Chapter 564 Succubi Banquet ①
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I do regret not translating the Incubus’s dying breath as “Aaaah!”.
Succubi. Male specimens are called Incubus, and females are Succubus. As a group, they are known for their extreme beauty. Whether through looks, voice, pheromones, or even Mana Circuits (magical energy paths), they charm the opposite sex with terrifying ease. It is hard to fight against them.
Their way of breeding is like humans’, but with a few big differences: they cannot breed with other species, there is almost no time from pregnancy to birth, and the act itself drains the partner’s life until they die.
Also, they seem to read their target’s thoughts during sex, and as they grow older, they begin to understand human language. However, for Succubi, humans are just food; one should never think they can talk like a normal person.
Rarely, a Succubus will even learn the knowledge of the prey. Those who have survived for years by learning combat skills are especially dangerous, and history records beings called the “Succubi King” or “Succubus Queen.”
Killing them is simple: hunt them when their charm is still weak, or send members of the same sex who are not affected by their beauty. They are also weak when outnumbered; if a group attacks them, even the opposite sex can take them down. But when they sense danger, they hide in the shadows of the night.
’The Encyclopedia of Extinct Monsters, First Edition’
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”…First, I must say, I am quite relieved you have returned to us in one piece. I am truly thankful that you are safe,” Meryamisha said, her voice calm and polite.
”I am not worthy of such praise, My Lady…” Nada-Rume replied with a deep bow.
A Succubi (a type of demon that charms humans) outbreak happened in Goldmika, the capital of the Aurumcame Governor State. The black-skinned beauty, Nada-Rume, barely escaped with her life to report the news to her master, Meryamisha.
While Meryamisha often says “do not stick your nose where it does not belong,” she certainly had thoughts about Nada-Rume, who had stumbled straight into such a dangerous situation.
Yet, she felt only thanks for the important news brought back. More importantly, the “information” itself was the problem. She furrowed her brows and muttered.
”Succubi, though… This has become a rather troublesome matter.”
Unlike the Northern Continent, which has already hunted them to death, the people of the Southern Continent are used to them. They appear every so often to cause damage—it is seen like a natural disaster.
But being used to them does not make killing them easy. Normally, a state-wide warning would be given to start a cleanup.
Total destruction is hard because the continent is connected to the East by land, but the Aurumcame region—a desert, crowded area—could wipe them out if they had the will. That is, if it were peace time.
”…His Imperial Brother has no intention of giving a warning, does he?” Meryamisha asked, her eyes narrowing a little.
”Yes. In Goldmika, it is as if a gag order has been set,” Nada-Rume confirmed.
”Well, I suppose he would… The Governor just died, and it is a bad sign. More than that, it would give the other groups a chance to attack…” Meryamisha noted, cold and sharp.
”…Can we not work together, even in a national crisis?” Nada-Rume asked, her voice soft with sadness.
”No, we cannot. That fool—no one else but him—made this situation. The moment someone tries to help, he is the first to knock their legs out from under them.”
”……”
Exactly. In the current Aurumcame, a nation-wide cleanup is just a dream. Even if a warning were given, there is no way for the fighting brothers and sisters to send troops to help each other.
There is no choice but to answer locally, and lands that suffer the most damage will be taken over by other groups one by one. In the worst case, those areas might be abandoned by the winners, making the damage even worse.
History has shown that when a country decays, monster attacks increase. To think that this would happen at a time like this… Both felt a sense of gloom, yet there was more news to sort out.
”…It is the worst thing that it started in Goldmika. Do you think they came from the south?” Meryamisha wondered.
”…I cannot say for sure, but that is likely,” Nada-Rume replied.
Goldmika, the capital of Aurumcame, is at the meeting point of the Arlo River delta, which splits the country from north to south. Since deserts stretch to the east and west, the only way in is either the north or the south, via the river.
In contrast, Comortai, ruled by Meryamisha, is a busy harbor town at the northern mouth of the river. That makes it easy to get news from eastern and western countries through the sea. And there have been no reports of Succubi outbreaks in those nations. That leaves only the south.
Aurumcame trades with the southern nations through the Arlo River. Naturally, the land stretches to the south—the upper part of the Arlo—and brothers and sisters of hers rule there too.
”I see. So he plans to use this to take control of the south,” Meryamisha said.
”Likely. If they can stop the Succubi in the capital and buy time with that warning, the south will have no choice but to bow to him. However…” Nada-Rume paused, her voice tight.
”If he fails, the damage will spread across the whole land…”
”…That is exactly what I think,” Nada-Rume said firmly.
To repeat, the capital Goldmika sits at the node of the Arlo River delta. Normally, it is the heart of the nation—almost impossible for enemies to attack, a center of river travel, and the perfect place to control the north and south, both in politics and money.
But now, Succubi have appeared there. If even a few slip through Balshid’s security net, they will travel along the web of streams that cross the delta and cause huge damage across the land in no time.
”…Do you think the greedy fool’s plan will work?” Meryamisha asked, a bit of mockery in her voice.
”…It is unlikely. Security is already short-handed, and the ones I met were strong. Above all, the fact that I could escape proves it,” Nada-Rume replied.
”So that is how it is…” Meryamisha sighed deeply.
While Nada-Rume is skilled, she is not a master of hiding. Hearing that she escaped the capital while carrying her helper, Kuku, meant that the security net was not working well against Succubi.
Before long, Succubi damage would start showing up in the north. Yet, none of the brothers and sisters in the different regions would tell the other groups. As always, showing weakness invited an attack.
And since no one could take effective steps, Aurumcame would be trampled across all its lands by Succubi. Naturally, the region Meryamisha rules would be no exception. Luckily, having gotten the news early meant a response was possible, but…
”…Let’s make the facts public right away. I will write letters to each group,” Meryamisha said.
”…Are you sure?” Nada-Rume asked, her voice worried.
”Yes. Because I am the one doing it, and because it is now. I can release the news without showing my own weakness. The areas around the capital will be destroyed, but it is better than the whole country becoming a complete ruin.”
”That was not what I meant… but I understand,” Nada-Rume agreed.
Meryamisha nodded at Nada-Rume’s words. What Nada-Rume was trying to say was, “Are you ready to make Balshid your enemy?”
If she had kept quiet, she could have thought about helping Balshid and getting credit. Or, even if she did not help, she could have followed the “defense-only” rule, making her own Succubi defenses perfect and waiting for the other groups to weaken.
But Meryamisha would not allow that. Survival was the main goal, but she did not want to watch the country of her birth fall apart.
Of course, staying quiet did not guarantee collapse. Balshid might surprisingly pull it off. But the damage would surely be worse than if she acted now.
She could not sit around when she had the power to do something. That was her pride as a daughter born to a Governor, even if she was just a side one. Or, maybe, as a ruler of her own land.
Meryamisha sighed heavily again and started to prepare the letters. As Nada-Rume stood to help her, Meryamisha spat out.
”It does not really matter, but Father will likely be remembered more fondly after his death. He was alive and well when ‘Serrawo’ was around, yet Succubi arrive the moment he dies.”
”…You mean people were afraid of his strength while he lived? Yes, that is a story the public would love to hear,” Nada-Rume said.
”On the other hand, that guy will likely earn the title ‘Zozayu’. Heh, heh—serves him right!” Meryamisha laughed, a sharp edge to her amusement.
”…I do not think this is a laughing matter,” Nada-Rume warned.
”It is fine, is it not? A little petty revenge. Maybe I should write it in this letter too.”
”…Please, I beg you, do not. You will only make an unnecessary enemy.”
In Northern Continent talk, the word meant “small size.” In short, it was an insult about his lack of sexual energy.
In the end, Meryamisha decided not to add it to the letter. But as expected, when the news of the Succubi outbreak spread, an ugly title started to stick to Balshid.
That is, “‘Zozayu’ (The Small Duke) Balshid.” The name was carved not only among the people but later in history books themselves… but that is a story for another time.
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Summary:
Nada-Rume escapes the capital of Goldmika to report a Succubi outbreak to Meryamisha. The political fragmentation of the Aurumcame region prevents a unified response, leaving the territory vulnerable to exploitation. Meryamisha decides to expose the truth publicly, accepting the risk of making Balshid her enemy to prevent national collapse.
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Trivia:
- Goldmika is strategically located at the confluence of the Arlo River delta.
- The Southern Continent views Succubi outbreaks as inevitable natural disasters.
- Balshid’s faction is suffering from a lack of manpower and ineffective security measures.
- Meryamisha governs the harbor town of Comortai, which provides her with external information via sea routes.
Notes:
• Meryamisha – A beautiful, white-haired, dark-skinned young woman in professional attire, she is the pragmatic, cynical, yet observant governor of the northern harbor town of Komotai (Comortai). As a governor’s daughter and successor sibling in the Aurumcame State, she fiercely navigates intense political power plays. While proactive and cautious, she deeply cares for her people, secretly protecting orphans.
• Nada-Rume – Nada Rume, a dark-skinned Southern Continent beauty with an athletic build, is a commoner who became Meryamisha’s loyal, self-effacing confidante and advisor. As a trusted subordinate, she handles administrative tasks, assists with intelligence operations linked to her surname, and serves as a practical test subject for her mistress’s adult goods shop.
• Nada – Tall, slender Southern Continent envoy with dark skin and sharp almond eyes, she masquerades as a male merchant for Meryamisha’s intelligence network, reporting on the Succubi outbreak. Protective, intuitive, and adept at escaping danger, she trades with the protagonist, shares an intimate bond with Kento, and steers regional commerce amid a succession dispute.
• Rume – Nada Rume, a dark-skinned Southern Continent commoner with a striking, athletic build, is Meryamisha’s loyal, self-effacing confidante and advisor. Handling practical duties and testing adult goods for the shop, her surname Rume links her to intelligence operations. She uses her rare ability to escape danger to serve her mistress, crucially reporting on the ongoing Succubi outbreak.
• Balshid – The eldest son of the late Governor who declared himself the new ruler, this Duke governs the capital of Goldmika. While actively mobilizing troops and issuing proclamations to solidify his control, he faces mockery for failing to contain a Succubi invasion in his territory. As the eldest brother among the successor siblings, he aggressively fights to defend his claim and dominance over others.
• Kuku – A dark-skinned young woman from the Southern Continent slums, she is Nada-Rume’s subordinate, childhood companion, and sister-figure. Acting as his faux-wife, she is an undercover operative in a high-stakes infiltration. She is often seen in a dazed or affectionate state.
• Serrawo – A figure from the past whose presence or vitality was feared while alive.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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