LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 7 (illustration)
Chapter 7
—–CROW—–
—Assemblyman Lee Hyun-woo of the OO Party was forcibly admitted to a hospital early this morning, exhibiting symptoms of mental breakdown.
—Witnesses report incoherent muttering, excessive bodily fluid discharge, and self-harm.
—Assemblyman Lee was participating in the Night Sea observation, overseeing the on-site public service Hunters. According to other Assemblymen present, there were no mental contamination entities, nor were there any other victims…
—The mental contamination index for the Night Sea phenomenon was rated “very low,” and the mental stability readings of other non-Awakened participants were normal.
—The OO Party expressed their regret and wished Assemblyman Lee a speedy recovery…
—They also stated that they would investigate the possibility of unexpected mental contamination during the Night Sea phenomenon…
“…What’s going on?” Dan Ah-yeon, driving Jae-hee home on the highway, couldn’t hide her confusion at the sudden news. Assemblyman Lee Hyun-woo… wasn’t he one of the “higher-ups” in the VIP section? He was just drinking beer, safe and sound. What could have caused a mental breakdown?
“Hm? What is it?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. The radio mentioned Assemblyman Lee Hyun-woo. He was at the Night Sea observation.”
Jae-hee, who had been gazing out the window, turned to look at Dan Ah-yeon.
“…Will this affect your career, Officer Dan? Will you be reprimanded?”
“Ahaha…”
Reprimanded?
If anything, thanks to Jae-hee’s swift action, there were almost no casualties. Just a few exhausted Hunters.
The Assemblyman’s sudden mental breakdown seemed unrelated to the Night Sea… perhaps a pre-existing condition?
Besides, as a high-ranking Hunter, Dan Ah-yeon’s career was on an upward trajectory. Any reprimands would be directed at those above her, like Section Chief Park.
But that non-Awakened, loud-mouthed Section Chief had vanished the moment the Old Ram appeared. He was probably back at the office now, writing a report. Which meant, currently, there was no one above her in the Special Public Service Hunter division.
The Old Ram had appeared, but there were no casualties. In fact, it had been successfully repelled. The logs were recorded, which would aid in future dungeon and Gate predictions.
The observation had been a success.
Someone from the Presidential office might complain about the emergency call, but what could they do? They needed Jae-hee more than she needed them.
Even if a reprimand came, she could just feign compliance and ignore it.
“If anyone gives you trouble, Officer Dan, let me know.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll take care of them.”
“Ahaha…”
What a joke.
“I’m serious. I’ll take care of them.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine. I’m okay…”
Jae-hee’s idea of “taking care” of someone was probably terrifying…
“Really, it’s fine. Nothing happened to me. You don’t have to worry.”
“I see. Then, Officer Dan…”
“Yes?”
“If you’re truly alright, then please focus on me now.”
A shiver ran down Dan Ah-yeon’s spine.
W-What?
W-Was that… flirting?
“….”
“….”
“I… I’m driving…”
“I’m kidding.”
“….”
“….”
An awkward silence followed. Dan Ah-yeon desperately avoided looking at Jae-hee. She could feel Jae-hee’s gaze, but she refused to meet it. Looking now would be dangerous. Mentally, especially.
Was this… flirting?
‘Jae-hee-nim has a surprisingly normal mindset sometimes, but she’s still the Succubus Empress… she probably wasn’t offended by my “I’m driving” comment, right…?’
Coming from anyone else, it would have been a playful joke. But the speaker was the Special Management Returnee, the Succubus Empress.
Dan Ah-yeon considered herself a person with normal sexual preferences, but she knew a Succubus’s seduction wasn’t just about sex. It was about dominating the body, mind, and soul.
There were Awakened and Returnees who had become demonic entities, Succubi and Incubi among them. Their victims weren’t just lovers; they were utterly subservient slaves.
A Succubus’s seduction could mean losing not just your life, but your very self.
And Jae-hee wasn’t just a Queen; she was an Empress. Dan Ah-yeon felt a flicker of fear.
“S-So… um…”
“Officer Dan.”
“It’s fine. I was kidding.”
“….”
Right? It was a joke, right?
Just as Dan Ah-yeon relaxed, a heady scent enveloped her.
What is that?
Then she realized. It was a seduction scent. An incredibly potent one.
She knew. The Empress, sitting right next to her, was deliberately focusing her seductive power on her.
“So, look at me.”
No, she’s definitely mad!
So petty!
‘You’re usually so generous and magnanimous… why are you being so childish and petty?!’
Jae-hee was, in fact, slightly annoyed. If Dan Ah-yeon had simply responded with a flustered “Y-yes…” to her playful “Focus on me,” she would have been satisfied and returned to admiring the scenery.
But Dan Ah-yeon’s “I’m driving…” had triggered a childish, petty thought: ‘So, my beauty is less important than driving?’
“Look at me. Why won’t you look?”
Even if Jae-hee wasn’t truly angry, the intensity of the seductive aura was overwhelming. Could Dan Ah-yeon’s mind withstand it? The full force of the Succubus Empress’s allure?
“Officer Dan.”
‘If I look… I’m done for…!’
Looking would be disastrous.
The Succubus Empress usually wore a veil, but that was out of consideration for ordinary people. Would it be enough if she was actively trying to seduce someone?
“Officer Dan.”
“….”
“Look. At. Me.”
Her voice was closer now. A moment ago, she had been reclining in the passenger seat. Now, her voice slithered into Dan Ah-yeon’s ear like a serpent.
“W-Why… why are you doing this…?”
“I told you to focus on me. Is driving really that important?”
“Well, yes! What if we have an accident?!”
“Don’t you think I’m more important?”
“Eek…”
That was true. The car had autopilot. And the Empress was definitely more important than a car.
‘This is bad. Now her voice is seductive, too…’
Don’t look. Absolutely do not look. Looking meant becoming a slave, mind and soul melted and reshaped into an eternal servant of the Succubus.
But the honeyed voice was so captivating… Dan Ah-yeon trembled, and then…
Wait, what’s so bad about that?
With that sudden thought, she turned her head.
“Ah.”
The moment their eyes met, the seductive aura vanished.
Jae-hee’s eyes curved into crescents, a playful glint in them. Her face was still veiled. Her eyes, slightly moist, held Dan Ah-yeon’s gaze.
“Hee hee, I’m kidding. I was just bored.”
“….”
Phew, thank goodness. She didn’t remove her veil. That would have been the end.
She was just bored.
“H-Haa… Don’t do that. It’s bad for my heart…”
“But it felt good, right?”
“What… what felt good?”
“I’m pretty. You were bored in traffic, and seeing something pretty made you feel good, right?”
“…You know, you can be really obnoxious sometimes, Jae-hee-nim.”
“I’m allowed to be.”
I know I’m beautiful, she added with a giggle, turning to watch the sunrise.
The morning light illuminated the Empress’s violet eyes. An everyday occurrence, but the Succubus Empress, sensitive to even the smallest beauty, appreciated each sunrise.
Dan Ah-yeon watched her, bathed in sunlight, more radiant than usual. A demonic entity, yet so radiant.
The way she reclined in the seat, captivated by the scenery, was more captivating than any celebrity photoshoot.
“Officer Dan.”
“Y-Yes…”
“Look at the road.”
“Huh?!”
“You said driving was more important than me.”
“That’s not what I meant…”
Ugh…
Dan Ah-yeon quickly averted her gaze, erecting triple mental barriers.
Traffic was still at a standstill.
As a high-ranking Awakened, she could withstand the Succubus Empress’s unveiled face, but her heart pounded uncontrollably.
It wasn’t that she disliked Jae-hee. She was playful, but also kind and generous. A bit demanding, perhaps, due to her Special Management status, but she responded well to being treated like a friend.
‘Honestly, when I was first assigned to her, I thought I was going to die…’
It was understandable. Jae-hee… it was a miracle she lived so quietly and peacefully.
Because of her immense power? Because she was the Succubus Empress?
No.
It was because this country, this land, had wronged her in ways that could never be forgiven. If Dan Ah-yeon were in Jae-hee’s position, she would have brought ruin upon the nation.
“Officer Dan.”
“….”
“Officer Dan?”
“D-Don’t tease me…”
Seeing her whine like a child was a bit…disconcerting.
Just as Dan Ah-yeon turned to look…
—Jae-hee’s veil was gone.
“Ah…”
So…
So beautiful.
No other words came to mind. Dan Ah-yeon was momentarily stunned, captivated by the face framed by sunlight.
There was no seduction, no mental manipulation. Just pure, breathtaking beauty.
“You’re fine even if you see my face, Officer Dan.”
“….”
“Haa, I like the veil, but… it gets stuffy sometimes. I can’t just take it off anywhere else.”
Without the seductive aura, Dan Ah-yeon couldn’t tear her eyes away from Jae-hee’s radiant face.
“I’ll only do this in front of you, Officer Dan. So please, indulge me.”
“…Never take off your veil anywhere else.”
“Okay~”
Dan Ah-yeon turned back to the road. Her heart still pounded, but her mind felt clearer.
—–CROW—–