Ch.57Deep Dive (1)

“I’m a virgin.”

How many virgins could there be in this world?

For various reasons, finding someone who’s a virgin probably wouldn’t be too difficult.

But narrowing it down—how many virgin succubi could exist in this world?

Excluding newborn succubi, it would be better to assume they simply don’t exist.

‘Though considering all possibilities, they’re not completely non-existent.’

Rarity has value. That’s why some people kidnap succubi and raise them like livestock.

Then how many succubi have maintained their virginity solely by their own will, excluding all other possibilities?

‘Probably only Lumia.’

Most succubi go mad if their energy absorption is suppressed. This applies equally to succubi who have never absorbed energy before.

Something beyond what could even be called instinct—that’s what energy absorption and sexual acts mean to succubi.

Cecilia, standing before me, knew this fact too, which is why she was looking at me with curious eyes.

“Virgin… a virgin… it doesn’t seem to be a lie… How fascinating! Fascinating indeed.”

Going beyond just looking, she touched various parts of my body, showing an almost frightening level of interest.

“Do you feel no urge to absorb energy at all?”

‘Energy absorption urge… I think Lumia had that.’

Whether it was because I was a possessor or for some other reason, I didn’t feel any urge to absorb energy.

But in my memories, Lumia seemed to have suffered terribly from it.

“I don’t seem to have any urges at the moment.”

I tried to defend against her probing hands while answering her question, but the result was, predictably, futile.

Restrained so that I couldn’t move even a finger, I had no choice but to be observed.

“For someone who hasn’t absorbed energy, you’re exceptionally healthy… your skin is so firm. Do you have any discomfort anywhere?”

“Nothing besides being magically restrained. If I had been unwell, I wouldn’t have made it down here in the first place.”

This part was probably due to my special characteristics and the level-up system playing a major role.

Even if a succubus wielded a sword, she couldn’t grow this much just by swinging it.

“Do you know why succubi have superior appearances?”

“To seduce others, isn’t it? Same with their charm abilities.”

“Yes, both appearance and charm are means of seduction. For succubi, they’re abilities to obtain their meals and means for growth.”

Succubi definitely increased their abilities by absorbing energy.

However, since most of the increase went to charm, it wasn’t something I needed to consider.

“I know that, but why bring it up suddenly?”

“The point is that you no longer need those things. You don’t need to seduce for meals, nor do you need to absorb energy to become stronger.”

She looked at me, then shifted her gaze to the sword at my waist.

“You’ve taken up the sword. And swordsmanship requires neither charm nor allure. So those two aspects have changed according to your condition.”

“Does evolution or change usually happen that quickly…?”

“I find it mysterious as well. If I had my way, I’d keep you in the laboratory for extensive research…”

Hearing Cecilia’s continued words, I worried that I might actually end up imprisoned in her laboratory.

‘I need to escape to the deep level as soon as I’m healed…’

I wondered if I’d shown my abilities unnecessarily, but at least I now understood what they were, so it wasn’t all bad.

‘I have a rough idea of how to use them too.’

* * *

“Don’t leave! I’ll give you my treasures and elixirs, just let me dissect you a little!”

“Thank you for everything.”

“Hey, stop clinging to Frey!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll bring back proper treasures.”

As soon as my body recovered, I ended my recuperation and prepared to venture into the deep level.

As for preparations, there was nothing more to do than inform my companions of our departure, so preparations ended quickly, and we were ready to set off.

During this process, Cecilia grabbed my ankle and tried to tempt me with various things, but I refused them all and headed straight for the cave leading to the deep level.

The entrance to the cave leading to the deep level—previously, I could only glimpse it from afar due to the queen’s pursuit.

Now, with the queen’s pursuit gone, we could reach it without much difficulty.

“This should have been this easy from the beginning… We went through so much trouble because of that ant queen.”

“Finally, the deep level… I want to finish this and breathe outside air again.”

Kitsune looked up at the mine ceiling, speaking as if she missed the sky. It had been quite some time since she’d seen the blue sky, so it was understandable.

“Once we get what we need from the deep level, we’ll be done, so hang in there. Though it will be more difficult than all our travels so far.”

“More difficult than… the ant queen?”

“Yes, something stronger than the ant queen is waiting for us. But this time, we’ll have Lilly’s help.”

“Just trust me~”

The reason I had been saving Lilly all this time was to deal with that creature.

While we could avoid the ant queen and the boss monsters of the lower level, there was no way around this one—we had to defeat it head-on.

Still, with Lilly, it wasn’t an impossible challenge, so I reassured Kitsune and stood before the cave.

“I’m going in now.”

“Understood.”

“Let’s go.”

Step. Step.

As I entered the cave and took one step at a time forward, I was greeted by intense heat and gravity even heavier than the lower level.

The overwhelming gravity made even taking a single step exhausting, giving the sensation that I might fall over if I relaxed even slightly.

And the heat—despite having flame resistance, I felt like my body was being thoroughly roasted.

I wasn’t the only one feeling these environmental extremes of the deep level.

Kitsune seemed surprised by how quickly her spiritual energy was being depleted just to maintain the environment of the middle level, not even the upper level.

“So this… is the deep level.”

Kirara, despite being a yokai who walked around with fire on her body, raised her guard as sweat flowed from the intense heat.

“Grrrr…”

Finally, even Lilly, the strongest among us who had few environmental constraints, seemed to be having difficulty moving.

“Frey, are you really going to be okay?”

“It would be a lie to say I’m fine, but I’ll manage. I was prepared for this much.”

Nothing was physically hitting my body. But with each step on the ground, I felt like my body was being tempered.

Step… Step…

In this environment, our steps naturally became more cautious, and our movement speed greatly reduced.

But even though my pace at the front had slowed, no one complained.

Those following behind me were also greatly affected by the high temperature and high gravity environment.

“Haa… Haa…”

How far had we walked down?

The gravity that grew heavier with each step and the air that grew hotter no longer intensified.

The path that had been heading downward no longer descended but stretched forward.

And shortly after, light appeared in the distance, signaling the end of the cave.

Being at the front, I exited the cave slightly earlier and stepped aside to let my companions emerge.

“We’ve arrived, so I should say good job. Welcome. This is the end of the mine, the deep level.”

The sight of the deep level that unfolded before us was nothing short of spectacular.

Strange cut marks everywhere—on the walls, the floor, and all sorts of places.

The bottom of the Death Hole, which ran in a straight line from the surface to the bottom of the deep level, and the crushed corpses that showed what happened if you fell into it.

And various monsters gnawing on those corpses, filling their bellies.

“The Death Hole has a different name in the deep level. Naturally, since there’s no chance of falling here. It’s called the Food Distribution Center.”

Thud. Thud. Thud.

And from a huge hole in the distance came the sound of something massive walking toward us.

From afar, its silhouette might make one wonder if it was human. But as it got closer, it became clear it was not.

Horns on its head, a body over 3 meters tall, a head more like a bull than a human, and a massive axe in its hand—perhaps stolen from a dwarf it had killed.

“By the way, it’s not just the crushed corpses that are treated as food at the Food Distribution Center.”

Minotaur.

Though there are demon tribes that use the same name now, this was the original owner of that name.

An ancient demonic beast that had existed since ancient times revealed itself.

The monsters that belatedly noticed the minotaur’s appearance tried to flee, abandoning their meals, but it was already too late.

As the minotaur swung down its axe, the ground split, and the bodies of the feeding creatures were cut in half.

The owner of the countless cut marks on the floor was this creature.

“This is the deep level of the mine, the domain of ancient demonic beasts that have disappeared from the surface.”