Exiled Prince and His Succubus Army-Chapter 21: The next day

Renji then got up from where he’d been sitting, his movements fluid despite the exhaustion still clinging to his muscles from the hunt. He reached down and gently but firmly spanked Kaede’s thigh, the sudden contact making her jump slightly in surprise. "Get up before the others come back," he said with that characteristic smirk playing at the corners of his mouth, his tone carrying just enough command to make it clear this wasn’t really a suggestion.

-----

The next morning arrived with golden sunlight streaming through the shrine’s ancient windows, painting everything in warm, honey-colored light. The gang was already up and moving, having just finished eating a simple but satisfying breakfast that Rei had prepared earlier. The remnants of their meal still littered the main room where they’d eaten together.

Renji had dressed himself properly for the day ahead, wearing practical clothes suitable for extended combat and forest traversal. He sat cross-legged on the smooth stone floor of the shrine, his posture relaxed but his mind already working through the day’s plans. His messy black hair was even more tousled than usual from sleep, giving him a roguish appearance that somehow suited his personality perfectly.

Nearby, Aya had taken possession of Renji’s sword, holding the blade with both hands as she slashed it through the air playfully. The weapon was perhaps a bit too heavy for her frame, making her movements slightly awkward and exaggerated, but she seemed to be enjoying herself nonetheless. Each swing produced a satisfying whoosh of displaced air, and she grinned each time she managed to execute what she imagined was a proper sword technique. Her dark hair swayed with each movement, and there was a childlike enthusiasm in her expression that made her look younger than her years.

Kaede, meanwhile, was currently having her bath in the small bathing area attached to the shrine. The sound of water splashing occasionally drifted through the walls, along with the faint scent of the herbal soaps that Rei kept stored for such purposes. It was one of the unexpected luxuries of staying at the shrine, proper bathing facilities that were maintained and clean.

Rei herself was sequestered in the inner room of the shrine, deep in meditation as she often was in the morning hours. The priestess seemed to find clarity and peace in these quiet moments of contemplation, and none of them disturbed her during these sessions. The faint glow of incense smoke could be seen drifting from beneath the door to her meditation chamber, carrying with it the subtle scent of sandalwood and something else unidentifiable but pleasant.

Renji had informed them all before now, during breakfast when they were all gathered together, that they would be going into the forest for the entire day so they could hunt more monsters. It was necessary training, he’d explained, and an opportunity to work toward completing that secret quest the system had given him. Every giant monster they killed brought him closer to unlocking the Appraisal Eye ability, and that was too valuable to pass up.

Aya had been genuinely looking forward to it, her eyes lighting up when Renji had announced the plan. The previous day’s successful hunt had given her confidence in her abilities, and she was eager to test herself further, to see how much stronger she could become. There was an excitement in her demeanor that was almost infectious, a enthusiasm for the challenge ahead.

Kaede, on the other hand, had been notably grumpy about the prospect of having to work strenuously all day long. She was not particularly used to that kind of extended physical exertion. Her noble upbringing had prepared her for many things, but day-long monster hunting expeditions in dangerous forests had not been part of her education. She had complained, though not too loudly, about the unfairness of it all, the exhaustion they’d surely feel, the risks they’d be taking.

But ultimately, she couldn’t refuse Renji’s desires anymore. That ability had been stripped from her along with her humanity, replaced by a compulsion to serve and obey that she was still learning to navigate. So she had conceded to the plan with poor grace, grumbling under her breath about princes who didn’t understand the value of rest and relaxation.

Now, as the morning wore on and they prepared for departure, the sound of water finally stopped. Moments later, the door to the bathing area opened, and Kaede emerged into the main room of the shrine.

Renji found himself looking her over almost unconsciously, his dark eyes tracking her movement as she stepped into the golden morning light. There was something different about her, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on but that was immediately noticeable. Even Aya had stopped her playful sword practice, and she stood there staring with her mouth hanging slightly open, caught completely off guard by what she was seeing.

It seemed that Kaede had gotten even more beautiful and alluring than before, if such a thing was even possible. Perhaps it was the way the morning light caught in her blonde hair, making it shine like spun gold. Perhaps it was the healthy flush in her cheeks from the warm bath, or the way her tall frame moved with unconscious grace. Or perhaps it was something more supernatural, some side effect of her transformation that was only now becoming apparent. Whatever the cause, the effect was undeniable, she was absolutely stunning, almost ethereally so, and both Renji and Aya found themselves unable to look away.

Kaede noticed their staring almost immediately, and her expression shifted from relaxed post-bath contentment to sharp annoyance in an instant. "What?" she demanded snappily, her hands moving to her hips as she fixed them both with an irritated glare. "Why are you two staring at me like that? Do I have something on my face? Is my hair sticking up weird?"

Renji and Aya both quickly coughed, the sound awkward and forced, breaking the spell of the moment. "Nothing," they said in near-perfect unison, their voices overlapping slightly. Both of them suddenly found other things to look at, Renji examining his fingernails with exaggerated interest, Aya turning her attention back to the sword in her hands.