Steam rolled gently from the open-air bath, nestled at the center of the village like a crown jewel. Marble tiles gleamed under soft moonlight, and crystal lanterns cast an ambient glow across the surface of the heated water. What began as a personal project to ease tension after the last battle had evolved into a luxurious public relaxation pool for the town.
Kujo stood at the edge, inspecting the runes carved into the stone pillars. They hummed quietly, maintaining the perfect temperature and purifying the water with an enchantment Zafira helped design. For once, everything felt peaceful.
Then the splash came.
"Cannonball!" Chusi's voice echoed through the night air as her bare, toned body hit the water in a full-bodied leap. Kujo shielded his face just in time to avoid the full impact of the wave.
She surfaced with a grin. "This is amazing! You should've built this weeks ago."
Before he could respond, another splash—smaller, more graceful.
Kyrie landed in a smooth dive, emerging from the mist with her hair clinging to her shoulders, wings tucked delicately against her back.
"I was scouting overhead and noticed it was finally operational," she said innocently, gliding to the pool's edge. "Naturally, I thought I'd test it."
Fiore arrived next, her expression neutral as always, though the subtle way her towel hugged her hips showed she was far from indifferent. She stepped into the water without a word, settling into a corner where she could watch the whole pool—and Kujo—without obstruction.
He didn't even have time to comment before Dimara emerged from the shadows, wrapped in a towel two sizes too small and humming to herself.
"I sensed warm water and my Master's presence," she said, slinking into the pool with an audible sigh. "This is paradise~"
Setara appeared moments later, holding a clipboard in one hand and already muttering. "The infrastructure here is surprisingly solid. Filtration runes, water flow circulation—wait, why are you all undressed already?"
Zafira trailed behind her, wordless as usual, slipping out of a long wrap and descending into the bath like a queen returning to her private spring. Her dark skin shimmered with condensation, and the delicate tattoos down her legs seemed to glow softly in the mist.
Kujo looked around at the six women now surrounding him, each more relaxed—and more provocatively underdressed—than the last.
"This is supposed to be a public bath," he muttered.
"We're public," Dimara chimed cheerfully, stretching her legs across his lap under the water.
"This wasn't a group invitation," he added.
"I didn't see a sign that said 'private,'" Kyrie replied, pressing up beside him with a smile. "Besides, we all need this."
Fiore gave him a look. "Are you complaining?"
"No," he sighed, trying not to stare as she pushed her hair back from her face and the towel slipped ever so slightly.
Then came the splashing.
Chusi kicked up water with her feet, grinning and laughing. Dimara retaliated with a splash of her own. Kyrie ducked under and came up behind Kujo, dragging him back into the center of the bath where the others closed in.
It became a mess of limbs and laughter, steam and skin, water flying and towels slipping dangerously out of place. More than once, someone's hand landed where it shouldn't—Zafira's on Kujo's thigh, Fiore's on his chest, Chusi's somewhere lower that she pretended not to notice.
He ended up pulled into the middle of the pool by Dimara, who wrapped her arms around his neck from behind while Fiore and Kyrie leaned in from either side.
"You look tense," Kyrie teased.
"Let us help you loosen up," Fiore added, far too close.
Setara finally gave up pretending to take notes and soaked quietly at the far edge—until Chusi sent a splash straight at her, drenching her entire chest and forcing a squeal from the normally composed secretary.
"You're all incorrigible," she said, blushing.
Dimara grinned. "Welcome to the harem, baby~"
By the end of it, Kujo was slumped against the pool wall, dazed and breathless, surrounded by steam and the scent of skin and spell-oils.
And then—
Footsteps echoed from the outer path.
A soldier approached, soaked in desert dust and wind, bearing a sealed scroll with a crimson serpent stamped on its surface.
"A messenger has arrived," he said. "From one of the outer demon tribes. They request an audience. They claim urgency."
Kujo exhaled, hair still wet, his face pressed to Kyrie's shoulder while Dimara nuzzled his chest under the water.
"Can I get one night off?" he muttered.
"Nope," Chusi said, grinning. "Not when you're this cute."
He groaned, pushed himself up, and climbed out of the water—soaked, flushed, and already dreading whatever new madness waited at the gate.
The scouting reports came in just before dusk—movement near the southern ridge, a caravan of unknown origin. No banners, no aggression, but definitely organized. Their magic signatures were strange: heavy, layered, and sultry. Chusi called it "spicy." Fiore called it "suspicious."
Kujo was already preparing border fortifications when the group appeared.
They moved like silk through the trees—thirty women, each tall, curvaceous, and exuding a sultry confidence that made even the seasoned guards uncomfortable. Wings, horns, and tails marked their draconic lineage, but their movements, their eyes, and the way they carried themselves—those were unmistakably succubus traits.
At their head stood a woman who looked like trouble dressed in temptation.
Her skin was pale with a faint pink undertone, smooth and flawless. Her body, generous in every curve, was wrapped in black leather and crimson silk, with slits that exposed too much to be armor and not enough to be decency. Her tail swayed lazily behind her, long and spaded, while two black horns curled from her head like polished obsidian. Her pink eyes glowed with mischief.
She wore a smile that made even Dimara flinch.
She stepped forward and offered a bow—elegant, teasing, unnecessary.
"My name is Aeva," she purred. "Leader of the Crimson Coil. Formerly under contract with the Demon King. Now… reconsidering my affiliations."
Kujo crossed his arms. "Why defect?"
"Because the Demon King is boring," she said, stretching. "All fire and doom. No fun. No finesse. Just 'conquer this,' 'march there,' 'sacrifice half your squad for no reason.'" She yawned. "Exhausting."
"And you just happened to march here with a small army?"
"Tribe," she corrected. "Loyal to me, not him. We prefer passion over pointless orders. And… we've been watching you, Kujo."
Kyrie landed behind him, her wings flaring. "So you are spies."
Aeva smirked. "No, darlings. We're admirers."
Zafira narrowed her eyes. "You claim to bring information?"
"I do." Aeva pulled a scroll from the gap between her breasts and offered it with a wink. "Troop movement logs. Tunnel network access points. Recent promotions within the Demon King's court. Very real. Very valuable."
Fiore snatched the scroll and began reviewing it.
"And what do you want in return?" Kujo asked.
"Refuge," Aeva said, taking a step closer, her heels clicking. "Freedom from the Demon King's tyranny. And…" Her finger traced a line up his chest, "…a nice, strong, powerful man to keep me warm while we adjust."
"You're not staying in my room," Kujo said immediately.
"Why not?" she asked sweetly. "It's the safest place in the village. And I'm fragile. Half-succubus, remember? We wither when ignored."
"You seem durable enough," Setara muttered, arms folded.
Aeva pouted. "Kujo, please? I'll sleep on the floor. Or under your bed. Or maybe on your lap, if that's all right?"
He stared at her.
Her tail curled around his ankle.
He sighed. "You can stay in my quarters. Temporarily."
She lit up with delight and clapped her hands. "Perfect. I'll try not to bite."
Dimara's eye twitched. "You'd better not."
"Unless he asks me to," Aeva whispered, licking one fang.
That night, Kujo returned to his room after another strategy meeting. The war map sprawled across the table, the scroll Aeva gave them already confirmed as accurate by Setara and Fiore. Her intel was real.
So was the headache she gave him.
He opened his door—and immediately froze.
Aeva was lying on his bed, tail flicking playfully, wearing what barely qualified as a nightgown. She propped herself up on her elbows, giving him a perfect view of her cleavage and a teasing smile.
"Welcome home~"
"You said floor."
She patted the mattress. "I upgraded. It's more efficient to stay close, in case of emergency."
"You're the emergency."
She tilted her head. "Would you rather I sleep curled around your waist?"
"No."
"Your chest?"
"No."
She crawled toward him on all fours. "Your face?"
"Out."
She paused, gave him a slow blink, and whispered, "You're so mean. I like that."
He rubbed his temple. "I'm going to sleep. Don't touch me."
"Not unless you ask nicely," she said, lying back with a sultry stretch that made the silk slide up her thigh.
Kujo turned away, muttering.
"Don't worry," Aeva whispered as she dimmed the lights with a flick of her fingers. "I'm not here to steal your heart."
She smirked.
"Just maybe borrow your attention."