Chapter 6: Milk
Chapter 6: Milk
There had been some commotion, but overall, it was a day of great progress. Relaxing the conditions required to draw out my demon power was an urgent task that needed immediate attention.
During the "Assistance" I had received from Lena during my first week in Verita, I was only able to achieve Demonization because she had resonated her Lust Demon power with mine.
Until now, I had never succeeded in Demonization without Lena’s help. Consequently, my primary goal was to reduce my dependence on her—specifically, on the Lust Demon’s resonance.
While the condition of "high arousal" was something I could eventually manage on my own, the resonance was impossible without Lena’s power.
My goal had been to ease that restriction within the month remaining before the Demon Lord Candidate assembly. Thanks to the cheers of our blonde cheerleader succubus, I had managed to resolve more than half of that problem in a single day. It was certainly a cause for celebration.
I had intended to suggest a modest celebratory dinner, but...
"I'm so hungry, Mari~."
Her milk distribution had been cut in half. Lena was struggling under that seemingly light punishment, pleading desperately every time she saw Mari.
"Sister, you only have to endure until tomorrow, so please just bear with it."
Each time, Mari refused her flatly. As a result, for the past four days, Lena had assisted Jaejin during the day without any extra physical contact, only to shut herself in her room as soon as evening came, skipping the Assistance sessions entirely.
"As a human, Jaejin-nim, you probably don't quite understand why she's throwing such a fit over milk."
"I suppose so. There was milk in today's meal, and it was in the bread we ate, too, right? It was in Lena's meal as well."
Milk wasn't just in their meals; it was a beverage easily found in the shops and restaurants of the town below the castle.
From Jaejin’s perspective, he couldn't understand why they managed milk through regular distributions or why Lena would protest so much over a reduction in quantity.
"That’s because the milk we Lust Demons consume is a bit special."
Special. Milk. Pure white liquid. Distribution. As a human male, a series of unsavory associations naturally sprang to Jaejin's mind, sending a slight chill down his spine.
"You seem to be thinking of something strange, but rest assured, that practice was eradicated by the Demon Race Pact."
Jaejin flinched as Mari looked back at him with a mischievous smile, but he tightened his grip on the mop and kept moving.
"The colostrum from certain high-quality breeds of dairy cows provides Lust Demons with the same effects as... a human male's 'essence.' Naturally, under these circumstances, it's difficult to obtain enough colostrum to replace an entire meal."
Following behind Mari, Jaejin watched as the dry mop soaked up the moisture from the damp floor. It was a satisfying sight, like scratching an itch.
"The leaders of our race established regulations and operate a communal pasture to ensure that enough milk is distributed to every Lust Demon. That is the system we have now."
After a few laps back and forth, the marble floor that had been covered in dust was now polished and sparkling.
"Oh dear, you weren't listening properly, were you?"
"I... I was listening. So, I'm curious—why substitute it with colostrum specifically?"
"Good point. First of all, it's because succubi are not a race that lives in colonies. Our racial trait is to live individually or in small groups, slipping into cities to secretly steal the essence of men. In fact, many still live that way."
It was a natural trait, when he thought about it. A single-gender race that survives on the essence of men would inevitably have to live parasitically within another society.
If such Lust Demons gathered to live in one place, the surrounding human settlements would either be drained dry or would spend a fortune to subjugate them. Naturally, the demons would face food shortages and external threats.
"Since we started living together for the sake of the Demon Race as a collective, we needed a food source. So, we created those... ranches for supply, but that was banned by the Demon Race Pact. That’s the second reason."
Jaejin was very curious about the omitted details, but he decided to ignore them. It felt like Mari was being considerate of him.
"Lastly, the income from brothels or the Demon God Cult couldn't keep up with the demand of the Lust Demon Race living in a colony. So, out of necessity, we began using colostrum. Do you understand now?"
"Uh... yeah..."
Jaejin stepped back as Mari looked up at him while tidying the cleaning supplies. Due to their racial characteristics, every single member of the Lust Demon Race possessed breathtaking beauty.
With her clear eyes, a dainty bridge to her nose, and skin that looked even more elastic than Lena's, Mari’s black ponytail—with bangs and side-locks framing her face—highlighted her refined charm.
More than anything, her outfit made him question the Lust Demons' common sense regarding clothing. It seemed she believed that adding a few ruffles made anything a maid outfit; she was wearing what was essentially a high-leg one-piece swimsuit adorned with ruffles.
With a short white skirt that seemed to have no intention of covering her, knee-high white stockings, and silk gloves to finish the look, her attire was provocative.
Despite being slightly shorter than Jaejin, her small head size made the difference in their proportions striking. In contrast, her breasts made a bold claim for attention, fully revealing Mari’s femininity.
"Ah, are you aroused?"
"A little..."
As expected, Mari noticed instantly and stared intently at Jaejin's trousers. It's on the smaller side, she murmured to herself inadvertently before standing up as if nothing had happened and placing her hand on the cleaning cart.
"I'm sorry, but dealing with Jaejin-nim is not within my jurisdiction."
Jaejin’s pride was stung—just a little—but he was a man who knew how to be magnanimous.
He cleared his throat and pretended to adjust his pants, though he didn't feel the same heavy weight he felt during "Assistance."
"Still, I'm truly grateful for your help. There aren't many succubi who enjoy cleaning."
"It was nothing. I only did it because I had free time while Lena was resting."
He had grown attached to the room he was using, the training room, and the adjacent hallway since he used them so often.
So many things had changed from the world he used to live in that everything felt new and fresh. At the same time, because he had lost everything he used to rely on, he found himself quickly becoming attached to the few places that had become familiar.
Because of that, there was a sense of fulfillment in cleaning and maintaining the space with his own hands that outweighed the effort and boredom.
"I see. Well then, I shall take my leave. Stay healthy."
"Yeah, see you later."
Mari went on her way after the farewell. Left alone, Jaejin walked down the hallway, listening to the cold wind whistling outside the window.
He hadn't known Lena, who had been by his side since he arrived, or Mari, whom he had seen frequently over the past few days, for very long, but he had grown fond of them quite quickly.
At first, he had been scared of Lena because she was a demon, but after talking to her, she felt like a very beautiful, somewhat airheaded older sister.
Mari felt like a sharp, reliable younger sister who occasionally kept that airheaded older sister in check.
He imagined what it would be like if he actually had a sister like them. If he did, his school life would have been easy, with kids lining up asking for introductions, and he wouldn't have been alone at home.
And if the magical word "step-" were attached to those titles, a relationship like the one they had now would be possible...
"What are you smiling so lewdly about all by yourself?"
Startled, he turned his head to see Lena standing there, back to her usual confident self. Jaejin scratched his cheek awkwardly, searching for an excuse.
"Just... thinking about a few things since I came here. Is it weird?"
"Well, it's only natural for you to have a lot on your mind, Jaejin-nim. Your meals and sleeping arrangements seem fine, but I do worry sometimes about whether you've adjusted to the cultural differences."
How pathetic did he look to Lena? Jaejin felt both grateful and embarrassed by her outpouring of concern.
"But it's alright. I will be on your side until the very end. That is my duty as the one who brought you to this distant land."
The smile she gave him to reassure him was both innocent and enchanting.
It was the same beautiful smile that had instantly captured Jaejin's heart on the day they first met—the way she had beckoned him when he was hesitating with regret, her red eyes narrowing as she smiled through her swaying blonde hair.
Realizing his face had quickly flushed red, Jaejin turned his head away. Whether Lena noticed his state or not, she leaned in.
"Oh? Did you catch a cold from the chilly wind?"
She followed his turned head to look him in the eye, worrying about his condition. She was usually strangely sly, yet she could be so dense at times like this. But that was part of Lena's charm.
"No, it's nothing."
"Ah, I see your lower half has grown."
Lena blurted out the words out of nowhere. In this regard, she really was like Mari. But just as she said, Jaejin's lower body had indeed reacted to that single smile.
As Jaejin tried to back away in embarrassment, Lena nimbly closed the distance and reached out to stroke his trousers.
"Jaejin-nim's reactions are always so fresh and fun to watch."
Part of him wished she would save the naughty stuff for a private room rather than an open hallway, but her hot breath against his ear led him down the path of lust.
Bathed in the light of the setting sun streaming through the window, he wrapped his arm around Lena's slender waist and slowly brought his face closer to hers.
"That's enough for today."
Lena placed her index finger against Jaejin's lips, breaking the mood. Just as Jaejin was wondering if the atmosphere hadn't been leading exactly to this, she whispered in his ear.
"If I cause another scene here, I won't be able to look Mari in the eye. And..."
Slowly and very clearly, Lena brought Jaejin to full arousal.
"Let's save the kissing for the real thing, very soon."