Chapter 67: Coping Method (3)

Essence Orb.

Among the countless demon races, only incubus and succubus are capable of creating these, which are spheres that condense and store the essence of others.

Once shaped into an orb, the essence can be preserved for a long time, allowing them to save it for emergencies.

It can be used to stave off hunger, boost power in an instant, or even extend one’s lifespan.

For a succubus, it is the most valuable possession.

In fact, in succubus society, these orbs are often used as a form of alternative currency.

And the main reason Sion came to see Nelia today was to obtain this Essence Orb.

“W-What are you going to use it for…?”

“I need it. Urgently. I have to collect a large amount of male energy as quickly as possible for certain reasons, and as you can see, I’m in no condition to do that myself. That’s why I’ve come to rely on you.”

“C-Couldn’t you ask another succubus? I mean, there must be others who could help… I’m, uh, not in the best situation right now…”

“No. It has to be yours.”

Sion shook her head firmly.

A mere mid-level succubus’s Essence Orb wouldn’t suffice.

The strength of the soul is what mattered.

Only the orb of a high-level succubus, and in particular, a queen like Nelia, could even come close to filling the Demon King’s vessel.

That’s why Sion came to her and no one else.

“To repeat, this is urgent. I can’t afford to be picky about methods, so if you refuse, I might have to take it by force—”

“NO!!!”

At that moment, Nelia screamed at the top of her lungs, so loudly that even Sion flinched and took a step back.

“Not the Essence Orb. You can’t have it! I will never give it to you!!!”

“W-What? Why are you reacting so strongly…?

You can make another one in two or three weeks, right? I assumed you’d have dozens stored away in a vault.”

“That’s in the past!!”

Nelia shouted, her voice quivering with frustration.

“You have no idea… You have no idea how horrible life in this tower is! 

Every day, I get one measly vial of spoiled semen, at least three days old, as my ration! And only once per day! I starve the rest of the time! Do you even understand how maddening that is!?”

“…How maddening is it?”

“Imagine your only meals every day were two bland, unsalted boiled potatoes. Then you might understand how I feel!”

Oh, wow.

Sion couldn’t help but imagine that scene, and the sheer horror of it sent a shudder down her spine.

Was her quality of life really that bad? Even for an ancestor, that treatment seemed way too harsh.

“The days when I had dozens of orbs stored are long gone! Over time, I had to use them up whenever I couldn’t handle the starvation, and now I’m down to just one.

Do you know how I use that last one? I can’t even bear to eat it because it’s all I have left.

Instead, whenever I’m starving, I hold it close to my chest and imagine what it would feel like to break it and absorb the energy. 

How satisfied my womb would feel… That’s what I picture in my head.

And now, you want to take away my last bit of hope? Are you even human?!”

“…….”

“…Well, technically, I’m not human, but…”

Sion stopped herself from continuing.

Tears were welling up in Nelia’s eyes.

“Do you see this horn on the left side of my head, Lord?”

Nelia tilted her head slightly, showing Sion the side of her face.

“As you can see, the left horn is shorter than the right one. Do you know why?”

“…Why?”

“Because I cut it off myself.”

Nelia gave a hollow laugh as she pulled something out of her pocket.

It was a curved, metallic object with a similar sheen to her horn, but the tip had been rounded.

“Do you know what this is used for?”

“…No idea. What is it?”

“It’s a dildo. Hehehe.”

Nelia let out a deranged giggle.

“My lovely descendants wouldn’t allow even a toy or basic relief tools, let alone a man, so I had no choice but to make one out of my own body parts.”

“As you can see, I tore off a perfectly fine horn, then carved the end to shape it into a penis.

The horn grows back over time, so I swallowed my pride and cut it off.

In this tower, this is my only friend. I even named it Wilson.”

“…”

“Now, do you understand how pitiful my life is?”

Indeed, it was a tear-jerking story, one that made you feel like you were witnessing the fall of a once-great king into absolute misery.

The woman who had once been hailed as the pinnacle of succubi now reduced to this pathetic state?

The concept of affection truly was a terrifying one.

Sion averted her gaze, feeling an odd sense of guilt.

“Ahem, well… sorry. I didn’t mean to speak so thoughtlessly, not knowing your situation.”

“Hmph, if you’re really sorry, why not let me have your body for once? I could use a little ‘nourishment’ after so long.”

“Uh, no, that’s… not happening.”

Sion crossed her arms, falling deep into thought.

Nelia’s circumstances were pitiful, no doubt, but Sion wasn’t in a position to back down easily either.

The Essence Orb was her only way to acquire the male hormones she desperately needed while stuck in this female body.

 There were no alternatives.

If she didn’t get the orb here, she’d have to endure those uncomfortable and unwelcome feelings of same-sex attraction again.

That was absolutely out of the question.

“…Is there really no way you’ll give it to me?”

“I already said no!!!”

Nelia flung herself dramatically onto the floor, screaming at the top of her lungs.

“I won’t give it up!!! If you’re going to take it, you might as well kill me first!!! Just cut me open and take it, you heartless bastard!!!

Why don’t you just steal a flea’s liver instead, you cruel monster!!!”

“…”

Sion held her head in her hand as she watched Nelia throw all dignity aside, flailing and screaming.

As ruthless and unhesitating as she could be, Sion did have some basic decency.

After all, Nelia had once been a loyal subordinate and lover.

It would be too cruel to strip away her last remaining hope.

But Sion couldn’t afford to walk away empty-handed either.

‘Is there really no other option?’ she thought, sifting through the possibilities in her mind.

Surely, there was something among the many spells she had mastered that could solve this situation.

Something that would allow them to reach a compromise—something that would satisfy Nelia’s desires while also securing the Essence Orb for herself.

And then, it hit her.

Ah. There was something perfect for this situation.

“Alright, Nelia Whitevine. Let’s make a deal.”

“No! No matter what you offer, I’m not giving it up! This orb is my last hope—”

“Will you let me finish my sentence?”

Sion cut Nelia’s whining short.

“You’re clinging to that orb because you can’t bring yourself to use it, right?

You’re just hoarding it, fantasizing about it without actually doing anything. Isn’t that right?

If I can offer you something more tangible, wouldn’t it be better for you to take that instead?”

“…And what exactly is this ‘tangible’ thing?”

“It’s simple. I’ll satisfy your… desires.”

“!?!”

Nelia shot up from the floor as if she’d never been complaining in the first place.

“Y-You mean… satisfy my desires as in… t-that kind of…?”

“Yes, that kind of thing.”

“Wait, wait! You’re not talking about some abstract metaphor, right?! You mean the real, 19+ rated, pink and steamy that, right?!”

“Yes.”

“YESSS!!!”

Nelia clenched her fist and let out a triumphant shout, the sound of victory echoing in her voice.

“You’ve made the right choice! As you may already know, I’m quite skilled when it comes to women as well!

Trust me, giving yourself over to me will be something you’ll never regret! I swear on my position as the Lust Army Commander!”

As she spoke, Nelia’s eyes scanned Sion from head to toe.

She had forgotten how strikingly beautiful Sion’s body was.

Though her charisma as a soul hadn’t changed, her physical form had only just begun to ripen into something truly enticing, which made it all the more appealing.

For Nelia, who was more excited by the younger they were, regardless of gender, Sion’s body was the perfect combination.

Like a steak cooked to a perfect medium-rare.

“Just wait a moment! I’ll modify Wilson to be suitable for two players right now! 

Hehehe… sticky, rich, like a slug… the perfect sensation…”

Nelia was gleefully preparing herself for what she assumed was about to happen.

However, Sion frowned slightly at her antics and said, “Huh? What weird thing are you suddenly talking about now? 

Why would I mix my body with yours?”

“…What?”

Nelia froze in place.

“Yeah. That’s not what I meant.”

“Wait, you weren’t talking about… that?”

“Nope. I have no intention of experiencing an orgasm as a woman. That’s a bit too humiliating for me.”

“??? Then what did you mean by satisfying my desires??”

“Like this.”

Sion snapped her fingers.

Immediately, her shadow stretched wide across the floor, transforming into wriggling tentacles that rose from the ground.

Naturally, Nelia was horrified.

“Wha-What is this…!?”

“This is my new magic, a downgraded version of Black Parade called Black Summon.

I can summon a single creature from my memory, manifesting it in the form of shadows.

This time, I summoned a tentacle creature.”

“T-Tentacles…?”

“Yes. You remember it, right? The monster that immobilizes its prey with sexual stimulation before consuming them, Pink Tentacle?

Though this one’s made of shadows, so it’s technically a Black Tentacle now.”

The shadowy tentacles slowly slithered toward Nelia.

“The behavior and characteristics of creatures summoned through Black Summon are identical to the original.

That means it perfectly replicates the sensitivity amplification, 10 times the usual, just like the original.

For someone struggling with a lack of sexual stimulation, it’s the ideal partner.

Plus, I’ve suppressed its aggression, so you won’t accidentally get eaten. Though someone of your rank wouldn’t fall prey to a mid-level creature anyway.”

Whoosh!

Dozens of tentacles wrapped around Nelia’s body, slithering like the tongues of snakes.

Sion grinned at the sight.

“So? Does this seem like a fair trade to you? Hmm?”

“…….”

Nelia, still processing the sudden turn of events, stood frozen, staring at the tentacles closing in on her.

As Sion had promised, the tentacles mimicked the movements of the creature from her memories perfectly.

Wriggle, wriggle.

“……..Ah……”

Her lips twitched, and soft moans began to escape involuntarily as the tentacles teased her body, creeping toward more intimate areas.

And then—

“Demon king, you’re the bestttttttttttt ♡ ♡ ♡”

Her voice, filled with endless gratitude and pleasure, echoed throughout the tower.

One hour later, Sion calmly collected the Essence Orb and left the tower, leaving behind a thoroughly satisfied and dazed Nelia.

The deal was done.