Chapter 34: The Name of the Incubus
Lance naturally understood exactly what the Incubi meant by “feeding.”
Humans relied on food to sustain their lives, while the Incubi’s eternally unsatisfiable hunger drove them to indulge their desires, obtaining a brief sense of satiety through intercourse with humans.
Even if they didn’t feed, it wouldn’t cause any physical harm to their bodies. They didn’t rely on the tiny bit of essence from humans to survive, yet hardly any Incubus could resist that painful, unending hunger.
Lance knew very well in his heart that this was the Incubi’s “nature.”
For Incubi, this truly wasn’t some heinous, evil act. The root of all their sins lay in their “nature.” Most Incubi were powerless to resist it. Even a Great Demon like Ashby found it difficult to break free from this irresistible desire.
Yes, it was “nature” that was wrong.
Lance could only sigh, then raise his eyes to look at the bewildered Deventer standing aside.
“You must be the missing Crown Prince Deventer,” his tone was finally somewhat polite. “I’d like to ask you a few questions.”
Deventer: “…”
Deventer was at a loss, unsure if he should answer. He recognized Samuel as the younger brother of the Royal Capital’s Knight Commander, so naturally, he had guessed the purpose of these people. He remained silent, only turning his head to look at Ashby beside him.
Ashby nodded at him painfully.
So, Deventer invited Lance and the others to step into the palace within the oasis. The golden corridor beneath the palm trees was adorned with fresh flowers, and curious little Incubi lay prostrate by the windows of the adjacent buildings. Lance frowned as he looked around this overly luxurious palace, finally catching a glimpse through the gaps of a carved window frame of several… humans sitting dazed in a room?
Those people had no tails or wings. They just stared blankly at a table full of delicious food in front of them, sitting motionless in place, unresponsive to the sounds around them, as if in a trance. Lance wasn’t sure of his judgment and couldn’t help frowning as he asked, “Are those humans?”
Misha was very nervous.
According to Misha’s observation, those should indeed be humans. Judging by their clothing, they seemed to be residents of a city on the other side of the desert. As for why these people were here…
Misha turned his head and shot Ashby a look filled with questioning.
âWhat is going on with you? Did you stop restraining the little Incubi just because you were busy falling in love?!
Ashby was also very nervous.
He had no idea why there were humans in his palace, but even thinking with his toes, he could guess. It must be that after he left the Demon Domain to find the human Hero, those little Incubi seduced humans from nearby towns and brought them back.
If an Incubus seduced a human, what else could it be for?
But he had repeatedly ordered them not to cause troubleâat least not to cause trouble within his Demon Domain.
Ashby could only return an innocent look to Misha.
âI don’t know either!!!
The two of them were busy exchanging glances, neither speaking up to answer Lance’s question. Deventer had to timidly pick up the slack, saying, “Yes.”
Lance: “…”
Deventer hurriedly added, “Please rest assured, their lives are not in danger.”
Lance: “…”
“For them, these experiences will just be a beautiful dream,” Deventer swallowed nervously. “After waking up, there will be some side effects, but it’s nothing more than dizziness and weak legs. At worst, they might need to lie in bed for a few daysâ”
Lance raised an eyebrow. “Did you get those humans’ permission?”
Deventer: “…Permission?”
He looked helplessly at Ashby, clearly unfamiliar with the process of Incubi seducing humans. And although Ashby didn’t want to explain such things in front of the Hero, at a time like this…
He had to bite the bullet.
Ashby: “A… a beautiful encounter shouldn’t have prior warnings…”
âHow could an Incubus possibly get a human’s consent before feeding!
Ashby: “That’s what makes it a beautiful romantic encounter.”
âThey definitely just picked random people, used charm magic to bewitch them, and then dragged them back!
Ashby: “A… a beautiful romantic encounter is also a beautiful experience.”
âBesides, how do you get prior consent from humans for this kind of thing?
‘Hello, I am an Incubus, I’m about to feed, can you lie down and cooperate with me?!’
Ashby tried his best to explain, attempting to beautify the Incubi’s rude behavior as much as possible. But he watched as Lance frowned little by little, obviously not very satisfied with his clumsy explanation.
“This kind of thing,” Lance raised an eyebrow slightly. “Cannot be considered a ‘beautiful dream’ for just anyone.”
Ashby coughed loudly. “But such a romantic encounterâ”
Lance: “It’s only a romantic encounter if both parties agree.”
Ashby wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Our… our Incubi’s looks are all very…”
Lance: “You are forcing them.”
Ashby: “…”
Deventer: “…”
For some reason, this time, Misha actually felt the Hero made some sense.
They had already walked past that room. Ashby pushed open the door to a luxurious room for them, invited everyone to sit down, and then said cautiously, “I am willing to change.”
Deventer looked at Ashby in surprise, evidently never expecting that the arrogant Ashby would actually bow his head to a human.
But since the Demon King was helping this human, perhaps… it was normal for Ashby to bow his head.
Lance sat in the chair directly opposite Deventer, still frowning slightly as he looked at Deventer and asked, “Did Ashby kidnap you?”
Deventer thought, This human is finally getting to the point. He wants to take me back.
Deventer took a deep breath, summoned all his courage, and responded seriously, “Ashby and I truly love each other.”
Lance: “…”
“He didn’t force me to do anything,” Deventer said. “He is different from other Incubi.”
Lance asked, “The King and Queen didn’t allow you to be together?”
Deventer lowered his head awkwardly and whispered, “My parents… they don’t know about this.”
He didn’t dare tell his royal father and mother about such a thing.
A human Crown Prince falling in love with a lustful Incubusâhe dared not even imagine how his parents would view this matter. He could only hold Ashby’s hand tightly and whisper, “I think they wouldn’t allow me to do this.”
Lance: “…”
Lance finally leaned forward slightly, looking straight at Deventer, and asked, “Do you know that your disappearance nearly caused a war between humans and demons?”
Deventer nodded. “I wrote a letter to my father, made up some lies, and stopped him.”
Lance: “Then do you know how much money pre-war preparations cost?”
Deventer: “…Huh?”
Lance: “It seems you don’t know.”
He felt he had finished his questioning. As for the rest of Deventer and Ashby’s love story, he had no intention of understanding it, nor did he want to know. Romance stories were mostly all the same anyway.
So Lance slowly stood up and took one last look at Deventer.
“I have always felt,” Lance said, “that those who dare to pursue love are filled with courage.”
But his gaze was cold, and his words didn’t sound like praise for Deventer and Ashby.
Misha even felt there was a hint of impatience in Lance’s eyes.
He didn’t like what Deventer had done, and now it seemed he didn’t like Deventer as a person either.
“But those who abandon their responsibilities for personal desire,” Lance’s tone was cold, “are cowards.”
Deventer: “…”
Lance had already turned his gaze to Ashby.
Lance: “Ashby, before taking the Prince back, I need to do a few things.”
Deventer was startled. “Take me back?”
“Send those humans back,” Lance ignored Deventer’s words and emphasized, “You are not allowed to ask them for ‘compensation’.”
Ashby: “Mm…”
“Have the Incubi who brought them here apologize to them,” Lance raised an eyebrow. “Apologize and compensate them until they are willing to forgive you.”
Ashby didn’t dare refuse.
He nodded repeatedly, agreeing to all of Lance’s requests.
Lance asked again, “Can you gather all the Incubi?”
Ashby hesitated. “What are you going to do?”
Lance remained very cold, emphasizing each word: “Hold a meeting.”
Ashby: “…A meeting?”
Misha: “…”
Ashby turned his gaze to Misha for help.
No, what meeting? Incubi have never held a meeting!
Help me! Lord Demon King!
Ashby went to gather the Incubi, while Deventer, nervous and uneasy, secretly pulled Misha aside.
He knew Misha’s identity. Since Ashby was inexplicably obedient to Lance, he could only ask the Demon King for information, seeking even a shred of security.
Misha felt awkward.
He tried hard to explain to Deventer that Ashby had lost a contest with the Hero and was forced to sign a contract, so he had to follow the Hero’s orders for now. However, he would think of a way to dissolve that strange contract as soon as possible.
But Deventer still frowned with worry, saying, “He wants to take me back.”
Misha coughed. “I’ll think of something…”
But… what can I think of?
Misha frowned, then simply looked at the Hero standing by the window and nodded firmly.
“I’ll go ask him,” Misha said. “Wait for me.”
Having heard Lance questioning Deventer earlier, he felt he roughly understood the Hero’s thoughts.
The Hero was still distressed about money.
War preparations cost a lot of money, and Deventer had wasted it without even realizing. If Misha were in the Hero’s shoes, he would also feel heartbroken over the money.
Mm, that must be it.
Misha walked up to Lance, cleared his throat, and asked, “Lord Lance, youâ”
Lance had already guessed Misha’s question. He didn’t even need Misha to ask it before proactively answering, “I have no interest in breaking them up.”
Misha: “…”
Misha was relieved.
Lance: “But I am taking him back to the capital.”
Misha: “…”
Misha formed some terrible mental images of what was about to happen.
The King and Queen didn’t know Deventer hadn’t just gone missing; he had eloped with an Incubus. Nor did they know Deventer had become this… er, completely different, pretty-boy version of his former self.
The reappearance of a long-lost son was indeed an exciting event, but the long-lost son hadn’t just had an ambiguous relationship with a male; that male was a notorious Incubus.
If Misha were the King… Misha felt it might be better if the son just stayed missing.
“Don’t worry,” Lance added. “Just making him go back to atone for his sins.”
Misha: “…”
No, no, no, that sounds even less reassuring.
But from Lance’s words and expression, Misha could more or less discern Lance’s thoughts about Deventer.
Lance really didn’t like Deventer at all.
That emotion, while not quite at the level of disdain or loathing, was extremely complicated. Misha could only probe tentatively, “Atone? He… what sins does he need to atone for?”
The Prince spent too much money; surely he wasn’t going to make the Prince work part-time to pay it back?
“He only considered his love. Even now, all he cares about is his love,” Lance said coldly. “He never thought about what kind of disaster his thoughtless actions would bring to the country.”
Misha scratched his head.
“I won’t force him to fulfill his duties, nor will I break them up,” Lance said. “You can tell them to rest assured.”
Misha: “Then…”
Lance: “I’m taking Ashby back too.”
Misha: “Eh?”
Take Ashby back for what?
To watch the royal family drama live, storm edition?
So scary.
He really couldn’t guess this Hero’s thoughts.
But since the Hero had given a definite answer that he wouldn’t break up Deventer and Ashby, Misha could successfully go back and report to Deventer.
Ashby had sent out the message, ordering all Incubi to assemble quickly. Then, following Lance’s instructions, he arranged several rows of tables and chairs in front of the palace and even listed the names of all the little Incubi to make it easier for the Hero to check who was late or absent.
They waited for over an hour, yet the Incubi dragged their feet, and less than half had arrived.
Lance finally couldn’t help asking Ashby, “Are you really their King?”
At the mention of this, Ashby naturally couldn’t hide his pride. He even puffed out his chest slightly and said, “Of course!”
Lance: “You’re failing.”
Ashby: “…”
Lance gestured for Ashby to look at the small number of Incubi who had arrived, all sitting in the back rows. “It’s been so long, and only this many have shown up?”
Ashby frowned. “Incubi have their own things to do too.”
Lance finally paused, showing an expression of looking at the Incubi in a new light. “You guys have jobs?”
Ashby: “Feeding.”
Lance: “…”
Misha: “…”
Ashby: “Would you want to be interrupted while you were feeding?”
Misha: “…”
Why is an Incubus discussing this topic with a Hero?!
Lance, as expected, looked away coldly. “Humans don’t call that kind of thing feeding.”
Good. The Hero and the Incubus indeed have no common topics.
Misha sighed deeply, trying to sneak a peek at the list of Incubi in front of Lance.
It had been so long, yet the other Incubi still hadn’t arrived. He even felt that, given the Incubi’s habitually lazy nature, maybe they wouldn’t show up even if they waited until dark.
“How about…” Lance suddenly said softly, “Misha, you do the roll call first.”
Misha, suddenly mentioned: “Eh?”
Lance waved Misha over to teach him some roll call techniques.
“Just read the names on this list,” Lance said. “It’s not hard. Just repeat it three times. If no one answers, skip to the next one.”
Misha: “…”
Misha turned his head back in panic, looking at Ashby behind him.
Right, it’s just a simple roll call.
But when he is the Demon King, this matter obviously becomes terrifying.
The call of the Demon King carries the Demon King’s magic power.
All demons, upon hearing the Demon King’s call three consecutive times, are compelled to immediately rush to the Demon King’s side. Before, Ashby’s domain was blocked by layers of illusions, so his summons couldn’t penetrate. But just now, in order to notify the Incubi to return quickly, Ashby must have lifted the domain’s magic. That meansâ
If Misha calls, those Incubi will really come.
This would expose his identity too easily. He absolutely cannot agree to the Hero’s request.
Misha: “Um… Arlo…”
Arlo nodded solemnly. “I’ll do it.”
Lance: “No.”
Misha: “…”
Arlo asked awkwardly, “…Why?”
Lance: “I don’t like your voice.”
Arlo: “…”
Misha had to look at Samuel with pleading eyes.
Samuel didn’t understand why Misha wasn’t willing to do such a thing, but he was always helpful. Since it was Envoy Misha’s request, he would naturally agree. So Samuel said with enthusiasm, “Lord Lance, Iâ”
Lance: “Your voice is too deep.”
Samuel looked devastated.
Ashby understood Lord Demon King’s worry. He coughed and said, “How aboutâ”
Lance: “You are a pervert.”
Ashby: “…”
Ashby tugged at Deventer’s sleeve.
Deventer was at a loss, looking around nervously, then whispered, “I…”
Lance: “You’re pretty much a pervert too.”
Deventer: “…Huh?”
Misha: “…”
Misha understood.
Lance just wanted to hear him read these names.
He didn’t know why Lance insisted on him reading the Incubi’s names. He even wondered… Has my identity already been exposed, so Lance is trying every way possible to make me reveal myself in front of everyone?
Misha bit his lower lip, and with trembling hands, picked up the list in front of Lance.
There’s no other way.
If I stubbornly refuse to read, it’ll be even more suspicious. It’s better to deliberately mispronounce the names or the sounds, make the magic fail, and survive this crisis first.
Even if I really get exposed, as long as I run fast enough, Misha thought with worry, the Hero shouldn’t be able to catch me, right?
Misha held up the list and loudly read the first name.
“Tender-ââ-Perky-ââ-Butt-ââ-Little-Sweetheart-Lia-â.”
Misha: “…”
Eh?
These are the Incubi’s names?
Misha quickly scanned the roster of Incubi in his hand.
ăBig-ââ-Sexy-ââ-Yeah-ââ-Bi-Jayă
ăPerky-ââ-Little-â-Wild-Cat-â-Ski-ââă
Misha swallowed hard, finally unable to resist lifting his head and looking carefully left and right.
Samuel’s face was getting redder and redder, as if it was his first time hearing such crude and direct vulgarities. Arlo awkwardly turned his gaze away, pretending he hadn’t heard anything. Lance, meanwhile, looked thoughtfully at the seats in front of him, seemingly not paying attention to the names Misha was reading.
But Misha saw it clearly. There was distinctly a slight smile on the corner of the Hero’s mouthâ
This hateful Hero is definitely teasing me on purpose!
Misha gritted his teeth, repeating those strange names with resentment.
I need to be calm. I can’t beat up the Hero. Sob. I can’t beat him anyway.
Almighty God King.
You made this annoying Hero so strong.
Why couldn’t you make me a little stronger too?
Misha took a breath and whispered the last name aggrievedly: “âââ-Little-Sweetheart-Lia.”
He didn’t even have time to finish reading the last word.
The seat in front of him exploded with a poof of purple smoke, startling Misha. As the smoke cleared, a scantily clad Incubus appeared on the chair, looking confused.
He blinked.
Misha blinked too.
Itâs over.
These names were so weird that I forgot to deliberately mispronounce them!!!
Author’s Note:
Hero: How can there be such irresponsible people. Mood âââ
Misha: …Tender… [Automatically Omitted] …Perky… Er… (Blushing)
Hero: Mood âââ
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