The distribution didn't take long. Before an hour passed, all of the 10,000 plus succubi tamers received a ring, enabling them to stay connected to me without actually going near me.
The only problem I have with this setup is that I'll end up leaking my thoughts to all of them since the rings literally erase the meaning of distance between us.
"Isn't there a stop or pause for the ring's function?"
I muttered as I inspected it closely. However, no secret buttons or some sort of special array were engraved. I guess, at worst, I could just unequip the ring most of the time and only equip it when I'm about to sleep.
Right after deciding so, I turned to my storage ring and dumped everything inside it onto the floor. Daily necessities like food and water, several beddings, weapons, clothes, ores, and some tools.
I arranged everything neatly before opening the [Spatial Storage] skill that I just got from Ember. I inspected the skill and found that it only consumed energy during the opening. It was similar to the storage ring in that sense, but the initial consumption was a little larger.
After experimenting with it, I placed everything inside it, including the gun. Then, for the last one, I picked up a fragment of the core from the sealed space where Fatima was.
"..."
However, I still lacked the knowledge and skills to either analyze or use it. I sighed as I placed it inside the storage and closed it. I wonder just when I will be able to extract any clues from it.
"My Lord, we've returned."
As I was lost in thought, Igni entered the office. However, her face looked a bit troubled, as if she was conflicted about whether or not to tell me something.
"What is it?"
After a short pause, Igni sighed before talking.
"Actually, we have a little bit of trouble?"
"Why is that phrased like a question?"
"Because we're not sure if it's trouble or not. At least not yet. Please follow me, my Lord."
Igni quickly turned around and walked away. Since I was just idly passing time anyway, I followed her outside and was surprised.
"What the... I thought they all returned to where they came from?"
Before me, thousands of succubi were lined up in order. I scanned the entire level and found that they were everywhere. The fifth floor was literally filled to the brim with them.
"These are the ones that either didn't have a place to return to, refused to return, or decided to accompany you instead."
"They... all of them?!"
Just those that stood before me were already about two thousand. If I include those behind and to the sides, then it'll probably reach five to six thousand, about half of everyone from before. Now I know why Igni hesitated to call it trouble, as even I was stumped on deciding if this was a good or bad thing.
Looking at their faces, two emotions reigned. One was bridled excitement, and the other was hope. Seeing that, I can't even bring myself to dash their hopes away.
"Alright... Let them stay."
In the end, I allowed it. It's not like I need to watch over them or something. They're all adults, and they should know what to do. Rather, I should be thankful for them bolstering the fighting force that we have here.
Hearing my approval, the girls nearby cheered. Then, slowly, the cheering spread until everyone was shouting words of gratitude. I don't know why they're thanking me, who was partly at fault for turning them into their current appearance, but I just smiled and waved at them.
Right at this moment, while everyone was in a festive mood, a loud, ear-piercing noise was heard coming from outside.
*SCREEEEECH!*
The familiar voice quickly reminded me of the Succubus Lord, making me rush out of the building. Taking the stairs was too slow, so I instead ran toward the nearest window and jumped off.
With how much my body was reinforced, I was able to land safely without getting injured. I quickly looked around, searching for the Succubus Lord, but was unable to find even a shadow of her.
[You finally appeared, you damned tamer! What the hell did you do to me?!]
Her voice suddenly echoed inside my head, but unlike before, there was no pain that went along with it. I frantically looked up and down and left and right, but I still couldn't find her anywhere. The only thing I saw around was a small girl lying on the ground, squirming.
"... Wait, what?"
I returned my gaze to the little girl, down on the ground, with an expression twisted in agony. Looking closer, she seemed extremely familiar. As if her face was something I was seeing again after a short while.
As I was squinting my eyes, trying hard to recall, Ember and the others finally managed to catch up. They quickly moved around me, as if protecting me from the little girl before us.
"Master, please be careful! That little girl is definitely the Succubus Lord!"
At her words, I finally managed to recall who the little girl looked like. But with that realization, doubt also started to spread inside my head.
"How the f*ck did you shrink?!"
I remember that I shot her with the virus formula that Fatima developed. But from what I know, it shouldn't be able to make the target shrink like this.
[Stop with the nonsense and return to me my precious and beautiful body!!!]
The little girl, or rather, the Succubus Lord, shouted in anger. However, despite the voice sounding dignified, with how she looked right now, rather than fear, I was getting a warm feeling in my chest.
I held back the smile that was about to creep onto my face. Taking deep breaths to calm my wildly beating heart.
"Sorry, but I can't return you to how you looked before."
Hearing my brief answer, her face turned to doubt at first before turning pale.
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