Is It Strange For A Succubus To Be Wearing Clothes?

Chapter 47

—–CROW—– 

He looked like a young man in his late teens at most.  

With noble-looking blond hair, he was the very image of a pretty boy, but his actual age was probably a bit older. 

Awakened individuals often appeared much younger than they were, and in some cases, their aging stopped completely.

“…”

This noble guest was Hero Lee Yoo-jin, an S-rank Hunter from Hoyeon Guild and, like Jae-hee, a Returnee from another world.

These days, many claimed the title of “Hero,” boasting of their exploits in other worlds or claiming divine selection. 

Most were just pretenders, but Lee Yoo-jin’s claim carried a certain weight.

The reason was simple: he was powerful, and he used his power righteously.  In a world turned upside down, Lee Yoo-jin was a voice for justice. 

He constantly watched over the city from the top floor of Hoyeon Guild, appearing like a comet to aid citizens whenever trouble brewed or monsters emerged.

People adored Lee Yoo-jin for his comic-book heroism, showering him with praise and cheers for his valiant deeds.

And this very Hero now found Jae-hee, holding a glass of liquor with human eyeballs floating within.

“Hee, hehehe~ Hello~ We have a strange visitor~”  Jae-hee greeted Lee Yoo-jin, her face slightly flushed from the alcohol.

But Yoo-jin didn’t respond.  His course of action was already clear.

“[Spectrum Slash]”

“Oh my?”

A flash of light erupted from Yoo-jin’s hand, hurtling towards Jae-hee at the speed of light.  Like a spear, like a sword, the flash pierced straight through the ceiling of Jae-hee’s house.

“Ah, aha, haha.”

Jae-hee merely tilted her head back, dodging the flash with a smile.  “Not a visitor, but a nuisance, then?”

Her smile held a distinct edge of displeasure.  

It was rare for Jae-hee to express such open annoyance.  She didn’t usually harbor ill feelings towards those who attacked her, monster or human.  Usually.

*‘But he just destroyed the house Dan Unnie gave me, without a word.’*

Jae-hee raised a hand to her cheek where the flash had grazed her, ever so slightly.

—Sizzle…!

More than just a flash, it was a physically manifested beam of light, burning and melting the delicate skin of Jae-hee’s fingers.  

The flash was intensely hot, capable of slicing or disintegrating anything it touched, and its effects were amplified against demons.

Instantly assessing the nature of the attack, Jae-hee grinned, meeting the nuisance’s glare.  “Oh my, isn’t this the famous Hero? 

What brings you all the way to my house?”

“I have nothing to say to a demon who has crossed the line.”

Without further explanation, Yoo-jin unleashed his next attack.

“[Cross Nova]”

A blazing cross of light materialized above him.  *‘Such a grand attack right from the start. No conversation, no warning. Is he the type to skip all the dialogue and just go straight for the kill?’*  Jae-hee thought, just as the cross exploded at the entrance.

—BOOOOM!!!

*‘Oh dear… This is bad.  It didn’t cost me anything thanks to the government, but I was starting to like this place.’*  Her carefully sorted recycling, the *doenjang jjigae* and rice Dan Unnie had prepared… all gone.

Hero Lee Yoo-jin.  

Though hailed as a true hero, the reality was somewhat different.  

He *did* help people, he *was* a Returnee, and he *was* praised as a Hero in another world.  However, his heroic status was less about his character and more about his unique ability.

Simply put, Yoo-jin was an attention seeker. 

His power, [Admiration], allowed him to convert positive human emotions – praise, joy, cheers, gratitude – into strength.  

Similar to Jae-hee, who converted all human emotions into essence and life force, but Yoo-jin only drew from the positive.  

This manifested as bright light and flashes, leading people to hail him as the legendary Hero of Light.

So, regardless of his true feelings, Yoo-jin had to act the part of a hero.  Otherwise, he would weaken, losing everything he had gained, including his power, his soulmate, his very essence.

Yoo-jin sought out Jae-hee because of her recent feat: calming the monstrous fog that plagued Seoul with a single violin performance.  

*‘Finding the violinist wasn’t difficult with Hoyeon Guild’s resources and observation Awakened.’*

Jae-hee didn’t exactly hide herself. 

The government made some effort to conceal her existence, but not very diligently, especially when she wasn’t causing trouble. They weren’t outright hostile towards her like the previous administration.

Yoo-jin believed a negotiation was necessary.  

Jae-hee’s ability to quell the city’s fear with her music posed a direct threat to his own power, which relied on him actively rescuing people and earning their admiration.  

While he was running around playing hero, she could achieve the same result with a single melody.

He wanted to discuss a partnership, perhaps even recruit her into Hoyeon Guild, or at least establish a non-interference agreement.  

While he had selfish motivations, they weren’t inherently malicious.  A proper conversation might have led to some form of cooperation.

But the sight of Jae-hee, drunk on human eyeball liquor, immediately changed his mind.

*‘What the hell is this?’* he thought, at first with confusion.  But as their eyes met, a chilling realization washed over him.

*This creature consumes humans.  There’s no reasoning with it.  It’s not rational.*  The wings, the ominous aura… a demon.  A high-ranking demon!  A wave of terror washed over him.

*‘I have to kill it, no matter the cost.’*  Jae-hee wasn’t just a threat to his territory; she was a threat to the world.

That’s why he attacked without hesitation, reducing her house to rubble.  Of course, the five-story building was empty.  The entire property was dedicated to Jae-hee, after all.

But that didn’t mean she was pleased.

“It hurts…” she mumbled, as the injured flesh and burns regenerated with a sickening crackle.  “That’s too much.  Too much.”

Sitting amidst the debris, legs crossed, Jae-hee glared with feigned sorrow.  While reality warping was powerful, it wasn’t without limitations.  

It required a massive amount of energy, and while Jae-hee could substitute with life force, rebuilding a house wasn’t worth the cost.

“At least I saved this,” she said, holding up the glass of human liquor.  “Ah, delicious.  Can’t waste this.”

Yoo-jin glared down at her from the air.  “What’s so fun about doing something like that?”

“What’s so fun?” she echoed.

“I’ve never understood.  People say it’s instinct for demons, but weren’t you all human once?”  He gestured to the liquor. 

“I can’t comprehend willingly giving up your humanity just for pleasure.  No, the reason you gave up your humanity is simple.”  

Light gathered in his hand again. “You were always like this.  Now that you have power, you’re just revealing your true, disgusting nature.”

Jae-hee scoffed inwardly.  

She knew the eyeball liquor wasn’t a pleasant sight.  But did he know *who* this person was, what kind of life they lived?  

How many innocent people they killed?  Did he think she was drinking this for fun?  It was sustenance, a concentrated source of life force that kept her sane.

*And my true nature?* she thought.  

*Do you know how much I hold back, how hard I fight the urge to kill and destroy everything, every single moment?  Do you even know me?  Do you know anything about my life?  How dare you judge me based on such superficial observations?*

“Haa…” Jae-hee sighed, a mix of anger and resignation.  It was pointless.  He wouldn’t understand.  *I’ll just kill him.  I’m not holding back anymore.*

—Creeeaaak!!!

The space around her warped, a sinister aura distorting the air and reality itself.  Her eyes turned crimson.

“You fucking bastard!”

—SLAM!

A sweet voice cut through the air, laced with a vicious curse.  Both Jae-hee and the Hero turned to see Dan Unnie, normally a picture of innocence, her face now a mask of rage.

“D-Dan Ah-yeon!?”  

Yoo-jin exclaimed, recognizing her.  

While they weren’t personally acquainted, Dan Ah-yeon was well-known in the Hunter community.

Ignoring him, Dan Ah-yeon rushed to Jae-hee’s side, her eyes blazing.  “Are you okay?  Are you hurt?”  She glared at Yoo-jin, then fussed over Jae-hee, dusting off her clothes.

At the sight of Dan Unnie, Jae-hee’s crimson eyes faded back to violet.  The distorting aura vanished.  She grinned.  “Sob, sob, I’m hurt.  It hurts.  This strange man attacked me…!”

“Don’t joke. Are you really not hurt?”  Dan Unnie’s serious expression made Jae-hee’s eyes crinkle into crescents.  *Delicious.*

“Heehee, no, I’m fine.  I would have healed already anyway.”

Dan Unnie carefully examined her, ensuring her national treasure, her world-class beauty, was unharmed.  Then she noticed it: a clean cut across the waist of Jae-hee’s suit, revealing a sliver of skin beneath.  *That Hero bastard cut Jae-hee-nim.*

“Dan Unnie, I’m really okay.  Perfectly fine now that you’re here.”

Relieved, Dan Ah-yeon leaned her forehead against Jae-hee’s shoulder.  “I’m so glad…”  She removed her coat and draped it over Jae-hee.

“Oh my…”

“Even if you’re not hurt, it’s cold… and I can’t have any dust settling on you, Jae-hee-nim.”  She looked like a prince charming, a protective aura emanating from her small frame.  Jae-hee couldn’t comprehend it, but she licked her lips. *Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious.*

“Just wait a moment.  Let’s have dinner together.”

“Okay, okay~”  Jae-hee fought to maintain control.  *She asked me to have dinner with her.  Hold back.  Just a little longer.*

While Jae-hee struggled with her impulses, Dan Ah-yeon turned to face Yoo-jin, her expression hardening.

“Dan Ah-yeon.  I don’t know what you’ve been doing, but you’re wasting your time here. You’ve been charmed by this human-eating demon…”

“Shut the fuck up.”  

The gentle, innocent Dan Ah-yeon Jae-hee knew was gone.  

“I’m not your friend. We’re not close. So let me introduce myself.” 

 She glared at the famed Hero of Hoyeon Guild as if he were nothing but pond scum.  

“I’m Dan Ah-yeon, Civil Servant in charge of Specially Managed Returnees.”  She pulled on a pair of pristine white gloves, her grip tight. 

“And right now, under the authority granted to me… I’m going to beat the living shit out of you.”

—–CROW—– 

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