Chapter 96: The omegaverse
「So, this really is Reuk kun?」Ren excitedly touched the homunculus body that the former elven archer was now occupying. Since Reuk had met with Yllaner many times, he was also an acquaintance to the shaman twins so the complete change in his appearance was tripping Ren. Yet, for the ever curious elf, the chance of examining a homunculus body was too tempting.
「Yeah, Ren sama. Please stop touching me like that, it tickles!」Reuk tried to hold back laughter.
「Amazing. This really is a fable homunculus body that the Astrals use to travel to Esthar.」From the point of view of the former elven prince, who has been studying about constructing puppets with his talismans, the existence of Reuk and the homunculus body standing in front of him represents an incredible opportunity to advance his runecraft even further.
「...From everything you've told us, should Reuk kun really be using the same body as the person who was manipulating the Prime Minister Jayden?」Yue turned to Kibadios before voicing her concerns.
「I know. If Yllaner ever meet him, it'd cause some misunderstanding so that's why I have him hidden away, especially from her.」
「Hmm… If you want, I can use my runecraft to permanently alter the appearance of this homunculus body.」Ren suggested.
「You can really do that?」Kibadios was surprised.「I can change her appearance, but only through illusion so it's not really a permanent solution.」
「Please don't sell onii sama short, Master.」Yue softly spoke up.「There's a reason why Nii sama is considered to be the First's "reincarnation". His fundamental understanding of Runecraft spells and their applications may be second only to the First herself.」
Really? But I thought Yue is the genius one since she was able to call forth Faye with her runecraft summon , Kibadios thought to himself.
「... I can probably do it.」Ren answered the hybrid hesitantly. 「This would be the first time I ever attempt my Runecraft spell on a homunculus body though.」
「Then wouldn't it be too risky for Reuk kun since if anything wrong happens to his vessel, he won't be able to materialize.」Hayden voiced his concern.
「Do you trust me, Reuk kun?」asked the elven prince.
「... Let's do it, Ren sama!」She smiled.「After all, I'm a bit tired of hiding from people all the time.」
「Okay then!」Ren took out his talismans and then chanted a spell. Countless pieces of papers began to materialize, floating in midair, swirling around the homunculus body like a vortex. Before long, all the talismans bound to Reuk, fully wrapped around his body as if he was a mummy just being excavated.「Just a few more minutes, Reuk kun.」The elven prince reassured Reuk before chanting further spells, activating the 1000 pieces of talismans all at once, breaking down the homunculus body down into individual atoms before rearranging and transform it back into a new form. The spell and reactions created a blinding light for a brief moment, before it dimmed down and vanished along with the pieces of papers, leaving Reuk's new naked body collapsing onto the floor.
「Reuk kun, are you okay?」Hayden jumped forward and catched the elven archer midair.
「Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit dizzy.」Answered the teenager.
「... Wait, if you recreated Reuk's body from scratch, why not make him a man?」Kibadios noticed the naked body being held by Hayden, despite being restructured into that of an elf, was still a girl, with a rather ample pairs of perky breasts, not unlike his last form.
「It's not easy changing the gender of the homunculus vessel.」explained Ren with a slight irritation. 「If you think you can do a better job, go ahead!」
「Don't be mad, my cute little Ren chan. I wasn't complaining, you did a really good job!」Kibadios walked up to the high shaman, then patted his head. Ren didn't know if it was because he was exhausted performing a highly technical spell or not, but somehow, he felt rather happy that the hybrid had just praised him.「You should sit down and rest for a bit.」
「... Tha..」 Thanks, I'm fine. Ren wanted to respond to his master, but his tsundere nature made him stop short of his reply.「I know how to take care of myself, you don't have to worry.」
「Of course I have to be worried. You're mine now and it's my job to take care of what's mine.」Kibadios grinned looking at him, causing the pinked haired elf to blush red.
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「Yo, boss? You're not fucking and releasing shit ton of pheromones around this time, right?」 Uri stuck his head inside the front door, warily examining the surroundings before cautiously entering the guest house. Having ran away from Kibadios early in the morning, before unsuccessfully tried to release his pent up sex drive in a brothel establishment nearby, the vice captain finally made an appearance late at night, reemerging in front of Kibadios and his harem.
「Pheromones? What pheromones?」The hybrid asked.
「You're a hybrid incubus, don't you know anything about pheromones?」Uri was surprised.
「Like my smell?」
「Maybe he's saying you stink.」Ren, who was resting on a small chair after previously exhausting himself, smirked while sipping some warm milk, a habit which usually helped with his sleep. Though now that he was serving Kibadios, he knew he would not be sleeping anytime soon, not until he was thoroughly fucked.
「Master smells good!」Yuusei declared. The young hybrid beastman was now in his shota form, leaning onto Kibadios and smelling the scent his master was giving off.「Yuusei likes.」
「No no no, pheromone, not smells. Wait a minute, don't tell me you know nothing about your own biology?」Uri raised his eyebrow.
「Can't say that I do.」Kibadios honestly responded.「I was let loose down the Kidan river when I was only a baby… no one taught me any basics about incubus biology.」 And that in my past lives, I did not really meet or befriend many succubus or incubus… Though I really don't recall having been told about any pheromones from the few I know , Kibadios thought to himself.
「Not incubus biology, it's more of a hybrid biology one.」Uri explained.「Man, who would have thought there's a day where I have to teach my captain about the birds and the bees」
「What birds? Bees?」Maia, who was in the room listening to the conversation, was thoroughly confused while Kibadios noticed the interesting term his vice captain had just said. "The birds and the bees" huh? I don't think it's an expression from Esthar… Does it mean Uri here is… , Kibadios' thought was disrupted by the vice captain's explanation.
「You see, for incubus hybrid , and incubus hybrid alone, there's a secondary sex characteristic associate with them. Interestingly enough, most would live their live without caring even once about this secondary sex characteristic since it would almost never emerge and affect their lives. This secondary sex characteristic would only manifest if the conditions are perfectly met: it requires two triggers: first, the two incubus hybrids, who are a perfect match for each other, have to be in close proximity to one another. Secondly, either of the incubus hybrids has to just finish mating, allowing his pheromones to be secreted in excess. If the two conditions are met, the secondary sex characteristic would be revealed to the pair: one would be an omega and one would be an alpha. The omega would be instantly be put in heat once he smells the alpha's pheromone… and… from… from there onward, the omega could only be mated with the alpha…That's what us incubus hybrid called "fated pair".」
「「「HUH???」」」The entire room shouted.
「Wait a minute… This morning?」Ryuu, after hearing the explanation and witnessing Uri's strange behaviors, could easily put the stories together.「Does it mean you're an Omega and Kibadios sama's Fate Pair?」
「... Sadly yeah.」Uri nodded.「Seriously, what are the chances! But don't worry Boss, as long as you're not fucking, releasing your pheromone, I should not be put in heat and we will be fine. I don't intend to fuck my boss. No offense to you, since you're clearly a very handsome man, Boss, but I love women!!! Besides, I don't want to be tied down by some Fated Pair bullshit, it's my life and I want to live it however I see fit. For now, I only have to stay abstinent and figure out a way to fix this later… Hopefully I will find a solution to this soon cuz life without sex for an half incubus like me is not worth living」
"Live it however you see fit", huh? Kibadios grinned.「I don't know what Omegaverse I am living in right now, but I like you Uri!」
「Omegaverse?」Uri was confused, not understanding what his Boss meant.「But yeaaa… sorry Boss… I hate to turn you down but like I said…」
「That's not what I meant.」Kibadios stood up from his chair.「What I meant is that I like how you are a free spirit that can't even be tied down by basic biology needs. I think we will make a good team from now on… until whenever this Captain business runs its course and Ashura gets tired of me.」
「... Likewise, Boss.」Uri grinned back at the hybrid.「I think I'm gonna like working under you, at least for a time. There seems to be a curse that the position of the 13th Captain of Hyakki Yagyo would sooner or later be vacated, I hope your tenure would be long enough, Boss.」
「... Is that a threat, Uri kun?」Kibadios gave his Vice Captain a cold smile. 「Maybe you've realized that perhaps this fated pair business would be resolved if I, your Alpha, were to die?」
「Huh?」Uri stared blankly at his boss, before clapping his hands, a eureka exclamation mark seemed to form on top of his head.「Ha! Maybe you're right!」
「... Wait, did you not think that?」Now it was Kibadios' turn to blankly stare back at Uri, his inner self screaming at himself for giving his Omega a hint.「Then why did you say something cryptic like that?」
「I was just stating a fact, Boss!」replied Uri.「But now that you gave me an idea… maybe you dying would help solve my problem.」
「Try it, you insolent fool!」Now, it was Ryuu's menacing Nen that overwhelmed the Vice captain.
「That's not something to joke about, Uri dono.」Maia already readied her alchemy vials between her slender fingers while every single other harem member was on their guards. Even the elven twins had their talismans pulled out.
「Calm down everyone. We're supposed to be on the same team. I'm sure Uri kun here meant me no harm… At least he should know better.」Kibadios was the one who defused the situation, though he did not pass over a chance to deliver Uri a veil threat.「Anyways, we've strayed off topic for a bit, but why are you here, Uri kun?」
「Oh right, I was going to tell you this morning… before things got sidetracked, but the Big Boss wants us to set out for Monas Kye soon… preferably within a day or so, now that you've found your precious.」Uri turned to look at Rowan.
「Fine, we set out tomorrow without any delay!」Kibadios declared.
「Sweet!」Uri smiled. 「just fyi,we may be picking up some members on the way.」
「Some members?」
「Yeah, you've met them right? It's Erik and his team. They belong to the 13 division.」
「Really? That "Nezha" guy?」
「And how many people are in this division?」Rowan asked.
「That's it. The Boss here, I, Erik's team, and you guys by association.」Uri revealed.「Like I said, the 13 division is a bit cursed… we just cannot seem to keep the 13th division operational hahaha. Before you're joining us, the Big Boss was so close at closing down this division altogether.」
「Why is it cursed? Didn't you say this mission was personally requested by the former 13th Captain?」Ryuu did not seem to like the fact that his Master was put in charge of something considered "cursed".
「Right, you see…」
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「So this day has finally come.」Yllaner smiled at Kibadios.「and here I was hoping you can stay with us for a bit longer.」
「Thanks Yllaner. I really appreciate you and the Shilna's hospitality this past month.」Kibadios turned to look at the elven twins.「And don't worry about Yue chan and Ren chan, I won't let them be in any danger as long as I'm around.」
「I'll hold you to your word, Kibadios.」The queen chuckled.
「We're not kids, little princess… I mean, Yllaner sama.」Ren chimed in.「We don't need anyone protecting us.」Ren walked up right in front of Yllaner before his hands reached out for her cold cheeks.「It's you who should be taking care of yourself. On top of your duties as Shilna Queen, you're going to be a mother soon.」
「Ren nii chan…」Yllaner was now on the verge of crying.
「You're a Queen now, Yll chan. A queen should not be showing weakness like this.」This time it was Yue who consoled Yllaner.「We'll be fine.」
「I know, Yue nee chan.」The queen smiled, before springing her arms to pull both of the shaman twins into her warm embrace.「Please take care! I'll miss you.」
「... We know.」Yue patted Yllane's head.「We'll miss you too, my little sister.」
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Save for their camping time during the night, the group had been riding for seven consecutive days on the famous Fyeran elks that were gifted to the group by Yllaner since they were deemed the best transportation to traverse both the thick woods of the Vernys forest and the flat grassland of Monas Kye. Just as the princess predicted, by the end of the week, the hybrid's group had finally made it to the grassland territory as they slowly noticed that the dense trees had started to recede behind their backs. In front of them, the flat plain filled with sparing patches of green grasses seemed to stretch infinitely to beyond the horizon.
「So, this is it? We've arrived at Monas Kye?」Kibadios asked
「Yes, but we're not at our destination yet. We have to travel a bit further into the territory since we're supposed to rendezvous at a settlement near a small mountain range that way.」Uri pointed to the West.「But be careful. This whole area is considered active warzone and the forces of the Yin Empire are aiming to conquer that settlement.」
「What was its name again?」Reuk, who was introduced to Uri as the twin's attendant, asked.
「It's the town of Alsen.」Uri answered.「It's considered a stronghold of the demihuman living in Monas Kye. Since a lot of villages have been conquered and razed by the Yin Empire, naturally, Alsen is now filled with refugees.」
「And you said according to Ashura's intel, the town would soon fall to the Yin Empire?」
「Yeah, within weeks.The Yin army has finally successfully isolated it.」
「Well, then let's not waste any time.」Kibadios declared.「We still have a few hours before the sunset, we can travel a bit more.」
「That's good. We're now about a day and a half away from Alsen. At this pace, we should be able to reach the town two days from now.」
「And Erik's team will meet us there?」Rowan asked
「Apparently so.」Uri nodded.「Two days ago, I received a letter from him, saying he's making his way toward the town so we don't have to meet up with him beforehand.」
「Is that so? Okay, let's go!」
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「You're still sitting guard out here, Reuk?」Rowan asked as he and Maia emerged from the large tent the group had constructed earlier in the late evening. Before sitting down, the two quickly glanced at another small tent placed almost two hundred feets away from the group, where Uri made his camp
「Don't worry about the Vice Captain. He's far away and sleeping now so he won't be able to listen to our conversation. And yes, I don't need to sleep ever since my consciousness got transferred into this body. I guess it's like a daily reminder that I'm not truly an alive being anymore, haha」Reuk looked up from her drawing pad. The body that Reuk possessed was now that of a purple haired elven woman with rather ample breasts. Even though it was mid-winter, the former archer had chosen a revealing outfit that showed more than half of her chest, though since the homunculus body can easily regulate their body temperature, it was not really a problem for her.「What are you two doing out here? Shouldn't you be sleeping next to your master?」
「We just couldn't sleep so we decided to join you sitting out here for a while.」Both Rowan and Maia sat down onto a large log placed next to the flickering campfire.「Are you getting used to this new body yet?」
「Yeah, truth to be told, I don't feel any difference between this body and Adela's body.」Reuk answered, then looked at Rowan.「What about you? Have you fully recovered? You're lucky that you even survived the wound Ryan gave you, despite falling into that gushing river.」
「I'm at my 100% full strength now!」Rowan flexed his muscle, grinning.「I guess the reason I was able to survive is because I have yet to fulfill my duty as Master's servant. Especially now that he had told me what power truly resided within me, I have to even work harder to be of use for him.」
「... Servant?」Reuk gave a faint smile.「You still think you guys are mere servants to him? That guy treasured you guys more than you thought… and maybe, even more than he thought.」
「You really think so?」Maia spoke up, happiness filled her innocent face.
「Yeah, I've been within him for long enough that I can tell.」Nodded Reuk.「Though, you two have been with him longer than any of us. You must have sensed his transformation too, right?」
「It's in his eyes.」Rowan answered.「I still remember the first time we encountered Master on that fateful night, his eyes are just like those eyes of the hungry pack of monsters that chased after us… filled with rage and darkness, devoid of any other emotions. When he looked down at us at the moment he saved us, I thought it was death itself that was staring at me.」
「You're right, he has really changed.」Maia agreed.「Sometimes, I wonder if we really deserve all the affection he has given us…If only there's a way for us to get stronger and not be a liability to him and his plan to fight against the Astrals.」
「I know… 」Rowan reached out his hand toward the ember.「At this point, both Maia and I are nothing but burdens for him. Ryan chan, Ryuu chan, Yuusei chan, Ren chan, and Yue chan, they're all powerful enough to help Master in his goals, but us… we were only regular people living in an isolated village. He said I possess this incredible power, but I just can't seem to access it no matter how much I try!!」A hint of frustration could be detected in the healer's voice.
「... Is that why you two couldn't sleep and decided to stay out here for a chat?」Reuk empathetically asked.
「Yes.」The two harem members looked at each other before answering.
「Chiiii!!!」Nu, Kibadios' pet slime suddenly jumped up onto Rowan's head, stomping on it for a few seconds before jumping onto Maia's lap.
「Haha」Reuk laughed.「I think Nu wants to say "Don't have such foolish thoughts!"」
「Sorry Nu, did we wake you up?」Maia gently petted the slime on her lap.
「You two should listen to Nu.」Reuk continued.「You two think of yourselves as Kibadios' burden? Please, on the contrary, you're the two that helped Kibadios the most.」
「What do you mean?」
「Think about it, without meeting you two, I doubt Kibadios would transform back to the…」Reuk paused to think for an appropriate description.「"sorta caring" person that he is now. I genuinely believe that had his crazy pupil reconnected with him before he was able to get to know you two, he would have agreed to his crazy pupil's plan to destroy this world once and for all. You two were the very catalysts that reignited his humanity.」
「... Thanks Reuk.」Rowan smiled.「I think talking to you really helped us find our purposes. We will continue to be Master's guideposts.」
「And we will get stronger too!」Maia chimed in.「I want to get so strong to the point that I can challenge and take down that person!」
「That person?」Reuk curiously asked.
「Yes. The possible person that is behind Master's reincarnations.」Maia looked at Rowan
「Behind Kibadios' reincarnation?」
「You see, it was just a hypothesis of mine.」Rowan, the sharpest member within Kibadios' harem, explained.「Kibadios sama had been reincarnated three times, first during the First and Second Great Holy War, then a few years ago as a lab specimen within Wei Shimin's laboratory, then now, as a hybrid named Kibadios. Unlike Yllaner dono's reincarnation, who does not remember anything about her past life, Master retained every single aspect of his soul, except for his body. Two hypotheses may explain this: his reincarnation is due to one of his skills… the second, is that someone behind the scene, is forcing his reincarnations… someone is forcing him to fight against the Astrals again and again and again… even death would not save him from being a pawn to be used against the Astrals.」
「Of course, both are just Rowan's hypotheses, but, judging from everything tragedy that had befell onto Master, I feel like someone is really pulling the string and using him to fulfill their goal… and if that's really the case, I want to be strong enough to fight against that person…」Anger was now clearly visible on Maia's usually tender face. 「for they dare to force Master to fight their battles, inflicting such pain and sadness to him…」Maia clenched her fist.
「Calm down, Maia chan.」A familiar voice spoke up from behind the girl before a warm hand patted her head.「Anger doesn't fit you.」
「Master!!」Both Rowan and Maia called out. Kibadios simply nodded before sitting in between his two harem members, wrapping his arms around them and pulled them in closer to him.
「Chii!!!」Nu excitedly jumped onto Kibadios' head, his usual nest.
「You're sharp, Rowan chan, for able to deduce that maybe someone is pulling the string behind the scene.」Kibadios praised the healer.「I, too, think that's the case. I, much like Uri, don't like to be living my life according to someone else's control, but I think in this case, instead of hating the person who's responsible for my many instances of reincarnation, I'd rather want to thank them… for allowing me more chances to take on the Astrals…」Kibadios turned to Maia before giving her a kiss onto her forehead.「So don't be mad for me, Maia.」
「Master…」
「He…. Hel…pp m…ee」A squeaky voice suddenly disrupted the conversation. The hybrid quickly stood up and walked to the side of the tent, where the voice seemed to originate from. To his surprise, laying on the ice cold ground was a small injured girl, wearing tattered clothes that barely covered her malnourished body, let alone providing warmth in the cold winter month.
「...Please…save… daddy…」The little girl seemed to show some relief when she looked up and saw the hybrid, though she soon passed out after the end of her cry for help.
「This is…」Kibadios frowned.
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「You lost track of him?」One of the Enneads screamed at the terrified low level Astral, who was kneeling in front of them.
「I'm sorry Ensey sama」The Astral kowtowed.「But all the spies we sent out to keep track of that hybrid's movement were killed almost a week ago, when he finally left the forest.」
「... He killed them himself?」
「No, I doubt he could simultaneously killed that many spies.」Another of the Ennead dismissed the guess.「Maybe it's his familiar summons?」
「You're telling me that not only HaoS, but he still possess controls over all of his familiars, even after his reincarnation?」
「If that's the case, it makes sense why he was able to eliminate all our spies at once. After all, he could summon more than two dozens familiars at once, back when he was Zaeryn.」
「But if that's the case, then it means aside from HaoS, he even retained his Ultimate Skill.」Ozyan deduced.
「... That is a possibility.」
「If that's true… it's going to be problematic」
「Yes… There's a restriction on his Ultimate Skill… but that skill… that power… has the ability to directly interfere with our Harvest. 」
「I know… an Ultimate Skill that we had never seen before he arrived here as Zaeryn, or after his death. Usually, it's a person's
「Rather, why does he keep interfering with our works?」Ozyan asked the more important questions.「It's as if someone else keeps placing him on our path.」
「...We can worry about that later, but the more urgent business is to locate him now.」 Freya reminded the group.「I suggest we keep track of Adeus instead. Since Adeus has an extensive spy networks via the countless homunculus that he personally molded and he would for sure be interested in Kibadios' location because of his daughter, I believe we will be able to track Kibadios down if we follow Adeus' movements.」
「...You think even if he knows Kibadios' whereabout, he won't tell us even if we ask?」
「I doubt that he will… He has no incentive to tell us where Kibadios is. To that man, we're the reason his daughter's soul is suffering within Kibadios so he's in no obligation to tell us anything. He doesn't care for our commands, nor his title as Ennead Candidates…That man cares only for his daughter.」
「His love for that girl is the only reason why he can not yet be promoted to become one of us… One day, it may become his downfall.」
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「Haaachooooo!!! Haachooo!!!」Seri rubbed her nose
「What's wrong, Seri sama?」One of her attendants asked.「You've been sneezing nonstop in the past few minutes.」
「Ahh, who knows. Maybe someone is talking about me.」The progenitor of the High Elves grinned.