Chapter 43 43 – Succubus’ Song

Why did I stop the fight between Xenora and Emily back then? This question has been bothering me for the past few days.

I'm just playing a game. Even if they get hurt, I have nothing to lose. Maybe I'd be upset if any of them died, but they're just a bunch of codes in the end.

Is it? Or have I been wrong all this time? Maybe those people were right. Perhaps this game is really a gateway to another world. So, every time I log in, I interact with real beings.

That's what makes me feel I have a strong bond with them.

"Lord Vorn? Are you still alive?"

The call from Emily woke me from my daydream. My newest general was suddenly beside me.

"What are you really thinking, lord?" She asked. "I've had to call you so many times."

I, who sat on my usual rock, smiled. Then, I rubbed Xenora's head which was on my thigh. The black-haired succubus was closing her eyes.

"I was just admiring your beauty, Emily..." I stopped for a moment. That's a super stupid answer.

Emily held her face, which was still wrapped in bandages. "I'm very flattered. It turns out that a broken face like this has its own charm."

"Sorry."

"I just wanted to say the shapeshifters' training is over." She shrugged.

"Huh?" I didn't expect that information at all. "But it's only been four days since I ordered you to train them to fight."

"They can absorb my teachings very easily." She nodded her head at the four shapeshifters behind her. They all used the random looks I thought of in my head.

I plan to put them in several places as my representatives. They have quite a lot of work to do later, from stalking others to pretending to be dead people. So, I decided to give them some fighting skills just in case.

"Especially the general, Your Honor." Emily glanced at Ayre, who started playing her lute in one corner of the base. "I'd say she's already an expert in close combat."

"I see." I nodded. This is good. I can start the next stage faster.

My base began to fill with the melodious notes of Ayre's lute. She hadn't learned that instrument long, but she could play that well. This shows that the shapeshifter race is actually special, not as people say.

What matters is how you use them.

"Ah, Ayre reminds me of master Zhoal," Emily commented. "They are both an expert at playing the lute."

"Hmmm...." Xenora squirmed, then opened her eyes.

I stroked the woman's hair again. "Hey, Xenora. You promised to sing me a song when Ayre becomes good at playing the lute, right?"

"Woof..." She looked at me with a hesitant expression.

"It was Phisovia who said you have a talent for singing." I rubbed her face with the back of my finger. "She caught you singing while on patrol."

The succubus looked away.

"You are selfish, Xenora." Emily folded her arms across her chest. "Isn't your main job to please Lord Vorn? Why are you only thinking about yourself by insisting on continuing this disgusting roleplay?"

Damn it, Emily.

The undead supreme's words were enough to make the veins on Xenora's neck and face pop out.

"Please, don't fight anymore." I sighed. "If you don't want to, it's okay, Xenora."

The succubus took a deep breath, finally humming with a slow intonation. My heart felt like it was flowing with warmth when I heard that.

Xenora's voice and Ayre's lute melody sounded like it was done by famous maestros. A man-made program can't make something this beautiful, right?

"Ooh, it turns out that you have amazing skills too." Emily clapped. "I have to admit it."

I noticed everyone in my base was stunned and stopped what they were doing.

It turns out that music can have a significant impact on them, the demons.

Phisovia came out of a room and approached Xenora with a smile. "Don't just hum, Xenora. You've prepared a lyric for lord Vorn, haven't you? You made it secretly with Ayre."

"Ooh?" I can't contain my excitement. "What kind of lyrics do you have, Xenora?"

The black-haired succubus glanced at Phisovia, then opened her mouth wider. "All I want is torture. Trample my body until you're satisfied. Hang me with a meat hook..."

I laughed hearing lyrics like that delivered in a melodious voice. I found the others in shock, except for Ayre and Phisovia.

"Humiliate is also my passion. Being a toilet is my dream. Give me food from..."

***

One day had passed after the cursed song incident. Phisovia was still giggling while I was briefing the mares and shapeshifters.

She must have been delighted that her prank was a huge success.

"So, I'll send one mare and one shapeshifter each to Beckingsale, Silkdale, and Marystar. You guys know what you're doing, right?" I gave a speech while trying to forget that terrifying lyric. "For Honeywich, I just need one shapeshifter to keep an eye on things."

I signaled for Phisovia to come forward.

"These are maps of your destination." The succubus handed out the papers to the mares and shapeshifters. "Good luck, everyone."

"Are there any questions?" For a moment, I waited for my subordinates to open their mouths. "If you don't have one, you can leave now."

The mares and shapeshifters knelt and bowed down, then shouted in unison. "We will do this job well, my lord!"

"Your job is critical for us to grow our influence! I have high hopes for all of you!"

"Yes, sir!"

Then they got up. I smiled with satisfaction seeing them leave the base. Gradually I became like a real demon lord with more and more troops.

"Phisovia, Xenora..." I stared at my two succubi, trying to put on a convincing remorseful face. "You two…."

"We know." Phisovia sighed. "Our job is to patrol around this base."

"Sorry." I put on a faint smile. "But your job is very important."

That's how it is. Their work is quite vital. Without them, I wouldn't have known that Honeywich village would be attacked.

"It's okay, my lord. Only we can fly, right? This task can only be done by us." The red-haired succubus smiled briefly, then pulled Xenora away. "Bye, your majesty."

"Thank you for your understanding."

Xenora nodded at me, then she flew with the succubus general.

"And you guard this base, Garthur." I gave an order to the minotaur.

"I will guard this place as best I can, my lord!"

I then turned my head to Ayre, Szur, and Emily, smiling again. "And the four of us are going on an epic adventure."

My three subordinates exchanged glances, then Emily asked. "Where are we going, my lord?"

I widened my smile.