Chapter 19
'How the hell did I hold back? With what kind of resolve?'
I must've had a weird dream. Like some adolescent delusion—sinful just to think about. Something I was dead certain I could never do in real life... and yet I went and did it anyway.
'...So it's your fault.'
It was euphoric enough to make me think I'd wake up with a wet dream. And at the same time, a nightmare that left me wanting to die from despair. I couldn't remember the details. All that lingered was a sticky, guilty sense of taboo and fear.
"Sorry, Tan."
Waking from a light doze, I rubbed my sleepy eyes and came to a conclusion. My brain, frozen and thawed into mush, was just messing with me. I'd been shivering from the cold when I stumbled into the inn just moments ago. Damn those paladin bastards.
Drowsy as I was, I called out to Esen to ask what time it was. Her response came back a little frantic. Had I overslept?
"He's alive! I told you he was alive! Somebody move that guy back—!"
Move what? Not sure what she wanted lifted, but porter reflexes kicked in—I started scrambling up on instinct. Whatever it was, if even a porter couldn't handle it, they wouldn't have asked.
"Por-ter—! Duck—!!"
At Nenya's shout, I screamed and dropped flat. A pub signboard whistled right over my head.
Fuck, what the hell was that?
"Kyahaaaa—!"
"Look at that! I told you it's a guy in drag—! Pull back his collar, he's hiding his Adam's apple—!"
"Don't spout bullshit and ruin morale, flatliner! You want a lady's scream to sound like a nightingale in this crisis?!"
"Shut your damn mouths if you can't fight—!"
Esen bellowed, swinging a tin cup. She smashed it toward a succubus head slinking up through the storm-lashed window.
[Kyaaaaak—!]
A clear clang rang out. The succubus, its head probably caved in, tumbled limply outside. I rushed to the window and peered down—three stories below, the demon writhed on the ground like its skull had cracked open before dissolving into smoke. It reformed into its original shape almost instantly, stomping in rage.
"...What the hell's going on?"
"The second they figured us out, those demon bitches came swarming. Lucky no one's dead or...?"
Esen glanced back, so I did too. Men bound tight with ropes lay discarded pitifully in the corner.
"No one's totally mind-broken yet, but they've pushed us all the way to the third floor!"
Counting in groups of ten, it looked like every guy from the expedition was trussed up like that. Shit. So the only ones left who could fight were our all-female party... and the paladins?
"Why are those guys like that? Why are all the male fighters out of the fight?"
"You ever faced a succubus pack that strong, kid?"
Tomco, captain of the Handgun Party, barked hoarsely. He was tied so meticulously it was a bit unsightly—slightly denting his charisma.
"I've got 35 years of party experience, and even I haven't! The moment we lock eyes with those bitches, we'll turn traitor. Swinging fists and clubs at our own allies! Better off tied up till the end!"
A succubus outside seemed to spot me—her screech cut through. I ducked fast, avoiding eye contact.
Captain's right. How's a guy supposed to fight succubi? Lock eyes, and your body paralyzes. Hear their whispers, and you're erect and seduced. Finally, you become a slave who'd do anything for one night.
Even the mightiest hero fears the weakest succubus without a priestess. No choice—it's not skill, it's matchup.
But they're rare as female porters. They don't mix with other demons or monsters either—demons have factions like religions, serving different archdemons.
So parties don't usually stock female fighters just for succubi. They'd bring a hundred priests to purify the area instead.
And those damn paladins blew it by not sharing intel on the weakness.
"Bastards...!"
Now I remembered. Before blacking out—what happened.
We'd tricked Florica into revealing the demons' true nature. Shared the info with other parties. They played it off like they'd figured it out from experience, grilled the paladins, confirmed the suspicions.
Good call not chasing the crazy paladins into the rain—we united for now. We needed free-fighting women badly.
But the bitches were too strong. We figured men could hold out a few minutes against seduction from experience. Chase 'em out, take a few hostage.
Wrong. I desperately plugged my eyes and ears, then got caught in the chaos that followed and went down. Probably someone under succubus orders clocked me from behind.
Damn lucky no one died or got taken. Tomco passing out earplugs minimized the damage.
Tomco muttered bitterly. "Thought it'd be fine from my rower days as a flatliner. Overcame siren-like monsters luring us on reefs by plugging ears and blasting cannons. Fuck. These are way stronger than those. Looks like they sucked the city's men dry before we arrived."
"Then the request...?"
"Monsters with human-level smarts mimic victims to lure people."
That perfectly formatted request—from a succubus. Oh God. A trap to eat us from the start.
"...Sisters? Where are the Monica sisters?!"
I yelled at Esen from my huddled spot by the wall—not hiding 'cause I'm a guy, but 'cause I'm non-combat and scared of that flying sign, hoping it'd look that way.
Even now, minding the girl act. Fuck my life.
"Here."
Monica sister raised a hand, sweating bullets. She was healing a wounded head on her lap. One of our party's 'twins'—knight Reni. Blood trickled from her head, who knows what hit her.
"Caught a thrown object they chucked inside head-on. Might be concussion—don't move."
"I'm fine. We need every hand—gotta get up and fight—"
"I said stay still! It'll take less than a minute!"
That minute felt precious. Reni scowled, frustrated. Everyone knew the odds sucked.
Thunder boomed amid the soul-draining storm. Shadows of predator succubi flickered outside. Finally, a Handgun Party member panicked and yelled.
"We're fucked! We've crawled right into the demon cunts' gaping maws—!"
Crazy bastard.
"I get the sentiment, but watch your mouth, bosun! The women fighting to save us will hear!"
Lily Party leader Boerden wailed. But the bosun twisted, pleading.
"Captain, untie me! Can't let the ladies sacrifice alone! I'm ready to give my life!"
"What's your basis for thinking you can, bosun?!"
"Fucking a succubus has been my dream! My stamina won't bow to any—"
"Captain approves! Someone shut that bosun's trap!"
Boerden headbutted hard. The entranced bosun passed out from the mercy philtrum strike.
"That's no human! Cold-skinned demon!"
Tomco roared. "Snap out of it, you idiots! Succubi put us to sleep, feed on wet dreams—never actual sex like your dockside girlfriends! You calling a mouth-worm feast gourmet?!"
"If you can't hold it, there's one last resort!"
Reni, healed and rising, thrust her longsword high. Succubus blood on the blade, eyes flashing in thunder, battle-weary.
"Cut off their balls—!"
No.
"Don't you start too—! We're suffering enough—!"
Her twin, elf Nenya, cried out—summoning lightning from her hands to blast climbing succubi off the walls.
But knight Reni turned to me, face asking if it wasn't rational.
What, pick sides? On that bombshell?
The bound men, forgetting the succubi temptations for a sec, writhed helplessly, staring desperately at me. Like, stop her.
I swallowed hard with a sense of duty.
"Don't, Reni. It's dangerous."
"More dangerous than leaving enemies inside? They grit teeth, cut 'em off, become fighters! Logical emergency measure...!"
"...Nine times outta ten, shock or blood loss kills 'em. No antiseptics or anything here!"
I had some in my bag, but no way I'd say it. Look at those eyes—pure zeal. They'd sacrifice anything to survive...
Arguing Reni down—clearly concussed—I paused, hit by an idea.
"Wait. Might actually be a good one?"
The men's faces went ghost-white. Not just the cold.
The succubi gnashed teeth, glaring at the third floor.
Resistance fiercer than expected. With only dozens out of hundreds able to fight.
But time favored the succubi.
No matter how they screamed, faith's aura faded pitifully. Doubt of defeat? Or conflicts and betrayals tainting purity?
Whatever—impure hearts couldn't beat city-essence-gorged succubi.
The pack mocked the paladins who'd forgotten basics.
"10-minute break—!"
The reply was unexpected. A tigress poked her head out and yelled.
"Requesting truce, you fucking bitches—!"
Succubi laughed louder.
No one disabled yet—but only thanks to healers. Succubi don't tire. Shake brain with frying pan like before? Turn to dream mist, reform, good as new.
Fighters and healers fatigue.
"Our healers have plenty left? You're the desperate ones!"
The tigress leaned precariously out, dragging a bound man outside. Pressed a dagger to his balls.
The man spat and screamed. "Gahhh—! Mom! Mooooom—!"
Succubi faces hardened.
Tigress crowed triumphantly. "Reject the truce, and we'll wipe out every last drop of essence inside—!"
Men winced, then squeezed eyes shut at the 'snip'—even succubi screamed in pity, like they hadn't expected it.
[Kyaaaaak—! You crazy bitch—!]
Of course, not really cut. Just Lily Party member's dignity—boiled eggs, a small sack, and novice white mages' illusion spell for effective bluff.
I pitied Esen roaring sadly with fake balls. That beast should hunt strong prey, not dummy nuts.
Sorry for the weird request.
Everyone doing crazy shit to survive. Tying my own hands and feet, Lily Party members asked curiously.
"Ran, right? What're you doing?"
"Just in case I fall to temptation."
"You're a girl?"
"Lesbian."
"Ah."
Now lies spill out with every breath. No cases of women succumbing, even if more sexually open. But Banir gentlemen shut up awkwardly, asked no more.
A bit relieved. But still bad odds.
Esen chucked the ball prop aside, hauled the soaked male party member to the fire.
"Shit, you okay?"
"Saw heaven. Gonna go play with snow down there."
"...Brave guy turned retard in that short time. Bought time to plan. Now what?"
I bit my lip.
"Gotta think for these 10 minutes."