Chapter 205 - The Long Bather (1/2)

Nik and Brian strolled outside the mansion in ease before mobilising their natural speed and entering the inner section of the forest in a pace of few moments. Finally, after entering a spot filled with dense forest and shrubs, Brian nodded and smiled at Nik.

”Your strength... it has passed a certain threshold.”

”My skills and experience, yes?”

Nik smiled and sat under the shade of a tree while leaning against its bark.

”Experience and skills can never be excluded from personal strength. You have trained hard.”

Brian smiled and sat in front of him. The blue-haired temporal fiend admitted that he had been worried if Nik would be even worth investing in. After all, from myriad records, Brian already knew of the cases where the demons of the incubus lineage lost themselves in debauchery before screwing the wife of someone they shouldn't and finally losing their lives.

But, until now, Nik has shown a surprising amount of sensibility.

”That I have. Of course, I also took breaks... but something tells me, you don't need to know the contents of these breaks.”

Nik smirked, inducing a mild chuckle to escape Brian's lips as his healthy, burly frame shook a little.

”So? What's the count?”

Understanding the meaning of Brian's words, Nik couldn't help but frown. Although, incubi's need for partners is already well established, Nik still felt a bit hesitant to divulge the number himself. After all, it would be too easy to determine his true strength that way.

”I am asking this because I need to challenge men... or women... And I was thinking if you have... well, an angry husband trying to chew you inside out.

I may as well assist you and increase the number of my own Honored Challenges.”

”Too bad... I am fortunate to not step upon any guy's tails.” Nik shrugged before eyeing Brian.

”Why don't you challenge the pillars?”

”And kill them for the sake of fulfilling my own requirements? I don't think it would be right at the moment. The greatest priority is to pass the mission.”

Brian looked a little thoughtful before opening his chat function and sending Nik a message.

[I also need to inform you one thing... I smelled a succubus on that pillar of flame.]

Seeing the message, Nik frowned and typed in.

[You... still haven't learned Kyojuro's name?]

Nik matched Brian's gaze for a moment before receiving a reply.

[Is the succubus more important or the name?]

Suppressing a smile, Nik continued.

[Succubus. But how are you so sure that the succubus is not a product of this very world? After all, aside of our lineage, there are supposed to be many other, less integrated lineages, too, right?]

Brian nodded and wrote in.

[Because... this succubus can communicate through her pheromones. Her words were meant for me... the Fiend with a mark on his head trying to recruit the remaining survivor of the two dastardly lineages.

And the succubus clearly stated the word 'system'.]

Nik frowned and enquired.

[How did this succubus even know we are in this world? And even if she knew it, how could she be so sure that you will be there at the meeting. After all, you have been on the move since joining the corps.]

[But you stayed in one location.] Brian smiled and continued, [To follow a person into a different world is too easy. With enough SO, even I can do it. But, to know where I might possibly be, the succubus would have needed to observe a possible accomplice.

And what better accomplice to a temporal fiend than an incubus?]

Nik took a deep breath and stood up.

[Let's go.]

[After you.]

***

”I—”

”Don't worry. Instead of putting others at risk, it is better for me to do it...”