Chapter 35

Chapter 1 Ten Thousand and Two Thousand Years Ago? Potato Village was among the many small farming towns that dotted Boar Kingdom. The village chief went bug-eyed when he saw who was driving the horse-drawn wagon that was pulling into town. “Y-you’re still alive?!” he stammered. “Of course,” replied a merchant of average height and average build, blasé as ever. Manju smiled and nodded as he climbed down from the wagon. “And I’m still standing on my own two legs, too.” “Come again?” “Whoops, apologies. It’s, ah, a joke from my home country. Pay me no mind,” he assured him. Under his breath, he muttered, “Oh yeah, do they even have ghosts in this world?” But the chief was eyeing him like he was the ghost. “Ya went to Dog Valley, and you’re really okay…” “See? I told you. There’s no dangerous demons there.” The chief heard a cute giggle erupt behind the merchant. When he peeked around, he met the gaze of an unfamiliar maid with pale-pink hair. She looked young, maybe fifteen, but she had the alluring smile of an escort and spoke in a drawn-out purr. “Well, there may be no dangerous demons…but there is a dangerous human, now isn’t there?” she teased. “I have no idea who you’re talking about,” countered the merchant, feigning ignorance. “You, obviously,” spat a nearby maid with blue hair who was drop-dead gorgeous. She’d come with the merchant last time. The village chief balked at their exchange but started to talk after some hesitation. “Um, I believe we haven’t met…” “Oh yes, sorry for not introducing you sooner. This is Ribido, my employee.” “Delighted to make your acquaintance, sir,” cooed Ribido with a bewitching smile, clinging to the chief’s arm and squeezing her large chest against him. “A-another lively little lady, I see, ha-ha…,” chuckled the chief uncomfortably. “You’re pretty lively for your age, too,” she panted, flashing him a delighted expression as her slender fingers started to inch toward his groin. But before she could reach, the merchant karate chopped her head. “Owie, you’re so mean…,” she said wordlessly with a glance. “You freakin’ idiot, I told you to keep it together today,” he scolded with his eyes. “And by today you mean…?” “If they’re single, I don’t see why not. You’re free to love whoever you want.” “Aha! You get it!” It was as if they were exchanging telepathic messages. After this silent exchange, they both smiled as if nothing had happened. “I do apologize. To tell you the truth, I’m going to be very busy soon. I won’t be able to come myself, which is why I was hoping Ribido could handle some transactions with you. I brought her along today to introduce you two.” “O-oh, I see,” the chief replied in a fluster, nodding feverishly. “Yes, I look forward to working with you! ” she chirped as she bent down, pressing her boobs together and staring up at him. The chief was over sixty, and his wife was long gone. But the moment this sight filled his eyes, the withered old man sprung back to life. In a fluster, he hunched over to hide it the best he could, faking a sudden pain in his hip joint. “Ah-ha-ha, ahem. Anything else I can help you with?” “Yes, I was hoping to purchase some more potatoes and oil, as long as it’s not too much trouble…,” started the merchant, pretending not to notice the chief’s newfound vigor by turning the conversation to sales. Meanwhile, the two maids began playing with the children who’d gathered around them. “Oh yay, miss, you came back!” “Let’s kick some rocks around,” the one with blue hair suggested. “Do you have more of those sweet things?” “No need to get so worked up. I have some right here.” “Ooh, cute little kiddies. Would you like to come and have some fun with your big sis…? Celes, I’m just joking! Please let go of my head!” begged Ribido. “What the hell are you two doing?” The merchant snickered as he watched Ribido screech in pain as Celes administered her punishment. He passed over the money for the goods. It wasn’t as much as last time, but still far more than the market price. The chief was a bit hesitant to accept but eventually squirreled it away in his breast pocket. “Thank you very much. Please come again any time.” Joined by the other villagers, the chief lowered his head in unison. “Of course. I’m sure we’ll be back during next harvest season, if not sooner.” The merchant and his maids bowed in reply before boarding the wagon. When the village was far enough away and no longer in sight, the Illusion magic cloaking all three of them melted away. The merchant turned into the black-haired boy Shinichi; the blue-haired maid into the dark-skinned, silver-haired elf; and Ribido into her succubus form, complete with bat wings and a pointy tail. “Hee-hee-hee, human men seem so tasty. I can’t wait until next time!” she moaned, as she messily mopped up her saliva with the back of her hand. “Are you sure we can leave it to this floozy?” asked Celes incredulously. Her brows knit together in concern. Shinichi smiled wryly as he nodded. “There aren’t many demons who can pass as human. We don’t really have a choice.” Unlike humans, all demons possessed large amounts of magical power. But most of them chose to focus on Physical Enchantment spells. There were surprisingly few who could handle a complicated spell like Illusion. Plus, the spell only distorted things visually. Meaning if their original form was too different, their true identities would be given away on physical contact. That’s why the lamia or arachne wouldn’t be able to morph into humans even though their species had high competencies in magic. Their peculiar bodies made them more difficult to successfully conceal. That meant the list of possible candidates was cut down to dark elves or the incubi and succubi—hence, Celes and Ribido. “It’ll be okay, Celes. I mean, even my little brother is hard at work in Tigris Kingdom, remember?” Ribido said. “That’s why I’m so concerned…” They were talking about the cross-dressing incubus working hard—with his, erm, bottom half—to brainwash the holy warriors. With this brother, known for being an extreme pervert even by incubi standards, it was no surprise that Celes would be concerned about his older sister’s “potential.” But even though Shinichi was aware of the dangers, he’d put her in charge of purchasing food. “We have to let her handle it, so we can do what we need to,” he reminded her with a look of steadfast resolve. “……Fine.” Celes let a small smile play across her lips. The succubus suppressed a giggle as she noticed the two treat each other warmly.