The succubus’s new show—Liya knew about it, because she was the one who pushed the succubi into making such a “transformation.”
She also took the opportunity to run a water-army business for the succubi, raking in a huge pile of gold coins, which she pocketed and used to buy single-water-element magic crystals, preparing to advance her own rank.
But no matter how carefully she calculated, she never expected the show’s publicity to be so over-the-top that it would actually attract Joen to go watch it.
The most painful thing in the world is when a husband says to his wife, “I’m going to visit a succubus shop.”
And yet Liya couldn’t say a word, because she was nothing more than a pet Pu Pu—she had no standing or identity to criticize the hero for seeking such entertainment.
‘Sigh… calm down, calm down. Haven’t I known this all along? Historically, heroes are all lechers; it’s common for them to sleep through the entire hero party. Joen is already a breath of fresh air.’
‘Break the curse as soon as possible—right, break the curse. Once it’s lifted, I won’t care about such trivial crap anymore.’
Closing her eyes, she took several deep breaths to calm her mind before finally speaking.
She nonchalantly switched to a new quill and continued writing transfer orders.
An order to her trusted aides in the organization: hire a merchant caravan to go to Manghe City in Dry River Territory and “buy” ten Explosive Pu Pus.
An order to the purchasing staff: acquire a Pu Pu farm.
An order to the enforcers: go collect debts from those succubi drowning in high-interest loans.
If they can’t pay, lie to them about introducing a secret business—one that requires them to be away for nine months—then knock them unconscious and bring them back.
The quill’s tip slipped, gliding across her pale fingertips.
Joen stared blankly at the girl who had suddenly hidden her smile and grown unusually quiet.
To make her disguise more convenient, it seemed she had used the same method as before, turning back into the appearance she had worn at Zyra’s banquet.
The Demon Lord’s beautiful face, the elegant lady’s posture—she transformed herself back into “Lily, the Duke’s Daughter.”
“Are you angry?”
Joen asked, as if possessed by some ghost.
“No, I’m not.”
Liya shook her head.
“But I feel like…”
“I’m not. I already said I’m not.”
Liya kept shaking her head.
She didn’t think she was lying.
That kind of anger came from the curse—what did it have to do with her?
“Oh… how about you come with me?”
Joen nodded suspiciously, and a moment later, he fixed his gaze on Liya again.
“Huh?!?”
Liya looked up and let out a startled laugh.
Bringing a female companion to a succubus shop?
Although it wasn’t entirely unprecedented, it was definitely outrageous and shocking.
What was this supposed to be? Asking her to play the role of an incompetent wife?
Admittedly, the so-called “exciting” show tonight had nothing risqué at all—pure green and pollution-free—but Joen didn’t know that; the details hadn’t been revealed to anyone outside.
What exactly did Joen mean?
“I’m planning to go to the succubus shop to catch someone. Under the name Qiao En, I’d prefer not to make a big scene.”
Joen explained while watching Liya’s expression.
He saw the peony-like girl let out a long sigh of relief.
He saw that pure, stunning face bloom with a beautiful yet seductive smile.
In an instant, Joen was struck by an unbelievable suspicion.
That suspicion hit him like a boulder thrown by a Titan.
‘Could it be… that Lily has already developed feelings for me? That she’s starting to have special romantic feelings toward me, as a member of the opposite sex?’
‘If that’s really the case…’
‘No no no, if that’s really the case…’
‘This is too wrong. This is too immoral. But if…’
Joen sank into deep thought.
This was crazy, immoral, unethical, condemnable—even perverted.
But it also inexplicably made him happy.
Although long ago, Joen had considered that if one day Lily really became dependent on him because of his magic power, he should take responsibility for her.
But those naive, childish thoughts back then had nothing to do with love—they were merely a sense of duty, a compensation and guilt for ruining Lily’s fate.
He had never imagined that Lily would develop “love” for him—that emotion—like a human girl, happy because of her lover, sad because of her lover, and angry because her lover grew close to others.
And now, everything seemed to be heading in an irreversible direction.
Yet deep inside, he was desperately resisting any attempt to stop it.
He thought for a long time, found no conclusion, and in the end, Joen could only come up with a single conclusion: just let it be—like an escape.
“I have no interest in the succubus shop, and even less interest in succubi.”
He spread his hands to Liya and explained with a smile.
Liya couldn’t help rolling her eyes and muttered with a blush, “Who cares whether you’re interested…”
“Then shall we go?”
“What’s that person’s name? I’ll catch them for you.”
“Fine~ fine~ I really can’t do anything about you~”
Liya put down her quill, stepped lightly like a butterfly, circled behind Joen, and pressed her hands on the big boy’s shoulders, not letting him see her expression.
She also realized that on her face right now was a look of joy and relief, just like a lovestruck little girl.
Though it was caused by the curse and didn’t count as real, she absolutely wouldn’t show such an embarrassing expression in front of her archenemy.
As a ruler, she should maintain the dignity of a king.
“I’ll help you with this little favor, Lily.”
As soon as she said that, Joen turned around.
Liya immediately stretched out her pale, jade-like finger and pressed it against Joen’s lips.
“Shh~ No need to thank me. After all, I’m your pet~”
‘Pet… gulp.’
A series of very explicit and violent images suddenly flashed through her mind.
They were all short skits about “imprisoned pet play” that she had written for the succubi.
Suddenly, her head spun, her body went soft, and she started losing control.
“Pet or something… that’s too…”
Joen felt embarrassed.
Before he could finish, a fragrant wind hit his face, and the girl’s soft, snow-white body threw itself into his arms.
Then, he felt something peck at his right shoulder.
“???”
Joen was shocked.
Liya suddenly pushed Joen away again.
Her pinkish-red eyes were flooded with moisture, mixed with a hint of drunken confusion.
She wiped her mouth with her sleeve while making ambiguous, soft moans of “pfft pfft”—it was hard to tell whether she was disgusted or enjoying it.
“Just now… so… um…”
“Sorry, sorry… I’m not quite clear-headed…”
Liya’s cheeks were flushed, and her speech was even a bit incoherent.
“Are you really okay?” Joen hurriedly asked with concern.
“I’m fine. Yeah, I’m definitely fine.”
Liya didn’t dare meet Joen’s gaze.
In her heart, she was both embarrassed and annoyed: ‘Damn curse… it’s all the damn curse’s fault. I really can’t get too close to Joen. My head was a mess just now, and before I knew it, I bit him.’
‘What if I stoke the hero’s fire and get… here? Wouldn’t people outside hear?’
‘Eh?’
‘Actually, the room’s soundproofing is pretty good, so that’s not a worry.’
‘Speaking of which… that table is actually pretty suitable…’
‘If I lean over it and stick my butt out, the height would be just right for Joen’s…’
“Pfft pfft pfft! I pfft!”
Liya finally snapped out of it and forcefully spit a few times, dispersing the little heart above her head.
She quickly shoved the bewildered Joen out the door, no longer daring to share a room with the hero.
“Anyway! Come find me tonight! That’s it! Goodbye!”
“Bam—”
The door frame let out a heavy, dull thud.
Joen scratched the back of his head in confusion for a long time, but he never figured out why Lily had suddenly started kicking him out.