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

After reuniting with Claudia, the only ones left to find now were Petyr and Vizier Duran. With any luck, those two were safe and had learned something from their own investigation. According to Alicia, she had them mingle with The Diamond's wealthy class. It only made sense, given who Duran was. Had he been seen around the poorer parts of the city, they would have definitely raised suspicions.

Kanae, Claudia, Edina, and Alicia headed in the direction of the wealthiest part of the city called Ring. As the name implied, a circular wall surrounded the district at The Diamond's very center. How like the rich to hole themselves into a secret club.

Fortunately for four succubi, entering was as easy as placing a charm on the guards at the gate.

"Raise the portcullis!" one of them shouted.

They lifted the heavy gate to allow Kanae and her companions through. A couple of guards behind the fortification glanced down at them in confusion, but no one wanted to question their superior officer who gave the order.

A whole different world awaited them within. Large manors and mansions replaced townhouses that were a dime a dozen outside of Ring. The sandstone streets boasted smaller crowds, and people weren't packed shoulder to shoulder. Trees that shouldn't be able to survive in the deserts of Savir shaded the citizens below with their canopies. Everyone flaunted their wealth in the form of large jewels around the necks, trinkets hanging from their ears, and rings on their fingers. Merchants and vendors bowed their heads low when conducting trade with people here. It was like a city inside a city.

"Look at them all… It's like they're asking to get pinched." Edina walked forward, mesmerized by everyone's glittering jewels.

"Not so fast." Kanae picked up the squirreling by the scruff of her neck. "We're here to look for Petyr and Duran. Don't risk us getting kicked out before we find them!"

"This may or may not be quite the undertaking. I didn't even know a place like Ring was here when I gave them instructions," Alicia explained.

They had to get started one way or another. The party entered the district and decided against splitting up in search of their remaining companions. Having to look for each other again would only complicate things. Luckily for them, a tall high elven knight was an uncommon sight even in Savir. It shouldn't take too long to single her out in the crowds. Someone might have even seen her already.

Alicia and Edina strolled ahead to question a passing centauri couple. Meanwhile, Kanae grabbed Claudia by the hand to keep her from catching up.

"Hey, I wanted to ask about Alicia. Did you know about her trauma?" Kanae asked.

"Oh. You found out?" Claudia shrunk a little and grimaced.

"We got ambushed after the banquet last night. Someone casted Darkness on us, and Alicia started freaking out— Er, wait. So, you did know about it!"

"It had to be because Amby trapped her in the temple." She sighed and glanced in the direction of her sister. "I started seeing signs a few days after we rescued her. Sis was always the lone wolf. Figured something was up whenever we were alone in a room together and I got up to leave, she panics a little and follows me. Hells, I think Alicia sometimes stealths so I wouldn't notice!"

Kanae thought back to all those times Alicia revealed to have followed her in stealth. Could those times have been when Claudia wasn't around, so she came to her instead?

"I'll never forgive Amby, Mother, and the cult for what they did to Alicia… Never," Claudia growled.

When the other two turned around to come back, Claudia's demeanor softened.

"You want the good news or the bad news?" Edina asked.

"Oh, no." Kanae put a hand to her face. "Give us the bad news first."

"Petyr's been causing a ruckus," she said.

"And the good news?" Claudia chimed in.

"They're alive." The squirreling shrugged.

"The centaur couple mentioned Petyr made a commotion when she first arrived. Guards accosted her over it. Things have fallen quiet since," Alicia explained.

In other words, Petyr and Duran were in the Ring somewhere. Kanae really didn't want to comb through the entire district for them.

"No sense in waiting around," Kanae groaned. "Let's—"

Edina snapped her finger and opened a dark portal. She reached in to pull out the Scythe of Soul Reaping. The long, curved blade siphoned necromantic energies from the Pillar of the Damned's fiery brazier. Foliage from a nearby tree began to wither. Seemingly satisfied, the necromancer carved a hole in the fabric of space. Dozens of ghostly specters emerged from it, flying in every direction above Ring.

Citizens panicked. They ran away screaming in terror.

"EDINA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Kanae cried.

"I'm looking for 'em! Whaddya think I'm doing?" Edina exclaimed.

"Excuse me! Please, no acts of necromancy within the confines of the city!"

Numerous guards came rushing down the street to stop them. They and Kanae forced Edina to recall her specters. One guard ticketed her for being a public nuisance and utilizing necromancy in the city. She was going to have to pay the fine at The Diamond's adventurers hall just like Kanae had before.

"500 gold? Minotaur shit! I'm being discriminated against for being a necromancer!" Edina pouted.

"First of all, the only place on the continent— possibly the world— where necromancy is openly allowed is in the Commonwealth! Stop summoning your undead willy-nilly!" Kanae clocked her friend over the head.

Free to roam about as long as they didn't cause any more trouble, the party ventured into Ring in search of Petyr and Duran. According to Edina, right before she had to put the specters away, her ghostly minions caught sight of someone with high elven features entering a building. The grumpy squirreling led the way, and they arrived at a hookah lounge.

Fragrant vapors wafted out and tickled their noses. Kanae brushed aside the curtains as she entered. Patrons sat on cushions in groups surrounding a shisha, taking turns pulling from the pipe and getting high.

Alicia tapped Kanae on the shoulder and pointed to a high elf, who was neither tall nor a woman. The elven man occupied a booth with a dark elf and a jackal beastman. He could very well be Ortesian. The four pushed past employees who tried to stop them, and the high elf nearly jumped from his seat.

"End of the line for you, Ortesian! I hope you're ready to feed four hungry succubi!" Kanae threatened.

"Hiiiiieee! Wait, I'm only a civilian here on vacation! I don't even belong to a lesser house!" he cried, shooting both hands up in surrender.

Ortesians weren't exactly known for their deceptive nature. They were all pretty up front about their beliefs and wants… This poor man also didn't look like the ultra-wealthy type either.

"Hahaha!" A boisterous laughter drew their attention to a booth in front of a latticed wooden window, from which sunlight casted in a beautiful pattern. "Fancy meeting you again, succubus friend of Sadul's."

Kanae whirled around to find The Mamba, the emerald-eyed lamia man in the booth.

"Not the snake guy again…" Edina hid behind her.

"Someone you know?" Claudia whispered.

"This guy helped me and Sadul get into the association's banquet. I thought you would be long gone from The Diamond?" Kanae asked, walking up to his booth.

Theo Mambahu, also known as The Mamba, sat at the crest of the U-shaped couch. Six women dressed in risque garbs accompanied him. They had a shisha, too, which the women took turns taking a hit from. Women… Women? The groupies sported luscious feminine hair, but they were all flat-chested and slender. Upon closer inspection, particularly around their groins, each of them had a bulge.

"And miss the gossip of last night's festivities making their rounds? I didn't attend, but I might as well have from all that people have told me. What a terrible state of affairs. Traitors in the association! Colluding with the Empire of Ortesia at that," Theo said in an overly-dramatic manner.

"We have no time for your threatrics, serpent. Perhaps you have seen our companions? A tall, high elven woman and a shorter beastman man," Alicia interjected before Kanae had a chance to speak.

"I have." He smiled. "I had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with them the other day. Vizier Duran. What interesting tidings his presence brings. Around this time… oh, yesh. You may find them at Miria's Hands, a massage parlor. I'll have this one to take you there."

The Mamba stroked the inner thigh of an effeminate elven man. As soon as he rose to his feet, Theo gave him a slap on the ass. The elf bowed and urged them to follow on the way out of the hookah lounge.

"One more thing before you leave, Kanae!" Theo lifted a jeweled finger. "If you had to say between Cerberus or the Harpy King, who do you suppose is more dangerous?"

"Cerberus," Kanae answered, but offered nothing more so as to avoid raising suspicions on why.

"I disagree. The survival of Bravost means the prosperity of the East Saviran Trading Association. I simply ask that you do not underestimate the Harpy King. For all our sake," he said.

Kanae held Theo's gaze for a moment longer. The lamia was unreadable. Would he have thought the same if she told him the truth behind Cerberus and Avanesse? And was he an ally or an opportunistic foe? So far, he had proved himself to be the former. She offered him a nod and left to catch up with the others.

The crossdressing elf escorted them to a beautiful round plaza with raised garden beds of large spineless cacti. People wandered about in sparse clothes, not as a fashion statement. They had towels slung over their shoulders or wrapped around their chests and waists. A gust of dry wind blew in an unexpectedly humid breeze.

"What is this place?" Kanae asked.

"A spa," the elf replied promptly. "Every city under Bravost's jurisdiction has one. It is a block dedicated to open bath houses, saunas, sand and mud baths, massages, and more. They are free of charge, funded entirely by the East Saviran Trading Association."

"To keep all the rich fucks happy? I'd say that was smart, but it kinda pisses me off." Edina chewed on her thumb.

They stopped outside a wide, domed building inside of which a feline beastman woman greeted them. Behind her, three separate corridors stretched deep within. Heavy curtains partitioned off each room.

"Here we are at Miria's Hands. The Mamba would also like to extend his regards." The elf grabbed Kanae's hand and placed a fingernail-sized ruby into her palm.

"Wait, what did I do to deserve this?" Kanae gasped.

"It isn't a gift. The Mamba acknowledges your usefulness and would like you to continue with your purpose. There are no other rubies like these. If you find yourself in need of help in Bravost, show this to a jewelry store. They will know," he explained before taking a bow and leaving.

"Can we really trust him?" Alicia asked.

"We're up against two powerful rulers vying to control all of Savir. I don't think we have much of a choice." She sighed.

"I'm tired of waiting around. Where's Petyr? Show yourself, elf! How dare you enjoy all this luxury alone!" Claudia stormed inside, much to the lady at the front's dismay.

A couple of patrons waiting their turn rushed out in fear. As soon as the rest of them entered, someone seated in the lobby jumped with a start.

"By the faceted jewels of Bravost, there you all are!"

They spun around to a very peeved Duran, arms folded, brows furrowed, and impatience wrinkling his face.

"I think we're good to leave for Bravost now if you are," Kanae said.

"I've been ready since the day we arrived! You're the ones who vanished! As if things couldn't get any worse, that one…" Duran pointed accusingly at Alicia. "Just had to pair me with Petyr Stormcloud. Have you any idea what we've been doing this whole time? Every single day, she comes to the spa. I sit here and am forced to wait hours! Hours!" he exclaimed in a huff.

"I'm sorry! But we learned a lot of valuable information. I also attended the association banquet yesterday and foiled an assassination attempt on their members. Alicia and Edina helped," she explained, thumbing over her shoulder at the two.

"You… Assassination attempt? What?!" The vizier gasped so hard, he almost choked on his spit.

"On that note, where did my sister leave off to?" Alicia asked.

They followed their gaze to the beastman woman, who was looking worriedly down the left corridor.

"Claudia, you fucking cunt! This was my alone time. You interrupt me again, and I'm going to tear your head off!" Petyr shouted, emerging from the corridor with nothing but a towel around her body and holding the succubus by the face.

"I… I found her, guys…" Claudia croaked.

"Uhh… It's time to leave for Bravost…" Kanae took a step back, fearful of being next.

"Tsk. Fine. Let me go get dressed," she groaned.