Case 110: Upon reaching the demon city.
''Huu...''
''Are you cold?''
Shrugging her shoulder lightly, Cecilia replied with a helpless smile, ''No, just... I felt like someone was talking about me.''
''?''
In reality, Cecilia's physique had been quite good these days, all thanks to her lovers' efforts. God knows how many elixirs she was fed the past two years...
Still, even the excellent health benefits of those expensive elixirs were starting to wear out. More accurately, they were being suppressed by the progenitor's curse inside her. That was why she decided to go on this risky journey in the first place.
The shackles that bound her heart—she wanted to break them.
'Before it's too late...'
If it were now, she could muster her full strength. At her peak, practically no one could hold against her for long. Still, whether it would be enough to set her free of the progenitor's grudge...
Cecilia tried to encourage herself that it would work out in the end.
''By the way, Cecily.''
''Hm?''
''You seem to know a lot about demons. Do you know someone... experienced?''
A few days had passed since Yuria and Cecilia traveled together. Just this morning, they had safely passed Checkpoint Eight, now heading toward Nine.
It wouldn't be so long until they reached their final destination—the demon capital beyond Checkpoint Nine.
During these times, their conversations were primarily about the monsters they encountered along the way and the fearsome demons that dwelt at the end of the world.
The wandering abominations were simply animals corrupted by dark energy, while demons were an entirely separate set of species who thrived on such dark energy.
That was common sense, yet Yuria noticed that her mysterious companion seemed to know so much about the other side, perhaps even more than her, a veteran adventurer, or any scholar, for that matter.
Once again, curiosity arose.
That question had obvious intentions, and both of them were aware of it.
'Why are you so familiar with demons?'
Strangely enough, Cecilia felt some sort of relief, facing Yuria's curiosity. Because... it was only curiosity.
As far as Cecilia remembered, this princess was the sort of person who judged others through her own observation while ignoring all hearsay and prejudices. She was an expert in judging people.
In a sense, both Cecilia and Yuria knew how to 'read' people well.
Cecilia was just Cecilia. She knew who she was, and she didn't mind being read. In other words, even if she confessed something... unconventional, as long as she didn't show malice, it would be fine.
''You can say I have some connections with them.'' She calmly replied.
''...With demons?''
''Yes.''
''Are you... a demon?''
Hearing Yuria's somewhat nervous tone, the teasing blood in her instantly boiled, ''Who knows?'' She smirked, ''What kind of demon do you think I might be?''
''Uh... a s-succubus?'' Yuria reluctantly gave an answer, yet was totally serious. ''If that was disrespectful... I apologize.''
''...No, it's fine, it's fine. So you think I'm a succubus...''
''I apologize, okay?!''
Such banters filled the day as they headed deeper into the unknown lands.
The sky was becoming bleaker by the moment, unfazed by time. At some point, Yuria couldn't help but ask further, ''...I wonder what kind of being the demon queen is.''
Cecilia took a bite of the slightly salted potato chips, her lips gleaming a seductive glint, ''The demon queen is the demon queen. She's the queen of all demons, and a high succubus.''
''I know that, but... I wonder how she is in person.''
This time, the crisp chewing suddenly stopped. As Yuria briefly contemplated if she had said something she shouldn't, Cecilia's voice rang again, this time, with a hint of weariness, ''She's someone whose existence only brings misfortune.''
''...''
''You know, the demon queen is said to be unparalleled in strength and magic... but to sustain that kind of power, she needs to consume hundreds of human life force—their souls—a day, sometimes thousands. She's... a walking disaster.''
''That...''
''It wasn't used to be so stupid, though.''
''Huh?''
Suddenly, Yuria's keen ears heard a mumble, one ridden with, perhaps, a resentment too personal. Glancing to the side, she saw the blue-haired woman clearly sulking as she gazed out the window.
''What do you mean, Cecily?''
The princess, with her acute hunter senses, knew she was about to stumble upon something incredible. So, she patiently waited, and waited... until the other person finally responded, ''...Such crude and pointless cruelty isn't in high succubi's nature. It's the truth that most succubi feast on human life force through lust, but... not high succubi.''
''Is it what you said? The progenitor's curse... right?''
''Yes. At the end of their evolution lines, succubi and incubi alike flourish on untainted beauty instead of vulgarity. Beauty in love, beauty in rivalry, beauty in fiction, even observing the simplest acts in ordinary life could fill them up. That was what it meant to be a transcendent being.''
As if venting her frustration, Cecilia continued to gush, ''But when a high succubus bears the weight of the crown, those instincts get suppressed by the progenitor's curse, leaving only their barest, most primitive desire for lust intact. It's an insult to life itself.''
Suddenly taking in so much critical information, Yuria felt her mind spinning rapidly. Was it something she was supposed to hear...?
Still, to resume the conversation, she couldn't say nothing.
''Is that why Lilith... the current queen ran away?''
''Because she was sick of it and wanted to be a good person? Beat me.'' Cecilia sighed. ''That said, succubi are demons at the end of the day. They're not good people with good intentions. Just... that damned curse is making everything so much worse.''
''I see...''
''...Sorry. I spoke too harshly just now.''
''Why apologize for that? Yours is cute compared to the average adventurer's swear.''
For a while, the mood died down again.
Gradually, they could see the stretching road ahead, one tainted with a bleak gray color. As they approached the final Checkpoint before Cecilia's final destination, Yuria felt a certain sense of excitement... and anxiousness.
What kind of development should she anticipate?
''Hoo...''
Checkpoint Nine was laughably small, without even a real person looking after it. If anything, it looked just like a run-down house at the side of the road.
And that was fine, since practically nobody went here in the first place.
Inside were some mere shelves containing decent magical tools, some utilities, and dry rations. Yuria parked the car right before the entrance, telling her partner to wait.
After taking what she needed, the seasoned adventurer performed a final repair of the vehicle and stepped on the gas confidently.
Somewhere beyond the horizon, the ominous demon capital was waiting for them.
''I...''
Cecilia, who had remained strangely quiet for a while, spoke up, ''I plan to eliminate the progenitor's curse.''
''...Huh?''
The implications in those words were clear—so clear that Yuria couldn't find a response. Cecilia turned around and, with a gentle smile, told the princess,
''You should go back, Yuri. It's dangerous... more than anything you could imagine.''
Yet at that moment, Yuria instinctively shot back, ''I... I'll follow you!''
''...Did you not hear what I said?''
''I know. I know it's dangerous. It's not... about my feelings for you or anything.'' The princess responded honestly. ''Of course, I want to support you, but this is about my own adventure. I want to explore that place, even if it costs my life. So... please let me go with you!''
''...''
Facing such enthusiasm, Cecilia was speechless. Smiling bitterly, she thought to herself,
'Isn't that cheating...?'
