Succumania

"Cozy place," Mayu remarked as she stepped into the living room, glancing around with mild approval. The warm lighting and simple decor gave it a welcoming charm, like a safe place in the middle of the night.

The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom, where the others were busy washing off the remnants of sand and seawater. A few of them lingered nearby, waiting their turn, their damp hair sticking to their skin as they idly chatted about their day.

"Big sister is still sulking?" Astaroth asked as she rubbed a towel through her scarlet, dripping hair.

Morrigan let out a dramatic, steamy sigh, stepping out of the fogged-up bathroom. "Oh yeah. Apparently, she was the only one who didn't get any action at the beach." She tossed her towel over her shoulder and stretched. "Well, except for the little ones, of course."

Astaroth chuckled. "I never thought she would be this bothered by this…"

From the hallway, an impatient voice cut through the chatter. "Is it my turn yet?" Succubus-chan whined.

"No! Eva already went in!" Morrigan called back without missing a beat.

Down in the living room, Luka sat at the table, absently scrolling through his phone. The constant voices upstairs made him sigh. "Guess I'll be the last one…"

"You're such a gentleman, senpai~" Mayu teased, her voice lilting as she flashed a playful grin. She twirled a pen between her fingers with practiced ease, her other hand resting on a crossword puzzle. Sprawled across the sofa, she penciled in answers with a lazy confidence, biding her time until the shower was free.

Luka glanced at his fingers, counting off the order. "Vinum went first, then the imps with the mayor…" He trailed off, doing the math. "The sisters are coming out now. So that just leaves a few more."

Rami flopped onto the couch, her hair still a bit damp from the shower. "You should've gone first, you know. Now you'll be stuck with cold water."

"Probably," Luka said, shrugging with the resignation of someone used to losing the draw.

"Or," Astaroth entered the room with a gentle smile, "you could've just gone in with us. That way, you'd save water."

Luka gave her a deadpan stare. "Logical, but pass . "

Astaroth chuckled, tossing her towel aside. "Worth a shot."

The bathroom door creaked open, and Eva stepped out, her long black hair glistening wet and slicked back. A towel hugged her frame as she called into the house, "It's free! Warm water's a luxury worth fighting for." She padded toward the living room, her bare feet soft against the floorboards.

Succubus-chan darted past her with a gleeful squeak, the door slamming shut behind her. The sound of the shower kicking back on hummed through the walls.

"No warm water where you're from, Eva?" Luka asked, shooting her a curious glance from the table.

"Nah," she chuckled, rummaging through the kitchen's snack drawer. "What am I, the Monster Lord? Hot showers aren't exactly standard in my world." She frowned, holding up an empty chip bag. "We're out of snacks, by the way."

Luka yawned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Guess I'm making a store run tomorrow."

Mayu glanced up from her crossword, tapping the pen against her lips. "Five letters, 'trickster.' Starts with a P."

"Prank?" Rami offered, sprawling deeper into the couch.

"Nope, doesn't fit." Mayu frowned, then scribbled something in. "Puck. That's it."

Luka glanced over, mildly impressed. "You're good at those."

"I'm used to learning," Mayu replied, her eyes still glued to the puzzle, a faint smirk tugging at her lips.

The kitchen drawer slammed shut with a dull thud as Eva emerged, tossing the empty chip bag onto the counter. "Seriously, who ate the last of the pretzels? I call betrayal."

Luka saw Morrigan retreat slowly into her room from the corner of his eye.

Luka snorted, setting his phone down. "Doesn't matter who. I'll grab more tomorrow. Anything else we need?"

"You already know what we need, senpai," Mayu replied matter-of-factly without even bothering to look up.

"And you know I can't exactly order fresh guys for succubi to snack on," he deadpanned.

Before Mayu could fire back, the bathroom door suddenly burst open. Succubus-chan stumbled out, her towel barely clinging to her as she hugged herself, shivering dramatically. "It's freezing! The hot water died on me!"

Rami cackled from the couch. "Ahaha! You're doomed, mister!"

Luka dragged a hand down his face. "Fantastic. Guess I'm toughing it out."

Eva shrugged, utterly unfazed. "It's not that bad. Builds resilience."

Luka turned toward Mayu, a slow smirk forming. "You know you're in this too, right?"

Mayu sighed, flipping her pen between her fingers before turning to him with a sly smile. "Perhaps you're proposing that we go in together? That way, we could warm up."

"Shut up," Luka shot back, waving her off. "You're going alone. No whining—everyone's showering."

She rolled her eyes and sank back into her crossword, muttering a half-hearted, "Whatever."

Luka exhaled, resigning himself to his fate. But just as he stood, Alma Elma's voice rang out from the hallway.

"Oh my~ Looks like our little detective is soon heading in. Too bad you'll be all alone in that cold shower…" She leaned casually against the doorway, her towel draped loosely over her shoulders.

Luka shot her a wary look. "What are you getting at?"

She stepped closer, feigning innocence. "Nothing~ Just wondering… what's stopping any of us from joining you?"

"She's kind of right," Astaroth nodded. "But who is in the shower right now?"

"Your sister," Alma Elma answered with a knowing smile. "And after that, it's my turn."

Luka crossed his arms. "Seriously? You already got enough action with guys today. I think you can all take a break."

Alma Elma pouted dramatically, placing a hand on her chest as if wounded. "Oh, Luka…♪ Are you jealous?"

"Not even close," he deadpanned. Seeing how the man she had her fun with ended up, that was the last thing he wanted. "I just want to take my damn shower in peace."

Rami chuckled from the couch. "What about me, mister?"

"Didn't you already go?"

"Uh…yeah…"

Just then, the bathroom door upstairs creaked open, and Lilith stepped out, utterly unfazed by the cold. "We're out of towels too," she announced, strolling into the room stark naked, her damp hair clinging to her shoulders.

Luka pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply. "Of course we are."

Lilith stretched lazily, utterly unbothered by her lack of clothing. The others barely reacted, accustomed to succubi and their complete disregard for modesty. Luka, on the other hand, averted his eyes with a tired groan.

"Lilith," he muttered. "Towel."

She blinked at him. "There are none."

"I don't care. Find something."

Alma Elma giggled, swaying slightly as she watched the exchange. "Aww, Luka's still so shy~♪"

"I'm not shy," he snapped. "I just want one normal night without someone strutting around naked."

Mayu snorted, not looking up from her puzzle. "You do realize where you live, right?"

Before Luka could argue, Astaroth tossed a towel at Lilith, who caught it without much urgency and wrapped it loosely around herself.

"Better?" she asked, clearly amused by his reaction.

Luka gave her an unimpressed stare. "Not really."

Lilith just grinned. "Oh well."

Luka let out a long, exhausted sigh. "Anyway, that just leaves Alma Elma and Mayu. Can you two please get on with it? I have things to do before bed."

Alma Elma pouted, tapping a finger against her lips. "Oh my, you're really in a rush, aren't you? What kind of things?"

"Doesn't concern you."

Mayu stretched her arms over her head and yawned. "Well, I'm not going in before her. I still haven't finished my crossword. Just a few more and it's done."

Luka rubbed his temples, the faint throb of a headache brewing. "Fine. Alma, go."

Alma Elma clapped her hands together with a delighted hum. "Wonderful! I'll make it quick—just for you, Luka~" She winked, sauntering toward the bathroom with an exaggerated sway, her towel fluttering behind her like a cape.

"Good luck with that," Rami muttered, sprawled across the couch like a boneless cat. "Quick for her means half an hour of preening."

The shower kicked on upstairs, followed by the soft, melodic sound of Alma Elma singing a tune. Surprisingly, her voice was on pitch and beautiful, like listening to a professional singer.

"Are you sure you don't want company in there?" Astaroth quipped.

Luka didn't even dignify it with a response, just fixed her with a look that said 'not happening'. She laughed, raising her hands in surrender.

Mayu scratched out her final clue and tossed the crossword onto the coffee table with a satisfied sigh. "Done. Guess I'm next."

Alma Elma's voice, still light and sweet, echoed from the bathroom. "You're welcome to join, Mayu~"

Luka exhaled and dropped his phone onto the table, his gaze sweeping over the room of succubi, all lounging with mischievous smiles. "Okay, I've got a legit question here. Is it impossible for any of you to stop yourself from teasing someone?"

Succubus-chan, lounging beside Rami on the couch, cocked her head and smirked. "I thought your beach day relaxed you, but you look tense."

Luka's shoulders tensed at her comment. "It's just… it's getting old, you know? Every time you try, it's like you already know the answer."

"Maybe you just need a longer break," Mayu chimed in, still tapping her pen absently.

"Also…" Astaroth sighed. "I guess this is because we owe you a debt."

"Hm? What do you mean?"

Lilith quickly shot a glare at Astaroth but the red-haired sister simply shook her head. 

Lilith quickly shot a glare at Astaroth, but the red-haired sister simply shook her head.

"No," Astaroth pressed, her voice softer now. "I guess this is our way of repaying you for what you did to save our world, in a sense. Also, because we almost killed you, and I feel kind of bad about it."

Luka blinked, taken aback. "Wait, you knew about the whole portal crisis?"

"Of course," Astaroth said, her tone a mix of surprise and nonchalance. "Alma Elma told us everything the other day. How you tried to save her as well."

Luka's gaze flickered between the succubi, his curiosity piqued, but before he could ask more, Succubus-chan rose from the couch.

"I can also say…" She seemed to pause as if gathering her thoughts. "That it's probably because our instincts are telling us to protect you in some way."

"...What?" Luka blinked blankly at her, utterly taken aback.

Succubus-chan gave a small shrug, a thoughtful look crossing her features. "I don't know. From the moment I saw you, I felt this pull. Like, 'I need to protect him.' But sometimes, I guess protecting means... having you for ourselves too."

Luka's eyes widened, a mix of disbelief and confusion settling in. "Are you telling me you've been acting like this because of some... instinct?"

"Now that you're saying it…" Astaroth mused. "I guess I was worried about him back at the casino because of that."

The room fell silent for a moment as Luka processed her words, his mind racing. 

Astaroth broke the silence, her voice teasing but with a hint of seriousness. "Don't overthink it, Luka. We're happy that you forgave us and gave us a second chance."

"I guess…" he muttered.

Something about what Succubus-chan had just said unsettled him, and at the same time, he felt a strange understanding of it, like there was a deeper truth buried beneath it all. Instinct. It didn't sit right with him, but he couldn't put his finger on why. Instinctively, he grabbed his left arm, feeling a dull pain spread across his skin.

"Hm?" Succubus-chan stepped closer, her eyes wide with curiosity, noticing his discomfort. "What's that on your forearm?"

Luka quickly sat up, his heart racing in a mix of panic and confusion. His mind was spinning with thoughts he couldn't quite piece together. "It's... nothing. Just a scratch."

But the truth was, it wasn't just a scratch.

Before anyone could say anything further, he dashed out of the room, his footsteps echoing in the hallway.

Luka moved quickly through the hall, his hands trembling as he climbed the stairs. As he reached the top, the bathroom door opened, and Alma Elma stepped out, her towel wrapped loosely around her, her eyes gleaming with an easy confidence.

"Oh? Well, aren't you eager, mister—" Alma Elma began, but before she could finish, Luka pushed past her into the bathroom, closing the door softly behind him.

He leaned against the door for a moment, his chest rising and falling with uneven breaths. The bathroom was quiet, the sound of the shower still faintly echoing. Alma Elma raised an eyebrow at him as she adjusted her towel.

"What's going on?" she asked, her voice a mix of teasing and concern. "You look… off."

"I just…" Luka paused, unsure of how to explain. But perhaps… 

Luka hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to explain. But deep down, he knew. If there was one person in this house he could trust, it was her. The rest wasn't bad either, it was just…

He sank to the ground, his body trembling as he clutched his forearm, the strange sensation intensifying. He couldn't stop the blood from seeping through his fingers as the red mark slowly spread, a geometrical claw-like design that burned into his skin.

"Luka…?" Alma Elma's voice was soft now, a trace of real concern seeping through her teasing exterior. She knelt beside him, her eyes scanning his arm. "What is this?"

Luka gasped, trying to steady his breath. "It's nothing… I'll go away soon…"

Alma Elma gently took his arm, examining the mark closely. "Is that… What I think it is?"

"Yeah… It's a contract…" he gritted his teeth, the pain more unbearable than usual. "It's okay… I just need to stop the flow…"

Alma Elma's brows furrowed in confusion, but there was a fire in her gaze, a protective urgency. "A contract? With who?"

The words tumbled from his lips, almost involuntarily. "Saki…" He sighed, feeling the pain finally start to subside, slowly, as his body relaxed. "I guess… she needed some fuel," he muttered, his head resting against the door.

Fuel? The word echoed in his head. That didn't feel right. Even if his friend needed some fuel, it wouldn't hurt that bad. 

"Perhaps it's time for you to tell me what's going on with you," she softly said, propping his chin up with a warm smile.

"Sorry…" he chuckled. "I guess that's why you wanted to talk to me tonight?"

"Yes. I had a question I wanted to ask for a while now," she nodded. "Luka. Are you cursed?"

Cursed? Luka's stomach churned at the thought. For a moment, everything went still. Cursed ... The word didn't sit well with him. He hadn't ever thought of it that way.

Cursed for what? By who? 

He shook his head, pushing himself upright, his hand still clutching his arm. "I don't know…" he murmured. "But if I am, then it's something I didn't ask for."

Alma Elma's eyes softened, and for the first time, she didn't seem like the playful, teasing succubus he'd come to know. There was something else there—something caring, almost maternal. "Luka…"

He forced a chuckle, but it sounded hollow even to him. "But maybe… it's because I killed all those succubi back then that I'm cursed," he muttered, his voice wavering. "But… isn't it weird? Shouldn't I be weak to you girls instead? It doesn't make any sense…"

Alma Elma's face shifted, her brow furrowing deeply. For a moment, she didn't speak. Then, her voice was quiet, almost to herself. "So it's true… You did commit genocide once?"

Luka's breath hitched, and his chest tightened. "It wasn't like that…" His words felt hollow. It didn't matter how he explained it. There was no way to undo what had happened.

He dropped his head but still stood up. "You have every right to kill me if you want. I won't be mad at you."

"Don't say that…" Alma Elma's voice softened, and there was a sadness in it that Luka hadn't expected. She stepped closer, and before he could react, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a warm, comforting hug. Her touch was gentle, but there was a steadiness to it that made him feel anchored, if only for a moment.

"What's done is done," she murmured into his hair, stroking it soothingly. "No need to dwell on it. You're not the same person you were back then."

Luka closed his eyes, leaning into the embrace, feeling a sense of relief and guilt blend together, like the warmth of the hug was trying to melt away the knots inside him. He knew he couldn't change what happened, he had already been through his guilt once.

But what about this situation? What was going on? Was it actually tied to him?

At this moment, it was hard to shake the feeling that whatever was happening now, this curse, the pain from his mark, was somehow connected to that darker chapter of his life.

Slowly, he pulled away from the hug, his hand instinctively moving to his forearm. The mark had faded considerably, but the blood on his skin remained.

"It just feels wrong for all of you to say you want to protect me," he sighed wearily, his voice thick with exhaustion.

"I never said that…♪," she giggled. "But if you want me to protect you, I can hug you even tighter…"

"Eh." A faint chuckle slipped out of him, despite himself.

He met her gaze, trying to force the knot in his chest to loosen, but there was still that uneasy feeling gnawing at him. 

Something telling him that…

They shouldn't exist.

"Hey, Alma," he called out, his voice quiet, almost hesitant. "Do you think you girls could ever live with humans without problems?"

"What a strange question," Alma Elma said with a laugh, ruffling his hair once more. "You sound more and more like my Luka-boy…♪" She paused, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "But I guess I'm not the best person to talk about this. I am very free-spirited, after all."

Her lightheartedness was a balm for his mind and he showed her a warm smile.

"But I must say…" she added with a wink. "I would prefer if that was the case, don't you think?"

"Yeah…"

"So, how about you lighten up a little and learn to relax more? You're always grumpy and on edge. Even when we're not around."

"What makes you say that?" he shot her a wary look.

"You faked sleeping at the beach the whole morning, didn't you? Or at least, when I left you weren't sleeping."

He blinked, caught off guard by her perceptiveness. "I wasn't faking…"

"Yeah, you were," she countered, a playful glint in her eyes. "You tensed when we were talking about massaging you with sunscreen…♪"

"I guess…" he stammered, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "I was still half awake at the time."

"So, how about we try to cure that condition of yours, hm…♪?" Alma Elma sang, her voice teasing but gentle. "Perhaps this is why we are here, to help you relax?"

Luka's mouth opened to reply, but before he could, a loud knock interrupted them.

"Hey, what are you two doing in here?" Mayu's voice rang out from the door. "Senpai, you pervert!"

Luka groaned, a mix of annoyance and disbelief crossing his face. "Never in my life will I relax with people like that in my house…"

"Wash the blood off before leaving," Alma Elma reminded him, her expression turning serious. "If you need to talk, I'm always here…♪"

"Good grief," Luka exhaled softly as he rinsed his forearm with water. "I still don't get why you're always so nice to me…"

"Why wouldn't I be nice to the one who saved my life?" she smirked.

Suddenly, the door clicked open, and both of them froze, staring at the door in disbelief. Mayu stepped inside, arms crossed, a knowing smirk on her face.

"I got the trick, senpai. Kind of a useful spell if you ask," she said, eyeing the two of them with an almost mischievous gleam in her eye. "So, you could've said you had preferences."

Luka's jaw tightened, and he shot her a look that could melt steel. "Mayu," he said, his voice low and dangerously calm. "If you say anything about this, I will skin you alive."

"O-Okay…" she stammered. "Please don't give me the creeps like that, I got the message."

Alma Elma chuckled, clearly enjoying the exchange.

Mayu glanced at Luka, who was now drying his arm with a hand towel. "So, senpai, you done brooding in here, or should I come back later?"

"I'm not brooding," Luka sighed, tossing the towel onto the counter. "I'm just… dealing with things."

"The shower is free, Mayu-chan," Alma Elma said, stepping aside and gesturing toward the bathroom with a playful flourish. "Leave Luka alone, okay?"

"Okay, you're next then, senpai," Mayu said, her tone teasing as she headed for the shower.

"Yeah, yeah. Take your time."

"With a cold shower? No thanks," Mayu snorted, closing the door behind her with a soft click.

As the sound of the shower starting echoed through the bathroom, Alma Elma turned back to Luka, her expression softening. "You know, Luka, you don't have to shoulder everything alone," she said, her voice quieter now, more serious. "We're here for you, whether you like it or not."

Luka glanced at her, his guard lowering slightly. "I know," he said, his tone more subdued. "It's just… hard to let people in sometimes."

"Well, you're stuck with us now, so you might as well get used to it."

Luka chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Yeah, I guess I am."

The two of them stood in comfortable silence for a moment, the sound of the shower and Mayu's faint humming filling the space. Finally, Alma Elma stretched. "Well, I should probably let you finish here. Don't take too long, or I might think you're in danger and open the door by accident…♪"

"Thank you. I'm glad I can count on you."

She turned around, slightly taken aback. Then, she gave him a little wink and stepped inside her room, leaving him alone in the hallway.

Luka took a deep breath, feeling a strange sense of calm settle over him. Despite the mess, the constant teasing and the frivolous nature of these demons, there was something comforting in this house. 

It was messy, sure, but it was also… A true home.

And Home, the old succubus Vinum was far from it.

Her own world was one where her kind, demons and devils, monsters of all kinds, had won, and humanity had lost. Reduced to livestock, scattered across realms where they lived unaware of their plight.

She had witnessed all kinds of emotions—pain, joy, bliss, fear, and even grief—and found herself reveling in them at times. It was her nature to indulge in these feelings, to observe, to savor them. But despite all the emotion she had consumed, despite all the lives she had observed, she could never truly understand them.

But even after witnessing it countless times, she couldn't understand it.

Devils were creatures of isolation by nature. They didn't seek companionship. They didn't need it. Their purpose was singular: to devour humans, to simply exist, day in and day out. They had no grand goals or ambitions. They were creatures of hunger and domination, nothing more.

But even after witnessing it countless times, she couldn't grasp what it meant to feel.

Vinum's gaze was fixed on her crystal ball, its glow illuminating her darkened chamber. The image within was clear—a vision of two corpses, lifeless and cold. She could feel her insides being torn apart, yet she showed no emotion. 

Was it pity? Regret? Grief? 

Or an unfamiliar sense of emptiness like the realization of her meaningless existence. Just like all the humans she consumed.

Her fingers tightened into fists, her nails digging into her palms. A tremor ran through her, a rare moment of vulnerability that slipped past her usual composure.

In the end, she cared. Even if she was just a demon, she cared for something. And now it was gone.

For years, she had lived in pursuit of knowledge—writing books, studying the realm of magic, delving into the nature of succubi, demons, and the endless possibilities of the world. This had been her purpose, her entertainment, her only thread to the world. But now? That thread had unraveled.

Her last source of meaning was slipping away from her, and the realization stung worse than anything she had ever experienced.

Here in this world, demons were scared of humans, and she now knew why. At first, she thought it would spice up her life, a throbbing feeling in her chest, excitement coursing through her veins upon seeing worthy opponents. 

Her instincts as a succubus had been thrilled by the hunt, by the struggle, by the idea that she might finally face something with the strength to challenge her.

But now, with the sight of those two corpses before her, that initial rush felt hollow, and the weight of it crushed her.

And suddenly, she realized what she had never allowed herself to understand.

This was what it felt like. This was grief . To mourn the loss of something. To care enough to feel the weight of that absence.

The sensation was alien to her, but it was undeniable. She had never cared before. Not for anyone, not for anything. But now… now, something inside her had shifted.

She needed answers. She had to know why she felt this way, why this loss was gnawing at her, why she was so consumed by it. She couldn't go on like this, drifting in a sea of empty hunger and meaninglessness. She needed to understand—both what had happened and what was happening to her.

Otherwise, she would lose herself completely.

With soft, measured steps, in the middle of the quiet night, she approached the door. Her hand hovered over the knob, the cool metal beneath her fingers. It creaked slightly as she turned it, the sound unnervingly loud in the silence of the room.

She stepped out into the hallway, the darkness enveloping her like an old cloak. But for the first time in a long while, she didn't feel quite as comfortable in it.

The little succubus walked to the other end of the hallway, where the boy was sleeping. If there was one person capable of killing them, it was him. If that was the case, she would apply swift vengeance. Yes, it was what she needed.

She opened the door so as to not make a single sound, her clothes suddenly transforming. Gone was the little girl in a purple skirt and white shirt, welcomed was the ruthless princess. Her once-soft purple skirt and white blouse were replaced by a dark outfit which was more revealing. Her wings unfurled from her back—long, delicate yet menacing, the white membranes laced with vibrant pink veins that pulsed with an otherworldly energy. 

She adjusted her long-sleeved purple gloves, her golden eyes glowing in the dark room. And as her eyes locked onto the boy in his slumber, something stirred within her.

It had started when she first saw him in the Dreamworld. It had flickered to life again when she helped him in the pocket castle, when she met him in the desert, and when she fought him on the harbor.

The same, relentless feeling. A drive, an urge— to protect him.

Vinum scoffed at herself, her lips curling into a bitter, cruel smile. She ignored the sensation each time, telling herself that it was some trick of the boy's unnatural power. There was something about him, something that influenced even demons like her to protect him. But it didn't matter.

She wasn't going to let herself be swayed. In fact, she was certain that none of the demons present in this world could be influenced by such pitiful sentimentality. No, they were above that.

She walked toward him, each step measured, the sound of her heels silent against the floor. Her tail swished from left to right in anticipation, her lips curling into a cruel smile.

With a soft huff, she leaped onto the bed, her body landing with an effortless grace. Her eyes never left his slumbering face, the sight of his innocence almost mocking her. He lay there, vulnerable and unaware of her presence.

The tension between them, however, was palpable. Something shifted in her chest as she stared down at him, an unfamiliar discomfort gnawing at her gut. Despite everything, despite the countless reasons she had to act with cruelty, she found herself frozen for a moment. Her golden eyes softened just slightly as they lingered on him.

Perhaps he wasn't the one that killed them. 

She leaned closer, her breath a whisper in the night, and though every instinct told her to strike, to act with the ruthless decisiveness that had defined her existence for centuries, something held her back. It wasn't fear, nor was it weakness. It was a strange, overpowering sense of something— care .

She would never admit it. Not even to herself.

But then, his eyes opened, meeting hers. 

Her eyes were cold, lacking any empathy or even compassion, and yet…

"Boy," she spoke, her tone icier than ever, a mask of indifference in place. "Tell me. Do you know someone who could kill two high-ranking succubi?"

Luka blinked multiple times, feeling her foot pressing heavily on his chest, menacing to crush him if he dared to give the wrong answer. 

"H-Hey, Vinum. What are you doing at this hour?" he whispered and looked left to his alarm clock. "It's 3 in the morning!" 

"Answer, boy." she pressed even further, the air escaping from his lungs. 

"Hey chill!" he snapped his arms reaching for her leg. But her tail swatted them away, her hand now glowing with dark magic.

"I know a lot of people who could do that!" Luka raised his hand in a defensive gesture, his breath still shallow from the pressure. "You need to be more precise!"

The urgency in his voice did nothing to soften her stance. She loomed over him, her eyes unwavering, her expression unreadable.

Then, she slowly lowered her arm and removed some pressure from her foot, leaving Luka gasping for air. Vinum looked down, her eyes searching for something.

"Is something wrong?" Luka asked, his eyes still half-closed from the sleepiness. "Did something happen?"

Vinum sighed, her breath escaping in a slow, almost imperceptible exhale. "So you're not aware," she murmured, almost to herself, before dropping off the bed in a fluid motion.

Luka blinked, his heart still racing, his breath coming easier now that the pressure had lifted. "Vinum?" he managed, still trying to piece together what had just happened.

Vinum didn't answer. She was walking away, her silhouette cutting through the dim light, the soft swish of her tail the only sound that accompanied her. Luka felt his heart tighten. This wasn't right.

With a soft sigh, Luka pushed himself off the bed, his legs a little unsteady as he crossed the floor to catch up with her. He reached out, grabbing her hand gently, his voice barely a whisper, "Hey, stop."

Vinum's head snapped back, her eyes blazing with fury. The air around her seemed to crackle as her body tensed, her power radiating outward. "Let go of me," she hissed, her voice colder than ever.

A jolt of electricity surged through Luka's arm, and he gasped in pain, his hand jerking away instinctively. The shock left his muscles numb, a burning sensation spreading through him.

Luka staggered back, still reeling from the sting of her magic. His breath came out in short bursts, his chest heaving with the aftershock. 

"Tch, Vinum!" Luka grunted lowly, trying not to wake anyone up with the noise. "What's gotten into you? You were all fine at the beach today!"

Vinum's laugh was dark, hollow, as she looked back at him, her expression a mask of cold indifference. "This is none of your business," she sneered. "No. You should be glad. Two horrible demons died yesterday."

Luka's eyes widened in shock. "What…?"

Two demons? 

"Wait, your friends?" Luka's voice softened, the concern for her bleeding into his words. His gaze shifted between her and the door, his thoughts running wild. "They died…?"

Vinum bit her lower lip before turning to face him. "Don't act like you cared about them. You barely knew them."

"Yeah but…"

Vinum turned back toward the door, her shoulders stiff. "Now go back to sleep," she said, the finality in her tone leaving no room for argument.

"Nah, fuck that," Luka muttered under his breath as he grabbed her wrist again, this time with a firmer grip. "If someone was able to kill demons as strong as you, then no way I'm letting you go alone."

Vinum's eyes flashed with cold fury. "Boy," she warned, her voice icy. "Don't act like we're friends, you and I."

Luka met her gaze with a mix of defiance and something else—something that wasn't quite compassion, but it was more than mere concern. "You're right. We're not friends," he said quietly, "but you're a sad acquaintance. A damn dangerous one. And as long as you don't control yourself right now, I'm not letting you go."

Vinum's eyes locked onto his, as if trying to slice him apart with nothing but sheer force of will. But instead of pulling away, Luka stood his ground.

A flicker of something—surprise?—crossed Vinum's expression, but it was gone before Luka could register it. She was still the same cold, dangerous figure. But there was a pause in the air, a moment where she seemed to consider him.

Then, without warning, her tail lashed out, slapping the ground with a crack. Her eyes softened just slightly, and she took a long, measured breath.

"You defeated me," she murmured, her voice quieter now, less biting.

"I know."

"And yet you should be nothing more than food."

"Right…"

She took a step back, almost as if she were thinking through something. "You told me my existence was nothing without humans," she said, her voice quieter still, as though the words were uncomfortable on her tongue.

"…Yeah," Luka answered slowly, unsure where this was going.

"And yet…" Vinum's eyes narrowed, confusion briefly flickering across her face. "Why do I feel…" She hesitated, a rare moment of vulnerability creeping into her usual steely gaze. "I shouldn't feel bad about this, but…"

Luka released her wrist, his expression unreadable. A heavy sigh escaped him as he stepped back. Vinum stood still, her posture rigid, lost in whatever internal conflict was swirling inside her. But before she could process it further, Luka began rummaging through his belongings in a nearby closet.

"What are you doing, boy?" she looked at him, searching for something with a focused expression.

"I also have many questions for you, and I'm going to be very blunt," he said, his voice lacking any warmth. Then, he stopped rummaging and pulled something out of his closet. He didn't show it and instead hid it behind his back as he sat on the bed. 

"Vinum," he called her name. "You feel empty because you are a being capable of empathy." 

Vinum's eyes narrowed, her tail flicking sharply. "Don't patronize me, boy."

"I'm not talking about humans you idiot," he sighed. "It's clear you don't care about humans at all. In fact, I bet you lived for so long eating humans like potato chips that you lost any ability to even care about us." He paused, his gaze turning sharper, more intense. "But there's still something inside you. Something human. That's what's making you feel like this. You're fighting something you don't even understand."

She sighed indifferently. "Are you trying to lecture me?" 

"No, because you already know what I'm talking about. And honestly, it pisses me off. He stood up, his voice gaining strength with every word. "You come in here, in the middle of the night, having an existential crisis over the death of your two demon friends. You're so damn full of yourself, acting like you don't care about anyone, but here you are—feeling bad, questioning yourself. So tell me, Vinum—what the hell are you going to do about it?"

"I am not questioning myself," she clicked her tongue dismissively, shaking her head with an almost mocking expression. "Kuku... I thought you were smarter than that, but you still don't understand us, do you?"

"Oh, I understand you more than you think. Up until now, you've been looking for a challenge, something to shake up your endless, boring existence. You're a scholar, a librarian, someone who seeks knowledge, always testing your limits."

Vinum's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Careful, boy."

But Luka wasn't deterred. "But now, you've lost two people you cared about. You tried to protect them, teach them, maybe even lecture them. And now you're standing here, hiding behind that cold, emotionless mask of yours, but I can see it. You've lost more than just two demons, haven't you?"

Her tail flicked agitatedly behind her, her anger rising. But Luka pressed on, his voice steady, unfazed. "You lost the part of you that gave a damn. And now you're standing here, telling yourself you're fine, when all I see is a broken girl who got beat up by a random guy like me."

"And you... you infuriate me, boy. With your pitiful whining, with your grumbling like the world is pressing down on your shoulders. Your existence is nothing but a pathetic, hero!"

"I NEVER ASKED TO BE A HERO OR DEAL WITH YOU!" he finally snapped, his voice exploding. "Yes! I'm just a random guy! But none of you bitches ever listen!" He took a step forward, closing the distance between them.

Vinum's anger boiled over, her hand flashing with dark magic as she unleashed a spell—a jagged bolt of energy aimed straight at him.

Luka didn't hesitate. With a flick of his wrist and a mask of cold indifference, he swatted it aside, the magic dissipating into harmless sparks.

He took another step forward. "If I were to listen to reason, I would have to kill all of you without a second thought. But the thing is, Vinum. I only indulged you because you helped me multiple times, and somehow ended up being a key element in saving the fucking world."

"So tell me now, Vinum," he towered right above her, his eyes never leaving hers. Then, he finally revealed what he had hidden behind his back…

A gun. Aimed straight at her.

Vinum's eyes widened, her lips parting in surprise, but her stance remained defiant. She didn't flinch.

"Should I pull the trigger and send you back to your two friends? Or should we try to fucking resolve our problems, find the guy who killed them together, and maybe chill the fuck out?"

Vinum's lips parted as she began to respond, her voice steady. "A gun cannot—"

But she was immediately cut off by Luka's cold, matter-of-fact reply. "Trust me, this one will. With the amount of energy you lost fighting me, there's no way that bullet bounces off you." His eyes bore into hers with a chilling certainty, daring her to challenge him further.

For a long moment, Vinum simply stood there, her eyes locked with his. Then, in a motion that was almost too fluid to follow, she reached out and took the barrel of the gun, aiming it straight at her own head.

She never feared death. After all, her existence has never been in danger so far, the exception being against him and that other hero in another world.

She met his gaze again, her voice quiet, yet resolute. "I have no fear of dying, boy."

Luka's grip tightened slightly on the gun, his knuckles whitening, but he didn't lower it. The barrel remained steady, aimed squarely at Vinum's head. "Then why the hell are you so angry right now? Why the hell were you working so hard to get back home?"

Vinum didn't answer. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her tail flicking sharply behind her, betraying her agitation. She looked away, her gaze dropping to the floor, but Luka wasn't about to let her off the hook.

"Because you're scared," he said, his tone softer now but no less intense. "You're a living creature, Vinum. You fear death like every single one of us humans. And when you're confronted with it, you lose it. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about."

She stayed silent, her shoulders stiff, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. But her silence spoke volumes. Luka could see it in the way her breath hitched, in the way her golden eyes flickered with something she couldn't quite name.

"You've seen so many humans terrified for their lives," he continued, his voice steady but laced with empathy. "But this? This is the first time you've felt it yourself. That's why you're standing here, pointing a gun at your own head—because you don't know how to deal with it, don't know how to process it. You're overwhelmed by the sheer reality of your mortality."

He paused, his gaze never leaving hers, and for a moment, the room was so quiet that the sound of their breathing seemed deafening. Then, under his breath, he muttered, "I swear, if I were omnipotent, I would smack the rules of your world back to normal and make you literal psychopaths back to normal."

She held her breath and closed her eyes.

"So, last thing I'm gonna ask you, Vinum," Luka said, his voice firm but not unkind. He holstered the gun, the click of the safety echoing in the quiet, and looked at her like a scolding parent. "Can you survive without killing humans?"

The succubus stared at him, her expression one of utter bewilderment, as if he'd just asked her to explain the meaning of life. "What are you implying?" she asked, her voice tinged with a mix of confusion and irritation.

Luka threw his hands up in frustration. "Oh, for fuck's sake! You're a scholar. You know damn well what I mean."

Vinum stared at him, her features flickering with a moment of something almost like contemplation. "Would you be disappointed if I said yes?" 

Luka blinked at her, his eyes searching for any sign of insincerity. But there was none. She was genuine. And it was clear she was very tired.

"No. Because that's literally what Saki was like before meeting me."

These girls are really going to make me pull my hair out.

With a heavy sigh, he dropped the gun onto the bed and reached under her arms, pulling her up from the ground. Vinum's eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't resist.

"Can I ask what you're doing?" she said, her voice tinged with suspicion as she narrowed her eyes at him.

"You bothered me during my sleep," Luka replied, his tone matter-of-fact. "Also, you're clearly tired and in no condition to look for the person who did this right now."

"Release me," she demanded, her voice cold but lacking its usual bite.

"No," Luka said, his tone firm but not unkind. "Because you're not feeling well, and I've got an opportunity to teach you a lesson."

Before she could protest further, he pulled her close, her head resting against his chest as he slumped onto the bed with a sigh. Vinum stiffened, her tail flicking sharply, but she didn't pull away.

"So, while I do something I've wanted to do for a while now," Luka said, his voice calm but laced with a hint of amusement, "I'll tell you something. You may listen or not—I don't care."

"And what, pray tell, is this 'something' you've wanted to do for a while now?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Luka smirked, his fingers gently brushing through her hair in a surprisingly tender gesture. "This," he said simply. "Crazy how cute you can be when you forget everything else."

"Are you… serious right now?" 

"No," Luka chuckled, still idly running his fingers through her hair. "For the longest time, I wanted to punch you. You scared the hell out of me. I didn't know how to talk to you—felt like walking on eggshells. Hell, everyone else is easier to deal with than you."

"You are a fool."

"I am," Luka admitted with a shrug, his tone light but sincere. "I never pretended I wasn't. But… I always hated seeing people cry. And you, you're crying inside, even if you don't want to admit it."

Vinum's breath caught, her golden eyes widening slightly before she looked away, her expression unreadable. For a moment, she said nothing, the silence stretching between them like a taut thread. Then, with a soft sigh, she relaxed slightly, her head resting more fully against his chest.

"Life is fragile," he murmured, his voice as gentle as a lullaby. "For all the ease with which you demons can kill, in this world, you can just as easily be killed. A pull of a trigger, a well-placed strike… and that's it. It's over."

Just like him before. He found it funny, how when confronted with the inevitability of the end, even the mightiest could cower in fear. 

A common trait, shared by everyone.

Except for absolute monsters. 

And for a succubus knowing fully well that concept after devouring countless lives, it was like a revelation. 

Though she might not change her view on humans, she still felt. And to Luka, it mattered. 

"…Fine," she muttered at last. "Just for tonight."

Luka arched a brow. "Just for tonight what?"

"I'll let you act like you know… everything…boy…" she said, her voice quieter than before.

He felt her relax in his embrace, her small frame falling into a deep slumber. 

There was one thing he couldn't stand more than anything.

Misunderstanding others, no matter who they were.