Lewd Futanari Succubus Ch. 04

To move on as quickly as possible, Beatrice opened a second package and saw inside only a thin dark-red choker. Though Beatrice took the gift, she raised an eyebrow, wondering the purpose of this item.

"A rare and valuable item," Lucarad explained. "Enchanted with the blood of a Phyx, when worn this choker can rapidly heal and close up cut veins and arteries in the body, essentially all but completely preventing its wearer from bleeding out."

Sounds impressive, hope I'll never need it, Beatrice thought as she put the choker around her neck. I wonder if there's a way to check this item for additional stats? There is an RPG-like system, after all. So... Inspect? Appraise? Analyze?

An information tab did appear in Beatrice's mind's eye. But not due to a specific word. Beatrice was slowly learning that interacting with her system was more like eating or walking, rather than pressing a button on a keyboard. No one thinks of each finger they carefully put around a spoon before bringing it to their mouth, they just start eating after an inner, nameless command that doesn't take even a fraction of a second.

Item: Choker of a Phyx

Item Class: Rare

Health Points: +10

Physical Defense: +3

Magic Defense: +6

Effects: Bleed resistance +80%

Not bad at all. In that case, what about my lingerie? Beatrice wondered.

Item: Pretty Lace Bra

Item Class: Uncommon

Health Points: +5

Physical Defense: +1

Magic Defense: +1

Effects: Persuasive Set (2/2) - Persuasion +15%

Item: Pretty Lace Panties

Item Class: Uncommon

Health Points: +5

Physical Defense: +1

Magic Defense: +1

Effects: Persuasive Set (2/2) - Persuasion +15%

... Is persuasion like some hidden stat or skill check? Beatrice couldn't help but feel that she was being messed with, though she had no proof.

"T-thank you for the gifts!" Beatrice said, realizing that she barely said a word the entire time she's been here.

"We are the ones who are grateful for your arrival," Lucarad said and lowered his head in a bow. "The world is in peril! It is all but destroyed by monsters and demons from Beyond! And only you can save what is left!"

"Huh?" Beatrice let out as her mouth dropped half-open.

_

An awkward pause hung heavily in the dimly lit room.

"My Lady," the High Priest finally spoke. "How much do you know about the state of this world?"

"I... Well, you see," Beatrice tried to come up with some half-believable excuse as fast as possible. "The summoning has messed with my memories it seems! It's as if I am in this world for the very first time."

"What!?" Lucarad exclaimed. He then paced back and forth, mumbling to himself, "How can this be? A savior was promised. A savior has arrived. But yet the savior has no idea what needs to be done? Was I wrong--no, that is impossible! Ah, her powers! Victoria!"

Lucarad shouted and pointed at the blonde that was now dressed and remained close by Priscilla's side.

"Victoria, you never answered my question!" Lucarad accused his priestess. "How did it feel to have the savior inside you!? What was the experience like!?"

"Ah, well," Victoria stalled and looked away. It was obvious she had hoped that everyone would forget about her. "It felt really great! More than that! It was..."

"Amazing!" Priscilla added.

"Who asked you?" Lucarad glared at the petite blue-haired twin-tail girl.

Lucarad pulled a misshapen skull out of his robes and walked toward Victoria. He put it up close to her face and stood motionless for several seconds.

"Still there," he said somberly. He quickly put the skull away and said loudly, "We must hurry to the king at once!"

Lucarad walked up to Beatrice, bowed slightly, and said, "My Lady, please follow me! I will explain further on the way there."

"Alright," Beatrice agreed. It's not like I have that many options. And I need to find out what exactly is the deal with this place.

"Ember!" Lucarad called. A young woman with short red hair rushed to the High Priest. She was dressed in the same blue robes that everyone else, but Beatrice remembered her cute, freckle-covered face and the mouth that she used to service the priests' cocks not even twenty minutes ago.

"Follow us!" Lucarad commanded the girl. "Cindy, Mindy, watch over Victoria! Notify me immediately if there are any changes! The rest of you clean up and return to the Tower of Meditation!"

Then Lucarad hurried to the only door in the oval room and opened it. With a long, annoying squeak the door opened. Ember and Beatrice followed the High Priest out of the room.

"Light of the dying Phoenix," Ember whispered, and a small flame formed in the palm of her hands, lighting the path forward.

The path took the trio through the dark and narrow stone corridors. The ceiling was so low that the high priest had to slouch all the way to a winding staircase up. The air was noticeably fresher here and Beatrice took a deep breath.

"Yes," Lucarad said as they ascended the stairs. "The Chamber of Sacrifice has ventilation shafts built that bring fresh air from the outside. But in these tunnels, many of those shafts have collapsed. We are deep under the Royal Palace.

We had to perform the ritual in secret because there are many who are fine with the way things are now. Others simply refused to believe and--well, it doesn't matter now. We will stand before the king and will present the Savior of this world."

"You keep calling me "the Savior", but what do you expect me to do?" Beatrice asked.

"The demons from Beyond are terrifyingly strong in their own right," Lucarad said. "But what is truly deadly about them is that many possess the ability to corrupt even the strongest and most resilient of our warriors! They are able to unleash, what I call 'the Taint'. It robs our warriors of their strength, their will to fight, their will to resist."

The trio ascended to the next level of the dark tunnels and proceeded forward. The corridors, twisting and turning, steadily led them upward while Lucarad continued his explanation.

"The scrolls have foretold that a mighty hero will come to this world. That hero would possess the power to resist even the most terrifying powers of the demons from Beyond. The Savior's fluids could combat the effects of the Demon fluids. Though the scrolls were not clear on how much fluids would be needed and how long before the effects would take place. "

"They also were not clear on exactly which of the Savior's fluids would possess the cure," Ember added.

"True, the scrolls were not clear on a lot of things," Lucarad nodded. "That is one of the reasons Ember will be staying with you, My Lady."

"It is a great honor," Ember said.

"As well as being an exceptionally skilled bodyguard she is also skilled in many other areas," Lucarad said. "It is her duty to always be by your side to satisfy your every need. I would also humbly ask you to consider experimenting on her!"

"What?" Beatrice asked, shocked at the proposition.

Ember looked back and explained, "If you used me to test the limits of your abilities, perhaps you could discover some hidden powers within you. We may need to explore... More unconventional techniques."

"I-I see," Beatrice said, trying to keep track of all the strange directions her knowledge of this world expanded to.

_

Beatrice did not know what else to answer to Ember's proposition. A cute young woman, no older than twenty, encouraging to use her in any manner of "unconventional" ways?

But they are expecting me to perform, Beatrice thought. She opened up her skill list and quickly read through their descriptions again, while they continued through the dreary underground. Her skills had potential but required much investment. I'll have to go through their enhancement routes one by one and figure out the optimal enhancement route.

But I can't continue disappointing this cult. This High Priest seems loyal, but if continue to be way below his expectations that could change, and suddenly. If there's one thing this Priest isn't, it's a level-headed individual, Beatrice concluded looking at Lucarad's back.

Then again, I might be overthinking it. So far this world has been doing nothing else but showering me with willing girls, literally worshiping my name, gifts, praise, convenient developments, and promises of a heroic future. If this was a dream it would seem too good to be true.

A minimal effort of careful consideration never hurt anyone, Beatrice thought. In times like these, overconfidence is the proper stance. I will have to do what I have to do anyway, so being confident will just give me extra respect points without changing the actions I have to take later. Failure is never an option anyway, and even at failure, early confidence could help me bluff, while meekness would only cement my fault.

"You don't have to worry!" Beatrice said with conviction. "It is only a matter of time before I regain the full extent of my powers. And if Ember is willing to assist, I will gladly accept her aid to speed up that process!"

"Exactly!" The priest agreed. "You need to grow stronger, and I have no doubt you will! Your vigor is already impressive and I sense there are many other areas in which you will not only improve but surpass any living being!"

They exited the winding paths and narrow corridors and through a hidden door in the wall entered a darker, but decorated hall. It had wide red rugs on the floor, though dirty and showing signs of age. The pictures on the walls with intricately cut wooden frames, painted in gold were dusty, Beatrice saw several cobwebs and even one spider that was the size of her glans.

As they walked through the halls, turned one sharp corner, then another, the lighting improved, but little else. The dusty halls were strangely empty. Beatrice noticed that the dusty iron chandeliers were spread unevenly, she even saw the holes in the ceiling, confirming her suspicion that many were removed. The same could be said for other things. The lonely empty tables, empty spaces on the walls... Did this place get robbed or something? Beatrice couldn't help but imagine what these halls might have looked like in better times.

After turning yet another corner they finally encountered people. Two young men, shirtless, passed out on the floor. The droll that trickled from the corner of their mouths formed a small puddle under their cheeks.

Lucarad and Ember didn't even acknowledge their existence by looking at them and just walked straight past the unconscious men.

"Are they alright?" Beatrice asked. "Shouldn't we help them?"

"We have more important things to do," Lucarad said coldly. "They've made their choice. Let them sleep it off."

Further ahead the trio encountered a small group of people, all men, quietly talking among themselves. They looked like they were somewhere between thirty and fifty years old. Their clothing reminded Beatrice of medieval noblemen. Long costumes with long sleeves, tailored cloth leggings. All in a variety of colors--blue, red, green, and brown. No unifying scheme.

When the men saw the approaching trio, they first all fixed their eyes on Lucarad first. One of the men was about to say something, but then his gaze fell on Beatrice, as did the others. All of them stood speechless, eyeing the succubus from top to bottom. Her long legs, her tail that was wrapped around her waist, her breasts, covered by a thin lace bra, her tiny wings on her back. It didn't take long for their stares to settle on the futanari's crotch.

"L-luca, is that--" one of the men finally spoke up.

"What is she?" the other man asked.

"Exactly what you suspect!" Lucarad said loudly, with a smug grin.

"No way," a third man gasped.

Lucarad, Ember, and Beatrice continued past them.

Once Beatrice was sure they couldn't hear her, she whispered to Lucarad, "They didn't seem to react like I was their savior."

"Yes, well, they're idiots," Lucarad disregarded the intelligence of anyone who disagreed with him.

"Will everyone at the palace react to me this way?" Beatrice asked. "What about the king?"

Lucarad stopped. They were standing at the twenty feet tall double doors. They were white with a golden frame and handles. On each of the doors, there was a golden sigil--a sword put through the head of a monster.

"As I've set before, our congregation is small," Lucarad spoke softly. "I hope to gain additional financial support from the king. But that goal is only optional. Every single person--both in the palace and in the entire city--has a badge on them," Lucarad said and got out a small rectangular golden badge. "That is how everyone tells each other apart from potential refugees or enemies that might attempt to sneak in. And that is the only thing we need from the king--your ability to move freely through the city. And the king will be easy to convince. I will speak first."

And with those words, Lucarad pushed the doors open.