Chapter 132: Olivia

The second named Succubus.

Without even a moment to mention her name, the fight ended rather anticlimactically due to a type disadvantage.

Leaving the surprised-looking, now-dead Succubus behind, Rohan and Ichinose Yui left the Pleasure Doll-strewn mansion.

The crudely made path through the forest still forced them to proceed in a single direction.

Inevitably following the trimmed path, Rohan and Ichinose Yui crossed another boundary.

A new scenery unfolded before them.

“Could it be… a village?”

“Judging by its appearance, it certainly is.”

“…”

Rohan had anticipated this, so he took it in stride, but Ichinose Yui remained silent, seemingly speechless.

Instead of venturing into the well-built village in the forest, the two began to observe it from the outskirts, maintaining their vigilance.

“Perhaps it’s a village where Succubi live. If that’s the case, it could be dangerous for Rohan just to pass through.”

“Hmm, true.”

Rohan couldn’t guarantee that this was exactly the same dungeon he remembered.

Complacency leads to death, so Ichinose Yui’s opinion was perfectly valid.

“If it’s that kind of village, we’ll quietly search for the Monolith. How about that?”

“Sounds good. Let’s move as quietly as possible.”

“Okay.”

Rohan drew Radiance and Brand, taking the lead.

The only human party in the dungeon advanced through the thick fog.

They began to carefully observe the lifeless village.

“…”

Brick floors, flowerbeds densely packed with black roses, a fountain spewing purple water.

What Rohan and Ichinose Yui encountered was a village that looked like it belonged in a medieval fantasy game.

While the buildings adhered to that style, everything else felt distinctly out of place.

Under the gloomy sky ruled by the moon. A village made of Pleasure Dolls.

The Pleasure Dolls seemed to have assigned roles, standing in designated spots and repeating the same motions.

With lifeless eyes, they carried out the commands given by their master.

There was a Pleasure Doll repeatedly trying to sell something, holding out withered grass.

Many others walked the same route repeatedly, like pedestrians bringing life to the streets.

Every Pleasure Doll was dedicated to its role.

Feeling uneasy in this incomprehensible place, Ichinose Yui moved closer to Rohan.

“This is a strange place. It’s creepy. For now… there don’t seem to be any Succubi, right?”

“I don’t see any either.”

Rohan knew this place.

The vast human collection gathered by the Succubus who ruled the Succubus’ Nest.

A model garden built with those Pleasure Dolls, mimicking human society, imbued with envy and longing for humanity.

The only thing Rohan didn’t know was how long it had taken to create this vast place.

“Shall we go inside the village?”

“I guess we should… Are you planning to clear out the Pleasure Dolls as we go?”

“Let’s infiltrate quietly first. With this many Pleasure Dolls, there’s bound to be a Succubus somewhere who can understand us. From experience, if we kill that one, all of them will be freed.”

“Understood.”

With Ichinose Yui’s affirmative nod, they finished circling the village.

They moved carefully, avoiding the Pleasure Dolls diligently performing their assigned tasks, and delved deeper.

After some time navigating through the fog and poking around, a mansion, separate from the village, came into view.

A grand, elegant mansion, incomparable to the Pleasure Doll-filled buildings.

Its form was particularly familiar to Rohan and Ichinose Yui.

Its aloof existence, standing out from the rest, gave them the certainty that it was the Succubus’s mansion.

Their steps naturally turned towards it.

“It’s easy to find.”

“Since she couldn’t imagine anyone willingly coming here, she probably didn’t feel the need to hide it. Judging by the Succubi we’ve encountered so far.”

“Or maybe it’s overconfidence.”

As they approached the mansion, they saw a gate, presumably the entrance to the courtyard.

Two Pleasure Dolls stood there. Motionless, with blank stares.

However, they were dressed in armor and held spears, as if standing guard.

“Let’s take care of the Pleasure Dolls with weapons, they might be troublesome later.”

“Okay.”

The Pleasure Dolls standing guard had their necks severed by Rohan’s Sword.

They offered no resistance, as if they were mere ornaments meant to enhance the mansion’s atmosphere.

Quietly entering the courtyard, Rohan made a final confirmation with Ichinose Yui, who was following close behind.

Their target was definitely in this mansion.

“Aeng-ae Nose. You have your Potions, right?”

“Of course.”

Ichinose Yui took out the Potions she had and showed them to him.

“Don’t hesitate to use them. They’re useless if you miss the timing.”

“Don’t worry.”

Ichinose Yui smiled, pleased by Rohan’s concern.

She, too, subconsciously sensed that this mansion was the final destination.

“Let’s go.”

After confirming Ichinose Yui’s nod, Rohan pushed open the door leading into the mansion.

Creak! The door groaned, needing oil, as it revealed the interior of the mansion.

I remember this clearly.

The inside of the mansion, where Rohan remembered the Monolith being.

The heavy, sweet smell was similar to the other Succubi mansions, but the walls, covered in mirrors, made it distinctly memorable.

A special design created by a narcissistic Succubus to see her face and body wherever she went.

It was also effectively used against the mansion’s owner, the named Succubus.

Rohan remembered that Succubus’s name was Olivia.

Click!

Rohan immediately aimed his Handgun at the mirror.

Infusing it with Mana, he pulled the trigger.

Now that he remembered the dungeon, this was the first necessary step, regardless of stealth.

Bang!

The bullet Rohan fired pierced the mirror.

It literally just went through. Only a hole remained in the mirror. No large cracks appeared.

Not enough power.

Even a Mana-infused bullet couldn’t completely shatter the mirror.

Even working together with Ichinose Yui, destroying all these mirrors would clearly require considerable effort.

“This isn’t an ordinary mirror. Be careful.”

“We shouldn’t get too close.”

Rohan smiled, watching Ichinose Yui who seemed to take his words to heart.

She trusted that there was a reason for the loud gunshot.

Clank!

One of the mirrors hanging in the mansion creaked open like a door, and a person walked out.

A middle-aged man with a strong gaze, despite the lack of vitality. Definitely a Pleasure Doll.

However, he was qualitatively different from the Pleasure Dolls they’d encountered so far.

Step. Step. Step.

Balanced steps. His very presence was threatening.

His dignified face and jet-black beard matched the dobok he was wearing.

─ …

The sword at his waist emanated a sharp aura.

The atmosphere suggested an imminent slash.

Rohan prepared for battle, wary of this opponent who didn’t exist in his memories.

Ichinose Yui, gripping her sword, spoke.

“That person is…?”

“Does Aeng-ae Nose know him?”

Ichinose Yui’s eyes widened in disbelief, then she continued her explanation with a look of regret.

“He’s a martial artist from the Three Kingdoms Union who went missing after being caught in a Monolith incident recently.”

“What about his skills?”

“He was more renowned for training and educating disciples, so…”

“So there’s a chance he’s strong?”

“…I’m not sure how his current state as a Pleasure Doll will affect that.”

Having lost their sense of self and now under the Succubus’ command, their experience, a weapon that could compensate for lacking ability, wouldn’t be fully utilized.

Ichinose Yui believed that.

“For normal humans to come here of their own volition… Interesting things happen every day.”

Another Succubus clicked her heels as she walked out from behind the open mirror door.

Swaying her hips and tail, she stood next to the Pleasure Doll.

In her hand, her weapon, a whip, was coiled.

“Huh…?”

The Succubus looked at Rohan in surprise.

This was a tiresome pattern by now. Rohan fired a bullet without hesitation.

Ping!

The Pleasure Doll blocked Rohan’s bullet, which was flying towards the Succubus, with his sword.

The Succubus, seemingly uninterested in the attack, wrapped her slender tail around her thigh and focused on Rohan.

She even spoke in an excited voice.

“How can such a man… Whose gift is this? Bianca? Jupi? Those jealous things wouldn’t offer such a man.”

“What nonsense are you spouting, you slut?”

When Rohan retorted with a bored expression, the Succubus found his defiance appealing and smiled broadly.

“You touched my doll at the entrance, so you deserve to die, but fine! I’ll forgive you. This Olivia is generous.”

The Succubus expressed her desire through her gaze. A clear lust, wanting to possess Rohan.

Rohan and Ichinose Yui were tired of this.

On top of being tired, Ichinose Yui felt anger.

Every single one of them…

Was Rohan’s Essence some kind of get-out-of-jail-free card?

Every single one of them offered forgiveness for what they had done.

Based on her experience so far, the next step would definitely be a contract offer.

“If you make a contract with me… Huh?”

Just as things were proceeding as Ichinose Yui had predicted, Olivia’s gaze shifted from Rohan to Ichinose Yui.

It was unprecedented for a Succubus to direct their attention to Ichinose Yui, a woman.

“This isn’t Essence? This strong scent is…?”

The Succubus sniffed the air, staring at Ichinose Yui’s lips.

Ichinose Yui’s sharp mind instantly grasped the meaning of that action.

C-Could it be…!?

The girl’s heart, harboring a secret, pounded.

Before the Succubus could speak, Ichinose Yui spoke first.

“…Rohan. I’ll handle the Succubus.”

“Are you sure?”

“Please free that man. I’m asking you.”

Ichinose Yui showed an unprecedentedly solemn expression, and Rohan nodded in agreement.

“Be careful of the whip. Considering she’s placed mirrors around, there’s a high chance she’ll use them.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll finish this quickly and join you, so don’t do anything reckless.”

“Don’t worry.”

Ichinose Yui took a step forward.

Click!

Grasping the hilt of Yoru, Ichinose Yui lowered her stance.

Ready to spring forward at any moment.

And then…

With her eyes closed, the girl decided on a course of action possible only because her opponent was a monster, not a human.

She had to erase this monster before it could reveal her secret.