“Here, these are the little novelties your group needs to sell.” A goblin hauled out a woven bamboo basket covered with a layer of dark fabric.
Just as the goblin was about to hand over the basket, he paused upon spotting the succubus standing before him. Catching a distinct look at the unique color of the young demon’s tail, his eyes lit up in excitement. “It’s Huey! Wait a second!”
Before Huey could take hold of the basket, the goblin snatched it back abruptly, swapping it out for a significantly more tattered, dilapidated basket. Wearing a cunning, calculating grin, he handed it over with a sly smile. “Ah, my mistake. This is the basket meant for you.”
Brilliant! These products that had failed to sell for hundreds of years were finally going to find a buyer!
“This looks utterly wrecked.” The moment Huey took hold of the basket, its handle snapped off entirely. Fortunately, his reflexes were quick; he caught the bottom of the basket just in time with his free hand, narrowly preventing its contents from spilling all over the floor.
Lifting the tattered cloth to peer inside, Huey couldn’t help groaning aloud, “Of course it’s these three items. This is outrageous even for me, selling these things is going to be a monumental challenge!”
The little succubus puffed out his cheeks in indignation, fully intending to track down the goblin and argue the point, but the slippery goblin had already made himself scarce, vanishing without a trace.
“Are they really that difficult to sell?” Xavier lowered his gaze, a fleeting glimmer of secret amusement flashing through his heart.
Huey nodded, then shook his head. “Well, it’s not strictly that they’re hard to sell; the items themselves function just fine. The problem is that certain conditions for their use are far too demanding, so most people simply prefer choosing more convenient alternatives.”
Fishing out a vial emanating an unsettling, foul odor, Huey introduced it: “Take this lie-detector potion, for instance. It can precisely measure whether a companion’s sweet words are genuine or false.”
“However…” Huey spread his hands in helpless resignation. “As you’ve probably noticed, the scent is simply repulsive. While it tastes completely flavorless when consumed, the moment anyone catches a whiff of this stench, even a fool would immediately realize it’s the lie-detector potion. To be fair, its actual effectiveness is top-tier easily the best among lie detectors on the market. Sadly, buyers would rather opt for substitutes.”
Huey looked thoroughly disheartened, his delicate facial features wrinkling together into a mask of pure distress.
Generally speaking, lie-detector potions always enjoyed brisk sales in the Underworld, given how prone demons were to smooth-talking and sweet-tackling. Owning such an item provided an exceptionally efficient tool for unmasking scoundrels and heartbreakers, making them wildly popular.
“As for the other two…” Huey grew even more despondent, wearing the expression of a demon whose soul had left his body. “This waist chain has zero flaws, except for one fatal drawback: the materials used are far too premium, making it outrageously expensive! Absolutely no one is going to buy it. What’s worse, despite costing a fortune, it’s remarkably fragile who on earth would spend thirty thousand gold coins on a single-use disposable waist chain?!”
“And this chest chain suffers from the exact same malady. Both were crafted from bone dragons by those greedy beasts who only cared about maximizing profits; naturally, the more expensive and fragile, the better…”
The more Huey explained, the more wretched his complexion became. In his two-century career, these three items unquestionably constituted the ultimate trial of his professional life.
No, he had never encountered merchandise quite this impossible to move!
Conversely, as the poor little succubus sank deeper into despair, Xavier’s mood improved by leaps and bounds.
This “upright” Grand Archangel had just “casually and inadvertently” familiarized himself with the products assigned to the competing groups.
Well… though those items possessed various minor shortcomings of their own and presented sales hurdles, none of them approached the sheer absurdity of these three.
Splendid, the young succubus was guaranteed to lose.
“It’s quite alright. Even if you don’t secure the championship, I’m confident you’ll find a powerful demon.” Xavier curved his lips into a faint smile, offering a thoroughly proper, respectable note of comfort.
“You’re adorable. Even without hosting the auction, you’re more than capable of attracting a powerful companion.”
A warm, sturdy hand rested gently upon the young succubus’s soft locks, channeling a steady stream of comforting warmth and strength straight into the succubus’s frantically racing heart.
Blushing fiercely beneath the weight of the large hand, Huey stole a quick, furtive glance up at Xavier before quickly lowering his gaze again, his tone dripping with sweet, bashful shyness. “Actually… my primary motivation isn’t really to go out and find a powerful demon companion…”
I’ve already found the exact lord I want…
“It’s just that during the auction, the host earns a full one percent commission on the total transaction value of all items sold!” Lifting his flushed little face, the young succubus declared with utmost earnestness and solemnity, “That’s an absolute fortune! I wouldn’t make that much even if I spent the next several centuries streaming.”
Xavier froze for a fraction of a second, his dark brows knitting together as his deep, fathomless eyes locked onto the young demon. He repeated incredulously, “You wish to become the host simply to earn money?”
Huey shot him a slightly puzzled look, only to crash directly into those unfathomable, inscrutable eyes. His little tail instinctively stiffened, wrapping around Xavier’s unoccupied hand in a fawning, coaxing gesture as it rubbed against him affectionately.
“Of course!”
The little succubus’s resolute tone and flattering movements immensely pleased the disgruntled Grand Archangel. A low chuckle slipped past his lips. “In my view, you are the most adorable and charming succubus in existence; I have no doubt you will triumph in this competition.”
And even if he doesn’t… Xavier thought with casual indifference, I wonder how substantial the accumulated salary of Heaven’s Grand Archangel spanning several millennia happens to be right about now.
Pondering along those lines, Xavier’s gaze drifted back down toward the active little tail wrapped eagerly around his waist, busily engaged in frantic displays of affection. His expression softening into warmth, he reached out with his free hand to catch the playful little heart-shaped tip and massage it gently in his palm, eliciting a soft, radiant white luminescence from the heart itself.
A succubus possessing a platinum-gold heart-shaped tail… he deserved to belong to Heaven.
Startled by having his tail seized, Huey froze entirely from head to toe. A wave of intense, electric tingles shot through his limbs, sapping the strength from his knees and causing him to stumble forward directly into Xavier’s embrace.
From an outsider’s perspective, it appeared entirely as though the little succubus had thrown himself proactively into the man’s arms.
Catching the scene, Sophiel widened her eyes in helpless admiration, marveling aloud, “As expected of a succubus and his racial talents he managed to soothe the guy in a heartbeat? Incredible!”
Slumping languidly against her, the female succubus fluttered her eyelids lazily, casting a sultry glance before purring, “My, my this lord doesn’t look like your average stubborn, blockheaded demon. He’s quite formidable.”
Buried completely within Xavier’s arms, the petite succubus was so snugly nestled against him that, save for the distinct arc outlined by his tail, he was practically swallowed whole by the man’s embrace.
“M-my lord!” Huey’s face felt as though it had been subjected to the boiling depths of the Underworld, radiating billowing waves of heat!
How could he possibly go around stroking a succubus’s tail out in the open like this?! Even the cool metallic ornaments adorning Xavier’s attire failed to absorb any of the overwhelming heat flushing across Huey’s cheeks.
The refuge that offered the young succubus an escape from reality proved short-lived. Striding out from an unseen corner, that cunning little goblin reappeared, hauling an even more gargantuan megaphone as he shrieked at the top of his lungs:
“Alright! Preparation time has concluded, and the match is about to commence! Hey, you two over there, yes, I’m talking to Huey! Stop standing around hugging and flirting; save the sweet-talking for after you’ve finished the competition and gone home!”
Propelled through the megaphone, the goblin’s piercing screeches echoed continuously across the entire stage, reverberating without pause.
Spurred by the announcement, the surrounding succubi couldn’t resist bursting into amused, good-natured chuckles, playfully teasing the poor, flustered young succubus.
“Look at little Huey cutie, already finding himself a partner to cuddle with~”
“Well, what else did you expect? We succubi are creatures who naturally require a companion to enfold us in love at every waking moment. You tiny green goblin, you’re just jealous because you don’t understand the sweet nectar of romance.”
……
Furious at being mocked, the goblin hopped up and down on his short, dark-green legs, shaking his megaphone as he roared back, “Shut your traps! Shut your traps, all of you! Say another word and I’ll restrict traffic to your live-stream channels!”
Following the commotion, the five competing pairs of succubi and companions each filed into their respective isolated broadcasting booths. Inside awaited complete setups of live-streaming equipment alongside various auxiliary tools; should they require anything specialized, applications could be submitted directly to the goblin.
However… the famously stingy Mr. Goblin had already made it abundantly clear that he intended to offer zero assistance to these discourteous succubi!
“Um, hello older brothers and older sisters. It’s me again your little Huey~” Leaning in close to the broadcasting camera, Huey beamed a sweet, sunny smile, revealing a charming pair of sharp little canine teeth.
“That’s right, I’ve joined the ultimate competition for the ‘Sweet Romance’ festival as well!” Adopting a suitably pitiful, aggrieved expression, Huey cooed, “The items we’ve been assigned to stream this time are terribly tricky, so I’m really going to need all my older brothers and sisters to step in and help me out.”
Sharp-eyed viewers tracking the rapid bullet comments streaming across the screen quickly caught sight of the silent, imposing figure standing directly behind Huey.
“That’s right!” Boldsly linking his arm through Xavier’s, Huey leaned his head trustingly against the man’s shoulder. “This lord right here is my partner for the competition! He is such an irresistibly charming, gentle, considerate, and utterly gentlemanly lord, everyone!”
Cooperating seamlessly, Xavier offered a mild, pleasant smile, faithfully executing his duties as the little succubus’s premier “prop.”
“What items am I featuring today? Well, I’m sure most of you already recognize these three pieces.” Showcasing the three products one by one in front of the camera lens, Huey attempted a valiant spin to salvage their reputation: “Actually, I’m certain many of you simply haven’t appreciated their hidden strengths yet. Huey is going to work extra hard to showcase them properly so everyone can truly understand the value of these items!”
Despite his brave proclamations, holding the waist chain and chest chain in his hands left Huey internally weeping; during his demonstration, a careless twitch of his fingers applied slightly too much force, causing a segment of the chain to snap cleanly apart highlighting its atrocious fragility.
Wait… fragile…?
A sudden flash of inspiration illuminated the tiny heart-shaped patterns in Huey’s eyes as a brilliant stratagem materialized in his mind.
“My lord.” Tugging gently on Xavier’s sleeve, Huey motioned for him to lean in close.
Bending down obligingly, Xavier brought his ear right beside the young succubus’s lips, catching the warm, sweet breath wafting softly against his skin.
After whispering his ingenious plan aloud, the little succubus stared up at Xavier with wide, sparkling eyes brimming with eager anticipation and hopeful expectation. “Would that be alright, my lord?”
Raising a brow upon hearing the proposal, Xavier countered with a rhetorical question: “Are you certain you wish for me to proceed in such a manner?”
Nodding vigorously, Huey chimed in with a coaxing, sweet tone: “I’ll have to trouble you then, my lord~”
Securing Xavier’s assent, Huey reached out to draw a privacy screen across the front of the camera lens, taking care to add a parting remark to the audience: “I need to change into a different outfit first, everyone, so please bear with me for just a moment!”
With the camera blocked, Huey hoisted a piece of fabric and glanced over his shoulder at Xavier with a shy flush dusting his cheeks. “My lord… would you perhaps need a screen to turn around as well?”
Looking somewhat disdainfully at the garish fabric, Xavier shook his head and consciously turned his back of his own accord.
Behind him came the faint, rustling sounds of the little succubus changing attire, accompanied by the distinct scuffle of the heart-shaped tail beating softly against the fabric of his garments.
Recalling the strategy the young succubus had just proposed, the Grand Archangel narrowed his eyes, unconsciously rotating the couple ring resting upon his right ring finger.
Meanwhile, back in Heaven
Frank stared in utter disbelief, his eyes widening to the size of saucers. “What did you just say?!”
The junior angel who had delivered the report trembled in sheer terror, squeaking out a repetition: “My lord… my lord intends to participate in a live-streaming sales competition alongside a succubus…”
Displaying a completely wooden expression, Frank gestured for the junior angel to withdraw. Finding himself entirely alone, he sank straight down onto the floor, his intestines instantly turning green with agonizing regret.
If I had only known earlier, I never should have let the Archangel watch that succubus’s broadcast in the first place. If he hadn’t seen it, the angel currently soaking up a public-funded business trip down in the Underworld playing around with a succubus would have been ME!
Wuuu, wuuu
Today in Heaven, Assistant Frank continued losing his mind in total disregard of his dignified status as an angel~