Chapter 73: Cherisse

“You must be here for the first time, right?”

After passing through the front hall, Loki asked Qiaolin.

“Mm… yeah.”

Qiaolin subconsciously scratched his face.

Of course, this wasn’t his first time here.

As early as three hundred years ago, this “Pink Heaven” bathhouse had been the first stronghold their Hero Party entered after infiltrating the Demon King’s Castle.

Back then, Archimondia’s rule was terrifying and cruel, and according to Saintess Tor’s plan, they were to gather like-minded members of the Demon Race to resist together.

The owner of this shop had also been one of their allies.

But after so many years, he wondered how she was doing now.

To be honest, Qiaolin didn’t really want to see her.

Something rather embarrassing—at least to him—had happened between them in the past.

Loki smiled faintly and said,

“Then let me briefly explain. Before entering the hot spring, artisans will help clean our bodies. I hope you don’t mind.”

“So, scrubbing, right?”

Qiaolin understood, but one word confused him.

“What does ‘artisan’ mean? A bath attendant?”

“You’ll understand after experiencing it.”

As soon as she finished speaking, three young women appeared at the end of the corridor.

Without exception, they all had stunning figures.

Their long, slender tails swayed behind their thin, high-slit skirts—enough to stir any man’s impulses.

Qiaolin, however, had already been served by succubi before, so he didn’t react much.

Still, he couldn’t help reminiscing about the past.

Right now, he felt that everything he had done today didn’t compare to Loki’s sudden suggestion.

It hit exactly where he wanted.

The succubus girls bowed and handed them towels and bathing supplies.

When one of them noticed Fafna’s thick tail behind her, a trace of surprise flashed in her eyes.

“Hmph. You demon servants better serve this princess well, or I’ll have your boss come out and serve me personally!”

“Smack—”

Fafna slammed her tail heavily onto the ground, startling the inexperienced succubus girl.

Then, a charming and clear voice swept through the corridor like a breeze, lifting the veil Qiaolin used to cover his nose.

“I was wondering who had such a temper. So it’s the Dragon Princess. My apologies for not welcoming you properly.”

A pink mist filled the air, rich with fragrance.

If an ordinary person inhaled it, they would likely fall instantly, eyes full of hearts, becoming a slave to its source.

Even Qiaolin felt a moment of dizziness.

As the mist slowly dispersed, a slender figure came into view—a girl who looked no older than seventeen or eighteen, with a pure and delicate appearance.

Her cherry-red hair flowed past her slim waist.

The thick demon horns on her head marked her status as a High Succubus.

Her beauty needed no explanation.

With every step, she exuded charm, becoming clearer in Qiaolin’s eyes.

The man froze for a moment as countless memories flashed through his mind.

“Cherisse…”

Qiaolin softly called her name.

“Hm? You seem to know me? But you look unfamiliar.”

The succubus girl named Cherisse showed a surprised expression.

She didn’t recall ever meeting him, though from his aura, he seemed to be human.

“It seems Cherisse and this gentleman have a story?”

“Things of the past…”

“Miss Dragon, can you share?”

“Haah!”

The little succubi instantly turned into eager onlookers, even daring to ask Fafna, only to be scared off by the dragon girl’s hiss.

“You all, get back to work, or I’ll cut your meals!”

Cherisse scolded them sternly, and the little succubi left reluctantly.

She then turned back to Qiaolin and the others with a bright smile, clapping her hands.

Several women with even more graceful figures approached.

“They are your bath attendants. Of course, if any guests prefer more efficient service, you may choose our ‘artisans.’ We hope you enjoy the service.”

“Heh, I didn’t expect the owner herself to welcome us. Then we won’t hold back.”

Loki glanced at the number of attendants and said, “But it seems there are only three.”

Cherisse smiled slightly and said calmly, “I am also a bath attendant. You don’t mind, do you?”

Qiaolin’s expression turned a bit strange.

Back then, Cherisse had been on good terms with him and Tor, but because of what had happened between them, he had always avoided getting too close to her.

Though no one cared about it anymore, so much time had passed that he still didn’t know where she stood now.

It was also his fault for accidentally calling out her name earlier and drawing her attention.

“I see. If the boss is serving personally, I hope there’s no extra charge.”

“Of course not.”

Cherisse gently placed her hand on Qiaolin’s shoulder.

The man forced a bitter smile—she was clearly testing him.

Thus, Qiaolin temporarily separated from Fafna and the others.

“Water poured down—”

As the hot water flowed, Qiaolin’s thoughts drifted into the past.

It had been a similar mist-filled space back then, except the Hero had been more unruly, more furious, and more arrogant.

He had been desperate to grow stronger but was stuck at the Five-Crown Peak, unable to break through.

Tor said the time had not yet come—did he really need some kind of breakthrough trial?

The Hero didn’t believe such nonsense.

He searched everywhere for methods, trying countless approaches, until he found, in an old and worn book, a way to use external life energy to break the barrier between Mortal Rank and King Rank.

This life energy had to come from a higher intelligent being.

Upon learning this, the Hero eagerly prepared.

A bath filled with medicinal ingredients, an unfortunate succubus, and a Hero ready to take her life energy—everything was in place.

Back then, the title “Evil Hero” had already spread among the Demon Race.

The small succubus curled up, believing this was the day she would die.

“Succubus, assist me in my cultivation!”

The Hero sat in the bath, looking down at her with absolute dominance.

Since it was cultivation anyway, he might as well indulge himself.

“Come here…”

He casually removed her restraints.

Her desire to survive forced her to obey.

The process went smoothly, but the Hero seemed to have overestimated his control.

Qiaolin suddenly opened his eyes, his toes curling, his mind in turmoil.

“You seem very troubled, guest?”

The sound of water stopped.

The girl’s voice echoed softly by his ear, like a feather brushing against it.

She gently wetted his back and began to scrub slowly, her movements precise and skillful.

“Would you like to share your worries with me?”

Qiaolin opened his mouth but said nothing.

He still hadn’t figured out how to face this old friend.

“Seems like you want me to guess,” Cherisse said softly.

“Your muscles are well-proportioned and strong, but each part feels different…”

“Some areas are hard, like they’ve borne heavy burdens. Some are cold, like they’ve endured indifference. And some are soft… perhaps they’ve received affection from others.”

Qiaolin remained silent.

Cherisse’s hands never stopped.

Her movements flowed like water—from shoulders to back, from spine to waist—each touch gentle and soothing, easing tension and bringing calm.

Only then did Qiaolin begin to relax slightly.