The Incubus System Chapter 853. Ethan-ish

The Incubus System Chapter 853. Ethan-ish

“I…” I hesitated, my internal struggle evident in the furrow of my brows. A weighty dilemma gripped my heart, torn between the urge to reveal the truth and the instinct to keep my identity veiled. 'No... I have to say it. I can't hide this forever,' I resolved within myself.

Summoning courage, I opened my mouth to speak, but words lingered unspoken as I pressed my lips together. The air between us crackled with tension, uncertainty etched on my face. It was a pivotal moment, one where the boundaries between my demonic existence and my friendship with Larry blurred.

In a decisive move, I chose transparency. Teleporting to the front, I maintained my demonic form. The abrupt shift in my appearance prompted a gasp of surprise from Larry, but to his credit, he stood his ground.

“E-Ethan?” he stammered, the name escaping his lips as a hesitant question.

I nodded solemnly. "Yeah. It's me," I confirmed, the truth hanging in the air like an unspoken revelation. The mask of anonymity I had carefully worn in our interactions had been lifted, revealing the dual nature of my existence—Ethan, his friend, and the demon lord.

Larry's gaze flickered to my demonic form, the friend he thought he knew. The lines between our worlds blurred in that charged moment. "I wanted to tell you, but … it’s complicated things," I explained, my voice carrying the weight of unspoken secrets.

I took a deep breath, the weight of revelation lingering in the air. “Keep it a secret from everyone, okay? Or I have to make you forget this conversation,” I said, a wry smile playing on my lips as I revealed the gravity of our shared secret.

His eyes widened in shock, a gasp escaping him. "So, you are really Ethan..." he uttered, the realization settling in.

A slow, disbelieving smile began to spread across his face, and with newfound comprehension, he approached me. “Oh my God! I can't believe this!” he exclaimed. The astonishment in his voice was palpable as he crossed the remaining distance between us.

Without a moment's hesitation, he enveloped me in a hug, a gesture so familiar from our interactions as friends.

It left me momentarily speechless.

A beat later, he extricated himself from the embrace, a spark of curiosity igniting in his eyes as he scrutinized my demonic features. Unlike the initial reactions of others who had stumbled upon my true form, Larry approached the situation with a nonchalant curiosity, as though I were a life-sized action figure meant for exploration.

“Dude, you look awesome in this form! Look at those wings! That's crazy!” he exclaimed, a contagious grin stretching across his face. His fingers danced over my wing, it touched both fascinated and childlike curiosity.

Then, without warning, he seized my horns and attempted a playful tug. My annoyance couldn't be concealed. "What are you doing?!" I questioned, a mix of bemusement and irritation in my tone.

“I just want to touch it. This is my first-time holding demon horns," he explained, the excitement in his voice unabated. Larry's unabashed enthusiasm transformed the peculiar moment into a lighthearted exploration.

His gaze shifted to my tail, and a knowing smirk played on his lips. Swiftly, I anticipated his intentions, grabbing his shoulder to forestall any attempt to touch it. “Shouldn't you show a bit of fear or hesitation?” I questioned, my words carrying a hint of complaint. It wasn't that I yearned for him to recoil in terror, but his nonchalance bordered on the absurd.

He frowned. “Why should I? It's you after all," he responded with casual nonchalance.

“You do realize I'm a demon lord, right?” I emphasized my status.

“Yeah. But you are Ethan, right?” he affirmed, his tone light and unwavering.

“Yes,” I confirmed, a mix of amusement and disbelief lingering in my expression. Larry's unassuming acceptance of my dual identity. "That's the most important thing," he affirmed, his casual demeanor unwavering. "So? What's the problem? I don’t see anything to be afraid of from a demon lord as long as it’s you," he continued, the nonchalance in his voice almost startling.

I couldn't help but cringe. "That's all? You accept it just like that?" My voice took on a hint of complaint, a mix of confusion and surprise. It was an unexpected response, leaving me torn between happiness and a subtle disappointment. Larry's ease in embracing this revelation unsettled me; it felt both peculiar and oddly comforting.

He shrugged. "Yeah, why not? You're still Ethan, my buddy, regardless of what powers you possess. Demon lord or not, you're the same person who treated me today," he said, as if summarizing the entirety of our relationship in a few simple words. "In fact, I am very happy since it means my friend is a demon lord. Isn't that cool?" Larry expressed his delight, patting my shoulder in a friendly manner.

I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at his enthusiasm. "I could be a demon lord pretending to be Ethan," I tossed back at him, a smirk playing on my lips. It was a playful jab at the absurdity of the situation.

Larry fell silent for a moment, and you could almost see the cogs turning in his head. He slowly removed his hand from my shoulder, his eyes widening in realization.

"AH! Where's my buddy! Give Ethan back!" he exclaimed in a sudden panic, striking an exaggerated attack stance. If there were imaginary battle music playing, it would've reached a crescendo at this point.

I couldn't help but cringe at his theatrical response. "Dude, seriously? You didn't think that through, did you?" I said, unable to suppress a laugh. Larry had a knack for turning even the most surreal situations into a comedy.

He blinked, freezing mid-pose. "Wait, you're Ethan." The confusion on his face was priceless. It was as if he just discovered the plot twist in a movie he thought he had all figured out.

I sighed dramatically. "How can you be so sure about that?"

His eyes widened, and he took a step back, as if expecting me to unleash demonic powers any second. "You're too... you know, Ethan-ish.”