Relaxing

     After Sero was absorbed and Siti made her declaration, things around the settlement moved quickly, more quickly than I could entirely keep up with.

     Libero wanted to go straight to Demon King Caedes, but Siti argued with him that with how we struggled against Sero, we stood no chance against Caedes as we were. She eventually convinced him to go and at least steal the territories of all the wild, violent, mindless demons outside the settlement walls while we prepared our next course of action.

     With Libero out of the way, Siti began a full takeover of the settlement. She rewrote the laws, removing the mandatory tribute that each demon had to make and other such blatant servitude-like rules. In the wake of the numerous destroyed buildings, Siti erected new ones out of wood and made most of them into gambling dens.

     She created a new kind of currency, using her own marble-like seeds as the currency that the settlement would revolve around. Demons didn’t need food, water, or shelter, but she was still able to tempt them with tasty foods and drinks, comfortable lounges, and plenty of entertainment that they would want to earn and pay for. Most of the jobs really ended up being guards and debt collectors to enforce other demons to follow the laws, while her surveillance network kept eyes on everyone and every thing that happened within the settlement.

     She grew more of her own bodies, something I didn’t even consider she could do. Every store, every service, every gambling den and lounge had at least one Siti working at it with several more walking the streets at any given time. Even when there wasn’t a Siti within listening range, the wooden buildings and vines creeping along the remaining brick buildings were all a part of her too, all watching and listening.

     Within mere hours, she had every demon in the settlement either working for her for the luxuries she offered, or subjugated and forced to comply by those who already had. Mere hours after our life-or-death struggle that laid so many buildings to waste, the settlement was built back better and under her control.

     And I was just stunned by all of it. Really, I was still pondering the amount of power I felt from integrating Sero, so the amount of changes she made in such a short time made me feel like I got whiplash.

     Without even realizing what all had happened, she dragged me back to Sero’s palace where she had already redecorated every room with real wooden furniture, real chairs with cushions, and a proper bed. No more weird flesh carpets and etched scales that only looked like they were imitating a palace. She pulled me into what looked like a proper bedroom with a luxurious king-sized bed, complete with a soft mattress and blankets. It reminded me that I hadn’t slept in a proper bed since arriving in the Demon Realm. I actually didn’t remember the last time I slept at all. I didn’t know how to keep track of time, so I had no way of telling how long I’d been awake.

“Hey,” her voice snapped me out of my vacant thoughts, “It’s okay now. You can relax! We won’t be going anywhere for a little while. We can exchange information when you’ve rested, so just relax. I’ve got everything under control!”

     She beamed a wide grin and reached up to give me a pat on the back. It took me a little bit to even understand what she meant. Nothing was going on, was I not relaxed? But when I realized it, my whole body was still tense, I had still been feeling alert, as if I was waiting for something else to happen. It was only once I really digested her words that I loosened up and my exhaustion hit me.

     My whole body felt heavy and Siti guided me to the bed. My hand touched it first, then my butt. It had to have been the softest thing I’d ever felt in my life, or maybe I’d already forgotten what soft things felt like. As the tension slowly left my body, I practically fell into the bed and blacked out instantly.

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     I woke up feeling more comfortable, more well-rested than I ever have before, this time wasn’t an exaggeration. My body felt light and relaxed, the bed truly was soft and comfortable, and my mind felt clear. I didn’t question how I had been moved into a position of laying on my back, nor did I question the warmth and softness pressing against my left side and arm.

…?

     I opened my eyes and looked towards my left side. Siti was laying on her side, head using my arm like a pillow and hugging to my chest with the rest of my arm draped around her. My mind started to race again. Did she do that? Did I do that?? Should I wake her up?? Should I try to sneak away? But she’s really soft, and smells so nice. I really don’t want to let go.

“Then don’t,” she muttered.

I keep forgetting about the mind reading.

     Siti’s eyes opened halfway, her gaze fixed on me as her lips curled into a mischievous smile, “Is your mind always so noisy in the morning~?”

“No, but I don’t normally have a girl in my bed in the morning.”

“Ah, don’t tell me, was I your first~?”

Don’tthinkaboutitDon’tthinkaboutitDon’tthinkaboutit!

She’llreadmymindDon’tthinkaboutit!

Just talk, don’t think, just talk!

“No. I, uh, definitely. Have. At least. Once.”

“Uh huuuuuh~ Have what at least once~?”

What was it?

What were we talking about?

Having a girl in my bed? I’ve never even had a girlfriend let a-

Ah.

“Ah~?”

Noooo, don’t look at me with that with that pity-filled gaze!

“Wh-wh-wh-what were you even doing in bed with me anyway?!”

“You mean...you don’t remember?” She looked away, her expression changing to something like a saddened puppy, as if she was hurt that it wasn’t memorable!

“No! I don’t remember a thing, please tell me!!”

“I told you to relax for just a little. The moment you did, your...instincts took over. You’ve been holding back all this time after all…”

You’re being too vague! That could be anything! I have been holding back a lot! Do you have any idea how hard it is having you flaunt around all the time?!

“S-stop being so vague. What did I do? Be detai- er, specific.”

Siti covered her mouth and refused to make eye contact, even a dark-green blush forming on her face, “I just...wanted to help you relax is all…”

No way. Did I actually…? And I can’t even remember it?!

“Ah, no.” She continued, holding in a snicker. That hand covering her mouth was just to help contain her laughter, “You fell asleep immediately. But you know, hugging a cute plant helps you get more restful sleep~!”

She’s a demon! Just the worst demon of them all!!