That new demon girl is definitely my type, but I need to also keep focused on my true goal: getting revenge on this town and getting out of here.
With the majority of the breakfast rush quashed, Hazel is cleaning the tables and reflecting on his own progress within the DPP. In particular, his own attempts to figure it out.
I know I can gain experience from Berdina by bedding someone or doing something to arouse them. I also know Halstein rewards me for doing work. Levels are simple to understand, but I can't see or figure out how much experience I need to reach a new Level. So... maybe it's a good idea to consider the third route for getting experience.
All of the gods rewarded him in their own ways, Endre could be faster than either of them. It's a known-fact to everyone that demons grew the fastest in battle... whether or not that was due to Endre isn't something he'd know about but Endre was going to be his method forward to strength. Teasing Agafya wasn't rewarding any experience still, so it was likely capped off for a while. He'd have to keep an eye out for whenever he generated more to understand how long the cooldown was, but at the moment he had to go forward assuming she wouldn't grant anymore.
In all of Karkitz, he now has two options: either keep loyally serving Agafya and teasing the old women in Karkitz... or go hunting.
The Demonic Fringes has a ton of wolves all around it... deer too. Hell, if I found a kobold I could probably kill it and it'd give a lot of experience.
With the tavern closing down until nightfall for the dinner rush, he'd get almost six hours to search. But truthfully, he hadn't ever considered hunting in his entire life. Farm work had always kept him fed, but Agafya couldn't support them long-term solely off the income of the tavern even if she was the most loyal bedslut in all of Daesal.
Hazel finishes wiping the last table down, moving over to rejoin Agafya at the counter. Of course, he takes an opportune moment to spank her ass, watching her shiver at the touch before swatting his hand away.
"Bastard," she huffs.
"Yeah, but this bastard knows how to make you squirm in all the right ways."
She glares back at him but doesn't protest any further; she instead slips free of his touch and turns to face him, grabbing him on the apron she'd loaned him and pulling him closer to her.
"Don't think you're so big because I let you have sex with me, Hazel. You and that big-"
"Big?" He smirks, knowingly stepping on her resisting façade at just the right moment. It makes her let go and even pull back... but the counter stops her from going anywhere.
"You know what I was t-trying to say. But now that we're done... what are you going to do?"
The look on her face said it all: Agafya wants him to take her into the back and fuck her just like yesterday. The only problem is that if they keep going at it like rabbits, he'd inevitably fall into the pitfall of any man with a woman like her: sex day-in and day-out without any hindsight or care for time. If Nelk came back and he hadn't prepared thoroughly, she wouldn't be possible to dominate or keep.
"I'm going to go out and hunt."
Agafya is disappointed, but she quickly hides it beneath disbelief. "You? Hunt? What are you going to bring back, a bunch of rocks?"
That skepticism makes her look so hot. I need to remember that for next time.
Hazel unties his apron, setting it on the counter beside her. He also uses it as a chance to step closer, grabbing and pinching her hip to further his teasing.
"Well, we'll have to see. Whatever I bring back, you can cook or sell. I have to earn my keep somehow, don't I?"
"I... you... stop this teasing! I'm not letting you play with my heart, you playboy bastard! Besides, you've acted weird ever since that one demon woman came in."
That brings him back to reality: although he wanted to get stronger, he had to still be careful of the Chimeric Demon woman. She was an outsider and wasn't part of his revenge against Karkitz, but that meant she was a piece that could tear down his plans. He'd already come close to upsetting her earlier but his honestly seemed to have kept things from going poorly. Although he felt confident in his new abilities, he wasn't sure he could actually beat a Chimeric Demon.
While I'm hunting... I need to look into my spells and how they work. If I have to fight her, I'll definitely need a full-grasp of how I can use the DPP. So this hunting isn't just to earn my keep or get XP.
Hazel lets go of Agafya and finally pulls away, not even giving her a kiss despite how handsy he was with the unsuspecting housewife. It was a good way to leave her wanting more and if not for Berdina's limit, he was certain she would have given more XP for such an act. He moves behind the counter and grabs one of the knives she hadn't used today, wrapping its grip with a rag and in-turn slipping it around one of his belt loops. It wasn't a proper sheath, but the blade wasn't a proper weapon either.
Free XP, here I come!
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Hazel collapses against the base of a tree, groaning in depression.
"Fuck," he lets out towards the end of the groan. "Why can't I find anything!?"
He wasn't getting lost thanks to his upbringing in the Demonic Fringes requiring him to navigate the forests, but Hazel wasn't finding anything. He'd found a handful of bugs but not a single creature. He'd always heard heroes walk into woods like this and found foes immediately, but it's obvious now just how rare it was to actually find something to hunt. It's apparent that the village hunters and their talk about learning over many years wasn't just for show.
Hazel leans back and continues catching his breath, at least thankful for how easy it was to recover despite his state of affairs. As much as he sprinted trying to cover ground or investigate noise, he could catch his breath back in half the time most people could, if not faster.
"The cambion from the tavern."
The voice of the Chimeric Demon snaps him out of his restful complaining, the woman standing in front of him with a hand on her hip. It was the first time he could see her hooves, but also let him see just how imposing the woman was.
When did she sneak up on me? I didn't-
The demoness' hoof steps on the tree roots beside him, unintentionally giving him a good look at her leather-guarded crotch. Hazel blushes at the brazen motion but fights his instincts knowing full well this wasn't Agafya.
"Miss Demon-"
"It's Latiya, cambion." Her tone is unmoving, the mask on her face doing little to hide her noticing his reaction. "And it is wise to keep your mind free of ideas of bedding me. A mere half-blood has no chance with someone of my position."
Although Hazel doesn't fully grasp what it means to be Cambion and live in demon territory, he does understand the hint of disrespect towards him she carries. Latiya was an outsider who had come here for her own reasons, so she could only see him as a cambion living and serving humans.
She snuck this close to me and clearly sees me as just some sorta pest. Isn't this... a good thing?
Fighting her wasn't an option. But using her could be.
"What is it you need of me, Miss Latiya?"
His question at least seems to lighten the mood somewhat; she steps back and lets him relax, crossing her arms beneath her unimpressive-sized chest.
"I am looking for a cambion and you are the only one I have seen so far. I need to investigate the others who live or have lived here. I will suggest a trade: help me or die."
This bitch! That's not a trade!
This information, though, is good: Hazel hadn't known she was trying to find a cambion. But now her line of questions made sense: she was looking for a cambion and it most likely was one who didn't have powers. That meant it was someone older or younger than him... or, she was looking for him.
Hazel had no intention of asking why she was looking for them, though. If she was looking for him and wanted to kill them, then it'd be the same as letting an assassin see your neck. Right now, he needs to try and take control of the situation to avoid her thinking it's him.
"Okay," he replies."
"You'll help me?"
Hazel nods, sitting upright and setting his hand on his knee. "But, in exchange, I want you to help me find something to kill and bring back to the tavern. My woman and I need more food and gold, so-"
Latiya sighs, turning her head and looking away from him.
"Is that all? You merely want me to help you hunt?"
Fuck, is she really going to help me that easily!? Then I need to push it!
Hazel feels Bargain activate, his mana and the system pulsing in sync. Latiya flinches as the spell activates, turning her gaze back.
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"What did you-"
"I want you to teach me to hunt, not just help me hunt something once."
Hazel is uncomfortable but watches the woman bury her suspicion as fast as she garnered it.
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This man used a spell on me?
Although unaware of what kind of spell it is, Latiya has felt magic used on her in the past. Most demons in her lineage receive buff spells and can tell the signs of such magic being used. This magic felt more like a debuff... but the way he quickly interrupts her and makes his offer bigger is a boldness she can't quite help but respect. If he was actually using magic on her, it certainly couldn't be anything significant: most likely it was an attempt to make her more agreeable.
Latiya smiles beneath her mask.
"Of course," she answers, keeping her voice restrained despite her excitement at the situation. Right now, she was setting bait to make him think his magic worked on her. The boldest bastards always showed themselves when their magic works.
But to her genuine surprise, he doesn't attempt any other magic. The man instead gets up, looking slightly down at her with a grin.
"I see! Thank you, Miss Latiya! I hope we can find the cambion you're after quickly so you can be satisfied... and that your teachings in hunting will bear fruit for my woman and I!"
His woman? Even on the Demonic Fringes, there are cambion so bold as to take someone as just a woman? Had he been born in the true heart of the Demon Kingdom, he may have been worth something. It's a shame such a loyal subject is stuck out here. Perhaps... I will take him and his woman with me when I leave.
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Hazel follows Latiya, talking with her for almost an hour as they walk.
Although she doesn't speak much during that time, it lets him realize that she's not just some mercenary. The very air about her betrays someone who serves a noble... which means her coming here is likely due to something big. Karkitz never had any cambion with famous lineage, though; the most powerful demonblood they'd had at one point was the daughter of a blood demon.
All of the others had died or left, though, which meant the explanations and talks Hazel used were about the dead; he made sure to tell her where the graves of those who died in Karkitz were so she could find them, all the while trading bits of knowledge on how to hunt as they walked.
EXPERIENCE GAINED: 2 XP
Latiya is a good source of experience... but given how dutiful she is, this is most likely from me serving her as an informant. It looks like there are lots of methods to make Halstein pleased.
The more experience Hazel accumulates, the better. Latiya only breaks their pace to stop him, the rustling of the bushes ahead drawing his attention.
"We have found one," she answers softly. Hazel looks at her and then draws his knife.
"One what?"
The brush gives way and from it emerges a threat that Hazel had only heard of: a beast clad in shaggy white fur with the head of a tiger and the body of a direwolf. A snake head and body squirms from its tail as if possessed, a clear sign of demonic corruption in beasts.
"A chimera."
Chimera were beasts that most novice adventurers fought; although more dangerous than wolves, they roamed alone and were easier to battle directly than a wolf with its pack or even a single partner.
With Latiya here, he didn't need to worry about his demonic power showing; she was looking for a cambion without powers, after all, so it was actually better to show-off his own abilties. It wasn't worth considering how little he had used them; him keeping the abilities a secret would explain the gap in skill to what a demon or life-long cambion with such abilities could achieve. The important part was showing just how quick he was to use them when the secret didn't matter. Using Bargain didn't consume much of his mana and Demon Form went off stress, so it was likely it would at least last long enough to win a fight. The bigger advantage to popping Demon Form, though, was the buff: it would improve his Magic Category which would empower his spells.
Hazel steps ahead of Latiya, raising his knife.
Demon Form.
Just like when he deals damage with Seduce, a small and translucent window flickers just within the top corner of his vision.
ACTIVATING DEMON FORM...
The mana within his body permeates as an aura, coating him in a somewhat familiar heat. Blue flame washes across him in an instant, searing his forearms and hands a tinge of blue just like in his hair. All of the blonde vanishes as it, too, burns azure and into its demonic ocean color. The pink of his eyes glaze red mere seconds before his forehead spouts studs of ivory bone. These flat studs would have been horns on most demons... but it was obvious a cambion wasn't someone who had a full demonic bloodline.
The most palpable change, though, was his body's lightness; unlike his usual body, he felt ten pounds lighter even though he looks the exact same. A quick twist of his wrist shows that nothing actually changed, though; his body was still the same weight and he was just as strong... but now, the numbness in his body from using magic was significantly less noticeable.
So mages always feel this good, huh? I have to admit, this is nicer than I thought it'd be.
Hazel smirks at the chimera, feeling all the doubt in himself burn out just like his body a couple nights ago at the barn.
"An incubus," Latiya chimes from behind. "You think you can beat it as an incubus?"
Her question likely stems from the known fact that incubi and succubi often lacked physical attack methods. A cambion wasn't even born with the familiar spaded tail of the species, either. Most of them developed combat spells or used slaves to deal with their fights, but a cambion like him had neither the knowledge or slaves to do such a thing.
"I'll be fine," he chuckles, extending the knife toward the chimera.
Latiya doesn't reply with words. She simply crosses her arms and looks at the chimera.
"If it wins, I'm letting it eat you. You already helped me quite a bit, so that thing killing you isn't going to hinder me."
This bitch!
Hazel bites back his anger and instead focuses it ahead at the chimera in front of him. There'd be time to get revenge on Latiya... but right now, he needs to fight and see just how potent his newfound abilities can be.
"Then just stand there out of the way!"
He rushes forward and the chimera bounds to the side, the knife swinging at the air. Latiya's disappointment can't be seen thanks to her mask, but it can be heard in a pitiful sigh. Hazel turns and tries to follow-up with another cut, but the chimera claws his arm down the glove-like pattern of his new body. It hurts like hell despite how shallow the wound actually is, leaving a painful and instant mark of his failure.
Fuck! Can I really not reach it with my knife? Then... I have to use it!
Mana concentrates on the back of his waist, erupting into a splendid and arcing spaded tail; the arrow-like point of the demonic appendage may not be real, but the immediate threat of it makes the chimera hesitate.
INCUBUS STING!
The tail thrusts forward past him, snapping into the chimera's shoulder. The magical tail cuts deeper than the claws did on Hazel, even burying a few inches deep before it pulls free with a sickening "splurch" and a spray of blood.
Physical damage inflicted: 20 HP
Hazel smirks, ignorant of the numbers over the sheer power high that comes from hitting the chimera like that. He didn't care about his injury or the statistical effectiveness of the attack. Right now, the only thing he was feeling was satisfaction at not being his old weak self that would've never had even a shadow of a chance against the chimera.
He drives in and stabs the same wound with the knife, making the beast howl and collapse toward the ground. The cambion puts his knee on the beast's throat and further drives his weight into the shoulder-buried blade, driving it down to the hilt. The beast's tail tries to snap at him but is too far to reach. The numbness in his body from using the tail didn't feel as noticeable... it was probably less mana than his casual use of Seduce to cast it a single time. it could also be due to the effect Magic increasing an entire category could bring, though; a higher Magic stat made mana costs lower from what the DPP had said. Latiya silently watching him, though, means he needs to make this a good outing and display of his ability.
AGAIN!
Before it can fully dissipate, Hazel pulses more mana back into his tail and reforms its bladed tip. It slashes at the flailing tail of the chimera and cuts it in-half, sending the snakehead sailing away and spattering the two struggling combatants in more blood.
Physical damage inflicted: 20 HP
CRITICAL! DAMAGE MULTIPLIED x2 (new total is 40 HP)
Yes! Yes!
Hazel pulls the knife free, staggering up to his feet and leaving the chimera on the ground. His own blood dirtied his blue-hued forearm as the initial stages of his decreasing mana finally hit him.
I killed a chimera... I killed a chimera!?
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Latiya watches the man stand over the fatally wounded monster and go through the usual sensations weaklings always did when beating something better than them: satisfaction and then immense joy.
His ability to fight was better than I imagined. He must at have awakened two sources of magic to use a demonic form and Berdina's Sting. There is no mistaking it: this man can't possibly be the bastard of Oshra. That waste wouldn't be capable of manifesting power like this without the moon. Not to mention that the demonic god Zakarn wouldn't have given an unwanted bastard the ability to summon their demonic form.
This cambion was going to help her search immensely, too, once she had him properly under her thumb.
"Cambion," she interrupts all the celebration with a far more controlled tone. "You have impressed me."
The man smirks that same dirty look he had when they first met, but she at least knows why now.
"An incubus being able to fell a chimera is rare... rarer still when it is a cambion who has been forced to live in secrecy. You also seem to have the benefits of Zakarn and Berdina. You are wasting away your talent staying in Karkitz."
His demonic form finally relents, returning the man to his all-too-human and weak-looking original state. She feels disgusted to admit that a lowly cambion has impressed her, but telling a lie would only besmirch the training and education she received amongst Lady Orsha's household. It would be a disservice to not enlist a talent like him to their cause.
"That is to say, I wish to make you an offer: once I am done in this lowly town, I will have to return to my mistress. I think it is a good offer for you to join me when I leave."
"Join you? But my woman and I-"
The woman again? A lecher was easy to control but annoying to deal with after all. She crosses the distance between them, stepping on the head of the still-dying chimera and stilling its death throes beneath her hoof.
"A mere woman would keep you from your destiny? That sting alone is on par with most incubi soldiers. You could have women as far as you please, but you stop yourself for her?"
Her question gives him pause, but she sees it without saying that it's not the real reason he's hesitating. Although she didn't known his name, this cambion smiles in a way that instantly makes her flinch. The cambion merely grins, his pink eyes glazing with a malice she'd only seen in demons. It was the kind of malice she'd had long ago before she slaughtered the men who took part in her brutal training. It was the smile of someone who had something broken inside them imitating someone who was still "normal" despite it all.
"And how would I be able to get revenge against those bastards for how they treated me then? Sorry, but no thanks: until everyone in Karkitz suffers for how they treated me, I'm going nowhere."
His smile is almost ear-to-ear, showing his fanged teeth without even a hint of remorse for his words. Latiya was thankful for the mask hiding her discomfort at the sight and allowing her the chance to recompose herself.
"I see," she finally states. "Then the offer will stand as long as I am here. Perhaps your revenge will come sooner than you think."
Lady Orsha... this man... if he was your son, wouldn't it be better to spare him? I came to kill a worthless runt, but this... this man...
Her slitted pupils widened ever so slightly beneath her mask, letting the white stars within their black depths appear for the first time in months. She had been just like him and it was why she was penned up and kept in reserve solely for the most brutal of missions. Her ability to kill a target wasn't a joke; she hadn't failed in killing almost a hundred demons that threatened Orsha and the previous Demon King. But in all the years since she entered service, not once had she met someone who reminds her so much of herself.
He's too perfect to ignore. I really hope it's not him.