The Incubus System Chapter 1044. I'm A Humble Demon Lord

The Incubus System Chapter 1044. I'm A Humble Demon Lord

Celia smiled softly, settling into her seat across from me. "Yeah, I remember," she said, her voice carrying that same sense of nostalgia. "It’s been a while since I made it myself. I bought the honey for this and for pancakes, actually."

I chuckled, the memories of simpler days filling my mind. "Pancakes with honey. Classic." I took a sip from the mug, the warmth spreading through me. It was just as I remembered—sweet, smooth, with a comforting richness that felt like home. For a moment, I let myself sink into that feeling, the taste bringing me back to mornings spent with Celia and Dad, back when things were less complicated.

Puriel, sitting quietly beside me, held her mug with both hands, her fingers wrapped delicately around the ceramic as if she were holding something fragile. She sniffed the tea cautiously, her eyes flicking up to meet Celia’s, as if seeking reassurance.

"It’s safe, I promise," Celia said with a soft laugh. "Just honey, milk, and tea. Nothing too strange."

Puriel hesitated for a moment longer, then finally brought the mug to her lips. She took a small, careful sip, and I watched her reaction closely. Her face didn’t betray much at first, but after a moment, her eyes softened, and she let out a quiet sigh.

"It’s… delicious," she said, her voice gentle but genuine.

Celia’s face lit up with pride, clearly pleased with herself. I couldn’t resist teasing her a little. "Yup, it’s Celia who made it," I said with a grin. "I can assure you it’s delicious because I didn’t touch it."

Celia gave me a mock look of offense, though she couldn’t hide the proud smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah, you don’t have to be afraid to eat my food," she said, turning to Puriel. "It’s perfectly safe. I’m far more of an expert than my brother here."

I nodded in agreement, accepting her words without complaint. "I’m not even going to argue with that," I admitted, leaning back in my chair. "She’s the better cook. It’s a fact."

Celia raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "Wow, I’m surprised you didn’t put up a fight with that one," she said, a playful grin on her face.

I turned to her, giving her my most innocent look. "Why would I? You’re just stating the truth. I’m a humble demon lord, not a chef."

Celia chuckled, shaking her head. "Humble, huh? You? Now that’s a rare sight. After all the acts and stuff, you called yourself ‘humble’."

I took another sip of my drink, pretending to be offended. "Hey, I’m humble! I never flexed my status or my power. I'm all action, not about showing off. But in the kitchen? I know my limits."

Celia smirked, crossing her arms. "You only know your limits because you’ve burned more food than you’ve cooked."

“At least, all of them are still edible.” I gave her a playful glare. "Also, I call it experimental cooking. I’m pushing the boundaries of what food can be. "

"Or what it shouldn’t be," Celia shot back, laughing.

I couldn’t help but laugh along with her. "Okay, fair enough. I’ll stick to being an incubus lord, and you can handle the kitchen."

Puriel’s gaze flicked between us, her expression contemplative. Finally, she spoke, her voice soft but filled with wonder. "You two are really close," she observed. "And… you look more like a human than I expected."

I cringed, giving her a flat stare. "Should I say ‘hurrah’ for that?" I asked, my voice dripping with mock sarcasm.

Puriel looked a little taken aback by my tone, but she smiled lightly. "I didn’t mean it as an insult," she said softly. "It’s just… unexpected."

I sighed, leaning back in my chair and crossing my arms. "Well, I was raised as a human. Lived in the human world for most of my life. What did you expect?" I said with a shrug. "You should know me by now. At least a little. We’ve talked a lot in your dream spell."

Puriel nodded, though her expression remained thoughtful. "I know," she admitted. "But that was in the dream world. It’s different. I even… acted differently there."

"There’s more to it than that," she continued. "Once you turned into a demon, there should have been a change. Something deeper. A dark instinct that grips you, changes you, makes you… darker. Crueler."

I fell silent for a moment, holding back a cringe. She wasn’t wrong about the instinct—it was there, constantly in my consciousness. But I’d fought against it. It hadn’t consumed me.

"Well, yeah," I said slowly, choosing my words carefully. "The change did affect me. I’m not as… innocent as I used to be." I glanced at Celia, who gave me a knowing look.

Puriel snorted softly, clearly not impressed. "I think you don’t understand what I mean," she said, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I mean worse than this. The demons I’ve encountered… they wouldn’t be sitting around, drinking tea and chatting with humans like this. I’ve never met a demon who could live in a human house and relax as you do."

I frowned, leaning forward, my curiosity piqued. "Wait a second," I said, raising a hand to stop her. "If this isn't what you expected, then what did you expect? Where did you think I was going to take you?"

Puriel hesitated, her expression becoming slightly guarded. "Well… your house, of course."

I stared at her, waiting for the rest of her explanation. When it didn’t come, I pressed further. "Okay… and what exactly did you imagine my house would be like before you got here?"

She shifted slightly, looking a bit uncomfortable now. "I thought it would be something in the middle of a forest," she said slowly, as if trying to find the right words. "Or an isolated place. Far from humans."

Both Celia and I exchanged a glance, trying not to cringe at the sheer cliché of it all. Celia let out a small, stifled laugh, and I just shook my head, trying to process what Puriel had been picturing all this time.

"So, what… like a creepy old mansion in the middle of the woods?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Puriel nodded slightly. "Yes. Something like that. Xenos also lived far from anyone else."