanae still owes me a castle and a pegasus," Petyr reminded her.

"You're getting it! It's just going to take time!" Kanae groaned.

"What then?" Arenade asked with a glass up to her lips. "There's got to be more that you want to do after getting what you want. You have your whole life ahead of you now that Ortesia isn't breathing down your neck."

Petyr's gaze flicked to Arenade. A sudden tension had fallen over the dinner table that Kanae wasn't expecting.

"It occurred to me that Brightwind isn't a high elven house I'm aware of. Is it a lesser family?" Petyr replied.

"You wouldn't know us, because my ancestors never followed the others to found Ortesia," Arenade answered honestly and omitted some obvious details.

And to no surprise, Petyr suspected something was up. Piercing eyes remained fixed on Arenade as if to decrypt her suspicious words.

"What have you and your ancestors done with your lives without Ortesia breathing down your necks?" Petyr returned the same question.

"Heh. I'm glad you asked!" Arenade flashed a proud smile.

"Here we go…" Edina filled up another glass of wine.

"Across the Commonwealth of Sin and the city states of Radevic, I've built four orphanages, seven schools, and opened the Brightwind Scholarship Fund to provide children in need the necessary resources to give them a shot at higher education! That's not all. Together with the alraunes Kanae had befriended, we created a program within the Eminence of Sin to provide free food for the hungry, virtually eliminating hunger in any city the Sisters of Sin operates in. Obviously, there's still more that can be done, but I won't stop until every homeless kid is under a roof with a full belly!" Her chest inflated with so much pride that a mere poke might actually pop those tits.

Petyr was taken aback. She chuckled at first, then escalated into a sustained laughter behind her hand.

"What's so funny? Starving children isn't a laughing matter!" Arenade pouted.

"Yeah, my parents sold me to a gang because we were poor!" Edina shook a tiny fist.

"There used to be a great high elven family who tried to do the same and failed spectacularly. Few know about them because their name has been stricken from the records. I thought it was a lofty goal, too. Why care about anyone's fortune other than your own house? Come to think of it… House Ehmvier wasn't around when the Empire of Ortesia was founded." Petyr swirled the wine in her glass instead of drinking it.

Kanae and Arenade tensed up. Just how sharp was Petyr anyway?

"Good thing our encounter at the temple ended in my defeat then." Petyr rose to her feet and bowed slightly. "Thank you for dinner. I think I'll head back to the Amethyst Hall first."

"Eh? Th-There's still dessert!" Arenade exclaimed.

"I've taken advantage of your hospitality enough. But I'm taking this." Petyr snatched one of the bottles on her way out.

"Aww, man. That was the good wine!" Edina sulked.

Night fell, and Kanae decided to stay the night with Arenade. Edina had passed out in the living room in front of the fireplace. In the privacy of their room, they climbed into bed wrapped in each other's arms, but Arenade was distracted.

"How am I supposed to get lucky if your head is in the clouds?" Kanae asked, kissing her future wife.

"You're too horny for your own good! Dinner just got me thinking is all. Petyr's probably in her own limbo. I know she's part of your order now, but I don't think it's enough. I used to be where she was when my people exiled me. It's a weird feeling believing you're doing the right thing, then to get shamed for it. Make sure you help that kid. And I don't mean the horny way!" Arenade pinched both sides of Kanae's cheeks.

"The horny way worked with you," she teased, only for Arenade to pinch even harder. "Okay, sorry! Sorry! I'll take it seriously!"

Arenade smiled. Pinching fingers unfolded to hold Kanae gently by the cheeks. She pulled her in for a deep kiss, and they drew closer until their bodies pressed up against the other. To feel Arenade's warmth again made all that Kanae had struggled with worth it.

Morning came, and Kanae and Edina returned to the Amethyst Hall. Eliza was there when they got back. In fact, she was with Claudia in the S&M dungeon working on a moaning maiden. The metal coffin contained the same fleshy growths. All it needed now was someone to go in and test its efficacy.

"Now Claudia, it is very important to keep the moaning maiden fed. These aren't the same creatures found in the dwarven city. I substituted them for the same ones found in mimics. Rather, I suppose they are closer to succubi like yourself. If they do not feed, they will most assuredly starve to death," Eliza explained.

"Can I go in there now?" Claudia asked.

"Why would you—"

Claudia threw herself into the moaning maiden, and the metal coffin slammed shut. Eliza slapped a hand to her face and sighed.

"Mmm. Oh, wow. This feels intense… I think it would feel better… ngh… with actual spikes to hurt me with. Oh… aahhh…!" Claudia was beginning to feel the effects of the moaning maiden now.

"I thought I was helping to build an interrogation tool, not a glorified sex toy for a succubus…" Eliza shook her head.

"Hey, at least we're serious about the Debilitating Band!" Kanae retorted.

"Are you sure?" She turned around and folded her arms. "For all I know, you may use it to weaken yourself to the mercy of monsters. On that note, I did finish the Debilitating Band this morning."

The sorceress produced a small jewelry box from her person. A silver wristband inlaid with the dark slime core. Unlike regular enchanted items, this cursed piece of equipment emanated with foul energy. All they needed now was Daya, the crowned Curseweaver, to arrive in order to subdue Roshasha.

"Edina, can you hang onto this and have your death knights guard it?" Kanae handed the necromancer the band.

"You got it, buddy. I'll be in my lair if you need me!" Edina saluted and skipped off.

"By the way, Amethyst. I ran into Petyr when I arrived here earlier. She seemed to be in a fair mood that it honestly terrified me a little. Did you have something to do with that?" Eliza asked.

"I invited her to dinner— No, we didn't bang. Petyr and Arenade had a talk that might've changed her perspective. Hopefully for the better, she said and shrugged.

Eliza was about to respond until Claudia howled loudly from within the moaning maiden.

"I'm cumming… This doesn't usually happen unless I'm being pummeled to within an inch of my life, but… guuuh! I'm… I'm ready to be let out now! Hello? Kanae, I can smell you out there! You ignoring me only gets me more excited— ahhh! The tendrils… they're—"

Without a word, Kanae and Eliza silently agreed to take this outside and leave Claudia to her fun.

"Are you sure this is the kind of order you want to be leading?" Eliza asked.

"Look… All of them are plenty capable." Kanae paused when Claudia let loose another shriek of pleasure, though muffled being inside the coffin, from climaxing. "Capable when they aren't being degenerates. I'm still new to this, okay? In the past two years, I had to learn to lead an entire military force by winging it. If it wasn't for Esta… huh."

"Perhaps a trip to the Silver Hall may offer you some insight on how to lead your order," she suggested.

Good idea. Eliza led the way since Kanae had completely forgotten how to get to the Silver Hall. As it turned out, the Silver Hall wasn't anywhere she had expected. The fortress was constructed on the remains of Aidenhall's enchanted vaults. She recalled that Avaline von Cleisseldor had broken into it and caused a lot of damage.

The vault looked nothing like it did before. All of the items had been removed from the long corridor. The magical barriers weren't active anymore. Instead, it was renovated into a long bridge leading up to the Silver Hall, a sizable garrison. Silver-clad soldiers on the ramparts glanced down at them and signaled to someone. The portcullis lifted to allow them in.

Knights were sparring in an open field down one hall. In another, personnel of scholarly and academic nature buried themselves in books within a spiral library. They passed by a mixed group carrying a large, ornate box inscribed with many glowing sigils to a basement floor.

"What is this?" Kanae gasped.

"Silver has been the most potent of the Order of Colors. I'll let her take joy in explaining to you her accomplishments," Eliza said.

They ascended the hall to the Knight-Commander's office. Kanae had one at the top of the Amethyst Hall, too, and it served as her bedchamber. The door to the room was wide open. Estaline von Cleisseldor was behind her desk, speaking with none other than Renya Rown.

"Those chests are going to cost a pretty gold coin. They aren't enchanted with the best protective sigils this side of the continent has to offer for nothing. Buuuut, you're a good friend! I think? I'm willing to offer a friend discount if you're interested in some… negotiations?" Renya smirked.

"The Silver Hall will just pay the full price, Chairwoman Renya. Meet with my quartermaster to finalize the invoice," Esta said, sounding not at all in the mood for Renya's antics.

Esta locked eyes with Kanae and lit up.

"Oh! Looks like the Knight-Commander is a busy drakeling. I'll be on my way then. You can expect me to be at your wedding, hot stuff. With gifts!" Renya patted Kanae on the shoulder as she headed out.

"Good to see you again, too. And thanks for the save towards the end of the war!" Kanae shouted to her back.

Renya fired finger guns with both hands and blew a kiss. That dark elf was hard to read as always.

"Master, Eliza! I wasn't expecting you two!" Esta came around the desk, grinning from ear to ear.

"You don't have to hold it in, Esta. It's been a week, and you've been busy." Kanae extended both arms, and the drakeling settled in for a hug.

It was charming how warm and affectionate the fearsome drakeling knight could be. When they parted, Esta pulled out a couple of seats for them both.

"Busy is one way to put it. The Silver Hall's sole duty is to guard and secure the vaults. Somewhat ironic given that my mother destroyed it, but this has given me a chance to make up for what she did," Esta explained.

"I'm also aiding them in redesigning the vaults to be more secure," Eliza added.

"No wonder your hall is so stacked! I'm kind of jealous. It's like a whole barracks. So, this means you're protecting all of the dangerous and powerful items that Aidenhall locks up?" Kanae asked.

"Yes." She nodded in high spirits. "It also isn't necessary for me to be present at all times, so I can still accompany you, Master!"

Knowing that was a load off Kanae's shoulders. She figured being Knight-Commander of their own orders would make them too busy to see each other again. Well, there was no telling what the Grand Eye planned to task the Amethyst Hall with next after subduing Roshasha.

"What about Dalu and Will? Any idea what they're doing with their halls?" Kanae could only imagine it would be just as busy over there.

"Since Will isn't yet fully the Knight of Azure, the Grand Eye tasked him and the Azure Hall with assisting adventurer halls in need of help. Sort of what I was doing before we met. As for Dalu and the Ivory Hall, they were charged with putting an expedition together to find the Knight of Red in the southern stretch of the continent," she explained.

Red was missing? If Kanae remembered correctly, she was a harpy woman sent to explore the south. It was supposed to be a desert down there. Something must have happened. But that was a problem for Dalu and her order to handle.

Satisfied with the detour and thoroughly envious of the Silver Hall being so orderly, Kanae returned to her own hall. Only chaos awaited her.

Claudia, no longer trapped in the moaning maiden, had been tied to a post in the main chamber. Behind her, a large bullseye had been painted to the wall. Alicia was tossing knives, using her sister as target practice. Meanwhile, Hilde watched on as two dire wolves gnawed on bones ripped from Edina's now legless skeletal warriors.

"I need to do some serious restructuring. Or at least do better at recruiting." Kanae sighed.

"High Priest— I mean, Knight-Commander Amethyst!" Meidina rushed out from the north hall. "The charmed Viviren mage has completed the portal. Would you like to come see?"

Kanae followed the quartermaster of the Amethyst Hall to the portal room. The Viviren mage, one of several they had captured during the war, stood at the center of a magic circle. Its runes were glowing bright and only needed a little push to activate the two-way portal from the hall to Ehmvier city.

"Finally, some good news. Time to recruit some people from my own country," Kanae said.