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

Sadul didn't like the idea of being used as bait to lure out an assassin, but he was a horn dog. So, he liked sex. A lot of it. The second Kanae promised him more of what they did out in the deserts, he folded like origami into whichever way she wanted. That didn't make him any less terrified. After all, Romira had assassinated someone right under their and the association's noses.

"This the coin we need?" Edina asked as the freshly-raised undead man produced a platinum token from his coat pocket.

"I'll not be party to taking from the dead! Besides, the association and others I've exchanged with will know. It isn't worth the risk!" Sadul explained anxiously.

"He's right," Alicia interjected. "Someone may think Sadul killed Vevass for a token if he has it."

"Guess we don't need you anymore. Sorry you died!" The necromancer compelled the undead to put the token away and returned to being a still corpse.

They quietly walked out of the room when the coast was clear. The last thing they wanted was someone suspecting them of murder. Sadul's room was one floor down. His was a lot less lavish compared to Vevass'. There was no silken furniture, and the room was about the size of one they could grab at an inn.

It had but a single bed, somewhat small for someone of Sadul's stature. A wooden trunk sat underneath the frame, bulging from having all his belongings stuffed inside. The room might have been comfortable for one person, but four was a crowd.

"What now, Sadul? Without Vevass, we just lost our chance at acquiring a platinum token," Kanae said.

"Ha! Did you think I would not account for my own potential failure? If negotiations with Vevass had failed, I have two more contacts to meet. We can only hope they aren't involved in something that leads to their murder…" Sadul gulped hard.

For the next hour, they waited in Sadul's room while the discovery of Vevass' death and its subsequent aftermath was underway. Frantic footfalls rushed upstairs to take control of the scene. Members of the association poked their heads out to investigate the commotion, only to turn white upon hearing the news.

Soon, an air of panic and tension fell over the western tower. No one felt safe, even though the assassination seemed targeted and not random. Kanae and the others were about to leave when a knock came to the door.

"Sadul Hadin! Are you in?" A commanding voice petrified them and turned the man himself into a doddering mess.

"W-W-W-What do I do? What if they suspect me?" Sadul stammered.

"We don't know that yet. Just answer the door and act normal. If anything goes wrong, there's three succubi in the room to do something about it," Kanae said.

"Hey, I like being referred to as the world's greatest necromancer and not a succubus," Edina chimed in.

Kanae pushed the squirreling to the back of the room and yanked Sadul to the front. She urged the nervous beastman to open the door before it got any more suspicious. He recomposed himself, swallowed the lump in his throat, and answered.

"Yes? It is I, Sadul Hadin!" Sadul replied in the most haughty manner possible. "Whom do I have the pleasure of speaking to?"

"Spire guard. Tollen. Would you open the door so we may speak face to face?" the man named Tollen asked.

Sadul shot them a nervous look. Kanae nodded and gave him the go-ahead. When he threw open the door, a tall dark elven man regarded him with a bow.

"Oh, my apologies. I did not know you had company," Tollen said about Kanae, Edina, and Alicia.

"You better be sorry. I was about to have my weekly orgy with this gorgeous trio of succubi until you interrupted us!" Sadul complained.

Kanae stabbed him in the back with the tip of her tail. Sadul tensed up and cleared his throat.

"O-Orgy?! I mean no disrespect! I only came to inform you that a murder has taken place. Rest assured Association officials are on it. West Count Yanna does urge that you stay inside if possible. Have a good day, sir!" Guard Tollen bowed and scurried off with an erection between his legs.

They breathed a sigh of relief when the door closed.

"We're technically the last people who saw Vevass' body, and Sadul had plans to meet with him. If someone knew, they would undoubtedly suspect us first," Alicia said.

After a few more minutes of letting things cool down, they emerged from Sadul's room at last. Alicia wreathed herself in Magical Stealth and went to take a peek up on the fourth floor. She came back reporting that guards swarmed Vevass' room, treating it as a crime scene.

People were justifiably terrified. They rushed back to their rooms and locked themselves in. Kanae might have even heard chairs being wedged up against the doors.

Unfortunately for Sadul, he wasn't afforded the same luxury or safety. The man sulked all the way down to the second floor, leading them to a grand, outdoor dining area. Tables were draped in ivory cloth. Waiters and waitresses in dancer garbs answered the calls of a patron with extreme promptness. Trees with thick canopies provided shade from the blistering sun.

Due to the recent murder, there didn't seem to be many patrons around. The few present were completely unfazed or had a number of armed guards accompanying them.

"Will that be a table for four, sir?" a harpy hostess asked.

"No, thank you. Someone is expecting me. The Mamba," Sadul said.

The feathers on the harpy ruffled, like her entire body had just tensed up.

"Very well. Follow me." She forced a smile and gestured for them to follow.

"What was that about? The woman looked spooked," Kanae whispered.

"Well… you're about to find out," Sadul groaned.

The hostess brought them to a knee-high table occupied by a lamia man lying on his side. She bowed and made herself scarce. Immediately, Sadul looked a lot more meek and Edina instinctively hid behind Kanae's back. Their attention fell to a woven basket that was twitching and squeaking. A wry smile flashed on the serpent's face when he saw them. He pulled the lid aside and reached in to pick up a rodent by the tail, then tossed the tiny creature into his mouth, slurping up the tail like a spaghetti noodle.

"Sadul, you're looking rather fat and appetizing today." He repeatedly flicked his tongue out in the beastman's direction.

"H-Hello to you, too. My friends, this is Theo Mambahu, also known as The Mamba. Theo, these friends of mine, Kanae, Edina, and Alicia," Sadul introduced them shakily.

Theo Mambahu's emerald eyes constricted into horizontal slits at them. The handsome lamia man was from a race of large serpents. His lower serpent half rested on the ground like a neat coil of rope, while his upper halt lounged sideways beside the table. Most of his body was a dark gray. His skin tone was deep brown, almost a brilliant umber. Long black hair made into a ponytail wrapped around his shoulders like a shawl. The most noticeable thing of all was the giant ruby ring on his index finger. Kanae had never seen a jewel that big before, and it had to be worth a massive fortune alone.

"Greetings, Sadul and friends of Sadul. It is a rather odd time to be out and about when there is a killer around, yes? Poor Vevass is dead, and his murderer is nowhere to be found. Such an odd state of affair the association has found itself in. But it must be important for you to have come to me. So, what can The Mamba do for you today?" Theo asked, helping himself to another live snack.

"I… er… We, uh… need to…"

"A platinum token to enter the upcoming banquet," Kanae answered in Sadul's place.

At last, Theo rose to a staggering nine feet in height and towered over them, and his tail still had some length left. Alicia's hands went to the hilt of her daggers as he approached. However, he singled out Sadul and constricted around him.

Theo threw an arm around Sadul's shoulders and looked Kanae in the eyes. "Lamia have a peculiar scent receptor other races such as yourselves don't. It allows us to smell fear. If you've never smelled such a scent before, it is an unfathomable thing. I believe it is not too dissimilar to a succubus catching the whiff of someone who is turned on, yes? Right now, I smell the fear of death, and disappointingly, I am not the cause. Is it perhaps… what happened to Vevass?"

"We just want to get to the banquet…" Kanae repeated nervously.

"If you do not wish to tell me, fine." He let Sadul go and returned to his seat. "Cracks in a building's foundation are always a sign of trouble. I can see the cracks in the East Saviran Trading Association all along its walls. That does not bode well for the economy. I want to give you my token, but trade is a two-way exchange. Your group— leaving Sadul aside— seems very capable, and I have a need for capable adventurers. Assist me, and…" He revealed a token with a sapphire in the center. "This shall be yours."

Sadul gasped so hard it sounded like he swallowed his own tongue.

"His tongue and words drip with venom. I don't trust him," Alicia warned.

"I don't think we have much of a choice. But… Should we have any reasons not to trust you?" Kanae asked, casting a charm over the lamia.

"You did not just charm The Mamba!" Sadul panicked.

"Hehe. Dealing with succubi. How exhilarating! I am no trustworthy serpent, but in this you can trust The Mamba. I mean you no ill-intentions, nor do I intend to betray this deal," Theo answered honestly.

Alicia was taken aback. Kanae had Theo firmly under her control, so he couldn't lie. At the same time, he didn't express any anger for what she just did. Others definitely would.

"What do you want us to do for you?" Kanae asked and released him from her spell.

"I own a ruby mine not far north of here, a small mine but one that produces the largest nuggets anyone has ever seen. Its beautiful jewels adorn the wealthiest of Savir, even upon the likes of Sultana Dudula and Harpy King. Recently, it has come under attack by monsters. The adventurers of The Diamond are too incompetent for the task. You three will liberate it for me, and the token is yours. Sadul, you stay and keep me company in the meantime," Theo said.

"I, uhh… I think I'm feeling a little tired. A nap up in my room should do me some good." Sadul tried to walk away, but Theo's tail snatched his ankle. The heavy beastman fell to the ground with a loud thud, and the lamia reeled him up to the table against his will.

The three got going for Sadul's sake. No telling if Theo was going to have him for a meal if they took too long. They exited from the west end of the city, and Edina summoned her undead dragon to give them a ride.

"Edina, you're a succubus. A necromancer who can call forth untold numbers of undead at will. Why are you afraid of that cattle serpent?" Alicia asked.

"You try being born as one the smallest races in the world," Edina retorted. "I'm like one-fifths his size! I see a big snake and big harpy, I hide. It's instinct. Simple as. I mean, you gotta have something you're afraid of. Don't tell me 'nothing', because I know you'd be lying."

"I suppose I'm…"

"See. Everyone's got something that spooks 'em. Even a big bad succ like you," she said.

Kanae had a feeling what it was. Alicia spent centuries alone inside the sunken temple, tending to other lives under the control of Ambrosia. All those years down there would mess up anyone. When she rested a hand over Alicia's, the succubus returned a gentle squeeze and soft smile.

Edina continued and glanced over her shoulder with a grin. "But being afraid of something ain't bad though. You find out who really has your back when they come to help."

"I'll be sure not to seek help from you when it comes to dealing with lamias and harpies then." Alicia teased back.

"Okay… Next time we play poker, I'm taking you for everything you got." She rolled her eyes.

An encampment surrounding a cavern entrance came into view. Mine carts and equipment sat idle outside. Tents had been blown away, leaving behind stakes in the ground with ripped cloth. It looked like a modest operation when in use, but right now, the place had been overrun by large mole rat beasts.

Their giant claws dug trenches and holes into the earth. Some excavated sections of the wall had collapsed as a result.

"We're supposed to exterminate all of them? This is going to take days," Alicia said.

"Just gotta start killing then! Legion of the Dead, slaughter in your necromancer's name!" Edina summoned an army of undead warriors. They easily cut down the mole rats, whose only mode of defense was to retaliate with their claws. Against armor, however, those claws might as well be toothpicks.

"You see why I find it hard to believe you're scared of lamias? Especially when you speak of slaughter as casually as a stroll in the park." The rogue succubus folded her arms.

The extermination came to an abrupt stop when the mole rats retreated into holes to hide underground. Edina's undead didn't fit, and very soon had nothing left to fight.

"Well, this didn't solve anything. The mole rats are still around. We just can't kill them now." Kanae sighed.

"What the fuck did you want me to do then? Why don't you tag-in and do something!" Edina grabbed Kanae's hand and slapped it with her own.

"Wait, I'm sorry! I don't actually know what to do to coax them out!" she exclaimed apologetically.

Kanae walked up to a hole and peered in. There was movement inside, but the mole rats had very obviously entrenched themselves too deep to be reached by normal means. Suffice to say, they weren't coming out. Unless…

"Shall we leave and return once they resurface?" Alicia suggested.

"No, I'll lure every single one out. Hopefully. Just get ready to kill them all at once, or I'm going to have a terrible time. Or a good one, depending on what they're packing." Kanae shrugged.

Edina and Alicia lifted off into the air. Meanwhile, Kanae positioned herself before the mouth of the cave. Hundreds of holes surrounded her. This should be a better place than any. She breathed in a deep breath and switched on Versatile Womb.

The winds were beginning to pick up again. They were dry and easily wicked moisture away. Fortunately for Kanae, she was extremely horny by default. Her wet pussy gushed simply by existing. The fabric of Matron's Regalia rubbed against her stiff nipples. As a breeze blew in, it carried the scent of a breedable womb across the mining encampment.

Mole rats emerged from their holes, few by few at first, dozens, and eventually hundreds. Their noses sniffed the air, luring them to Kanae with the irresistible urge to mate and impregnate. That urge turned them violent, fighting for the chance to inseminate a female.

"I hope you guys have something before they turn me into a mole rat queen!" Kanae yelled, although she suddenly wouldn't mind if her companions failed.

Alicia landed beside Kanae and pushed her down. She spun in place, sending sharpened knives flying out in every direction and killing scores of mole rats.

"Perfect! Edina, use your undead to block their escape!" Kanae instructed.

"Gotcha!" The necromancer summoned an army of undead.

Many of the undead warriors simply jumped into the holes to clog it up. Two hulking death knights stood in front of the entrance into the mine. Left with nowhere to hide, Alicia and Edina's minions cut the rest of them down, and Kanae didn't fall victim to mole rat motherhood.

With their quest completed, Edina raised one of the mole rats into undeath to bring back with them. The sun was beginning to set by the time they returned. Theo Mambahu and Sadul were still in the dining area when they got back. However, the boar beastman had passed out on the ground. The lamia leisurely sipping on wine.

"You better not have killed him…" Kanae squinted.

"Despite his appearances, Sadul is quite lightweight. Well, is my ruby mine pest-free?" Theo asked.

Edina snapped her finger, and an undead mole rat climbed onto the table. She snapped again to release it from undeath, letting it plop down unmoving.

"Wonderful!" Theo clasped his hands gleefully and pulled out the token. "Since Sadul is incapacitated, perhaps you would like to accept this in his stead?"

As soon as Kanae reached for the coin, Theo closed his hand over hers and pulled her in. Edina and Alicia twitched forward with their weapons, but she motioned them against it.

"A word of caution when you attend the banquet: the special wine they plan to serve will be poisoned. Do not under any circumstances drink it. Romira intends to poison as many Dudula loyalists as possible in the association," Theo explained.

"And… why are you telling me this? Kanae asked.

"Because I preserved my life by accepting the deal that got Vevass killed for refusing. I risk my hide telling you this. But I'll be damned if Ortesia thinks they can buy us off. As a Saviran, there is no greater insult. Now…" He let go and shooed her. "You're ruining my sunset, which I prefer to enjoy alone. Take the piggy with you. Sadul is a poor drinking companion."

With Edina and Alicia helping, they walked the wasted beastman back to his room. The gold token was missing from his person. Theo likely took it in exchange. That was probably the lamia's plan all along. He wouldn't be able to enter the banquet with a lower rank token.

"The banquet is in two days," Kanae said.

"Which means it is likely too late to hunt down Romira. We will have to foil her plans on the day of. This sounds like a job for a rogue." Alicia smirked.

"I'm going to be attending the banquet with Sadul. We haven't been able to get in touch with Claudia and Petyr yet. Will you two be alright on your own?"

"Magical Stealth does allow me to obscure myself and another person," she said thoughtfully.

"Huh? Aww, shit… I have to go with you?" Edina groaned.