What Makes It Special Grade?

Rohan calmly devised his plan while fending off the onslaught of pressure stones.

The succubi's pride in their seduction.

The absolute confidence that no human male—with his brain in his pants—could resist their charms.

One shot. That's all I get.

He was certain that baiting their arrogance would create the perfect opening to sever Bianca's lifeline.

And the preparatory stance for the third form of the sword art, Light Wing Piercer, was perfect for the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠act.

The result was brilliant.

Rohan's blade struck Bianca dead center.

"Guh...!?"

"Told you, no rags."

Mana infused in the sword ignited flames that spun with ferocious intensity.

And neatly pulverized the throbbing heart within.

Thud!

Bianca's body tumbled across the stone floor.

The pressure stones, now leaderless, scattered free.

The points notified him of Bianca's demise, easing his tension.

He snatched up the dropped pistol—tossed during his feigned succumbing to the charm—and straightened, holstering the brand.

"Haa...!"

Rohan wasn't unscathed either.

It had been tough.

Struggling against the seduction seeping into his mind had drained him mentally, sweat pouring in cold streams.

Even diluted over a wider range, the charm's potency dwarfed any ordinary succubus's.

The prolonged forced exposure was the issue. His lower half felt ready to burst any second.

Vicious.

His resolve to avoid other named succubi hardened.

Just imagining a direct hit from their concentrated charm was horrifying.

"Rohan! You okay?!"

Ichinose rushed over, sword in hand, voice laced with urgency.

No deep wounds on her yet, but like him, she bore slashes from the blades here and there.

"Fine as hell."

"I really thought... you fell for the charm..."

"As if."

The horde of pressure stones charging mechanically, devoid of any killing intent, must have been a nightmare.

Yet the girl had handled her share admirably.

Victory's price: red blood trickling over her pale skin.

Rohan's face twisted.

Can't let Baby Yui scar.

Unacceptable. Rohan activated his skill to open the Shop.

A new mid-grade potion caught his eye.

Sword and pistol ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠returned to their places, he spent 500 points to pull out a tiny glass vial.

Expensive points aside, it was only two finger joints big.

In his grip, it hid perfectly in his palm.

"Baby Yui. C'mere."

He reached out with his free hand, lightly grabbing Ichinose.

But she recoiled, flailing, face flushed red.

Seeing his rigid lower half as he pulled her close flustered her.

"W-Wait...! I-I-Impulsive stuff like this isn't right...!"

"What's not right?"

"First... we should... confirm feelings..."

"What're you on about? Drink this first. I'll patch you up."

Her mind muddled by the charm, she was babbling. He handed her the potion.

Spotting the item, she finally calmed.

"Ah... Th-Thank you..."

"Hurry. Not a drop left."

Afterward, Rohan ignored his unruly lower half.

He checked Ichinose's cuts.

Visually, none deep. If not severe, the potion would work fast.

"Dizzy? Anywhere hurt to move?"

Given her small frame, bleeding was the real worry.

A minor loss for him could be dire for her.

"I'm fine... What about you? You're hurt bad too."

Not just the stones—Bianca's claws had targeted him relentlessly. He wasn't whole either.

Just dodged the lethal ones.

"I'm good. This ain't even a scratch."

"Don't say that... This is precious. Let's share."

"Got spares. Drink it all. I'll have one too."

Rohan demonstratively pulled and downed a 100-point lowest-grade potion in front of her.

And now, with some breathing room.

He checked the notification pinned in the corner.

Rohan exclusive achievement?

All prior achievements were ones he knew, with minor point rewards.

This one popped out of nowhere.

And the reward looked tastier than points.

The emergency quest mentioned unlocking an exclusive main story.

Might be a branch from that.

"Ichinose. Check the mansion inside?"

"Yeah..."

Following Rohan, Ichinose gave thanks for her gender.

Even aroused, clothes hid it better than on a guy.

Torment... This artificial, malicious torment from the dream demons... Gotta keep my wits to not embarrass myself in front of Rohan.

She reined in her loosening consciousness.

First time feeling such raw lust. Her underwear felt uncomfortable.

Rohan's scent made her heart race.

...

Gazing at his back stirred an urge to leap and hug him.

She had to bite her tongue to resist.

If she felt this as a woman...

What was Rohan thinking?

She wondered.

The succubus mansion held nothing remarkable inside.

Bedroom reeking of perfume, lavish furniture, fallen pressure stones.

One curiosity: a large bath, but pink water killed any bathing plans.

"What ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠did she mean by special grade?"

Leaving the mansion, Rohan asked Ichinose's take.

Her words lingered.

Odd feeling—like grading meat, but not beef or pork.

"...Her reaction alone was unnatural."

"From that elixir Noah gave? Said it was good for guys."

Rohan skirted "stamina," and Ichinose tried ignoring it, offering her thoughts.

Time passing, both their arousals had somewhat subsided.

"Noah's gift was rare and pricey, yeah."

"Spot on?"

"But most wealthy named house folks take it... No records of succubi from rifts reacting like that to users."

"True. Not just me who took it. Hard to link."

"Plus, the 'good for guys' effect is just a side perk from boosted vitality... Maybe Rohan's constitution is special."

"Don't need a succubus-magnet build."

Rohan and Ichinose decided to distance from the mansion first.

No good sticking after such a blatant mess.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

Through the brush, back to the rundown shack where Ichinose had napped.

Even then, their pondering continued. Needed every scrap of info.

— You'll lead me to the queen's throne.

Bianca's last words before her heart pierced.

Too meaningful to dismiss.

"Said she'd make me lead her to queen. Condition for succubi powering up?"

"Dunno."

"Sounds like absorbing my essence makes her stronger."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Ichinose clamped her mouth at Rohan's speculation.

Her face heated.

Creeeak.

Reaching the abandoned dwelling, they sighed deep, sitting.

Ichinose noted her wounds fully healed thanks to the potion.

Then, to the still-thoughtful Rohan, she voiced her dilemma.

"Rohan. Mind a sensitive question?"

"Shoot."

"Any... special stuff in your daily life so far?"

"Too broad, got me stumped? This whole thing's special."

Aiming to unpack the succubus's cryptic words.

Ichinose steeled internally, forcing a neutral face.

"D-During... s-s-sexual... ac-activities... if your... s-s-semen... had any effects on women..."

Too high a hurdle for her.

Act casual, but innocent words jammed her throat.

"..."

Rohan stared blankly.

She blurted excuses.

"D-Don't judge...! J-Just for deduction...!"

"Sorry. No experience, so dunno."

"!"

Straight truth.

Rohan hadn't bedded a woman in this body.

"No experience...?"

"Why rub salt in the wound?"

"N-Not like that...!"

"No follow-ups."

She'd assumed he'd be experienced.

Answer blew past expectations. No lie, not his style anyway.

...Then those two?

Clara and Sion flashed in her mind.

Girl distances screaming lovers.

What was their deal with Rohan?

"Whatever. Just gotta watch succubi. Can't experiment."

Rohan wrapped up, unstrapping his sword sheath to set aside.

Prepping to relax.

"...You rest first this time."

"Little nap. Wiped."

Handed the timed phone to Ichinose, Rohan dozed off quick.

"..."

Ichinose cracked her eyes, stealing glances at him.