Is It Strange For A Succubus To Be Wearing Clothes?

Chapter 24

—–CROW—– 

In reality, Officer Dan Ah-yeon’s proposal had a reasonably rational basis.  First, the government needed concrete evidence that I, the Succubus Empress, wasn’t some uncontrollable force, and that I had no intention of causing a rampage. 

This was a course of action any ruler or politician would take, even if I didn’t have such a poor relationship with the government, the Hunter Association, and the so-called higher-ups. 

In the past, France had a case of a unique Returnee possessing the power of famine from the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. After mistreating this Returnee, the entire northern region of France was obliterated.

That incident solidified the notion that S-rank Hunters and [Specially Managed Returnees] were essentially human nuclear bombs.  If controlled, they could dedicate themselves to the nation’s benefit and protect the people.  You could even call them a far more potent asymmetric force than nuclear weapons.  Therefore, it was only natural that the government wanted to manage such individuals very well.

They wanted them to cooperate with the government, minimize their risk, and create a public image that wouldn’t incite national outrage.

‘But my relationship with the Korean government… sank to the bottom, all the way to the Earth’s core.’

The thought alone made me feel more than just unpleasant, but almost… gleeful.

Formalin.

No, they poured undiluted formaldehyde on me, didn’t they?

That stuff tasted disgusting.

And the smell was even worse.

Anyway, it would be stranger if my relationship with the Korean government was good.

Therefore, anyone with a normal mindset would have taken the approach of, ‘We’re sorry. It was our fault. We’ll make sure this never happens again. Please let us know if you need anything.’

But our wise and esteemed higher-ups…

ㅡAren’t Returnees also citizens of the Republic of Korea? If you’re a citizen, you should fulfill your duties and responsibilities. Why are you complaining to us?

ㅡAh, that was done by the previous government, so it has nothing to do with the current government. Therefore, you are not eligible to be selected as a victim of the Gate-related compensation program. Any future payment is illegal, and we have no obligation to provide it.

This was their basic stance.

Back then, I was so enraged that I almost lost my mind. If Officer Dan hadn’t stepped in at the right moment, I don’t know what would have happened.

Do I look like a pushover?

Why am I enduring this after all that?

Why don’t I just kill them all?

Of course, I was angry.

I was a person too.

“…Huu. But I can’t kill innocent people.”

Even if the government seemed incompetent…

Even if the higher-ups were worthy of nothing but scorn…

They were still members of the executive branch and bureaucrats handling various state affairs.  Some low-ranking civil servants were still handling citizens’ complaints with a sense of duty, and while there were corrupt lawyers who abused their power, there were also lawyers who provided free legal aid with good intentions.

There were still many vulnerable people at the bottom of society, facing the challenges of the Gate incidents and falling through the welfare cracks.  Someone still had to maintain public order, implement welfare programs, various policies, diplomacy, and trade, and guide the nation even in this chaotic world.

And in the current world, not only were there Gates, giant beasts, grotesque beings, and Rifts, but also Awakened criminals and so-called villains.  It was a difficult and challenging time for ordinary people to live.

What if, in my anger, I killed the president and everyone else?

If the nation collapsed and became dysfunctional, who would suffer most?  Not the rich or the privileged, but the innocent and vulnerable.

Even if those old geezers angered me…

If a single drop of ink fell into a pond, should I evaporate the entire pond?

How could I ignore the vast majority of ordinary people and good souls?

Their pleasant dreams were also my sustenance, essence, and life force.

Let’s try to hold on to my humanity a little longer.

‘After all is said and done… I’m still the Succubus Empress who feeds on human love and attention.’

Being the Succubus Empress was a strange and peculiar existence.  She never gave love to others, yet she inspired love from all nations and people, demanding their love.

And yet, I, myself, didn’t love anyone, nor did I give love to anyone.

‘In a way, it’s a curse.  A being that lives in love and beauty, unable to give her own love to anyone.’

Anyway, there were many reasons why Officer Dan had proposed that I become an actress, entertainer, or singer.

First, since people would be watching me from behind a screen, the indiscriminate charm I exuded would be greatly reduced.

‘Besides, these days, TVs and computer screens have mental protection techniques as a default, right?’

Ever since some terrorist released a wide-area mental contamination meme on the internet, mental protection techniques had become standard.  Of course, it wouldn’t completely block my charm, but if I didn’t intentionally break through mental defenses and use charm, blocking the unconscious charm I emitted would be enough.

‘But the problem is… if I’m shown on TV, the range of my essence absorption would become too broad.’

I once compared human essence to chicken for a succubus.

Essence was delicious.

It replenished nutrients and calories.  And succubi didn’t have to worry about gaining weight no matter how much they ate, so they could eat as much as they wanted.

‘But too much of anything is a bad thing…’

Have you ever eaten chicken 365 days a year?

You would probably get tired of it, disgusted by it, it would feel greasy, and you’d suffer from indigestion.  If I debuted on TV as a singer or entertainer?  Then I’d be bombarded 24/7 with all kinds of popularity, attention, fondness, curiosity, love, awe… and even intense emotions like jealousy and hatred from anti-fans.

Other succubi would be fine.  If they exceeded their limit, they would just overflow.  They could just choose not to consume the overflow.  But I was different from ordinary succubi.  My capacity was vastly different.  It would be like having chicken force-fed into my stomach 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, feeling greasy, bloated, and nauseous.

Moreover, life force and essence… were a kind of pleasure for me.

Addicted to pleasure?

The Succubus Empress?

The very being who was meant to elicit love from others through my beauty and take their pleasure had become a slave to pleasure?

I wouldn’t allow such a reversal.

“Huu, I can’t live like that…”

Just in case… If I felt any kind of ecstasy on stage from the immense love of the audience… what would happen?

Ugh, just thinking about it was terrifying.

I must be beautiful.

Not vulgar, obscene, or lewd, but lewd and yet beautiful and elegant.

Otherwise, it would go against my aesthetic.

I had never cared about aesthetics or anything else during my human life, but now, as the Succubus Empress, my aesthetics and beauty were as important as life itself.

-!!!

“Be quiet. It’s fine now, isn’t it?”

But this violin…

The 187 boys and girls trapped within seemed to desperately want to appear on TV.  From the moment Officer Dan suggested I become an actress or singer, the children had been cheering in my head.  And the disappointment, lamentation, anger, and tantrums that followed my refusal were still ongoing.

“Stop it.  It’s already over.”

ㅡWhyyyyyyy!

ㅡEmperor Penguin!

ㅡI want to singgg!

ㅡI want to be a singeeeer!

ㅡI want to be played!

ㅡNo, no, no, no, no, no!

“…Even with earplugs, I can still hear the sounds because of it being an Ego Violin.”

ㅡMore popularity! Love!

ㅡI want to stand out more!

ㅡAdelie Penguin!

ㅡYou want that too, unnie!

ㅡYeah! You’re an attention seeker!

“That’s enough.  I’ll get angry, you know?”

ㅡThen get angry!

ㅡAh! Unnie said she doesn’t need us anymore. What’s the point of living any longer!

ㅡBut we’re already dead.

ㅡOh, right?

ㅡGentoo penguin!

ㅡWaaaah! We’re already dead! So play for us more! In front of people!

ㅡI want to be a star!

ㅡWatashi idol!

“….”

It seemed the children had greatly enjoyed my performance in the middle of the city when the fog rolled in last time.  Ever since then, they had constantly asked me to play, as if they had been reborn as a violin and wanted to be played. Their whining and cheering were truly overwhelming.

Aigo. Having to babysit these kids was not part of my plan.  Of course, since it was a violin, I didn’t need to manage it meticulously.  But it was still annoying to have their tantrums and whines echoing in my head whenever they wanted me to play.

But I couldn’t just throw it away.

Even if I did, it would probably just teleport back to me anyway…

“Haa, fine. I just have to play for people, right?”

In the end, I sighed deeply and picked up the violin.

It wasn’t like this violin was only bad for me.

Me, playing a mesmerizing melody.

It was perfectly beautiful and graceful.

—–CROW—–