Is It Strange For A Succubus To Be Wearing Clothes?

Chapter 10

—–CROW—– 

Let me tell you a little about Mikkelsen.

You might ask, what’s the fun in suddenly bringing up a taciturn, middle-aged ahjussi?

Who is this ahjussi and why is he suddenly appearing? Why isn’t he falling for my charms? How dare a mere human not be overwhelmed and offer his soul when I’m revealing my bare face and even humming a song?

Hmm, yes, you could say those are perfectly reasonable questions.

No? You weren’t curious?

That can’t be true.

Anyway, to summarize, that poor ahjussi named Mikkelsen lost everyone he loved.

‘So, it’s understandable that he’s unfazed even after seeing my bare face.’

It’s naturally a sad and pitiful thing to lose a wife and daughter, more precious than life itself, in a single moment.

You might ask if everyone who’s lost their family is immune to my charms, but the way Mikkelsen lost his wife and child wasn’t a simple accident or murder.

Mikkelsen was originally a high-ranking Hunter from Denmark.  He was a first-generation Hunter, one could say, fighting against all sorts of strange phenomena and monsters from the very beginning, even before a proper Awakened ranking system was established.

His wife was also a first-generation Hunter.  The problem was, thanks to these first-generation Hunters fighting so diligently, a significant number of countries remained intact.

And countries really dislike uncontrollable elements.

‘Especially something like me.’

Early Hunters were beings who wielded the unprecedented power of mana, capable of single-handedly defeating armies.  In the early days of the Great Rift, countries everywhere tried every possible means to regulate, control, and suppress Hunters and Awakened, tightening the leash around their necks.

Armies couldn’t kill monsters, but Awakened could.  And armies and humans could threaten and kill Awakened and their families.

As soon as the immediate crisis passed, governments and the United Nations hastily enacted unheard-of laws, tearing apart the human rights of Hunters.

Government agencies took the families of Awakened hostage, seized their bank accounts and assets, forcing a significant number of Hunters into a situation where they had to obey the state’s commands like dogs.

‘Although the relationship has now reversed…’

Anyway, even in those harsh and difficult times, Mikkelsen was someone who silently fought to protect people.

A noble and remarkable person.

I could never do that.

Everyone prioritizes their own safety.

But Mikkelsen did it, driven solely by the desire to protect ordinary people.

‘He’s a bit older now, but his looks are still sculpted.  With such a noble heart, his married life must have been a picture of a lovey-dovey couple, a handsome man and beautiful woman, right?’

And as a reward, the EU, including Denmark at the time, killed his wife and child.

Ahaha.  How amusing.

I couldn’t help but laugh when I heard that story.

Not only me, but this poor ahjussi lost not only himself but also his wife and child.

Of course, even if I find it funny, I shouldn’t show it.

If I laugh, I wouldn’t want the ahjussi to genuinely despise or dislike me.

Despite appearances, I like this ahjussi.

Of course, absolutely not in a romantic sense.

However, for some reason, I don’t know the detailed circumstances of his wife and child’s death.

Mikkelsen didn’t elaborate, and I had no intention of asking.

I’m curious, but not curious enough to ask directly.

Well, whatever the circumstances, the conclusion is that he lost the people he loved most at the hands of humans.

If they had died in a monster attack or a disaster, he might have become an avenger, continuing to be a Hunter protecting humanity.

But because he lost his wife and child to fellow humans, he lost the ability to love people, and that path ultimately led him and me here.

A man who can no longer love and feels no beauty in the world.

And then I, the beautiful me, appeared before him.

Doesn’t it seem like the perfect combination?

Succubi, after all, are beings who use some form of love to charm and seduce.  So, it’s impossible to charm someone who has lost the ability to love and has a huge hole in their soul.

Well, I suppose…

If I were determined, there’s nothing I couldn’t charm, but I’m not obsessed with sex like other succubi, and there’s no reason for me to do so.

The sight of the wounded, poor ahjussi quietly wiping cocktail glasses is quite a spectacle for me.

“Haaaah. I’m tipsy.”

That’s why I enjoy coming here.

To this bar run by this poor ahjussi, to be precise.

Even if I reveal my bare face, even if I hum a song unguardedly in a cheerful mood, no one bothers me.

This poor, middle-aged ahjussi, far from bowing to my beauty, had a hole so clearly visible in his chest.

How could I ruin such a precious place where I can spend a comfortable and quiet time?

“…Something good must have happened.”

“Huhu, I saw many beautiful things from dawn.”

And I’m also happy to see you, poor thing, still barely alive.

“What did you see?”

“The sea opened up in the night sky, the morning sun caressed my cheeks, and I saw something foolish and cute just as I left the house. How could I not be in a good mood?”

“…I see.”

And there’s also the fun of watching a miserable and pitiful ahjussi with a hole in his chest.

It’s also entertaining to see him, who has lost the meaning of life after losing his family, smile ever so slightly at the sound of my song.

“Oh, you must be in a good mood today too. A beautiful woman like me appeared in your empty bar, and I even sang for you? You’re as lucky as someone who won the lottery.”

“Don’t try to seduce a man who has lost his wife and child.  And don’t play around with that face of yours.”

“Oh my, oh my.  A face like Mikkelsen’s is quite my type. I prefer this over the milky scent of male idols.”

“You have no intention of opening your heart to me, do you?”

“That’s true.”

It might be a little unpleasant or sad for ahjussi, but a middle-aged ahjussi, more handsome than most movie stars, with a hole in his chest after losing his family, really hit the spot for me.

He looks like he wants to die, but he can’t bring himself to do it because his family in the other world wouldn’t want him to, so he forces himself to live.

This is truly a spectacular sight for me.

Is this how it feels to see the Geumgangsan Mountains in autumn for the first time?

I pursue beauty, but I’m definitely a devil.

Ah, of course, the sound of this poor middle-aged man pouring scotch into a glass is also pleasant.

“La~Laa~La~di~di~Laa~♩”

I can’t help but hum.

Thanks to my constant humming, the bar is probably filled with the scent of charm and beauty.

If an ordinary person walked in, wouldn’t they be captivated by the unknown charm and become insensible?

Still, a drink and a song.

It’s a profitable deal for both me and Mikkelsen.

And for this poor ahjussi, my song is probably his only joy in life.

It’s the only time when life returns to his usually lifeless face, when my humming melody fills his ears.

“It’s not much for a song, but there’s an auction today.”

“Oh?”

My eyes, intoxicated by the alcohol and atmosphere, shot open at his words.

“It’s tonight, isn’t it?”

An auction!

Not the kind where seized goods are handed over to a court auction.

As I said before, the current Mapo District isn’t safe.

Abandoned Gates and dungeons are everywhere, and the government, rather than recovering or reclaiming the area, has decided to simply control the area and minimize losses.

Thanks to that, all sorts of criminal organizations, illegal groups, and even illegal Awakened who couldn’t afford to emigrate have flocked to Mapo District and the surrounding areas of the capital.

And naturally, the economy of criminals and those living in the illegal world revolves around illegal goods.

All kinds of smuggled goods, drugs, illegal weapons, illegal potions, and human trafficking are rampant.

It’s also a place where you can see quite a few rare things that you wouldn’t see in a government-run, legal Hunter Market.

“Thank you. Ah, can I use the ‘back door’ for a bit?”

“Go ahead.”

The “back door” here doesn’t refer to the back door of the shop, but the passage leading down to the underground world where the auction will be held.

I savored the aroma of the scotch and drained my glass. I grabbed my parasol, which I had hung on the side, and walked towards the back door.

He still didn’t give me a single glance as I got up.

“Want to come with me? It’s rather scary for a weak and fragile woman like me to go down into this dark world alone.”

“….”

“Oh, how cruel. You can’t even spare a moment for a frail woman. You’re so cold.”

“Even in a world like this, many things are still lacking.  Like proper social justice, or your fragility.”

“Ufufu, your jokes are still so unfunny.”

“I apologize for being unfunny. Unlike your beauty, my jokes are vulgar and dull.”

“I didn’t go that far.”

It seems he has no intention of following me today.

Last time, he was worried and secretly followed me…  He probably thinks I didn’t notice, right?

“Then I’ll be back. If I don’t return, please put a flower on my grave~”

“Your jokes are quite amusing.”

You say it’s amusing without even smiling, it feels like you’re subtly teasing me.

How exciting.

Ha, but now that I think about it, I’m really offended.

I understand not being seduced when I’m smiling brightly right in front of you, but you still won’t even look me in the eye?

Of course, I have absolutely no romantic interest in you, ahjussi.  Even if you were charmed by me, it goes without saying that I wouldn’t even remotely consider dating or having a relationship with you.

But it’s me.

I’m beautiful, you know?

A beauty that can completely fill any hole etched in your heart.

“Hmph, I’m starting to feel offended since you’re genuinely not charmed.”

I don’t think you’d be this indifferent even to a nameless wildflower on the street.

‘Could it be that wildflowers are prettier to Mikkelsen than me?  Because he can at least offer wildflowers at his wife and child’s grave?’

Ah, that would really hurt my feelings.

Somehow, I feel like this ahjussi really could be like that.

You’re saying my beauty loses to a nameless wildflower?

But would I be happy even if I won against such a wildflower?

“Argh, just imagining it makes me feel bad….”

How can everything make me feel bad?

This ahjussi is a bad person too.

How can you make me, who is beautiful, feel bad no matter what I imagine?

—–CROW—–