Grace stood there helplessly as Chase's fingers ran through her hair, a gentle caress that sent shivers down her spine. She could feel her pulse quicken, a warm blush creeping up her neck and across her cheeks as his hands trailed along her skin. Even though a part of her was telling her to jump into his arms and let him do whatever he wanted, another part was screaming at her that he couldn't be trusted.

  'No! I can't succumb to this demon's temptation. I-I can't let him defile me,' the priestess thought as a bead of sweat rolled down her cheek.

  'I'm not sure how much more of this I can take. If only I had holy water to use against him. Aunh~! I-I'm the only one who can save Marilyn from this fiend. But I-I'm too weak. How can I get out of this—'

  "I didn't catch your full name. Can you tell me?" Chase asked. He was asking more about breaking the ice with Grace than anything else.

  'How can he ask such a—WAIT! If he thinks I'm under his spell, then I can sneak out and find help. But I can't just leave Marilyn here alone. He will definitely do things to her that she's not prepared for. Aunh! Damn it! Why can't my pussy calm down?!' Grace thought as she tried her best not to moan.

  "G-Grace... G-Grace O'Malley," the woman replied, her voice trembling.

  "Grace O'Malley... What a lovely name for a lovely woman... You can call me Chase," the demon lord said with a charming smile, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

  'Oh, gods... Why is he looking at me like that? It's almost like he can read my mind,' the woman thought, her breath catching in her throat. "P-Please, d-don't hurt me," Grace said as she squeezed her thighs together.

  Chase wanted to ugh, but he kept it in. He could tell she was scared, but he also felt a mix of other emotions as well. "Don't worry. My only intention was to build trust with you... I can't have you panicking if we're traveling together."

  Chase continued to run his hand through her hair, gently massaging her scalp. She was trying to resist the urge to lean into his touch, but her body betrayed her, leaning into his warmth.

  "H-How can I trust you, Chase? I'm not sure what your intentions are," Grace stammered, her mind struggling to process the sensations coursing through her body.

  'I can't believe I'm letting him touch me. This is crazy! I should be fighting back, not enjoying it,' the woman thought.

  "Well... I guess you just have to have faith in me... Unless there's something I can do that will put you at ease?" Chase asked.

  'Aunh... He's so close! If he keeps doing this, then I'll lose myself to lust. W-Why am I thinking like this?! I-I need to pretend that I'm okay with being in his party. That's it! As long as he doesn't corrupt me like those three, then I can save Marilyn and me! I need to concentrate!' Grace thought as a trickle of her nectar ran down her leg.

  "There is—one thing you can do," the young woman said, her cheeks turning a deep shade of crimson.

  "And what's that?"

  "S-Stop touching my hair," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

  Chase looked dumbfounded, but then he realized that he was still massaging her scalp. "OH! Sorry about that. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," he said, pulling his hand away. 'Shit. How long was I doing that for?'

  Eve piped in from within his mind, 'Not long, Master. You only did that for five or seven minutes. And to think, she was enjoying it. Hehehehe~!'

  'Haah... You could have said something earlier, you know. Now she must think I'm some type of creep,' Chase replied, annoyed.

  'Sorry, Master. I was enjoying the view. You're just too adorable. I've never had a Master that pys with his food like you do,' the book teased.

  'She's not—Whatever... Just don't let it happen again, please,' the Demon Lord sighed.

  'As you wish, Master. Hehehehe~!' Eve giggled pyfully, sending a warm blush creeping across his cheeks.

  "A-Anyway, is there anything else you would like me to do to prove I mean no harm," Chase asked.

  Grace's scalp was angry at her for telling him to stop. She wanted more, and her loins were craving the man before her. But her brain was fighting her. It didn't want her to lose control. She wanted to believe his words, but she couldn't help but feel conflicted.

  "T-That's enough for now. Thank you," Grace said as she took a step back. "I-I need to talk to my friend about some things. Is that okay?"

  Chase nodded, "Yeah, go right ahead. Take your time."

  "T-Thank you," she said.

  Grace turned around and grabbed Marilyn's arm. The blonde was brought out of her own stupor and looked up at the young woman with a confused expression.

  "Come with me, Marilyn. We need to talk," Grace said.

  "About what? And why are you pulling on my arm? That's hurting," the blonde said, pouting. She wanted to be by Chase, but her friend was being stupid.

  "Just come with me," Grace said in a tone that was a bit harsh.

  The two went into the Captain's Quarters and shut the door behind them.

  "What the heck, Grace? What was that about," Marilyn demanded, her face flushed with anger.

  "Marilyn, you're not thinking straight," the raven-haired girl began.

  "What the hell are you talking about? Chase is a kind and sweet person. Why are you treating him so poorly," the blonde argued.

  "He's the Demon Lord!"

  "Yeah, so what—"

  "We need to stick together, Marilyn! We can't fall for him. Or we'll end up like Lai, Fiona, and Broc—"

  "Lilith," Marilyn corrected.

  "I don't care what her name is. They have lost themselves to lust and desire. Their minds have been corrupted by his evil," Grace excimed.

  Marilyn sighed, "You're overreacting, Grace. Sure, they are acting a little strange, but that doesn't mean they are evil. They are no longer human right now, but Lai and Foina are still acting like themselves. The only difference is they are attracted to Mister Chase. And I don't bme them. He is a great guy."

  "Are you listening to yourself? You sound crazy," the raven-haired woman stated. But her loins agreed with Marilyn. Chase was one of the most handsome men she had ever seen.

  "Maybe I am. But I know what I saw. Someone who is giving us a chance to live when he could have killed us without batting an eye. That's a real Demon Lord, but Mister Chase hasn't done that, and I don't think he will. So why don't we give him a chance?" Marilyn argued, her voice growing louder.

  Grace shook her head, a mix of frustration and concern swirling within her. "No, this isn’t right. Marilyn is clearly under some kind of spell. I can’t push her; I need to be careful. If we can just make it back to Ars without the church going up in fmes, maybe the holy aura of the Goddess of Light and Life can reach her. It might help heal her mind. It’s the only pn I have left."

  She took a deep breath, determined to stick it out for Marilyn’s sake. And if that didn’t work, there was still a chance—perhaps they would find Sera’s holy water hidden in the podium. That could be their ticket to defeating the Demon Lord and breaking the curse once and for all. With a sense of purpose, Grace renewed her resolve to save her friend.

  "Fine... I'll try my best to get along with Mister Chase. But please promise me that you'll stay by my side," the raven-haired beauty pleaded.

  "Of course! I'll never leave your side, Grace. Me, you, and Fiona are the only women left from Ars. We have to stick together," Marilyn said as she hugged her friend.

  Grace held back her grimace when Marilyn included Fiona in their little group.

  "Haha. Yeah, Fiona, the vampire... Sure," Grace muttered, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

  ***

  As they stood on the ship's deck, Lai, Lilith, and Fiona listened intently, their keen hearing allowing them to catch every word of the two human girls' conversation drifting through the sturdy wooden doors. The air was thick with mystery and intrigue, drawing them closer to the secrets hidden just beyond that barrier. Chase could hear them as well, but he didn't want to intrude on Grace's privacy, and he turned his focus on how to pilot this ship. Lai noticed Chase had left and decided to follow him, leaving Lilith and Fiona behind.

  Lilith's lips turned into a smile as she heard what the human girl had said. She always enjoyed hearing gossip, and Grace gave her plenty.

  "So, she has a crush on our master," Lilith mused.

  "Huh? Really? It sounds like she hates him, and she wants him to die," Fiona said.

  "Oh, young gullible Fiona. If only you knew when someone is masking their true feelings. The fact that her loins are aching and dripping for him means she's not far from falling," the succubus chuckled.

  Fiona tilted her head, "What are you talking about? She wants to kill him. Not love him."

  "Hahaha! Oh, you are so cute, my dear Fiona. It's probably a succubus thing, but I can smell her excitement whenever Master is around," Lilith expined.

  Fiona frowned, "If that's the case, then why is she being so stubborn?"

  Lilith can die and go to heaven right now. She always wished to be in conversations like this, but when she was a man, nobody ever spoke to her about romance, and her mind wasn't as quick to process speech as it was now. "Probably because she is a virgin. Virgin women usually fight their desires harder than other women. Societal standards can be a bitch," the succubus said as she stretched her arms and let out a soft yawn.

  Fiona had a puzzled look written on her face, "But I'm a virgin, and I didn't fight it when Chase cimed me. And aren't you a virgin, too?"

  Lilith blushed a bit, "W-Well, yes... But the difference is that we are willing to submit to Chase's needs, desires, and love. Where Grace is denying what her body is telling her."

  The White Vampire arched an eyebrow intriguingly and crossed her arms, a smirk pying at the corners of her lips. "So, tell me, what secrets is Grace's body revealing?"

  The blue-haired succubus cast a sly gnce at the closed door, her grin widening. "Oh, it's practically whispering to her that she needs to wrap herself around him, to relish in his warm embrace. And deep down, it longs to surrender to the sensation of his lips dancing across her soft skin."

  Fiona's eyes sparkled with surprise, and she burst into ughter, "You're funnier than I thought... Why were you such a creep before becoming a woman?"

  Lilith winced and cast an apologetic gnce at the girl beside her. "Yeah... I really was one, wasn't I... Well, it may sound stupid, but Lucius was the only guy that gave me purpose... A-And I had a crush on him." she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper for the tter part of the sentence.

  Even with Fiona's advanced hearing, the white vampire had trouble hearing her. "Wait, what was the st part?"

  "A-Anyway, that's not important. We should focus on making sure Grace doesn't cause any trouble for our Master," Lilith said as her cheeks turned a dark crimson.

  Fiona could sense a shift in the air around them, and she knew not to press any further.

  ***

  Lai shook her head as she heard most of Fiona's and Lilith's conversation. Those two were only going to get in trouble and make it worse. And while Fiona was a smart girl, Lilith was a wild card. The redheaded succubus needed to keep an eye on Lilith in the future, but for now, she had a more important task. Chase was looking at the catalyst masts with the mana crystals on them, trying to figure out how they worked.

  "Chase, do you know how to handle the ship?" Lai asked as she stood next to him.

  Chase sighed, "Eve told me the basics about the catalyst masts, but I don't know how to channel my mana into it. Do you know how?"

  Lai smiled and put her hands on her hips, "Wait... You've never handled an EnchantEmissary css ship? They're one of the easiest ships to sail."

  "Easy!?... Lai, I didn't come from a world of magic... This is new to me," Chase replied, rubbing the back of his head.

  Lai looked at him wide-eyed, "Wait, are you serious? I thought that was an act."

  "Uh, no... I was a regur human," the demon lord confessed. "I literally came from another world with no magic... but don't tell the others yet... It's been a weird day for everyone, and they need to cool off," Chase said.

  "O-Okay," Lai said as she felt excited that Chase was willing to share more with her. "Anyway, I've heard that it isn't that big of a deal. The crew of three would channel their mana through those handles on the masts, and the sails would start moving the boat forward."

  "I see..." Chase rubbed the back of his neck, scanning the surroundings with a mix of frustration and curiosity. "Eve! Can you lend me a hand? I need to figure out how to channel my mana into the crystal!"

  In an instant, the grimoire burst forth from his chest, swirling pyfully around him like a mischievous breeze. "Oh really? Not even the formidable Demon Lord knows how to operate this little contraption. How utterly pathetic!" Eve teased, her voice dripping with mockery as she danced through the air.

  "Hey, don't sass me. Just tell me how to work the damn thing," Chase said.

  "It's quite simple. Just take hold of the handle there and channel your mana into it. Like how you channel your Love Points into us, but instead of doing that, you will push your mana through the handle," Eve expined.

  "So, it's that simir feeling when I channel my mana into a spell. Got it. Thank you," Chase said as he walked over to the mast and gripped the handle. He then began to channel his mana, but something didn't feel right. 'Hmm... I'm pushing my mana through the handle, but it isn't working. Am I missing something?'

  Chase kept channeling his mana, hoping that would work, 'I think I can feel something pouring into the handle. I hope I'm doing this right.'

  Eve was examining the helm, and she could feel his mana pouring into the catalyst mast.

  "Master, the first crystal is almost filled up. You're doing a good job. Now do the same with the other two, and you can control how much fmes the crystals can produce when turning that dail by the wheel," the book informed.

  Chase looked back where the grimoire was floating and saw her pointing her cover towards the rge steering wheel. He noticed that a dial was glowing with a faint green light. "Oh, thank you, Eve. That's a big help," the demon lord said, continuing to pour his mana into the handles of the other two masts.

  After a few minutes, the entire ship was filled with his mana. The sails fpped, and the wind caught them from the magical fmes that started to shoot out of the mana crystals, pushing the vessel forward. Grace and Marilyn came out on the deck and stood next to Lilith and Fiona as they watched the ship's sails flutter in the wind.

  "Wow, this is so cool," Marilyn cheered.

  “Yeah, I guess,” Grace murmured, her mind swirling with turmoil. Thoughts raced through her head, darting between the desperate need to save Marilyn and the looming threat of the Demon Lord. A surge of determination ignited within her as she searched for a way to break free from the dark clutches that threatened to consume them both.

  "There you go, Master! I told you that it was easy. Just a little bit of concentration, and you'll get the hang of it. Hahaha~!" Eve ughed gleefully.

  Chase looked back at the grinning book and chuckled, "I have a feeling you're just messing with me, Eve."

  The book's pages shuffled, and she let out a sigh, "Aw, busted! Well, I guess my fun is over, hehehe~!"

  "Thank you for the assistance, Eve," Chase said, smiling.

  Eve's pages turned, and she giggled, "That's what I'm here for, Master. And you're welcome."

  The Demon Lord was enjoying this interaction with his grimoire. She was a cheeky girl, but he felt a bond with her. A bond he was starting to cherish more. He went to where the helm was and looked at the instruments. But he couldn't read the nguage they were using.

  "Okay... Hey, Lai? I don't know how to read the instruments... Do you know how to get back to the vilge?" Chase asked, his voice tinged with a hint of embarrassment.

  The redheaded succubus smiled and nodded her head, "I can read a compass, and we can use the stars as a guide. If I remember correctly, the town is south of where we are."

  Chase sighed in relief, "Great. Tell me if I need to recharge the masts with mana. We've been out here long enough."

  Lai giggled and leaned against his arm, "No problem, Chase."

  He would have been lying if he said that he wasn't enjoying the warmth radiating from her. And the scent coming from her body made him want to taste her. But he couldn't allow himself to be tempted right now as he looked behind him and yelled out to the other girls.

  "Hey everyone! We're setting sail soon, so grab hold of something secure!" Chase called out, his excitement infectious.

  Lai chimed in as she took the wheel, "I can't guarantee how smooth this ride will be, but I can get us home. Hang tight!"

  Marilyn and Grace rushed to the railing, their fingers gripping it tightly. Below deck, Fiona and Lilith exchanged eager gnces as they prepared for the adventure ahead.

  "Chase, take this handle to regute our speed," Lai instructed, her voice steady and confident.

  He grasped the handle, his eyes meeting hers with determination. "What do I need to do?"

  "Just turn it to the left," she replied with a cheeky smile.

  With an obedient nod, Chase spun the handle, and the ship surged forward with a sudden jolt. "A bit more to the left, and we’ll really pick up speed," Lai added, guiding him smoothly.

  Chase complied, and the blue fmes of the ship's catalyst masts burned even brighter, illuminating their path and filling the sails. Soon, they were slicing through the water with an exhirating speed.

  "Alright, I've got the wheel now. Just keep it steady, and we'll reach Ars in no time," Lai decred, her confidence radiating as she turned the ship starboard.

  As the vessel glided over the waves, the rush of the wind filled their senses. The four women gazed up at the night sky, where the moon sparkled down like a guiding star. Chase took a step closer to Lai, standing resolutely by her side as they sailed into the unfolding adventure.