Lust Devil's Rise

’Well, it’s quite early, what’s wrong with her?’

It was quite strange to hear Vaun’s voice, instead of Galatea’s or a maid’s.

Luka’s hand paused mid-stroking Galate’s golden locks, his eyes shifting to the door.

The proud knight was curled against his chest with one arm across his waist, breathing so deeply that even the knock failed to wake her properly.

Her body was half-hidden beneath the twisted sheet, though the blanket had slipped low enough to expose her bare shoulder, the curve of her back, and several faint red marks left by his hands and mouth during the night.

He was just about to check the system, after turning it to standby after fighting the goblin shaman and facing the countless annoying messages.

Alas, he stared at the door for several moments before looking down at the beauty in his arms.

Galatea’s face was peaceful in a way he had never seen before. There was no stiffness, needless worry or frustration. Just an exhausted woman sleeping against him after finally letting go of everything she had carried alone for far too long.

’I guess the moment of respite has ended.’

He slowly slipped from within her arms, gently placing her head on the pillow as she moaned his name before drawing the sheet over her shoulder, covering her properly.

Then he answered the door.

"Give me a moment, Vaun."

There was a light scuff from behind the door, as heels tapped the stone floor.

"Y-Yes, my Lord."

Luka carefully slipped from the bed, his naked body assaulted by the cold morning air after losing her warmth. He glanced back as she frowned in her sleep and reached blindly toward him. Her fingers caught the edge of his shirt before he could move away completely.

"...Luka."

Her voice was overly hoarse after the last moment of pleasure.

She wasn’t fully awake, maybe sleep-talking at best.

"I am here, shhhh. Get some rest."

"Don’t... put it inside there.... that’s not the right one...."

"Eh?"

She did not finish the sentence as her hand loosened, and her breathing softened.

’Damn...’

Crack~

Luka watched her for another moment, then gently tucked her arm beneath the blanket and stood. His body ached from the night as he stretched, cracking his back and shoulders, though he could regenerate his stamina using Miasma... Galatea almost seemed to have sucked him dry.

’This kinda feels good.’

It wasn’t a painful or unpleasant ache.

Everyone felt this kind of way after a long battle, sex and victory. His muscles felt all tangled up beneath his skin, twitching after they worked extra hard.

He washed quickly using the basin near the wall, pulled on dark trousers and a loose shirt, then crossed the room. Before he opened the door, he peeked at Galatea’s sleeping face one last time.

She’d rolled onto her side, still asleep, as her plump buttocks peeked from the sheets, with messy hair taking up the rest of the bed.

"Haha."

His lips curled upward as he admired the sight of her rolling herself like a little caterpillar.

’I’ll order a larger sheet in future....’

Then he opened the door only halfway, where Vaun stood two steps from the entrance, her back straight and eyes focused on him.

For the first time since he had known her, she was not hiding behind her rough huntsman disguise.

Her midnight black hair fell loose down her back, glossy beneath the morning light spilling through the corridor windows. Her delicate half-elf features looked almost unreal now that the dirt, false posture and dull cloth had been stripped away. Her silver eyes widened the moment she saw him, then immediately dropped to the floor.

’Why is she wearing a maid outfit?’

Yes, Vaun was wearing a short-skirted maid uniform with a garter belt, white thigh-high socks, and a headband. It was clean, black-and-white, fitted tightly around her slim waist and pear-shaped lower half, yet modest enough to pass as servant clothing.

However, being an elf brought an ethereal taste to the visual delight.

Vaun, who had spent so long trying to look plain, found that the outfit only made her look more like a noble lady playing with fire than a maid.

His eyes trailed up and down, unwilling to forget this visage.

’Luvia was the one meant to join my side as a maid, but will Vaun also do?’

Vaun’s long pale ears flopped to the side, dyed bright red as she spoke with a quiet, stuttering voice.

"I... I lost a bet with Luvia... she ordered me to wear this in her stead...."

"Did she now?" He couldn’t help but cheer inside, wanting to clench his fist and shout.

Luka leaned against the doorframe with a pretentious expression, trying to hide the fact that her current state aroused him.

[Oblivion devoured Luka’s overflowing lust]

"And what was the bet?"

Vaun’s face turned redder as she glanced inside the room before quickly retracting her gaze.

"F-Forgive any insult, My Lord... but it was whether Lady Galatea would spend the night in your room or return before sunrise...."

From inside the room, Galatea shifted beneath the sheet.

Vaun stiffened as if a blade had touched her throat.

Luka slowly closed the door behind him, leaving only a narrow gap.

"Vaun."

"Yes, my Lord?"

"Never gamble with Luvia, she’s probably cheating using her abilities..."

"I understand that now."

Since that issue was dealt with, he stepped into the corridor and shut the door tightly, examining Vaun once again as she shifted two steps back.

"So, what happened?"

Vaun straightened at once, praying he couldn’t hear the rapid thump of her heart.

"Breakfast will be served in the western dining room. Lady Vivienne has already woken and asked whether you slept well. Lady Luvia is with the horses, and Steward Levi requested that you eat properly before any official meeting begins."

"Did Vivienne ask anything else?"

Vaun hesitated.

"She asked whether Lady Galatea would join you."

Luka’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"And?"

"I told her I did not know."

"Good answer, try not to force them together."

He truly didn’t need the trouble of the two fighting over last night. Though Vivienne swore to help him, Luka couldn’t just erase all doubts in a single night. Not to mention, his bond with Galatea surpassed almost any other human.

Vaun’s gaze flickered once toward the closed door, then quickly returned to the floor.

"Should I prepare another tray for Lady Galatea?"

"Yes. I think something light, like porridge with lots of fruit and some honey tea. She likes sweet things, so don’t forget the apple in her porridge."

"Understood."

Vaun lowered her head, but did not leave.

Luka folded his arms and nodded. It seemed there was another report to give.

"What do you have to tell me? Speak."

"It’s about the archers, my Lord. I have found more people willing to join and wanted to seek your permission."

His expression became sharper as he listened to her speak.

"The ones from Amol?"

"Yes. Also, several younger men from the small town near the southern road. Most are not trained soldiers, but they are familiar with hunting bows, hill paths and moving through rough ground. I believe they would be great assets with six months of intensive training; their stamina and grit are second to none. Though their posture and discipline might be bad right now... I am sure they can improve."

He tapped his chin for a moment, considering what she said. He knew that Vaun took this seriously and wouldn’t just invite rabble.

"Do you think they have potential as an elf?"

Vaun paused, her heel lifting off the floor as she ground her foot on the stone floor.

"Though they cannot become Master archers, I do not have any doubts about them becoming a valuable asset on the battlefield, against both monster and man."

He really liked how serious she treated this small topic.

’This is why I wanted you, whether you were male or female.

She was nervous when speaking about herself, but the moment the matter turned to work or archery, her tone settled into a clear, precise focus.

"They know the land better than knights. They understand slopes, animal trails, weather shifts and where a man can hide without being seen. With proper training, they can become scouts, skirmishers and the ideal force you desire, Master!"

"How many?"

"Seventeen from Amol. Nine from the small town. Another six possible recruits if Lord Iris releases them after the first stage of repairs. With our current numbers, we’d have around a hundred archers in training."

Even after their losses against the goblins and shaman, it was a good number to hear.

At the start of the collapse, most armies numbered barely in the thousands, though in the final stages before humanity collapsed, some reached the tens or hundreds of thousands. That was when people became desperate and used peasants to fight.

He placed his hand on her delicate shoulder, gently squeezing.

"Then you will train them."

Vaun’s silver eyes widened.

"Me?"

"You said they need to become scouts, skirmishers and wall archers. You are the one who understands that best."

"I am not a knight."

"Good. I don’t need knights for this, because they are different."

Her lips parted.

Luka continued before she could retreat into humility.

"Babylon already has men who can stand in armour and hold a line. What we lack are eyes in the trees, arrows in the dark, and people who can gather information and fight the dirty kinds of battles that Knights and warriors see as dishonourable...."

"A-Are you sure, Master?" 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"Of course, I will leave training to your Vaun. Do whatever you see fit, and use whoever you need. I don’t want perfect warriors, but archers who will do whatever it takes to win. They must be loyal to me and Babylon, but after that, they are free to do as they please."

"Understood! I will prepare a rigorous training plan."

A Babylon servant appeared, stopped upon seeing Luka standing outside his chamber with Vaun dressed as a maid, and then immediately diverted their gaze.

"My Lord, breakfast is ready. Lady Vivienne is waiting."

Luka shrugged while raising his hands to the sky. "Of course she is, well. Let’s go see the princess, shall we?"