Seeing her people unharmed, Eve's eyes brimmed with tears. "Thank goodness… everyone's safe!"
She let out a deep sigh of relief, then turned toward Takumi and bowed solemnly. If he hadn't noticed the danger and acted in time, she alone could never have saved them.
Within the Black-Wing Tribe, Takumi's prestige reached its peak. Were it not for the fact that he was already surrounded by women like Flare and Eve, the tribe's young maidens would have surely been lining up to offer themselves.
"This place isn't safe for long. If another Demon Lord unit arrives, we'll be in trouble. Let's find a hidden spot to rest first." Takumi's calm tone carried quiet authority.
The Black-Wings, still shaken from the battle, immediately followed his advice.
By nightfall, they had found a secluded cave to shelter in. Once the tribe was settled, Takumi took the women back into the Interdimensional Realm.
To his surprise, when he entered—only Eve appeared.
"...?"
Takumi blinked in confusion, but before he could ask, Eve shifted awkwardly, her cheeks burning red.
"Um… everyone said… that I should come."
Her wings folded in shyly, half-covering her body like a blushing curtain.
Her outfit—apparently responding to her will—had changed too. What had once been a full suit of black leather armor was now an intricate, hollowed design, leaving vast stretches of smooth, pale skin exposed to the air. The curves of her body rose and fell softly; her flat, toned stomach was revealed, the faint line of her abs and tiny navel visible beneath the light.
"D-Don't look…! Flare said you'd… l-like this…"
Before she could cover herself, Takumi pulled her into his arms, his hand resting over her bare stomach. Her body trembled instantly at his touch, a blush spreading like fire across her skin.
Leaning close, he exhaled warmly beside her pointed ear. "Eve, if you're being this forward… how could I not be pleased?"
"Mmm—! Don't say that… it's too embarrassing…"
Her hands covered her face, but her glimmering eyes kept peeking through her fingers, stealing nervous glances at him.
The sight struck directly at Takumi's heart. And the fact that her once-black hair was now pure silver—his greatest weakness—only made things worse.
He could feel his [Conqueror's Instinct] and [Love Course] stacking rapidly!
"Still, Eve," he whispered teasingly, "I wonder… are the Black-Wings really like birds? Maybe you could show me yourself."
"Y-You pervert! I would never—"
Her voice stuttered, but her hands betrayed her resolve, trembling as she obeyed.
Her dark wings spread behind her—then slowly folded again, wrapping around them both in a cocoon of feathers.
The strange, soft pressure made Takumi's curiosity flare. He reached out, brushing his fingers along the edges of her wings, fascinated by how they pulsed with her emotions.
"Don't squeeze them!"
"Let me see~"
"I want to observe too!"
"Eve-chan, hang in there!"
Outside the room, four faces were stacked by the door, all peeking through the narrow crack. Behind them, Anna stood awkwardly, her face caught between amusement and resignation.
After a brief hesitation… she stepped forward to peek as well.
That tiny movement was the final straw.
Crash!
The door gave way under their combined weight, collapsing into the room with a loud thud.
The five girls landed in a heap—five layers of flailing limbs and startled faces—blinking in shock as they met Takumi's and Eve's gazes.
For a long second, no one moved. Then Eve's entire face turned crimson. Her arms, legs, and wings all tensed at once, squeezing around Takumi so tightly he nearly blacked out.
"Mmfff—!!"
He endured her strangling strength for a full thirty seconds before she went limp, exhausted.
[Ding! Eve's Affection has reached threshold—Trait Duplicate: Monster Domination (Purple) acquired!]
Takumi gently extricated himself, then turned toward the guilty tower of women with a mischievous look. He'd noticed their spying long ago—but their boldness was beyond expectation.
"Well, since Eve's worn out… none of you are getting away now."
"Eh!?" x5
The five froze in panic. They tried to scramble apart, but without coordination, the entire tower toppled over again, crashing in a tangled heap.
Expressionless, Takumi grabbed each one and stacked them back up neatly.
"You were so enthusiastic a minute ago—what's with the panic now?"
A few sharp spanks later, the room went completely quiet.
The Interdimensional Realm's sky darkened under his will, until only a soft glow remained.
…
When dawn came, Takumi emerged with Eve, returning to the Black-Wing Tribe's temporary camp.
"Eh? Where are the others?"
Miru blinked around, puzzled as he turned to Takumi.
Eve's face flushed scarlet as she waved her hands quickly. "E-Everyone's… still resting, Grandpa Miru! Please don't ask!"
Seeing her flustered tone, Miru decided not to press further.
The Black-Wing Tribe, meanwhile, was preparing to move again. After a quick briefing, Takumi learned they intended to seek refuge with the Star-Rabbit Tribe.
After the Demon Lord's invasion, the area near the Sacred Domain had become too dangerous to inhabit. Following a night of discussion, Miru and the others agreed that relocating to Star-Rabbit territory was their best option.
The tribes were allies—and the Star-Rabbits were rumored to have provided shelter to other demon clans persecuted by the Demon Lord, even constructing powerful defensive walls.
Their goal was to find a safe haven until Takumi's group could defeat the Demon Lord.
"Then let's go together," Takumi said casually. "I'll see for myself if the Star-Rabbits can be trusted."
"Lord Takumi, we're truly grateful!" Miru grasped his hands with tearful gratitude, and the other Black-Wings bowed deeply.
Takumi scratched his cheek, a little embarrassed. If anyone deserves their thanks, it's Eve… her 'devotion' definitely inspired me to protect them.
The group set out at once. The Star-Rabbit settlement wasn't far—after half a day's travel, they arrived at a sprawling town. It wasn't as vast as Branicca, but still the size of a large village.
Upon hearing that the Black-Wings sought refuge, the gates opened immediately, and they were escorted to meet the Star-Rabbit Chief.
On the way, Takumi couldn't help staring at the residents—girls with soft fur and twitching bunny ears hopping about the streets.
Rabbit girls are amazing…Now, if they were wearing bunny suits… that'd be heavenly.
Lost in thought about recruiting a few of them later, Takumi finally met the tribe's chief.
He was a refined middle-aged man dressed in a white suit and leather pants, wearing a monocle—looking bizarrely out of place, like someone from the modern world.
This world's tech tree is all kinds of nonsense, Takumi thought. Agrarian civilization, yet people are out here wearing black lace, white silk, and tailored suits… magic really is a universal cheat.
After a thousand silent complaints, Takumi finally turned his full attention back to the man before him.
...
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