The Incubus System Chapter 1042. Less Burnt Than Last Time

The Incubus System Chapter 1042. Less Burnt Than Last Time

Puriel remained quiet during this exchange, but I could see the strain in her eyes. She had expected resistance, no doubt, but navigating this world was proving to be more difficult than she’d anticipated. The cautious glances from Foxy and my pets—it was all so foreign to her. In her world, trust was a given among her kind, the Light binding them together. But here? She had no such comfort.

‘Finding a home in another world is really hard, huh?’ I thought, glancing at her as she sat, trying to make herself small.

I couldn’t help but compare her situation to mine when I had first turned into an incubus. At least I had Celia, a home, and my life in the human world. I had friends, a routine, a sense of belonging, even if things had changed drastically.

Puriel? She had nothing. No family, no place to call home, no one to lean on. She was truly alone in a way I’d never been. Well, she had me though. But yeah… Half of my reason to free her was so she could break my angelic seal.

Business.

I wasn’t exactly some hero or knight helping her out of pure selflessness. I admit that, and I was not gonna pretend otherwise.

I cleared my throat, deciding it was time to lighten the mood. This kind of tension couldn’t be solved with just words—trust had to be built, slowly, with time and action. But right now, we all need a break from this situation.

"So…" I began, reaching for the plate that held the breakfast I’d made for Celia. I grinned, hoping to break the ice a little. "I made you breakfast today," I announced to Celia with a mischievous smile, as if expecting her to shower me with praise for my culinary effort.

Celia approached, eyeing the plate of food with the skepticism I had come to expect from her. She stood there for a moment, inspecting my work like it was a school project she had to grade.

"Less burnt than last time," I added quickly, trying to sell her on the improvements I’d made.

Celia nodded, the faintest hint of approval flashing in her eyes. "You’re right," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips.

I smiled, feeling a small victory. "Let’s eat, then."

Turning to Puriel, I noticed the hesitation in her eyes again. She wasn’t sure how to relax in this environment yet, and I couldn’t blame her. "Do you want more milk? Tea? Yogurt? Or honey, perhaps?" I asked, hoping to give her something familiar to hold onto.

Puriel looked even more uncertain, her eyes darting between me, Celia, and Foxy, who still stood nearby, watching her closely. She wasn’t just battling her unfamiliarity with human food—she was trying to navigate the strange dynamics of this new world.

Celia stepped in with a soft smile. "How about honey milk tea?" she suggested gently.

That caught Puriel’s attention. She turned to Celia, her eyes narrowing slightly, as if trying to understand this strange concept. "Can it be combined like that?" she asked, genuinely curious.

Celia nodded, her smile widening. "And it’s delicious," she assured her. "Sweet and comforting."

Puriel gave a small nod of agreement, the faintest flicker of curiosity crossing her face. Celia’s calm demeanor seemed to put her at ease, even if just a little. It was a small step, but it was something.

"I’ll make it for you," Celia said brightly, heading toward the kitchen. But just as she was about to walk off, she paused and turned back to Puriel. "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself," she said, smiling warmly. "My name’s Celia."

There was a slight pause as she glanced at me with a playful smirk before looking back at Puriel. "And I’m this creature’s sister. But I’m still human."

"Hey, what do you mean by ‘this creature’?" I complained, my voice light and playful, though the mock offense was clear in my tone. I shot her a faux glare, but it only made her grin more.

Celia waved me off, clearly enjoying teasing me. "You know exactly what I mean," she said, turning back toward the kitchen with a laugh. Her footsteps echoed softly as she walked away.

“Ugh… so cruel,” I grumbled, shaking my head as I glanced at Puriel, who was sitting quietly. To my surprise, her lips curled into a small, tentative smile, as if she found the exchange oddly comforting.

“Nice to meet you, Celia,” Puriel said softly. There was a warmth in her tone, though, a sign that Celia’s lightheartedness was starting to work its magic.

From the kitchen, I could hear Celia’s voice call back, “Just relax, okay? Ethan’s a good demon. He’s a pervert, but not evil. So don’t worry.”

I winced, shooting a glance at Puriel, who blinked, clearly surprised by Celia’s blunt honesty. ‘Good demon but a pervert?’ Yeah, that’s not exactly the branding I was hoping for.

Celia stopped in front of the kitchen counter, turning to look at Puriel with a mischievous grin. “He never peeks at girls when they’re bathing or having sex without consent, though.” She said it with a proud tone, like she was listing off my virtues. “Well, he’s slept with a lot of women, but at least he doesn’t seduce random ones. He’s… considerate, I guess?”

I cringed so hard I thought my face would break. ‘Really? Is this how she’s introducing me to an angel?’ I shot Celia a look, my hands flying up in exasperation. "Celia, how about making me sound a little better than that?" I complained, desperately trying to salvage whatever dignity I had left.

Without pausing in her preparations, Celia waved me off, not missing a beat. "It makes you sound better, you know. You’re an incubus lord, right? It’s part of your nature. That’s good enough for a creature like you."

I flinched again. "Creature?" I repeated, my voice dripping with playful offense. "Now you’re calling me ‘creature’ again?"