[POV: ]
Looking at her with a surprised look, I helplessly shook my head with the previous smile still present on my face.
'She's a weird one, alright.'
I could understand her straightforward behaviour after her naked body being seen by a stranger since she was a Succubus- the Lust demons of this world- but she was still different from the ones I've met previously.
'She accidentally used her racial ability of seduction on me and maybe, after that, she could have done things that even she didn't want to if I were some normal person.'
Her ability was strong enough to mesmerise even well-trained (tier-2) mage, an awakened being different from the normal mortals. But, since she obviously did not have control over her great powers yet, she did not know what to practically do with them.
Still, this was amazing, and she was still young, around only a hundred years, so there was a lot of room for growth for a 'virgin' succubus like her.
Her Mana heart was already at [Rank-3] and was almost on the verge of breaking through to the realm of an
"Hmmm..." Looking at her, at her special eyes, at her figure, at her flushed face, and those pretty hair, I thought about her question a little more.
"...?"
This was a rare talent and her growth speed was good.
And to add more to her nature, she was a pure Girl.
I couldn't have said that from her current behaviour, her rough hands that were itching to rip my clothes and get on top of me in this very spot, but she was indeed a maiden.
She was a beauty, no doubt about that. Her special charm even reminded me of one of my past Companions.
'Those were ancient times, and she was one hell of a sucker... I've not had these kind of thoughts in a long while.'
Looking back at the girl trying her best to hide her weird face, I finally answered while sneering at her situation.
"What I am would be hard for most to understand. But you can call me Adrian." the answer was simple. What I am, even philosophically, will not be easy to understand for someone that is still a mortal.
[ "Adrian~! Yuri likes this new name! I will call you Rain~!" ]
Female voice of a little girl that was so cheerful that it seemed the happiest existence alive, my Yuri's true voice.
'You like it that much?'
[ "Yuri loves it~! It means Rich Water~! Hehehe~. It's prettttttttty~." ]
We were connected by our soul so there was no need for us to use words but, for the sake of others, we used words when it was needed.
She was an existence that came just after me in terms of strength or wisdom. A part of me that helped me carry the burdens that even someone like me could not possibly carry by myself.
She was my greatest masterpiece and the coolest existence I had created throughout my journey to the pinnacle.
And she was more than just a child to me.
'I'm glad you like it then.'
[ "Yeiiiiiii~!" ]
With a new smile, I looked back at the confused girl that seemed somewhat convinced as she nodded her head in the air, deciding not to fall to her great desires.
She had a strong will. Stronger than what she needed to cross over to the next tier of existence.
With the powers that she had, she could make others submit before her but, it wasn't her true nature, and deep down, she knew that too.
"Well, thanks for saving me, Adrian." With a deep bow of gratitude, she thanked me first.
"My name is Zora." Then she introduced herself. "I was foolish to think I could take down something like that bastard alone. I just thought- " she was clenching her fists in anger, and it was already bleeding.
So, cutting her midway, I grabbed her hand and kissed it, catching her off guard once again.
"You thought you could break through to (tier-2) by fighting stronger opponents," She wasn't wrong to think that, she simply did not choose the right opponent for the task this time around.
"..."
Thanks to my sudden kiss, her mind was now blank, and she was as red as a rose... a sensitive rose.
But still, she kept her mind straight, watched her wounded hands heal back to normal, and nodded back to me.
"Yes... Seeing as you can guess that just... from a glance... it really was foolish of me." Still, keeping eye contact was not as easy as she had hoped before putting up this new tough act.
Her reply contained anger towards herself as well as great disappointment.
But she had done nothing wrong, so I patted her small head with curved horns.
They were strangely thick and perfect for my hands to hold…
"Don't be silly. Of course, you have to fight strong opponents to get stronger. That's the best way. No one would know that better than me." Only through a challenge greater than what one can handle, can one grow past their limitations.
Some spend centuries to learn that, but she already knew it. she did not have to be discouraged just because she 'almost' died.
"There are times when you need a stronger opponent to surpass your limits and when you do, you either reach new heights of your strength or just end up dead.
Though some would defeat death itself and come out victorious, those are rare cases." Since the very concept of death, after reaching a certain stage, becomes meaningless, it is still important for mortals like her to fight strong people in order to get even stronger.
"We must fight strong opponents, but not the ones that seem impossible to beat, not the ones that we have no advantage over. If you think you can't beat it, just run."
It was the advice given to me by one of my early teachers... he was a great man. A man that birthed heroes till the day he drew his last breaths on the battlefield... bloodied by the only villain he had ever created.
"Keeping your life is the best way to get stronger.
If you are alive, you will win the fight you once lost and kill the thing that once managed to almost drive you to the verge of death." Even monarchs had to face deaths countless times before they became monarchs.
It was the way of nature, the simple Laws of fate and universe.
"This time, even though you chose the wrong opponent, you didn't lose this fight. You never gave up and from what I saw, you definitely had something to get away from this situation. So, you did nothing wrong. In fact, I'm impressed."
Admiration for children wasn't something you feel every day, so whenever you do feel this special emotion, you should take a moment and praise them. Reward them if possible.
"You have a talent for something you don't even know about, but still, you manage to fight against that creature for this long. Truly, it is commendable." I gave her another forehead kiss, surprising her once more.
She was truly a rough diamond, and I was lucky to be reborn around this one.
Though I would have found her one day anyway, the earlier the better.
This was a good chance to teach someone with exceptional talent once again and maybe, if things go right, she can even become a monarch's aid in some hundred years.
'Or better, if she puts in as much effort as those twelve fools.'
Even though I had created a place to teach many such individuals already, I have ultimately come here to have all the fun I wanted.
It was good to find a new Partner in a place like this, but it was even better to have someone like her with me.
"Hmm... ummm... A-Adrian..."
She was looking down at the ground and it was funny to see her finally open those tightly closed doors to her heart.
She was innocent, but at the same time; she had seen the cruelty of the world and it was reflected in those relieved eyes.
There was happiness in them, a relief that someone had finally understood her for the first time.
And also a new light of enlightenment.
To run away from a fight would be the same as admitting defeat.
'But who was saying admitting defeat was a bad thing?'
The fastest way of dodging unnecessary conflict, problems, and unwanted situations would be to give up... if you can, and there isn't much to gain from it, there's no point in holding onto those things.
Unless you give up, everything is wonderful.
And, this one didn't give up even in front of life-threatening situations.
Just from her previous normal clothing and her way of holding the hem of the dress, I can tell... she was also an orphan.
Well, it wasn't like she was a poor girl or a damsel in distress.
She was a tough fighter, and above all, she now had us.
"If you want, I can help you with your breakthrough. But... why do you even want to get stronger?"
She was definitely desperate for something and after hearing me ask that, another light flashed in her eyes.
Though this was not something big and her thoughts were concentrated mainly towards the bigger picture, she was happy.
"You will help me with the breakthrough?! Really!?" she exclaimed... like a child, after finishing her momentary thinking.
She was genuinely excited about this and so was I, unexpectedly.