The Incubus System Chapter 1043. Honey Milk Tea

The Incubus System Chapter 1043. Honey Milk Tea

Celia turned from the kitchen, her grin widening as she leaned against the counter. "Better than keep calling you a ‘demon’, right?" she teased, her voice laced with mock innocence.

Despite my grumbling, I understood what she was doing. Her casual teasing, her refusal to always refer to me as a demon, was her way of closing the gap between Puriel and the rest of us. If she constantly reminded Puriel of the vast divide between angels and demons, it would only make things harder. By calling me a creature—something less definitive—she was softening the blow. Maybe it would help Puriel feel like she wasn’t so alone, like she wasn’t in the den of the enemy.

I turned back to Puriel, whose smile had faded but was still present, albeit faint. Her eyes darted between me and Celia. She looked… puzzled, but not uncomfortable.

‘Celia’s got a point,’ I thought with a sigh. “I’m not perfect, but I’m not as bad as she makes it sound. I’m just trying to figure things out, same as you.”

Puriel tilted her head slightly, her expression softening. “I can tell,” she said quietly, though her gaze remained thoughtful. “You’re… different. Not like the demons I’ve known about.” Her words were gentle.

"Yeah, well," I said with a wry smile, "demons come in all shapes and sizes. Some are worse than others. I try to be on the better side of things." I paused for a moment, watching Puriel closely. Her expression was softening, some of the tension easing, though I could still see the uncertainty in her eyes.

"Besides…" I added with a grin, trying to lighten the mood further. "I can’t disappoint my great-great-great aunt, right?" I gave her a playful wink, referencing our shared, though distant, celestial lineage.

Puriel’s smile grew a little more genuine at that. She seemed to relax at the mention of our odd connection, a small chuckle escaping her lips. "I was surprised," she admitted, "that you actually look more like a human in the real world. I mean…" She hesitated, her eyes flickering with amusement. "You look more seductive and… all, every time I summon you with my dream spell."

I frowned, feeling a flicker of confusion. "And all?" I asked, leaning forward slightly. "Explain that part."

Puriel blushed a little. I could catch the faintest hint of embarrassment flashing across her face. "Uh… a bit grumpy," she clarified, her voice softer now.

I exhaled heavily, running a hand through my hair as I sat back. "Okay, imagine this," I said, my voice carrying the exhaustion I had felt during those countless dream encounters. "After a long day of battles, or dealing with my responsibilities, or whatever chaos the day throws at me, all I want is a peaceful sleep." I shot her a mock glare, though there was a teasing undertone. "But instead, I get dragged into your dream world with that spell of yours, and suddenly, I’m playing therapist, listening to your stories or trying to figure out how to keep you company."

Puriel’s lips quirked upward, though she tried to stifle her amusement. "I didn’t mean to… interrupt your rest," she said, though the sincerity in her voice was evident. "But you’re the only one I could summon. You were my only connection to the outside world."

"I know," I replied, my tone softening a bit. "And I get it—you were trapped, and it’s not like you had anyone else. But that spell of yours? It completely cut into my sleep hours. My physical body might not have been tired, but mentally…" I tapped my temple for emphasis. "I was exhausted."

She winced slightly, understanding dawning in her eyes. "I’m sorry," she whispered. "I didn’t realize it was so draining for you. I just… I needed someone to talk to. It was so lonely in that crystal. I couldn’t even move."

"I know," I said, sighing again but more out of resignation than frustration. "I didn’t mind helping, but after a while, it wore me down. I think that’s why I always came off as… grumpy when I met you in the dream world. It wasn’t you. It was the fact that I was tired."

Puriel nodded slowly, her expression turning more reflective. "I suppose I didn’t really think about that. I was just so desperate to connect with someone, I didn’t consider how it might affect you."

There was a silence between us then, albeit not an awkward one. We had both been dealing with different struggles, and now that we were here, in the real world, it was easier to see the toll those interactions had taken on both of us.

"Well, now you know," I said with a faint smile, leaning back in my chair. "I wasn’t intentionally being difficult. I was just trying to survive the madness of my day while also keeping up with your dream summons."

Puriel’s eyes softened even further, and she smiled, though it was tinged with a hint of sadness. "Thank you," she said quietly. "For putting up with me. I know it wasn’t easy."

I waved her off, brushing the sentiment aside. "Don’t mention it. Besides, I’m the one who freed you, right? I couldn’t exactly leave you hanging after all that."

Puriel’s smile widened a little, her eyes meeting mine with something like gratitude. "No," she said softly, "I suppose you couldn’t."

Celia, who had been quietly making Puriel’s honey milk tea in the kitchen, chose that moment to return, her hands carefully balancing three mugs. Her footsteps were soft. She set the mugs down gently in front of each of us—one for me, one for her, and one for Puriel. The warmth of the steam rising from the honey milk tea filled the space with a comforting sweetness.

I grinned in excitement, my fingers already reaching for the mug. "Oh, you made one for me too," I said, feeling a pleasant rush of nostalgia wash over me. I hadn’t had honey milk tea in what felt like forever, and it instantly brought back memories. "I haven’t had this in a long time. It was Dad who used to make this for us when we were sick."