Is It Strange For A Succubus To Be Wearing Clothes?

Chapter 14

—–CROW—– 

The chaos in the auction house escalated precisely as the Succubus Empress desired.  Captivated by the Empress’s direct observation, their desires and untamed fascination turned into outbursts of anger towards one another, filling the air with a chilling tension that spiraled into an uncontrollable frenzy.

Amidst this, Jae-hee walked out, calm and elegant, like the eye of a storm.  Her fingertips pointed towards her destination with arrow-like precision, navigating the chaos with unwavering focus on the violin that resonated with the curses and resentment of 187 children.

The moment she grasped the violin, a strange and peculiar silence enveloped the space. As if time had stopped, the chaos froze, and Jae-hee, breaking the silence, placed the violin on her shoulder. A bow, appearing as if from nowhere, materialized beside the violin.  Then, as her delicate hand moved towards the strings, the first note drifted into the air.

It wasn’t a simple melody. It was the sound of the forgotten, awakening one by one from the depths of darkness, as if telling their stories. A requiem for the nameless children, their pain and screams, the pitiful souls who were abducted by evil and turned into the materials of a violin.

Drawn by the sound, the gazes of those who, just moments ago, had been shouting with fervent desire, shifted one by one towards the center of the stage. At first, they were unknowingly drawn to the sound.  As the melody continued, they began to realize that what they were witnessing wasn’t just a simple performance or music.

It was a requiem.

Some shed tears for sorrows not their own. Those without children felt the grief of losing a child. It was as if an indescribable, vast, and dangerous presence was pulling them in.

The violin’s melody was first and foremost filled with sorrow.  But it was also a solace for the 187 souls, a sacred ritual to appease the resentful spirits cursing in their anguish and misery.  It was a key, offering a modicum of comfort to the pain and sorrow of those who couldn’t blossom, who couldn’t even properly smile before their lives were shattered.

The melody pierced through the air, resonating throughout the auction house, forcibly melting the hearts of every human present.

However, some, instead of being moved, became extremely wary and tense.

‘Who is that woman…?’

‘She’s… not human.  Is she someone with heteromorphic Awakening?’

‘That’s not ordinary magic power.  Just who is she? A villain? A terrorist?’

‘I-it’s similar to a s-succubus’s charm… but on a completely different level?’

Some tilted their heads, trying to understand what was happening, while others, sensing a strange harmony, became wary and tense towards the woman.

The melody that began to seep into people’s hearts was calm and gentle, yet incredibly forceful.

You shall listen from there.

You shall sit still and listen.

Be awed by the requiem I present.

People’s expressions now held not only confusion but also awe and curiosity.  The sight of her playing the violin was overwhelmingly beautiful, like a painting, beyond anything they could have imagined.

While captivated by the melody, people felt a chill down their spines from the chaos the succubus had wrought.

ㅡShe mesmerized everyone in an auction house filled with high-ranking Hunters?

ㅡIf she’s a succubus, just how strong is her mental manipulation?

ㅡNo, can we even call that a succubus?

While entranced by the melody, people felt they hadn’t fully escaped the chaos she created.

What was clear was that the requiem Jae-hee played for the first time was more than enough to capture the attention of everyone present.

ㅡOooh, who is she? What is that beauty?

ㅡShe’s beautiful. The most beautiful human specimen I’ve ever seen.

ㅡShe transcends race, transcends emotion.  Just who is she?

ㅡWhoa, what’s with that face…?

Countless people…

Those gathered in this underworld, driven by desire, began to burn with even greater lust, passion, and fervor as they gazed upon the Succubus Empress’s face.

Just who was she?

That graceful figure, like delicate jade.

That fragile physique, like a swan.

Behold her elegant and noble posture, despite not revealing an inch of skin.

How could they not covet her?

“…A-auctioneer. Do you… perhaps have any plans to auction that woman…?”

“…She is not an auction item.”

The voice of the Hoyeon Guild executive, from the nation’s largest and most prominent guild, was laced with uncontrollable lust and possessiveness.  If she were an auction item, he would have mobilized all his available resources… no, every connection and asset he had ever accumulated, to bid on her.

However, the high-ranking Hunters and executives of large guilds, initially wary, were gradually becoming captivated by the violin’s melody.

I don’t know who she is.

She’s suspicious.

But what does it matter?

It doesn’t matter. I just want to surrender myself to that sound.

My mind is melting.

It feels like it’s melting.

And so, when Jae-hee played the last note, the people in the auction house stared at her in deep silence.  Their eyes held a mixture of confusion and awe. They seemed to feel as if they had become part of some sacred and grand ritual, not just an audience to a performance.

And amidst the countless gazes of awe, Jae-hee thought,

‘…So, what now?’

A succubus’s instincts… were impulsive and incredibly volatile.

What did that mean?

They would suddenly emerge, and once the instincts were arbitrarily “satisfied,” they would vanish in an instant.

What remained was “reason.”

The reason of the human, Lee Jae-hee, remained.

And the human, Lee Jae-hee, felt an incredibly intense and overwhelming awkwardness.

Why did I…?

Just why…?

How did this even…?

No, the violin was beautiful, and I felt sorry for the children’s souls, but what am I even doing…?

Having acted impulsively, driven by her succubus instincts and unconsciousness, her now-awakened human reason had to bear the shame, embarrassment, and every other emotion that expressed mortification.

‘…Why did I do that?’

The violin was still in her hand.

Outwardly, Jae-hee still appeared elegant and alluring, the embodiment of lust, easily igniting human desire.

But inside, she was different.

Embarrassment.

And an overwhelming sense of shame and mortification, akin to post-nut clarity, made Jae-hee want to find a hole to hide in.

‘Why did I do that…? A hole… a hole… is there a hole somewhere?’

Just what was it about this violin?

Of course, it was true that Jae-hee felt pity and sympathy for the children’s souls and screams.

But to turn the auction house into such a mess just to play a violin?

Me?

What a nuisance.

No matter how much Jae-hee reveled in her own beauty as the Succubus Empress, she wasn’t so shameless as to steal things, snatch auction items without paying, or, like a child, charm others into buying things for her.

It wasn’t like she didn’t have money.

Of course, she was somewhat lacking in conscience, but she didn’t intend to act so childishly and pathetically.

“…Excuse me, but…”

“…?”

“Hiek!?”

In the midst of the quiet stage, the auctioneer finally managed to break through the barrier of Jae-hee’s beauty and elegance to speak.

But it wasn’t easy.

Could you please put down the violin?

That’s an auction item.

You can’t just touch it.

The situation is chaotic, but that’s still our property.

These words came to mind, but upon meeting Jae-hee’s eyes, his heart pounded, rendering him speechless.

“Yes. I’ll put it down.  My apologies.”

“Ah…”

Fortunately for the auctioneer, Jae-hee relinquished the violin without resistance.  The situation could have become quite difficult, so this was a relief.

But the moment Jae-hee carefully handed the violin to the auctioneer and stepped off the stage…

“Now, th-then, let’s resume the auction…”

-Whoosh!

Simultaneously, the violin vanished from the auctioneer’s hands.

The vanished violin reappeared in Jae-hee’s hand as she stood below the stage.

“Huh?”

“What was that?”

The auctioneer, the audience, the onlookers, and even Jae-hee herself, were bewildered.

No, what is this?

I didn’t do it.

Eek, what is this?

Of course, outwardly, she maintained her elegant and composed demeanor.

Outwardly.

“…Was that an Ego Weapon?”

“I don’t know if it’s a real Ego Weapon, but it’s bound to her.”

“Huh. A violin chooses its owner?”

“This is a first.”

“The owner was decided before the auction even ended.”

“……”

Uh, um.

Oh dear.

Huh.

Hmm… what should I do?

Jae-hee, while outwardly elegant, began to sweat internally.

…Someone bid like $100 million for that at the end, right…?

Her head spinning with the sudden confusion, Jae-hee closed her eyes.

Edison said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

Oscar Wilde also said, “Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.”

So, Jae-hee thought,

‘I’m pretty!  It’s okay!’

Forcefully ignoring the shame, embarrassment, bewilderment, perplexity, and post-clarity washing over her.

★

★

★

Good morning.

No, it was evening.

Officer Dan Ah-yeon felt naturally good, thinking she had finally gotten a good night’s sleep.

‘…Even though Jae-hee-nim can be a bit mischievous, she’s kind.’

She probably used a slightly forceful charm because Ah-yeon hadn’t slept properly for days.

‘…Did she go out?’

She was a little surprised, and slightly disappointed, that Jae-hee wasn’t beside her when she woke up.  It would have been like a painting.

Jae-hee lying in bed with her.

Closing her eyes and then slyly opening them like a fox, saying, “Oh, you’re awake?”  Ah-yeon might have been charmed again.

Or maybe Jae-hee would be wearing an apron, preparing a simple meal… no, she couldn’t expect such a thing from someone so domestically inept.

Honestly, Ah-yeon wasn’t sure if Jae-hee could even properly cook ramen.

‘She really makes my heart ache when we live together.’

Still, her fatigue was gone, so Dan Ah-yeon felt good.

ㅡRing!

“…Yes, yes.  Officer Dan Ah-yeon speaking…”

As the phone rang, Ah-yeon frowned, grabbing her jacket that was hanging by the bed.  Haa, was it the agency or her superiors calling to give her a hard time again…?

[“Ah, are you her spokesperson or lawyer?”]

“…Excuse me?”

Spokesperson?

Me?

For a moment, Ah-yeon wondered if it was some kind of spam call.

But surprisingly, she did play a role akin to a spokesperson or lawyer.

‘Is this about Jae-hee-nim?’

It had to be about Lee Jae-hee, the [Specially Managed Returnee].  In fact, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that Ah-yeon was Jae-hee’s spokesperson and lawyer when it came to social and administrative matters.  Ah-yeon managed Jae-hee’s pension, insurance, identification, Hunter certification, and various taxes.

[“To make it short… Miss Lee Jae-hee royally messed up our business.”]

“Business? Haa, and who might you be?”

Ah-yeon sighed inwardly.

Again, again.  It seemed Jae-hee had snuck out while she was asleep. As a person, Ah-yeon understood the desire to go out.

The government and the higher-ups kept demanding reports on Jae-hee’s every move, but Ah-yeon understood how unpleasant it was to be constantly monitored, so she often turned a blind eye to Jae-hee’s outings, even though she knew about them.

‘She probably went out and got entangled with some strange troublemaker or thug again.  Our Jae-hee-nim is too beautiful, so she unintentionally attracts trouble.’

It was a relief, though.  If Jae-hee-nim had gotten truly angry and decided to deal with them physically, or with her succubus powers, it wouldn’t have been a simple matter.

Ah-yeon started calculating the appropriate compensation in her head.

If it was within her estimated range, she would just pay them off and tell them to go away.  If they made unreasonable demands, she would respond as a government official.

And if that didn’t work, she could just go and give them a good knuckle sandwich herself.  Dan Ah-yeon was a high-ranking government Awakened, someone even large guilds couldn’t ignore.

[“It’s not something we can discuss at length over the phone, so to summarize again, this is the ‘Mapo District Nest.’”]

“Ah, yes. Mapo District Nest… Excuse me?”

Mapo District Nest.

Dan Ah-yeon knew exactly what that meant.

A massive underground city, a gathering place for outlaws, criminal Awakened, and all sorts of underground factions.  A force the government couldn’t touch, accumulating immense wealth through the beetle eggs that could replace magic stones.

And Ah-yeon knew the story behind its establishment.

Because she herself had been scouted by the Mapo District Nest and its factions. Back then, when the underworld was being established, Ah-yeon was still a low-ranking government Hunter, struggling to make ends meet.

But…

‘Wait, why is Jae-hee-nim there…?’

[“And Miss Lee Jae-hee caused quite a scene at our auction house.”]

“?”

[“The ownership of an auction item with a bid of $100 million is currently with Miss Lee Jae-hee.”]

“…?”

[“The item, like an Ego Weapon, has become bound to Miss Lee Jae-hee and cannot be separated.”]

What?

Am I still dreaming?

What is this nonsense?

Mapo District Nest, underground city, auction house, Ego Weapon, bound, $100 million…

[“And Miss Lee Jae-hee designated you as her lawyer and representative…”]

“Could you please put Jae-hee-nim on the phone for a moment?”

[“Ah, yes.”]

The call was briefly transferred.

And Lee Jae-hee answered.

[“…….”]

Usually, when Jae-hee answered the phone, she would greet Ah-yeon with a sweet, “Oh, Officer Dan~”

Even now, she would have said something like, “Did you sleep well?” or “It’s already evening, Officer Dan~ You’re such a sleepyhead~” teasing her playfully.

But now…

Miss Lee Jae-hee, the human, remained silent even after answering the phone.

“Jae-hee-ssi.”

It was Dan Ah-yeon who started calling her Jae-hee “-ssi,” not “-nim.”

And the human Lee Jae-hee’s voice was ever so slightly… different than usual.  If someone else heard it, they would have been impressed, thinking, “Oooh! What a beautiful and captivating voice!” or “Whoa, what’s with that voice…?”  But Ah-yeon knew.

The human Lee Jae-hee’s voice right now was the voice of someone who knew they had done something wrong.

“This is truly rude of me, but may I say something?”

[“Of course, anything for Officer Dan…”]

“Can I curse?”

[“…….”]

Jae-hee couldn’t say anything to that.

It was as if she could hear a torrent of curses hidden behind Officer Dan’s omitted words.

—–CROW—–