18 Suckus

"Ah, I have to go somewhere. Take Desire for a tour, Lyra."

"Got it, mother."

While Desire was stupefied about the beauty of the world of Suckus, Skinjur, Liya quickly excused herself.

It seems she was badly needed to where she had to go as she didn't just walk. She used magic to make herself faster.

"Desire, let's go. I'll take you around."

"Y-yeah."

Desire nodded his head before running to Lyra's side. His shocked expression didn't recede at all, even though he snapped back to reality.

That was how beautiful the sight is.

"Come to think of it, why didn't you just take everyone here?"

Desire asked, remembering the forest fire and the fight with the humans.

If they could escape in Skinjur, instead of fighting, that would be the best choice.

After all, they didn't know that Liya would survive and most importantly, Percia coming to rescue was in the realm of imaginations within imaginations.

The fact that they could prevent losses is just as alluring as their body features.

"Not all Suckus could come here."

"...Why? I mean, if you could bring me here, then surely a Suckus would be fine?"

What Desire said was right. A human coming in the world of Suckus, and yet they can't take a member of their own race?

That would be comparable to saying that fish doesn't belong to water.

"Well, there's an incident where a Suckus allowed an enemy in, so there's an order that all visitors must be thoroughly checked before being granted entrance. Being in our situation before, there's no way all of us would be allowed in."

"Then, why am I allowed to come here?"

Lyra had a bitter smile on her face before answering.

"We wanted to repay the favor to you, seeing how you react to monsters. But of course, a human cannot just barge in here even if we are indebted to you."

Desire just tilted his head and asked again. After all, what Lyra said didn't answer his question.

"Ah, they are interested in you. Magic Infusion works on you, and then your body showed growth of years in just a single night, worked wonders."

While they were talking, they quickly reached the entrance of the village. Unlike the flamboyance of the world itself, the residence in which the Suckus stays was quite simple.

Seeing the big tree that serves as a gate, Lyra added some words.

"Do you have some more questions?"

Desire was about to say 'None,' but after remembering what he just reflected on before entering Skinjur, he quickly asked something bugging on his mind.

He wanted to take this chance to know more about the Suckus race.

He hesitated slightly because he knew that what he was about to ask was extremely rude, but he still spoke with a resolute tone.

"W-why didn't you run? During those dangerous times, there were plenty of chances to run. Forget about you and Liya; even the women back in the village didn't run..."

Indeed, even though they could just lay low while the fire was still ongoing, they wouldn't be met with danger.

If Liya wanted to, she could even escape to Skinjur. Lyra didn't mention it, but a village head could go in and out of Skinjur, albeit she still has to be under surveillance while inside.

The simple act of not running, to be honest, Desire couldn't get it. Even if Lyra told him that they would only be hunted down if they run, if they were able to slip out in the forest, at least they'll live.

To Desire, who loved monsters as a human, that was an act he couldn't understand. After all, if it comes down to it, Desire is a human too.

He saw things from a human's perspective, values, principles, and emotions.

However, contrary to Desire's hesitation, Lyra spoke immediately after hearing the question.

"That's what you asked? That's simple, you know."

When Desire looked at her with passionate eyes, waiting for the answer, Lyra gave a coy look before continuing.

"The Suckus is born through the love of two women. The absolute love that gave birth to us...If we, the product of that love, turned our backs to our fellow Suckus, that would be a shame to our ancestors."

"Ah..."

The reason why they fought...

"To protect each other?"

...the hard battle is because of each other.

Desire was completely taken aback; he fought to protect their home because he thought it was unfair. His hate for the humans that told him to take action...

He didn't expect an answer like that. After all, he didn't know what values the Suckus practices.

Even though they both took action to protect and fight, the meaning of the reason why they did so was different. And the weight of that difference is heavy.

...It would be correct to say that Desire's thoughts were unnecessarily rude.

"That's right. Anyways, here we are."

Completely immersed in their discussion, Desire didn't notice that they were right in front of a huge tree.

Lyra stepped up and spoke.

"Village head Lyra and the human, Desire."

"We have been expecting you."

A voice suddenly answered Lyra, but wherever Desire looked, there were no signs of a person.

The trees in front of them and the surroundings were the same. The land that he was standing on was clear of anything.

"Enter."

As soon as the voice ended, the tree in front shone strong enough for Desire to squeeze his eyes.

It didn't last as long as it quickly dissipated. The trees returned back to how it was.

Still has his eyes closed, Desire heard the calling of Lyra to enter.

"Let's go."

Nodding his head while walking, Desire felt a burden was lifted off his shoulders when he heard Lyra with the same tone of voice.

To be honest, he never expected Lyra to remain as she was when he asked a rude question.

He could only be thankful.

****

A magnificent building was standing tall on barren land. It would be more correct to say that it is a palace, one used for royalty.

The land didn't have anything except for that building.

No trees, no people, no other signs of civilization...it was as creepy as it can be.

However, the inside of that palace was quite noisy. That was because of a man who was being pulverized one-sidedly by a seemingly charming woman.

"How many times do I have to tell you?! You showed up outside with your true form?!"

The man didn't answer despite the insistent questioning of the woman. His body that was full of shallow wounds, reminded him not to provoke the woman any longer.

"So, you're not gonna answer? Is that it? Huh? You finally got balls?"

When the woman spoke in a low and calm voice, the man flinched.

As he was used to being beaten by this woman, he knew what that kind of tone means.

"N-no! Sister! I was just summoned abruptly by some kid!"

The woman called sister by the man was a beauty; her well-shaped face could only be sculpted by a god. Her oval eyes that had the color of the ocean was as deep as it could be.

Her lips were alluring, and her blue hair that touches her bottom adds a dignity that couldn't be explained.

However, if there was a strange thing on her, that would be her ears had feathers growing on them, making her look like an elf.

"Did you go outside with your three heads out, Percia?"

She spoke with a nonchalant tone; her face was emotionless.

Sensing the change in the woman's mood, Percia decided to play dumb and laughed awkwardly.

"W-who knows. Hahaha."

"Who knows?! I know, you half-wit!"

"N-no! Anyways, the kid that summoned me was strange!"

Perhaps the woman was interested as she didn't refute Percia's changing of topics. Nevertheless, nothing changed about her being mad.

"Y-you know? The one that summoned me was a human baby! I also don't understand. Furthermore, when the magic circle appeared, it just sucked me in! It didn't even ask for my permission."

"Oh? A baby? And it didn't give an offering of such? You expect me to believe that?"

When a summoner summons something or someone, the summoner must present an offering and must get its consent for it to show itself.

If the summoner tried to force a monster like Percia, it would undoubtedly die a pitiful death.

That was common knowledge, yet Percia talked about something that will never happen; of course, the woman won't believe such things.

In Desire's case of summoning Percia, none of that common knowledge happened. He just used the Flood Magic as a medium to summon Percia without asking questions.

"Y-yeah. Anyway, sister, let's train now! I think I'm gonna become a High Ranker soon!"

Perhaps the topic Percia talked about was a frustrating one for the woman as a vein popped on her forehead.

Without realizing it, she struck her brother once more as she scolded him.

"You'll die before you become one! You fool! Showing your true form outside, forget reaching rank 8, you won't even reach rank 7!"

Only the voice of the angry sister could be heard in this desolate palace.

"Ahhhhh! Nooo! Forgive me!"

And the cries of the mighty Percia, of course.