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

"The… The Demon Queen struck the first blow! To arms!" Lady shouted to the Artaggon forces.

"Bring it, bitches! I could use some fresh corpses!" Edina, on her undead dragon, loomed over the field.

Sharpened steel was drawn from sheaths and destructive magic hummed from ready hands. Everyone was poised to fight when—

"No, wait!" Lord Charron whirled around to his army. "Of… Of course, Queen Kanae would lash out on our first meeting! Why wouldn't she? We invaded her lands and attacked her people. That's why I have accepted her invitation to her summit, to leave our bad blood behind in order to address an even greater threat! We are here for peace, not more war! Isn't that right, your majesty?"

"Y-Yeah! Grell, would you be so kind as to lead the way?" Kanae asked the margrave.

"Oh, uh… Certainly, my queen. Right this way." Grell awkwardly pulled his spear away inches from skewering a poor imp.

Kanae and Charron entered Highgreen side by side, her on Titan and the ruler of Artaggon on a devil mutt. They followed Grell into the city, as did the demon lieutenants, Esta, Edina, and the carriage containing Lapis, Aisha, Gretchen, and Kanae's youngest daughters.

The mostly elven and beastmen citizens, impassioned by their queen's presence, took to the previously deserted streets to show their support and boo at the demon lord. 

"What a lovely city you have here, Queen Kanae!" Lord Charron exclaimed aloud, throwing out his arms to soak in the city's energy.

"Why thank you, Lord Charron. You're able to enjoy Highgreen's splendor thanks to me repelling your invasion five years ago," Kanae taunted.

The haughty demeanor faltered. He cracked a stiff smile to continue putting on airs.

"Clearly, your reputation has preceded you. For a succubus. There was a time when people would have ended your life on sight." Charron brushed his hair with antagonizing intent.

"There was. Now I'm so beloved, the Eminence of Sin managed to find a footing in Artaggon. People must adore me up there, too." Kanae smirked.

The demon lord flinched, realizing that he had been beaten.

"Is that really you? I could have sworn you were a lot more meek when we first met!" Charron whispered dubiously.

"Yes, it's me! You know, the meeting with Arenade that you rudely interrupted and changed me into a succubus!" Kanae reminded him while waving at her people.

"Okay, but… Why… Why are you so hot?" he asked

Kanae choked on both her spit and answer, unsure how to respond to such a strange yet appropriate question. It wasn't helping that she could feel the burning gazes of Lady and Minestra on her back. Likewise, Lord Charron was probably sweating underneath Edina and Esta's. Everyone was one wrong step from cutting each other's throats, and citizens of Highgreen's mixed cheers were barely enough to muffle the tension.

Their procession ended at the petal-laden streets of the Moonlit Avenue. Around this time, tree branches were beginning to look bare. Leaves and petals showered the university block, heralding the height of autumn. A student who was playing the violin ended practice with a sharp, discordant note. He saw the demon parade and made a run for it.

Grell stopped at the start of the bridge which led into the university and turned around. "Accommodations have been made for Lord Charron and his entourage in Moonlit Avenue. We prepared the adventurer's hall in the Hunter's Ward for Queen-Mother and her daughters for when they arrive. Her majesty, Queen Kanae, will be residing at the margrave's manor at Grellglen. The summit shall also take place there once our last guests have come."

"The Queen-Mother isn't here yet?" Kanae asked.

"It's just like Zariah to be late. That conniving sow knows nothing of punctuality. And she wonders why I don't answer her letters anymore!" Lord Charron huffed, his nostrils flaring with spite.

Lady and Minestra rolled their eyes like they had heard this a thousand times before.

They continued into the Moonlit Avenue, passing by the many lecture halls and dormitories to finally reach where Lord Charron would be staying. The mansion was built between two giant trees, both of which were hollowed out inside to serve as towers. According to Grell, it was an older alchemical laboratory renovated into a living space by Arenade's request. The home was intended to be her and Kanae's home in Highgreen. 

The foyer was a botanical greenhouse garden of beautiful flora from around the world. Its centerpiece was a giant white flower in which three bulbs were growing from a single, thick stem called the hydracorpus.

"Queen Kanae," Charron began, stopping Grell from entering the mansion itself. "Perhaps a private tour is in order! Would you care to accompany me inside? Just the two of us?"

"I don't think that's a good idea!" Lady and Esta shouted at the same time, then turned on each other with their fangs bared.

"It's fine. I'll be back in a bit," Kanae assured her companions.

Grell opened the front door to let Kanae and Charron enter. As soon as he shut the door behind them, the two made their way into the lavish living room. Tables that once had beakers and potions on them were furnished with flowers in vases. Shelves for alchemical reagents were replaced with books and baubles. No expenses were spared to spruce the laboratory into a marvelous home suitable for royalty.

"Alright, enough with the pleasantries and false formalities!" Lord Charron spun on Kanae in the living room. "I thought you would have died a long time ago! A level one succubus is quite literally the weakest creature imaginable! You had no offensive or defensive spells. No martial skills to fight with. How in the three hells did you even survive?"

"Well, I… basically had sex with anything that was available to me. It kind of snowballed from there," Kanae answered honestly.

"Ah, I see. I turned a pervert into the best thing she could possibly become." He put a hand to his face and groaned.

"And whose fault is that?!"

Ignoring her, Charron paced around the room to inspect every decoration and furniture. He drew a finger along a window sill. He flicked a magical cinder into the fireplace to light it up. He tapped the vase and winced at the sound it made. He planted his butt on every couch and chair as if sampling them. Everything he did seemed to intensify the frown on his face.

"You expect me to live here with such paltry accommodations? The couch cushions aren't even stuffed with wool!" Charron complained.

"Oh, god. You're just like Arenade! The cushions are just fine. What do you want? Something imported from Ortesia, made from the wool of an endangered sheep?" Kanae asked.

"It would be a start! Wait. What do you mean 'just like Arenade'?"

"Arenade was with me for a while. Ever since I got dumped into this world as a succubus, actually. But… Arenade is… she's dead."

"Is she now?" He turned his back to her. "That stupid sister of mine. She probably went and sacrificed herself for a bunch of nobodies again… I—"

When Charron faced Kanae again, he appeared particularly distracted by something.

"What are you looking at?" Kanae squinted at him.

"There's a tiny little creature staring at us," Charron said.

Kanae followed his finger to the living room's entryway. Kanade was peeking in. She dipped away when they saw her.

"Kanade, come here!" Kanae called out to her daughter, who slinked into the room. "This is Kanade." She patted the girl on the head. "Mine and Arenade's daughter. That makes you her—"

"Uncle!" Charron gasped. "I-I have a niece? And she even has the same golden hair and little red ribbon. A style picked up from my sister, I see."

He kneeled down in front of Kanade, but even then he still towered over her like a giant. His eyes were slightly watery. His lips quivered, holding back what Kanae believed was a smile.

"Kanade, this is your mom's brother. Your uncle. We're technically enemies, but hopefully an alliance will change that. Do you have anything you want to say to your uncle?" Kanae asked.

Kanande lifted a finger up to Charron and said, "Deadbeat."

"Deadbeat?!" Kanae and Charron's jaws hit the floor.

"Little girl, you gaze upon the greatest demon to ever live! I command the largest army on this continent, large enough to rival that of even the Empire of Ortesia. Under my rule, the once divided Artaggon has grown to be an unstoppable force. I've achieved deification a millennia ago, and I'm worshiped far and wide! Yet you would call me a DEADBEAT?"

Kanade stood her ground and nodded. "Mom says you've been a deadbeat since the day you were born. All you do is 'lay around the castle, eat grapes, and order slaves around'. She told me all about how you make other people do the work for you and take their credit. At least both of my moms go out and fight their own battles. Where have you been all this time? Hiding in Artaggon somewhere while someone else fights for you. If Mom was still here, then—"

"Well, she isn't, is she? Because Arenade is dead!" Charron blurted out, stopping her rant cold. When the gravity of what he said dawned on him, he recoiled and tried to apologize.

But it was too late.

Kanade choked up and started wailing. She ran back outside in tears. The sound of the front door opened, then slammed shut, followed by distant words of comfort from Gretchen.

"You're great with kids," Kanae remarked.

"Oh, shut up. I was never good with children. Not even my own." Charron dragged a chair up to the fireplace and slumped down on it. "Back then, it was always Arenade, Arenade, Arenade. The scion of the Ehmvier family. The duchess. Our parents passed down the entire duchy to her and left nothing to me. Too bad she squandered it all and sullied the Ehmvier name for some lofty attempts at charity." He waved dismissively at Kanae. "The lackluster accommodations will have to do. You may leave now."

Kanae stopped at the entryway and picked up the toy sword Kanade must have dropped.

"Arenade's attempts weren't lofty. It was probably the least arrogant and selfish thing she ever did, and she succeeded. It just took a little more time, effort, and help."

When Kanae returned to the botanical garden, she regarded Lady and Minestra with a nod. They entered to find Charron. Kanade was sitting at the back of the carriage, head lying on Gretchen's lap and Suvee was rubbing her back.

"I took my eyes off Kanade for one second, and she disappeared. A moment later, she runs back outside in tears. What happened in there?" Gretchen asked.

"Lord Charron said something and made her cry," Kanae explained.

"Grr. No one makes Kanade cry!" Suvee pouted.

"I see. So, the demon lord has chosen death?" The former archbishop's eyes glowed with divine energy.

"NO! No, he did not! We're not here to start a war! Let's focus on Ortesia first…" She sighed heavily, then walked up to Kanade to return her wooden sword.

The girl clutched onto it tightly even as her knuckles turned white. 

In the hours that followed, Kanae and Esta went around the city with Margrave Grell to ensure their defenses were in place. There was no telling what Lord Charron and the Queen-Mother had planned, and if their accepting of this invitation was only an attempt to strike a blow to the Commonwealth.

At the very least, after meeting with Lord Charron, Kanae was confident he had a motive to form an alliance. Queen-Mother Zariah was the wild card. Kanae could only hope Renya, whom she entrusted to accompany Hilde in delivering the invitation, hadn't walked into a trap.

"I've made sure to provide each regiment with a large supply of anti-succubus magic potions, and concentrated the bulk of our spellcasters to the Hunter's Ward. If Edina can spare a death knight of two, it would be a great help since succubi can't control the dead," Grell explained.

"Good work, Grell. I'll also ask Edina to get in contact with you as soon as I find her. By the way, any word on Noah and Mitty? I was hoping they'd be here when I arrived," Kanae said.

"Last I heard they were tackling a Rift that was in the way of a narrow mountain pass. I'm praying the two come back alright. That son of mine… Worrying his wife, the Queen of the Commonwealth, and his daughter. I'll give him a good scolding when he comes back!" he exclaimed.

They were about to move on when a group of Highgreen guards, winded from running across the city, screeched to a halt in front of them.

"Margrave… Queen Kanae… there's trouble in… the Moonlit Avenue, Lord Charron…!" one said, panting between each word.

Kanae launched into the sky and beelined for the Moonlit Avenue. She found Lord Charron, accompanied by Minestra, in the middle of the street. People were keeping a wide berth around them.

"Charron! What do you think you're—" The rest of the sentence lodged in Kanae's throat as soon as she landed.

"Ah, Queen Kanae. I'm glad you're here. Do you mind explaining to me… WHY DO I KEEP GETTING ABUSED BY YOUR CHILDREN?" Charron pointed to Suvee, who was on his head and clinging to his horns.

"You meanie demon! This is for making Kanade cry! Auntie Esta said I have to stand up against evil no matter how strong they are. Take this!" Suvee struck him repeatedly over his head.

"My lord, I cannot pull her off if you keep flailing around!" Minestra was having trouble even with all four arms available to her.

"Suvee, this is the wrong time to stand up to evil!" Kanae wrenched Suvee away from Charron, but she was still kicking and struggling in her arms.

"I won't stop until he apologizes to Kanade!" She chucked the wooden sword and it hit him squarely between the eyes.

Everyone, even the passersby, gasped enough to swallow their tongues.

"You…!" Lord Charron picked up the sword and marched up to Suvee, brandishing it in her face.

The brave front faltered, and Suvee was on the verge of crying. To Kanae's surprise, Charron swallowed his frustration and handed Suvee the sword by the hilt end. She reluctantly took it.

"You two are brave, I'll give you that much. But I won't apologize! I'm the victim here! Come, Minestra! I would like to attend these so-called lectures I hear so much about." Charron flourished his cape and stormed off.

"Sorry, Kanae." Minestra apologized. "The summit has us all stressed, it seems. Lord Charron especially because the Underqueen… his ex-wife is coming. He truly wishes for this alliance though! May we face the Ortesian forces together on the battlefield."

"Minestra!"

"Coming, my lord!" She bowed to Kanae and hurried to catch up.

Once they were gone and the crowds had dispersed, Kanae sighed at her daughter.

"I can't believe you came out and picked a fight with the demon lord." Kanae gently knocked their foreheads together.

"When I saw Kanade crying, I knew what I had to do. I've been stalking him all afternoon, waiting for the perfect chance to strike. Hehe! He never saw me coming!" Suvee declared in all her prideful glory.

Charron was a lot softer on them than Kanae expected despite claiming to be bad with children. Well, family was family. For how spiteful he sounded about what Arenade did with their family fortune, there was a hint of deep sadness about her passing. He certainly cared. Maybe he just didn't know how to express it.

"Let's go back to Kanade and Gretchen, and you can tell them all about how you beat up Lord Charron. Sound good?" Kanae lifted into the air and let her daughter fly next to her.

"Can we get ice cream on the way home?" Suvee beamed.

"You know what? We can get as muuuuch as you like!" She smiled back.