A half-depressed Tamamo was sitting on the edge of the mountains east of the Ilias Continent, a cup of tea by her side. As the sun slowly rose, she felt a certain kinship with the half-torn countryside around the gaping hole that made for the Tartarus and the ruins of Rostrum Village far below her. The kitsune herself was looking utterly exhausted, with deep marks under her eyes and her tails limp behind her. She could full blame it on a lack of sleep caused by the latest events which involved -but were not limited to- a dimensional leak followed by a mimic uprising.
One less hideout, several people dead, half a region in shambles, several cities completely wrecked, and that damn purple whore still roaming around with barely more than an eye on her back because she brought another version of the Pocket Castle, and a succubus that entered my bed while escaping every single one of my wards… I don't think this day can go any worse than the last ones…
At least the companions of the heroes calm down now that they have their little home back. Getting any intelligence amongst the mess they created has been nigh-impossible. Maybe like this place, the world will find back some measure of normalcy and stability after a chaotic storm… Or more likely not.
There's no point dallying on it. I've got work on the plate, and with a little luck it will change my mind.
Tamamo stood up and disappeared into a rock that made for the hidden entrance of her local hideout. She was starting to run low on the number of dens that could still be used for any purpose. The place itself wasn't very different from her last one: the furniture had been carved with her skills over earth using the existing geological formations, and was covered with various expensive items. Still, she had lost way too many precious artifacts during the latest incident. She walked as much as she dragged herself to the table and drank her cup of tea before shortly returning outside where a pile of missives had magically appeared: The latest reports of her network and -she frowned- an unexpected message written and sent in a radically different style. She carefully scanned it, and once she was sure it was devoid of any trap, she grabbed it as well and briskly returned in her den to take the time to further analyze her predicament: someone out of her usual network knew she was there, but decided to contact her through her preferred system. While it didn't remove the possibility of a hostile intention, it mitigated it slightly as an enemy would have tried taking her by surprise instead. Was one of her agent compromised? She spent several minutes sniffing the letter and using her magical senses to further analyze it.
Whoever has written it had at least taken basic precautions to prevent their natural aura from pouring on the paper. The material itself has magically been created, so it's a mage who has turned their skills toward developing skills toward a scholar and mundane use.
On the Founder's name, who could possibly find me like that and contact me? There's no way somebody would expect me to stupidly follow whatever instruction is inside to fall into an ambush… I don't imagine my other self would play games like that, and those angels…
She imagined the mechanical figure of Gnosis grimacing, showing rows of unnaturally sharp teeth while trying to write her a letter. Then the impulsive seraph Zion using magic to write down with her huge mechanical fist. And finally, she imagined the seraph Eden doing the same while holding back her desire to verbally trash her.
No, I can't imagine a single one of them even writing. So who on earth...
…Well, maybe I would know by opening it in the first place, although I don't think whoever wrote it could actually bold or stupid enough to sign- Nevermind, she did. I could have spared myself a headache if I checked directly.
Tamamo sighed. The letter was an invitation from Vinum to work together on a new job created by Ilias, the "sorcerer". The profession could apparently be used to learn a number of skills from enemies and allies on the battlefield, but they didn't know specifically which ones. The letter brought a lot of mixed feelings from the kitsune: She was flattered by the recognition from a fellow teacher who had enough experience to not get surprised by anything, but she wasn't personally fond of her for the same reason. Still, she was herself more than willing to discover more about the job created by Ilias, particularly if it could give any enemy a taste of her own medicine, but she was also simultaneously aggravated that Vinum would so boldly contact her when she was hiding and risk exposing her den. Overall, she wasn't sure she wanted to deal with her again.
I will gently refuse and hope that she doesn't take it badly. A new job created by Ilias sounds interesting, but I simply can't afford to risk that kind of research… Mmmh? There's something written on the back.
"Barring this testing, you could also be interested in learning a spell to protect yourself against Nightmares like Est."
"…"
The next day as the sun rose, Tamamo was impatiently waiting for her guests at the entrance of her cavern, pacing back and forth. Deep inside, she felt enraged by how the little succubus had so easily identified one of her weak point and so easily used it as leverage.
I suppose this is only payback for doing the same so many times in the past… This training better be worth it.
After what felt too long, she finally felt static energy accumulate in the air. She readied herself in case the guests showing up weren't the one she expected. When Vinum and her company appeared, she felt half-disappointed to still have to deal with the succubus. She bowed out coldly while Vinum did the same, and then moved on to the two companions that had been brought.
The first was a purple yoma who was barely taller than her with a regal air and an impressive power. Her red horns were curved while rising in the air, while her red eyes were brimming with magical energy. The red cape that was complementing her grey dress and purple kneesocks always regally flowed in the wind. Tamamo herself felt slightly overwhelmed by her sheer magic power, but the kitsune's senses picked up an unusual feeling permeating the small Demon Lord. She decided to hold on the information for later.
"Greetings. I am Tamamo. May I know whom I am speaking to?"
"My name is Gilgorn." The yoma's voice was surprisingly harsh. "I am the true lord of the Château des Romances, no matter what that white-hair narcissistic erotomaniac thinks. I've brought my knowledge to this world."
"She's the one who taught the Honey Pot and mimics how to use their power." Vinum announced the fact dismissively.
The kitsune frowned as she hesitated to antagonize the Demon Lord for her hand in events that followed afterward. She decided to move on and focused on Vinum's second companion. The sleepy young man looked like he came from Yamatai, but his aura was unusual. She raised an eyebrow and scrunched her nose in confusion as she repeatedly sniffed the air around him before she eventually managed to connect the dots.
"And this is Magatsu's apprentice Hakunen I suppose. Did you have to drag him in this?"
Vinum nodded positively. "The one being that started threading the path of the sorcerer on their own. Unfortunately, he's prone to attract attention, and his master is quite fine with their open relationship."
Tamamo nodded as she understood what the little succubus meant. She had expected Magatsu's scent to be prominent, but it was utterly drowned into other ones, including familiar ones like the smell of a kitsune kunoichi or even Alma Elma's.
I admit… He looks frail, but there's a lot of strength under this robe. I understand why he attracts attention, and maybe I should protect him in exchange for his company… No. Bad Tamamo. Bad. Those days are over.
"Let's not lose any more time. I've got tea for everyone and a Job Change book at the ready."
Without further ceremony, the small team entered Tamamo's den with Vinum almost dragging Hakunen behind her. As the party reached for the job change book, the kitsune started asking questions about their work.
"So did you get any detail on how it does work exactly? Ilias has always been one to say that the world runs so only by her grace, whether it was actually the case or just a good occasion to take credit for someone else's work."
Vinum shrugged. "No, and this is why I brought him. He learned at least one skill through the sorcerer job, and he will be able to demonstrate it."
"And what makes you think he will accept to show it? Did you threaten him?"
"I didn't do anything to him." Vinum smirked. "But do you really imagine of those heroes refusing a call for help?"
Tamamo sighed at the forceful decision of the succubus, but relented. She'd find a way to make it up to Hakunen afterward, but her priority right now was to get her hands on anything that could help her in a fight, and if possible without hurting anyone.
"He doesn't seem into any shape to show us any skill though."
The small succubus wordlessly punched Hakunen in the back, straightening him up in a heartbeat. Gilgorn positively huffed while Tamamo disapprovingly shook her head. Right afterward, however, the monk boy looked as fresh as morning dew. He looked at the trio and cleared his throat.
This was unnecessary. Effective but unnecessary…
"Right, so I learned goblin punch during our visit in the Hall of Creation. Allow me to demonstrate it to you… Yah!"
Hakunen leaned back on his leg before punching in the air. During his move, Tamamo felt a slight aura similar to the one surrounding onis around his fist. Before she could further investigate it, she felt a strange sensation run through her. She checked on her two partners to see if they were affected as well, and both also looked slightly confused by the situation. The kitsune focused, and repeated the same move as Hakunen, and indeed, she could feel the same effect in her arm. She looked at her hand.
"So this is what learning is like. This is… strange. I expected it to be more complicated. The attack doesn't even need to hit any friendly or enemy target, and I'm pretty sure we'd be able to learn without using the sorcerer job once we've mastered it." She chuckled. "So what other skill can we learn? It's a neat trick, but little old me would be disappointed if the only thing I got from it was a new way of punching."
"Huuuh…" Hakunen looked down, embarrassed. Tamamo gently patted him on the back.
"Awww… It's okay if you don't know any other learnable skills! We have time to learn, after all!"
"Hmpf! Speak for yourself! I only came here in hope of finding a way to get clear from this world as soon as possible, preferably before it falls to ruin! A mere punch certainly won't be enough to do it!"
Tamamo glared at Gilgorn who returned her look. The kitsune felt slightly overwhelmed by the small yoma's power, but she held fast. To her surprise, Vinum sided with her.
"If we got this far today, it's not by discarding any learning opportunity simply because it takes some time. You are free to do what you want, but even if we have to use hundred of skills randomly before finding a pattern, I consider it worth my time." The small succubus gave out an evil grin. "And besides, aren't you looking yourself for a way to make yourself resistant to pleasure through them?"
"Kuh…" Gilgorn recoiled while shivering, making Tamamo raise an eyebrow.
Her reaction reminds me of Granberia… I'm wonder how she's doing? Wait. Yomas aren't supposed to be weak to pleasure! Is it related to that weird feeling I have about her? How weak is she exactly? I have to find out later.
Tamamo started fanning herself. "Let's forget that and start practicing skills. Even if we keep stumbling around, we'll eventually end up finding at least one that's learnable…"
"…Well we found out at least one learnable skill…"
The small group was exhausted, with Hakunen even having fallen asleep. The quartet had spent hours trying different skills in a small arena in hope of finding which ones they could learn, or at least discern any pattern, but the results were disappointing. The only one they learned was an ancient kitsune dance from Tamamo, and the Heavenly Knight of earth herself felt a bit defensive over the fact that other monsters learned a skill of her race.
…Or maybe it was because she didn't learn anything herself. There was that little bit of envy aimed at them that she could hardly deny.
"Let's take a break before trying up again… And brainstorm over any way that could get us to learn more skills."
Her two companions nodded in agreement and sat around the table, taking small sips of tea. While Tamamo felt herself relaxing, she could see that Gilgorn was as frustrated as ever while Vinum's expression remained a mask of indifference.
"We should get the help of more people. If learnable skills are related to races, we're currently too limited with only four people. Getting more help will definitively get us more skills."
"And more people to learn about them as well." Gilgorn haughtily huffed. "What is the point of this if we don't keep those for us as so many aces in our sleeves?"
Tamamo frowned. She considered that they all were in the same boat, which didn't seem to be the case for everyone…
Vinum shrugged. "We'd just have to dispose of them afterward."
The kitsune almost dropped her cup in surprise. Those two combined were like a mirror of her old self, and she was suddenly having difficulties simply looking at them.
"…No. It's better to keep it to ourselves then."
Gilgorn haughtily glanced at Tamamo. "I can't believe it. Are you actually afraid to get blood on your hands? Sometimes you have to get dirty to get results. This is why I'm a demon lord and Vinum almost succeeded in taking over with the land of the night while you were left behind by your allies!"
Tamamo flinched at the insult, but she remained immobile even as she wanted to lunge at Gilgorn. "I stood behind because I refused to follow them… Now, I do remember hearing that you were hiding during most of the events and that you…" She pointed at Vinum with her fan. "…Failed because she didn't trust your fellow on a level basic enough to be able to work together, as you ultimately care so little for anything and anyone that your failure to bring the Land of Night happened because of the heroes as much as because of your own quarrels. Being indifferent to everyone around you is bound to get one killed."
Vinum answered with another shrug.
And you don't even care. Great. Even if I always had the feeling that you considered everything beneath you, I thought you appreciated teaching others. But I was wrong, and the company you chose to bring confirms it. I suppose it's my fault for thinking we were alike because of our interest in learning and passing our knowledge to the younger generations. I had a doubt before that, but now I'm sure: you only do it to trump your boredom, while I do it to protect them.
Let's just find another skill and forget about those two.
"Well, in that case, let's continue." Tamamo finished her cup and forced out a smile as she placed it back. "We're still far from trying everything, and I'm sure we just got unlucky."
"We could start by forcing it out from Hakunen." Vinum was glancing at the monk boy who was blushing heavily. "I can tell that he learned more skills but doesn't want to share. I wonder why is that?"
"Huuuh…"
Tamamo hesitated between finally blowing up at Vinum for forcing the young man again and again, but her curiosity got the better of her. Still, she started to fan herself in a familiar reflex to cool down.
"Awww… Is it true Hakunen?"
"It's… a skill I'm a bit ashamed of and I don't remember how I learned it exactly. It's Body Liberation, and it's a bit shameful."
The small team raised an eyebrow at the curious name.
It sounds like something Alma Elma did come up that one time she got wasted and naked. I can understand why he doesn't want to show it.
However, Gilgorn didn't share Tamamo's reserves. "Well, in that case just show us!"
"Huuuuh… You promise you won't do anything strange afterward?"
"Do you really think you're in a position to bargain, boy?" Vinum grinned evilly, but she eventually raised her hand. "But very well. I promise."
"So do I."
"Mmh. Very well. It better be worth it though. If I don't end up stunned by the power of this attack after such tip-toeing around, I might reconsider our alliance… Now don't lose more time and show us!"
I should be ready to jump on Gilgorn, because at that point I don't think anything can sate heEEEEEEEER!
Without further ceremony, Hakunen briskly and sensually removed his clothes. The moment his kimono hit the ground, Tamamo started squealing uncontrollably while Gilgorn collapsed on the ground, a pool of blood forming around her nose. Even Vinum was somehow frozen in admiration, her mouth agap.
FuckitImustgethimnowIdontcareaboutanythingelsebutFUCK!
Tamamo lunged at Hakunen, but the latter dodged her with the experience only someone who spent months running away from horny yokais had, even as her tails desperately tried to get a hold of him. He then grabbed his clothes with one hand and started putting them back on while still running out, leaving behind a still dumbfounded duo.
Tamamo emerged from her trance a minute later, completely ashamed of herself. When she turned to Vinum, she expected the succubus to offer a mocking smirk, but her partner was busier drinking tea straight from the pot with a disappointed expression instead. Gilgorn was still lying unconscious on the floor, her nasal hemorrhage having finally calmed down. The kitsune sat herself, her gaze empty.
"At least we learned another skill… And a powerful one at that."
Vinum soberly nodded. After several more minutes of awkward silence, she got up and bowed.
"I thank you for your hospitality, and I hope we will meet again."
Tamamo bowed back. "Same."
I'm not so sure about that though.
Vinum effortlessly lifted Gilgorn over her shoulder and left Tamamo's den without looking back. The small kitsune spent the remainder of her day making and drinking tea while ruminating over the events of the day: she had been more than disappointed. Her first impression of Vinum had been correct all along, and while she may be a good teacher, she was undoubtedly a terrible ally. As for Gilgorn… She was left stumped as to why Vinum had even brought her in. The small demon lord might be interested in learning, but she was rude and impatient at best and unworthy of any title at worst. And that was not counting her horrible, horrible weakness to pleasure. Granted, Body Liberation had been powerful enough even to sway her, but ending incapacitated like that? She wondered what would happen if a succubus decided to turn the yoma in her plaything. Even an imp would stand a chance against her. And finally, that sorcerer job itself had potential, but without any way to find which skills they could learn, it only had a limited use for now as she simply couldn't get the time to find more.
Eventually, she decided to get to sleep, with only the smallest feeling of having forgotten something on her mind.
Tamamo catapulted herself awake when said doubt bloomed in a realization. She swiftly made her way to her desk, and checked the letter Vinum had originally sent.
"Barring this testing, you could also be interested in learning a spell to protect yourself against Nightmares like Est."
Her shoulders slumped. This was why she had originally accepted Vinum's invitation, and as hindsight settled in, she was also sure that it was the reason Gilgorn was brought. There was no doubt that the small yoma was the one that could have taught her such a spell. She nervously checked around her, half-expecting to see Est as it all too frequently happened each time she felt weak. To her relief, there wasn't a single sign of the Nightmare or of her cohorts.
Let's just work on something, anything to take my mind from her. I have the feeling thinking about her will only attract her attention.
Hurgh… I feel ridiculous. This doesn't work like that, and I'm not a child afraid of what roams in the night and in need of an adult to coddle me. Still, I don't feel I will be able to sleep any time soon for now…
Tamamo silently sat herself at her barely illuminated desk, periodically rubbing her eyes and zoning out as she examined reports after reports and wrote instructions to her network. After some time spent working, she sighed and re-examined the letter she had received.
It should have gone more smoothly. I still feel bad after what happened with Hakunen…
"Because you scared him or because you failed to get him?"
"Both." Tamamo grimaced as she recognized the honeyed voice. "How did you get in here?! I didn't see you when I woke up and I don't remember falling asleep since then!"
To her dejection, Est was happily lying on her bed on her stomach, her legs crossed behind her in the air while she smiled softly and shifted around to accentuate her cleavage.
"Or did you? You looked quite exhausted… and frustrated… I can help you for both."
Tamamo sighed. Even after millennia spent dealing with succubi, she was still slightly revulsed in each time one of them offered to share their art with her.
"I'm not interested. Please get out." She showed the entrance with her fan.
"Very well." To her surprise, Est acquiesced in a swift movement. "You know how to find me. I hope you will consider giving me a taste of your tails." She sensually patted Tamamo on her way out. The kitsune shivered in a mix of pleasure and disgust at the contact, but also a familiar sensation.
"Wait! …Did you just use a sorcery skill? Why? How and where did you learn it?"
Est turned around and giggled. "I'm always eager to find new ways to play with my partners. As to where I learned them…" She smiled enigmatically. "Some friend I share with that cute little hero made me a favor after I helped them."
Tamamo pulled out her fan and hid her face while glaring at Est. "…Show them all to me."
Est's smirk broadened. "Are you sure? They're only pleasure and healing skills… Do you actually wish to learn them for yourself or… Do you need what they can provide you?"
"Show them without targeting me. I will give you a taste of my tails in exchange, since they're apparently the reason you're here."
"Mmh… You know how to drive your bargain… Very well, I will show you the arts I learned."
An hour later, Tamamo was lying on her bed sideway, lost in thoughts. The larger silhouette of Est was positioned close behind her, her eyes half-closed as she was wrapped in fluffy tails.
Sigh… What possessed me? Granted, that learning got me more pleasure skills than a succubus could possibly dream of ever hearing about, but I wasn't so much interested in that in the first place. I hoped I would have learned more varied moves to fight against enemy from Gilgorn and Vinum instead.
Well… At least I found out that Est isn't so bad in hindsight… She does remind me of Lilith, but without any malicious intent. However... Even if she's an interesting companion, she doesn't feel reliable at all. Luka and Alice picked quite the burden with those Alliance members, and I don't know what someone like that could offer that the others wouldn't besides the obvious. Maybe-
Tamamo gasped when she felt Est reach for head with a free hand. Before she could ask the Nightmare what she was doing, she started purring and shivering uncontrollably.
Oooh… head scritches… Yes… Just like that… That's the spooooooot…