So there we were, about to be accosted by deranged hawkers trying to recruit lovers for the Demon Lord even after their own humanity had fled them. And the blessed party that would save the day comprised one muscle-bound pacifist, a masochistic nun, and a tsundere swordsman who'd never actually fought before.
Fucking. Great.
I rounded on the fluffy-eared fox, my hands balled into fists.
"Riooo…"
She sulked and looked away pointedly.
"Are you telling me all those threats to stab me were pointless?!"
Her sword wavered a little.
"Why are you even here with us, if you're not a proper swordsman yet?!"
Rio glanced back at me and pouted.
"It's called work experience. Something a NEET like you probably doesn't know anything about."
"Who are you calling a NEET, you credit-chasing schoolgirl?! If you want a letter of recommendation, here it is—you'd make a better shield than a sword!"
Furious, I stepped behind my flat-chested fox-girl and shoved her forward like the wooden board she was. The Demon Lord's Sex Scouts were within arm's reach now, their clipboards glowing with a deadly purple light.
"Hey friends, our lord loves beast-girls!"
"Our master likes jiggly ones~~!"
"And beefcakes too!"
The three Sex Scouts turned to look at me.
"""...…Have a good day, sir."""
They turned away from me.
"OH COME ON!"
I grabbed Rio by the shoulders, eliciting a cute, but distinctly foxy, yelp from her.
"Listen to me!" I said, staring her right in her eyes.
She recoiled from the close proximity, and her tail smacked my thigh.
"You wanna be a swordsman, right?"
Rio's eyes narrowed and her tail flicked angrily, smacking me harder.
"Of course! It's my clan's highest calling, and a tradition for my family!"
"Then, go make your family proud! And can you stop hitting me in the leg—?"
As Rio's tail flicked me in the leg for the third time, I seized a handful of her plush fur—
"—Hng~!"
"…"
"..."
A crimson blush spread across Rio's cheeks.
"Did you just—?"
"I—I didn't say anything."
Her tail quivered behind her butt. I tried to seize it again, but she flicked it out of my grasp; I tried again, and she nimbly flicked it away.
"Riooooooo..."
"...What?"
A devilish idea crossed my mind and my hands shot forward faster than Rio could react, grabbing the fluffy ears poking atop her head. My fingers sank into the soft fur—and then I rubbed her ears.
"…Hng?!"
Rio squirmed and blushed, a shiver running through her body. The skill panel in the corner of my vision glowed brightly, and I saw a new skill flash into existence:
(Ear Play, Lv 1)
I FUCKING KNEW IT!
I lightly tickled the base of Rio's ears, my fingers darting across her rosy hair and into the soft layer of fur over her triangular ears.
"…Ahhhhhhh~"
Rio squirmed, her canine tooth darting out to bite down on her bottom lip. She was like putty in my hands, her breath coming hot and heavy, her cheeks blazing crimson. Her left hand shook and started to reach down beneath her chainmail dress, creeping towards her panties—
"—Not in front of the enemy, you shameless fox!"
I gave her ears one last pluck, and a burst of magical energy surged through the swordsman. Her golden eyes flared and she gasped, as if she'd suddenly broken out from a trance.
Rio stepped forward, her sword raised, a golden aura surging around the blade.
The Sex Scouts hesitated, seeing a new challenger approach.
"Do you have a moment—"
"—to talk about our lord and master—"
"—Priscilla the Demon Lord?"
Rio raised her sword high and slashed diagonally through the air, letting loose a shrill shout—"(Quick Cut)!"
Her blade whipped down, neatly slicing through the enemy's clipboards. Shredded paper blew up into the air as her attack generated a shockwave, hurling the hawkers backwards.
"That's my girl!" I shouted, pumping my fist. Davonius applauded, while Lily hung half-out of the wagon, her boobs just about falling out along with her.
Rio turned back to me, the golden aura fading from her body and her sword. Her cheeks were still flushed as brightly as her hair, and her expression was twisted in a scowl that would've been cute if she didn't look quite so scary.
"I am NOT 'your girl'," Rio huffed, poking me in the chest with her finger. Then she ducked her head, her ears falling flat atop her head. "B-but thanks for—for helping me."
SO FUCKING TSUNDERE!
Rio slammed her elbow into my ribs.
"Gah! What?! I didn't say anything!"
"You were thinking something filthy, weren't you?!"
"Filthy?! I wasn't thinking anything like that about YOU. If I was gonna think anything dirty, I'd be thinking about Lily's tits, but that's because they're actually—GAH!"
Rio slammed an elbow into my gut and I dropped to the ground, frothing at the mouth. Instant K.O.
"Where are we?"
"Why are we wearing such horrible colors?"
"Why's that busty chick look jealous?"
The three Sex Scouts—now broken from their curse and freshly unemployed—stood around looking confused. Slowly, one by one, they approached our group, their eyes drawn to Rio—the one who'd freed them from their shackles. Their expressions turned from hollow and lost, to bright and hopeful.
As if a new leaf had finally been turned over in their miserable lives—
"""Our lord and master, the Kinky Kitsune!!!"""
—Guess a leopard can't change its spots after all.
Ignoring the deploring cries from her new worshippers, and shooting me her nastiest glare, Rio boarded the wagon while Lily hauled herself back into her seat. I sighed, patted a confused Davonius on the shoulder, and took up the reins behind Choco.
It was probably for the best that I let Rio have some time alone—now she could actually use her sword, I didn't want to push my luck.
With everyone back on board, we set off down the bumpy road, leaving behind the group-formerly-known-as-the-Sex-Scouts to spread the good word of the fluffy-tailed kitsune and her ear-rubbing kink.