The study door was half open.
Lilia stood at the entrance, raising her hand and then lowering it again.
The words from the Succubus Advancement Manual kept replaying in her mind.
“When making a request, lower your posture, so the other person feels it’s more beneficial to agree.”
Alright.
Go for it!
She raised her hand and knocked.
“Come in.”
Lucia’s voice came from inside.
Lilia pushed the door open and entered. Lucia was sitting behind the desk, flipping through a thick tome.
She didn’t rush forward, but stood at the doorway, holding her skirt as she curtseyed.
“Mistress, good morning, meow.”
Her voice was soft, with a hint of timidity.
Lucia lifted her gaze from the book, blood-red eyes landing on her.
“Is something wrong?”
“Yes, meow.”
Lilia walked to the desk with small steps, maintaining a careful distance.
“Mistress, I came to admit my mistake, meow.”
She lowered her head, twisting the hem of her skirt with both hands.
Lucia raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
“I shouldn’t have lost my temper at you this morning, meow.”
Lilia’s cat ears drooped.
“You were teaching me to adapt to a cat’s nature, but I misunderstood and almost hurt you…”
She sneaked a glance at Lucia’s face from the corner of her eye.
No change in expression, but she hadn’t interrupted either.
There’s hope!
“Afterward, I thought about it for a long time, meow.”
Lilia lifted her head, those heterochromatic eyes staring straight at Lucia.
“I want to become a… pet that makes you even happier, meow.”
“The game of chasing light is fun, but one day you’ll get bored of it, meow.”
“I want to be a bit more useful, meow.”
She paused.
“I want to learn magic, meow!”
After speaking, she stared nervously at Lucia.
Her heart was pounding wildly.
Everything depended on this!
The study was terrifyingly quiet.
Lucia just stared at her, blood-red eyes bottomless.
Time ticked by, second after second.
Lilia’s palms grew sweaty.
Done for. Was she too direct?
Or did Lucia think a zero-tier failure had no right to make such a request?
Just as Lilia was about to break—
“Why do you want to learn magic?”
Here it comes!
Lilia’s spirit brightened.
“Because I want to perform more interesting shows for Mistress, meow!”
She blurted out.
“For example, I could learn to form small water balls and shape them into little animals in front of you, meow!”
“Or make flowers bloom before your eyes, meow!”
“When I get better, I could create light spheres to chase myself, so Mistress doesn’t have to do it for me, meow!”
She packaged her motives completely as “to better please Mistress.”
This speech—she’d practiced it in front of the mirror more than fifty times.
Lucia leaned back in the chair, long fingers tapping lightly on the desk.
“Tap, tap, tap.”
Each sound struck Lilia’s heart.
“Your idea… is interesting.”
After a long while, Lucia finally spoke.
Lilia’s heart leapt to her throat.
Interesting?
Was that good or bad?
“A pet that can do tricks does have more viewing value than one that only sleeps and flops around.”
Lucia stood up, walked around the desk, and came to stand in front of her.
Lilia had to tilt her head way back to see her face.
“If you want to learn, I can teach you.”
Success!
Lilia almost cheered on the spot.
She knew this perverted demon king liked this kind of thing best!
As long as it provided entertainment, anything was possible!
“But—”
Lucia suddenly changed her tone.
“The Empire of Erya’s magic is based on Pure Abyssal Mana.”
“And your body is a Hero Vessel attuned to Holy Energy.”
“Although I’ve sealed the Holy Energy, your constitution inherently rejects mana.”
“To allow your body to accept mana, a small modification is needed.”
Lilia’s smile froze.
Mo… Modification?
Her mind flashed back to the terrifying experience of being turned into a loli.
“N… No need, right, meow?”
Her voice trembled.
“I’m just learning a few tricks, so… so there’s no need for modification, right? Meow?”
“There is.”
Lucia’s tone left no room for argument.
“Otherwise, the moment mana enters your body, you’ll collapse from energy conflict.”
She bent down, pinching Lilia’s chin.
“Don’t be afraid. This modification is simple.”
At her other hand’s fingertip, a small flame of black fire ignited.
The flame had no heat, but exuded a chilling aura.
She slowly pressed the flame toward Lilia’s forehead.
“No! Don’t! Meow!”
Lilia tried to dodge, but her body was bound by an invisible force.
She could only watch as the black flame drew closer.
A cold sensation touched her forehead.
There was no pain—just a feeling as if even her soul was being frozen.
The black flame seeped in, flowing within her body.
Lilia felt as if cold molten iron was pouring into her veins.
The process lasted only a few seconds.
When Lucia withdrew her hand, Lilia’s legs gave way and she collapsed to the floor.
“Done.”
Lucia’s voice was calm.
“Now your body can accommodate the most basic mana.”
Lilia panted heavily.
She felt as if… nothing much had changed.
“Stand up.”
Lucia commanded.
“The first lesson begins now.”
Lilia struggled to her feet, feeling both fear and excitement inside.
Though the process was scary, she could finally learn magic!
“Lilith.”
Lucia called out.
The head maid’s figure appeared silently in the study.
“Your Majesty.”
“From today, you will also serve as Lilia’s magic tutor.”
Lucia ordered.
“Teach her some basic tricks.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Lilith walked to stand before Lilia, her expression as icy as ever.
She’ll be teaching me?
Lilia’s heart sank.
She thought Lucia would teach her personally.
“Then, Miss, our first lesson is to learn how to sense and draw the mana within your body.”
Lilith’s voice was emotionless.
She extended her hand, palm up.
A gentle, faintly glowing magic gathered in her palm.
“Please try to touch it with your mind, and then… control it.”
Lilia stared at the ball of light, swallowing nervously.
Here it comes! Magic training!
She focused, cautiously extending her consciousness to touch the light.
The instant her spirit made contact—
The ball of light suddenly “whoosh”ed.
It transformed into a slender line, with a tuft of feathers at the tip.
The light wavered in Lilith’s hand.
Lilia froze.
This thing…
Isn’t this a Feathered Cat Teaser?!