The weight in his chest. Every step pulsed with pain that tore through his body, making it shudder.
Kano walked through the crowd, but the world around him seemed blurry, distorted. Something inside him thrashed, churned, fought against him like an uncontrollable surge of energy, desperate to break free.
He tried to keep steady, but the pain became unbearable. His body burned from within. Not physically—this was something else. As though something foreign, unknown, dark, was trying to awaken inside him.
Suddenly, a new spasm forced him to stop, clutching his head.
—"Kano?"—Elgot's voice sounded muffled, as if coming through thick water.
Everything swam before his eyes. He couldn't understand what was happening.
"What is this… what's happening?"
He blinked.
And then he saw her.
At first—a blurred silhouette. Like a shadow in the crowd, something unclear, something that couldn't be grasped.
But gradually…
The silhouette took form.
A woman.
Her tanned skin held a deep golden-honey hue, as though she had been born under a sun that never set. Her long hair, like rubies blazing in the light, cascaded in luxurious waves.
And her brown eyes…
Deep. Rich. They didn't just look at him—they studied him, scanning every detail.
Kano froze.
For a moment, all the noise of the crowd—the voices of the dwarves, the sound of footsteps, distant shouts—vanished.
Her lips curved into a barely noticeable smile, and her gaze turned warmer… or perhaps more dangerous.
—"What's wrong, darling? You look at me like you're seeing a woman for the first time."
Her voice was soft, playful, but there was something… too relaxed about it.
Kano gasped.
He didn't understand why his heart skipped a beat.
—"Oh, you…"—he instinctively took a step back.
—"Oh, what is this…"—Elgot grabbed him sharply by the shoulder.
For the first time, he looked genuinely worried.
—"Kano, we need to go. Immediately."
Kano finally caught his breath and slowly turned back to the mage.
—"What..?"
Elgot looked at Revena as if she were a deadly threat.
—"This is bad. Very bad."
Kano looked at him in confusion.
—"What are you talking about?"
Elgot's face changed, and in his eyes reflected something more than mere wariness.
—"She..."—he gritted his teeth. —"Listen, succubi don't just kiss people like that."
Kano felt a cold shiver run down his spine.
—"What..?"
Elgot spoke quietly, but his voice was deadly serious.
—"What if she did something? What if that kiss wasn't just healing?"
Kano felt that same heaviness in his body again.
The same as when he was walking through the mine, clutching his head…
His lungs constricted.
"No… this can't be…"
He slowly turned toward Revena.
And she was just smiling.
Kano couldn't tear his eyes away.
His gaze, on its own, began to slide down, studying every line of the demoness.
Her body…
Revena's figure was simply perfect.
Her slender waist accentuated the smooth curve of her hips, which were majestic, wide, and expressive—seemingly crafted by the gods themselves to captivate a man's mind.
She was tall—almost his height—but with her flexible posture and graceful movements, she appeared even more refined and dangerous.
But the most striking thing…
Her breasts.
They were large, heavy, luxurious—so much so that even her fairly revealing outfit could barely contain their fullness.
They swayed effortlessly with every slow movement she made, as if defying the force of gravity.
Kano felt his mind begin to freeze.
His body was exhausted, but...
His eyes were working at full capacity.
Kano felt his brain slowly begin to short-circuit.
"She… is unbelievable."
And just at that moment...
—"This is exactly what we didn't need!"—Elgot sharply struck him on the back.
—"Ow!"—Kano bent from the impact, snapping out of his trance.
Elgot pulled him aside, away from Revena.
—"Oh no, darling, we're not going through this again!"
—"What? What again?"—Kano still couldn't fully regain control of his mind.
—"This!"—Elgot made a sweeping gesture toward the demoness. —"I've already seen her literally devour you with her eyes!"
Kano glanced at Revena once more, but this time with mild embarrassment.
She just chuckled, covering her full lips with her fingers.
—"Well, it seems you've figured me out, mage,"—she spoke in a soft, gentle voice, and Kano once again felt a warmth deep inside.
Elgot gritted his teeth.
—"Listen, succubi don't just latch onto men unless it's part of some scheme."
Revena raised an eyebrow as if entertained.
—"Oh, how suspicious you are. Why are you so rude, Elgot?"
—"Because I know your kind,"—he narrowed his eyes.
—"Well, you clearly don't know me,"—she took a step closer, and Kano felt a wave of warmth radiating from her sun-kissed body.
His heart quickened again.
She spoke slowly, gracefully, as if every word carried a separate meaning.
—"Aren't you glad I'm here now?"
Kano swallowed the lump in his throat.
But before he could say anything, Elgot literally shut his mouth with his hand.
—"Enough, we're leaving!"
Kano closed his eyes.
"Dammit, this is going to be a long day…"
Revena theatrically sighed, rolling her brown eyes.
—"Elves are so interesting… First you hide behind my breasts, then you make me out to be Satan. Why are you so rude?"
Elgot paused for a second, then sharply turned away, muttering under his breath.
—"Oh, you… curse…"
Revena smiled slyly, and Kano barely held back a laugh.
"Yeah, this is going to be a very long day."
Revena walked behind Kano and Elgot, still wearing her characteristic smile. But inside, her mind was swirling with too many thoughts.
She wasn't just a demoness.
She was the closest to the Queen of Demons.
A servant. A trusted confidant. An executor of her will.
But nothing more.
The Queen had no friends. No favorites. She was above such things.
Her face had never been seen twice.
Those who stared at her too long vanished into the abyss of her eyes.
She wasn't alive… but she wasn't dead either.
Even we, her loyal servants, don't know how many centuries she's existed.
But Revena served her loyally.
I always followed her will.
And so…
That's why she was here.
Among the dwarves.
This was supposed to be my greatest mission.
She had to seduce the King of the Dwarves.
Gain his trust.
Manipulate him from the inside.
The dwarves were strong. Their forges and runes were the best in the world. Their warriors stood as a wall against all enemies. But there was one thing they lacked...
Political flexibility.
They were rigid, unyielding, stubborn.
And if you couldn't make them bow… then you had to make them kneel before beauty.
Revena was the best at what she did.
I made kings fall to their knees.
But…
This old dwarf king…
He turned out to be different.
He refused to give himself to me. Even after wine. Even after nights of conversation.
He didn't falter, didn't fall under her charms.
He was wise. Strong. And he sent me to my death.
Survive, demoness. If you're so special.
She survived.
But for what?
And now…
Perhaps for him.
She looked at Kano once more.
His flame… His strength…
If my Queen learns of him… if she learns that I found him…
She will want him.
And I must decide… if I want that.
But above all…
I must send her a sign.
She paused for a moment, hiding her smile.
It's time to try old methods.
Revena raised her hands in front of her, slowly clasped her palms together, and whispered a few words. The warm air between her fingers trembled, and in a moment, a tiny creature appeared.
A small black bat, its eyes glowing red. It unfurled its wings but didn't move, waiting for her words.
Revena leaned towards it, ran her fingers along its back, and whispered:
— "I found something interesting. I'm going after him."
The bat let out a quiet squeak and then shot upwards, vanishing into the darkness of the mine.
Revena watched it for a few seconds, then smiled again.
The Queen would receive the message. And then I'll see what to do next.