Chapter 53

After getting out of the bath, I sat there dazing off as if my very soul had been extracted. In fact, I was so out of it I was worried it might actually be trying to escape.

Beside me, Lidia-san was rhythmically fanning me with a fan made of bird feathers. Thankfully, she was back in her clothes—well, “clothes” in the Succubus sense, which meant there was still plenty of skin showing.

“I’m lightheaded in more ways than one. It might be a weird thing to say, but… that was even more intense than Cerulia…”

“Right? But you see, that’s actually the original job of a Succubus. I think Cerulia is just… different.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Her choice of words caught me off guard. Did she mean Cerulia was a half-baked amateur?

“It’s just a hunch, but I think what Cerulia feels is true love—more like a married couple. Naturally, that changes how things feel.”

“Ah…”

I understood exactly what Lidia-san meant.

“It might deviate from the ‘proper’ way a Succubus or Incubus is supposed to be, but I think there’s a reason Cerulia turned out that way, and I’m rooting for her. So, take good care of her, okay?”

Lidia-san winked and gave me a bright smile.

“I will,” I nodded firmly.

“There are plenty of people in both the Demon Realm and the human world who’ll act all wise and tell you it’s impossible to have a sincere romance with a Succubus or an Incubus, but I believe it can happen. Besides, she was taught exactly how to handle people with bad personalities; if you were a total loser, Franz-kun, she would’ve ditched you long ago.”

“I want to make her even happier.”

After all, it had only been a few months since Cerulia and I met. There was still plenty of room for our happiness to grow.

“Keep that attitude and you’ll do just fine. Well, the main event is here, so I’ll make myself scarce.”

Lidia-san looked past me to where Cerulia was standing.

For some reason, Cerulia looked incredibly fresh and innocent.

“If you’d like… shall we take a little stroll in the garden?”

“Yeah. I wanted to feel the night breeze anyway. Though it’s always night in this world…”

That night, I slept soundly while holding Cerulia’s hand. Mary had graciously stepped aside for the night, saying she’d sleep on her own to let us have our space.

“Having you by my side makes me feel so at peace, Master.”

“I was thinking the exact same thing.”

I realized then just how important it was to have someone beside you. It took a crisis where I almost lost her for the weight of it to truly sink in. I had been exhausted, but being with Cerulia made me feel like I had completely recovered.

The second my paid leave ended and I returned to the office, I went straight to offer my thanks.

“President! Senior Farphistanya! Thank you both so much!”

If I hadn’t received those items from them, things would have ended disastrously.
“I’m glad they were of use,” President Kelkel replied with a casual smile.

Meanwhile, Senior Farphistanya silently gave me a peace sign with her right hand.

“Your first trip to the Demon Realm must have been quite the stimulating experience. I’m glad you made it back safely.”

“Yes… there were definitely moments where my life was on the line…”

I decided then and there to avoid making enemies of Incubi whenever possible.

“However,” the President continued, “that experience has worked in your favor in some ways.”

“Check your internal list of spells,” Senior added.

I did as I was told and focused.
Imp Summoning
Evil Spirit Summoning
Poison Scorpion Summoning (Selectable: Weak, Medium, Strong)
Conversation with Evil Spirits
Mind Control Resistance
Mind Control (Moderate)
Physical Weakening (Moderate)
Life Drain (Moderate)
Fear Amplification
Peat Bog Walking (Up to 3 companions)
⇒* Continued on next page…*

“Whoa! My spells have leveled up!”

The list went on, with several of my magics having been upgraded. What was going on?

“Franz-san, you felt exhausted after going to the Demon Realm, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I was absolutely spent… It was an unfamiliar place, and I got dragged into something outrageous. Or well, maybe I dragged myself into it.”

“Part of that fatigue was because a human entered the Demon Realm,” Farphistanya said, now making peace signs with both hands. “When a human goes there, it has an effect similar to high-altitude training.”

“That metaphor actually makes a lot of sense!”

It turns out that by simply existing and moving in the Demon Realm, I had been unconsciously training and growing stronger.

“Though, a transformation this dramatic is almost unheard of. You really do have talent,” the President noted.

“I envy that talent,” Senior Farphistanya added.

Coming from a genius like Senior, that felt a little unconvincing, but I’d take the compliment.

“Please continue to work hard for Necrogrant Dark Magic Co.”

“Yes, of course!”

I’m going to do even better and contribute to both the company and the Dark Magic industry!

That evening, I returned home alone and opened the door. Mary was working elsewhere, so we often returned at different times.

A delicious aroma immediately tickled my nose. Cerulia and Mary, both in aprons, stepped out to greet me.

“Welcome home! Cerulia wanted to make sure you ate something amazing tonight, Franz.”

“I want to pay you back, even if only a little, for all the trouble I caused you, Master!”

Cerulia’s smile was bright and without a single cloud. Just seeing her face was enough for me.

“Oh? Master, why do you look like you’re about to cry?”

To Cerulia, my reaction was probably a bit too fast to understand.

“Maybe the onions got in my eyes,” I muttered, before gently pulling the apron-clad Cerulia into a hug. Mary watched us from the side with a look of blessing.

“Oh, I never want to let go.”

“Me neither.”

We were still basically in our honeymoon phase, so I figured I was allowed to whisper sweet things like that. After we had been hugging for a good five minutes, Mary decided that was enough and brought over a document sealed with wax.

“This is for you, Franz. You should check it.”

“To Baron Fantland”—it said.

“This must be a delivery error. It says Baron Fantland. But the address is definitely here.”

Then, it hit me.

I won that duel at the magic school… and I actually became a Baron!

Would you like me to translate the next chapter to see what kind of “Baron business” Franz has to deal with, or should we see how his new rank affects his life at the company?