The Incubus System Chapter 962. More Than Just A Temporary Escape

The Incubus System Chapter 962. More Than Just A Temporary Escape

After a few more bites, Emma broke the comfortable silence between us. “You know… it feels a little strange seeing you like this,” she said with a gentle smile, her eyes soft as they gazed at me.

I raised an eyebrow, curious. “What do you mean?” I asked, the taste of the meatball still lingering on my tongue.

She laughed lightly, her gaze never leaving mine. “You look more innocent, like a kid. It’s so different from your dominant side. It reminds me that you are the same age as me,” she said, her voice filled with a mix of nostalgia and realization.

I blinked, her words settling over me like a warm blanket. Emma always had a way of seeing through my layers, of understanding the parts of me that even I sometimes overlooked. It was true—my role as the demon lord often required me to be stern, authoritative, and sometimes ruthless. But here, with Emma, I was just Ethan, a nineteen-year-old guy who craved normalcy and human connection.

I chuckled, unable to deny what she said. She was right. I rarely acted like this, but somehow her presence made me comfortable enough to let my guard down. “Is that weird?” I asked her, my tone light and playful.

“No,” she replied with a warm smile. Then she reached out and pinched my cheek gently. “But I feel like I’m having a big baby,” she added with a giggle.

“I’m not a big baby,” I protested, chuckling along with her. Her laughter was infectious, filling the room with a joyous energy that made everything else fade into the background. But as our laughter began to fade, our eyes met, and a different kind of silence settled between us. It was a silence filled with unspoken words.

“You are tired, aren’t you?” Emma’s question caught me off guard.

I was silent for a moment before I nodded, the weight of her words settling over me.

“Kinda,” I admitted in a softer tone. A long exhale escaped my lips, carrying with it the tension I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. “But my mind can’t rest,” I confessed, lowering my head slightly. The truth was, no matter how physically exhausted I felt, my thoughts were constantly racing, a never-ending loop of worries and anxiety.

Emma’s gaze never wavered, her eyes filled with understanding. “I heard sex can reduce stress,” she said, her voice calm and steady. I knew what she meant, the unspoken offer hanging in the air between us. I glanced at her, a dry smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.

“I’ve done it,” I admitted, the words coming out more bitterly than I intended. “It did give me a short escape, but then I had to return to reality.” The admission felt heavy on my tongue, a truth I hadn’t wanted to face. Sex had been a temporary balm. But it never lasted. The momentary relief always gave way to the harsh reality of my duties.

Emma didn’t look surprised or disappointed. Instead, she reached out and placed a hand on my arm, her touch grounding me. “I know it’s hard,” she said softly. “You carry so much weight on your shoulders.”

I looked at her, my heart aching at the understanding in her eyes. “It’s not that I want to escape my responsibilities,” I said, my voice trembling slightly. “But the constant anxiety… knowing that there are two demon lords out there, plotting who knows what, it makes me stressed beyond belief.”

I wanted to reach them—the two demon lords who had escaped—and clear them out, but it wasn’t easy. Each day that passed without locating them felt like another failure, another step closer to chaos. Not to mention, facing the Demon Hunter Organization’s senators drained my sanity. Using my Mind Corruption skill on them was necessary, but it took a severe toll on my own mind. The darkness I saw within their thoughts, their twisted schemes and manipulations, chipped away at my trust in humanity.

I saw too many of their rotten plans, their power plays and deceitful bargains. Some of them saw me as nothing more than a tool, a weapon to be wielded for their political gain. They used my presence to scare the public, to consolidate their own power, painting me as both savior and threat. It made me question everything. Was this world even worth saving? Was my fight useful, or was I just another pawn in their game?

The anger simmered inside me. It felt like a thorn lodged in my heart, and no matter what I did, I couldn’t pull it out. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw their faces, heard their voices plotting and scheming. It made me sick to my stomach. I wanted to scream, to lash out, but there was no outlet for my rage. I was trapped in this cycle of frustration and despair, unable to find a way out.

Emma nodded, her expression sympathetic. “You don’t have to explain, Ethan. I understand.” She paused, her eyes searching mine. “You need more than just a temporary escape. You need something that can help you truly relax, even if just for a little while.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I wish I knew what that was,” I said, feeling a sense of helplessness wash over me. “Everything feels so overwhelming sometimes.”

She cupped my face with both hands, her touch gentle but firm. Her eyes locked onto mine, filled with a deep, earnest concern that made my heart ache. "Is there anything I can help you with?" she asked, her voice soft and full of genuine worry. She was serious, her sincerity cutting through the haze of my despair like a knife.

I wanted to say yes, to give her something, anything, that she could do to ease my burden. But the truth was, there was nothing. The problems I faced were monumental, far beyond the reach of simple solutions or even the kindest gestures. "No," I answered simply, my voice heavy with the weight of that truth.

Her eyes searched mine, not willing to give up so easily. "Anything?" she asked again, her voice taking on a pleading tone that made my heart clench. She wanted to help, to be there for me, but she didn’t understand that some battles had to be fought alone.

"Unfortunately, no," I admitted, my tone melancholic.