Is It Strange For A Succubus To Be Wearing Clothes?

Chapter 53

—–CROW—– 

The Kaesong Industrial Complex.  

Originally established as part of the Sunshine Policy, its purpose was to promote economic cooperation and exchange between North and South Korea.  

For a while, it showed promise, generating some positive outcomes and interesting stories.  Unfortunately, as inter-Korean relations soured, its potential was never fully realized.

But now, whether relations were good or bad was irrelevant.  

The Kim dynasty, the self-proclaimed royal family of North Korea, had been completely wiped out with the advent of the Rifts.

One of the first Rifts had opened right in the heart of Pyongyang.  

The Kim regime mobilized its entire army to attack it, but the Rift spewed forth kilometer-sized behemoths, monsters resistant to anything but B-rank or higher mana attacks.  

Even if they managed to land a hit, the monsters’ regenerative abilities rendered the 100,000-strong army useless.

North Korea, already struggling to fuel its planes and tanks, resorted to its last, desperate measure: the nuclear button, imbued with the spirit of their *Juche* ideology.

Initially, there were fears they might target South Korea, Japan, or the United States.  But for whatever reason, the nukes fell only on North Korean territory, effectively ending the Kim dynasty.

North Korea became a wasteland.  

Satellite surveillance was hampered by mana interference, making it impossible to ascertain the fate of its 20 million citizens.  

However, judging by the massive monster waves and powerful creatures emerging from the region, the prevailing theory was that North Korea had essentially become another dimension, its surviving population and habitable land transformed.

The South Korean government, despite effectively annexing parts of the Shandong Peninsula, Manchuria, and the Japanese archipelago, creating a Greater Northeast Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere, still faced significant challenges in governing this expanded territory.  The primary obstacle was North Korea.

Before the Rifts, it had been a nation bled dry by the Kim regime.  Now, it was a dimensional anomaly, a festering wound on the peninsula.

Despite these challenges, the South Korean government continued its efforts to reclaim North Korean territory, establishing a forward operating base in Kaesong.

Hoyeon Guild, now the largest guild in South Korea, had earned its reputation after liberating Kaesong.  

The former industrial complex in Bongdong-ri, Panmun District, Kaesong City, was now the [Kaesong Forward Operating Base], a heavily fortified stronghold bristling with magical defenses, mana-engineered artillery, and elite troops.

The Kaesong base was a beacon, a lighthouse in the monster-infested sea that was North Korea, its light drawing in the creatures, protecting the South.

“Attention!  Present arms!”

“No, no, that’s not necessary.”  Dan Ah-yeon waved her hands, flustered by the excessive display of respect from the base commander.

While the Kaesong base alone couldn’t hold back the endless tide of monsters from the other-dimensional North Korea, its defenses were significantly bolstered by Dan Ah-yeon’s world-class barriers and wards.  

Thanks to her efforts, the base was an island of safety in a sea of monsters, a functioning lighthouse amidst the storm.

Dan Ah-yeon was a valuable asset to the government and practically a deity to the base personnel.  Of course, this was a highly classified secret, known only to a select few.  Ignorant politicians still occasionally questioned the need for such elaborate defenses, suggesting they could just hire a few Awakened with barrier magic.

“Oh my, I’m jealous.”

“What?”  Dan Ah-yeon stiffened at Jae-hee’s sudden remark.  Why was the Succubus Empress jealous?

“I thought you were *my* Dan Unnie, but here, you’re everyone’s Dan Unnie.  I’m jealous.”

“Jae-hee-nim, please don’t act like a child.”

“Heehee, just kidding~”  If she were serious, she wouldn’t have said it out loud.

Jae-hee surveyed the Kaesong base, taking in the sights from inside the car.  Even with her veil, her presence outside could wreak havoc on the soldiers’ minds.

*‘Quite an impressive place.’*  It exuded a desolate, apocalyptic atmosphere.  Artillery pieces and weapons were ready to fire at a moment’s notice.  The military discipline was strict.

The base resembled a giant monster’s skull, a fortress of metal and stone rising from the barren landscape.  The air was thick with the scent of iron and oil, the wind howling through the fortifications.

Entering the base, the first things that caught her eye were the defensive barricades and watchtowers, manned by emotionless Hunters monitoring the surroundings with high-tech equipment. The massive metal walls surrounding the base rose dozens of meters high, scarred by countless battles.  Bullet holes and scorch marks testified to the base’s long and arduous history.

Maintenance bays and armories were scattered throughout the base, where heavy machinery and weaponry were being disassembled and repaired.  Grease-stained mechanics swiftly replaced parts, inspecting Hunters’ weapons and vehicles.  Nearby, defensive robots and drones were being recharged and upgraded.

But the most striking aspect of the base was its silence.  Beneath the cacophony of machinery and training exercises, a palpable tension hung in the air, a constant vigilance against unseen threats.  Everything here was geared towards efficiency and survival.

Thanks to the latest technology and generous funding, there were even some stylish buildings. (Though still distinctly military and Hunter-esque.) The soldiers stationed here were clearly elite, their faces sharp and disciplined.

Beyond the base, Dan Ah-yeon’s protective wards shimmered like stars in the sky, a beautiful and formidable defense.

*‘Oh my, I don’t usually find soldiers attractive, but these men are quite handsome.’*  Their bodies and postures were impeccable, well-trained and tall, their muscles evident even beneath their uniforms.

Jae-hee naturally enjoyed military environments.  

Young men, soldiers, Hunters… all gathered in one place.  And where there were soldiers and Hunters, there was an abundance of essence and life force, a feast for a Succubus.  Like a luxurious penthouse apartment with a view of the Han River, bathed in sunlight.

Incidentally, Jae-hee had served in the military.  While her human life was a distant memory now, she vaguely recalled her time in service.

“This is your first time here, isn’t it, Jae-hee-nim?”

“Yes, it is.  You’ve taken my first time, Dan Unnie~”

“…As you know, the Kaesong base is a fortress, a lighthouse against the other-dimensional North Korea.”

Dan Ah-yeon, her face crimson from the unexpected innuendo, desperately tried to change the subject.

“Fortunately, the invasion point is quite close to the base, in what we’ve designated as Sector D-7.”

While most invasions were handled by small Hunter guilds, government-led operations were on a different scale entirely.

Take goblins, for example.  

Normally a primitive species, during invasions, they could organize into kingdoms, wielding iron weapons, curses, and even magic, their numbers bolstered by champions and hobgoblins.  

There were even reports of goblins using modern weaponry like tanks and guns.  It wasn’t an exaggeration to consider invasions as incursions by otherworldly civilizations.

“Actually, this invasion is a bit unusual.”

“How so?”

“There’s been a surrender offer.”

Dan Ah-yeon led Jae-hee to an observation deck, enhanced with vision-amplifying magic.  With a slight adjustment, Dan Ah-yeon brought the landscape 50 kilometers away into clear view.

“A Gate?”

While the terms “Rift” and “Gate” were often used interchangeably, Rifts were one-way passages from another dimension to Earth, while Gates allowed two-way travel.

“Their civilization appears to be medieval, with knights and mages, multiple kingdoms… but their mana and ability levels are estimated to be quite high, earning them an Alpha classification.”

Invasion civilizations were classified into three categories: Alpha, Beta, and Gamma.

Alpha designated civilizations capable of engaging in equal combat with Earth.

Beta were civilizations technologically and magically inferior to Earth.

Gamma were civilizations far superior to Earth, requiring a global, all-out effort to combat.

While a Gamma-level invasion had never occurred, the increasing diversity and advancement of invading civilizations meant it wasn’t entirely impossible.

“While their language is completely different, we were able to communicate using translation magic.”

“What did they say?”

“A complete surrender, basically.”

Invading civilizations were usually extremely hostile and arrogant.

“They demanded we kill all the men and offer the women as slaves.  In exchange for sparing our civilization, they wanted 70% of our resources as tribute.  Naturally, negotiations broke down.”

Seventy percent?  Jae-hee couldn’t help but smirk.  They clearly had no intention of accepting a surrender; they wanted war.

“Actually, I heard a rumor… the Korean government wasn’t planning on peaceful coexistence either.”

“Oh my, really?”

“Apparently, large deposits of rare earth minerals and Mythril were discovered on the other side of the Gate.”

Mythril was a rare metal found primarily in dungeons, essential for modern magic engineering.  Its value was comparable to gold in the pre-Rift era.  Such a discovery would certainly justify mobilizing legions.

While establishing trade would have been ideal, the invaders’ ridiculous demands for tribute and subjugation left little room for diplomacy.

“So, the goal is complete annihilation?”

“Probably.  They’ve put out requests to Hoyeon Guild and other guilds with S-rank Hunters, but…”

“It’s not going well?”

“S-rank Hunters are busy.  Most of them are still off-world, containing dangerous Rifts.  Yoo-jin from Hoyeon Guild is here, but…”

“Oh, he is?”

“…Officially, he’s been placed on reserve duty due to… complications with his abilities.  He won’t be participating in the main offensive.”

Dan Ah-yeon knew about Yoo-jin’s current condition from the reports.  Jae-hee had transformed him into a woman.  That much was understandable.  But apparently, some kind of curse had also drastically altered his personality, making him timid and withdrawn.

He was here at the base, but he remained holed up in his quarters, refusing to see anyone.  Even when he ventured outside, he kept his face completely covered with a blanket.

According to the informants, the sound of him sobbing could be heard from his room every night.

*‘Hmm, how bad is it?  Did he lose his [Admiration] ability?  That shouldn’t be possible…’*

Dan Ah-yeon glanced in the direction of Yoo-jin’s quarters, a chilling smile playing on her lips.

“Heehee, delicious~”

“What?  What is?”

“I enjoy a good spectacle.  It’s quite satisfying to see someone so confident and arrogant reduced to a quivering mess, startled by the slightest sound.”

“…Huh?”

“Heehee, it will be even more beautiful to see him overcome his newfound weakness.”

Dan Ah-yeon fell silent, staring at Jae-hee.

*Did she know?*

*Well, it wouldn’t be surprising.  She *is* the Empress.*  She was the one who reshaped Yoo-jin, after all.

“Of course, it won’t be fun if he doesn’t overcome it.”

Jae-hee shrugged, turning her attention back to the shimmering Gate in the distance.

“So, the goal is complete annihilation, or conquest?”

“Yes.  No room for compromise.  They intend to annihilate us or enslave us.”

But there were no S-rank Hunters available.  They were the most effective force in invasion scenarios, capable of unleashing their full power without restraint.  While mana-engineered weaponry had its uses, the military’s primary role was to hold the line.  It was the high-ranking Awakened who delivered the killing blow.

“So you were supposed to participate, Dan Unnie?”

“Well… yes.  Since the S-rank Hunters are unavailable…”

“Heehee, seeing you as an enemy prisoner would be quite the sight~”

“…”  Dan Ah-yeon’s eyes narrowed.

*Heehee, Dan Unnie captured and enslaved by the Goblin Kingdom…*

While Jae-hee wasn’t fond of lewd thoughts, she occasionally indulged in such fantasies, like a guilty pleasure.

“Then I can go in your place, right?”

“Yes, I suppose…”

—Whoosh!

Before Dan Ah-yeon could finish, Jae-hee leaped from the observation deck.

“Wait!  I didn’t mean right now!”

Ignoring Dan Ah-yeon’s distant cries, Jae-hee spread her wings and soared towards the Gate.

A civilization from another world.

A civilization she could destroy.

A world where the Succubus Empress could play freely.

How could she not be excited?

“Ahaha, I don’t even need my veil!”

She had discarded the veil that usually concealed her face.

—–CROW—– 

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