I got a bit too excited yesterday. So, from now on I'm resolved to think about it with a clear mind and without any pointless angsting. The matter is, should I aspire to act more like your typical succubus? That may or may not help me regain whatever it was I lost - it was most likely caused by my demon's essence running dangerously low, so being a proper demon and absorbing it back from mortals could be the key to returning my memory as well.

However, that's something to decide later. Today I am not on a journey to find myself, but rather on a journey to find worthy company for my dire wolf armor and the one ring to rule all swordstaffs. The memories could very well come back with time, and in the meanwhile, arming myself with better equipment can't be a bad idea. Therefore I follow the advice given to me by the wanna-be hero lord and seek imperial court's enchanters.

I'm not planning to just waltz in and say pretty please though. First I need to have a little chat with one of the generals Celica played around with.

"Lady Aisen. How may I help you today?"

I chose the general with fine, waxed moustache and iron grey hair. I don't remember his name, but the image of his red-faced, lecherous face as he was being ridden around naked by Celica yesterday is haunting my memories forever. You wouldn't know it today though; the figure greeting me from behind his desk is giving an aura of polite refinement very convincingly.

It's obvious why he's acting so helpful towards me: he is hoping I'm here for same kinds of reasons Celica would be. I guess it's reasonable enough assumption; despite my inner doubts I am a bonâ fide lust demon. It'll be cold day in hell before anything like that happens, but I need to get him off balance here, so it's time for some misleading signals.

"Help me? Yes, there is something I need. And only you can give it to me~."

"Oh? Would you like to discuss your need in depth in private? We wouldn't want important matters to leak after all."

Who says I don't know how to be a succubus? He seems awfully intrigued already and is pointing me to a side room. Now would be the time to strike, if I play along for too long, it could get unpleasant.

"Yeah, leaks are the worst. Which reminds me, what I needed from you was a recommendation note for an enchantment. Do that and I'll go on my merry way."

He quickly processes through disappointment, realization that I know it took him only one day to go full deviant with a succubus, and further realization that by doing me this favor he has better chance to keep that knowledge out of public circulation. I'm not sure whether this really counts as blackmailing him, since there were no actual threats made. But if he's so eager to interpret it like that and is willing to comply, I won't complain.

He quickly writes a document and morosely hands it to me.

"Thank you general. Have another great day."

"Hnnh..."

Armed with a recommendation, I search for the imperial court's enchanter. As I walk through the halls of the castle, I think about yesterday's... event. Celica is someone easily underestimated, so I didn't think of it at the time, but did she form a contract with the generals instead of just throwing a random orgy? If she actually did that, that'd mean half of the empire's leadership is in her pocket! ...That's a bit scary.

With that happy thought I arrive to the enchanter's room. I waltz in without knocking - it's part of my strategy. Act like you own the place, and people will be put on defense and getting a free enchantment is that much easier.

It turns out he's the same demonologist who summoned me, and he isn't at all fazed by my sudden arrival.

"Yes, what is it? I'm busy."

I'm an ambassador you know, you should be more polite. Normally a demonologist like him wouldn't do favors to demon without forming a contract, but I'm the representative of demon lord, so keeping me reasonably happy is in everyone's best interests. And I have the recommendation as well, which I hand him without saying anything. He reads the note, his expression darkening as he finishes it.

"That military idiot...! Fine, let me spend all my day enchanting your item then. Since I have nothing better to do apparently."

"You know, I personally don't mind it, but generally dripping sarcasm on a demon isn't good for one's health."

"Point taken. So, what item did you wish to...?"

I'm anxious to get it done, so I promptly begin undoing the various straps that support my breastplate.

"Whoa! I said I'd do it, no need to seduce me. Besides, as a rule I don't accept that as a bargaining chip. It'd be unprofessional..."

"... I just want you to enchant this breastplate."

"So that's what... You know that was rather misleading?"

Okay, I guess that was. I may need to think about my actions more carefully... But it could also be part of the succubus glamour that even my normal actions have increased allure.

"Since we're going to be partners in contract for a while, you need to know that I don't normally partake in actions one could categorize under 'lust'."

"Really? You are saying you're a... chaste succubus? ...Now I've seen everything."

Am I? I guess I am. Well, there's an exception, but that's impossible so it doesn't count. ... Or is it?

"Say, are there cloning spells?"

"Hmm? No, not per se. You could do something similar with flesh magic, but that wouldn't be real cloning, and I find that school of magic is distasteful anyway. ...But why the sudden question?"

Worth a try... But he seems to know magic and demons quite well. I should try to pump more information out of him.

"Just curious... Anyway! You have never encountered succubi without the lust part?"

"Mnnn, the boundaries can get blurry with you demons, but I believe I haven't. So if your claim is true, you must be quite an eccentric as far as succubi go. No offense..."

"None taken. ... What about apathy? Have you met apathy demons?"

"Can't say I've ever had the pleasure. I'd imagine true apathy demons - if they exist - would be conflicted beings, since inciting apathy in mortals would mean being pro-active, ergo being opposite of apathetic."

Despite his aloof attitude at the beginning, he isn't too averse to sharing his knowledge. This gives some confirmation on what I've only suspected so far.

"You have some interesting topics, but I believe your business was about enchanting the breastplate...?"

"Right. Can you make it heal me in case of serious injuries?"

"That's your choice? I can do that of course - not many enchanters could, mind you. The design for enchantment like that originates from hell, so it requires a skill palette like mine."

"Good. Then I'll leave you to it."

He seemed surprised that I wanted that kind of enchantment. Probably because a demon is technically immortal. Having to reform in hell for who-knows-how-long time isn't something I wish to experience any time soon though, so this enchantment is my failsafe.

My next stop today is a routine meeting with the council of generals. I still haven't done my actual job as an ambassador even once, but this is in my capacity as the military advisor. I'm not really expected to give input in anything other than about matters concerning demons, but I'm bored so I decided to share gems of my wisdom in the field of tactics. They don't seem to warm up to my idea though.

"Maybe you should leave the military matters to us professionals? Making a turtle with infantry shields sounds too elaborate and slow to be of any use."

"Not an actual turtle! I mean a layer of shields that covers the column like turtle's shell, a 'testudo'."

"If it's so great, why no-one has ever used such a formation?"

"There was this huge empire that quite successfully used it. It was somewhere far away, so you've just never heard of it..."

"What about fireballs, is it fireball proof?"

"It-- You know what, never mind."

If you're going to be like that, I won't share with you how to make a cannon then. How do I even know that myself? I have this gnawing feeling I strictly speaking shouldn't possibly know that grounding sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate into powder, putting it into huge metal tube with one open end, followed by loading a ball that just fits and igniting the mixture is the future of warfare. I'm pretty certain I've never done this myself though, so maybe it's just nonsense. Besides, the metallurgy in this world is too primitive to make it last.

Nghhh, these vague, random memories are giving me headache again... But I promised, no angsting! The constructive way to deal with problem like this would be to discuss it with someone. Too bad only one whom I could confide in is Celica. But I guess I have nothing to lose by asking - except maybe my dignity... I decide to approach her after the meeting.

"Celica. I think I may be from another world."

"I know~."

Wait, what? Could it be Celica really is smarter than she acts? I'll cancel all bad things I've thought about you if you help me here.

"You do?"

"Yes~. I'm from there too~..."

"Really?"

"...'Tis called 'hell'~."

Very funny.

"Fuck you Celica."

"Well~, if it's you..."

"(One of these days I'll chain her up and throw into an ocean.)"

"Umuuu~, your evil thought are leaking~!"

***

When I go back to Holoster, the demonologist, he has completed my enchantment. I can't really test it, since that'd require nearly killing myself, but it clearly has an effect of some kind.

As I put the breastplate on, it gives a weird tickly sensation and feels like fitting the form of my body too perfectly. I try removing it, but clings onto me as if by suction. I pull more, but it stays on as if by biting into my chest, which itself stretches as I pull the plate.

"...Just what?"

"That's how this enchantment works, of course. ... Are you saying you didn't know?"

"... Yes."

"Ah. I thought as a demon you would..."

"I'm new."

"So that's why... Haah. I did find it rather peculiar you chose that enchantment for that item right after you claimed you're the chaste kind."

"You could have said that."

"I rather didn't want to tread into the topic of 'why would a succubus want this?'."

"Fair enough. ... So, why is it like this?"

"Necessity. The enchantment monitors--"

"...Monitors the state of body by skin contact so it can trigger the healing when required?"

"Yes, that's it in the nutshell. Except it's more like magic tendrils going into the body than just skin contact..."

"Magic. Tentacle. Armor. ... Are serious?!"

"Yes yes, it sounds bad when you put it like that, but they aren't fully corporeal."

"Live and learn."

"An excellent sentiment."

As iffy as the effect is, I decide to be practical about this as I return home. Sure, taking it off is a chore, and the ghostly magic tendrils that show up when you do that are creepy. But... I can't pull the free enchantment card too often without causing more trouble than it's worth - and it is too useful an item to reject. I won't say a word to Celica about it though, she'd be insufferable if--

"Huhu-huu~, what an interesting enchantment~! So that's what you're into~."

"Ngh..."

"If you wanted lil' stimulation~, you needed only ask big sis~!"

"This isn't what you think it is."

"Sure sure~, big sis understands~. Ais~ likes her me-time~."

"You clearly don't understand!"

How did she know with just a glance?! Sometimes I'm unsure whether she's a genius or a fool...