[NSFW] Image Set - Sketch Theme-Halloween-DemonHarem03- Queen Hitomi

3

The ascent up the inside of the central stone column was slow, and tedious.

The platform was wooden, and while there was plenty of room for cargo in the middle, the outer edge had been constructed for personnel; a circular single floor wooden house being lifted up the immense inner shaft.

The inside of this building was split in to three, and were well decorated for a short stay; The first third was similar to a fantasy tavern, with tables and chairs for the group to use while they wait, and through a door a more ‘refined’ dining area for any nobles that may travel to the succubus kingdom.

The third part to this round house reminded Naruto of a train, with a thin corridor one the inner edge, while the outer edge held several rooms.

For a moment Naruto had the inclination to ask why someone would need bedrooms if the ride was only a couple of hours before two reasons came to mind, the first being that perhaps travellers would be tired and would take a nap; the second almost felt obvious, this was a succubus building, so of course they would.

He almost felt dumb for not assuming THAT fact sooner.

He spent half the journey just exploring the large platform building. He was in awe of the height of the shaft. The center didn’t have a roof, unlike the building section, so he could look up and peer in to the near endless looking shaft.
He knew how high the ‘island’ above was, and thicker still reaching the upper land, but the sides, lit by the platform , simply disappeared in to blackness, not even a prick of light to show the end of the vertical tunnel.

The 20 thick chains that were wider than two broad men stood side by side calmed any fears of the platform dropping from the great height that Naruto had; a height he could not see, but merely thinking about made him dizzy.

The second half of the ascension he grew tired, and bored; he was offered a drink by Hinata, and the two talked.
She spoke of her sister Hanabi, the new heir; who had instead taken to flight to inform their mother, rather than the slower route Naruto had been forced to take.
She also spoke of her younger years, growing up a succubus, and this took Naruto’s interest, and surprised him at how normal her life almost seemed; school, personal interests, activities; all were similar to his own human social life, if not for the fantastical aspects of it, of course.

So when he spoke of his own, they had some common ground.

Technology interested her, all the conveniences that humans had seemed wondrous, and her questions about human sexuality led to the discovery of internet porn, an embarrassing topic for Naruto, but a curious interest to Hinata, who found the idea of a communicating sexual acts to multiple people over vast distances, both embarrassing, and intriguing, though she found it hard to believe that people would stay at home to enjoy visual stimulation and pleasuring themselves.
She even questioned if prostitution was even a thing anymore, since it was a common practice in the demon, and considered one of the most influential and financially stable industries they had, of which sex demons, such as succubus, had deep stakes in, with the best regulation, and highest incomes from.

It made Naruto confused for a while how a nation, whose primary income was from the legalised sex trade, could exist. No human country, he thought, could surely adopt such a thing... and it made him realise, by the time they reached the top, just how different their worlds really were.

Reaching the top, they arrived inside a vast cavern, the machinery above them was enormous; it had to be to hold so much chain, and lift what could be at times several tons.
The chains split in to several directions, disappeared down their own tunnels, but the gears he could see, and the engines the size of five story high factories buried amidst the dug out rock.

Hanabi was there to greet them with a fancy carriage, fit for royalty, and drawn by what Naruto could only describe as horse sized, wingless dragons.
Four more Succubus’s in well-polished armour each rode a separate one, the saddles and cloth that the creature wore told Naruto, ‘status’.

Queen Hitomi had sent not only her carriage but a royal escort, more so for her daughter, than the guest that had come along with her.

They travelled a couple of miles underground before emerging from the tunnel at the base of a mountain, Naruto relieved to see the twilight sky once more, only now realising how claustrophobic he had come to feel since he had walked under the overhanging island, that had become his sky for a short time, and then the long tunnel he had just rode through; though his realisation was short lived as he peered out to the town and city that lay ahead of them.

The outer edge was much like he had seen in ancient Greek and roman images. Pillared, bright, and white; coloured cloth decorating the streets and houses. Mainly it was succubus walking around wearing simple clothing like ancient romans and with a smattering of other species amongst them.

Further in the middle the small buildings turned to taller, city like architecture, climbing high, with succubus flying around the high floors, as if crossing the road to reach each one.
Naruto felt frustrated that he couldn’t stop and explore more, as the carriage travelled the central road, right through the middle, and to the other end.
The buildings grew short again, but more defined, realising quickly this must be a noble are, with more manors, and mansions.
At the end of the road he could see the palace, a stone marvel with high towers, and thick walls.
It wasn’t until he got closer that he realised the palace was built near the edge of island, and he wondered if it would ever fall off from natural corrosion one day.

Upon arrival at the main entrance, Hinata, Naruto and Hanabi stepped out, with Hanabi moving ahead quickly to announce their arrival.

It was odd, for Naruto, after everything he had been through so far, it was only now he felt nervous for what seemed like no reason; but then again, he had never met a queen, and so, for the first time, he felt it was a normal nervousness.

The inside of the palace was beautiful, though the statues made Naruto blush, mostly naked succubus from their history, but a few were explicit enough to be considered pornographic back home.
Large doors opened ahead of them as they entered the royal hall; a cathedral in look, decorated with cushions, and drapes of various coloured silks.
The succubus and Incubus, along with their partners were dressed far more expensively than those he had seen from the carriage, giving them the air of nobility; but none stood out as the woman sat upon a tall back golden throne with golden dragon wings spanning from the back and across the entire back wall.

“Welcome to my kingdom.” The woman announced with a strong regal tone that echoed through the room, making everyone who was muttering fall in to immediate silence. “Please, join me.” She gestured to the steps in front of her.

Hanabi and Hinata drew close, and knelt, respectively, in unison greeting her with “Mother, my queen.” their heads lowering.

Naruto wasn’t sure what to do, and so copied the action, though said “Your Majesty.” Instead, while trying to sound Respectful.

Queen Hitomi smiled, as the crowd of nobles muttered, surprised, and confused.

“It is rare for a Fox Demon to bow to anyone. I am honoured.” She said.

Naruto tensed, not sure if he had made a mistake. When he stood along with the two girls he blushed and replied “I’m not sure exactly how a Fox demon acts.”

“Yes... Hanabi mentioned you have come from the Human world, where you had been raised” The queen commented, understanding.

Naruto finally looked at her properly, and realised just how similar to Hinata she looked, though her wings and horns were of different colour, they shared similar hair and skin, though Hitomi’s confidence was solid unlike Hinatas.

Hitomi stepped closer to Naruto, and reached out, her slender fingers gently stroking up his throat, and under his chin. “Are you truly a f...” she questioned before her eyes widened and she stepped back instinctually. “Minato...” she gasped.

“Minato?” Naruto blinked.

“You... you have his younger visage.” She said, with a slight blush to her cheeks, the action not going unnoticed.

The name, minato was whispered back and forth in surprise, it was clearly a man well known.

“Who... who is Minato?” Naruto had to ask.

“A... demon hunter.” She said. “A race of humans who developed abilities to maintain order during the times of chaos; practically half demons themselves.” She explained stepping closer again. “The order was core to our lasting peace, and Minato... was the leader. He was an amazing man; loved, and respected by all the kingdoms... I offered myself to him once; an act that would have enslaved myself to him if he had accepted.”

“And I... look like him?” he said.

“If you are indeed a fox demon...” she said, staring in to his eyes, and touching his cheek; Naruto couldn’t help but get a little turned on by the sensual touch. “Yes... which you are.” She said, pulling her hand away.

The crowd then gasped a she bowed her head to him. “Your identity is known to me. You were though lost. You re the son of Minato... and the son of the Princess Kushina, the woman who claimed him, princess of the fox demons, and daughter of the Fox Queen Kurama.”

The voices murmured more in shock.

He turned to look around the room, people bowing as his eyes met their direction.
His body tensed, and he looked to Hinata and Hanabi, who also bowed in respect.

“Welcome back from the dead, Prince Naruto.” Hitomi announced, as a grin crossed her face, and a new thought entered her head, her eyes looking to Hinata with a pleased expression.