Reborn as a Succubus: Time To Live My Best Life!-Chapter 246 : Loyalty, Part Four

{Melisa}

"What?"

Isabella stood before Melisa, and a Raven who had just come back from her usual morning jog. Melisa hadn't even finished putting on her school uniform, standing there in just a bra, her thighhighs, and her skirt. She was gaping back at Isabella, her jaw firmly planted on the floor.

Oh, but it wasn't just Isabella.

Margaret and Melistair were standing there too. In front of Melisa's dorm room.

Because...

"Javir's house burnt down!?!?"

"Not entirely," Margaret quickly corrected. "But, uhm... Can you get dressed? We can talk about it after."

---

The morning air bit at Melisa's skin as they made their way through the streets.

Isabella and Raven walked beside her while her parents led the way to Kimiko's house. They would have gotten Armia to come too, but she hadn't arrived at the academy by the time Isabella showed up with Margaret and Melistair.

The streets were oddly empty, even for this early. Usually there'd be merchants setting up their stalls, servants running errands, maybe even a few early-morning drunks stumbling home. But today, the silence felt heavy.

"Everyone's scared," Melisa said quietly. "All the recent attacks... No one wants to get caught up in anything."

"Speaking optimistically, people are finally realizing that maybe treating nim like shit wasn't such a bright idea after all," Isabella said. "Speaking... not so optimistically..."

"This is just festering paranoia," Melisa finished for her.

They rounded the corner to Kimiko's street.

Isabella opened the door for them and, inside, they found Javir and Kimiko in what looked like the tail end of a conversation. Melisa was surprised. Javir was still in the same clothes she'd worn to the academy the day prior, with dark circles under her eyes.

[Rough night, I guess.]

"Thank you again for-" Javir stopped when she saw them enter. "Ah. Good morning."

Hazel was in the background, staring up at some painting.

"Whoa," the girl said as she gazed upon the portrait of a particularly busty kitsune dancing in what looked like very expensive silk.

"Welcome," Kimiko said, gesturing at the seats around her. "Nothing exciting happened on your way here, I take it?"

"No, nothing," Margaret answered for everyone. "Not that I wanted more excitement after last night, anyway."

Melisa just huffed and went to sit down.

"So," Melisa started, settling onto one of Kimiko's ludicrously comfortable couches. Raven sat beside her, while Isabella perched on the armrest, her tail now actively wrapping around Melisa's wrist. "Did I hear Isabella right? They tried to burn down the manor!?"

Margaret sighed, running a hand through her disheveled hair.

"Yes, they attacked the manor last night. And these weren't just regular flames. They used magic."

"If Jaylin hadn't been there..." Melistair's fists clenched. "We probably wouldn't have been able to save the house. Maybe not get out at all."

[Well... shit.] Melisa narrowed her eyes, looking at nothing in particular. [I should have seen something like this coming.]

Getting attacked in a random alley was one thing. Having her speech interrupted too. But, having her home attacked? Her family?

This was something else entirely.

"Did you see who did it?" Melisa leaned forward. "Any details at all?"

Margaret shook her head.

"Just glimpses. Purple skin disappearing into the night. They were quick about it too, so they probably had an escape route planned out in advance."

"How many?" Isabella asked.

"Four, maybe five," Melistair answered. "It was hard to tell in the dark. Plus, you know, we were panicking on account of the fire and all."

"And the magic they used..." Margaret's jaw clenched. "Jaylin said it wasn't amateur work. These weren't just angry kids throwing fireballs."

[Great. So they're organized.]

"The flames resisted basic water spells," Javir added, rubbing her eyes. "If Jaylin hadn't been there with her advanced magic..." She paused. "Speaking of which, where is she?"

"She said she wanted to head to the academy. After she dropped us off here, I mean."

"I'm glad to hear she helped out," Javir said. "If she hadn't been able to..."

Melisa's mind was treading the same territory, of course.

[This could have been so much worse.]

Updat𝓮d fr𝙤m ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com.

Kimiko clapped her hands together, bringing everyone's attention to her and, thankfully, plucking Melisa out of her thoughts.

"Well! No point dwelling on what-ifs. You're all free to stay here while the manor gets fixed up. What do you think?"

"That's very kind of you, sis, but," Margaret started.

"But nothing." Kimiko's smile was warm but her tone left no room for argument. "I have plenty of space. And my security is... quite thorough."

[Yeah, and probably plenty of other reasons for wanting Mom to stay here,] Melisa thought, catching the way Kimiko's eyes lingered on Margaret. [And Dad, for that matter.]

"Javir?" Kimiko asked. "What about you?"

"Actually," Javir straightened up, "Jaylin and I should stay at the manor."

They were all pretty surprised to hear that.

"What?" Margaret's eyes widened. "But they could come back!"

A little smile tugged at Jaylin's lips. Small and dangerous.

"That's what I'm counting on. But I don't want you and Hazel and Mel and... well, Mel getting caught in the crossfire."

"And what exactly are you planning?" Raven spoke up for the first time, her eyes narrowed at Javir.

"Let's just say I have some questions for our fire-happy friends." Javir's smile grew sharper.

[Sometimes I forget she used to be the court sorceress. Then she says stuff like that.]

"Not a bad idea," Melistair said quietly. "As for us three, though..." He looked at his wife and Hazel. "We should take Kimiko's offer."

Kimiko beamed.

"Perfect! Though I should warn you, I don't have many rooms available. You might have to double up."

[Of course you don't,] Melisa thought. [Half your rooms are probably sex dungeons.]

"I'm sure we'll manage," Margaret said, shooting Kimiko a look that made Melisa roll her eyes with a smirk.

But, as Kimiko led her parents and Hazel upstairs to get settled, Melisa's hands clenched in her lap. These nim had crossed a line. Attacking random nobles was one thing. Not a good thing, but still.

Going after her family?

Murderous intent bubbled up within Melisa's heart.

[I won't stand for it,] she breathed in deep. [Something needs to be done about this. And soon.]

She looked at Raven and Isabella, seeing the same determination in their eyes. Whatever came next, they'd face it together.

[Very soon.]