As I gazed at the radiant smile of my beloved Zora, a warm grin spread across my own face.
"Of course, I love you too~," I responded, my smile sparking the same excitement in her that it always did.
Zora was truly extraordinary, and anyone fortunate enough to win her heart would be incredibly lucky. Yet, there was no doubt in my mind that I would never let this enchanting little succubus slip away from me. She was a remarkable soul, and if I had the chance to call her mine, I would fiercely guard that connection against anyone else.
Just watching her cheeks flush a delightful shade of red brought an even bigger smile to my face.
"Y-yes. G-good. Ha-hahaha..." she stammered, attempting a playful laugh while trying to conceal her embarrassment.
"Alright, alright~. My lovely lady, please finish up quickly. I have something important to discuss," I said, adopting a slightly more serious expression.
Understanding that it wasn't anything too grave, she swiftly polished off her breakfast and shook her head with a playful smile.
"Delicious~!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as she glanced at me with a playful helplessness.
I nodded and gently wiped the remnants of her meal from her mouth with a bit of water.
"Oh, thank you! Now… what is it you wanted to talk about, Rian da-darling?" she asked, her words tumbling out with a charming mix of enthusiasm and shyness as she looked up at me.
'Calling someone so affectionately seems to be a new thing for her.'
At that same moment, I could hear Yuri's cheerful voice echoing in my mind.
[ "She called Rain darling~! Hehehe. Darling~. Mine too. Rain darling~." ]
I couldn't help but let out a happy sigh when I heard that. Yuri was quite the character… a playful observer who had witnessed our countless moments of intimacy throughout last night. Though this wasn't her first time witnessing such scenes, she still found joy in it all.
She had a unique ability to be present in many places at once, and even now, she might be watching countless people sharing their own private moments. In my absence as the supreme overlord, Yuri was the one overseeing all activities in Anovolda.
'Despite her vast experience and wisdom of thousands of years, she retained the essence of a forever child at heart, bringing an air of lightness and mischief wherever she went.'
I surely was the one that Created her, but her nature and that cute side of hers was something she had obtained herself in order to best assist me in my lonely life. Just like the first monarch loved me unconditionally, this little one loved me more than her own self.
'One true closest being to my heart.'
Many Came to me but there weren't many left to call me darling... but here, in this place, Zora was the first one.
My little lady succubus, the first being I met after my return, the first with whom I shared an intimate connection with in this body and, the one who reminded me of the Fun I had not been able to have for a long while.
Calling me darling… was romantic in itself.
"Yes, Darling. Have you… ever tried wielding a sword before?" I asked, my curiosity genuine and bright.
"Sword?" And as expected, her surprised expression was one of delight.
Her responses always held a unique charm, and this moment was no exception.
"Yes, a sword. Your physical body possesses incredible talent and potential for swordsmanship, perhaps even more than your remarkable aptitude for magic. You may not have considered it, but you could become one of the finest magic swordsmen around. Imagine being strong in physical combat, complemented by your exceptional magical abilities," I explained, eager to hear her thoughts on this idea.
"But... I'm a succubus. My magic is already quite good too. How can I..." she murmured, her gaze dropping in confusion.
She truly had a rare gift: a dual talent for both swordplay and magic that few could harmonise. Yet, the path to growth was ultimately up to her. The potential was there; it just needed to be nurtured and developed.
Maybe she can choose one thing, or maybe none depending on her choice.
"Do you like magic?" I asked, fixing her with a serious gaze.
She sensed the weight of my question and met my eyes with sincerity. "I do like magic but... I don't know if it's just a feeling but, it's… like I am missing something." she admitted, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
Her gaze dropped as she continued, "I've always practiced magic, convincing myself that this feeling was just my imagination. When I arrived at the outer palace of the academy, they mentioned that I had a strong physical body, but... my magical abilities seemed even stronger back then. That feeling of something lacking was faint at that time, but since I've awakened, it has become more pronounced." She paused, her thoughts lingering in the air.
Having left the academy's outer palace to grow stronger before actually entering the academy, she might not have fully grasped her own potential. Yet, I could see in her demeanor that she had no regrets about her choices.
The academy's true talent assessments occurred during the entrance exams, so she would have learned about her abilities soon enough, even if no one had explicitly told her.
'But it's always better to hear things from your 'darling' in advance, so you can at least prepare yourself.'
I took her hand gently, and she flinched slightly at the sudden contact.
"You've done remarkably well, especially considering you've been on your own. Not everyone knows what they excel at, which is precisely why the gates and the academy exist," I reassured her. "Now that you recognize that 'missing' feeling, we can begin to address it. Don't worry; I'll ensure you learn all the basics of swordsmanship before our exam. I believe in you~."
As soon as I finished speaking, her head snapped up, and she exclaimed, "You know how to use a sword too?! And you'll teach me?!" Her voice was bright and enthusiastic, her eyes sparkling like a child's on a holiday.
"Absolutely. Anything for my lovely little Zora," I replied, giving her a gentle pat on the head.
She reminded me of a playful kitten—adorable and full of life. Just that simple touch was enough to make her cheeks flush pink, melting her shyness away.
I attempted to withdraw my hand after a moment, but she quickly grabbed it and placed it back on her head.
"Just one... no, three more minutes," she insisted, her gaze dropping as she tried to hide her flushed face.
'Cute.'
She was doing an admirable job of holding herself together, and I felt compelled to reward her for it. So, standing up, I settled down beside her.
'At first, she looked surprised, but then a joyful expression lit up her face. It was clear she had anticipated this moment, and I knew she would be delighted.'
Leaning in closer, I pressed my lips against hers in a warm kiss, savoring the sweetness of the connection between us.
She joyfully accepted the kiss, her face radiating bliss. The room around us was spacious, with a small table set against the backdrop of bright sunlight streaming through the windows of our hillside home.
As our lips met, a passionate dance began—a fierce battle of tongues that filled our mouths with two distinct flavors. One was fruity, while the other was sweet, creating a delightful blend that heightened the moment. This enchanting exchange lasted for exactly three minutes.
"Ok. Ok. Okay..." she stopped herself as I settled back in my place.
She knew going on would lead to other things real quick, and since we had just finished a while back, even though she would have loved to start again, she knew we weren't going to do It like we had done last night for a whole Week.
It was admirable how she could think logically like that despite overflowing with lust.
"So, what do you envision as the core of your sword? Would you prefer a nucleus from something you've defeated yourself? Or... I can acquire anything you desire," I offered. And in response, instead of confusion, I saw warmth and understanding in her eyes.
She had expected I would ask something like this and answered without much thinking.
"Anything will do, but... I want a sword with the nucleus of that crab you killed as a special gift. Please?" She looked at me earnestly, holding my hand with a hopeful expression.
(Now, to anyone reading this, don't blame me if this harem story veers into too much slice-of-life territory or something else entirely. I have no control over their whims!)
"Hmmm. In that case..." I murmured under my breath, and the familiar blob of water reappeared, this time cradling a round crystal.
It was a dark red crystal ball, perfectly formed: a striking reminder of the creature I had blessed with a painless death.
"Good work. You can go back now," I instructed in an indifferent tone, but the blob of water vanished with a bright smile on its face.
"Just how amazing are you~?" she asked, her eyes wide as she gazed at the flawless core.
These delicate treasures could easily shatter if mishandled, and I could see her fascination growing.
With a mysterious smile playing on my lips, I replied, "I'm the most amazing being you will ever encounter in your entire life."
"Hehehe... the most amazing? What about the teachers of special classes, the headteacher, monarchs, and their aides? Are you more amazing than them?" She chuckled brightly at her own question, clearly amused.
The answer from me was straightforward. "As amazing as the supreme overlord."
She froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. My words seemed to hang in the air, challenging her understanding. To compare oneself to someone as powerful as the overlord could be seen as blasphemy, and normal people would likely fear anyone foolish enough to make such a claim.
I realized this was a heavy thought for someone as young and innocent as her, so I gently patted her head to pull her out of her contemplation. Just hearing my response to her playful jab was enough for now, but the complexity of it might be too much for her to grasp at this moment.
"Don't dwell too much on trivial matters. One day, you'll understand everything," I said softly, kissing her forehead before guiding her outside. "Ok. I... will just believe you," she said and, like always, followed my lead as the warmth of the bright sun greeted us.