Chapter 139: That is... Erik Milk?!
"I told you not to talk about the pan!"
Saraya blushed as she looked at Vylana, making the woman beside her unable to hold back her laughter.
"I did not say anything. You were the one who brought it up again."
"You...!"
Erik looked at the two of them, then lowered his head to finish the piece of bread in his hand. He had no intention of joining the argument because, from his experience, it was best not to take either side when two women began bringing up each other’s embarrassing stories.
Unfortunately, Laviana did not think so.
"Vylana, do you have any more interesting stories about Saraya that you have not told us?"
"Mother!" Vylana immediately turned toward her. "Can’t you take my side for once?"
"I am taking your side."
"You clearly just want to hear embarrassing stories about us!"
Laviana smiled, not bothering to deny it. However, just as Erik was about to end the topic, she suddenly took an item from her spatial bracelet.
"Ah, right. I almost forgot."
A magical glass tube about the length of a hand appeared in Laviana’s hand, both ends reinforced with silver-colored metal. Inside was a milky white liquid, slightly thick, covered by tiny strands of continuously moving mana.
Erik only glanced at it once before sensing that something was wrong.
"Laviana, that is..."
"Shh."
The red-haired woman pressed a finger to her lips, her eyes curving mischievously.
She gently rotated the tube. The liquid inside slowly moved, revealing a shimmering ivory color beneath the lights.
Laviana opened the cap.
At once, a strange sweet fragrance spread across the dining table.
Elowen raised her head slightly. Meira, who had been leaning against Erik’s shoulder, immediately sat upright, while Felyn tilted her face slightly, her small ears twitching.
"What is that smell?" Felyn asked curiously.
No one answered.
Because Laviana had tilted the glass tube, allowing a drop of liquid to gather at its opening.
A long, slender tongue like a snake’s slowly emerged between her lush red lips. She lightly touched the tip of her tongue to that drop of essence, then closed her eyes and savored the taste with an extremely satisfied expression.
"Mhm..."
Laviana opened her eyes, the corners of her lips curving upward.
"As expected."
Erik immediately blushed.
He knew Laviana was bold, but he had not expected her to dare bring this mysterious thing out in front of the cameras while the entire family was eating.
What was more concerning was that she had absolutely no intention of stopping.
Laviana looked at him with a provocative gaze, then brought the tube near her lips again and savored another drop. This time, she deliberately looked straight at Erik, her mature smile carrying an unconcealed sense of satisfaction.
"Laviana!"
Meira suddenly spoke.
The Elf Succubus stared at the glass tube, her green eyes wide open.
"Where did you get that?"
Laviana tilted her head.
"A secret."
"I am not joking!"
"Neither am I."
Meira gritted her teeth, then held out her hand toward her.
"Give me half."
Erik: "..."
Elowen was stunned as well.
"Mother?!"
"Do not interrupt."
Meira continued staring at Laviana seriously.
"I knew you had many strange tricks, but I never expected you to have a way to preserve this!"
Laviana laughed.
"Lady Meira, this is a rare treasure. Do you not think it is a little greedy to ask for half the moment you open your mouth?"
"You just used two drops in front of me!"
"Because it is mine."
"Laviana!"
Erik looked at the two women and finally raised a hand to cover his face.
He truly wanted to know why a livestream intended to introduce their family life was beginning to show signs of turning into a fight over a glass tube.
Meanwhile, the comment section had fallen into complete chaos.
[Wait... That thing in the tube is not what I think it is, right?! ??]
[Look at Lady Meira’s reaction! I have never seen her lose her composure like that.]
[Is that Incubus essence? But how can it be preserved for so long? ??]
[I do not believe it! It must be some kind of medicine prepared for advertising ??]
[Wait, if it is ordinary medicine, why is Sir Erik blushing?!]
[Lady Laviana, I am willing to pay one million Credits just to know the manufacturer’s name! ??]
[I only want to ask one thing. My man is also an Incubus, so why have I never seen anything like that? ??]
[She truly does not know how to preserve her dignity! A grown woman showing that off in front of everyone ??]
[If you hate it, then turn it off. Why are you watching more closely than I am? ??]
Laviana glanced at the comment screen, and her smile became even brighter.
Meira did not care at all.
Seeing that Laviana still had no intention of sharing, she immediately turned toward Erik.
"Master..."
Erik froze.
That form of address sounded very familiar.
And usually, every time Meira called him in that tone, he would end up facing something extremely troublesome.
"Meira, what do you want now?"
She pressed her lips together, her green eyes sparkling. Her Elf ears drooped slightly, and her sulky expression resembled nothing more than a little puppy whose owner had forgotten its reward.
"I want a bottle too."
"..."
"It does not need to be as big as Laviana’s."
Meira gently grabbed Erik’s sleeve and tugged it twice.
"Just a small bottle."
Erik looked at her.
Then he turned toward Laviana with an expression that seemed to be asking for help.
But the red-haired woman only rested her chin on her hand and watched happily.
"Do not look at me. Your little puppy is asking for a present."
Erik: "..."
At that moment, Laviana took out a small water bottle.
She carefully poured some essence from the magical tube into the bottle, then closed the lid and gently shook it. The ivory liquid quickly dissolved into the water, leaving faint streaks of light moving inside.
She immediately stored the remainder inside her spatial bracelet.
Meira followed the movement with her eyes, her gaze almost seeming to pierce through the bracelet on Laviana’s wrist.
"Why are you hiding it?"
"Because I do not want it to be stolen."
"I said to give me half!"
"And I already refused."
Laviana laughed and slowly licked her lips.
"This type of essence... I fear I may be the only person in the world who knows how to preserve it this way."
Meira abruptly stood.
"LAVIANA!"
Elowen, sitting beside them, raised a hand to her forehead and sighed helplessly. She truly did not understand how two grown women, one of whom was her mother, could fight over a bottle to this extent.
Felyn, who had heard the entire conversation, giggled. Although she could not see what Laviana was holding, she could still sense the strange fragrance and the lively atmosphere around her.
Saraya quietly lowered her head. Her cheeks had been red ever since Laviana opened the magical tube. She glanced at the other woman’s spatial bracelet, her lips moving faintly.
"I want some too..."
Her voice was so soft that no one heard clearly.
Only Vylana, sitting beside her, tilted her head slightly.
But she did not have the mood to tease Saraya, because she herself was looking at her mother with a calculating gaze.
’If I help Mother manage her work for a few more days... would she be willing to share a little with me?’
Laviana observed the faces around her, then finally laughed.
"Why are all of you looking at me like that?"
She rested her chin on her hand, her red eyes slowly sweeping across everyone.
"Is there not someone right here who can produce this kind of essence?"
The room immediately fell silent.
Meira turned her head.
Elowen slowly looked over as well.
Even Felyn tilted her face toward Erik, the smile on her lips still present.
Saraya hurriedly lowered her head, while Vylana no longer bothered hiding her curiosity.
Every gaze focused on one person.
Erik.
∑(; °Д°)
"Wait!"
He immediately sat upright.
"Do not look at me like that!"
Laviana burst out laughing. Meira hugged his arm even more tightly, while Elowen was both embarrassed and unable to stop herself from smiling.
On the screen, comments continued flooding in at an astonishing speed.
[Sir Erik has just realized that he is in danger! ??]
[I have never seen a man being looked at like that by his whole family and still sitting calmly.]
[Lady Meira, calm down! Do not scare Sir Erik! ??]
[Hahahaha! So the most dangerous thing in the house is not monsters, but Laviana!]
Erik looked at Laviana and sighed helplessly.
"I think we should end the livestream right now."
"Oh?" Laviana tilted her head. "Are you embarrassed?"
"I am protecting the honor of our entire family!"
Laviana laughed even harder.
And before she could make another terrifying suggestion, Erik immediately turned toward the camera.
"Thank you, everyone, for watching. See you next time!"
Meira was about to say something, but Erik had already signaled the technical team to end the broadcast.
A few seconds later, the screen changed to The Angel Succubus logo.
The first livestream officially came to an end.
...
"Finally, it is quiet."
Erik leaned back in his chair and let out a relieved breath.
Laviana was checking the livestream data. Hearing that, she smiled.
"You should be happy. The first program was far more successful than I expected."
"I only hope no more strange items appear next time."
"Then that might be difficult."
"Laviana!"
She laughed, then put the device into her spatial bracelet.
Erik shook his head helplessly and decided to focus on something else. He opened the System status panel and checked the amount of energy he had just accumulated.
[Realm: Black Iron Rank 10]
[Heavenly Gate: SS]
[Talent: Primal Incubus]
[Emotional Energy continues to increase.]
[Faith is accumulating.]
Erik was slightly surprised.
The livestream had ended, yet streams of energy were still gathering within his Heavenly Gate. The amount was far greater than during the times he had interacted with crowds before.
He could not help smiling.
If everything continued smoothly, Bronze would not be far away.
However, Erik did not intend to rely only on livestreaming to advance. He still remembered the sense of helplessness he had felt when facing monsters far beyond his realm. His special physique made him stronger than an ordinary Black Iron, but on the battlefield, a single mistake could make others pay the price.
At that moment, Meira’s communication device rang.
She opened the notification, read several lines, then smiled faintly.
"Master, there is good news."
"What is it?"
"The southwestern outpost has completed its liberation campaign."
Erik immediately raised his head.
"Really?"
Meira nodded and transferred the report to the large screen.
The organized monster zones around the outpost had been cleared. The northern supply route and key defensive positions had all been retaken. The combat teams were now recovering supplies, inspecting damaged structures, and preparing to restore the transportation routes.
Erik read the report very carefully.
He still remembered the state of the outpost when he had first arrived. The defensive walls had been cracked, the female warriors were exhausted from fighting continuously, and the rescue area had barely ever been quiet.
Now, they had reclaimed the land they once had to risk their lives to protect.
"What are the casualties like?"
"No new serious losses were recorded during the final sweep. Those injured earlier are still receiving treatment."
"That is good."
Erik let out a soft breath.
Meira continued reading toward the end of the report, but the moment she saw the note, the corners of her lips curved upward.
"Master, it seems there is another matter related to you."
"What is it?"
"A private letter from the brown-haired female captain."