"So it's a Succubus."
Inside a Lexus parked by the roadside, Luo Shu tapped the steering wheel lightly with his fingers and mused:
"I thought someone was targeting Utaha, but if it's a Succubus, that makes some sense."
Since Utaha's Mind Reading ability evolved into Hypnosis using a drop of Succubus blood essence from the Demon Heart, Luo Shu wasn't surprised that she might attract Succubi or be mistaken for one of their kin.
However, the fact that a Succubus was hiding near Akihabara, posing as a maid in a maid café—and seemingly part of the management—was intriguing.
Luo Shu tapped the steering wheel with his index finger, casually pulled out his phone, opened a map, and marked the location.
[Succubus-run café. Schedule a raid when free.]
After jotting down the note, he noticed an incoming call from Eriri.
Seeing this, Luo Shu paused briefly before answering.
"Hey, is that Luo Shu? That gloomy girl—I mean, Kasumigaoka-san—suddenly disappeared. My heart's pounding for some reason. You don't think she's been kidnapped, do you?"
'How did you even notice that? Were you two twin sisters in a past life?' Luo Shu listened to the phone call in bewilderment, unable to stop himself from complaining internally.
But sensing the panic in Eriri's voice, he still reassured her:
"Don't worry, she contacted me. Said you ran off too fast for her to catch up, and she got tired from walking, so she decided to sit in a café for a bit before heading back."
Though his words were completely unreliable, Eriri immediately relaxed upon hearing them:
"Seriously? If I hadn't been afraid of her Mind Reading, would I have run off in the first place? And now it's my fault..."
"Well, since she's already contacted you, I guess that's that. The train's almost here, so I should head back and let everyone know I'm safe."
Hearing this, Luo Shu nodded. "Yeah, send a message when you get home. Be careful."
"Got it, you're so nagging~" The amusement in Eriri's voice was unmistakable.
Soon, the call ended. Luo Shu glanced at his phone, then placed both hands on the steering wheel, his peripheral gaze fixed on the neon-lit sign of Dreamland Café across the street.
Sighing, he scratched his head and muttered helplessly:
"I'm definitely going to be late. Tch, let's find a suitable car park."
Luo Shu sighed after speaking: "What can I say, I'm just that kind of worrywart man."
...
"What do you mean by Succubus Bloodline?"
After a brief moment of shock, Utaha Kasumigaoka finally regained her composure.
She then recalled the materials Luo Shu had previously given her to enhance her abilities, but truth be told, she was certain she hadn't acquired any Succubus lineage.
Luo Shu had explicitly stated that ability advancement wouldn't affect bloodline, and Utaha absolutely trusted his words.
"Just what it says on the tin."
Maria Naruse produced two lollipops from somewhere and offered one to Utaha:
"Want one? These are quite good for practising oral techniques."
"Oral techniques..." Utaha's expression immediately faltered.
Though she considered herself outspoken, compared to this girl before her, she felt utterly outmatched.
No, this wasn't even in the same league.
"So, what's your reason for approaching me?"
"To bring you back to the glorious extended family."
Maria said cheerfully to Utaha:
"Because our major clans are short on numbers, bringing back a fellow clan member earns substantial rewards from the elders."
"So to us Succubi, a wild one like you is basically a walking golden eggplant."
To casually mention 'golden eggplant' like that - did this woman have no sense of moral shame?
Utaha's lips twitched as she replied:
"I suppose this is what one should expect from a Succubus? How casually you throw such terms around."
"But I'm afraid I have zero interest in becoming a Succubus."
"Hmm?" Maria narrowed her eyes, pausing her lollipop consumption before teasing: "Oh, you've got someone you like!"
"Perfectly normal. Once our kind becomes aware of our gender, we instinctively crave the opposite sex."
Here, Maria added with emphasis:
"Especially excellent specimens."
Utaha maintained her composure, offering no response.
Seeing this, Maria didn't press further, simply smiling and pointing the lollipop at her:
"Actually, there are quite a few Succubi in the clan who want to devote themselves to one person. From a power progression standpoint, the clan actually recommends this approach."
"However..."
Maria's face now radiated gossipy delight:
"Are you sure your man can handle it?"
"A Succubus who can't even control her own bloodline, and a normal man - who do you think will die first?"
"Oh, friendly reminder - according to research from those clan members who don't mind multiple partners, with measured 'mining', a healthy man's lifespan is about sixteen months..."
Maria cradled her cheeks with a light laugh:
"And that's with professional, scientific extraction. Do you consider yourself a professional?"
"Hearing words like 'professional' and 'scientific' from a Succubus is certainly eye-opening."
Utaha regarded Maria coolly:
"All this talk is just to persuade me to join the Succubi."
Hearing this, Maria quickly raised a hand to stop her:
"Let me correct that—it's not joining, but returning. Our clan is very united, not something vampires or fairies can compare to."
Hearing this, Utaha Kasumigaoka paused and glanced at Maria Naruse. She suspected the succubus had some grudge against vampires and fairies; otherwise, why bring them up now?
"What reason do you think I have to join you?"
Maria Naruse immediately revealed a pleased smile. She knew no succubus was a fool:
"Knowledge, power, protection... and your little boyfriend's safety."
"Oh, by the way, when it comes to knowledge about pleasing men, we're number one in the world."
"How dull."
Utaha sneered, then suddenly paused:
"Send me the materials first so I can verify them. I'll give you my answer after confirming their authenticity."
"What format are the files in? TXT or Word? Can you transfer them to my phone?" Utaha took out her phone and gave Maria a sidelong glance.
"Huh?"
Maria was clearly taken aback. She opened and closed her mouth before finally muttering:
"Your man's definitely going to be drained dry by you someday. I'd bet my mother's hair on it."
"That's none of your concern. Hurry up and send it, you white-haired, lewd loli!"
"Ha? Who are you calling a white-haired, lewd loli? Don't get too cocky, junior!"
...
Somewhere in the parking lot next to the café.
Luo Shu, who had been observing Utaha and Maria's conversation, let out a slow breath:
"Seems there's no danger."
"But... Succubus techniques?"
Luo Shu rubbed his chin with a complicated expression:
"Utaha... who exactly is she planning to use those on?"
He didn't dare dwell on that thought.