098 THE GOD OF LUST IN ME
Mr. Cicada grimaced. "The system is prone to breakdowns. The initial cost is low, but repairs are costly and frequent. It's like getting caught in a web—they start with a small fee but then bleed you over time."
Grangya huffed in frustration. "Great, so they milk us dry anyway."
But Leo's expression turned thoughtful. "We'll go with that one," he said decisively.
"Are you sure?" Mr. Cicada asked, a frown creasing his forehead. "In the long run, it could end up costing us far more than the top-tier system."
"Don't worry," Leo replied, a sly smile playing on his lips. "We won't need them for repairs."
Grangya's tense shoulders relaxed slightly. "Alright," she said with a sigh. "If you can pull it off, then let's do it. But if this backfires, we're right back where we started."
Leo's grin widened. "Trust me, Grangya. The next time those KGB bastards come knocking, they'll be in for a fucking surprise."
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"Yun-Yun, do I really have to keep doing these core-strengthening exercises?" Leo groaned as he struggled to maintain his focus.
"That's the only proper way to progress in magic, if you don't master this the only way for you to progress is through blood sacrifice and we don't want that," Yun-Yun replied, her voice calm and unwavering.
Although Leo had shaken off Lusifar the demon that leeched on him, his constitution was based on demonic magic. He was a demon practitioner the moment he selected the Black Cock as his starter item and there was no way to shake that off.
"But I don't even need to become that much stronger," Leo muttered, "I don't have many enemies now."
Yun-Yun's eyes softened, though her expression remained serious.
"Perhaps not now," she said, her voice tinged with concern.
"But there will come a time when you'll face enemies you never imagined before and there are many of them in this world. It's better to be prepared now than to be forced into sacrifices you're not ready to make, like Grangya was. If we'd been better prepared earlier, she might never have had to call on Lorelei."
Leo's resolve wavered for a moment, then he nodded reluctantly.
"I suppose you're right," he said, closing his eyes and focusing on gathering energy into his Cakra Core as Yun-Yun watched him closely.
After a few moments, he grimaced. "There's something in my core that's... resisting me," he confessed. "It's not a big problem, but it's there, like a thorn under the skin."
Yun-Yun's expression shifted, her eyes narrowing.
She leaned in, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "That's something you mustn't tell anyone, Leo. What you're feeling is your Demon Core."
Leo's eyes shot open, confusion etched across his face. "What? A Demon Core? What does that mean?"
"You carry the constitution of a powerful demon within you hidden inside your Cakra," Yun-Yun said carefully.
Leo's face paled. "I thought I dealt with that already when I exorcised Lusifar."
Yun-Yun shook her head slowly. "Lusifar was merely a parasite drawn to your true power. Your actual demon hasn't awakened yet—and trust me, it's far more dangerous than Lusifar ever was."
Leo's brow furrowed in confusion and dread. "What kind of demon is it, exactly?"
"It's more than just a demon," she explained cautiously. "It's tied to the power of primordial godly beings of this realm, connected to the sin of Lust. They call him 'Incubus'."
Leo's face turned pale. "You're saying I'm an Incubus? I thought what I had was the Black Cock."
"Yes," Yun-Yun confirmed. "The Black Cock is another name for Incubus, the God of Lust in this realm—a being of immense power, the god of all lust loving demons. That was why Lusifar attached himself to you because he wants to leech on your Incubus power."
"What if the lust god awakens?"
"If that part of you awakens, you'll attract enemies who will hunt you for that power."
Leo swallowed hard. "Why would mages want to hunt Incubus?"
"Because if they manage to capture you before you fully awaken, they can siphon your powers and use them for themselves," she said. "An Incubus' power is enough to change the course of wars, to bring empires to their knees. You must stay hidden on that."
"So, that's why you've been pushing me so hard to train my magic?" Leo asked, a newfound understanding dawning on him. "So, I wouldn't have to rely on... this Incubus power is it?"
Yun-Yun nodded.
"Yes. The moment you tap into that power, there's no going back. Just as Grangya struggles with the influence of Pride tied to Lorelei, you would be consumed by Lust. And once that happens, you'd be lost to us."
Leo was silent for a moment, absorbing the weight of her words. "And Grangya… she has a similar godly constitution?"
"Yes," Yun-Yun confirmed. "Like you she has an unawakened God- 'Hubris', the God of Pride. That was the reason King Amara sealed her memory and empathy, so she would never have to face Hubris again."
"You know about this since the beginning?" Leo asked.
"Lorelei and Jargue were my friends in another time. They had been trying to contain Lorelei's Hubris for some time who was showing signs of awakening and sealing her memory was the last resort", she explained.
"So, it wasn't because of Lusifar bringing down his realm on them that Grangya's memories were sealed?"
"Lusifar was the reason they must use their last resort, but they already have plan for it. Lusifar merely forced their hand earlier", she replied.
"Then why did you help her recover her memories?" Leo asked, his voice tinged with frustration.
Yun-Yun met his gaze steadily.
"Grangya's seal was weakening anyway," she explained. "Letting her regain her memories sooner was a way to prepare her. If she was caught off guard when her powers began to surface, it could have been more disastrous."
"And does she understand now? About Hubris?" Leo pressed.
"Yes," Yun-Yun nodded. "She remembers everything. That's why she's so reluctant to call upon her powers unless it's absolutely necessary."
Leo fell silent, the weight of Yun-Yun's words sinking in. "If we never awaken these powers... what happens then?"