Is It Strange For A Succubus To Be Wearing Clothes?

Chapter 48

—–CROW—– 

Yoo-jin and Dan Ah-yeon were childhood acquaintances.

Not incredibly close, more like people who grew up in the same neighborhood and attended the same school.

They were different ages and hadn’t really interacted much.

They knew of each other, weren’t on bad terms, and would exchange pleasantries at reunions or gatherings.

However, one became a government official, an Awakened Hunter upholding the government’s position, while the other was transported to another world, gained power, earned the title of “Hero,” and then returned to Earth.

“Dan Ah-yeon, I don’t understand why someone with your talent and skill is still a government lapdog.”

Their positions were diametrically opposed.

They couldn’t understand each other’s perspectives.

Yoo-jin lamented every time he saw Dan Ah-yeon.

“You could have easily earned the S-rank title and gotten much more from the government. Are you really content being a government lackey, doing their dirty work?”

“…”

Yoo-jin genuinely felt both pity and disdain for Dan Ah-yeon.

With her abilities, she could achieve so much more.

She could join Hoyeon Guild with him… or any other promising large guild, for that matter.

She could earn a fortune and be showered with honors!

And yet, she chose to be a lowly public official Hunter, constantly being pushed around?

“Dan Ah-yeon, since we’ve met, let’s be honest. I’d still take you as my partner even now…”

—BOOM!!!!

As he spoke, an explosion-like sound erupted right next to Yoo-jin’s face.

Dan Ah-yeon had launched a condensed, invisible barrier at him like a baseball.

While the barrier’s primary function was to protect and defend, it also possessed immense mass and physical force.

“Shut up.”

“…Hah, fine. If that’s how you want to play it…!”

Yoo-jin snapped his fingers, and numerous spears of light materialized in the air.

A flashy display, designed to draw cheers and admiration.

A fitting ability for someone with the power of [Admiration].

However, Dan Ah-yeon’s ability was… very simple.

She used barriers.

Of course, there were various types of barriers.

Physical barriers, mental barriers, ability barriers, flame barriers, lightning barriers, darkness barriers, poison barriers.

Barriers that could block and filter all sorts of things.

She could even selectively allow allied attacks or beneficial effects to pass through.

This made her the perfect candidate to handle Jae-hee.

Perhaps… Dan Ah-yeon was one of the few people completely immune to Jae-hee’s charm.

And it was Dan Ah-yeon who had erected the protective barriers around Seoul.

Her combat method was also very simple.

She layered thousands of barriers on herself and charged.

—Crack!

The ground beneath Dan Ah-yeon’s feet cracked.

The multiple layers of barriers added an immense amount of mass to her body.

Jae-hee, sitting cross-legged behind them, swirling the human liquor in her glass, grinned.

“Dan Unnie~”

“…Ah, yes, Jae-hee-nim.”

“Fighting~”

Jae-hee’s encouraging smile made Dan Ah-yeon shake her head and blink, trying to resist the charm.

*Ugh… the scent of allure.*

*So strong.*

*So sweet.*

*Uuuugh…*

*Get a grip.*

*First, let’s take care of this guy.*

*Can’t have a famous S-rank Hunter turning up as a mummified corpse in broad daylight.*

*Right.*

Empowered by Jae-hee’s cheer, Dan Ah-yeon launched herself forward.

—BOOM!

The moment she left the ground, Yoo-jin’s spears of light shot towards her like bullets.

Each spear was powerful enough to kill most monsters in a single hit, but they didn’t even scratch Dan Ah-yeon’s multi-layered barriers.

—Crack!

Charging forward with thousands of barriers layered upon her, Dan Ah-yeon was a human tank.

No, not a tank, more like a human missile.

*‘But she has a clear weakness.’*

Her immense power, speed, and mass restricted her to straightforward attacks.

No curved attacks, no agile dodging.

Only straight lines.

Yoo-jin, aware of this, thought dodging her attack would be simple.

Just avoid the straight line.

But…

*‘Huh?’*

The next moment, Yoo-jin gaped as Dan Ah-yeon reached him.

Only straight-line attacks?

True.

Easy to dodge?

Only if your strength and speed were sufficient.

*Seriously?* Yoo-jin thought. *Even without [Admiration], my physical abilities are S-rank.  And yet I can’t react to a simple straight-line attack?*

*‘Just how much has she been holding back, this Dan Ah-yeon…’*

—BOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!

Yoo-jin’s face met Dan Ah-yeon’s white-gloved fist, sending him flying.

He managed to shield his head with light at the last moment, but the force of the punch, amplified by thousands of barriers, distorted even the light, impacting his head directly.

“…Holy shit.”

Yoo-jin blinked, momentarily stunned.  He’d flown at least 100 meters.  He was now in a populated area.

*What to do?* he wondered.

Before he could decide, Dan Ah-yeon appeared beside him, pulling off her gloves and crouching down.

“…Not going to keep fighting?”

“Neither of us can afford to fight in public.”

“Hmm, that’s true.”

Yoo-jin tried to stand, but his head swam from the impact.  A concussion, maybe?  He felt nauseous.  He hadn’t felt this way since becoming a Hero.

“I saved you.”

“What are you talking about?”

Seeing the fight had subsided, Dan Ah-yeon sighed.

“If you had stayed there, you would have been begging for death.”

“…”

Yoo-jin recalled Lee Jae-hee, smiling cheerfully behind Dan Ah-yeon.

That high-ranking demon…

He admitted attacking her the moment he arrived was rash.

But seeing a high-ranking demon drinking human liquor… how could he restrain himself?

Furthermore, with his [Admiration] ability, he valued public perception and praise.

He couldn’t *not* attack Jae-hee.

“If you say so, then that demon… Lee Jae-hee…”

“It’s Jae-hee-*nim*.  Show some respect.”

“…So I’m not supposed to touch Lee Jae-hee. An agreement between the government and the Association?”

“Yes, now that you understand, we’re done here.”

“However…”

“However what?”

“I still don’t understand.  Dan Ah-yeon, you’re too talented to be wasting your time cleaning up after a demon.”

“Whatever.”

Dan Ah-yeon chuckled and punched Yoo-jin, who was still reeling from the concussion, in the head.

“Ugh…!”

“Hey, let me ask you something.  Don’t you think Seoul… no, all of Korea, is a little *too* peaceful?”

“What?”

“What do you think of the global situation? As an S-rank Hunter of Hoyeon Guild, as a Hero, give me your assessment.”

“…”

What was she talking about?

Yoo-jin wondered about Dan Ah-yeon’s intentions.

The global situation…

It was far from peaceful.

Canada was crippled by warped metal and otherworldly incursions from Alaska.

The former world power, the United States, struggled to control its own territory. South America was devastated, with new interim governments rising and falling almost weekly.

Siberia and Africa were deliberately ignored.  Communication was completely cut off, and no one knew what was happening there.  Reconnaissance teams were occasionally dispatched, but the reports were far from reassuring.

China’s population had dwindled to less than 50 million.  Half of Japan had sunk or been destroyed.

Europe, thanks to the efforts of the first-generation Hunters, had managed to contain the spread of Rifts and destruction, but the aftermath of their betrayal of those very heroes lingered.  Europe was the primary target of criminal Awakened, including Defectors.  It was so precarious that many believed it would be the next to fall.

*‘There are far more countries on the brink of collapse than peaceful ones…’*

Every nation, every continent, every person was desperately struggling to survive.  Except for Korea.

“Wait a minute.”

A strange sense of unease washed over Yoo-jin.

Something was wrong.

What was he thinking just now?

That Korea was peaceful?

That this country was peaceful?

People were laughing, enjoying their daily lives.

Going to work, going to school, chatting online, engaging in various communities.

Logistics were stable, the military and Hunters were vigilant, maintaining order…

How could this *not* be peaceful?

*‘No, no. Objectively, Korea isn’t that great.’*

Outside the Green Zones of major cities, the government had practically abandoned the Gray Zones.  Vagrants, robbers, and criminals, like bandits and raiders, constantly threatened urban areas.  Rural areas, beyond the government’s reach, were lawless wastelands, filled with Red Zones and monster nests.  Even North Korea, a Black Zone within their own borders, remained unexplored.

How could this be peaceful?

*‘Why did I think it was peaceful? I regularly participate in Red Zone subjugations in rural areas.  Even urban areas rely on protective barriers to keep out monsters.’*

Yoo-jin realized the source of his unease.

Mental contamination.

Or a memetic contamination bordering on brainwashing.

If he had recognized it as harmful, he would have been on guard, trying to shake it off.  But ever since his return, becoming an S-rank Hunter of Hoyeon Guild, becoming *Hero* Yoo-jin, he hadn’t felt a single ounce of discomfort.

“Ah, you figured it out?”

“Why didn’t I think this was strange before?”

It was like taking for granted the ability to move your arms, to breathe, to accept that humans couldn’t fly unaided.

Seeing Yoo-jin’s shocked expression, Dan Ah-yeon sighed.

“Honestly, the world is on the verge of collapse.  But Korea is unusually peaceful.”

This country, South Korea, was living as if forcibly drugged with a sense of peace and stability, as if it were *natural* for people to live peaceful lives.

Objectively… it was anything but peaceful or stable.

“It’s not a bad thing.  The government is quick to respond to Red Zones, Rifts, and other threats.  Hunters and guilds are actively working.  It’s just that people are living without the constant fear and anxiety.”

“Did the government spread some kind of mass memetic agent?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. If they had that kind of power, they would have done something else by now.”

Dan Ah-yeon said with a smile.

She didn’t look like someone on the government payroll at all.

“Jae-hee-nim is the Succubus Empress.  She embraces love, beauty, everything beautiful in the world.”

“…Don’t tell me.”

“Jae-hee-nim found this peaceful, beautiful, and stable country ‘beautiful.’  Based on her memories before returning. She made the world peaceful and beautiful, at least within the range of Seoul for now.”

If this was true… Jae-hee was essentially a walking, talking, mass-produced tranquilizer for the entire population of South Korea.

Unintentionally, perhaps.  And people, including Awakened, seemed oblivious to it.

“…That’s… unexpected.  Is that why you’re protecting that demon… Lee Jae-hee?”

“That’s not the only reason.”

With that, Dan Ah-yeon stood up.

“The bill for the damages will be sent to Hoyeon Guild, so keep that in mind.”

“…Hah.  I’ve completely ruined my first impression.  What am I going to do?”

Dan Ah-yeon looked Yoo-jin up and down.

Pretty boy.

Hero.

Hmm.

Not her type.

“That’s your problem.”

Jae-hee-nim wasn’t into guys like you, anyway.

—–CROW—– 

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