Upon emerging from the ancient castle, Huey searched around thoroughly, yet failed to locate the lime-green slime anywhere.
“Hmm…”
Squatting before a suspicious puddle of pale-green liquid, Huey pondered deeply for a long moment. “Could that slime have… melted from the sun?”
For a fleeting second, Xavier was struck speechless by the succubus’s extraordinary train of thought, before he smoothly and unperturbedly chimed in, “Perhaps.”
His dark-golden eyes swept across the shadowy corner near the castle’s entrance, where a thin layer of frigid frost lingered stubbornly across the ground and exterior walls, refusing to fade.
“How bizarre.” Rising to his feet, Huey scampered back to Xavier’s side and held up his admission ticket to display the tally. “Look, the ticket is showing five thousand points now, and it’s completely maxed out! Are the reward points for this game really that high?”
Glancing down at his own ticket, Xavier saw two lines of text materialized across the surface:
【Points: 5000】
【The point threshold has been met; please proceed to the Romance Stage to participate in the ultimate challenge.】
Though the slime had melted and no other staff members were present in the vicinity, the clearance rewards had conveniently been laid out on a table right by the entrance, unlocked by pressing the red gemstone of their couple rings directly into the keyhole to shatter the barrier.
Stashing the brand-new clothing and accessories back into his storage ring, Huey tilted his head as he read aloud, “Proceed to the Romance Stage to participate in the ultimate challenge…”
“I wonder what this year’s final grand prize is.”
“Are you planning to participate?” Xavier inquired.
With the evil spirits completely eradicated from the Verses Valley and no immediate target demanding his attention, Xavier didn’t mind accompanying the little succubus to indulge in a bit of fun.
Consider it… a reward for the young demon’s obedience and cuteness.
“If my lord is willing.” Huey’s eyes curved into crescent moons as he reached out to latch onto Xavier’s arm, giving it a gentle, coaxing shake. “If you’re willing to accompany me, I’ll be so happy!”
Using his free hand, Xavier reached out to ruffle the little succubus’s raven-black hair, letting out a soft, low chuckle. “Let’s go.”
The number of succubi qualified to compete in the final challenge was remarkably limited, as most minor games could only furnish winners with anywhere from five hundred to a thousand points; had it not been for the Dark Night Castle conveniently housing the hardest-to-unearth treasure, Huey would have needed to enter several additional events just to scrape together the required score.
Situated right at the dead center of the valley, the Romance Stage was accessed by passing through an ornate floral archway. Beyond it lay a massive, vibrant pink stage fluttering with an assortment of colorful little heart-shaped patterns, mimicking the distinctive shape of a succubus’s tail.
Well barring, of course, any platinum-gold hearts.
“Huey! Over here!”
Before they even reached the designated area, Sophiel was already spotted standing near the floral archway, waving energetically at them.
“Sophiel!”
Delighted to spot his friend, Huey pulled Xavier along as they hurried over, seizing the opportunity to casually flash the matching rings worn on their fingers with feigned nonchalance.
“Good grief, Huey!” Being a dark elf, Sophiel possessed exceptionally sharp eyesight and zeroed in on the paired rings instantly. “You really are a thoroughly competent succubus.”
Giving Huey an approving thumbs-up brimming with hearty admiration, Sophiel murmured, “Looks like the scenario I was worrying about isn’t going to happen after all.”
Huey puffed out his chest and wagged his tail triumphantly; the validation from his best friend brought immense satisfaction to the love-struck little succubus’s heart.
Xavier cast a slightly perplexed glance at Huey, who was visibly radiating excitement. It was genuinely impossible not to pay attention to him, especially since that hyperactive little tail was once again attempting to encircle his waist and wriggle its way inside his garments.
“Ahem.” Upholding his dignified composure, the Grand Archangel offered a gentle cough to interrupt the telepathic crossfire of glances between the pair. “Huey, shouldn’t we head over to register first?”
“Ah, right, right!” Tearing his gaze away from Sophiel, Huey nodded eagerly. “We need to hand our tickets over to…”
Glancing around, Huey spotted the familiar female succubus who had manned the ticket booth earlier.
“Big Sister.” Trot-trotting over, Huey handed his and Xavier’s tickets across. “Is this where we submit our tickets to register for the ultimate challenge?”
“That’s right.” Beaming, the ticket-seller succubus accepted the tickets and playfully pinched Huey’s soft, flushed cheek. “Such a cutie.”
Swiping both tickets across a magic crystal scanner, she handed them back to Huey. “Alright, go on inside and find yourselves a seat.”
As she passed the tickets back, she leaned out from behind the counter, pressing her bountiful bosom against the edge as she beckoned mysteriously for Huey to lean in close.
“Little cutie, Big Sister is going to let you in on a secret this ultimate challenge happens to be uniquely advantageous for you,” she whispered with a suggestive wink. “I stocked up on piles of those dream-inducing potions you sold during your live stream last time! Honestly, it’s been ages since I’ve had such a passionate time with those crude, brawny demons.”
The moment the conversation veered into Huey’s area of professional expertise, the little heart-shaped patterns in his eyes practically flared to life, flashing with a brilliant bling-bling radiance.
“I’m so glad I could be of help!”
Flashing a sweet smile that revealed two adorable little canine teeth, the young succubus tilted his head, looking so irresistibly sweet that observers felt a sudden, fierce urge to scoop him up and plant a bite right onto his fair, tender cheek.
Resting her chin in her hand, the succubus gazed at Huey with maternal fondness, thinking to herself how wonderful it would be if this adorable creature were her own younger brother.
Just as her maternal instincts peaked and she prepped to reach out and pull Huey into a warm embrace, Xavier stepped up from behind. With a smooth, effortless tug, he drew the young succubus back against his front, resting the slender frame flush against his chest while the familiar, enthusiastic little tail naturally re-anchored itself firmly around his waist.
“Hm? My lord?” Huey blinked in confusion, his small head coming to rest comfortably right against Xavier’s solid, firm chest.
“It’s getting late,” Xavier stated with an expression of absolute unconcern. “I noticed other competitors have already headed inside.”
Had they? Raising a brow in silent skepticism, Huey nonetheless obeyed docilely as Xavier took him by the hand and led him through the floral archway.
“Goodbye, Big Sister. Sophiel, hurry up and keep up!”
Before leaving, Huey thoughtfully turned back to wave cheerfully at the ticket seller while calling out to prompt his lagging companion.
“What a well-mannered little succubus,” Sophiel murmured, leaning against the counter and watching Huey’s retreating back with an indulgent, doting shake of her head.
“Mmhmm~” Sprawling across the counter, the ticket-seller succubus stretched languidly, her slender, graceful hands casually draping themselves across Sophiel’s shoulders.
“A demon’s possessiveness… truly runs uniform across the board.”
Tilting her head, the succubus rested her cheek against Sophiel’s opposite shoulder, narrowing her eyes as she breathed out a soft sigh of perfume. “Hey, dark elf, my shift is over. Care to come inside and watch the match with me?”
Instinctively attempting to dodge away, Sophiel discovered to her horror that the succubus possessed an absurd, overwhelming strength that pinned her immovably in place, leaving her with no choice but to surrender.
And thus, the poor dark elf lady ended up half-carrying the female succubus who stood a full head taller than her as they slowly shuffled into the floral archway.
As the ticket-seller had predicted, the format of this particular event happened to play directly into Huey’s strengths.
“…The objective of this challenge is to successfully market and sell these ‘little novelties’ during a live-stream broadcast. Whichever pair secures the highest sales volume shall be crowned the champion of this ‘Sweet Romance’ festival and claim the ultimate grand prize—!”
Standing upon the stage, a short goblin gripped a megaphone nearly as tall as himself, screeching at the top of his lungs in an attempt to pump up the energy of the venue.
Regrettably, the results were lackluster.
Down in the audience, the succubus contestants were either chattering amongst themselves or checking their reflections in pocket mirrors… leaving virtually no one other than Huey sitting upright and attentive, hanging onto every word of the goblin’s rule breakdown.
Sighing heavily, the goblin cleared his raspy, cracked throat and bellowed out the grand reveal: “The prize for the champions is an exclusive hosting role at the Frost Demon Lord, Lord Caron’s private auction banquet!”
……
Absolute silence. A prolonged, pin-drop stillness.
In the very next second, an earth-shattering shriek of absolute euphoria erupted from the audience of succubi, roaring with a volume that nearly blew the roof off the entire festival grounds.
“Aaaaaah Lord Caron’s auction banquet! Only the absolute upper crust of high society and the elite lords get invited to those!”
“Heavens! Even if no lord fancies me during the festival, securing a broadcast gig for this event guarantees I’ll never have to worry about finding a powerful demon companion ever again!”
Driven nearly to the brink of hysteria, the succubi shrieked with flushed, feverish complexions, paying zero heed to the dark, thunderous expressions settling across their companions’ faces.
For some inexplicable reason, Xavier felt a creeping visual sensation as though a vast expanse of lush, vibrant green grass had suddenly sprouted across the venue and the blades of green were threatening to crawl right onto him.
Glancing sideways at the thoroughly electrified little succubus beside him, Xavier’s pupils darkened fractionally, his thin lips pressing into a rigid, unforgiving line of profound displeasure.
That enthusiastic, adorable, hyperactive little tail! It had actually uncoiled itself voluntarily from his waist and was now swaying back and forth with frenzied excitement.
“Pardon me, could someone explain this to me?” Xavier managed a strained, polite smile. “It appears I’ve been slumbering far too long, and have grown completely out of touch with the world.”
Unable to contain his surging enthusiasm, Huey’s lips parted as words tumbled out at machine-gun velocity.
“Lord Caron is the supreme leader of the frost demons and a pillar of upper-echelon demon society! If you attend his auction, you’re guaranteed never to struggle finding a powerful partner again, and who knows if you catch Lord Caron’s eye, it’s not entirely out of the question either!”
Huey clasped his hands over his heart with a look of starry-eyed yearning, muttering, “Ever since I turned one hundred years old, my absolute greatest dream has been to attend Lord Caron’s auction and secure a powerful companion for myself!”
This reckless, hopeless brat… Seated right behind him and catching every single word, Sophiel massaged her temples in wordless despair. Voicing a desire to attend another man’s banquet to seek out a powerful companion right in front of the very man who held your heart such feats were exclusive to the repertoire of unhinged succubi.
“Is that so?” Xavier’s voice remained flat and devoid of warmth, radiating a chilling wave of irritation that froze poor Sophiel directly behind him into three consecutive shivers, forcing her to instinctively clutch the nearest companion for body heat.
“Yes, absolutely!” Completely oblivious to Xavier’s freezing tone, Huey remained entirely lost in his own bubbling excitement.
“I am definitely going to win this game, claim the championship, and earn the right to host that auction!” Huey rolled up his sleeves, brimming with eager anticipation.
“Mhm.”
Giving a cold, clipped acknowledgment, Xavier closed his eyes and leaned back rigidly against his chair, radiating an aura of boundless frost that made the dark elf and succubus sitting behind him shiver uncontrollably though the hyperactive little succubus seated right next to him remained completely oblivious.
Since you want it that way so badly, I suppose I shall help you secure it, Xavier thought darkly.
Why is Frank’s efficiency so abysmal? He still hasn’t tracked down the whereabouts of the evil spirits.
Tapping his right index finger irritably against the armrest, Xavier inadvertently caused the ring upon his ring finger to strike the wood with a crisp clack. As he instinctively twisted the band around his finger, his internal sense of dissatisfaction escalated exponentially.
As the Grand Archangel bearing the sacred duty of safeguarding Heaven’s security, he felt as though he was squandering an absurdly excessive amount of time upon this cunning little succubus…