Lai navigated the narrow, cluttered hull, where crates and odds and ends jostled for space. The air was thick with the scent of salt and wood, and a sense of foreboding hung around her like a dense fog.

  "Tsk," she muttered under her breath. "Hanz has been pilfering from the merchants and vilgers all along. I always knew he was rotten to the core. If only—"

  Suddenly, she halted, her thoughts spiraling into a vivid daydream. She envisioned Chase, the galnt Demon Lord who had rescued her more than once, stepping in to deliver justice to Hanz and his son. Her heart raced at the memory of his striking features: those piercing eyes, the powerful build that exuded strength, and the unwavering courage that drew her to him.

  "C-Chase... I wish there was a way to repay you," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "But what can a mere knight like me possibly do?"

  With a heavy sigh, Lai resumed her path, determination flickering within her. She couldn't shake the feeling that, somehow, she would find a way to honor him.

  'I can't believe I'm getting turned on by a man that is a demon. A Demon Lord! And he's an Incubus!'

  Lai looked down and felt her nipples poking against her breastpte. This armor was custom-fit for her when she was a human, but now that her chest is bigger than before, it feels very uncomfortable. The thoughts of showing more skin were becoming appealing.

  'M-Maybe when things calm down, I can update my wardrobe. L-Like maybe I'll leave my colr of my neck exposed. It might be sexy... GAH! NO! Stop it, strange thoughts! You are not going to seduce a Demon Lord. And you're not going to show off your cleavage, either. W-What would Father think if he saw you funting around with a revealing outfit?'

  Lai shook her head and sighed, "No. I won't show off. It's bad enough that I'm having these kinds of thoughts, let alone the ones where he and I are, well..."

  She fell silent once again, shaking her head vigorously, as if trying to shake off the shameful thoughts that clung to her mind like shadows. Her stunning red hair danced around her, flowing like fire in the wind, while her succubus tail swayed pyfully behind her, reflecting the turmoil within. She knew she couldn't give in to temptation, not even for a moment, and yet, her mind and body betrayed her every effort.

  'Damn it! I can't stop thinking about him! Is he using some kind of magic on me?! I need to focus on something else! That's right! I need to find a way to remove this corruption, and once I do, everything will be fine. But how do you cure a demon's corruption, though? A-And what if there's no way to turn back into a human? W-Will I forever serve Chase for all of eternity?'

  Lai's expression was grave as she wrestled with her thoughts. Serving a demon? The very idea sent a shiver down her spine and a tickle in her belly. She'd never admit it, but the thought excited her more than anything.

  'No. I-I must resist! But...'

  She bit her lower lip and blushed slightly.

  'Sure, he might seem charming now, but eventually, he’ll have ambitions—dark ambitions. He’ll want to conquer the world at some point, and he’ll need a queen by his side. That queen could be me, and I'll have to make love to him... In so many positions! And maybe he'll even let me be in charge and ride him!... HUH!?! NOT AGAIN!... What am I even thinking?! There's no way he would want me to be his queen. I can't even beat Broc or Hanz without needing him to save me.'

  “Ugh! Get it together, Lai! You’re a knight, for crying out loud!— *BUMP* Ow!?”

  Lai had just run head-first into a low-hanging beam, jolting her back to reality. One of her tiny horns was embedded in the wood. With a soft curse, she pulled it free, wincing a little at the pain, and then massaged her head.

  'This is pathetic. I’m disgracing both my honor as a knight and my dignity as a woman by entertaining these twisted fantasies. A knight’s role is to protect the innocent. That’s my calling. Not some stupid fantasy of becoming the bride of a Demon Lord! Besides, he probably isn’t even interested in me that way. Sure, he said he wanted to help me, but that doesn't mean he wants anything else. I'm just being silly and jumping to conclusions. So, no more distractions, Lai. I have to stay sharp and focused!'

  She gnced around, her eyes nding on a trapdoor, which was likely where the brig was located. Her heart raced as she approached, and the thought of what was waiting beneath sent chills down her spine.

  'All right, here goes. Just be careful, and remember what you learned.'

  With a deep breath, she raised her foot, smming her heel down upon the wooden hatch, snapping the lock with ease. The door flung open, revealing the dank interior of a small, cramped room, lit by a single ntern. There was another door on the far side, and the sound of whimpering and moaning could be heard.

  "Huh? I think I hear someone crying," Lai whispered.

  She crept slowly down the dder, careful not to make a sound, but her breasts jiggled in her tight, bck armor, and her succubus tail wagged happily behind her. The room was small and cramped, with little space to move, but she managed to open the door. As she peered into the dimly lit hallway, her gaze fell upon a dead-end fnked by four formidable steel doors that stood sentinel along the walls. Each door, forged from heavy metal, exuded a chilling aura, their surfaces gleaming dully in the faint light that streamed through small, barred windows set at their centers. The thick iron bars cast sharp, elongated shadows that danced across the floor, enveloping the space in an unsettling ambiance, as if the secrets of a world hidden behind those unyielding barriers were waiting to be unveiled.

  'So, these are the cells for the women... Hanz thought he could sell them to svery or some noble pervert... He is lower than dirt... They must be terrified. I have to save them!'

  Lai tiptoed through the dimly lit corridor, drawn by the haunting sound of muffled sobs echoing off the wood walls. As she drew closer to the first cell, a chill ran down her spine—she recognized that voice.

  "Marilyn, is that you?" Lai asked, her voice low and steady.

  The young woman's head whipped around and saw Lai's face, and she cried louder. "M-Miss V-Velno! Thank the gods! You have to help us! Lucius kidnapped us! He pns to have his way with us and then sell us to svers!"

  "It's okay, Marilyn... I took care of him and his father... Now, where are the other prisoners?"

  Marilyn sniffled, then said, "Th-There were nine other women and girls here. But the Mayor separated me from the rest. I feared I was going to be his toy..."

  In the quaint vilge, Marilyn had long been considered the epitome of beauty, captivating the hearts of everyone around her. Her petite frame boasted delicate curves, with small B-cup breasts that complemented her slim waist and long, graceful legs. Her face, framed by sun-kissed blonde hair often tied neatly in a pyful ponytail, radiated a youthful charm. Marilyn’s bright blue eyes sparkled with a sense of innocence and warmth, drawing people in with their inviting allure. However, everything changed when Lai arrived from the capital, a stunning newcomer who shifted the vilge's focus and admiration.

  Lai approached the door and started looking for the key but found nothing.

  "Shit! Where could they be? Um... Okay. Just hold on, Marilyn. I'll get you out. Somehow," Lai reassured the scared young woman.

  Marilyn just nodded and said, "Th-Thank you, Miss Velno... I'm gd you are unharmed, but can you please free the other prisoners first? They must be stuck in cramped cells."

  "No, I'll get you out first... Do you know where the key might be?"

  Marilyn thought for a moment, "I believe the sheriff had the key on him... He left a while ago, though."

  Lai wanted to curse out loud for throwing Gabriel's body off the boat. But there was no time.

  "Okay... M-Maybe there's something else I can use to unlock this door," Lai said as she frantically scanned the room for anything.

  Marilyn looked through the small barred window of her cell door and noticed something was different about Lai.

  "Ummm... Miss Velno... Can I ask you a question?" Marilyn asked nervously.

  "Huh? O-Oh, sure... What is it?" Lai responded as she looked inside a nearby drawer.

  "Did something happen to your hair?"

  Lai panicked and pulled the hood of her cloak over her head, but in her haste her tail came out, "Um, well, a lot has happened since we st spoke, Marilyn... I-I can expin, but first, we need to get the other prisoners free."

  Marilyn looked worried in her eyes as she spotted Lai's tail. She could have sworn she didn't have one the st time they talked, and that wasn't the only thing different about her. She looked curvier and had bigger breasts than before as they were fighting her armor, "O-Okay... But can you please expin why there's a tail under your cloak?"

  Lai grimaced as she looked over at Marilyn, 'SHIT!? Stupid tail!... The cat is out of the bag now... UGH! Damn it! Now she's gonna freak out!'

  "W-Well... It's embarrassing to say this... B-But I was dying in the vilge square when the... Demon Lord... Saved me... By turning me into a... Succubus," Lai confessed.

  Marilyn's jaw dropped as she fixed her gaze on Lai, disbelief washing over her like a wave. Her eyes widened in shock, drawn irresistibly to the sleek, sinuous tail of the succubus that flicked pyfully behind her.

  "A... S-Succubus? D-Does that mean you are a sex demon?"

  "Like hell I am! I'm not a sex demon! I'm still a knight, and I will find a way to change back into a human!"

  "You are a demon? A-Are you going to eat me?" Marilyn panicked as she moved to the far side of her cell.

  "No! I don't eat humans! I'm still Lai Velno. I am a knight who works for the kingdom. I swore an oath to protect the innocent. That includes you. I don't care if I have to look like a demon. I will save you and the others."

  Lai tried giving Marilyn a genuine smile to calm her down. Marilyn was still suspicious of Lai but her friend was acting the same as she always did. And her kind smile and warm demeanor were the same as before.

  "You promise?... You'll get us out of here, and we'll be safe?"

  "Yeah... I swear. But for now, we have to figure out how to open these cells," Lai responded as she turned back around to look for a tool or something that could open the door.

  'I guess she really is Lai. Even if she's a demon, she hasn't hurt anyone. She is still my friend... I hope,' Marilyn thought as she watched Lai look for a way to open her door.

  "Alright, I'll trust you, Miss Velno. But I will scream if you try anything funny," Marilyn warned her.

  Lai's eyes locked onto Marilyn, who wore a haunting expression of fatigue ced with genuine fear. It was a view Lai had never witnessed before—someone so deeply unsettled simply by standing there. Usually, her intimidation factor was reserved for boys who dared to harass her, but at this moment, she realized she was the one inadvertently imposing a sense of dread on the fragile girl. Instead of radiating confidence, Lai felt an overwhelming weight of discomfort in the air between them, almost as if it were a living entity. She longed to reassure Marilyn, to lift her from this suffocating tension, but the challenge y in bridging the gap created by fear.

  'I'm still a human... in spirit! Stop looking at me like that. Wait... Was this how Chase felt when I first saw him? I-I should apologize to him... at some point...'

  "M-Miss Velno?"

  "H-Huh? O-Oh, sorry. I understand your worry, Marilyn. Let's focus on getting you and the others out first," Lai said.

  "Th-Thanks, Miss Velno," Marilyn said.

  "And stop calling me that. Call me Lai."

  "Yes, ma'am," Marilyn said, her heart pounding as she gathered her resolve. With a deep breath, she stepped forward once more, her hand trembling slightly as she reached for the door.

  Lai was racking her brain on how to unlock the door when her succubus instincts kicked in. She looked at the end of her tail and then looked at the lock.

  "Hmmm? Can I pick the lock with my tail? No, that can't be it... B-But it can hurt to try," Lai whispered to herself.

  Lai extended her tail towards the door and inserted the end of her tail inside the lock with ease.

  "What are you doing?" Marilyn asked as she couldn't see what Lai was doing on the other side of the door.

  "H-Hold on. I have an idea," Lai said as she focused on the tail end.

  She could feel the spade of her tail moving around like it had a mind of its own. And within seconds, the door unlocked.

  "W-What?!" Lai was surprised when the door unlocked.

  "Did you do it, Lai?"

  "Y-Yeah... I don't know how I did it, but my tail is a tool, not just a decoration," Lai responded as the door creaked open before her tail slipped out of the lock.

  "How did you do that?"

  "I don't know, but I'm not compining... Maybe being a demon isn't as bad as I thought it was," Lai said with a grin as she opened the cell door.

  Marilyn stepped out into the dark room, her heart racing as she approached the former knight. At first, doubt held her back, but as she caught sight of Lai—still the same warm-hearted woman who had always lent a hand with her chores—her tension began to melt away. Relief washed over her, and she couldn’t help but smile, feeling the familiar sense of comfort return.

  "Miss Velno... do you know what happened to my father?"

  Marilyn's voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes searching Lai's face for any glimmer of hope. But Lai's smile faded, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. The chaos that had erupted around them had kept her from seeing him.

  "I'm sorry, Marilyn," Lai replied gently, her heart aching for the girl standing before her. "I haven't seen your father. He may have escaped and found a hiding pce... I truly hope he's safe."

  Marilyn nodded slowly, though her expression was heavy with despair. ‘Father…’

  Lai felt a surge of empathy for the young woman, who seemed to have lost everything in an instant. It was only through Chase’s intervention that her own life had been spared. He was becoming the only bright spot in her tumultuous journey, and she couldn’t deny that, even if it made her embarrassed.

  'He's really the only one who can bring back someone from the brink of death... If he hadn't saved me, I wouldn't have been able to save Marilyn... Thank you, Chase.'

  "Don't worry, Marilyn. Once we save the other prisoners, I'll find your father, and hopefully, he's safe," Lai said as she patted the young girl's shoulder.

  "R-Right. Thank you, Miss Velno," Marilyn said.

  Marilyn watched Lai with a newfound sense of ease, the tension between them slowly dissolving. As they both gazed at the cell housing another solitary woman, a flicker of curiosity sparked in their eyes. Who else was imprisoned on the ship?