The Hero Became a Succubus, and the Only Way to Level is to… What?!
Chapter 386 – The Alchemist Boy

The edirashem bazaar buzzed with life like nothing Kanae had ever seen before in other Saviran cities. An entire wagon dedicated to be the marketplace drew everyone from the other vehicles here. Merchants somehow constantly had fresh produce and cuts of meat to sell. Sometimes, stray carriages in the deserts linked up with the edirashem and brought new merchandise.

 It was so packed, Kanae was shoulder to shoulder with everyone else. She was sure a man behind her had an erection brushing up against her butt. Others, who were more bold, groped her breasts before their hands slipped back into the mass of crowds. Being a succubus only invited their touch.

Kanae steered off the road and into a shop displaying a wooden signboard of potions. The bell above the door chimed as she entered, and a young common elf boy with a crown of orange hair welcomed her in without so much as turning around.

Potions and elixirs were few, but ingredients and reagents were many. The potion shop had its shelves stocked with dried herbs, tiny crystals, and other materials needed for crafting. A strong medicinal smell permeated the air and made Kanae's nose wrinkle.

"You don't have many potions for an alchemy shop," Kanae said on the way in.

"Most are made-to-order! An edirashem doesn't really have revolving customers and stops are infrequent. I can't exactly afford to mass-produce potions." The shopkeeper finally turned around and gasped. He bowed in deference, posture tinged with fear. "I didn't realize I was speaking to a succubus. Please, forgive my casual tone!"

"Relax. I'm not going to charm you just for speaking." She offered a reassuring smile.

He breathed a sigh of relief. Now that Kanae got a better look, he was kind of cute. Fresh into his 20s at best, the alchemist had soft and slightly tanned features only those who didn't often go out into the sun had. His apron had been stained by alchemical liquid from the cauldron, but no signs of any explosive concocting like a certain lamia alchemist.

Thank goodness for that.

"Do you often meet succubi that chide you for not speaking politely?" Kanae asked, curious if there were any others on the edirashem.

The alchemist nodded. "A few months ago, some boarded by force alongside high elves and demanded the edirashok to bring them to Avanesse. One of them came to my atelier. She charmed me into giving her every potion I had… Oh, but you're not them! My name is Tio. How may I help you?"

Kanae introduced herself and ordered some healing and mana potions, as well as a couple of basic antidotes just in case. Tio got to work right away, plucking ingredients from the shelves and carefully tossing them into the cauldron. Watching him work was leagues different from Rosaline's haphazard and eccentric brewing. She actually didn't fear anything exploding around here.

"You mentioned that succubi and high elves boarded the edirashem. Were they particularly friendly with Edirashok Odika?" Kanae made conversation while the alchemist worked.

"Not at all! It was very contentious. I thought the Empire of Ortesia had invaded. When we arrived at Avanesse, however, Sultan Cerberus welcomed them like they belonged. Gods, I wonder what's going on in Savir? Things haven't ever been this scary before," Tio murmured worriedly.

A lot of Savirans must be feeling the same way. With any luck, Kanae and her companions could help Rasheena's resistance put an end to the Ortesian and cult occupation, preventing Avanesse from entering a civil war.

Tio arranged two dozen health and mana potions and six antidotes into a little wooden box. Every single one of them looked high quality. When he informed her of the price, she almost couldn't believe how cheap it was for the entire batch. Kanae was about to pay him until she grabbed the empty coin pouch on her waist.

Right. They had been in Savir for so long, she just ran out of gold. Edina and Renya were the only ones who had any money on them, since they had a bit of a gambling habit.

"I'm so sorry, Tio. I'll come back later to pay you," Kanae said.

"You can just take these. It's fine! Healing and mana potions are very basic. They don't take a lot of reagents to make. Consider this as a thank you for not charming me!" Tio grinned.

"I can't possibly… Hm. How about I pay you another way?" She licked her lips.

Tio cocked his head in confusion. It wasn't until Kanae climbed over the counter did his demeanor shift. Fear washed over him briefly. That changed when she kneeled down and yanked his pants down. A modest penis sprung up to her face.

Kanae ran circles around the glans with her tongue, causing it to throb and twitch. Tio gasped sharply. He pressed a hand to his mouth, swallowing the urge to moan.

"Wait… Ms. Kanae… this is so sudden… I'm about to—"

Tio climaxed as the door kicked open violently, sending the bell flying across the room. Heavy footfalls stormed in. His dick immediately went limp in her mouth.

"It's time to pay up, Tio. You owe us for last month's rent!" an angry voice bellowed.

"S-Skimmer? Now isn't a good time…" Tio stammered, gaze flicking down to Kanae and back up. "I don't even have enough to pay, not after giving my tribute to the edirashok!"

"No? We ain't here for excuses. If you don't got rent, then I guess we'll hafta do this the hard way."

Shelves crashed and glasses shattered. Boots stomped down on reagents. Whoever they were started trashing the place, and Tio could do nothing but watch. He was on the verge of tears but didn't say a word.

"Hey!" Kanae stood up, revealing herself from underneath the counter. "We were in the middle of something!"

The group of thugs gaped in shock. They were holding clubs and batons, many of them frozen in place about to break something else in the atelier. Reagents and potions laid strewn all over the ground.

"You… have something on your chin." One thug pointed to his own face.

"Oh, oops." Kanae casted Prestidigitation, cleaning the dribble of cum from her chin.

"What's a succubus doing here? RUN!" another cried.

They made a break for the door, but Kanae captured them with a Mass Charm. She ordered everyone back inside to grovel on top of their own mess. Some had their heads pressed to the ground riddled with glass shards from broken vials.

"I'm guessing these aren't friends of yours, Tio?" Kanae asked.

"Hugo's men…" Tio sighed and came around the corner. "Skimmer and these guys run an organized racketeering operation on the edirashem."

"Why does Edirashok Odika do anything about them?"

"He's tried, but they pay off guards to look the other way. The edirashem is also the size of a city. Finding them all is like looking for grains of barley in a sand dune. It's hopeless. Anyway, I better get this place cleaned. Customers won't visit a trashed up atelier like this. Thank you for coming by." The boy mustered up a weak smile and grabbed a broom from behind the counter.

Kanae picked up the box of potions, but she couldn't leave. She sat them down and casted Prestidigitation on the atelier. It consumed a lot of mana because of how big the mess was. Broken glasses and crushed up reagents levitated themselves into a nearby trash bin. Her spell didn't repair broken shelves, but the intact ones that had been knocked-over became upright again.

"Tio, I'll find Hugo and put a stop to their bullying," Kanae said.

"You would do that?" Tio gasped.

"Now… Let's see what they know." She compelled the bearded dark elven man Tio had called 'Skimmer' to lift his head. "Where is Hugo's hideout?"

"Which one?" Skimmer asked.

"Er… The one your boss is currently at."

The thugs traded glances and shrugged.

Kanae put a hand to her face. They couldn't lie to her while under the effects of Charm. So, none of them actually knew? Screw it.

"Take me to all of them, one by one. I'll be on this edirashem for a while. I might as well start somewhere," Kanae said.

They were on their way out when the thug at the front walked right into a tall high elf in casual attire. Petyr. She menaced him with a glare that could kill until Kanae met her gaze.

"Kanae?" Petyr squinted. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same! I came to buy potions when these gangsters attacked the atelier. I'm about to go look for their boss," Kanae explained.

"Ms. Petyr, you came to visit again? Hello!" Tio waved from inside.

"Of course, I did. I can't go a day without seeing your cute face. Now, what is this about gangsters attacking your atelier…?" She grabbed the nearest one by the throat and lifted him off his feet.

Kanae gave Petyr the short of what happened, and Tio filled in the part about a crime boss named Hugo and his racketeering on the edirashem. Suffice to say, the high elf didn't take the news lightly.

Not to mention, Kanae had the sinking feeling that Petyr took a liking to Tio. She couldn't blame her. The alchemist was young and adorable. His short height gave off a much more youthful impression than his own age.

"I see. If that is what has been going on, then I'll gladly lend my strength. Worry not, Tio. Kanae, we will root out these lowlives and see to their deaths," Petyr vowed.

"We're not killing anybody! At least not unless they force our hands… You're rather gung-ho about this. I bet you just want to use this to get closer to Tio, you shotacon." Kanae flashed a teasing smirk.

"You bitch. I still don't know what that word means, but I don't like the tone you use saying it. Unlike that nutjob friend of yours, Rosaline, Tio is a capable alchemist. As he is my future page, I'm duty-bound to protect him and his talents. Talents go hand in hand with discipline, and that is a trait to be nurtured." She wasn't making a good case for herself, holding him and nuzzling her face into his hair like that.

"Uhm… I-I never promised to be your page… I like being an alchemist here." Tio turned beet red.

They had nothing to go on other than the list of hideouts that the charmed thugs knew. However, the edirashem had ten large wagons and countless smaller ones. Tio was right that searching for Hugo would be difficult.

Thanks to the charmed thugs, Kanae and Petyr were able to hit every single hideout on the second and third wagon. They had one more before moving onto the next, a tavern that had served Hugo and his goons as regulars. As soon as Petyr kicked the door down— even though Kanae wanted to do this quietly— every single patron drew a weapon on them.

Suffice to say, it turned into a bar fight. Full steins and tankards flew across the room. Kanae dodged a slash from someone's dagger. She fired Turn Horny as another man lunged for her. He collapsed to the ground, trembling in pleasure. When a group of them tried to mob her at once, she casted Conjured Caltrops to stop them cold.

Since Petyr didn't bring her warhammer, she picked up a chair, infused it with Smite, and smashed the furniture on top of a guy. She headbutted another and hurled him into his companions.

"Where's Hugo?" Petyr boomed.

"Now you ask questions?!" Kanae groaned into her hand.

"You always have to tenderize them with a good pummeling first. No one talks when they can still resist. Even if they do, you should still hit them for good measure," she explained.

That was all fine and dandy, but not a single patron looked well enough to talk anymore after getting beaten so badly. The only noise they made were painful squeals and moans.

"Talk." Petyr picked up a broken chair leg and pressed one end into a barely conscious man's mouth.

"H-He knows…!" The guy pointed to the counter.

Something clattered behind the bar. Whoever was back there stifled a little whimper.

Kanae and Petyr slowly inched over, with the latter using the broken chair leg as a weapon. When they peered over, a heavyset elf glanced back and laughed nervously. Despite his weight, Petyr hoisted him onto the counter with ease.

"We know this is one of Hugo's hideouts," Kanae said. "You better tell us where your boss is, or my crazy associate here is going to cripple you."

"Hey. Don't call me crazy." Petyr growled.

"I'll tell you! Fifth wagon, underneath the butcher's shop with a red awning. You can't miss it. It's a rote den!" the barkeeper sputtered.

"Rote?"

"A cactus… you smoke it… Illegal on edirashems because burning it release a lot of smoke that can cause a fire… You didn't hear it from me, alright? Now get yourself and your crazy elf out of—"

Petyr broke the chair leg, backhanding him in the face. The force sent him back over the counter and into a keg. The tap snapped, and beer poured out on top of the unconscious barkeep. Kanae shot Petyr a look.

"I said not to call me 'crazy'." Petyr shrugged.

Now that they had Hugo's location, they didn't need the charmed thugs. Kanae compelled them to beat each other unconscious and left them lying on the floor of the tavern. The two wasted no time heading to the fifth wagon and found the butcher's shop along the main thoroughfare, distinguishable by its red awning. Someone who was clearly a lookout took one glance at them and bolted inside.

The butcher, a burly human man with blood stains all over his apron, when they entered. He was too busy cutting up a dire boar to pay them any mind. His eyes, however, flicked to the door behind him that had been left ajar leading into the back.

They descended into the bowels of the butcher shop, through a freezer full of hanging beasts waiting to be butchered and enchanted runes to keep the chamber cold. On the other side, another door opened into a short hallway which finally gave way into a dimly-lit club.

Red drapes hung down every inch of wall, fragrant smoke permeated the air, and lavish sofas went unoccupied and hookahs unused. A large number of armed thugs stood between them and two people in the back. One of them was Tio, and an eyepatched feline beastman holding him captive with a knife to his throat must be who they were looking for.

"Tio! You bastards." Petyr bared her teeth.

"I'd keep those fangs hidden if I were you. I might get scared and do something rash," the beastman threatened.

"You must be Hugo?" Kanae asked.

"And you two are the bitches looking for me! Who the hells even are you cunts? You came out of nowhere and started trashing my territory. Thank goodness you're both dumb. I sent some boys over to Tio's while you were busting up my shops. I don't care if you're a succubus or a high elf. Neither of you are worth fucking. We're gutting you for the carrions, and you're going to let it happen if you want Tio to live," Hugo said, but his brave words were marked with fear.

"Not worth fucking? I'll have you know my tits are— Tio, close your eyes!" She flashed her breasts and blinded them with the Piercings of Impurity.

"Fuck! Get them—"

Tio slipped away during the distraction, and Petyr ran everyone down like they were bowling pins. Kanae guarded him while the high elf gave everyone in the room a walloping. This room was a dead end, so there weren't any escapes for Hugo to run to. He watched in horror as Petyr worked her way up to him. She grabbed him with a hand bloodied from his own men.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait! Is it money? I have plenty. Take it all!" Hugo cried.

Petyr balled up a fist.

"My friend here has an interesting rule I only learned today," Kanae began playfully. "You always have to tenderize them with a good pummeling first. No one talks when they can still resist. Even if they do, you should still hit them for good measure."

"No, please—"

Petyr knocked him out with the first punch. Kanae fetched the conductor of the fifth wagon, who called guards down to arrest Hugo and his gangsters. It was going to take some time to go over and return all the money they had strong-armed out of people, but at least there was progress. Kanae and Petyr helped Tio collect the money taken from him last month, and they returned to his atelier for a job well done.

The young alchemist invited them to stay and cooked dinner using the same cauldron he brewed potions in. Neither of them could exactly say no to stew and wine.

"Huu. This is an incredibly hearty meal, Tio. Thank you." Petyr smiled.

Kanae rolled her eyes, because Petyr was only trying to butter him up. The food was… only okay.

"What's going to happen to Hugo now?" Kanae asked.

"That's up to Edirashok Odika. On his edirashem, he is both the law enforcement and judge. It's either exile or sent to work in the bowels of the caravan. Still, I can't thank you two enough! We only just met and yet…" Tio almost choked up but caught himself. "Is there anything I can do to repay you? More potions, maybe?"

"Anything?" She eyed Tio lustfully, making him fidget.

"You keep your mangy claws off him. Tio is to be my page, isn't that right?" Petyr scooted his chair closer to her.

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