"Hiiyyyuuurghhh…"

Morrigan awakened in her private room in the Pocket Castle with a sensation of déjà vu as her head was spinning heavily and her body felt half broken. She looked around and noticed she was apparently alone. She tried getting up a few times, but eventually gave up and decided to continue resting while trying to remember what happened.

She remembered she was travelling with Luka and a lolified version of Ilias, and she had enjoyed poking at the goddess until she broke. The group was near Mithra castle when they got attacked by Zion. After the latter nearly killed the little goddess, Eden and the two other little seraphs somehow had managed to join the fray to attack the one that tried harming their goddess. Then she tried to hunt Zion down when her target was fleeing, but the angel soldier had blasted her.

Morrigan castigated herself for her weakness, as she should have been able to strike down the second generation seraph by herself. Worse, she remembered feeling this world's version of her looking at them, which means her sisters would likely be aware of her failure and wouldn't miss an occasion to mock her. She repositioned herself a few times while groaning.

"You're awake…"

"KIYAAAAA!"

Morrigan jumped up on top of her bed in surprise. She saw Alma Elma leaning against a wall with a book in her hand. The Succubus Queen had concealed her presence until now, which was an impressive feat. The youngest of the Lilith Sisters doubted that her presence in her own private room was good news for her.

"Alma Elma! Hehehehe… Can I do anything for you?"

She tried getting up again to conceal her current weakness, but could only manage to sit straight with much effort.

"Nothing… I am only here to watch over you and get sure that you recover nicely after what you've done."

"Huh." The blue haired succubus was nicely surprised. She initially expected to be punished either for her failure against the seraph, or her numerous moments of fun that led to said seraph attacking them in the first place... Instead, they apparently accepted it nicely. Maybe it was because she had ultimately more or less saved Ilias…

She wallowed on the bed. "Well, in that case, how about we get me a few men to suck dry? I'm pretty sure I'll be in top shape just with that!"

"Sorry, but I had quite clear instructions on the matter."

Morrigan deflated. Her brain was already running wild as she was imagining the worst case scenarios she could be put through. She remembered the experiences that Luka himself went through when he decided to use a valuable wish to get a porno book.

"This is going to suck, isn't it? Well, time to pay the piper I guess..."

Alma Elma closed her book and looked at the wounded succubus. She had an unusually serious book on her face.

"It was explicitly agreed that I wouldn't let you drain anyone to death. In most other cases, I would have forgotten this rule faster than Luka would come in a monster, but considering that you don't devote any time to bring your victims to heaven even when you're free to do so, I will actually care to not let that happen while trying to remind you that the actions of a succubus should always be about bringing pleasure."

Morrigan glared at the succubus queen. "Hiiiyuuu… You do realize I'm millennia older than you, right? We wrote the lecture you're giving me. And considering your past, I am not exactly sure you're the most fitting one to give me the talk."

Her interlocutor shrugged. "I personally admit that I have my share faire of skeletons in the closet. However, as you said, you're millennia old, so you should know better by now and enjoy melting your partner's mind through a thorough use of sexual skills. Why do you still kill your victims so fast? That's so unrefined…"

"Because I can?" Morrigan looked at Alma Elma with a surprised expression. "Didn't you ever get tired of dealing with perverts who come to you just to try to get their fix?"

She then looked in front of her as if she was addressing someone invisible."Sorry, but I'm not a tool who's just here to pleasure you, dumbass! Oh, you insist? Well, here's your reward!" Her hand glowed for a short time. She fell back on the bed and regretted her action, as even this small act took a large part in her remaining reserves of energy. "And you, you never did the same?"

Alma Elma remained silent for a moment. True, she was quite selective when it came to men, and many ended dissolved in her tail while only a few lucky and skilled warriors had the opportunity to taste the other pleasures her body could bring. Her reaction didn't escape Morrigan.

"Of course you do. Because you are a succubus free to do as you wish, like me. And the end result of our action is the same. A victim terrified by its upcoming death but still craving for the pleasure that will end him. This is what we live for."

Alma Elma remained lost in thoughts for a few moments, but resumed her cheerful attitude surprisingly abruptly. She started talking again in a sing song voice.

"Anyway, since you've been more naughty than nice, we'll have to punish you. Originally, they considered getting the Grand Noah queen to practice her whipping skills on you…"

Morrigan shivered. "Oooh… Kinky!"

"…But I convinced them that would be a bad idea and you just confirmed I was right in my choice." The succubus queen proceeded to sit on the bed. "So instead, since you will be more or less stuck in the castle for a few weeks, you will be put on the team that will be in charge of managing any intelligence that reaches us."

"Huh." Morrigan thought the punishment was a bit light on the side considering how the hero viewed murder. Not that she'd complain as a whole.

"You will start working with them tomorrow." Alma Elma suddenly started emitting a threatening aura. "Should you decide to harm your allies, the hero made it clear there would be unpleasant consequences that your sisters wouldn't be able to protect you from."

"Don't worry, I'm done screwing around, and even then I don't think I'd be able to harm a puppy in that state anyway."

"Good."The aura died down and Alma Elma looked cheerful again. "We're sure you won't attack the responsible when she grates your nerves."

Morrigan felt a tingling sensation along her spine. "Ok, what's the catch?"

The succubus queen looked surprised. "Why are you expecting a trap? Luka is not someone like that."

"Except I get the feeling that while Luka had a hand in the final verdict, he probably wasn't the one that came up with the actual sanction, which means the idea likely came from either Sonya or Mephisto. We both know the former hates my guts and the latter can get extremely wicked and twisted in her plans. Sooo, there's definitively a catch."

Alma Elma smiled. "You're quite the perceptive one, aren't you?"

"One doesn't live for millennia without being at least a bit careful. Particularly when a few of your aunties wouldn't mind eating you alive. So just tell me and let's get over it."

"Well, you'll see for yourself soon enough. Also, you're ordered to not approach Ilias or any other angel within a 30 meters radius unless asked otherwise. This will not apply when you work since Cupi is part of the group, but of course, the idea remains the same: no molesting, humiliating or breaking angels. Or anyone else actually, but stay further away from angels. Unless they ask you, of course…" She proceeded to end her sentence by licking her lips.

Morrigan pouted. "Actually, I guess I deserved that one. Fiiiine. I'll be careful."

"And, of course, we will be sure that you enforce follow rules for now on Everybody concerned has been made aware. So don't try weaseling out!"

The blue haired succubus sighed. "I got it, I got it, I swear I'll play nice…"

"We already heard that one before."

"Yes, but as you said, you'll be keeping your eyes on me. Now, are we done, or do you have something else to add to my burden?"

"Actually, there's one thing we forgot to talk about." Alma became slightly more somber. "Please refrain from contacting your sisters. We already have attracted enough attention as it is, we don't want them to focus on us for now."

Morrigan cringed. "Yeaaah, I already got that. Good luck with parallel me on your way to Sentora. And sorry for what happened at Gold Fort."

"Good." Alma Elma smiled once again. "Get well soon!"

The succubus queen finally left the youngest of the Lilith Sisters alone. As soon as her interlocutor had left the room, Morrigan snarled at the ceiling. Between the feeling of weakness and the imposed deprivation, she was in a terrible mood. She hoped that her rehabilitation would at least be fun, with her skills put to good use…

"Greetings! It is I, Amira, a snake passing as the wind, who will guide you through your tasks!"

Morrigan's jaw dropped in front of the reversed lamia. She expected Mephisto to be the one in charge of this work since she was used to managing sensitive information. Instead, she found herself staring at the snake headed walking pair of legs, who was a joke within monsterkind for her delusions of self grandeur.

"Wait, you're the one in charge of managing the intelligence that reaches the Pocket Castle?"

Amira clicked her tongue. "Feh! Are you saying that I'm unable to do this job? Is this racism based on my appearance?"

"No, it's because there are quite a lot of monsters who are several times older and have way more experience in gathering and managing sensitive data."

"Ah, but you see, I was the first one chosen by the hero. And as the one with the most seniority on the team, it was natural that he kept me while the newcomers turn toward me to guide them in the fortress."

A melodious voice could be heard from a painting on the wall. "Actually, everybody knows that it's because you were the first on Luka's road and he let you keep this place because otherwise you'd keep throwing hissy fits." The upper part of a beautiful human woman came out of the painting, with a smirk on her face. "And the pun was intended."

Morrigan grinned at the Paintgest's caustic story.

Amira's tongue clicked once again. "Maybe, but still, this form suits me well in my information gathering tasks. Nobody will care for a monster that could pass as a tramp, and people are more likely to let their tongue slip."

"I-. Good point actually." The succubus crossed her arms. "Still, considering how fast you lose your cool when money is involved, I remain surprised you're still fine and trusted today."

"This, coming from the one who tried killing me at Iliasburg! But don't worry, I do not hold any grudge or ill intent toward you." She tried turning dramatically, but the legwork it required only made her look ridiculous. "But getting money is not my true motivation, my only goal is helping people to live in the world."

A black haired succubus dressed in plain clothes passed by while carrying a pile of documents. "You're the reason we now have to file in a request form to get more than a certain amount of money from the common bank. You asked Luka to give you five thousand gold pieces without saying what for. And even when he gave it, you still snatched around twenty thousand gold pieces more from the common treasury. He sort of snapped when he was called by the Grand Noah queen to talk about your golden statue appearing in the town center."

"Tch! Eva! A good informant has to know what information is to be kept under wrap!"

"I know." Eva continued unfettered. "That was for not giving me a share."

An uncomfortable silence fell before Morrigan started talking again. "Sooo, what exactly do you want me to do?" She proceeded to use her hands to show her scantily clad body. "I'm a succubus, so I suppose you know what are my best skills…"

"We already have enough agents on the ground to gather information. Also, my works already lead me to discover you are not to be left without surveillance, so you will not go on the terrain."

"Yeah, it's certainly not because Mephisto came to tell you." Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.

Amira's tongue clicked once again, which was starting to get on Morrigan's nerves.

"But maybe someone with a tongue so threatening and a mind so sharp could be of good use to manage the most… whimsical elements of our network." The reverse lamia waddled toward a seat with a heap of cloth on it. "The tech team created some easy to use magic-infused makinas to be able to communicate with the informants on the ground."

"Fine, but… Why did you fit them on a goat costume?" Morrigan lifted the outfit with a disgusted expression. "Wait, why on Hellgondo do we even have a goat costume?"

"This is one of the rule of the informant's guild. Don't ask a question if you don't want the answer…"

Morrigan gestured at herself with her free hand. "Please, I dealt with fetishes that you wouldn't even guess ever existed. Zoophilia would just be another day in the park."

"Actually…" Amira looked awkwardly on the side. "I am under an oath to not talk about it…"

"So you screwed up that badly?" The succubus shrugged. "I guess someone around will be able to tell me more. But first, how do you remove the equipment from the costume? There's no way I'm wearing that."

"You can't." The duo glared at each other. "And if you damage the costume, I shall personally report to Luka and Mephisto about your refusal to cooperate, which will of course lead to additional sanctions. And I heard about-"

Morrigan snarled. Eventually, she decided to let her pride take a hit for the sake of her future. "Okay, okay, I got it. I'll accept it. I'll wear the damn outfit."

As she put on the cloth, the succubus realized that maybe keeping on piquing the reverse lamia had been a bad idea, particularly since she could still be holding that grudge from Iliasburg in contrary to what she said. Her mind wandered, and she realized it could also be possible jealousy coming from the reverse lamia after Luka made several personal requests to the succubus, while he still seemed to be uncomfortable in the presence of the lamia. When she was finally done, she acknowledged she was looking ridiculous. The outfit was clearly several sizes too big , and it was lacking the usual enchantments that made clothes adjust to their wearer. Furthermore, its coloration was a strange mix of brown and black spiraling in unnatural patterns. Last, the two horns were comically oversized, and were half supported by her owns, which made it look a pair of floppy genitalia from afar.

She checked around her and noticed that not a single monster nor angel other than Amira looked at her to laugh. She wondered if it was because of her reputation or if it was because everybody was used to deal with Amira's antics.

"If you need anything, you can ask anyone around."

"Whateveeer…"

As Amira left her new recruit, Morrigan silently sat at her new desk. While she considered these tasks a waste of her skills, maybe it was time to settle down a little and get back some goodwill from the hero's group. It was not the first time this thought crossed her mind, but she realized how serious the situation was getting. She remembered that she originally had fought Zion above the sea leading to Sentora, not anywhere close to Mithra castle. Further deviation from the true story would increase the spread of chaosization, and deviating from Luka's adventure would inherently mean deviating from the true history. Maybe they were right on that one…

She took a look at the list that Amira had put there and groaned. She had to deal with most of the unfortunate friends -it seemed even Amira considered them unreliable and annoying, not exactly a good start-, Cupi, Lona, the dark elf swordsman, and Mitsuko, a literal honey pot monster from the mimic family. She looked at the notes. Apparently, Cupi couldn't stop punishing humans who debauched themselves with monsters by molesting them further -basically punishing sex with more sex-, Lona had to run away from Iliasburg after several families complained about her escapades which included several young boys, and while Mitsuko had managed to infiltrate Ilias village -Luka's village-, she had apparently had already been caught several times which resulted in the villagers replacing most of their clay pots with buckets.

Since physical coaxing was out of question, Morrigan found herself contemplating the options that were available. The Unfortunate Friends could definitively be intimidated by rulers of their respective race, and she could easily convince them herself. It was the same for Lona, the elf queen could definitively deal with the dark elf better than she herself could. Mitsuko's deployment would be limited to bigger cities. While the population's density would make moving around unseen more difficult, one misplaced pot was less likely to attract attention. The only remaining issue was Cupi. If the small angel openly interpreted her official superior Eden's orders, Morrigan knew she had no chance to make her work straight herself. She was the angel with the mindset closest to a succubus, but still had her head filled with that pseudo-goddess's commandments. Pondering this, the blue haired demoness decided that the best course of action would be to implant the idea in Cupi's mind that she should "punish" people she had to get information form to have her act as a honey pot. She took note of their planning to get sure her strategy would work fine. If she managed to recenter those, this would definitively bring her back the trust of the hero.

Morrigan sighed as she leaned back on her chair. Succubi were living for the moment. Planning and, save for a few exceptions, administrating other people was definitively the antithesis of her kin's mindset. This control tool was more used by the kitsunes. Even her mother who was offered San Ilia was content with letting inhabitants come and do as they wanted freely. The only condition is that she always had a possible partner available, which was not always as easy as it seemed as she went through them at an alarming rate. Each and any of the Lilith Sister themselves were given the possibility and had the power to establish their small fiefdom, but having to manage a population's need just for the guarantee of a partner was not worth the annoyance.

After a while, Morrigan felt observed. When she turned, she could see Taura, a minotaur who compensated her unusual physical weakness with a great mastery over makinas. The passerby was staring at the weirdly clothed succubus with an eyebrow raised. Morrigan couldn't bear with the gawking and eventually broke the awkward silence between the two of them.

"Whatcha want?"

"I thought there wouldn't be any need to infiltrate the Demon Cow Queen castle until we reached the Noah region?"

Morrigan blinked a few times. "Is your eyesight that poor or didn't you notice it is actually a piss poor goat costume, not even a cow one?"

"I did notice. Not sure Amira did when she bought it though."

Morrigan finally connected the dots. Her sudden laughter scared everyone in the room as she envisioned minotaurs surrounding Amira, with the latter waddling in her costume, convinced that her clever disguise was working.