The Hero Became a Succubus, and the Only Way to Level is to… What?!
Chapter 398 – Blockade

Back on the edirashem again, Kanae and her companions spent most of the day cooped up within the mansion playing cards. Well, mostly losing money to Edina in a game of cards. They eventually stopped wagering anything and played without bets. Petyr was surprisingly involved, participating in every match until she got bored and went to visit Tio instead. But since they weren't playing with stakes, Edina took off to find unsuspecting players to gamble against. Both Renya and Alicia had struck up a mutual interest in weapons of the cutthroat variety, so they left to browse the bazaar.

Kanae and Kris were the only two who remained behind, but even the explorer had her own attention occupied by something else. She joined this journey with them on the promise of obtaining the cylindrical stonework keys, which might provide her access to the underground dungeons north of Hellfire Badlands. Some would have called it a fool's errand. There was no telling if any of those keys were even going to fit.

Unfortunately for fate, Kris was an eccentric go-getter. If this venture failed, she would be off to find another way. The demon woman had traveled the length of the continent on nothing but hope after all.

Maybe Kris hadn't realized Kanae was still here, but she fixed herself some tea and set up camp at the dinner table, where they were playing cards earlier. She lit a candle which only had an inch of wax and wick left for light, then pulled out a couple of small rocks and pouches of sand to set around herself. It could have been mistaken for a magical ritual, especially after producing a weathered book from her knapsack.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were about to create a stone golem," Kanae joked, plopping down across from her at the table.

"Maybe I am! You can't charm something made of rock, Kanae! Hehe. I can't actually do magic though. These are just what I collected all over Savir." Kris pointed to a piece of sandstone with two clear gradients. "This one is from the Arkesian Wastes." She pointed to another with a deeper shade of tan. "Bravost." She tossed a small bag of sand in the air and caught it. "Maraag's Crossing. I looooove collecting a little bit of every place I go to. Eventually, I want to build my own museum full of this stuff. I'm having a lot of fun. Although, I do wish I could help you guys more during fights. I can't even lift a sword! Makes me a little sad that my trip with you guys is ending soon."

"You plan to leave so soon after getting the keys?"

She nodded. "There's so much of the world to see, and I only live for so long. But don't worry. I'll remember you guys! That's what this trusty diary is for!"

As Kris nostalgically flipped through the journal, each page had been fully filled in from top to bottom. She certainly had a lot to write about it. Kanae grinned at the thought of being in multiple entries, given that they had met in Suvius.

The entire room jostled suddenly. They recognized it as the edirashem coming to a stop. Kanae and Kris emerged from the mansion to investigate. The caravan halted at the mouth of a giant but yet narrow canyon pass. Old ruins the size of cities half-buried in sand stretched out of sight to either side of them Already, Kris' eyes were glinting with the urge to jump down and explore their bones.

A harpy flying down the road waved to get their attention.

"Kanae, the succubus? Lady Rasheena asks for your presence at Odika's manor," he explained.

They traveled there together. Odika and Rasheena were seated on a balcony terrace which overlooked the canyon before the edirashem. From up here, Kanae could see the rubble of rock and sand that blockaded them from going any further. It was unnatural, too. Stone outcrops jutted out to perfectly impede their way.

Odika was speaking with a couple of laborers of hefty proportions. After some back and forths, with a lot of yelling in between, the working men shuffled out of the room in a hurry.

"Kanae." Rasheena beckoned her closer. "It seems we have been left a present. Since I don't see Edirashok Levain and her edirashem stuck behind like we are, I can only assume this was her doing to impede us."

"This does look like Grahib's work. He has the elemental power to control the earth. I wonder why he's helping them?" Kanae replied sarcastically.

The hell hound sighed heavily. "You're never going to let me hear the end of it, are you? Listen, the harpies we had sent to scout reported that it is a thin blockade. Odika has issued an all hands on deck to any able-bodied worker to excavate a path through, but it will take the better part of a day or two. Unfortunately, we have no choice but to stay put."

"Why couldn't your messenger just tell me that? I'm guessing you need me for something else?" she asked.

"As it turns out… we do." Odika wrung his hands together.

Choawain. It was the name of the city buried in the sand. Odika and Rasheena explained that this used to be an ancient Saviran metropolis, abandoned after the nation fractured into three factions. Cerberus' ancestors retreated farther north past the canyon they were currently stuck behind, where they built a brand new capital known today as Avanesse, the Ruby Jewel.

Exposed to constant attacks by Bravost and Elusis over the decades, the people of Choawain eventually abandoned the city for Avanesse. Over time, the dunes slowly reclaimed it and whatever treasures were left behind. Legends tell of a beautiful winged sculpture encrusted with gemstones left behind in the then-governor's residence. Odika wanted it. Many treasure hunters tried and perished. Because where the sands reached, dangerous monsters followed.

"Now, hold on. You want me to go in there and find it? Even though there's monsters that have killed veteran adventurers and treasure hunters?" Kanae gulped.

"You're strong. You have strong companions! I'll make this worth your while. An edirashok's promise!" Odika exclaimed.

"Kanae, we should take him up on his offer! Ancient ruins are my element. I want to see what's waiting to be discovered so badly!" Kris grabbed Kanae and shook her.

"Of course, you do…" She sighed.

As laborers went to work on clearing a path for the edirashem, Odika prepared a party for Kanae and Kris to accompany them into Choawain. The lift lowered them to the sandy surface. If it wasn't for the canyon's shadow, the sun would have cooked them alive. These ruins didn't even have giant poles or tattered canopies, a sign that Choawain predated the sun's curse. 

They lowered a triangular wagon, loaded with supplies, down that would ferry them the rest of the way into the ruins. Kanae stuck a foot into the exposed sunlight. It burned, and she retracted back into the shade.

"The governor's residence will be recognizable by a sundial outside. Just for the record, this is Odika's idea. Wealth matters little to me," Rasheena said.

"Are you sure we should be wasting our time with this? Aren't you worried Levain suspects we're in league with each other?" Kanae asked.

"That's definitely a concern, but I don't see any reason why she would. If anything, Levain and Ambrosia knew your only way to Avanesse was by Odika's edirashem. You could have snuck on for all we know. But what's done is done. We can only play with the cards dealt to us, and I do not intend to fold so close to home." She wished them luck and returned to the lift.

In Rasheena's place Odika and Durok came down after. Kanae was climbing into the wagon with Kris when they hollered for her.

"Wait, Kanae! Durok will join you," Odika insisted.

"Eh? Not that I mind, but why?" Kanae scooted in to make room.

"The forewagon conductor is every edirashok's right hand! He will make sure you… not try to hide what you find." The old man grinned.

Kanae rolled her eyes.

The wagon dipped noticeably when Durok got on and sat down next to Kanae. He had to duck to avoid his horns puncturing the covering that provided them shade. They briefly made eye-contact and quickly looked away. Kris, who sat across from them, flashed a knowing smirk.

"Ohhh? Am I being a third wheel?" Kris asked.

"W-Why would you even say that?" Kanae turned beet red.

"Come on. Even back in Suvius, you were banging things left and right. I also have it in diary entry 879 that you enthusiastically had sex with a giant!" she recounted.

Durok's ears perked up upon hearing that, but Kanae charmed Kris into saying no more.

Four ronoas pulled the wagon into the Choawain. They were a little rowdier than what Kanae was used to and squawked anxiously on the way in. It must be because monsters lurked inside the ruins.

Kris was at the edge of her seat though. One couldn't even see where the roads were anymore, because sand covered most of the surface. They only knew due familiar intersections and avenues between each block of residences that were in present-day Saviran cities. The wagon stopped at the edge of the city. Any further would be too dangerous.

Durok, Kanae, and Kris hopped off and ventured inside. Even though Choawain didn't have canopies, they were able to stick near the walls for shade and only traveling under sunlight for a few seconds. The minotaur beastman wielded a double-sided battle axe. It definitely felt safer having him around, but there wasn't a lot Kanae couldn't handle herself.

Every home was preceded by doors broken at the hinges from scavengers having scoured the place. Sand piled up against the sides of buildings. Ancient architecture reminded Kanae a little bit of the Saviran cities she visited. Old murals had faded down to the bare walls.

Kris ran up to one and marveled at it. She closed her eyes, imagining how the work of art must have looked in the past.

"Why doesn't Avanesse just resettle this place?" Kanae asked, peering into an old pottery shop.

"There hasn't been any reason to," Durok explained. "Sultan Cerberus also believes this place serves as a nice deterrent to any invading army."

Just as Kanae thought Choawain wasn't so dangerous, a giant snake camouflaged in sand awakened. The three jumped away as it spewed venom from its mouth. Some of the spittle hit a wall they were using as cover and it began to melt.

"Yikes!" Kris gasped.

Kanae flew out and tapped her Collar of Domination, seizing control of the snake. She ordered the creature to lower its head down. Durok brought his axe down over the neck. The rest of the body writhed and flailed but eventually went still.

Just as they thought they were in the clear, distant eyes stared at them from behind buildings and at every corner. A swarm of two-headed carrions circled above the fresh kill, eager to get in on a meal at last. Two packs of dire boars and dire coyotes tiptoed in from the south and west end respectively.

"Tell me you can control a lot more with that enchanted collar of yours," Durok said.

"I-I don't even think Mass Charm can get all of them." Kanae took a step back.

"This way!" Kris waved from the north end of the street.

They made a run for it just as a hundred monsters jumped in at once for a piece of giant snake meat. Kris led them down a road that gave way to a plaza, where a five-story tower resided.

Kanae and Durok caught their breaths, but the explorer wandered up to a structure partially buried in the sand. She brushed a hand over it a few times, revealing a sundial that was missing a protrusion to cast a shadow. Durok recognized the etchings as numerical symbols, and it even contained an inner ring for different stages of the moon.

"You two go ahead. I'll keep watch in case any monsters get too close," Durok said.

"Top floor?" Kris asked.

"Top floor." Kanae nodded and picked her up to fly to the top.

The pair entered from a window on the fifth floor. Aside from being musty and covered in a thin layer of sand, the governor's bedchamber looked surprisingly untouched. Maybe it wasn't such a surprise, seeing as people hardly made it this far without falling victim to the elements and monsters outside.

While each ascending floor was a tad smaller than the one below it, the room was pretty big. The governor's bedroom spanned the width of the entire floor. They had a kitchen and office, too.

Kanae opened an armoire and found old tunics still pristine and beautiful.

"Whoa, Kanae! Whoa! You can't just open furniture like it's your own house!" Kris exclaimed.

"What? Why? The place has been abandoned for centuries. Who's going to complain that we rummaged through their stuff?" Kanae asked.

"That's not what I'm worried about. It's…" She lowered her voice to a whisper. "There could be mimics!"

Kanae backed away slowly.

"H-How can you be sure there are mimics in here?" Kanae scanned the room, thinking anything could be disguised as one now.

"Savir has their own species of mimics that are kind of like hermit crabs. They look for suitable furniture to hide in, grow in size, and eventually use it like their shell when their flesh fuses with the furniture. However! While their bodies continue to grow, furniture doesn't. Keep an eye out for anything bulging out of the ordinary," Kris explained.

They continued scouring the room for the gem-encrusted, winged sculpture. The governor at the time must have been in a hurry to leave something so valuable behind. Kanae opened a closet, and the blood in her veins froze.

Sitting inside the broom closet was a waist-high chest about three feet in width. It was made of dark brown wood and iron bandings. But the planks had gaps of flesh between them. Some wriggling tendrils were also visible along the lid.

"Nope." Kanae slammed the closet shut. "Kris, I found a mimic—"

She turned around to the sight of Kris being eaten by a cabinet mimic. The upper half of her body was inside its mouth, and she hopelessly kicked her legs to try and break free.

"YOU JUST GOT DONE TELLING ME TO BE CAREFUL!" Kanae pulled on Kris' legs, but it was useless.

"Pull me out! I found the sculpture!" Kris cried.

Kanae lost her grip and fell backwards. She noticed the closet door was open, and the mimic from earlier had gone missing.

"Uh, oh." Kanae flew up just as the chest mimic jumped and clamped its jaws on her lower body.

They hit the floor hard. No matter how hard Kanae pushed, she couldn't free herself. Pleasure shocked her senses. The mimic's thick tongue lapped at her pussy. It felt nice and warm being inside, too. Fleshy tendrils crept up her body, sending low currents of electricity.

"Nnh…" Kanae choked down a moan and was beginning to lose the will to resist.

"Kanae? You're not having sex with a mimic, are you? It's dark, and I'm scared!" Kris shouted from her own predicament.

"I mostly certainly am not having sexy time with a mimic! At… At least not by choice!" She casted Charm on it, compelling the jaws to snap open.

Freed at last, Kanae exerted the same spell on the mimic devouring Kris. She wrenched herself free covered in saliva.

"Ugh… It stank in there." Kris frowned, then showed a gaudy-looking harpy sculpture covered in diamonds, rubies, and more jewels Kanae couldn't name at the moment. "Governor must have put it in there for safe keeping and never came back."

They descended from the tower to tell Durok the good news. The minotaur looked past them in confusion.

"I'm glad, but that chest… Is it what I think it is?" Durok asked.

Kanae and Kris turned around, only to be jump-scared by the mimic.

"It followed us down!" Kris exclaimed.

"I didn't order it to follow me. You know what? Maybe having a mimic chest around will be useful. I'm keeping it," Kanae said firmly.

There were still dire beasts prowling around the intersection where the giant snake had been killed. They took another path around and finally made it back to the wagon. The coach stared at the mimic chest following them with a mixture of dumbfoundedness and terror, but he let it on anyway.

Back in Odika's manor, Kris presented their grateful host the brilliant sculpture that was likely worth a small fortune. The man hovered around it like a child discovering a new toy, but he dared not touch the slobber-covered thing.

"Simply stunning… and, do I even want to know why you have a mimic following you?" Odika grimaced at the chest by Kanae's feet.

"No," Kanae answered curtly.

"Well… No matter. You two have done me and Savir a great service. This is a priceless artifact, crafted by the legendary jeweller, Solaris Averinth. Back when Savir was united, the lords of Avanesse, Bravost, and Elusis contributed their jewels together to create this. Now, for the matter of your reward…" He whistled sharply, and two men carried a large chest into the room.

They opened it to the shine of gold bars with an opalescent shine to them when hit by light at a certain angle.

"These," Odika continued, "are some of Avanesse's most precious metals, worth a hundred times their weight in gold called ceramite. Also known as Regallis Eye. There are twenty bars in there and—"

The mimic launched itself at the new chest, and the two servants dove away. Fleshy tendrils wrapped tightly around it, slowly becoming one with the new furniture. Once the union was complete, the mimic burped loudly and a single bar that Kanae caught.

"And… it's been eaten by your mimic." Odika sighed.

"Maybe I made a mistake…" Kanae laughed nervously.

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